Pakatan vows to fix judiciary if voted into power

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal
The Malaysian Insider
Feb 13, 2012

PR lawmakers said it was essential to return to the courts the independence that was removed from it during the 1988 judicial crisis.

PETALING JAYA, Feb 13 — Pakatan Rakyat leaders today pledged to remove legislative amendments to restore the independence of the judiciary if the opposition pact wins the next general election.

Their remarks came as a response to former chief justice Tun Mohd Dzaiddin Abdullah's claims that the judiciary has become subservient after former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed clipped its wings in the 1980s when he amended Article 121 of the Constitution.

"Pakatan Rakyat's stand is that we want a free, independent judiciary," Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told reporters here.

"It is essential for the restoration (of the judiciary) to pre-1988 (conditions)… restoration of judicial powers means a removal of amendments to Article 121," added DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang.

Evidence of government control over the judiciary, said Anwar, could be seen from the "persecution" and "one-sided" judgments in high-profile cases involving opposition leaders, including himself.

"This has heavy implications… the decisions have been one-sided against political leaders," said the Permatang Pauh MP.

Last week, Mohd Dzaiddin, who once headed the country's courts, said the amendment was repugnant "because Parliament attempted to dictate to the judiciary that it only has judicial powers which Parliament itself says the judiciary has".

He added that the judiciary should be completely independent of both the executive and legislative arms of government, and stressed that the courts should not be used as a tool for political expediency.

Mohd Dzaiddin pointed out that Dr Mahathir's clashes over the roles of the two arms of government with then-Lord President Tun Salleh Abas led to the latter's sacking in 1988.

In response, the former prime minister called Mohd Dzaiddin's remark a lie.

This entry was posted on Monday, 13 February 2012, 10:35 pm and is filed under Judiciary, Pakatan Rakyat. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0.  

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Menteri Agama blur minta Menteri Agama blur lulus; minta RM1 juta lulus RM4 juta...

Mengapa Yayasan Taqwa menerima wang zakat RM4 juta dari Majlis Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (MAIWP) tahun lalu sedangkan ia hanya meminta RM1 juta?

Soalan itu dikemukakan hari ini oleh Ketua Pemuda PAS Nasrudin Hassan kepada Menteri di Jabatan Perdana, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom yang berkata keadaan itu cukup mengelirukan.

"Pada 17 September 2011 Yayasan Taqwa pohon RM1 juta kepada MAIWP tetapi pada 12 November 2011 jawatankuasa Baitulmal MAIWP melulus RM4 juta.

"Jumlah itu bukan sahaja mencurigakan, apatah lagi Pengerusi MAIWP dan Pemegang Amanah Yayasan Taqwa itu adalah orang yang sama," kata Nasrudin pada sidang akhbar di Kuala Lumpur pagi ini.
 
Katanya, Jamil Khir (kanan) bertanggungjawab terhadap kedua-dua badan itu.

"Erti kata lain macam Jamil Khir minta pada Jamil Khir, Jamil Khir lulus pada Jamil Khir," katanya sambil menambah keadaan itu menimbulkan banyak tanda tanya.

Sementara itu, Ketua Pemuda PAS Wilayah Persekutuan Kamaruzaman Mohamad, berkata peranan Yayasan Taqwa pada asasnya yang serupa dengan MAIWP.

"Tugas Yayasan Taqwa adalah untuk mengagihkan zakat, tetapi MAIWP juga menjalankan tugas itu. Jadi mengapa perlu orang tengah?" soal beliau.

Rabu lalu, Pemuda PAS menuntut supaya satu badan bebas dilantik untuk mengaudit Yayasan Taqwa kerana mendakwa banyak perjalanan badan penyalur bantuan zakat itu yang diragui.

Antaranya, yang didakwa itu ialah perbelanjaan sehingga RM2 juta yang direkodkan yayasan itu, sepertimana dalam laporan tahunan ! 2010 MAI WP.

Laporan itu pula tidak menunjukkan siapakah penerima wang zakat tersebut tetapi hanya jumlah kutipan dan juga agihan wang zakat.- malaysiakini


Baitulmal: Jamil Khir mohon, dia sendiri lulus?

RM4mil zakat fund poser for Jamil Khir

Why did Yayasan Taqwa receive RM4 million from the Federal Territories Islamic Affairs Council (MAIWP) Baitulmal last year when it had only sought RM1 million?


PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan (right) has demanded answers from Jamil Khir Baharom, the minister in the Prime Minister's Department who is in charge of Islamic affairs.

"Yayasan Taqwa applied for RM1 million from MAIWP and was granted RM4 million. Why is this? How can the same person apply for and approve the money?" Nasrudin posed at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur this morning.

He pointed out that Jamil is charge of both bodies.

Federal Territories PAS Youth chief Kamaruzaman Mohamad, who is also the party's Youth Zakat Task Force director, said Yayasan Taqwa's role is essentially similar to that of MAIWP.

"Yayasan Taqwa's job is to distribute zakat (tithes), but MAIWP is already doing that. So why do you need a middle man?" he asked.

Last Wednesday, PAS Youth had asked Jamil to justify ! Yayasan Taqwa's expenditure of RM2 million.The foundation had defended the spending, saying that the amount encompassed its administrative costs, programmes, staff pay and utility bills.

Nasrudin today appeared dissatisfied with the explanation, calling on Khir to reveal details of how the money was spent.

"We also want Yayasan's Taqwa's audit report to be made public so there is no suspicion," he added.
 

Late last year, Jamil Khir had denied misusing zakat funds to pay his legal fees in a court case involving the Sodomy II complaint. - malaysiakini

Tough love for Muslims on Valentine's Day

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom(right) has urged state Islamic religious departments to act against Muslims celebrating Valentine's Day.


"We are moving simultaneously across the country to enforce regulations," he told reporters after a ceremony to present aid to mosques in Negri Sembilan by Menteri Besar Mohamad Hasan in Seremban today.


He said that various forms of preaching, advice, opinion and statements on  Valentine's Day had been made because it is not the practice for Muslims.


"We fear that the love being c! elebrate d by couples are not in the sense of husband and wife. Other than giving advice, we also have to act," he added.


cheers.

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Persatuan Ulama: Sambutan Hari Kekasih boleh merosakkan aqidah

(Merdeka Review) - Persatuan Ulama Malaysia (PUM) ingin menggesa seluruh umat Islam supaya mematuhi keputusan Muzakarah Jawatankuasa Fatwa Kebangsaan dalam sidangnya kali ke-71 pada 22-24 November 2005 yang telah bersetuju memutuskan bahawa amalan merayakan Valentine's Day tidak pernah dianjurkan oleh Islam.  Roh perayaan tersebut mempunyai unsur-unsur Kristian dan amalannya yang bercampur dengan perbuatan maksiat adalah bercanggah dan dilarang oleh Islam.

Berpandukan kepada keputusan ahli-ahli Muzakarah Jawatankuasa Fatwa Kebangsaan tersebut yang boleh diakses melalui laman web e-fatwa Jakim di alamat www.e-fatwa.gov.my, sewajibnya seluruh umat Islam akur serta memahami bahawa sambutan perayaan hari Valentine adalah sesuatu amalan yang boleh merosakkan aqidah umat Islam.  Aqidah adalah menjadi perkara teras dalam ajaran agama Islam yang mesti dipelihara oleh setiap umat Islam.

Adalah menjadi keperluan mendesak kepada seluruh umat Islam untuk memahami isu ini bahawa sambutan perayaan hari Valentine adalah sesuatu aktiviti yang dilarang dalam Islam kerana mempunyai susur galur sejarah yang berkaitan dengan agama bukan Islam.  Elemen ini adalah elemen utama yang menjadi alasan keharaman sambutan perayaan Valentine bagi seluruh umat Islam.  Dasar ini adalah selaras dengan firman Allah SWT dalam surah al-Kaafirun, ayat 1-6 yang bermaksud:
 
"Katakanlah (Wahai Muhammad): "Hai orang-orang kafir!. Aku tidak akan menyembah apa yang kamu sembah.  Dan kamu tidak mahu menyembah (Allah) yang Aku sembah.  Dan Aku tidak akan beribadat secara kamu beribadat.  Dan kamu pula tidak mahu beribadat secara Aku beribadat.  Bagi kamu ugama kamu, dan bagiku ugamaku".
 
PUM juga menyokong inisiatif Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim) yang telah melancarkan kempen Awas!  Jerat Valentine's bersama Jabatan Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (JAWI) serta pihak NGO, Raudhah Sakinah.  Pada hemat PUM, pendekatan seumpama ini mesti dikembangkan ke seluruh pelosok tanah air supaya dapat membantu membina kefahaman umat Islam khususnya di kalangan orang muda dalam menangani isu tersebut secara objektif.

Dalam pada masa yang! sama, P UM juga mengesyorkan kepada pihak berwajib seperti Jakim, Jabatan Agama Islam Negeri-Negeri, Kementerian Penerangan Komunikasi dan Kebudayaan (KPKK), Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN), Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia (SKMM) serta pihak-pihak berkepentingan lain melakukan pemantauan berterusan kepada siaran media cetak dan elektronik supaya tidak menyiarkan apa jua kempen, iklan, drama, filem dan artikel yang boleh menggalakkan umat Islam menyertai sambutan hari valentine tersebut.
 
PUM juga ingin menasihatkan masyarakat bukan Islam supaya memahami isu ini secara objektif serta menghormati prinsip agama Islam yang wajib dipatuhi oleh seluruh umat Islam.  Dasar hukum ini adalah hanya mengikat dan terhad kepada seluruh umat Islam sahaja.
 
*Kenyataan media oleh Dr.Mohd Roslan Mohd Nor (gambar kanan) selaku Setiausaha Agung Persatuan Ulama Malaysia.

 

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MP Lembah Pantai Response To TMI News – Minister Denies EPF Scheme Use Due To Empty Treasury

FT and Urban Wellbeing Minister, Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin's denial that the usage of RM1.5 billion of Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to finance home loans for unqualified home buyers meant the federal government had run out of money, opens up the possibility of alternative funding options for home buyers.

Taking Raja Nong Chik's statement at face value, I propose that the government consider these the two following options, which the government can rightly consider, since, according to Raja Nong Chik, the treasury has the money.

The first, is to offer financing based on an NFC-like soft loan interest rate of 2% given to a federal minister's family instead of the announced 6.5 percent interest rate by DBKL's Deputy DG, Mhd Amin Nordin, for the low income, deemed unqualified home buyers by commercial banks.

Based on an annual 6.5% interest rate for a 25 years loan tenure would increase the price of the units from RM35,000 to RM70,800 as compared to an annual 2% interest rate levied for 25 years of just RM44,400.

The Minister should respond as to why wasn't the same loan consideration for the NFC extended to the rakyat in this scheme? It would seem that the Minister's announcement of a 10 percent default rate is connected to the 6.5 percent high interest rate charged to the low income earners.

The second, is to offer a more equitable funding mechanism called the 'Rent-to-Own and Zero Interest' Scheme. For example, a RM35,000 unit for 20 years would only require a RM145 monthly repayment not including building maintenance fees. This approach would fulfill a people-centric economic goal since the units offered have already been built and currently occupied with the construction costs already accounted for. This scheme would also eliminate any further administration cost as the existing monthly rental collection system in use can remain. This is a win-win concept for all stakeholders.

Furthermore, this scheme should be expanded to include all Malaysians nation wide because not all lower-income group resides in Kuala Lumpur. The scheme should be available regardless of economic status and race to provide for basic home ownership in an equitable and transparent manner.

In the interest of a 'people first' democratic process a referendum should be held for the residents to select which option is preferred; the EPF 5.5% scheme, the ala-'NFC' soft loan 2% scheme or the Rent-to-Own, Zero Interest scheme? The two alternative options are even more viable with the minister's recent statement that the government treasury has the funds in spite of proposing to use EPF for the scheme.

Finally, I accept the minister's challenge to an open debate which should be titled 'Which is the best funding option for PPR-PA home ownership?". This debate should also be telecast live on television similar to the live telecast of the debate between Penang Chief Minister and MCA President by Astro. This indeed would be democracy in practice, predicated upon the right to information for the rakyat. After all, Malaysians want to know for certain that our treasury is really not empty.

Nurul Izzah Anwar
Member of Parliament Lembah Pantai
12 February 2012

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Pride and prejudice — Lim Sue Goan

FEB 13 — "Pride and Prejudice" is a famous novel by British novelist Jane Austen. In the book, the leading male and female characters almost missed each other because of the former's pride and the latter's prejudice.

Similarly in real life, many examples show that personal arrogance, ignorance, mindset, value, attitude and mood are always followed by prejudice, which might evolve into extremism and eventually lead to the outbreak of turmoil, or even worse, a war.

A video uploaded to YouTube has been widely spread recently. In the video, a middle-aged white woman on a London subway inexplicably yells racial epithets at a nearby Asian passenger.

US Michigan Senate candidate Pete Hoekstra's Super Bowl television advertisement was also accused of racial insensitivity, drawing calls for an apology and revocation of the advertisement.

In the football world, Liverpool striker Luis Suárez was found guilty for using insulting words towards Patrice Evra of Manchester United. Meanwhile, the British Crown Prosecution Service announced that Chelsea and England captain John Terry would face criminal charges for his alleged racist abuse of Queen's Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand. Fabio Capello later quit as England manager, reportedly claiming that he does not agree with the Football Association's decision to strip Terry of thes captain's armband.

There were also quarrels between Hong Kong and China due to prejudice. Hong Kong people have been looking down on Chinese people since the 1970s. And a hornets' nest has recently been stirred up after Peking University Professor Kong Qingdong publicly called residents of the territory "dogs of British imperialists", and a group of Hong Kong residents retaliated by funding an advertisement in a newspaper calling mainlanders "locusts".

We can also find many discrimination cases caused by prejudice in Malaysia. For example, it is a kind of prejudice to think that women's driving skills are poorer than men's. The recent fracas in a fast-food outlet and the incident involving a secondary school teacher allegedly calling six female students "prostitutes" are more or less related to prejudice.

The fast-food outlet employee who allegedly assaulted the customer might be irritated by an action or a word, and his response might be related to his home education or mindset.

Similarly, the teacher was said to have been acting irrationally due to the students' unruliness. If it is true, she is not a racist. However, if it is found to be a deliberate abuse, stern action must be taken to stop the spread of similar prejudice in the public domain.

Extremism can only be curbed when racial prejudice is eliminated.

Prejudice and racial discrimination against Asians were formed in the US and Europe after Asian immigrants seized employment opportunities during economic recessions, and the situation worsened when politicians took the opportunity to stir emotion and fish for votes.

Therefore, racial prejudice has nothing to do with the level of education, but is related to the environment and mentality.

To eliminate racial prejudice in Malaysia, these factors must first be eradicated, including ensuring that courses run by the Biro Tatanegara (BTN) are consistent with the 1 Malaysia concept while home education should include more tolerance, instead of instilling racist thinking.

Training provided by employers and teaching ethics alone are not able to eliminate prejudice since they lack the ability to reflect and manage emotions. This is also how many controversies are started in society. — mysinchew.com

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

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Talibanism in Malaysia — David Martin

FEB 13 — Malaysia is certainly taking its indomitable can-do attitude to the next level.

In a year where London hosts the Olympic Games, it would be nice to have such an attitude ingrained in our athletes. Sadly, our Malaysia Boleh is fast putting us into a global wall of shame... And all this in the space of a week.

First up, we have the now annual "Valentine's Day is sinful/haram/un-Islamic*" (* delete as necessary or use all terms listed) hullabaloo.

We have all the b******t on how February 14 is the most evil day in the whole calendar as it will lead to Muslims falling into social ills and indulging in free sex, thus incurring Allah's wrath.

In order to spice things up further, the religious authorities issued Friday sermons reminding Muslims that February 14 was a day commemorating the fall of the Spanish Muslim empire in Cordoba. As far as I'm concerned, that piece of history is as true as Andersen's fairy tales. Anyone worth their salt would know that the empire fell due to many factors including internal ones and there's no historical evidence of its fall on Valentine's Day.

Even before that furore died down came the rebuke of a mufti over the PM's decision to attend the recent Thaipusam do in Batu Caves. Apparently it is wrong to attend religious ceremonies, even in solidarity with our brethren of other faiths, at least in the eyes of the learned mufti.

Our muftis must not have done their entrusted duties well if merely attending such ceremonies would undermine a Malaysian Muslim's faith. Is faith so fragile that celebrating our diversity would erode one's faith?

And to rub salt to the gaping and haemorrhaging wound, the ulama council decreed that it is not wrong for Muslims to attend an open house in conjunction with a religious celebration. That's just plain insulting for those of other faiths.

What's next? All houses of worship are to be deemed haram in the eyes of the law? That temples, gurdwaras, churches and the like are to be outlawed? That statues of Siva, Guan Yin, Jesus, etc are to be destroyed as the Talibans destroyed the statues in Afghanistan?

The icing on the cake has to be the statement made by the home minister regarding the repatriation of Hamza Kashgari for tweets deemed insulting to Islam.

"In the context of insulting Islam, I think we are all aware (of consequences)," the home minister was reported to have said.

We are all unequal after all in the eyes of Malaysian law. Insult Islam and justice (and public demonstrations after Friday prayers) will be swift. Insult any other religion and the authorities will deem that no charge is necessary.

Such inequality will come back to haunt us some time in the future. It may even haunt us for generations to come.

I am never so ashamed to be a Malaysian as I have felt in recent times...

Malaysia boleh!!! Towards a Taliban mentality of intolerance, hatred and narrow mindedness.

* David Martin reads The Malaysian Insider.

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

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Open debates a demonstration of democracy — Lim Mun Fah

FEB 13 — MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng will meet in a debate scheduled on February 18.

Despite disputes over the topic and language used in the debate, it has raised great concern. Some people hope for a live broadcast; others even suggested that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Pakatan Rakyat leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also hold an open debate.

Undoubtedly, the debate has become a political focus of both the ruling and opposition coalitions. Members of the public are, too, full of curiosity and expectations. They are curious about the leaders' debating skills, as well as their views on major national issues. Through understanding the leaders' political styles and lines, they want to see who can show them hope for the future.

In a democratic country, open debate is not something new. Presidential debates in the US have not only become the selling point of American democracy, but as well influenced the world. The recent presidential election in Taiwan has also shown us a greatly useful example of how democracy should be practised.

To us, it is indeed a good start and a great opportunity to educate democracy if the debate can be successfully held, with the prerequisite that the debate must be high in morality and quality. Voters might be emotional or biased when it comes to national policies issues.

For politicians, however, they should show us their political perspectives without trying to please the people with claptrap and inciting emotions. Instead, they must calmly, thoroughly and rationally explain and analyse, to show the people the truth, as well as their stands and wisdom in problem solving.

However, politics is always not so rational and perfect, while politicians would not easily let go topics that are advantageous to them. As a result, they mess up the debate and turn it into a chaotic war of words. It cannot help in clarifying and finding the truth, but further confuses the public and leads to a greater conflict and confrontation.

It is impossible to change the Malaysian political ecology by holding only an open debate, while complicated political issues cannot be solved through only a debate either. It is the reality that we must face today. And we can see that debaters always act like gentlemen insisting on their stands and views in a debate that seems like a fierce war of words.

In fact, they are extremely lacking in substance with no focus. Everything returns to the status quo after the debate and politicians continue to denounce and attack each other. As for members of the audience, most of them will just listen selectively, and overwhelmingly support their preferred party, instead of being objective.

Therefore, it is always difficult to decide the winner of a debate. Different people will have different judgements.

Although we dare not to hold high expectations, as voters, we still hope to witness a meaningful debate.

Hopefully, Dr Chua and Lim can show us a debate high in both quality and standards! — mysinchew.com

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

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If NFC can get soft loan, why not house buyers...

Rather than utilise RM1.5 billion from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) for low-cost housing loans, the federal government should explore such options as the soft loan enjoyed by National Feedlot Corporation (NFC), said Lembah MP Nurul Izzah Anwar.

She was commenting on Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Raja Nong Chik's (right) denial that the Treasury had run out of money, hence having to resort to getting funds from the EPF.

"Nong Chik's denial that ... the federal government has run out of money, opens up the possibility of alternative funding options for home buyers," she said in a statement today.

She offered two alternatives in helping the poor to buy houses.

If NFC could be given RM250 million in a soft loan at 2 percent interest, she said, the needy could be afforded the same terms.

"The minister should respond as to why the same loan consideration wasn't extended to the rakyat," she said, noting that KL City Hall has indicated that the interest could be 6.5 percent.

Nurul Izzah also suggested a'rent-to-own and zero interest' scheme.

"For example, a RM35,000 unit for 20 years would only require a RM145 monthly repayment not including building maintenance fees.

"This approach would fulfill a people-centric economic goal since the units offered have already been built and currently occupied with the cons! truction costs already accounted for."

She called it a "win-win" concept that could ride on the existing administrative systems.The MP challenged Nong Chik to call for a referendum to allow people to choose which option they feel is best for them.

Nurul Izzah also said she accepted the minister's challenge to an open debate, but said it should be telecast 'live', similar to that mooted between Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek.

"This indeed would be democracy in practice, predicated upon the right to information for the rakyat. After all, Malaysians want to know for certain that our Treasury is really not empty," she added.

Replace EPF loan scheme with rent-to-own...

Putrajaya could help council tenants buy homes by offsetting their monthly rental against the purchase price instead of borrowing RM1.5 billion from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to set up a new loan scheme.
 

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders also suggested that the federal government could charge the unqualified home buyers a nominal interest on their loan, similar to the deal it offered the National Feedlot Corporation (NFCorp) for a RM250 million soft loan to run a cattle-farm business in Gemas, Negri Sembilan.

Nurul Izzah also suggested that the federal government offer a two per cent interest rate soft loan for the home loan project, similar to the kind given to NFCorp for the cattle-far! ming pro ject. — File pic

They offered these suggestions today as examples of what they see as equitable funding solutions to the government's controversial proposal of offering loans to unqualified buyers using money from the pension fund. 

The PR MPs also questioned why the EPF loan scheme was not included in the 2012 Budget which had been approved in Parliament last year, saying that the "sudden" announcement validated perceptions of it being a "vote-getting" scheme by Barisan Nasional.

Federal Territories and Urban Well-being Minister Raja Datuk Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin had blamed opposition lawmakers for making "baseless" allegations on the matter, but refused to disclose why Putrajaya was resorting to borrowing money from the workers' retirement fund.

"Taking Raja Nong Chik's statement at face value, I propose that the government consider these two options, which the government can rightly consider, since, according to Raja Nong Chik, the Treasury has the money," PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar said in a statement today.

She said a more equitable funding mechanism could be used, called a "Rent-to-Own and Zero Interest Scheme", whereby interested home owners would pay a flat RM145 per month to Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) for 20 years in order to pay up the cost of RM35,000 for a low-cost unit.

The Lembah Pantai MP said this approach would fulfil a "people-centric" economic goal since the units offered have already been built and currently occupied with the construction costs already accounted for.

"This scheme would also eliminate any further administration cost as the existing monthly rental collection system in use can remain. This is a win-win co! ncept fo r all stakeholders," said the PKR leader, adding that it should also be expanded to include all Malaysians who qualify under the lower-income category.

A second alternative funding option, she said, was for the federal government to offer a two per cent interest rate soft loan for the project, similar to the kind given to NFCorp for the cattle-farming project.

"Based on an annual 6.5 per cent interest rate for a 25-year loan tenure would increase the price of the units from RM35,000 to RM70,800 compared to an annual two per cent interest rate levied for 25 years of just RM44,400.

"The minister should respond as to why wasn't the same loan consideration for the NFC extended to the rakyat in this scheme. It would seem that the minister's announcement of a 10 per cent default rate is connected to the 6.5 per cent high interest rate charged to the low-income earners," added Nurul Izzah.

She said a referendum should also be held for residents who will be applying for the EPF home loan scheme to see whether they would prefer other options.

"Finally, I accept the minister's challenge to an open debate which should be titled 'Which is the best funding option for PPR-PA home ownership?". This debate should also be telecast live on television, similar to the live telecast of the debate between the Penang chief minister and MCA president by Astro," Nurul Izzah said.

Pua questioned the need to create a special housing programme for the Federal Territories.

DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua questioned why Raja Nong Chik's! ministr y needed to create a special programme for the Federal Territories when the government had already allocated funds for Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd (SPNB) to resolve housing issues for low-income Malaysians. 

"If his low-cost housing plan is not a sudden vote-getting scheme, then why was it not budgeted for in the 2012 Budget approved in Parliament last year?

"The fear is really that FTF (Federal Territories Foundation) is being used as the vehicle for extending the loans instead of other government agencies such as SPNB or government banks such as Bank Rakyat or BSN (Bank Simpanan Negara) because Nong Chik is in full control of FTF as its chairman, and will be able to direct the loans for political objectives, especially since he is expected to contest in Lembah Pantai in the next general election," Pua told The Malaysian Insider over the weekend.

The DAP MP said as minister, Raja Nong Chik needed to abide by all the conditions imposed by the EPF in the project, especially the need to appoint a financial institution to manage the loans to ensure that the funds will not be abused.

The federal opposition has accused BN of abusing monies from the pension fund to hide its current debt levels under the guise of offering a purportedly "noble" housing loan to lower-income earners.

Civil servants and private sector unions have said they were not consulted over the fund utilisation plan. Raja Nong Chik has however declined to comment about this as well as why the government did not just use federal funds to finance the loan scheme.

The EPF clarified last week it is in talks with a government agency to provide loans to city renters to buy homes but that the deal has not been inked. It also said that the terms involve lending an initial sum of RM300 million to the feder! al gover nment through a special purpose vehicle linked to the FTF, and that the firm will act as the middleman to grant the home loans to potential home buyers. - malaysian insider

 4U to C...

cheers.

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Shahrizat senasib dengan Najib — Subky Latif

13 FEB — Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil muncul setelah menghilang diri seketika daripada kegawatan isu penggembalaan lembu oleh suami dan anak-anaknya rupanya menunaikan umrah.

Ia satu amal bagi mendekatkan diri kepada Allah, mengadu kepadaNya pada masa kepayahan, moga-moga dapat membersihkan diri atas sebarang salah silap dengan Allah. Mekah dan umrahlah tempat terbaik berdoa.

Bagaimanapun masalah dengan negara, rakyat saja yang dapat mengampunkan kiranya berdosa. Mengadu kepada Allah di Mekah melalui umrah atas kekecohan isu lembu itu, jika ada dosa mengenainya kena sebutkan kepada Allah dan minta Allah lembutkan hati sekalian rakyat untuk memaafkan.

Sekembalinya ke tengah masyarakat Shahrizat mengaku tidak bersalah atas kekecohan perniagaan suami dan anak-anaknya, bahkan dia semua pihak dikira menuding jari terhadapnya, iaitu pembangkang yang mendakwanya melanggar adab anggota Kabinet dan orang-orang Umno yang mintanya mengambil tanggungjawab melepaskan jawatan kabinetnya.

Dia dalam kesusahan gara-gara kesan penternakan besar suami, sepatutnya disokong bulat oleh gerakan wanita yang dipimpinnya, tetapi ada yang tidak membantunya, mencabarnya melepaskan pimpinan Wanita Umno.

Itulah senario reaksi Shahrizat atas masalah yang dihadapinya gara-gara penglibatan suaminya mendapat kemudahan tidak terhingga dari kerajaan.

Biar kita lupakan orang lain yang terlibat dalam pemberian lesen dan pinjaman dari kerajaan kepada suaminya dalam penggembalaan itu. Kita tumpukan kepada suaminya saja.

Suaminya baik betul mahu pun tidak cara memperoleh persetujuan dari kerajaan, dikira oleh semua telah mendapat sesuatu dari kedudukannya sebagai seorang menteri yang berpengaruh.

Shahrizat memimpin sayap Wanita Umno yang anggotanya 1.3 juta orang dan menjadikannya menteri yang berpengaruh.

Suaminya mendapat kemudahan dari kedudukannya yang berpengaruh itu. Semua merasakan, seorang yang tiada pengalaman dalam gembalaan besar sukar memperoleh anugerah dari kerajaan. Maka orang terasa dia dapat kemudahan dari kedudukan isterinya. Mungkin orang boleh menyangka dia dapat kesempatan atas kedudukan isterinya.

Masalah yang Shahrizat hadapi mungkin sama dengan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak hadapi. Suami Shahrizat mudah dapat sesuatu dari kedudukan Shahrizat manakala isteri Najib pula mudah dapat apa saja dari kedudukan dan pengaruh suaminya.

Suami Shahrizat dikira bertuah kerana beristerinya seorang menteri dan Ketua Wanita Umno yang berpengaruh, manakala isteri Najib pula bertuah kepada dapat bersuaminya seorang Perdana Menteri yang amat berpengaruh.

Semua kata isteri Najib seolah-olah lebih berkuasa dari suaminya. Apa dia mahu semua dapat dan dia minta dari kerajaan sama ada Najib tahu atau tidak tahu, payah kerajaan tidak meluluskannya.

Kalau adab, tingkah laku dan perbuatan isteri itu menjadi masalah kepada Najib sebagai suami dan Perdana Meneri, maka masalah yang sama terpaksa dihadapi oleh Shahrizat atas suaminya.

Akan kelangsungan isteri Najib ke atas kerajaan dan suaminya telah diketahui oleh semua dan bising semua kerananya. Macam-macam orang kata tentangnya dan kerana itulah ramai mahu Najib tidak menjadi Perdana Menteri lagi.

Kalau orang yang tidak senang dengan suami Shahrizat mahu Shahrizat meletak jawatan sebagai menteri dan pemimpin Wanita Umno, orang yang tidak senang dengan isteri Najib mahu Najib meninggalkan kuasa. Sekurang-kurangnya dua bekas ADUN Umno menyertai DAP kerana tidak percaya kepada Najib dan Umno.

Maka kira-kira sama masalah yang Shahrizat hadapi dengan Najib. Tetapi Shahrizat tidak secerdik Najib. Apa yang isteri Najib buat itu tidak sekencang yang dibuat oleh suami Shahrizat. Tetapi Shahrizat menghadapi masalahnya seperti ibu ayam bertelur. Riuh sekampung.

Shahrizat hentam orang itu dan orang ini yang bising atas suaminya. Tetapi Najib diam seribu bahasa atas apa saja orang kata pada isterinya. Najib sama seperti tembok. Ketuklah tembok semahunya, tembok tetap membisu.

Oleh itu Najib tidak berbalah dengan sesiapa yang mengata isterinya begitu dan begini. Tetapi Shahrizat mengamuk bila suaminya disentuh.

Najib tidak ada reaksi atas nasib Shahrizat kerana dia juga menghadapi nasib yang sama. — harakahdaily.net

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

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SUK(A)E & DUK(A)E? Tak tau nak kata! (Part II)

• Usually I leave home to office at about 750am but last week I was late  for a few days. I felt guilty and decided to leave home much earlier today. I left at 700am. I could not believe it when I was caught in a total gridlock within BA. It my attempt to find an escape route around BA, I tried every single exit that I know. In the end I had turn back and queue with other vehicles along Jalan Wangsa 1. I reached the office at 0815am. The situation was so bad that I called my wife and told her that it is time to move out from BA. I could no longer take it. I also called the Ampang Traffic Chief and met his officers at BA this evening in finding a temporary solution for us in BA.

• Moments ago I met the Traffic cops and suggested that in the morning vehicles from BA are not allowed to enter BA at the junction near the food court. This is the observation that I saw this morning where I notice so many vehicles from UP enter BA and use it as a bypass to enter MRR2. They contribute to the massive traffic volume within BA. As if we don't have enough problems and now neighboring area which has a 4-lane road to MRR2 has to use our internal dual lane road. As such I have requested the traffic police to prevent any cars from UP from entering BA at the food court junction during peak hours. They will study my proposal before deciding further on it. Any residents coming from UP whom wants to enter BA need to enter at the Andaman Ukay junction. I don't know whether it will help but certainly without trying things we will not know for sure. 

• Another  friendly reminder-I urge everyone to send an email to MPAJ (ydp@mpaj.gov.my) and support my petition that a special briefing with complete details be done to residents of BA in view of the development of the SUKE. Please attend the special briefing at MPAJ on 18 Feb 2012@1000am.

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Ramasamy sues Star, journalist for RM10 million

KUALA LUMPUR: Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy today filed a defamation suit for RM5 million each against English daily, The Star and its journalist Ian McIntyre.

He is also seeking an interim injunction against the daily and McIntyre to stop them from publishing articles defaming him.

The suit was filed in Kuala Lumpur High Court.

Ramasamy was accompanied by his lawyers A Sivanesan who is also Sungkai state assemblyman, A Magesan, R Kenghadharan and R Prabhakaran.

Speaking to journalists at the court lobby, Sivanesan said: "My client had to file a suit because The Star did not heed Ramasamy's demand for an apology on Dec 28 last year.

"The second article implied that my client is a hypocrite, has no moral standing, dishonest, untrustworthy, illegal leader, without calibre and does not deserve to hold his positions," said Sivanesan.

On Dec 23 last year, The Star published an article entitled "Distress in DAP continues" by McIntyre.

The article quoted Ramasamy as saying that there was a plot to oust him because he turned down requests for projects and favours from grassroot members.

Ramasamy accused The Star of publishing a baseless report and denied the allegations on Dec 26.

The Star then published the allegations again on Dec 27 in an article entitled "What Ramasamy said in the interview with The Star".

This article alleged that Ramasamy is having an extra-marital affair.

Sivanesan also said that the two articles has damaged Ramasamy's position as a leader and hurt his character and reputation.

The suit also alleged that McIntyre had published the articles to paint the DAP in a bad picture.

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Himpunan 901: Ketua Pemuda PKR beri keterangan pada polis

PETALING JAYA: Ketua Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK), Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin hadir memberi keterangan di Balai Polis Kepong pagi tadi berhubung perhimpunan 'Bebas Anwar 901′ yang diadakan awal Januari.

Menurut Shamsul, beliau disiasat mengikut Seksyen 150 Kanun Keseksaan (bersubahat untuk mengupah orang untuk terlibat dalam perhimpunan haram) dan juga di bawah Seksyen 4, Akta Hasutan.

Beliau berkata tindakan itu berdasarkan lebih 200 laporan polis yang dibuat terhadapnya berhubung perhimpunan 901 yang diadakan di perkarangan Kompleks Mahkamah Jalan Duta pada 9 Januari lalu.

"Pihak polis merekodkan kenyataan pagi ini berhubung penglibatan saya dalam perhimpunan 901. Mereka buka siasatan dibawah Seksyen 150 Kanun Keseksaan dan Seksyen 4, Akta Hasutan.

"Saya beritahu polis bahawa sebarang kenyataan akan dijawab di mahkamah berhubung pelbagai laporan media," katanya ketika dihubungi FMT.

Katanya beliau menerima panggilan telefon dan notis polis pada minggu lalu yang mengarahkannya hadir ke balai berkenaan untuk direkodkan kenyataan berhubung penglibatan beliau dalam perhimpunan tersebut.

Beliau tiba di balai polis berkenaan jam 11.45 pagi bersama-sama Timbalan Ketua Penerangan AMK Rozan Azen Mat Rasip dan rakan- rakan AMK lain.

Shamsul hadir tanpa diwakili peguam dan disiasat hampir seejam oleh pegawai penyiasat, ASP Ooi Wei Seng.

Shamsul desak polis jelaskan insiden letupan bom

Turut disentuh mengenai dokumen yang mengandungi 10 syarat yang dikenakan oleh pihak polis.

"Saya ditanya mengenai 10 syarat itu, beliau kata saya ada menandatangani dokumen tersebut. Saya jelaskan bahawa dari segi perjanjian

kita terima, namun bukan bersetuju dengan perjanjian itu.

"Sepatutnya perkara ini tidak timbul kerana ia sudah dijelaskan oleh (Timbalan Presiden PKR) Mohamad Azmin Ali dalam sidang media terdahulu," katanya.

Berhubung hal sama, Shamsul terus mendesak pihak polis mendedahkan kertas siasatan berhubung kejadian letupan pada 9 Januari lalu.

Shamsul berpendapat isu tersebut sepatutnya menjadi tumpuan dan polis perlu segera mendedahkan dalang yang terlibat dalam melakukan letupan bom.

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Ex-PM versus current Opposition Leader, WHO WILL PREVAIL?

If you were to believe former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, current Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim is guilty of fanning a regime change in Malaysia ala the Arab Spring. If this is his real concern, I salute the PM-for-22-yearsmruining all the institutions of key NegaraKu -- among them The Judiciary, The Royal Police Malaysian Force -- besides perpetuating a highly inept and corrupt Executive branch. To me, Dr Mahathir's only saving grace was bringing the overly-privileged Royalty to heel; where previously any royal miscreant could not be brought before the courts, now they could, and indeed some have been.

Now can you forgive Desi if deep in my heart I say that if Anwar could galvanise the citizenry to topple a government who has overstayued its welcome, I say: Welcome, let's do it. PAS spring, PKR sprig, DAP sping -- as long as it's for REGIME CHANGE.

Frankly, Malaysians like me in the 60s, don't wish to be so dependent on overseas support -- be it American, British, Europe, India or China -- to lend us a helping hand in coiling up a succesful spirng. We have our internal energy and strength to MARCH TO PUTRAJAYA and tell the corrupt UMNO-headed Regime: "Enough Is Enough!"

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

To be continued: Be patient okay, Mr/Ms Patient is also Ms Virtuous:)

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A sad day to be Malaysians and Muslims

Article published by the Islamic Renaissance Front on 12th February, 2012.

_______________________________

The Islamic Renaissance Front strongly condemns the deportation of Hamza Kashgari over his allegedly offensive tweets.

Due to the irresponsible and cowardly actions of the Malaysian government in enabling the deportation, Mr Kashgari now faces the possibility of the death penalty in his home country of Saudi Arabia for the simple act of demanding his right to practice the most basic human rights – freedom of expression and thought.

Since the Syri'ah Law that is practised in Saudi – just like any other Muslim countries that implement Syari'ah – is subject to individual interpretation by the clerics, and Saudi is known to have a very poor record in ensuring fair trials compounded by a history of denial of rights to lawyers and clients; we do not feel that Hamza Kashgari will stand a fair trial.

More importantly, Mr Kashgari has already removed the tweets and apologized for his statements. We believe no further punishment is necessary upon the trauma he had already endured being on the run for such an innocuous act what more while facing the risk of punishment by death.

In this, we wish to remind Muslims of the importance of forgiveness in Islam. The importance accorded to forgiveness in Islam is very much tied to another key value of the deen which is the freedom of speech and conscience. This can be seen clearly in verse 256 of Al-Baqarah which states that "There shall be no coercion in matters of faith. Distinct has now become the right way from [the way of] error…"

Humans were created as subjects of freedom, divinely endowed with the rational faculties needed to be able to determine what is right and wrong on their own accord without the threat or imposition of external forces. The development of character depends on our ability to make that journey towards the good on terms we can relate to and understand most.

This is the core of any ethical system whereby meaningful choices and virtuous acts find their meaning on the basis that they have been willed freely by the person. For if coercion is what is needed most to ensure good conduct, then notions of love, solidarity, genuine trust or sincerity lose their meaning.

In appealing for the humane treatment of Mr Kashgari, the Islamic Renaissance Front once again points to the values of freedom, justice and democracy in Islam.

We are also deeply disappointed with the complicity of the Malaysian government for succumbing to pressures to deport Mr Kashgari. As a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Malaysia could have used this opportunity to set an example to the region, if not the entire Muslim world, of what responsible governance based on human rights could be.

Instead, with barely a pause in its conscience, the Malaysian government saw no problems deporting someone accused guilty for the supposed crime of tweeting his opinions.

The Islamic Renaissance Front adjures that the Malaysian government should just step down from the Human Rights Council so that the world would no longer be led to believe that Malaysia somehow stands for something it actually does not. The reality is that beneath the proliferation of malls and skyscrapers, we are still of an administration that does not understand basic human compassion.

This will save everyone's time.

The deportation of Hamza Kashgari despite a High Court order preventing it is clearly a show of disrespect and a contempt of court. The Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein must be held responsible for this wicked and egregious act. Considering that Malaysia has no extradition treaty with Saudi Arabia, the deportation is a clear insolent and uncivil act and in breach of international laws.

There is nothing to be proud of being a part of the so-called Global Movement of Moderates. It is just another superficial and manipulative evocations of democracy and rights. Today is indeed a very sad day to be Malaysians and Muslims.

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Posted in: Free the people, Frustrations, Love & Life, Making This World A Better Place, Nation in Distress, Right to know

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AYOYO! KALAU TAK BAYAR NAJIB NO WHERE KAH?

BBC Minta Maaf dan Mengaku dibayar RM85 Juta untuk pulih imej Najib

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) telah berjanji untuk meminta maaf kerana telah menyiarkan program berbayar yang berat sebelah kepada sesetengah negara termasuk Malaysia.


Akhbar UK theIndependent hari ini melaporkan bahawa BBC akan meminta maaf kepada 74 juta rakyat seluruh dunia untuk satu laporan skandal di mana ia disiarkan sebagai program dokumentari yang telah dibayar dalam satu perjanjian dengan satu fima publisiti di London firma.

Menurut The Independent hari ini, pemaafan global oleh BBC dijangka dibaca: "Sebilangan kecil program-program disiarkan di BBC World News antara Februari 2009 dan Julai 2011 melanggar peraturan-peraturan BBC bertujuan untuk melindungi integriti editorial kita.

Peraturan-peraturan ini memastikan yang program-program bebas , dan dilihat untuk menjadi bebas, dari komersial atau tekanan-tekanan luar lain."

Berdasarkan satu rujukan langsung bagi FBC dokumentari, ia akan berkata: "Dalam kes lapan program lain, yang mana kesemuanya menonjolkan Malaysia, kami mendapati yang syarikat produksi yang membuat program-program berkenaan mempunyai satu hubungan kewangan dengan kerajaan Malaysia.

"Ini bermaksud terdapatnya potensi satu konflik kepentingan , walaupun BBC tidak sedar tentangnya apabila program-program itu disiarkan."

Permohonan maaf itu akan disiarkan seluruh dunia di saluran World News BBC bagi 295 juta rumah kediaman, 1.7 juta bilik hotel, 81 kapal pesiaran, 46 sistem penerb! angan da n di 35 platform-platform telefon bimbit di empat masa lain, berperingkat supaya sampai kepada penonton dalam zon-zon berbeza, lapor akhbar berkenaan.

Editorial Standards Committee BBC Trust menjalankan satu siasatan ke terhadap BBC World News pada November dan mendedahkan 15 pelanggaran garis-garis panduan penyuntingan.

Lapan daripada pelanggaran yang berkaitan dengan program-program FBC dibuat tentang Malaysia disebabkan satu ketara "hubungan kewangan" antara kerajaan itu dan FBC Media, syarikat pengeluaran TV.

BBC dilaporkan mempunyai bayaran-bayaran nominal dibayar sekecil £1 untuk program-program yang diperbuat oleh FBC Media (UK), yang mana senarai pelanggan PR mereka termasuk Malaysia dan kerajaan asing lain.

The Independent menyatakan bahawa FBC Media membuat lapan karya untuk BBC mengenai Malaysia manakala gagal untuk mengisytiharkannya telah dibayar sebanyak £17million oleh kerajaan Malaysia untuk "komunikasi strategik global" yang termasuk liputan positif industri minyak sawit kontroversi Malaysia.

BBC juga digunakan FBC ntuk membuat sebuah dokumentari mengenai pemberontakan di Mesir tanpa mengetahui firma dibayar melakukan kerja PR untuk rejim bekas diktator Hosni Mubarak.

Syarikat TV FBC Media telah dijumpai berada di pusat berita Malaysia menyelesaikan skandal menghadapi juruhebah BBC and CNBC , dan menghadapi kejatuhan.

Firma berasaskan di London dan syarikat induknya FBC Group memasuki pentadbiran tahun lepas — satu tempoh sah yang membenarkan sebuah syarikat hampir bankrap membawa kepada perniagaan — berikutan laporan-laporan ia menerima £17million (RM85 juta) dari Putrajaya bagi menggilap imej pentadbiran Najib di siaran global.

FBC ditubuhkan pada tahun 1998 oleh wartawan Amerika Syarikat Alan Friedman, yang memenangi anugerah dan individu-individu media terkenal lain yang membina satu rangkaian pelanggan-pelanggan "blue chip" yang mengandungi kerajaan-kerajaan seperti Greek, Itali d! an Zambi a, dengan kontrak menggalakkan pelancongan di Malaysia, Indonesia dan Hungary.

FBC didedahkan turut menggandakan publisiti firma untuk kerajaan Najib dan telah dibayar berjuta pound ntuk mengendalikan satu kempen "Global Strategic Communications.

Tetapi kontrak Putrajaya bernilai RM96 jutanya telah berakhir dengan FBC, yang bermula pada 2009, selepas ia telah didedahkan pemimpin kerajaan Malaysia sering muncul dalam rancangan TV berbayar.

Malaysian Insider telah melaporkan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak berjumpa satu siri ahli strategi perhubungan awam, termasuk APCO Worldwide, bagi menggilap imej peribadinya dan kerajaannya di seluruh dunia.

Tempoh APCO di Malaysia diwarnai oleh kontroversi selepas pembangkang mengatakan firma perhubungan awam itu berkait rapat dengan Israel.

Yang terbaru menggunakan khidmat ahli-ahli pasukan itu belakang bekas Perdana Menteri British Tony Blair "New Labour" kempen, yang dilaporkan mula bekerja menjadikan Najib sebagai satu pembawa pembaharuan sederhana.

The Malaysian Insider

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Happy ending for NFC saga ke?

Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil has been advised by fellow Cabinet minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz to repay the RM250 million government loan obtained for the scandal-ridden National Feedlot Centre (NFC) project.

Nazri (picture) was reported by Sinar Harian as saying it was the best solution to put and end to the ongoing controversy without forcing a resignation from the women, family and community development minister.

"She does not have to resign. The main thing is, return the money to the government," he was quoted as saying in the Malay daily today.

"But after this, it is better to use open tender to avoid such unwanted incidents," he added.
The NFC hit the headlines following last year's Auditor-General's Report, and has continued to hog the limelight after it was linked to Shahrizat, and her family, who runs the National Feedlot Corporation (NFCorp).

The publicly-funded company is headed by her husband, Datuk Seri Mohamad Salleh Ismail. Their three children also hold executive posts in the company.

NFCorp had purchased two luxury condominiums worth RM34 million in Singapore's posh Marina Bay Suites, Shahrizat's son Wan Shahinur Izmir had explained recently that the company had decided that it would make better use of the money by investing in property during a break in business operations.

According to the DAP's Tony Pua! , the Fi nance Ministry had told a parliamentary committee last November that there was no provision that permits the NFCorp to use its federal loan to purchase property.

A ministry official had disclosed this to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) during a meeting convened to discuss the NFCorp issue and was "very specific" that such loans could not be used for purposes other than what had been specified, said the Petaling Jaya Utara MP. - malaysian insider

Happy ending for NFC saga???

Nazri Aziz is the Prime Minister's troubleshooter and his statement in Sinar Harian about the case must be seen in this light. His suggestion that everything will be fine after Shahrizat Jalil's family/her repay the RM250 million loan is not his idea but a compromise put together by Putrajaya.

As part of this drama script, the police will recommend that some form of charge be brought against NFC directors but the MACC aka the protectors of corrupt practices in government will clear Shahrizat.

Shahrizat's family will be given a slap on their wrist and she will not have to resign. The audit firm hired by the government will come out with a report to talk about weaknesses in the NFC process and make a suggestion for the government to either shut it down or take over.

The audit firm will make some recommendations which the government will promise to implement. The family behind Cowgate will have to relinquish their properties, etc and will be expected to fade away. But Shahrizat will not be forced to resign from Wanita Umno or the government.

!
T his is the brilliant ending to the NFC saga but there is only one spanner in the works and that is the fact that more than RM150 million of the RM250 million was used without proper authorisation. Therefore, this is not some internal dispute or administrative foul up which Nazri is talking about.

This is either CBT or a lesser criminal offence. But I suppose when corruption is part of the DNA of the ruling party, it is unable to see how disgusting it is to just believe that all the Shahrizat family has to do is make a restitution and everything will be ok. 

Are we going to offer all white collar criminals or those who abuse government funds the same  deal? - Whistleblower 57 - The Malaysian Insider

Nasihat penyamun kepada rakan penyamunnya...

Menteri Pembangunan Wa­nita, Keluarga dan Masya­rakat, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil dinasihatkan supaya membayar balik RM250 juta yang dipinjamkan kepada syarikat milik keluarganya untuk menjalankan projek Pusat Fidlot Kebangsaan (NFC).


Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abd Aziz yang menasihatkan demikian berkata, itu adalah penyelesaian terbaik bagi masalah berkenaan tanpa perlu Shahrizat meletak jawatan.

"Beliau tak perlu letak jawatan. Apa yang paling utama, kembalikan semula wang itu kepada kerajaan," katanya.

Nazri berkata, dengan penyelesaian seperti itu, kerajaan masih boleh meneruskan projek NFC.

"Tetapi selepas ini, adalah lebih baik dijalankan secara tender terbuka bagi mengelak masalah hal yang tidak diingini," ka! tanya ke pada pemberita selepas melepaskan peserta Larian Ria di pekarangan pejabat Umno Bahagian Padang Rengas di sini, semalam. - sinar harian

cheers.

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BR1M: Hak pekerja estet dinafikan

PETALING JAYA: PKR Pasir Salak kecewa kerana masyarakat estet yang rata-rata berpendapatan di bawah paras kemiskinan (bawah RM500 sebulan) telah dinafikan hak mereka untuk mendapat bayaran RM500 yang diwar-warkan di bawah skim Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia (BR1M).

Perkara ini dikesan semasa kepimpinan serta petugas PKR Pasir Salak turun padang pada hari ini untuk bertemu masyarakat ladang di Estet Rubana, Teluk Intan dibawah Dewan Undangan Negeri (Dun) Kampung Gajah dalam kawasan Parlimen Pasir Salak.

Lawatan turun padang tersebut turut disertai oleh beberapa AJK Biro Masyarakat Kaum India PKR Negeri Perak, demikian menurut satu kenyataan media dari parti itu.

Program tersebut diketuai Haji Osman Abdul Rahman Ketua Cabang PKR Pasir Salak Haji Osman Abdul Rahman yang juga merupakan Penyelaras Dun Sungai Manik dan Penyelaras Parlimen Pasir Salak, Abdul Razak Bin Ismail.

Kenyataan itu memberitahu daripada 30 keluarga masyarakat India yang tinggal di estet tersebut hanya tiga keluarga sahaja mengesahkan menerima bantuan tersebut.

Salah seorang dari pemohon menunjukan surat penolakan tersebut dengan hanya memberi alasan "tidak memenuhi syarat kelayakan" sedangkan gajinya sebagai buruh am membersih kawasan ladang hanya RM400 sebulan dan isteri pula tidak bekerja.

Osman berkata, perkara ini berlaku mungkin disebabkan oleh Barisan Nasional (BN) ingin 'menghukum' pekerja-pekerja ladang tersebut kerana menyebabkan BN tewas di peti undi ladang tersebut dalam PRU 12 yang lalu.

Terdapat lebih 400 orang pengundi berdaftar di ladang tersebut.

Sementara itu, Razak pula menyifatkan bahawa pemberian BR1M hanya sekadar 'gula-gula' kerajaan BN untuk memancing undi dan menguasa minda masyarakat luar bandar dan golongan rakyat yang berpendapatan rendah untuk menyokong BN tapi mereka sebenarnya tidak mempunyai 'perasaan' langsung untuk membantu golongan miskin ini.

Berdasarkan perangkaan ini kata Razak, tidak mustahil ramai masyarakat pekerja ladang di seluruh negara telah ditolak permohonan mereka.

"Lantaran itu PKR mengesa kerajaan memberikan butiran berapa ramai jumlah permohonan pekerja ladang yang telah diluluskan dan ditolak oleh pihak kerajaan," katanya.

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Mahfuz: Dedah minit mesyuarat NFC

KUALA LUMPUR: Naib Presiden PAS Datuk Mahfuz Omar mahu Jawatankuasa Kira-Kira Wang Awam (PAC) mendedahkan minit mesyuarat siasatan skandal Perbadanan Fidlot Kebangsaan (NFC) yang dijalankan pada November tahun lalu kepada awam.

Katanya, minit mesyuarat yang mengandungi keterangan daripada beberapa pegawai kementerian yang terlibat termasuk pegawai NFC pada 23 November tahun lalu itu perlu didedahkan segera sebelum bermulanya sidang Parlimen bulan depan.

Ini kerana menurut Mahfuz, selain mendengar keterangan pegawai NFC, PAC juga pada waktu itu turut mendengar empat jawatankuasa yang bertindak memantau perjalanan projek dan pemberian RM250 juta kepada NFC sejak 2006.

Jawatankuasa itu melibatkan beberapa kementerian termasuk Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani, Kementerian Kewangan, dan Unit Perancangan Ekonomi (EPU) selain beberapa pegawai daripada agensi lain yang dipengerusikan oleh Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yang ketika itu memegang portfolio Menteri Pertanian.

"Minit mesyuarat itu sangat penting untuk kita lihat bagaimana unsur penyelewengan bukan sahaja bermula dariapda pelaksanaan projek, tetapi bermula daripada pemberian projek dan pinjaman yang membabitkan pihak lebih atas," katanya yang juga Ahli Parlimen Pokok Sena dalam sidang media di Ibu Pejabat PAS di sini hari ini.

Nazri minta Shahrizat bayar balik RM250 juta

Selain itu, Mahfuz turut membidas mengenai kenyataan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz yang menasihatkan Ketua Wanita Umno Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil supaya membayar balik pinjaman RM250 juta bagi menyelesaikan masalah skandal NFC ini.

Nazri dalam kenyataannya semalam berkata Shahrizat dan keluarganya perlu membayar semula kepada kerajaan dan itu adalah penyelesaian terbaik tanpa perlu Shahrizat meletakkan jawatan.

Nazri berkata denan penyelesaian seperti itu, kerajaan masih boleh meneruskan projek NFC dengan memberikan tender projek secara terbuka bagi mengelakkan masalah yang sama berulang.

"Ini kenyataan yang sangat dangkal daripada seorang menteri yang menjaga hal perundangan, pendakwaan dan penghakiman.

"Dia (Nazri) harus bertegas kerana ini isu besar yang mmbabitkan soal penyelewengan dan isu ini perlu disiasat secara keseluruhan dan bukan hanya membabitkan pelaksanaan projek, tetapi proses pemberian tender.

"Kalau soal pecah amanah ada perkara yang tak betul maka kes itu perlu dibawa ke mahkamah dan diambil tindakan tegas," katanya.

Masih banyak kontroversi

Sementara itu, beliau turut meramalkan pilihan raya umum tidak akan dilaksanakan dalam masa terdekat memandangkan masih banyak perkara kontroversi membabitkan pentadbiran kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN) yang masih belum selesai.

Antaranya sistem penggunaan dakwat kekal yang masih belum jelas, peruntukan Skim Saraan Baru Perkhidmatan Awam (SBPA) yang mendapat bantahan pelbagai pihak, selain skandal NFC sendiri.

"Kemungkinan BN akan mengambil kesempatan mengumumkan tarikh pilihan raya selepas upacara pertabalan Yang diPertuan Agong (YDPA) yang dijangka berlangsung pada penghujung April atau Mei depan," katanya.

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Why the rush to deport Kashgari?

Charles Santiago

The Malaysian government has failed a young Saudi, who was fleeing his country fearing persecution, by deporting him to possibly face execution in his home country. There is no other way to say this.

Hamza Kashgari, a 23-year-old journalist was en route to New Zealand to seek asylum, when he was detained in Malaysia following a request made by the Interpol.

The international police organization was aware that the Saudi king had issued an order to bring Kashgari "to justice" and the clerics are demanding that he be charged with apostasy for tweeting about Prophet Mohammad.

Apostasy is punishable by death in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, 13,000 people have joined a Facebook page titled "The Saudi People Demand the Execution of Hamza Kashgari".

Firstly, Interpol has transgressed its obligations to fundamental human rights, which include the right to free speech, by using the organization's red notice system to get Kashgari to be detained in Kuala Lumpur.

While we would not get into the nitty gritty details as to whether Kashgari's tweets were blasphemous, its not possible to ignore the decision of the ruling government which has acted with haste.

There is no extradition treaty between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia. Hence there was no necessity to quickly hand Kashgari over to the people who are calling for his head.

The deportation is unlawful as Kashgari's lawyer, Muhammad Afiq Mohamad Nor, had obtained a court order to block the deportation.

And the crux of this issue lies in the fact that the young blogger was aiming to seek asylum. So the question that begs to be answered is why the UNHCR officers were not allowed access to Kashgari. This is a blatant violation of human rights.

It's equally disturbing to note that Home Minister, Hishammuddin Hussein had said the Malaysian Jemaah Islamiah members need not have been shot dead by Indonesian authorities as they could have been rehabilitated, given that Malaysia portrays the image of a moderate Muslim nation.

But deporting Kashgari is anything but moderation, and therefore Malaysia should not have played a role in assisting Saudi Arabia.

But the gove! rnment h as done the exact opposite. It has, with complete disregard for human rights, sent a young man to face possible death in his home country.

If Kashgari is executed, Malaysia would have blood on its hands.

 

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Pergerakan dan Jadual Pelancaran/Pentas ABU di Seluruh Negara

Pelancaran ABU WP Kuala Lumpur - Bandar Tun Razak

Tarikh: 17hb Feb 2012 (Jumaat Ini)
Masa : 8.30malam
Tempat : Madrasah Ehsaniah Taman Bukit Anggerik @ METBA (Bersebelahan Padang)
Pemidato :
1) Mat Sabu (Timbalan Presiden PAS)
2) CheGuBard (Ketua Penyelaras SAMM)
3) Pak Samad (Sasterawan Negara)
4) Adam Adli (Aktivis Mahasiswa)
5) Pemidato dari kalangan rakyat
Pertanyaan : 0111-2859220

Pelancaran ABU Selangor - Semenyih

Tarikh: 23hb Feb 2012 (Khamis)
Masa : 8.30malam
Tempat : Dewan Orangramai Beranang, Selangor
Pemidato :
1) Arul (PSM)
2) Khalid Samad (PAS)
3) Haris Ibrahim (NGI)
4) Adam Adli (Aktivis Mahasiswa)
5) Pemidato dari kalangan rakyat

Pertanyaan: 016-3245550


Pelancaran ABU Melaka - Masjid Tanah

Tarikh: 24hb Feb 2012 (Jumaat)

Masa: 8.30mlm

Tempat: Markas Pas Hujan Panas, Masjid Tanah

Pemidato: 

1) Che'GuBard (SAMM)

2) Khalid Samad (Ahli Parlimen Shah Alam)

3) Arul (PSM)

4) YB Khoo Poey Tiong (ADUN Ayer Keroh)

5) Haris Ibrahim (NGI)

6) Khalid Ismat (Aktivis Mahasiswa)

7) Pemidato dari kalangan rakyat
Pertanyaan: 012-2478016

Pelancaran ABU Perak - Ipoh

Tarikh: 25hb Feb 2012 (Sabtu)
Masa: 8.30mlm
Tempat: Dewan OrangRamai Buntong, Ipoh, Perak
Pemidato: 
1) Mat Sabu (Timbalan Presiden PAS)
2) CheGuBard (Ketua Penyelaras SAMM)
3) Sambulinggam (Hindraf)
4) Haris Ibrahim (NGI)
5) Pemidato dari kalangan rakyat
Pertanyaan: 012-4696068

Pelancaran ABU Johor - Pasir Gudang

Tarikh: 26hb Feb 2012 (Ahad)
Masa: 8.30mlm
Te! mpat: T aman Air Biru, Pasir Gudang, Johor.
Pemidato: 
1) Che'Gu Bard (SAMM)
2) YB Salahuddin Ayub (AP Kubang Kerian)
3) Haris Ibrahim (NGI)
4) Pemidato dari kalangan rakyat
Pertanyaan: 013-7848585

 

Pelancaran ABU Terengganu - Kuala Terengganu

Tarikh: 3hb Mac 2012 (Sabtu)
Masa: 8.30mlm
Tempat: Taman Desa Solehah (Depan SK Pdg Air Tepoh), K.Terengganu
Pemidato: 
1) Che'Gu Bard (SAMM)
2) Haris Ibrahim (NGI)
3) Al Faizal Amjed (PKR)
4) Dr Ahmad (SAMM)
5) Pemidato dari kalangan rakyat
Pertanyaan: 019-9809974

Pelancaran ABU Kelantan - Kota Bharu

Tarikh: 4hb Mac 2012 (Ahad)
Masa: 8.30mlm
Tempat: Perkarangan Stadium
Pemidato: 
1) Haris Ibrahim (NGI)
2) Dr Ahmad (SAMM)
3) Wakil PAS
4) Wakil PKR
5) Pemidato dari kalangan rakyat

Pertanyaan: 017-5959755

Pelancaran/Pentas ABU Seterusnya

Negeri Sembilan - Rantau 6hb Mac

WP Kuala Lumpur - WangsaMaju 9hb Mac

Pahang - Bera 10hb Mac

Penang - Balik Pulau 14hb Mac

Kedah - Alor Star 20 Mac

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Pentadbiran negara sentiasa cari idea baru

PUTRAJAYA: Pentadbiran negara sentiasa mencari idea-idea baru, dan berusaha menampilkan pendekatan-pendekatan yang lebih efektif dalam menyelesaikan sebarang masalah, demi memberikan perkhidmatan yang terbaik kepada rakyat.

Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak berkata pihak pentadbiran sentiasa berusaha mencari jalan untuk mencapai hasil yang lebih berkesan menggunakan peruntukan yang minimum, untuk mencapai matlamat yang diharapkan.

"Apa yang saya harap, bersama dengan rakan-rakan anggota pentadbiran, ialah kita dapat beri lebih tumpuan dan komitmen tidak berbelah bahagi kepada rakyat," katanya semasa berucap pada perhimpunan bulanan Jabatan Perdana Menteri, di Dataran Perdana di sini pagi ini.

Beliau berkata setiap perkhidmatan yang diberikan perlu sampai kepada kumpulan sasaran, iaitu rakyat, supaya setiap rakyat mencapai kepuasan yang tinggi, selaras dengan gagasan "1Malaysia: Rakyat didahulukan, Pencapaian diutamakan".

Menurutnya kerajaan kini lebih memberi tumpuan kepada pendekatan penyelesaian masalah kerana adakalanya beberapa isu yang bersifat 'cross-cutting' dilihat memerlukan mekanisme penyelesaian masalah sebagai penyelesaian yang berkesan, berbanding pendekatan konvensional yang mungkin hasilnya kurang berkesan.

Najib berkata sesuatu pendekatan itu tidak seharusnya dikekalkan semata-mata kerana ia merupakan amalan biasa sejak sekian lama, sedangkan apa yang diperlukan ialah idea-idea baru, kreatif, serta pendekatan yang bersifat inovatif dalam mencapai matlamat yang diharapkan dengan lebih berkesan.

Katanya menerusi pendekatan penyelesaian masalah ini, banyak isu dapat ditangani dengan lebih pantas dan berkesan, hasil komitmen semua pihak yang berkaitan, yang membolehkan kerajaan membuat keputusan lebih tuntas dalam menyelesaikan masalah-masalah yang timbul.

Beliau seterusnya berkata kerajaan akan melancarkan program transformasi luar bandar tidak lama lagi, yang disasar supaya penduduk kawasan luar bandar turut dapat menikmati pembaharuan yang dilaksanakan kerajaan.

Menurutnya ia selaras dengan usaha kerajaan menegakkan prinsip keadilan sosial yang memberi penekanan kepada kemakmuran buat segenap lapisan rakyat.

Najib berkata negara berada di landasan yang betul untuk mencapai hasrat negara maju berpendapatan tinggi menjelang tahun 2020, jika dilihat dari segi pertumbuhan ekonomi, di mana suku ketiga 2011 menyaksikan pertumbuhannya menjangkau 5.8 peratus.

Beliau berkata ekonomi negara juga menyaksikan perkembangan positif jika dilihat kepada kejayaan mencatatkan jumlah dagangan paling tinggi, menjangkau RM1.3 trilion tahun lepas.

- Bernama

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Hisham defends Saudi deportation amid protests

SUNWAY: Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein today stuck by Putrajaya's controversial decision to deport Saudi journalist Hamza Kashgari amid protests and concerns that he may be executed.

The minister also denied receiving any court order to stop the deportation of the 23-year-old.

Hishammuddin said the decision was made to protect Malaysia's reputation, adding that he does not want the country to be a safe haven "for terrorists and those who are wanted by their countries of origin, and also be seen as a transit country".

Saudi Arabia's English daily Arab News cited today informed sources as saying Hamza, who fled to Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, will face charges of blasphemy for allegedly mocking the Muslim Prophet Muhammad in his twitter postings,

Blasphemy is a crime punishable by death under Saudi Arabia's strict interpretation of Islamic syariah law. It is not a capital crime in Malaysia.

He was deported from Malaysia yesterday, just hours before his Malaysian lawyers managed to obtain a court order to stop him from being send back to Saudi Arabia.

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