Malaysian 14-year-old's marriage sparks debate

AFP/File Worshippers make their way into a mosque for noon prayers in Kuala Lumpur. The public marriage celebration Sun Dec 5, 3:04 am ET

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) The public marriage celebration in Malaysia between a 14-year-old girl and a 23-year-old teacher has triggered a call for a fresh debate on child marriage.

On Saturday, schoolgirl Siti Maryam Mahood and Abdul Manan Othman celebrated their marriage at a mosque in the capital Kuala Lumpur, after a religious Sharia court approved the union.

"It has been hard trying to juggle two roles -- as a student and a wife -- but I am taking it in my stride," Siti Maryam was quoted as saying by the New Sunday Times newspaper.

"My husband is a teacher at a primary school and he is a family friend," she said according to the daily which said the girls' parents matchmade the couple and that the Sharia court granted them permission to marry in July.

Ivy Josiah, executive director of leading activist group Women's Aid Organisation, said that laws which allow underage marriage in certain cases must be dumped by Malaysia, a conservative and mainly Muslim country.

"I certainly hope this will spark a fresh round of open debate. There should not be any roadblocks... that it involves culture and religion and hence we cannot talk about it," she told AFP.

Josiah has previously said that "child marriage amounts to paedophilia".

Muslims below 16 who want to get married must obtain the permission of the religious courts. Those of other religions aged below 17 must have the consent of civil authorities.

"We need to remedy the! flaws i n the law. There are exceptions in the law. These exceptions should be removed. The government can no longer turn a blind eye," Josiah said.

"The government should set the minimum marriage age of 18 for all races -- boys and girls since the Child Act recognises a child as anyone below 18," she said. "We need to protect the child."

In Malaysia, Muslims make up about 60 per cent of the 28 million population. For certain issues including family law they are subject to Sharia which operates in parallel with the civil legal system.

Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, the minister for women, family and community development, said in July that underage marriage was "morally and socially unacceptable".

See What Barisan Nasional Gotta Say?

Najib: Please arrest Azizah under ISA!

from rights2write by drrafick

1. The latest twist of facts on Ketuanan Melayu led to Umno legal advisor Mohd Hafarizam Harun suggesting that the Internal Security Act (ISA) be invoked on PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. This Ketuanan issue has been spun out of context by the politicians as if they have nothing better to do. Politicians are master craftsman when it comes to manipulating facts. This is well demonstrated by the recent chain of events over this issue where they tied the issue of royalty to the “Ketuanan” issue.
   

2. Firstly the days of Sultan being the leaders of the ethnic Malay’s has long gone. The Sultan today in Malaysia is not administrative leaders. They are symbol of historical government system. Their powers are limited by the constitution. Fact is the Sultan and the King today is symbolic monarch whose reign is not limited to the Malays. Their reign is over all citizens of this country. To call them the Sultan of the Malays in today context is very inaccurate. The real “Sultan” of Malaysia today is Najib who does not carry the title sultan but called himself PM. His powers supersede the King and Sultan in many ways.
   

3. Today, I heard someone applied the word of “Tuan Melayu” to Rozali of Puncak Niaga. It is the first time I heard it. In the case of Rozali, he is the real symbol of “Ketuanan Melayu”. He earns millions from water revenue from a company that has billions of debt. I don’t understand how the minority shareholders can sit down and allow such a thing to continue. He is putting the water supply system to the people of Selangor at ransom with his unreasonable demands. For the landslide victims of BA, they despise him because they feel Syabas is one of the contributors of the 2008 landslide who has not even bothered to look at their issues. In a way Rozali would be a Sultan in his own merit. He is the Sultan of water.
   

4. Rozali would be a good symbol of a systemic legally protected corrupt system that has a revenue model on what in techno world is describe as an ASP model. I called it a TOLL model. For every drop of water that we the people of Selangor use, a fraction of a cent goes into enriching one man. The company can goes bankrupt but the Chairman would end up living comfortably rich. Even bank CEO’s doing not earn as much.
   

5. Coming back to the issue of detaining Azizah under ISA, I urged the PM and Hishamuddin to expedite the process. The people in this country need another good excuse to vote PR after the recent debacle on PKR election. They need the much needed distraction over the recent election process. One simple move will sent BN into an early oblivion. BN will be checkmate for good. Don’t make the fatal move of giving the people a reason to turning Azizah into the “Malaysian Aung San Suu Kyi”. Clearly Hafarizam is a short sighted and poor politician who knows very little of the law. Haris Ibrahim explained clearly in his blog what I meant. As for me I can be a considered as Sultan of my own house. I carry the rank of a General and my wife is my Major. I make all the general decisions and she makes all the MAJOR decisions. (LOL)

Police used Syabas water at anti-Syabas protestors....

Police fired tear gas and use water cannons to break up a protest by an estimated 4,200 people on the Selangor water issues in the vicinity of the National Mosque today.The stand-off between the police, numbering about 600, and the protesters lasted for more than an hour after the police moved in to force the protesters to retreat. Kuala Lumpur police chief DCP Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah said 48 protesters were arrested when they defied police orders to disperse.

Earlier, police were believed to have allowed Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and a few state government officials to pass through the police line and head to Istana Negara to hand over a memorandum, with 250,000 signatures, on the water issues to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Khalid handed over the memorandum to a palace official.



The protesters, many of them wearing red shirts, started gathering at the mosque compound from 11am onwards despite police efforts to prevent the march from going ahead by putting up roadblocks across the city.

At KL Sentral, police arrested Parti Socialis Malaysia (PSM) chairman and Kota Damansara assemblyman Dr Nasir Hashim, party secretary-general S. Arulchelvam, and Shah Alam city councillor A. Sivarajan as they were about to make their way to the march. They were taken to the Cheras police station before being released and allowed to proceed to the mosque.

At about 1.30pm, several Selangor state exco members, including Elizabeth Wong and Ronnie Liu, and Pakatan MPs Charles Santiago and Azmin Ali, had made their way to the starting point of the march, despite the heavy police presence.



Also present were some graduates from Unisel and members of the student movement Solidariti Mahasiswa. Abdul Khalid showed up at 1! .45pm an d the crowd began marching to the shouts of "Hidup Rakyat". As the police cordon tightened around the group, Abdul Khalid and a small delegation were allowed by the police to head to Istana Negara. But things began to get unruly at the vicinity of the mosque and the KTM building, forcing the police to fire tear gas at the protesters after their orders to disperse were ignored. The water cannons were brought when the protesters regrouped. Several protesters were seen roughing up a police officer.

Those arrested were taken away in two police trucks before a deal was struck between some PKR leaders and the police to allow the crowd to disperse peacefully. State executive councillor Yaakob Sapari told the crowd that the "objective to submit the memorandum to the Ruler has been achieved" and asked them to disperse slowly.

"The police have promised to release all the protesters after everyone disperses peacefully, batch by batch. They will not disturb us, so lets all leave in peace," he said to the crowd, who shouted back to "ask the police to leave first". By about 4.20pm, the group had dispersed and there were only a handful of people left.



The memorandum submitted to the palace urged the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to remind the federal government that the aim of the Water Services Industry Act 2006 was to return the rights of water to the people and to restore the state governments powers over the water issues.

At a press conference at the city police headquarters later, Zulkifli said police estimated the crowd to number 4,200. He said at least 600 policemen, including members of the Light Strike Force and Federal Reserve Unit, led by Kuala Lumpur deputy police chief SAC Datuk Amar Singh and Dang Wangi police chief ACP Mohd Zulkarnain Abdullah, were deployed to control the crowd. The roads leading to the palace were also closed to traffic and traffic jams we! re repor ted in several parts of the city.

Zulkifli expressed his disappointment over the protest as the demonstrators had agreed to disperse peacefully after Abdul Khalid had left for the palace to hand over the memorandum.

"We tried to help facilitate the handing over of the memorandum by providing police escorts for Abdul Khalid. Even Abdul Khalid thanked us for this in his speech and agreed the demonstrators should leave peacefully but the protesters broke their promise and tried to march towards the palace. We were left with no choice to stop them with the the water cannons and tear gas," he said.



On a separate protest at about the same time against the Selangor government by another group called Gabungan Anti Penyelewengan Selangor (GAPS) at Stadium Negara about 1km away, Zulkifli said the group, comprising about 150, had also planned to march to the palace to hand over a memorandum.

When police advised them not to the march to the palace but to send a representative to hand over the memorandum instead, the group complied with the request, he said.

source:theSun

Seramai 48 penyokong baju merah ditahan manakala yang lainnya 'berlindung' perkarangan dan dalam Masjid Negara ketika polis bertindak menyuraikan ribuan penyokong perhimpunan bantahan kenaikan harga air di Selangor. Ketua Polis Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Zulkefli Abdullah berkata, semua yang ditahan itu adalah orang dewasa.

cheers.
Letter & Opinion From Joe Public

Tear gas at red-shirt rally; low turnout of black shirts

from Free Malaysia Today - Free and Independent by FMT Team

By Teoh El Sen and Fazy Sahir

FULL REPORT KUALA LUMPUR: Chaos erupted when the police fired tear gas on the pro-Selangor state government's “red shirt” supporters as they attempted to march to Istana Negara to submit a memorandum to Yang-Dipertuan Agong Tunku Mizan Zainal Abidin. More than 50 protesters were also arrested.

The day started with the arrest of three Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) leaders, including its president and Kota Damansara assemblyman Nasir Hashim and secretary-general S Arutchelvan, this morning.

They were arrested even before the rally started, and for wearing red t-shirts and on the suspicion that they might be involved in an illegal assembly. They were released at about 3pm.

But by then, the police had moved in to arrest the others, allegedly for participating in an illegal assembly.

Earlier, Batu Caves assemblyperson Amiruddin Shari told FMT that the three PSM leaders were arrested at different locations.

“I was told that they were detained even before they could reach Masjid Negara (where the red-shirts had gathered before the march),” he said.

Groups of red-shirts - numbering about 2,000 - also gathered outside the Central Market and the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall.

About 50 arrested and released

Many of them were stopped by the police from heading towards the National Mosque before they could walk towards the palace, located about four kilometres away.

At about 2.30pm, the police brought in reinforcement to disperse the crowd, including by spraying water and making arrests. A small number of people were hurt, including elected reps and women in a melee which ensued.

About 50 people, including Selangor MB's special officer Nooramin Ahmad and a 15-year-old minor, were arrested for failing to disperse in front of the mosque. They were taken to the police training centre in Cheras to be detained.

Meanwhile, a group of Pakatan elected representatives held discussions with Kuala Lumpur's deputy police chief Amar Singh to seek the release of those arrested.

Kuala Selangor MP Dzulkefly Ahmad then told the crowd that those arrested would be released if the protesters agreed to disperse. This 'deal' was repeated to the crowd by Amar. The participants of the rally finally dispersed at around 3:45pm.

The police released 51 people at about 7pm.

Memo submitted, police force lambasted

Dzulkefly also said that he would be raising the strong police tactics in Parliament next week.

“It is unfortunate that the police had used so much of force against the people. We were always ready to cooperate with them,” he said.

Malaysian Human Rights (Suhakam) commissioner Muhamad Shaani Abdullah also expressed his disappointment with the manner the police acted against the people.

"They are so unprofessional in dealing with the crowd. They scold and insult the people. There is no reason for them to behave in such a manner even if this gathering is illegal,” he said.

While the drama was unfolding at the National Mosque and its vicinity, Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim managed to submit a memorandum to the palace at about 2.30pm by driving straight to Istana Negara. He was accompanied by state exco member Teresa Kok, Dr Xavier Jeyakumar and PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, among others.

The memorandum, submitted to palace official Khairi Abdul Rahman, calls for the King to interfere in the ongoing dispute between the state government and water management company Syabas.

Khalid also thanked everyone who participated in the rally and urged them to continue their support.

“The federal government is not concerned about the people's plight in this water issue. They should be working with us (state government) to stop the unfair agreement which favours Syabas,” he said.

He also expressed regret with the police action in dispersing the crowd forcibly.

Gaps submits memo

Meanwhile, some 300 supporters of the anti-Selangor government movement gathered at Stadium Merdeka but did not march to Istana Negara as planned.

However, a delegation later went to the palace by car and submitted the memorandum to a palace representative.

Supporters of the Anti-Penyelewengan Selangor (Gaps) movement started gathering about 11am.

Most of them were dressed in black t-shirts and yellow "Gaps" headbands, which were handed out for free by the organisers at the stadium car park area.

Amid heavy police presence, the demonstrators unfurled banners which criticised the Pakatan-led government and among others, shouted “Hidup Melayu” and “Tangkap Anwar”.

"We are here to protect the Malays. We are sending a memorandum to the king to highlight 30 mismanagement and corruption by the state government," said Gaps leader Hamidzun Khairuddin.

On the failure to garner the initially promised 3,000 protesters, Hamidzun attributed this to the police.

"I took two hours to reach here from Shah Alam. Many of our people are stuck in a massive traffic jam," he said.

The group dispersed around 12.30pm.

Last Friday, Gaps had submitted the same memorandum to the sultan of Selangor Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

Also read:

Police fire tear gas on opposition protest

Peserta demo cedera, isteri Dr Badrul di hospital

[MORE PHOTOS AT PHOTO GALLERY]

DAP MP predicts snap polls in March ahead of downturn

By Adib Zalkapli

December 05, 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5 — DAP national vice-chairman M. Kulasegaran predicted today that Datuk Seri Najib Razak would call for general election early next year ahead of another economic downturn.

Kulasegaran, who is also the Ipoh Barat MP, said the prime minister would also want to avoid calling for election after being in power for too long.

“I believe that Najib knows that he has good and unavoidable reasons why he should hold a snap poll. There are two important factors,” said Kulasegaran in a statement today.

“First factor is the expected downturn of global economy which will affect Malaysia’s economic growth. Second factor is that Najib knows that ‘the give new leader a chance’ public attitude which favours a new prime minister will be affected if with passage of time, his performance is not able to match public expectation,” he said.

Kulasegaran (picture right) said the snap polls could be held as early as next month if the Sarawak legislative assembly is dissolved at the same time as the Parliament.

The Sarawak state election must be held by July next year, while the Parliament’s mandate expires in May 2013.

“If he wants to hold parliamentary election together with Sarawak state election, then the snap poll will be even earlier, as the date speculated is January 2011,” said Kulasegaran.

He also promised that the next general election would the most keenly fought in the nation’s history.

“The coming polls will be most crucial ... in the nation’s electoral history,” said Kulasegaran.

“Pakatan Rakyat will go all out to win more state governments and the Federal power to bring about a better Malaysia for all,” he added.

In the last general election held two years ago BN lost its customary two-thirds majority, and was defeated in four states and failed to capture Kelantan.

The disastrous electoral performance led to the resignation of then Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Badawi in April 2009.

The Najib Administration is said to be considering calling for snap polls within the first quarter of next year to obtain a fresh mandate to enable him to push for painful economic and political reforms.

Gambar cEwek ABG | ABG cantik dan Manis | Part 2

Gambar cewek ABG cantik dan manis part 2 after previous post foto cewek abg manis part 1 that you may love with hes perfect baby teen age girl made in Indonesia . My suggestion, if maybe you have to have it completely successful. Do not take this cewek abg cantik dan manis to the hotel lobby which is not likely to lead to stay at the hotel. Encourage him to enjoy the fresh and green nature such as mountains or the beach only to further strengthen the bonds of affection between you.

Gambar cEwek ABG | ABG cantik dan Manis | Part 2

Wan Azizah's 'detention' a blessing in disguise

Calls for her incarceration under the ISA will focus the spotlight on the real meaning of 'Ketuanan Melayu' and the 'Social Contract'. COMMENT No one can blame Umno legal advisor Mohd Hafarizam Harun for thinking that he has some sound advice for Prime Minister Mohd Najib Abdul Razak. Obviously, the idea is to make Najib even more popular than he already is, in the wake of Batu Sapi and Galas. pkr convention 281110 wan azizah wan ismailHafarizam has openly urged that Parti Keadilan Rakyat Rakyat (PKR) president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail be incarcerated under the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) for sedition. It had to come sooner or later. But first, Hafarizam wants any number of police reports to be lodged against her to facilitate a thorough probe. She stands accused of not heeding the recent advice from Najib that Malay rights not be questioned. De facto PKR chief Anwar Ibrahim is as guilty as his wife on the ketuanan Melayu - Malay supremacy and dominance - issue. However, Hafarizam is not baying for his blood. This comes across suspiciously as selective persecution and selective prosecution. Anwar, in his take last Saturday, even cynically castigated the Malays who are willing to mencuci longkang (clean the drains) as long as they are called tuan (master). Newly-elected PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar - the apple doesn't fall far from the tree - was the first in the family to question the notion of ketuanan Melayu. Apparently, she committed this act of sedition and treason not so long ago when she "ran down the country" before some foreigners. She had pointed out that Article 153 had a shelf life of 15 years but so far, nothing has come out of all the police reports lodged against her. Other lesser mortals are not that lucky. The ISA treatment, according to Hafarizam, should also be meted out to DAP and PAS leaders, "comrades in crime" with PKR leaders for stoking hatred towards the Malays. The truth seems to be stranger than the fiction that Malays would stoke hatred towards Malays. NONEIn addition, Hafarizam wants PKR to be deregistered presumably as a "warning" to others who, like Wan Azizah, belittle the position, status and rights of the Malays and Malay rulers. Hafarizam has convinced himself that Wan Azizah forfeited her right to free speech when she questioned the sacred cows in the Federal Constitution i.e. Article 153 on the special position of the Malays and natives and the legitimate aspirations of the non-Malays; Article 152 on Malay as the national language and Article 181 on the position of the Malay rulers. If Wan Azizah really did all that she has been accused of doing last Saturday at the PKR Convention, then she should brace herself for the 3am knock on the door by the Special Branch. In any case, Wan Azizah should consider the initial 30-day ISA detention period as a blessing in disguise. She will have ample opportunity to explain her stand on the notion of ketuanan Melayu. Obviously, she will have to swear that she did not question Article 152 and Article 181 of the Federal Constitution. If she really did, and there's no evidence that she did, then she will have a tough time wangling her way out of a sticky situation. Article 153 cannot be questioned, according to Hafarizam, an expert on the matter. But that doesn't mean the deviation and distortion in the implementation of Article 153 cannot be pointed out. In fact, one would think that any deviation or distortion of Article 153 itself is a blatant disregard for the Federal Constitution and must be dealt with severely. The use of the ISA, in this case, should not be ruled out. Huge favour Wan Azizah will be doing all Malaysians a huge favour if she points out to her interrogators that the misguided notion of ketuanan Melayu is a misreading of the Unwritten Social Contract. tunku abdul rahman 290809The Unwritten Social Contract was put together by Tunku Abdul Rahman, the country's first prime minister, on the basis that since the Chinese (in 1957) dominated the corporate economy, the Malays would lead the politics. By 1969, it was discovered that the Chinese in fact had only 29 percent of the corporate economy, the British 69 percent and others two percent. The Unwritten Social Contract is sometimes mistakenly referred to as the Social Contract. The only Social Contract is the Federal Constitution. What Wan Azizah, like all Malaysians, must find troubling is that Article 153 was extended to every aspect of life in Malaysia in defiance of the Federal Constitution which confines it to four areas i.e. intake into the civil service; intake into institutions of higher learning owned by the government and training privileges; government scholarships; and opportunities from the government to do business. The unilateral extension of Article 153 was carried out by Umno after usurping the power of the king. Again, the unilateral extension of Article 153 outside the four areas was based on the notion of ketuanan Melayu. The same notion facilitated the federal government's proxy control of Sabah and Sarawak at the expense of the non-Muslim native majority. Article 153, according to the Federal Constitution or the Social Contract, is not a sapu bersih (clean sweep) approach but only reserves a reasonable proportion for the Malays and natives. This is called the special position. Sometime after 1957, the mainstream media and the government-owned media started churning out the propaganda of Malay special privileges by merging the terms 'Special Position' and "Training Privileges". Never mind the fact that the Federal Constitution itself makes no mention of the term 'Malay Special Privileges'. The propaganda machinery also ignored the second prong of Article 153 which pledges that the legitimate aspirations of the non-Malays would be safeguarded by the King. There's much for Wan Azizah to tell her interrogators lest she be hauled before the court and charged with sedition and treason.

Police fire tear gas on opposition protest

from Free Malaysia Today - Free and Independent by FMT Team

KUALA LUMPUR: The police today fired tear gas and water cannons to break up an opposition-backed protest focused on public utilities after thousands of people defied a ban on the rally.

Human rights lawyer Lateefah Koya said about 60 people were arrested and were being held at a police camp outside the capital Kuala Lumpur. Human rights group Suaram later said at least 52 people were arrested.

"Lawyers are on the way to the camp to secure their freedom," she told AFP.

Earlier, opposition legislators had gathered near the National Mosque to address the crowd over the privatisation of water management in Selangor state which surrounds the capital.

"There was total mayhem. Police fired tear gas and water cannons to stop protesters from marching to the king's palace to hand over a memorandum on the water issue," opposition lawmaker Charles Santiago told AFP.

"Many people including myself ran into the mosque compound. I was kicked and beaten. There were children and women and some were crying."

Despite being hit by the tear gas many withdrew only to side roads around the mosque and held up posters denouncing water management firm Syabas and the national government.

Selangor - Malaysia's richest state - is ruled by the opposition alliance led by Anwar Ibrahim, one of five states which it snatched during 2008 elections.

In 2005, the federal government privatised water management in Selangor to Syabas but the opposition says it has fallen into financial problems and may need to be bailed out.

Santiago said Selangor wants to take back water management in the state but is being blocked by the federal government and Syabas.

A 38-year-old female protester who gave her name as Mariel said she was hit by the tear gas.

"I am angry. It was a peaceful gathering. This country seems to be a police state," she said as she held a protest saying: "Prices of goods increases, water price increases, do not be cruel to the people."

- AFP

Also read:

Tear gas at red-shirt rally; low turnout of black shirts

Peserta demo cedera, isteri Dr Badrul di hospital

from Free Malaysia Today - Free and Independent by FMT Team

Oleh Fazy Sahir

KUALA LUMPUR: Perhimpunan aman anjuran kerajaan negeri Selangor yang mengenakan pakaian merah tidak kesampaian apabila pihak berkuasa mengambil tindakan untuk menghalang niat kira-kira 2,000 penyokong ke Istana Negara bagi mengiringi Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim menyerahkan memorandum kepada Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Peserta demo yang juga isteri kepada penyelaras kempen anti-kenaikan air, Dr Badrul Amin dilaporkan berada di Hospital Kuala Lumpur ekoran pengsan.

Menurut Dr Badrul yang dihubungi FMT berkata kejadian itu berlaku setelah isterinya Zumrah Husni, 45 cuba membantu peserta demonstrasi yang cedera kaki ketika itu.

"Ketika kejadian kelam kabut itu berlaku,isteri saya cuba untuk menyelamatkan seorang lagi peserta lelaki yang kini turut berada di hospital akibat patah kaki,"katanya.

Katanya, isterinya masih dirawat di hospital dan masih dalam keadaan lemah.

Menurut beliau, seorang lagi peserta demonstrasi Azami Ismail berusia 51 tahun patah kaki kanan dan sedang di rawat di Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Klang.

Tambah Badrul Amin, pihaknya kecewa dengan tindakan polis yang tidak membenarkan penyokong mengiringi Khalid ke Istana Negara sebalik bertindak kejam kepada penyokong.

"Setelah Menteri Besar menyerahkan memorandum kepada wakil istana kita telah membuat keputusan untuk pulang semula ke Masjid Negara untuk memaklum kepada penyokong bahawa kita telah berjaya.

"Namun kita dihalang polis untuk ke sana, sehubungan itu kita telah meminta wakil kita untuk mengarahkan semua penyokong yang berada di Masjid Negara bersurai.

"Tetapi secara tiba-tiba dalam proses bersurai itu polis secara tiba-tiba menyerbu masuk ke Masjid Negara dan menyebabkan penyokong-penyokong bertempiaran lari," katanya.

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"Evil" Pakatan tells Najib: Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones

VIDEO Demonstration for Selangor's water rights

Police zoomed in on protesters who wanted to march peacefully to the Palace to submit a memorandum to King to return the water rights of the Selangor state to its people.
Read also:
Tear gas, water canons fired at Pakatan crowd protesting SYABAS bailout

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The first BN meet in 2 years

Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle

Pakatan Rakyat leaders returned fire at Prime Minister Najib Razak for calling them “evil” and “anti-national”, warning him that those who lived in glass houses should not throw stones.

“Evil is the opposite to God-fearing. God-fearing means when one is careful of everything that one does for the fear of incurring the wrath of the Creator. Therefore, evil also means doing things that damage human kind. It also means not being afraid to be involved in corruption, or other sins such as murder,” PKR vice president Fuziah Salleh told Malaysia Chronicle.

“I really think the PM needs to reflect on his own words, their implications and their meanings. We fear that they may relate much more to the BN than to us.”

Nothing to bring to the BN table except bullets for the Pakatan

At a rare BN convention, the first in 2 years, that many believe was held to pre-empt Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Rakyat which is also due to hold its congress soon, Najib made a strident speech attacking his arch rivals. He also called Pakatan leaders “traders of dreams”, while describing the BN as “merchants of reality”.

Fuziah - Evil may relate more to BN!

While Najib's spin-masters spread word his purpose was to rally his troops for possible snap general elections, pundits pointed out that the Pakatan-bashing was more likely to mask the fact that the Umno president had nothing to bring to the BN table.

In fact, just last month, Najib dealt a death blow to long-time BN partners, MCA, MIC and Gerakan, the three main non-Malay component parties, by allowing individuals and groups direct membership into the coalition.

Siti - disgusting hypocrisy

This means that those who wish to join BN could by-pass MCA, MIC and Gerakan – adding to the struggle the parties already faced in recruiting new blood and fresh talent.

“To have big dreams is to have hope and when there is hope, there is life. As for evil, let Malaysians spell it out loud and clear – who is the real Dr Evil in this country,” PAS MP for Kota Raja Siti Mariah Mahmud told Malaysia Chronicle.

“We also note with shock and disgust the awed reception given to Najib by MCA, Gerakan and MIC. Instead of fighting for the survival of their own parties, the leaders stood by and clapped with admiring looks on their faces. No doubt, Najib has power to allocate Cabinet posts and cushy positions at GLCs, but this does not bode well for constituents and we sympathize with them for having lacklustre leaders. “

MCA, MIC and Gerakan - the ill-health or diseases of the BN

Indeed, just days ago, Najib reneged on a promise to rollout a New Economic Model for the country that would prioritise government aid based on the people’s needs and income levels rather than on race and the colour of their skin.

MCA's Chua - full of praise for Najib

Yet, MCA president Chua Soi Lek, Gerakan’s Koh Tsu Koon and MIC’s S Samy Vellu shrugged off the issue, perhaps closing an eye because they feared to antagonize Umno and Najib with any feedback that was not clear-cut praise and support.

Najib added further salt to their wounds when he later reminded the BN that delusion, amnesia, inertia and arrogance were the coalition’s greatest weakness, clearly pointing the finger at the them and not his own Umno party for the BN’s failure to recapture public confidence.

“Firstly, the disease of delusion comes because the party has taken for granted that the support from the people will continue. Secondly, amnesia hits when a party has forgotten its purpose and the original objective of its struggles. Next, the inertia disease occurs when parties refuse to implement reforms or make changes. Finally, arrogance is born out of the attitude of refusing to accept advice from others. All these diseases, particularly arrogance, will only result in hatred from the people and disgust in our leadership,” Najib had said in his opening speech.

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BN's 4 diseases - delusion, amnesia, inertia and arrogance (not Umno, MCA, MIC and Gerakan!)
Najib's credibility takes fatal hit with rollout of castrated NEM...
Grasping at straws? 1 Malaysia to be added to BN logo...
Anwar likely to get 6-mth parliamentary suspension, stopped from APCO's 1Malaysia link...
Pakatan slams Najib for suppressing democracry in Umno to cling to power

Pakatan 'shocked' at Najib's admission of Umno infighting...
Anwar: No race will be denied the right to become top leaders ...
MCA, Gerakan to follow Najib-Umno and postpone party polls...
Welcome to Malaysia - the land of the doublespeak
Umno postponement: Does the Prime Minister take us for fools...

Ex-CMs agree 'ketuanan Melayu' not for Sabah

By Luke Rintod

KOTA BELUD: Two former Sabah chief ministers Said Salleh and Bernard Dompok want the phrase "ketuanan Melayu" (Malay supremacy) banished from the political landscape in Sabah.

It is seldom that the two, one from Umno and the other the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) president, see eye-to-eye.

"Ketuanan Melayu does not arise in Sabah. Sabahan politicians do not subscribe to politics of domination by race," said Salleh when asked to comment on Dompok's statement on the issue.

Dompok, at Upko's annual convention last week, criticised the propagation of "ketuanan Melayu" in the peninsular and even by certain parties in Sabah.

Salleh, who is Sabah Umno liaison deputy chief, in a text reply from Penang said, he agreed with Dompok's contention that “ketuanan Melayu” should not be the way in diverse Sabah.

"We have more than 30 ethnic groups. We have political differences but we all reject any attempt to propagate politics of racial superiority," said the president of Usbo, the Bajau-Sama society.

"This kind of politics will disunite the people," he warned.

Salleh just weeks ago had a meeting with Upko secretary-general, Madius Tangau, on issues affecting Sabah.

Polis used Syabas water at anti-Syabas protestors....

Police fired tear gas and use water cannons to break up a protest by an estimated 4,200 people on the Selangor water issues in the vicinity of the National Mosque today.The stand-off between the police, numbering about 600, and the protesters lasted for more than an hour after the police moved in to force the protesters to retreat. Kuala Lumpur police chief DCP Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah said 48 protesters were arrested when they defied police orders to disperse.

Earlier, police were believed to have allowed Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and a few state government officials to pass through the police line and head to Istana Negara to hand over a memorandum, with 250,000 signatures, on the water issues to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Khalid handed over the memorandum to a palace official.



The protesters, many of them wearing red shirts, started gathering at the mosque compound from 11am onwards despite police efforts to prevent the march from going ahead by putting up roadblocks across the city.

At KL Sentral, police arrested Parti Socialis Malaysia (PSM) chairman and Kota Damansara assemblyman Dr Nasir Hashim, party secretary-general S. Arulchelvam, and Shah Alam city councillor A. Sivarajan as they were about to make their way to the march. They were taken to the Cheras police station before being released and allowed to proceed to the mosque.

At about 1.30pm, several Selangor state exco members, including Elizabeth Wong and Ronnie Liu, and Pakatan MPs Charles Santiago and Azmin Ali, had made their way to the starting point of the march, despite the heavy police presence.



Also present were some graduates from Unisel and members of the student movement Solidariti Mahasiswa. Abdul Khalid showed up at 1! .45pm an d the crowd began marching to the shouts of "Hidup Rakyat". As the police cordon tightened around the group, Abdul Khalid and a small delegation were allowed by the police to head to Istana Negara. But things began to get unruly at the vicinity of the mosque and the KTM building, forcing the police to fire tear gas at the protesters after their orders to disperse were ignored. The water cannons were brought when the protesters regrouped. Several protesters were seen roughing up a police officer.

Those arrested were taken away in two police trucks before a deal was struck between some PKR leaders and the police to allow the crowd to disperse peacefully. State executive councillor Yaakob Sapari told the crowd that the "objective to submit the memorandum to the Ruler has been achieved" and asked them to disperse slowly.

"The police have promised to release all the protesters after everyone disperses peacefully, batch by batch. They will not disturb us, so lets all leave in peace," he said to the crowd, who shouted back to "ask the police to leave first". By about 4.20pm, the group had dispersed and there were only a handful of people left.



The memorandum submitted to the palace urged the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to remind the federal government that the aim of the Water Services Industry Act 2006 was to return the rights of water to the people and to restore the state governments powers over the water issues.

At a press conference at the city police headquarters later, Zulkifli said police estimated the crowd to number 4,200. He said at least 600 policemen, including members of the Light Strike Force and Federal Reserve Unit, led by Kuala Lumpur deputy police chief SAC Datuk Amar Singh and Dang Wangi police chief ACP Mohd Zulkarnain Abdullah, were deployed to control the crowd. The roads leading to the palace were also closed to traffic and traffic jams we! re repor ted in several parts of the city.

Zulkifli expressed his disappointment over the protest as the demonstrators had agreed to disperse peacefully after Abdul Khalid had left for the palace to hand over the memorandum.

"We tried to help facilitate the handing over of the memorandum by providing police escorts for Abdul Khalid. Even Abdul Khalid thanked us for this in his speech and agreed the demonstrators should leave peacefully but the protesters broke their promise and tried to march towards the palace. We were left with no choice to stop them with the the water cannons and tear gas," he said.



On a separate protest at about the same time against the Selangor government by another group called Gabungan Anti Penyelewengan Selangor (GAPS) at Stadium Negara about 1km away, Zulkifli said the group, comprising about 150, had also planned to march to the palace to hand over a memorandum.

When police advised them not to the march to the palace but to send a representative to hand over the memorandum instead, the group complied with the request, he said.

source:theSun

Seramai 48 penyokong baju merah ditahan manakala yang lainnya 'berlindung' perkarangan dan dalam Masjid Negara ketika polis bertindak menyuraikan ribuan penyokong perhimpunan bantahan kenaikan harga air di Selangor. Ketua Polis Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Zulkefli Abdullah berkata, semua yang ditahan itu adalah orang dewasa.

cheers.
Letter & Opinion From Joe Public

SYABAS bail-out protest: Police block roads leading to Palace

SYABAS CEO Rozali accused of being an Umno crony

UPDATED KUALA LUMPUR - Police are guarding roads leading to Istana Negara on Sunday in anticipation of a rally to submit a memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the Selangor water issue.

Police personnel are also guarding roads in the vicinity of the National Mosque.

Earlier, road blocks were set up in Shah Alam in a bid to stop protestors from joining Selangor’s planned rally to fight for water rights, in Kuala Lumpur at noon.

The Selangor protest, which will start at the National Mosque and move towards the National Palace, plans to submit a memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong over the federal government’s possible multi-million ringgit bailout of Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas).

“There are four roadblocks in Shah Alam. They are at the Batu Tiga toll, Proton Section 26, the Bukit Jelutong toll heading towards Kuala Lumpur and Persiaran Kerjaya Glenmarie,” a source in the Shah Alam police headquarters said.

“We want to stop groups or NGOs who want to join the water protest in KL,” he added.

Another group, protesting against the Selangor government, is set to hold a demonstration at the historic Stadium Merdeka in the city.

Police have stepped up security in the city since early morning in view of the two protests and the Barisan Nasional (BN) convention in Wisma MCA here.

Protestors said they expect a crackdown similar to other anti-government rallies held in 2007 and 2008 as riot police and water cannons have been deployed in some areas.

- Star/ Malaysian Insider

49 water protesters held: Khalid demands their immediate release

Was this required - these were just civilians on a pacific marchKUALA LUMPUR Selangor Mentri Besar Khalid Ibrahim has urged a military to recover but condition all protesters incarcerated in this afternoon's impetus to a Palace to benefaction a memorandum to a King over a state's H2O rights.

At least 49 people including Kota Damansara state representative Dr Nasir Hashim as well as 5 students have been being reason by a military during a Police Field Force facility in Cheras.

Kuala Lumpur deputy military chief Amar Singh had progressing concluded to their recover when he urged protesters to sunder from a National Mosque, where riot military had fired turn after turn of tear gas as well as H2O cannons during a civilian crowd.

It is a pledge which they will all be freed. So please sunder yourselves, Amar was reported by Malaysian Insider as earnest a demonstrators.

Return a rights, reject Umno cronyism
Was this required - do not they have a right to see their King? Some 10,000 people had gathered during a National Mosque to take partial in a convene organized by a Selangor state supervision to protest a sovereign government's bailout of Umno associate organisation SYABAS, which has a corner of a state's H2O distribution.

The bailout would prolong SYABAS's corner as well as reason a Selangor people to release to H2O price tag hikes in their state. Last year, SYABAS raised H2O rates by 37 percent.

"The benefaction agreement sealed in 2004 in in between Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas), a sovereign dovernment as well as a Selangor State Government contains a number of ambiguities which uncover SYABAS is not endangered with a people's welfare, namely a H2O ! price ta g increases during alarmingly high rates of 37% in 2009, as well as 25%, 20%, 10% as well as 5% in 2012, 2015, 2018 as well as 2021," Khalid wrote in a memo to a King.

"The agreement should have been discussed with a people creatively as it affects them primarily. We call on Tuanku to commission a people by ensuring which any new agreement contingency be discussed with a people prior to it is finalized."

Malaysia Chronicle appends below a full text of a Selangor government's memorandum to a King



From: The people as well as a Selangor state government

To:

Duli Yang Maha Mulia
Tuanku Al-Wathiqu Billah Al-Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Mahmud Al Muktafi Billah Shah
Yang Dipertuan Agong, Malaysia

Dengan nama Allah s.w.t., Tuhan Yang Maha Pengasih dan Maha Penyayang.

Selawat dan salam buat junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w., pesuruh Allah s.w.t. yang sangat mencintai dan menggesa umatnya berlaku adil.

Assalamu'alaikum w.b.t.
Ampun Tuanku beribu ampun, sembah rakyat harap diampun.

i. With a believe which simple human vital is contingent on access to purify as well as affordable water,

ii. With a realisation which people's expanding costs of vital have been usually augmenting in comparison with their incomes,

iii. With a organisation antithesis to misappropriation, abuse as well as mismanagement of power,

iv. With a commitment towards office building a care which is transparent, responsible, fit as well as respectful of a suggestion as well as use of Federalism;

We, a people as well as a Selangor state government, hereby accumulate together looking a common accede of Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku to broach a concerns towards a emanate of Restructuring of a Water Services Industry in Selangor Darul Ehsan.

Ampun Tuanku beribu ampun, sembah rakyat harap diampun.

i. With a believe which simple human vital is contingent on access to purify as well as affordable! water,< br>
ii. With a realisation which people's expanding costs of vital have been usually augmenting in comparison with their incomes,

iii. With a organisation antithesis to misappropriation, abuse as well as mismanagement of power,

iv. With a commitment towards office building a care which is transparent, responsible, fit as well as respectful of a suggestion as well as use of Federalism;

We, a people as well as a Selangor state government, hereby accumulate together looking a common accede of Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku to broach a concerns towards a emanate of restructuring of a H2O services courtesy in Selangor Darul Ehsan.

Ampun Tuanku beribu ampun, sembah rakyat harap diampun.

1) Return a rights of H2O to a people

We, on interest of 150,000 people of Selangor, Kuala Lumpur as well as Putrajaya, plead which justice is since to us by correcting a past mistakes of H2O privatisation, ensuing in bad peculiarity of H2O as well as H2O services, as well as with H2O price tag increases during irrational rates.

We hereby seek purify as well as good peculiarity of H2O as well as H2O services during reasonable as well as affordable prices, receiving in to consideration a bad as well as low-income groups of Selangor. We call on Tuanku to lapse a rights of H2O to a people.

2) Uphold a Water Services Industry Act 2006

We humbly request for Tuanku to uphold a suggestion as well as aim of a Water Services Industry Act (WSIA) 2006, which is to restructure a H2O services courtesy in to one which is holistic as well as managed by a Selangor state government.

The WSIA 2006 was creatively enacted for a purpose of reversing a errors done in privatising a H2O industry. We call on Tuanku to remind a sovereign supervision of this.

3) Empower a people

The benefaction agreement sealed in 2004 in in between Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas), a sovereign dovernment as well as a Selangor State Government contains a number of ambiguitie! s which uncover SYABAS is not endangered with a people's welfare, namely a H2O price tag increases during alarmingly high rates (37% in 2009, as well as 25%, 20%, 10% as well as 5% in 2012, 2015, 2018 as well as 2021).

The agreement should have been discussed with a people creatively as it affects them primarily. We call on Tuanku to commission a people by ensuring which any new agreement contingency be discussed with a people prior to it is finalised.

4) Restore state government's powers

Water services falls underneath a 'Concurrent List' in a Federal Constitution 1957, giving both a sovereign supervision as well as state supervision shared jurisdiction over a matter.

We urge a sovereign supervision to uphold a suggestion of federalism as well as a powers of a state in a emanate of H2O services, instead of using coercion tactics opposite a Selangor government. We call on Tuanku to restore a state government's powers.

5) End cronyism

It is a notice of a people which a sovereign supervision sides with a private sector, in this box a particular company, which is equivalent to cronyism.

It is clear which to safeguard concessionaires' profitability, they were authorised high price tag rates as well as more than adequate sovereign supervision guarantees to loans which a rakyat has to ultimately compensate for.

The rakyat has to now compensate high H2O rates, as well as Malaysian taxpayers have been forced to safeguard a risk of Syabas' business. We call on Tuanku to remind a sovereign supervision of their promise to finish cronyism.

With a mandate which is since by a people, a Selangor state supervision is committed to safeguard their interests have been protected. The Selangor state supervision ensures which a H2O services courtesy will be managed in a best manner probable for a benefit of a people by a receiving over of a H2O services industry.

Thus a Selangor state supervision together with a people have placed their hopes in ancillary this crit! ical mot ion.

It is a people's goal which this emanate will be since serious courtesy by Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku. The people appreciate Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku for a courtesy which has been given.

Thank You
Daulat Tuanku
Dec 5, 2010

"Evil" Pakatan tells Najib: Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones

Malaysia Chronicle

Pakatan Rakyat leaders returned glow during Prime Minister Najib Razak for job them immorality as good as anti-national, notice him which those who lived in potion houses should not throw stones.

Evil is a conflicting to God-fearing. God-fearing equates to when one is clever of everything which one does for a fright of incurring a wrath of a Creator. Therefore, immorality additionally equates to you do things which damage human kind. It additionally equates to not being afraid to be involved in corruption, or alternative sins such as murder, PKR vice boss Fuziah Salleh told Malaysia Chronicle.

I really consider a PM needs to reflect upon his own words, their implications as good as their meanings. We fright which they might describe most some-more to a BN than to us.

Nothing to move to a BN table solely Pakatan attacks

At a rare BN convention, a first in 2 years, which most pronounced was hold to pre-empt Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahims Pakatan Rakyat which is additionally due to hold a congress soon, Najib done a strident debate attacking his physical condition rival. He additionally called Pakatan leaders traders of dreams, while describing a BN as merchants of reality.

While Najib's spin-masters widespread word his role was to convene his infantry for ubiquitous elections which most speculate could be hold as early as March 2011, pundits additionally forked out which a Pakatan-bashing was to mask a fact which a Umno boss had zero to move to a BN table.

In fact, only final month, Najib had dealt a death blow to long-time BN partners, MCA, MIC as good as Gerakan, a three categorical non-Malay component parties, by allowing individuals as good as groups approach membership in to a coalition.

This equates to which those who wish to join BN could by-pass MCA, MIC as good as Gerakan ! adding t o a onslaught a parties already faced in recruiting new blood as good as fresh talent.

To have large dreams is to have hope as good as when there is hope, there is life. As for evil, let Malaysians spell it out loud as good as clear who is a genuine Dr Evil in this country, PAS MP for Kota Raja Siti Mariah Mahmud told Malaysia Chronicle.

We additionally note with shock as good as offend a awed reception since to Najib by MCA, Gerakan as good as MIC. Instead of fighting for a presence of their own parties, a leaders stood by as good as clapped with admiring looks upon their faces. No doubt, Najib has power to allot Cabinet posts as good as cushy positions during GLCs, but this does not bode good for constituents as good as we sympathize with them for carrying lifeless leaders.

MCA, MIC as good as Gerakan - a ill-health or diseases of a BN

Indeed, only days ago, Najib reneged upon a guarantee to rollout a New Economic Model for a nation which would prioritise supervision aid formed upon a peoples needs as good as income levels rather than upon competition as good as a colour of their skin.

Yet, MCA boss Chua Soi Lek, Gerakans Koh Tsu Koon as good as MICs S Samy Vellu shrugged off a issue, perhaps closing an eye because they feared to antagonize Umno as good as Najib with any feedback which was not definite praise as good as support.

Najib combined serve salt to their wounds when he after reminded a BN which delusion, amnesia, sluggishness as good as audacity were a coalitions greatest weakness, obviously indicating a finger during a them as good as not his own Umno party for a BNs disaster to recapture open confidence.

Firstly, a disease of misinterpretation comes because a party has taken for granted which a await from a people will continue. Secondly, absentmindedness hits when a party has forgotten a role as good as a original objective of a struggles. Next, a sluggishness disease occurs when parties refuse to implement reforms or make changes. Finally! , audaci ty is innate out of a attitude of refusing to accept advice from others. All these diseases, quite arrogance, will only result in loathing from a people as good as offend in the leadership, Najib had pronounced in his opening speech.

Tear gas, water canons fired at Pakatan crowd protesting SYABAS bailout

For a unbelievers - demeanour again during a abyss of a crowd!Malaysia Chronicle

UPDATED KUALA LUMPUR - Police dismissed rip gas as well as H2O cannons during a little 10,000 people comprising mostly Pakatan Rakyat supporters trying to palm over a chit to a King to criticism a federal government's bailout of SYABAS, a H2O distribution organisation tranquil by Umno associate Rozali Ismail.

Among Pakatan leaders who came to appeal to a King to advise Prime Minister Najib Razak to return a H2O rights of a Selangor people behind to their state supervision were PKR deputy-president Azmin Ali, Mentri Besar Khalid Ibrahim, state exco Dr Xavier Jeyakumar as well as DAP MP for Klang Charles Santiago.

DAP's Ronnie Liu, PAS MP for Kuala Selangor Dr Dzulkifli Ahmad, PKR clamp president Tian Chua as well as girl leader Badrul Hisham were additionally present.

Was this necessary? The throng was outrageous but clearly peacefulThe pro-Pakatan throng collected during a Masjid Negara or National Mosque, whilst an additional organisation led by a pro-Umno NGO had done Merdeka Stadium or a National Stadium a base.

SYABAS raised tariffs

Selangor MB Khalid told a cheering throng more than 250,000 people had already signed a petition to a King. SYABAS had additionally increased tariff by 37 percent final year, Khalid revealed, turning a acclaim into loud boos for a organisation as well as Rozali.

The SYABAS arch has been accused of arrogant behavior as well as unashamed wooing of tip Umno leaders to await his plans for monopolizing a state's H2O rights.

The Pakatan protesters had collected during a National Mosque given 9am as well as began their impetus to a Palace a few kilometres divided during about 1.30pm.

Return to us our rightsThey were coming a railway hire when Federal Reserve Unit crew blocked their way. But they refused to retreat, cheering 'Hidup Rakyat' as well as delectable to a military to let them pass as it was a pacific march.

However, a military retaliated by firing round after round of rip gas as well as chemical-laced H2O during them, forcing most to scurry for cover.

Earlier in a day, military had set up roadblocks heading to a Palace in anticipation of a rally. They additionally rhythmical a obstruction of small roads in a vicinity of a National Mosque, where thousands had collected to await word from a organizers to begin a travel to a Palace.

City military arch Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah told reporters he had informed Khalid that a impetus had not been approved. His organisation have picked up during least 3 people for questioning in tie with a protest.

Small Umno throng during a Stadium

Meanwhile, during Stadium Merdeka, a little 300 members of a Gabungan Anti-Penyelewengan Selangor or GAPS collected to criticism opposite purported misappropriation of supports by a Selangor government.

Despite being badly outnumbered, GAPS authority Hamidzun Khairuddin was authorised to lead a organisation of eight member to contention a chit to a King. The GAPS chit consisted of 30 allegations of misappropriation by a state government.

GAPS is additionally protesting opposite PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's call for an finish to 'Ketuanan Melayu'. The gathering dispersed during about noon.

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How to recover control of Selangor's water

Selangor water protesters tear-gassed

Riot police begin firing their water cannons to disperse a crowd gathered for Selangors water rally in KL, December 5, 2010. Picture by Jack OoiKUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5 Riot police fired tear gas and used water cannons on at least 1,000 protesters near the KL Railway Station as they marched to the Istana Negara today to rally against a potential bailout of Selangor water utility companies.

Hundreds of protestors sought refuge at the Railway Station to avoid the police action after they started their march from the National Mosque. Riot police later turned the water cannons on those who had gone back to the National Mosque despite organisers announcing an end to the rally shortly before 3pm.

Several policemen charged at more than 1,000 protesters, some of whom ran to seek sanctuary at the mosque. The crowd has so far remained at the vicinity of the National Mosque after failing to break through police barricades, water cannons and teargas.

The police had earlier allowed the protesters through to deliver a memorandum the Yang di-Pertuan Agong seeking support for Selangors takeover of the states water industry.

According to witnesses, police used tear gas and water cannons on the crowd after allowing Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and several state exco members to proceed to the Istana Negara.

Several attendees of the Selangor water rally are locked in a police truck, December 5, 2010.Picture courtesy of Lim Lip EngThe MB and excos are inside the Istana gates. Submitting the memorandum. Or attempting to, tweeted Khalids aide Tricia Yeoh.

Khalid handed over memorandum containing 250,000 signatures to Istana Negara officers just before 2.30pm but Selangor exco Teresa Kok said the police barred the delegation from photographing the occasion.

Meanwhile, Ko! ta Daman sara assemblyman Dr Nasir Hashim was escorted by the police to Selangors water rally at the National Mosque, shortly after being detained earlier at the KL Sentral transport hub.

Apart from the Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) chairman, two other PSM members who had been detained Shah Alam councillor A. Sivarajan and party secretary-general S. Arulchelvam were also escorted to the National Mosque, said Subang MP R. Sivarasas personal assistant, Peter Chong.

The three were officially released and sent in a police car to the National Mosque, Chong told The Malaysian Insider today.

The three had been held in the morning at the KL Sentral on their way to the Selangor water protest that began this morning at the National Mosque.

Witnesses said the trio were later re-arrested for being in the vicinity of the Istana Negara but police have yet to confirm.

MORE TO COME

Letter & Opinion From Joe Public

Sudahkan Dr M masuk Umno semula? — Subky Latif

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad ketika berucap di Kemaman menyeru sekalian ahli Umno yang menubuhkan PKR membubarkan parti itu dan kembali semula ke pangkuan Umno serta bertaubat kerana telah memecahkan perpaduan orang Melayu/Islam.

Sebelum bekas ahli Umno dalam PKR itu kembali kepada Umno, mereka perlu tanya apakah Dr Mahathir sendiri sudahkah menyertai Umno semula?

Orang-orang Umno PKR itu keluar Umno kerana membantah konspirasi Dr Mahathir memecat Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sebagai ahli Umno dan Timbalan Perdana Menteri. Mereka merasa dia dizalimi dan parti yang zalim saja logiknya sanggup memecat ahli dan pimpinan secara zalim. Mereka keluar parti dan membentuk PKR atas kezaliman Umno.

Tetapi Dr Mahathir keluar Umno atas alasan apa?

Semata-mata kerana tidak setuju dengan pimpinan Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Ramai juga yang lain tidak senang dengan pimpinan Abdullah tetapi mereka tidak keluar Umno.

Ribuan orang Umno menyokong isteri Anwar menubuhkan PKR. Hanya beberapa orang mengikut Mahathir keluar Umno termasuk penyokong setianya Tan Sri Sanusi Junid. Anak-anak Dr Mahathir pun tak ikut ayahnya.

Sehingga ini saya tidak ingat dia sudah kembali semula kepada Umno. Ada usaha Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin sebelum menggulingkan Abdullah dulu untuk membawanya kembali kepada Umno, tetapi selepas itu tidak kedengaran apa-apa.

Yang kesiannya beberapa orang pak turutnya sahaja yang keluar Umno. Dan bagaimana mereka akan kembali semula ditakdirkan Dr Mahathir masuk semula Umno dan taubat? Lebih kesian Sanusi. Kerana terlalu fanatik dengan Dr Mahathir lalu ikut sama keluar Umno. Akibatnya gugur jawatannya sebagai Reaktor UIA.

Tetapi bolehkah bekas ahli Umno bubarkan PKR? Ia bukan ditubuhkan oleh penyokong Umno saja. Ia ditubuh bersama oleh Tian Chua, Elizabeth Wong, R. Sivarasa, Dr Xavier Jeyakumar dan kemudian diperkukuh pula oleh penyertaan Dr Syed Husin Ali dan penyokong-penyokong dari PRM

PKR bukan seperti Parti Melayu Semangat 46 ditubuhkan oleh orang Umno belaka. Bila bekas ahli Umno rasa mereka patut bersatu semula dengan Umno, maka mereka mudah bubarkan Parti S46.

Kalau PKR dibubarkan, ke mana hendak dilemparkan ahlinya yang tidak pernah menyertai Umno seperti Latheefa Koya, Badrul Amin dan Fuziah Salleh? Apakah mahu suruh mereka menyrtai PAS sebagai ahli Dewan Himpunan Penyokong PAS atau DAP?

Dan apakah Dr Mahathir fikir Dr Syed Husin Ali akan ikut Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail menyertai Umno?

Orang Melayu berada dalam parti yang berbeza kerana mereka percaya kepada demokrasi. Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra berpendapat, orang Melayu menyertai berbagai parti bukan bukti mereka berpecah kerana amalan demokrasi membenarkan masing-masing berbuat demikian.

Jika orang Melayu berada dalam parti yang berbeda dikira perpecahan, maka mengapa Dr Mahathir usahakan penyingkiran PAS dari Barisan Nasional sedang perpaduan orang Melayu melalui Barisan Nasional adalah paling ketara hingga Pilihan Raya Umum 1974 mencatitkan begitu banyak kerusi dimenangi BN tanpa bertanding?

Jika kewujudan Umno dan PAS dikira punca perpecahan orang Melayu, mengapa penyatuan kedua parti itu dalam BN dipecahkan oleh Dr Mahathir?

Kalau berjuta penyokong Umno itu bersetuju orang Melayu mesti berada dalam satu parti, maka pendekatan melalui BN yang dipelopori Tun Razak dulu adalah formula terbaik bagi penyatuan itu. Kalau Umno boleh bersetuju Perikatan ditukar kepada BN, maka Umno tentu boleh menerima apa jua nama jika penyokong Umno dan penyokong PAS boleh disatukan.

Jika Umno mengira adalah yang terbaik, mengapa Umno tidak singkirkan Tun Hussein Onn dan Dr Mahathir yang menjadi pemecah penyatuan Melayu yang amat sukar dicapai oleh Tun Razak itu?

Selepas Dr Mahathir berpuas hati dapat menyingkirkan Anwar dari Umno dan kerajaan, maka dia tidak sedar konspirasinya itu memecahkan Umno, dan kewujudan Pakatan Rakyat mula mengancam Umno dan BN, maka menyalahkan pementukan PKR konon memecahkan orang Melayu.

Dia suruh PKR dibubarkan bagi kembali ke pangkuan Umno semula. Apakah dalam pekej itu termasuk Anwar sekali? Dia tidak sebutkan Anwar mesti dikecualikan.

Anwar pun tak kebulur dan begitu juga PKR. Apakah ia tanda Dr Mahathir menyesal dengan konspirasinya dulu? Kalau dia menyesali, dialah yang wajar bertaubat, bukan PKR yang perlu bertaubat.

Jika dia menyesali akan perpecahan Melayu itu, apakah dia mengaku silap memecat Anwar dan menyingkirkan PAS dari BN dulu? — harakahdaily.net

Perbandingan Harga Minyak Dunia - oleh Topeng Perak

NOTA EDITOR: Terima kasih Poji.


1.United Arab Emirates - $0.37/liter/ RM1.22 seliter
2.Baharin - $0.27/liter/RM0.89/liter
3.Qatar - $0.22/liter /RM0.72 /liter
4.Kuwait -$0.21/liter /RM0.69/liter
5.Libya - $0.14/liter / RM0.46/liter
6.Arab Saudi - $0.12/liter / RM0.39 /liter
7.Iran - $0.11/liter /RM0.36/liter
8.Nigeria - $0.10/liter / RM0.33/liter
9.Turkmenistan - $0.08/liter / $M0.26/liter
10.Venezuela - $0.05/liter / RM0.16 /liter

Malaysia..???????

foto cewek ABG | ABG cantik dan Manis | Part 1

from Breaking Buzz Blog

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foto cewek ABG | ABG cantik dan Manis | Part 1

Pelan Ekonomi Najib: Kroni Didahulukan. Rakyat Dibebankan

Kenaikan harga barang yang terbaru adalah sebahagian dari pelan ekonomi Najib yang baru. Tema kepada pelan Najib ini adalah:

Beban diberikan kepada rakyat. Keuntungan diberikan kepada Kroni/UMNOPUTRADalam tindakan drastic Najib yang terbaru, sedikit pun Najib tidak berusaha mengikis kekayaan dan keuntungan yang dinikmati oleh para korporat. Cukai korporat (baca kroni/UMNOPUTRA), misalnya, tidak dinaikkan langsung. Malah, yang saya dapat tahu, cukai korporat akan diturunkan.

Maka, demi untuk menampung kekurangan perbelanjaan kerajaan (yang selama ini menguntungkan korporat) maka dinaikkan harga barang. Najib tahu, kenaikan harga barang akan ditanggung bebannya oleh rakyat. Dan, oleh kerana rakyat Malaysiaakan terus menyokong Najib dan UMNO, maka kenaikkan ini diteruskan juga.

PEMANDU di bawah Idris Jala begitu aktif berkempen membuang subsidi. Idris Jala sedikit pun tidak menyusun strategi bagaimana membuat para korporat (baca: kroni) menampung beban perbelanjaan kerajaan Malaysia. PEMANDU pimpinan Idris juga berpaksi kepada ideologi: Bebankan rakyat, bantu kroni(baca: korporat).

Tak elok buat analisa begini tanpa contoh. Subsidi yang PETRONAS bayar kepada Pengeluar Elektrik Bebas (IPP) adalah dalam jumlah RM19 billion setahun. Soalannya, mengapa Najib tidak memotong subsidi kepada korporat2 kaya empunya IPP ini seperti YTL dan sebagainya?

Pelan ekonomi Najib tidak memikirkan rakyat marhean. Pelan ekonomi Najib hanya memikirkan bagaimana menambah kekayaan kroni dan UMNOPUTRA. Rakyat tidak penting kerana rakyat Malaysia akan terus mengundi Najib dan UMNO walau bagaimanapun rakyat Malaysia dilayan oleh Najib dan Barisan Nasional.

Usaha kerajaan PR untuk member air murah pun ditentang Najib demi membela kroni2 beliau (baca: korporat).

Dengan kata lain, di bawah pelan ekonomi Najib ini, rak! yat Mala ysia akan terus mengikat perut demi mengkayakan kroni dan UMNOPUTRA (baca: korporat).

Tulang Besi

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Anwar: Why no subsidy cuts for corporate giants?
De facto opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has lambasted the government for the price hikes on fuel and sugar announced yesterday evening going after small change from the lower income group when similar zeal is not shown vis-a-vis the rich corporate giants.

He said a similar phased removal of subsidies for wealthy independent power producers (IPPs) owned by business elites and cronies of Barisan Nasional was part of Pemandu's plan.

Amazingly, the only hikes implemented so far are on those items that hit directly on the people's purse; not the cronies, said Anwar (right).

According to the opposition leader, Pemandu has estimated that RM1.12 billion could be saved in 2010 if subsidies on gas price to IPPs and non-power sectors are reduced.

This could have been achieved if gas price to IPP and the non-power sector is increased by RM4.65 per mmbtu and RM2.52 per mmbtu respectively, he explained.

He revealed that the government through Petronas currently subsidises the IPPs and industries to the tune of RM19 billion annually, as the subsidised gas price of RM10.70 per mmbtu (for IPPs) is remarkably lower than the average market price of imported gas of RM38 per mmbtu (should the country need to import the gas to meet the demand against a shortfall in production).

Anwar called for Prime Minister Najib Razakb (left) to explain why he was targetting the subsidy cuts at the rakyat rather than the industry.

This is more so when nothing has been done so far (despite promises after promises) to reform the subsidy allocation system.

This is pivotal to ensure that the lower income group will continue to benefit from state assistance to counter the rising cost of living.

Pemandu seems to be extremely efficient at pushing for the subsidy! removal ; yet extremely slow at coming out with a solution to redistribute the subsidies that are meant for the poor, said Anwar.

It chases the small change in the form of subsidy removal on household items most widely used by the people, yet it procrastinates on confronting the real subsidy monsters (in the form of the IPPs).

Paying for BN's 'carefree spending'

He also blamed the BN government for it's carefree spending in the last decade having contributed to the necessity for subsidy cuts to ease the national deficit.

In the end, the RM126 million saved from the 16 July's 20 sen hike on sugar is not even enough to pay for Pemandu's own exorbitant cost as reported by Malaysiakini, said Anwar.

Where is the moral authority of a government that takes RM126 million from the poor to pay RM66 million to consultants for the set up of a government unit and another RM65 million for its whole operation in 2010?

Hence, I take the recent announcement on NEM with a pinch of salt, he said, adding that the BN will continue to hoodwink the public on the so-called transformation of the public sector when it was really just paying the new breed of civil servants in Pemandu top of the range salaries that will easily beat the private sector.

He also rubbished the NEM's promotion of liberalisation and deregulation as lacking in honesty of execution, citing how YTL was allegedly awarded the 700 MHz TV spectrum broadcasting band without an open tender.

This is not surprising as the whole machination of this administration is based on the perpetuation of a public image crafted by firms of public relations that are paid by the taxpayers' money with the sole intention of buying Barisan Nasional additional time before the people cast their judgement, he said.

He warned that further price hikes can be expected as the originally proposed quantum of price hike was at 10 sen per price hike for every 6 months.

Adding that if the BN administration was not checked, ...we ar! e defini tely en route to paying a fuel price at RM2.10 litre within a year's time.
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See What Barisan Nasional Gotta Say?

Najib calls Pakatan "evil", "anti-national" at 'lame-duck' BN meet

To uncover unity, Najib's 'merchants of reality' wave flagsKUALA LUMPUR Datuk Seri Najib Razak appeared to flog off Barisan Nasionals (BN) subsequent choosing campaign currently by delivering his hardest-hitting punches yet upon his Pakatan Rakyat (PR) foes by job them anti-national as well as evil, intensifying conjecture which snap polls have been around the corner.

While grating the call to arms to Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties, the statute bloc chairman thundered in the extensive debate steeped in irascibility which the antithesis were merely traders of dreams whilst the statute bloc were merchants of realities.

Be heedful all, beware all, they have been very dangerous. They have been willing to sell only about anything, including discrediting Malaysias name abroad.

I would similar to to explain here which they have been anti-national. We must quarrel them to the finish as well as have certain which this country will not be broken by their evil activities, he pronounced in his opening debate during the BN convention in Wisma MCA here this morning.

For the great twenty minutes, the premier fired stinging attacks opposite the antithesis pact, quite opposite PKR, entirely capitalising upon the partys fractious polls which were only resolved final month.

He also claimed which the party was attempting to embrace Umno, charging which this valid which they recognized the honesty of the statute partys struggles.

We understand which maybe they have been following the observant in English which imitation is the best form of flattery, he added.

The BN convention, themed 1 People, 1 Nation, 1 Vision, the first for the statute bloc given it suffered the worst-ever electoral defeat in Election 2008, runs from 9am to 5pm currently as well as will feature debates upon the accumulation of topics from 10 party component leaders.

- Malaysian Ins! ider

Monolob ritual to appease the mountain spirit

By Luke Rintod

FEATURE Kundasang is famous because here stands the soaring and majestic Mount Kinabalu, a Unesco World Heritage site. But one day in a year, this pristine site is closed to all except the native Kadazandusun community in Sabah. It is the day of the "monolob".

"Monolob" is an age-old ritual which literally means 'appeasing the spirits of the mountain'.

Years ago the mountain and its sprawling verdant foothills was native land but the area is now a gazetted park.

It is still however home to many indigenous people who have lived here for generations and who have a deep and intimate knowledge of the Kinabalu forest.

To them the mountian is scared and its loft peaks, a resting resting place of departed souls as they journey to the afterlife. They refer to the mountain as 'Gayo Ngaran' or Big Name.

On Friday Dec 3, the community's high priest, Lunsing Koroh performed the 'monolob' ritual to appease the mountian spirits and request that they allow for safe passage for the eastimated 15,000 climbers who scale the southeast Asia's highest peak annually.

For many years Koroh used to scale the mountain and perform the ritual at Panar Laban, some 3,353 metres above sea-level, not far from the Low's Peak summit which was 4,095metre (13,435 feet).

But he's 85-years-old now and less able to make the trip. This year he carried out the ritual at the park's Timpohon Gate, the point where climbers start their ascend to the mountain of spirits. And this time he was aided by his son-in-law Dauni Landson, who is 54 years old.

"My old age is slowing me down ..," said Koroh who inherited his "momolian" (high priest powers/wisdom) from his great great grandfather.

"I hope someone much younger will take over this task from me in future..." he told his 97 friends who had joined that morning.

Amon g these friends were his potential successors. The 'monolob' ritual this year co-incided with a high priest annual pilgrimage to the mountain or what they call in the local dialect "kakapan do gayo ngaran".

The rituals

The "monolob" ritual involved the slaughtering of seven (the magical number for the Kadazandusun tribes) white chickens. White chicken is called "kombura" in the local dialect.

"Kombura" or white chicken is the preferred sacrificial bird for this kind of ritual. Black chicken is also sometimes used in Kadazandusun rituals but for different purposes, said Koroh.

Koroh said the natives of Kampung Kiau and Kampung Bundu Tuhan called the greatest Kinabalu spirits as "Komburawan" . White chicken were refered to as "kombura".

Besides the seven white chickens, the offering for the spirits included eggs, betel-nuts and tobacco.

The ritual started in the misty morning hour with Koroh slowly shaking his "komburongoh", a mystical collections of rare species of Borneo plants which are said to be guarded by the spirits.

He then began chanting age-old incantations of mantras in old Dusun language, barely understood by today's Kadazandusun denizens.

Through this incantations, Koroh would invoke a special relationship between the natives and the spirits of the mountain. He would also remind the spirits of their special inherent positions to ensure safety for good climbers to the mountain.

Koroh would also appease the spirits by saying prayers that those setting foot on the mountain are respectful of mother nature and would not desecrate the place.

At the end of his incantations, seven fowls were slaughtered and the meat set aside for cooked consumption at home.

Honouring spirits

Koroh then planted a piece of sharp-edged wood where the white chickens were slaughtered.

According to him, the speared wood would act as a weapon to punish those who fail to adhere to good beha! viour wh ile inside the areas under the purview of the spirits.

Koroh said among the acts which were discouraged are the plucking of plants without good purpose, killings of animals where it is not necessary, desecrating the summit, belittling the seats of the spirits or the greatness of the mountain, and straying from the safe established path.

"But if someone wants to stray from the path, they must be courteous and ask permission from the spirits first," said Koroh.

But if a major trail is to be established then the high priest must be summoned to once again appease and forewarn the spirits, he said.

Koroh added that if the spirits are unhappy then they may manifest their disagreement through dreams, abrupt change in weather or a sudden strange illness to befall those involved in the scheme.

It is said that the famous guide in the 1940's, Gunting Lagadan, a Kadazandusun village headman, who ascended Mt Kinabalu hundreds of time, too conducted the same appeasing ritual before each of his ascends.

This ritual was however discontinued for some unknown reason between 1970 and 1992.

During this time, in 1976, a form five student was reported missing while climbing Mt Kinabalu. In 1989, two other climbers from Sarawak met with the same fate. Their bodies were never recovered.

The Kadazandusuns believe the departed spirits would not have missed the huge Mt Kinabalu in their epic spiritual journey.

The spirits would reach for the mountain and mark their visit by scratching their claws against it or "kumahit" in the local dialect.

This is why the community calls Mt Kinabalu, "kokohiton" which literally means "the place to scratch".

Heritage site

In 1997, a re-survey using satellite technology established Low's Peak height at 4,095 metres (13,435 feet) above sea-level, some six metres (20 feet) less than the ! previous ly established and hitherto published figure of 4,101 metres (13,455 feet).

Kinabalu is the tallest peak in Borneo's Crocker Range and is the fourth tallest mountain in the Malay Archipelago after Indonesian Papua's Puncak Jaya, Puncak Trikora and Puncak Mandala.

Kinabalu is also the 20th tallest mountain in the world by topographic prominence.

The mountain and its surroundings are among the most important biological sites in the world, with over 4,500 species of plants, 326 species of birds, and 100 mammalian species identified.

Among this rich collection of wildlife are famous species such as the gigantic Rafflesia flowerplants and the Orangutans. And it is for this reason that Kinabalu has been accorded Unesco World Heritage Site status. - FMT

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