Kit Siang adds voice to Sarbaini RCI call

By
Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

June 15, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 — Lim Kit Siang wants the government to override the decision by the police and Attorney-General to hold an inquest for the late Ahmad Sarbaini Mohamed, and instead convene a royal commission to investigate the death.

Lim said that the Cabinet should heed the call made by the late Custom officer’s son, Shahril Ahmad, that the family preferred a royal commission of inquiry (RCI).

Shahril earlier said it would be harder to determine the cause of Sarbaini’s death through an inquest and that this would delay the pursuance of justice.

“Sarbaini’s son has called for an RCI, which is what we (DAP) have been advocating from the very beginning.

“The Cabinet should override the police and the A-G’s decision for an inquest… an RCI is needed in the case of public interest and to restore confidence in the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC),” he told reporters today.

The inquest, to be presided over by Coroner Aizatul Akmal Maharani, was set for July 4 to 15 at the magistrate’s court.

In the inquest of political aide Teoh Beng Hock, who also died while under the supervision of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the coroner ruled out both suicide and homicide, and returned an open verdict.

Sarbaini, 56, was found dead on the badminton court of the MACC building at Jalan Cochrane around 10.20am on April 6, barely two hours after walking in.

His death occurred when Teoh’s RCI was still ongoing and delivered a huge blow to the anti-graft body’s already-battered credibility.

Prior to this, Sarbaini’s family had also called on the police to explore the latest allegations made by blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin before calling for an inquest.

Raja Petra, in a post on his Malaysia Today website on Monday, claimed the police had conducted a thorough check on Sarbaini’s assets and found no unusual or extraordinary wealth.

Raja Petra also accused MACC of trying to tarnish Sarbaini’s name following his death.

In Parliament yesterday, a motion by the opposition calling for Sarbaini’s death to be debated in the House was rejected by Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee, who ruled that the matter was not “urgent”.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 16 June 2011, 12:10 pm and is filed under
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Lawmaker sees red over his ‘pig head’

By
Kuek Ser Kuang Keng

Jun 16, 11 | MalaysiaKini

A DAP assemblyperson in Selangor is seeing red after finding a photograph of him superimposed with a pig’s nose in a blog posting that also contained a fabricated ‘report’ that he had attempted sabotage his counterparts in PAS.

Sekinchan assemblyperson Ng Suee Lim submitted a printed copy of the doctored picture as well as a copy of the blog posting in his complaint filed at the Sekinchan police station yesterday.

The offending picture and posting were found on pro-Umno blog ‘Sungai Rapat Online’.

“I suspect the blog is owned by Perak exco member Hamidah Osman or her supporters, because 90 percent of the content is about her,” Ng told Malaysiakini when contacted.

Hamidah is the Umno assemblyperson for Sungai Rapat.

The doctored photograph was found in a posting dated June 14, titled “DAP menyambut baik pengguguran Hasan Ali daripada sebarang jawatan dalam PAS” (DAP welcomes decision to drop Hasan Ali from all posts in PAS).

Ng claimed that the report was fabricated as he has never been interviewed by the blog or said the things attributed to him in the report.

“The content of the blog report is baseless and a form of criminal defamation. Therefore, I demand that the police investigate,” he said.

The posting quoted him as saying that the decision to drop Hasan was a valuable gift to Selangor DAP as the former Selangor PAS commissioner was a hurdle to the unity of Pakatan Rakyat parties in the state.

According to the posting, Ng is also alleged to have said, “… we (DAP) don’t like (Hasan). But I heard he has disturbed DAP representatives.

Utusan Malaysia also in the act

“Hasan is also seen as different from other PAS state leaders because he is seen as being more keen to find faults with DAP representatives. We know how Hasan attacked (DAP state exco member) Ronnie Liu before.”

The blog posting is similar to a report published by Utusan Malaysia on Tuesday. The posting appears to have been copied and modified from the Utusan report, with the only difference being Ng’s quotes.

Ng in his police report also accused Utusan of fabricating the report because the daily had never interviewed him on the matter, and he had never made such statements anywhere.

A check by Malaysiakini at 5pm yesterday showed that the posting had been removed about two hours after Ng made his police report.

However, a thumbnail image of the doctored photograph of Ng and the title of the posting can still be seen on the front page of the blog.

Following the victory of the non-ulama team in the recent PAS party polls, Hasan, who is seen as aligned to the pro-ulama faction, was replaced by Meru assemblyperson Dr Abdul Rani Osman as the Selangor commissioner last Sunday.

Both Umno and Utusan have been slamming the Islamic party for marginalising the ulama faction, a clear sign that PAS has digressed from its Islamic struggle.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 16 June 2011, 9:47 am and is filed under
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Mat Sabu tells cops to shield Bersih protestors

By
Boo Su-Lyn

June 16, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

KLANG, June 16 — PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu has urged the police to protect protestors at the Bersih 2.0 rally next month instead of working to prevent them from gathering.

Mohamad pointed out that in the West authorities usually ensured the safety of protestors, unlike the recent revolts in the Middle East where demonstrators were killed by government forces.

“The police here should not imitate the police in the Middle East,” he said at a ceramah here last night.

“We acknowledge the strength of the police. They can arrest us under the ISA (Internal Security Act), launch tear gas, and kick us. [But what] do you profit by doing that to the rakyat?” asked Mohamad, more popularly known as Mat Sabu.

The newly-elected PAS No. 2 stressed that Bersih wanted a “peaceful assembly”.

Bersih is an election watchdog group that is pushing for electoral reforms to provide for free and fair elections in Malaysia.

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parties and activists are gearing up to march on July 9 in the second such rally by the election watchdog, the first being in 2007 when up to 50,000 were reported to have gathered in the capital, with many being dispersed by water cannons and tear gas fired by the police.

PAS has promised to bring 300,000 protestors this year in hopes that it will galvanise support for the opposition in the general election expected within the year.

The 2007 rally was said to play a big role in bringing record gains for the opposition electoral pact in Election 2008, where it swept five state governments and won 82 parliamentary seats.

“Chaos depend on whether elections are fair or not. If the rakyat do not accept election results, there will be chaos,” Mohamad told a 300-strong crowd comprising mostly Malays.

The popular speaker, whose ceramah was filled with loud cheers and applause, pointed out that former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak was overthrown by youths. Mubarak ended his 30-year reign last February after weeks of mass protests against his autocratic rule.

“When (youths) see that elections are full of fraud and then go out to the streets, nobody will be able to do anything at that time. That is why we want fair elections,” said Mohamad.

The politician also warned the crowd against bringing weapons or party flags to the Bersih rally.

“If there is provocation, do not respond. Keep quiet and just follow the leaders,” he said.

Malay rights group Perkasa said recently it will take to the streets to counter Bersih in Kuala Lumpur on July 9.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 16 June 2011, 10:28 am and is filed under
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Utusan comic strip insulted Islam, say Muslim scholars

By
Syed Mu’az Syed Putra and Debra Chong

June 15, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 — Persatuan Ulama Malaysia (PUM) has accused Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia of insulting Islam with a comic strip published today, which the society said was based on an incorrect reading of the religion’s laws.

The 4,000-strong Muslim scholars’ society demanded the authorities charge the cartoonist and the publisher for insulting Islam, saying the publication of the misleading cartoon had portrayed in a negative light the religion of the majority in multicultural Malaysia at a time when Muslims were seen to lack religious knowledge.

PUM was referring to a two-panel comic strip on page 15 of the Malay daily today titled “Kekeliruan kes rogol” [“Confusion in rape cases”] depicting a tudung-clad woman seeking advice after being raped.

“I only managed to record the incident with a handphone,” the sobbing woman is depicted as saying to her serban-clad village head in the first panel.

“You were raped? Were there four witnesses?” he replies, adding, “The recording device cannot be a witness because it has no ears and eyes. It’s only steel … enough, it’s better for you to drop the case.”

The woman’s same complaint in the second panel to a figure resembling a police officer draws a different response.

“Superb … the tool can be used as evidence!” the moustachioed man informs her while appearing to type out a report.

PUM secretary-general Mohd Roslan Mohd Nor explained to The Malaysian Insider when contacted that under Islamic laws on adultery, four witnesses are required to prove the offence happened; video recordings are not accepted as evidence.

But in cases of rape, there is no requirement for four witnesses to testify and video recordings can be used as proof, he explained.

“Which means Utusan Malaysia is wrong and has insulted Islam,” said Mohd Roslan.

PUM urged the National Fatwa Council to make a stand on the issue.

It also called on the government to hold more national conventions to resolve issues within the Muslim community at a time when Muslim society is seen to lack solid religious knowledge.

PUM challenged the muftis to condemn the Malay daily for the cartoon, which it said “appears to weaken the views of the scholars and gives a negative impression of Islam.”

“A newspaper should be a tool for unity and the creation of awareness, not add friction and split the community,” the society reminded Utusan in a media statement.

“Such a thing should not happen; they should get the views of the experts on religious matters before releasing such material,” it added.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 16 June 2011, 10:03 am and is filed under
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Yen Yen claims Facebook pages free, contradicts reply in Parliament

By
Shannon Teoh

June 15, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 — With Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) both demanding an explanation for the tourism ministry’s RM1.8 million Facebook campaign, Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen denied any wrongdoing today and accused DAP of twisting the truth.

“The opposition just goes around saying it’s for Facebook. They are twisting the issue.

“The Facebook pages do not cost a single sen. This is a social media advertising, promotions and branding campaign and also data collection,” the MCA vice president told reporters today.

However, her contention that the Facebook pages were free appeared to contradict her ministry’s detailed account of the cost for each page.

Yesterday, Deputy Tourism Minister James Dawos Mamit had replied in Parliament to Anthony Loke (DAP-Rasah) that each Facebook page had cost RM293,072.

Dr Ng also added today that the RM1.8 million would cover the cost of six different campaigns across seven months and includes the cost of contests and advertising on Google and Facebook.

“It is important for us to reach the high-spending market.

‘‘We use Facebook as the vehicle because you can run campaigns there. Twitter is not visual,” she explained.

DAP Youth chief Loke had said that unless Ng explained the reason behind the “exorbitant” costs for the “social media branding” exercise by her ministry, he will lodge a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Citrawarna 1 Malaysia, the most popular page, has so far attracted 20,292 Facebook fans since it was launched on May 21.

The ministry had said that the RM1.8 million included costs for designing, flash programming and coding, testing and debugging, uploading and launching the application, system server deployment and campaign management.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 16 June 2011, 10:46 am and is filed under
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‘Golden opportunity to make a stand on war crimes lost’

By
Tarani Palani

June 16, 2011 | Free Malaysia Today

KUALA LUMPUR: Parliament lost a ‘golden opportunity’ to enhance its standing in the international community when a motion to discuss Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir’s visit to Malaysia was rejected, said an opposition MP.

Ipoh Barat MP, M Kulasegaran said it would have given MPs an opportunity to show “displeasure at world leaders who abuse their citizens and have scant respect for the rule of law”.

Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes in the war-torn western Sudanese region of Darfur, where about 300,000 people have died since 2003.

The Malaysian government has extended an invitation to Bashir to take part in the Langkawi International Dialogue from June 19 to 21 in Putrajaya.

Kulasegaran said that if the motion had not been rejected by the Speaker, the debate could have enhanced the country’s image abroad as a nation that does not condone wrongdoings of heads of state.

The Speaker had cited two reasons rejecting the motion moved by Kulasegaran – one is to recognise the sovereignty of a country and to have good diplomatic relations with foreign nations.

“With the highest respect to the Speaker, his reasons to disallow this urgent motion is most regrettable,” he told reporters at a press conference today. “I would say a golden opportunity had been missed,” he added.

Bad taste in the mouth

DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang who was also at press conference said that there was a need to review parliamentary procedures.

“In developed parliaments, if you want to challenge a Speaker’s decision, you can do it within 48 hours. But in Malaysia, you can file and it will not even appear in the order paper for two weeks,” said Lim.

He added that it was important to know why the invitation was extended to a war criminal and asked if it could be due to Petronas’ investments in the African nation.

“The invitation leaves a bad taste in the mouth. (Zimbabwean President) Robert Mugabe (who is also invited) is regarded as an international pariah.

“Is Malaysia becoming a haven for notorious characters?” asked the seasoned politician.

Bashir and Mugabe are among several African leaders invited to take part in the Langkawi International Dialogue.

The invitation drew flak from many human rights groups who demanded that Bashir be arrested upon entry to Malaysia.

They said that Malaysia which decided to join the ICC should accede to the Rome Statute, even if it has yet to ratify the Statute.

Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said yesterday that Bashir will not be attending the conference due “pressing engagements” and will be sending a representative.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 17 June 2011, 10:14 am and is filed under
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A cyberwar waged by an army of Julian Assanges

Malaysiakini Your Say
 | Jun 17, 11

‘It’s great that the government has a taste of how it was like when Malaysiakini was attacked prior to Sarawak election.’

At least 41 websites hacked, says MCMC

Patriot:
 The truth cannot be hidden no matter how one tries to suppress it or prevent access to it. Malaysians who access the Internet are mostly those who have the capability of making their own judgements on what is right or fabricated, destructive or educational, etc.

Malaysians who surf the Internet today have intellectual capacity on par with their Western and advanced Asian counterparts. Third World governments and their depraved leaders are always fearful of their hidden skeletons in the closets being exposed and thus try to suppress anything that may even have an inkling of their wrongdoings.

The more one tries to censor or block, the more suspicions one creates. The warning of hacking was given and carried out efficiently. Perhaps the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) thought it was invincible.

Anonymous_4031:
 The Information Ministry was fast asleep while the hackers ‘Anonymous’ attacked 41 government websites. Minister Rais Yatim must read ‘The Art of War’ by Sun Tze, ‘Lateral Thinking’ by Edward de Bono, and ‘Whatever You Think, Think the Opposite’ by Paul Arden.

Did you think the hackers would do (exactly) what they say they will do? You expect them to hack the websites today, but they did the job yesterday.

You want to fight WikiLeaks led by Julian Assange? He will reveal more things about Malaysia for the whole world to see. He has declared he enjoys creating systems on a grand scale and helping people who are vulnerable.

How do you fight him in this cyberwar? By doing the opposite of what he expects you to do: be transparent and be open. When information is out in the open, what else can he reveal?

Anonymous_5fb:
 I am ‘amazed’ with the speed the IGP (inspector-general of police) and MCMC responded to the attacks. I am even more ‘impressed’ they are so sure that no personal or financial data were compromised.

Even with such attacks, I don’t see they being more humble. They are still as arrogant, if not more arrogant. It looks like they still think they are very ‘changgih’.

Gov’t portals paralysed by Anonymous hackers group

Meranti Kepong:
 This attack by Anonymous hackers shows that the Malaysian government is not only unpopular internationally but has antagonised surfers everywhere. Let’s hope that the government has learned a painful lesson and cease from controlling legitimate Internet activities.

Ranjit Singh:
 Bravo! It’s about time the common people unite to strike back against an unjust government for the sake of humanity. Now it is the time for the common people to unite to act by going down to the streets to voice in large numbers, without fear or favour, against a ruthless government that goes against basic humanity in the name of race, religion and creed.

Anonymous_5fb:
 I told you so, Government of Malaysia. These are the ‘repercussions’ that I mentioned would happen when you decided to ban the 10 websites. Padan muka.

Relak Aje:
 People who try to block and censor have a lot to hide from the public eye. To say they are stopping the illegal downloading of movies is a lame and pathetic excuse. Why is Wikileaks also a target?

They must be taught to understand that you can’t fool everybody all of the time. Least of all, the corrupt have absolutely no right to decide what the people should and should not know.

Zz2XX:
 Umno must learn that their censorship policy won’t be accepted by anyone. Dr Mahathir Mohamad had promised that there will be no censorship of the Internet. So what is Umno trying to do?

Today it’s these sites. I won’t be surprised if tomorrow it’s Malaysiakini, MalaysiaToday, etc.

Nil:
 Whatever the intentions of the Anonymous hackers group, its action in disabling the Malaysian governmental websites is depriving the public of vital information. Its action is against the very “freedom of the Net” that it fights for.

I do not support censorship of the Net, but the Anonymous hackers group should try other methods.

KLeo:
 As pleasurable as it is seeing the government scramble to secure their ill-protected multi-million ringgit websites, as satisfying as it is hearing Rais Yatim beg for mercy, I think the Anonymous group’s methods are indefensible.

‘You don’t agree with me, I attack the hell out of you.’ What does that sound like to you? Can someone say ‘terrorists’?

Think: It is probably a warning to those who wish to censor the Internet or ban certain sites they feel inappropriate for Malaysians. It is like they are saying, “You ban them, we’ll ban you. Pick your choice.”

At least now, the government will know that the people can indeed fight back.

Mangoduria:
 If you read other news sources, you’ll see that some websites that useful provide services were back up by 9am.

There was also a pre-warning yesterday of the exact time of when the attack will start (19:30 GMT). This is either Anonymous’s ethical hacking or that the government IT group heroically worked round the clock to restore crucial services. You decide.

Ro$m@h:
 I bet my thousand ringgit Prada underwear that what comes next will be multi-million ringgit contracts for some RM2 moronic Umno companies to secure the useless government portals.

Jinggy:
 It will be good if the hackers could also do something to stop the government from monopolising the media like TV3, TV2, T1 and Bernama TV, especially now that the 13th general election is nearing. Umno/BN will fully use these TV stations for their election campaign to brainwash the foolish fence-sitters and talk bad about the opposition.

Anonymous:
 It’s great that the government has a taste of how it was like when Malaysiakini was attacked prior to Sarawak election.

Jiminy Qrikert:
 Now, the Malaysian government knows that out there somewhere, people of conscience are fighting back. So, the next time a party is paid to immobilise Malaysiakini, someone out there is willing to cripple the Malaysian government websites in return.

And if PM Najib Razak ‘pisses’ them off enough, that ‘someone’ might just cripple all Umno-BN friendly sites – Utusan Malaysia, for starters.

Phra Ong Chao:
 This hacking would have meant something if the government websites were actually useful in the first place.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 17 June 2011, 10:00 am and is filed under
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Ambiga: Our rally will be peaceful

By
S Rutra

June 17, 2011  | Free Malaysia Today

KUALA LUMPUR: Bersih 2.0 chairman Ambiga Sreenevasan is looking at a win-win situation.

She will be writing to the Kuala Lumpur police chief on how they can work together in making the July 9 rally a peaceful one.

“We understand their job and at the same time we would like to explain to them why we are holding the rally,” Ambiga told FMT.

She said the organisers of the rally strongly believe that it can be conducted in very peaceful and responsible manner.

“If there are any problems on that day (July 9), it will not be because of us and we will ensure to the best of our ability to have a peaceful rally,” added Ambiga.

Asked on the Perkasa’s intention to hold their rally at the city centre on the same day, Ambiga who was the former Bar Council president, welcomed Perkasa leaders and its members to join the Bersih rally which is calling for a free and clean election.

“They are most welcome, provided they walk along with us peacefully,” said Ambiga.

On Tuesday, Perkasa and 30 Malay-based NGOs announced their plans to organise a similar rally to oppose the Bersih rally.

Bersih 2.0 is a coalition of 62 NGOs which have been promoting democracy and free and fair elections in Malaysia.

Ambiga said in her letter to the police next week, she will persuade them on how both parties can work together to make the rally a peaceful one.

In related development, Bersih 2.0 will be holding a talk at the KL Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall here on Sunday night to explain the objectives of the rally.

On July 9, Bersih 2.have invited all organisations including political parties from both sides of divide to join them in their call for electoral reform.

Umno Youth to hold rally too

The planned rally has been objected by the police who had said that action will be taken against those participating in the illegal assembly. Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein too had warned the public against taking part in both the Bersih and Perkasa rallies.

Yesterday, the Umno Youth movement also decided to hold a gathering and procession on July 9. The movement plans to hand over a memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to support the democracy system and the role and reforms carried out by the Election Commission (EC).

Its head, Khairy Jamaluddin said among the matters to be highlighted in the memorandum was the issue on the transfer of voters carried out by the opposition in preparation for the next general election.

Besides proposing several matters, the gathering also aimed to prove that the people’s voice was not only monopolised by the opposition particularly PAS, the DAP and PKR, Khairy said.

Khairy said the gathering was not to clash with any group, but would instead show the spirit of the young generation in Umno to defend the existing system as well as to cooperate with the EC to improve the existing system.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 17 June 2011, 2:22 pm and is filed under
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Behave or face consequence, opposition reps warned

By
Joseph Tawie

June 17, 2011 | Free Malaysia Today

KUCHING: The 16 elected representives forming Sarawak’s opposition front will not have much room to manoeuvre themselves in the inaugural 10th State Legislative Assembly sitting begining Monday given the warnings issued by Barian Nasional leaders in recent days.

One can only assume that despite public declarations of ‘confidence’, the ruling coalition is somewhat rattled by the heavy presence of the artilery-filled opposition in the August house.

During the last sitting more than half of opposition assemblymen were suspended for ‘minor’ mistakes committed during the debates.

The newest reminders to ‘behave’ came from Second Finance Minister Wong Soon Koh and Assistant Minister Daud Abdul Rahman.

Daud, who is attached to the Chief Minister’s Department, warned that all opposition reps who failed to observe and comply with the standing orders in the house will face the consequences.

“They must understand the etiquette and standing orders of the Dewan.

“If they refuse to abide by the standing orders we will take action,” Daud, who is also Tupong assemblyman, warned.

He also urged BN elected representatives to behave in view of the increased number of opposition members in the assembly.

Wong, meanwhile said, BN reps will observe and comply with the standing orders.

“All elected representatives must strictly follow the standing orders.

“We from the Barisan will definitely observe and comply with the standing orders, we won’t abuse it.

“But if they (the opposition) choose not to, we will have our way to deal with them,” he said.

Main targets

Wong said he and another Sarawak United People’s Party’s elected representative, Lee Kim Shim, are expecting to be the primary targets of the opposition.

“It will not be a problem. We know how to deal with them.

“We have 55, and they have 16 (including one independent). How can you say they are strong?” he asked.

In the last Dewan, the opposition which had eight state elected representatives had caused ‘havoc’ in the assembly. More than half of them were suspended for ‘minor mistakes’.

Watching and monitoring them closely at that time was none other than Wong himself, who on various occasions had proposed actions be taken against the opposition reps.

The opposition at that time accused him of trying to stifle the voice of the people.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 17 June 2011, 2:27 pm and is filed under
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Despite counter protest, Bersih gathers pace on Facebook

By
Shannon Teoh

The Malaysian Insider

Jun 16, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 – Support for the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9 appears to be unaffected by the threat of clashes with the anti-Bersih counter protest in the streets of the capital city.

The Pakatan Rakyat-backed (PR) demonstration calling for free and fair elections has faced loud opposition from the right-wing Malay ground led by Perkasa, which has said that it is “ready for any eventuality.”

But as at 5pm today, the official Bersih Facebook group has over 14,300 likes, growing by more than a thousand in the last 24 hours, with nearly 300 more people confirming they will attend the march, which has close to 2,200 confirmed participants on its Facebook page.

In contrast, the anti-Bersih page now has 368 likes, 150 more than yesterday.

“People are reaching a breaking point. It doesn’t matter how you intimidate them or what the issue is, people are motivated by their pockets,” said political analyst Khoo Kay Peng.

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parties and activists are gearing up to march next month in the second such rally by Bersih, the first being in 2007 when up to 50,000 were reported to have gathered in the capital, with many being dispersed by water cannons and tear gas fired by the police.

PAS has promised to bring 300,000 protestors this year in hopes that it will galvanise support for the opposition in the general election expected within the year.

The 2007 rally was said to play a big role in bringing record gains for the opposition electoral pact in Election 2008, where it swept five state governments and won 82 parliamentary seats.

However, Umno-owned daily Utusan Malaysia has continued to attack the rally since last weekend, urging Malaysians to gather in a counter protest.

Umno leaders have also accused Bersih organisers of using illegal means to gain political mileage.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has warned that “it will be chaotic when those for and against the street demonstration clash.”

However, it has not discouraged either camp who have committed to coming out in full force on July 9.

Perkasa, who claim the backing of 36 other NGOs, also announced that it will launch the Anti-Bersih Movement on June 19, in expectation of more support for its anti-Bersih march.

Last weekend, its president Datuk Ibrahim Ali had warned that “I am ready to face any eventuality” should the two sides meet in the streets of Kuala Lumpur.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 17 June 2011, 8:30 am and is filed under
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Don’t expect nude squat probe to be transparent

Malaysiakini Your Say
 | Jun 17, 11

‘The gov’t expects the public to believe that they would carry out a fair and transparent probe? Since when have they been known to do that?’

Special board to probe ‘nude squat’ claims

L Joy:
 The Immigration Department is to set up a special board to investigate the nude squat? They and the government expect the public and Singapore to believe that they would carry out a fair and transparent probe?

Since when have they been known to do that? Could they state just one case in the history of the Immigration Department? Name any ministry or department, for that matter, that has made a finding against its own self?

Just using the word ‘special’ does not make the investigation transparent and fair.

Cinaputra:
 When I was a kid, the teachers would punish the naughty ones by making them squat up and down – clothed, of course – while crossing their hands to pinch their ear lobes between thumb and index fingers.

The aim was to make them look silly and embarrassed them in front of their schoolmates. This is not longer done in schools and guess who has adopted this as standard operating procedure?

RAW:
 A real investigation should be carried out on why Immigration entry points for cars are frequently unmanned. I’ve nearly driven through one before. Although I am Malaysian, one of the passengers in my car was a foreigner.

Since then, I had heard of many accounts of unmanned entry points which were open to be driven through by cars. This link gives another example of unmanned lane (this time it was the exit point).

The Sensibility:
 It is really sickening. Previously, it was the police who were accused of asking a Chinese national to strip, but it later found it was a Malaysian woman. This was plain abuse of power. Now the Immigration Department personnel are doing it.

I hope the home minister, his deputy and the Immigration director-general investigate the matter thoroughly. Respect is earned and not forced.

Don’t let your personnel behave like ‘little Napoleons’ and don’t take their sides when their actions are wrong and belittle the country’s image. This will drive tourists away.

Expert: RM1.8m for FB page a ‘bit too much’

KohJL:
 I find it hard to call this a social media campaign by the Tourism Ministry. Yes, it exists on a social media site, but it is very self-contained. It does not have the ‘social’ component that made Facebook games like Farmville hugely successful. Not to mention that having yet another rhythm game was very unoriginal.

A friend of mine who works in the same industry thought that the Flash game should cost no more than RM20,000. The rest? Still a mystery.

But RM1.8 million split between two media companies – one with a crappy website and the other with zero online presence – that’s way too much. One would expect such companies to have a fancy website to show as part of their portfolio, no?

Call me Jibby:
 RM300,000 seem “a bit much” for a single Facebook application, said David Duarte. Duarte, you forget the commission and sub-contract processes in Malaysia.

Rubystar_4037:
 I think that the 20,000 odd fans of the Facebook page comprise of padding by the ministry itself. It is so easy to create fictitious accounts, and among the genuine fans, three-fourths may come from the ministry itself.

Before it is launched, a huge commission had already being paid to the first liners, second-liners, third-liners and other runners. The bottom liners eventually slogged to put up some presentable material and they just might get pittances from the ministry.

Hann Wei Toh:
 I am not sure if MP Anthony Loke understood what the minister Dr Ng Yen Yen said.

I checked the Cuti-Cuti 1 Malaysia page on Facebook. After countless attempts, the game was finally loaded. I believe the minister said servers are needed, because the flash game is hosted by http://cwdance.cuticuti1malaysia.com/, which resides on hardware owned by cloudflare.com.

So, the minister did not lie. I would prefer our MPs do a bit more study so that criticisms and responses can be sufficiently accurate to avoid misleading the public.

Eugene T:
 What annoys me currently are the ignorant boasting by Facebook users who claim they can create a Facebook page for free, which is true to an extent.

But these same people do not realise the mechanism for Facebook app page is totally different. The application must be hosted externally and linked to the Facebook page instead.

Who will pay for those? However, the high cost of RM300,000 still remains totally unjustified for such a terrible app game.

Go to stadium instead, Sabah Umno tells Bersih

Geronimo:
 Here we go again, Sabah Umno deputy chief Salleh Said Keruak says that public rallies and mass demonstration is not our culture. Ask Umno, they are the masters at this as they were the one who started the first mass demonstration in 1946 against the Malaysian Union.

Blogsmith:
 The call to hold the rally in a closed area is to reduce its publicity and impact, but not necessarily on traffic, which can be minimised if the police play their part.

The big question is, if Bersih holds its rally in a stadium, would the authorities listen and change what is long overdue? Those seeking reforms have no option but to take to the streets as their cries have fallen on deaf ears.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 17 June 2011, 10:03 am and is filed under
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Face the upshot if you rally, Hisham warns KJ

By
Kuek Ser Kuang Keng

Jun 17, 11 | MalaysiaKini

Home Minister and former Umno Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein warned his successor Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar that the latter will have to face the consequences if he insists on calling for a march on July 9.

“It doesn’t matter that I’m a former youth chief or not, the (Umno) Youth will have to face whatever the consequences of the action as I had to when I was the Youth head,” he told the media in Putrajaya today, adding “Because it is against the law.”

He said that the police are looking at the march or rally as a security issue and whoever wants to call for it will have to deal with the police.

“Like anybody else, I’ve had to deal with the police (when I was the youth chief). I expect them (Umno Youth) to do the same.

“That’s always my position, nobody is above the law,” he stressed.

To the surprise of many, yesterday the Umno Youth exco decided to call for a rally on the same day as Bersih 2.0 and Perkasa.

Unlike Bersih 2.0’s call to revamp the current electoral system for a free and fair election, Umno Youth seeks to support it.

However, the decision is against the earlier stand of many Umno leaders who had condemned street demonstration after Bersih 2.0 announced the rally.

Members of Puteri Umno and an Umno Youth exco member had lodged police reports against Bersih 2.0, accusing that the rally will create chaos and disrupt the the business of traders.

Certain quarters urge use of ISA

Some quarters such as Malaysian Taxi Executives, a body representing taxi operators, and the Malaysian Council of Ex-Elected Representatives (Mubarak) even went to the extent of urging the authorities to use the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) against Bersih 2.0.

Today, MCA Youth also refused to join its Umno counterpart’s rally, maintaining that such activities would be detrimental to the national economy.

On the other hand, Bersih 2.0 welcomed Umno Youth to hold a counter-rally as it is the rights of every citizen to assemble peacefully.

However, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar (left) had said the police would not approve any permit for the rally or any counter-rally on Jul 9.

He did not rule out the possibility of launching preventive arrests before or during the rallies.

Despite the police warning, Bersih 2.0 have reiterated that they will proceed with the rally.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 17 June 2011, 7:45 pm and is filed under
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Facebook fiasco earns Yen Yen Cabinet colleagues’ ire

By
Clara Chooi

June 17, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, June 17 — Already facing growing public discontent, Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen was confronted with a hostile Cabinet today when she tried to explain her ministry’s controversial RM1.8 million outlay on six Facebook pages and was even told by some colleagues not to waste their time.

The Malaysian Insider understands several ministers also insisted against announcing that Cabinet had officially accepted Ng’s explanation, preferring instead to say they had taken note of it.

A source who was familiar with what transpired said this was because the ministers did not want Ng to publicly declare that she had been cleared of guilt by the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

The source told The Malaysian Insider that rather than addressing the root cause of the allegations against her, the tourism minister had chosen to beat around the bush in defending herself.

Ng, who is also MCA vice-president, was scheduled to explain to the Cabinet today her ministry’s RM1.8 million expense bill for developing six Facebook pages to promote tourism in Malaysia.

“She did not explain [the] cost, not the cost or bill. Only the importance of cyber advertising and other [nonsense],” said the source.

The source said when it grew clear that Ng had no plans to divulge further details or provide a breakdown of her expenses, several ministers cut her short.

“She was trying to explain but she did not finish because people asked her to stop. They said she was just wasting their time. She was not talking about the main thing — the cost and why she spent so much,” said the source.

But the source noted that it was unclear if the prime minister considered Ng’s explanation satisfactory or planned to pursue the matter further.

“The PM was silent on that part. What is clear is that the ministers only want to say that Cabinet has taken note of her explanation and that she should not go and say that Cabinet has accepted it,” said the source.

The debacle over the Tourism Ministry’s Facebook expenses first began on Tuesday when Ng’s deputy, James Dawos Mamit, revealed in Parliament that RM1,758,432 was spent on developing six Facebook pages for Malaysia’s tourism.

He had said each of the six pages — Cuti-Cuti 1 Malaysia, Citrawarna 1Malaysia, Karnival Jualan Mega 1 Malaysia, Festival Pelancongan Seni Kontemporari 1 Malaysia, Kempen 1 Malaysia Bersih and Fabulous Food 1 Malaysia — cost RM293,072

The announcement drew condemnation from the online community and a spontaneous campaign was kicked off on Tuesday evening, inviting thousands to condemn Ng’s exorbitant spending.

Her ministry first entered the spotlight late last year when it was revealed in Parliament that while Ng had slashed her tourism promotional budget, she had spent more for her official trips abroad.

Ng again came under fire after Tourism Malaysia’s former advertising agency alleged that the ministry had asked for bribes in exchange for a promotion contract.

Following the latest complaint against Ng, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said yesterday that the Cabinet would seek an explanation from her over the matter and that an investigation would be mooted if she failed to do so satisfactorily.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 17 June 2011, 7:36 pm and is filed under
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Twitter Power – Helen Clark comes to detainees’ rescue

by
MICHAEL FIELD

stuff.co.nz

Former Prime Minister Helen Clark has played a crucial role in winning the release of three jailed Bahraini activists and it is partly due to her passion for Twitter.

Now Secretary General of the United Nations Development Programme, she appears to have followed the arrest of the three women who were Twittering through it all, and then used the power of the social network and her office to win their freedom.

The three women were arrested as they tried to stage a sit-in at a United Nations office in the capital Manama.

Zainab Alkhawaja, Asma Darwish and Sawsan Jawad, who are all closely related to men who were detained during the recent protests, were finally released at about midnight local time.

According to the New York Times, throughout their seven hours in captivity, they managed to hold onto their phones and called on their followers on the social network to apply pressure on Bahrain’s government and on the United Nations.

Clark, who Twitters regularly, then used the UNDP handle to tell the women – and the world – “we’re looking into the situation and establish the facts with a sense of urgency. We’ll give an update asap”.

The women had wanted to present UNDP officials with a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, in which they urged the international body to ask Bahrain to release all political prisoners and investigate allegations that detainees have been tortured.

According to Alkhawaja’s Twitter updates, after they declared their intention to stage a sit-in, a UN official told the women: “Your voice has been heard. You’ve done what you came to do. There’s no point to stay longer.”

He added: “By staying here you’re putting us in a very difficult situation. In the end we’ll have to call the police.”

It is not clear yet whether Clark – or some other UNDP official in New York – got onto the phone and demanded the release of the women.

Bahrain’s interior ministry had earlier said the arrests followed the request of the UN office and that “legal measures” were taken against the women for refusing to leave.

After the women were released, the UNDP Twittered that they launched a “full formal investigation” into what happened, suggesting Clark was unhappy over how her Bahrain office handled the matter.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 17 June 2011, 9:23 am and is filed under
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Himpunan Bersih 2.0 canggah nilai Islam, dakwa YDP Yadim

Oleh
Syed Mu’az Syed Putra

June 17, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, 17 Jun — Yang Dipertua Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (Yadim) Datuk Aziz Jamaludin Mhd Tahir mendakwa
Himpunan Bersih 2.0
  pada 9 Julai ini
bertentangan dengan nilai dan etika Islam
.

Selain itu menurut beliau, perhimpunan aman anjuran Gabungan Pilihan Raya Bersih dan Adil (Bersih) merupakan satu helah untuk mengheret rakyat ke dalam kancah politik yang lebih besar.

“Usaha itu merupakan percubaan pemimpin tersebut untuk menguji pengaruh, dan kerana itu sanggup menipu lebih ramai rakyat kononnya, sistem yang pernah memberikan kemenangan kepadanya dulu dan sedikit peluang berkuasa sebagai tidak boleh dipertahankan, ia perlu dirombak dan diberikan jaminan baru sesuai dengan keperluan mereka.

“Pemimpin sedemikian merupakan orang yang tidak mempunyai jiwa perjuangan yang besar, mereka berminat mengadakan rusuhan kerana mempunyai agenda politik yang lebih besar,” katanya dalam satu tulisan disiarkan dalam Utusan Malaysia hari ini.

Aziz Jamaluddin juga menyifatkan penganjuran Himpunan Bersih 2.0 yang turut disertai Pakatan Rakyat, badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) dan rakyat sebagai satu bentuk anarkisme yang berlaku kali kedua dalam negara selepas 2007.

“Wujud pendapat umum seolah-olah merusuh di jalan raya bagi membangkitkan rasa tidak puas hati mengenai sesuatu perkara sebagai natijah daripada prinsip demokrasi.

“Maka, usaha Bersih untuk menganjurkan perhimpunan jalanan pada 9 Julai ini seharusnya dilihat sebagai suatu bentuk anarkisme yang kembali ingin dibudayakan dalam masyarakat Malaysia,” katanya.

Himpunan Bersih kali pertama diadakan pada 2007, beberapa bulan sebelum pilihan raya umum 2008 yang menyaksikan Pakatan Rakyat berjaya menawan lima buah negeri dan memenangi 82 kerusi Parlimen.

Menurut beliau, dalam Islam perjuangan yang bersifat anarkisme tidak sesuai dengan tuntutan agama malah diharamkan kerana boleh memudaratkan termasuk dari aspek fizikal dan psikologi.

“Dengan berbuat demikian, perjalanan urusan harian di kawasan terbabit akan terganggu manakala rempuhan orang ramai akan menyebabkan terhentinya kegiatan ekonomi.

“Apa yang akan berlaku ini pada hakikatnya adalah satu musibah dan ini akan menimpa siapa sahaja. Bagi merungkaikan kekusutan yang berlaku dalam masyarakat ini, Islam mencadangkan agar setiap daripada kita mengamalkan rasa keinsanan yang tinggi, iaitu kembali berdoa kepada Allah SWT.

“Jangan sekali-kali kita pisahkan doa dengan persatuan dan kerja keras, kerana hal itu hanya akan membuat doa kita sia-sia. Dari keadaan inilah semakin terasa betapa pentingnya manfaat doa atau berdoa bagi kita,” kata Aziz Jamaluddin.

Selain Bersih, Perkasa dan Pemuda Umno turut akan mengadakan perhimpunan serentak pada 9 Julai.

Justeru tegas Aziz Jamaluddin, rakyat harus menolak daripada menyertai perhimpunan itu kerana ia akan menimbulkan lebih banyak keburukan dan konflik.

“Jika ada pemimpin yang ditangkap atas tuduhan merancang dan mengetuai rusuhan, namanya akan menjadi lebih besar walaupun imej tersebut sebenarnya dicipta dalam semangat anarkisme dan bertentangan dengan sifat-sifat keinsanan yang dibentuk oleh Islam melalui perantaraan kemurnian akhlak.

“Jadi rakyat bukan sahaja tidak sepatutnya menyokong anarkisme yang ingin dibawa oleh pemimpin tersebut,” katanya.

Langkah Bersih mengadakan perhimpunan itu mendapat respon negatif daripada NGO dan juga pimpinan Barisan Nasional (BN).

Terbarum Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin berkata perhimpunan itu akan memberi kesan negatif kepada negara dan menyekat pembangunan ekonomi.

Selain itu, beliau juga berkata perhimpunan itu tidak menggambarkan prinsip demokrasi selain tidak mewakili keseluruhan rakyat.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 17 June 2011, 2:02 pm and is filed under
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July 9: Umno Youth to march as well

By
Wong Teck Chi

Jun 16, 11 | MalaysiaKini

Umno Youth today resolved to hold a major street rally that will coincide with the Bersih 2.0 movement’s rally on July 9.

Like the Bersih 2.0 movement, Umno Youth seeks to march to the Istana Negara.

But while Bersih 2.0 said it is rallying to call for electoral reforms, the Umno Youth rally seeks to support the current electoral system.

“We are supporting the present electoral system and want to work with the (Election Commission) to improve it further,” Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar said told Malaysiakini.

The matter was decided during the Umno Youth exco meeting this afternoon.

Khairy said that among others, Umno Youth was concerned about allegations that opposition parties are “transferring voters”.

He said that Umno Youth will not be joining the Bersih 2.0 rally because they feel that this group was supporting the opposition parties.

Asked if this was a counter-rally against Bersih 2.0, Khairy replied: “This has nothing to do with Bersih. We want to make our stand on democracy”.

Will apply for permit

Asked if it was appropriate for Umno Youth to call for such a rally in view of both Bersih 2.0 and Perkasa’s declaration they would hold marches on the same day, Khairy said: “It is up to the police to sort (that) out”.

Khairy said that Umno Youth will be applying for a police permit, but qualified that he was unsure of the movement would ultimately get one.

On details of the march such as the rally points, Khairy said this would be announced later.

Bersih 2.0 is a coalition of 62 groups who insist that their movement is led purely by civil society leaders and thus does not side with any political party.

In late 2007, the first Bersih rally (above) saw about 40,000 people from all walks of life marching to Istana Negara in support of meaningful electoral reforms to level the playing field.

Soon after Bersih 2.0’s announcement of its plans for July 9, however, Perkasa said it would hold a counter-rally, purportedly to prevent the Bersih 2.0 marchers from causing mischief.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 17 June 2011, 9:59 am and is filed under
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Kartunis Utusan, rogol dan zina

By
Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin

June 16, 2011 | THe Malaysian Insider

16 JUN — Saya tidak pasti, apakah kartunis Utusan itu hendak menghina Islam atau hendak menghina pihak tertentu. Jika dia bertujuan menghina Islam, dilakukan pula dalam keadaan yang sedar akal fikirannya, maka dia terkeluar daripada Islam. Namun, jika dia bertujuan mengkritik salah faham sesetengah pihak mengenai perbezaan hukum zina dan rogol, maka itu tidak merosakkan imannya, bahkan satu sumbangan membetulkan fahaman yang salah. Adapun jika dia bertujuan membohongi fakta yang dimaksudkan oleh seseorang, sehingga menimbulkan salah sangka, maka dia berdosa besar.

Persoalan yang timbul; apakah jika seseorang wanita membuat aduan kepada mahkamah syariah bahawa dia dirogol maka mahkamah syariat akan menyatakan: awak mesti mendatangkan empat orang saksi, jika tidak awak disebat 80 rotan? Adakah di dunia ini empat orang saksi yang soleh sanggup membiarkan seorang wanita dirogol di hadapan mereka?

Rogol

Mungkin ada yang tidak faham sehingga menyamakan jenayah rogol dan zina. Zina adalah maksiat peribadi yang Islam berusaha menutupnya. Sebab itu diketatkan dengan empat orang saksi. Adapun rogol adalah pencabulan terhadap individu lain tanpa rela dan kejam, maka pembuktiannya tidak seketat zina. Beza menuduh orang lain berzina dengan mendakwa diri menjadi mangsa adalah soal maruah. Menuduh orang lain berzina mempunyai unsur menjatuhkan maruah orang lain. Sementara mendakwa diri menjadi mangsa rogol adalah mempertaruhkan maruah diri sendiri. Secara lojiknya, sukar dilakukan melainkan dalam keadaan yang amat memaksa. Bagaimanakah mungkin seseorang mampu mendiamkan diri apabila dia dimangsakan?

Maka, dalam kes kedua qarinah (bukti kaitan) boleh dipakai seperti yang disebut dalam Surah Yusuf: “Dan mereka berdua pun berkejaran ke pintu, serta perempuan itu mengoyakkan baju Yusuf dari belakang; lalu terserempaklah keduanya dengan suami perempuan itu di muka pintu. Tiba-tiba perempuan itu berkata (kepada suaminya): Tiada balasan bagi orang yang mahu membuat jahat terhadap isterimu melainkan dipenjarakan dia atau dikenakan azab yang menyiksanya”.

Yusuf pula berkata: “Dialah yang menggoda diriku”. (Suaminya tercengang mendengarnya) dan seorang dari keluarga perempuan itu (yang ada bersama-sama) tampil memberi pendapatnya dengan berkata:”Jika baju Yusuf koyak dari depan maka benarlah tuduhan perempuan itu, dan menjadilah Yusuf dari orang-orang yang berdusta. Dan jika bajunya koyak dari belakang, maka dustalah perempuan itu, dan Yusuf adalah daripada orang-orang yang benar. Setelah suaminya melihat baju Yusuf koyak dari belakang, dia berkata: “Sesungguhnya ini adalah dari tipu daya kamu orang-orang perempuan; sesungguhnya tipu daya kamu amatlah besar pengaruhnya” (Surah Yusuf: ayat 25-28). Lihat, Al-Quran menceritakan bagaimana qarinah digunakan dalam peristiwa ini.

Lian

Sebab itu juga, Islam tidak mewajibkan pula seseorang yang menuduh isterinya berzina agar mendatangkan empat orang saksi. Ini kerana tuduhan zina kepada isteri sendiri hanya mencalarkan maruah penuduh. Maka, agak sukar untuk seseorang itu menuduh isterinya secara bohong berzina. Juga amat berat untuk seseorang itu mendiamkan diri apabila mengetahui isterinya berzina. Ini kerana kedua-dua keadaan itu merobohkan maruah dan kehormatan dirinya. Jika orang lain yang berzina, mungkin dia mampu mendiamkan diri disebabkan kekurangan saksi. Tetapi sudah pasti tidak bagi kes isterinya.

Justeru Allah menyebut: (maksudnya) “Dan orang-orang yang menuduh isterinya berzina, sedang mereka tidak ada saksi-saksi (yang mengesahkan tuduhannya itu) hanya dirinya sendiri, maka persaksian (sah pada syarak) bagi seseorang yang menuduh itu hendaklah dia bersumpah dengan nama Allah, empat kali, bahawa sesungguhnya dia dari orang-orang yang benar; Dan sumpah yang kelima (hendaklah dia berkata): “bahawa laknat Allah akan menimpa dirinya jika dia dari orang- orang yang dusta. Dan bagi menghindarkan hukuman seksa terhadap isteri (yang kena tuduh) itu hendaklah dia (isteri) bersumpah dengan nama Allah, empat kali, bahawa suaminya (yang menuduh) itu benar-benar daripada orang-orang yang berdusta; – Dan sumpah yang kelima (hendaklah ia berkata); bahawa kemurkaan Allah akan menimpa dirinya jika suaminya dari orang- orang yang benar. (Surah al-Nur ayat 6-9).

Bab ini dinamakan dengan ‘li‘an’ atau penglaknatan. Inilah jalan yang Allah berikan kepada pasangan suami isteri yang tuduh-menuduh dalam perkara seperti ini. Selepas proses ini dilakukan, mereka dipisahkan selamanya, tanpa ada hukuman keseksaan mahkamah yang dijalankan, sebaliknya diserahkan urusan tersebut kepada Allah. Ini kerana, kes ini adalah kes mempalitkan keaiban diri sendiri.

Maka, mereka yang mendakwa diri dirogol atau diliwat secara paksa juga adalah menampalkan keaiban ke atas diri sendiri. Amat sukar bagi insan normal itu membuat dakwaan seperti itu secara semberono. Melainkan jika ada kepentingan tersembunyi yang lain. Maka mereka juga tidak perlu mendatangkan empat saksi. Sebaliknya boleh diterima pakai kaitan (qarinah) yang membuktikan kejadian itu berlaku. Justeru, paksi dalam hal ini semua, ada demi memelihara keturunan dan maruah.

* Prof Madya Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin adalah ahli akademik dan bekas Mufti Perlis.

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Loke says Yen Yen’s answers unsatisfactory

By
Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

June 17, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, June 17 — The DAP’s Anthony Loke today accused Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen of not answering why six Facebook pages cost RM1.8 million.

“This is unsatisfactory. She has not yet explained what exactly is integrated social media campaigning…what is the scope of social media? Facebook and Twitter? If it’s not a website, what is the money for? Advertisements? Where?” the DAP socialist youth chief (Dapsy) told The Malaysian Insider.

The Tourism Minister said yesterday she did not contradict a detailed account of the costs, and that the sum of money was for an “integrated social media campaign.”

Ng said that so far RM250,000 had been spent on the campaign, and that RM1.8 million would cover the cost of six different campaigns over seven months, and included the cost of contests and advertising on Google and Facebook.

Her deputy, James Dawos Mamit, had told Parliament that each Facebook page had cost RM293,072. He said that the RM1.8 million included costs for designing, flash programming and coding, testing and debugging, uploading and launching the application, system server deployment and campaign management.

Ng has not pointed out which part of her deputy’s speech which stated that the RM1.8 million was not used for the ministry’s Facebook page, despite repeated questioning by reporters yesterday.

“She has not answered questions…when asked about technical details, she cannot answer reporters…all we want to know is exactly where the money is going, and if we don’t understand, make us understand,” Loke added.

The Rasah MP also accused Ng of defending a company which had been awarded the contract to develop the Facebook pages.

Impact Creations Sdn Bhd had been hired by the ministry on a three-year contract from 2011-2013, and the scope of its operations included hosting various activities on the Facebook page(s), six interactive Flash applications, development and maintenance work as well as advertising.

“Why is Ng Yen Yen bent on defending a crony company, the sole company which awarded to carry out this so-called campaign? Is that why she is insisting on defending the exorbitant figures?” asked Loke.

Ng will be meeting the Cabinet today to provide details on the RM1.8 million expenditure.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has said that if the tourism minister’s explanation was not satisfactory, the government might investigate the matter.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 17 June 2011, 12:52 pm and is filed under
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Malaysia’s ‘stupidity’ sizzles Internet

By
Casey Lee

June 17, 2011  | Free Malaysia Today

KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia, it seems, is fast becoming the purveyor of laughs on the worldwide web.

On the heels of the Obedient Wives Club which aimed to turn ‘good wives into first class whores’,  there’s now the Malaysian government spending RM1.8 million (US$590,000) on six Facebook,  which incidentally is free, applications.

The Internet application (app) developer world is abuzz with humour and bewildement at the ‘stupidity’ of the move.

The common view across the web is that the move to spend just over half a million US dollars is “seriously stupid” and an “utter waste of tax-payers’ money.

Speaking in Penn Olson – The Asian Tech Catalogue site – Willis Wee said in an article headlined “Spending US$100,000 For a Facebook App is Just Plain Stupid” and many other experts in the business think so too.

Wee said he forwarded the news about the Malaysian government’s largesse to Preetham Venkky, the Business Head at KRDS India, one of the Facebook authorized app development firms in Asia, to seek his opinion on the matter.

Preetham’s reply was that spending RM1.8 million (USD$590,000) to develop six Facebook applications was ‘impossible’ and ‘seriously unjustified’.

He said: “For an app like Citrawana (one of the six) to costs close to US$100,000, this is impossible since the app is pretty straight to the point.

“The money paid is seriously unjustified. It should cost anywhere between US$12,000 – US$15,000 inclusive of two iPads being given away as prizes.

He added that “these costs would include (to quote directly) – “creative works, concepts and ideas, design, flash programming and coding, testing and debugging, uploading and launching of application, system server development and maintenance, and development of database from the contest.”

Potentials not exploited

Earlier this week, the Tourism Ministry, through Deputy Minister James Dawos Mamit, set off a storm when it revealed it had paid that amount for the Facebook apps.

In his reply, Venkky said it was important to note that based on the minister’s statement “cost did not include campaign management, monitoring, Facebook ads, or fan recruitment through Facebook and Google”.

“In most cases, the costs can escalate quite rapidly if a key deliverable is fan count.

“If there’s a target to acquire one million US fans for the page (this could be a realistic expectation since the client is a tourism client) where the CPC (cost per click) is US $1.10 (on average) then it might be a good deal.

“If I were to make a guess, I think it would make sense if $90,000 includes the development of six apps with the remaining money spent on media (buying ads) to propagate and rapidly increase engagement,” he added.

Venkky was also shocked at the quality of the apps that were developed which, he said, did not fully utilise the full potential of the social network site and was not encouraging more ‘fans’ to ‘like’ the pages of the Tourism Ministry.

“The agency hasn’t used the basic mechanics involved in Facebook fans acquisition.

“For instance, a user can play the game without ‘liking’ the page. There’s a micro-leaderboard but no global leaderboard.

“How would the user be motivated if he doesn’t know where he stands globally?

“And honestly, it’s extremely difficult to get 50,000 points which will only encourage the users to give up soon.

“Also, the developer hasn’t used any ‘virality’ at all in the app.

“For instance it doesn’t prompt the user to share their score as an update, it doesn’t have an option to ‘challenge’ and invite your friends to join the game etc.

“There’s a lot that could’ve been done with the app, but it looks like the development agency has missed out on the core features to make the app go viral and hence increase fans and awareness,” he said.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 17 June 2011, 2:33 pm and is filed under
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MCA Youth turns down Umno Youth’s rally invite

By
Kow Gah Chie

Jun 17, 11 | MalaysiaKini

MCA Youth has turned down its Umno counterpart’s invitation to join them in the July 9 street rally in the belief that such activities would be detrimental to the national economy.

MCA Youth chief Wee Ka Siong said at a press conference at the MCA headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today that though the movement disagrees with groups intention, it still respects their views.

Yesterday, Umno Youth head Khairy Jamaludin said that he would organise a march to the Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur in support of the current electoral system, denying that they were indulging in a counter-rally.

A coalition group known as Bersih 2.0 had already announced in May that it would be rallying on July 9 to call for meaningful electoral reforms which Perkasa vowed a counter-rally.

Wee said that MCA Youth’s decision to sit out of the protest will not affect their relationship with Umno Youth or BN Youth.

“BN has 13 youth movements and all have their views. They usually don’t interfere with each other. The MCA Youth central committee does not agree (with the rally),” he said.

Wee said that everyone in Malaysia has the right to freedom of expression but said that it should be done indoors and not on the streets.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin insisted that its rally had nothing to do with the Bersih 2.0 rally.

Instead, the youth movement’s purpose was to lend support to the current electoral system and also to help in making the system better.

Perkasa on the other hand had pledged to foil the Bersih 2.0 rally.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 17 June 2011, 7:56 pm and is filed under
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Mengangkat martabat Dayak

Komentar Roketkini

17 June 2011 | Roketkini

17 JUN – Hampir 100,000 warga Malaysia keturunan Dayak dari Sarawak terpaksa meninggalkan negeri untuk mencari kerja di Semenanjung. Keadaan menyedihkan itu berlaku kerana kerajaan negeri Barisan Nasional Sarawak gagal menyediakan peluang pekerjaan yang secukupnya.

Daripada jumlah 2.4 juta penduduk Sarawak, separuh daripadanya adalah dari kalangan masyarakat Dayak yang merangkumi Iban, Bidayuh, Kelabit, Kenyah, Penan, Kayan, Punan, Ngaju, Lun Bawang, Sihan dan suku-suku kaum lain.

Malah, kerajaan negeri pimpinan Tan Sri Adul Taib Mahmud mahu anak-anak negeri yang masih berada di kampung supaya bersaing dengan buruh asing di lading-ladang kelapa sawit yang hanya menawarkan gaji RM12 sehari.

Ini adalah satu daripada masalah yang terpaksa dihadapi warga Sarawak, hasil kajian dan pemerhatian aktivis sosial dan politik Sarawak Dr John Brian Anthony anak Jemery Guang.

Melalui tulisan dalam blognya dayakbaru.com, beliau berkata kerajaan Taib Mahmud juga telah membinasakan hutan rimba dan mencemar sungai-sungai di Sarawak di samping menyekat masyarakat Dayak daripada bertani berikutan langkah kerajaan negeri menyerahkan tanah adat NCR kepada kroni-kroni BN untuk membuka ladang.

Sehubungan itu, beliau menyokong usaha DAP menubuhkan Yayasan Pemikir Dayak atau Dayak Brain Trust (DBT) untuk menangani masalah-masalah yang dihadapi masyarakat Dayak di Sarawak.

Cadangan menubuhkan DBT yang diumumkan oleh Ketua Parlimen DAP Lim Kit Siang baru-baru ini adalah hasil perbincangan dan dialog para pemimpin parti dengan pemimpin-pemimpin tempatan di Sarawak. DBT akan berfungsi sebagai badan penasihat yang dianggotai 10 profesional Dayak bagi menangani isu-isu masyarakat pedalaman Sarawak.

Kit Siang telah menjelaskan pakar-pakar professional itu akan memberi khidmat nasihat kepada DAP dan Pakatan Rakyat di Sarawak tentang cara untuk membantu dan menyemai kesedaran hak di kalangan penduduk pedalaman.

Dr John Brian bersetuju tentang pentingnya sebuah wadah pemikir seperti DBT untuk kaum Dayak.

Menurutnya, parti-parti BN yang mengaku memperjuangkan hak Dayak seperti Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) dan Parti Progresif Demokratik Sarawak (SPDP) enggan mewujudkan wadah pemikir sedemikian kerana sikap angkuh pemimpin mereka serta bimbang kedudukan politik mereka digugat oleh pakar-pakar profesional.

Sedangkan, beliau menjelaskan, parti-parti BN itu serta kerajaan negeri Sarawak tidak serius dalam usaha mewujudkan program pembangunan perniagaan Dayak serta tabung pendidikan Dayak – menyebabkan masyarakat Dayak terpinggir dari apa-apa usaha kemajuan kerajaan negeri.

Persatuan Dayak Iban Sarawak (Sadia) turut mengaku-alukan langkah DAP mewujudkan DBT yang turut dilihat dapat menjadi pusat sumber masyarakat Dayak, bukan sahaja untuk DAP mendalami isu-isu kaum-kaum pribumi tetapi juga bagi semua pihak yang mengambil berat tentang hal-ehwal Dayak.

Pengerusi DAP Sarawak Wong Ho Leng menjelaskan bahawa DBT akan menambah baik usaha parti yang semakin rapat dengan kaum-kaum pribumi lain seperti Melayu dan Melanau.

Menurutnya, keputusan pilihan raya negeri Sarawak pada 16 April lalu telah menunjukkan sokongan undi masyarakat Dayak kepada Pakatan Rakyat telah meningkat daripada 22 peratus pada PRN 2006 kepada 32 peratus pada PRN 2011.

“Selama ini Sarawak dan masyarakat Dayak yang dikatakan menjadi simpanan tetap kepada BN telah terbukti sudah dipecahkan. Warga Sarawak mahu perubahan yang sebenar,” katanya.

Perubahan untuk mengangkat martabat dan taraf hidup masyarakat Dayak memerlukan perubahan dan iltizam politik yang serius. BN Sarawak terbukti tidak mampu atau tidak mahu melaksanakan usaha itu. Kini usaha murni tersebut dibawakan oleh DAP dengan kerjasama rakan-rakan komponen Pakatan Rakyat serta warga-warga prihatin anak negeri Sarawak.

Sewaktu mengemukakan cadangannya di Sibu awal bulan Jun ini, Kit Siang membuka persoalan: mampukah Pakatan Rakyat membuat perubahan besar melalui usaha menarik sokongan warga Sarawak dan Sabah?

Bagi beliau, DAP dan Pakatan perlu mensasarkan 30 kerusi Parlimen di Sarawak dan Sabah untuk membolehkan perubahan politik negara dengan cara mengambil alih pentadbiran Putrajaya.

“Mampukah Pakatan Rakyat menang 15 kerusi Parlimen di Sarawak dalam pilihan raya umum ke-13 nanti? Kesemua 12 Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak perlu menetapkan matlamat ini sebagai panduan dalam segala usaha, pendirian, kenyataan dan tindakan mereka,” katanya.

Kit Siang membayangkan DBT tidak perlu dianggotai oleh ahli DAP, dan sepatutnya komposisi majoriti keahlian yayasan itu dipenuhi oleh tokoh dan pakar dari kalangan Dayak yang bukan ahli parti.

Baginya, ia bukan soal DAP meluaskan pengaruh politik tetapi untuk semua rakyat Malaysia, termasuk Dayak, bangkit untuk memainkan peranan penuh dalam bidang-bidang politik, ekonomi, budaya dan pembaharuan intelek.

Daripada 222 kerusi Parlimen Malaysia, Sarawak mempunyai 31 kerusi manakala Sabah 25. Setakat ini, Pakatan mempunyai dua kerusi Parlimen di Sarawak dan satu di Sabah (dua lagi kerusi Parlimen Sabah dalah milik SAPP yang keluar BN tetapi tidak bergabung dengan Pakatan).

Dalam PRU 2008, Pakatan Rakyat menang 82 kerusi Parlimen, menafikan majoriti dua pertiga BN. – Roketkini.com

                This entry was posted on Friday, 17 June 2011, 8:07 pm and is filed under
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On Facebook, protest grows against Yen Yen

By
Clara Chooi

June 17, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, June 17 — A spontaneous Facebook campaign started by critics of Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen has drawn the support of nearly 90,000 Malaysians, almost a triple of those who follow her ministry’s official page.

The campaign kicked off on Tuesday evening, shortly after it was revealed that the ministry had spent a whopping RM1.8 million to manage its Facebook accounts.

While the ministry’s following in its official Facebook page “Tourism Malaysia – Cuti-Cuti 1 Malaysia” barely grew over the week, a protest page entitled “Curi-curi Wang Malaysia” saw its numbers soar in the thousands.

As at 11.50am this morning, “Curi-curi Wang Malaysia”, which was started anonymously at 6.04pm on Tuesday, drew 87,809 fans. The ministry’s page, which was started in May, had only drawn 35,042 fans.

This latest public uprising via the popular social networking site joins a host of other online protests, including one against the government’s plan to build a RM5 billion mega-tower, another to protest the Lynas refinery plant and one against the proposed 1 Malaysia email.

According to a note posted by Curi-curi Wang Malaysia’s administrators yesterday, the page attracted 19,705 fans within 24 hours of its launch, then leapt to 65,870 fans in 48 hours, as dissent began to grow.

“Bravo! Malaysians. We need to gather more voice and put our hands together to fight for our money,” the page’s administrators said.

They also urged Facebook users to click “like” on their page, saying this would prove to the government that managing such an account does not require such a high sum.

“LIKE this page. We can prove to government we no need to spend RM1.8M for a success fan page. We want our mismanaged money back!

“This page created with purpose to voice against Malaysia Tourism Ministry who spent RM1,758,432 for a simple facebook fan page with 6-simple apps (cost RM293,072 each).

“Facebook is FREE. Don’t cheat our money in such stupid way and treat us like idiots. Suspend the contract and RETURN OUR MONEY!” it said.

The debacle began when Deputy Tourism Minister James Dawos Mamit revealed in Parliament to DAP’s Rasah MP Anthony Loke that RM1,758,432 was spent on developing six Facebook pages to promote Malaysia’s tourism.

He said each Facebook page cost RM293,072 — Cuti-Cuti 1 Malaysia, Citrawarna 1Malaysia, Karnival Jualan Mega 1 Malaysia, Festival Pelancongan Seni Kontemporari 1 Malaysia, Kempen 1 Malaysia Bersih and Fabulous Food 1 Malaysia.

Yen Yen has since blamed DAP for “distorting” facts, claiming that the sum was spent for an “integrated social media campaign”. The RM1.8 million, she said, would cover the cost of six different campaigns over seven months, and includes the cost for contests and advertising on Google and Facebook.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today that the Cabinet would seek an explanation from her over the matter.

He said that if the tourism minister’s explanation was not satisfactory, the government might investigate the matter.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 17 June 2011, 7:38 pm and is filed under
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Penang aims to emulate Hong Kong’s openness

By
Shannon Teoh

June 17, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, June 17 — Lim Guan Eng said today Penang will “learn more” from Hong Kong in embracing change and openly engaging regional neighbours.

The Penang chief minister told foreign correspondents in Hong Kong that the two “small states… have so much in common,” sharing a joint appreciation of open discussion and successfully putting “ourselves on the map internationally.”

“Here in Hong Kong, when the 1997 turnover happened, you embraced a new future. In 2008, in Penang and other Pakatan Rakyat-run (PR) governments, we also embraced the future and continue to do so,” he said, comparing the transfer of Hong Kong’s sovereignty from Britain to China with the March 2008 election in Malaysia when PR won five states.

The DAP secretary general added that “global political realignment since 1997 has also taught us of the need to never put all of one’s eggs in one basket, to diversify. This is why in Penang, while we are deeply engaged in working with China and Hong Kong, we also are eagerly engaging Indonesia, India, Thailand and Singapore, our regional neighbours.”

“We cannot be locked in the past and allow the past to close off possibilities of a better future,” he said.

The chief minister said that to maintain its competitiveness, Penang needed to revamp its infrastructure and all infrastructure projects would be awarded by open tender.

“We look forward to having new investment partners, and richer collaboration. Here in Hong Kong we want the financial sector to understand the reasons we are an attractive investment location, namely a new commitment to economic revitalisation and quality governance,” he said.

Lim added both Hong Kong and Penang knew that progress in a changing world required the states to “adapt and transform.”

“I have long admired Hong Kong’s adaptability and innovation, how it has managed to stay a leader in the financial sector and serve as a hub for economic growth in Northeast Asia. I am looking forward to learning more from Hong Kong and forging new ties here,” said the Bagan MP.

He added it was crucial to have “equal opportunities for the young and talented to grow and fulfil their potential.”

“We believe that this is the way forward for Penang to be both the sweat shop of the manufacturing and services sector and the smart shop for the future knowledge-based economy,” Lim said.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 17 June 2011, 7:50 pm and is filed under
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Putrajaya overrules Prasarana, takes pricier LRT extension deal

By
Jahabar Sadiq

Editor

June 17, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, June 17 — A Finance Ministry committee has ignored the city’s light rail transit (LRT) operator’s recommendation for the Kelana Jaya line extension project by awarding it to a company whose project price of RM890 million is almost 50 per cent higher than that of the lowest bid.

The Malaysian Insider understands the committee decision was made on Wednesday to hand the electro-mechanical system project to the Hartasuma Sdn Bhd-Bombardier joint-venture, which is already facing a heavy penalty for late delivery of the RM1.2 billion 35 four-car sets to Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd.

The Bombardier Group was the original supplier of the 35 Mark II Bombardier Advanced Rapid Transit (ART) two-car trains when the Kelana Jaya line opened in 1998. The first three sets of the four-car trains finally began operation in December 2009, after being delayed from August 2008.

“All bids are technically the same but Prasarana had recommended Ingress Corp Bhd-Balfour Beatty Rail Sdn Bhd, which put in a bid of RM610 million, the lowest against Hartasuma-Bombardier’s RM890 million, which is the highest,” a source told The Malaysian Insider.

Hartasuma is part of the Ara Group which is led by the politically connected Tan Sri Ravindran Menon, who is mainly involved in infrastructure projects and now runs the Subang Sky Park.

The other frontrunner for the project was CMC Engineering Sdn Bhd and UK’s Colas (CMC-Colas) which had a RM670 million bid for the 17km-long extension from Kelana Jaya to Subang Jaya.

It is learnt the Finance Ministry committee decision has caused some disquiet among Prasarana and its consultants as Hartasuma-Bombardier has also not complied with one condition of the tender issued last year — a 10 per cent limit of liability on potential damages.

“Other bidders complied but Bombardier has refused to agree to the commercial condition. No one knows what is going on,” another source told The Malaysian Insider.

The industry source familiar with the tender said the bids did not include the price of Bombardier’s proprietary Linear Induction Motor (Lim) rail system that powers the trains.

“During the tender process, Prasarana removed the supply of proprietary equipment from the tender scope to ensure there was fair competition for the bidders,” he said, adding the Lim equipment is estimated to cost some RM50 million although Hartasuma-Bombardier have yet to give any quotes.

The source said Prasarana and their consultants have been above board in making the recommendation although the final decision lay with the ministry committee which has the power to approve projects worth more than RM300 million.

“It now appears that the Ministry of Finance is approving Hartasuma-Bombardier’s bid for a premium of RM280 million plus the cost of the LIM rail while accepting less favourable commercial terms,” he added.

Prasarana is spending some RM7 billion for the extension of both the Kelana Jaya and Ampang LRT rail networks. The Ampang network will be extended by another 17.7km.

The wholly-owned unit of the Finance Ministry was forced to cave in to pressure from Malay rights groups last month when it revised pre-qualification criteria for several construction packages for the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) by allowing joint-ventures or consortiums.

It had on March 30 imposed additional criteria on contractors taking part in the project tender which disallowed them from forming joint ventures or consortiums. Perkasa, however, accused Prasarana of blocking Bumiputera contractors from participating by enforcing “strict” guidelines that would only benefited “rich non-Bumis”, saying that project delivery partner MMC-Gamuda was “looting and monopolising” the project.

The MRT is expected to be the largest-ever construction project in Malaysia and had earlier been estimated to cost between RM36 billion and RM53 billion.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 17 June 2011, 10:27 am and is filed under
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Sarbaini continues to haunt Parliament

Tarani Palani | June 16, 2011

Free Malaysia Today

The government maintains its stand that by law, an inquest needs to be established before a RCI. But Lim Kit Siang says the argument is flawed.

KUALA LUMPUR: The death of Selangor Customs Department assistant director Ahmad Sarbaini Mohamed continues to haunt Parliament despite a motion to disclose the deceased’s assets being rejected earlier this week.

The government has insisted that a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) cannot be established to investigate the death because an inquest must be carried out first, according to the law.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Liew Vui Keong reiterated the government’s stand on this issue in Parliament today.

“Based on the Penal Code, an inquest needs to be established first before a RCI,” he said.

Liew was responding to Segambut MP (DAP) Lim Lip Eng’s question regarding the status of investigation into Sarbaini’s death.

The government announced earlier this month that an inquest would be conducted from July 4-15 to investigate the death.

Sarbaini was among those detained on April 1 by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) during a graft probe involving Customs officers who allegedly caused the government to lose RM2.2 billion in under-declared taxes.

He was found dead on the first floor of the MACC office in Jalan Cochrane here on April 6.

His death was the second that occurred under MACC’s watch. The first was Teoh Beng Hock, an aide to a Selangor state executive councillor from DAP whom MACC was investigating for alleged misappropriation of funds.

An inquest was established to investigate Teoh’s death. However, the coroner had given an open verdict – that Teoh neither committed suicide nor murdered.

Due to strong public outcry, the government was forced to established a RCI which had recently concluded and the panel was in the process of preparing its report.

Following Teoh’s case, many felt that an inquest would be futile, with even Sarbaini’s family calling for a RCI.

Speaking at a press conference later, DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang said Liew’s response was unacceptable.

“There is nothing in the law that mentions that an inquest needs to be established first,” said the veteran politician.

He said that there were international precedents that the government could refer to where an inquest was by-passed and a RCI established immediately.

“This is the second death under MACC and it is important to instil public confidence in MACC,” he said.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 17 June 2011, 8:41 am and is filed under
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Speaker bars ‘question’ on Taib-linked property

By
Joseph Tawie

June 17, 2011 | Free Malaysia Today

KUCHING: The Sarawak legislative assembly Speaker has rejected a request by a newly elected representative for details of a proposed development by Monarda Sdn Bhd, in the BDC Kuching district area.

Monarda is owned by Chief Minister Taib Mahmud’s son and daughters.

Padungan assemblyman Wong King Wei said he received a letter from the Speaker’s office informing him that his written question on the matter, which was submitted for the next week assembly’s sitting, has been rejected. The assembly sits from June 20-23.

Wong said according to the letter signed by the secretary of the assembly Supian Tarmizi Mohd Tazuddin, the rejection was based on Section 20 (1) (a)(c) of the standing orders that a question cannot be asked that ‘imputes an improper motive which you cannot substantive.’

Wong’s question was aimed at Taib who is also the Minister of Planning and Resource Management.

Wong wanted to know more about the the proposed or approved plans for the development on Lots 9192, 9193 and 9194 all of Block 11 Muara Tabuan Land district located at BDC, Kuching.

The plots measuring a total acreage of approximately 269 acres were alienated without tender to Monarda.

Said an upset Wong: “If there is nothing to hide, why has the Barisan Nasional government stopped me from asking this question?

“This question is regarding transparent and clean governance, so we want the BN to be transparent and to disclose the proposed or approved plan which will be carried out on this land.

“I have raised my objection. I wrote a letter to the assembly (in reply) using the (same) standing orders to (say that to) object to my question is unfair to me.”

Public interest

Wong is insisting that the question should be allowed in the coming sitting and the government must provide the answers.

“There is nothing we cannot substantiate, because it is very clear. We also have proof that the land was alienated to Monarda Sdn Bhd without tender.

“We also have proof that this company is owned by son and daughters of chief minister.

“The issue is of public interest, and the public want to know what happens to the land.

“It is not fair to me and to the public for the Speaker of the assembly to reject my question,” he added.

According to records obtained from the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM), Monarda is headed by Taib’s eldest son Abu Bekir. Bekir who owns 52 percent of the shares.

Taib’s daughters Jamilah and Hanifah Hajar and his daughter-in-law Anisa Abdullah own 12 percent shares each.

Anisa or Elisa Chan is the daughter of Sarawak United Peoples Party president George Chan and the wife of Kota Samarahan MP Sulaiman Taib. The other 10 percent of shares are owned by Choong Sun Nam.

The land is currently vacant and Monarda has not done anything since it bought it in May last year.

Representative suspended

The issue of Monarda was a hot topic during the recent state election on April 16 because it was allegedly purchased at ‘grossly’ below market price.

Kota Sentosa assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen, who is also state DAP secretary, had first raised the issue in the assembly last year.

Chong said that the company had obtained the land at a very low price causing the government to lose at least RM300 million in potential revenue.

The company paid RM291,000 per acre on average, said Chong, describing the price as ‘grossly and obscenely’ underpriced.

The market rate is between RM1.5 million to RM2 million per acre.

The company only paid RM78.28 million for the three parcels of land instead of RM500 million.

Last year a number of opposition elected representatives were suspended for asking ‘sensitive’ questions or raising ‘sensitive’ issues in the state legislative assembly.

One opposition representative Violet Yong (Pending) even had her speech, which had touched on Taib’s family business, deleted from the Hansard.

A shocked Yong had protested the deletion, but the Speaker refused to listen.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 17 June 2011, 1:15 pm and is filed under
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‘The file-sharers are not the villains’

Malaysiakini Your Say
 | Jun 16, 11

‘We live in an age where the Recording Industry Association of Malaysia and its ilk, with their immense wealth, monopolise mainstream airwaves and distribution channels, driven by a desire to market rather than nurture creativity.’

Recording industry lauds ban on file-sharers

Nick C:
 As a member of the creative industry in Malaysia, I would like to state for the record that if there is any activity or organisation that has “highly destructive effects on the local music industry”, it is none other than the Recording Industry Malaysia and it’s efforts at suffocating online content.

Indeed, we now live in an age where RIM and its ilk, with their immense wealth, monopolise mainstream airwaves and distribution channels, driven by a desire to market rather than nurture creativity.

Online music sharing is how many independent Malaysian artists share their music and gain exposure, and if one has ever been to a local concert, it is very often that you hear the artists themselves ask of the audience to record what they hear and share it online, as it’s the only way they can reach out to a wider audience in an environment monopolised by greedy corporations.

To right an often-played radio public service announcement (PSA), it’s not the sharing of music that will silence music, it is RIM and its corruption of copyright.

Rais:
 Anonymous hackers group misread gov’t aims

Anonymous_40a7:
 “The Government will not impose any censorship of the Internet, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said” (The Star, Aug 8, 2009). Two years later, “Internet freedom in Malaysia has not improved since 2009, the year Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak took over the leadership reins.” (Free Malaysia Today, April 19, 2011).

Care to explain these developments, Rais Yatim? Or maybe you want to hide under the “combating cyber crimes” excuse again?

Henry:
 Yeah, right. What about the DDOS attacks on Malaysiakini during the Sarawak election?

Geronimo:
 The big question is, if it is about copyright issues, then why block Internet file sharing websites? Bootleg versions of hit movies are readily available in shops and the pasar malam. Why doesn’t Rais Yatim set his priority right by tackling this problem first, before blocking those on the Internet? Since they are so concerned about infringing copyright in cyberspace, how about porn sites?

I certainly would like to see a list of porn sites blocked by Umno, similar to those 10 file-sharing websites.

Pepper Spray:
 Government websites are pretty useless as they are, attacking them would be a waste of time and resources. But let’s do it for the lulls.

Docs:
 Rais seem to be contradicting himself. First he said that there is no Internet censorship in Malaysia. Then he said that 10 file-sharing websites have been banned. To a lay person like me, banned Internet sites or censorship of Internet websites all sound the same.

I think the hackers, too, may have thought that ban and censorship sounds the same and decided to declare cyber war on the government by hitting its websites. Looks like our information minister’s information is either not too clear or sounds unconvincing.

Wira:
 In cyberworld, if illegal stuff is hosted on a download site, it is incumbent of the copyright owner to inform the site to remove the bootlegged copy. I do not know any bona fide download site that will not acquiesce to such a request. If Rais follows through with his argument, very soon we’ll find him banning YouTube.

Nil:
 Any form of interference with the Worldwide Web that limits or hampers the people’s right of access to it is censorship. If crimes have been committed, and if there are complaints, then arrest and prosecute them in the court of law. If people have misread the government’s good intentions, then the government has misinformed.

Aku Melayu-Islam:
 Come on, lah, where got hacker give advance warning? Whoever they are, they’re just testing the reaction of the Malaysian government. And wow, sudah banyak panic. Kecut perut Rais, almost sounds like he’s begging, “Jangan lah attack, you salah faham, aje”. And the police are “looking” for the hackers. He, he, he, he.

Sudah jumpa, ke, orang yang upload video sex pada Internet tu? Belajar censor video sex haram dulu yang telah ditayang di hotel Carcosa Seri Negara. The police are still helpless. Buat malu, je.

Anonymous:
 Have they caught the acid-splashers, yet?

Kgen:
 This stupid Rais Yatim still has no clue that blocking web addresses is ineffective as the blocks can be easily bypassed. The file-sharing websites have a legitimate business and any piracy there is for copyright holders to deal with. It has nothing to do with this stupid government.

Artchan:
 Hackers, don’t waste your time. All government websites are not updated, anyway. And all contact telephones numbers are just numbers – you can never get through.

Gov’t braces for cyber-attacks

Longjaafar:
 If it really happens, then perhaps the powers that be will realise that we are living in a global environment, and that taking action only against local portals and individuals is futile. The bullying of bloggers and online news portals like Malaysiakini has to stop.

M’siaKiniFan:
 BN-Umno, this is your real face! Are you are afraid the rakyat will know the truth about your corruption and mismanagement? You deny most of the rakyat the basic right to information. We’ll see, government vs Internet.

Pandoran:
 Is the government going to bill the people RM500 million to avoid the planned hacking by Anonymous, like Tourism Ministry’s RM1.8m FaceBook site?

Dominic Seow:
 This shows the double standards of the Malaysian police. When Ibrahim Ali issued his declaration of a crusade against the Christians, the police never said they are going to investigate and get to the bottom of the issue.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 17 June 2011, 10:08 am and is filed under
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Thumbing nose at Hisham, Khairy says march goes on

By
Shannon Teoh

June 17, 201 | The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, June 17 — Khairy Jamaluddin said today that Umno Youth will still march on July 9, in defiance of Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein’s warning that police will act against the illegal gathering.

The Umno Youth chief said that his predecessor “can warn us all he wants” but “Pemuda will continue come what may.”

“My Pemuda and I are ready to face whatever consequences. This is a new Malaysia. We have a right to assembly guaranteed by the constitution. Umno Youth will be marching on 9 July. And that’s that,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

The Rembau MP said yesterday that the movement will join the fray on July 9 to “strengthen the democratic system”, and rival electoral reform group Bersih 2.0’s rally on the same day.

Perkasa has also claimed that 36 NGOSs will join the Malay rights group in an anti-Bersih march on the same day.

Hishammuddin, who relinquished the chairmanship of Umno Youth in 2009, said today that the Youth wing’s decision did not represent Umno’s stand.

“It doesn’t matter whether I’m former Pemuda chief or not. They will have to face whatever consequences [for] their action. Nobody is above the law,” the Umno vice president warned earlier today.

But Khairy said the rally will go ahead as it was a unanimous decision made by the entire Youth executive committee.

“It was not my unilateral decision. We feel strongly that we need to march to show that the voice of the people is not monopolised by the opposition,” he said.

Bersih is an election watchdog group that is pushing for electoral reforms to provide for free and fair elections in Malaysia.

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parties and activists are gearing up to march next month in the second such rally by Bersih, the first being in 2007 when up to 50,000 were reported to have gathered in the capital, with many being dispersed by water cannons and tear gas fired by the police.

PAS has promised to bring 300,000 protestors this year in hopes that it will galvanise support for the opposition in the general election expected within the year.

The 2007 rally was said to play a big role in bringing record gains for the opposition electoral pact in Election 2008, where it swept five state governments and won 82 parliamentary seats.

Umno-owned daily Utusan Malaysia has urged Malaysians to march against Bersih.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 17 June 2011, 7:41 pm and is filed under
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