Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Social Political Buzz & Bulls

Pakatan Rakyat opposes setting up of Lynas Corp plant

Joint media statement by Pakatan Rakyat in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, 2nd February 2012:

Pakatan Rakyat opposes setting up of Lynas Corp plant

We, Members of Parliament of Pakatan Rakyat, refer to the approval of a Temporary Operating License (TOL) granted on 1st February 2012 by the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) to the controversial rare earth plant in Gebeng, Kuantan to be operated by Lynas Corp.

Pakatan Rakyat hereby unequivocally states our opposition to the setting up of the Lynas Corp plant in Gebeng, Kuantan.

The Common Policy Framework (CPF) of Pakatan Rakyat declares our commitment to the environment, sustainable growth and green development. This rare earth plant will produce radioactive waste which, in no uncertain terms, goes against the very grain of the Pakatan Rakyat CPF in that it could potentially and catastrophically be injurious to human health through long-term, low level, chronic exposure but equally degrade the environment, thereby negatively impacting the economy of this country.

Pakatan Rakyat is also very concerned that a TOL was granted despite:

  1. there being no clear indications from either Lynas Corp or AELB if the waste disposal plan complied with recommendations from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) or not

  2. the fact that 1,123 comments and criticisms from the public on Lynas' documents have not been clearly dealt with.

  3. the revelation that AkzoNobel, a "crucial contractor" to the Lynas project, has pulled out due to safety concerns (as reported by the New York times on 31st January 2012).

Pakatan Rakyat supports all efforts made by the Member of Parliament for Kuantan, YB Fuziah Salleh, to ensure that environmental justice is upheld for the people of Kuantan and Malaysians in general. This supports extends to her upcoming legal challenge to bring this matter to court, via a judicial review.

Pakatan Rakyat hereby calls upon the Umno-Barisan Nasional Federal Government to immediately rescind this approval of a TOL, for the sake of our future.


* YB Nurul Izzah, Member of Parliament for Lembah Pantai
YB Liew Chin Tong, Member of Parliament for Bukit Bendera
YB Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, Member of Parliament for Kuala Selangor

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'Tak bayar cukai, tak boleh undi', pengundi hantu bayaq cukai kah...

Cadangan menghalang rakyat Malaysia yang bekerja di luar negara dan tidak membayar cukai daripada mengundi adalah tidak mengikut perlembagaan, kata kumpulan pendesak reformasi pilihan raya, BERSIH 2.0.

Dalam satu kenyataan media, jawatankuasa pemandu BERSIH 2.0 berkata cadangan SPR itu tidak mengambil kira peruntukan dalam perlembagaan persekutuan yang menyatakan dengan jelas bahawa setiap warganegara mempunyai hak untuk mengundi dalam mana-mana pilihan raya.

"Ramai rakyat yang menetap di dalam negara juga tidak membayar cukai juga ... Pesara juga ramai yang tidak membayar cukai pendapatan dan mereka yang berpendapatan kurang daripada RM2,500 juga tidak perlu membayar apa-apa cukai pendapatan.

"Adakah kita akan mengecualikan semua mereka sebagai pengundi juga?" petik kenyataan itu.


Menurut jawatankuasa pemandu itu Akta Cukai Pendapatan 1967 menetapkan bahawa pendapatan yang diperolehi daripada sumber-sumber di luar Malaysia adalah dikecualikan daripada cukai.

Justeru, BERSIH 2.0 berpendapat tindakan SPR yang tidak berperlembagaan adalah cubaan melucutkan hak mereka yang layak untuk mengundi.

Isnin lalu, pengerusi SPR Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof  berkata Amerika Syarikat mempunyai sistem yang sama yang hanya membenarkan warganya yang bekerja di luar negara dan membayar cukai untuk mengundi.

Katanya, hak mengundi hanya perlu diberikan kepada rakyat Malaysia yang menyumbang kepada negara dan pulang ke negara dari semasa ke semasa.


Bersih 2.0 slams EC's 'no tax, no vote' proposal


Election reforms pressure group Bersih 2.0 said the Election Commission's (EC) proposal to bar non-tax paying Malaysian expatriates from voting was unconstitutional.

In a statement today, the Bersih 2.0 steering committee said the EC's proposal ignored provisions in the federal constitution which clearly states that every citizen has the right to vote in any election.


"Many Malaysians who live in Malaysia do not pay tax as well... Many retirees do not pay income tax and those who earn less than RM2,500 do not pay any income tax.


"Are we going to exclude them as voters as well?" read the statement.


The steering committee also pointed to the Income Tax Act 1967, which stipulates that income derived from sources outside of Malaysia are exempted from income tax.


In view of these two legal arguments, Bersih 2.0 said that the EC was mounting an unconstitutional attempt to disenfranchise those eligible to vote.




EC keen on only 'two-and-a-half proposals'

On Monday, EC chairperson Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof told said the United States had a similar system which only allowed its expatriates to vote should they be taxpayers.
He explained that voting rights should only be accorded to Malaysians who contribute to the country and return home periodicall! y.

These were among the EC's proposals to the parliamentary select committee (PSC) on electoral reforms.
The EC is currently hammering out details for a set of reforms following the PSC's preliminary report on possible electoral reforms. Abdul Aziz said the reforms should be ready by March.

The PSC was established by the Najib Abdul Razak administration soon after the Bersih 2.0 rally 
in July last year. The PSC has been holding a series of public hearings throughout the country to source for feedback.

Meanwhile, Bersih 2.0 said that the EC has thus far only accepted "two and a half out of eight" of its demands, which it said was an indication of the commission's lack of will.
 Its steering committee said the EC must act independently and fulfil its constitutional duties to ensure free and fair elections if it truly intends to gain the confidence of all Malaysians.

"Bersih 2.0 reminds the EC that it is not answerable to any political master but to ALL citizens of Malaysia," read the statement.


source:malaysiakini

"No Taxation without Representation" is different from 
"No Representation without Taxation"

The Election Commission (EC) has sparked outrage with the idea that Malaysians abroad can't vote if they don't pay taxes in Malaysia, in a rather perverse twist of the "No Taxation without Representation" revolt that brought United States of America its independence in 1776. 

Perhaps a lesson in English for the EC, "No Taxation without Repre! sentatio n" is different from "No Representation without Taxation" as the ideas come from opposing forces. 

The right to vote is a fundamental right for all citizens of an eligible age. It doesn't matter if they don't pay tax. If so, a lot of civil servants can't vote and Barisan Nasional (BN) might be in the opposition bench already. 

Let's get every eligible citizen to vote, not find ways to stop them from exercising that right. And for the record, the US allows all citizens to vote.- Jahabar Sadiq.

source:malaysian insider



cheers.
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Maaf Anakku! Mereka Tidak Mesra Denganmu

MAAF ANAKKU! MEREKA TIDAK MESRA DENGANMU
Prof Madya Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin
(sertai facebook DrMAZA.com dan twitter realDrMAZA)

 

Minggu ini saya pulang sekejap ke tanahair. Bukan cuti, tetapi kerana menyambut kehadiran bayi baru. Segala puji bagi al-Wahhab; Tuhan Yang Maha Pemberi. Setiap ibubapa berdoa agar bayi yang lahir ke dunia sihat dan sejahtera. Islam tidak pernah membezakan nilai antara bayi lelaki dan perempuan. Sekalipun ada beberapa hukum yang berbeza antara lelaki dan wanita, tetapi itu tidak merujuk kepada nilai, sebaliknya kepada latar fizikal dan psikologi setiap gender.

 

Allah mengutuk masyarakat jahiliah Mekah yang merasa hina dengan kelahiran bayi perempuan. Firman Allah:

(maksudnya) dan apabila dikhabarkan kepada seseorang mereka bahawa dia beroleh anak perempuan, hitamlah (muram) mukanya sepanjang hari dalam keadaan dia menahan perasaan marahnya. Dia bersembunyi dari orang ramai kerana (malu) berita buruk yang disampaikan kepadanya (tentang memperolehi anak perempuan, sambil dia berfikir) adakah dia akan memeliharanya, atau dia akan memasukkannya ke dalam tanah? Ketahuilah! sungguh jahat apa yang mereka hukumkan itu". (Surah al-Nahl: 58-59).

Petua

Ada petua kononnya menyatakan jika ibu selalu baca Surah Maryam, maka akan dapat anak perempuan dan jika selalu membaca Yusuf akan mendapat anak lelaki. Inilah petua rekaan segelintir 'ahli motivasi' yang cuba menarik perhatian mereka yang minat agama.

Pemberi kurnia bayi lelaki ataupun perempuan hanya Allah. Dia Penentu mutlak. Bilakah Allah berfirman ataupun berjanji sesiapa yang membaca surah tertentu maka akan dikurnia jantina anak menurut pilihannya. Ketentuan jantina atas hikmah yang Dia Maha Mengetahui. Hanya doa yang mustajab sahaja yang dinaskan dalam hal ini. Sedang isteri 'Imran yang bercita-cita untuk mendapat anak lelaki dengan nazar untuk dijadikan orang yang berkhidmat sepenuh masa kepada agama Allah, dikurniakan anak perempuan. Firman Allah dalam Surah Ali 'Imran:

"(ingatlah) ketika isteri 'Imran berkata: "Tuhanku! Sesungguhnya aku nazarkan kepadamu anak yang ada dalam kandunganku sebagai seorang yang bebas (dari segala urusan dunia untuk berkhidmat kepadaMu semata-mata), maka terimalah nazarku; Sesungguhnya Engkaulah Yang Maha Mendengar, lagi Maha Mengetahui". Maka apabila dia melahirkannya, dia berkata: "Wahai Tuhanku! Sesungguhnya Aku telah melahirkan seorang anak perempuan (sedangkan aku harapkan anak lelaki), – dan Allah memang mengetahui akan apa yang dia lahirkan – dan lelaki bukan seperti perempuan; dan bahawasanya aku telah menamakannya Maryam, dan aku memohon untuknya perlindunganMU, demikian untuk zuriat keturunannya dari syaitan yang kena rejam". (35-36)

Mesra

Islam memberikan persekitaran yang mesra dan selesa kepada perkembangan seseorang anak. Islam tidak pernah melayankan kanak-kanak dengan layanan yang hina seperti yang dilakukan oleh sebahagian ahli masjid. Islam tidak pernah menjadikan anak kecil penghalang antara seorang dengan Allah. Kata Abu Qatadah al-Ansari:

"Rasulullah s.a.w pernah solat sambil mendukung Umamah binti Zainab binti Rasulillah, anak kepada (suaminya) Abi al-'As bin Rabi'ah bin 'Abd Shams. Apabila baginda mahu sujud baginda meletakkannya. Apabila bangun baginda mendukungnya kembali" (Riwayat al-Bukhari).

Inilah kemesraan agama dengan kehidupan kanak-kanak. Kemesraan seperti ini tidak kelihatan dalam kejumudan fikiran sesetengah orang yang enggan melihat agamanya dari jendela sunnah Nabi s.a.w tetapi lebih selesa dengan ikutan golongan yang keras dan menghukum agama menurut perasaan mereka yang hambar. Dalam hadis sahih riwayat Abu Ya'la, Ibn Abi Syaibah, Ahmad dan al-Nasai, Rasulullah s.a.w pernah sujud begitu panjang dalam satu solat disebabkan cucu baginda al-Hasan atau al-Husain -rawi hadis tidak pasti- menaiki tengkuk baginda ketika sedang sujud. Sahabat kehairan dan bertanya sebab. Baginda menjawab:

"Sesungguhnya anakku (cucuku) telah menjadikan aku tunggangannya. Aku tidak suka mengganggunya sehingga dia tunai hajatnya".

Suasana yang mesra ini telah melahir generasi muda yang mewarisi generasi tua yang sentiasa merasakan tiada dinding penghalang antara mereka dan agama ini. Sejak dari kecil mereka diraikan. Sabda Nabi s.a.w:

"Aku mendirikan solat (sebagai imam) dan aku berhasrat ingin memanjangkannya. Tiba-tiba aku mendengar tangisan bayi, maka aku mensegerakan solatku kerana aku tidak suka membebankan ibunya" (Riwayat al-Bukhari).

Dihalau Ke Belakang

Kita mendengar kanak-kanak yang sudah pun boleh bersolat dihalau oleh orang tua 'berlagak pandai' ke belakang. Kemudian menengking anak-anak kerana tidak serius dalam solat. Apa tidaknya, mereka bersama saf dengan kanak-kanak yang lain. Tentu kenakalan itu kadang-kala muncul. Jika mereka duduk di samping bapa mereka tentu mereka dapat dididik adab solat berjemaah. Untuk menghalalkan perbuatan tidak mesra kanak-kanak itu dipilihlah fatwa yang menyatakan kanak-kanak belum berkhatan itu najis. Satu saf akan batal sebab bawah kulit kanak-kanak itu ada najis.

Saya selalu bertanya: "apakah bawah kulit orang tua dan dalam perut orang tua tiada najis?!! Jangan memilih pendapat-pendapat fekah yang menyusahkan dan menghilangkan semangat dakwah Islam sedangkan kita mempunyai banyak pilihan pendapat yang lebih munasabah.

Ketika Ibn 'Abbas masih kanak-kanak, beliau bercerita:

"..Rasulullah bangun bersolat malam aku turut serta bersamanya. Aku berdiri di sebelah kiri baginda. Baginda memegang kepalaku lalu menjadikan aku berada di sebelah kanan baginda (Riwayat al-Bukhari).

Kata Anas bin Malik :

"…Rasulullah berdiri untuk solat. Aku bersaf dengan seorang budak yatim di belakang baginda. Sementara wanita tua berada di belakang kami". (Riwayat al-Bukhari).

Adapun hadis riwayat Ahmad dan Abu Daud yang menyatakan Rasulullah menjadikan saf lelaki dewasa di hadapan kanak-kanak, hadis itu daif dari segi sanadnya.

Didik

Kita diperintahkan menyuruh anak-anak bersolat ketika berusia tujuh tahun sebelum memukulnya dengan tujuan mendidik pada usia sepuluh tahun. Sabda Nabi s.a.w:

"Suruhlah anak-anak kamu bersolat ketika mereka berusia tujuh tahun, dan pukul kerana meninggalkan solat ketika berusia sepuluh tahun" (Riwayat Abu Daud, sahih).

Ertinya ketika berusia tujuh tahun saban hari sebanyak lima waktu dia mendengar perintah bapa atau ibunya 'marilah bersolat'. Ertinya, selama tiga tahun lamanya dia akan mendengar seruan kepada solat dengan penuh cinta dan manja. Tanpa kekerasan, tanpa paksaan. Pujukan demi pujukan. Sehingga solat sebati dengannya dan dia mengasihi solat.

Solat diingati bersama hubungan kasih sayang ibubapa yang berbicara dan memujuknya setiap kali azan berkumandang. Mungkin pelbagai upah dan janji diberikan. Tidak dipukul melainkan setelah tiga tahun melalui tempoh ini. Jika dia dipukul pun setelah berusia sepuluh tahun, dia akan faham itu adalah pukulan kasih dan cinta. Dia bermesra dengan bapanya yang akan membawanya ke tempat solat. Dia mempelajarinya dari pelajaran dan teladan.

Jika bapanya bersolat di masjid dia bersama bapanya bersolat. Dia memerhati dan melihat pergerakan bapanya. Bagaimana rukuk, sujud dan segala pergerakan yang lain. Jika dia dihalau jauh ke belakang bersama anak-anak lain yang tidak tahu sepertinya, apakah yang dapat dia pelajari?! Ada masjid menempatkan saf kanak-kanak bagaikan 'makhluk jijik' yang tidak boleh sentuh. Kemudian mereka mungkin bising sesama mereka, maka akan ada orang dewasa yang menengking dan menghalau mereka balik.

Bahkan perbuatan orang tua menghalau kanak-kanak dari saf dan mengambil tempat mereka telah menyanggahi adab Islam yang diajar oleh Nabi s.a.w

"Jangan seseorang membangunkan orang lain dari tempatnya, kemudian dia duduk di situ" (Riwayat al-Bukhari dan Muslim).

Perbuatan menyakitkan hati bapanya, merisaukannya dan menjadikan anak-anak yang sudah tahu bersolat itu merasa betapa mereka tidak diraikan dalam agama ini.

Adab

Namun ini bukan tidak bererti anak-anak dibiarkan membuat bising dan mengganggu orang lain yang sedang bersolat, sebaliknya mereka dididik dan ditegur dengan cara yang baik oleh ibubapa dan masyarakat. Masjid juga bukan tempat ibubapa melepaskan tanggungjawab anak-anak bising di rumah dibawa untuk bising di masjid. Cuma pastikan mereka tidak dilayan dengan cara yang menyebabkan mereka membesar dalam keadaan merasakan institusi agama amat tidak mesra dengan mereka. Kadang-kala mereka bising disebabkan cara kita mengatur mereka, hal ini mesti dibaiki.

Anak-anak membesar dalam agama ini dengan didikan yang lunak. Kata sahabiyyah Nabi s.a.w yang bernama al-Rubaiyyi' binti Muawwiz:

"..selepas itu kami pun berpuasa dan menjadikan anak-anak kecil kami berpuasa. Jika Allah kehendaki, kami juga pergi ke masjid membawa mereka. Kami buat untuk mereka mainan dari bulu berwarna. Jika mereka menangis lapar kami berikan mainan tersebut sehingga sampai waktu berbuka" (Riwayat al-Bukhari, Muslim dan Ibn Hibban).

Demikian agama ini berkembang dalam kehidupan anak-anak dengan pujkan. Ia tidak berkembang dengan kebencian dan anggapan mereka itu pengacau dan seumpamanya. Mereka dididik dan dikawal agar tidak mengganggu orang lain, namun dengan mesra. Jika masih tidak terkawal, barulah ibubapa sepatut tidak membawa ke masjid atau selainnya. Kadang-kala sikap masyarakat menyebabkan ibubapa rasa bersalah tanpa sebab apabila membawa anak ke masjid. Maaf anakku, mereka itu tidak mesra denganmu! Namun, itu bukan ajaran Nabimu…

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Unity — Clement Ting

FEB 2 — Ever since DS Najib took office on April 3, 2009, "unity" is yet another word used on slogans without much effort to embrace the word for what it truly means. Let's look at the latest and hottest slogan promoted by our dear PM himself, 1Malaysia.

The 1Malaysia slogan is now everywhere — from Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M), 1Malaysia clinics, 1Malaysia pillars, banners, posters etc. I am not trying to run down the idea as I think this idea has successfully reached everyone from the urban cities to rural areas. However, I feel that it is just an empty slogan with no one taking heed of what it actually means. Furthermore, this 1Malaysia slogan is contradictory in so many ways to the extent that instead of promoting unity, it is possible that it is doing the exact opposite.

Why is it contradictory? To start off, people of different races interpret the meaning differently. Tun Mahathir mentioned in his blog that:

"The Malays generally interpret 1Malaysia to mean real adoption of the national language as the home language by every citizen as happens in other multiracial countries. They also expect the abolition of Chinese and Tamil schools and ensuring the private sector has a fair participation of Malays and other Bumiputeras."

According to the Constitution, the rights of the Chinese and Indians to continue studying in their vernacular schools are protected. So maybe there is a problem with the understanding of some of these Malays whom Tun M spoke about.

Similarly for the non-Malays, they interpret 1Malaysia as having abolished the rights of Bumiputeras and a fair and equal treatment towards all Malaysians according to article 8 of the Constitution, which talks about equality. This is also an issue because certain quarters assume these rights to be inalienable, and those not accorded similar treatment would feel aggrieved.

Without a proper definition of what is 1Malaysia, it will just be another empty slogan, at best, no matter how effectively the government promotes it. What is more, it may even create complications and arguments on what is truly 1Malaysia.

Let me give you another example on how contradiction to the ideals of 1Malaysia can bring more harm than good. The PM and his Ministers must sing the same song. When the PM personally advocates the ideals of 1Malaysia, his Ministers should not confuse race with nationality. Both serve a priority to us all; one as an individual, the other as a member of a collective group. They cannot confuse these themselves and must set the right example to all of us as Malaysians. As a result of this oversight, PR's CM Lim Guan Eng declared in retort "I am Malaysian first, and Malaysian last".

Although our nation is 54 years old, our unity in its purest form is still questionable. Our fathers and theirs before them, would always speak about the good ole' days where race didn't matter. They would get involved and immerse themselves in each other's culture and celebrate their uniqueness. Today, we have to pay thousands of ringgit to produce TV commercials to show how Malaysians are expected to interact and to personify a "false" object of unity. We don't need to. We just have to understand, embrace and celebrate each other's differences, uniqueness and strengths.

Malaysians and the culture we have are colourful. How can we expect unity if such wonderful cultures are not embraced?

To make matters worse, recently some extremists demanded that Muslims not celebrate Christmas simply because it is an annual celebration to commemorate the birth of Christ, and that Muslims should not wish others Merry Christmas. What is wrong with Muslims celebrating Christmas? Do they not realise that Nabi Isa, who is also Jesus Christ, is also a prophet in the Quran as well?

Michelle Yeoh once said in an advertisement about a decade ago, "This is Malaysia, truly Asia". I personally envision and believe that Malaysia, with its many races, dialects, culture, beliefs can one day blend together peacefully to create the truly Asian flavour.

Lots more work must be done than just advertising the current 1Malaysia slogan. We need the Government to be a catalyst to realise this ambition. Our leaders need to truly stand for 1Malaysia, for if they ever wish for a united Malaysia, our leaders themselves must be effective in showing us the path towards unity.

Otherwise, all these hopes of 1Malaysia will just be another dream waiting to be realised.

* Clement Ting is "just another Malaysian who loves mamak-ing until 3am in the morning and then heading in to work at 8am". The above was first published in Pemandu's Perspectives, a forum to share views "and let everyone see Malaysia through YOUR perspective, because it is after all, a home for all of us".

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

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A change of Government is the ONLY Safe Solution for Malaysia!

SMSL has organized a public event on Saturday 4th of February from 5pm till 10 pm. WE call upon all concerned residents of Kuantan and the greater Kuantan to come to Teluk Cempedak beach to make a wish. We pledge with others to change the government to save our homeland. Kuantan is a beautiful town. We do not want to live in the shadow of the pollution of the world's biggest rare earth
refinery.
SMSL was outraged and appalled by the announcement of the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) yesterday to issue a pre-operational licence to Australia's Lynas Corporation for its controversial Gebeng rare earth refinery plant.
 
Mr Tan Bun Teet, Chairperson of SMSL commented:
"The approval given by the AELB totally ignored the concerns and comments provided by the public who took the trouble to wade through Lynas' application. The public has submitted no less than a thousand comments and suggestions to AELB on the 26th. Merely 3 office working days later AELB has decided to give Lynas a temporary licence."

"Has the AELB really understood the risks and hazards of this project? The public review was a total charade, a sham and a false pretense in public consultation. It is just another public relation exercise for the Lynas project." Added Mr Tan.

In the AELB media statement, it is clear that NONE of the suggestions and objections raised by the public and independent experts in the field was adequately addressed!

"The AELB has failed abysmally as a regulator." Mr Tan said.

SMSL will not hold back any more but will take all possible actions to Stop Lynas."

The Lynas rare earth project known as Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) is ten times bigger than the now closed Asian Rare Earth project in Bukit Merah.

Rare earth processing has long been linked to devastating environmental pollution. The LAMP will be discharging huge amount of pollution in all streams – air, water and solid as disclosed in the two documents by Lynas. Each of the streams contains radioactive particles and a range of unknown hazardous substances yet to be declared by Lynas.

The plant is already posing problems as it is in a flood plain. Contaminated water will be certain to overflow into the surrou! nding ar ea, into the Balok River and the sea which will affect the range of marine life.

Worst, it is located in an environmentally sensitive area next to an important mangrove area and the South China Sea. A significant proportion of Malaysian seafood is caught here. Tourism the other growing industry for Pahang is based on the pristine coastal ecosystem will be hit hard in the shadow of the world's largest rare earth refinery.

In granting Lynas the licence, the AELB has totally ignored advice and recommendation made by Malaysia's most qualified professionals - the Malaysian Medical Association and the Pahang Bar Association.

Dr Yu Siew Hong a local general practitioner and an active member of SMSL said,
"There is no safe dose of radiation. The health of our people will be put at risk. The AELB has not learned from its mistake at Bukit Merah. The people will be outraged and they will do whatever it takes to stop this toxic project."

SMSL has been taking a series of civil and fair action. Of the various stop Lynas groups, SMSL by far has engaged most extensively with the relevant authorities. The AELB approval is the last straw for SMSL.

"The government has left us no choice but to take legal action and to embark on a nation-wide public campaign to vote the Government out in the next general election. We want a safe and clean Malaysia for all. We cannot afford to let a Government which does not know its duty of care to bring hazards to our country." Concluded Mr Tan.

SMSL has organized a public event on Saturday 4th of February from 5pm till 10 pm. WE call upon all concerned residents of Kuantan and the greater Kuantan to come to Teluk Cempedak beach to make a wish. We pledge with others to change the government to save our homeland. Kuantan is a beautiful town. We do not want to live in the shadow of the pollution of the world's biggest r! are eart h
refinery.

Let's make a thousand wishes and each of us shall strive to work towards making our wishes come true!

SMSL volunteers will be present to guide you. Prepare your wishes and write them on a long strip of paper or cloth prior to coming to TC and they will help you attach it to the balloon. Let's all work towards a better government that will adhere to the principles of democracy i.e. a government by the people; of the people and for the people !
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Mahathir worried that Pakatan will extend its gains...

Malaysia's ruling National Front coalition should hold off calling elections to allow more time to win support from groups such as the country's ethnic Chinese, former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said.

Current leader Najib Razak may secure a simple majority in parliament without winning back the two-thirds control lost in 2008 if elections were held today, Mahathir, 86, said in an interview at his office today inKuala Lumpur. Najib would struggle to win back opposition-held states, he said.

"If you have the time, use the time to build up support," Mahathir said. The coalition "can't afford to lose support from any sector of the country. The current thinking is that the Chinese won't vote for the government."

Najib, who took over as prime minister mid-term in 2009, is bound by law to call an election by early 2013. He sparked speculation of an early vote when he said in December that preparations had begun for the contest after a budget that was unveiled in October boosted wages for civil servants and gave cash payments to low-income families.

Mahathir won five consecutive national elections as the prime minister of Southeast Asia's third-biggest economy before stepping down in 2003. In 2008, the National Front lost a third of its seats in the worst showing since independence in 1957.


'Moral Force'

Mahathir "is a moral force for a lot of Malays," said Ooi Kee Beng, deputy director of the Institu! te of So utheast Asian Studies in Singapore. "Even for non-Malays, they want to forget it nowadays, but in the early 1990s, most of them felt a certain pride that Mahathir gave to them."

Before 2008, the worst showing for the National Front was in 1969, when candidates representing urban ethnic Chinese and rural Islamic opposition groups won more than a third of seats in Parliament. Ethnic Chinese victory marches prompted a backlash from Malay groups that led to emergency rule.

Najib's father, Abdul Razak, took over as prime minister in 1970 and responded by creating an affirmative-action policy that gave Malays educational, housing and job preferences.

Mahathir downplayed the chance of an election victory for opposition groups led by Anwar Ibrahim, who was acquitted last month of sodomy charges he claimed were politically motivated. 


Anwar in a Nov. 3 interview predicted an election victory for his People's Alliance in a "Malaysia Spring," a reference to the toppling of authoritarian regimes in the Middle East known as the "Arab Spring."

'Never Cared'

"If you look at the Arab countries, it was clear that these authoritarian rulers never cared for the people, never created jobs," he said. "Malaysia, on the other hand, upon gaining independence, spent most of its time trying to create jobs for its people."

Anwar had been Mahathir's deputy until he was fired when faced with similar allegations in 1998. He was sentenced to nine years in jail for sodomy and a separate corruption charge at that time, before being released in 2004 after Malaysia's highest court overturned the sex conviction.

If Anwar's opposition gains power, the country "would be turned upside down," Mahathir said.
- Barry Porter and Haslinda Amin

source:bloomberg.com

Dr M says Najib should delay polls

'Umno warlords will not let Najib succeed'

Mahathir juga takut kalau Pakatan menang, apa akan jadi pada nasib dirinya kelak... mungkinkah habih rahsia 22 tahun pemerintahannya bakal dilondeh...

cheers.
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A change of Government is the ONLY Safe Solution for Malaysia!

SMSL has organized a public event on Saturday 4th of February from 5pm till 10 pm. WE call upon all concerned residents of Kuantan and the greater Kuantan to come to Teluk Cempedak beach to make a wish. We pledge with others to change the government to save our homeland. Kuantan is a beautiful town. We do not want to live in the shadow of the pollution of the world's biggest rare earth
refinery.
SMSL was outraged and appalled by the announcement of the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) yesterday to issue a pre-operational licence to Australia's Lynas Corporation for its controversial Gebeng rare earth refinery plant.
 
Mr Tan Bun Teet, Chairperson of SMSL commented:
"The approval given by the AELB totally ignored the concerns and comments provided by the public who took the trouble to wade through Lynas' application. The public has submitted no less than a thousand comments and suggestions to AELB on the 26th. Merely 3 office working days later AELB has decided to give Lynas a temporary licence."

"Has the AELB really understood the risks and hazards of this project? The public review was a total charade, a sham and a false pretense in public consultation. It is just another public relation exercise for the Lynas project." Added Mr Tan.

In the AELB media statement, it is clear that NONE of the suggestions and objections raised by the public and independent experts in the field was adequately addressed!

"The AELB has failed abysmally as a regulator." Mr Tan said.

SMSL will not hold back any more but will take all possible actions to Stop Lynas."

The Lynas rare earth project known as Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) is ten times bigger than the now closed Asian Rare Earth project in Bukit Merah.

Rare earth processing has long been linked to devastating environmental pollution. The LAMP will be discharging huge amount of pollution in all streams – air, water and solid as disclosed in the two documents by Lynas. Each of the streams contains radioactive particles and a range of unknown hazardous substances yet to be declared by Lynas.

The plant is already posing problems as it is in a flood plain. Contaminated water will be certain to overflow into the surrou! nding ar ea, into the Balok River and the sea which will affect the range of marine life.

Worst, it is located in an environmentally sensitive area next to an important mangrove area and the South China Sea. A significant proportion of Malaysian seafood is caught here. Tourism the other growing industry for Pahang is based on the pristine coastal ecosystem will be hit hard in the shadow of the world's largest rare earth refinery.

In granting Lynas the licence, the AELB has totally ignored advice and recommendation made by Malaysia's most qualified professionals - the Malaysian Medical Association and the Pahang Bar Association.

Dr Yu Siew Hong a local general practitioner and an active member of SMSL said,
"There is no safe dose of radiation. The health of our people will be put at risk. The AELB has not learned from its mistake at Bukit Merah. The people will be outraged and they will do whatever it takes to stop this toxic project."

SMSL has been taking a series of civil and fair action. Of the various stop Lynas groups, SMSL by far has engaged most extensively with the relevant authorities. The AELB approval is the last straw for SMSL.

"The government has left us no choice but to take legal action and to embark on a nation-wide public campaign to vote the Government out in the next general election. We want a safe and clean Malaysia for all. We cannot afford to let a Government which does not know its duty of care to bring hazards to our country." Concluded Mr Tan.

SMSL has organized a public event on Saturday 4th of February from 5pm till 10 pm. WE call upon all concerned residents of Kuantan and the greater Kuantan to come to Teluk Cempedak beach to make a wish. We pledge with others to change the government to save our homeland. Kuantan is a beautiful town. We do not want to live in the shadow of the pollution of the world's biggest r! are eart h
refinery.

Let's make a thousand wishes and each of us shall strive to work towards making our wishes come true!

SMSL volunteers will be present to guide you. Prepare your wishes and write them on a long strip of paper or cloth prior to coming to TC and they will help you attach it to the balloon. Let's all work towards a better government that will adhere to the principles of democracy i.e. a government by the people; of the people and for the people !
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Nothing caring about 1Care

PETALING JAYA: The proposed healthcare reforms under the 1Care for 1Malaysia transformation plan is nothing more than a move to enrich private companies, says a health activist.

Dr T Jayabalan, the Citizens Healthcare Coalition spokesman, told a press conference today that the government had long been flirting with the prospect of plunging its hand into the services sector and was now pushing ahead in the outsourcing of health services.

He reminded the media of the outsourcing of Malaysia Airlines System's (MAS) catering system in which a private company made a killing.

"It's very clear that at the end of the day it is all about outsourcing," Jayabalan said. "There has been no consultation with the public except for with pharmacists and selected segments of doctors."

"Its outsourcing vehicle is the Social Health Insurance (SHI) scheme. I find it fantastic that they use the word 'social' when there is nothing social about the scheme."

Under the 1Care, healthcare will be provided by a single entity and each household would be required to contribute almost 10% of gross household income for the SHI which only covers basic healthcare expense.

All clinics and hospitals will be incorporated into an umbrella of 1Care facilities and access to specialist healthcare will have to be through primary healthcare providers who will act as gate-keepers.

A National Healthcare Financing Authority will be set up to take charge of 1Care. The coalition expects that this authority will likely be turned into a government-linked company.

According to Jayabalan, the doctors who were consulted over the 1Care were forced to sign a pledge to keep the information confidential. But a few, who disagreed with the plan, had stepped forward to furnish him with the details.

"Hushing up the scheme's details is unacceptable." Jayabalan stated. "Healthcare is a social issue which affects the country's progress and productivity."

No thought for public welfare

The coalition views 1Care as a thinly veiled attempt by the government to turn yet another public services sector into a business without a thought for the people's welfare.

"We have already lost the education sector and we cannot afford to lose the healthcare sector," he said. "The biggest issue now is that the government wants to transfer part of the cost to the people in what it calls cost-sharing."

"This is the language of the World Bank which has always promoted the removal of subsidies. And the government's claim that it is ill-equipped to bear the cost of healthcare doesn't hold water as it doesn't fork out much anyway."

Jayabalan also pointed out an alarming discrepancy in the Health Minister's words and actions pertaining to 1Care.

He said that despite the ministry assuring the public that the plan was only at the conceptual stage, it has already begun nationwide roadshows to promote the plan.

"I daresay that it is already at the final stages of implementation," he said. "The government is also separating the pharmacists and doctors and this tactic of division is the best way to push a plan through."

But he still believed that it is not too late for citizens to push back (the plan), especially with the general election around the corner. Noting that 1Care could be an unpopular move, he said that that the government might backtrack if the dissent was strong enough.

Jayabalan also rattled off a list of alternatives to these proposed healthcare reforms. The first is to retain the current healthcare system with reforms aimed at improving public healthcare as well as increasing government funding for this sector.

"The government could include the pooling of risks… with the poor being subsidised by the rich," he said. "But the country will be headed for disaster if we dispense the current system for an American one."

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Palani in major move to woo Subra’s men?

PETALING JAYA: MIC president G Palanivel's moves to consolidate his political position are becoming more noticeable by the day and these are like grist to the rumour mill.

The latest talk is that he is trying to cut a deal with a son of former deputy president S Subramaniam, who retains a sizeable block of support in the party despite his incapacitation by ill health.

According to party insiders, Palanivel has promised the young man, S Sunther, that he would recommend him for candidacy for the Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat , leadership of MIC Youth and a deputy minister's position in exchange for the allegiance of his father's supporters.

The 32-year-old Sunther is currently a deputy of MIC Seputeh's youth chief.

The sources noted that Palanivel was in the midst of discussing a deal with Subramaniam himself when the latter was struck down by brain aneurysm last November. They said the current manoeuvre would be his follow up to those discussions.

Sunther told FMT that he too had heard the latest rumour, but denied that it had any basis in fact.

He said the last time he met Palanivel was when the party president visited his father in hospital. "He has met the family a couple of times, but at no time in the past month did I meet him outside to talk about anything."

Asked if he would consider standing for election in a parliamentary constituency, Sunther said: "I'm considering, but I've not made a decision. It depends a lot on many things—my father's health, the timing of the election, the financial status of the family."

He also said several of his father's supporters had been urging him to take up bigger political challenges.

Removing a threat

Sources have told FMT that Palanivel began his talks with Subramaniam as soon as he took over the MIC presidency from S Samy Vellu slightly more than a year ago. The idea, they said, was to neutralise a threat to his position from Subramaniam's camp.

"Right after he took over, Palanivel talked with Subramaniam about an MP seat, a Tan Sri title and a special GLC position," a source said. "If he had pulled it off, he would have effectively eradicated the threat from Subra's supporters, who account for about 40% of the MIC membership. But right before an arrangement was made to see the PM, Subra was admitted to hospital.

"So Palanivel's next move was to talk to Sunther."

The source said Palanivel had planned his strategy well. "This is a plan well thought out. To the outside, it looks as if he is magnanimous in passing on the deal to the son, but the ulterior motive is to bring aboard and control the block of Subramaniam supporters."

FMT could not reach Palanivel for his comments, but one of his supporters said he doubted if there was a deal with Sunther. "We are not aware of such a thing, and I think it is merely a rumour. If they are going to just hand over a seat to Subra's son, that's fine, but how will the public, or Subra's supporters, take it?"

The supporter lamented the condition of Subramaniam health. "It is sad. It happened at the wrong time. He was supposed to work with the president to revive the party. Now the supporters are in a dilemma. Who can take over? No one else has the clout to lead his group other than Subra himself."

MIC Central Working Committee member K P Samy, who is known to be a supporter of Subramaniam, said: "If it is true that the president himself has decided on Subra's son, then we would of course take it as a good sign and support that."

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Kita sememangnya wajar dibubar

SURAT FMT: Dari Khairul Faizi Ahmad Kamil, melalui e-mel

Berita terbaru berkaitan dengan parti yang telah dipimpin oleh Zaid bin Ibrahim iaitu Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (Kita) akan dibubarkan adalah merupakan satu perkembangan yang dirasaikan sangat sesuai pada ketika ini kerana Kita dilihat telahpun hilang arah tuju perjuangan.

Zaid mengumumkan bahawa Kita akan dibubarkan melalui mesyuarat agung luar biasa (EGM) tidak lama lagi dan pembubaran itu bertujuan menghapuskan sebarang keraguan yang mendakwa bahawa mereka tidak memihak kepada  pembangkang terutama dengan beberapa anggota parti Kita di Kedah dan Pulau Pinang secara terbuka yang mengkritik Pakatan Rakyat.

Parti Kita yang baru berusia setahun pada bulan lalu sebelum ini pernah diselubungi dengan bantahan daripada ahlinya sendiri apabila di dakwa telah berlakunya penyelewengan dalam parti sehingga ada pihak yang mendesak agar Zaid melepaskan jawatannya sebagai Presiden.

Sudah tentu ia adalah sesuatu yang mengejutkan kerana Kita wujud kerana adanya Zaid tetapi akhirnya beliau pula diragui oleh anggota partinya sendiri.

Kita bergolak apabila ramai anggota Jawatankuasa Kerja Pusat (CWC) parti itu mengecam hebat tindakan "tidak beretika dan tidak mengikut perlembagaan" Zaid memecat anggota CWC. Mereka percaya bahawa tindakan memecat tiga anggota CWC iaitu setiausaha pusat Abdul Latif A Tambi, bendahari Rashid Azad Khan dan anggota CWC Muhammad Firdaus Christopher dibuat tanpa sebarang sebab kukuh dan hanya menerusi surat tidak rasmi iaitu hanya melalui khidmat pesanan ringkas (SMS).

Zaid bersedia untuk disiasat oleh Pendaftar Pertubuhan (ROS) berhubung penyelewengan dalam parti itu seperti yang didakwa oleh sesetengah ahli yang tidak puas hati. Beliau juga mencabar mereka yang tidak berpuas hati untuk mengadakan mesyuarat agung luar biasa (EGM) parti jika yakin mereka mempunyai bilangan yang mencukupi bagi menggulingkannya.

Masalah dalaman Kita terus memuncak apabila Kita negeri Melaka dibubarkan pada 11 Januari lalu dengan 60 daripada ahli mereka memilih menyertai PKR. Bekas pengerusi parti Kita Melaka, Leftenan Kolonel (B) Hashim Puteh memberitahu bahawa tindakan itu diambil berikutan ahli merasakan beberapa perkara telah terkeluar daripada perjuangan asal parti. Zaid juga terpaksa menegur anggota partinya yang kerap mengeluarkan kenyataan yang mengkritik kerajaan PR di Kedah.

Mengimbas kembali detik awal penglibatan Zaid bersama Kita, beliau secara rasmi dilantik sebagai presiden baru parti Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia (AKIM) 15 Disember 2010. Bekas pengerusi PKR Wilayah Persekutuan itu mengambil alih jawatan barunya daripada Zakaria Salleh dalam muktamar parti itu dan muktamar juga bersetuju AKIM ditukar namanya kepada parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (KITA).

Di antara tindakan awal yang dilakukan oleh Zaid, selain daripada memperkembangkan Kita adalah dengan mengumumkan bahawa Kita adalah sebuah parti sekular kerana perlembagaan persekutuan menetapkan Malaysia sebagai negara sekular, berbeza dengan negara seperti Iran yang dipimpin oleh ketua agama.

Pada peringkat awalnya, Kita dilihat tidak berpihak kepada BN ataupun PR tetapi lebih dilihat sebagai alternatif kepada rakyat untuk membuat pilihan. Bagi Zaid, PR hanya sebuat pakatan politik yang berebut kuasa. BN pula, mengikut pandangan Zaid tidak akan mampu berubah dan akan terus bersikap autokratik dan autoritarian.

Walaupun Zaid juga menyebut tentang Najib merupakan pemimpin Umno yang paling sesuai untuk melaksanakan perubahan progresif dan moden dalam negara namun beliau tidak akan dapat mendapat sokongan dari pelbagai lapisan ekstremis di dalam partinya sendiri.

Zaid juga telah menggesa agar PAS dan DAP meninggalkan PR pada bulan Mac tahun lalu kerana PKR pada ketika itu berdepan dengan isu video lucah membabitkan Anwar Ibrahim. Zaid melihat sewajarnya hubungan itu perlu dikaji semula kerana sudah terlalu banyak isu integriti membabitkan Ketua Umum PKR itu dipertikaikan termasuk isu video lucah itu.

Sikapnya yang tidak mahu berpihak dicemari lagi dengan siri jelajah demokrasi Kita ke seluruh negara bagi meminta rakyat menyokong usaha Perdana Menteri menyelamatkan demokrasi di Malaysia setelah Najib mengumumkan pemansuhan undang-undang darurat, Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) dan undang-undang berkaitan akhbar. Sikap yang berbolak-balik Zaid telah menyebabkan hala tuju perjuangan Kita semakin keliru dan celaru.

Sebab itu, bukanlah sesuatu yang mengejutkan apabila Kita negeri Melaka membubarkan cawangan mereka dan mengumumkan menyertai PKR. Begitu juga dengan sikap yang ditunjukkan oleh anggota Kita di Kedah dan Perlis yang mengkritik kerajaan PR Kedah seolah-olahnya mereka menentang pakatan pembangkang.

Sebab itu, saya melahirkan rasa sukacita di atas pengumuman Zaid untuk membubarkan Kita dan saya menyeru kepada anggota Kita untuk menyertai Pakatan Rakyat.

Penulis adalah Yang Di Pertua PAS Kawasan Kluang

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Selangor berdepan masalah aliran tunai

SHAH ALAM: Alumni Yayasan Selangor mendakwa perobohan Asrama Yayasan Selangor di Kampung Pandan, Kuala Lumpur disebabkan masalah aliran tunai (cash flow) yang dihadapi kerajaan negeri.

Presiden Persatuan Alumni Asrama Yayasan Selangor (Pays) Aina Hanim Mohd Lokman berkata kerajaan negeri memberi alasan mereka tidak lagi mampu menampung pembiayaan Asrama Tun Dr Ismail (ATDI) dan Asrama Toh Puan Norashikin (ATPN).

Disebabkan itu, aset tapak kerajaan Selangor yang berstatus tanah institusi pendidikan dan bernilai jutaan ringgit itu terpaksa dikomersialkan untuk mendapat sumber kewangan.

Dengan itu, Yayasan Selangor yang mempunyai aset RM300 juta dapat dicairkan dan memberi pulangan pendapatan kepada kerajaan
negeri, katanya.

"Semasa pertemuan alumni dengan Menteri Besar Selangor Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim dan Pengarah Yayasan Selangor Ilham Marzuki pada 26 Disember tahun lalu, Khalid sendiri mengaku fungsi asrama penuh di Kuala Lumpur sudah tidak lagi relevan," katanya dalam sidang media di Hotel Blue Wave di sini hari ini.

Pelajar jadi mangsa


Sementara itu, Penyelaras Gerakan Saya Anak Yayasan Selangor mempersoalkan tindakan Yayasan Selangor yang menjadikan anak-anak di asrama tersebut dijadikan mangsa kelemahan pentadbiran kewangan kerajaan negeri.

Malah katanya keputusan dibuat tergesa-gesa tanpa mengambil kira pandangan ibu bapa dan kepentingan 468 pelajar terlibat sedangkan 98 peratus daripada mereka membantah perobohan asrama itu.

"ATPN telah dikosongkan dan pelajar perempuan dipindahkan ke blok ATDI manakala pelajar lelaki telah ditempatkan di blok bangunan makmal sains yang telah diubahsuai menjadi blok asrama yang sudah tentu menjejaskan keselesaan pelajar untuk belajar," katanya.

Berikutan ini, beliau berkata pihaknya akan memfailkan injunksi mahkamah bagi menghalang Yayasan Selangor mengkomersialkan tapak tanah itu dalam masa terdekat.

"Tindakan kerajaan negeri itu bertentangan dengan penubuhan Yayasan itu sendiri. Bagi kami kalau tiada asrama tiadalah Yayasan Selangor kerana selama ini Yayasan Selangor berjaya melahirkan anak-anak Melayu yang berkebolehan," katanya.

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Who’s behind the demos against Anifah?

KOTA KINABALU: Is Umno's influential east coast strongman Lajim Ukin behind the sudden unexpected calls for Foreign Minister Anifah Aman to quit his seat in Kimanis constituency?

Anifah has been a Member of Parliament since 1999 – first in Beaufort, and now in Kimanis.

A series of least expected demonstrations brought to light views that he may have overstayed his welcome.

The dissenting group's main grievance against Anifah, who is Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman's brother, is that he has been the MP for Kimanis for too long and that he is not "native" to the area.

The protests are "clearly an act by frustrated people" who have little knowledge of the development Anifah has brought to the constituency, claims Kimanis Umno division deputy chief Karim Bujang.

But Karim's comment in a local daily here has little to do with the "development" in Kimanis.

According to reports, the organisers of the three demonstrations held in Dewan Kampung Pimping, Dewan Lama Pekan Bongawan and in Dindong, Kampung Bambangan, Membakut last week had had enough with an "outsider" representing their constituency.

"We want him replaced. We are not very particular about what racial identity of our next MP will be as long as he or she is from Kimanis, " said Asno Amat Muda, one of the organisers.

Interestingly enough, the demonstrations were reportedly held by members of Anifah's own division Youth wing and they are threatening to hold more.

'Kimanis still strong'

But Karim denies that the constituency is divided. It's a "strong" division, he said, and has a "close rapport with the member of parliament and assemblymen, as well as the grassroots."

"They are just taking advantage of the current situation when we are all busy preparing for the coming general election. Their claims are baseless.

"Maybe these people who want the incumbent MP replaced are those who do not know and understand about the background of Umno. Besides, they do not get the majority support from the grassroots. Such confrontation should not have happened," he reportedly said.

But grasssroots members in Kimanis and nearby Beaufort see more of Lajim than they do of Anifah.

While Anifah is urbane and aloof, Lajim is humble and well-liked and considered a "winnable" candidate much to the consternation of Musa's men.

Lajim is rumoured to be linked to Musa's arch rival and federal minister Shafie Apdal.

Lajim has reportedly fallen out with Musa and Anifah and is likely to be dropped as a candidate in the coming general election.

The past weeks have been filled with rumours that Lajim would quit Umno and join Sabah Peoples' Front (SPF).

SPF officials had earlier picked Jan 31 as a "auspicious date" and urged political observers to expect an important announcement linked to Lajim.

'It's all about timing'

But Jan 31 has come and gone with no news of Lajim announcing his exit from Umno.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Umno vice-presidents Hishammuddin Hussein and Shafie paid a visit to Sabah.

Talk is that the visit was aimed at showing off Shafie's federal links and to consolidate his "clout" here.

Yesterday, FMT was informed that Lajim was busy in Kuala Lumpur, presumably involved in some political "negotiations".

Earlier this week, opposition Sabah Progressive People's Party (SAPP) deputy president Amdee Sidek suggested that Lajim was unlikely to quit Umno.

He claimed that Umno leaders at the top had a stack of "files" on Lajim and would "open" them when the time came.

While the Jan 31 dateline has passed, it has not quelled the rumours.

"Patience… in politics it's all about timing," said a political insider here.

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Introducing… #bananalama

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Acceding to a frequently-received request to republish old posts from the blawg archives, Lord Bobo's loyal blawg minions are introducing a new column: #bananalama!

Whenever prompted by His Supreme Eminenceness, the blawg minions will run their collective steely gazes over the posts that have been published on this most awesome blawg (almost 2,000 okay, that's a whole lotta gazin') and pluck them out of the archives (stored on a high-tech intergalactic backup server just behind Uranus, well beyond the legal jurisdiction of any man-made law).

What are the criteria for how these posts are selected? Well, they could be posts that relate to a current topic. Or, they could be posts that sparked a particularly heated debate. Perhaps, they could be posts that were so inspired that Lord Bobo feels that we should all bask in its brilliance all over again.

One thing we do know for sure, there will not be any posts that are chosen for the same reason as this first #bananalama post. The first #bananalama post dates back to 28 February 2006, and was written by a famous, or infamous, but definitely much-loved LoyarBurokker, Fahri Azzat (also known as Pharee Azzate in rapper circles). The reason it was selected? It is the first ever LoyarBurok post.

Fahri, meditating. Because somebody's gotta do it.

Deemed as "a meditation about this notion that you need a post in some organization and hence a platform from which to air your views", this #bananalama piece of blawg history bears all the hallmarks of classic Fahri musings (completely sober, of course).

We will let the post itself do the rest of the talking, all the way to Fahri's conclusion that "the true scaffolding of our message and words are its fidelity to the truth and reality". Click through, and fall in love all over again.

The Perceived Need for a Platform

by Fahri Azzat, 28 February 2006

If you have any suggestions for posts that should be revived and re-loved as part of #bananalama, please leave your suggestions in the comments below, or email loyarburokker@loyarburok.com.

Recommended Reads:

Quick, throw your CDs away! There's a roadblock!

LoyarBurok in The Star: Cheeky Take on Human Right...

If I Leave You, It Is Not Because I Love You Less

SG Elections: It All Begins With Political Apathy

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The collective persona of Lord Bobo's minions (yes, all the cheeky monkeys and monkettes). Haven't you heard? LoyarBurokking is a lifestyle. Join us, and your life will never be the same again. Because it's fun.

Posted on 2 February 2012. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.

Read more articles posted by LoyarBurokkers.

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Jika mempunyai peluang, saya akan menyertai DAP

SURAT FMT: Dari Ahmad Tajuddin Abdullah, melalui e-mel

Kenyataan ini seolah-olah saya mahu menyertai politik selepas tamat pengajian. Tidak, bukan itu maksud saya. Tetapi sedikit komentar dari saya setelah memerhatikan beberapa siri kejadian yang tidak disangka-sangka oleh ramai rakyat Malaysia yang aktif memerhatikan gelombang politik tanah air muttakhir ini.

Siri kemasukan ramai nama-nama besar Melayu (terpulang kepada persepsi pembaca) ke dalam Parti Tindakan Demokratik (DAP) akhir-akhir ini menimbulkan persoalan, apakah tuduhan dan serangan Umno selama ini terhadap parti tersebut tidak berjaya mempengaruhi orang Melayu?

Saya membaca beberapa keluhan dan rasa resah dalam kalangan rakan-rakan saya dan komen-komen pembaca mengenai berita ini, dengan menganggap mereka yang menyertai DAP sudah lupa asal usul, terpengaruh dengan ideologi komunis, dasar tidak mengenang budi dan sebagainya.

Bagi saya, ini lumrah dunia politik. Orang akan mengecam segala 1001 perkara yang mereka tidak suka. Tambahan pula, apabila perkara itu berlawanan dengan kebiasaan mereka.

Saifuddin Abdullah ada menulis sebuah artikel yang disiarkan oleh Sinar Harian berkenaan politik fitnah dan hikmah di Malaysia. Artikel yang bagus, seolah-olah Saifuddin ingin menegur barisan partinya sendiri mungkin. Ini telahan saya.

Jika dalam artikel tersebut,  Saifuddin mengutarakan idea berkenaan politik hikmah yang wajib didasari oleh setiap warga Malaysia bagi menentang politik fitnah yang cukup keji, maka kali ini saya mengutarakan pula idea politik matang bagi mengatasi sindrom politik takut dalam diri rakyat Malaysia terhadap beberapa perkara yang dipalsukan kebenarannya oleh pihak-pihak tertentu.

Orang Melayu sudah lama ditipu

Saya merujuk kepada beberapa penulisan oleh Aspan Alias dan Sakmongkol 47 selepas mereka berdua secara rasmi mengisytiharkan kemasukan mereka ke dalam DAP yang membongkar beberapa titik penting untuk dibincangkan dalam artikel ini.

Antaranya, orang melayu sudah sekian lama ditipu bulat-bulat oleh Umno/BN melalui media mereka bahawa DAP itu parti Cina. Bukan sekadar cina, malah mereka menambah lagi garam dengan mengatakan bahawa DAP itu anti-Melayu, anti-Raja,chauvinist, mahu menjadikan Perdana Menteri dari orang cina dan pelbagai lagi.

Melayu ditakut-takutkan sejak sekian lama dengan kenyataan yang tidak berasas. Seolah-olah negara ini tiada perlembagaan, dan orang-orang DAP tidak tahu menghormati perlembagaan!

Orang-orang kampung apabila mendengar perkataan DAP, seolah-olah kita menyebut segerombolan komunis memasuki kampung. Sampai begitu sekali ketakutan yang Umno/BN berjaya tanamkan dalam diri hampir keseluruhan masyarakat melayu terutamanya mereka yang lahir pada era 80-an dan ke bawah. Malah, tidak terkecuali sebahagian besar mereka dalam kalangan generasi saya pun!

Menakutkan Melayu demi survival politik

Rasanya mungkin ini hujah paling tepat kenapa sindrom takut ini ditanam dalam diri setiap warga Malaysia. Mudahnya, mereka yang sedang berkuasa ingin terus mengekalkan survival kuasa itu dalam genggaman tangan mereka.

Cara paling mudah ialah dengan memberi gambaran seburuk mungkin kepada rakyat terhadap pihak lawan mereka. Sentimen perkauman adalah bahan bakar yang paling mudah disambar api.

Pantang disentuh, pasti marak apinya tanpa mampu disekat. Perkara biasa yang kini hampir basi ialah kedudukan Raja, Islam dan ketuanan Melayu. Inilah melodi yang dimainkan oleh parti pemerintah sekarang untuk menakut-nakutkan orang Melayu.

Mereka berbuat demikian dalam keadaan mereka menyekat pelbagai sumber lain untuk rakyat menilai dan berfikir. Minda rakyat terutamanya melayu dikongkong dengan sentimen basi ini. Pantang dikritik, pasti melenting dengan isu basi ketiga-tiga di atas.

Setiap kali pilihan raya, inilah antara melodi yang paling hangat. Rakyat bukan bodoh, tetapi mereka tidak mendapat maklumat yang meluas. Mereka dipaksa untuk menerima penipuan tersebut hidup-hidup.

Mereka yang tidak pernah di ajar untuk berfikir, akan cuma pandai bertempik dengan semangat kemelayuannya yang akhirnya pak menteri bina rumah banglo bertingkat-tingkat, rakyat yang diperbodohkan miskin merempat.

Setiap tahun mereka perbaharui penipuan  ini di PWTC dengan laungan penuh semangat, Hidup Melayu! Seperti saya tulis di atas, hal ini semua dilakukan demi survival kuasa memerintah mereka.

Onn Jaafar pencetus idea politik matang

Saya masih ingat tentang sebuah artikel yang pernah disiarkan dalam akhbar Harakah, mengulas panjang tentang fenomena di Malaysia semasa dan selepas PRU-12. Kebanyakan orang tidak pernah terfikir bahawa suatu hari nanti orang melayu Islam mengundi calon Cina sebagai wakil rakyat mereka, dan juga masyarakat Cina yang sanggup menerima calon PAS sebagai wakil mereka.

Ini luar dari jangkaan ramai. Ketika Onn Jaafar menyuarakan cadangan agar keahlian Umno dibuka kepada bukan Melayu, beliau telah ditentang oleh ahli-ahli Umno sendiri sehingga Onn Jaafar membuat keputusan keluar dari parti tersebut dan menubuhkan Parti Malaya Merdeka (Independence of Malaya Party).

Menjadi persoalan di sini, kenapa Datuk  Onn mampu melontarkan cadangan yang begitu luar dari kerangka masyarakat ketika itu berfikir sehinggakan ramai menganggap beliau sudah tidak relevan?

Hakikatnya, beliau sendiri telah nampak perubahan politik yang bakal berlaku pada tahun 2008 ketika itu.

Namun, pemimpin Umno ketika itu membutakan mata mereka daripada memandang hal yang sama. Mereka lebih senang menggunakan helah dan penipuan seperti yang saya nyatakan di atas demi mengekalkan kuasa yang ada di tangan mereka.

Saya merasa amat yakin, jikalau cadangan Datuk  Onn diterima ketika itu sudah tentu permasalahan sindrom politik takut yang melanda masyarakat Malaysia dapat ditamatkan.

Saya menghormati Onn Jaafar kerana keberaniannya melawan arus masyarakat ketika itu, demi tujuan melahirkan sebuah masyarakat Malaysia yang matang dan benar-benar harmoni.

Beliau cuba mendidik masyarakat melayu ketika itu, menyedarkan mereka dari tidur bahawa Malaysia ini bukan milik orang Melayu sahaja tetapi mereka berkongsi tanah yang sama dengan rakan Cina dan india. Beliau telah mencetuskan satu arus pencerahan yang amat sukar diterima pada waktu tersebut.

Kini, idea cetusan beliau itu makin marak malah telah menyebabkan pihak pemerintah menggigil ketakutan. Bayangkan seorang apek Cina tidak malu mengangkat sepanduk "Kami Sayang Tok Guru" dan PAS sudah siap dengan penubuhan Dewan Himpunan Penyokong PAS yang dianggotai oleh mereka yang bukan Islam. Kini, orang Melayu mula menyertai DAP secara berjemaah!

Kenapa sertai DAP?

Ya, saya mahu menyertai DAP. Saya mahu mendidik masyarakat di sekitar saya bahawa DAP bukan komunis. DAP bukan cina. DAP bukan anti-Melayu. DAP bukan chauvinist. DAP bukan anti-Islam. DAP bukan semua tanggapan kolot di atas.

DAP adalah parti politik yang sah di sisi Perlembagaan Malaysia. Tiada beza taraf DAP dan Umno dari sudut perundangan. Cuma bezanya antara dua parti itu ialah DAP cuba mencerdikkan rakyat dan Umno sudah sekian lama menipu rakyat.

Walaupun sudah ramai masyarakat Malaysia sedar tentang hakikat ini, namun hal ini hanya berlegar di kawasan yang mempunyai capaian maklumat yang tepat sahaja.

Bagaimana dengan nasib warga Felda? Bagaimana dengan nasib penduduk Sabah dan Sarawak? Bagaimana dengan nasib masyarakat di kawasan pedalaman?

Hanya dengan kesediaan masyarakat yang sedar dan matang politik, untuk berani terjun melakukan sesuatu yang lain dari kelaziman maka cetusan pencerahan ke arah politik matang ini dapat dipercikkan.

Semakin ramai yang berani membuat keputusan begini, sudah tentu sindrom politik takut itu dapat dikurangkan hari demi hari. Pergiatkan program-program pencerahan kepada masyarakat.

Saya tidak tulis di sini bahawa hanya dengan menyertai DAP sahaja satu-satunya cara untuk membina sebuah masyarakat yang matang politiknya, tetapi ini salah satu usaha ke arah itu.

Masyarakat yang matang politiknya akan mampu berfikir secara rasional, tidak terpengaruh dengan sentimen perkauman, sedar akan hak mereka untuk berfikir dan memilih secara bebas tanpa dikongkong, tidak terperangkap dengan sindrom kerajaan pemerintah adalah kuasa segala-galanya tetapi insaf bahawa merekalah sebenarnya penentu siapakah yang akan menjadi pemimpin kepada mereka sendiri.

Saya terpegun dengan berita 2 graduan perundangan UiTM menyertai DAP. Timbul di benak saya, apakah ada "perancangan" yang gagal sehingga terjadinya kes sebegini terhadap graduan UiTM? Mari kita baca ini, sambil berfikir secara orang dewasa yang matang.

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Najib: Reports on my wife shopping spree 'deliberately fabricated'...


Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak defended his wife Rosmah Mansor, claiming that the reports about her recent shopping spree in Sydney were "deliberately fabricated" to put him in a bad light.

He was responding to a question by a Twitter user, asking him to verify a blog post made by Australian fashion blogFrockwriter which estimated the bill for exclusive designer label clothing by Carl Kapp, to be around A$ 100,000 (RM323,000).

"It was a wildly exaggerated story deliberately fabricated to affect people's perception of their leaders," he said in
Twitter last night.
NONE

Email exchanges

Sydney-based fashion journalist and blogger Patty Huntington  yesterday disclosed email exchanges to support her report about Najib and Rosmah's expenses.

Huntington stood by her blog posting of Jan 17, relating Kapp's encounter with the couple at the the Darling Hotel penthouse, where his publicist Holly Beer had said that 61 items ordered were "for her (Rosmah's) everyday occasions, which are many".


 NONEThe fashion journalist also defended her earlier report by disclosing the arrangement to fly Kapp to Kuala Lumpur this month just for the fitting, although the latter in his statement on Jan 25, had denied that, saying the visit to Malaysia was part of his Asian tour, to source material for his designs.

"Kapp told me (Huntington), she (Rosmah) asked him to come to KL for fittings.


"I (Kapp) said 'if you (Rosmah) take care of the travel arrangements, sure... I can't believe I'm actually flying over there next month for an hour and a half fitting.


"And then flying back out again the next day'," 


Huntington revealed, citing excerpts of her conversation with Kapp. On her part, Rosmah had dismissed claims that she spent extravagantly.

"It's all rubbish, wildly exaggerated and not true," she told Malaysiakini and The Sun when she was approached at MCA's Chinese New Year open house celebrations in Kuala Lumpur on Jan 23.




Najib-Laporan biniku belanja sakan sengaja direka...


Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Naj! ib Razak mempertahankan Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor dengan mendakwa bahawa laporan kononnya isteri beliau berbelanja sakan di Sydney baru-baru ini "sengaja direka" untuk memburukkan imej mereka.

Beliau menjawab soalan yang dikemukakan oleh seorang pengguna di Twitter yang meminta beliau untuk mengesahkan sama ada tulisan di blog fesyen Australia - Frockwriter yang menganggarkan isterinya membelanjakan sekitar A $ 100,000 (RM323,000) untuk membeli pakaian oleh pereka terkenal.


NONE"Ini cerita yang dibesar-besarkan dan sengaja direka untuk menjejaskan persepsi rakyat tentang pemimpin mereka," katanya di Twitter malam tadi.

Sebelum ini, wartawan fesyen Patty Huntington dalam blognya Frockwriter mendedahkan bahawa Rosmah 'berbelanja sakan' membeli pakaian pereka eksklusif di Sydney, Australia. Tulisannya kemudian dipetik oleh akhbar The Sydney Morning Herald pada 21 Januari.

carl kapp sydney designerDalam seksyen 'Private Sydney' kolumnis akhbar itu, Andrew Hornery memanggil Rosmah sebagai "first lady of shopping', kerana dikatakan telah membelanjakan A$ 100,000 (RM325,000) di sebuah butik di Sydney.

Memetik pereka fesyen Sydney Carl Kapp (kiri), kolumnis itu melaporkan bahawa "pelanggan terbesar" Kapp telah membelanjakan jumlah yang mengejutkan sewaktu "percutian peribadi" di sana.


! Menurut kolum itu lagi, Rosmah dan Najib, semasa cuti tersebut, menginap di penthouse A$ 20,000 (RM65,100) semalam di Hotel Darling.

Dengan tajuk 'Super Kerr Now a Model Citizen', kolum itu turut melaporkan bahawa Rosmah telah meminta "parkir valet untuk limousinnya" dan menerbangkan Kapp ke Malaysia untuk mengenakan pakaian yang ditempahnya.


source:malaysiakini
Najib, kalau cerita itu sengaja direka2 kasi samanlah sama blogger dan akhbar yang highlight cerita tersebut! Ada teloqkah?


Najib, sue Huntington and Kapp. The courts and justice system are not run by kangaroos down under.
cheers.



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Religious desecration — The Malaysian Insider

FEB 2 — Twice this week, a pig's head has been found outside a mosque in the Klang Valley.

On Tuesday, it was a mosque in Rawang. Today, a mosque in Sentul. There can be no other reason than to provoke a religious clash in a country that professes to be an Islamic nation.

It isn't something that no Malaysian knows. And if anything, all Malaysians know better than to transgress on the religious sensitivities of each other's faith, cultural faux pas notwithstanding. There is that much mutual respect in Malaysia although most politicians call it mutual tolerance.

It says something for the temperament of Malaysians that nothing untoward has happened since the discovery of the pig heads in Rawang and Sentul, just like when the Hindus did not react violently when a group of people marched with a cow's head in Shah Alam two years ago.

But this kind of blatant provocation must stop soon. There appears to be a strategy to stoke a racial and religious clash for reasons only known to those who have put the pig heads in front of the mosques. And Malaysians must ensure that such a clash does not happen.

This can only happen if those with information about these miscreants inform the police and stop any more of such acts. Because this country doesn't need such provocation especially when talk of election is in the air and some speak of racial entitlements. It will just be the tinderbox of another incident to engulf a nation where most wear their faiths on their sleeves.

We need to show those who try to provoke such a clash that Malaysians will not fall for their tricks. We need to show that we have moved beyond spoiling for a fight no matter the cause. The bigger cause to fight for is a better Malaysia.

A Malaysia where people who cause mischief will be punished, where the vast majority are secure enough to know that their fellow citizens will not commit such irresponsible acts to put its people in jeopardy of violence and death.

We need to unite against religious desecration. We need to unite and respect each other's faiths. And we need to do that now. Not when it's too late and someone decides to take revenge for such acts.

So, help the police. Keep the peace. And if you see anyone who commits such acts, tell the police. We don't need anyone who wants to undermine our faith and our unity.

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Saya tidak pernah boikot mesyuarat Umno, kata Ku Li

KOTA BARU: Anggota Parlimen Gua Musang Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah hari ini menafikan beliau memboikot mesyuarat Badan Perhubungan Umno Kelantan kerana sering tidak menghadiri mesyuarat badan itu sejak beberapa lama.

Tengku Razaleigh, yang juga Ketua Umno Bahagian Gua Musang, berkata beliau bukan sengaja tidak mahu menghadiri mesyuarat itu kerana kadang-kadang surat jemputan mesyuarat itu lewat diterimanya.

"Saya tak hadir, bukan tak nak hadir, tapi (surat) jemputan kadang-kadang lewat sehari selepas mesyuarat atau sehari sebelumnya," katanya kepada pemberita selepas menghadiri mesyuarat Badan Perhubungan Umno itu bersama Timbalan Presiden Umno, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin di Pejabat Perhubungan Umno Negeri di sini, hari ini.

Anggota Parlimen Gua Musang itu ditanya mengenai kedudukannya yang sudah lama tidak kelihatan menghadiri mesyuarat Badan Perhubungan Umno itu, sejak selepas pilihan raya umum ke-12 pada Mac 2008.

'Sentiasa yakin'

Ditanya mengenai peluang Barisan Nasional (BN) untuk menawan semula negeri Kelantan pada pilihan raya umum ke-13 nanti, beliau berkata peluang itu tetap ada jika BN mempunyai persediaan secukupnya.

"Bagi kita sentiasa yakin, tetapi soalnya terletak atas persediaan dan kesungguhan kita," katanya.

Menjawab pertanyaan sama ada beliau akan bekerjasama dengan pemimpin parti pembangkang bagi mengukuhkan kedudukannya dalam politik, Tengku Razaleigh sambil bergurau berkata: "Saya sudah kahwin kan, lebih baik bergabung dengan isteri saya."

Timbalan Perdana Menteri, yang sedang dalam rangka lawatan kerja sehari ke Kelantan, turut menemui pemimpin BN negeri.

-  Bernama

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Jet fighter trial appeal dismissed

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by Malaysian defence contractor Langkawi R&D Academy Sdn Bhd (Lardac) for a trial in which it was suing the government for RM480 million for breach of contract.

In a unanimous decision, a three-man panel said that Lardac's lawyer M Manogaran had agreed not to call for witnesses to give their statements in the original three-day trial, which started on April 6, 2010, at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

Panel chairman Abdul Malik Haji Ishak said: "The mode of disposing of the case was agreed to by both parties, and the notes of proceedings support this course of action."

He also instructed Lardac to pay RM15,000 in costs.

In 2005, Lardac had filed a suit against the Malaysian government claiming damages against an allegedly wrongful termination of its services and a breach of contract four years earlier.

Back in 2001, Lardac had been brought in to engage in refurbishment works involving the first of 10 Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Northrop F5-E & F fighters.

The contractor claimed that the ministry had dropped Lardac, going for the British-based Caledonian Airborne Systems Ltd (CAS) to take over Lardac's work.

This was despite Lardac being awarded the contract to work on the RMAF fighters on Oct 11 2001. Lardac claimed that CAS did not have a specific contract to work on those planes, and added that the latter was at one point, also a former sub-contractor.

In its original suit, Lardac had named the-then Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak (now Prime Minister), the ministry's secretary-general and the Malaysian government as defendants.

Five plaintiff witnesses, including former Defence Ministry secretary-general Hashim Meon, and four defence witnesses, were supposed to testify during the trial.

'Something wrong with the transcripts'

However, the-then High Court judge Justice Abdul Wahab Patail (now Court of Appeal) decided not to listen to their testimonies even though the witnesses were in court, and their statements filed earlier.

Abdul Wahab dismissed the suit on July 9, 2010, without any grounds, and ordered Lardac to pay RM20,000 in costs.

At today's hearing, Manogaran told the three-man panel that Abdul Wahab did not appear to want to listen to the witnesses.

"Why is the learned judge (Abdul Wahab) so afraid of hearing witnesses?… My clients are not in the court to play games… Clearly the learned judge doesn't want a trial, for whatever reasons," the Teluk Intan MP said.

Citing a transcript of the 2010 proceedings, the respondents' lawyers, represented by senior federal counsel Nik Mohd Noor Nik Kar, told the court that Manogaran had agreed not to call for the witnesses.

Manogaran promptly denied this. He later told reporters that it did not make sense as the witnesses had been called to court during the trial.

"I categorically denied that this case be heard without calling for witnesses. We brought in five witnesses to the court on the same date!"

"…Something is wrong with the transcripts. I believe maybe the transcripts have been tampered with… I'm more inclined to believe something is wrong with the case."

"Why (is it) so difficult (to go) for (a) trial? I'm not asking for (a) re-trial. This case was never heard on its merits…Why don't we hear witnesses?…I'm not asking for judgments… What is so wrong with that?" he said.

Manogaran also did not appear impressed with the three-man panel's decision, and promptly reminded reporters of Abdul Malik's controversial status.

In October last year, Abdul Malik was revealed by veteran lawyer Karpal Singh to have plagiarised Singapore High Court judge GP Selvam's judgment during his service as Johor High Court judge in 2000.

Karpal subsequently called for Malik's immediate resignation to save the judiciary from embarrassment.

Asked on the next step taken, Manogaran said he would discuss the matter with his clients first.

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Fernandes: Lawsuit won’t affect AirAsia sales

SEPANG: The recent lawsuit against AirAsia X in Australia will not affect the sales performance of the the low-cost carrier in the country, says AirAsia Group chief executive officer, Tony Fernandes.

He said the lawsuit was a minor technical problem and would not result in any changes in the long-haul budget airline's frequencies to Australia.

AirAsia X currently flies to Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

Earlier last month, a consumer watchdog in Australia sued the budget carrier for allegedly failing to disclose the full price of fares for flights from Australia.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) took legal action against the airline the same day its executives were launching the fares for the Sydney-Kuala Lumpur route with one-way fare from as low as A$ 99 (RM319).

"The issue concerns only four routes from hundreds of AirAsia's and AirAsia X's routes. Thus, it's a small issue.

"The AirAsia X management has corrected it," he told reporters after welcoming the arrival of AirAsia's 100th Airbus A320 at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal here today.

He said Azran (AirAsia X chief executive officer) has already eyed possibilities for AirAsia going to Adelaide.

Meanwhile, Fernandes said, the Comprehensive Collaboration Framework between Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MAS), AirAsia and AirAsia X last year would produce significant results in the next six months.

"The share-swap deal, which included a collaboration agreement to explore opportunities on a broad range of areas between the entities, is special to AirAsia group.

"In the next six months, things will change significantly.

"MAS and AirAsia will jointly make Malaysia a powerhouse in the Asian aviation industry," he said.

- Bernama

Also read:

Australian regulator files lawsuit against AirAsia

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