Proton to built electric car

MARCH 31 - Proton Holdings and Detroit Electric Holdings (DE) plan to introduce a collaborative electric vehicle to the market by the first quarter of next year, targeting sales of 40,000 units in the first year.

DE inked a strategic licensing and contract assembly agreement with Proton yesterday, under which the Malaysian national car maker licensed DE the use of two of its vehicle platforms - the Persona and Gen 2 - for production of the electric cars which would be assembled at its plant in
Tanjung Malim.

The electric vehicles would be sold in the United States and Europe as DE cars for between US$23,000 (RM82,800) and US$33,000.

Proton is likely to be given the rights to sell the vehicles under its brand name in the Asean and Organisation of Islamic Conference markets.

DE chairman and chief executive Albert Lam observed the "dawn of green technology" was at hand with growing numbers of people embracing high tech clean technologies.

"People often say the way to predict the future is to invent it yourself," the Hong Kong-born Mr Lam said at the event which Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi attended as guest of honour.

Mr Abdullah, who is stepping down as premier next month, had previously expressed his wish for Proton to take up the challenge of producing an electric vehicle, and he would have been gratified by the strategic tie-up.

By the collaboration, Proton engineers would get access to high-end technology, and its plant - currently running on one shift - would be better utilised, acknowledged Proton chief executive Syed Zainal Abidin.

Struggling to compete globally and locally where its market share has been reduced to 26 per cent from over 60 per cent in its hey-days, analysts believe Proton's future continues to be shaky despite the government's best attempts to assist it.

That does not appear to faze DE or Mr Lam who prior to founding DE, was the chief of Lotus Engineering Group - a unit of Proton - and hence familiar with its chequered history.

In a media FAQ, DE described Proton as progressive with very high standards, and one of Malaysia's largest investors having spent US$1.2 billion between 1993 and 2003.

Proton has a state-of- the-art plant where 60 per cent of its production
is automated.

Key to DE"s electric cars is its Magnetic Flux Motor Technology, which allows a 180 km range on a single charge for the city model and 320 km for the extended range model. Depending on the battery capacity, a fast charge could take less than half an hour.

DE plans to adapt Proton's platforms and interiors, but redesign distinctive exterior elements such as lighting, in addition to installing its patented electric drive system so that the vehicle would be homologated for different markets.

"Our target audience are those who purchase practical and affordable vehicles," Mr Lam said, and promised the electric car would give a performance "as good as any gasoline vehicle but with zero emissions." - Business Times Singapore

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Penang has eradicated hardcore poverty - Guan Eng

GEORGE TOWN: Penang has become the first state in the country to eradicate hardcore poverty by arranging financial aid and economic activities for all 726 households registered under the hardcore poor category.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the initiative was successful partly because of the support of the private sector and social groups who chipped in to aggressively alleviate the hardships of the poor.

"Even though it is difficult, including facing bankruptcy, I am more willing to have the state becoming bankrupt to help the poor and be burdened than to be bankrupted by corruption," he said today.

The implementation mechanism, overseen by the Welfare Department, consists mainly of funding affected families to ensure their incomes are topped up such that they get at least RM500 every month.

The department even helped some individuals set up bank accounts to receive the funds.

Lim said checking the state's poverty rate was one of the first things that he had given priority to after Pakatan Rakyat took control of the government in March last year.

The state then took a whole year to conduct an exhaustive survey, with the help of socio-economic specialists from Universiti Sains Malaysia, to determine the exact number of hardcore poor.

Of the total number, 150 were on the island's south-west and 41 in the north-east, while 48 were in Seberang Perai Selatan, 186 in Seberang Perai Tengah, 303 in Seberang Perai Utara.

The figures are updated every three months, Lim said, adding that the state was planning to now eradicate general poverty as well, which is classified as income below RM700 a month.

Lim also said a total of RM2.2 million had been collected from the private sector, including philanthropists and charitable businesses, under an initiative called "Partners Against Poverty".

Lim said this in a ceremony to announce the successful eradication of hardcore poverty in Dewan Sri Pinang here.

He also questioned what happened to a reported RM1.1 million allocation under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry to help 22 hardcore poor in Penang.

Penang Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh rebuked Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen for rejecting the state’s plea for funding to build a housing complex for about 300 homeless people.

Ng reportedly said the state should fund the complex by itself since the project was its own initiative.

"I was shocked to hear her response," said Phee, adding that the 12 acre land in Seberang Perai Selatan was transferred to the federal government by the state.

"If you give us the funds, we can build houses for 300 families and a place where they can be trained and equipped with working skills," he said.

Phee said if Ng did not have full details about the land and project, the state was willing to furnish her with the information and take her on a tour of the site. (TheSun)

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MCA refute UMNO claims to solely fight for independence 52 years ago

PETALING JAYA: The country’s independence was forged through the close cooperation of leaders of the Alliance party and was not the sole effort of Umno, said MCA central committee member Lee Wei Kiat.

He pointed out that it was the leaders of MCA, Umno and MIC in the Alliance, which preceded Barisan Nasional before Merdeka, who were all influential in negotiating with the British for independence.

“MCA will not allow efforts from any party in trying to rewrite facts of history or denying the efforts of the other races in helping to fight for the country’s independence 52 years ago,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Lee was commenting on Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein’s statement at the party general assembly that the process of independence and later developments were forged by “Umno and our Malay Rulers and no one else”.

Lee said: “If we look back at history in 1954, Tunku Abdul Rahman led a three-man Alliance delegation comprising himself, Tun Abdul Razak and Tan Sri T.H. Tan from the MCA to England to hold talks with the colonial authority.”

He said that Tunku Abdul Rahman also led an Alliance delegation to London to hold independence talks with the British with MCA represented by Tun H.S. Lee and Tan.

Lee, who is MCA information and communications bureau chairman, said the negotiations led to mutual consent for a draft constitution.

“We hope that Hishammuddin’s remarks are not aimed at gaining political mileage for himself after winning the Umno vice-presidency on March 26,” Lee said.

He urged the minister to show that he was a leader of all Malaysians and not just an Umno leader.

“Any deviation in history will not only affect the country’s harmony currently enjoyed by the various races but also hinder the government’s efforts in fostering racial unity between different ethnic groups,” he said.

Bernama also reported that Pak Lah also agreed with Hishamuddin about how Malaya attained her Independence.

He said Malaysian children must understand clearly that all races had to be equally recognised for their efforts and contributions to the country’s development. (TheStar)

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By Election - LLoud support for both sides

By Debra Chong

TAIPING– After a night of roaring rains, the pale blue sky streaked with feathery white clouds promised a return to the tranquillity that Taiping is named for yesterday morning.

But that peace was soon shattered. The armies (of supporters) for both the Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) were on the march even before dawn, to reach the nomination centre for the Bukit Gantang by-election battle before 9am.

Streaming in from every slip road and side lane, the supporters and campaigners for the two political giants spiritedly shouted slogans, sang songs and waved their party flags wildly in the air, though some wore it cloaked to keep off the early morning chill, made colder the closer they got to the town council office at the foothills of the famed Lake Gardens.

Hemmed in by the court complex on one side and the district offices on the other, the PR party on Jalan Kota soon resembled a religious Mardi Gras.

The party song blared on repeat through someone’s speakers while other revellers took up the battle cry of “AllahuAkbar” and “Takbir” at intervals. Bands of masked men, women and children sporting Pas candidate Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin’s face on cardboard, wandered about freely, snapping pictures on their camera phones even as a helicopter circled overhead and closer to the ground, small flocks of switftlets twitted merrily as they chased each other above the rooftops.

Two streets away, on Jalan Taming Sari, the BN troopers gathered.

Among the sea of Malay faces was a small representation from the Indian Progressive Front (IPF), a small component party in the BN.

Their faces unsmiling, they hefted aloft banners portraying the de facto Perak menteri besar Datuk Zambry Abdul Kadir, made larger and held higher than the drooping banner showing the BN candidate Ismail Saffian.

They stayed silent mostly, a sharp contrast to the festivity on the other side.

The quiet was punctuated by sharp cries of “Daulat Tuanku!” and “Hidup Barisan!” by a small band of Malay men wearing dark blue bandanas patterned with the iconic BN scales in white around their heads and a gold sash over their shoulders with the words “Malay Youth Assembly” in Jawi.

Palm-sized button badges featuring Perak ruler Sultan Azlan Shah against a royal yellow background were pinned to one shoulder.

A spokesman who only wanted to be known as Nazri said they were there to defend the crown against “traitors”.

As if on cue, the men began to chant in Malay: “Rise up! Rise up! Fight the traitors!” spurring the listless crowd onwards.

By 9am, the two factions could hardly be contained within the confines of their allocated meeting places. The masses rushed forward, ignoring the policemen on duty at the sidelines.

The PR army swarmed up the slopes to occupy the entire length of hill overlooking the town council office as well as the square.

The BN contingent, meanwhile, had landed themselves in a tight spot. The police had unrolled a length of barbed wire that stretched all the way from the council’s walled fence and across the road all the way to the far side of a playing field in front of the nomination centre. The same cordon kept the PR supporters out of the field on the other side, some 50 metres away.

By 9am though, the ascending sun was beating down on the BN supporters and cast a glare right in their eyes while the PR enjoyed the cool shade between the leafy trees on the high ground.

The temperature rose a notch higher when top BN leaders, led by incoming deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, walked Ismail inside the town council compound.

The PR supporters, squeezed into a tiny plot of land behind the town council office, booed aggressively at the multiracial team where minutes before, they had cheered deafeningly for the equally multiracial team of leaders from the opposition front.

“Bribery! Bribery! Bribery!” they chanted, and failing to rattle the tight group of BN men, who included controversial new Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, switched to yelling out “Altantuya murderer!”

That too did not faze the Umno veterans who merely smiled and waved back at the angry crowd.

Sadly, the BN supporters failed to follow the example set by their leaders. DAP chairman Karpal Singh recounted how he was attacked by a band of unruly Umno supporters who rained filled mineral water bottles at his van while moving through the packed street after taking a wrong turning.

He urged incoming prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to stop what he called “the culture of violence in Umno” to ensure a smooth and clean campaign in the hot parliamentary seat.

Yet the greatest threat to campaigning appears to come not from human hands but divine intervention.

In the afternoon, the sky opened and poured forth another deluge, further swelling the already swollen river and lakes. In some places, it flooded, causing traffic to slow and delay the many dinner talks and post-dinner talks planned for the night.

The torrential rains look likely to continue, hampering the campaign efforts for both sides. Not for nothing is Taiping known as the wettest spot in Malaysia. (TMI)

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UMNO Youth heads for troubled days

By Debra Chong

KUALA LUMPUR,— It was to have been a glorious start for Umno Youth as their new chief was crowned. But an ugly incident of in-fighting initiated by unhappy supporters of one candidate exposed cracks within the wing that point to a more serious illness within the party.

The drama began slightly after 11pm last night as the results for the wing was announced. It was the last of the three movements under Umno to be read out, delayed by recount after recount for the top post.

A quarter after 11pm, the crowd at and around the podium block, where a giant screen was set up to broadcast live the proceedings from inside the conference hall, had swelled tremendously. Bodies pressed tight against each other for a better view. Even some of the escalators had been halted.

The crowd went wild with cheering, clapping and drumming on any hard surface they could touch, including the notice boards at the surrounding booths every time the master of ceremonies pronounced the winners for the various posts.

And then came the moment everyone was waiting for — the pronouncement of the new Youth chief. It had been an intense fight all the way and it was anybody’s pick of which of the three, Khairy (affectionately known as “KJ” to his admirers), ex-Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd Khir Toyo, or the one who had led in nominations, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir.

The tension was palpable.

When the MC called out Khairy’s name, the crowd went wilder. The dam burst. His supporters were raucously yelling “KJ! KJ! KJ!” repeatedly while pumping their fists in the air.

All of a sudden from the sidelines, several groups started chanting “Rasuah! Rasuah! Rasuah!”

Believed to be the disenchanted cheerleaders of Mukhriz, they quickly surged from all directions towards one corner of the hall to confront the Khairy faction.

From above, the entire floor looked like a fight between two colonies of fire ants.

The two factions surged towards each other. There was lots of pushing and shoving and more accusations of bribery flung at each other in strident voices.

No punches were thrown ... yet. But it looked as if it could possibly end in bloody noses and black eyes if the clash continued.

It took another quarter of an hour for the uniformed police to move in and break up the battle between both camps.

It seemed an uphill task. As police attempted to restore order, more of Khairy’s jeerleaders joined the fray, adding fuel to fire.

Mukhriz’s side began hurling a litany of accusations at Khairy, calling him a “Cheat!” and of carrying out a "bribery campaign” even as Khairy’s victory speech continued in the background, broadcast through the giant screen.

It took a long while but finally the police appeared to have muscled order back on the scene. At least three men were escorted out. But the atmosphere inside the concourse remained painfully tense.

Another few teams of police moved in on the scene and linked arms to form a human barricade at the escalators and outside the conference hall to stem the tide of anger.

Unknown to the rest, Mukhriz was taking his leave at the porch outside the Merdeka Hall, surrounded by tearful supporters.

He was observed to be consoling his campaigners, many who were openly and unashamedly weeping while he remained dry-eyed with a small, sad smile tipping the corners of his mouth upwards. Mukhriz’s men were loathe to let him go and burst into shouts of “Long live Mukhriz!”

But he left, finally.

On the sideline, a red-eyed man in songkok, the Umno white baju Melayu and checquered sarong pelikat, was overheard exclaiming: “This is the end. We’re going to lose all three by-elections.”

No doubt the anonymous man was referring to the upcoming by-elections in the two Bukits and one Batang. Perhaps it was a spur-of-the-moment exclamation, an outburst of overwrought emotions, but such thoughts said aloud do not spell a bright future for the wing at such a vulnerable time.

A couple of hours later, as the last of the workers exited the Putra World Trade Centre, a woman campaigner remarked to her companion: “The opposition media were here. It’s so shameful!” (TMI)

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2 Ministers, 4 MB ousted in UMNO polls

By Shannon Teoh

KUALA LUMPUR,– The voting for Umno’s 25 Supreme Council seats saw a number of government leaders failing to gain the support of the delegates.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman, who is under investigation for graft, joined Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Samad and Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Noraini Ahmad as members of outgoing president Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi’s Cabinet to fail.

Also ousted were all four Mentris Besar who contested; Johor’s Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, Perlis’ Datuk Isa Sabu, Pahang’s Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob and Negri Sembilan’s Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

Their consolation is the fact that Mentris Besar and Chief Ministers in Umno are invited to join in Supreme Council meetings anyway.

The result means that incoming president Datuk Seri Najib Razak gets a top team which has his backing, led by deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and vice presidents Datuk Seris Ahmad Zahidi, Hishammuddin Hussein and Shafie Apdal.

But delegates picked freely for the Supreme Council, retaining several members of Abdullah’s Cabinet such as Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed who topped the polls with 2,259 votes and Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

But there were also new faces such as Batu Pahat MP Datuk Puad Zarkashi and a return for former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Seri Jamaluddin Jarjis, who is widely tipped to be part of Najib’s Cabinet.

The winners were:

Datuk Mustapa Mohamed (2,259 votes),

Datuk Noh Omar (2,084),

Datuk Seri Musa Aman (2,084),

Datuk Azian Osman (2,060),

Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman (2,054),

Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed ( 1,854),

Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (1,838),

Datuk Lajim Ukin (1,804),

Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor (1,705),

Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi (1,700),

Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (1,685),

Datuk Idris Haron (1,658),

Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad (1,624),

Datuk Seri Jamaludin Mohd Jarjis (1,622),

Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah (1,619),

Datuk Dr Norraesah Mohamad (1,611),

Datuk Seri Mahadzir Khalid (1,580),

Datuk Ahmad Husni Mohd Hanadzlah (1,529),

Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin (1,518),

Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin (1,517),

Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin (1,481),

Datuk Zulhasnan Rafique (1,431),

Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek (1,377)

Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh (1,275),

Datuk Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim (1,265),

Courtesy of Malaysian Insider

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KJ and Mukhriz supporters clashed

KUALA LUMPUR : Angry Mukhriz and Khir supporters continued shouting outside the hall where Khairy was giving his acceptance speech and wrapping up proceedings of the Umno Youth general assembly.Rival supporters had a minor scuffle and police were called in to form a human chain to separate them (The Nut Graph 25/3/09)

In the wake of the announcement, a group of about 200 Mukhriz supporters held an impromtu rally at about 11.30pm to protest against the surprise election results.

"Khairy, rasuah (corruption)," they shouted, venting their frustration.

They were later joined by about 200 Khairy supporters and both sides began taunting each other.

As the crowd grew unruly, police were called in to form a human barrier to keep the two groups apart (Malaysiakini 25/3/09)

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Malaysia new Mahathirsm

KUALA LUMPUR, — In 2001, as Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's long tenure as prime minister was in its final years, we wrote that Malaysia was "in danger of stepping back from the world of democracy and the Internet into a darker age of racial conflict and government repression." Eight years later, with the economy deteriorating and politics in turmoil, that threat looms again.
Dr Mahathir's protege, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, is set to be elected today as leader of Umno, the leading party in the coalition that has governed the country since independence in 1957. Next week he is expected to take over as prime minister, replacing the moderate and mostly ineffective Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. During his six years in office, Abdullah made scant progress in efforts to end political corruption, liberalise the economy and reform the judiciary. The unpopular premier led Umno to a dismal performance in elections a year ago.

Najib's ascension to power has been marked by a government crackdown on Umno's political opponents and on free speech. On Monday, police fired tear gas on a rally in Kedah as opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was speaking to the crowd. Also this week, reporters from popular online media, including Malaysiakini and The Malaysian Insider, were denied credentials by the party to cover the Umno party congress taking place in Kuala Lumpur.

Most worryingly, the government this week shut down two opposition party newspapers. The ban is for three months — long enough to get past the April 7 by-elections for three parliamentary seats that the opposition is keen to snag. It's also long enough to get past the expected verdict next month in a sensational murder trial to which the opposition links Najib; Najib vehemently denies any involvement and says he did not know the victim. As reported in a Journal news story this week, Anwar said he believes the papers were shuttered in part to keep them from repeating allegations of corruption in weapons purchases when Najib was defence minister. Najib has denied allegations of corruption.

The government's new restrictions on the press come on the heels of Umno's

moves against the opposition party in Perak, where it recently persuaded three state assemblymen to switch alliances, thereby shifting the state government's balance of power in Umno's favor. The Sultan of Perak validated the move, the opposition contested it and a court case is under way. But a lawyer who said the sultan's decision was unconstitutional and suggested he might sue the sultan was charged with sedition last week. Six Internet users who made critical comments on the sultan's website were also charges with insulting the sultan under the country's new cyber law.

In Dr Mahathir's era, the Umno-led government could get away with such tactics. Under his watch, the country saw opposition media silenced and political dissidents jailed. But in today's Malaysia, where voters are beginning to realise the power of the ballot box, it's a risky political gambit. Anwar led his opposition coalition to victory in five of 13 states last year and since then has also won two parliamentary by-elections. So far Anwar has been unable to win enough defections from Umno to dissolve the government and call new elections. If he succeeds — and if he can get past his July trial for sodomy — he could eventually win the premiership. Anwar denies the charges and says they are politically motivated, a charge the government denies.

In the meantime, Umno's moves against the opposition and the press suggest that rather than listening to voters, the ruling party may be growing less tolerant of dissent. Add in the ethnic tensions in Malaysia's multiracial society — and Umno's favoured system of preferences for native Malays — and it's a potentially combustible mix.

Malaysia can't afford political upheaval now. The country's economy is being hit hard by the global recession. GDP growth is forecast to contract this quarter after growth of just 0.1 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2008, and unemployment is rising. Foreign investors perceive political risk in a country that still locks up its citizens under colonial-era laws like the the Internal Security Act. Voters may decide to take it out on Najib, who was finance minister under Abdullah, if they don't see improvement in the economy.

Najib seems to understand that Malaysians want something new. In a speech on Tuesday at the party conference, he promised to end corruption and the politics of patronage and pursue reform; he called for "renewal and regeneration" for Umno. "Economic progress and better education have directly resulted in the birth of a class of voters who are better informed, very demanding and highly critical," he said. "If we do not heed this message, their seething anger will become hatred and in the end this may cause them to abandon us altogether."

Najib, the son of Malaysia's second prime minister, entered Parliament at the age of 22. Now 55, he has been groomed for this moment for all of his political life. If the soon-to-be PM truly wants to change his country for the better, he'll make good on his word, squelch his inner Mahathir, and lead Malaysia down the path of more transparent government and basic freedoms. — Wall Street Journal

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PNSB paid for Khir's wife to visit son in Australia

SHAH ALAM, — Permodalan Negri Selangor Berhad (PNSB) chief executive officer Datin Khairiyah Abu Hassan testified before the legislature today that the state subsidiary was ‘instructed” to pick up the cost to Melbourne for the wife of former menteri besar Datin Zahrah Kechik to visit their son who was studying there.

Khairiyah told the Special Select Committee for Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) that she received the instructions directly from Zahrah and was “told” to accompany her on the three day visit, in 2007.

Over RM14,000 was spent to purchase return business class and economy class tickets sometime in December 2007.

Khairiyah says she remembers travelling in business class with Zahrah but could not explain the discrepancies in the invoices for travel which was provided to the committee.

She admitted that the trip was not an official visit and Zahrah used the time to visit her son and to buy souvenirs.

Selangor Speaker Teng Chang Khim, who is heading Selcat’s probe into the now defunct Wives of Selangor Elected Representatives Charity Organization (Balkis), remarked that the trip may have not been official but the cost was.

However Khairiyah said Zahrah paid for the hotel accommodation while in Australia.

The startling revelations could not come at a worse time for Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, who is contesting the Umno Youth chief’s in the party’s general assembly. (TMI)
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Kit Siang ejected from Parliament for calling UMNO 'Power Crazy'

KUALA LUMPUR,— DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang was ejected from the Dewan Rakyat by Deputy speaker Ronald Kiandee at about 10.50am for refusing to retract his accusation that Umno was ‘gila kuasa’ or ‘power crazy’ while debating amendments to the Human Rights Commission Bill.

Kiandee ordered Lim to retract his statement but he refused. Lim will not be allowed into the Dewan till 1pm today.

Preceeding that, a screamfest ensued between Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers over Lim’s words.

Ronald also ordered Kinabatangan member of parliament, Bung Mokhtar Radin, to retract his insults which he did after Lim was ejected.
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KDEB paid for flight tickets of Balkis members to go souvenier shopping

SHAH ALAM : Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd (KDEB) paid for the flight tickets of seven members of the now defunct Selangor assemblymen and MPs wives charity organisation (Balkis) for a “souvenier shopping” trip to Guangzhou, China on May 2007. The cost of flight tickets for one business class and six economy class seats was RM17,438, KDEB head Datuk Abdul Karim Munisar told the Select Committee on Competance, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) of the Selangor State Assembly on the first day of its probe into contributions disbursed to Balkis. Abdul Karim said the company paid more than RM206,000 for the souvenirs from China which included a few hundred stalks of artificial flowers in various colours and 2,700 hats – 900 in red, yellow and purple colours respectively. This was despite the fact that the invoice indicates that the supplier has a local branch based in Kuala Lumpur. The entire cost was absorbed by KDEB which is a state investment arm under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. Abdul Karim added that KDEB had spent a total RM65,300 to buy Songket material to be given as gifts to the Sultan, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed and Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali at a function hosted by Balkis in February 2006 and about RM25,000 for souvenir chocolates. The company also paid RM100,000 for dinner organised by Balkis at the Sunway Lagoon Resort and Spa Hotel on July 24, 2007. This was a week before the association co-hosted three dinners costing RM450,000. The first two dinners on Aug 2 and 3 were held at the same venue and the third on Aug 4 was held at the Sunway Lagoon Theme Park hotel. The cost was borne by the state government with the approval of the financial officer and endorsement of the executive council (exco). Datuk Abdul Karim Munisar Grilled by the Selcat which is chaired by Selangor state assembly speaker Teng Chang Khim on Monday over these payments KDEB made under its CSR programme president Karim Munisar said: “We do not question the relevance of this as it was determined by the previous state government, and there are no criteria or guidelines. Now KDEB is under a new government and if they change the policy and stipulate guidelines pertaining CSR programmes, then we will adhere to it.” Karim was one of the four witnesses who testified before the seven member Selcat panel made up of five Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen and two Barisan Nasional representatives. The other Selcat members are Bkit Antarabangsa state assemblyman Azmin Ali, Taman Medan assemblyman Haniza Talha, Ulu Kelang assemblyman Shaari Sungib, Bukit Gasing assemblyman Edward Lee, Dusun Tua assemblyman Ismail Sani (BN), and Permatang assemblyman Sulaiman Abdul Razak (BN). He said if the president approves the appeal for funding from organisations like Balkis then the board would have to endorse it. Asked what would happen if he had not approved it, Karim replied: “Susah lah! (that’s hard)”. Several state company representatives and their subsidiaries also admitted that they were obliged to pay for the cost incurred by Balkis saying it was a practice which they did not question. The heads and former managers of the companies said that although they agreed to pay for expenditures, the approvals were based on estimates. The final cost would be paid to suppliers based on based on bills that Balkis forwarded to the companies. Earlier during the morning session, state secretary Datuk Ramli Mahmud said the CSR guidelines for state companies are determined by the companies themselves and that there was no fixed guideline. “It is for the CEOs to decide on based on their budget allocations,” he said. Ramli also denied that where the state was concerned there was no special treatment for Balkis as the organisation had to write in to ask for financial assistance if they wanted it. He said the RM450,000 contribution for Balkis dinner at the Sunway Lagoon Resort and Spa Hotel and the Sunway Lagoon Theme Park Hotel were a one-off contribution to the organisation and the state took into account the fact that the organisation was run by the wives of state representatives. Datuk Ramli Mahmud We received the endorsement of the state executive council (exco) and the financial officer to host the three events which wives of elected representatives from all 13 states in the country attended , with Balkis as the co-host, he added. Meanwhile former Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS) general manager Datuk Harun Salim agreed with the committee when asked if PKNS was a “tukang bayar” (pay master) for Balkis as the association would forward its bills to the company to be paid. He said the organisation would usually forward requests to the company to sponsor some of its programmes and admitted that the company usually felt obliged to support Balkis. Harun however denied that he was concerned about repercussions if he did not endorse the sponsorships because he said his performance and the profits of the company were good. Therefore this was not a reason he took into account when approving the soponsorships. PKNS and its subsidiaries had also contributed large sums to Balkis including RM300,000 for the three dinners held on Aug 2,3 and 4. Pebadanan Kemajuan Pertanian Selangor (PKPS) Mohd Nordin Darhan who also testified before Selcat said the company had on Jan 2006 contributed RM46,000 for the officiating of Balkis complex in Section 7, Shah Alam including the cost of 150 fruit hampers for guests.

Courtesy Of Sun2Surf
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FRU fired tear gas at Anwar's ceramah

SUNGAI PETANI, — Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) forces fired tear gas and used water cannons tonight on thousands gathered at a ceramah in Bukit Selambau just as Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was beginning his speech.

At about 10pm, the FRU engaged the crowd gathered in an open field in front of a shophouse that is being used by PKR as its operation centre for the April 7 by-election.

The opposition leader and other Pakatan Rakyat leaders were holed up in the operation centre until nearly 11pm as police continued breaking up the crowd outside.

According to PKR’s Selangor executive councillor Dr Xavier Jeyakumar, those arrested include fellow party member Zamri Yusuf who is a Senator from Kedah and Anwar’s chief of staff Ibrahim Yaacob.

He added that the crowd of thousands dispersed into nearby housing areas with the FRU giving chase as they continued to fire tear gas.

Others arrested include aides to Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak and S Manikumar, the candidate for the Bukit Selambau by-elections.

According to PKR party workers, about 50 people were detained and taken to the police headquarters in Kuala Muda.

“I am so angry that the FRU used water cannons and tear gas on 5,000 people gathered to hear DSAI speak,” Dr Jeyakumar stated.

He also told The Malaysian Insider that there were rumours that the authorities wanted to detain the PKR de facto leader.

Other PKR sources have also told The Malaysian Insider of such rumours since last week when Anwar first hit the campaign trail for the three simultaneous by-elections in Bukit Selambau, Bukit Gantang and Batang Ai.

Anwar did however manage to leave the scene after 11pm after being escorted by his security personnel to his car.

Jeyakumar also said that many were injured in the attack as the crowd were ambushed from the back.

The police and FRU also dismantled the tents, confiscated the rostrum and all the PA equipment from the site. (TMI)

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Angry wives chop off cheating husband's manhood

NEW DELH:Two young women frustrated with their husbands'' sexual promiscuity decided to teach their partners a painful lesson -- by slicing off their manhood.

One of the women, a 39-year-old from Katihar district in Bihar state, unable to cope with her husband''s persistent illicit affair with another woman from the same village, admonished her husband several times but blew her top when she caught him in the act with his ex-beau in the family bedroom.

After a morning quarrel last week, the wife decided to settle her vengeance by trying to slice off Singh's private organ using a sharp blade.

"It was a domestic dispute and a case was reported on the woman. She is out on bail and living with her parents now. She had attacked her husband using a sharp object; he suffered minor injuries and is fit now," Katihar superintendent of police Anil Kishore Yadav told Bernama.

Villagers had rushed the husband, in his 30s and a peon at a local school, to a nearby hospital where doctors managed to save him from any worse trauma.
But the anger on infidelity reached a peak and was far scarier in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, where another fuming wife chopped off her husband's manhood early this month after discovering that he was having sexual relations with other women.

In a well-planned revenge, the 35-year-old wife from Amraiwadi district lured her unfaithful husband to bed after sedating him during dinner.

Thinking he was in for a nice bondage sexual rendezvous, the excited 30-year-old husband, got into bed where the wife tied both his hands and legs to the bed using ropes. In a fit of rage, she cut off his penis using a sharp knife.

"She had nicely planned the whole attack after she caught her husband doing it with his ex-woman. She gave him some sedation and tied his limbs and hands to the bed. Once he got excited, she chopped off his organ.

"The organ was completely cut off and they brought it in two pieces. Doctors did some skin grafting but could not reconnect it. It was badly cut and he can''t function," Dr Gautam Sharma, assistant administrator at the Civil Hospital in Amraiwadi, where the victim was treated, told Bernama.

Police detained the woman for questioning and the husband was discharged from hospital. (NST)

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Chedet wants KJ out

KUALA LUMPUR, - Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has gone for the jugular, pressing the Umno delegates and incoming Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to freeze Khairy Jamaluddin out of the party and government.

This move by the former prime minister is the latest verbal volley against the son-in-law of his nemesis, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and appears to be a final push to improve Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir's chances of being elected as the Umno Youth chief on Thursday.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the battle for the youth wing is turning out to be a fight between Khairy and Datuk Dr Khir Toyo, with Mukhriz trailing some way behind.

Though no longer an Umno member, Dr Mahathir carries considerable influence in the party and has been commenting on trend of money politics in Umno and the ineffectiveness of the party's disciplinary board to censure the culprits.

In his latest blog posting, he slammed the disciplinary tribunal for missing out on a great opportunity to bar candidates who had used money to buy votes.

"If they had done so, this would have improved the image of the party and there is a good chance that the party would win in the next general elections. But because tribunal has allowed candidates said to be corrupt to contest, there is a good chance that they will be elected to the
Supreme Council, '' he said.

He said that only Najib could save the party.

"When Dato Seri Najib forms the new government, he can reject these leaders and do not give them any positions in the Cabinet or government. I believe Dato Seri Abdullah will force Najib to pick certain individuals as Cabinet ministers.

"We of course know about the desire of someone to become the youngest Prime Minister. The fact is that even if he wins, his involvement in the government will cause voters to reject Barisan Nasional in the next general elections. If Dato Seri Najib picks the corrupt and certain people in his Cabinet, Umno will be destroyed, '' said Dr Mahathir, who believes that Khairy was the power behind the throne and person who influenced Abdullah to chart his own style of administration and undermine the former prime minister's legacy.

Ground reports suggest that either Khir Toyo or Khairy will emerge victorious on Thursday. Khir Toyo was cleared of graft by the disciplinary board while Khairy was warned but allowed to contest.

This latest posting by Dr Mahathir is a gentle reminder to Najib that the latter's choices for the Cabinet will have to be "endorsed'' and "sanctioned'' by the former prime minister.

Otherwise, Najib can expect to be criticized from the sidelines.

Dr Mahathir, who quit Umno in protest against Abdullah's leadership, is expected to attend the party's general assembly as an observer. He is also likely to be given an unofficial role in the new administration.

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Skybridge to bring back happiness walking in KL

CAN you imagine our congested city of Kuala Lumpur being freed of the daily traffic chaos and the maddening crowds?

Would you like to have a pleasant stroll on a sheltered pedestrian walkway to get to work or shop in the city without the irritating hassle of driving around looking for a parking space with hundreds of other drivers competing with you in the traffic havoc?

Easy crossing: An existing skybridge near the Pavilion.

Imagine just parking your car at the Dataran Merdeka carpark and being able to walk in the comfort of a network of sheltered walkways, including a skybridge, to various destinations such as the Bangkok Bank vicinity, Kota Raya, Pudu Raya, the Chinatown in Petaling Street, Plaza Rakyat, Swiss Garden Hotel, Federal Hotel, Sungai Wang Plaza, right up to the Star Hill Centre.

Your stroll along the network of walkways will allow you to have some refreshing exercise, unhindered by billboards, potted plants, tables, chairs, beggars and illegal hawkers.

Your walk will also be made more pleasant with the presence of charming little kiosks located along the walkways, offering coffee, hot muffins, nasi lemak, delightful and delicious snacks which you can pick up on your way to the office.

If the innovative Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Ahmad Fuad Ismail has his way, such a scenario could one day be realised.

And private traffic consultant Goh Bok Yen certainly has some creative proposals to help Fuad to turn the densely-populated capital city into a pleasant place to live, work or shop.

Money, too, will not be a problem as the federal government has proposed an allocation of RM100mil under the mini-budget tabled in Parliament recently for the construction of skybridges and covered walkways between the buildings around the Golden Triangle area in the city.

Getting around the city will be easier as the artist’s impression of a covered walkway (left) shows. Currently, pedestrians have to brave the weather and the traffic to walk from one place to another (above). – The Star

Surely, with the government commitment, financial support from the corporate sector, plenty of research and detailed planning, such an ideal concept would be able to take concrete form.

“It is not too late to have such a network of walkways. In fact, it is time to implement such a pedestrian system as part and parcel of an integrated and sustainable public transport system,’’ Goh said.

It is common knowledge that the KL transport network of train, buses, and rail is not well co-ordinated, but Goh is confident that the situation could be rectified by linking it with a well-planned pedestrian network.

Fuad is determined to improve the city’s transport system by reversing the decline in public transport usage.

The mayor had said at a recent press conference that emphasis must be given to improving the public transport system in the city to ensure a private to public transport modal split of 60:40 by the year 2020.

Fuad had said that in the process of creating a comprehensive transport system, a well-planned pedestrian network is essential to complement the various transport modes to better enhance the system.

Goh has done some feasibility studies on the proposed pedestrian network system for the central business district (CBD) of the Golden Triangle, and has even submitted a report to the economic planning unit (EPU) on an elevated pedestrian network (EPN) several years ago.

According to Goh’s findings, having a good network of pedestrian walkways would help to divert intra-CBD short trips from the vehicular single mode such as cars, taxis, buses, or motorcycles.

“It all depends on how you view lost time and opportunity – the cost of fuel, parking charges, time wasted looking for parking space and being stuck in a traffic gridlock,” Goh said.

“People generally do not like to walk for more than a thousand metres, especially in our unpredictable weather, but if the walkways are air-conditioned or reasonably comfortable, I am sure many people will be willing to walk more than that distance,’’ he said.

“Some people are willing to walk because they know that they would probably reach their destination a whole lot faster than taking a taxi and getting stuck in traffic,’’ Goh said.

Indeed, the KL gridlock is costing the city millions of ringgit each day and according to a statement from the Association for the Improvement of Mass-Transit (TRANSIT) Klang Valley, congestion costs are leading to the loss of 2% of Malaysia’s GDP (about RM10bil) every year.

It is obvious that the traffic havoc problem needs to be resolved fast to improve the quality of life of city dwellers and workers, and a good network of walkways is certainly among the most essential and viable options to achieve that.

According to Goh, design too plays an important role. A good pedestrian system, he said, must have three main components: walkway, footbridge that links to the buildings, and a landing that provides ground level access to the walkway which can either be an escalator, stairway, and or pedestrian lifts.

And there is also a need to create activities along the walkways, like booths and kiosk providing a shopping alternative to the pedestrians. This will also provide an avenue for the KL City Hall (DBKL) to generate some revenue.

“The revenue from rental and advertising can be used to maintain the walkways and pay for electricity bills,” Goh said.

Goh is confident that such a pedestrian network is the most appropriate, or even the perfect, scheme for the KL central business hub around Bukit Bintang, and if the project is implemented well, it could even match those of Hong Kong’s Ocean Terminal and Toronto’s PATH system.

But having the system implemented is not good enough as the challenge lies in convincing and changing the mindset of the people to use it.

According to Goh, the Bukit Bintang Transportation Action Plan Study reported that less than 40% of pedestrians crossing between the Sungei Wang Plaza and Lot 10 at Jalan Sultan Ismail use the green footbridge, preferring to walk across six busy traffic lanes instead.

Factors like hot climate condition or torrential rain, noise and air pollution, frequent obstruction on footpaths and passengers queuing up at bus stops and taxi stands also discourage pedestrians from using the walkways.

One thing is certain, and that is, a good pedestrian system will not only benefit the people and generate business in the area but would also enhance the image of KL as a world-class city. (TheStar)

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Oil prices at highest for this year 2009

NEW YORK: A weakened dollar and evidence that OPEC has significantly slowed production sent oil prices soaring to new highs for the year Thursday.

"I think we'll see higher oil prices for a while," said Michael Lynch, president of Strategic Energy & Economic Research.

"There's an expectation that the market has bottomed out."

Benchmark crude for April delivery surged $3.47, or 7 percent, to settle at $51.61 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Oil prices hit $52.25 earlier in the day, a price last seen on Dec. 1.

Crude prices have increased 11.6 percent since OPEC ministers met in Vienna on Sunday.

The group said it would not cut production again immediately, but there is growing consensus that the millions of barrels taken off the market already each day are starting to balance a supply and demand picture that has been skewed for months.

With the April contract set to expire Friday, most of the trading had shifted to the contract for May delivery, where prices jumped $3.14 to settle at $52.04 a barrel.

Analysts rushed to buy crude after the Federal Reserve announced late Wednesday it would buy long-term government bonds, a measure that's expected to jolt the U.S. economy with lower rates on mortgages and other consumer debt.

The Fed also said a $1 trillion program to jump-start consumer and small business lending could be expanded to include other financial assets.

The announcements sent the dollar into a tailspin.

The U.S. dollar dropped against other major currencies almost immediately, at one point falling to levels not seen since January.

The dollar has fallen about 5 percent against the euro over the past couple days. Because oil is bought and sold in dollars, a weak U.S. currency makes crude cheaper globally.

"The government is basically printing money to buy back all this paper, and it devalues the dollar," said Phil Flynn, analyst at Alaron Trading Corp.

Flynn said the rise in oil shouldn't be taken as a sign that the economy in on the mend.

The Fed is using all of its powers to prop up American businesses, "and this is one of their last shots," Flynn said.

"If this doesn't work, they're out of bullets."

A government report that said jobless claims set a new record for the eighth straight week.

The Labor Department said continuing claims for unemployment insurance jumped 185,000 to a seasonally adjusted 5.47 million, another record-high and more than the roughly 5.33 million that economists expected.

Initial claims dropped to a seasonally adjusted 646,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 658,000, however.

That was better than analysts' expectations.

Job cuts are part of the reason for a severe drop-off in miles driven by Americans, a growing number whom no longer commute to work.

The Federal Highway Administration said Thursday that motorists logged seven billion fewer miles in January, 3.1 percent less than the same period in 2008.

The dour economic news did little to dissuade investors as prices topped $50.47 a barrel, the previous high for 2009.

Part of the reason is that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries appears to be pushing through the production cuts it promised to make last year, according to tanker tracker Oil Movements.

Member states agreed last year to squeeze global oil supplies, trimming 4.2 million barrels per day.

Crude exports from OPEC countries have been shrinking during the past few months.

They're expected to drop 770,000 barrels a day in the four weeks leading to April 4, according to an Oil Movements report.

While the recession kept oil near five-year lows, tighter supplies in the spring and summer should buoy crude prices in the next three months, the report said.

Cameron Hanover analyst Peter Beutel said a new high at closing Thursday, along with OPEC production cuts, the federal stimulus package and other bullish factors "are working together to be more important at this moment than the recession and its impact on demand."

"It means things are better than they've been in a while," Beutel said.

Also surging were natural gas prices after a government report showed that U.S. stockpiles fell slightly more than expected last week.

The Energy Information Administration report said inventories held in underground storage in the lower 48 states fell by 30 billion cubic feet to about 1.65 trillion cubic feet for the week ended March 13.

In other Nymex trading, gasoline for April delivery jumped 7.16 cents to settle at $1.4373 a gallon, while heating oil rose 9.2 cents to settle at $1.36 a gallon.

Natural gas for April delivery jumped 49 cents to settle at $4.174 per 1,000 cubic feet.

In London, Brent prices rose $3.01 to settle at $50.67 on the ICE Futures exchange. - AP

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Najib faces furore over corruption sweep

Malaysia's incoming leader Najib Razak faced a furore Wednesday over corruption charges against members of his party, while a former cabinet minister called for the king to block his appointment.

Fifteen members of the ruling UMNO party were Tuesday reprimanded over vote-buying during intense campaigning ahead of internal leadership elections next week.

The most prominent was Mohamad Ali Rustam, who was running to become deputy prime minister but is now disqualified. Najib, the current deputy, is due to replace Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi this month.

Mohamad Ali said he would appeal against the decision.

Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said the decision to punish the party members was potentially damaging, and that although UMNO needs to stamp out money politics the timing was unfortunate.

"If action is taken before you reach the final hurdle, then things will collapse. When it collapses, it will create a lot of undercurrents," he said, according to The Star daily.

"And these undercurrents for UMNO in its present state are not healthy," he said, referring to the party's crisis of confidence since disastrous results in general elections a year ago.

Najib has rejected suggestions that the move against Mohamad Ali -- seen as close to Abdullah's outgoing administration -- could trigger a split within the party.

James Chin, a political analyst from Monash University's campus in Kuala Lumpur, said vested interests meant Najib would survive the furore despite shouts of outrage from Abdullah's faction.

"The best way to describe UMNO is that it's a giant patronage machine. When people are angry it simply means they've been cut out of patronage. Those who are still on the gravy train will never go against the leader," he said.

Adding to the pressure on Najib, former cabinet minister Zaid Ibrahim on Wednesday appealed to the king to block his appointment as prime minister because of "unanswered allegations" over corruption and a murder.

"The air must be cleared, it is thick with accusations and doubts which can only undermine the office of the prime minister if he were to assume it," Zaid, a maverick who was sacked from the party last year, said in a speech.

Najib has been forced to repeatedly deny any involvement in the 2006 murder of 28-year-old Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu, the lover of one of his close aides, whose body was blown up with military-grade explosives. (MSN)


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Khir and wife ordered to attend public hearing

SHAH ALAM: Former Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo and wife Datin Seri Zahrah Kechik have been called to answer in a public inquiry from March 23 to 31.

The two are among 11 witnesses asked to explain the more than RM1mil sponsorship received by the Wives of Selangor State Assemblymen and MPs Charity and Welfare Organisation (Balkis).

Zahrah was the Balkis chairman during Dr Khir’s tenure as Mentri Besar.

The historical public inquiry is called by the Special Select Committee on Competence, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) set up under the state assembly.

Selcat chairman Teng Chang Khim stressed that those called up were termed as witnesses, and their role was to help the committee identify weaknesses to assist in improving the state administration.

Teng said the police or the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency Commission could not use information gathered at the inquiry against any of the witnesses.

The witnesses, he said, were protected by the House immunity guaranteed by the state legislation

“The outcome of the hearing will be tabled at the next state assembly sitting,” he told a press conference at the sidelines of the state assembly yesterday.

Some 200 people, comprising government officials, non-governmental organisation representatives, members of the public and journalists are expected to attend the inquiry held before the seven-member Selcat team.

The public hearing can be viewed live on the state government’s official website www.selangor.gov.my. Teng, also the Selangor Speaker, said the order to attend the inquiry had been served to all witnesses except one, currently overseas.

Three main companies involved in the sponsorships were also expected to be called-up.

Teng said Selcat had compiled evidence and called 11 meetings since it began probe into Balkis from May last year.

Besides Balkis, Selcat had also initiated investigations into the alleged hasty spending of annual allocations by previous elected representatives before the general election last year.

(TheStar)





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Zaid urges King not to make Najib PM

KUALA LUMPUR - Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has made an impassioned plea to the King to not appoint Datuk Seri Najib Razak as prime minister, and instead appoint someone else from Umno "to bring us back from the brink."

The former de facto law minister urged the King to used his judgment to appoint as PM someone who is "beyond reproach in his dealings both official and private," in a scathing attack on his former Cabinet and party colleague.

"A prime minister must have the confidence of the majority of the rakyat…For this to be the case there cannot be anything in the mind of the greater public that, correctly or otherwise, associates him with matters of criminality, wrongful action, improper conduct or abuses of power," he said in a speech to the Rotary Club here today.

Zaid's remarks will certainly put pressure on Najib as he prepares to take power first as Umno president next week before taking over from Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi as prime minister the following week.

The former minister's comments also come a day after Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad also piled on the pressure on Najib by saying he did not shine as a deputy prime minister and acknowledging the baggage he carries into the job.

In his speech, Zaid also made reference to what has been described as the kind of baggage that no other Malaysian leader had on entering office.

He has been linked on the internet and by political rivals to the brutal murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu although he has firmly denied involvement and there is no evidence to tie him to the death.

Najib's popularity rating also stands at just 41 per cent, according to a recent poll by the independent Merdeka Centre.

Zaid said that while he did not intend any accusation, he felt that Najib was not beyond reproach in the collective mind of the rakyat.

"The rakyat has doubts, fuelled by the unanswered allegations against him. It is not a mere trifle in the minds of the rakyat that despite a direct challenge from a member of parliament recently, the deputy prime minister remained silent," he said.

Zaid also cited the RM400 million in commissions reportedly paid by the Defence Ministry while Najib was minister for the procurement of submarines, and pointed out that Abdul Razak Baginda, the DPM's friend was an agent in the deal.

The Altantuya murder was also cited by Zaid, who pointed out that there were many unanswered questions which the public deserved to be told about.

He also described the recent power grab in Perak as an unmitigated disaster.

"They (the public) now equate him with the high-handed tactics that were employed to seize power.

"With all of this and more, how are we not to feel anxious? How are we to sleep peacefully at night?"

Zaid said that while the King is required under the Constitution to appoint the person who commands the confidence of the majority of the members of parliament, it is a matter for His Majesty's judgment.

"There is no constitutional obligation on His Majesty to appoint the president of Umno as the prime minister.

"There are still well qualified members of parliament from Umno who can be appointed PM to bring us back from the brink." (TMI)

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Karpal charged for sedition

KUALA LUMPUR, - DAP chairman Karpal Singh was charged this morning with sedition for saying Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin's removal as Perak mentri besar by Sultan Azlan Shah could be "questioned in a court of law."
The veteran lawyer-politician was charged at the Sessions Court here before Judge Mohamad Sekeri Mamat under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1946.

Earlier before he was charged, Karpal told reporters that the charge is "obviously politically motivated."

He also criticised the Sedition Act, calling it archaic, pointing out it was used to intimidate MPs from speaking out.

"If not, then Dr Mahathir would be first on the list."

Karpal also said that his comments about the Perak constitutional crisis were "basic law lessons taught in law schools."

"Not that I want to sue the Sultan. I have no authority. But the Sultan can be sued in his personal capacity."

The DAP man said he was not worried about the charge, because he had been charged with the same offence previously and was acquitted.

Karpal is representing himself. (TMI)


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Mini Budget 2009 causes problem for SMEs

PETALING JAYA – The RM60 billion mini Budget might provide guarantees for local businessmen but it has also brought on a huge problem, crippling double levies for both new and existing foreign workers that keep Malaysian exports competitive.

The government imposed the levies in the mini Budget to encourage Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to employ locals but factory managers and even restaurateurs say Malaysians ask for too much but produce too little, forcing them to rely on foreign workers.

The SMI Association of Malaysia is now appealing to the government to consider the double levy, to be paid by employers, only for new foreign workers and not for existing workers.

The association said the imposition of the double levy on existing foreign workers already in the country will cause the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to be penalised and burdened with unexpected additional costs during difficult times.

It is estimated that 500,000 foreign workers are employed by the SMEs currently.

Its national president, Chua Tiam Wee pointed out that the SMEs are already feeling the pinch of the deteriorating economic crisis and most have limited resources and reserves to last for about six months.

Without the immediate government action to stimulate domestic demand strongly, Chua said, many SMEs will need to take drastic action to downsize or even see closure in the coming six months.

“When the budget was announced, we had simultaneous dialogue with the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to give our feedback. We hope MITI will forward our feedback to the government,” Bernama quoted him as saying yesterday.

Currently, the SMEs employ 5.6 million or 56 per cent of the total workforce, a mere five percent closure by SMEs will mean over 250,000 workers will face retrenchment, he noted.

On the new RM5 billion Working Capital Guarantee Fund and another RM5 billion Industry Restructuring Loan Guarantee Fund announced in the second stimulus package, Chua said the speedy disbursement of such funds lie on the willingnes of banks to lend.

“To assist SMEs facing difficulties, a one year moratorium should be allowed for them to service their loan interest only,” he said.

He added the government should monitor the approval and disbursement closely to ensure banks act speedily and responsibly.

Meanwhile, The Sunday Star reported that the Home Ministry has seen the “locals first” policy result in work permit approvals for foreign workers cut by almost 70 percent.

In January and February, an average of 250 permits were approved daily compared to 800 last year.

Home Ministry deputy secretary-general Datuk Raja Azahar Raja Abdul Manap, who disclosed this to Sunday Star, added that there was a time when up to 2,000 approvals were granted daily.

He attributed the decrease to a more thorough vetting process by the ministry.

The ministry approved 301,682 foreign workers last year but is confident of achieving its target of reducing the number of foreign workers to 1.5 million by 2015. (TMI)

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Swiss Open : Chong Wei edged Taufik to reach semi-finals

WORLD No 1 Lee Chong Wei survived a narrow escape when he edged Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia to reach the semi-finals of the Swiss Open in Basel last night.

Chong Wei, the top seed, was tested to the limit by Taufik before securing 21-23, 21-12, 21-19 in 66 minutes to earn a place in the last four.

However, his rival Lin Dan of China advanced to the semi-finals with an easy 21-16, 21-14 win over Hsieh Yu Hsin of Taiwan.

Chong Wei will meet Jan Jorgensen of Denmark, who beat another Malaysian shuttler Sairul Amar Ayub 21-18, 21-16, in the last four today.

Lin Dan will set-up an all-China semi-final clash when Chen Jin thrashed England's Andrew Smith 21-10, 21-5 to secure his berth in the last four.
In the men's doubles, Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong advanced to the semi-finals after a comprehensive 21-14, 21-17 win over Michal Logosz-Robert Mateusiak of Poland.

Kien Keat-Boon Heong will take on All England champions Fu Haifeng-Cai Yun of China, who defeated Chris Adcock-Robert Blair of England 21-10, 21-11, today.

The other semi-final will pit Denmark's Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen against South Korea's Lee Yong Dae-Shin Baek Cheol.

World No 1 Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei were forced to withdraw from the women's doubles quarter-finals duie to an injury last night.

Eei Hui had suffered a recurrence of a back injury during the All England last week, had to concede the quarter-finals against Ha Jung Eun-Kim Min Jung of South Korea yesterday.

Malaysia's campaign in the mixed doubles also came to an end after Fairuzizuan Tazari-Wong Pei Tty lost 21-18, 21-8 to Olympic champions Lee Yong Dae-Lee Hyo Jung of South Korea in the last eight.

Q-Final Results - Men's Singles: Lee Chong Wei (Mas) bt Taufik Hidayat (Ina) 21-23, 21-12, 21-19; Jan Jorgensen (Den) bt Sairul Amar Ayob (Mas) 21-18, 21-16; Chen Jin (Chn) bt Andrew Smith (Eng) 21-10, 21-5; Lin Dan (Chn) Hsieh Yu Hsin (Tai) 21-16, 21-14.

Doubles: Lee Yong Dae-Shin Baek Cheol (Kor) bt Kenichi Hayakawa-Kenta Kazuno (Jpn) 23-21, 21-15; Fu Haifeng-Cai Yun (Chn) bt Chris Adcock-Robert Blair (Eng) 21-10, 21-11; Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong (Mas) bt Michal Logosz-Robert Mateusiak (Pol) 21-14, 21-17; Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen (Den) bt Anthony Clark-Nathan Robertson (Eng) 18-21, 21-19, 21-14.

Women's Singles: Jiang Yanjiao (Chn) bt Salakjit Ponsana (Tha) 21-16, 21-13; Pi Hongyan (Fra) bt Juliane Schenk (Ger) 21-18, 21-13; Wang Yihan (Chn) bt Zhou Mi (HK) 21-11 23-21; Lu Lan (Chn) bt Saina Nehwal (Ind) 18-21 21-8 21-17.

Doubles: Ha Jung Eun-Kim Min Jung (Kor) w.o. Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui (Mas).

Mixed Doubles: Lee Yong Dae-Lee Hyo Jung (Kor) bt Fairuzizuan Tazari-Wong Pei Tty (Mas) 21-18, 21-8.

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Court held that Sivakumar can engage private lawyers

PUTRAJAYA:The Court of Appeal on Friday held that Perak State Legislative Assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar can engage private lawyers to represent him in two civil suits brought by Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and six state executive councillors and three independent assemblymen.

Justices Datuk Md. Raus Sharif, Datuk Abdull Hamid Embong and Datuk Ahmad Maarop unanimously held that there was no provision in law to say that the speaker must be represented by Perak legal adviser Datuk Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid.

"A speaker is not a state officer or the Government of the state. Sivakumar is at liberty to engage lawyers of his choice," Raus said in his oral decision allowing Sivakumar's appeals to set aside the Ipoh High Court's ruling that only the State Legal Adviser can represent him.

On March 3 and 5, Judicial Commissioner Ridwan Ibrahim refused to allow private attorneys to represent Sivakumar.

Zambry and the six state Exco had brought a suit against Speaker seeking a declaration that the Speaker's decision in suspending and preventing them from attending the assembly's sittings for 18 months (for Zambry) and 12 months (for the rest) is null and void.

The other suit was brought by the three independent lawmakers Jamaluddin Md Radzi, Capt (R) Mohd Osman Jailu and Hee Yit who wanted the court to declare that their Behrang, Changkat Jering and Jelapang seats are not vacant and that they are still the legitimate people's representatives.

This followed the Speaker's announcement last month that they had vacated the seats after Jamaluddin and Osman quit Parti Keadilan Rakyat and Hee left DAP. - Bernama

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Survey proved that UMNO is a corrupted party

KUALA LUMPUR — Umno has received a slap in the face just ahead of its key annual meeting, with many voters polled in a survey seeing the country's biggest political party as corrupt and out of touch with the ground.

Respondents to the survey also said that International Trade Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was the best choice for the deputy prime minister's position, a contrast from Umno pundits, who expect another leader to emerge as the new No. 2.

The 1,031 respondents also felt that the views of ordinary Malaysians should be considered while picking leaders in internal Umno polls, going against the conventional political wisdom that the leaders are picked only by party members.

The party's chiefs are currently elected by about 2,500 top Umno cadres in elections that are held every three years.

The survey was conducted last month by independent pollster Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research.

Respondents comprised 57 per cent Malays, 31 per cent Chinese and 12 per cent Indians based on random sampling.

The survey showed that a year after the watershed general election that empowered the opposition, voters were clamouring for a bigger say in how the country's leaders were picked.

“This survey indicates the Malaysian public's keen interest in Umno's election,” Merdeka Centre chief Ibrahim Suffian said in a statement.

“They also have strong views about the problems affecting the party while at the same time harbour high hopes that those elected... will be able to fulfil their wishes.”

From March 24 to 28, Umno will hold its annual assembly, which incorporates the triennial party polls.

Its president and deputy president traditionally become the prime minister and deputy prime minister respectively, and many of its top leaders are Cabinet ministers.

The survey found that 79 per cent of the voters polled wanted Umno delegates to “take into consideration the views of ordinary Malaysians in determining Umno leadership line-up as it influences national politics”, the Merdeka Centre said.

“Why should the power to appoint the leaders who will rule 27 million people be in the hands of such a select few?” asked 43-year-old housewife Connie Wong.

The survey showed that a high percentage of voters have a negative image of the 3.2 million strong party.

A total of 61 per cent of those polled viewed corruption as Umno's most serious problem, while 13 per cent said its second most serious problem was being “out of touch” with the public.

Voters were also worried the party had “weak leaders” and that it was a “weak manager of the economy”.

In a startling reflection of the Chinese voters' rejection of the Malay party, which leads a multiracial coalition, the poll showed that just 1 per cent of Chinese respondents hoped Umno would “continue to lead the country”.

Three per cent of Indian respondents hoped the same for Umno. In contrast, 19 per cent of Malays wanted the party to continue leading the country.

A similar 1 per cent of Chinese respondents said they had hope for Umno to develop the country, yet none expected Umno to “perform well and keep the promises”.

As for the qualities they desired in Umno leaders, 21 per cent of the respondents ranked “being just to the people” or being “close to the people” (11 per cent) as among the most important.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is slated to take over as Umno president and prime minister by early next month.

But the Umno deputy president's post, and hence the deputy prime minister's post, will be decided by the party from among three men.

Umno pundits are saying that Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Ali Rustam is leading in the unofficial count, followed by Muhyiddin and Rural Development Minister Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib.

But if voters were allowed to make their pick, Muhyiddin would be the outright winner. — The Straits Times

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Guan Eng thanks Najib for money, then asks where it will come from

KUALA LUMPUR, - Like many other Pakatan Rakyat leaders, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng welcomed the new stimulus deal, with a great deal of scepticism thrown in.

The Penang Chief Minister thanked Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for setting aside RM250 million to expand the state's international airport.

But he wants the federal government to pump in an additional RM11.5 billion into 21 state projects he described as "critical" to boost economic growth, such as the proposed RM500 million halal hub in Balik Pulau and Batu Kawan; RM200 million loan for its Heritage Rehabilitation Plan in Georgetown as a Unesco-recognised World Heritage Site; and RM1.1 billion to expand the Mengkuang Dam.

"The reality is if Penang fails, Malaysia will fail because 30 per cent of the total export and tourists originate from and visit Penang," Lim, who is also Bagan MP, said in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Lim's biggest beef with the stimulus concerned the RM60 billion figure. "Where is the RM60 million coming from?" he asked.

"How does the RM10 billion equity investment benefit ordinary workers?" he added.

He claimed that the RM10 billion would be used as a "rescue package for certain crony companies" and pointed to last year's RM5 billion loan from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to ValueCap to support his statement.

He concluded his speech by offering to work together with the federal government to face the economic crisis if it prioritised the public.

"What we want to see is direct assistance to the rakyat, not only focusing on companies. Look at Taiwan and Singapore which gave RM8.5 billion or RM400 spending money in cash to each citizen. Not a sen was for ordinary Malaysians," said Lim. (tmi)

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Azmin alleges Khir Toyo's wife visited Tokyo Disneyland on state funds

Azmin Ali: Khir Toyo's wife misused state funds for overseas holidays.

Shah Alam, - Bukit Antarabangsa state assemblyman Azmin Ali today accused the wife of former mentri besar Datuk Seri Khir Toyo of misusing state funds for overseas holidays, including a 2007 trip to Tokyo Disneyland.

He told the Selangor state assembly today that government records showed that the Wives of Selangor Assemblymen and MPs Welfare and Charity Organisation (Balkis) headed by Datin Seri Zahrah Kechik also misused "welfare allocations" to buy clothing and accesories.

Balkis was dissolved on March 11 before Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim was sworn-in as Selangor Menteri Besar on March 13, 2008.

In 2007, state investment arm Permodalan Negeri Selangor Berhad (PNSB) recorded RM1.2 million ringgit in traveling costs which also included Balkis' technical visits, said Azmin.

He told the assembly that he has records to show Balkis made a "technical visit" to Tokyo Disneyland.

"Technical visit for what to Disneyland? Do they want to visit Mickey Mouse? If they visited industries in Tokyo and Europe, I would have still accepted it. Even if they have visited the industries in Mongolia, I would still have considered it," he argued.

The records also showed that Balkis also made "technical visits" to Korea and Hong Kong after Tokyo.

Balkis had also received a huge allocation from PNSB for welfare purposes but initial reports received by Azmin Ali showed the funds were used for the members' attires and accessories.

"What is this? If what I said are false accusations, I am willing to be brought to court," he said.

Azmin asked that a report be presented in the State Assembly on the results from the technical visits especially to Tokyo Disneyland.

He also accused PNSB of mishandling of funds and corruption in its acquisition of properties in Mecca.

The Selangor Menteri Besar's office had earlier revealed that the Barisan Nasional state government made unauthorized investments for properties in Mecca, Saudi Arabia worth RM17.5 million in 2007.

The Director of PNSB only authorized the buying of 5 units of apartments but instead 12 units were bought and they were registered under a personal name. Seven of the units were then sold back to an identified person and there was no official receipt to legitimize the transaction. (TMI)

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Pak Lah & Anwar historic lunch in Hulu Langat

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had an unexpected meeting at a religious school in Hulu Langat, near here, yesterday.

News websites and political portals reported that both of them had been invited by well-known Ustaz, Sheikh Mahmud Al-Mazjub to celebrate Maulidur Rasul at his Madrasah Nurul Iman, Hulu Langat, Selangor.

The portals said there were over 1,000 people at the function who were surprised at the visit of the two men.

Abdullah is said to have arrived about 20 minutes before Anwar and PKR president-wife Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Ismail.

Pictures on the portals showed that Abdullah and Anwar also had lunch with Sheikh Mahmud. The three of them also performed zohor prayers at the school.

Their unexpected meeting raised eyebrows and led to all sorts of speculation on the Internet.

However, Anwar said in his blog that there had been too many assumptions and interpretations over their presence at the function.

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RM60B for 2 years stimulus budget - Malaysiakini

KUALA LUMPUR, - Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced today a RM60 billion stimulus package as he painted a gloomy picture of the Malaysian economy in the face of a global recession.

The whopping sum will be spent over two years as the country faces up to the reality of falling exports and drastically lower revenue.

The package, announced in Parliament today, includes RM3 billion in tax incentives, and will see RM10 billion of equity investments and RM15 billion in fiscal injections, as well as RM25 billion in guaranteed funds.

A total of RM29 billion has been allocated for private sector assistance, while RM5 billion has been set aside for a working capital guarantee scheme to provide capital to companies with an equity of under RM20 million.

A financial guarantee institution will also be established.

"This RM60 billion accounts for almost 9 per cent of the GDP. The implementation of such a large stimulus package is unprecedented in the nation's economic history", he told Parliament.

Of the RM15 billion fiscal injection, Najib said RM10 billion is allocated for 2009 and RM5 billion for 2010. The RM10 billion for 2009 consists of RM5 billion for operating expenditure and RM5 billion for development expenditure.

The higher expenditure will increase the Federal Government budget deficit from 4.8 per cent to 7 per cent this year.

"The Government is confident that the deficit can be financed from domestic sources, given the ample liquidity in the domestic financial system. In addition, the Federal Government debt ratio is still at a prudent level," said Najib.

He said the financing of the deficit will not crowd out the private sector in sourcing funds, particularly from the bond market, which has expanded rapidly and is currently the second largest in the East Asia region.

Najib, who is set to become prime minister on March 31, said the government's growth forecast for 2009 was projected to be between a contraction of 1 percent and a 1 percent expansion, down from a forecast of 3.5 per cent.

Malaysia is a heavily export dependent country and job losses have been increasing as more and more multinationals have started closing plants because of lower global demand for products.

Najib will hope that the new stimulus package will offer him some political room to operate as he prepares to take over as prime minister and Umno president at a time when Barisan Nasional (BN) faces three crucial by-elections.

(See full text of Najib's speech)

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