Daily Archives: May 24th, 2008

PBS leaders at odds over Royal Commission on ‘Project IC’

Please Parti Bersatu Sabah leaders, please ensure the illegal immigrants issue is not debated in Parliament. Think of your position, you don’t want to stab Barisan Nasional in the back do you. Think of the excellent relationship you have with them and the untold benefits you are going to accrue.

As for people like Tan Seri Bernard Dompok, Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili, and Datuk Seri Pairin Kitingan, don’t worry about them, they will ensure their kith and kind including themselves will migrate, there at a snap of a finger the illegal immigrant problem is solved.

As for the people, what can I say, it is just bad luck you voted them in. Better luck next time.

KOTA KINABALU: The issue of Sabah’s illegal immigrants appears to have put Parti Bersatu Sabah leaders at odds with each other.

Outspoken PBS supreme council member Dr Chong Eng Leong wants the party to support the opposition motion for a Royal Commission of Inquiry on illegal immigrants associated with Project IC or more popularly dubbed Project Dr M.

Chong said that the proposal for a commission of inquiry by DAP’s Lim Kit Siang was not anti-Barisan or pro-Pakatan Rakyat but a matter of defending the sovereignty of Sabah within Malaysia.

He said that a Parliamentary Select Committee on Sabah illegal immigrants was not going to work, as a previous similar committee headed by Tan Sri Bernard Dompok failed to get relevant agencies to give replies to hard questions on the identity card issue.

He described his party’s deputy president Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili’s efforts in pushing for solutions to the illegal immigrant problem after becoming a federal minister in 2004 as a disappointment.

Chong said that Dr Maximus had blocked him from representing PBS to present memos on illegal immigrant papers to Suhakam and also the Parliamentary Select Committee on Unity between 2004 and 2006.

“Dr Maximus is only interested in self advancement,” he alleged and accused his deputy president of trying to stop Sabah MPs from voting for the Royal Commission of Inquiry motion that was disallowed by Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee.

He said Dr Maximus had told him in late 2001 that once PBS returned to Barisan, the illegal immigrant problem would be solved but since becoming a minister he had been advising Parti Bersatu Sabah president Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan against PBS sending in memorandums to various groups as it was tantamount to stabbing Barisan in the back again.

He said that the issue was serious and with Sabah holding up the Federal Government’s majority in Parliament, it was important for the state and its political parties to pursue issues pertaining to Project IC.

“What is there to hide? We can reason out with the Prime Minister,” he added

PBS leaders at odds over Royal Commission on ‘Project IC’

Father, Son, An Analogy

From day one Najib has been the favourite of Mahathir, and Najib cannot go wrong, such is the relationship that exists between them. The son may falter a bit here and there, but the old man at 83 years of age understands, he is fallible like any other especially when he has to carry the burden of a boss who flip flops here and there, sleeps when he should be an example for conscientious attention, a weakling if there was one, and a person not destined to wear the crown forever; or at least for a short stipulated period. This boy does the work of two persons, and in complete honesty, I can vouch for his faithfulness and sincerity.

I wanted to see the trusted one to get input from the horse’s mouth, just after the March 8 fiasco, but then, he was forbidden by the ruthless one and hence I was disappointed not with my chosen one but his boss the terror. Najib just can’t go against the wishes of the one who tails him every minute of the day, so says Mahathir. The world believed, Badawi must have resorted to the latest in technology to keep track on Najib. Najib could do nothing and his mentor understood. Such is the enviable relationship that co-exists between the old man and his well beloved.

This is good for a story but in real life it is not the same. The younger one is practical, more experienced than what his mentor thought he was. He knows which side of the bread is buttered, and for all intends and purpose he has to fall in line with what his boss says, although his love for the old man exists.

However good the story, or however good the plot or theme the story develops, there is a thing known as climax – a make or break situation that gives colour to the whole tale. This has just happened.

The young man won’t see the old man just yet, the old man just got into a jam resigning, the old bread and buttered thing comes into play, and Najib has to decide where his inclination is, his boss or his mentor.

They say sons are always unfaithful to fathers, but still the fatherly love, strong, without malice, without any benefit, remains the same.

PEKAN, May 24 (Bernama) — Umno Deputy President Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said today he would meet Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to discuss the latter’s decision to quit Umno, but not in the near future.
“I have given it thought but it is not necessary that I meet him in the near future. Let’s see the situation,” he told reporters here when asked whether he was prepared to meet Dr Mahathir again to discuss his spat with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Najib, who is the deputy prime minister, called on Umno members to focus on the work of rebuilding the party and getting closer to the people.
Asked what action would be taken against Umno Youth executive committee member Datuk Mukhriz Tun Mahathir for having demanded the resignation of Abdullah, he said the Umno Management Committee would require a comprehensive report on the matter from Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.
Najib had attended a ceremony at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sri Maulana where a circumcision and ear-piercing ceremony was held for 143 children.
Earlier, he launched a “Hadhari” village carnival organised by private television station TV9 and the Pahang Islamic Religious Affairs Department at the Pekan District Council square.

Najib Says He’ll Meet Mahathir, But Not So Soon :: Bernama.com

Is Badawi Shielding Himself From Mahathir’s Ongoing Charade

Deep down I think this is the first missile Badawi is shooting at Badawi. As I said earlier in my earlier posting, the patience of Badawi is being tested, and he cannot maintain his favourite elegant silence. Even a rat corned and unable to go further will attack the mouse to gain freedom and escape. This is the biological response of all humans under siege. Badawi is no different.

Two things can happen now, Mahathir realises he is vulnerable and stops his attacks, and he may not be even called by the Police, or the other extreme is more Police reports will be forthcoming. Badawi is still in power.

GEORGE TOWN: The police have recorded a statement from national DAP chairman Karpal Singh in connection to his police report lodged against Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad over his remark that certain judges had approached the former Prime Minister to lobby for promotion.

Asst Supt A. Sidambaram took about an hour from 11am to record Karpal Singh’s statement at his legal firm in Green Hall Saturday.

Karpal Singh, who is Bukit Gelugor MP, then held a press conference before proceeding to give another statement to the police in relation to his earlier police report on April 26 against a Johor Baru college student who posted a murder threat against him on a PAS youth website.

Dr Mahathir was reported as saying on May 17 that he was prepared to be charged in court so that he could reveal many things about the judiciary, including lobbying.

He also said he wanted to tell all about judges who had come to him to lobby, adding that if lobbying were wrong, then these judges should be investigated.

Karpal Singh called upon the police to undertake an in-depth investigation into the allegation so that innocent judges could be spared from being dragged into the net of infamy.

He added that it made no difference if some of them had retired as they could still be charged.

On the statement by former UN rapporteur Datuk Param Cumaraswamy that Dr Mahathir should be detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for his public speech on May 17 in Johor Baru which bordered on sedition, Karpal Singh said it was misconceived and against the rule of law.

He said the DAP was absolutely opposed to detention without trial, and he advised Param to lodge a police report.

“Param is saying Dr Mahathir should have a dose of his own medicine but I think the ISA should not be invoked under any circumstances, even though I an very angry and bitter about spending more than 15 months detained under the ISA during Dr Mahathir’s time as the Prime Minister. There are other laws that can be applied,” said Karpal Singh.

On his report against the 19-year-old college student, Karpal Singh said he had since made an appeal to the Attorney-General to consider not prosecuting the boy as he had accepted his apology.

“However, the prerogative lies with the A-G and police investigations have to be completed. In the event the boy is charged, I volunteer to appear as a witness in court to say that I have accepted his apology.

“That should be given enough weight to conclude that his sentence is not severe despite the severity of what he posted on the website,” he said.

Police record statement from Karpal over report against Dr M

Mahathir Warns – Malaysiakini

Dr M warns of unrest amid political turmoil

He warns of unrest in multi-racial Malaysia, and Badawi is not pulling his weight. I think this is only in his imagination. His is a personnel vendetta against Badawi, his nemesis, and this is confined to UMNO, his supporters and those of Badawi. These two teams are slugging it out and I don’t see the people taking sides in this battle neither wanting to see races fighting one another. To be honest when you compare his rule and of Badawi, now one can see openness in dealing with issues and trying to find solutions to problems that abundant in a multi-racial society. This race card politics is slowly changing as people try to understand one another.

He says people are demanding things perceiving a weak Government. This is misleading. Contrary to his believe, the people are aware of what is happening in the Government. Whatever demands that are made are for good governance. Corruption, transparency, fairness, responsibility are not based on race alone. It covers the whole spectrum of society, and by doing so it is good for the people as a whole.

He further adds, extremists among different communities are out to create unfair demands. Is asking the Government being fair the work of extremists. I don’t think so.

Polarisation does not arise from religion. Polarisation is evident when one section of the community, irrespective of religion is treated differently, then differences are noticed. If every Malay has benefited from the New Economic Policy, good, it has done its job, but if this policy is for a selected few politicians, there is the privileged and the underprivileged, and this is polarisation. This is not so because of different religions.

Basically some of the issues raised by him, goes back to the time of 22 years he ruled the country. The excesses during his reign show results now and Badawi has got the inevitable task to put matters right. He is not going to surrender his Premiership just because Mahathir wants him to. In his exuberance and enthusiasm to make Najib the Prime Minister, does he forget that Badawi is a elected leader and his wishes that he should go is at the expense of the people who voted him. Badawi may not be a flamboyant leader like he was, but then if the people or the party does not want him, there must be a more democratic way to get him out and bring in someone new. Just because Mahathir does not want him, it becomes dictatorial to ask him to step down, and therefore a democratic procedure must be adopted. Mahathir’s rebellion is so far unsuccessful, not many UMNO members agree with his move and there have been no noticeable numbers resigning from UMNO. He should take the cue and keep quiet. Any further irritation, or criticism may eventually be beyond the patience of Badawi, and he may have to do the needful, to shut up Mahathir. It is country verses personal vendetta.

Anwar says it again: We have the numbers – Malaysiakini

Anwar says it again: We have the numbers

Anwar reiterates the claim that Pakatan Rakyat will take control of the federal government. What is new in the statement is that Dr Jeffrey Kitingan joins the fray by giving figures all the three groups viz Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia have equal numbers of candidates waiting to cross over. Is it confirmed then the actual crossing over will take place?

March 8 general elections caused a tsunami, what do we call the cross overs which will make Barisan Nasional an insignificant political group. Freedom Day for Malaysian economy. With all the in-fighting among the UMNOputras, the economy is being neglected, inflation is a killer for the average wage earner, the country is losing out in terms of economic development and a bleak future is predicted. Come December, UMNO elections will take place, and that is when most of the political squabbling may end and our UMNO leaders will get down to business. By then it may be late.

So for the people the Freedom Day Economics scheme will be an event to look for in anticipation. The people have only a certain tolerance to the squabbles which only involves the interests of individual personalities and their wants.

V.K.Lingam’s Monologue

The Free Dictionary Online tells me a monologue is:

1.

a. A dramatic soliloquy.

b. A literary composition in the form of a soliloquy.

2. A continuous series of jokes or comic stories delivered by one comedian.

3. A long speech made by one person, often monopolizing a conversation.

On the other hand a soliloquy is said to be:

1.

a. A dramatic or literary form of discourse in which a character talks to himself or herself or reveals his or her thoughts without addressing a listener.

b. A specific speech or piece of writing in this form of discourse.

2. The act of speaking to oneself.

So it is a person talking to himself, no other person involved, you are just expressing yourself to the four walls of the building you are in. You cannot call it a monologue, or a soliloquy, if somebody is present in a room, or you are talking on the phone. If you speaking on the phone and you want that to be called a monologue then you are playing phone as a child will do – pretending to talk to someone not at the end of the line. Somewhat a make believe.

Now that we are clear on the meaning of these words, let us read what R.Nadeswaran has to say in his

Sun opinion column. If the AG thinks V.K.Lingam is playing phone, I dread to think of the consequences of the decision.

AG must ensure probe is fair
R.Nadeswaran

STUDENTS of the English Legal System which is a compulsory subject for those pursuing a law degree in British universities have to get the rules of natural justice in their heads. Law journals and books describe natural justice as a legal philosophy used in some jurisdictions in the determination of just, or fair, processes in legal proceedings. The principles include the following guidelines:

» An accused person should be given adequate notice about the proceedings (including any charges).

»A person making a decision should declare any personal interest they may have in the proceedings.

» A person who makes a decision should be unbiased and act in good faith. He therefore cannot be one of the parties in the case, or have an interest in the outcome. This is expressed in the latin maxim, nemo judex in sua causa: “no man is permitted to be judge in his own cause”.

» Proceedings should be conducted so they are fair to all the parties – expressed in the latin maxim audi alteram partem: “let the other side be heard”.

» Each party to a proceeding is entitled to ask questions and contradict the evidence of the opposing party.

» A decision-maker should take into account relevant considerations and extenuating circumstances, and ignore irrelevant considerations.

» Justice should be seen to be done. If the community is satisfied that justice has been done, they will continue to place their faith in the courts.

The attorney-general, Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, in his initial reaction, was quoted as saying that no criminal offence appears to have been committed in a video recording of a telephone conversation between a well-known lawyer and senior judge allegedly discussing appointments to the Bench. The New Straits Times of Sept 21 last year quoted Abdul Gani as saying that “the lawyer was in a monologue over his mobile phone and it was unclear who he was talking to”.

Having already said that, the country’s Number One prosecutor has now been tasked with investigating the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Lingam Tape. Let’s not run away from the fact that without his sanction, no prosecution can be carried out.

For a man whose initial reaction that it was a “monologue” even before having the facts before him, how is he going to undertake the tasks as set out in the commission’s report? Now that the commission has concluded that it was not a monologue as commented by Abdul Gani and that it was former chief judge Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Halim on the other end, what would his reaction be?

Now that the commission has come out with its findings and recommended that investigations be carried out, how would he justify his involvement in such a probe? Will his preliminary views come into question in view of the statements he had made before the commission sat?

There’s a way out for him. He can of course give a fiat and delegate the task to other senior DPPs or Senior Federal Counsel and those persons reporting directly to the prime minister or the law minister.

So what should Abdul Gani do? We cannot decide for him – he and his conscience will have to determine how he would handle this important task in his career as the legal officer of the government. To say all eyes will be on him, will be a gross understatement. Everything he says and does will indicate how the AG’s Chambers treats public perception.

We hope that the AG will study the findings of the commission in detail and arrive at a wise decision.

White Is Sexy

There are a lot of the so called conscious thinkers in our society who worry so much for the ills of society and come up with unheard solutions to curb rape, pre-marital sex, and how our students encourage these by wearing white. Munirah is dumb or unable to discern right from wrong. She must be the first person in this world who came out with this ludicrous statement and then perhaps she is already preparing the next salvo to deter boys from engaging in sexual misconduct. People of her kind must be told that she cannot make stupid statements as this would affect students and parents who are gullible. Think before you talk or produce evidence, which she has none.

Education Deputy Director-General (Schools) Datuk Noor Rezan Bapoo Hashim, is no better than Munirah, rather than give advise to this woman who has mislead people, Noor supports this ridiculous idea by suggesting the wearing of camisoles. So, is Munirah correct in her assessment. Think, first Noor.

If the bras are visible, then the type of cloth recommended by the Ministry of Education for the uniform is thin. Who was the smart guy or woman who did this. Noor you should instead look at this first. Not talk about legal implications – legal implications like what, parents taking the Ministry to court for not allowing their child to wear a transparent dress and thereby depriving of the student’s freedom to choose. Don’t talk rubbish. Forget this and do something worthwhile. Before I forget did you get any feedback from the non-Islamic Student Association, are they also grumbling.

PETALING JAYA: If a student’s baju kurung is found to be too thin or close to being transparent, the school can demand that she wears a camisole underneath her school uniform, said Education Deputy Director-General (Schools) Datuk Noor Rezan Bapoo Hashim.

At present, it is up to the principal to use his/her discretion and decide if female students should wear an undergarment, such as a camisole, so that their bras are not visible through their white blouses.

“If the baju kurung is too transparent, the school can insist that the student wears a camisole underneath,” Noor Rezan said.

She added that this issue had been taken into consideration in a recent review of the school rules.

“We are now at the final stage of studying the legal implications of the review of the school rules.”

Noor Rezan was responding to suggestions by Munirah Bahari, vice-president of The National Islamic Students Association of Malaysia, that the uniform worn by girls at government schools was “sexy” and “encouraged rape and pre-marital sex”.

Munirah said on Wednesday that according to Islamic precepts, it was important to cover up, to fend off social ills, including “rape, sexual harassment and even premarital sex.”

Her remarks drew immediate responses from several NGOs, teachers and students, who termed them “baseless” and “ridiculous.”

The Star checked with several schools in Ipoh, Alor Setar, Malacca and the Klang Valley and found that only a small number of them have made it compulsory for their female students to wear a camisole beneath their uniform.

A teacher in Puchong, however, said while it was not necessary for girls to wear a camisole to school, most of them had made it a habit to do so.

Student with ‘too transparent’ uniform can be told to wear undergarment

Buttocks And Our VIPs

This part of the anatomy, especially of the female variety, is titillating reading especially if a man of importance feels the need to carouse one. This type of exercise is allowed in privacy and when done with a known person, it is nothing sensational. But when you select a woman at random and allow your tentacles to feel them at their lower end, and in public, it becomes a sensation. We have had two buttock lovers, one JJ all of us know, his overindulgence is a matter for the Attorney General to decide. It is already a month since this incidence took place and the people are waiting for the results.

Not to be left behind comes AJY a deputy director of the Tourism Board in Taiwan. JJ did this act in the confines of a hotel, but unfortunately AJY had the urge seeing a female shop assistant which I suppose must have been in an open area. AJY ran for his life when the girl screamed but was detained by the guards. AJY must be still upset that he could not out-run his pursuers. Anyhow he was caught, and he joins JJ in the list of bottom lovers.

Like in the case of JJ, we await the Police and the departmental action on AJY shortly.

The morale of the story, if your hands itch when looking at a woman’s buttock, please hide your hands in your pockets. No hands, no shame.

PETALING JAYA: The Tourism Ministry is waiting for the case facts regarding a Malaysian tourism deputy director reportedly arrested for molesting a female shop assistant in Taiwan, before deciding on the next course of action.

“We cannot take action just based on media reports. If there is a case, we will refer it to the disciplinary board for further action,” Tourism Ministry director-general Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab said yesterday.

“We are waiting for the facts of the case from his superior,” he added.

On Thursday, it was reported that Ahmad Junaidy Yahya, deputy director of the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board’s representative office in Taiwan, was detained on Tuesday evening for allegedly groping a woman’s back and private parts.

He was questioned by the police but released on Wednesday morning after apologising to the victim. But she reserved the right to press charges of sexual harassment.

“The disciplinary board will have to consider the gravity of the situation, but the maximum penalty is expulsion,” said Mirza, who earlier launched the Asia International Tourism Expo (AITE) 2008 at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) here.

On the three-day expo, Mirza said it was a good platform for smaller players in the travel industry to show what they had to offer, as “it is very expensive for small players to take part in big international fairs.”

He said that there were some 156 international buyers and 71 seller organisations at this “maiden expo.”

It is jointly organised by the Association of Tours and Travel Agents, the Bumiputra Tours and Travel Agents Association, the Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association and the Malaysian Indian Tourism Association, in close relationship with the Tourism Ministry and Tourism Malaysia.

Ministry waiting for Taiwan molest facts