TERKINI BLOG SENSASI PAHANG DAILY ONLINE .CO.CC DI SAMAN KERAJAAN NEGERI PAHANG KERANA KELANTANGAN DAN MENDEDAHKAN KELEMAHAN KERAJAAN NEGERI
BLOG PAHANG DAILY DISAMAN KERAJAAN PAHANG
TERKINI BLOG SENSASI PAHANG DAILY ONLINE .CO.CC DI SAMAN KERAJAAN NEGERI PAHANG KERANA KELANTANGAN DAN MENDEDAHKAN KELEMAHAN KERAJAAN NEGERI
Aliran media statement
Free the Hindraf Five: Unfounded allegation of terror links
It is exactly one year since the Hindraf Five have been detained under spurious charges of having links with the Tamil Tigers of Sri Langka. The Barisan Nasional Government has had one whole year to substantiate this allegation and lay to rest their case in this sordid affair. But, to date, no evidence has been produced to convince doubting citizens that the government had not lied about this allegation.
In the absence of any proof, the government’s claim remains merely an allegation. That being the case, there is no justification whatsoever for holding them under the ISA. Their continued detention would be cruel, unjust and unwarranted.
Aliran calls upon the BN government to free the Hindraf Five immediately as atonement for perpetuating a cruel and unjust act. Aliran also calls upon the government to immediately release all the other ISA detainees and close down the Kamunting Detention Centre, which has become a national shame.
Aliran Executive Committee13 December 2008
PROGRAM USAHAWAN RAKYAT MENDAPAT SAMBUTAN LUAR BIASA
Pulau Pinang-13 Disember-Program usahawan rakyat yang di rasmikan oleh Timbalan Ketua Menteri 1 Pulau Pinang mendapat sambutan di luar jangkaan . Program anjuran kerajaan negeri dengan usahasma Action Coach dan UPEN ,Unit Pembanggunan Ekonomi Negeri ini dianjurkan oleh sebuah syaraikat antarabangsa dimana program ini bukan sahaja bertujuan untuk menyatu padukan peniaga kecil tetapi bagi membantu menggabungkan produk dan dipasarkan secara lebih teratur dan produktif.
Unit pembanggunan ekonomi di bawah potfolio Timbalan Ketua Menteri ini juga akan memberi tumpuan selepas program utama ini dimana syarikat Action Coach ini akan membuka pejabat urusan mereka di Pulau Pinang bagi memantau beberapa syarikat yang berdaftar dengan syarikat Action Coach ini.Syarikat ini yang didaftarkan di Amerika Syarikat dengan kerjasama UPEN akan membantu dan meningkatkan lagi penyertaan bumiputera
Untuk 13hb sahaja , penyertaan lebih 500 peserta dan melebihi target iaitu sebanyak 400 peserta. Untuk 14 haribulan pula dijangkakan penyertaan dari peniaga kecil pula di jangka lebih dari 600 peserta .Program bimbingan untuk peniaga kecil menyimpan melabur dan membesarkan perniagaan ini julung-julung kali diadakan bagi meningkatkan penyertaan bumiputera dalam penggabungan membesarkan pasaran dibawah satu bumbung dan dipasarkan dengan lebih berdayasaing.
"Kerajaan Negeri yakin dengan pelancaran Tabung Modal Pusingan dan Penjaja Kecil Pulau Pinang akan memberi peluang rakyat yang menjalankan perniagaan kecil-kecilan untuk bertambah maju," ujarnya ketika merasmikan Seminar Bimbangan Usahawan Rakyat Negeri Pulau Pinang bertempat di Dewan Budaya Univesiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Glugor pagi tadi.
Menurutnya, tabung tersebut akan diuruskan oleh Perbadanan Pembangunan Pulau Pinang (PDC) dengan bantuan Kerajaan Negeri yang bertanggungjawab memperhalusi modus operandinya.
Menurutnya, tabung tersebut akan diuruskan oleh Perbadanan Pembangunan Pulau Pinang (PDC) dengan bantuan Kerajaan Negeri yang bertanggungjawab memperhalusi modus operandinya.
Jawatankuasa MMK Pembangunan Usahawan dan Koperasi Negeri yang dianggotai agensi dan Jabatan Kerajaan sentiasa bekerjasama mengadakan program pembudayaan keusahawan di samping memberi peluang peruntukan, katanya.
"Harapan Kerajaan Negeri selepas ini ialah semua usahawan mesti meneruskan kerjaya ini di samping mendapat khidmat nasihat dari pelbagai agensi," tegas beliau dalam program tersebut.
Menurut En Fadzil , jurulatih yang merancang,memberikan idea ini bahawa peningkatan dan penyertaan amat mengagumkan dan ini memberi inspirasi bahawa jika para peniaga ini , yang rata-ratanya peniaga kecil boleh dan pberupaya membesarkan perniagaan mereka dengan usha menabung dan elabur. Ini yang di tekankan kepada peniaga-peniaga ini bahawa dengan menabung dan melabur ianya akan menjadi satu modal untuk membesarkan perniagaan dengan cara yang betul dan juga bagaimana peniaga kecil ini dapat membesarkan perniagaan mereka dengan bekerja secara bergabung.
Esok program ini akan diteruskan untuk memberi inspirasi lagi kepada para peniaga yang juga inginm engetahui rahsia kejayaan yang di capai oleh Saudara Fadzil yang juga merupakan seorang jutawan yang berjaya walau di usia awal 30an dengan rangkaian berbagai jenis perniagaan dan pelaburan yang bijak.Pengalaman inilah yang dicurahkan oleh beliau kepada peserta yang rata-ratanya peniaga sejati, iaitu peniaga kecil di Pulau Pinang, disamping membantu kerajaan negeri terutamnya bumiputera melangkah kepada ciri-ciri usahawan yang berjaya.
YB Mohd Fairus dalam ucapan perasmiannya yang turut dihadiri oleh YB Raven, YB Ustz Maktar,YB Poh Bon,SU PKR Negeri Pak Mus dan penyokong, menjelaskan bahawa kerajaan negeri Pulau Pinang pada tahun ini telah berjaya mendapat pelaburan sebanyak RM 8 Billion ringgit dan usaha membawa syarikat gergasi Samsung dijangka akan membantu rakyat Pulau Pinang mendapat peluang pekerjaan.
Malaysia's PM-to-be says by-election a must win
Sat Dec 13, 2008 2:46pm IST
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's ruling coalition needs to win a by-election in January to re-establish its credibility after it performed poorly in recent polls, the country's prime minister-in-waiting said on Saturday. ...";
By David Chance
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's ruling coalition needs to win a by-election in January to re-establish its credibility after it performed poorly in recent polls, the country's prime minister-in-waiting said on Saturday.
The Barisan Nasional government that has ruled Malaysia for 51 years slumped to its worst election result in March and in an August by-election, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was returned to parliament with a larger than expected majority.
"We have to win because we want to make the victory a starting point for BN (Barisan Nasional) and UMNO's revival from the defeat in Permatang Pauh (Anwar's seat)," Najib Razak, who will become prime minister in March, told a meeting in the rural constituency where the vote will take place on Jan. 17.
On Saturday, Najib, who is finance minister, handed over a 408.6 million ringgit ($114.1 million) cheque for oil royalties to the state on the east coast of Malaysia where the by-election will be held, according to Malaysian news agency Bernama.
Najib is set to take office after the departure of lacklustre Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was brought forward by UMNO, the dominant party in the Barisan Nasional coalition.
The by-election is a key test for Najib, who will lead the government campaign in a constituency that is almost 90 percent Malay, the race traditionally represented by UMNO, compared with 60 percent nationally in this country of 27 million people.
The opposition alliance will put up a candidate from an Islamic party that held the seat in 1999 and hopes to retake the marginal constituency which was won by the government with a majority of just 628 votes in the March general election.
It is taking place against a backdrop of a sharp deterioration in Malaysia's economy with growth set to drop to 3.5 percent next year, according to government forecasts, and to zero according to some private sector forecasts.
Legoland In Malaysia: Yet To Reach Public’s Pockets
With another two theme parks set to join the 200-hectare Legoland, which should be completed by 2012, Johoreans may be able to look forward to some fun and games.
It has been three years since Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi first announced the Iskandar Development Region to boost the economy in south Johor. Some 37 months and 11 days plus RM41 billion in investment pledges later, businesses in the area are still waiting for this boost.
It has been three years since Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi first announced the Iskandar Development Region to boost the economy in south Johor. Some 37 months and 11 days plus RM41 billion in investment pledges later, businesses in the area are still waiting for this boost.
In fact, they are finding themselves in the middle of an economic slump. The Malaysian Insider understands that this evening, yet another mega project in what is now known as Iskandar Malaysia will be announced in the form of an RM800 million Legoland theme park, Asia's first. Abdullah will witness the signing of a joint venture between Iskandar Investment, the investment arm of Iskandar Malaysia, and Merlin Entertainments Group, who represent the interests of Danish toy building blocks manufacturer Lego.
Add to this the RM40.25 billion claimed by Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman already committed, and Johor should be looking forward to coasting through the current economic slump. But numbers on paper do not seem to be translated into real business for small-medium enterprises or the labour force here. South Johor SME association president Teh Kee Sin told The Malaysian Insider that local entrepreneurs are yet to reap any trickle-down effect, as in fact, tangible and physical evidence of investments are rare.
"We do not feel the benefits as developments have been slow," he said. Most of what has been put in place is merely infrastructure, but actual trade and business have not yet mushroomed in Iskandar.
Speaking to The Malaysian Insider, state opposition leader Dr Boo Cheng Hau (DAP-Skudai) claimed that the RM460 million rail link between Tanjung Pelepas Port and Senai airport has not been utilised and new factory lots were only seeing 10 per cent occupancy. Even these infrastructural projects, according to Teh, have been awarded at federal level, leaving local contractors high and dry. Meanwhile, SMEs are forced to do everything they can to control running costs. Keeping inventories under strict control is perhaps simply about good management.
Despite Abdul Ghani quoting statistics from the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority, saying that at least 9,757 new jobs had been generated in Iskandar Malaysia with the investments in the manufacturing sector, SMEs have been forced to reduce wage bills. Teh said that they have freezed hiring, eliminated overtime, cut hours, implemented three or four-day weeks and retrenched — in order of ascending desperation — as order books have been hit by a 20 to 70 per cent reduction in sales.
With today's announcements to come after a high-level progress update meeting between Abdullah, Abdul Ghani and top Iskandar executives, the questions that need to be asked are not about how big the project is becoming but how much of it is being delivered to the ground. With another two theme parks set to join the 200-hectare Legoland, which should be completed by 2012, Johoreans may be able to look forward to some fun and games. However, all play and no work makes Johor a depressed economy.
Judge: Commission's findings on Lingam Clip can't be challenged
WEB EDITION :: Local News
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KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 12, 2008): The High Court here today ruled that the Royal Commission of Inquiry's findings implicating six individuals in the controversial "Lingam video clip" cannot be challenged.
Datuk V.K.Lingam Justice Datuk Abdul Kadir Musa made the ruling when refusing leave to five of the six to seek a review of the commission's findings.
He accepted the preliminary objection raised by senior federal counsel Azizah Nawawi, for the commission, that the findings were not reviewable on the grounds that they were not a pronouncement of a decision and thereby did not affect the rights of the individuals or their obligations.
Abdul Kadir said the findings of the commission remained as "findings" and could not be construed as a decision to which an individual was entitled to seek a judicial review to quash the findings under Order 53 Rule 2 (4) of the Rules of the High Court.
He said the commission did not make a decision. Instead, it only conveyed its findings in a report and submitted it (a report) to the King on May 9, which was later transmitted to the government, which decided to make the report available to the public on May 20.
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"Until May 19, 2008, nothing was known about the aforesaid findings of the royal commission as contained in the report. None of the said five commissioners ever made known their said findings either to any or all the five individuals or to the public," he said.
Abdul Kadir said whatever happened after the commission had submitted its report to the King was entirely beyond its (the commission's) control.
The five-member panel of commissioners, in their report, had found the video clip showing senior lawyer Datuk V.K.Lingam in a telephone conversation with former chief justice Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim over judicial appointment to be authentic.
The commission also recommended that appropriate course of action be taken against six individuals -- Lingam, tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and two former chief justices Ahmad Fairuz and Tun Mohd Eusoff Chin -- for misconduct.
It found that there was sufficient evidence to investigate the six men for offences under the Sedition Act, Official Secrets Act, the Penal Code and the Legal Profession Act 1976.
Except for Mahathir, the other five filed for leave for a judicial review in an attempt to quash the inquiry's finding.
The commissioners -- chairman Tan Sri Haidar Mohd Noor, former chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Amar Steve Shim Lip Kiong, retired Court of Appeal judge Datuk Mahadev Shankar, former solicitor-general Puan Sri Zaitun Zawiyah Puteh and Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Kim -- sat for 17 days to inquire into the 14-minute video clip and concluded its work Feb 15 this year.
Abdul Kadir also held that although it could not be denied that the five individuals were adversely affected in its natural sense by the commission's findings, they were nevertheless not so adversely affected within the context of Order 53 Rule 2 (4) of the Rules of High Court.
He disagreed with their proposition that the commission's findings were reviewable based on the New Zealand common law which construed "findings" as a decision within the ambit of Order 53.
The Malaysian courts should not import common law from other countries where the provisions of Malaysia's laws were different, he said, adding that if one wanted to import the interpretation of New Zealand's Judicature Amendment Act 1977 into Malaysian law, there must first be changes made to the Malaysian Acts.
Ahmad Fairuz and Eusoff Chin are appealing against the decision while the other three indicated that they may consider to appeal. -- BERNAMA
Hopes ride high for judicial reform in Malaysia
Submitted by Sahil Nagpal
on Fri, 12/12/2008 - 04:50.
Featured
Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur - With the emergence of several landmark court rulings this year, there is renewed hope among Malaysia's legal fraternity that the judiciary system, more often than not the object of scorn and ridicule, is beginning a long-awaited path to reform.
Years of controversies surrounding the judiciary have led to an all-time low public opinion of judges and the courts.
The first major crisis faced was 20 years ago in what is remembered as the Judicial Crisis of 1988, when ex-prime minister Mahathir Mohamad sacked six top judges from the Supreme Court following a series of clashes between the former leader and the judges.
Three of the sacked judges were eventually reinstated, but the crisis gave clear warning to other members of the judiciary to toe the line.
Public opinion of the judiciary suffered further when in 1996, a letter was circulated alleging judicial corruption. Government investigations later claimed to have found no proof of the alleged wrongdoings.
Observers believe that the 1988 crisis marked the end of judicial independence from the executive powers, and the start of a string of questionable judgments in high profile cases.
One such case was the trial of former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim on charges of sodomy and corruption.
Anwar was sacked by his former mentor Mahathir in 1998, and subsequently jailed for sodomizing his former driver and then using his power of office to try and cover up his wrongdoings.
Anwar's supporters, as well as international and independent observers at his trial, criticized the manner in which the hearing was conducted and claimed there were several instances where the presiding judge appeared to have favoured the prosecuting government.
Anwar's sodomy conviction was later reversed, but only after he served six years in jail. His appeal against the corruption charge is still pending.
"The Judicial Crisis of 1988, that's where the rot started," said Ambiga Sreneevasan, the president of the Bar Council.
Last year, a videotape surfaced purportedly showing a veteran lawyer with links to top government leaders allegedly fixing the appointment of senior judges in a phone conversation with a former chief justice.
The ensuing outrage caused the government to form a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the videotape contents. The probe revealed that the process of judicial appointments was open to manipulation by the executive branch and private citizens.
Pledges of reform by the current government under Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi have been largely met with cynicism as critics say the lack of political will to clamp down on the corruption is the major hindrance.
"Reform is not just the question of the integrity of the judiciary. It also includes the issue of competence. How do we select our judges?" said human rights lawyer and constitutional expert Malik Imtiaz.
"The judiciary doesn't only need to be free from influence, but also the appointment process has to be set apart from the executive powers," Imtiaz said.
"I'm not wholly sure there is the political will to carry this through," he said.
However, even critics have acknowledged that several landmark rulings this year alone may signal a long-awaited return to judicial integrity.
On November 5, a court decided to release a controversial internet blogger who had been jailed without trial on allegations that his anti-government writings were a threat to national security. The court ruled that the government acted unconstitutionally.
The ruling was hailed by the legal fraternity and rights activists as a sign that the country's judiciary was not serving as a tool of the government.
"At a time when public confidence in the independence of the judiciary has taken a beating and when promised reforms have yet to take place, the decision gives hope that our judiciary has acted and will act with courage, integrity and independence when the liberty of an individual is threatened by the arbitrary use of power," said Ambiga.
In late November, the High Court overturned the conviction of human rights activist Irene Fernandez, whom the government accused of false reporting that illegal immigrants were sexually, physically and mentally abused in Malaysian detention centres.
Despite the fact that the acquittal came after a 13-year battle, the ruling was hailed as another milestone in judicial independence.
"There's always hope," said Imtiaz.
"As long as there are people who believe in the sacred institution of the judiciary, there will be hope." (dpa)
Aliran Media Statement : Stop harassing peaceful citizens: Go after the criminals
Aliran is appalled at the determined effort of the police to stop a peaceful campaign mounted by Jerit to raise awareness on issues such as food shortages, environmental problems, draconian laws and the financial crisis. In a unique way, Jerit is highlighting these very important issues affecting the great majority of our citizens by getting two teams of cyclists to “Ride for Change”.
Both these teams took off simultaneously – one from Johor Bahru and the other from Alor Setar on 3rd December 2008. It would have taken them 16 days to reach Kuala Lumpur on 18 december 2008 where both the teams would converge and proceed to Parliament House to deliver a six-point memorandum to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Why are the police in a frenzy to frustrate this attempt in such a serious manner? Why is this endeavour by peaceful means viewed as if it posed a threat to the peace of the nation? Why so many police personnel and vehicles are used when crime is so rampant and needing urgent attention all over the country?
What is bewildering is the fact that in spite of having informed the Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan of this “Ride for Change” programme, these harassments, intimidations and arrests have taken place on a daily basis in a routine manner. There has also been an allegation of sexual assault which resulted in the breasts of a participant being groped. The police as an institution have not lived up to the expectations of the public as a moral guardian looking after our safety and wellbeing.
People are wondering why can’t the police put in as much enthusiasm and determination in going after the criminals who have become the bane of society with crimes escalating to a worrying levels. Snatch thefts, murders, house-breaking, robberies, kidnappings, rapes, etc have become daily occurrences in our country simply because the police are no longer perceived as being effective in combating crime. Why is the police hell-bent in wanting to stop this peaceful campaign which is undertaken on behalf of the people and for the good of the people? Where is the threat and who is being threatened by this endeavour that is aimed at compelling the Barisan Government to focus on the real issues affecting the rakyat instead of indulging in politics to perpetuate their power.
So many police reports have been lodged with regard to corruption, abuse of power, violations of human rights, disregard for rule of law, etc but why have the police not displayed as much enthusiasm in trying to solve all these grievances? So far 23 arrests have taken place involving the team from the South and 53 arrests involving the team from the North. Each occasion those arrested were taken to police stations for statements to be recorded and particulars to be checked before being released. This has resulted in a lot of time being wasted which could have been devoted to fighting real criminals and curbing crime.
It is very unfortunate that the police are being perceived as the tool of the ruling party in the way they conduct themselves. They seem more intent in going after dissidents and social activists to ensure the power of the BN rather than tackling crime and criminals to make the country safe for the ordinary citizens.. This police conduct is definitely not acceptable to the people in a democracy. We are going through, in the words of the Greek poet, Aeschylus, “one of the periods of hope and endeavour which now and again light up the dark pages of history.” Clearly there are Malaysians who will not be brow-beaten to submission but will on the other hand stand up for justice and what is right. These brave cyclists will complete their journey on behalf of the people and the memorandum will surely be delivered to the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition on 18 December 2008.
If the police resort to brutal means to stop this endeavour which provides hope for change, then we will have to ensure that there is a change in the government in the next general election to put a stop to this unhealthy behaviour of the police and teach the BN a lesson that there is a limit to their undemocratic rule. The dark pages of history will not dominate our lives forever.
P RamakrishnanPresident11 December 2008.
Both these teams took off simultaneously – one from Johor Bahru and the other from Alor Setar on 3rd December 2008. It would have taken them 16 days to reach Kuala Lumpur on 18 december 2008 where both the teams would converge and proceed to Parliament House to deliver a six-point memorandum to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Why are the police in a frenzy to frustrate this attempt in such a serious manner? Why is this endeavour by peaceful means viewed as if it posed a threat to the peace of the nation? Why so many police personnel and vehicles are used when crime is so rampant and needing urgent attention all over the country?
What is bewildering is the fact that in spite of having informed the Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan of this “Ride for Change” programme, these harassments, intimidations and arrests have taken place on a daily basis in a routine manner. There has also been an allegation of sexual assault which resulted in the breasts of a participant being groped. The police as an institution have not lived up to the expectations of the public as a moral guardian looking after our safety and wellbeing.
People are wondering why can’t the police put in as much enthusiasm and determination in going after the criminals who have become the bane of society with crimes escalating to a worrying levels. Snatch thefts, murders, house-breaking, robberies, kidnappings, rapes, etc have become daily occurrences in our country simply because the police are no longer perceived as being effective in combating crime. Why is the police hell-bent in wanting to stop this peaceful campaign which is undertaken on behalf of the people and for the good of the people? Where is the threat and who is being threatened by this endeavour that is aimed at compelling the Barisan Government to focus on the real issues affecting the rakyat instead of indulging in politics to perpetuate their power.
So many police reports have been lodged with regard to corruption, abuse of power, violations of human rights, disregard for rule of law, etc but why have the police not displayed as much enthusiasm in trying to solve all these grievances? So far 23 arrests have taken place involving the team from the South and 53 arrests involving the team from the North. Each occasion those arrested were taken to police stations for statements to be recorded and particulars to be checked before being released. This has resulted in a lot of time being wasted which could have been devoted to fighting real criminals and curbing crime.
It is very unfortunate that the police are being perceived as the tool of the ruling party in the way they conduct themselves. They seem more intent in going after dissidents and social activists to ensure the power of the BN rather than tackling crime and criminals to make the country safe for the ordinary citizens.. This police conduct is definitely not acceptable to the people in a democracy. We are going through, in the words of the Greek poet, Aeschylus, “one of the periods of hope and endeavour which now and again light up the dark pages of history.” Clearly there are Malaysians who will not be brow-beaten to submission but will on the other hand stand up for justice and what is right. These brave cyclists will complete their journey on behalf of the people and the memorandum will surely be delivered to the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition on 18 December 2008.
If the police resort to brutal means to stop this endeavour which provides hope for change, then we will have to ensure that there is a change in the government in the next general election to put a stop to this unhealthy behaviour of the police and teach the BN a lesson that there is a limit to their undemocratic rule. The dark pages of history will not dominate our lives forever.
P RamakrishnanPresident11 December 2008.
It's Not an Afterthought, Says ACA Deputy D-G
Source: New Straits Times)KUALA LUMPUR: The idea for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) was mooted last year, and not after the results of the March 8 general election as suggested by certain quarters.
"I'm not being political here, but I just want to set the record straight that the idea was mooted in 2007 and not after March this year," said Anti-Corruption Agency deputy director-general Datuk Abu Kassim Mohamed.
"It was done due to the commitment of the prime minister and not because of the results of the general election.
"We wanted a reform (of the present agency) and this was what was discussed with the PM. But it took six months to study before anything could move.
"What should have been presented at the end of 2007 to the special cabinet committee could only be done this year. Maybe if we had been able to present to the cabinet committee then, the PM would have been able to announce the changes before the March election."
Abu Kassim said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi agreed to the proposed reforms on April 16 and the issue was then brought to the attention of the cabinet committee, which gave its seal of approval on Aug 6.
On why Hong Kong's Independent Commission on Anti-Corruption had been chosen as a model for the MACC, Abu Kassim said many politicians, non-governmental organisations and other individuals had used the ICAC as a comparison to the ACA.
He said the ICAC was internationally recognised as one of the best, if not the best, corruption prevention and investigation agencies in the world.
"Their model is the best. But, if you check the records, you will see that the ACA investigates more cases and charges more people, including major figures and politicians, than the ICAC does."
(c) 2008 New Straits Times. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.
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Melaburlah di dalam akaun di bawah.
Malaysia PM's residence costs $2.5m a year
Responding to an opposition query, Badawi said RM6.01 million was paid annually to state-linked developer Putrajaya Holdings. -AFP -
Thu, Dec 11, 2008AFP
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's government drew flak Thursday after admitting it spent $2.5 million a year on the prime minister's sprawling residence in the administrative capital Putrajaya.
Responding to an opposition query, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said RM6.01 million ($2.5 million) was paid annually to state-linked developer Putrajaya Holdings for the residence's rental and upkeep.
It costs another RM3.4 million a year to maintain the deputy premier's residence. Known as the the Seri Perdana complex, the premier's sprawling residence was built by former leader Mahathir Mohamad, who in 1999 was its first tenant.
The buildings are spread over 16 hectares in the centre of Putrajaya which lies south of Kuala Lumpur, comprising three blocks which include a reception area, banquet facilities and a residence.
Abdullah lives in the complex with his wife, daughter and son-in-law and their children.
"It is wasteful to spend so much money on renting the prime minister's house when the country is facing such tough times," said opposition parliamentarian Hatta Ramli from the Islamic party PAS.
"Even though the money is going back to a government-linked company, this should not be the case as the government should really own the building the prime minister occupies," he told AFP.
"What happens if the prime minister somehow gets evicted?" Chief minister of opposition-controlled Penang state Lim Guan Eng questioned the payment of rent to Putrajaya Holdings.
"We can understand paying maintenance, but rental does not make sense," he told AFP.
"This also begs the question as to who are the directors of the company and who gets all the profit made by the company." Putrajaya Holding's main shareholders are national energy firm Petronas, a state-owned trust fund and government investment arm Khazanah.
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Malaysia harmed by "corruption is king" reputation
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's reputation for being ridden by corruption is harming the country's prospects, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said on Wednesday as a new anti-graft body was tabled in parliament. Abdullah also tabled legislation that will appoint a nine-member panel to advise the premier on the selection of judges, in a bid to address criticism that the judiciary is corrupt and incompetent. "It will give a level of confidence in these institutions, higher than before, and negative perceptions will hopefully be reduced as much as we can," Abdullah said of the two proposals.
"We have to deal with the perception by businesses and industry that corruption here is king, and the judiciary is unsatisfactory and is not credible as all of this will affect our competitiveness," he told reporters.
The Anti-Corruption Agency which is being replaced has been criticised as toothless, and the new version is being promoted as having more independence and greater accountability. However, activists say that the new commission should be also given the power to prosecute corrupt activities, currently the responsibility of the government.
Abdullah has been forced to agree to stand down in March and hand over to his deputy Najib Razak, after the government was punished in general elections this year over his failure to introduce promised reforms. The premier came to power in 2003 with grand plans to revamp the police and the justice system, and root out corruption from the ruling party, but his failure to act earned him a rebuke at the March polls. The Barisan Nasional coalition which has dominated Malaysian politics for half a century lost control of five states and a third of parliamentary seats in its worst-ever electoral performance. - AFP/de
"We have to deal with the perception by businesses and industry that corruption here is king, and the judiciary is unsatisfactory and is not credible as all of this will affect our competitiveness," he told reporters.
The Anti-Corruption Agency which is being replaced has been criticised as toothless, and the new version is being promoted as having more independence and greater accountability. However, activists say that the new commission should be also given the power to prosecute corrupt activities, currently the responsibility of the government.
Abdullah has been forced to agree to stand down in March and hand over to his deputy Najib Razak, after the government was punished in general elections this year over his failure to introduce promised reforms. The premier came to power in 2003 with grand plans to revamp the police and the justice system, and root out corruption from the ruling party, but his failure to act earned him a rebuke at the March polls. The Barisan Nasional coalition which has dominated Malaysian politics for half a century lost control of five states and a third of parliamentary seats in its worst-ever electoral performance. - AFP/de
Malaysian leader proposes anti-corruption, judicial reform
bills10.12.08 15:27
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Wednesday proposed a much-anticipated anti-corruption bill and another bill to restore integrity to the country's judiciary, reported dpa.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission bill, aimed to take effect in January, was aimed at stamping out corruption in the public and private sectors.
Abdullah also proposed an independent judicial body to manage the appointment of judges of superior courts.
Both bills came amid growing criticism that Abdullah has done little to make good on his pledge to clamp down on corruption since taking office in November 2003.
Abdullah said the reforms would boost foreign investor confidence in the government and the judiciary, both often often regarded as corrupt and lacking in integrity.
"When there is a negative perception like this, it will also influence investors, businessmen and industrialists. They will certainly be uneasy about investing their money if they think corruption is rife, Abdullah said.
"A less than satisfactory judiciary also can erode the nation's competitiveness," he was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency.
However, he defended provisions in the judicial appointment commission to allow the prime minister to have a say in the selection of judges.
"Surely such power cannot be in the hands of the commission alone," he said.
The judiciary has been hit by several major controversies in recent years, including a videotape which surfaced purportedly showing a veteran lawyer in a phone conversation with a former chief justice allegedly fixing the appointment of senior judges.
Outrage following the release of the tape caused the government to form a royal commission of inquiry, which found that the process of judicial appointments was open to manipulation by the executive and private citizens.
Some critics dismissed Abdullah's move as a political manoeuvre.
"We need to wait and see, because true reform needs political will to carry through," said human rights lawyer Malik Imtiaz.
Abdullah, who has announced he will step down in March next year, has said he intends to make good on his promises to create a cleaner government before he retires.
BN govt releases JI extremists, no rationale given
, 10 Disember 2008 • Kategori: Berita Utama
Will dampen confidence of int’l community, raise questions on Hindraf 5
The Barisan Nasional government has quietly released more than a dozenextremists linked to the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) terror organisation, including Malaysian Yazid Sufaat, who is believed to have abetted the Sept 11 attacks in New York.
Inspector General of Police Musa Hassan confirmed a recent news report that Yazid, 44, had been released together with another Malaysian on Nov 24.
The surprise and sudden move - given the recent execution of three Balibombers in Indonesia last month and the heightened fears of reprisal attacks- is bound to spark criticism from both abroad and from within thenation.
“These releases appear to be arbitrary, nobody knows the real rationale,” said PKR Information Chief Tian Chua. “That is not good. It definitely will erode the confidence of the international community for Malaysia.”
“Yes, it will raise some questions about Malaysia’s commitment towardsfighting terrorism,” said a political analyst who requested anonymity.
“Domestically, what civil groups will also want to know is why thesehard-core terrorists were released but our own Hindraf 5, who were justprotesting internal social injustice, are still being detained,” the analyst added.
The Hindraf 5 refer to five Hindu Rights Action Force leaders who werearrested under the oppressive Internal Security Act, which allows forindefinite detention without trial. They were detained in December last year after leading street protests against the government’s inattention to the Indian community.
But according to the news report in the Singapore Straits Times, Indonesian, Malaysian and Filipino detainees were also released over the past month after a government advisory board at the Kamunting Detention Centre in Perak decided that they were no longer security threats.
Another freed was Thai national, Kasem Dayama, who was arrested in October 2006 for espionage.
Among the detainees released, many knew the Bali bombers well and are known to several JI militants who are still at large, including Noordin Mohammad Top and the Singapore detainee who escaped, Mas Selamat Kastari.
Regional intelligence officials fear that the freed men might still beanti-Western and could easily return to their underground networks in places such as the predominantly Muslim regions of southern Thailand and southern Philippines.
Yazid released ahead of 2010 detention timeline
Nevertheless, a government official insisted that Kuala Lumpur remainedcommitted to the fight against religious extremism, stressing that the men who were released had been rehabilitated after an intensive programme.
“We released him as he had shown remorse and repentance after almost seven years of rehabilitation. He was released on several conditions. He has to report to the police regularly and cannot leave Selangor without policepermission,” said Musa.
“Our officers will also be monitoring him as well as several others who havebeen released over the past years to ensure they do not go back to their old ways.”
Similar conditions are believed to apply to Sabah resident Sulaiman Suramin,who was arrested in 2003 and is also among those just released.
Key figure in the JI
By far the most prominent of the JI suspects released, Yazid was arrested in December 2001 and supposed to be detained until Jan 31, 2010.
He emerged as a key figure in JI’s regional network because of his link to Zacarias Moussaoui, a French citizen of Moroccan descent who was convicted of conspiracy charges in the Sept 11 attacks in New York.
A trained biochemist and former army captain, he emerged as a key figure inJI’s regional network because of his link to Zacarias Moussaoui, a Frenchcitizen of Moroccan descent who was convicted on conspiracy charges in theSept 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.
Yazid hosted Moussaoui during his visit to Malaysia in September and October 2000. Eight months earlier, he allowed Khalid al-Midhar and Nawaf al-Hazmi to use his apartment. They were the two hijackers on board the American Airlines aircraft that crashed into the Pentagon.
The foreign nationals released by the Malaysian government were mainly lowly functionaries of JI, which has ambitions of establishing a pan-Islamic state linking Indonesia, Malaysia and the Muslim southern islands of the Philippines.
The freed foreigners included eight Indonesians who were detained for two days at a West Java detention centre before being allowed to return to their families.
Indonesian and Philippine nationals
The Indonesians include:
Ahmad Zakaria, who was arrested off Sabah in 2004;
Arifin Iwan, who was caught in 2005 en route to the southern Philippines. He had been active in sectarian fighting in Ambon and Poso;
Terhamid Dahlan alias Adi Utomo Sukamto, who was arrested while trying to enter Sabah illegally in 2004;
Zakaria Saman, alias Ahmad Said Maulana, who was arrested in 2003 while returning from south-east Philippines. He fought in Ambon and received his military training in the southern Philippines.
Philippine nationals Shaykinar Guat and Argadi Andoyok were arrested in 2006 off Sabah.
It is not clear whether they have been released since they were handed overto the Philippine authorities.
Thai national Kasem Dayama was also arrested in 2006, but he had no links to JI. Malaysian security officials say he was arrested for spying on southern Thais seeking refuge in Kelantan.
It is believed that there are another 30 suspected JI operatives, a handfulof them foreigners, still in detention at the Kamunting detention centre.
Will dampen confidence of int’l community, raise questions on Hindraf 5
The Barisan Nasional government has quietly released more than a dozenextremists linked to the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) terror organisation, including Malaysian Yazid Sufaat, who is believed to have abetted the Sept 11 attacks in New York.
Inspector General of Police Musa Hassan confirmed a recent news report that Yazid, 44, had been released together with another Malaysian on Nov 24.
The surprise and sudden move - given the recent execution of three Balibombers in Indonesia last month and the heightened fears of reprisal attacks- is bound to spark criticism from both abroad and from within thenation.
“These releases appear to be arbitrary, nobody knows the real rationale,” said PKR Information Chief Tian Chua. “That is not good. It definitely will erode the confidence of the international community for Malaysia.”
“Yes, it will raise some questions about Malaysia’s commitment towardsfighting terrorism,” said a political analyst who requested anonymity.
“Domestically, what civil groups will also want to know is why thesehard-core terrorists were released but our own Hindraf 5, who were justprotesting internal social injustice, are still being detained,” the analyst added.
The Hindraf 5 refer to five Hindu Rights Action Force leaders who werearrested under the oppressive Internal Security Act, which allows forindefinite detention without trial. They were detained in December last year after leading street protests against the government’s inattention to the Indian community.
But according to the news report in the Singapore Straits Times, Indonesian, Malaysian and Filipino detainees were also released over the past month after a government advisory board at the Kamunting Detention Centre in Perak decided that they were no longer security threats.
Another freed was Thai national, Kasem Dayama, who was arrested in October 2006 for espionage.
Among the detainees released, many knew the Bali bombers well and are known to several JI militants who are still at large, including Noordin Mohammad Top and the Singapore detainee who escaped, Mas Selamat Kastari.
Regional intelligence officials fear that the freed men might still beanti-Western and could easily return to their underground networks in places such as the predominantly Muslim regions of southern Thailand and southern Philippines.
Yazid released ahead of 2010 detention timeline
Nevertheless, a government official insisted that Kuala Lumpur remainedcommitted to the fight against religious extremism, stressing that the men who were released had been rehabilitated after an intensive programme.
“We released him as he had shown remorse and repentance after almost seven years of rehabilitation. He was released on several conditions. He has to report to the police regularly and cannot leave Selangor without policepermission,” said Musa.
“Our officers will also be monitoring him as well as several others who havebeen released over the past years to ensure they do not go back to their old ways.”
Similar conditions are believed to apply to Sabah resident Sulaiman Suramin,who was arrested in 2003 and is also among those just released.
Key figure in the JI
By far the most prominent of the JI suspects released, Yazid was arrested in December 2001 and supposed to be detained until Jan 31, 2010.
He emerged as a key figure in JI’s regional network because of his link to Zacarias Moussaoui, a French citizen of Moroccan descent who was convicted of conspiracy charges in the Sept 11 attacks in New York.
A trained biochemist and former army captain, he emerged as a key figure inJI’s regional network because of his link to Zacarias Moussaoui, a Frenchcitizen of Moroccan descent who was convicted on conspiracy charges in theSept 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.
Yazid hosted Moussaoui during his visit to Malaysia in September and October 2000. Eight months earlier, he allowed Khalid al-Midhar and Nawaf al-Hazmi to use his apartment. They were the two hijackers on board the American Airlines aircraft that crashed into the Pentagon.
The foreign nationals released by the Malaysian government were mainly lowly functionaries of JI, which has ambitions of establishing a pan-Islamic state linking Indonesia, Malaysia and the Muslim southern islands of the Philippines.
The freed foreigners included eight Indonesians who were detained for two days at a West Java detention centre before being allowed to return to their families.
Indonesian and Philippine nationals
The Indonesians include:
Ahmad Zakaria, who was arrested off Sabah in 2004;
Arifin Iwan, who was caught in 2005 en route to the southern Philippines. He had been active in sectarian fighting in Ambon and Poso;
Terhamid Dahlan alias Adi Utomo Sukamto, who was arrested while trying to enter Sabah illegally in 2004;
Zakaria Saman, alias Ahmad Said Maulana, who was arrested in 2003 while returning from south-east Philippines. He fought in Ambon and received his military training in the southern Philippines.
Philippine nationals Shaykinar Guat and Argadi Andoyok were arrested in 2006 off Sabah.
It is not clear whether they have been released since they were handed overto the Philippine authorities.
Thai national Kasem Dayama was also arrested in 2006, but he had no links to JI. Malaysian security officials say he was arrested for spying on southern Thais seeking refuge in Kelantan.
It is believed that there are another 30 suspected JI operatives, a handfulof them foreigners, still in detention at the Kamunting detention centre.
Media Invitation Letter to Attend "Forum Wanita Kerjaya, Keluarga & Politik", on 13 December 2008, 1:30pm-5p
Dear Friends from Press, You are cordially invited to attend/participate the Forum organized by Wanita KeADILan Rakyat Negeri Pulau Pinang entitling “Wanita Kerjaya, Keluarga & Politik”.
The schedule is as follows:·
Day: Saturday, 13 December 2008·
Time: 1:30pm to 5:00 pm·
Place: Bilik Anggerik, Bougainvilla & Cempaka, Dewan Sri Pinang, Penang The guest speakers for the Forum:1) YB Dato’ Zahrain Mohd Hashim bin Dato’ Zainuddin Mohd Hashim· Member of Parliament for Bayan Baru· PKR Central Committee, Penang PKR Chief, PKR Bayan Baru Divisional Chairman2)
Ms. Felica Ling· Practising lawyer having her own legal practice “Feei Feisal & Partners”· Joined politics in 1998 – Elected MCA Wanita Central Committee before leaving MCA in April 2008· Joined PKR in May 2008 – Currently PKR Cheras Divisional Chairman, PKR Wanita Central Committee and PKR Cheras Divisional Wanita Chairman3)
YB Dr. Lo’ Lo’ binti Dato’ Haji Mohamad Ghazali·
Member of Parliament for Titiwangsa·
PAS Central Committee4)
YB Chong Eng· Member of Parliament for Bukit Mertajam·
DAP Deputy Secretary-General and DAP Wanita Chairperson We look forward to your participation. Herewith we enclosed the official media invitation letter and the tentative program.
Sincerely,
Dr. Joyce Lee Yueh ChooOrganizing Committee Chairman
The schedule is as follows:·
Day: Saturday, 13 December 2008·
Time: 1:30pm to 5:00 pm·
Place: Bilik Anggerik, Bougainvilla & Cempaka, Dewan Sri Pinang, Penang The guest speakers for the Forum:1) YB Dato’ Zahrain Mohd Hashim bin Dato’ Zainuddin Mohd Hashim· Member of Parliament for Bayan Baru· PKR Central Committee, Penang PKR Chief, PKR Bayan Baru Divisional Chairman2)
Ms. Felica Ling· Practising lawyer having her own legal practice “Feei Feisal & Partners”· Joined politics in 1998 – Elected MCA Wanita Central Committee before leaving MCA in April 2008· Joined PKR in May 2008 – Currently PKR Cheras Divisional Chairman, PKR Wanita Central Committee and PKR Cheras Divisional Wanita Chairman3)
YB Dr. Lo’ Lo’ binti Dato’ Haji Mohamad Ghazali·
Member of Parliament for Titiwangsa·
PAS Central Committee4)
YB Chong Eng· Member of Parliament for Bukit Mertajam·
DAP Deputy Secretary-General and DAP Wanita Chairperson We look forward to your participation. Herewith we enclosed the official media invitation letter and the tentative program.
Sincerely,
Dr. Joyce Lee Yueh ChooOrganizing Committee Chairman
Not the time to point fingers
Wed, Dec 10, 2008The Star
BUKIT MERTAJAM, MALAYSIA: Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on all parties to stop the blame game over the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide tragedy.
He said the focus should be on finding out the cause of the tragedy and not point fingers.
"Now is not the issue of blame. We need to get to the bottom of the cause (of the tragedy) and the results of whatever findings should be made public for the people to judge.
"But instead, we now have an attempt to cover up by proportioning the blame to who is in charge now," he said to newsmen during a press conference at the PKR headquarters in Yayasan Aman yesterday.
The Permatang Pauh MP called the Government to launch a full and independent investigation on not only Bukit Antarabangsa, but also other hillside development projects in the country.
He said the Pakatan Rakyat government in Selangor had stopped approving all category three and four hillside development projects on Bukit Antarabangsa since March this year.
"For the last 15 years, the projects on Bukit Antarabangsa have been blatantly approved by the previous administration.
"Now, the Selangor Government has to scrutinise all 90 hillside development projects in the state that were approved by the previous government.
"It will be difficult for the current government to cancel the projects because it could lead to court cases," he said.
On the Kuala Terengganu by-election, Anwar said PKR and DAP would support any candidate PAS picked.
He was optimistic that Pakatan would make it in Kuala Terengganu if all its coalition parties worked hard to face the might of the Barisan Nasional machinery.
Anwar had a tight schedule yesterday when he visited sick constituents, distributed beef and attended kenduri Qurban at Telok Wang, Mengkuang Mak Sulong, Sungai Semambu, Kampung Paya, Permatang Rawa, Kampung Pertama, Sembilang, Tanjung Putus and Bukit Indera Muda.
Online writers future targets
10 Dec 08 :
By Elizabeth Looi
elizabethlooi@thenutgraph.comPrinter Friendly Format
PETALING JAYA, 10 Dec 2008: Online journalists and bloggers may face greater scrutiny in the future compared to traditional media workers, warns human rights group Aliran.
Its joint coordinator Mustafa K Anuar said this future scenario was likely, as some bloggers here have already been hauled up or detained for their postings.
Mustafa, who is from Charter2000-Aliran, admitted that although there were bloggers who relied on unverified sources for stories, there were also those who were careful with their stories, analyses and comments.
"It is these online writers and bloggers that the powers-that-be are concerned about, especially if these writers are able to side-step the official censorship mechanisms and at the same time command a sizeable following," he told The Nut Graph in a telephone interview.
Mustafa was commenting on a report by New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on imprisoned journalists.
The non-profit organisation found that more online journalists and bloggers were jailed compared to those in other media. Some 45% of media workers jailed worldwide in 2008, as of 1 Dec, were bloggers, web-based reporters, or online editors.
China had the highest number of journalists and bloggers who were jailed, followed by Cuba and Burma, the report stated. Malaysia was not included in the survey.
Mustafa felt that the CPJ findings did not reflect the local situation. Although there have been a few cases of bloggers being targeted by the authorities, in general, online journalists here do not face as high a possibility of persecution as some of the countries mentioned in the CPJ report.
"Having said that, I believe that these (limited Malaysian) cases are meant to warn other bloggers and online writers who might have the penchant for news-breaking stories, incisive analyses and critical commentaries about the Malaysian socio-political situation," he said.
Among the prominent bloggers who were arrested this year were Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin and Syed Azidi Syed Aziz, who is known as Kickdefella.
Raja Petra was arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) on 12 Sept 2008 and sentenced to two years in the Kamunting Detention Centre. But he was released on 7 Nov. Syed Azidi, on the other hand, ran afoul of the Sedition Act when he suggested flying the Jalur Gemilang upside down on his blog. The blogger, whose case is still pending, is out on bail.
Writer Alliance for Media Independence (Wami) chairperson Wong Chin Huat told The Nut Graph that it would be better for Malaysia to produce its own national media freedom report.
He felt that the methodology used by most international media freedom reports may not be suitable or fair as a yardstick to measure media freedom in Malaysia.
But generally, Wong was pessimistic about the future of online media here.
"Until and unless we can change the paradigm of our thinking, our freedom will be limited.
"But based on my observations, we have more freedom now to talk about ethnic-related issues, for example, or to criticise a political leader, compared to 10 years ago," he noted.
By Elizabeth Looi
elizabethlooi@thenutgraph.comPrinter Friendly Format
PETALING JAYA, 10 Dec 2008: Online journalists and bloggers may face greater scrutiny in the future compared to traditional media workers, warns human rights group Aliran.
Its joint coordinator Mustafa K Anuar said this future scenario was likely, as some bloggers here have already been hauled up or detained for their postings.
Mustafa, who is from Charter2000-Aliran, admitted that although there were bloggers who relied on unverified sources for stories, there were also those who were careful with their stories, analyses and comments.
"It is these online writers and bloggers that the powers-that-be are concerned about, especially if these writers are able to side-step the official censorship mechanisms and at the same time command a sizeable following," he told The Nut Graph in a telephone interview.
Mustafa was commenting on a report by New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on imprisoned journalists.
The non-profit organisation found that more online journalists and bloggers were jailed compared to those in other media. Some 45% of media workers jailed worldwide in 2008, as of 1 Dec, were bloggers, web-based reporters, or online editors.
China had the highest number of journalists and bloggers who were jailed, followed by Cuba and Burma, the report stated. Malaysia was not included in the survey.
Mustafa felt that the CPJ findings did not reflect the local situation. Although there have been a few cases of bloggers being targeted by the authorities, in general, online journalists here do not face as high a possibility of persecution as some of the countries mentioned in the CPJ report.
"Having said that, I believe that these (limited Malaysian) cases are meant to warn other bloggers and online writers who might have the penchant for news-breaking stories, incisive analyses and critical commentaries about the Malaysian socio-political situation," he said.
Among the prominent bloggers who were arrested this year were Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin and Syed Azidi Syed Aziz, who is known as Kickdefella.
Raja Petra was arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) on 12 Sept 2008 and sentenced to two years in the Kamunting Detention Centre. But he was released on 7 Nov. Syed Azidi, on the other hand, ran afoul of the Sedition Act when he suggested flying the Jalur Gemilang upside down on his blog. The blogger, whose case is still pending, is out on bail.
Writer Alliance for Media Independence (Wami) chairperson Wong Chin Huat told The Nut Graph that it would be better for Malaysia to produce its own national media freedom report.
He felt that the methodology used by most international media freedom reports may not be suitable or fair as a yardstick to measure media freedom in Malaysia.
But generally, Wong was pessimistic about the future of online media here.
"Until and unless we can change the paradigm of our thinking, our freedom will be limited.
"But based on my observations, we have more freedom now to talk about ethnic-related issues, for example, or to criticise a political leader, compared to 10 years ago," he noted.
SELAMAT HARI LAHIR WAN AZIZAH
Satu majlis sambutan hari lahir secara kecil-kecilan di adakan di Yayasan Aman pagi tadi apabila lawatan DSAI ke Permatang Pauh sempena Hari Raya Qurban.Turut hadir ialah TKM1 dan ketua wanita,Pak Mus serta AJK bahagian Permatang Pauh.
Dato Seri Wan Azizah mengiringi suami sempena hari raya Qurban di Permatang Pauh
KLIK GAMBAR UNTUK BESARKAN
ANWAR LAKUKAN LAWATAN KERJA DAN SAMBUT MAJLIS KENDURI QURBAN
OLEH:Amiruddin Ahmad
Permatang Pauh 9 Dis-Ahli Parlimen Permatang Pauh Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim yang pulang pada 6 dan 9 disember baru-baru ini dalam lawatan kerja dan menyampaikan bantuan kepada fakir miskin serta menyambut hari raya qurban serta bertemu rakyat dari berbagai lapisan masyarakat.Kehadsiran beliau disambut dengan begitu meriah sekali di perkampungan Berapit dimana beliau sempat menyampaikan bantuan kepada golongan yang memerlukan.Beliau juga memberi bantuan di perkampungan ampung baru senerang jaya.
Lawatan beliau adalah untuk bertemu rakyat dan mendengar masalah mereka.”saya turn ke parlimen ini adalah untuk mendengar masalah rakyat di peringkat bawahan di mana yang boleh kita bantu” demikian jelas beiau.
Menurut Dato Seri Anwar lagi, rakyat boleh memberi andangan dan teguran supaya cadangan yang diberikan itu dapat di perbaiki lagi untuk memajukan negeri ini’
Menurut Dato Seri Anwar lagi bahawa keadaan ekonomi negara yang semakin merosot, rakyat perlu bersatu untuk mengangkat semula ekonomi negara.Rakyat juga diingatkan agar sentiasa berjimat cermat dalam perbelanjaan dan menguruskan kewangan dengan cara yang berhemat.Beliau mengigatkan bahawa kerajaan Singapura sendiri telah membuang 500,000 ribu perkerja dan 300,000 ribu darinya adalah rakyat negara ini.
Namun dalam keadan ini pun kerajaan masih lagi menyatakan bahawa ekonomi negara berada dalam keadaan yang baik.”Oleh kerana itulah rakyat harus berusaha berhemah berbelanja dan kebajikan semua kaum harus dijaga bagi memajukan negara dan menaikkan semula ekonomi “.
Hadir sama dalam rangka lawatan kerja ini ialah TKM 1Yb Mohd Fairus selaku ADUN Penanti dan EXCO Pertanian dan asas tani Law Choo Kiang.
Sementara itu pada 9 hb Disember pula Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim kembali ke Permatang Pauh untuk bertemu dan melakukan ibadah Qurban di Cherok To Kun.Beliau kemudiannya ke Yayasan Aman untuk bertemu masyarakat dan jawatankuasa bahagian dan dalam masa yang sama satu majlis Hari lahir Dato Seri Wan Azizah yang dilakukan oleh bahagian Permatang Pauh dilakukan dan ini amat mengejutkan Wan Azizah sendiri.
Dalam siding akhbar sebelum bertolak ke beberapa kampong di bahagian Permatang Pauh, Dato Seri Anwar sempat mengadakan sidang akhbar khas menjelaskan bahawa kerajaan negeri Selangor di bawah pimpinan Tan Sri Khalid sentiasa perihatin di mana sentiasa sahaja berada di sana iaitu di kawasan tanah runtuh ,namun semua laporan tersebut tidak disiarkan oleh akhbar perdana.
“Malah saya sendiri nak masuk pun tidak dibenarkan.”. Menurut DSAI lagi sebanyak 90 kelulusan projek yang ditangguhkan oleh Tan Sri Khalid untuk membina dan membagunkan perumahan di kawasan tinggi selepas kerajaan baru dibentuk Ini adalah kerana ianya tidak menepati sasaran dan membahayakan dan supaya ada peratuan tertentu untuk membina perumahan di tanah tinggi.
Dato seri Anwar kemudiannya bergerak ke 8 kawasan untuk menghadiri kenduri Hari Raya Qurban yang di buat oleh masyarakat setempat. Turut serta TKM1 Fairus,S/U perhubungan negeri Pak Mus,Tim ketua bahagian Pak Tam,para pe.nyokong
Permatang Pauh 9 Dis-Ahli Parlimen Permatang Pauh Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim yang pulang pada 6 dan 9 disember baru-baru ini dalam lawatan kerja dan menyampaikan bantuan kepada fakir miskin serta menyambut hari raya qurban serta bertemu rakyat dari berbagai lapisan masyarakat.Kehadsiran beliau disambut dengan begitu meriah sekali di perkampungan Berapit dimana beliau sempat menyampaikan bantuan kepada golongan yang memerlukan.Beliau juga memberi bantuan di perkampungan ampung baru senerang jaya.
Lawatan beliau adalah untuk bertemu rakyat dan mendengar masalah mereka.”saya turn ke parlimen ini adalah untuk mendengar masalah rakyat di peringkat bawahan di mana yang boleh kita bantu” demikian jelas beiau.
Menurut Dato Seri Anwar lagi, rakyat boleh memberi andangan dan teguran supaya cadangan yang diberikan itu dapat di perbaiki lagi untuk memajukan negeri ini’
Menurut Dato Seri Anwar lagi bahawa keadaan ekonomi negara yang semakin merosot, rakyat perlu bersatu untuk mengangkat semula ekonomi negara.Rakyat juga diingatkan agar sentiasa berjimat cermat dalam perbelanjaan dan menguruskan kewangan dengan cara yang berhemat.Beliau mengigatkan bahawa kerajaan Singapura sendiri telah membuang 500,000 ribu perkerja dan 300,000 ribu darinya adalah rakyat negara ini.
Namun dalam keadan ini pun kerajaan masih lagi menyatakan bahawa ekonomi negara berada dalam keadaan yang baik.”Oleh kerana itulah rakyat harus berusaha berhemah berbelanja dan kebajikan semua kaum harus dijaga bagi memajukan negara dan menaikkan semula ekonomi “.
Hadir sama dalam rangka lawatan kerja ini ialah TKM 1Yb Mohd Fairus selaku ADUN Penanti dan EXCO Pertanian dan asas tani Law Choo Kiang.
Sementara itu pada 9 hb Disember pula Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim kembali ke Permatang Pauh untuk bertemu dan melakukan ibadah Qurban di Cherok To Kun.Beliau kemudiannya ke Yayasan Aman untuk bertemu masyarakat dan jawatankuasa bahagian dan dalam masa yang sama satu majlis Hari lahir Dato Seri Wan Azizah yang dilakukan oleh bahagian Permatang Pauh dilakukan dan ini amat mengejutkan Wan Azizah sendiri.
Dalam siding akhbar sebelum bertolak ke beberapa kampong di bahagian Permatang Pauh, Dato Seri Anwar sempat mengadakan sidang akhbar khas menjelaskan bahawa kerajaan negeri Selangor di bawah pimpinan Tan Sri Khalid sentiasa perihatin di mana sentiasa sahaja berada di sana iaitu di kawasan tanah runtuh ,namun semua laporan tersebut tidak disiarkan oleh akhbar perdana.
“Malah saya sendiri nak masuk pun tidak dibenarkan.”. Menurut DSAI lagi sebanyak 90 kelulusan projek yang ditangguhkan oleh Tan Sri Khalid untuk membina dan membagunkan perumahan di kawasan tinggi selepas kerajaan baru dibentuk Ini adalah kerana ianya tidak menepati sasaran dan membahayakan dan supaya ada peratuan tertentu untuk membina perumahan di tanah tinggi.
Dato seri Anwar kemudiannya bergerak ke 8 kawasan untuk menghadiri kenduri Hari Raya Qurban yang di buat oleh masyarakat setempat. Turut serta TKM1 Fairus,S/U perhubungan negeri Pak Mus,Tim ketua bahagian Pak Tam,para pe.nyokong
KLIK GAMBAR UNTUK BESARKAN
Blame Placed on Work at Bungalow
Sunday, December 09, 2008
(Source: New Straits Times)By Ridzwan Abdullah; Adrian David; R. Sittamparam; Azura Abas; Lee
KUALA LUMPUR: Construction work of a three-storey bungalow on the hilltop could be the cause of yesterday's landslide.
The Bukit Antarabangsa Residents' Association deputy chairman Raymond Jegathesan said all signs pointed towards the luxury bungalow project on the southern tip of the hillside.
The project has been under construction for the past year and Jagathesan believed that piling works, coupled with weak soil conditions and heavy rainfall, had contributed to the landslide.
He also questioned why the geological firm appointed by the previous state government to monitor geological conditions in Bukit Antarabangsa had failed to detect a possible landslide.
"Surely the possibility of such a major earth movement could not have escaped their notice."
(c) 2008 New Straits Times. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.
A service of YellowBrix, Inc.
Rights group worries about Malaysia's next leader
The Associated Press
Published: December 9, 2008
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Human rights activists voiced fears Tuesday that Malaysia's next leader may try to stifle dissent when he takes power in less than four months.
Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak is slated to succeed current leader Abdullah Ahmad Badawi by early April. He will face an opposition alliance that has eroded the ruling coalition's support and criticism about how the government has handled challenges such as a weakening economy, corruption and racial disputes.
An aide to Najib dismissed concerns voiced by Suaram, a Malaysian human rights organization, saying there was no basis for them. The aide spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to make public statements.
Suaram representatives noted that authorities have increasingly arrested anti-government demonstrators and used tough laws against bloggers, including one who was detained without trial earlier this year after writing articles that criticized the government.
Abdullah recently announced he would hand power to Najib to revive the government's political fortunes after the opposition made unprecedented inroads in March general elections.
FAIRUS LAKUKAN LAWATAN KE BEBERAPA LOKASI KENDURI QURBAN
Timbalan ketua menteri Pualau Pinang YB Mohd Fairus Khairuddin hari ini melakukan lawatan kebeberapa lokasi kenduri Qurban di Pulau Pinang dan juga di kawaan Penanti.Beliau yang memandu sendiri kenderaan mulanya tiba di Taman Melati iaitu di rumah Pak Salim.Rumah Pak Salim adalah lokasi asal mulanya markas PKR negeri dan di awal pergerakan reformasi.Turut hadir di lokasi ialah YB Abul Malik.
Beliau kemudiannya bergerak ke rumah Timbalan ketua bahagian iaitu ke rumah Pak Tam dimana beliau juga mengadakan kenduri di rumahnya.Yb fairus kemudiannya bergerak ke lokasi perumahan tanah lot di kampung Kubang Semang dimana majlis jamuan kenduri juga di adakan.
YB Fairus kemudiannya bergerak ke kampung Permatang Damar Laut di mana beliau di sambut oleh Pengerusi Masjid dan juga Pengerusi Qaryiah masjid tersebut iaitu Tn Hj Ahmad Fadzilah.YB fairus kemudiannya sempat berbual dan bertemu dengan masyarakat setempat yang melakukan ibadat Qurban.sebanyak 21 ekor lembu telah di Qurbankan di kampung tersebut.
YB fairus kemudiannya bergerak ke kawasan beliau di kampung Kubang Ulu di dalam DUN penanti dimana sebanyak 8 ekor lembu di korbankan Tururt serta ialah Mudir ManabilUlum Pondok penanti iaitu Tu Hj Saari dan sempat bergambar dengan pemuda Qaryiah di kawasan tersebut.
Beliau kemudiannya bergerak ke rumah Timbalan ketua bahagian iaitu ke rumah Pak Tam dimana beliau juga mengadakan kenduri di rumahnya.Yb fairus kemudiannya bergerak ke lokasi perumahan tanah lot di kampung Kubang Semang dimana majlis jamuan kenduri juga di adakan.
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