‘Mutiny in Umno’: MIC must back Najib

KUALA LUMPUR: MIC should reconsider its position in Barisan Nasional if Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is toppled from power by certain forces within Umno, said party Central Working Committee (CWC) member S Vell Paari.In a news report published in Tamil Nesan yesterday, he said there was intense speculation that Najib is facing a challenge in Umno.If there is any truth to the speculation, Vell Paari urged MIC to defend Najib.

“He is the best prime minister we have in terms of catering for the Indian community, so we must stand by him.
"We don't know if the rumour is true but MIC must protect Najib against those who are working against the prime minister,” he added.Vell Paari, who raised the matter during the MIC CWC meeting yesterday, said that it was his personal opinion.

Expert: Saiful's sperm in own anus cannot be ruled out

Australian DNA expert Dr Brian McDonald remained on the witness stand for the second consecutive day in the Anwar Ibrahim sodomy trial.McDonald, who is the fourth defence witness, testified yesterday that chemist Dr Seah Lay Hong's testing was not according to international standards following errors in labelling and not swiping the sample on a receptacle.

This follows the discovery that two out of 10 samples having faulty labels when it was stated on the container that they were taken on June 26, 2008. This was despite that the medical examination was done on the alleged victim, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, on June 28.

McDonald also testified such incompetence behaviour could have resulted in the chemist being “sacked” from his or her job.It was also revealed that the Chemistry Department's forensic division has yet to receive the international accreditation required when it was placed on probation in 2005. The probation had been extended twice since 2010, and it will end this October.

DAP reveals 111-year-old army voter

KUALA LUMPUR: After PAS revealed a series of discrepancies in the electoral roll, DAP has now discovered a 111-year-old military man on the voters list for the Bagan Pinang state seat.Based on the list prepared by the Election Commission (EC), it was revealed that Hisni Isnain was born on July 24, 1900.
“And Hisni is registered under the military ID 'T1102918'. I thought soldiers retire in their 40s,” quipped DAP youth chief Anthony Loke.

Speaking at the DAP headquarters here, Loke also said he found various other discrepancies in his own Rasah parliamentary seat; where there were 21 voters registered in an address of a shoplot in Metrix Medan, Jalan Manickavasagam.“The 21 people, consisting of 10 Chinese and 11 Indians, carry different surnames. It's obvious they are not family members,” he said, flanked by DAP election committee secretary Vincent Wu.Asked who was the tenant of the shoplot, the DAP leader alleged that the premise was currently being used as an unofficial service centre by MCA.

Foreign expert: Faulty DNA samples unacceptable

After Australian forensic pathologist Dr David Wells testified yesterday, another foreign expert, DNA specialist Dr Brian McDonald, takes the witness stand in the Sodomy II trial involving Oppostion Leader Anwar Ibrahim.McDonald, who is also from Australia, will first answer questions from defence lawyer Ram Karpal and this is likely to take most of the morning.

It will be followed with cross-examination by solicitor-general II Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden, who is lead prosecutor.Wells was quizzed by Yusof for most parts of yesterday. In his testimony, Wells said that a 30-year-old study stating that sperm retrieved from the rectum can last up to 65 hours should be treated with caution.

Pakatan has failed Indians, say DAP members

GEORGE TOWN: The consensus among DAP’s ethnic Indian members is that the Pakatan Rakyat state governments have failed to address many contentious community issues.They felt that Pakatan governments should have done more for Indians pertaining to public sector employment, housing, business opportunities, Tamil schools and Hindu temples.Their disgruntlement was evident at a closed-door meeting among 50 DAP Indian members, including elected representatives, at the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur last week.

“After three years in power, Pakatan governments in Penang, Selangor and Kedah are doing only a ‘BN’ for Indians,” a member, who attended the meeting, told FMT.Like Barisan Nasional, he said Pakatan governments have handed out small funds and allotted land for a handful of Tamil schools and Hindu temples “here and there.”The member claimed certain allotted lands were actually set aside by previous BN administration, such as for Azad and Ladang Batu Kawan Tamil Schools in Penang.

Sodomy II: Original medical report nowhere to be found

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim's defence enters its third day today with the prosecution cross-examining forensic pathologist Dr David Wells.The Australian expert, who is the third defence witness, has yesterday told the court that the alleged semen sample retrieved from sodomy complainant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan could not have revealed the desired results.

This was because the sample was taken more than two days after the alleged incident. The alleged sodomy incident happened in the afternoon of June 26, 2008, and the sample was retrieved from Saiful between 9pm and midnight on June 28, 2008.

In addition, he said that the sample was not properly stored in the police station and it was given to chemist for testing two days later.Dr Wells , who is an expert in the field of sexual assault cases, also testified yesterday that when retrieving samples from alleged victims, he would be working alone and only assisted by nurses. This, he said, was to prevent contamination.

Vell Paari’s Aussie firm crisis

PETALING JAYA: An internal financial crackdown of MIC central working committee member S. Vell Paari’s Western Australia-based 4WD auto company is underway following allegations of misappropriation of millions of ringgit, missing accounting files and "stolen" intellectual property manuals.Three Australian authorities, in the meantime, are investigating his company for non-payment of staff salaries, unpaid superannuation — a retirement and pensions programme — and alleged violation of investment procedures.


Vell Paari told The Malay Mail international audit firm KPMG was conducting forensic examination on the finances of OKA Motor Co., the trading name of Reymer Pty Ltd, that Vell Paari controls.The audit is also to protect the company's intellectual property in the form of manuals to manufacture all-terrain trucks and tour buses.The manuals, valued at RM80 million, were discovered missing recently, he said.

Devotees want police to probe missing money

DENGKIL: A group of ex-plantation workers have accused MIC Serdang division chief N Rawichandran of allegedly misappropriating funds in a temple project here.Yesterday they lodged a police report against Rawichandran, a former senator and better known as “Kajang Rawi”, alleging that he misused funds allocated for the Maha Mariaman temple in Taman Permata, near here.The temple which began construction in 2001 was completed last year.Speaking on behalf of the workers, who are now residents in Taman Permata, J Chandran said plans for the temple began in 1999 when the federal government decided to build its new administrative centre in Putrajaya.

The development of the sprawling administration hub involved the eviction of four estates and squatters in the neighbouring areas.The four affected estates were Prang Besar, Galloway, Sigili, Medingly and Kampung Bukit Damar squatter settlement.Affected residents were relocated to Taman Permata in Dengkil.
Chandran said as part of the “settlement”, Putrajaya Holdings and Cyber Jaya Holdings had allocated more than RM800,000 to build a temple in the new residential area in Taman Permata.

Expert: 43 hour old DNA sample 'won't be pretty'

Anwar Ibrahim's defence goes into the second day today with the expected testimony from Pusrawi hospital doctor Dr Mohamed Osman Abdul Hamid and two foreign experts.Mohamed Osman was the first doctor to examine Anwar's accuser, former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

The two Australian experts - forensic pathologist Dr David Wells and DNA specialist Dr Brian McDonald - have been with Anwar's defence team since they heard testimony from the police, Hospital Kuala Lumpur doctors and chemists.

It would be interesting to see whether the prosecution will apply to cross-examine Anwar, who had yesterday given an unsworn statement from the dock to the surprise of many.

Solicitor-general II Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden had told the court that he “would love to cross-examine Anwar”. This was despite that testimony or statement from the dock by an accused in principle cannot be cross-examined.

Wanted – RM5b to help Indians, Orang Asli

KUALA LUMPUR: A call has gone out to help the Indian and Orang Asli communities to the tune of RM5 billion over the next five years. This is what the Malaysian Indian Business Association wants Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to include in his 2012 Budget.Association president P Sivakumar said the coming budget must help improve the lifestyle of the minority communities.He said although Najib has done something to help the minority communities, only a few million dollars have been given out, which is insufficient.

He added the new budget should pay special  attention to the minorities, especially Indians and the Orang Asli.
He said the government should allocate RM1 billion each year for the Indians and Orang Asli over the next five years.“By allocating the proposed amount, five years will be time enough for the communities to catch up with the others.”He said 80% of the Indians are in the urban and semi-urban areas and of this, 30% are in the lower income group.

'I never had any sexual relations with Saiful'

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim is to give his statement from the dock on the first day of his defence in the Sodomy II trial, which means that he will not be cross-examined by the prosecution.Entering its third year of hearing, Anwar's defence comes during the final stretch of the holy month of Ramadan and a week before Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Aside from Anwar, his defence team is expected to call seven other witnesses from the 24 already interviewed. Only former maid Fitria Dipan, who worked for Desa Damansara condominium owner Hasanuddin Abd Hamid, is left to be interviewed.It remains to be seen whether the seven include Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, his wife Rosmah Mansor and former police chief Musa Hassan.

There is still an issue of sodomy complainant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan appearing on TV3 twice last week which the defence finds objectionable.There is also the matter of subpoenaing the seven witness, which may have to be dealt today.About 30 people have been queuing outside the courtroom on the fifth floor of the High Court at the Jalan Duta Court Complex as early as 6am to get into the public gallery.

The hearing is expected to begin at 9am.

‘Four Indian ministers’: Keep your word, Pakatan to

PETALING JAYA: The Human Rights Party (HRP) has dared Pakatan Rakyat to announce that it would appoint four Indian ministers, including an Indian deputy prime minister, in the Cabinet if and when it comes into power.P Uthayakumar, the pro-tem secretary-general of the Indian-based political party, was referring to the recent statement by PKR's Selangor state executive councillor Dr Xavier Jeyakumar that Pakatan would appoint four Indian Cabinet ministers when it becomes the ruling government.

Yesterday, MIC scoffed at Jeyakumar's statement, calling it an "empty promise". Its secretary-general S Murugesan said that Pakatan would definitely not appoint four federal ministers because even Selangor now has only one Indian state executive councilor. Uthayakumar wants Pakatan to honour Jeyakumar's statement and that PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim, DAP's veteran Lim Kit Siang and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang should bravely come out and say that there will be four Indian ministers if Pakatan forms the government.

Songs, prayers as India activist Hazare due to leave jail

NEW DELHI, Aug 19 — A self-styled Gandhian campaigner who has become a symbol of popular outrage over endemic corruption in India was due to leave jail today to carry on his fast after a beleaguered government caved in to huge protests across the country.After three days in jail, the government has allowed Anna Hazare to stage a 15-day hunger strike. Hazare, who had been arrested earlier in the week and then ordered released, had refused to leave jail until he was allowed to fast publicly.

Outside the jail, hundreds of Hazare’s supporters waved India’s national flag and danced to Bollywood music as they waited his appearance. One group offered prayers to the Hindu gods, others chanted “the whole country is Anna.”A fumbling official response has seen the Congress party-led government face one of the most serious protest movements since the 1970s, just the latest setback for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s second term that has paralysed policy making and economic reforms.

MIC scoffs at Pakatan’s ‘four Indian ministers’

KUALA LUMPUR: MIC secretary-general S Murugesan has dismissed a claim that Pakatan Rakyat will appoint four Cabinet ministers should it form goverment as an empty promise.He was responding to Selangor state exco Dr Xavier Jeyakumar's statement which appeared in the Malaysian Nanban Tamil daily today.Murugesan believes that Pakatan was caught in a bind after the recent appointment of MIC president G Palanivel as a minister.

“So they are attempting to confuse the Indian community by claiming that Pakatan will appoint four Indian ministers,” he told FMT.Xavier, the Seri Andalas assemblyman, also slammed MIC for the woes faced by the Indian community.In view of this, the PKR leader said the community had little to rejoice about Palanivel's appointment.Meanwhile, Murugesan asked why the Selangor state government only had one Indian exco instead of two for the benefit of the community.When the state itself refused to give an additional portfolio to an Indian leader, he said, Pakatan would definitely not appoint four federal ministers if it seized power at the federal level.

Bukit Jalil residents to DBKL: Honour Saravanan’s pledge

KUALA LUMPUR: Federal Territories and Urban Well-Being deputy minister M Saravanan has given the assurance that Bukit Jalil residents will not be evicted from their homes till a settlement has been reached with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).But the residents hope that DBKL will honour Saravanan's directive and reconvene negotiations as possible.Speaking after submitting a letter to DBKL mayor Ahmad Fuad Ismail today, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) secretary-general S Arutchelvan called upon DBKL to honour Saravanan's words.

On Monday, Saravanan had reportedly told a Tamil daily that he had instructed DBKL not to evict the residents until both parties reached an amicable solution.Although the residents lost their case in court, Saravanan told the daily that the government was still deliberating on how to help the residents."Till then, no eviction will take place. The residents can stay there in peace," Saravanan told the daily.

EC says 'James Bond voters' is human error

Following Malaysiakini's report yesterday that several voters in the electoral roll have MyKad numbers that do not exist, the Election Commission (EC) today explained that they are caused by human error.An EC officer contacted Malaysiakini this afternoon to clarify that the MyKad numbers were wrongly entered into the electoral roll.“Thank you for pointing out the mistake. There are 17 such voters (in the electoral roll),” said the officer who declined to be named.

Yesterday a PAS supporter named 'Pengundi PAS Kedah' found that three Kedah voters, dubbed 'James Bond voters', have MyKad numbers of which their seventh and eighth digits are listed as '00'. These two digits are used to indicate the place of birth of the MyKad holder. According to the National Registration Department (NRD), the code '00' does not exist.The EC officer clarified that their code should be '02' which means they are born in Kedah.

And now - voters with non-existent MyKad code

Even as the BN and Pakatan Rakyat trade barbs over the proposed parliamentary select committee on electoral reform, more flaws are being exposed in the electoral rolls by political parties and members of public.The latest discovery by a PAS supporter shows several registered voters in Kedah having MyKad numbers that do not exist.

This information is posted on a Facebook page registered to a Pengundi PAS Kedah (Kedah PAS voter) and is accompanied by screen-capture images (left) of the search result from the Election Commission's (EC) website.It shows the seventh and eighth digits of the MyKad numbers of three voters are listed as '00'. These two digits are used to indicate the place of birth of the MyKad holder.

According to the National Registration Department (NRD) website, which lists the codes for states in Malaysia and foreign nations, the code '00' does not exist.When contacted, an NRD customer service officer confirmed that there is no such code and requested this reporter to lodge an official report with the department.A check with the NRD portal - which allows people to check the status of identification documents - showed that there is no record of the three MyKad.

UK lawyer 'appalled' by state of Indians in M'sia

British-based Lawyer Suresh Grover said he was shocked by what he has seen during his fact-finding mission on marginalised Indians in the country.“I have to say, as someone who has been involved in legal cases in the last 30 years and I've travelled quite widely across the world - I've worked closely with victims of apartheid and native Indians in the US - but what I have witnessed in the last week has appalled me and shocked me,” he said.

At a press conference in Bangsar today, Grover ,who arrived last Friday, said he had travelled extensively throughout the country and witnessed the predicament of ethnic Indians here.“I have met with individuals who have lived in abject poverty since independence, their status has not changed, they remain marginalised, their children do not have a future.

CIMB boss 4th highest-paid director in 2010

CIMB Group Holdings chief Nazir Abdul Razak is highest paid government-linked company (GLC) director and fourth on a list of 50 highest-paid directors last year, according to a survey by a business magazine.

The fortnightly Malaysian Business, in its Aug 16 edition, said he had earned RM12 million last year.However, Nazir's annual income was much lesser than it was in 2009 when he had taken home RM14.5 million.

Nazir's brother Najib is Malaysian premier.“The Malaysian Business ... found that the top 20 companies, in terms of total payouts forked out RM455.6 million last year, up 22 percent from previous years,” said assistant editor Gurmeet Kaur in a statement.

“Of the ... companies surveyed, close to 270 directors drew more than RM1 million in remuneration in 2010.”The survey was conducted on 630 companies with a remuneration band of RM300,000 and above as stated in their annual report.

“However, there were some companies that had lowered their boardroom remuneration in 2010. This was the case at CIMB Group Holdings Bhd, which paid out RM18.51 million or 13 percent less to its board members,” said Gurmeet.

According to the statement, “only a handful” of the companies polled were transparent in stating the precise remuneration of their top executives.Several companies which suffered huge losses last year had rewarded their directors with huge payouts.

Topping the list, is Genting Bhd with a payout of RM111.48 million to its board, a 21 percent hike from RM92.11 million in 2009.Its executive chairperson and chief executive Lim Kok Thay and the company were in the highest remuneration band of RM106.65 million to RM106.70 million for a director.

'Script' of migrants' oath to back BN uncovered

In what it claims to be further evidence that the amnesty programme is being used to create “phantom voters”, PKR said today illegal migrants who go through the programme are made to take an oath of allegiance to BN and Umno. PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin said representatives of the women's wing had “sneaked into the syndicates running the amnesty programme” and found the “script” of the oath.

“(We) found that the illegal migrants were made to take an oath to support Umno and BN to be part of the amnesty programme. (We) managed to get the script to expose this fact to the public,” she told a press conference today. The copy of the script, said to have been taken from an amnesty agency in Selangor, made available to the press shows an oath typed out in Bahasa Malaysia.

It states that the person taking the oath swears to support and vote for Umno and BN, as would their husbands, wives and children. “I will also continue to defend Islam and Malays. My family and I promise to keep this matter secret, or face the consequences,” it said.

David Arumugam Tak Perlu Twitter, Facebook

KUALA LUMPUR: Di kala kebanyakan artis galak menggunakan laman sosial Twitter dan Facebook untuk berkomunikasi dengan peminat, berbeza sekali dengan penyanyi dari kumpulan Alleycats, Datuk David Arumugam, 61.Dia akui dengan faktor usia dan kesusahan mengikuti arus kemodenan masa kini membuatkan dirinya tidak menggunakan dua medium komunikasi popular masa kini.

“Saya tidak perlukan Twitter dan Facebook untuk diri-sendiri tetapi ada individu lain yang menguruskan laman sesawang rasmi Alleycats dan mengemaskini setiap aktiviti serta maklumat tentang kumpulan ini.“Jika ada emel daripada peminat, dia akan maklumkan kepada saya seperti seorang peminat dari England yang baru sahaja menghubungi saya selepas kali terakhir kami berjumpa pada tahun 1986 semasa saya membuat persembahan di Pulau Pinang,” katanya dalam satu temubual di Crossroads Lounge, Hotel Concorde, di sini, Isnin.

Biarpun tidak berinteraksi dengan peminat di alam maya, namun ke mana-mana sahaja dia pergi pasti ramai yang menegur dan mengambil peluang untuk merakamkan gambar tanpa mengira bangsa dan usia memandangkan kumpulan ini sudah ditubuhkan sejak 43 tahun lalu dan menghasilkan 30 buah album.Tambahnya yang popular dengan lagu Sampaikan Salam dan Sekuntum Mawar Merah: “Saya akui seorang yang old school dan tidak pernah berasa teruja untuk belajar melayari Facebook dan Twitter yang menjadi kegemaran ramai.

Bersih wants thorough polls reform, panel recommendations made public

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 — Bersih 2.0 has welcomed the Najib administration’s move to form a parliamentary select committee to examine the current electoral system, but stated that the panel’s final recommendations should be made available to the public.Bersih chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan stressed the election watchdog’s eight demands for electoral reform should be taken into account, and that NGOs as well the public should be involved in the entire process.“Yes, we certainly welcome this move. It is without doubt a step in the right direction and is a positive response to the aspirations of the rakyat.“We hope NGOs will be involved in the process and that our eight demands will receive attention before the 13th general election,” said Ambiga in a text message to The Malaysian Insider.


“We are ready to assist,” said the former Bar Council chairman.Bersih steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah said the select committee’s final recommendations should include feedback and views from the public.Maria told The Malaysian Insider last night the government should poll views of Malaysians in the country before deciding on the said recommendations into the current electoral system.“Bersih welcomes the parliamentary select committee but we want full transparency in the process.“There should be public consultation, and it should be included in the final recommendations. The finalised report of the select committee should also be made available to the public,” she said.

Frog and snake now political pawns

PETALING JAYA: The slanging match between Malays rights group Perkesa and other political parties is putting the frog and the snake in a bad light.The apolitical frog and snake have now being held up as a symbols of hatred by both Perkasa and the MIC.Bukit Bintang MIC division chief S Ananthan brought a frog to the MIC annual general meeting last month, claiming that it represents Perkasa chief, Ibrahim Ali.

Yesterday, Perkasa members torched several copies of The Star for offending Muslims by including non-halal delicacies in its “Ramadan Delights” column.And for good measure, they also burned rubber snakes in retaliation against Ananthan's frog stunt."He brought a frog, so we brought snakes to represent the community,” Perkasa Youth chief Irwan Fahmi Ideris said in an online news portal.But today Ananthan thanked Irwan for relating the snake with the community.“The Chinese and Indians believe snakes are divine creatures. So thank you, Irwan, for calling us divine,” he said.

Bersih 2.0 mulls legal action against EC

Appalled by how the Election Commission (EC) has dealt with irregularities exposed in the electoral roll, Bersih 2.0 is considering taking it to court.Bersih 2.0 chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan has little doubt that the EC's knee-jerk reaction to arbitrarily delete or amend voters' details is anything but legal."I'm not sure they can actually do that - just remove names and put names and change things. They will say they are operating under regulations that entitle them to correct clerical errors,” she said.

"But these are not clerical errors... so I'm not sure under what law they are proceeding to do this cleaning which they said they are doing on a daily basis."She was referring to the EC's action to remove 'clone' voters from the electoral roll based on Malaysiakini reports.

'Clone' voters refers to those who have two entries in the electoral roll, based on the same name but with different MyKad numbers.EC chairperson Abdul Aziz Yusof had explained that the issue of double identity was due to human error when the MyKad number was keyed into the system.

Hindraf collecting evidence against British gov't

Suresh Grover, the attorney acting on behalf of outlawed Hindu rights group Hindraf, is making the rounds of Indian communities in Malaysia, 'to collect evidence' for its civil suit against the British government.The suit, initiated and filed by Hindraf chief P Waythamoorthy in 2007, prior to the group being outlawed and its leaders picked up under the Internal Security Act or forced to flee the country, has been in limbo since then."Because of the time limitation, we must go to trial before 30 August 2013," said Grover, explaining why his evidence gathering visit is of the utmost urgency.

He was speaking today to over 1,500 supporters of Hindraf and members of the Indian community at the Hokkien Assembly Hall, Klang.Grover is scheduled to visit more locations around Malaysia to meet with more citizens of Indian descent to explain about the legal challenge, gather evidence and add more names to the list of claimants.The civil suit which named the British Crown and government as the defendants, is to seek recompense for the alleged victimisation of Indians, whose forced relocation to then Malaya by the Empire, Hindraf claimed, had led to them a life of abject poverty.

Grover said that it is essential that he meet with as many Malaysians of Indian descent as soon as possible to include them in the list of claimants to the civil claim and to use evidence of their current life as a basis for their abject poverty argument.However he assured those who may want to come forward that as provided under British law, their identity will be kept confidential in case of intimidation or possible reprisal by the Malaysian government.

'It will not stop here'

Grover also condemned the deportation of his fellow London based legal colleague Imran Khan."It does not make sense to exclude Mr Khan, when I am also going to do the same thing."They (the government) don't want the suit to succeed. They are afraid of you and your tenacity," claimed the London-based legal professional.

Khan who is legal advisor to Waythamoorthy, was supposed to accompany Grover but was deported by Malaysian authorities yesterday for being a "prohibited immigrant.Grover said that they will not stop there but will continue their fight for the case, including to challenge Khan's deportatation."Mr Khan will travel here again," said the lawyer.

The lawyer arrived at the packed hall to the cries of "Hindraf Vaalzhal!" by youths waving the orange flag of the outlawed organisation.There was no obvious police presence throughout the event although there were individuals who could have been plainsclothes officers.

Prior to his arrival the sizeable crowd gave their rapt attention to videos and slideshow of photos featuring Waythamoorthy and other Hindraf leaders in heroic moments to the rousing 60s era Tamil songs.

Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/172976

Mismah: Why do they say such things about me?

Mismah, 47, whose real name is Nismah Naim and who had figured as a purported Indonesian permanent resident whose status was purportedly changed to 'citizen' within a mere hours, has denied that she had been paid by Umno or BN to come forward to clear the air.In a report by Malay-daily Sinar Harian featuring the cleaning lady who had arrived in Malaysia in 1982 and first worked as a construction labourer, Nismah was quoted as expressing “disappointment” with claims that she had allowed herself to be used by Umno.

“I didn't know much about it, as I don't read the newspapers... Why do they say such things about me?” the resident of Desa Coalfields, Selangor, told reporters when met at her house.Last week, 'Mismah' was found to have been categorised as a permanent resident on the National Registration Department (NRD) website despite being listed in the Election Commission's electoral roll.

On the India-Pakistan border, a cold peace

SUCHETGARH (India): It has been nearly eight years since India and Pakistan agreed a ceasefire over Kashmir – long enough for residents to start building brick houses and plant paddy fields up to the edge of one of the world's most heavily militarised borders.But for soldiers guarding the disputed frontier, it is a fragile peace that can be broken at any time."I wouldn't call our relationship on the border cordial. We characterise it as professional," said an officer of India's Border Security Force (BSF), speaking on condition he not be identified because of the sensitivity of his assignment on the frontline.

Now, as India and Pakistan embark on a tentative peace process and try to decide how to open their borders to trade and travel, it will be the situation on the ground in places such as Suchetgarh that determine the pace of the detente.In June, trouble erupted in the area when the BSF lost a soldier and blamed Pakistani sniper fire. The Pakistani Rangers, who are within shouting distance, denied any involvement and suggested it could be an internal issue.

Not enough money to make babies

PETALING JAYA: There are more people living in Malaysia today than ever before. At least 28 million people reside within its shores. Selangor and Kuala Lumpur combined take the lion's share with a total population of 7,136,762.But these staggering numbers - made public through the Population and Census Report 2010- also highlight a disturbing trend.We may have more Malaysians today, but we are making less babies. And the economy may have something to do with it.

International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) professor and urban planner Alias Abdullah said that the country's growth rate was on a steady decline since the 1990s."The current growth rate is considered low," he said, commenting on Selangor's average annual population growth rate.The government-prepared Prelimary Count Report 2010 revealed that from 1991 to 2000, Selangor had an average growth rate of 6.03%.This was halved to 3.17% in the next decade, before coming down to 2.7% in 2010.

British lawyer deported over Hindraf lawsuit

The Immigration Department has deported British lawyer Imran Khan, who arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport yesterday for a fact-finding mission on the marginalisation of Indian Malaysians. This is the second time a foreign lawyer has been booted out of the country this year - last month, French lawyer William Bourdon, who was representing human rights group Suaram in a lawsuit over the Scorpene submarine scandal, was deported after he landed in KLIA. Imran (left), a lawyer well-known for cases involving racism, was sent a plane back to London at 2am today after being detained by Immigration for more than 12 hours.

"Imran arrived at the KLIA airport at 1.50pm yesterday and upon presenting himself at the immigration counter, he informed the officer that he was in Malaysia to meet his clients who wish to engage him on a class-action suit against the UK government," said Hindraf leader P Waythamoorthy in a press statement.

EC denies registering permanent residents as voters

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 12 — The Election Commission (EC) denied today allegations that it was granting voting rights and citizenships to permanent residents, blaming the discrepancies exposed by opposition lawmakers on outdated information on the National Registration Department’s (NRD) website.EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof confirmed this evening that the over 1,100 names revealed by opposition lawmakers recently were all legal citizens after their applications to convert their permanent resident statuses were approved.“They are all legal citizens. All these 1,100 are citizens. So it is not true that we are intentionally granting those with PR statuses voting rights,” he told reporters during a press conference at the commission’s headquarters here this evening.

Voter Mismah found, denies fast-track citizenship

Mismah, who had her permanent resident status allegedly upgraded to citizenship in just four hours, was finally found by the media. She denied any irregularity in the granting of her Malaysian citizenship. "I follow the rules, not like what others have alleged," she was quoted by Malay daily Sinar Harian as saying. Mismah, who hailed from Bawaen, Indonesia, was upset over the accusation that her citizenship was obtained through the “back door”.

Last week, Mismah was found to have been categorised as a permanent resident on the National Registration Department (NRD) website, and yet she was listed in the Election Commission's electoral roll.Hours after a report on the matter was published, Mismah was subseqeuntly 'upgraded' by the NRD to Malaysian citizen.

Hindraf lawsuit to correct historical wrongs

A UK-based solicitor and lawyer - appointed by Hindraf Makkal Sakthi - is scheduled to meet with members of the Malaysian public this Sunday.His fact-finding mission is to help him better understand the situation on the ground and interview those participating in the Hindraf class action suit. This lawsuit against the British government seeks to correct historical injustices inflicted on Indians who were brought to the peninsula by the white colonialists.

The Hindraf move is almost certain to court a fresh storm of controversy and criticism from Umno, the party that will be most embarrassed when full details of the Indian marginalisation emerge. The extent to which the local Indian community, particularly Hindus of Tamil stock, is excluded from the nation's progress and well-being can only reflect badly on the Malaysian government.

M'sian student says UK attackers included kids

A Malaysian student has recounted how even children took part in an assault on him in London's riots, a scene captured in online footage that has sparked an outpouring of revulsion.In an episode viewed countless times on the Internet, Asyraf Haziq Rosli, 20, sat dazed on an east London street with a broken jaw after being attacked by a mob, only to then be mugged by a group of people pretending to help him.

Monday's assault has gained global attention as an example of the callousness and chaos of several days of rioting, and has sparked online campaigns seeking donations for the young Malaysian.Asyraf said his ordeal began when he was set upon by a mob while riding his bicycle."There were also young children, schoolchildren in the group. They wore hoodies and kept pulling at me," he said in a video shot by a friend Tuesday from his London hospital bed and posted online.

Another blow for Bukit Jalil estate residents

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here today struck out a suit brought by Bukit Jalil estate residents against Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) for using the Emergency Ordinance to evict them from their homes.
The decision was yet another blow to the residents as yesterday, the Court of Appeal upheld a High Court decision in May not to grant an interim inter-parte injunction to the residents.The 41 families living in Bukit Jalil estate have been at loggerheads with DBKL since the latter issued eviction notices to the residents in March under Emergency Ordinance.

The residents argued that the Emergency Ordinance could only be used to evict squatters, not former estate workers.The residents' lawyer, Ragunath Kesavan, said Justice Zabariah Mohd Yusof struck out the suit in her chambers today on the grounds that they had filed the suit against the wrong party."Though DBKL is planning to destroy their homes, Zabariah said it was the wrong party for the residents to haul to court.
"What the judge is effectively saying is that estate workers have no rights in this country and that their grouses mean nothing to the court," said Ragunath.

'Cloned voters' vanish in 24 hours - but questions remain

One day after Malaysiakini highlighted the existence of 'cloned voters' - voters who have more than one entry in the electoral roll, the Election Commission (EC) has removed the 'clones' from the roll.However, Malaysiakini still found at least one 'clone' (left) in the electoral roll, and there are still questions yet to be answered by both the EC and National Registration Department (NRD).Yesterday Malaysiakini reported that at least seven voters have been found to have a 'clone' each in the electoral roll, having been registered under the same name and old identity card (IC) number, but with different MyKad numbers for the clones.

At that time, the EC online verification system showed that those names appear twice in the electoral roll, raising the question of whether they could vote twice in an election.

Bukit Jalil estate folk lose appeal

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal today dismissed an appeal for an injunction by 41 families living in Bukit Jalil estate against Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), which plans to demolish their homes.In a unanimous decision, the court comprising Justices Zainun Ali, Ramly Ali and Zaharah Ibrahim upheld the High Court’s decision in May not to grant the injunction, without cost.The 41 families living in the former estate area were issued eviction notices in March under the Emergency Ordinance (EO) by DBKL.

However, the residents argued that the EO can only be used against squatters, not former estate workers.They then took their case to the Kuala Lumpur High Court and obtained an ex-parte interim injunction against DBKL, pending trial.However, in May, the court dismissed the residents’ application after a hearing, saying that DBKL had the authority to evict them using the EO.Subsequently, the residents filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal, which then issued an ex-parte interim injunction, pending a trial.

‘Empower’ the MIC president

PETALING JAYA: After more than three decades, the Indian representative in Barisan Nasional has been given an additional minister's post, drawing both bouquets and brickbats.Those in favour argued that the elevation of MIC president G Palanivel (left) into the Najib administration's inner circle was a blessing for the Indian community, given that it now had two voices in the Cabinet, the other being party number two Dr S Subramaniam.Detractors however panned the appointment as a waste of taxpayers' money, especially since Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, with Palanivel's inclusion, had a record 39 ministers.

And while Subramaniam, one of three MIC parliamentary candidates who remained afloat after the 2008 electoral tsunami, oversaw the the human resources porfolio, Palanivel, one of those who drowned in the last polls, was sworn in as minister in the prime minister's department yesterday but without a specific task.

Pemilik tanah Kg Abdullah Hukum mangsa kerakusan pemaju

 KUALA LUMPUR: Salah serang penduduk di Kampung Haji Abdullah Hukum, Bangsar di sini hari ini kecewa kerana rumah yang didirikan di atas tanah miliknya sejak sekian lama dirobohkan oleh pemaju bagi tujuan pembangunan projek Kuala Lumpur Eco City.Malah V Sugayindran, pemilik asal tanah berstatus hak milik kekal (freehold) seluas empat ekar di kawasan yang didiaminya sejak bergenerasi lamanya itu tidak diberikan sebarang pampasan oleh pemaju walau sesen pun.

"Saya sekarang sebatang kara. Rumah sudah kena roboh, lepas ni saya dan keluarga terpaksa tidur tepi jalan, kuil, atau di mana-mana saja yang boleh buat tempat kami berteduh," katanya yang tinggal bersama tiga orang anak dan dua saudara ipar.Lebih malang, apabila 1/4 daripada jumlah kawasan tanah miliknya itu bertukar tangan di luar pengetahuannya kepada individu yang tidak dikenalinya bernama Bhanshuklal Doshi sebelum dijual kepada Ambleside Sdn Bhd, salah sebuah anak syarikat pemaju SP Setia Sdn Bhd.

More 'clone voters' appear in electoral roll

First there were 'phantom voters', then 'permanent resident voters' - and now, more 'clones voters' have appeared in the electoral roll.At least seven voters have been found to have a 'clone' in the electoral roll, having been registered under the same name and old identity card (IC) number, but with a different Mykad number.

According to information obtained from the Election Commission (EC) online verification system, the names appear twice in the electoral roll, raising the question of whether they can vote twice in an election.In one case, where the old IC number of 1479323 was entered in the 'family members verification system' page, it returned two entries under the name Sa'ad bin Samsudin, but with different Mykad numbers - 380913105681 and 510913105553 - and a different registered address.

Phantom-voter poser: EC kicks ball to NRD

The Election Commission (EC) has dismissed allegations that three 'phantom voters' exist in the electoral roll.It said the National Registration Department (NRD) database, on which the commission relies on when registering voters, includes the trio's particulars.However, it was at a loss to explain why the NRD website did not show results for them when a search was made.

"We just checked with Agency Link-up System (Alis) of NRD. We have all the details together with photos (of the three voters)," replied EC chairperson Abdul Aziz Yusof in a text-message.

Asked about the discrepancy with the NRD website, Abdul Aziz advised the reporter to get the answer from the NRD.Alis is the database used by the EC in registering voters, in order to verify the identity of potential voters.

EC registers voter named 'Kg Baru'

The Election Commission (EC) has been found to have registered a voter named 'Kg Baru'.At the same time, a new search has turned up more names in the electoral roll without a record in the National Registration Department (NRD) online database.According to the EC online verification system, 'Kg Baru' (Mykad: 830527115422) is a voter registered in the state constituency of Hulu Besut and parliamentary constituency of Besut, Terengganu.

Daily's hunt for 'Mismah' hits dead end

A local daily's attempt to find 'Mismah', a former permanent resident whose Malaysian citizenship was recently approved, has hit a dead end with its efforts to track her down running into snags.The daily was following up on a Malaysiakini expose about a permanent resident who was curiously registered as a voter and miraculously became a citizen in four hours.

Reporters from Malay language daily Sinar Harian scoured Desa Coalfield in Ijok last weekend in an attempt to find Mismah, but to no avail.This is chiefly due to the Mismah's address being incomplete, causing them to fail in locating her house from among the hundreds of houses in the area.Her address in the online Election Comission (EC) voter database was only listed as Desa Coalfield.

Post titleInternet is new Malaysian political battlefield

Increasing use of the Internet by Malaysians to disseminate political information has turned cyberspace into an important battlefield to win the hearts and minds of the people.But has the situation gone out of control? Some media observers think so."There is no way one can censor the flow of information, either on Twitter, Facebook or YouTube," said MCA central committee member Datuk Ti Lian Ker.Messages can be conveyed to readers around the world at the click of the computer mouse, and there is no control over content, he said.

"This is definitely a cause for worry for most of the regulators and the government as the identity of the users and message senders can be concealed," he added.Ti felt that many of the problems associated with the Internet have not been properly handled.For Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) senior lecturer Jeniri Amir, the move by the government to tighten control over the traditional media only prompted more people to go online, which has enabled the online media to dominate public opinion.

MAS, AirAsia share swap set for Tuesday, new CEO likely

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 — The surprise share swap between Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and budget carrier AirAsia Bhd is slated to be sealed tomorrow in a deal that will allow Tan Sri Tony Fernandes to step in and pilot the ailing state-owned airline back to profitability.The Malaysian Insider understands that the share swap will likely see a change in leadership with a new chief executive to replace Tengku Datuk Azmil Zahruddin, who took the job almost two years ago from Datuk Seri Idris Jala who is minister leading Malaysia’s economic transformation.“There is a slew of meetings today to dot the i’s and cross the t’s but it’s done and has the blessings of Putrajaya,” a government source said, referring to the office of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is chairman of MAS’s ultimate owner, Khazanah Nasional Berhad.

Bersih: NRD's Mismah-gate clarification unacceptable

The National Registration Department (NRD)'s explanation of the 'Mismah-gate' is unacceptable as it fails to address the public's concern, said Bersih 2.0 chief Ambiga Sreenevasan.Therefore, she supported Pakatan Rakyat MPs' call for an emergency parliamentary sitting this month in order to seek answers for the many questions the scandal's raised."We haven't actually have had any meaningful answer... there has to be accountability on this issue," Ambiga (left) told Malaysiakini during an interview yesterday."The answer that they have given us so far is really quite unacceptable."

In a statement on Wednesday, NRD director-general Jariah Mohd Said explained that Mismah, a name found in the latest supplementary electoral roll draft, was granted permanent residency on July 17, 1982, and later citizenship on Jan 31, 2011.However, the statement failed to shed light on the question of how the NRD online verification system could have categorised Mismah as a permanent resident on Tuesday morning but 'upgraded' her to citizen four hours after a Malaysiakini report.

Congested Little India says no to bus lane

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 — The proposed bus lane through Little India will worsen already bad traffic congestion here and hurt businesses still smarting from the one-way system put in place last year, local groups have said.Brickfields Business Community Society (BBCS) secretary A. Karuppiah said the government should instead divert buses and other vehicles headed to Bangsar, around Little India and not allow traffic to pass through the area unnecessarily. “Bangsar traffic is the one that’s causing the biggest jam in Little India and 60 per cent of the vehicles are from Bangsar,” he told reporters at a press conference today.

Karuppiah said if the contra-flow bus lane is implemented later this month as planned, businesses will suffer as they will not be unable to unload their goods easily.“If they want to give [the area] a bus lane, ask them to dismantle the arches,” he said, referring to the arches installed last year during a government-sponsored facelift of the area.Little India Action Committee chairman S. Pathavachalam said the proposed bus lane will only exacerbate the existing shortage of parking that has made it difficult for customers to patronise shops in here.

'Guilty Immigration officers must be punished'

Gerakan is miffed that the eight Immigration officers arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) have been let off without any punishment although they had confessed to involvement in human smuggling activities.The party's legal and human rights bureau chief Baljit Singh (right) could hardly believe it as he felt human smuggling, bad in itself, was also connected to other terrible crimes such as kidnapping and prostitution of children and adults.He was referring to the Home Ministry's decision to release the eight who were detained in October last year for suspicion of being involved in a human smuggling syndicate in this country.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said in a recent statement, that they were released after the ministry found that the eight had shown awareness and remorse and had promised never to repeat it."They have admitted their guilt. They should be charged," said Baljit, a lawyer by profession. Baljit challenged Hishamuddin to take action on the eight to show that Malaysia was serious in fighting cross border criminal activities.

Even before GE-13, interest builds in UMNO polls: 4 may vie for presidency

Written by  Maclean Patrick, Malaysia Chronicle  

Malaysians from all quarters are calling for a change of government. Many agree that Prime Minister Najib Razak should step down to save Malaysia from further embarrassment. And yet, UMNO supporters, while they feel disillusioned by Najib and wife Rosmah Mansor, they have little in the form of alternatives.With his credibility in tatters due to gross mismanagement of recent issues, especially the Bersih 2.0 rally for free and fair elections, it is a wonder that Najib is allowed to lead the BN to seek a new mandate via General Election number 13.

Yet Najib can remain in power as long as he wants, with or without GE13; as long as he can keep 2,700 UMNO delegates happy. This is the truth behind Malaysia’s brand of democracy. Malaysians are never able to pick a Prime Minister of their own choice. Instead, Malaysians are left to accept the choice UMNO makes when it chooses its president at its General Assembly.Najib has announced that the UMNO general assembly would be held at PWTC from Nov 28 to Dec 3. The assembly will begin with the UMNO international forum on Nov 28 and 29. The party's Wanita, Youth and Puteri movements will hold their pre-council meetings on Nov 29 and assembly the following day. The UMNO general assembly will be from Dec 1 to Dec 3.

NRD: Mismah a PR for 29 years, citizen since 2011

The National Registration Department (NRD) today cleared the air about claims that permanent residents were offered citizenships for votes, saying that it was in fact part of a drive to clear its backlog. In a statement late today, NRD director-general Jariah Mohd Said said that this involved the case of Mismah, which has received much media coverage. “Claims that she was awarded citizenship within four hours is untrue. Records show that she was granted permanent residency on July 17, 1982. “Her citizenship application was granted on Jan 31, 2011 under Article 19 of the federal constitution, after 29 years as a permanent resident,” she said.

EC changes 'Mismah' status in draft electoral roll

The Election Commission (EC) has changed the status of Mismah, a 'permanent resident' whose name had been entered in the draft electoral roll.Based on a check of its online verification system at 2pm, under the 'record status', (highlighted in screen capture, right) it is now stated that her application to register as a voter was dalam proses pengesahan daftar pemilih (being verified for the electoral roll).Her name had been included in the draft supplementary electoral roll that has been opened for public scrutiny for a week.

EC head Abdul Aziz Yusof, when contacted, explained that the objection period had ended yesterday."Those who did not receive any objection will be gazetted (as elegible voters). Those who received objections will be subjected to a verification process," he said."(During the process) a public inquiry will be called, (enabling) both parties - the potential voter and the complainant - to be heard."Malaysiakini yesterday discovered Mismah had been categorised as a permanent resident (PR) in the National Registration Department (NRD) system.

EC denies permanent residents enlisted as voters

The Election Commission has denied permanent residents (PR) have been registered as voters, saying that the cases exposed yesterday could be a result of technical negligence on the part of the National Registration Department (NRD)."I think the list of PR names in the NRD's website was the old one and not updated," said EC chairperson Abdul Aziz Yusof (left) in a text message to Malaysiakini late last night.Abdul Aziz was responding to the controversy that PRs had been registered as voters in the latest draft supplementary electoral rolls and their status were 'upgraded' to citizen in just a few hours, according to the NRD online verification system.

He reiterated that only Malaysian citizens can apply to register as voters."PRs are not allowed unless the Home Ministry has approved their application as Malaysian citizens. Otherwise their application to register as voters will be automatically rejected by (the) EC screening system after checking their status with NRD Agency Link-Up System (Alis)," he said.

PR becomes citizen ... in four hours

Less than four hours after Malaysiakini reported that a permanent resident (PR) holding a red MyPR card had been registered as a new voter, she has apparently become a citizen.She now has a blue Mykad, based on a check of the same online system of the National Registration Department (NRD) where her identification details are recorded.

A check of the NRD online verification system twice - at 5.48pm yesterday and 11.30am today - had shown that a person named Mismah was a PR holder who had collected her MyPR card (No. 640704715238), an identification card for PR.When the same number was entered into the Election Commission (EC) online verification system, Mismah appeared as a newly-registered voter.

However, another check with the NRD system at 3pm returned a shocking result - the same Mismah has become a citizen who has collected her blue Mykad.Her status on the EC online verification system remained the same as at 3pm - a newly-registered voter in the latest supplementary electoral roll draft which is now on display for public scrutiny.

Polls fraud again: PR holder registered as voter

Despite repeated guarantee by the Election Commission (EC) that no foreigner is allowed to be registered as a voter, the verification system of the National Registration Department (NRD) and the EC has shown otherwise.A permanent resident (PR) holder has been accepted as a new voter in Ijok, the state seat held by Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.Malaysiakini was informed by a reader that a permanent resident named “Mismah” has been registered in the latest supplementary electoral roll which is now on display for public scrutiny.

A check with the online verification system of both the NRD and EC confirmed the allegation.The NRD online verification system, which allows users to check the status of an individual by entering the PR card number, shows that Mismah (640704715238) is a permanent resident.However, when the same number was entered into the EC online verification system, Mismah appeared as a newly-registered voter.

She was registered as a voter in the Ijok state constituency and Kuala Selangor parliamentary constituency, which are respectively held by Khalid from PKR and Dzulkelfy Ahmad from PAS.According to election laws, the EC updates the electoral roll every three months with a quarterly supplementary electoral roll draft.

What happened to Tunku's Malaysia - by his great grand-daughter

REPRINT Both my parents are Malay. My mum's heritage includes Chinese, Thai and Arab, while my dad is Minangkabau. Due to my skin colour, I am often mistaken for a Chinese.I'm happy that I don't have the typical Malay look but I do get annoyed when people call me Ah Moi or ask me straight up "Are you Chinese or Malay"
Like, why does it matter? Before I used to answer "Malay" but now I'm trying to consciously answer Malaysian instead.There's this incident from primary school that I remember till today. Someone told me that I will be called last during Judgement Day because I don't have a Muslim name. Of course, I was scared then but now that I'm older, I realise that a name is just a name. It doesn't define you as a good or bad person and there is definitely no such thing as a Muslim name. You can be named Rashid or Ali and still be a Christian.

IPF disappointed with Palanivel's objection

Indian Progressive Front (IPF) president M Sambanthan is disappointed with a statement by MIC president G Palanivel that MIC will object to other Indian-based parties seeking full membership
status in the BN.He said Palanivel's statement had also stirred uneasiness within the Indian community and would cause further disharmony between MIC and the other Indian-based parties.

Speaking to Bernama in Kuala Lumpur today, Sambanthan said MIC was not the only party that fought for (the welfare of) the Indian community.Other parties, like Makkal Sakti Malaysia and Malaysian Indian United Party, were also fighting for the same cause, he said."MIC is like a big brother to IPF and other parties... hence, as a big brother, Palanivel should accept IPF and other Indian political parties.