The Malaysian Insider :: Malaysia

Use of handcuffs on Adam Adli part of SOP, say police

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:11:54 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 – The use of handcuffs on detainees except for juvenile offenders is one of the police standard operating procedures (SOP), said Sentul police chief ACP Zakaria Pagan. He said detainees would be handcuffed when they were taken out of the lock-up for security reason and student activist Adam Adli Abdul Halim, who was arrested ...

Suspected cow thieves get ‘moo’ than they bargained for in Felda scheme

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:10:30 GMT

KUANTAN, May 21 – Holy Cow! Everything went hay-wire for two suspected thieves who set out to steal a cow at Felda Kota Gelanggi 2 early today. Not only did they fail to load the cow – which they had earlier sedated with a dart from a blow-pipe – into their getaway Proton Wira, the vehicle also failed them when the duo needed it most. Upon seeing ...

Isa Samad congratulates three Felda residents on conquering Mount Everest

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:28:16 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 – Felda chairman Tan Sri Isa Abdul Samad has congratulated three climbers of the 2013 Felda Everest project for conquering the world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest, this morning. He said their training and hard work were not in vain as they showed the potential of Malaysians, if given appropriate training and ...

Minister invites Pakatan to contribute ideas on urban well-being

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:44:16 GMT

KANGAR, May 21 – Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan has invited Pakatan Rakyat to contribute ideas in addressing issues related to his ministry. He said the opposition could nominate two or three members of Parliament to discuss matters arising without any formal commitment as they were not members of ...

Malaysia to work hard for UN Security Council seat

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:36:41 GMT

PUTRAJAYA, May 21 – Leaving no stone unturned, Malaysia will work hard to secure a seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the term 2015-2016, which would enable the country to play a part in international security issues. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said although he was confident that Asean member states would support ...

EC sets up team to probe indelible ink issue

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:29:45 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 – The Election Commission (EC) today set up a special team to find out why the indelible ink used to mark voters in the 13th general election could be easily removed, said EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof. He said the team would look into, among others, the ingredients of the ink, the Health Ministry’s conditions and ...

Singaporean jailed seven days for reckless driving

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:59:42 GMT

JOHOR BAHARU, May 21 – A Singaporean man was sentenced to seven days’ jail and fined RM5,000 or five month’s jail for reckless driving and endangering the public by causing a collision involving the Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim’s police motorcycle outrider yesterday. Benjamin Lourdes, 30, pleaded guilty before magistrate Noor Farhana Mohd ...

Genneva: Court allows BNM’s application to suspend release of assets

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:51:46 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 – The Sessions Court today allowed the application by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) to suspend the enforcement of the order to release the assets of three directors and one former director of gold investment company Genneva Sdn Bhd. Judge Datuk Rozana Ali Yusuff decided on the matter after submissions by BNM deputy public ...

Education Ministry and Higher Education Ministry to standardise within one month

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:26:28 GMT

PUTRAJAYA, May 21 – The standardisation of the structure of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education in an effort to improve the country’s quality of education is expected to be completed within one month, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, said he had submitted a ...

Three acquitted of cop murder charge

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:55:42 GMT

JOHOR BAHARU, May 21 – Three men, including two siblings, were discharged and acquitted by the High Court here today, on a charge of murdering a policeman four years ago. Judicial Commissioner Samsudin Hassan held that the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case against S. Velo, 34, S. Murugan, 36, and S. Thanasilan, 25 under Section ...

Sarawak CM, exco, lawmakers now get paid triple

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:49:22 GMT

KUCHING, May 21 – Salaries of Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, his Cabinet and lawmakers were tripled today despite the Sarawak chief minister being linked to corruption by environmental pressure group Global Witness earlier this year. The Sarawak state assembly approved the pay rise today, but backdated to January 1, 2012. This will involve some RM17 ...

Putrajaya tells Dong Zong to adapt for UEC approval

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:35:01 GMT

PUTRAJAYA, May 21 – The United Chinese School Committees’ Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) must be “prepared to make changes” and meet conditions set by the Ministry of Education if the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) is to be recognised, the government said today. Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (picture) revealed that the ...

Non-paying Sabah foreigners incur RM21.7m government healthcare since 2007, RCI told

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:24:29 GMT

KOTA KINABALU, May 21 – The government has spent RM21.7 million for the past six years in healthcare on foreigners in Sabah who did not pay for their treatments, a Health Department official told the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants here today. The number of immigrant patients, mostly comprising Filipinos and Indonesians, in ...

Tee Siew Kiong on leave from MCA with immediate effect: Soi Lek

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:17:41 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 – Datuk Tee Siew Kiong is on leave from MCA with immediate effect following his controversial appointment as a Johor executive councillor, said president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek. According to Star Online, Chua said that Tee who is the party's national organising secretary and Pulai Sebatang assemblyman, had been referred to ...

MACC panel wants ministers, MBs, banned from government projects

Tue, 21 May 2013 08:53:11 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 – The MACC’s Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel (CCPP) proposed today that all government administrators and their family members at both federal and state levels be barred from bidding for government projects. The panel also suggested a mandatory declaration of assets by all MPs and state assemblymen at least once ...

PKA suit against KDSB goes for trial

Tue, 21 May 2013 08:40:02 GMT

PUTRAJAYA, May 21 – A civil suit brought by Port Klang Authority (PKA) against Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB) over the rectification of a sales and purchase agreement for 1,000 acres of land for Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) project, would go for trial at the High Court. This follows a five-member Federal Court panel chaired by Chief Justice Tun ...

Not wrong to question BN’s ‘minority’ rule, Guan Eng tells Zahid Hamidi

Tue, 21 May 2013 06:46:37 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — Malaysians have the right to question why the country’s electoral system allows a minority government to stay in power, Lim Guan Eng said today as he slammed the government’s “autocratic” approach in handling dissent over the results of Election 2013. Singling out newly-minted Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for ...

Hindu board finds RM250,000 gold bars missing from safe

Tue, 21 May 2013 06:29:42 GMT

GEORGE TOWN, May 21 — The Penang Hindu Endowment Board (HEB) will review its procedures over keeping gold in its office in Komtar following the loss of three gold bars from its safe in December last year. HEB chairman Prof Dr P. Ramasamy (picture) said this would be done after the police complete investigations into the missing gold bars. “The ...

Man denies he is Papa Gomo

Tue, 21 May 2013 06:13:41 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, who is being sued by PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim over the posting of a sex video linking him with another man, today denied that he is the owner of the “Papa Gomo” blog. In his statement of defence, which was filed in the High Court here yesterday, Wan Muhammad Azri, 30, ...

MP’s aides assaulted at Adam Adli vigil

Tue, 21 May 2013 05:58:18 GMT

GEORGE TOWN, May 21 — A candlelight vigil for detained student activist Adam Adli Abdul Halim last night was disrupted when a scuffle broke out, resulting in two of Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari’s assistants getting assaulted. Three others, students from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), were also assaulted in the incident which happened at ...

After elections, Najib has serious economic concerns on his plate

Tue, 21 May 2013 05:07:25 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s newly re-elected Barisan Nasional (BN) government faces what the Financial Times today called the serious economic problem of weakening exports. Amid fears of a widening Asian slowdown, the business daily explained that the decline could hamper Malaysia’s ambition of graduating into the ranks of ...

Ambiga, Bersih crew to pass baton to new leadership soon

Tue, 21 May 2013 04:47:39 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan and the rest of Bersih 2.0’s 20-member steering committee are soon expected to relinquish their posts to make way for new blood in the leadership of the polls watchdog movement. The coalition for free and fair elections will then organise internal elections among its 84-member organisations to select ...

Abu Zahar sworn in as Senate president for second term

Tue, 21 May 2013 04:17:50 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang today took his oath of office as president of the Dewan Negara (Senate) for a second term. The swearing-in was held before Dewan Negara deputy president Doris Sophia Brodi at Parliament House. Abu Zahar, 69, who is a former president of the Council of Former Elected Representatives (Mubarak), was ...

Omar Kaseh named new Mampu D-G

Tue, 21 May 2013 03:52:13 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — Malacca State Secretary Datuk Omar Kaseh has been appointed director-general of the Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (Mampu) in the Prime Minister’s Department effective June 1. Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Dr Ali Hamsa said today Omar would take over from Datuk Mohamad ...

Universiti Teknologi Petronas bags 3 awards at i-ENVEX

Tue, 21 May 2013 03:43:39 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — A team from Universiti Teknologi Petronas bagged three awards at the recent International Engineering Invention and Innovation Exhibition 2013 (i-ENVEX) for their outstanding and creative innovations. In a statement, UTP said it won the gold award for its Blue Hive Analysis-Joint Densities and Extreme Value Analysis ...

Indian national found dead at foot of flats

Tue, 21 May 2013 03:38:55 GMT

GEORGE TOWN, May 21 — A 41-year-old Indian national was found dead last night by a drain at the foot of the Desa Delima Flats in Bayan Baru, apparently after a fall from the ninth floor of the building, police said today. s North East District Police chief ACP Gan Kong Meng said police detected a cut on the left wrist of S. Arumugam and found a ...

In Election 2013 results, beginning of the end for race politics

Tue, 21 May 2013 03:10:14 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — Election 2013 demonstrated that Malaysia’s system of race-based politics is crumbling under the impact of urbanisation and the reality of Malay-majority rule, an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal suggested today. Datuk Seri Najib Razak is also considered more popular than Umno, and should help usher in “unstoppable” ...

Over 2,000 at vigil for Adam Adli’s release

Tue, 21 May 2013 02:14:11 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — Over 2,000 people converged in front of the Jinjang police headquarters here last night to demand for the release of student activist Adam Adli Abdul Halim. The peaceful candlelight vigil was held in support of Adam Adli (picture), who has been detained under section 4 of Sedition Act 1948 and section 124(b) of Penal Code ...

Ambiga: Bersih’s ‘People’s Tribunal’ a ‘moral force’ to investigate electoral fraud

Mon, 20 May 2013 22:54:21 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — Bersih 2.0’s “People’s Tribunal” may not have any legal standing but will serve as a “moral force” to investigate allegations of electoral fraud, said Datuk Ambiga Sreenavasan when defending the polls watchdog’s final attempt at proving wrongdoing in the May 5 polls. The renowned civil rights activist told The Malaysian ...

Malacca CM quits as SPNB chairman

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:00:52 GMT

MALACCA, May 20 — Datuk Idris Haron today announced that he had relinquished his post as Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB) chairman, effective May 15. Idris, who held the post for over three years since April 2010, said the decision was made to enable him to concentrate on his tasks as Malacca chief minister. “As chief minister, I need to ...

‘Ridiculous’ to call Penang government rally illegal, says Guan Eng

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:54:23 GMT

GEORGE TOWN, May 20 — Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng insisted the Padang Kota rally on Saturday did not need a permit as it was a state government function to introduce the new leadership. “Since the programme was organised by the state government, it did not need a permit. As such, we did not apply for one. “Talks that the rally is illegal is ...

Judge throws out SOSMA charges, frees detainees

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:13:21 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 20— Former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee Yazid Sufaat, who was charged with promoting terrorist activities in Syria, and two others, who were charged with abetting him, were today acquitted and discharged by the High Court here. Judge Kamardin Hashim ordered Yazid and his friends, Halimah Hussein and Muhammad Hilmi Hasim, ...

MCA committee to decide date for party polls tomorrow

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:06:02 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 — Deciding on the date for the upcoming MCA party election and its national organising secretary Datuk Tee Siew Kiong’s status will be among the main focus of the party’s Central Committee (CC) meeting tomorrow, the first to be held since the 13th general election (GE13) on May 5. Party secretary-general Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha ...

Minister says won’t name ‘opposition leaders’ behind Sulu invasion

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:03:28 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 — The identities of three opposition leaders, who were said to be behind the Lahad Datu armed incursion, will not be divulged to avoid prejudice when the case is brought to court, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. He said all documents and detailed information acquired by the police and the Defence Ministry ...

Ongkili sets sights on Selangor water issue

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:38:03 GMT

PUTRAJAYA, May 20 — Newly-appointed Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said the outstanding water supply issue in Selangor would be one of his areas of focus. He said he would also strive to resolve the utility problems in some areas of Sabah and Sarawak. Ongkili said he was committed to raising the Key ...

Mention for murder trial of TV9 exec set for June 26

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:20:40 GMT

SHAH ALAM, May 20 — The High Court here today set June 26 for mention of a case involving a former executive of an oil and gas company accused of murdering his wife, TV9 administrative executive Nur Syaleza Jaffar. Justice Datuk Ahmadi Asnawi set the date in chambers. Lawyer Shah Rizal Abdul Manan, representing the accused, Norazman Bashah Ahmad ...

Pahang MB names state excos

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:15:18 GMT

KUANTAN, May 20 — Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob today announced the portfolios of the state executive councillors. Adnan himself will chair six committees, namely the Committee on Islamic Affairs and Education; Investment and Industries; Orang Asli Affairs and Social Welfare; Non-Governmental Organisations; Planning, Finance, Land, ...

Cease attacks on DAP, Karpal tells Tunku Aziz

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:07:17 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 ― DAP chairman Karpal Singh warned Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim today to cease and desist from attacking DAP and its leaders, saying legal action will otherwise be taken against the party’s former vice-chairman. Karpal also urged Tunku Aziz to stop drawing his monthly pension as an ex-senator and other benefits that come from ...

Zahid: No more warnings before hammer drops on dissenters

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:17:30 GMT

PUTRAJAYA, May 20 — The government will not be issuing warnings anymore but will act tough against individuals whose extreme actions would only disrupt public order, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today. He said the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and heads of departments and agencies under the Home Ministry had been given ...

Raja Nazrin: Integrity, commitment to fight graft can improve BN’s image

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:00:01 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 ― A government with integrity and that is committed to wielding the rule of law to weed out corruption without fear, favour or political interference can redeem itself in the eyes of the public, Perak Regent Raja Dr Nazrin Shah said today. The son of Perak Ruler Sultan Azlan Shah pointed out that it had been this very ...

Penang council starts taking bids for Ramadan stalls

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:50:59 GMT

GEORGE TOWN, May 20 — The Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) has opened applications for temporary licences for Ramadan bazaar stalls from today until June 9. In a statement here today, the MPPP said forms can be obtained during office hours from Counter A of the Lebuh Pantai Licencing Division Office at the Balik Pulau Market Complex MPPP Office and ...

Four nabbed, RM1.2m in drugs seized during Penang bust

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:39:50 GMT

GEORGE TOWN, May 20 — Penang police uncovered a syabu processing laboratory and arrested three men and a woman at a house situated in a farm at Batu Itam, Balik Pulau, near here, last Tuesday. State Police Chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi said a team of officers and police personnel from the Penang Narcotics Investigation Department raided the house ...

Terengganu to streamline exco with federal ministries

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:36:33 GMT

KUALA TERENGGANU, May 20 — The Terengganu government will review the portfolios held by several state executive councillors to align them with 30 ministries in the new Cabinet announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak last week. Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said said this was aimed at providing better a more systematic service to the ...

‘Don’t play fire with me,’ Zahid warns news portal

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:23:19 GMT

PUTRAJAYA, May 20 — Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today warned news portal Malaysiakini to be more responsible in its news reporting. He said the news portal needed to uphold journalism ethics by not spinning news stories or original statements to make them controversial. “You (Malaysiakini reporters) always twist statements, in ...

Council gets judgment in default against PAS

Mon, 20 May 2013 07:21:50 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 — The Kemaman Municipal Council (MPK) today obtained a judgment in default from the High Court against PAS over a defamation suit involving the Bukit Takal Zoo in Terengganu. In allowing the MPK’s application, judge Rosilah Yop allowed the council’s application for general and special damages. Lawyer Azwan Abdul Wahab, ...

Despite EC’s remarks, Rafizi will still bring fraud evidence to People’s Tribunal

Mon, 20 May 2013 06:57:21 GMT

PETALING JAYA, May 20 — PKR’s Rafizi Ramli said he would still bring proof of electoral fraud to the People’s Tribunal despite the Election Commission (EC) saying that the tribunal set up by polls watchdog Bersih lacks legal standing. “We have always operated on the basis that it’s the wisdom of the public that finally will pressure BN (Barisan ...

Voting denial proves phantom voters, integrity of ICs in doubt, says Rafizi

Mon, 20 May 2013 06:51:43 GMT

PETALING JAYA, May 20 — PKR’s Rafizi Ramli today offered evidence of phantom voters, which he alleged was widespread fraud that could potentially “discredit” the recently-concluded general election, besides putting the integrity of Malaysia’s identity cards (IC) in doubt. “The moment you have similar IC used by different people, so much so that ...

Domestic Trade Ministry to rotate officers for better enforcement

Mon, 20 May 2013 06:45:45 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 — The Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Ministry is to keep rotating its enforcement officers in terms of their place of deployment nationwide for more effective monitoring and enforcement, Minister Datuk Hasan Malek said today. “I don’t want the same people enforcing the same area. There has to be rotation so ...

Umno likely to speed up party polls to August

Mon, 20 May 2013 06:31:02 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 — Umno is likely to bring forward its triennial party polls to August from October to prevent issues from festering and bogging down its leadership, say party insiders. The Malaysian Insider understands that the party leadership wants members and delegates to decide quickly on a new slate to take the Barisan Nasional (BN) ...

GST lebih menghimpit golongan miskin, kata PKR

Mon, 20 May 2013 06:26:50 GMT

PETALING JAYA, 20 Mei — Pengenalan Cukai Barangan dan Perkhidmatan (GST) hanya akan menekan kumpulan majoriti rakyat Malaysia yang berpendapatan rendah berbanding kumpulan minoriti orang kaya, kata ahli Parlimen Kelana Jaya Wong Chen. Beliau yang juga merupakan Biro Perdagangan dan Pelaburan PKR menegaskan, Barisan Nasional (BN) seharusnya ...