Malaysians Must Know the TRUTH

'Immigrants determine election outcome in Sabah'

2013-06-19T04:31:00.001-07:00

SABAH RCI The illegal granting of citizenship to massive numbers of foreigners in Sabah has enabled immigrants to determine the nature of the state politics, veteran Sabah politician Wilfred Bumburing said today.

"If you look at the statistical election results in certain constituencies, the presence of illegal immigrants determines the outcome of the election," Wilfred told the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into immigrants in Sabah in Kota Kinabalu today.

Wilfred (left), who is also Tamparuli assemblyperson, said one example could be discerned in the state constituency of Batu Sapi.

"It is very clear there that the immigrants there have overwhelmed the local voters," he said.

Wilfred, who has been in politics since 1985, said in the past, Muslim bumiputera and non-Muslim bumiputera in Sabah were in equal numbers.

However, this balance has been tilted through the illegal granting of citizenship status to Muslim immigrants.

"Last time the proportion in the state assembly was 20 non-Muslim bumiputera, 20 Muslim bumiputera and eight Chinese.

"Now, it has become 18 non-Muslim bumiputera, 34 Muslim bumiputera and eight Chinese seats," said the former BN politician who is now pro-Pakatan Rakyat.

Wilfred said he had raised this matter when he was the BN's Tuaran MP, but was brushed off by the Home Ministry.

‘Government knows the ICs given illegally'

He then echoed calls from the Sabah-based BN parties, such as PBS and Upko, for all identity cards issued in the state to be revoked and reissued.

However, when pressed by Steve Shim (left), the former chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak who heads the RCI, on a mechanism for such a move, Wilfred insisted that it was the government that had the answer.

"The government knows which identity cards were given illegally.

"If the commission can compel the government to reveal them, then a large part of it is solved," Wilfred said.

However, this did not mean that non-citizens who had stayed in Sabah for decades were to be expelled, he said, adding that they should be given permanent residency while their status was sorted out on a case-by-case basis.

He also submitted a memorandum containing research and evidence on the alleged illegal granting of citizenship to the RCI.

Wilfred, who was Upko deputy president and Tuaran MP, quit Upko last year and gave his backing to Pakatan Rakyat.

He failed to defend his Tuaran seat in last month's general election but won the state seat of Tamparuli.

Ten witnesses took the stand before the RCI today, the third day of the fifth hearing session. A total of 128 witnesses have testified since the hearing began in January.

OCM: DBKL wanted venue change for 'security reasons'

2013-06-19T04:30:00.001-07:00

The Olympic Council Malaysia (OCM) explained that KL City Hall (DBKL) yesterday asked it to change the venue for its Olympic Day Run this Sunday because of "security reasons".

It was also because the local government had openly stated the venue was Padang Merbok despite the sporting body promoting it as Dataran Merdeka.

"They were all the time talking Padang Merbok, they forgot we already had approval for Dataran Merdeka," OCM honorary secretary SIeh Kok Chi told Malaysiakini's affiliate internet television station, KiniTV today.

Sieh however clarified that he assumed that City Hall forgot that the sporting body had obtained two approvals, one to use Padang Merbok and another to use Dataran Merdeka as the venue for the same event, as maybe change of personnel or that the approvals were made long ago, caused the mix-up.

He explained that the approval for Padang Merbok was obtained by OCM from DBKL in January 2012, but later as the expected number of participants increased, they changed the venue to Dataran Merdeka, applying and obtaining another approval in April 2012.

Sieh added they however never cancelled their Padang Merbok approval.

When KL Mayor Ahmad Phesal Talib realised that they were two approvals as opposed to his insistence that the approval for the OCM run was only for Padang Merbok, Sieh said that the DBKL head asked him to pick only one venue but recommended Padang Merbok.

"As he had openly said we are having it in Padang Merbok, he said (we should have it there) also for other reasons one being security, better use Padang Merbok," revealed the OCM honorary secretary.

'Political interference'

He was asked to comment on the sudden last minute venue change of the OCM run that it had posted on its Facebook page today, which caused a buzz amongst netizens who began crying 'conspiracy'.

PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli (right) also labeled it as political interference to thwart their Black 505 Rally planned for June 22 at Padang Merbok.

Sieh also said that as they now have to use Padang Merbok for the event they will need the venue at least one day before to build a stage and a ramp from Jalan Parlimen to the field as the road is significantly of higher elevation than the field, to accommodate the runners who will be turning into the field from the road.

If the event was for Dataran Merdeka he said, they would not need the venue earlier for preparations as the site is the same level as the road and already has a stage.

Asked how much time was needed get Padang Merbok ready on June 22 prior to the run the next day, he said it was up to the contractors.

Repay Malay sacrifice by using BM, urges ex-judge

2013-06-19T04:28:00.001-07:00

Former Appeals Court Judge Mohd Noor Abdullah has urged non-Malays to repay the past “sacrifice” made by the Malays in allowing Bahasa Melayu (BM) to be written in the Roman script for the sake of national unity.

According to him, BM was originally written in Jawi but the Malays allowed the Romanised version be used to make it easier for the other races to learn it as the national language.

“The non-Malays must repay this sacrifice by learning BM, and using BM every day,” Mohd Noor (centre in photo) said during a lecture in Kuala Lumpur today.

Mohd Noor, who courted controversy last month when he warned the Chinese community of abacklash from the Malays for their "betrayal" in the 13th general election, today claimed the Malays allowed use of the Roman script at the cost of distancing themselves from the Quran and Hadith.

“If BM is written (in) Jawi, how will the Chinese (and) Indians learn the national language in Jawi? Because of that, BM used the Roman script, or writing.

“This is a sacrifice for the Malay people because by allowing the national language to use Roman (script), the Malays will be far from Jawi writings, Quran and Hadith, that all uses Jawi.

“For the sake of unity, the Malays were willing to change to Romanised BM.”

[More to follow]

No need to meet in Jakarta or London, we can meet you here - Anwar tells "secretive" Najib

2013-06-19T01:51:00.003-07:00

UPDATED VIDEO INSERTED Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said there was no need for Prime Minister Najib Razak to try to meet him in "secrecy" as reported by a news portal aligned to the Najib camp.

"There is no need to meet in Jakarta or London quietly or secretly. We can always meet openly in Parliament or in his office - myself as well as the other Pakatan Rakyat leaders Hadi Awang and Lim Kit Siang," Anwar told a press conference on Wednesday.

He was referring to the report that alleged a hush-hush pow-wow had been set up by Home Minister Zahid Hamidi to facilitate the meeting, where some believed Najib would attempt to propose a 'national reconcilaition' of sorts following the most divisive general elections in the country's history.

Anwar has already denied meeting Najib or sending any messengers to meet the other side. According to Anwar, he had been invited to Jakarta by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to give his take on several issues including the fraud and vote rigging the Opposition claim took place during the Malaysian ballot.

"I have met the President on a number of occassions at breakfast meetings and so forth but this is the first direct meeting of almost one-and-a-half hours and of course I was delighted to meet him and thanked him for giving that recognition. He represents a democratic country and it is not peculiar or a crime to meet elected leaders of another country although that is what Umno and Utusan will say," Anwar told a press conference on Wednesday.

"So I used the opportunity of course when asked (and referred to the election) petition (already filed) in court which showed massive evidence of electoral fraud, the indelible ink that was a blatant lie and the presence of, I also cautioned him, we believed some Indonesian nations were given voting rights. It (the meeting) was quite transparent. I then proceeded to Jakatra and met Jusuf Kalla (the former Indonesian deputy president) and I then clarified to him that it was not my intention not to keep my end (of a pre-elections pact). My agreement was in the first place predicated on ethical conduct of campaigning prior to the election, no no personal slander, access for all parties to the media - in short, free and fair elections. This was agreed to and we also said there must be smooth transition of power, a spirit of unity, malaise or witch-hunting. But did we have fair elections? Instead what we saw was the worst rigging and fraud in the history of this country."

Anwar also said he turned down an invitation to dinner with Jusuf as he had a 'prior engagement'.

"I know Najib had communications with Jusuf and Jusf invited me for dinner but I could not attend. I saw Jusuf after dinner," said Anwar.

MORE TO COME

Malaysia Chronicle

AirAsia: No more delays, please

2013-06-19T01:51:00.001-07:00

AirAsia hopes the Apr, 2014 deadline for completion of KLIA2 would be met without further delays

KUALA LUMPUR: Budget airline, AirAsia Bhd, wants no more delays in the opening of the new low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT), known as KLIA2.

Chief Executive Officer Aireen Omar said the news of the 11-month delay in the opening of the new airport, from the target date of June 28, was not a surprise for the frills-free carrier, as it had predicted the delay.

“This is what we’ve always predicted that the airport would only be ready in the second half of next year.

“But we hope the April 30, 2014 airport completion deadline is the final one. We cannot afford to defer our expansion plans any further,” she told Bernama in a telephone interview from Paris.

Aireen was responding to Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd’s announcement yesterday that the new completion date for klia2 is April 30, 2014, and will begin operations on May 2.

Aireen said now that the airport’s opening has been delayed, the contractors must ensure safety and quality of the new terminal.

She said as AirAsia was concerned on the safety of its passengers and the airport’s users at large, it hoped that MAHB and the contractors would ready the terminal technically, systematically and operationally.

“These readiness are the ones that usually require substantial amount of time for a smooth and safe operations from a new airport,” she said.

Aireen also said AirAsia, as the largest airline to utilise KLIA2, has yet to receive any official notification from MAHB with regard to the new dates for completion and operations.

“Certainly, lack of transparency right from the beginning has affected all parties in terms of planning.

“What we’re disappointed is that MAHB should have been more transparent and honest about it (the delay) from the beginning,” she said.

The completion date for KLIA2 has been revised several times due to changes made to the original plan including building a bigger terminal to handle more than 40 million passengers and installing an automated baggage handling system.

The new airport, envisaged to handle up to 45 million passengers a year, will have 60 gates, eight remote stands and 80 aerobridges, plus a 32,000 square metre retail space with 225 retail outlets.

The project was first tendered out in 2009. Its initial cost of RM1.9 billion has since ballooned to some RM4 billion with the bigger capacity plans and recent analyst reports indicate the cost might escalate further to RM4.5 billion.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak announced in January that KLIA2 will be launched on June 28 to coincide with the launch date of the KL International Airport (KLIA) in 1998.

Last month, MAHB announced KLIA2′s fifth delay, without giving any new date.

- Bernama

‘No logic in Sino-Native classification’

2013-06-19T01:50:00.001-07:00

A Sabah assemblyman wants the state government to advise the NRD to stop using the term "Sino-Natives" and classifying non-Malay bumiputeras as "others".

KOTA KINABALU: The question of who is a Sabah “native” as well as the dubious position of children of mixed parentage has been brought to the attention of the state government.

Kepayan assemblyman Edwin Bosi has asked the state government to rectify the “blunder” of labeling the offspring of natives and the Chinese as “Sino-Natives”.

He also wants the government to stop classifying non-Malay bumiputeras as “others”.

He said there was no logic in the term and that the children from such marriages should be called Sino-Kadazan, Sino-Dusun, Sino-Murut, Sino-Rungus and so on to reflect their heritage.

“(Sino-native) is not a race,” he said in his maiden debate speech on the motion of thanks after the head of state’s policy speech at the Sabah Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.

Bosi said the state government should advise the National Registration Department (NRD) to stop using Sino-Native as an official term.

He said the term Sino-Native as a definition of a native of Sabah itself was not clear.

He went on to note that Sabah has three laws addressing the issue – (Definition of Native) Ordinance 1964, Article 161A (6) (b) of the Federal Constitution and Article 41 (10) of the Sabah State Constitution.

“However, the word native is not clearly defined compared to the “Malay” race which is clearly defined in the Federal Constitution. Therefore, the definition of native is broad and open to so many interpretations.

“This has resulted in a confused state of affairs opening opportunity for abuse,” he said.

BN aware of issue

Bosi said the state Barisan Nasional government was aware of the problem and had set up a high-powered committee in 2003 under the Housing and Local Government Ministry to look into the matter and find solutions but nothing had come of it.

“What has happened to the committee and what is the outcome?” he asked.

Bosi said that apart from the wrong usage of the Sino-Native term, the NRD also did not recognise the Sino-Kadazans as people of mixed parentage.

“In fact, persons who have Chinese and Kadazan parents have been asked to choose either Kadazan or Chinese as their race.

“I don’t think this is fair for the person because he or she has two races. Sabah is really unique and this is what makes us proud,” he said.

“I hope that in the future a person from the indigenous community will never to be asked to put their race as ‘others’,” he said.

At the same time, Bosi also appealed to the government to make a decision and quickly resolve the status issue of former Sri Tanjung assemblyman, Jimmy Wong.

“The matter is still hanging and it is an injustice to Jimmy Wong,” he said.

Earlier, Bosi hoped the government would cooperate with the opposition elected representatives in carrying out their duties to assist the state government in developing Sabah.

“In order to achieve this objective, the government must help the opposition elected representatives by giving us the power to appoint our People Development Leader (PKR), provide us with offices and to allow us to attend meetings at the District Council or City Hall,” he said.

Elephants death

On another note, Bosi called on the state government to continue the investigation and find those responsible for the death of the 14 pygmy elephants in the Mt Rara Forest Reserve in December last year.

Based on reports, he said there had been signs of poisoning.

He said the government however must go on record and announce the findings of the investigation and bring those responsible to book because the incident had given a bad image of Malaysia, especially Sabah.

He said the country was already being attacked by foreign NGOs on the orangutan habitat and palm oil plantation issue.

He said the government must announce the results of the postmortem, type of poison used and whether investigation is still being done to find those responsible.

“Is the government considering listing the pygmy elephants as a protected species under Schedule 1 of the 1997 Sabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment?” he asked.

Bosi also asked if the government still allowed logging and forest clearing for palm oil plantations since the government was promoting the tourism industry, particularly eco-tourism.

He noted that the issue of the pygmy elephants death vanished to thin air after the Lahad Datu incursion.

“Before we totally forget about it I appeal to the government to continue with the investigation and find those responsible and subsequently charge them in the court of law,” he said.

New DAP man turns on his party after elections

2013-06-19T01:48:00.001-07:00

(The Star) - A former Umno man who joined DAP last year has now turned on the Opposition party, saying it had fielded too few non-Chinese members in the General Election. Aspan Alias was among those not picked to stand for the elections.

Aspan, a former Negri Sembilan Umno veteran, said DAP also had too few non-Chinese in key party positions.

“How can this be? If you say that you are fighting for multi-racialism, you must show it in terms of having Malays, Chinese and Indians well represented,” he told The Star.

Aspan joined DAP along with fellow Umno member Datuk Mohd Ariff Sabri Abdul Aziz, who had won the Raub parliamentary seat in the May 5 elections.

He said he signed up with DAP because he felt that Barisan had failed to develop national unity, but has since realised that DAP itself did not trust other races, especially the Malays.

“DAP attacks Barisan Nasional as racist, but many forget that DAP is racist, entirely,” he said.

“Now, I don't care if the party wants to sack me, because to me, a party is just a vehicle and my objective is more important.

“My objective is to achieve national unity,” he added.

Increasingly vocal in criticising both Pakatan Rakyat as well as Barisan Nasional in his recent blog entries (http://aspanaliasnet.blogspot.com/), Aspan said that he decided to speak up as he was worried about racial harmony in the country.

“Many people do not understand what nationhood is because to them it is just about a political struggle in order to win positions, so we need a new approach in order to bring a fresh start to the nation,” he said.

Aspan said that a national dialogue should be organised among all groups in society to foster national unity and to find a new approach in order for the country to move forward.

He suggested that Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah be invited to lead such a national dialogue as he was widely considered as a political figure who understands the issue intimately, as he had experience living through many tumultuous periods in Malaysia's history.

Meanwhile, DAP national organising secretary and the Negri Sembilan party chief Anthony Loke said that Aspan was merely disappointed that he was not picked to contest in the elections.

He also dismissed Aspan's claims, calling him “unimportant”.

“He is just an ordinary member. He can say what he wants. The party leadership will respond when necessary,” he said.

The party's disciplinary committee chief and national deputy chairman Tan Kok Wai also said that he will study Aspan's comments before deciding on any action.

Pakatan Rakyat Boleh Jatuhkan Najib Menerusi Tengku Razaleigh

2013-06-19T01:47:00.001-07:00

Sama ada memang benar berlaku penyelewengan dan ketidak-adilan (melampau) dalam pilihan raya KE-13 lalu, hakikatnya parti UBN masih berkuasa dan Najib Razak masih menjadi perdana menteri. Dalam permainan politik yang berpaksikan kepada 4C (teori saya) sebagai rukunnya, penegakkan kebenaran dengan segala macam fakta 'akli' atau bayangan tidak merubahkan keadaan.

Rakyat apa lagi rakyat berbangsa Melayu tidak mudah untuk digerakkan mengikut apa yang diagendakan. Bukan mereka cerdik atau pintar tetapi begitulah sifat dan ciri-ciri yang ada kepada mereka, Bangsa Melayu adalah bangsa separuh masak - kebaratan pun tidak ketimurtengahan juga pun tidak. Sebahagian besar orang Melayu masih berfikir secara ortodoks.

Puak pembangkang khasnya Anwar Ibrahim yang kagen dan kempunan hendak menjadi perdana menteri masih berusaha dengan cuba menafikan pilihan raya ke-13 tempoh hari. Anwar yang boleh dipuji beliau tidak pernah berputuas asa dan boleh mengubah segala janji dan ikrar politiknya. Sebelum ini dia bermadah akan bersara dalam politik sekiranya Pakatan Rakyat tidak menang. Saya sudah menduga awal-awal kenyataan (janji) itu sebahagian sebagai gimik dan modal politiknya demi meraih simpati.

Maka dicarilah satu dalih atau alasan untuk mengatakan Pakatan Rakyat menang bagi membolehkan beliau terus berada dalam gelanggang politik. Maka angka 51% diambil untuk menghalalkan tindakan. Kononnya Pakatan Rakyat mendapat suara 51% undi popular berbanding dengan UBN yang mendapat 47%. Dengan figure-figure yang disihirkan itu maka halallah Anwar untuk memungkiri janji politiknya untuk bersara.

Apapun kita ucapkan selamat kepada Anwar dan Pakatan Rakyat. Memang mereka tidak akan berpuas hati selagi Najib tidak jatuh dan di kalangan mereka (Anwar) yang akan dinobatkan sebagai perdana menteri. Orang yang mengatakan politik Pakatan Rakyat, baik Anwar, Lim Kit Siang dan lain-lain sebagai gilakan kuasa, orang itulah yang sebanarnya 'sinting' kerana seakan tidak mahu memahami politik itu yang mahukan kuasa. 'Budak'lah orang yang bermain politik tetapi tidak mahukan kuasa.

Ayuh teruskan Anwar dengan cara anda. Selagi rakyat masih mempercayai degan cara anda, silakan. Cuma ingat sedikit sudah ada bidalan, sepandai-pandai tupai melopat akhirnya ke tanah juga. Setinggi mana bangar terbang akhirnya hinggap di belakang kerbau juga. Hidup ini asa lapan dimensi bukannya empat. Mungkin bidalan ini tidak tepat. Apa yang hendak diceritakan, rakyat mempercayai kita hari ini esok dan lusa, tetapi bukan selamanya. Makanya tektik dan strategi kena tukar.

Bagaimana pun di sini saya ada formul kecil bagaiman kalau hendak jatuhkan Najib sebagai perdana menteri tanpa menunggu pilihan raya umum ke-14. Formula ini saya tidak mengira UBN akan tumbang. Tetapi khasnya untuk Najib semata-mata. Formula ini agak janggal dan tidak masuk akal. Namun kerana politik itu kadang kala di luar norma rentas pemikiran manusia, maka formula ini boleh dikira masih waras dalam kancah politik dan ia boleh dicuba.

Untuk menggugurkan seseorang bukan semestinya menerusi pilihan raya umum. Pilihan raya adalah cara formal yang yang ketat dengan syarat-syaratnya.Tetapi mereka juga boleh digugurkan secara lain. Kalau semua orang berfikir untuk jatuhkan Najib menerusi pilihan raya, maka pilihan raya ke-14 masih jauh. Masih ada empat tahun 10 bulan lagi. Dalam masa itu Najib boleh mempersiapkan dan memperkemaskan dirinya. Najib boleh berusaha untuk mengukuhkan kedudukannya. Belum tentu PRU-14 jalan mudah dan rapoh menjatuhkan Najib.

Makanya masa itu jangan dinanti. Ambil peluang dan cari jalan pintas.

Bagaimana caranya? Umum tahun perhimpunan agung Umno akhir tahun ini melibatkan pemilihan pemimpin disemua peringkat termasuk untuk jawatan presiden Umno. Mereka yang ingin melihat Najib jatuh boleh gunakan kesempatan ini. Anwar yang beriya mahukan Najib tumbang jangan berfikir selepas Najib adalah beliau. Anwar harus rasional dan berfikiran terbuka dalam soal ini. Dalam konteks ini Anwar dan Pakatan Rakyat perlu berfikir untuk menumbangkan Najib. Ini agendanya.

Untuk ini Anwar dan Pakatan Rakyat perlu berusaha agar ada orang melawan Najib dalam perhimpunan itu kelak. Untuk Anwar berbuat demikian mustahil kerana beliau berada di luar Umno. Satu-satu orang yang layak dan sesuai untuk berdepan dengan Najib ialah Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. Anwar dan Pakatan Rakyat boleh memberi sokongan kepada Tengku Razaleigh untuk berdepan dengan Najib. Dalam erti kata lain Anwar dan Pakatan Rakyat harus bersekongkol dengan Tengku Razaleigh.

Mungkin ada yang mengatakan formula ini mustahil tidak masuk akal. Saya ingatkan mereka yang berfikir separuh dari fikiran politik saya abaikan formula ini dan berhenti bercakap mengenainya. Memang ianya mustahil dan Anwar tidak dapat berbuat apa-apa. Anwar dan Pakatan Rakyat tidak boleh mengundi untuk kemenangan Tengku Razaleigh. Saya sendiri memberi jaminan Tengku Razaleig boleh kalah. Hegemoni politik Najib dalam Umno sangatlah hebat.

Tetapi apa yang dikehendaki menerusi pertandingan ini ialah menghimpun berapa ramai orang-orang Umno khasnya yang menjadi ahli parlimen yang kecewa dengan kekalahan Tengku Razaleigh Hazmah ini. Apakah kesemua lebih 80 ahli parlimen Umno itu menyokong Najib Razak? Sudah pasti apabila ada pertandingan kedudukan ahli Umno akan berbelah bahagi. Mereka yang tidak senang dengan Najib akan mencari alternatif (pemimpin) baru. Mereka secara lumrahnya akan melepaskan wap marah kepada Najib dengan mengundi Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

Seperti mana dibimbangI Mahathir Mohamad kalau berlaku pertandingan dalam Umno perpecahan tidak dapat dielakkan. Akan ada hati-hati yang retak dan jiwa yang lara serta berdendam. Nah, perpecahan inilah yang diperlukan. Anwar dan Pakatan Rakat boleh mengambil kesempatan. Perbalahan di dalam Umno disebabkan perpecahan akibat perlawanan itu boleh dibawa ke parlimen. Di parlimen inilah proses untuk menjatuhkan Najib boleh dilakukan.

Sekiranya bilangan undi cukup undi tidak percaya boleh dikemukakan ke atas Najib. Tengku Razaleigh atau ahli parlimen yang kecewa dengan Najib boleh mengemukakan undi tidak percaya. Jika ini berlaku ahli parlimen Pakatan Rakyat akan ikut serta menyokong undi tidak percaya berkenaan. Kedudukan hari sekiranya terdapat 10 atau 15 ahli Parlimen Umno ia sudah mengoyangkan kedudukan Najib sebagai perdana menteri.

Angka 10 itu akan ditambah dengan beberapa bilangan lain lagi yang akan mengenapkan menjadi 30 kesemuanya. Dengan jumlah itu maka akan jatuhlah Najib sebagai perdana menteri dan akan bertukarlah juga kerajaan. Ketika itu mungkin Pakatan Rakyat membentuk kerajaannya dengan memberi laluan kepada Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah sebagai perdana menteri. Soalnya apakah Anwar dan pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat lain, PAS dan DAP sedia untuk melakukan 'kudeta' ini?

Untuk menjadikan formula ini sebagai realiti maka Anwar Ibrahim bersama pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat lain hendaklah berkempen memberi semangat dan dorongan agar Tengku Razaleigh menentang Najib untuk jawatan presiden Umno. Berikan kekuatan dan keyakinan kepada ahli parlimen Gua Musang itu. Masalah kouta pencalonan 30% untuk bertanding kerusi presiden bukan menjadi masalah lagi. Sistem pemilihan baru seseorang yang hendak bertanding jawatan apa saja dalam Umno tidak lagi terikat dengan kouta.

Keterbukaan atau tranformasi di dalam Umno inilah yang kini membimbangkan Mahathir dan beberapa pemimpin Umno lain. Masing-masing sudah memberi signal agar jawatan tertinggi dalam Umno jangan dipertandingkan. Macam-macam alasan diberikan semuanya untuk menyelamatkan Najib di atas takhta. Pun begitu pandangan itu berbelah bahagi kerana ada yang mahukan semua jawatan dipertandingkan untuk melihat demokrasi benar-benar wujud di dalam Umno.

Nota, apa yang dikemukakan ini hanya satu formula atau kaedah bagaimana untuk menjatuhkan Najib. Kaedah ini adalah peluang terbaik pada waktu ini. Peluang ini lebih baik daripada cara cuba mengheretkan rakyat agar memberi tentangan berterusan kepada kerajaan. Menjatuhkan Najib dalam partinya kemudian mengakat Tengku Razaleigh sebagai penggantinya lebih realistik daripada apa-apa tindakan provokatif yang dilakukan hari ini.

Bolehkah? [wm.kl.11:35 am 19/06/13]

Change vernacular schools to national schools, says ex-Appeals judge

2013-06-19T01:45:00.001-07:00

Malaysia's vernacular schools should be turned into national schools that teach all languages, suggested former Court of Appeal judge Datuk Mohd Noor Abdullah, saying this did not mean doing away with such schools.

The former justice had already caused a stir last month when he declared efforts should be made to retain Malay political power and increase economic share to 67 per cent within a decade.

"We are not killing the language," Mohd Noor told a forum in Kuala Lumpur today, adding: "We are asking everyone to be given a chance to learn the language."

He said the vernacular schools catered to specific races, and did not allow opportunities for all races a chance to study in such schools.

"We are not abolishing the schools," he added. "The branding is divisive. The teachers and schools can still be there but the phrase vernacular can be dropped."

Asked by a member of the audience if his suggestion is feasible, "When there's a will, there's a way," he replied.

Mohd Noor even proposed that these schools can be schools for oriental studies. - June 19, 2013.

MORE TO COME.

Sabah assemblywoman is an Indonesian, says RCI witness

2013-06-19T01:43:00.001-07:00

The Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the granting of identity cards to foreigners today heard that Api Api state assemblywoman Christina Liew of PKR is an Indonesian of Chinese descent who had obtained Malaysian citizenship.

Sabah Sukuk Ethnic Clan Association secretary Mohd Zaki Hari Susanto told the inquiry panel that he heard that residents of Tawau were questioning why the descendants of Bugis and Sulu were the only ones identified as being recepients of fake identity cards.

“I had raised the issue because the people in Tawau were the ones who spoke about it... why is it that only those of Bugis and Sulu origins are associated with the RCI.”

“They said that she (Christina) is Chinese from Indonesia, who had obtained her identity card and became an opposition ally in Sabah,” he said to the five members of the inquiry panel at the Kota Kinabalu High Court. - June 19, 2013

MORE TO COME

'BN must not drag rakyat into its incompetence'

2013-06-19T01:40:00.001-07:00

VIDEO | 1.25min

The BN government must not drag in the people to cover up its economic incompetence and policy shortfalls, says PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Describing the national fiscal deficit as the result of the government’s “maharaja” expenditure by the Prime Minister’s Office and Department, Anwar said this added to the financial burden in the ballooning national budgetary deficit.

“These originate from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s unsound vote-buying schemes that cost the people billions of ringgit in the last general election.

“Any attempt to introduce a new Goods and Services Tax (GST), albeit in stages to reduce the budgetary deficit, will be resisted much in the same way that the people are resisting electoral fraud,” Anwar warned.

He pointed out that a bloated PM’s Department, the entourage (on overseas trips) and its exorbitant expenditure as highlighted in the Auditor-General’s Report were truly unprecedented.

Further criticising Najib for heading a committee to reduce the deficit to three percent, Anwar said such a feat could be achieved only if the government was transparent and practised strict economic governance without introducing new taxes or cutting essential expenditures that would affect the people.

Despite the poor showing of the government in the May 5 general election, the Permatang Pauh MP said, it continued to govern the country behind a veil of secrecy.

On this, he pointed to the conduct of the cabinet in the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement negotiations for its lack of transparency and for not holding inclusive negotiations with the opposition.

Najib does not have the full legitimacy of government in terms of popular votes received, Anwar added.

'No' to Goods and Services Tax

Najib's administration, he said, had failed to deliver the most basic of his economic promises since being sworn in, and this included reducing car prices, as promised in its election manifesto.

“These exemplify the incompetence and hopelessness of the Najib administration.

“He has failed to deliver on the promise of affordable housing and Pakatan will consider his administration a failure if it is not successful in bringing down the prices of average mid-range housing by at least 10 percent over the next one year,” Anwar said.

While national car maker Proton reduced the price of its Proton Saga this week, many, including DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, have questioned the reduction in prices of imported cars, ashighlighted in Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia.

As to whether the opposition expects the GST to be implemented in this term, Anwar said he was opposed to it being implemented.

“Imposing additional taxes will cause major hardship to the people. I maintain that the GST can only be implemented if the average income had risen significantly over the last five years. Between 2000 and 2010, the average wage growth has been at a low of 2.6 percent.

“The (Second Finance) Minister has claimed that the government will get an additional RM27 million in revenue from the GST, but I say stop the wastage, corruption and the extraordinary spending. Our position from the start has been clear: stop excessive spending and be transparent,” he said.

On another note, Anwar said that realising the alarming increase in crime, he and Pakatan have offered to work with the police in a bid to reduce crime in the country.

“I will table to the Pakatan leadership that a committee made up of Pakatan and BN representatives be formed immediately to work with the inspector-general of police and his officers to address this concern,” he said.

Chua Soi Lek told off for open spat with MCA veep

2013-06-19T01:39:00.001-07:00

MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek’s open quarrel with vice-president Donald Lim has earned him a rebuke of sorts from deputy president Liow Tiong Lai.

Liow (left in photo)urged Chua not to use “harsh words” on party colleagues, but instead to engage them in a dialogue via internal mechanisms.

“I believe the president can voice his opinion through mechanisms within the party, instead of making harsh comments in the newspapers," Liow told a press conference today, when asked his opinion of the Chua-Lim spat last week.

He also pointed out that Chua’s reaction was not in line with the ongoing MCA transformation mission.

Lim (right in photo) had claimed that it was entirely Chua’s (left in photo) decision that party members should not accept government posts, in the wake of MCA’s poor showing in the 13th general election last month.

Noting that Lim is entitled to his opinion, Liow also said this is an issue of “free speech”.

On a separate matter, Liow said ex-national organising secretaryTee Siew Kiong should be “severely punished” for having defied the party stance and accepting a Johor exco post.

Only then will the party be able to unite the members, as well as uphold discipline, he said.

[More to follow]

Olympic Day Run venue change a 'conspiracy'?

2013-06-19T01:37:00.001-07:00

A last-minute switch from Dataran Merdeka to Padang Merbok as the venue for Sunday's Olympic Day Run by the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) has raised the eyebrows of quite some people.

At least one netizen has cried out that this is "a conspiracy", on grounds that the venue switch is to give the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) strong reason to reject PKR's application to use the Padang Merbok a day earlier for Pakatan Rakyat's KL ‘Black 505' rally.

Shortly after 12 noon today, OCM announced on its Facebook site that it was changing the venue for the run that it had fixed last year.

"Please take note that the venue for the Olympic Day Run scheduled on 23 June 2013, Sunday at 7.30 a.m. in Dataran Merdeka, has been changed due to unforeseen circumstances.

"The new venue for the Olympic Day Run 2013 is now at Padang Merbok, Jalan Parlimen, Kuala Lumpur. We regret for all inconveniences caused," states the OCM Facebook posting.

Checks by Malaysiakini with the council's website, as well as that of the event sponsor McDonald's, clearly list the venue as Dataran Merdeka.

Attempts by Malaysiakini to contact the OCM office today for an explanation on the sudden change of venue have been futile because "no office-bearer is available" to answer our queries.

One Facebook user commented on the venue change: "... cos they wanna let DBKL has valid reason to reject the black rally on this sat. they can say the gathering will spoil the preparation of McD run."

3 steps to curb custodial deaths

2013-06-19T00:18:00.001-07:00

The government will establish permanent coroner courts and central lockups at each state while pledging to study the possibility of giving prosecution power to EAIC.

PETALING JAYA: The government will set up permanent coroner courts, establish central police lockups and strengthen the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission immediately in an attempt to curb custodial deaths.

At a joint press conference with two other ministers today, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that the central lockups would be equipped with closed-circuit television (CCTV), while bigger states might have more than one of this lockups.

“The police would only be allowed to conduct interrogations in the central lockups, and not in the police station,” he said.

He added that the some of the police standard operating procedures (SOP) would be amended in accordance to the changes.

He said this initiative would cost RM35 million, and some of the existing structures would be refurbished and converted to central lockups.

The government’s announcement came hot on the heels of public outcry over four deaths in police custody within 18 days.

This began with the death of N Dhamendran in KL on May 22, and followed by R Jamesh Ramesh in Penang on May 26, P Karunanithi in Negeri Sembilan on June 1 and Japanese national Nobuhiro Matsushita in Selangor on June 8.

Minister in the Prime Minister Department Nancy Shukri said permanent coroners would be “immediately” appointed in each state from among the current pool of magistrates and would be assisted by forensic experts.

A coroner plays the role of confirming the death of an individual within a jurisdiction and may order a probe into the cause of such death. Currently a coroner is only appointed on case basis.

Nancy said the government would first implement this in the Federal Territories and Selangor because there were custodial deaths in the two states recently.

Prosecution powers

Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister Department Paul Low said the government will study measures to beef up the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC), including providing it with prosecution power.

“Currently it doesn’t have prosecution power but we are looking into it,” said the minister in charge of integrity and governance.

EAIC has come under intense criticism for being a toothless tigers due to its failure to prevent police misconducts and to bring the culprits to book.

He said there are already sufficient provisions for EAIC to function properly, and he is now looking at ways to allocate more resources to make it more efficient.

Guna Ku Li untuk jatuhkan Najib

2013-06-19T00:17:00.003-07:00

Pakatan Rakyat boleh memberi sokongan kepada Tengku Razaleigh agar berdepan dengan Najib untuk jawatan Presiden Umno.

PETALING JAYA: Seorang blogger mencadangkan satu kaedah untuk menjatuhkan Perdana Menteri dan juga Presiden Umno Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak pada Perhimpunan Agung Umno yang dijadual Oktober depan.

Mohd Sayuti Omar dalam blognya Merah Tinta MSO di antara lain menulis, formula ini boleh digunakan oleh Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dan Pakatan Rakyat.

“Memandangkan Anwar sendiri tidak boleh bertanding untuk merebut jawatan Presiden Umno kerana beliau kini berada di luar parti itu maka orang yang paling sesuai ialah Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah atau lebih mesra disebut Ku Li.

“Anwar dan Pakatan boleh memberi sokongan kepada Ahli Parlimen Gua Musang itu untuk berdepan dengan Najib untuk jawatan tersebut. Ini bermakna Anwar dan Pakatan harus bersekongkol dengan Ku Li,” terangnya.

Menurutnya, masalah kouta pencalonan 30% untuk bertanding kerusi presiden bukan menjadi masalah lagi. Sistem pemilihan baru seseorang yang hendak bertanding jawatan apa saja dalam Umno tidak lagi terikat dengan kouta.

Ujarnya, “sikap keterbukaan atau tranformasi di dalam Umno inilah yang kini membimbangkan bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad dan beberapa pemimpin Umno lain.

“Masing-masing sudah memberi signal agar jawatan tertinggi dalam Umno jangan dipertandingkan. Macam-macam alasan diberikan semuanya untuk menyelamatkan Najib di atas takhta.

“Pun begitu pandangan itu berbelah bahagi kerana ada yang mahukan semua jawatan dipertandingkan untuk melihat demokrasi benar-benar wujud di dalam Umno,” katanya lagi.

Ban on open burning in three states

2013-06-19T00:17:00.001-07:00

Effective immediately, the Department of Environment imposes a strict ban on open burning in Selangor, Malacca and Johor.

PETALING JAYA: The Department of Environment director Halimah Hassan said that a strict ban will be imposed on open burning in Selangor, Malacca and Johor.

“In accordance with Section 29AA(2) of the Environmental Quality Act, a strict ban on open burning will be imposed in three states effective immediately,” she said.

“Anyone found guilty violating the ban could be fined up to RM500,000 or sentenced up to five years jail term, or both. A compound of RM2,000 may also be charged for each act,” she added.

Halimah said there were exceptions to the term ‘open burning’, referring to controlled open burning under supervision.

“The burning of dead bodies, burning due to religious reasons, barbecue/grill flames and also flaring of flammable gasses are exceptions to the general rule,” she said.

Halimah advised the public to not only avoid open burning, but to also ensure that their property is not trespassed by irresponsible outsiders who could start a fire.

“It is your responsibility as long as the fire is within the compound of your property,” she said. “Ensure that your land or premises are always secure to prevent irresponsible parties from starting a fire without your knowledge.”

Halimah also urged the public to work with one another and help stop open burning, even if it is outside your property.

“Please help prevent open burning and report such incidents to the fire and rescue department immediately. I’m sure that we could work together towards a cleaner environment, not only for now but in the long term,” she added.

The public can do their part by contacting the Department of Environment or the Fire and Rescue Department as soon as an open fire is detected. The contact numbers are as follows:

Department of Environment : 03-8889 1972 / 1-800-88-2727; Fire and Rescue Department: 03-8888 0336.

Police warn Black 505 organisers not to hold rally

2013-06-19T00:14:00.000-07:00

The organisers of this Saturday's Black 505 rally will face prosecution as they have not received approval from City Hall to use Padang Merbok in Kuala Lumpur for the gathering.

They will be investigated for contravening the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) 2012 if they go ahead with it.

This was the warning issued by Dang Wangi police chief Assistant Commissioner Zainuddin Ahmad today. He said although the organisers had been given the police the required 10-day notice, they had not received approval for the use of the field from City Hall.

The police will not make any preparations to accommodate the rally but warned they will be there to enforce the law.

The Black 505 gathering is being organised by Pakatan Rakyat to protest the alleged fraud at the recent polls.

It is also to pressure the top two in the Election Commission to resign for their alleged failure to conduct a free and fair election.

MORE TO COME

GE13 a Chinese strategy to grab power, says Utusan

2013-06-19T00:10:00.002-07:00

The last general election was a well-planned strategy by the Chinese to grab political power by replacing the current bumiputera-dominated federal government with a non-Muslim, Chinese-based administration, said Utusan Malaysia.

“The 13th general election was planned by them in such a way, from the preparation of attack and defence, to the selection and fielding of candidates, and others.

“Although they (Chinese Malaysians) did not win, the composition of the successful candidates is a manifestation of that plan,” its assistant chief editor Zaini Hassan (right) wrote his weekly column Cuit, published in the Umno-owned daily today.

Zaini claimed the Chinese had three main strategies in the country - the first two being to obtain citizenship and control economic power.

He said the Chinese wanted to take up the opportunity offered by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim and thought that the May 5 national polls would allow them to achieve their third long-term strategy – to grab political power.

To back his claim, Zaini attached several charts prepared by former Malaysia Statistic Department deputy director-general and Malacca Economic Action Council executive director Akbar Ali.

The charts by Akbar (left), who is currently a senator, show that among the 89 MPs from Pakatan Rakyat, 50, or 56 percent, are non-Muslims and 39 are Chinese, which is four times higher than the number of Chinese MPs in BN.

Whereas BN has 97, or 73 percent, Muslim MPs from its 133 parliamentarians, and only 11 or 8 percent Chinese MPs.

“Hence it is not wrong to conclude that the Chinese have united to topple the government dominated by bumiputera/Muslims and replace it with a government dominated by non-Muslims/Chinese” he wrote.

Zahid: Only PM can ask ministers to resign

2013-06-19T00:09:00.000-07:00

Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has rebuffed calls for him to resign following the civil suit against him for alleged assault.

At a press conference today, he said that only the prime minister has the prerogative to appoint or terminate a minister.

“To appoint or terminate (minister) is the discretion of the PM. It is his sole right,” he said.

He also alluded that the urging by Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo is a conflict of interest as the lawyer acting as the plaintiff is the MP’s father, Karpal Singh.

“His father wants to take it to court, so take it to court,” he said.

[More to follow]

Suluk leader claims PKR rep an Indonesian immigrant

2013-06-19T00:07:00.002-07:00

An argument broke out at the hearing of the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on immigrants in Sabah today as a Suluk community leader repeatedly insisted that an opposition state assemblyperson was born in Indonesia.

Mohd Zaki Harry Susanto claimed that although PKR’s Christina Liew (left) was born in Indonesia, she managed to go on to become the Api-Api assemblyperson.

"I got this information from the Indonesians in Tawau, they confirmed that she is Chinese Indonesian, but went on to become a leader of the opposition.

"I brought this up because people only target the Bajaus and Suluks when it comes to the RCI... Don't only target one or two ethnic groups," he said.

At this, one of the RCI's commissioner Henry Chin said he was certain that Liew was born in Tawau, Sabah as he was the OCPD of that district at that time.

"Liew's parents were from Hong Kong and she was born in Tawau, and when they grew up she married an Indonesian.

"Your information is incorrect because I know her family when I served as OCPD of Tawau and I know she was born at Tawau hospital," he said.

Information 'hearsay'

However, Mohd Zaki was adamant that Liew was from Indonesia and had changed her name when she supposedly arrived from Indonesia.

"It could be that she was not born here but her birth certificate was done through late registration.

"I'm bringing this up because the people in Tawau told me," he said.

However, Chin stressed that he had to clarify the fact as Mohd Zaki's information was hearsay.

"You only heard about it, but you cannot verify that information," said Chin.

Liew was elected as Api-Api assemblyperson in last month’s general election and was chosen as the new opposition whip.

Mohd Zaki, who is former secretary-general of Persatuan Rumpun Etnik Suluk Sabah, was queried at the RCI on whether his organisation had helped Suluks in Sabah to illegally obtain citizenship.

However, Mohd Zaki who is also a former police officer, denied this, stating that all of its members were Malaysian citizens.

[More to follow]

The question is WHY

2013-06-18T23:56:00.000-07:00

We Malaysians are only interested in WHY the authorities like PDRM, DBKL and UMNO Government going all out to protect the biggest rascals in the history of Malaysia. These two are already one foot nearer to their permanent home and pass their retirement age. So what secret do they hold that everyone is protecting them?

Harga Ubat Bakal Naik Dari 60 - 80 % ??????

2013-06-18T23:53:00.003-07:00

60%?

Ia satu angka yang sangat tinggi beb. Inikan pula 80%. Mao tergolek masing2. Adakah ini bermaksud di Malaysia kelak kita akan jadi macam negara Indonesia?

ORANG MISKIN DI LARANG SAKIT?

Korang perhatikan dulu huraian dari MTEM = Majlis Tindakan Ekonomi Melayu dan juga CAP = Persatuan Pengguna Pulau Pinang kat bawah neh sat ;

Melalui dokumen bocor yang diperolehi, TPP dipercayai akan memberi kesan buruk kepada Malaysia terutama dalam bekalan ubat-ubatan.

Kajian MTEM menunjukkan TPP akan menaikkan harga ubat-ubatan 60 hingga 80 peratus lebih tinggi berbanding sekarang.

“AS mahu semua negara TPP bersetuju dengan hak Harta Intelek (IP) yang hanya akan memberi pulangan tinggi kepada syarikat farmasi negara itu," menurut laporan MTEM mengenai kesan TPP kepada rakyat.

Sementara itu, menurut Mapim, penekanan kepada hak IP hanya akan memberi keuntungan kepada syarikat gergasi kerana ubat generik, iaitu ubat lebih murah yang mempunyai kandungan dan kesan sama dengan ubat asli tidak akan dibenarkan untuk dijual di pasaran negara peserta TPP.

“Ini bermakna ubat hanya boleh dibeli secara langsung dari syarikat farmasi asal, menyebabkan kos ubat sangat mahal,” kata Mohd Azmi.

Selain dari itu, para petani2 di Malaysia juga akan terjejas dari segi pendapatan.
Baca huraian neh pula ;

Beliau menambah, TPP juga akan memberi kesan buruk ke atas industri padi negara apabila beras dari AS yang menerima subsidi tinggi oleh kerajaan negara itu dipasarkan di Malaysia.
“Ratusan ribu keluarga petani padi di negara ini akan terjejas jika TPP dimeterai,” menurut Mohd Azmi.

Apa yang aku faham konsepnya kat sini ialah beras yang bakal di import dari luar ialah beras yang lebih murah harganya berbanding beras2 yang tak di import. Kalau tidak, macam mana pendapatan para petani boleh terjejas?

Dan tidak kah korang pelik macam mana benda yang import lebih murah dari benda yang di eksport? Subsidi? Betul ke subsidi isu sebenarnya kat sini? Ataupun kegagalan kerajaan dalam mengawal keuntungan yang diraih oleh pemborong2 selama neh?

Aku setuju dengan hujah2 MTEM tapi juga menekankan konsep agar kita berlaku adil. Perjanjian tersebut mungkin merugikan kita dan pihak2 yang terjejas dari segi harga ubat dan sektor2 yang berkaitan, namun dalam masa yang sama, sistem ekonomi kita sendiri bukan begitu telus dan amanah untuk dibanggakan.

Dan ya, aku setuju sangat agar Malaysia tidak terburu2 bersetuju dengan dasar2 yang dirancang oleh USA dalam perjanjian TPP neh. Namun dalam masa yang sama, aliran ekonomi tue kena seimbangkan. Biar menyeluruh dan paling penting semua polisi yang dirancangkan tue sampai kepada golongan sasaran bukan golongan kroni.

Bacaan lanjut disini ==> http://www.sinarharian.com.my/nasional/tpp-apa-kerajaan-sorok-1.172529

-amenoworld

RIBUT DI PULAU PINANG - MANGSA BERTERIMA KASIH KEPADA UMNO.

2013-06-18T23:51:00.002-07:00

Keluarga Lim Chin Aik,44 yang dipercayai hilang dan tertimbus dalam lubang yang terbentuk selepas rod penebat kilat jatuh dari puncak Menara UMNO di Jalan Macalister Khamis lalu berpuas hati dan menghargai semua pihak terlibat dalam operasi mencari dan menyelamat mangsa.

Sepupu Chin Aik, Roy Tan Kok Hor, 51, berkata, mereka menerima ketentuan yang berlaku biarpun kejadian tersebut amat menyedihkan.

Menurutnya, ketika ini mereka sedang mengatur untuk mengadakan upacara keagamaan buat Chin Aik.

"Terima kasih kepada semua pihak yang prihatin dengan apa yang menimpa keluarga kami. Kami amat menghargainya," katanya ketika ditemui pemberita di sini hari ini.

Terdahulu, Roy mengiringi isteri Chin Aik, Lee Chai Song, 44, menerima sumbangan daripada UMNO yang disampaikan Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan UMNO negeri, Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman.

Turut hadir, Timbalan Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan UMNO negeri, Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir.

Semalam, Menteri Dalam Negeri, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamid mengumumkan penubuhan jawatankuasa inkues sebagai langkah terbaik bagi menentukan status mangsa selepas kerja-kerja mencari dan menyelamat terpaksa dihentikan atas faktor keselamatan, selain mendapat persetujuan keluarga.

Dalam kejadian ribut terburuk yang pernah melanda negeri ini, dua terbunuh manakala lapan kenderaan lain di Jalan Macalister dihempap runtuhan rod konkrit penebat kilat berkenaan dan membentuk lubang besar.

Anwar memberi cenderamata kepad Dr Mahathir semasa perasmian Menara UMNO Pulau Pinang. Anwar adalah Pengerusi UMNO negeri ketika itu.

MORE PUBLIC HOUSING NEEDED IN LAHAD DATU

2013-06-18T23:49:00.002-07:00

KOTA KINABALU: The state government was urged to implement people’s housing projects along the coast of Lahad Datu before relocating residents affected by the intrusion of Sulu militants, to resettlement areas.

Datuk Mohammad Yusof Apdal (BN-Lahad Datu) said the projects were necessary, before any decision to set up resettlement areas, to ensure the welfare of the affected residents.

“I also urge the state government to gazette villages which have been occupied for more than 20 years, as Bumiputra villages or as resettlement areas, to meet the needs of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM),” he said when debating on the address of state Governor Tun Juhar Mahiruddin at the Sabah State Assembly, here, today.

Prior to this, the security forces decided that Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu, the location of a recent landing by the intruders, would be closed.

Mohammad Yusof, who represented the area involved in the tragedy which left 10 members of the Malaysian security forces dead, also lauded a move to build an airport at Silabukan in Lahad Datu and to upgrade the existing one.

“To meet the increase in populace, the construction of the airport must be accelerated. I am confident the airport will be the focus of domestic and foreign tourists and help spur the economy,” he said.

Earlier, BN-Senallang’s Datuk Seri Nasir Tun Sakaran (photo) hoped more security control posts would be strategically set up, specifically in ESSCOM, namely at Lahad Datu, Semporna, Kunak, Sandakan and Kudat.

3-HOUR POWER DISRUPTION DAILY IN SANDAKAN

2013-06-18T23:48:00.002-07:00

By : JENNE LAJIUN

KOTA KINABALU: Electricity disruptions continue to plague the people of Sandakan, said Elopura assemblyman Au Kam Wah during the State Assembly sitting yesterday.

“It is a problem for us to generate our economy and it is also being made an issue. We get power disruption for three hours every day,” he said.

He added that the matter must be addressed as it has continued to be a major problem in Sandakan and in his constituency.

Au also stressed for the need of a new tourism attraction in Sandakan.

He said presently the attractions that lure tourists to Sandakan were the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre, Kinabatangan and the Selingan Turtle Island.

He proposed that the government develops the Berhala Island as an attraction in Sandakan.

“The island is merely 10 minutes away from Sandakan and it can be an attraction to tourists coming to Sandakan,” he said.

He added that the State targets three million tourists this year.

“But if the bulk of the tourists only concentrated on the West Coast of Sabah, then it is not good enough. Even if 20 percent comes to the East Coast, it will help us,” he said.

In his debate, he also mentioned that Sandakan now has enough rooms to cater for the tourism industry.

Meanwhile, Karamunting Assemblyman, Charles Pang Su Pin said that there were 600 unemployed graduates in Sandakan.

He urged the government to ensure that these graduates had job opportunities available upon completing their tertiary studies.

He also called for the establishment of the Fellow Perdana programme in Sabah.

The programme allows fresh graduates and undergraduates the opportunity to be mentored by Chief Ministers and even the Prime Ministers. It is an initiative by the Malaysian government and coordinated by the Ministry of Youth and Sports which functions as the main secretariat for the programme.