MACC want PI Bala to lodge official request

By G. Manimaran

KUALA LUMPUR — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC) is seeking a formal request from private investigator P. Balasubramaniam to enable the graft busters to probe allegations he has made about the circumstances surrounding the death of Altantuya Shaariibuu.

The missing private detective has made a series of sensational claims that Najib knew murdered Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu and his brother Nazim and a businessman linked to the prime minister’s wife made him retract a statutory declaration on the case.

Earlier this month, Balasubramaniam (picture), who is now overseas, had said he was prepared to give a statement to MACC.

The MACC had, in a letter dated Dec 17 to the private detective's lawyer Americk Sidhu, asked Balasubramaniam to deal formally with the agency.

"The MACC have contacted me by sending a letter to my office in KL requesting that I correspond with them on a formal basis before they respond to my original offer of arranging an appointment for them to interview Bala.

"Their letter to my office was dated 17th Dec and arrived on the 21st," Americk said in an email response to The Malaysian Insider.

Balasubramaniam had expressed his intention to cooperate with MACC in an email to the agency earlier this month. On Dec 4, PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin lodged a police report over Balasubramaniam's allegations and handed over a recording of an interview with the private investigator to the authorities.

After a number of blogs and news portals published the interview conducted with Balasubramaniam and his lawyers in Singapore, a number of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders had lodged reports with the MACC.

Balasubramaniam, in his original email to MACC, had listed down conditions for his questioning by the authorities, including a requirement that it be conducted either in Singapore or London.

Asked today if he thought the MACC's response was positive, Americk said:

"I am not sure whether we can consider the MACC's response as positive as all they have asked is for me to reiterate what I have stated earlier in a formal format.

"In this day and age I am not sure why the MACC consider an email not 'formal'."

Datuk Seri Najib Razak has frostily ignored Balasubramaniam’s claims that his architect brother was allegedly involved in the private investigator’s disappearance and payoff for his silence in the Altantuya murder case.

The Umno president has previously denied knowing Altantuya, who was killed in October 2006, despite claims by Bala and popularised by fugitive blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin. Najib’s close friend, political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, was acquitted of charges of plotting her murder while two elite policemen are to hang for the offence. They are appealing the sentence.

In an interview with Bala carried in Raja Petra’s Malaysia-Today.net news portal, the private investigator claimed he met architect Nazim, a younger brother of Najib, last year.

Bala claimed the meeting had been arranged by a carpet businessman identified as Deepak Jaikishan, whom the investigator claimed was a close associate of Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, the PM’s wife.

He also alleged that he was offered RM5 million to retract his first statutory declaration and that his family was threatened if he did not do it.

The former Special Branch policeman further claimed he was forced to sign a second pre-prepared statutory declaration which he claims to have never read and was paid RM750,000 after he disappeared.

So far, no one knows the whereabouts of the private investigator but he claimed he returned three times to Malaysia this year since fleeing in July 2008 after issuing contradictory statutory declarations. Police are seeking him although he claimed to have given them his statement in Bangkok before travelling to India.

Pakatan Rakyat has used the Altantuya case in some of its campaigns in the nine by-elections since Election 2008, winning seven in most opposition-held constituencies. The only Barisan Nasional seat it wrested effectively was the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat.

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Messi wins FIFA World player of the year award

ZURICH, Dec 22 — Lionel Messi became the first Argentine to win the Fifa World Player of the Year award yesterday.

The 22-year-old forward, who also landed the European Footballer of the Year prize earlier this month, picked up the accolade after collecting four major titles with Barcelona — the Champions League, the Club World Cup, La Liga and the King's Cup.

"This finishes a magnificent year for Barcelona, my team mates and for me," said Messi after receiving the trophy from UEFA president and former France international Michel Platini.

The Argentine, who joined Barcelona as a 13-year-old in 2000, claimed 1,073 points in a poll of 147 national team coaches and captains.

Portugal and Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo, last year's winner, was a distant second with 352 points followed by Spain and Barcelona midfielder Xavi (196).

Messi was leading scorer in the 2008-09 Champions League, hitting nine goals including one in the 2-0 final win over Manchester United.

He also notched the extra-time winner in the 2-1 Club World Cup final victory over Estudiantes in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Messi's vote appeared to be entirely based on his club form as his performances for Argentina, under coach Diego Maradona, were largely disappointing.

Argentina struggled to qualify for the World Cup and their results this year included a 6-1 hammering in Bolivia and defeats by Paraguay and Ecuador.

Before the ceremony, Messi told reporters he could not explain why he failed to perform at the same level for his country.

"I don't know," he said. "I try to do the same as I do for Barcelona. But the World Cup qualifiers are complicated, sometimes it's difficult to play and it was a big effort for us to qualify.

"I believe the World Cup could be completely different for us ... it could be better for me and Argentina."

The Fifa award was introduced in 1991. — Reuters
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Pua slams government ‘bailout’ of Syabas

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 10 — DAP chief economist Tony Pua slammed what he described today as an unjustifiable “bailout” of another private company with close ties to the government, this time involving the Selangor water supply company Syabas.

A press statement issued by the Malaysian Rating Company (MARC) yesterday revealed that Syabas, while in financial distress, has been given the AA rating after news that it will receive RM330 million from the federal government.

The statement added that the loan will be unsecured and interest-free and is expected to be given to Syabas by year-end.

The money will be used to repay Syabas' outstanding debts and rectify its cashflow problems.

Speaking to a press conference at Parliament lobby, Pua (picture) expressed shock at the revelation made by MARC and said that the bailout could not have come at a worst time.

"This is a shocking development and we must ask the federal government why it is using taxpayers’ monies to provide life-support to a private company?

"Even when the government forked out RM4.6 billion in soft loans to Port Klang Free Zone, which is a 100 per cent government entity, a 4 per cent interest rate was charged," said Pua, the Petaling Jaya Utara MP.

PAS central committee member and Kuala Selangor MP Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, who was also at the press conference, said the interest-free loan is akin to giving a Christmas present to Syabas.

"Syabas has been given a present in the form of lucrative loan terms by the federal government which is now a Father Christmas," he added.

Syabas is currently at loggerheads with the Pakatan Rakyat-led Selangor government over water supply rights in the state.

The Selangor government is attempting to take over the rights in its bid to restructure the water industry as part of its promise to provide cheaper water to its electorate within the state.

But the Barisan Nasional-led federal government seems keen on awarding the contract to Syabas despite the company's ailing finances, and Pua and other opposition lawmakers want to know why.

"We will make a last-ditch appeal to the Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to intervene to revive the water restructuring exercise under the state government to ensure that the rakyat's interest is fully protected," said Pua. (TMI)
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Dr M transformed BTN to a super-racist agency, says former director

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 8 — Former National Civics Bureau (BTN) director now turned PKR leader Datuk Johari Abdul (picture) claimed that it was Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who made the body a full-fledged racist indoctrination agency, contradicting the former premier who has gone all-out to defend BTN and deny that the body was used by Umno to sow racial hatred.

Speaking at a forum organised by PKR tonight, Johari claimed that prior to Dr Mahathir’s ascendancy as the prime minister, the body, not yet called the BTN, was initially used to counter the influence of anti-establishment Islamic movements in universities in the 1970s.

At the time, the body was headed by another former prime minister, Dr Mahathir’s arch-rival, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. He was not yet a politician at the time but a government officer.

“And when Abdullah became a full time politician, the body officially became BTN and its purpose was to raise the confidence of Malay students who were doing badly academically by instilling ideas like ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy),” said Johari who is also MP for Sungai Petani.

But when Dr Mahathir became prime minister, Johari said the former premier, whom he described as a “shrewd politician”, made full use of the BTN and turned it into a complete Umno-Barisan Nasional (BN) indoctrination machinery to maintain Malay loyalty to the status quo.

“One of the courses (under him) was that the Malay participants were taught to defend the Umno-BN government at all cost. If the Umno-BN government falls, than the Malays are made to think that the Malays would be enslaved in their own country.”

“And then it got worse when (PKR de facto leader) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sacked by Dr Mahathir after a fall-out in 1998 and the BTN was then used to demonise all opposition leaders,” he added.

The PKR leader claimed he was speaking from personal experience as a former director of the agency.

And being a former director and also an Umno man, Johari admitted that he too at one point believed in the teachings of the BTN, and its supposed objective to help the Malays but has since “repented.”

“You know within your conscience that there is something wrong somewhere..it is wrong,” he said.

Johari said however that to be fair there was nothing wrong with the agency itself but that it was the syllabus that needed a revamp. He also said that Umno, as a political entity, has the right to do its best to edge out its political rivals.

“But don’t use taxpayers money for that. Finance your own programme,” he said.

The government had allocated RM64 million under the 2010 Federal Budget for BTN and the opposition is currently doing its best in Parliament to get BTN closed.

So far, some influential Umno leaders like Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, and Minister in the Prime Minister Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, have joined in the rising chorus against the agency.

Nazri had also blasted Dr Mahathir as a racist for defending BTN while Razaleigh claimed he too was a victim of the programme when he went against the former premier in the late 1980s.

But the hawks in Umno, through its newspapers like Berita Harian and Utusan Malaysia, have come out to defend BTN and blast its critics as attempting to politicise the issue. (TMI)
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Negri MB’s RM10m tip of hot money iceberg

Mohamad is alleged to have sent RM10 million to London through a money changer. — File pic

By Lee Wei Lian

KUALA LUMPUR Dec 4 — When aides to the Negri Sembilan mentri besar sent RM10 million to London via a money changer recently, they were just following in the footsteps of many who have sought the hawala system to move ill-gotten gains and wealth to more secure locations.

Apart from flouting exchange laws and possibly the Anti-Money Laundering Act, the trail of money outside the country betrays a lack of confidence in the future of Malaysia as they are basically transferring funds outside the country through underground channels.

The Malaysian Insider understands that Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) is unlikely to charge any of them because the list contains a number of prominent Malaysians, including top businessmen, chiefs of some government-linked companies (GLCs), politicians and several ordinary people either sending money for their children's needs abroad or just plain distrustful of Malaysia's future.

And the list is too long as BNM has discovered that these well-heeled tycoons, cutting across all racial lines, and the rest have been using the network of Indian-Muslim money changers across the world to remit millions of ringgit every month to offshore accounts.

The only thing BNM has done is to cancel the licences of the money changers, with some 40 licences taken back this year.

The case came out in the open when Batu MP Chua Tian Chang revealed that Negri Sembilan MB Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan had used Salamath Ali money changers in KLCC Suria to send RM10 million to London. The money changer lost its licence and its shoplot is now closed, ostensibly for renovations.

Several Indian-Muslim money changers and opposition leaders say Mohamad's transfer is just one of many transacted daily to move millions of ringgit to "safe havens" abroad, potentially depriving the nation of capital and breaking local laws in the process.

Chua, who is also PKR strategy chief, told The Malaysian Insider he has access to a list of high-profile personalities who used the money changer transfer services, also known as hawala as practised in India.

He claimed among them is a senior minister's wife who allegedly had money transferred to her overseas and a major GLC chief who apparently moved £3.2 million (RM18 million) worth of funds to London.

But Chua said that he will not reveal the names until he is "absolutely sure".

“This is only the tip of the iceberg," Chua said. "Millions of dollars are going out and I think it is affecting the economy."

Money changers say however that authorities should not focus on the hawala system but rather on why some politicians have access to so much money and moving it abroad.

"We are just doing a service and the commission is very little," said a prominent money changer in central Kuala Lumpur.

Others added that it will be difficult to prove that the money has moved as transactions are in cash and politicians will not appear in person at the money changer but send runners to do the deed.

In Mohamad's case, he blamed the RM10 million transfer on an aide who chose Salamath Ali Money Changer, which later had its licence revoked on Oct 26 for contravening Section 30 of the Money-Changing Act 1998 which states that no licensee may remit or transfer funds outside Malaysia.

The hawala system has been described as a "subsystem" of the conventional banking system. It is run on trust where money given to a money changer in one country will be paid out by a money changer in another with just one phone call.

This network of money changers will settle outstanding debts later using coded chits or notes via their own clearinghouse system which could involve contra of funds, exchange of jewellery or even runners moving bags of cash.

The use of hawala in Malaysia grew after capital controls were imposed in the wake of the 1998 Asian financial crisis where the movement of large sums of money to locations outside Malaysia required Bank Negara's approval.

Some individuals also prefer it as it is cheaper and faster than using conventional banks and leaves no trail.

The United Nations had promised to eradicate hawala as a potential conduit for financing global terrorism and crime and Bank Negara has been quietly working to ensure the integrity of the local banking system particularly the independent money changing system.

In April this year, Bank Negara revoked the licences of 19 money changers and another 20, including Salamath, in October.

The list of money changers whose licences have been revoked can be found here. (TMI)

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Floods worsen in Terengganu, situation in Kelantan improving

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 — The floods have worsened in Terengganu where more than 6,000 people have been forced out of their homes up to this morning, while the situation in flooded areas in Kelantan is improving.

A spokesman for the Terengganu National Security Council said 6,680 people had been evacuated to 65 relief centres in the state, with 3,345 of them in the Dungun district, 1,205 in Kuala Terenggganu, 1,496 in Marang, 379 in Hulu Terengganu, 217 in Kemaman and 38 in Setiu.

The situation in the Besut district has returned to normal after all evacuees were allowed to leave for their homes at 8pm yesterday, he said.

The spokesman said all major roads in the state were passable to traffic except Jalan Kuala Terengganu-Kota Baru which has been closed because Jalan Sungai-Kampung Pelong is flooded to a depth of 1.5 metres.

He advised people travelling by road to Kota Baru to use the coastal road which was passable to all traffic.

The spokesman said the water level of most of the major rivers in Terengganu had dropped to their normal point.

Nevertheless, the level of Sungai Nerus in Kampung Bukit was at 13.56 metres (danger level 12 metres) while the level of Sungai Marang at Pengkalan Berangan was steady at 12.94 metres (alert level 12.5 metres), he added. The weather was fine in Terengganu this morning.

In KELANTAN, the situation in flood-hit areas improved this morning, with the number of evacuees at relief centres in four districts having dropped to 2,984 from 3,512 last night.

A spokesman for the state flood operations room said the Pasir Mas district had the highest number of evacuees at 1,704, next Tumpat (917) and then Kuala Krai (310) and Machang (53).

He said 12 major roads in five districts remained closed to traffic, and they included Jalan Pantai Cahaya at Km4 in Kota Baru, Jalan Machang-Pangkal Meleret-Wakaf Bata in Machang, Jalan Rantau Panjang-Panglima Bayu in Pasir Mas, Jalan Tanah Merah-Kusial-Kampung Ipoh in Tanah Merah and Jalan Pohon Tanjung-Pasir Pekan in Tumpat.

The spokesman said the level of only one river, Sungai Golok in Rantau Panjang, was above the danger point.

In PAHANG, the number of evacuees has risen to 36.

A spokesman for the Pahang police headquarters said five families were moved out of Kampung Tasik Ria Sementah due to rising floodwaters.

"They are being accommodated at the community hall in Kampung Kundang Patah," he said.

Meanwhile, 31 people from Kampung Sungai Ular and Kampung Chendor remain at the relief centre at Sekolah Kebangsaan Cherating, Kuantan. — Bernama

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Is Doomsday coming? Perhaps, but not in 2012 — Dennis Overbye

NOV 17 — NASA said last week that the world was not ending — at least anytime soon. Last year, CERN, the European Center for Nuclear Research, said the same thing, which I guess is good news for those of us who are habitually jittery. How often do you have a pair of such blue-ribbon scientific establishments assuring us that everything is fine?

On the other hand, it is kind of depressing if you were looking forward to taking a vacation from mortgage payments to finance one last blowout.

CERN’s pronouncements were intended to allay concerns that a black hole would be spit out of its new Large Hadron Collider and eat the Earth.

The announcements by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, in the form of several Web site postings and a video posted on YouTube, were in response to worries that the world will end on Dec 21, 2012, when a 5,125-year cycle known as the Long Count in the Mayan calendar supposedly comes to a close.

The doomsday buzz reached a high point with the release of the new movie “2012,” directed by Roland Emmerich, who previously inflicted misery on the Earth from aliens and glaciers in “Independence Day” and “The Day After Tomorrow.”

In the movie, an alignment between the Sun and the center of the galaxy on Dec 21, 2012, causes the Sun to go berserk with mighty storms on its surface that pour out huge numbers of the elusive subatomic particles known as neutrinos.

Somehow the neutrinos transmute into other particles and heat up the Earth’s core. The Earth’s crust loses its moorings and begins to weaken and slide around. Los Angeles falls into the ocean; Yellowstone blows up, showering the continent with black ash.

Tidal waves wash over the Himalayas, where the governments of the planet have secretly built a fleet of arks in which a select 400,000 people can ride out the storm.

But this is only one version of apocalypse out there. In other variations, a planet named Nibiru crashes into us or the Earth’s magnetic field flips.

There are hundreds of books devoted to 2012, and millions of Web sites, depending on what combination of “2012” and “doomsday” you type into Google.

All of it, astronomers say, is bunk.

“Most of what’s claimed for 2012 relies on wishful thinking, wild pseudoscientific folly, ignorance of astronomy and a level of paranoia worthy of ‘Night of the Living Dead,’ “ Ed Krupp, director of the Griffith Observatory, in Los Angeles, and an expert on ancient astronomy, wrote in an article in the November issue of Sky & Telescope.

Personally, I have been in love with end-of-the-world stories since I started consuming science fiction as a disaffected child.

Scaring the pants off the public has been pretty much the name of the game ever since Orson Welles broadcast “War of the Worlds,” a fake newscast about a Martian invasion of New Jersey, in 1938.

But the trend has gone too far, suggested David Morrison, an astronomer at the NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, who made the YouTube video and is one of the agency’s point people on the issue of Mayan prophecies of doom.

“I get angry at the way people are being manipulated and frightened to make money,” Dr. Morrison said. “There is no ethical right to frighten children to make a buck.”

Morrison said he had been getting about 20 letters and e-mail messages a day from people as far away as India scared out of their wits. In an e-mail message, he enclosed a sample that included one from a woman wondering if she should kill herself, her daughter and her unborn baby.

Another came from a person pondering whether to put her dog to sleep to avoid suffering in 2012. All of this reminded me of the kinds of letters I received last year about the putative black hole at CERN. That too was more science fiction than science fact, but apparently there is nothing like death to bring home the abstract realms of physics and astronomy.

In such situations, when the Earth or the universe is trying to shrug you and your loved ones off this mortal plane, the cosmic does become personal.

Morrison said he did not blame the movie for all this, as much as the many other purveyors of the Mayan prediction, as well as the apparent failure of some people, reflected in so many arenas of our national life, to tell reality from fiction. But then, he said, “my doctorate is in astronomy, not psychology.”

In an e-mail exchange, Krupp said: “We are always uncertain about the future, and we always consume representations of it. We are always lured by the romance of the ancient past and by the exotic scale of the cosmos. When they combine, we are mesmerized.”

A NASA spokesman, Dwayne Brown, said the agency did not comment on movies, leaving that to movie critics. But when it comes to science, Brown said, “we felt it was prudent to provide a resource.”

If you want to worry, most scientists say, you should think about global climate change, rogue asteroids or nuclear war. But if speculation about ancient prophecies gets you going, here are some things Morrison and the others think you should know.

To begin with, astronomers agree, there is nothing special about the Sun and galactic center aligning in the sky. It happens every December with no physical consequences beyond the over-consumption of eggnog. And anyway, the Sun and the galactic center will not exactly coincide even in 2012.

If there were another planet out there heading our way, everybody could see it by now. As for those fierce solar storms, the next sunspot maximum will not happen until 2013, and will be on the mild side, astronomers now say.

Geological apocalypse is a better bet. There have been big earthquakes in California before and probably will be again. These quakes could destroy Los Angeles, as shown in the movie, and Yellowstone could erupt again with cataclysmic force sooner or later.

We and our works are indeed fragile and temporary riders on the Earth. But in this case, “sooner or later” means hundreds of millions of years, and there would be plenty of warning.

The Mayans, who were good-enough astronomers and timekeepers to predict Venus’s position 500 years in the future, deserve better than this.

Mayan time was cyclic, and experts like Krupp and Anthony Aveni, an astronomer and anthropologist at Colgate University, say there is no evidence that the Mayans thought anything special would happen when the odometer rolled over on this Long Count in 2012.

There are references in Mayan inscriptions to dates both before the beginning and the ending of the present Long Count, they say, just as your next birthday and April 15 loom beyond New Year’s Eve, on next year’s calendar.

So keep up those mortgage payments. — NYT

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More wives = less adultery and prostitution?

RAWANG, Nov 14 — Don’t marry young virgin girls; marry single mothers or widows instead. This was a suggestion made recently by a Kelantan state official to would-be polygamists.

But the idea drew flak from some critics, who said instead that more efforts should be made to reduce divorce rates and assist single mothers.

The issue of polygamy is being hotly debated now, with the controversial Kelantan official’s suggestion and the emergence of a Polygamy Club founded in August by the wife of a polygamist.

Hatijah Aam, 55, said she started the club with the aim of curbing social ills such as prostitution and adultery. It has 300 members.

“After sharing the same man for 30 years, we are like sisters,” Hatijah told The Straits Times. Sitting beside her, Noraziah Ibrahim, 52, the younger wife of Hatijah’s husband, smiled.

Noraziah met Hatijah’s husband after her own partner had died.

“She had children to feed. Can you imagine? She needed help,” said Hatijah.

The two are married to 72-year-old Ashaari Muhammad, patriarch of a clan spawned from five marriages — he has since divorced one wife, while another died in a car accident while on a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in 2003.

Of his 38 children, 19 sons and four daughters are also polygamists. Ashaari has 200 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

“Some people think polygamy is bad, but it is actually a beautiful thing,” said Hatijah.

Most Malaysians remember Ashaari as having led a deviant Islamic sect that was banned in 1994 because of his claims that he was able to absolve sins, and that an Islamic messiah from the east would appear ahead of a prophesied doomsday.

Ashaari suffered a stroke in 2003, and is now unable to speak. His third wife was not present at the interview as she was tending to him.

The family’s story is just one example of polygamous marriages in Malaysia.

Muslim men are allowed up to four wives under Islamic law. Critics say the practice is cruel and has been distorted from its original purpose.

The practice was prevalent during Prophet Muhammad’s era to provide for the many widows and orphans, as a consequence of men dying in frequent wars.

Activists say most modern polygamists in Malaysia marry younger women and neglect their first wives.

While Hatijah’s family seems to be living harmoniously, rights groups argue that most polygamous families suffer abuse and jealousy.

Sisters in Islam (SIS), a non-governmental organisation which upholds the rights of Muslim women and campaigns against the practice, says polygamy is not a solution to prostitution.

“Marriage — whether polygamous or not — cannot be a cure-all for an issue as complex as sex work,” SIS programme manager Masjaliza Hamzah told The Straits Times.

“Society should stop seeing marriage as the one-stop answer to the issues and concerns faced not only by women sex workers, but also single mothers, widows and older women.”

She quoted verses from the Quran which discourage polygamy, and pointed out that although Prophet Muhammad practised it, he did not allow his son-in-law to marry another woman unless he divorced the Prophet’s daughter.

Only 2.8 per cent of Muslim marriages here are polygamous.

Different states also have varying criteria for would-be polygamists.

Kuala Lumpur requires a written consent or views from existing wives. In Perak, a man’s promise to treat wives fairly is sufficient.

Hanafiah Hamzah, a 53-year-old television cameraman, said strangers look down on him for having more than one wife. “Society looks down on polygamists. People always think it is for the sex,” he told The Straits Times.

Hanafiah married his first wife, who is now 47, two decades ago. Seven years later, he married his second wife, now 36.

While both wives are cordial to each other, he admits it is not easy.

“You cannot be fair to both of them. If a wife or a child is sick, who do you go to?

“If my friends say they want to be polygamous, I always tell them, you better not. My first wife never used to complain, but now she gets frustrated easily. It is my mistake,” he said.

Masjaliza said there is some stigma attached to the practice: “People don’t wear it like a badge of honour. There is a level of discomfort. Maybe people are ashamed.”

Indeed, while some top leaders in the ruling Umno and the opposition PAS have more than one wife, most of them attend official functions accompanied by only one wife.

But this is not deterring Hatijah, who is branching out Polygamy Club to Indonesia.

The government has warned that the club could be a ploy.

The family has been ‘trying very hard to deceive the public’ into reviving the banned religious cult through religious, business and social activities, Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul Aziz, director-general of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia, told the New Straits Times. — Straits Times

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Nizar will win the appeal unless...

NOV 12 — “Show us any provision in the Perak Constitution empowering the Sultan of Perak to sack Nizar”. That was fundamentally the gist of the submission made by Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin’s legal team in the recently concluded appeal at the Federal Court.

Datuk Zambry Kadir’s lawyers as well as the Attorney-General, in asking the apex court to affirm the decision of the Court of Appeal, submitted that Zambry is the lawful mentri besar (MB) as he was appointed by the Sultan under Article 16 (2) of the Perak Constitution.

Not so soon, replied Nizar’s lawyers. Before Zambry may claim that he is the lawful MB he has to discharge the burden of proving that the office of the MB rightfully held by Nizar was indeed vacant. Alternatively, Zambry has to prove that Nizar was validly or constitutionally sacked by the Sultan.

As rightly pointed out by Harley CJ (Borneo) in Stephen Kalong Ningkan vs Tun Abang Haji Openg and Tawi Sli (1966) 2 MLJ 187, there are two situations where the Governor (or the Sultan as the case may be) may exercise his absolute discretion namely (a) on the issue of the appointment of MB or (b) withholding consent to dissolve the State Assembly.

Nevertheless, as Harley rightly cautioned “As regards to (a), nobody could be so foolish to suggest that a Governor could appoint a second Chief Minister while there was still one in office...”

What is plain and obvious in this case is that until the appeal was heard on Nov 5, 2009 Zambry has not been able to prove that the office of MB held by Nizar was vacant. Nor has he been able to prove that Nizar was legally or constitutionally removed by the Sultan.

Zambry’s lawyers, and of course the A-G, submitted further that since Nizar had, by a letter dated Feb 5, 2009, asked the Sultan to dissolve the State Assembly under Article 16 (6) of the Perak Constitution and since the Sultan had withheld his consent to dissolve the Assembly, Nizar and his exco members have no other options but to resign en bloc.

They further submitted that in his letter to the Sultan, Nizar had stated therein that there was a deadlock in that the numbers of the state assemblymen of BN and PR were equal, namely 28 each, as the seats of the three defected assemblymen were duly declared vacant by the Speaker. By conceding that the numbers were equal, they argued, Nizar would definitely be defeated if a vote of no-confidence was to be carried out. This is because the Speaker (Sivakumar) could not cast his vote under the Perak Constitution. Thus, they argued, Nizar would lose by one vote.

In reply, Nizar’s team submitted that before Article 16 (6) would apply, there must be cogent proof that Nizar had indeed lost the vote of no-confidence of his peers in the State Assembly. It was not disputed in this case that hitherto, Nizar has not lost any vote of no-confidence simply because no such a vote has been carried out at any time. Thus the condition precedent of Article 16 (6) was not met by Zambry.

Nizar’s team also relied on historical precedent. Historically speaking, as far as the issue of MB’s removal is concerned, the constitutional convention endorsed the practice of casting votes of no-confidence which was to be held in the State Assembly. Apart from Stephen Kalong Ningkan, the downfall of the PAS government in Terengganu in 1961 was also another case in point.

In 1959, PAS captured Terengganu and in turn formed a coalition government with the help of Parti Negara. One Daud Samad was duly appointed as the MB. However, the lifespan of such a government was too short. On Oct 26, 1961 the Information Chief of Umno declared that three assemblymen each from PAS and Parti Negara had defected to Perikatan’s team.

On Oct 30, 1961 a vote of no-confidence was duly passed by the Terengganu State Assembly evidencing the demise of Daud Samad as the MB of Terengganu. The attempt by Daud Samad thereafter to ask the Sultan for the dissolution of State Assembly was rejected by the latter. The Sultan instead appointed Ibrahim Fikri from Perikatan as a new MB.

The aforementioned historical precedent demonstrates that the Sultan only made a decision refusing to dissolve the State Assembly after a vote of no-confidence was duly passed by the State Assembly. If this precedent was duly observed, would we have to see what we have seen in Perak?

With regard to Zambry’s arguments that Nizar would lose a vote of no-confidence on the basis that Sivakumar could not vote, this was a reply by Nizar’s team: “Yes, constitutionally speaking Sivakumar, being the Speaker, could not vote. However, what shall bar him from stepping down as the speaker when voting really takes place? What shall bar him from becoming an ordinary member of (the) State Assembly and in turn exercising his right to vote if Umno is confident enough of bringing a motion of non confidence against Nizar?”

If Umno is too foolish, it may appoint another state assemblyman from its side to replace Sivakumar and if this really happens a vote of no-confidence against Nizar will remain wishful thinking.

When Nizar refused to resign, his team submitted, was the Sultan given the power to sack him? Zambry’s teams said yes, the Sultan has such a power. Nizar’s team replied “show us any provision in the Perak Constitution giving the Sultan of such an express power.” Zambry’s team submitted the Sultan was deemed to have such a power. Nizar’s team retorted “show us the said deeming provision enshrined in the Perak Constitution”. Of course, no such deeming provision exists.

Nizar’s team then submitted that there must a deeming provision in the Perak Constitution stating in no uncertain terms that when the MB refuses to resign, his office is deemed to be vacant by the operation of law.

Nizar’s team quoted a very clear example of such a deeming provision in the Perak Constitution. Article 19 (1) in Part 2 of the Perak Constitution is such a classic example. The said Article expressly provides that the Sultan is deemed to have vacated his Throne if he fails to attend the Senate meeting for a very long period without sufficient or reasonable grounds. You notice no such deeming provision exists as far as the removal of MB is concerned.

To add further, Nizar’s team submitted that Article 16 (7) of the Perak Constitution expressly provides that, unlike the State exco members who hold their positions at the pleasure of the Sultan, the MB’s office is not at the pleasure of the Sultan. Thus, any suggestion by Zambry’s lawyers that Nizar could be removed by the Sultan was, at best, fanciful and at worst, smacks of power hunger on Zambry’s part.

Being in Nizar’s teams, I believe that the Court of Appeal has erred in law when it dismissed Nizar’s appeal but the question remains, is our Federal Court willing to upset and overturn such a decision by the Court of Appeal? May the Federal court be reminded that cuiusvis hominis est errare, nullius nisi insipientis in errore perseverare (anyone can err, but only the fool persists in his fault)

Nizar deserves to win the appeal unless of course… (please fill in the blanks).
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JAIS targets ex-Perlis mufti for unauthorised lecture

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 — Ex-Perlis mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin could face an Islamic court for ostensibly lecturing without a permit after he was briefly held at a religious lecture in Ampang last night but the maverick is claiming blatant persecution.

He has been ordered to turn up for further questioning at the Gombak district Islamic Affairs Department at 9am today after he was earlier freed at 1.10am on police bail.

He told reporters later the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (JAIS) claimed he was giving lectures without a permit.

"I take this as selective persecution as they have always targeted me. This is a planned arrest as I am sure there are other religious lectures or gatherings like this elsewhere in Selangor," said Asri, who recently returned from post-graduate studies in Britain.

Some 35 JAIS enforcement officials and 25 policemen detained him at the lecture in a businessman's house in the posh Taman Sri Ukay area at about 9.30pm. More than 300 people including PKR Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin and Hulu Klang assemblyman Saari Sungib were at the lecture that began at 8pm.

"The JAIS action doesn't make sense not because I want them to respect me but they should know that I am the former Perlis mufti," he added.

A mufti is the highest-ranking religious official appointed to advise a state Ruler on Islamic laws, which is under royal purview. A mufti has wide powers that even the Selangor palace recently ticked off its religious executive councillor Datuk Dr Hasan Ali for interfering in the execution of Islamic laws.

But Asri, who is being courted by PAS to join the Islamist party, questioned the need for a permit for those lecturing in Selangor.

"I want to explain that even when I was the Perlis mufti, JAIS said that all muftis can lecture in Selangor except me.

"So imagine if they ask me why I didn't apply for authorisation. They had already stopped me from speaking when I was holding the mufti post," he added.

Always a controversial figure while even a mufti, Asri had recently slammed critics against his appointment as head of national Islamic missionary movement YADIM sponsored by the federal government.

He had also courted bad publicity in the past for allegedly following the puritanical Wahabbi Islam practised in Saudi Arabia.

"They didn't arrest me for being a Wahabbi, just for not having a permit to lecture," Asri clarified. Most Malaysian Muslims follow the Shafie school of jurisprudence, one of the four recognised schools in Sunni Islam.

Ampang district police chief ACP Abdul Jalil Hassan told Bernama that police only helped in the raid and he had no knowledge it was related to the ex-Perlis mufti. (TMI)

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Angry parent punches teacher

KAMPAR : A TEACHER has lodged a police report alleging that he was punched by a parent after news of the collapsed suspension bridge spread around Kampar.

He made the report at the Kuala Dipang police station.

Hundreds of parents converged on Sekolah Kebangsaan Kuala Dipang after the suspension bridge at the 1Malaysia Co-curriculum Centre collapsed around 10.40pm.

Initial reports had it that 22 pupils had drowned in the Kampar River.

Kampar police chief Supt Abdul Aziz Salleh said the male teacher was one of the teachers supervising pupils taking part in the activities organised at the centre by the Kinta Selatan District Education Department.

Abdul Aziz said apart from Fire and Rescue Department, police and Rela, Royal Malaysian Navy divers were brought in to assist in the search and rescue operations.

He said rescuers were concentrating their efforts up to several kilometres downriver, especially around the Tronoh Mines area where debris traps are located.

The body of the first victim, Dina Deve Nathan,11, was found by rescuers at 8.40pm about 2km from the collapsed bridge (mm)
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Khalid says Umno can have Badrul, Khir Toyo says will accept

SHAH ALAM,— Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim today said Umno was welcome to have Badrul Hisham Abdullah if it really wanted a state lawmaker who could not serve his constituents.

The Selangor mentri besar also indicated that he did not care if the Port Klang assemblyman became an independent lawmaker or joined Umno or even MCA.

However, he pointed out that Badrul had made a commitment to serve the public when he was elected and, if he was really responsible, should resign to give others the opportunity to do the job.

He said measures would be taken if Badrul refuses to resign but declined to elaborate.

Khalid was speaking to reporters today in response to an earlier statement by his political secretary Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad who said Badrul should quit his seat for non-performance and the recommendation would be made to the PKR supreme council.

He added the state government could not tolerate incompetent and irresponsible leaders.

In an immediate reaction, opposition leader Datuk Seri Khir Toyo said Umno would welcome Badrul into the party.

The former Selangor mentri besar said Umno was open to Malays and Bumiputeras.

Khir added that Khalid should have given Badrul more time to improve.

“If he comes to Barisan Nasional (BN) we will give him the opportunity to serve,” said Khir.

He pointed out that if Badrul was really not good, "why did PKR let him stand for elections in the first place?"

Meanwhile, Badrul remained incommunicado today and reporters who went to his home in Kampung Raja Uda, Port Klang saw his car in his porch but no one was in.

The call for the embattled politician to resign raises prospects of a by-election in Selangor.

Controversy has plagued the lawmaker due to complaints by his constituents that he was frequently absent and could not be contacted. (TMI)

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One Pupil Drowns, 21 Missing After Suspension Bridge Collapses Into Kampar River

KAMPAR (Bernama) -- One pupil drowned and 21 others are feared missing after a newly built suspension bridge collapsed into the Kampar River as pupils participating in a 1Malaysia camp were walking across at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kuala Dipang near here Monday night.

About 20 other pupils managed to hold on to the ropes of the collapsed bridge and saved themselves while several others were pulled out of the swift-flowing river by a teacher and a guard of the school in the incident at about 10.30pm.

Perak Deputy Chief Police Officer Datuk Zakaria Yusof said on Tuesday the body of the pupil, an Indian girl, was found by rescuers at 8.30am and had been sent to the Kampar Hospital.

He told reporters at the Sekolah Kebangsaan Kuala Dipang that rescuers were unsure of the actual number of pupils feared missing and that the police had asked the education department to furnish the names of the pupils participating in the camp.

It had been reported earlier that 22 pupils had gone missing in the accident.
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PKR to present missing key witness in Lingam’s New Zealand trip

KUALA LUMPUR — PKR vice-president Sivarasa Rasiah promised today to present the missing key witness in Datuk V.K. Lingam’s infamous New Zealand trip with the former Chief Justice Tun Eusoff Chin in Parliament soon.

Lingam was implicated in a scandal involving senior government judges and found by a royal commission to be the person recorded “fixing” the appointment of judges.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) found strong evidence against Lingam and in its report suggested that action be taken against him and others implicated in the infamous “correct, correct, correct” recording.

Other figures implicated include Eusoff, Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim and tycoon Vincent Tan, a close friend of former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Photos also emerged of Eusoff and Lingam together on a holiday in New Zealand in the late 1990s.

Even though Eusoff claimed the meeting with Lingam in New Zealand was a coincidence, testimony by Lingam’ former secretary L.G. Jayanthi contradicted his claim.

Jayanthi claimed that she was instructed by her boss to make travel arrangements for him and his family together with Eusoff’s family to New Zealand.

MACC has said that they are unable to proceed with the investigation into the New Zealand trip because they could not locate a key witness.

“This we find totally unacceptable, we personally are in contact with the key witness and we are shocked that MACC and all of its resources is still unable to locate a witness whom they know about and unable to prosecute this blatant act of corruption where this lawyer paid for the trip to New Zealand for the then number one judge in this country,” Sivarasa told reporters at Parliament lobby.

He added that the inability of MACC to “act in the face of clear evidence” raises questions on the commission's integrity.

“Since the MACC says that they can't contact the key witness to take the investigation on the New Zealand trip any further, we just want to show that there is a problem with the attitude and inaction of the MACC,” he said.

Sivarasa refused to divulge who the key witness is and said that her identity will be revealed soon.

Sivarasa also called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to sack the Attorney-General for failing to perform his duties after the government recently announced that the Lingam case is closed.

“We think it is a scandal of the highest order to close such a high-profile case that rocked the county for the last several years. The Najib administration has given the reason that no evidence was found to prove abuse of power in judicial appointments but the royal commission in its report has clearly stated otherwise,” he explained. (TMI)

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Thai expert says Teoh’s death ‘80pc’ homicide

UPDATE 1

By Debra Chong

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand told the coroner’s court this morning that there was an 80 per cent probability that Teoh Beng Hock’s death was homicide and not suicide, and suggested that some of his injuries were sustained before his fatal fall.

Under questioning from Selangor state lawyer, Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, Dr Pornthip testified that the political aide was indeed alive when he hit the ground but added that he was was unconscious, judging from the lack of injuries to his wrists and ankles.

She explained that if he were still conscious when he fell, there would have been “reaction wounds” to show he had instinctively tried to stop from hitting the ground.

She said that Teoh’s injuries showed he could have been strangled and that he sustained anal penetration before he fell to his death on July 16.

Dr Pornthip added that Teoh could have passed out as a result of the strangulation or from the pain from injuries to his anal region.

She told the court that the likelihood that Teoh had committed suicide — the theory previously put forward by the two pathologists who examined Teoh’s body after death — was only 20 per cent.

The stunning testimony made by the forensic expert, who gained international prominence from her work in identifying the 2004 Asian tsunami victims and more recently in the death of Hollywood star David Carradine, appeared to suggest Teoh was assaulted before his death.

Using a graphics presentation, the 54-year-old who has carried out over 10,000 autopsies over the last 27 years, told the court that not all the injuries sustained by Teoh were consistent with those caused by a fall.

The anal tear, which she described as a “penetrating injury”, appeared to have happened before he fell.

Dr Pornthip noted that the tear measured 6cm-wide by 2cm-long. She suggested that they were caused by an object inserted into Teoh’s anus from a bottom-up direction, which she indicated with a blue arrow on a picture slide projected on a white screen in the darkened court this morning.

Dr Pornthip testified that Teoh’s various injuries point to a high likelihood of homicide. — Picture by Jack Ooi

“This kind of injury, I’ve not seen in cases of fall from height,” the director-general of Thailand’s Central Institute of Forensic Science (CIFS) said.

However, she could not say what the object was.

She also said that the depth of the tear was noted in the autopsy report jointly prepared by Dr Khairul Aznam Ibrahim from the Hospital Tengku Rahimah Ampuan in Klang and Dr Prashant Naresh Samberkar from the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

Several stripes on Teoh’s upper thighs, just below the buttocks were also pointed out as inconsistent with injuries caused by a fall.

Dr Pornthip suggested the horizontal lines were the result of a beating with a stick.

She added that if she had carried out the autopsy on Teoh, she would have cut open the thighs just under the skin to check for internal bleeding in order to confirm her theory.

She also pointed out several “round” bruises on Teoh’s neck, which could mean “manual strangulation” by fingers.

Her lengthy explanation on Teoh’s neck injuries was peppered with graphic references to her own case studies of strangulation victims.

The skull fracture on Teoh’s head, she said, was not typical of an injury from a fall, but more compatible with the result of blunt force applied directly to the skull.

“I found contusion on fracture line, so the fracture could be caused by blunt force injury directly on skull,” she said, explaining why she disagreed with Dr Khairul’s and Dr Prashant’s theory.

The two doctors who performed Teoh’s autopsy had previously put forward the idea that the head injury may have been caused by the momentum of the landing.

“For transfer of force, (you) only find ring fracture at base of the skull along (the) spinal column, not a linear fracture and not a cervical spine fracture,” she added.

She said that her assessment was based on Teoh’s autopsy report, the photographs of his injuries and from snapshots taken at the site where his body was found.

The sole of one of Teoh’s shoe, which had come off his foot, also bore marks that indicated he may have been dragged, she said, basing it on reports of the death scene.

Her theory contradicts Dr Prashant’s idea that it was caused by the impact on the ground.

Magistrate Azmil Muntapha Abas who is acting as coroner in the inquest, allowed Dr Pornthip to carry out a physical check on Teoh’s shoes, which had been tendered to the court as evidence.

She told the court she would like to carry out her own autopsy on Teoh, but the coroner indicated that it may be too late to do so at this stage.

Dr Pornthip had also previously sent two assistants to join the court to survey where Teoh’s body was found on a 5th-floor landing outside the offices of the Selangor branch of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in Plaza Masalam here.

Teoh, who was the political secretary to a DAP state executive councillor, had been questioned overnight on July 15 to help an ongoing investigation into claims his boss had misused state funds.

Dr Pornthip was engaged as an expert witness by the Selangor state government.

Earlier, she told the court that she had conducted over 10,000 autopsies in her career, of which more than 100 dealt with fatal falls from high places.

She estimated Teoh to have died between 6am and 8am on July 16. (TMI)

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Teoh was not allowed to leave, MACC man admits

SHAH ALAM, Oct 14 — Selangor MACC deputy director Hishamuddin Hashim told the coroner’s court here today that witnesses called for questioning, including Teoh Beng Hock, are not allowed to leave any interview without the investigating officer’s consent.

He said that while witnesses are not under arrest, they are also not free to leave the interviews.

Hishamuddin, who had been implicated in a “mystery letter” alleging political collusion in investigating the Pakatan Rakyat state government, also denied he met Teoh even though he was in the office during the time he was questioned.

Teoh, the 30-year-old political secretary to state executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, was mysteriously found dead on a 5th-floor landing outside the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s

Selangor office at Plaza Masalam here on July 16, after being questioned overnight into claims his boss abused state money.

His family and employer claim foul play was involved.

Hishamuddin told the court today that he had worked until 2am the night Teoh was being questioned, and had decided to stay on until 5.45am when he finally left the office.

He denied testimony provided by another MACC officer earlier that he had been seen in the office on the morning of July 16, around the time Teoh is said to have died.

Senior assistant enforcer Raymond Nion John Timban, said to be the last man to see Teoh alive, had testified that he had seen Hishamuddin and two other MACC officers on the morning of July 16. (tmi)

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More adult Malaysians turn to the Net for sex info

PETALING JAYA: More adults are relying on the Internet to get information on sex, according to a Durex Sexual Wellbeing Survey.

As much as 75% of Malaysians gave credit to the Internet for teaching them the bedroom “how-tos”.

Men (75%) outnumber women (71%) in using the Internet to surf about sex.

Seventy-three per cent of the respondents also learn about sex through magazines.

Other sources include books (65%), friends and peers (56%) and partners (43%).

All these surpass sex education at school, which makes up only 36% of them.

The number of respondents was at 1,026 with an equal number of women and men aged 18 years and above.

Despite the figures, less than half of Malaysians — 45% of men and 39% of women — think there is enough advice and information available on the issue.

The survey stated that 73% of Malaysians who had formal sex education are satisfied with their sexual wellbeing while the global average of sexual satisfaction stands at 59%.

However, the survey also found that 51% of those who received sex education at school did not learn about conception while 71% were not taught about sexually transmitted diseases.

Less than half of Malaysians (48%) had wished their sex education had included love, respect and on giving pleasure to one’s partner.

It found that about 44% of those aged between 16 and 24 liked to have received more information on the subject in comparison to 62% among those aged between 35 and 44.

The survey is the fourth in a series of reports by Durex, with this one emphasising on knowledge and education.

Previous results of the three surveys titled “Satisfaction”, “In the Bedroom” and “The Big O” can be found on www.durex.com. (TS)

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Lessons from Bagan Pinang by election

OCT 12 – Mohd Isa Samad was always going to romp home a winner in the Bagan Pinang by-election. And not because the constituents were swayed by the 1 Malaysia slogan. Or because Port Dickson was declared an army town.

Outside PD and, arguably, much of Negri Sembilan, he is a flawed character, a politician found guilty of buying political success.

But within the radius of the seaside resort, Isa is remembered as the long-serving Mentri Besar who used to play sepak takraw with youth in the area, who built new roads and who did not quite fit the template of the arrogant Umno warlord.

The debate on what contributed to his thumping victory and the consequences will continue for a while but here are some early lessons that can be drawn from the by-election – Barisan Nasional’s first triumph in West Malaysia since Election 2008.

•Power of the local machinery

Analyses by Umno shows that between 11 and 15 seats may have been “lost’’ in Election 2008 due to internal squabbling at division level and sabotage over the choice of the election candidate.

This disease has coursed through the veins of Umno for many years and was also seen during the Permatang Pasir by-election where disagreement over the choice of Rohaizat Othman as the candidate led to local Umno officials staying home during the campaign period.

No such problems cropped up in Bagan Pinang because Isa was a popular choice. The divisional officials wanted him as the candidate, as did the rank and file. The result: a formidable local election machine backed by the usual firepower from the federal government.

In contrast, Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) did not have a strong local structure in Bagan Pinang. There are only four branches in the constituency and seven altogether in the Telok Kemang parliamentary constituency.

This shortcoming was fatal for the Opposition which was over reliant on help from outside the state to galvanise the election machinery. Even till the last few hours before polling closed, PAS officials were unable to predict the outcome of the election.

Lessons learnt: When Umno members embrace the candidate wholeheartedly and work together, the party remains a formidable opponent. PAS is very strong in the Malay belt but it has some way to go in states beyond Selangor.

•National issues have little traction when the local candidate is strong.

Cow-head demonstration. Teoh Beng Hock’s death. Endemic corruption in Umno. Power abuse at the highest level of government. Racism. Chauvinism. Pakatan Rakyat leaders who campaigned in Bagan Pinang used the same tried and tested formula which worked well in Bukit Selambau, Kuala Terengganu, Permatang Pasir, Bukit Gantang.

But national issues did not stir voters here. Umno/BN framed the bye-election as a contest between Isa and the novice, between someone who served the constituency well and someone who was airlifted in by his political party.

But what about Isa’s tarnished image? In middle-class Malaysia, his penchant for greasing palms may have been a liability but in his backyard, it was viewed as a minor transgression, committed against his party several years ago.

Lessson learnt: When a candidate is a local boy who has not forgotten his roots and has a good record of service to his constituents, people tend to be forgiving of his mistakes and indiscretions, however grave they are. Think of Chua Soi Lek, the sex clip and the fact that he still managed to obtain enough votes to become MCA’s deputy president.

Isa’s victory is going to strengthen claims by Umno officials that the party should field warlords in Malay-majority seats to ensure victory at the next general elections.

•Hubris can be costly. Even the most-blinkered Pakatan Rakyat support will have to admit that success in Permatang Pauh, Kuala Terengganu, Manek Urai, Bukit Selambau, Bukit Gantang, Permatang Pasir, Penanti, has bred complacency in the Opposition coalition.

PAS insiders noted that the party election machinery was not firing all cylinders in Manek Urai and Permatang Pasir and yet on both occasions PAS candidates achieved victory. These victories induced a false sense of strength, allowing some PAS/Pakatan Rakyat officials to believe that as long as they showed up for a contest and planted their flag in the centre of the constituency, the by-election was theirs for the taking.

In Bagan Pinang, the election machinery only hit second gear, and that too, 48 hours before voters went to the polls. A bit like taking the field with eight players, going behind by a clutch of goals and then still having the temerity to field two more players in the last 10 minutes.

Lesson learnt: Umno/BN have governed Malaysia for 52 years. They are not going to make way for Pakatan Rakyat without a fight. PAS and its allies must have the hunger and drive – which were the hallmarks of their effort in Bukit Gantang and Kuala Terengganu – if they are to return to winning ways.

•Bagan Pinang is not Malaysia.

Naturally, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak would like to claim that this by-election victory was an endorsement of 1 Malaysia but it was not. It was a by-election in Negeri Sembilan where BN won because it had a superior candidate and superior machinery.

The Indian women who were given saris did not support Isa because of 1 Malaysia. They had never heard of the concept, and still do not have a clue of what it stands for. If Isa or a similar candidate with questionable ethics was fielded in Subang Jaya or in the Malay belt up north, he would have been defeated.

Don’t think so? Just recall the number of BN politicians who were shown the door in Election 2008 by an electorate tired of their corrupt ways and arrogance.

A survey by Merdeka Center showed that some 76 per cent of those polled were against political parties fielding tainted candidates.

Lesson learnt: Bagan Pinang may be an aberration, and not a trend. (TMI)

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Tok Guru Nik Aziz speech in N31 Bagan Pinang attracted large crowd

By Adib Zalkapli

PORT DICKSON, Oct 9 — The listless PAS campaign for the Bagan Pinang by-election shifted into higher gear last night with the arrival of Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat to attract support, after days of playing catch-up with rival Barisan Nasional.

The PAS spiritual adviser addressed two DAP-organised rallies in the state constituency — both of which were well attended — as party supporters from neighbouring states began flocking this coastal town to campaign with fence-sitters.

The Umno bastion is proving hard to crack even for PAS as its vaunted grassroots network is not that established in Negri Sembilan, despite growing popularity among ex-servicemen who have settled in the town that houses a major army camp. Most analysts agree the lack of a strong PAS network here could lead to Pakatan Rakyat's first loss after a 100 per cent win record in seven by-elections in the peninsula since Election 2008.

At a dinner with the Chinese community near here, Nik Aziz shared the stage with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng where he spoke against what he called Umno's divisive politics.

“I came here today not as a Malay, but as a Muslim bringing the message of peace,” said the soft spoken Nik Aziz to the multi-racial crowd.

“We may look different but we all came from the same man,” said the religious scholar.

Nik Aziz speaks at one of the rallies last night. — Picture by Choo Choy May

Just before midnight, he arrived at the DAP's main operation centre where he made passionate appeal to thousands of people who attended the rally to vote for PAS.

The Kelantan mentri besar ended his speech with a long prayer in Arabic asking for God's help to ensure PAS's victory this weekend.

Earlier yesterday, the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) campaign also received another boost when dozens of the coalition's elected representatives joined the party machinery making their rounds at all PAS's operation centres across the constituency.

The arrival of Nik Aziz in Bagan Pinang was part of PAS's strategy to begin their show of strength ahead of polling this Sunday.

At every by-election it is customary for Nik Aziz to make a special written appeal to voters to back the party.

But the Barisan Nasional (BN) machinery was also fully prepared this time to welcome the highly-respected PAS leader.

Billboards showing the picture of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak visiting Nik Aziz in hospital began making its appearance yesterday to replace billboards put up earlier in the campaign accusing PAS of rejecting development.

This latest billboard advertisement also carries the message by Prophet Mohamad which promotes brotherhood in Islam. (TMI)

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Man sues Bank of America for ‘US$1,784 billion trillion’

Pedestrians walk past a Bank of America branch in New York. — Reuters pic

NEW YORK— Dalton Chiscolm is unhappy about Bank of America's customer service — really, really unhappy.

Chiscolm in August sued the largest US bank and its board, demanding that "US$1,784 billion trillion" be deposited into his account the next day. He also demanded an additional US$200,164,000, court papers show.

Attempts to reach Chiscolm were unsuccessful. A Bank of America spokesman declined to comment.

"Incomprehensible," US District Judge Denny Chin said in a brief order released on Thursday in Manhattan federal court.

"He seems to be complaining that he placed a series of calls to the bank in New York and received inconsistent information from a 'Spanish wom[a]n,'" the judge wrote. "He apparently alleges that cheques have been rejected because of incomplete routing numbers."

Chin has experience with big numbers. He's the judge who sentenced Bernard Madoff to a 150-year prison sentence for what the government called a US$65 billion Ponzi scheme.

Bank of America Corp faces real legal problems, including New York Attorney-General Andrew Cuomo's threat to sue its chief executive and a judge's embarrassing rejection of a settlement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

Yet the money Chiscolm wants could dwarf all the bank's other problems.

It's larger than a sextillion dollars, or a 1 followed by 21 zeros. Chiscolm's request is equivalent 1 followed by 22 digits.

The sum also dwarfs the world's 2008 gross domestic product of US$60 trillion, as estimated by the World Bank.

"These are the kind of numbers you deal with only on a cosmic scale," said Sylvain Cappell, New York University's Silver Professor at the Courant Institute for Mathematical Sciences. "If he thinks Bank of America has branches on every planet in the cosmos, then it might start to make some sense."

Chin gave Chiscolm until Oct 23 to better explain the basis for his claims, or else see his complaint dismissed. — Reuters

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Malaysian students in Jakarta feel the heat

File picture of a demonstration calling for the banning of the Ahmadiyya sect in Jakarta in June 18, 2008. Malaysians in Jakarta have been harassed of late. — Reuters pic

JAKARTA— Some Malaysians studying in Indonesia are facing tough times because their teachers' attitudes have changed amid rising tensions between the two countries in recent weeks.

They told The Jakarta Globe newspaper that the ongoing claims in Indonesia that Malaysia has been trying to steal its cultural heritage have strained their lives.

They are worried about checks against Malaysians carried out on the streets by an Indonesian vigilante group recently.

The Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta has told the students to stay indoors to avoid being harassed, the daily reported yesterday.

A Malaysian medical student, Siti Nurhidayat Pazil, who has been studying for four years at University of Indonesia (UI), said: “When (lecturers) ask me to do something, they will say 'Hey Malay, can you finish this please?' They don't call me by my name.”

The two countries have been less than neighbourly lately, with both nations' armed forces flexing their muscles over a maritime border dispute in an area called Ambalat, off Borneo.

Long-festering issues, such as reports of Indonesian migrant workers being mistreated and claims of Malaysia robbing Indonesia of its heritage, are also hurting ties.

Hazwani Raffar, another UI medical student, said she is hurt when friends, neighbours and teachers ask her why Malaysia must steal Indonesian culture. “Don't they have questions to ask beside this?” she asks. “This is so harsh, even though some of my friends see it as a joke. Deep in my heart, I can't accept it.”

Hazwani also said she and her friends are afraid of “sweeping” — the roadblock set up by over-enthusiastic nationalists to harass Malaysians, The Jakarta Globe reported.

Early this month, anti-Malaysia group Benteng Demokrasi Rakyat (People's Democracy Defence) erected a roadblock in Central Jakarta and checked the identification cards of passers-by to screen for Malaysians. None was found.

The Benteng men carried sharpened bamboo sticks, which rang alarm bells in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has roundly condemned the group and has called for all Malaysian nationals here to be protected.

“The (Malaysian) Embassy tells us not to go out if it's not necessary,” Hazwani said, adding that she and her three friends leave home only to go to UI's campus in Central Jakarta.

But classmate Noraishah Abdul Aziz takes a different view. “I think all we need is discussion,” she said. “I always tell my Indonesian classmates that most Malaysians don't know about the claims of (cultural theft) published here.”

The students said they do not understand the allegations made about cultural theft because the two nations share the same ancestry — which brings with it similar cuisine, language and cultural traditions.

“It's sometimes better not to claim things, especially when similar cultures are involved,” Noraishah told the newspaper.

She cited the desire of Malaysia's Tourism Minister Datuk Ng Yen Yen to claim laksa as a Malaysian dish. “This will just create more tensions between us. Why can't we just share all similar things together without saying, 'This is yours and that is mine'?” she said. — The Straits Times

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India’s lunar mission finds water on the moon

NEW DELHI: India’s maiden moon mission Chandrayaan-I has detected evidence of water across the lunar surface, scientists announced on Thursday.

The Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) has confirmed the existence of water on the moon by analysing the data collected from Chandrayaan-I, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported Thursday.

The M3, a NASA instrument onboard Chandrayaan-I, detected wavelengths of reflected light that would indicate a chemical bond between hydrogen and oxygen in materials on the thin layer of upper soil.

The finding ends a four-decade long speculation on whether there is water on moon.

Scientists first claimed that water existed on moon about 40 years ago after they analysed rock samples brought to Earth as souvenirs by Apollo astronauts.

But they had doubts about the findings as the boxes in which the moon rocks were brought to Earth had leaked, contaminating the samples with air from the atmosphere.

Scientists believe that the water could have been formed due to the interaction of oxygen present in rocks and soil on moon with hydrogen in the form of protons emitted by the sun as a result of nuclear fusion.

As these protons hit the moon, they break apart oxygen bonds in soil material, and where free oxygen and hydrogen are together, there’s a high chance that trace amounts of water will be formed, said Larry Taylor from the University of Tennessee, who was among the M3 team of scientists.

The M3 instrument analysed how sunlight reflected off the lunar surface to identify water particles in which scientists observed elements of chemical bonding alike water.

However, the instrument can only see the very uppermost layers of the lunar soil -- perhaps to a few centimetres below the surface.

They studied the light that is reflected in different wavelengths of different minerals, and used those differences to know what is present in the thin layer of upper soil.

According to the scientists, it was water, previously theorised but not proven to exist.

Taylor and other M3 team members believe their findings will be of particular significance as mankind continues to plan for a return to the moon.

The lunar maps created by M3 could provide mission planners with prime locations for extraction of water from the lunar soil.

The findings will be published in this week’s online edition of the Science Express journal. -- Bernama

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Kelantan still not given up for oil royalty claim

KOTA BARU: The Kelantan state government has not given up hope on its oil royalty claim from the Federal Government, said Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

He said that although the state government had initially expected the oil royalty to be paid before Hari Raya Aidilfitri it would still strive to make headway on the issue.

“Discussions between officers from both sides are still ongoing. We hope they will have a positive result,” Nik Aziz told reporters here yesterday.

He was asked whether the state government had given up hope on the oil royalty claim after having expected to receive the payment from the Federal Government by now.

According to a report last month, it is seeking RM1bil in oil royalty, claiming that the money constituted 5% of the earnings from petroleum and liquefied natural gas extracted from Kelantan’s offshore since 2004. — Bernama

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Mother gets 33 years for killing sleeping daughters

LONDON, Sept 22 — A mother who stabbed her teenage daughters to death as they slept at their home was given two life sentences today, and told she must serve at least 33 years in jail.

Rekha Kumari-Baker was found guilty at Cambridge Crown Court of using two kitchen knives to stab 16-year-old Davina 37 times and 13-year-old Jasmine 29 times.

Prosecutors said she had done it to “wreak havoc” on her ex-husband.

Judge Justice Bean imposed two mandatory life sentences and said Kumari-Baker should serve 33 years before being considered for parole, the Press Association reported.

The judge said the Parole Board would not consider her for release until 2040, when she will be 72.

“Most people will find it inexplicable that a mother could kill her own children and you have given no explanation for it,” Bean said.

During the two-week trial, jurors heard that Kumari-Baker attacked the girls in the early hours in June 2007 as they slept at her home in Stretham, Cambridgeshire.

Evidence at the trial showed that Davina — whose body was found kneeling on the floor — had put up a struggle.

Jurors were told that Kumari-Baker was unhappy about a new relationship her ex-husband had entered into. She was also upset by the break-up of her relationship with her new boyfriend.

Prosecutors suggested that she murdered the children in an attempt to wreak havoc on her ex-husband.

Psychiatrists called by the prosecution said Kumari-Baker was suffering from mild depression but did not have a mental disorder or mental illness. — Reuters

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President Obama sends Aidilfitri greetings

KUALA LUMPUR —United States President Barack Obama and wife, Michelle have personally extended Hari Raya Aidilfitri greetings to Muslims in the world, including Malaysia.
In a press release issued by the US Embassy here today, Obama said: “As Muslims in the United States and around the world complete the month of Ramadan and celebrate Aidilfitri, Michele and I would like to extend our personal greetings on this joyous occassion.”
He said that Hari Raya Aidilfitri was a time to celebrate the completion of 30 days and nights of devotion.
“But even on this festive occasion, Muslims remember those less fortunate, including those impacted by poverty, hunger, conflict and disease.
“Throughout the month, Muslim communities collect and distribute zakat-ul-fitr so that all Muslims are able to participate in this day of celebration.
“As I said in Cairo, my administration is working to ensure that Muslims are able to fulfill their charitable obligations, not just during Ramadan, but throughout the year.
“On behalf of the American people, we congratulate Muslims in the United States and around the world on this blessed day, Eid Mubarak,” he said. — Bernama
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Negri prince claims Johor Raja Muda beat him up, wants justice

Tunku Nadzimuddin with his wife Nur Azini Mohd Kamal (left) and mother Tunku Dara Naquiah Tuanku Ja'afar at the press conference. — Picture by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR— It was his first night out on the town after being cooped up for cancer treatments. But for a Negri Sembilan prince, the happy event at a popular nightspot in the city centre here soon turned into a disaster.

Tunku Nadzimuddin Tunku Mudzaffar claims he and his friends were badly beaten up at gunpoint by the Raja Muda of Johor, Raja Muda Tunku Ismail Idris Abdul Majid, and his bodyguards at the Crowne Plaza Hotel here in the wee hours of the morning on Oct 25 last year.

The eldest son of Tunku Dara Naquiah Tuanku Ja’afar – and grandson of the 10th King of Malaysia – went public today after a year of waiting for justice to be served.

He was accompanied by his parents, his uncle, his wife, Nur Azini Mohd Kamal, 32, a business development manager with Antah, his lawyer, M. Puravalen and the friend, Shamshuddhuha Ishak, 40, who also alleged assault at the hands of the Raja Muda of Johor, the second-in-line to the state throne.

Speaking at a press conference in upscale Damansara Heights office here today, the 37-year-old, who suffered from Hodgkin’s lymphoma, said he lodged a report at the Dang Wangi police station the very next day.

“I was a victim of a brutal armed assault. I was attacked with a gun,” Tunku Nadzimuddin said, recounting how he was dragged into the hotel lift and taken into a hotel room and beaten up without reason with a gun aimed at his head all the while.

But, to date, no one has been charged, despite the Attorney General’s (AG) promise last December that investigations will be carried out fairly and action taken against the culprits.

“He said he will check on everything and get the details done first,” Tunku Nadzimuddin’s mother related.

“Police had assured that their probe would be caried out without fear or favour. I was further assured that no one was above the law and the assailants would be produced in court to face charges,” Tunku Nadzimuddin said.

“However, today I am left bewildered and shocked to learn otherwise,” he added, slamming the police for their “serious lack of affirmative action in the investigations”.

“We just want to see things moving,” said Tunku Dara Naquiah. “In any situation, in any society, you hold a gun, you go to prison straightaway, isn’t it?”

“In the spirit of Hari Raya, we want closure,” the Negri Sembilan princess said, and added: “I want justice to be done.”

The AG’s Chambers is said to have advised her to try and settle the royal row out of court.

Tunku Dara Naquiah, who called the media conference, dismissed hearsay that her family was suing the Johor Raja Muda for RM100 million.

Lawyer M. Puravalen, who is acting for the Negri Sembilan royals, stepped in and explained that a letter of demand for RM50 million in compensation and a full apology for the incident was sent to the Johor Raja Muda’s lawyer, Datuk Shafee Abdullah, on Dec 10.

No lawsuit has been filed yet, Puravalen said. They are still waiting for the AG’s reply.

“You can’t dictate to the AG. It’s not proper,” he added.

The incident is said to have started on Oct 24, 2008 when Tunku Nadzimuddin and some friends were partying at the Heritage Mansion.

A glass bottle – said to have contained whisky – was thrown in their direction and hit the prince’s friend, lawyer Shamshuddhuha, who fell unconscious as a result.

Tunku Nadzimuddin claimed he received a call on his mobile phone from a man who said he was acting on behalf of the Johor Raja Muda and invited him up to the nearby Crowne Plaza Hotel to apologise for the earlier incident at the club.

They accepted. But instead of an apology, he was bashed on the head with the pistol butt and also suffered a broken nose and bruises.

He claimed he was not given a reason for the assault. There was no conversation between him and the Johor Raja Muda during the 45 minutes or so of the thrashing.

“I didn’t want to provoke him,” Tunku Nadzimuddin said when asked why he did not say a word.

He was later treated at the government-run Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL).

His lawyer friend Shamshuddhuha, who was hit by the bottle, was repeatedly assaulted while still out cold.

Both Tunku Nadzimuddin and his mother denied that they knew the Johor Raja Muda, either personally or even socially.

“I don’t know him at all. Not even socially,” Tunku Nadzimuddin replied when asked about his relationship with the Johor Raja Muda.

Tunku Dara Naquiah said that even though they were royals, it did not mean they moved around in the same social circles.

But she said she received a phone call from the Raja Muda’s family after the incident.

“They called me to apologise. But not in so many ways. Only ‘Oh, I’m so sorry my son did this to your son’,” she recounted.

Today’s disclosure could reignite debate about the indiscretions of royalty here. In the 1990s former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad managed to push through amendments to the Constitution which removed the immunity of royalty from prosecution.

Under the Constitution, the country’s nine Sultans can be tried only by a special court. Other members of royal households are not immune from prosecution and can be charged for criminal offences. (TMI)

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Anwar fails in bid to remove prosecutors

By Debra Chong

KUALA LUMPUR — Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who has been accused of sodomy for the second time in his life, today failed to kick out seven lawyers from the Attorney General's Chambers from taking part in the prosecution against him.

The High Court here rejected his application for leave to disqualify the seven.

They are: Solicitor General I Datuk Idrus Harun, Solicitor General II Datuk Yusof Zainal Abiden, deputy public prosecutors (DPP) Datuk Nordin Hassan, Hanafiah Zakaria, Wong Chiang Kiat, Shamsul Sulaiman and Noorin Badaruddin.

In his affidavit supporting his bid, the Permatang Pauh MP charged the prosecutors of having shown bias and prejudice against him when he was first tried for sodomy and corruption a decade ago.

He claimed they had worked hand-in-hand with Tan Sri Gani Patail, then the lead prosecutor in his trials, to hide evidence in his favour.

He also accused them of making up facts, including how he got the “black eye” while in police custody in 1998.

Anwar wanted the High Court to bar all seven as prosecutors in the present case because he believes they are likely to continue what he claims are their biased and prejudiced actions against him.

The man who dreams of being prime minister has repeatedly claimed the Sodomy II charges against him are meant to spoil his chances in taking over Putrajaya.

The 62-year-old politician is also challenging a recent document from the prosecution omitting clear facts in his favour.

He claims that medicals reports state that his complainant, former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, has not been sodomised.

The document under Section 51A of the Criminal Procedure Code is needed before the trial can begin.

Anwar, who made his miraculous come-back from political wilderness last year, is charged with sex against the order of nature, which is a crime in Muslim-majority Malaysia.

If found guilty this time, the grandfather will once again be sent to jail, effectively ending his once- meteoric career. (TMI)

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1Malaysia F1 Team or Lotus F1 Team?

A model of the new 1 Malaysia team car unveiled today in Putrajaya. - Reuters pic

UPDATED

LONDON— Formula One’s governing body today named Lotus as the 13th team for the 2010 championship. The new outfit will be led by Tony Fernandes of Malaysia, it was announced here.

In Kuala Lumpur, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak also confirmed the news and said the team will be known as the 1 Malaysia Formula One team, although Reuters quotes the FIA as calling the new outfit the Lotus F1 team.

According to Reuters, the new team is a partnership between the Malaysian government and a consortium of Malaysian entrepreneurs.

The FIA said the team principal will be leading Malaysian entrepreneur Tony Fernandes. The 45-year-old set up Asian budget airline Air Asia and, with a net worth of US$220 million (RM770.57 million), is Malaysia’s 15th richest man, according to Forbes Malaysia 2009 rich list.

Investors in the new team are Air Asia co-founders Datuk Kamarudin Meranun and Fernandes as well as SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin of Naza.

Technical director Mike Gascoyne has more than 20 years of experience in Formula One having previously performed the same role for the Force India, Toyota, Renault and Jordan Formula One teams.

As part of its application to compete in the 2010 championship, the Lotus team agreed an engine supply deal with Cosworth.

The team will initially be based in Norfolk, some 10 miles from the Lotus Cars factory in Eastern England.

The team’s future design, manufacturing and technical centre will be purpose built at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit, the FIA statement said.

1Malaysia is Najib’s platform for uniting Malaysians irrespective of ethnicity and creating a performance based culture.

The concept has gotten mixed reviews as some have praised its objectives while others have criticised its vagueness, which Najib says is deliberate.

The Malaysian government has gone on overdrive to promote 1Malaysia via billboards and song competitions.

Najib declined to disclose the amount that the public-private initiative will cost.

He added however that the government’s investment will be via proton.

Lotus, one of the most successful and glorious names from Formula One’s past, will return next year replacing BMW-Sauber as the 13th entry on the starting grid.

The governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement that, after due diligence and an intensive selection process, it had chosen Lotus.

“The cars will be made in Malaysia, by Malaysians,” the Malaysian government said in a separate statement.

The vacancy arose after BMW announced that they were withdrawing at the end of the season, following a path already trodden by Japan’s Honda.

The FIA said BMW-Sauber, who are still seeking a buyer, had been given a reserve slot to fill any vacancy that might occur between now and the start of the 2010 championship.

“The team will announce its two drivers by October 31, 2009. Currently six local and international drivers have been selected,” the Malaysian government said.

Three teams had been on the FIA shortlist for the 13th slot: Lotus, a BMW-Sauber entry to be renamed under eventual new ownership and Spain’s Epsilon Euskadi.

The original Lotus won seven Formula One constructors’ titles and six drivers’ crowns between 1963 and 1978 under the inspirational leadership of the late Colin Chapman, one of the most innovative engineers in the sport.

Chapman died of a heart attack in 1982 and the company slid into administration in 1994 after giving the late Brazilian Ayrton Senna his first victory in 1985.

British great Jim Clark spent his entire F1 career with Lotus, winning two titles. The team’s other champions include compatriot Graham Hill, Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi and American Mario Andretti.

In 1970 the team’s Austrian driver Jochen Rindt became the sport’s only posthumous champion.

The right to the Lotus F1 name was acquired by David Hunt, brother of the 1976 champion James, while the British-based car company was bought by Malaysian state-owned Proton. (TMI)

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Samy Vellu’s Malay dilemma

Datuk Seri S. Samuy Vellu holding up his vote towards the media before casting it during the recent election for the post of Vice President at the MIC general assmbly in PWTC on Septemeber 12, 2009 - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR— Flush from a major victory, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu is now twitching like a beached fish under Umno's glare over an emotional outburst by a MIC delegate who had wanted to garland Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad with slippers for criticising the party president.

Umno leaders and Malay organisations have taken umbrage over the remark and have demanded a personal apology from Samy Vellu.

It is now a dilemma for the veteran Indian leader who is caught between appeasing the former prime minister and Umno or staying firm with the anti-Mahathir grandstanding he himself had created.Samy Vellu has offered to sack the offending delegate, believed to be from Selangor hoping the storm would blow over. But that offer conflicts with comments made by other MIC leaders responding to the Malay demand for a personal apology.

The president's son, Vel Paari, who is also a MIC Youth wing co-coordinator, has tried justify the anti-Mahatihr invective by saying the delegates were worked up by Dr Mahathir's criticism of his father.

MIC Youth chief T. Mohan added his two cents in a statement carried prominently in the Samy Vellu-owned Tamil Nesan asking Umno to take disciplinary action against Dr Mahathir for “interfering” in the internal affairs of the party. By all accounts, Samy Vellu appears to want to settle the prickly issue of Dr Mahathir by sacking the delegate but is reluctant to offer a personal apology to keep his “tough and afraid of anyone” image among his diehard supporters.

Dr Mahathir was seen as an “interfering enemy” by Samy Vellu and his camp ever since the former prime minister told the Makkal Osai, a Tamil daily owned by losing deputy presidential candidate Datuk S. Subramaniam’s supporters, that the long-serving party president was destructive, had failed the Indian community and was the reason they abandoned the Barisan Nasional for the Pakatan Rakyat in Election 2008.

Dr Mahathir, who spoke to the vernacular newspaper in the run-up to the Sept 12 MIC election, had also urged party delegates to elect good leaders like Subramaniam.
Once a close ally of Dr Mahathir, Samy Vellu worked quickly and hard to head off the impact of the statement on delegates by using his Tamil Nesan newspaper to attack the former leader as a person unfit to advise the MIC because he had disposed off his own deputies.

He also attacked Subramaniam as “disgraceful” for bowing to Dr Mahathir and using him to get votes in the MIC. “Shame!” was the one-word headline of the Tamil Nesan newspaper on the eve of the poll to reflect Samy Vellu's opinion of Subramaniam, who was once his deputy.

After the president's men swept through the party polls last Saturday despite criticisms from Dr Mahathir and Umno-held newspapers, MIC delegates on Sunday criticised the former prime minister in what was seen as an organised manner with Datuk A. Muneandy from Ampang wanting to pass a resolution condemning Dr Mahathir for interference. But Samy Vellu interjected to say such a resolution was unnecessary adding Dr Mahathir, although interfering in MIC affairs, should be respected because he had brought the country to great heights.

However other delegates keep coming back to the subject and the “garland of slippers” speech was made when Samy Vellu was not in the party assembly ironically held in Umno's Putra World Trade Centre.

Incensed with the attacks, Dr Mahathir renewed his criticisms of Samy Vellu in his blog - although not naming him - saying “there are politician who think if they as party president then they can win in the general election.” “So they try to win by sacking members opposed to them using money to buy support or use their power to threaten or offer any promises to win support,” said the Umno veteran who was prime minister for 22 years.

He noted that they can win through this means but will lose support among the people because the people would notice their abuses. (TMI)

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