FMT News |  |
- Stateless Indians given glimmer of hope
- Senior lawyer latest ‘player’ in Bala’s SD2
- KL shares close lower on lack of fresh leads
- DAP kesal Speaker wujudkan ‘precedent’ buruk
- Ng is first Negeri rep to be given the boot
- Cukai pintu berlipat ganda bebankan rakyat Selangor
- Asian markets mixed, Tokyo up on election result
- Chelsea fritter away another trophy
- DAP kekal ‘orang lama’ hadapi PRU13
- FTA with S’pore puts EU on map in Asia
- Brothel and undertaker sponsor football teams
- Thai Airways fined A$7.5m over price-fixing
- PSM, PKR at loggerheads in Sg Siput
- Woman’s ‘Mr Perfect’ changes with her age
- ‘Dr M, a damning book and prostitutes’
- Asia delights in Olympic success but big names flop
- Mat Zain: Probe Musa for fabricating evidence
- Tangkap Musa, selamatkan duit rakyat Sabah!
- ‘MIC boss deprives 145 Tamil schools of aid’
- World champion of corruption
- One Pound Fish Man’s fishy hit song
- Olympics sparkle at height of magical British year
- Key driver for equity market in 1h2013 is GE13, says Nomura
- MIC wants willing families to adopt abused boy
- Thousands flee as Cyclone Evan batters Fiji
- Will SAPP-STAR finally deal?
- Malaysia November inflation seen inching up on food prices
- ‘It’s time for DAP to hold direct elections’
- Share prices traded lower as investors stayed on the sidelines
- Bersih: No hope for electoral reform
- US ‘preppers’ ready for Mayans doomsday
- Voter-buying causing rift within Sabah BN
- How our democracy is damaged
- Media baharu jadi pemangkin raih sokongan golongan muda
- Tiada lagi mandat untuk Umno
- Japanese women enamored of ‘Mr Right’ love game
- PKR, Umno share same DNA
- Antologi fiksyen Bahasa Inggeris
- Siapa nak buat huru-hara bila kalah PRU13?
- ‘Explain 40,000 late Sabah birth certs’
- Tony: QPR win best Christmas present ever
- Women make better borrowers at Amanah Ikhtiar, says MD
- Malakoff to issue RM460m sukuk to buy Hicom Power
- BMW Malaysia records 20% growth in domestic sales
- K&N Kenanga to shed 390 jobs after ECM Libra acquisition
- Malaysian bond market expected to grow in 2013
- Can you overdose on water?
- This’s what DAP members want
- Chinese priority: First-class education
- Online businesses ‘picking up’ but still some way to go
| Stateless Indians given glimmer of hope Posted: 17 Dec 2012 02:42 PM PST FMT LETTER: From S Ramakrishnan, via e-mail On the Dec 12, about 1,500 protesters gathered at national registration department (JPN) in Putrajaya to make a sit in protest demanding justice and fairness for the thousands of stateless people of all races but predominantly Indians born and bred in Malaysia. Out of these 1,500 protesters about 300 were red identity cardholders mostly old illiterate worn out people with a few document-less Indian children. These red identity cardholders look very helpless and desperate after all these years of non Malaysian nationality. Once sizeable number of people arrived at the gathering location, we all marched towards the JPN building. Once we all reached the entrance of JPN, the doors were closed and a representative came out to talk to the delegates of all gathered. The delegates who went to meet the director Datuk Jariah were YBs Manogaran (Teluk Intan), Charles Santiago, Dr Zulkifli (Kuala Selangor), Dr Siti Mariah (Kota Raja), Khalid Samad (Shah Alam), Sivarasa (Subang), N Surendran and Lateffa Koya of PKR. During the discussion with Jariah and the members of parliament and others present, the JPN officials denied that any Malaysian was ever deprived of citizenship and insisted that those stateless Indians present in the gathering are all foreigners. The officers wanted those present to apply for citizenship. But the Pakatan rakyat leaders insisted that the stateless are all born in Malaysia and citizens in nature therefore they need not apply for citizenship but apply for blue identity card. Jariah after some deliberation allowed the registration for identity cards. 308 stateless people applied for blue identity card. Some of the questions put forward by PAS leaders to JPN’s director for identity card, Jariah, were: 1 How is that parents have blue identity cards, their 1st and 2nd child also hold blue identity cards but the 3rd child holds a red identity card. 2 If the department insists on parents' marriage registration, siblings birth certificate of a 50/60 year old, how is it possible for him knowing many are dead. The requirements are impossible to fulfill. 3 If those born in Malaysia are classified as stateless and not Malaysians, which country do they belong to? 4 These old rural people are so naïve, poor and worn out, can they fulfill the numerous documentations required? The registration department has no answer for these questions. The director and officers of JPN who seem to be comfortable in their new building and comfort in Putrajaya do not know the hardship they inflict on these helpless people. They demand these stateless Malaysians with unending and unnecessary documents. Many had applied many times but were rejected many times without any valid reasons. These stateless people mostly Indians cannot get jobs, support from government and other establishments. The government system has alienated and drove away these poor naïve Malaysian citizens from applying for blue identity card. It looks clear that racial discrimination and no political will are the main cause for the rejection of these stateless people. This state of affair makes a mockery of PM's janji ditepati slogan and asking for NAMBIKAI (trust) from Indian community. Unless there is a waiver of unnecessary documents, the stateless issue cannot be resolved. Those who are born and live here must be issued blue identity card. Without the waiver of unnecessary documentation, the task force set to register the red identity card holders for citizenship application is a political gimmick. Pakatan Rakyat has publicly announced that they will waive the unnecessary documentations and issue blue identity card within 100 days of taking over Putrajaya. The writer is head of bureau for ex-plantation, ex-mining and urban poor and Selangor DAP committee member |
| Senior lawyer latest ‘player’ in Bala’s SD2 Posted: 17 Dec 2012 06:15 AM PST
And the Bar Council has been urged to investigate the role of this lawyer. The lawyer, who apparently holds the title of “Tan Sri”, and his son were recently revealed by businessman Deepak Jaikishan in an interview to have been allegedly responsible for the preparation of documents for Balasubramaniam before he signed the “SD2″. The “SD2″ had reversed an earlier one which implicated Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak in the murder of Mongolioan national Altantuya Shaarribuu. In an official letter sent to the Bar Council secretary Tony Woon yesterday, lawyer-activist Haris Ibrahim asked that the bar to launch an investigation to identify the solicitor (s) concerned and to “ascertain if there was any impropriety in the preparation of SD2". Speaking to FMT before sending the letter, Haris said that he hopes the Bar Council would be as vigorous as it was when the VK Linggam scandal broke in 2007, as the latest revelations are “serious” if it was indeed true that the lawyer had not consulted Balasubramaniam before drafting the SD. “It points at a very senior member of the bar potentially involved in a dishonest act. I think every member of the Bar should go up in arms and be very concerned.” “Any practitioner worth his salt knows that when drafting an SD or affidavit one has to seek instruction from his client. Was the person aware of the purpose and objective of this SD? It could mean that the lawyer was privy to a conspiracy to subvert the course of justice, subvert the disclosure of truth. Officers of the court are to aid in the truth, not suppressing it,” he said. “I’m very sure that the nature of this impropriety could amount to the lawyer being struck off the roll… he obviously is a dishonest practitioner,” he added. In a blog post yesterday, Haris said the senior lawyer had committed "the gravest of sins" and threatened that if the Bar Council does not properly probe the matter, he would reveal the name of the “scumbag” in two weeks and allow the matter to be taken up in court. Motive never established On July, 3, 2008, Balasubramaniam emerged with a SD which linked Najib to Altantuya’s 2006 murder. However, the private investigator reversed his first SD via a second SD the next day in the presence of lawyer M Arunampalam. He then disappeared. On Oct 27, 2009, Balasubramaniam came out of hiding and reaffirmed that his first statutory declaration was true. He claimed he was offered RM5 million to retract it by Deepak together with Najib's brother Nazim. In the past few weeks, Deepak has claimed, among other things, that Rosmah was the person who instructed him to seek out Balasubramaniam to change his SD. In confirming his role in the second SD, Deepak claimed he met Najib and Rosmah at their residence to discuss the second statutory declaration and that Nazim was sent to negotiate with Balasubramaniam. Deepak also claimed that Najib had chosen the “Tan Sri laywer and his son” to prepare the SD before Balasubramaniam was told to sign it. He also said that Arulampalam was not involved in the making of the second SD. Attempts by FMT to contact the “Tan Sri lawyer” have been unsuccessful. Altantuya was shot and murdered in October 2006, with her remains destroyed by C-4 explosives. Her alleged lover and political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, a close friend of Najib, was charged with the murder with two other policemen. Abdul Razak was acquitted while the policemen were convicted, though the motive was never established. |
| KL shares close lower on lack of fresh leads Posted: 17 Dec 2012 04:56 AM PST
The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell 3.4 points to close at 1,648.58. The barometer index had moved within a narrow range of between 1,643.78 and 1,648.62 throughout the day. A dealer said the lack of progress in talks aimed at averting the US fiscal cliff has also discouraged investors from taking any major positions. “The investors became cautious after US lawmakers were unable to come up with an agreement to avoid the huge tax increases and spending cuts due to take effect next month,” he said. On the broader market, losers led gainers by 399 to 259, while 291 counters were unchanged, 692 counters untraded and 23 others suspended. Volume fell to 726.748 million shares valued at RM1.122 billion from 766.45 million shares valued at RM1.33 billion last Friday. The Finance Index rose 18.34 points to 15,145.11 and the Plantation Index improved 12.12 points to 7,997.58. The FBM Ace Index advanced 25.2 points to 4,153.43. The FBMT100 shed 30.31 points to 11,029.48, FBM Emas Index fell 30 points to 11,172.13 and the FBM Mid 70 Index dropped 69.12 points to 12,023.96. Of the actives, XOX gained seven sen to 20 sen and Compugates added half sen to nine sen. Petaling Tin was flat at 33 sen. Tiger Synergy slipped a sen to 31.5 sen and Karambunai lost half sen to 12 sen. Of the heavyweights, Maybank and CIMB gained two sen each to RM9.04 and RM7.60 respectively, Axiata added three sen to RM6.54 and Public Bank increased four sen to RM15.98. Maxis fell six sen to RM6.50, Petronas Chemicals lost five sen to RM6.09 and Sime Darby slipped one sen to RM9.13. Volume on the Main Market fell to 564.586 million units valued at RM1.096 billion from 624.61 million units valued at RM1.3 billion last Friday. Turnover on the ACE Market rose to 130.614 million shares worth RM23.788 million from 115.73 million shares worth RM27.88 million last week. Warrants increased to 31.157 million units valued at RM1.937 million from 24.58 million units valued at RM2.04 million previously. Consumer products accounted for 32.503 million shares on the Main Market, industrial products 110.067 million, construction 15.689 million, trade and services 253.183 million, technology 11.129 million, infrastructure 14.461 million, finance 27.514 million, hotels 746,000, properties 76.568 million, plantations 12.277 million, mining 22,300, REITs 10.422 million and closed/fund nil. - Bernama |
| DAP kesal Speaker wujudkan ‘precedent’ buruk Posted: 17 Dec 2012 03:37 AM PST
SEREMBAN: Ketua Pembangkang Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Negeri Sembilan, Loke Siew Fook (Lobak-DAP) hari ini melahirkan rasa kesal terhadap Speaker Dato' Razak Mansor kerana mewujudkan duluan (precedent) apabila melangkaui sessi perbahasan Rang Undang -Undang Enakmen Perbekalan (2013) dan Usul Anggaran Pembangunan Negeri Sembilan (Belanjawan 2013). Selepas berakhir sessi pertanyaan-pertanyaan lisan oleh Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN); Razak memulakan sessi perbahasan Rang Undang-Undang Enakmen Perbekalan Tambahan 2012 (Belanjawan Tambahan 2012). Ketika Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan, Mohamad Hasan (Rantau – BN) baru memulakan bacaan Belanjawan Tambahan 2012; Loke bingkas bangun dan membantah bahawa sessi atau agenda tersebut tidak mengikut aturcara atau tradisi Persidangan DUN. "Jumaat lepas kerajaan telah bentangkan Rang Undang-undang Enakmen Perbekalan (2013) dan Usul Anggaran Pembangunan Negeri Sembilan (Belanjawan 2013). "Sepatutnya kita harus bahaskan Belanjawan 2013 dahulu kerana ianya telah dicadangkan dan disokong pada hari pertama Persidangan DUN berlangsung. Susunan tidak betul "Selepas dicadang dan disokong, Rang Undang-Undang Belanjawan 2013 mesti dibahaskan dahulu. Tidak boleh 'jump the queue' dengan membahaskan Rang Undang-Undang Enakmen Perbekalan Tambahan 2012 (Belanjawan Tambahan 2012). Ini susunan atau 'flow' yang tidak betul. "Belanjawan 2013 merupakan keutamaan (priority). Selepas dibahaskan dan diluluskan Belanjawan 2013, barulah boleh bahaskan Belanjawan Tambahan 2012. "Saya amat kesal kerana Speaker 'set precedent' yang buruk dan tak baik," kata Loke. Loke juga meminta Razak menunjukkan peraturan (Persidangan DUN) mana yang membenarkan sesuatu usul boleh dilangkau sebelum usul terlebih dahulu diselesaikan (dibahaskan). Razak pula menunjukkan Buku Peraturan Persidangan DUN kepada Loke tanpa membacakan sebarang Peraturan Persidangan DUN secara spesifik. Mohamad pula bangun semula dan bertanya kepada Loke Peraturan Persidangan DUN yang mana kata bahawa usul tidak boleh dilangkau. Loke bertanya semula kepada Mohamad dan Razak; Peraturan Persidangan DUN yang mana membenarkan sesebuah usul boleh dilangkau. Seterusnya Razak meneruskan sessi Belanjawan Tambahan 2012. Selepas itu barulah sessi Belanjawan 2013 disambung semula. |
| Ng is first Negeri rep to be given the boot Posted: 17 Dec 2012 02:11 AM PST
Ng (photo) was suspended for two days by Speaker Razak Mansor for his outburst in branding the Barisan Nasional government as "dirty" (kotor) and "bad" (jahat). Earlier during the debate session, Ng raised the issue that many of his written and oral questions were rejected by Razak without reason. "I asked many questions related to BN cronies getting projects and lands. However, all the questions were rejected without any reason. "The government is using the state assembly to protect BN cronies," he charged. Razak asked Ng to retract the words twice but the latter refused. "I will not retract my statements. This is the opinion of the people who think that the BN government is dirty and bad," he said. This prompted Razak to invoke the Standing Orders and show Ng the exit. Met later, Ng expressed his frustration over the speaker’s decision. "Today is a black day in the Negeri Sembilan state assembly sitting. Before this, there were times when BN assemblymen humiliated Pakatan Rakyat reps, using vulgar words but the speaker never took action. "This is not fair," he said. |
| Cukai pintu berlipat ganda bebankan rakyat Selangor Posted: 17 Dec 2012 01:47 AM PST
Menurutnya, kenaikan bayaran cukai pintu itu dikenakan ke atas penduduk di Kampung Baru Sungai Buloh dan Kampung Baru Subang. “Saya rasa terkejut dimaklumkan pihak MBSA (Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam) bakal mengenakan cukai pintu sehingga 10 kali ganda kepada dua kampung tersebut,” katanya pada sidang media di Ibu Pejabat Umno Selangor di sini hari ini. Kenaikan itu juga katanya, berlaku hampir setiap tahun apabila ia meningkat sejak tahun 2011 dan 2012 dan kerajaan negeri Pakatan di Selangor tidak mampu menepati janji sebagai kerajaan berkebajikan. Beliau juga dimaklumkan bahawa terdapat penduduk yang membayar cukai pintu sebanyak RM1,470 pada tahun 2011 namun menerima notis bayaran sehingga RM23,040 pada tahun 2013 nanti. “Inikah kerajaan yang memikirkan kebajikan rakyat? Adakah sumber kewangan negeri berada dalam keadaan membebankan sekarang?,” soal beliau. Mohd Zin menegaskan bahawa rakyat Selangor mahu kerajaan yang mampu menepati janji. Dalam perkembangan berkaitan, Karnival Sayangi Selangor akan diadakan pada 29 Disember ini hingga 1 Januari 2013 bertempat di I- City, Shah Alam. Mohd Zin berkata, karnival ini dijangka dapat menarik sehingga 500,000 pengunjung sepanjang empat hari berlangsung. “Terdapat 5,000 individu dari pelbagai rangkaian perniagaan akan turut serta sebagai ‘Kawan BN’ dalam karnival itu nanti,” katanya. |
| Asian markets mixed, Tokyo up on election result Posted: 17 Dec 2012 01:07 AM PST
The Japanese currency hit a year-and-a-half low against the dollar and multi-month lows versus the euro, a boon for exporters, as investors bet on more central bank easing by the country’s incoming government. Tokyo climbed 0.94% or 91.32 points to 9,828.88, Sydney closed down 9.7 points, or 0.21%, at 4,573.4 and Seoul shed 0.60% or 11.97 points to 1,983.07. China “will continue to implement the proactive fiscal policy and prudent monetary policy in 2013″ and make increasing domestic demand a top priority, state media said Sunday after a key conference that sets the nation’s economic goals. In Japan the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was expected to oust the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), and its leader Shinzo Abe has vowed to press for a more aggressive economic policy to kickstart the economy. “The election results were very much in line with market expectations. A relief rally is in order, helped by the stronger dollar,” SMBC Nikko Securities general manager of equities Hiroichi Nishi told Dow Jones Newswires. “Next, investors will be eager to see the kinds of concrete policy measures that the new government proposes.” Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO), operator of the Fukushima nuclear plant, soared almost 33%, leading a rally in energy firms on expectations the new government will likely shelve any short-term plans to ditch atomic power. The DPJ vowed this year to ditch nuclear power by 2040, bowing to public pressure as thousands gathered to protest outside Noda’s official residence. But it quickly backpedalled on that pledge with a more vague promise to work towards a nuclear-free country. The business friendly Liberal Democratic Party leader Shinzo Abe derided the zero-nuclear goal as unrealistic and “irresponsible” – and hinted at keeping atomic power. In currency markets the dollar soared to 84.30 yen in early Tokyo trade, its highest since April last year, before easing back to 83.95 yen in the afternoon, still well up from 83.52 yen in New York last Friday. The euro also hit 111.10 yen, its highest since April this year, but slipped back to 110.45, compared with 109.94 yen in New York last Friday. The single currency also bought US$1.3157, from US$1.3161. Traders are keeping an eye on Washington, where lawmakers continue to haggle over an agreement to avoid the huge tax hikes and spending cuts due to take effect next month, which are expected to tip the country into recession. However, The Washington Post said that Republican House Speaker John Boehner had offered Friday to include tax rises for millionaires that would bring US$460 billion in revenue over the next decade. While the figure is about half of what President Barack Obama wants, it represents an important concession in the bitter face-off just two weeks before the deadline. On Wall Street last Friday, before the Boehner offer, the Dow lost 0.27%, the S&P 500 fell 0.41% and the Nasdaq shed 0.70%. Oil prices rose, with New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in January up 28 US cents to US$87.00 a barrel in the afternoon and Brent North Sea crude for February delivery advancing 26 US cents to US$108.44. Gold was at US$1,688.67 at 0810 GMT compared with US$1,696.80 late Friday. In other markets, Taipei fell 0.88%, or 67.49 points, to 7,631.28. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co lost 1.42% to Tw$97.0 while Hon Hai Precision Industry dived 4.7% at Tw$87.2. Manila fell 1.46%, or 83.26 points, to 5,623.85. Wellington fell 0.32%, or 12.69 points, to 3,966.49. Fletcher Building was down 1.45% at NZ$8.14, Contact Energy was off 0.60% at NZ$5.01 and Telecom ended up 0.19% at NZ$2.16. - AFP |
| Chelsea fritter away another trophy Posted: 17 Dec 2012 12:54 AM PST
Beaten in the Community Shield and UEFA Super Cup before becoming the first holders eliminated from the Champions League at the group stage, Chelsea were ambushed by Corinthians 1-0 in Sunday’s Club World Cup final in Yokohama. The London club are also 13 points off the pace in the Premier League. Losing in Japan stung. “It’s a long way to come to lose,” Frank Lampard told reporters after a final Chelsea dominated for the first hour before tiring. “We didn’t take our chances and we gave them a goal. This tournament was meaningful for us from the minute we for here. It is a big disappointment.” A fortuitous winner, headed home by Paolo Guerrero in the 69th minute after the ball had looped up off Gary Cahill’s boot, gave Corinthians the title. Chelsea’s players slumped to the turf at the final whistle, Brazilian defender David Luiz in tears and having to be consoled by team mates. The resurgence of striker Fernando Torres, who had scored five goals in his previous three games – against Nordsjaelland, Sunderland and Monterrey – was put into sharp perspective. “You have to try and find positives,” said interim coach Rafael Benitez, whose side play at Leeds United in the League Cup on Wednesday after a 6,000-mile flight back to London. “Fernando had the chances. He scored a goal that was disallowed. He has to take these chances in a final because it’s not easy to create too many in games like this. “If you have two or three, you have to score. But at least he was winning a lot of balls in the air, he was fresh, and you could see that physically he is improving.” By the time Cahill was sent off in the 90th minute after kicking out at Emerson in retaliation for an elbow in the face, Chelsea’s players look dead on their feet. “I’m just blown away,” said Corinthians goalkeeper Cassio, named player of the tournament. “We knew about Chelsea’s quality but we stuck together. This title is for all of South America.” An estimated 20,000 Corinthians fans made the trip to the Far East, creating a carnival atmosphere in the final watched by 68,000 at Nissan Stadium. “I want to dedicate this title to our passionate fans,” Corinthians coach Tite said. “Not just the ones who travelled but all the millions back home. They were in our hearts.” Chelsea have to pick themselves up quickly to keep alive their fading hopes of catching Manchester United in the Premier League and prevent any more early cup exits. “We have to keep ourselves in the hunt,” said a dejected Lampard after Chelsea became the first European side to lose a Club World Cup final since 2006. “We have the Europa League, the FA Cup and the League Cup all coming and we really have to keep pushing on.” Benitez, an unpopular appointment among Chelsea fans because of the Spaniard’s time as Liverpool manager, made no excuses. “At the end of the day you can create but you have to score,” said Benitez, who will be hoping for reinforcements in attack in the January transfer window. Benitez can expect another hostile reception when Chelsea take on Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge this weekend, but for the Corinthians a ticker-tape parade in Sao Paulo awaits. “This was a real battle between the third world and the first world,” said defender Paulo Andre. “For our people, for our fans, who have a difficult life, it’s so important to show the world we can beat teams like this and that we can be the best in the world – just once.” -Reuters |
| DAP kekal ‘orang lama’ hadapi PRU13 Posted: 17 Dec 2012 12:44 AM PST
GEORGE TOWN: Kongres Kebangsaan DAP Ke-16 yang berakhir semalam telah mengekalkan status quo barisan kepimpinannya dengan mengekalkan “orang lama” untuk menerajui kempen “Seratus Hari ke Putrajaya” menjelang pilihan raya umum akan datang (PRU13). “Orang lama” seperti Lim Kit Siang (bekas Setiausaha Agung dan Pengerusi) Karpal Singh (Pengerusi), Tan Kok Wai (Timbalan Pengerusi), Fong Kui Lun (Bendahari) dan Dr Tan Seng Giaw (anggota Jawatankuasa Tertinggi Pusat) masih menjadi pilihan. Walaupun kempen itu dilihat agak angkuh, namun kemaraan “roket” ke Putrajaya tidak mungkin menjadi kenyataan tanpa sokongan dua sekutunya iaitu Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) dan PAS, sebuah parti Islam. Apa yang menariknya ialah ketidakhadiran pemimpin-pemimpin daripada dua parti itu pada perhimpunan itu untuk membuktikan mereka adalah “rakan sebenar dan setia” DAP. Ini dilihat seolah-olah tiada kesepaduan dalam pakatan DAP-PAS-PKR menjelang pilihan raya umum. Tokoh yang DAP beri sokongan padu untuk menjadi perdana menteri akan datang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, dan isterinya Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail, selaku presiden PKR, dan calon lain untuk jawatan tertinggi negara itu, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang dari PAS, tidak hadir pada perasmian kongres itu. PKR diwakili Pengerusi PKR Pulau Pinang Datuk Mansor Othman manakala PAS menghantar Setiausaha Agung Datuk Mustafa Ali dan Naib Presiden Datuk Mahfuz Omar. Sebagai langkah untuk menjaga air muka dan menunjukkan komitmennya terhadap Pakatan Rakyat, DAP mengumumkan penubuhan Biro Pakatan Rakyat, yang bertujuan untuk mengukuhkan lagi hubungan antara rakan dalam pakatan pembangkang. Pada kongres itu, Setiausaha Agung DAP Lim Guan Eng berkata parti itu mahu bertanding di lebih banyak kerusi pada pilihan raya umum akan datang iaitu tambahan tiga lagi kerusi Parlimen dan 10 kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN). Pada pilihan raya umum 2008, DAP memenangi 28 daripada 47 kerusi Parlimen dan 73 daripada 102 kerusi DUN yang ditandingi. ‘Perubahan ditangan anda’ “Buat julung kalinya dalam seumur hidup, ini merupakan masa untuk membuat perubahan ke arah versi baharu Malaysia bagi permulaan untuk menghubungkan antara satu sama lain sebagai bangsa Malaysia…perubahan di tangan anda,” katanya Guan Eng dalam ucapan dasar dan ucapan penggulungannya. Namun ini agak ironi. Disebalik wujud gesaan agar dilakukan perubahan dalam pentadbiran dan kuasa dalam parti, anggota DAP tetap mengekalkan Karpal Singh dan Guan Eng bagi mengisi dua jawatan paling berpengaruh, masing-masing sebagai pengerusi dan setiausaha agung untuk penggal ketiga berturut-turut. Kedua-dua mereka turut menyenaraikan faktor yang mendorong kejayaan DAP dalam mentadbir Pulau Pinang iaitu “bersih, selamat dan sihat”, dan bukan sesuatu yang mengejutkan apabila turut mengkritik Umno dan Barisan Nasional (BN) sebagai telah terlalu lama berkuasa. Keputusan pemilihan parti itu juga membuktikan DAP berdepan kesukaran untuk memadamkan imejnya sebagai parti kaum Cina, dan pandangan ini diperakui oleh anggota jawatankuasa DAP Pulau Pinang Zulkifli Mohd Noor yang berkata parti itu masih terlalu jauh untuk menjadi sebuah parti pelbagai kaum yang sebenar. Sebanyak 1,823 atau 70.7 peratus daripada 2,576 perwakilan telah menyatakan pendirian mereka apabila mereka mengundi: daripada 20 anggota Jawatankuasa Tertinggi Pusat (CEC) yang dipilih, 17 atau 85 peratus ialah Cina manakala 10 anggota CEC yang dilantik, empat atau 40 peratus ialah Cina. Nisbah antara anggota CEC yang dipilih dan dilantik amat ketara. Tiada seorang daripada lapan calon Melayu dipilih ke CEC dan ini mendorong CEC melantik senator penggal pertama Ariffin SM Omar sebagai naib pengerusi dan setiausaha politik kepada Guan Eng, Zairil Khir Johari, sebagai penolong setiausaha publisiti kebangsaan. Guan Eng berkata pelantikan mereka berdasarkan merit. Tetapi pemerhati politik berkata wujud elemen perlambangan kerana Ariffin mengisi jawatan yang sebelum itu dipegang oleh Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim, yang keluar DAP awal tahun ini. Pelantikan Zairil disifatkan oleh Guan Eng sebagai unik kerana beliau ialah anak lelaki Menteri Pelajaran pertama negara, Tan Sri Khir Johari. Namun pemerhati menyifatkan langkah itu sekadar untuk menyembunyikan hakikat sebenar. Pada pandangan umum, Zairil, sebagai setiausaha politik Guan Eng, sepatutnya berada dalam CEC tatkala kebanyakan anggota CEC dianggap sebagai “orang Guan Eng”. Pendekatan inklusif DAP, dalam usahanya untuk mempamerkan pendekatan inklusif dan pelbagai kaum turut melantik pemimpin dari Sabah dan Sarawak sebagai anggota CEC secara lantikan. Untuk memenangi hati dan minda rakyat dari dua negeri Malaysia Timur itu, ia turut mempersembahkan tarian Orang Ulu dan menyanyikan sebuah lagu Kadazan 'Umohon', yang bermakna 'ubah". DAP juga menayangkan klip video sindiran yang mengkritik BN, bertajuk “Ubah Rocket Style”, yang memaparkan pemimpin-pemimpin DAP beraksi mengikut parodi tarian “kuda’ popular penyanyi Psy dari Korea iaitu “Oppa Gangnam Style”. Ia akan digunakan sebagai lagu tema kempen pilihan raya umum DAP. Selepas mencatatkan keputusan di luar jangkaan pada pilihan raya 2008, DAP menyaksikan peningkatan ketara keanggotaannya kepada 150,000 daripada 84,000 lima tahun lepas. Tetapi persoalannya ialah sama ada “orang lama” akan masih mampu melakukannya dengan mengambil kira perubahan besar yang berlaku terhadap demografi negara dan tatkala BN semakin utuh. - Bernama |
| FTA with S’pore puts EU on map in Asia Posted: 17 Dec 2012 12:32 AM PST
EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said Singapore is a dynamic market for EU companies and a vital hub for doing business across Southeast Asia. “This agreement is key to unlocking the gateway to the region and can be a catalyst for growth for EU exporters. “After our agreement with South Korea, sealing this deal with Singapore clearly puts the EU on the map in Asia. But we do not intend to stop here. I hope it will open the door for FTAs with other countries in the Asean region,” he said in a statement released by the EU delegation here today. De Gucht and Singapore’s Minister of Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang yesterday completed final negotiations on the FTA. The FTA with Singapore will be the EU’s first with a member of the 10-nation Asean. FTA negotiations with Malaysia and Vietnam are already under way, whereas preparatory talks continue with other Asean nations. The EU considers the FTAs with individual Asean countries as stepping stones towards a region-to-region agreement, which remains the long-term objective. The agreement is one of the most comprehensive the EU has ever negotiated and will create new opportunities for companies from Europe and Singapore to do business together. The growing Singapore market offers export potential for the EU’s industrial, agricultural and services industries. The EU-Singapore FTA will also cut down on red-tape and double-testing that makes life difficult for business. The deal will facilitate the access of industrial and agricultural products into an important export market, through greater recognition of EU standards. For example, Singapore will accept to import European manufactured cars based on EU technical and safety standards and approvals. In addition, this agreement is a first when it comes to promoting “green growth” and has been especially designed to meet the EU’s “2020 strategy”, for a competitive economy. The deal will simplify rules to boost trade and investment in environmental technologies and promote green public tendering. Both the EU and Singapore will now seek approval for the deal from their respective political authorities and envisage signing the draft agreement in spring 2013. Talks between the two sides on investment will continue. These discussions, which started later than the trade negotiations, are based on the new EU competence under the Lisbon Treaty. Singapore is the EU’s 13th largest trading partner (trade in goods) and its largest partner in Asean. EU-Singapore trade in goods and services each grew by some 40% between 2009 and 2011. The EU has a positive balance of trade in goods and services with Singapore. Singapore is also a major destination for European investments in Asia. Singapore is also Asia’s second largest investor in the EU (after Japan). In 2010, the existing stock of bilateral investments between the EU and Singapore reached 190 billion euros, having expanded rapidly of late. - Bernama |
| Brothel and undertaker sponsor football teams Posted: 17 Dec 2012 12:28 AM PST
In tough times, who else to turn to but the local brothel? For this amateur club in the central Greek city of Larissa, it was the last option available to save them from bankruptcy. The team’s coach, Yiannis Batziolas says there is nothing to be ashamed of, and that the game is full of far shadier sponsors. “When you see that, in professional football, betting companies and alcohol are advertised, I think that’s far more immoral,” he says. “In Greece, it’s not peculiar to visit a sex house. I think most young people have been to these places because it is a human need. Why shouldn’t a poor football team come to me to help make ends meet?" “And I’m proud of the woman who owns this brothel, proud that she helps our dreams of playing football come true.” The woman in question is Madam Soula Alevridou who sits in the stands, proudly watching the team show off their tackling skills. Petite, with cropped grey hair and dressed in a jacket and tie, she has built a reputation in the city as a wealthy businesswoman. “The authorities here don’t give money for sports, for education or anything. So why shouldn’t a poor football team come to me to help make ends meet?” Her attempts at philanthropy have not always been accepted. Recently she sent money to a school in the western Greek city of Patras to fund a much-needed photocopier but the cheque was returned. “I just want Greece to move forward in these difficult times,” she says. “We all have to stand behind our country. This is a legal brothel and I want to help. Why can’t I do it?” The local football union has lodged a formal protest, insisting that selling sex should be kept out of sport. It has ruled that for matches, the team must wear darker shirts, although they can still bear the brothel logo. “It’s not acceptable to promote prostitution,” says the head of the union, Marios Spiratos. “We know it’s a part of life but we think it’s not the right thing for young amateur athletes. Some of the players are under 18 years old.” In the next-door city of Trikala, the football authorities also have some concerns about the new patron. The amateur team there sport black, not pink, and the logo is a cross – it is a funeral parlour that has given a new lease of life to Palaiopyrgos FC. Because of objections from the local authorities, the large purple cross must be covered with masking tape for matches, although it frequently peels off and nobody complains. “I like the outfit,” says midfielder Haris Bakogiannis. “The cross makes our opponents fear us – and nobody has ever worn something like it, so we’re famous now.” The young undertaker, Christos Panagiotou, says the idea of sponsorship came up over late-night drinks with friends from the team. “At first the players thought it was a joke, but now they’ve got used to it,” he says. -Agencies |
| Thai Airways fined A$7.5m over price-fixing Posted: 17 Dec 2012 12:22 AM PST
The airline, which was one of several pursued by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), settled its case and admitted to reaching understandings with other airlines about certain charges for fuel, security and customs between 2001 and 2005, says the Australian Associated Press. In a judgment handed down last Friday, Justice Anna Katzmann found Thai Airways had engaged in serious contraventions. “This was deliberate, systematic conduct involving senior staff at the Thai station in Indonesia. “For the understandings to be effective, they required the participation of all players in the market, including Thai,” the judge said. The airline admitted to reaching understandings on fuel surcharge from October 2001 to October 2005, a security surcharge during the same period, and a customs fee from May 2004 to October 2005 on air freight from Indonesia to several countries, including Australia. The airline agreed to pay a A$7 million fine, A$500,000 towards the ACCC’s costs and to refrain from engaging in similar conduct for five years. The ACCC agreed to allow Thai Airways to pay its fine in instalments, due to the airline’s ongoing financial problems. - Bernama |
| PSM, PKR at loggerheads in Sg Siput Posted: 16 Dec 2012 11:46 PM PST
This is because Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), which contested the seat at the 2008 general election under the PKR banner, wants to use its own logo to fight for the seat – much to the dismay of PKR. This infighting between PSM and PKR has brightened MIC’s chances of winning back the seat, which it lost at the 2008 general election. A PKR insider told FMT that the party could field its own candidate at the next general election since PSM had rejected several attempts by PKR to ensure that its logo is used by PSM candidates at the polls. “It looks like PSM is not keen on contesting under the PKR banner. Instead, it wants to use its own logo at the next election. We are still having discussions with PSM on the matter. If it insists, then we have no choice but to nominate our own candidate. “PKR fears that the PSM symbol will drive away Malay votes due to its leftist significance,” said the source. PSM is a socialist political party established in 1998. At the 2008 polls, the party contested one parliamentary and three state assembly seats. Since the party has yet to receive recognition from the Register of Society (ROS), its three candidates contested under the PKR banner while in one state seat (Jelapang, Perak), it contested as an independent.
The Sungai Siput constituency in Perak had been under the helm of Samy Vellu since 1974. Jayakumar beat the MIC chief with a 1,821 vote majority. The seat has 47,424 voters. The Chinese form the majority in the seat accounting for 41% of total voters. They are followed by Malays (31%), Indians (21%) and Orang Asli (seven percent. PSM lost the other two state assembly seats, namely Jelapang and Semenyih, Selangor. Despite being Pakatan Rakyat-friendly, PSM has yet to be officially declared as the opposition pact’s component party. “If PKR decides to field its own candidates in PSM constituencies, then it would be a jackpot for Barisan Nasional,” said the PKR source. He said without doubt any MIC candidate in Sungai Siput would “cruise to an easy win” if there was a three-cornered tussle. “It is clear that Malays will play a vital role in deciding the next member of parliament. Formerly the seat was under the 50-50 category. But if there is a three-cornered fight, it will definitely favour the BN,” said the source. |
| Woman’s ‘Mr Perfect’ changes with her age Posted: 16 Dec 2012 11:38 PM PST
The study tracked Britain’s changing attitudes towards dating and relationships, and also disproved the notion that standards drop later in life, as women over 55 were shown to be most picky about who they date, the ‘Daily Mail’ reported. The study found that young women in the age group of 18 to 24 want a man they can show off to their friends with 47% saying they want someone their friends would approve of. They are also suckers for a six-pack and are most willing to date a man in better physical shape than them. A man who shared their tastes in music, films and books is very important to this age group. In the age range of 25 to 34, two thirds women list ambition as a key desirable trait in a man. Sexual compatibility is also more important at this age than at any other stage in their lives for women.
Security is a key concern in women aged 45 to 54, with 95% looking to find a partner with whom they felt secure. Finding a man with a high income is as important to this age group as any other but they are less picky about who they date. In contrast to those just a few years younger, women aged 45-54 are most likely to consider dating a younger man. Fifty-four per cent would be willing to date someone more than five years younger, the study found. In later life, women look for more cerebral delights. Intelligence and shared values are more important to the over-55 s, as is sharing a similar sense of humour . However, women don’t drop their standards as they get older. In fact, those aged 55 and over are pickier about who they romance than at any other age. - Agencies |
| ‘Dr M, a damning book and prostitutes’ Posted: 16 Dec 2012 11:35 PM PST
In the latest twist to the saga, a former high-ranking police officer criticised Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein over the latter’s reaction and also roped in Dr Mahathir Mohamad. In an open letter to Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar, copies of which were also sent to Hishammuddin and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, Mat Zain Ibrahim recalled Mahathir’s role in the investigation concerning a book which contained a slew of allegations against Anwar Ibrahim. The book, which cited 50 reasons why Anwar should not become prime minister, was the catalyst for the subsequent sacking and jailing of the ex-deputy prime minister. Mat Zain, the former Kuala Lumpur CID chief, pointed out that Mahathir, who was then both prime minister and home minister, had admitted in his memoirs, "A Doctor in the House", of having interfered in the investigation concerning the book. "In Chapter 53, he explains his role when the police were investigating the book, clearly proving that he not only interfered in the probe but also issued orders to Musa Hassan, to the point that it is believed to have influenced the outcome of the investigation. "Mahathir admitted interviewing several witnesses at his official residence in Sri Perdana. Among them was star witness [in Anwar's sodomy trial] Azizan Abu Bakar and four women," he said. Mat Zain said it is believed that Musa had briefed Mahathir that the women were prostitutes who were, through the connection of businessman KS Nallakaruppan, used for the sexual gratification of a particular VIP. "If these prostitutes were willing to have sex with anyone for a fee, then they would also be willing to admit having sex with anyone or provide any witness testimony required, as long as they get paid. "What more if the prime minister himself guaranteed their personal safety and to keep their identities a secret as well as other benefits," he added. Mahathir himself, Mat Zain said, revealed that he had control over the investigation and witnesses. "He gave the assurance that he would instruct the police to bring the witnesses to Sri Perdana again if the chief ministers, menteris besar and state Umno liaison committee chairmen wanted to interview them. "Musa should have objected and prevented Mahathir from having access to the witnesses, what more take them to Sri Perdana. "Musa must have realised that Mahathir had a vested interest in the probe on the premise of being the Umno president, home minister and prime minister who was being challenged [at the time]," he said. "Whether indirectly or directly, Mahathir had placed undue mental stress on the witnesses. By having this confidential meeting and striking whatever deals with these prostitues in Sri Perdana, Mahathir had tainted the good name of the prime minister’s official residence," he added. Anwar had always maintained that the charges against him were trumped up by Mahathir and his confidants, a charge which the former premier denied. Meanwhile, Mat Zain said he hoped Hishammuddin would not dimiss this episode as something personal between Musa and Mahathir therefore negating the need for his intervention. He was referring to the home minister’s statement that the crisis between Musa and former Commercial Crimes Department director Ramli Yusuff was a personal matter. On the contrary, Mat Zain said Hishammuddin should identify the root cause of the problem between the two former senior policemen. He also noted that the disclosures of both Musa and Ramli pointed to criminal wrongdoings. "Whatever the public perception is towards Musa, his allegations as the former IGP on ministerial interference in police work, especially by Hishammuddin, must be given serious attention. "Hishammuddin’s question as to why Musa is making the claims only now is not something that a home minister should ask," he said, adding that the minister should know that there was no time limit to expose criminal wrongdoings. |
| Asia delights in Olympic success but big names flop Posted: 16 Dec 2012 11:28 PM PST
SYDNEY: Another shower of gold at the Olympics confirmed China’s status as the powerhouse of Asian sport but there were few standout performances away from London for the continent’s top sporting talents to crow about in 2012. The likes of Sachin Tendulkar and the Indian cricket team, Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao and Chinese tennis player Li Na had years ranging from the mediocre to the downright disastrous. There was better news in geopolitical terms when India decided to resume cricketing ties with neighbours Pakistan, while the sporting sphere avoided any serious repercussions from China’s bitter territorial dispute with Japan. Brilliant performances from swimmers Sun Yang and Ye Shiwen led the way as China won 38 golds in London to finish second on the medals table, but there was controversy as well as glory for the Chinese. China was furious at suspicions of doping levelled at Ye, shamed by the scandal involving their badminton team and stunned by the second successive Olympic failure of hurdler Liu Xiang. South Korea’s heavy investment in Olympic success also paid healthy dividends with 13 golds and a best ever finish of fifth on the medals table, pushing them ahead of traditional middle-ranking powers Germany, France, Australia and Japan. While the Chinese remained Olympic pacesetters, in soccer they continued their long pattern of underachievement despite the presence of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka in their domestic league. Instead, it was their Japanese and Korean neighbours who again shared Asian bragging rights in the world’s most popular sport. Japan were in a class of their own on the international stage with a number of eye-catching performances as they moved to the brink of being the first team to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Alberto Zaccheroni’s side made a major breakthrough by beating France 1-0 in a friendly in Paris and Shinji Kagawa moved to Manchester United in June. Ulsan Hyundai became the third K-League club in four years to win the Asian Champions League, going unbeaten through the continent’s top club competition and clinching the title with a 3-0 win over Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia. While Ulsan’s triumph was a welcome turnaround after the Korean match-fixing scandal of 2011, controversy continued to dog Asian football. The governing Asian Football Confederation spent the year trying to rid themselves of suspended president Mohamed Bin Hammam, long after the Qatari was first banned by FIFA for alleged bribery in May 2011. Indonesian clubs remained stuck in the middle of a dispute over governance of the sport in the nation and Paraguayan striker Diego Mendieta was left to die in a hospital waiting on four months’ wages owed by his former club. Pacquiao, arguably the greatest ever pound-for-pound boxer, stood at a crossroads at the end of 2012 after a stunning knockout at the hands of Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in December handed him a second defeat of the year. The 34-year-old Filipino, who has won world titles in an unprecedented eight weight divisions, may fight again but it was a signal that his illustrious career may be drawing to a close. India have rarely thrived at the Olympics and a reminder of their low expectations came when their unprecedented six-medal haul in London was hailed as a triumph.
The country’s cricketers can usually be relied upon to raise sporting spirits in the world’s second most populous nation but the much vaunted India team lurched from one defeat to another. The retirement of batting greats Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman deepened the gloom and even Tendulkar, who became the first cricketer to hit 100 international centuries this year, laboured in the twilight of his career. Sri Lanka won good reviews for its hosting of the Twenty20 World Cup but the hosts could not manage to provide Asia with a champion and succumbed to West Indies in the final. Li won a WTA title at Cincinnati and reached three other finals to cement her position as a top 10 player but she never got past the fourth round at a grand slam in her attempts to back up her breakthrough 2011 French Open triumph. Kei Nishikori finally gave Asian fans a men’s tennis player to cheer when he crashed into the world top 20 and became the first local to win the Japan Open for his second ATP title. Millions of dollars continued to be pumped into golf in Asia but despite the many lucrative tournaments being played at sumptuous courses around the region, local success at the top level was rare. India’s Jeev Milkha Singh and Thai Thongchai Jaidee claimed titles on the European Tour but Hiroyuki Fujita’s four wins on the Japan Tour were enough to make him Asia’s top ranked golfer at world number 49. There were signs that China might be on the verge of producing some promising talent when 14-year-old Guan Tianlang ensured he would become the youngest player to compete at the U.S. Masters by winning the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship. Taiwan’s Yani Tseng led the continued Asian dominance of women’s golf by retaining the number one ranking throughout the year, while eight of the top 10 in the world are from the continent. Perhaps the biggest development for the future of sport in Asia, and in particular for the continent’s half a billion Muslim women, came when FIFA lifted its ban on the wearing of head scarves in competition and women athletes from Saudi Arabia and Qatar competed for the first time at the Olympics. Teenager Wojdan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shaherkani became Saudi Arabia’s first female Olympian with a brief appearance in the London judo competition. “I advise all Saudi women to take part in sports,” she said. -Reuters |
| Mat Zain: Probe Musa for fabricating evidence Posted: 16 Dec 2012 11:18 PM PST
In an open letter to IGP Ismail Omar, the former senior policeman said that this was a perfect opportunity for the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) to prove that it was truly a credible institution. "It will also prove to the people that the PDRM is neutral and is able to carry out its as professionals," said Mat Zain. Early this month, Musa had alleged that criminal elements had infiltrated the police force during Ismail’s tenure, with good officers being put in cold storage for being defiant. He also claimed that Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein had meddled in police affairs despite the law saying that only the IGP could give orders to his officers. Training his guns against Musa, Mat Zain said that the former had admitted in an interview with an online portal in May this year that he had unlawfully obtained former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim’s blood sample to conduct a DNA test. "And the Kuala Lumpur Hospital’s Dr Zahari Noor testified on the matter in court on Dec 31,1998. "In fact, even I had mentioned the matter to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail and the police in my open letter on Dec 27, 2010," he said. Mat Zain added that in the past letter, he has given details on how Musa had stolen the blood sample after the latter had failed to convince the former to do so. "From the way I see it, the police can investigate Musa for giving a false affidavit and giving false testimony on the DNA evidence," he said. Mat Zain said that it was vital for the police to initiate investigations against Musa as soon as possible as the latter’s expose had tarnished the image of PDRM and the IGP’s office. "But the probe against Musa is not about retribution. It’s about showing the public that the police is still a neutral institution that will always carry out its duties without fear and favour," he said. Also read: 'Dr M, a damning book and prostitutes' Musa reveals more, implicates businessman |
| Tangkap Musa, selamatkan duit rakyat Sabah! Posted: 16 Dec 2012 11:15 PM PST
Kelmarin, Penyelaras Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) Sabah Boby Lewat @ Ewat membuat laporan SPRM bagi pihak anak muda Sabah terhadap Musa yang didakwa menerima wang sebanyak RM40 juta berbentuk rasuah untuk kekayaan peribadi. “Kami merujuk kepada kenyataan bersumpah (Ahli Parlimen Beaufort dan juga bekas Timbalan Menteri Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan) Datuk Seri Lajim Ukim pada 11 Disember lalu,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan. Menurut beliau, SAMM juga dalam masa yang sama turut membuat laporan SPRM terhadap Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Dato' Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz yang punyai hubungkait dengan ahli perniagaan, Michael Chia. “Ini berikutan pendedahan dari pelbagai sumber media bahawa anak Nazri, Nedim Nazri dan keluarganya mendapat manfaat melalui sebuah kenderaan mewah jenis Hummer hitam dengan nombor pendaftaran WNX 9776. “Kenderaan mewah ini dianggarkan berharga lebih RM459,000 dan dimiliki oleh Michael Chia disahkan melalui carian saman di laman MyEG,” katanya. Lesen pembalakan Micheal Chia yang rapat dengan Musa ditahan di Hong Kong berikutan disyaki terlibat dalam penggubahan wang haram RM40 juta turut dituduh terlibat rasuah berhubung lesen pembalakan yang juga melibatkan Musa. Menurut Lajim dalam akuan bersumpahnya, pada 9 Oktober 2012, Nazri telah mengumumkan bahawa dakwaan rasuah terhadap Musa dan Michael Chia berhubung dakwaan wang rasuah berjumlah RM40 juta telah digugurkan. “Ini adalah atas alasan wang RM40 juta yang disiasat itu merupakan derma politik kepada Umno Sabah dan bukannya untuk kegunaan peribadi Ketua Menteri. “Namun kenyataan bersumpah Lajim menceritakan sebaliknya apabila beliau mengesahkan Umno Sabah tidak pernah menerima sebarang derma politik sebesar jumlah RM40 juta, seperti yang didakwa oleh Nazri di Parlimen. “Apakah ini satu komplot terancang Musa dan Nazri untuk menyelamatkan antara satu sama lain?,” soal Boby. Sebagai Ahli Majlis Tertinggi Umno dan Anggota Badan Perhubungan Umno Sabah, Lajim yang terlibat secara langsung dengan apa jua aktiviti Umno di Sabah termasuk perihal kewangan, memperakui tiada sebarang urusniaga dan transaksi yang membuktikan Umno Sabah penerima dana RM40 juta tersebut. Jika ada, pasti ia dibentangkan kepada Majlis Tertinggi Umno atau Badan Perhubungan Umno Sabah, menurut Lajim. Perkembangan terbaru ini jelas menunjukkan berlaku percanggahan daripada apa yang diumum oleh Nazri dan menerbitkan unsur penipuan yang membabitkan wang rakyat sebanyak RM40 juta. Pengumuman Nazri juga didapati menyeleweng dan berniat untuk menutup isu yang lebih besar iaitu dakwaan salahguna kuasa dalam anugerah lesen pembalakan di Sabah. “Dengan perkembangan ini juga SAMM mendesak SPRM supaya membuka satu kertas siasatan baru melibatkan Musa Aman dan Nazri Aziz. “Kesediaan Lajim untuk memberi kenyataan kepada mana-mana pihak berkuasa bagi menyiasat skandal RM40 juta ini merupakan satu kelebihan dan kesempatan ini harus diambil oleh SPRM,” ujar Boby. |
| ‘MIC boss deprives 145 Tamil schools of aid’ Posted: 16 Dec 2012 11:11 PM PST
SS2 Tengah MIC branch chairman S Padnmanagan said in February, the Cabinet had approved RM100 million for partially-aided Tamil schools nationwide. "In the original list presented to the Cabinet in February, it was stated that the money would be channelled to 369 partially-aided Tamil schools nationwide for three categories, namely maintenance and upgrade, building additional blocks and building new schools. "But in a revision done by MIC in May, the party leadership reduced the number of schools to 224 only. What happened to the rest?" he asked. Although the number of schools in the list were reduced, the allocation remained at RM100 million. In the original list, the money divided for the three categories were as follows: 1) Maintenance and upgrade – RM20,200,000 2) Additional blokcs – RM39,800,000 3) New schools – RM40,000.000 But in the revised list, the fund was divided as following: 1) Maintenance and upgrade – RM16,255,000 2) Additional blokcs – RM39,700,000 3) New schools – RM44,045.000 The revised list also showed that a substantial number of partially-aided Tamil schools supposed to receive aid for maintenance and upgrade were reduced. The schools affected were in Johor (48 to 29), Malacca (11 to 3), Negeri Sembilan (43 to 17), Pahang (23 to 13), Perak (80 to 33), Penang (19 to 8) and Selangor (55 to 29). Padnmanagan urged Palanivel to explain the matter to the public as many students were affected by this. He also claimed that the party leadership only took the funds from the government in September, while aid for other vernacular schools were released early this year. "Palanivel single-handedly deprived allocation for many Tamil schools. I can’t blame the party central working committee (CWC) because the party president holds veto power. "Even if the CWC approves something, the party president has the authority to overule the decision. But how can one man decide the fate of Tamil schools in the nation?" he asked. Name the students He also challenged Palanivel to list out the names of hardcore poor Indians students who received aid under the party’s Reach and Teach Programme. The programme, a brainchild of MIC, was to provide basic aid such as books, bags, schools uniform and others to poor Indian students. "The president must be transparent about this. In my area alone, many poor Indian students did not receive the aid," claimed Padnmanagan. Two days ago, Bernama reported Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nor Mohamed Yakcop saying that the government allocated about RM340 million as aid to 523 Tamil schools nationwide since 2009. "Overall, the government set aside RM500 million till 2013 to uplift the Tamil schools in the country," the Tasil Gelugor MP said. 'Barat Maniam was appointed as he is neutral' Quit politics, MIC man tells Palani |
| Posted: 16 Dec 2012 11:07 PM PST
For so long, Malaysia has been in the domestic and international limelight as far as corruption is concerned. However, it has never been humiliated and shamed by the international community wholesale like today. Transparency International, ANI Washington, Hindustan Times and WSJ Live, to name a few, have all bestowed Malaysia the dubious honour of Champion of Corruption. Much have been written, reported and more than 100 financial scandals exposed since 1983, beginning with the then world's biggest banking financial loan scandal – the Bumiputera Malaysia Finance (BMF) which came with a murder suspense. BMF's internal auditor Jalil Ibrahim was found dead in a banana grove in Hong Kong in July 1983 when he was sent there to probe the scandal. The federal government had to bailout BMF three times to a tune of RM2.5 billion to keep it afloat. After 29 years, no one has been punished for the financial scandal and no one has been convicted for the murder. That was 1983. What about today? It is still the same as reflected by the murder of Mongolian interpreter Altantuya Shaariibuu who is linked to alleged corrupt financial practices over Malaysia's Defence Ministry's purchase of two French-made second hand Scorpene submarines at an inflated price of RM6.7 billion. What is confirmed is that Altantuya was murdered by two police security officers who served Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor. Although the two policemen have been convicted for the murder and their case is pending appeal, what we amazingly still don't know are these:
Rising federal debts Malaysia is a country blessed with vast and rich natural resources, including oil and gas. But, after 55 years of BN-Umno rule, the country's federal debt is at more than RM620 billion (including RM118 billion in off-budget liabilities or sovereign guarantees for private corporations like the Port Klang Free Zone and government-linked company loans ending 2011) against a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of RM881 billion or 70.4% of GDP. This means the BN government is operating way above the legislated federal debt ceiling of 55% of GDP. Although I have mentioned this many times over, there is surely a need to keep on reminding all Malaysians so that, when they go to the next general election, they can make an informed decision on what they must do to save Malaysia from an economic disaster of a bankrupt nation. Congratulations Najib. The whole world now knows you are leading the most corrupt nation on earth. Chua Jui Meng is PKR vice-president and Johor state chief. He is also a former MCA vice-president and an ex-Cabinet member. |
| One Pound Fish Man’s fishy hit song Posted: 16 Dec 2012 10:52 PM PST  PATTOKI (Pakistan): The mother of Pakistani Internet sensation One Pound Fish Man is praying to Allah that her son has a Christmas No.1 hit so his wife and children can join him for a new life in Britain.When Muhammad Shahid Nazir left his four children behind in Pakistan to study business in London, he could never have imagined he would one day be cavorting in a Warner video with scantily-clad Western beauties, singing about fish. Nazir, who got a job as a fishmonger in east London’s Queens Market in Upton Park, came up with a song to entice customers in which he urged local women to part with one pound (US$1.60) for a single, glistening fresh fish. “Come on ladies, come on ladies, one pound fish,” he croons. “Very, very good one pound fish, very very cheap one pound fish.” Shoppers were charmed and after someone filmed a video and uploaded it on YouTube the song went viral and Warner Music offered Nazir a record deal. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETSl8gWsFZ0 A slicker version with Nazir shimmying and strutting Bollywood-style in a natty suit went up on Dec 10, launching the race to top the Christmas charts in Britain. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_miGclPFGs The original video has had a staggering 4.6 million hits, while the professionally produced one already has more than two million. Nazir has also gained nearly 28,000 followers on Twitter. Back at the family home in Pattoki, a small town 234 kilometres south of Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, his delighted 67-year-old mother Kalsoom says she is praying and fasting for Nazir’s success.
Nazir’s family run their own business in Pattoki where they settled after migrating from India to the new Pakistan when Britain closed the curtain on the empire in the sub-continent. Today, they say they have been nicknamed locally as the “One Pound Fish” family and that people are flocking to download the song onto USBs and CDs. Nazir’s father was initially reluctant to let his middle son go off to England, “but now he is also very happy”, Kalsoom said. If her son gets a work visa, she said, he should take his wife and children with him to Britain. British newspaper The Sunday Times reported this month that Nazir is under investigation by the Home Office over a potential breach of the terms of his student visa after he ditched his studies to work as a fishmonger. Nazir’s wife Kashifa, dressed in the traditional shalwar kameez with a dupatta over her head, smiles when asked if she is jealous of her husband dancing with half-naked girls in the video. “I have no problem with this nor am I getting jealous. He performed the song and it was a requirement for the video,” she said. She says she spoke to her husband of 12 years in recent days, describing him as a “loving husband and father” despite his departure for London in May last year. “I am really very excited. We never imagined that my husband would become so popular. Our children and I miss Shahid a lot and we want to join him in London to share these happy moments,” she said. The whole family can sing the song, mimicking Nazir. When AFP visited, his three-year-old daughter Sania was only too happy to belt out the lyrics. His four brothers and their families live with their mother and Nazir’s wife in the extended family system common in Pakistan. For now they hope that Nazir will soon be back for a visit. “People in our town often call us the One Pound Family. I think my brother will come back soon,” said elder brother Abid, who works for the family business. “He got all this fame because he has been very responsible and dedicated since childhood and it is for this reason that luck also sided him.” - AFP |
| Olympics sparkle at height of magical British year Posted: 16 Dec 2012 10:37 PM PST
LONDON: London defied Britain’s wettest summer for 100 years, potential transport and security chaos and a depressed economy to stage a marvellous 2012 Olympics during a magical year for British sport. Over the past century Britons have become resigned to watching the rest of the world beat them at games they had either invented or codified at the height of the island nation’s imperial splendour. This year, to their fans’ surprise and delight, British teams and athletes surpassed themselves across a range of sports, including third place in the Olympic medals’ table behind the world’s two great economic powers the United States and China. Englishman Bradley Wiggins, who looks like a throwback to the English beat groups of the swinging sixties with his mop of hair and straggling sideburns, became the first Briton to win the Tour de France prior to taking a fourth Olympic gold medal. After finishing runner-up in four grand slam finals during a vintage era for men’s tennis, Scotland’s Andy Murray finally made the breakthrough as the first British male in 76 years to win one of the big four titles with victory over Novak Djokovic in the U.S. Open. And Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, winner of four PGA titles including the PGA championship by a record eight strokes, was awarded the annual Jack Nicklaus award for player-of-the-year. At the age of 23 he was the youngest recipient since Tiger Woods in 1997. At the heart of the year’s sporting action, London staged the summer Olympics for the third time to unanimous acclaim throughout the world. Under the assured stewardship of organising committee chairman Seb Coe, as adroit in the convoluted realm of sports politics as he had been on the track while winning two Olympic 1,500 metres titles, the London organisation was impeccable. Transport, one of the biggest worries in a cramped and crowded city, worked smoothly with enthusiastic and knowledgeable crowds flocking to venues sprinkled among some of London’s more celebrated landmarks. Rain fell nearly every day during the early part of a gloomy summer before an overdue burst of hot sunshine in the week leading up to the Games in late July. Thereafter the weather reverted to a more familiar English blend of the good, the bad and the indifferent without causing any serious disruptions. Even the admission by a private security firm a fortnight before the 16-day festival that it could not supply enough guards proved an unexpected bonus. Thousands of soldiers, sailors and airmen stepped into the breach and their disciplined professionalism and unfailing good humour further boosted the feel good factor. The day after a quirky but compelling opening ceremony fusing historical and cultural glories with quintessentially British eccentricity, Michael Phelps took to the pool. Winner of a record eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games, Phelps faltered initially, finishing fourth in the 400 metres individual medley behind fellow-American Ryan Lochte. By the end of the opening week, the American through sheer willpower was back to his best, finishing his competitive career with 18 gold medals from four Games. They included four golds in London and 22 medals overall to make him the most-decorated athlete in Olympic history ahead of former Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina, who collected 18. Finest hours
Reflecting the face of modern multi-cultural Britain, Somali immigrant Mo Farah won the 10,000 metres and the daughter of a Jamaican father and English mother Jessica Ennis finished first in the heptathlon. Greg Rutherford, the great-grandson of an England soccer international, won the long jump. Usain Bolt, who had made a mockery of the world 100 and 200 metres records in Beijing, shrugged off doubts about his form, fitness and the threat of training partner Yohan Blake, who had beaten him twice at the Jamaican trials, to become the first man to retain both Olympic titles. Jamaica swept the 200 medals and Bolt finished a triumphant week for his tiny Caribbean nation by anchoring the 4×100 relay team to a world record and establish beyond any doubt that he is the greatest sprinter to step on to a track. Kenya’s David Rudisha provided the most spectacular individual performance on the track, spread-eagling the field to break his own world 800 metres record without the benefit of pacemakers. Chelsea kicked off the British sporting summer with an unexpected triumph in the Champions League final, defeating Bayern Munich on penalties at the Allianz Arena to win the European club title for the first time. After the west London club had eliminated favourites Barcelona in the semi-finals with a scrupulously disciplined defensive display, Didier Drogba levelled the scores in the 88th minute of the final with a header before converting the final spot kick in the penalty shootout. Armstrong scandal Wiggins, who had survived the worst life could throw at him, triumphed in the most brutal and demanding of the European road cycling classics. Abandoned at the age of two by his alcoholic Australian father, himself a professional cyclist who was found dead of head injuries on a street in 2008, Wiggins fought his way out of a council estate with gritty determination and drive. His victory in the Tour, possibly the greatest individual British sporting achievement of the year and followed by a fourth Olympic gold, was accompanied by unwelcome if not unexpected baggage. Because the sport in general and the Tour in particular are notoriously drug-tainted, Wiggins was forced to endure a barrage of questions about doping during and after the race. “If I doped I would potentially stand to lose everything,” he responded. “My reputation, my livelihood, my marriage, my family, my house… my Olympic titles, my world titles.” The questions, to Wiggins and his rivals, will not go away soon. Later in the year, American Lance Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency published a report accusing him of being involved in the “most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen”. Armstrong continued to deny ever taking drugs but elected not to contest the charges, which the sporting authorities took as an effective admission of guilt. Murray’s breakthrough came after he avenged his Wimbledon final defeat to Roger Federer to beat the Swiss master in the Olympic final. Serena Williams collected gold in the singles and doubles during a winning streak when she added the Wimbledon and U.S. Open titles to her trophy cabinet. McIlroy also played a full part in the year’s most remarkable comeback. After confusion over a tee time, he needed a police escort in his haste to reach the Medinah course on the final day of the biennial Ryder Cup between Europe and the United States when the hosts needed only 4-1/2 points from 12 singles matches to win.
Englishman Ian Poulter, who like the late Seve Ballesteros and Colin Montgomerie before him reserves his best for the Ryder Cup, turned around Europe’s fortunes by earning one of two points in the fourballs on Saturday. Poulter, possessor of one of the more startling wardrobes in a sport not noted for sartorial restraint, was one of eight players to win on Sunday to finish with a 4-0 record overall. Although another Briton, Jenson Button, won the final Grand Prix of the season in Sao Paulo nobody could deny Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel, who at the age of 25 became Formula One’s youngest triple world champion. The German was last on the opening lap of the Brazilian Grand Prix but fought back in a damaged car to finish sixth. One arena where a British national team performed much as it always does at major tournaments was in the national game of soccer. For once, under a new coach Roy Hodgson, expectations were not exaggeratedly high for England before the European championships jointly hosted by Ukraine and Poland and losing on penalties to Italy in the quarter-finals was greeted with a resigned shrug rather than outraged indignation. Spain, the country who took 44 years to win a major tournament, became the first to win three in a row, retaining the European title after triumphing in the 2010 World Cup. They destroyed Italy 4-0 in the final and their endlessly inventive midfielder Andres Iniesta was named player of the tournament. Iniesta’s Barcelona team mate Lionel Messi was carried off in a stretcher with what appeared to be a serious knee injury after colliding with Benfica goalkeeper in a Champions League group match on December 5. Four days later the Argentine scored both goals in a 2-1 La Liga win over Real Betis to overhaul German Gerd Mueller’s previous record of 85 goals in a calendar year set in 1972. Both goals were set up by Iniesta. Pele’s record of 75 scored in 1958 was already well behind him and, at the age of 25, Messi is in exalted company. “Leo is supernatural. He doesn’t have limits,” marvelled Barcelona defender Gerard Pique. Britain’s golden year lingered into December, with yet further cause for celebration through sports developed in Victorian public schools whose passion for organised games inspired Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympics. England, 12/1 outsiders before the match, thrashed world rugby union champions New Zealand 38-21 at Twickenham to bring an abrupt halt to increasingly fevered speculation that the current All Blacks team are the best side ever to play the game. Then the England cricket side, humiliated in the first test of a four-match series in India, bounced back with captain Alastair Cook leading by example to win the next two by convincing margins. -Reuters |
| Key driver for equity market in 1h2013 is GE13, says Nomura Posted: 16 Dec 2012 10:27 PM PST
Nomura International (Hong Kong) Ltd managing director, chief Asia equity strategist, global head of equity strategy, Micheal Kurtz, said the GE is expected to overshadow other macro factors such as slower economic growth prospects in China and Europe, the Greece debt crisis and merits of the US recovery. “The persistent delaying of the GE and a perception of political instability has created a major overhang for the Malaysian stock market. “Judging investor's feedback over the past six to nine months, our sense is that their exposure to Malaysia is relatively lower, when compared to more sought-after markets,” he told a media briefing here, today. Kurtz said Nomura reiterated its view that the stakes are higher from a stock market perspective given the significant number of new eligible voters. “Uncertainties surrounding the election outlook coupled with investors’ unwillingness to take risks ahead of the election, could result in extreme volatility in equity prices.’ “We are maintaining our base-case assumption that the ruling government would win by a majority similar to what it holds currently,” he added. He said any weakness in the market, would present a good buying opportunity. “To ride through the volatility period ahead of the election, we believe investors should still be positioned adequately in the defensive sectors, and at the same time, start to take on risk selectively,” he added. He said Nomura Equity Research had raised the local defensive telcos to overweight from neutral, based on the country’s perspective and factoring in potential election risk, while maintaining a bullish stance on the banks, construction, plantations and oil and gas sectors. - Bernama |
| MIC wants willing families to adopt abused boy Posted: 16 Dec 2012 10:23 PM PST
The boy was discharged from the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah General Hospital in Klang today and is now under the care of the State Welfare Department. "MIC Youth information chief S Subramaniam would be visiting potential families who have shown interest in adopting the boy, today. We want to find the best suited family for the boy. "We are not keen in having him placed at a welfare home or a childcare centre," MIC Youth chief T Mohan told FMT when contacted. He said giving up the boy for adoption would be the best available solution as he would be able to lead a family life. Pugalenthi’s plight came to light last week after a video of him being abused by the step-father was uploaded on Facebook. The video created a furore among Malaysians and the step-father was arrested while the boy was sent to the hospital for observation. The boy, who spent the last few days under the supervision of the State Welfare Department at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah hospital, is doing well and is happy, according to a hospital source. The source added that the boy has no remaining injuries and is physically and mentally stable. Meanwhile, Klang police deputy chief Supt Jani Ahmad said the police have completed investigations in the case. "We have sent the investigations papers to the Attorney-General’s Chambers. We will wait for further instructions from the A-G's Chambers… hopefully, a decision will be made in the next few days," he told FMT. The father is expected to be charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which carries a punishment of a maximum 10 years imprisonment or a maximum fine of RM 20,000, or both. The man is expected to be in remand awaiting the AG’s Chambers next course of action. Also read:
Child abuse case: Stepmother recorded the bashing |
| Thousands flee as Cyclone Evan batters Fiji Posted: 16 Dec 2012 10:22 PM PST  SUVA: Thousands of people fled to evacuation centres in Fiji today as a powerful cyclone lashed the Pacific nation, causing power outages and flash flooding, officials said.Tropical Cyclone Evan pummelled the main island Viti Levu with winds exceeding 200 kilometres per hour bringing down trees, blocking roads and forcing all flights to be grounded at the popular tourist destination. But Fijian authorities said there had been no reported casualties from the category four storm by late Monday, unlike in neighbouring Samoa, where it killed at least four people late last week and left another 10 missing. Government spokeswoman Sharon Smith-Johns, who earlier Monday told Fijians to “prepare for the worst”, said emergency planning appeared to have paid off, including moving hundreds of tourists from luxury resorts on outlying islands. She said some 3,500 people were sheltering in well-stocked evacuation centres, locals appeared to be heeding warnings to avoid travel and all non-essential government personnel had been ordered to remain at home. “We’ve had a week to prepare for this, so we’re as prepared as you can be,” she told Radio New Zealand. Smith-Johns said that while the lack of early casualties was “encouraging”, the cyclone would continue to batter the west coast of Viti Levu overnight and there was no room for complacency. “The extent of the damage I don’t think we’re going to know until tomorrow morning when we wake up and see how badly it has hit,” she said. Meteorologists said the cyclone, packing gusts of up to 270 kilometres per hour (170 mph) near its centre, was 30 kilometres offshore from Nadi, site of the main airport, where winds were reaching 200 kph. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center said Evan could generate 12 metre swells, creating a major flooding concern for authorities with high tide due at 10:00 pm (0900 GMT). Nadi was swamped by another cyclone that killed five people in April and major flooding in the area last January claimed 11 lives. The cyclone is thought to be the strongest to threaten Fiji since Cyclone Kina, which killed 23 people and left thousands homeless in 1993. Relief agencies were still assessing damage to remote islands in Samoa, where the New Zealand Rescue Coordination Centre is overseeing a search for fishing boats that failed to return to port Friday. The centre initially believed three boats carrying eight men were missing but lifted the figure Monday to four boats and 10 men. Rescue coordinator Geoff Lunt said there had been no sighting of the boats and debris from the cyclone was creating difficult search conditions. “There is a lot of flotsam in the ocean which makes the visual search quite challenging but the aircraft will be coordinating their efforts to ensure the search area is thoroughly covered,” he said. - AFP |
| Posted: 16 Dec 2012 10:20 PM PST
The party’s supreme council is scheduled to meet today and high on the agenda is its relationship with Sabah State Reform Party (STAR). Up until now, their ties have been “hanging”, with SAPP being seen as “non-committal”. Currently, SAPP has a foot in Pakatan Rakyat and another in United Borneo Alliance (UBA), an umbrella body initiated by Jefftrey Kitingan as the political front for parties that subscribe to his United Borneo Front’s (UBF) Borneo Agenda. Jeffrey, who is Sabah STAR chief, has kept the doors open to SAPP and its president Yong Teck Lee despite advice to the contrary from within and outside his party and circle. Yong, who was once a chief minister under the old rotation system, seems to be leaning towards Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and the Pakatan coalition. Past reports suggest that SAPP was in seats negotiation with Pakatan. There were also reports that Pakatan partner DAP had agreed not to contest in some seats, giving way to SAPP. But a longstanding distrust between SAPP and DAP has only left behind scepticism. As SAPP continued to weigh its options, STAR has gone on to work the ground and is confident of taking 10 of the 60 state seats irrespective of a multi-cornered fights and more than five of the 25 parliamentary constituencies. Anything more, however, will have to come from tie-ups with local parties to ensure a straight or at worse three-cornered battles – Barisan Nasional, Pakatan and the UBF. Celebrating UBF’s second anniversary yesterday, Jeffrey, when asked, said that STAR wanted a conclusion to the situation. “I will be meeting Yong tomorrow [Monday] and we will discuss the SAPP and STAR’s ties,” he told reporters. According to Jeffrey, STAR and SAPP have been in touch with each other as both parties have been pushing the Sabah for Sabahans agenda. Both groups are fighting for the state's autonomy and the re-instatement of the 20-point agreement which includes freedom of religion. "If they [SAPP] decide to join Pakatan then SAPP will be part of the Malaya Agenda. We see ourselves as the Borneo Agenda. “If this is SAPP’s stand, then we not worried about the seats allocation anymore because they will decide among themselves. “We want their decision so that it would easier for us to plan. We do not want to leave it hanging. “We want SAPP to make public its allegiance, then the issue of seats allocation between STAR and SAPP can be resolved," said Jeffrey. Earlier this month, Yong had admitted to “ongoing” talks with STAR on seat negotiations, adding that he hoped to “fine tune” in the weeks ahead. Post election Meanwhile, the news on the grapevine is that a top “influential” figure in Sabah Umno has asked Jeffrey to hold back from contesting in some constituencies for fear that their candidates would lose. These candidates were apparently “important” individuals and Sabah Umno could not afford to lose these seats, among them being Kota Belud. It lends weight to a comment Jeffrey made last week that if BN won Putrajaya hands down and if STAR won in the state election, his party would work with BN instead as "it has no choice". |
| Malaysia November inflation seen inching up on food prices Posted: 16 Dec 2012 10:00 PM PST
The consumer price index likely rose 1.4% in November from a year earlier, quickening from a two-year low of 1.3% year on year during September and October, a median forecast of 16 economists showed. The forecasts ranged from 1.0% to 1.7%. Malaysia’s inflation is still among the lowest in the region, having declined steadily from a peak of 3.5% in mid-2011, allowing Bank Negara to maintain loose monetary conditions to support expansion. The bank kept its key interest rate unchanged at 3.0% for the ninth consecutive time at its meeting last month, saying its stance was “accommodative and supportive” of the economy. Bank of America Merrill Lynch economist Hak Bin Chua said that while food prices may have climbed in November, government subsidies on fuel have kept a lid on transport and electricity prices. The government, which must call a national election by April, keeps a tight rein on prices of household items ranging from cooking oil to sugar. Inflation could creep up next year as the administration begins to unwind the subsidy regime after the election, and as the global outlook improves. “We look for inflationary pressures to start creeping up higher in 2013, which could potentially tilt the balance towards a tighter monetary policy especially if the global economy were to outperform expectations,” said OCBC economist Gundy Cahyadi. - Reuters |
| ‘It’s time for DAP to hold direct elections’ Posted: 16 Dec 2012 09:34 PM PST
"Some say socialist parties don't hold direct election, but this is no longer the fact. The Socialist Worker Party in Britain has already changed this tradition, so did Australia's Labor Party. "The one that has yet to change is perhaps China's Communist Party," he told reporters at the sideline of 16th DAP national congress yesterday. Under the current party system, delegates only elect 20 central executive committee (CEC) members, who would then choose among themselves the key office-bearers in a closed-door meeting. Teng, who is widely viewed as a party dissident, said he amended the DAP Youth’s constitution to allow direct elections when he was the wing's chief in 2004. After he was elected to the CEC, he said he pressed for the mother body to adopt the same system in a party convention. "I first talked about it many years ago, and this time there is a delegate who raised the same suggestion too. Maybe after more people talk about it, the party will start to change," he said. Meanwhile, former DAP Youth chief Anthony Loke was non-committal when asked whether the main body should emulate the youth wing's system. He said there are pros and cons in any system and the party needs to study each suggestion thoroughly before making decisions. "There are some good points in direct election; for example you allow members to directly elect their leaders. "But the current system has been there since the party’s inception, and to a certain extent it has led to stability, because we elect collective leadership," he told FMT. |
| Share prices traded lower as investors stayed on the sidelines Posted: 16 Dec 2012 09:30 PM PST
At 12.30pm, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell 5.21 points to close the morning session at 1,646.77. It had opened 3.36 points lower at 1,648.62 this morning. A dealer said the quiet trading tone would continue until next week as most investors expected to abstain from taking up fresh positions ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays. The Finance Index rose 7.68 points to 15,134.45, but the Industrial Index eased 13.33 points to 2,693.27 and the Plantation Index shed 5.54 points to 7,979.92. The FBM Emas Index lost 41.27 points to 11,160.86, the FBM Mid 70 Index slid 78.86 points to 12,014.22, while the FBM Ace slipped 6.4 points to 4,121.83. Decliners led advancers 341 to 162 while 268 counters were unchanged, 870 untraded while 23 other counters were suspended. Volume amounted to 344.939 million shares worth RM386.089 million. Among actives, Fast Track Solution gained half-a-sen to 10.5 sen, but Asia Media and Tiger Synergy fell half-a-sen each to 45 sen and 32 sen, respectively, while KNM was flat at 10.5 sen. Of the heavyweights, Maybank, CIMB and Axiata rose two sen each to RM9.04, RM7.60 and RM6.53, respectively. Sime Darby was flat at RM9.14 but Maxis and Petronas Chemicals lost three sen each to RM6.53 and RM6.11, respectively. - Bernama |
| Bersih: No hope for electoral reform Posted: 16 Dec 2012 08:57 PM PST
"Can we Malaysians expect true reform before the general election? The answer is no," Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga told reporters at a press conference here. "We concluded this given the conduct of the EC to date," she added. However, she told reporters that there were no immediate plans for the coalition for free and fair elections to hold street protests in order to voice its unhappiness. "There are no plans to go to the street as the elections are already so near," she said, adding that Bersih was meeting up regularly to discuss this matter. Instead of rallies, she said, Bersih would be focusing on two campaigns to help overcome the dirty electoral roll: the Jom 100 campaign and the Jom Pantau campaign. "We will need more volunteers for the Jom Pantau campaign to help observe the elections. We need to make sure elections peaceful, clean and fair — that's what we want. "We are launching it in January and will provide more details then," added Ambiga. Bersih launched the Jom 100 campaign in January this year to increase voter turnout for the coming election, which must be held by April 28 next year. According to Ambiga, a 100% turnout would strengthen democracy and mitigate electoral fraud as well as gerrymandering. "We want to push the voter turnout to 85%, maybe 90%," she said today.
"Let me state that every citizen who is able to vote should continue to make an effort to come out and vote," said the national laureate. "This is one method to stop electoral fraud from occurring," he added. ‘Reject politicians who support violence’ "Why are they not taking a stand against political violence? Political violence is a symptom of a bigger disease – a flawed election. "Political violence goes hand in hand with a corrupt political system that is symbolised by an election that is not clean," she said. Malaysian politics is rife with incidents of violence, blackmail and death threats, with the latest being an attack on a PKR rally in Gombak early this month that reportedly left a few opposition volunteers injured. The PKR bus used by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and party leaders for their pre-election campaign had also been splashed with red paint and pelted with rocks numerous times. 'No sincere commitment' "If our system is as clean as claimed, our EC should confidently invite observers from around the world to observe these elections," the former Bar Council president pointed out. "Instead, they made such a huge fuss, calling it interference. That is nonsense; Malaysia is an observer for other countries’ elections, so how can they even say that?" she said. EC chairman Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof had recently said the EC was working with the Foreign Affairs Ministry to invite countries which had invited Malaysia as observers in their respective nation’s electiona. "Regionally, all Asean members will be invited, except for Brunei, which does not have elections, and Singapore, which rejected our accreditation application to become observer in its recent election," he was quoted as saying. But Ambiga stressed today that observers should not be limited to Asean members – a stance that has been echoed by numerous opposition MPs before this.
Click here to view the video on YouTube. "Then there is free and fair access to media. What is the great step they have taken – and I use ‘great’ in a sarcastic manner – in this?" she said. "They are only allowing a pre-recording of all political parties' manifestos. Of all the reforms we have sought, this must surely be the easiest to fulfil, yet they can't do it," she added. She also said the EC had disregarded the importance of ensuring that overseas voters would be counted in the next general election, adding that it had failed to meet its deadline for announcing the relevant procedures. "All this shows that there is no commitment to real reform, that the 13th general election will be one of the dirtiest elections ever and that we should not anticipate any change in the near future. "Bersih 2.0 therefore unequivocally believes that the task of ensuring free and fair elections falls to us citizens," she added. |
| US ‘preppers’ ready for Mayans doomsday Posted: 16 Dec 2012 08:39 PM PST  BERRYVILLE (Virginia): The Mayan end of the world is the last thing on Jay Blevins’ mind, but if it happens, he and his family are more than ready for it.In the basement of their comfortable home in this small town in the Shenandoah Valley, an hour’s drive from Washington, there’s a walk-in pantry packed with canned and preserved foods as well as medical supplies. “We could survive for quite a while just on this stuff,” Blevins said. Out in the backyard where fruits and berries grow, barrels of fresh water stand under the eaves. Safely locked away is a small arsenal of pistols and semi-automatic rifles, all the better to hunt game and scare off looters. And if the Blevins should have to make tracks, every member of the family has their own “bug-out bag” — a backpack filled with on-the-road essentials from a katana samurai sword to toys and games for the kids. “I don’t think we’ve spent too much money. I don’t think we’ve gone overboard,” father-of-three Blevins, 35, a business consultant and former deputy sheriff and SWAT team officer, told AFP. It’s just like insurance “We have our normal life, and then we have this thing on the side. It’s just like insurance — if we ever need it, we’ll use it.” Blevins is a “prepper,” one of a growing number of Americans making big plans for bad times, be it economic chaos, climate change, terrorism, natural disasters like the recent Hurricane Sandy or just a very long power outage. In contrast to go-it-alone survivalists, preppers have embraced social media, blogging and self-publishing in a big way to share knowledge and build networks in the event of TEOTWAWKI, or The End Of The World As We Know It.
“It’s kind of this natural homegrown American thing that’s just catching on with more suburbanites,” said Mike Porenta of the American Preppers Network, an online forum for local prepper meet-up groups all over the United States. Prepping enjoys a degree of tacit government endorsement: the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), on its ready.gov website, tells citizens to put together a basic disaster kit with food and water for three days. But why stop there? Preppers can shop online for everything from a year’s supply of food for one person (US$1,152 from Walmart) to pre-fabricated underground bunkers to sit out a nuclear, biological or chemical attack. In California, the Vivos Group markets luxury bunkers for anyone from a family of four (“discreetly installed just about anywhere in one week”) to a community of 1,000 people outfitted for a year of survival. “Members need to only arrive before their facility is locked down and secured from the chaos above,” it says. On a more modest and practical scale, 1-800-Prepare.com peddles a range of made-in-USA survival kits for individuals, families, offices, even dogs and cats — and in the aftermath of Sandy, it’s seen its sales explode ten-fold. “My typical client is the everyday American, the mainstream consumer,” said its owner, New York area volunteer firefighter Paul Faust, who turns over a slice of his post-Sandy profits to a disaster relief charity.
That was the year of the Arab oil embargo, which put paid forever to many Americans’ belief in a bottomless supply of cheap energy as they lined up for hours to fill up their cars. “You prepare for the lifestyle you’d like to maintain when things over which you have no control take control,” said Stevens, who’s sold 800,000 copies of his “Family Preparedness Handbook,” now in its 12th edition. The Mayan end of the world? “It’s the last thing I’m worried about,” Stevens told AFP by telephone. “I’m more concerned about the economic, political and moral situation.” Despite its guy-thing image, mother-of-two Lisa Bedford, whose blogTheSurvivalMom.com gives useful tips on how to weather a disaster with a brood of boisterous kids, considers prepping “a very natural fit” for women. “We start preparing for a baby even before we start getting pregnant,” said Bedford, who keeps a three-month supply of Spam, chili and peanut butter in the house, plus a survival kit in the car to hold out for 72 hours with kids. “I want my family to be less vulnerable, no matter what happens,” she added. “There is power in being proactive.” Back in Berryville, Blevins — whose own mother knows a thing or two about survival, having lived through war in her native Vietnam before coming to the United States — acknowledges “a fine line between preparation and paranoia.” But he puts his passion for prepping into context. “Since 2000, in this state (Virginia), we’ve had 17 major disaster declarations, everything from the September 11 terrorist attacks to earthquakes to hurricanes to blizzards,” he said. “As a husband and a father, I want to make sure that my family is prepared, really, for anything that will come.” - Reuters |
| Voter-buying causing rift within Sabah BN Posted: 16 Dec 2012 08:28 PM PST
Reports that opposition-held areas here are being "re-populated" to change the voter demographics, a popular tactic that has got by with a wink and a nudge in the past, has curiously alarmed certain Umno leaders who have called for an investigation. This is the second time in recent months that the issue has received blanket exposure in the media. In September, the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) blew the whistle on a shady voter registration drive here that it alleged was recruiting voters into the city. The party said it had stumbled on the exercise to re-register voters from other constituencies as Kota Kinabalu residents to enable them to be voters in the Api-Api constituency. While SAPP’s disclosure didn’t raise eyebrows, last week’s whistle-blowing by two Sabah Umno leaders of the underhand tactic has. Sepanggar Umno chief Jumat Idris urged the police and Election Commission to investigate allegation of a political syndicate offering RM500 cash to Malay voters in Sepanggar parliamentary constituency to change their voting address to neighbouring Kota Kinabalu parliamentary constituency. "I believe this could be an attempt to reduce the Malay majority in Sepanggar," he said, adding that Malay voters comprised more than 54% of the total voters in Sepanggar parliamentary constituency. Jumat, who is also Sepanggar BN co-ordinating chairman, said many Malay voters in Telipok Ria, Kampung Warisan, Likas and Inanam came to see him to report that a group of Chinese were going round making the offer of RM500 as well as bags of rice, water tanks and even laptops, to entice the voters to change their address. He said he was told that the group has an operation base in Likas Square and an NGO office. His allegation apparently matches the allegation by SAPP, which also lodged a police report calling for an investigation on the matter. Jumat’s exposé was followed by another Sabah Umno leader who is upset by what up to now has been a routine BN election procedure. ‘Sudden rush’ On Friday, Karambunai assembly representative Jainab Ahmad also raised the alarm about a shadowy group offering Sepanggar voters money to change their voting constituency to Kota Kinabalu. Jainab, whose constituency is among the two state seats in Sepanggar parliamentary constituency and whose voter base is being whittled, said she had also been given the same information. She claimed that there had been a "sudden rush" in the number of people changing their address from Sepanggar to various parts of Kota Kinabalu at the National Registration Department (NRD). She said she had no problem if the people wanted to change the constituency but it was not right for them just to do so after being enticed. "We are disappointed because all this while we have been looking after them but out of a sudden they are no longer our voters," said Jainab, who is Sepanggar Umno Wanita chief. The beneficiary of all this is senior BN official and Deputy Chief Minister Dr Yee Moh Chai, who is with Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and is the Api-Api state assemblyman. So why are Umno leaders attacking their own bedfellows? According to sources who requested anonymity, the Sabah Umno leaders are concerned that their voter base is being diluted to prop up a leader and a coalition partner that has fallen on hard times. That brings into focus the uneasy marriage of convenience between Sabah Umno and PBS. It is well known that there is little love lost between the supporters of the two parties. Somewhere in this political intrigue is Chief Minister Musa Aman’s hand as any transfer of voters from an Umno stronghold would need his approval. Yee and his minders would not dare to make such an audacious voter grab without his overt backing. His rivals within Sabah Umno are also aware that their leader is attempting to outmanoeuvre them to shore up flailing support for him within his own party. It’s a dangerous political game, but by helping to prop up his deputy from PBS, Musa will both weaken his rivals in Umno and gain personal favour from a coalition member and Yee in particular. SAPP’s Api-Api area leader, Wong Yit Ming, has openly accused Yee of being the "mastermind" behind the voters’ relocation scheme, which has also alarmed others in the BN coalition wary of PBS becoming too strong at their expense. The Chinese community, according to sources, are also distressed by what they see as a campaign by a Chinese leader to disenfranchise them in what is now a Chinese-dominated constituency. By "altering" the Chinese voter demography, Yee stands a better chance of retaining his seat in the coming general election, said SAPP’s Wong. Observers say Yee has realised that he can no longer depend on the Chinese vote. In the last general election in 2008, Yee narrowly defeated his main opponent, Christina Liew of PKR by just 174 votes. Breaching election laws Meanwhile, Jumat and Jainab are not standing by and are out to stop any BN coalition member from stealing their voters. "We urge the police to investigate who are these people and what are their intentions. I urge the Election Commission to investigate the matter because it contravenes the election laws," said Jumat, adding that he advised Bumiputera voters in Sepanggar not to be enticed by the offer because “it smells fishy". He warned those who were out to make a quick buck by changing their residential address to Kota Kinabalu although still residing in Sepanggar that they would be facing problem in the future. "They will no longer receive priority from Sepanggar BN in terms of service," both he and Jainab warned. Coincidentally, Yee and Jainab share the same office. Yee is Resources Development and Information Technology Minister while Jainab is Resources and Information Technology Assistant Minister. |
| Posted: 16 Dec 2012 08:25 PM PST
We often hear of electoral fraud and unfair election practices but what do they really mean? What forms does electoral fraud usually take? What constitute unfair practices and how have they surfaced? Beyond that, what are the measures that need to be taken to ensure that Malaysian elections are free and fair so that this vital aspect of our democracy is truly well-served and our vote for the candidate or party we support is not made a mockery of? A new book called ‘Democracy at Stake?: Examining 16 By-elections in Malaysia, 2008-2011′, published by Strategic Information and Research Development Centre, answers our questions and collates our concerns into a handy and comprehensive compact. Edited by Wong Chin Huat and Soon Li Tsin, it analyses the 16 by-elections that have been held since the 12th general election according to such relevant categories as how free, fair and clean they were; the freedom and quality of the campaigning; the political parties' access to media; corrupt practices that were perpetrated; how impartial or otherwise the public institutions were; the amount of campaign money spent; the electoral roll; and the polling process. Wong, who is in my opinion one of the sharpest political analysts we have, sets the standard for the conduct of elections in his introductory article. Well-researched and replete with references from many documented sources, it explains why electoral fraud is wrong ("Even if one person is disenfranchised … even if one vote is rigged, democracy is damaged because political equality is compromised to favour the ones who play foul") and explains what we as citizens should expect of a free and fair election. The most fundamental of expectations are that we "must be able to register as voters with minimal cost and trouble" and be able to vote "without much difficulty", and our votes "must be counted with integrity". By that token, we must also expect that the electoral roll "includes all citizens who are eligible to vote" and "nobody else". Wong, however, declares that the electoral rolls in Malaysia "fail on both accounts". This is partly because as of March 2012, three million eligible citizens are still not registered voters. But what we may find more disturbing is his revelation that the electoral rolls "include many names who [sic] should not be there in the first place, such as illegally enfranchised foreigners, deceased voters, multiply-registered voters, voluntarily and involuntarily transferred voters who are non-residents in the constituency". It is amusing to note that entries like Kampung Baru and a police station at Kampung Kerinchi are registered voters on the electoral rolls. Wong proposes synchronising the electorate database maintained by the Election Commission (EC) with the citizenry database of the National Registration Department (NRD) to minimise errors and allow for corrections to be made continually. Although he does not say so explicitly, it would also facilitate automatic voter registration, one of the eight demands of Bersih, the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections of which Wong is a steering committee member. The synchronisation of databases would alert the EC to instances of citizens turning 21 and attaining eligibility for voting. EC must be neutral Another disturbing point Wong raises concerns the legal impediments to transparency in the procedure for correction of errors. Section 9A of the Election Act 1958 prevents the electoral rolls from being challenged in court, and Regulation 25 of the Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations gives "unchecked power" to the EC to "correct any errors free from any public scrutiny". This point is particularly pertinent in regard to the Malaysian EC because the public has lost much confidence in the commission's ability and inclination to be independent and neutral in the conduct of its duty. One important measure that the public needs to take, therefore, is to lobby for the EC to be truly independent and neutral. If this were achieved, we can be better assured that other conditions necessary for free and fair elections will be facilitated. These would include what Wong describes as allowing citizens to make "informed decisions after deliberation" from the "availability of information from all perspectives". As such, there should be campaign freedom – a reasonable period for campaigning once an election is called; free airtime for all contesting parties on state-owned broadcast media like RTM and unbiased coverage in Bernama as well as private-owned media, like Utusan Malaysia, The Star, Sin Chew, Media Prima's TV stations, etc; and no restrictions like those imposed in three by-elections at which the Home Ministry banned campaigners from "mentioning (a) Altantuya Shaariibuu, the Mongolian model cum interpreter whose murder was linked to Prime Minister (PM) Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor, and (b) the role of the Perak Palace in the state's constitutional crisis". The impartiality of public institutions should also be upheld. This includes no abuse of government machinery by the ruling party, such as using official cars and helicopters for party campaigning or, worse, announcing development projects like in the Hulu Selangor "buy-election" when BN offered about RM136 million in projects, payments and compensations while the Pakatan Rakyat Selangor state government offered about RM27.6 million's worth. And of course there should also be no pork barrelling at the hustings, the most famous example being the "I help you, you help me" offer of RM5 million for flood mitigation that Najib made to the Rejang Park voters in the Sibu by-election in return for their support of the BN candidate. Nor should there be outright vote-buying, as in the alleged giving out of RM100 cash to each Chinese voter at a polling station during the Merlimau by-election. It is the duty of the EC to report such transgressions but, unfortunately, it has not been fulfilling that duty. By and large, the individual analyses of the 16 by-elections in the book, contributed by about a dozen observers ranging from journalists to researchers to political scientists, reveal how inept the EC has been, especially in not attending to electoral roll irregularities and preventing abuse of public institutions and corrupt practices. Outlook is far from rosy In the Permatang Pauh by-election, for example, a voter was turned away from the polling station because on the electoral roll, he was said to be dead. Furthermore, 949 voters were discovered to have disappeared from the constituency's electoral roll. As the media reported the issue and the EC's deputy chairman could not explain the disappearance, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin called on the EC to investigate it. However, "no finding was revealed to the public". In Bukit Selambau, election watchdog Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (MAFREL) backed the opposition's claim that more than 60% of the voters in a housing estate were phantom voters, but the EC merely dismissed it. In fact, the picture that emerges from the 16 analyses is that many of the complaints and allegations made during the by-elections were not resolved afterwards. On the whole, as the editors sum up in the final chapter, "the integrity of the electoral rolls in Malaysia is highly questionable". Citing extensively from research done by political scientist Ong Kian Ming, they elaborate on unexplained deletions of names; unaccounted-for additions; high number of voters registered under the same address; unusually high increase of military/police voters (most markedly in Lembah Pantai, currently a Pakatan Rakyat seat held by Nurul Izzah Anwar, which has seen a 1,024% growth of such voters); and other manifestations. EC Chairman Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof has declared that Malaysia has "the cleanest electoral rolls in the world", with problematic registrations amounting to only 42,051 names, but according to Ong's research findings, the number is closer to three million. Whomever you choose to believe, the outlook is far from rosy. The editors believe the irregularities are caused by deliberate fraud rather than administrative or clerical errors. They consider the state we're in an "Orwellian absurdity". On our part, we the public should be pressing for accountability from the EC and other related authorities. Although Democracy at Stake? does not suggest how we could go about doing this, it focuses attention on a serious issue of our political life. It's up to us now to protect our democratic right. Taking to the streets through the Bersih rallies has been done and resulted in some headway, but this is unlikely the way to achieve the ultimate goal. We need to think of other ways to shake the powers that be to get the real democracy we deserve. Kee Thuan Chye is the author of the bestselling book No More Bullshit, Please, We're All Malaysians, available in bookstores together with its Malay translation, Jangan Kelentong Lagi, Kita Semua Orang Malaysia. This article first appeared in the December 2012 issue of Penang Monthly. |
| Media baharu jadi pemangkin raih sokongan golongan muda Posted: 16 Dec 2012 08:24 PM PST
Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan Umno Kelantan Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed berkata memandangkan golongan muda dilihat lebih mempercayai media baharu berbanding konvensional, medium berkenaan diharap dapat membantu kerajaan menangkis tohmahan yang dilempar pembangkang. “Saya berharap blogger yang selama ini menyokong kita di alam maya akan terus membuat penerangan mengenai sesuatu isu, sekali gus dapat membantu kerajaan memberi penerangan kepada masyarakat mengenai sesuatu perkara buruk yang cuba ditohmah oleh pembangkang. “Ini penting kerana golongan muda lebih banyak mengikuti perkembangan politik tanah air melalui media baharu,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas perjumpaan bersama lebih 200 blogger di sini, malam tadi. Pada majlis tersebut, Mustapa yang juga Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri, merasmikan ‘Kelab Tok Pa’ di laman sosial Twitter sebagai wadah baharu untuk mendekati dan mendengar masalah rakyat dengan lebih menyeluruh. Mustapa berkata laman sosial, terutama Facebook banyak membantu beliau menjalankan tugas dengan lebih berkesan kerana dapat “mendengar” aduan secara terus daripada rakyat, sekali gus dapat menyelesaikan masalah secepat mungkin. “Kalau tak ada laman sosial ini, saya tak tahu apa yang berlaku. Dengan adanya maklum balas secara terus daripada rakyat kita dapat membuat pembetulan terhadap beberapa masalah dan kekurangan kita. “Kita yakin laman sosial dan media baharu ini termasuk sistem pesanan khidmat ringkas (SMS) sebagai satu kaedah kreatif untuk memberi maklumat yang tepat dengan cara yang cepat kepada masyarakat,” katanya. Mustapa juga berkata pemilihan calon BN sedang disemak oleh pimpinan tertinggi parti untuk menentukan siapa yang layak dan menepati kriteria ‘calon boleh menang’. Katanya pimpinan tertinggi parti juga tidak lagi melihat kepada anggota yang berjawatan dalam parti, tetapi memilih calon berdasarkan siapa yang disukai rakyat bagi memastikan BN terus meneraju negara dan merampas semula Kelantan. - Bernama |
| Posted: 16 Dec 2012 08:13 PM PST
Pilihanraya adalah mekanisme penting dalam negara yang mengamalkan sistem demokrasi. Ia adalah proses pengurniaan mandat dan kuasa rakyat kepada seseorang individu dan sesebuah parti untuk mentadbir sesebuah negeri dan negara bagi menjamin kemerdekaan, memelihara keamanan, memacu kemajuan dan menegakkan keadilan untuk rakyat dan tanah air ini. Proses ini mesti berlangsung dengan tiga (3) unsur; [1] partisipasi menyeluruh rakyat, [2] jaminan kebebasan asasi, dan [3] proses yang bersih dan adil. Idea pendaftaran automatik dan penurunan umur kelayakan sebagai pengundi adalah cadangan bijaksana bagi memastikan lebih ramai rakyat terlibat. Rakyat mesti dijamin kebebasan asasi mereka seperti kebebasan bersuara, berparti dan berhimpun, tanpa sekatan menggunakan pelbagai undang-undang dan peraturan. Reformasi pilihanraya perlu berlaku dengan membersihkan senarai pemilih, akses media yang saksama dan penolakan terhadap budaya politik kotor dan samseng. Bersilih-ganti sesebuah parti kepada parti yang lain untuk mengetuai kerajaan adalah suatu yang normal bagi proses ini di negara-negara yang mengamalkan demokrasi secara telus. Doktrinisasi dan persepsi bahawa pertukaran ini adalah suatu yang negatif yang dilancarkan adalah kerana dua (2) perkara; [1] Resah-gelisah Secara terus-terang dan seluruh rakyat sedang merasai hal ini, Umno sedang resah-gelisah, lalu rakyat cuba diperbodoh-bodohkan.Bimbangnya Umno kerana ia diketuai seorang Presiden merangkap Perdana Menteri yang belum mendapat mandat rakyat sehingga ke hari ini, dan sehingga ke hari juga Umno belum yakin untuk mendapatkan mandat daripada rakyat melalui pilihanraya. Jika kalah, keadaan ini tidak mudah untuk Umno pasrah sementelahan lagi ia telah berkuasa selama lebih separuh abad. Sebelum ia terpaksa pasrah, Umno pasti tidak tentu arah untuk tidak mahu menyerah. Pasca Perhimpunan Agung Umno (PAU) 2012 telah membuka mata rakyat terhadap budaya politik Umno dan prestasinya sebagai teras kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN). Melalui PAU 2012, rakyat dapat melihat betapa Umno sedang mengalami krisis keyakinan dan kesetiaan para anggotanya yang agak keterlaluan. Berkali-kali amaran supaya jangan sabotaj dan mesti sokong calon parti, jelas mendedahkan realiti itu, dan rakyat pula sudah maklum bahawa ia memang wujud dalam Umno buat sekian lama. Diikuti pula dengan insiden provokasi dan pukul, yang sememangnya sebati dengan Umno yang mempraktikkan budaya politik kotor dan samseng. Umno juga tidak sunyi daripada terus terpalit dengan isu-isu rasuah dan kronisme. Sebagai kerajaan pula, Umno tidak berkeupayaan langsung menyelesaikan isu-isu ‘evergreen’ seperti kebejatan sosial yang berpunca daripada hiburan melampau dan pergaulan bebas sehingga anak luar nikah yang direkodkan sehingga ke tahun 2010 berjumlah lebih 250,000 orang, sejumlah 76,200 graduan mengganggur tanpa peluang pekerjaan, sejumlah besar siswazah pendidikan tidak mendapat tempat, peningkatan kos sara hidup sehingga menyebabkan 300,000 hingga 400,000 buah keluarga dikategorikan dalam kumpulan miskin melampau, dan harta rakyat terus dirompak melalui rampasan royalti dan pelaksanaan undang-undang seperti AES. Beginilah cara Umno dan BN melaksanakan agenda "Rakyat Didahulukan, Pencapaian Diutamakan". Dalam hal ini, pendirian GAMIS adalah jelas dan tegas bahawa kunci bagi memastikan Malaysia untuk terus aman, makmur, mendahulukan rakyat, mengutamakan pencapaian, sejahtera dan berkebajikan ialah dengan memastikan Umno tidak lagi diberi mandat untuk mentadbir Malaysia pasca pilihan raya umum ke-13 akan datang. MALAYSIA TANPA UMNO. *Penulis adalah Timbalan Presiden Gabungan Mahasiswa Islam Se-Malaysia (GAMIS). Pandangan dan pendirian beliau dalam pelbagai isu boleh dibaca di engineermemali.blogspot.com. |
| Japanese women enamored of ‘Mr Right’ love game Posted: 16 Dec 2012 08:01 PM PST
That’s the scenario for one of several role-playing “love games” currently popular in Japan, allowing women to safely spend time with their choice of Mr. Right without actually dealing with a live person – even as marriage rates in Japan fall. “In the game, you’re the lone woman, and the attention of all the guys is on you,” said “han-kura,” a 37-year-old office worker who uses that alias on a blog dedicated to these games. The role-playing games are based on characters typical of Japanese manga comics, with all the men slender and elegant. The player becomes the heroine and chooses an ideal mate from several “knight in shining armor” characters, developing a relationship through the choices they make in the storyline. The games, which can be played on smart phones, are especially popular with working single women in their 30s who feel they don’t have the time or energy for a real relationship due to their demanding work schedule, said Kana Shimada, a novelist who writes about modern women and relationships.
The video game industry has always had a strong male following, but it seems to have found a way to finally capitalize on female users. The sector based on such love simulation games grew by 30.4% with 14.6 billion yen (US$177.3 million) in sales in 2011, according to Yano Research Institute. The games come in several episodes, each costing around 500 yen (US$5.98). The growth of smart phones has had a hand in this popularity through their portability and privacy, said Nozomi Wada, an editor at AppBank, a website that reviews apps. “The biggest reason for its popularity is that users like myself can play it secretly in the palm of our hands without other people noticing it,” said “han-kura.” About 10 makers continuously roll out new versions with additional characters and storylines for their popular titles. The difference between a hit and a bust is how deeply the player can immerse into the game, said Wada. “If it’s a fantasy theme, then it has to be downright illusionary,” added Wada. “You wouldn’t want your imagination to be shattered in the middle of the game.” Some app makers such as the company known as Voltage have released localized versions in China and the United States by tweaking the male characters to match the tastes of local women. Downloads in the United States, still in the first year of their efforts, are currently around one-tenth of Japan, said Voltage CEO Yuji Tsutani. And how do the games differ? Tsutani said that the US version of “Pirates in Love,” the men have facial features with more depth and realism – and the heroine is more assertive. - Reuters |
| Posted: 16 Dec 2012 07:59 PM PST
Jeffrey, who is also the president of the United Borneo Front (UBF), equated both the peninsula-based political parties as Malayan in nature and unsuitable for the two Borneo states. “PKR and Umno are the same like the old colonialists. They come to exploit us to get into power to eventually lord over us. PKR should concentrate on winning the seats in the Peninsula which is already more than 75% of the total seats. “It is their Malaya Agenda to control and colonise Sabah and Sarawak, whereas our Borneo Agenda is just the opposite, to free us from this choking over-lording over Sabah and Sarawak,” he said. Jeffrey, whose elder brother Joseph Pairin sits on the opposite side of the political divide and who is struggling to gain wider support for his brand of Borneo-centric politics, has said this repeatedly and did so again at UBF’s second anniversary celebration on Sunday at the Sabah Golf and Country Club premises here. The one-time PKR vice-president told the crowd of about 350 diehard fans of UBF, mostly from STAR, who applauded his hour-long speech at every opportunity, that a total of 3,597 “Borneo Tea Parties” (BTP) had been held in the last two years and all had been received enthusiastically. “There were unrecorded BTPs too… It is all because we used facts to explain issues on the formation of Malaysia and the history of our country,” he said. While UBF remains an NGO, Jeffrey has also initiated an umbrella body, United Borneo Alliance or UBA, as the political front for parties that subscribe to UBF’s Borneo Agenda. So far only STAR and the yet-to-be-registered Usno are in UBA. The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) which has not officially rejected an invitation to join has in the meantime come to an understanding with the PKR-led Pakatan Rakyat opposition coalition. Sources said it may explore the idea again at its supreme council meeting scheduled for today. Also present were pro tem vice-president Usno, Abdullah Sani, and a leader from Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), Peter Marajin who said he was attending on his own accord and not in any capacity for his party. |
| Antologi fiksyen Bahasa Inggeris Posted: 16 Dec 2012 07:56 PM PST
Malah, suatu aspek yang sering dilupai (atau sengaja dilupakan) oleh sekelompok pejuang bahasa kebangsaan adalah bahawa salah satu matlamat Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) yang tercatat dalam Akta DBP adalah "untuk mencetak atau menerbitkan atau membantu dalam percetakan atau penerbitan buku-buku, majalah-majalah, risalah-risalah dan lain-lain bentuk kesusasteraan dalam bahasa kebangsaan dan dalam bahasa-bahasa lain". Namun begitu, saya tidak bertujuan mahu menyalahkan DBP atau mana-mana pihak lain dalam perkara ini. Di negara bertuah ini, topik berkaitan bahasa-bahasa selain bahasa kebangsaan adalah amat sensitif. Sesiapa yang bercakap mengenai – atau menggunakan – bahasa-bahasa lain akan dengan amat mudah dilabel sebagai tidak memiliki semangat kebangsaan. Pada masa sama, saya sejak dahulu tidak pernah menyembunyikan hakikat bahawa saya lebih banyak membaca karya Bahasa Inggeris berbanding karya Bahasa Malaysia sejak usia kanak-kanak. Hal ini disebabkan karya-karya (khususnya fiksyen) di negara ini masih berciri "oleh Melayu, tentang Melayu, untuk Melayu". Maka, untuk mengenali "dunia" di luar daripada skop kecil itu, saya terpaksa beralih kepada karya-karya (khususnya fiksyen) Bahasa Inggeris. Karya-karya antarabangsa juga diterjemah ke Bahasa Inggeris; sekali gus membolehkan saya menikmati "dunia tanpa sempadan" sambil tetap berpegang teguh pada jati diri serta kecintaan terhadap Bahasa Malaysia. Di Malaysia, wadah penyiaran bagi karya (khususnya fiksyen) Bahasa Inggeris adalah amat terhad. Kebanyakan penulis mengambil inisiatif menerbitkan sendiri karya mereka dalam bentuk buku. Mujurlah buku-buku ini biasanya mudah diperoleh di kebanyakan kedai buku terkemuka. Dalam hal ini, saya amat kagum dengan kegigihan Bernice Chauly dan Sharon Bakar yang mengusahakan antologi "Readings from Readings" (2011) dan "Readings from Readings 2" (2012). Antologi pertama menggabungkan karya-karya pengarang Malaysia manakala antologi terbaru turut memuatkan karya beberapa penulis luar. Saya berpeluang bertemu Sharon pada 11 Disember 2012 untuk mendapatkan senaskhah "Readings from Readings 2" yang diterbitkan menerusi syarikat miliknya, Word Works Sdn Bhd. Saya juga berminat untuk mengetahui pengalaman wanita berkenaan mengusahakan penerbitan antologi kedua ini. Menyemarakkan sastera Bahasa Inggeris
Sama seperti antologi pertama, buku terbaru juga dicetak sebanyak seribu naskhah dan kini sudah bersedia untuk memasuki cetakan kedua. Maka, tidak sia-sialah Sharon memilih untuk menerbitkan buku-buku berkenaan. Walau bagaimanapun, penerbitan "Readings from Readings 2" bukan bermotif mengaut keuntungan. Sebaliknya, Sharon dan Bernice berusaha mengumpulkan karya-karya bermutu dalam bentuk buku supaya dapat dijadikan bahan dokumentasi. Tambahan pula, kedua-dua wanita itu terlibat dalam mengusahakan siri acara membaca teks (puisi, prosa dan lagu) sejak hampir sedekad lalu. Malah, rata-rata karya yang dimuatkan dalam antologi ini adalah hasil daripada karya-karya yang dipersembahkan menerusi acara "Readings at Seksan" iaitu acara bulanan di Bangsar. "Selain daripada kelompok penulis terkenal dari dalam dan luar negara, buku ini juga menampilkan karya beberapa individu yang berjaya menghasilkan karya sulung; misalnya Shahminee Selvakannu, Chee Siew Hoong dan Angeline Woon." "Beberapa individu yang saya bimbing menerusi kelas penulisan kreatif juga berjaya menghasilkan karya yang memenuhi kriteria pemilihan bagi antologi ini; misalnya Cynthia Reed, Ted Mahsun, Saras Manickam, Damyanti Ghosh dan Eileen Lian," Sharon menceritakan. Proses pemilihan karya bagi antologi ini sebenarnya tidak semudah disangka. Sharon menguruskan menerimaan manuskrip daripada penulis yang berminat. Kemudian, beliau dan Bernice melakukan kerja-kerja penilaian terhadap kesemua karya yang diterima daripada lebih 90 penulis. Selepas pemilihan dilakukan, bermula pula kerja-kerja penyuntingan di mana berlaku komunikasi antara penyunting dan penulis – sama ada menerusi e-mel, telefon atau bersemuka – untuk melakukan proses pembetulan, pembaikan dan penulisan semula manuskrip sehingga kedua-dua pihak benar-benar berpuas hati. Gabungan penulis baru dan lama
Saya percaya bahawa memandangkan antologi "Readings from Readings" sudah berada dalam pasaran sejak Februari 2011, maka boleh dijadikan semacam panduan oleh penulis yang mengirim karya bagi antologi kedua. Sharon mengakui bahawa mutu karya pada kali ini setara dan lebih baik berbanding buku pertama. Malah, antologi pertama menyajikan beberapa karya yang mungkin tidak sesuai bagi "pembaca bawah umur" tetapi buku terbaru pula lebih banyak memuatkan karya-karya bertema hubungan kekeluargaan. Tulisan berupa catatan pengalaman peribadi Saras mengenai Kannan dalam "Will You Let Him Drink the Wind?" pasti menyentuh jiwa dan minda pembaca. Begitu juga dengan kisah "Pak Sudin's Bicycle" oleh Ted Mahsun. Namun, saya tidak mahu lagi mengulas karya-karya dalam antologi ini. Antara penulis baru dan lama yang karya mereka termuat dalam antologi kedua ini termasuk Fadzlishah Johanabas, M. Shanmughalingam, Cindy Childress, Preeta Samarasan, Alina Rastam, Marc de Faoite, Vernon Daim, Gopalan Sellan, Amir Hafizi dan Lilian Tan. Karya-karya Eileen Lui, Omar Musa, Megat Ishak, Sharanya Manivannan, Thato Ntshabele, Viren Swami, Rodaan Al Galidi, Alfian Sa'at, Martin Axe dan Chuah Guat Eng turut dimuatkan. Maka, barisan penulis adalah berciri antarabangsa dan menjanjikan kepelbagaian tema, gaya dan teknik penulisan. Seperti yang dinyatakan tadi, Sharon selaku penerbit tidak berniat mahu mengaut keuntungan menerusi buku setebal 206 halaman ini yang dijual pada harga RM29.90 senaskhah. Walaupun belum menerima apa-apa keuntungan besar menerusi dua buku yang sudah diterbitkan, beliau kini merancang untuk menerbitkan sekurang-kurangnya dua lagi antologi pada tahun hadapan. Sebagai seorang pembimbing sepenuh masa, Sharon akan memulakan kelas penulisan kreatif selama 10 minggu bermula Januari 2013. Acara "Readings at Seksan" pula dijadualkan pada 29 Disember 2012. Maka, bagi sesiapa yang meminati karya Bahasa Inggeris oleh penulis tempatan tetapi sering merungut kerana kurang bahan bacaan, silalah berkenal-kenalan dengan Sharon dan Bernice. Pasti anda akan berpeluang melihat "dunia" yang terbentang luas tanpa perlu merungut dan menyalahkan mana-mana pihak. Mana tahu, karya anda bakal termuat dalam antologi akan datang. Uthaya Sankar SB suka menikmati karya – termasuk filem – pelbagai bahasa tetapi memilih untuk menulis menggunakan Bahasa Malaysia. |
| Siapa nak buat huru-hara bila kalah PRU13? Posted: 16 Dec 2012 07:53 PM PST
Sehubungan itu, beliau menolak tuduhan pemimpin Umno-Barisan Nasional (BN) kononnya akan berulang peristiwa 13 Mei sekiranya Umno-BN kalah pada PRU13. "Siapa nak buat huru-hara? Mereka nak buat huru-hara, peristiwa 13 Mei bila Umno kalah teruk (PRU13)," ujarnya di petik dari harakahdaily. Beliau berkata demikian di hadapan kira-kira 20,000 hadirin pada Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat peringkat Negeri Perak di padang SEDC, Bandar Seri Iskandar, di sini malam tadi. Ekoran itu, beliau yang juga Ahli Parlimen Marang menambah, PAS bukan sahaja menjalin hubungan dengan parti politik bahkan badan bukan kerajaan untuk mencapai kejayaan pada PRU13 nanti. Sementara itu Ketua Umum PKR, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dalam ucapannya terus mengingatkan rakyat supaya beristiqamah untuk melakukan perubahan pada PRU13. “Pakatan Rakyat berusaha untuk menerajui Putrajaya bukan kerana kepentingan individu sebaliknya untuk menjaga kebajikan rakyat seperti pelajar, petani dan pemandu teksi,” kata Anwar yang juga ketua pembangkang di parlimen. Walaupun hujan renyai-renyai dan sesekali agak lebat sekitar jam 9.30 malam sekitar 20 minit, namun orang ramai masih berkumpul di kawasan padang untuk mendengar pidato daripada pemimpin Pakatan. Orang ramai semakin bertambah apabila hujan mulai reda dan mereka duduk di hadapan pentas untuk mengikuti persembahan daripada NGO dan ceramah para pemimpin Pakatan. Selain Hadi dan Anwar, turut berucap ialah Ahli Jawatankuasa Eksekutif DAP, Dr Tan Seng Giaw. |
| ‘Explain 40,000 late Sabah birth certs’ Posted: 16 Dec 2012 07:51 PM PST
The influential former Sabah Umno, Barisan Nasional leader and federal assistant minister who joined the opposition as an independent MP said this weekend that he was concerned by claims that some 40,000 Malaysian/Sabah birth certificates were given out to parents of these children. He said the National Registration Department’s (NRD) silence over the matter was troubling as it was a huge figure and unjustifiable, while the timing of the distribution was also suspicious. “If this figure is true, I want to know why the huge number and whether the eligibility of the recipients was justified. “Who are actually these 40,000 people? Did the NRD truly check their backgrounds before issuing these late birth certificates?” he asked. Lajim said the response from Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department, Nasir Tun Sakaran, that the 40,000 were a statewide figure and not confined to Semporna, and all were still under process and have not necessarily been approved was puzzling. The Beaufort MP, who has been ripping into the BN coalition government since falling out with Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman and quitting the BN in July, said that NRD’s continued silence on the matter needs explanation. “Why is that?” he asked in reply to Nasir’s rejection of his allegation which the minister had branded as “baseless” and aimed only at poisoning the people’s minds against the ruling government and to gain support for the opposition in the coming general election. Lajim said a reliable source had told him that late birth certificates were registered for 40,000 people between last year and this year. “Can NRD deny that the department has not issued 40,000 late birth certificates in Sabah? Since Sabah achieved independence and was governed by the then Usno, Berjaya, and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and now Umno/BN, we knew about the issuance of late birth certificates but it was never so high as the some 40,000 now. “Why does this matter crop up now?” he asked, adding that the government had always insisted that there are “existing facilities and good infrastructure that enabled the issuance of the vital document” to deal with the issue. “If you look at Sarawak, I doubt that the issuance of late birth certificates would be as high as 40,000. This is something for Sabahans to think about. Why now when Malaysia has long achieved independence?” Late birth certs He said registration of births in his constituency of Beaufort was normal as locals are well aware that the procedure must be accomplished immediately after the births of their children. Lajim posed the question during his official visits to some islands off the east coast of Sabah as a Brigadier-General of the Territorial Army, after he met people who could not speak Malay but yet had been issued with Malaysian citizenship. Lajim is not the only local politician who has raised the matter. PBS vice-president Radin Malleh warned the authorities to be extra cautious when handling the registration of late birth certificates during mobile registrations and urged them to make sure that the children of illegal immigrants were excluded from the exercise. Radin also said that registration of late birth certificates in such huge numbers should not be happening now almost 50 years after Malaysia was formed. |
| Tony: QPR win best Christmas present ever Posted: 16 Dec 2012 07:49 PM PST  LONDON; Chairman Tony Fernandes hailed QPR ending their winless league run at the 17th attempt as ‘the best Christmas present ever’.Adel Taarabt’s brace proved the difference for Harry Redknapp’s side as they saw off west London neighbours Fulham 2-1 at Loftus Road. Fernandes was in Shepherd’s Bush to witness the victory firsthand and could not hide his delight at the final whistle. ‘I am very relieved man,’ he said. ‘That is the best Christmas present ever. ‘That is all I wanted for Christmas – three points. It was a great performance, it was awesome. I think Fulham only had one shot and they scored that goal. ‘It was a great team effort, they deserved it. ‘We’ve been threatening for a while and what a way to get the winning goal. ‘Adel was awesome, the defence played well and everyone put their heart into it. ‘It is looking good and we’re undefeated under Harry. I feel like I have won the championship.’ -Agencies |
| Women make better borrowers at Amanah Ikhtiar, says MD Posted: 16 Dec 2012 07:47 PM PST
KUALA LUMPUR: Microfinance provider Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) claims to have an astounding microcredit repayment rate of 99.6%, with more than 50% of its 115 branches registering 100% repayment rate. AIM attributed the high repayment rate to its specialised credit delivery system where though loans are to individuals, borrowers would form groups of five. The small group takes collective responsibility for all members including pooling funds to help advance the money to meet the weekly loan payment schedule of members in the group who were unable to make payment. "They have a networking of mentor and mentee where they would support and help each other when needed," AIM managing director Zabidah Ismail told The Malaysian Reserve in a recent interview. Since its inception in 1987, AIM has disbursed RM7.19 billion with RM1.34 billion of loans still outstanding. In the first-half (1H) of this year, it disbursed RM871.8 million or 46.68% of the 2012 loan disbursement target of RM1.87 billion. The loan take-up rate was still within its target as historically, the peak period of loans has been in August and September. Loans provided amounted from RM1,000 to RM50,000, with the repayment period ranging from 25 to 250 weeks. Management fees are charged for the loans, 10% per annum for loans exceeding six months and 5% for loans that are six months or less. In response to the business model of the scheme, Zabidah said AIM was a replicator of Grameen Bank's model, referring to the bank founded by Prof Muhammad Yunus, which together with its founder won the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize. Though not gender or race specific, 100% of AIM's loan takers are women and more than 90% of them are Bumiputera. "We are capitalising on women who are not formally employed in the marketplace, housewives who want to improve the family income," she added. According to AIM's status report for the 1H of 2012, the number of "sahabat sah" (the term AIM uses for borrowers) was 303,543, with 214,809 coming from Peninsular Malaysia and the remaining 88,734 from East Malaysia. Out of the 303,453 "sahabat sah", 90% or 273,827 are active borrowers still paying their borrowings while the balance consists of those who have finished paying their loans or those waiting for their loan money to be released. AIM was established in 1987 as a registered private trust with the objective of reducing Malaysia's poverty rate by providing financing to poor households to enable them to undertake viable economic activities to upgrade their household incomes. It operates as a microfinance institution that provides capital financing, savings and healthcare financing. Its products are Shariah-compliant and it has its own Shariah panel on matters related to its operations. This content is provided by FMT content partner The Malaysian Reserve. |
| Malakoff to issue RM460m sukuk to buy Hicom Power Posted: 16 Dec 2012 07:36 PM PST
KUALA LUMPUR: Malakoff Corp Bhd's move to buy Hicom Power Sdn Bhd for RM575 million will be funded primarily by a sukuk issuance. This is seen as a move to strengthen the MMC Corp Bhd's energy utilities subsidiary before its initial public offering (IPO) in the second-quarter of next year. The acquisition of Hicom Power, an operation and maintenance company for power plants, will be funded by issue of sukuk worth RM460 million while the rest will be paid through internally generated funds. The acquisition will provide optimisation of resources in operation, efficient cost allocation on operation and maintenance of the facilities at the Tanjung Bin Plant, MMC group managing director Hasni Harun told reporters last Friday after the company's extraordinary general meeting. It will also facilitate speedier decision making for Malakoff and provide immediate profit contribution to the MMC group without any additional risk, he added. MMC is a utilities and infrastructure group. Its subsidiary Malakoff is an independent power producer. When asked about the amount of money the company is aiming to raise from the IPO, Hasni said the company would first go into a book building process and it was too early to talk about the amount. The company has already appointed advisors for the road shows before the IPO, he added. "Some 80% of the proceeds will be used to pay off the debts of Malakoff and the [remaining] 20% will be ploughed back into the company for working capital," he said. This content is provided by FMT content partner The Malaysian Reserve. |
| BMW Malaysia records 20% growth in domestic sales Posted: 16 Dec 2012 07:34 PM PST
KUALA LUMPUR: BMW Malaysia Sdn Bhd recorded a 20% growth in domestic sales of its BMW, MINI Cooper and Motorrad vehicles locally this year, delivering a total of 6,162 vehicles as of November this year over 5,166 units in the same period last year. The growth was driven by "a strong product line-up, particularly from the 3-Series and 5-Series models," a BMW official told reporters at the BMW group's introduction of its new MINI dealership with Ingress Auto here last Friday. Till end-October, the group sold 291 MINI Cooper vehicles nationwide, up 15% from the same period a year ago. Globally, sales for the automobile and motorcycle manufacturer was up 10.1% to 1.66 million units in its third-quarter of the current year-to-date from 1,510,857 units in the same period last year. The Asia-Pacific region is the fastest growing BMW market globally and the second-largest market after Europe, the company said in a statement. "Our partnership with BMW Group Malaysia has been performing strongly over the past few years and we have been very keen on exploring opportunities with the MINI Cooper," said Ingress Auto Sdn Bhd chairman Ramli Musa. Ingress Auto is a premium auto dealership and a whollyowned subsidiary of automotive component manufacturer Ingress Corp Bhd. Photo: BMW Group Region Asia Pacific and South Africa senior vice-president Hendrik Von Kuenheim and BMW Group Malaysia managing director Gerhard Pils at the BMW business media This content is provided by FMT content partner The Malaysian Reserve. |
| K&N Kenanga to shed 390 jobs after ECM Libra acquisition Posted: 16 Dec 2012 07:26 PM PST
KUALA LUMPUR: The enlarged investment banking unit of K&N Kenanga Holdings Bhd, which has completed its acquisition of ECM Libra Investment Bank Bhd, will see some 30% of its staff losing jobs. That will mean Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd (KIBB), which starts today as a combined unit, will shed some 390 jobs from its combined 1,300 staff. K&N Kenanga group managing director Chay Wai Leong provided the estimate layoff at a press conference here last Friday. "Today we are merging and completing the acquisition at the same time. I just signed a cheque worth more than RM500 million," he said. Chay said that though they have a year to legally use the name of ECM Libra but from today, all ECM Libra branch signages, trading portals and account statements will be changed. "This is the fact of life in a merger and acquisition transactions," he said. Chay also named some of the key ECM Libra's senior management who will join the merged entity. They are ECM Libra director of retail/head of dealing Tan Heng Meng who will head the merged entity key business area of retail broking, while ECM Libra director of operations and adminstration/head of operations Tan Tong Nam will be part of the team running the equity group. On its expansion, Chay said the group is looking at the states currently not covered. "We are looking at the total overall branch network to maximise our coverage and we will do that quickly as part of our integration process. There will be some rationalisation," he said. Both companies have 16 branches each in 10 states and the merged entity will have 32 branches with nine branches in Johor. The four states not covered are Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan and Terengganu. "I believe that within the broking industry, 40 to 50 branches is the optimal figure," added Chay. "Broking will definitely be one of our key businesses and we are promoting retail participation and hope to be a force in the market." Chay said. Chay said it expects to manage at least three initial public offerings (IPOs) next year and hopes to be dominant in investment advisory field. This content is provided by FMT content partner The Malaysian Reserve. |
| Malaysian bond market expected to grow in 2013 Posted: 16 Dec 2012 07:23 PM PST
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian bond market is expected to grow between 4.5% and 5% despite the current turmoil in Europe and uncertain prospects in the global economy, according to Hwang Invesment Management Bhd (HwangIM). HwangIM is still constructive about the country's bond market and the Malaysia Government Securities (MGS) is still one of the higher yielding sovereign bonds in the region, trading at 3.5% yield for the 10-year MGS. "Foreign investors hold 40% of the MGS and it is the driving influence for the bond market," its head of fixed income Esther Teo Keet Ying told reporters here last Friday. "The coming elections, the appreciation of the ringgit against the US dollar and reforms in subsidies are among the influences that will continue to see more inflows of foreign investors into the Malaysian bond market." The bond market has a record year in bond issuances, with funds raised totalling RM100 billion up to end-September 2012, surpassing 2011's record total issuances of RM70 billion, according to statistics from the Securities Commission (SC). The issuance of PLUS Bhd's RM30 billion sukuk at the beginning of the year marked a "significant milestone" as it represented the single largest sukuk issuance globally, according to SC chairman Ranjit Ajit Singh in a speech at a capital markets conference in October. As at end-September 2012, he said the total amount of bonds outstanding stood at close to RM980 billion, compared to RM841 billion as at the end of last year. Malaysia is today the third largest local currency bond market in Asia, he added. On Asia, Teo said despite the strong rally this year, Asian bonds are expected to continue to do well on the back of strong inflows into emerging-market (EM) bonds and attractive valuations relative to the US and Europe. "Fund inflows into EM bond and Asian bond markets will remain strong in the first-quarter of 2013, given Asia still trades at a premium to US and Europe credit. "The current inflows have been driven by the growing Asia-based investors' higher EM and Asia allocation as well as Asian private banks," she said. Teo said the factors that will lead to a reversal or a fall of inflows would be if investors rotate to other EM bond markets such as Latin America and Eastern Europe, or if there is a risk-off environment which usually leads to flight to safety, back to developed markets. Teo highlighted that the Asian bond market will continue to grow rapidly as the participation from global investors have increased tremendously throughout 2012 and the market is expected to be flushed with liquidity, providing investors with a wider variety of investment opportunities. This content is provided by FMT content partner The Malaysian Reserve. |
| Posted: 16 Dec 2012 07:10 PM PST
Between 1999 and 2001, three US military recruits died from drinking too much water.
In 2003, 14 marathon runners were treated for water intoxication at St. Thomas Hospital in the UK. In 2007, 22-year old marathon runner David Rogers, died after drinking too much water during the London Marathon. In 2008, Jacqueline Henson, 40 died after drinking four litres of water in under two hours. And as recently as July 2012, a 12-year old girl from a boarding school in Finland died from drinking too much water during a poker game in which the loser had to down a glass of water. Not so rare a problem after all, is it? This is especially alarming when you consider the number of babies who get water intoxication from drinking too many bottles of water a day or from drinking infant formula that has been diluted too much. How much is enough?
Yet, just how much water should the average adult drink to stay healthy? There is a lot of contradictory information out there. Drink 3 litres. Drink 2.5. Drink only water. Count your coffee and tea. Include your vegetable and fruit intake. Leave these out. So what is the final word on how much water is enough? Think fluid, not just water Latest studies show that coffee and tea are not diuretics as previously thought. This means coffee and tea do not encourage the body to rid itself of fluids and can therefore be included as part of your daily intake to stay hydrated. So too the vegetables and fruits you consume including milk, smoothies, fruit juices and sodas although the last three are not very healthy options due to its sugar content. Things to consider
The clear answer So after all the considerations, calculations and consultations with your doctor, we're still down to the question of how much water to drink. As it turns out the answer is relatively 'clear' – forgive the pun. Every time you pee, check to see the colour of your urine. If your urine is colourless or very light yellow, whatever fluid you're currently consuming is sufficient. If your urine is dark yellow and you haven't been to the loo in a while, make a note to drink more water in the coming hours. Remember to stagger your fluid intake because drinking too much water over a too short period could land you in serious trouble. LINKS http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hyponatremia/DS00974 http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/water-drinks.aspx |
| Posted: 16 Dec 2012 07:01 PM PST
Malays who are appointed to the central executive committee (CEC) will be lame duck members – they will be Malays who will forever be dependent on others for their position in DAP. There really is not much to tell about the DAP election, is there? Factionalism, nepotism and race. Race, nepotism and factionalism. Is there anything new in Malaysian politics? Even Umno can beg to differ on a few matters that it has been accused of. In nepotism, DAP has no equal. But surely there cannot be anything new, not until we the people change ourselves. Change our perceptions of what politics should be, change our mindset and change the very DNA that resides in the inner-most sanctum of our being. That’s the DNA that tells us what to think, what to do and how to react when we think that we are being threatened and when we fear that our very being is in danger of extinction. And it is not only the Malays that have this DNA. All of you out there have it, too. That is why those in DAP voted the way they did. No need for excuses, no need for explanations, no need for name-calling and recriminations. We all know we would do the same in similar circumstances. When will change happen? Education helps. A concerted effort by all of us to consciously better ourselves helps. Our ability to empathise with those who are different from us helps. Speaking for myself, what education I have had and having lived among people who try to do the right thing in celebrating diversity helps me to tolerate and at times even appreciate people who are different from me. But Malaysia is doubly cursed. As if it is not enough that we are burdened with having to understand each other's weaknesses and strengths, we are cursed with having a parochial government concerned only with its political survival. Our concern should be what political advantage (what other advantage is there?) this Umno-led parochial Barisan Nasional government will make of this weekend DAP party election results? Already BN cyber troopers have been working through the night, through the weekend, through much pain and sufferings (softened by dollops of cash!) in preparation for their vitriolic attack against DAP and Pakatan Rakyat when opportunism presents itself. Why not seize it? And what opportunism this DAP party election has presented to them! They are going to town on this, not any old town, but to KL itself. Race politics is alive What I write here is merely a reflection of the goings-on around me. I read what others write, hear what others say and seek out what others think. I put it down on paper and you read and let it permeate into the inner recesses of your mind, then spit out what you yourself deduce from all these inputs around you. And I kid you not, we will all come to the same conclusion. Race politics is alive and well in DAP as it is alive anywhere else in any political entity in Malaysia. What differentiates one from the other is just a matter of degree, not substance. Even Khir Johari’s son, who is a Chinese who is Malay but is really a Chinese who wants to be Malay – confused? You may be confused but the members in DAP were not. They see a Chinese masquerading as a Malay and they did not give him their votes. Give the DAP members credit for insisting that they stay what they have been, will be and shall always be – dulu, kini dan selama lamanya – a Chinese political party comfortable in its own skin. It is only their leaders who saw the need to make DAP a Malaysian entity. They were confused. Now all is well. Sobering, is it not? The realisation that the change we have been aspiring to will most probably not happen. That we are doomed to go round and round the revolving door with politicians who are cast in the same mould as each other. They know they are mirrors of themselves. It is only we, the people, who are foolishly expecting things to be different. DAP did not change. As its secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said: "From the internal aspect, it is the duty of DAP members in a democratic process to choose their leaders." If that democratic process favours nepotism and racial considerations, so be it. DAP members have spoken! Now perhaps their leaders will live with that reality. If you detect a sense of hopelessness in my writing today, yes there is a sense of defeat. A sense of peering into the darkness without any hope of seeing light. So what is to come? CT Ali is a reformist who believes in Pakatan Rakyat's ideologies. He is a FMT columnist. |
| Chinese priority: First-class education Posted: 16 Dec 2012 07:00 PM PST
Having allowed the continuity of vernacular schools, the government cannot undo it now. No way can we expect Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to have the gumption and the courage to enforce the constitutional provision that there should only be one type of school – national schools. Let’s look at that current situation with the Chinese. The Chinese are really not intent on having schools in Chinese as a means of preserving their culture and all things Chinese. They are, I suspect, really after a good education setting which offers excellent and superior facilities and resources. If they are pursuing the purity of their culture, then how do we explain the fact that the biggest enrolment in international schools and in the various private schools such as KDU, Sri Inai and others are Chinese? I don't see Chinese cultural-enhancement or strengthening curriculum in these centres of superior education. These offer what the Chinese are really looking out for – the best facilities and resources that money can buy that produce the best results. Indeed the Chinese pay to get into colleges such as Taylors and Sunway because these colleges offer them pathways to better and first-class education. Are they after the triumphalism of Chinese culture and if so, why then attend international and private colleges? Chinese want top class education The fact is the Chinese are after high-quality education because their own culture is best preserved in their home environments and other cultural-enhancement activities. What if our national schools have first-class facilities and resources and produce top results? Believe me, Chinese parents would gladly send their children there, forgetting the supposedly overriding need to preserve their culture. If national schools have only one agenda – to produce the best results using the best facilities and resources and not imposing one group's hegemony on others – I think the Chinese will enrol their children at national schools. If Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin does not already know this, maybe I should replace him. The government should turn all national schools into first-class teaching-and-learning facilities; then you will see the Chinese abandon their national-type schools. My reasoning is simple. Take Sekolah Kebangsaan Subang. It has a very large Chinese enrolment. Competition to get into this school is super tough. Why? Because this school, it seems, has the best teachers, excellent facilities and resources and offer what the Chinese see as first-class educational environment. What is important to Chinese parents is that this school provides the best results and the best students year after year. It’s good education which the Chinese are really after. The Chinese appear to not mind that the medium of instruction in SK Subang is in Malay. The Chinese can tolerate this as they see the resources and facilities and the preparation for a better educational future in SK Subang as the best. They want schools that produce the best results year after year. Supporting ‘gangster level education’? Our first priority should therefore be to upgrade all the facilities in all the national schools and supply them with the best resources and best teachers and faculties. Imagine, if instead of paying RM7.8 billion for 257 APCs (Anugerah Perkhidmatan Cermerlang), we spend that amount on upgrading the national schools, air-condition all of them, and provide the best teachers including, if required, expatriate teachers. The Chinese parents will come zooming in to secure entry for their children, never mind if the principal medium of instruction is Malay. If we do that, we don't even have to legislate the termination of vernacular schools because Chinese parents will voluntarily send their children to these schools to get superior education. When attendance at national-type schools dwindles, they will fold up voluntarily. Why make the Chinese hostile when there can be more persuasive ways to entice them to embrace national school education? Likewise, Tamil schools. Why allocate RM100 million for Tamil schools where the system provides education up to only Primary Six? What can RM100 million do? Provide Malaysian Indian children up to gangster-level education? Or is the RM100 million for MIC president G Palanivel to distribute the money among his buddies? The writer is a former Umno state assemblyman but has now joined DAP. He is a FMT columnist. |
| Online businesses ‘picking up’ but still some way to go Posted: 16 Dec 2012 06:55 PM PST
KUALA LUMPUR: Conventional businesses are far from experiencing saturation with the emergence of new markets, especially online. The Big Group chain owner Benjamin Yong said online businesses are slowly gaining a preference with consumers, though Malaysians still prefer to shop in physical stores. "Online business is picking up. In the mindset of the people, it will take time to change," he said. He was one of the speakers at the Performance Management and Delivery Unit-organised Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) Industry Speaks inaugural series entitled "Malls of Malaysia — What's in Store" here last Friday. The forum touched on how Malaysia can stay competitive in the region, while tackling various challenges after being ranked fourth in a recent CNN World's Top shopping destinations survey, trailing New York, Tokyo and London. Another speaker at the same event, shopping mall Kuala Lumpur Pavilion Sdn Bhd marketing director Kuan Suan Ai, noted that even online marketeers are now setting up their showrooms based on the niche markets. "They are online, but they put a physical showroom. Malaysian needs to enjoy it physically. They [the online marketeers] are quite clear about that and so, they adopt some concepts of showroom. "Most of the online business people, they go online first and see where people are buying more and set up a showroom at the targeted place," she said. Engage Ltd retail and shopper marketing consultant Michael Hawkins said sales and promotion attracted some 81% of Malaysians when shopping, something that might hurt the industry in the long run. "The Malaysian shoppers mentality is that, I know the product, can you do cheaper than that?" he said. In order to survive the intense competition, Yong said on-the-ground survey on the need of customer is essential. "We have to know the customers’ need. At the same time, we also have to educate the customers on what they need. In executing ideas, the basic fundamental aspects must be looked at. This is because the trend is changing fast," he said. Tetap Tiara Sdn Bhd executive director Charles Wong, which developed the Jaya One shopping mall in Petaling Jaya, said it had looked at the people's lifestyle and behaviour before deciding on its plans. "For example, the Jaya One Shopping complex was built around the theme kids and education. I specified the target market and shaped the shopping mall with the necessary aspects suiting a family shopping with their kids," he said. "The same goes to BBKLCC, which is more to fashion and trend, while Publika is on arts and style," he added. This content is provided by FMT content partner The Malaysian Reserve. |
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