tumpang sekole...?

Rosmah spree:61 pieces in a single collection,a Blogger discloses email exchanges...

2012-02-01T19:30:00.000+08:00

Fashion journalist Patty Huntington, on her blog Frockwriter, has disclosed email exchanges to attest to her report about Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s wife Rosmah Mansor’s expenses on exclusive designer label clothing in Sydney, Australia.

For the first time today, Huntington, in a lengthy write-up on her blog,The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) on Jan 21.

Huntington (right) said that she was pitched the story on Jan 16 by Little Hero’s staff member Holly Beer, who sent an email to the blogger on Rosmah’s purchase of 61 items from the Carl Kapp Shop.

Following up the matter, Huntington verified the premier’s visit during New Year’s eve by contacting the Malaysian High Commission and The Darling hotel, which is part of The Star casino complex in Sydney, after which she spoke to Kapp, who spoke on the 61 items purchased.

After the issue hit the local media last week, Kapp, in a statement to Malaysiakini, said the prime minister’s wife and her entourage, including Islamic Fashion Festival chairperson Raja Rezza Shah, had visited his shop and had made various separate purchases.

“In a nutshell, Kapp now claims that Rosmah Mansor came to his store not to make a large personal order of clothes for herself, but in some kind of philanthropic capacity as patron of the IFF.

“Any spending was spread evenly across the various members of her entourage, which included the head of the IFF. Who happens to be a man. Kapp - who only makes women’s wear - is now saying that he is definitely not being flown to Kuala Lumpur next month at Rosmah Mansor’s expense for a second round of fittings or any other nebulous purpose connected to the alleged purchase of his clothes by any number of visiting dignitaries.

“Adding, words to the effect, that he is in and out of Malaysia so many times throughout the year on business, Kuala Lumpur is practically his second home. And finally, Kapp implies that he has absolutely no idea how the highly sensitive information about this distinguished visit got out,” said Huntington.

The South African-born designer was responding to queries following a report that estimated Rosmah could have spent up to A$100,000 (RM323,000) at his store.

Read Patty Huntington's lengthy write-up on her blog.....

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Close encounters of the KL kind

rose smith backstage at carl kapp's SS1112 show, sydney, may 2011

Publicists would disagree, but any journalist worth their salt will tell you the best stories never come straight off a press release. Occasionally that’s where they start, however. And so it was at 2.44pm on January 16th, when I received an email from Sydney-based fashion PR firm Little Hero headed “Malaysia’s First Lady covets Carl Kapp”, alerting me to what they were claiming would in anybody’s terms constitute an unusually large single, personal order of a designer brand - 61 items. Many designers wouldn't have 61 pieces in a single collection.

The alleged client was Rosmah Mansor, the wife of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak. I called Little Hero back within minutes. The story had been passed over by the fashion editors of two Australian newspapers, said Little Hero staffer Holly Beer, who immediately followed up with a second email, with yet more tantalising details.

The second of two appointments had taken place in the PM’s hotel on New Year's Eve – as it emerged, The Star Sydney Casino’s new venue The Darling, the penthouse no less – with the PM himself present. After taking Rosmah's measurements and order, Kapp was due to be flown by the client to KL for a second round of fittings, said Beer. "It was unbelievably surreal" Kapp told me later that day. Indeed. No mention was made of Kapp being dispatched to KL in a Learjet but by this stage nothing would have surprised me.

najib razak and rosmah mansor meet QEII, london, july 2011/getty via daylife

This wasn't the wife of a Russian oil tycoon, but a politician, in fact Malaysia's most high profile politician. The very same politician who had spent the better part of 2011 embroiled in controversy with his Australian counterpart over ‘The Malaysian Solution’, a controversial plan to swap asylum seekers. The Australian High Court declared it illegal in August, due to the fact that Malaysia is not a signatory to the United Nations 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. The safety of the asylum seekers could not be guaranteed in Malaysia it was argued.

Of course, the fashion business is prone to hubris. But I had no reason to doubt Beer and Kapp. I have dealt with Little Hero for at least five years and have always found its director, Rae Begley, to be a straight-shooter. Nevertheless, I checked with the Malaysian High Commission in Canberra. I spoke to an "Ayshah" - that was the only name given - who confirmed Najib was in the country at the time, on holiday. I explained that I was calling to check the bona fides of some information about Rosmah Mansor buying some designer clothing in Sydney and Ayshah said she would look into it and get back to me. She never called back.

Although there were two eyewitnesses to the second appointment at the hotel (Kapp and his brand manager Yoko Sugiura), I checked that The Darling penthouse was open for business on New Year's Eve, in case of any confusion. Also, its price list. The penthouse was not officially open, as it turned out, but it was definitely operational on New Year's Eve the hotel reported. And I calculated a potential estimate of the dollar size of the Carl Kapp order, based on Kapp's price list. According to retail sources, it was realistic.

Having never previously heard of Rosmah Mansor and her gravity-defying bouffant do, moreover, I did a little research. With a laundry list of previous stories in Malaysia dedicated to her alleged extravagant spending, it took a nanosecond to realise what a can of worms - or rather, V05 - this was.

With limos, penthouses, more cash being splashed around than The Bellagio's high rollers room and – incredulously – no non disclosure agreement, I couldn’t believe my luck. As I pushed the publish button on frockwriter’s January 17 post “Carl Kapp’s couture capers in KL”, I noted on Twitter, 'You couldn’t make this s*** up'. By the end of last week that’s exactly what I was accused of doing.

Here is a statement released to the Malaysian media on Wednesday 25th January from Kapp via Little Hero, on the latter's letterheard. In it, Kapp recants all of the information that was previously released to me by Little Hero in a bid to drum up publicity for its client and his own statements made in two separate interviews with both myself and The Sydney Morning Herald columnist Andrew Hornery, who picked the story up for his 'Private Sydney' column on Saturday 21st January (which he followed up with a second story on Saturday 28th January).

In a nutshell, Kapp now claims that Rosmah Mansor came to his store not to make a large personal order of clothes for herself, but in some kind of philanthropic capacity as patron of the Islamic Fashion Festival (IFF). Any spending was spread evenly across the various members of her entourage, which included the head of the IFF. Who happens to be a man. Kapp - who only makes womenswear - is now saying that he is definitely not being flown to KL next month at Rosmah Mansor's expense for a second round of fittings or any other nebulous purpose connected to the alleged purchase of his clothes by any number of visiting dignitaries. Adding, words to the effect, that he is in and out of Malaysia so many times throughout the year on business, KL is practically his second home. And finally, Kapp implies that he has absolutely no idea how the highly sensitive information about this distinguished visit got out.

And the official story keeps on changing.

Yesterday IFF head Raja Rezza Shah poked his nose into the brouhaha, telling independent Malaysian news website Malaysiakini that in fact the garments purchased were intended as stock for his London boutique. "Yes, these are stock for my shop in London, which will be a platform for designers of different religions and races from around the world" he said.

As predicted, the Malaysian media has had a field day with this story.

Coverage has fallen into two camps: the mainstream media, which is largely controlled by the Malaysian government and kept in check via a renewable licensing system (which has led to Malaysia's dismal world #124 ranking on the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index - three spots down from Zimbabwe).

And then there is Malaysia's independent new media arena, which includes large sites such as Malaysiakini, founded and edited by Steven Gan.

Malaysiakini (among many others) has closely followed this story since it first hit The Sydney Morning Herald (and claims that a blogger linked to Najib's UMNO party engineered last week's smear campaign against Hornery).

A quick check of the online archives of Malaysian MSM sites such as The Star and The Sun, suggests that the latter only picked the story up to hose it down. Cases in point, the headlines: "Rosmah: Aussie report on shopping spree all rubbish", "Rosmah denies RM325,000 shopping spree" and "Purchases made by Rosmah's entourage says Aussie designer".

Although Malaysia's new media players appear to be able to get their stories up largely unfettered by the shackles of their supine MSM counterparts, criticising the government is not without risk.

While some of the wild allegations against Rosmah Mansor are definitely no laughing matter, frockwriter did get a chuckle out of not only the comments on Malaysiakini's report on Raja Rezza Shah's claims, but also this cartoon by Malaysiakini's infamous, unrepentant cartoonist Zunar which was published yesterday. Having already had several books banned by the Malaysian government, Zunar was arrested and briefly jailed in September 2010 under the Sedition Act over his new tome Cartoon-O-Phobia, in which Rosmah Mansor features prominently (here are a few examples). Zunar has since launched a civil suit against the government and police claiming wrongful arrest.

rosmah mansor

But let's just go back to Kapp's new claims - and the events of January 16th.

1/ “The party of Datin Sri Rosmah came to our store in a sizeable group, and during their visit, members of her party, including friends and the Chairman and organiser of Islamic Fashion Festival (IFF) separately made various purchases”.

Little Hero did indeed mention that Rosmah Mansor arrived with a group of people – one of them calling in advance, reported Holly Beer, to ask about the availability of limo parking. Beer referred to them as “staff”. In our interview, Kapp referred to a group of six people. Duly noted by frockwriter. A similar number was present at The Darling penthouse the following evening, said Kapp, adding that he believed some of the women present may have been family members.

At no stage in any of the communications with me – three separate emails from Little Hero and a 15-minute phone interview with Kapp - did either Little Hero or Kapp state that any purchases or orders were made by anyone other than Rosmah Mansor. In fact both Little Hero and Kapp explicitly said that the orders were for Rosmah Mansor. Rosmah is not one of Kapp’s standard sizes, he told me. Kapp added that he makes to a size 14 off the rack, but to 18-20 in made to measure - which accounts for 50percent of his business, he said.

Additionally, all of the garments for Rosmah were in need of special customisations such as extended hemlines or long sleeves, with at least one dress due to be converted into a coat. Kapp said he took the client's measurements, so as to be able to tailor the garments to her needs. He told me on the record, “It started out at the shop, but there was so much that she wanted, so I suggested that I prepare a presentation.... She followed me into the studio and started pointing at fabrics”.

According to Kapp, the order was processed at The Darling the following day, after the full presentation to Rosmah. Kapp took Sugiura along with the express purpose of looking after the paperwork. “She had to handle the order” he said. Kapp added that he was paid upfront for the order.

Prior to Kapp's January 25 press statement, neither Beer nor Kapp had made any mention whatsoever of the Islamic Fashion Festival, its organiser or his London boutiqe.

Was Raja Rezza Shah even there? Apparently so. Below is a screen cap of a December 30 Tweet from Raja Rezza, a Malaysian actor-turned-model, celebrity wedding planner and museum advisor - and the nephew of Sultan Ismail Petra of Kelantan. It's a photograph taken with Kapp, apparently in the latter's boutique, together with the caption: “Checking out future IFF designer, Sydney’s Carl Kapp. Very interesting cuts”.

Going by his tourist shots posted to Twitter in around Sydney, Raja Rezza appears to have been in the country from at least December 25. Incidentally, on January 1st, he also posted a photo of the Sydney Harbour New Year's Eve fireworks (below), from a vantage point that looks very much like the verandah of The Darling penthouse:

2/ "The article also stated that I alluded to being 'flown to Malaysia next month' solely for the benefit of the Prime Minister’s wife. This is also inaccurate. Visits to various parts of Asia, including Malaysia, for thepurposes of channel marketing for our merchandise and sourcing of materials for future products are a regular part of my work calendar and ordinary course of business".

If the information that Kapp was due to be flown to KL by Rosmah Mansor is “inaccurate”, then why did he green light an email from his publicist on February 16th telling frockwriter that “she is flying him to Kaula [sic] Lumpur mid-February for a second round of fittings”? And why, later that day did he confirm this information with me, adding in fact how surprised he was to be heading to Malaysia, a country in which, Kapp gave us the distinct impression, he had never previously set foot? Kapp told me, “She asked me to come to KL for fittings. I said 'If you take care of the travel arrangements, sure'.....I can’t believe I’m actually flying over there next month for an hour and a half fitting. And then flying back out again the next day”.

3/ “It is our view that the article has unfairly given the impression that the Carl Kapp establishment is indiscreet and is willing to divulge personal and private information about our clients. This is manifestly untrue”.

Herewith two emails that I received from Little Hero's email address on January 16th. This information was not off the record and there was no privacy disclaimer. I do not make a habit of publishing anyone’s emails, but am willing to make an exception in this case as I feel there is a genuine effort here to mislead the public.

Here is the first email received, datestamp January 16th at 14.44:

“Hi Patty,

I hope you are well.
Some news for you:
I thought you may be interested in one of Carl's latest fans, Malaysia's First Lady, Rosmah Mansor. Carl received a phone call from her staff while she was shopping in Pitt St asking if there was parking in Paddington for a limousine. They came straight over where Carl had a private appointment with Mrs. Mansor, going over styles, colour and fabrics. Carl then prepared a presentation for her on New Year's Eve at the hotel Mrs. Mansor was staying out, and she chose every one of the 30 colours Carl presented.

In total Mrs. Mansor ordered 61 pieces. Carl also was introduced to PM Najib Razak. All pieces she chose are to be made from Carl's signature stretch silk, and to be made bespoke after taking her measurements.

A few of the styles she ordered included the Emilia skirt and long sleeve blouse below.
I would also be happy to offer you an AW12 style to run with the story, look book is attached.
Interesting, no?!
Kindest,

Holly”

Here is the second email, received at 16.47 on the same day. The hyperlink to The Darling penthouse was included by Beer:

“Hi Patty,

I just spoke to Carl for some further information:
He visited Rosmah, and her PM husband on New Year's Eve at The Darling's Penthouse Suite in the Casino (http://www.thedarling.com.au/sydney-hotel-rooms/penthouse/) for the fitting and presentation. The pieces are for her everyday occasions, which are many. She meets some incredibly influential people, including most recently Michelle Obama so Carl is thrilled that she is such a fan. He said she was incredibly lovely, and she is flying him to Kaula Lumpar mid-February for a second round of fittings. The pieces need to be completed in a month from the second fitting.

All pieces had to be altered to be with a long sleeve, with no bare ankles or wrists.
She is already asking for more pieces in addition to the 61 ordered, which is a mix of AW12 and SS11.

In addition to this, Carl has had a great season, his sales are extraordinarily 80% up post his debut Fashion Week show last year. His made-to-measure has definitely made him a favourite go-to and is his greatest point of difference - particularly against the onslaught of online stores.
Attached are the lookbook imagery, the following have already been published on Pages Digital.
Let me know of anything else you need,

Holly”

carl kapp and amanda ware (R) backstage at kapp's SS112 show, sydney, may 2011

4/ “I wish to clarify that in my statement on this distinguished client’s visit, never did I make any specific reference to the amount spent at my Paddington store”.

Did frockwriter report that Kapp made specific reference to the dollar size of the order? No.

But Kapp and his PR outfit volunteered, on the record – unsolicited - the unit size of the order. Sixty-one pieces. And apparently didn't think anyone would do the math.

Not only did Little Hero approach at least three journalists with the story that Rosmah Mansor had ordered 61 bespoke pieces from Kapp for her personal use, almost immediately after the original encounter, around the 1st or 2nd of January, Kapp himself went public with the information on Facebook to hundreds of his Facebook friends and fans – a post and comments that were sighted at the time by frockwriter, but which have since been deleted.

I write about fashion from a business perspective for a variety of publications, including US fashion trade paper WWD. I am frequently required to include industry-sourced information and sales estimates in stories. On January 16th I asked Little Hero for Kapp’s off-the-rack price range. In a third email that day, they informed me: AUD 295 for a silk T-shirt, AUD 330 for a “boob tube”, with short dresses starting at AUD 795 and reaching AUD 1100, AUD 2420 and AUD 2970 for the longer styles.

Overlooking for a moment the obvious facts that Rosmah Mansor did not order any short dresses, short-sleeved T-shirts or strapless boob tubes and that the entire order was made-to-measure, if the order was indeed 61 units, as claimed by Little Hero and Kapp, the absolute cheapest it could possibly have been was AUD 17,995 (295 x 61). And the absolute priciest: AUD 181,170 (2970 x 61). Average it out and you don't get much change out of AUD 100,000 - which is what I reported the order "could be approaching".

If you wanted to be discreet, why mention the size of the order? That was bound to attract scrutiny. And even with no NDA, why go public about a large order made by the wife of a prominent politician, without first checking that there was no problem with releasing the information? This was, presumably, a very important client to Kapp.

Rosmah Mansor isn't the first politician's wife to come under scrutiny for her fashion choices. But if you were Najib and you had an election looming; you were already taking a lot of heat over your wife's spending - including a previous incident in Australia just one month beforehand, when you had to hose down reports that your wife and daughter had spent AUD 210,000 on fashion and jewellery during CHOGM - wouldn't you at least try to keep a low profile?

rae begley and murray bevan, FINZ panel, auckland, november 6 2011

On Friday, when I alerted Rae Begley that I was tempted to go public with her emails, this was her response (again, via email).

Begley told me: "On release of the first pitch to Frockwriter, Little Hero was not privy to the information that there was a group of people with Rosmah".

She added: "Following your receipt of Little Hero's 1st press release, we understand on January 24th Carl disclosed the information about the attendance of a group of people in a telephone conversation with you. As Carl had already confirmed this information with you, we understood the article had been an unfair impression of Carl’s communications, hence the release of Carl’s Media Statement”.

We can appreciate that Begley may be out of her depth dealing with the Malaysian political establishment and that perhaps her memory is by now a little fuzzy.

But we do feel the need to remind Begley that we only had one phone conversation with Carl Kapp, on January 16th. In that interview, Kapp merely elaborated on the information that Beer had already mentioned.

Our story was published on January 17th. If Begley or Kapp had any concerns about the information in the story, it's curious that neither sought an immediate clarification. They did not.

On the contrary, Kapp sent me an SMS at 18.35 that day saying "Thanks for the brilliant write-up!”.

It's even more curious that if there was any problem with the story, that Kapp would seek to draw further attention to it by putting a “Like” on the post on frockwriter’s Facebook page and then also linking to it on his own Facebook page (also since deleted).

That same afternoon, when the SMH’s Andrew Hornery expressed an interest in the story for his Private Sydney column, I asked Kapp would he like me to give Hornery his cell phone number. He said yes.

Presented with yet another opportunity to set the record straight and correct any information that may have concerned him in frockwriter's account of his encounter with Rosmah Mansor, Kapp failed to correct anything, repeating the information verbatim to Hornery in a second interview.

source:frockwriter.blogspot.com.au

cheers.

Dasar luar negara Malaysia yang penuh dengan hipokrasi...

2012-02-01T17:30:00.000+08:00

Pengarah Biro Antarabangsa Keadilan, Yusmadi Yusuf berkata kerajaan Malaysia sebenarnya tiada dasar jelas apabila berdepan isu kritikal seperti pertikaian Israel-Palestin.

“Dasar luar kerajaan adalah opportunist (mengambil kesempatan)” katanya merujuk kepada tindakan Umno BN menggunakan khidmat APCO, agensi perhubungan awam Yahudi yang bertentangan dengan prinsip dasar luar negara.

Menurutnya, kerajaan Umno BN tidak konsisten apabila cuba melabel Anwar sebagai pro-Israel tetapi pada masa sama tidak teragak-agak mengupah APCO untuk kontrak gubahan imej negara.

“Pelantikan APCO langsung tidak menjaga sensitiviti dasar luar kerajaan yang mengharamkan sebarang hubungan diplomatik antara Israel,” kata Yusmadi lagi.

APCO adalah firma Yahudi yang diupah Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib untuk menaikkan imejnya sejak menjadi Perdana Menteri pada April 2009 dengan menggunakan wang pembayar cukai sebanyak RM77 juta setahun.

Pendedahan mengenai penglibatan Apco dalam kerajaan mengheret Anwar dan tiga ahli Parlimen Pakatan Rakyat digantung selama setengah tahun, tahun lalu.

“Jadi apa dia dasar yang sebenar Kerajaan mengenai Israel ini? Ia masih tidak jelas sehingga kini,” kata Yusmadi.

Menurut Yusmadi, Pakatan Rakyat mahupun keadilan mempunyai dasar yang jelas mengenai ini iaitu menekankan prinsip keadilan, kemanusia dan keselamatan.

“Anwar telah beri pandangan tegas, bagaimana isu Israel dan Palestin adalah mengenai isu keselamatan individu dua belah pihak tanpa memberi sebarang dokongan kepada dasar luar Israel yang menindas. Itu yang diperjuangkan Anwar sehingga sekarang,” katanya.

source:keadilandaily

Anwar is likely referring to reports that Dr Mahathir met Yitzhak Rabin in Paris in 1994.

Anwar says ‘hypocrite’ Dr M met Israeli PM

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim called his former boss Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad a hypocrite today for accusing him of being a Jewish sympathiser when it was the former prime minister who had met his Israeli counterpart.

The opposition leader told reporters today, “I myself have never met the Israeli prime minister, or the foreign minister or the finance minister.”

“I would like to know why he met the Israeli prime minister. Why the hypocrisy?” Anwar said, likely referring to reports that Dr Mahathir had met with Yitzhak Rabin and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres in Paris on July 6, 1994.

Dr Mahathir had on Monday labelled his former deputy as a Jewish sympathiser and a leader who disregarded the plight of the Palestinians after Anwar’s recent interview with the Wall Street Journal where he was quoted as saying he supported “all efforts to protect the security of the state of Israel.”

But the international business daily said Anwar stopped short of saying he would open diplomatic ties with the Jewish state, a step the former deputy prime minister said remains contingent on Israel respecting the aspirations of Palestinians.

Anwar came under heavy fire from Umno and its media after his statement was published by the Wall Street Journal last Thursday.

The PKR de facto leader was forced to defend himself by stressing that his remarks in the newspaper meant that he supported a two-state solution, which he said was mentioned by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman when the latter addressed the United Nations General Assembly in September last year.

His party also claimed yesterday Dr Mahathir paid Jack Abramoff, a Zionist lobbyist, US$1.2 million (RM3.7 million) to arrange a meeting with former US President George W. Bush shortly after Anwar was sacked as deputy prime minister in 1998.

Today, Anwar repeated the accusation he first made in 2010, that Datuk Seri Najib Razak had paid APCO Worldwide to burnish his administration’s image.

The Permatang Pauh MP and three Pakatan Rakyat (PR) colleagues were suspended from Parliament for six months after accusing the prime minister of paying RM77 million a year to APCO despite the public relations firm being an Israeli-based company “with ties to Israeli intelligence agency Shin Bet.”

“They go to America, and APCO distributes leaflets accusing me of being anti-Jew. Then they go to the Muslim world and say I am pro-Jew,” he added.

Muslim-majority Malaysia is a staunch supporter of Palestine and has no diplomatic ties with Israel.

Muslim politicians have long vied for support from Malays by denouncing what they say are inhumane acts of aggression by Israel towards its neighbour.

source:malaysian insider

Anwar tells 'old man' Mahathir to just shut up

“Old man” Dr Mahathir Mohamed should just stay at home and keep quiet, said Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim today.

“This old man, he hasn’t stopped yet? That is enough-lah. He (and his family) is already very rich,” he told more than 1,000 people at the Batu PKR Chinese New Year open house event in Kuala Lumpur.
“He should stay at home quietly and take care of his grandchildren,” sniped Anwar (left) at his former mentor.

Speaking at the first of a planned five-constituency Chinese New Year open house celebrations, the de facto PKR leader also dismissed and ridiculed Mahathir’s insinuations that he (Anwar) was “close” to Israel.

“He said I am close to Israel. But before this he said I was close to the Chinese and will sell the country to the Chinese if I become PM.

“Dey ane (hey brother), which one is it?

“Recently I went to a ponggal celebration. I wore the Indian hat. Like MGR (the late Indian movie idol). After this, is he going to say I am close to the Indians?” the Permatang Pauh MP hit out.

His speech was greeted with cheers and shouts from the mainly Chinese crowd who had welcomed him with a lion dance display earlier.

Anwar is scheduled to visit four more PKR-won constituencies today, with Wangsa Maju, Bandar Tun Razak, Brickfields and Pantai following suit.
source:malaysiakini

cheers.

Lim Guan Eng vs Nor Mohd Yakcop - Toll debate in Tasik Gelugor. Ada beranikah...

2012-02-01T15:00:00.000+08:00

Penang Pakatan Rakyat Youth secretariat is organising a debate between Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nor Mohamed Yakcop on Pakatan's aim to abolishing tolls on highways in the country.

To show its courage in defending the argument that highway tolls should be abolished for the benefit of the rakyat, Pakatan has chosen Umno's stronghold of Tasek Gelugor to hold the debate.

Nor Mohamed is the MP for Tasek Gelugor.

The Youth wing has proposed that the debate be held on Feb 29 at the Dewan Besar MPSP, Sungai Dua, Tasek Gelugor.

"This is to show Nor Mohamed that Pakatan has never been afraid to expose truth and will defend the rakyat, even in BN's stronghold," debate organiser Syed Mikael Rizal Aidid said today.

Pakatan made the proposal on abolishing highway tolls after realising "the madness" of the move to collect toll on Plus, the North-South Expressway, until 2038. Lim previously agreed to debate with Nor Mohamed on the topic, but the minister did not respond to the offer.

Syed Mikael, who is state PKR deputy youth chief, old a press conference that the topic would cover the possibility of Malaysia becoming bankrupt if highway toll collections were abolished.

He said highway tolls were created to settle the payment for construction and upgrading costs, and should not be collected for purposes other than those.

Madness to enrich PLUS

Defending the collection of tolls by profitable concessionaires when the rakyat faces a hike in cost of living is not an appropriate thing to do, he added.

This was made worse when the rakyat learned that Plus, the longest highway in Malaysia, has collected about 308 percent in profit," Syed Mikael (left) said.

"This is equivalent to RM18 billion net profit, after deducting the cost of the original project, which was only RM5 billion.

"This is no longer a question of politics, when the rakyat is squeezed to enrich Plus until 2038. This is madness," he added.

"Is it fair for millions of citizens to suffer just because Umno-BN failed to administer the country with trustworthiness?"

The debate idea came about after the profits earned by toll operators as at 2010 were revealed in Parliament last year.

According to Lim, who is also the DAP secretary-general, at least six highways should stop charging for toll.These include...

1. Lebuhraya Metramac (RM45 million for construction cost, RM440 million earned from toll collection, RM395 million in profits, 877 percent in returns);

2. North-South Expressway (cost - RM5 billion, toll - RM24.3 billion, profit - RM18.3 billion, 308 percent returns); and

3.Karak Highway (cost - RM452 million, toll - RM1.362 billion, profit - RM912 million, 202 percent returns).

Pakatan sedia berdebat isu tol di kubu UMNO,Tasik Gelugor...

Sekretariat pemuda Pakatan Rakyat Pulau Pinang akan menganjurkan debat di antara Ketua Menteri Lim Guan Eng dan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop berhubung matlamat pembangkang untuk menghapuskan tol di lebuh raya di negara ini.

Bagi membuktikan kesungguhan mereka mempertahankan hujah bahawa tol di lebuh raya perlu dimansuhkan untuk faedah rakyat, Pakatan memilih kubu kuat Umno Tasek Gelugor untuk dijadikan gelanggang perdebatan.

Nor Mohamed juga adalah ahli parlimen Tasek Gelugor.

Pemuda Pakatan juga mencadangkan supaya perbahasan berkenaan diadakan pada 29 Februari ini di Dewan Besar MPSP, Sungai Dua, Tasek Gelugor.

“Ini adalah untuk menunjukkan pada beliau dan rakyat, bahawa pimpinan Pakatan Rakyat tidak pernah gentar untuk mendedahkan kebenaran dan membela nasib rakyat hatta di lubuk BN itu sendiri.

“Pihak kami juga bersyukur dan rasa memadai andai debat ini hanya disaksikan oleh ribuan rakyat Pulau Pinang walau kita percaya ia tidak akan disiar di media televisyen arus perdana,” kata penganjur perbahasan itu, Syed Mikael Rizal Aidid hari ini.

Pakatan mencadangkan supaya tol di lebuh raya dihapuskan selepas menyedari konsensi mengutip tol di Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan (PLUS) hanya akan berakhir sehingga 2038.

“Ini bukan soal politik lagi, bila rakyat diperah untuk mengayakan PLUS sehingga konsesi tamat pada tahun 2038!

“Ini sudah gila!” katanya.

Lim sebelum ini telah memberikan persetujuan untuk hadir berdebat tetapi Nor Mohamed sebaliknya membuat memberikan sebarang reaksi berhubung cadangan berkenaan.
Syed Mikael yang juga timbalan ketua Pemuda PKR Pulau Pinang pada sidang akbarnya berkata perdebatan itu juga akan menyentuh mengenai dakwaan kemungkinan Malaysia menjadi bankrap jika kutipan tol dimansuhkan.

Beliau berkata, kutipan tol di lebuh raya diwujudkan dengan tujuan membiayai kos pembinaan dan proses-proses penambahbaikan lebuhraya tetapi sebaliknya sekarang hanya untuk kepentingan pihak tertentu.

“Jika selain tujuan asal ini, tindakan untuk mempertahankan kutipan tol di saat rakyat menderita dengan kos hidup yang semakin membelit, adalah tindakan yang sangat tidak wajar.

“Ini ditambah buruk, bila rakyat mengetahui bahawa projek lebuhraya terpanjang di Malaysia, Projek Lebuhraya Utara Selatan (PLUS) kini telah mengaut keuntungan sebanyak 308 peratus bersamaan dengan keuntungan RM18 bilion bersih, selepas ditolak kos asal projek sebanyak RM5 bilion!” katanya.

Menurut Syed Mikael, adalah tidak adil apabila rakyat yang melarat terus ditekan, hanya kerana kegagalan Umno dan BN mentadbir negara ini dengan amanah?

source:malaysiakini

cheers.

A "green lion" dance from PAS...

2012-02-01T12:21:00.000+08:00

While the Malay right wing group Perkasa has fallen into controversy for distributing ‘white ang pow’ in their open house programme, Islamic party PAS has won cheers among Facebook users for respecting Chinese culture during Chinese New Year.

A few photos of the federal opposition party’s Chinese New Year programmes have gone viral in Facebook, especially a photo which depicts a grassroots leader from Mersing, Johor, giving ang pow to a pork seller.

Other photos which have gone viral include Selangor PAS exco member Iskandar Abdul Samad giving ang pow in front of a pork stall and a “green lion” performance in an open house function held Perlis PAS. (Green is the symbolic colour for PAS.)

Facebook users were comparing PAS and Perkasa, praising the opposition party for its open-mindedness and its understanding of Chinese culture.

“This is a scene which MCA will not want to see, its Islamic state claims will be useless,” said Denise Yee on Facebook.

“Mersing PAS division chief (Rosalan Mamat) and Cempaka state assemblyperson (Iskandar Abdul Samad) is greeting happy Chinese New Year to a pork seller and distributing Chinese mandarin, they didn’t distribute ‘white ang pow’ to Chinese community,” he added.

No problem for Chinese to eat pork

When contacted by Malaysiakini, Rosalan Mamat seemed surprised to know his photo was circulating on the internet, but he also thanked the Facebook users for their praises.

The 51-year-old businessman said the photo was taken when he and other Pakatan leaders were distributing ang pow, Chinese mandarin and Chinese New Year cards to the public in Mersing market on Jan 21, two days before Chinese New Year.

When asked why he didn’t evade the pork seller who is deemed not “halal” by certain Muslims, Roslan explained that this was because Islam never forbids non-Muslims from taking pork.

“There is no problem for Chinese to eat pork, only Muslims cannot eat pork. We must respect Chinese culture and this is their right.

“Only Umno and MCA people will twist the facts, claiming that when PAS grabs power, they will not allow Chinese to eat pork,” said Roslan.

He added that this was the first time for the Pakatan divisions to hold such programmes together. However, PAS leaders have been visiting and greeting the Chinese community during the last couple of Chinese New Year celebrations.

Green lion dance at state headquaters

Meanwhile, Perlis PAS chief Hashim Jasin said its was not the first time that the party had invited a ‘green lion’ to perform at their function.He revealed that PAS had in fact featured lion dance performancec in some of the party’s dinners in Arau and Sanglang in the last two or three years.

He, however, said that this was the first time (Jan 29) the party and its supporters held the Chinese New Year open house event and invited a ‘green lion’ to perform at the state headquarters.It is understood that the ‘green lion’ was invited from a sports club in Kedah.

Asked why they wanted a lion dance performance, Hashim explained that they were following Kelantan PAS government’s footsteps, which always held multi-racial cultural performances.

“Not only Chinese, Malays also like lion dance performances. It is very attractive,” he added.

Asked if the performances were held to gain the support of the Chinese community, he admitted that the people will be able to see how PAS interacts with different religions and races, contrary to the claims made by Umno that PAS will “chop Chinese hands and legs” when they grabbed power.

PAS buktikan ia 'parti celik budaya'

Ketika kumpulan pendesak Melayu, PERKASA mengagihkan “angpau bersampul putih” kepada masyarakat Cina sempena sambutan Tahun Baru, parti Islam PAS, menurut warga maya ternyata lebih bijak dalam menghormati budaya bangsa lain.
Beberapa gambar merakamkan pemimpin PAS termasuk di kalangan akar umbi 'celik budaya' khususnya yang membabitkan masyarakat Cina. Antaranya, memaparkan gambar seorang pemimpin akar umbi PAS dari Mersing, Johor memberi angpau kepada penjual daging babi telah mendapat sambutan hangat.

Turut mendapat pujian adalah gambar exco kerajaan negeri Selangor Iskandar Abdul Samad mengagihkan angpau di hadapan sebuah gerai menjual daging babi dan tarian "singa hijau" yang diadakan sempena rumah terbuka Tahun Baru Cina anjuran PAS Perlis.

Negara Islam

Warga maya di laman Facebook itu juga membandingkan ‘kecerdikan’ antara PAS dan PERKASA yang didakjwa sebagai ‘buta budaya’ dan gagal memahami kepercayaan serta cara hidup masyarakat Cina di negara ini.

"Ini babak yang mahu dielakkan oleh MCA, momokan mereka mengenai negara Islam akan menjadi sia-sia," kata Denise Yee dalam Facebook.

"Pengerusi PAS bahagian Mersing, Johor (Rosalan Mamat) dan ADUN Cempaka (Iskandar Abdul Samad) menyambut Tahun Baru Cina dengan penjual daging babi sambil mengedarkan limau mandarin. Mereka tidak mengagihkan 'angpau putih’ kepada masyarakat Cina."

Ketika dihubungi Malaysiakini, Rosalan Mamat mengucapkan terima kasih kepada pelayar di Facebook kerana memuji tindakan beliau itu. Rosalan, 51, yang juga seorang ahli perniagaan berkata gambar itu dirakamkan dua hari sebelum Tahun Baru Cina ketika beliau dan beberpa pemimpin PAS tempatan mengedarkan angpau, limau dan kad tahun baru di sebuah pasar di Mersing.

Ditanya mengapa beliau menghampiri dan menyapa penjual daging babi berkenaan dan tidak mengelakkan dirinya kerana bagi masyarakat Islam daging berkenaan dianggap tidak "halal", Rosalan berkata agamanya tidak pernah melarang orang bukan Islam untuk memakan daging tersebut.

Tak ada masalah

"Tidak ada masalah untuk Cina makan babi, hanya umat Islamyang tidak boleh makan daging babi. Kita mesti menghormati budaya Cina dan ini adalah hak mereka.

"Hanya Umno dan orang-orang MCA yang akan memutar-belitkan fakta dan mendakwa bahawa apabila PAS berkuasa, orang Cina tidak akan dibenarkan makan babi," katanya.

Menurutnya lagi, ini adalah kali pertama bagi pemimpin tempatan Pakatan Rakyat keluar bersama mengucapkan selamat tahun baru kepada masyrakat Cina. Sebelum ini mereka menganjurkan aktiviti masing-masing secara sendirian.
Sementara itu, Pesuruhjaya PAS Perlis, Hashim Jasin berkata ini bukan kali pertama parti Islam itu menjemput "singa hijau" memeriahkan majlis mereka.

Menurutnya, sejak dua atau tiga tahun lalu, PAS sebenarnya telah menampilkan persembahan tarian singa di jamuan makannya di Arau dan Sanglang.

Bagaimanapun, beliau berkata ini kali pertama parti itu mengadakan rumah terbuka Tahun Baru Cina dengan menjemput "singa hijau" untuk memeriahkan majlis itu di ibu pejabatnya pada 29 Jan lalu.

Melayu terhibur

Difahamkan bahawa singa hijau itu dijemput dari sebuah kelab sukan di Kedah.

Apabila ditanya mengapa PAS mengadakan persembahan tarian singa, Hashim menjelaskan bahawa mereka mengikuti jejak kerajaan PAS Kelantan yang sentiasa mengalakkan persembahan kebudayaan berbilang kaum.
"Bukan sahaja Cina, orang Melayu juga terhibur dengan persembahan tarian singa. Ia amat menarik."

Ditanya sama ada tindakan itu, cubaan PAS untuk meraih sokongan masyarakat Cina, Hashim (kiri) berkata terpulang kepada rakyat untuk menilai bagaimana parti Islam itu berinteraksi dengan masyarkat berlainan agama dan kaum.

Ini katanya, jelas bertentangan dengan dakwaan sesetengah pihak yang menuduh PAS akan “memotong tangan dan kaki orang Cina” apabila mereka berkuasa nanti.

source:malaysiakini

cheers.

UIA out to embarrass me, says Aziz Bari...

2012-01-31T22:00:00.000+08:00

Constitutional law expert Abdul Aziz Bari claims Universiti Islam Antarabangsa’s (UIA) public announcement today that his ‘professor’ title will be dropped is an attempt to embarrass him.

“I feel ashamed and saddened by UIA’s attitude, it is apparent that it is being made a tool of others,” he said in a statement to Malaysiakini.

He said that UIA’s comments showed it was ignorant of the relationship between the ‘professor’ title and knowledge.

“The fact is many retired professors, even though they are not given the ‘emeritus’ title, are still addressed as ‘professor’ because people are confident of and respect their knowledge.

“Many professors have retired from UIA, not one has been attacked by UIA like I am being attacked now. Is UIA following Umno’s agenda?” he asked, adding that no university has ever made such a public announcement.

“UIA can withdraw my title but it cannot take my knowledge, my expertise will remain with me,” he said.

He added that he had never requested for the position of professor.

“Unlike others, I did not apply for professorship but I was asked by UIA at the end of 2002, to apply for the position,” he said.

Abdul Aziz, who will leave UIA tomorrow, was responding to Utusan Malaysia’s report today on UIA’s announcement that his ‘professor’ title will be dropped.

The report was in response to a letter to the Umno-owned daily, questioning Abdul Aziz's recognition as a constitutional law expert.

“The unofficial title of ‘constitutional law expert’ was given by the media including Utusan Malaysia, Berita Harian and other Umno-owned media but after 2008, they became uneasy and Utusan began to question the title,” said Abdul Aziz.

PKR declares Aziz Bari as its candidate

UIA’s statement today comes shortly after Abdul Aziz Bari was declared by PKR as its candidate in the next general election.

“Last Thursday, (PKR supremo) Anwar Ibrahim announced me as a candidate for the Sabak Bernam parliamentary seat at the Sabak Bernam mini-stadium before a crowd of 6,000,” he said.

He added that UIA’s statement would only draw attention to other controversial professors and will reflect badly on them.

“There are those who created problems but their titles were not withdrawn, for example the professor who said Malaysia was never colonised... or the professor who said Hang Tuah never existed.”

'UIA boleh ambil profesor, tapi bukan ilmu saya'

Pakar perlembagaan Dr Abdul Aziz Bari hari berkata, beliau tidak kisah gelaran sama ada gelaran profesornya ditarik balik oleh Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) atau tidak kerana kepakaran yang dimiliki tetap bersamanya.

"UIA boleh tarik gelaran itu tapi UIA tak boleh ambil ilmu saya. Kepakaran saya akan terus bersama saya.

"Saya tidak boleh sekat orang panggil saya profesor; apa pun saya saya tidak kisah ada gelaran atau tidak. Saya tetap saya," katanya.

Dr Aziz (kiri) hari ini dilaporkan tidak boleh lagi menggunakan status profesor kerana ia gugur secara automatik setelah menamatkan perkhidmatan dengan UIA.

Menjawab pertanyaan pembaca Utusan Malaysia, Bahagian Komunikasi Korporat UIA berkata, Abdul Aziz masih boleh menggunakan status profesor jika ada universiti lain melantiknya ke jawatan itu.

Dalam kenyataannya kepada Malaysiakini, Dr Aziz berkata, beliau sedih dengan gelagat UIA yang didakwa jelas menjadi "alat orang lain" dengan mengeluarkan kenyataan memalukannya, hanya kerana pertanyaan sepucuk surat pembaca "yang jahil" tentang ilmu dan gelaran profesor.

"Nampak macam UIA hendak ikut sama memalukan saya supaya saya sukar menghadapi hari-hari yang mendatang.

"Negara sudah tahu saya tidak lagi berkhidmat di UIA; jadi perlukah UIA membuat kenyataan begitu?" katanya.

UIA yang minta saya pohon profesor

Dr Aziz juga berkata, secara faktanya, ramai "profesor pencen" masih dipanggil profesor kerana orang yakin dan hormat dengan ilmunya dan setakat ini tidak ada universiti di Malaysia yang membuat kenyataan umum seperti UIA itu.

Beliau juga berkata tidak kisah atas tindakan itu kerana kegiatan akademik awamnya bermula sejak saya belum bergelar profesor lagi.

"Dengan itu apa yang mereka lakukan tidak akan memberi kesan kepada saya," katanya.

Menurut Dr Aziz juga berkata, gelaran profesor itu pun dipohonnya sebelum ini atas permintaan UIA sendiri melalui surat rasmi daripada rektor sepuluh tahun lalu.

"Tidak seperti orang lain saya tidak memohon, Saya diminta oleh pihak UIA, hujung 2002, untuk memohon jawatan profesor.

"Mungkin kerana ketika itu tulisan dan autoriti saya mengatasi rakan-rakan lain dalam fakulti dan mereka mahu saya 'masuk' dulu," katanya.

source:malaysiakini

cheers.

Mahathir pro-Jewish, OK, but not Anwar...

2012-01-31T19:00:00.000+08:00

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s vocal stand against Zionists and the West contradicts his own close association with them while he was in power, said PKR today.

“Mahathir may seem to be vocal in opposing Zionists and the West but actually had the closest connections with them, to the point of signing a secret military agreement with America in 1984 - the Bilateral Training and Consultation Agreement (Bitac) - that allowed America to hold their military training in Malaysia,” said PKR’s Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (right).

The party communications director was responding to Mahathir’s attack yesterday on PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim’s “pro-Jew” stance and the latter’s alleged “close relations with the former World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz, who is a Jew”.

He said that the long-time former PM, after he had ruined Malaysia’s name abroad with Anwar’s sacking, had allegedly paid Zionist lobbyist Jack Abramoff up to USD1.2 million to arrange a meeting with former US president George W Bush.

“Mahathir himself had admitted to the fact,” said Nik Nazmi in a statement. Abramoff, he said, was close to Bush and to a group of extremists in Israel.

“According to Newsweek, funds from Abramoff’s lobbying was channeled to Jewish residents who opposed the Palestinian state...
“After that, Bush considered Malaysia an ally in his war against terrorism and Malaysia used that as grounds to detain whoever was necessary under ISA, including opposition leaders who were accused of being terrorists,” he said.

Nik Nazmi said Mahathir (right) was merely acting out a grudge against Anwar, that he and Umno were jumping from one scandal to another against the PKR de facto leader.

The war of words follows Anwar's Thursday interview in the Wall Street Journal that reported him saying that he supported efforts to protect Israel's security, but that any relation with the Jewish state depends on its willingness to respect the Palestinian aspirations.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin took the cue to slam Anwar and Pakatan for being pro-Israel.

Nik Nazmi however stressed, “Anwar has explained that his statement in Wall Street Journal was distorted by Umno and the media ... they (Umno) themselves support the two state solution, that is also accepted by the Arab peace initiative, Malaysia and even Hamas, the Palestinian freedom fighters.”

Dr M didakwa lupa hubungan 'akrab' dengan Amerika

PKR menyelar Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yang didakwa memutarbelitkan kenyataan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dalam isu Israel-Palestin tetapi melupakan "hubungan akrabnya" dengan Amerika Syarikat suatu ketika dahulu.

Pengarah Komunikasi PKR Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (bawah) berkata, Dr Mahathir mungkin kelihatan lantang menentang Zionis dan Barat tetapi dia didakwa mempunyai hubungan baik dengan mereka hingga menandatangani perjanjian ketenteraan dengan Amerika sebelum ini.

"Nampaknya Dr Mahathir terus menyimpan dendam lamanya terhadap Anwar. Beliau dan pimpinan Umno nampaknya tidak dapat berhenti menghamburi fitnah semata-mata untuk mengalihkan dari satu demi satu skandal yang membelenggu mereka," katanya.

Nik Nazmi merujuk kepada Bilateral Training and Consultation Agreement (BITAC) yang membolehkan Amerika Syarikat menjalankan latihan ketenteraan di Malaysia pada tahun 1984.

Dr Mahathir semalam berkata, beliau kecewa dengan kenyataan Anwar yang didakwa mempunyai hubungan rapat dengan Yahudi, malah berkawan dengan anggota kongres Amerika Syarikat yang berbangsa Yahudi.

Dalam kenyataannya hari ini, Nik Nazmi berkata, Dr Mahathir juga membayar pelobi Zionis Jack Abramoff untuk mengatur pertemuannya dengan presiden Amerika Syarikat ketika itu George W Bush.

"Selepas itu, Bush menganggap Malaysia sebagai sekutu di dalam perang melawan keganasan.

"Dan Malaysia menggunakan alasan tersebut untuk menangkap sesiapa sahaja yang dikehendaki termasuk anggota pembangkang yang dituduh sebagai pengganas di bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri," katanya.

Menyentuh kenyataan Anwar kepada akhbar antarabangsa Wall Street Journal, Nik Nazmi mempertahankan kenyataannya bosnya itu selari dengan penyelesaian dua negara yang diterima dunia Arab, Malaysia malah pejuang Palestin Hamas sendiri.

source:malaysiakini

Israel: Dr Mahathir sengaja putar belit, melupakan fakta

cheers.

MACCgiven two weeks to act against NFC head...

2012-01-31T16:44:00.000+08:00

PKR has given the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) two weeks to arrest and charge National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) chairperson Mohamad Salleh Ismail over a bribery allegation..

Failing this, the opposition party has threatened to pressure the government to set up a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into the possibility that the MACC is protecting NFC.

Yesterday, PKR had revealed a police report in which businessman Shamsubahrin Ismail (left) had claimed to have been pressured to pay bribes to put the police off investigations into scandals involving the NFC. While Shamsubahrin has named Salleh as having instigated this, the latter has dismissed the claim.

Taking this further, PKR Subang MP R Sivarasa and Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin lodged a report today at the Kuala Lumpur MACC office.Their report is based on claims by businessman Shamsubahrin Ismail that Salleh had asked him to bribe the police as inducement to call off the on-going probe into the NFC.

Zuraida said the MACC, which had arrested Shamsubahrin on Dec 22 last year, has been holding his mobile phone in which text-messages from Salleh are stored.

She therefore questioned the MACC’s failure to act against Salleh up to now.

PKR, she added, will next lodge a report at the MACC headquarters n Putrajaya.

'Cops should be probed as well’

Sivarasa claimed that several other personnel of NFC had repeatedly sent text-messages to Shamsubahrin, ordering him to bribe the police. However, he declined to reveal the names of those allegedly involved.

He said the RCI, if set up, should also investigate the conduct of the police.

"We put a challenge to MACC to investigate Salleh (left) just as Shamsubahrin was investigated, and to arrest and charge Salleh," he told reporters.

Sivarasa said PKR supports DAP leader Lim Kit Siang's intention to set up a RCI to look into alleged abuse of a RM250 million government soft loan to NFC, if Pakatan Rakyat takes over Putrajaya.
Shamsubahrin, who has been charged with four counts of cheating, is being remanded at Sungai Buloh prison as he has refused to post bail for reasons of personal safety.

NFC tolak memo NGO

Usaha sebuah NGO menghantar memorandum kepada National Feedlot Corporation berhubung dakwaan perbelanjaan kredit kad RM600,000 yang didakwa menggunakan wang daripada dana kerajaan hanya sampai di muka pintu.

Rombongan kira-kira 10 aktivis JINGGA 13 pulang hampa apabila kehadiran mereka di Kuala Lumpur gagal mencapai matlamat apabila pegawai syarikat itu enggan menerima memorandum itu.

"Walaupun Saudara Fariz Musa selaku ketua koordinator menyatakan bahawa JINGGA 13 mewakili kehendak rakyat untuk dapat penjelasan, namun pegawai itu bertegas untuk mengikuti arahan atasan dengan alasan NFC adalah 'entiti perniagaan'," kata setiausahanya Saifuddin Shafi Muhammad.

Menurut Saifuddin, pegawai itu juga menyatakan tidak mahu mengganggu tugas pihak polis yang sedang menyiasat kes itu walaupun pengarah eksekutifnya Wan Shahinur Izmir Salleh didakwa berkali-kali membuat kenyataan menafikan dakwaan itu.

JINGGA 13 sebelum ini membuat laporan polis terhadap empat anggota menteri pembangunan wanita Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil yang didakwa membelanjakan hampir RM600,000 pada tahun 2009 dengan kad kredit yang wangnya dari dana NFC.

Dalam kenyataannya hari ini, NGO yang dekat dengan PKR itu juga mempersoalkan keistimewaan kumpulan pendesak Melayu PERKASA dan 11 NGO yang dijemput khas untuk diberi penerangan oleh NFC sebelum ini.

Justeru, Saifuddin mempersoalkan kenapa JINGGA 13 yang melaporkan perkara itu kepada polis dan Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) tidak dilayan jika benar tiada fakta mahu disembunyikan.

(An attempt to hand over a memo demanding the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) to account for its credit card expenses of RM600,000 was refused at the door today at its office in Kuala Lumpur. A delegation of about 10 members of the PKR-linked NGO Jingga 13 were met by the NFC's corporate communications manager outside its office, but he refused to accept the memorandum.

He said the company's executive chairperson Mohamad Salleh Ismail had given instructions not to accept the memo as he did not want to affect the ongoing police investigations.Speaking to reporters later, Jingga 13 coordinator Fariz Musa, who led the delegation, expressed disappointment over the refusal.

"We want transparency because it involves public funds. Therefore we are disappointed that we couldn't hand over the memo," he said)

source:malaysiakini

cheers.

Adakah mana2 pemimpin UMNO/BN dipenjarakan kerana memperjuangkan hak Melayu atau bukan Melayu...

2012-01-31T06:30:00.000+08:00

“Saya bangga walau pun terpaksa dipenjarakan dalam perjuangan menentang ketidakadilan terhadap sebuah keluarga miskin Melayu di Melaka.

“Adakah mana-mana pemimpin BN pernah ke penjara kerana memperjuangkan hak Melayu atau bukan Melayu? Kalau ada pun pemimpin BN yang dipenjarakan, ia adalah kerana penyelewengan dan rasuah dan bukan kerana memperjuangkan rakyat.”

Demikian kata-kata Setiausaha Agung DAP Lim Guan Eng sebagai menjawab fitnah dan tohmahan lidah rasmi UMNO, iaitu Utusan Malaysia, apabila mendakwa kononnya DAP adalah parti paling rasis di dunia.

“Ini menunjukkan betapa kecewanya mereka kerana makin ramai Melayu sudah tidak percaya dalam UMNO dan Utusan sehingga mereka menyertai DAP.

“Utusan Malaysia sudah kehilangan kredibiliti, malahan di kalangan Melayu, apabila akhbar itu telah didapati bersalah oleh Mahkamah Tinggi Pulau Pinang dan diarahkan untuk membayar RM200,000 kerana memfitnah saya sebagai anti-Islam dan anti-Melayu,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan hari ini.

Menurutnya DAP bangga dengan rekod memperjuangkan hak semua rakyat Malaysia termasuk Melayu, Cina, India, Kadazan, Iban dan Orang Asli, dan kerana itu, sudah makin ramai orang Melayu tidak percaya kepada pembohongan para pemimpin UMNO dan penipuan Utusan tentang DAP.

Beliau yang juga Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang berkata keputusan mahkamah terhadap Utusan juga membuktikan bahawa DAP dan beliau sendiri tidak bersifat anti-Melayu atau anti-Islam. Sebaliknya, beliau menjelaskan, peruntukan, bantuan kebajikan dan usaha murni untuk orang Melayu dan Islam di Pulau Pinang telah ditingkatkan berkali-kali ganda berbanding dengan pentadibran BN.

Guan Eng yang juga Ahli Parlimen Bagan menjelaskan bahawa serangan Utusan itu berpunca daripada kenyataan balas Ketua Parlimen DAP Lim Kit Siang kepada Presiden MCA Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek yang telah menyeru agar masyarakat Cina terus menyokong BN.

“Kenapa tidak salah apabila Chua menyeru kepada masyarakat Cina untuk bersatu menentang perubahan, tetapi salah apabila Kit Siang menyeru supaya masyarakat Cina untuk bersatu untuk menukar kerajaan dengan menyokong PR?

“Adakah DAP itu sebuah parti rasis kerana meminta supaya tindakan diambil terhadap kes rasuah seperti permintaan untuk menubuhkan Suruhanjaya Siasatan Diraja mengenai skandal RM250 juta “lembu dan kondo” yang melibatkan keluarga seorang Menteri Kabinet?

“Adakah DAP itu rasis kerana menyerang UMNO yang tidak mengambil sebarang tindakan terhadap mereka yang bertanggungjawab atas kehilangan saham Bumiputera berjumlah RM52 bilion yang sepatutnya diberikan kepada orang Melayu miskin yang tidak menerima walau satu saham pun?

“Adakah DAP itu rasis kerana mempersoalkan konsesi lebuh raya Banting-Taiping selama 60 tahun dan berjumlah RM7.07 bilion kepada Kumpulan Europlus Bhd yang dimiliki seorang bukan Melayu?” soal beliau.

Beliau menambah bahawa Utusan Malaysia sudah tidak relevan lagi apabila orang Melayu pun sudah tidak percaya dalam fitnahnya.

Guan Eng juga membidas Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyddin Yassin kerana menggelar DAP cauvinis sedangkan DAP adalah parti berbilang kaum yang terbuka kepada semua rakyat Malaysia.

Menurutnya Muhyiddin tidak berhak menuduh DAP kerana Timbalan Presiden UMNO itu sendiri sudah mendabik dada mengumumkan bahawa beliau adalah “Melayu dahulu, rakyat Malaysia kemudian”.

Katanya keengganan Muhyiddin untuk mengutuk Utusan Malaysia kerana menggambarkan tragedi rusuhan Mei 13 yang mengakibatkan kematian beribu-ribu rakyat Malaysia sebagai “hari keramat” jelas menunjukkan siapa sebenarnya yang bersikap cauvinis dan rasis.

source:roketkini.com

cheers.

Anwar kononnya rapat dengan Isreal tapi Mahathir tinggal sehotel dengan PM Isreal...

2012-01-31T01:11:00.000+08:00

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad hari ini membidas Anwar Ibrahim ekoran dakwaan pemimpin itu mahu melindungi keselamatan Israel. Bercakap kepada pemberita di Putrajaya, Dr Mahathir berkata beliau kecewa dengan kenyataan ketua pembangkang itu tetapi tidak berasa terkejut.

Dakwanya, Anwar mempunyai hubungan rapat dengan Yahudi, malah berkawan dengan anggota kongres Amerika Syarikat yang berbangsa Yahudi.

(Dr Mahathir Mohamad, today lashed out at, Anwar Ibrahim, for wanting to protect Israel’s security. Mahathir said he was “disappointed” with the de facto PKR leader, but he was “not surprised”.

“He is close to Israel. His friends are all Jewish... I am not surprised as he is friendly with the members of the US congress and senate who are of Jewish origin,” he told reporters in Putrajaya.Mahathir was speaking on leadership at the second instalment of talks organised by the Razak School of Government.)

source:malaysiakini

Mahathir dah lupa kot betapa intimnya hubungan dia dengan PM Isreal Yitzhak Rabin(mendiang) dan Ehud Barak....

Dr Mahathir pernah menginap di hotel yang sama dengan PM Israel, Yitzhak Rabin (mendiang) ketika berkunjung ke Perancis pada tahun 1995.

Bukan itu sahaja, kedua pemimpin sekular ini didakwa mengadakan pertemuan sulit di hotel berkenaan - satu perkara yang amat ganjil kerana Malaysia tidak mempunyai sebarang hubungan diplomatik dengan negara haram Israel itu.

Setelah pertemuan sulit itu diketahui umum, Dr Mahathir akhirnya mengakui bahawa beliau memang berutus surat dengan Yitzhak Rabin(bawah).

Pengakuan Dr Mahathir ini amat membimbangkan kita kerana sebagai seorang ketua kerajaan adalah tidak wajar untuknya berhubung dengan seorang pemimpin kerajaan yang tidak diiktiraf negara.

Di zaman Mahathir jugalah rakyat negara Israel dijemput secara rasmi ke negara ini. Dengan mengetepikan sentimen umat Islam, Mahathir mengizinkan pasukan kriket Israel dan rombongan pelajar Israel berkunjung ke sini.

Alangkah malangnya bagi kita rakyat Malaysia bila Mahathir sendiri begitu rapat dengan pemimpin2 Isreal dan Najib telah menggunakan firma "rundingan public affairs and strategic communications"APCO yang dibiayai dengan jutaan ringgit duit rakyat Malaysia semata2 nak menaikkan imej Najib di dalam dan luar negara.- pencacai-semalaysia.com

Jadi Mahathir dan Najib tak payahlah jadi hipokrit dalam isu negara Isreal dan orang Yahudi ini dan rakyat Malaysia taklah sebodoh yang disangkakan UMNO....

cheers.

Beranikah keluarga Shahrizat isytihar gaji mereka jika tak bersalah...

2012-01-30T21:00:00.000+08:00

DAP hari ini mencabar ahli-ahli keluarga Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil supaya mengisytiharkan gaji sebenar bagi menangkis dakwaan bahawa mereka diberi pendapatan lumayan sebagai eksekutif Perbadanan Fidlot Kebangsaan (NFC).

Pemimpin supremo DAP, Lim Kit Siang dalam kenyataan medianya menempelak keluarga ketua wanita Umno itu masih cuba berselindung berhubung bayaran yang diterima mereka dari syarikat projek penternakan lembu negara itu.

Menurut Lim, meskipun keluarga berkenaan menafikan dakwaan bahawa mereka dibayar gaji berjumlah RM215,000 sebulan, namun mereka belum membekalkan angka yang sebenar.

"Adalah ketara bahawa selepas diheret dengan kemelut ini untuk lebih tiga bulan, anggota keluarga Shahrizat, yang menerajui NFC gagal membersihkan diri mereka daripada pelbagai dakwaan salah guna kuasa dan dana awam yang dilemparkan walaupun ada percubaan di pihak mereka untuk bertemu dengan penulis-penulis blog yang 'mesra' dan dengan badan-badan bukan kerajaan.

Sebagai contoh, kata Lim, setakat ini walaupun keluarga Shahrizat yang juga menteri wanita, keluarga dan pembangunan masyarakat itu menafikan mereka menerima RM215,000 sebulan, jumlah gaji sebenar mereka tidak didedahkan.

Sebelum ini dilaporkan suami Sharizat, Datuk Mohammad Salleh Ismail didakwa dibayar RM100,000 gaji bulanan sebagai pengerusi NFC.

Anak pasangan itu yang berusia 31 tahun, Izmir pula dikatakan mendapat RM45,000 sebulan sebagai pengarah eksekutif,. Seorang lagi anak lelaki mereka, Wan Shahinur Izran, 27 yang dilantik sebagai Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif mendapat RM35,000 sebulan manakala anak perempuan mereka yang berusia 25 tahun, Wan Izzanah Fatimah pula didakwa dibayar RM35,000 sebulan sebagai seorang lagi pengarah.

"Apakah alasan bagi Shahrizat dan keluarganya kerana gagal membersihkan nama mereka di mata rakyat?" soal Lim lagi dalam kenyataannya itu.

NFC terjebak dalam skandal apabila timbl pendedahan bahawa pinjaman mudah RM250 juta yang diberikan kerajaan untuk projek ternakan lembu negara itu telah dibelanjakan untuk membeli kondominium mewah dan perbelanjaan lain yang didakwa berbentuk peribadi.

Jawatankuasa Kira-kira Awam (PAC) juga mengakui bahawa terdapat "kelemahan" dalam projek itu.

Shahrizat's kin should declare salaries if innocent...

DAP has challenged the family members of minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil to declare their true salaries to counter allegations that they are drawing excessive paychecks as National Feedlot Corporation’s (NFC) top executives.

Party supremo Lim Kit Siang (right) today blasted the family for remaining elusive over various allegations that have been levelled against the company.

In particular, he noted that while they have denied Allegations that the family members’ total salaries amount to RM215,000 a month, they have failed to come forth with the actual figures.

“It is significant that after being dragged over the coals for over three months, Shahrizat’s family members who run the NFC had failed to clear themselves of the many allegations of abuse of power and misuse of public funds which have been made against them despite several attempts on their part to meet up with ‘friendly’ bloggers and NGOs.

For instance, although there have been denials that Shahrizat’s husband and three children draw RM215,000 a month as salaries from NFC - husband Mohammad Salleh Ismail drawing RM100,000 salary monthly as NFC chairperson, 31-year-old Izmir drawing RM45,000 monthly as executive director, another son Wan Shahinur Izran aged 27 drawing RM35,000 a month as CEO while 25-year-old daughter Wan Izzanah Fatimah drawing RM35,000 a month as the other director - Shahrizat’s family members have not come out with their own actual salary figures.

“What is the reason for this shocking failure of Shahrizat and her family to clear their name in the court of public opinion?” said Lim in a statement today.

NFC has been mired in scandal since revelations that a RM250 million government soft loan for a cattle project had been used to purchase luxury condominiums and other allegedly personal expenses.

The Public Accounts Committee has admitted that there are "weakness" in the project.

source:malaysioakini

cheers.

Shamsubahrin: NFC chief pressured me to bribe police...

2012-01-30T18:30:00.000+08:00

Businessman Shamsubahrin Ismail, who has been charged with cheating National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) executive chairperson Mohamed Salleh Ismail, has claimed that the latter pressured him to bribe the police to cover up the company’s scandal.

He made this claim in a police report lodged at the Klang General Hospital last Friday, which was revealed by PKR at its headquarters in Petaling Jaya today.

The police report reads: “In my appointment, I received messages and pressure from Salleh asking me to cover up the NFC case with the police.

“Salleh, through phone calls and SMSes, pressured me to pay bribes to the police to cover up the case.”

In the report, Shamsubahrin claimed that he was appointed by NFC as a corporate advisor and consultant to “clean up” NFC’s internal problems.

He added that he had met with the police to facilitate their investigation but had told Salleh he would not give bribes.

NFC is accused of misappropriating a RM250 million government soft loan by allegedly spending it on luxurious assets instead of the cattle centre in Gemas, which it had been tasked to manage.

'MACC not acting on evidence'

Asked if PKR possessed the SMS evidence, its vice president Surendran said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is in possession of the phone containing the messages.

“Several phones were taken from Shamsubahrin and all the phones were later returned except for one. That one held by the MACC is the one containing all this crucial matter.

“It is in the hands of the authority but we have records, we have a backup of it,” he said.

Surendran also questioned the MACC, saying that despite possessing the information, it had failed to act against the “real culprits”.

Shamsubahrin was on Dec 30, last year, charged with cheating Salleh of RM2million in consultation fees.

Surendran, together with PKR legal bureau chief Latheefa Koya, are lawyers for Shamsubahrin, said after he managed to raise enough money to post the RM300,000 bail on Jan 19, was immediately re-arrested and slapped with another two cheating charges.

The two charges were brought against him on the same day he lodged the police report. He was at that time warded in hospital for health complications.

Investigation politically motivated

He is now in Sungai Buloh prison and has refused to post bail for the second time for fear of being slapped with more charges, said Surendran.

“He is not ready to come out because he fears for his safety, ironically and strangely he feels safer in Sungai Buloh,” said Latheefa.

In the police report, Shamsubahrin said: “I believe that I have been made a scapegoat and lied to by Salleh to cover-up and save the reputation of Salleh and his wife (Women, Family and Community Development Minister) Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

“The accusations and investigation on me are politically motivated where I have been victimised and is intended to cover-up the NFC investigation.”

Also at the press conference, PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin caused a stir when she claimed Salleh and Shamsubahrin knew each other through Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

However, she later retracted her statement, saying: “They met through TPM, TPM is Technology Park Malaysia not timbalan perdana menteri (deputy prime minister).”

However, she said the information released today will be used for her and PKR strategies director Rafizi Ramli’s defence in a RM100 million defamation lawsuit filed by Shahrizat again her.

Shahrizat has consistently denied involvement in the controversy even though her family members form part of the company. She has since gone on a three-week leave to facilitate investigations.

When contacted, GRA Communications chief executive Ghazalie Abdullah, who is acting for NFC, said it will respond after it ascertains the content of the police report.

“We have just got wind of this, we do not know exactly what is in the police statement, I’m trying to establish it and indicate it to our client,” he said.

Meanwhile, PKR's Subang MP R Sivarasa (right) blasted the government over a news report quoting a Public Accounts Committee insider as saying that no personal guarantees had been given for the soft loan.

"It is unusual to give huge amounts of money without some form of guarantee... What was the intention of NFC when it applied for the loan? Was there a genuine intention to implement the project or is it a sham?"

Sivarasa said using a loan other than for its intended purpose is criminal breach of trust, and ripped NFC executive director Wan Shahinur Izmir Salleh for suggesting that the matter has been blown up.

"I advise this young fellow to get a good lawyer and seek advice instead of making foolish and ridiculous statements when RM250 million in public money has been abused," he added.
Shamsubahrin pressured by NFCorp official to bribe cops

Shamsubahrin: Ketua NFC paksa saya 'rasuah' polis

Ahli perniagaan Datuk Shamsubahrin Ismail, yang dituduh menipu pengerusi eksekutif Perbadanan Fidlot Kebangsaan (NFC) Datuk Mohamed Salleh Ismail, mendakwa bahawa suami ketua wanita Umno itu memaksa beliau merasuah polis bagi menutup skandal syarikat berkenaan.
Beliau membuat dakwaan itu pada polis laporan yang dibuat di Hospital Besar Klang Jumaat lalu. Perkara itu didedahkan oleh PKR di ibu pejabat parti itu di Petaling Jaya hari ini.

Dalam laporan polis itu, Shamsubahrin didakwa berkata beliau menerima mesej dan tekanan dari Salleh yang memintanya supaya kes NFC dengan pihak polis ditutup.

"Salleh, melalui panggilan telefon dan khidmat pesanan ringkas (SMS), mendesak saya untuk memberi rasuah kepada polis untuk menutup kes itu."

source:malaysiakini

NFC arah Shamsulbahrin rasuah polis

Indeed, there is more than meets the eye in the entire NFC fiasco. Apart from blatant corruption, it is a quagmire of feuding Umno warlords all wishful to quickly wash their hands from the fiasco while at the same time pointing the finger at each other in a bid to escape responsibility. Key players in the NFC debacle not only include Umno Women's chief Shahrizat Jalil and family, but also Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, Prime Minister Najib Razak, former premier Abdullah Badawi and Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

Behind the huge sums of money is also a shadow play, with second-tier leaders adding to the fire by trying to gain from Shahrizat's ouster from power. Despite a fightback, it would be too much for Shahrizat to expect to hold on to either her Cabinet position, her pasrty post as Women's chief or to be nominated again to stand in the Lembah Pantai seat. Speculation is rife that FT minister Raja Nong Chik, who is also the Lembah Pantai Umno division chief, is staking a claim on the parliamentary seat currently held by PKR's Nurul Izzah Anwar.

"Umno is trying to deny everything and whitewash the entire episode. They will just say there was no such corruption no matter what proof is offered by PKR to the public. It is like Custer's last stand. They have no other option. But this is precisely what will kill them in GE-13. Shahrizat's refusal to take responsibility for NFC and Najib's prodding of Raja Nong Chik for the Lembah Pantai seat have jointly created Umno's Armageddon," an Umno insider told Malaysia Chronicle. Continue reading here.

cheers.

Subsidi gula-Harga gula dunia turun,pasal apa nak tambah subsidi gula,ingat rakyat bodohkah...

2012-01-30T16:55:00.000+08:00

DAP membidas kerajaan pimpinan BN kerana cuba memperbodohkan orang ramai dengan membuat dakwaan bahawa subsidi gula dinaikkan kerana harga dunia yang meningkat sedangkan hakikatnya harga gula di seluruh dunia turun sejak enam bulan yang lalu.

"Oleh yang demikian, dengan mengekalkan harga gula pada RM2.30, kerajaan sebenarnya telah memberi subsidi yang kurang, dan bukannya subsidi tambahan, seperti yang dengan bangganya didakwa oleh Menteri Perdagangan Dalam Negeri, Koperasi dan Kepenggunaan Datuk Seri lsmail Sabri Yaakob.

"Apakah lsmail Sabri cuba untuk menipu rakyat dengan mendakwa kononnya Malaysia telah meningkat lagi subsidi gula kerana harga bahan itu di seluruh dunia telah meningkat walaupun hakikatnya adalah sebaliknya?" kata setiausaha publisiti DAP Tony Pua (kiri) dalam satu kenyataan.

Beliau merujuk laporan akhbar Jumaat lalu, di mana menteri berkenaan mendakwa bahawa kerajaan menanggung subsidi yang kian meningkat iaitu daripada 20 sen kepada 54 sen sekilogram gula bagi mengekalkan harga pada RM2.30.

Dalam laporan akhbar The Star itu, Ismail Sabri memuji kerajaan kerana mampu mengekalkan harga gula walaupun pada hakikatnya bahawa "harga gula global terus melambung".

Dalam menyangkal dakwaan itu, Pua berkata apa yang sangat menarik ialah harga gula global dalam tempoh enam bulan yang lalu sejak kenaikan harga terakhir pada bulan Mei 2011 sebenarnya telah turun dengan ketara dan tidak melambung.

Minister 'fooling public' on sugar subsidies

DAP has slammed the government for trying to fool the public in increasing the sugar subsidies in the face of claimed sugar price increases when global prices had decreased in the past six months.

"Therefore by maintaining sugar prices at RM2.30, the government should in actual fact have to subsidise less, and not more, as proudly boasted by Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister lsmail Sabri Yaakob.

"Is lsmail Sabri trying to pull a fast one by claiming Malaysia has increased its sugar subsidy because global prices have increased despite the opposite being true?" said DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua (left) in a statement.

He was referring to the minister's claim on Friday that the government has increased subsidies from 20 sen to 54 sen per kilogramme of sugar in order to maintain the price of sugar at RM2.30.

In a report in The Star on Friday, Ismail Sabri credited the government for keeping the cost of sugar down despite the fact that the "global price of sugar is skyrocketing".

Pua rebutted the claim, saying: "What is extremely intriguing, however, was that global sugar prices over the past six months since the last price hike in May 2011 had in fact declined significantly, and not the purported 'skyrocket'."

Subsidies for whom?

He said world sugar price hit a peak in July 2011 at USD0.2947 per pound and "has fallen consistently every month" since then, ending at USD0.2342 last December.

Factoring in the depreciation of the ringgit against the US dollar at 7 percent, he said, the net price decrease was still 13.5 percent in ringgit terms.

Pua, who is also PJ Utara MP, questioned who the real beneficiary of the subsidy boost was, noting that only two companies monopolised local sugar distribution: Malayan Sugar Manufacturing Holdings (MSM Holdings) and Tradewinds Corporation Bhd.

MSM, he said, is a 71 percent subsidiary of Felda-related entities while Tradewinds is 43 percent controlled by Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary (right) with another 20 percent owned by Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd.

Noting that it was perplexing that subsidies "had to increase by 170 percent to cope with the non-existent skyrocketing global price of sugar", Pua demanded an explanation from the minister.

"The minister must hence clarify why there was a need to increase subsidies when the global sugar price is falling while at the same time explain who are the real beneficiaries from the extra RM198 million of supposed 'subsidy'," he said.

source:malaysiakini

Sweet Subsidies for Who?

cheers.

Morality: Anwar versus the BN...

2012-01-30T14:30:00.000+08:00

It is clear to me that the entire Barisan Nasional propaganda machinery (including those pretending to be the 'Third Force') has gone into full swing to discredit Anwar Ibrahim's character and morality.

In fact, they have gone full speed ahead over the past two years with concentrated attacks on Anwar's alleged liaison with Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

If we add the 1998 allegations made by Azizan Abu Bakar and Co, it would be more than enough for the people to form an opinion about whether or not they believe all these allegations.

We also have videos of Anwar allegedly having sex with women other than his wife - these too had gone on for over a year and there are now threats that more videos will be released.

Why has the BN decided to continue with the same exposé over and over again over so many years?

"Anwar's sexuality!" they say repeatedly, and yet Anwar remains as popular as ever, if not more so.

None of it makes sense. Malaysians have obviously already formed their opinion about Anwar. I can only surmise that the BN's soldiers are still after Anwar because he remains popular, and they fear that somehow he will still be the leader that the people want to lead the nation.

But if the BN persists in repeating the same failure, which is, to discredit Anwar through sexuality, then I must conclude that the BN has gone completely insane.

Only insane people do the same thing many times over and expect different results.

Malaysians have had enough of the exposés of Anwar's private life. What they want are new exposés of BN leaders when the Opposition comes to power.

The people are, at least, very curious about how upright and noble our BN leaders have been all these years and (given the way things are) the only way they can find out is to vote the Opposition into power.

Politicians must be subject to exposés

I belive that politicians must be subject to exposés if they have done something wrong. This is the right and proper price to pay for wanting to take on a public role. If you want to be a public figure, the public has the right to scrutinise every aspect of your life.

Only a few days ago, I too received an SMS from an influential person who owns an Internet portal. He told me that I too would have my "misdeeds" exposed if I am not careful. Well, it looks to me as if my experience in the Hulu Selangor by-election was just a prelude to a grand soap opera.

The unfortunate thing in our country is not that leaders are flawed - leaders are human: in any other country and at any time, no leader is perfect. The problem with us is that only Opposition politicians are targeted by political mercenaries and the mainstream media who chase after whatever "exposés" they can get their hands on.

On the other hand, those in the BN who are well connected, or who occupy high positions, get full protection and even "defences".

The law and the principles of justice obviously work differently in our country. This is the result of a skewed and obnoxious "morality" that we have come to accept as a virtue.

To make things worse, the BN has not troubled itself to set good examples: where is the morality of using one's political power and influence to enrich oneself or one's spouse or one's children? Where is the morality in toppling a democratically-elected government through inducement and fear?

Is this really the "morality" that the BN expects the rakyat to buy into?

The rakyat will in fact have a chance to decide the matter for themselves in the coming general election. Maybe they will ask one another if the morality and misdeeds of Opposition leaders are worse and more intolerable than those of BN leaders.

It is difficult to say what will be important to each individual, but what is certain is that we all have different tastes and different takes on what constitutes "acceptable" and "moral" action in public and in private.

We are all entitled to our private opinions. What offends me is the hateful and hypocritical behaviour of those tasked with shaming and ridiculing the opposition leaders. These chest-thumping heroes do so without limit, without any human pity and without even a little drop of justice and fairness flowing in their veins.

But God is great, as we always hear at ceramah sessions. And God Knows All.- Zaid Ibrahim

source:malaysiakini

cheers.

Kalau orang Melayu masuk DAP, Muhyiddin Yassin sibuk pasal apa...

2012-01-30T01:11:00.000+08:00

Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin mengingatkan orang Melayu supaya tidak sesekali terpedaya dan terperangkap dengan tipu helah DAP bahawa parti itu memperjuangkan kepentingan orang Melayu.

Muhyiddin berkata, apa jua tindakan parti itu hanyalah helah semata-mata demi untuk menarik sokongan orang Melayu.

"Kenapa baru sekarang dia nak jemput orang Melayu, saya tak tahulah apa tujuan dia, tapi kita dah tahu sejarah DAP ini, jadi orang Melayu kena faham lebih-lebih lagi bila dia menekankan Malaysian-Malaysiannya.

"Dia kata dia bukan parti perkauman, dia kata dia parti multi-racial (pelbagai kaum) tetapi dari segi amalan dan apa yang telah dilakukan oleh DAP sejak ditubuhkan sampai sekarang pun jelas terbukti (ia) parti yang chauvinist," katanya kepada pemberita di sini hari ini.

Muhyiddin berkata demikian sebagai menjawab pertanyaan wartawan berhubung kenyataan Penasihat DAP, Lim Kit Siang, bahawa lebih ramai orang Melayu akan menyertai parti itu.-antarapos.com

Don't fall for DAP trap, Muhyiddin warns Malays

Malays must not allow themselves to fall into the trap being carefully laid for them by the DAP, Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin warned today.

"Don't do easily duped by DAP's trap," he said at a press conference in Putrajaya today. "After so long, suddenly they want to recruit Malays. Who knows what for?" he said.

All throughout history, Muhyiddin said, he and political veterans were aware that the DAP had never even once stood up for the rights of the Malays.All the party ever stood for with any conviction, he claimed, were issues such as Chinese education.

"Look through the annals of history. Their chauvinist manner is clear," the deputy prime minister added.

More importantly, he said, the DAP exhibited racist tendencies and Malays must therefore be warned that there must be hidden motives for the party to be suddenly recruiting Malays.

"When they have a need for Malay leaders in order to fill the ranks of executive councillors or high positions (in Pakatan governments), then they look for Malays," he said.

Muhyiddin said this in response to DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang's statement that more Malays were gearing up to join the party. Recently, two Malay Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) students announced their intention to join the DAP. Their move came on the footsteps of two Malay lawyers and press freedom advocate and former NUJ chief Hata Wahari, who signed up as members of the party.-malaysiakini

IS IT A GREVIOUS SIN TO JOIN DAP?

Hak orang Melayu untuk sertai DAP

Tiada siapa di dalam dunia ini dapat menghalang penyertaan sukarela orang Melayu ke dalam DAP, kata Ketua Parlimen DAP Lim Kit Siang.

Malah, beliau berkata Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak dan timbalannya Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin mungkin akan terperanjat apabila lebih ramai Melayu menyertai DAP tidak lama lagi.

Katanya ini adalah gelombang perubahan masa kini dan tiada siapa pun mampu menghalang Melayu menyertai kaum-kaum lain bersama membentuk masa hadapan negara yang lebih hebat.

“DAP dari awal penubuhan selama 46 tahun ini tidak pernah lari dari perjuangan buat semua rakyat Malaysia, tidak kira apa kaum atau agama pun,” katanya dalam ucapan sewaktu Rumah Terbuka Tahun Baru Cina DAP Pulau Pinang di sini hari ini.

Sebaliknya, Kit Siang yang juga Ahli Parlimen Ipoh Timur berkata, Najib sendiri gagal meyakinkan kabinet beliau untuk menyokong dasar 1Malaysia yang kononnya mahu mewujudkan perpaduan dan keadilan untuk semua kaum.

“Ia adalah gambaran politik penakut sebahagian pemimpin UMNO terhadap DAP yang kerap dihentam dengan penipuan, fitnah dengan hasutan 3R (race, race and royalty – kaum, agama dan raja) yang digunakan terhadap DAP,” katanya.

Menurutnya DAP sentiasa menjunjung Perlembagaan Persekutuan 1957 selain memberi komitmen dan keyakinan penuh kepada Dasar Bersama Pakatan Rakyat serta cadangan-cadangan dalam Buku Jingga yang juga berdasarkan Perlembagaan Persekutuan.

Justeru, beliau menasihatkan Najib dan Muhyiddin agar peka dan tidak keras kepala terhadap apa yang sudah termaktub dalam Perlembagaan, dan supaya menghentikan politik 3R.

“Ini juga bukan sahaja satu cabaran terhadap konsep 1Malaysia Najib itu, malah kepada usaha Najib yang kononnya mengangkat diri sebagai ‘golongan sederhana’,” katanya. – Roketkini.com

Tentang orang paling rasis di dunia - Hata Wahari

Saya terpanggil untuk membuat kenyataan ini berikutan tindakan Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin mengeluarkan kenyataan bahawa orang Melayu tidak harus terperangkap dengan perangkap DAP.

Sebaliknya perkara yang paling relevan sekarang ialah orang Melayu jangan terperangkap dengan kata-kata Timbalan Perdan Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Pertamanya, saya ingin menegaskan orang Melayu kini semakin terbuka untuk menilai sebuah parti berbilang kaum DAP sebagai sebuah parti yang telus dan ikhlas untuk berjuang untuk kepentingan semua kaum di negara Malaysia yang tercinta.

Keduanya, orang Melayu kini boleh duduk berbincang dengan orang Melayu yang menyertai DAP walaupun mereka dari Umno dan menerima penjelasan dengan baik serta tidak lagi bersikap ingin memusuhi ataupun menghamburkan kata-kata penghinaan.

Ketiganya, orang Melayu kini telah mula menyedari bahawa Umno dan BN bukan lagi parti yang memperjuangkan kepentingan orang Melayu sebaliknya sebuah parti yang mementingkan kroni serta suku sakat mereka sahaja.

Keempat, orang Melayu kini telah bersedia untuk menongkah arus memastikan kesinambungan perjuangan pemimpin-pemimpin lampau yang mahukan Malaysia menjadi sebuah negara aman, makmur dan bersatu sesuatu yang telah gagal di laksanakan oleh Umno dan BN.

Baca seterusnya di sini.

cheers.

RM7.07 billion Banting-Taiping highway project,contract generously awarded to...

2012-01-29T22:30:00.000+08:00

DAP has demanded the prime minister explain why the government has given Kumpulan Europlus Bhd (Europlus) a “good deal” on the RM7.07 billion Banting-Taiping highway project.

Party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said Najib Abdul Razak needed to explain the generous terms given to Europlus, that includes a 60-year concession and RM2.24 billion in soft loans.

The company will also receive subsidies for 22 years and RM980 million grant for land acquisition cost for constructing the 316 km highway.

According to Lim (right), Europlus had announced that it had received an approval letter from the public private partnership unit of the Prime Minister’s Department.

“DAP is curious why the federal government had still not make any announcement on such an important highway concession which violates the basic principles of public accountability and transparency.

“Before the government signs this agreement with Europlus, the prime minister must ensure that ... questions why Europlus was given such a good deal are fully answered,” said Lim in a statement today.

Among the questions Lim demanded the PM answer were:

1. If there was an open tender and reasons for rejecting other bids

2. The choice of Europlus that he said had no proven track record in build-operate-transfer (BOT) of highway concession and that had a “troubled history of problematic housing development projects”

3. The concession period that was the “longest in Malaysian history” after the Singapore-Malaysia water agreement

4. The rationale for the soft loan of RM2.24 billion from 2013 at 4 % interest and an offer of an interest subsidy of 3% from commercial loans for 22 years, costing the federal government an estimate RM4 billion

5. Giving Europlus RM980 million for land acquisition cost, when it is supposed to be a privatised project

6. The decision for the highway to end at Taiping and not through to Penang, that sees heavier traffic.

Scandal in the making?

Calling the project another potential “scandal in the making”, Lim, who is also Penang chief minister, blasted the six decade concession for benefiting the company over the rakyat.

“For the Prime Minister’s Department to grant a 60 year concession period means that generations of Malaysian will be compelled to pay toll, from me to my great grand-children.

“This is unacceptable and giving such a long concession only benefits the few, allowing the toll operators to earn mega profits of pharaonic proportions at the expense of 28 million ordinary Malaysians,” said Lim.

He pointed out that in a similar “scandal”, the 50 year concession period for the North-South Expressway (NSE) expiring in 2038 - and that had cost RM6 billion to build - had already allowed the toll operator to earn RM18.3 billion in profits as at the end of 2010.

source:malaysiakini

Lebuh raya Banting-Taiping – satu lagi skandal besar?

DAP mahu Datuk Seri Najib Razak menjelaskan segera kepada rakyat tentang projek lebuh raya Banting-Taiping sepanjang 316km yang menimbulkan banyak persoalan tentang ketelusan dan prestasi syarikat yang terlibat. Setiausaha Agung DAP Lim Guan Eng mempersoalkan sama ada konsesi lebuh raya itu selama 60 tahun yang berjumlah RM7.07 bilion sebagai permulaan kepada satu lagi skandal yang akan menyebabkan penderitaan rakyat lebih perit.

Menurutnya rakyat perlu tahu dengan jelas tentang projek itu yang dianugerahkan kepada Kumpulan Europlus Bhd (Europlus) untuk pembinaan lebuh raya itu yang melibatkan pinjaman mudah RM2.24 bilion, subsidi faedah 3% untuk 22 tahun dan geran sebanyak RM980 juta untuk pengambilan tanah. Katanya Europlus mengumumkan telah menerima surat kelulusan untuk membina lebuhraya 316km daripada Unit Kerjasama Awam Swasta Jabatan Perdana Menteri.

“DAP berasa curiga kenapa Kerajaan Persekutuan belum lagi membuat pengumuman mengenai konsesi lebuhraya yang jelas melanggar prinsip asas ketelusan dan kebertanggungjawab awam,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan di sini hari ini.

Menurutnya, sebelum kerajaan menandatangani perjanjian dengan Europlus, Perdana Menteri perlu memastikan tujuh persoalan berikut dijawab:

1.Adakah tender terbuka dijalankan untuk perjanjian ini, dan jika tidak, kenapa? Jika ya, siapa lagi yang menyertai dan kenapa mereka tidak dipilih?

2. Kenapa Europlus dipilih, sedangkan mereka tidak mempunyai rekod prestasi yang terbukti dalam bina-kendali-pindah (BOT) sektor lebuh raya, dan pemilik utamanya mempunyai sejarah permasalahan dalam projek perumahan?

3. Bagaimanakah kerajaan boleh memberi tempoh konsesi selama 60 tahun, iaitu yang terpanjang dalam sejarah Malaysia (dan kedua paling lama selepas perjanjian pembekalan air selama 100 tahun kepada Singapura yang telah dimeterai pada tahun 1960-an)?

4. Apakah rasional untuk penganugerahan pinjaman mudah sebanyak RM2.24 bilion dari tahun 2013 pada kadar faedah 4% serta subsidi faedah 3% untuk pinjaman komersial selama 22 tahun? Kedua-dua subsidi ini berjumlah RM4 bilion jika prinsipal pinjaman adalah RM6 bilion.

5. Kenapa perlu kerajaan membayar RM980 untuk pengambilan tanah sedangkan ini projek swasta?

6. Kenapa kos lebuh raya 316km ini yang berjumlah RM7.07 bilion atau RM22.3 juta setiap km adalah dua kali ganda kos pembinaan lebuhraya yang sama di India dengan kos RM10 juta setiap km?

7. Jika konsesi tol terbaru ini adalah alternatif kepada Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan yang sesak, kenapa berhenti di Taiping? Kenapa konsesi Europlus tidak dilanjutkan kepada Pulau Pinang yang mengalami kesesakan yang lebih teruk? Ini tidak adil untuk rakyat Pulau Pinang dan juga Kedah.

Guan Eng yang juga Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang berkata konsesi 60 tahun yang dianugerahkan oleh Jabatan Perdana Menteri itu bermakna beberapa generasi rakyat Malaysia akan terpaksa membayar tol dari generasi beliau hingga ke cucu-cicitnya.

“Ini langsung tidak boleh diterima kerana tempoh konsesi yang begitu lama ini hanya menguntungkan segelintir kroni syarikat pengendali tol yang akan mengaut keuntungan Maha Firaun manakala yang ruginya 28 juta rakyat Malaysia,” ujarnya.

Beliau yang juga Ahli Parlimen Bagan berkata rakyat Malaysia tidak boleh menerima lagi satu skandal seumpama Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan (NSE), di mana pengendali tol diberi tempoh konsesi 50 tahun sehingga 2038 walau pun mereka sudah mengaut keuntungan berkali-kali ganda lebih daripada pelaburan asal.

Beliau menjelaskan bahawa kos pembinaan NSE adalah RM6 bilion dan setakat 31 Disember 2010, pengendali tol sudah pun menerima RM24.3 bilion, iaitu keuntungan sebanyak RM18.3 bilion.

“Kenapa pengendali NSE dibenarkan mengutip tol sehingga 2038 serta menaikkan kadar tol apabila mereka sudah mengaut keuntungan yang maha-Firaun, iaitu RM18.3 bilion ataupun 3 kali ganda kos pembinaan?

“Cukup, cukuplah! Kerana itulah Pakatan Rakyat menekankan pemansuhan tol NSE.

“Rakyat Malaysia tidak mahu pengulangan skandal NSE. Perdana Menteri haruslah menjawab tujuh soalan di atas untuk memastikan kepentingan awam dijaga dan dipelihara dalam perjanjian RM7.07 bilion dan konsesi 60 tahun Europlus ini,” ujarnya.

source:Roketkini.com

cheers.

Anwar: Najib's gov't supports Israel and Palestine states too...

2012-01-29T16:44:00.000+08:00

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim today said that while he has been accused of supporting the security of Israel, the Malaysian government too supports the Jewish state, and its stance is similar to his.

He said this support is contingent on the creation of an independent Palestine state and respecting the rights of its people based on the two state-solution.

Quoting Foreign Minister Anifah Aman's (bottom left) statement at the United Nations General Assembly last year, he pointed that Anifah had said: "Malaysia fully supports the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people for an independent State of Palestine, based on the two-state solution, taking into account the security concerns of both parties (Israel and Palestine)."

"Clearly from the foreign minister's statement, Malaysia's policy is of preparedness to respect the rights of the Palestinians and Israelis to live in peace based on the guarantee that the rights of the Palestinians are not violated," said Anwar in a statement yesterday.

Anwar blasted quarters who had accused him of betraying the Palestinian cause, stressing that if a Palestinian state is allowed, then the rights of Israel should also be respected.

"I give a stern warning to any quarters who try to twist my words to slander me that I supposedly have betrayed the aspirations of the Palestinian people," he said.

Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin called on Anwar to explain his alleged commitment to uphold Israel's security.

This follows Anwar's Thursday interview in the Wall Street Journal which reported him as saying that he supported efforts to protect Israel's security but any relation with the Jewish state depends on its willingness to respect the Palestinian aspirations.

Gomen Najib pun sokong negara Palestin dan Isreal,jadi apa masalahnya...

Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim mendakwa kenyataannya berhubung isu Israel dan Palestin diputar belit bagi menggambarkan beliau mengkhianati aspirasi rakyat Palestin. Katanya, dalam wawancaranya dengan media antarabangsa Khamis lalu, beliau menegaskan kemahuan dan hak rakyat Palestin mesti dibela dan jika syarat itu dipenuhi maka wajar hak rakyat Israel juga dihormati.

"Justeru saya memberi amaran keras kepada mana-mana pihak yang cuba memutar belit kenyataan saya semata-mata mahu menyebar fitnah kononnya saya mengkhianati aspirasi rakyat Palestin.

"Pendirian PKR adalah tuntas membela hak sesiapa sahaja yang dirampas dan dizalimi. Iltizam untuk memastikan keadilan buat semua tidak pernah surut malah pastinya digilap dan diperkukuh," katanya.

Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin semalam dilapor meminta Anwar memberi penjelasan tentang dakwaan memberi komitmen untuk mempertahankan Israel ketika ditemuramah oleh Wall Street Journal. Muhyiddin menimbulkan persoalan sama ada Anwar mementingkan Israel dan menidakkan hak rakyat Palestin yang ditindas oleh rejim Yahudi itu.

"Adakah dia (Anwar) lebih mengutamakan Yahudi dan Israel daripada Palestin? Adakah ini pendirian sebenar Pakatan Rakyat, sedangkan kerajaan tidak mengadakan hubungan diplomatik dengan Israel," beliau dipetik sebagai berkata kepada pemberita di Muar semalam.

Dalam kenyataan balasnya, Anwar berkata, pandangannya sejajar dengan prinsip PKR yang menjunjung keadilan sejagat dan tegas membela hak yang dizalimi, serta selari dengan resolusi Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) dan Inisiatif Keamanan Arab berteraskan "Penyelesaian Dua Negara".

Malahan, katanya, dasar luar negara juga menekankan prinsip penyelesaian itu, sebagaimana diungkapkan menteri luar ketika perbahasan perhimpunan agung PBB ke-66 pada 27 September tahun lalu di New York.

"Ternyata dari kenyataan menteri luar negara, dasar Malaysia adalah bersedia menghormati hak rakyat Palestin dan Israel untuk menikmati keamanan dan kedamaian.

"Akan tetapi kesediaan kita pastinya bergantung kepada syarat selagi mana hak rakyat Palestin tidak dicerobohi," katanya.

source:malaysiakini

Penjelasan Anwar Mengenai Dakwaan Sokongan Israel

KFC Malaysia dah jadi milik Yahudi?.. salah Anwar juga ke?

cheers.

Najib nak guna RELA untuk mempertahankan negara atau dirinya sendiri...

2012-01-29T13:11:00.000+08:00

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak adalah Perdana Menteri yang sukakan huru-hara apabila memberi isyarat akan menggunakan Ikatan Relawan Rakyat (Rela) untuk 'bertempur' dengan rakyat yang memprotes kerajaannya.

"Kalau di negara yang bertamadun, polis akan mengambil tindakan terhadapnya kerana kenyataannya yang berbau hasutan terhadap Rela supaya bertempur dengan rakyat, buli rakyat.

"Kenyataan Najib itu membuktikan beliau adalah seorang yang suka mencetuskan kekacauan," kata Timbalan Presiden PAS, Mohamad Sabu.

Malaysian Insider melaporkan, Najib semalam memberi amaran secara terbuka kepada rakyat yang hendak berdemonstrasi apabila menyatakan Rela sentiasa bersedia mempertahankan negara dari keadaan yang pada pandangannya huru-hara.

"Jangan cetuskan kekacauan," beliau dilaporkan berkata sambil mengingatkan Rela yang "tidak akan berdiam diri" akan digunakan.

Bagi Mohamad, bukan keselamatan negara yang dibimbangkan oleh Najib tetapi keselamatan beliau sendiri dan kerajaannya yang sebenarnya mahu dipertahankan dengan memperalatkan polis, tentera, Rela malah "pasukan bomba pun dia hendak gunakan".

"Pergi tanya Najib, kalau orang-orang Umno berdemonstrasi menentang kerajaan Pulau Pinang dan mencetuskan kekecohan, adakah Najib akan kerah polis atau Rela untuk bertempur dengan mereka?" katanya.

Di Pulau Pinang, kata Mohamad, tidak henti-henti gerombolan pro Umno mengadakan pelbagai demonstrasi dan perhimpunan, tetapi kerajaan Najib bukan sahaja tidak pernah bertindak melarang mereka malah dilihat menggalakkan gerombolan itu.

Beliau bagaimanapun tidak hairan terhadap apa yang disifatkannya sebagai hasutan Najib itu.

"Dalam pilihan raya kecil Padang Terap pada tahun 1985, Najib yang pada masa itu Ketua Pemuda Umno dilihat sebagai orang yang bertanggungjawab membuat provokasi sehingga Othman Talib terbunuh dalam peristiwa di Lubok Merbau.

"Rakyat mesti tamatkan kekuasaan jenis penghasut seperti Najib. Dia sangat berbahaya," tegas Mohamad.

Beliau juga menyifatkan kenyataan Najib itu sebagai dorongan secara tidak langsung kepada gerombolan-gerombolan yang bertindak menyerang ceramah-ceramah Pakatan Rakyat (PR) supaya bertindak lebih ganas lagi.

"Sekarang sudah ada trend baru menggunakan gerombolan samseng menyerang ceramah-ceramah PR.

"Mereka berani melakukan perbuatan itu kerana mereka yakin kerajaan dan polis tidak akan bertindak kepada mereka," katanya.

Mohamad yakin, jika penyokong-penyokong PR yang menyerang ceramah-ceramah Umno, tentu pihak polis akan bertindak habis-habisan terhadap mereka.

"Kalau terhadap penyokong PR, diburu dan diganasi dengan segala kekerasan.

"Kalau orang Umno, bawa sepanduk caci raja yang kononnya mereka sanjung sebagai binatang pun sampai hari ini tidak dikenakan tindakan," katanya.

source:harakahdaily

Rela will act against unruly demonstrators, says Najib

cheers.

'Pakcik2 'at the coffee shop are much smarter than Noh Omar on NFC issue...

2012-01-29T05:00:00.000+08:00

Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Noh Omar is acting dumb by defending the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC), which is accused of misappropriating RM250 million in government soft loan for a cattle-rearing project, says Selangor menteri besar's political secretary Faekah Husin.

"It's impossible that he does not understand the issue, if the uncles at the coffee shop can understand that this is a betrayal of the rakyat's money."

On Thursday, Noh had said that the NFC project was not a failure and the government merely needed to reorganise the venture.

"He had used technical excuses to say that the RM250 million NFC project was not a failure, even though he dared not say that it was a success," she added.

Instead of clarifying the controversy, Faekah (left) attributed Noh's comments to speculations that the latter had ambitions for the Selangor menteri besar's post should BN wrest back the state.

‘Explain or face electoral debacle'

"If Noh wants publicity, as a minister, he should explain for whom and for what purpose were the luxury assets purchased - what is the relevance of a Mercedez Benz bought using NFC's funds?" she said.
Faekah added that Noh (right) should instead uphold his credibility and integrity in dealing with the NFC issue or he may not even be elected, let alone become Selangor menteri besar.

The NFC scandal first broke out after the Auditor-General's Report 2010 highlighted its weaknesses and PKR subsequently revealed a litany of alleged misappropriations by the company.

The controversy surrounding NFC, for which the executive chairperson is Mohamed Salleh Ismail, has led to his wife, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, to take a three-week leave pending investigation into the scandal. -malaysiakini

Pacik2 kedai kopi lebih cerdik daripada Noh Omar pasal isu NFC

Menteri Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani, Datuk Seri Noh Omar didakwa gagal menjelaskan bagaimana Pusat Fidlot Kebangsaan (NFC) menggunakan wang RM250 juta milik rakyat.

"Hujah yang beliau bangkitkan gagal menjawab isu pokok iaitu salah guna dana dan pertanggungjawaban dalam menggunakan dana RM250 juta menggunakan wang rakyat untuk projek ini," kata Faekah Husin, Setiausaha Politik Menteri Besar Selangor.

Faekah dalam kenyataannya berkata, Noh gagal menggunakan publisiti meluas untuknya menggilap diri sebagai bakal MB Selangor.

Menurut Faekah, Noh Omar sejak akhir-akhir ini berjaya mendapat liputan meluas media cetak dan elektronik dan dikatakan berkait rapat dengan impian beliau untuk menjadi Menteri Besar Selangor sekiranya Barisan Nasional (BN) merampas semula pentadbiran Negeri Selangor.

Semalam, sekali lagi beliau mendapat liputan hebat dengan memberi penjelasan tehadap skandal salah guna wang rakyat dalam projek Pusat Fidlot Kebangsaan (NFC) yang melibatkan dana RM250 juta.

"Namun agak mengecewakan apabila Noh Omar gagal memanfaatkan peluang ini untuk mempamerkan kredibiliti dan integriti beliau sebagai pemimpin yang baik," kata Faekah.

Sebaliknya, publisiti itu telah membongkar betapa dangkalnya pemahaman beliau selaku menteri yang dipertanggungjawabkan terhadap isu mega tersebut.

Menurut Faekah, Noh menggunakan alasan-alasan teknikal untuk mengatakan projek RM250juta NFC ini tidak gagal – meskipun begitu beliau tidak berani pula untuk mengatakan ianya berjaya, memadai dengan “tidak gagal”.

"Sebagai Menteri, mustahil beliau tidak memahami isu sebenar NFC," dakwa Faekah.

Katanya, kalau pakcik-pakcik tua di kedai-kedai kopi pun faham isu pengkhianatan wang rakyat ini masakan Noh Omar selaku menteri tega buat-buat bodoh dengan menyimpang dari isu sebenar.

Hujah yang beliau bangkitkan gagal menjawab isu pokok iaitu salah guna dana dan pertanggungjawaban dalam menggunakan dana RM250 juta menggunakan wang rakyat untuk projek ini, katanya.

Tiada kredibiliti

Bagi beliau, rakyat jelas melihat Noh sebagai seorang menteri yang tiada kredibiliti dan integriti.

Seperti mana yang digariskan oleh Institut Integriti Negara –institusi yang diwujudkan oleh Kerajaan Barisan Nasional sendiri – sesungguhnya integriti seorang pemimpin akan terjejas jika beliau “cakap tak serupa bikin”, kurang berteladan dan lemah iltizam.

Katanya, Noh mendabik dada kononnya sentiasa mengutamakan kepentingan rakyat tetapi membiarkan pembaziran dan salah guna kuasa yang berlaku di bawah portfolio pertaniannya - cakap tak serupa bikin.

Noh, kata Faekah, seolah-olah menghalalkan perkara jahat ini berlaku - kurang berteladan.

Beliau tidak mempunyai kekuatan diri untuk secara berani membicarakan isu rasuah dan salah guna kuasa dan seterusnya mengambil langkah-langkah perlu bagi mengatasinya - lemah iltizam, katanya.

"Dengan tiga kelemahan ketara tersebut, saya cadangkan Noh Omar kembali meminta nasihat daripada Institut Integriti Negara apakah elemen yang perlu ada untuk menyelenggara dana amanah rakyat.

"Lebih elok lagi jika beliau mengambil kursus perjawatan mahupun peperiksaan integriti kelolaan institut tersebut agar tidak lagi mengeluarkan kenyataan yang bercanggah dengan matlamat institut tersebut ditubuhkan.

"Jika tidak, lupakan saja cita-cita mahu menjadi jaguh di Selangor ataupun terpilih semula di dalam PRU13 nanti kerana bimbang negara ini menjadi kucar-kacir seperti yang berlaku terhadap NFC," katanya tegas.

source:harakahdaily

Comments...

Clearwater: The KPI (key performance indicator) is reduced to 8,000 heads of cattle from original target of 60,000 heads despite a RM250 million soft loan, and Noh Omar still dare call the NFC project a success?

Up2U: Whether the NFC project is a failure or not is left to be seen. The question before us is the soft loan of RM250 million and the misuse of the loan for purpose other than what it was intended for.Who are the guarantors and will this loan be a NPL (no performing loan) if the NFC is a failure.

Gordon Gecko: Noh Omar and Sharizat = Umno. Therefore we can conclude that "cows of the same hide graze together".
cheers.

13/1/2012 - Anwar berada di Thailand kah...

2012-01-29T02:22:00.000+08:00

Dalam laporan muka Utusan Malaysia itu, Shuib Lazim(kiri) dari geng Datuk T dilaporkan berkata video baru Anwar itu dirakamkan pada 12 dan 13 Januari tahun lalu di Thailand.

Dalam posting aku tempoh hari berjudul "Datuk T sex sequel draws a yawn..." aku ada link dengan blog 'suarapakatanrakyat.com' yang menyatakan bahawa pada 13/1/2012 Anwar berada di Indonesia dan bukan di Thailand seperti yang didakwa oleh geng Datuk K.

Maklumat terbaru yang diperolehi, sebenarnya Anwar tidak berada di Indonesia atau Thailand pada tarikh tersebut.

Mengikut catatan blog activist901.com Sdr.Anwar berada di Kuala Lumpur. Baca catatan blogger tersebut di sini.

Diperturunkan muka surat FB di bawah ini....

Anwar berada di Majlis Sidang Media Pakatan Rakyat berlangsung pada 13/1/11(Khamis) di Ibu Pejabat Pas di Jalan Raja Laut Kuala Lumpur.

Baca berita berikut....

Mustafa wakili Pakatan jumpa SPR bincang p'raya adil

Nampaknya geng Datuk T ini berang kerana Anwar menang kes Sodomi 2 jadi mereka adakan 'Video seks 2.0: sebagai satu lagi percubaan cemarkan Anwar'

cheers.

No tolls if Pakatan captures Putrajaya...

2012-01-29T01:30:00.000+08:00

Pakatan Rakyat will abolish toll collections in the North-South highway and on Penang Bridge and it will also hand out RM1,000 annually to senior citizens, if it captures Putrajaya in the next general election.

These pledges, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said Pakatan will never “run away from”.

He said people can put their faith in Pakatan’s promises.

“If we capture Putrajaya, we will immediately abolish the North-South Highway toll.

“We will also abolish toll collections on Penang Bridge.

“We will not run away from our promises,” Lim told a cheering crowd at a Chinese New Year open house co-hosted by Seri Delima assemblyman RSN Rayer and Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh.

Also present were state executive councillor Phee Boon Poh and Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi Chuan Aun.

Karpal was however, absent due to a prior engagement.

Lim said while Pakatan will abolish toll collections on road which were already enjoying huge profits, it will retain concessions in other areas.

Lim, who is Penang Chief Minister, pointed out that PLUS had collected RM24.3. billion in toll collections on the North-South Highway, which was built on a RM6 billion budget.

“Cut-throat” BN government

Lim said given that PLUS had raked in a RM18.3 billion profit, it was now time to abolish it.
He slammed the Barisan Nasional federal government’s plans to increase current toll rates and continue its collections for years to come.

He said the people must be ready for change to stop the ‘cut throat’ toll collections of BN and PLUS.

Lim called on the people to vote for Pakatan if they wanted to want tolls to be abolished.

“BN said it cannot be done. Yes it cannot be done if it is BN.

“But under Pakatan, it can be done,” he promised.

Lim, who is Bagan MP, said Pakatan would also gift RM1,000 cash yearly to all senior citizens, regardless of their race, religion or political backgrounds.

He said Pakatan would not discriminate against senior citizens, even if they were from Gerakan or MCA.

“We will even hand out the cash to Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon if he wants it too,” Lim said.

He also said that Penang aims to be the cleanest, greenest and safest state in the country and his government would work hard to achieve the goals.

source:malaysiakini

cheers.

Anwar - Najib cakap 40 minit, saya 20 minit sudah...

2012-01-28T20:00:00.000+08:00

"Dia boleh cakap 20 minit, saya 10 minit. Dia balas 20 minit dan saya jawab 10 minit."

Itulah cadangan yang dikemukakan Datuk Sri Anwar Ibrahim kepada Perdana Menteri, Datuk Sri Najib Razak dalam cadangan debat antara mereka.

Namun sehingga kini Najib tidak memberikan sebarang kesanggupan untuk debat ini.

Ketua Penerangan Umno, Datuk Ahmad Maslan pula berkata, ia tidak perlu diadakan kerana ia budaya barat yang belum boleh diterima masyarakat negara ini. Sebelum ini, badan penyelidikan, Merdeka Centre mencadangkan agar kedua-dua mereka berdebat.

Anwar Ibrahim mengalu-alukan idea berdebat dengan Najib sebagaimana disarankan oleh Merdeka Center berdasarkan penemuannya baru-baru ini. Sehubungan itu kata Anwar, debat yang disyorkan wajar bagi menjawab persoalan-persoalan yang ditimbulkan terhadap Barisan Nasional (BN) dan Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

“Masing-masing buat tuduhan, kita tuduh Barisan Nasional rasuah dan gagal tadbir negara, BN tuduh kita tidak tahu urus ekonomi, tuduh Anwar jadi alat DAP, masing-masing ada pendekatan dan kita cadang debat.

“Apa yang kita sebut, kita pertahankan, itu sebabnya kita perlu debat. Insya-Allah kita menang dan dapat tawan Putrajaya,” kata beliau pada Program Mesra Rakyat Bersama Penasihat Ekonomi Selangor di Stadium Sabak Bernam di sini baru-baru ini.

Hari ini, Anwar memberikan syarat dan cadangan yang cukup berat sebelah untuk Najib iaitu tempoh masa bercakap yang lebih untuk Najib.

Cadangan itu dikemukakan Anwar melalui twitternya hari ini.

Sikap Najib enggan berdebat ini dibidas oleh Ketua Penerangan PKR, Dr Muhammad Nur Manuty.

"Ini menampakkan betapa purbanya cara berfikir kepimpinan parti ini dan betapa gentarnya UMNO untuk berbicara secara bersemuka mengenai hak rakyat," katanya.

source:harakahdaily

Anwar tells Najib,"I'll give you 10 extra minutes to debate"...

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has again issued a debate challenge to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, this time promising to go easy on the premier.

“He can speak for 20 minutes, I will speak for 10 minutes. He can reply for 20 minutes, and then I will reply in 10 minutes,” he said in a Twitter posting.

Anwar who is also de facto PKR leader, has challenged Najib numerous times, the most recent being a challenge to debate on national policies issued during the 3rd Pakatan Rakyat Conference in Alor Setar, Kedah on Jan 14.

Thus far, Najib has not responded to Anwar’s recent series of challenges.

However, in January last year, Najib had said he was not afraid to debate Anwar but the latter should first resolve his sodomy case and other personal issues.

Anwar was acquitted of the sodomy charge on Jan 9 this year but the prosecution has appealed the case.

Meanwhile, in a statement today, PKR information chief Dr Muhammad Nur Manuty said that Najib’s refusal to debate showed that he had something to hide.

“Leaders who refuse to meet eye to eye (to debate) give the perception of insincerity and dishonesty. It shows that there are secrets to hide. What is being hidden from the people?” he said.

Muhammad Nur added that Najib should trust in the wisdom of the people by debating and allowing the people to make their own empirical judgment.

source:malaysiakini

Even Mahathir is worried Najib will lose debate.

Soalnya bukan Najib saja tak mahu debat,UMNO itu sendiri juga tak mahu. Kalau ada pun UMNO nak hantar cicak2 kobin saja...tapi cakap sikit punya besaq...

cheers.

Guan Eng - Land scam hits Penangites for millions...

2012-01-28T14:00:00.000+08:00

The Pakatan Rakyat led state government is not about to take the blame for the infamous Tan Hak Ju land deal which has cost Penangites millions.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said Penangites are still waiting for the Barisan Nasional to apologise for the millions already paid to the businessman involved in the Seberang Perai land deal.

In 2005, during the BN's administration, Tan sued the state for RM40 million for taking back the approval for the quarrying land which he had purchased in 2002 as the ownership had been in the possession of two organisations since 1969.

In 2007 the Penang High Court had ordered the state government to pay a RM29.4 million compensation to Tan for not properly processing his application for the plots.

A recent court of appeal decision on Jan 10 had cut that sum to that RM500,000 but Lim contended that the state has already forked out RM14.7 million to the businessman in 2008.

He added that there was no guarantee that the state government would recover this amount of money as Tan was had appealed that decision to the federal court.

"RM14.7 million is still the people's money, and we have paid out this amount to Tan," Lim, the DAP secretary-general told Malaysiakini.

"The previous BN administration has yet to apologise for the losses but has instead launched an attack demanding the present state government's apology for labelling the case a scandal," he added.

‘We did not steal RM40 million'

Recently, BN working committee chairperson Dr Teng Hock Nan (right) said that Lim and his state officials must apologise for describing the land deal as a scam when it was clearly not so.

Teng, a former Penang executive councillor, had also asked the state to withdraw a white paper it presented at the state legislative assembly in April last year which pointed out the BN's involvement in the deal.

"They made it look as if we stole the RM40 million," lamented Teng.

According to the White Paper, Tan's application for the 4.2ha land was initially approved by the state, without the necessary nod from five related government departments, then cancelled upon discovering that land belonged to two other organisations.

The document also accused Teng of not properly cooperating with the state when it launched a probe into the matter in 2008, which the former has vehemently denied.

It was reported that the state could have been spared the legal suit if it had compensated Tan with RM1.8 million when it withdrew the approval of the land.

But Teng had reasoned that the then state government could not do so as Tan did not produce the relevant documents.

Meanwhile, Lim continues to hold the previous BN administration responsible and accountable for the "scandal".

Lim said a "scandal is a scandal", and has refused to retract the label, nor grant the BN an apology for using the term .

Instead, he queried if Teng was planning to apologise soon for making Penang poorer by RM14.7 million.

"Is Teng going to pay for this? When will he apologise for this losses?" Lim asked.

source:malaysiakini

cheers.

Apa yang Najib takut...

2012-01-28T08:00:00.000+08:00

Anwar Ibrahim mempersoalkan mengapa Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak takut untuk menyahut cabaran debat yang beliau lontarkan.Berucap di hadapan kira-kira 5,000 hadirin di Stadium Mini Sabak Bernam malam tadi, Anwar mengulangi cabaran supaya Najib menerima pelawaan debat berkenaan, demi kepentingan rakyat.

“Dia (Najib) patut faham. Sekiranya ada dua pandangan berbeza, maka debat adalah cara terbaik untuk mengemukakan hujah,” tegas Anwar.

“Di mana-mana sahaja di dunia kini, di Turki, Amerika Syarikat, India dan Indonesia menganjurkan debat. Apa yang Najib takut?

“Perkara debat ini tidak lain dan tidak bukan, adalah untuk kepentingan rakyat.

“Masalahnya, di hadapan penyokongnya, dia kata Anwar akan ‘demam’ (kalau debat). Tetapi bila diajak berdebat tak berani pula,” kata Anwar disambut tepukan gemuruh hadirin.

Isu debat tersebut ditimbulkan semula baru-baru ini oleh badan pemikir, Merdeka Center yang menggesa perdana menteri dan ketua pembangkang itu mengadakan debat terbuka berkenaan dasar dan pendekatan kerajaan menguruskan negara.

Anwar sebelum ini mempelawa Najib untuk mengadakan debat berhubung belanjawan negara dan isu berkaitan ekonomi di Malaysia, namun tidak mendapat respon dari Presiden Umno itu.

Dalam ucapannya malam tadi, Anwar turut menyentuh kembali dasar ekonomi yang tidak menyebelahi rakyat terbanyak, terutama masyarakat luar bandar, khususnya berkaitan hal kebajikan dan pengagihan kekayaan negara.

“Kalau kita (Pakatan Rakyat) perintah, apa kita lakukan? Panggil tauke IPP (penjana tenaga bebas) dan runding semula harga. Tidak lagi mereka boleh untung besar atas angin dengan kenakan harga yang tinggi pada TNB (Tenaga Nasional Berhad).

“Kemudian (Umno-BN) tindas rakyat kerana bil yang tinggi dikenakan oleh TNB kepada mereka. Ini tidak adil,” tegas Anwar.

Mengungkap kata-kata Pendeta Za’ba, Anwar menegaskan masalah masyarakat Melayu berpunca dari pemimpin yang tidak amanah dan rasuah.

“Apa kata Za’ba? Orang Melayu berhadapan dengan masalah kemiskinan harta, ilmu dan akhlak kerana budi pekerti pemimpin Melayu itu sendiri.

“Ini bukan soal Anwar. Kalau soal aib – saya telah lama diaibkan. Enam tahun dipenjara, dipukul dan dimalukan. Apakah kita akan berhenti? Sudah tentu tidak. Kerana hal ini bukan soal Anwar, tetapi soal rakyat,” katanya.

“Sebab itu perubahan mesti dilakukan. Jika rencana mereka mahu penjarakan saya, tidak penting. Saya di luar atau di dalam (penjara), yang penting Pakatan Rakyat mesti menang dan menuju Putrajaya,” tegasnya.

source:keadilandaily

cheers

Datuk T sex sequel draws a yawn...

2012-01-28T01:11:00.000+08:00

Despite being front-paged by Umno newspaper Utusan, the much-threatened Datuk T sex video sequel drew only a yawn, reflecting the low esteem the Malaysian public held for Prime Minister Najib Razak's party which has been blamed to sinking the country into unprecedented gutter politicking.

"Basically, the game is up. Nobody is so stupid as to fall for it anymore. Malaysians have made up their minds how capable a PM Anwar will be and how capable a PM Najib has been. They will make their decision at the ballot box, and it will be in Anwar's favor even if Datuk T screens a different sex video every night," Batu MP Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.

Datuk T - Umno's shame or luminaries?

Indeed, even in throwing the challenge to Anwar to sue them if they were slandering them, the Datuk T trio were careful to quickly warn that they would create a circus by getting Malaysia's pliable courts to allow them to screen the video in the courtroom - a threat that is unlikely to deter Anwar.

Just last week, the Opposition Leader slapped on a RM150 million defamation suit on Utusan and there is little doubt that after discussion with his lawyers, Anwar will take the most advantageous course of action.

To many Umno members, they are a disgrace although the top party leadership doesn't seem to think so. The Datuk T trio consists of three prominent members, namely former Malacca chief minister Rahim Thamby Chik, former Perkasa treasurer Shuaib Lazim and former consul to Thailand Shazryl Eskay Abdullah.

All three men were allegedly promised seats to contest if their first ruse had been successful. Last year, the trio shocked the nation when they screened in public a video showing a man they alleged was Anwar having sex with a female sex worker. The tape was unveiled just as the Sarawak state assembly was dissolved, paving way for the statewide polls.

It did little to stop Anwar's PKR party from winning three seats and Pakatan Rakyat colleague DAP from wresting 12 seats. However, it created a huge backlash against Umno and the bloggers it has hired at enormous cost to drum up the shenanigans against Anwar.

A seat each to contest for the Datuk T trio

In 2011 ruse to discredit Anwar and Pakatan, Shazryl and Rahim played the lead roles in engaging the press. However, after it failed to do anything more than attract the odium of the Malaysian public, both men have kept a low profile, with Umno insiders saying that Rahim was still angling to get a seat to contest in GE-13. Malaysia Chronicle was not able to contact Rahim, who is also chairman of the government's agricultural agency RISDA.

In the latest 'sequel', it has been left to Shuaib Lazim, who is also the father-in-law of Rural minister Shafie Apdal, to throw down the gauntlet.

"All 3 men thought they would be like PKR's Loh Gwo-Burne who gained fame and won the Kelana Jaya seat after he exposed the Lingam tape showing judge-fixing activities in Malaysia. But they made a terrible mistake and it is silly for Rahim to keep pestering Najib for a seat to contest. The only seat he has a chance to win would be in an Umno stronghold but these seats are precious and cannot be simply given to just any candidate," an Umno insider told Malaysia Chronicle.

"Anyway, what has Rahim done for Umno to deserve a safe seat. If Najib gives in, it can indicate Rahim is applying pressure and this again reflects on Najib's inability to think clearly and for the longer term. Najib is setting himself up for all types of future blackmail because of all these unscrupulous dealings.

One by one, all the creepy crawlies will come out from the woodwork and demand their 'rightful' seats, and to oblige, Najib will take from the deserving. In the end, Umno will be a disaster party with the most awful lineup and disreputable contestants, you mark my words."

Meanwhile, in a front page Utusan report, Shuaib said the new sex video was recorded on January 12 and 13 last year in Thailand.

"I have seen the video passed to me by Eskay. I believe Eskay is ready to make an expose of the video in court if Anwar sues us. Look at (Anwar’s) passport to check where he was. Or ask his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail," he was reported as saying.

Zoo house

Utusan also challenged Anwar to secure the services of video experts if he wanted to disprove the man in the tape was him. The 4-year-old Anwar has denied the allegations and has lodged a police report.

The courts have since found the Datuk T trio guilty of screening pornography in public, passing only the minimal possible fines. However, the police - accused of collusion with the Najib administration - are still investigating Anwar under Section 182 of the Penal Code for giving "false information" meant to injure another person” by denying he was the man in the video.

Few Malaysians have doubts that Najib will not resort to gutter politicking to cling to power. His administration has already appealed a High Court judgment acquitting Anwar of manifestly trumped-up sodomy charges.

"Which Malaysian would be surprised when the police comes up with Omega watch and charge Anwar for another trumped-up allegation? So what is this new sex tape Shuaib has brought out? He just wants negative publicity for Anwar, but basically Malaysians are fed up of Umno's sex, sex, sex. strategy.

This will hurt them, not Anwar or Pakatan. From our get-togethers with the people, I can tell you the Malays are not happy at the way Umno is going about using dirty means to win votes and this is actually good news to us," PKR vice president Chua Jui Meng told Malaysia Chronicle.

"Also very important was the world reaction when Anwar was declared not guilty for the Sodomy II. The spontaneous response across the globe was an eye-opener for Malaysians.

The rakyat (citizens) know the world believes it was Najib and Umno that tried to frame Anwar.

It was also clear that to the other governments, Anwar is the best candidate to be prime minister and they hope he will make it because the situation is quite critical. Malaysia is at the brink and if we leave things to people like Najib and the Datuk T - to manipulate situations and run the country, we will become a zoo-house."

source:Malaysia Chronicle

PM says in the dark over new sexpose

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said that he has no inkling about a new sex video claimed to involve PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Asked about the claim made by the Datuk T trio at a late press conference today, Najib responded by passing the ball back to the trio who last year exposed a sex video said to be of Anwar.

“I don’t know, you have to ask them, don’t ask me,” he said.

He also said that he has not watched the said video.

“I don’t know. I have no knowledge on this... talking about videos this late at night,” he said, laughing heartily.

Other members of the Umno supreme council, including deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin, also guffawed with Najib.

The issue involving the said video was brought up by one of the Datuk T trio, Shuib Lazim, today, who claimed the new video was “more shocking” than the one which was exposed earlier.
Umno-owned daily Utusan Malaysia today front-paged a report quoting a member of the Datuk T trio, Shuib Lazim, who claimed that they have a video “more shocking” than the one screened last March.

The former Perkasa treasurer claims the new video was passed to him by another Datuk T member, Shazryl Eskay Abdullah, and was recorded on Jan 12 and 13, 2011 in Thailand.

Shuib, who said he has watched the new video, said the Datuk T are willing to screen the video in court if Anwar ever sues them.

He said the PKR de facto leader should sue the Datuk T, consisting also of former Malacca chief minister Rahim Thamby Chik, if an international forensic analyst finds that the man in the first video is not Anwar.

The opposition leader has lodged a police report to deny that he is the man recorded on video, while the Datuk T pleaded guilty to a charge of screening pornography in public.

Police are presently investigating Anwar for allegedly producing false information in his police report.

source:malaysiakini

Video baru 'Datuk T': Saya tak tahu, kata Najib

Expect more Datuk T porn tapes as GE-13 nears, warns Surendran

Umno rasa macam nak mampoih bila Anwar tak dipenjarakan.

Kisah liwat dah failed. Video ngentot dengan amoi cina pun kantoi.

12 & 13 Januari 2011 ada di Indonesia bukan Bangkok

Ini ke video seks terbaru yang babitkan dsai tue?

Penjelasan Noh Omar Tersekat?

Sabak Bernam,Selangor... 26/1/12...

Inilah sebab kenapa UMNO dok meroyan & tidoq pun tak lena. Depa cam mana pun nak kasi Anwar kena juga...

cheers.

MACC, police told to conclude NFC probes quickly

2012-01-27T23:00:00.000+08:00

The authorities should not be distracted by recent statements on the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) but press on with their investigations on the alleged misuse of funds, urged the Malaysian Chapter of Transparency International (TI-M) today.

“The recent statements on what words were actually used in the AG’s (auditor-general) report should not distract attention from the investigations by MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) and police on whether public funds for a national project were being used for other purposes.

“TI-M hopes that the authorities concerned would press ahead with the investigations and bring them to a quick conclusion in the public interest,” said TI-M secretary-general Josie M Fernandez (right) in a statement.

On Wednesday, NFC had said that the AG’s report had never described the company as being 'in a mess'.

However, Josie said that NFC should not divert attention from the investigations being carried out by the MACC and the police in determining whether there was misuse of public funds.

She added that while Auditor-General Ambrin Buang has confirmed that the report did not state that it was a mess, he had said that the company did not meet its obligations.

“The Auditor-General in his Jan 25 statement on the NFC feedlot project has stated the project had not fulfilled its objectives, due to several reasons including the failure of NFC to meet it’s agreed upon obligations.

“The Auditor-General further confirmed there were weaknesses in the feedlot project,” she said.

On Thursday, Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Noh Omar (left) had justified the A-G’s comments as evidence that the NFC was not a failure.

The NFC’s executive chairperson, Mohamad Salleh Ismail, who is the husband of Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, is accused of allegedly misappropriating a RM250million government soft-loan.

Police had submitted their investigation papers on the matter to the Attorney-General’s Chambers but they were sent back on Tuesday, with the police being asked to probe deeper into the scandal.
source:malaysiakini

cheers.

'Kambing hitam' lembu kondo hadapi 2 tuduhan menipu...

2012-01-27T18:30:00.000+08:00

Shamsubahrin Ismail, yang sebelum ini didakwa menipu pengerusi Perbadanan Fidlot Kebangsaan, hari ini mengaku tidak bersalah terhadap dua tuduhan berasingan menipu, yang tidak berkaitan dengan kontroversi NFC.

Ahli perniagaan berusia 45 itu, didakwa di Hospital Tunku Ampuan Rahimah, Klang, di mana dia sedang menjalani rawatan bagi komplikasi kesihatan.

Pertama, dia didakwa mengikut Seksyen 420 Kanun Keseksaan dengan tuduhan menipu seorang pemandu teksi dengan membuatnya melabur RM90,000 dalam syarikat yang tidak wujud.

Shamsubahrin (kiri - duduk di katil) berdepan dengan hukuman tidak kurang setahun dan tidak lebih daripada 10 tahun penjara dan sebatan, jika sabit kesalahan. Dia juga boleh dihukum denda jika sabit kesalahan. Ikat jamin ditetapkan sebanyak RM9,000 dan kes itu ditetapkan untuk sebutan pada 27 Februari.

Menurut peguamnya, N Surendran, Shamsubahrin ditangkap semula pada 19 Januari selepas keluarganya membayar ikatjamin sebanyak RM300,000 tiga minggu selepas dia didakwa menipu pengerusi NFCorp, Datuk Seri Mohamad Salleh Ismail sebanyak RM1.755 juta.

Sebelum itu, Surendran, yang juga naib presiden PKR, memberitahu pemberita bahawa tertuduh mempunyai maklumat mengenai NFC dan berjanji akan membuat lagi pendedahan. Turut hadir ialah ahli jawatankuasa PKR pusat Latheefa Koya, yang berkata pihak prihatin terhadap keselamatan ahli perniagaan itu.

Tuduhan kedua

Tidak sampai 45 minit kemudian, pada jam 11 pagi, Shamsubahrin dikenakan satu lagi pertuduhan menipu, apabila seorang lagi majistret dari mahkamah Shah Alam, Noor Kamilah Aziz, tiba di hospital.

Shamsubahrin didakwa mengikut Seksyen 417 Kanun Keseksaan dengan tuduhan tidak menyediakan seorang pembantu rumah kepada seorang individu, yang telah membayar RM13,000.

Dia berdepan dengan hukuman maksimum lima tahun penjara, jika sabit kesalahan. Shamsubahrin tidak mengaku bersalah dan majistret menetapkan ikatjamin sebanyak RM2,000, dengan tarikh sebutan ditetapkan pada 1 Mac.

Shamsubahrin faces two fresh cheating charges

Shamsubahrin Ismail, who was previously accused of cheating National Feedlot Corporation’s chairperson, today claimed trial to two separate charges of cheating, unrelated to the controversial NFC. The businessman, 45, was charged at the Tunku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang where he is warded with health complications.

His was first charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code with cheating a taxi driver by making the latter invest RM90,000 in a non-existent company. Shamsubahrin (left in photo) faces no less than a year and no more than 10 years imprisonment and whipping, upon conviction. He can also be fined if found guilty. Bail was set at RM9,000 and the case was set for mention on Feb 27.

According to his lawyer N Surendran, Shamsubahrin was re-arrested on Jan 19 after his family managed to post bail of RM300,000 three weeks after he was charged with cheating NFC chairperson Mohamad Salleh Ismail of RM1.755 million.

Surendran, who is also PKR vice president, told reporters earlier that the accused has information about NFC and promised further exposes. Also present was PKR central committee member Latheefa Koya, who said that the party is concerned over the safety of the businessman.

Slapped with another cheating charge

Barely 45 minutes later, Shamsubahrin was slapped with another cheating charge at 11am, with another magistrate from the Shah Alam court, Noor Kamilah Aziz, appearing at the hospital. Shamsubahrin is accused under under Section 417 of the Penal Code with not providing a maid to an individual, after the latter had paid RM13,000.

He faces a maximum sentence of five years’ jail, upon conviction. Shamsubahrin claimed trial and the magistrate set bail at RM2,000, with the mention date fixed for March 1.

Surendran(left) had described the latest charges as ridiculous, as both charges are more like civil cases rather than criminal offences.

“I want an answer from the attorney-general on why the prosecution power been abused,” queried Surendran.

Surendran alleged there were serious attempts from someone higher-up to shut Shamsubahrin’s mouth and cover up the NFC issues.

On the basis for such PKR claims, Surendran said he could tell from the manner that Shamsubahrin was charged at the hospital, and from the continued charges his client faces.

Shamsubahrin, who had been silent for a month after his arrest, is now lodging a report and revealing information to the police, said Surendran. Latheefa added that the party will for call a press conference by next Monday morning pertaining to the shocking expose. However, it is not sure if Shamsubahrin will join the expose press conference then.

Latheefa also said Shamsubahrin is having diffulty in raising the RM11,000 bail, as his account has been frozen and his family are in debt to raise bail from previous charges.

“It’s is dificult for him and his family to raise the bail. If he is able to settle the bail, he should be with us (on Monday), it’s not a problem,” said Latheefa.

It is learnt that the hospital has currently ran out of beds, so he might later end up back in Sungai Buloh prison, said Latheefa.This is an all out attempt to keep Shamsubahrin busy, by digging up all the old cases so that he would not speak, she added.

source:malaysiakini

cheers.

Kedah MB and his fashion taste from Simpang Empat...

2012-01-27T15:33:00.000+08:00

Like him or loathe him, Kedah Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak is someone whose simple lifestyle has drawn praise from both friends and foes.

The popular 'ustaz', as he is known among PAS circles nationwide, courted controversy recently over his statement in support of the suspension of five students of a state-owned college.

Yet, Azizan's moderate lifestyle betrays the image of the top civil servant in each state as Malaysians have grown to get used to, with the exception being the Menteri Besar of Kelantan, Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, whose decision to stay put in his wooden house despite being in power for more than two decades has been a strength many of his counterpart find hard to emulate.

Like him or loathe him, Kedah Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak is someone whose simple lifestyle has drawn praise from both friends and foes. The popular 'ustaz', as he is known among PAS circles nationwide, courted controversy recently over his statement in support of the suspension of five students of a state-owned college.

Yet, Azizan's moderate lifestyle betrays the image of the top civil servant in each state as Malaysians have grown to get used to, with the exception being the Menteri Besar of Kelantan, Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, whose decision to stay put in his wooden house despite being in power for more than two decades has been a strength many of his counterpart find hard to emulate.

When PAS president Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang took over as MB in neighbouring Terengganu, the same culture of maintaining an austere lifestyle was followed. As the MB, Hadi continued to teach at his madrasah beside his house in Rusila, and went fishing clad in his kampung attire. So too can be said of the current Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng, whose moderate lifestyle earned praise from PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, a Penangite.

'Fussy Azizan'

Visiting the Kedah MB recently, reporter Azamin Amin returns to tell of Azizan’s lifestyle which is a far cry from that of his predecessors from Barisan Nasional. The state's most powerful man lives in an ordinary double storey house which does not invite second glance from passers by.

“Whoever walks pass, a pedestrian or motorist, will certainly miss it as it has nothing to attract one's attention,” he writes.

Azizan's house in Jalan Sultanah, Alor Setar, when it was inundated with flood water last year

Immediately after assuming office in March 2008, Azizan refused to use state grants to repair the damaged fencing of his house despite being advised to do so by the police for security reasons, saying he would only use his own money to do so. Indeed, the veteran PAS leader is particular when it comes to financial matters.

“What he detests most is if someone comes asking for projects from him. He becomes very agitated if something is expensive and illogically priced. He goes into too much detail and is fussy when it comes to money,” says one staff member at the MB's office.

72-year old Azizan is father to 14 children, yet not one among them has been appointed to any state agency. “This is despite some of them having no stable job,” revealed a source close to Azizan.

'Fashion taste' from Kangkong

Azizan's simple lifestyle can be compared to many PAS leaders: unassuming and ordinary, to say the least. his favourite clothing stores are not in Sydney. He goes 'shopping' for his clothes to a Chinese-owned shop in Simpang Empat, Kangkong and another in Penang.

"Some of the shirts he wears to official functions cost only RM19!” observes Azamin in his report.

Azizan also has a preference to travel outstation by land rather than by air. According to his personal assistant, the Kedah MB would insist on a non-stop road journey from Alor Setar to Kuala Lumpur, and flies only when when urgency is required, such as an invitation by the Sultan of Kedah with whom he has a strong relationship.

No to luxury hotels

When in Kuala Lumpur for official matters, Azizan spurns luxury hotels allocated for him, instead rents a three-room house to share with his aides. Like many opposition leaders, Azizan is hounded by reporters and loaded questions. Such as how the writer recalls when a reporter once posed Azizan the question, “Now Kedah has no water, how Datuk Seri?”

Azizan had then politely asked the reporter whether he had taken his morning shower, to which the reporter answered in the affirmative.

“How then can you claim there is no water? From which university you graduated? It is now the dry season, and the whole country is facing water shortage issues. We can pray to God for rain,” he retorted.

Another anecdote reveals Azizan's friendlier side.

Last Ramadan, many Kedahans were cheated by a leaflets claiming that the Kedah MB would be distributing Hari Raya cash gifts at his office. Sure enough, 300 people turned up at his office.

"Feeling sorry for those being cheated by the leaflets, Azizan told his officers to distribute RM50 to each of them, and that money came directly from his pocket!” What would someone who is fussy about financial matters have done in such an occasion? Quite the opposite.

Mengenali MB Kedah dari dekat

Ramai yang berbeza pendapat dengan Menteri Besar Kedah, Datuk Seri Diraja Azizan Abdul Razak tentang isu Akta Universiti dan Universiti Kolej (AUKU), namun ia tidak sepatutnya menidakkan kehebatan MB Kedah ini. Berikut adalah catatan seorang wartawan Harakah, AZAMIN AMIN tentang Azizan Razak sebagaimana yang beliau kenali. Tulisan ini sudah lama tetapi masih relevan untuk memahami isu di Kedah.

KEDIAMAN

Rumah dua tingkat di tepi jalan itu, sekilas pandang tiada satu pun kelihatan istimewa. Tiada bezanya dengan rumah-rumah sebaris dengannya. Bawahnya batu, menempatkan ruang dapur dan tamu. Tingkat atasnya kayu, tempat sepasang suami isteri beradu dan berkumpulnya anak menantu jua cucu. Pekarangannya agak sempit, cukup-cukup memuatkan dua buah kereta. Di pagarnya tersidai dua karpet kecil dan sebatang mop lantai.

Sekelilingnya beberapa pokok sederhana besar ditanam, menghijaukan laman. Tiada kolam renang mahupun rekaan air terjun buatan yang melambangkan kemampuan penghuninya berbelanja besar, menghias kediaman. Sesiapa yang lalu-lalang, baik pejalan kaki mahupun pengguna jalan raya, pasti terlepas pandang dek kerana tiadanya nilai estitika ataupun kemuncak kemewahan yang mampu menarik perhatian.

BANGUNKAN INSANIAH

Memadai diceritakan antara kejayaan Ustaz Azizan bersama kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat ini ialah berjaya membangunkan Kolej Universiti Insaniah dengan penambahan bangunan baru di Kuala Ketil dan peningkatan mata pelajaran yang ditawarkan. Sebelum ini, selama 12 tahun di bawah kerajaan lama, hanya 7 subjek ditambah sedangkan di kala pemerintahannya selama dua tahun ini, sudah 42 subjek baru diperkenalkan.

CUKUP BERANG

"Paling pantang, ada orang minta projek daripadanya. Dia juga cukup berang jika sesuatu itu harganya amat mahal dan tidak munasabah. Dia begitu teliti dan cerewet tentang duit," kata seorang kakitangan kerajaan negeri tentang sikap MB Kedah itu terhadap perbelanjaan dan peruntukan kewangan. Selain itu beliau turut mengarahkan semua Exco Kerajaan negeri, melalui potongan gaji, menyumbang dana ke Tabung Tunku Mahmud, bagi tujuan kebajikan untuk rakyat Kedah.

Ya, memang tidak disangkal, Ustaz Azizan begitu cermat bila masuk bab wang kerajaan. Sikapnya itu sudah tidak menjadi rahsia lagi bahkan sebelum beliau bergelar Menteri Besar lagi. Malah tidak pernah campur adukkan antara wang kerajaan negeri dengan wang milik parti. Apatah lagi dalam hal ehwal lantikan kuasa atau jawatan, Ustaz Azizan, bapa 14 orang anak ini tidak pernah menggunakan kuasa yang ada untuk menawarkan pekerjaan kepada anak-anaknya di pejabat kerajaan negeri sungguhpun diketahui ada antaranya yang tidak mempunyai pekerjaan tetap, kata satu sumber rapat dengan MB Kedah itu.

Ketika mula-mula mengangkat sumpah sebagai pemimpin negeri Mac 2008 yang lalu, rumahnya tidak mempunyai pagar. Kosong dan lapang begitu sahaja. Namun atas nasihat Unit Perancang Ekonomi (UPEN) demi faktor keselamatan, Ustaz Azizan bersetuju dengan cadangan mereka supaya membina pagar rumah dan pondok pengawal. Bagaimanapun, beliau tidak mahu menggunakan peruntukan kerajaan negeri sebaliknya membina menggunakan duit sendiri.

HARGA KEMEJA MB

Bagi membeli pakaian, beliau akan ke sebuah kedai cina di Simpang Empat, Kangkong dan sebuah kedai di Pulau Pinang bagi membeli baju-baju kemeja yang diminatinya dan kedua buah kedai ini, merupakan kedai pakaian kegemarannya sejak dulu lagi. Dan lebih mengujakan, ada antara kemeja-kemeja yang dibelinya di sini, yang dipakai ketika majlis rasmi ataupun sewaktu bertugas rata-ratanya sekitar RM19.00 sahaja!

Tidak cukup dengan itu, jika ada urusan rasmi di Kuala Lumpur atau ke mana sahaja di negara ini, beliau tidak pernah menaiki kapal terbang sebaliknya menggunakan jalan darat semata. Ustaz Azizan 'tahan' berjam-jam dalam kenderaan untuk ke lokasi yang jauh. Kata juruiring dan pengawal peribadinya, beliau tidak akan singgah di sepanjang perjalanannya seperti dari Alor Setar ke Kuala Lumpur sehinggalah tiba ke destinasi yang dituju. Malah masa bertolak dan pulang tidak tentu masa, adakalanya tengah malam atau menjelang subuh.

Selain mengurangkan kos, beliau berasa selesa dan bergerak ke sini sana bertemu sesiapa sahaja menggunakan kereta. Cuma sesekali dijemput Tuanku Sultan Kedah untuk menaiki pesawat peribadi Boeing 737, beliau tidak upaya menolaknya.

HUBUNGAN DENGAN ISTANA

Bercerita pula hubungannya dengan istana, ustaz Azizan sememangnya terkenal dengan sikap hormatnya kepada Sultan dan institusi raja-raja. Kerana itulah, setiap hari Rabu, di awal pagi sebelum mesyuarat exco kerajaan negeri, beliau akan mengadap Sultan Kedah, untuk melaporkan perkembangan dan perjalanan urusan kerajaan. Lazimnya, para pemimpin negara atau negeri akan menginap di hotel mewah khususnya di Kuala Lumpur bagi urusan-urusan rasmi. Bukan seorang perbelanjaan yang ditanggung, malah melibatkan para pegawai, setiausaha, petugas, pemandu dan pegawal peribadi

Tidak seperti Ustaz Azizan, bagi mengelakkan pembaziran, beliau menyewa sebuah rumah tiga bilik di lokasi yang dirahsiakan di ibu kota untuk didiaminya bersama para petugas. Betapa cermatnya dan bayangkan apabila perbelanjaan menginap di hotel yang boleh mencecah RM80,000 sebulan dapat dijimatkan!

Menarik cerita MB Kedah ini ketika berada di rumah sewanya itu. Saya bertanya makanan kesukaan beliau dan kata pegawainya sekiranya lapar, lewat malam Ustaz Azizan meminta pegawainya membungkus Roti Arab kuah Dal atau seperti selalunya, hanya meminta mereka memasakkan mee segera untuknya!

SERI MENTALOON

Ya, beliau tidak mahu menetap di Seri Mentaloon yang gah laksana istana itu tetapi menjadikan bangunan luas itu untuk dimanfaatkan oleh rakyat bagi apa jua program pembangunan Insan ataupun majlis-majlis rasmi, tanpa dikenakan sebarang bayaran. Sikap Ustaz Azizan terhadap rakyat, kawan dan lawan sudah menjadi buah mulut orang. Mereka amat kenal gerak gaya dan perangai Menteri Besar mereka yang cukup mesra dan suka berseloroh. Saya sendiri pernah, menyaksikan serombongan 10 artis serta 40 krew produksi sebuah drama yang menjalankan penggambaran di Kedah diraikan oleh Azizan di Seri Mentaloon dengan jamuan makan tengah hari.

Biarpun rombongan itu terlewat satu jam sedangkan MB mempunyai acara di lokasi yang lain, Ustaz Azizan masih sabar menunggu dan melayan tetamu, membuat kebanyakannya malu tersipu. Bukti, pemimpin parti Islam ini sentiasa terbuka kepada sesiapa sahaja. Selain itu, Ustaz Azizan sering mempamerkan keprihatinannya terhadap masalah dan kebajikan rakyat. Buktinya, sejurus selepas mengadap Sultan Kedah, beliau dengan lengkap berpakaian baju melayu bergegas ke tempat kejadian setelah dimaklumkan terdapat 14 buah kedai hangus terbakar di Sungai Limau sewaktu cuti Tahun Baru Cina tempoh hari.

Beliau tiba, ketika api sedang naik menjulang sambil memerhatikan bomba dan sukarelawan memadamkan kebakaran malah datang sekali lagi keesokan harinya bersama Tengku Bendahara Kedah, menyampaikan sumbangan derma kilat kepada mangsa. Begitu juga dengan kejadian ribut kuat di Kuala Ketil yang melibatkan lebih 300 penduduk mengalami kerosakan kediaman, yang mana sehari selepas kejadian, Ustaz Azizan tiba awal dengan pasukan rombongannya menyampaikan sumbangan derma.

PERANGKAP WARTAWAN

Tetapi awas, bagi sesiapa yang tidak bersedia atau cuba 'menggoreng' fakta, akan menerima padah daripadanya yang cukup arif selok belok perangkap wartawan. Ada masa bidasan jawapan cukup pedih sehingga wartawan begitu berhati-hati mengelak serkap jarang.

"Sekarang ini Kedah tak ada air, macamana Dato' Seri? tanya seorang wartawan arus perdana yang dilihat cuba-cuba memprovokasi beliau.

"Kamu ni mandi tak pagi tadi?" tanya Ustaz Azizan pantas, kemudian dijawab 'ya' oleh wartawan itu, bagi mengelak dirinya dikatakan tidak mandi atau berbau busuk.

"Kalau begitu, macamana kamu kata tak ada air. Kamu mengaji Universti mana? Kan sekarang ni musim kemarau dan seluruh negara ada masalah kekurangan air. Ini urusan Allah SWT, jadi kita mohonlah doa, supaya hujan," katanya membuat wartawan itu terdiam seribu bahasa.

RAMADAN

Ada kisah menarik perhatian saya, ketika dititipkan semula pegawai khas MB tentang satu usaha kejadian sabotaj yang dilakukan pihak lawan sekitar Ramadan tahun lalu. Waktu itu, di masjid-masjid telah teredar ribuan risalah palsu yang menyatakan bahawa Ustaz Azizan selaku MB Kedah akan memberi sumbangan wang saku untuk Hari Raya kepada rakyat Kedah.

Esok paginya lebih 300 orang memenuhi pekarangan pejabat MB bagi menuntut apa yang dijanjikan seperti yang dicanang risalah palsu itu. Ustaz Azizan yang baru tiba ke pejabat, hairan dan terpinga dengan kehadiran orang ramai itu, lantas memanggil para pegawainya menjelaskan apa yang berlaku. Anda tahu keputusannya? Jika dilihat perwatakannya yang bengis dan tegas itu, ramai boleh mengagak tindakan selanjutnya. Namun yang berlaku adalah sebaliknya!

Ustaz Azizan berasa simpati pula dengan orang ramai yang tertipu dengan risalah itu. Lebih menghibakan beliau, ada bersusah payah datang dari jauh, hulu kampung, semata-mata berharap dan bergantung ihsan sumbangan yang dihebahkan palsu itu. Lantas beliau mengarahkan para pegawainya mengagihkan wang sebanyak RM50.00 seorang kepada semua yang hadir dan wang yang dikeluarkan itu datangnya daripada poketnya sendiri!

source:harakahdaily

cheers.

Anwar Presses On Despite Appeal...

2012-01-27T13:11:00.000+08:00

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said he isn't worried about state prosecutors' move to appeal a court decision acquitting him of sodomy earlier this month, and said he remains confident it won't derail his campaign to lead a new government to power in elections expected later this year.

"The judgment [in the sodomy case] was very strong" and "difficult to appeal," Mr. Anwar said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal at his political party's headquarters here Thursday. He said the appeal process, which began Jan. 20, would likely take at least six months, meaning it could loom over and outlast the election campaign.

Prime Minister Najib Razak has to call an election by March 2013, but under Malaysia's parliamentary system of government, many analysts predict it will be called much sooner, triggering one of the most fiercely fought electoral contests this resource-rich nation has ever seen. Mr. Anwar said he believes the election is unlikely to take place later than June.

Since the Jan. 9 verdict by a High Court judge—who acquitted Mr. Anwar of violating Malaysia's strict sodomy laws citing a lack of witnesses and flawed DNA evidence—the 64-year-old opposition leader has begun mobilizing support in this multiracial country, promising reforms to dismantle a decades-old affirmative-action program designed to give a leg up to the majority ethnic-Malay population while also targeting what he describes as widespread cronyism in Mr. Najib's government. If elected, Mr. Anwar said he will accelerate privatizations and do more to enable free markets to operate more efficiently, such as improving transparency in the bidding for government contracts.

Mr. Najib, 58 years old, is also keen to brand himself a reformer in part to win back ethnic-Chinese and Indian voters who in recent years largely have thrown their support behind Mr. Anwar's opposition alliance. Mr. Najib has also embarked on a series of sales of government assets to spur growth. Earlier this month, a government state investment fund sold its stake in car marker Proton Holdings Bhd. to conglomerate DRB-Hicom Bhd., and last year government-linked funds swapped shares in state-run Malaysian Airline System Bhd. with budget airline AirAsia Bhd.

"The overall principle is that we want the government-linked companies to sell off their noncore and noncompetitive assets," Mr. Najib said in an interview two weeks ago. "We are always looking out for how to add value to the country."

Mr. Anwar, though, criticized the way Mr. Najib's government pursued these privatizations, saying that without open, public tenders, key companies remain controlled by a well-connected few.

Privatization "looks good, but look again at the procedures," said Mr. Anwar. "The issue is not about privatization, it is blatant corruption."

Following the Proton deal, state investment fund Khazanah Nasional said in a statement that it chose the best suitor for the job and the country.

A Malaysian government spokesperson said Thursday the government is "fully committed to openness and transparency in all privatizations and divestments of state-owned assets and to tackling corruption wherever and whenever it is found." The spokesperson noted that Malaysia has introduced a new online database of government contracts so that anybody can alert authorities to any potentially improper actions.

"We are determined to ensure that all government contracts are awarded through a process that is fair and open to scrutiny," the spokesperson said.

After being embroiled in the sodomy trial—which he claims was politically motivated—Mr. Anwar is now shifting gears from defending his reputation to fighting to win an election.

Once a high-ranking member of the United Malays National Organization that has run Malaysia since independence from Britain in 1957, he was sacked from the party and lost his post as deputy prime minister after challenging former leader Mahathir Mohamad in the 1990s. He was subsequently charged for sodomizing his driver and his speechwriter, and spent six years in prison before his conviction was overturned.

After leading the opposition to one of its strongest-ever showings in 2008's national elections, Mr. Anwar was accused by former aide Saiful Bukhari Azlan of sodomizing him, setting in train another marathon, headline-stealing trial which Mr. Anwar again said was designed to end his political career. Mr. Najib and his government have repeatedly denied having anything to do with the case.

Now, after Judge Zabidin Diah acquitted Mr. Anwar, ruling that the forensic evidence presented against the opposition leader was flawed, Mr. Anwar argues that he isn't just "anti-UMNO" but has his own set of policies geared toward restoring Malaysia's competitiveness in a global economy where countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia are emerging as alternative magnets for investment.

"We must always compare Malaysia to Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan," said Mr. Anwar. "That's what we were."

If elected, Mr. Anwar said he would speed up the removal of racial quotas for university places and focus on helping lower-income groups regardless of race instead of solely aiding ethnic Malays.

In the interview, Mr. Anwar also clarified his position on homosexual rights and Malaysia's sodomy laws, and also the Muslim-majority nation's relationship with Israel.

"I support all efforts to protect the security of the state of Israel," said Mr. Anwar, although he stopped short of saying he would open diplomatic ties with the Jewish state, a step which he said remains contingent on Israel respecting the aspirations of Palestinians. Malaysia has consistently refrained from establishing diplomatic relations with Israel, although limited commercial ties exist between private companies in the two countries.

In response to recent local reports that he supported gay marriage, Mr. Anwar said they were wrong and that he "believes in and supports the sanctity of marriage between men and women." The opposition leader is suing government-linked newspaper Utusan Malaysia for defamation, alleging that it implied he supports and wants to legalize homosexuality.

Still, Mr. Anwar said that Malaysia's sodomy laws are "archaic" and could be amended.

"It is not my business to attack people or arrest people based on their sexual orientation," he said.

source:wsj

cheers.

The next PM is from Pakatan Rakyat, does any Bigot have a problem with that...

2012-01-27T06:30:00.000+08:00

People who fear things will happen to them will actually face it - eventually. Could it be karma?

Over in Malaysia, for Umno and its cronies, it is this fear of Anwar Ibrahim being the next Prime Minister.

And as the day gets nearer to GE-13, the great fear of Anwar intensifies. Every Ibrahim Ali, Ezam Mohd Nor and Hassan Ali is jumping into the bandwagon to slay Anwar.

They are even defending the indefensible RM250 million NFC debacle, and soon they will be defending all the corruption scandals, including First Lady Rosmah Mansor's Birkin bags and RM24 million diamond ring. Why? Very simple, it's simply an enormous 'fear psychosis' of Anwar Ibrahim.

Why so afraid

But why Fear and it is fear with a capital F? After all, if BN thinks it is doing the right things, it can be sure the rakyat (people) will support it and give it another umpteen years to rule. Well, sorry to say, that's not the case today. The people have woken up from their 54 years of hypnotized sleep, they can now see through the charades of BN and UMNO.

It's Pareto's rule - 80% of Malaysians can feel the pinch of daily living in their pockets and mind you, it's a sharp pain, while the 20% business people and UMNO elite are living in the fast lane enjoying the spoils.

Most Malaysians being wage earners have everything stipulated for them - housing loans, car loans, income tax, deductions, family maintenance and most of all, food items. If you have a government that doesn't care for the well being of the nation who just plunder and kill for the coffers of the nation, but leave the people high and dry, where and who will the people turn to?

Change is the answer

Change is the answer. The people are looking for change and mind you, Change with a capital C it will be. All signs are pointing to it, the people would not care if Anwar is the Prime Minister or even if it is Karpal Singh, so long as it is someone who will deliver and relieve the burden in their pockets.

The people need a decent salary to survive, and the government has to ensure it. Malaysians are not a lazy people. There are some countries in the West where even if the citizens don't work, the country supports them in all types of schemes, creating a lazy society. In Malaysia everyone works to survive, and the government should thank the people for it.

So bring on Mahathir Mohamad, Nazri Aziz, Ibrahim Ali, Ezam, Hassan, Ummi Hafilda, Zul Nordin and every other UMNO goon and stooge to slay Anwar Ibrahim. We don't care, the people have decided "Change it will be" and Anwar Ibrahim is going to be the next Prime Minister.

Does any Bigot have a problem with that? - Mathias Gomes, Stan Lee

source:Malaysia Chronicle

cheers.

Debat - Kalu Shabery Cheek dulu berbuih mulut, Najib terkencing dalam seluaq kot...

2012-01-26T23:00:00.000+08:00

Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak sepatutnya tidak perlu takut untuk menyambut cabaran debat yang dikemukakan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, apatah lagi beliau dikatakan lebih popular berbanding Ketua Pembangkang itu.

Ketua Penerangan Dewan Pemuda PAS Pusat, Riduan Mohd Nor berkata, dengan populariti Najib yang dikatakan sedang meningkat naik, maka cabaran debat tersebut adalah peluang terbaik untuk beliau mengutarakan visi dan misi beliau.

"Populariti Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak dikatakan semakin baik dan mengalahkan populairiti Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim seperti yang dinyatakan oleh Presiden MCA, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

"Dengan populariti yang baik dan meningkat naik, tidak wajar Datuk Seri Najib melepaskan peluang ini untuk menerima pelawaan debat yang sangat ditunggu-tunggu oleh semua rakyat Malaysia," ujar Riduan.

Menurut beliau lagi, banyak pihak sedang ternanti-nanti kedua-dua pemimpin utama negara itu bersemuka di atas satu pentas bagi melihat hujah yang dikemukakan oleh pemimpin tersebut.

Malah baginya, debat adalah suatu dimensi politik baru yang perlu diterokai oleh kedua-dua pemimpin negara ini. Suasana juga ujarnya sudah berubah di mana rakyat sudah semakin terbuka dan bijak dalam menilai sesuatu maklumat yang diterima.

Rakyat tegasnya memerlukan suatu saluran bagi mendapatkan suatu informasi berharga bagi menajamkan pemerhatian mereka terhadap politik negara dan debat terbuka adalah langkah terbaik untuk semua.

"Jika selama ini, rakyat terbelenggu dengan hanya maklumat dari sebelah pihak sahaja.

"Dengan cengkaman media yang berat sebelah, ditambah pula dengan propaganda yang memburukkan imej pemimpin pembangkang di negara ini sejak sekian lama, wacana debat adalah perlu bagi menilai pandangan kedua-dua tokoh terbabit," tegasnya.

Mengulas lanjut, Riduan berkata, debat yang bakal dianjurkan ini bakal menjadi suatu peristiwa bersejarah kerana pemimpin negara berjiwa besar sanggup duduk semeja dan berhujah dengan Ketua Pembangkang.

"Oleh itu, Datuk Seri Najib tidak perlu risau dan gentar bagi menghadapi Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim di atas pentas perdebatan.

"Yang diadili bukan siapa menang atau kalah, yang penting siapa yang benar dan siapa yang salah. Jika Datuk Seri Najib di pihak yang benar, apa yang perlu ditakutkan," soalnya tegas.

Students, PAS Youth all for Najib-Anwar date

The now-popular suggestion for a public debate between prime minister Najib Razak and parliamentary Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim on policy matters received support today from influential Islamist students coalition, Peninsula Muslim Undergraduates Union (GAMIS).

Chairman of the coalition's council on national politics, Muhammad Hafizuddin Muhamed Noor, saying the students community and Malaysians in general had been eagerly looking forward to such an event, said GAMIS would be willing to organise the public debate.

"We are anxiously waiting for Najib to state his readiness to participate in the debate. Anwar has already stated his intention long ago.

"The undergraduates are ready to organise this debate," Hafizuddin told Harakahdaily.

Earlier, think tank Merdeka Center said based on its discussions with Malay professionals, there has been intense interest among them for both leaders to debate on matters affecting the nation.

"They prefer a new culture of debate, not personal attacks,” the think-tank's director Ibrahim Suffian said.

GAMIS meanwhile agreed that the debate should focus only on issues of governance and public interest, and not personal attacks.

"We also reject the idea that such a debate cannot be held in Malaysia," Hafizuddin added, referring to UMNO information chief Ahmad Maslan, who described public debates as "a Western culture" which had yet to find acceptance locally.

Live telecast

Meanwhile, PAS Youth also welcomed the suggestion, saying the idea of a debate should be seriously considered as a new political dimension in the country.

"With a biased media coupled with propaganda against opposition leaders for so long, a debate is needed to evaluate the views of both leaders.

"With the changing times, people have become more open and wise in their evaluation of a certain information," said the wing's information chief Riduan Mohd Nor to Harakahdaily.

Referring to MCA president Chua Soi Lek's claim that Najib was more popular than Anwar, Riduan said this was all the more reason for Najib to accept an invitation to a public debate.

"Najib should not have any worry in confronting Anwar on a debate platform," he stressed, and added that any such debate must be televised live nationwide.

source:harakahdaily

Umno cipta helah untuk elak debat Anwar-Najib

cheers.

Can Putrajaya clarify whose assets were frozen...

2012-01-26T21:30:00.001+08:00

DAP’s Lim Kit Siang pushed the federal government to explain the prime minister’s asset freeze KUALA announcement on the scandal-tainted RM336.64 million national cattle farming project.

The veteran lawmaker said that the government needed the clear the air over allegations of confusion between which NFC it had acted on, whether it was the national feedlot centre project, or the national feedlot corporation that it picked to run the operations.

“With the claim that the Auditor-General had confused the two entities, NFC and NFCorp,

Malaysians want to know whether the freezing of assets announced by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak earlier this month was with regard to NFC or NFCorp or both,” he said in a statement today.

“Who can give this clarification?” Lim (picture) pressed.

The Ipoh Timor MP denounced NFCorp chairman, Datuk Seri Mohamad Salleh for fussing over “semantics” instead of taking responsibility for a multi-million ringgit national project using taxpayers money.

He said the husband to minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil deserved public censure for trying to divert attention by claiming that the Auditor-General had confused the two entities that share the same NFC initials, when Tan Sri Ambrin Buang had done no such thing in the 2010 audit report.

“Is Mohamad Salleh seriously claiming that the NFCorp owes no duty of public accountability and responsibility for any misuse of public funds given to NFCorp,” he asked.

He pointed out the massive sums of money involved, from the RM73.64 million from the Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry in development and operational costs to the RM13 million start-up grant approved to NFCorp in September 2007 and to the RM250 million soft loan awarded to the corporation in an agreement signed on December 2007.

Ambrin was reported saying again today that there were several weaknesses in the implementation of the feedlot centre project.

“Why else would the government have, in May 2009, postponed the implementation pending viability and business model studies on the centre?” he was quoted as saying today by The Star newspaper.

“Whether there are elements of misappropriation is for authorities like the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate,” he was quoted saying, adding that his audit department made no mention of misappropriation of funds as it was beyond the scope of its powers.

Ambrin said the audit was to determine whether the centre had been carefully planned, prudently carried out and met its objective.

“Audit analysis showed the objective of the centre had not been fully met and this was due to various factors as explained in the Auditor-General’s Report 2010,” he said.

In his report, the project did not meet its production target of 38,600 head of cattle in 2010 because the Entrepreneur Development Programme involving 130 satellite farm entrepreneurs had not been implemented.

He also said NFCorp was a RM1 share registered company with the Ministry of Finance Incorporated, adding that the RM1.1 million in paid-up capital had been contributed by Agroscience Industries Sdn Bhd, owned by the Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry.

The publicly-funded company hit the headlines following last year’s Auditor-General’s Report, and has continued to hog the limelight after it was linked to minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil’s family.

PKR has since made several revelations relating to the scandal, including NFCorp’s purchase of two luxury condominium units in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, and the alleged use of project funds to pay for Shahrizat and her family’s personal expenses.

The opposition party has also alleged that Shahrizat’s family used nearly RM600,000 from NFCorp’s funds to settle their credit card bills in 2009.

But the management of NFCorp has maintained that the credit card expenses were solely for business purposes.

source:malaysian insider

cheers.

Himpunan 1000 umat- Jemputan guna kepala surat palsu exco agama Islam,Penang...

2012-01-26T19:45:00.000+08:00

Saya begitu kesal dengan tindakan pihak tertentu, memalsukan surat saya dengan menggunakan kepala surat palsu Ahli Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri (Exco) berhubung Jemputan Menghadiri Program Perhimpunan Himpunan Ummah Selamatkan Akidah yang dijadual pada 28 Januari 2012 di Pusat Budi Penyayang, Kepala Batas.

Surat bertarikh 19 Januari 2012, yang ditujukan kepada pengerusi Qaryah Masjid Pulau Pinang itu juga menggunakan nombor rujukan palsu, selain hanya memaparkan nombor faks pejabat saya tanpa meletakkan nombor telefon pejabat.

Ingin saya tegaskan kerajaan negeri tidak terlibat dalam penganjuran majlis tersebut, yang saya difahamkan adalah anjuran beberapa Pertubuhan Bukan Kerajaan (NGO).

Tindakan memalsukan surat rasmi bagi menjemput orang ramai menghadiri majlis tersebut, bukan sahaja menggambarkan sikap tidak bertanggungjawab dan tidak beretikanya pihak berkenaan, bahkan ia mencerminkan hati budi mereka yang sebenarnya.

Lanjutan daripada itu, saya telah membuat laporan polis di Balai Polis Daerah Timur Laut, George Town pada jam 2.12 petang tadi bagi menyiasat perkara ini. - YB Hj Abdul Malik Kassim (Exco Hal Ehwal Agama Islam Pulau Pinang)

Jemputan palsu hadiri Himpun disebar di masjid

Fake invitation to rally making rounds in mosques

An “official” letter bearing the Penang government logo and allegedly signed by state Islamic affairs committee chairperson Abdul Malik Abdul Kassim is being distributed to several mosque committees, urging them to attend a mammoth gathering of Muslims in Kepala Batas on Saturday.

Abdul Malik (right), however, has denied ever issuing such a letter and has lodged a police report on the abuse of the state government letterhead. He is also unable to identify the individual or parties involved.

The Batu Maung assemblyperson said he came to know of the letter entitled ‘Jemputan Menghadiri Program Perhimpunan Ummah Selamatkan Akidah’ by a group of Malay NGOs - Himpun - purportedly signed by him yesterday.

The letter was sent to mosque committees on Jan 19, inviting them to attend the Himpun rally, planned at the Pusat Budi Penyayang Kepala Batas, he said.

“I regret that this has happened. The state does not endorse this gathering and neither will we participate in it.

“The act of sending out this fake letter with a forged signature is not only irresponsible but unethical and reflects the true nature of certain quarters,” Abdul Malik added.

According to the organisers, Himpun is supported by Malay and Muslim NGOs, including political leaders concerned about the threat of a Christian movement against Muslims.

Rally against Christian movement

Himpun media information committee chief Mansor Ibrahim had claimed recently that Islam was being threatened by a Christian movement based outside the country. And that the movement is behind certain political parties in converting Muslims and to establish a Christian state in Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Abdul Malik said the Permatang Pauh mosque committee chairperson Zainal Abidin Said had contacted him to verify the details in the ‘official letter’.

He was also queried by Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Mansor Othman after he had received a report about it from Taman Guar Perahu mosque chief Abu Bakar Bakilani.

“The letter is meant to trick the people, and to tarnish my name and the reputation of the state government.

“We are concerned because such fake letters can be misinterpreted by the public and cause mistrust between Muslims here,” he added.

Letters will be sent to the organisers of the event to inform them of the fake letter incident and to inform them about the state government’s stand on the planned event.

Former Selangor state exco member Dr Hasan Mohd Ali, Himpun chairperson Azmi Hamid, Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia president Abdullah Zaik Abd Rahman, former Penang PAS Youth chief Hafiz Nordin, and convert Kamarudin Abdullah are expected to speak at the rally.

When contacted, one of the rally organisers, Mohd Abdul Hamid, said he was unaware of the fake letter, adding that the event does not involve the state government.

“I agree with Abdul Malik on making the police report,” said Mohd Abdul via an SMS, adding that he was attending a meeting.

source:malaysiakini

cheers.

Felda akan alami defisit 1.5b jika pajak tanah pada FGV...

2012-01-26T17:45:00.000+08:00

Pakar ekonomi Persatuan Anak Felda Kebangsaan (ANAK) Dr Rosli Yaacop mendakwa Felda akan mengalami defisit pendapatan antara RM1.2 bilion hingga RM1.5 bilion sekiranya lembaga itu menyenaraikan anak syarikatnya, Felda Global Venture (FGV) ke Bursa Malaysia.

Bekas timbalan pengarah Bank Negara itu berkata, pendapatan agensi itu dijangka akan berkurangan apabila Felda menyerahkan pegangannya kepada FGV.

Katanya, kos operasi Felda mencecah kira-kira RM2 bilion pada 2010, sedangkan agensi itu dijangka hanya akan mendapat pendapatan tahunan melalui pajakan tanah sebanyak RM251 juta dan hasil jualan sehinggga RM508 juta.

"Kalau pendapatan Felda sudah turun kepada RM750 juta, sedangkan perbelanjaan RM2 billion atau bertambah, Jadi Felda akan mengalami defisit tiap-tiap tahun.

"Felda nak ambil mana duit (yang selebihnya). Ini masalah yang utama... Setakat yang ada dalam perjanjian ini, Felda tidak akan mampu menanggung perbelanjaan tahunannya.

"Ini aspek akan merugikan Felda dan akhirnya rakyat akan menanggungnya. Sebab itu, ia salah satu sebab mengapa kita menentang penyenaraian ini," katanya yang juga timbalan pesuruhjaya PAS Negeri Sembilan dalam dalam satu sidang media hari ini.

Selain itu, Dr Rosli (kanan) mendakwa dengan perjanjian itu juga, Felda akan kehilangan kuasa terhadap tanah-tanah yang diuruskan oleh Felda Plantation.

"Segala kuasa untuk mengurus (tanah) diserahkan bulat-bulat kepada Felda Global Venture.

"Tunggak (kuasa) dalam organisasi Felda, sebaik sahaja ditandatanagni, akan berpindah kepada FGV... (bagai) kepada datuk kepada cucu," katanya.Turut hadir dalam sidang media tersebut ialah Presiden ANAK, Mazlan Aliman yang juga ahli jawatankuasa PAS Pusat.

Mazlan hari ini mendedahkan isi perjanjian antara Felda dan Felda Global Venture (FGV) yang disifatkannya sebagai "tidak adil dan berat sebelah" dalam usaha penyenaraian syarikat tersebut di Bursa Saham Malaysia.

Katanya, pendedahan itu dibuat selepas cadangan dan bantahan mereka terhadap penyenaraian tersebut, tidak boleh diterima oleh kerajaan, selepas NGO tersebut memberi masa yang cukup untuk kerajaan menimbang hasrat untuk berbuat demikian.

Katanya, jika perjanjian itu ditandatangani, institusi tanah itu akan menjadi "simbol atau patung dan tidak ada kekuatannya lagi".

"Segala urusniaga akan ditandatangani oleh Felda Global Venture. Apa keistimewaan FGV sehingga mendapat kenikmatan aman sentosa.

"Macam tu sekali tingginya martabat Felda Global Venture," katanya.
Beliau turut mengedarkan kepada media, isi-isi terma-terma komersil dalam perjanjian tersebut.

"Kalau kami dianggap pengkhianat, membocorkan kandungan perjanjian ini, Gerakan Selamatkan Felda sedia menghadapi risiko.

"Kita sedia berdebat, dan akan menampilkan ahli panel, dan menentang apa yang kami sifatkan sebagai satu tindakan membunuh institusi orang Melayu," tegasnya.

Felda will face RM1.5bil deficit, warns NGO

The PAS-led Felda settlers children's association or Anak has warned that the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) may be hit by a deficit of RM1.25 billion to RM1.5 billion annually if the proposed listing of its subsidiary Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) goes through.

This will be the consequence of Felda handing over all its stake to FGV, receiving in return only RM251 million annually from fixed leased payments and a 15 percent profit from FGV's agriculture operations valued at between RM257 million and RM508 million, depending on the market.

Anak president Mazlan Aliman (right) in revealing the terms of the agreement between Felda and FGV raised the question of who was to bear the remaining RM1.25 to RM1.5 billion burden. Anak economic advisor Rosli Yaacop, former Bank Negara deputy director, said Felda's revenue in 2010 was RM2.4 billion but its operating cost was RM2 billion.

Rosli (right) added Felda turned in a profit of only RM400 million that year.

"However, with the listing exercise, Felda will still be entrusted with the operations exercise of the settlers and the land but they will in return get a total income of RM251 million from the lease and an additional RM257 million or RM508 million depending on the oil palm fruit output.

"That leaves Felda with a deficit of RM1.25 billion to RM1.5 billion in operating costs. Who will meet the operating costs of Felda if not the taxpayers or government then," said the Negeri Sembilan PAS deputy commissioner.

Showing the agreement, Mazlan who is also a PAS central committee member, said this was raised by former Felda director-general Zulkifli Abd Wahab, and other senior executives but their question was termed insubordination and he was given the boot.

"I feel this is a legitimate question. Felda is the mother company but in the end its subsidiary will be listed and on top of that the assets of Koperasi Permodalan Felda Bhd (KPF) is to be incorporated into FGV.

"This question remains unanswered by the deputy minister Ahmad Maslan, Felda chairperson Isa Samad and the prime minister who is the leader in charge of Felda itself," he said.

Felda self-sufficient in 1990s

Mazlan pointed out that in the 1990's Felda was self sufficient, as it generated its own income to cover its expenses. Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, according to Mazlan, wanted to stop Felda relying on a RM100 million annual grant and as a result it had become self-sufficient and even generated profit.

However, once listed, he stressed Felda would not only have to find a new source of income as a result, but may have to face the annual deficit threat. That question posed by Zulkifli remains unanswered till today, he said.

"I challenge the BN government to explain the details of the agreement between Felda and FGV and reveal how Felda is to generate more income to fund its operating costs with this exercise," he said.

The listing exercise, Mazlan said is not a step forward for the settlers, as there is a possibility that their welfare would be neglected. He said at present Felda’s role is to build infrastructure and facilities in the settlements, besides paying the salaries of its 23,000 employees which costs RM500 million annually.

“With FGV only paying lease and also a small portion of the profit how do one expect Felda to survive when its operations cost RM2 billion. I would not be surprised if Felda may have to rely in asking the government to finance its operating costs as it is not stated in Felda’s agreement with FGV,” said Mazlan.

Foreigners occupying Felda?

Mazlan also explained the experience of Felda’s subsidiary company Felda Oil Products Sdn Bhd, where initially it (Felda) had a controlling stake of 70 percent in the 1970s.

“However, as its interests is diversified with Japanese-based Mitsui and a Dubai-based company raising their stakes, its chief executive officer who was once a local is now replaced by a foreigner.

"Similarly with the FGV listing exercise, there will be a possibility that the company will now be run by foreigners if they manage to increase their stake in FGV as had happened with Felda Oil Products.

“If that is the case what will happen to the settlers who had given their land to Felda and in turn Felda leased them to FGV. Certainly in the end the settlers who have been toiling the land these years would lose out,” he warned.

Mazlan said Anak will go on a roadshow to explain all this to the 317 Felda land schemes. However, he also pointed out the roadshow has been hampered by threats, despite Anak having police permits to meet the settlers.

“Isa (Samad) have been using Rela and the auxiliary police to stop us. They have been calling us traitors and robbers in trying to stop the listing exercise. However, we will persevere and continue to go nationwide to garner support to stop the listing exercise which has been brought forward to April.”

The Anak chief also related that they had also met the Cooperatives Commission to question the status of Isa in heading KPF as per the appointment letter by PM Najib Abdul Razak dated Aug 15, whereas Isa is not a KPF member.

“I am worried that the commission which is to safeguard the interests of cooperatives would be pressured by the BN government to go ahead with Isa’s appointment although it is wrong and against the law. The commission has not given any response on whether Isa is a member of KPF,” he said.

Only KPF members are allowed to hold senior posts in the cooperatives.

source:malaysiakini

Tiga negeri Pakatan tak akan serah tanah pada FGV

cheers.

AG's clarification doesn't mean that NFC,let off the hook...

2012-01-26T13:11:00.000+08:00

The Auditor General's statement yesterday, clarifying that his department's audit was on the National Feedlot Centre and not the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) does not preclude abuse of power.

Saying this in a series of Twitter postings yesterday, PKR secretary general Saifuddin Nasution (left) said that the fact remains that the "heart of the misappropriation lies in NFC" and its subsidiaries which all belong to cabinet minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil's family.

"The fact that the Auditor General conducted an audit on the National Feedlot Centre and not NFC (the company) does not change the fact that there was misappropriation of RM250 million in public funds," he said.

Saifuddin added that he was rehashing the facts of the case as there had been an attempt to twist it and drag the AG into the issue, saying PKR trusts in the AG's integrity.

According to the Machang MP, the registrar of companies' records show that NFC, the integrator for the feedlot project had as of Dec 31, 2009 long term liabilities amounting to RM256,082, 518.

"This means that the government loan (of RM250 million) has been channeled to NFC," he said.

Going through PKR's previous exposes on the matter, Saifuddin said NFC had then channeled RM81,222,448.93 to National Livestock and Meat Corporation, wholly owned by the family.

Some of this cash was then used to buy the two units of luxury condominiums in the One Menerung complex in Bangsar, he claimed.

He added that NFC, run by Shahrizat's husband Mohamad Salleh Ismail and their children, also transferred funds to the Real Food Company which they wholly own.

The company operates three high end restaurants.

"NFC has to clarify many things, the condominiums in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, the land in Precinct 10 Putrajaya, the RM823,000 spent on overseas trips and the RM2,964,555 transferred to Real Food.

Not in a mess

"I congratulate the AG for a job well done, the rest is up to the police and the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission. PKR is ready to fully cooperate," he said.

Yesterday, the AG, Ambrin Buang, (right) said in a statementthat his 2010 report never said that NFC was in a mess or that there was misappropriation of funds.

He added that the audit was not on the company but on the feedlot project, which had not fulfilled its objectives, due to several reasons including the failure of NFC to meet its agreed upon obligations.

NFC executive director Wan Shahinur Izmir Salleh in a separate statement yesterday also urged the public to read the AG's report for themselves instead of being "falsely misled" by certain quarters to believe that NFC is in a "mess".

NFC had also held a dialogue with NGOs and is expected to have another round of dialogues with another set of civil society groups to explain its case. Police and MACC are also investigating the matter.

Meanwhile, in a statement this morning the embattled company thanked Ambrin for his clarification which it says “puts to rest months of tireless public bashing from hardline critics”.

“The Auditor-General’s statement will be a catalyst for NFC as it will atone our next steps in clearing the air and strengthening public perception of our business, which we cannot afford to let slide, especially the trade and consumers,” said executive director Wan Shahinur Izmir Salleh.

NFC tetap 'lubuk penyelewengan'...

Setiausaha agung PKR, Saifuddin Nasution berkata, kenyataan ketua audit negara semalam, bahawa jabatan itu menjalankan audit ke atas National Feedlot Centre (NFC) dan bukannya National Feedlot Corporation (NFCorp), tidak membebaskan projek berkenaan daripada dakwaan penyelewengan.

Beliau mempertahankan bahawa "lubuk penyelewengan" itu ialah syarikat yang dikuasai keluarga menteri pembangunan wanita, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil – NFCorp, National Livestock and Meat Corporation (NLMC) dan Real Food Company.

"Hakikat bahawa ketua audit menjalankan audit ke atas NFC dan bukannya NFCorp tidak mengubah fakta bahawa ada penyelewengan dana awam RM250 juta," katanya dalam tulisan di laman Twitter semalam.

Beliau turut menyebut semula dakwaan yang pernah dikemukakannya sebelum ini berhubung projek tersebut "kerana ada percubaan untuk putarbelitkan isu dengan mengheret ketua audit negara semula."

Ahli parlimen Machang itu berkata, rekod daripada suruhanjaya pendaftar syarikat menunjukkan bahawa hutang yang ditanggung NFCorp sehingga akhir tahun 2009 berjumlah RM256,082,518.

"Ini bermakna pinjaman kerajaan (berjumlah RM250 juta) disalur kepada NFCorp," katanya lagi yang turut menyenaraikan semula pendedahan PKR berhubung kes tersebut.
Beliau mendakwa, NFC antara lainnya telah menyalurkan wang berjumlah RM81,222,448.93 kepada NLMC, syarikat yang dikuasai penuh oleh keluarga Shahrizat.

Sebahagian daripada wang ini digunakan untuk membeli dua unit kondominium mewah One Menerung di Bangsar, dakwanya. NFC yang dikendalikan suami Shahrizat, Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail dan anak-anak mereka, juga telah menyalurkan wang kepada Real Food Company yang juga dimiliki keluarga itu.

Tambahnya, NFCorp juga masih perlu menjelaskan mengenai pembelian kondominium di Singapura, lot tanah di Putrajaya sertaperbelanjaan sebanyak RM823,000 untuk lawatan ke luar negara.

source:malaysiakini

cheers.

Saifool got to wait for written judgment on sodomy acquittal...

2012-01-26T09:30:00.000+08:00

The grounds of written judgment of Anwar Ibrahim’s acquittal, on a charge of sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, are not yet ready. Anwar’s lead counsel Karpal Singh said he was informed by the trial judge’s secretary that the judgment is not yet ready.

He said this to reporters after checking on the judgment with High Court Judge Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah’s secretary at the Jalan Duta Court Complex in Kuala Lumpur today. He, however, said that a trial judge was obliged to provide a grounds of written judgment within eight weeks from the day a notice of appeal was filed, as provided under the Chief Justice’s circular.

On Jan 20, the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) had filed the notice of appeal against Anwar’s acquittal from the sodomy charge. The notice which was signed by solicitor-general Idrus Harun was filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court Criminal Registry.

Karpal also said the AGC had the power not to proceed with the appeal after perusing with the grounds of written judgment by the trial judge.

Karpal said it was still open to the AGC not to prosecute the appeal further, after reading and being satisfied with the written judgment which contained the exhibits, notes of proceedings and the written judgment.

“We have done it (not to appeal) in other cases. When I get the petition of appeal, I found the grounds were not worth to proceed with the appeal,” said Karpal.

He said the AGC had 10 days to file the petition of appeal under the Rules of the Court of Appeal 1994, upon receiving the record of appeal and if the 10-day period had lapsed, it was deemed to be withdrawn (the petition of appeal).

The party who had filed the notice of appeal at the High Court registry would have to file the petition of appeal at the Court of Appeal Registry, if they wanted to pursue the appeal, upon receiving a complete record of appeal.

On Jan 9, Justice Mohamad Zabidin acquitted and discharged Anwar after the court found that it could not be 100 percent certain that the integrity of the DNA samples had not been compromised and that it was reluctant to convict Anwar based solely on the uncorroborated evidence of Mohd Saiful.

Anwar, 64, had been charged with sodomising Mohd Saiful, 26, at a Desa Damansara condominium unit in Bukit Damansara here between 3.10pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008.He was charged under Section 377B of the Penal Code which carries a sentence of up to 20 years’ jail and whipping, upon conviction.

Karpal: Penghakiman bertulis pembebasan Anwar belum siap

Penghakiman bertulis berhubung pembebasan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim daripada tuduhan meliwat bekas pembantunya Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan masih belum siap, kata peguam Karpal Singh. Karpal berkata perkara itu dimaklumkan kepadanya oleh setiausaha hakim perbicaraan kes berkenaan.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas membuat pertanyaan tentang penghakiman itu kepada setiausaha hakim Mahkamah Tinggi Datuk Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah di Kompleks Mahkamah Jalan Duta di ibunegara hari ini.

Kata peguam bela utama Anwar itu, seseorang hakim perbicaraan perlu memberi asas penghakiman bertulis dalam tempoh lapan minggu daripada tarikh notis rayuan difailkan, seperti yang disebutkan dalam Surat Pekeliling Ketua Hakim Negara.

Pada 20 Januari, Pejabat Peguam Negara (PPN) memfailkan notis rayuan terhadap pembebasan Anwar daripada tuduhan meliwat. Notis berkenaan, yang ditandatangani Peguamcara Negara Datuk Idrus Harun, difailkan di Pejabat Pendaftar Mahkamah Tinggi Jenayah Kuala Lumpur.

Karpal berkata PPN mempunyai kuasa untuk tidak meneruskan rayuan itu setelah meneliti asas yang terkandung dalam penghakiman bertulis yang disediakan hakim perbicaraan. Katanya PPN juga boleh membuat keputusan untuk tidak meneruskan rayuan setelah membaca dan berpuas hati dengan penghakiman bertulis yang mengandungi barang kes, nota prosiding dan penghakiman bertulis.

"Kami pernah buat begitu (tidak merayu) dalam kes lain. Apabila saya mendapat petisyen rayuan, saya dapati asasnya tidak berbaloi untuk meneruskan rayuan," katanya.

Karpal berkata mengikut Peraturan Mahkamah Rayuan 1994, PPN mempunyai masa 10 hari untuk memfailkan petisyen rayuan sebaik saja menerima rekod rayuan dan sekiranya tempoh 10 hari itu berlalu begitu saja, maka ia (pestisyen rayuan) dikira sudah ditarik balik.

Pihak yang telah memfailkan notis rayuan di Pejabat Pendaftar Mahkamah Tinggi, perlu memfailkan petisyen rayuan di Pejabat Pendaftar Mahkamah Rayuan sekiranya mereka ingin meneruskan rayuan itu, setelah menerima rekod rayuan yang lengkap.

Pada 9 Januari, Hakim Mohamad Zabidin membebaskan dan melepaskan Anwar setelah mahkamah mendapati ia tidak 100 peratus pasti integriti sampel DNA tidak diusik dan mahkamah itu keberatan mensabitkan kesalahan Anwar semata-mata berdasarkan keterangan Mohd Saiful yang tidak disokong oleh bukti.

Anwar, 64, dituduh meliwat Mohd Saiful, 26, di sebuah unit kondominium Desa Damansara,Bukit Damansara antara pukul 3.10 petang dan 4.30 petang pada 26 Jun 2008. Beliau dituduh mengikut Seksyen 377B Kanun Keseksaan yang memperuntukkan hukuman penjara hingga 20 tahun dan sebatan, jika sabit kesalahan.

source: malaysiakini

cheers.

GONG XI FA CAI...

2012-01-23T00:02:00.000+08:00

kepada semua kaum tionghua

drive safely...

be back soon...

cheers.

Najib's U-turn on Anwar acquittal - International response filters in...

2012-01-21T13:11:00.000+08:00

International response is starting to filter in on news that Prime Minister Najib Razak's government has decided to appeal the acquittal of political arch rival Anwar, the Opposition Leader, who was found "not guilty" by a High Court judge last week.

Phil Robertson, Deputy Director of the Asia Division, Human Rights Watch was among the early bird to condemn the Najib administration for its latest flip-flop.

“The trial court gave the government a chance to bow out gracefully from Anwar’s politically motivated prosecution. It’s very unfortunate that they didn’t take it. This decision means the citizens of Malaysia will be further subjected to the more political machinations in the courtroom as the government perpetuates this travesty of a trial for a crime that should not be a crime in the first place,” Phil said in a statement.

Persecution, not prosecution

Meanwhile, Anwar's lawyer Sankara Nair said he has yet to be notified of the decision. He slammed the move as an obvious case of "political persecution" and not prosecution.

"I have not been formally notified by the prosecution. However if it is true, then it is most regrettable and atrocious- given that the trial judge has stated succinctly, in his verdict that the crucial evidence was “tampered"," said Sankara.

"Hence the substratum of the prosecutions case is fatally demolished,rendering any appeal, no matter how many times, an desperate act in futility. It appears to be a case of political persecution of Anwar and not prosecution."

As for Anwar himself, he has said it was the Attorney-General's right to appeal but warned that there should be no government or political interference. However, most Malaysians would tell him that this may be beyond the manipulative Umno, Najib's party which has ruled Malaysia for the past 5 decades.

Judge conceded key DNA evidence was compromised

Malaysian prosecutors had filed the appeal papers at the High Court criminal registry at 4.30pm on Friday, January 20, according to criminal deputy registrar Halilah Suboh.

On Jan 9, Anwar was acquitted on a charge of sodomising his former aide Saiful Bukhari Azlan due to a lack of corroborative evidence. Judge Mohd Zabidin Mohd Diah delivered his decision to a packed courtroom, as more than 10,000 supporters gathered outside the court building to show their support for the charismatic and popular leader.

“After going through the evidence, I cannot be 100 percent certain that the evidence could have been compromised. Hence, the court is reluctant to convict on such corrobaration of evidence from SP1 Saiful. The court does not exclude the possibility the (DNA) samples were compromised. Therefore the accused is acquitted,” Mohd Zabidin told a stunned courtroom, that took a second before it burst into euphoria and loud cheering.

Najib's weak leadership and global attention

The decision was praised throughout the world and Najib's latest inability to stay the course, giving in to hardliners in his Umno party such as former premier Mahathir Mohamad, is bound to increase the negative impression of Malaysia that has furthered worsened during his watch. The move will also underscore Najib's weak hand on the government as well as his inability to provide political stability and jump-start the already slowing economy.

"Anwar, I have just heard the news of the acquittal. Congratulations. There was never any doubt of your innocence. That it is confirmed for the world to see is a wonderful thing. We are all so very happy for you and for Malaysia," wrote Paul Martin, the former prime minister of Canada.

Indeed, there is more than meets the eye in the sodomy charges pressed against Anwar, who has blamed Najib and wife Rosmah Mansor of hatching the plot together with complainant Saiful Bukhari Azlan so as to derail his political comeback. Given the flimsiness of the evidence, experts never expected Najib to take the case to the trial stage, but he succumbed to pressure from the Umno right wing, especially Mahathir, who still harbors a deep hatred for Anwar.

Pundits say Mahathir is also concerned that Anwar, his former deputy and who nearly toppled him in 1998, knows too much of his past wheeling-and-dealing. If not imprisoned, chances are high Anwar will become the next prime minister of Malaysia, leading the Pakatan Rakyat opposition to victory in general elections that must be held by April 2013.

Fair and impartial, says Saiful

Anwar was charged on Aug 8, 2008 under Section 377B of the Penal Code with committing carnal intercourse against the order of nature. He was accused of sodomising Saiful at the Desa Damansara Condominium in Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, on June 26, 2008. If found guilty, he could be jailed for up to 20 years.

Meanwhile, in an immediate response, Saiful said the appeal shows that the Malaysian legal system was fair and impartial.

“My family and I would like to state that with the filing of the notice of appeal, my right to complaint as stated in my 2008 police report has been heard, and (went) through the proper process of justice all the way to the High Court. In accordance with the law (it) has been achieved,” he said in a blog posting.

source:Malaysia Chronicle

(*Nota - Saya dalam perjalanan, jadi tak dapatlah buat regular posting untuk beberapa hari nanti, Maaf !!!)

cheers.

Peguam Negara pikiaq juboq Saiful lebih penting daripada pembunuhan Altantuya...

2012-01-21T00:02:00.000+08:00

Peguam yang mewakili Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Sankara Nair berkata, tindakan peguam negara memfailkan notis rayuan terhadap keputusan kes fitnah II, membuktikan penganiayaan politik terhadap ketua pembangkang itu.

Beliau mengulas keputusan Pejabat Peguam Negara hari ini memfailkan notis rayuan terhadap keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi membebaskan Anwar dari pertuduhan liwat, 9 Januari lalu.
Dalam satu kenyataan segera lewat petang tadi, Sankara berkata beliau belum secara rasmi dimaklumkan perkara itu oleh pihak pendakwa.

“Bagaimanapun jika benar, maka itu adalah paling disesali dan kejam kerana hakim perbicaraan telah menyatakan dengan ringkas, dalam keputusannya yang bukti penting (perbicaraan) sudah “diusik “.

“Maka asas kes pendakwaan sudah termusnah, menyebabkan sebarang rayuan, tidak kira berapa kali, adalah satu tindakan terakhir dan sia-sia.

“Nampaknya ia adalah satu kes penganiayaan politik terhadap Anwar dan bukan tujuan pendakwaan,” tegas beliau.

Tarik balik notis rayuan

Sementara itu, Naib Presiden KEADILAN, N. Surendran mendesak Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Patail menarik balik notis rayuan tersebut.

Ini kerana katanya, tindakan itu jelas berniat jahat dan dibuat atas arahan politik Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.

“Jika mereka enggan menarik balik, mereka (Umno-BN) bakal berdepan mala petaka pada Pilihan Raya Umum (PRU) akan datang kerana rakyat sudah muak dengan kezaliman Umno dan Najib terhadap Anwar,” katanya kepada Keadilandaily.com.

Beliau juga berkata rayuan itu menunjukkan konspirasi berterusan Najib terhadap Anwar menjelang PRU akan datang.

“Sudah pasti kita mengecam sekeras-kerasnya tindakan Ghani ini,” katanya lagi.

Pada 9 Januari lalu, Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur membebaskan Anwar dari tuduhan meliwat bekas pembantunya, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

Hakim Datuk Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah dalam penghakiman berkata beliau mendapati tidak ada bukti yang menyokong keterangan Saiful.

Keputusan itu disambut baik badan-badan perundangan di Malaysia dan luar negara, serta dialukan oleh pemimpin dan masyarakat antarabangsa.

source:keadilandaily

'Appeal against Anwar's acquittal politically-motivated'

The last-minute filing by the Attorney General’s chambers to appeal against the January 9 acquittal of parliamentary Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim of the sodomy charge has been described as politically motivated.

“When the appeal was made, I thought it was more of a political decision.

"Why was the verdict involving Abdul Razak Baginda not appealed? That was a bigger case as it affected the country's reputation at the international level,” said PAS lawyer Hanipa Maidin (pic), referring to the murder trial of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu involving Razak, the former aide to prime minister Najib Razak, and two others.

Razak was however acquitted in October 2008 of the murder charge without having to enter defence, while the two others had been found guilty and sentenced to death.

The appeal against the verdict today was filed at 4.30pm at the KL High Court criminal registry, following a request from sodomy accuser Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

The High Court had last week acquitted Anwar of the charge citing unreliable DNA evidences as reason.

According to Hanipa, the doubts which arose during the course of the trial should have been enough reason not to pursue the case further.

He warned that such a move could bring disrepute to the image of Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail, who he said was already perceived as a tool of Barisan Nasional.- harakahdaily

cheers.

Legal suits and appeals

(*Nota - Saya dalam perjalanan, jadi tak dapatlah buat regular posting untuk beberapa hari nanti, Maaf !!!)

AG's Chambers files appeal against sodomy verdict...

2012-01-20T21:00:00.005+08:00

The Attorney-General's Chambers has filedan appeal against the Kuala Lumpur High Court decision in acquittingOpposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim on the charge of sodomising his formeraide. The notice of appeal was filed in the criminal registry of the Kuala Lumpur High Court at 4.30pm today.

This was confirmed by deputy registrar Halilah Suboh.

High Court judge Zabidin Mohd Diah had on Jan 9 found Anwar not guiltyof sodomising his 23-year-old former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan. Justice Zabidin in acquitting the 64-year-old de facto PKR leader and Permatang Pauh MP, cast doubt on the DNA evidence provided by the prosecution.

"After going through the evidence, I cannot be 100 percent certain thatthe evidence can be accepted as there could have been tampering.

"Hence, the court is reluctant to convict on such corroboration ofevidence from (Saiful) and the accused is acquitted," the judge hadsaid.

It is learnt that this afternoon, 30 people from non-governmentalorganisation Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) had met withattorney-general Abdul Gani Patail to urge that a notice of appealagainst Anwar’s acquittal be filed.

Saiful welcomes filing of appeal

Saiful, in an immediate response on his blog, said he was glad and welcomed the decision to file the notice of appeal at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

“I would like to state here that the filing is to ensure that I getjustice until the highest court, as to what I have stated in my policereport in 2008,” he said.

“I would like to thank those who support me directly and indirectly toensure I could go through the process of justice to the Court ofAppeal.”

Saiful’s father, Azlan Md Lazim (left), in an immediate reaction to Malaysiakini, said he was thankful that the attorney-general had decided to file the notice of appeal.

“That is all I can say to thank the AG (for his decision to appeal),”Azlan said, adding did not want to comment further on his hopes for theappeal.

Saiful yesterday posted an impassioned plea and sent an official letter to Gani urging the AG’s Chambers to file anappeal on the Sodomy II case in order to preserve his dignity andhonour.

Yesterday’s response was a follow-up, after Saiful had on Jan 9tweeted, upon learning of Anwar’s acquittal, that if he did not getjustice in this world, he would seek it in the hereafter.

Anwar had been charged, under Section 377B of the Penal Code, withsodomising Saiful at the Desa Damansara condominium between 3.01pm and4.30pm on June 26, 2008.

A total of 26 prosecution and seven defence witnesses, including Anwar, had testified in the trial.
Defence lawyer: I was not notified.With the filing of the notice of appeal, the prosecution will havewait for Justice Zabidin to complete his written judgment. However,there is no timeframe for the judge to do so.

Whenthat is done, the AG's Chambers will then file a petition of appeal inthe Court of Appeal, which will set a date to hear the appeal.

Anwar’s lawyer Sankara Nair said in a statement this evening that hehad not been formally notified of the appeal by the prosecution.

“However, if it is true, then it is most regrettable and atrocious -given that the trial judge has stated succinctly, in his verdict, thatthe crucial evidence could have been ‘tampered’ with.

“Hence, the substratum of the prosecution’s case is fatally demolished,rendering any appeal, no matter how many times, a desperate act infutility.
“It appears to be a case of political persecution of Anwar, and not prosecution,” Sankara added in his immediate response.

AG fail rayuan terhadap keputusan kes liwat II

Pejabat Peguam Negara hari ini memfailkan notis rayuan terhadapkeputusan Mahkamah Tinggi membebaskan Ketua Pembangkang, Datuk SeriAnwar Ibrahim daripada pertuduhan liwat.

Ia difailkan di pejabat pendaftar Mahkamah Tinggi (Jenayah) Kuala Lumpur pada jam 4.30 petang ini. Pada9 Januari lalu, Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur melepas dan membebaskanAnwar daripada tuduhan meliwat Mohd Saiful Bukhari yang juga bekaspembantunya.

Hakim Datuk Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah dalampenghakimannya, berkata beliau mendapati tidak ada bukti yang menyokongketerangan Saiful. Semalam, Saiful menghantar surat rasmi kepadaPeguam Negara Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Patail meminta beliau memfailkannotis rayuan terhadap keputusan itu.

Saiful menerusi blogmiliknya mohdsaifulbukhari.blogspot.com menulis bahawa surat itudihantar melalui peguamnya Tetuan Zamri Idrus & Co. Katanya, rayuan ini penting kerana ia membabitkan maruah dan masa depannya.

Menurutnya,dia hanya menuntut haknya sebagai warganegara Malaysia seperti yangtermaktub dalam Perlembagaan "di mana setiap aduan itu berhak didengardan diadili sehingga ke peringkat Mahkamah Tertinggi".

Katanya, jika dia berhak memfailkan rayuan itu sendiri, dia akan berbuat demikian tanpa menyusahkan individu lain.

Namun, katanya, kuasa mutlak untuk memfailkan rayuan hanya terletak di tangan Peguam Negara.

Sementaraitu, menulis dalam blognya, Saiful berkata, dia bersyukur kehadiratAllah SWT dan menerima baik keputusan Peguam Negara memfailkan notisrayuan terhadap keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi itu.

"Saya dankeluarga saya juga ingin menyatakan di sini bahawa dengan pemfailannotis rayuan tersebut, hak untuk aduan saya sebagaimana laporan polisyang saya buat pada tahun 2008 didengar dan melalui proses keadilansehingga ke peringkat mahkamah yang tertinggi menurut undang-undang,adalah terlaksana.

"Saya dan keluarga juga ingin mengucapkanribuan terima kasih kepada semua pihak yang secara langsung dan tidaklangsung memberi sokongan kepada saya agar hak saya sebagai warganegarauntuk melalui proses keadilan ke peringkat Mahkamah Rayuan terlaksana.

"Saya akan terus berdoa, istiqamah, sabar. Kepada Allah saya berserah," tulis Saiful.

source:malaysiakini

cheers.

Sedition charge: Karpal ordered to enter defence...

2012-01-20T16:00:00.000+08:00

The Court of Appeal in Putrajaya has ordered veteran lawyer and DAP chairperson Karpal Singh to enter his defence on a sedition charge over what he uttered about the Perak constitutional crisis of 2009..
A three-member bench led by recently elevated Federal Court judge Ahmad Maarop ruled that the High Court judge had erred in misdirecting himself over the effects of what the senior lawyer had uttered.

In his written judgment, which Justice Ahmad read out for more than two hours, he said the Perak sultan’s power could not be subject to judicial review as suggested by Karpal.

The net effect of what Karpal said in the press conference, the judge pointed out, was that the sultan did not respect the law with his (Karpal) claim that the ruler had acted ultra vires (beyond his power) with regard to Article 16 (6) of the Perak constitution and this has created hatred.

Article 16 (6) concerns the sultan’s power to appoint the menteri besar.

“What was uttered in the press conference has raised dissatisfaction or discontent with the ruler of the state. It had affected the esteem of the sultan and had also resulted in a clash of civilisations between the relationship of the people and their ruler.

“The prosecution only has to prove that what is stated has resulted in unrest. There is no necessity to show intention in sedition. The court is satisfied that there is a prima facie case against the accused.”

The judge said although Karpal is a respected senior lawyer and an MP, what he said does not constitute freedom of speech as it is not absolute.

He noted comments had also been made on the Perak state secretary’s website and the sultan of Perak’s website following the ruler’s decision to appoint a new menteri besar.

There were also protests outside the Ubudiah Mosque in Kuala Kangsar to oppose the appointment of the new MB.

“This is a serious offence as intention is not necessary to be proven in this case,” said Justice Ahmad.

Court rules out ‘trial by ambush’

The court also ruled that Section 3(1) (f) of the Sedition Act is constitutional and ruled out that the prosecution had conducted a “trial by ambush” by bringing the issue to the appellate court and not during the trial in the High Court.

The judge also noted that 103 police reports had been made against Karpal following his remarks.

Justice Ahmad read out the full transcript of Karpal’s press conference, which was allegedly deemed seditious in a prelude of what seemed to be the court’s decision in calling the veteran lawyer to enter his defence.

The other judges who heard the prosecution’s appeal were Court of Appeal judges Md Apandi Ali and Clement Allan Skinner.

The decision today was unanimous.

With this, Karpal’s defence will be heard in the Kuala Lumpur High Court. Justice Ahmad ordered that Karpal be present at the KL High Court on Feb 9, as the mention date for the court to fix the dates for his defence.

The court was packed with DAP members led by former leader Dr Chen Man Hin and Ipoh Timor MP Lim Kit Siang.

Others present in the show of solidarity and support for Karpal included Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua and Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan.

Karpal’s sons, Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo, Ramkarpal Singh and Jagdeep Singh Deo were on hand to represent their father. Also present were Karpal’s daughter Sangeet Kaur and lawyers RSN Rayer and Ramesh Sivakumar, also representing the veteran politician.

The Bar Council, represented by Rajpal Singh, held a watching brief.

DPP Noorin Badaruddin represented the prosecution.

Karpal was acquitted without his defence being called on the sedition charge by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on June 11, 2010.

The DAP chairperson and Bukit Gelugor MP was charged with sedition on the contents of his Feb 6, 2009, press conference, during which he said legal action could be instituted against the Perak sultan over his role in the state constitutional crisis earlier that year.

He was charged under section 4(1) (b) of the Sedition Act 1948, which carries a maximum fine of RM5,000 or a jail term of three years, or both, if found guilty.

Karpal was charged with uttering seditious words at his office, Tetuan Karpal Singh & Co, at Jalan Pudu Lama, Kuala Lumpur, between noon and 12.30pm on Feb 6, 2009.

source:malaysiakini

Mahkamah Rayuan batalkan pembebasan Karpal, arah pembelaan isu hasutan

cheers.

Anwar verdict: What Najib now faces...

2012-01-20T14:30:00.000+08:00

Last July, Prime Minister Najib Razak and Indonesian Muslim leader Amien Rais had a private meeting in a third country to chat about the case of Anwar Ibrahim. Amien, who is close to Anwar, apparently had expressed brotherly concern to Najib about how the political conflict within the Malay leadership was undermining the credibility of Malaysia as a country the Muslim world looked up to.

Amien intimated whether Najib could withdraw the charge. Najib, predictably, told Amien he could not do as asked as he had no power over the judiciary. Besides, Najib said, the case had nothing to do with him.

Six months later, on January 9, the High Court stunned Malaysians by acquitting and discharging Anwar of the charge of sodomy. The surprise verdict lent support to Najib’s assertion about the independence of the judiciary. Indeed, at face value, the court’s verdict to acquit Anwar is a setback to Najib’s political position.

A free Anwar would certainly be a grave threat to the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. It had indeed been widely thought a foregone conclusion that Anwar would be found guilty and put away before the coming general election — reflecting the Malaysian public’s generally low confidence in the judiciary.

So what does the verdict mean for Malaysian politics?

Much has been speculated about the timing of the general election, the 13th since independence. Will Anwar’s freedom accelerate or delay Najib’s plans? While it must be called before 2013, there has been talk that Najib was leaning towards a snap poll soon after the Chinese New Year next week.

Significantly, Najib had also told Amien he was unsure how he would fare at the polls, rating his chances as “50/50”. He was either expressing astute humility or being frank. Either way, it meant he was unlikely to call a GE as early as March or by June, as some are expecting.

This was echoed later when he spoke to the Wall Street Journal, saying that “we still have not delivered on our promises” — referring to the various reforms on the administrative, economic and political fronts that he had announced since taking up the premiership.

In other words, Najib is mindful of his reformist credentials. Allowing the judiciary to be independent would be consistent with his promise of reforming Malaysian politics and governance, as demanded by the electorate. To that end, the verdict by the High Court worked to Najib’s favour.

Anwar walking free also means a fresh and important reason for a later GE: Najib can do with more time to fulfil his electoral promises and strengthen Umno and the BN. He needs to stave off a serious challenge from an Anwar-led opposition whose morale has been revitalised by the verdict.

Najib has so far done a good job at positioning himself as a competent leader. Although he has his fair share of criticism, he has a vision for the country and a roadmap to get there. But he faces an uphill political battle. Unlike his predecessors, Najib has to grapple with the psychologically daunting expectations of winning back the BN’s two-thirds majority in Parliament that Abdullah Ahmad Badawi lost in the 2008 elections.

Najib knows that should he fail to do so, the Umno knives will be out and he could face the same fate as Abdullah — forced discreetly to step down by the party hardliners.

He will also be expected to win back Selangor where, as party liaison chairman, he is Umno chief for that state. Wresting back Selangor would be his saving grace should he fail to resecure the two-thirds at the federal level. His sympathisers can argue that at least he has won back the richest state, one of five that fell to the opposition in 2008.

In anticipation of Najib going all out to recapture Selangor, the opposition state appointed Anwar as its economic adviser. The latter’s freedom will make it harder for Najib to achieve his goal, even though Anwar’s opposition ally, the Islamist party PAS, is facing dissension in its ranks in Selangor.

Should Najib come under pressure from Umno hardliners to rein in Anwar, there will be a push for an appeal against the High Court’s acquittal verdict. There are already rumblings. A prosecution appeal will revive the saga and risk public ire. Matters could end with Anwar going back to jail, and/or backfiring on Umno as the Malaysian public feels further alienated by what they see as relentless victimisation of a political adversary.

In the end, Najib will have to make the judgement call, as he told the WSJ. Will he succumb to the hardliners or rise above the fray, be the emergent reformer and shake up the political system and its politics? - Yang Razali Kassim

source:malaysian insider

Pengecut di Putrajaya: Mengapa Najib takut berhadapan dengan Anwar?

cheers.

Anwar: Pinda undang-undang aib musuh politik...

2012-01-20T12:12:00.000+08:00

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim mencadangkan supaya undang-undang yang didakwanya digunakan untuk mengaibkan seseorang, dipinda termasuk peruntukan dalam seksyen 377 (B) dan 377 (C) Kanun Keseksaan.

Katanya, pindaan tersebut perlu dibuat bagi memastikan supaya ianya tidak digunakan untuk menghina seseorang khususnya terhadap musuh dalam politik.

"Memang undang-undang yang ada, (seperti) 377 (B), 377 (C) digunakan untuk mengaibkan orang, digunakan untuk musuk politik," dakwanya.

"Orang bertanya kenapa tidak meminda undang-undang yang ada. Ya, saya akan pinda... supaya memastikan (ianya) tidak bermaksud untuk menghina orang," katanya yang juga ketua pembangkang.

Anwar turut menempelak pihak tertentu yang mempertahankan undang-undang yang didakwanya "jumud" digunakan untuk memfitnah seseorang. Beliau berkata demikian dalam ucapannya malam tadi bagi mengulas kontroversi wawancaranya dengan rangkaian penyiaran British (BBC) yang dilaporkan minggu lalu sehingga beliau dituduh menyokong homoseksual.

Rangkaian itu meminta Anwar menyatakan pendirian sama ada beliau bersedia memperjuangkan 'idea anti-diskriminasi’ terhadap kumpulan itu dan menegaskan masyarakat Islam dan bukan Islam di Malaysia secara keseluruhannya percaya dan komited menyokong kesucian perkahwinan antara lelaki dan wanita.

“Tetapi kami tidak harus dilihat sebagai menyusahkan dan menganggap undang-undang lapuk sebagai relevan,” kata Anwar dalam temubual dengan BBC itu.

Bercakap di majlis kesyukuran sempenan pembebasannya daripada tuduhan liwat pada 9 Januari lalu, Anwar menegaskan kenyataannya bahawa Islam dan bukan Islam menyokong perkahwinan lelaki dan perempuan menjawab perbuatan seks bebas, homoseksual dan lesbian.

Anwar yang juga bekas presiden Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM) berkata, umat Islam tidak boleh menghukum seseorang melakukan "perselingkuhan" kecuali ianya dilakukannya di hadapan umum.

"Orang berkata, itu kalau di tempat persendirian? Kamu tahu mana?... Bukan mengendap atau merobek privasi orang, tidak boleh," tegasnya di hadapan tetamu yang hadir di kediamannya di Segambut Dalam, malam tadi.

Selain beberapa pemimpin PKR, turut hadir di majlis itu ialah bekas menteri kabinet, Tan Sri Kadir Sheikh Fadzir, yang turut serta bersolat maghrib, solat hajat, solat Isyak serta majlis bacaan Yassin sebagai tanda kesyukuran di atas pembebasan Anwar daripada tuduhan tersebut.

Mengimbau kisah pada hari keputusan liwat II diumumkan, Anwar yang juga ahli parlimen Permatang Pauh sempat bersarapan bersama-sama ahli keluarganya selepas bersolat subuh. Bahkan, beliau juga sempat memeluk dan mencium ahli keluarganya kerana berkemungkinan beliau mungkin tidak balik sekiranya didapati bersalah, walaupun jauh di sudut hatinya, beliau merasa akan dilepaskan.

"Paling tidak, mungkin dibenarkan diikat jamin. Tetapi berlaku sebaliknya. Jika bersalah, mungkin riuh dalam negara dan menjadi fokus di luar negara.

"(Tetapi) saya lepas. Saya tidak tahu (sebabnya). Mungkin hakim tahu, sebab (penghakiman) dibaca cepat, beliau keluar pun cepat, tak sempat (saya) nak angkat tangan," katanya diiringi dengan gelak ketawa hadirin.

"Yang saya pasti, the power of prayer. (Kuasa doa) ini adalah luar daripada pertimbangan politik," katanya sambil memaklumkan masyarakat tempatan dan antarabangsa turut mendoakan agar beliau dibebaskan.

Katanya, dengan keputusan itu juga menyebabkan media arus perdana "meroyan macam orang gila" dengan mencari apa-apa sahaja" untuk menyerangnya, bahkan ada pihak yang terkejut dan kesal dengan pembebasan beliau itu.

Dalam kesempatan itu juga, Anwar turut menceritakan pengalaman beliau bersama isterinya Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail bertemu dengan cucu bekas perdana menteri India, Rajmohan Gandhi, yang mana temujanji itu telah lama diatur sebelum keputusan liwat II ditetapkan.

Katanya, Rajmohan memperuntukkan masa selama lima jam berbincang dengan Anwar secara peribadi, berhubung usaha memartabatkan perjuangan demokrasi.Menurutnya dalam perjalanan menuju kediaman Rajmohan yang terletak di atas bukit di Panchgani - yang memakan masa selama lima jam dari Mumbai - Anwar singgah minum sejenis air teh yang menyebabkan beliau teringat akan kelazatannya.

Anwar juga berkata selepas berada di India, beliau bertolak ke Turki untuk memenuhi undangan bertemu dengan Perdana Menteri Raceb Tayyib Erdogan. Bagaimanapun beliau terpaksa menangguh untuk bertemu Presiden Turki Abdullah Gul kerana terpaksa pulang ke tanah air bagi menghadiri Konvensyen Pakatan Rakyat di Alor Setar, Kedah.

Dalam ucapannya selama 45 minit itu juga, Anwar turut memberitahu bahawa beliau menerima banyak ucapan tahniah melalui emel, SMS dan panggilan telefon daripada pelbagai pihak berhubung keputusan tersebut. Antaranya bekas naib presiden Amerika Syarikat Al-Gore, bekas perdana menteri Kanada Paul Martin dan ulama tersohor Yusuf Al-Qaradhawi dan Dr Wahbah Al-Zuhaili.

Sebelum itu, orang ramai termasuk penyokong memenuhi halaman rumahnya bagi menghadiri majlis kenduri kesyukuran sempena pembebasan beliau daripada tuduhan liwat II. Sebanyak empat khemah besar dipasang di halaman rumah tokoh pemimpin PKR itu dan dihamparkan tikar bagi membolehkan hadirin yang hadir duduk bersolat dan duduk mendengar tazkirah ringkas yang disampaikan ketua penerangan PKR Dr Mohd Nor Manuty.

source:malaysiakini

cheers.

Betulkah Mahathir & Daim ada 20 Akaun Bank di Afrika...

2012-01-20T07:00:00.000+08:00

cheers.

Why was Anwar Ibrahim acquitted...

2012-01-20T01:11:00.000+08:00

The stunned disbelief of most Malaysians when Anwar Ibrahim was acquitted on January 9, 2012 is the best proof of public perception that he had hitherto not received a fair trial, with a guilty verdict a foregone conclusion. A similar perception was felt by a vast majority of the 13,000 lawyers in the Malaysian Bar.

Politics of the Prosecution

For 3½ years since Mohd Saiful Bukhairy Azlan’s story emerged, the government has insulted the intelligence of Malaysians by declaring that Anwar’s prosecution was not influenced by politics. On the contrary, the case is all about politics, and nothing but politics.

If Anwar is not an electoral threat to Umno, he would not have been prosecuted. It is as simple, plain and obvious as that. If there are any who still doubt this critical statement of fact, take note that between 1998 and 2008 the media did not report any prosecution of consenting adults engaged in same sex activities. Does it mean that in that period no homosexual or lesbian activities took place in the country?

So why has there been so much governmental hostility against Anwar? Because he has been perceived by Umno as their greatest political adversary, and the only person who could be a potential prime minister. It ought to be recalled when Anwar was a popular deputy prime minister and minister of finance in the mid-1990’s, he generated the politics of envy in Umno. By 1997-8, then-prime minister, Dr Mahathir, was convinced that Anwar was a threat to his Presidency of Umno (and thereby the Prime Ministership).

The September 1998 sacking of Anwar as deputy prime minister, expulsion from Umno, brief detention under the ISA and prosecution for sodomy were actions taken by Dr Mahathir to eliminate a very serious contender to his office.

A decade later, Anwar’s singular contributions in leading Pakatan Rakyat to the best performance by an opposition party since Merdeka in the March 2008 general election raised Umno’s fears again. It was compounded by Anwar’s imprudent announcement in April 2008 that he would lead a Pakatan Government by September 16, 2008 (the 45th anniversary of the formation of Malaysia).

I suggest the decision to destroy Anwar politically a second time and to subject him to a second humiliating sodomy prosecution was taken by the powers that be in the wake of the March 2008 elections results.

The plot was hatched, and the agencies of the government went into action. In any modern society when the police and the prosecution authority conspire to destroy an individual, the whole force of the state is marshalled against the hapless victim. Unless there are strong countervailing independent organisations in that society, the individual is doomed.

Along with many others, I wrote in July 2008 that Anwar should not be prosecuted (see my article entitled “A second prosecution of Anwar Ibrahim — is it in the national interest?”) Such pleas fell on deaf ears. The prosecution, initiated in August 2008 during Abdullah Badawi’s administration, continued with great vigour under Prime Minister Najib Razak. The government controlled television, radio, and newspapers sensationalised coverage of the trial: intimate details of Anwar and Saiful were revealed, offending public decency and taste. Concerned parents had to shield their children from crude and graphic description of sexual activities.

Politics in Malaysia seldom concern idealogy or principles. Since Merdeka, the focus has been on personalities, invariably Umno Presidents and other senior leaders. Indeed, Anwar benefitted from the public image crafted by a pliant media during his 15 years climb up the Umno ladder.

In Sodomy 2, the politics of sleaze against Anwar reached a nadir, giving gutter politics a new meaning. On a comparative basis, few political leaders across the globe had been the victim of dirty state politics like Anwar.

With the slow rehabilitation of Aung San Suu Kyi and the opposition joining a coalition with Robert Mugabe, even Burma and Zimbabwe may have greater tolerance and respect for their opposition politicians. But in Malaysia, the Umno controlled forces worked on the principle that in order to destroy Anwar politically, they had to first humiliate him.

Politics of the Acquittal

The burning question is who was responsible for the decision to acquit Anwar on January 9: the Court or the politicians. Did the trial judge actually make the decision himself or was it in reality a political decision.

The fact that this is the principal aftermath of the acquittal itself is a commentary on the perception by Malaysians (including its lawyers) that in “political” cases the Courts are not independent of the executive.

In the four senior Commonwealth countries whose common law system Malaysia adopts, viz, England, India, Australia and Canada, no right thinking person (and certainly no lawyer) would question a judge’s independence if a similar acquittal had taken place in like circumstances. But not in Malaysia!

The judge

The only sure way for any lawyer to predict an outcome in a lengthy trial like Anwar’s is to review the trial judge’s overall conduct of that trial and then make a projection. In every criminal prosecution in Malaysia, elementary principles established over centuries forming the bedrock of our criminal jurisprudence have to be applied by every judge (juries having been abolished).

In the course of a trial a judge would have to make numerous rulings on procedural and evidential matters that would have a great bearing on his final decision. He also has to make a fundamental decision when the prosecution closes its case, viz, whether the defence has a case to meet. Only if he is satisfied that these elements have been proven by the prosecution on whom the burden solely rests, and which never shifts to the accused, should the judge call the defence.

Accordingly, applying the only rational basis available to those legally trained, the conduct of the judge during Anwar’s trial was consistently in one direction: totally in support of the prosecution’s case, and wholly unsympathetic to the accused. Hence, a conviction was inevitable.

In consequence, the judge’s acquittal was a U-turn of massive proportions. Lawyers who appear in court, that is, barristers, advocates or counsel, quickly develop a skill in “reading” judges. This is the human element in the judicial process.

No two judges in any country are alike. Each judge has his or her own temperament, personality, likes, dislikes and other idiosyncrasies. Having spoken to experienced lawyers who attended Anwar’s trial for substantial periods and whose antennae on “judge-reading” I respect, the judge’s behaviour on January 9 was in stark contrast with his general demeanour on the bench throughout the trial.

Lawyers who were in court on January 9 inform me that the judge was very edgy in his brief appearance (less than two minutes), merely announcing his decision in a couple of sentences and disappearing thereafter.

Having reserved his decision for some months, he ought to have had his written reasons (grounds of judgment) ready for release that day. They have yet to be distributed. Most importantly, he was aware that the acquittal contradicted all his prior rulings against Anwar during the trial.

In the days following Anwar’s acquittal, apologists for the system have been heralding the dawn of a new era in judicial independence. Let me douse such naïve enthusiasm. Cases deemed “politically sensitive” by the judges are so predictable: the Executive always succeeds.

Cases triggered by the Perak crisis of 2009 and those filed on behalf of the opposition states of Selangor, Kedah, Kelantan and Penang are recent examples.

An extreme illustration is provided by Kelantan’s oil royalty civil suit against Petronas (I disclose my involvement as Counsel for Kelantan). Bizarre and unprecedented rulings have been given by all the three levels of the highest Courts resulting in a transfer of a commercial dispute to the Civil Division, the intervention by the Federal Government as additional defendant when no claim is sought against it and the denial of discovery of documents by Petronas which is automatic in a writ action.

Accordingly, the Anwar acquittal will not be the harbinger of better things to come from the judiciary. One swallow does not make a summer!

Najib

If it is not the judge’s decision to acquit Anwar, it must follow that it was a political decision. Certainly two decisions indicate prior knowledge of government of the acquittal. First, it overturned its decision to prohibit the assembly of Anwar supporters in Kuala Lumpur, and agreed to allow them to congregate outside the court — even the police agree that there would be no risk when the crowd receives good news!

Secondly, the government issued a press announcement within an hour of the court’s decision, welcoming the acquittal. Our bureaucracy never works at that speed.

It is ironic that from its first public announcement, the government has been claiming credit for the acquittal because it apparently demonstrates judicial independence. This is entirely misplaced. In a system of true separation of powers where the judiciary stands proudly and bravely independent of the executive, the executive can never be praised when judges make independent decisions.

That is how the system actually works. In Malaysia the system has been skewered from Merdeka and the executive can only be criticized for causing it. The executive can never receive praise if the system works as it is supposed to (which is not even the position in Malaysia).

What these announcements demonstrate is a “Freudian slip” on the part of the executive. It confirms that past judicial decisions were contrived at its behest. Because perception shades into reality, it would be difficult to convince the typical Malaysian who has become so cynical of the politically motivated prosecution and trial of Anwar, that his ultimate verdict was not similarly politically motivated. Thus, the fruit of a politically motivated trial is a politically motivated verdict.

Because it was a politically motivated trial, the ultimate acquittal decision was grounded in politics. It is an accepted premise among those campaigning for the hearts and minds of the Malaysian electorate, particularly in the Peninsula, that the real contest at the next election is for the Malay vote.

The Chinese apparently have given up on MCA and Gerakan, while the Indians are either too few or ambivalent about who to support. It should be kept in mind that in the last elections, Pakatan secured 51.3 per cent of the popular vote and 80 seats in West Malaysia.

Barisan Nasional secured 48.7 per cent of the popular vote and 85 seats. The opposition formed governments in 5 of the 11 States, and won 10 out of 11 Parliamentary seats in Kuala Lumpur. Thus a 3 per cent to 4 per cent swing of the popular vote would cause serious damage to Umno’s chances in Malaya.

In such a scenario, Sabah and Sarawak cannot be considered as safe deposits for Umno: political parties in East Malaysia have a habit of wanting to join the winning side so that they can be part of the Federal Government. Ideology and principle are also completely absent amongst the politicians on that side of the South China Sea.

It is against a background of a very close general election that Putrajaya made a political calculation: an acquitted Anwar would cause less electoral damage to Umno that a convicted Anwar. The martyr status must be denied to Anwar.

Beneficiaries of the Acquittal

The first beneficiary is Malaysia and its people. If the first sodomy trial in 1998-9 deeply divided and polarized Malaysia, the second trial was received much more cynically, with the vast majority of Malaysians not choosing to believe the version put forward by Saiful.

When the video scandal orchestrated by that paragon of virtue, Rahim Thamby Chik became known, most Malaysians preferred to accept Anwar’s version. The dirty tricks department of Umno lacks imagination and creativity, and their credibility has been shattered. Hopefully, they will leave Anwar alone. Hence, the acquittal was welcomed by probably the entire Malaysian population, apart from his old nemesis, Dr Mahathir who neither forgets nor forgives, and his small band of supporters.

Secondly, Anwar and his family, at a personal level. Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has always behaved with remarkable poise and calm when her husband has faced the almighty wrath of the State. So have the children. To watch one’s spouse or father being humiliated on the public stage for years must be nerve-wrecking. They have conducted themselves with admirable dignity in terribly adverse conditions.

Politically, Anwar is also a great beneficiary of the verdict. His innocence, expressed from the very first moment in 2008, has been vindicated by a judge who had not shown him any sympathy and who had ruled against him in nearly every prior ruling throughout the trial. He is now a free man who spoke the truth (a rare commodity in Malaysian public life).

The greatest beneficiary is Pakatan Rakyat. Its three constituent parties must be congratulated for never wavering in their public position that their only candidate for the office of prime ministership is Anwar (even if he is in prison).

He is now free to become the nation’s 7th prime minister after the forthcoming general election. It is very much up to Pakatan to make that happen. They should focus on issues: the first that comes to mind is the economy. Bread and butter issues like the galloping cost of basic necessities caused by rampant inflation, the increasing disparity between the rich and the poor, and cheap wages paid to our workers because of the presence of some 3 to 4 million immigrants (legal or others) should be highlighted.

In the wake of the Great Depression in United States and Europe since the 2008 financial crisis caused primarily by grand scale borrowing and massive debt, it is grossly negligent for the Najib administration to spend lavishly by borrowing to stay in power.

Putrajaya’s debt to Gross Domestic Product (“GDP”) has increased in the 2 years of Najib’s leadership from 53.1 per cent to 54.8 per cent. In absolute terms, federal government debt jumped by 71 per cent in four years from RM266 billion in 2007 to RM456 billion in 2011.

In a recent statement, the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER) warned that at this rate of excessive spending, Malaysia’s national debt would equal its GDP by 2019: a truly frightening prospect. Have they heard of Greece or Ireland? Pakatan should highlight these facts. Lim Guan Eng’s prudent financial management of Penang, on the other hand, will erase its debt in four years, a remarkable achievement.

Anwar is the glue who cements PAS, DAP and Keadilan. He is their undisputed leader and unifying force. He should reduce his foreign travelling in the next 12 months, and concentrate on domestic politics. The nation has to be reminded of his leadership and administrative qualities: former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher in a visit to Malaysia in the early 1990’s publicly stated that she would “trade” him to become her minister of finance.

The politics of envy that characterized Anwar’s rise in Umno continued to bedevil him after his fall from grace in 1998. In the subsequent 13 years, numerous “famous” personalities joined his party or supported him, only to fall out dramatically. Each of them predicted the end of Anwar. Instead, where are Chandra Muzaffar, Zainur Zakaria, Ezam Nor, Zaid Ibrahim and Raja Petra Kamarudin?

If Umno perceives that it too can benefit from his acquittal, it is clearly wrong. The average voter will not easily forget that he was charged and tried by an Umno government. A mere acquittal will not erase the Umno stain in the way the State has persecuted Anwar for years. There would be electoral punishment.

The way ahead

Closure requires the government not to appeal the acquittal. The Attorney-General, as the chief legal adviser to the government, and the man whom Umno states took the decision to prosecute Anwar in 2008 should be accountable for his poor judgment. The buck stops at his office.

Both coalitions must discuss and debate weighty national issues, like the economy, education, health, public services or the over-development which is scarring our cities and creating a property bubble.

The electorate must be given a clear choice as to which coalition should be given the privilege of governing Malaysia for the next fiveears. A true two-party system must occur this time.

Fifty-four continuous years of one-party rule after independence is a sufficient learning curve, even for our cautious electorate! Is the next general election the time for change? - Tommy Thomas

source:malaysian insider

Kemungkinan Daripada Buang Kes Liwat

Skandal Saiful Bukhari & KBSB Didedahkan Demi Kebenaran Dan Keadilan.

cheers.

SPR: 7 cadangan PSC akan dilaksana pada PRU13...

2012-01-19T23:00:00.000+08:00

Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) bersetuju melaksanakan tujuh daripada 10 cadangan yang dikemukakan oleh Jawatankuasa Pilihan Khas Penambahbaikan Pilihan Raya (PSC) pada pilihan raya umum ke-13 (PRU13) akan datang.

Pengerusi SPR, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof berkata, baki tiga lagi cadangan iaitu melibatkan pengundi luar kawasan, pertukaran kawasan pendaftar dan pengundi tidak hadir yang berada di luar negara masih dalam kajian SPR.

"Tujuh cadangan yang akan dilaksanakan pada PRU ke-13 termasuk penggunaan dakwat kekal, pengundian awal bagi anggota polis dan tentera serta pasangan masing-masing, memanjangkan tempoh pameran Rang Daftar Pemilih Tambahan dari tujuh hari kepada 14 hari, pemansuhan proses bantahan dan tempoh penarikan diri pencalonan serta pembersihan daftar pemilih,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas taklimat kepada pegawai pengurus dan penolong pengurus pilihan raya sempena persiapan PRU13 di Kuanatan hari ini.

Katanya, jawatankuasa itu yang dibentuk Ogos lalu telah menamatkan sesi pendengaran awam yang dijalankan ke seluruh negara Jumaat lepas di Johor Baharu.

EC to implement 7 out of 10 PSC proposals for GE13

The Election Commission (EC) has agreed to implement seven out of 10 proposals presented by the parliamentary select committee (PSC) for electoral reform in the coming 13th general election, said EC chairperson Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof.

The remaining three which involved non-resident voters, absentee voters abroad and changing of registration areas were still being studied, he said.

“The seven proposals which would be implemented for the 13th general election are the use of indelible ink; early voting by police and armed forces and their spouses; extending the electoral roll display from seven to 14 days; abolishing the objection process and withdrawal period for candidates; cleaning up of the electoral roll; and strengthening the Election Commission,” said Abdul Aziz.

He was speaking to reporters after a briefing to managers and assistant managers in preparation for the 13th general election in Kuantan today. He said the committee, which was formed August last year has completed its nationwide public hearing sessions on Jan 13 in Johor Baru.

“We understand that the committee’s final report would be presented in Parliament during the March sitting,” he added.

In relation to the cleaning-up of the electoral roll, he said the EC has given a list of 12.4 million registered voters to Mimos Berhad for action early this month.

“We’ve given them a deadline but hope it can be completed before the PSC report is presented in Parliament in March,” he said.

Commenting on concerns that certain parties would still be dissatisfied with the implementation of the proposals, he said they could always put forward their suggestions to the EC through various mediums including letters.

On another note, he informed that the EC had terminated the services of 24 assistant registrars, while another 67 were issued warnings for various inefficiencies.

source:malaysiakini

cheers.

Kenapa Nazri takut kalau menteri isytihar harta, Menteri bersih sangatkah...

2012-01-19T21:30:00.000+08:00

Dewan Pemuda PAS Malaysia (DPPM) membidas kenyataan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz yang menolak cadangan supaya harta dan aset menteri dan ahli keluarga terdekat diisytiharkan dengan alasan tidak patut dilakukan kerana boleh membahayakan mereka.

“DPPM musykil dengan kenyataan ‘bahaya’ seperti yang dilontarkan oleh Datuk Seri Nazri,” kata ketua penerangannya, Riduan Mohd Nor.Beliau juga mempersoalkan apakah yang dimaksudkan dengan bahaya itu.

“Adakah ia bahaya terhadap keselamatan harta dan keluarga menteri tersebut atau bahaya pada masa depan mereka jika diketahui aset mereka yang bernilai jutaan ringgit itu?” soalnya lagi.

Katanya, umum mengetahui pemimpin negara mempunyai kawalan keselamatan yang ketat dan amat sukar bagi penjenayah mengambil kesempatan terhadap pemimpin negara sekiranya aset mereka diketahui ramai.

Katanya, DPPM menganggap kenyataan Nazri itu sebagai alasan remeh dan amat dangkal. Tambahnya, ia adalah suatu helah supaya aset pemimpin negara tidak diisyiharkan kepada umum seolah-olah beliau mahu menyembunyikan sesuatu daripada pengetahuan umum.

“Adakah Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz mahu melindungi ‘pekung’ atau keburukan pemimpin negara supaya tidak dapat dihidu dan dilihat rakyat?” tanya beliau lagi.

Beliau berkata, mungkin jika diketahui aset mereka ini, lebih banyak lagi skandal akan dibongkar oleh rakyat menyebabkan ramai pemimpin-pemimpin negara bakal tersungkur.Ujarnya, DPPM menegaskan, dengan pengisytiharan harta, rakyat dapat melihat dan mengakses maklumat mengenai aset pemimpin-pemimpin negara.

Ini, katanya dapat membuktikan bahawa pemimpin tersebut benar-benar ikhlas berkhidmat untuk rakyat, tanpa mengambil kesempatan di atas jawatan dan pengaruhnya untuk mengaut sebanyak mana harta demi kepentingan dirinya sendiri. Tambahnya, ia juga membuktikan pemimpin tersebut benar-benar bersih dari sebarang penyelewengan, penipuan atau skandal.

Selama ini, tambah beliau sering kali pemimpin negara dipalitkan dengan rasuah dan penyelewengan kuasa, bahkan ada antara mereka yang telah didapati bersalah dan dijatuhi hukuman. Justeru, tegasnya DPPM mencabar Nazri supaya melaksanakan syor Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah (SPRM) agar aset menteri kabinet dan pasangan mereka didedahkan untuk pengetahuan umum.

“Sekiranya menteri-menteri kabinet benar-benar bersih dari sebarang penyelewengan, tidak ada apa yang perlu dilindungi dan ditakutkan,” katanya. Menurutnya, mungkin Nazri bimbang sekiranya aset pemimpin negara didedahkan, lebih ramai menteri kabinet tidak mempunyai masa depan yang cerah kerana ditolak oleh pengundi.- harakahdaily.

Public disclosure of ministers' assets 'dangerous'

Revealing the asset declarations of ministers and their immediate family members to the public should not be done, "as this may endanger them".

"If we make these details public, it may endanger the individuals concerned," Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said today.

"This is especially so as it will also include personal details, on which we also have laws to protect against indiscriminate distribution," Nazri told a press conference in Putrajaya. Asked for details of such "dangers", he would only say that disclosing one's personal wealth to the public at large may present dangers if outsiders knew about the extent of the wealth and properties.

Nazri did not want to elaborate on this, though he likened it to company directors whose disclosures may invite similar dangers when people get to know the details of their assets. Asked about how Pakatan-led Selangor and Penang have made public the assets declaration of their state exco members, Nazri replied that it was a matter of choice.

“That is up to their administration, if they decide to do so,” he said.

'Ask the deputy premier about NFC'

Responding to a question why the assets declaration of ministers and their families will only be given to the PM and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Nazri stressed that even giving a copy of the declaration to the MACC should only be done if there is a need.

“They should only declare to the MACC if there are reports of corruption. There is no need to declare if there are no reports. After all we have already declared it to the PM,” he said.

Yesterday MACC advisory panel chairperson Zaitun Zawiyah Puteh said that family members and spouses of cabinet ministers will have to declare their assets to the anti-graft body soon. She added that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has agreed in principle and hoped to see the move implemented soon.

This followed the public declaration of assets by state exco members of Pakatan-led Penang, in the footsteps of a similr declaration by Selangor exco members several years ago.

Meanwhile, Nazri refused to comment on how the National Feedlot Corporation could continue to operate its business despite having its assets frozen.

“I don’t know how that is. You have to ask the DPM (Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin),” Nazri remarked.

He also refused to comment on whether the government had dragged its feet in investigating the NFC over alleged misappropriation of funds.

The NFC, owned and operated by the husband and children of federal minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, was caught in the controversy after the Auditor-General’s Report exposed irregularities in its management late last year.- malaysiakini

Perisytiharaan harta menteri 'bahaya' kata Nazri
cheers.

Sharizat sues PKR's Zuraida Kamaruddin and Rafizi Ramli for RM100 million...

2012-01-19T19:00:00.000+08:00

Facing mounting pressure demanding her sacking from the cabinet over the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) scandal, Shahrizat Abdul Jalil today hit back at two of her key critics.

The minister for women, family and community development filed a law suit against PKR women's wing chief Zuraida Kamaruddin and the party's head of strategy Mohd Rafizi Ramli (left).

Shahrizat, who is currently on a three-week leave, filed her civil suit at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, claiming Zuraida and Rafizi libelled and slandered her.

She is seeking RM50 million as general damages and another RM50 million as aggravated and exemplary damages.

Asked the grounds for filing the suit, Shahrizat's lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said the Umno Wanita chief was confident that the ongoing investigations into the NFC would prove her innocence.

“To take this matter to the court is a big risk, because it allows your character to be examined. But we are confident that she is not involved (in NFC),” Shafee told reporters after filing the suit.

Shahrizat is accusing Zuraida (left) of making libellous statements by accusing her (Shahrizat) of being involved in the "mark up" of NFC's meat products, that she (Shahrizat) influenced the cabinet decision to award the RM250 million project to her husband and that the minister abused her powers.

On the other hand, Rafizi is deemed to have committed a legal transgression when he called on Shahrizat to answer to the NFC controvery with regret and to apologise to the Malaysian public.

Culture of impunity

The lawyer has filed a certificate of urgency to expedite court proceedings and will consider naming more defendants to the case, depending on “how much misbehave is on the ground”.

“There is a culture of impunity going on in this country. People just don’t care what they say,” Shafee said.

In Shahrizat’s statement of claim, she states that the Agriculture Ministry in 2006 had invited various companies to submit tenders to develop the national feedlot project.

Two companies, Agro Science Industry Sdn Bhd and Lamberts Agriculture Trade Sdn Bhd, were shortlisted after the government’s selection process, via a special committee.

“Prior to the official award, Lamberts Agriculture Trade Sdn Bhd withdrew from the project and hence it was awarded solely to Agro-Science Industry Sdn Bhd,” the statement says.

It said the decision of award was not brought before the cabinet and hence Shahrizat was not in a position to influence the Agriculture Ministry.

In an immediate response to the suit, Rafizi posted a tweet in his micro-blogging account saying that the RM100 million claim was “a bit excessive”.

“If Shahrizat wins, she can take my cheap car and medium-cost apartment, no problem. If we win, can we get the condominiums?” he jeered.

Lembu kondo saman Zuraida dan Rafizi RM100 juta...

Menteri pembangunan wanita Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil hari ini mengemukakan saman ke atas dua orang pemimpin PKR ekoran kenyataan oleh kedua-dua individu berkenaan berhubung skandal National Feedlot Corporation (NFC).
Shahrizat dalam saman yang difailkan di Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur mendakwa ketua Wanita PKR, Zuraida Kamarudin dan pengarah strategi parti itu, Rafizi Ramli telah memfitnah dan memburuk-buruk beliau.

Ketua wanita Umno itu, yang kini bercuti selama tiga minggu, menuntut RM50 juta untuk gantirugi umum dan RM50 juta untuk gantirugi teruk dan teladan.

Peguam Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah berkata, saman itu dikemukakan dengan asas bahawa siasatan yang sedang berjalan itu diyakini akan membuktikan Shahrizat tidak bersalah.

Sementara itu, Rafizi dalam satu kenyataan media petang tadi berkata saman itu adalah tindakan politik untuk menutup mulutnya dan Zuraida daripada terus membuat pendedahan.

“Jika pimpinan Umno seperti Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil beranggapan mereka boleh menutup mulut dan akal rakyat seperti saya dengan mengemukakan saman seperti ini, mereka tersilap besar.
“Peluang di mahkamah kelak akan digunakan sepenuhnya untuk membongkar lebih banyak penyelewengan dan bakal diikuti oleh lebih ramai rakyat.

“Oleh itu, kami cukup bersedia dan teruja untuk berdepan dengan Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil dan peguam-peguam Umno di mahkamah kelak,” katanya.

Menurut Rafizi, beliau yakin bahawa semua pendedahan yang dibuat setakat ini adalah benar belaka kerana ia berdasarkan maklumat kewangan dan operasi yang dibocorkan dari dalam NFC sendiri.

“Oleh yang demikian, saya dan Zuraida bersedia untuk berdepan dengan peguam-peguam Umno di mahkamah kelak.

“Peluang ini memang telah ditunggu-tunggu agar kami boleh menggunakan kuasa mahkamah untuk mencari kebenaran sejauh manakah berlakunya penyelewengan di dalam NFC, selain dari yang didedahkan setakat ini,” katanya.

Beliau juga mengingatkan Shahrizat bahawa Ketua Wanita Umno itu juga perlu berdepan dengan mahkamah rakyat yang “mual dengan pelbagai keborosan dan salahguna wang” yang didedahkan setakat ini.

source:malaysiakini

The cows are coming home?

While the police and others continue investigating the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) over its scandal-hit operations, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil has decided to file a RM100 million defamation suit against PKR officials who linked her to the family-run cattle farm. Perhaps it’s the best way to sift through the bullshit and cowdung surrounding the high-impact project that the Auditor-General called a mess in his 2010 annual report.

One of the respondents in the suit, PKR strategic chief Rafizi Ramli has welcomed the defamation suit, saying it would help uncover more dirt on the NFC which has a RM250 million soft loan from the government. He said he was “more than glad” to go to court as this would allow him to subpoena company documents which could buttress the party’s claims against Shahrizat and her family.

Would this be good for Shahrizat, who is now on three weeks leave while her government and party colleagues consider the impact of the scandal to their chances in the next elections.The Wanita Umno chief has every right to clear her name in a court of law. But in the court of public opinion, many have made up their mind what they think of the project and the way it was run by her family.

Umno too is wary. Several party officials and even veteran leader Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has asked her to consider the party’s image in her pursuit to steer clear from the scandal. Going to court and having PKR ask for documents could either be a brilliant strategy or a lousy plan to quash the allegations against the embattled politician.

“We are very certain we are fine because everything that we say is backed by facts and data from inside, which they have not denied,” Rafizi told The Malaysian Insider today.

He noted that it was Shahrizat and not the NFC who had filed the suit, pointing out that the company could also dispute the allegations in court.

The cattle raising scheme is headed by the Wanita Umno chief’s husband, Datuk Mohamad Salleh Ismail, and their three children. The government has frozen the company’s assets and have ordered an audit.

While the public await full disclosure of the matter, Shahrizat’s suit is the quickest way to reveal more about the project that has been highlighted by the Auditor-General.

It might not be good for Shahrizat or Umno. But she has decided the civil courts are the best way to clear her name. It remains to be seen if the voting public see the case the same way the judges will weigh the evidence. At the very least, the cows are coming home to graze, so to speak. - malaysian insider

cheers.