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22 April 2011

Lynas plant on hold as government forms review panel




The government has bowed to public pressure over the controversial rare earth plant in Kuantan, and announced today a panel of independent international experts will review the RM700 million refinery that has raised fears about radiation pollution.

Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed (picture) said the panel will be appointed “in a few days” to review the plant being constructed by Australian miner Lynas Corp in the Gebeng industrial zone.

He stressed that until the federal and Pahang state government decided on the panel’s findings, “no pre-operating licence will be issued to Lynas... no importation into Malaysia of raw materials from Australia.”

Environmentalists and Kuantan residents have raised questions over radioactive waste being produced and stored at the plant, fearing a repeat of the last rare earth factory in Bukit Merah, Perak, which has been linked to eight cases of leukaemia, seven resulting in death.

After being shuttered due to public protest over radiation pollution in 1992, the refinery is still undergoing a cleanup process that is costing over RM300 million.

Pressure from their constituents has also pushed Pahang MCA leaders to call for a review of the plant that was expected to begin operations in September.

Mustapa insisted the government’s latest move will not affect investor confidence despite the RM700 million being called into review at the eleventh hour.

“It will not affect investor confidence because they are just as mindful of the environment as we are. In fact, this move will boost confidence,” he told a press conference here.

The minister said the panel will be multi-disciplinary, but still focus on radiation and safety aspects of the plant.

However, he refused to say who will foot the bill for the panel when quizzed over the credibility of the panel.

“They are experts. Who else are you going to trust?” he said, adding that he did not see “any harm” in making the panel’s findings public once the review was concluded.

The ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria said that this would not affect construction of the plant which is ongoing.

“But without any raw material, it means that nothing can happen,” she clarified.

Regulators Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) said the panel would probably consist of between five and seven experts.

“They will be recognised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),” said director-general Raja Datuk Abdul Aziz Raja Adnan, referring to the international body that reports to the United Nations on matters regarding radioactivity.

Lynas had expected to receive a preliminary operating licence from the AELB before September which will be renewed as a full licence within three years should the plant comply with agreed standards.

It is anticipating a windfall of RM8 billion a year from 2013 onwards from the rare earth metals that are crucial to the manufacture of high-technology products such as smartphones, hybrid cars and bombs.


comments


It looks like another white-wash or cover up !
The public health is at great risk.

It is NOT enough just forming and appointing a panel of independent international experts to review the RM700 million refinery that has raised fears about radiation pollution if the government has decided to do so.

The expertise,experience, qualification and personal integrity of each member of the panel chosen must be scrutinised. But then,how can the panel going to be appointed in just..'a few days ' ? as announced by the minister.

Also, there should be at least 5 members to form the panel for broader conclusion.
Lynas should pay the bills. We should set the terms and conditions.

However, the best solution is to scrap the project because there are so many uncertainties and unknowns hanging around us for a long,long time to come especially, when handling of hazardous radioactive elements/minerals of which half-life span can range up to hundreds of thousands of years or more.

Utusan’s ‘1 Melayu, 1 Bumi’ movement a personal opinion, 1 malaysia dick head najib



Datuk Seri Najib Razak distanced his administration today from Utusan Malaysia’s call for a ‘1 Melayu, 1 Bumi’ movement, saying it was the personal opinion of the writer in the Umno-owned daily.

The prime minister also said the Malay-language newspaper will not deter the government’s commitment to the 1 Malaysia concept.

“That is the personal opinion of the writer. In terms of the government, we already have a concept that is very clear and we will continue our efforts,” Najib (picture) told a press conference here.

Utusan Malaysia has called on its owners Umno to spearhead a 1 Melayu, 1 Bumi movement involving all Malay parties, claiming that the DAP was intent on toppling the country’s Malay leadership by appealing to the Chinese vote.

“What Umno needs to do now, in this pressing time, is to launch a wave of racial unity — 1 Melayu, 1 Bumi. Launch 1 Melayu, 1Bumi immediately with other Malay parties,” assistant chief editor Datuk Zaini Hassan wrote in the Malay daily yesterday.

Zaini said while the DAP had united the Chinese politically, the Malays had so far done nothing in response.

Najib stressed the movement was unnecessary as the Malay community can unite by supporting Umno.

“For the Malay community, what is important is that they continue supporting Umno. That plays a major role in uniting the Malay community in terms of politics by supporting Umno,” the Umno president said.

Perkasa announced yesterday that it would spearhead the “1 Melayu, 1 Bumi” movement and warned the Malays that the Chinese were ultimately seeking political power.

In backing Utusan Malaysia’s call for a movement to “unite” all Malay parties, Perkasa secretary-general Syed Hassan Syed Ali said that the Malay rights group did not have the “luxury of time” to wait for Malay political parties to initiate action.

However, in a surprising move earlier today, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad spoke out against the movement and called it disastrous.

Dr Mahathir said that such a movement would eventually result in a two-party system where each side would be dominated by one race.

“If we go ahead with this, there will be a two-party system... if one side is Malay-dominated and one side Chinese dominated, this would be bad,” the former prime minister said.

This is the first time Dr Mahathir, a strong Malay rights proponent and Perkasa patron, has disagreed with the group and Utusan’s ideas.



comments


its personal as you said it, but it threaten other Malaysian. It is seditious!!!! It not only threaten to your 1Malaysia, it threaten peace and harmony of Malaysian. PUT HIM IN JAIL or ISA him!! SUSPEN UTUSAN to show us you are PM to all Malaysian!!!!!
WE WANT ACTION AND NOT JUST TALK.


Syed Hassan,Zubir Harun, Ramlah Adam, Ziara, Arman, Zaini Hassan all Umno leaders. How is that it is Perkasa personal matter as it is fully connected with Umno leaders. Perkasa members all Umno members like Mukhriz, Zubir Harun, Mahathir Kutty, Ramlah Adam, Arman Syed Hassan,Zaini Hassan etc, except Umno friendly Ibrahim Ali who didn't fill is application form yet: how is it considered as Perkasa personal opinion, when all are Umno branches leaders?

21 April 2011

Customs man died from head injuries, AG to decide on case



Police said today that Selangor Customs assistant director Ahmad Sarbaini Mohamed died from head injuries due to a fall from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission building in Cheras on April 6.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah told reporters today that it was now up to the Attorney-General to decide on the next course of action.

“I ask that all speculation cease because the investigation has been completed and it is now up to the AG. The investigation papers will be sent to the AG’s chambers this week or next week at the latest,” he said.

He said that as the investigation was classified under sudden death, no criminal element has yet been established as no criminal provision has been applied.

Zulkifli said that the cause of death was decided after a thorough investigation involving various bodies such as the police, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre and the Chemistry Department.

Ahmad Sarbaini, 56, was found dead at the badminton court on the first floor of the MACC building on the morning of April 6.

The incident was a major blow to the anti-graft body’s credibility as it is already in the middle of a royal commission of inquiry into the mysterious death of DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock outside a MACC office in 2009.

Teoh, 30, had plunged from the then-Selangor MACC headquarters on the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam on July 16, 2009, after he was questioned overnight by anti-graft officers.

The senior customs officer was found dead at the badminton court on the first floor of the MACC building on the morning of April 6.

MACC investigations director Datuk Mustafar Ali had said that Ahmad Sarbaini, 56, returned to the MACC building at 8.26am that day without an appointment and had requested to meet the investigation officer without stating why.

Ahmad Sarbaini had already given his statement to MACC and was released from custody at 12.30pm on April 2.

He had been remanded on March 29 following an MACC-led swoop on a Customs syndicate that it said was worth at least RM3 billion in unpaid taxes, resulting in the arrest of 62 officers.

Mustafar said an officer then accompanied Ahmad Sarbaini to a room in the office before leaving to collect the case file, but found him missing when he returned.

Ahmad Sarbaini’s body was later found on the badminton court on the first floor, but his friends have said it was impossible that he had committed suicide over the MACC investigations.

His family has said that it may sue the MACC if police investigations into his death do not favour the family.




comments


Why many choose to suicide there?Honour to be die in there?To show patriotic maybe?Im not speculating but just wonder with all this mark??

ha ha ha....Good that the cause of death is known, if not MACC will say Ahmad Sarbaini strangled himself like in the TBH case

The whole world knows that the late Sarbaini dies of head injuries! But the question is "WHAT" made him fall??????


this is unfair to the dead and his family that an investigation was classified 'sudden' death and NO criminal element has yet to be established, not NO criminal provision has been applied. How can the family & friends ( or even I , a common rakyat ) accept this person who came to MACC ( even without appointment ) had ended up dead in MACC premise.
I hope the police & AG to give justice to Ahmad Sarbini. This is VERY sad case indeed.

najib bastard eventually pleaded ...: Government agencies to pay for 1 Malaysia email database



The Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) has said government agencies will pay Tricubes Bhd to use the company’s 1 Malaysia e-mail database, which it called both a government and private initiative.

“Agencies would have to pay a certain fee to use that, as in any other e-mail database,” business services NKEA communications content and infrastructure director Dr Fadhlullah Suhaimi Abdul Malek said in an interview on radio station BFM today.

He said Tricubes’ database of verified e-mail addresses would ensure that correspondence from government agencies got to their intended recipients, adding that this would “quickly move citizens into the digital age”.

“What’s important is actually the database,” he said. “That... information gets verified because it is then linked to the National Registration (Department).”

Tricubes was involved in the nationwide deployment of the country’s MyKad identity card system and supplies biometric scanners to 170 organisations.

Fadhlullah Suhaimi said he expected agencies to pay Tricubes about 50 sen per e-mail, cheaper than the RM1.00 printing, stationery, postage and dispatch cost of sending a regular letter.

He said that, as the per unit cost of regular mail might double to RM2.00 if a misaddressed letter was sent back on the taxpayer’s dime, the government stood to save between 50 sen to RM1.00 per e-mail.

“The poor taxpayer, without realising, is actually allowing wastage of RM2.00 per post that goes out,” Fadhlullah Suhaimi said.

He cautioned, however, that these expected savings were based on Tricubes’ own estimates. He said the actual cost per unit would vary depending on the volume and complexity of the transaction, as well as the number of people who eventually sign up.

Reflecting the earlier confusion on Pemandu’s website, Fadhlullah Suhaimi first said the 1 Malaysia e-mail project was “government initiated and private sector led” before referring to it later as a “private sector initiative”.

Pemandu was forced earlier today to defend changes on its webpage for the 1 Malaysia email project, claiming the switch of the project’s description from a government to a private sector initiative was to correct “a genuine error”.

Fadhlullah Suhaimi nonetheless stressed that no public funds would be used at any point to develop the e-mail service despite the fact that it may fail.

He said the project would be entirely market-driven, with Tricubes bearing the risk entirely if the 1 Malaysia e-mail project does not get off the ground.

“They must make it unique, make it compelling and they must make sure they can run a service that has value for end users,” he said.

“If they fail to deliver they lose their investment... There is no loss to the government or the taxpayer.”

Fadhlullah Suhaimi revealed that Tricubes was chosen as it was the only listed company out of the five that pitched for the project. He explained that listed companies were preferable as the public would be free to scrutinise their finances.

He said Bursa Malaysia had assured Pemandu that the ACE-listed company’s Guidance Note 3 (GN3) status was an “accounting issue”, adding that the entry point project (EPP) evaluation team had determined that Tricubes’ business model was “sustainable”.

Loss-making Tricubes is at risk of being delisted after its weak financial standing triggered Bursa Malaysia Securities’ GN3 in October last year.

Fadhlullah Suhaimi also admitted he was “surprised” by the intense public reaction to the 1 Malaysia e-mail project but said it was good there was such strong interest in an EPP.

“If Tricubes can put it out by July (as planned)... they will have good brand equity,” he joked.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has said that the project will have a gross national income (GNI) impact of RM39 million up to 2015 and will allow direct and secure communications between Malaysian citizens and the government.

But critics say the government should focus on infrastructure project such as providing clean water or broadband across the country rather than working on a free email service which is already available through Hotmail, Yahoo! and Google Inc.

Tricubes has said it is collaborating with Hotmail service owner Microsoft Corp for the project but no provided no details.

Malaysians already enjoy online services such as MyEG and utilise banking portals to pay for a variety of utilities and services without the usage of email accounts.





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Finally the cat is out of the bag after much protest from the people. Government agencies pay means the people pay. What is the difference? All that twisting of tongue still come to no avail!

So much for "free and voluntary" service !!! Don't be surprise there is a guarantee return as with all other "private" initiatives like syabas, tolls, IPP, etc. etc, the list is simply too long.

"Tricubes bearing the risk entirely if the 1 Malaysia e-mail project did not get off the ground", another lie. This is a done deal, who are you trying to lie? And we are not surprise if all the civil servants, GLCs, etc, etc will be "encouraged" to have a "free" 1ripoffmail.

Now I can get Yahoo, Google email for free, Do you expect me to pay to use 1 Malaysia email? Dream on...

20 April 2011

Pakatan wants Utusan punished for 1Melayu, 1Bumi campaign



Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers have demanded that Datuk Seri Najib Razak take action against Utusan Malaysia for stoking racial tension and “blatantly” challenging his 1 Malaysia policy of inclusiveness.

Utusan called on its owners Umno today to spearhead a 1Melayu, 1Bumi movement involving all Malay parties — claiming DAP was intent on toppling the country’s Malay leadership.

“What Umno needs to do now, in this pressing time, is to launch a wave of racial unity — 1Melayu, 1Bumi. Launch 1Melayu, 1Bumi immediately with other Malay parties,” assistant chief editor Datuk Zaini Hassan wrote in the Malay daily earlier today.

DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang said today that Utusan’s latest “anti-national” call proved that Najib’s 1 Malaysia concept was not a serious nation-building campaign but a big vote-getting sham involving “1Malaysia T-shirt, 1M Tupperware, 1M mineral water, 1M burger, 1M email a/c and other new-fangled 1M paraphernalia yet to be conjured up by 1M fortune hunters.’

“In making the irresponsible anti-national call today, Utusan Malaysia has in fact put Najib to the test — whether he is prepared to bring Utusan Malaysia into line and discipline those who are blatantly challenging his 1 Malaysia policy or whether he is an Umno President who is not in full charge of Umno, ceding real Umno power to the Umno kingmakers lurking in the shadows,” said Lim in a statement today.

In his Cuit column, Zaini said that DAP slogans in the recently concluded Sarawak state election called for Chinese voters to change the Malay-led government, adding that they already controlled everything and were now aiming for political power.

In his column, he said that the Chinese community was a united force whose “brotherhood” was unmatched by any other race in the country.

He said that despite their different political stances, Chinese voters would unite when the time came to decide the fate of their community.

The senior DAP figure has called the campaign “anti-national politicking at its gutter worst.” — file pic
Zaini also said that the Chinese community helped each other economically and stood together unwaveringly to protect their culture, language and vernacular education.

However, he provided no facts to substantiate the claim that the Chinese community was such a united force.

Zaini said that while DAP has united the Chinese politically, Malays have so far done nothing in response.

“Utusan Malaysia’s call today for Umno to spearhead a 1Melayu, 1Bumi movement involving all Malay parties, based on the lie and canard that the DAP is intent on toppling the country’s Malay leadership, marks the culmination of a two-year anti-1 Malaysia campaign by Utusan Malaysia.

“This is irresponsible and anti-national politicking at the gutter worst — trying to pit race against race in plural Malaysia based on lies, calumnies and falsehoods ... this is the old politics of race which must give way to the politics of Malaysian multi-racialism,” added Lim.

He said that the DAP had never been a political party for the Chinese but a party for all Malaysians, and that it was the first Pan-Malaysian political party with branches not only in Peninsula states but also in Sarawak and Sabah.

According to Lim, DAP’s success in the recent Sarawak state elections was the result of 33 years of hard political work by Malaysians and Sarawakians who believe in a just and equal society for all, and not just for any one ethnic group.

He also challenged Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties to state their views on the matter.

PAS MP Khalid Samad echoed Lim’s views and said that Utusan editors should be charged for sedition.

“They should be charged for saying seditious matters, inciting racial tension.

“What they are saying is factually wrong ... DAP’s struggles are not for just the Chinese, they are fighting for a just and transparent government,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

The Shah Alam MP charged that it was Umno who were “obsessed” with “race-based issues” and that fears of the Chinese overthrowing a Malay-dominated government were part-and-parcel of Umno’s “propaganda” to stay in power.

PKR vice-president Chua Tian Chang said that Utusan’s editorial content showed Umno’s inability to adapt in a “multiracial” society.

“That is how they want to visualise everything ... everything is a big conspiracy against Umno.

“This is just a façade to stay in power,”



comments


Utusan's power is above the law. 1 word from them will cause anyone get caught using ISA, beware!!!!..They can killed people using word.

What are the Home Minister and Police force waiting now ? Go ahead with the ISA to arrest the trouble makers in the Utusan who promote racism and undermine the security of the country. Revoke the Utusan license once and for all.

A good government is to unite Malaysians and not to encourage racism by allowing Utusan to brainwash the people. Najib wants 1Malaysia and Utusan sabotages him by promoting racism . Utusan is only fit for the Stone Age i.e. barbarians.

they are corrupt to the core. First use superior complex to woo those who fear of losing privilege, then they use inferior complex, again to create fear that DAP going to take over the leadership. You r the judge to tell me: what is this policy?

Tricubes launches myemail.my



Tricubes Berhad has launched the myemail.my “Citizen Inbox” service with registration to begin at the end of April despite a furore whether the RM50 million project is necessary for citizens to communicate with the government.

The government has already stated the service is voluntary and no public funds will be used to finance the project.

Tricubes is using Microsoft Corp’s Windows Live platform for the email service, which will offer 25GB of mailbox space. The service will also allow users to create documents using Microsoft Office products, which is the most popular office suite software worldwide.

Windows Live is the collective brand name for a set of services and software products from Microsoft, part of their software plus services platform.

The features offered by Tricubes are already available in Microsoft’s free Hotmail service.

The government has stressed that it is not funding the private-sector initiative despite inviting bids for the project last November.

However, project developer, Tricubes, is in danger of being delisted from the stock exchange for financial irregularities.

The website domain was registered by Tricubes on March 10, 2011 for a year.

“Myemail is an email messaging service open to all Malaysians. If you are a citizen, then you are entitled to a myemail account. Registration is simple and approval is within 24 hours.

“With a myemail account, you can get the latest news or even events by the government directly to your inbox. Be the first to know of new government initiatives, services or policies,” the website added.

As of 5pm, the hashtags #1malaysiaemail and #Tricubes are still among the top ten Malaysian topics on microblogging site Twitter, where Malaysians have ridiculed the email plan since it was announced yesterday.

The 1 Malaysia email project is not the first free email project in the country. WauMail was officially launched on July 12, 1999 and was available in four languages — Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mandarin and Tamil.

WauMail was a joint-venture between Technology Park Malaysia and Intelliweb Sdn Bhd. Its website was hacked in 2001 when it had some 600,000 users. It was later turned into a paid email service in 2002. At present, it no longer exists as an email service.




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Najib says Tricubes will come out with the RM 50M capital outlay. I wonder how are they going to recover their investment and make money. Appears that some shady deals have been concluded or promised!

A special ATM machine called " Citizen Inbox " is finally built for Tricubes Berhad with approved special license to withdraw the funds from the public. This blood sucking ATM machine is the first and only one in the world....to generate money by using the latest fast Money Scheme .No risk and guarantee profit , better than Ah Long..... MALAYSIA BOLEH !!!

1 malaysia circus from PM bastard ....Pakatan calls email a/c another 1 Malaysia handout



Lim said the email move was ‘big brotherism gone mad’

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) flayed the Najib administration today for spending RM50 million on a new e-government project that includes a 1 Malaysia email account for all Malaysians aged 18 and above, calling it part of a “circus” to hand out contracts.

Opposition lawmakers told  that the accounts will allow the government to play “big brother” and monitor all Malaysian adults.

“People are now making fortunes out of the 1 Malaysia circus,” DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang said.

The Ipoh Timur MP also said that the move by the Barisan Nasional (BN) government was “big brotherism gone mad”.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced today that a one-stop web portal for government services will be developed with an initial investment of RM50 million.

He said the email account will allow direct and secure communication between citizens and the government.

“Are we so backward that we need Najib to get us an email account?” Lim asked.



Khalid said the government should instead be investing in expanding Internet access.

The veteran politician also said that after news sites like Malaysiakini and Sarawak Report were crippled from Internet attacks during last week’s Sarawak election campaign, the government should look into Internet security issues first before creating an estimated 16 million email accounts for the public.

PAS political bureau member Khalid Samad also said that it was pointless to give all adult citizens an email account when Internet penetration was only at 60 per cent.

“Najib is putting the cart before the horse. We should be investing in expanding Internet access instead,” said the Shah Alam MP.

He added that anyone who is on the Internet would already have email accounts, and another address would not bring any added advantage.

PKR’s Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusoff also said that the move would allow the government to intrude into people’s privacy.

“The government is now spending RM50 million to make the country more undemocratic and curb our freedom.” he said.




comments


RM50 million should be spent on giving us free fast internet access, like what Singapore is doing with the free Wireless@SG for its citizens.

Email account can be obtained free (hotmail, yahoo, gmail...).
It shows BN is really out of touch of technology, unless it is another 'projet BN' to benefit the cronies.

19 April 2011

1 Malaysia email sparks online protests



The prime minister’s announcement today that every adult Malaysian will be given a 1 Malaysia email account has triggered multiple online protests by those dead set against the RM50 million project.

Like the virtual protests that mushroomed after the RM5 billion Warisan Merdeka tower was unveiled last year, the public has taken to social networking site Facebook to lash out against Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s latest 1 Malaysia exercise.

Several Facebook pages have been created by Malaysians wishing to vent their anger, with the most popular so far being “1M Malaysians Who Don’t Want Najib’s 1 Malaysia Email”.

The page, which was created anonymously, has attracted 2,022 followers as of 8.05 tonight.

Its fans are united in their disgust at what they see as yet more public funds being wasted on an unnecessary service.

“RM50 million for email?? existing MP published email also can’t reply efficiently, What level of confident such will improve the effective or efficiency in communication? 1malaysia only for who? actually?” said one fan.

“Please use OUR money in the correct way, upgrade our broadband, subsidy gasoline, remove credit card tax or whatsoever! We already have our own email account (gmail/yahoo/hotmail/etc) which is free, we no need 1Malaysia email account. Totally disappointed to your motto and actions,” said another fan.

A third said: “It’s astonishing how the gov is able to frequently come out with nonsensical plans to waste our money. Malaysia Boleh!!”

Yet another fan urged Malaysians to come up with “stupid and rude” usernames like “thisplacesucks@1malaysia.com.my“ or “idontwantthisemail@1malaysia.com.my“ if the e-mail account was made mandatory.

It is not clear if the page was created by the same people behind the popular “1M Malaysians Reject 100-Storey Mega Tower” page, which has pulled in nearly 300,000 fans since its creation.

The 1 Malaysia e-mail project was also greeted with widespread derision on micro-blogging site Twitter, where #1malaysiaemail was the second-highest trending topic in Malaysia as of 8.05pm.

In addition to the #1malaysiaemail hashtag, terms like “RM50m” and “Tricubes” also made it to the list of Malaysia’s top 10 trending topics.

The Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) has been forced to go on damage control since the announcement was made earlier this afternoon.

Pemandu has clarified that the government will not be financing the 1 Malaysia email account and that it would not be made compulsory.

But questions remain over how Tricubes Bhd, in danger of being delisted from Bursa Malaysia due to financial irregularities, will finance the project.

Najib announced today that all Malaysians aged 18 and above will be given secure 1 Malaysia e-mail accounts that will allow direct and secure communication between the public and the government.

The account is also part of a new one-stop web portal for government services, which will include social networking features as well as online bill payment and citizen application facilities.

The 1 Malaysia email service will use software from Microsoft, the company that now owns the free Hotmail account service.

The 1 Malaysia email service is part of Najib’s Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) to achieve developed nation status by 2020.

He said today that the RM50 million investment will have a gross national income (GNI) impact of RM39 million up to 2015 and will enhance delivery of public services.

another bastard project 1 father fucker 1 malaysia....cronies rescued..1 Malaysia email provider Tricubes at risk of delisting (company almost bankrupt)...!!!



Tricubes Bhd’s RM50 million contract to develop the 1 Malaysia email service could be the financial lifeline of the information technology firm which is at risk of being delisted from Bursa Malaysia as early as October 29 unless it gets its finances in order.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced today the company will provide secure email accounts for those above 18 years of age to be used for official communication with the government although many Malaysians say priority should be for utilities rather than an email account

His announcement brought focus on the little-known ACE-listed company, which triggered Bursa Malaysia Securities’ Guidance Note 3 (GN3), paragraph 2.1(f) last year when auditors “expressed a modified opinion with emphasis on Tricubes’ going concern in the latest audited financial statements for the financial year ended March 31, 2010”, according to a filing made by Tricubes on October 29, 2010.

The same filing stated: “If the Company fails to comply with any part of its obligations indicated above, Bursa Securities shall: suspend the trading of the Company’s listed securities on the next market day after 5 market days from the date of notification of suspension by Bursa Securities; and delist the Company subject to the Company’s right to appeal against the delisting under Rule 8.04(6) of the ACE LR.”

Tricubes had earlier tried and failed to get a waiver from Bursa Securities to comply with the GN3 requirements.

As a GN3 company, Tricubes has to submit and implement a regularisation plan, appoint a sponsor until it is no longer deemed a GN3 company, retain the services of a sponsor for three full financial years after the company is no longer considered a GN3 company and announce the status of its regularisation plan monthly.

Tricubes’ latest filing to Bursa Malaysia on April 1 indicates that it is still in the process of regularising its finances.

According to previous filings, there have been “no major developments” since Tricubes was declared a GN3 company, aside from its appointment of M&A Securities Sdn Bhd as sponsor on January 28.

The company was last seen in March bidding unsuccessfully for Khazanah Nasional Bhd’s 32.2 per cent stake in Pos Malaysia. It told the local bourse on April 4 that it won the contract for the 1 Malaysia email service but did not provide details.

The 1 Malaysia concept is a brainchild of Najib to bring unity among Malaysians when he took power in April 2009.

Najib disclosed today the email account will allow direct and secure communication between the public and the government, and is part of a new one-stop web portal for government services.

Najib said the portal will be developed by Tricubes and provide services such as social networking, online bill payment and citizen application development to some 16 million Malaysians.

The 1 Malaysia email service will be using software from Microsoft, the company that now owns the free Hotmail account service that has been eclipsed by another free email provider, Google Inc.

The 1 Malaysia email service is part of Najib’s Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) to achieve developed nation status by 2020. He said today the RM50 million investment will have a gross national income (GNI) impact of RM39 million up to 2015 and will enhance delivery of public services.

comments

This is utter animal waste. What do you think we are?

Why need to pay a company to set up email accounts?
Wasting money only.

If want to award contract, then should call for tender. Should not simply give contract to unknown company that is almost bankrupt.

A failing GLC in needs of cash injection. This is day light robbery. Making use of taxpayers' money to enrich BN's cronies. Rakyats are not stupid. How will the rakyats support BN when most of the rakyats can hardly make ends meet and how many of these rakyats are going to use it to communicate with the government. What a frivolous idea !!! C'mon wake up Mr. PM.

18 April 2011

want to die an old curse Dr M says...Sarawak Chinese infected by DAP racism



Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today that the Chinese community in Sarawak has rejected multiracialism after being infected by the virus of Chinese racism that he said is the guiding principle of the DAP.

He also suggested that any DAP administration would only be ostensibly Malaysian.

The former prime minister accused the DAP of destroying the power-sharing formula that Barisan Nasional (BN) had implemented for half a century.

“I congratulate the DAP for bringing its racist politics to Sarawak. Before this all races co-operated well with each other for the good of Sarawak. Now we see clearly that the Chinese community in Sarawak has rejected multiracialism,” he wrote in his blog today.

“They have become infected by the virus of Chinese racism that is the guiding principle of the DAP,” said Malaysia’s longest-serving prime minister.

On Saturday, the DAP won 12 mainly urban seats in the Sarawak state election by riding the anti-Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud sentiment.

Dr Mahathir said that the DAP in Sarawak, where it first established itself in 1978, was almost totally rejected in the past.

But after winning the lion’s share of Chinese-majority seats, “the DAP has destroyed this power and wealth-sharing formula by separating the Chinese from the rest,” he said.

“For more than half a century the races in Malaysia had worked together to build the nation. The world saw stable BN governments with power and wealth being shared by all races quite fairly.

“None of the races got everything that they considered they were entitled to — not the Malays, nor the Chinese, nor Indians, nor Ibans, Kadazans, etc. All had to give up something. That is the essence of sharing,” he wrote.

The DAP doubled its presence in the Sarawak state assembly from six to 12 seats in Saturday’s election, nearly wiping out its rival Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) in Chinese-majority seats where the latter only won in two such seats.

Dr Mahathir, who was PM from 1981 to 2003, said if the same pattern was seen in the next general election that is expected to be held in a year, it would split the country.

“Malaysia faces a grave danger of being divided by two parties — one Malay dominated by default and the other Chinese by choice. This will not be good for Malaysia. But this is what the DAP is striving for. A two-party system based on race will not contribute to stability much less national unity.

“I pray and hope that the Sarawak pattern is not repeated in this beloved country. Let us all think carefully whether we want to split up this country or we are prepared to sacrifice something of our own in order to maintain the stability and growth through the BN coalition,” he said.

He said that even though the DAP talked about a Malaysian Malaysia, it only appealed to the racial sentiments of the Chinese.

“Those Chinese who reject the DAP seem to be considered as non-Chinese by the DAP. The presence of a few Malays in the DAP is just window dressing,” he said.

He again accused the DAP of emulating Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) in sidelining the Malays.

“It is the same as in Singapore where the PAP government sidelined their Malay supporters completely. The Malays make up 15 per cent of the island’s population but their share of political power and wealth of this very prosperous nation is about one per cent.

“Of course, Singapore is ruled by Singaporeans. The same would happen in Malaysia should the DAP rule this country. It would be ostensibly be Malaysian,” he added.



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I dont know if you have Parkinson disease or whatever but DAP never once said anything racial during their campaign in Sarawak. Instead they focus on telling the people of the importance of good governence and transparency.

Unfortunately DAP made a mistake in that their campaign as they focus on obtaining chinese votes which I believe is wrong (using mandarin most of the time during their talk). Still it doesn't mean that they are racist so please keep your facts straight.

I wonder how you can become PM when you can't even analyse and objectively make decisions and comments.

‘Datuk T’ willing to face music, says Shazryl



Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah said today Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik, Datuk Shuib Lazim and himself are willing to go to court over the screening of a sex video allegedly featuring Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Shazryl said that the trio, collectively known as “Datuk T”, had been arrested together and would face any criminal charge together.

“We are law-abiding citizens so if we are asked to appear in court then we will go. I am not saying that we are guilty but we want to offer our help,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

On March 21, “Datuk T” had shown the 21-minute clip to a group of journalists.

Shazryl also retracted his earlier statement that he was the sole person responsible for the screening.

“When I said that I was responsible, what I meant was ‘we’. All three of us were responsible for the screening. I do not want the other two to think that I want to take credit for the screening.

“Anyway we have been arrested so we will comply with the police,” he added

CID deputy chief Datuk Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani yesterday announced that police had concluded their investigation into the sex video.

Acryl said the police had wrapped up their investigation under the Penal Code for the distribution of obscene material and that investigation papers would be sent to the Attorney-General’s Chambers soon.

He also said the identity of the owner of the Omega watch, alleged by Shazryl to have been worn by the man in the video, was not central to the case.

“The identity of the watch’s owner is not an issue. What is important in our investigation is who is responsible for screening the video,” Acryl told reporters.

Earlier, Shazryl insisted on the importance of finding the owner of the Omega watch, saying it was a very important piece of evidence.

The “Datuk T” trio claimed Anwar had left his watch behind in the hotel room during the time of the recording.

They said the watch later came into their possession and that it had been surrendered to the police recently, along with the video to aid investigations.

Shazryl also said that a royal commission over the sex clip was still needed as the man in it has not been identified.

“We will see what the police have to say first. We want to know who the actor is. We want the police to identify and confirm the actor and then we will decide how we want to go about this.

“It depends. I will let the public decide if they want the RCI or not. It is for public interest,” he said.

Anwar has filed a police report denying he was the man recorded and said that “the stomach of the man (in the video) was much bigger” than his.



comments


“The identity of the watch’s owner is not an issue. What is important in our investigation is who is responsible for screening the video,” Acryl told reporters.
What the heck are u talking abt? u mean u did not know who screened the video when the perpetrators had openly admitted it at a press conference?? Which planet have we landed on?

maybe someone should feed them truth serum to get them to spill the beans on their dirty and scumbag actions and any hidden hands behind the badly executed plot...then it would be a great showing to the world at large that scumbags exist in Malaysia....and by the truckloads most of whom are titled...

the bastard Datuk T trio may be charged



The police may charge the “Datuk T” trio over the screening of the sex video allegedly featuring Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Federal police CID deputy director Datuk Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani did not dismiss this possibility, stressing that it was an offence under Section 292 of the Penal Code to screen pornographic material.

“But it’s not [for] the police to decide on this (whether to charge those responsible). We will hold a proper press conference on this once everything is completed,” he was quoted as saying by national news agency Bernama.

Acryl added, however, that the police did not have the power to arrest the two people shown having sex in the video.

“There is no legal provision for the police to arrest and take statements from them. We have to refer the matter to the A-G’s Chambers for any review,” he told Bernama.

Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah, Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik and Datuk Shuib Lazim have openly admitted to being the “Datuk T” trio responsible for the screening.

When asked to comment on the investigation papers regarding the case, Acryl said that there was still two matters that needed to be resolved before the papers could be sent to the A-G’s Chambers.

“If possible, we want to submit the investigation papers by this Thursday,” he said.

On March 21, “Datuk T” had shown the 21-minute clip to a group of journalists.

Acryl yesterday announced that police had concluded their investigation into the sex video.

He said the police had wrapped up their investigation under the Penal Code for the distribution of obscene material and that investigation papers would be sent to the Attorney-General’s Chambers soon.

He also said the identity of the owner of the Omega watch, alleged by Shazryl to have been worn by the man in the video, was not central to the case.

A poll conducted by independent survey house Merdeka Center earlier this month, found that the majority of the people interviewed believe Anwar was a victim of character assassination in the latest sex video scandal.

The poll also showed that respondents agree the video had been released to destroy the former deputy prime minister’s political career.


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Err....Their Boss is the Home Minister. The police, being his personal security agency. Isn't it silly that the police do not know the laws of the land????

Just exactly how many weeks did it take for our boys in blue to come to the conclusion that several laws have been broken and the trio should be charged - not 'may'. Or, is it that now the Sarawak Election is over, they need to hatch a new plan or maybe the true masters of the Polis Raja di M laysia have other plans in store. Stop being running dogs PDRM and do your job.

Arrest ‘Datuk T’ now, PKR tells cops



The police should immediately arrest the “Datuk T” trio for admitting responsibility over the screening of a sex video allegedly featuring Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, PKR leaders said today.

Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah said earlier today that Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik, Datuk Shuib Lazim and himself are willing to go to court for screening the sex tape.

Shazryl said that the trio, collectively known as “Datuk T”, had been arrested together and are willing to face the charge together.

But PKR vice-president Chua Tian Chang has now accused the police of not acting swiftly enough in investigating this case.

“The police need to detain them, question them and take their statements... they have already insinuated involvement numerous times... if they are found guilty after investigations, charge them,” Chua told The Malaysian Insider.

The PKR leader lamented the fact that weeks had passed since the screening of the video without any action being taken against the trio, despite their open admission to being the masterminds behind the sex video screening.

On March 21, “Datuk T” had shown the 21-minute clip to a group of journalists.

Shazryl also retracted his earlier statement that he was the sole person responsible for the screening.

“When I said that I was responsible, what I meant was ‘we’. All three of us were responsible for the screening. I do not want the other two to think that I want to take credit for the screening.

“Anyway we have been arrested so we will comply with the police,” he added

Chua, however, remained unconvinced with Shazryl’s latest statement, saying there were many inconsistencies with it.

“Their statements are highly dubious... it looks like another frame-up. And now, after the Sarawak elections the police are finally saying that finding the owner of the watch is unimportant, is that not strange? These people — Shazryl, Rahim —are all lacking in credibility,” said the Batu MP.

CID deputy chief Datuk Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani yesterday announced that police had concluded their investigation into the sex video.

Acryl said the police had wrapped up their investigation under the Penal Code for the distribution of obscene material and that investigation papers would be sent to the Attorney-General’s Chambers soon.

He also said the identity of the owner of the Omega watch, alleged by Shazryl to have been worn by the man in the video, was not central to the case.

“The identity of the watch’s owner is not an issue. What is important in our investigation is who is responsible for screening the video,” Acryl told reporters.

Earlier, Shazryl insisted on the importance of finding the owner of the Omega watch, saying it was a very important piece of evidence.

The “Datuk T” trio claimed Anwar had left his watch behind in the hotel room during the time of the recording.

They said the watch later came into their possession and that it had been surrendered to the police recently, along with the video to aid investigations.

Anwar has filed a police report denying he was the man recorded and said that “the stomach of the man (in the video) was much bigger” than his.

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution reiterated this, and said today that there was no legal basis to charge Anwar as the police investigation was conducted according to Section 292 of the Penal Code under the offence of distributing obscene materials.

But Saifuddin believed that Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail may still press charges against Anwar regardless.

“However, we believe that the Attorney General, under the instructions of (the) Barisan Nasional regime will find ways to implicate Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim by maliciously dragging him to court... to destroy Anwar’s political career.

“This is not impossible as the same scenario had happened previously to Anwar when he was dragged to court under two sodomy charges which were legally baseless,” said the Machang MP in a statement today.

A poll, conducted by independent survey house Merdeka Center earlier this month found that a majority of the people interviewed believe Anwar was merely a victim of character assassination in the latest sex video scandal.

The poll also discovered that respondents agree the video had been released to destroy the former deputy prime minister’s political career.




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first IGP said video is authentic, second they said they will know the owner of omega watch, third the police will know the main actor of the video, forth the omega watch is not an issue, fifth datuk t will be arrested. this like Hindustan movie , sure have box-office

Even Datuk T arrested in the near future. All three will walk out free men. No proof lah. this Malaysia not UK.

Port Klang bastards MPs Badrul splits from wife



Badrul Hisham’s ex-wife had filed for divorce last year


Port Klang assemblyman Badrul Hisham Abdullah and his wife Ramizah Mazlan divorced today in the Syariah Lower Court here.

Badrul Hisham’s lawyer Mahyuddin Md Zahari said the Umno man pronounced the “talak” before judge Abdul Malik Soleh after Ramizah agreed to withdraw her “fasakh” (to end marriage on various grounds) application.

Ramizah, 40, applied to divorce the 51-year-old politician on February 4 last year.

The couple married on July 31, 1994 and have five children.

Badrul Hisham, who was with PKR, quit the party on July 29, 2009 before joining Umno.

On January 16, Selangor Speaker Datuk Teng Chang Khim declared the Port Klang seat vacant on the grounds that Badrul Hisham had failed to attend sittings for six months without valid reason.

He was barred from attending the state assembly meeting on January 24 where the Pakatan Rakyat government attempted to amend the state constitution.

However, on February 18, the Shah Alam High Court decided that the Port Klang had not been vacated and that Badrul Hisham was still its assemblyman, allowing him to attend the most recent sitting that began at the end of last month.



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Sign of a sinking ship.

Split from wife, split from party....what do u expect from a FROG???

Even the court allow you, but people in Selangor will kick you out in next GE. Wife also cannot take care, how to take care of others.

Pakatan’s Sarawak success is DAP’s to celebrate



Pakatan Rakyat (PR) may have finally broken into the fortress of Barisan Nasional (BN) Sarawak last night, and while PKR has declared a moral victory for the pact, its success is really DAP’s to celebrate.

When polls closed yesterday, it was announced that DAP had triumphed in all but three of the 15 state seats it had contested, a breakthrough for the party, which has been working the ground in
Sarawak since 1978.

It even trounced BN giant Tan Sri George Chan Hong Nam, a six-term incumbent for Piasau who was also the deputy chief minister and president of the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), the oldest political organisation in Sarawak.

PKR, however, was slaughtered in 46 of the 49 seats, winning in just three constituencies. Even then, its victory in Batu Lintang, a DAP seat in 2006, was likely due to the spillover effect from DAP’s massive voter support in the neighbouring constituencies of Pending, Padungan and Kota Sentosa.

There are several reasons that could explain the inconsistent performances between PKR and DAP: DAP’s early preparation for the polls, PKR’s disorganised and ill-prepared election machinery, limited resources, the fact that PKR has only been in Sarawak for just over 10 years, money politics, and voter dynamics.

Disgruntled PKR members have already blamed BN for allegedly buying support and rigging the voting process, and while this had likely contributed greatly, one significant factor behind the opposition party’s loss could very well also be its poor preparation, and lack of groundwork before the polls.

As such, one crucial lesson that PKR will take away is in the importance of early preparation and the need for better organisation among its branch members, party leaders and campaign workers.

Unlike the DAP, which had begun laying out its plans as early as July last year, PKR was still haggling over seat distribution until the final hours before nomination day.

Even its Sarawak election director, Azmin Ali, admitted to The Malaysian Insider today that the party had been ill-prepared, especially since it was up against BN’s massive machinery and limitless resources.
“I must admit I accept the fact that our machinery was not that well organised. It was not strong enough,” he said.

“I urge the members to move on and we must have this capacity in the future to train our members ahead in order to strengthen our machinery.”

He revealed that PKR had only begun to get down to serious work about three months before nomination day on April 6.

DAP began discussing its campaign theme and strategies in July last year, and held training sessions for its team workers more than six months before the polls.

“We started talking about our mascot way back . . . don’t forget, you have to order the product, find the cheapest vendor and the best quality,” said DAP’s campaign director, Tony Pua.

The party’s famous “Ubah” mascot, a stuffed hornbill doll, had to be ordered from China, and was the result of many discussions, consultations and design changes.

The party had also prepared separate teams for presentation, packaging, strategy analyses and others to help work the ground during the 10-day campaign period. The teams underwent training
and monthly briefings.

At campaign kick-off, the party sent more than 250 workers in one city alone, to help in its daily operations.

Preparedness aside, PKR’s losses could also be due to the large number of seats that it fielded candidates. This spread the party’s limited resources thinner.

While DAP fielded 15 candidates, PKR contested in 49 constituencies, and PAS in five.

Azmin said PKR had “no choice” but to field candidates in all seats, in order to ensure that there would be no walkover victories for the BN.

He insisted that the large number was not a reflection of PKR’s overconfidence and greed, despite reports of how PKR had crossed swords with DAP and its former opposition ally Sarawak National Party (SNAP) over which party would get the lion’s share of seats.

“You must understand that it is not fair to put the blame on PKR for contesting too many seats. It is not our choice,” he said.

With DAP snapping up the urban Chinese-majority sets and PAS the Malay-Muslim seats, PKR was left with the bulk of the Dayak-majority seats, most of which were BN strongholds. “If you ask me, I would rather have contested in just 15 or 20 seats as we have limited resources,” he said.

Another likely factor behind PKR’s loss is that the party is considerably new, having only spread its wings across the South China Sea into Sarawak for a little over 10 years.

“We were here only 10 years ago . . . we contested first in 2001 and I think we are relatively still new,” said Azmin.

“But we made a positive impact in the rural areas. Now, the people know PKR much better and it is a good sign.”

Pua agreed that DAP’s 32-year presence in Sarawak had likely contributed to the party’s performance. “We have been around, our proven track records, the performances of our assemblymen . . . all these factors help a lot,” he said.

“It is the fact that the people have seen us work and voice out their grouses . . . it helps us gain the trust of the electorate.”

He agreed that PKR was still considered relatively new to Sarawakians. For that reason, the community could have been suspicious of the peninsula-based party.

“Could be two ways . . . the people do not know them, and also in terms of their organisation for the campaign,” said Pua. “Perhaps the organisation is not yet mature enough and people do not know them enough.”

One thing is clear. Sarawakians have begun to warm up to West Malaysian politics, and no longer reject leaders from the across the South China Sea.

From the voting pattern, PR as a pact had managed to reduce BN’s popular vote from 63 per cent in 2006 to 55 per cent last night, while it garnered 45 per cent of the vote.

SNAP, despite its earlier boast that Sarawakians preferred a local opposition party rather than one from the peninsula, lost in all the 26 seats it contested against PKR.

Its candidates lost their deposits in 25 seats — a slap on the face for the 40-year-old opposition party.

“The sentiment that peninsular parties are not relevant in Sarawak is not true any longer,” said Azmin. “The Sarawakians do not rely on this talk. Look at how badly SNAP lost. Sarawakians reject this parochial attitude . . . they see the bigger picture and it is a two-party system — between PR and BN.”

PR’s 8 per cent increase in popular vote clearly shows that Sarawakians in general, even those within the rural communities, are slowly beginning to accept the pact’s message of change.

True, despite riding on the growing anti-Taib sentiment, PR still failed to deny BN its two-thirds majority, but it reduced many vote margins, which contributed to its 45 per cent popular vote.

PKR also chalked a significant win in Krian, when its candidate, newcomer businessman Ali Biju, toppled Datuk Peter Nyarok Entrie, a political stalwart who was an assistant state minister and the deputy president of the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP), with a 2,090-vote majority.

Ali’s success was largely due to his early preparation and the months of groundwork.

As such, PKR has chosen not to cry over its massive losses but celebrate its small wins, believing that it would soon translate into a bigger victory in the future.

“We may have lost but I am not worried about that,” said Azmin. “This is a new beginning. People now understand that we are here to stay. We are not a hit-and-run party, we are here to protect the interests of the people of Sarawak.”




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It is remarkable that the PKR candidate for Krian won with such a large majority despite BN's superior machinery, money politics, and the fact that he was representing PKR, a relatively new party to Sarawakians. It is attributed to his hard work on the ground during the past year.

PKR should get their future candidates to do the same thing, especially in preparation for the coming GE. PR Sarawak should have a common mascot and common manifesto.

The state election could be like PKR's Ijok by-election. They should learn from their shortcomings and prepare now for the all important GE13.

Choose candidates years early and let them do the groundwork as early as possible. You will see the difference! Don't choose candidates that are having huge loans, most probably will switch side when lured with money.

17 April 2011

BN retains two-thirds majority but Sarawak’s fixed deposit shattered



The Barisan Nasional (BN) has managed to keep its two-thirds legislative majority in Sarawak but today’s results have shattered the coalition’s invincibility and the notion of a fixed deposit in future elections.

The DAP doubled its presence to 12 and PKR tripled its representation although the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lynchpin had contested in 49 seats. PAS lost in all five seats it contested while Independent George Lagong took one seat.

The number of state seats to the Opposition pact will spell danger for BN as it could help them win more parliamentary seats when the general election is called by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. PR now has 75 MPs but the Sarawak win could translate into more in the future.

At 10.55pm, BN was declared the winner for 55, or 75 per cent, of the 71 seats in the Sarawak legislature. In the 2006 elections, it won 62 out of the 71 seats. Initial estimates showed that BN's popular vote went down from 62.93 per cent in 2006 to 55.24 per cent in today's polling.

The biggest upset was SUPP president and Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri George Chan Hong Nam losing the Piasau state seat to DAP’s Ling Sie Kiong.

The six-term incumbent’s defeat could spell the end of the SUPP, which won only six of the 19 seats it contested.

BN had expected to lose up to 20 seats in this state election as the Opposition had centred its campaign on long-serving Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, whose reluctance to step down has even apparently infuriated national BN leaders.

Najib had pledged that this would be Taib’s last election and he would leave soon after but the veteran leader has said openly in front of the BN chairman that he will stick around for a few more years.

He made good that promise by quickly taking his oath of office as chief minister for the seventh time at 10.30pm which was broadcast live through national and satellite television.

Critics believe Taib's continued presence could help move more support to PR, which won its seats despite limited money, logistics and media presence.

Najib himself had to spend six days canvassing for votes across Malaysia’s largest state and state BN officials estimate that the coalition has spent nearly RM500 million to secure today’s victory.

Opposition leaders had concurred before today’s polling, saying BN officials had openly offered cash for support.

Sources within the Election Commission (EC) said BN won most of the seats as more from the older generation turned up to cast their ballots early compared to the younger generation who are known to support the Opposition.

“The trend was always for BN from early on in the day,” a source told The Malaysian Insider.

He pointed out that Taib’s PBB won all 35 seats that were contested reflecting the leader’s popularity among the Melanau community.

Today’s results will come as a relief to the ruling coalition which scrambled at the tail-end of the campaign to counter the massive crowds that thronged Opposition rallies in major towns.

But PR leaders were upbeat that they scored well in the state election.

“The future is bright for Pakatan in Sarawak. I don’t think BN leadership will dare to call for GE in next few months,” DAP national chairman Karpal Singh told reporters here.

However, PKR leaders were not around or too despondent to comment on the results.




comments


What will be the results if PR have the ability to spend RM500 millions in this election. Is this legal?

chinese has this saying, "if there's money, you won't even want to recognize your mother / father"!

i guess many of the Sarawakians still not practicing "take the money, but vote PR"!

poor sarawakian, conned again...what can Sarawak possibly improved whereas after 30years by taib, nothing!!! he himself a billionaires..

DAP says Sarawak win reflects its broad support



The Sarawak DAP claimed that it has broad-based support amongst Sarawak’s major ethnic communities despite only winning in Chinese-majority seats in yesterday’s election.

Sarawak DAP chairman Wong Ho Leng based this assertion last night on its wins in Dudong, Batu Kawa and Kidurong, areas where there are sizable Dayak populations.

“These victories are a strong message from the people. We won in mixed seats with sizable Dayak populations. So the Dayaks have spoken through the DAP,” said Ho Leng, who managed to retain the Bukit Assek seat with a 9,000-over vote majority.

The Dudong state seat is 51 per cent Chinese, 36 per cent Iban and 11 per cent Malay/Melanau. Kidurong is more than 60 per cent non-Chinese and half of Batu Kawah’s voters are non-Chinese.

The DAP’s campaign through-out the past 10 days in Sibu has been tailored mainly for a Chinese audience.

Except for brief appearances by Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, DAP chairman Karpal Singh, Puchong MP Gorbind Singh Deo and Zairil Khir Johari, all its ceramah speakers have been Chinese.

The party’s spirited campaign workers, most of whom are volunteers, combed through the food courts, restaurants, businesses and housing estates in the Sibu town centre and its suburbs.

However, the party had trouble canvassing for support in the scores of longhouses that lie outside Sibu or among the Malay/Melanau community. It was a mantra among DAP leaders and activists through-out the campaigning period that the party would pull out all stops to gain 80 per cent of the Chinese vote. The non-Chinese vote they believed, was already “lost” to the Barisan Nasional.

Ho Leng refuted this, saying the wave of support for the DAP also came from bumiputera communities.

“The only losers in this election are the SUPP (Sarawak United People’s Party). The people have spoken and they want to reject the politics of money and elitism.

“They want a fair distribution of the state’s wealth, and an end to land disputes, an open tender system for contracts and more educational facilities for their children,” said Ho Leng.

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