THE BN campaign will replicate the well-know strategy of the past. Over the next few days, there will be an exodus of Pakatan members and officials migrating to the Barisan Nasional in a widely publicised event.
Suddenly, we will witness the spectacle of newly awakened members of the Opposition coming out in droves from the Pakatan and pledging their support for the BN. It is a mystery that these members do not wake up when there are no by-elections. They remain in hibernation in between elections!!
Of course, everyone suspects that inducements have a way of persuading them to discard their oft-repeated principles and ethics. One is astounded at how easily they switch sides and praise those they had formerly condemned to eternity.
Then there will also be the high drama of one or more elected representatives abandoning the mandate of the voters and betraying their trust shamelessly and declaring their new status as Independents!
The last minute bribery will be some handouts to the residents of the long houses. Billions of ringgit will be promised on condition that the BN candidate is elected on 16 May 2010.
But, let's remember that the so-called concerns for the locals and their welfare is because of the presence of the Opposition. If the Sibu by-election had been returned to the BN uncontested, Sibu residents would not have received anything. No BN leader would have bothered to drop by to ask the locals what their problems are; no one would have visited them to discover their deplorable situation. The prime minister would not have made himself available to spend time with them.
The simple truth is that whatever they get or whatever they are promised, they owe it to the Opposition.
P RAMAKRISHNAN, president of Aliran, has seen it all and knows what to expect in by-elections.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Anwar loses bid to derail trial
KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIAN opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim lost his latest attempt to derail his sodomy trial on Wednesday when the judge refused to let his lawyers view police documents that could help discredit Anwar's accuser.
High Court Judge Mohamad Zabidin Diah ruled in favour of the prosecution's contention that there was no basis for the defense to obtain statements that Anwar's former aide, Saiful Bukhari Azlan, made to police in 2008.
Anwar is charged under a subsection of the law that provides for a prison sentence of up to 20 years for people who have consensual anal sex in this Muslim-majority nation. However, Mr Saiful testified in court that Anwar sodomised him without his consent at a condominium on June 26, 2008.
Anwar's lawyers believe the police transcripts might show that Mr Saiful initially told officials he had consensual sex with Anwar, thereby contradicting the 24-year-old accuser's evidence and showing that his story is tainted with discrepancies.
'The testimony of the witness will turn to stardust,' said Anwar's chief attorney, Karpal Singh. Judge Zabidin said the defence could not demand the police documents based on a mere hunch and that it was up to the prosecution to determine the specific charge, since both consensual and non-consensual sodomy charges provide for the same maximum prison sentence.
Anwar, a married 62-year-old with six children, has denied sodomising Mr Saiful at all. He insists the charge was cooked up by Prime Minister Najib Razak's administration to cripple his opposition coalition after it made unprecedented gains in March 2008 general elections. Mr Najib has denied any conspiracy. -- AP
High Court Judge Mohamad Zabidin Diah ruled in favour of the prosecution's contention that there was no basis for the defense to obtain statements that Anwar's former aide, Saiful Bukhari Azlan, made to police in 2008.
Anwar is charged under a subsection of the law that provides for a prison sentence of up to 20 years for people who have consensual anal sex in this Muslim-majority nation. However, Mr Saiful testified in court that Anwar sodomised him without his consent at a condominium on June 26, 2008.
Anwar's lawyers believe the police transcripts might show that Mr Saiful initially told officials he had consensual sex with Anwar, thereby contradicting the 24-year-old accuser's evidence and showing that his story is tainted with discrepancies.
'The testimony of the witness will turn to stardust,' said Anwar's chief attorney, Karpal Singh. Judge Zabidin said the defence could not demand the police documents based on a mere hunch and that it was up to the prosecution to determine the specific charge, since both consensual and non-consensual sodomy charges provide for the same maximum prison sentence.
Anwar, a married 62-year-old with six children, has denied sodomising Mr Saiful at all. He insists the charge was cooked up by Prime Minister Najib Razak's administration to cripple his opposition coalition after it made unprecedented gains in March 2008 general elections. Mr Najib has denied any conspiracy. -- AP
Monday, May 10, 2010
MACC officers leave Manickavasagam’s office empty-handed
KAPAR: Officers with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) left Kapar MP S. Manickavasagam’s office empty-handed after a failed bid to coax him to hand over documents on the graft allegations against the Pakatan-led Selangor owned sand mining firm.
For 45 minutes,the duo, Saiful Ezran and another officer known only Kesavan from Putrajaya, tried to coax the MP to give them the documents pertaining to Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd (KSSB), a wholly owned firm of Mentri Besar Incorporated. to facilitate investigations, but he declined their offer.
Another two officers waited downstairs along the shop lot office but no statements were recorded.
Manickavasagam said he would lodge a report at the Klang Police Headquarters Monday and hand the documents to the police.
“I do not trust the MACC because the commission has failed to act on the Kampung Perepat land scandal and also on the Teoh Beng Hock case despite complaints made earlier.
“If the commission wishes to investigate than they can follow-up on the police report,” he told the officers who had arrived at 10.30am.
Manickavasagam said he regretted that the Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim had not acted on his complaints about the alleged corruption of KSSB senior officers in the sand mining firm.
“Khalid must take steps to curb corruption and not leave it to the authorities to do the clean-up job that involves the state’s own business arm.
“I had given him 72 hours to clean up the mess but he has challenged me to lodge a police report and reveal the names. So, I will do it and give the documents to the police,” he said.
On Sunday, Khalid had challenged Manickavasagam to reveal the names of KSSB officials involved in corrupt practices and lodge a police report on the matter so that the state could act accordingly.
Manickavasagam added that his action should not be misconstrued, as the aim was not to tarnish the state’s image or attack Khalid but to ensure that a clean government prevailed, as promised in the March 2008 General Elections.
For 45 minutes,the duo, Saiful Ezran and another officer known only Kesavan from Putrajaya, tried to coax the MP to give them the documents pertaining to Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd (KSSB), a wholly owned firm of Mentri Besar Incorporated. to facilitate investigations, but he declined their offer.
Another two officers waited downstairs along the shop lot office but no statements were recorded.
Manickavasagam said he would lodge a report at the Klang Police Headquarters Monday and hand the documents to the police.
“I do not trust the MACC because the commission has failed to act on the Kampung Perepat land scandal and also on the Teoh Beng Hock case despite complaints made earlier.
“If the commission wishes to investigate than they can follow-up on the police report,” he told the officers who had arrived at 10.30am.
Manickavasagam said he regretted that the Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim had not acted on his complaints about the alleged corruption of KSSB senior officers in the sand mining firm.
“Khalid must take steps to curb corruption and not leave it to the authorities to do the clean-up job that involves the state’s own business arm.
“I had given him 72 hours to clean up the mess but he has challenged me to lodge a police report and reveal the names. So, I will do it and give the documents to the police,” he said.
On Sunday, Khalid had challenged Manickavasagam to reveal the names of KSSB officials involved in corrupt practices and lodge a police report on the matter so that the state could act accordingly.
Manickavasagam added that his action should not be misconstrued, as the aim was not to tarnish the state’s image or attack Khalid but to ensure that a clean government prevailed, as promised in the March 2008 General Elections.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
‘Powerless’ panel in boy’s death
Lim Kit Siang today described the government’s special panel on Aminulrasyid Amzah’s shooting death as “powerless” and asked the Cabinet to put an end to what he called the Home Ministry’s “guerilla” response to rising public anger.
The DAP leader also criticised the ministry for flip-flopping on the “powers” of the panel.
“The powerless Special Panel into Aminulrasyid’s police killing is neither fish nor fowl even with Tun Haniff as member, as well as other members including former Suhakam commissioner Denison Jayasooria, crime analyst Kamal Affendi Hashim, lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (Asli) chief executive officer Dr Michael Yeoh and UiTM deputy vice-chancellor Prof Abdul Halim Sidek.
“The guerilla response of the Home Ministry could be seen from the on-the-run chop-and-change as to what the Special Panel can and cannot do,” he said.
Lim had proposed a royal commission of inquiry to probe the shooting of the 14-year-old schoolboy and for such a panel to be chaired by former Inspector-General of Police Tun Haniff Omar.
However, the ministry announced today that Haniff would be appointed as a member of the special panel headed by Deputy Home Minister Datuk Abu Seman Yusup.
Lim said the Cabinet should be decisive in quelling public confusion on the panel.
“There is profound confusion as to the actual powers and terms of reference of the Special Panel which is neither fish nor fowl even with Tun Haniff as a member
“The Cabinet tomorrow should boldly and decisively put an end to such ‘guerilla’ responses to the police killing of Aminulrasyid, as the repercussions have reached far and wide as to affect public confidence in the independence, efficiency and professionalism of the police force,” he said.
He added that the Cabinet should take a “holistic decision” to establish a royal commission of inquiry into all police shooting deaths since 2005.
Lim also ridiculed Abu Seman over his indecisiveness surrounding the formation of the special panel.
“Abu Seman now claims that the Special Panel is powerful because it is empowered to scrutinise the investigation papers at any time without needing the approval of the police or Attorney-General’s Chambers.
“Where did Abu Seman get such powers? How did a powerless Special Panel become a ‘powerful’ panel overnight? On what basis are the powers of this Special Panel derived from, when the Cabinet had not met on the matter?” he asked.
Aminulrasyid allegedly tried to ram into police officers in Section 11, Shah Alam, which caused them to shoot him in apparent “self-defence”, in the incident which happened at 2am on Monday.
However, the allegation was refuted by Azamuddin Omar, 15, who was the lone passenger in the car.
The young boy died about 100 metres away from his house.
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