Stop sending mixed signals on race and quotas

KUALA LUMPUR, June 28- The DAP backs Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s reform plans but is concerned with the administration’s mixed signals on Malay rights.

Tony Pua, the party’s national publicity secretary, pointed out that while the prime minister spoke last night about removing quotas and merit-based national scholarships his deputy had promised on the same day that “Umno would fight to the last drop of blood to protect Malay rights”.

He said that although the DAP welcomes Najib’s announcement in Putrajaya last night, Barisan Nasional (BN) should stop the policy of divide and rule among Malaysians of all races.

During the dinner hosted by the MCA and the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ACCCIM), Najib acknowledged that the quota system was flawed and did not benefit Bumiputeras.

Datuk Seri Muhyiddin Yassin was present at the same dinner but according to Pua, he had stirred up Malay racial sentiments in his speech earlier in Pagoh, Johor.

“Taken together with the Prime Minister’s own persistence in Malay-Muslim unity talks with PAS, it raises the question as to whether BN is continuing the policy of “singing a different song to a different racial audience”.

He said this flies in the face of the 1 Malaysia concept being preached by Najib.

Pua said that Umno continues to place Malay unity and Malay rights above all else under its “Ketuanan Melayu” banner while all other BN component parties and ethnic groups are subjugated to its authority.

However, he said the DAP was willing to fully support the prime minister to remove the inefficient and ineffective quota system and replace it with a policy which promotes meritocracy in all sectors including education and the economy.

The policy on meritocracy should be complemented with an affirmative

action policy based on needs and not race.

“We would fully support all efforts to improve the economic livelihood of all poor Bumiputeras and Malaysians.”

He agreed with the PM that the quota system under the New Economic Policy (NEP) has failed the Bumiputeras.

The NEP promotes a rent-seeking culture, cronyism and corruption while benefiting only those who are politically connected, he said.

“We call on the Prime Minister to put his words into action by delivering a ministerial statement in Parliament to call for the removal of the quota-based NEP.”

Ex-Welfare dept director charged with graft

Mastor at the courthouse Friday

KOTA KINABALU: Retired Sabah Welfare Department director Datuk Mastor Samin pleaded not guilty to corruption charges for approving RM10,000 worth of contracts to a company owned by his wife.

Mastor, 57, who retired in April last year, was allowed bail of RM5,000 with one surety by Sessions Court judge Caroline Be Majanil, who also set March 1 to 5 for the trial.

He is charged with abusing his position as director of the state Welfare Department by directing one Dosmin Lojum to hand over RM8,000 under the then Bantuan Geran Pelancaran (launching grant) for the purchase of a sewing machine, cloth and thread from Rodeah Enterprise, a company owned by his wife Rohani Abdul Rahman.

He allegedly committed the offence at the fifth floor of Wisma Kebajikan in Sembulan on Feb 25, 2002.

On the second charge, Mastor is alleged to have ordered one Shamsuri Al-Malek to get RM2,000 worth of sewing material, including cloth and thread, also from Rodeah Enterprise, at the same place on Feb 27, 2002.

Mastor was charged under Section 15(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997 and if found guilty, could face a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine.

Mastor, who was unrepresented, posted bail.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commis-sion deputy public prosecutor Kevin Morais prosecuted.

Port Klang Authority scoffs at Kit Siang’s allegations

KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 — Lim Kit Siang’s accusations that the Minister of Transport and Port Klang Authority (PKA) had failed to submit 300 copies of the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) report to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) are preposterous, PKA chairman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng said.

In a press statement faxed to Bernama today, Lee said the PKFZ report prepared by Pricewaterhouse Coopers Advisory Services Sdn Bhd (PwCAS) was delivered to the PAC Secretary, who is also the Parliament Secretary, Datuk Roosme Hamzah on June 15, 2009.

He said the PKA also received a signed acknowledgement from the Parliament office for the delivered report.

The PKA wished to clarify that Lim's statements were baseless, he said.

“The PKA received a letter from the PAC Secretary on June 12, 2009, requesting for 300 copies of the PKFZ report for the Members of Parliament and on the same day, consent was obtained from the Minister of Transport to deliver the reports to Parliament,” he said.

He said the PKA acted in a prompt and professional manner following the instruction from the Minister of Transport to deliver the PKFZ report and appendices to Parliament as requested.

The letter from the PAC and relevant documents were also appended with the press statement.

Lee hoped that his statement would clarify the confusion pertaining to the delivery of the PKFZ report. – Bernama

Catholic Church’s challenge to use ‘Allah’ to be heard on July 7

KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 — The Roman Catholic Church has withdrawn its 2008 judicial review application, due to the expiry of the review period, but maintains its challenge to use the term “Allah” in its weekly publication with the fresh application filed on February 16 this year.

High Court judge Lau Bee Lan struck out the 2008 application in chambers.

Counsel S.Selvarajah for the Titular Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur, Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam, informed the media that the church withdrew the application as the permit for the Herald publication for the period January 1 to December 31, 2008, had expired.

As such, the judicial review sought in 2008 had become academic.

On May 5 last year, Pakiam, as publisher of The Herald, named the Home Ministry and Government of Malaysia as respondents in his action for a declaration that the decision of the respondents dated February 12, 2008, prohibiting him from using the word “Allah” in the Herald - The Catholic Weekly is illegal.

He also sought a declaration that he is entitled to use the word “Allah” and that the word “Allah” is not exclusive to the religion of Islam.

Selvarajah said Pakiam’s fresh application for judicial review which was filed on February 16 this year, would be heard on July 7.