The Malaysian Insider

No submarine ride for MPs

no_reply@themalaysianinsider.com (Paul Si) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:57:00 +0000

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 – The country’s first submarine, KD Tunku Abdul Rahman, is attracting curiosity in the Dewan Rakyat, with a backbencher suggesting that members of parliament be allowed to take a ride inside the underwater craft.

The suggestion came from Datuk Mohd Jidin Shafee (BN-Setiu), saying it would give them a clearer picture on the purchase of two Scorpene-class submarines at the price of RM3.4 billion.

Addressing the issue today Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said only those with high resilience, like the KD Tunku Abdul Rahman crewmen, were able to endure a ride inside a moving submarine.

Transport Ministry clarifies purchase of trains

no_reply@themalaysianinsider.com (Paul Si) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:38:37 +0000

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 – The Transport Ministry today clarified a media report about the purchase of DMU (diesel multiple unit) commuter trains, which was raised in Parliament yesterday.

In a statement issued here, the ministry said what was raised by the parliamentary members on the matter was not accurate.

The ministry stated that the actual price of the government’s acquisition of the used DMU trains was EURO1.492 million (about RM7,571,200) per set, which consisted of two passenger coaches, while Costa Rica spent EURO2.0 million (about RM10,149,060) per set for a similar used-DMU units.

The bridge no one knew about

no_reply@themalaysianinsider.com (Paul Si) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:51:09 +0000

By Clara Chooi

IPOH, Nov 11 – The Kinta Selatan district council was not the only authority unaware that someone had built an illegal suspension bridge over the Kampar river in Kuala Dipang – the district education department, too, was in the dark that such a structure had been erected on its premises.

District education director Raja Abdul Rahman Raja Amran had apparently seen the 50m-long azure-blue bridge for the first time on Oct 16, only 11 days before the bridge collapsed and caused the deaths of three young girls.

This was claimed today by the Pakatan Rakyat’s ad hoc taskforce, which was formed parallel to the one by the Education Ministry, to conduct a more comprehensive investigation into the incident on Oct 27.

Position is not important to me, says Liow

no_reply@themalaysianinsider.com (Paul Si) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:40:49 +0000

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 – MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said he had called for another extraordinary general meeting (EGM) with the aim of restoring the party’s credibility and dignity, and not to seek a higher post.

He said the proposed EGM was to ensure that the MCA would continue to get the support of the Chinese community and the public.

“I would like to reiterate that I’m not going for any of the posts. Position is not important to me,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby, here today.

Ex-PKR exco thought MACC agent wanted to make political donation

no_reply@themalaysianinsider.com (Paul Si) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:30:37 +0000

By Clara Chooi

IPOH, Nov 11 – Former PKR state executive councillor Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi, who is on trial for corruption, was under the impression that the agent provocateur who caused his arrest was just interested in helping his party in the Permatang Pauh by-election when he met him last year.

In fact, on the day he had supposedly received a bribe from the agent, there had only been discussion of the by-election and nothing about the RM180mil housing project he had been arrested over.

The startling evidence submitted by the agent himself, Mohamad Imran Abdullah, in court today, throws light on just how far Jamaluddin was involved in the case, and is a departure from the former's original statement.

Umno man’s firm behind failed housing project

no_reply@themalaysianinsider.com (Paul Si) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:21:32 +0000

By Neville Spykerman

SHAH ALAM, Nov 11 – Documents declassified by the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government today revealed that a former Umno executive councillor’s company owned the Bandar Alam Perdana project that was eventually abandoned, leaving thousands of house buyers facing massive debts.

The documents, which were classified by the former Barisan Nasional (BN) government under the Official Secrets Act (OSA), also revealed details of how the land’s original agriculture settlers were persuaded to sign over their ownership in return for new homes and cash they never received.

Construction on homes in Bandar Alam Perdana started in 2000 and was supposed to have been completed in 2003, but was finally declared an abandoned project in 2006 by the federal government.

Muhyiddin admits Kampar bridge construction flawed

no_reply@themalaysianinsider.com (Paul Si) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:22:44 +0000

UPDATED

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 - Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin (picture) admitted in Parliament today that the recent collapse of the hanging bridge in Kampar, Perak, which claimed the lives of three children, may have been caused by its flawed construction.

In his ministerial winding-up speech text on the 2010 Budget, Muhyiddin said the early findings of the Works Ministry’s probe into the tragedy indicated that the bridge’s structure was unstable.

He also revealed that the blueprint or plan of the bridge construction was incomplete, pointing towards negligence on the part of the developer.

RM89,000 worth of tear gas expended on anti-ISA protestors

no_reply@themalaysianinsider.com (Paul Si) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:20:14 +0000

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 – A total of 973 tear gas canisters costing RM89,000 were used to disperse the anti-Internal Security Act (ISA) illegal demonstrations on July 31.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein said 663 policemen were deployed during the demonstrations while 442 were on standby at various locations around Kuala Lumpur.

He said 182 Federal Reserve Unit members were also tasked with dispersing the demonstrators, while 22 traffic police officers and members were assigned to control the traffic flow at the locations identified.

Bar Council ‘appalled’ at government stand on Lingam

no_reply@themalaysianinsider.com (Paul Si) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:14:47 +0000

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 – The Bar Council said today it was disheartened by the government’s position in the V.K. Lingam controversy which it said had brought the Malaysian justice system into shameful disrepute.

Bar Council president Ragunath Kesavan (picture) said today that he was appalled at the government’s stand that no wrongdoing could be established in the probe into the V K Lingam video clip incident.

Lingam, a senior lawyer, had been secretly recorded on video engaged in a telephone conversation where he appears to be brokering senior judicial appointments.

Sivarasa insists spat with Zul over after Anwar’s intervention

no_reply@themalaysianinsider.com (Paul Si) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:58:47 +0000

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 – In an effort to portray that all is well within the ranks of PKR, party vice president Sivarasa Rasiah stressed today in Parliament that his spat with Kulim MP Zulkifli Noordin is over.

This statement was made after PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim declared an end to the policy spat between the two yesterday, hours after it happened.

“I consider this matter closed after Datuk Seri Anwar’s intervention. I will abide by the instructions of the party leader,” said Sivarasa.