tumpang sekole...?

'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.

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.

Not Bersih but gov't holding people to ransom...

2012-01-19T17:00:00.000+08:00

The coalition for clean and fair elections' eight demands for electoral reform are not "unreasonable", said its chair Ambiga Sreenevasan, who has indicated a third round of protest in the event its recommendations continued to be ignored.
For that Ambiga was chided by Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, who ticked her off for holding the government to ransom.

"As far as I'm concerned its the government that is holding the people to ransom," Ambiga told Malaysiakini after testifying before a public inquiry on human rights violation during the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9 last year.

She stressed that the coalition's recommendations are "simple enough" to implement.

Yesterday, Ambiga told reporters that the NGO will not hesitate take to the streets if the recommendations went unheeded.

This, she said, is because the parliamentary select committee (PSC) which was mooted after Bersih's July 9 rally, has met all the demands in its preliminary report.

"We are getting increasingly alarmed that the government can't give a simple commitment to make sure those demands are met to ensure an even playing field."

Bukan BERSIH tapi kerajaan yang ugut rakyat

Lapan tuntutan Gabungan Pilihan Raya Bersih dan Adil Pakatan (BERSIH) untuk pembaharuan pilihan raya dianggap munasabah", kata pengerusinya, Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan yang membayangkan perhimpunan bantahan kali ketiga jika cadangan mereka terus diabaikan.

Sebaliknya, Ambiga membidas Ketua Pemuda Umno, Khairy Jamaluddin yang menemplak BERSIH kerana didakwa mengugut kerajaan.

"Bagi saya, kerajaan yang sebenarnya mengugut rakyat,” kata Ambiga kepada Malaysiakini selepas memberi keterangan kepada panel siasatan awam Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia (Suhakam) mengenai perhimpunan BERSIH 2.0 pada 9 Julai tahun lalu, semalam.

Menurut Ambiga yang yang dicadangkan oleh BERSIH adalah sesuatu yang mudah untuk dilaksanakan.

Selasa lalu, Ambiga mengumumkan bahawa NGO itu tidak akan teragak-agak untuk sekali lagi turun ke jalanan bagi menuntut pilihan raya yang bersih dan adil di negara ini jika cadangan mereka gagal dilaksanakan oleh pihak berkuasa.

"Kami semakin cemas kerana kerajaan tidak mahu memberikan komitmen mudah supaya memastikan cadangan yang dikemukakan itu dipenuhi demi menjamin pertandingan atau pilihan raya yang adil.”

source:malaysiakini

cheers.

Duit milik peneroka diberi balik sebagai 'durian runtuh'...

2012-01-19T14:30:00.000+08:00

PM umum semua peneroka akan mendapat durian runtuh atau dengan kata lain wang tunai yang jumlahnya akan ditentukan oleh kerajaan nanti.

Itu bukan durian runtuh tetapi adalah wang dan hak milik peneroka yang selama ini dirompak dari peneroka. Kerajaan terpaksa bagi semula wang itu sebab musim PRU13 dah dekat.

Wang yang dikatakan durian runtuh itu tidak sepadan dengan wang milik peneroka yang telah dirompak sejak berpuluh-puluh tahun lalu. Jika tidak dibongkar oleh "ANAK", maka peneroka tidak akan tahu dan akan terus ditipu oleh UMNO selagi mereka berkuasa.

Namun begitu peneroka harus sedar, wang milik mereka yang telah disamun selama ini entah kemana perginya, dan wang yang diberikan yang tak seberapa nilainya itu nanti adalah wang dari pihak lain, mungkin wang yang dipinjam dari KWSP. Ianya adalah hutang. Bukan kerajaan yang berhutang tetapi peneroka yang berhutang secara paksa dan secara halus oleh puak UMNO.

Walau banyak mana pun yang diberi, peneroka jangan sekali-kali terpedaya dan rasa terhutang budi dengan kerajaan dan UMNO kerana wang itu sememangnya milik mereka dan sebenarnya jumlahnya adalah terlalu kecil jika dibandingkan dengan jumlah yang telah disamun oleh UMNO selama ini. Harus ingat!

Jika peneroka mengundi UMNO pada PRU13 nanti dan mereka menang, mereka akan rompak lebih banyak lagi untuk membayar hutang tersebut. Jangan kena tipu lagi. Ini semua adalah permainan dan muslihat UMNO yang hanya bertujuan untuk mendapatkan undi peneroka dalam PRU13 nanti.

Mereka gadai tanah peneroka (FGVH), bila dapat untung berganda kelak, mereka akan sapu, dan berikan kuahnya kepada peneroka, dan jika berlaku kerugian kelak, mereka akan lepas tangan dan paksa peneroka membayarnya dengan mengenakan pelbagai cukai dan bayaran yang akan direka-reka kelak.

PM kata jamin akan untung, siapa dia yang boleh beri jaminan bahawa (FGVH) akan untung? Jika rugi bagaimana? Akhirnya semua tanah milik peneroka akan tergadai dan terlepas kepada pihak asing.

Bangunlah wahai peneroka, jangan tidur dan bermimpi lagi. Terlalu banyak sudah pengkhianatan dan penipuan UMNO terhadap Melayu dan peneroka Felda.

Wang yang akan diberikan nanti, ambil! jangan tak ambil kerana itu adalah antara hak peneroka yang disamun selama ini walaupun jumlahnya tidak setimpal dengan wang peneroka yang dihilangkan selama ini. Tetapi itu bukan durian runtuh. Yang dapat durian runtuh ialah penyamun2 UMNO!!!.

Ingatlah wahai warga Felda, jangan tersilap lagi. Cukuplah selama ini kamu mengundi UMNO.- Tok Janggut

(Catatan di atas adalah sedutan daripada rencana Tok Janggut bertajuk,"Peneroka Felda Dapat Semula Wang Mereka, Bukannya “Durian Runtuh”.) Baca sepenuhnya di sini.

cheers.

Will Shahrizat be dropped ahead of the polls...

2012-01-19T12:21:00.000+08:00

Shahrizat Abdul Jalil's decision to go on a three-week sabbatical as a cabinet minister pending investigations into the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) has set tongues wagging over whether she will return to work.
Three days after her announcement, veteran opposition lawmaker Lim Kit Siang cryptically predicted that Shahrizat will be dropped as a cabinet minister, but did not state why.

BN insiders told Malaysiakini that Shahrizat's link to the NFC scandal is a blight on Prime Minister Najib Razak's reformist image and allowing her to stay on would provide more fodder for a resurgent Pakatan Rakyat.

But as fate would have it, insiders say that Najib does have a convenient way out should he make good his promise to call polls only after the March session of parliament, when he is expected to table some of the showpiece reformist laws and repeal the much reviled Internal Security Act (ISA).

This is because Shahrizat, along with fellow cabinet ministers - Jamil Khir Baharom, Awang Adek Hussin and Koh Tsu Koon - will see their senatorship terms expire on April 8.

The Dewan Rakyat will begin its sitting in March through to April while the Dewan Negara sitting starts in April and is scheduled to continue until May.

Polling date matters

Should Najib choose not to have Shahrizat as part of his cabinet line-up ahead of the crucial polls, which would partially remove the impact of the NFC fiasco, he could decide not to extend her senatorship.

This scenario does not even require a replacement for Shahrizat's position as Najib could assign an acting minister for the women, family, and community development portfolio before the polls, said a BN source.

Najib can appoint any individual as a senator in the Dewan Negara for up to two consecutive or non-consecutive terms.But should Najib call for polls before April 9, then the PM will have to do without the convenient opportunity to drop Shahrizat.

Two prominent political analysts consulted by Malaysiakini believe that Lim's prediction is likely off the mark because the dropping of Shahrizat - either through a cabinet reshuffle or by not extending Shahrizat's senatorship - will unsettle Umno.

"Given the potential of a near-term election, it is unlikely that there will be a cabinet reshuffle, partly because he (Najib) will have the opportunity to do that after the election," said Ibrahim Suffian (right), head of independent pollster group Merdeka Centre.

Ibrahim added that if Najib was to go ahead with a cabinet reshuffle and dismiss some high-ranking ministers, he may face complications in getting the BN election machinery to function.

Emphasis on UMNO styability
Echoing this, political analyst Khoo Kay Peng said the "element of surprise" of an early general election should not be discounted.Preferably, Khoo added, Najib would want to avoid a reshuffle as it could potentially threaten the stability of Umno.

"If Najib drops a particular minister, he will be perceived as siding with a particular faction in Umno," he observed.

Umno's stability, said Khoo, is paramount since its political partners in BN remain weak and the electoral burden lies primarily on Umno.

Khoo (left) pointed out that Shahrizat, who is a first-term senator, still wields considerable influence as Umno Wanita chief and Najib may not want to risk unsettling the balance in Umno.

The precarious balance could be seen particularly through the recent allegations against Umno ministers and deputy ministers, which Khoo speculated as being orchestrated by feuding factions within Umno.

Other Umno figures who have become embroiled in controversy are Jamil and Awang who have been accused of abusing zakat funds and receiving personal political financing respectively.

While Najib will "strike a balance" between internal politics and the election, Khoo added that should there be any fallout on the electorate from his decision, Umno will attempt to placate with handouts and trust schemes.

Mungkinkah Shahrizat digugurkan sebelum PRU13

Keputusan Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil yang bercuti sabatikal sebagai menteri kabinet sementara menunggu sisatan ke atas syarikat projek ternakan lembu Perbadanan Fidlot Kebangsaan (NFC) yang dikaitkan dengan keluarganya menimbulkan persoalan sama ada Ketua Wanita Umno itu akan terus berundur dari dunia politik.

Tiga hari selepas pengumuman itu, pemimpin veteran pembangkang secara sinis berkata, beliau meramalkan bahawa Shahrizat akan digugurkan sebagai menteri kabinet, tetapi Lim tidak menyatakan alasannya itu.

Menurut sumber dalaman BN, pembabitan keluarga Shahrizat yang terpalit dengan skandal NFC telah mencemarkan imej imej reformis yang cuba ditonjolkan oleh Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Bagaimanapun takdir menentukan bahawa Najib tidak mempunyai jalan mudah bagi menyelesaikan kemelut ini. Jika Dewan Rakyat dibubarkan selepas Mac, Najib pastikan terpaksa membentangkan beberapa undang-undang reformis termasuk memansuhkan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) demi memulihkan imejnya yang tercemar itu.

Dan ini juga bermakna Shahrizat, bersama-sama dengan rakan menteri kabinet lain - Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, Datuk Awang Adek Hussin dan Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon terpaksa dilantik semula sebagai ahli Dewan Negara kerana tempoh mereka akan tamat pada 8 April.
Dewan Rakyat akan mula bersidang pada Mac hingga April ini manakala persidangan Dewan Negara pula dijadualkan pada April dan berterusan sehingga Mei.

Jika Najib memilih mengugurkan Shahrizat daripada barisan jemaah menteri, menjelang pilihan raya umum akan datang kerana skandal NFC, maka beliau tidak perlu memlanjutkan keanggotaan sebagai senator.

source:malaysiakini

cheers.

Keluarga Shahrizat dicabar dedah penyata kad kredit...

2012-01-19T05:30:00.000+08:00

Kumpulan NGO mesra Pakatan Rakyat, Jingga 13 mencabar dan mendesak ahli keluarga Ketua Wanita Umno, Datuk Seri Sharizat Jalil supaya tampil mendedahkan penyata penggunaan kad kredit mereka berjumlah RM593,500 yang dikatakan dibiayai oleh syarikat projek ternakan lembu Perbadanan Fidlot Kebangsaan (NFC).

Ketua penyelarasnya, Fariz Musa (kiri) dalam satu kenyataan akhbar berkata pendedahan umum itu perlu kerana rakyat berhak mengetahui secara terperinci setiap pembelanjaan kad kredit itu yang didakwa digunakan untuk perbelanjaan syarikat kerana NFC mendapat dana pinjaman mudah RM250 juta dari kerajaan.

“Adakah benar sepertimana kenyataan Wan Shahinur Izmir Mohamad Salleh , Pengarah Eksukutif NFC bahawa ia digunakan untuk tujuan perbelanjaan pengurusan ‘lembu’ atau NFC dan bukan digunakan untuk kepentingan peribadi atau berpoya-poya?” soalnya.

Sehubungan itu, katanya Jingga 13 tampil membuat laporan polis berhubung perkara berkenaan sepertimana mengikut Akta 613 , Seksyen 406 atau 409 Kanun Keseksaan.

Isnin lalu, pengarah strategi PKR Rafizi Ramli, pada sidang akhbarnya mendedahkan empat ahli keluarga Shahrizat yang juga Menteri Wanita, Keluarga dan Pembangunan Masyarakat membelanjakan hampir RM600,000 pada tahun 2009 dengan kad kredit yang wangnya dari dana NFC.

Menurut beliau, empat ahli keluarga Shahrizat yang memegang jawatan pengurusan dalam NFC telah menggunakan kad kredit yang bayarannya dituntut dari NFC bagi perbelanjaan antara RM122,402 dan RM182,525 setiap seorang.

Mereka adalah suami Shahrizat, Datuk Mohammad Salleh Ismail, iaitu pengerusi NFC, anak lelaki mereka yang berusia 31 tahun, Wan Shahinur Izmir (pengarah eksekutif), seorang lagi anak mereka Wan Shahinur Izran yang berusia 27 (ketua pegawai eksekutif) dan anak perempuan mereka Wan Izzanah Fatimah (pengarah) yang berusia 25 tahun.

Justeru, kata Fariz, Jingga 13 mendesak agar pihak polis menyiasat secara terperinci setiap perbelanjaan dan penggunaan kad kredit oleh keseluruhan ahli keluarga menteri itu daripada setiap akaun sepertimana yang telah dibayar dengan menggunakan wang NFC.

“Jingga 13 benar-benar kesal dengan tindakan pihak berkuasa yang dilihat sehingga kini bersikap dwi-standard dalam mengambil tindakan secara adil dan profesional.

“Ini seolah-olah wujud undang-undang yang berbeza antara rakyat biasa dan menteri /pimpinan Umno serta keluarga walaupun pelbagai laporan polis dan SPRM telah dibuat berkaitan skandal NFC yang melibatkan RM250 juta wang rakyat,” katanya lagi.

Akibat diasak dengan pendedahan demi pendedahan dan desakan pelbagai pihak termasuk dari Umno supaya mengundurkan diri, Shahrizat minggu lalu mengambil keputusan untuk bercuti selama tiga minggu, manakala Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak pula mengumumkan bahawa aset NFC dibekukan sementara menunggu siasatan oleh pihak berkuasa pelbagai termasuk di Suruhanjaya Malaysia Pencegah Rasuah (SPRM) dan polis.

source:malaysiakini

cheers.

Why did they free Anwar...

2012-01-19T00:45:00.000+08:00

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s acquittal and discharge could not have earned the judiciary any brownie points. Neither did the trial judge, Justice Datuk Zabidin Mohd Diah, come across as someone capable of blazing a new trail in proactive justice.

In fact, the court proceedings only disappointed Malaysians the way the judge denied the defence the many crucial notes they were entitled to, dismissed their right to question the prime minister and his wife by granting their application not to appear as witnesses, and refused to recuse himself as the presiding judge by dismissing Anwar’s application that he was biased in the proceedings.

He even strengthened this belief by concluding at the end of the prosecution case that Saiful was a “truthful and credible witness” without even hearing the defence side of the case. The bias was so blatant and so obvious.

Who can forget the doctor who testified under oath at the trial? He wilfully refused to refer to his notes in a deliberate attempt to deny the defence his notes.

In spite of Karpal Singh coaxing him to refer to the notes while testifying, he stubbornly refused to look at his notes. The question arises, why would he want to deny the defence access to his notes? Was he coached not to refer to his notes? What was in those notes that would have been helpful in Anwar’s defence that they desperately wanted to hide?

Again, the way Anwar’s DNA was obtained was questionable and unethical. In spite of Anwar having assured the police that he would turn up at the police station to give his statement, he was waylaid, arrested and taken to the police station as if he was a common criminal. And they unnecessarily kept him overnight to obtain his DNA surreptitiously. Indeed that was how they obtained his DNA.

Anwar’s objection to the admission of his DNA was initially allowed because it was obtained by trickery. But later the judge allowed the DNA as an exhibit following the prosecution’s appeal.

So when the judge acquitted Anwar at the end of the trial, his decision was a clear contradiction to the way the case had progressed and proceeded. Going strictly by the court proceedings, Anwar should have been convicted. There were no two ways about it. The court decision took everyone by surprise.

The entire proceedings went against Anwar thus allowing an injustice to prevail. It created the unmistakable impression that the court was colluding with the executive to put away Anwar for good.

Widespread anger

So why was Anwar freed?

While the prosecution went all out to obtain a conviction, the powers-that-be could not ignore the sentiment on the ground. There was wide-spread anger and frustration among a wide-ranging spectrum of the population.

I was on my way to keep an appointment at the General Hospital in Penang on January 9, when I was informed of the outcome, moments after the judge had delivered his verdict to acquit and discharge Anwar. I met so many people at the hospital, the majority of whom were Malays and who were total strangers. When I told them that Anwar was freed, all of them without an exception praised God and were openly very happy.

I called my friend in Kuala Lumpur and related my experience with these people. I was told that this euphoria was not confined to Penang only but was felt everywhere in KL and elsewhere in the country.

With this kind of sympathy and support for Anwar, a guilty verdict and a prison sentence would have outraged all these people. The backlash arising out of this injustice would have punished the Barisan Nasional mercilessly in the 13th General Election.

Political motive?

According to many observers, it was a political decision to go after Anwar with this trumped up charge as he was seen as a threat to the BN’s continued domination of Malaysian politics. Now it was also a political decision to free him in order to mollify the public anger against the BN. But if this was their strategy for the time being, will they allow Anwar the freedom to roam around the country, galvanising the people and spreading the wings of Pakatan all over Malaysia?

It is very likely that they would want to appeal this verdict and knowing the trend of the judiciary — you win round one and lose round two — the appeal would be allowed. In this way they can keep Anwar tied down with the court cases and continue to harass him giving him little rope to campaign effectively.

But this raises a serious issue. Who will decide if the prosecution should appeal? Following the norm, that decision is with the Attorney General, Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail. But would that be fair to Anwar?

In the first sodomy trial, Manjit Singh who was representing Nallakaruppan revealed that Gani Patail had asked Nallakaruppan to incriminate Anwar offering a plea bargain. This incident should disqualify Gani Patail from deciding on the question of appeal. Apparently there would be a case of conflict of interest.

But the best decision is for the executive and the judiciary to accept the decision of the High Court and bring a closure to this unhappy event. There would be no justification for wasting countless hours of the court and unnecessarily incurring huge further costs in pursuing this case.

If the A-G proceeds with the appeal, the inevitable conclusion would be that it is a case of political vendetta against Anwar, plain and simple. It would debunk the claim made by some that the verdict showed the judiciary is independent. It would only establish the fact that nothing has changed in the judiciary. The rot has permeated beyond repair and redemption.

Hope only lies in a change of government for a better Malaysia and a better future for Malaysians. — P. Ramakrishnan

source:malaysian insider

cheers.

Kalau UMNO bersungguh menentang gay, kenapa di Lorong Haji Taib bersepah aktiviti ini...

2012-01-18T23:00:00.000+08:00

Mursyidul Am PAS, Tuan Guru Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat menyifatkan dakwaan terhadap Ketua Umum PKR, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim penyokong 'gay' adalah karut.
Katanya, pihak media masih belum serik membuat fitnah terhadap Anwar walaupun usaha yang sama menerusi kes liwat telah tersungkur.

Katanya, apa yang beliau dengar kenyataan Anwar berhubung undang-undang gay berlainan dengan apa yang tersiar dalam media.

“Saya dengar Datuk Seri (Anwar) sebut benda lain tetapi surat khabar tulis benda lain.

“Sudahlah tuduhan liwat baru-baru ini memakan masa berpuluh tahun berakhir dengan sekelip mata, kali ini tak serik lagi nak buat tuduhan lain pula,” ujarnya.
Beliau seterusnya mengingatkan pihak lawan untuk menyerang parti yang lain perlu menyerang dasar dan bukan batang tubuh atau peribadi.

“Menyerang manusia ini dipanggil mengumpat, tetapi politik ini diserang dasar oleh pihak lawan dan bukannya peribadinya.

“Serang dasar parti yang dipegang oleh Datuk Seri, itu perkara lain, ini tidak serang peribadi, semuanya kerja tak cerdik,” ujarnya lagi.

Sebelum itu,Tuan Guru yang juga Menteri Besar Kelantan menerima kunjungan Menteri Pembangunan Pusat Bandar Kampung Baru dan Kewangan Negara China, Zhao Guang Qing, di pejabatnya tengah hari tadi.

Turut sama dalam kunjungan berkenaan, Exco kerajaan negeri, Datuk Husam Musa dan bekas anggota Dewan Negara, Ahmad Rusli Ibrahim.

Sementara itu Naib Presiden PAS, Datuk Mahfuz Omar berkata, BN sendiri ternyata gagal dalam menangani isu homoseksual ini.

Malah beliau mempersoal, apa tindakan kerajaan terhadap aktiviti terkutuk itu yang aktif beroperasi di sekitar Chow kit dan Lorong Haji Taib.

"Kalau benar kerajaan BN bersungguh menentang gay, kenapa di Lorong Haji Taib ini bersepah aktiviti ini.

"Saya nak katakan bahawa, undang-undang yang sedia ada ini gagal menangani permasalahan ini," katanya.

source:harakahdaily

cheers.

Segalanya sudah terlambat, Shahrizat...

2012-01-18T19:30:00.000+08:00

Tindakan Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil yang diselubungi isu Perbadanan Fidlot Kebangsaan (NFC) bercuti daripada menjalankan tugas sebagai menteri pembangunan wanita, keluarga dan masyarakat dianggap sudah terlambat.

Ketua Wanita PKR Zuraida Kamaruddin (bawah) berkata, mengapa kini baru Shahrizat bercuti sedangkan telah digesa banyak pihak supaya berundur sewaktu isu itu didedahkan sejak awal.

"Beliau harus sedar bahawa segala tindakannya kini sudah terlambat dan rakyat kini sudah mula bersuara menuntut penjelasan," katanya sambil menyifatkan "nasi sudah menjadi bubur".

Zuraida berkata, Shahrizat harus sedar bahawa rakyat kini sudah mula bersuara menuntut penjelasan dan atas dasar "hormat politik" senator itu digesa berundur secara terhormat.

Shahrizat memohon cuti rehat tiga minggu mulai 9 Januari sebagai menteri dan berharap Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) dapat menjalankan siasatan sama ada beliau terlibat atau tidak dalam apa-apa keputusan kerajaan mengenai NFC.

Dalam kenyataannya hari ini, Zuraida juga mengandaikan percutian Shahrizat itu sebagai pelan strategi Datuk Seri Najib Razak "bagi menyelamatkan Shahrizat-NFC dan kroni".

"Walaupun setelah lebih seminggu Shahrizat Jalil bercuti, namun PM Najib dilihat seolah terus gentar untuk membuat keputusan terhadap beliau, NFC dan semua pihak yang terlibat dalam skandal projek industri daging negara ini.

"Malahan, mengapa kini baru Shahrizat merancang cuti sedangkan telah digesa banyak pihak untuk agar beliau mengundurkan diri sewaktu isu ini didedahkan awal dahulu," kata Zuraida, antara pemimpin PKR paling ke depan mengasak dengan isu itu.

cheers.

Najib endorsed threats against me, says Ambiga...

2012-01-18T17:30:00.000+08:00

Bersih 2.0 chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan accused the prime minister of “endorsing” threats against her in the run-up to the public rally for electoral reform on July 9.

Recounting the “horrifying” experiences today, she told the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia’s (Suhakam) public inquiry that her personal safety was at stake by “state actors and non-state actors alike”.

The experienced lawyer and former Bar Council president cited reports carried by news portal The Malaysian Insider (TMI) where Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had reportedly supported Pertubuhan Seni Silat Lincah Malaysia (PSSLM), which had challenged to take on Bersih, if coalition refused to cancel the July 9 rally.

"I believe, if there are evil enemies who want to attack the country from without and within, ‘anak-anak lincah’ will rise to fight them,” Najib reportedly said two days before the rally.

It did not just stop at that, related Ambiga (right), as prior to that on July 2, Najib labelled her as a “threat to Islam”.

“Who doesn’t know Ambiga. She’s the one who threatened Islam. And below her is Mat Sabu,” said Ambiga, reading out Najib’s quotes.

She was also accused of being supportive of apostates and claimed to have represented Muslim convert Azlina Jailani (also known as Lina Joy), who dragged the government to court for refusing to legally recognise her conversion to Christianity.

“There were calls to strip me of my citizenship, attacks by state-controlled media and I believe that all this was condoned by the government,” said Ambiga.

In strengthening her testimony, Ambiga submitted various news reports and clippings as well as copies of ‘public service announcements’ on government-owned Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) “demonising Bersih”.

She added that Malay-rights group Perkasa had burned pictures of her and widely distributed leaflets describing her as - ‘Awas! Ambiga wanita Hindu yang berbahaya’.

Ambiga pointed out Perkasa’s veiled threat when their chief Ibrahim Ali warned the Chinese against joining the rally, asking them to stay home and “stock up on food”, in reference to the Emergency period imposed during the racial riots in 1969 that left scores dead.

“(On top of that), I was called a traitor and that my citizenship should be stripped.

‘Until today none have been charged’

“However, until today none of them (who threatened me) have been charged, maybe called in for a statement but that’s about it... nothing happened although it was an open threat of criminal intimidation,” she said.

Furthermore, the mainstream media blatantly accused Bersih of being a front for Christian, Jewish and other foreign groups, said Ambiga, who was also accused of funds being channelled into her personal account.

“I was given the impression that my accounts were being investigated. If they were the authorities till today have no decency to clear me of the accusations,” she said.

Suhakam vice-chairperson and panel head Khaw Lake Tee then asked Ambiga to describe how she felt when everything was brought to her knowledge.

“Well it didn’t make me happy. It was very discomforting. I was absolutely horrified at the extent they would go to stop the rally.

“There was a clear intention to cause me harm... that’s why I had to hire a bodyguard upon my family’s insistence,” she said.

The threats, she said, gave her fears that she was being followed and her mobile phone tapped.

Conducting officer Ameer Izyanif Hamzah asked if there were any direct threats of physical violence, and Ambiga told the panel about theSMS threat that was being circulated on June 23.

“Besides the text message there was also a Twitter feed by Papagoma, who I believe is widely known to be well-connected to Umno, who called for me to be gang-raped. So disgraceful,” she said in disdain.

This was not the only threat, said Ambiga, and she proceeded to lodge a police report.

Quizzed by the panel on why she neglected to lodge complains on the other threats, Ambiga replied: “Firstly, I was told that there is no need to report all the instances as the police don’t need one to initiate investigations.

“Secondly, it is not practical... I would have to go every day then because we were threatened often.

“Thirdly, I felt that the entire machinery of the state and the authorities were against me, so I felt there was no point.”

However, the threats did not hinder her day-to-day activities, said Ambiga, although her family members were very concerned for her safety.

Najib 'restui' ancaman ke atas saya, dakwa Ambiga

Pengerusi BERSIH 2.0 Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan menuduh Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak "merestui" ancaman yang dibuat ke atas dirinya menjelang perhimpunan awam menuntut reformasi pilihan raya pada 9 Julai tahun lalu.

Sambil menceritakan pengalaman yang "mengerikan" itu kepada siasatan awam Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia (Suhakam) hari ini, Ambiga berkata keselamatan peribadi dipertaruhkan.
Memetik laporan portal berita The Malaysian Insider, yang melaporkan Najib menyokong Pertubuhan Seni Silat Lincah Malaysia, sebuah organisasi kumpulan-kumpulan silat yang memberi amaran bahawa mereka akan berdepan dengan BERSIH 2.0 jika perhimpunan itu tidak dibatalkan.

"Saya percaya, jika ada musuh-musuh jahat yang mahu menyerang negara ini baik dari luar mahupun dari dalam, 'anak-anak lincah' akan bangkit melawan mereka," Najib dipetik berkata dua hari sebelum perhimpunan itu.

Pada 2 Julai tahun lalu, Ambiga berkata Najib juga melabel dirinya sebagai "ancaman kepada Islam" apabila beliau berkata: "Siapa yang tidak kenal Ambiga? Beliau adalah pengancam Islam. Dan di bawah beliau ialah Mat Sabu."

source:malaysiakini

cheers.

Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi angkat sumpah ganti Hasan Ali...

2012-01-18T15:33:00.000+08:00

ADUN Sijangkang Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi dilantik menjadi exco kerajaan negeri Selangor yang baru bagi menggantikan Datuk Hasan Ali yang digugurkan dari jawatan tersebut minggu lalu.

Dr Ahmad Yunus yang juga pembantu exco belia dan sukan - portfolio yang dipegang Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim - mengangkat sumpah sebagai exco di Istana Bukit Kayangan di Shah Alam pagi ini.
Ahmad menggantikan Hasan selepas beliau dipecat dari PAS pada 8 Januari lalu susulan tindakan beliau yang merugikan parti itu.

Sebelum ini, spekulasi bertiup kencang bahawa calon pilihan adalah Pesuruhjaya PAS Selangor Dr Rani Osman tetapi menurut sumber beliau menolak pencalonan berkenaan.
Pada sidang akhbar selepas majlis berkenaan, Abdul Khalid mengumumkan bahawa Dr Ahmad Yunus akan bertanggungjawab terhadap portfolio Adat Resam Melayu, Belia dan Sukan yang sebelum ini dipegangnya.
Manakala portfolio mengenai hal ehwal Islam, infrastruktur dan kemudahan awam akan disandang oleh Abdul Khalid.

"Kami percaya YB Dr Ahmad Yunus ADUN Sijangkang boleh menjalankan tugas dengan amanah, telus dan bertanggungjawab.

Doktor perubatan

"Latarbelakang beliau sebagai doktor perubatan telah banyak memberi khidmat kepada rakyat, boleh membantu beliau menjalankan tugas sebagai ahli MMKN (Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri) secara efisien dan profesional," kata Khalid.

Menyifatkan Dr Ahmad Yunus berpengalaman dalam bidang belia dan sukan, Khalid berkata rombakan kecil portfolio itu berkuatkuasa hari ini dan ia dilakukan bagi "memastikan kesinambungan kerja dan perkhidmatan kepada rakyat dapat berjalan dengan lancar".

Pada masa yang sama, Khalid juga turut mengumumkan pelantikan ADUN Meru dan pesuruhjaya PAS Selangor, Dr Abd Rani Osman sebagai pengerusi Skim Mikro Kredit Miskin Luar Bandar (SKIMSEL).

Manakala ADUN Bandar Baru Bangi Dr Shafie Abu Bakar pula dilantik sebagai pengerusi Perbadanan Adat Istiadat Melayu (PADAT), yang mana kedua-dua jawatan tersebut dipegang oleh Dr Hasan sebelum ini.

Ditanya mengapa permilihan Dr Ahmad Yunus mengisi kekosongan kerusi exco itu, Khalid berkata pertimbangan itu dibuat berdasarkan atas "dasar kerja dan ia tidak bermaksud membelakangkan PAS".

"Keputusan melantik Dr Ahmad Yunus, Dr Rani dan Dr Shafie adalah keputusan yang dibincang... Kualiti perbincangan di antara kumpulan parti (dalam Pakatan) adalah 'rigorious'.

"Pelantikan Dr Yunus tidak bermaksud untuk membelakangkan PAS. Kita merujuk kepada PAS, bagaimana dengan (calon) ini... Kita berdiskusi dengan kepimpinan (PAS).

"Saya diberikan tanggngjawab untuk menentukannya... Saya rasa pelantikan Dr Yunus dapat restu daripada kepimpinan PAS dan Dr Abd Rani," kata Khalid sambil menolak tanggapan pelantikan itu dibuat tanpa mengambil kira pandangan semua pihak dalam Pakatan.
Rombakan kecil

Malah, Khalid juga turut "bercakap" kepada Presiden PAS, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang berhubung pelantikan Dr Ahmad Yunus sebagai exco kerajaan negeri yang baru.
Ditanya mengapa rombakan kecil di mana beliau sendiri memegang exco hal ehwal agama, Khalid menegaskan peluang kepadanya untuk menyelesaikan perkara yang berkaitan pentadbiran hal ehwal Islam.

"Saya mengambil alih tugas berkenaan kerana Datuk SUK dan Datuk Penasihat undang-undang negeri (juga) adalah ahli Majlis Agama Islam (MAIS) dan Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (JAIS).

"Saya ambil alih kerana dapat mempengerusikan dan dapat melihat perkembangan dan pembangunan JAIS," katanya sambil berpendapat Dr Ahmad Yunus berpengalaman dan mampu mengambil alih daripada tugasnya sebelum ini.
Khalid juga menjelaskan jawatan Dr Abdul Rani dan Dr Shafie bukan bertaraf exco, dan tidak boleh menghadiri mesyuarat kerajaan negeri kerana kedua-dua tokoh tersebut tidak menerima watikah perlantikan daripada Sultan Selangor.
Dalam sidang media yang sama, Dr Ahmad Yunus duduk di sebelah Khalid berkata, beliau tidak menyangka akan dilantik menjadi exco menggantikan Dr Hasan.
"Walaupun PAS pusat mencadangkan Dr Abd Rani sebagai penggantinya, tetapi (pemilihan saya) atas pertimbangan berdasarkan kerja. Saya tidak kata Dr Abd Rani tak boleh bekerja.

"Daripada apa yang dimaklumkan oleh menteri besar, saya memegang portfolio belia dan sukan yang dipegang oleh beliau. Beliau memberikan amanah dan ia merupakan satu kesinambungan supaya ia berjalan lebih lancar," katanya.

Dr Ahmad Yunus, 47, mempunyai seorang isteri dan mempunyai empat orang anak, dan berkelulusan Ijazah Perubatan dan Pembedahan UM pada tahun 1991. Selain ADUN dan pembantu exco belia dan sukan, beliau merupakan yang dipertua (YDP) PAS kawasan Kuala Langat.

Beliau juga memegang jawatan antaranya sebagai ahli jawatankuasa badan perhubungan PAS Selangor dan timbalan pengerusi Dewan Himpunan Penyokong PAS Selangor.

Pernah dan masih bertugas sebagai doktor dan pengarah -sehingga kini - di beberapa buah pusat perubatan dan hospital antaranya di Perak, Pulau Pinang, Sarawak, dan Selangor.

Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi sworn in to replace Hasan Ali...

In a surprise development, Sijangkang assemblyperson Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi was today sworn in to replace Hasan Ali, the former Selangor PAS commissioner who was expelled by his party two weeks ago.

Ahmad was sworn in before Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah at 10.10am at Bukit Kayangan Palace in a ceremony attended by all Selangor exco members. The medical doctor is appointed cabinet member in charge of Malay customs, youth and sports, while Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim will take over the Islamic affairs, infrastructure, and public amenities portfolio left vacant by Hasan.

The 47-year-old father of four obtained a medical degree from Universiti Malaya in 1991 and works as a doctor.

"I did not expect the appointment. I was just sworn in, so it's too early for me to say anything about my portfolio," Ahmad said.

It was earlier reported that Selangor PAS commissioner Dr Rani Osman was the favourite for the post.

New posts for Rani, Shafie

At a press conference later, Khalid said Ahmad was selected after considering his work performance as assistant exco member for youth and sports.

"The appointment has received the blessing from PAS, which include Rani himself," he said.

Taking over part of Hasan’s former duties, Rani (right in photo) was appointed as the chairperson of microcredit for the poor and rural areas; while Bangi assemblyperson Shafie Abu Bakar will take charge of the Malay Customs Corporation (Padat).

When asked about the reason behind his move to oversee Islamic affairs, Khalid said this is to close ranks with the state secretary and state legal adviser, both of whom are committee members of the Selangor Islamic Council (Mais).

He said uplifting Islam needs continuous efforts and prudent implementation.

“Islam flourishes because the religion treats everyone in a just and fair manner. I will be learning that essence,” he said.

source:malaysiakini

cheers.

Will Gemas be the epicenter for another political tsunami...

2012-01-18T12:21:00.000+08:00

If the crowd at the Rapat Rakyat yesterday night in sleepy Gemas is an indication, Negeri Sembilan will fall to the opposition at the next GE. It does not matter whether the elections are held in the next few months or later nearer a full 5 year term.

It will not make any difference on the outcome of the elections- BN will suffer massive losses and lose its mandate.

I would estimate the crowd yesterday to be around 10,000 people. The local guy next to me confided in me since staying in Gemas since the late 60s, this is the first time he sees this big a crowd attend a political gathering. UMNO will of course trivialize this observation by saying; the opposition has always attracted large crowds to their rallies.

In the end, the BN will win. I hope for their sake, that simplistic response is true. This time I think, the usual knee jerk response is just for self-assurance for the anxieties engulfing the BN camp.

The first 3 speakers spoke about local politics not about the big issues concerning and relating to Anwar Ibrahim who was the last speaker. The 3 who spoke first found unison in the voice from the crowd who were clearly primed up to eject Mat Hassan and his team from Negeri.

Gemas is special or should I say infamous for two things actually. The NFC cattle farm is located in Gemas. Shahrizat Jalil whose family members are currently embroiled in the financial scandal surrounding the National Feedlot Cattle project chose Gemas as the site for the project. Gemas has since gained the moniker of the cattle capital of Malaysia. The NFC is clearly a blatant case of corruption involving many more people within UMNO than the figures now under public scrutiny.

Gemas is also the site chosen to be the starting point for the double tracking rail project from Gemas to Johore Bharu. That project is shrouded in much controversy too. The original project was given to China Railway Engineering and Construction (CREC) on account of the company being a GLC of the Chinese government and also on account of its specialization in the construction of rail projects. The Malaysian cabinet approved it. Curiously later, this decision was rescinded and the project was given to China Harbours.

So Gemas appears to be at the epicenter of financial scandals. It is fitting for Gemas to herald the wave of change that will soon snuff out the life of the corrupt and the mediocre in Negeri Sembilan.

To the people of Gemas Negeri Sembilan, my hope is they make Gemas the epicenter for political tsunami in Negeri Sembilan. Don’t make Gemas the black hole of financial scandals.- Mohd.Ariff Sabri bin Hj. Abdul Aziz.

source:sakmongkol 47 blogspot

(Catatan di atas adalah sedutan daripada rencana terbaru Mohd.Ariff Sabri bin Hj.Abdul Aziz yang dimuatkan dalam blognya.) Read full article here.
cheers.

Bersih 3.0 jika tidak laksana tuntutan- Ambiga...

2012-01-18T01:00:00.005+08:00

Pengerusi Bersih 2.0, Datuk S.Ambiga memberi amaran bahawa gabungan itu akan menganjurkan Himpunan Bersih 3.0, sekiranya kerajaan masih gagal menunaikan tuntutan untuk melaksanakan pilihan raya bersih dan adil.

Menurut Ambiga, pihaknya telah melakukan pelbagai cara termasuk menerusi kaedah rundingan dan menegaskan gabungan itu turut menggesa Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) menerima cadangan Jawatankuasa Pilihan Khas Parlimen (PSC) bagi penambahbaikan proses pilihan raya.

Ia mesti dilaksanakan (oleh Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya). Maka kita akan cuba semua itu, namun sekiranya mereka (SPR) tidak memenuhinya sebelum PRU, kami tidak menolak kemungkinan untuk menggerakkan Bersih 3,” tegas Ambiga. Menurut Ambiga, adalah jelas SPR tidak menghormati cadangan yang dikemukakan PSC dan Parlimen sekiranya suruhanjaya itu masih tidak mahu melaksanakan lapan tuntutan Bersih.

Di sidang media sama, Sasterawan Negara, A Samad Said turut mengatakan Bersih 3.0 adalah alternatif terakhir sekiranya tuntutan itu tidak dilaksanakan.

“Sekiranya semua pilihan tidak dilaksanakan, memang tidak mustahil akan diadakan Bersih 3.0,”

Bersih hari ini melancarkan Kempen Jom 100 bertujuan menarik seramai mungkin pengundi berdaftar untuk keluar mengundi bagi mencapai sasaran 100 % keluar mengundi pada Pilihan Raya Umum (PRU) ke-13 akan datang.

Pada PRU ke-12 sebelum ini, seramai 8.16 juta rakyat menunaikan tanggungjawab mereka mengundi untuk memilih wakil rakyat masing-masing.
source:keadilandaily

Bersih 3 if polls reform fails...

The NGO coalition for clean and fair elections may take to the streets again should the authorities fail to implement its recommendations on electoral reform.

Speaking to the media after launching a voter education campaign in Kuala Lumpur today, Bersih 2.0 chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan said she fears that the authorities will not abide by the recommendations of the parliamentary select committee (PSC) on electoral reforms.

“The PSC can come up with their recommendations, but they may not be implemented.

“If they don’t fulfil these recommendations, I don’t rule out another Bersih rally before GE,” she said.

Ambiga led Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9 when thousands of people from all walks of life converged in Kuala Lumpur to demand for electoral reforms.

The lawyer also expressed disappointment with the recommendations made in the first PSC report.

She said the use of indelible ink as recommended by the PSC was only “one of the eight (Bersih) demands, despite being ‘a good thing’”.

“I am looking forward to seeing more recommendations in PSC’s second report,” she said.

Meanwhile, Bersih will also go on a nationwide campaign aimed at achieving a 100 percent voter turnout in the forthcoming election.

The campaign themed 'Jom 100' will kick-start after the Chinese New Year holidays.

“If there is a larger number of voters, it will also mitigate the effects of election fraud and gerrymandering, because there are only so many phantom voters who can vote,” she added.

Ambiga also urged overseas voters to come home to vote as they were denied the right to be registered as absent voters in a legal bid recently.

She added that national laureate A Samad Said will be appointed Bersih co-chairperson and student activist Shukri Abdul Razab as a steering committee member.

source:malaysiakini

Anwar warns Utusan with RM50m suit over gay jibe

Meanwhile, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim has threatened to sue Utusan Malaysia for RM50 million for defamation unless the daily retracts its front-page report today which suggested that he had a pro-homosexuality stance.

In a statement today, PKR vice-president N Surendran said a letter of demand have been served on Utusan's parent company to demand the retraction and an apology. Surendran was referring to the several reports in Utusan today, which carries responses to BBC's recent interview with Anwar, in which the issue of homosexuality was raised.

Surendran pointed out that in the same interview, although Anwar had responded to the query by stating that some "archaic" punitive laws needs to be reviewed, he never stated that homosexuality should be legalised.

"We, Muslim and non-muslim generally believe and are committed to support the sanctity of marriage between man and woman in Malaysia.

"We do not promote homosexuality in the public sphere and domain," Anwar told the BBC.

In view of this, Surendran said the Utusan article was malicious and defamatory to Anwar.

He adds that the report was also "scurrilous, politically motivated and gutter journalism of the lowest kind." The letter of demand states that Utusan has 48 hours to comply, failing which legal action will be taken.

source:malaysiakini

Halal homoseksual: Anwar mahu saman Utusan Malaysia RM50 juta

Anwar Saman Utusan RM50 Juta

cheers.

Grassroots defend Nurul from Nong Chik's flak...

2012-01-17T22:00:00.001+08:00

A PKR grassroots leader fended off accusations that Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar is merely taking credit for BN’s efforts to help her constituents and not doing her job.

"Actually, Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin is the one who should be worried because many had said that he did not perform his duties for the whole of the Federal Territories, which include 11 parliamentary constituencies plus Putrajaya and Labuan," said Lembah Pantai PKR division deputy chief Mohd Amin Mian.

Raja Nong Chik (left) had reportedly said on Sunday that, “PKR only knows to criticise, but they had done nothing constructive in the past four years.

"Only when we (BN) succeeded in something, do they try to hitch a ride.

“For example, when we obtained funding from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to paint houses in Taman Sri Sentosa and Terminal Sejahtera, they said it was due to pressure from PKR.

“When did they pressure us? No such thing. They did not do anything in the past two years,” Sinar Harian quoted the Lembah Pantai Umno division chief as saying.

‘We can see what you did’

In his rebuttal against Raja Nong Chik, Mohd Amin claimed that the senator focussed mostly on one constituency and ignored the rest.

Mohd Amin also made several claims that implicated Raja Nong Chik, including:

1. The minister had allegedly used Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) funds for his own political interests;

2. He asked whether the contract for painting the People’s Housing Project (PPR) flats were openly tendered or given to cronies;

3. That Kampung Baru residents were disappointed with the Kampung Baru Development Corporation Bill.

In addition, Mohd Amin said if there are any problems with drainage, rubbish, roads, or mosquitoes, it means Raja Nong Chik is not doing his job because all these are DBKL’s responsibilities.

“Therefore I would like to remind Raja Nong Chik again, remember that Federal Territory residents can see everything that he does,” he said.

Akar umbi pertahan Izzah dari serangan Nong Chik

Akar umbi PKR hari ini mempertahankan anggota parlimen Lembah Pantai Nurul Izzah Anwar daripada dakwaan tidak melaksanakan tanggungjawab dan hanya menumpang usaha BN membantu penduduk kawasan itu.

Sambil menyangkal dakwaan Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, naib ketua cabang PKR Lembah Pantai Mohd Amin Mian berkata, menteri Wilayah Persekutuan dan kesejahteraan bandar bercakap tidak kena tempat.

"Sebenarnya beliaulah yang patut lebih risau, kerana ramai yang mengatakan beliau tidak menunaikan tanggungjawab kepada seluruh Wilayah Persekutuan, yang merangkumi 11 kawasan parlimen serta Putrajaya dan Labuan," kata Mohd Amin.

Raja Nong Chik kelmarin dilaporkan berkata PKR hanya tahu mengkritik, tetapi hampir empat tahun tiada perkara yang membina dibuat, kecuali menumpang BN.

Sebagai contoh, kata Raja Nong Chik, pihaknya mendapatkan peruntukan daripada perdana menteri untuk mengecat rumah di Taman Sri Sentosa dan Terminal Sejahtera tetapi PKR mendakwa ia dibuat atas desakan mereka.

Dalam serangan balas kepada Raja Nong Chik (kiri), Mohd Amin juga mendakwa pada Ramadan lalu, senator itu menumpukan hampir 85 peratus di satu kawasan parlimen sahaja dan mengabaikan selebihnya.

Mohd Amin juga membangkitkan beberapa dakwaan yang dikaitkan dengan Raja Nong Chik:

1. Menteri itu didakwa menggunakan dana Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) untuk kepentingan politik sendiri.

2. Membangkitkan sama ada tender kerja-kerja mengecat bangunan Projek Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) diberi secara terbuka atau kepada kroni.

3. Menyatakan kekecewaan penduduk Kampung Baru terhadap Rang Undang-undang Perbadanan Pembangunan Kampung Baru.

Selain itu, Mohd Amin berkata, sekiranya terdapat masalah melibatkan longkang, sampah, jalan atau nyamuk, ia bermakna Raja Nong Chik yang tidak bekerja kerana semua itu tugas bawah DBKL.

"Maka sekali lagi saya ingin ingatkan Raja Nong Chik, beringat-ingatlah. Penduduk Wilayah Persekutuan melihat setiap perkara yang anda lakukan," katanya.

source:malaysiakini

cheers.

Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir claims BN bought votes with cash...

2012-01-17T20:30:00.003+08:00

A former federal minister from Umno claimed today that cash was handed out in previous election campaigns in attempts to buy votes, a tactic known as “bomb”.

Tan Sri Datuk Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir said in a forum today that he had experienced himself how cash handouts ranging from RM200 to RM1,000 was used in Barisan Nasional’s election campaigns to gain voter support.

“I have been the head of delegation of many campaigns and I have been given lump sums of money to distribute,” said the former Information Minister at the Malaysia Strategic Outlook Conference 2012 here. “It was a blatant use of money to buy votes.”

Abdul Kadir (picture), who was also formerly the Minister of Culture, Arts and Tourism, said that the word used for the strategy was called “bomb”.

He added though that he personally didn’t use the money.

James Chin, who heads the School of Social Sciences at Monash University at Sunway, and who spoke at the forum after Abdul Kadir said that “bombing” was a very effective tool in Sabah and Sarawak.

During his presentation, Abdul Kadir said that while he still held positions in Umno, he wanted to remind them of the “Merdeka trust” — which meant giving the people the right to truly free and fair elections.

He also urged Umno not to fear losing if it was sincere in its intentions.

“If you lose accept it; people change governments all the time in US and Australia,” he said. “I am an Umno man, I don’t mind if I lose. If you are there just to make millions for yourself and your cronies or if I have made my billions and am afraid I will be arrested after I lose power, then I will do all these tricks.”

“If you are sincere, you have nothing to fear,” he added.

He said that to have free and fair elections, there must be equal access to the media and GLCs and government departments must be neutral.

“You must give them (the opposition) the freedom to have TV, radio and newspapers,” he said. “For 50 years, PAS has been asking for a newspaper licence but none given — the government is a big bully.”

He also said that during elections, Barisan Nasional should not be making use of the Ministry of Information, Felda, Felcra, the Special Branch and other federal agencies to support their campaign.

Abdul Kadir is also the deputy president of non-partisan pro-unity NGO Angkatan Amanah Merdeka (Amanah) and executive chairman of the Sazean group.

Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir dakwa BN beli undi dengan wang tunai

Bekas menteri persekutuan daripada Umno hari ini mendakwa wang yang digunakan pada kempen pilihan raya lalu adalah untuk membeli undi, satu taktik yang dikenali sebagai “bom”.

Tan Sri Datuk Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir (gambar) berkata demikian dalam satu forum dengan menjelaskan mengalami pengalaman itu sendiri dengan memberi RM200 hingga RM1,000 dalam kempen pilihan raya Barisan Nasional (BN) untuk mendapat undi.

“Saya telah menjadi ketua dalam banyak kempen dan saya diberikan wang dalam jumlah yang banyak untuk diagihkan,” kata bekas menteri penerangan dan pelancongan di Persidangan Perancangan Strategik Malaysia 2012 di sini.

“Ia secara terang-terangan untuk membeli undi.”

Abdul Kadir berkata istilah yang digunakan untuk strategi itu adalah “bom”.

Beliau menambah secara peribadi tidak pernah menggunakan wang itu.

James Chin, Ketua Sekolah Seni dan Sains Sosial, Monash University, Bandar Sunway, berkata strategi itu merupakan paling berkesan di Sabah dan Sarawak.

Semasa ucapannya, Abdul Kadir berkata semasa beliau masih memegang jawatan dalam Umno, beliau mahu mengingatkan mereka tentang “Amanah Merdeka” — yang bermaksud memberi rakyat hak untuk mempunyai pilihan raya bersih dan adil.

Beliau turut menggesa Umno agar tidak perlu takut untuk kalah sekiranya ikhlas dalam perjuangan.

“Jika anda kalah, terimanya; rakyat ubah kerajaan banyak kali di USA dan Australia,” katanya.

“Saya adalah ahli Umno, saya tiada masalah jika kalah. Jika anda berada di sana untuk menggunakan jutaan ringgit untuk diri sendiri dan kroni anda atau jika saya mempunyai bilion ringgit dan saya akan ditangkap selepas saya kehilangan kuasa, maka saya akan gunakan semua tipu helah ini.

“Jika anda ikhlas, tiada apa yang perlu ditakutkan,” tambahnya.

Beliau berkata untuk mempunyai pilihan raya bersih dan adil, perlu ada akses sama rata terhadap media, syarikat berkaitan kerajaan (GLC) dan jabatan kerajaan mesti neutral.

“Anda perlu berikan mereka (pembangkang) kebebasan untuk mempunyai TV, radio dan akhbar,” katanya. “Selama 50 tahun PAS telah meminta lesen akhbar tetapi tidak diberikan — kerajaan pembuli besar.”

Beliau menambah semasa pilihan raya, BN tidak sepatutnya menggunakan Kementerian Penerangan, Felda, Felcra dan Unit Cawangan Khas (SB) serta agensi lain untuk membantu kempen mereka.

Abdul Kadir juga Timbalan Presiden Angkatan Amanah Merdeka dan Pengerusi Eksekutif Kumpulan Sazean.

source:malaysian insider

cheers.

'Anwar sokong hukum Islam, bukan homoseksualiti'.

2012-01-17T19:17:00.001+08:00

PKR hari ini mempertahankan ketua umumnya Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim daripada dakwaan bahawa beliau mahu menghalalkan homoseksualiti atau hubungan sejenis di negara ini.

Sebaliknya, Pengerusi Biro Pemahaman dan Pemantapan Agama, PKR Ahmad Kassim berkata Anwar sebenarnya menggesa agar undang-undang yang bertentangan dengan Islam mengenai isu itu dikaji semula.

“Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim tegas menyatakan bahawa beliau, PKR dan Pakatan Rakyat tidak menganjurkan, membenarkan ataupun menghalalkan homoseksualiti (hubungan sejenis).

“Walaubagaimanapun beliau berpendirian undang-undang lapuk yang tidak berlandaskan syarak serta menzalimi rakyat Malaysia wajar disemak.

“Undang-undang lapuk dan zalim malah boleh digunakan sewenang-wenangnya oleh kekuasaan untuk menghalalkan fitnah jelik ke atas sesiapapun,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan media hari ini.

Ahmad merujuk kepada wawancara BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) dengan BBC munggu lalu sehingga menyaksikan beliau dituduh menyokong homoseksual.

BBC meminta Anwar menyatakan pendirian sama ada beliau bersedia memperjuangkan 'idea anti-diskriminasi’ ke atas kumpulan itu.

Beliau menjawap: “Kami masyarakat Islam dan bukan Islam di Malaysia secara keseluruhannya percaya dan komited untuk menyokong kesucian perkahwinan antara lelaki dan wanita.

“Tetapi kami tidak harus dilihat sebagai menyusahkan dan menganggap undang-undang lapuk sebagai relevan,” katanya dalam temu bual itu.

Berdasarkan kenyataan itu, Ahmad berkata, Anwar telah menyatakan komitmen menjunjung kesucian hubungan perkahwinan antara lelaki dan perempuan.

“Sekiranya diteliti jawapan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim itu, ternyata beliau tidak menyebut berhasrat mahu menghalalkan homoseksualiti di negara ini,” kata Ahmad yang juga adalah ahli parlimen Kuala Kedah.

Sehubungan itu, beliau juga meminta orang ramai untuk merujuk kenyataan sebenar Anwar dan tidak dipengaruhi dakyah jahat media Umno.

“Saya juga menyeru agar jangan sesiapapun bersekongkol subahat memintal fitnah ini kononnya atas nama perjuangan Islam.

"Perjuangan Islam tidak sama sekali membenarkan fitnah sedemikian,” akhirinya kenyataannya itu.

Anwar is for Islamic laws, not homosexuality...

PKR today defended de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim against accusations that he supports homosexuality, pointing out that he had actually called for a review of unIslamic laws on the issue.

"He was of the opinion that archaic laws which are not according to syariah principles and which oppress Malaysians, should be reviewed," said PKR religious bureau chief Ahmad Kassim.

Ahmad was referring to Anwar’s interview with BBC which has seen him being accused of supporting homosexuality.

The BBC had asked Anwar whether he was prepared to take ‘the idea of anti-discrimination as far as gay rights’ are concerned.

He had replied: "We will have to review some of our archaic laws.

"We Muslims and non-Muslims in Malaysia generally believe and are committed to support the sanctity of marriage between men and women, but we should not be seen to be punitive and consider archaic laws as relevant.”

Based on the statement, Ahmad said, Anwar had expressed commitment to heterosexual marriage and reinforced Pakatan Rakyat’s stance that it would not legalise homosexuality.

"If we study Anwar’s answer, it was clear he did not mention any wish to legalise homosexuality in the country," the Kuala Kedah MP said.

Ahmad called on the public to refer to Anwar’s statement on their own and not rely on "propaganda by Umno-owned media".

"I also urge anyone against spinning (the issue) in the name of the Islamic struggle. Islam does not allow smearing," he added.

The interview, which was picked up by local dailies Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian, has provoked negative reaction from religious leaders against Anwar.

source:malaysiakini

Anwar di BBC- Kenyataan yang disembunyikan oleh TV3 suku dan media massa gomen.

cheers.

NFC: Sharizat dah cuti, Muhyidin bila pula...

2012-01-17T12:21:00.003+08:00

Tekanan ke atas Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyidin Yassin (gambar) semakin berat ekoran skandal Pusat Fidlot Kebangsaan (NFC) sekarang.

Selepas Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak meminta Muhyidin dan Menteri Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani sekarang, Datuk Seri Noh Omar mengkaji bagaimana mahu menyelesaikan isu ini, Noh pula mengalihkan isu ini kepada Muhyidin.

Ketika yang sama, akhbar Business Times (BT) Singapura juga menyalahkan kementerian yang diterajui Muhyidin sebelum ini sebagai pihak yang bertanggung jawab dalam skandal ini.

Ketika mengumumkan pembekuan aset NFC, Najib berkata, beliau telah meminta Muhyidin dan Noh untuk mencari jalan menyelesaikan isu ini.

Hari ini, ketika ditanya wartawan mengenainya, dua kali Noh berkata, "Yang ini anda tanya TPM."

BT hari ini dalam laporannya berkata, Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani mesti disiasat ekoran skandal National Feedlot Corporation.

"Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani mesti disiasat kerana memberikan pinjaman mudah sebanyak RM250 juta kepada NFC," tulis BT dalam ruangan komentarnya.

"Peranan Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani ini juga harus disiasat," tulisnya.

Tindakan kementerian ini mengeluarkan pinjaman RM250 juta setahun lebih awal dari perjanjian untuk projek ini harus disiasat.

Ketika semua pihak meletakkan semua kesalahan di bahu Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil sebelum ini, Timbalan Presiden PAS, Haji Mohamad Sabu berkata, bukan Shahrizat sahaja yang bersalah.

"Muhyidin lebih bersalah kerana dia adalah menteri kementerian berkenaan ketika itu," kata beliau kepada Harakahdaily.

Pressure now on Muhyiddin over NFC scandal

Pressure seems to have shifted to deputy prime minister and former Agriculture minister Muhyiddin Yassin, as UMNO leaders carefully passed the buck for him to respond to the scandal involving National Feedlot Corporation.

In a twist of events, prime minister Najib Razak tasked Muhyiddin, who was responsible in approving the NFC project in 2007, to find a solution to the RM250 million scandal following a temporary freeze of the company's assets last Friday.

Current Agriculture and Agro-based minister Noh Omar had also deflected media questions on NFC, saying that Muhyiddin was best to issue any response over the issue.

“It’s okay, this one, you ask DPM,” Noh repeated twice, before adding that he had to leave, when asked by reporters.

Even Singapore’s Business Times ran a report which said Muhyiddin was to be held accountable over the fiasco.

“The Agriculture and Agro-based ministry must be investigated for giving out this soft loan of RM250 million to NFC,” it said.

The paper said the ministry’s act of disbursing all the allocated funds a year after the deal was signed should also be probed.

Shahrizat, the Women, Family and Community Development minister, is currently on a three-week leave to give way to an investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, following documented evidences of abuse of the company's RM250 million government loan involving her family members who form its top managemment.

Meanwhile, PAS vice president Mahfuz Omar called on the government to set a royal commission of inquiry, saying it could provide more details of the saga involving the NFC, which was approved by committee on High Impact Projects chaired by Najib.

“Only then the roles of Najib and Muhyiddin can be ascertained,” said the Pokok Sena member of parliament.

source:harakahdaily

cheers.

Anwar a hit in UMNO stronghold...

2012-01-17T05:00:00.011+08:00

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim last night attracted his biggest crowd in Negri Sembilan in recent memory when he launched the Pakatan Rakyat election manifesto for the state.

Estimates put the size of the audience at more than 6,000 people, which was a remarkable number because Gemas is one of the strongest Umno fortresses in the state and the Tampin District Council had torn down hundreds of posters and banners advertising the event.

Before this, no Pakatan Rakyat figure has been able to attract more than 4,000 to an event in Negri Sembilan. The largest crowds before last night were at events in the Pakatan strongholds of Seremban and Rasah.

In his speech, Anwar repeated his challenge to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to an open debate in response to the latter’s oft-repeated remark that Pakatan was making empty promises.

“I tell you again, we will reduce fuel prices the day after we take over Putrajaya,” he told the multiracial crowd.

“In two weeks, we will reduce the electricity tariffs. We will give an ultimatum to the independent power producers to come up with new rates within two weeks.

“We will abolish the highway tolls.

“But Najib says I’m making empty promises. Let us run the government and we’ll show you. If Najib thinks I’m bluffing, let us have an open debate and let the public decide who is bluffing.”

‘Please save the country’

Also at the event were PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, state PAS commissioner Mohd Taufek Abdul Ghani, state PKR chairman Kamarul Baharin Abbas and state DAP chairman Loke Siew Fook.

Malays, Chinese and Indians stood shoulder to shoulder listening as Anwar spoke on diverse subjects, ranging from local concerns to his sodomy trial to national issues such as bad governance and systemic corruption.

Gemas is where the beleaguered National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) has its farm. Speaking about PKR’s series of exposé of alleged corruption in NFC, Anwar said it was unfair that the government charge only two percent interest on its loan to the corporation but double the rate on loans given to civil servants.

“Please save the country before it goes bankrupt,” he told the crowd. “The government must be changed in the coming general election.”

According to Tampin PAS chief Zakaria Khalim, Gemas, which hosts a large army camp, has 19,369 voters, including 3,384 postal voters.

Gemas is a state seat within the parliamentary constituency of Tampin. There are six Felda schemes in the area, giving Barisan Nasional a great advantage in any election as Felda folk are known to be hardcore Umno supporters.

Each of the Felda schemes had about a thousand voters.

“Gemas has never been an easy place for us to get support,” Zakaria said.

Strategic reasons

However, he added, the NFC scandal might have opened the eyes of voters in the area, including the Felda settlers.

“Tampin Umno is feeling the heat,” he said. “All of a sudden, the sleeping Tampin Umno is awake. Lately, we have been prevented from having our ceramahs, even at the Repah DAP service centre.

“Somehow, for strategic reasons, the Negri Sembilan Pakatan Rakyat council decided to launch the election manifesto in Gemas.

“Our nightmare started last week when all the posters, buntings and banners along the Tampin-Gemas federal road were torn and removed by the Tampin District Council.”

The removal of the materials resulted in a fight last Monday between district enforcement officers and five Tampin PAS members. Police arrested the PAS five, who included information officer Zainil Suboh, and held them in remand for three days.

“My men were returning from Gemas after sticking the posters, when they noticed a few guys tearing them down,” Zakaria said. “When they approached the vandals, they tried to run away and a fight ensued.

“Both sides lodged police reports, but my men were remanded for obstructing civil servants carrying out their work.

“The issue here is why did they try to run away, why weren’t they in uniform and why didn’t they show their identification?”

source:FMT

Enam Ribu Sambut Anwar Ibrahim Di Gemas!

Belum pernah dalam sejarah negeri yang mengamalkan adat Perpatih ini berupaya mengumpul sebegitu ramai rakyat untuk mendengar amanat pemimpin terutamanya Pakatan Rakyat. Jika ada pun sebelum ini, ia hanya tertumpu di kawasan bandar seperti Seremban dan Rasah, di mana kedua-dua kawasan parlimen tersebut dikuasai DAP.

Namun begitu, Anwar Ibrahim berjaya meruntuhkan kubu kuat Umno-APCO di Negeri Sembilan dengan kehadiran lebih enam ribu rakyat yang membanjiri Gemas, di selatan negeri itu.

Ketua Pembangkang tersebut berceramah bersama-sama dengan ahli parlimen Ipoh Timur, Lim Kit Siang, Timbalan Presiden PAS, Mohamad Sabu, Pesuruhjaya PAS negeri, Mohd Taufek Abdul Ghani, Pengerusi PKR negeri yang juga ahli parlimen Telok Kemang, Kamarul Bahrin Abbas dan Ketua Pemuda DAP Kebangsaan yang juga Pengerusi DAP negeri, Anthony Loke Siew Fook.

Untuk rekod, DUN Gemas terletak dalam parlimen Tampin yang diwakili menteri kerjaraya, Shaziman Abu Mansor. Sebelum ini, tidak ada satu pun pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat yang berjaya menembusi kubu kuat Umno-APCO ini kerana Gemas dan Tampin merupakan kubu kuat parti reput itu di negeri ini dan Shaziman adalah antara hard core nya selain Menteri Besar, Mohamad Hasan di DUN Rantau.

Ketakutan Umno-APCO begitu ketara sebelum kedatangan Anwar ke daerah itu malam semalam. Dikhabarkan, beratus-ratus poster dan sepanduk dikoyakkan serta dibuang di tepi jalan oleh puak-puak yang khuatir kedatangan Anwar akan mencetuskan lebih banyak pendedahan termasuk skandal National Feedlot Centre (NFC) yang ladangnya terletak cuma 12 kilometer dari tapak ceramah!

Pun begitu, poster yang dikoyakkan ini pantas diambil tindakan oleh petugas yang bertungkus lumus memasagngnya kembali hingga terpaksa membuat laporan polis di balai polis Gemas akibat perbuatan pihak yang tidak bertanggungjawab.

Dalam ceramahnya, Anwar sekali lagi melontarkan cabaran kepada perdana menteri Najib Altantuya supaya diadakan debat antara mereka untuk membuktikan siapa yang sebenarnya menipu rakyat selama ini.

Hadirin yang berpusu-pusu ke tempat ceramah dihidangkan lagi dengan tawaran Buku Jingg seperti penurunan harga minyak, penyusuna semula tarif penjana tenaga bebas (IPP) dalam tempoh dua minggu dan subsidi gula, beras dan barang keperluan harian akan diberikan semula sekiranya Pakatan Rakyat berkuasa di Putrajaya.

Apa yang lebih menarik, golongan remaja dan warga emas terutamanya warga Felda yang sedang dalam bahaya ekoran cadangan penyenarain Felda Global Ventures Holdings (FGVH) di Bursa Malaysia juga turut disentuh Anwar.

Katanya, ia hanyalah satu helah untuk Umno-APCO terus merompak wang rakyat termasuk tanah peneroka yang terpaksa dicagarkan untuk mendapat wang segera daripada pelabur asing yang sudah laparkan tanah Felda di seluruh negara. Juga disentuh, kesemua tol di lebuhraya akan dimansuhkan termasuk perjanjian yang berat sebelah yang hanya menguntungkan kroni Umno-APCO dan menindas rakyat.

Rata-rata warga peneroka (ada enam kawasan tanah rancangan di Gemas) yang ditemui selepas ceramah tersebut berpuas hati dengan penjelasan Anwar terutamanya komitmen Pakatan Rakyat untuk

membela nasib mereka selain penipuan kadar perahan kelapa sawit yang rendah, yang membawa kepada tuntutan saman beberapa rancangan Felda sebelum ini.

Anwar turut menyentuh isu NFC dengan mengatakan bahawa adalah tidak adil keluarga berpengaruh Umno-APCO seperti Shahrizat Jalil mendapat pembiayaan hutang dengan kadar faedah (bunga) sebanyak hanya DUA PERATUS sedangkan kakitangan awam pun dikenakan faedah lebih tinggi iaitu empat peratus!

Ini sememangnya satu bentuk penyelewengan terang-terang oleh Umno-APCO dan perkara ini mesti dihentikan jika tidak mahu negara ini bankrap dalam masa tujuh tahun lagi. Ternyata rakyat Gemas bertuah kerana Anwar sendiri yang berani mendedahkan tembelang busuk pemimpin Umno-APCO menyamun harta rakyat di saat jutaan rakyat lain kais pagi makan pagi kais petang makan petang.

Diharapakan dengan kebangkitan rakyat Gemas ini akan mencetuskan satu tsunami politik yang lebih jauh ke selatan kerana Gemas adalah pekan strategik untuk tiga negeri iaitu Negeri Sembilan, Pahang dan Johor.

Peluang untuk merampas kerusi Gemas dan Tampin tetap ada dengan bukti bahawa lebih enam ribu rakyat yang membanjiri padang awam akan terus menyebarkan risalah kebenaran yang dibawa Anwar dan Pakatan Rakyat bagi membersihkan Malaysia dri kekotoran yang dilakukan Umno-APCO dan rakan-rakan yang sewaktu dengannya! -JALAN PULANG

source:jalanpulang1978.blogspot.com

cheers.

Malaysia Election Around the Corner...

2012-01-17T01:11:00.006+08:00

With the Sodomy II trial of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim now out of the way, it is probably time to start thinking seriously about 13^th general election, which most observers - but not all - believe will be called in March, during school holidays when the classrooms are empty.

Despite euphoria on the part of the three-party opposition coalition, the end of the trial doesn't mean that Anwar's troubles are over. One political observer in Kuala Lumpur told Asia Sentinel that Umno, the lead party in the ruling national coalition, will probably do its best to discredit him in other ways. Although he was declared not guilty, the image of the opposition leader as a sexual deviant has probably been planted in a lot of Malaysian minds.

Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, Anwar's accuser, appears to have no intention of going away. He has asked the attorney-general to appeal the acquittal and is tweeting and texting his outrage and innocence to anyone who will read them. Umno could well put him on the trail to demand denied justice at every campaign stop.

However, Umno and Prime Minister Najib Razak carry plenty of baggage of their own. A long series of scandals within the party bear the hallmarks of being pushed by various Umno factions to cripple each other.

That isn't to say the snap poll won't come off. But there are headwinds. The party held its annual general assembly in December and was expected to come out fighting.

There was plenty of harsh rhetoric that made it sound as if Umno is besieged on all sides by threatening foes from both inside and outside the country - particularly from Christians, and particularly Chinese ones.

Najib himself concluded the conclave by pounding the war drums in stark terms, outlining a dark future if the opposition were to win, saying that:

"This is the fate that will befall us if Umno loses power. Who will uphold the symbol of Islam? Who is capable of protecting the rights and agenda of the Malays? Who will continue to honour our Malay rulers?"

Umno assembly derailed by NFC scandal

Almost simultaneously with the annual general assembly, however, Umno found itself in a massive scandal involving the family of Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, the head of Wanita Umno, the women's wing of the party and minister for women, welfare and community development.

It has been impossible to wish the scandal away as a ploy by the opposition because it was exposed in September by the auditor-general.

As some observers have pointed out, it is also damaging because it involves agriculture, and particularly cattle - something Umno's rural constituency can understand in all of its ominous implications.

The matter involves the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC), which was given RM250 million in a government soft loan and was established to slaughter as many as 60,000 cattle a year by halal, or religiously accepted, methods.

However, NFC has never slaughtered 10 percent of the projected total and has since scaled back its target to 8,000 head but hasn't been able to meet that target either.

The agreement to establish the company, made when Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was prime minister, was okayed by Muhyiddin Yassin, the agriculture minister at the time and now the deputy prime minister.

None of Shahrizat's family had any experience in cattle production or beef supply prior to the establishment of the company.

It appears that much of the money - as much as RM131 million - was poured into things that had nothing to do with feeding cattle but instead into cars, condos and travel, among other things.

The matter has been seized upon with a good deal of glee by the opposition. One Malay businessman source said "there may be other revelations as to how the money for cattle was used which may implicate the number 2 guy." That is Muhyiddin.

"This thing has been a lifeline for the opposition who are sitting on a thumb drive full of info which they are revealing in bits and pieces," he said.

Graft allegations against PM and DPM aides

Intermixed with this are reports that both Muhyiddin's and Najib's private secretaries have been accepting funds of at least RM10,000 per month from private parties for reasons that are unclear.

The allegations against each - complete with pictures of checks - are suspected of having been leaked by the Muhyiddin and Najib factions against each other. There reportedly is yet another massive scandal waiting in the wings, involving hundreds of millions of dollars in connection with the Iskandar project in Johor.

Documents are believed to have been made available to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) that are said to implicate former lieutenants of former PM Abdullah.

Some sources have said the Shahrizat matter and shortcomings by other ministers argues for a cabinet reshuffle prior to any election. Certainly, Shahrizat is expected to be dropped as a candidate in the next election, whenever it is to be held, and that probably her husband will be charged at some point.

Continuing allegations of corruption have cost the country four places in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index, dropping it to a still relatively respectable 60th. But it is the third straight year the country has slipped in the perceptions index - all three occurring on Najib's watch.

Part of the problem for Umno, a party source says, is getting divisional warlords to make way for winnable candidates in races that have become competitive now that the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition has become a genuine movement rather than a ragtag group of parties cobbled together by Anwar. These are old hands that refuse to give away to younger, more attractive and educated candidates.

It is a longstanding problem borne out by the fact that Rais Yatim, the information minister and an Umno Supreme Council member, said after the December conclave that those not selected must refrain from sabotaging the party.

It is significant enough that the Mahathir wing of the party is contemplating demanding that party members sign a loyalty oath. A Penang district member, Musa Sheikh Fadzir, proposed the establishment of a General Election Disciplinary Committee to take action against those who go against the party in the upcoming polls.

The face of moderation

Added to this are concerns that the party isn't appealing strongly enough to young, urban Malays, turned off by infighting and corruption, who have been drifting towards PAS, which has rebranded itself, and to a lesser extent to Anwar's PKR.

Despite considerable publicity in recent weeks over a demand that the party return to its Islamic roots by former executive committee member Hasan Ali and his confederate, Nasharudin Mat Isa, a former PAS deputy president who was supplanted by the new moderate team, other sources say the party remains perhaps the most disciplined in the three-party opposition.

The biggest of the three opposition parties, PAS is continuing to work to appeal to urban voters. It is a dramatic illustration of the change in Malaysian society.

As evidence of the racial divisions in the country, a poll by the Merdeka Centre taken last year said 61 percent of ethnic Malays believe the country is going in the right direction as opposed to only 31 percent of Chinese.

Ethnic Indian approval of the way the country is going, at a high of 66 percent, has fallen dramatically as well, to 39 percent despite Najib's assiduous efforts to woo Indians back to the fold.

Najib, Rais and others have pointed to the decision to acquit Anwar as evidence of the judiciary's independence, which is probably stretching the truth considerably.

However, Umno and its leaders have been touting reforms of the hated colonial-era Internal Security Act, which allows for the indeterminate jailing of anyone the attorney-general considers to be subversive, amendments to the Printing Presses and Publications Act and election law cleanup as well as other liberalisations as a step towards a new Malaysia.

Opponents regard these changes as cosmetic. The ISA is likely to be replaced by something akin to the Patriot Act, which was jammed through a panicked US Congress in the wake of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, DC.

The government appears to have shot itself in the foot with the passage by the Parliament, of a Peaceful Assembly Act that opposition lawmakers, human rights activists and the country's lawyers say was about as bad as the law it replaces as it bans street demonstrations and requires assemblies, meetings and processions to be held only on designated compounds.

Whatever strength Najib has within Umno and whatever hold Umno has on the ethnic Malay electorate, the BN appears almost certain to have to simply write off the Chinese vote, and perhaps an unknown portion of the urban Malay and Indian vote as well.

Formula to win Putrajaya

According to one analysis, overall 50 percent of parliamentary seats are Malay majority, 25 percent are Chinese majority and mixed seats - i.e. seats in which no ethnic group has a majority - 25 percent are from Sabah and Sarawak.

To win Putrajaya, either the BN or Pakatan must secure at least half of the Malay-majority seats - 25 percent of the total parliamentary seats.

For BN, the winning formula is: 25 percent Malay-majority seats, 5 percent Chinese or mixed seats and 20 percent from Sabah and Sarawak. For Pakatan, the winning formula is: 25 percent Malay-majority seats, 20 percent Chinese or mixed seats and 5 percent from Sabah and Sarawak.

The other BN component parties are in considerably worse shape than Umno. The nearly moribund MCA is enmeshed in a scandal over the development of the Port Klang multimodal port facility, which has the potential to cost the country RM13 billion if all loan commitments are to be met.

There is also hand-to-hand combat among leadership factions. In addition Chua Soi Lek, the head of the party, has been repeatedly taken to task by Malay supremacists such as Ibrahim Ali and his NGO Perkasa, which has the tacit backing of Mahathir, further disenchanting ethnic Chinese, who make up 23.7 percent of the population.

They appear to have abandoned the party wholesale for the DAP, which has been termed a Chinese chauvinist party.

Although East Malaysia appears solidly in the BN camp, if the state election held in Sarawak held on April 16 is any harbinger, the results indicate a clear abandonment of BN by Chinese voters.

DAP won 12 of the 15 seats it contested, doubling its share of seats in Sarawak since the 2006 state elections. PKR, led by Anwar, won three seats, including a rural one.

Thus the outcome appears to depend on how much PAS, having abandoned its Islamic goals, can make inroads among the Malay population, and particularly the urban Malay population. That 72 percent urban preponderance starts to look interesting indeed.

Many observers believe the most likely scenario is a BN win, but the historic two-thirds majority in Parliament, which allowed the BN to dictate the country's political and governmental agenda, is likely gone for good.

That doesn't mean the opposition is faring much better. Pakatan coalition continues to be beset with defections and arguments between the three component parties.

One of the things militating for an early election is increasingly sour economic forecasts. Second-half gross domestic product growth edged lower to 4.0 percent year-on-year as domestic demand weakened.

Najib and his troops have been hitting the campaign trail assiduously. But whether that means an election is imminent remains to be seen. Mahathir, the party's stormy petrel, counsels waiting until all of the ducks are lined up.

But he also counsels that the BN keep up the pressure to make the opposition believe the national polls could happen sooner - forcing them to spend money, time and energy to try to keep up with the government parties. - Asia Sentinel

Read article here.

source:malaysiakini

Anwar di BBC- Kenyataan yang disembunyikan oleh TV3suku dan media massa gomen...

Media-media tunggangan UMNO/BN TV3 suku, Utusan Meloya dan Berita Harian menyiarkan hanya sebahagian dari temubual tersebut untuk memperlihatkan seolah-olah DS Anwar Ibrahim menyokong golongan gay.

Wartawan BBC bertanya Anwar sama ada beliau bersedia untuk menolak idea anti-diskriminasi hak golongan gay yang menjadi kebimbangan di mana beliau berkata “kami akan kaji semula undang-undang lapuk ini.”

“Kami masyarakat Islam dan bukan Islam di Malaysia secara keseluruhannya percaya dan komited untuk menyokong kesucian perkahwinan antara lelaki dan wanita tetapi kami tidak harus dilihat sebagai menyusahkan dan menganggap undang-undang lapuk sebagai relevan.” kata Anwar kepada BBC.

Anwar terus berkata pandangan Pakatan Rakyat adalah “kami tidak menggalakkan homoseksual di domain awam dan kami tidak perlu meminta maaf.”( “we do not promote homosexuality within the public domain, and we do not need to make apologies for that.”)

Ayat di atas jelas membuktikan Anwar tidak menyatakan sokongan terhadap gay dan homoseks.

Tetapi ayat kenyataan terakhir itu sengaja ditinggalkan dalam laporan TV3 suku,Utusan Meloya dan B.Harian.

cheers.

Ahli UMNO maki gomen Najib,TV3 tak kan tunjuk punya...

2012-01-16T22:45:00.002+08:00

Tiap-tiap malam TV3 dan media2 seangkatan dengannya akan siarkan kisah rakyat malang di negeri Pakatan Rakyat, menunjukkan demonstrasi2 mereka yang tak puas hati dengan pentadbiran Pakatan Rakyat.

Isu2 nasioanl seperti NFC, PKFZ,FELDA dan sebagainya tidak diberi ruang oleh TV3 dan media2 gomen seterusnya.

Saksikanlah rasa tak puas hati segulungan ahli UMNO terhadap pemimpin2nya. Insiden begini tak akan ditayang oleh TV3,1,2,7,8 & 9.

cheers.

NFC paid RM600,000 credit card bill for Shahrizat’s family...

2012-01-16T16:14:00.003+08:00

In an effort to pressure Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to accept responsibility for the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) scandal, PKR today made another expose on the alleged abuse of NFC funds.

Four family members of Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, spent a total of RM593,500 in 2009 with credit cards, with the money coming from the NFC funds, PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli claimed today.

Rafizi, who is in charge of the party's expose on the NFC, said the four family members who hold management posts in NFC had swiped the credit cards that are charged to NFC for expenses of between RM122,402 and RM182,525.

The four are Shahrizat's husband Mohammad Salleh Ismail, who is NFC chairman, their 31-year-old son Wan Shahinur Izmir (executive director), another son Wan Shahinur Izran aged 27 (chief executive officer) and 25-year-old daughter Wan Izzanah Fatimah (director).

"Our expose will be continued until Najib takes action to indicate that he and his colleagues in cabinet accept full responsibility over the abuses that happened in NFC," said Rafizi in a statement today.

He revealed that PKR activists led by its central leadership council member Fariz Musa will make another police report against the credit card expenditure at Dang Wangi police station at 2pm tomorrow.

On Izmir’s statement yesterday that NFC is still doing “business as usual” despite Najib’s announcement on Saturday that the its assets have been frozen pending investigations, Rafizi questioned whether Najib has made an empty announcement or NFC has gone against the freeze order.

He noted Izmir’s statement revealed that Shahrizat’s family is still free to utilise NFC funds and operate the company, which is prohibited if a freeze order has been issued.

He stressed that freeze order should include:

1. Any expenditure apart from paying salaries of employees in charge of cattle farming operations (as stipulated by the government agreement) should be frozen;

2. The current management consists of Shahrizat’s family members is not allowed to make any decision related to the operation, finance, human resource and other important decisions of the company;

3. Any transfer of funds from NFC, including the salary payment and expenditures of other companies owned by Shahrizat’s family, must be halted immediately;

4. Any decision related to the assets or structure of the company and investment should not be allowed to avoid asset transfer.

Rafizi also demanded that Najib suspend Shahrizat’s family members from their posts and ban them from entering the office, before appointing corporate administrator to take over the company in line with good corporate governance.

Should the premier fail to do so, Rafizi threatened to expose more NFC irregularities which are in the possession of PKR.- malaysiakini

Keluarga Shahrizat belanja RM600k kad kredit NFC

Dalam usaha memberi tekanan kepada Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak untuk bertanggungjawab terhadap skandal projek ternakan lembu Perbadanan Fidlot Kebangsaan (NFC), PKR hari ini membuat satu lagi pendedahan mengenai dakwaan penyalahgunaan dana NFC.

Kali ini, dakwa pengarah strategi PKR Rafizi Ramli, empat ahli keluarga Menteri Wanita, Keluarga dan Pembangunan Masyarakat Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil membelanjakan RM593,500 pada tahun 2009 dengan kad kredit yang wangnya dari dana NFC.

Menurut Rafizi, empat ahli keluarga yang memegang jawatan pengurusan dalam NFC telah menggunakan kad kredit yang bayarannya dituntut dari NFC bagi perbelanjaan antara RM122,402 dan RM182,525 setiap seorang.

Mereka adalah suami Shahrizat, Datuk Mohammad Salleh Ismail, iaitu pengerusi NFC, anak lelaki mereka yang berusia 31 tahun, Wan Shahinur Izmir (pengarah eksekutif), seorang lagi anak mereka Wan Shahinur Izran yang berusia 27 (ketua pegawai eksekutif) dan anak perempuan mereka Wan Izzanah Fatimah (pengarah) yang berusia 25 tahun.

“PKR tidak ada pilihan kecuali terus membongkarkan pelbagai penyelewengan yang ada di dalam rekod kami untuk meningkatkan tekanan politik terhadap Datuk Seri Najib Razak untuk bertindak dengan telus dan tidak berdolak dalih,” kata Rafizi dalam satu kenyataan hari ini.

Menurutnya, petang esok pada jam 2 petang, aktivis PKR yang diketuai Fariz Musa akan membuat satu lagi laporan di Balai Polis Dang Wangi mengenai perbelanjaan kad kredit oleh keluarga Ketua Wanita Umno itu yang didakwa melampaui batas.

Mengenai kenyataan Izmir, semalam, bahawa NFC masih menjalankan "perniagaan seperti biasa" walaupun Sabtu lalu kerajaan mengumumkan bahawa aset syarikat berkenaan telah dibekukan sementara menunggu sisatan, Rafizi mempersoalkan sama ada Najib hanya membuat kenyataan kosong tanpa memberikan arahan khusus, atau NFC mengingkari arahan yang dikeluarkan oleh kerajaan.

Katanya, tindakan “membekukan aset NFC” sepatutnya bermakna:

1. Sebarang perbelanjaan selain dari membayar gaji pekerja-pekerja yang bertugas dalam operasi penternakan lembu (seperti yang dimandatkan di dalam perjanjian pembiayaan oleh kerajaan) perlu dibekukan;

2. Pengurusan sedia ada yang terdiri dari kaum keluarga Shahrizat tidak dibenarkan membuat sebarang keputusan bersabit operasi, kewangan, sumber manusia dan keputusan-keputusan penting lain;

3. Sebarang pemindahan wang keluar dari NFC, termasuk pembayaran gaji dan perbelanjaan syarikat-syarikat lain yang dimiliki oleh keluarga Shahrizat perlu dihentikan serta-merta; dan

4. Sebarang keputusan mengenai aset atau struktur syarikat dan pelaburan tidak dibenarkan dibuat bagi mengelakkan pemindahan aset.

Menurut Rafizi, secara lazimnya dalam amalan korporat yang berdasarkan tata kelola yang baik, apabila seseorang disiasat akibat tuduhan pecah amanah, beliau tidak dibenarkan masuk ke pejabat dan digantung serta-merta bagi mengelakkan cubaan menghapuskan bukti.

“PKR mengulangi desakan supaya Najib bertindak lebih berani dengan menggantung penglibatan kaum keluarga Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil di dalam operasi NFC dan melantik pentadbir korporat (corporate administrator) untuk mengambil alih pengurusan dengan mandat membongkar semua penyelewengan yang telah berlaku,” katnya lagi.- malaysiakini

Investigate Agriculture Ministry too, says Singapore’s Business Times (BT)

'Shahrizat's family swiped RM600,000 from NFC'...

cheers

Noh Omar passes buck on NFC scandal to Muhyiddin...

2012-01-16T15:00:00.004+08:00

Facing heat for his alleged role in the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) controversy, Datuk Seri Noh Omar today deflected all queries on the scandal to Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister, when asked by reporters today to explain why the NFC’s operations have not been discontinued when its assets have been frozen, told reporters here to direct their questions to Muhyiddin instead.

Noh declined to answer reporters’ questions on the NFC scandal. — Picture by Choo Choy May

He was also asked on the proposed action to be taken against NFC, which is being run by Datuk Seri Mohamed Salleh Ismail, the husband of minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abd Jalil.

“It’s okay, this one, you ask DPM,” he said twice during a press conference here, before adding that he had to leave.

Noh had earlier given a 20-minute press conference on new guidelines imposed by the government to regulate the birds nest industry in Malaysia.

His aide however confirmed with The Malaysian Insider later that the minister was scheduled to meet with Muhyiddin on the NFC this afternoon.

When announcing on Saturday that NFC’s assets have been temporarily frozen, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had said he had instructed both Muhyiddin and Noh to study how best to resolve the issue.

But despite the asset freeze, NFCorp executive director Wan Shahinur Izmir Salleh, Shahrizat’s son, said yesterday its operations have remained “uninterrupted”.

“Business is as usual in the company. Inventory of beef will continue to be supplied and all customer orders will be fulfilled. There is no interruption nor disruption,” he had said in a statement.

Opposition leaders have since expressed their dissatisfaction at the government’s latest move, calling instead for punishment for Shahrizat and her family.

The DAP’s Lim Kit Siang said today the freezing of assets was meaningless unless the collective monthly salaries of Shahrizat’s family were slashed by two-thirds from RM215,000 to RM71,000.

The veteran leader also questioned how much of the NFC assets have actually been frozen. Among others, opposition leaders have alleged that NFC’s assets include several luxury condominium units in Bangsar and Singapore, two pieces of land in Putrajaya and a Mercedes Benz.

PAS has also called for a royal commission of inquiry to probe the award of the controversial RM250 million NFC project to Shahrizat’s family, as well as a freeze on the assets of all company directors.

Shahrizat applied for three weeks’ leave from her duties last week after new allegations of bribery surfaced recently involving the project, which is operated by her husband and two of their children.

The NFC issue came to light when the 2010 Auditor-General’s Report pointed out that the corporation had badly failed to meet production targets.

Noh Omar elak menjawab isu NFC, sebaliknya

minta Muhyiddin jawab isu tersebut...

Berdepan dengan kesan kontroversi isu Pusat Fidlot Nasional (NFC) Datuk Seri Noh Omar hari ini meletakkan segala tanggungjawab itu kepada Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Menteri Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani ini menjawab sedemikian apabila ditanya pemberita mengapa operasi NFC tidak dihentikan dan menjawab persoalan itu perlu ditanyakan kepada Muhyiddin.

Beliau juga ditanya mengenai tindakan yang akan diambil terhadap NFC, yang dijalankan oleh Datuk Seri Mohamed Salleh Ismail, suami kepada Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abd Jalil.

“Tiada masalah, yang ini, anda tanya TPM,” katanya sebanyak dua kali semasa sidang media di sini sebelum meminta untuk pergi.

Noh (gambar) sebelum itu memberikan sidang media selama 20 minit mengenai panduan baru kerajaan Malaysia untuk mengawal industri sarang burung.

Pembantunya bagaimanapun mengesahkan bahawa Noh akan menemui Muhyiddin mengenai isu NFC petang ini.

Semasa mengumumkan pembekuan aset-aset NFC pada Sabtu lalu, Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak berkata beliau telah mengarahkan Muhyiddin dan Noh untuk mencari jalan penyelesaian terbaik.

Tetapi disebalik pembekuan aset, Pengarah Eksekutif NFC Wan Shahinur Izmir Salleh berkata “operasi perniagaan syarikat berjalan seperti biasa.”

Bekalan daging lembu akan terus dibekalkan kepada semua pelanggan. Tiada sebarang gangguan,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan semalam.

Pemimpin pembangkang menyatakan rasa tidak puas hati terhadap keputusan terbaru kerajaan itu sebaliknya berharap tindakan tegas diambil ke atas Shahrizat dan keluarganya.

Ahli Parlimen Ipoh Timor, Lim Kit Siang hari ini menegaskan, tindakan kerajaan membekukan aset NFC adalah satu tindakan sia-sia kecuali jika gaji bulanan keluarga Shahrizat dipotong kepada dua pertiga daripada RM215,000 kepada RM71,000.

PAS juga meminta agar ditubuhkan suruhanjaya diraja untuk menyiasat kontroversi projek bernilai RM250 juta yang diserahkan kepada keluarga Shahrizat serta membekukan semua aset pengarah syarikat.

Shahrizat memohon cuti tiga minggu ekoran tuduhan yang dilemparkan terhadap diri dan keluarganya itu.

source:malaysian insider

cheers.

Anwar's acquittal: Whither Umno...

2012-01-16T12:21:00.001+08:00

There are indications that Umno hardliners are agitating for an appeal against Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy case acquittal, as exemplified by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s open support for complainant’s father urging the attorney-general to appeal the case.

Muhyiddin was even quoted by the press to have prompted the A-G on Jan 12 to consider such a request for the sake of public interests.

This move is evidently in conflict with Prime Minister Najib Razak’s claim that Anwar’s acquittal underscores the depth of his reform agenda.

In an interview published by the Wall Street Journal on Jan 13, James Hookway writes: “Malaysian leader Najib Razak pointed to the acquittal this week of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim as evidence he’s serious about political reforms, even inviting an election battle that could propel him out of power.”

Hookman said that Najib was “eager to paint himself as leader of Malaysia’s most sweeping reforms since independence”, and he quoted Najib as saying:

“Once the verdict was released, all of the tension surrounding the trial suddenly fell away and people suddenly realised there are more important things than just the Anwar issue, such as economic growth. What is important now is that we move forward.”

Najib (left) then recounted the reform measures that he is in the process of rolling out, such as making the elections more transparent, reducing press censorship, limiting the power to detain without trial, etc.

Taking pride of these changes, Najib said that these could make Malaysia a new partner of the US in “promoting democratic politics and free trade across Asia and the Islamic Middle East.”

These are words of a leader who has declared his intention to seek his political objectives through the democratic path, with aspiration to win for his country an honourable place among international community of democracies.

Appeal will be in conflict with Najib’s posture

In light of Najib’s posture on the Anwar issue, his deputy Muhyiddin’s call for an appeal against the acquittal seems oddly out of place, especially when world accolades are still pouring in, affirming Malaysia’s judicial decision as the right step to end a trial that has been universally condemned as blatant travesty of justice and outright political persecution.

In case Muhyiddin (right in photo) and his fellow hardliners are unaware, the facts presented by the prosecution in the Anwar trial are so absurdly weak and apparently fraudulent that it would have been an absolute disgrace to the country if High Court Judge Mohamed Zabidin Mohd Diah were to decide otherwise, i.e., finding Anwar guilty.

It should have been obvious to all those who have followed the trial that, when the only evidence - the DNA - that the prosecution had counted on to support its case (apart from the complainant’s own words) was demolished by the Australian DNA expert, the entire case had virtually collapsed.

Dr Brian McDonald, a reputable consultant molecular geneticist, rightly pointed out that no sperm after ejaculation could have survived for DNA identification after staying for 56 hours in the rectum and another 48 hours in the office of the police investigating officer at tropical room temperature, which was what Anwar’s alleged sperm samples supposed to have undergone prior to reaching the chemist laboratory .

The fact that these samples could still be found in “pristine” condition - as described by Dr McDonald based on the Malaysian government chemist Dr Seah Lay Hong’s DNA test report - pointed irresistibly to the fact that these were not the original swaps retrieved from the complainant’s rectum, but fresh substitutes presented to the laboratory.

Prosecution case virtually collapsed

In case there is any doubt on Dr McDonald’s credibility, he is a member of the Australian Biomedical Society and served as committee member of the Human Genetics Society, head geneticist officer in New South Wales, member of the Australian Forensic Science Society; and he had submitted to the court a five-page credentials listing the books, papers and articles that he has written on the subject of DNA.

It is significant that the prosecution has failed to successfully rebut Dr McDonald’s evidence on DNA, neither was chemist Dr Seah recalled by lead prosecutor, Solicitor-General II Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden (right), when he called the prosecution’s final rebuttal witnesses to give evidence for the prosecution.

Lead prosecutor Yusof had said at the outset of the prosecution case on Feb 3, 2010, that his case was based on the complainant Saiful Bukhari Azlan’s direct evidence, and Anwar’s DNA found in Saiful’s rectum.

Laughing stock of the world

These would prove, beyond reasonable doubt, that Anwar was guilty, despite all the doctors who had physically examined Saiful had certified that they could not find any evidence of penetration.

Now that the DNA evidence has been dismantled, the case is now hinged on Saiful’s words.

How much credibility should be accorded to Saiful’s evidence? The answer is found in the prosecution’s decision to charge Anwar for consensual sodomy, instead of forced sodomy as emphatically persisted by Saiful, reflecting prosecution’s disagreement with the complainant’s claim.

If the prosecutor could not believe in what Saiful says, why should the court believe him?

Now the crucial question: Can the uncorroborated evidence of prosecution’s star witness, to whom the prosecution had expressed no confidence (as reflected in the charge), constitute proof of guilt beyond reasonable doubt in a criminal charge that may condemn the accused to 20 years’ jail?

Umno hardliners who would not let go of the judicial process to annihilate Anwar politically must first ponder this question deeply.

In the event of an appeal, will the panel of judges sitting in the court of appeal as well as the federal court, compliant as most of them are to the wishes of the political masters, be willing stoop so low as to answer in the affirmative to this question?

Even if they do, would that not make Malaysia the laughing stock of the world, causing a crisis of confidence in Malaysia’s rule of law, thus inflicting grievous economic injury to the country?

Finally, are these Umno extremists very sure that such heinous injustice inflicted on Malaysia’s favourite son might not cause a massive backlash that may cast Umno to political oblivion? - Kim Quek

source:malaysiakini

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