Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Social Political Buzz & Bulls

NFC not in disarray, says chairman

PETALING JAYA: The National Feedlot Corp (NFC) has denied that the project is in disarray, instead it has met the target set by the government.

Its chairman, Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail said as the 30-year contract was only in the third year, teething problems during initial stage were to be expected.

"In fact, NFC has raised 8,016 head of cattle in 2010, surpassing its target of 8,000 head of cattle," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

"We are importing cattle from Australia and we have to feed them for between four and six months. We do not slaughter them soon after arrival.

"We will not slaughter the cattle if there is no market. And when they are not slaughtered, cattle feed costs will also increase," he told reporters at the NSC office in Gemas today. The press conference was limited to selected media outlets.

The A-G's Report said that NFC was in a mess and its production last year were only 3,289 head of cattle or 41 per cent of the target set.

Mohamad Salleh said at the outset of its operation in 2009, NFC had yet to find the market while the abattoir was only approved in April that year, halal certification two months later and the Veterinary Health Mark, which was compulsory before meat could be sold, in 2010.

He said NFC also needed to send its employees for training to acquire specific skills to run the operation.

Condos were sound investment

He also defended the NFC restaurant Meatworks' in Mont Kiara, stating that it was the most appropriate place to showcase the meat produced at the NFC.

"We chose Mont Kiara because it's cosmopolitan and the response was very good. The bosses at Tesco, Carrefour, Jusco ate there and placed orders straight away for our meat," he said.

He further said that NFC also supplied meat to wet markets and hypermarkets, while 22% went to processing meat for burgers and patties and 11% to hotels, restaurants and catering.

Mohamad Salleh also justified NFC purchase of two condos in Bangsar, saying it was a sound investment.

He said NFC had bought the condos for RM6.9mil each, and each was rented out at RM70,000 a month giving NFC a yield of RM900,000 each which was a 12.9% return on investment.

This return was better than what NFC would have earned from a fixed deposit.

On the poor condition of the road leading to the farm, he said it was a public road and the maintenance was not included in NFC's budget.

NFC is holding a discussion with relevant ministries to plant grass on the road shoulder while the damaged pond will be repaired in stages, he added.

Mohamad Salleh said the farm had just been affected by floods when it was visited by officers from the Auditor-General's Department.

The news conference was also attended by NFC lawyer Mohamed Shafee Abdullah, corporate and finance consultant Zakaria Mohammad and director Wan Shahinur Izmir Mohamad Salleh.

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NFC boss says condo purchase as good investment...

Controversial company National Feedlot Corporation today defended its purchase of two multimillion ringgit condominium units, saying that it was a smart investment move.

Speaking at a briefing with selected media in Gemas, Negri Sembilan, today, its chairperson Mohamad Salleh Ismail said the yield from the luxury property in upmarket Bangsar was much higher than if the funds were kept in the bank.

The Star Online reported that NFC had bought two condominiums in Bangsar, each costing RM6.9 million, and rented them out for RM70,000 a month.

This resulted in a yield of RM900,000 each, at 12.9 percent return on investment, which was far more lucrative than the 2.9 percent it would have gained if the funds were kept in the bank, Mohamad Salleh said.

Husband to Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Mohamad Salleh's explanation involving the spending of some of the RM181 million government loan to the NFC echoes Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin's fervent defence of the cattle project.

The report also said the company is mulling legal action against PKR strategy director Rafi! zi Ramli , who has been on the forefront of the party's expose on the issue.

NFC's lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who was at the media briefing, had advised his client to take legal action against Rafizi.

However, PKR had said that the family of the minister purchased one luxury condominium unit in Bangsar and the price was tagged at RM9.8 million.

The Star Online also reported that NFC revealed police were investigating the company's finance manager and sales manager, who have resigned under "suspicious circumstances" several weeks ago.

Project 'not a mess'

According to the report, Mohamad Salleh denied claims that the project is "a mess", despite it being highlighted in the Auditor-General's Report 2010 as it was.

The company chairperson said the project was on track to meet its target of 60,000 head of cattle by 2015.

Referring to the Auditor-General's Rreport, he said that NFC had only met 41.1 percent of its 2010 target as it had to "ensure the market is there and...wait for halal certification".

He also justified NFC's Meatworks' restaur! ant in M ont Kiara as a way to showcase the meat, partly resulting in the company scoring some 150 clients, including supermarket chains Jusco and Cold Storage.

The online report also said that the bulk of its meat, which come from Australian cattle that are fattened up at the NFC facility in Gemas, go to wet markets and hypermarkets, with only 11 percent supplied to restaurants.

source:malaysiakini

Pengerusi NFC pertahan beli kondo, dakwa nilainya RM6.9j

Pembelian kondo keputusan perniagaan bijak: Pengerusi NFC

Comments...


tkc - Another chairman that cannot count. Total of two condos at RM6.9 million each is RM13.8 million. Rental at RM70,000 per month equals RM840,000 per year. Yield is therefore 6% (not 12.9%). Btw, if the NFC farm has not received halal certificate yet, why is Meatworks @ Solaris Mont Kiara advertised as "totally 100% halal joint"?

TehTarik - Highly suspicious rental claims . The rental for a 8352 sq . Ft penthouse at one menerung is only 22,000 ringgit per month . The sale price for such a condo might be around 10 million ringgit. Hence the rental yield is around 2.2 per cent. Maybe NFC should provide details of the claims of a 70,000 rent for a 6.9 million condo. I have not heard of a 12 % rental yield for an apartment in Bangsar. P! lease do n't take Malaysians to be imbecile fools.

Good men - And I thought the purpose was to produce beef (silly me), using (in their own words) a "a high impact project". Its been high impact all right - on the rakyat's pockets. Meanwhile you guys are having RM800,000 overseas trips.

cheers.
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UK’s Ofcom Launches Investigation

Sarawak Report

The UK's Independent Newspaper has taken a lead on the story

The UK media regulator, Ofcom, has now announced that it too will launch an investigation into the activities of FBC Media and its association with the Malaysian Government, Sarawak and other regimes with public profile problems.

The announcement comes at the same time as confirmation by the British Foreign Office that it has launched a money laundering investigation into Taib's assets in the UK.

Ofcom not only has responsibility for BBC World, which has already just published its own report into the scandal, it also supervises the American owned stations CNBC and CNN's activities in Europe, which are both deeply embroiled in questions surrounding FBC's global news fixing scandal (see our previous coverage).

The UK's Independent Newspaper has now taken a leading role in investigating the issue, which represents a level of corruption in the broadcast media on a parallel with the scandal surrounding phone hacking by certain print media.   Today they reported on the revelations about the US economist Jeffrey Sachs.

Embarrasing – FBC's 'positive publicity' for Taib and Najib has backfired as the UK press starts to take up the story about their illegal activities

The Independent has also revealed that FBC was making BBC programmes praising President Mubarak during the height of the 'Arab Spring' rebellion against him in Egypt.  The same programme took the opportunity to attack Malaysia's PKR opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim as a supposed Muslim 'extremist' backing the popular revolt against the Egyptian dictator.

Both Mubarak and Najib have now of course been exposed as secret clients of FBC. Meanwhile, the deposed Mubarak's vast assets of millions of dollars stolen from his people have now been frozen in bank accounts throughout the world.  The story was also taken up today by the UK's biggest circulation newspaper the Daily Mail and also by the Guardian newspaper.

Proff Sachs praised Malaysia's palm oil industry on Third Eye, but has now admitted to seeing dreadful evironmental degredation on his trip to Sarawak

In the United States the well regarded blogPolitico has also taken up the matter, in what is likely to be just the start of wider coverage as questions are raised about the links between several US news stations and publications with FBC Media.

Yet, in a statement to Politico and in a letter to us a spokesperson for the US economist Jeffrey Sachs complained about 'inaccuracies' in Sarawak Report's coverage of the matter.  Sarawak Report has asked for clarification on these 'inaccuracies', beyond the comment that taking his family on a paid trip to Malaysia could not be described as a holiday:

"The visit to Sime Darby was not a family vacation in any way. During his trip to Sabah and Sarawak, Prof. Sachs saw considerable evidence of deforestation and environmental degradation and he raised those concerns with the company and Government, in order to help advance more sustainable agriculture in these fragile and crucial regions"[Erin Trowbridge, spokesman for Prof Sachs]

Sarawak Report would like an explanation for the contrast between this statement and Prof Sach's remarks when interviewed by FBC media earlier this year for the BBC:

"The way that Malaysia, for example, developed palm oil with smallholders who were working in larger areas and often with government leadership…has been exemplary."[Prof Sachs speaking on FBC-made Third Eye programme for BBC World in July]

Britain to investigate Taib's assets

Meanwhile, the UK has also joined the list of countries that has announced that it too will be examining the assets of Taib Mahmud in the light of concerns about the money laundering of the proceeds of political  corruption.

The move comes as three banks were last week fined in Switzerland for having helped conceal illegal assets by potentates who were deposed during the Arab spring, including FBC client Hosni Mubarak.

Reflecting a new spirit of tackling the problem of corrupt world leaders using Western banks and property portfolios to hide money stolen from their people, the UK Foreign Minister with responsibility for Malaysia, Jeremy Browne, signed a personal letter in response to a request from the Bruno Manser Foundation and Sarawak Report.

He confirmed that Taib's UK assets will now be investigated, especially in the light of the MACC's own investigation into the BN State Leader and also new agreements on cooperation on law and order between Britain and Malaysia:.

Letter from UK Minister Jeremy Browne confirming Taib is being investigated for money laundering

 Sarawak Report will be reporting further on the UK's investigation into Taib's assets.  Britain joins Germany, Switzerland and Canada in indicating they will examine properties and investments held by the Chief Minister in their countries.

Taib has paid millions for PR.  However, money cannot buy reputation for long.

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RM100 political alm’s

 

  • In an unprecedented move, the FG via the MOE decided to give each school going children RM100 each. Based on statistics, about 6mill children would benefit from it or in total the government would be spending 600mill. Several schools conducted pompous ceremony where the local BN YB's were invited and parents were made to collect money in a line. The scene is not much different than beggars collecting alms.

 

  • The government is in debt and yet they spend money foolish for the purpose of political mileage. The monies should have been spend for either the deserving group of children or spend it for enhancement of education. If it cost RM15 mill to build a school, they could have built 40 schools. Bukit Antarabangsa & Ukay Perdana still doesn't have a school because the state education office said that they don't have money. The parents contribute to the traffic jam on MRR2 in the morning as they have to send their children elsewhere.

 

  • When the news of RM100 alms was twittered to me, I replied to the sender that this is political bribery and it is being introduced to the children at a very young age. He disagrees with me. How else do we explain to children on why government giving RM100 per child when they spend money that they don't have when there are other priorities that need to be addressed?

 

  • In my opinion this is a brilliant political move but a foolish economic decision. BN deserves a kick in their back for this. I am most disappointed. We have social welfare department that can help the needy kids. We don't need to give RM100 for each child. I remember in the 70's when a social welfare officer came to school and identified the poor kids. They paid for my SRP & SPM exam fees because we could not afford it back then. Why didn't this government agency being used to help the needy? By the way, my children school has not organize the event because the local UMNO YB is not available.

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S’gor sertai PRU13 hanya selepas Jun 2012

DUN SELANGOR

SHAH ALAM: Menteri Besar Selangor Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim menegaskan kerajaan negeri hanya akan menyertai Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 (PRU13) sekiranya diadakan selepas enam bulan pertama tahun 2012.

Abdul Khalid berkata pihaknya berbuat demikian kerana tidak mahu terjejasnya pelaksanaan Bajet 2012 yang telah diluluskan dalam sidang Dewan Undangan Negeri (Dun) yang berakhir di sini hari ini.

Menurut beliau, perkiraan tempoh enam bulan tersebut adalah tepat terutama dalam memastikan hasil ekonomi negeri dapat disalurkan kepada rakyat Selangor.

"Kerajaan negeri tidak akan menyertai PRU-13 kerana kita mempunyai bajet yang telah diluluskan, sekurang-kurangnya selepas enam bulan.

"Namun jika terpanggil (untuk bertanding dalam) PRU-13, kerajaan negeri akan menyertainya, ini bermaksud pada Jun, Julai, Ogos dan seterusnya," katanya dalam sidang media selepas tamat sidang Dewan Undangan Negeri (Dun) hari ini.

Katanya, langkah ini adalah janji kerajaan negeri kepada Kerajaan Persekutuan bahawa negeri Selangor akan menyertai PRU-13 sekiranya menepati tempoh yang ditetapkan.

Pilihan rakyat

Jelas beliau, penetapan tempoh enam bulan ini juga bukan bermaksud kerajaan negeri tidak yakin untuk bertanding dalam PRU-13, kerana keputusan siapa akan menang adalah pilihan rakyat.

"Yakin atau tidak itu terpulang kepada pilihan rakyat, kerana kita menang pun atas keyakinan rakyat dan rakyat pula bukan suruh kita asyik berpilihan raya.

"Sebaliknya rakyat mahu pembangunan, pilihan raya selepas tiga tahun adalah tidak munasabah berbeza dengan tarikh PRU selepas empat tahun," katanya.

Ketika ditanya sama ada langkah ini mendapat persetujuan parti komponen Pakatan Rakyat, Abdul Khalid berkata, parti sentiasa mendapatkan pandangan kerajaan negeri dalam isu ini.

"Saya rasa parti percaya sekiranya ini berlaku ia lebih senang untuk pilihan raya dijalankan," ujar beliau.

Beliau berkata, berdasarkan pengalaman mengambil alih pentadbiran pada 2008, beliau mendapati peruntukan bajet bagi tahun berkenaan telah dihabiskan dalam tempoh tiga bulan sahaja akibat PRU-12 diadakan pada awal tahun, iaitu bulan Mac.

Sebelum ini, kerajaan negeri pernah menegaskan bahawa pihaknya berhak untuk tidak menyertai PRU yang dijadualkan Kerajaan Pusat, sebaliknya boleh menetapkan tarikh sendiri.

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Hendaklah Tuhan Berada Di Setiap Tabir Ilmu

HENDAKLAH TUHAN BERADA DI SETIAP TABIR ILMU
Prof Madya Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin
(sertai facebook DrMAZA.com dan twitter realDrMAZA)

 

Alangkah baiknya jika kita memiliki bandar seperti Oxford ini. Sebuah Bandar yang penuh dengan pusat-pusat pengajian. Hampir setiap manusia yang bergerak di bandar ini mempunyai kaitan dengan pengajian. Pelbagai tajuk yang pelik dan aneh dikaji. BBC Oxford juga ada kelainannya. Isu-isu yang dibincangkan sesuai dengan taraf keilmuan di bandar ini.

 

Seminar itu dan ini begitu banyak dalam pelbagai cabang ilmu pengetahuan. Hampir semuanya percuma. Mereka biasanya tidak memperuntukkan tempat yang canggih dan anggun untuk berseminar. Cukup dengan satu ruang dalam perpustakaan ataupun selainnya yang boleh memuatkan beberapa puluh orang. Kebanyakannya tiada pembesar suara. Hanya kerusi, meja dan pembicara.

 

Sebahagian seminar hanya beberapa belas orang. Ia tetap berlangsung dengan penuh diskusi pengetahuan. Saya sendiri cuba hadir dalam banyak seminar setiap minggu, samada yang ada kaitan secara langsung atau tidak langsung dengan bidang saya. Beberapa seminar di School of Anthropology umpamanya memberikan saya pengetahuan baru di luar bidang.

Semalam di Muslim-Christian Studies, ada pembentangan oleh Martin Whittingham seorang Kristian dengan tajuk: Ezra as the Corrupter of the Old Testament Text? Ibn Hazm and the Long History of an idea. Seorang Kristian yang memperkatakan tentang idea al-Imam Ibn Hazm.

Ya, banyak yang boleh dimanfaatkan jika kita ingin mencari pengetahuan di sini. Jika kita buru pengetahuan memang hidup akan sibuk. Sehingga saya kadang-kala terfikir untuk berhenti menulis setiap minggu yang sentiasa menekan waktu saya sejak hampir lima tahun lalu.

Dahulu ketika di Mingguan Malaysia, deadline saya pada hari sabtu amat mendesak. Sekarang di Sinar Harian deadline saya pada hari khamis untuk edisi jumaat. Waktu Malaysia pula awal 8 jam dari UK. Namun, oleh kerana tulisan menghubungkan saya dengan ramai manusia, di akhbar dan internet maka saya teruskan. Dengan harapan ada kebaikan yang mendatangkan pahala di sebalik setiap artikel yang dikeluarkan.

Ilmu Untuk Apa?

Di sebalik kesibukan manusia memburu ilmu di bandar seperti Cambridge dan Oxford ini, saya tertanya ke manakah ilmu pengetahuan yang penuh sarat ini akan membawa manusia? Apakah tujuan ilmu? Apakah ilmu untuk ilmu, atau ilmu hanya jambatan kepada satu tujuan lain yang lebih murni. Apakah cukup seorang insan memegang gelaran ilmu kemudian hidup dalam lingkungan sendiri tanpa menjadikan pengetahuannya memberikan sumbangan kepada pembangunan insan? Lebih buruk lagi, apabila apa yang dianggap 'ilmu' itu menyumbang kepada kemusnahan kehidupan manusia.


Bandar Oxford sentiasa sibuk dengan mereka yang terlibat dengan ilmu.

Sebelum saya pergi lebih jauh, saya teringat hari pertama saya sampai di bilik penginapan, saya bertanya arah kiblat kepada jiran bilik saya yang juga seorang ilmuwan muslim. Beliau berkata beliau tidak tahu. Saya terdiam dan berfikir apakah peranan ilmu dalam kehidupan seorang individu muslim? Apakah makna bagi sebuah perbahasan agama yang kononnya mencapai ketinggian falsafah sehingga ke langit tinggi jika pembahasnya gagal untuk meletakkan dahi ke bumi untuk sujud kepada Tuhan Maha Tinggi? Ilmu itu ada ruh dan tuntutannya.

Kita tidak menafikan betapa malunya dunia Islam yang ketinggalan dalam pembangunan ilmu. Sedangkan dahulu, dunia Islam telah ke hadapan dalam hal ini. Museum History Science di Oxford yang bersebelahan dengan tempat tinggal saya ini, mengiktiraf sumbangan dunia Islam terhadap perkembangan sains serta mengakui bahawa Barat mengambil manfaat dari kaum muslimin. Barat yang pada mulanya mengambil ilmu dari dunia muslim lalu mengembangkannya sehingga mereka maju ke hadapan dalam pelbagai bidang kehidupan.

Kita pula ketinggalan, bahkan ramai yang hidup dalam kejumudan. Ada memusuhi ilmu pengetahuan dengan menganggap pengajian selain ilmu-ilmu langsung berkaitan agama hanyalah sia-sia. Bahkan ada yang melarang menuntut ilmu dengan orang kafir atau di 'negara kafir'.

Golongan literalist ini melupai bahawa sebahagian kemudahan beragama adalah hasil sumbangan ilmu dalam pelbagai bidang. Perkara asas dalam kehidupan seperti jam untuk solat, kompas untuk arah kiblat, kenderaan untuk ke Mekah, pembesar suara, mesin cetak, internet dan pelbagai lagi yang membolehkan Islam tersebar adalah hasil sumbangan ilmu dalam pelbagai bidang yang secara zahirnya tidak kelihatan berkaitan agama. Namun, ramai manusia kembali kepada Tuhan hasil perantaraan ilmu dari bidang yang lain.

Permasalahan utama para penuntut ilmu di Barat ataupun Timur adalah mereka gagal menghubungkan ilmu pengetahuan dengan Tuhan semesta alam. Apabila mereka terlupa, ataupun syaitan melupakan mereka bahawa segala falsafah dan penemuan dalam pembukaan ilmu hanyalah usaha menemui rahsia ciptaan Tuhan di alam maya ini.

Umpamanya, kehairanan saintis tentang 'Black Holes' yang akan menelan kehidupan maya pada ini, tidak dapat dirongkaikan tanpa menyelak lembaran-lembaran tentang Kiamat dan kehidupan baru selepas kemusnahan alam.

Islam tidak pernah memusuhi ilmu. Walaupun ada pandangan-pandangan jumud seperti konservatif agama dahulu di Indonesia dan Malaya yang menentang Kiyai Ahmad Dahlan dan 'Kaum Muda', atau golongan literalist hari ini yang menentang pengajian falsafah, namun sejarah umat Islam tidaklah seburuk Kristian yang membakar hidup ribuan ilmuan dalam rekod sejarah mereka.

Dalam dunia Islam, walaupun ada kezaliman disebabkan aliran mazhab dan school of thought yang berbeza, tetapi ruang ilmu tetap luas. Al-Ghazali, Ibn Rusyd, Ibn Taimiyyah dan selain mereka yang berbahas tentang falsafah Greek dan Yunan secara pro dan kontra, kesemua mereka mendalami ilmu tersebut secara masak dan dalam. Mereka bukan terus mengharamkan tanpa berkenalan. Dalam apa sahaja bidang, tidak sama orang yang mengetahui dengan yang tidak mengetahui: (maksudnya)

"Katakanlah: apakah sama orang yang mengetahui dengan yang tidak mengetahui?". (Al-Zumar:9)


Basikal merupakan kenderaan penting di Bandar Oxford.

Tuntuan Ilmu

Apa yang Islam tuntut agar ilmu sentiasa dikaitkan dengan kebesaran Allah, Tuhan pencipta alam. Allah itu di sebalik segala ilmu pengetahuan. Apa yang manusia temui hanya cebisan dari penciptaan alam yang maha luas. Samada penemuan dalam bentuk kebendaan ataupun pemikiran dan falsafah kehidupan, semuanya hanyalah debu dari ilmu Tuhan yang tiada tepiannya. Inilah yang Allah nyatakan: (maksudnya)

"Tidaklah kamu semua diberikan ilmu melainkan sedikit" (Al-Isra: 85).

Dengan ilmu yang sedikit itulah manusia berjaya menghasilkan pelbagai kemajuan yang mengkagumkan. Dengan ilmu yang sedikit itulah manusia berbangga antara satu sama lain. Dengan ilmu yang sedikit itu juga manusia boleh menzalimi antara satu sama lain. Namun, dengan ilmu yang sedikit itulah satu-satunya jalan untuk manusia mengenali Tuhan dan tunduk kepadaNYA.

Justeru, Allah mengajar manusia sejak awal penurunan wahyu agar ilmu pengetahuan dibaca dengan namaNYA Yang Maha Pemurah yang mengurniakan ilmu kepada insan. Firman Allah: (maksudnya)

"Bacalah dengan nama Tuhanmu Yang Menciptakan (segalanya). Dia menciptakan insan dari 'alaq. Bacalah, dan Tuhanmu Yang Maha Pemurah . Yang mengajar dengan pena. Dia mengajarkan insan apa yang tidak diketahuinya" (Al-'Alaq :1-5).

Demikian sejak hari awal penurunan wahyu kepada Nabi s.a.w, asas ini telah dipasak. Tuhan itu berada di setiap tabir ilmu. Kesimpulan seorang pengkaji ilmu akan kembali kepada kebesaran Tuhan. Apa sahaja ilmu yang dikaji, Tuhan jua yang akan ditemuinya. Jika dia berjaya atau gagal, dia hanya berjaya atau gagal membongkar rahsia ciptaan Tuhan. Namun dia tetap akur, segala ilmu hakiki berada di sisi Tuhan. Apa yang ditemui, hanya debuan dari kebesaranNya. Maka ilmu akan membawa insan mengenali Ilahi. Mengenali Tuhan menerusi ilmu membawa kepada cinta yang hakiki. Cinta itu pula membawa kepada kebahagiaan nurani.

Ilmuwan yang berpaksikan Tuhan sentiasa akan menyimpulkan jawapan akhir bagi segala pencarian iaitu "Hanyalah Allah Yang Mengetahui hakikat setiap perkara". Apa yang manusia bahas dan bincangkan hanyalah zahir ilmu, batinnya tetap dalam pengetahuan Tuhan. Benar dan salah, hanya tafsiran dan takwilan fakta dan nas; hakikatnya Tuhan jua yang mengetahui.

Manusia yang memburu ilmu dengan penuh kejujuran, menemui Tuhan di setiap penjuru ilmu. Firman Allah: (maksudnya)

"Tidakkah engkau melihat bahawa Allah menurunkan hujan dari langit, lalu Kami keluarkan dengan air hujan itu buah-buahan yang berlainan warnanya; dan di antara gunung-ganang pula ada yang mempunyai jalur-jalur putih dan Merah, yang berlainan warnanya dan ada juga yang hitam legam. Dan demikian pula antara manusia dan binatang-binatang yang melata serta binatang-binatang ternak, ada yang berlainan jenis dan warnanya? sebenarnya yang takutkan Allah dari kalangan hamba-hambaNya hanyalah orang-orang yang berilmu (ulama). Sesungguhnya Allah Maha Kuasa, lagi Maha Pengampun" (Fatir: 27-28).

Ayat ini sering dijadikan dalil bahawa golongan ulama yang paling takutkan Allah. Lalu, ditonjol ulama yang berserban dan berjubah, atau ahli fekah, lebai atau ustaz sebagai golongan yang takutkan Allah. Namun, jika kita perhatikan ayat ini ia membicarakan tentang mereka yang memerhati kejadian alam dengan segala keajaiban, selepas itulah diikuti dengan penegasan 'yang takutkan Allah dari kalangan hamba-hambaNya hanyalah orang-orang yang berilmu (ulama)'.

Jika berserban dan jubah tanpa meneroka rahsia alam, atau menelaah penemuan keajaiban ciptaan Tuhan tidak akan menimbulkan rasa kegerunan. Maka, tidak salah untuk kita katakan bahawa saintis itulah yang paling dimaksudkan mereka yang takutkan Allah. Saintis itulah ulama dalam konteks ayat ini. Sesiapa mengkaji alam dalam segala bidang kebendaan dan pemikiran, merekalah ulama dalam bidang mereka. Adapun yang mendaftarkan diri dalam persatuan ulama, atau badan ulama belum tentu terangkum dalam ayat ini.

Apapun, dalam apa pengetahuan perasaan itu tidak akan hadir, jika ilmu dibaca secara berasingan dari nama Tuhan. Hendaklah Tuhan berada di setiap tabir ilmu.

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Koh’s sacrifice, BN’s future

The Malaysian Insider
November 17, 2011

Fact is, Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon's fate was sealed the day Gerakan lost all its state seats and the government in Penang on March 8, 2008. It took him more than three years to realise that.

The Gerakan president's announcement today that he will not contest in the next general election has been a foregone conclusion in Barisan Nasional (BN) circles for some time now. Both the Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia and MCA-owned The Star have been harping on the party's poor leadership and performance over the past few months that there is nothing shocking about Koh's decision.

So what use is it to hold on to his political posts? Why remain Penang BN chief and state Gerakan boss?

In explaining his "ultimate sacrifice" today, Koh said he meant that he would continue devoting his time and energy to campaign for his party's candidates in the coming polls. "When I talk about sacrifice, I am talking about time and energy for the party," he said.

"I want to campaign for our candidates to win, instead of focusing on winning a seat just for myself."

Koh also dismissed a suggestion that his decision today meant he was giving up without fight, pointedly reminding reporters of his years of sacrifice in Gerakan.

"Eh, I have fought seven elections you know… most of them were very tough fights. Go back to history and read about 1982, 1986, 1990, 1995… what happened. I am perhaps the only one who has fought Lim Kit Siang twice," he said.

All well and good. But the reality is his decision will not have any impact on Gerakan's or BN's fortunes in the next polls. The ruling federal coalition needs to show it has transformed into a pact that serves the people rather than itself. Hanging on Datuk Seri Najib Razak's popularity will not help it regain the seats lost in Penang or elsewhere.

BN allowed Koh more than three years to see the light, that he shouldn't contest any more in any election. There are a few other politicians in BN who need to face that reality too. BN needs to renew itself, find younger and more capable candidates or lose to a more nimble rival in Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

It can't be sentimental or rest on its laurels like Koh has done in declaring he has fought twice against Kit Siang. That was well and good in the past. Fact is, he lost in 2008. And not likely to win in the next elections.

The question now is, who does Gerakan or BN have to face the likes of Lim Guan Eng, Nurul Izzah Anwar or Khalid Samad? The only bright spark is the likes of Khairy Jamaluddin who recently tripped over cow poo.

This is Najib's dilemma. Koh is out. A few more need to get out. And if he can get the young ones to stop tripping, perhaps BN will have a set of capable leaders for the next round. Perhaps.

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School aid suggestive of vote-buying

PETALING JAYA: A recent Education Ministry directive for BN parliamentarians and assemblymen to be present at the distribution of schooling assistance to parents has raised eyebrows in the opposition camp.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had announced in the 2012 Budget that all primary and secondary students nationwide would receive RM100 by the end of this month.

The funds would be deposited into the Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) accounts of the schools and subsequently handed out to the students or their parents.

Last Sunday however, the ministry issued a circular requesting all BN representatives to be present during the distributions to act as a "touchpoint" between the government and the people.

PKR's Subang MP, Sivarasa Rasiah, said that the one-off payment in itself is suggestive of vote-buying and that the presence of politicians appeared as an attempt to seal that connection between the "gift" and the intended vote.

"If this allocation was made a permanent benefit and the right of poorer familes, then these questions wouldn't arise," he said. "And this is the difference between the BN and Pakatan budget. Our aid programmes are continuous."

"My other problem with this aid is that it is part of a budget that hasn't yet been approved in its entirety which makes the distribution of funds inappropriate at this point."

Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, meanwhile, observed a contradiction between this new directive and an earlier one in in January barring all politicians from entering school compounds.

'Education should be above politics'

She also noted that BN parties appear to be dominating government schools in the country and this isn't welcome by all Malaysians.

"Look, while I appreciate the government fulfilling its promises to the people, you also have to look at the procedures involved," she said. "It goes beyond the issue of vote buying and into clouding the governance of education."

"It isn't about whether this will affect my rice bowl as a politician but about the fact that a responsible government should prioritise education above politics."

Bukit Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong added that the directive appeared to be part of a last- minute campaign before an election spurred by the belief that the gesture would garner votes.

"There is no need for their presence," he said. "It won't make a difference because it's not about improving the system. What is needed is a genuine open policy on the country's future.

"Instead of just being a touchpoint, there should be open engagement with parents. In this situation, it is not enough to literally stand there and be counted."

According to Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, a Taiping school board chairman had recently given the government a tongue lashing over politicians entering school grounds.

"He said that politicians don't belong on a holistic campus and I fully support his stand," he said. "Let the aid be distributed by the principals without any political presence or involvement."

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‘Here’s the truth about Sarawak’

KUCHING: The state government has continued, year-in-year-out, to gloat over how marvelous the budget surplus is and how sound Sarawak's financial position is.

But here's the truth – Sarawak is not rich, not advanced and not successful, although it should be, said DAP's Meradong assemblywoman Ting Tze Pui.

"Lets just look at a few economic facts of Sarawak. Undeniably Sarawak is the biggest state geographically but sadly not the most advanced or the richest state in Malaysia, though our state is endowed with such a large land mass.

"Beneath and above this massive land, there is an extraordinary and immense abundance of natural resources compared to all (other) states in Malaysia.

"But we are still regarded generally as one of the five poorest states in Malaysia.

"Our state of infrastructures like roads, bridges, hospitals and other public amenities are universally regarded as both deplorable and grossly inadequate.

"For instance, until now divisional towns like Sri Aman, Betong, Saratok, Bintangor and others do not even have a proper public hospital each," she said.

Shoddy roads

Ting said that despite huge amounts being spent on road maintenance per kilometer per month, Sarawak has one of the most inferior and shoddy roads found in the whole of Malaysia.

Every year on the Borneo Highway from Kuching to Miri, hundreds of accidents occur, not necessarily because of careless driving but because of poor road conditions, such as big cracks and potholes, huge bumps, winding bends, slippery or rocky road surfaces, she said.

"One very fundamental reason as to why we have rather inferior roads is because we have in actual fact been shortchanged financially by the federal BN government which is taking more than giving us.

"Despite the fact that Sarawak and Sabah form the main pillars of strength in the form of fixed deposits (of voters) to the BN government and their ultimate political power and dominance in Putrajaya, the federal government has back-stabbed Sarawak and Sabah.

"It back-stabbed these states by ceding vast expanse in the tune of three to four million acres of our maritime territory off Limbang and Sabah coast called Block L and M, wherein lies multi- billion ringgit worth of oil and gas reserves, to the Brunei government.

"The state government has failed again to make even a simple protest to-date to the Federal Government," Ting said.

'Budget 2012 only sounds good'

She said that despite the many assertions of how sound the state economy was and how good the state ratings are, Sarawak still remains a backward state.

"Our state budget surplus would be a billion dollars more than the estimated RM79 million should the federal government oblige our state more generously.

"The grants and reimbursements from the federal government only account for RM122 million while the federal government is racking in billions in revenue from Sarawak for the greater betterment of the states in West Malaysia.

"This state government has failed over the years to persuade the federal government to give greater financial allocation to Sarawak which we rightfully deserved.

"In short, the 2012 budget only sounds good," Ting said.

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How humanitarian aid get wasted

KUALA LUMPUR: Good intentions are only half the battle when it comes to disaster and humanitarian relief work.

According to Mercy Malaysia executive director Zahrah Yaacob, some well-meaning NGOs have sent aid to crisis-hit areas without knowing that it would be wasted.

"In one Pakistan earthquake, an NGO sent packets of Maggi mee and kuih bahulu," she told FMT. "It wasn't the diet there; so it was not consumed and it was wasted.

"The Pakistanis take wheat-based food, their staple."

Furthermore, she added, there was a lack of drinking water in the area, rendering the instant noodles useless.

This lack of awareness is one of the reasons why Mercy Malaysia is hosting the fourth annual International Humanitarian Conference here from Nov 24 to 26. This year's theme is "Doing it Better: Transforming Humanitarian Efforts".

It will be open to the public and include workshops on logistics and security.

Conference manager Deedee Quah said Malaysians were always eager to give aid but were not were not adequately informed about humanitarian needs.

"When a disaster happens, everyone starts to donate cans of food and clothes," she said.

"We all get gung-ho about it, but when we start delivering clothes, we find out that the people there don't need our type of clothes, if it's a very cold country," she said.

She said the the conference was designed to bring humanitarian NGOs and other "key stakeholders" together, allowing them to learn from each other.

For more information on the conference, visit Mercy Malaysia's homepage at: www.mercy.org.my/ihc2011

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Malays feel Penang under Chinese rule, survey shows

By G. Manimaran, Bahasa Malaysia Editor | November 17, 2011
The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 17 — Malay voters in Penang say the state is being run by the Chinese despite backing Lim Guan Eng over other leaders.

A survey of 720 Malay voters by researchers Ilham Centre found that when the island was under a Gerakan-led administration until 2008, Malays saw the Barisan Nasional (BN) government as being led by Umno.

"Lim Guan Eng (picture) is popular and respected for being humble, approachable and being on the ground. But because of the sentiment and prejudice from Umno, he is seen as a Chinese who is threatening Malays," said the study on perceptions of Malay voters towards Penang and its Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government.

It said this showed the media has indoctrinated Malays to see the current administration as "a Chinese or DAP government."

"It is seen as a DAP, not a Pakatan Rakyat government," the study concluded, despite nearly 30 per cent of respondents picking current Chief Minister Lim as the most popular and respected leader in the state.

The Malaysian Insider reported last month that a survey commissioned by the DAP showed that less than a third of Malays now back the party, down from nearly 50 per cent just a few months after Lim took office in 2008.

The DAP made a clean sweep of all seats it contested in the island and obliterated Gerakan in the process.

But Umno has eroded Malay support for PR with repeated claims that the coalition is anti-Malay.

Its newspaper Utusan Malaysia also claimed earlier this year that the DAP had conspired with the church to turn Malaysia into a Christian state.

The DAP has tried to reach out to Malays by recruiting Malay leaders such as Transparency International Malaysia founder Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim and Zairil Khir Johari.

Tunku Abdul Aziz is now a vice-chairman while Zairil, son of former Education Minister Tan Sri Khir Johari, is Lim's political secretary.

The DAP secretary-general is followed by Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Mansor Othman, state Opposition Leader Datuk Azhar Ibrahim and Penang Umno chief Datuk Zainal Osman in popularity.

The study was conducted from October 7 to 9 and polled voters in the Kepala Batas and Tasek Gelugor federal constituencies and the Bayan Lepas state seat, all currently held by Umno.

Of the total, 43 per cent said they were Umno supporters while the rest were fencesitters.

The study also found that PAS was not seen as a champion for Malay-Muslims as its state leaders were not as popular as Umno's.

"PAS under (state chief) Salleh Man is too weak and has failed to make PAS popular and respected whether in terms of welfare, community and sermons. PAS is seen as DAP's puppets," Ilham said.

The researchers also said two of the party's top leaders who hail from Penang, deputy president Mohamad Sabu and central committee member Mujahid Yusof, are seen to be removed from Penang politics and not interested in helping Penang Malays.

It also said respondents did not see PKR as capable of helping the Malays as it is a multiracial party.

"(PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim is not seen as influential over the majority of Malay voters in Penang, just certain areas such as Permatang Pauh," the study said.

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DAP says toll extension punishes Penang folk

By Shannon Teoh | November 17, 2011
The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 17 — The DAP said today PLUS Expressways is "cheating" the public especially Penang folk by extending toll collection on three highways as part of a deal that sees the highway concessionaire waive RM6.5 billion in compensation from the government.

Secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the 17-year toll extension on the Penang Bridge to 2038 was "in fact a toll increase."

"What waiver? They are cheating. I thought only my children will pay the toll but now even my grandchildren will pay. This deal punishes Penangites," the island's chief minister told a press conference.

Publicity chief Tony Pua also said that with two of the three extensions affecting Penang specifically, "most of the burden of covering the waiver falls on Penangites."

The Petaling Jaya Utara MP noted that toll on the Butterworth-Kulim Expressway will also be extended by 12 years to 2038, while that on the NSE Central Link would be extended by eight years.

Lim (picture), who is also Bagan MP, said that PLUS should stop collecting toll after collecting over RM24 billion from the North-South Expressway alone.

"The construction cost is only RM6 billion, so they've made over three times their cost," he said.

UEM Group Berhad and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), the new owners of the assets of PLUS Expressways, announced yesterday they had waived their right to some RM6.5 billion in compensation in exchange for extensions to the concession periods up to 2038 for the three highways.

UEM and EPF also said that toll increases for the North-South Expressway (NSE), the crown jewel of PLUS, will be lowered from 10 per cent every three years to five per cent at the same intervals, while the Penang Bridge will see no increase.

The government owed PLUS billions in compensation due to the decision to freeze unpopular toll hikes that were stipulated in the original concession agreement, until 2015.

Following the signing of the new agreements with the government last week, the revised concession agreements and assets will be placed under Project Lebuhraya Usahasama Berhad (PLUS Berhad), a wholly-owned subsidiary of PLUS Malaysia Sdn Bhd.

PLUS Malaysia is the investment vehicle owned 51 per cent by Khazanah subsidiary UEM Group and 49 per cent by EPF.

EPF and UEM had last November proposed to privatise PLUS Expressways for RM23 billion but with the condition that the toll concessions be revised.

With the revised concessions now agreed upon with the government, PLUS Malaysia will proceed to complete the acquisition of assets and liabilities of PLUS Expressways by next month, after which the latter will be delisted.

PLUS Expressways currently has about RM33 billion in outstanding loans.

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Hudud mampu cegah murtad

DUN SELANGOR

SHAH ALAM: Gejala murtad yang melanda umat Islam di negara ini mampu dicegah dengan pelaksanaan hukum hudud, tegas Exco Hal Ehwal Islam, Adat Istiadat Melayu, Infrastruktur dan Kemudahan Awam, Datuk Dr Hassan Mohamed Ali.

Tanpa merujuk kepada mana-mana negeri dalam Malaysia, beliau berkata, ini berpandukan kepada pengalaman negara-negara luar  yang berjaya menangani masalah (murtad) ini.

"Murtad boleh dicegah melalui pelaksanaan undang-undang Islam misalnya hudud dan salah satu jenayah hudud ialah murtad," katanya ketika menjawab soalan lisan daripada Datuk Mohd Shamsudin Lias (Sungai Burong-BN) pada sidang Dewan Undangan Negeri Selangor di sini hari ini.

Shamsudin bertanya mengenai apakah langkah dan tindakan yang diambil oleh Jabatan Agama Islam Negeri Selangor (Jais) untuk mencegah orang Islam keluar dari agama Islam.

Unit Selamatkan Akidah

Hassan berkata Jais komited melaksanakan beberapa pelan tindakan mengatasi gejala murtad dengan menubuhkan Unit Selamatkan Akidah pada Ogos lalu.

Katanya, Jais bertindak menguatkuasa dua enakmen iaitu Enakmen Agama Bukan Islam (Kawalan Perkembangan Dikalangan Orang Islam) 1998 terhadap mana-mana individu, persatuan atau pertubuhan yang mendakyah agama selain Islam kepada orang Islam.

"Jais juga menguatkuasa Enakmen Jenayah Syariah 1995 di bawah Seksyen 10 kesalahan menghina atau menyebabkan Islam
dipandang hina atau mana-mana kesalahan berkaitan," terang beliau.

Isu murtad menjadi hangat ekoran tindakan Jais membuat pemeriksaan di Gereja Methodist Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya pada 3 Ogos lalu, setelah mendapat maklumat tentang percubaan untuk memurtadkan orang Islam di satu majlis makan malam anjuran Komuniti Harapan.

Sementara itu, Hassan berkata Jais telah menjalankan kajian dan mempunyai bukti penyebaran agama terutamanya Kristian ke atas masyarakat Islam di negeri Selangor.

"Hasil kajian Jais, pelbagai usaha dilakukan pihak Kristian untuk mendakyahkan orang Islam di antaranya menubuhkan pelbagai pertubuhan kebajikan atau persatuan bagi memberi bantuan dan mewujudkan kelas tuisyen percuma.

"Agama Kristian juga disebarkan secara halus dengan menterjemah dan menggunakan kalimah Allah dalam kitab 'Bible' versi bahasa Melayu," kata beliau.

Hassan bagaimanapun melahirkan keyakinan bahawa dengan sokongan dan dokongan seluruh umat Islam, masalah tersebut mampu diatasi.

Tegas beliau, "kita tak boleh tuding jari kepada semua pihak kerana ia tanggungjawab semua. Ia bukan semata-mata usaha Mufti, Jais, Mais, Qadi tetapi menjadi tanggungjawab seluruh umat Islam," katanya.

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Toll extensions: Penangites getting a raw deal

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP leaders have cried foul over the revised toll concession rates which they say are a "punishment on Penanigites".

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said that new structure of the toll concessions was a "hidden increase" to further burden the people, especially Penangites.

UEM Group Bhd and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), joint owners of PLUS Expressways Bhd (PEB), said yesterday that all toll concessions would now expire on Dec 31, 2038.

They said they waived their right to some RM6.5 billion in compensation in exchange for extensions to the concession periods up to 2038 for the three highways.

Thus, toll concessions for Elite (which is to end on May 31, 2030), Butterworth-Kulim Expressway (BKE) (ending June 27, 2026), and the Penang Bridge (Dec 31, 2021) would be extended.

Lim today said that the additional 17-year increase to the Penang Bridge toll concession was unfair to Penangites.

"I thought my kids would stop paying toll but now it looks like even my grandkids would have to pay toll…even your grandkids would have to pay," said the Bagan MP in parliament today.

Lim said that all toll concessionaires in the country have made their profit and thus should cease operations instead of burdening the people.

Quoting a parliamentary answer to his question in June, Lim said that there were 27 toll highways in operation.

The construction cost for them was RM25 billion and they have yielded a return of RM37.7 billion as of the end of last year.

"They have all made their profit so why do we have to pay toll any longer, why are their concessions being extended, they should be extinguished,

"Take the North South Expressway, the construction cost was about RM6 million, their returns are about RM 23.5 million, their profit is almost three-fold," Lim said.

Muhyiddin's motive on underground tunnel suspect

Lim said that construction cost almost always includes operational costs and thus the companies would still yield profits, citing the Penang Bridge.

"The construction cost was RM943.54 million. The initial cost was only about RM600 million, that means the renovation and operations costs were already accounted for," he said.

Petaling Jaya Utara MP, Tony Pua said that with the 17-year extension and the 11 year extension on the BKE it certainly looked as though Penangites are being "punished"

"The Malaysia-Singapore Second Crossing (Linkedua) and the North South Expressway (NSE) will expire in 2038 without any extension but not BKE and the Penang Bridge," said Pua

On another matter, Lim also questioned DPM Muhyiddin Yassin's motive for questioning the construction of an underground tunnel linking Gurney Drive and the north district of Seberang Perai.

Lim added that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak attended the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China which expressed interest in construction of the project.

Lim said that Najib was all smiles when the MoU was signed and questioned why his deputy was singing a different tune.

"The project has yet to begin. I hope that the deputy prime minister would not make announcements based on false information," said Lim.

He added that the state government intended to have an open tender for the peoject despite an interest expressed by a Chinese construction company.

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Now, more than ever before, His Majesty must act in the best interest of the rakyat and the nation

Auntie Bersih and Kak Rosni have launched a nation wide effort to get all Malaysians to speak up and urge the king to stand side by side with the rakyat in our drive to ensure that the 13th GE is free and fair. The report on their press conference can be read HERE.

Auntie and Kak Rosni are calling on the king to exercise his constitutionally conferred power to refuse his consent to a dissolution of Parliament, should Najib request this without first implementing the reforms that the rakyat have demanded.

This is an effort that is deserving of the fullest support from all of us as it presents an excellent opportunity for the monarch and the rakyat to come together to set things right in our nation.

Although, on 3rd November, I joined others to issue an ultimatum to Najib that if he called snap elections without first implementing the reforms we want, we would rally again and, this time, it might be a fight to the end, I have signed the petition launched by these 2 courageous patriots because it represents a middle path that all of us can collectively take to send a message to the king : STAND WITH THE RAKYAT TO SAVE THIS NATION.

I am petitioner No. 346, if I recall correctly, and I am proud to join Auntie Bersih and Kak Rosni and the more than 900 others who have already signed this petition.

You will have to provide your IC number. This is the right thing to do so that the credibility of our signatures is never questioned.

Do not be afraid.

We need fear no one.

Let us come together to make this a Petisyen Sejuta Rakyat yang menuntut pilihanraya yang bebas dan adil.

Click on the words in red to go to the petition.

Make it your duty to get all your friends and family to sign this petition.

__________________________________________________

Modern day constitutional monarchs are a far cry from their predecessor feudal monarchs.

In the old days, the people served their king.

Today, the modern day constitutional monarch, in theory at least, holds office to serve the best interest of the people.

Take the power to veto the passing of law by the legislative assemblies.

A useful power to deal with an elected government that is, for reasons best known yo itself, moving to make law that is not in the best interest of the people.

By exercising his power of veto to stop the making of such law, the king aligns himself with the welfare and well-being of the citizenry.

As he should.

At all times, without exception.

Numerous instances in history vividly depict the consequences for a monarchy that is, on matters of grave importance, out of touch with the will of the citizenry.

Until 1983, our king had the power to veto the passage of a bill through parliament, thus preventing it becoming law.

Then Mahathir stepped in, amended that power to a mere power to delay.

That power of veto was taken away.

Mahathir must have overlooked Article 40 (2) (b) of the Federal Constitution.

It is another veto power of sorts.

It empowers the king to refuse to a dissolution of parliament when requested by the Prime Minister.

Like the earlier power to veto the passage of a bill to become law, this power, too, must surely be exercised when it will not serve the best interests of the rakyat to have Parliament dissolved and the nation go to an election to form a new government.

Like all other powers conferred on our constitutional king, Article 40 (2) (b) is to be exercised in the interest of the rakyat, and no other.

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Case against MACC trio intact, says police chief

SHAH ALAM: Investigators have questioned 26 police personnel in connection with the loss of items seized from two of three anti-corruption officers accused of robbery.

State police chief Tun Hisan Tun Omar, who disclosed this to reporters today, denied that the items were evidence in the case against Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers charged last month in a Sepang court with robbing three Singaporeans of US$ 300,000.

The items—a wallet, a credit card, a MACC identification card and cash amounting to RM11,700—went missing last week from the Selangor police headquarters in Shah Alam.

Tun Hisan said the loss would not affect the case against the three suspects.

"It will not jeopardise the case in court because it is not evidence," he said.

He said Selangor police had "interviewed" 26 of the personnel working at the headquarters. "Their fingerprints have been taken," he added.

He told reporters police were "seriously investigating" the suspected theft because "the police force's image is affected".

He confirmed that the missing items were supposed to be kept in a safe and that the officer investigating the MACC three was still in duty.

Also read:

Evidence in 'MACC robbers' case missing

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‘Don’t politicise Tawau ISA arrests’

PETALING JAYA: MCA today urged PAS and others not to politicise the recent arrest of suspected terrorists in Tawau, Sabah, under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

MCA Youth secretary-general Chai Kim Sen said the Islamic party should allow the police to investigate the matter thoroughly, instead of "quickly jumping to the defence of these people".

"It should be left to the police to decide whether the persons arrested are missionaries or terrorists," Chai said in a statement.

He added that the police had a reason to believe that Tawau was being used as a transit point for weapons from the Philippines.

FMT reported yesterday that at least 10 people were arrested in Tawau under the ISA by a special team from the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters. No further information was given by the police on the arrest.

Sabah PAS had reacted by stating that those arrested were either its members or supporters, and had called upon the police to release them immediately, or charge them in court.

It was reported in the local media that those arrested were suspected terrorists from Indonesia and the Philippines.

"If they are indeed missionaries and PAS members, how and why does PAS count foreign citizens as among its members?" asked Chai.

He also asked if it was possible for some Sabah PAS members to have been in contact with Islamic militants in Indonesia and the Philippines.

"The security of our country is at stake here… PAS and its allies in Pakatan Rakyat should not politicise the issue further by making up lies and distorting the truth," he added.

A total of 14 arrested?

Meanwhile, the Abolish ISA Movement (GMI) and Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) condemned the police and the government over the use of the ISA in Tawau.

GMI and Suaram also said that the number of those arrested in Tawau could be as many as 14.

They said the use of the ISA was regrettable as it contradicted with Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's announcement in September to abolish the preventive law.

"What is the rationale behind the detention? Is the prime minister trying to fool the people of Malaysia with his hypocritical attitude? The PM should be ashamed of this arrest," they said in a statement today.

They also said that the allegations made against those arrested remained unclear although they were linked to terrorism.

They said according to their sources, those arrested include three teachers, one religious teacher and two newspaper distributors.

Also read:

10 Islamic activists arrested under ISA in Tawau

[Photo: Family members of a detainee]

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Projek LPT2 lambat siap, kos meningkat

PETALING JAYA: Badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) Jingga 13 hari ini membuat aduan kepada Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) berhubung projek Lebuhraya Pantai Timur 2 (LPT2) yang siap tidak ikut tarikh dan melebihi kos asal.

Projek LPT2 dari Jabor di Kemaman ke Kuala Terengganu dijanjikan kepada rakyat Terengganu semasa pilihan raya umum 2004, asalnya mula dibina pada tahun 2007 dan dijangka siap pada 2010.

Malah kos asal pembinaan sebanyak RM3 bilion yang diperuntukkan kini sudah meningkat sehingga RM5 bilion tetapi sehingga kini masih gagal beroperasi mengikut jadual.

Ketua Koordinator Jingga 13 Fariz Musa dalam laporannya berkata projek ini dibiayai melalui dana khas yang diperoleh daripada wang royalti petroleum dan hanya sebahagian kecil pengurusan dibayar oleh Kerajaan Pusat.

Sekaligus menjadikan hampir keseluruhan kos pembinaan LPT2 ini dibiayai oleh wang rakyat Terengganu, katanya.

"Setelah siap projek ini akan di serah kepada Lembaga Lebuhraya Malaysia (LLM) dan bukannya kepada kerajaan negeri Terengganu.

"Ini bermakna Terengganu hanya sediakan tanah dan menanggung kos pembinaannya tetapi tidak akan memiliki lebuhraya ini.

"Siapakah yang akan mengendalikan kutipan tol? Siapakah yang akan memperolehi hasil kutipan tol tersebut?," soalnya.

Laporan itu diserahkan kepada SPRM Kuala Terengganu kira-kira pukul 11 pagi tadi melalui pegawai penyiasat Syukri Mustafa.

Turut hadir Ketua Cabang Dungun Abdul Rahman Yusof, Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Bertindak Kampung Banggol Donas Salleh Embong dan Naib Ketua Cabang PKR Kuala Terengganu Sulong Ali.

Selain itu, masalah di beberapa sektor dalam projek LPT2 turut dikemukakan kepada SPRM, antaranya pembinaan jambatan Sungai Bagus di Bandar Baru Kerteh yang dibina atas daratan namun dan tidak melintasi anak Sungai Bagus.

Fariz berkata pihaknya difahamkan masalah timbul apabila kontraktor TSR Construction Sdn Bhd terpaksa mengalihkan anak sungai ke bawah jambatan tanpa merujuk kepada Jabatan Parit dan Sungai (JPS) selain mengalami masalah proses tender.

Akibatnya, kos pembinaan jambatan ini meningkat daripada RM174 juta kepada RM210 juta. Selain itu, isu pemberian tender kepada kontraktor ahli Umno Bahagian Hulu Terengganu yang didakwa bermasalah namun masih menerima wang pendahuluan sebanyak RM20 juta dalam projek ini turut dipersoalkan.

"Kami memohon agar SPRM menyiasat secara terperinci terhadap projek LPT2 tersebut termasuk semua pihak yang terlibat iaitu

kerajaan negeri Terengganu, Kementerian Kewangan, Kementerian Kerja Raya, kontraktor serta semua pihak yang bertanggungjawab .

"Kami juga memohon SPRM atas rasa tanggungjawab dan keperihatinan terhadap wang rakyat yang diseleweng sewenang-wenangnya tanpa rasa bersalah serta mengkhianati rakyat negeri Terengganu supaya menyiasat dan mendakwa para penjenayah ini ke muka pengadilan," katanya.

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So who are the real crooks?

Cash belonging to robbery suspects goes missing

November 17, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 17 — Cash belonging to two of the men charged with robbing money changers at KL International Airport (KLIA) in September has gone missing from the Selangor police headquarters.

In a statement released last night, Selangor police said RM11,700 in cash and a wallet were reported missing on Tuesday evening.

File photo of ringgit notes. — Picture courtesy of mybursa.wordpress
The cash is not part of the US$ 300,000 that was seized in relation to the robbery.

Three Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) claimed trial last month for robbery and abetting a civilian in robbing three money changers of RM930,000 at KLIA in September.

The three officers, aged between 20 and 35, hold the ranks of acting assistant commissioner, senior assistant superintendent and assistant superintendent. The civilian, who had impersonated an MACC officer during the robbery, is still at large.

They allegedly robbed the money changers inside the satellite building at KLIA on September 15.

The trio were arrested two days later after they were picked out by the victim during an identification parade.

It was earlier reported that the money changers were at the airport intending to board a flight to Singapore when the robbery took place.

The three are understood to have been carrying foreign currencies amounting to about RM2 million, which they had declared to Customs.

Malaysia Insider

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2 Singaporeans nabbed in Malaysia drug bust
04:45 AM Nov 14, 2011
ALOR STAR - Malaysian police arrested 11 men - including two Singap! oreans - and seized more than RM20 million (S$ 8 million) worth of drugs in two simultaneous operations in the states of Kedah and Penang on Friday.

The police believe they have crippled an international drug-processing syndicate with the drug bust, which was the biggest in Malaysia this year, according to Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department director Noor Rashid Ibrahim.

The suspects, aged between 24 and 60, also included five Malaysians, two Britons, two Dutchmen and one Frenchman. They were arrested following months of surveillance, reported New Straits Times.

Ten of the men were arrested at an abandoned factory in the Kedah capital of Alor Star, while one man was picked up from a house in Penang.

Mr Noor Rashid said the abandoned factory was used as a drug-processing lab and 240 litres of liquid believed to be Ecstasy, 34kg of Syabu as well as some chemicals and drug-processing paraphernalia were seized during the raids.

Four cars and RM39,000 worth of foreign currencies were also confiscated from the suspects.
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In Malaysia, UMNO government has allowed a beneficiary system to operate freely, whereby anything confiscated or taken in as safe keeping by the Police, Court and Customs are distributed among the officers who helped in the raid and anything else not wanted by them are then given to Chinese middle men to sell in the streets.

The above story is one good example where the money has vanished into think air.

The other one would be Ecstasy, Syabu etc........... which one can easily obtain in Bukit Bintang, Time Square, Pavilion, Mega Mall, Genting and many other shopping complex in Malaysia. All the drug are from the Narcotic Department.

So are we not lucky to have such efficient Muslim officers employed by the Government to supply such stuff to our youth today.

Truly Malaysia Boleh.


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What on Earth will it take? Here's free access to THRIVE!



I have only viewed the first few minutes of this epic 2-hour documentary produced by Foster Gamble (from the House of Gamble of Proctor & Gamble fame) and released online on 11/11/11. THRIVE most definitely seems like a significant overview of where we stand as an evolving species. The visuals are stunning and it's a clearly a labor of love, a top quality production. Most importantly, Foster comes across as authentic and sincere about being part of the solution.

Please purchase the DVD for those with no internet access!



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