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GONG XI FA CAI!

2012-01-23T07:35:00.003+08:00

WISHING EVERYONE

GONG XI FA CAI

HAVE A WONDERFUL YEAR OF THE DRAGON

STAY SAFE, BE HAPPY AND HEALTHY.

AND PROSPERITY FOR ALL!

Anwar found not guilty of sodomy charges

2012-01-09T10:36:00.002+08:00

The High Court today found Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim not guilty of sodomising his former aide Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

BREAKING NEWS In a surprising twist, Anwar Ibrahim was today acquitted by the Kuala Lumpur High Court of sodomising his former 23-year-old aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

In discharging the 64-year-old PKR de-facto leader, Justice Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah cast doubt on the DNA evidence provided by the prosecution.

"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."

On hearing the surprise verdict, the courtroom exploded in jubilation.

Anwar's wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail cried and hugged her elated husband.
In an immediate reaction, Anwar thanked his lawyers.
"I'm finally vindicated after the smearing of my character. I'm thankful to Wan Azizah and the team of lawyers led by Karpal Singh.
He also thanked the support of Pakatan Rakyat leaders.

"We want to continue on the reform agenda, fighting corruption, and freedom of the press."

Saiful: If not in this world, in the afterworld
Meanwhile, sodomy complainant Saiful tweeted: "If not in this world, in the afterworld. I accept fate, will remain calm and continue praying."
Anwar was represented by a team of lawyers led by Bukit Gelugor MP and DAP chairperson Karpal. Outgoing solicitor-general II Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden led the prosecution.

Anwar, a former deputy prime minister was charged with sodomising Saiful at the Desa Damansara condominium between 3.01pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008. - Malaysiakini

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T00:14:00.004+08:00

New Year is the time to unfold new horizons & realize new dreams, to rediscover the strength & faith within you, to rejoice in simple pleasures & gear up for new challenges. Wishing everyone a truly fulfilling 2012.

Happy Malaysia Day!

2011-09-16T10:26:00.009+08:00

... and an end to the I.S.A !

Najib announces major changes in controvrsial laws

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians received a significant Malaysia Day present in the form of greater civil liberties and democratic reforms under sweeping changes announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Saying that the country is evolving and the people wanted more freedom, Najib outlined the historic announcement in his Malaysia Day eve address that was telecast live on TV.

The changes, he stressed, were to accommodate and realise a mature, modern and functioning democracy; to preserve public order, enhance civil liberty and maintain racial harmony.

All these changes will need to be tabled in Parliament.

Six of the best

- The Internal Security Act (ISA) 1960 will be repealed.

In its place, two new laws will be enacted to safeguard peace and order the detention period will be reduced and can only be extended by the courts, except in cases involving terrorism.

Three remaining emergency proclamations to be lifted are:

- Emergency 1969, Emergency 1966 (Sarawak) and Emergency 1977 (Kelantan).Banishment Act 1959 will also be repealed.

- The annual licence renewal requirement for newspapers and publications will be replaced with a one-off permit by reviewing the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

- Reviewing the Restricted Residence Act 1933.

- Allowing greater freedom to assemble by reviewing Section 27 of the Police Act 1967 by taking into consideration Article 10 of the Federal Constitution which guarantees every citizen with the right to freedom of speech and assembly
The Star

Also read The Mole
Life Without I.S.A
A Voice : Ready or not, Malaysians must rise to this new found Freedom
The Scribe: Antara Liberalisasi dan Reaksi kepada Pembangkang
Shanghai Fish : Thanks but no thanks...

Bernama cameraman killed in Somalia

2011-09-03T06:27:00.004+08:00

Journalist killed in shooting attack in Somali capital

A Malaysian journalist has been killed in a shooting in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, security officials said.

Initial reports say African Union peacekeepers opened fire on his vehicle. A security official told the BBC the attack was being investigated.

Noramfaizul Mohd Nor had been on a trip with the aid agency Putera 1Malaysia Club, his employer said. Another reporter was wounded in the incident.

Aid staff have been flooding into the country to help famine victims.

'Long list'

The shooting took place near a busy junction known as Kilometer Four and AU troops were involved, security sources and the aid agency said.

Thirty-nine-year-old Noramfaizul Mohd Nor, a cameraman with Malaysia's national Bernama TV, was accompanying Putera 1Malaysia Club, who were carrying out a humanitarian mission, his employer said in a statement.

The wounded journalist was Aji Saregar Mazlan, Bernama added. The team had been due to travel home on Saturday.

Muhideen Mohamed, who works with the charity, said troops from Amisom - the AU peacekeeping force which was patrolling the city - fired on the journalists as they travelled to the airport, where they were based. Read here

Noramfaizul: A true professional, says Bernama chairman

Salam Aidil Fitri

2011-08-30T07:26:00.009+08:00

Wishing everyone a Selamat Hari Raya Eidul Fitri. Maaf Zahir dan Batin.

Ramadhan Mubarak

2011-08-01T12:49:00.008+08:00

Ramadhan Mubarak to all my Muslim
sisters and brothers!

Nine bodies retrieved from landslide-hit orphanage; 7 remain buried - The Star

2011-05-21T23:16:00.004+08:00

Published: Saturday May 21, 2011 MYT 4:54:00 PM
Updated: Saturday May 21, 2011 MYT 10:54:29 PM
KAJANG: A landslide hit an orphanage Saturday afternoon killing nine and leaving seven still buried.

Firemen and villagers managed to pull out nine alive by 10pm from the Rumah Anak Yatim Hidayah, Madrasah Al-Takwa, Jalan Felcra Semungkus, 14th mile, Hulu Langat, near Kajang.

The dead and alive have been sent to the Ampang and Kajang Hospitals.

Rescuers rushing one of the injured children to the ward at Ampang Hospital

"Two landslides occurred simultaneously. All the victims did not have time to escape," said Selangor CPO Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah at a press conference at 6.45pm.

He said all those affected were 20 students attending a motivational camp at the orphanage and four caretakers.

A total of 49 students and caretakers were there but 24 escaped unhurt.

He said the body of the first victim was pulled out from the debris at about 4.30pm while the second body was retrieved at 5pm and the third at 6.10pm. The other two were pulled out at about 7.40pm. The sixth was pulled out at 9.50pm. The seventh and eighth were pulled out at 10.25pm.

The back portion of the orphanage where the landslide occurred

The orphanage was partially buried by the landslides at about 2.30pm on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Deputy IGP Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said that rescuers were being hampered by wet soil and rain.

He also appealed to the crowd of onlookers to stay back and allow the rescuers to do their work unimpeded.

Bernama reported that in ALOR GAJAH, Malacca, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil directed the Social Welfare Department and the 'Skuad Sayang' (Caring Squad) to provide immediate assistance to the orphans and family of the victims.

"I will get in touch with the police to obtain detailed information and the actual cause of the landslide so that my ministry can take follow-up action to assist the victms," she said. - The Star

Blog House Launches fund to help fellow blogger

2011-05-17T12:54:00.009+08:00

Link:http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150187590178149&set=a.167999438148.123096.714458148&type=1&theater&pid=7129971&id=714458148

Blog House Malaysia has launched a fund for Kerp or Danny, a wheelchair-bound blogger, who has been actively writing since 2007and who is also a former columnist with the Malay Mail.

His wife, Molee, whom he married in March last year, after a courtship of 11 years, has been diagnosed with kidney cancer and the cells have now spread to her lower vetebra requiring radiaton.

Click here to know more about the fund and how you can help.

Analysis: Killing the alibi - Opinion - Al Jazeera

2011-05-02T20:07:00.003+08:00

Washington has less reason or justification to wage war in Afghanistan now that Osama bin laden is no more...

The killing of Osama bin Laden is more of a symbolic victory for the Obama administration than a game changer for the US strategy in the "Greater Middle East".

After 10 years of pursuing al-Qaeda's leader, responsible for the September 11, 2001 attacks, the US has closed a chapter, but not the book, in its war on al-Qaeda and "international terrorism".

Since the attacks on New York and Washington, "al-Qaeda central" which was being run from the Pakistani Afghan border, has mutated into a global network of affiliates.

US "terrorism experts" have been split over the relevance of "al-Qaeda central" under the direct leadership of bin Laden and his lieutenants, in comparison to the global network of smaller cells and hardcore fighters who pledged allegiance to the leadership, or to put it bluntly, to the brand: "al-Qaeda".
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Those who discount the importance of the 'disconnected and on-the-run' al-Qaeda leaders on the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan underline the importance of the decentralisation of the group.

They refer to it as SPIN (segmented, polycentric, ideologically networked) group, where al-Qaeda fighters in various parts of the world have increasingly acted on their own without direct orders or logistical and financial support from "al-Qaeda central".

In that way, al-Qaeda was more of a global and post-modern creature or phenomenon than a religious one. continue here : Analysis: Killing the alibi - Opinion - Al Jazeera English

Two Malaysians among world's '100 most inspiring people'

2011-03-02T22:12:00.009+08:00

Congratulations to Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir and Zainah Anwar for being included in a New York-based global advocacy’s list of 100 most inspiring people around the world for their work in advocating the rights of women and girls.

Zainah Anwar - who founded Sisters In Islam (SIS) and is the project director of Musawah, an international collaborative group for equality and justice in the Muslim family - and blogger, women’s rights and HIV/AIDS awareness advocate Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir were named in the list put out by Women Deliver.

Zainah and Marina joined the rank of other distinguished personalities including former US first lady Laura Bush, ABC news anchor and tv personality Christiane Amanpour, US secretary of state Hillary Clinton, United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, CNN Hero of the Year and anti-sex trafficking activist Anuradha Koirala, talk show host and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey and Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.

The list, announced in New York yesterday, was compiled based on the recipients’ work in improving the lives of women and girls in the fields of health, human rights, politics, economics, education, journalism and philanthropy.

Zainah who occupied the seventh position in the list, said she was informed of her inclusion in the list in mid-February.

Zainah described her biggest achievement was in empowering Muslim women to claim their right to be treated as human beings of equal worth and dignity.

Marina, who occupied the 57th position, said Women Deliver contacted her through her blog last week.

“I am very honoured to be named in the list. I think it’s nice that Malaysia is recognised. It makes people aware of Malaysia and we get international recognition. People will also take us more seriously,” said Marina who is also a SIS board member.

In a press statement released yesterday, Women Deliver president Jill Sheffield said last year had been “widely viewed as the year women’s issues finally came to the fore in international development.

“This list recognises those who successfully navigated the corridors of power, along with those on the front lines, who have worked to expand the rights and choices for girls and women everywhere,” she said. - Excerpts from the NST. For more read here.

Former journalist Swithin Monteiro dies after massive stroke

2011-02-22T20:43:00.009+08:00

He was an old friend and a former colleague. I received news of his passing from his brother, Sandy, who sent me a text message at 2.30pm today.

Swithin, former NST and Star journalist turned PR man, died this morning after suffering a massive stroke the day before. He was 58.

He is survived by his wife Margaret Hall and son Justin.

My condolence to his family. May you rest in peace, Swithin.

Veteran entertainment journalist dies

Frankie D'Cruz
Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011 19:42:00

KUALA LUMPUR: The arts world and public relations lost an illustrious son yesterday afternoon when Swithin Monteiro, 58, passed away at the University Malaya Medical Centre, Petaling Jaya, after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke at his home on Sunday.

A journalist with both the New Straits Times and Star Publications, Monteiro was well-known as a public relations practitioner, trainer and advisor to several companies active in event management and crisis management.

A veteran and critical journalist who began writing for the print media since he was in school, Monteiro also forayed into live music as a member of Chrysalis Blue, alongside Marion Danker, Derek Surian and Bob Lewis, taking part in the inaugural Bakat TV 1971.

After his long stint in print media, he joined public relations company Burson-Marsteller in the late 1980s as an account supervisor and core member of its media training team, before leaving to establish Silver Tiger Entertainment which helped to launch superstar ethnic fusion group Asiabeat and brought African act Inphanze to perform in Kuala Lumpur.

Monteiro later set up his specialist agency Swithin Monteiro Media-PR which handled numerous government and private corporation projects, acting as advisor to the Ministry of National Unity and Social Development for its ‘Kamu Aku Seiring’ campaign in 2003 and as consultant for the launch of KL Sentral, the Top of the Pubs music competition, the Malaysian International Jazz Festivals, Australian Music Showcase, Le Tour de Langkawi, and JVC Asian Badminton Championships.

Monteiro was noted for his promotion of the local music scene as a committee member of the Musicians Union of Malaysia and an active fund-raising committee member of the Selangor and Federal Territory Eurasian Association.

Monteiro, who was to turn 59 in a few days, leaves wife Margaret Eileen Hall, son Justin, 29, sister Penny, and three brothers - Arnold, Ian and Sandy.

For wake and funeral service details, call Arnold at 012-2511111. The Malay Mail

Pic: Swithin and wife Margaret.

Three questions for Marwan Bishara - Opinion - Al Jazeera English

2011-02-19T15:42:00.004+08:00

The US has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would have condemned Israeli settlements as "illegal" and called for an immediate halt to all settlement building. All 14 other council members voted in favour of the resolution.

Marwan Bishara, Al Jazeera's senior political analyst, answers three crucial questions connected with the issue.

Read: Three questions for Marwan Bishara - Opinion - Al Jazeera English

Salam Maulidur Nabi

2011-02-15T09:19:00.003+08:00

Selawat ke atas junjungan Nabi Muhammad SAW. Dan salam Maulidur Rasul kepada semua umat Islam.

Mubarak Steps down!!

2011-02-12T00:07:00.010+08:00

President Mubarak has stepped down after a 30-year rule following more than two weeks of mass demonstrations. Vice President Omar Suleiman announced the resignation on state tv.

===============================================

Hosni Mubarak resigns as president

Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president, has resigned from his post, handing over power to the armed forces.

Omar Suleiman, the vice-president, announced in a televised address that the president was "waiving" his office, and had handed over authority to the Supreme Council of the armed forces.

Suleiman's short statement was received with a roar of approval and by celebratory chanting and flag-waving from a crowd of hundreds of thousands in Cairo's Tahrir Square, as well by pro-democracy campaigners who attended protests across the country on Friday.

The crowd in Tahrir chanted "We have brought down the regime", while many were seen crying, cheering and embracing one another.

Mohamed ElBaradei, an opposition leader, hailed the moment as being the "greatest day of my life", in comments to the Associated Press news agency.

"The country has been liberated after decades of repression,'' he said.

"Tonight, after all of these weeks of frustration, of violence, of intimidation ... today the people of Egypt undoubtedly [feel they] have been heard, not only by the president, but by people all around the world," our correspondent at Tahrir Square reported, following the announcement.

"The sense of euphoria is simply indescribable," our correspondent at Mubarak's Heliopolis presidential palace, where at least ten thousand pro-democracy activists had gathered, said.

Pro-democracy activists in the Egyptian capital had marched on the presidential palace and state television buildings on Friday, the 18th consecutive day of protests.

Anger at state television

At the state television building earlier in the day, thousands had blocked people from entering or leaving, accusing the broadcaster of supporting the current government and of not truthfully reporting on the protests.

"The military has stood aside and people are flooding through [a gap where barbed wire has been moved aside]," Al Jazeera's correspondent at the state television building reported.

He said that "a lot of anger [was] generated" after Mubarak's speech last night, where he repeated his vow to complete his term as president.

'Gaining momentum'

Outside the palace in Heliopolis, where at least ten thousand protesters had gathered in Cairo, another Al Jazeera correspondent reported that there was a strong military presence, but that there was "no indication that the military want[ed] to crack down on protesters".

Click here for more of Al Jazeera's special coverage

She said that army officers had engaged in dialogue with protesters, and that remarks had been largely "friendly".

Tanks and military personnel had been deployed to bolster barricades around the palace.

Our correspondent said the crowd in Heliopolis was "gaining momentum by the moment", and that the crowd had gone into a frenzy when two helicopters were seen in the air around the palace grounds.

"By all accounts this is a highly civilised gathering. people are separated from the palace by merely a barbed wire ... but nobody has even attempted to cross that wire," she said.

As crowds grew outside the palace, Mubarak left Cairo on Friday for the Red Sea resort of Sharm al-Shaikh, according to sources who spoke to Al Jazeera.

In Tahrir Square, hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered, chanting slogans against Mubarak and calling for the military to join them in their demands.

Our correspondent at the square said the "masses" of pro-democracy campaigners there appeared to have "clear resolution" and "bigger resolve" to achieve their goals than ever before.

However, he also said that protesters were "confused by mixed messages" coming from the army, which has at times told them that their demands will be met, yet in communiques and other statements supported Mubarak's staying in power until at least September.

Army statement

In a statement read out on state television at midday on Friday, the military announced that it would lift a 30-year-old emergency law but only "as soon as the current circumstances end".

IN VIDEO

Thousands are laying siege to state television's office

The military said it would also guarantee changes to the constitution as well as a free and fair election, and it called for normal business activity to resume.

Al Jazeera's correspondent in Tahrir Square said people there were hugely disappointed with that army statement, and had vowed to take the protests to "a last and final stage".

"They're frustrated, they're angry, and they say protests need to go beyond Liberation [Tahrir] Square, to the doorstep of political institutions," she said.

Protest organisers have called for 20 million people to come out on "Farewell Friday" in a final attempt to force Mubarak to step down.

Alexandria protests

Hossam El Hamalawy, a pro-democracy organiser and member of the Socialist Studies Centre, said protesters were heading towards the presidential palace from multiple directions, calling on the army to side with them and remove Mubarak.

"People are extremely angry after yesterday's speech," he told Al Jazeera. "Anything can happen at the moment. There is self-restraint all over but at the same time I honestly can't tell you what the next step will be ... At this time, we don't trust them [the army commanders] at all."

An Al Jazeera reporter overlooking Tahrir said the side streets leading into the square were filling up with crowds.

"It's an incredible scene. From what I can judge, there are more people here today than yesterday night," she said.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters havehered
in the port city of Alexandria [AFP]

"The military has not gone into the square except some top commanders, one asking people to go home ... I don't see any kind of tensions between the people and the army but all of this might change very soon if the army is seen as not being on the side of the people."

Hundreds of thousands were participating in Friday prayers outside a mosque in downtown Alexandria, Egypt's second biggest city.

Thousands of pro-democracy campaigners also gathered outside a presidential palace in Alexandria.

Egyptian television reported that large angry crowds were heading from Giza, adjacent to Cairo, towards Tahrir Square and some would march on the presidential palace.

Protests are also being held in the cities of Mansoura, Mahala, Tanta, Ismailia, and Suez, with thousands in attendance.

Violence was reported in the north Sinai town of el-Arish, where protesters attempted to storm a police station. At least one person was killed, and 20 wounded in that attack, our correspondent said.

Dismay at earlier statement

In a televised address to the nation on Thursday, Mubarak said he was handing "the functions of the president" to Vice-President Omar Suleiman. But the move means he retains his title of president.

Halfway through his much-awaited speech late at night, anticipation turned into anger among protesters camped in Tahrir Square who began taking off their shoes and waving them in the air.

Immediately after Mubarak's speech, Suleiman called on the protesters to "go home" and asked Egyptians to "unite and look to the future."

Union workers have joined the protests over the past few days, effectively crippling transportation and several industries, and dealing a sharper blow to Mubarak’s embattled regime.

Source:

Al Jazeera and agencies

...And, our heartful thanks to PM Najib and Datin Seri...

2011-02-07T18:23:00.006+08:00

... for the timely evacuations of our students from Egypt.

PM and wife’s personal ties a big help

Sunday February 6

KUALA LUMPUR: The Saudi Arabian government has granted unlimited flight access to Malaysia to airlift its citizens from Egypt to Jeddah – a rare move made possible due to the close personal relationship between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor with the Saudi Royal House.
“I am very happy with the Saudi authorities for granting us all sorts of special concessions in the airlifting of our citizens,” said Najib in an interview here yesterday. “They have told us that we can mount as many flights as we need in the rescue mission.

“This is a rare privilege, mostly because of the close personal ties my wife and I have with King Abdullah Abdul Aziz and his family,” he added.

The Saudi government had granted blanket visas to all those evacuated from Egypt as well as landing rights for the eight RMAF, Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia aircraft taking part in the evacuation exercise.

Najib said that when faced with such a crisis, it was diplomatically acceptable for both private and official channels to be used to ensure the rescue operation was successful.

“It is fortunate that we enjoy such a good relationship with the Saudi royal family. I was actually awakened at 2.30am on Thursday by a call from Saudi Arabia confirming the various special concessions for our airlift.

“I think it takes a very special friendship to work until so late to solve someone else’s problem and then to call someone at that hour to tell them about the blanket approval.”

Rosmah said she had also made some calls because she could not stand by and watch the students suffer “as some of them had nothing to eat”.

“As a mother, how could I not act? I feel for all the mothers whose children are studying there. I am glad I could help.

“Some of the Malaysian officials, aware of my Saudi connections, also asked me to assist. My husband was busy so that was why I helped,” she said.

“I could not afford to take any risk by waiting as every minute matters in a situation like this. Waiting a minute could cost lives. That’s why I made the call to the Saudis,” she said.

“Of course, I reported to him (Najib) what I did later.” - The Star

Read “Tugas Wajib Kerajaan Jaga Keselamatan Rakyat" here

10,000 rescued as evacuation set to end

2011-02-06T11:58:00.004+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR: The evacuation of Malaysian students may soon see an end with 10,000 expected to have been moved by the end of yesterday.

Those close to the operation believe it will take only another day, meaning all Malaysians who want to leave Egypt would have done so by the end of today.

Several left Egypt on commercial flights while others chose to remain.

The process, then, will only entail bringing Malaysians evacuated to Jeddah back to Malaysia.

In Cairo, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Senator A. Kohilan Pillay said yesterday that quite a number had decided to remain in Egypt despite thousands of protesters taking to the streets daily.

"Some of them have families here, while others are final-year students who do not want to go before they completed their degrees.

"We advised them to leave but many refused.

"We can only hope that they change their minds and pray for the best," he told the New Sunday Times in a telephone interview.

Kohilan, who is in Cairo to oversee the evacuation, said two Royal Malaysian Air Force C-130 Hercules transport aircraft were flying between Cairo and Jeddah to evacuate Malaysians, while another was ferrying Malaysians from Alexandria.

Also being flown are two aircraft from Malaysia Airlines and two more from AirAsia.

Kohilan said the government had also temporarily suspended plans to evacuate citizens using KD Bunga Mas 5, a Royal Malaysian Navy auxiliary ship.

"For now, we have enough aircraft for the evacuation, but the ship will be on standby."

He said apart from minor delays, the evacuation was going smoothly and had not been affected by curfews imposed by Egyptian authorities.

Asked about the students' educational future in if the situation worsened, Kohilan said he was confident that the unrest would not continue indefinitely and that the students would soon return to their studies.

RMAF chief Gen Tan Sri Rodzali Daud said the three Hercules aircraft would mount nine daily flights between Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

He said the flights had faced only minor problems, such as finding time slots due to air traffic and airport congestion.

Rodzali said Bunga Mas 5 was expected to reach Port Taufiq in the Suez Gulf at 9.10pm Malaysian time yesterday. - The NST

Pix above: First-year Malaysian varsity students boarding an RMAF C-130 Hercules aircraft bound for Jeddah at Cairo International Airport yesterday.

Egypt Protests show American Foreign-Policy Folly

2011-02-03T15:45:00.007+08:00

While popular uprisings erupt across the Middle East, America stands on the sidelines. Author/writer Stephen Kinzer writes on why the U.S. should abandon its self-defeating strategy in the region.

"The U.S. keeps Mubarak in power—it gave his regime $1.5 billion in aid last year—mainly because he supports America’s pro-Israel policies, especially by helping Israel maintain its stranglehold on Gaza. It supports Abbas for the same reason: he is seen as willing to compromise with Israel, and therefore a desirable negotiating partner. This was confirmed, to Abbas’s great embarrassment, by WikiLeaks cables that show how eager he has been to meet Israeli demands, even collaborating with Israeli security forces to arrest Palestinians he dislikes. American support for Mubarak and Abbas continues, although neither man is in power with any figment of legality; Mubarak brazenly stage-manages elections, and Abbas has ruled by decree since his term of office expired in 2009."

Full article read here

Gong Xi Fa Chai!

2011-02-02T09:17:00.002+08:00

Wishing everyone a good year ahead and those who are travelling a safe journey.

NSTP managing editor among FT award recipients

2011-02-01T16:44:00.006+08:00

Tuesday, February 1st, 2011 09:46:00

PUTRAJAYA: New Straits Times Press managing editor and prominent blogger Nuraina Abdul Samad (pic) is among 256 people conferred awards and medals in conjunction with Federal Territories (FT) Day 2011 today.

Nuraina, daughter of former media icon and National Eminent Journalist, the late Tan Sri A. Samad Ismail, is one of two media practitioners to receive the Panglima Mahkota Wilayah (PMW) award, which carries the title "Datuk". She blogs regularly at www.nursamad.blogspot.com.

Another media practitioner to receive the award is Kumpulan Utusan Melayu (M) Berhad executive director Datuk Mohd Nasir Ali.

Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan led the list of people conferred awards and medals. He received the Seri Utama Mahkota Wilayah (SUMW) award, which carries the title "Datuk Seri Utama".

The investiture ceremony at Istana Negara was attended by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin.

Other recipients of the SUMW are Umno secretarygeneral Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and Public Bank Berhad non-executive director Tan Sri Thong Yaw Hong. Three people received the Seri Mahkota Wilayah (SMW) award, which carries the title "Datuk Seri". They are Bukit Aman Special Branch director Datuk Seri Akhil Bulat, People's Progressive Party president Datuk Seri M. Kayveas and Malaysian Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association president Datuk Seri Yam Kong Choy.

Besides Nuraina and Mohd Nasir, a total of 32 individuals received the PMW. ... The Malay Mail

Sidek heads FT honours list - The NST

Read here

BN retains Tenang

2011-01-30T23:46:00.003+08:00

Barisan Nasional (BN) retained the Tenang State Assembly seat when its candidate, Mohd Azahar Ibrahim, defeated PAS candidate Normala Sudirman with a bigger majority.

Mohd Azahar garnered 6,699 votes while Normala had 2,992 which gave the BN a majority of 3,707 votes.

In the last general election, the BN candidate, the late Datuk Sulaiman Taha beat Md Saim Siran, from PAS, with a majority of 2,492 votes.

The result was announced by the Returning Officer for the by-election for the Tenang state seat, Md Asri Amir, at the Labis District Council Multi-purpose Hall at about 10.05 Sunday night.

The result was initially expected at 8pm but a major flood that hit the state constituency had delayed the arrival of several ballot boxes.

Also present at the hall to celebrate the BN victory were Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, who was also the BN election director for the Tenang state seat, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and other BN leaders.

As soon as the result was announced, Mohd Azahar, who was wearing a blue shirt and a 'songkok', was hoisted by his supporters over their shoulders while chanting 'Hidup BN!' (Long Live BN).

Despite the major flood that hit several low-lying areas in the Tenang state constituency, polling went smoothly with 67 per cent or 9,833 of the total of 14,753 registered voters in the constituency casting their votes.

The flood and heavy rain throughout the day had caused the voter turnout to drop this time compared with the 73.52 per cent recorded in the last general election.

Some of the voters had to go to the polling centres by boats and trucks provided by several government agencies such as the Fire and Rescue Department, Malaysian Armed Forces, police and the Malaysian Red Crescent Society.

Mohd Azahar, 39, who is also fondly referred to as 'Tok Ai', was a former Assistant Land and District Administrator for the Rengit sub-district, Batu Pahat, while Normala was a former teacher.

The Tenang by-election was held following the death of incumbent Assemblyman Sulaiman, on Dec 17, last year. -- BERNAMA

D-Day for Tenang...

2011-01-30T09:33:00.007+08:00

Today, 14,753 Tenang voters will cast their ballots to elect their next assemblyperson.

Their choice is between Umno's Azahar Ibrahim, 39, a former assistant district officer or PAS' Normala Sudirman, 38, a former remedial teacher.

There are 12 polling districts, each with a polling station. Tenang, located in northern Johor, consists of three Felda settlements, five traditional Malay kampong, three Chinese new villages, 25 modern residential area, one government quarters, four Indian estates and two Orang Asli villages.

Voting is from 8am to 5pm. The vote counting will be done in each polling station soon after the polls are close. The ballot boxes will then be transferred to the main tally centre - Labis municipal hall - where the final result announced. The Election Commission expects the results to be known by 9 pm.

According to the weather broadcast, morning in Tenang will be chilly and cloudy, to be followed by heavy rain in the afternoon.

It has been raining all day long over the past few days, dampening the final leg of campaigning for the contesting political parties.

The Tenang state seat fell vacant on Jan 17 when the former assemblyperson Sulaiman Taha from Umno died due to complication of diabetes.

Tenang, one of the two state seats under Labis parliamentary seat, has always been a BN stronghold. BN won the seat in the 2004 general election with 5,517 majority but this was slashed to 2,492 in the 2008 general election.

For more read here

Live updates by the star, here

BN reps reject constitutional amendment

2011-01-25T03:20:00.002+08:00

The BN has rejected a proposed amendment to the Selangor constitution tabled by the Pakatan Rakyat government of Selangor at Monday's special sitting of the state legislative assembly because "it is ultra vires the federal constitution".

Opposition Leader Datuk Satim Diman said that thesitting was "a futile effort and a waste of time" during the debate on the Selangor State Constitution Enactment (Second Part) (Amendment) 2011 Bill, Bernama reports.

BN Reps Reject Proposed Amendment To Selangor Constitution
SHAH ALAM, Jan 24 (Bernama) -- The Barisan Nasional (BN) has rejected a proposed amendment to the Selangor Constitution tabled by the PKR-DAP-PAS government of Selangor at today's special sitting of the Selangor Legislative Assembly because "it is ultra vires the Federal Constitution".

"Today's sitting of the assembly is a futile effort and a waste of time," said Selangor Opposition Leader Datuk Mohamad Satim Diman during the debate on the Selangor State Constitution Enactment (Second Part) (Amendment) 2011 Bill.

He was explaining why all the 20 BN assemblymen and the sole independent assemblyman were against the proposed amendment tabled by Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim which, among other things, seeks to "restore the powers of the Sultan of Selangor and the Menteri Besar" in the appointment of the State Secretary, State Financial Officer and State Legal Advisor.

(The sole independent assemblyman is Badrul Hisham Abdullah whose Port Klang seat has been declared vacant by Speaker Datuk Teng Chang Khim and he was prohibited from attending today's sitting of the assembly.)

The amendment to the state constitution was proposed following the appointment of Datuk Mohd Khusrin Munawi as the state secretary effective Jan 1 by the Public Service Commission. The appointment was disputed by the state government because the menteri besar was purportedly not consulted.

Mohamad Satim said the proposed amendment was politically motivated and portrayed the hypocrisy and insincerity of the Selangor government.

He said the BN, during its administration of Selangor, had never neglected or ignored the Sultan of Selangor.

On the appointment of Mohd Khusrin as the state secretary, he said Abdul Khalid himself had not accepted the appointment when Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah had given his consent.

"This can be regarded as treason," he said...cont here .

Tenang by-election: It's a straight fight

2011-01-22T15:05:00.008+08:00

LABIS:

The Tenang by-election on Jan 30 will see a straight fight between Barisan Nasional’s Mohd Azahar Ibrahim and PAS’ Normala Sudirman, returning officer Md Asri Amir announced Saturday after nominations closed.

Mohd Azahar, 39, (pix left) is the former Rengit assistant land administrator in Batu Pahat while Normala Sudirman (pix right) is PAS' Labis Muslimat chief and a former teacher.

Barisan wants to increase its majority to more than 5,000 while Pakatan hopes to reduce Barisan’s majority during the 2008 polls.

The Tenang state seat fell vacant following the death of Datuk Sulaiman Taha on Dec 17.

Sulaiman had won the seat by a majority of 2,492 votes in the 2008 general election, defeating PAS’ Md Saim Siran.

There are 14,753 voters including 18 postal voters, in the constituency.

They are made up of 47.5% Malays, Chinese (39%), Indians (12%) and others at 1.5%.

The other state seat in the area is Bekok, held by Tan Kok Hong, also of Barisan.

The MP is Chua Tee Yong, the son of MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek. - The Star

For more read here

Ex-MB Khir to face trial in June

2011-01-06T18:06:00.006+08:00

SHAH ALAM: The corruption trial of former Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo has been been fixed for June 6 to 24.

Judge Justice Mohtarudin Baki fixed the dates Thursday and also moved the case up to the High Court here.

On Dec 6, Dr Mohd Khir was charged with land fraud involving two plots of land and a house in Shah Alam worth millions of ringgit.

He was charged at the Sessions Court here with knowingly purchasing the properties from Ditamas Sdn Bhd director Shamsuddin Haryoni in 2007 much lower than its original price.

Dr Khir, 45, is alleged to have committed the offence at the Selangor Mentri Besar’s official residence on May 29, when he obtained for himself and his wife Datin Seri Zahrah Kechik the two plots of land and house from Shamsuddin at RM3.5mil.

Ditamas had bought the lots on Dec 23, 2004 for RM6.5mil.

Dr Khir was the Mentri Besar at that time.

Shamsuddin is charged under Section 109 and Section 165 of the Penal Code with abetting Dr Khir in the deal. the Star
Pix: Courtesy of Malaysiakini

Hello 2011 !

2010-12-31T19:20:00.011+08:00

How time flies! It seems like only yesterday that we bade farewell to 2009 and are now doing the same… saying adios to 2010.

And, as we bid farewell to 2010, let us look forward to a Happy and Prosperous 2011!

Have a safe and happy new year, everyone!

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T01:41:00.005+08:00

Here's wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May God's Blessings be on each of you.
And please keep safe!

Former Penang Chief Minister Chong Eu dies

2010-11-25T00:15:00.003+08:00

Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu, 91, who served as Penang Chief Minister for 21 years, died on Wednesday.

He was admitted to Penang Hospital on Oct 26 after he suffered a stroke but, when his condition worsened Wednesday, he was allowed to go to his home in Hillside, Taman Bungah, where he passed away at about 9pm, according to the Star.

He leaves behind his wife, two sons and two daughters.

Born in Penang, Dr Lim attended Penang Free School. In 1937, he was a King’s scholar at the Edinburgh University in Scotland and graduated in 1944 with a medical degree.

Formerly a medical officer with the Chinese Armed Forces, he founded the Radical Party in 1951 that won the first municipal council elections in George Town.

In 1954, he joined the MCA and was a member of the Razak Commission for Education.

He defeated the late Tun Tan Cheng Lock for the MCA presidency in 1958 but quit the party a year later following differences with Umno over the allocation of parliamentary seats in the 1959 general election.

He formed the United Democratic Party in 1962 and co-founded Gerakan in 1968.

The party swept the Alliance ruling coalition out of Penang in the 1969 general election and Dr Lim was appointed chief minister.

However, in 1973, Gerakan joined the Alliance Party to form a coalition called Barisan Nasional.

In 1980, Dr Lim stepped down as party president saying there were “many young and promising leaders in the party who are just as capable of holding the post”.

He was succeeded by (Tun) Dr Lim Keng Yaik in 1980.

He continued as chief minister but lost the Padang Kota state seat in the 1990 general election and then retired.

After retiring from politics, he stayed away from Gerakan affairs and kept mum, even when the party went through trials and tribulations.

He retired a humble man without a whiff of corruption.

After retiring, he became a passionate horse breeder and turned his attention to business, as chairman and adviser to several large corporations.

He also refused to publicly comment on the country’s political development when approached by newsmen.

In 2007, he was named founding chancellor of Wawasan Open University in Penang.

Penangites will not forget Dr Lim’s legacy. - The Star

Read also: Lim Chong Eu - Penang's father of industrialisation here

Salam Aidil Adha

2010-11-17T00:45:00.005+08:00

Wishing all Muslims Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Adha.

And a happy holiday to all!

Another little girl has gone missing

2010-09-28T19:08:00.004+08:00

I picked up this news from Nuraina who posted it in her blog:

NURIN ALERT: Have You seen Little Xin Ru?

In June 4 this year, 2 year-old Nisha Chandramohan went missing in Mentakab, Pahang after a mentally-ill aunt took her out for a walk. She was never found.

Last Tuesday (Sept 21) in Raub, Pahang, 2 year-old Lee Xin Ru, went missing. We hope and pray that she will be found soon -- safe....

If you have any information on her, please contact Inspector Haroza Pandi at 019-8793776 or the Raub district police headquarters: 09-355 2222.

(Image taken from a full-page ad by RHB on page 11 of today's NST)

Selamat Hari Jadi, Malaysia!

2010-09-16T09:02:00.006+08:00

Let's look forward to a more cohesive Malaysia under better, more transparent and accountable governance - a Malaysia, who will make all of us proud to be Malaysians!

"Now finally the peoples of Malaysia are celebrating the establishment of Malaysia. This is the time to think earnestly and hopefully on the future of Malaysia as the whole country resounds with joy.

"So I pray that God may bless the nation of Malaysia with eternal peace and happiness for our people." - Speech by the late Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Al-Haj, on the occasion of Malaysia Day on September 16, 1963 to commemorate Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore forming Malaysia.

HAPPY MALAYSIA DAY!

Main suspect in murder NOT a "Datuk" after all...

2010-09-16T08:28:00.004+08:00

The “Datuk” lawyer who is the prime suspect in the murder of Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya is believed to have spent RM180,000 to buy the title. (Read here)

Police investigations found no record of a datukship being awarded to the lawyer.

In other developments:

> INSPECTOR-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar has promised that all reports about missing persons will now be scrutinised carefully;

> A TASK force has been formed to probe all missing persons cases linked to the lawyer and his brother; and

> THE Sosilawati’s case is now considered solved by the police.

Personal wealth of Datuk Lawyer...

2010-09-15T14:52:00.006+08:00

Datuk lawyer's 'killer fortune'

Submitted by Najiah on Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

Wednesday, September 15th, 2010 12:12:00

KUALA LUMPUR: The Datuk lawyer in the centre of the hideous quadruple slaughters in Banting has a personal wealth of more than RM100 million, it emerged today.

His younger brother who is also a suspect in the kill and burn atrocity could have amassed up to RM20 million, sources said.

The estimated fortunes of the brothers were based on their bank accounts that the authorities know of and the properties they owned.

The police’s anti-money laundering division have got an order from the Attorney-General’s Chambers to freeze the assets, including bank accounts, of the two lawyers.

Millions are reportedly in single accounts, said the source. Checks are underway to ascertain if they had parked money in offshore banks.

While it is known that they own several parcels of land in and around Banting, including the 1.6ha farm where the killings are thought to have occurred, the authorities believe there are more.

The brothers own several shophouses and a medical clinic in Banting besides lavish homes, notably their mansion where both of them live. They also have a fleet of high-end luxury cars.

The gained their wealth allegedly through money-laundering, obtaining properties illegally and land scams.

It is believed the brothers secured dozens of land grants as collateral in illegal money-lending deals. Caveats on properties were also their way of extorting money, said a source.

The source said the lawyers often asked for jewellery as security when giving loans.

Police yesterday seized files from his law firm in Banting town believed to contain vital information on dubious land deals and money-lending activities.

The seized files are also thought to contain land grants that have now put the owners in a fix as these documents would be crucial in investigations and perhaps later as court exhibits.

Financial institutions have extended full co-operation in the declaration of transactions undertaken by the brothers.

Investigations into their financial transactions could be time-consuming as it is believed there were numerous movements of money in and out of the country.

The brothers are among six suspects held in connection with the murders of cosmetics millionaire Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya, 47, 44, her financial adviser and CIMB bank officer Noorhisham Mohammad, 38, lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim, 32 and her driver Kamarudin Shamsuddin who were reported missing on Aug 30.

The killings were believed to have occurred after Sosilawati had gone with the others to confront the lawyer regarding the transfer of a land title in a deal believed to be worth RM25mil.
Police have yet to establish if Sosilawati had actually brought RM4mil for their meeting with the Datuk as speculated. - The Malay Mail

More may have died at hands of Sosilawati killers

2010-09-14T10:00:00.001+08:00

As police dug deeper into the shocking murder of Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya, they have come up with the chilling possibility that several others – as many as nine people – could also have been killed and disposed of in the same manner, according to the Star.

These individuals were all reported missing and were linked to the two lawyer brothers who have been identified as the chief suspects in the murder of Sosilawati and three men who were with her.

Other developments:

> The wife of one of the missing men, an Indian national, said her husband had come to Malaysia after being invited by the brothers;

> The wife of bank officer Noorhisham Mohammad is still holding out hope that her husband is alive;

> A police scuba team dived into Sungai Kanchong looking for the murder weapon although nothing was found at press time;

> Sosilawati’s eldest daughter is most likely to inherit the estate of the cosmetics millionairess;

> The Penang police are reopening several unresolved cases in which lawyers were killed.

Shady duo who put up a generous front

2010-09-13T12:31:00.004+08:00

KUALA LANGAT: The mastermind said to be behind the murder of cosmetics millionaire Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya and three others is an infamous figure being investigated by police for land fraud and cheating.

Both the man and his brother are from humble beginnings. After graduating with law degrees, they opened a practice, where one of the brothers soon became an active member of the community.

They are known for their show of philanthropy with frequent donations of food and clothing to the poor.

The brothers, who specialise in land deals, had also developed a reputation for “unsavoury tactics” during their negotiations.

“Their methods were frowned upon and most lawyers kept their distance from them,” said a source.

The two, who were suspended from practising law for a year for alleged involvement in land scams, are known to have expensive tastes, being seen driving luxury cars.

Crime scene: The farm where the murders might have been committed.

It is understood that the elder brother, who received a Datukship a year ago, is being investigated by the Commercial Crimes Investigations Department (CCID) in Penang and Bukit Aman for land fraud and cheating cases involving millions of ringgit.

Sources familiar with the case said he had attempted to cheat a businessman of more than a million ringgit over three parcels of land.

“The businessman was shown a power of attorney letter by the lawyer, who collected a RM1mil deposit pending transfer of the land title.

A forensics police officer collecting bone fragments near Banting Sunday.

“When the businessman later did a search, he was shocked to find that the land had already been sold,” they said.

The sources said police were checking if Sosilawati had engaged one of the brothers in a land deal and if she could have wanted her money back after learning about the alleged fraud because there was talk that she had gone to see him in Banting on the same matter.

Federal CCID deputy director Deputy Comm Datuk Noryah Md Anvar confirmed that the brothers were under investigation.

An estate worker said he had sometimes seen luxury cars entering and leaving the farm near where the ashes of the victims were supposedly found.

“However, no one really knows what goes on there as the gates are always closed,” he said.

Another resident, who only wanted to be known as Rajes, 30, said one the brothers was the man “you go to see if you need help with something outside the boundaries of the law.”

“Everyone knows that he is connected with certain types of people,” he said, adding that it was rumoured among locals that people who crossed the brothers would mysteriously disappear. - the Star

Datuk Lawyer, Brother And Six Others Arrested For Sosilawati's Murder...

2010-09-12T16:18:00.007+08:00

BANTING, Sept 12 (Bernama) -- Police arrested a "Datuk" lawyer, his younger brother, also a lawyer, and six workers of an oil palm plantation here where cosmetic millionaire Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya and three others were murdered.

Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department Director Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Zinin said the suspects admitted that they took the victims to the four-hectare plantation, bludgeoned them to death and burned their bodies.

They later scattered the ashes at a river near the Ladang Gadong, Tanjong Sepat, here, Mohd Bakri told a news conference at the Kuala Langat district police headquarters.

Mohd Bakri said police picked up five of the suspects on Friday.

Yesterday, police arrested the Datuk and his brother, attached with a law firm here, while the eighth suspect was arrested on Sunday.

Apart from Sosilawati, the others murdered were her driver Kamaruddin Shamsudin, 44, CIMB Kampung Baru bank officer Noorhisham Mohammad, 38, and her personal lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim, 32.

They were reported missing since Aug 30 after going here purportedly for a dealing related to a land purchase.

Mohd Bakri, however, could not confirm the date the murder took place but said that it could be anytime between the day they were reported missing and yesterday.

On the motive of the incident, Mohd Bakri said it pointed towards business rivalry between the two lawyers and Sosilawati. -- BERNAMA

Read also: ‘Datuk’, seven others arrested in Sosilawati murder probe

Salam Aidil Fitri....

2010-09-10T01:20:00.002+08:00

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Maaf Zahir dan Batin. Be safe and drive safe and have a good celebrations and holiday!

MERDEKA!

2010-08-30T21:18:00.005+08:00

Selamat menyambut Hari Kemerdekaan yang ke 53!

Ramadhan Al Mubarak...

2010-08-10T21:25:00.003+08:00

...to all my Muslims brothers & sisters. Here's wishing you "Selamat menyambut Bulan Ramadhan".

May the month bring endless blessings to all. Ameen.

Farewell, Dalilah...

2010-07-19T23:31:00.004+08:00

I am saddened by the passing of a dear friend, Dalilah Tamrin.

Dalilah Tamrin, who runs a blog onebreastbouncing under the name 0f Raden Galoh lost her fight against cancer. She died at 8.50am and was buried before the Asar prayers.

We were told by her husband early yesterday morning that her condition had worsened.

Am glad that Elviza, my sister, Nuraina and I managed to see her for the last time yesterday at the KLGH although she wasn't able to recognise us. Sempat cium her forehead and her cheeks.

We went to her funeral this afternoon at her mom's place in Banting. It was packed with relatives and friends .

She leaves behind husband Saiful and sons Adam,15, and Idris.11.

May Allah SWT Bless her soul.

Al fatihah

Below is a song“Kembaliku Padamu Ilahi, the lyrics of which she penned herself.

Tun Omar Ong Yoke Lin dies of old age

2010-07-01T23:59:00.004+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA founding member, Tun Omar Ong Yoke Lin, 93, passed away due to old age Thursday morning.

He was buried at the Warrior's Mausoleum, next to the National Mosque here, at 6.05pm.

According to an aide to his wife Toh Puan Dr Aishah, Ong died at his home in No. 44, Persiaran Duta, at 8.15am.

Born July 23, 1917 in Kuala Lumpur, Ong was one of the key figures involved in the formation of the Umno-MCA alliance and was part of a delegation headed by Tunku Abdul Rahman to negotiate the country's independence in London in 1957.

He was Malaya’s first Post and Telecoms Minister and was one of the signatories when the Malaysia agreement was signed in London in 1963.

He also held various ministerial posts, including Labour and Social Welfare, Health and Social Welfare, acting Minister of Defence, Commerce and Industry, and Agriculture before he retired from politics.

In 1973, he was elected President of the Dewan Negara and served until 1980.

Even after he retired from active politics, Ong continued to be active in social works, said Aishah. - The Star

Veteran Amerian journalist Helen Thomas quits over remarks on Israel

2010-06-08T18:32:00.004+08:00

Reporter quits over Israel remark- Aljazeera

Thomas, centre, has covered every US president
since John F Kennedy [AP]

Veteran White House journalist Helen Thomas, who has covered every US president since John F Kennedy, has abruptly retired amid a storm of criticism over her controversial remarks about Israel.

Her retirement on Monday as a Hearst Newspapers columnist came after she was captured on video saying Israelis should "get the hell out of Palestine" and that they should go "home" to Germany, Poland or the United States.

The comments drew widespread condemnation with Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, describing her comments as “offencive and reprehensible”.

Thomas, 89, long considered the dean of the White House press correspondents, apologised for the statements she made on May 27.

In a statement issued over the weekend she said: "I deeply regret my comments I made last week regarding the Israelis and the Palestinians. They do not reflect my heart-felt belief that peace will come to the Middle East only when all parties recognise the need for mutual respect and tolerance. May that day come soon."

Fallout

In depth

A tough questioner and pioneer female journalist

The controversy prompted Thomas to be dropped by her public speaking agency and also led to the cancellation of her plans to deliver a high school commencement address in suburban Washington.

"Helen Thomas announced Monday that she is retiring, effective immediately," Hearst News Service reported. "Her decision came after her controversial comments about Israel and the Palestinians were captured on videotape and widely disseminated on the Internet."

Thomas was absent from Monday's White House briefing, where she has a reserved seat in the centre of the front row.

The White House Correspondents Association called her remarks "indefensible" and, before the announcement of her retirement, scheduled a meeting on whether an opinion columnist should have a front-row seat in the West Wing briefing room.

"Many in our profession who have known Helen for years were saddened by the comments, which were especially unfortunate in light of her role as a trail blazer on the White House beat," the association's board said in a statement.

Thomas became a columnist for the Hearst newspaper chain in recent years after working for decades as a White House correspondent for United Press International.

Read here: Helen Tells Jews to go back.

Rachel Corrie: Israel to deport aid ship activists

2010-06-06T13:03:00.001+08:00

Israel to deport aid ship activists

Jacky Rowland reports from Israel on
the boarding of the MV Rachel Corrie

Passengers on board an aid ship seized by the Israeli military as it tried to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip are awaiting deportation in Tel Aviv.

Eleven activists and eight crew were arrested after the Malaysia-funded Irish ship ignored warnings to divert to the Israeli port of Ashdod.

The activists' expulsion from Israel has been delayed by their refusal to sign documents presented to them by Israeli authorities.

"We are trying to convince all of the passengers and members of the crew to sign the document. Otherwise, in accordance with the law, they risk having to wait up to 72 hours for a judge to decide their fate," an Israeli immigration spokeswoman said.

Meanwhile, Jacky Rowland, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Ashdod, said the vessel Rachel Corrie is being held at the port while its cargo is inspected.

"The aid will be taken off and inspected," she said. "It is not clear how much of it will be taken to Gaza."

The seizure of the Rachel Corrie came five days after Israeli troops killed nine activists while raiding a flotilla of aid ships carrying humanitarian supplies for the beseiged Palestinian territory.

Israeli statement

Israeli naval vessels trailed the ship for several hours before boarding it, jamming its radar and cutting off all radio communication.

IN DEPTH

Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said naval forces involved in Saturday's operation had followed exactly the same procedures as they had done earlier in the week, but the difference lay in the attitude of the activists on board the vessel.

"We saw today the difference between a ship of peace activists, with whom we don't agree but respect their right to a different opinion from ours, and between a ship of hate organised by violent Turkish terror extremists ... waiting for our soldiers on the deck with axes and knives," Netanyahu's office cited him as saying.

Raising awareness

Mukhriz Mahathir, head of the Perdana Global Peace Organisation, a Malaysian non-governmental organisation that sponsored the Rachel Corrie, said people would be willing to contribute to further aid ships.

Al Jazeera reports from London on protests against the Israeli raid and embargo on Gaza

"These actions have finally succeeded in raising lots of awareness," he said.

"But for the moment, we are upset that these aid goods have not reached their destination."

The Rachel Corrie is named after an American womanwho was killed by an Israeli military bulldozer in the Gaza Strip in 2003, while protesting against a house demolition.

Pro-Palestinian activists on board the ship had earlier said they were determined to press ahead towards the Gaza coast, despite the Israeli warnings.

"We are not afraid and we are all advocating non-violence… and we will just sit here and go if they insist on commandeering our boat and forcing us into Ashdod," Mairead Maguire, an activist and Nobel Peace laureate aboard Rachel Corrie, said before radio contact with the ship was lost.

The Israeli military had cautioned that troops would consider storming the ship, if it continued its journey towards Gaza.

Al Jazeera's Nicole Johnston, reporting from Gaza, said the Rachel Corrie had hundreds of tonnes of aid, including medical supplies, wheelchairs, cement, building materials and even note pads for children.

UNRWA appeal

Speaking to Al Jazeera on Saturday, Chris Gunness, a spokesman for UNWRA, the United Nations Palestine refugee agency, underscored the need for Gaza's land and sea blockades to be lifted.

Israel's raid has led to protests in many nations including in the French capital Paris

"The World Health Organisation needs $20m worth of aid to enter Gaza, there is 44 per cent unemployment and education is in crisis," he said.

"We are turning thousands of five and six year olds away from our schools [and] 39,000 children in Gaza are not receiving United Nations education because we cannot get our building materials in.

"We also want to see exports coming out of Gaza. It is already 80 per cent aid dependent. What we don't want is to make it more aid dependent."

The developments surrounding the Rachel Corrie came as the UN human-rights chief said that Israel could face prosecution for Monday's flotilla raid, and that she was following requests for a referral to the International Criminal Court [ICC] in The Hague.

"I am following very closely the very many calls that come particularly from civil society and from all the people who are suffering in Palestine for that kind of action to be taken," Navi Pillay said on Saturday in Kampala, Uganda, where she was attending the ICC's ongoing review conference.

She said she believed Israel's blockade of Gaza violates international law.

"International humanitarian law prohibits starvation of civilians as a method of warfare ... It is also prohibited to impose collective punishment on the civilian population, so it is [for those reasons] that I have consistently reported to member states that the blockade is illegal and must be lifted," Pillay said.

"Even if it is demonstrated that the blockade is legal under international law, Israel's current military operations against the flotilla must be analysed from the perspective of its obligation to allow humanitarian aid to be brought into the Gaza Strip."

Rachel Corrie makes its way to Gaza

2010-06-04T10:01:00.006+08:00

From Amman by SHAHANAAZ HABIB

AMMAN: Volunteers on the MV Rachel Corrie are not trained soldiers, and they are fearful of being attacked by the Israeli army – but they are determined to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.
“Of course there is worry, but this is an amanah (trust bestowed upon us) to deliver the aid to Gaza,” said Perdana Global Peace Organisation representative Shamsul Akmar in an interview.

He is on board the sole ship making its way to Gaza.

Israel’s attack on the six aid ships in international waters on Monday resulting in nine deaths only made those on Rachel Corrie more determined to carry out their amanah.

Rachel Corrie was supposed to be part of the flotilla but she got left behind due to delays and some “suspicious stringent checks” by port authorities at several places, said Shamsul.

If all goes well, the 1,200 tonne Rachel Corrie, carrying medical aid, construction material, toys, educational and writing material is expected to reach Gaza on Saturday.

There are 19 people on board and they have been travelling for 20 days.

Other than Shamsul, who is the head of the delegation, there are five other Malaysians – Matthias Chang, Parit MP Nizar Zakaria, activist Ahmad Faizal Azumu and TV3 crew members Halim Mohamed and Jufri Junid.

Also on board is a strong Irish delegation with Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire.

There are six crew members, a captain and a chief engineer.

The ship is funded by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Perdana Global Peace Organisation.

Shamsul said there are a number of possible scenarios:

> Israel may let Rachel Corrie through

> Israel may become aggressive and board the ship; and

> those on board the ship may be shot by Israeli forces

Shamsul said that if Israel stopped the ship in international waters, but the ship was forced away, “we collectively feel we should stay there for a few days to try and deliver the aid.”

The tiny Gaza strip has been put under a strangling blockade after Hamas took over control of it in 2007, causing hardship to the 1.5 million living in what is called the “world’s biggest prison on earth.”

In December 2008, Israel launched a three week massive military strike on Gaza, killing at least 1,400 people and destroying many homes, buildings, factories and infrastructure.

But because of the siege, Gaza has not been able to bring the materials needed to rebuild including construction material like cement, glass and bricks. The Star

Muslims Pray, Protest Against Israeli Violence

KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 (Bernama) -- Muslims on Friday offered special prayers for Palestinians and protested against the Israeli raid on the Gaza humanitarian flotilla killing nine people.

Non-governmental organisations (NGO) including Aman Malaysia and Umno Youth gathered in the compound of Masjid Negara after Friday and special (hajat) prayers for the safety of the activists.

Aman Malaysia adviser and Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said the rally was to support Palestinians and condemn the inhuman act of the Israeli regime.

Chairman Datuk Ahmad Zaki Zahid said Malaysians had been angry with Israel for a long time for oppressing the Palestinians.

"Israel's act of violence and utter disregard for international law has inflamed anger among Malaysians," he said.

Khairy launched a "SMS For Gaza" campaign to collect funds for Gaza. Donors only have to send SMS by typing "GAZA" and send to 32928.

Earlier, Masjid Negara imam besar Tan Sri Syaikh Ismail Muhammad used the sermon to condemn Israel for the inhuman act against activists taking humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Another rally took place at Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru led by opposition leader and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The anti-Israel rally attended by about 10,000 people then proceed to the United States embassy in Jalan Ampang and ended at 4pm after a memorandum was delivered.

In JOHOR BAHARU, over 100 NGO and Pakatan Rakyat party members held a rally in the compound of Masjid Sultan Abu Bakar after Friday prayers.

The anti-Israel rally in heavy rain lasted 30 minutes and ended with burning of the flags of Israel and United States.

In KOTA BHARU, some 5,000 Muslims gathered near Sultan Mohammed Stadium for special prayers for Palestinians led by Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

He said the Kelantan government spent RM25,000 monthly under the Palestinian Education Aid Fund to finance Palestinian students at several institutions of higher learning.

In Penang, over 500 people participated in an rally organised by Penang Federation of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) at Masjid Kapitan Keling.

The 30-minute anti-Israel protest after Fridays prayers was filled with fiery speeches by NGO representatives.

In TAWAU, about 100 Muslims held a peaceful rally at Masjid Al-Kauthar after Friday prayers to protest Israeli violence.

Special prayers were also held for the safety of Palestinians and the humanitarian vessel heading for Gaza.

In IPOH, the family of Dr Selamat Aliman, one of 12 Malaysian activists on board "Mavi Marmara" raided by Israeli commandos, would be holding a feast to mark his return.

Dr Selamat, 54, a member of Jemaah Islah Malaysia (JIM) was expected to arrive at KL International Airport (KLIA) early Sunday with nine others, including two staff of Astro Awani.

His wife Faezah Hassan, 52, said no date had been set as it would depend on Dr Selamat's work schedule. -- BERNAMA

12 Malaysians among 124 Gaza-aid activists released by Israel

2010-06-03T08:01:00.007+08:00

Published: Wednesday June 2, 2010 MYT 10:40:00 AM
Updated: Wednesday June 2, 2010 MYT 9:17:51 PM
PETALING JAYA: The 12 Malaysians who were on board aid ship Mavi Marmara, which was attacked and detained by Israeli forces Monday morning, have been released and are now in Jordan.

They include Astro Awani journalist Ashwad Ismail and cameraman Samsulkamal Abdul Latip.

Malaysian Ambassador to Jordan Datuk Abdul Malek Abdul Aziz said the 12 arrived at 6.30am local time Wednesday.

They are currently staying at the Crown Plaza Hotel while waiting for their travel documents to be processed, he said when contacted.

"We are doing what we can to bring them home. Some of them lost their passports and documents. The news crew's cameras were also confisicated," he added.
"We are doing what we can to bring them home. Some of them lost their passports and documents. The news crew's cameras were also confisicated," he added.

The Malaysians who were on board the Mavi Marmara after their release. With them are Malaysian ambassador to Jordan Datuk Abd Malek Abd Aziz (front, fourth from left)and First Secretary Wong Chia Chiann (front, right). -BERNAMA

Abdul Malek also said he had not heard from six other Malaysians on the Rachel Corrie, which was expected to reach Gaza later Wednesday.

However, according to a TV channel, journalist Shamsul Akmar, who is on the ship, said they would continue towards their destination despite the threat of being boarded by the Israeli navy.

"We are prepared for the possibility. If they do board us, we will not resist," he said.

Meanwhile, Malaysian delegation leader Noorazman Mohd Samsuddin said Israeli forces treated the detainees like criminals.

"We were not even allowed to go to the toilet,” he said.

According to Astro Awani, the Malaysians were among 124 Gaza flotilla aid activists aboard five buses, who arrived in Amman, Jordan, Wednesday morning via Allenby Bridge, after being detained and ill-treated by Israeli forces.

Ashwad, 26, said all media equipment was confiscated, including notebooks and pens.

Relating his experience live from Jordan earlier Wednesday, he said they were exhausted and dehydrated after 28 hours in detention at Beersheba prison.

He said Israeli naval forces, comprising 19 naval boats, eight naval ships and three Apache helicopters attacked the ship at 4.40am on Monday.

"We were fully prepared as we had received reports that Israeli forces had expanded their claim on territorial waters from 64km to 108km (off the coast of Gaza).

"They started to circle us at 11pm. They began advancing at 2am and attacked us from all angles at 4.30am. They attacked us incessantly. Alhamdullillah, our cameraman, Shamsul and I were safe from the assault," he said, adding that the Israelis had used live ammunition.

Contrary to Israeli defence forces claims in the international media that aid activists had used sharp weapons, Ashwad said they had merely sprayed water from fire hoses to ward off their attackers. (read here: "It was pure hell." , here and here)

"I did not see any sharp weapons in the form of knives, parang, sword and so on being used. Volunteers merely used water to stop the commandos from boarding the ship.

"Two Turkish nationals, one of my right and the other on my left, were shot on the arm and hand. I managed to escape and crawled to safety on the deck, which was filld with blood. It was indeed a painful experience. It was an eye-opener to the world. I did not expect Israel to act in such a way. We were civilians onboard but subjected to military action.

"It was a war against humanity. During the 28-hour ordeal, I could fathom the six decades of Israeli-Palestine conflict and the oppression against Palestinians. I hope our audience, including my parents, will get the message."

Ashwad said he was handcuffed, taken to Ashdod and later detained in Beersheba prison. He was separated from Shamsul then but they were reunited at the Jordan-Israel border following their release.

He thanked the Government and the Malaysian Embassy in Jordan as well as the international community for efforts to secure their release.

Astro Awani general manager Rozina Aziz said the TV station was unable to contact Ashwad directly as his handphone had been confiscated.

He was contacted through the ambassador’s number.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman left for Jordan on Wednesday to help expedite their return to Malaysia.

Meanwhile, a statement from the Prime Minister's office said a motion would be tabled in Parliament on Monday to strongly condemn the attack by Israeli military on the aid ship Mavi Marmara, which was carrying humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

Earlier, Kuwaiti ambassador Sheik Faisal Al Sabah had said that in addition to the 16 Kuwaitis aboard the buses, the other activists came from Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, Yemen, Oman and Bahrain.

Dozens of other activists remain in Israeli detention, but most are expected to be deported in the coming days.

The bridge across the Jordan River is under Israeli control. It links Jordan with the West Bank.

Jordanian government spokesman Nabil Al-Sharif said there were 30 Jordanians in the group. Jordan is one of two Arab nations with a signed peace treaty with Israel.

The bridge's Jordanian chief, Brig. Mahmoud Abu Jumaa, said Jordan will help repatriate the activists - who include lawmakers and journalists - to their respective countries in coordination with their governments.

Worldwide condemnation has poured on Israel since its naval commandos halted the aid flotilla in international waters overnight Monday, setting off a melee that left nine activists dead and dozens wounded.

Eighteen Malaysians were involved in the humanitarian mission, with six on board another ship, the Rachel Corrie.

Mavi Marmara was leading a convoy of six vessels bound for Gaza to deliver aid to 100,000 Palestinians when it was attacked by Israeli commandoes in international waters at 10.30am Malaysian time on Monday. - The Star

Read here "Gaza Aid convoy" and here "Lying About the Gaza Flotilla Disaster"

Worldwide condemnation of Israel...

2010-06-01T09:25:00.019+08:00

...after its troops stormed aid ship, Flotilla, trying to break Gaza blockade, killing 10 activists on board. (Read here and here. ).

While the majority of world leaders have condemned the attack, Israeli's strongest ally, Barrack Obama, the president of United States, has been conspicuously silent, except for a brief statement from the White house expressing "regrets over the loss of life and injuries sustained..." avoiding any hint of criticism of Israeli action in its public statement.

Across the world, Muslims have held numerous protests against the dawn raid. But there is not much information on the aftermath of the raid - because of a news blackout by the Israeli. As a result, the main international media organisations have relied on Israeli spokespeople to step in unchallenged through its own version of the incident by its great propaganist, Mark Regev, who has been monopolising the airwaves.

Israel claimed the aid activists were terrorists armed with guns and in cahoot with al-Qaeda and Hamas. And, of course, the Israeli soldiers had acted reasonably. They faced a lynch, says Israel.

No names of the dead have been released but reports say that most of them are Turkish.

Human Rights groups have condemned the occupation of Gaza and in the latest incident say that Israel has flouted International laws and has no right to control Gaza’s sea as its own territorial waters and to stop aid convoys.

The flotilla, is among six fleet of ships, carrying 5,000 tonnes of reconstruction materials, school supplies and medical equipment to the 1.5 million inhabitants of Gaza.

Deadly Israeli raid on aid fleet - Aljazeera

Al Jazeera's Ayman Mohyeldin reports from Jerusalem on the storming of the flotilla and its aftermath

Israeli soldiers have attacked a flotilla of aid-carrying ships off the coast of the Gaza Strip, killing as many as 10 people on board.

Dozens more were believed to be injured when troops raided the convoy of six ships, dubbed the Freedom Flotilla, early on Monday.

But those figures were hard to confirm as the flotilla was being held in the Israeli port of Ashdod on Tuesday, with 700 passengers from 30 countries either being detained or in hospital.

Israel said activists on board attacked its commandos as they boarded the ships, while the flotilla's organisers said the Israeli forces opened fire first, as soon as they stormed the convoy.

Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, gave his "full backing" to the military forces after the raid, which he said "was to prevent the infiltration of thousands of rockets, missiles and other arms that could hit our cities, communities or people".

"I give my complete backing to the army, the soldiers and commanders who acted to defend the state and to protect their lives." He also said Israel regretted the loss of life in the raid.

Protests worldwide

Israeli media reported that many of the dead were Turkish nationals.

Hamas, the Palestinian group which governs the Gaza Strip, said the assault was a "massacre" and called on the international community to intervene.... continue here

Read here "A Prayer for the Safety of our Gaza-bound friends" ; here "Malaysia Condemns Israeli Raid on Gaza Aid Flotilla."Malaysia Condemns Israeli Raid On Gaza Aid FlotillaMalaysia Condemns Israeli Raid On Gaza Aid Flotilla

DAP takes Sibu

2010-05-16T23:18:00.003+08:00

SIBU, May 16 — The DAP pulled off a surprise win in the Sibu by-election today, when its candidate, Wong Ho Leng,(pic left) won the three-cornered-fight with a 398 majority.

The official result was announced by the Election Commission at about 10.58 pm.

The two-hour delay in the announcement of the result was due to a dispute in the postal ballots where 208 votes were rejected. This however did not change the final result.

According to the EC, the dispute was over the validity of witnesses' signature for postal votes.

Wong, who is also Bukit Assek state assemblyman, garnered 18,845 votes against Barisan National's Robert Lau Hui Yew, who polled 18,447 votes while independent Narawi Haron only received 232 votes.

BN had earlier been expected to retain its Sarawak stronghold but lost despite the best efforts of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Pakatan Rakyat has managed to reverse its series of losses (Bagan Pinang and Hulu Selangor) with this win in Sibu.

Of the 11 by-elections since March 2008, Pakatan has won eight while BN three. Sibu is also Pakatan's first victory in East Malaysia. PKR lost in Batang Ai in April last year.

For DAP, this is the first by-election which the party has won in 13 years. Sibu will be the party's second parliamentary seat in Sarawak to its existing Bandar Kuching.

The Sibu by-election was called following the death of five-time MP and Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chew on April 9. - reports from the Star and Malaysian Insider.

Sibu by-election: It's a three-way fight

2010-05-08T19:43:00.007+08:00

SIBU: It will be a three-cornered contest between Barisan Nasional's Robert Lau Hui Yew (centre), DAP's Wong Ho Leng (right) and independent Narawi Haron for the Sibu parliamentary seat.
Returning officer Wong See Meng announced this at 11.30am Saturday, after the three candidates filed their nominations. There were no objections filed.
Supporters from both sides broke out in chants and songs after objection time was announced, following the filing of nominations. There was good-natured jeering between Barisan and DAP supporters, according to the Star online report.
As early as 7am, party leaders and supporters, bearing banners and flags, had gathered a short distance from the Sibu Civic Centre, where the nominations were to be filed.
Polling for the seat is on May 16. The by-election was triggered by the death of Deputy Transport Minister and five-term Sibu MP Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chew on April 9.
Sibu has 54,695 voters, comprising 52,158 ordinary voters and 2,537 postal voters made up of 1,910 military and 627 police personnel.
According to the electoral roll, updated as of April 9 this year, Chinese voters make up almost 67% of the total number of voters, followed by Malay/Melanau (10.5%) and Sarawak bumiputeras (22%). - The Star

BN wins by 2,000 majority

2010-04-25T20:07:00.008+08:00

Latest:

BN wins by 1,725 votes - The NST
2010/04/26

KUALA KUBU BARU: Barisan Nasional gained a parliamentary seat last night when P.Kamalanathan defeated Datuk Zaid Ibrahim of Parti Keadilan Rakyat with a 1,725-vote majority in the Hulu Selangor by-election.

This is the first parliamentary by-election win for BN since the March 2008 nationwide polls, following defeats in Permatang Pauh (August 2008), Kuala Terengganu (January last year) and Bukit Gantang (April last year).
The Hulu Selangor contest, the focal point of national politics over the past twoweeks, coincides with Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s first full year in office asprime minister.
This marks a back-to-back by-election win for BN following the success in BaganPinang in October last year, which followed a near-victory in the July 2009 by-election for Manek Urai, retained by Pas with a majority of 65.
Bagan Pinang and Manek Urai are state constituencies in Negri Sembilan and Kelantan, respectively. ...continue here

Earlier report:

BN wins by 2,000 majoritiy. Malaysiakini

7.49pm: Unofficial results

According to BN sources, P Kamalanathan (MIC) is leading Zaid Ibrahim (PKR) by about 2,000 votes.

PKR leaders have unofficially conceded defeat.

BN - 21,354
PKR - 19,917
Majority - 1,437

D-Day for Hulu Selangor - update

2010-04-25T08:49:00.006+08:00

Unofficial: Both sides claim early lead

Apr 25, 10 6:08pm

LIVE REPORTS Read: here

and LIVE FROM KKB: here

7.36pm: BN sources are claiming that they are leading by 3,000 to 4,000 votes. According to Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, the unofficial tally so far is:

BN - 19,067
PKR - 17,554
Majority - 1,513

Election Commission's official results

BN - 4,080
PKr - 4,547
Majority - 467

7.21pm: Election Commission's official results

PKR - 2,722
BN - 2,468
Majority - 258

7.15pm: On-the-spot analysis

Early results show PKR winning two-thirds of the votes in Chinese-majority areas, below the 85 percent which DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang has wanted. According to Lim, PKR will need to win that much to win.

It is expected PKR will lose much of the votes in the Malay-majority Felda areas.

Election Commission's official results

PKR - 2,173
BN - 1,934
Majority - 239

7.12pm: Unofficial results

PKR - 9,133
BN - 7,261
Majority - 1,872

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After seven days of intense campaigning, it is D-Day for both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat in Hulu Selangor.

The 64,500 voters will decide today whether they want to retain a Pakatan representative in Parliament, or return the seat to Barisan, which held it before the 2008 general election.

Both sides are confident of victory but observers are expecting a close finish.

The contest is a straight fight between Barisan’s P. Kamalanathan of MIC (left) and Pakatan’s Datuk Zaid Ibrahim (PKR)(pic right).

Results are expected about 8pm.

The by-election is being held following the death of PKR’s Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad on March 25. Zainal Abidin, 71, had won the seat with a slim majority of 198 in the 2008 general election.

For Hulu Selangor by-election update read here .

Gong Xi Fa Chai

2010-02-14T00:50:00.005+08:00

Wishing everyone a good year ahead and those who are travelling a safe journey.

Rais: Be ethical when blogging on Anwar's trial

2010-02-05T21:04:00.004+08:00

Bloggers should be responsible and ethical in reporting the sodomy trial of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to avoid sub judice, Information Communication and Culture Minister Rais Yatim said.

Bloggers had the responsibility to the society and should abide by the country's law, he said.

"I believe bloggers have their own sense of responsibility to the society and will not go around writing with wild abandon, because in the end the law will catch up with them; and like it or not, the law will come down hard on them.

"So before that happens, they should exercise caution,"

Rais said the Attorney-General's Chambers was constantly monitoring reports published in certain blogs to see if they were made in general or had the elements of contempt or against the rule of sub judice.

Howver, he s said the ministry would not stop Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) from reporting the case.

RTM would also be allowed to use certain terms which were mentioned in court, he added.

"We can report on the case based on what transpired in court and in the interest of public knowledge but we should not make comments which are sub judice," he said.

The PKR advisor and Permatang Pauh MP, is charged with sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan at Unit 11-5-1 Desa Damansara Condominium, Jalan Setiakasih, Bukit Damansara, between 3.01pm and 4.30pm on Jan 26, 2008.

Full report of today's trial - Sailful: Anwar was my idol

Anwar's trial closed to the public

2010-02-04T19:09:00.003+08:00

The Kuala Lumpur high court closed the second day of the trial of Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to the media and public today, a day after explicit details of the alleged act emerged from his accuser, Mohamad Saiful Azlan, 25.

Saiful, a former aide of Datuk Seri Anwar, has accused his former boss of sodomising him on June 26, 2008, at a private condominium - Unit 11-5-1 of the Desa Damansara Condominium in Jalan Setiakasih, Bukit Damansara - between 3.01pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008.

Saiful reported the matter to the police two days later.

Datuk Seri Anwar is charged under Section 377B of the Penal Code and can be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in jail and whipping upon conviction.

Later in the day, the trial adjourned for a visit to the apartment.

Datuk Seri Anwar has pleaded not guilty saying the charges are part of a government conspiracy to end his political career.

Read here and here for full report.

Anwar pleads not guilty to sodomy charges

2010-02-03T19:52:00.006+08:00

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has pleaded not guilty to sodomy charges brought against him, saying they are part of a "political conspiracy".

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told a High Court hearing in Kuala Lumpur today that the allegations he had sodomised a former aide were "malicious" fabrications... trumped up by political masters using the prosecution for that purpose".

The prosecution, lead by Solicitor-General II Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abide, promised to produce semen samples that they said were found in medical tests on Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 24, the aide who made the allegations.

Datuk Seri Anwar, who is the Permatang Pauh MP, is accused of sodomising Mohamad Saiful at Unit 11-5-1 of the Desa Damansara Condominium in Jalan Setiakasih, Bukit Damansara, between 3.01pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008.

He is charged under Section 377B of the Penal Code which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and whipping upon conviction.

The case is being heard before Justice Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah.

Anwar's defence team is led by Karpal, Sankara Nair, Datuk Param Cumaraswamy and Prabakaran.

For full report of the hearing read here and here .

Al Fatihah: Former deputy Labour and Manpower Minister Abdullah Majid dies...

2010-02-03T16:49:00.007+08:00

Datuk Abdullah Majid, a former deputy Labour and Manpower Minister and an ex ISA detainee, passed away at his Taman Desa home early this morning aged 85.

His remains were taken to the Tun Abdul Aziz Mosque in Petaling Jaya for the funeral prayer before being taken to his village, Kampung Durian Sebatang in Dong, Raub, Pahang for burial.

Datuk Abdullah was detained together with Tan Sri Abdullah Ahmad (the former MP for Kok Lanas) and Pak Samad (Tan Sri Samad Ismail) under the Internal Security Act in 1976 for four years. (Read here ). He was given a conditional release in May 1977, and the conditions were lifted on Nov 2, 1981.

Datuk Abdullah leaves behind his wife Datin Hamidah Hussein, son Rozhan Anuar, 43, and daughter Rozana Meili, 44.

Semoga rohnya dirahmati Allah SWT. Amin.

Anwar sodomy charge starts tomorrow

2010-02-02T19:32:00.003+08:00

The sodomy trial of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will finally begin in the Kuala Lumpur High Court tomorrow - 18 months after he was charged.

Justice Datuk Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah has fixed proceedings at 2.30pm after rejecting a bid by Datuk Seri Anwar for a stay of the trial.

The PKR adviser had applied to the High Court to stay the trial until the disposal of his appeal at the Court of Appeal over his failure to strike out his sodomy charge.

Datuk Anwar, 63, claimed trial to sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 25, at Desa Damansara Condominium in Jalan Setiakasih, Bukit Damansara, between 3.01pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008.

On Dec 1, last year, Justice Mohamad Zabidin ruled that the findings of a medical report, which suggested that there was no penetration, could not be the basis for the court to quash the sodomy charge and that it should hear the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses first.

'King' Ghaz dies...Al fatiha

2010-01-24T23:49:00.005+08:00

Former Home Minister Tun Ghazali Shafie, popularly known as 'King' Ghaz, passed away at his residence in Subang Jaya, about 7.45pm Sunday, Bernama reports.

He was 88.

Tun Ghazali, who was born in Kuala Lipis, Pahang, leaves behind two sons, Bachtiaer and Sheriffudin.

His wife, Toh Puan Khatijah Abdul Majid, passed away in April 2008.

Semoga Allah SWT mengampuni Allahyarham. Amin.

DYMM Sultan Johor mangkat

2010-01-22T21:03:00.010+08:00

Berita rasmi dari Bernama: Sat, January 23, 2010 01:51 AM

The Sultan of Johor is Dead

JOHOR BAHARU, Jan 23 (Bernama) -- The Sultan of Johor, Sultan Iskandar Sultan Ismail, 77, died at the Puteri Specialist Hospital at 7.15pm after being admitted Friday night following an illness.

Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman in announcing the Sultan's demise said that his remains would be buried at the Bukit Mahmoodiah Royal Mausoleum at 2pm on Saturday.

"The Sultan of Johor was very much respected and loved," he said when reading the statement to announce the death of the Sultan at Bangunan Sultan Ibrahim, here Friday night.

He said the proclamation of the new Sultan of Johor would be made Saturday at Istana Besar before the funeral.

Earlier on Friday, Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ibrahim Ismail Sultan Iskandar was appointed the Regent of Johor in a ceremony at the Istana Besar.

-- BERNAMA

Earlier report:

DYMM Sultan Johor Tuanku Sultan Iskandar Al Haj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Ismail Al Khalidi mangkat jam 7.08 malam hari ini (7.08pm today according to unofficial report). Baginda berusia 77 tahun. (Read here)

Baginda, telah dimasukkan ke Hospital Pakar Puteri Johor Bahru hari ini dan ekoran itu Jemaah Majlis Diraja Johor telah bersetuju melantik Duli Yang Amat Mulia, Tunku Ibrahim Ismail Ibni Sultan Iskandar, Tengku Mahkota Johor sebagai Pemangku Raja. (read here )

Semoga Allah SWT. mencucuri rahmat ke atas roh Baginda.

Al fatiha.

Al Fatiha... Tun Fatimah Hashim

2010-01-10T09:25:00.002+08:00

Malaysia's first woman minister, Tun Dr Fatimah Hashim, 85, died of old age at her residence at 11.35 Saturday night.

Her son, Abdul Karim Abdul Kadir, said she would be buried after the Zohor prayers today (Sunday) at the National Mosque beside the grave of her husband, Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Yusoff, a former Attorney-General and former Minister of Law and National Development.

"Her remains will be buried at the National Mosque after receiving permission from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak," Abdul Karim told Bernama.

Fatimah, who is survived by six children, was born in Kampung Parit Kurma, Muar, Johor on Dec 25, 1924 and received her early education at the Sekolah Melayu Perempuan Mersing, Johor before becoming a teacher.

She was appointed Welfare Minister on May 20, 1969 until March 1, 1973.

Fatimah joined politics in 1947 and had held the post of Head of the Umno Kaum Ibu movement, which is now known as Wanita Umno, from September 1956 until June 1972.

On Aug 19 last year, she was chosen as one of the four outstanding Malaysians to receive the Merdeka Award for the Education and Community category.

The King: Remain Calm and Respect House of Worshps.

2010-01-09T08:43:00.003+08:00

King Reminds People To Remain Calm, Respect Houses Of Worship

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 (Bernama) -- Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin wants all Malaysians to remain calm in the wake of the High Court decision on the use of the word "Allah" and respect houses of worship irrespective of religion.

In a statement issued by Istana Negara today, Tuanku Mizan said he very much hoped that the spirit of unity and mutual respect which formed the backbone of the nation's strength would at all times be safeguarded.

His Majesty said he was expressing this hope in view of the government taking the necessary follow-up steps following the court decision and all quarters respecting the sanctity and position of Islam as the official religion of the federation.

"To ensure peace and harmony among the followers of different religions, the meaning and reference to "Allah" in the general context should conform to the description fixed by Islam because this practice has all this while been accepted by Malaysians of other faiths," said Tuanku Mizan.

On Dec 31, the High Court had ruled that the Roman Catholic Church in Malaysia could use the word "Allah" in its weekly publication, Herald.

On Wednesday, the same High Court allowed a stay of execution on the use of the word following and agreement between the Home Ministry and the church in the national interest.

Three churches around Kuala Lumpur, the Metro Tabernacle Church in Desa Melawati; the Assumption Church and the Life Chapel in Petaling Jaya were subjected to attacks last night and early today. --- BERNAMA

Najib condems arson attack on churches

2010-01-08T17:04:00.002+08:00

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has condemned the attack made on three churches.

But he wants the public not to point fingers as who may have been responsible for the attack.

He viewed the matter seriously, hesaid, as these actions could jeopardise harmony, adding that the Government would take all possible action to prevent such incident from recurring and has already instructed the IGP to beef up secrity and surveilance at places of worship.

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 8 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak slammed the action of some irresponsible people who attacked a church and directed the police to beef up security at all places of worship.

The Prime Minister said he viewed the incident very seriously, especially the two incidents - first an attempt to burn down a church and the second, sending out a threat to another.

Najib said such action can destroy the existing harmony of the country.

"I condemn such action by the irresponsible people because it can harm the cordial relationship and harmony that has been in existence. As a multi-racial community we must practice respect for one another...it cannot come under threat from anybody," he told reporters after witnessing an exchange of memorandum for Human Resource Development in the Northern Corridor Economic Region, here on Friday.

Najib added that the government would take whatever action needed to curb such incidents.

He added that he had directed Federal Police Chief Tan Sri Musa Hassan to beef up security at all places of worship.

Early this morning, two church arson incidents had taken place in Desa Melawati and Jalan Templer, Petaling Jaya while another received a threat.

Najib said whatever problem or issue in the country must be resolved through the proper procedures or through the law.

"There should be no overzealous action that can harm the harmony of the country," he said.

The Prime Minister said fingers should not be pointed at Umno for such action.

"The matter must be handed to the authorities for proper investigation and action in accordance with the law," he said.

Asked of the planned protest rallies after the Friday prayers, Najib said he had already informed the police to monitor the situation.

"That's why they must nip it in the bud, hope with this statement and action by the police, people will not take the law into their hands," Najib said.

Najib added that he would receive information on such incidents from Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and the Federal Police Chief.

"When he gets the evidence, he will report to me," Najib said.

The Prime Minister also refuted a claim by a journalist from an online portal that Umno members were the ones responsible for starting the flames after the High Court had ruled that the word "Allah" can be used by Catholic Weekly-Herald.

"Don't point the finger at Umno or anybody. We have always been very responsible. Don't say that these attacks were motivated by Umno. That is a very scurrilous statement that you have just made. You are alluding to it. Please stop that," Najib told the journalist.

-- BERNAMA

Home Ministry gets stay order on use of "Allah"

2010-01-06T18:46:00.003+08:00

The Kuala Lumpur High Court today granted a stay in favour of the Home Ministry to stop Catholic weekly magazine Herald, from using the word 'Allah' pending an appeal.

Lawyers acting for the magazine did not object to the application, citing the ground of national interest.

The application was heard in chambers by High Court judge Lau Bee Lan. Attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail appeared for the ministry, while Derek Fernandez and Benjamin Dawson appeared for Herald.

Court Allows Stay of Earlier Order On Use of "Allah"

By M. Santhiran

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 6 (Bernama) -- The High Court on Wednesday allowed a stay of an earlier order to allow the use of "Allah" by Catholic weekly, Herald, following consent by the Home Ministry and Roman Catholic Archbishop of Malaysia on the grounds of national interest.

Justice Datuk Lau Bee Lan, who had issued the earlier order on Dec 31 last year, made the ruling in chambers after meeting Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail and counsel Derek J. Fernandez for Archbishop Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam for 30 minutes.

Fernandez told reporters that Lau agreed to record the stay by consent.

Abdul Gani was grateful that there was agreement for a stay.

"As far as I am concerned, it involves national interest, there is no necessity to get involved in an argument for a stay," he said.

"I am very grateful to my learned friend who has agreed for a stay and we will try to have this matter be heard as soon as possible in the Court of Appeal. I believe it can be very, very soon," said the attorney-general.

On Tuesday, the ministry filed an application for a stay of the earlier court ruling after lodging an appeal with the Court of Appeal, a day earlier.

Abdul Gani said the speediness of the process should not be misconstrued because the issue should be resolved as soon as possible.

"I should say this again, there should be no kind of perception on this matter since it is better this matter is being heard so fast. It doesn't mean that something is wrong, let's not have such perception.

"The important thing is that the matter should be settled as soon as possible. All of us should respect the court decision," he said.

Asked if there was pressure on this case, he replied: "You can't say there is pressure in this case since there is a pressure in all cases. I don't want to give any kind of perception now, let the matter settle."

Fernandez said his side had agreed to the attorney-general's request for a stay due to national interest, pending the next course at the Court of Appeal.

"We are concerned of the breach of subjudice rule by many parties who are showing disrespect to the court. Tan Sri assured us he would look into those matters," he said.

On Dec 31, Lau ruled that pursuant to Articles 11 and 12 of the Federal Constitution, the Herald had the constitutional right to use the word, in respect of instruction and education of the congregation in the Christian religion.

She also said that pursuant to Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution, it was an offence for non-Muslims to use the word "Allah" to Muslims to propagate the religion but it was not an offence for non-Muslims to use the word to non-Muslims for the purpose of religion.

On Feb 16, the archbishop filed for a judicial review on the use of the word "Allah" in the church's publications for the period Jan 1 to Dec 31, last year, naming the ministry and the government as respondents and claiming that the word "Allah" was not exclusive to the religion of Islam.

The Herald, which is printed in four languages, has been using the word "Allah" as a translation for 'God' in its Malay-language section.

The word "Allah" is widely used among the indigenous Christian groups in Sabah and Sarawak, most of whom speak Bahasa Malaysia.

The minister had justified the ban on the grounds of national security and to avert misunderstanding and confusion among Muslims. -- BERNAMA

Al fatiha...

2010-01-01T20:26:00.004+08:00

Former Information Minister and one-time Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat died in his sleep at his Damansara Height home this morning. He was 71.

Tok Mat, as he was affectionately known and the longest serving Umno and Barisan Nasional secretary-general, was buried after Asar prayers at the Bukit Kiara Muslim cemetry.

According to Tok Mat’s wife, Puan Sri Salbiah Abdul Hamid, her husband had passed away at about 8 am. She discovered his death when she tried to wake him up.

Tok Mat served as the information minister twice, from 1978 to 1982 under then prime minister, the late Tun Hussein Onn, and from 1987 to 1999 under then prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He was also Malaysia's ambassador to Indonesia, with ministerial status, from 1982 to 1984.

He held the post of Umno secretary-general from 1988 to 1996 and as the BN secretary-general from 1988 to 1999.

Tok Mat Went Peacefully, Says His Wife

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 1 (Bernama) -- "I am thankful because he went away peacefully," said Puan Sri Salbiah Abdul Hamid, on the death of her husband, former Information Minister and former Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat on Friday.

Mohamed, better known as Tok Mat, died at his residence at Bukit Damansara, here at about 8.00 Friday morning.

Mohamed, who was to celebrate his 72nd birthday on Monday, was said to have died in his sleep.

Salbiah said she realised that her husband was no longer breathing at about 8am when she was about to switch of the dialysis machine which was attached to his body.

"Usually, at about 8.40 in the morning I would switch off the dialysis machine attached to his body, but this morning at about 8am, I noticed that the machine was 'hanging' and his chest showed that he was not breathing," she told Bernama at their residence.

Salbiah said that she immediately telephoned the doctor and their children to inform them about the situation.

"The doctor (who came) later confirmed that Tok Mat had breathed his last at 8 this morning," she said.

Mohamed had been suffering kidney ailment for the past 10 years and had to undergo dialysis treatment every day.

Salbiah said her late husband had also instructed the family driver to come for work this morning to take her out for a drive.

"Tok Mat instructed our driver to come for work today despite the public holiday. He had asked the driver to take me out for a drive...as if giving a premonition that he was going away," she said.

"Yesterday, he did not call me at all...usually, he would call me every night to help him to urinate and I would push the (dialysis) machine to the bathroom.

"I also did not hear anything except when he switched the TV on and off...he would watch the news for 24 hours. Probably, he did not feel any pain, Alhamdulillah, he went away peacefully," she said.

Salbiah was also thankful that before he died, Mohamed had time to meet Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.

"He wanted very much to see Datuk Seri Rais and two days ago, Tok Mat was able to met the minister at the Information Communication and Culture Ministry," she said.

Salbiah also thanked everyone, including top government leaders who had come to pay their last respect to her late husband.

Mohamed would be buried at the Muslim Cemetery at Bukit Kiara, here after the 'Asar' prayer.

-- BERNAMA

Semoga rohnya dirahmati Allah SWT dan diletakkan di kalangan para solihin,

Hello 2010!

2009-12-31T23:45:00.002+08:00

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year! Let's hope 2010 will bring joy, peace & prosperity to us all.

Catholic Magazine Can Use word "Allah"

2009-12-31T22:49:00.009+08:00

Justice Datuk Lau Bee Lan ruled in the High Court today that the The Herald has the constitutional right to use the word in the magazine to propagate the Christian religion but not Islam.

She also ruled that the Home Ministry's decision prohibiting the magazine from using the word "Allah" in its publications was illegal, null and void. Bernama has the report below.

Catholic Magazine Herald Can Use Word "Allah"
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31 (Bernama) -- The Catholic weekly magazine, Herald, can use the word "Allah" in its publications, the High Court here ruled on Thursday.

Justice Datuk Lau Bee Lan, in her oral decision, held that the Herald had the constitutional right to use the word in the magazine to propagate the Christian religion but not Islam.

She said that pursuant to Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution, it was an offence for non-Muslims to use the word "Allah" to Muslims to propagate the religion.

But it was not an offence for non-Muslims to use the word to the non-Muslims for the purpose of religion, she added.

Pursuant to Articles 11 and 12 of the Federal Constitution, the Herald had the constitutional right to use the word in respect of instruction and education of the congregation in the Christian religion.

Article 10 allowed it to use the word in the exercise of its right to freedom of speech and expression, she said.

Lau said the decision by the Home Minister prohibiting Herald publications from using the word "Allah" in the magazine was illegal, null and void.

She said the minister had also failed to adduce evidence that the use of word would threaten national security and create misunderstanding and confusion among Muslims.

On Feb 16, Archbishop Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam filed for a judicial review on the usage of the word "Allah" in the church's publications, naming the Home Ministry and the government as respondents.

He claimed that the word 'Allah' was not exclusive to the religion of Islam.

On Jan 7, the Home Minister approved the Herald's publishing permit for the period Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2009, on condition that the word "Allah" was not used in it and the words "Restricted" must be printed on the weekly's front page whereby it could only be circulated to Christians and at churches only.

The Home Minister had justified the ban on grounds of national security and to avoid misunderstanding and confusion among Muslims.

-- BERNAMA

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T00:28:00.006+08:00

Wishing all visitors here a Merry Christmas and May God's Blessings be on each of you.

Former project director charged with cheating PKFZ

2009-12-15T01:16:00.006+08:00

A former Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd project director was charged Monday by the Malaysian Anti-Crime Commission (MACC) over the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) financial fiasco.

Law Jenn Dong, 51, was charged in with making 24 false claims involving a total of RM116.850 million.

He is the fourth person to be charged in relation to the PKFZ scanda and was alleged to have committed the offence together with architect Bernard Tan between June 30, 2006 and May 30, 2008.

Tan, who was one of a trio charged last Thursday, faces two other charges of making false claims with chief operating officer of Kuala Dimensi Steven Abok while former Port Klang Authority (PKA) general manager OC Phang, is alleged to have committed CBT involving RM254 million.

Law claimed trial before Sessions Judge Yong Zarida Sazali and was granted bail of RM250,000 pending mention of the case on Feb 4.

The prosecution had asked for bail to be set at RM1 million but the judge rejected the application after hearing objections by Law's lawyer, Tan Hock Chuan.

Phang has claimed trial and has been released on bail of RM350,000 with one surety. The case will start on Jan 12, on which date she will be required to surrender her passport.

Abok and Tan, also on bail, will have their case mentioned on Feb 4.

The PKFZ controversy arose after the cost of developing the massive 400ha integrated cargo distribution hub spiralled from RM2 billion to RM4.6 billion.

Chua: Fresh polls unlikely...

2009-12-07T20:24:00.004+08:00

The fresh polls that warring factions in MCA had earlier agreed on may not take place because only 13 central committee (CC) members are willing to resign, less than the two-thirds or 20 resignations required under the party's constitution.

Party deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek told reporters at the MCA headquarters today after chairing the first meeting of a special committee that he was told only 13 of the 42 CC members, including him, were willing to resign to pave the way for fresh polls.

The special committee was set up last week to look into the constitutional and other aspects related to the proposed fresh elections to break the leadership impasse, and whether it should involve the Youth and Wanita wings.

Under the MCA constitution, fresh polls can only be called if one-third or 20 of the elected CC members resign.

“A standard resignation letter will be prepared to facilitate this resignation process,” said Dr Chua, who refused to reveal the identity of the other 12 CC members who have resigned.

He was also unsure when fresh polls can be held, saying that it depends on whether seven more CC members would resign.

On Nov 28, vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai had announced that 13 CC members from his faction had signed undated resignation letters. However, according to Chua, only a dozen had made their intentions clear.

He said early fresh polls would cause technical and legal problems such as the tenure of the new leadership -- should it be in power for three years or one-and-a-half years?

The tenure for the incumbent leadership expires in 2011.

The party's lawyers had been directed to also look into other problems like whether the fresh polls should include the Youth and Wanita wings headed by Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong and Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, who are aligned to Liow.

For more read here...

Ahmad Said: I wasnt forced out...

2009-12-06T16:09:00.003+08:00

Chief Commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan, has denied that his early retirement from the post was due to pressure from political parties or other groups.

He said his retirement was due to personal reasons and his own wish after having served in the agency for so long, and not because of other people.

Ahmad Said said he had decided on an earlier retirement to make way for his successor and to spend time with his family.

His announcement on Friday that he would be quitting five months ahead of his retirement has got many wondering why.

Read here ...

Liow's faction vows to quit to force fresh polls

2009-11-28T17:56:00.002+08:00

The MCA special briefing today, passed a declaration calling on the party leadership to allow fresh polls at the Central Committee (CC) level to resolve the party crisis.

MCA central committee members aligned to vice-president Datuk Liow Tiong Lai have vowed to quit their posts in order to force fresh leadership polls, Malaysiakini reports.

According to Liow, 13 of the elected central committee members have signed undated resignation letters and are waiting for the right time to submit them to the party.

The crisis, according to him stemmed from the apparent failure of the party leadership to recognise and implement the resolutions of the Oct 10 extraordinary general meeting.

Datuk Liow told reporters after the special briefing that he and his supporters hope that party elections can now be held within 60 days.

He said that once the necessary resignations are submitted, the party must hold fresh polls for the central committee within 30 days as stipulated in the party constitution.

Datuk Liow said that this agenda (pushing for fresh polls) would now be his prime focus.

He also hoped that party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat would stick to the consensus and the roadmap to hold fresh polls as soon as possible.

But his faction has the task of convincing another seven out of 30 elected central committee members to do the same in order to have the necessary numbers - one third of the powerful CC - to force fresh polls

Yesterday, party information chief Heng Saei Kee said the party would not be postponing the Dec 4-5 AGM, and those claiming so were attempting to cause confusion.

On why party elections must be held as soon as possible, Datuk Liow said the party cannot function under current circumstances and new leaders must be elected.

Observers have noted that Liow's faction is pushing for immediate fresh polls in order to ride on the wave of discontent against Ong.

Salam 'Aidil Adha

2009-11-27T00:16:00.007+08:00

Wishing all my Muslims brothers and sisters Selamat menyambut Eidul Adha.

To those who are going to balik kampung, I wish you a safe journey and berhati-hati di jalan raya.

MCA Crisis: Najib to step in

2009-11-20T01:54:00.003+08:00

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Thursday he will meet the warring factions in MCA after describing the crisis in the party as getting “more serious”.

Datuk Najib had said that he would only interfere in the crisis if invited due to the policy of non interference in the ruling coalition.

However, he said many people were upset with what was going on in the MCA.

Najib said he plans to meet the leaders before the Nov 28 extraordinary general meeting (EGM) called by the faction aligned to Liow Tiong Lai.

MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat yesterday dropped Youth chief Datuk Wee Ka Siong, Wanita chief Datuk Paduka Chew Mei Fun and seven others aligned to vice-president Datuk Seri Liow from the party’s presidential council.

The party president replaced Liow's men on the presidential council with supporters of Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, reflecting a deal between the two men to fill party appointments with leaders aligned either with Ong or Dr Chua.

Najib to meet warring factions in MCA - The NST online

2009/11/19

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said today he will meet warring factions in MCA to find a solution to the deepening crisis in the party.

Najib said he felt that the crisis in MCA, the second largest Barisan Nasional's (BN) component party, had become more serious and severe.

He added that the failure of MCA leaders to find a solution to the impasse could result in the party unable to win the trust and confidence of the Chinese community and the people as a whole.

"I will find time to talk to them and will see if there is a common ground; we will take it from there," he said after opening the 2009 International Paralympic Committee General Assembly here today.

To a question, Najib who is BN chairman, said he would meet the factions probably separately and would try to do so before Nov 28.

Groups aligned to vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai are set to hold an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on that date to push for a fresh party election.

Najib said there were many groups expressing disappointment over the turn of events in the MCA.

"Certainly if we want to find a formula for unity, our action should reflect that desire. It seems that what is happening in the MCA so far, no longer inspires confidence among those outside the party, including among BN component members," he said.

The prime minister also said that the crisis in the MCA would affect the BN, especially the effort to restore the coalition's image in the eyes of the people.

"Yes, it is going to hamper our effort to revive the position of BN in the eyes of the people. The people now see Umno as being very stable and has gone through the process of reforming itself and presenting a new image to the rakyat.

"We hope that other parties will come together and reflect the desire to put together a new image for the BN," he said.

In a latest twist to the crisis, MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat yesterday removed nine leaders aligned to Liow from the Presidential Council, including Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong and Wanita chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun.

More updates will follow at www.nst.com.my and keep watch for NST Live session with Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat today at 2.30pm.

MCA CC: No to second EGM...

2009-11-19T09:45:00.003+08:00

The MCA Central Committee has rejected the proposed second extraordinary general meeting on Nov 28, called by renegade Vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

The annoucement was made by party president Datuk Seri On Tee Keat after a four-hour meeting in the party HQ yesterday.

In an unprecedented move, Datuk Seri Ong also announced the removal of MCA Youth chief Dr Dr Wee Ka Song and Wanita chief Datuk Paduka Chiew Mei Fan and seven leaders aligned to Datuk Seri Liow.

The seven included ex-organising secretary Gan Hong Su and ex-MCA informationchief Lee Wei Kiat. (The six new faces in the MCA council: read here )

The reshuffle was made under Article 46 of the MCA constitution.

KUALA LUMPUR: The MCA central committee (CC) has, in a majority decision, rejected the second extraordinary general meeting (EGM) planned for Nov 28.

The decision was made during its meeting chaired by party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat yesterday.
Twenty-three of the 35 central committee members present voted against the EGM, while 10 agreed to it. Two members abstained.
“We will inform the central delegates of the central committee decision,” Ong told reporters after the meeting.

He added that the central committee rejected the second EGM because the motions were against the party constitution.

Also in dispute was the notice of the meeting.

On Nov 6, three central committee — Wong Nai Chee, Datuk Wee Jeck Seng and Datuk Liew Yuen Keong — requisitioned for a second EGM to pave the way for fresh party elections.

The group wanting the second EGM is said to be aligned to vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek had on Monday advised all the 2,380 central delegates not to attend the Nov 28 EGM.

He added that the party headquarters would write to the delegates and explain to them why the resolutions — to call for fresh election for the CC and to nullify any appointments or dismissals made by the party president after Oct 10 — were against the party constitution.

Dr Chua added that the three requisitionists had been asked to amend the resolutions but they did not do so. The Star

Another by-election...

2009-11-17T01:26:00.004+08:00

A fresh election will be held for the Kota Siputeh state seat in Kedah after it was declared vacant by the Kuala Lumpur High Court Monday, Bernama reports.

Justice Alizatul Khair Osman Khairuddin ruled that the seat was vacated after Umno's incumbent assemblyperson Abu Hassan Sarif absented from two state assembly meetings this year.

Following the High Court decision, Abu Hassan will be barred from attending the state legislative assembly sitting Tuesday
More significantly it also means the Election Commission (EC) will have to call for a by-election within the next 60 days, pending an appeal to the Court of Appeal.

In her decision, Justice Alizatul held that the EC had acted irrationally and its decision that Abu Hassan was still the assemblyperson for Kota Siputeh and the state seat was not vacant, ought to be quashed.
"In my view, Article 51 sets out the conditions which render the seat to be vacant and the first respondent (Abu Hassan) had satisfied the conditions," said Alizatul in allowing the judicial review filed by Kedah Speaker Abdul Isa Ismail. ...continue here
Abdul Isa, represented by leading counsel Sulaiman Abdullah, filed the judicial review on Oct 1, after the EC decided that there was no vacancy of the Kota Siputeh seat and that Abu Hassan was still the assemblyperson.
Abdul Isa wanted the court to declare that Abu Hassan was no longer the assemblyman following his failure to attend two consecutive sittings of the state assembly on April 19 and Aug 9 this year, and that the seat was vacant.

In his application, Abdul Isa also sought an order for the EC to call for a by-election....continue here

A big "Yes" for MCA Unity Plan

2009-11-16T08:10:00.002+08:00

MCA's Greater Unity Plan has received a big endorsement when 70 per cent of the party's 191 division chiefs and leaders turned up at a central leadership briefing yesterday and gave their support.

The three-hour briefing by deputy president Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek was attended by 151 divisions.

The Unity Plan, drawn by Party President Datuk Ong Tee Keat and Datuk Dr Chua and endorsed by Barisan Nasional Chairman and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, is opposed by a faction led by vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

Datuk Liow and his key supporters Youth Chief Datuk Ser Wee Ka Siong, and Wanita Chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun were notbly absent at the briefing.

He, however, has described the MCA Greater Unity Plan briefing as being disrespectful of the party's extraordinary general meeting decisions on Oct 10 during which the delegates had voted against Datuk Dr Chua from being reinstated as deputy president and had also gave a vote of no confidence against Datuk Ser Ong Tee Keat as president.

At a press conference, Datuk Chua said the high turn-out showed their concern over unity in the party, and "their level of support can be regarded as high."

On the Nov 28 extraordinary general meeting (EGM)- which was among five topics dicussed - called by the faction backing Datuk Seri Liow to seek fresh party elections, Datuk Chua said they had indicated that they would not be attending.

Dauk Ong, who was present, vowed to hold a fresh election but on the condition that MCA attains stability first by implementing the unity plan.

For more read the NST here and the Star, here.

Related articles ; Proposed new election system well received

Chua to Liow: You can have the No 2 post if...

2009-11-11T17:39:00.004+08:00

Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has offered to quit the MCA deputy presidency if that is what Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai wants.

Liow, who was MCA deputy president following the party Oct 10 EGM till last Tuesday, has been disputing the reinstatement of Dr Chua as deputy president.

Yesterday, ex-party legal advisor Datuk Leong Tang Chong also argued that Dr Chua had not been reinstated but that the MCA central committee had been misled into thinking so.

Dr Chua told a press conference today that he is willing to give it to Liow if it means the move can end the crisis, ensure stability and unity. But he wants Liow to make his position clear.

The star has the story:

Liow can have my post, says Soi Lek

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek is willing to give up his post for Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai if the vice-president makes it clear that he wants the No. 2 post.

Dr Chua said he was willing to step down from the post if such a move could ensure stability and unity in the party.

He just needs to say ‘I, Liow Tiong Lai, want your (deputy president) post’ and I will quit and give the post to him.

“Please tell us what you want and make your position clear once and for all. If it (relinquishing the post) can end theparty crisis, I am willing to do so,” he challenged Liow at a press conference here on Wednesday.

Dr Chua also reminded Liow that he was elected deputy president by the central delegates while Liow was chosen by the central committee.

He said Liow had contacted him before the Oct 15 central committee meeting and he told the latter not to fill up the deputy president post as he had written to the Registrar of Societies to clarify the matter.

“I told him that if the ROS decides that I am the deputy president, he will get very embarassed,” he said

He also questioned Liow’s intention in changing his stand to go against party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat after the Oct 10 extraordinary general meeting.

“Why did none of you stand up to support me when I was fighting against Ong Tee Keat and say that the president cannot pakai(is useless) anymore?

“Why is there a sudden change of tune when thevote of no-confidence is passed against the president?” he said, referring to Liow and his group.

On whether his move to step down from the post would affect the greater unity plan, Dr Chua said: “They think that maybe I am a hindrance to party unity. Maybe they think that Liow and Ong together are ‘unity’.

To him, he said, party unity included Ong, himself, Liow, vice-presidents Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen,Tan Kok Hong, Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong and Wanita chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun.

Asked whether Ong was aware about his remarks at the press conference, Dr Chua said: “I don’t know. When I see the press, I don’t have to get permission from anybody or consult anyone.”

Dr Chua also clarified that he had written to the ROS to ask if he was still the legitimate deputy president

“In its reply, the ROS said the post was not vacant and the letter was read by the president and secretary-general (Datuk Wong Foon Meng) to the central committee at last Tuesday’s meeting,” he said.

He said 22 central committee members had voted to accept the ROS’ decision at the meeting while 12 others, including Liow,voted against it. Four others, including himself, abstained from voting.

MCA disciplinary committee resigns en bloc

2009-11-05T22:56:00.002+08:00

The MCA five-member disciplinary committee has resigned en bloc, according to a Bernama report.

It is learnt that the decision was reached during a recent committee meeting, and an official resignation letter was submitted to party president Ong Tee Keat through party secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng's office this afternoon.

Wong however, when contacted said he has not seen the resignation letters yet as he was not at the party headquarters Thursday.

"I have not been to the party headquarters today because I was at my office in the Parliament house the whole day. They may have sent the letters to the sec-gen's office, I'm not sure," he told Bernama when contacted.

Dr Lai said the board members had decided to resign en bloc after their recommendation to sack party deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek was eventually overturned by party delegates during the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on Oct 10.

In August, the disciplinary board had unanimously recommend that Dr Chua be sacked from the party following his sex video scandal.

The board's recommendation was initially endorsed collectively by the presidential council, but was later overturned by the powerful central committee (CC) which decided to impose a four-year suspension for Dr Chua instead.

During the EGM on Oct 10, the party delegates had again overturned the decision by reinstating Dr Chua's membership with immediate effect while rejecting the motion to reinstate him as party deputy president.

However, on Tuesday, Dr Chua received a letter from the Registrar of Society (ROS) which confirmed that he was still the party deputy president.

Bodies of two missing girls found

2009-10-29T18:31:00.007+08:00

The bodies of the two missing girls in the Kuala Dipang bridge tragedy have been found.

M. Devatharshini's body was found by a search and rescue team from Rela at about 11.30pm on Wednesday and that of V. Divyashree, 12, was recovered at about 9.25am today by a team from the army, the Star reported.

The body of 11-year-old Devatharshini was found in Tanjung Tualang about 16km from the incident site while Divyashree’s body was in Sungai Chenderiang near Tronoh Mines, 15km away.

Devatharshini is a pupil at SJK Tamil Mamban Diawan and Divyashree is from Sekolah Kebangsaan Tamil (SRJK) Gopeng.

Both girls drowned together with 11-year-old N. Dina Deve on Monday night after they and 20 other pupils fell into Sungai Kampar when a suspension bridge collapsed as they were crossing it.

They were with a group of 294 pupils, aged between 10 and 12, from 64 schools in the Kinta Selatan district attending a four-day 1Malaysia camp organised by the Education Ministry to foster better ties between the races.

The camp, which started on Monday, was held at the Kinta Selatan district education office co-curriculum centre in SK Kuala Dipang, Jeram, near here.

Those who survived the incident said they had supper at SK Kuala Dipang and were crossing the bridge to get to the campsite, when a few of them started jumping and shaking the bridge.

It was later found that a metal pillar anchoring the cable of the bridge was ripped off its concrete foundation, causing the bridge walkway, with those on it, to plunge into the river.

Some pupils fell into shallower waters and managed to wade out, while others were pulled out by a teacher who was nearby and ran to the scene of the incident.

The iron-cable bridge, suspended nine metres above the river, was built recently to replace an old one that had fallen apart with age.

My condolences to their families. May they rest in peace.

The Perak State assembly sitting... another drama in the making? (Update)

2009-10-28T11:02:00.013+08:00

Update: The Perak State Assembly sitting turned into yet another circus just as it did on May 7, with both Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) holding separate proceedings in the same hall amid some scuffles.

Perak Assembly: Pakatan reps 'take over' sitting
Perak assembly: Now Pakatan adjourns 'sitting'

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earlier entry:

The Perak state assembly is sitting now amid tight security to avoid the chaos that erupted in the previous session on May 7.

High drama is expected at the State Legislative Assembly where Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir will table the state budget.

You can follow the the development of the sitting live by the star here and Malaysiakini (for subscribers only) here.

Liow wants fresh CC meeting on MCA Peace Plan

2009-10-27T19:13:00.009+08:00

Newly-appointed MCA deputy president Liow Tiong Lai wants the party Central Committe to have a fresh meeting to discuss details of the peace plan announced by Datuk Ong Tee Keat on Oct 22, Malaysiakini reported.

Liow claimed that he and several other cc members remained in the dark about the details of the peace plan .

Under the peace plan, the party President and his deposed deputy, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, agreed to a truce by pledging to work together as a team to unite and strengthen the crisis-plagued MCA.

The peace deal also allows Ong to remain as the party president despite getting a vote of no-confidence at the extraordinary general meeting on Oct 10. The delegates at the EGM also refused to reinstate Chua as the party deputy president.

Ong had said it has the blessing and support of Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is said to have brokered the plan.

At a press conference today, Liow and the women's wing chief Chew Mei Fun and the Youth head Wee Ka Siong said that the peace plan was not deliberated at the central committee meeting before it was revealed.

"Ong informed us (Central C ommittee members) that there is a unity plan (before making it public), but did not explain its contents," claimed Liow.

Also present with him were 11 other CC members.

'Gang of 3' wants fresh CC meeting on peace deal
Yip Ai-Tsin Oct 27,09 2:22pm

MCA president Ong Tee Keat today came under renewed pressure from formerloyalists over the unity plan that he set in place on Oct 22 with ex-deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek.
Newly-appointed deputy president Liow Tiong Lai, Wanita chief Chew Mei Fun and Youth head Wee Ka Siong today said they are unaware of what the plan involves.

"Ong informed us (CC members) that there is a unity plan (before making it public), but did not explain its contents," claimed Liow.

At a press conference at MCA headquarters today, the trio and 11 other central committee (CC) members called for a meeting on the details.
They circulated an unsigned statement, said to have been approved by "a majority" of CC members.
Chew said the "whole CC is disappointed because they were not consulted", while Wee said "everyone would be okay with unity".

However, Wee also said the party does not revolve around one or two individuals, and that there are 930,000 members to consider as well.

Under the peace plan, Ong and Chua agreed to end their long-running feud in the party's interests. The deal allows Ong to remain as president despite the vote of no-confidence passed at the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on Oct 10.
'Baseless allegations'
Liow responded to recent reports in which certain CC members were accused of trying to topple Ong "CC members did not intend this," he said, expressing disappointment and calling the allegations "wild and baseless".
"The smear campaign within the party has to stop. We would like to make this crystal clear. It is uncalled for to label a person 'traitor' or 'betrayer'," he said.
In their statement, the 14 pointed out that they do not have vested interests as alleged by party colleagues and members of the public.
To clear their name, they outlined the chronology of developments since the EGM. (See chart)
Ong, they noted, decided at the Oct 15 CC meeting to proceed with a second EGM under Article 30.1 of the constitution, over the objections of some of them.

The statement also called on Ong to reinstate sacked legal bureau chief Leong Tang Chong.
Liow reiterated his call for leaders to respect the decisions made at the EGM, pointing out that much confusion has arisen from Ong's flip-flop over his intention to resignand forget” and to look at the bigger picture of what is good for the party and not for individuals.

One pupil drowns, 21 missing after suspension bridge collapses into Kampar River (update)

2009-10-27T10:35:00.012+08:00

Update: According to a report from The Star two pupils are still missing and 19 others have been found safe (read here ).

What a relief ! My prayers are for the two missing girls. I hope they will be found ... safe.

Earlier report:

KAMPAR, Oct 27 (Bernama)- One pupil drowned and 21 others are feared missing after a newly built suspension bridge collapsed into the Kampar River as pupils participating in a 1Malaysia camp were walking across at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kuala Dipang near here Monday night.

About 20 other pupils managed to hold on to the ropes of the collapsed bridge and saved themselves while several others were pulled out of the swift-flowing river by a teacher and a guard of the school in the incident at about 10.30pm.
Perak Deputy Chief Police Officer Datuk Zakaria Yusof said on Tuesday the body of the pupil, an Indian girl, was found by rescuers at 8.30am and had been sent to the Kampar Hospital. (According to the star she has been identified as Dina Deve Nathan, 11.)

He told reporters at the Sekolah Kebangsaan Kuala Dipang that rescuers were unsure of the actual number of pupils feared missing and that the police had asked the education department to furnish the names of the pupils participating in the camp.
It had been reported earlier that 22 pupils had gone missing in the accident. -- BERNAMA.

Picture: (Courtesy of the Star); Rescuers retrieving the body of Dina Deve Nathan, 11, from SK Tamil Mambang Diawan at 8.40am on October 27

MCA Crisis: Ong and Chua pledge to work together

2009-10-22T21:29:00.007+08:00

MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and his deposed deputy Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek have agreed to work together as a team to unite and strengthen the crisis-plagued MCA, the second largest component party in Barisan Nasional.

He also revealed that Chua has agreed to work with him "without any pre-conditions."

"This is the time to forgive and forget” and to look at the bigger picture of what is good for the party and not for individuals," he told a press conference this afternoon.

Describing the truce as the "greater unity plan", Ong said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has been briefed about the peace plan adding that the Prime Minister who is also Barisan Nasional Chairman has given his blessing and support.

Ong who met the Prime Minister last night denied that the peace plan came about as a result of pressure from Datuk Seri Najib.

However, there was talk that the new peace plan was brokered by Datuk Seri Najib during the meeting he had with Ong and Chua last night.

MCA crisis ended for good of the party - The Sun Online

By Giam Say Khoon
Kuala Lumpur (Oct 22, 2009): Key players in rival MCA factions today ended the year-long leadership crisis for the greater good of the party.

Proving the adage that politics is the art of making the impossible, possible and vice-versa, party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and former deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek today presented a united front for the party with a pledge to work together without any pre-conditions to strengthen and unite the party.

"We gathered today to implement the greater unity plan which needs the cooperation of all quarters. Positive engagement among the leadership will continue," Ong told a press conference at MCA headquarters this afternoon.

"I have accepted the suggestion by newly elected deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai to work together closely for the greater good of the party," he said.

"In the light of the present scenario, I will talk to party secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng about reviewing the call for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM)," he said.

He added that the 'greater unity plan' had received the blessing and support of Prime inister and Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, who has een briefed on the latest developments.

Saying it was "time to forgive and forget and look at the bigger picture of what was good, not for individuals but for the party," Ong pledged to reach out to all leaders and strive to form an all inclusive MCA that would include all factions and personalities who can contribute a team.

"With a unified MCA, the leaders can now refocus their attention on strengthening the party to regain the confidence and trust of the Chinese community and Malaysians in general," he said.

Present at the press conference were Chua, Liow, Wong, party vice-presidents Datuk Kong Cho Ha and Dr Ng Yen Yen.

Asked what role Chua would be playing in the "united" party, Ong said it is will immature to preempt or make any conclusion.

However, he said the party has taken Chua’s support into account and when the party is ready to implement the greater unity plan, the voices of the delegates would be included.
"Today we are here to witness the beginning of integration process and this is one of the unfinished jobs that I mentioned earlier and we all know that we need to put in all commitment to make it work.

"I have been cautioned by many members of public that it is time to weigh between public trust in me and the personal pledge that I made earlier and I think in the name of public trust, it is only fair if I, in my capacity as the MCA president endeavour to live up to expectation of the people and party members," he said, adding that the party took cognisance of the Oct 10 EGM results.

The EGM held after Chua was suspended by the central committee (CC) for tarnishing the party image following his involvement in the sex DVD scandal, had passed a motion of no-confidence against Ong, reinstated Chua as party members but rejected him as the deputy president.

Although Ong had said that he would resign if any of the resolutions were passed, he had stayed on after the EGM and decided to call for another EGM to determine the need to call for a fresh party election.

The CC had later elected Liow to replace Chua, based on its interpretation of the EGM outcome in conjunction with the party constitution.

Most of the CC members had also tried to force Ong to step down but the bid failed as the constitution states that the president can only be removed with the support of two third of the 2,380 central delegates.

Elaborating on the greater unity plan, Ong said the plan is mainly to provide the platform for all quarters within the party to work together as a team cohesively. Asked if he and Chua can still work together after all animosity, the president said the question was raised based on personal observation.
"It is not that we did not have the opportunity to work together before; I am optimistic as well as hopeful that we are committed to the party's cause, and we will be able to work it out," he said.

To another question, Ong said it was unfair to assume that the latest development of the party was the result of Najib’s pressure.

Asked if he would keep his word to step down as party president, Ong said he had received calls, emails, text messages full of words of encouragement and open support from all walks of life in the past two weeks, and he took cognisance of surge of pervasive support that they all have unfinished job to do.

Chua, who sat next to both Ong and Liow, meanwhile said he accepted the results of the Oct 10 EGM.

However, he had requested a clarification on his party post with the Registrar of Societies (ROS) and is awaiting the reply. Continue here...

Deepavali greetings

2009-10-16T23:44:00.007+08:00

I'd like to wish all my Hindu friends and visitors
A joyous Deepavali
May light triumph over darkness
May peace transcend the earth and
May the spirit of light illuminate the world

Najib wants party delegates to support his reforms...

2009-10-15T14:14:00.011+08:00

Datuk Seri Najib, the Umno president, leads delegates in a rousing cheer at the party's general assembly this morning. (Reuters pic)

...for CHANGE for Umno to become a "progressive, dynamic and responsive" party.

Speaking at the opening of the Umno annual general assembly - his first policy speech since taking over the party presidency last March - Datuk Seri Najib Razak told the 2,541 delegates that Umno must change if it wants to retain its unbroken grip on power since Independence after the next general election.

He said that Umno aimed to reform itself into a “progressive, dynamic and responsive” party.

“Therefore, to continue to survive, Umno has no choice but to embrace reality. Umno must open its doors for change and improvement.”

To kick off the reform process, party delegates will have a closed-door debate today on seven amendments to the Umno constitution.

The seven motions include one to increase the voting base to elect leaders to the division level whereby 146,500 members will be eligible to vote as compared to only 2,510 delegates now.

It is a sign that the spirit of democracy remains alive in Umno, he said.

“Clearly, no other political party in Malaysia is brave enough to do the same,” he added and asked the delegates to abandon the vote-buying practice after the amendments were passed.

In reference to the party's landslide victory in the recent Bagan Pinang by-election, he warned the delegates that the victory did not indicate the party's full recovery.

“One swallow does not make a summer. We cannot be complacent or happy thinking that we are the party of choice just because other parties cannot be trusted, or in other words the best among the worse,” said Datuk Seri Najib.

But he would like to see a repeat of the success of winning over the support of the non-Malays in Bagan Pinang.

“Clearly, in mixed constituencies we want Umno to be accepted as a party that fights for not only the Malays but also other ethnic groups in Malaysia,” he said.

He called on the party to change the candidate-selection method in elections saying that the individual has to be accepted by the local community and possess the quality to serve at three important levels, the people, the party and the nation.

Datuk Seri Najib, who is also prime minister, took over the party six months ago from the then Umno president Tun Abdullah Badawi in wake of the unprecedented setback in the March 8 general election last year.

The party president reminded the delegates that Umno will remain a "centrist" party. “We are neither a leftist nor a right-wing party,” he said.

"Since its formation 60 years ago, Umno has accommodated the left, right, nationalists and religious scholars."

In his more than two-hour speech titled "Uphold tradition, and fostering change", Datuk Seri Najib stressed that Umno is a party which championed the welfare of the people.

"Umno must not be seen as representing certain people. Instead, the party must be seen as an inclusive party which put the peoples' interests at the forefront, and not oneself".

He also criticised the opposition for branding Umno as a racist party.

"If it is true Malays are racist as alleged, we would not accommodate other ethnic groups such as vernacular schools, and it would not be possible for Umno to work with other races and component party members.”

Najib said following BN's heavy losses in last year's general election, the opposition had predicted the demise of Umno.

He said many people had wanted to “mentalqinkan” on Umno.

“They say Umno is buying extra time before it dies. This is not the first time that they have made such a prediction

“When a group of members split from Umno to form PAS, such premonition was made and similarly after the May 13, 1969 racial riots or the 1988 Umno elections, which led to the formation of Parti Semangat 46, or the 1999 elections.”

He said Malaysians had sent a strong message to Umno at the 2008 general election. However, he vouched that Umno would rise again.

“Alhamdulillah, Umno has managed to surpass all those challenges and we have managed to rise and become stronger. Umno was formed with the ulama, educationists, farmers, fishermen and traders.”

“If we remain united, work towards our common goal and put in the effort, we will climb the highest mountain and go down the deepest ravine and swim the deepest ocean. We shall overcome the odds,” he said.

Bagan Pinang: Isa scores landslide win...

2009-10-11T21:50:00.017+08:00

Barisan Nasional’s Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad has won the Bagan Pinang by-election with a thumping majority of 5,435 votes.

Tan Sri Isa, the former Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar, who was stripped of his vice-presidency post by the party for money politics in 2005, polled 8,013 votes against PAS state commissioner Zulkefly Mohamad Omar’s 2,578.

The by-election was held following the death of Barisan Nasional’s Azman Mohamad Noor due to a blood disorder on Sept 4.

Azman had won the seat against PAS’ Ramli Ismail in the last general election with a 2,333-vote majority, polling 6,430 votes against PAS’ 4,097.

The official result was announced by returning officer Abdul Wahad Samsuddin at the Port Dickson Municipal Council Hal at 8pm amidst jubilant Umno supporters.

In an immediate reaction, PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub said that his party accepts the decision of Bagan Pinang voters.

BN has won all eight polling districts, including the three Indian estates, which showed a return in support from the minority community.

After a series of by-election defeats, the Bagan Pinang victory has provided the much- needed boost for the BN which until now has lost all but one by-election since the March 8 general elections last year.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also Umno deputy president, has described the victory as significant and a positive sign for BN.

The by-election contest tally now stands at 7-2, with Pakatan Rakyat previously sweeping all except for Sarawak's Batang Ai.

D-Day for voters in Bagan Pinang (Update)

2009-10-11T10:36:00.005+08:00

Update - 5:35pm: Polling has ended at 5pm and counting of the votes is expected to start soon. As at 4pm, voter turnout was 69.5 per cent with 6,301 voters having cast their ballots

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

It’s D-Day for voters in Bagan Pinang, Negri Sembilan, as they go to the polls today to decide on their representative in the 36-member state assembly.

Barisan Nasional is being represented by Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad, 59, who will face PAS’ Zulkefly Mohamad Omar, 45.

This is the the ninth by-election in the country after the March 8 general election last year and is being held following the death of Barisan Nasional’s Azman Mohamad Noor on Sept 4.

The late Azman had won the seat against PAS’ Ramli Ismail in the last general election with a 2,333-vote majority, polling 6,430 votes against PAS’ 4,097.

Tan Sri Mohd Isa, who was Mentri Besar for 22 years (1982 to 2004), was previously a six-term wakil rakyat while Zulkefly, a state PAS commissioner, had contested and lost the Lenggeng state seat on three occasions.

However, both will not be casting their ballots this time as they are registered as voters elsewhere.

Tan Sri Isa appears to be the favourite to retain this seat for the BN and put an end to a series of by-electoral defeats for the federal ruling coalition in the hands of Pakatan Rakyat.

There will be eight voting centres in this by-election — Taman Eastern, Ladang Atherton, Siliau, Ladang Bradwall, Sua Betong, Kg Bagan Pinang, Si Rusa and Teluk Kemang.

Despite being raised near here, Tan Sri Mohd Isa, who is also Teluk Kemang Umno chief, has never contested the seat. He was Linggi assemblyman for five terms and Jempol MP once.

A former Umno vice-president, he has had to give up his post after being found guilty of breaching the party’s code of ethics in 2005.

He was suspended for six years but this was later reduced to three.

Bagan Pinang is a traditional BN stronghold. Malays form the majority of the voters with 62.8 per cent followed by the Indians (20.7 per cent), Chinese (11 per cent) and others (5.5 per cent).

It is located in the Teluk Kemang parliamentary seat. Four other seats in the constituency are Port Dickson, Linggi, Chuah and Lukut.

Chuah and Port Dickson are held by the PKR while Lukut is under DAP. Only Linggi belongs to Barisan.
Barisan controls 20 of the 36 state seats in the state assembly. The Opposition has 15 seats, with 10 belonging to the DAP while PKR and PAS have four and one respectively.

Bagan Pinang: By-election result as early as 8pm

2009-10-11T08:01:00.003+08:00

If all goes well, the Election Commission (EC) should be able to know the result of the by-election between 7.15pm and 7.30pm.

But the result will be announced after the Maghrib (evening) prayers at 8pm when the supporters of both parties will be present, EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said Saturday.

He said eight polling centres with 18 polling streams had been made available for the 9,060 normal voters in Bagan Pinang.

There 4,604 postal voters in the constituency. Thursday and Friday had been allocated for them to cast their votes.

As rain was forecast in the constituency Sunday, Abdul Aziz urged voters to come to vote early. Voting will be closed at 5pm.

The Bagan Pinang by-election is a straight fight between Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad of the Barisan Nasional and Zulkefly Omar of PAS. It is being held following the death of state assemblyman, Azman Mohd Noor of the BN, on Sept 4. Source Bernama.

MCA EGM: Ong and Chua will have to go

2009-10-11T03:20:00.011+08:00

MCA delegates dealt a devastating blow to their top two leaders when they adopted a motion declaring no confidence in party president Ong Tee Keat and rejected a motion to reinstate his suspended deputy, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, at its extra general meeting (EGM) yesterday.

The 2,304 delegates passed a no confidence vote against Datuk Seri Ong by a wafer-thin 14 vote majority.

They also voted against a motion to specifically reinstate Dr Chua as deputy president with a smaller majority but voted to reinstate him as a full party member with a majority of 109 votes.

In other words, the outcome of the EGM has left the party without a president and a deputy president.

In a brief statement after the the EGM Dr Chua said that he accepted the decision of party delegates.

As for Ong he had said in an interview with the Star that he would resign should he fail to get the backing from the delegates.

However, according to a Malaysiakini report the positions of MCA president and deputy president will be determined by the party's central committee on Thursday.

MCA secretary-general Wong Foon Meng said the powerful central committee would meet at Wisma MCA at 1 pm on that day to discuss the outcome of the EGM.

The current power struggle in MCA is not the first time facing the party.

In 2002 a fall-out beween the then party president, Ling Liong Sik, and his deputy, Lim Ah Lek over the purchase of Nanyang Press Holding Berhad resulted in the resignations of both leaders from their respectives posts,

They were replaced by Ong Ka Ting as president and Chan Kong Choy as the deputy.

The results of the three resolutions are:

1) Motion of no confidence against Ong

For: 1,155

Against: 1,141

Spoilt votes: 8

Majority: 14

2) To annul the party's decision to expel/suspend Chua

For: 1,204

Against: 1,095

Spoilt votes:5

Majority: 109

3) To reinstate Chua as MCA deputy president

Against: 1,184

For: 1,110

Spoilt votes: 10

Majority: 74

Read the Star report: MCA EGM: Delegates make dramatic decisions

Bagan Pinang: No duplication of names in electoral roll says EC

2009-10-08T11:03:00.005+08:00

Election Commission (EC) deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar has refuted claims by PAS that there were duplication of names in the Bagan Pinang electoral roll, particularly involving postal voters.

He said the EC has scrutinised the Bagan Pinang electoral roll and found out that the duplication of names does not exist, he was quoted by Bernama.

Wan Ahmad was commenting a PAS proposal seeking a court injunction to prevent 253 postal voters from casting votes today claiming there was duplication of names in the electoral roll.

Pas was reported to have been upset over alleged irregularities in the postal voting process.

PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali made the claim during a meeting with EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof yesterday.

Wan Ahmad said PAS had given EC a list of names said to be duplicated in the Bagan Pinang electoral roll.

The list is said to contain names of voters who are allegedly able to vote twice - as postal and ordinary voter - or are able to vote in more than one constituency.

There are 4,600 postal voters - who make up more than a third of the electorate in the constituency and who will begin casting their ballots for two days starting today (read here and here).

Bagan Pinang: BN on track to victory, opposition struggling

2009-10-07T21:28:00.002+08:00

After five days of campaigning, it appears that the Barisan Nasional has the upper hand in retaining its stronghold in the Bagan Pinang state by-election.

Indications are that the opposition alliance is struggling to make significant headway despite adopting various approaches and strategies.

Instead they are kept busy most of the time responding to the issues raised by the BN.

The BN's strategy of highlighting local development and fielding an experienced, charming and friendly candidate - Isa Samad - who is a local, seems to have neutralised some national issues raised by the opposition.

The opposition alliance, particularly PAS, seems to have focused more on local issues to woo the voters in Bagan Pinang, something which is seen as departing from their normal practice of focusing on national issues in their election campaign.

For example, they raised issues such as abandoned construction projects near the beach, inefficient sewerage system which pollutes the sea and traffic congestion but some party insiders are doubtful that this would swing the votes their way.

However, PAS' Bagan Pinang by-election director, Salahuddin Ayub, said they were still playing up the national issue but at the same time needed to focus on local issues as the BN had portrayed Isa as an experienced candidate to serve the constituency,having been a mentri besar before this.

"We need to highlight the local issues here to counter this, to show his failures," he said.

Whether it is just strategy or due to other factors, some members of the opposition pact privately revealed that the overall response towards their campaign had not been encouraging, even in the non-Malay areas.

"The reception towards us in some areas is still cold. Logistics are lousy. At the moment, we believe the majority of the non-Malay vote are still with us.

"We can be sure about the Indians but we are not so sure about the Chinese," a DAP leader told Bernama.

The DAP leader, who refused to be identified, said most of the voters they meet are cold towards them when they campaigned from house to house.

"I think the locals, particulary the Chinese, are very much reserved. They don't want to be associated with our ceramah. That explains the poor turnout at ceramah organised by us," he said.

Therefore the opposition was not sure of achieving the target of 75 per cent support from the non-Malay voters, from 65 per cent previously.

"It is a battle that is hard to fight as there are no strong issues for us to focus on. Can't find good rotten eggs. Permatang Pasir was easy as the BN had already committed suicide. Here the situation is different," he said.

A Gerakan leader who has been campaigning in the predominatly Indian areas concurred that there was some positive leaning towards the BN by the Indian voters as the reception they received in their house-to-house campaign was not as hostile as during the general election last year.

"In terms of support, Umno definitely has between 4,500 and 5,000 Malay votes while PAS hardcore is around 1,500 votes. In the last general election, PAS obtained 4,500 votes from the non-Malays.

"However, in this by-election, we can forsee some changes. The situation will improve in terms of the non-Malay votes although we expect it to be small," he said, adding that the campaign was divided and focused on small groups of voters.

Therefore, in the coming days, the BN is pushing hard for some changes among the non-Malay voters with a large-scale Mooncake festival tomorrow night and a grand dinner the following night to draw larger crowds.

"All these will be attended by the Deputy Prime Minister. Last time we only had 42 per cent of the Chinese voters here supporting the BN. However, this time around, we are targeting to hit 50 per cent," said Teluk Kemang MCA division chairman Yit Lee Kok.

The Chinese voters are mostly concentrated in eluk Kemang while the rest are scattered in small numbers in places like Sua Betong, Si Rusa, Silliau Town, Taman Eastern and Ladang Atherton.

BN election operatives claimed that another indication that PAS was struggling to make any headway was when they decided to go back to their old tactic of claiming that the election roll was not clean as a way out in the event they performed badly in this by-election.
PAS has also been reported that it may apply for an injunction to postpone the Bagan Pinang by-election if the Election Commission (EC) does not resolve the issue of the alleged irregularities in the electoral roll.

The party claimed that the irregularities happened when voters' names were registered in two areas, one under a military identification card and the other using the MyKad.-- BERNAMA

Bagan Pinang by-election: Isa Samad has already paid his dues says PM...

2009-10-05T18:36:00.005+08:00

...and he deserves a second chance.

Defending Barisan Nasional's decision to field Tan Sri Isa Samad for the Bagan Pinang state by-election, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said the former has already paid his dues.

Tan Sri Isa, a former menteri besar of Negeri Sembilan, was suspended from Umno in 2004 after being found guilty of practicing money politics.

Speaking to students in Paris, Datuk Seri Najib said: "The question here is whether he deserved a second chance or not."

And to the Prime Minister and the Umno leadership Tan Sri Isa does (deserve a second chance) because he is a loyal party member and has been working hard for the party.

The NST has the report:

Bagan Pinang by-election: Isa paid dues, deserves second chance, says PM Najib
2009/10/05

Nuraina A Samad reporting from Paris

PARIS: Tan Sri Isa Samad has paid his dues and deserves a second chance as the Barisan Nasional candidate in the Bagan Pinang state by-election, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said here.
"Action has already been taken against him for his offences, and he lost his party posts. The punishment he got was severe. The question is whether he deserves a second chance.

"In our system, criminals can be given a second chance. People who have been sentenced by the courts are given a second chance," he said in response to a question by a Malaysian student during a gathering at Pavillon Davphine at Place du Marechal de Lattre Tassigny, here Sunday.

Engineering student Ahmed Syukri Amin Ahmed Ismail wanted the Prime Minister to explain why BN picked the former Menteri Besar whom Umno had found guilty of money politics, as Bagan Pinang candidate in the forthcoming state by-election.

Najib who is in France for a four-day official visit said Isa did not break the country's laws, but the party's ethics. Besides, he is not being picked for a Cabinet position but as a candidate for the state assembly.

He said the Opposition could raise all sorts of allegations but the fact is that they are faced with more serious ones.

"Isa has paid his dues, is loyal to the party and has, in fact, been working hard for the party.

"The party's primary consideration is (to choose) someone who can effectively serve the constituency, someone popular and someone whose leadership people can accept.

"Our reading is that Tan Sri Isa is the most popular candidate and the right choice for Bagan Pinang."

Najib who is accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, later hosted a 1Malaysia open house.

Zulkefly is Pas' man in Bagan Pinang

2009-09-30T12:25:00.023+08:00

PAS has named its Negri Sembilan chief, Zulkefly Omar, 45, as the candidate for the Bagan Pinang by-election.,

The announcement was made at a public rally near Port Dickson by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang last night.

Zulkefly Is The Best Candidate For PAS In Bagan Pinang By-election

PORT DICKSON, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- Negeri Sembilan PAS commissioner Zulkefly Mohamad Omar, 45, has been chosen as the party candidate for the Oct 11 Bagan Pinang state-by-election.

PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, when announcing this at the DAP headquarters here on Tuesday's night, said Zulkefly Mohamad was the best candidate because he was young and with high education.

Also present at the function were PAS deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa, its vice-presidents, Salahuddin Ayub and Datuk Mahfuz Omar, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali and its vice-president, Mohamed Azmin Ali.

Meanwhile, Zulkefly Mohamad, when met by reporters, thanked the Pakatan Rakyat leadership for their trust in him.

In the last general election, Zulkefly Mohamad was the PAS candidate for the Lenggeng state seat, but lost to Barisan Nasional's Mustafa Salim with a 1,285 vote-majority.

A businessman, with a masters degree in science from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and a degree in Communication from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), was a former manager in a government-linked company and a telecommunications company.

Bagan Pinang: Isa Samad is Barisan's choice

2009-09-29T20:33:00.006+08:00

The Barisan Nasional will field Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad as its candidate in the Oct 11 Bagan Pinang by-election in Negeri Sembilan.

Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, in announcing the decision, said the former Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar was chosen because this is what the people of Bagan Pinang wanted.

Muhyiddin said Isa’s selection as the candidate was made after much thought and scrutiny, with feedback from not only among senior Barisan leaders but also the grassroot supporters in Bagan Pinang.

He said the party wanted a dedicated leader and candidate who would be able to bring change to the constituency.

According to Muhyiddin, Isa,who was the Negri Sembilan mentri besar for 22 years, has contributed greatly to the local community and never stopped serving it despite challenges to him over the years.

Muhyiddin, who is also the Barisan election director, made the announcement at a Hari Raya Aidilfitri get-together in Batu 6, Teluk Kemang, Negri Sembilan.

The star has the report here .

When the Teluk Kemang Umno Youth nominated Isa to contest Bagan Pinang, several quarters expressed strong vews against his candidancy because he is considered a tainted leader.

Among them who had objected to the possibility of fielding Isa was former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Isa was found guilty of money politics by the Umno disciplinary board in 2005 - he was then the Federal Territories Minister - and suspended from the party for six years . However, his suspension was reduced to three years following an appeal.

The contest for the Bagan Pinang state seat was called following the death of Umno incumbent Azman Mohd Noor.

In the general election in March 2008, Azman defeated PAS' Ramli Ismail with a majority of 2,333 votes. He polled 6,430 votes against Ramli's 4,097.

Malay majority seat Bagan Pinang is part of the Teluk Kemang parliamentary seat in Port Dickson with voters from the community making up 66 per cent of the electorate.

Of the four other state seats in Teluk Kemang, three - Port Dickson, Chuah and Lukut - are under the opposition while BN holds Linggi.

PAS is expected to announce its candidate later tonight.

Former Pahang MB Abdul Rahim dies

2009-09-25T11:11:00.001+08:00

Former Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Rahim Abu Bakar died at his home in Jalan U Thant in Kuala Lumpur at 7.10 pm yesterday believed to be due to a heart attack. He was 66.

His second child, Rosnita, 35, said her father was waiting for the azan call when her mother Datin Rosnah Kamaruddin found him unconscious.

The family contacted paramedics from Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre, who pronounced him dead.

Rosnita said her siblings were at their father’s side when he passed away.

He would be buried at the Taman Kosas Muslim Cemetery after Friday prayers at the Kampung Pandan Mosque, she added.

Meanwhile, Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Noh Omar said Abdul Rahim’s demise was a big loss to politics in the country, especially Umno.

“I have always admired his high values and struggles. Despite coming from a poor family, he achieved tremendous success,” he said.

Abdul Rahim leaves behind a wife and four children, Roslina, 37, Rosnita, Mohd Rizal, 32, and Rosazreen, 25, as well as four grandchildren.

Abdul Rahim was born on Feb 7, 1943 in Beserah, Kuantan and started his political career as the state assemblyman for Beserah in 1978.

The economics graduate from Universiti Malaya was the Pahang Mentri Besar from July 19, 1978 to Nov 7, 1981. - Source: Bernama

Al fatiha

Selamat Hari Raya 'Aidil Fitri

2009-09-18T21:22:00.003+08:00

Here’s wishing my Muslim brothers and sisters Selamat Hari Raya ‘Adil Fitri.

To those who will be driving back to their respective hometown for the celebration, I wish you all a safe journey home.

"Meme: Save Yvonne's Sight"

2009-09-16T00:06:00.007+08:00

I have been tagged by my sister nuraina for "Save Yvonne's Sight" meme.

Twenty-two year old Yvone has a rare genetic disease – neurofibromatosis type 2 - that causes benign tumours to grow in her brain, spine and along her peripheral nerves - since she was 16. The disease is incurable.

Yvonne has survived several surgeries to remove tumours - one on her spine and the rest on her brain. She is now semi-paralysed on her face, deaf, partially blind, has poor balance and a stiff right leg. Right now she needs to undergo yet another surgery.

Yvonne, who runs a blog www.yvonnefoong.com is the author of I’m Not Sick, Just A Bit Unwell, (picture), has been raising money on her own to pay for her operations, is losing her eyesight. The operation is due in December and once again she needs to raise funds for it. The cost of the surgery is USD44,000 (RM154,770) and the cost of her hospital stay for two weeks is USD915 or RM3219.

"She has already raised RM10,000 of this but obviously still has a long way to go. She's hoping to raise the rest by republishing her book I'm Not Sick, Just A Little Bit Unwell in English and Chinese.The books are now available in Malaysian bookshops and from her website store. She is also selling T-shirts at bazaars and via her web site store. You can read about her surgery and donate to her fund here."

You can also help by sending on this meme. If you do, please follow these meme rules:

1. Create a blog entry titled "Meme: Save Yvonne's Sight"

2. List three things you love to see. Add in the picture of Yvonne's book cover. The URL is http://www.yvonnefoong.com/images/banner/my-story.jpg

3. End with the line, "Yvonne Foong is in danger of losing her eyesight thanks to neurofibromatosis (NF). Please find out how you can help her by visiting her blog at http://www.yvonnefoong.com."

4. Tag 5 blog friends. Be sure to copy the rules, OK?

5. If you have a Facebook account, please check out Ellen's new invention, a "feme" pronounced FEEM, a meme designed for Facebook here. And if you want to blog about NF, that would be great too!

The three things I love to see are:

1.The smile on my grandchildren’s face

2, Family gathering

2. Sunset by the beach

Am tagging fellow bloggers:

1. Elviza

2. Galadrial

3. Daphne Ling

4. mantra

5. Farina

"Yvonne Foong is in danger of losing her eyesight thanks to neurofibromatosis (NF).

Please find out how you can help her by visiting her blog at http://www.yvonnefoong.com."

Bagan Pinang by-election: :Nomination set for Oct 3, polling Oct 11

2009-09-14T19:54:00.003+08:00

The Election Commission (EC) today fixed Oct 3 (Saturday) for nomination and Oct 11 (Sunday) for polling for the Bagan Pinang state seat by-election in Negeri Sembilan.

There will be a eight-day campaigning period.

The dates were announced by EC chairperson Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof at a press conference today.

Abdul Aziz said there are 13,664 voters in Bagan Pinang, of which 9,060 are normal voters while the remainder 4,604 are postal voters. The large number of postal voters are due to the presence of several army camps in the constituency.

This is the ninth by-election since the 12th general election in March last year.

The seat fell vacant following the death of incumbent Barisan Nasional assemblyperson Azman Mohammad Noor on Sept 4 due to blood infection.

Talking to reporters after announcing the dates, Abdul Aziz said the commission will not change its normal practice to allow postal votes to be cast on the polling day, as requested by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.

Abdul Aziz explained that postal voting is conducted two to three days prior to the actual polling day.

Stressing that this has been the standard practice thus far, he said that he will not entertain any request to change the system.

In the general election in March 2008, Azman defeated PAS' Ramli Ismail with a majority of 2,333 votes. He polled 6,430 votes against Ramli's 4,097.

Malay majority seat Bagan Pinang is part of the Teluk Kemang parliamentary seat in Port Dickson with voters from the community making up 66 per cent of the electorate.

Of the four other state seats in Teluk Kemang, three - Port Dickson, Chuah and Lukut - are under the opposition while BN holds Linggi.

Last week, the Teluk Kemang Umno division unanimously nominated division chief Isa Samad as a candidate for the seat.

Meanwhile, Negeri Sembilan PAS has identified three "well-qualified" locals to be considered as the candidates but did not reveal them.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Hadi Awang said yesterday that the names had been submitted to PAS' central leadership for deliberation.

Source: Malaysiakini

Teoh inquest adjourned to Sept 17

2009-09-11T21:33:00.003+08:00

The star online
SHAH ALAM: The inquest into the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock was adjourned to Sept 17 to allow time for lawyers representing the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to prepare their cross-examination of a witness who has alleged he was tortured.

Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas granted the request by Datuk Abdul Razak Musa, who is holding a watching brief for the MACC.

Abdul Razak also told the coroner that the MACC was going to file an appeal notice at the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya against the Petaling Jaya High Court on Thursday that had dismissed their leave application for a judicial review.

The application that was dismissed sought to prevent “mystery witness” T. Sivanesan, 22, from testifying at the inquest on the grounds that it had no relevance to the inquest and was merely aimed at tarnishing and smearing the MACC’s image.

Sivanesan, an assistant manager with Puncak Rezeki Makmur Sdn Bhd, first took the stand on Wednesday. He claimed then that he was beaten with an iron rod and suffered injuries to his head, kidneys and genital area during an MACC interrogation in September last year.

Abdul Razak filed an application for a judicial review under Section 323 of the Criminal Procedure Code to stop Sivanesan from testifying.

The application also sought to expunge Sivanesan’s testimony together with a police report and a set of photographs of his injuries.

On Thursday, the Petaling Jaya High Court dismissed the application. Justice Datin Yeoh Wee Siam said in her ruling that there was nothing illegal, incorrect or improper with the ruling made by Azmil Muntapha on Tuesday that allowed the testimony.

Gobind Singh Deo, who is representing Teoh’s family in the proceedings, had submitted that the Coroner should be allowed to conduct the inquest the way he sees fit.

In his ruling on Tuesday, Azmil Muntapha said Sivanesan’s testimony was relevant as the alleged torture took place at the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam and the same officers could have been involved in both incidents.

Related Story:
Judge: Mystery witness can testify

Teoh inquest: Torture testimony ruled relevant

2009-09-10T23:02:00.001+08:00

The star online
PETALING JAYA: “Mystery witness” T. Sivanesan, 22, can continue taking the stand in the Teoh Beng Hock inquest after the High Court here dismissed an application by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to expunge his testimony.

Justice Datin Yeoh Wee Siam said in her ruling that there was nothing illegal, incorrect or improper with the ruling made by Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas on Tuesday regarding the relevance of evidence implicating the MACC.

“I have perused all the documents and considered all the submissions. There is nothing illegal, incorrect or improper by the Coroner to allow the witness Sivanesan to testify and I dismiss this application,” she said on Thursday.

Yeoh also rejected a stay of application by deputy public prosecutor Manoj Kurup, who represented the MACC in the application, and ordered all parties to proceed with the inquest.

Earlier, Manoj submitted to the court that the objections were based solely on the grounds that Sivanesan’s testimony would not assist the Coroner in the inquest but would be prejudicial to the MACC.

“The only essence or purpose of this witness was to smear, taint and tarnish the image of the MACC and nothing more. It has no nexus to the cause of death of Teoh,” he said.

Gobind Singh Deo, representing Teoh’s family, submitted that the Coroner should be allowed to conduct the inquest the way he sees fit.

He said the Coroner was dutybound to look into all matters necessary as to how the deceased died and this includes hearsay.

“Why was the MACC allowed to bring witnesses to say that nothing happened, while we aren’t allowed to bring our witness to say something had happened, did happen, and will continue to happen?” he said, adding that the Coroner has the prerogative to believe the witness or otherwise after being presented with the evidence.

On Wednesday, Datuk Abdul Razak Musa, who is holding a watching brief for the MACC, filed the application for a judicial review under Section 323 of the Criminal Procedure Code to stop Sivanesan from testifying in the inquest.

This was after Azmil Muntapha had allowed Sivanesan to take the stand despite strong objections from Abdul Razak.

Azmil said the testimony was relevant as Sivanesan’s alleged torture took place at the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam and the same officers could have been involved in both incidents.

The application also sought to expunge Sivanesan’s testimony together with a police report and a set of photographs of his injuries.

Sivanesan, an assistant manager with Puncak Rezeki Makmur Sdn Bhd, claimed that he was beaten with an iron rod and suffered injuries to his head, kidneys and genital area.

Teoh, who was the political secretary to Selangor executive councilor Ean Yong Hian Wah, was summoned to the MACC office located on the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam here on July 15 to be questioned over the alleged irregular disbursement of state funds.

He was found dead at the building’s fifth floor service corridor the following day.

The inquest continues Friday at the Shah Alam Magistrates Court.

Twelve charged in court over cow-head protest

2009-09-09T11:29:00.006+08:00

Six were charged with sedition and they joined another six to face an illegal assembly rap. All were later released on bail and both matters will be re-mentioned on Oct 21.

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Twelve people were today charged for their role in the 'cow-head' protest at the Selangor state secretariat on Aug 28.

Of the 12, six were charged under the Sedition Act for allegedly causing racial tensions by displaying and stepping on a cow's head during the protest.

These six also faced a second charge of illegal assembly with the remaining six.

The first six were charged under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act, or alternatively under Section 298 of the Penal Code.

The six defendants claimed trial before Sessions judge Hasbi Hasan.

They were Ibrahim Sabri, 42, Ahmad Mahayuddin Abd Manaf, 36, Eyzva Ezhar Ramly, 35, Mohd Azmir Mohd Zain, 35, Ahmad Suhairy Zakaria, 39 and Mohd Hilmi Ni, 40.

The first two were charged with stepping on the cow's head, the third for bringing the animal's head while the remaining three for both bringing and stepping the cow's head.

They were charged with committing the offences at about 2.25pm on Aug 28, and face a maximum fine of RM5,000 or up to three years in jail or both upon conviction under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948.
They also face an alternative charge of wounding the feelings of Hindus by bringing the cow's head and stepping on it.

They pleaded not guilty to the charge under Section 298 of the Penal Code which carries up to a year's jail, a fine, of both.

Ahmad Mahayuddin and Ibrahim are the chairperson and the deputy of Section 23 residents' committee. Ahmad Mahayuddin is also the Section 23 Shah Alam Umno branch chief.

They were part of a larger group of people who took part in the protest against the Selangor government's decision to relocate a 150-year-old temple from Section 19 to their neighbourhood.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar asked for bail to be set at RM15,000 each while their lawyers Salehuddin Saidin and Afifudin Ahmad Hafifi wanted it reduced to RM500 each.

Salehuddin said that the amount quoted by the deputy public prosecutor was too high and would be a burden to all the accused.

He also said that his clients had given their cooperation to the police and that they had no intention of wounding the religion of others.

Justice Haslin then set bail at RM4,000 each with a guarantor. She also fixed Oct 21 to mention the case for trial.

Later, these six and six others were charged with illegal assembly under Section 27(5)(a) of the Police Act at the Shah Alam Magistrate's Court.

All of the claimed trial before magistrate Norkamilah Aziz.

The six who faced sedition trial was granted bail at RM300 each while bail for six others was set at RM500 each.

The six who faced just the illegal assembly charge were Jainudin @ Zainudin Md Yusuff, 67, Mohd Jurit Ramli, 39, Mohammad Nordin Zakaria, 63, Jamil Mohamad Isa,40, Rahimuddin Md Harun, 39 and Azhari Shaari, 39.
They are charged under Section 27(5)(a) of the Police Act 1967 and face a fine of between RM2,000 and RM10,000 or a year's jail upon conviction. The case will also be mentioned on Oct 21. - Malaysiakini
Earlier report:
Six people have been charged with sedition at the Shah Alam Sessions Court for allegedly causing racial tensions by displaying and stepping on a cow's head during a protest at the Selangor state secretariat on Aug 28.

The six were part of a larger group of people who took part in the protest against the Selangor government's decision to relocate a 150-year-old temple from Section 19 to their neighbourhood.

The six defendants claimed trial before Sessions judge Haslin Hassan.

The prosecuting team has asked for bail to be set at RM15,000 each while their lawyers Salehuddin Saidin and Afifudin Ahmad Hafifi wanted it reduced to RM500 each.
Justice Haslin then set bail at RM4,000 each with a guarantor. He also fixed Oct 21 to mention the case for trial.

After this, the six defendants will be charged with six others for taking part in an illegal assembly.

Meanwhile some 20 residents of Section 23 in Shah Alam have showed up at the court to show support for the 12.

"We are not guilty (in taking part in the protest. We are all united on this matter," a resident told reporters.
The protest, during which some of them had carried a cow's head and uttered strong remarks - sparked outrage among Malaysians, who have called for action be taken against them. - Malaysiakini.
Related article: COW HEAD CONTROVERSY: Sedition charge unfair, says lawyer