Tony Hermon dies at 71

Two of Tony Hermon's front-page stories on security and defence

Tony Hermon, once defence correspondent of The Straits Times, and later a news editor at Balai Berita, died peacefully at the age of 71 at his home in Subang Jaya, Selangor, on Saturday.

A family friend said Tony had received treatment for his heart condition on Thursday after complaining of breathing difficulties. He died while resting in his chair on Saturday. He is survived by his wife and four children, Andrew, Gordon, Sandra and Jennifer.

Funeral services will be held at 10am today at his home, No. 44 Jalan USJ 2/5K, Subang Jaya. (Details: 03-5632-8295)

Tony's Mirages

A personal memoir by Gobind Rudra

Tony Hermon was defence and political correspondent of The Straits Times in the 1960 and 1970s before he became a desk man, first with the New Straits Times and then as news editor of the Malay Mail.

As a desk man, he suffered from the intense knife-in-your-back politicking of the times, being posted to the wilderness in Penang for a spell before returning to Balai Berita on the NST news desk, as metropolitan news editor with the City Desk, and then back to the Malay Mail as news editor, from which post he retired in the mid-1980s.

In his days as security and defence correspondent, Tony covered the discussions leading to the creation in 1971 of the Five-Power Defence Arrangement, the alliance responsible for the joint air defence of Malaysia and Singapore.

Security matters in those times largely involved Commonwealth forces, meaning the military services of Britain, Australia and New Zealand (or ANZUK) and Hermon covered the many meetings resulting from Britain's military pullout from the Far East.

Among the major stories which rolled smoothly out of Hermon's Remington was a front-page lead on the Air Force wanting to buy the supersonic Mirage III fighter jets built by Dassault of France, to replace the subsonic Sabre jets of Korean War vintage donated by Australia.

The Mirage III, then also flown by the RAAF, had made its reputation after having destroyed the Egyptian air force on the ground and in the air during the Six-Day War of 1967, the Sinai campaign, and over the Golan Heights.

Malaysia's air force, then led by fighter jock Sulaiman Sujak, wanted a hotshot fighter and the hottest fighter then was the Mirage. They had to settle instead for the Northrop F-5E, the "Freedom Fighter", a supersonic but lightweight fighter favoured by the US government for export purposes for its comparatively unlethal capabilities.

Though Tony's story was denied (and carried in a one-paragraph filler), he would always insist in private conversation that his story had been accurate and that political pressure had resulted in the decision being changed.

The Northrop purchase was later to figure in US Congressional hearings on corruption and bribery of foreign governments in US military export sales, and to legislation outlawing the payment of bribes overseas to secure arms deals. The F-5E deal also figured in a Malaysian court case involving low-level air force personnel, at which Sulaiman Sujak was a witness for the prosecution.

Tony Hermon's defence and security stories were written before the Official Secrets Act came into being in 1972. Given the way it has been used since, you might think it was actually the Official Protection of Defence Contract and Sales Commission Secrets Act, and you wouldn't be far wrong at that.

Last month, defence ministers of "South-East Asia Command" (if I may call it that) marked the 40th anniversary of the quiet alliance, the one for which Tony Hermon had helped to play nursemaid. It came at the end of Bersama
Shield 2011, a five-month-long exercise over Malaysia, the South China Sea, and Singapore, involving the three armed services of the five countries in their annual war games.

Though he had since gone on to spreading the good word, Tony Hermon would have loved to have been there at BS11, with a borrowed portable typewriter in place of his bulky desktop Remington (or was it a Royal?), a wide grin creasing his face at familiar sights and faces, and many a quiet word over a quiet whisky or two.

Farewell, Herm

Filed under: Journalism, People

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A mamak scammer by the name of Mydin

Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd managing director Ameer Ali Mydin clarified today that the RM40 million allocation allocated to Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M) under the Budget 2012 is only for the setting up of the outlets.
No product sold in KR1M is subsidised by the government except cooking oil, flour and sugar, which are a controlled items nationwide.

"The RM40 million is supposed to be used as capex (capital expenditure) for opening shops, which includes decorations, shelves and the like," Ameer (middle) told a press conference at the 1Malaysia shop in Kelana Jaya this afternoon.

However, the RM40 million allocation will not cover KR1M's rental cost.

The thrift store chain - the brainchild of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak - aims to have 31 outlets in Peninsula Malaysia by year end before venturing to East Malaysia next year.

Ameer said KR1M can sustain itse! lf by of fering generic products without a brand name, as it has a higher profit margin compared to branded products.

"Because when you buy a branded product, you will compare between one another. But for generic product you can't compare," he said.

12 petrol stations selling KR1M products

He assured that the quality of the products was assured as the it was benchmarked against branded products.

"Now 1Malaysia products is already a brand," he said.

On the briefing for Petronas petrol kiosk operators at the Mydin headquarters this morning, Ameer clarified that the event was to discuss a proposal for petrol kiosk operators to sell KR1M products.

He said that KR1M had sought the help of the of the relevant ministries to arrange the meeting. He said Petronas and other petrol kiosk operators had expressed interest in selling the product.

Thus far, two Petronas and 10 Caltex petrol stations have already begun selling KR1M products.

"We are trying to convince them to make their stations a place to shop, and not just for filling petrol.

"They can smell the money already… and also want to help the people," he said.

Ameer said there was absolutely no compulsion on the part of petrol kiosk operators to buy KR1M products.

*****************************************

Malaysia support terrorists.

Malaysia! support dictators.

Malaysia support human trafficking.

Malaysia support money laundering.

Malaysia support murderers.

Malaysia support corruption.

Malaysia support racists.

Malaysia support and welcome illegal migrates as Malaysians citizens.

Malaysia support and donate rakyat's money to cronies like the Mamak Mydin and Shahrizat's family.

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Tak Sampai Sebulan Balik Haji Dah Buka Tudung??

Hairan bin ajaib. Tak sampai sebulan balik haji, dah bukak tudung? Ingatkan lepas buat haji, adalah perubahan yang positif.

Haii sedih sedih.

Awaktu pemimpin, kena lah tunjuk contoh tauladan yang baik. Bukan buat mcam ni.

Tulang Besi

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Najib should intervene in the RM10 million “condominium for cattle” scandal by recalling the RM181 million loan to NFC which are not used for the purpose of cattle production

Media statement by Lim Kit Siang in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, 13^th November 2011: 

Najib should intervene in the RM10 million "condominium for cattle" scandal by recalling the RM181 million loan to NFC which are not used for the purpose of cattle production

As shocking as the revelation about the RM10 million "cattle for condominium" scandal is the self-righteous statement by the Minister for Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Datuk Noh Omar aiding and abetting a gross misappropriation of public funds.

Claiming that the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) had not used government funds for the purchase of the RM9.8 million Bangsar luxury condominium, Noh said that once NFC received money from the government, it was thereafter considered the company's private funds and the government had no say as to how it would be used.

Noh said the government had loaned NFC RM250 million made into a special loan account (SLA) in Maybank that was controlled by the Finance Ministry.

Noh said RM181 million from that account had been disbursed to NFC based on the latter's claims.

The government only had control of funds that were in the SLA, but had none over how the company spends the money once it has been disbursed, said the minister.

"If the money has been paid to NFC after fulfilling set conditions, the government cannot control what NFC does with it, including purchasing the said condominium, because it is then considered the company's money.

"Claims made by NFC are related to farm management only, and has absolutely nothing to do with the purchase of condominiums."

Clearly, something is very wrong about the "set conditions" imposed by the technical committee chaired by the Veterinary Department and the Finance Ministry for the release of the loans to promote cattle production that it could result in "excess funds" leading to the purchase of the Bangsar luxury condomium – nothing to do whatsoever with cattle farm production and management.

Instead of expressing surprise and shock at the misappropriation of the loans for cattle production to purchase a luxury condominium, the Agriculture Minister has instead come out to defend the RM10 million "condominium for cattle" scandal!

There is no word of censure, disapproval or dismay at such blatant misappropriation of public funds by the NFC especially as it involved the family of a Cabinet Minister, which is particularly galling to ordinary Malaysians who are trying to make ends meet.

Is this in fact an reflection that such misuse of public funds, where mega loans are given to companies whether run by family members of Cabinet Ministers or cronies, are often misused for another purpose from the those originally approved, is very commonplace under the present administration?

Let the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, the Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and all Cabinet Ministers declare their stand whether they fully agree with Noh Omar that there is nothing wrong or amiss in such misappropriation of public funds such as in the "condominium for cattle" scandal – as it is a common occurrence under the Barisan Nasional government?

In fact, Najib should intervene in the RM10 million "condominium for cattle" scandal by recalling the RM181 million loan to NFC which are not used for the purpose of cattle production if the Prime Minister is serious about all the talk of a national transformation policy with the slogan of "People First, Performance Now".

---

*Lim Kit Siang, DAP Parliamentary Leader & MP for Ipoh TimorTimor

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Khairy’s clarification — Lim Mun Fah

NOV 14 — Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin clarified that his proposal for a new social contract was not intended to eliminate multi-stream schools. At the same time, respective referendums should be held by the various communities to see how many people are in support of the idea.

Have Khairy's clarifications lifted the people's doubts over his proposal? His remarks have instead triggered an outcry in the Chinese community and he was accused of attempting to eliminate vernacular primary schools to make way for single-stream education through the implementation of a new social contract in the name of promoting national unity.

People have expected such a strong reaction from the Chinese and Indian communities. As a highly intelligent Oxford graduate, he should have predicted such an outcry before making the proposal, shouldn't he?

But why did he still touch the sensitive nerve? And why did the Yayasan 1 Malaysia board of trustees chairman Dr Chandra Muzaffar at the same time reaffirm that the single-stream education system is the best way to promote national unity?

Are they too naïve or have they misjudged the situation? Or could it be a water-testing ploy with a greater hidden agenda?

If the people have "wronged" Khairy, then his biggest mistake would be the failure to make things clear once and for all. Instead, he has left plenty of room to imagination.

I still tend to believe that Khairy is a smart man. After assessing the situation, he urged the public not to play up and politicise the issue. It shows that instead of acting impulsively, he knows when to retreat.

However, it is ridiculous to take the Chinese and Indian communities' responses as playing up the issue, just like an arsonist calling others busybody when they help him put out a fire. Meanwhile, the blame for politicising the issue is directed indiscriminately at everyone.

Recently, it seems to have become a trend to use "referendum" in political games. Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is using it, so is Khairy. Shouldn't we call it a political ploy to rely on a referendum in solving an education issue?

A referendum seems democratic but it fact, it is not. A referendum can of course show the preference of the majority but if we put it bluntly, it is just a question of numbers and has nothing to do with correctness. Once rationality fails to go beyond emotions, it would not only fail to solve the problem but might even make the situation worse.

Therefore, it is definitely not a rational choice, but a political hijack of education, to determine the education system through a referendum instead of weighing out professional considerations. Once education is politicised to such an extent, it is not only a pity but also that the country's education might have reached a dead end! — mysinchew.com

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.

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An excellent job? — Nawawi Mohamad

NOV 14 — Could a very important interview be as follows?

Q: If you had to put your finger on what's been going on in Malaysia for the past few months especially during these few weeks, how would you do so Sir?

Sir: Well… You just can't talk about one thing. There's a combination of a number of things which have been in the news and of course, you try to correct and try to resolve it each day and get a little bit better here and there, at home like doing a walkabout in KL, taking a bicycle ride, attending concerts, watch football with the fans and officiating the Kedai 1Malaysia and abroad, meeting the Pope, leaving for Sydney during the holidays, then flying to Kazakhstan … then performing the Hajj and flying to Hawaii. And I make it my rule not to have any disputes with my deputy and not to irritate mentor, ex-mentor really.

Q: Well Sir, let me be more straightforward. Have you been at the core of events in Malaysia, like Bersih, LGBT, Auditor-General's Report, especially the NFC debacle, the National Debt and the situation in Greece and Italy?

Sir: As I have highlighted earlier, you can't talk about one thing … you see … despite all the events we have become a mature democracy because we allow dissent, and the LGBT has grown to a bigger group, we allow them to grow bigger and that is their right, the audit report has shown that the government is transparent, and the NFC is not a debacle as all have been defended by Noh Omar, the cows are very special and expensive, they are not ordinary cows, they are meant for the upmarket and Khairy has also explained in detail (for the records please … I will give him a very special post outside the Cabinet when the time comes, again ... he he), and Shahrizat has done a very good job, she has the business sense to invest in a condominium too.

Where was I … oh, as for our national debt, it is peanuts compared to the US … do you know that the US has the highest debt in the world? … And what about Greece and Italy … please let us just discuss Malaysia here and not digress to Greece and Italy.

Q: If I may interrupt you there for a second Sir, when I mentioned Greece and Italy, I mean what about us, what about Malaysia, Sir? Many people have warned us that Malaysia can go bankrupt, after all Idris Jala has already warned us twice.

Sir: Idris Jala as you know has done his job to produce the KPIs and it is done. I still maintain him in the Cabinet so that he can do something to occupy his time, if not it would be difficult for him to find a job in the corporate world … not like Tony.

Q: I am sorry again Sir, what I meant was our country's debt and financial situation, don't you think we are another Greece in the making?

Sir: Ohh … that … Yes, Malaysia is another Greece in the making, as we will be the top tourist destination soon and I am very happy and satisfied with what Dr. Ng Yen Yen has done so far, with the RM10 billion Monsoon Cup, extra RM270 million on very successful advertisements and of course we have a lot of hits on the Tourism Ministry's website … and everyone knows we have many tourists coming from China and Africa now and the Bangladeshis are coming by the truckloads here. I reached an understanding with the Bangladesh prime minister a few months back.

Q: (Sigh) Oh my God … Sir, let us move forward then. Since you have mentioned Bangladeshis, is it true that the government is now in the midst of giving automatic citizenship to Bangladeshis?

Sir: No, no, never. Who told you that? This is preposterous and not true at all. They are lies fabricated by the Opposition. I categorically deny that the Bangladeshis are being given citizenship as purported by the Opposition … They have nothing else to do but argue and find all the mistakes and faults committed by the government. I was told by my cousin that there are written requests and letters of support not only for Bangladeshis but for Indonesians to be given citizenship.

Q: So are you saying that the giving of automatic citizenship is true?

Sir: No, no, I did not say that, did I? I only said what my cousin told me and only for Indonesians.

Q: Never mind, Sir. Let us go to another more serious matter now. When do you plan to dissolve parliament since 11.11.11 has now passed … ?

Sir: I make the announcement when the time is right; when the one in the "Datuk T" video is in jail; when the Ministry of Defence has been able to procure expensive military hardware; when we have analysed the sentiments of the rakyat, the grass roots, the UMNO leaders, the SB and the Indian fortune teller-ji; and when we have received the consent of FLOM. I hope I have done a very excellent job for the country and the people will continue voting for BN.

Q: I am sorry Sir but I don't think you have done an excellent job. — harakahdaily.net

* Nawawi Mohamad reads The Malaysian Insider.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.

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Adun BN dakwa Sopic tidak telus

SHAH ALAM: Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) (BN-Kuang), Abdul Shukor Idrus hari ini mendakwa urus tadbir Selangor Oil Palm Industries Corporation Sdn Bhd (Sopic), tidak telus.

Beliau berkata terdapat penyelewengan dalam Sopic, anak syarikat Perbadanan Kemajuan Pertanian Negeri Selangor (PKPNS) itu,  apabila dua Ahli Lembaga Pengarahnya menggunakan kuasa mereka untuk meluluskan pelbagai projek bagi kepentingan peribadi.

"Syarikat ini telah diberhentikan operasi sejak 2009 lalu ekoran tidak menjana sebarang keuntungan," jelas Shukor kepada para pemberita dalam sidang media selepas membahaskan Bajet 2012 sidang Dewan Undangan Negeri (Dun) Selangor di sini hari ini.

Beliau mendedahkan Sopic memiliki dana sebanyak RM20 juta dan mendakwa 50 peratus daripadanya telah digunapakai oleh dua Lembaga Pengarah terbabit.

"Pengurus Besar dan Timbalannya meluluskan tender tanpa menggunakan tawaran tender dan sebut harga. Antara projek-projek itu ialah ladang lembu tenusu dan ladang ayam di Ladang PKPS Jelutong Jati, Sabak Bernam serta pembelian mesin kelengkapan ladang ayam bernilai RM5.8 juta.

"Dipercayai, kesemua keuntungan yang dijana antara tahun 2010 hingga 2011 untuk projek-projek terbabit akan di bawa masuk kepada PKPS," katanya.

Sementara itu, beliau juga mendedahkan penyelewengan dalam urus tadbir Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd (KSSB) oleh salah seorang bekas pekerjanya, T Sivanesan, 24 tahun. Beliau dipecat pada  9 September 2011 tanpa alasan yang munasabah.

Beliau mendakwa dirinya dipecat apabila cuba membangkitkan isu penjualan pasir kepada pihak atasan dan berdasarkan maklumat yang diterima, wujud campur tangan dalam projek perlombongan pasir dimana Pengarah KSSB terdiri daripada Exco dan Adun negeri Selangor.

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Sarawak, a different country...I mean state. Or do I?

It's a very different looking bird, ain't it?

Everytime I visit Sarawak I feel like I am in a different country. Things there are just somehow.....different. In so many positive ways. People were friendlier. Places were cleaner. People were more...together. And at times I felt more Malaysian there than I have ever done over here on the peninsula. And that I think is by the gracious sufferance of the Sarawakians and not because I hold a Malaysian passport. I could never really put my finger on why and how exactly things were different over there.  They just ...... were!

I may have found the reason today. In the front page of The Sun.  I tried looking for the same story in The Star but couldn't find it. Maybe they didn't think it worth printing. NST? No my maid still prefers The Star for fish wrap so I don't buy the NST.  What about the Sun's front page story?  I shall copy it here in its entirety as I found it in the online edition.  I am not going to comment on it. You read it and see if you can't find your own reasons for thinking why things are so different over there. For now. I am beginning to understand why I need a passport to go there.

Comment later if you like and share your thoughts with us. By the way, the highlights are mine.

Sarawak won't adopt anti-apostasy law

Posted on 13 November 2011 - 01:55pm
Last updated on 14 November 2011 - 07:53am

Sulok Tawie
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

KUCHING (Nov 13, 2011): The state government does not intend to adopt anti-apostasy law because Sarawak practises religious freedom where each and every individual can choose the religion of his or her choice.

However, Assistant Minister of Islamic Affairs Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman said, this does not mean that the State Islamic Departm! ent was encouraging all those who had converted to Islam to leave the religion.

"We do not encourage converts to leave the religion neither do we have an iron grip on them. We can only advice them," said Daud yesterday, reiterating that the state upholds the rights of individuals where religion is concerned.

Daud was commenting on a recent statement by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom that it was up to the individual states to propose an anti-apostasy law.

Speaking to reporters after attending a graduation and award presentation ceremony at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Matang, Daud said Mus! lims in the state are not the majority and it would create bad feelings among the non-Muslims if the Anti-Apostasy Act was to be implemented.

Daud said the state, unlike West Malaysia, looks at religion from a different point of view and if converts really want to leave the religion after being advised against it, there is nothing much that the State Religious Department can do.

"However, we have set up a committee called 'Akidah Committee' headed by the State Mufti to help the new converts and to counsel them on religious matters," he said.

Daud explained that a convert who ! wanted t o leave the religion would normally inform the State Religious Department about it and he (the convert) would be given counselling sessions by officers from the department for up to a year before he (the convert) makes a final decision.

The Assistant Minister said that he had personally received requests from several individuals regarding the matter, and his solution was always to let the individuals decide what was best for them.

Most converts, he said, converted to Islam for the sake of marrying a Muslim man or woman and they had almost zero knowledge about Islam.

"Even their Muslim partner may have very little knowledge of Islam! and the y tend to lead a non-Islamic way of life after conversion, leading them to think that there is no difference if they go back to their old beliefs.

"Another problem is that those who want to leave the religion have to deal with the National Registration Department in deleting the 'bin' or 'binti' from their name as displayed in the identification card," he said.

NIAMAH!!!

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Malaysians being ripped off (2) – with photos

By Mimi Chih

Thank you for putting my article online.

The reason I enclosed those photos was to drive home the point how much more expensive those same items are in Malaysia. If you go back to Sarawak, they are even more expensive. e.g. even after conversion to RM, it is still more expensive in Malaysia e.g. Yoplait yogurt is SGD7.05 while in KL it is at least RM22, Farmhouse milk is 2 litres for SGD4.85…in KL it is RM10 per litre. Did you see how much the US imported cereals are selling for in Malaysia?

As for simple foods, look at how cheap it is, especially when you are earning SGD. You can still get kopi si peng is still SGD90 cents.

That is the reason why my niece sent out her resumes so many times since last year. She finally got a job in Oct, 2011 as an auditor (2 years experience). Her salary is gross SGD2600. When she earned RM2850 at Ernst & Young, she would never eat at Starbuck, didn't even dare to look at Farmhouse milk or SPAM luncheon meat, and definitely, would never indulge in Yoplait yogurt. She is now able to enjoy all of those and more and she can send home SGD300. Her parents had to subsidize her when she was in KL even though she lived frugally.

Wait till I send it the article about the super efficient MRT, feeder bus and bus system in Singapore. Would you believe that it can cost SGD2 cents (yes, SGD2 cents) for certain routes? Would you believe for SGD80 a month, they can get practically all the channels that we have on ASTRO? Plus, the transmission doesn't get interrupted when the sky becomes cloudy.

This is what Malaysia's politicians need to be talking about…bringing benefits to the people. What have they been doing with the rakyat's money? If economies of scale can be achieve with a 5.18 million population why is it not happening in Malaysia? Things should be even cheaper.

Malaysians are being deprived cheaper options to quality foods. In Singapore, people can get cheap and not substandard quality foods.

Is it possible to attach a few of the photos? Without seeing the glaring price disparity, the article wouldn't drive home the point.

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Assembly sitting ‘illegal’, says Sarawak DAP

By Joseph Tawie | November 14, 2011
Free Malaysia Today

KUCHING: Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud's budget announcement this morning at the State Legislative Assembly was 'illegal and unlawful', according to the state opposition DAP.

State party chairman Wong Ho Leng added that the proceedings was a 'breach of the standing order' and that the CM's budget introduction was 'tainted with impropriety."

Taib, who is also state finance minister, had tabled the Supply (2012) Bill, 2011 during the State Legislative Assembly sitting here today.

According to Wong apart from failing to give the opposition assemblymen advance copies of the Supply Bill 2012 and the Supplementary supply Bill as mandatorily required by Standing Order 63, the assembly had also switched off all their microphones.

"We are saying the whole procedure this morning is wrong. It is irregular and breached standing order and it is therefore unlawful.

"The budget introduced by Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud is very much tainted with impropriety and illegality for being in breach of the mandatory requirements of standing order 63.

"Standing Order 63 has mandatory or compulsory words and it says the draft estimates of state expenditure and revenue for the succeeding years should be laid upon the table before the introduction to the Dewan of the annual supply bill.

"Now all these documents were received by us at 10.07 am this morning. Standing order 65 is also breached," said Wong, Bukit Assek assemblyman.

He was commenting on the first day of the sitting of the state assembly, the second after the April state election.

There are 15 opposition assemblymen – 12 DAP and 3 PKR – and one independent member in the 71-member State Legislative Assembly.

Rushed budget

According to Wong, the Dewan must comply with standing order 63.

"But before the bills are introduced the Dewan must comply with standing order 63.

"All these must be on the table and should be given to us earlier for us to go through,' he said.

Wong said that DAP had been in the Dewan since 1996 and this was the first time that the Supply Bill and the Supplementary Supply Bill were not placed on the tables.

He also noticed that it was the first time that the Chief Minister's budget speech was not broadcast live by Radio and Television Malaysia (RTM).

"Everything was so quiet this morning and all of a sudden it was done before 11.00 am. But why was the rush?

"(That there was) something wrong was very obvious," he said.

Wong said that while the Chief Minister was presenting the Supply Bill, he had to interject telling the Speaker that the microphones of the frontline bench of the opposition members were not working.

"I suspect that our PA system was sabotaged in order not to allow us to raise any objection right from the beginning for reasons unknown to us.

Sabotage of microphones

Wong said that State Legislative Assembly was constructed at a cost of RM297 million equipped with up-to-date facilities and had been given an allocation of RM9 million to maintain it for next five years.

"The building is not yet five years old, and yet we see this PA system is malfunctioning.

"Don't tell me that this problem is carried forward from the old state assembly building," he said.

He said what is baffling the opposition is that the PA system was always non-functioning when they wanted to raise questions or seek explanations.

"Because of this, we think it is more sabotaged rather than technical problem," he added.

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Did Sarawak gets ‘clean certificate” for public accounts ???

Did Sarawak gets 'clean certificate" for public accounts ???

- Bernama

These track records showed that the state government has conducted its financial affairs in a transparent manner, says Chief Minister Taib Mahmud.

Sarawak has once again been accorded a "clean certificate" for its 2010 Public Accounts for the ninth consecutive year, Chief Minister Taib Mahmud said today.

Taib, who is also state Finance Minister, said the state had also been reaffirmed with commendable credit ratings from both the international and domestic rating agencies, including Moody's, Rating Agency Malaysia (RAM) and Malaysian Rating Corporation Bhd (MARC).

"These track records show that the state government has conducted its financial affairs in a transparent, accountable and prudent manner in line with the applicable rules and regulation and must, therefore, continue to be disciplined in the way we manage our finances if we were to continue to be a financially healthy state," he said when tabling the Supply (2012) Bill, 2011 during the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly sitting here.

He said it was much more critical now for Sarawak to ensure sustainability of its credit ratings, especially in its efforts to attract direct and indirect investments into the state in a bigger way in the future.

Sarawak was the only state in the country that had been able to place itself under greater scrutiny and review by such rating agencies that benchmarked its financial management with that of countries around the world, he said.

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Sarawak proposes surplus budget for 2012

( Full Report Inside ) Chief Minister Taib Mahmud stresses that it is important to continue with a balanced budget policy to ensure the state's financial position stays strong.

Sarawak's proposed 2012 budget is expected to yield a surplus of RM79 million based on an estimated total revenue of RM4.04 billion against a total ordinary expenditure of RM3.96 billion, Chief Minister Taib Mahmud said.

He said it was important to continue with a balanced or surplus budget policy to ensure that the state's financial position remained strong and sustainable in the long run as well as fiscal flexibility to weather any economic eventuality.

"We need to spend within our means to ensure we have sufficient financial reserves to meet future challenges," Taib, who is also state finance minister, said when tabling the Supply (2012) Bill, 2011 during the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly sitting here today.

Taib said it was imperative for Sarawak, as a developing state, to continue to have a budget that was development-biased – that gave priority to economic activities and productive sectors, such as commerce and industry, public utilities, transport and communications besides agriculture and land development.

On the projected revenue, he said, it represented an increase of RM139 million, or four percent, compared with the estimated revenue of RM3.90 billion in 2011.

"The tax revenue is expected to be RM952 million, or 24 percent, while the non-tax revenue is expected to contribute about RM2.97 billion, or 73 percent, of the total expected revenue," he said.

He said revenue from forestry was estimated to account for RM509 million, or 13 percent, of the total tax revenue, with RM494 million derived from forest royalty, RM12 million from timber premium and the balance of RM3 million from planted forest royalty.

Taib said revenue from sales tax was expected to generate RM317 million, of which RM217 million was expected from crude palm oil while the remaining RM100 million from lottery.

"The balance of RM126 million is expected to come from water royalty, mining royalty and land rents," he said.

Development projects

Sources of non-tax revenue included compensation in lieu of oil and gas rights at RM1.51 billion; compensation in lieu of import and excise duties on petroleum products (RM120 million); land premium (RM290 million); dividend income (RM581 million); interest income (RM290 million); and, revenue from fees, licences, permits, sales of properties, water sales and rental on government properties (RM179 million).

Federal grants and reimbursements and non-revenue receipts would account for RM122 million, or three percent, of the total expected revenue.

Taib said RM2.55 billion out of the total allocation proposed for next year's ordinary expenditure would be as appropriation to the statutory funds (development funds account) to finance development projects.

The balance of RM1.41 billion, which would be for operational or recurrent expenditure, was about five percent higher compared with the estimate of RM1.34 billion for 2011, he said.

It would include RM506 million for personnel emoluments, RM489 milion for supplies and services, RM363 million for grants and fixed payments for government agencies such as local authorites and statutory bodies, RM31 million for procurement of assets and RM25 million for other operating expenses.

On next year's proposed development expenditure of RM3.26 billion, he said, RM3.13 billion would be funded by the state and RM133 million by the federal government through reimbursements and loans.

He said the development allocation was about 23 percent of the state's 10th Malaysia Plan's approved ceiling of RM14 billion, which would be spent for development and the rakyat's well-being.

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Will Najib’s speech at the UMNO General Assembly next month pass muster for the inaugural International Conference on the Global Movement of the Moderates in January?

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MACC passes cattle condo probe to cops...

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said a complaint on the RM9.8 million condominium bought by a sister company of the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) does not fall under its jurisdiction.

In a statement today, the MACC said the complaint had been scrutinised by its legal and prosecution division which is of the opinion that the matter falls under the Penal Code and not the MACC Act 2009.

The matter has since been referred to the police and the complainant has been informed of the matter. The MACC said the complainant has agreed with the new measure.

Although the MACC did not name the complainant, it is believed that it was referring to NGO Jingga 13's leader Fariz Musa who lodged a report last week.

In a statement today, Fariz (middle, in spectacles) said he has been informed by the MACC that the case was being investigated under Section 409 of the Penal Code, for criminal breach of trust.

An offence under this law carries a maximum jail sentence of 20 years, whipping and a fine.

Police must act fast

In view of the latest developments, Fariz urged the police to expedite investigations between of the high-profile figures involved and a large sum of public funds involved.

"The National Feedlot project not only failed, but the people's money has been abused," complained Fariz, who is also the former PKR Youth wing deputy chief.

NFC came under scrutiny after the 2010 Auditor-General's Report had described it as "a mess".

Digging deeper, PKR unearth public documents which revealed that NFC's sister-company National Livestock and Meats Corporation (NLMC) had used a portion of a government loan to buy a luxury condominium unit.

The party said that the move was improper for a company which was formed by the government to address Malaysia's deficit in beef supply.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Noh Omar said that the government had no control over how the company used the funds but stressed that there was no improprieties involved.

Also coming to NFC's defence was BN backbencher Khairy Jamaluddin, who said that the condominium purchase was a strategic investment move by NLMC.

He argued that NFC had faced problems and thus delayed beef production to be processed by the NLMC. Since the NLMC had excess funds, investing it would provide solid returns.

source:malaysiakini

SPRM serah siasatan projek Fidlot pada polis

Bila kena kat batang hidung depa(BN/UMNO), SPRM kelepiaq kiri kanan, SPRM pandai pula bezakan yang mana satu teloq UMNO, dan yang mana satu teloq lembu...

Polis siasat?, tak payah kot, pasai kita dah tahu hasilnya...ibarat lembu-lembu menyiasat projek lembu.. ha! ha! ha!

MACC - wow!!! it's too hot to handle man!!!...

cheers.

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Our education system does not serve the needs of the 21st century

FMT LETTER: From Feizrul Nor Nurbi, via e-mail

I refer to the FMT article, 'Scrap PPSMI, future generations will suffer' by Aziff Azuddin. I was born in the early 80s to a middle class family from a small town in Perak – not exactly a city kid. My parents didn't speak in English at home, but in my early years I manage to pick up English in bits and pieces through the idiot box. Then came kindergarten when I was exposed more to the language.

Entering my school life in late 80s meant I had gone through my schooling years learning all subjects sans English in Bahasa Melayu.  In school, from Standard One until Form Five, I was fortunate to be able to learn from English teachers who were passionate and made the lessons interactive and fun. I was certainly lucky in this sense when all around me the quality of English teaching were crumbling and getting worse day after day.

Bear in mind, I studied Math and Science in BM.

So, university life came a-calling, and immediately the medium of instruction was changed to English. I can almost hear your thought, "A-ha! This guy must have struggle!" but evidently, I did not. University life in English was really a breeze for me. Looking back, it was my strong grounding in the English language as taught by my English teachers that gave me the edge. For that I am ever so grateful to them.

So, what am I now? – a software architect working with a US-based MNC, travelling  all over Asia Pacific and handling customers the world over from a multitude of cultures and languages.

PPSMI is not the way. Strong English basics certainly is. To obtain that, we need to empower our English teachers and return the fun in learning – speaking, writing, reading. Make our schools conducive for learning, give the students the confidence to converse and articulate their ideas. Give them a strong base to be successful in whatever field that they want to, because as much as we hate to admit it – the world is not solely about Math and Sciences.

A defeatist attitude, you say?

When refering to the Japanese and the Germans, it is not really their language that sets them a part. You referred to an abundance of scientific references and body of knowledge readily available in those languages. But why have not we stopped and ask – "How did they get where they are right now?"

A case can be made of their national identity. It is well known about their determination as a nation, their steely-resolve when faced with the challenge of rising from the destruction of war, their perfectionist trait and for the Germans – they are known for their efficiency.
Above all, they never take short-cuts. They work hard for what they have, and in doing so they have managed to keep intact their language and their culture – even showing some disdain to foreign influences and languages trying to be cocky – never selling out who they are as a people in their pursuit of success.

So, with PPSMI – is it not a short cut? And in taking a short cut, what will that say of us a people of this country? Are we really in a hurry, too hasteful to do the right things the right way?

There's another short-cut project that is reviled by majority of Malaysians which benefits only a select minority, and ironically it starts with the letter 'P' also. It came with grand objectives, with the aim of catapulting Malaysia into the lucrative global automotive industry. Yes, some of you may have guessed it right – its the national car project, Proton. And yes also – it is a short cut.

That has been an unfortunate trait of this country of ours – in our haste to reach where we want to go, we abandon the right things that we should be doing and we do the things that we want wrongly. Another case in point is the NFC scandal which is the talk of the town now.

IMHO, in turning to a short-cut that is PPSMI, we are truly being defeatist and apologetic of the heritage that we have. Instead of building those traits from the ground up, our impatience sees we take the fastrack that will eventually lead to nowhere. Instead of sowing the seeds that will ripen years in the future, our haste sees us resorting to quick-fixes and the proverbial "band-aid" solutions.

Perhaps this is the "3rd world mentality" that Pak Lah was talking about.

Confused

Seemingly, you are confused. And lucky for you and unlucky for me – you are not the only one. Your article laments the fact that English proficiency amongst our graduates and workforce is in the doldrums. But again and again those sharing this lament point to PPSMI as a solution. And my response would always be "Really?"

Why don't you point your fingers at our failure to address the declining quality of English teaching in schools? This is the heart of the problem – when we have engineers unable to converse in English, I say fix their English. When we have graduates failing interviews in English, I say their English is the problem, not their knowledge of whatever major they took in university. When we have Standard One students unable to understand Youtube vids about arithmetics delivered in English – I say empower the kids' English.

But you guys decide to teach Mathematics in English. How ingenious! (that's a sarcastic remark. You can't learn that from learning Math and Science in English)

A different world today

Going through the works of Sir Ken Robinson, a renown expert in creativity, education and the arts, it dawned on me how the education system in place today has outgrown its purpose to serve the needs of the 21st century.

The education system that we have today is based on the needs of the Industrial Age of the 17th and 18th centuries, where men and women were being trained to meet the needs of industries. Therefore what we have now is our schools functioning as mere 'manufacturing lines', feeding the industries with the man power they need. Notably it is not surprising that in serving the needs of the industry, Mathematics and Sciences are deemed as the most importants subjects in schools the world over. And at the bottom, we have the Arts.

But see where this model has taken us – we have loads and loads of people, products of this manufacturing lines, being deprived of their talents and forced to conform. Inherently we have today a largely skilled workforce, albeit a dispassionate and unhappy one.

Have you ever been told off for wanting to be a dancer, a fireman, a footballer, or even a teacher? We are being fed the notion that pursuing these professions will lead to a  life wasted. Thus the need to conform to what the society expects of you – engineers, doctors, lawyers.

What we lack now is the passion to do things, and to do the things that we are passionate about. To solve this a paradigm shift is needed – education in its current form have seen its expiry date. Our preoccupation with academic certificates and exam results must shift to wanting to see our children pursue their talents and pursuing the things that they are passionate about.

We always hear the need to be academically successful to meet the demands of the globalised world, but do we realise that those in Standard One today will only join the workforce in 15 years time? How do we plan for something so far off when we cant even say for sure if the world economy as we know it is going bust in the next week or so? Not surpirisng when we see the Europeans in the Eurozone are trying their best to drag the whole world down the abyss with them.

In the words of Sir Ken Robinson – "We should change from the manufacturing line model of education to one that is based on agriculture – where as farmers we sow the seeds and prepare the conditions as best as we could so that the seeds can blossom in ways that they want to".
This is why I see our society's preoccupation with Science and Mathematics points to a way of thinking suited to the Industrial Age of the 18th century, and not for the challenges of the 21st century. We should be better off teaching our kids 'how' to learn instead of 'what' to learn, teaching them to question 'why' and be critical of their surroundings instead of cramming their mind with facts and figures.

We should empower their creativity instead of championing an education system that in every way supresses their creative tendencies. Above all, we as humans should not be made to lose our one ability that separates us from the animals – our ability to think. Long have we produce zombies out of our schools. It is time for change, and change we must.

Also read:

Scrap PPSMI, future generations will suffer

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SPRM serah skandal NFC kepada polis

AMPANG: Kes skandal National Feedlot Corporation Sdn Bhd (NFC) akan disiasat polis dibawah Akta 613 Seksyen 409 Kanun Keseksaan iaitu pecah amanah jenayah oleh perkhidmatan awam atau ejen.

Seksyen 409 Kanun Keseksaan menyebut 'barang siapa yang telah diberi amanah terhadap sesuatu harta, atau kawalan terhadap harta, dalam kapasitinya sebagai penjawat awam atau ejen telah melakukan pecah amanah jenayah mengenai harta itu hendaklah dihukum'.

Seksyen tersebut memperuntukkan hukuman penjara tidak kurang dua tahun dan maksimum 20 tahun penjara dengan hukuman sebatan dan denda jika sabit kesalahan.

Pengerusi badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) Jingga 13 Fariz Musa berkata pihaknya dihubungi oleh Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) Jumaat lalu memaklumkan skandal NFC itu bukan dibawah bidang kuasa SPRM kerana ia tidak hanya membabitkan isu penyelewengan semata-mata.

Ia berhubung respon SPRM terhadap Jingga 13 yang membuat laporan pada 10 November lalu di Shah Alam.

Pecah amanah

Sehubungan itu, Fariz berkata kes pembelian kondominium One Menerung oleh NFC yang bernilai RM9.8 juta itu akan diserahkan SPRM kepada polis untuk disiasat sebagai kes pecah amanah.

"Kami berterima kasih di atas komitmen SPRM yang telah bertindak profesional terhadap aduan kami yang melibatkan aktiviti pecah amanah sejumlah RM9.8 juta wang rakyat oleh keluarga Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil," katanya dalam sidang media di sini hari ini.

Berikutan itu, Fariz berkata pihaknya meminta PDRM (Polis DiRaja Malaysia) mengambil sikap telus dan profesional serta segera menyiasat dan mengambil tindakan sewajarnya.

"Ini melibatkan wang rakyat yang telah dipecah amanah tanpa rasa bersalah dan bertanggungjawab melakukan jenayah dan mengkhianati rakyat Malaysia," katanya.

Beliau sekali lagi turut mendesak supaya Shahrizat , Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat yang juga Ketua Wanita

Umno yang dikaitkan dengan skandal ini supaya letak jawatan dengan segera.

Wanita Umno mesti berani

"Jingga 13 menyeru supaya Wanita Umno bangkit dan berani mendesak Shahrizat melepaskan semua jawatan parti demi nama baik dan ketelusan Umno," katanya.

Beliau turut membidas kenyataan Ketua Pemuda Umno Khairy Jamaluddin yang mempertahankan pembelian kondominium itu sebagai satu pelaburan.

"Kenyataan Khairy itu membuktikan bahawa skandal NFC itu memang benar-benar berlaku dan bukannya fitnah yang sengaja ditimbulkan.

"Kita akan tunggu. Kalau masih tiada apa-apa tindakan kita sendiri akan menghantar memorandum ke pejabat Shahrizat mendesak supaya beliau letak jawatan," katanya.

NFC yang dilantik kerajaan sebagai integrator projek ternakan lembu kebangsaan dengan modal dana berjumlah RM250 juta, didakwa menggunakan dana tersebut membeli kondominium mewah bernilai RM9.8 juta di Bangsar.

Malah syarikat National Meat Livestocks Corporation (NMLC) yang membeli kondominium tersebut berhutang dengan NFC juga didakwa ditubuhkan dan dimiliki oleh pengurusan tertinggi NFC iaitu ahli keluarga Shahrizat.

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Open tender projects: Ministry clarifies

FMT LETTER: From Meor Hafizan Abdul Ghani, via e-mail

The Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKLW) would like to clarify that all tender evaluations were conducted through Work Tender Evaluation Committees, which was established based on Treasury and JKR guidelines.

JKR issued the guideline: "The Usage and Determination of 'Cut-off' Price Based on Statistical Methods in the Tender Evaluation and Recommendation" on March 24, 2004. The Ministry has followed these guidelines. The 'cut-off' price is the lowest price level considered reasonable for recommendation.

If the Tender price is lower than the 'cut-off' price then the formula contained in the guidelines will indicate this as too low and thus unlikely to ensure the success of project. If the tender price is too low or too high it will be considered a 'freak price' and such will not be considered.

The evaluation by the Evaluation Committee is based on several criteria such as minimum capital requirement, current work performance, past experience and financial and technical capabilities. As such only the bidders with a price within the "cut-off" price and who meet the aforementioned criteria will be recommended and considered by the Tender Board of the Ministry.

So the question of refusing to award open tender projects to the lowest qualified bidders does not arise. The lowest price will be considered if it is within "cut-off" price and in addition meets the financial and technical requirements.

The Ministry would like to remind YB Ngeh that it has an obligation and a duty to secure contracts based on 'best-value' principles and that these include an analysis of the capacity and capability of a bidder to carry out the work to the quality standards required by the specifications. It is for this reason that a thorough and careful process of tender assessments is carried out according to the procedures before any decision is made.

First of all, YB Ngeh claimed that the ministry had awarded 129 projects, of which only 68 were given via open tender. In fact the ministry awarded 125 open tenders.

Secondly, the example given by YB Ngeh of a project where the bidding could have been as low as RM7,775,000 but the Ministry eventually awarded the tender for RM41,736,809.77 is a clear example of freak price as the rest of the bidders average price was around RM40 million. The Ministry would like to remind YB Ngeh that open tender does not necessarily mean awarding to the lowest tender; there are other criteria and qualifications that have to be applied.

Based on aforementioned facts the claim by YB Ngeh that RM500 million of taxpayers' money was lost through improper awarding of these projects is without foundation in fact. Furthermore, if the Ministry awarded a contract purely on the basis of lowest price and then the contractor failed to meet the technical requirements or even became insolvent then that would be a matter of justifiable concern.

The claim by YB Ngeh that Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Joseph Entulu Belaun had refused to answer his questions on the allegations in Parliament on Monday is not true. The Deputy Minister had already answered, that with regard to tenders there was no ruling that the lowest bidder must be awarded the contract – other factors must be taken into account. He also mentioned that those with low priced bids might not be able to implement the project or comply with the required standards.

The Ministry would like to point out that it is always seeking improved ways to secure the maximum value and beneficial impact from all its development work. For example, the Ministry is currently assessing the potential of 'Integrity Pacts' to enhance the selection of contractors and project compliance and thus ensure that the highest ethical standards are applied.

The writer is Head of Corporate Communication Unit, Ministry of Rural and Regional Development

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Sarawak gets ‘clean certificate” for public accounts

KUCHING: Sarawak has once again been accorded a "clean certificate" for its 2010 Public Accounts for the ninth consecutive year, Chief Minister Taib Mahmud said today.

Taib, who is also state Finance Minister, said the state had also been reaffirmed with commendable credit ratings from both the international and domestic rating agencies, including Moody's, Rating Agency Malaysia (RAM) and Malaysian Rating Corporation Bhd (MARC).

"These track records show that the state government has conducted its financial affairs in a transparent, accountable and prudent manner in line with the applicable rules and regulation and must, therefore, continue to be disciplined in the way we manage our finances if we were to continue to be a financially healthy state," he said when tabling the Supply (2012) Bill, 2011 during the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly sitting here.

He said it was much more critical now for Sarawak to ensure sustainability of its credit ratings, especially in its efforts to attract direct and indirect investments into the state in a bigger way in the future.

Sarawak was the only state in the country that had been able to place itself under greater scrutiny and review by such rating agencies that benchmarked its financial management with that of countries around the world, he said.

- Bernama

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No settlement for Mkini vs Taib, trial to proceed

Malaysiakini

Judicial commissioner Rosilah Yop fixed Jan 9-12 next year for the case to be heard during a case management today at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.A defamation suit brought against news portal Malaysiakini by Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud will proceed to trial after the two parties failed to reach a settlement.

She also fixed Dec 13 for further case management of the trial.

Malaysiakini was represented by lawyer Fahri Azzat, while Taib was represented by lawyer Yee Mei Ken.

Met outside court, Fahri said Taib (the plaintiff) has indicated that he wants Malaysiakini (the defendant) to begin the trial.

"Normally the plaintiff will prove their case first… so the significance of this is that Taib does not need to come to court first and need not to be in the witness box yet."

Fahri added that he would consult Malaysiakini as to whether it is agreeable to the arrangement.

Today's proceedings were to decide whether the case will go to trial after the Kuala Lumpur High Court had on July 1 granted both parties until Sept 9 to work out a settlement.

Four-year-old suit

The suit, filed in 2007, is over a series of articles following reports that the Japanese tax authorities have discovered the payments made by a Japanese shipping cartel transporting logs from Sarawak were "illegitimate expenses".

The cartel members had allegedly paid Regent Star, a Hong Kong-based company – reportedly linked to Taib and his family – RM32 million in kickbacks.

Malaysiakini followed up the scandal with its own special report on the matter, 'RM32 mil kickbacks – tip of the iceberg'.

The four-year-old suit was put on hold after Taib sought to strike out certain parts of Malaysiakini's defence.

The appeal reached the Federal Court where the bid was unanimously rejected by a bench of three judges who also awarded cost of RM10,000 to the news portal and the co-defendant, editor-in-chief Steven Gan.

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Protest planned over Indonesian’s death

JAKARTA: One of 13 Indonesian fishermen languishing in a Malaysian jail for more than three months has died, a report said on Monday.

The death of the man, identified as Ahmad Zailani from Pantai Labu, North Sumatra, has sparked calls for a demonstration outside the Malaysian Consulate General in Medan after Malaysian authorities demanded the family pay Rp 10 million ($ 1,117) to repatriate the body.

SCTV reported that Ahmad and 12 other fishermen were arrested for illegal fishing in the Malacca Strait near the Indonesian island of Berhala in August.

The man's family, who live in a fishing village, was unable to pay for the body to be returned home.

Fishermen were planning to protest outside the consulate general today, demanding the body be returned home as quickly as possible.

The Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur told the Jakarta Globe that they knew nothing about the death. Calls to the consulate general in Penang went unanswered.

- Jakarta Globe

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Islam bebaskan manusia dari perhambaan

PETALING JAYA: Kewujudan parti PAS sejak lebih 60 tahun lalu bertujuan untuk mengambil alih pemerintahan di negara ini bagi membebaskan manusia dari 'perhambaan sesama manusia'.

Presiden Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang berkata, lahirnya kerajaan penjajahan ialah untuk memperhambakan manusia dan lahirnya kerajaan Islam pula ialah untuk membebaskan manusia dari perhambaan.

"Sesungguhnya Allah SWT memerintah kamu untuk menunaikan amanah (menerusi pemerintahan Islam yang adil dan saksama untuk semua bangsa dan agama)," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika berucap pada Majlis Jamuan Perdana bersama Presiden yang bertema 'Hargai Perjuangan' di Kompleks Belia dan Sukan, Seksyen 7, Shah Alam malam tadi.

Majlis itu dianjurkan oleh Lajnah Bangunan dan Harta, Badan Perhubungan PAS Selangor bertujuan untuk mengutip dana bagi membiayai bangunan pejabat baru yang menelan belanja RM1.4 juta di Pusat Perniagaan Worldwide, Shah Alam.

Hadi menegaskan, "menerusi pendekatan Tahalus Siyasi, kita boleh bekerjasama dan menjalin persefahaman dengan parti DAP dan PKR."

Menurut beliau, dalam kitab Al Ahkam Al Sultaniah karangan al Mawardi disebut bahawa dalam pemerintahan Islam, orang-orang bukan Islam boleh dilantik menjadi menteri.

Ahli Parlimen Marang itu melahirkan keyakinan sekiranya demokrasi tulen diamalkan di negara ini, PAS boleh menang dan membentuk kerajaan persekutuan bersama DAP dan PKR.

"Seperti kemenangan yang dicapai oleh Parti An-Nahdah di Tunisia dan kebangkitan semula Ikhwan Muslimin di Mesir pada musim bunga Arab (Arab Spring)," katanya.

Terdahulu, Timbalan Pesuruhjaya 1 PAS Selangor, Iskandar Abdul Samad dalam ucapannya merakamkan rasa syukur kepada Allah SWT kerana dengan izinNya maka PAS Selangor dapat memiliki bangunan baru tiga tingkat dengan keluasan lebih 5,000 kaki persegi.

"Ini adalah hasil usaha daripada setiap ahli dan penyokong PAS.  Satu mimpi yang dulunya mustahil kini sudah menjadi realiti," ujar beliau yang juga Pengerusi Lajnah Bangunan dan Harta, Badan Perhubungan PAS negeri dan Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Chempaka.

Lebih 1,000 ahli dan penyokong PAS hadir dalam majlis itu. Turut hadir Pesuruhjaya PAS Selangor dan juga Adun Meru, Dr Abdul Rani Osman.

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UitM Hanya Untuk Politik UMNO/ Barisan Nasional

Gambar Naib Cancellor UiTM yg mengizinkan Program Barisan Nasional di Premis UiTM

ULASAN: Sememangnya orang2 UMNO ini semuanya "Lidah Bercabang". Depan orang kata "tiada politik dalam kampus". Tapi, bila praktis, gunakan premis kampus untuk UMNO dan Barisan Nasional.

Benda mcm ni pun diorang nak tipu.

Mahasiswa minta penjelasan Naib Canselor UiTM
Posted on November 14, 2011 by KomunitiKini

Oleh Kumpulan Aktivis Mahasiswa Independen (KAMI)

Kumpulan Aktivis Mahasiswa Independen (KAMI) meminta penjelasan daripada Naib Canselor Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Prof. Dr. Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar berkenaan dengan Pertandingan Pidato Politik anjuran Pemuda Barisan Nasional yang diadakan di Dewan Seminar HEA , Menara UiTM (SAAS), Shah Alam pagi tadi yang terang – terangan berunsurkan politik.

Mahasiswa merasakan keterangan Naib Canselor UiTM bertajuk "Tidak Perlu Pinda AUKU" hanyalah sekadar retorik semata – mata. Presiden Kumpulan Aktivis Mahasiswa Inde! penden ( KAMI) Haziq Abdullah Abdul Aziz berkata pihaknya inginkan penjelasan daripada VC UiTM di atas percanggahan di dalam keterangan beliau dengan apa yang terjadi semalam.

"Kalau betul tidak mahu Mahasiswa berpolitik , jangan bagi kebenaran kepada mana-mana parti politik masuk ke kampus." Tambah Pemimpin Mahasiswa itu , "Tindakan memberi kebenaran kepada parti politik masuk ke kampus sebenarnya akan menimbulkan keraguan kepada masyarakat khususnya Mahasiswa."

"Sejujurnya KAMI tidak bersetuju dengan kenyataan yang dikeluarkan VC UiTM yang mengatakan penglibatan mahasiswa dalam politik akan menyebabkan perpecahan." Kata beliau dalam satu kenyataan semalam.

Katanya, "Kenyataan VC UiTM bahawa pindaan AUKU akan mengancam keamanan serta kesepakatan penuntut Bumiputera dan Melayu di universiti itu kami kira sebagai sesuatu yang tidak relevan."

"Berikan kebebasan kepada Mahasiswa untuk meluahkan pendapat walaupun bercanggah dengan apa yang dimahukan oleh pihak universiti."

"Tindakan mengongkong Mahasiswa sebenarnya tidak membawa apa-apa faedah
malah akan melahirkan Mahasiswa yang tidak kritikal,konservatif serta jumud dalam berfikir."

Tambahnya lagi, "Kalau dah orang politik pemerintah boleh dibawa masuk ke kawasan kampus, apa salahnya berikan sahaja kebebasan kepada Mahasiswa untuk berpolitik."

"Jangan pula nanti cakap lain tapi buat lain."

Maklumat lanjut berkenaan pertandingan pidato politik tersebut boleh didapati di http://pidatopemudabn.blogspot.com

Disediakan oleh : Khairul Naim Rafidi, Setiausaha Agong, Kumpulan Aktivis Mahasiswa Independen.

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