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Asia Floods Take Heavy Toll on Local Economies

2011-10-14T10:47:00.001-07:00

A man stands on a flooded pier at Memorial bridge, along the Chao Praya river, in Bangkok, October 14, 2011. (Photo: Reuters)

October 14, 2011
Ron Corben | Bangkok
Voice of America

Floodwaters in central Thailand have inundated industrial parks and manufacturing centers, adding to the mounting economic costs of the disaster. Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos are also continuing to tally the cost of heavy flooding that has claimed hundreds of lives.

Economists fear Thailand's most severe floods in decades may cost the country $5 billion and reduce its gross domestic product by about one percent.

The economic toll is already being felt in the country's industrial heartland, where floods breached the walls of major industrial estates. The damage has shut Honda and Toyota automobile assembly plants that account for about seven percent of their combined global production.

More water is expected in the country's manufacturing center as well as the capital, Bangkok. Together the industrial areas produce nearly one-half of Thailand's national output.

Bhichit Rattakul is executive director of the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center. Bhichit says floods may take up to two months to disperse, with the main body of water still to reach outer Bangkok.

"It's not easily over," said Bhichit. "[It could last] at least another 50 days because the volume of the water is still up in the north; it's not even at Ayutthaya or Bangkok yet. I mean at Ayutthaya we don't see any piece of land at all now; all we see is the water. It's all submerged. The main part of the water is still in Nakhon Sawan area. So you need some time to drain it out."

Officials from the Thai Industry Ministry say up to eight industrial estates and parks that employ over 200,000 highly skilled workers are under threat from floods.

Economists warn Thailand's growth rate will be hit, especially in the fourth quarter of 2011. Thanomsri Fongarunrung, a senior economist with Phatra Securities, says the impact on industrial production is a key concern for the economic outlook.

"Our concern is that the major area in the central area that is mainly the manufacturing of automobile, electronics, right now that is under flood and the major threat is that is comes through to Bangkok," said Fongarunrung.

While authorities warn Bangkok is at risk for flooding in the coming days, much of the damage so far has been in rural and agricultural areas in Southeast Asia.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) said the flooding across countries bound by the Mekong River system - Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos - had led to the loss of over 550 lives. In Cambodia, efforts to assist communities had been hampered by high waters and dangerous road conditions.

Peter Brimble, a senior economist for the Asian Development Bank in Phnom Penh, said the damage has been devastating for poorer communities that have been building local infrastructure using government assistance.

"They've been using these small amounts of money - maybe $10,000 or $20,000 a year - to gradually build up some of the small roads and things around the village and their commune - and now they're all washed away," said Brimble.

In Vietnam, flooding hit the Mekong Delta region claiming over a dozen lives including children while storms also hit the north central coastal region leaving 60,000 homes submerged and damaged. In Laos, where floods have affected almost half a million people, the waters have damaged more than 60,000 hectares of farmland damaged as well as local infrastructure.

Arun Temple

2011-10-14T10:47:00.000-07:00

look at this image, around 10 to 6 pm you will see the tourists from many countries.

Flooding Claims 250 Lives, as Government Response Continues

2011-10-14T10:46:00.001-07:00

People sit as they receive flood donations at downtown Phnom Penh, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011. (Photo: AP)

Friday, 14 October 2011
Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh

"Our people are increasingly suffering."

The government raised the national death toll from ongoing flooding to nearly 250 on Friday, as Cambodia continues to grapple with its worst flooding in a decade.

More than 30,000 families have been pushed out of their homes in flooding that began in August. About 390,000 hectares of rice crop have been damaged, along with 2,700 kilometers of roadways in 17 provinces, according to government estimates.

The government has set aside more than $100 million to help repair damages, Hun Sen said Friday.

Relief efforts so far have included food and clothing deliveries to some 76,000 families, Hun Sen said. The Council of Ministers will provide more money to extend the relief efforts to another 40,000 families, he said.

International assistance has meanwhile started coming in, he said, with China providing $8 million for assistance, Japan $330,000 and the US $50,000.

However, some opposition officials have been critical of relief efforts so far.

"Some measures to rescue people seem slow up to now," said Nhem Ponharith, secretary-general of the Human Rights Party. "We really have concerns about the lack of food and medicine in the future."

Yim Sovann, a spokesman for the Sam Rainsy Party, said the government must speed up its efforts. "Our people are increasingly suffering," he said.

Friday's new death toll comes on the heels of an emergency meeting Thursday, after which Hun Sen announced the cancelation of this year's annual Water Festival.

By canceling the festival, during which millions of Cambodians typically flock to the capital for three days of boat races and other events, Hun Sen said the government could use more resources to better help communities cope with the effects of the floods.

"The active forces must help repair the damages," he said. "The majority of the racing boats come from the flooded areas. The government has to pay for the water festival ceremonies."

He encouraged people to celebrate in their home provinces, "at Buddhist pagodas and in their communities."

The government typically pays $2,500 to the nation's 400 or so racing teams, a cost of about $1 million.

Information Minister Khieu Kanharith told reporters Thursday the money will instead be used to help flood victims this year. He encouraged other celebration events during the three-day holiday, including playing music in public venues.

Opposition lawmaker Son Chhay said the cancelation was a bad decision.

"It's a national tradition," he said. The festival also attracts foreign tourists, he said. That revenue will be lost. "We get double interest from foreign tourists visiting Cambodia," he said.

ASEAN shows solidarity in face of catastrophe

2011-10-14T10:46:00.000-07:00

October 15, 2011

JAKARTA (Xinhua) - ASEAN member countries are making efforts to provide relief aids to flood-affected countries in the region.

ASEAN ministers have met and communicated to determine what kind of assistance to be channeled to the victims of the floods in the region, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Friday.

Floods have hit Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines since months ago, killing more than 500 people and damaging houses and infrastructures facilities.

"As the chairman of ASEAN, Indonesia has taken an initiative step. Our foreign minister has met with foreign ministers from ASEAN countries to formulate a collective step to help our friendly countries in settling the impact of the disaster," said Yudhoyono.

The member countries of ASEAN expressed their deep sympathy and condolence to the governments and peoples of Southeast Asian countries for the loss of lives and environmental assets caused by floods from heavy incessant rains, said a statement from the government of Indonesia.

"They believe that the governments and peoples of the affected countries will rise from this disaster with strong spirit and resilience to resume normal life and to rebuild their communities, " it said.

In this regard, the ASEAN member states also expressed their readiness to lend the affected countries support and assistance in a timely manner and in appropriate ways in accordance with the spirit of ASEAN solidarity, it said.

ASEAN member countries had also showed their solidarity during the tsunami in December 2004, which killed more than 230,000 people and damaged massive infrastructure facilities.

Many of ASEAN countries, particularly those lying along the Indian Ocean, had got relief aids after the tsunami, such as medical and logistic assistance, from ASEAN member countries.

Similarly with Indonesia, over 170,000 people were killed in the northern tip of Sumatra island of Aceh province. Foreign aids flew into the tsunami-hit area. Similar assistance were also received years later when other strong quakes and tsunamis hit other parts of Indonesia.

"Of course Indonesia is going to give aids to the neighboring countries, similar with the assistance given by them when Indonesia was hit by catastrophes (in the past)," said Yudhoyono.

Going forward, to help reduce the suffering of the victims of disasters, a regional disaster management training and logistics center is going to be built in West Sumatra of Indonesia in December while a full-scale tsunami warning system installed after the tsunami in December 2004 was tested on Wednesday, officials said.

The center will train regional disaster response managers and provide emergency supplies to enable quick disaster response.

Many of ASEAN member countries are prone to floods and earthquake as they are on a vulnerable quake-hit area called "the Pacific Ring of Fire."

A threat to Kingdom’s FDI

2011-10-14T10:45:00.002-07:00

Friday, 14 October 2011 12:02
May Kunmakara
The Phnom Penh Post

Tokyo - Cambodia needs more than an estimated US$13 billion in infrastructure works by 2020 if the country intends to continue attracting foreign investment, a joint survey by some of the world's top financial institution indicated on Wednesday.

During a conference held by the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the International Monetary Fund, experts from the two institutions urged Asia's 16 low-income countries – which need some $358 billion in infrastructure projects by 2020 – to adopt public-private partnerships as a source of infrastructure investment and bank stability. Investment in the Kingdom's roads, bridges and power facilities will create prime conditions for continued high-level foreign direct investment, experts said. The survey – which drew from JICA, IMF, Asian Development Bank and World Bank data – called for $1.2 billion in infrastructure spending per year in Cambodia, with about half going to new projects and the other half to maintenance.

Ministry of Economy and Finance secretary general Vongsey Vissoth said public-private partnerships will play a key role in the country's financial and infrastructure development.

"We're hoping for private-sector [investment], which includes public-private partnerships. And we've already done this kind of partnership," he said. "In the future, we need a system which is much better [to handle these investments] and we need a bigger source of funds for bigger projects."

Several large infrastructure investment projects from China, Korea and Japan will lower Cambodia's power and transportation costs, Vongsey Sissoth added.

"It's the ability to attract this kind of significant development investment that will have a positive impact on the competitiveness of the Cambodian economy."

Faisal Ahmed, IMF's representative in Cambodia, said it is crucial to safeguard banks in terms of improving supervision and reducing interferences in lending decisions – a practice often seen in state-owned banks. "The financial stability risks need to be minimised by strengthening the quality of and coordination among banking and capital market supervisory agencies given the nexus between banks and capital markets," Ahmed said, stressing the importance of sound macroeconomic policy.

Japan Center for International Finance president Takatoshi Kato explained that there is a need for donors and multilateral development banks to provide support to low-income countries' projects through the funding of the preparation process to ensure that the right projects and right project specifications are chosen.

Confusion Reigns as Thai Capital Braces for Floods

2011-10-14T10:45:00.001-07:00

October 14, 2011

BANGKOK (AP) -- Fear and confusion gripped Bangkok on Friday as residents grappled with mixed messages over whether Thailand's worst floods in decades would overwhelm the intricate defenses of the low-lying metropolis of 9 million people.

The government sought to reassure residents that the Thai capital would be spared from the deluge that has submerged entire towns across the country's central plains, devastated rice crops and shuttered hundreds of factories, noting that much of Bangkok sat behind a sturdy flood wall that has been reinforced in recent days.

"I insist that the floods will only affect outer Bangkok and will not be widespread in other areas," Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said Friday.

Authorities have for days been warning that the flooding has reached crisis levels and that waters rushing from the north could combine with rains and high tides in the next few days to flood the capital. Some have said the rush of water would be so strong that authorities would be left with little choice but to watch the city drown.

But the message hasn't always been clear, with some agencies, departments and officials contradicting others, sometimes in the same news conference.

Erroneous reports Thursday said flood waters had broken through one key flood gate, leading one government minister to order residents in the area to urgently evacuate. The government later apologized for the "misinformation," saying the evacuation order had been reversed and that damage to the gate had been overestimated.

The conflicting information has left many residents of Bangkok scratching their heads and wondering whether their neighborhoods are truly at risk -- and if so how best to prepare. Many have been stocking up on bottled water, rice, instant noodles, medicine and other essentials, leading to shortages in some areas. Others have moved their cars to higher ground in parking garages in the city's malls.

Buildings in many areas of the capital have stockpiled sandbags, while others have built protective walls from cement and cinderblocks. The city's subway system was rushing to install steel flood barriers.

"To be frank, I don't really know what's going to happen to Bangkok," said 26-year-old Kuealapat Atsawasiramanee, whose family home is about a half mile from the Chao Phraya River, which snakes its way through the city. "Is it going to be flooded or not, I'm not really sure. There are many pieces of information and news out there and I just don't know what to believe."

"If it's going to flood, the government simply needs to say so. Don't conceal the truth, because that will only lead to more panic."

The confusion hasn't been limited to Bangkok.

A Japanese trade organization on Friday blasted the government for allegedly failing to provide timely and accurate information about the situation in the central province of Ayutthaya, where hundreds of factories have been devastated.

Seiya Sukegawa of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Thailand said much of the information released by the government before floodwaters hit the area was late, contradictory or difficult to understand because it was not in English.

"Japanese companies didn't know what was happening or which information was true or not," he said. "They received warnings but not enough information and not enough time to decide the next step."

He said more than 300 Japanese-owned factories -- including electronics makers and automotive parts suppliers -- were damaged or destroyed by flooding.

Sukegawa also complained that the Thai government was doing nothing to help companies reach their factories to salvage whatever equipment and technology remained undamaged.

Not just factories and humans were affected in Ayutthaya, an ancient capital. About 100 elephants were forced to flee to higher ground and are facing food shortages as well as possible foot diseases because of the wet conditions.

Chusit Apirumanekul, a hydrologist at the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, sympathized with the difficulties facing the government, saying the unpredictable nature of weather makes it impossible to forecast the flood threat with certainty.

"I think this is quite normal in every country when you have this kind of warning, forecasting, you cannot say that it will happen or it will not happen 100 percent," he said.

Yingluck said Friday that her government would adjust its methods of informing the public and that official information would only be released by the director of the Flood Relief Center.

Near the northern edge of Bangkok's city limits, Somjai Tpientong wondered whether the nearby sandbag wall protecting her community of Rangsit -- one link in the perimeter around Bangkok -- would hold up.

"If the water comes I'll have to let it happen. There's no way I can block it. For me, I'll move to an upper floor," she said. "I feel sorry for the people in lower-lying areas."

Some 8.2 million people in 61 out of Thailand's 77 provinces have been affected by the flooding, which has killed at least 283 people since late July

Cambodian draft law on NGOs may breach international pact, UN rights expert warns

2011-10-14T10:45:00.000-07:00

Maina Kiai, Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association

14 October 2011
UN News Centre

"A legal framework to ensure freedom of association should facilitate, rather than control, individuals' enjoyment of this right formally or informally"

A Cambodian draft law making registration of associations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) mandatory and banning unregistered groups, risks breaching an international treaty, a United Nations rights expert warned today, calling on the Government to review it.

"The current draft NGO law contains a set of problematic provisions, raising concerns over a potential negative impact on Cambodian citizens' democratic participation in furthering the development of their country," UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association Maina Kiai said in a news release, noting that it could violate the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

The mandatory nature of the draft law "constitutes a clear infringement of the right to freedom of association. Having a recognized legal status may confer rights and benefits to organizations such as the ability to open bank accounts, but legal status is not necessary for the enjoyment of the right to freedom of association," he added.

He welcomed a recent statement by Cambodia's ambassador to the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council promising "further consultations" and called on the authorities to review the draft law in open and meaningful discussions with associations and NGOs.

By excluding refugees, stateless persons and other non-Cambodian residents from forming associations or domestic NGOs and limiting eligible founding members to Cambodian nationals, the draft further violates freedom of association, which should be enjoyed by all individuals within Cambodia's territory, he noted.

Other concerns include the high minimum membership requirement; lack of clarity of the criteria for registration, suspension or termination; and the overly cumbersome and bureaucratic registration process for foreign NGOs, which could limit the scope of their activities and hamper their independence.

"A legal framework to ensure freedom of association should facilitate, rather than control, individuals' enjoyment of this right formally or informally," Mr. Kiai said. "It should also emerge from an open, transparent process that engenders goodwill and confidence."

Two other UN experts raised concerns over the effects of the draft law on human rights defenders. The Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue, stressed that the draft could affect the defenders' ability to exercise such rights.

The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders Margaret Sekaggya said the free and full exercise of the right to freedom of association places a duty on States to create a favourable environment for defenders to act freely.

"We urge the Cambodian authorities to fully take on board the legitimate concerns repeatedly raised by NGOs and associations during the announced further consultations," the two said, noting that the Government has reviewed and revised the draft law numerous times.

Last month, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, Surya P. Subedi, urged the Government to review the draft and not proceed with it in its present form.

Cambodia bans citizens from working as maids in Malaysia

2011-10-14T10:44:00.000-07:00

10/14/2011
Reuters

PHNOM PENH — Cambodia has banned its citizens from going to work in Malaysia as maids, its prime minister said on Friday, following a series of horrific reports of beatings and rapes.

The order follows a similar ban imposed by Indonesia on its citizens from taking new jobs as domestic workers in Malaysia, where maids are common in middle-class households, thanks in part to a large migrant labor pool.

"I would like to congratulate the prime minister for the suspension," Cambodia opposition lawmaker Mu Sochua of the Sam Rainsy Party told Reuters after the decision by Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Cambodia's Community Legal Education Center, which is working with abused domestic workers, said there had been reports of three maids who were killed in Malaysia, and two were raped and kept in isolation, their passports held from them.

Indonesia banned its citizens from working as maids in Malaysia in 2009 after several highly publicized cases of physical abuse by Malaysian employers, which triggered anti-Malaysia demonstrations in Jakarta.

Both countries held discussions and reached an agreement in April this year after Malaysia pledged to improve working conditions, but Indonesia has yet to allow hiring to resume, worsening a growing shortage of domestic helpers in the country.

Malaysia is dependent on migrant workers who total up to 2 million people or 21 percent of the country's workforce. Indonesia is the main source of foreign labor in Malaysia. One in every 16 residents in Malaysia's capital hires an Indonesian helper, according to data from the Indonesian Embassy.

An Bunhak, president of the Association of Cambodian Recruiting Agencies, said it would uphold the order from the government to stop sending people to work as maids in Malaysia.

"The Ministry of Labour is enforcing what the prime minister has said," An Bunhak said, adding that about 50,000 maids have sought work in Malaysia since 2009.

Cambodian recruitment agencies also this year decided not to send maids to Kuwait after complaints by human rights groups of abuse by employers there.

Closing Order of Case 002 Against Senior KR Leaders Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, Ieng Sary, Ieng Thirith

2011-10-14T10:43:00.000-07:00

Sang Security Centre²⁰⁴⁶

Location and Establishment

476. Sang security centre was a district level security centre located in Trapeang Sva Village, Trea Commune, Kandal Steung District, Kandal Province.²⁰⁴⁷ Applying the CPK's system of identifying administrative boundaries, it was located in district 154 (code-number for Kandal Steung), Sector 25, Southwest Zone. It appears to have commenced operation as a security centre sometime during 1976 or 197 7²⁰⁴⁸ and was operational until the end of the CPK regime.²⁰⁴⁹ Originally a teacher training centre, Sang was ringed by barbed wire and comprised of several concrete structures, including a number of detention buildings, a blacksmith's shack, a kitchen, and a separate house for the prison chairman.²⁰⁵⁰ There were also a number of special detention cells for CPK cadres who had committed serious offences.²⁰⁵¹

Functioning

Structure and Personnel

477. As a district level security centre, Sang was controlled by the district 154 Committee.²⁰⁵²The District Committee would regularly meet with the prison chairman at the Committee's headquarters in Siem Reap Kantuot and one of its successive secretaries, Yann (deceased), would personally visit Sang every two to three months. ²⁰⁵³ South West Zone Secretary, Ta Mok (deceased), may have also visited Sang on a number of occasions.²⁰⁵⁴

478. Up to 20 cadres worked at Sang at any one time.²⁰⁵⁵ There were several different chairmen in charge of Sang during its operation.²⁰⁵⁶ After the first chairman, Mong, was arrested in 1977 or 1978, it appears that other cadres took control of Sang.²⁰⁵⁷ The last chairman, Nev, was in charge of Sang for only a few months before the fall of the CPK regime in January 1979.²⁰⁵⁸ Two former Sang cadres recall that conditions improved after Nev took over. One goes as far as to say that under Nev, no new prisoners arrived, prisoners were not shackled,

and no one was killed.²⁰⁵⁹

Arrest and Detention

479. Seven witnesses and two civil parties who were detained at Sang were interviewed.²⁰⁶⁰Men, women, and children were all imprisoned there.²⁰⁶¹ At any one time there would be approximately 100 to 300 people in detention²⁰⁶² and prisoners would arrive and leave on a regular basis.²⁰⁶³ However, it appears that under Mong, no-one was released to go back home.²⁰⁶⁴ Those arrested appear to have come mainly from Kandal Steung district.²⁰⁶⁵ Often whole families were brought in together.²⁰⁶⁶ They were a mixture of base people, including CPK cadres, and new people, including former Khmer Republic soldiers.²⁰⁶⁷ A former guard who participated in interrogations recalls that the majority of prisoners were Khmer Republic soldiers. He attests that if someone was accused of being a Lon Nol soldier, CPK cadre would arrest him and bring in the entire family, including children.²⁰⁶⁸ People were arrested for being "enemies" which meant anything from actual or perceived sympathies towards the Khmer Republic regime, the Khmer Sar, feudalism, capitalism, the CIA or the KGB, not following orders, breaking ploughs or stealing food.²⁰⁶⁹ Sometimes people were arrested because others who had been interrogated at Sang Security Cnetre had implicated

them.²⁰⁷⁰

480. Group leaders, village chiefs, and Subdistrict chairmen all brought prisoners to Sang.²⁰⁷¹Often the prisoners were not told the truth about where they were being taken.²⁰⁷² People arrived by truck, bicycle, ox-cart or on foot. After arriving, they were ordered at gunpoint to get on the ground where their hands were tied. They were then escorted to their cells.²⁰⁷³ It appears that prisoners were put into different categories, as either light or serious prisoners, which determined the conditions of their detention and where they could work.²⁰⁷⁴ One former guard (and later light prisoner) states that those in the most serious category had their legs shackled and were ultimately executed, whereas light prisoners could work outside.²⁰⁷⁵ Those who had committed more serious offences slept in rows of twenty with one leg locked to a long rod or log.²⁰⁷⁶ These prisoners urinated, defecated and slept in the same place.²⁰⁷⁷ However, not everyone was shackled, in particular women.²⁰⁷⁸ Men and women were kept separately in different buildings.²⁰⁷⁹ They slept naked as the prison chief was afraid they could use their clothing to hang themselves.²⁰⁸⁰ One former prisoner recalls a guard coming into his cell and beating his knees with a hammer for no apparent reason.²⁰⁸¹ The food was insufficient and many people died from starvation.²⁰⁸² In addition, prisoners also died from disease and from the injuries they sustained from beatings.²⁰⁸³

481. Prisoners, including children, were forced to work.²⁰⁸⁴ Guards and former prisoners recall that when serious offence prisoners went outside to work they were chained in pairs by their feet.²⁰⁸⁵ A former prisoner recalls farming whilst shackled and having to wrap the chain around his waist.²⁰⁸⁶ Light prisoners would work without being restrained.²⁰⁸⁷ Labour included planting vegetables, rice farming, carrying water, breaking up tree stumps and minding cattle.²⁰⁸⁸ A former guard recalls seeing prisoners being beaten with whips and clubs as they were escorted to work.²⁰⁸⁹ Former prisoners attest to seeing guards beating prisoners to death for minor infractions.²⁰⁹⁰ Sick prisoners who could still work were treated with medicine, whereas those who could not were neglected and sometimes died.²⁰⁹¹

482. Two former cadres recall that sometime in 1978 the Deputy Chairman of Sang, Meng, was imprisoned himself for being "immoral" with a female prisoner.²⁰⁹² Two former detainees heard from others that a female prisoner had been raped by her interrogators, who were themselves subsequently detained.²⁰⁹³ A civil party's nephew states that he eyewitnessed the rape of her sister at Sang.²⁰⁹⁴

Lady Gaga bans Lady Goo Goo song

2011-10-14T10:41:00.001-07:00

Lady Gaga has won an injunction at London's High Court to stop animated character Lady Goo Goo from releasing a single, its makers have said.

Lady Goo Goo, a baby with a long blonde fringe from the Moshi Monsters online game - owned by UK firm Mind Candy - released The Moshi Dance on YouTube.

But Lady Gaga's injunction has stopped its full release, Mind Candy said.

Law firm Mishcon de Reya confirmed it had represented Lady Gaga but said it could not comment further.

The Moshi Monsters game, aimed at six-12-year-olds, invites players to adopt "moshling" characters including Lady Goo Goo, Dustbin Beaver and Roxy.

Its owners had planned to release The Moshi Dance - which features lyrics including "my stroller's pretty and my diapers are silk, I throw my toys out if I don't get my milk" and "my crazy outfits seem to shock" - on iTunes.

Dana rejects 'sexual' allegations made against relative

2011-10-14T10:41:00.000-07:00

Dana Rosemary Scallon has vowed to continue her Irish presidential campaign despite "malicious lies" spread about a member of her family.

Ms Scallon told TV3 News that she had been warned by a freelance journalist that allegations of a "sexual nature" were due to appear in the Irish press.

She said that prompted her to make a statement during a presidential debate on RTE on Wednesday.

She told viewers that she was taking legal action over the claims.

Although she initially refused to state what the "untrue, malicious and vile" allegations were, she admitted on Friday that they were of a sexual nature involving a relative.

She also referred to a "threatening" email she had received, which is understood to have originated in the US.

"I had received an anonymous email on the Saturday night. It wasn't signed," she said.

"I won't be able to share all that was in the mail. It said 'hahahahaha the b**** is finally getting what she deserves' and went on from there to make false accusations."

Ms Scallon said the claims were part of an "orchestrated campaign" against her.

There had been speculation that she may withdraw from the presidential race, as she has not been campaigning for the past two days.

But she vowed to continue her campaign.
'Immense pressure'

Ms Scallon did not go into the details of the claims, but insisted that she was sure they were false.

"I know it is not true, the first time it was ever raised was in a court case in a family dispute. The next time it was raised was during my campaign," she added.

She said she believed it was an attempt "to destroy" her character. "The fact that no action was taken by the alleged victim, to me this proves that it is false," she added.

Ms Scallon also defended her decision to read out a statement during RTE's Prime Time debate that rejected the claims, without clarifying what they were.

"I made it because false and malicious lies and accusations were being made and I had to respond because I was under immense pressure from a freelance journalist.

"I was told there would be extensive coverage over the next few days. I had to put it to rest," she added.

She told RTE viewers on Tuesday: "It has come to my attention that yet further allegations, this time of a most untrue, malicious and vile nature, have been levelled against a member of my family.

"Let it be known that lawyers have already been instructed to forensically investigate a particular communication disseminating this vile and false accusation, which attempts to implicate me and destroy my good character."

Ms Scallon reportedly had to be comforted by the other candidates following the debate.

On Friday she rejected claims that the statement was a publicity stunt.

"I would never try to bring shame to my family name," she added.

The Derry-born candidate added that lines of inquiry were being pursued with "prosecution authorities" in the United States.

She is one of seven candidates whose names will appear on the ballot paper on 27 October.

Ms Scallon, who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1970, previously stood for the presidency in 1997 and is also a former member of the European parliament.

She has previously faced allegations over her decision to take US citizenship in the 1990s, but has stressed that taking an oath of allegiance to the US constitution did not infringe her Irish citizenship.

The six other candidates in the Irish presidential race are Fine Gael's Gay Mitchell, Labour's Michael D Higgins, Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness and independents Mary Davis, Sean Gallagher and Mr Norris.

Dangerous precedence in Sultan’s involvement in DUMC case

2011-10-14T06:38:00.000-07:00

The decision to use the Sultan of Selangor with regards to the incidence of alleged proselytizing at the Damansara Utama Methodist church dinner has set a dangerous precedence because of several reasons. The people of Malaysia, regardless of the ethnic background and creed, are all directly involved and affected by this historic case in which the Sultan, as the head of Muslim affairs in Selangor, made a legal decision on the very sensitive matter.

While I doubt that the Sultan was truly informed on all aspects, implications, ramifications and potential repercussions of the case, what has been done has been done, and we have to proceed to deal with it, possibly for many years to come. The king may reverse the situation if he rescinds his ruling but this seems unlikely to happen. So the first question that needs to be asked is why hasn’t the syariah court given the opportunity to contribute to the solution of the case? Since the case also involves non-Muslims, shouldn’t the civil court also be involved? We realize of course that if the two courts joined the tussle, it would lead to confusion about which law to apply on whom. Should the Muslims be dealt with with syariah law and the Christians be dealt with by applying civil law? But how would one settle the case with two laws clashing on a case that could potentially result in differing judgments made on two different parties, or both parties becoming affected by ruling of laws that shouldn’t apply to them? It would be a classic case of religious rights and freedom in which two irreconcilable laws try to dominate without any acceptable resolution! All it would do would be to cause an international embarrassment and shame to the country’s ridiculous two-layered legal system!

So now we have a situation in which the Sultan has been used as an instrument of solution, which immediately results in many people raising issues about what’s right and wrong. The royal ruling was made without any legal basis because he made it only as the leader of Islamic affairs in the state. There was no trial to decide who was guilty or not guilty. As a result the ruling in which the Sultan supported the raid by JAIS but assuring all that none would be charged, although the 12 Muslims who attended the fund-raising dinner would be given counseling, is spurious. The immediate assumption is that DUMC is guilty and that there was an attempt to proselytize. This then makes DUMC appear guilty, and so is in a defensive position while it is expected to keep silent and let the whole thing cool down. But it is not to be. Various parties are voicing out their unhappiness. The response from Sarawak is that one’s religion is one’s personal affair with God and none has the right to interfere in it.

The other issue is the question of JAIS’ right to flagrantly enter a church and disrupt its activities. Ng Kam Weng, of The Micah Mandate writes that “the jurisdiction granted by Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution was to permit the state to control or restrict the propagation of religion among people professing to be Muslims. This must be read in the context of the Article itself which fundamentally provides for every person the freedom to profess, practice and propagate his religion…. There is no legal provision under the Propagation Enactment that allows Jais officials to intrude into the premises of DUMC, much less carry out a raid. From my reading of the Selangor Enactment (1988), the closest possible justification that can be offered by Jais are Sections 12 and 13, which specify that ‘an authorised officer may investigate the commission of any offence under this Enactment and may arrest without warrant any person suspected of having committed any such offence.’”

By this, clearly JAIS is in the wrong and should be judged for a contravention of provisions of the Federal Constitution and the Propagation Enactment. I agree with Bob Teoh, an online commentator, that JAIS “cannot hide behind its spurious actions and be exonerated from its controversial intrusion into a charity dinner held at a church…. It must be held accountable for its actions because it strikes at the very heart of criminal jurisprudence, law enforcement, and administration of justice — Islamic or otherwise. Jais cannot (be)…allowed to get away with it through flawed reasoning…. Jais descended upon a charity function…without invitation, permission or due authority…. Conducting a search without a warrant or an order from the court is considered an extra-judicial action. Is Jais, therefore, exempt from due process? And if so, why?”

The simplistic method of using the Sultan to supposedly settle the whole thing down is clearly illegal and is a denial of the due process of law. What should have been done was to allow the due legal process to be carried out, especially because this is a test case for the country’s dual legal system. Such a process may be protracted and expensive but it is necessary to give our judicial system a sense of honesty and transparency, and an opportunity for clarification and resolution for the long term legal benefits of all Malaysians. Unfortunately, because of the simplistic approach, we are all left hanging with the doubt and dissatisfaction. Because of this the civil-syariah dilemma will continue unresolved, and several questions will continue to haunt us. Will any church building be safe from raids by Islamic enforcement teams from now on, with or without reasonable cause? Which law should now precede in cases involving proselytization, or cases in which Muslim voluntarily joins a church to become Christians (without the church being aware that they are Muslims)?

The other danger in this precedence is the now questionable position of the Sultan as the king of all the people of Selangor. He is installed as people’s king, not merely the king of the Muslims. By taking sides in a religious issue, he has established an unwanted position as a king who is a protector of Muslims and no longer favouring the Christians. By making the decision he has also entered into the soiled realm of politics. Royals are supposed to be above politics being the patron and protector of all his people regardless of their race and religion. Sadly, in the case of Selangor, this may no longer be the case.

Anwar the unsinkable

2011-10-14T06:36:00.000-07:00

Chua Jui Meng warns BN that prison will not erase Anwar’s political appeal.

Chua, who became a political activist when he was studying law, joined MCA in 1976. He was elected as MP for Bakri (Johor) in 1986 and retained the seat for five consecutive terms. He became Deputy International Trade and Industries Minister in 1990 and Health Minister in 1995.

G. Vinod, Free Malaysia Today

Inside or outside of prison, Anwar Ibrahim will always be a force to reckon with.

That is the view of a lot of people, whether they like or hate the opposition leader. But Chua Jui Meng, who repeated the statement in a recent FMT interview, is an admirer.

“I’ve never seen a man so touched by God ,” said the former health minister who is now a vice-president in Anwar’s PKR.

Some may say that is a tad too effusive, even coming from a comrade in arms. But Chua insisted that he had “seen it all” in decades of active politics. “Anwar is touched by God in a very special way. Despite the persecution he is suffering, he is still as bold as ever.”

One manifestation of that boldness, according to Chua, is that Anwar is never shy, even when addressing a predominantly Malay crowd, of articulating his belief that all races can thrive in Malaysia without anyone having to deprive anyone else. “That’s extremely rare,” coming from a Malay politician in Malaysia, he said.

He cautioned his former colleagues in Barisan Nasional that having Anwar behind bars would be politically detrimental to them.

Imprisoning him on “fabricated charges of sodomy” would only help Pakatan Rakyat win more seats in elections, he said.

“And I believe Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is not unintelligent to know that putting Anwar behind bars will make a martyr of him. Remember what happened in 1998. Those who don’t learn from history are bound to repeat it.”

Chua, who became a political activist when he was studying law, joined MCA in 1976. He was elected as MP for Bakri (Johor) in 1986 and retained the seat for five consecutive terms. He became Deputy International Trade and Industries Minister in 1990 and Health Minister in 1995.

He joined PKR in July 2009, citing Malaysia’s need for a strong two-party system.

Game changer

Chua believes that BN leaders know how strong Anwar’s political influence is and will continue to harass him.

But Anwar would always “bounce back strongly”, he said.

“I always tell the non-Malays that it took 50 years for Malaysia to have a man the stature of Anwar.”

Speaking about Pakatan’s chances in the coming polls, Chua said the government’s crackdown on Bersih 2.0 last July had swung fence-sitters to the opposition’s side.

He dismissed the notion that the hudud controversy had caused a dwindling of support for the opposition bloc, saying that many non-Malays, especially the Chinese, had warmed up to PAS.

“The Chinese and Indians may not support hudud, but they respect PAS’ views on it. They know PAS is a game changer in the current political landscape.”

In addition, Chua said, the non-Malays were aware that it would be tough for PAS to legalise hudud in Malaysia without it occupying two-thirds of the seats in Parliament.

“And Umno should realise that it can no longer use hudud as a spectre to frighten the non-Malays like it did in 1999. People are more politically savvy these days.”

In the aftermath of Anwar’s sacking from the Cabinet in 1998, the Malays abandoned the ruling coalition but Chinese and Indians voters kept BN in power out of fear of racial riots and the hudud provisions of Islamic law.

Chua said the main challenge he was facing as PKR’s Johor chief was to get Pakatan’s message across to the rural areas. “Umno is going all out to prevent us from reaching out to Johoreans.”

Selangor dances the limbo for JAIS

2011-10-14T06:35:00.000-07:00

The Sultan's decree does not resolve important issues raised by the farcical raid on DUMC and has left many with bottled up feelings of resentment and discontent

Officials of DUMC have, from the outset, vehemently denied the allegations that Muslims had been proselytised at what they claim was a multiethnic gathering to raise funds for HIV/AIDS. They have however, criticised the actions of JAIS enforcement officials for their role and conduct in the unauthorised raid.

Mariam Mokhtar, Free Malaysia Today

The principal parties involved in the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (JAIS) raid on a Methodist church function last August have officially endorsed the sultan’s solution, and the matter is deemed closed.

The Sultan of Selangor’s brief statement said that “….there had been attempts to subvert the faith and belief of Muslims” during the dinner at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) organised by the NGO Harapan Komuniti during Ramadan.

Despite this, many issues remain unresolved and the rakyat is more perplexed than ever because his statement raises more questions than answers.

How much involvement has Umno in the affairs of an opposition led state, do state religious authorities think that they are above the law and had abuses of power by JAIS been swept under the carpet?

The statement did not allude to any evidence uncovered in these “attempts” at proselytisation, neither did it make reference to the Christians.

However, it mentioned that no further legal action could be taken because of insufficient evidence and that JAIS had acted correctly in conducting the search.

Sultan Sharafuddin said: “Therefore, after carefully deliberating the report by JAIS and after obtaining advice from religious authorities and legal experts, we are in agreement that there would be no prosecution against any party.

“We are satisfied that the actions of JAIS were correct and did not breach any law enforceable in Selangor. We command that (Islamic officials) provide counseling to Muslims who were involved in the said dinner, to restore their belief and faith in the religion of Islam.”

Officials of DUMC have, from the outset, vehemently denied the allegations that Muslims had been proselytised at what they claim was a multiethnic gathering to raise funds for HIV/AIDS. They have however, criticised the actions of JAIS enforcement officials for their role and conduct in the unauthorised raid.

Perhaps, the most disquieting statement was when the sultan said that he was “gravely concerned and extremely offended by the attempts of certain parties to weaken the faith and belief of Muslims.”

Malaysians have remarked that they are just as offended because nothing has been done to check high-handed officialdom and the mistrust which the officials have in the rakyat.

Firstly, they are offended that Malays are perceived to be of weak faith and an even weaker constitution, that their presence in a largely Christian flock, when hymns are sung or prayers said, could make them denounce their faith.

Secondly, the notion that any multiethnic event, be it a funeral, Christmas party, celebration of a festival or something as innocuous as a dinner, is seen as an attempt to convert the Muslim brethren.

As defender of the faith, the sultan had also directed his subjects to stop questioning the actions of JAIS and that activities which spread other religions to Muslims should cease.

He said: “The religion of Islam as practised in Selangor is one of tolerance. Muslims are always encouraged to respect the believers of other religions. However, persons or parties cannot take the opportunity to spread other religions to Muslims.”

What if a similar raid was on a mosque?

But disgruntled non-Muslims have remarked: “It is all right for you Muslims. But who speaks for us, when members of our community undergo forced conversions?

“Families are torn apart, children are separated from their mothers, bodies are snatched from graves, marriages cannot be registered. Where is the freedom to practise our religion as provided in the constitution?”

A Malay resident of Petaling Jaya living beside a Church said: “No one questions JAIS for wanting to do its job. The issue is how JAIS conducted itself when it carried out the raid.

“Did JAIS have any respect of the sanctity of a place of worship? Did it even follow procedures when conducting the raid? Are there any standard procedures in the first instance?

“If a similar raid were to be conducted on a mosque, wouldn’t there be a Muslim backlash? Without search warrants or strict adherence to guidelines to raid, do you think anyone will have any respect for authority if they simply bulldoze their way in?

“Where is the respect for another person’s religion?” Where is our tolerance?”

Copycat judge in a copyright case!

2011-10-14T06:29:00.000-07:00

While serving as a High Court judge in Johor in early 2000 Abdul Malik had allegedly committed the offence of plagiarising a judgment by then Singapore High Court judge GP Selvam and the irony of the matter was that Malik was hearing a case regarding copyright infringement.

By Martin Jalleh

When the respected retired judge N H Chan called certain judges in the appellate courts “imposters”, “intellectual and legal frauds”, “incompetent”, “inane”, “ignoramuses”, “inconsistent” and even an “idiotic” bunch, little did he realise that he was being very mild.

Now it has come to the public’s notice that crouching amongst the growing company of judicial clowns and court jesters in the Palace of Justice is a copycat judge who allegedly plagiarised chunks of a judgment of another judge – in a copyright infringement case!

Former Law Minister Rais Yatim has confirmed that the government had known about the plagiarising judge, but Rais tries to take the rakyat for a ride by blaming it all on the then Chief Justice (CJ), and that it was left to the latter to investigate and to take appropriate action.

Copycat out of the bag

Recently, veteran lawyer Karpal Singh, with the support of close to 60 Pakatan Rakyat MPs, submitted a motion to the office of the Parliament speaker against Justice Abdul Malik Ishak, to have him placed before a tribunal and be removed.

While serving as a High Court judge in Johor in early 2000 Abdul Malik had allegedly committed the offence of plagiarising a judgment by then Singapore High Court judge GP Selvam and the irony of the matter was that Malik was hearing a case regarding copyright infringement.

Malaysiakini highlighted two news reports in Singapore's Straits Times -- 8 March and 13 April, 2000 which were referred to by Karpal Singh. The newspaper quoted then CJ Eusoff Chin as having written to his Singapore counterpart, Justice Yong Pung How, asking for more information on the allegation of plagiarism.

A month later, Eusoff told journalists that the matter was resolved and that it had arisen out of a "misunderstanding". He however did not elaborate. (By the way, this is the same CJ, whom a former CJ Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah had described as one who “kept lying to him” when the latter was a Federal Court judge and Eusoff was his boss! (Star, 30 Jan. 2008).

The Straits Times also reported that Rais Yatim had promised an investigation. Rais was ridiculous enough as to add that it was not easy to establish plagiarism because it was normal for judges to quote one another extensively and that: "Quoting another judge is not plagiarism."

The Straits Times report of 8 March, 2000 reduced Rais’ “rescue bid” of the judge to pure rubbish when it quoted the former Singapore judge (Selvam) accusing the Malaysian judge of having obtained a copy of his (Selvam's) judgment through a lawyer and "having copied chunks from me without acknowledging". (Rais sat on the case for four long years and did nothing about it!)

Selvam was also quoted to have said the Malaysian judge backdated his judgment so that people "will think I copied from him!" The naked truth appears each time Rais speaks through his rear end.

After the Singapore judiciary got the cat out of the bag, the copycat was transferred out of Johor Baru and kept in cold-storage for a while. Seven years later the plagiariser would be promoted to the Court of Appeal (16 July, 2007)! This can only happen in Bolehland!

Karpal Singh has described (on several online news portals) Malik’s alleged plagiarising as a “judicial scandal”, “misconduct of a very serious nature”, “a source of embarrassment for our judiciary” and one that warrants “stern disciplinary action” by a Royal Tribunal.

Will Justice Abdul Malik Ishak have enough honour left to resign on his own accord? Is there any remaining sense of decency and self-respect in him to acknowledge and accept the fact that his position as a judge has become clearly untenable.

Will the Chief Justice save the judiciary and the country from further embarrassment or has the judiciary entirely lost its sense of shame and the CJ prefers to continue in his elegant silence?

Meanwhile, taking the easy way out like Rais, Minister in the PM’s Department Nazri Abdul Aziz said the government could not take action against Abdul Malik as it was a matter for the current judiciary to settle.

Asked why the judiciary had not censured Abdul Malik until now, he said: “I don’t know, you have to ask them.” Strange, coming from a man who had once proudly and loudly declared himself as the “Minister for the Chief Justice”!

Malik’s other “achievements”

On 10 Oct. 2009, the Court of Appeal, with Malik as the presiding judge, struck out Anwar Ibrahim’s RM100 million defamation suit against Dr Mahathir on the technicality that the memorandum of appeal was not in Bahasa Malaysia. Malik stressed the supremacy of the national language as he delivered his 31-page written judgment in English!

On 5 Oct. 2011, the Federal Court allowed Anwar Ibrahim's application to expunge portions of a written judgment made by Malik on 6 July in the Court of Appeal related to the Sodomy II trial, that were deemed disparaging of the politician and his lawyers.

Karpal Singh (Anwar’s lawyer) complained to the judges that Malik had "without jurisdiction and for an apparent purpose invoked a non-existent jurisdiction to maliciously and scurrilously (go into the merits and) embark on a relentless attack on Anwar and the lawyers (in the written judgment)".

"This amounts to judicial assassination of the worst kind ... (and) to make matters worse, the appellant and the lawyers were not given an opportunity to defend ourselves... as the appellate court had allowed the preliminary objection.

“The remarks were uncalled for and put the Judiciary in bad light. If the case was allowed to be heard on its merits, we (would have been) prepared to defend ourselves. However, we were not allowed to do so as the court allowed the preliminary objection."

Karpal also questioned as to how Malik produced the written 40-page judgment on the day the appeal was heard at the Court of Appeal. Various law journals had reported that the judgment was produced on 6 July, but lawyers for Anwar only received it on 15 Aug.

Malik had also scurrilously written: “This case will fall in history. It will be chronicled as the only known case in our country or for that matter within the Commonwealth enclave where the appellant as an accused person persistently and consistently filed one application after another in an attempt to recuse the learned trial judge from hearing and continuing to hear the sodomy trial which is ongoing.”

Very ironically, it is the case of Abdul Malik which will fall in history and be chronicled as the only known case in our country or for that matter within the Commonwealth enclave where the one found guilty of plagiarising in a copyright infringement case was the judge himself!

BN fails to kill with a borrowed knife

2011-10-14T06:28:00.000-07:00

The BN government has lost a golden opportunity to finish off Pakatan in the battle of the budgets.

The fact that Pakatan had announced its alternative budget earlier should have provided BN with a weapon, that is, RM1,100 to kill off Pakatan and yet BN strategists have failed to capitalise on this simple ruse which, in ancient Chinese military strategy, is called “Killing with a Borrowed Knife” or “Stabbing the Enemy with his Own Knife”.

Selena Tay, Free Malaysia Today

Barisan Nasional’s (BN) strategists for the 2012 Budget presented on Oct 7 really got it wrong this time.

While there were gifts and goodies galore for civil servants, and pensioners as well, the private sector’s low wage-earners and its retirees were neglected.

Pertaining to the private sector’s low-income group, the minimum wage figure was the bone of contention. The sector’s low-wage earners were anxiously waiting for this figure to be announced by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak as Pakatan Rakyat was the first to fix the floor wage at RM1,100 in the Pakatan budget unveiled on Oct 4.

If Najib had set the figure as RM1,200, Pakatan would have been blown out of orbit because there would have been a great swing of support from Pakatan to BN. Instead, BN budget strategists, for whatever reasons best known to themselves, chose to ignore the private sector low-wage earners. The minimum wage figure is a much-needed benchmark upon which wages will be decided but BN has chosen to ignore this fact at its own peril.

Therefore, BN has certainly lost a golden opportunity to gain support from the private sector employees, especially those who work in blue-collar jobs in factories or those lower-ranked office staff such as general or administration clerks. See, all it takes is just RM100 to blow Pakatan away!

The fact that Pakatan had announced its alternative budget earlier should have provided BN with a weapon, that is, RM1,100 to kill off Pakatan and yet BN strategists have failed to capitalise on this simple ruse which, in ancient Chinese military strategy, is called “Killing with a Borrowed Knife” or “Stabbing the Enemy with his Own Knife”.

If BN chooses to announce the minimum wage figure now, the impact will be lost and the public will know that BN is insincere or worst still, it is an election gimmick to garner votes from the low- income group. This terrrible blunder represents a great failure by the BN federal government to improve the earnings of Malaysian citizens. And it just goes to show that it is the government which is depressing the wage market and this means that all this talk by the government about improving workers’ rights is merely hot air.

Concerning the private sector retirees, theirs is a case of double tragedy. They, too, should have been entitled to the bonus payout of RM1,000 (RM500 paid out in August this year before Hari Raya Aidilfitri and RM500 to be paid this coming December). This is because in their heyday, they too have worked hard, paid their taxes and contributed to the development and progress of the nation. It is a travesty of justice that they have been so poorly neglected time and time again by the BN government.

As for those old-timers, aged 70 and above, their Employees Provident Fund (EPF) savings would have most probably run out as the salary was small in those days. Thus, in this present day and age, their savings would have shrunk tremendously due to inflation and they would have no choice but to rely on their children to provide for them. That is all well and fine if their children are earning well but what if their children fail to make it in life? And what about those who are single?

1Malaysia slogan empty rhetoric

The government’s generosity towards the civil servants and pensioners has irked the low-wage earners who are clamouring for fair treatment to be meted out to them, too. It is extremely amazing that the government deems it fit to ignore the pleas for minimum wage from the low-income group in the private sector. This clearly shows that without a doubt the 1Malaysia slogan of “People First, Performance Now” is empty rhetoric to dupe the public. Ditto for the much-hyped up slogan of “BN is a caring government”. Caring indeed but perhaps caring only for its own stranglehold of power in Putrajaya?

Italy PM Silvio Berlusconi wins confidence vote

2011-10-14T06:22:00.000-07:00

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has won a key confidence vote in parliament, sparked by questions over his handling of the economy and personal scandals.

Mr Berlusconi won the vote by 316 to 301.

Italy's government credit rating was recently downgraded and parliament failed to back a key part of the budget this week, triggering the vote.

Mr Berlusconi also faces trial on sex, bribery and abuse of power charges.
'Cohesive majority'

Mr Berlusconi needed a simple majority of 316 of the 630 MPs. Together, his Freedom Party and his main coalition ally, the Northern League, have 293 seats.

The Prime Minister's allies applauded when the result of the vote was announced.

However, the BBC's David Willey, in Rome, says the fact that he scraped through with the minimum number of votes presages trouble ahead. If Mr Berlusconi has to get a vote of confidence on every issue, he will find it very difficult to govern.

Even with Mr Berlusconi's survival, our correspondent says most Italians are betting on a general election as early as next spring - more than a year before Mr Berlusconi's term expires.The confidence vote was forced after parliament on Tuesday failed to approve one article of the budget by a single vote. It later emerged that the finance minister had failed to meet the ballot deadline by 30 seconds.

Demanding the confidence vote, opposition leader Pierluigi Bersani said: "The government is not coping with the situation. The problems have all been laid out, but he only knows how to stay nailed to his seat by using tricks."

Ahead of the vote, Mr Berlusconi, 75, said he felt "serene".

He insisted he had a "cohesive majority" in parliament.

"There is no alternative to this government. Early elections would not solve the problems we have. A political crisis now would mean victory for the party of decline, catastrophe and speculation."
Continue reading the main story
Berlusconi in numbers

At least 51 votes of confidence (including 14 October vote) in his government since it took power in 2008
Three election victories - 1994, 2001 and 2008
Two election defeats - 1996 and 2006
Four ongoing trials
$9bn - net worth of Berlusconi and his family (Forbes, 2010)
2,500 court appearances at 106 trials over 20 years

Despite facing four trials - including for allegedly paying for sex with a 17-year-old girl - and an all-time-low approval rating of 24%, Mr Berlusconi has shown remarkable staying power. He has always maintained his innocence.

On Saturday, he also faces a mass demonstration of some 200,000 people in Rome - similar to recent ones in New York and Madrid - against austerity measures and financial mismanagement.

Italy is considered vulnerable in the current eurozone crisis, with the highest public debt among countries using the European single currency.

The country approved an austerity package last month to balance the budget by 2013 but its central bank chief this week urged the government to introduce more measures to stimulate growth.

Thai PM reassures as Bangkok braces for floods

2011-10-14T06:21:00.000-07:00

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has sought to reassure Bangkok residents, as efforts continue to protect the city from the country's worst floods in decades.

Ms Yingluck said flood walls would protect the city centre and it should be considered safe.

Her comments came after an evacuation warning for some suburbs issued by a minister sparked panic.

The flooding, which began in late July, has affected huge swathes of Thailand.

Northern and central provinces bore the brunt of the flooding initially but the run-off is now swelling waterways that flow south into Bangkok.

Authorities there have warned that the arrival of the run-off water, plus high tides and bad weather at the weekend, could flood parts of the city.
'Dangerous time'

Flooding has already inundated parts of Pathum Thani, a town directly north of Bangkok.

Central Bangkok is protected by flood walls and in recent days, teams of troops and volunteers have been racing to fill sandbags to fortify existing dykes. "Bangkok may face some problems in areas that are on the outer sides of the irrigation dykes but water levels will not be too high. But inner Bangkok has extremely high defences," Ms Yingluck said.

"In conclusion, Bangkok should still be considered safe," she said.

Late on Thursday, Science Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi said that northern suburbs were at risk of flooding because a floodgate had burst, causing some residents to leave.

But the government later issued a call for calm, saying the breach would not affect Bangkok.

"During 15 to 18 October, it may be a dangerous time because water from the north will be coming in... But I confirm it has not reached a crisis stage as of this moment," said Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra.

Officials in charge of managing the floods say they plan to divert the water through canals to the east and west of Bangkok and then on to the sea.

The main canals are being dredged to help water flow out to sea. Troops are also digging out other canals to improve water flow, a government spokesman said. Sandbags have been distributed to residents in villages within the drainage area, the Bangkok Post newspaper reported.

The flooding has been gathering pace for weeks. More than 280 people have been killed and Thailand's economy has been hit hard because factories are under water.

The city of Ayutthaya, a World Heritage site home to temples and monuments, has been particularly badly affected.

Neighbouring Cambodia has also been hit hard by floods, which have been triggered by heavy monsoon rains. Almost 250 people have been killed since the flooding began, with 17 out of 23 provinces affected.

Are you in the region? Have you been affected by the flooding? Have you been forced to leave your home? You can send us your stories and experiences using the form below.

France teacher sets herself on fire at Beziers school

2011-10-14T06:16:00.000-07:00

An apparently depressed maths teacher in southern France has survived after setting herself on fire at a school.

Students and teachers rushed to the aid of the 44-year-old teacher after she doused herself in petrol during morning break and set herself alight in the playground of the secondary school.

The incident reportedly followed a combative meeting with students at the school in Beziers.

The education minister said he was shocked by this "desperate act".

Luc Chatel visited the hospital at which the teacher is being treated for third-degree burns.

Speaking on RTL radio, he described her as a "teacher who is in a situation of great fragility", and said an investigation was under way.
Jerry can

Parents and pupils told AFP news agency that they had a difficult relationship with the teacher - saying she had been hostile at a recent parents' evening and did not get on with several students in her maths class.

A meeting to clear the air with some of her students on Wednesday had become rowdy, they said.

She came to the Jean Moulin school on Thursday morning with a jerry can, gave a class at 09:00 (07:00 GMT) and then, when the morning break came, walked to the centre of the playground, poured petrol on herself and set herself alight.

"I saw her body on fire, walking forward with her hands on her head," said one student witness, Karim.

"Several people tried to put her out. She said 'No, leave me alone. I don't need help. God told me to do this.'"

Teachers threw blankets over her, Karim said, and the teacher was airlifted to Montpelier nearby.

The school - which houses 3,000 students and 280 teachers - sent all of its pupils home after the incident, and a psychological support unit was set up to cope with the aftermath.

the kind of fried food in asian

2011-10-14T02:06:00.000-07:00

this food cook with spicy however, most of foreigners don't like this food. for some countries like Thailand, Lao and Cambodia...

the tiger in corage, it is free life ?

2011-10-14T01:30:00.000-07:00

all human being don't want to be under controlling not even animals. look at the tiger, he is look bored and he walks and walks in the same place.

Why the hudud controversy will not die

2011-10-14T01:17:00.001-07:00

The politicians, mullahs and kings do not know all the answers or what's best for society.

The Muslims must be able to evaluate and decide on hudud free from social pressures and political or religious brainwashing. This includes the notorious ‘bad Muslim’ stigma that could prevent them from saying ‘no’ to hudud when ‘no’ is what they truly desire.

Pak Sako, Free Malaysia Today

PAS and DAP’s decision to ‘agree to disagree’ on hudud must be taken for what it really is: a politically-motivated temporary ceasefire. It does not resolve the hudud controversy.

The controversy can never be resolved as long as the fundamental questions of the hudud debate continue to be avoided. The questions are:

What goals are hudud meant to achieve?

What are the pluses and minuses of hudud?

Do all Malaysian Muslims as well as non-Muslims want hudud?

A national dialogue on implementing hudud must exhaustively probe these questions before anything else.

An open and critical exploration of these questions will help the public learn and decide about whether hudud is necessary, worthwhile, appropriate or out-of-date. It will enable policymakers to discover whether the informed public desires hudud or not.

Without full public discussion and public consent, it is immoral for policymakers to presuppose the value of hudud and speak about its implementation.

It is also wrong to assume that a simple parliamentary majority (which is all that is needed) is an automatic mandate to incrementally amend the federal constitution to accommodate hudud.

The public on their part should not leave it the politicians, the religious scholars or the royalty to decide matters for them.

The politicians, mullahs and kings do not know all the answers or what’s best for society; they have a personal or biased interest in the matter; and it is undemocratic to allow the preferences of these vested interest groups to influence a decision that should be in the hands of the people.

Special obligation to explain

The politician’s role should be confined to satisfying the independently determined wish of the people.

If after careful deliberation the people choose to reject hudud, this decision must be respectfully accepted.

The Islamic theologians are useful insofar as they can provide the evaluating public with technical input, such as the scope, workings and other details of hudud. Likewise with the political scientists and other relevant experts.

All members of the public including interest groups and civil society organisations should thrash out the questions about the purposes and worth of hudud.

The Muslims must be able to evaluate and decide on hudud free from social pressures and political or religious brainwashing. This includes the notorious ‘bad Muslim’ stigma that could prevent them from saying ‘no’ to hudud when ‘no’ is what they truly desire.

As for the non-Muslims, they are not free to wash their hands of the issue; they are responsible parties to any law that the politicians they had elected might enact and administer upon their fellow citizens.

PAS and all other proponents of hudud have a special obligation to explain the explicit and implicit aims they believe hudud is to serve and the rationales for these.

They must engage in discussions about the value of hudud and the problems and concerns associated with it. The burden of proof is on the shoulders of the proposers of the law.

Angry poetry

2011-10-14T01:17:00.000-07:00

Dr Azly Rahman

Shouldn't have I been angry and write this cranky grumpy poetry

T's the state of the world so sorry

That has made my brain cells fried and my emotions so roller-coastery

Cool me off by writing poetry

Dip me in Loon Lake or the one where Loch Ness have its weekend party

I am cranky grumpy angry

And I am not sorry ...

Thought of taking a walk to Ben and Jerry's

OD'ed me on a gallon of Chunky Monkey

Started thinking of Malaysia's Bersih Rally

Give me that gallon of Yellow Mellow, Ben and Jerry!

I want it now or you won't like to see me cranky

You capitalist ice cream maker colonialist imperialist ice breaker!

I am cranky and sweaty

And I am not sorry for this cranky poetry

Yellow Mellow hot potato

Yo' Malaysians you are so cranky

You masses are angry I'll spray you with sambal tumis aplenty

Stupid rallies they say

Disturbing the peace of this country that is in harmony

Shut up masses

Hush and shush!

While we steal diamonds, submarines, Twin Towers, golden yachts,

and smuggle them out of the country

Don't be cranky now

Don't be grumpy

It's all a game of who's mighty!

The heat

Intensity

Relativity

Hiroshima

Nagasaki

Humans are crazy

Radioactive crazy

Terrorists aplenty

Suicide bombers spirituality gone Lucifer-crazy

Purgatory

Black Sabbath Fender Stratocaster Hell-Raising guitar-ripping crazy

Grumpy cranky sweaty I am in the heat of New York city

Country roads take me home Sin City Jay Bee

My body's sweating with indescribable beauty

Blood sweat tears of industry

Like the workers of the world uniting in harmony

March on walk on carry on

In the heat of the summer night

Bring down the corporate imperialists down to their knees

Globalization ain't apple pie and cream cheese

A billion served a billion more starved

McJihad McTerror McModern Slavery

Aaargh...hot sweet summer beauty

this heat is making me write cranky poetry

Stop me

Take away my pen

before I march alongside Wise Old Man Samad Said in his next BERSIH Rally

(DR AZLY RAHMAN, who was born in Singapore and grew up in Johor Baru, holds a Columbia University (New York) doctorate in International Education Development and Master's degrees in the fields of Education, International Affairs, Peace Studies and Communication. He has taught more than 40 courses in six different departments and has written more than 300 analyses on Malaysia. His teaching experience spans Malaysia and the United States, over a wide range of subjects from elementary to graduate education. He currently resides in the United States.)

PAS will ask Hu to explain statements

2011-10-14T01:16:00.000-07:00

(Bernama) - The PAS Central Committee will be calling up PAS Supporters Congress head Hu Pang Chaw to explain certain media statements he made which were not consistent with the party's policy.

PAS information chief Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said even though the party practised democracy in dealing with members, when it came to internal issues, they were urged to resolve them within the party.

"Undeniably PAS as a major party cannot run away from internal challenges, hence the various channels for the party to obtain feedback and explanation on any disagreeable issue," he said in a statement here Thursday.
On Wednesday Hu was reported as saying the media in the country had the right to get the real picture of what was happening in PAS, especially with regard to implementation of hudud laws.

Home Ministry asked to explain illegal registration claims

2011-10-14T01:15:00.000-07:00

(The Sun Daily) - The Home Ministry has been pressed to address allegations concerning the illegal operations of a syndicate registering foreigners as voters.

PAS leaders suspect that there is a syndicate, possibly involving civil servants, which conducts this illegal operation of granting citizenship to Indonesians, Bangladeshis and Cambodians in Putrajaya.

"There have been disclosure after disclosure but we still do not have an answer from the Home Ministry on this issue," said PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub (PAS-Kubang Kerian).

"Pakatan Rakyat (PR) members of Parliament (MP) will bring up this issue in Parliament for a concrete explanation from the ministry," he told a press conference at Parliament lobby.

He claimed that there are eye-witnesses and visual evidence to support the claims.

"Yesterday (Oct 12), six buses from Johor spotted at the Putrajaya mosque in the morning, were later sighted at Astana Dugang Country Resort at Kg Desa Putra, near the Putrajaya International Convention Centre," he said.

"The buses were spotted dropping of passengers at a private training centre."

He said witnesses confirmed that the passengers were Indonesians, Bangladeshis and Cambodians from their appearances and accents.

Salahuddin said one eye-witness, the party's Youth treasurer, Mohd Adram Musa, who was also present at the press conference, claimed to have seen several government vehicles and civil servants, mainly police officers and Health Department officers from Senai, Johor, allegedly assisting the passengers.

"This was a very suspicious scenario. The government has to explain what these officers were doing there and what sort of activity was held at the centre," Salahuddin said, claiming that there are attempts to register foreigners as voters.

Mohd Adram claimed that there are attempts to grant citizenship to foreigners who are permanent residents.

It was reported that PAS members had gathered outside a resort in Bangi, believed to be Astana Dugang, after being tipped off that six buses had brought some 240 foreigners from Kulai in Johor to Putrajaya.

Mohd Adram said PAS had formed a group to investigate the alleged incident and it had more or less succeeded in proving the allegations.

"We have identified an individual suspected to be heading the operation," Salahuddin said.

"The individual claimed that the foreigners were brought in for an entrepreneurial course at the centre," Salahuddin said showing a picture of the man to reporters.

Mohd Adram said, "But when we asked some of the Indonesians (at the centre), they said they came to receive identification cards (MyKad)."

However, he said the group did not spot any officials from the Immigration Department or the National Registration Department.

Salahuddin said that even if the foreigners were permanent residents, the government must "follow the proper procedures in granting citizenship" instead of transporting them in buses to a remote locations.

Within a year, 300% increase in new voters

2011-10-14T01:14:00.000-07:00

(Harakah Daily) - Even as the controversy surrounding various revelations about electoral fraud continues, minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz dropped a shocking figure of newly registered voters, showing a three-fold increase in 2010 compared to 2009.

In his parliamentary reply to Bukit Bendera member of parliament Liew Chin Tong, Nazri revealed that a total of 820,156 people had been registered as voters in 2010 compared to 276,621 in 2009.

According to Nazri, the sharp increase was not surprising and attributed it to rising political awareness among Malaysians.

He said it was usual to see low number of registration after a general election, adding that the number of new voters would gather pace "when the election is around the corner".

Nazri added that a total of RM500,000 was allocated for new voter registration exercise.

The sorry state of our education system

2011-10-14T01:13:00.001-07:00

Recently a friend, who is a senior professor in a local public university in the Klang Valley, related to me his experiences in conducting classes for his undergraduates.

He said that as part of his educating process, he would ask his students – all from creative studies department – to identify countries from a large world map in his classroom. Sometimes he would also ask them to identify Malaysia.

To his utter chagrin, he said, some of these students even failed to correctly locate where their own country is on the global map!

Worse still, some can’t read the names of the countries in the map, with at least one saying that Greenland “looked like Malaysia”.

The friend also had other anecdotes to share. Like how most of his students had no idea about the tsunami which hit Japan in March this year. They also did not know about the nuclear reactor meltdown caused by the tsunami. Neither did they know about many other local, national and international happenings.

He added that most of his students do not read. They don’t read their study materials. They don’t read books. They don’t read magazines. And they don’t read newspapers.

Coming from a part of the world where reading is almost part of the culture, he was dumbfounded by the attitude of his students.

But his biggest shock is that his students like to plagiarise, not just in their daily worksheets, but also for their courseworks, and this seemed to be an acceptable culture in the university although it has a strict policy against copying.

There is simply no enforcement but there is a subtle approval from the university management as long as the pass rates are kept at a good level, he reasoned.

This is not a joke. This is reality. This is happening in a popular local public university in the Klang Valley.

I am not saying that this is the scenario in all our universities but a snapshot from this one particular institution is sufficient to show how bad our education system has become.

This university, or at least this particular class of undergraduates, symptomises how bad things have become.

A scary future

These students are the leaders of tomorrow but they are ignorant, clueless and products of a system which is only interested in churning out graduates with paper qualifications but not amply educated and not adequately equipped for the highly competitive job market.

Add to this a recent news report that there were thousands of national service trainees (Form 5 school leavers) who were illiterate. This is shocking when Malaysia is supposed to have a high literacy and school attending rates, even endorsed by the United Nations.

We should not be blaming these students at all. They are the victims here. Unknowingly, they have been programmed in a system established, tweaked and reworked over and over by the politicians.

Under this programmed system, our students have forgotten how to ask questions, discuss matters and debate issues. They have become so lame that they wait for their teachers, and then their lecturers, to spoon-feed them with what is necessary to pass with flying colours.

Some of them will then end up as teachers themselves and this cycle will continue. If this goes on, there is little hope for our education system.

The government has got its priorities wrong. In the Budget 2012, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak announced allocations to increase the salaries of civil servants, including teachers.

In all he allocated RM50.2 billion for the education sector. This will include:

- development allocation amounting to RM1.9 billion on all types of school;
- a sum of RM1 billion to be provided through a special fund for the construction, improvement and maintenance of schools, particularly to cater for the immediate needs of schools;
- the abolition of school fees for primary and secondary education;
- tuition fee assistance to civil servants, including teachers, to further their studies on part-time basis; and
- offer of 20,000 places for diploma teachers to pursue their undergraduate studies.

However, glaringly missing are any specific allocations for re-training in teaching methods and self-improvements for teachers and other educators so that their quality will improve collectively. Likewise, there is no mention of allocations to improvise the numerous teachers training schools nationwide.

Re-educating our teachers

In order to kickstart a change in our education system, the government should start with the teachers and educators first.

One reason for the failure of the teaching of Science and Maths in English (PPSMI) is that the teachers themselves failed to fully grasp the use of English to teach the two subjects.

Just ask any student, particularly from the rural areas, and they will say that the use of English is almost non-existent. How will the policy be a success then?

Many of our teachers are ill-equiped to produce global leaders. They will have to be re-tuned first. They should be given re-training. Where is the money for this? Where are the opportunities for this?

Money should also be allocated to take away clerical tasks from the teachers. Let them just concentrate on creating brilliant students who can stand equal in the global market.

OWC book urges Muslim women to have joint sex

2011-10-14T01:13:00.000-07:00

(The Star) - The controversial Obedient Wives Club (OWC) has set off another round of public outrage with an “explicit sex book” which encourages a Muslim husband to have joint sex with all his wives.

The 115-page book titled Seks Islam, Perangi Yahudi untuk Kembalikan Seks Islam kepada Dunia (Islamic Sex, fighting Jews to return Islamic sex to the world), has a picture of the late Asaari Muhammad, the banned Al-Arqam leader, on the cover.

An excerpt from a passage printed on the back encouraged Muslims husbands to have sex simultaneously with their wives.

The book stated that research showed women only gave their husbands 10% of what they wanted from their wives’ bodies, a local daily reported yesterday.

According to the report, chapter eight titled Bagaimana seks menjadi ibadah (How sex becomes worship), contained explicit descriptions of sexual acts.

Facebook page “We do not want sexist nonsense from Global Ikhwan Sdn Bhd” founder Matthew Ong expressed outrage over the book and urged Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil to intervene.

Dr M: Make laws, regulations innovation-friendly

2011-10-14T01:12:00.000-07:00

(Bernama) - The government must re-examine all the laws and regulations and update them if necessary to make them innovation-friendly, said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed.

He said the government should review its policy to ensure it is still relevant to the current business conditions and fast changing environment.

"We have to think whether the laws are still applicable on Thursday or not," he told reporters after the launch of the FMM Innovation Conference here on Thursday by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili.

"Unless we understand and accommodate the changes, we are not going to make any high salaries," he said, referring to the high-income economy envisioned by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Apart from the government's efforts, the people also need to change their mindset to think in innovative ways, he said.

"If we have the mindset, it is easier for us to innovate," he added.

However, he said businessmen should not treat rules and regulations as barriers to innovation in their business, and urged them to think innovatively to get around the regulations.

"If they (businessmen) look carefully, they can find a niche for themselves with the skills they have," he said.

Malays must change freebie mindset, says Dr M

2011-10-14T01:11:00.000-07:00

(The Star) - The Malay community should work hard to reap rewards, instead of merely looking forward to receiving “free things”, said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“I know many people in this country go for free things. But we should feel ashamed when we take something for free,” he said in his speech when launching the Ummah Unity and Economy Seminar organised by the Malaysia Islamic Welfare Organisation (Perkim) and Malay Chamber of Commerce here yesterday.

Dr Mahathir, who is the Perkim president, added that Muslims, who were among the poorest communities in Malaysia, should work hard to be financially stable.

“When you are wealthy, you can help develop your religion.

“For example, if you are rich, you would have the means to donate to the construction of mosques and so on.

“However, Muslims must know how to manage their finances well.

“There is no use being a billionaire if you spend more than what you have. You will only end up owing the bank,” he said.

Dr Mahathir added that the Malays would lose their power in the country in the next 10 years if they did not unite now.

He said if the community was to split into different factions, they would become minority groups in the country.

“The minority cannot rule the country in a democratic framework, under which the majority rules,” said Dr Mahathir, urging the Malay community to be united based on their Islamic faith.

Dr Mahathir regretted Muslims in the country were not taught the importance of uniting from young.

“When we were young, our religious teachings taught us to be devout. However, these did not stress on unity among Muslims.

“The reasons as to why we should be united were not imparted to us either.”

Perkasa claws at Suhakam’s Bersih rally rights probe

2011-10-14T01:10:00.000-07:00

(The Malaysian Insider) - Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali demanded today the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) justify its inquiry into allegations of rights violations during the Bersih 2.0 rally, saying the commission should not entertain complaints by illegal groups.

The commission’s inquiry commenced on Tuesday with witnesses testifying that riot police had fired tear gas directly at a crowd of peaceful and “non-hostile” Bersih supporters and that demonstrators were violently shoved to the ground and kicked by police personnel during July 9 rally.

The rally for free and fair elections turned chaotic when police fired tear gas and water cannons at thousands of demonstrators, resulting in nearly 1,700 arrests, scores injured and the death of ex-soldier Baharuddin Ahmad, 59.

Today, Ibrahim told Suhakam to explain why it considered human rights violations to have occurred during the rally, when the both the event and its organiser were deemed illegal by the government.

“By entertaining the complaints by illegal groups like Bersih 2.0, Suhakam has given recognition to other illegal groups as well,” he said in a statement.

The Pasir Mas MP insisted that human rights “cannot go above our country’s laws”.

“I hope Suhakam, which has a role to uphold human rights, also understands the issue that I’m bringing up and that the people who do not like chaos on the road also have human rights,” he said.

The outspoken Malay rights group leader then said human rights are not just for Bersih supporters.

“What about the rights of people who hated Bersih’s actions? Where are their human rights?” he asked.

Suhakam said it had received the names of 26 individuals who had agreed to record their statements and testify. Three witnesses have testified so far.

The inquiry has set itself three terms of reference — to identify human rights violations on or before July 9; to determine how the violations occurred as well as the process and agency involved; and to make recommendations to prevent any recurrence.

Malaysian ‘Govt holding on to Auditor’s report’

2011-10-14T01:09:00.001-07:00

Pakatan Rakyat MPs claim that the government is deliberately delaying the release of the Auditor-General's Report.

(Free Malaysia Today) - The Auditor-General (A-G) Report is apparently being held back by the government despite being completed prior to the Budget 2012, Pakatan Rakyat MPs claimed.

Sungai Petani MP (PKR) Johari Abdul said that he called the A-G’s office yesterday, only to be told that the report was already sent out.

“The A-G’s office said they finished it (the report) much earlier than last year. They said they’ve done a better job (too), but the reports are not here,” he told reporters in the Parliament lobby today.

“The A-G’s office was shocked when they heard that MPs did not get it… where is it (the report)? Is it in the A-G’s office, in the Prime Minister’s Office or in Parliament?” he asked.

Johari was also accompanied by Balik Pulau MP (PKR) Yusmadi Yusoff, Pokok Sena MP (PAS) Mahfuz Omar and Tumpat MP (PAS) Kamaruddin Jaafar.

At the same time, Mahfuz confirmed that some states, including Kelantan, had already received a copy of the individual state audit reports.

“There are some states that have gotten a copy of the report but Parliament hasn’t gotten it yet,” he said.

Earlier this week, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Abdul Aziz said that the report would be released after a go-ahead from the Cabinet this Friday.

It is expected that the report, which is usually given out before the annual Budget is announced, would only be released two weeks after this Friday.

Hu defies party gag order

2011-10-14T01:09:00.000-07:00

(The Star) - PAS Supporters Congress chairman Hu Pang Chaw, who opposes the hudud law championed by the party, said he has been warned not to talk about the issue to the press.

He said, however, he would not stop talking about the possible effects the hudud law will have on non-Muslims.

“The media has the right to know what is happening in the party. I am not afraid to face disciplinary action as what I am doing is for the good of our congress members,” he said in an interview here.

Kelantan PAS Youth chief Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman in a statement published by Harakahdaily.net had reportedly told Hu not to threaten the state government or the party over the issue.

Abdul Latif said Hu, a former journalist with a Chinese daily here, should discuss his grouses within the party and not go to the media to air his grievances.

“This is the problem, the party is not transparent on this issue,” said Hu.

“It is my opinion that Kelantan PAS should have done the proper groundwork to explain the mechanics of implementing the hudud laws before announcing it to the country,” he said.

“I leave my fate to the top leaders and they can take any action they wish,” he said.

The congress stemmed from the setting up of the PAS Supporters Club at the start of the 2004 general election to draw non-Muslims to the party and to break the hoodoo that the party is against them.

The club became the PAS Supporters Congress and was recognised as a full-fledged party wing in May last year to promote the party's re-branded “PAS for All” image.

In another development, Kelantan Umno chief Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamad said more disillusioned PAS members were expected to join Umno.

He said they were not happy that their party seemed more concerned about the hudud law than addressing the bread and butter needs of the people.

“Previously, they kept away from Umno. Now that the political scenario has changed, they have shown interest by attending Umno programmes,” added the International Trade and Industry Minister.

He was speaking to reporters at a function where more than 300 PAS members handed their applications to join Umno at Kampung Kursial Baru in Tanah Merah on Tuesday.

Former Kampung Baru Kursial Baru PAS branch secretary Zahari Hamat, 46, said he was fed up with the empty promises made by party leaders to champion the cause of the people.

Malaysian Najib urged to give details of RM10.1m travel bill

2011-10-14T01:07:00.000-07:00

The admission that RM10.1 million was spent for trips this year by prime minister Najib Razak has prompted PKR secretary general Saifuddin Nasution to reveal a breakdown of the expenses.

"Najib must give every detail (of the amount) in the parliament so that Pakatan Rakyat can check every cent that has been spent,” said Saifuddin as quoted by PKR's online organ KeadilanDaily.

The Machang member of parliament said 90 percent or RM9.1 million of the RM10.1 million was spent on flights for Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor, which included the semi-official RM1 million Kazakhstan’s trip where the couple had discussed their daughter’s engagement.

According to Saifuddin, Najib's travel expense for 2011 exceeded the combined expense of the past three years.

“This is proof that Najib continues to live lavishly and is not concerned with the people’s sufferings,” he said, and called for a review on the criteria of international visits, especially in view of the RM1 million bill for the short stay in Kazakhstan.

Earlier, the Foreign ministry told Parliament that Najib and Rosmah spent RM1,739,332.85, RM4,811,837.48 and RM5,140,307.99 on oversea trips in 2008, 2009 and 2010 respectively.

Until June 2011, the government has forked out RM5,427,172.26 for the same expenses.

Malaysian The Kampung Baru Saga

2011-10-14T01:06:00.000-07:00

In the early 1990s then-Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad initiated a move to develop Kampung Baru in Kuala Lumpur. The sleepy Malay enclave desperately needed development so as not to become a slum in the middle of the Golden Triangle. At the time, the stumbling block was the unrealistic demands by some of the owners regarding the price that their properties could fetch.

Ownership in Kampung Baru is complicated: lands in Kampung Baru are usually jointly owned by members of the family. This is largely due to Islamic inheritance laws. An owner usually has an undivided share in the land, and as such, that owner has a say in the matter of the whole piece of property represented under that title. It matters not that he owns only one-twentieth of the total property — he can still veto any transaction.

Development in Kampung Baru must therefore take an innovative approach. It requires Government intervention and it needs a legal mechanism to ensure that unreasonable demands of a few are not allowed to scuttle the wishes of the majority of owners. In addition to a viable legal structure, it needs a capital injection that only the Government can provide. It also needs good marketing and a maintenance organisation to ensure that properties built can command good prices comparable to the surrounding area.

Today, 20 years after Dr Mahathir’s initiative, Kampung Baru residents have another chance at getting the development they need. The decision of the Federal Government to develop the area should be viewed positively. Of course, the proposal needs careful study and landowners must be able to get fair market value. It will be better still if owners can also have a share in the profit of the development of the area.

What is important is that landowners must not be coerced or influenced by politicians who pander only to emotion and say things like “the Malays are going to lose their land.” The Malays can be better off economically only if they participate in the development of their assets. Without development, Kampung Baru will continue to be an asset that produces no income.

Mahathir: Malays will lose power in 10 years if they don't unite

2011-10-14T01:05:00.001-07:00

(The Star) - BANGI: Malays will lose their power in the country in the next 10 years if they do not unite now, said former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said if the community were to split into different factions, they would become minority groups in the country.

"The minority cannot rule the country in a democratic framework, under which the majority rules," said Dr Mahathir, urging the Malay community to be united based on their Islamic faith.

Dr Mahathir said this in his speech when launching the Ummah Unity and Economy Seminar organised by the Malaysia Islamic Welfare Organisation (Perkim) and Malay Chamber of Commerce here Wednesday.

Dr Mahathir, who is also Perkim president, said Muslims in the country were not taught the importance of uniting when they were young.

He also urged the Malay community not to look forward to receiving "free things" but instead work hard to reap rewards.

He added that Muslims, which were among the poorest communities in the Malaysia, should work hard to be financially stable.

A Sad Day for Lawyer Rosli Dahlan when the Justice was blind

2011-10-14T01:05:00.000-07:00

I had a lunch appointment with my young friend, Lawyer Rosli Dahlan yesterday. There was a lot that I wanted to catch up with him. I have not seen him for a while to the point that I was beginning to believe what most people were saying that he was avoiding me. So, I was very happy when he agreed to meet up for lunch.

Then, at 12 noon, Rosli texted me to say he was in court and would try to see me after he finished. I waited until past lunch time and then finished my meal alone, but he still did not turn up. I texted him several times but he did not reply. I felt a bit annoyed and rather disturbed that my young friend had stood me up.

I called some friends and was told that Rosli was in court, not to conduct a case for his clients, but to attend to his own case. I was told that this was his RM 50 million suit against several officers of the MACC, the A-G Chambers, the Government and the media who had conspired to fix him up in 2007. I was perplexed why he did not tell me about this case as I would have attended court with him.

Back to 2007

My readers would remember that in 2007, Rosli Dahlan acted for Dato Ramli Yusuff and the Commercial Crimes Investigations Dept (CCID) when AG Gani Patail abdicated his constitutional duties by refusing to act for the CCID in the case against an underworld operator, Goh Cheng Poh @ Tengku Goh. Apparently, this criminal had explicitly named former IGP Musa Hassan in various court papers and affidavits. Eventually the criminal got scot free and six junior policemen, Rosli and Dato Ramli got charged.

[rosli dahlan 2007]

The Non-Existent RM 27 Million Cop

To discredit Rosli who prepared various court papers for Dato Ramli and the CCID, Rosli was fixed up in a most dramatic fashion which befits a suspense thriller movie. For months, the MACC leaked to the press that Dato Ramli was the “RM 27 Million Cop” and that it was hidden in the account of a lawyer. Then, in the holy month of Ramadan of 2007, the MACC agents stormed Rosli’s office, humiliated and shouted at Rosli in front of all his employees, then brutally handcuffed him so tightly until his wrists swelled and split his skin that he bled. The MACC then threw Rosli into the MACC underground cell, refused him bail and deliberately held him overnight just to teach him a lesson.
[macc handcuff]

In the month of Ramadan of 2007, the MACC stormed Rosli’s office, humiliated and shouted at him in front of all his employees, then brutally handcuffed him so tightly until his wrists swelled and split his skin that he bled

The next day, just one day before Aidil Fitri, the MACC paraded Rosli along the court corridors like a circus freak and charged him in a most sensational fashion to leave a permanent impression that this was the lawyer who hid RM 27 Million. That story fizzled out immediately when it was shown there never was that money and neither Rosli nor Dato Ramli was ever charged for any illegal asset.

I have been writing about this case so that the public would know of this brutal display of power. I wanted the public to be conscious that nobody is safe if all these can happen to a senior Muslim lawyer with an unblemished track record during his period of fasting. And all that happened to Rosli just because he acted for former CCID Director, Dato Ramli Yusuff who, at that time, was the target for career elimination by Musa Hassan, A-G Gani Patail and the MACC. The rest is history.
[ag-and-igp]

The Infamous Conspirators

Since then, the six junior Policemen, Rosli and Dato Ramli have all been acquitted. The various courts have also pronounced damning judgments against those who fixed Dato Ramli and Rosli especially former IGP Musa Hassan and DPP Kevin Morais. On the day, he was acquitted, I wrote that Rosli referred to those who did all these cruel things to him as “the Rogues in Government” and vowed to hold them accountable so that no one else would suffer the things that he had suffered.

When Rosli filed his Statement of Claim, he gave explicit description of the various parts of the conspiracy including the part involving a Bank Negara officer who had colluded with the A-G and the MACC to conduct illegal financial searches on him. Rosli only knew the secret things they did when the banks started withdrawing his banking facilities, cancelled his credit cards and refused to do business with him. To a professional and those in the business world, this can be devastating. This was a death call that can end a professional’s business and livelihood.

That was what happened to Rosli and so he sued all of them, including the Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) officer who caused the illegal search. Since BNM denied being involved in the conspiracy, Rosli offered to withdraw his suit against that BNM officer if BNM would send a letter to the banks to clarify that Rosli was never under investigations by BNM. This seemed reasonable enough, but BNM refused to do that implying they had something to hide.

It was clear to me that all Rosli wanted was accountability and to get to the bottom of the conspiracy in order to put a stop to all these shenanigans by these rogues in the corridors of power. On April 15, 2008, the powerful Utusan Malaysia even admitted to their wrongdoings and published an unqualified public apology in the following words:

malaysian: Freeing the Malays and Muslims from religious mind control

2011-10-14T01:04:00.000-07:00

There appears to be a Malay-Islamic Inquisition in Malaysia.

It does not involve burnings at the stake.

It comes as ostracism at school, the workplace and in the community for failing to comply with rigid parameters. Not wearing a headscarf is frowned upon. Transgenders are institutional pariahs.

Religious arrogance and zealotry are norms. Muslim leaders can assuredly rebuff equal partnership on inter-religious discussion panels. The Islamic moral police is free to raid churches and insult the Malay person’s dignity and autonomy.

Refusal to play along with another community’s passion for its customs is condemned as chauvinistic or unconstitutional – the fate of elected representatives in Sarawak who chose the customary suit and tie over expensive uniforms and songkoks for a state assembly opening.

Closing the gap with South Korea or Singapore at the top of quality-of-life indicators such as the UN Human Development Index is a minor national concern.

We are prouder to have been ranked by the Pew Forum’s Government Restriction Index alongside Saudi Arabia and Iran as world champions in constricting religious freedoms and other civil rights.

The time has come to face the facts. ‘Moderate Malaysia’ and ‘moderate Islam’ are as good as dead. If our interest is to revive moderateness, we do not flog dead hypes. We must address the causes of death.

The problem

Two pervasive mentalities stand out among the chief culprits. They are racial and religious supremacy.

Racial supremacy expects non-Malay citizens to be eternally grateful to the Malay race for granting their forefathers citizenship at Independence. It demands from the non-Malays unquestionable deference to the Malays, their culture and arbitrary declarations of Malay rights or privileges.

Religious supremacy is the conviction that the Islamic belief is superior to all other beliefs and that it is the only path to true spirituality. Its adherents must not compromise on officially stipulated Islamic ideas and practices and cannot opt-out of the religion. Non-believers are fodder for conversion.

A set of underlying reasons drive these mentalities. Political motives aside, there is a historical fear of disenfranchisement; a concept of entitlement as an exclusive birthright; envy; low self-esteem; a craving for a source of self-pride; a fear of the new or alien; meekness; and narrow-mindedness.

Supremacism is sold as the cure-all. But it only adds to the problem.

The projection of cultural or religious might becomes a pretext for the powerful to impose conformity and thereby control upon a majority. Behind the false security of religious dogma or ethnic nationalism, it is spiritually and psychologically defeating. It turns what should be a happy bazaar of exchange between cultures into a cautious tightrope walk. It sabotages nation-building, whatever the unifying slogan or initiative devised.

Consider how this plays out in Malay-non-Malay relations.

The ordinary Malay in Malaysia is kept at a near constant state of anxiety by the tirade about the non-Malays seeking to usurp Malay political and economic rights. The Malays are repeatedly called on to be united in the name of race and religion to fend off this imagined strike. To alleviate his insecurities the Malay is offered:

A political guarantee that national policy will be dictated by the Malays (or Muslims) and economic concessions in the form of government jobs for the unemployable etc. These are promised in exchange for support for certain political parties and obedience to hierarchy;
Supposed spiritual salvation by thorough religious submission. This is codified in law, taught in religious education, enforced by religious bodies and reinforced by social and peer pressure; and
Financial incentives such as easy loans and credit for material intoxication by retail therapy and a temporary relative wealth effect vis-à-vis the non-Malays.

There is no commensurate effort to unleash the Malay mind and encourage the Malay person to seize the day, excel, question, take charge, propose or dissent. Political leaders and the religious bureaucracy do not favour this; an empowered people puts at stake their political influence and economic privilege.

The outcome is a large class of Malays that is averse to thinking, recoils from taking responsibility and content with following instructions. Ennui, the deep weariness and dissatisfaction stemming from mindless satiety and boredom, is a common affliction.

It is to this oppressive vacuity that the non-Malays are portrayed as ‘threats’. It is also implied that the non-Malay cultures and attitudes can weaken Malay religiosity or morals (see, for example, Jakim’s 'Guidelines for Muslims celebrating religious festivals of non-Muslims').

The Malays, for their part, are seen by the non-Malays as being exclusive and hegemonic with their loudspeakers and educational and economic quotas.

The result is isolation between the communities, the straining of social ties under the slightest provocation and the successful thwarting of real solidarity between the races.

The usual prescription is for the non-Malays to toe the line, to adapt without protest, or— told more gently by a prominent Malay DAP member— to be “responsive” to the Malays’ “primordial sentiments of culture and religion”.

This misguided paradigm must go.

California [Cambodian-American] man duped out of $63K for fake Range Rover in Madison

2011-10-14T01:02:00.002-07:00

Thursday, October 13, 2011

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - A car buyer from California lost $63,000 dollars by doing business with a fake dealership on the Internet – a dealer which claimed to have a showroom in Madison. The 31-year-old man was planning to buy a Range Rover from a place called Solan Motors. Police said the Web site looked legitimate enough, but the dealer was never at the address it listed – 350 Atlas Avenue. Police spokesman Joel DeSpain said people who live in Madison never heard of Solan Motors – and the California man was let in on that fact when he went to Madison Police after trying to pick up the vehicle. He was buying the Rover for his brother in Cambodia. The victim said he ever negotiated with a salesman who sounded totally legitimate on the phone. The buyer was going to drive the vehicle back to California, then ship it overseas. His brother wired $63,000 to a bank account – and the scammers already withdrew it by the time the buyer came to get his purported vehicle. Police tracked the scammer to Kiev in the Ukraine.

Fiery Debate Over Self-Immolations

2011-10-14T01:02:00.001-07:00

Lobsang Sangay (L) with the Dalai Lama after being sworn in as prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharamsala, India, Aug. 8, 2011. (AFP)

The Tibetan government-in-exile slams the Chinese government over 'repression' in Tibetan areas.

2011-10-11

Radio Free Asia

"I may disappear tomorrow but I cannot hide this in my heart and have to share. There is no freedom and peace in this area. We are all frustrated and desperate."

China hit out Tuesday at the Dalai Lama for not denouncing a string of self-immolations by Tibetan monks, drawing an immediate rebuke from the Tibetan government-in-exile which said Beijing's human rights abuses sparked the protests.

Beijing accused the Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual-leader-in-exile in India, of violating Buddhist teachings by not condemning the self-immolations by seven young Tibetan monks so far this year.

Four of the monks—who set themselves alight to protest Chinese rule in Tibetan areas and a Chinese siege on a key monastery—had succumbed to their burns.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said members of the "Dalai clique" not only failed to condemn the incidents, but publicized them to inspire further such acts.

"They publicly played it up, spread rumors and incited more people to follow suit," Liu told reporters at a daily news briefing, according to the Associated Press.

"That runs against human conscience and morality but also Buddhist doctrine," he said.

Assault

But the Tibetan government-in-exile in India's Dharamsala hill town slammed Beijing for the remarks, saying it should first put an end to its "repression" in Tibet.

The exile government, known as the Central Tibetan Administration, also accused Chinese security personnel of violating basic human rights by assaulting monks who self-immolated.

"The Central Tibetan Administration condemns the Chinese authorities' response to the current events. Rather than engage in a dialogue with the Tibetan people to address their grievances, the Chinese authorities have reportedly assaulted the individuals who have self-immolated and taken them into police custody," a statement said.

"China is in clear violation of its own laws and international norms with regard to basic human rights."

It asked the Chinese government to immediately release those who survived self-immolation and asked that they be "treated with dignity."

It also appealed to the international community to press the Chinese government to resolve the issue of Tibet peacefully through dialogue.

The Central Tibetan Administration is being led by Lobsang Sangay, a Harvard-educated lawyer, who was elected prime minister earlier this year after the Dalai Lama relinquished his political role as head of the government-in-exile, ending a 369-year old tradition of the Dalai Lamas holding both spiritual and political authority.

Nearly all the monks who self-immolated so far this year came from the Kirti monastery in the Ngaba (Aba, in Chinese) area in China's southwestern Sichuan province. The monastery has seen a huge security crackdown in recent months, with hundreds of monks taken away by Chinese security forces.

Monastery a 'virtual prison'

The exiled head of Kirti monastery said he was told that the monastery has become a virtual prison and the situation has become "desperate" for Tibetans, according to the International Campaign for Tibet, a rights group.

Kirti Rinpoche, who is based in the Kirti's sister monastery in Dharamsala, said: "With the Chinese government making arbitrary arrests and passing unimaginably harsh sentences on the basis of false representations and allegations, for month after month [Kirti] monastery has been turned into a virtual prison."

He said that all the monks were "subjected day and night to deprivation of all freedoms."

"Internally, the monastery's teaching program is not allowed to function, and externally, Tibetan religion and culture is under such unthinkable repression that it has reached a point of desperation where people would choose to die rather than go on living."

Meanwhile, a former monk at the Kirti monastery who was among the latest to set himself on fire died on Tuesday.

Chinese authorities cremated Choephel, 19, and handed over the ashes to his parents much to their surprise, a Tibetan resident of Ngaba told RFA. The residents living around his area were also asked not to attend any funeral rites.

"When their son was alive, the parents were not allowed to see him [at the hospital]."

"After waiting for about two to three days, the Aba county authorities appeared suddenly on Tuesday and handed over the ashes of their son who passed away on the same day," the resident said.

The other monk who joined Choephel in the self-immolation protest on Friday had died a day later and his family was also deprived of seeing the body and only given his ashes after cremation.

Condolences prohibited

"The authorities assigned police to each house in the area and warned the residents of Ngaba not to visit Choephel's parents for condolences," the Ngaba resident said.

"The monks in Kirti were also warned not conduct any rituals to mourn or pray, but the monks defied the warning and conducted a special prayer in an area close to the monastery."

Kanyag Tsering, a monk at the Kirti sister monastery in Dharamsala, said residents also lit butter lamps and made offerings to mark the deaths.

They wanted "to show solidarity to those Tibetans who have sacrificed their lives for the cause of Tibet and who are still suffering under the harsh Chinese rule."

The resident who spoke to RFA said Ngaba town "wears a look of sadness with all the shops and restaurants closed and with residents living in fear."

"I may disappear tomorrow but I cannot hide this in my heart and have to share. There is no freedom and peace in this area. We are all frustrated and desperate."

Reported by Chakmo Tso for RFA's Tibetan service. Translated by Karma Dorjee and Righden Dolma. Written in English with additional reporting by Parameswaran Ponnudurai.

Malaysian: Free economy will lead to political and social freedom, say economists

2011-10-14T01:02:00.000-07:00

(The Malaysian Insider) - Without a free economy a country is less likely to achieve political and social freedom, contrary to the impression most activists have in Malaysia, economists said here today.

Dr Tom Palmer from the Atlas Economic Research Foundation emphasised that political liberalisation is very important for maintaining economical liberalisation.

“One must understand the freedom of competition as a process, not as a stake of the market,” he said during the Economic Freedom Network Asia Conference 2011 today.

He suggested that it is important to build a regional free trade agreement and promote free trade on a unilateral basis like in Singapore.

The emphasis on a free economy was also pointed out by Wan Saiful Wan Jan, chief executive of Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS), one of the conference organisers.

“Maybe it is time to suggest that we have a free and prosperous economy before achieving political and social freedom in Malaysia. This is because when the people are comfortable with the quality of life, they will also fight for political and social reform in the country.

“To change, we need a bigger middle class, and this will only exist if our economy is free,” according to Wan Saiful in the foreword of the Economic Freedom of The World 2011 annual report by the Fraser Institute.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has liberalised foreign investment in 17 sub-sectors, which critics said had for years forced foreigners to partner Bumiputeras before being allowed to set up businesses in the country.

Critics, however, said the reform measure will not have much impact because few of the workers hired in those sectors were Malays, who form the majority population and were the target of affirmative-action policies.

The report also pointed out that a lot of activism in the country focuses too much on the political and social angles, while neglecting the importance of fighting for economic freedom.

“If the people live in conditions that force them to constantly think of how to cope with the cost of living, there would be a high possibility that they do not have enough time to work on political transformation, or get involved in the civil society arena.

“So if we want to shape a country which is politically and socially free, we have to ensure that our economical system is also free. The concerns about political and social freedom, and effect

News in khmer Poor Market, Perceived Danger Keep Youth Out of Journalism: Mentor

2011-10-14T01:01:00.001-07:00

Thursday, 13 October 2011
Say Mony, VOA Khmer | Washington, DC

"Journalism is crucial for the democracy of the country."

Cambodian youth are not so keen on journalism careers, believing the job to be dangerous and underpaid, a journalism mentor says.

"Some young graduates still fear that they might be in danger, or face legal consequences, if they work as journalists," said Tieng Sopheak Vichea, director of the Cambodia Communication Institute, which offers the country's only four-year journalism program.

Since the program's inception, 10 years ago, only about 20 of its 120 graduates have gone on to pursue work as actual journalists, Tieng Sopheak Vichea said, as a guest on "Hello VOA" Monday.

"The job markets for journalism do not pay as well as other careers, either," he said. "This too discourages most journalism students from taking on a job [in journalism] after graduation."

Still, he said, the environment has improved recently, with fewer journalists facing complaints, jail time or other threats.

"You can protect yourself if you stick to journalistic principles when performing your work," he said. "As a journalist, you work for the people, not for any particular group."

The problem, he said, is that the ranks of Cambodian journalists need replaced by the young, as older journalists leave the industry. "Journalism is crucial for the democracy of the country," he said.

Asian news Councilmember Dee Andrews and Cambodian Town, Inc to Host 3rd Annual Cambodian Arts & Culture Exhibition

2011-10-14T01:01:00.000-07:00

(Photo: Long Beach Press Telegram)

10.13.11
By Long Beach Post | Staff Reports

Sixth District Councilman Dee Andrews and Cambodian Town, Inc. will host the 3rd Annual Cambodian Arts and Culture Exhibition at 10:00am on Saturday, November 19, at MacArthur Park, 1321 E. Anaheim St.

This is the third year that the open-air festival will have hands-on demonstrations of a variety of art forms from Cambodia's rich and ancient culture. Local Cambodian artisans and culture bearers will share their expertise through interactive demonstrations. "This event is a jewel in our city. It reaches beyond the barriers to bring residents together to celebrate and educate with the beauty of art", said Councilman Dee Andrews.

Among the arts and cultural practices on display will be Cambodian classical dance and costuming, drawing, shadow puppets, music and musical instruments, textiles, dressmaking, weddings, gardening, cooking, and games. This year the Exhibition will begin with a traditional Khmer (Cambodian) prayer ceremony at 10:00am.

Flood news Thai PM moves to soothe Bangkok flood panic

2011-10-14T01:00:00.000-07:00

Unusually heavy monsoon rains have killed at least 289 people in Thailand (AFP, Pornchai Kittiwongsakul)

About 110,000 people around Thailand have sought refuge in shelters (AFP, Pornchai Kittiwongsakul)

Friday, October 14, 2011AFP

BANGKOK — Thailand's premier moved Friday to reassure Bangkok's 12 million residents over a looming flood crisis, after one of her ministers briefly sparked panic with an evacuation warning.

Science minister Plodprasop Suraswadi rushed out of a flood briefing late Thursday to say that several areas in Bangkok's northern suburbs were at risk of being submerged by up to one meter (3.3 feet) of water after a dyke burst.

But the authorities quickly backtracked, causing confusion among residents who have been braced for floodwaters to reach the capital after causing havoc across northern and central Thailand.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said on Friday that the situation was under control.

"The water level is stable and not increasing. So I would like to ask people not to panic," she told reporters.

"Minister Prodprasob wanted to update the people about the situation because he was concerned that they were anxious about it," Yingluck explained.

"So he just reported about the possibility of what might happen to the people, and nothing happened. Everything was normal."

Unusually heavy monsoon rains have killed at least 289 people, destroyed crops, inundated hundreds of factories and damaged the homes and livelihoods of millions of people in Thailand, according to the government.

About 110,000 people around the country have sought refuge in shelters.

Currently 26 out of 77 provinces are affected, but conditions in inner Bangkok and at most of Thailand's top tourist destinations are normal.

The capital is, however, bracing for a large amount of run-off water to reach the city along with seasonal high tides that will make it harder for the flood waters to flow out to sea.

Bangkok residents have thronged supermarkets in the capital to stock up on instant noodles and other non-perishable food, while flashlights have been flying off the shelves.

Sandbags have been piled in front of homes and businesses in preparation for possible inundation, while some residents have opted to leave their vehicles in multi-storey carparks in the city to avoid possible flooding.

Central Bangkok is protected by flood walls and the authorities have piled sandbags along the Chao Phraya River to try to keep water out of nearby areas, whose residents are no strangers to seasonal floods.

The authorities have said they will dredge and drain canals in the capital to allow more water to flow through.

The floods have dealt a heavy blow to Thailand's economy, leaving hundreds of factories under water.

Japanese automakers including Toyota have suspended production in the kingdom due to water damage to facilities or disruption to parts supplies.

The ancient city of Ayutthaya, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) upriver of Bangkok, has been badly affected and the UN cultural organisation UNESCO said it would launch a mission to the World Heritage site to assess the impact.

CAMBODIA: Perhaps Cambodians soft power will advance their struggle for rights and freedom

2011-10-14T00:59:00.001-07:00

Last August, my column in this space examined the future of Cambodia's youth and education. Immediately after it appeared, an American friend e-mailed to ask if I was perhaps too pessimistic.

FOR PUBLICATION

AHRC-ETC-048-2011

October 14, 2011

An article by Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth published by the Asian Human Rights Commission

Last August, my column in this space examined the future of Cambodia's youth and education. Immediately after it appeared, an American friend e-mailed to ask if I was perhaps too pessimistic.

Cambodia has the youngest population among the 10 members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations. Two out of 3 Cambodians are under 25 years of age, and more than 30 percent of the country's 14 million people are between the ages of 10 and 24 years. With such a young and vibrant population and an enviable rate of economic growth for the past 10 years, what about the future does not beckon brightly?

Last July, the United Nations Development Programme released results of a survey of Cambodian youth. Ninety-five percent of young Khmers are proud to be Cambodian nationals. They said the country is headed in the right direction.

Double-edged sword

But, statistics are a double-edged sword.

Reports abound about many of the young and vibrant population who fall prey to alcoholism and the "Perfect High"; live in a culture in which bribery is prevalent and has spread nationwide among pupils, students, teachers, and officials from elementary school to university level, to the Ministry of Education.

Doctorate degrees, and honorary degrees from non-accredited institutions, are much prized credentials that improve one's job prospects and social status. Even military officers and government officials want doctorate titles. There are some 2,000 Ph.D. candidates in the country.

However, the UNDP reports that the 300,000 Cambodians who enter the domestic labor market yearly often don't have the skills required by private-sector employers.

Concerning Cambodia's outstanding economic development, Cambodians and foreign donors know that has been accomplished through violence and through governmental actions that have created in essence a "country for sale." Tens of thousands of villagers' homes have been burned down or dismantled and demolished by authorities. Privately owned land has been taken by force; tens of thousands of people have been evicted; and many have been brutally beaten. The country's forests are fast disappearing and national resources are being sold to foreign investors while some 35 percent of the people live on 75 cents to one dollar a day.

Without change, what optimism should I hold for Cambodia's future? Indeed, change will come, to be followed by further changes. One who wrote to me noted the fear that the inevitable change may be accompanied by bloodshed.

As Lord Buddha taught, "Nothing is permanent." Fitting is what American civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., said: "The time is always right to do what is right."

"Dark Age"

In e-mail communication with a reader I do not know, whom I will call Samreth, I learned of his love for history, culture, tradition, and Buddhism. He said he likes to read and he collects materials on the Khmers and Cambodia, his native land. A democrat, he has visited Cambodia, and described to me how today's Khmer society has changed almost beyond recognition from what it once was.

Ignorance and all that it begets are on full display in contemporary Cambodia, Samreth asserted. Civility and discussion based on ideas seem to have disappeared; Buddhist institutions are facades that no longer provide a meaningful cultural foundation; the military and the police are for hire; leadership is absent.

Samreth's conclusion: "We Khmers are in the midst of a dark era that requires especially individuals with quality thoughts and those willing and able to contribute to the rebuilding of Khmer society for the long run."

Quality thinking

Maybe I've missed what has been percolating for some time, but certainly this year I see what appears to be a new trend: Increasingly, writers are employing topical, analytical, intellectual and thoughtful approaches to Khmer issues. The writings are educational and informative in the understanding of Khmers and Cambodia. They provoke thought and uplift my spirit. This new thread is a wonderful counter to the profane "free expression" that has polluted public discourse in Cambodia in recent years. Strong words, noted Victor Hugo, indicate a weak cause. Perhaps the strength of a new cause is beginning to take hold.

Readers familiar with my writing know of my embrace of the concept that it's not what we know but how we think that determine the quality of all that we do. Influential psychologist in education, peace, and conflict resolution, Carl Rogers, posited: "The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn and change."

I believe anything and any human is capable of change. Reproductive-repetitive behavior needs to stop. If you are accustomed to doing something the same way every day, then reverse it or stop it altogether. This is "unlearning." New productive-innovative behavior needs to start. It needs criticality – to probe to understand, to compare to increase options and to select the best; and it needs creativity – to generate something from nothing, and keep adding new ideas, ad infinitum.

We need our inquisitive minds to continue searching for answers. We must be curious, imaginative, and not stop asking questions.

A new trend?

Recently, I read Sean Kosal's article, "Majority of Cambodians do not like reading books."Kosal asserted that actually less than 10 percent -- if even that number -- of Cambodians like to read books. I don't know if they don't like to read books, or if they don't like to read, period. Anyway, that anecdote alone serves to explain to me many things about issues concerning Khmers and Cambodia.

Kosal did his research. He talked to educators and students, he studied the environment. He found that generally, Cambodians don't understand what benefits reading brings, or they don't appreciate writers; they aren't curious, don't care to find out or to learn; never develop a reading or an inquisitive habit; but students want the teachers' materials to learn by heart.

Kosal cited a university graduate in economics who said reading is essential before taking exams, otherwise books make him lazy and tired. Have you heard some students say that thinking hurts their heads?

According to Kosal, another educator believes Cambodian families and schools do not socialize children, as others in more progressive countries do, toward the love of learning.

Then I came across writings by James Sok. His writings so impressed me that I contacted him.

Formerly from Kandal Province and schooled in Battambang, he was with the Khmer national resistance at the Khmer-Thai border until 1980, when he left for the United States. Now, an American citizen, he is a systems administrator in the northeast United States.

James Sok, who basically agrees with Kosal about the principal causes for Cambodians' lack of interest in reading and researching, has called in his writings for Cambodians to read, to think, to study, to make extra efforts to improve themselves intellectually and emotionally: "Khmers need resources in intelligence, spirit, and knowledge … conforming to Khmer concepts of learning harder, seeking and saving more, and sharing what we know."

Recently, in "It's time for Khmers to stop being ignorant," James Sok reminds Khmers that it took a long time for Khmer heroes to build the Khmer Nation; while a nation rises or declines in history, it's the responsibility of the people to rebuild. Sok calls on Cambodians not to be angry, but use their current plight as a lesson, to study and learn from it to become "learned, developed, strong like the time of historical greatness."

Sok ridiculed those who "just sit, shake legs, insult, accuse and libel" others.

The "Neighbors"

Early this month, a one-page op-ed posted on a Khmer blog brought me another ray of hope. To me, this is about thinking. "Education," the writer said, "will bring about freedom from all the bondages and suppression, including Vietnamization of Cambodia!" What?

The idea that education would bring "freedom from … Vietnamization of Cambodia," is novel to me, especially at this time when Khmers in general are overwhelmed with worries and fear that their strong neighbors will usurp Cambodia. The op-ed asserted emphatically, "Cambodia will not lose her name and culture … nor all of her land."

I agree with that writer. I do not understand how in this 21st century a nation and its people can vanish. I don't discount the seriousness of the Vietnamese threat. Indeed, hundreds of thousands – Hun Sen's opponents say, millions – of Vietnamese immigrants who have resettled on Khmer soil do change the Khmer cultural, economic and political landscape. But an educated, prosperous Cambodia would find ways to profit from cultural diversity. Ignorance, the current dismal state, knows only fear of what change might bring.

Some in the international Cambodian community are taking advantage of the 20th anniversary of the Paris Peace Accords (October 23) that ended the most recent war in Cambodia to call upon the signatories to "reactivate" the accords to stop Hun Sen's abuses and remove the Vietnamese from Cambodia. This tactic is a diversion that will produce no result. Khmer democrats are on their own, and might be encouraged to read a recent article (Newsweek September 25) by Harvard University professor Niall Ferguson on Palestine's recent bid at the UN to be certified as a state. In "You Were Expecting Statehood," noting Palestine's (inevitable) disappointment, Ferguson concluded, "The U.N. serves the interests of great powers. Just as it was meant to." The great powers have no interest in reactivating the 1991 Paris Accords.

"Work out your own salvation," preached Lord Buddha, "Do not depend on others."

The author of the op-ed, who signed as "Pissed Off," says, "What remains to be done … (for) the survival of the Khmer race is … to help promote and sustain education for every child in Cambodia." When "educating every child in the country becomes a reality," Cambodia would become a country in which "citizens are well informed," and no dictatorship can "bud, much less grow," on their land. Education will free Cambodians from their neighbors, Anonymous assured.

I agree. Education helps strengthen a people's sense of values, traditions, and nationalist sentiments that keep them unique. Educated and well informed citizens are better equipped to solve problems in imaginative and creative ways.

James Sok enters, again. The Vietnamese are in Cambodia because Khmers allowed them to come, Khmers relied on the Vietnamese, and "today, increasing numbers of Khmers ally themselves in different ways with the Vietnamese."

Sok's solution? Khmers' resources in intelligence, spirit, and knowledge need to be rebuilt for Khmers to become "learned, developed, and strong." "There are too many Cambodians who are ignorant today," Sok argues, "that's why Cambodians joined the Vietnamese." Reverse course, Sok urges.

Perhaps, Cambodians' "soft power" will advance their struggle for rights and freedom.

The views shared in this article do not necessarily reflect those of the AHRC, and the AHRC takes no responsibility for them.

Asian news Thai Chamber urges shift of money from populist schemes to recovery efforts

2011-10-14T00:59:00.000-07:00

October 14, 2011
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation

The Thai Chamber of Commerce yesterday urged the government to delay its populist policies and save enough money for flood rehabilitation, which could cost Bt300 billion to Bt400 billion.

"The government should prioritise each scheme and delay some of its populist policies to ensure the country's growth after the flooding," said Chatchai Boonyarat, TCC vice chairman.

The severe floods in 47 provinces dragged down the Consumer Confidence Index in September to its lowest in four months. The survey by the TCC's university showed that consumer attitudes edged down from 83.4 points in August to 81.8 in September.

Chatchai said the government must review budget allocations for next year, as cutting only 10 per cent of the budget for each ministry would not be enough.

As an immediate measure, the government should set up a Bt50-billion fund to provide zero-interest or soft loans to help enterprises devastated by flooding.

Somkiat Anuras, another vice chairman, said the first-car and first-house programmes and the Bt300 minimum-wage increase should be put on the back burner.

As a long-term measure, the government must devise a national strategy to manage city planning and water resources to ensure a balanced supply of water in the dry and rainy seasons.

Thanavath Phonvichai, director of the Economic and Business Forecasting Centre of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), said the flooding would continue to dent consumer sentiment in the following months as the impact will be prolonged.

The government should urgently prioritise measures to help relieve the impact from flooding.

As one such action, the Bank of Thailand should cut the policy interest rate to lower the operating costs of businesses and stimulate domestic spending, Thanavath said.

The UTCC study found that flooding had already caused losses of Bt156.71 billion, or 1.3-1.5 per cent of gross domestic product.

Of those total losses, Bt50.35 billion is from industry, Bt12.34 billion from trading, Bt8.2 billion from tourism and the rest from property and personal assets.

So far, 8.29 million rai (nearly 1.33 million hectares) of rice fields, which can produce about 5 million to 6 million tonnes of paddy rice, have been damaged.

Saowanee Thairungroj, vice president of the UTCC's research division, said consumer confidence remained very fragile on concerns over continued flooding, the rising cost of living and the global economic slowdown.

The impact from flooding to trading, farming and industry, expected lower incomes in the future and the sober spending mood of consumers could drive economic growth down to 3-3.5 per cent this year.

Most indices related to consumer confidence dropped last month.

Confidence in future income fell from 102.1 points in August to 100.3, while the index for future employment opportunities dropped from 74.4 to 73.

TCC chairman Phongsak Assakul said the chamber had set up an ad hoc committee to estimate the losses from flooding and seek proposals on remedial measures for presentation to the government during the next meeting of the Public-Private Joint Standing Committee.

Asian news The World is changing thanks to online

2011-10-14T00:58:00.000-07:00

Internet cafe in Thailand
10.14.11
By Shaune Jordaan
Memeburn.com

I recently embarked on an overland trip through Thailand and Cambodia. Asia is a truly fascinating place with similarities to Africa. I, perhaps rather naively, had a romantic vision of escaping from the madness of my everyday life and setting off into the remote wilderness of South East Asia and losing touch with the outside world. I was in for surprise.

As of 2008, there were 16 100 000 internet users in Thailand. In Cambodia and in Thailand there are literally tens of thousands of places where internet is available for public use, coffee shops, bars, restaurants and gas stations. Through USB modems and internet capabilities on cellphones, Cambodians are reconnecting with the outside world.

Throughout my journey; from central Bangkok, to Chiang Mai and Pai in the North of Thailand, to the home of the lost city, Siem Riep in Cambodia, and then south to the remote Thai Islands of Ko Phi Phi and Ko Toa, I was amazed how connected South East Asia is, regardless of how remote the location.

Unsurprisingly the cities are buzzing with connectivity. What I did't expect was how Google and Facebook have become such a major part of Thai and Cambodian popular culture, and the genuine affection they exhibit for these brands.

Paradise Shared

I was sitting on the island of Ko Phi Phi amazed by how far removed I felt from the real world, but at the same time how easily I felt I could connect if I chose too. On the odd occasion I would come across someone on my remote stretch of beach and they would invariably be tweeting, updating Facebook or sharing photos via their mobile phone.

It was really driven home to me just how small the world had become when I was lying on a beach one afternoon nearly alone except for one gentleman sun tanning next to me joined by his family whom were sharing the experience via skype on his iPad. Sharing paradise was simply a click away.

It was my goal to not use any form of electronic device for three weeks, but it was nearly unavoidable in Thailand, even after going to great lengths to find remote villages you come across an industrious local who has taken advantage of the online explosion and set up an internet café.

Online Business, Unavoidable

In the small town of Pai in Northern Thailand on the borders of Burma and China, I met numerous Americans who have relocated to this small bohemian village. Their occupations? Affiliate marketers, SEO professionals, Web Designers.

The life they live is truly fascinating, culturally so different from any western lifestyle, geographically in the middle of nowhere and yet still they are entrenched in western business; remoteness really seems to be something of the past due to the rapid technological advancements of the last decade and a half.

Travelling itself has changed because of technology. I remember travelling through Africa in 2008, and how the feeling of being completely remote would sink in. I only had my travel book at hand to rescue me when I needed information. Now Google is there to save us, and lend information when needed.

Many small villages in Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania and Botswana have no running water let alone an internet connection. In 2011 my travels clearly painted a picture of how far Africa still has to go in terms of developing digital technology and online infrastructure when compared with Asia. In Thailand, a country that struggles with spoken English, They have been able to market themselves as an English tourist destination through online marketing channels.

Menus, street signs, entertainment venues and even small shops cater for English speakers. It's clear that Facebook, YouTube and Google have helped expose the western world to the wonders of Thailand and Cambodia.

The African Experience

YouTube provides a source of entertainment and education at a click, from internet cafes, to hostels. Recently I visited Port Alfred's local townships and was moved by the work being done there by Stenden, an international University based in Port Alfred. Students are provided with the opportunity to assist the community with IT skills.

A community centre has been established where internet and general PC skills are taught, including the basics of Microsoft Office. Anyone in the community can participate and they finish a few weeks later with a certificate.

One thing that really caught my attention, however, was the interest taken in YouTube and Facebook by this disadvantaged community. Kids were glued to screens in informal dwellings watching YouTube videos and posting on facebook. In the community there are many children without parents, all of whom are living in abject poverty. Yet they all, some as young as 7, speak English and know how to use a computer, and are extremely proficient on social media platforms.

As one of the community workers said, "Children in this community from the young age of 6 or 7 have far greater understanding of the world and have higher qualifications than their parents".

One cannot doubt that online infrastructure and digital technology is making the world a smaller place, boosted by social media platforms, online information management and other agencies utilising this technology for a shared experience.

The adventurer trying to escape from the world, to feel lost in the wilderness and removed from the madness has to accept that this is becoming a concept of the past. Disconnecting has become a decision that has to be made consciously and will not be decided by the facilities around you.

This is for the greater good of mankind though, communication technology is facilitating education in developing countries and underprivileged communities.

Disenfranchised youth, quite literally, have the opportunity to communicate with the world, and become a part of the global village. I for one will be taking my iPad with me on my next adventure, Wi-Fi is everywhere!

Asian rice fund comes not a moment too soon

2011-10-14T00:57:00.000-07:00

October, 14 2011
By Mai Phuong
VNS

Storms and floods that have wreaked havoc on rice farming throughout Asia during the past month are a challenge to the region.

Solutions are needed more than ever.

Many crops and mills throughout the region were submerged in flood water from continuous storms in the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, China, Thailand, Cambodia, Viet Nam, India, and Pakistan.

The nations that suffered the most were those along the Mekong River, including Viet Nam and Thailand and southern China - the world biggest rice producers and exporters. Swollen rivers hampered the movement of barges, while ships in port were unable to load cargo because of heavy rains. This is bound to push up rice prices.

Flood-damage to rice crops in Thailand, the world's leading rice exporter, came as the nation's new government introduced higher farm-gate prices for farmers. This will also make the grain dearer for overseas buyers.

Thailand has a population of 67 million and has 10.68 million ha under rice. Viet Nam has 86.97 million people to feed and plants 7.35 million ha of rice each year. Rice prices in Thailand have started moving higher, while, this week, Vietnamese rice prices may rise to their highest in more than three years because of thin stocks, the impact of flooding and speculation over additional demand.

Rice-production costs in Viet Nam could also be high because of the time and money farmers have spent on pumping water away from their crops. This will add fuel to the fire because the market was likely to see an increase as ASEAN+3 (China, Japan and South Korea) governments are due to start an intervention scheme to prevent people running short of the staple food.

Meanwhile, China has more than 29 million ha under rice. It is the world's top rice producer and accounts for over a third of global supply. But it is also frantically trying to recover from the recent floods and rice production may be lower than the average yield of 6.61 tonnes per ha.

The Philippines has a population of about 92 million but only allocates 4.4 million ha for rice production because urban sprawl is swallowing much good farm land. Flood damage has added to the gloom. This is why the nation is the world's biggest buyer of rice.

In 2008 when the rice crisis at its highest peak, the Arroyo administration decided to make sure there would be no rice shortages or rice riots by offering the highest bids for regional rice. That decision drove prices up and made the Philippines the world's biggest spender on imported rice.

In global context, the International Rice Research Institute two months ago warned of the danger of a crisis to rival the rice riots of 2008. Several days ago, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), predicted that food-price volatility would be likely to continue and probably get worse next year.

The institute said the possibility of panic buying similar to three years ago could send prices soaring even further. The world food body also warned of a dark future for poorer farmers, predicting they would become more vulnerable to poverty and food insecurity.

Business analysts say international rice markets are "thin". Less than 5 per cent of global rice production was traded internationally - and therefore prices are vulnerable to small changes in supply and demand.

The problem seems serious.

Timely action

After nearly a year of negotiations and preparations, ASEAN+3 have established an emergency rice fund.

This emergency reserve could be a timely solution to the emerging problems. The main benefit would be to balance rice production in most of Asia and control likely price hikes.

As the warning of food price volatility and surge in food demand becomes more and more obvious, the fund should begin activities now to save the region's rice market before it is too late.

It should first take the implementation as a permanent mechanism for an emergency rerserve based on co-operation between their partners.

It should also expand more coverage of rice production and focus support on the most vulnerable areas.

Ministers from the ASEAN+3 nations signed the emergency rice-stockpile agreement late last week in Jakarta. Initially, the 13 countries aim to provide a rice stock of 787,000 tonnes to cope with sudden instabilities caused by natural disasters.

China, Japan and South Korea will prepare 300,000 tonnes, 250,000 tonnes and 150,000 tonnes of rice, respectively, while the 10 ASEAN countries will prepare 87,000 tonnes. Among the ASEAN members, Thailand will be the biggest contributor, 15,000 tonnes; Viet Nam and Myanmar will contribute 14,000 tonnes each; Indonesia and the Philippines 12,000 tonnes each. Brunei, Laos and Cambodia 3,000 tonnes each; Malaysia 6,000 tonnes; and Singapore 5,000 tonnes.

The rice will be kept in each producing country for use as emergency reserves for South-east Asia.

About US$4,001,500 will be set aside to cover the costs of maintaining the reserve. China, Japan and South Korea will each pay $1 million into a fund. Seven ASEAN members - Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Viet Nam - will contribute $107,500 each, while Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar will each contribute $83,000.

Khmer news Cambodia to Stop Sending Domestic Workers to Malaysia

2011-10-14T00:56:00.000-07:00

SRP Mu Sochua (Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)
Friday, October 14, 2011
By Mu Sochua

MP Mu Sochua spoke directly to Prime Minister Hun Sen today during a coffee break of the parliament session of the situation of Cambodian domestic workers in Malaysia.

PM Hun Sen acknowledged the problems and the grave impact on the welfare and well being of Cambodian domestic workers in Malaysia. He ordered deputy-prime minister Sok An to inform the minister of Labor to put a stop to the sending of domestic workers to Malaysia.

Sam Rainsy Party MPs are pushing for a review of all mechanisms of monitoring and investigation of employment agencies for the protection of Cambodian migrant workers in all sectors.

Facesaving attempt by Phnom Penh

2011-10-14T00:55:00.001-07:00

Friday, 14 October 2011 12:03
Bridget Di Certo and Mary Kozlovski
The Phnom Penh Post

Recently resigned Khmer Rouge tribunal judge Siegfried Blunk has "bowed to" a sustained campaign against him by international organisations and "persistent interference" by the media, the government said yesterday.

The Council of Ministers' Press and Quick Reaction Unit declared the resignation of international Co-Investigating Judge Siegfried Blunk on Sunday a "serious blow" to the United Nations-backed tribunal.

It also claimed that calls for the co-investigating judges' resignations were the result of a "campaign" by international organisations and the media to discredit the tribunal.

"International organisations (including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the Open Society Justice Initiative) alongside persistent media interference … have long opposed the ECCC, and over the past two years have exerted increasing pressure to discredit and undermine the ECCC," a statement from the unit said.

In a press release on Monday, Judge Blunk attributed his resignation to concerns that his independence would be doubted in light of statements from senior government officials regarding Cases 003 and 004.

Judge Blunk said via email yesterday that in the press release he "never talked about the Cambodian 'government'" only about certain officials.

Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan told the Post yesterday that the media and NGOs were attempting to mount pressure on the court.

"The pressure that Judge Blunk felt is not from the government – it is pressure coming from NGOs who don't understand the facts of the court," he said. "The opinions of government officials are those that are the principles of the government – we want peace, stability and the integration of the Khmer Rouge."

Earlier this month, Human Rights Watch called for the resignation of Judge Blunk and his Cambodian counterpart You Bunleng, while OSJI reiterated their request this week for the UN to confront allegations of political influence at the court.

Last year, Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told reporters that Prime Minister Hun Sen had told UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that prosecutions beyond Case 002 would not be allowed.

"We're not talking here about the Cambodian government only expressing concern about peace and stability in Cambodia," OSJI trial monitor Clair Duffy said yesterday.

"We're talking about clear directives that cases 001 and 002 are enough and that there will be no cases 003 and 004. To me that is clear evidence of executive interference with judicial independence."

"[The statement] ignores the fact that a number of qualified professional legal staff walked out of Judge Blunk's office because the Case 003 investigation in their opinion had been deliberately botched," Duffy added.

Amnesty International Asia-Pacific director Sam Zarifi said via email that the organisation had "never opposed" the court but had called for the proceedings "to meet international fair trial standards".
Representatives from Human Rights Watch could not be reached for comment.

Court spokesman Lars Olsen said that judicial decision-making at the court must be done independently. Judge Blunk will formally sever ties with the tribunal on October 31, he added.

Khmer News The volatile politics of rice

2011-10-14T00:55:00.000-07:00

Friday, Oct. 14, 2011
By MICHAEL RICHARDSON
The Japan Times

SINGAPORE — A campaign promise that helped bring Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her political party to power in July elections is roiling the global market for rice, Asia's staple food that is now eaten by nearly half the world's population.

They promised their government would alleviate poverty in the countryside and raise rural income levels by buying unmilled rice, known as paddy, from Thailand's eight million rice growers at 15,000 baht ($480) per ton — double the pre-election price.

The program to increase the minimum guaranteed price for farmers, which has just taken effect, seems tailor-made to keep more supplies at home and drive up the export price.

In anticipation, international prices for various types and grades of rice have increased by over 15 percent since July. There are fears that they will go higher still, adding to inflation pressures in Asia when governments are reluctant to raise interest rates as economic growth slows.

This is happening as Japanese consumers grow anxious at the prospect of a looming domestic rice shortage, following reports that the crop in Fukushima prefecture, the fourth-largest rice-producing region in Japan, has been contaminated by radiation from the damaged Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.

Thailand, Southeast Asia's second largest economy after Indonesia, is the world's top rice exporter, accounting for around one-third of global sales.

The London-based International Grains Council recently lowered its forecast for Thai rice exports in 2012 by 9 percent, to 8 million tons, as high government procurement prices slow shipments. It said that Thailand's foreign rice sales next year are likely to be 20 percent lower than in 2011.

Indonesia, a leading rice importer this year, has already cancelled a planned purchase of Thai rice because it considered the price to be too high.

Ammar Siamwalla, head of Thailand's Development Research Institute, says that the government's strategy, backed by exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck's brother, is to control the lucrative rice-export sector.

It is not the first time the Thai government has intervened in the market. During the global food crisis in 2008, it paid above-market rates in buying 5.4 million tons of rice to boost farmers' incomes.

Local prices rose to a record 17,000 baht ($550) per ton in April that year, while export rates reached an unprecedented $1,038 per ton the following month, after China, India and Vietnam curbed shipments, leading to popular protests in a number of rice-importing countries.

Underlying causes of the upward spiral in internationally traded rice prices included surging demand, bad weather, and a rapid rise in costs of oil-based fertilizer as the price of oil shot up in 2008. Market intervention by governments, either to support local rice farmers or limit exports to conserve stocks, aggravated the food crisis, triggering panic and unrest in some consuming countries.

Will the social and political fall-out be similar this time? The Thai government appears to have two options in handling the surplus rice, which it must sell abroad at up to $870 per ton, well above the current market price of $640 per ton for high-grade rice, if it is to avoid a substantial loss.

It can either stockpile rice in the hope that the global price will rise, or it can export at subsidized prices that would cost Thai taxpayers billions of dollars.

The markets appear to be betting that the Thailand will withhold rice. There is growing concern about future global food security, as population increases and demand for staples rises.

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines has warned that the world needs to produce 8-10 million tons more rice every year to ensure a reliable supply of the grain and keep the price affordable.

In this context, the Thai government's policy is misguided. Big farmers stand to gain most of the benefits because they produce most of the rice crop.

Instead, Thailand should let the rice market work freely and focus on helping growers, especially those with small and marginal farms, become more productive. Higher productivity means greater supply and thus lower prices.

An Australian study published last month found that new rice varieties developed by IRRI and planted, often with further improvements by local scientists, in Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines improved yields by up to 13 percent between 1985 and 2009, enabling farmers in those countries to harvest an extra $1.5 billion worth of rice per year as a result.

Market manipulation and fears about future food security may have caused the recent spike in rice prices. But there is no objective reason for the upward spiral to continue, unless China and other major rice consumers suddenly become big net importers or bad weather cuts production of leading exporters.

Aid agencies and officials are warning that mainland Southeast Asia's worst flooding in decades may hit rice harvests in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

However, global rice stocks are high and before the Southeast Asian floods, the world was heading for a second successive year of record milled rice output. An International Grains Council forecast on Sept. 22 put 2011-12 production at 461 million tons, up by just over 2 percent on the previous crop year.

Carry-over stocks in the five top exporters — Thailand, Vietnam, the United States, India and Pakistan — were projected to reach 33 million tons. World trade in rice amounts to about 32 million tons.

Meanwhile, India has lifted a four-year export ban on non-basmati rice, allowing local rice traders to export up to 2 million tons of the grain.

So if there was greater confidence in the market mechanism, the price of rice would be stable or falling, not rising.

Michael Richardson is a visiting senior research fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore.

Khmer News TV portrayal riles villagers

2011-10-14T00:54:00.000-07:00

Former residents of the Boeung Kak lake area gather for a protest at 'Freedom Park' yesterday in Phnom Penh. The protesters allege that TVK was biased against them in its coverage of their struggle. Photo by: Mai Vireak

Friday, 14 October 2011
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

Former Boeung Kak lakeside residents who accepted compensation after facing forced eviction criticised a recent television portrayal of their living situation and requested additional government funds, during a peaceful protest at Freedom Park yesterday.

Villagers from the Borei Santepheap II building in the capital's Chaom Chao district accepted an offer of US$8,000 and two million riel per household to relocate from the lakeside in January, before the government decided in August to grant 12.44 hectares for on-site relocation to residents who had rejected previous compensation offers.

The villagers spoke out against an October 5 National TV broadcast, which they claimed had incorrectly depicted the villagers' living situation in a positive light by showing several Borei Santepheap II villagers saying that they had decent jobs and a good standard of living. However, the protestors claimed that they were struggling to find jobs and did not have enough money.

Village representative Sam Vanna claimed that the residents highlighted in the television program were lying.

"We are living in a difficult situation, but Prak Sarin, former villager in village 2, and Doung Marin, former villager in village 4, said that they are living in good conditions," she said.

Sam Vanna requested that the government provide the Borei Santepheap II residents with an additional US$20,000 so that they could buy homes.

"We would like to ask for more money because our land titles are pawns in the bank now," she said.

In a meeting with villagers earlier this week, Daun Penh district deputy governor Sok Penhvuth allowed the ensuing Freedom Park protest, but said that he had "no right to decide on the villagers' request" for funds. However, he reportedly promised to relay their demands to the municipal governor.

Deputy municipal governor Pa Socheat could not be reached by the Post for comment yesterday.

In 2007, Phnom Penh Municipality granted a 99-year lease to local developer Shukaku Inc, run by ruling party senator Lao Meng Khin, to develop land around Boeung Kak lake. Rights groups estimated that more than 20,000 people would face ultimately face relocation as a result of the development.

Khmer News Another power deal for senator [and Hun Xen's crony LEECH Meng Khin]

2011-10-14T00:53:00.000-07:00

Lao Meng Khin aka LEECH Meng Khin
Friday, 14 October 2011
David Boyle and Vong Sokheng
The Phnom Penh Post

The opposition has raised conflict-of-interest concerns over another agreement headed to the National Assembly today guaranteeing the government will buy electricity from a power plant to be constructed by a company owned by ruling party Senator Lao Meng Khin.

However, it was unclear yesterday whether the guarantee to buy electricity from a 135 megawatt, US$181 million coal-fired plant to be built by Cambodia International Investment Development Group Co Ltd in Preah Sihanouk province is new or part of an existing deal.

In June the National Assembly passed an agreement, after gagging opposition questions, guaranteeing the government would buy electricity from a 270 megawatt plant to be built by the firm at a price observers said appeared to be the highest for power seen in Cambodia – 8.43 cents per kilowatt hour.

The duration and tax exemptions in that deal were identical to those in the guarantee headed to the National Assembly today.

In August the Post reported that Chinese government documents revealed CIIDG, and its Chinese partner Mongolia Erdos Hongjun Holding Group, planned to begin building two 135-megwatt power plants (270 megawatts in total) in Sihanoukville in April, 2012 at a cost of $383 million.

This followed approval last December for CIIDG to construct and operate a $362 mill-ion plant in the same province.

Mu Sochua said it was not clear if the deal was new or part of an existing agreement, but added she did not understand why the same guarantee would be sent to the assembly twice.

"We still have the same concerns that the public will pay for this and the quality of the coal . . . will badly affect the environment," she said.

The most recently obtained guarantee, signed by Prime Minster Hun Sen on August 29, appears to have a typing mistake, setting the purchase price at an unrealistic 0.843 cents per kilowatt-hour.

It grants CIIDG a 33-year build/own/operate licence, with a nine-year exemption from value-added tax, estimating the plant will produce 895 million kilowatt hours of electricity a year – worth about $4.6 million in revenue to the state in tax a year.

Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Son Chhay called the deal "unbelievable" and said awarding such a licence to a firm linked to a government senator smacked of endemic corruption.

"It's become a habit now. And the CPP [Cambodian People's Party] will no doubt raise their hands following the prime minister, but the opposition cannot support this bad deal made behind closed doors," he said.

Ek Tha, a deputy director of the press unit at the Council of Ministers, said Cambodian firms needed to develop infrastructure and could not just wait "for the outsiders to help us all the time".

"We do not want to hear that some investors are complaining about the high cost of electricity in Cambodia compared to neighbouring countries. That is why we cannot just stand and watch as foreign investors might shift to other countries."

Son Chhay called for an independent environmental impact assessment. "It's a tourist destination, it could pollute the area and ruin the tourist business."

The contract provides scant detail on the plant's location, but Ith Prang, secretary of state at the Ministry of Industry Mines and Energy, said it would be in Stung Hao district.

Electricity from the plant would be sold to the wholly state-owned Electricité du Cambodge through a power purchasing agreement.

Erdos and Lao Meng Khin's Shukaku group are the developers of the controversial Boeung Kak development, which has displaced thousands of families without proper compensation.

Erdos declined to comment yesterday and Lao Meng Khin could not be reached.

thai news Thai PM reassures as Bangkok braces for floods

2011-10-14T00:52:00.000-07:00

Water has been flowing south towards Bangkok from flooded central areas of Thailand

14 October 2011
BBC News

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has sought to reassure Bangkok residents, as efforts continue to protect the city from the country's worst floods in decades.

Ms Yingluck said flood walls would protect the city centre and it should be considered safe.

Her comments came after an evacuation warning for some suburbs issued by a minister sparked panic.

The flooding, which began in late July, has affected huge swathes of Thailand.

Northern and central provinces bore the brunt of the flooding initially but the run-off is now swelling waterways that flow south into Bangkok.

Authorities there have warned that the arrival of the run-off water, plus high tides and bad weather at the weekend, could flood parts of the city.

'Dangerous time'

Central Bangkok is protected by flood walls and in recent days, teams of workers, troops and volunteers have been filling sandbags for vulnerable areas and fortifying existing dykes.

"Bangkok may face some problems in areas that are on the outer sides of the irrigation dykes but water levels will not be too high. But inner Bangkok has extremely high defences," Ms Yingluck said.

"In conclusion, Bangkok should still be considered safe," she said.

Late on Thursday, Science Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi said that northern suburbs were at risk of flooding because a floodgate had burst, causing some residents to leave.

But the government later issued a call for calm, saying the breach would not affect Bangkok.

"During 15 to 18 October, it may be a dangerous time because water from the north will be coming in... But I confirm it has not reached a crisis stage as of this moment," said Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra.

Officials in charge of managing the floods say they plan to divert the water through canals to the east and west of Bangkok and then on to the sea.

Sandbags have been distributed to residents in villages within the drainage area, the Bangkok Post newspaper reported.

The flooding has been gathering pace for weeks. More than 280 people have been killed and Thailand's economy has been hit hard because factories are under water.

The city of Ayutthaya, a World Heritage site home to temples and monuments, has been particularly badly affected.

Harry Moseley: Tributes as cancer fundraiser, 11, dies

2011-10-10T16:08:00.000-07:00

Tributes have been paid to an 11-year-old boy who has died from a brain tumour after raising thousands of pounds for charity.

Harry Moseley, from Birmingham, became well-known through his presence on Twitter after being diagnosed with the tumour after becoming ill in 2007.

Many celebrities have paid tribute to him on the site while Cancer Research UK said he was an "inspiration".

Harry made and sold bracelets for his Help Harry Help Others campaign.

He had been in a coma since August and died on Saturday night.

On Twitter, tributes came from the likes of England footballers Jack Wilshere and Rio Ferdinand, Dragon's Den entrepreneurs Peter Jones, Duncan Bannatyne and Deborah Meaden, snooker star Jimmy White, former prime minister's wife Sarah Brown, television presenter Ben Shephard and teenage diving star Tom Daley, whose father died of a brain tumour earlier this year.

Mrs Brown described Harry as "a great guy who achieved so much in 11 years". She added: "Enjoyed meeting Harry and proud owner of one of his charity bracelets."

Richard Taylor, executive director of fundraising and marketing at Cancer Research UK said: "We're extremely saddened to hear that the extraordinarily brave young Harry Moseley has tragically lost his fight against brain cancer at the age of just 11.

"Harry was an inspiration to children and adults alike in his quest to raise awareness of brain cancer through his campaign 'Help Harry Help Others'.

"It was Harry's wish that the whole of the UK would wear one of his bracelets with pride.

"He truly touched the hearts of everyone that he met and the difference he made during his short life is remarkable.

"Our hearts go out to his family at this incredibly difficult time."

Adopt Zakat, Not Hudud

2011-10-10T07:41:00.000-07:00

By M. Bakri Musa

Malay politicians fall all over themselves in advocating hudud, the Islamic penal laws. That is less an expression of their commitment to Islam, more blatant pandering to Muslim voters.

If these leaders are truly committed to advancing the cause of Islam, there is a more productive strategy: make zakat mandatory. Being one of the pillars of our faith, zakat is more defining of Islam. It is even ahead of performing the Hajj. Adopting zakat would bring the country closer to an Islamic state symbolically and operationally, certainly much more so than implementing hudud.

Creatively managed, zakat could be a formidable force for economic and social development; it would also highlight what is right about Islam. Currently in Malaysia and in many Muslim countries, mobilizing zakat remains only a potential. As the Halal Journal noted, “…[I]n the context of the Malaysian economy, zakat has not played a significant role ….” There is also a dearth of economic research on zakat. The recently convened United Malay Economic Action Council, presumably comprising luminaries in commerce and economics, has not even explored the issue.

Zakat is positive, charitable and “do good” aimed at alleviating human suffering; hudud is punitive, barbaric, and vengeful, aimed at maiming the human body and spirit. Zakat expresses the merciful and benevolent aspects of Islam; hudud conjures nothing but sadistic and repulsive images.

The most frequently invoked phrase in Islam is, Bis Millah Hir Rahman Nir Rahim (In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful!). Zakat resonates more with these two pristine qualities of Allah (beneficent and merciful); hudud is the antithesis.

Practical Reasons for Mandating Zakat

A more pragmatic reason for mandating zakat is that as Islam is under state jurisdiction, the revenue would accrue to the state, in effect be a new tax thus enhancing states’ authority. A jurisdiction with no authority to tax has little power. With our federal system, states have little taxation power except for land tax and a few miscellaneous small-ticket items. States are thus dependent on the central government. Where the federal and state governments are from different parties as with Kelantan, the state would be at the mercy of the federal government. Zakat would change the fiscal and thus political dynamics in favor of the state.

One snag is that states are ill equipped to collect taxes. This could be solved by contracting with the federal Inland Revenue Service to collect zakat. That should pose minimal extra administrative costs as the IRS is already collecting income and other taxes. Many Canadian provinces have such an agreement with their central government. Such a scheme would also coordinate the two systems especially considering that zakat is treated as a tax credit. Even in secular America zakat is tax deductible when given to a registered charitable entity.

Zakat Disbursement

States would have to enact legislations consonant with the Koran and hadith on the disbursement of those funds, as well as the penalties for failure to pay. The penalties should be on par with failing to pay income tax. At the very least those in arrears should be denied a Hajj and umrah visa.

Zakat cannot go into the general fund, but of the eight categories of distribution proscribed in the Koran, five would be considered charity; the remaining could be considered as investment in people.

One, riqab, securing the freedom of slaves, can be interpreted metaphorically as emancipating the people. Thus zakat funds have traditionally been used for religious schools; I see no reason why that cannot be broadened to other schools as with building laboratories and libraries.

Providing job opportunities is also a form of emancipation. The prophet used to build bazaars so traders would have a place to conduct commerce, thus providing employment opportunities as well as service and merchandise for the community.

Our pasar minggu (farmers’ market) where most of the traders are Malays lack even the basic amenities. Provide water supply, and that would greatly enhance their hygienic practices, to the benefit of their customers. With power those hawkers could refrigerate their perishables, thus enhancing food safety and reducing wastage. Why not use zakat to build these clean, well-equipped bazaars as with the prophet’s time? The area outside the Kaaba was the scene of intense commercial activity during his time. It still is, especially during the pilgrimage season, providing precedence in combining pious pursuits with economic ones.

Zakat could be combined with the “one village, one industry” initiative by funding these enterprises, thus providing jobs for the villagers. That would be more dignified than simply giving the poor handouts.

The building of public infrastructures as marketplaces and funding village enterprises can be viewed as freeing our people from enslavement, the enslavement of having no jobs, no income, and most of all, no hope.

Zakat could also be used to build hostels on mosque properties. Besides being a source of revenue, it would also fulfill zakat’s mandate of helping travelers (Ibnus sabil). Such hostels would be especially useful for villagers and others not comfortable with commercial hotels.

The other legitimate use of zakat is for fisabillillah, jihad in the ways of Allah. That too is a broad mandate. Creatively interpreted, those fighting corruption, injustices, and poverty could be said to be engaging in fisabillillah and thus deserving zakat support.

Showcasing Zakat Versus Income Tax

Having income tax side by side with zakat would be an excellent field experiment to compare the two systems. There are definite philosophical and practical differences between the two.

Zakat meets the economist’s criteria of an efficient tax system. Its flat rate means the redistribution aspect is minimal, very unlike the “progressive” income tax. By casting the net wide and shallow instead of narrow and deep as with income tax, zakat maximizes revenue. Zakat’s simplicity, low rate and minimal deductions discourage cheating by underestimating asset value. It also spares the need for expensive tax accountants and attorneys.

In terms of equity, consider that half of Americans do not pay any income tax; the figure is even lower in Malaysia. With zakat, the figure should be considerably higher. After all you are liable for zakat if your personal asset exceeds nisab, the value of three ounces of gold. You have to be destitute to avoid zakat.

As for equity, at present sultans do not pay any income tax; with zakat they have to. I wonder how much zakat that dentist-cum-politician pays for his mega mansion or Rosmah for her ring! With our secular income tax they owe nothing. That is the best demonstration of the justness of Islam.

Zakat is incumbent only upon individuals, not corporations; there is no provision for that in the Koran and hadith. That is not surprising as the concept of the corporation is recent. I do not see why corporations should not be subjected to zakat. However, considerable intellectual work needs to be done with respect to valuation of assets, in particular “goodwill” and intellectual properties.

Adopting zakat would give so many opportunities to effect good, reason enough for our leaders to focus on it rather than on hudud. Obsession with hudud only distracts them from facing the real challenges facing our people.

Malaysia sultan says Muslims who attended church dinner will get counseling to ‘restore faith’

2011-10-10T07:39:00.000-07:00

(Washington Post) — Islamic authorities will provide counseling to a dozen Malaysian Muslims to “restore their belief and faith” after they attended a community dinner at a church hall, a royal sultan said Monday.

The case has triggered worries among officials in Muslim-majority Malaysia that some non-Muslims were trying to convert Muslims. Proselytizing of Muslims is punishable by prison terms of various lengths in most Malaysian states.

Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, the constitutional ruler of Malaysia’s central Selangor state, said Islamic officials who inspected a dinner at a Methodist church hall in early August found “evidence that there were attempts to subvert the faith and belief of Muslims.”

The sultan did not elaborate on the evidence or mention Christians in his statement, but said the evidence was “insufficient for further legal actions to be taken.”

Church officials had repeatedly denied any proselytization occurred at the dinner, which they described as a multiethnic gathering to celebrate the work of a community organization that worked with women, children and HIV patients. Christian leaders had also criticized Islamic state enforcement officials for what they called an unauthorized raid.

Malaysia’s state sultans command immense moral clout particularly among Malaysia’s ethnic Malay Muslims, who regard them as the top authorities on Islamic issues. Muslims, who comprise nearly two-thirds of the country’s 28 million people, are not legally permitted to change religion.

“We command that (Islamic officials) provide counseling to Muslims who were involved in the said dinner, to restore their belief and faith in the religion of Islam,” Sultan Sharafuddin said.

Rev. Hermen Shastri, the general secretary of Malaysia’s Council of Churches, said the sultan’s statement “brings closure to the case.”

“No one should speculate or aggravate the situation further,” he told The Associated Press.

The sultan added Monday he was “gravely concerned and extremely offended by the attempts of certain parties to weaken the faith and belief of Muslims.”

“We hope that after this, any and all activities ... for the purposes of spreading other religions to Muslims in Selangor must be ceased immediately,” he said.

Malaysia’s non-Muslims mainly comprise Christians, Buddhists and Hindus, some of whom have complained in recent years that enforcement officials are often overzealous in trying to uphold Islam and fail to respect the rights of minorities.

Skandal telekom: India fail kes ke atas empat termasuk Ananda Krishnan, Ralph Marshall

2011-10-10T07:38:00.001-07:00

(The Malaysian Insider) - Pihak berkuasa India memfailkan kes terhadap tokoh perniagaan Malaysia T Ananda Krishnan dan ketua eksekutif kepercayaannya Ralph Marshall bersama seorang bekas menteri telekomunikasi negara itu dan adiknya berhubung tuduhan konspirasi jenayah membabitkan urusan telekomunikasi Maxis dan Aircel.

Agensi berita Press Trust of India berkata tiga tiga syarikat termasuk Maxis telah disenaraikan dalam kes itu.

Dua syarikat lain ialah Aspro dan Sun TV dari India.

Bekas menteri India itu ialah Dayanidhi Maran dan adiknya bernama Kalanidhi.

Press Trust of India berkata Biro Siasatan Pusat (CBI) mengadakan serbuan ke atas premis kedua-dua beradik di Delhi dan Chennai.

“CBI telah memfaikan kes ke atas adik-beradik Maran, Ralph Marshall dan T Ananda Krishnan (gambar) dan tiga syarikat di bawah Seksyen 120b Kanun Keseksaan India yang dibaca bersama Seksyen 13(2) dan Seksyen 13 (1)(d) dan juga Seksyen 7 dan 12 Akta Pencegahan Rasuah.

“Kes ini didaftarkan pada 9 Oktober. Serbuan diadakan di New Delhi dan Chennai,” kata jurucakap CBI Dharini Mishra hari ini.

Bekas ketua Aircel C Sivasankaran mendakwa bahawa Dayanidhi Maran ketika menjadi menteri telah bertindak memihak kepada Kumpulan Maxis dalam pengambilalihan syarikat itu dan sebagai ganjaran pelaburan dibuat oleh syarikat itu menerusi rangkaian Astro di Sun TV dimiliki oleh keluarga Maran.

Indian police ‘book’ tycoon Ananda Krishnan, Ralph Marshall in telco graft scandal

2011-10-10T07:38:00.000-07:00

(The Malaysian Insider) - Indian investigators have filed a case against Malaysian tycoon Tan Sri T. Ananda Krishnan, his trusted executive Ralph Marshall together with a former Indian telecom minister and his brother on charges of criminal conspiracy over a controversial deal involving telecommunication giant Maxis and India’s Aircel.
A Maxis spokesman told The Malaysian Insider the company is aware of the case when contacted this afternoon.

“We’re aware of that and we’ll get back to you,” the corporate communications official said.

State news agency Press Trust of India said three companies, including Maxis, have also been listed in the case. The other companies are India’s Aspro and Sun TV.

The former Indian minister is Dayanidhi Maran and his brother Kalanidhi. PTI said the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today conducted raids at the premises of the Maran brothers in Delhi and Chennai.

“The CBI has registered case against Maran brothers, Ralph Marshall and T. Ananda Krishnan (picture) and three companies under section 120b of IPC read with 13(2) with 13 (1)(d) and also sections 7 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The case was registered on 9th October. Searches were conducted at Delhi and Chennai,” CBI spokesperson Dharini Mishra said here.

It has been alleged by former Aircel chief C. Sivasankaran that Dayanidhi Maran as the then-telecom minister favoured the Maxis group in the takeover of his company and in return investments were made by the company through Astro network in Sun TV owned by the Maran family.

The CBI, in its recent status report to the Supreme Court, had said that during Dayanidhi Maran’s tenure there was “deliberate delay” to provide a letter of intent to Sivasankaran.

The agency had said that after Aircel was sold to Maxis investments were made by the Malaysian firm into the family business of the Marans.

The Aircel group is a joint venture between Malaysia’s Maxis Communications Berhad and India’s Sindya Securities & Investments Private Limited and has the largest service in Tamil Nadu.

Lynas and the Malaysian Green movement — Kua Kia Soong

2011-10-10T07:36:00.000-07:00

By Kua Kia Soong via The Malaysian Insider

The Green Assembly (Himpunan Hijau 109) at dawn at the Kuantan beach yesterday was the harbinger of the Malaysian Green movement that has been a long time coming. Kudos to the organisers of this inspirational event that managed to draw together other green campaigns as well as environmentally conscious Malaysians throughout the country. It was especially heart-warming to see the Orang Asli from nearby Chini taking an active part in the event. There, we pledged our commitment to the Earth Charter and sustainable development and our opposition to projects that are socially disruptive and health-threatening.

Green consciousness in Malaysia has been growing with every toxic project in the country, most noxious has been the processing and storage of radioactive waste. The BN government has always tried to justify their production by saying that “impartial experts” have testified to their safety. In the latest case of the Lynas rare earth plant at Gebeng, near Kuantan, they have invited the IAEA as an afterthought and they say that subject to certain recommendations, the plant should be safe. But the people are not convinced and will continue to oppose this toxic project.

The myth of impartial experts

In 1984, during the controversy over the nuclear dumps of Asian Rare Earth (ARE) at Papan in Perak, I wrote an article in The Star (September 2, 1984) entitled “The Myth of the Impartial Scientist”. The government was trying to convince the public that the dumps for the radioactive waste were constructed to the required specifications and scientific experts were carted out to back up their case. But the people of Papan were not impressed and they continued to organise a protracted resistance to the dumps until they won.

The ARE factory had started operating in Bukit Merah New Village in 1982. In February 1985, the Bukit Merah residents filed an application in the Ipoh High Court to stop ARE from operating in the vicinity of their village. The residents turned out in force at the court and their organisation and commitment to the cause of environmental safety was an inspiration for the rest of the country. On April 12, 1987, some 10,000 people marched through Bukit Merah to protest the resumption of operations by ARE after the company had disregarded an injunction to stop operations. They finally won through their sustained campaign and ARE had to pack up and pay them compensation. The people of Papan and Bukit Merah were more concerned about their health and the health of their future generations than they were about the short-term gain of employment that ARE provided.

Today, the people in Kuantan who are opposing the Lynas rare earth plant are displaying the same admirable organisation, commitment to protecting their environment and concern for their health and the health of their future generations and we salute their efforts.

Far from being impartial, the IAEA is deeply involved in promoting nuclear energy. It failed to correctly assess the dangers caused by nuclear disasters at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and recently at Fukushima. For all its “impartiality”, it also failed to prevent the Iraq war, when Bush and Blair had insisted that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. It turned out to be an elaborate lie to justify western invasion of Iraq.

Since the key question to allay the fears of the people is that of safety and the effects of the plant on the people’s health, one would have expected the government to bring in independent members outside the IAEA with expertise in nuclear safety, public health, environmental protection and other social concerns. Besides the danger of radiation, the Lynas plant also produces large quantities of industrial acids and chemicals which will adversely affect the environment.

The lesson of Bukit Merah should be instructive for the Lynas controversy. The ARE expert there had insisted that their facilities were safe. I remember visiting their premises and the Japanese manager had assured me of the same. When I asked the manager if he would allow his pregnant wife to work in the premises with those drums of radioactive waste around her, he was completely stumped and couldn’t answer me. During the Bukit Merah court case, other international experts testified that the adverse health effects on the residents — cancer, congenital deformities, cardiovascular disease, etc — were the direct result of the radioactivity from the waste produced by ARE.

Whatever IAEA may recommend for the Lynas plant, they have no power to regulate or enforce compliance on Lynas. We also know that the Malaysian government’s record on monitoring and implementing such environmental safety standards and its maintenance culture are legendary! If not, how did the DOE and the Atomic Energy Licensing Board fail the residents of Bukit Merah?

Neutrality of science is a myth

The lesson from all these controversies is that there is no such thing as a “neutral expert”. Science and technology have never been neutral — the neutrality of science is a myth. You can as soon find an expert who will say the project is safe and another who will warn you of its dangers.

UK's Cameron says to tighten up immigration rules

2011-10-10T07:35:00.001-07:00

(Reuters) - Britain plans to tighten up rules on admitting relatives of migrants, cracking down on abuses used to gain entry to the country such as sham and forced marriages, Prime Minister David Cameron said on Monday.

Cameron, who wants to prevent newcomers from relying on Britain's comprehensive welfare system, said that family migration accounted for almost a fifth of total non-EU immigration to Britain last year.

The Conservatives want to reduce net migration to Britain from around 200,000 people per year to a figure of tens of thousands which they argue is more manageable.

Restricting migration is seen as a way of reducing pressure on public spending at a time when the Conservative-led coalition is making deep cuts in public spending.

The policy appeals to the right-wing of the Conservatives but has caused friction with the Liberal Democrats, the junior coalition partner.

Cameron said the government wanted to ensure that people bringing their relatives into Britain had enough money to support them.

"We're going to look at further measures to ensure financial independence: discounting promises of support from family and friends, and whether a financial bond would be appropriate in some cases," he said in advance excerpts of a speech he will make on Monday.

"We're also consulting on how to tackle abuse of the system, to make sure that family migrants who come here are in a genuine relationship with their partner."

Cameron gave an example of a Pakistani man granted a visa on the basis of his marriage to someone settled in Britain.

"He obtained indefinite leave to remain and then immediately divorced his UK-based spouse. He returned to Pakistan and re-married and then applied for entry clearance for his new spouse," he added.

"We simply cannot sit back and allow the system to be abused in this way. So we will make migrants wait longer, to show they really are in a genuine relationship before they can get settlement."

Cameron said breaching rules intended to prevent forced marriage would be made a criminal offence and tougher controls could follow.

"I am also asking the Home Secretary to consult on making forcing someone to marry an offence in its own right - working closely with those who provide support to women forced into marriage to make sure that such a step would not prevent or hinder them from reporting what has happened to them," he said.

Hypocrisy hampers deficit reduction agenda

2011-10-10T07:35:00.000-07:00

Hafiz Noor Shams, The Malaysian Insider

If one throws a dart randomly at those pieces of paper pinned on the wall, there is a good chance the dart will land on a handout provision. Those papers are the 2012 Budget.

The Budget, as tabled by the Najib administration, is an election budget. Civil servants, teachers, the police force, the Armed Forces, pensioners and others will get their share regardless of justifiability.

Meanwhile, the subsidy liberalisation programme that the Najib administration was so gung-ho about earlier has taken a back seat, half-baked and emitting a stench called hypocrisy.

Idris Jala, a man who unproductively exaggerated that Malaysia would go bankrupt if the government expenditure continued to rise, now praises the Budget of goodies.

Such is the loyalty of some men to ideas and principles. The wind blows and the mind changes. There is no principle to stick to because only political convenience matters.

Never mind the contradiction and hypocrisy. Voters have a short memory span. Give them money and they will go gaga. It is all about winning elections, not honesty and consistency.

The financial position of the federal government could be in a better shape if the administration had necessary honesty and consistency instead of bending backwards to accommodate the monster of populism.

Without the populism, the fiscal deficit for year 2012 — the Najib administration projects to be 4.7 per cent of nominal gross domestic product (or RM33.8 billion in absolute terms) — could be lowered considerably.

It could possibly go down as far as 3.7 per cent of nominal GDP if all the subsidies, one-time transfer payments and other election-related handouts are flushed down the drain.

Admittedly, the drastic reduction will be a shock to the system that none might want to experience amid the present global economic uncertainty.

Yet, in times of uncertainty, it is only prudent to save for a rainy day even within political needs. This is doubly true given that regardless what was said and done about the importance of domestic demand, external demand is still wildly important to the domestic economy.

Furthermore, a number of analysts have already voiced out that the government’s revenue figures are too optimistic for a pessimistic world. That is all the more reason for observers to be conservative with the federal government’s finance.

The fiscal deficit can be brought down still lower even with political considerations in mind. Removing the RM3,000 one-off gift to 4,300 individuals, another RM3,000 one-off transfer to an expected 3.4 million individuals and the KAR1SMA programme that will cost RM1.2 billion off the Budget while keeping the bloated subsidy regime intact, the deficit for the year 2012 could stand at 4.4 per cent out of nominal GDP instead of the higher projected 4.7 per cent.

PAS to start petition calling for royal panel to probe A-G

2011-10-10T07:34:00.000-07:00

(The Malaysian Insider) - PAS will press through a petition for a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) to investigate the Attorney-General during the current parliamentary sitting, rejecting Putrajaya’s refusal to charge Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail with corruption.

PAS vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar told The Malaysian Insider today the petition aims to pressure the government into action, saying it was unacceptable it has chosen repeatedly to ignore the countless allegations of misconduct against the country’s top lawyer.

He reiterated that if Abdul Gani (picture) was being absolved of blame in all the allegations, defamation charges should be slapped on all the latter’s accusers, including former senior police officer Datuk Mat Zain Ibrahim and blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin.

“To me, this shows the government has no stand in this issue. Their refusal to take action shows their unwillingness to clean up the institution.

“It is not a matter of charging the A-G personally, but the entire institution of the A-G’s Chambers itself appears to be lacking integrity and credibility,” he said when met at the Parliament lobby here this morning.

“I will start the petition soon, during this parliamentary sitting, and we will push for the RCI,” he added.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz told The Malaysian Insider last week that last year’s decision to close the door on the A-G’s alleged involvement in Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s 1998 “black eye” case still stands.

“Same reply, same reply. I replied to (DAP adviser Lim) Kit Siang in Parliament before. The reply is the same,” he said when asked if Putrajaya would act on the renewed allegations against Abdul Gani.

Asked to state if the government would take action against Abdul Gani’s accusers, Nazri repeated: “Same reply.”

In Parliament on December 14 last year, the government side-stepped the damning accusations made by Mat Zain that Abdul Gani had falsified documents in the “black eye” case, brushing aside several open letters and appeals issued by the former.

Instead, Nazri had told the House there was no need for Mat Zain to complain that the independent panel formed to investigate the evidence fabrication had failed to clear his name in the incident.

This, said Nazri, was because Mat Zain had never been the subject of the panel’s probe and had merely been called as a witness to testify.

Mat Zain: Panel probe on A-G ‘unconstitutional’

2011-10-10T07:33:00.000-07:00

(The Malaysian Insider) - The independent panel which absolved Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail was unconstitutional, claimed the ex-senior police officer who has campaigned tirelessly to remove the attorney-general.

Former Kuala Lumpur CID chief Datuk Mat Zain Ibrahims said that the panel was unconstitutionally set-up in 2009. The panel went on to rule the allegations against Abdul Gani were baseless.

Mat Zain who has mounted a one-man campaign against Abdul Gani, charged that only the Yang di-Pertuan Agong may order such a tribunal, and therefore it was not in the purview of the solicitor-general or even any Cabinet minister.

“The provisions in the Constitution are very clear. When the conduct of the attorney general becomes an issue, only the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is empowered to establish a Tribunal upon a representation presented to His Majesty by the Prime Minister. There’s no other option.

“This is a matter strictly between the PM and the Agong,” Mat Zain said in a statement.

The former policeman said the findings of the independent panel that cleared Abdul Gani (picture) of falsifying evidence in Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s 1998 “black eye” case should therefore be considered null and void.

Mat Zain said that although the panel had decided on March 1, 2009, Dewan Rakyat was informed ten days later on March 11 that one member of the independent panel had found evidence to “prove” the A-G’s involvements in the alleged wrongdoings.

Mat Zain also said he informed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on October 2008 regarding the matter but said that no action had been taken against Abdul Gani till today.

The government has said it will not take action against the A-G despite renewed allegations of corruption and fabricating evidence made against the country’s top lawyer.

You mess with the Sultan at your own peril

2011-10-08T18:29:00.000-07:00

Dear Pete,

After reading my piece in your website about Rosmah’s presence in the closed door meeting between Najib and his aides in the Ministry of Finance prior to the presentation of 2012 Budget in Parliament, a veteran Johor UMNO friend of my Dad sent me an e-mail about the case of the Sultan of Johor being offended by Lim Guan Eng’s speech. The gist of his very long e-mail summarised as follows:

According to this friend, the Johor Royal Family has always stayed above politics and hates to be dragged into it, and the present Sultan has made this point crystal clear. It is the Johor UMNO that is always looking for opportunities to get the Royal Family involved to lend credence to their ulterior motives.

UMNO has not learned their lesson after what happened during the Constitution crisis during the Mahathir–Iskandar era. Starting from the north, Kedah, Mahathir’s home-state, UMNO organised rallies to gain support for Mahathir’s proposals to amend the Constitution shaving off the powers of the Rulers, specifically that of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for Dr M feared that the incoming Agong (which was to be Sultan Iskandar of Johor) would not give assent to bills passed by the Mahathir-controlled Parliament.

When the rally came down south to Johor, who was to speak up for UMNO but Johorean Musa Hitam, the DPM then. Musa was obliged to speak and he did. His Highness Sultan Iskandar was fuming mad, and he ordered that all photos of Mahathir and Musa be taken down from all State Government offices. At a function in Saujana (the Johor MB’s residence), the Sultan purposely arrived late to make Mahathir wait, a lesson Dr M never forgets.

Then came the opportunity for the Sultan to teach 'this kurang ajar’ anak Johor, Musa, a lesson. During a Friday prayer session at the Mosque in Kg Baru, KL, TV3 filmed this incident when Sultan Iskandar told Musa to apologise before Allah and the congregation.

“The noble Brutus hath told you Caesar was ambitious: If it were so, it was a grievous fault, and grievously hath Caesar answer’d it,” said Shakespeare. If Guan Eng had in fact uttered those words, Guan Eng has paid for it by publicly apologising to His Highness Sultan Johor, even though the Tuanku did not insist on it but was demanded by DPM Muhyiddin.

DPM Muhyiddin knew what happened to Musa Hitam at the mosque in Kg Baru, KL, and he is very careful now to not step on the Sultan’s toe. This sly fox is just waiting for Najib to make a mistake, for he also knows that Najib has been snubbing the Sultan -- probably because of some mega-projects in Johor which Rosmah wants for her cronies, but the Sultan disagrees. The Sultan is fully aware of Rosmah’s unsatisfiable and boundless greed (maybe in her desire to overtake Daim Zainuddin in wealth). Muhyiddin is praying and playing to the Sultan that His Highness might explode and expose Rosmah's scheme of things to pave the way for Muhyiddin to move into whatever projects Rosmah is after, and also move into Najib's seat in Putrjaya. Don't forget, Johor State is the bastion of UMNO, which can tell Najib to go and fly a kite.

It is common knowledge to Singaporeans that whenever they are in Johor Bahru they are targets for highway robbers, kidnappers, extortionists, etc., because of their vehicle registration plates. Big-time Ah Longs and 4D gambling syndicates operate in Johor Bahru. Before Singapore legalised horse racing punting within Singapore, all the bookies operated from JB. There are more money changers in JB than any Malaysian town, KL included, to cater for the gamblers rather than the shoppers. Obviously, the Home Minister, who is also a Johorean, has not been directing his policemen to get rid of these menaces from the Royal Town, and the Sultan being the Head of Islam in Johor, is not amused at all. We have heard rumours that Hisham is now aligned to the DPM and is forsaking his own cousin; politics at play.

To all who dares to engage the displeasure of His Royal Highness Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, let it be known that the same fate that befell Tun Musa Hitam awaits the idiotic challenger! As for Rosmah, her pedigree, background and education are thousands of miles behind those of the Consort to the Sultan of Johor, Raja Zarith Sofia except perhaps in money and branded handbags.

After brain drain, now capital flight?

2011-10-08T08:31:00.000-07:00

The flip flops by BN on the abolishment of racial quotas under the NEM, the inability of MACC to make an effective dent on systemic corruption, the tolerance provided by the government towards Perkasa and the prolonged debate on PPSMI have all raised the level of uncertainty within the minority racial communities in Malaysia.

Kapil Sethi, The Malaysian Insider

PNB’s takeover bid of SP Setia, merger talks between OSK Holdings and RHB Capital and Sime Darby taking over 30 per cent of E&O have set alarm bells ringing in the business community despite the prime minister’s reassurance that the deals are strictly on a willing buyer-willing seller basis.

For one, these deals fly in the face of the government’s avowed determination to let the private sector be the engine of economic growth while it takes on the role of a facilitator. Where is the rationale then for the government taking over the management of relatively well-run private businesses?

Even more significantly what is worrying is not the nature of the transactions themselves but the racial undertones to these deals. In most instances the sellers are Chinese and the buyers government linked companies. Even where the government is not involved, there are reports of major Chinese-owned conglomerates like Genting and YTL diversifying out of the country by making significant investments overseas.

While it is nobody’s case to argue that businesses should not be able to take corporate decisions as they see fit, are these isolated cases or part of a larger trend towards a minority community losing faith in Malaysia and expressing it through capital flight and physical migration? As it is, the World Bank recently estimated the size of the Malaysian diaspora at close to 1 million. Even more tellingly, 88 per cent of the Malaysian diaspora in Singapore with tertiary education is of ethnic Chinese origin. Decades of affirmative action has to a large extent contributed to this phenomenon, but recent statements from both sides of the political divide may have exacerbated the problem. The flip flops by BN on the abolishment of racial quotas under the NEM, the inability of MACC to make an effective dent on systemic corruption, the tolerance provided by the government towards Perkasa and the prolonged debate on PPSMI have all raised the level of uncertainty within the minority racial communities in Malaysia.

If the growing emasculation of MCA at the hands of Umno is added to the mix, the picture for those ethnic minority supporters of BN looking for a continuation of its largely tolerant past begins to look bleak.

The opposition too has not helped matters with PAS’ strident stand on the hudud issue backed by Anwar Ibrahim’s tacit “personal” endorsement of the same. DAP, despite its protestations of leaving PR if hudud is implemented, seems to be risking its support from its primarily ethnic Chinese base by its inability to rein in its coalition partners on this issue.

Unless PR is able to revert to a unified position based on its vision of Malaysia as a merit- and needs-based welfare state rather than a theocratic Islamic state, it risks losing its support amongst the liberal educated urban voter across all racial communities, which have been its most vocal supporters so far.

When social justice and economic equality are not forthcoming and both political options seem to be inimical to the minority interest, leaving the country for greener pastures may seem to be the only solution for some people. This has critical implications for the current and future competitiveness of Malaysia in the global economy.

If the tipping point is reached (if it has not been already), the extent of human and capital flight will result in the country struggling to retain its current economic position, far from accelerating towards developed nation status.

The current woes of MAS and TNB under government appointed boards and the lack of high quality local talent across business sectors are symptomatic of what the future of Malaysia could look like if these issues are left to fester.

2012 Budget Highlights

2011-10-08T01:26:00.000-07:00

TAN SRI ROBERT PHANG

he following are the highlights of the 2012 Budget tabled by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, who is also Finance Minister, at the Dewan Rakyat on Friday:

* Government will introduce other transformation programmes, culminating in the National Transformation Policy, effective 2011-2020.
* RM232.8 billion allocated to implement all government development plans, focusing on the well-being of the rakyat, with RM181.6 billion for operating expenditure and RM51.2 billion for development expenditure.

* RM13.6 billion allocated to the social sector, including education, training, health, welfare, housing and community development.

* Government will implement a special stimulus package through private financing initiative, through which total projects amounting RM6 billion will be carried out.

* 2012 announced as the year of National Innovation Movement, with a RM100 million allocation to implement several strategic initiatives.

* RM50.2 billion for the education sector, with a development allocation of RM1.9 billion for the Education Ministry to be spent on all types of schools.

* RM1 billion to be provided through a special fund for the construction, improvement and maintenance of schools, particularly to cater to their immediate needs.

* Abolition of RM24.50 and RM33.50 for co-curriculum, internal test papers, Malaysian Schools Sports Council fees and insurance premium involving students in primary and secondary schools respectively, beginning the 2012 school year.

* Financial contributions from companies and individuals to upgrade school facilities to be eligible for tax deductions, to encourage more charitable activities.

* Existing National Agrobusiness Terminal (TEMAN) in Wakaf Che Yeh (Kelantan) and Gopeng (Perak) will be developed as Rural Transformation Centres pilot projects, with four more RTCs to be developed in Kedah, Johor, sabah and Sarawak.

* Establishment of Professional Services Fund to encourage professionals such as lawyers, doctors and accountants to set up firms in small towns, with BSN providing RM100 million for soft loans with an interest of 4 per cent.

* RM110 million for the implementation of the Rural Mega Leap Programme covering 6,500 hectares in 11 Agropolitan Projects nationwide for the cultivation of commodity and cash crops as well as cage fish culture.
* RM140 million to implement RISDA's new planting and rubber re-planting programmes benefiting 20,000 smallholders.

* RM5 billion proposed to strengthen the development of rural basic infrastructure in a more comprehensive manner.

* RM500 million to continue implementing projects to upgrade basic infrastructure under "Projek Penyelenggaraan Infrastruktur Awam" and "Projek Infrastruktur Asas", providing opportunities for 29,000 Class F contractors registered with the Contractor Service Sector.

* RM50 million to expand rainwater harvesting programme to Sabah.

* RM400 million to upgrade water supply infrastructure in selected Felda areas, besides RM50 million to connect the reticulation system in estates to the main pipes.

* RM150 million to be provided to the Public Transport Development Fund in the SME Bank to enhance bus services for the rural community.

* RM90 million for the provision of basic necessities which includes expanding the clean water supply project as well as income generating programmes for the Orang Asli community.

* Introduction of the New Civil Service Remuneration Scheme (SBPA) to replace the current scheme.

* Improving the salary of civil servants through a single-tier structure with additional increments to enable civil servants to continue receiving annual increments over a longer period.

* Annual increment of civil servants to be increased between RM80 and RM320 according to their grades, beginning 2012. Those who opt for the SBPA will receive an annual increment of between 7 per cent and 13 per cent.

* With the implementation of SBPA, more than 600,000 government pensioners will benefit from a pension adjustment involving an allocation of RM600 million.

* Effective 2013, the government will implement an annual pension increment of 2 per cent without having to wait for any review of the remuneration system or salary adjustments.

* Extension of compulsory retirement age from 58 to 60 years old to optimise civil servants' contribution.

* Additional bonus of half-month salary with a minimum payment of RM500 for civil servants and an assistance of RM500 for government pensioners, to be paid together with December 2011 salary.

* RM120 million to offer 5,000 Masters and 500 doctoral scholarships for eligible civil servants, including teachers.

* The government will offer 20,000 places for diploma teachers to pursue undergraduate studies.

* A special one-off payment of RM3,000 to 4,300 individuals who have completed their contracts with the Department of Special Affairs (JASA) and Social Development Department (KEMAS).

Dr M warns of long financial crisis

2011-10-08T01:25:00.000-07:00

(The Malaysian Insider) - Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad warned the ongoing global economic crisis will continue long into the future as the West continues spending in a “state of denial.”

The former prime minister said in his blog yesterday that Western countries continue “believing that they can somehow continue to remain rich. They are unable to behave like poor people.”

On the same day Datuk Seri Najib Razak tabled a budget that aims to rein in the deficit to 4.7 per cent, Dr Mahathir said the West “will not recover because they are still in a state of denial.

“They still believe they are rich, as rich as before they plunged into the crisis. They must keep up the big power wealthy country image even if their people have no jobs, riot and protest.

“The great financial crisis will be with us for a long time. Even when it is resolved the aftermath will see slow recovery for the giants of the West,” he wrote.

“How nice it would be if our pocket is picked, we are allowed to print some money to replace what is lost,” he said, mocking the United States’ quantitative easing measures which has seen its federal reserve print US$3 trillion (RM9.5 billion) since the start of the financial crisis in 2008.

“Now Britain is following in the footsteps of elder brother,” he added, referring to the United Kingdom’s recent move to print £75 billion (RM370 billion) to help distressed banks.

Perkasa marah Namewee kebal undang-undang

2011-10-08T01:04:00.000-07:00

Namewee ini bebas buat apa sahaja selepas dimaafkan," kata Nurul Izham Anuar.

(Free Malaysia Today) - Naib Ketua Wira Perkasa, Nurul Izham Anuar menggelar kerajaan sebagai `serigala hilang taring’ kerana takut bertindak ke atas Namewee yang kini menjadi pengarah filem Nasi Lemak 2.0.

“Namewee ini bebas buat apa sahaja selepas dimaafkan,” katanya.

Menurutnya, pandangan beliau itu bukan kerana Namewe seorang yang berketurunan Cina.

Beliau bertanya adakah Namewee dihukum atas kesalahannya mempersendakan lagu Negaraku dan azan?

“Jawabannya tidak. Namewee terus kebal, tiada tindakan diambil ke atas penghinan Negaraku sehingga kini.

“Mengapa dia begitu kebal,? tanya Nurul.

Namewee pernah mencetuskan kontroversi pada tahun 2009 apabila menyanyikan lagu Negarakuku ketika belajar di Taiwan.

Contoh buruk

Beliau berkata, pendirian Wira Perkasa mengenai perkara itu adalah jelas dan konsisten.
Katanya, Namewee adalah contoh yang buruk untuk diikuti oleh

Najib defends his 2012 Budget

2011-10-08T01:03:00.000-07:00

(Bernama) - Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak today dismissed the opposition labelling of Budget 2012 as unrealistic by saying they are just devoid of ammunition to attack the government.

He said the proposals in Budget 2012 which he tabled in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday can be implemented by the government and are not empty promises.

“The budget proposals were drawn up by experts in the Finance Ministry, Bank Negara, Economic Planning Unit and other agencies, and not by fools. They are brilliant people, with PhD.

“The budget is not aimed at pleasing the people; we do not deceive the people. Instead, it (the budget) is a commitment of the Barisan Nasional government,” he
said at a meet-the-people event at Ladang Tuan Mee in Ijok, here.

Najib spent about an hour with more than 3,000 people at the location and presented Deepavali and Aidiladha gifts to about 600 people.

Najib said the aim of Budget 2012 was to enable the government provide for the well-being of the people and prosperity of the nation.

He said the government had undertaken an in-depth study of what the people really needed.

“I have outlined in the 1Malaysia concept several pillars, one of which is that we must be inclusive, meaning that everyone regardless of ethnic group or location is taken care of by the government.

“In line with this, Budget 2012 has fulfilled the fundamental principle of, among other things, ensuring benefits for all groups of people,” he said.

The prime minister said Budget 2012 had also focused on the Indian community whereby the government has provided a special allocation of RM50 million for basic facilities for the Indian community living in plantations.

Najib said that especially for Tuan Mee Estate, he had spoken with Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad CEO Tan Sri Lee Oi Hian and the latter had agreed to take immediate measures to provide clean and quality water to the estate.

He also said that prior to the tabling of the budget, he had asked all estate owners, both government-linked companies (GLCs) and private, to raise the wages of estate workers.

The prime minister said he was informed that many of the workers of Tuan Mee Estate had received a rise of RM200 in their monthly wage.

“I hope that in the near future, all estate workers will get a pay rise … we will take care of the welfare of all workers,” he said.

He also said that several grievances associated with bus services and floods raised by the Barisan Nasional coordinator for the Ijok state constituency, K. Partiban, would be attended to immediately.

“It was announced in Budget 2012 that households with a monthly income of RM3,000 and below will be given an assistance of RM500.

“This means that every family living in estates in the country will receive RM500 next year,” he said.

Also present with Najib at the event were Selangor Umno Liaison Committee deputy chairman Datuk Seri Noh Omar, MIC president Datuk G. Palanivel, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) president Datuk M. Kayveas and Selangor BN leaders.

Something is not right at all!

2011-10-08T01:02:00.000-07:00

J. Ong

Prior to the presentation of the 2012 Budget by the PM in the Dewan Rakyat, Najib had a closed door meeting with his top aides of the Finance Ministry and the presence of Bank Negara Governor and the Chief Secretary to the Government.

What we do not understand is what the f**k is the pseudo “First Lady” Rosmah among the attendees? She has no locus standi to be there, except if she wanted first-hand knowledge of the Budget, which is supposed to be confidential until and unless it has been presented to the Parliament. She wants to make sure her own pet projects are safely there, as she does not trust her husband’s words!

Is she telling us that she rank pari pasu with the other top cats, or even higher?

No previous Finance Minister had their wife around during such private previews before Budget is presented. Not even Tun Dr Siti Hasmah. This woman is definitely going to cause the downfall of Najib and nullify all the hard work of Najib walking around among the Rakyat recently.

UMNO insiders will not tolerate such behavior by Rosmah, and before Mahathir blows his trumpet of disapproval, I am beating Dr Mahathir to the gun, this time.

****************************************************

NAJIB CHECKS ON FINAL 2012 BUDGET PREPARATIONS
PUTRAJAYA, Oct 6 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak tonight monitored final preparations involving Finance Ministry''s staff ahead of tomorrow''s tabling of the 2012 Budget.

Najib, who is Finance Minister, spent about one hour at the ministry, during which he also chaired a closed-door meeting with senior ministry officials.

Present were his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah, Deputy Finance Ministers Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin and Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai.

Treasury Secretary-General Tan Sri Dr Wan Abdul Aziz Wan Abdullah, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan as well as Bank Negara Governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz were also present.

Najib is scheduled to table Malaysia''s 2012 Budget at the Dewan Rakyat at 4pm.

In remarks made ahead of the event, the prime minister said that it would be a transformational budget for all Malaysians in line with the concept of 1Malaysia: People First, Performance Now.

M’sia should have been a federation of three nations

2011-10-08T01:01:00.000-07:00

Civil society activist Haris Ibrahim says the original agreement in 1963 called for the setting up of the Federation of Malaysia as three separate nations.

(Free Malaysia Today) - United Borneo Front (UBF) chief Jeffrey Kitingan wants two administrative systems to be implemented in Malaysia but civil rights activist Haris Ibrahim says this is not in the spirit of the 1963 Borneo Agenda.

Instead, Haris suggests that Malaysia should have been a federation of three nations.

The UBF is pushing for a “1-Country, 2-Systems” type of administration in Malaysia – one for Peninsular Malaysia and the other for Sabah and Sarawak.

Jeffrey said this was in line with its Borneo Agenda and aspiration to restore political autonomy to Sabah and Sarawak.

Speaking at its recent Borneo Tea Party gathering and Hari Raya open house held in Dataran Bengkoka, Pitas, Jeffrey said the vast distance between the two regions with the South China Sea between them emphasised their differences.

“The differences in indigenous people, culture, language and heritage should be taken into consideration in the administration of the Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak in addition to the historical fact that Sabah and Sarawak together with Singapore and Malaya formed the Federation of Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963,” he said.

Responding to this today, Haris wrote in his blog: “The then federation of Malaya, Singapore, North Borneo and Sarawak had agreed to come together and, without any loss or reduction in their respective status as independent sovereign nations, form the federation of Malaysia as equal nation-state partners within that new federation.”

He backed his view by quoting clause three of Sabah’s 20-Point Agreement, which reads: “Whilst accepting that the present Constitution of the Federation of Malaya should form the basis of the Constitution of Malaysia, the Constitution of Malaysia should be a completely new document drafted and agreed in the light of a free association of states and should not be a series of amendments to a Constitution drafted and agreed by different states in totally different circumstances.”

Haris argued that Jeffrey’s proposal did not honour the 18 and 20 points signed respectively by Sarawak and Sabah.

Najib, wake up!

2011-10-08T01:00:00.000-07:00

He must know that his credibility in the international arena is nothing to shout about and take serious steps to address the issue of electoral reforms.

Nazri’s statement proves that all along the government is not concerned with electoral reforms. Its claim is that “everything is fine, if not, how could the opposition win five states in 2008?” This statement is meant to deceive the gullible among the rakyat because the opposition won in spite of the dubious electoral system due to the overwhelming support from the rakyat and not because the election process is clean.

Selena Tay, Free Malaysia Today

The July 9 Bersih rally came about mainly due to the fact that the voter rolls were dirty and are still dirty. Hence, the name Bersih, which means “clean” in English.

Due to the pressure exerted by the rakyat who came in droves to participate in the rally, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak announced that a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) will be formed to see to electoral reforms. The keywords here are “to see to”. This does not mean that electoral reforms will necessarily be implemented.

The nine MPs sitting on the PSC are made up of fve Barisan Nasional MPs: chairman Maximus Ongkili (PBS, Kota Marudu), Alexander Nanta Linggi (PBB, Kapit), Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad (Umno, Kangar), Fong Chan Onn (MCA, Alor Gajah) and P Kamalanathan (MIC, Hulu Selangor).

The three opposition MPs from Pakatan Rakyat are Azmin Ali (PKR, Gombak), Anthony Loke (DAP, Rasah) and Dr Hatta Ramli (PAS, Kuala Krai).

The Independent bloc is represented by Wee Choo Keong (Wangsa Maju).

Although the PSC seems to be a good move by the BN government, its sincerity and seriousness in implementing electoral reforms is doubted by its detractors who claim that the PSC is only “for show” and “an eyewash to hoodwink the public”.

Still, there are many who lauded the government’s move as sincere and commendable.

However, the PSC started on a wrong note when Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Abdul Aziz stated that reforms can still be implemented after the 13th general election if Parliament is dissolved before the reforms are implemented.

It is pointless to have reforms after the 13th general election. This only goes to show that the government is not really serious about electoral reforms as what the sceptics have trumpeted all along.

Bersih 2.0 has thus issued a press statement on Oct 4 denouncing Nazri’s statement and urging the prime minister to give all Malaysians his word that the polls will not be held before the recommendations from the PSC are implemented.

Government is not concerned

Nazri’s statement proves that all along the government is not concerned with electoral reforms. Its claim is that “everything is fine, if not, how could the opposition win five states in 2008?” This statement is meant to deceive the gullible among the rakyat because the opposition won in spite of the dubious electoral system due to the overwhelming support from the rakyat and not because the election process is clean.

Had the election process been clean, the opposition would have already taken over the seat in Putrajaya!

On Oct 6, the government’s sincerity in electoral reforms was again in doubt when Ongkili made a statement that the views of Bersih 2.0 would not be taken into account!

This is shocking indeed as the PSC was set up due to pressure from Bersih 2.0. Therefore, to ignore Bersih 2.0 is like eating nasi lemak without the sambal!

Bersih 2.0 has indeed been cleaned out by the PSC, given that the statement came from none other than the PSC chairman himself.

This brings to light the poignant question: why is the PSC chairman making a unilateral decision without the consensus of the other eight PSC members as the first PSC meeting has yet to begin?

With the PSC starting on a wrong footing, it is highly doubtful that much can be achieved and it is likely that it will end up as a rubber-stamp committee to approve the current flawed electoral system. Thus, the PSC’s sceptics have been vindicated even before the first meeting has begun.

Foreign vote bank

The three opposition MPs must do their utmost to see to it that the PSC is not a toothless tiger. As it is, there have been many adverse reports pertaining to the malpractice or oversight committed by the Election Commission (EC).

Chief among these are the proven evidence that the names of foreign workers have been inadvertently or mistakenly entered into the electoral rolls although how this could have happened is anyone’s guess.

Coincidentally, the legalisation of the foreign workers came at a most crucial time (in August 2011), with the 13th general election widely tipped to be held by March next year.

Right to question hudud law

2011-10-08T00:59:00.000-07:00

By Azmi Sharom, The Star

My problem with religion-based law making, is the idea that it cannot be questioned because it is divine in origin. In a democracy, if we can’t question the laws that affect our lives, then it is not a democracy at all.

POOR Fulham. Despite thoroughly thrashing Tony Fernandes’ Queens Park Rangers 6-0, all the sports headlines were about the other London derby where Tottenham Hotspur edged Arsenal 2-1. I suppose it is all about perception; just what is important and what is not.

As much as I would like to think that the game at White Hart Lane is an indication that the power in North London has shifted to Seven Sisters road, I am ever cautious and am reminded of the saying that a swallow does not a summer make.

Although I suppose in the case of the Spurs-Arsenal rivalry, considering that we have beaten them three times in the last four league clashes, it just may be there is more than one swallow fluttering about.

However, I digress. My earlier point remains and that is the perception of what is important and what is not.

At the moment, there are all sorts of news stories floating about and they point towards one thing, elections.

PAS has once again raised the hudud issue. Frankly, I am not too worried about this matter.

Pakatan Rakyat has stated that they will not go on with hudud unless all the component parties agree.

This seems highly unlikely as DAP will never agree and I am sure there are some voices in Keadilan too who will not be comfortable with hudud.

However, if they do try to introduce it, I will most certainly object.

The reason why I object is encapsulated in Hadi’s (PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang) statement in the press on the matter (if it was accurately reported) where he said that hudud cannot be questioned.

Whoa there, “cannot be questioned”? I am sorry, if you have personal beliefs that affect only you and you won’t question them, that’s all fine and dandy.

But if you are going to introduce something into the public sphere, something that will affect the lives of the citizens, I don’t care if the source of what you are introducing is divine, it jolly well better be questioned.

And I don’t care if you say I have no degree from Al-Azhar and no goatee to go along with it, I will question any law that any government wants to introduce.

This has been my problem with any religion-based law making, the idea that simply because it is divine in origin means it can’t be questioned. In a democracy, if we can’t question the laws that affect our lives, then it is not a democracy at all.

And then there is poor Mat Sabu; charged with criminal defamation for questioning the heroism of the policemen who fought at Bukit Kepong.

I checked the Penal Code and sure enough, criminal defamation can be committed against the dead.

It’s a bit weird because how far back does this provision extend? I mean in historical matters there will always be different perspectives and differing opinions based on new findings and discoveries.

In case the Government decides to charge me with criminal defamation for questioning the character of one of our early leaders, let me use an American example.

Thomas Jefferson; renaissance man who helped draft the American Constitution and ensured a modern democracy where all men were created equal, or a shameless hypocrite slave owner who fathered numerous children with his female slaves?

Both views are correct and depending on your own take on history the view that will take precedence will differ.

And surely that was what Mat Sabu’s statement was; his take on history.

Was it insensitive, probably, should he be prosecuted for it, I don’t think so.

However, all these issues are really not that important to me. I think they are just the usual sound and fury that come with politicians posturing in the light that elections are coming.

The real important story for now should be the Budget and more importantly the alternative budget that the Pakatan has unveiled.

It is really good to see Pakatan acting like they have a Shadow Cabinet (although they don’t have one really).

We need to see concrete counter proposals from the opposition to not only help us question the Government’s Budget but also to assess the alternatives which a different government could give. This is vital in a mature democracy.

I certainly hope that discussions in the next couple of weeks will be about comparing the two budgets for surely that is more important than a hudud law which is unlikely to be implemented and Mat Sabu’s supposed lack of patriotism.

At variance with the Constitution

2011-10-08T00:58:00.000-07:00

By Shad Saleem Faruqi, The Star

The clear intention of the 1957 Constitution was to allocate penal powers to the Federal Government and to confer on the states residual powers over minor syariah offences.

WHENEVER a general election appears to be around the corner, some people find it politically profitable to stoke the embers of controversy about the need for an Islamic state and its accompanying requisite – hudud laws – ie, laws relating to crimes, punishments and rights and duties that are mentioned in the Holy Quran.

Such a season of polemic is with us again and a few observations are in order.

First, it is a fact that since the 80s, many Muslims have been aspiring to give centrality to the Syariah in our legal system.

While this religious quest is understandable, its realisation requires massive legal reconstruction of the basic legal edifice.

We must be open-eyed about these changes and must accomplish them in accordance with, and not in disregard of, the constitutional charter.

Second, respecting the sensitivities and rights of other religious communities and living in peace and harmony with them under a system of just, fair and compassionate governance is also an important requirement of the Syariah.

Example of other Muslim countries where the hudud has been enforced and how hudud’s implementation has impacted on war, peace or social harmony needs to be thoroughly studied.

Third, most acts deemed criminal under the hudud are also prohibited under our penal laws.

Whether it is murder, rape, theft, robbery, unnatural sex or incest, the prohibitions of the Syariah are replicated in our law. Supporters of the hudud should note that the major difference is in the severity of punishments, the rules of evidence and of proof.

In some cases, Syariah penalties are less severe. For example, drug offences under the Syariah do not attract mandatory death sentences. The life of a murderer can be spared if the victim’s family accepts blood money in compensation.

In Islamic jurisprudence, the law of evidence, the right of the accused to retract a confession and the inadmissibility of the evidence of an agent provocateur grant better protection to the accused than under ordinary law.

On the other side, the severe Syariah punishments of severing of limbs and stoning to death are practised neither in our legal system nor in the vast majority of Muslim-majority nations.

Fourth, the religious and political debate about the hudud in this country seems to be proceeding in blissful disregard of the constitutional scheme of things.

Actually, the Federal Constitution has provided clear guidance about who may legislate for crimes, who may prosecute criminal offences, which courts may try offenders, who is the subject of the law and what penalties may be imposed.

The Constitution is supreme and its imperatives cannot be lightly disregarded.

Who may legislate crimes?

In Schedule 9 List I Paragraph 4, criminal law and procedure, the administration of justice, official secrets, corrupt practices, creation of offences in respect of any of the matters included in the federal list or dealt with by federal law are in the hands of Parliament.

Under Schedule 9, List II, Para 1 the states have a power to create and punish Islamic offences subject to a number of significant limitations.

First, State legislative authority in respect of “creation and punishment of offences by persons professing the religion of Islam against precepts of that religion” is limited by the words “except in regard to matters included in the Federal List”. Among matters included in the federal list are civil and criminal law and procedure.

Second, State authority to legislate on Islamic crimes is further qualified by the words “or dealt with by federal law” in Schedule 9 List I Paragraph 4(h).

Betting and lotteries, murder, theft, robbery, rape, incest and unnatural sex are all offences in Islamic law but they are clearly in federal hands because of Schedule 9 List I Item 4(l) and 4(h) and the federal Penal Code.

The clear intention of the 1957 Constitution was to allocate almost all penal powers to the federation and to confer on the states only residual powers over Syariah offences like khalwat, zina, skipping of Friday prayers and failure to observe the compulsory fasts during Ramadan.

Who may be tried before Syariah Courts?

Under Schedule 9 List II Paragraph 1, Syariah Courts are permitted to exercise jurisdiction only over persons professing the religion of Islam.

A non-Muslim cannot be subjected to the Syariah or compelled to appear before the Syariah Courts. Even if he consents, the Syariah Court has no jurisdiction over him because jurisdiction is a matter of law, not of consent or acquiescence.

If my understanding is correct, in an Islamic state, Islamic criminal laws including hudud apply to all citizens. That would pose a great challenge to our existing constitutional jurisprudence and our provisions on freedom of religion.

Is Islam in the State List? Islamic law covers the whole range of civil, criminal, personal and commercial matters.

Islamic law encompasses environmental and international matters. A popular legal myth in Malaysia is that all Islamic matters are within state jurisdiction!

If this were so, then why the explicit limitations on the penal powers of the State Assemblies?

Why the need for detailed exposition in Schedule 9, List II Para 1 (the State List) of family and personal law matters? Why not just have the generic words “All matters covered by the Syariah” in the State List?

If all matters of Islam are in State hands, as some experts are arguing, then whether it is crime, tort, contract, banking, or commercial law, if it involves Muslims, the matter should be in State Assembly hands and triable by the Syariah Courts.

Malaysia would then become “one country, with two systems” – one for Muslims and the other for non-Muslims. This is not what the forefathers envisioned.

To underline the point that in the original scheme of things, Islamic law was shared between federal and state jurisdictions and not everything connected with Islam is in the hands of State Assemblies, one can note Paragraph 4(k) of the Federal List which specifically mentions that “ascertainment of Islamic law and other personal laws for purposes of federal law” are in federal hands.

What punishments may be imposed?

Schedule 9 List II Paragraph 1 states that Syariah Courts “shall not have jurisdiction in respect of offences except in so far as conferred by federal law”.

The relevant federal law is the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965. It confines Syariah Court jurisdiction to such offences as are punishable with maximum three years’ jail, RM5,000 fine and six lashes. Any state law, including a hudud law, imposing larger penalties would be ultra vires the Act of 1965 and unconstitutional.

In sum, attempts by some States to legislate hudud laws and to impose hudud penalties will bring forth embarrassing constitutional law issues pitting the Constitution against religion.

Two prominent arguments in favour of the implementation of hudud need to be scrutinised.

First, the assertion that application of hudud in Malaya is not new because the Syariah was applied in Malaya in pre-British days.

With all due respect, “syariah” and “hudud” are not interchangeable.

In Malay history, there is centuries of tradition of Muslim personal law but I have difficulty documenting widespread application of hudud in Malaya.

Likewise the assertion is not convincing that because of the vox populi in some parts of the country, we must accept the change.

The Constitution cannot be overthrown by disputed historical assertions or by popular opinion.

Its procedures for amendments are elaborate and must be invoked.

Law must grow and change in accordance with the law and not by the opinion of the people or of self-anointed elites.

Moving forward from racial tensions in Malaysia

2011-10-08T00:56:00.000-07:00

There is also genuine ideological belief amongst Malaysia’s extreme right-wing Malay ethno-nationalists that the Federal Constitution is based on Malay Supremacy. They conveniently forget that the same document—as abovementioned—also provides for the protection of the legitimate interests of the other communities.

By Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (New Mandala)

Politics in Malaysia is centred on race and religion. This Southeast Asian nation is in many ways a modern and moderate Muslim majority country. But this carefully-cultivated international image belies the underlying tensions of Malaysian society.

Like many countries in the region, Malaysia’s ethnic diversity is largely a legacy of colonial policy. Large numbers of Chinese, Indian and Indonesian migrants were brought in either directly by the British colonial administrators or commercial agents as part of their plans to exploit the economy of the various Malay states during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

There was naturally much debate—especially when it became evident that the British would be winding back their empire—over the place of these non-Malays, who had settled and largely became part of the local fabric. What for instance, would the religion and language of the proposed free-state be? Many ethnic groups felt their claims in these matters to be equal, if not better than the others.

Thus when Malaya achieved its independence in 1957, the Federal Constitution of Malaya (nowMalaysia) reflected a consensus and compromise between the different ethnicities and the preference of the retreating colonialists. Islam was to be the religion of the Federation, but other faiths were allowed to be practiced. Malay was made the official language but other communities were allowed to use, teach and learn their own. Finally, the King – the Supreme Head – of Malaysia was given the power not only to protect the “special position” of the indigenous Malays and natives of Sabah and Sarawak, but also the legitimate interests of the other communities on the advice of the Prime Minister.

Thus, while many see the Federal Constitution as an imperfect document, it still has a strong imperative for liberty and justice.

True, the institutions it created were generally conservative, but they functioned with integrity and efficiency. There was rule of law. Much was spent on education and infrastructure development.Malaysiawon a place of respect in the world.

This, however, was undone during Dr. Mahathir Mohammad tenure as Prime Minister. He fought to shore up his power at the expense ofMalaysia’s royal families, judiciary, civil service, media and civil society. Malaysia’s fledgling democracy seemed headed towards one-party, and indeed one-man rule. Malaysia suffered one Constitutional crisis after another as he brooked no dissent.

Mahathir’s era also saw a change in Malaysia’s social fabric. The global Islamic revival made politicised Islam became more visible in the public space, which the ethnic Malays, who are constitutionally also Muslim, flocked to as a means to articulate their identity more clearly.

At the same time, ethic polarization increased as non-Malays became disillusioned with the limited opportunities available to them in the public sphere and an increase in socio-economic inequalities across all-races. On the other hand, the advent of the Internet saw the slow dismantling of the government monopoly on information and capital.

This was the background to the Reformasi movement that emerged after the sacking of Mahathir’s third Deputy Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim in 1998. The movement derailed Mahathir’s attempt to recreateMalaysia in his image as a developed nation by 2020, and led many Malays to vote for the Opposition in the 1999 elections.

Thus, Mahathir’s dominant UMNO party tried to shore-up its Malay support. It increased its rhetoric of Malay supremacy (“ketuanan Melayu”) to frighten the community into thinking they would be “swamped” by the other races while abandoning moderate Malays and the non-Malays. UMNO’s racialism led to the BN losing unprecedented ground in the 2008 elections. Barisan Nasional (BN) was denied its traditional two-thirds Parliamentary majority and lost control of five state governments.

The present administration led by Najib Razak has realised on the need for change and launched a “1Malaysia” campaign that talks of multiracialism and unity.

Unfortunately, while Najib has been saying the right things, there seems to be a lack of political will to push through reforms that would upset the various vested interests in the establishment. This was also true of his predecessor’s – Abdullah Ahmad Badawi – tenure.

There is also genuine ideological belief amongst Malaysia’s extreme right-wing Malay ethno-nationalists that the Federal Constitution is based on Malay Supremacy. They conveniently forget that the same document—as abovementioned—also provides for the protection of the legitimate interests of the other communities.

While the Federal Constitution provides for asymmetrical freedoms and responsibilities, equality as a fundamental liberty is enshrined.

Thus, Malaysia’s rising tensions have less to do with its formal structures than its entrenched authoritarian political culture. The mistaken belief that the Constitution embodies Malay Supremacy – a term only introduced in the mid-1980s – is a result of the hijacking of history by political propagandists, racist brainwashing camps for university students and civil servants and extremist sentiments being played up by BN-owned media.

The ONE ring still confounding all

2011-10-05T17:38:00.000-07:00

Nazri Aziz has tried to explain away 'Rosmah's diamond ring' but some are still sceptical about the one ring's Malaysian journey.

(Free Malaysia Today) - A former PKR supreme council member Badrul Hisham Shaharin says that Minister in the Prime Minister Department Nazri Aziz’s explanation of the RM73 million “Rosmah’s diamond ring” has a hollow ring to it.

Yesterday, Nazri said in a written reply to Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), after checking with the Customs Department, “confirmed that there was no such purchase of the ring”.

He also admitted that the ring was brought to Malaysia for a private exhibition display and sent back after four days.

Badrul Hisham said he is also diappointed that Nazri did not mention about allegations that there were also diamond-fitted bangles.

“I am not making any accusation but it is about time Rosmah provided an explanation and not just say ‘it’s all nonsense and they envy me,’” he said.

He said thare is still a cloud hanging over the allegations as Nazri has failed to address the screenshots from the Customs office computers which clearly indicate that Rosmah as the recipient of the diamond ring.

Screenshots of the alleged Customs computer displays also revealed that the ring did not have import duties.

The diamond ring episode started in July, when a blog called “MiloSuam” claimed that a diamond ring worth a whopping US$24 million (RM73.48 million) was sent to Rosmah sometime in April by New York-based fine jewellers, Jacob & Co.

After a few days another blogger called “Semut and Papan Kekunci” published photographs of Rosmah wearing bangles that were strikingly similar to Jacob & Co’s “Zebra Safari Collection”.

A check by FMT with Jacob & Co revealed that the Safari collection bangles were worth nearly RM1.65 million.

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs dies aged 56

2011-10-05T17:35:00.000-07:00

Former chief executive and co-founder of US technology giant Apple Steve Jobs has died, the company says. He was 56.

"Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve," Apple said.

Jobs announced he was suffering from pancreatic cancer in 2004.

Fellow internet pioneer Bill Gates said Jobs' "profound impact" would " be felt for many generations to come".

Mr Gates added: "For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it's been an insanely great honour. I will miss Steve immensely."
'The face of Apple'

"Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being," Apple said.

"Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple."

He was one of the world's best-known business leaders and introduced the iPod and the iPhone to the world.

His death came a day after Apple unveiled its latest iPhone 4S model.

Jobs announced in 2004 that he was suffering from pancreatic cancer and had a liver transplant five years later.

In January, he took medical leave, before resigning as CEO in August and handing over his duties to Tim Cook.

In his resignation letter, Jobs said: "I believe Apple's brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role."

However, Jobs stayed on as Apple's chairman.

More than almost any other business leader, he was indistinguishable from the company he co-founded in the 1970s.

As the face of Apple, he represented its dedication to high-end technology and fashionable design.

And inside the company he exerted a level of influence unheard of in most businesses.

Noose Tightens in French Defense Scandal

2011-10-04T19:10:00.000-07:00

Asian dimension as French state-owned arms company faces murder, bribery allegations

Breham said Razak Baginda’s company Perimekar had received the commission for "supporting the contract," which he said was a euphemism for unexplained costs, and also for "housing the crew" of the submarines in France. Perimekar was wholly owned by another company, KS Ombak Laut Sdn Bhd, which in turn was also controlled by Razak Baginda. His wife Mazalinda, a lawyer and former magistrate, was the principal shareholder, according to the French lawyers.

Written by John Berthelsen, Asia Sentinel
After years of inaction and coverup, details are emerging in France of the sale of armaments by the French state-owned defense contractor DCNS to countries across the world including Pakistan, Malaysia, Chile, India, Taiwan and Saudi Arabia, with bribes and kickbacks built into DCNS’s budget, ensnaring politicians across the globe.

Allegations involving DCNS, formerly known as DCN, range from murder to bribery and corruption and go from defense procurement officials in each of those countries to some of the top politicians in France.

Under the French legal system, prosecutors under the control of the Ministry of Justice must make a preliminary enquiry, during which no one has access to the files, so that any information the police have obtained cannot be shared. The prosecutors have been stymied for years by the ministry. However, investigators appear to be losing their awe of politicians all the way up to President Nicholas Sarkozy.

In September, for instance, Nicholas Bazire, 54, the best man at Sarkozy’s wedding to supermodel Carla Bruni, was arrested and charged with misuse of public funds in the 1995 presidential campaign of Edouard Balladur. Sarkozy was Balladur’s campaign spokesman and budget minister at the time. Another friend, Thierry Gaubert, Sarkozy’s cabinet chief when he was budget and communication minister, was arrested earlier. Sarkozy is seeking avoid the appointment of an instruction judge in an effort to keep the cases under control. But the political knives may be out for Sarkozy.

That increases the chances that investigating judges will allow prosecutors a more detailed look at DCNS’s books to probe kickbacks in Pakistan, where 11 French submarine engineers were killed in a bomb attack, and Taiwan, where a number of murders and suicides have been recorded in connection with the sale of frigates to Taiwan’s navy. The details can be found here.

William Bourdon, the leader of a three-lawyer team investigating Malaysia’s US$1 billion purchase of submarines from DCNS for the Malaysian reform organization Suaram, earlier told Asia Sentinel he hoped his team would have access to the files by October. Bourdon was summarily deported from Malaysia in July after giving a speech in Penang describing some of the details of the allegations.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak was defense minister at a time when Malaysia bought two Scorpene-class submarines from DCNS. Included in the transaction was a €114 million commission paid to Perimekar Sdn Bhd, a company owned by Najib’s close friend, Abdul Razak Baginda. The transaction has been mired in controversy since 2006, when Altantuya Shaariibuu, a party girl and translator ostensibly hired to help in the contract, was murdered after demanding US$500,000 from Razak Baginda, her jilted lover, for unspecified reasons. Razak Baginda was acquitted of her murder under unusual circumstances without having to provide a defense. Two of Najib’s police bodyguards were convicted and sentenced to death. They have appealed the verdict.

Joseph Breham, a lawyer with Solicitors International Human Rights Group and a member of Bourdon’s team, said in London last week that DCNS often budgeted as much as 8 to 12 percent of its total receipts as "commissions" paid to grease sales of armaments in third-world countries. Breham’s speech was reported for the Malaysia website Malaysiakini by Miriam Mokhtar.

Malaysia bought two Scorpene submarines from DCNS for about US$1 billion and leased a third from a DCNS subsidiary for training. Of that, the €114 commission was paid to Razak Baginda’s company, Perimekar Sdn Bhd.

Breham said Razak Baginda’s company Perimekar had received the commission for "supporting the contract," which he said was a euphemism for unexplained costs, and also for "housing the crew" of the submarines in France. Perimekar was wholly owned by another company, KS Ombak Laut Sdn Bhd, which in turn was also controlled by Razak Baginda. His wife Mazalinda, a lawyer and former magistrate, was the principal shareholder, according to the French lawyers.

Breham questioned why such vast sums could be paid to Razak Baginda’s company. The €114 million obtained by Ombak Laut, he said, was more than the amount paid by France to all of its primary school teachers for a year. He also revealed that DCNS’s former finance director had written memos in which he alleged that €31 million of the €114 million had been used for "commercial engineering", a term Breham said had no legal meaning.

Breham said that in France, before 2002, any money used to bribe foreign officials was tax deductible. When the former finance director of DCN made a claim for the €31million allegedly used to bribe the Malaysians for the purchase of the Scorpenes, the Minister of Budget questioned such a large bribe, although he did eventually authorize the tax break.

Rakyat mahu bersatu, tetapi bersatu di luar BN

2011-10-04T19:09:00.000-07:00

ASPAN ALIAS

Di dalam sesebuah negara seperti negara kita yang penduduknya terdiri dari berbilang kaum, yang paling penting kita mesti perjuangkan ialah membina masyarakat dan rakyat yang bersatu dan muhibbah.

Di dalam negara kita dini hari kita sedang melihat keruntuhan dan kejatuhan tahap perhubungan kaum yang merbahaya. Perhubungan di antara kaum ini kini sudah sampai keperingkat yang terendah malahan lebh rendah dan merbahaya dari keadaan sebelum 13 Mei 1969 dahulu.

Laungan dan bisikan rasis yang di amalkan oleh pemimpin-pemimpin yang tidak berkepimpinan merupakan penyebab utama kenapa penyakit membenci di antara satu kaum dengan kaum yang lain sudah sampai ke tahap yang sangat menyakitkan. Oleh kerana kelemahan pimpinan yang tidak di hormati oleh rakyat berbilang kaum maka parti-parti yang rasis yang menganggotai BN sedang sibuk memukul gendang perkauman untuk mendapat sokongan kaum yang mereka masing-masing pimpin.

Semasa kepimpinan negara mempunyai kredibiliti yang tinggi kerana sifat ‘magnanimity’ mereka yang tinggi dahulu, mereka berani untuk mengambil sikap yang jelas untuk melakukan usaha mencapai penyatuan rakyat. Tun Abd Razak berjaya membawa semua pemimpin berbilang kaum kemeja perundingan dan menyatakan dengan terus terang yang ‘national unity’ itu ada matlamat terakhir bagi negara kita.

Tun Razak dan pimpinan beliau berani menyatakan perpaduan kaum itu adalah perkara yang terpenting untuk dicapai. DAN itu pun ‘ultimate’ negara. Kepimpinan semasa itu berani mendapatkan persetujuan semua pemimpin kaum di negara ini untuk negara melalui dasar-dasar yang jelas bagi mencapai matlamat perpaduan kaum itu. Pemimpin-pemimpin UMNO sebagai parti yang utama semasa itu faham tentang keresahan rakyat yang menyebabkan berlakunya kejadian 13 Mei ’69 itu.

Di sinilah lebihnya pemimpin pra Mahathir. Mereka mampu menyelami masalah rakyat yang berbilang kaum ini. Apabila mereka tahu dan faham semua masalah rakyat ini maka barulah mereka lakukan tindakan dengan menggubal dasar-dasar yang boleh menyelesaikan masalah itu. Ini memang asas ilmu pengurusan; ‘one has to understand problems up to specific even before thinking of solving them’.

Pemimpin kita berjaya menyelami segala masalah rakyat yang berbilang kaum, maka pimpinan pun dengan mudah menggubal dasar-dasar untuk membentuk proses-proses ke arah matlamat ‘national unity’ itu.

Tun Razak dan barisan kepimpinannya berjaya mendapat sokongan semua kaum untuk beliau melaksanakan DEB dan pencapaiannya ialah melalui beberapa proses yang telah dipersetujui oleh semua kaum.

Pertamanya untuk membasmi kemiskinan tanpa mengira kaum. Keduanya untuk menghapuskan cara mengenali satu-satu kaum itu melalui fungsi ekonominya. Kerajaan tidak mahu lagi Melayu di kenali sebagai pekebun dan petani kecilan yang duduk di desa-desa. Kaum Cina tidak hanya dipersepsikan sebagai gulungan peniaga sahaja dan kaum India tidak digambarkan sebagai hanya pekerja ladang kepunyaan bangsa asing dan taukay besar-besar sahaja. Ketiganya untuk merapatkan jurang pendapatan di antara yang berada dengan tidak berada.

Keempatnya untuk membesarkan serta melebarkan kek ekonmi negara dan menyusun pembahagian harta kekayaan negara mengikut kaum secara equitable (bukan equal).

Bumiputra di berikan kemudahan dan galakan untuk mencapai 30 peratus penyertaan di dalam bidang ekonomi dan industri dan bukan bumiputra sebanyak 40 peratus dan selebihnya untuk bukan rakyat Malaysia.

Dasar ini telah di persetujui oleh semua pihak termasuk yang bukan bumiputra kerana proses pembahagian dan menambah penyertai bumiputra itu bukannya dengan mengambil alih atau merampas hak bukan bumiputra tetapi sebaliknya dengan membesarkan kek ekonomi tadi untuk bumiputra mengusahakan pencapai matlamat pegang kekayaan serta equiti negara sehingga 30 peratus menjelangnya tahun 1990

Tun M: Pakatan's Alternative Budget is like an "Empty Pocket"

2011-10-04T19:08:00.000-07:00

(Bernama) - "It's easy when we want to spend the money which we don't have," is what former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said when asked to comment on the tabling of the alternative Budget by the opposition Pakatan Rakyat.

It was reported that Pakatan Rakyat would table its annual budget today, three days ahead before the federal government presents its 2012 Budget.

The opposition coalition's budget is said to be an alternative budget before the 2012 Budget is tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in Parliament on Friday. Najib is also Finance Minister.

"It's always easy to spend the money which is not under our control. We can do anything (like) promising to give 20 percent oil royalty.

"Yes, we can make the promise as we are not the government. Make promises, so long you win the elections (general election).

"It is common, even (US President Barack) Obama promised to close Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, but until now the detention center has not been closed yet. But he was elected," said Dr Mahathir to reporters after delivering a keynote address at the 8th Kuala Lumpur Islamic Finance Forum 2011 here today.

Dr Mahathir also served as finance minister when he was the prime minister for 22 years.

Like the RFS, Taib cannot stop the RARA getting into Sarawak

2011-10-04T19:07:00.001-07:00

THE PEOPLE'S PARLIAMENT

Yes, Radio Free Sarawak is back on the Sarawak airwaves, after a short break, and on a new radio frequency.

To catch up with Papa Orang Hutan and his team, go HERE.

Last week, following the launch of the Rakyat Reform Agenda (RARA) roadshow in KL on 19th September, 2011, the Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) took its RARA roadshow to Sabah and Sarawak.

On 27th and 28th September, we successfully held forums in Kota Kinabalu and Tawau respectively.

To read the news report following the forum in Tawau, click on the news clipping here.

On 29th, September, 2011, as you all might already know by now, I was refused entry into Kuching, Sarawak where, at 7pm that same night, MCLM was to host its RARA forum at the Grand Continental Hotel.

Hudud: Federal vs state legislative powers

2011-10-04T19:07:00.000-07:00

While I acknowledge and admit that the respective State Legislative Assembly (“SLA”) has the power to legislate on matters pertaining to Islam, I am somewhat doubtful that the SLA may pass any kind of law which creates offences and prescribes punishment for those offences in accordance with the tenet of Islam, especially when such offences and punishments are already created and prescribed by the Parliament.

Art Harun, The Malaysian Insider

I have stated in my article, "Of wet dream, nightmare and Marty McFly” that the implementation of hudud is a Constitutional impossibility until and unless two-thirds of our Members of Parliament would vote to amend the Federal Constitution to allow it to happen. I also grimly stated in that article that the time when such Constitutional amendment is moved would be the first time when our Members of Parliament would vote solely or predominantly along racial and religious lines regardless of party policy or party whip.

The Bar Council has since issued a statement which basically echoes my opinion. Lim Chee Wee, the Bar Council’s President was quoted as saying:

“Hudud cannot be implemented within the current constitutional and legislative framework.”

My friend, the learned Professor Aziz Bari was reported to have disagreed with the Bar Council’s view. The learned Professor was quoted to say:

“The key here is Islam, not criminal law.”

The learned Professor pointed out that the Federal Constitution has set out the respective jurisdiction and powers of the Federal and State legislature. As the powers to legislate on matters pertaining to Islam rests with the State, he argued that the State, including Kelantan, may pass hudud laws accordingly. He also refuted that such a move would result in double jeopardy for Muslim wrongdoers as, in his words:

“In other words, two systems is not a problem and we are not the only country in the world where this duality prevails.”

I have the highest respect and regard for the learned Professor but I beg to differ on his opinion on this matter.

While I acknowledge and admit that the respective State Legislative Assembly (“SLA”) has the power to legislate on matters pertaining to Islam, I am somewhat doubtful that the SLA may pass any kind of law which creates offences and prescribes punishment for those offences in accordance with the tenet of Islam, especially when such offences and punishments are already created and prescribed by the Parliament.

The Federal Constitution divides the legislative powers between the Parliament and SLA quite clearly. The Parliament, or loosely, the Federal government, has the power to legislate over matters specified in List 1 (or otherwise known as the “Federal List”) of the 9th Schedule of the Federal Constitution. The SLA on the other hand may legislate on those matters in List II (also known as the “State List”) of the 9th Schedule. In addition, there are matters which may be legislated by both the Parliament and the SLA. These are contained in List III of the 9th Schedule (also known as the “Concurrent List”).

Included in the Federal List is, among other things, “civil and criminal” law; the constitution of all courts other than the Syariah Courts and the jurisdiction and powers of all such courts.

That much is clear. All this while, it is the Parliament which creates and defines all criminal offences as well as prescribing all punishment for those offences. There is no doubt about that. (In this respect, there are already laws governing murder, theft and slander, which are three of the hudud offences prescribed by the Quran. The only hudud offence which is not criminalised by the secular law is adultery).

In the meantime, the SLA may pass laws relating to several Islamic matters. Let’s reproduce the whole paragraph 1 of the State List, so as not to cause any confusion*:

Except with respect to the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Labuan,

i. Islamic law and personal and family law of persons professing the religion of Islam, including the Islamic law relating to succession, testate and intestate, betrothal, marriage, divorce, dower, maintenance, adoption, legitimacy guardianship, gifts, partitions and non-charitable trusts; Wakafs and the definition and regulation of charitable and religious endowments, institutions, trusts, charities and charitable institutions operating wholly within the State; Malay customs. Zakat, Fitrah and Baitulmal or similar Islamic religious revenue, mosques or any Islamic public places of worship;

ii. creation and punishment of offences by persons professing the religion of Islam against precepts of that religion, except in regard to matters included in the Federal List;

iii. the constitution, organisation and procedure of Syariah courts, which shall have jurisdiction only over person professing the religion of Islam and in respect only of any of the matters included in this paragraph, but shall not have jurisdiction in respect of offences except in so far as conferred by federal law;

iv. the control of propagating doctrines and beliefs among persons professing the religion of Islam;

v. the determination of matters of Islamic law and doctrine Malay custom. (emphasis is mine).

* The above provision is actually contained in one paragraph. I have broken it into several parts denoting the different areas of Islamic matters which the SLA may legislate to maintain clarity.

The learned Professor opined that “power on Islamic law belongs to the State.” He then referred to the decision of our Supreme Court (then, the highest Court in Malaysia) Mamat bin Daud vs Govt of Malaysia where the Court held that a provision in the Penal Code which impacted on Islamic law was invalid as the Parliament had no power to legislate over Islamic matters. The learned Professor therefore challenged the Bar Council’s view that the Kelantan State does not have the power to enact the hudud law.

It is quite clear from the State List reproduced above that various Islamic matters are within the purview of the SLA. The decision in Mamat bin Daud reinforces the view that strict adherence to the respective lists by the Parliament and the SLA in enacting laws is called for. In that case, a provision was included in the Penal Code by the Parliament which makes it an offence for anybody to cause religious disunity. The purport of that section was to maintain public order, a matter which is quite obviously within the purview of the Parliament. However, in a 3-2 majority decision (with the late Eusoffee Abdoolcader, among others, dissenting), the Supreme Court held that that provision impinges on Islamic matters, which is in the State List and consequently the Parliament had no power to legislate on it.

It follows from that decision that the Court jealously guarded the purview, width and breadth of the respective Federal and State lists. No amount of encroachment will be allowed by either the Parliament or the SLA on each other’s powers. Although the offence created by the Parliament in that case falls under public order, which comes under the purview of the Parliament, the Court still viewed that as an encroachment of the SLA’s power to legislate on Islamic matters.

It is therefore clear and obvious that the Court took a strict and stringent approach in determining the rights and powers to legislate of the Parliament and the SLA.

‘Cops sought money for detainee’s release’

2011-10-04T19:06:00.000-07:00

A businesswoman claims that several police officers threatened to detain her brother under the Emergency Ordinance if she fails to pay them.

(Free Malaysia Today) - A businesswoman has lodged a police report alleging extortion by several police officers. In her report lodged in Klang, Chong Choi Yoke, 31, claimed that policemen from the USJ district police headquarters wanted money from her to ensure that her brother was not detained for two years under the Emergency Ordinance.

Relating the matter on behalf of Choi Yoke, her lawyer Keppy Wong (photo) said her brother, Chong Voon Han, was detained by the USJ police on Sept 22 after he had gone to the IPD (police district headquarters) to assist in an investigation.

“Voon Han went there after he was told that the police were looking for him in his office to assist in a probe. He voluntarily went to the police station and was detained on the spot,” said Wong.

Hearing of Voon Han’s arrest from his girlfriend, Choi Yoke went to the IPD but was denied permission to see him.

On Sept 25, a group of policemen brought Voon Han to his sister’s house on the pretext of searching for something. However, she was shocked to see bruises and swelling on her brother’s face.

“Voon Han told his sister that he was assaulted in detention and asked her to give the officers RM500 so that the beating will stop.

“However, she managed to fork out only RM200 and bought a few packs of cigarettes for them (officers),” said Wong, who is also Kampung Cheras Baru DAP chairman.

Later the same day, she received a call from her brother asking her to bank in RM100 to an account which she complied with.

Also on the same day, Choi Yoke received a call from an officer known as ASP Rony who told her to meet him at the Taipan police station.

There, Wong said, Choi Yoke was told by Rony that the police had no case against Voon Han as the latter had a strong alibi.

“Instead of releasing him, Rony threatened to detain Voon Han under the EO unless his sister agreed to pay him some money. Feeling helpless, Choi Yoke told Rony that she can only afford about RM3,000,” claimed Wong.

Bleeding from the head

Two days later, Voon Han was brought to the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court to get his remand extended. There, Wong said, Choi Yoke saw her brother was bleeding from the head.

“The officers also told Choi Yoke to buy food fit for 10 men and deliver it to the Taipan police station,” alleged Wong.

She was also told by her brother at the court that Rony wanted about RM10,000 to secure his release.

Give NGOs 15% of seats, Pakatan told

2011-10-04T19:05:00.001-07:00

A NGO leader says the time has come for the opposition bloc to form a power-sharing alliance with these groups.

(Free Malaysia Today) - Pakatan Rakyat has been urged to consider allocating seats for NGOs to contest in the coming general election.

In making the call, Malaysian Indian Progressive Association (MIPAS) president A Rajaretnam said that Pakatan should earmark 15% of seats both at the federal and state levels.

Speaking to FMT, he explained that NGOs were important to form a government and therefore Pakatan must join forces with them.

Rajaretnam also pointed out that NGOs had played a crucial role in helping the opposition secure its biggest ever victory in the last general election.

“However, after the election, Pakatan overlooked the NGOs,” he said.

Three-cornered fights

He said that in the next general-election, there would probably be three-cornered fights due to the emergence of a third force.

He explained that the third force came about after Pakatan-friendly NGOs grew fed-up with the opposition bloc.

“The NGOs were upset when several Pakatan MPs became BN-friendly, the Pakatan state governments’ refusal to give space and voice to NGO’s and certain Pakatan leaders becoming too arrogant after winning in the election.

“For example, after Pakatan won Selangor, they promised to allocate 40 seats in 10 local councils for NGOs. However, a report shows that half of the so-called NGO seats are occupied by party members.

“We strongly believe Pakatan can form a better government compared to BN, but they must return to the grassroots,” he added.

Bersih 2.0 warns of bigger wave

2011-10-04T19:05:00.000-07:00

If the election is called before reforms are implemented, Bersih 2.0's Wong Chin Huat says Malaysians will be irked and a 'greater tsunami' may happen.

(Free Malaysia Today) - Bersih 2.0 has warned the government that if the general election is called without electoral reforms put in place, another wave will come crashing.

Bersih 2.0 steering committee member Wong Chin Huat said Malaysians would not take kindly to elections being held before recommendations by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on electoral reforms were implemented.

“You’d probably see Bersih 3.0 in whatever form, and it’ll turn out to be a greater tsunami,” he told reporters in the Parliament lobby today.

“The government should respect the institutions of Parliament and (allow them to) run its course… If you call for elections in the next six months before the PSC actually finishes its work, you are killing the PSC,” he said.

Yesterday, the government moved a motion to set up a nine-member panel to look into electoral reforms.

The move, which was promised by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak followed the heavy-handed crackdown against the July 9 Bersih 2.0 protest, which saw more than 1,700 people arrested.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Maximus Ongkili (Kota Marudu MP) was named as the panel’s chairman while the other four were Kapit MP Alexander Nanta Linggi, Kangar MP Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, Alor Gajah MP Dr Fong Chan Onn and Hulu Selangor MP P Kamalanathan.

Opposition MPs sitting on the panel are PKR deputy president Azmin Ali (Gombak MP), PAS treasurer Hatta Ramli (Kuala Krai MP) and DAP Youth chief Antony Loke (Rasah MP). Independent MP, Wee Choo Keong (Wangsa Maju), would also be on the panel. The committee had its first meeting this morning.

Nazri: No case on Rosmah’s RM73m ring

2011-10-04T19:04:00.000-07:00

Customs Department has confirmed to the MACC that no such ring was purchased.

(Free Malaysia Today) - Rosmah Mansor is not being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over the US$24 million (RM73 million) diamond ring fiasco.

Minister in the Prime Minister Department Nazri Aziz said in a written reply to Lim Lip Eng (DAP- Segambut) that the MACC, after checking with the Customs Department, “confirmed that there was no such purchase of the ring”.

“After a few days, the ring was returned to the company owner,” the reply added.

On July 13, pro-Pakatan Rakyat NGO Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) president Badrul Hisham Shaharin lodged a report with the MACC over the US$24 million ring allegedly acquired by Rosmah.

Just a day before, pro-opposition bloggers claimed that the ring, known as “Natural Fancy Blue Gray Cushion Cut Diamond Ring”, was sent to the premier’s wife by the New York-based fine jewellers Jacob & Co in April this year.

The ring allegedly passed through the Kuala Lumpur International Airport Customs and was cleared by a Customs operations manager known as A Krishnan.

Screenshots of the alleged Customs computer displays also revealed that the ring did not have import duties imposed on it. The same display also indicated the value of the ring to be US$24.4 million.