BLACKTOP

Penans erect more blockades, stage protests

2009-09-16T09:57:00.000-07:00

MIRI: More protests and blockades have flared up all over Sarawak following escalating land disputes between natives with the state government and timber and oil palm companies.
On Wednesday, a series of simultaneous anti-logging and anti-oil palm plantation blockades happened in five different locations in northern Sarawak: Simpang Empat, Long Bangan, Long Belok and Long Nen in ulu Baram district and in interior Suai in the Niah district south of Miri.
The sudden flare-up in the number of simultaneous protests has made it difficult for even the environmental activists to keep track.
The protests in Ulu Baram are against four timber giants while those in Niah are against an oil palm consortium.
In Ulu Balingian in central Sarawak, another major protest is also being organised against an oil palm project.
In Kuching, a group of Penans staged a peaceful demonstration in front of the Chief Minister’s Office, to hand over a memorandum to protest against the construction of the Baram and Murum dams in northern and central Sarawak.
As at 2pm, they failed to hand over the protest note to Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.
In northern Sarawak, anti-logging protests by the Penans in Simpang Empat, Long Bangan, Long Belok and Long Nen resumed after another attempt by Telang Usan state assemblyman Lihan Jok to find a peaceful solution failed.
There was a previous meeting three weeks ago that also failed.
The Penans in Ulu Baram are trying to stop logging in jungles that they claim belong to their ancestors.
In interior Suai in Niah district, some 100 plus Penans and other natives living in Suai staged a blockade across a road leading into an oil palm estate measuring some 20,000ha.
A protester named Jadam said villagers were angry that the oil palm company continued to bulldoze its way into areas where the natives have customary rights status.
It is learnt the company had sent two senior managers to negotiate a peaceful settlement with the Suai natives.
In Ulu Balingian, some 500km south of here, a major protest that was supposed to be staged Wednesday, will instead be held within the next few days after a group of villagers decided not to go ahead with their protest yet. The Star

Free toll at KL-Karak Highway, East Coast Expressway on Sept 18, 24

2009-09-15T10:57:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Tues: Motorists using the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway and the East Coast Expressway will enjoy free toll from midnight to 5am on Sept 18 and 24.
MTD Group executive chairman Datuk Azmil Khalid said the free toll which applied to all class of vehicles including commerial was the its gift and way of thanking users in conjunction with Aidilfitri. He said motorists using the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway would save RM8 while East Coast Expressway users would save RM29 in toll for one way trip. "The free toll took into account peak travel hours between Kuala Lumpur and the east coast. Motorists still need to return their transit tickets when exiting.
"MTD expects about 200,000 vehicles will use the East Coast Expressway daily. It starts from Gombak in Kuala Lumpur and ends at Jabor in Terengganu. "Our records show that 60 per cent of motorists will travel during daytime," he told a press conference in Batu Caves near here today. The free toll is a first by a highway toll operator. PLUS had offered discounts of up to 20 per cent to those using the North-South Expressway during Aidilftri. Azmil said MTD had also introduced a time advisory to help motorists avoid "choke points" during traffic congestion. Additional booths would be set up to cater for the high volume of traffic while the staff leave has been frozen. -- BERNAMA

Chua confident of support at EGM

2009-09-15T10:55:00.001-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Sacked MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek is confident of garnering the support of delegates at the party's upcoming extraordinary general meeting (EGM) where he hopes to be reinstated.
He hoped the EGM would resolve the internal rift for the party to move on to strengthen itself."This internal conflict within the party is causing a lot of harm to the party. We hope the EGM will settle the internal conflict so that we can move on to strengthen the party and to restore our credibility and image," Dr Chua said in a "live" forum with the public by a local daily today. Dr Chua said party leaders must abide by the delegates' decision as the agenda for the EGM was reached yesterday.
Party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat has agreed to the five motions proposed by Dr Chua's supporters which include moving a vote of no confidence against Ong and to reinstate Dr Chua.Dr Chua was expelled on Aug 26 for tarnishing the party''s image after a sex video scandal.Chua said he was not ashamed to own up to his past mistake and reiterated that he would not join the opposition, "I want to die as a MCA member"."Whether I'm a good leader is up to people to judge me. I always try to do my best and people who work with me know that I'm a workaholic. For calling a spade a spade, I do invite controversy," he said.On the prime minister''s decision not to interfere in the MCA issue, Dr Chua believed that Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was letting the members resolve the conflict without outside interference. He also said that with the EGM in place, it was too late for a mediator. - Bernama

Five ISA detainees released, only nine remain

2009-09-15T10:34:00.000-07:00

PUTRAJAYA: The Government has released five Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees, all allegedly from the Jemaah Islamiah militant group.
With this, there are now only nine ISA detainees remaining, of which four are Malaysians. The rest are from Thailand, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Singapore.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the five were released conditionally after they were found to be no longer a threat to the country.
Of the five, Mat Shah Mohd Satray and Abdullah Daud had been in detention since 2002, while Mohd Nasir Ismail, Mohd Kamil Hanafiah and Mohd Amir Hanafiah had been detained since 2007.
Hishammuddin said they would be able to spend Hari Raya with their loved ones as their release came into effect immediately.
“All five detainees have shown positive response during the entirere habilitation period and have shown remorse for their actions in the past and is no longer a threat to the country,” he said.
Of the nine still in detention, Hishammuddin said six were allegedly involved in militant activities while the remaining three were detained for forging documents.
Terror suspect Mas Selamat Kastari, who was arrested in Johor Baru earlier this year, is the most infamous name among the nine.
In April, the Government released 13 ISA detainees, and another 13 in May. Among those released were five leaders of the outlawed Hindu Rights Action Force movement.
Hishammuddin was speaking to reporters after meeting representatives of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, or Suhakam, and the Bar Council over the review of the ISA.
He said the groups were concerned over the possible abuse of the ISA and hoped in the interim that the Government would alleviate the people’s concern.
“The balance between national security and national interest and civil liberty is not easily achieved,” he said. The Star

1Malaysia F1 team to be formed

2009-09-15T10:28:00.000-07:00

PUTRAJAYA: The 1Malaysia F1 Team, a joint venture between the Government and private sector, will participate in the F1 race beginning next year, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister said the project involved the combined expertise of Proton and Lotus with the support of the Sepang International Circuit (SIC), Motorsports Association of Malaysia, Naza Motor and AirAsia.
Najib, who is also the Finance Minister I, told reporters when making the announcement at the Finance Ministry that leading corporate figures such as Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes, Datuk Kamarudin Meranun and S.M. Nasarudin S.M. Nasimuddin were also involved in the initiative.
“This is the Malaysian team. The car was designed at the SIC, manufactured at the SIC, tested at the SIC and the car is Malaysian-made. Even the pit-stop team consists of Malaysians,” he said.
He said the 1Malaysia Team would identify a suitable Malaysian driver, adding that the project could lift the country’s image in the international arena.
Najib said the FIA had received Malaysia’s application to participate in the World F1 Championship next year.
Asked on the budget and the total investment by the Government, Najib said: “The Malaysian government’s investment is through Proton.”
Najib said the project was not a waste because it would provide a strong marketing element to the country when it competed in the F1 championship.
“If we want to export the Proton, we must ensure that the brand is strong. There is a strong element of marketing.
“It is not merely a sporting activity because there is an element of marketing for Proton and Malaysia while at the same time, the AirAsia and Naza brand names can be popularised,” he said.
According to a press release issued by a local public relations company for the 1Malaysia F1 Team, the national team will be based at SIC.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Universiti Petronas as well as Composite Technology Research Malaysia (CTRM), a leading local composite manufacturing expert, have already been engaged to participate in the project.
The statement said the national F1 team would integrate the Malaysian technical and pit crew totalling 200 people to be managed by one of Formula One’s most respected technical director, Mike Gascoyne.
He had already recruited a core team of international experts with a proven record in the various engineering, design and manufacturing disciplines needed to ensure that the 1Malaysia F1 team was of international standard, readiness and capable of competing with the world’s greatest drivers.
Currently, six local and international drivers have been shortlisted for evaluation and the team is expected to announce its two drivers by end of next month.
The statement quoted Najib as saying that the country’s participation in Formula One with the national team had far reaching objectives, mainly the advancement of the country’s automotive industry development from the technological aspect including initiatives in green technology.
“By establishing our racing centre within the country, we hope to also attract more foreign investments and the best technical minds which, in turn, will spur the growth of our automotive industry where we hope to see more R&D into lighter, safer and more cost-effective cars,” he said.
“We further anticipate higher commitment by organisations and attendance by individuals during the F1 Petronas Malaysian GP which will be coupled with increased tourism related returns,” Najib said.
He claimed that by creating a national F1 team, the country was taking “its motor sports to its pinnacle, thus ensuring its place in this internationally embraced sports that had scaled the heights of entertainment.”
The 1Malaysia F1 Team takes its name from the “1Malaysia People First, Performance Now” policy mooted by Najib in June this year as the unifying foundation for all Malaysians to come together in celebrating cooperation among its multiethnic, multicultural and multireligious society for the betterment of the nation.
Petronas, the national oil giant, has also made advancement in this arena via its sponsorship of the BMW-Sauber Team for the last four years. -- Bernama

A(H1N1): 34 new cases, 12 locally transmitted

2009-07-07T06:17:00.000-07:00

PUTRAJAYA: There were 34 new cases of Influenza A(H1N1) recorded Tuesday, of which 22 were imported while 12 others were locally transmitted, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

He said 335 or 72% of the total 468 patients infected with the virus had recovered and discharged from hospital.

“Currently, 133 patients are still hospitalised,” he told a press conference after witnessing a handover ceremony of the Mobile Blood Donation Vehicle to the National Blood Bank here on Tuesday.

Later in a statement, Liow said the new cases involved 24 Malaysians and 10 foreigners -- five Indonesians, three Australians, one American and one Danish.

“Of the 22 imported cases, the number of patients who had visited affected countries were seven to Indonesia, six to Australia, five to Singapore, and one each to Britain, China, Denmark and the Philippines.

He said all 12 local transmission cases involved Malaysians and one of the patients was among the participants at the Asia Pacific Pharmaceutic Conference, which was held in Penang from June 27 to 30. Previously, it was reported that 25 participants of the conference had contracted the virus.

Liow said currently, 1,031 people were undergoing home quarantine and none of them showed any flu symptoms.

“As of 8am today (July 7), no new schools are closed due to the outbreak,” he said.

Najib hopes for friendly contest between PAS and Umno

2009-07-07T06:12:00.000-07:00

LABIS: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak hopes for a friendly contest between PAS and Umno in the Manek Urai by-election.

He said that both sides should not be involved in insults or mudslinging.

Both parties should just convey their agendas to the voters and let them decide, Najib said, adding that Barisan would do its best in the by-election.

He added that Barisan was committed to campaigning in a clean manner with the election machinery being supervised by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyddin Yassin and directed by Datuk Mustapa Mohamad.

“We have a new method to move our election machinery. Also our candidate is getting encouraging response based on his background and presently there are also no major issues in this by-election,” Najib said, adding that Barisan was promising change and a new era for the people of Manek Urai.

He was speaking to reporters after launching the Felda settlers day celebrations in Felda Maokil here Tuesday.

Unity talks: DAP says no, PKR to wait and see

2009-06-18T07:37:00.001-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP chairman Karpal Singh said his party has no intention to join in any “unity talks” with Umno, while his Pakatan Rakyat partner PKR has adopted a “wait and see” attitude.

Karpal called for PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa to withdraw from the unity talks.

He said if Nasharuddin continued to insist on talks with Umno, he should quit PAS.

“DAP has no intention to join the unity talks. Hadi should scrap the idea.

“(PAS spiritual adviser) Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat spoke with wisdom,” he told reporters in the Parliament lobby here Thursday, referring to Nik Aziz’s outburst Wednesday in which he said Nasharuddin should quit the Islamist party if he persisted with such talks.

Karpal said PAS was once with the Barisan Nasional coalition back in the 1970s.

“The party never learns its lesson,” he said.

PKR’s Saifuddin Nasution and R. Sivarasa however that they would wait until Monday for a full Pakatan Rakyat presidential council meeting, in which Hadi Awang is expected to brief the alliance on the unity talks, before commenting.

PKR adviser and Pakatan leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to meet with Nijk Aziz in Kota Baru this Sunday to discuss the issue, they added.

Meanwhile in KOTA BARU, Nik Aziz said he would be calling for a meeting soon with all pro-unity talks leaders in his party, including Hadi Awang and Nasharuddin, to resolve the issue, reports SYED AZHAR.

65yr-old grandpa among 47 busted for drug abuse

2009-06-18T07:34:00.000-07:00

ALOR SETAR: A 65-year-old grandfather was among 39 fishermen who were arrested by police after testing positive for drugs, while another eight were nabbed for related offences.

They were arrested at two fishing jetties between 4am and 10am Thursday.

Kota Star OCPD Asst Comm Abdul Ghafar Rajab said 40 policemen were involved in the operation.

The 39 tested positive for drugs including heroin, morphine and ketamine, he told a press conference here Thursday.

ACP Abdul Ghafar said that the two of the men were Thai nationals with valid travelling documents.

He said police recovered a stolen motorcycle and drug paraphernalia, but did not find any drugs on them.

“The two jetties were among three spots that we have identified as being frequently used by drug addicts and we will continue to monitor these areas to curb drug abuse among fishermen,” he said.

He said that the men would be remanded for further investigation

Unity talks only if PKR and DAP included: Mustapha

2009-06-17T06:42:00.001-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR: PAS will hold talks on the “unity government” with Umno only if DAP and PKR are included in the process, PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali said.

He said PAS would not leave its Pakatan Rakyat allies behind as it was un-Islamic to break a promise.

“If the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) wants to hold talks on government unity with PAS, he must include DAP and PKR.

“Otherwise, there will be no talks,’’ he told a press conference on Wednesday.

Asked if the alliance with PKR and DAP would ever be reviewed, Mustafa said in politics there was no “permanent seal.”

However, PAS was prepared to hold talks with Umno on certain issues of national interest, he added.

“Even back in 1989 and 1990 during the era of Tun Dr Mahathir, PAS held talks with the Barisan Nasional on issues of national interest,’’ he said.

He was responding to Najib’s statement on Tuesday that he was open to unity talks with PAS and that he believed the Islamist party was sincere in its desire for such talks.

The “unity government” issue was brought up at the recent PAS muktamar (annual general assembly) by party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, to the chagrin of many party members as well as PAS’ allies DAP and PKR.

Others however, such as PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa, supported the move.

Join Umno
In KOTA BARU, PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat told Nasharuddin to quit the party and join Umno if he was so interested in unity with the Barisan Nasional party.

He should also relinquish his seat as Bachok Member of Parliament, where he was elected under the PAS ticket in last March’s general election, Nik Aziz said.

“He is causing a lot of problems in PAS with all this rubbish talk about the unity government with Umno.

“It has never been on the agenda for PAS nor Pakatan Rakyat, and this is just his personal opinion and not a stand of the party,” he told reporters after chairing the weekly state executive committee meeting at Kota Darul Naim Wedsnesday.

Reiterating his allegations that those in PAS behind the unity talks were merely “puppets of Umno,” he described what Nasharuddin was doing as “immoral.”

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Hadi Awang remained committed to the Pakatan Rakyat alliance and would fully explain his talks on the unity government with Umno at the upcoming Pakatan meeting next Monday.

The lack of unity on the Pakatan front has Barisan treading gently. Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that there has to be a united stand from all three Pakatan parties before Barisan can respond to talks on the unity government.

"The Barisan stand is clear, but they keep moving the goalposts," he said.

Haze: Air quality gets worse

2009-06-17T06:41:00.001-07:00

PETALING JAYA: The air quality in the country deteriorated slightly on Wednesday, with only 23 areas posting good Air Pollutant Index (API) readings of between zero and 50 as at 5pm.

This is compared with 31 such areas on Tuesday.

Some 26 areas had moderate air quality reading of between 51 and 100 while Tanjung Malim was declared unhealthy (between 101 and 200) with an API reading of 116.

The area with the best air quality Wednesday was Limbang with a reading of 19.

A total 41 hotspots were recorded in Sumatra while 74 were found in Borneo.

Most parts of the country recorded visibility readings of above 10km while Sandakan had the lowest at 4km at 8pm Wednesday.

Several Pakatan MPs ordered to leave Dewan Rakyat

2009-06-15T07:18:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR : Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin (PAS) was kicked out of the Dewan Rakyat minutes after he took his oath as the new MP for Bukit Gantang.

Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia ordered him out as he was the person who started putting on black headgear bearing the words " bubar DUN" (Dissolve state assembly).

Several other opposition Pakatan Rakyats MPs followed suit by donning the headgear. Visitors at the public gallery, believed to be Nizar's supporters, also put on the headgear amidst shouts of "Bubar, bubar” while the Backbenchers shouted "Keluar, keluar ......"

Nizar, after his oath taking, put on the black headgear and shouted "Hidup rakyat, bubar dewan!" raising his left arm.

Pandikar ordered Nizar to remove his headgear. Nizar obliged but Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham (DAP - Beruas) and Nga Kor Ming (DAP - Taiping) who stood up and refused to remove their headgear, were ordered out by Pandikar. When both Ngeh and Nga left the House, Pandikar also ordered Nizar out as he had started it.

This was followed by Datuk Mahfuz Omar (PAS - Pokok Sena), N. Gobalakrishnan (PKR - Padang Serai) and Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (PAS - Kuala Selangor ) leaving the dewan as well.

Shouts of “samseng, keluar” were heard amidst shouts of “bubar.”

“This is not a market place Please sit down, don't join him,” said Pandikar.

"This is how children argue in the streets. We have many issues to discuss for the rakyats' interests,'' he said.

The fracas took up 25 minutes before Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak could stand up to answer Question 1 on 1Malaysia.

All in all, seven Pakatan MPs have been suspended for two days, DAP's Lim Kit Siang said in Twitter.

Ngeh returned inside the House when Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein answered about the Perak state assembly, which was after Najib's reply.

Pandikar spotted Ngeh and ordered him out again, saying : " If I have not told you how long the suspension is, now I am telling you that it is two days under Standing Order 42."

Later when approached by reporters, Pandikar said headgear was not allowed in the House and not part of the attire.

MPs must wear proper attire to attend a sitting inside the house.

"They (the MPs) were ordered out because they refused to heed the Speaker's order. They were shouting. Headgear is not part of the proper attire."

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (PKR - Permatang Pauh) said Pakatan Rakyat would be writing to Pandikar to reconsider the decision to evict Nizar and other Opposition MPs earlier Monday.

In a press conference at lobby, he said Parliament had too many rulings that restricted MPs from performing their tasks and that it was the right of MPs to voice their stance.

"The right of MP to wear marks of protest or support is allowed in any parliament around the world.

"If they can't show protest in parliament, where else could they show it? They will be restricted to gaining public support by going to the streets," he said.

He said Parliament did not allow the latitude required for MPs to perform their tasks.

"You don't expect us to take what happened in Perak as irrelevant to the proceedings of this parliament and outside its purview,'' he said

Zaid has joined PKR, says Anwar

2009-06-13T03:44:00.000-07:00

KAJANG: Former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has joined Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who made the announcement during the party’s special convention to amend the party constitution, said Zaid’s inclusion will boost PKR’s agenda to promote democracy and freedom of expression.

He added that Zaid was known to be vocal against the Government’s arbitrary use of the Internal Security Act (ISA).

Zaid had resigned from the Government last year due to dissatisfaction over the use of the ISA on a reporter, a web portal editor, and a Selangor state executive council member.

In welcoming Zaid on Saturday, Anwar commended him for his bravery in fighting for human rights, democratic principles and for the independence and reform of the judiciary.

“Zaid’s close friendship with colleagues from PKR, DAP and PAS will help strengthen the inter-party relations in the Pakatan Rakyat.

“His role in PKR will be formalised by the leadership later. Due to his experience Zaid may be given a seat in the supreme council and head the political bureau,” he told reporters.

Zaid said he had decided to join PKR and not the DAP or PAS as his political ideals were similar to PKR which he described as a multiracial party that fights for the rights of Malaysians.

“I choose this day to join because this is also a historical day for PKR (to amend its constitution). I’m offering my services as I also have friends in Pakatan Rakyat component parties, and I know Anwar is a good man,” he added.

Zaid resigned from the Government in September last year in protest after he criticised the arrests of DAP MP Teresa Kok, online portal editor Raja Petra Kamarudin, and Sin Chew Daily journalist Tan Hoon Cheng under the ISA.

The former Kota Baru MP was also seen mingling with Pakatan leaders at their functions before he was sacked from Umno in December last year.

DOE reports healthier and clearer skies

2009-06-13T03:40:00.002-07:00

PETALING JAYA: Air quality in the country shows a general improvement as rain brought a brief respite from the haze.

Although satellite pictures showed an increase in hotspots in Sumatra from 49 to 86, API readings from the Department of Environment showed an improvement in air quality.

On Friday, there were three areas in the Klang Valley that had unhealthy air quality levels but this was reduced to zero on Saturday.

The highest API reading was recorded in Port Klang (89) as at 5pm. Port Klang had an API reading of 136 on Friday.

Overall, 24 areas recorded good air quality (API 0-50) while 25 areas recorded moderate air quality readings (API 51-100).

As for visibility, most parts of the country recorded readings of 10km and beyond.

Subang had the lowest visibility level at 6km.

Bernama reported the API report released by the DOE on its webpage as at 11am showing no area reaching the unhealthy API level.

The readings for Cheras, Petaling Jaya and Shah Alam were at 83, 81 and 81 respectively.

Of the 48 locations monitored, 24 showed good API readings, including Langkawi (29), Kangar (23) and USM, Penang (30).

Allow Chin Peng to come home, says Anwar

2009-06-13T03:40:00.001-07:00

KAJANG: Despite strong objections from various quarters on the return of former Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) leader Chin Peng to Malaysia, PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim supported the move.

He said Chin Peng should be forgiven and allowed to return to Malaysia on humanitarian grounds.

Anwar added that the Government was being inconsistent in allowing former PKM Malay leaders such as Shamsiah Fakeh and Rashid Maidin to return.

“We stress that we oppose the militant actions of the communist terrorists on Malaysians and we are not supporting communist ideology.

“If Shamsiah Fakeh and Rashid Maidin can be allowed to return, why not Chin Peng. “If we are friends with China, which is a communist state, why is it we cannot have peace with Chin Peng?

“Is it because he is a Chinese that he should not return, while the others who are Malays can?,” he told reporters during the party’s special convention to amend the party’s constitution here Saturday.

Anwar said Indonesia, which is a Muslim country had already rehabilitated its communists who were involved in atrocities against its people.

He added that when Prophet Muhammad entered Mecca, he decided to forgive the infidel Quraish tribe who had fought and killed Muslims.

The Government should also do the same in Chin Peng’s case, he said, adding that he believed the mainstream media will manipulate his comments, by accusing PKR of acting as a “fifth column” for CPM.

On another matter, Anwar said the Pakatan Rakyat will not form a unity government with Umno but was prepared to meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to discuss several issues including the political impasse in Perak but on several conditions.

“Such talks can be held if the Government agrees to stop its cruelty against the people, and reform the judiciary, the Election Commission and other important institutions. “This idea is also supported by PAS,” he added.

On the meetings by Singapore’s Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew with the Malaysian Government and opposition leaders, Anwar said it can strengthen relations and the understanding between both countries

Hotter and drier days ahead with El Nino

2009-06-09T09:28:00.001-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians can expect hotter and drier days till September as an El Nino phenomenon is forming.

While the real extent of the El Nino impact could only be gauged sometime in August, more open burning was expected to contribute to more haze, the Meterological Department said in a report.

Malaysia experiences a hot and dry season in the months of June, July and August and temperatures range between 33C to 34C.

It is understood that temperatures could soar another 3C during El Nino.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas said the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) satellite report had identified 125 hot spots in the country since May 25 to June 7.

“The ministry has taken a pro-active measure by reviving the committee which monitors hot spots.

A national haze main committee meeting was held in February and June 8 and local government agencies have been ordered to be on a stand-by for any eventuality,” he said after launching the ‘Genting Goes Green’ at First World Plaza, Genting Highlands Resort Tuesday.

In a further preventive measure, the ministry has continued to increase its monitoring on the situation via daily aerial surveillance with co-operation from the police air unit and private airline companies, said Douglas.

“Emphasis is given to areas that are prone to fires such as Selangor, Pahang and Johor, especially peat swamps and garbage landfills.

“We have also roped in commercial airlines such as Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia to help report open burning cases that they spot while up in the air,” he said.

The ASMC report also showed that there is an increase of hot spots in Sumatera and Kalimantan, Indonesia, totalling to 996 and 108 hotspots.

Douglas added that the country’s Air Pollution Index (API) has slightly deteriorated and now stands at 51 to 100, which is moderate.

“This has caused it to be slightly hazy. This hazy situation happened because of a stable atmosphere with a high humidity level of above 85%.

“This leads to air pollutants such as dust and emissions from vehicles and industries to collect and continue increasing in the air space, thus causing poor visibility,” he said.

According to a Meterological Department report on June 8, visibility at certain areas in Prai, Bayang Lepas, Subang, Petaling Jaya, Malacca and Kuantan has deteriorate to between 6km to 9km

Shahrizat defends Sisters in Islam

2009-06-08T11:39:00.001-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil has come to the defence of Sisters In Islam (SIS), which PAS wants banned if its activities were against the religion, saying the Islamist party should learn to accept differing views.

The Women, Family and Community Development Minister said if PAS could not even accommodate the differing views of some Muslim women activists, “how can they tolerate the dissenting non-Muslim voices?”

Although the ministry did not always see eye-to-eye with any non-governmental organisations or individuals on certain matters, it had never called for any punishment against them, she said in a press statement Monday.

PAS adopted a motion on Sunday at its 55th muktamar, urging the National Fatwa Council to declare SIS haram if its activities were found to be contrary to the Islamic teachings and principles.

The party alleged that the group’s activities were “dangerous” as it could cause confusion among the Muslims.

The motion also urged the council to introduce special programmes to rehabilitate the group’s members so that they could come back to the “right religious track”.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat and DAP - PAS’ partners in the Pakatan Rakyat - are also disturbed by the motion.

PKR voiced its disagreement, particularly with the call for SIS members to be rehabilitated.

“Freedom of speech and association are cherished principles under a modern and democratic state. Differing and dissenting views (and association) are not only allowed but should be protected as these are the essence of a democratic and fair society,” said its vice president Mustaffa Kamil Ayub.

He said the correct way was to engage and debate with any organisation in a mature and civilised manner rather than seeking to ban it and punish its members.

DAP lambasted PAS over the motion, saying that it wanted the Islamist party to hold on the principle of democracy and freedom of speech of which the two parties has agreed upon.

Its Women National Secretary Teresa Kok said such a ban would be against human rights, adding that SIS was free to express its opinion.

“To ban or declare it haram means an iron fist way of doing things that should not be allowed to be turned into a culture,” she said in a statement.

Malaysian Bar president Ragunath Kesavan expressed alarm over the motion, also saying dialogue and debate should be the way and not silencing differing views.

“We call on PAS to move away from the typical Malaysian political approach of imposing a ban merely because of disagreement over differing viewpoints,” he said.

Wanita Gerakan secretary general Jayanthi Devi Balaguru said such a motion was a glaring reminder that the state of women’s affairs in Malaysia was still in its infancy.

She expressed disappointment that in this case, religion had apparently been used to divide and coerce.

Meanwhile, Selangor Islamic Religious Affairs Department (Jais) director-general Datuk Muhammed Khusrin Munawi was supportive of PAS’ call, noting that the group was too liberal when it came to issues relating to Islamic family law.

He said most of SIS members were not qualified to comment on Islam as they did not have an Islamic studies background.

Selangor Mufti Datuk Mohd Tamyes Abd Wahid agreed, saying SIS’ activities and efforts were contradictory to Islamic teachings

Kamarudin: Decision to retire made before Muktamar

2009-06-08T11:37:00.000-07:00

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar, who relinquished his PAS secretary-general post immediately after the party’s Muktamar, is not seeking reappointment.

Kamarudin said that even if the party leadership wanted to retain him in the post, he would have to decline.

“I need to spend more time with my family. My wife is not well,’’ he said Monday.

Kamarudin, however, said that he would remain as central working committee member as he was elected to the post by the delegates.

He also denied talk that he was stepping down because his close ally Datuk Husam Musa had lost in the race for the deputy presidency.

“My decision to retire was made even before the Muktamar. The outcome of the party elections has no bearing on my decision,’’ he said.

Kamarudin, 58, said party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang would be appointing a new secretary-general and other office-bearers soon.

He said major changes was likely in the new line-up of office-bearers and that he was “confident the party has enough capable leaders to be appointed to the posts.”

Kamarudin, who is also Tumpat MP, served as PAS secretary-general for two terms from 2005. PAS holds elections biennially

Jaya Supermarket Collapse: 4 dead, search on for 3

2009-05-29T07:12:00.002-07:00

PETALING JAYA: Another body was recovered from the rubble of the collapsed Jaya Supermarket building at 4pm on Friday, taking the death toll to four.

Indonesian Annuaruddin, 38, was the excavator operator and was found trapped under the machine, said OCPD Asst Comm Arjunaidi Mohamed.

Early Friday morning another body - that of Muhamad Maskur, an Indonesian national aged 31, - was found at 3.30am pinned under a concrete slab in the car park.

On Thursday, after the building collapse, Alsuki Nahru, 58, and a yet to be identified man were the first two victims recovered.

He said that rescue personnel were trying to get to three more workers trapped under the debris of the collapsed Jaya Supermarket located by search dogs and a scope.

Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said the trapped workers were near the bodies pulled from the rubble earlier.

He told reporters after visiting the site that rescuers were being hampered by the large amount of debris.

"I would like to get an explanation from the contractor involved in the demolition on the methods the company has used.

"I am going to put a working paper on this incident. A task force will also be formed to probe the collapse involving the local council, police and the Fire and Rescue Department," he said.

On Thursday, the building collapsed at 5pm while demolition work was going on, killing four Indonesian workers.

Two other workers were pulled out alive.

Bernama reported Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Lajim Ukim as saying that initial investigation indicated that overloading caused by heavy machines used in demolishing the former Jaya Supermarket building may have triggered the collapse.

He said eight heavy demolition tractors were in the building when the incident occurred.

Meanwhile, the Selangor government has issued a stopwork order on the project site.

This is to allow the Department of Occupational Safety and Health and Public Works Institute of Malaysia (Ikram) to study and report on the incident.

"The stopwork order is for seven days from today," Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said when asked to comment on the incident after chairing the Selangor Economic Action Council meeting, here, Friday.

Meanwhile, in Petaling Jaya Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said in a statement Friday that the building collapse was another stark reminder that safety at the workplace should not be taken for granted.

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) chairman stressed the importance of carrying out risk assessments before construction work was done.

“The collapse of the old Jaya supermarket building highlights once again the consequences of not implementing good occupational safety and health practices at the workplace.

“It is sad that it takes another tragedy for people to realise what is going to happen if one takes safety at the workplace for granted,” he said in a statement Friday.

“Proper risk assessment is the most fundamental issue of commitment to safety. Unless and until this issue is addressed, accidents such as this will continue to happen in the future,” he said.

Sabah to get a heart centre ahead of schedule: Liow

2009-05-29T07:12:00.001-07:00

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will get a heart centre almost five years ahead of schedule following the purchase of the private Sabah Medical Centre building at Jalan Damai here.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the cardiology and cardio thoracic services would be available almost immediately after the inking of the sales and purchase agreement for the takeover of the private hospital building.

“We expect the agreement to be signed very soon and the cardiac centre will be in place ahead by three to four years of the original plan,” he said, adding that the new building would be equipped with a cathlab, operation theatres and an Intensive Care Unit.

“Sabah will have its own heart centre and people need not travel to Kuala Lumpur or Kuching for operations as all facilities will be available locally,” Liow told reporters after a working visit to the SMC building Friday.

The government had agreed to buy the private hospital building at a cost of RM280mil to overcome the shortage of beds and other service problems following the closure of the unsafe Queen Elizabeth Hospital tower block.

Liow also clarified that the cost was RM280mil and not RM245mil as initially announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said another RM90mil would be spent on upgrading works for the establishment of two additional operating theatres on top of the three already in the building.

Liow said the Health Ministry would also look into the limited parking area at the SMC building and other issues that might crop up.

He also slammed opposition Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) for putting up billboards allegedly claiming that “the state has no general hospital following the Queen Elizabeth closure”.

“They are trying to gain political mileage through health issues. It is wrong to say that there is no general hospital here.

“The ministry has taken a lot effort to continue providing health services through commitment from all staff,” he said, adding there now 502 beds available at various hospitals in the state.

Liow said the ministry would also go ahead with plans to demolish the unsafe QEH tower block and construct a new twin tower block

Student arrested for throwing away baby

2009-05-29T07:11:00.001-07:00

KUANTAN: A female student of a religious secondary school, near here, was arrested after admitting that she had thrown away a baby boy near a house in Balok Makmur.

She claimed she had been raped and the child was the result.

Kuantan police chief ACP Mohd Jasmani Yusoff said the 16-year-old's mother brought her daughter to the Kuantan police headquarters around 11am Friday.

"The student confessed and was arrested under Section 318 of the Penal Code for concealing the birth.

“However, she was then sent to the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital (HTAA) for postpartum treatment," he said when met by reporters, here.

He said the student had also filed a police report stating that a friend had raped her and that had led to her pregnancy.

"Police are investigating the student's report," he said. On Thursday, the body of a newborn baby boy was found wrapped in newspaper with a note in a village in Balok Makmur.

The body was found by villager Mohd Hafiz Ismail, 32, near his house while he was going out to work.

The note said, "please bury him as I am unable to." - Bernama

PKA chairman Lee hands over audit report to MACC

2009-05-29T07:08:00.000-07:00

PUTRAJAYA: Port Klang Authority chairman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng has handed over the audit report on the Port Klang Free Zone to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office here on Friday.

Lee, who arrived at the office shortly before 8am, said he spent about 10 minutes with deputy commissioner Datuk Abu Kassim Mohammad.

He also told reporters that both PKA and Price Waterhouse Coopers, which carried out the audit, pledged total cooperation with MACC in the probe.

Asked if PKA would take any disciplinary action against those named in the report, Lee said it would leave to MACC to investigate the matter first before PKA follow-up on it.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat has directed Lee to submit a copy of the report to the commission and the Public Accounts Committee.

Ong said the authority had also been ordered to seek legal recourse for any contractual shortcomings or irregularities revealed in the report.

The report would be available online at www.pka-report.com for a period of two weeks while the appendices to the report would be available for public viewing during office hours at PKA at Jalan Pelabuhan, Port Klang until June 10.

Students to get discounts for motorbike licenses

2009-05-29T07:06:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Concerned about the rising number of students who ride their motorcycles to school without a licence, the Road Safety Department and Safety Driving Centre has decided to offer them licences at a discounted rate from next month.

A survey conducted among secondary school students found that many of them did not possess a valid licence because the cost was beyond their reach, Road Safety Department director-general Datuk Suret Singh said.

He said parents should not allow their children to ride motorcycles without a licence as the authorities would take stern action against them in addition to confiscating the vehicle.

“Under the motorcycle licence promotion campaign, those who are applying for the B2 class of below 250cc will get a 50% discount from June 1 to Aug 31,” he told reporters after signing a memorandum of understanding between the Road Safety Department and Safety Driving Centre here Friday.

The three-month promotion is targeted at secondary school students aged between 15 and 19 and the licence package starts from RM199.

“There are no more excuses for students who don’t have a motorcycle licence; they can apply for it at the Safety Driving Centre in Petaling Jaya and Kelana Jaya,” he added.

In conjunction with the school holidays which started Friday, Suret also highlighted the need for motorists to take extra precautions when returning to their hometowns.

Meanwhile, the Road Safety Department has kick-started a road safety campaign at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman and Jalan Chow Kit in an effort to create public awareness on road safety issues.

Jaya Supermarket accident: Workers trapped, one dead

2009-05-28T07:57:00.000-07:00

PETALING JAYA: The abandoned Jaya Supermarket in Section 14 here collapsed after demolition operations went awry on Thursday evening.

Part of the four-storey building, a landmark of the city, collapsed at about 4:45pm, trapping nine Indonesian construction workers. Others working at the site managed to escape.

The Fire and Rescue Department received a distress call at 5:08pm and about 50 firemen immediately rushed to the scene.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department director Soiman Jahid said the first worker was pulled out of the rubble at 5:45pm and followed by the second about fifteen minutes later.

The two injured victims Suriono, 31, and Salleh, 45 were sent to the University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC).

Rescue workers also recovered the body of a construction worker at 6:44pm.

Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Arjunaidi Mohamed said Suriono was admitted to the emergency ward while Salleh received outpatient treatment.

“The dead victim has been identified as Maskor, 28,” he said at a press conference at the scene.

He said that six more construction workers were still trapped under the debris.

“We are working on the assumption that they are still alive. The search and rescue operation will continue untill all are accounted for,” he said.

A resident living nearby earlier said he had heard trapped workers shouting “Tolong, tolong (Help, help)” for a while, but there was only silence now.

One trapped worker apparently managed to call his boss on his handphone, and rescue workers are trying to trace him.

By nightfall, an operations centre had been set up and spotlights were used to help with the rescue efforts.

Soiman said the rescue operation involves over 150 personnel from his department, police, the Civil Defence Department, Petaling Jaya City Council and others.

“We are using the tracker dogs to search for the remaining victims,’’ he added.

The building has six storeys, including two basement levels. Most of the workers were on the ground and third floors when the incident, whose cause is currently unknown, occurred.

At one stage, the remaining part of the building was teetering dangerously, reporters on the scene said, with bits and pieces still falling off.

However, the Fire and Rescue Department has confirmed that there are no houses nearby and residents were not in danger.

Lucky survivors
An Indonesian worker Mohamad Iksan, 25, who was carrying out drilling operations in the basement, said he ran out immediately after some concrete slabs fell on the ground not far from him.

“Luckily I was near open space and managed to escape. I only realised part of the building had collapsed after I ran out of the building,” he said.

He said he was working with about eight colleagues during the incident and most of them were at the basement and the highest floor.

Andi, 30, who was on the fifth floor of the building, was taking a break with nine other construction workers when the incident happened.

“I was sitting down when I heard the loud sound of wind rushing past. Then the floor started tilting and we just ran for our lives.

“We rushed to the other end of the building. We are lucky to be alive,” said Andi, who had just started working on the construction site 20 days ago.

Rojak seller Faizal Md Yusof, 25, who was at his van nearby, saw the building “goyang” (sway) and then collapse.

“I saw six cranes falling down along with the building. I just left my van and ran for my life,” he said.

His van was located less than 50m from the collapsed building.

Store manager Lee, 37, said she heard loud booming sounds and looked out of her shoe shop to witness the building collapse.

“There is usually some noise from the construction. When I heard the loud noise, I knew something big fell but I never thought that the whole building would collapse,” she said.

Nomination and polling dates set for Manek Urai seat

2009-05-28T07:55:00.000-07:00

PUTRAJAYA: The Election Commission (EC) has set July 6 as nomination day for the Manek Urai state seat by election while polling will take place on July 14.

The nomination and counting centre will be at Dewan Petra, SMK Sultan Yahya Petra I , Kuala Krai.

Nine schools will be used as polling centres.

“The by-election will cost the EC RM400,00 and 350 election workers will be employed,” its chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof told a press conference on Thursday,

“The EC will set up two election campaign enforcement teams that will oversee the installation of campaign material and activities through the campaigning period.”

He reminded political parties to refrain from campaigning on polling day.

Asked about the fact nomination and polling will be held on weekdays, he said it should not be a problem as most of the constituents were farmers, fishermen and rubber tappers, who were not bound by office hours.

The seat fell vacant following the death of state assemblyman Ismail Yaacob last Friday after he suffered a heart attack

Robert Kuok (net worth US$9bil) still Malaysia's richest man

2009-05-28T07:53:00.002-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Robert Kuok, the Kuok Group patriarch, remains Malaysia's richest with a net worth of US$9 billion, down from US$10 billion a year ago, according to the 2009 Forbes Asia Malaysia Rich List.

In a statement here today, Forbes said Kuok has held the top spot every year since Forbes Asia began ranking the 40 richest Malaysians in 2006.

Businessman Tan Sri Ananda Krishnan held on to his second place with a net worth of US$7 billion,just down from US$7.2 billion last year.

He has also maintained the same ranking every year since 2006.

Together, Kouk and Ananda account for 44% of the top 40's wealth.

They are also the two richest people in Southeast Asia.

The third richest is Tan Sri Lee Shin Cheng, head of IOI Group, one of the world's leading operators of palm oil plantations.

He is worth US$3.2bil, down from US$5.5 bil last year but keeps his position in the top three.

Malaysia's 40 richest people are worth a combined US$36bil, down from US$46bil a year ago.

It said the 22% loss in wealth is largely in line with the 21% drop in the Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) and is not too bad, considering the fact that the Malaysian ringgit has lost 10% against the US dollar, the currency by which the net worths are measured.

Malaysia has nine billionaires who are collectively worth US$30bil or 84% of the total wealth amassed by the country's top 40.

This is the biggest wealth disparity among Forbes Asia's rich list.

Tan Sri Vincent Tan (ranked 10, US$750mil) of Berjaya Corporation Bhd is the only Malaysian to drop out of the billionaire ranks in the past 12 months as share prices in his companies have declined.

Three making their debut are IOI Board member Chan Fong Ann (ranked 18, US$209mil), gaming tycoon Tan Sri Chen Lip Keong (ranked 21, US$195mil) and software executive Goh Peng Ooi (ranked 34, US$112mil).

Four people have returned to the rankings after an absence of a year or more.

Among them are Tan Sri Syed Mohd Yusof Tun Syed Nasir (ranked 37, US$100mil) and Tan Sri Tan Teong Hean (ranked 39, US$95mil), who cashed out of Southern Bank several years ago and is now making new investments.

The latest issue of Forbes Asia also features Tan Sri Francis Yeoh, head of conglomerate YTL (ranked seven,US$1.8 billion).

The full list of Malaysia's richest and the story on Francis Yeoh can be found in the June 8 issue of Forbes Asia, which is now available on newsstands. - BERNAMA

quit PKR because I felt betrayed: Aminah

2009-05-28T07:53:00.001-07:00

BUKIT MERTAJAM: Former PKR Wanita chief Aminah Abdullah says she quit the party because she felt betrayed after five male PKR leaders ridiculed her at a public function more than two years ago.

One of the five, she said, was state PKR chairman Datuk Zahrain Mohamed Hashim.

Aminah claimed she had recorded the incident, but was not sure whether to release it or not.

“I do not think it is necessary (to reveal it for now).

“If he (Zahrain) throws me a very strong challenge, I will reveal it,” she told reporters at her operations centre in Simpang Tiga, Kubang Ulu here Thursday.

Aminah also claimed she had another “major surprise to announce” when the time was right, adding that it could probably be after the Penanti by-election on May 31.

She said Zahrain had lambasted her and made false allegations on her performance as the then state PKR Wanita chief, in front of the several Wanita division leaders and supreme council members.

She said the incident happened during tea break at a seminar that she had organised on women issues in a hotel in Jawi, South Seberang Prai.

Aminah, who is vying for the Penanti state seat, said she felt terribly humiliated.

“I did not expect them to chide me that way, but I thank God for giving me the wisdom to record the conversation for my own protection.”

She said she recorded conversations, including the recent one with the two PKR leaders Cheah Kah Peng and Peter Lim Eng Nam, because she did not want people “to cause her any trouble later on.”

Aminah, 56, had claimed on Monday that two PKR leaders allegedly offered her the Penang Municipal Council president’s post to withdraw from contesting in the by-election.

If she won, she would be given the Penang Deputy Chief Minister I post to rejoin the party as well as RM80,000 as compensation for what she had spent in preparing for the by-election.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and Election Commission are investigating her claims.

On Zahrain’s allegation that she had not done much when she was state PKR Wanita chief, Aminah asked if he had done enough as the present state chief.

She said she did not have problems with Mansor Othman, who is among the three contenders in the Penanti by-election, when he was state PKR chairman before Zahrain took over.

Aminah claimed she did not want to make personal attacks, but said “Zahrain was the one who first started it.”

“He was the one who first challenged me to show proof over the allegation that two PKR leaders offered me positions and money,” she said.

On PKR’s legal notice demanding she retract her allegations against Cheah and Lim, and to make an apology, Aminah said she received it on Thursday and added that her lawyers would handle the matter.

She sarcastically thanked PKR vice-president Azmin Ali for allegedly calling her Minah Ronggeng (folk dancer) in a ceramah (public address), adding that he had previously advised her against name-calling during elections.

Zahrain, when contacted later, said he did not wish to respond to Aminah’s allegations for now, saying it was a waste of time.

“If she wants to sue me and take me to court, let her do so. But if she says anything out of context (about me), I will, in turn, sue her,” he said.

Transcript of the Aminah CD

2009-05-27T10:45:00.000-07:00

BUTTERWORTH: An audio recording purportedly a conversation between Independent candidate Aminah Abdullah and PKR supreme council member Cheah Kah Peng and Peter Lim Eng Nam, revealed there were mentions of a Deputy Chief Minister 1’s post and council president’s post being offered.

However, the post of DCM I was offered if the PKR candidate Mansor Othman was disqualified on nomination Day.

“Kalau Mansor hilang layak, Kak Nah akan disokong penuh oleh PKR untuk lawan, menang kerusi itu, jadi TKM. Itu peluang nipis, tetapi kena kira juga. Malik (state exco member Abdul Malik Abul Kassim) and Maktar (Sungai Bakap state assemblyman Maktar Shapee) tak boleh jadi TKM. (If Mansor is disqualified, Kak Nah will get full support of PKR to fight, win the seat and become DCM. That is a small possibility but must be considered. Both Malik and Mohtar cannot become Deputy Chief Minister.),” the duo allegedly were heard saying this during the conversation involving Aminah and her husband, Mohd Rofi over a friendly discussion lasting more than three hours at her house on May 13. Their conversation was purportedly recorded on a cd.

The second offer of the Seberang Prai Municipal Council president’s post apparently would only materialise, if she withdrew from the contest and rejoined the party and sided with the state PKR leaders and Mansor in their quest to oust Penang PKR leader Datuk Zahrain Mohamed Hashim.

Kalau terima counter offer, MPSP YDP siapa lagi? Kita pi rebut itu jawatan untuk Kak Nah, they said. (If the counter offer is accept, who else will become Seberang Prai Municipal Council president? We will go and grab the post for the Kak Nah).

There were also mention of compensation of RM8,000 if Aminah had to forfeit her deposit in the event she had to withdraw from the contest within three days of the nomination day.

The conversation involving Aminah, her husband Mohd Rofi and two other men also touched on the RM80,000 compensation offer either by Mansor or the party for the by-election.

As they discussed, they had lunch. There were sounds of cock crowing in the background and motorcycles passing by. It was also raining quite heavily at the time.

They also talked about two pretty Chinese newspaper reporters, one of whom who got married recently.

The following are the excerpts of the conversation:

One of the two PKR leaders tells Aminah he wanted to provoke Zahrain:

Datuk Zahrain, saya dengar you dan orang you nak biar Dr Mansor kalah ataupun u nak bertanding di Penanti. Joking lah. Orang kata you macam itu. Tak ada lah (quoting Datuk Zahrain). Bukan saya nak buat Mansor.. adalah Malik. Dia pi cakap kepada Lim Guan Eng ada orang lain mahu tanding, takmahu bagi Mansor tanding.

One of them say: Dr Mansor bagus, tetapi slow...dia lemah, lemah lah Dr Mansor ada bagi tahu saya, mungkin ada tengah orang yang mahu kerajaan Pulau Pinang yang lebih tulus (clean),

Memang tak ada dalam pimpinan Melayu, memang tak ada orang nak lawan Zahrain.

Mohd Rofi: Tak ada orang nak lawan Zahrain, tak ada orang. Kita orang sahaja. (laughter) lebih layak ialah Dr Mansor

One of them say: Kita datang sini bukan untuk bincang Kak Nan boleh menang Mansor tetapi buat analysis bersama. Rugi segi tenaga dan impak kita.

Keputusan akhir kita mahu bagi ajaran kepada PKR negeri Pulau Pinang. Ada satu kumpulan tulin dalam parti, kita terima juga dan bawa perubahan, kita mahu boleh bawa perubahan. Tetapi kalau kak tewas dengan tak cantik, itu pun perubahan dalam parti juga.

Kita cadang macam ini. Kita itu hari cadang kepada Tian Chua and Kah Peng, Tian Chua sokong dan terima. Kita bincang sahaja. Makin hari makin image kak tingkat saat akhir,Kak tarik diri dan beri peluang (Kak Min) wish, goodwill kepada Dr Mansor semoga dia berjaya di pilihan kecil ini, bagi teguran buat baik-baik,jangan lembut-lembut (Kak Mins husband)

Kalau you calun, BN ada calun, mungkin ada calun bebas..last minute Kak Aminah bagi teguran kepada Mansor dan undur Kita akan buat statement you undur diri untuk kepentingan (inaudible) dapat tepukan daripada akar ubi PKR and seluruh penyokong PKR, rakyat PP timing mesti cantik kalau terima package ini.

Lepas itu, lepas kemenangan Dr Mansor buat counter offer balik ke pangkuan PKR, Kak Nah balik punya time macam satu pemimpin memihak kepada Dr Mansor, gang kita, menentang Zahrain

Aminah: Bagaimana kita nak menentang Zahrain. Lim and Kah Peng say: Boleh, boleh, ada plan

Aminah: You tahu kah Anwar Ibrahim sayang sangat dia.

They said: Kita tahu tetapi perlembagaan kita akan bertukar bulan enam ini dimana kita nak tambah satu clause yang menyatakan ketua negeri dimasa depan akan dilantik tetapi mesti disokong oleh majority kebahagian kita control bahagian.

Aminah also then asked to return to PKR to attack from within.

Orang kuat seperti Umno kita dapat tewaskan. Apatah Kah Nah calun bebas, tak ada apa-apa kesan. You kena masuk dalam parti impact dalam, baru dia rasa, kita kerjasama, Kita satu kumpulan, tak mahu orang ambil kesempatan, kita halau keluar..kalau Anwar Ibrahim pun kita boleh marah dan serang dia juga. Kalau kita mahu jatuhkan orang, lebih senang dari di dalam.

They then discussed about chances of Barisan not contesting in Penanti and the possibility of Mansor winning without contest if Barisan, PAS and Aminah withdraw and whether for Aminah to withdraw before or after nomination and that she would lose the deposit then.

One of the two say: Tak apa, itu kita minta parti bagi balik RM8,000 kena bayar, Mohd Rofi quips : RM8 juta (laughter).

They also talk about Aminah going into the contest as insurance in case Mansor is disqualified.

Kalau Mansor hilang layak, Kak Nan akan di sokong penuh oleh PKR untuk lawan, menang kerusi itu, jadi TKM. ..itu peluang nipis, tetapi kena kira juga. Malik and Mohtar cannot possibly be TKM.

Aminah: Mansor itu baik orang, tetapi dia tak cakap banyak, dia punya pr kurang, lagi mahu senyum pun susah Kah Peng: Kalau terima counter offer, MPSP YDP siapa lagi? Kita pi rebut itu jawatan untuk kak Nah.

Aminah: Kah Nan survey juga. Dia orang cakap, apa lah image PKR, sudah taruh Fairus, sekarang bagi dia jatuh pula, ini mahu taruh Dr Mansor, ini siapa orang, kita orang tak kenal.

Kah Peng: Selepas penamaan tengok lah. Kalau one to one, kalau peluang pihak ke Aminah, Aminah terus lawan, kalau peluang u 34-40 sahaja, dia 60, lebih baik, bagi dia, tak payah..dia jimat duit, dia bagi gantirugi kepada pihak kita tetapi persetujuan mesti dibuat sebelum penamaan

Kah Peng: Kalau OK, kita bincang dengan Dr Mansor. Berapa yang you belanjakan di bayar oleh Dr Mansor atau party.

Mohd Rofi: Kita ada bukti. Kita rakamkan masa perhubungan negeri. You pun tak tahu. Kita rakam empat benda.

Kah Peng said even if there is agreement, Aminah must start with her campaign like operations room, banner

Mohd Rofi: Kita semua ada. Kita mahu angkat (symbol) kunci,

Kah Peng: Bila ada persetujuan, berapa yang kamu belanja Dr Mansor atau party akan bayar balik.

When asked about the budget, Mohd Rofi then tells him that they so far spent RM80,000.

They also talk about two possible by-elections in Kedah, about Anwar allegedly offering Fairus the DPM post and their plan to fight Zahrain

PPP state chief: What EGM?

2009-05-25T08:46:00.000-07:00

IPOH: Perak PPP chairman Datuk Lee Heng said neither he nor his committee received any notice of the People’s Progressive Party’s extraordinary general meeting on Sunday that “elected” Datuk T. Murugiah as president.

“There were also party outsiders at the EGM that elected Murugiah as ‘so-called’ president,” he claimed at a press conference Monday.

Lee Heng, also PPP deputy president, said he and his committee pledged their full support behind party president M. Kayveas.

“Kayveas has built the party up to what it is today, with half a million members,” he said, urging Murugiah to resign from his senatorship and deputy minister’s post.

On Sunday Murugiah, who had earlier been expelled from the party, was elected “president” by about 1,760 supporters in what they claimed was an EGM.

The members also passed a resolution to reinstate six other members who were sacked along with Murugiah and for a no-confidence vote against Kayveas.

Aminah claims she was offered top posts, RM80,000

2009-05-25T08:44:00.000-07:00

BUKIT MERTAJAM: Independent candidate Aminah Abdullah claimed she had been offered the post of Penang Municipal Council president and RM80,000 in compensation if she would withdraw from the May 31 Penanti by-election.

If she did contest and won, she would have been given the Deputy Chief Minister 1 post, she claimed at a press conference at her makeshift election centre in Kubang Ulu here Monday morning.

Aminah said that two “top PKR leaders” had approached her at her home in Jelutong on May 13 to make the offers, which she alleged had come with the blessings of PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Claiming she had as evidence, audio on CD and a video-clip on a handphone, Aminah, 56, said she would be lodging a report with the Election Commission on Tuesday at 11am.

Aminah later made a report at the Central Seberang Prai district police headquarters, saying she feared for her safety.

The Deputy Chief Minister 1 post and Penanti state seat were left vacant by Mohamed Fairus Khairudin earlier this year while he was under investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for alleged corruption.

The MACC has since cleared him of any wrongdoing, but Fairus said he now wants to further his studies.

Arrayed against Aminah in the Penanti by-election are Penang PKR deputy chairman Mansor Othman, 59, and independents manufacturing manager Nai Khan Ari, 41, and businessman Kamarul Ramizu Idris, 42.

“I have all the evidence on CD and will distribute this to the media soon to tell the people the truth about this man named Anwar Ibrahim,” Aminah said, accompanied by her husband Mohd Rofi and her eldest daughter Hernanie, 25.

She said her family members were witnesses to the meeting between her and the two PKR leaders, and they had recorded the full meeting which had lasted about three hours.

She said the same leaders also met her again twice after that, once more at her home and a third time at an office in Seberang Jaya, within a week.

“The offer was made as they claim that Dr Mansor is a weak and unpopular leader and might lose in the by-election,” she said.

Aminah, the former Penang PKR Wanita chief, first made the allegations last Saturday after filing her papers at the nomination centre.

PKR strategy director Tian Chua scoffed at her allegations, saying that PKR were the favourites to win the by-election.

He said the party would be initiating legal action against Aminah later Monday unless she retracted her statement and apologised for it.

He had previously urged her to also lodge a report with the MACC.

On Monday, Aminah said she would leave it to the Election Commission to take the matter up with the graft-busting agency.

Penanti by-election

2009-05-23T10:13:00.000-07:00

BUKIT MERTAJAM: It is a four-cornered fight for the Penanti by-election on May 31.

The candidates were PKR's Mansor Othman and three independents - former Penang PKR Wanita chief Aminah Abdullah, company manager Nai-Khan Ari, 41, and motivational expert Kamarul Ramizu Idris, 42.

Returning officer Roslan Yahaya announced this at noon today.

Nomination papers from independent businessman Mohd Saberi Othman, 49, were not accepted.

When asked, Roslan told reporters that Mohd Saberi had not fulfilled all the conditions required for him to stand as candidate in Penanti but declined to elaborate further.

Attempts to get Mohd Saberi for his comments were unsuccessful.

Earlier, Mohd Saberi had joined the other four candidates in filing his nomination papers at the Youth Skills Development Institute here.

Six objections were raised during the objection period, including one against Kamarul's proposer, who is said to be not from Penanti.

Kamarul has stood as an independent and lost in the Bukit Gantang parliamentary against by-election.

The nomination process for the Penanti by-election was quieter than the other polls held previously.

Although some Pakatan Rakyat supporters have turned up at the nomination centre at the Youth Skills Development Institute here today, there was no taunting and shouting that have marred other by-elections.

However, the police were not taking any chance.

A police helicopter was spotted circling above the area while some 300 personnel have been mobilised to keep watch over the crowds.

The earliest to arrive today was Aminah, who came to the centre at 7.45am.

She was followed by Mohd Saberi and Nai-Kan, then Mansor.

Many of the Pakatan Rakyat leaders have turned up at the centre to give their support to Mansor.

Barisan Nasional has decided on May 18 to sit out on the by-election.

According to the 2008 electoral roll that was updated on April 16, the seat has a total of 15,384 registered voters, including 24 postal voters.

The electorate comprises 72.68% Malays, 24.22% Chinese, 2.39% Indians and 0.71% others.

The Penanti seat fell vacant after Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin quit as assemblyman on April 16 after stepping down as Penang Deputy Chief Minister (DCM) I on April 8.

Muhyiddin: Ahmad Said to remain as Terengganu MB

2009-05-16T09:15:00.000-07:00

KUALA TERENGGANU: The Terengganu state government will continue to be helmed by Datuk Ahmad Said as the menteri besar, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Muhyiddin, who is also Umno deputy president, said a change of menteri besar was never raised or discussed.

“Who said (there will be a change in the menteri besar)? So far, I have not heard of anything like that,” he said when asked to comment on talks that there would be a change of menteri besar in the state soon.

Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, spoke to reporters after launching the national level Teacher’s Day celebration at the Islamic Civilisation Park in Pulau Wan Man Saturday.

There had been talks that several Terengganu Barisan Nasional assemblymen had voiced their dissatisfaction with Ahmad and wanted him to be replaced.

It was speculated that Barisan assemblymen would table a no-confidence vote against Ahmad in the state assembly in April but this did not happen.

However, 10 Barisan assemblymen stayed away from the assembly session on the second day sitting after three of them claimed to have received threats via SMS.

Muhyiddin said he hoped that with his clarification, the political situation in Terengganu would improve because it was more important for Umno and the Barisan to be strong in the state to face the next general election.

“I hope all Umno leaders, including the elected representatives and divisional chairmen, would adopt new approaches to foster greater understanding among themselves.

“The people have given their mandate. We have to focus on developing Terengganu because the state abounds with resources. It garners much revenue and has oil,” he said. -- Bernama

PPP's Murugiah and six party members sacked

2009-05-16T09:14:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Senator Datuk T. Murugiah and six others have been expelled from the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) by its disciplinary board for allegedly tarnishing the good name of the party and trying to get it de-registered.

Party president Datuk M. Kayveas said Murugiah, a supreme council member, was sacked for using his deputy minister’s office in the Prime Minister’s Department to organise a press conference for his personal assistant Dr N.A. Shanmuganathan, and making defamatory remarks against the party and its leadership.

“Murugiah used a bankrupt to carry out the defamatory remarks so that the party would not be able to take any legal action against the bankrupt,” he said during tea break at the party’s supreme council meeting Saturday.

He added that Murugiah also threatened the party lawyer and a supreme council member by saying that he would use all his powers to get PPP de-registered.

The others who were expelled were M. Jeyaratnam, Shanmuganathan, K. Tanggaraju, S. Kanesan, S. Saravanan and R. Rajandran.

They can appeal to the supreme council in writing, within 14 days from the date of the decision, Kayveas said.

Earlier, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, when asked if he would intervene in the dispute between Kayveas and Murugiah, said: “I am thinking about it. I have not decided what position to take.”

On a threat by Kayveas to pull out from Barisan Nasional, Najib said anything to do with the ruling coalition would be discussed at its supreme council meeting.

Meanwhile, earlier in IPOH, Murugiah had maintained that “everything was going well” between him and Kayveas.

Asked if he was willing to meet Kayveas over the matter, he said: “He is still my boss, my leader. I respect him as a leader. I am still loyal to him.” However, when pressed if he would meet his president, Murugiah declined comment.

Murugiah, who heads the Public Complaints Bureau, added that his relationship with Kayveas was “still the same” as he still considered the latter as his leader.

He also clarified that he met Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, and not Kayveas, to relate his side of the story after allegations of the money politics broke out.

He said he needed to clarify the matter with Najib because these were serious allegations that would affect the Government and the Cabinet.

Selangor PPP and supporters of Murugiah lashed out at Kayveas, accusing him of corruption and misusing his powers.

Disgruntled state exco members said they would call for an emergency general meeting next week and table a motion of no-confidence against Kayveas and Selangor PPP chairman Datuk Maglin D’Cruz.

“We are doing this because of his (Kayveas’) actions to sack members without consulting the disciplinary board as well Maglin’s negligence towards the members,” said PPP Selayang branch chairman, K. Tanggaraju in a press conference at Brickfields.

There were nine out of 18 Selangor PPP exco members who were present at the press conference but Tanggaraju assured that there are 12 in total who will support the motion of no confidence against Kayveas.

It also learnt that Dr. Shanmuganathan and Selangor PPP members filed a police report against Kayveas later today and requested MACC and ROS to investigate the party’s accounts.

Eleven more immigrants from Juru depot admitted for leptospirosis

2009-05-16T09:13:00.001-07:00

GEORGE TOWN: Eleven more illegal immigrants from the Juru detention centre were admitted to Bukit Mertajam Hospital with leptospirosis on Friday.

State Exco for Health and Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Phee Boon Poh said they were sent to hospital after coming down with fever.

Thirteen out of the earlier 26 detainees infected with leptospirosis, have been discharged from the Bukit Mertajam Hospital, he said, adding that now 22 detainees remained at the hospital while another two are at the Seberang Jaya Hospital.

“The disease has been contained. The people should not panic as the outbreak was only confined to the centre. I assure the neighbourhood that there is nothing to be scared of. We believe the problem will die down in one or two days,” he said.

A 21-year-old detainee from Myanmar died of the bacterial disease on Tuesday after he was being admitted to the Bukit Mertajam Hospital on May 7.

Phee said the state health department has checked the water sources, the food and the handlers, as well as carried out fumigation, disinfection and extermination of rodents at all four blocks of the centre.

“When the disease first hit, the wardens, due to lack of medical knowledge, thought it was a normal everyday sickness and an isolated case. After the death of the first patient, the department moved in and acted quickly,” he said.

Leptospirosis outbreaks are usually caused by exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals, such as rodents, cattle, pigs, horses, dogs and wild animals.

People become infected through eating, drinking or contact with urine-contaminated water, food or soil. It does not spread from human to human.

Bukit Tengah assemblyman Ong Chin Wen said residents in the nearby Perkampungan Juru were worried that the disease might spread to the neighbouring areas.

“We hope the state health department and Seberang Prai Municipal Council will ensure the depot is thoroughly cleaned and closely monitored to contain the disease,” he said.

Perkampungan Juru Village Security and Development Committee chairman Chiam Thcek Owing, 49, said it was time for the centre to be relocated elsewhere because the nearest residential area was about 30m from the camp.

“SJK(C) True Light is also just behind the camp. We are not prejudiced toward the detainees, but we fear of any outbreak that may affect our densely populated area,” he said.

A (H1N1): Second confirmed case in Malaysia

2009-05-16T09:12:00.000-07:00

PUTRAJAYA: A second Malaysian has been confirmed with the Influenza A (H1N1) virus at the Penang Hospital, said Health Ministry deputy director-general Datuk Dr Ramlee Rahmat.

Dr Ramlee said the patient, a female student in the United States, was admitted after she sought treatment for fever at the Penang Hospital on Friday evening and it was found that she had been travelling on the same flight as the first patient.

As in the first case, she too only developed a fever after returning home and the results of medical test by the Medical Research Institute yesterday morning confirmed she had the influenza, he said.

He said she was one of 16 suspected A(H1N1) patients warded at various hospital around the country as at yesterday evening but 12 others had been tested negative while the remainder three were still waiting for results.

The other suspected patients, he said, were warded at the Sungai Buloh Hospital (9), Tengku Fauziah Hospital in Perlis (2), Malacca Hospital (2), Penang Hospital (1) and Sultan Aminah Hospital in Johor (1).

Dr Ramlee said the latest patient was part of a group of four friends, including the 21-year-old confirmed with the virus at the Sungai Buloh Hospital on Friday, who had travelled on the MH 091 flight from Newark, United States and arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on Wednesday morning.

The two other friends and the family members of the female student, he said, had been placed under quarantine at home but none showed signs of the symptoms linked to the H1N1.

“Both the patients confirmed with the influenza virus are receiving treatment and are being closely monitored but they no longer have any fever and are in stable condition,” he told a press conference here.

He said the ministry had also placed under quarantine at home staff at a private clinic who came into contact with the first patient when he sought initial treatment there but they and the five family members of the first patient, who are also under quarantine at home, were healthy.

Dr Ramlee also said that 81 Malaysians and 38 foreigners of the total 192 passengers and crew members on board flight MH091, were still in Malaysia and their contact details obtained from the flight manifest had been sent to the respective state health departments so they be contacted and their conditions monitored.

As for the remainder 73 passengers, he said, their details would be handed over to the World Health Organisation (WHO) to be forwarded to the respective countries they had travelled to.

“I also want to thank 35 passengers on the flight who called us after the first case was highlighted through media reports and we have forwarded their details to the respective state health departments to be quarantined at home and monitored,” he said.

Health officials will visit all those under quarantine at home twice daily to offer assistance since those affected cannot leave their homes for seven days to even perform simple tasks like going to the market, he said.

He said the ministry also identified three passengers from the same flight, including a Malaysian, who were to leave Malaysia on Friday and placed them under quarantine at the Sungai Buloh Hospital since they had checked out of their hotel rooms and had no where else to stay. They will be allowed to continue their journey on May 20.

Asked is the ministry would take action against any flight passengers who tried to avoid being contacted, Dr Ramlee said it could take legal action under the Infectious Disease Control Act 1988 but hoped those involved would act responsibly by cooperating with the efforts to control the disease.

On whether it was advisable to wear masks in public due to the outbreaks of diseases like A(H1N1) and meningitis, he said it was more sensible for those coughing, sneezing or having running nose to wear masks and avoid infecting others since anyone within a metre of patients with A (H1N1) was in danger of being infected.

He also reiterated the ministry call for people not to panic after the second case surfaced as the detection of the patient proved the health authorities were on top of things and had the problem under control.

“We have been conducting non-stop screening of travellers coming from countries where there are A (H1N1) cases and have screened 88,644 since WHO issued an alert; yesterday alone we screened 7,528 passengers comprising 400 coming in by sea, 773 by land and the rest by air,” he said.

Malaysia Airlines has located and grounded its crew members who were on flight MH091 from the United States, said its director of operations Datuk Tajuden Abu Bakar.

He said the 15 crew members had been taken off the roster for a seven-day home quarantine as a precautionary measure.

“Malaysia Airlines confirms that the flight MH091 from Newark arriving at KL International Airport on May 13 at 7.15am was on transit at Arlanda, Stockholm where 80 passengers disembarked.

“From Arlanda, 199 people including 184 passengers and 15 crew members arrived in Kuala Lumpur,” he said, adding that the national carrier has since been in contact with the Arlanda authorities to provide them with the passenger list for monitoring purposes.

“Malaysia Airlines would like to reiterate that it will continue to monitor the situation closely and co-operate with the Health Ministry and relevant authorities to ensure all preventive and control measures are in place,” he said. MAS has also clarified that none of its pilots were warded as reported yesterday.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Medical Association president Datuk Dr Khoo Kah Lin urged Malaysians not to panic with the confirmed cases of A(H1N1) as the Health Ministry is well prepared and has taken the right measures from the very beginning.

He said the ministry’s past experiences with SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) have equipped it well to deal with the present situation.

“The Government is doing its part in trying to contain the spread of Influenza A (H1N1) by screening passengers at airports, putting in place quarantine procedures and treatment of proven cases with the relevant anti viral,” he said in a statement.

He added that although the virus is not as virulent as first expected, and recovery is the norm, the public is advised to abide by the ministry’s guideline and to co-operate with the authorities to help contain the disease.

“Members of the public with flu-like symptoms such as fever, body aches and cough should see a doctor immediately especially if they fall under the high risk group such as young children, the elderly and those who have chronic diseases.

“The MMA has already sent out the ministry’s diagnostic guidelines to its branches to disseminate the information amongst all its members. Doctors are advised to keep a high index of suspicion and to report suspicious cases to the relevant authorities,” he said.

He added that doctors are also advised to educate their patients as to the risks, the precautions to take and how to seek help without causing alarm.

All passengers on the said Malaysia Airlines flight are urged to contact the Health Ministry at 03-8881 0200 or 03-8881 0300. They could also go to any hospital, clinic or health office for a follow-up action

Malaysia confirms first case of A(H1N1) flu

2009-05-15T02:36:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia on Friday confirmed its first case of the A(H1N1) flu in a 21-year-old student who returned from the United States on Wednesday morning.

All passengers on the Malaysia Airlines flight MH091 from Newark on Wednesday are urged to contact the Health Ministry by calling 03-88810200 or 03-88810300

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the case made Malaysia the 36th country to be affected by the virus.

Health officers at the Sungai Buloh Hospital on high alert after the first A (H1N1) flu case found in a 21-year-old student who returned from the United States on Wednesday morning.

“Malaysia is now on high alert,” said Liow, who is in London now, enroute to Geneva, for a World Health Organisation meeting. He added he would return earlier than his scheduled return next Friday.

Liow said Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha who is now the acting Health Minister would hold a press conference with the deputy health director general Datuk Dr Ramlee Rahmat at Putra Jaya at 3pm

Meanwhile, A statement by the Health Ministry's director-general, Dr. Ismail Merican, said the young man was hospitalised on Thursday for fever, sore throat and body aches.

Tests confirmed that he was infected with the A(H1N1) virus, the statement said. He is receiving anti-viral treatment and was in stable condition, it said.

Ismail said the ministry had contacted members of his family but they have not been placed under quarantine.

Ismail said his department was taking steps to protect public health and that there was no reason to panic.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported that a man from Bukit Mertajam held under observation at the isolation ward of the Penang Hospital has been declared free of Influenza A (H1N1).

"We just got a report that the blood test on the 26-year-old man was negative," State Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said when contacted by Bernama Friday.

A test on a sample of his blood had been sent to Kuala Lumpur.

The man was kept for observation Thursday after he was found to have fever and symptoms similar to those of Influenza A (H1N1) on his return from the United States.

Two weeks ago, a New Zealand tourist was admitted to the isolation ward of the hospital for suspected Influenza A (H1N1) but a blood test also showed up negative.

Perak State Election Does Not Have To Happen - Najib

2009-05-14T02:02:00.000-07:00

PUTRAJAYA, May 14 (Bernama) -- A fresh state election is only one of the options to resolve the Perak political crisis and not something that has to happen, said Dato' Sri Najib Razak.

The prime minister said it was up to the Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan to decide whether a fresh election should be held for Perak.

Speaking to reporters after attending the public sector's Workers Day assembly here, Najib said Barisan Nasional was not afraid of facing any eventuality, including a fresh state election, if that was the decision.

"We are ready to face the people," he said.

Najib was asked about the possibility of another election for Perak to end the current political crisis in the state.

On Monday, the High Court ruled that Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is the rightful Menteri Besar after finding that the post could only be deemed vacant through a vote of no-confidence in the state assembly.

But Datuk Zambry Abd Kadir filed an appeal against the decision in the Court of Appeal, allowing him to remain as Menteri Besar while waiting for the decision on the appeal case.

On the Barisan Nasional Convention which was supposed to be held early this year, Najib said it would be held later after some important matters had been sorted out.

On the position of Senator Datuk T. Murugiah as Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department following the crisis in the People's Progressive Party (PPP), he said a decision had not been made.

"We have to first look at the situation and developments," he said.

-- BERNAMA

Pakatan willing to meet BN over Perak: Anwar

2009-05-14T01:56:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the Pakatan Rakyat alliance was willing and ready to meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to resolve the Perak political crisis.

While stressing that Pakatan’s position on the need to call for fresh state elections was clear, he said that Pakatan was willing to “meet with Barisan Nasional halfway.”

Earlier Thursday, Najib claimed that Barisan did not fear fresh elections in Perak but said any such decision was up to the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah.

He added that fresh state elections was only one of the options open to resolve the Perak political crisis and not “something that has to happen

Meningitis: Seven more warded, total now 39

2009-05-12T02:21:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR: The number of people hospitalised with suspected meningitis in Malacca Hospital rose to 38 on Tuesday from 31 the day before.

This brings the number hospitalised nationwide to 39. One trainee is hospitalised in Kepala Batas.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said that four of the new patients who developed symptoms were trainees who had been quarantined at the Road Transport Department (JPJ) academy hostel in Tiang Dua, Malacca.

However, two of the new patients were radiographers and another was the fiancee of one of the trainees, he said.

All of them were in the isolation ward while the two trainees in Intensive Care Unit were now able to walk.

The trainee hospitalised in Kepala Batas is in stable condition.

One of the trainees, who returned on holiday to Kelantan, was hospitalised there with fever on May 1 and died on May 4, triggering the quarantine of all the trainees at the academy.

Liow said laboratory tests revealed that the bacteria causing the meningitis was meningococcus.

“The source of infection has not been discovered and we are working hard to find the carrier,” he said Tuesday after the International Nurses Day celebration.

On whether the family members of the fiancee of one of the trainees needed to be quarantined, Liow said the Ministry would find out if they had been in contact.

“If the fiancee was not in contact with the family, there was no need for them to be quarantined,” he said.

On the A(H1N1) influenza, Liow said with more countries being affected, the pressure on Malaysia was great in keeping its borders in check.

“We must be prepared to face this outbreak with real care,” he said adding that the Government had stocked up enough Tamiflu in the event the flu hit Malaysia.

Thailand has already detected one case of the flu.

Liow also said that Malaysia must brace itself for a long term battle with the A(H1N1) infection.

On whether pigs should be vaccinated, Liow said the Ministry left it to the Veterinerary Department to decide.

Related stories:

Perak crisis: Stay of execution granted; Zambry to resume duties

2009-05-12T02:13:00.000-07:00

:45pm Nizar says that the stay of execution granted by the Court of Appeal raises more questions than answers in relation to the crisis in Perak

3:45pm Senior state executive councillor Ngeh Koo Ham says that the suspension of the state secretary and state legal adviser was valid as the decision was made before the stay order was granted to Dr Zambry.

2:45pm Nizar escorted out of the state secretariat building. He is giving a press conference now.

2:30pm Dr Zambry said he would respect the Court of Appeal’s stay of execution and would resume duties as Perak MB. He urged Nizar to show the same respect.

He also said that all decisions made by the Barisan state government remained as status quo, and lifted the suspension -- served earlier Tuesday -- on the state secretary and state legal adviser.

1:15pm The Court of Appeal grants Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir his application for a stay of execution on the KL High Court ruling Monday that declared Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin the righful mentri besar of Perak. Essentially, it might mean Dr Zambry is mentri besar until his appeal is heard.

12:30pm Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, whose three-month tenure as mentri besar was ruled illegitimate by the KL High Court on Monday, has likened himself to Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi in a blog entry.

12:15pm At the press conference at the Ipoh state secretariat building, senior exco member Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham also says that Dr Zambry and the six state exco members he appointed should return the salaries they have drawn over the past three months.

An aid for the Perak Mentri Besar Amran Harun showing the official letter sent to the palace official at Istana Kinta. Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, in the letter, is requesting an audience with the Sultan for the purpose of dissolving the state assembly.

12:05pm At the press conference at the Ipoh state secretariat building, senior exco member Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham declared the tumultous May 7 Assembly sitting as invalid, and the March 3 “under the tree” sitting as valid.

He said the Assembly automatically dissolves on Sept 3 if there are no more sittings.

The May 7 sitting saw Speaker V. Sivakumar manhandled out of the Dewan and Barisan's Datuk R. Ganesan declared the "new" Speaker.

The Pakatan state government also said it would implement 10 policies and matters immediately, saying that state development was behind by three months.

11:20am Pakatan press conference at the state secretariat building in Ipoh delayed because the press was initially barred from entering the building. Press conference is now set to begin.

11:00am Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah urges the Sultan of Perak to dissolve the Assembly. See here.

9:25am Most of the FRU trucks and police vehicles leave the state secretariat building, leaving a handful behind. Pakatan reps say a press conference will be held at 11am.

9:20am Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir files appeal against Kuala Lumpur High Court ruling yesterday that Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is the valid Perak Mentri Besar. The appeal was filed at the KL High Court registry.

He also filed a stay application on Monday’s ruling at the Court of Appeal. His lawyers are asking that the appeal be heard today itself.

The hearing for the stay application will be heard at about 11:30am at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya.

8:45am Nizar’s aide Amran Harun leaves the palace after showing members of the media a copy of the letter to the palace, with the royal seal stamped on it.

8:20am Nizar’s aide Amran Harun, delivers letter informing palace of Nizar’s wish for an audience with the Raja Muda to seek his royal consent to dissolve the Assembly.

8:15am Suspension letters served to State Secretary Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Hashim and State Legal Adviser Datuk Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid.

7:45am Nizar seen leaving the building in his official car for Istana Iskandariah, Kuala Kangsar, for a royal investiture ceremony by the Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Nazrin Shah. He was accompanied by his wife.

7:40am Pakatan exco members find most of the offices locked. The KL High Court had instructed Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and his exco members to vacate the offices on Monday.

7:25am Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and his entourage head for the state secretariat building, where there is heavy police and FRU presence. They are temporarily denied entry. Nizar starts reciting prayers.

7:15am Pakatan Rakyat state executive councillors start gathering at the so-called “democracy tree” where the March 3 “under the tree” Assembly sitting took, to await reinstated Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin.

IPOH: Reinstated Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin left from the state secretariat building here at 7:45am Tuesday for Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar for a royal investiture ceremony.

He is expected to seek royal consent from the Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Nazrin Shah, to dissolve the State Legislative Assembly to pave the way for fresh state elections.

His aide Amran Harun, delivered a formal letter informing the palace of Nizar’s wish for an audience with the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, to seek his royal consent to dissolve the Assembly. The letter was delivered at 8:20am.

Pakatan Rakyat state executive councillors had started gathering at the so-called “democracy tree” where the March 3 “under the tree” Assembly sitting took place as early as 7:30am.

Nizar arrived at the state secretariat building, where the Mentri Besar’s office is located, at about 7:25am.

He was accompanied by his eight state executive councillors, led by senior exco member Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham and state assembly speaker V. Sivakumar, who had arrived at 7:10am. Also accompanying them was Ipoh Barat Member of Parliament M. Kulasegaran.

The building was heavily guarded by Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel, with some in riot gear.

Nizar and his entourage were momentarily stopped outside the gate when they tried to enter the compound. As the police tried to inform Nizar that only his exco members, the Speaker and him would be allowed entry, Nizar started reciting prayers.

They were then allowed in, but members of the media were prevented by the police and security personnel from advancing beyond the gate.

According to some witnesses, the police had told Nizar that they were acting under the instructions of State Secretary Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Hashim.

Nizar, who was declared the rightful mentri besar by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Monday, had actually suspended Abdul Rahman, although the letter of suspension had not been served yet.

Suspension letters were served to both Abdul Rahman and State Legal Adviser Datuk Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid at about 8:15am.

On Monday, High Court (Appellate and Special Powers) judge Justice Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahim had granted a declaratory relief to Nizar that he is still and was mentri besar at all material times.

The court, which issued a declaratory relief that Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir had no right to occupy the office of Perak Mentri Besar, also ordered him to show cause and give information under what policy, power or authority he allegedly held office and exercised the responsibilities, functions and duties as mentri besar.

Petrol price: RON97 to cost 20sen more

2009-05-12T02:12:00.000-07:00

PUTRAJAYA: The RON97 petrol will be sold at RM2 per liter effective Sept 1, which is 20 sen more than its current selling price once RON95 is available nationwide.

The RON97 will be sold as a premium petrol product while RON92, the cheapest petrol currently available, will be removed from the market.

The RON95 - to be sold at RM1.75 - would be available to consumers in stages effective Wednesday and all petrol stations nationwide would sell the product by Sept 1, said Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

“By Sept 1, RON97 will be the alternative petrol and a premium product.

Instead, the RON95 petrol will be the choice petrol for consumers and be rest assured, the product is of high quality and is good enough to be filled into even luxury and high-powered cars,” he said.

Ismail Sabri was speaking to reporters after the soft-launch of RON95 petrol here yesterday.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is expected to launch the nationwide sale of the petrol in September.

Ismail Sabri said the decision to phase out the RM1.70 per liter RON92 would not affect consumers as statistics show that only 5% to 10% of vehicle owners use the petrol, adding by paying only 5 sen a liter more, consumers would get to enjoy better quality petrol.

“I am pleased that petrol companies and the automotive industry players are supportive of the idea of having RON95 in the market.

What we provide for our consumers is much better than what is being enjoyed by others including those the United States, Japan and Europe,” he added.

He said at RM1.75 per litre, the government has to fork out 3 sen in subsidy for RON95 while a subsidy of 6 sen is paid for every liter of RON97, adding it could not be determined yet if there would be revenue for the government when RON97 be sold at RM2 as it all depend of the global petrol price.

“If it (petrol price) remains low, we can enjoy a bit of revenue but if it goes up higher, we have to subsidise more because the government has already pre-determined the selling price,” he said.

Ismail Sabri said the government, through his ministry has implemented various programmes to help the rakyat cushion the effect of an inrease in cost of living, including allocating RM812 million to kick off projects such as distribution of essential goods such as rice, cooking oil, sugar, flour and liquified petroleum gas (LPG).

Dissolve state assembly, Ku Li urges Sultan

2009-05-11T20:52:00.000-07:00

KOTA BARU: Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has urged the Sultan of Perak to dissolve the Assembly to prevent the political imbroglio in the state from spiralling out of control.

In a blog posting on Monday, he noted that he had written on Feb 7 that Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin was still the legal mentri besar despite the takeover by Barisan Nasional.

He had said then that according to the state constitution, Nizar was the mentri besar until he resigned of his own accord or was removed by a vote of no confidence in a formal sitting of the Assembly.

The Perak constitution makes no provision for his removal by any other means, including by petitions or instructions from any other authority, he had written then.

“Today, after three months and yet more shameful scenes, the High Court affirmed the same elementary principle, and held that Nizar has been and remains the mentri besar,” Tengku Razaleigh wrote on Monday,

The High Court also ordered Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir and his executive officers to vacate their offices, and rejected an application from Zambry for a stay of proceedings pending an appeal.

Tengku Razaleigh urged the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, to dissolve the Assembly.

“This is the decent thing to do, but also the only way out of a crisis which has already spiralled out of Perak, damaged the rule of law, compromised the judiciary, the police and the state civil service, and damaged the monarchy in public opinion,” he said.

He said the Dr Zambry’s administration had been illegitimate all along and all decisions and contracts were made without legal status.

“The cascade of illegalities we warned of must now be unwound painfully. This includes the deplorable events of May 7 in Ipoh. It means the resolution to replace the Speaker was brought by an illegal state government,” he added.

In his no holds barred style, Tengku Razaleigh also said that the monarchy itself has been embarrassed by this episode, as well as by “a systematic programme by some to inflame this issue into one of race and treason.”

“Such attempts only hurt the institutions they claim to protect, and they hurt Umno and Barisan Nasional.

“The real issue has always been the Constitution and the Rule of Law, and the monarchy is protected in its role of upholding the primacy of the Constitution.

“Umno is not well served by leaders who place short-term political objectives above the Constitution,” he added.

Cops obtain warrant of arrest against Ahmad Ramzi

2009-05-11T01:45:00.001-07:00

KUALA TERENGGANU: Terengganu police have obtained a warrant of arrest against the former political secretary of ex-mentri besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh after he failed to show up and assist in investigations.

Datuk Dr Ahmad Ramzi Mohamad Zubir had been given three days last Friday to come forward to facilitate the probe into an SMS death threat sent to three Barisan Nasional assemblymen on April 14.

He was the Barisan candidate for the Marang parliamentary constituency in last year’s general election, losing to PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

State deputy police chief Senior Asst Comm II Hamzah Mohd Jamil said that police were keen to record Dr Ahmad Ramzi’s statement on the SMS.

He said police had visited Dr Ahmad Ramzi’s homes in Kuala Lumpur and here but were unable to locate him.

The SMS received by the three assemblymen – Datuk Rosol Wahid (Ajil), Abdul Halim Jusoh (Permaisuri) and Zakaria Abdullah (Paka) – caused a furore when they and seven other representatives stayed away from the second day of the state legislative assembly proceedings on April 16.

Hot, hot, hot till September

2009-05-11T01:42:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Temperatures have been rising all over the country, with Klang Valley (Subang) recording 35.6°C last Friday.

Outside the Klang Valley, Pahang (Batu Embun) experienced the hottest temperature last Thursday at 36.2°C.

The Meteorological Department said the hot and generally dry spell was expected to persist until September.

Department chief assistant director (central forecast office) Ahmad Zaki Mohamad Saad said the weather pattern was a usual phenomenon in the country.

He said that April and May were the hottest months according to climatology studies.

“The change of wind direction during the inter-monsoon season last month has caused the weather to be drier,’’ he said.

Cool respite: Visitors to Sunway Lagoon splashing each other to cool off from the searing heat at a pool.

Ahmad Zaki said the country would experience the South-West monsoon from mid-May to September which usually brought a dry spell, he said.

He said although humid weather was forecast during the day, occasional rain and thunderstorms could be expected.

The maximum temperature is expected to range from 30.7°C to 34.1°C

Mano: I am going to sue

2009-05-11T01:40:00.002-07:00

SHAH ALAM: Kota Alam Shah assemblyman M. Manoharan said he would be filing an RM100mil suit against the Federal Government, the Home Minister and others over his 17-month detention under the Internal Security Act.

The suit will also name the commander of the Kamunting detention centre, the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General, he said outside the Selangor State Assembly Monday.

Manoharan, who was freed over the weekend, said the detention was unlawful and had the deprived Kota Alam Sham constituents of their elected representative.

The legal adviser to the now outlawed Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) movement was detained with other Hindraf leaders in November, 2007. He ran for the state seat in the 12th general election in March last year while in detention.

Manoharan said that he would not be complying with most of the conditions imposed upon him upon his release from the ISA.

Selangor Speaker Teng Chang Khim, who was with him at the press conference at the state secretariat building here Monday, said that the conditions imposed upon Manoharan were not legally binding.

He added that was no restriction order against the assemblyman either.

“Don’t play with us, we know the law,” said Teng.

No ‘Speaker vs Speaker’ face-off

2009-05-11T01:40:00.001-07:00

IPOH: The much anticipated second face-off between ousted Perak Assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar and his successor Datuk R. Ganesan at the State Secretariat building failed to materialise.

Sivakumar, who said last Friday that he would still report for duty, did not turn up on Monday.

Pressmen had started to gather at the building as early as 9am but were later told by Perak DAP chairman Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham that Sivakumar would not be turning up at the office.

Ngeh said the Tronoh assemblyman would not be turning up at the office for security reasons.

He said Sivakumar was asked to stay away to avoid a repeat of last Thursday’s pandemonium in the Assembly.

Ngeh said Sivakumar’s absence from the State Secretariat building Monday did not mean Pakatan Rakyat recognised Ganesan as the new Speaker.

Ganesan arrived at the State Secretariat building at 9.50am to pay a courtesy call on Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.

He said he was not in a hurry to move into the Speaker’s office as he wanted to give time for Sivakumar to pack his things.

Ganesan said he would direct the building administration to take necessary steps if Sivakumar refused to vacate the office.

Asked whether he should get a declaration that he is the legally elected speaker, Ganesan retorted:

“Why should I? I have no doubt I was legally elected.”

Nizar is rightful MB: High Court

2009-05-11T01:30:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here ruled rule on Monday that Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is the rightful Perak Mentri Besar, and not Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.

In an immediate response, Zambry said he would apply for a stay pending appeal. This was rejected by the court.

Nizar left the courtroom immediately after a press conference to travel to Ipoh where he will seek an audience with the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, to get his consent to dissolve the Assembly and call for fresh state elections.

In his ruling Monday, Justice Abdul Aziz Abd Rahim said that a new mentri besar could not be appointed as the office had not been vacated.

He said a mentri besar can only be dismissed by a vote of no confidence, and upheld the Stephen Kalong Ningkan ruling.

He noted that the Perak State Legislative did not hold a vote of no confidence.

In 1966, Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Stephen Kalong Ningkan was ousted when the state governor showed him a letter of no confidence issued by 21 out of 42 legislators and asked Ningkan to resign.

Ningkan refused, saying the letters were not tantamount to a vote of no confidence in the state legislative assembly. He was sacked by the governor but eventually reinstated by the Borneo High Court, which saw the necessity of a formal vote of no confidence.

According to the Nutgraph, the judge ruled ruled that the governor can only dismiss the chief minister when both these conditions are satisfied:

(a) The chief minister has lost the confidence of the House, and

(b) The chief minister has refused to resign and failed to advise a dissolution.

Nizar had filed for a judicial review on Feb 13, seeking a declaration that he is the rightful mentri besar of Perak and an injunction to bar Dr Zambry from discharging his duties as the mentri besar.

On March 6, Justice Lau Bee Lan had ruled that there were constitutional issues involving the interpretation of Article 16 (6) of the Perak Constitution and later referred four consitutional questions to the Federal Court for determination.

However, on March 23, the Federal Court ruled that the case of who the rightful mentri besar is should be heard by the High Court.

Nizar’s lead counsel Sulaiman Abdullah, in wrapping up his submissions last week, said the Constitution was the “genius of the Malaysian people”, adding that the court had a duty to uphold it. Over the last few days, he had submitted that the Sultan, while granted powers in the Perak Constitution to appoint a mentri besar, could not dismiss him.

The only way Nizar could be dismissed, he said, was through a vote of no-confidence in the House.

He also said that a mentri besar could request for the State Assembly to be dissolved in the middle of a term without losing the confidence of the majority of the House.

Dr Zambry’s lawyer Datuk Cecil Abraham, however, argued that Nizar went by Article 16(6) of the Perak Constitution when he sought an audience with the Sultan – this article specifically provides for the mentri besar to request for a dissolution when he has lost the confidence of the majority in the House.

Under the article, Nizar is required to tender the resignation of his executive councillors when his request was rejected, he said

Perak showdown: Court order bars gatherings within 500m

2009-05-06T06:20:00.000-07:00

IPOH: The police have obtained a court order to stop people from gathering within 500m of the state secretariat building during the State Assembly sitting on Thursday.

Perak police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah said the magistrate’s court here granted the ex-parte injunction to Ipoh OCPD Asst Comm Azisman Alias on Wednesday.

Named as respondents in the application were members and supporters of PKR, DAP, PAS and Barisan Nasional, and members of the public.

According to the injunction granted under Section 98 of the Criminal Procedure Code, all respondents were prohibited and warned not to be present or take part in any gathering within a 500m radius of the building’s gates.

DCP Zulkifli said copies of the injunction would be put up in areas surrounding the building.

“We want people to know so that they can avoid going to these restricted areas if unnecessary,” he said during a press conference.

He, however, assured those working or studying in the restricted areas that they would be allowed into the area by the police.

“This will continue until the State Assembly sitting is adjourned,” he added.

Prior to obtaining the injunction, police had asked political party leaders to advise their supporters to stay away from the building.

“I would like to remind the people that they are not allowed to hold gatherings anywhere without police permits,” he said, noting that to date, police had not received any applications for such permits.

Asked how many police would be on duty, he said: “We have enough manpower.”

Snatch theft: Another pregnant woman killed

2009-05-06T06:18:00.000-07:00

KOTA BARU: A woman who was four months’ pregnant died after a run-in with snatch thieves here, just days following a similar incident in Johor Baru which also saw the deaths of a pregnant woman and her unborn child.

In the 10:50am incident on Wednesday, Saripah Mohd Nor, 34, of Kampung Kok Bedullah, Tumpat here was riding on her motorcyle on a busy road along Kampung Padang Raja, Melor, Ketereh when two men came up behind her on another motorcyle.

One of them tried to snatch her handbag, which was slung around her neck. The tussle caused her to fall off her motorbike and she was hit by a passing car. She and her four-month-old foetus died on the spot.

The mother of five was on her way to Bachok where her estranged husband Mat Zani Awang, 39, is living.

Kota Baru OCPD Assistant Comm Zahruddin Abdullah said Saripah had suffered head, hand and leg injuries.

Police who were on the scene within minutes of the incident, believe the two suspects are in their 20s.

“We have compiled witnesses accounts, including that of the driver of the car who lodged a police report.

“I want to appeal to anyone with any information to come forward and assist us in solving this case,” he told reporters at a press conference at the district police station here Wednesday.

ACP Zahruddin said that Saripah’s body was sent to the Raja Perempuan Zainab Hospital for a post-mortem before her remains were released to her next of kin.

He said the case was being investigated under Section 304 of the Penal Code, and the perpetrators, if found guilty, could be jailed for up to two years and fined or both.

Local resident Zakaria Yaakub, 45, said witnesses who saw the incident had tried to apprehend the suspects but to no avail.

In Tumpat, Saripah’s mother Hashimah Hussin, 54, said she was deeply saddened by the incident, especially since Saripah was in the process of a divorce.

“Her last words to me, before she left for her husband’s home in Bachok, was for me to care of three-year-old Siti Najwa, her youngest daughter.

“Lately, she has always been telling me to take care of all her children if anything were to happen to her,” Hashimah said.

“She was on her way to her husband’s house to fetch her son Mohd Shawal Nabil, eight -- the other three children are living with her husband,” she said at her home here.

Hashimah said Saripah had been living with her for the past two weeks and had separated from her husband.

Saripah was buried at the Kampung Kok Bedullah Muslim cemetery later Wednesday.

Bar Council slams arrest of Bersih activist

2009-05-06T06:17:00.000-07:00

PETALING JAYA: The Bar Council has criticised the manner in which political activist Wong Chin Huat was arrested and called for his release immediately.

“The arrest does not bode well for the Prime Minister’s promise of openness and respect for the people. Healthy and open debates on public concern issues must be permitted,” said council president Ragunath Kesavan in a press statement Wednesday.

Wong, a representative of the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih), was arrested on Tuesday night apparently over a press conference he held earlier in which he urged the public to wear black in protest against the Perak state government takeover.

He has been remanded until Friday.

Ragunath also said that the council is concerned that the police have resorted to the Sedition Act yet again “to stifle public opinions that are unfavourable to the ruling government.”

The Bar Council said that “repressive legislation such as the Sedition Act is an affront to democracy” and called for the Government to repeal the Act, or in the meantime, refrain from using it.

Dr M: Ruler cannot remove head of govt

2009-05-06T06:16:00.000-07:00

PUTRAJAYA: The state’s ruler cannot remove the head of government in Perak if provisions under the state constitution are the same as those under the Federal Constitution, said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said the Federal Constitution stated clearly that the monarch could only decide on whether or not to appoint an individual as the prime minister but did not have the power to remove the premier.

The prime minister can only be removed through a vote of no confidence in Parliament.

“I think the provisions in the Federal Constitution should apply to Perak but I do not know (the Perak state constitution) and if Perak is different then I stand corrected,” he told a press conference after delivering his keynote address on The Role of the Executive, Legislative, Judiciary and Constitutional Monarchy at the ninth Perdana Discourse Series here Wednesday.

Asked if he thought there had been any abuse of the system in the removal of former Perak mentri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin by the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, he said the matter had been referred to the courts, and the courts should be allowed to decide.

Dr Mahathir said he also felt that Barisan Nasional had rushed into taking over the Perak state government when it should have taken the time to consider the decision properly before acting.

“They may have been doing the right thing but it was still a little bit hasty and when we are in too much of a hurry we always make mistakes. In any situation, always give yourself time to think,” he said.

On whether fresh elections should be held to allow the people to decide on the government in Perak, he said, it was not a matter for him to decide and people would have the chance to make the decision whenever elections were held.

“They (voters) can also sell their votes for only RM200 but they should remember that they are betraying their country and the future of their children and grandchildren,” he said.

On whether some civil servants had also overstepped their bounds when making decisions related to the state government, he said he was not sure if it were the civil servants or the legislative body that made the decisions.

The civil servants, he said, could have been just executing orders given to them.

However, Dr Mahathir also hit out at blogs that attacked the Sultan of Perak. He said that had been no abuse of power.

It was the former premier who clipped the powers of the royals during his tenure, with amendments to the Constitution that removed their immunity to being sued in their personal capacity.

“Having made the law, it is easy for people to blame the chap who made the law (allowing rulers to be sued), but the law was not made to sue the Sultan politically,” he said.

Swine flu records 1,883 cases with 31 deaths

2009-05-06T06:15:00.001-07:00

UNITED NATIONS: The number of cases of people being infected with Influenza A (H1N1) now stands at 1,883 with 29 deaths in Mexico and two in the United States, according to Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, and government officials, reported The Associated Press.

The second US death also in the state of Texas, announced Tuesday, is the first death of a US resident with swine flu.

Last week a toddler from Mexico died at a Houston hospital of the infection.

The second death is of a 33-year-old schoolteacher who had recently given birth to a healthy baby.

The woman died early Tuesday and had been hospitalised since April 19.

Of the 1, 883 people sickened by the infection, Mexico recorded 942 cases followed by US (651), Canada (165), Spain (57), Britain (27), Germany (9), New Zealand (6), Italy (5), Israel (4), France (4), El Salvador (2), South Korea (2) and one case each in Austria, Costa Rica, Colombia, Denmark, Hong Kong, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal and Switzerland.

US health officials said Tuesday they are no longer recommending that schools close because of suspected swine flu cases since the virus has turned out to be milder than initially feared.

World Health Organisation says it’s starting to ship 2.4 million treatments of antiflu drugs to 72 countries “most in need.”

Mexico says epidemic has cost its economy at least US$2.2bil and announces a US$1.3bil stimulus package, mostly for small businesses and tourism.

Mexico cancels Cinco de Mayo celebrations but will allow most businesses to reopen Wednesday, universities to reopen Thursday. Mexico City cafes, museums and libraries to reopen this week; schools nationwide to reopen next week.

US Embassy in Beijing says four US citizens were quarantined in China.

Mexico flies dozens of its nationals home from China, freeing them from a quarantine that the Latin American country criticised as unfair.

A Chinese plane sent to Mexico to retrieve its citizens was returning Wednesday.

Mexico emerged from its swine flu isolation Tuesday as thousands of newspaper vendors, salesmen hawking trinkets and even pan handlers dropped their protective masks and joined the familiar din of traffic horns and blaring music on the streets of the capital.

There were still signs, however, of the virus that set off world health alarms.

Across Mexico, people were eagerly anticipating this week’s reopening of businesses, restaurants, schools and parks, after a claustrophobic five-day furlough.

“We have a lot of confidence nothing is going to happen,” said Irineo Moreno Gonzales, 54, a security guard who Tuesday limited takeout customers to four at a time at a usually crowded downtown Starbucks.

“Mexicans have the same spirit we’ve always had. We’re

Penang offering RM10,000 for creative staff

2009-05-06T06:14:00.000-07:00

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Government has launched an award to spur civil servants to generate creative and innovative ideas in an effort to improve the delivery system.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the Creativity and Innovation Award was opened to lower and middle category civil servants.

“The employee with the most creative and innovative idea will be rewarded with RM10,000 and the department the winner is from will also get a RM10,000 prize,” he told reporters after addressing the civil service assembly at the Dome, Komtar here on Wednesday.

He said the ideas would be evaluated by State Secretary Datuk Zainal Rahim Seman.

“With the award, we hope civil servants will think out of the box to improve the delivery system.

“We are encouraging civil servants to come out with ideas which can save money and time, and improve the delivery system,” said Lim. -- Bernama

Bersih activist Wong Chin Huat arrested for alleged sedition

2009-05-05T10:45:00.001-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have arrested activist Wong Chin Huat of the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) for alleged sedition, Federal Commercial Crimes Investigation Department Director Comm Datuk Koh Hong Sun said.

A police team from the Federal Commercial Crime Investigations Department (CCID) picked up Wong at his home in Seri Sentosa here at 8pm on Tuesday under Section 4 (1) of the Sedition Act 1948.

It is learnt that the police team seized a laptop and a cellular phone belonging to the university lecturer, political scientist and columnist for The Nut Graph web publication.

Comm Koh, who confirmed the arrest, said Wong was detained to assist in police investigations into allegedly seditious SMSes.

“We will interview him to gather more details and we are checking if the SMSes were initially distributed by him,” he said.

Wong is said to have been brought to the CCID headquarters in Bukit Perdana here.

It is believed that the arrest is linked to a press conference Wong had held earlier Tuesday in which he urged the public to wear black on Thursday to protest the Perak state government takeover by Barisan Nasional.

Newly-appointed Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir is convening the Perak state legislative assembly on that day.

Perak showdown: Several major roads to be closed

2009-05-05T10:44:00.002-07:00

IPOH: Several sections of all major roads leading to the Perak state secretariat building would be closed to traffic for the state assembly sitting on Thursday.

Ipoh OCPD Asst Comm Azisman Alias said roadblocks would be set up at the Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab-Jalan St John junction and near the Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman flyover from 9pm Wednesday.

He advised motorists to follow instructions from the police who would be on duty to divert traffic at Jalan Lim Bo Seng, Jalan S.P. Seenivasagam, Jalan Kompleks Islam and Jalan Istana.

ACP Azisman said motorists heading towards the city from Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman would be diverted to Jalan Raja Musa Aziz.

“Motorists heading towards the Medan Kidd bus station from Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman would be diverted into Jalan Tun Abdul Razak,” he said in a statement Tuesday.

He said all motorists from the city heading towards the state secretariat building would be diverted into Jalan St John.

“Motorists heading towards the city area from Jalan Silibin will have to use either Jalan Raja Musa Aziz or Jalan Tun Abdul Razak. Those using Jalan St John would be directed into Jalan S.P. Seenivasagam,” he added.

ACP Azisman said all affected roads would be reopened to the public Thursday afternoon.

“The public are advised to plan their journey and use alternative routes to avoid being caught in traffic,” he added.

Meanwhile, DAP adviser and Ipoh Timur MP Lim Kit Siang said the police should stay out of the political fray between Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional and remain apolitical.

Jakim to issue guidelines on 1Malaysia

2009-05-05T10:44:00.001-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR: The Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim) will issue a set of guidelines on 1Malaysia to avoid wrong interpretation or misperception of the concept among the people.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Maj Gen (Rtd) Datuk Jamil Khir Baharom, said the guidelines would also be useful to national leaders for when they address the people on the subject.

He said at the moment the people had yet to fully understand 1Malaysia as the concept and its objectives “had been twisted” by certain quarters with vested interests, although he did not elaborate.

“Before the polemic on the concept gets worse, we need to have guidelines to better explain the concept in the interest of the nation, race and religion,” he said after opening a roundtable conference on the 1Malaysia concept at the multipurpose hall of the Federal Territory Mosque here Tuesday.

Jamil Khir said the guidelines would be drawn up based on the resolutions made at the end of the roundtable conference.

He said the guidelines would be contained in a booklet to be distributed nationwide so that the people would understand and appreciate the aspirations of the new national leadership.

“The media can also play a role by creating public awareness on the resolutions and guidelines.

“We want the concept, philosophy and direction of 1Malaysia, introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, to be understood and applied by all levels of society,” he added.

The one-day conference was also attended by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim, Jakim director-general Datuk Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul Aziz and religious adviser to the prime minister Datuk Dr Abdullah Md Zin. -- Bernama

100 villagers down with mystery fever

2009-05-05T10:41:00.002-07:00

ALOR SETAR: The Kedah Health Department has sent a team to investigate claims that 100 villagers in the Pokok Sena district here have come down with a “mystery fever,” suspected to be chikungunya, since March.

Its director Datuk Dr Hasnah Ismail said the team would take blood samples from the villagers for testing.

“We will know the result within two days,” she said on Tuesday.

The villagers say that the disease that originated in Desa Keda Kampung Bukit has spread to Kampung Hujung Bendang, Kampung Baru and Kampung Bendang Baru.

They say they are suffering from high fever, rashes, arthritis affecting multiple joints and headaches, symptoms similar to those of chikunguya.

“One day my neighbour had the fever, the next day I got it,” said villager Halibon Saad, 57.

“When I was infected with the ‘mystery fever,’ I could not move my muscles and my body temperature rose.

“I went to see a doctor at a nearby clinic but he could not determine what my illness was,” he said when met Tuesday.

Awang Mat, 63, also from Kampung Baru, said his fever lasted for a week but he was still suffering from muscle pains.

“Some of my friends suffered muscle pains for about a month,” he said.

Nizar removed due to loss of confidence, court told

2009-05-05T10:41:00.001-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR: The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, had not sacked Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin as Perak mentri besar as his removal from office was lawfully made under Article 16(6) of the Perak Constitution because he had lost the confidence of the majority in the State Assembly.

Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail submitted in the High Court here Tuesday that the Sultan performed his duty under the Perak Constitution, and had carefully considered the facts and circumstances before declaring on Feb 5, that Barisan Nasional had the majority in the state assembly.

“The Sultan of Perak had clearly performed his function in the most honourable way that I have seen,” said Abdul Gani, who appeared as the intervener in the judicial review proceeding filed by Mohammad Nizar on Feb 13.

Mohammad Nizar, 52, filed the suit to seek declaration that he is still the rightful mentri besar, and an injunction to bar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, who was appointed mentri besar on Feb 6, from discharging his duties.

“His Royal Highness, in making sure that there were no irregularities in his decision, had met and interviewed the three assemblymen, Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (Behrang), Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu (Changkat Jering) and Hee Yit Foong (Jelapang) to make sure that Barisan Nasional had their support.

“His Royal Highness met all the 31 state legislative assemblymen who pledged their support to Barisan Nasional,” said Abdul Gani, who is leading a team of seven senior federal counsel.

Gani further submitted that since Mohammad Nizar had lost the confidence of the majority, he must automatically resign from being the mentri besar as provided under Article 16(6) of the Perak Constitution.

“The word ‘shall resign’ in Article 16(6) means ‘mandatory.’ It is not the intention of the legislature that a mentri besar can choose not to resign.

“If you (have) lost the majority, then what do you do, do you still hang around? The moment he loses his majority, he must resign. We cannot have a mentri besar who (does not have) the confidence of the majority,” he argued.

Abdul Gani said the Sultan never sacked a mentri besar, adding that it was honourable for a mentri besar to resign when he had lost the confidence of the majority.

“That’s the law and that is the democratic process,” he said.

Abdul Gani said there was no constitutional provision requiring a motion of no-confidence to be issued before Mohammad Nizar could be removed from office.

“The Sultan of Perak had personally ascertained the facts, by calling the 31 assemblymen, before arriving at his judgement that the applicant (Mohammad Nizar) had lost confidence of the majority,” he said.

Earlier, Mohammad Nizar who continued with his testimony in the cross examination proceeding, told the court that he was only aware of the withdrawal of the three assemblymen’s resignation letters after an audience with the Sultan at 5pm on Feb 4.

“I only knew about it after I left the palace when my officer informed me over the telephone at 6pm that a news bulletin said that Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (now prime minister) claimed the trio had hopped to Barisan Nasional and that Barisan has the majority,” he said. -- Bernama

Fed Govt to buy Sabah hospital for RM245m

2009-05-05T10:40:00.001-07:00

KOTA KINABALU: The Federal Government is buying privately owned Sabah Medical Centre (SMC) as an immediate measure to overcome the critical hospital bed shortage problem in the city here.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the Government was in the final stages of taking over SMC at a cost of RM245mil.

“We are committed to providing the best available healthcare to Sabahans,” he said at a “meet-the-people” gathering at the historic Padang Merdeka in his first visit to the state as premier.

Dismissing talk that the acquisition would cost nearly RM450mil, he said the SMC takeover would be “fast-tracked” as the Government was aware of the urgency in tackling the healthcare needs of the state capital following the closure of the Queen Elizabeth hospital main tower block.

He said the Government would also be refurbishing the recently completed SMC located in suburban Damai, 2km from downtown Kota Kinabalu.

Later Najib told reporters that that the refurbishment cost would depend on the requirements of the Health Ministry while under the purchase, SMC will be renting two floors from the Government.

Previously the Government had acquired the first SMC building in Likas and converted it into a women and children’s hospital that is now known as Likas Hospital.

Najib said RM500mil of the special RM1bil allocation pledged to Sabah had already been delivered for various development projects.

The Prime Minister in his speech reminded Sabah Barisan Nasional leaders that they were servants of the people.

He said the leaders should constantly see for themselves the everyday situations faced by ordinary folk so that they could solve their problems.

“As elected representatives, there is no need to wait for invitations, red carpets or TV cameras. We need to work for the people.

“I don’t want leaders who are feared. I want leaders who are appreciated and respected,” he said.

Sabah Deputy CM Raymond to join Gerakan

2009-05-05T10:39:00.000-07:00

KOTA KINABALU: After nearly nine months in the political wilderness, partyless Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Raymond Tan is set to join low-profile Gerakan, which has never contested in the state.

Tan, the state Infrastructure Development Minister, and Elopura assemblyman Au Kam Wah -- who is also set to join the Barisan Nasional component party -- will give Gerakan two seats in the 60-member state legislative assembly.

“This is a correct decision. Gerakan is a safe house. I will be submitting my application forms at an appropriate time,” he said after Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon announced that the former Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) deputy president and Au would be joining the party.

Tan’s move came amid pressure from some Sabah Barisan component parties for him to quit his Cabinet position, with Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president Datuk V.K. Liew even saying that it was unethical for him to remain without being a member of any party in the state coalition.

Tan, Au and a group of supporters had rebelled against SAPP president Datuk Yong Teck Lee’s move to pull out from Barisan on Sept 17 last year.

He had first said he planned to form a new party with other breakaway members of SAPP who disagreed with the decision to leave the ruling coalition.

However it could not be immediately ascertained if Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman will retain him as Deputy Chief Minister to represent the Chinese community in the Cabinet,

The question comes amid speculation that Tan may be retained in the Infrastructure portfolio but that the deputy chief minister post may go to another component party including the LDP and Parti Bersatu Sabah.

Koh told reporters here Tuesday that Tan had the blessings of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Musa for him to join Gerakan.

“We welcome Tan and Au. We will announce their positions in the party soon,” he added.

Gerakan spread its wings to Sabah in 1996 when the then LDP vice-president Datuk Kong Hong Ming quit the party following a leadership tussle. Kong failed to retain his Cabinet position as Social Services Minister and became a government bacbencher.

Kong subsequently abstained from supporting several government bills in the Assembly and quit Gerakan; the party had since maintained a low political profile in the state.

With Tan’s latest move, the 57 Sabah Barisan elected representatives in the state comprise 32 from Umno, 12 from PBS, six from Upko, three from LDP, two from Gerakan and one each from MCA and PBRS.

Penang PAS insists on own candidate for Penanti

2009-05-03T05:19:00.000-07:00

KEPALA BATAS: Penang PAS is insisting that a PAS candidate be fielded in the coming Penanti by-election.

Its deputy commissioner Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa, who said this at a press conference here on Sunday, also appealed to its national leaders to review the allocation of seats among members of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition made during the last general election.

“We strongly feel that we should be allowed to contest in Penanti to restore the image of Pakatan Rakyat, which was tarnished following the resignation of Mohamed Fairus Khairuddin as Penanti state assemblyman,” he said.

He said Mohamed Fairus’ resignation, which he claimed was done without any basis, had caused disappointment among grassroots supporters and members.

“We feel that the sudden resignation of Fairus is deemed as an act of betrayal to the trust given by the people.

“The people are also disappointed over Fairus’ resignation as Deputy Chief Minister 1 which they claim was done without due consideration for the importance of the position and carried out according to his own whim and fancy,” he said.

Dr Mujahid said they feared that the trend of resigning without valid reasons would become an unhealthy political culture.

He said Penang PAS would forward its views to its national leaders for consideration when they meet tomorrow, adding that they would abide by any decision on the issue.

He added that PAS would support PKR candidate Mansor Osman who was named to stand in the by-election, should the party decide not to contest in it.

Temporary freeze on permits for pork imports

2009-05-03T05:18:00.002-07:00

JITRA: The Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry has temporarily frozen the issuance of new permits to import pork to prevent the influenza A (H1N1) virus from spreading to Malaysia, Deputy Minister Datuk Mohd Johari Baharum said.

“At the moment, there are several companies with a permit to import pork and we will monitor them closely, he said. He said the companies imported pork from several countries including the United States, China and Vietnam.

Mohd Johari said this to newsmen after officiating at a Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) seminar for Year Six pupils at Kolej Matrikulasi Changlun, near here. More than 400 pupils attended the one-day seminar organised by the Kubang Pasu Umno division.

Mohd Johari also said the Veterinary Services Department had increased its inspection at 797 pig farms nationwide. He said the department had so far taken samples at 19 pig farms andfound that the pigs were healthy and not affected with the A (H1N1) virus, he said.

Mohd Johari said 14 of the farms were located in Selangor and five in Malacca.

DAP to respect Kota Alam Shah rep's decision

2009-05-03T05:18:00.001-07:00

GEORGE TOWN: DAP will respect any decision that Kota Alam Shah assemblyman M. Manoharan makes about his post.

However, its secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said it was not necessary for the Hindraf leader to resign.

He said his constituents had voted him as assemblyman in the last general elections despite them knowing of his detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

“There were many others like him, including myself once,” said Lim, who is also Penang Chief Minister, at a press conference here today.

He said Manoharan was expected to make a final decision on whether to resign or not as an assemblyman in three or four weeks.

“I have spoken to his wife. She said he was feeling serba-salah (guilty) for not being able to personally serve his constituents as an ISA detainees.

“The thought (to resign) just crossed his mind. He has not made a final decision.

“We feel his sorrow but whatever it is, we will have to respect his decision at the end of the day even though I don’t think it is necessary for him to resign,” he said.

Manoharan, a DAP member, is currently held under ISA at the Kamunting detention centre.

He had told his wife that he would make his decision after meeting party chairman Karpal Singh on May 19.

Malaysia's own sports channel soon

2009-05-03T05:16:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR: A television channel dedicated to local sports and role models is expected to be launched by the end of the year.

Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tunku Imran ibni Almarhum Tuanku Ja'afar said OCM and Astro were finalising the details of the channel, which would cover domestic sports as well as regional and international sports in which Malaysians were participating.

Tunku Imran said a tv sports channel was the "missing link" in the country's efforts to develop sports to higher levels.

"All our TV programmes in terms of sports focus on international events. So this is what we desperately need and this is what OCM is talking to Astro about - a sports channel that focuses on the domestic sports and building up the role models," he said. He cited the example of the popularity of squash in Malaysia.

"Why is now squash is so popular? Because everyone is basing themselves on Nicol David," he said of Malaysia's world No. 1 squash player.

"The girls want to play squash because they want to be Nicol David, so I think role models are important and television is crucial to that," he said.

Tunku Imran said he had first approached Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek when the latter was still Information Minister about establishing the sports channel via RTM. However, this could not be done as RTM's channels were not yet digitalised but it could be done easily with Astro.

Ahmad Shabery is now Youth and Sports Minister.

Tunku Imran said as an example, the sports channel might not necessarily cover only the Malaysian Squash Open but the Spanish Squash Open because Malaysian players are participating.

This would also mean coverage of sports like badminton, hockey, sepak takraw and others.

Tunku Imran also said that what many people did not realise was that Malaysia was actually a successful sporting nation although the country had yet to win its first ever 0lympic gold medal.

"I know we haven't won that elusive Olympic gold but we are a successful sporting nation nonetheless". - Bernama

Suspected cholera outbreak: 50 hospitalised

2009-04-29T11:08:00.001-07:00

KLANG: Fifty people, including a child, suspected of having cholera have been admitted to the hospital so far, said Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah director Dr Ghazali Hasni Md Hassan.

One patient is confirmed with cholera and is still receiving treatment at the hospital.

“We are investigating another 14 patients to see they are also down with cholera or just suffering from food poisoning,” he told reporters after Selangor Police Chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar visited the hospital in conjunction with the 202nd Police Day celebration.

Dr Ghazali said the patients were from various place in Klang and Shah Alam and were sent to the hospital after consuming contaminated food.

He said an investigation into the source was expected to take a few weeks.

He also advised members of public to ensure they only consumed hygenic and freshly-cooked food.

It’s the clenched fist for PSM

2009-04-29T10:40:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Socialis Malaysia will be using its “clenched fist” symbol for all elections now that it has been officially approved by the Election Commission.

Party chairman Dr Mohd Nasir Hashim said in previous general elections, it had used the logos of Opposition parties DAP in 1999 and PKR in 2004 and 2008.

He said the party would hold its three-day annual general meeting from May 29 to May 31.

Parti Socialis Malaysia, which claims 10,000 members, was founded to look into the welfare of workers, he said.

It was officially registered under the Society Act on Aug 19 2008 and on Sept 18 that same year, submitted an application to have its logo approved. The letter of approval was received on April 20 this year.

On the Penanti by-election scheduled for May 31, Dr Mohd Nasir said the party would be supporting PKR in its campaign.

Swine Flu Watch and FAQ

2009-04-29T10:38:00.000-07:00

JAKARTA: Asean officials are looking at coordinating measures to address this latest public health emergency (Bernama)

WASHINGTON: US$870m stripped from flu-preparedness plan to feed economic stimulus package; US lawmakers to discuss (USA Today)

Why travel bans won't prevent a flu pandemic (New Scientist)

IPOH: A health department team has been stationed along the Malaysia-Thailand border to screen travellers entering the country through Pengkalan Hulu (The Star Online)

WASHINGTON: Government official confirms first US death from swine flu, a 23-month-old child from Texas (Reuters, updated)

PETALING JAYA: MAS issues SOPs for outbreak (The Star Online)

NEW YORK: Flu may have spread within New York City (New York Times)

ADELAIDE: Thermal scanners at Adelaide Airport (ABC News)

NORTH CAROLINA: Feared flu cases test negative (The News & Observer)

LONDON: Swine flu virus being tested in London labs (Sky News)

PUTRAJAYA: Some 200,000 frontliners including police and immigration personnel on duty at airports will be given flu jabs as a precautionary measure (The Star Online, Updated)

GENEVA: Swiss flu medicine producer Roche ups its preparedness (Earth Times)

BANGKOK: Public health offices ordered to stock up on flu drug nationwide (The Nation)

NEW YORK: 10 Countries Ban Pork Imports Over Swine Flu Fears (New York Times)

SEOUL: Five more Koreans being tested for swine flu (AP report in GMANews.TV)

SACRAMENTO: Sacramento scientists join race to decode new swine flu strain (The Sacramento Bee)

BEIJING: China offers Mexico US$5m in swine flu aid (China Daily)

LONDON: Every household in Britain is to receive a leaflet giving advice on preventing the spread of swine flu (ITV.com)

LONDON: Health Department orders 32 million face masks (The Telegraph)

NEW YORK: Experts says very low chance of swine flu outbreak becoming a pandemic (New York Times News Service)

MEXICO CITY: Mexico's Mystery: Why Is Swine Flu Deadlier There? (TIME Online)

KUALA LUMPUR: Overseas missions asked to monitor (The Star Online)

KINGSTON: Swine flu responds to antiviral drugs (Health editorial, The Gleaner, Jamaica)

EDINBURGH: Scotland ‘could help combat flu’ (BBC Online)

WELLINGTON: New Zealand confirms swine flu cases (Al-Jazeera)

MEXICO CITY: New swine flu infections intensify travel fears (Reuters)

BOSTON: Still few answers as swine flu, fear spread (The Boston Globe
Swine Flu FAQ

What is swine influenza?

It is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. It regularly causes high flu outbreaks in pigs but with low death rates. There are four main sub-types of the virus, but the most recent isolated influenza viruses from pigs have been H1N1 viruses.

How does it spread?

Swine flu viruses do not typically infect humans though they do occur through close proximity or contact with infected pigs or contaminated areas. Cases of human-to-human spread have been documented.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms are similar to those of regular flu:
- Fever
- Lethargy
- Runny nose
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Lack of appetite
- Vomiting and diarrhoea in some cases.

How common is swine flu infection in humans?

In the past reports of about one human swine flu virus infection had been received every one to two years in the United States. From December 2005 till February 2009, 12 cases have been reported.

Has this strain of flu been seen before?

No. Flu mutates constantly, so it is common for new strains to emerge. Pigs can also be infected with both human and avian influenza, and the current circulating swine flu strain appears to contain genetic elements from all three.

Can swine flu be treated with antiviral drugs and flu vaccine?

The swine flu is resistant to two common drugs – Amantadine and Rimantadine. The H1N1 swine flu viruses are very different from human H1N1 viruses. Therefore, vaccines for human seasonal flu would not provide protection. However, a “seed vaccine” has been specifically tailored to this swine flu and will be manufactured if officials deem it necessary.

Can people catch swine flu by eating pork?

No. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 70ºC and above kills the swine flu virus.

How long is someone with swine flu considered contagious?

People with swine influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic; possibly for up to seven days following the onset of the illness. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.

What can I do to protect myself from the swine flu?

There is no vaccine available right now to protect against the swine flu.

However, you can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza by:

- Covering your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue or handkerchief when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the waste basket after you use it.

- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also helpful

- Try to avoid close contact with sick people. - If you get sick with influenza, stay at home and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

- Consult your nearest healthcare facility if you think you have any of the symptoms.

Which countries have had cases of the swine flu?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed human cases of swine flu in Mexico, the United States, Canada and Spain. Only Mexico has reported deaths from the new strain.

Are there any travel restrictions or advisories for Malaysians?

The Health Ministry on April 27 advised Malaysians against travelling to certain places in the United States, Mexico and Canada which have been affected by the swine flu.

What precautions are in place in Malaysia?

- The Health Ministry’s operations room in Putrajaya has started a 24-hour monitoring of the situation. The public can call 03-8881 0200/300 for enquiries.

- Those returning from Latin American countries and found to have flu-like symptoms will be quarantined.

- Health Ministry officials are conducting health screenings on passengers arriving from the United States.

- Thermal scanners will be placed at international airports to speed up the screening process for swine flu.

- Public and private medical practitioners have been instructed to report to the district health office any patient with influenza-like illnesses or severe pneumonia symptoms and who had travelled to the affected countries after April 17.

- Owners of the 797 pig farms nationwide have been ordered to immediately contact the nearest Veterinary Services Department office or the Animal Disease Control Centre if their workers or animals show symptoms linked to the swine flu.

Where can I get more information?

For more information, go to the Health Ministry (www.moh.gov.my) or call the Ministry's hotline at (03) 8881-0200/300.

Malay parties should unite under Barisan: Umno vets

2009-04-29T10:35:00.002-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR: The Umno Veterans Council, formerly the Umno Veterans Club, wants Opposition Malay-based parties such as PAS to merge with it under Barisan Nasional “to ensure a better future for the Malays and Muslims in the country.”

“Today, we think that PAS can merge with Umno for the sake of the Malays and Muslims, like we had pushed for during the pre-Independence era,” Umno Veterans information head Datuk Dr Dzulkarnain Abdul Rahman.

“All the successes we had achieved previously was made possible because the Malays were united. It is our aspiration that the Malays remain united so that we are stronger.

“We should set aside all our political differences and agendas,” he said at a press conference after the Umno Veterans meeting at the Putra World Trade Centre here Wednesday.

He also asked for full support of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s 1Malaysia concept which, ironically, promotes Malaysia’s multiculturalism and the contributions of all races.

There were meetings between certain leaders from both parties after the 12th general election last March, but possible merger talks came to naught.

Umno Veterans deputy chairman Datuk Mohd Zaid Sirat proposed that the body be recognised by the party constitution like any other Umno wing, such as Wanita and Pemuda.

“We now have about 800,000 members. And we have served for so long.

“We want greater recognition and we also wish to suggest to party president and Prime Minister Najib that there are observers from the veterans group at every Umno level, from the Supreme Council, state and divisional levels,” Zaid said.

Dr Zambry files motion to kick out Speaker

2009-04-29T10:35:00.001-07:00

IPOH: Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir has filed a motion with the State Assembly to remove Speaker V. Sivakumar from office.

The motion was apparently proposed last Thursday by Dr Zambry and supported by senior executive council member Datuk Hamidah Osman.

Following this, notices on the motion were delivered to all state elected representatives from Monday onwards by assembly secretary Abdullah Antong Sabri.

According to the notice, the motion would be brought into the assembly sitting on May 7 and if passed successfully, the next agenda in the House would be to appoint a new Speaker.

As such, all state assemblymen were told to propose a candidate’s name and submit it to Abdullah Antong by Thursday.

The secretary also noted in his letter that this was according to procedures under Article 4(1) and (2) of the state assembly’s Standing Orders.

When contacted Wednesday, Dr Zambry, who has been dodging questions on Barisan Nasional’s plans for the assembly for the past week, still declined to confirm whether he had filed the motion.

“You can write what you know but this is information that I cannot release,” he said.

Hamidah could not be reached for comments.

Several Pakatan Rakyat representatives however confirmed that they had received the notice.

Former senior exco member Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham said he received the notice on Tuesday.

He however said that since the Speaker had suspended Abdullah Antong, the notice was “illegal.”

Sivakumar had suspended Abdullah Antong earlier this month for sending out notices on the May 7 sitting without first informing him.

Ngeh added that such a notice was also contemptuous of the Speaker’s office.

“The House does not go on speculative missions,” he said.

Ngeh added that it was clear the Barisan had little or no confidence in deputy Speaker Hee Yit Foong for they had chosen to elect a new Speaker instead of promoting her to the post.

On whether Pakatan would heed the notice and nominate a name for a new Speaker, Ngeh said:

“Since the notice is illegal and hence void, we will not be responding to it. It is just another piece of paper, floating around.”

However, it is learnt that all Pakatan representatives and state leaders will meet Thursday evening to discuss their next course of action.

Meanwhile, attempts to contact both the Speaker and Abdullah Antong were futile.

According to several Pakatan representatives, the Speaker will remain out of public eye until further notice.

Swine Flu Holds A Grip On Malaysians In New York

2009-04-28T23:28:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON, April 29 (Bernama) -- The outbreak of swine flu in Queens, New York, has Malaysians living in the area worried about their health, especially when going out in public areas.

A Malaysian diplomat who does not want to be identified said his home was only a 20-minute drive from the St Francis Preparatory School, the epicentre of the swine flu outbreak, following the return of several students from Mexico over spring break.

The prep school is being shut down for clean up. More than 100 students were reported sick last week following the outbreak.

There are around five Malaysian families, whose spouses work at the Malaysian mission, living in Queens, and hundreds more of Malaysian origin who have made New York their home for many years.

No Malaysians have been reported ill from the virus so far.

"We're taking precautions - to wash our hands, and we've been informed by our children's schools to go immediately to the doctor should anyone start coughing or show symptoms of the flu," the diplomat said. The symptoms are coughing, aches, high fever and diarrhoea.

The Malaysian officer said he has a seven-year-old son going to a public school that is only eight minutes from the prep school.

"I drive him to school and my wife picks him up. I am worried, but everything seems to be under control for now," he added.

Another long-time Malaysian in New York said she continues her routine of going to work and coming home on the New York subway.

"People are scared of the flu, but yet I don't see anyone wearing a mask, not even during rush hour at Grand Central Station.

"In Queens, it is very quiet outside, nobody wants to hang around," she said.

"If you have to go, you have to go," she said, "but still you can't be too careful!"

The number of confirmed deaths in Mexico, where the flu started, is at 20. The suspected death toll has risen to about 150 and almost 2,000 have been hospitalised with pneumonia.

In the United States, the number of confirmed cases has doubled to 45, and the public have been advised to postpone trips to Mexico.

Swine flu cases in the United States have been identified in New York, Ohio, Kansas, Texas and California.

Meanwhile, in HAVANA, where the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) meeting is ongoing, Cuba has barred flights coming in and going to Mexico from Havana. Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Anifah Aman is attending the NAM meeting.

Dr Mansor Othman is PKR's choice for Penanti

2009-04-28T07:53:00.001-07:00

GEORGE TOWN: Penang PKR deputy liaison chief Dr Mansor Othman is the party's choice to contest the Penanti by-election, says party leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Tuesday.

Anwar said if Dr Mansor won in Penanti, the party will nominate him for the post of Deputy Chief Minister I.

TOL holders cannot expect payoff, says MB

2009-04-28T07:52:00.000-07:00

SEREMBAN: People living on temporary occupation licence (TOL) land should not expect to be paid compensation when they are relocated because the state government owns the land, said Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

He said there was no reason for compensation even if they have been living on the land for decades.

“If the state government needs the land for a specific reason, the TOL holders must be relocated. Why must the state government pay them compensation when the land is owned by the state?” he said in reply to a question from Ng Chin Tsai (DAP-Temiang), who asked about the plight of TOL holders in Bukit Jong.

Mohamad, however, said the state government would give ex-gratia payments to TOL holders so that they would not face difficulties when relocating.

“In fact, we give them enough money to enable them to rent a better place for two years. I think that is more than fair,” he said, citing as example the payment given to some 80 families from Kg Abok in Rahang, near here, to relocate to make way for the construction of the Seremban Outer Ring Road.

He said 150 townhouses were built in the area and the previous residents were given priority to move in.

Saravanan "catches" two doctors not doing their jobs

2009-04-26T02:46:00.001-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk M. Saravanan “caught” two doctors at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital emergency department reading newspapers and doing their own stuff instead of attending to more than 20 patients who were waiting for treatment.

Saravanan made the shocking discovery at about 10.30am on Sunday when he went to the hospital to visit a university student who was injured after he was knocked down by a car driven by his (Saravanan’s) driver.

“I, too, waited for a while for the girl to be treated and, realising that none of the patients were being called in by the doctors, I opened the door to the treatment room. I was shocked to find one doctor reading a newspaper and the other minding his own business and doing his own stuff.

“There were more than 20 patients outside waiting for treatment. This should not be the way doctors work. The patient should come first. Furthermore, it is an emergency unit, which is supposed to be fast in dispensing treatment,” the visibly irked Saravanan told Bernama.

The deputy minister said he reprimanded the doctors for their behaviour and demanded to see a superior who, he said, appeared after 30 minutes.

“After that, those waiting were promptly treated. Why couldn’t the doctors attend to the patients first? This should not be the way service at government hospitals is dispensed,” he said.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, in one of his surprise visits to the city centre on Saturday, said he wanted frontline government establishments in the federal capital to improve their services to the people.

Saravanan said although he had caught the doctors by chance, he would make it a point from now on, to conduct surprise visits to departments under his ministry to ensure that frontline staff did their job of serving the people.

“This is an eye-opener. We, as leaders, just cannot afford to pay lip service and not check whether work is done by the frontline government servants. We have to go down (to the ground) to ensure that speedy solutions are found for the people’s problems.

“What more in this case where people are in pain and are in agony due to the pain. If they were not suffering, they would not have come to the emergency unit. This is a lesson for all hospitals. Please work for the people if you are in the civil service,” he said.

Shahrizat slams youths who become Mat Rempit

2009-04-26T02:44:00.000-07:00

KLANG: Senator Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil has slammed youths who become Mat Rempit and issued them a stern warning.

“Do not take the law in your hands,” the Women, Family and Community Development Minister told a press conference after attending a community programme at Taman Sri Menegun here on Sunday.

She added youths who were Mat Rempit have now become a serious menace as they were involved in crimes such as robbery, rape and molestation.

“They have even taken to harassing disabled people,” said a visibly angry Shahrizat referring to the case of deaf and mute women who was assaulted and robbed by Mat Rempit last week which was highlighted by The Star on Sunday.

In the incident, a big group of Mat Rempit had surrounded the 23-year-old woman at a petrol kiosk at 7.00pm on the said day. The group, who was unperturbed with the presence of other patrons and kiosk employees, had slapped and kicked the victim before making off with her handbag.

Shahrizat said it was time the Mat Rempit was duly dealt with given that the authorities had taken the soft approach to help the youths by even carrying out studies to understand them.

“Now, the police must institute the severest of action against the Mat Rempit,” she said.

“There should not be any compromise in dealing with them. They say they become Mat Rempit because they are bored. Why break the law just because they are bored?”

A government institute research revealed that 48 % of the youths polled said they became Mat Rempit out of boredom.

Shahrizat also questioned the role of the youths’ family members in ensuring that their children did not resort to becoming Mat Rempit.

Shahrizat said parents must play a pivotal role in ascertaining that their children did not resort to participating in anti-social and unlawful activities.

Government considering scrapping AP scheme

2009-04-26T02:42:00.000-07:00

JOHOR BARU: The Government is considering the possibility of scrapping the controversial Approved Permit (AP) scheme for imported vehicles to ensure a system that is acceptable for all.

Deputy International Trade and Industries Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said scrapping the scheme was not the only option as there were many other ways to look at the matter.

“However, the basis of any solution is that, any levy or tax should benefit the Government.

“In the end, cost saving, if there is any, should go to the people,” he said adding that, the ministry expected to announce a decision soon.

He was commenting on the request of the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Car Dealers and Credit Companies Association, which asked the Government to open the AP scheme to everyone or give a 30% quota to the Bumiputra and have the rest open for auction.

He was speaking to pressmen after launching the Bumiputra Entrepreneurs Symposium held in conjunction with the Unit Trust Week here on Sunday.

Mukhriz explained that it was high on the ministry’s agenda to discuss and finally decide on a new mechanism on the AP issue, as it had long been a contentious one.

“We want to look at it in a very comprehensive manner and come up with a solution that is amiable to all,” he said adding that, the ministry should be given a little bit more time before the minister makes a decision with the approval of the Cabinet.

Meanwhile, commenting on the new liberalisation policy, Mukhriz said that he was confident that the new policy would attract more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country.

“We have not estimated how much FDI would flow into the country with introduction of this new policy.

“It is certainly an added attraction for foreign companies to invest in the country,” he said.

Umno to decide Friday if it will contest Penanti polls

2009-04-23T04:57:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno will discuss whether to contest the Penanti by-election at its supreme council meeting Friday.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said it was not a question of Barisan Nasional (BN) being afraid to contest.

“We will take part in any by-election irrespective of whether we lose or win,” he said after visiting SMK Setapak Indah.

Muhyiddin was responding to a statement by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) strategic planning director Saifuddin Nasution Ismail that Barisan did not want to contest the seat as it was the underdog.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had said Barisan was considering staying out of the Penanti by-election as it would be a “sheer waste” of public funds.

The seat fell vacant after former Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin announced his resignation.

He had also stepped down as Deputy Chief Minister 1 earlier.

Meanwhile, in Putrajaya, the Election Commission sent out a stern warning to all parties that it intends to get tough to ensure the upcoming Penanti by-election proceeds as smoothly as possible.

Its chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Yusof said that it would strictly enforce the Elections Offences Act 1954 to prevent the rowdy atmosphere during campaigning that has apparently become the trend.

He said that political parties have not been observing the rules during the cooling-off period.

Abdul Aziz said he also wants to restrict the number of supporters who can gather during nomination and polling days, and during the announcement of results.

“The situation on the ground tends to get ‘scary’ as supporters come in the thousands,” he said at a press conference Thursday.

“They fight with each other and voters cannot cast their ballots in peace. The police too have had to maintain a heavy presence (in the last few by-elections),” he added.

There have already been five by-elections since the 12th general election in March last year.

Abdul Aziz said the Commission would seek the advice of the police on limiting the number of supporters according to the situation on the ground.

He said that he would also be meeting representatives from the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition and the opposition Pakatan Rakyat alliance to discuss the matter.

Arrest warrant out for Raja Petra

2009-04-23T04:56:00.001-07:00

PETALING JAYA: The Sessions Court here issued a warrant of arrest against Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin on Thursday after he failed to turn up for his sedition trial.

Judge Rozina Ayob issued the order after lead prosecutor DPP Shahidani Abd Aziz applied for the arrest warrant against the news portal editor for his absence.

DPP Shahidani said the prosecution had no choice but to get the order to proceed with the trial.

Rozina also issued a show cause notice for Raja Petra’s wife, Marina Lee Abdullah, as his bailor for failing to inform the court about the non-attendance.

Raja Petra's lawyer J. Chandra informed judge Rozina Ayob that his client did not turn up in court on the grounds he was on a self-imposed exile from the state for “reasons that are well known.”

“You know these ‘well known reasons,’ so please highlight them to the court,” Rozina said.

“The accused is posting his reasons on his website this morning,” said Chandra.

“You expect the court to go through that, is it?” the judge said.

Chandra then went out to explain that for over a month now, Raja Petra, 58, has posted articles or comments on issues in relation to the Selangor royal house that have angered some members of his own family who have demanded an apology.

On Malaysia Today, explaining why he did not attend court Thursday, Raja Petra wrote, “My family then gave me an ultimatum. I was to either make that public apology or else my family would insert an advertisement in the mainstream newspapers practically distancing itself from me, which could be interpreted as disowning me ....

“I went into exile outside Selangor ... . It has to be noted that this has always been the punishment for any member of the Selangor Royal Family who is considered durhaka (traitorous) since the beginning of the Selangor Sultanate more than 250 years ago.”

He also wrote that another reason why he did not attend court was the he did not expect to get a fair trial.

In court on Thursday, his lawyer Chandra added, “You have to bear in mind that he is a member of royalty and this self-imposed exile is a punishment he has handed out to himself.”

Rozina said Raja Petra had never produced a written order over the matter.

To this, Chandra said his client would appear in court “when the times permitted and the matter resolved”.

DPP Shahidani Aziz asked for a warrant of arrest to be issued against Raja Petra and a notice of showcause for his wife and bailor Marina. The judge granted both and set May 22 for mention.

Speaking to reporters later, his lawyer Gobind Singh Deo said the defence had been unable to contact Raja Petra for some time and his last conversation with him was during a habeas corpus appeal against the editor at the Federal Court.

Raja Petra, a former Internal Security Act detainee, had on May 6 2008 claimed trial to publishing a seditious article on his Malaysia Today news portal on April 25 of that same year.

He is accused of publishing the article Let’s send the Altantuya murderers to hell on the website www.malaysia-today.net.

The charge under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948 carries a maximum fine of RM5,000 or three years' jail or both upon conviction.

Barisan fears no one: Muhyiddin

2009-04-23T04:55:00.001-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR: The Barisan Nasional does not fear anyone in facing a by-election, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

“We have never feared anyone. This question of elections is a normal matter to be faced. Winning and losing is customary in contesting and we will continue to face this,” Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister, told reporters after visiting SMK Setapak Indah here.

He was commenting on a statement by PKR strategy director Saifuddin Nasution Ismail that Barisan was reluctant to contest in the Penanti state constituency by-election in Penang as it was the underdog.

Muhyiddin, who is also Barisan deputy chairman, however said the matter of contesting or not had not been decided.

He said the Umno supreme council meeting Friday will discuss the matter and that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will also seek feedback from leaders of Barisan component parties.

Asked if there would be changes in Umno leadership in Friday’s meeting, Muhyiddin said: “The president will announce. Surely there will be changes as after elections, as usually done, there will be changes and renewal.

“What is important is that we strengthen our party. All this is to make our party’s performance better and stronger.”

On the issue of Umno’s leadership in Terengganu, Muhyiddin said he and the prime minister had understood the situation there after recently meeting leaders from the state.

“The president and I know what needs to be done to strengthen leadership there. If there are problems we do not wish to discuss in the open and we will resolve the problems as soon as possible.

“What is important is for party leaders and people’s representatives to give attention to the people’s welfare and interests,” he said. -- Bernama

Nizar vs Zambry: Court allows AG to intervene

2009-04-23T04:54:00.001-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court on Thursday allowed Attorney General (AG) Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail to intervene in Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin's suit challenging the legitimacy of Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir's appointment as Perak mentri besar.

Justice Datuk Abdul Aziz Abd Rahim, in his oral decision, said the AG, as the guardian of the public interest, should be allowed to intervene as the issue was of public importance and public interest.

He also said that the issue involved interpretation of Article 16 of the Perak Constitution which was similiar to Article 43 of the Federal Constitution.

"Of course the court can invite the AG as a friend of court, but after considering the main issue here, it is my view to allow the AG to intervene and to help the court, more so when the issue here is a novel one.

One mentri besar is appointed and the other one has not resigned," said Abdul Aziz who is the third judge to hear the application after the Federal Court sent it back to the High Court. The first judge was Judicial Commissioner Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof who recused himself while the second judge, Lau Bee Lan, had referred the matter to the Federal Court for determination of constitutional issues.

Earlier, senior federal counsel Datuk Kamaluddin Md Said submitted that the AG should be allowed to intervene as the application for judicial review required the interpretation of the Perak Constitution which would also affect other state constitutions with similar provisions.

Sulaiman Abdullah, counsel for Mohammad Nizar, objected on the ground that the AG had failed to show any necessity for him to intervene in the proceeding.

"This is a Perak matter. The actual situation here is that the applicant (Mohammad Nizar) and the respondent (Zambry) are both claiming to be the mentri besar.

“There is no direct involvement of the federal government in this issue,” he said.

The judge also fixed May 4 to hear the application by Mohammad Nizar to cross-examine Perak legal advisor Datuk Kamal Md Shahid on the statement which he claimed was inconsistent with Mohammad Nizar's statement in the affidavit filed in the suit. - Bernama

Fairus will not be charged for corruption: MACC

2009-04-23T04:52:00.000-07:00

GEORGE TOWN: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has decided statements recorded when investigating former Penang Deputy Chief Minister 1, Mohamad Fairus Khairuddin did not provide the basis for prosecution.

In a statement here Thursday, MACC said the decision was made after studying the case and considering the statements recorded in the course of investigation.

"MACC's legal and prosecuting division decided that the statements have no basis for prosecution. The Attorney-General also agreed with the decision," said the statement.

MACC opened investigation papers after an allegation was made against two state Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) leaders that they were involved in a corruption case pertaining to a quarry in Seberang Perai.

The allegation by Kepala Batas PKR youth chief Amizuddin Ahmat in February forced Mohammad Fairus to resign as Penang Deputy Chief Minister I and Penanti state assemblyman.

The MACC investigation found that Fairus' duty and responsibility under his portfolio did not have any connection with the quarry business in Penang.

"He was asked to investigate a case that involved the alienation of land at Lot 954 and 955, Mukim 20, Seberang Perai Tengah to an individual.

"MACC investigation found that he had asked and received funding from a quarry operator to attend an international course in London," said the statement.

However, MACC found that the quarry operator concerned had no connection with the investigation against Fairus.

"It also found that Fairus attended an international course in London in mid 2008 together with Penang Deputy Chief Minister II (P. Ramasamy) who was fully sponsored by the organiser and the state government," said the statement. MACC reminded state governments, ministries and departments to abide by the rules and procedures on requesting and accepting contributions from outside parties.

It would send officers to Penang to study ways to improve transparency and accountability based on the procedures on contributions from outside.

"MACC will propose that the outcome from the study be implemented in all states and ministries," said the statement. The move was in line with the duty and responsibility of MACC under section 7 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009. - Bernama

Nizar to get first dibs on his Camry: Dr Zambry

2009-04-22T03:22:00.002-07:00

IPOH: The Barisan Nasional-led state government will give former Perak mentri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin first preference in the sale of the Toyota Camry AGS 10 he used as his official car.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said that this was because the Barisan government was “courteous” and “did not believe in being confrontational.”

He said that since his predecessor had expressed an interest in bidding for the car, which had been the former Pakatan Rakyat government’s official mentri besar vehicle, the state would not stop the latter from making an offer during the auction.

“It is good that he wants to buy the car. At least then he wouldn’t be using it ‘secara haram’ (illegally) any more,” Dr Zambry told reporters after chairing the weekly executive committee meeting here Wednesday.

He added that while Nizar would still have to bid for the vehicle, first preference would be given to him since he was the state’s former mentri besar.

“Even if there is a higher bidder for the car, we will give him top priority out of respect to him as the former mentri besar,” he said.

On whether priority would be given to former exco members from Pakatan, Dr Zambry said:

“I don’t know, ask them if they are interested or not. Usually, we will give them priority -- it has been our policy from the start.

“But whatever it is, we must go for the highest bidder.”

Dr Zambry said the state government would revert to using Proton Perdanas as official vehicles and would soon purchase a fleet for all state excos and ex-officios.

“The Proton cars are our national pride. We can use whatever brand of cars for personal use but as official vehicles, we should use the Proton,” he said.

On previous complaints on the high cost of maintenance for the Proton Perdanas, Dr Zambry said:

“It is one of our concerns but we will speak with Proton to see how best to maintain the cars.”

It was reported Tuesday that the state government had decided to auction off the 16 Toyota Camrys that were used as official vehicles during Pakatan’s rule.

The auction will take place at the State Secretariat’s car park from 9.30am to 4pm from May 4 to 18.

The reserve price for the vehicles will be at RM148,000 each and those interested should submit their offers before noon on May 18.

Guan Eng: Anwar has apologised, matter settled

2009-04-22T03:22:00.001-07:00

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said on Wednesday that Pakatan Rakyat leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had apologised for failing to keep Lim informed about the resignation of Former Deputy Chief Minister 1 Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin as Penanti assemblyman.

“I do not want this matter to drag on,” he told reporters Wednesday, adding that heconsidered the matter settled.

Lim, who is also DAP secretary general, had expressed his disappointment Monday that Anwar had not told him about Mohammad Fairus’ resignaton.

Mohammad Fairus who quit at DCM1 effective April 8, later resigned as Penanti assemblyman on April 16. - Bernama

Pahang’s refusal pay RM63mil is against court order: Seruan

2009-04-22T03:21:00.000-07:00

KUANTAN: The refusal of the Pahang government to pay compensation amounting to RM63mil is clearly going against the court order, plaintiff Seruan Gemilang Makmur Sdn Bhd claimed.

Its managing director Saiyeed Ali Al-Habsyee said Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, as the defendant, should adhere to the order made in a writ of mandamus at the Kuantan High Court on Monday to pay up within 14 days.

“The order did not grant the Pahang government any privilege to defer paying the compensation.

“The mentri besar had claimed that the state government has new evidence to file a new application against the order.

“By right, Adnan should pay up first before submitting an appeal or any other action as defined in the law,” he told reporters during a press conference at the court’s premises Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Adnan said the state government had discovered new evidence involving perjury, fraud, forgery and conflict of interest which were not raised when the case was brought up at the Court of Appeal and Federal Court.

Saiyeed Ali said he was at the court Tuesday to witness the filing of an application for stay of execution by state legal adviser Datuk Mat Zara’ai Alias.

He said he would be engaging the services of prominent lawyer Karpal Singh to fight the case out in open court.

“I believe if the state government fails to adhere to the order, a warrant of arrest can be issued by the court,” he said, adding that he hoped Adnan would not go against the order to avoid a higher compounded interest.

On Dec 9, 2002, Seruan Gemilang had filed a suit against the state government and state forestry director seeking RM31mil in damages for breaching a logging concession contract relating to the extraction of timber logs from a 4,000ha plot of land belonging to Umno in Bebar, Pekan.

The Kuantan High Court decision on May 25 last year ordered them to pay RM37,127,471.60, with interest from April 5, 2000, to the company for breach of contract.

The Pahang government and state forestry director applied for leave to appeal against the decision, which was rejected by the Court of Appeal.

The Federal Court on Sept 17 last year affirmed the Court of Appeal decision.

Kuantan High Court had on Monday ordered Adnan and the state government to pay the damages to Seruan Gemilang Makmur Sdn Bhd after it failed to set aside the judgement and sum affirmed by the Federal Court on Sept 17, last year for breach of contract.

However, the state government had on Tuesday, filed a new application by including new evidence involving perjury, fraud, forgery and conflict of interest, details of which were not raised when the case was brought up at the Court of Appeal and Federal Court.

Adnan had also clarified that the order was issued not on him in a personal capacity but as an agent of the Government, adding that the state government would apply for a stay of execution

Meanwhile, Pahang PAS expressed concern over the court case.

Its secretary Roslan Zainal said the case had shown up the state government’s inefficiency and could plunge the state into worse financial turmoil.

“The state is already facing a RM98.61mil deficit. The people are now worried that this will result in Pahang having to face a much higher deficit.

“The state government must explain, in detail, to the people about what is happening. It must also explain to the public what system is used in awarding timber consession in the state,” he said in a statement Wednesday.

Govt lifts 30% bumi rule for 27 services sub-sectors

2009-04-22T03:18:00.000-07:00

PUTRAJAYA: The government has removed the 30% bumiputra equity condition in 27 services sub-sectors, with immediate effect.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said that the Government would progressively undertake the liberalisation of other services sub-sectors on an ongoing basis.

Among the services sub-sectors immediately liberalised were health and social, tourism, business and computer related services, he said.

In a bid to develop Malaysia as an international Islamic financial hub, the legal profession would be liberalised to allow up to five international law firms with expertise in international Islamic finance to practise in Malaysia, Najib said.

Logging firm vs Pahang: It’s complicated

2009-04-21T05:36:00.000-07:00

KUANTAN: The high-profile court case in which the Pahang government was ordered to pay RM63mil to a logging company has taken a new twist -- Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob claimed that the state government has new evidence and has filed a new application.

The Mentri Besar said the state government discovered new evidence involving perjury, fraud, forgery and conflict of interest which were not brought up when the case was brought up at the Court of Appeal and Federal Court.

“The state government’s case has been dismissed on technical grounds and we have not had the opportunity to properly present our case.

“We have filed a new application and it will be heard on April 24. The legal proceeding will continue,” Adnan told reporters during a tea-break of the state assembly sitting here Tuesday.

He called for the press conference in response to the Monday ruling after the state government failed in its bid to set aside the judgment sum which was affirmed by the Federal Court on Sept 17 last year.

Perak govt to auction off Toyota Camrys

2009-04-21T05:31:00.001-07:00

IPOH: The Perak state government will auction off the 16 units of Toyota Camry 2.4 which were used as official cars by executive councillors under the previous coalition government.

According to a statement of an open tender sent to the advertising division of a Malay daily here Tuesday, the auction would be held from May 4 to 18.

The tender statement issued by the Perak State Secretariat said the auction would be carried out at the carpark of the Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan here from 9.30am until 4pm.

The statement said the vehicles could be purchased either in bulk or individually at a reserved price of RM148,000 each.

The cars, with the registration numbers AGS10, AFD11, AFD22, AFD33, AFD55, AFD66, AFD77, AFD88, AFD99, AFD333, AFD999, AFF33, AFF88, AFF99, AGS828 and AEU606, were all registered on Jan 9.

The statement also said that all the cars were bought new and used between one and two months with low mileage and under three-year warranty by the manufacturer.

However, it is learnt that the car with the registration number AGS10 which was used by former mentri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin would not be auctioned off as he was said to have made a booking to buy the car.

Anyone intending to purchase the cars must submit their offer before noon on May 18. -- Bernama

BN calls for Abdul Malik to be made DCM I

2009-04-21T05:29:00.001-07:00

GEORGE TOWN: An opposition assemblyman has called for Abdul Malik Abul Kassim (PKR-Batu Maung) to be made the state’s Deputy Chief Minister I.

Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya (BN-Teluk Bahang) made the call when debating the Yang Di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas’ speech at the state legislative assembly Tuesday.

Dr Hilmi made the suggestion in response to Sim Tze Tzin’s (PKR-Pantai Jerejak) invitation for him to join PKR so that he could participate in discussions with the party’s leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng on a replacement for former DCM I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin.

“Over my dead body will I ever join a party that is so chaotic,” he said, before questioning why Abdul Malik was not appointed to the position.

“He is capable and hardworking. Why was he not chosen? What has he done wrong? If I were him, I’d quit (the party),” he said.

Abdul Malik has been speculated to be among the possible candidates to replace Mohammad Fairus who resigned from the post on April 8 following corruption investigations.

At this point, Koid Teng Guan (DAP-Sungai Pinang) chided him for raising political issues in the House instead of talking about things that benefit the rakyat (people). Dr Hilmi then suggested that Mohd Hamdan Abdul Rahman (PAS-Permatang Pasir) replace Abdul Malik as the state Religious Affairs Committee chairman.

“Why is PAS not represented in the state exco (executive committee) lineup? This is a suitable portfolio for the party,” he said

Gunning for Guan Eng

2009-04-21T05:28:00.001-07:00

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng once again came under fire for not filling a vacant position in the state, this time for the post of Penang Municipal Council president.

The seat fell vacant after its outgoing president Datuk Zainal Rahim Seman was promoted to state secretary effective Monday.

Lim has declined to name a replacement or appoint an acting president as yet.

At a press conference after Zainal Rahim was sworn in outside the State Legislative assembly sitting here Tuesday, Lim said he would name the new council president in due time.

Lim had recently come under strong criticism for not appointing a replacement for Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin, who quit as Deputy Chief Minister 1, effective April 8.

“It is not a problem for us, administratively (to pick a candidate for the council president’s post). I will definitely tell all of you (the media),” he said.

Asked to comment on Penang Gerakan’s proposal that its former deputy secretary-general Datuk Lee Kah Choon be considered for the post, Lim retorted that Gerakan had also proposed to abolish the ISA.

“Gerakan can make proposals, but we will decide after making necessary consultations within our leadership,” he said.

At a separate press conference, Penang Wanita MCA chief Tan Cheng Liang said Lim should make up his mind on the council president’s replacement and to not “take Penangites for a ride.”

She said he should also scrap the post of DCM 1 if he was unable to find a suitable replacement.

Tan said Lim often boasted that he looked at merit and not race or religion when appointing state government staff, but he instead allocated the DCM 1’s post to a Malay, from PKR.

“This is hypocrisy and a practice of double standards. PKR has two other state excos, Abdul Malik Abul Kassim and Law Choo Kiang.

“Are they not fit for the post, or are they leaders without merit?” she said.

Tan also said Lim owed Penangites an explanation on Mohammad Fairus’ sudden decision to quit as DCM 1 and Penanti assemblyman.

“As a leader who claims to advocate transparency, Lim should be transparent himself,” especially on that particular matter, she said.

Police officer caught with his pants down

2009-04-19T23:58:00.001-07:00

BUTTERWORTH: The deputy chief of a police station who had his zipper down and a woman teacher were detained for indecent behaviour by religious department officers yesterday.

Penang Islamic Department officers detained them at the Bagan Ajam rest area on the Butterworth Outer Ring Road.

The police officer shouted abusive words at the religious department officers and refused to show his authority card after identifying himself as a policeman.

The department's operations unit chief, Khairul Azman Azizan, had to ask policemen who were accompanying them to help detain the police officer.

The police officer and his female companion, who is in her 40s, were taken to a police station.

They were released five hours later on bail.

Winning or losing makes no difference, says Penang BN

2009-04-19T23:50:00.001-07:00

KEPALA BATAS: Winning or losing the Penanti by-election will not make a difference to the Penang Barisan Nasional.

State Umno secretary Datuk Azhar Ibrahim said winning the seat would not bring any major changes and it would not be a loss to the coalition if Barisan decided not to contest.

He said the Penang Barisan would not achieve anything major such as forming the state government if it contests and wins the seat.

Barisan’s number of seats would increase to 12 if it wins the by-election while Pakatan Rakyat has 28.

“It is not a loss to the BN if we decide not to contest in the by-election,” Azhar, who is also Penaga assemblyman, told reporters yesterday after handing over aid under a federal poverty eradication scheme to the poor at the Bertam Sports Complex.

He said this when asked to comment on Prime Minister and Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s statement that the BN was considering staying out of the by-election as it would be a waste of public funds in view of the economic downturn.

Meanwhile, state MCA deputy chairman Eng Hiap Boon chided Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for failing to take responsibility in causing the Penanti by-election.

“He doesn’t want anything to do with the by-election because he knows that the general sentiment is that the people are tired of by-elections.

“Once again he is pushing the blame. This time, instead of MCA and the Federal Government, he is blaming PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,” he said.

He said it also showed that Lim did not have full authority as Chief Minister because he was not even informed of Fairus’ resignation as state assemblyman.

State Gerakan chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan said Lim’s unhappiness reflected Pakatan Rakyat’s inability to work as a united front.

Umno members warned not to contest as independents

2009-04-19T23:48:00.000-07:00

GEORGE TOWN: Disciplinary action will be taken against Penang Umno members who contest as independents in the coming Penanti by-election.

State Umno secretary Datuk Azhar Ibrahim said it was a stern warning as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had yet to make a decision on whether the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition would skip the by-election.

Penang Umno had yet to receive any instructions on the by-elections, he told reporters after the Yang Di-Pertua Negeri Tuan Yang Terutama Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas opened the first meeting of the second session of the 12th state legislative assembly Monday.

“As for now we have not been not told anything, and we will wait until the Prime Minister makes an announcement after the Umno and Barisan supreme councils meet at the end of the month,” he said.

The Penanti by-election came about after former Deputy Chief Minister (DCM) I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin, who officially quit his post on April 8, vacated his seat as well last week.

On Saturday, Najib said Barisan might not contest the by-election, which he described as merely a political ploy by the Opposition.

Azhar said the by-election would be a waste of time as it would not make any difference whether Barisan won or lost.

“Currently we have 11 state seats and if we win, we will have an additional seat -- still insufficient to form the state government. So it is not going to make any difference,’’ he said.

But he said that if Barisan were to contest, the state Umno machinery would be put into place.

BN afraid of bigger loss, say PKR and PAS

2009-04-19T23:47:00.000-07:00

SHAH ALAM: PKR says that the possibility that Barisan Nasional may not field a candidate in Penanti shows that it is afraid of losing with a bigger majority.

Its deputy president, Dr Syed Hussin Ali, said Barisan knew that it would lose with a bigger majority if it placed a candidate in Penanti but it had now changed tactics and called it a sheer waste of public funds.

“People are for change and it goes to show that Barisan has no confidence because it is aware that the people will vote them out,” he said.

On Saturday, Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was reported as saying that a decision to skip the by-election would only be made after the Umno and Barisan supreme councils meet at the end of the month.

In Alor Setar, Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak claimed the Barisan Nasional was afraid to contest because they feared losing to Pakatan Rakyat again.

He said Barisan might have realised that Penanti was a PAS and PKR stronghold, making it harder for them to penetrate.

In Muar, PAS Youth chief Sala- huddin Ayub said Barisan leaders had had enough of challenging the Opposition in by-elections and wanted to avoid another loss.

At a gathering with PAS supporters in Bakri at Kampung Jeram on Saturday, Salahuddin refuted allegations by Barisan leaders that the by-election was a Pakatan political ploy and that Penanti assemblyman Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin had been asked to resign.

Pahang MB ordered to pay logging firm RM63mil

2009-04-19T23:43:00.000-07:00

KUANTAN: The Pahang Mentri Besar has been ordered to pay a logging firm RM63mil for breach of contract, after the state government failed in its bid at the High Court here to strike out a writ of mandamus pertaining to a judgement sum ruled by the Federal Court on Sept 17 last year.

The High Court also ordered the payment be made, with costs, to Seruan Gemilang Sdn Bhd within 14 days beginning Monday.

Seruan Gemilang, which filed the writ on Oct 15 last year, had named the Mentri Besar as respondent and stated that the Pahang government had failed or refused to pay the sum despite the Federal Court order.

On March 20, it was reported that the Pahang government refuted the writ because the state government and forestry department were named as parties in the original suit while the Mentri Besar was never a party in the cause.

Justice Abdul Halim Aman, in his written judgement, said a mandamus was a command that binded a person issued with the order to fulfill the obligation.

He added that at this stage, it was not a matter of litigation but a force of the order which made it mandatory for the state government to abide.

On Dec 9, 2002, Seruan Gemilang filed a suit against the Pahang government and the state forestry director seeking RM31mil in damages for breaching a logging concession contract relating to the extraction of timber logs from a 4,000ha land belonging to Umno in Bebar, Pekan.

The Kuantan High Court decision on May 25 last year ordered them to pay RM37,127,471.60, with interest from April 5, 2000, to the company for breach of contract.

The Pahang government and state forestry director applied for leave to appeal against the decision, which was rejected by the Court of Appeal.

The Federal Court on Sept 17 last year affirmed the Court of Appeal decision.

Meanwhile, state legal adviser Datuk Mat Zara’ai Alias said the Pahang government would file an application for a stay of execution on Tuesday, at the Kuantan High Court.

He said the state government would also file an appeal to the appellate court against the decision made by the High Court on Monday.

Hadi ready to face challenge to his PAS President's Post

2009-04-18T04:53:00.001-07:00

KOTA BARU: PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said here he is prepared to face any challenge to the post at the party's general assembly in June, amid talk of a leadership struggle that has allegedly created two camps in the party.

He would leave it to the members to decide whether they wanted to retain him as the president or elect another person to the post, he told reporters after delivering a talk at the Kota Mosque here last night.

He said he would remain with PAS - whether he was reelected president or otherwise - at the general assembly, expected to be held in Shah Alam in June.

The party's Spiritual Leader, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, had said in a statement that he would leave it to the members to decide whom to elect as the party's president.

"Tok Guru" Nik Aziz had dismissed allegations of a leadership struggle that had created two camps - the Tok Guru Team and the President's Team - in the party, saying such claims were unfounded. - Bernama

Najib: BN may not contest Penanti by-election

2009-04-18T04:40:00.000-07:00

PEKAN: Barisan Nasional might not contest the Penanti state by-election if it obtains the consensus of all component parties, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

In this context, Najib said he would hold a meeting with the Umno Supreme Council and meet with the presidents of the Barisan component parties to discuss the matter.

"I will raise the matter at the next Umno Supreme Council meeting. If I don't have the time, I will bring it up to the Political Bureau, and discuss with the Barisan component party presidents," he said.

Najib said he did not rule out the possibility of Barisan not contesting as the latest by-election in Penang was clearly a "political ploy" by the Opposition.

"No, we are not afraid of losing to them but it is a sheer waste of public funds.

"Whatever decision we make, we will take into consideration whether it benefits the people," he told reporters at a press conference at his residence near here on Saturday.

On the party’s new appointed office bearers and state Umno liaison chiefs, Najib said he would announce the names after the supreme council meeting.

“I need some time to consult several senior party leaders first as the appointment is the prerogative of the party president under the party’s constitution.

“I do not know yet if any of the Mentri Besar or Chief Minister will be replaced,” he said adding that no one should speculate as it would not be fair to the parties involved who might experience “sleepless nights.”

On the political storm in Terengganu, Najib said he would be monitoring the situation closely and had listened to explanations from both factions.

“I hope the state leadership can resolve the situation amicably,” he said, adding that it was important to have a strong team who could quell any tension and be acceptable to all Umno leaders in the state.

Najib reiterated that no decision had been made by the Government pertaining to the crooked bridge project.

He also expressed his support to a proposal by the Election Commission to limit the number of supporters allowed at nomination and polling centres.

“We want a smooth elections process and no disturbances by any party supporters,” he said.

Earlier, Najib was given a rousing welcome in his home state and parliamentary constituency by some 30,000 people of all races.

It was the first time Najib, the Pekan MP, returned to his constituency as the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Muslims Warned Of Indonesian Pork Floss

2009-04-17T12:20:00.000-07:00

JAKARTA, April 17 (Bernama) - The Indonesian authority has warned Muslims to be wary of meat floss made from shredded dried pork sold in several cities in the republic.

Five of 35 meat floss sold in Jakarta, Jambi, Bogor, Semarang, Surabaya and Bandung had been discovered to be made from shredded dried pork by the Indonesian Agency of Drug and Food Control.

"Pork floss is lighter in colour and its texture is softer than beef floss.

"Actually it is quite difficult to tell the different until we tested them in the laboratory using the real-time polymerase chain reaction equipment," its head, Husniah Rubiana Thamrin was quoted as saying by Republika today.

She said ironically one of the products carried a halal logo purportedly issued by the Indonesian Ulama Council, one had a false manufacturer address while another without the manufacturer address.

The manufacturers had earlier claimed that their products were made from shredded dried beef until the test proved otherwise, she added.

pls take precaution to all muslim..

PM: Too much being spent on unnecessary by-elections

2009-04-17T12:14:00.000-07:00

KLANG: National Resources are being wasted on calling for by-elections when the nation should be concentrating on strengthening its economy, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

“It is different if an elected representative has passed away, then he has to be replaced but resignations are political decisions which can also be regarded as a political play for specific reasons,” he said on Friday.

Speaking at a press conference, after opening the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysias (ACCCIM) 63rd annual general meeting, he said Malaysians did not like by-elections that were held deliberately.

He was commenting on impending Penanti state assembly by-election in Penang that fell vacant following the resignation of the Deputy Chief Minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin.

By resigning, an elected representative has reneged on his commitment to serve for the duration of his tenure, he said.

“By right, efforts should be made to strengthen the country’s economy and protect the interest of the people. We must be moving forward for the nation’s future,” Najib said.

To a question if a recent article in a Malay vernacular paper contradicted the 1Malaysia concept when it called for Malays to unite and stand-up against the demands of non-Malays, , Najib said it depended on personal interpretation.

However, he did not want any form of extremism in the country, including racism.

He reminded the people that Islam was a religion that encouraged moderation in thoughts and actions.

Najib said 1Malaysia could be interpreted from many perspectives but the thrust of it was of staying together and developing trust and mutual respect among the races as well as working together as one nation.

Proton Exora prime concept

2009-04-17T12:08:00.000-07:00

Proton Design showcased two modified Proton Exora MPVs at the launch of the Exora yesterday evening. Some of you may have already seen these cars during the live telecast on TV1, but here is a closer look at the two vehicles. This is the white one called the Proton Exora Prime. Here’s the stuff that Proton Design added to the Exora Prime:

Pearl White Exterior
Double Fin Front Bumper Grille
Corporate Graphic At FR Door Trim
High Gloss Black Side Mirrors
High Glass Black Roof
Wrap-around Satin Galvano Foglamp Garnish
Customised Side Skirts
Customised Rear Apron with Integrated Exhaust
Customised Satin Galvano Glass Trim
Clear Rear Brake Lamps
Tinted Glass
17 inch Wheels with 215/45R17 tyres
2-DIN DVD player with integrated GPS
Rear view mirror with integrated LCD for reverse camera
1st and 2nd row pilot seats with integrated LCD and mobile theater system
Cooler box for the floor console

Proton Exora Prestige Concept

2009-04-17T05:33:00.000-07:00

This is the other concept Proton Exora which Proton Design whipped up in conjunction with the Exora’s launch. The Proton Exora Prestige converts the Exora into a VIP chauffeured car with a lounge behind where one can either continue to work on the move or relax on the way home after a stressful day.

There is of course a bodykit which includes a double fin front bumper grill, warp-around chrome foglamp garnish, a front lip, side skirts, rear apron with integrated quad exhausts, a rear roof spoiler, chrome glass trimming, chrome side protector moulding, a customised smoked rear brake lamp, tinted glass, and 18 inch wheels with 224/40R18 tyres.

the interior, the first row is separated from the rest of the vehicle via a glass panel to give the boss at the back some privacy. The rear passenger can communicate with the driver via an intercom. This privacy glass panel includes a 19 inch LCD TV.

The VIP seats have electric adjustments, a massage system, and a built-in working table. Other creature comforts include a nice sound system including two 8 inch subwoofers to match the 5.1 channel DVD player, a stow-away footrest and a cooler box.

Thai "yellow shirt" leader Sondhi survives shooting

2009-04-17T04:41:00.000-07:00

BANGKOK (Reuters) - The founder of Thailand's "yellow shirt" protest movement, which was behind the week-long occupation of Bangkok's main airports last year, was shot and wounded on Friday, but a doctor said his life was not in danger.

A policeman looks at the car in which Sondhi Limthongkul, one of the founders of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), was attacked in Bangkok April 17, 2009. (REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom)
The assassination attempt came hours before the government extended a state of emergency in the capital and the cabinet met to discuss the past week's political violence as well as the budget and a stimulus package for the beleaguered economy.

Sondhi Limthongkul received a bloody head wound but survived after gunmen riddled his car with bullets at a petrol station before dawn.

"He is safe now and able to talk," said Dr. Chaiwan Chareonchoktawee, director of Vajira hospital, after Sondhi had an operation to remove bullet fragments and bits of skull bone.

Bank of Thailand Deputy Governor Atchana Waiquamdee told reporters the political turmoil could affect government efforts to revive the economy and delay economic recovery.

"Political instability is affecting not only confidence, but also government policies," she said on Friday.

At the cabinet meeting on Friday, the government agreed to increase its borrowing in order to offset a revenue shortfall and get more funds to stimulate the economy.

The stock market rose 1.5 percent at one stage but then fell back and was down 0.1 percent at midsession. Some analysts expected selling from foreign investors later due to growing worries about the political situation.

YELLOWS AND REDS

Sondhi's yellow-shirted People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) is a motley collection of royalists, academics, ex-military people and Bangkok's middle classes united in their loathing of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, deposed in a 2006 military coup.

Sondhi founded the PAD in 2005 after falling out with Thaksin, who used to be a business associate.

The "yellow shirts" have not been part of the latest political violence, which has involved Thaksin's red-shirted supporters, but protests severely undermined pro-Thaksin governments that ruled following a return to democracy in 2008.

On an alliance-run radio station, another PAD leader, Pipop Thongchai, quickly pointed the finger at "Thaksin's lieutenants who could not accept defeat after their setbacks" over the past week, when troops forced them to end a siege of Government House.

"I would like to point out that this involves only Thaksin and not the majority of his ordinary red shirts who should be separated from him in this incident," Pipop said.

Bangkok Metropolitan Police Commissioner Vorapong Chiewpreecha told television that 84 spent cartridges were found at the scene of Sondhi's assassination attempt.

"We also found an M-79 grenade that was fired but missed Mr. Sondhi's vehicle. It hit an empty public bus parked nearby but it did not go off," he said.

A bodyguard had minor injuries, but Sondhi's driver was seriously wounded and undergoing surgery at another hospital.

Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said on Thursday the turmoil meant big tax shortfalls as businesses delayed investment and the tourist sector faced more losses. He noted forecasts that the economy could shrink 5 percent this year.

After a 6.1 percent contraction in the economy in the final quarter of 2008, Thailand is almost certainly experiencing its first recession since the Asian economic crisis 11 years ago.

(Additional reporting by Vithoon Amorn, Viparat Jantraprap, Arada Therdthammakun, Kittipong Soonprasert and Orathai Sriring)
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