Muhyiddin, Mustapa the next PM & DPM...

Datuk Seri Najib Razak must understand that he did nothing much to become the Umno president and the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Najib just kept quiet and was the proverbial 'obedient errand boy' before the baton was handed over to him. Najib has been spoon fed since the day he was born and with a silver spoon too!

After becoming PM, Najib continued to do nothing except getting involved in money-making schemes and creating scandal after scandal, debacle after debacle.

Many people both within Umno and of course those outside are simply fed up with Najib; he is getting on their nerves!

No match for battle-seasoned Dr M

Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad on the other hand had gone through the trial and tribulations, from being sacked from Umno and to be challenged by his deputies, not once but thrice, that is by Tun Musa Hitam, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Dr. Mahathir has had his ups and downs, his failures and his triumphs. Dr. Mahathir is not only seasoned, he is also shrewd. Above all he is most desperate.

What Najib has done or not done thus far has not only irked the 51.4% of the voters, but also Dr. Mahathir who has reminded Najib on so many occasions to improve himself, the government, the country and above all to not be controlled by his wife Rosmah Mansor.

In short, Dr M wants Najib to improve and change the overall situation. But let us be frank. Najib cannot control the situation because his wife Rosmah Mansor is involved in eevery single aspect that concerns him - including his governance of the country.

It is also an open secret that Rosmah has been enjoying herself playing the role of the so-called FLOM (First Lady of Malaysia) and there is no doubt - she is in control! Challenge at your peril, guys!

Datuk Seri Sanusi Junid in one of the videos circulated in the social media had explained clearly and concisely that both Dr. Mahathir and Najib want Umno/BN to win and continue ruling the country but Dr. Mahathir is confident that with the present policy, style and programs implemented by Najib, BN will lose in the coming GE-14.

Thus to the Mahathir camp, the present policy, style and programs must be changed. But Najib has refused to make these changes and he is adamant to stay in power and continue doing nothing and making more mistakes!

So since Najib has refused to make the changes, then Najib is the one who must be changed. And that is what Dr. Mahathir has decided, to remove Najib and replace him with whoever is most viable at the moment before it is too late.

Time weighs on 90-year-old Dr Mahathir, he needs a quick political 'kill'

There are several major factors that Dr. Mahathir must have taken into consideration. The first and foremost is time. His own mortality is surely his greatest obstacle and this is why Mahathir knows he must move swiftly. Every day is a blessing from the Almighty when you are 90.

With the passing away of Pas leader, Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, and the poor health and obvious fragility of once strongman Lee Kuan Yew, the ex-Prime Minister and founding father of modern Singapore, Mahathir must know he cannot afford to wait if he is to help his son Mukhriz break into the top echelons of power.

Time is Mahathir's greatest enemy. Time is also needed to reverse or modify the policy, style and programs that Najib has implemented such that the effects would ensure Umno/BN wins in the GE-14.

Dr. Mahathir now is confident that Najib is a huge liability for Umno and BN due his scandals, debacles and incompetency.

The 1MDB debacle is indeed a major issue but it is still manageable by Najib and his team as 1MDB have not gone bankrupt yet. So far Najib has managed to ‘gali lubang and tutup lubang’ (borrow more and pay the due loans or literally dig a hole to backfill another hole).

However, this is not the solution to the problematic 1MDB which was a failed venture in the first place and how many ‘lubang’ Najib can ‘gali’?

Still the 1MDB is not the final straw that broke the camel’s neck, Dr. Mahathir used this issue only as a tool to make a point and continue his attack towards Najib. The main reason that Najib has to go is the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu.

No matter how Najib has tried to manipulate, use the police, media, the courts, to insulate himself or to ensure that he is not connected to the murder he has not been able to really clear his name.

It has now come to a stage whereby the whole case will explode because it is not within Najib’s control anymore; Sirul is in Australia.

Previously when Dr. Mahathir explained why he decided to sack Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim amid huge public skepticism about the sodomy accusations, he claimed it was because Anwar would be a huge liability because he could be blackmailed.

Thus Mahathir 'reasoned' Anwar could not be the Prime Minister. Now Najib is in the same situation as Anwar then! And murder is much worse than sodomy! We shudder to think what Mahathir will do to Najib's political career if Najib refuses to back off..

Muhyiddin and Mustapa: A case of 'Dumb & Dumber'?

There is no doubt Dr. Mahathir wants someone who would be able to fast-track the elevation of his son Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir to power at the federal level.

There has been reliable information from the grapevines that Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin would take over from Najib. Docile Trade minister Mustapa Mohamad is the dark horse Dr M has decided to reward for his loyalty and will be offered the Deputy Prime Minister's post.

As can be seen, both men - Muhyiddin and Mustapa - are mere seat warmers without fire of their own. And this is exactly why Dr M picked them - NO COMPETITION FOR HIS SON MUKHRIZ. So the Umno grapevine goes.

Muhyiddin has already antangonised the non-Malays with many racist slurs and they won't forget him. But these days, it pays to be racist in Umno and that's all it takes to be PM.

Mustapa is less controversial and some say, a decent guy.

Being plodding and lacking imagination are his greatest failings. How will he help change Malaysia? Very little but that's not a job for the likes of him. Sad to say, Malaysians will have to put up the latest 'succession' sandiwara from Dr M and his trusty ally Daim Zainuddin.

After all, before Najib was finally installed as the Prime Minister, it was rumoured that Muhyiddin could be the one chosen. Even TV3 showed both Muhyiddin and Najib as equals before the final announcement that Najib was the chosen one.

Muhyiddin has also gone through the necessary grooming to take up this position and he is being the most senior both in Umno and in the cabinet compared with the rest of Umno leaders. Muhyiddin has also been proven to be able to dance to Dr. Mahathir’s tune.

But will Dr M's machinations work? Can Umno and its crippled BN allies stay in power?

With the jailing of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the people have become more resolute to vote Umno/BN out - at least 51.4% of them. 

They do not care who would replace Anwar as the Pakatan Rakyat leader, that is secondary; the most important thing is to vote out the kleptocratic Umno/BN government.

The jailing or Anwar has also tarnished Malaysia’s image at the international level. The world has decided that Anwar is a political prisoner and they viewed the trial simply as a set up.

Malaysia and its judiciary have lost their integrity for ignoring the norms of the international judicial culture with Malaysia in its own cocoon isolated in the backwaters.

Therefore it is now or never for Dr. Mahathir, and the month of March 2015 has been mentioned, but let us wait and see.

Keep our fingers crossed and pray, hopefully we will not be burdened by Najib and his 'Big Momma' anymore.

We cannot accept Najib’s incompetency, nor Rosmah’s excesses. Really, Malaysians can live without them and their Sedition crackdowns.

But just as we simply cannot ‘tahan’ the glamorous duo, Malaysians too can't suffer the racial politicking and corruption of the Umno-BN regime anymore - whether or not the next PM and DPM is Muhyiddin and Mustapa.

But we may have to go step by step until GE14 to throw the whole Umno-BN gang OUT! - Nawawi Mohamad, Stan Lee,Malaysia-Chronicle

Kenaikan pangkat hakim disekat Putrajaya...

Satu siri kenaikan pangkat untuk hakim-hakim Mahkamah Rayuan dan Mahkamah Persekutuan baru sahaja berlalu.

Namun hakim paling kanan di Mahkamah Rayuan, Datuk Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus, sekali lagi 'tertinggal' dalam siri kenaikan pangkat ini.

Apakah sebab sebenar di sebalik perkara ini?

Malaysiakini difahamkan nama Hakim Hishamudin tiada dalam senarai kerana satu pekeliling daripada Pejabat Perdana Menteri.

Ia boleh diimbas seawal tahun 2013 lagi apabila cadangan kenaikan pangkatnya dipanjangkan kepada Suruhanjaya Perlantikan Kehakiman.

Dan kini, nama Hakim Hishamuddin sekali lagi tiada dalam senarai kenaikan pangkat pada 16 Februari lalu dan beliau didahului Hakim Datuk Zaharah Ibrahim.

Hakim Hishamudin akan mencecah usia 66 tahun pada September depan - umur persaraan wajib bagi hakim.

Di kalangan pemerhati badan kehakiman, Hakim Hishamudin dikenali sebagai seorang hakim yang berfikiran terbuka.

Pada Januari 2013, beliau mengetuai panel tiga orang hakim yang memutuskan bahawa pemimpin Hindraf P Uthayakumar (kanan) dan M Manoharan boleh memfailkan saman kelompok terhadap Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak dan timbalannya.

Saman itu difailkan susulan tuduhan pengabaian 523 buah sekolah aliran Tamil oleh kerajaan walaupun ia mendapat separa bantuan dari kerajaan. - mk

Putrajaya 'nay' to Justice Hishamudin's elevation...

Another round of elevation for Federal Court and Court of Appeal judges has come and gone but it seems there is no room for the most senior Court of Appeal judge, Justice Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus, to be elevated as a Federal Court judge.

What are the actual reasons behind the halt to his ascension despite him being over-qualified for the post?

It is understood that Justice Hishamudin's (above) name was omitted from the promotion list, as a result of a directive from the Prime Minister's Office.

This was in 2013, after the recommendation for his elevation  had passed through the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC)

Justice Hishamudin's name was missing again on the promotions list released on Feb 16 this year, in which he was bypassed in favour of Justice Zaharah Ibrahim.

His Lordship turns 66 this September, the compulsory retirement age for judges.

Observers remind us that Justice Hishamudin - well-known in the legal circles as an independent-minded judge - had led a three-member bench in January 2013 that ruled two Hindraf leaders, M Manoharan and P Uthayakumar, as having legal standing to initiate a class-action suit against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin.

The suit was filed by Manoharan (left in photo) and Uthayakumar (right in photo), and  against the two as leaders of the government, following the gross state of neglect of 523 Tamil schools found themselves in despite being partially-aided government schools.

It is understood, the observers further noted, that the Prime Minister’s Office was upset that the appellate court saw it fit for the Hindraf matter to be re-tried after the High Court in Kuala Lumpur had earlier thrown out the suit, ruling the two had no locus standi.

Hurdle at High Court, too

Chief Justice Arifin Zakaria, when asked in September 2013 after word was leaked that Justice Hishamudin did not make the cut, maintained that the appointment or elevation of judges was made without the influence of anyone, and that it was at the prerogative of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the Najib as PM.

“The PM did consult us (through the JAC). But it is not 100 percent the prerogative of JAC. JAC looks at the merit in the appointment (or promotion) and then it would be the prerogative of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. It is unfair of you (the media) to pinpoint a particular judge,” Justice Arifin (left, at forefront) had scolded then.

Justice Hishamudin, who studied at the London School of Political Science, University of London, was admitted as a barrister-at-law with The Honorable Society of Lincoln’s Inn of London in 1973.

He has had the unfortunate distinction of being overlooked previously, first when he was a High Court judge for promotion to the Court of Appeal, and now again to the Federal Court. In fact, Justice Hishamudin was forced to remain in the High Court for 14 years before moving up.

During his term on the bench, he has been credited with making various controversial and landmark decisions and in doing so, truly upholding the judge's oath to put the Federal Constitution ahead and above anything else.

Some of his landmark decisions included the recent transgender case (right) where he led a panel in ruling that the law on cross-dressing under Section 66 of the Negeri Sembilan Syariah Offences Enactment was unconstitutional. The matter is now subject on appeal in the Federal Court, with leave to do so being granted last month.

A CJ the country never had?

He also wrote the landmark majority judgment that declared Section 15 (5) of the University and University Colleges Act (UUCA) - which bars university students from taking part in political activities - as unconstitutional. Justice Linton Albert supported Hishamudin while former Court of Appeal judge Justice Low Hop Bing - who led the panel - dissented.

Justice Hishamudin had, in the High Court in Kuala Lumpur in 2001, also courageously allowed a habeas corpus application to release two then PKR Internal Security Act detainees - this at the time when the judiciary rarely intervened in such cases.

He also wrote the dissenting judgment in the now infamous Ayer Molek case by declaring the Federal Court panel -  led by former Lord President and Chief Justice Eusoff Chin (left)- was illegally constituted as the third panel member Pajan Singh was then only a High Court judge (only judges of the Court of Appeal and above can sit in the Federal Court).

A local daily had previously described Justice Hishamudin as 'A judge of big events' after he ordered controversial author Khalid Jafri of the book `50 Dalil book kenapa Anwar tak boleh jadi PM' to pay RM4.5 million in damages to opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

He was also the High Court judge who sentenced express bus driver Hanafi Mat Hassan to death following the brutal rape-cum-murder of clerk Noor Suzaily Mukhtar.

Justice Hishamudin is also the first member of the judiciary to award a former ISA detainee, Abdul Malek Hussin, RM2.5 million in damages for unlawful detention and assault. - mk

IGP receives video death threat...

Story kat SINI dan SINI  

Story kat SINI dan SINI  

cheers.

Model rambut Rosmah bernilai RM1,200...

Rambut RM1,200, Rosmah pamer gaya hidup mewah...

Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor tidak peka dengan rakyat berpendapatan rendah apabila terus mempamerkan gaya hidup mewah, kata Ketua Wanita KEADILAN, Zuraida Kamaruddin.

Katanya, setelah seronok membeli belah di Bangkok bulan lalu, Rosmah kini tampil penuh bangga dengan model rambutnya bernilai RM1,200 dan baju kurung mahal.

bik_mama _rosmah“Gaya hidup yang terlalu tinggi dan mewah oleh Rosmah tidak mencerminkan sesuatu yang positif kepada rakyat Malaysia yang menghadapi kesulitan ekonomi dalam isi rumah serta hutang negara yang semakin membebankan,” katanya.

Menurut Zuraida, Rosmah  telah beberapa kali menyalahgunakan kedudukannya seperti menggunakan jet untuk kegunaan peribadi dan menghadiri mesyuarat rasmi bagi pihak Perdana Menteri.

Semalam, media melaporkan Rosmah berkongsi pengalaman mengenai perkhidmatan penjagaan diri dari rumah ke rumah dengan caj dandanan rambut berharga RM1,200.

Bercakap dalam program penerangan GST anjuran BAKTI, Rosmah juga ‘mengeluh’ kerana  tidak lagi dapat menempah baju kurung berharga RM500 seperti dahulu.

Zuraida berkata, adalah lebih kelakar apabila Timbalan Menteri Kewangan, Datuk Ahmad Mazlan berjanji untuk meneliti caj perkhidmatan rumah ke rumah yang disebut Rosmah.

“Rosmah seharusnya lebih peka dan fikir bagaimana boleh menurunkan harga perkhidmatan rumah ke rumah yang boleh mengurangkan beban orang ramai bukannya memikirkan dirinya yang mempunyai segala kemewahan berbanding mereka yang kurang bernasib baik seperti beliau,”

“Apakah dengan gaji minima RM900 rakyat Malaysia boleh dibandingkan dengan RM 1,200 simbolik model rambut Rosmah yang besar itu?,” soalnya.- keadilandaily

Let's all pray Rosmah changes her ways...

Prime minister’s wife Rosmah Mansor’s revelation yesterday that her hairdo costs RM1,200 is both un-Islamic and unbecoming of someone of her stature, PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin said.

Telling the world of her “spendthrift” ways rubs salt into the wounds of the people who have to live off a minimum wage of RM900 a month, which is even lower that what Rosmah spends on her hair, Zuraida said.

“Islam teaches us to be moderate in all aspects of life and to avoid being boastful and to show off our wealth. Islam also teaches us dress humbly.

“Let all Malaysia pray that Rosmah changes her spendthrift lifestyle. May Allah guide her to the right path,” Zuraida (left) said in statement released this afternoon.

Rosmah yesterday lamented that tailors and hairdressers now overcharge and claim the high cost it is “service tax”.

She said her hairdresser charges her RM1,200 for a house call while getting a baju kurung sewed costs RM500, and that this is hard on housewives like herself who do not earn their own income.

Rosmah said this at a GST briefing with the Welfare Association of the Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti).

With the GST, she said, tailors and hairdressers can no longer claim they are charging “sales tax” because the GST replaces the sales and services tax.

In response, Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan said the government would consider issuing a pricing guideline for “home services”. - mk

RM1,200 for hairdo when minimum wage is RM900

Critics tear their hair over Malaysia PM’s wife...

Rosmah Mansor, 63, is a controversial figure in Malaysia, where she is routinely portrayed by critics as out of touch with ordinary citizens struggling to make ends meet.

The wife of Malaysia’s prime minister, who is widely mocked over reports of her taste for luxury, drew fresh scorn on Tuesday after she complained about the rising cost of house calls from hairdressers and tailors.

Rosmah Mansor, 63, is a controversial figure in Malaysia, where she is routinely portrayed by critics as out of touch with ordinary citizens struggling to make ends meet.

The wife of Prime Minister Najib Razak handed her critics new fuel with comments on Monday lamenting the 1,200 ringgit ($330) she has to spend on house calls by stylists to dye her substantial head of hair, and 500 ringgit for tailored dresses.

“We have to make beautiful clothes to attend functions, but the prices are way too high. For those who can afford, it’s all right. But what about housewives like us, with no income?” she was quoted as saying by the Malaysian Insider news portal.

Malaysia’s minimum wage is 900 ringgit per month, though critics say it is seldom enforced.

Rosmah made the comments at a public event to discuss the introduction of a new consumer tax in April.

“Is this woman for real? Some families have to live on what she pays to have her hair dyed,” said one Facebook user, among a flood of social media postings poking fun at her on Tuesday.

Said a post on Twitter: “I hope to become a poor housewife of a civil servant just like you Rosmah.”

Since her husband took office in 2009, Rosmah has faced periodic criticism over reports of luxury overseas shopping sprees.

The New York Times ran a report earlier this month detailing purchases of high-end US real estate by people close to Najib, and said it also had obtained documents showing millions of dollars in jewellery purchases for Rosmah.

In a statement to AFP after the New York Times report, the prime minister’s office said “We prefer not to comment on unsourced speculation concerning the private finances and spending of the prime minister and his family.”

Malaysian police on February 14 seized a shipment of books lampooning Najib and Rosmah by one of the country’s best-known political cartoonists.

Last year an opposition lawmaker was charged with sedition for producing a satirical video that included a character widely viewed as representing Rosmah.- fmt

Guan Eng terima saman MPPP...

Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang, Lim Guan Eng disaman Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang (MPPP) selepas keretanya diletakkan di luar petak tempat letak kenderaan di King Street di sini.

Dalam persidangan media yang diadakan hari ini, Guang Eng yang turut ditemani pemandu keretanya, Rozali Ishak berkata dia menerima saman MPPP yang ditujukan kepada ‘tuan punya kereta’.

Pemandunya memberitahu, dia terpaksa memberhentikan kereta di lokasi berkenaan kerana tiada ruang kosong untuk meletakkan kenderaan selepas menurunkan Guan Eng di Dewan Perdagangan Malaysia Cina di Jalan Penang.

“Pada waktu itu, saya percaya ada orang yang merakan gambar foto. Namun, sepanjang kereta itu diberhentikan, saya berada di dalamnya,” kata Rozali.

Rozali, 53, difahamkan menjadi pemandu sejak 15 tahun yang lepas dan mula berkhidmat dengan Guan Eng sejak 2008.

Dia juga dikatakan mempunyai rekod pemanduan yang bersih.

“Rozali tidak pernah berhadapan sebarang isu sebelum ini, hanya selepas berkhidmat di bawah saya, dia menjadi buruan,” kata Guan Eng yang menerima saman atas kesalahan yang sama itu untuk kali ke-empat.

Sebelum ini, kereta Guang Eng dirakam diletakkan di ruang bukan tempat letak kereta di sebuah kompleks beli-belah di Jalan Datuk Keramat diikuti di Jalan Campbell dan di lorong basikal hadapan Depo Bas Hin di Jalan Gurdwara.- fmt

cheers.

Hadi diminta bentuk kerajaan perpaduang...

Pemimpin PAS cadang Hadi bentuk kerajaan dengan UMNO...

Selepas kematian Mursyidul Am PAS Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, buat pertama kalinya, aktivis dan pemimpin PAS secara terbuka mencadangkan Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang menggabungkan parti Islam itu dengan Umno dan Barisan Nasional (BN) bagi membentuk kerajaan persekutuan dan melaksanakan hudud secara sistematik.

Seorang pemimpin PAS Terengganu Roslan Ismail yang juga bekas Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Bukit Besi memberikan cadangannya itu melalui akaun Facebooknya.

"Jika saya di tapak Tuan Guru Presiden, saya akan gunakan ruang ini untuk melakar satu sejarah terharum kepada rakyat Malaysia dengan bergabung dengan Umno/BN untuk membentuk kerajaan persekutuan dan melaksanakan hudud secara sistematik selepas ini," tulis Roslan.

Roslan membuat cadangan itu selepas kematian allahyarham Nik Aziz yang menjadi penentang utama kerjasama politik antara PAS dengan Umno.

Roslan ketika dihubungi The Malaysian Insider mengesahkan beliau membuat tulisan itu di Facebooknya.

Ini kenyataan terbuka pertama daripada pemimpin dan aktivis PAS agar parti Islam itu bekerjasama dengan Umno khasnya untuk melaksanakan hudud.

Roslan sebelum ini menulis dengan marah membantah kenyataan Ahli Parlimen Puchong Gobind Singh Deo yang berkata PAS bukan lagi sebahagian komponen Pakatan Rakyat (PR) jika bertegas bentang rang undang-undang pindaan hudud di sidang Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Kelantan pada 18 Mac ini.

"Kenapa DAP bersungguh sangat menghalang PAS melaksanakan syariat Islam? Jika PR berjaya tumbangkan BN, adakah kerajaan baru itu akan memberi ruang kepada PAS melaksanakan hudud?

"Bagi sesetengah kalangan, pelaksanaan hudud perlu kepada ruang masa untuk memberi penerangan dan pemahaman kepada rakyat, tetapi, dengan pendirian DAP yang sebegini keras dan konsisten, saya tidak nampak PR akan mengizinkan PAS melaksanakan hudud walaupun berjaya menguasai kerajaan pusat," tulis Roslan.

Bekas Naib Presiden PAS Ahmad Awang sebelum ini berkata, terdapat kecenderungan yang jelas di kalangan pimpinan PAS untuk bersama dengan Umno walaupun sentiasa dinafikan oleh mereka.

Tulis Roslan, ketika PAS kecil dan baru merangkak, tiada siapa pun yang nampak.

"Malah ketika bertahalluf siyasi dengan Perikatan pun, PAS ditendang begitu saja," katanya.

Hari ini, katanya, PAS sudah subur mekar, semua pihak mula nampak kepentingan dan peranannya dalam mencerna hala tuju politik negara.

Roslan seterusnya menulis:"Bukankah perjuangan kita di dalam PR pun kerana ingin melaksanakan perintah Allah ini?

"Soal integriti, ketelusan, rasuah dan kepincangan boleh ditangani dengan memperkuatkan SPRM dan lain-lain jabatan yang berkaitan," katanya.

Beliau berkata, soal Umno dan BN akan mengkhianati PAS lagi selepas ini ketentuan Allah dan "kita tidak boleh meneka kebijaksanaan Allah di dalam mengatur urusan-Nya".

"Ketika itu, saya boleh pejam mata dengan penuh kepuasan," katanya.

Tulisan Roslan disambut baik aktivis Umno Dungun, Jame Taib yang menyifatkan pandangan itu sangat baik.

"Alhamdulillah.... insya-Allah dipermudah oleh Allah jika kedua-dua parti politik yang berdaftar ini dapat bersatu. Atas dasar Islam, kita cuba satukan perbezaan yang ada," tulis Jame.

"Jazakallah ustaz atas lontaran pandangan yang tulus dan berani. Pandangan ini sebenarnya mewakili ramai pemerhati politik di luar sana." – tmi

PAS leaders now more inclined towards UMNO...

The top leadership of PAS is becoming more inclined towards working with Umno, claimed a veteran leader, raising concerns that the Islamist party is inching closer towards leaving its partners in Pakatan Rakyat.

Former vice-president Ahmad Awang said there was a strong perception among the grassroots of this trend despite repeated assurances from party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang that PAS was committed to PR.

Ahmad’s claims come amid heated internal debate and infighting in country’s largest opposition party, which is poised to hold its party elections in June.

In previous reports, PAS leaders have admitted that the elections would see a final showdown between pro-PR and Umno-friendly factions for control of the party.

The winning faction will determine the party’s direction from this year until the next general election, including whether they will still be in PR.

There is also strong external pressure for PAS and Umno to unite, the latest being from former chief justice Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad, who wrote a piece in Umno mouthpiece Utusan Malaysia yesterday in which he urged both parties to set aside their differences and “focus their efforts into saving the Malays and the position of Islam".

Ahmad said the perception among party members was based on the behaviour and attitude of PAS leaders, including Hadi himself, who recently made headlines by playing the race card to justify opposing local government elections.

“All this Malay this and Malay that, it is very Umno. Our principle has always been to emphasise on Islam. And we had a slogan called ‘Islam for all’. So why are we going back to talking about race?” said Ahmad in an interview with The Malaysian Insider.

Another sign of this trend was seen in how its former deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa was able to continue to promote the idea of a unity government between PAS and the ruling party without censure from the party’s leadership, he said.

The death of PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat could strengthen this trend given how Nik Aziz was fervently opposed to PAS working together with Umno, added Ahmad.

“The leadership, including the syura must deal with this perception, which is strong among PAS members,” said Ahmad, referring to the powerful council of elder Muslim scholars who steer the party’s direction.

“They must come out with a statement that they are either opposed or acknowledge this.

“If the syura can these days come out with statements all the time, why not come out with a statement on this critical issue?” said Ahmad, who is also a former syura council member.

PR architect

Ahmad, 79(above), was a former party information chief and Perak PAS commissioner.

He was instrumental in bridging the ideological gulf between PAS, PKR and DAP in Perak after the 12th general election in 2008 to form the Perak Pakatan Rakyat government.

During the election, DAP was not part of the Barisan Alternatif coalition which included PAS and PKR.

As Perak PAS commissioner then, Ahmad could have accepted Perak Umno’s overtures and gotten the party’s assemblymen to support Umno and form a government with them.

Instead, he chose to work with DAP, a party which he knew opposed PAS’S struggle to implement hudud or the Shariah criminal code.

Until today, he said it was the right decision despite the strained ties of late between PAS and DAP over Kelantan’s intentions to implement hudud law.

For him, the DAP is a more trustworthy partner than Umno. He believes that given time, both parties could work out their differences over hudud.

“Umno does not believe in hudud. They are just trying to dupe us into thinking that they are,” said Ahmad of Umno’s offer to back a bill in Parliament last year which would have allowed Kelantan to enforce hudud.

The bill, which was staunchly opposed by DAP and non-Muslim BN component parties, was supposed to have been brought by a PAS MP from Kelantan.

In the end, PAS abandoned its plans but it may be brought back this year.

Ahmad said only one Umno minister, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, had come out to say that Umno would support the bill.

“Jamil Khir’s support was not backed up by the prime minister. So if we had tabled the bill, there was no guarantee we would get it through Parliament.

“Then Umno would say that they supported the bill but Parliament defeated it,” said Ahmad.

But the consequences were that Umno would have been successful in persuading some PAS members that it was a better partner than DAP and strengthened the unity government sentiment in PAS.

Umno, Ahmad said, was only interested in being nice to PAS because it was weak. He drew parallels between Umno’s gestures now and in 1969, when it brought PAS into Perikatan (Alliance Party), the precursor to BN.

Ahmad was active in PAS then and even joined the government and became an officer in Pusat Islam (Centre for Islam).

“But when Umno saw PAS’s influence increasing in the villages and in Felda schemes, they felt threatened by us. So they kicked us out.”

PAS was eventually booted out in 1977. Ahmad was transferred from Pusat Islam to the education department.

“I was effectively put in cold storage,” said Ahmad.

Special treatment?

When he was vice-president, Ahmad said he was one of the few ulama (religious scholars) who would consistently speak up against any attempts to cooperate with Umno.

The perception that the leadership was open to the idea of working with Umno, Ahmad said was also fuelled by the party’s reluctance to act against Nasharudin.

Ahmad asked why disciplinary action has not been taken against Nasharudin even though he was now known to have close relations with Umno leaders, such as president Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

During his time as deputy president, Nasharudin had consistently advocated for the party to work with Umno.

Nasharudin was defeated in the 2011 PAS elections by Mohamad Sabu, a long-time party activist known for his strong ties with PR and like Ahmad, his hostility towards Umno.

After Nasharudin was no longer active in PAS, photographs began surfacing of him and Najib together at religious functions. He, however, remains a PAS member.

Though he may be missing from PAS functions, Ahmad said Nasharudin still wielded some influence among the senior leadership. In comparison, another Umno-friendly leader Datuk Hassan Ali was sacked from the party in 2012.

“So why has no action been taken against Nasharudin?”

Ultimately, Ahmad said Nasharudin’s case reflected a big undercurrent in PAS and a sign that there could be a tectonic shift in store for the party in the next few years. – tmi

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today held a meeting with Kelantan Menteri Besar Ahmad Yaakob in Putrajaya.

The prime minister in his Facebook posting said they discussed several issues on the wellbeing of the people in the state.   

"God willing (Insya-Allah), the federal government will always place the highest priority on the interest of the people in any matter," he said.

Najib also uploaded two pictures in his message showing the two leaders shaking hands and having a discussion. - mk

Polis Guna Akta Hasutan, telefon Rafizi dan Nga Kor Ming dirampas...

Sepanjang sisatan dibuat saya langsung tidak menjawab soalan yang diajukan, namun apa yang dibuat pihak polis adalah merampas telefon.

Polis Bukit Aman hari ini merampas telefon bimbit dua Ahli Parlimen Pembangkang, Rafizi Ramli (PKR) dan Nga Kor Ming (DAP) ketika hadir memberi keterangan atas dakwaan menghasut menerusi laman Twitter mereka, berhubung keputusan mahkamah menjatuhkan hukuman bersalah terhadap ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Menurut Rafizi yang juga Naib Presiden PKR, berdasarkan keterangan yang diberikan oleh pihak polis telefon mereka akan dikembalikan dalam masa dua hingga tiga minggu. Tambah Rafizi, selama hampir dua jam disiasat, beliau langsung tidak memjawab soalan yang diajukan oleh pihak polis. 

“Soalan yang ditanya ialah pendirian saya terhadap penghakiman terhadap Anwar, saya bersetuju atau tidak dengan penghakiman yang dibuat terhadap Anwar,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas hadir memberi keterangan di Ibu Pejabat Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) Bukit Aman.

Pada masa sama Rafizi juga turut mempersoal tindakan PDRM yang terus mengunakan Akta Hasutan apabila beliau disiasat oleh Unit Siasatan Jenayah Terkelas (D5) di bawah akta yang sama.

“Nampaknya PDRM akan terus mendakwa mereka yang melakukan kesalahan di bawah Akta Hasutan,” - f/bk

Story kat SINI dan SINI  

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Selepas hampir 2 jam, Sirul hubungi kembali Mahfuz...

Selepas hampir 2 jam, pembunuh Altantuya Shaariibuu, Sirul Azhar Umar berjaya dihubungi Datuk Mahfuz Omar kira-kira jam 1.10 petang tadi.  

Ketua Penerangan PAS itu berkata, Sirul membuat 'missed call' padanya dan apabila Mahfuz cuba menelefonnya, bekas anggota Unit Tindakan Khas itu memberitahu sudah bersiap sedia menunggu panggilan ahli Parlimen Pokok Sena itu sejak pagi tadi untuk telesidang yang dijanjikan pada 11.30 pagi tadi. 

Dalam perbualan telefon itu, Sirul mengucapkan terima kasih kepada rakyat Malaysia di atas sokongan yang diberikan kepadanya dan turut berterima kasih pada kerajaan Australia kerana melindungi dirinya. 

"Sirul juga ada mengatakan beliau akan mematuhi peraturan di pusat tahanannya di Australia.

"Namun, beliau tidak akan bercakap lebih daripada apa yang diberitahu kepada Malaysiakini," kata Mahfuz kepada The Malaysian Insider.

Mahfuz berkata, Sirul hanya akan memberitahu perkara selebihnya pada waktu yang sesuai.

Minggu lepas, Sirul memberitahu Malaysiakini beliau bersama Ketua Inspektor Azilah Hadri hanya menerima arahan dan pembunuh sebenar masih bebas.

"Walaupun kebanyakan pihak media yang sudah pulang dan hanya tinggal beberapa saja, tetapi bagi saya inilah masanya untuk menelefon Sirul kerana pagi tadi kebanyakan daripada kami tidak berjaya menghubunginya disebabkan gangguan talian.

"Saya kata padanya, saya sudah cuba menghubungi beliau dengan tiga nombor yang berlainan namun tidak berjaya kerana gangguan talian," katanya.

Bekas anggota Unit Tindakan Khas (UTK) itu dijadualkan mengadakan telesidang secara langsung bersama media Malaysia anjuran PAS pada jam 11.30 pagi ini tidak berjaya dihubungi apabila ketua Penerangan PAS itu cuba menghubunginya untuk beberapa kali gagal.

Pada masa sama, pihak media yang menunggu sejak jam 11 pagi mempersoalkan bagaimana mereka dapat mengenal pasti individu yang dihubungi Mahfuz itu adalah benar-benar Sirul yang disabitkan bersalah dalam kes pembunuhan Altantuya.

Mahfuz bagaimanapun menunjukkan perbualan akhir beliau bersama Sirul menerusi sistem pesanan ringkas (SMS) di pusat tahanan Imigresen di Australia sebagai bukti.

Sirul dan Azilah disabitkan bersalah dalam kes pembunuhan Altantuya dan dijatuhkan hukuman mati oleh Mahkamah Persekutuan pada 13 Januari lalu.

Bagaimanapun Sirul tidak hadir semasa mahkamah menjatuhkan hukuman dan berada di Australia. – tmi

Sirul - I have nothing to say for now...

The much-anticipated conference call today between PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar with fugitive police commando Sirul Azhar Umar proved an anti-climax, with Sirul saying he had nothing to say at the present time.

"I fully respect the authority of the Australian government, whose protection I am under, and I need to respect Australia.

"I do not wish to make a statement at this moment. However, I will try to make a statement at a more approprate time.

"I would also like to thank all Malaysian media for their coverage and I would to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Australian government, which has provided me with full protection, besides safe and comfortable accomodation," Sirul said.

Sirul also mentioned that he was waiting for Mahfuz to call him earlier. He then said 'Thank you' with a catch in his voice.

Immediately after this, Sirul disconnected the mobile phone line without taking any questions from Mahfuz or from the remaining reporters present.

The call came after repeated attempts earlier to reach Sirul for the much-touted conference call failed. Most of the media had already left when Sirul finally was reached at 1.28pm.

Mahfuz earlier made numerous attempts to hold his conference call with Sirul in front of the press.

Will visit Australia

The conference call was supposed to be held at 11.30am at the PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. It was a packed event.

However, repeated attempts by Mahfuz to call Sirul's phone was futile. He gave up after about 40 minutes.

Mahfuz also showed the press his text message exchange with Sirul to show that the latter was ready for the conference call.

Following this, Mahfuz said that he would be trying to visit Sirul, with the latter's mother Piah Samad, 74, next week. Details are to be announced on Friday.

"We will be there for a week to visit Sirul. A press conference will be held, most probably on Friday, to announce the date we are leaving," said Mahfuz, who is also the Pokok Sena MP.

It is not certain why the calls failed. Mahfuz and his assistants had attempted to use several mobile network providers to contact Sirul, but to no avail.

Reporters at the scene also complained that they were experiencing abnormally poor network coverage at the PAS headquarters.

Ball at Sirul's feet

Previously, Malaysiakini had managed to contact Sirul who lamented that he was convicted based on circumstantial evidence and that he was merely following orders - which led to his encounter with Altantuya Shariibuu in October 2006.

Last month, the Federal Court upheld the conviction of Sirul and Azilah Hadri for the murder of Altantuya, a Mongolian national, and their death sentence.

Sirul fled to Australia before the Federal Court decision. As he is on the Interpol red list, Australian authorities are holding him at an immigration facility in Villawood, Sydney.

Australia has stated that it is bound by laws that prevent Sirul's repatriation, unless Malaysia promises not to impose the death sentence on him.

However, Malaysiakini has learned that several Australia media outlets are attempting to interview Sirul and are in contact with him. - mk

Jika Sirul Azhar ‘kambing hitam’, siapa gembalanya...

Pembunuh Altantuya Shaariibuu yang kini dalam pelarian di Australia, Sirul Azhar Umar, digesa menyatakan kebenaran tentang apa yang telah terjadi di sebalik kes pembunuhan tersebut.

Ketua Parlimen DAP Lim Kit Siang dalam kenyatannya menggesa Sirul untuk benar-benar menyesali apa yang telah berlaku serta membantah hukuman mati terhadapnya dalam keadaan dalang pembunuhan tersebut masih bebas.

“Sirul patut berhenti bersembunyi dan melarikan diri seperti yang dibuatnya sepanjang sembilan tahun lalu dan menyatakan pendirian secara jujur dan benar mengenai pembunuhan pada tahun 2006 itu,” ujar Kit Siang.

“Masanya telah tiba untuk Sirul membuat pengakuan awam mengenai akuan salahnya kepada pihak polis pada 9 November 2006,” tambah Ahli Parlimen Gelang Patah itu lagi.

Pengakuan salah Sirul dalam percakapan beramaran yang dirakamkan ketika siasatan tidak dikemukakan sebagai bukti dalam perbicaraan Sirul pada Julai 2007.
“Sirul mesti mendedahkan sekarang sama ada pengakuannya itu adalah benar atau sebaliknya,” kata Kit Siang lagi.

Pada 3 Februari 2009, Sirul memberitahu mahkamah bahawa beliau merupakan ‘kambing hitam’ yang perlu dikorbankan demi melindungi pihak-pihak tertentu yang tidak dihadapkan ke mahkamah untuk memberi keterangan.

Pada 9 November 2006, dalam percakapan beramarannya kepada polis, Sirul menyatakan bahawa rakannya Azilah Hadri yang turut didapati bersalah membunuh Altantuya pernah menyebut tentang ganjaran antara RM50,000 ke RM100,000 sekiranya kes tersebut selesai.

Sirul juga memberikan gambaran terperinci bagaimana Altantuya dibunuh sebelum mayatnya diletupkan dengan bahan letupan C4.

“Sekiranya pengakuan ini tidak benar, Sirul mesti jelaskan bagaimana dia boleh memberikan gambaran yang begitu terperinci mengenai kejadian terbabit,” tambah Kit Siang.

Bukan itu sahaja, Sirul juga wajar mendedahkan semua yang terjadi sepanjang sembilan tahun lalu, terutamanya sama ada beliau pernah dijanjikan kebebasan atas tindakannya mematuhi arahan untuk membunuh Altantuya.

“Sirul jelas tidak mempunyai motif membunuh Altantuya, kerana dia tidak kenal Altantuya, dan dia juga tidak kenal Abdul Razak Baginda,” jelas Kit Siang lagi.

Dalam pengakuannya, Sirul merujuk Altantuya sebagai ‘perempuan Cina’, dan tidak pernah tahu bahawa mangsa merupakan seorang warga Mongolia. – Roketkini.com

Ibu temui Sirul di Australia minggu depan

Story kat SINI dan SINI  

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FGV: Dari Fantasi Kepada Cerita Ngeri...

Dalam perbahasan tampalan (post) yang lalu, pembahas RAWA LANUN-BAHASA, mengulas (dalam bahasa Inggeris) berbunyi: “1MDB is not a big issue for UMNO; rather it is FGV. But you might not think so now. Think about it.” (1MDB bukan isu besar bagi UMNO; sebaliknya isu besar ialah FGV. Tetapi anda mungkin tidak berfikir begitu sekarang. Cuba fikirkan.)

Saya setuju. Isu Felda Global Ventures Berhad (FGV) umpama retak menanti belah. Setidak-tidaknya pun dalam jangka masa pendek dan sederhana.

Sama seperti 1Malaysia Development Berhad, FGV adalah gagasan Perdana Menteri (Datuk Seri) Mohd Najib Abdul Razak. Kalau dalam 1MDB Mohd Najib adalah pengerusi lembaga penasihatnya, dalam Felda beliau adalah mentornya. Beliaulah yang memutuskan penubuhan FGV bagi mengambil alih bahagian perdagangan Felda.

Apa yang RAWA LANUN-BAHASA kata itu tepat. Sejak tawaran awam permulaan (IPO) dan penyenaraian sahamnya di Bursa Malaysia pada akhir Jun 2012, FGV telah bertukar menjadi satu lagi masalah rumit bagi Perdana Menteri dan orang kepercayaannya (Tan Sri) Mohd Isa Abdul Samad.

Bekas Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan yang amat berpengaruh ke atas Mohd Najib itu adalah pengerusi Felda dan FGV.

Fantasi Bertukar Jadi Cerita Ngeri

Daripada cerita fantasi dewa-dewi pada hari penyenaraiannya di Bursa Malaysia pada 28 Jun, 2012 FGV telah bertukar menjadi episod ngeri.

Setelah melonjak naik daripada harga IPO RM4.55 kepada RM5.39 pada hari pertama diniagakan, harga saham FGV jatuh secara berterusan untuk ditutup pada kadar RM2.82 sebelum cuti Tahun Baru Cina minggu lepas.

Ini bermakna nilai sahamnya telah merosot 38% berbanding harga tawaran awal. Dalam perdagangan 52-minggu berakhir minggu lalu, saham FGV diniagakan antara RM2.02 dan RM4.70.

Dalam bahasa mudah, para pelabur yang membeli saham FGV ketika IPO, termasuk puluhan ribu peneroka Felda, telah mengalami kerugian atas kertas sebanyak RM1,730 bagi setiap 1,000 unit saham FGV yang mereka beli.

Yang meminjam untuk membeli saham itu tentulah lebih teruk. Mereka mungkin telah dipaksa menjual saham mereka oleh pemberi pinjaman atau terpaksa menambah cagaran.

Suka atau tidak kita terpaksa mengakui bahawa prospek jangka pendek dan sederhana FGV tidak begitu cerah. Bukan sahaja ia mengalami masalah kejatuhan harga minyak kelapa sawit dan getah malah kegiatan pengilangannya juga turut terjejas akibat kelembapan ekonomi dunia dan kejatuhan kadar tukaran ringgit.

Ia mencatatkan kerugian sebanyak RM12 juta bagi suku tahun antara Julai dan September tahun lalu. Pada bulan November lalu, CIMB menurunkan perakuan saham FGV daripada pegang (hold) kepada kurangkan (reduce). Ertinya kurangkan pegangan saham FGV.

Tambah memburukkan lagi keadaan bagi FGV adalah kelembapan luar biasa pasaran saham tempatan. Bursa Malaysia adalah antara pasaran saham sedang membangun (emerging markets) paling buruk pencapaiannya tahun lalu.

Misalnya, bagi tempoh antara 31 Disember 2013 dan 29 Disember 2014, pasaran saham India naik 29.4% (dalam dolar Amerika), Indonesia naik 21.2% dan Thailand naik 15.4%, tetapi Bursa Malaysia jatuh 5.3%.

Lambat laun Mohd Najib sebagai Perdana Menteri, Menteri Kewangan dan mentor Felda terpaksa menangani dan menjawab isu berkaitan kejatuhan saham FGV dan kemerosotan perniagaannya serta kesannya ke atas masyarakat peneroka.- A Kadir Jasin

Another Najib nightmare in Felda Global...

Felda Global Ventures (FGV), the listed agri-business giant company mooted by Najib Razak, is another nightmare waiting to be exposed, says former New Straits Times Press chief editor A Kadir Jasin.

Writing in his blog today, he concurred with a commenter who had remarked that the problems of troubled government investment company 1Malaysia Development Bhd were not the issue, but that FGV was.

Felda Global, formed out of plantations opened by the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) and the companies it spawned, is the world’s third-biggest oil palm plantation company.

Kadir noted that Felda Global has become “another tricky issue” for Najib and his associate, Isa Samad, the FGV and Felda chairman, and a former menteri besar of Negeri Sembilan.

Since its listing on the stock exchange, where the share price shot up from RM4.55 to RM5.39 on the first day of trading, FGV has steadily fallen in value, closing at RM2.82 before the Chinese New Year holidays.

The shares have declined 38% from the initial offer price, Kadir said. “In simple language, those who bought shares during its public offer, including tens of thousands of settlers, has suffered a loss on paper of RM1,730 for each 1,000 shares that they hold.”

Short-term and medium-term prospects are not bright, he said. Crude palm oil prices have fallen, and rubber manufacturing activities has been affected by the global economic slowdown and the fall of the ringgit exchange rate.

Kadir said FGV’s poor performance has dragged down the Bursa Malaysia which is the worst-performing stock market in Asia. Between December 2013 and December 2014, the Indian stock market rose by 29.4%; Indonesia 21.2%; Thailand rose 15.4%; but Bursa Malaysia fell 5.3%.

“Sooner or later Mohd Najib as Prime Minister, finance minister and and mentor of Felda must address and answer issues related to the FGV’s stock collapse, deterioration of its business, and the impact on land settlers,” Kadir said. - fmt

Another Najib nightmare in Altantuya...
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Kereta rasmi Guang Eng park kat pili bomba...

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Berapa $$$ gomen bayaq kat Shafee Abdullah...

Dedahkan jumlah bayaran kepada Shafee Abdullah...

DAP mempersoalkan jumlah bayaran yang diterima oleh Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah bukan sahaja untuk mengetuai pasukan pendakwaan terhadap Datuk Seri Anwar, bahkan untuk menjelajah ke seluruh negara bagi terus mengaibkan Anwar.

Shafee kini diarak ke seluruh negara dalam siri jelajah anjuran Umno dalam rangka meyakinkan orang ramai mengenai hukuman bersalah yang dikenakan oleh Mahkamah Persekutuan terhadap Ketua Umum PKR tersebut.

Ketua Parlimen DAP Lim Kit Siang dalam kenyataan medianya mengulas bahawa meski Shafee telah menang di mahkamah, beliau tewas di mahkamah rakyat dan pada mata masyarakat antarabangsa.

“Memandangkan pembayar cukai Malaysia membayar Shafee untuk peranannya sebagai ketua pendakwa, mereka berhak tahu berapa jumlah yang dibayar kepada Shafee untuk menyumbat Anwar ke penjara untuk kali keempat,” ujar Kit Siang yang baru sahaja menyambut ulangtahun ke-74 semalam.

“Adakah bayaran bagi khidmat Shafee itu sama banyaknya dengan gaji Peguam Negara selama setahun?

“Jika ya, kenapa bukan Peguam Negara Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail sendiri yang menjalankan pendakwaan?” soal Ahli Parlimen Gelang Patah tersebut.

Menurut beliau lagi, rakyat Malaysia juga berhak mengetahui sama ada wang cukai mereka juga turut dibayar kepada Shafee untuk menjelajah seluruh negara bagi menjustifikasi hukuman terhadap Anwar.

Kit Siang menggesa supaya jumlah bayaran tersebut didedahkan, atau Shafee mesti menjelaskan sama ada khidmat jelajahnya itu dibuat secara ikhlas tanpa bayaran demi Umno.

“Malah sebenarnya, jelajah oleh Shafee ini membangkitkan persoalan sama ada beliau berkhidmat sebagai pendakwaraya (bagi pihak rakyat) atau pendakwa-Umno dalam kes Fitnah II Anwar Ibrahim,” tegasnya lagi.

Pemimpin veteran DAP itu turut bersetuju dengan pendapat Ketua Penerangan Umno Pusat Bandar Taman Chempaka Syed Rosli Syed Harman Jamalullail bahawa jelajah oleh Shafee ini hanya akan memberi kesan balas kepada Umno sendiri, berikutan taktik Shafee yang terus memalukan Anwar, sedangkan beliau tidak dapat menjawab serangan-serangan terbabit.

Malah, Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Nancy Shukri pun turut menyatakan bantahannya terhadap jelajah tersebut. – Roketkini.com

Disclose if gov't paying for Shafee's roadshow...

The government must disclose if taxpayers' money is used to fund an Umno roadshow featuring Sodomy II prosecutor Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang said.

Shafee last week spoke at an Umno Youth forum on the issue and is scheduled to speak at another Umno organised event in Penang tonight.

Lim (below) said that this should be clarified given suspicions following the government's refusal to disclose how much the Attorney-General's Chambers had paid the lawyer to take up the case.

The fees have been classified under the Official Secrets Act.

“(What is) the exact full amounts or fees or whether he is rendering his services to Umno pro bono?” he asked.

Although Shafee's fee is an official secret, Lim said the government can still reveal if the fee is higher than Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail's annual salary.

“If so, the question arises as to why Abdul Gani (did not) conduct the prosecution himself instead of privatising it to Shafee,” he said.

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim was on Feb 10 sentenced to five years in jail after found guilty of sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan in 2008.

Can't have your cake and eat it
On a separate verdict, Lim urged murder convict Sirul Azhar Umar to own up to killing Mongolian national Altantuya Shariibuu.

Sirul cannot refuse to admit to killing Altantuya but at the same time say that he had acted under orders from someone powerful, he said.

“If Sirul claims that he is innocent of the murder of Altantunya, then he should not be claiming justice on the ground that he had murdered under “orders”, but that he had been wrongly convicted of Altantunya’s murder when he is totally innocent.

“Sirul should think through his statements and actions so as not to be caught in a web of his own making,” Lim said in a separate statement.

Sirul in an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini decried being sentenced to death over the murder for following a directive.

He, however, said that he never admitted to killing Altantuya and that he was convicted based on circumstantial evidence.

Sirul fled to Australia and is now in immigration detention in Sydney while fellow ex-commando Azilah Hadri who was convicted alongside him is on death row.- mk

Pakar undang-undang dakwa Shafee hina mahkamah...

 Peguam kanan Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah didakwa telah menghina mahkamah dengan mendedahkan keterangan secara tertutup di mahkamah kepada umum, kata pensyarah undang-undang Universiti Malaysia, Gurdial Singh Nijar.

Katanya, apabila mahkamah memerintah keterangan diberi secara tertutup (in camera), maka butiran itu tidak boleh didedahkan di luar mahkamah.

Prosiding secara tertutup adalah ia didengar di hadapan hakim di mana orang ramai dan media tidak dibenarkan berada dalam dewan mahkamah.

Sebab itulah, kata Gurdial (kanan), keterangan tersebut tidak boleh dilaporkan oleh akhbar dan sesiapa saja.

Apabila keterangan ini didedahkan kepada umum, maka perintah mahkamah itu telah dilanggari, katanya kepada Malaysiakini.

Katanya, ia jelas menghina mahkamah dan jika disabitkan, boleh dihukum penjara, denda atau kedua-duanya.

Gurdial (kanan) mengulas mengenai Shafee, yang mendedahkan di sebuah forum anjuran Akademi Kepimpinan Kapten Hussein (Akhi), Pemuda Umno, Selasa lalu, butiran berhubung dakwaan pelakuan seks antara Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dan bekas pembantunya, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

Shafee, yang dilantik oleh Jabatan Peguam Negara untuk mengendalikan pendakwaan kes itu, memberitahu forum tersebut butiran yang diberikan oleh pengadu, Saiful, secara tertutup.

Gurdial menambah ia terpulang kepada peguam negara untuk memulakan prosiding menghina mahkamah.

Perkara itu juga, katanya, boleh dibawa ke perhatian mahkamah oleh orang lain yang berkepentingan dalam prosiding itu atau sesiapa yang mengetahui mengenai tindakan menghina mahkamah itu.

"Mahkamah juga boleh memulakan prosiding dan merangka pertuduhan terhadap mana-mana orang yang melanggar perintah mahkamah atas inisiatifnya sendiri."

Sementara itu, peguam dan pakar perlembagaan Syahredzan Johan menyifatkan pendedahan Shafee mengenai keterangan yang diberi secara tertutup, sebagai perbuatan "mencemarkan nama baik atas alasan perbincangan undang-undang".

"Menurut Syahredzan (kanan), terdapat sebab-sebabnya mengapa prosiding dibuat secara tertutup.

"Anda tidak mahu aspek tertentu prosiding didedahkan kepada umum,” katanya kepada Malaysiakini.

Oleh itu, tambahnya, peguam yang terlibat dalam kes itu - sama ada timbalan pendakwa raya atau peguam - untuk mendedahkan apa yang merupakan sebahagian daripada keterangan secara tutup kepada umum.

Jika tidak, tegas Syahredzan, seluruh maksud prosiding mahkamah secara tertutup itu tidak bermakna.- mk
  

Shafee has committed contempt, claim experts...

Senior lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah has committed contempt of court by disclosing the court’s in camera evidence to the public.

Universiti Malaya law don Gurdial Singh Nijar said when a court orders evidence to be given in camera, such details cannot be disclosed outside the courtroom.

In camera judicial proceeding is when the hearing is done before the judge where the public and the press are excluded from the courtroom.

"That's why the evidence cannot be reported by newspapers and everybody else. When this evidence is disclosed to the public, the court order is violated," he told Malaysiakini.

"This constitutes contempt of the court which is punishable on conviction with imprisonment, a fine or both."

Gurdial (right) was commenting on Shafee, who at a forum last Tuesday organised by Umno Youth's Akademi Kepimpinan Kapten Hussein (Akhi), had gone into graphic details describing the foreplay and the sexual act between Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

Shafee, who was hired by the Attorney-General’s Chambers to prosecute the case, had told the forum that the lurid details were given by the complainant, Saiful, in camera.

Gurdial added that it was for the attorney-general to institute proceedings for contempt.

The matter can also be brought to the attention of the court by another person interested in the proceedings or who comes to know of the contempt, he said.

"The court can also initiate proceedings and formulate charges against any person violating the court order on its own initiative."

‘Character assassination’

Meanwhile, lawyer and constitutional expert Syahredzan Johan described Shafee's revelation of the in camera evidence as "character assassination disguised as a legal discussion".

According to Syahredzan, there were reasons why the proceedings were in camera.

"You do not want that particular aspect of proceedings to be made public.

"So, it should not be open to lawyers who are involved in the case - be it the deputy public prosecutor or defence counsel - to reveal what was part of the in camera evidence to the public," he told Malaysiakini.

Syahredzan (right) added that this would only defeat the whole purpose of such court proceedings.

When told that details of the in camera evidence are available should one do a file search in the court system, Syahredzan said even so, one would actually need to take the trouble to do such a search.- mk

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