CCTV menunjukkan anak Nazri terlibat membalun Penyelia Keselamatan...

Rakaman kamera litar tertutup (CCTV) berhubung insiden pergaduhan yang dikaitkan dengan anak Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz kini berada dalam tangan polis Brickfields.

Rakaman insiden melibatkan Nedim Mohamad, pengawal peribadinya dan pengawal keselamatan di sebuah kondominium mewah di Kuala Lumpur kini sampai kepada pegawai penyiasat, dedah sumber.
 
Pihak berkaitan mengesahkan kepada Malaysiakini, kes itu masih disiasat walaupun ketua polis daerah Brickfields sebelum ini mendakwa ia telah selesai.

Menurut sumber lagi, polis terkejut melihat rakaman itu apabila "lebih daripada dua orang", termasuk Nedim, terlibat memegang dan menyerang penyelia keselamatan berusia 50 tahun itu.

Ini boleh mewujudkan komplikasi dalam klasifikasi polis yang meletakkan kes itu sebagai kesalahan kecil - 'menyebabkan pergaduhan' bawah Seksyen 160 Kanun Keseksaan yang membawa hukuman penjara enam bulan, denda RM1,000 atau kedua-duanya.- malaysiakini

Video footage shows Nazri's son involved in assaulting Security Supervisor...

Brickfields police have in their possession the closed-circuit television recording of the "affray" involving the son of a cabinet minister, his bodyguard and a security guard supervisor at a posh condominium in Kuala Lumpur last month.
 
Sources revealed that the CCTV recording involving Mohamad Nedim (right), a son of Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz, Nedim's bodyguard and the security supervisor was now in the possession of the investigating officer.

People familiar with the matter also confirmed with Malaysiakini that the case was still being investigated despite earlier claims by the Brickfields OCPD (Officer in Charge of Police District) that it had been wrapped up.

Sources familiar with the incident said the police were surprised to find in the video footage that "more than two persons", including Nedim, were involved in holding and assaulting the 50-year-old security supervisor.
 
This may create complications in the police's classification of the case as a minor offence - 'causing affray' under section 160 of the Penal Code. Under this section, anyone found guilty faces a punishment of up to six months' jail or a fine of RM1,000, or both.

Malaysiakini reported on March 23 that the security supervisor of the high-end condominium in Mont Kiara was allegedly assaulted by Nedim and his bodyguard. Nedim drove a Porsche sports car! to the condominium, followed by a luxury MPV driven by his bodyguard.

The bodyguard alighted from his car to have personal particulars recorded on behalf of both drivers, but the condominium guards insisted that they did so separately. An argument ensued, resulting in the supervisor being called in to mediate.

Argument and fracas at condo entrance

The bodyguard claimed that the person in the Porsche was a 'Tengku' (a member of the royalty), but the supervisor explained that condo management required the registration of drivers of all vehicles entering the compound.

This resulted in the VIP's son alighting from his Porsche, while the bodyguard and his friends assaulted the 50-year-old security supervisor, according to sources who had viewed the video footage. It is learnt that Nazri's son also struck the supervisor.

A police report was subsequently made by the supervisor, who was slightly injured during the altercation.Mohamad Nedim's bodyguard had lodged a counter police report alleging that the security supervisor was rude and started the fracas.

A day after Malaysiakini reported the incident, Brickfields OCPD Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid denied that Nazri's son was involved in the fist-fight, with The Star quoting him as saying that the case involved just the bodyguard and a security guard.

Wan Abdul Bari also said then that the police have already completed their probe into the matter and that the investigation papers were sent to the Attorney-General's Chambers on whether charges would be laid.

PKR vice-president N Surendran and Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin had urged the polic! e to con duct an independent and impartial investigation into the case. Shamsul Iskandar went further to claim that Nedim was also allegedly involved in an incident resulting in the death of a young man, Darren Kang, in 2004.

Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo has also called on Nazri to cease issuing any statement on matters pertaining to the law, especially if it involved the attorney-general or the AG's Chambers.
"It could be interpreted as a clear case of conflict," said Gobind, who is DAP legal bureau chairperson.- malaysiakini

Reclassify Nedim's case, lawyer tells police...

The police have been asked to explain why they had issued a statement absolving the involvement of a minister's son in an assault case at a posh condominium in Kuala Lumpur last month although the CCTV footage had implicated him.
 
PKR vice president N Surendran in a statement said that on Mar 24, Brickfields district police chief Wan Abdul Bari had rushed to publicly clear Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz's son Mohamad Nedim (left) of any involvement in the assault.

From the CCTV footage, it is clear now that the police may have tried to cover-up this case, he added.

Surendran was referring to Malaysiakini's report today that police were surprised to find in the CCTV recording that "more than two persons" including Nedim were involved in holding and assaulting a 50-year-old security supervisor at the condominium.
 
He also urged the police to explain why this case was classified as the minor offence of affray under Section 160 of the Penal Code, when the security supervisor had clearly stated in his police report that he had been assaulted and force was used on him.

"The CCTV footage now backs up his allegations. We call upon the police to reclassify this case as assault, use of criminal force and causing of hurt under Penal Code sections 321, 350 and 351.

"Once again the police leadership have proven that they are prepared to disregard the law and abuse their powers in order to protect and defend Umno/BN and its leaders," he added.

The prominent lawyer also urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to transfer the assault case from Brickfields police headquarters to an independent investigation team.

A day after Malaysiakini reported the incident on Mar 23, Wan Abdul Bari denied that Nazri's son was involved in the fist-fight, with the English-language daily The Star quoting him as saying the case involved only the bodyguard and a security guard.

Surendran called for Wan Abdul Bari to be probed for abuse of power as the OCPD has "failed to carry out an impartial investigation".

"We also call upon the home minister and the IGP to publicly guarantee to the rakyat that the police force will act fairly and impartially in all cases, including those involving wrongdoing by Umno/BN leaders or their family members," he said. - malaysiakini
c heers.

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We did it once… we are going to do it again!

by Shamini Darshni
The Malaysian Insider
Apr 07, 2012

APRIL 7 — April 28 it is.

When I joined thousands of Malaysians last July 9, making our presence heard and felt on the streets of Kuala Lumpur to force the government of Malaysia to take the people's united voice seriously, I knew, like every other person with me, that I was making a difference.

Since Bersih 2.0, we have seen, felt and heard an intensity so naked and so pure among Malaysians who want nothing more than a better country to live in. A country we have called home all our lives. A country we choose to still believe in.

Although it is disheartening that the third installation of the Bersih movement is championing the exact same eight recommendations we called for last year, my pride lies in the face of the political awakening that has taken many of us by storm. We are now unafraid to say we want better leadership, government accountability and transparency, and an overall better life as a Malaysian.

Did Bersih 2.0 then fail? Hardly.

Is Bersih 3.0 necessary? Let's see:

● The Freedom of Assembly Act that was rushed through Parliament was a mockery.

● The Printing Presses and Publications Act still hangs in the air.

● The Election Commission says the next GE will see a "longer" campaign period of "at least 10 days."

● The report by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reform was passed in Parliament without debate. What rubbish.

● The amendments to the Universities and University Colleges Act have yet to come to pass. A state-sanctioned seminar geared at schoolteachers for heaven's sake, and which outlandishly promoted religious strife, was allowed to take place. And we have one of the best education systems in the world, Mr DPM? Give me a break.

● Perkasa still exists.

● Public funds are continuously abused and the lame excuses politicians attempt to feed us are expected to shut us up.

● As I write this piece, friends are holding a meeting on the funding cut by the Ministry of Health for the HIV and AIDS cause, which has resulted in a major scaledown of care and support programmes for people living with HIV and AIDS, and resulting in roughly 100 jobs lost. Unfair!

● Fill in this blank. You are sure to find at least one reason for April 28. Enough. Again, enough.

We can expect to hear that the authorities are going to crack down on April 28 protestors. We may even be tear gassed, be at the receiving end of water cannons, or be arrested again.

But we will also sing "Negaraku" and discover new meaning to those words imprinted in our brains. We will smile at another Malaysian and feel tears in our eyes because there is one reason only we gather — for a better country.

For me, the Bersih movement is not just about electoral reforms, but how this forms the fundamental from which all the wrongs in the country can be put right.

If there is anything our pompous politicians should have learned in the aftermath of Bersih 2.0 is that they could not silence thousands of people who had gathered for one cause.

They cannot continue to feed us lies or whitewash issues and hope they go away. The only mature thing to do is to allow those of us who choose to take to Dataran Merdeka on April 28 to do so without sending in battalions of uniformed personnel to shoot tear gas canisters into the faces of Malaysians, but to protect us as we exercise our citizens' rights.

In recent months and years, the political awakening amongst Malaysians, especially the younger Malaysians — and mind you, these are the income generators, taxpayers, and voters — has gained new heights.

The government of Malaysia must remember that the people, when united in a cause, are a force to be reckoned with.

We proved it with Bersih 2.0. Let's prove it again come April 28.

This entry was posted on Saturday, 7 April 2012, 4:15 pm and is filed under Bersih, Elections. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0.  

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BN forgets that the Roman Empire crumbled; Hitler was wiped out; and Maoism erased

BN you must be eternally grateful to the rakyat. They are not like some citizens in faraway lands where they come out with stones, guns and bombs. Instead Malaysians want to make you see the truth by peaceful sit-ins. Where in the world can you find such peace-loving people?

J. D. Lovrenciear

The Roman Empire crumbled. Hitler was wiped out. And Moa's communism was erased from the minds of 1.3 billion people. But BN thinks otherwise of itself.

What do we make out of BN these days? Even those who appeared as die-hard loyalists of BN and / or UMNO have pulled out. Even a member of the Rulers is openly confessing his disillusionment with BN, especially UMNO.

But the prime minister armed with his bastion – the main stream media is on a major road show to project an invincible, favored and popular image of BN.

How sad. A good leader should have that innate ability to read the signs of the times. He or she must decipher the scribbling on the wall.  Would it not be better for BN to take a step back and eat humble pie?

The very fact that BN has to combat on the defensive the overflowing anti-BN sentiments in the new media and the social media, is a clear indicator that people are questioning the ability, sincerity and intentions of BN leaders.

No. BN is gung-ho that it cannot fail. BN is adamant that it must not fail. BN is set in its mind that it is not going to take failure.

Well Hitler too thought so. Moa Zedong was no different. The Romans never believed that they will be overthrown. But they all perished when the populace said enough is enough.

So, BN leaders and followers please learn from history. But that again will be tough too for you. You are the product of a leader who manipulated and attempted to re-write history, remember?

Stop your warnings and finger wagging. Stop your ministers from blurting out threats.

And do not count on that illusion that the police and the armed forces will be there for you despite all the rising allegations of mismanagement and total disregard for integrity, justice and honor. Do you not know t! hat even Mao was unable to have his millions of army people to defend his legacy – communism?

If you are really serious about the party that was created with honor and great intentions by the founding fathers, then do them justice. Stand back, concede that you have gone astray for these past 30 years; do penance; and redress.

When the rakyat are convinced that you have transformed your core for the better, people will put you back on the race and where you belong.

In the meantime stop threatening. Stop spying. Stop attempting to pull the carpet under the feet of the rakyat. Stop hoodwinking.

If Bersih 2.0 did not open your eyes, you are still lucky. The Malaysians being such nice, passive and non-violent people are still willing to sacrifice their hard-earned weekend Saturday to come out in the rain or sun peacefully to give the truth to you one more time with Bersih 3.0.

BN you must be eternally grateful to the rakyat. They are not like some citizens in faraway lands where they come out with stones, guns and bombs. Instead Malaysians want to make you see the truth by peaceful sit-ins. Where in the world can you find such peace-loving people?

If the BN leaders and followers are still adamant, it means only one thing: They are utterly disloyal to the founding fathers of their political parties. They are traitors. They are doing everything not to save the battered image of BN but only expedite a permanent demise of a political party that stood side by side with Malaysians (Malayans) in gaining Merdeka.

How sad. How tragic.

BN you have tried every trick under the stone to break your opponents. But you must also admit that your opponents are only gaining strength and recognition with each shot you take on them. You see BN, people are no fools.

Hi! tler tho ught just like you. Mao thought so too. The Romans never learnt either. Do you want to join their league too?

Perhaps, there is only one, last, avenue left for peace-loving Malaysians. And that is for all honorable and professional journalists in the main stream media to say collectively 'enough is enough' and throw the towel and join the rakyat to save the nation from its impending gloom.

 

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Teoh’s death: A-G’s ‘afraid’ to prosecute

by Teoh El Sen
Free Malaysia Today
April 7, 2012

Former KL CID chief Mat Zain Ibrahim claims the A-G is looking after his own interest in deciding not to charge anyone over Teoh Beng Hock's death.

PETALING JAYA: With the amount of skeletons in his closet, Attorney-General Abdul Ghani Patail would be "digging his own grave" if he prosecutes anyone over the Teoh Beng Hock's death, said a retired senior policeman today.

Ex- Kuala Lumpur criminal investigation department(CID) chief Mat Zain Ibrahim said this was the reason why Ghani was being cowardly and 'afraid' to institute criminal proceedings against any persons recommended by the royal commission of inquiries (RCIs).

"It's for his own survival. Ghani will not institute any criminal proceeding against any person or persons that are being recommended by any RCIs.

"It is not about lack of evidence or that the case needs further investigation from the appropriate Department or anything to that effect. The RCIs recommendations are valid and proper.

"I state without any hesitation, that Ghani is himself very afraid to take any actions.

"To institute any criminal proceeding against those persons would be like digging his own grave.

"It is like putting himself in the same boat with those people he is suppose to charge and prosecute.

The only difference would be those people may have only one charge hanging over their heads,while Gani Patail has several times more," said Mat Zain in an e-mail to FMT today.

He said an RCI in 1999 to investigate the 'black eye' incident had found that Ghani had committed "various criminal offences" .

"He can be charged for at least six(6) cases of fabrication of evidence, each carrying a sentence of up to seven(7) years imprisonment upon conviction.

"As far as the documentary evidences against him are concerned, they are all there in the RCI report,consented by The Agong for all to see," said Mat Zain.

'Blatant' snub

Mat Zain was the lead investigator in Anwar Ibrahim's 1998 "black eye" case and has repeatedly accused that Ghani and the former Inspector General of Police fabricated evidence for the past three years.

Mat Zain said this was the reason Ghani is so "daring" and "blatant" to snub a group of Commissioners appointed by Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

He said that the commissioners appointed are normally not just anybody from the streets, but were people of unquestionable integrity and of certain standing in society.

"Unfortunately after these Commissioners have completed their tasks, they are being reduced to being mere lackeys and useless persons by none other than the A-G himself."

He again called for the Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to set up a tribunal to investigate Gani.

He said a tribunal can be formed by the Agong on Najib's advise.

"All the PM needs to do is to set up a Tribunal and it will be over within a couple of days. There's no need to engage foreign expert or foreign retired investigators like they did in the RCI to investigate into TBH's death and waste tax payers funds…which are depleting by the
day," said Mat Zain.

Mat Zain had noted that this was the second time Ghani has failed to act on recommendations by a commission of inquiry, the first being the failure to act on a previous RCI in 2007 probing allegations that appointments of judges were fixed.

Case closed

On Thursday, it was revealed in parliament that the A-G's Chambers has closed its case on Teoh's death and had cleared the three MACC officers named in the RCI report– which had found that Teoh was driven to suicide after aggressive interrogation– of all offences.

Teoh, 30, was the political aide of Selangor executive council member Ean Yong Hian Wah. He was found dead on July 16, 2009, on the fifth-floor corridor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam after he was questioned overnight by the MACC officers on the 14th floor.

An inquest was held but could only reach an "open verdict". An RCI was subsequently held and the five-man RCI panel, headed by then federal court judge James Foong, had singled out the three officers who were involved in Teoh's interrogations.

They were Selangor MACC deputy director Hishamuddin Hashim and his subordinates Mohd Anuar Ismail and Mohd Ashraf Mohd Yunus.

The Bar Council, which played an active role in the RCI into Teoh's death, had urged the A-G to clarify and explain his decision.

Contrary to the RCI report which named the three men, the Bar Council had recommended that five MACC officers be investigated for culpable homicide.

The five officers include Hishamuddin, Mohd Anuar and Mohd Ashraf as well as Selangor MACC investigations chief, Hairul Ilham Hamzah, and Klang MACC assistant enforcement officer Zulkefly Aziz.

The Bar had recommended that the five be investigated under Section 304A of the Penal Code for causing the death of Teoh via negligence.

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Teoh’s death: A-G’s ‘afraid’ to prosecute

PETALING JAYA: With the amount of skeletons in his closet, Attorney-General Abdul Ghani Patail would be "digging his own grave" if he prosecutes anyone over the Teoh Beng Hock's death, said a retired senior policeman today.

Ex- Kuala Lumpur criminal investigation department(CID) chief Mat Zain Ibrahim said this was the reason why Ghani was being cowardly and 'afraid'  to institute criminal proceedings against any persons  recommended by the royal commission of inquiries (RCIs).

"It's for his own survival.  Ghani will not institute any criminal proceeding against any person or persons  that are being recommended by any RCIs.

"It is not about lack of evidence or that the case needs further investigation from the appropriate Department or anything to that effect. The RCIs recommendations are valid and proper.

"I state without any hesitation, that Ghani is himself very afraid to take any actions.

"To institute any criminal proceeding against those persons would be like digging his own grave.

"It is like putting himself in the same boat with those people he is suppose to charge and prosecute.

The only difference would be those people may have only one charge hanging over their heads,while Gani Patail has several times more," said Mat Zain in an e-mail to FMT today.

He said an RCI in 1999 to investigate the 'black eye' incident had found that Ghani had committed "various criminal offences" .

"He can be charged for at least six(6) cases of fabrication of evidence, each carrying a sentence of up to seven(7) years imprisonment upon conviction.

"As far as the documentary evidences against him are concerned, they are all there in the RCI report,consented by The Agong for all to see," said Mat Zain.

'Blatant' snub

Mat Zain was the lead investigator in Anwar Ibrahim's 1998 "black eye" case and has repeatedly accused that Ghani and the former Inspector General of Police fabricated evidence for the past three years.

Mat Zain said this was the reason Ghani is so "daring" and "blatant" to snub a group of Commissioners appointed by Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

He said that the commissioners appointed are normally not just anybody from the streets, but were people of unquestionable integrity and of certain standing in society.

"Unfortunately after these Commissioners have completed their tasks, they are being reduced to being mere lackeys and useless persons by none other than the A-G himself."

He again called for the Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to set up a tribunal to investigate Gani.

He said a tribunal can be formed by the Agong on Najib's advise.

"All the PM needs to do is to set up a Tribunal and it will be over within a couple of days. There's no need to engage foreign expert or foreign retired investigators like they did in the RCI to investigate into TBH's death and waste tax payers funds…which are depleting by the
day," said Mat Zain.

Mat Zain had noted that this was the second time Ghani has failed to act on recommendations by a commission of inquiry, the first being the failure to act on a previous RCI in 2007 probing allegations that appointments of judges were fixed.

Case closed

On Thursday, it was revealed in parliament that the A-G's Chambers has closed its case on Teoh's death and had cleared the three MACC officers named in the RCI report– which had found that Teoh was driven to suicide after aggressive interrogation– of all offences.

Teoh, 30, was the political aide of Selangor executive council member Ean Yong Hian Wah. He was found dead on July 16, 2009, on the fifth-floor corridor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam after he was questioned overnight by the MACC officers on the 14th floor.

An inquest was held but could only reach an "open verdict". An RCI was subsequently held and the five-man RCI panel, headed by then federal court judge James Foong, had singled out the three officers who were involved in Teoh's interrogations.

They were Selangor MACC deputy director Hishamuddin Hashim and his subordinates Mohd Anuar Ismail and Mohd Ashraf Mohd Yunus.

The Bar Council, which played an active role in the RCI into Teoh's death, had urged the A-G to clarify and explain his decision.

Contrary to the RCI report which named the three men, the Bar Council had recommended that five MACC officers be investigated for culpable homicide.

The five officers include Hishamuddin, Mohd Anuar and Mohd Ashraf as well as Selangor MACC investigations chief, Hairul Ilham Hamzah, and Klang MACC assistant enforcement officer Zulkefly Aziz.

The Bar had recommended that the five be investigated under Section 304A of the Penal Code for causing the death of Teoh via negligence.

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K’jaan perlu belanja RM43 bilion jika mansuh PTPTN

BATU PAHAT: Kerajaan perlu membelanjakan RM43 bilion jika Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPN) dimansuhkan, kata Perdana Menteri hari ini.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak berkata, tindakan memansuhkan PTPTN itu akan hanya membebankan kerajaan.

Perdana Menteri berkata demikian sebagai mengulas desakan daripada parti-parti pembangkang yang bercadang memansuhkan PTPTN jika mereka memenangi pilihan raya umum akan datang ini.

"Hanya ada tiga buah negara di dunia yang menanggung sepenuhnya pengajian tinggi rakyatnya seperti Norway. Tetapi Norway mengenakan cukai yang tinggi terhadap rakyatnya," katanya ketika merasmikan program Jelajah Janji Ditepati di yang dihadiri 50,000 rakyat di Stadium Batu Pahat di sini, hari ini.

Beliau yang juga Menteri Kewangan berkata kerajaan tidak mahu membebankan rakyat dengan mengenakan cukai yang tinggi berikutan keputusan untuk menghapuskan PTPTN.

"Kita tidak mahu membebankan rakyat dengan cukai yang terlalu tinggi," katanya.

Najib berkata, pada ketika ini pun kerajaan menanggung kira-kira 90 peratus daripada kos pengajian tinggi rakyat, dengan PTPTN hanya digunakan untuk membayar yuran pengajian pelajar.

Sebelum itu dalam ucapannya, Najib berkata beliau akan mengumumkan keputusan kerajaan tentang dasar gaji minimum pada akhir bulan ini.

Beliau juga mengumumkan kepada ribuan rakyat yang menghadiri program itu bahawa kerajaan telah bersetuju untuk memperuntukkan RM6 juta bagi pembinaan pasar awam baru Batu Pahat.

Kerajaan menurutnya turut bersetuju untuk memperuntukkan RM3 juta bagi pembinaan pasar borong baru daerah itu.

Perdana Menteri juga berkata, kerajaan telah bersetuju untuk mengeluarkan peruntukan bagi membaiki longkang-longkang yang tersumbat di bandar Batu Pahat.

- Bernama

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Malaysians fail to get into Harvard for second year running

by Lee Wei Lian
The Malaysian Insider
Apr 07, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 — Malaysians failed to gain admission into the world's most prestigious university for the second year in a row due to a slide in the quality of applicants, said Harvard University's selection panel chief for Malaysia.

Not only did no Malaysian student receive an offer letter but none apparently was even good enough to make it to the interview rounds.

This comes after a controversy erupte over the quality of Malaysian education when Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin pointed to a World Economic Forum report to claim that Malaysians had a higher standard of education compared to that in some advanced countries.

Opposition lawmaker Tony Pua later rubbished Muhyiddin's claims, pointing to another international study — the PISA 2009+ — that showed Malaysian students lagging far behind western nations in terms of literacy, mathematics and scientific understanding.

Datuk Dr Goh Cheng Teik, who leads the Harvard team that interviews prospective Malaysian students, said he was informed the quality of applicants had deteriorated.

"I called the Harvard College of Admissions Office and was told that although they received applications from Malaysian students, no one was shortlisted for interviews as they are not considered competitive enough," he was quoted as saying by The Star.

A two-year absence from incoming Harvard freshman classes is enough to raise concerns over the quality trends of Malaysian education given that at least one Malaysian had been admitted to Harvard every year from 1985 to 2010.

A statement from Harvard's interview panel showed that Malaysia was only fourth among Southeast Asian countries in terms of enrolment in the Ivy League institution.

Singapore has the highest number of Harvard undergraduates with 18, followed by Thailand with seven, Vietnam with six, Malaysia with five and Indonesia with two.

SMK Damansara Jaya alumnus Avinaash Subramaniam, who was awarded a full scholarship, was the last Malaysian accepted at Harvard in 2010.

Harvard was ranked the world's best university for seven consecutive years by Times Higher Education (THE) until it was bumped into second place by the California Institute of Technology last year.

It was ranked the No. 1 university in the world last year by the Center for World-Class Universities of Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Some 34,950 applicants were received by Harvard for the 2016 graduating class and only 6.3 per cent were accepted.

According to the World Economic Forum's global competitiveness report that was cited by Muhyiddin, Malaysia was ranked 14th among 142 countries and second in Asean for quality education.

Pua pointed out however that the WEF study was merely based on the opinions of 87 local businessmen who were asked to rate on a scale of one to seven how much they felt the country's educational system has met the needs of a competitive economy.

He noted that the PISA report said that only "56 per cent of students are estimated to have a proficiency in reading literacy that is at or above the baseline level needed to participate actively and productively in life".

For mathematics, the PISA study revealed that only 41 per cent of students are proficient in the subject at the baseline level. For science, 57 per cent made the baseline level.

This entry was posted on Saturday, 7 April 2012, 12:01 pm and is filed under Education, Muhyiddin Yassin, university. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0.  

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SMSes, mail slandering Pakatan ‘hit’ Malaysians

PETALING JAYA:  Anonymous text messages and e-mails smearing Pakatan Rakyat leaders have been making its rounds and no one knows where its coming from.

Annoyed that he has been getting these unsolicited spam in his phone and inbox for the past few months, student-cum-account executive Yat Guo Jian alerted FMT to this recent trend.

"I would say I'm pretty disappointed with the senders because they are stooping so low just to sabotage the other party, when some of the mainstream media is already on their side i.e – The Star, Utusan," said the 28-year-old blogger.

"These pro-BN efforts to smear the oppositions just amuses me," Yat said.

Describing these seemingly random and unwelcome SMSes as more than just an annoyance, 29-year-old doctor Kelly Siew said it amounted to an invasion of privacy.

"Who are these people and how did they get my number? It's a desperate act, clearly," she said.

While another complainant said that he was unaffected by the contents of the messages.

"At the end of the day, these SMSes and e-mail doesn't affect me. I vote for the MP that can serve my constituency well," said photographer/video producer, Michael Yip, 36.

"Want my vote? Perform, if you can't perform, even if you're a friend,  I will vote you out the next general election," said Yip.

Yip added that "the DAP MP" in his area was incompetent and does not work well.

"Never once see his face since the last GE. So next election, pandai pandai lor (we'll see what happens)," he said.

Stoking fear

One SMS shown to FMT talked about the Batu Kawan solar panel plant (Robert Bosch solar Photovoltaics), in Penang which has stoked radioactive fears that have been likened to that of the Lynas rare earth plant in Kuantan.

"Lim Guan Eng (Penang chief minister) bnrkan prjek kilang solar yg kluarkn toksik di Batu Kawan. Blh cemar alam & bunuh pnddk sbb sisa toksik. Apa beza dgn Lynas? Tnya LGE & Fuziah Salleh (Lim Guan Eng allowed a solar factory project which emits toxic in Batu Kawan. Can pollute the environment and kill residents due to toxic waste. What's the difference with Lynas? Ask LGE and (Kuantan MP) Fuziah Salleh)

Another, a forwarded e-mail sent from one "anwar@apcos.biz", read:"DAP gunakan orang melayu seperti Anwar Ibrahim untuk hancurkan melayu kerana DAP sedar kalau melayu berpecah, baru DAP boleh berkuasa (The DAP uses Malays such as Anwar Ibrahim to destroy the Malays because DAP is aware that if Malays are split, only then they can be in power).

Yet another mail, this time from one "horse@apcos.biz", talked about the garbage collection issues plaguing Selangor and PAS leadership. It also attacked Lim for legalising gambling.

The message read:"Sampah sana sini di Selangor, Lim Guan Eng halalkan judi, Azizan kata saya bos di Kedah tapi Nik Aziz jawab suka sayalah nak bubar ke tak DUN Kelantan. Alamak kecewa anna. (Rubbish here and there in Selangor, Lim Guan Eng legalising gambling, (Kedah Mentri Besar) Azizan (Abdul Razak) says he is boss in Kedah but (Kelantan menteri besar) Nik (Abdul) Aziz (Nik Mat) replies that its up to him to dissolve state assembly. Alamak disappointed)

Another SMS referred to the ongoing RM445million Hong Leong bank's breach of loan repayment case where the defendant has repeatedly attempted to rope in Anwar and has tried to implicate the former deputy prime minister and finance minister's alleged involvement.

"Hood Osman linked to Hong Leong case is Anwar man. want to be N. Port Ceo's. PNG must stop this risk! Read Another Brick in the Wall's blog, 'jika cuai bawa padah' (negligence brings consequences)," it read.

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Gun Begins to Smoke in Malaysian Sub Scandal

John Berthelsen

The Tunku Abdul Rahman ties up in Penang

Money may have been funneled to UMNO officials through Hong Kong incorporated company

French investigating magistrates probing the US$ 1.2 billion sale of submarines to the Malaysian Defense Ministry are targeting, among other things, a Hong Kong-based company called Terasasi (Hong Kong) Ltd., whose principal officers are Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's close friend and the friend's father.

Investigators believe that at least some of the €36 million funneled through Terasasi ended up in the pockets of Najib, who was Malaysia's defense minister and deputy prime minister when the two Scorpene submarines were purchased from Thales International or Thint Asia. The state-owned defense giant DCN, later known as DCNS, and Thales established a joint company named Armaris to manufacture the submarines in 2002.

The two Armaris Scorpenes, named for the first prime minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman, and Najib's father, Tun Abdul Razak, are on duty in Malaysian waters.

Abdul Razak Baginda, the former head of a Malaysian think tank who was at the center of a 2006 investigation into the death of Mongolian translator and party girl Altantuya Shaariibuu, is listed as one of the two directors of the company, which was previously incorporated on June 28, 2002 as Kinabalu Advisory and Support Services Ltd according to the Hong Kong Companies Registry. The other director is Abdul Malim Baginda, Baginda's father.

The Terasasi offices are located on the 19th floor of an office at 3 Lockhart Road in the Wan Chai district of Hong Kong. There is no indication in Hong Kong government records of what Terasasi's business is. It is only listed as a "local company." However, French authorities say Terasasi apparently received regular payments from Thint Asia. One payment was for €360,000 accompanied with a handwritten note saying "Razak wants it to be paid quickly."

The magistrates have documents that show that the money was funneled from Thint Asia to Terasasi — €3 million of it when Terasasi was still domiciled in Malaysia, and €33 million after it was incorporated in Hong Kong. There is no indication at this point where the money went. French investigators, however, theorize that it was part of €146 million that may have been funneled to officials of the United Malays National Organization and Najib, who traveled with Abdul Razak Baginda several times to France as defense minister at the time the Malaysians purchased the submarines from DCNS.

On at least one trip in 2004, Altantuya, then Razak Baginda's lover, accompanied him to France as a translator. He later jilted her, impelling her to come to Kuala Lumpur to demand US$ 500,000 from him. In a handwritten letter found after her death, she wrote that she was attempting to blackmail him, although she didn't say why. Two of Najib's bodyguards were convicted of shooting her in the head and blowing up her body with plastic explosives in September 2006, possibly to hide the fact that she was pregnant when she was killed.

Because her killing does not appear to be connected to the scandal, French investigators are not looking into the causes of her death or the reasons behind it.

Although Razak Baginda was charged with abetting her murder, he was released without having to put up a defense and fled to the UK, where he remains. Najib's former bodyguards remain on death row in Malaysia. Their appeal against the death penalty has been delayed, presumably until after national elections expected in May or June this year.

It was previously revealed on the floor of the Dewan Rakyat, Malaysia's parliament, that Perimekar received another €114 million as a commission on the sale of the vessels. Perimekar at the time was wholly owned by another company, KS Ombak Laut Sdn Bhd, which in turn was also controlled by Razak Baginda and Mazalinda. Perimekar is now 20 percent each owned by the military retirement system LTAT and Boustead Holdings.

Two years of police investigation at the behest of the Malaysian NGO Suaram into the sale of the submarines culminated recently with the appointment of investigating magistrates Roger Le Loire and Serge Tournaire at the Paris Tribunal de Grande Instance, according to Agence France Press, which said the probe involves three contracts for the submarines which were signed on June 5, 2002.

According to the documents, the contracts had two components: the sale of two submarines built by Thint and the Spanish shipbuilding firm Izar, for €920 million; and the delivery of "logistical support" from Perimekar Bhd – the €114 million — to train the first 200 Royal Malaysian Navy personnel although there is no indication that the company had the wherewithal to train them.

Under the bribery conventions of the 32-member Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the French defense contractors could be liable for criminal sanctions if it is proven that no real services were delivered by the companies. Under French law, violators are liable for up to 10 years in prison.

Joseph Breham, a lawyer with Solicitors International Human Rights Group which was engaged by Suaram, said in October last year that DCNS often budgeted as much as 8 to 12 percent of its total receipts as "commissions" to grease sales of armaments in third-world countries. Breham said Perimekar had received the commission for "supporting the contract," which he said was a euphemism for unexplained costs, and also for "housing the crew" of the submarines in France.

In France, before 2002, any money used to bribe foreign officials was tax deductible. When the former finance director of DCN made a claim for €31 million allegedly used to bribe the Malaysians for the purchase of the Scorpenes, Breham said, the Minister of Budget questioned such a large bribe, although he did eventually authorize the tax break.

The contracts cited by AFP included the €114 million one paid by the Malaysian government to Perimekar. The second, called "C5 contract of engineering business," was concluded in August 2000 between DCNI, a subsidiary of DCN, and Thales International Asia worth some €30 million. The third was the "consulting agreement" signed in October 2000 between Thint Asia and Terasasi.

The French investigators are also studying one of the invoices issued by Terasasi in August 2004 for €359,450 sent to Thint Asia. For investigators, "it appears that… the amounts paid to Terasasi ultimately benefited Najib, the defense minister, or his adviser Razak Baginda."

Olivier Metzner, a lawyer for Thales, told the French daily Le Parisien that "we have already demonstrated to investigators that there was no corruption in this case." However, a confidential memorandum made available to Asia Sentinel and the Malaysian website Free Malaysia Today states that: "The beneficiaries of these funds are not difficult to imagine: the family clan and Razak Baginda relations. In addition, these funds will find their way to the dominant political party (Umno)."

John Berthelsen is the editor of Asia Sentinel

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Kedahans gather to back Bersih 3.0...

PAS supporters came in full force to support the launch of Bersih 3.0 by Pakatan leaders in Alor Setar last night, where the event unfolded peacefully without any disruption.

Earlier, a group of about 50 people wearing black T-shirts with the word 'Perkasa' written in red disrupted a PKR event along Jalan Putra, where a vendor was nearly hit on the head by a protester.

The Bersih 3.0 supporters sat on the muddy football field and listened attentively for more than three hours to a series of speeches by well-known personalities like national laureate A Samad Said, de facto Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and PAS veep Mahfuz Omar.

Malaysiakini estimates the crowd swelled to more than 5,000 at the height of the event.

Bersih steering committee member Toh Kin Woon started the ball rolling by going through the origins of Bersih, while Samad read out his poems on the movement and of potential radioactive hazards by Australian-based Lynas plant in Gebeng, Pahang.

The energetic Samad (left) explained why he supported the call for electoral reform, saying he was already in his seventies but "I do not want to die in vain".

Samad's speech veered into politics when he spoke about the Malays feeling threatened if Umno no longer ruled the country.

"The government leaders, police, a! rmy and civil servants are all Malays. Why do the Malays still feel threatened?

"If the Malays feel they are in danger, then they should seek for change," he added.

The crowd was moved and impressed with his speech as many, especially youths, approached him after the event and took turns to snap photos with the celebrity.

Samad, a co-chairperson of Bersih 2.0, played a key role in the July 9 rally last year which saw about 15,000 people marching in Kuala Lumpur to back the NGOs coalition's eight demands for electoral reform.

Last Tuesday, another Bersih 2.0 co-chairperson S Ambiga announced that Bersih 3.0 will be held in Dataran Merdeka on Apr 28, with the theme duduk bantah (sit-down protest).

The Bersih 3.0 announcement came following the parliamentary select committee (PSC) on electoral reform's "incomplete" audit of the electoral roll as it has not addressed issues related to postal voting, election offences, and measures to end dirty politics.

The NGOs coalition has issued three key demands: the Election Commission must resign; the electoral roll must be cleaned up before the general election can be held; and international observers be allowed to monitor the polls.

Mahfuz, who is Pokok Sena MP was in his usual element, storming on the stage while explaining to the already converted crowd of why PAS supported Bersih 3.0.

He pointed out the dangers of a dubious electoral roll, hitting out at the ruling coalition's alleged policy of issuing identity cards and thus voting rights to countless migrants.

"Umno often talks about the M! alays be ing threatened. We are threatened by these foreigners who are issued identity cards so they can vote.

"I will not allow these people to decide the fate of this country and our future," he thundered.

Meanwhile, Anwar arrived at about 10pm after attending a state PKR fundraising dinner at the Keat Hwa Secondary School hall which was attended by about 1,000 people.

In his speech, the Pakatan leader regurgitated issues like the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) controversy which has led to the resignation of Women, Family and Community Development Minister Sharizat Abdul Jalil.

Anwar also teased Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for his "cowardice" in rejecting a debate with him, pointing out that most of the world leaders are always involved in debates.

But it was the mere mention of the word "lembu" (as in cattle breeding by the NFC) and "Rosmah" (Najib's spouse) which drew the heartiest laughter from the mostly Malay crowd.

Despite the leadership problems afflicting the Kedah government and its embattled Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak, Anwar endorsed him as a leader worthy of support.

"He may not be perfect but he is not corrupted and does not steal the rakyat's money," Anwar added.- malaysiakini

Rakyat Kedah hadir pelancaran BERSIH 3.0...

Penyokong PAS datang berduyun-duyun malam tadi bagi menyatakan sokongan terhadap pelancaran perhimpunan BERSIH 3.0 oleh pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat yang berlangsung aman tanpa kejadian yang tidak diingini berlaku.

Sebelum itu, sekumpulan 50 orang yang memakai baju kemeja T hitam tertulis perkataan 'Perkasa' berwarna merah, telah mengganggu program PKR di Jalan Putra, yang menyaksikan seorang peniaga hampir dipukul oleh kumpulan itu.

Penyokong BERSIH 3.0 duduk di atas padang yang berlumpur untuk mendengar ceramah lebih tiga jam daripada beberapa tokoh, antaranya Sasterawan Negara Datuk A Samad Said, Ketua Umum PKR Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dan Naib Presiden PAS Datuk Mahfuz Omar.

Wartawan Malaysiakini yang membuat liputan menganggarkan lebih 5,000 orang hadir dalam ceramah tersebut.
Dalam ceramahnya, A Samad menjelaskan beliau menyokong untuk mereformasikan sistem pilihan raya memandangkan umurnya yang menjangkau 70-an dan beliau "tidak mahu mati sia-sia".-malaysiakini

 cheers.

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Mr PM, don’t extend full withdrawal age limit — Unhappy EPF Member

APRIL 7 — Dear Datuk Seri,

I am one of those who plan to retire next year on reaching 55 years of age.

Please listen to our pleas NOT to allow the EPF to extend the full withdrawal of our savings to 60 years.

I and many of my friends have already made plans to use our retirement funds for our children's further education overseas, to invest in affordable properties, to go on a hard-earned holiday, to seek medical treatment, etc.

Please don't be so cruel as to dash our plans, dreams and hopes. Please do not rob our children of their bright future; unless you are prepared to find a way for us to get easier financing for their overseas studies.

You don't give with one hand (extending the retirement age to 60) and take away with the other hand (withholding our 35 years of hard-earned money).

I hope you will give us a positive and favourable assurance BEFORE the coming GE. If we don't have your positive assurance, frankly, it will be quite difficult for us to support your BN government.

* Unhappy EPF Member 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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Islamic fundamentalists, Christian threats and Freudian slips — Alwyn Lau

APRIL 7 — One of the popular stories Slavoj Žižek tells is about a man who is suspected of stealing items from his factory. The police, in an effort to catch him in the act, decide to station themselves at the factory gate. At night, the man would come out with a wheelbarrow. When he reached the gate, the police would then stop him and inspect everything inside the barrow. But each time the man came out with a wheelbarrow, the police could never find anything. It's only after a long time that the police realised their folly: the man was stealing wheelbarrows.

The subversive point of the story is that often we should suspect the framework and the formulation of a given problem. It is not what the barrow contains but the barrow itself.

Take the latest inter-religious fiasco in Malaysia. The Johor Education Department organises a teacher-training seminar with an over-extended and boring title which nevertheless raised the blood pressure of many non-Muslims because it included the phrase "the threat of Christianisation to Islam". After a public outcry, this was "resolved" by a simple title change. Now, it seems, Christianisation no longer threatens Islam, at least not in the title.

Of course, not everyone is happy.

Funny-mentalists like Pembela and Perkasa decried the "cowardice" of the change, demanding that Muslims in Malaysia have the constitutionally guaranteed right to organise events with such nasty names and that the seminar organisers should not have bowed to political pressure. The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) strongly requested that not just the name but the very content of the seminar must be amended such that any implication that Christianity was threatening Islam is removed. This was soon followed by Hasan Ali's video revelation of three Muslims who converted to Christianity then later re-converted back to Islam (this double-proselytisation being itself problematic, as Joshua Woo points out) and his claim that Christians have been exploiting the weakening faith of Muslims occasioned by society's materialism and hedonism.

At the end of the day, some form of resolution has been found, which is not unlike the "resolution" of the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) raid on the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) last year. In that case, ultimately the Sultan said that JAIS were right to conduct the raid but DUMC weren't sufficiently wrong — go figure.

And yet the key questions of this incident remain:

Why did the Johor Education Department use the title at all? Was it not aware of the controversy it would raise?

Assuming — cautiously — that Umno is not involved (especially in election season?) and — generously — that sheer stupidity and insensitivity is not at play here, why would a state body of such outstanding quality (if Helen Ang's gushing holds water) commit such a boo-boo?

To revert to the wheelbarrow example about the importance of the frame itself, one answer is mildly plausible: could it be that fundamentalist Muslims in the various Islamic organisations involved and the Johor Education Department require a constant element of fear as an integral part of that which constitutes its own faith?

Not unlike Pembela and Perkasa who can feel threatened by 5,000 copies of the Alkitab (the Bible in the Malay language) coming in to the country, were the Johor seminar organisers doing nothing more than producing what they have believe — that other religions were up to no good?

In a word, are threats to fundamentalist faith something which such faith needs to include into itself?

You know how scorned lovers often lament about their loss of love, their rejection, how life is unfair, etc.? Is it not true that some of these folks, when pressed to discuss the reasons why their boy- or girlfriend has left them, nevertheless adopt an attitude of not wanting to know? They would choose ignorance because the very act of being depressed is "enjoyable" in itself, a form of enjoyment which would be diminished should the truth come to light (that, say, the relationship had lost its romance or that one's girlfriend couldn't stand one's constant bickering, etc). Such people simply cannot take the loss of enjoyment which comes from more understanding; they prefer to continue bemoaning and weeping over their lost love.

Does this not resemble Pembela when they remind everyone that the Constitution guarantees the right of Muslims to organise such seminars? Are they not declaring, in effect, that "I have the right to feel irrationally threatened and nothing anyone says will change that"? Pushing this further, does it not sound as if groups like Pembela enjoy feeling threatened?

Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, posited the existence of unconscious desires and wants which cannot be expressed in reality hence must be repressed. But sometimes these desires escape the censorship of our conscious minds (known as the Ego) and "over-flow" into our everyday lives, resulting in symptoms i.e. outward manifestations of inner turmoil. Hence, the notion of the Freudian slip — an (unintended) public expression of a (poorly) repressed desire.

We should be clear: it is NOT that certain fundamentalists (of all stripes, not only Muslims) are afraid that their members will commit apostasy and therefore feel the need to educate the community (this may be true but it leaves unaddressed the question of why they can be so irrationally afraid). It is that the fear of apostasy is part and parcel of what it means to be a fundamentalist, a fear which "makes up" the faith as they know it, a fear which drives them to even greater efforts at religious policing and outward "righteousness".

It's something they're too ashamed to acknowledge in public, which they are thus forced to repress — but not always successfully.

And if the Johor Education Department "slipped", then Hasan Ali must have totally "fell". I'm not the only one who suspects that Hasan's logic is entirely "out of this world" when he says that Muslims ravaged by the winds of hedonism are thereby easier targets for Christian proselytisation. As if greedy, pleasure-seeking people are more likely to become Christian. As if it's not often the opposite case where the church helps those who are poverty-stricken, including Muslims, who then later choose to identify with the Christian story.

So assuming that Hasan's arguments have no grounding in rationality, perhaps it helps to think of his words and actions as necessarily central to, because formative of, of his fundamentalism i.e. he would absolutely fear the day when there is no longer any fear of proselytisation because this would be the day that his brand of Islam begins to disintegrate.

Like the gay-hating father (played by Chris Cooper) in "American Beauty", the more he hates homosexuals, the more his homosexual tendencies manifest themselves. In fact, his hate for homosexuals was the ultimate expression of his need for homosexual affection.

All of which highlights the vulnerable and less than fully authentic nature of the kind of faith fundamentalists have. True belief, it has been said, casts out fear. A pure faith also rejects an obsessive concern with policing other faiths and in fact longs to see the good in the different. Love, in other words, is present in the genuine.

In contrast, hate and prejudice usually reign in the minds of those who are afraid that their personal and spiritual insecurities will come into the public light. Yet paradoxically, like Oedipus, the more they want to run away from their own fears (by accusing others of being the source of these fears), the more they actualise what they fear because the fundamentalist's greatest fear is having nothing to fear.

In the context of inter-religious issues in Malaysia, then, it's not about what people believe but how they believe and — critically — those aspects of their beliefs which do not "show up" in official doctrine yet manifest themselves in broad daylight (or, in this context, seminar titles).

Remember, it's not what's in the barrow — it's the barrow itself. — New Mandala

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

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Ballet, NFCorp and the civil service — Yow Hong Chieh

APRIL 7 — Puspal's decision to refuse the Singapore Dance Theatre a performance permit and the alleged abuse of public funds by NFCorp have their roots in the same sticky source — the civil service.

To be frank, I don't think stopping the ballet troupe from doing a show here was in line with the agency's general directives.

The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC) said earlier this week that two previous applications for the Singapore dance company had not met with any problems.

This sounds to me more like the work of an overzealous Puspal officer, who felt the show must not go on for reasons best known to him.

Regardless of why, the permit denial appears inconsistent, as charged by MyDance Alliance president Bilqis Hijjas. That is a bigger problem than one aborted show.

Don't get me wrong. It's sad KLPAC and Singapore Dance Theatre had to cancel the show due to what was most likely an outlier call by a Puspal officer.

But the main issue here is whether there are enough checks and balances in place to minimise arbitrary decision-making by the vast legion of government staffers who make up the wheels and cogs of the administration.

I'm not saying all civil servants can't be trusted to stick to standards set by their respective ministries and, more broadly, the prime minister. But oversight is not for the compliant majority, it's for those errant few who function like a law unto themselves.

Puspal's alleged verbal notification of the permit refusal shows protocols are either lacking or were simply not adhered to.

Surely an explanation has to be made in writing on why an application was turned down — bureaucrats are not called paper-pushers for nothing.

This brings me to NFCorp and the crimes its chairman allegedly committed.

Every drawdown from the RM250 million government soft loan given to the cattle- rearing company had to be approved by the Finance Ministry, based on technical reports prepared by the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry.

But it seems the ministries disbursed the funds to NFCorp despite the absence of reports stating what the firm intended to do with the dosh. How did this happen, especially since the restrictions were put in place precisely to safeguard millions of taxpayers' ringgit from being misused?

It appears that the mechanisms we have in place have failed to ensure that civil servants don't have the opportunity to do as they please, for whatever reason they choose.

Why does this matter? Let's say for the sake of argument that the prime minister is serious in his reform push. How then is he expected to drive transformation if its realisation comes down to the whims and fancies of each individual officer?

All it takes is one rotten apple to torpedo his efforts, plus any goodwill that might have arisen from it.

If Datuk Seri Najib Razak sincerely wants his measures carried out effectively and uniformly, he needs to make the system more robust to ensure his directives are obeyed by every civil servant all the way down to the office boys at the bottom rung of the wage ladder.

If not, he can forego his dreams of NEM, ETP and 1 Malaysia, and accept that it's just 1 Najib making hollow promises in his large, empty office in Putrajaya.

* Yow Hong Chieh is a reporter with 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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YTL does not manage KLPAC — Alvin Goh

APRIL 7 — In The Malaysian Insider article on April 6, "Puspal suggests KLPAC forged ballet permit application", it was written that "KLPAC, a performance centre run by infrastructure conglomerate YTL…"

Please allow me to clarify that YTL does not manage the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre.

In our desire to encourage performing arts in Kuala Lumpur, we built the iconic KLPAC at Sentul Park. The centre has been managed independently for a number of years by Joe Hasham and Datuk Faridah Merican.

With regards to the matter at hand, we are confident issues will be resolved quickly and amicably between all parties.

* Alvin Goh, Managing Director's Office, YTL Corporation Berhad.

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

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Group slams Lynas’ push to appeal TOL suspension

KUALA LUMPUR: Anti-Lynas group, Himpunan Hijau has slammed Lynas's argument for wanting a Temporary Operating License (TOL) soon.

Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) announced on Thursdays that Lynas's TOL was on hold until Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Maximus Ongkili had heard an appeal from the project's detractors.

But Lynas's local managing director, Maslan Ahmad responded yesterday arguing that the delay will would only hurt the suppliers – 90 percent of whom are Malaysians.

"This is a load of bullshit. The suppliers, contractors, subcontractors who benefit from the project are a small portion compared to those affected by the project," said Stanley Yong, secretary general of the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Asssembly Hall which supported the Himpunan Hijau initiative.

Yong said that if these suppliers saw the ensuing "nightmare" should the project be given the green light, then these suppliers, contractors and subcontractors would also back away from the project and join its detractors.

Wong Tack, Himpunan Hijau's chairman said that Lynas's argument only showed that they were interested in the monetary aspect of the project.

"Compared to the millions of lives which will be affected, they are only concern over the millions which they will earn.

"They are responding out of greed and not care or concern about the people. But we don't care what kind of gimmick (Lynas pursues) we just want them to get out," he said.

Green rally on April 28

AELB's director-general Raja Abdul Aziz Raja Adnan said that the decision to withhold Lynas'  TOL was reached after a board meeting on March 22.

He also said that this was an unprecedented case in the 25 years that the Atomic Energy Licensing Law (Act 304) came into force.

Minister Ongkili said last month that he agreed to meet with Save Malaysia Stop Lynas chairman Tan Bun Teet and five others to review AELB's decision to grant Lynas the TOL.

Himpunan Hijau held a press conference today to announce their protest plans on April 28 where they will join forces with Bersih.

This will be their third protest.  The first was held on October 9  2011 in Kuantan. The second was held February 26 this year in Kuantan and KL where 15 000 and 500 people who turned respectively to protest the project.

The detractors have been protesting over the fears of the project's potential radioactive residue.

The authorities, however,  have maintained that the project is safe.

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Bersih rally: Anti-Lynas group to walk from KLCC

KUALA LUMPUR: The anti-Lynas group Himpuan Hijau will gather in Kuala Lumpur Conventional Centre (KLCC) park on April 28 before converging with Bersih 3.0′s gathering at Dataran Merdeka.

They will gather in the park at 12pm – two hours before the scheduled Bersih rally is to take place and walk to Dataran Merdeka.

"The green tsunami will converge in the sea of yellow. Let the whole world see what happens on April 28.  On that day there will be two separate events – Himpunan 3.0 and Bersih 3.0,

"Both movement champion two different critical issues in this nation but with one common goal, that is to leave a better legacy and future for out next generation," said the group's chairperson Wong Tack.

Wong added that the anti-Lynas movement was done talking and said that "enough is enough".

"We are not gathering to scream or to yell. We have spoken enough, we have yelled enough. Enough is enough.

"The responses from the authority and government over Lynas in unacceptable and our decision is final, Lynas must get out of Malaysia," he said.

When asked how many people were they expecting at the rally today, Himpunan organisers said that they expected "tens of thousands" to gather to show their support.

Wong added that even when people could not make it to the rally in Kuala Lumpur (KL), they should join the local gathering to show their protest.

Asked if the authorities will allow for the protest to take place, Wong said: "It is not a question to allow or not to allow, it is the duty of the police to protect the crowd".

Bersih has already estimated that a crowd of half a million will converge during the protest.

'Critical moment now'

On Wednesday at Bersih's official announcement of their third rally, Himpunan Hijau representatives present also announced their support for the effort and said that they will join the rally.

This will also be Himpunan's third rally. The first was held on October 9  2011 in Kuantan.

The second was held February 26 this year in Kuantan and in KL where 15, 000 and 500 people turned up in the respective locations to protest the Lynas project. The crux issue was fear over its potential radioactive residue.

Stanley Yong, secretary general of the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Asssembly Hall which supported the initiative said that the government was merely "kicking the ball aimlessly around the field" without solving the issue at hand.

"In the government you have so many Ministries, you have the Health Ministry, a ministry to oversee community needs, but yet they have formed endless committees to oversee this Lynas issue.

"They are kicking the ball left and right, east and west but no where near the goal. On top of that they are confusing the people," he said.

The government announced in March that a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) will be formed to oversee the safety of the project.

This committee however was boycotted by the Pakatan leaders who claim that the government has already made up its mind to continue with the project.

Wong said today that it was timely to stop the join Bersih to demand for a cleaner environment and cleaner government.

"It is timely to be in solidarity…It is a matter of life and death. It is a critical moment now," he said.

Alos present today were representatives from other environmental groups such as Pahang Raub Anti- Cynanide Gold Mining Commitee, Safe Rawang, Realign High Tension Cable and Jaringan Activist Alam Sekitar Perak who are currently protesting the construction of iron ore mining plant in Teluk Rubiah, Perak.

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the price of arrogance !

The sight that greeted me today at the UKRC was over-whelming ! Talk about 1Malaysia.....hmmm...well come to think of it, 1Malaysia IS only talk anyway !

Scenes like this has been going on for years dating back to the 60's when there were British soldiers based in Terendek Camp and air bases were run by Aussies in most aerodromes in the peninsular, when a families came together every Saturday morning, kids in tow, to spend a day at "their" clubhouse. The men bonded together over a few beers and the women folk spent time talking shop or gossiped or bragged about how well their kids were doing in school. And the kids had the whole field to run wild in the morning sun and play the various games organised by the residents appointed committee and for a long long time all was good.

All that changed when a certain son of an immigrant was appointed to head the Selangor state. Greed ( and he still is famous for !) over-took what little, if any, principles he had as he eyed financial gain for himself and his cronies who encouraged him to poke his filthy fingers into the affairs of this once happy and self reliant community and their clubhouse and playing field ! And the rest is history !

Today, a little over 4 years in power, since the March 2008 "tsunami" Malaysia saw, the new PR government, who had in their election address/promise vowed to return the clubhouse together with the playing field to the community and over-turning the "bull-dozed" gazette that the former BN government via Khir Toyo and his goons, imposed on this clubhouse and playing field collectively known as UKRC ! And word on the ground is, this new chief minister of the Selangor state has ackn! owledged in principle that the clubhouse belongs to the residence BUT the field is to be in the state's and the chief minister's pleasure ! Damn these new government if that happened.

There are about a thousand members in this club. Let's take into consideration their spouses and other members of their families. Can we put about 4,000 eligible voters in this small residential garden as a whole of this community. Think what happens in the next GE when this community is scorned if the state rules against their favour and confiscate the field and only allow them ownership of the clubhouse !

Think Khalid, think and think fast, you moron ! You'd be no better then the old government when it comes to living up to your election promises....or are you even worse then the old crooks ? Walk the talk and don't expect the simple but dedicated and responsible folks of Ulu Klang to come begging for scraps.

Give UKRC ( the whole package- their clubhouse and their field ) back to the residents of UK with no deals attached.....or face the wrath of over 4,000 tax-paying voters and their families in the next GE !

Below are pictures of today's gathering at the UKRC.....like any other Saturday morning from the days of our colonial masters. Enjoy !

Cheers Andrew....you have kept the faith of UKRC !

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