Anwar tops Malaysia poll, economy dominates concerns

By David Chance | Reuters

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim scored better than the government’s pick to become the next prime minister in an opinion poll which showed that worries over the economy dominated voter concerns.

Anwar is threatening to unseat the government that has ruled Malaysia for 51 years and the rise of the opposition since their success in elections in March has paralysed policy-making as top politicians from the government jostle for power.

The poll by the Merdeka Center published on Monday showed that for half of people questioned, the main concern in this country of 27 million people was the economy at a time when fuel prices have risen and inflation has surged to 27-year highs.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who has offered to quit early to avoid a leadership challenge topped the poll, although his approval ratings continue to fall.

Asked who would make the better prime minister, 40 percent said Anwar and 34 percent said Najib Razak. Najib has been named as successor to Abdullah who scored 43 percent.

Anwar, a former deputy prime minister who was imprisoned on what he says were trumped up sodomy and corruption charges in the late 1990s was characterised as “a strong and visionary leader” and “a competent manager of the economy” by 51 percent of respondents in the poll of 1,003 voters.

He is facing new charges of sodomy which he denies.

Anwar has said that he has won over enough government MPs to oust Abdullah in a confidence vote in parliament and the prime minister on Friday said he would hand power to Najib, most likely in March.

Abdullah had earlier planned to hand over power in 2010.

Since becoming prime minister in 2004, Abdullah has failed to implement key pledges such as ending corruption and boosting the independence of the judiciary. The policy drift, along with rising racial tensions, has unsettled both party activists and investors.

NERVOUS MARKETS

A year ago just 25 percent of those questioned in a similar poll by Merdeka, an independent pollster, were worried about the economy in the poll a year ago compared with 50 percent now.

Markets are nervous over a prolonged transition.

“Political noise remains elevated, which we consider bearish for risky assets, including the ringgit, and bullish for government bonds,” ING said in its morning Asia research report.

ING forecasts that the ringgit will end this year at 3.55 to the dollar compared with 3.4410, a depreciation of over 3 percent. It has already fallen 3.7 percent this year.

The plan to hand power to Najib has also unsettled some in the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the party that dominates the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

On Saturday, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, a former finance minister said the plan was “extra constitutional” and said he would stand in the party polls.

Home Minister Syed Hamid said on Sunday said that the intense contest for party posts was causing splits in UMNO.

“We see that the heat is becoming more intense, as though there are instigators pitting one group against another,” he said, according to state news agency Bernama.

Traditionally the leader of UMNO is also the prime minister of Malaysia and under party rules, any contenders for UMNO president must garner 30 percent of total nominations to be eligible to run.

Drama Minggu Ini

Yahooo! Another weekend, those partying tonight,my advise is party safe and don't over booze. Those who are jobless keep trying for current and future job vacancy. Those who have fail in their exams lately, don't worry your life doesn't end here. Well, don't think i am merapu-ing but there is reason for the advises above.

I wonder when Malaysians get to see a proper administration by a group of responsible minister or politicians. I feel currently our country is total damaged and screwed by politicians like Syed Albar, Samy Vellu, Mahathir, a bunch of non qualified politicians and finally Badawi and Najib the partners in crime. Each and every day, this politicians hits the news for greater politic image.

Syed Albar is interfering with Prime Minister Department for investigating remarks made over poor food by Teressa Kok while she was detained in ISA. What is Albar's problem? Let the boys do their work, Is he cutting down the food cost and swindling the rest of it for himself?.Questions arises in the minds of every citizen when Albar reacted towards the Prime Minister's Department. Whats wrong investigating since it is public interest already? You had her in ISA now what ever she complains you cant accept it.

Now Teresa under fire for making the such remarks on poor food. Today morning, malaysiakini reported that two Molotov cocktails were thrown into the family home of Seputeh member of parliament Teresa Kok in Kuala Lumpur. She face this because she made the remarks?

Pelbagai acara menyerang pejabat kerajaan dan media turut disertakan dalam senarai drama minggu ini. Antara paparan hebat ialah Samy Vellu menunding jari bahawa pihak MPAJ telah merobohkan kuil di Ampang. Adakah ini benar? Tidak, Yang benar ialah beliau telah nyanyok dan makin gila setelah kehilangan kepercayaan oleh masyarakat india di Malaysia. MPAJ telah dituduh merobohkan kuil sepertimana di laporkan di Malaysiakini dan TheStar. Apabila disiasat dengan lebih dalam, pihak Kerajaan Negeri Selangor mendapat tahu kuil itu dirobohkan oleh ahli jawantankuasa kuil untuk mengubah suai, tetapi ini dibatas dengan bukti bahawa kuil dirobohkan secara sengaja. Apa tindakan selanjutnya oleh pakatan? Ini antara paparan yang boleh dikatakan Komedi Minggu Ini.

Sekarang siapa yang malu? Samy Vellu and Konco Konconya yang malu. Termasuklah Menteri Sumber Manusia yang kecewa dengan pakatan konon. Semasa mereka berkuasa asyik bersembunyi dibelakang UMNO apasal nak bising sekarang? Kesimpulanya, ahli politik bn and komponen bn tidak ingin berjabat tangan walaupun kalah, cuma yang mereka tahu menunding jari seolah hal hal ini tidak berlaku ketika mereka di dalam pentadbiran negara.

**Just testing out my bahasa malaysia writting skills.

Reported by Malaysiakini :

The Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) ordered the demolition of the 19-year old Sri Maha Kaliamman temple without the knowledge or directive of the Selangor state government, said executive councillor Dr Xavier Jayakumar.

“We have a format prepared for temples in Selangor to register with the state but this temple was not on the list of registered temples. And it is not a temple, it is a shrine which it is located on a forest reserve,” he said.

Yesterday, MIC president S Samy Vellu ticked off the opposition-led state government for breaking its election promise to not demolish any temples.

“It is very careless of the local council to demolish the temple without first relocating the temple,” Samy said in a statement.

Jayakumar however denied the accusation, claiming the MIC was trying to politicise the issue. Instead, the relevant authorities should waste no time finding a way to restore the temple which was torn down on Sept 10, he added.

“The incident happened following a misunderstanding between MPAJ and the temple management on renovation works and documentations relating to management procedures,” said Zuraida, who is PKR Wanita chief, in a statement today.

According to Zuraida, some MPAJ councillors had already met with the council’s vice-chief to resolve the matter. Some documents have already been prepared and were under consideration, she added.

She also pointed out that Murugiah had previously complained the temple’s problems had not been resolved by the previous Barisan Nasional state government even after 19 years.

Pakatan Set To Meet Agong

Source : Malaysiakini

Pakatan Rakyat leaders will seek an audience with the king should Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi decline to meet them to discuss a peaceful transition of power by Barisan Nasional.

MCPX

PKR information chief Tian Chua said this may happen as soon as within the next 24 to 48 hours.

“We’ve already said that we have the numbers, and Anwar (Ibrahim) just now revealed we have more than 31 Barisan Nasional MPs,” said Chua, in reference to a press conference held earlier this afternoon.

In the event they do meet Abdullah but he refuses to resign, he said Pakatan may seek the intervention of the Agong, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin (left in photo), to persuade him to step down.

“As much as possible, however, we will try to avoid dragging the king into this,” Chua said when contacted.

'116 MPs in the bag'

Earlier today, AFP quoted PAS treasurer Dr Hatta Ramli as having said that the opposition coalition would seek an audience with the king to seek a mandate to rule, should Abdullah reject the request for a meeting.

“The issue of the appointment of the prime minister and change of government is very much the role of the king,” Hatta said.

He claimed that the opposition now has the support of as many as 116 parliamentarians. This would mean 35 government defectors.

At the press conference today, Opposition Leader Anwar said he had signed up more than the 31 BN defectors needed to form a new government and called on Abdullah not to implement emergency rule to thwart a takeover.

Anwar, however, did not reveal the names of any of the lawmakers.

“We want a peaceful transition. We hope that Barisan will not (impose) emergency rule to stop MPs from going to Parliament or arrest (government) MPs or stop them from joining Pakatan Rakyat,” he said.

“That's why we have taken a very soft, conciliatory option. I am not making excuses. We have the numbers. We can and are prepared to move. If after a few days there is no response, Pakatan leaders will meet and see what is the next course of action.”

After the March 8 general election, Anwar set himself a target of Sept 16 to persuade at least 30 government lawmakers to switch sides and enable him to form a new administration.

Anwar : We Are Ready To Move

Source : Malaysiakini

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said today he had signed up more than 31 defectors needed to form a new government and called on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi not to impose emergency rule to thwart a takeover.

MCPX

"We have a slight majority, it is in excess of 31," he told a packed press conference held at 2pm in the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya.

Anwar, however, did not reveal the list of the defecting lawmakers.

"We name them now and they get harassed immediately. So I'm telling you now that I will choose to confide in the prime minister.

"And if he wants the list I will show the list at the meeting. Until the right opportune moment, we can't declare. We know how the system operates," said Anwar.

His Pakatan Rakyat alliance - made up of the PKR, DAP and PAS - now holds 81 out of the 222 seats in Parliament. Its rival, the Barisan Nasional coalition led by Abdullah's Umno party, currently has 140 seats.

To overthrow the Barisan, Pakatan would need another 31 MPs to join its camp for it to hit 112 seats, the minimum simple majority required.

Anwar also said that many BN MPs were keen to join him in forming a new government.

"It keeps increasing by the hour... seriously. I'm not joking. This morning, I received a signed note from another member. What do you want to know? You want to know if we have the numbers. We've the numbers!" he added.

He revealed that these included cabinet members and their deputies.

The 61-year old Anwar, who has been in talks with a number of disgruntled backbenchers, also said he wants Abdullah's assurance the power transition could proceed smoothly.

Peaceful transition

Abdullah had last week shocked the nation by arresting three civilians under the country's draconian Internal Security Act, which allows for detention without trial.

The move, which sparked widespread condemnation, was seen as a means to shore up his political standing within his Umno party and also as a warning to Anwar's Pakatan.

“We want a peaceful transition. We hope that Barisan (Nasional) will not put up emergency rule to stop MPs from going to Parliament or arrest (government) MPs or stop them from joining Pakatan Rakyat,” he said.

"That's why we have taken a very soft, conciliatory option. I am not making excuses. We have the numbers. We can and are prepared to move. If after a few days there is no response, Pakatan leaders will meet and see what is the next course of action."

Pakatan leaders had yesterday sent a letter to Abdullah, requesting for a meeting.

"We give the PM time to consult and act responsibly as head of the country to heed the wishes of the people," Anwar said.

"I believe he will meet and we will have to wait today or tomorrow. He is a politician under siege, so you can forgive him for sounding desperate."

"We are looking at a matter of days (for a change in government)," he added.

"We've not given any ultimatum to Abdullah. We've said it is of national importance, it is incumbent and urgent for any sitting prime minister to respond positively in the interest of the nation and not just to appease the upheavals and turmoil within Umno," said Anwar.

According to Malaysian law, the king has the right to accept and formalise any new government that can show proof of sufficient mandate in Parliament.

This means that Anwar can approach the monarch with proof that he has the support of enough MPs to be the new leader.

Alternatively, the king could order fresh general elections, provided the prime minister - either outgoing or incoming - recommends it.

And Anwar said that his first option was to discuss the takeover with the prime minister before going to the king.

Malaysia opposition wants “handover talks” with PM

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is seeking a meeting with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Tuesday to discuss a handover of power after declaring that he had won over enough government MPs to form the next government.

Anwar needs to convince 30 legislators from the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition to join his three-party opposition alliance in order to get a parliamentary majority.

At a rally on Monday night, he said he had done so, although none of the government’s 140 MPs have publicly declared for Anwar.

“He wanted to meet with the prime minister,” a spokesman for Anmwar’s Keadilan party said on Tuesday.

No one from the government was immediately available for comment and Abdullah insisted on Monday that he would remain prime minister and that a change of government would not happen.

Anwar’s opposition alliance has 82 MPs in the 222-strong Malaysian parliament and he has been trying to convince 30 government MPs to change sides so as to oust the coalition that has run Malaysia for 51 years since independence from Britain.

He says that if he wins power he will root out corruption and end a system of affirmative action for ethnic Malays, over half of the population in this nation of 27 million people.

Anwar says that the system has not only failed the people it was aimed at helping, but has also created a class of crony businessmen entirely dependent on government contracts, which has hurt the country’s economic prospects.

Malaysian newspapers treated Anwar’s announcement with scepticism on Tuesday, saying that he had not yet shown that he could form a new government.

“It is the 16th of September, 2008. And we do not know what if anything will happen. We do not know what, if anything is going on,” the pro-government New Straits Times wrote in an editorial.

Malaysia’s stock market sold off early on Tuesday losing 2.26 percent.

Dealers said this was partly due to concerns over Malaysian politics and partly due to global financial market uncertainty caused by the U.S. banking crisis.

Minister walks as pressure piles up on Malaysia’s PM

From The Age

MALAYSIAN opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim moved closer to a parliamentary showdown yesterday as the embattled Government suffered another blow when its law minister resigned.

Zaid Ibrahim, a minister assisting Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi on legal affairs, resigned over last week’s arrest of two journalists and an opposition member of parliament under the Internal Security Act.

Mr Zaid said the Government was wrong to use the act, which allows indefinite detention without trial.

This came as Mr Anwar was convening a mass meeting in a Kuala Lumpur sports stadium last night to protest against the arrests. Mr Anwar has predicted that enough MPs of the ruling Barisan Nasional, or National Front, will cross to his People’s Alliance coalition for him to form government.

In recent days Mr Anwar has suggested the September 16 deadline for this is not fixed, but sources close to his headquarters said he already had firm promises from about 37 MPs now in Barisan.

The parliament is in recess for the Islamic fasting month, so any immediate shift in power would depend on Mr Anwar persuading the King, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, that he has a majority.

Mr Zaid’s resignation, which was not immediately accepted by Mr Abdullah, came after the arrests of internet political blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, an opposition Democratic Action Party MP Teresa Kok, and for one night, Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng.

At the same time, the Government issued “show-cause notices” to three newspapers under a press law requiring annual renewal of publishing licences and lets authorities suspend or withdraw licences for public order threats.

Originally enacted in 1960 to fight a long-running communist insurgency, the Internal Security Act allows police to hold and interrogate a suspect for 60 days, and for the Home Minister to authorise detention without trial for renewable periods of two years. But the latest arrests have rebounded on the Government, with Mr Zaid among half a dozen ministers and Barisan’s smaller parties voicing criticism.

“Rightly or wrongly, the perception about the latest arrests is that it’s related to the political situation of the country,” said Malaysian Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan. “Certainly the intention is intimidation and to put fear into people so that they are more careful in the comments that they make.

“It is really a direct threat to the freedom of speech, and very telling that a blogger and a journalist have been held.”

Pakatan Rakyat Sedia Mengambil Alih

Hari ini rakyat Malaysia menyambut Hari Malaysia- hari di mana negara kita menjadi satu dan rakyatnya bersatu. Hari ini mempunyai makna baru. Selepas bertahun berjuang, melawan sistem yang dilanda dan mengabaikan prinsip keadilan- kita sekarang berada diambang kemenangan. Hasrat kita untuk membina semula negara dan menyatu padukan rakyat Malaysia sebagaimana yang dicita-citakan oleh pejuang-pejuang kemerdekaan sudah semakin dekat.

Keadaan ekonomi yang merudum jatuh dengan kadar pengangguran dan inflasi yang tinggi telah menyebabkan rasa tidak puas hati rakyat yang meluap-luap. Hubungan antara kaum menjadi tegang, diburukkan lagi dengan propaganda oleh media yang dikawal oleh kerajaan. Pentadbiran sekarang gagal untuk menawarkan jawapan buat negara kita keluar dari kedudukan sukar ini.

Pakatan Rakyat yakin dapat menyelamatkan Malaysia dari masalah ekonomi dan politik berbaur perkauman. Kami akan melaksanakannya secara bertanggungajwab, menuruti prinsip undang-undang dan tidak akan sama sekali menjejaskan keselamatan dan kestabilan negara dan rakyat negara ini.

Pakatan Rakyat kini memiliki majoriti yang selesa untuk membentuk sebuah kerajaan baru yang stabil. Kerajaan baru yang mencerminkan masyarakat Malaysia yang majmuk.

Jesteru itu kami ingin duduk semeja dengan Perdana Menteri Abdullah Badawi untuk melaksanakan peralihan kuasa secara bertanggungjawab, lancar dan aman. Hasrat ini telah kami sampaikan kepada Perdana Menteri melalui surat yang dikirimkan jam 2.30 petang semalam.

Dengan mandat ini kami bertekad untuk melaksanakan peralihan kuasa yang aman. Kami tidak ingin berulangnya peristiwa yang berlaku sewaktu mengambil alih kuasa di negeri Perak dan Selangor, di mana dokumen milik kerajaan negeri di lupuskan oleh pentadbiran terdahulu.

Kami mengingatkan kepada elemen radikal di dalam Barisan Nasional agar tidak menyalahgunakan kuasa serta menahan para penyokong Pakatan Rakyat. Penyiasatan yang dibuat secara tergesa-gesa oleh BPR terhadap Dato Seri Yong Teck Lee selepas mengumumkan akan membuat undi tidak percaya terhadap Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi merupakan di antara taktik yang kita tolak. Penggunaan ISA terhadap Ahli Parlimen Teresa Kok merupakan contoh untuk menghalang perubahan dengan tidak mengikut lunas-lunas perundangan.

Jesteru itu kami ingin duduk semeja dengan Perdana Menteri Abdullah Badawi untuk melaksanakan peralihan kuasa secara bertanggungjawab, lancar dan aman. Hasrat ini telah kami sampaikan kepada Perdana Menteri melalui surat yang dikirimkan jam 2.30 petang semalam dan kami menuntut beliau memberi perhatian terhadap beberapa perkara seperti berikut :

1) Agar Barisan Nasional tidak menghalang ahli parlimennya dari bertindak menurut suara hati mereka, hak yang dijamin undang-undang serta keputusan yang mereka buat tanpa paksaan.
2) BN tidak boleh menggunakan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri untuk menahan ahli parlimen yang berhasrat untuk menyertai Pakatan Rakyat atau ahli parlimen Pakatan Rakyat yang berjumlah 82 itu.
3) Kerajaan BN tidak seharusnya menggunakan kuasa darurat, kuasa polis, atau menggantung perlembagaan mahupun membubarkan parlimen di dalam usaha mereka untuk menghalang Pakatan Rakyat dari berkuasa.
4) Dan Kerajaan Barisan Nasional tidak membuat sekatan jalan raya dan menghalang ahli parlimen, dari memasuki parlimen dan juga institusi-institusi kerajaan lainnya.

Kami yakin Perdana Menteri berkongsi keperihatinan yang sama terutamanya berkenaan kebajikan rakyat dan keselamatan negara. Kami percaya beliau akan memastikan Barisan Nasional bertindak mengikut perlembagaan dan prinsip-prinsip demokratik demi memastikan peralihan kuasa yang aman, serta tiada tindakan sabotaj untuk menghalang hasrat rakyat ataupun menggunakan retorik berbaur perkauman.

Kami menyeru masyarakat di semua lapisan agar memahami hasrat kami semata-mata untuk kebaikan negara ini. Saya juga ingin mengingatkan media massa jangan lagi berada di dalam penafian dengan meneruskan propaganda bahawa kami berbohong. Kita sekarang berada dalam era baru maka saya menyeru media massa meninggalkan tabiat lama dan mengambil iltizam untuk meningkatkan professionalisme kewartawanan.

Selepas pertemuan dengan Perdana Menteri, kami berhasrat untuk meneruskan gerak kerja kami sebagaimana yang digariskan oleh Perlembagaan Persekutuan di dalam kami membentuk kerajaan baru dengan perkenan Yang Di-Pertuan Agong.

ANWAR IBRAHIM
Ketua Pembangkang
Ketua Umum Parti Keadilan Rakyat

Raja Petra 'arrested under ISA'

Source : Malaysiakini

Controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin has been detained under the Internal Security Act, said his wife Marina Lee Abdullah.

MCPX

According to her, 10 police personnel from Bukit Aman came to their home in Sungai Buloh at about 1.10pm to arrest him. They also confiscated a computer, some books and VCDs.

When Malaysiakini contacted Marina at 1.25pm, the police personnel were still there. However, he was taken away to an unknown destination at 1.50pm.

On Sept 6, Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar had warned the 58-year-old editor of popular news portal Malaysia Today could be charged under the ISA for comments allegedly insulting Islam and Prophet Muhammad.

Several religious groups - Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (Yadim), Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council (Maiwp) and Federal Territory Religious Department (Jawi) - had lodged police reports against him.

The groups complained his comment in an article entitled "I Promise to be a good, non-hypocritical Muslim" allegedly used sentences that insulted Muslims.

The government has ordered the blocking of Raja Petra's Malaysia Today website two weeks ago, but the ban was lifted yesterday.

Second time under ISA

Raja Petra, popularly known by his initials RPK, is also alleged to have allowed comments to appear on his website that degraded Islam and Prophet Muhammad in an article entitled "Not all Arabs are descendants of the Prophet".

This is the second time Raja Petra, a father of five and part of the Selangor royal family, has been detained under ISA, which allows for indefinite detention without trial.

His first arrest under the tough security law was on April 11, 2001. RPK was detained as part of a crackdown against reformasi activists in which nine others were also held.

At that time, he was webmaster for the now defunct FreeAnwar.com site.

Raja Petra was subsequently released after 53 days in detention. However, six of the reformasi leaders were eventually sent to the Kamunting Detention Centre in Taiping where they were detained for two years.

Charged earlier for sedition, defamation

The controversial blogger has earlier been charged with sedition and defamation after linking Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife to the sensational murder of a Mongolian woman.

Abdul Razak Baginda, a close friend of the deputy premier, has been charged with abetting the murder of 28-year-old Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu, whose body was blown up with explosives.

Two police officers from an elite force, whose duties included guarding the prime minister and his deputy, were also charged with the killing.

The ISA, which human rights groups have pushed to have abolished, provides for renewable two-year periods of detention without trial and is normally used against suspected terrorists.

It has also been used to lock up opponents of the government, and last year five Hindraf leaders were detained three weeks after mounting a mammoth rally in the streets of Kuala Lumpur on Nov 25.

Difference Between Racist Mahathir and Anwar The Boss

Mahathir is an Evil, Choose Mahathir For Hell

A superb documentary on Anwar's 1998 trial, the documentary reveals that Dr.Mahathir had lead and framed Anwar into sodomy charge. The documentary also proves that Mahathir had set-up the entire 98 trial just to get rid of Anwar and some of main key figures testify their statements.

Today, Mahathir is acting like another hero that going to save in the country, Mahathir is total @!!%%%!!!! Referring to Malaysiakini's report, i don't think so i am going to support the evil animal anymore (Mahathir) he is no use to the country.

Racist and Acting Mr.Nice Guy

Koh Tsu Koon is another hell of liar and covers BN to the max. What is the arguement for? Why Koh Tsu Koon acting like MR. NICE GUY nowdays. People in penang had thrown u away, we dont want corrupt politicians like you each time covers Barisan Nasional corrupted way of administering the country. I was suprised to see Ahmad Ismail "u turn statement" against the press media. Damn man, He twisted it as if he never did anything wrong, you can call chinese as pendatang since your talking history. If you not racist you should have used "masyarakat cina datang ke malaysia" since you are giving the speech after 50years of merdeka.

For further reading on the issue i have posted part of the news which can be viewed in full at Malaysiakini

The war of words among Barisan Nasional component parties over an alleged racist remark made by an Umno division leader has escalated after the latter

MCPX

refused to tender an apology.

Penang BN chief and Gerakan acting president Dr Koh Tsu Koon said today that he could not accept Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Ahmad Ismail’s explanation on the controversy yesterday.

“His explanation has caused more damage. We don’t accept the explanation which was couched in such terms, it was totally irresponsible and uncalled for,” Koh told Malaysiakini this evening.

The Gerakan leader, who has been branded as a “great liar and opportunist” by Ahmad yesterday, insisted that the Umno division leader should have apologised to the Chinese community.

He called on the police to immediately investigate the police reports lodged against Ahmad while Umno, on the other hand, should look into the action to be taken against its division leader.

“Since he (Ahmad) claimed he didn’t say it, the police must investigate. If there is evidence (to show Ahmad had uttered the remark), he should be charged under the Sedition Act,” said Koh.

Sept 16 Takeover Still On Track

Reference : Malaysiakini

Ten days to go and Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said today he is on track to meet the Sept 16 deadline to recruit enough members of parliament to topple the government.

MCPX

The opposition is confident it will secure the defection of at least 30 members from the ruling Barisan Nasional government - the number needed to unseat the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, Anwar said.

Anwar, speaking to reporters in Jakarta after meeting with a think tank, said he was "quite positive from the initial response from the members of parliament."

"We have seen some very positive signs, but we have also seen the desperate acts by the government, threats and using institutions to discourage them," he said.

Government attempts to compel members of parliament to travel overseas until after his pledged Sept 16 deadline to take power would not work, Anwar said.

Probably we'll meet on 17th

"The only issue now is that they are going to compel members of parliament to (travel to) China or overseas until after the 16th of September, so we'll have to deal with that.

"Probably we'll meet on the 17th because they'll come back on the 17th," he said.

The 61-year-old leader of the three-party Pakatan Rakyat coalition declined to name or give the number of lawmakers who have pledged to defect.

Asked if he had used his two-day trip to Jakarta to meet with potential government defectors, Anwar said: "I won't comment on that, but I will say it's a good visit."

Abdullah, who is facing calls from his party to quit amid plummeting popularity, has said Anwar's push to take power will fail.

The parties of Pakatan gained unprecedented ground against the Barisan Nasional coalition in the March general election, securing a third of parliamentary seats and five states.

- AFP

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Hopefully everything goes fine on Sept 16, this is the only chance Anwar have to topple the current goverment. If he miss this, i think Anwar will be thrown into jail. Hidup Anwar!

It Is RACIST Remark

Refering to Malaysiakini's report,Yes, it is a racist remark made by Ahmad Ismail, why did Najib apologised the other day behalf of him. Well its time for us to sit and think back, do we need this type of people in in power? In my opinion, Ahmad's racial remark should lead his way to ISA. Talking about "innocent until proven guilty", where was this concept to 5 hindraf leader or those held under ISA previously for questioning the credibility of the government. A perfect mental reform needed for UMNO leaders.


Source : Malaysiakini


The Bukit Bendera Umno division chief added that he did not feel sorry and would not recant his alleged racist remarks against Chinese Malaysians during the recent by-election campaign in Permatang Pauh.

“I am not apologetic because I didn’t do anything wrong,” the Umno division leader from Penang told Malaysiakini via telephone today.

This is Ahmad's first public statement since the controversy erupted last week.

Arguing that ‘one is innocent until proven guilty’, the Bukit Bendera Umno leader decried the public trial on the issue conducted by certain quarters, including the media.

“As far as I am concerned, I did not say or do anything wrong. So why should I apologise?” said the local Umno strongman, who promised to give a full statement at a specially-arranged press conference in Penang this Saturday.

“I have never been racist and will never be. It is rubbish to suggest that I am a racist,” blasted Ahmad, who sounded calm and in good spirit despite the storm swirling around him.

During a Barisan Nasional by-election rally in Kampung Belah Dua on Aug 25, Ahmad was accused to have uttered seditious remarks describing the Chinese as “immigrants squatting in the country, thus were not entitled to equal rights in Malaysia”.

The former municipal councillor also questioned the Chinese community’s willingness to share their wealth with other races.

Expect more than 40 to defect to PKR

Source : Malaysiakini

“Come September 16, we will show who has in fact been dreaming or bragging.”

MCPX

So confident is Sarawak PKR chief Dominique Ng that he told a press conference this afternoon in Kuching that Pakatan Rakyat coalition could now count on more that 40 MPs to cross over from Barisan Nasional.

His statement came amid reports that a top PKR leader met with leaders of a BN component party in Kota Kinabalu this morning to pledge support for the opposition’s move.

Ng said in addition to individual MPs, he expected enough BN parties to join Pakatan for the opposition to have sufficient numbers to oust the government by the Sept 16 deadline.

Meanwhile, Ng announced that the state PKR would be holding a series of dinners, including one in Kuching on Sept 15 and another in Miri on Sept 16, in conjunction with Malaysia Day celebrations.

PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim has on the weekend mooted the proposal to declare Sept 16 as a public holiday in all five Pakatan-held states in Peninsular Malaysia.

Ng, who is the party's sole assemblyperson in Sarawak, added that it would be declared a public holiday in the East Malaysian state “when Pakatan forms the state government”.

According to Ng, Sept 16 was a public holiday for workers in Sarawak until 1994 when the Sarawak Labour Ordinance was amended by the state government.

Ng added the Federal Constitution was also very clear on the significance of those two days - Sept 16 is Malaysia Day, while Aug 31 is Merdeka Day.

The leaders of Sarawak PKR will gather at Padang Merdeka in Kuching on the morning of Sept 16 to commemorate Malaysia Day.

This will be the fourth year the party is observing Malaysia Day with the hoisting of the national and state flags at the site.

Padang Merdeka, which is in the heart of the city, is where the Proclamation of Malaysia was read out on Sept 16, 1963 by a representative of the federal cabinet, the late Khir Johari, in the presence of the then state governor Tun Haji Openg and the then chief minister Stephen Kalong Ningkan.

Who are likely to jump?

There have been intense speculations in Sarawak and Sabah as to which BN component parties are likely to join Pakatan.

In Sabah, the Sabah Progressive Party (Sapp), led by former chief minister Yong Teck Lee, has been frequently mentioned, and this has not been denied by its leaders.

Another party on the list is said to be Upko, which is led by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Bernard Dompok, also a former chief minister of Sabah. The two parties have six MPs between them.

In Sarawak, one of the parties mentioned as a possibility is Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), led by state development minister Dr James Masing. It has six MPs.

A PKR source said the crossovers in Sarawak are likely to come from all the state's four BN component parties - PRS, SPDP, SUPP and PBB. But their leaders have all publicly denied this.

The source added that the crossovers from Peninsular Malaysia are about equal in number.

Dr M : PKR’s victory a death knell for BN

Source : Malaysiakini

He said Umno and Barisan Nasional supporters were left with only one option, that is to vote for the opposition to show their displeasure at the party leadership.

And if the opposition wins, that would destroy the country, argued Mahathir.

“People deserve the government they get. If they get a bad government it is because they are unwilling to fight against it, unwilling to take any risk,” he said.

Mahathir lamented that BN was in doldrums as demonstrated by the coalition’s lackluster campaign during the Permatang Pauh by-election.

He also said coalition partners MCA, MIC and Gerakan were in disarray after senior party leaders left to join PKR.

"Abdullah has already destroyed Umno, MCA, Gerakan, MIC and the BN. Gerakan is talking about leaving the BN. MCA is more muted but its leaders who used to support Abdullah come what may, have deserted him.

“Really, Barisan is in a sorry state. Not one leader has any guts. I hate to say it but the Permatang Pauh victory by PKR probably sounded the death knell of all the BN parties and the BN.

“This is the doing of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi,” he said.

“History will record the failure of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his minions. And the founders of the parties and future politicians will curse the leadership of BN through and through,” he added.

Najib You Can Keep Your Second Hand Apology

Source : Malaysiakini

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s apology on behalf of a Penang Umno leader for his ‘Chinese are squatters’ remarks is "inadequate and unacceptable".

MCPX

According to DAP leader Lim Kit Siang, the man who made the "racist slurs" against Chinese Malaysians - Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Ahmad Ismail - has shown no sense of contrition or remorse for his action.

"How can Najib's second-hand apology on behalf of Ahmad Ismail be acceptable when Ahmad continues to be defiant and unrepentant?"

Najib had yesterday apologised on behalf of Ahmad for the hurt caused by his racial remarks.

Lim argued the cabinet had set the precedent last year when it rejected an apology by Malaysian student Wee Meng Chee, who is based in Taiwan, as inadequate.

Wee had outraged a number of Malaysian politicians with his videoclip of a rap rendition of national anthem 'Negaraku'.

Ahmad, a relatively unknown Umno division chief, burst into the media spotlight last week for allegedly describing the Chinese as immigrants squatting in Malaysia and as such they should not expect to be treated equally.

The Umno politician purportedly made the comments while campaigning for Barisan Nasional during the recent Permatang Pauh by-election, in which opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim eventually won.

During the ceramah, Ahmad also questioned the Chinese’s willingness to share and distribute their wealth equally with the other races.

Najib was at Ahmad’s ceramah

The opposition leader said that Najib, who is deputy Umno president, was also at the by-election ceramah when Ahmad made the controversial speech.

"Najib should apologise on behalf of himself and not on behalf of Ahmad as Najib had failed to take immediate or prompt action to reprimand Ahmad for the latter's racist and seditious speech...".

Instead, Lim said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should have made a public apology for "trying to protect" Ahmad.

The prime minister, who is Umno president, said that Ahmad had not meant what he said and the Bukit Bendera party chief would be asked not to utter such remarks again.

MIC man angry

In a related matter, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department SK Devamany also lambasted Ahmad for his racist remarks, urging the latter to issue a public apology as soon as possible.

He said that he was saddened that Najib had to apologise on Ahmad's behalf.

"Ahmad Ismail should not have others apologising for him. He must ask for forgiveness himself as this is a very serious matter," said Devamany in a statement.

"This goes to show that Ahmad remains unrepentant...he shows no respect," he added.

The MIC man also said that Ahmad should be charged with sedition.

Lim's apology

Meanwhile, Lim accused the Malay mainstream media, in particular Umno-controlled Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian, of not reporting Najib's apology.

"A check with Bernama online shows that Najib's apology is reported in Bernama's English news but blacked out in Bernama's Bahasa Malaysia news."

While the news item did not appear in Bernama’s website, Najib’s apology was however reported in both Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian on page two of the newspapers.

Lim later contacted Malaysiakini to "retract and apologise" for his mistake in overlooking the Utusan and Berita Harian reports.

In the latest development on the matter, Penang deputy police chief Salleh Mat Rasid said that the probe against Ahmad would be completed by Friday.

At least five police reports have been lodged by DAP against Ahmad.

In regards to that, Ahmad was summoned by the police to give a statement today. However reporters failed to see him at the Bukit Mertajam police district headquarters until 7.30pm.

DNA evidence can go terribly wrong

Source : Malaysiakini

A lawyer who has successfully argued against the seemingly incontrovertible findings of DNA evidence in one court case said it is “unthinkable” for the government to treat such evidence as irrefutable and absolute.

MCPX

M Puravelan (right), who represented G Sara Lily, had in 2006 successfully fought for the court to recognise a body that had been kept for two years at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre mortuary was that of her deceased son, Francis Udayappan.

Despite a testimony by a DNA expert to the contrary, the presiding magistrate Nazran Mohd Sham said the clothes, height, gender, relevant period of death and discovery of the body meant there were “reasonable grounds to suspect” that the deceased was indeed Sara Lily’s son Francis.

Puravelan said the government failed to learn from that episode judging by its attempt to bulldoze the DNA Identification Bill 2008 through without placing legal safeguards to prevent or correct deliberate and accidental errors of scientific evidence.

“No doubt, there are uses for DNA as it is a valuable tool of evidence. But just as with other forms of proofs, DNA evidence must also be subject to the normal rules of evidence, and that includes being able to subject it to cross-examination and so on,” he said when contacted.

DNA evidence considered conclusive proof

Last week, opposition MPs failed to force the DNA Bill to a special committee for reconsideration before being debated further in Parliament.

The DNA bill, they claimed, exposes suspects to both police and political manipulation.

Among their concerns with the DNA Identification Bill is Section 24, which states that DNA evidence should be admissible as “conclusive proof” in court.

Recollecting the Udayappan case, Puravelan said the Chemistry Department had “certified” its finding - that Udayappan was not Sara Lily’s son - despite its own expert’s admission that there imbalances, degradations and deteriorations of quality had occurred in the DNA sample.

He also pointed out that justice Nazran in his verdict said the DNA report, which had denied any link between the recovered body and Sara Lily, could not be relied upon due to the possibility of contamination.

“It’s unthinkable what may happen if they allow DNA evidence to be exempted from being challenged in court - it goes against all cornerstones of law,” said Puravelan.

Australian police review 7,000 DNA-related cases

In Australia early last month, Victoria’s police announced they were reviewing 7,000 cases that had used DNA evidence after it was found that DNA evidence used to convict a murder suspect, Russell John Gesah, was contaminated.

Gesah was earlier convicted of a 1984 murder of a mother and her young daughter.

The contamination reportedly occurred when clothing containing Gesah’s DNA - from an unrelated offence - were examined on the same day as the clothing from the murder case.

The Australian police have subsequently apologised to Gesah.

Accidental contamination of DNA can occur anywhere during the handling of DNA samples such as during its collection, testing, analysis, and storage.

What more when the police force - in which corruption is said to be rampant - is in control of DNA forensics, said Puravalen.

According to him, a mistaken conviction based on DNA evidence that goes unchallenged in court can have an effect more disastrous than merely imprisoning the wrong man.

“We have to remember that in Malaysia, we have a mandatory death sentence for certain offences. It’s frightening to think what can happen (if such evidence is deemed as conclusive),” he said.

Ahmad’s tongue undermining BN

Koh’s lame remark about Ahmad’s racist slur that it had made it extremely hard for BN component parties such as Gerakan to win back the people’s support is an indication that the anger within the BN against Umno is just hot air.

Commentary by The Malaysian Insider

Can Datuk Ahmad Ismail’s alleged racist remarks against the Chinese community in Malaysia be the trigger for the MCA, Gerakan and other Barisan Nasional component parties to leave the coalition?

Or will they continue to grin and bear it, as they have always done for many years, despite the Bukit Bendera Umno division chief calling the Chinese “squatters” and “as the Chinese were only immigrants it was impossible to achieve equal rights amongst races” at a ceramah during the Permatang Pauh by-election recently?

MCA and Gerakan leaders have made tough calls for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to take stern action against Ahmad for his alleged racist remarks.

But the best answer they got from Abdullah was: “I will tell him (Ahmad) not to do it again. You know in a campaign all sorts of things can come up. I don’t think he meant it. I’ll make sure to tell him not to use it again.”

Veteran opposition leader Lim Kit Siang said the Prime Minister had caused great dismay and distress as he chose to demonstrate solidarity with Ahmad.

“Why is the Prime Minister not prepared to show ‘solidarity’ with right-thinking Malaysians who deplore Ahmad Ismail’s insensitive, offensive, derogatory and racist remarks about the Malaysian Chinese?

“I will declare my solidarity with what is right, just and true — including deploring insensitive, offensive, derogatory and racist remarks whether referring to the Malays, Indians, Kadazans or Ibans, whether it is made by a Chinese or non-Chinese leader. Why is Abdullah not prepared to take a similar stand?” he said in a statement today.

Abdullah’s stand is a disappointment as if he was going against his own 51st Merdeka message urging Malaysians of all races to work together, discard differences and prejudices and to rise as citizens with strength to face all challenges.

“No one citizen is recognised as being of a higher position than another in this nation. This nation belongs to all of us. Whether we rise or fall depends on all of us,” said the Prime Minister on the eve of the Merdeka anniversary, hoping for all Malaysians to give importance to solidarity.

His defence of Ahmad is making BN component parties uneasy. Despite tough calls, it looks like nothing is going to happen much within the federal ruling coalition. Gerakan vice-president Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan said Abdullah’s light and non-deterrent comments would do nothing to prevent similar occurrences.

“The fact that Ahmad has refused to apologise when facing the wrath of the Chinese community showed how recalcitrant, arrogant and insensitive he is to a multiracial society like Malaysia,” he said in urging the police to investigate the police reports lodged against Ahmad’s remarks.

Even Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, as reported by the Chinese-language press, criticised Ahmad as a low-class politician who had no concern for the feelings of fellow Malaysians.

This latest blow is expected to give another boost to the Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader’s plan to persuade BN MPs to cross over to his side in his attempt to take over the government.

The BN is already facing a tough problem in convincing the non-Malays to support the coalition, with many non-Malay politicians describing the situation as a reaction against Umno’s racial and discriminatory practices over the last few years.

It began to escalate with Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein’s brandishing his keris at the Youth wing’s assembly a few years ago which prompted delegates to come out openly against the Chinese and other non-Malays. The attitude hasn’t changed.

A couple of months ago, Perak Umno state assemblywoman Hamidah Osman made a racist remark against the Indian community to the chagrin of the Pakatan Rakyat representatives in the state assembly.

Although she refused to budge, top Umno leaders later directed her to apologise to the Indians in country. As the battle for the top positions in the MCA and Gerakan has begun and would be decided next month, politicians in both parties are taking advantage of the situation to put the blame on Umno.

With Ahmad’s remarks, it will be added ammunition for the aspiring candidates. But are they serious about the future of their parties in the BN?

DAP veteran Lim had provoked them earlier. “Why didn’t the MCA and Gerakan ministers and leaders take a strong stand (on the eve of the Permatang Pauh by-election) to issue an ultimatum that Ahmad apologise and withdraw the racist remark, failing which they would pull out of the Barisan Nasional by-election campaign in Permatang Pauh?

“Wouldn’t this be more effective and fruitful than just making protests ‘after the event’ — when it would still get them into the newspapers — although they are being ignored not only by Umno, the Barisan Nasional supreme council but also the Cabinet?”

Even Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon made one of the “after the event” arguments, claiming that Ahmad’s alleged racist remarks were a key contributing factor to the BN’s defeat in the by-election.

Koh’s lame remark about Ahmad’s racist slur that it had made it extremely hard for BN component parties such as Gerakan to win back the people’s support is an indication that the anger within the BN against Umno is just hot air.

But top leaders of BN component parties, trying their best to remain in the federal ruling coalition, are worried that their MPs may have different ideas.

Already voices of discontent have been heard in several states among BN component members about the bleak future of remaining within the coalition. It is perhaps giving Anwar the advantage to convince some BN MPs and possibly state assemblymen too to think twice about remaining in the Umno-controlled BN — the fear of Umno hegemony.

The DAP has given its full support for Anwar as the alternative prime minister and while Pas top leaders are still reluctant about it, many of its other leaders and grassroots members have no qualms about the former deputy prime minister taking over the country's leadership.

Navy overspent RM114 mil tax payer money on jetty HQ

Source : Malaysiakini

The Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM) overspent by RM114.22 million when building its jetty headquarters in Sabah, according to the Auditor-General's Report 2007.

The construction costs of the project, located in Wilayah Laut Dua, Teluk Sapangar, exceeded the navy's initial budget of RM533.9 million.

The report described the project as a poorly planned and managed one, that was completed only 44-months after the original target date of Apr 15, 2004.

According to Auditor-General Ambrin Buang, the delay was caused mostly by interfacing work done by contractors - Ekran Berhad and Muhibah LTAT-JV.

The report also stated that the contractors had made a hasty decision, pushing through the project that resulted in flawed design plans.

It further cited 14 variation orders worth RM38.36 million that pushed up costs.

"Other factors that contributed to this poor planning were squatters and cemetery relocation issues together with the problems regarding water and electricity supply," said the AG.

The report also pointed out other weaknesses where construction work was not executed according to specification, resulting in defects that have yet to be fixed.

Ekran must settle fine

Putting the blame on both contractors, the AG called on the defence ministry to act swiftly in getting the contractors to repair the defects before the warranty period expires.

Muhibah LTAT-JV and Ekran Berhad have until Nov 28, 2009 and Dec 13, 2009 respectively to complete the repairs.

While it did not specify a deadline, the AG also advised the ministry to instruct Ekran Berhad to pay up RM1.42 million in fines for delaying the project.

According to the report, the project's consultant was also to blame for lack of supervision that resulted in poor quality construction materials that were not up to framework standard.

The AG also advised the defence ministry to ensure the consultant submitted all drawings, technical information, catalogues, operation manual, a list of spare parts and maintenance schedule regarding the project.

CIQ complex in JB

The AG report also revealed the construction of the RM1.27 billion Custom, Immigration and Quarantine building at Bukit Chagar, Johor Bahru did not undergo an open tender process.

According to the report, the contractor was directly appointed by the federal Works Department.

Apart from that, it said the project deadline was extended by 334 days from the targeted Oct 31, 2005 .

One of the factors for the delay was due to getting pipe transfer approval from Public Utilities Board, Singapore and also due to the cancellation of the second Johor-Singapore bridge.

The AG recommeded the finance ministry to instruct the assigned contractor to fix the defects before the warranty period expires.

The report also suggested that for a design and build project like this one, it was important that the contract included a clause stipulating the contractor's responsibility in conducting maintenance within an appropriate time-frame to prevent future delays.