LIVE: Budget 2013 speech - salient points

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is reading his fourth budget speech which is aimed at shoring up support before the 13th general election and rein in the deficit.

"Since the last 55 years, Malaysians have placed their trust in the same government at every stage of the nation’s development. We thank you for your trust. We have never betrayed the people. Instead, we have repaid the trust given to us manifold," said Najib.

"This government has never promised the moon, the stars or the galaxy. We have never painted a pretty picture based on wishful thinking. As a responsible government, we continue to speak the truth even though it may be unpleasant.

"We have never misled to the rakyat with tall tales. On the other hand, we have always offered solutions and provided good leadership to every problem faced by the rakyat.

'Raja Bola' Ghani Minhat dies

Football legend Abdul Ghani Minhat, nicknamed ‘Raja Bola’ or ‘King of the Ball’ died today. He was 77.

Abdul Ghani passed away at 10.34am at the National Heart Institute (IJN) as a result of complications following a heart bypass operation, his brother-in-law Nik Kamaruddin Ismail told Bernama.

He said Abdul Ghani would be buried at the USJ 21 Muslim cemetery in Subang Jaya after prayers were conducted at the Kampung Baru Mosque.

Abdul Ghani leaves behind wife Tengku Aishah Tengku Ibrahim and four children, two boys and two girls.

During his heyday in the 1960s and 1970s, Abdul Ghani played in the position of inside forward and was a crafty and agile player dreaded by opponents. 

Although, he was born in Rantau, Negri Sembilan, Abdul Ghani contributed his great talent as a player and coach to the Selangor team.

In 1959, the Selangor Football Association (FAS) conferred on him the title ‘Raja Bola’ in appreciation of his vast contribution to the state.

Abdul Ghani was adjudged the best national football player in 1959 and 1960. He is known for having scored 106 goals in only 15 matches.

- Bernama

Budget to court voters, target lower deficit

Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak is expected to court voters with a generous budget today ahead of a looming election, while taking steps to cut the country's fiscal deficit and tackle its rising debt burden.     

Facing what could be the long-ruling coalition's closest election, Najib is expected to delay much-needed reforms to broaden Malaysia's tax base and reduce its dependence on oil revenues to at least next year while announcing measures to help poorer families struggling with rising living costs.     

"This will be a budget that is mildly expansionary but fiscally responsible," a senior government official, who asked not to be identified, told reporters at a briefing yesterday.     

The budget for 2013 will target a reduction in the deficit target from this year's goal of 4.7 percent, the official said, adding that the economy should expand by between 4.5 - 5 percent this year and 4.5 - 5.5 percent in 2013.    

The South-East Asian country's public debt as a percentage of GDP is just short of its self-imposed ceiling of 55 percent - up from 43 percent in 2008 - while its budget deficit of 4.7 percent in the first half of 2012 is the third-biggest in Asia after Japan and India.     

Najib to hold second budget Twitter on Oct 3

The online community can pose questions on Budget 2013 to Prime Minister Najib Razak on #TanyaNajib on October 3.   

"I invite Malaysians from all walks of life whether from urban and rural areas, specialists, athletes, artistes and foreigners residing in the country to join #TanyaNajib," he said.   

The Q& A session will start at 9pm.   

In the latest 1Malaysia blog entry, Najib said Budget 2013 was made after considering views of the people.   

"I thank you all for the input thus proving that this budget is made by the people and for the people. I want to interact with you all to get feedback on the budget after it was tabled."   

Najib who is also finance minister said the 2013 budget is expected to have positive impact on the economy and the community.   

Recognising the fact that the budget will provide big initiative to the country, he said the second #TanyaNajib session will benefit everyone.   

"For #TanyaNajib: Budget 2013, I plan to fully utilise the online communication platform.   

"Ah Jib Gor, Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and many more. I will do it via my Google+ account and will take questions from other social media sites.    

"The session can be watched live via my Youtube page. Follow me on Twitter and Facebook for more information on how to join."   

Najib said #TanyaNajib session held on January 11 last year received favourable response via Twitter.  

"I've answered some of your questions via Youtube. They range from personal matters to those on economic affairs of the country."   

Source- Bernama     

Groundbreaking study details Taib's US$21bil empire

A ground-breaking report released by Swiss-based NGO Bruno Manser Fund (BMF) estimated the assets of Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud's family at US$21 billion (RM64 billion).

The wealth of Taib himself has been put at a whopping US$15 billion (RM46 billion), making him Malaysia's richest man, outstripping tycoon Robert Kuok who has US$12.5 billion.

The report entitled ‘The Taib Timber Mafia: Facts and Figures on Politically Exposed Persons from Sarawak, Malaysia' was released today in Brussels to coincide with a visit by the Malaysian Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Bernard Dompok to the European Commission.

It is the first report that describes in detail the business activities and personal wealth of 20 members of the Taib family in Malaysia, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, United States and other countries.

The report aimed to build international pressure against the Sarawak's first family and provide investigating bodies, journalists, Sarawakians and interested parties with hard evidence on the Taib financial empire.

BMF estimated the combined net worth of 20 Taib family members at close to US$21 billion, spread over 400 companies around the globe - all built through their near complete political and economic control of Sarawak - one of the poorest states in Malaysia - over three decades.

Hindraf chief stopped from leaving the country

Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader P Waythamoorthy was barred from leaving the country this evening on grounds that he is a national threat.

"The immigration officers informed me that a restriction has been imposed on me by the Immigration Department director-general and the inspector-general of police.

"The reason given from both sides is that I am a threat to national security," Waythamoorthy said when contacted by Malaysiakini.

He said he was to take a 6.30pm flight to Manila in the Philippines for a business trip and is now stranded at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) in Sepang.

"The government has cheated me. They issued me with a perfectly good passport on July 30 and then, two months later, I am not allowed to go out of the country.

"When I came into the country, I was not a security threat, but two months later I have suddenly become a security threat," he said.

Waythamoorthy said he would lodge a police report against Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and the inspector-general of police for falsely accusing him of being a security threat.

He will also lodge a report against the director-general of immigration for acting beyond his powers.

"They have basically made me a prisoner in my own country. It is a breach of international convention and laws that stipulate you cannot prevent a citizen from leaving his country without cause," Waythamoorthy said.

The restriction would also throw a spanner into his plan to meet with his lawyers in London this weekend for Hindraf's case against the British government, he added.

The Malaysia High Commission in Singapore had on July 30 granted Waythamoorthy a passport for his return to Malaysia after his self-imposed exile in the UK since 2007.

The Hindraf leader was allowed to enter the country on Aug 1, without any restriction imposed.

Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/209234

Things are looking up for MIC

When G Palanivel took over the MIC presidency nearly two years ago, he had two mammoth tasks ahead of him – to unite the various factions in then fractured party and to recapture the Indian votes that Barisan Nasional lost in 2008.

He can be proud of the remarkable success he has achieved in the first task.The second task is much more difficult. In 2008, about 65% of the Indian votes were against BN. MIC contested nine parliamentary seats and won only Segamat, Tapah and Cameron Highlands. It recaptured Hulu Selangor in a by-election in April 2010.

As the 13th general election approaches, many observers, including a major section of the Indian community, are wondering whether MIC can increase its representation in Parliament or even retain its four seats.

Palanivel has a subdued public face, especially when compared with his predecessor, S Samy Vellu. But still waters run deep. Those who know him well can testify to his visionary character and his diligence in pursuing progress for Indians. He is never short of innovative ideas for the uplift of the community.

In his quiet way, he has scored several notable achievements in the past two years, one of the latest being the government approval of RM100 million for renovations and upgrading works at Tamil schools. And he has obtained special permission from the prime minister to have these works undertaken by Indian contractors.

Another milestone in his political career was obtaining RM180 million for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) run by Indians. As a result, thousands of these entrepreneurs, sole proprietors and petty traders are expected to expand their businesses.

Google blocks anti-Islam film in Malaysia

Google has begun barring access in Malaysia to an anti-Islamic film that has sparked fury across the Muslim world after the country’s Internet regulator lodged an official complaint.

The low-budget movie, entitled ‘Innocence of Muslims’, has angered followers of Islam for its mocking of the Prophet Mohammad, and for portraying Muslims as immoral and gratuitously violent.

A spokesperson for video-sharing site YouTube, owned by internet giant Google, told AFP today that it began restricting access to clips of the privately-produced film yesterday, in line with its community guidelines.

“When videos breach those rules, we remove them. Where we have launched YouTube locally and we are notified that a video is illegal in that country, we will restrict access to it after a thorough review,” he said.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) was reported to have asked Google on Saturday to remove clips of the controversial film, believed to have been produced by a small group of extremist Christians in the United States, from YouTube.

Some extracts of it were still available on the video-sharing website today but several other clips had been blocked to users in the Muslim-majority country.

Google has also denied access to the videos in Indonesia, Libya, Egypt and India.

In cities across the Muslim world protesters have vented their fury at the amateur film by targeting symbols of US influence ranging from embassies and schools to fast food chains.

The US ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, and three other US officials were killed last week in an attack by suspected Islamic militants on the US consulate in Benghazi in protest against the film. A total of 17 people have died in violence so far.

Muslims held demonstrations across Malaysia on Friday, calling for the United States to prevent distribution of the film they said was part of a plot by “Christian extremists”.

Cabinet ministers have reportedly also demanded the film be taken offline and condemned YouTube for being “insensitive” and “oblivious to the tumult it has caused”.

Source- AFP

New education blueprint - salient points

Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin unveiled the country's new education blueprint today, a process which began in October last year when the government embarked on a national dialogue with the aim of revamping the education system.

Below are the salient points from the blueprint. Members of the public will be able to view the blueprint during open days in the next three months. The final plan will be presented to cabinet in December.

Language

• All Year 1 to Year 3 students to undergo Literacy and Numeracy screening (Linus) twice a year in both English and Bahasa Malaysia (currently Linus tests are done only for BM).

• After-school remedial classes for Years 4-6 (to phase out 'remove' classes for those with problems with English and BM after Year 6 by 2017).

• All English teachers must pass Cambridge placement tests within the next two years.

• Accelerated pathway for high performers: 5 years (instead of 6) for UPSR and 4 years (instead of 5) for SPM.

• Benchmark mathematics and science tests on the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) and Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (Timss).

• 11 years of compulsory schooling (up from 6 years). By 2020, all school leavers have SPM or equivalent qualifications.

• All special needs students in equipped special schools by 2025.

• Each child to learn a third language by 2025 (starting with Chinese, Tamil and Arabic). Spanish, French and Japanese will be offered later.

William and Kate to arrive in KL on Sept 13

LONDON: Britain’s Prince William and his wife Catherine bring their royal star power to Southeast Asia and the Pacific this week as part of a tour marking Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.

The nine-day trip will feature the former Kate Middleton’s first speech in a foreign country, as she continues to learn the ropes of the British monarchy following her marriage to William last year.

The tour of Singapore, Malaysia, the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu will also include a poignant tribute to William’s mother Diana Princess of Wales who died in a car crash in Paris 15 years ago.

Britain’s younger royals are touring the globe throughout 2012 as part of celebrations marking the 60-year reign of William’s grandmother the queen as they seek to maintain their relevance in a changing world.

“The aim of the tour is to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee” said Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, principal private secretary and equerry to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as they are known under royal protocol.

“The Duke and Duchess will use the tour to pay tribute — through what they do and say and who they meet — to the Queen’s lifetime and dedication to the mix of peoples and cultures that make up all of Her Majesty’s realms and the Commonwealth.

“The tour will comprise a mixture of formal and informal moments which reflect these aims and Duke and Duchess’s characters and interests.”

William and Catherine will stop first in Singapore — which gained independence from Britain in 1963 along with Malaysia before separating from Malaysia two years later — from Tuesday until Thursday.

Their first engagement will be an orchid naming ceremony in Singapore when flowers will be named after them. One of them will be named after Princess Diana.

First speech abroad

They will then go on to Malaysia, where they will tour Kuala Lumpur and Borneo’s Sabah state from Sept 13-15.

It is in Malaysia that Catherine will give her first speech abroad, addressing staff and patients at a hospice.
The pair will then travel to the Solomon Islands, a former British protectorate northeast of Australia, between Sept 16-18 before a final stop in the tiny nation of Tuvalu from September 18-19.

The royals are also expected to take part in sporting activities and wear traditional dress when they visit the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu, as well as travel by canoe at one point.

Queen Elizabeth is head of state in the Solomons and Tuvalu, both of which are members of the Commonwealth.

Catherine has already revealed that William, second in line to the British throne, has been making some special preparations ahead of the trip.

“William’s been practising his dance moves,” the duchess joked as the couple met Solomon Islands’ governor general Sir Frank Kabui at a reception in June.

“We’re extremely excited. Both of us have never been anywhere near there,” William said during the event at London’s historic Guildhall.

The wedding of William and Catherine, both 30, in April 2011 was watched on television by up to two billion people around the world and helped breathe new life into Britain’s monarchy after years of crisis.


Source- AFP

Pandelela to study sports science at UM

National diving queen Pandelela Rinong Pamg will pursue her study in the field of sports science at Universiti Malaya (UM) and is currently awaiting confirmation of admission to the university.

The Olympic bronze medalist said she had chosen to pursue her study in UM as the university was closer to her training centre in Bukit Jalil.

“I have a transport issue. If I were to study in a university located far from Bukit Jalil, I will have problems to travel between the two locations.

“Furthermore, my teammate, Brian (Nickson Lomas) is also studying there (UM),” she told reporters after attending the launch of new Oris wristwatch in Kuala Lumpur today.

Present was her fellow Olympian, track cyclist Mohd Azizulhasni Awang.

Earlier, Pandelela and Mohd Azizulhasni each received the newly-launched wristwatch, which was given in honour of their success and contributions to the sports industry, especially at the recently-concluded London Olympics 2012.

The 19-year-old diver also expressed hope that she would be able to commit to the study field of her choice and that she would be able to popularise and contribute more to the development of the sport of diving in the future.

At present, she said she had no commitment to any championship.

“After the Olympic Games, there's no other championship for me. The coach has given me the time off to attend interviews and the like,” said the Sarawak-born diver.

Source- Bernama

Will the cops call these 'seditious acts' as well?

For the first time ever, the authorities are on the hunt for individuals accused of showing disrespect for public figures by means of stepping on their photograph or in one case, baring a bottom at their photograph.

Currently, the police have identified 11 individuals accused of performing such acts during the eve of Merdeka Day at Dataran Merdeka.

Thus far, a handful of people have surrendered themselves to the police and in one case, a teenager was even put in handcuffs for her alleged crime.

However, it has been pointed out that the 11 are subjects of selective persecution, exacerbated by the haste in investigations and the uncanny ability of the police to identify them with such uncanny accuracy.

The police, however, have denied taking sides and vowed to probe similar instances involving Pakatan Rakyat leaders, provided police reports are lodged.

Sodomy II trial judge: Man of many moods

INTERVIEW Justice Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah was described as initially open when conducting the Anwar Ibrahim Sodomy II trial, but as soon as his ruling on ordering the prosecution to provide the witness list and other key documents was overturned by the upper courts, he appeared to have changed his stand.

Queen's Counsel Mark Trowell, the author of ‘The Trial of Anwar Ibrahim Sodomy II', said he found Zabidin to be fair after giving the ruling in favour of the defence, unlike (former Federal Court judge) Augustine Paul, who presided on Anwar's abuse of power trial.

Trowell, who observed both trials on behalf of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and LawAsia, has worked extensively both as defence counsel and prosecutor in Australia.

Zabidin made the ruling in favour of Opposition Leader Anwar at the pre-trial stage, resulting in the prosecution appealing the decision. The Court of Appeal subsequently overturned the decision and this was upheld by the Federal Court.

Following Zabidin's ruling, Anwar's lawyers were allowed to inspect the CCTV recordings made at the Desa Damansara condominium, the witness statements of complainant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, Hospital Pusrawi's Dr Osman Abdul Hamid and other witnesses, along with the witness list and medical reports.

Sports icon Hamzah Abu Samah passes away

National sports icon and the Olympic Council of Malaysia’s honorary life president Hamzah Abu Samah passed away at 3.30pm today at the University Malaya Medical Centre, due to old age.

The death of Hamzah, 88, was confirmed by his wife Zainon Hussain when contacted by Bernama today.

Apart from being a cabinet minister heading various ministries until his decision to quit in September 1980, Hamzah was the president of the Olympic Council of Malaysia from 1976 to 1998; vice-president of the Islamic Solidarity Sport Federation (1985-1994); vice-president of the General Association of the Asian Sports Federation (1988-1998); vice-president of the Olympic Council of Asia (1982-1986); vice-president of the Commonwealth Games Federation (1982-1998); and honorary life president of the Southeast Asian Games Federation since 1977.

He was also president of the Football Association of Malaysia (1976-1983); honorary president of the Football Association of Malaysia since 1983; president of the Asian Football Confederation (1978-1994); honorary president of the Asian Football Confederation since 1994; vice-president of FIFA (1982-1990); honorary executive member of FIFA since 1990; president of the Malaysian Cricket Association (1969-1990); and president of the Malaysia Taekwondo Association (1987-1999).

He was a member of the International Olympic Committee from 1978 to 2004 and was appointed honorary member since 2004.

Source- Bernama

'Saiful not like a normal sexual abuse victim'

For Mark Trowell, an experienced Australian criminal lawyer, alleged sodomy victim Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan does not strike him as a "normal" sexual assault victim.

The author of ‘The trial of Anwar Ibrahim, Sodomy II', which has been on the bookshelves since last week, said it appeared Saiful loved to hog the media limelight and he did not mind it - not at all like any other sexual assault victim.

Trowell, who is also an observer for the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and LawAsia in courts around the world, said it was also not normal for a sexual assault victim not to have a bath for two days.

"I am made to understand that a Muslim, after sexual intercourse, is required to have the ritual bath before he or she can perform prayers. So, the question remains as to how Saiful did his prayers.

"In my 25 years of experience in criminal law, I have never seen someone not bathing for two days to preserve forensic evidence.

"On the contrary, I feel the victim would want to quickly have a shower to remove the perpetrator's body smell.