B e n s t a k e s

Teoh Beng Hock

noreply@blogger.com (Misben) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:38:00 +0000

People have been asked not 'Politicise' the death of Teoh Beng Hock who died whilst in the custody of the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC).

I attended the 'Memorial' for Teoh Beng Hock held at the MPPJ stadium at Kelana Jaya. While there was the customary moment of silence for Teoh, twice in effect, it was actually an event for BN and UMNO bashing. There was also much cheering by most of the 3000 or so people who attended, goaded on by the politicians from Pakatan Rakyat.

I personally felt slightly let down, disappointed. I did not come for a political rally.

BUT how could they not, when there was so much anger and frustration everywhere.

Earlier today, the PM met the family of the deceased. How gracious, even if the family was BROUGHT UP to meet the PM at his office instead of the PM GOING DOWN to the family home to offer his condolences.

How often does the PM meet with families of deceased Malaysians?

The PM and his cabinet have ORDERED an Inquest into the death. Does the cabinet meet for each and every death of a opposition politician?

Is this not politicing the tragedy?

The Inquest of this death, a death which made world news, will most probably be conducted by a magistrate.

A high profile case to be looked into by the lowest ranked arbitrator in the judiciary. A person who might not even be with enough clout to have a renovated courtroom inspected by his or her parent before his or her appointment as magistrate.

How does one expect Justice for Teoh Beng Hock.

Peace

Penanti

noreply@blogger.com (Misben) — Sat, 30 May 2009 03:34:00 +0000

The by-elections in Penanti will be keenly followed as BN is not contesting. BN would have about 30-40% support here. What will these BN supporting voters do?

Some may be on some all-paid-for trips. Some may just not be bothered as this will be the 3rd time within a short period of time of slightly more that a year that elections are called.

Some may just vote for an independent.

PR is expected to win.

Maybe another history to be created with the most number of spoilt votes.

Peace

Anwar to be Charged

noreply@blogger.com (Misben) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:32:00 +0000

Anwar Ibrahim, PKR advisor and de facto leader has been summoned to appear at the Jalan Duta Magistrates' Court later this (7/8/08) morning on the alleged sodomy charge.

This whole thing has been called a conspiracy. But by whom? Dr Mahathir says the Government not so stupid to frame sodomy a second time.

The way it has developed, it appears to lead to nothing but a joke being played by some idiots.

Some thoughts.

1. Can the charges be sustained if it was not preferred by the AG cum PP. The Govt says the AG is not involved in this case.

2. An initial medical report would suggest Saiful not sodomised. But this doctor has disappeared.

3. Anwar has not given a sample for DNA, a corroborative evidence crucial in sex related crimes. Anwar fears it can and may be used to fabricate evidence AGAIN.

4. The police already have a DNA profile from 1998. But they may not be able to use it as it was not legally obtained.

5. The Govt will rush the DNA bill through parliment at the next sitting. Not just to compel an accused to provide a sample for DNA, whether retrospective or not. The hastening of the DNA bill is to give power to the police to use whatever DNA sample or profile they already have irrespective of how or when it was obtained.

6. Alibi. Anwar says he has an alibi for all times. As previously demonstrated in 1998, the prosecution are able to change the dates/times of the alleged incident as when countered by an alibi.

7. If, as they had suspected, Saiful was a plant, would Anwar be foolish enough to be observed to be alone with the plant.

8. I would not be surprised if at a crucial time during the trial, a video turns up featuring the plant buggering himself with a plastic in the high end condo.

9. Given Anwar's ambitions, didn't the police compile a dossier on Anwar with all his movements since his release from prison? And doesn't Anwar know that the police are capable of doing so and therefore checks himself? All the more given his past experience with the police.

As some are saying, Malaysia is turning out to be a laughing stock.

The story so far.

Saiful Bukhari Azlan volunteers his help to PKR just before the last general elections. PKR suspects UMNO had sent them a mole (but not revealed at that time)

Saiful lodges police report alleging Anwar sodimised him. Anwar is 61 years old and with a bad back and Saiful aged 23.

Pictures of Saiful with some UMNO leaders appears on the internet

First Najib denied knowing or having met Saiful. Later admits he met Saiful in his house a few days before the incident.

Anwar arrested, questioned, medically checked and released a day later. Anwar had to complete a form that is normally filed by a rape victim. Anwar was also 'measured' at the hospital. Anwar refused to give blood sample for DNA.

UMNO makes public call for Anwar to give a sample for DNA analysis. Anwar says Govt the police have a DNA profile obtained during the 1st sodomy allegation in 1998.

Government says IGP and AG will not be involved in this sodomy investigation.

A lawyer and a 'Uncle Pet' hold a press conference supposedly on behalf on Saiful's father.

Raja Petra releases medical report from Hospital Pusrawi which implies that there was no evidence of Saiful being sodomised.

A main stream media reported that Saiful went to the KL hospital for a medical problem. The KLH doctors who examined him suspected something amiss and upon questioning Saiful determined it to be a case od sodomy and advised Saiful to make a police report.

Some KL doctors vouch that a medical was not given to the police.

Raja Petra alleges the police met Saiful secretly in a hotel 3 days prior to the alleged sodomy.

Govt says the IP with the Solicitor General for him to make a decision on whether to charge Anwar.

Anwar ordered to appear in Magistrates Court on 7/8/08.

Peace

Anwar Released

noreply@blogger.com (Misben) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:37:00 +0000

Anwar Ibrahim was released on police bail this morning. Anwar's office released the following press statement.

Kenyataan Media Pasca Penahanan 15 Julai 2008

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; JULY 17, 2008

On Saturday, 12-07-2008, the police came to my house to serve a Section 111 Criminal Procedure Code notice, harassing my family and demanding my presence at the IPK Kuala Lumpur (Federal Territories Police headquarters) at 2pm on Monday, 14-07-2008 despite an earlier agreement with my lawyers for me to come to the IPK on Monday 14-07-2008. On the next day, Sunday, the police also served an ex-parte court order, prohibiting me from physically being within 5 km from the Parliament on Monday 14-07-2008. As you can see, my house and the IPK KL are within 5 km radius from the parliament building. The court order effectively put me under house arrest on Monday and at the same time prevented me from going to the IPK.

On Monday, 14-07-2008, the presence of police personnel outside the compound of my house strengthened our suspicions that they would be prepared to arrest me as soon as I left the compound of my residence, on the pretext of me violating the court order. The issue here, is which order should I comply with, the ex-parte court order or the Section 111 notice from the police?

On the same day, the police through the Investigating Officer, one DSP Jude Pereira wrote and faxed to my lawyer at about 1.06pm, informing that I was required to be present at the IPK KL on Wednesday, 16-07-2008 at 2.00 pm to assist with the investigation. I conveyed my agreement to the appointment and it was communicated to the police through my solicitor, Messrs S.N Nair and Partners via telephone and letter on the same day.

On Wednesday, 16-07-2008, I was at the Anti Corruption Agency (BPR) head office to record my statement pursuant to the police report lodged by me at IPK Shah Alam on 01-07-2008, against the Attorney General Gani Patail and the Inspector General of Police Musa Hassan for their involvement in the fabrication of evidence way back in 1998. To ensure that we will be able to attend the appointment with the police at 2pm, we cut short our statement at the BPR’s office, and this fact was clearly conveyed to the BPR officers present.

At about 12.45 pm, the IO, DSP Jude Pereira called Mr Nair to confirm about our attendance and Mr. Nair confirmed that we would attend that 2pm appointment. We were about to have a quick lunch at my house before proceeding to the IPK. 5 minutes later, we were ambushed by a team of masked and heavily armed police personnel near my house.

I was arrested and brought to the IPK. I cooperated fully with the police by giving my cautioned statement from 2.30 pm to about 7.30 pm. At this particular point, the IO and the other officers handling this case were doing their job professionally. I was then given assurances by Assistant Commissioner of Police Razali and later Senior Assistant Commissioner II Khor (through my lawyer) that I would be released on police bail on the same day.

However, later on, upon my return from Kuala Lumpur General Hospotal (HKL), the IO, DSP Jude Pereira informed me and my lawyers that I will be detained and put in the police lock-up overnight for the purpose of recording a further statement in the morning.

I and my lawyers protested, giving our undertaking that we will be back anytime required by the police to continue with the recording of the statement, and there was no need for me to be detained overnight, and that I should be released on police bail. The police, through the IO were adamant that I should be detained and put in the police lock-up overnight, despite them knowing about my physical condition. I had to spend the night sleeping on a cold cement floor, which aggravated my back injury which was due to the beating I received from the then IGP, Tan Sri Rahim Nor on 20th September, 1998.

This morning, after a short statement that was recorded for about 30 minutes, I was released on police bail. I was in pain and had to immediately receive some medical treatment upon my return home.

I now wish to deal with the statement of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Director, Dato Mohd Bakri Mohd Zinin as appeared in Utusan Malaysia today, inter alia

“Pasukan khas bertopeng polis terpaksa memintas kenderaan DSAI di Bukit Segambut di sini dan menahan Anwar ekoran tindakan Penasihat PKR itu mengubah haluan kenderaannya pada saat-saat tempoh yang diberi kepadanya untuk menyerah diri kepada polis pada pukul 2 petang ini hampir berakhir”

This is a blatant lie from the CID director to cover up their shameful act of abuse of police powers. I have given the assurances and had just informed the IO 5 minutes before the disgraceful ambush by the police through my lawyer who was with me in the same car.

In addition to the above, the Deputy Home Minister, Wan Farid said, as reported in Star Online that, I “went voluntarily to the police car without any incident.” Again, this is also a blatant lie by the government.

I take to task the IGP for this abuse of police power against me through the events I’ve narrated above. It appears that the events of the last few days, the nature of my unwarranted arrest, my overnight incarceration which was actually absolutely unnecessary, were an act of personal vengeance against me in retaliation to the reports I lodged earlier against him, which are now being investigated by the ACA.

DNA

I have reasonable grounds for having no confidence in the system. In the course of the trial of the false allegations of sodomy in 1998, DNA evidence was fabricated and used against me. The persons responsible for the fabrication then were the IGP, SAC Rodwan and the AG, are new key players in this investigation.

Until now, I have been denied access to the police report made by the accuser against me.

My accuser is still under police protection and as such, any fabrication is possible if they take my DNA. My decision to refuse a DNA test is taken through advice of my lawyers and DNA experts, both local and overseas.

ANWAR IBRAHIM

It looks like the police are not co-ordinating well or there seems to be some "camps" within the police force for these big screw ups.
Peace

Raja Petra to be Charged

noreply@blogger.com (Misben) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:02:00 +0000

Prominent blogger and Malaysia-today editor, Raja Petra Kamarudin, has been asked to report to the Kuala Lumpur police HQ at 10 am today.

It was reported that a warrant of arrest has been issued and that he is to be charged for criminal defamation. (Malaysiakini)

This is in relation to his SD alleging the involvement of the wife of the deputy Prime Minister, Najib Razak, in the murder of Mongolian Altantuya.

Well, he has been waiting for this.

The RPK SD ...

Peace

Anwar Arrested

noreply@blogger.com (Misben) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:20:00 +0000

Anwar Ibrahim, the de facto leader and advisor to Pakatan Rakyat, was arrested yesterday afternoon as he was about to go home, in connection with a sodomy allegation.

Just before his arrest, Anwar was at the Anti Corruption Agency (ACA)office at Putrajaya. The ACA officers had called him in with regards his police report on his allegations that the present IGP, Musa Hassan and the present Attorney General, Abdul Ghani Patail, had fabricated or attempted to fabricate evidence pertaining to his assault by the then IGP in the police lock-up in 1998.

Anwar was taken for medical check-up at the Kuala Lumpur hospital where, it was reported that, he had refused to give a blood sample for DNA analysis.

Anwar is being held overnight at an undisclosed location eventhough there was some indication that he would have been released on police bail.

Refusal of police bail was not surprising given that the Home Affairs minister, Syed Hamid Albar, had earlier in the evening told news agency AFP that Anwar was likely to spend the night in detention.

Anwar's office had, in a press statement, among others, said the following.

"We have been able to communicate with Anwar, who calls upon his supporters and the people of Malaysia to remain calm and to reject any attempts at provocation, which will give a pretext for an emergency situation to be declared."

Peace

Raja Petra Called in by Police

noreply@blogger.com (Misben) — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 06:05:00 +0000

Raja Petra news for those who have been unable to access Malaysia-Today.

Malaysia Today

Raja Petra Kamarudin has been asked to report to the Sentul Police Station at 5..30pm today, Saturday, 5 July 2008.

He received a phone call from ACP Aziz that the police want to record his statement in relation to the Statutory Declaration he signed on 18 June 2008.
Malaysia-Today

So he is being called by the police regarding his SD.

No, I am NOT expecting a contradictory SD2 from Raja Petra tomorrow. But knowing Raja Petra, he will keep the police busy.

Peace

Police Intimidation?

noreply@blogger.com (Misben) — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 04:47:00 +0000

There is a very strong POLICE presence in Kuala Lumpur today. Police roadblocks are most everywhere and there are massive traffic jams on most roads leading into the city.

Why?

Is it because of bloggers who, with All Blogs, will be celebrating 100 days at a gathering tonight at Blog House.

or is it beacuse of THE PROTES gathering tomorrow at Kelana Jaya?

The New Straits Times reports this

Police on High Alert in Klang Valley

KUALA LUMPUR: All district and state police headquarters in the Klang Valley are on high alert.

The New Straits Times learnt that a notice on the alert was issued to all the district police chiefs yesterday and would take effect today.

According to a police officer who did not want to be identified, high alert meant full manning of the police's state (SCC) and district (DCC) police control centres. It is also learnt that military personnel would be stationed inside the SCC and DCC during this period.

The source also said it was possible that the high alert was in preparation for the mammoth rally protest against the fuel price hike tomorrow at Petaling Jaya's Padang Timur. ... NST Online

Me thinks it is just plain INTIMIDATION.

I hoping to join the thousands of Malaysians to tell the Abdullah Badawi and his Gomen

"Keep YOUR subsidy and give OUR Petrol"

Peace

PI Balasubramaniam Retracts 1st SD

noreply@blogger.com (Misben) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 05:50:00 +0000

PI Bala has retracted his SD dated 01/07/2008 which was released by Anwar Ibrahim on 03/07/2008.

What were his reasons for the retraction, which came after his visit to the Brickfields police station?

It seems he did not take questions and left immediately after his press conference this morning.

But one thing in his 1st SD struck me as being odd. Bala declared

"25. During this discussion and in an attempt to persuade me to continue my employment with him, Abdul Razak Baginda informed me that :-

25.1 He had been introduced to Aminah by Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at a diamond exhibition in Singapore.

25.2 Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak informed Abdul Razak Baginda that he had a sexual relationship with Aminah and that she was susceptible to anal intercourse."

Now how could someone remember such trivia as "... she was susceptible to ...", when being practically under siege? What was his state of mind at that time?

Unless of course there was some truth in it.

If this bit was true, would any of the women who had the occassion to be intimate with a certain VIP recall this particular 'preference' of this VIP?

Shall we have some more SDs coming out soon?

The 2nd Statutory Declaration by PI Balasubramaniam released to the press.

I, Balasubramaniam Perumal, do solemnly and sincerely declare as follows:

1. I have been a police officer with the Royal Malaysian Police Force having joined as a constable in 1981. I was subsequently promoted to the rank of lance corporal and finally resigned from the Royal Malaysian Police Force in 1998.

2. I currently work as a freelance private investigator.

3. I wish to refer to the statutory declaration I affirmed on July 1, 2008. I refer specifically to paragraphs 8, 25, 28, 49 and 50 to 52, wherein I have stated inter-alia that:

a) Abdul Razak Baginda informed me that he was introduced to Altantuya Shaaribuu by a VIP;

b) Najib Razak informed Abdul Razak Baginda that he had a sexual relationship with Altantuya Shaaribuu and that she was susceptible to anal intercourse;

c) Najib Razak instructed Abdul Razak Baginda to look after Altantuya Shaaribuu as he did not want her to harass him since he was the deputy prime minister;

d) Najib Razak, Abdul Razak Baginda and Altantuya Shaaribuu had met and all been together at a dinner in Paris;

e) Altantuya Shaaribuu wanted money in the sum of US$500,000 as a commission for a submarine deal she assisted with in Paris;

f) Altantuya Shaaribuu met Najib Razak in Singapore;

g) Altantuya Shaaribuu wanted me to arrange to see Najib Razak;

h) I told the police about the relationship between Najib Razak and Altantuya Shaaribuu but when it came to sign my statement this detail was left out;

i) The prosecutor during the course of the trial in the High Court of Shah Alam did not ask me any questions in respect of Altantuya Shaaribuu’s purported relationship with Najib Razak or of a phone call I received from one DSP Musa Safri, whom I believe was the ADC to Najib Razak and/or his wife;

j) Abdul Razak Baginda informed me that he had sent Najib Razak an SMS the evening before he was arrested but did not receive a response; and

k) Najib Razak sent an SMS to Abdul Razak Baginda on the day of his arrest to the effect that he was going to see the IGP that day and that the matter should be resolved and for Abdul Razak Baginda to remain calm.

4. I wish to retract all the statements that I have made in paragraphs 8, 25, 28, 49 and 50 to 52 of my statutory declaration dated July 1, 2008. The statements contained in paragraphs 8, 25, 28, 49 and 50 to 52 of my statutory declaration dated July 1, 2008 are inaccurate and not the truth. I wish to expressly state that:

a) At no material time did Abdul Razak Baginda inform me that he was introduced to Altantuya Shaaribuu by a VIP;

b) At no material time did Razak Baginda inform me that Najib Razak had a sexual relationship with Altantuya Shaaribuu and the she was susceptible to anal intercourse;

c) At no material time did Abdul Razak Baginda inform me that Najib Razak instructed Abdul Razak Baginda to look after Altantuya Shaaribuu as he did not want her to harass him since he was the deputy prime minister;

d) At no material time did Razak Baginda and/or Altantuya Shaaribuu inform me that Najib Razak, together with Abdul Razak Baginda and Altantuya Shaaribuu had met and all been together at a dinner in Paris;

e) At no material time did Altantuya Shaaribuu inform me that she wanted money in the sum of US$500,000 as a commission for a submarine deal she assisted with in Paris;

f) At no time whatsoever did Abdul Razak Baginda and/or Altantuya Shaaribuu inform me that Najib Razak met with Altantuya Shaaribuu in Singapore;

g) At no time whatsoever did Altantuya Shaaribuu inform me that she wanted me to arrange to see Najib Razak;

h) At no time did I tell the police during the course of their investigations about any relationship between Najib Razak and Altantuya Shaaribuu as no such relationship existed to my knowledge. Accordingly, the statement I signed before the police is complete;

i) At no time did Abdul Razak Baginda inform me that he had sent Najib Razak an SMS the evening before he was arrested; and

j) At no time did Abdul Razak Baginda inform me that Najib Razak had sent him an SMS on the day of his arrest to the effect that he was going to see the IGP that day and that the matter should be resolved and for Abdul Razak Baginda to remain calm.

5. In addition, I wish to retract the entire contents of my statutory declaration dated July 1, 2008. I was compelled to affirm the said statutory declaration dated July 1, 2008 under duress.

And I make this solemn declaration voluntarily and conscientiously believing the same to be true, and by virtue of the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1960.

Balasubramaniam a/l Perumal

Peace

Statutory Declaration of PI Balasubramaniam

noreply@blogger.com (Misben) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 05:57:00 +0000

After the SD of Raja Petra comes this explosive SD.

The Statutory Declaration of Private Investigator P Balasubramaniam dated 01/07/2008and released by Anwar Ibrahim at a press conference on 3/7/2008 at 11.30am.

They have to get this dirt out before Anwar gets nabbed on the new allegation.

STATUTORY DECLARATION

I, Balasubramaniam a/l Perumal (NRIC NO: 600928-08-6235) a Malaysian Citizen of full age and residing at No. 32, Jalan Pelangi 1, Taman Pelangi, Rawang, Selangor do solemly and sincerely declare as follows :-

1. I have been a police officer with the Royal Malaysian Police Force having jointed as a constable in 1981 attached to the Police Field Force. I was then promoted to the rank of lance Corporal and finally resigned from the Police Force in 1998 when I was with the Special Branch.

2. I have been working as a free lance Private Investigator since I left the Police Force.

3. Sometime in June or July 2006, I was employed by Abdul Razak Baginda for a period of 10 days to look after him at his office at the Bangunan Getah Asli, Jalan Ampang between the hours of 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m each working day as apparently he was experiencing disturbances from a third party.

4. I resigned from this job after 2 ½ days as I was not receiving any proper instructions.

5. I was however re-employed by Abdul Razak Baginda on the 05-10-2006 as he had apparently received a harassing phone call from a Chinese man calling himself ASP Tan who had threatened him to pay his debts. I later found out this gentleman was in fact a private investigator called Ang who was employed by a Mongolian woman called Altantuya Shaaribuu.

6. Abdul Razak Baginda was concerned that a person by the name of Altantuya Shaaribuu, a Mongolian woman, was behind this threat and that she would be arriving in Malaysia very soon to try and contact him.

7. Abdul Razak Baginda informed me that he was concerned by this as he had been advised that Altantuya Shaaribuu had been given some powers by a Mongolian ‘bomoh’ and that he could never look her in the face because of this.

8. When I enquired as to who this Mongolian woman was, Abdul Razak Baginda informed me that she was a friend of his who had been introduced to him by a VIP and who asked him to look after her financially.

9. I advised him to lodge a police report concerning the threatening phone call he had received from the Chinese man known as ASP Tan but he refused to do so as he informed me there were some high profile people involved.

10. Abdul Razak Baginda further told me that Altantuya Shaaribuu was a great liar and good in convincing people. She was supposed to have been very demanding financially and that he had even financed a property for her in Mongolia.

11. Abdul Razak Baginda then let me listen to some voice messages on his handphone asking him to pay what was due otherwise he would be harmed and his daughter harassed.

12. I was therefore supposed to protect his daughter Rowena as well.

13. On the 09.10.2006 I received a phone call from Abdul Razak Baginda at about 9.30 a.m. informing me that Altantuya was in his office and he wanted me there immediately. As I was in the midst of a surveillance, I sent my assistant Suras to Abdul Razak Baginda’s office and I followed a little later. Suras managed to control the situation and had persuaded Altantuya and her two friends to leave the premises. However Altantuya left a note written on some Hotel Malaya note paper, in English, asking Abdul Razak Baginda to call her on her handphone (number given) and wrote down her room number as well.

14. Altantuya had introduced herself to Suras as ‘Aminah’ and had informed Suras she was there to see her boyfriend Abdul Razak Baginda.

15. These 3 Mongolian girls however returned to Abdul Razak Baginda’s office at the Bangunan Getah Asli, Jalan Ampang again, the next day at about 12.00 noon. They did not enter the building but again informed Suras that they wanted to meet Aminah’s boyfriend, Abdul Razak Baginda.

16. On the 11.10.2006, Aminah returned to Abdul Razak Baginda’s office on her own and gave me a note to pass to him, which I did. Abdul Razak Baginda showed me the note which basically asked him to call her urgently.

17. I suggested to Abdul Razak Baginda that perhaps it may be wise to arrange for Aminah to be arrested if she harassed him further, but he declined as he felt she would have to return to Mongolia as soon as her cash ran out.

18. In the meantime I had arranged for Suras to perform surveillance on Hotel Malaya to monitor the movements of these 3 Mongolian girls, but they recognized him. Apparently they become friends with Suras after that and he ended up spending a few nights in their hotel room.

19. When Abdul Razak Baginda discovered Suras was becoming close to Aminah he asked me to pull him out from Hotel Malaya.

20. On the 14.10.2006, Aminah turned up at Abdul Razak Baginda’s house in Damansara Heights when I was not there. Abdul Razak Baginda called me on my handphone to inform me of this so I rushed back to his house. As I arrived, I noticed Aminah outside the front gates shouting “Razak, bastard, come out from the house”. I tried to calm her down but couldn’t so I called the police who arrived in 2 patrol cars. I explained the situation to the police, who took her away to the Brickfields police station.

21. I followed the patrol cars to Brickfields police station in a taxi. I called Abdul Razak Baginda and his lawyer Dirren to lodge a police report but they refused.

22. When I was at the Brickfields police station, Aminah’s own Private Investigator, one Mr. Ang arrived and we had a discussion. I was told to deliver a demand to Abdul Razak Baginda for USD$500,000.00 and 3 tickets to Mongolia, apparently as commission owed to Aminah from a deal in Paris.

23. As Aminah had calmed down at this stage, a policewoman at the Brickfields police station advised me to leave and settle the matter amicably.

24. I duly informed Abdul Razak Baginda of the demands Aminah had made and told him I was disappointed that no one wanted to back me up in lodging a police report. We had a long discussion about the situation when I expressed a desire to pull out of this assignment.

25. During this discussion and in an attempt to persuade me to continue my employment with him, Abdul Razak Baginda informed me that :-

25.1 He had been introduced to Aminah by Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at a diamond exhibition in Singapore.

25.2 Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak informed Abdul Razak Baginda that he had a sexual relationship with Aminah and that she was susceptible to anal intercourse.

25.3 Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak wanted Abdul Razak Baginda to look after Aminah as he did not want her to harass him since he was now the Deputy Prime Minister.

25.4 Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Abdul Razak Baginda and Aminah had all been together at a dinner in Paris.

25.5 Aminah wanted money from him as she felt she was entitled to a USD$500,000.00 commission on a submarine deal she assisted with in Paris.

26. On the 19.10.2006, I arrived at Abdul Razak Baginda’s house in Damansara Heights to begin my night duty. I had parked my car outside as usual. I saw a yellow proton perdana taxi pass by with 3 ladies inside, one of whom was Aminah. The taxi did a U-turn and stopped in front of the house where these ladies rolled down the window and wished me ‘Happy Deepavali’. The taxi then left.

27. About 20 minutes later the taxi returned with only Aminah in it. She got out of the taxi and walked towards me and started talking to me. I sent an SMS to Abdul Razak Baginda informing him “Aminah was here”. I received an SMS from Razak instructing me “To delay her until my man comes”.

28. Whist I was talking to Aminah, she informed me of the following :-

28.1 That she met Abdul Razak Baginda in Singapore with Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

28.2 That she had also met Abdul Razak Baginda and Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at a dinner in Paris.

28.3 That she was promised a sum of USD$500,000.00 as commission for assisting in a Submarine deal in Paris.

28.4 That Abdul Razak Baginda had bought her a house in Mongolia but her brother had refinanced it and she needed money to redeem it.

28.5 That her mother was ill and she needed money to pay for her treatment.

28.6 That Abdul Razak Baginda had married her in Korea as her mother is Korean whilst her father was a Mongolian/Chinese mix.

28.7 That if I wouldn’t allow her to see Abdul Razak Baginda, would I be able to arrange for her to see Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

29. After talking to Aminah for about 15 minutes, a red proton aeroback arrived with a woman and two men. I now know the woman to be Lance Corporal Rohaniza and the men, Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azahar. They were all in plain clothes. Azilah walked towards me while the other two stayed in the car.

30. Azilah asked me whether the woman was Aminah and I said ‘Yes’. He then walked off and made a few calls on his handphone. After 10 minutes another vehicle, a blue proton saga, driven by a Malay man, passed by slowly. The drivers window had been wound down and the driver was looking at us.

31. Azilah then informed me they would be taking Aminah away. I informed Aminah they were arresting her. The other two persons then got out of the red proton and exchanged seats so that Lance Corporal Rohaniza and Aminah were in the back while the two men were in the front. They drove off and that is the last I ever saw of Aminah.

32. Abdul Razak Baginda was not at home when all this occurred.

33. After the 19.10.2006, I continued to work for Abdul Razak Baginda at his house in Damansara Heights from 7.00 p.m. to 8.00 a.m. the next morning, as he had been receiving threatening text messages from a woman called ‘Amy’ who was apparently ‘Aminah’s’ cousin in Mongolia.

34. On the night of the 20.10.2006, both of Aminah’s girl friends turned up at Abdul Razak Baginda’s house enquiring where Aminah was. I informed them she had been arrested the night before.

35. A couple of nights later, these two Mongolian girls, Mr. Ang and another Mongolian girl called ‘Amy’ turned up at Abdul Razak Baginda’s house looking for Aminah as they appeared to be convinced she was being held in the house.

36. A commotion began so I called the police who arrived shortly thereafter in a patrol car. Another patrol car arrived a short while later in which was the investigating officer from the Dang Wangi Police Station who was in charge of the missing persons report lodged by one of the Mongolians girls, I believe was Amy.

37. I called Abdul Razak Baginda who was at home to inform him of the events taking place at his front gate. He then called DSP Musa Safri and called me back informing me that Musa Safri would be calling handphone and I was to pass the phone to the Inspector from Dang Wangi Police Station.

38. I then received a call on my handphone from Musa Safri and duly handed the phone to the Dang Wangi Inspector. The conversation lasted 3 – 4 minutes after which he told the girls to disperse and to go to see him the next day.

39. On or about the 24.10.2006, Abdul Razak Baginda instructed me to accompany him to the Brickfields police station as he had been advised to lodge a police report about the harassment he was receiving from these Mongolian girls.

40. Before this, Amy had sent me an SMS informing me she was going to Thailand to lodge a report with the Mongolian consulate there regarding Aminah’s disappearance. Apparently she had sent the same SMS to Abdul Razak Baginda. This is why he told me he had been advised to lodge a police report.

41. Abdul Razak Baginda informed me that DPS Musa Safri had introduced him to one DSP Idris, the head of the Criminal division, Brickfields police station, and that Idris had referred him to ASP Tonny.

42. When Abdul Razak Baginda had lodged his police report at Brickfields police station, in front of ASP Tonny, he was asked to make a statement but he refused as he said he was leaving for overseas. He did however promise to prepare a statement and hand ASP Tonny a thumb drive. I know that this was not done as ASP Tonny told me.

43. However ASP Tonny asked me the next day to provide my statement instead and so I did.

44. I stopped working for Abdul Razak Baginda on the 26.10.2006 as this was the day he left for Hong Kong on his own.

45. In mid November 2006, I received a phone call from ASP Tonny from the IPK Jalan Hang Tuah asking me to see him regarding Aminah’s case. When I arrived there I was immediately arrested under S.506 of the Penal Code for Criminal intimidation.

46. I was then placed in the lock up and remanded for 5 days. On the third day I was released on police bail.

47. At the end of November 2006, the D9 department of the IPK sent a detective to my house to escort me to the IPK Jalan Hang Tuah. When I arrived, I was told I was being arrested under S.302 of the Penal Code for murder. I was put in the lock up and remanded for 7 days.

48. I was transported to Bukit Aman where I was interrogated and questioned about an SMS I had received from Abdul Razak Baginda on the 19.10.2006 which read “delay her until my man arrives”. They had apparently retrieved this message from Abdul Razak Baginda’s handphone.

49. They then proceeded to record my statement from 8.30 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. everyday for 7 consecutive days. I told them all I knew including everything Abdul Razak Baginda and Aminah had told me about their relationships with Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak but when I came to sign my statement, these details had been left out.

50. I have given evidence in the trial of Azilah, Sirul and Abdul Razak Baginda at the Shah Alam High Court. The prosecutor did not ask me any questions in respect of Aminah’s relationship with Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak or of the phone call I received from DSP Musa Safri, whom I believe was the ADC for Datuk Seri Najib Razak and/or his wife.

51. On the day Abdul Razak Baginda was arrested, I was with him at his lawyers office at 6.30 a.m. Abdul Razak Baginda informed us that he had sent Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak an SMS the evening before as he refused to believe he was to be arrested, but had not received a response.

52. Shortly thereafter, at about 7.30 a.m., Abdul Razak Baginda received an SMS from Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and showed, this message to both myself and his lawyer. This message read as follows :- “ I am seeing IGP at 11.00 a.m. today …… matter will be solved … be cool”.

53. I have been made to understand that Abdul Razak Baginda was arrested the same morning at his office in the Bangunan Getah Asli, Jalan Ampang.

54. The purpose of this Statutory declaration is to :-

54.1 State my disappointment at the standard of investigations conducted by the authorities into the circumstances surrounding the murder of Altantuya Shaaribuu.

54.2 Bring to the notice of the relevant authorities the strong possibility that there are individuals other than the 3 accused who must have played a role in the murder of Altantuya Shaaribuu.

54.3 Persuade the relevant authorities to reopen their investigations into this case immediately so that any fresh evidence may be presented to the Court prior to submissions at the end of the prosecutions case.

54.4 Emphasize the fact that having been a member of the Royal Malaysian Police Force for 17 years I am absolutely certain no police officer would shoot someone in the head and blow up their body without receiving specific instructions from their superiors first.

54.5. Express my concern that should the defence not be called in the said murder trial, the accused, Azilah and Sirul will not have to swear on oath and testify as to the instructions they received and from whom they were given.

55. And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same be true and by virtue of the provisions of the Statutory Declaration Act 1960.

SUBCRIBED and solemnly )
declared by the abovenamed )
Balasubramaniam a/l Perumal ]

this day of 2008 )

Before me,

………………………………….
Commissioner for Oath
Kuala Lumpur

Peace

It ain't over till the Fat Lady Sings

noreply@blogger.com (Misben) — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:17:00 +0000

Since 1998, nothing had so gripped the nation than the charging of and detention of prominent blogger cum webmaster of Malaysia-today, Raja Petra Kamarudin.

Sedition? - Sedicious Tendency? - Irrespective of Intention? These are big and confusing words to me.

"Lets send the Altantuya murderers to Hell" to me, means just that. Give them HELL on earth - whoever or where ever they are. Period.

Peace

Boycott Main Stream Media

noreply@blogger.com (Misben) — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 15:58:00 +0000

The main stream media (MSM) have been feeding us with lies after lies. And whenever they do not tell lies, they do not tell the truth either. We have seen how they spin stories in favour of UMNO and the BN.

Netizens of Cyberspace have had enough. They, especially The Peoples Parliament, decided to take some action and launched a "Tuesdays" boycott of the newspapers. It started with Tuesday 29 January 2008. I have joined in the boycott.

Was it efffective? I didn't know.

Then on Friday 1st February 2008, as it was holiday for Kuala Lumpur, my wife, Maria, went marketing at the open market in Taman Midah. And as usuall, she bought newspapers, the New Straits Times (we had given up on TheStar which we felt was more pro UMNO then the UMNO owned NST). As I was getting ready to go and witness the action (pix on right) termed "Biadab" by Abdullah Badawi, I picked up the papers and was reading the front page news.

Hey, wait a minute, it looks like I have read this news before. I then asked Maria "Did you get today's papers?".
"And what are you reading now?" she answered, giving me a piercing look. I then checked the date on the papers. Guess what? It was stated as Tuesday 29 January 2008. The papers they could not sell that 1st Tuesday of the boycottt was sold on the following Friday. 3 weeks later, Maria was given newspapers without charge and no questions asked when she told the vendor about that Friday. Was the boycott effective?

There has been minimal change, if any, on the part of the MSM. So now it is BOYCOTT for a whole week effective Monday 24/03/2008. Lets see how the MSM will react.

Peace

Why MCA

noreply@blogger.com (Misben) — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 15:50:00 +0000

Why MCA by the Comedy Court

Peace

Goodbye Samy Vellu

noreply@blogger.com (Misben) — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 15:43:00 +0000

Goodbye Sam by Comedy Court

Peace

Elections D-day

noreply@blogger.com (Misben) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 18:19:00 +0000

Only if we concertedly vote for ...

can we realise this dream ...

of doing away with race based politics.

History could be created tomorrow 08/03/2008.

Peace

Elections Scenorama

noreply@blogger.com (Misben) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:59:00 +0000

Three Youtube videos that show how diverse Malaysians are in most everything.

Watch here how desperate some are and to what extend they go to entice voters ...

And here, see how some are welcomed and mopped like rock stars ...

And here, see how some eagerly await a leader ...

That's Malaysians for a new Tomorrow.

Peace

The Family Tree - Political

noreply@blogger.com (Misben) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:16:00 +0000

Another one by the Comedy Court on the families in this elections.

Peace

Peoples Declaration

noreply@blogger.com (Misben) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:57:00 +0000

Attended the launch of the The People's Declaration (original pdf version here at Malaysia-today) at Blog House In Bukit Damansara on Saturday 23/02/2008.

Wee Choo Keong of the MDP, Ronnie Liu of DAP, Badrul Hisham of PKR and Dr. Siti Mariah of PAS (pic copied from The Peoples Parliament) were on hand to endorse this declaration. Pasok could not make it, nevertheless they phoned in thier endorsment.

There were loud cheers when Dr Siti pointed out that there was no mention of "Negara Islam" (Islamic Country) in the PAS manifesto.

But the 100 odd Malaysians who turned up in yellow t-shirts nearly brought the roof down with their 'Woopies', clappings and cheerings when Ronnie Liu of DAP annouced that there will no three-cornered fights this around. The first aspiration of the PEOPLE has been achieved.

It is generally acknowledged that Haris Ibrahim was the initiator and mover of this declaration which he said was an old document of the Opposition which never saw the light of day some two elections ago.

Check what Haris said at the DAP ceramah in SS2. It's about 13 mins long.

If the video below does not play or is slow in bufferin, then view it here: Haris Ibrahim at DAP ceramah

Peace

Malaysian Elections

noreply@blogger.com (Misben) — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 13:47:00 +0000

Elections and International Women's Day

Elections Blah lah lah lah by Comedy Court.

Peace

Lingam's Devil Curry

noreply@blogger.com (Misben) — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:25:00 +0000

I enjoyed this ...

Peace

The Clean BERSIH Walk

noreply@blogger.com (Misben) — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 17:54:00 +0000

Read updates in Malaysia-Today - the police have set up road blocks on all major roads leading to the city center. We were asked NOT to wear yellow while getting into city center.

Not knowing what to expect and with a yellow t-shirt stuffed inside a sling bag, hopped on the LRT and reached Masjid Jamek at 2pm. The sight from the station was overwhelming. The Masjid grounds was blanketed yellow. There was another huge crowd in yellow across the road. And there on the road were the ones in black with red helmets, the so called Federal Reserve Unit (FRU), in full riot gear complete with shields and gas masks. And not forgetting, the monstrous red trucks. It started to rain.

Suddenly, there were shouts and people started moving towards the LRT station, the water cannons were in action. They sprayed on the people across the road on the opposite side of the mosque. Though the water did not reach the LRT station next to the mosque, but all in here could feel the chemical in the air, stinging our eyes and skin. The rain helped.

10 mins later, a siren was heard, again the people moved and the cannons sprayed. Some 15 mins later, shots were heard and soon the tear gas fumes filled the air. Tried recording the scene with my cell phone, but could last only a few seconds before I had to turn, and then buckled over coughing, eyes burning. Felt sad for the 70 plus years old couple whose teary eyes looked blood shot. Someone then got them out to wash their faces with rain water. Tear gas fired again some 15 mins later, but I moved off, not wanting a 2nd experience.

3.00pm, meeting place was Dataran Merdeka, but the place was sealed off. There was no way of getting there. I was alone among the thousands. Good friend Siew Too then called, he and Sharon were walking over from KL Sentral, some 3 km away, as the trains were not moving. When they arrived, we had quick drink. But what now, where to go? The crowd was moving towards the Cultural Market, so we followed right up to the Palace area.

4.20pm a slight commotion in front of the Palace and the FRU started advancing. The men in maroon uniform quickly went into action and moved the people back. The crowd then retreated with shouts of "Daulat Tuanku" and "Hidup Rakyat". The WALK had ended. It was peaceful, it was clean, it was exhilarating.

The PEOPLE walked and the PEOPLE showed.

The cellphone pics and the two video clips on YouTube captured for posterity.

The FRU having 'taken over' Jalan Tun Perak

The FRU then 'conquered' the area surrounding Masjid Jamek

The People milling near the Palace

ST Liu and Sharon made the Walk

Road in front of the Palace sealed off (4.17pm)

The People making their way back from the Palace

The Unit Amal in maroon uniform who did a commendable job of crowd control

Dataran Merdeka still sealed off at 4.50pm

The Aggression at Masjid Jamek

The People leaving the Palace area

This picture (below) of Amri from Shah Alam speaks the thousand words of true grit and determination. (Picture stolen from The Peoples Parliament where Haris Ibrahim has written his thoughts).

Peace

Walking the Talk

noreply@blogger.com (Misben) — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 15:03:00 +0000

Saturday 10 November 2007 will be an important day. It's the day I am going to stand and be counted among the thousands at Dataran Merdeka. It's the day I am going to walk to take back this country. Take back this country from the vultures. It's the day when we say Enough is Enough.

I have to do this.

If a few years down the road I am asked.

"Daddy, what did you do when you saw this country being raped and plundered?"

I can be honest.

This is NOT about Politics. This is NOT about challenging the Executive. This is NOT about supporting the Opposition.

This IS about Upholding the supremacy of the Constitution. This IS about Defending our rights to our Voice. This IS about the Ensuring elections are Free Clean and Fair.

A call has been made.

I am answering it.

Peace

A common word between Us and You

noreply@blogger.com (Misben) — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 17:41:00 +0000

130 Muslim Scholars reach out to Pope

"More than 130 Muslim scholars have written to Pope Benedict XVI and other Christian leaders urging greater understanding between the two faiths.

The letter says that world peace could depend on improved relations between Muslims and Christians.

It identifies the principles of accepting only one god and living in peace with one's neighbours as common ground between the two religions.

It also insists that Christians and Muslims worship the same god. ..." BBC News

The letter talks about some passages in the Bible and the Koran that show similarities, basically in the "Two Commandments of Love"

The following are among the 130 signatories to the letter.

H.E. Dr Anwar Ibrahim
Former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia: Honorary President of AccountAbility

Prof. Dr. Mohammad Hshim Kamali
Dean and Professor, International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation (ISTAC) International Islamic University, Malaysia

Prof. Dr. Aref Ali Nayed
Former Professor at the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies (Rome); Former Professor, International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation (ISTAC) Malaysia; Senior Advisor to the Cambridge Interfaith Program at the Faculty of Divinity in Cambridge, UK

Dato Dr. Abdul Hamid Othman
Adivsor to the H.E. the Prime Minister of Malaysia

Prof. Dr. Muddathir Al-Tayib Abdel-Rahim
Professor of Political Science and Islamic Studies, International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation (ISTAC) Malaysia

Here is a letter talking about "A Common Word" and co-signed by Abdullah's ADVISOR and yet this very same Abdullah, his office, his ministry and the Government have banned Christians from using the word "Allah" when referring to the GOD the Christians believe.

Don't we all believe in the same One God?

Peace

BBC HardTalk with Syed Hamid Albar

noreply@blogger.com (Misben) — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 14:12:00 +0000

BBC Hardtalk interview with Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar.

Check for yourselves how stupid, ignorant and evasive a politician can be.

Full Transcript (received through an email)

Sarah Montague:
Malaysia has just celebrated the 50th anniversary of its independence from Britain, and there is much to celebrate. Living standards have improved immeasurably over the past five decades, and the economy is doing well. But race is increasingly becoming a problem. A third of the population are ethnic Chinese or Indian. And they are becoming increasingly frustrated at the systematic discrimination they suffer. My guest today is the country's Foreign Minister.
[music]
Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, welcome to HARDtalk.
Syed Hamid Albar:
Thank you very much.

Sarah Montague:
Is it time to change Malaysia's laws and treat everyone the same?

Syed Hamid Albar:
When you talking about, looking at everyone, we're looking at nation building. The most important thing is Malaysians feel they are Malaysians. To recognise our diversity as a source of our strength, there is no need for us to change the laws so long as we're able to exercise the unity, we're able to act as Malaysians. And I think this is happening, the process of nation building is not a short process. We came from a very divided society that was recognised by economic functions, living at a very poor living standard. So I think we have tackled the issues in a way that will bring peace and stability, at the same time people are able to share prosperity of the country. And this is happening..

Sarah Montague:
But there were laws that were originally brought in to help Malays, who were... basically to tackle poverty. There might have been some justification for them at some time, but since poverty has been tackled, the illiteracy is eradicated, what's the justification for treating generations-old... ethnic Chinese and Indians who've been in Malaysia for generations; why should they be treated differently now?

Syed Hamid Albar:
I think when you're looking at it from a detached point of view, you might be seeing it in that way. But if you look at it in reality, what is happening is that the economic growth of the non-Malays is faster after the New Economic Policy than before it. The share of the economic cake, is bigger, deeper and wider than before, so it is not as if you're looking at a theoretical, conceptual thing, you're looking at the realities on the ground. And the realities on the ground, if you look at the household income, between Malays, Chinese and Indians, even the Indians have got better household income than the Malays. So I think if you take it out of its ethnic dimension, then you will see that it is the function of any government to have the less fortunate, to make sure the divide that is based on ethnic division can be overcome. And I think we have done that quite successfully...

Sarah Montague:
Let's take a look at access to universities. Is it fair that it's easier for Malays to get to universities than it is for ethnic Indians or Chinese?

Syed Hamid Albar:
I think the question, maybe at the beginning, I think it is the same thing in UK or any country that starts to build a nation. When you start to build a nation, when you see the disparity, the education opportunities, what we wanted to do was to create the opportunity. How do you avoid seeing people who are living in the rural areas with less facilities, how...

Sarah Montague:
... but you don't have that problem any longer it's difficult to justify..

Syed Hamid Albar:
We do have.. we have.. At present it is based on merit, it is based on merit, and I think if you look at the university, our democrisation of the education, you have to look in total, the number of students in Malaysia. I think people who see it from outside will try to aggravate the situation and say 'Oh there is disparity between..

Sarah Montague:
But it doesn't just seem.. but it doesn't just seem to be people from outside who are saying this, people within.. it is ethnic Indians and Chinese in Malaysia...

Syed Hamid Albar:
I think you have to look at it this way.. I think without me getting excited about it, or emotional about it, looking at it in a fair balance; if you look in terms of total number of students of all universities in Malaysia, there are still more non-Malays than the Malays. And this should not be an issue that divides us. I think ultimately we have done, we have tackled all issues step by step, and it is working. I think for Malaysia it is working. Wherever we see that there is disparity.. At one time scholarships were given to Malays; government scholarships were given to Malays. Now it is open to non-Malays also. So all these things are happening, but we must dismantle..

Sarah Montague:
But what about government contracts...

Syed Hamid Albar:
For your information, the contracts that are enjoyed by the Chinese in absolute terms, and the non-Malays, is bigger than even the Malays. If I have a piece of land that is one acre in a rural area, that one piece of acre of land, may be valued at RM10,000, or it's about US$3,000. But if I have got a ten thousand square feet of land, in the urban area, that will cost millions. So we do not look at that.. We are building a nation, a nation that has been left divided, been recognised through economic activities, now there is building on common factors amongst us.

Sarah Montague:
But do you not accept that you are in danger.. that there is rising resentment among ethnic Indians and Chinese because of this situation.. it is persisting when they don't see that it needs to persist any longer..

Syed Hamid Albar:
I think there is a lot more discussion, open discussion, but you do not misinterpret that open discussion among the races is something negative. It shows that the nation has reached the stage of maturity. We're questioning things that before we have taken for granted. The Chinese are looking at what more can they get, the Indians are looking how they could improve; I'm not saying that there is no problem, but for outsiders to come and tell us, 'Ohh you're going.. there is going to be racial tension, there is going to be problem..' No. I think you just witnessed the 50th anniversary of independence. I think there is that sense of belonging and ownership. It is up to the Malaysians to subsequently to dismantle whatever they consider is necessary...

Sarah Montague:
... how is it that ethnic Indians and Chinese feel a sense of belonging when they're, right from the very top, they can't get access to the top Cabinet posts?

Syed Hamid Albar:
Who told you that?

Sarah Montague:
When was the last time a senior Cabinet post was held by an ethnic Indian or Chinese?

Syed Hamid Albar:
What do you mean by 'senior Cabinet post'?

Sarah Montague:
Since 1973, the top Cabinet posts: Prime Minister, Deputy, Home Affairs, Internal Security, Defense, Foreign, Finance, Education, Trade and International Trade.. 1973 is the last time any of those posts was held by a non-Malay..

Syed Hamid Albar:
I can argue the same thing with so many countries, I can argue the same thing..

Sarah Montague:
We're not.. we're not talking about other countries, we're talking about Malaysia. Other countries can deal with their problems of their own. How would you deal.. Do you recognise that is a problem?
You talk about sharing power, there is..

Syed Hamid Albar:
No no let me talk to you in a way that is most... that you do not get excited... that you do not get upset about something that you do not understand. Let me tell you this: Whenever we want to do something, it is important for us to look at other countries. That's where we learn, that's how we leapfrog. Democracy does not come by itself, it comes because we look at the examples of other places. So let me say that, in the case that, the most important thing is, there will come a time when the Chinese, the Indians and the other races in Malaysia have accepted that arrangement; how can somebody from outside come to tell us, 'Ohh..'

Sarah Montague:
You mean...

Syed Hamid Albar:
They have accepted..

Sarah Montague:
.. you mean this situation is fine because nobody is saying anything in Malaysia about it..

Syed Hamid Albar:
No no.. not nobody is saying. If they are able to.. if the Opposition, if they're able.. or the Chinese parties decide to get together and to change that thing, there is nothing under the law to stop it. That is what I'm saying..

Sarah Montague:
Do you not think it's a little odd that all the senior posts... in the Cabinet in the last 30 years have been held by a non-Malay?

Syed Hamid Albar:
I don't think... I don't think so. This is a democratic system. Each one of them have agreed in the coalition to work together. It is well and good for somebody to say that 'All this.. it should not be', I don't think we're going to be told how it should be..

Sarah Montague:
There is outside... there is inside Malaysia who say this.. this social contract is actually State racism. What do you say to that?

Syed Hamid Albar:
Oh. I can say the worse about Israeli State racism; in our case we don't have that provision. You have to look at it in, I think, objectively. I don't think it is right to look at Malaysia as a racist country. I don't think it is right. You should see how the infusion of cultures, the getting together, the people get along together.. Yes you can find there are.. people who disagree with it.. there are certain things that people say 'Ah it's not perfect,'.. I would be the last person that say this is a perfect situation, but I think we have succeeded in building a multiracial society out of our diversity. We have succeeded in bringing the whole of the Malaysian community, even against the diverse backgrounds, together, to work together. There will come a time... that... if it is the choice of the people, because one person is one vote..

Sarah Montague:
When do you think that time will come..

Syed Hamid Albar:
... That is up to the voters...

Sarah Montague:
Because there are plenty of people outside Malaysia, who look at it, and let's take a look at investors, because [while you] think, 'Look it's absolutely fine,' there are those who would invest in Malaysia, but choose not to do so. And here's an emerging markets fund manager. He's cashed out most of his fund investments in Malaysia, because he said, 'The problem is that the Malays would do a lot better as well if there weren't the restrictions. They've got the resources, they've got the people; they're just not harnessing them in the right way.' And he suggests that you roll back those measures, to encourage entrepreneurial energy. And that was Mark Mobius, who's the fund manager with Franklin Templeton.

Syed Hamid Albar:
I think what he's saying, if you do not... If there are ten fund managers, there is one fund manager that say in that way, then I think he is entitled to his own view. But the majority of fund managers find that Malaysia is a good place for investment, it is a good place that gives good returns on investment; the Malaysian economy has grown because of foreign investment..

Sarah Montague:
But why has it not grown as much as other countries in the area..

Syed Hamid Albar:
I think they're quite happy that it has grown for the last.. If you look at it from double digit, now we have grown about 6 percent, so it's not a bad growth..

Sarah Montague:
... But it's slowing and your neighbouring countries are growing faster.

Syed Hamid Albar:
No there are times that our neighbouring countries grow slower, and we grow faster. I mean, you can't take... one particular moment and say 'Oh this is growing faster, therefore it is because of..', I tell you..I can actually give all sorts of clarifications if I want to, on so many things. But I think you have to look at it; have we succeeded in creating peace and stability, in generating prosperity among the races, have we succeeded in trying to infuse culture out of our diversity; we are better off than many other countries..

Sarah Montague:
But my question is, will it continue to do so?

Syed Hamid Albar:
I think it will. I am not in the same position like you are... look at it negatively. I am a Malaysian. My love for my country, my commitment to my country, I would say yes. I am not going to allow any foreigners to tell me, 'Oh this is going to break'. No I will not allow that.

Sarah Montague:
A recent survey on race relations in Malaysia found that 34 percent of those who were asked had never had a meal with citizens of other races. The lives of different races within Malaysia are now so divided that, that you have different races - they learn in separate schools, they eat separately, they work separately, they socialise separately - does that worry you?

Syed Hamid Albar:
If that happens like the way you say, of course it worries us. That's why we have been addressing the racial issues. We talk about among ourselves, I do not know whether you [?] realise or not, we talk about the danger of polarisation, the danger of us looking at ourselves separately, of course we tackle these problems. But we recognise, it can exist. But we have got a desire of tackling those issues. It's not we are saying, you know try to brush everything under the carpet and think, 'Oh it doesn't exist'. What exists, we recognise. But it is not.. it is not as if we are not doing something..

Sarah Montague:
But why is society is becoming increasingly divided? The Crown Prince of Perak makes the point that in his boyhood, the different races mixed more freely. He says some Malay-majority schools have made the girls wear headscarves... ... people to avoid non-Malay homes. He points to the fact that lives are being lived more separately, increasingly so.

Syed Hamid Albar:
I think that's a very good comment that he has made. He is as much responsible as all of us are. All of us have to find a way... that means we have identified the problems that we have... the fact that a person wears a headscarf does not make a person an extreme. What we want to avoid, is extreme behaviour, whether of faith or culture, or of customs. We need to work together. I think the most important thing, you know Sarah, if I can tell you, is to understand the issues and then try to address them. Not to look at the issues, and say that, 'Oh it's getting worse.' There is this problem, we need to tackle those problem. I'm not saying that there is no problem. That is the very thing that you are saying..

Sarah Montague:
.. the fact that it is getting worse, and when I quote the Crown Prince ... uhh... the prominent historian Khoo Kay Kim says, 'It is becoming increasingly difficult for the peoples of various ethnic groups to participate in common activity.'

Syed Hamid Albar:
No, I think this is what the Malaysians have addressed. All of us are talking about it. It's not something that is alien, that you are telling me that this exists; we know that.

Sarah Montague:
But it is getting worse. Do you not accept it is getting worse?

Syed Hamid Albar:
No, I think there is relations all over the world, is getting worse. Polarisation all over the world is getting worse. But it does not mean you should give up. We know it exists, but we want to take steps to overcome them. That's why, our current government, is giving the opportunity, for everyone to talk about it. And then try to provide solutions. One of the things that we have done in the Merdeka celebrations is to make that sense of participation, that every race... Because we know there is that problem of polarisation, division... People leaving go to Chinese schools, go to Tamil schools, they don't mix with each other; so all these, we are handling and tackling them. I am not going to take...

Sarah Montague:
What are you plan to do about the schools then, the fact that...

Syed Hamid Albar:
The schools, we need to overcome the problem of sensitivities. We wanted to establish the integrated schools, where everyone, studying their language, their ... medium of instruction, under one school. But here in this particular case, the Chinese does not want. They want a separate school of their own. So now what we have done, in the national schools, we have brought in the... you can study Chinese, you can study Tamil, you can study other ethnic... You know you can't get that in other places. You know some... I think, we recognise their problems, but it is not a problem we cannot overcome.

Sarah Montague:
Article 11 of the Malaysian Constitution says 'every person has the right to profess and practise his religion'. Increasingly, that seems to be becoming meaningless. Is it?

Syed Hamid Albar:
I don't think so. I don't agree with you. You're talking about practising their own religion.. you know, Malaysia is one of the places that you can see the practice of multi-religions, and all religions exist in Malaysia. But if you're talking about, you know, converting one person to... That is a different issue entirely...

Sarah Montague:
Why is a Muslim, and there have been some high-profile cases, perhaps one of the most high-profile - Lina Joy, a Malay woman. She tried to convert to Christianity and she wasn't allowed to.

Syed Hamid Albar:
I think you have made the whole thing... turn into something that is negative. Lina Joy wanted to change her name; she was never not allowed to convert to Christianity or whatever religion that she has chosen. But a person is born, with an identity card; there is a system that we have in Malaysia, the ID. And that ID you want to change, that creates problems. It is nothing to do with the fact that nobody has arrested her and forced her to become a Muslim, to convert to become a Muslim. But the court decided, on the basis that, you cannot change your name in the ID. But she has got her own choice, she has made her own choice, in wanting to be what she has chosen. I don't think we stop that.

Sarah Montague:
So anybody can convert. Let's take the case of Revathi Masoosai. Now she was a Muslim-born Malaysian woman, who was sent to an Islamic rehabilitation centre for six months, because she tried to live as a Hindu.

Syed Hamid Albar:
[pause] I think that happens all the time, for a Muslim, you have to look at the diversity.. If you are a Muslim, you are converted or you choose to convert - we see whether that conversion is being done, she has entered into another religion voluntarily or not, then she will have that right, the choice, the option to decide on her own. I think ... out of 5 million Malaysians, or there are about 12 million Malaysians who have profess certain religions, and there are two or three cases; I don't think it represents the whole country. And there are quite a number of issues that are more important, bigger than what you are describing, but if you describe out of one, then it becomes the whole picture. I don't think that is right.

Sarah Montague:
It's.. it's important because it shows what the State is doing, it shows how it could affect other individuals. I mean, if you take her case, why could she not practise as a Hindu?

Syed Hamid Albar:
She has decided.. If ultimately she has decided to become a Hindu, that's up to her.

Sarah Montague:
.. But she had to go through what she has gone...

Syed Hamid Albar:
She is a Muslim.

Sarah Montague:
Six months rehabilitation, she says it was like a prison. They say it's a school, but it's actually like a prison.

Syed Hamid Albar:
Yah, out of the how many Muslim women that got converted to Hindus?

Sarah Montague:
She...

Syed Hamid Albar:
You are.. you know she came out, and she said that is what had happened. Have they proceeded against her? They have not proceeded against her. She has.. they want to make sure that...

Sarah Montague:
She now has to live with her mother in order to see her child.

Syed Hamid Albar:
To see her child... whether...

Sarah Montague:
She has a child with the Hindu man.

Syed Hamid Albar:
You know, if you follow a certain religion, like you are a member of a certain club, you are subject to certain rules. When you want to get out of that club, then you must make sure you follow that rule in getting out of it. But nobody is going to stop anyone, who so strongly profess a certain religion, they want to change to another religion, that's up to them. But it does create... misunderstanding, between people, between religions. Malaysia we have survived, because we have kept ...that, that compartment [?], rather than... you know.. the various religions living, practising... without interference. If you see in Malaysia, there are more... Malaysia practises more freedom than even in this country.

Sarah Montague:
But these cases are used... are used as examples of where people fear a creeping Islamisation of Malaysia.

Syed Hamid Albar:
I think there is.. there is that prejudice rather than creeping Islamisation. You must remember that in the Constitution, Islam is the official religion of Malaysia. You know.. that at the same time, we have got per capita population, we have got so many...

Sarah Montague:
But is it an Islamic State?

Syed Hamid Albar:
It is an Islamic State.

Sarah Montague:
It is, or is not?

Syed Hamid Albar:
... but it is not a theocratic Islamic State. We have said that. You know because we, as far as we are concerned, we do not see the separation you know, the old rule - the separation of church and State, as something that is applicable to us. We do not stop people building churches, there are so many churches in Malaysia, more than wherever you can find...

Sarah Montague:
But you have Syariah Courts operating...

Syed Hamid Albar:
Syariah Court is up to the Muslims.

Sarah Montague:
Only for the Muslims?

Syed Hamid Albar:
It's for the Muslims. It's not.. it's... you know please don't.. don't get...

Sarah Montague:
But you have this system because of the amendment in 1988, where there seems to be confusion over when Syariah Law applies, and when...

Syed Hamid Albar:
I think that.. that.. I know that you have looked at certain parts of it, and then you try to dissect it. Okay. When there is... on matters pertaining to Syariah, the jurisdiction is given to the Syariah Court. On matters pertaining to Syariah, if there is any conflict between the two laws - between the Syariah and our civil laws - it is for the courts to decide. But this is done in the courts. It is.. we use the rule of law in order to determine right and to determine which law is applicable. And I think that is the correct way of approaching the subject. Malaysia is not an easy country to govern. It is easier for commentators to say 'This is wrong. This is wrong.. this is wrong,' but I think that you have to live in it, to see how to govern the country. And I think overall, we are very happy in what is happening in our country, and whatever weaknesses, we will overcome them.

Sarah Montague:
When your Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi became prime minister, he promised to do a number of things, not least tackle corruption. And yet, a survey by PERC (Editor's Note: Political and Economic Risk Consultancy), which is a Hong Kong-based consultancy, showed that corruption is perceived to have worsened in Malaysia this year. Does he accept that you have a lot more to do?

Syed Hamid Albar:
Yes, I think we agree with that. We have to do a lot more in terms of ensuring good governance, ensuring that our fight against corruption can be overcome. I think this is a perennial problem that needs to be tackled, and that has to be tackled with the law, as well as with education, that is why we have established the Integrity.. the Institute of Integrity, in order to inculcate that sense of good governance, values - which is necessary, sense of morality.. When we have problems, we identify them, and we try to tackle them.

Sarah Montague:
It is not going as fast as you would hope. Do you accept that?

Syed Hamid Albar:
I think in some areas it is slow, in some areas it is... moving in the right direction. But there are.. there are problems.

Sarah Montague:
Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, many thanks.

Syed Hamid Albar:
Thank you very much, thank you.

The interview as uploaded to YouTube (with transcriptions in Bahasa Malaysia) below ...

Peace

Body found in bag is Nurin?

noreply@blogger.com (Misben) — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 05:59:00 +0000

The police today said that DNA tests indicate the dead girl in the bag to be Nurin. The police are, however, still waiting for DNA confirmation.

Why announce if it is not confirmed.

Nurin's parents say the body is not of their daughter but the police want them accept it.

Remember the case of the body in police lock-up clothes found in the Klang river, which the mother identified as that of her son and who she alleged was killed by the police and dumped in the river? The police then refused to release the body to the mother.

But this time, even without DNA confirmation, they want to hand over a body.

Is this a ploy to divert the nations' attention from the stink being uncovered in the judiciary?

The News item on Nurin ...

DNA tests: Body found in bag is Nurin (update 2)

PETALING JAYA: The police have said that DNA tests on the body found stuffed in a sports bag on Monday in Petaling Jaya show that it is that of missing girl Nurin Jazlin Jazimin.

Petaling Jaya OCPD ACP Arjunaidi Mohamed on Thursday said that DNA tests have so far indicated that the body found in a shophouse at Jalan PJS1, Petaling Jaya Utama is that of Nurin, 8, who had been missing since Aug 20.

Police are waiting for confirmation of the DNA tests.

At Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Nurin's father Jazimin Abdul Jalil, 33, a taxi driver still denied the body was that of his daughter, reports BERNAMA.

"I am Nurin's father ... I know my daughter better than anyone else. My heart is saying the body is not my daughter.

"If police ask me to take the body, I will accept, I will perform the funeral rites and bury it. But I want the police to pursue the search for Nurin because I know Nurin is still safe out there," he said, speaking to reporters outside the HKL mortuary.

Jazimin added that he was sure the body was not Nurin because of the teeth and the scar that Nurin had.

According to Jazimin, Nurin's teeth did not have gaps between them and she also had a scar on her thigh.

Nurin's mother Norazian Bistaman, 35, said she was ready to accept what the authorities tell her.

"What else can I say. The DNA test shows she is my daughter. I will accept the will of God.

"As a mother, I still hope the body is not my daughter's. Which mother will accept the reality that her daughter was raped and killed brutally.

"Only God knows the extent of my sadness and grief," she said in tears.

Norazian said this year's Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations would be the most joyous and meaningful in her life in the event Nurin was found safe and sound.

"In fact, we've already bought Nurin's Hari Raya dress and I will patiently wait for her return," she added. - Source: theStaronline

Peace