Electoral reforms pointless if polls held first

Bersih 2.0 is insisting that the next general election should only be called after the parliamentary select committee’s (PSC) recommendations on electoral reforms are implemented, saying today anything earlier would make the panel “pointless”.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday that federal polls could be held anytime and would not depend on the proceedings of the panel that will be formed in October.

“This totally defeats the purpose and spirit of setting up the PSC as it is meant to resolve serious fraudulent practices in the electoral processes,” said Bersih 2.0 in a statement issued by its steering committee today.

“The PSC would be pointless if Parliament is dissolved before the committee presents its report to Parliament,” the electoral reform movement added.

Najib, however, also said that despite the fact that the panel will also be dissolved along with Parliament before general elections, whatever reforms that could be carried out before that would be executed first.

The Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman announced the panel last Monday in what was a major concession to Bersih 2.0, whose July 9 rally was met with stern police action before and during the march, resulting in nearly 1,700 arrests on the day of the march.

But Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has said that the electoral panel would take a year to conclude discussions.

Najib, who must call a general election by early 2013, has delayed Umno polls that were due in April this year, but the party’s constitution states that they can only be delayed by 18 months, which coincides with October next year, exactly when Wan Junaidi believes the committee will begin wrapping up.

With speculation that Najib will call snap election soon, Wan Junaidi’s comments could mean that the parliamentary panel would not be able to present its findings as the Umno president would likely dissolve Parliament ahead of potentially fractious party polls.

Bersih 2.0 also stressed today that the select committee should be chaired by a federal opposition lawmaker.

“The function of the PSC is to cross-examine the electoral system as administered by the government of the day... the Cabinet’s decision to appoint a Cabinet minister to chair the Committee is an indication that the Cabinet fails to understand the principle of separation of powers,” said the group.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz said yesterday that the practice was according to convention, and was not a House rule.

He also reiterated that the panel will comprise nine members — five from BN, including a minister as chairman, one from each of Pakatan Rakyat (PR)’s three parties and one independent representative.

Bersih 2.0 insisted that federal polls must be delayed until after the implementation of reforms such as a clean-up of the electoral roll, the use of indelible ink, automatic voter registrations, reform of the postal vote system, and a minimum 21-day campaign period.

The electoral reforms group called on the select committee to engage experts, release its final reports to the public before presenting them to the Cabinet and Parliament, and conduct nationwide public hearings.

“The PSC should (also) be given leave to sit while Parliament is in session... Bersih 2.0 maintains our call for the formation of a Royal Commission of Inquiry on electoral reforms to study the larger issues of elections and democracy such as electoral system, a full review of all electoral laws and the membership of the Election Commission,” it said.

 

 

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why ? without reform BN sure win n pakatan sure lose or after reform pakatan sure win n BN sure lose , so which is which ?

Najib is a real Mr Flip-flop. He has no more credibilty and his words mean nothing. It's all tricks and he thinks Malaysian are fools. Vote for a change of the corrupt government.

The overall results of GE13 will always be brought into question so long as it goes ahead WITHOUT genuine Electoral Reforms being put into place. There are just too many discrepancies in the current Electoral Rolls that need to be rectified before Elections are called. The Rakyat have every right to demand this of their government.

PM broke tacit promise to hold polls after reforms

Lim Kit Siang is questioning the clout of the parliamentary select committee (PSC) on electoral reform after Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday that the timing of general elections would not depend on the panel’s proceedings.

Lim also accused the prime minister of reneging on his implicit undertaking last Monday — when announcing the panel — that federal polls would not be held until the panel reached a consensus on electoral improvements.

“In just four days, the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has done a full flip-flop,” said Lim in a statement today.

The Ipoh Timur MP cited a report from national news agency Bernama on Najib’s remarks last Monday that quoted the PM as saying: “This is so that we can reach a consensus in facing the next election without any suspicion about any manipulation by the government.”

“In declaring that the next general election can be held anytime and is not bound by the work of the parliamentary select committee on electoral reform, Najib is in effect saying that the Barisan Nasional (BN) government is now prepared to go ahead with the next general election, although it has failed to put to rest suspicions of manipulation by the government in the country’s electoral process,” said Lim.
“This has vindicated the intense questioning and doubts about the true intentions of the parliamentary select committee proposal, whether it is a genuine and sincere attempt to address and resolve the many flaws in the electoral system or just a gimmick to sidetrack legitimate and growing public demands for electoral reform,” added the veteran politician.

Lim also pointed out that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) was not consulted on the panel’s formation, membership, terms of reference and timeline. PR said last Wednesday that it may boycott the select committee if the panel did not meet its expectations.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz said yesterday that a BN minister will chair the panel despite PR’s insistence on helming it.

He said the committee will comprise nine members — five from BN, including a minister as chairman, one from each of PR’s three parties and one independent representative.

The Umno minister added that the practice was according to convention and was not a House rule. Lim questioned today if Najib’s “flip-flop” was caused by “hardline pressures”, naming Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Muhyiddin insisted last Tuesday that the current electoral system was fair and transparent and only needed some tweaking.

“Be that as it may, it is now in the court of the prime minister as to whether his proposal of a parliamentary select committee will be stillborn because of his refusal to fully consult with and seek the agreement of Pakatan Rakyat on various important aspects of the committee, as well to assure all Malaysians that it will be a meaningful exercise and not a political ploy to avoid electoral reform,” said Lim.

Najib formed the panel some five weeks after electoral reform movement Bersih 2.0 took to the streets of the capital city to call for free and fair elections. Police locked down the city but nearly 50,000 people still turned up.

A similar rally in November 2007 was credited for BN’s poor showing in national polls held in March 2008, where the ruling coalition lost its customary two-thirds parliamentary majority and four more states.

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Najib broke a TACIT promise? What's so surprising about that? He's a person who'll break a promise at the drop of a hat if it is to his advantage, even if he had made that promise in front of a hundred thousand people and live telecasted to the whole country.

Najib is already infamous because of being held ransom by his colleagues on many of his own skeletons. How can Najib act independently when he is so tainted with baggages. We need a clean leader as PM like our Tok Guru Nik Aziz whereby nobody can hold him at ransom! The BN always win elections only thro' the compromised electoral rolls and not by genuine majority of votes. So reform is a must for fair play. The rakyat must insist on clean and fair elections. PR stays Focus for GE13. Vote for change!

UMNO minister's feet bluff...like bandits appointed bandits to investigate the theft of

A Barisan Nasional (BN) minister will chair the electoral reforms parliamentary select committee despite Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) insistence to lead it, Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz has declared, saying “no means no”.

The minister in the Prime Minister’s Department asked the opposition for “one good reason” why one of its representatives should hold the post, pointing out that only federal ministers could provide ease of access to all government amenities.

“As with all previous committees, a minister always chairs it so that it (the committee) can enjoy all the government facilities... calling for meetings, using passes. Plus, the minister commands the respect of all the MPs,” he told

Nazri (picture), who is the minister in charge of parliamentary affairs, agreed however that the practice was according to convention and was not a House rule.

“But this is the reality in this country. But my question is — why do they want to be chairman? What is so special about this committee? Every time we form committees and every committee is special, so why is this one extra special?” he added.

The Umno minister reiterated that the committee will comprise nine members — five from BN, including a minister as chairman, one from each of PR’s three parties and one independent representative.

“In previous committees, it is usually seven members... four from BN and one from each PR party. But that was before we had independent members in the House. Now, to acknowledge the independents, we increase the members to nine,” he said.

Asked if this meant that PR’s request to chair the committee would be turned down, Nazri repeated: “Give me one good reason why it should be otherwise.”

When pressed again for an answer, the minister said: “Well, knowing Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Aziz, no means no. So, no. No means no.”

PR had earlier requested to chair the committee, which was announced earlier this week by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, saying this would prove the administration’s sincerity to introduce electoral reforms.

“To prove good faith, we request the prime minister to incorporate the following demands (that) the head of the parliamentary committee should be from the opposition,” said the release sent by the coalition’s secretariat on Tuesday.

The opposition pact’s leaders have grown suspicious of Najib’s celebrated announcement to study reforms, particularly after the prime minister said on Wednesday the polls review panel was formed merely to “satisfy” the opposition.

PR and election watchdog group Bersih 2.0 have been pushing for electoral reforms for years, resulting in two chaotic street rallies — the first in 2007, which has been largely credited for the Election 2008 tsunami, and the second on July 9 this year, which saw the Najib administration’s reformist image take a severe beating in the international media.

Speaking on the matter yesterday, Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar also said it was normal that any select committee mooted by the government to have a majority of BN lawmakers.

He said this was consistent with most parliaments globally, including the United Kingdom, when issues affected public interest, Bernama Online reported.



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This committee will become a useless committee if it is made up of mainly politicians.

BN=Buruk siku. First, announce 'can hold demo in stadium', then, 'no stadium available'. Now 'set up reform committee', then they chair it. The very people who are incapable of reform should not be chairing it!

Get an INDEPENDANT Member like Ambiga to be Chairman of the Electrol Reforms Panel, because she is not a Memeber of Parliament and is also not BIASED towards any Political Party. Therefore her decisions will be Fair and Just to all concerned.

Pakatan demands Najib explain PM’s expenses

Datuk Seri Najib Razak must explain how federal allocations to his department have been spent given the “stark” increase in the prime minister’s budget over the last three years, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) has said.

The opposition pact said the more than four-fold increase in the Prime Minister’s Department’s (PMD) development budget from RM7.2 billion under the Eighth Malaysia Plan (8MP) to RM29.6 billion under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) demanded greater accountability from Najib.

“The development allocation for the PMD is discretional expenditure that allows the prime minister to approve it literally with the stroke of a pen, whereas other ministerial expenditures or treasury payments must pass through more rigorous checks.

“The rakyat deserves to know exactly what and where the PMD has been spending so much money,” the PR secretariat said in a statement today.

Speaking to reporters today after a PR alternative budget committee meeting, DAP international secretary Liew Chin Tong (picture) said the opposition will propose that the Prime Minister’s Department budget be cut to under RM5 billion to free up federal funds for more pressing national needs.

He pointed out that the Education Ministry was asked to reduce spending in 2010 and this year, which led to hostels cutting meals on weekends, even while the prime minister’s budget shot up “double, triple” compared to 2005/06 levels.

“We say that instead of giving the money to the prime minister, the prime minister should ensure that all departments get adequate amount of expenditure and spend it wisely,” he said.

The Najib administration has committed itself to trimming 2009’s two-decade high budget deficit of 7 per cent, most recently slashing subsidies on fuel, sugar and electricity to avoid the subsidy bill from doubling to RM21 billion.

But the government is under pressure to contain inflation which hit a two-year peak of 3 per cent in March before rising to 3.5 per cent in June, heightening public concern over price hikes.

Last week, Najib, who is also finance minister, committed RM2 billion to a Hari Raya half-month bonus for all 1.3 million civil servants and a RM500 payment to 600,000 pensioners in a bid to help ease their burden ahead of the Muslim festival at the end of the month.



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RM29.6 billion for the PM's department is chicken feed for Najib's administration. Najib's spokesman Nazri will reply that its not RM296 billion so why make the big fuss.

This is the only government that claim to practice democracy that has the pm disbursing and spending money like his own.

Money should be disburse by the treasury and all expenses must be from approved budget in parliament. For the pm to be able to write himself billions and billions of ringgit in the name of development without prior budget approval from parliament is a crime that must be addressed.

Najib needs to explain to the people how can the government cut budget for schools and then spend them on PMD? People will not tolerate government that fails to be accountable in using public funds.

Rakyat demands their money to be well spent for the development of this country. For the good of all Malaysian, bumiputera and non bumiputera alike.

All this due to the devious Mahathir who consolidate the post of prime minister and financeminister. No check and balance.No wonder our country is going bankrupt.

This is the type of questioning that made UMNO uncomfortable and always trying to brand DAP as racist and against the Malays. There are so scared that the Rakyat would see their true colors (to help themselves, not the rakyat regardless of race) so they need to made false accusations to divert attention.

Keep it up Tony, i can see Najib trembling already.

No gun to anyone’s head, Bersih 2.0 tells EC chief

Bersih 2.0 today laughed off the Election Commission (EC) chief’s remark it had put a gun to his head in pushing for electoral reforms.

Maria Chin Abdullah, who is a part of the reform group’s steering committee, said it was only putting pressure because its requests to clean up the election process had been ignored all these years.

“We are not so violent as to put a gun to anyone’s head,” Maria (picture) told  in an immediate response to EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof’s description of Bersih 2.0’s actions.

“We need to ensure our demands are put forward,” she said, adding that its suggestions for more transparent elections had been raised even before the July 9 rally in the city.

“If there’s no response, what do you expect people to do? We can’t just keep quiet,” she said.

She said the coalition of 62 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) had been asking the authority to act and prevent election fraud for years, but had been repeatedly ignored.

The movement has shortlisted eight immediate measures, including more frequent updates of the electoral roll, the use of indelible ink to prevent voter fraud and an extension of the campaign period to a minimum 21 days.

Maria, who heads another civil society called Empower, urged the EC to stop treating Bersih 2.0 like the enemy, and recognise its efforts as legitimate attempts to help the democratisation process in Malaysia.

“They have to do that first. They have to stop calling us illegitimate,” she said.

Abdul Aziz had earlier told reporters Bersih 2.0’s demands to the EC were like putting a gun to his head.

“I told them better don’t do that (put a gun to his head). You can suggest anything but some suggestions we might agree, some suggestions we might not. But don’t expect we must agree everything,” Abdul Aziz said today.

He was speaking to reporters here at the EC office after a two-hour discussion with the Association for the Promotion of Human Rights (Proham).

The first NGO to meet with the EC since the July 9 Bersih rally, Proham today submitted a report on “Human Rights and Electoral Reform” based on its findings from a public forum last month.

“You must come like Proham today, we must discuss openly without condition; they (Proham) didn’t put a gun to my head,” he said.

Maria said the EC has yet to contact Bersih 2.0 directly to discuss talks despite having already mentioned their intention to do so in the media.

The election watchdog group has been pushing for electoral reforms for years, resulting in two street rallies — the first in 2007, which has been partly credited for the Election 2008 tsunami, and the second on July 9 this year, which saw the Najib administration’s reformist image take a severe beating in the international media.

Prime Minister Datukl Seri Najib had announced on Tuesday it would form a bipartisan panel, answerable to Parliament, to review the electoral process.

Bersih had suggested the parliamentary select committee push for a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on electoral reforms in Malaysia, saying that the “terms of reference” for the commission should be drawn up by the committee within a year after its formation



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EC you are putting the gun on your head by yourself and dont blame others.
Even then EC is too stupid to know how to pull the trigger

Nobody is putting a gun to Abdul Aziz's head but the rakyat is putting money into his pocket every month; so he better start serving the country rather than serving BN

The EC chief and his deputy must go. They have shown their bias. The appointment of EC chief and deputy must be made by a panel reflecting key stakeholders. So the Bar Council, Sukaham, the government and the Official Opposition will sit on the panel with the a bias towards the non-political entities.

EC is not only deaf and mute, they are also very dumb to disregard Bersih's repeated appeals all these years for a review of our skewed electoral system. This is a request from the rakyat, not some illegal shadowy communist terrorist organisation that Bersih is made out to be.

Who is EC to talk about having guns pointed at their head?

The only gun pointing in this whole Bersih saga was the Police's tear gas gun pointed at Bersih marchers and Anwar's head. Incidentally. Katak's fat head was no where to be seen on 709.

who says UMNO not involved ... if not the direction of Najib.....Najib says up to Selangor to solve Jais debacle

The prime minister has refused to step into the fray over the raid on a church by Selangor’s religious authority, insisting that it is up to the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state government to resolve the crisis.

Datuk Seri Najib Razak also insisted that Umno had played no part in the Selangor Islamic Religious Department’s (Jais) actions, which has seen Christian and Muslim groups lock horns in yet another clash between the two religions.

“This is a question for the state, not federal. So the crisis must be solved by the state.

“How can Umno order them? Jais is under who? Not Umno. Umno cannot order them to do this. It makes no sense,” the Umno president said after chairing a supreme council meeting today.

Jais had said that it was acting on a complaint that Muslims were being proselytised at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) last week but the church has insisted that it was only hosting a local NGO’s thanksgiving dinner.

But PAS secretary general Datuk Mustafa Ali has alleged that Umno played a role in the affair and said he was ready to present proof to Jais director Marzuki Hussin.

Jais has come under fire from various parties and has been accused of trespassing but several Islamic groups have defended Jais, which has continued investigations into the matter and summoned 12 Muslims found at the event for questioning.

The furore over Jais’ actions is the latest in a series of issues surrounding Christians in the country whom hardline Muslims accuse of not respecting Islam.

A legal dispute that has yet to be resolved over the use of Allah by Christians led to the firebombing of places of worship at the beginning of last year.

The government was also forced to release 35,100 Malay-language bibles seized under the Internal Security Act before the April 16 state polls in Sarawak which has the country’s largest population of Christians.

Earlier this year, the Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia also accused the DAP of conspiring with church leaders to turn Malaysia into a Christian state and install a Christian prime minister.

The Malay daily also reported this week that Muslim primary schoolchildren living in squatters in Jalan Klang Lama were being taught Christian songs and stories about Jesus.



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Najib you insulting the Sultan of Selangor or something?

JAIS under Sultan of Selangor. Sultan of Selangor is the head of all Islamic affairs, not Selangor PR government.

How did pro-UMNO bloggers come up with the edited video? Someone working with them infiltrated the dinner in order to stir up trouble? Or someone in JAIS gave the video to the bloggers. Certainly sounds like collusion at least.

No one in Malaysia, especially so called Govt agencies will dare to move a finger if there is no directive from UMNO. For example Majlis Pembandaran will not move a hair even directive form MB, but when a call form UMNO, every one will act to the instruction.

The Chief Secretary of Selangor is a Federal appointment and he is known to be an UMNO stooge. JAIS reports to the Chief Secretary. Najib can't deny that UMNO is behind this attempt to stir up trouble in Selangor.

Esso sale, Mahathir family involved

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants the government to explain why it allowed one of the country’s critical assets to be sold to a foreign entity, pointing out that the sale of ExxonMobil’s stake in oil refiner Esso Malaysia was below market price.

The opposition leader also demanded Putrajaya explain the potential conflict in the deal because of the interests of the family of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed.

The former prime minister’s son, Mirzan Mahathir, was previously a board director of San Miguel Corp. The Philippines conglomerate is the biggest food and beverage conglomerate in the Philippines and the owner of San Miguel Brewery Inc.

San Miguel Brewery controls 95 per cent of the Philippines beer market. It has since diversified into infrastructure, public utility and energy requirements in the Philippines.

“More importantly is the transfer of nationally strategic assets, such as a refinery complex and petrol station network, to an entity with hardly any experience or presence in Malaysia previously.

“While the sum may have been a bona fide amount decided on commercial grounds, the interest of minority shareholders took a beating when the deal prompted such a huge drop in share price. I urge the relevant parties, including Securities Commission and Minority Shareholder Watch Group, look closely at the deal to ensure the interest of minority shareholders was not trampled,” Anwar said in a statement today.

Anwar said that Mirzan still remained a director of Petron Corporation — an associated company of San Miguel Corp that owns a network of refineries and petrol dealership in the Philippines even though the latter had resigned from the board of San Miguel Corp in April 2010.

“Therefore, it is only natural that questions are raised whether the acquisition of Esso’s downstream assets was completed at such a price on his behalf?

“This is even more pertinent as his brother Mokhzani Mahathir had already benefitted greatly from the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry through Kenchana Petroelum; especially when their father (Dr Mahathir) is conveniently the advisor of Petronas,” added the PKR defacto leader.

Shares in Esso fell as much as 18 per cent yesterday after Philippine conglomerate San Miguel offered to buy ExxonMobil’s stake in the Malaysian oil refiner at a lower price than the current market value.



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This deal need to be looked into. Why are we letting a foreign entity buying our sensitive asset and without enquiry from the SC or relevent body?

Something was very fishy about the Esso deal. It is very RARE that a takeover price is LESS THAN the stock price.

This transaction should be investigated, if only to vindicate the parties involved.

Where is the useless MACC?

Oops, I forgot. They only investigate the opposition over small amount of money.

This case involves millions of ringgit. MACC does not know how to count above few thousand ringgit. So this will be classified as NFA (No Further Action).

In Thailand, Taksin Shinawatra has been indicted and currently a wanted man . In M'sia these cheating politicians is still free to flaunt their ill gotten riches

brock ... tell people save money .... but he was waste of public funds...Najib mum about FBC Media allegations

Datuk Seri Najib Razak refused today to address allegations that Putrajaya paid RM58 million to FBC Media to burnish its international image on various international broadcast channels.

When asked about British media regulator Office of Communications’ (Ofcom) probe into programmes made by FBC Media for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the prime minister refused to comment.

“No, I cannot comment on that,” he said before ending the press conference that followed an Umno Supreme Council meeting this evening.

Ofcom was reported yesterday to be mulling “a full investigation of the content in question under the Broadcasting Code,” according to British daily The Independent.

In its statement carried by The Independent, the BBC said: “FBC has now admitted to the BBC that it has worked for the Malaysian government. That information was not disclosed to the BBC as we believe it should have been when the BBC contracted programming from FBC.

“Given this, the BBC has decided to transmit no more programming from FBC while it reviews its relationship with the company,” the state-owned broadcaster added.

It is understood Putrajaya has now ended its contract with FBC Media after an exposé revealed Malaysian leaders routinely appeared in paid-for interviews on global television programmes on CNBC.

The Malaysian Insider understands that the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) terminated FBC Media’s contract last week, just months after another public relations firm, APCO Worldwide from the United States, met an ignominious end for alleged links to Israel.

Global broadcasters, including CNN and CNBC, have been scrambling to contain any potential fallout after allegations of impropriety surfaced following the exposé by whistleblower Sarawak Report.

The website claimed the interviews and other programmes produced by FBC Media had cost the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition millions of ringgit as part of its bid to boost its international image.

FBC Media’s dealings with the Malaysian government came to light after supplementary supply bills showed vast payments made for a “Global Strategic Communications Campaign”.

The records showed that between 2008 and 2009, RM57.7 million was paid by the Prime Minister’s Office to FBC Media for the campaign.

US-based broadcaster CNN denied last week it was paid to interview Datuk Seri Najib Razak during his visit to London last month, but questions remain about the role played by its anchor John Defterios after the latter’s FBC Media programme “World Business” was axed early this month by rival network CNBC.

The spotlight is on the relationship between FBC Media — the British publicity firm led by media giant Alan Friedman with Defterios still listed as its group president — and broadcasters like CNBC, CNN and the BBC.

As a result of the allegations, the BBC has also said it will suspend programmes produced by FBC Media and investigate the company.



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Why is Najib being so secretive? Either the govt did deal or did not deal. No comment means what?

How to deny, when every bit of the allegation was the TRUTH and nothing BUT the TRUTH.

Pay others to interview you? What a shame! It is just like paying someone to talk to you, what a pity to our PM. If you are good, people will simply scramble to talk to you or interview you, but if you have no standard, then you pay to be interviewed? Poor Najib.

This guy has no shame one. Lies after lies and yet he never feel shameful....Instead, he blames others for it... Damn it. I show no respect for such person as a PM in Malaysia.

Another WASTiNG moneis of FLIP FLOP PM.....Our PM mind only wanna do things in SHORTCUT......Use monies to buy .....NEver work HARD..

Liow ‘very poor minister’ for not releasing Tung Shin report

DAP publicity chief Tony Pua called Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai a “very poor health minister” for not releasing an overdue report on the use of tear gas and water cannon outside Tung Shin Hospital in the July 9 Bersih rally.

Pua pointed out that the public has “not heard a single sound” from the health minister since the latter announced on July 21 that his ministry would complete the report on the incident within two weeks.

“Four weeks later, we have heard absolutely nothing from the minister. I think it’s a total cop out,” Pua told reporters at DAP headquarters here today.The Petaling Jaya Utara MP was one of the thousands of Bersih rally demonstrators near the hospital on the fateful day.

“He doesn’t dare admit the truth, he has no courage to admonish the police, and I think he makes a very poor health minister as a result.”

Liow (picture) announced on July 14 that his ministry would set up a committee to look into allegations that police fired tear gas and water cannon into the Tung Shin Hospital compound to flush out Bersih protesters who sought refuge there during the chaotic July 9 rally.

He later said the committee, headed by Health Ministry secretary-general Kamarul Zaman Mohd Isa, would look into whether the safety of the hospital was compromised.

Liow, who is also MCA deputy president, has drawn flak from many quarters for denying that the police fired into the hospital despite photo and video evidence suggesting otherwise.

Police have denied firing tear gas and water cannons at Tung Shin, claiming tear gas fired outside the hospital was blown into its compound by the wind.



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Just what has Liow done for the Malaysian Health system? I have to say that he is not only a weak minister, but, the worst health minister Malaysia ever had.

I was shocked to see the kinds of medicines, imitation cosmetics, cosmetics without brands, example, nail polish without brands being freely sold in pasar malams and wholesale shops. Just who is responsible for putting the above in our markets? Malaysians had never seen this menace, before, but, now it is so wide and large and the Health Ministry cannot say it does not know, the presence of medicines that dangerous to the health of the users, or the case of imitation cosmetics, they are so rampant, you just cannot believe it!!!!! And unbranded cosmetics? Just how can a cosmetic without brand be freely available in the markets and shops in the country? Has the Health Ministry approved the said practise? Surely, these cosmetics are not meant to cater to Malaysians, but, Malaysians being expose to such products will be tempted to buy them because of the cheap prices thus compromising on their own health, a problem created by the health minister and his ministry.

Malaysians, let us vote out BN in PRU 13! It is so hopeless, it is more interested in politickings than doing its jobs! A fish rots at its head, so says, the ex head of MCA, now facing corruption charges in the courts of law, and the health ministry is clearly rotting, under the rotten to the core MCA and liow tiong lai

refuse to the interrogation means he is collaborating....Ex-IGP Musa Hassan refuses to testify in Sodomy II

Tan Sri Musa Hassan has refused to be a defence witness in Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy trial, defence lawyers said today.

But the lawyers noted that the former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) initially appeared to be “willing” to be interviewed during the start of the interview session this afternoon.

“In the beginning, he (Musa) appeared to want to be interviewed, but when we got to the merits of the case, he said he wanted to exercise his right not to be interviewed,” said Ramkarpal Singh.

“He has refused to be a defence witness,” said another defence counsel Sankara Nair.

The lawyer said that the interview with Musa lasted about “five to six minutes.”

Anwar’s accuser Mohd Saiful Bukhari has admitted in court that he had contacted the former national police chief before reporting to the authorities that he was allegedly sodomised by the opposition leader.

The star witness told the High Court in May last year he had briefly spoken to Musa on June 25, 2008 — the morning after he had met Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at his residence — as well as a police officer, ACP Rodhwan Yusof at Hotel Mulia.

“It is a disadvantage to my client ... their (witnesses) evidence would have, could have been crucial to our defence ... why can’t you cooperate?” said Sankara, referring to the former IGP’s refusal to testify in court.

Besides Musa, another person was interviewed today — Anwar’s former bodyguard Khoharullah Abdul Majid.

Sankara said the defence has two more potential witnesses to interview — an Indonesian maid and a former Pusrawi hospital doctor. The two will be interviewed at 3pm tomorrow.

Justice Mohd Zabidin Mohd Diah ruled that Anwar would have to enter his defence next Monday “whatever the outcome of the interviews” in the trial that began in the Sessions Court over three years ago.

The High Court ruled on May 16 that Anwar would have to defend himself on a charge of sodomising former aide Saiful three years ago.

Mohd Zabidin had concluded that there was a prima facie case against the 63-year-old opposition leader, who is facing a second sodomy case charge in the span of 13 years.

The Permatang Pauh MP was charged with sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan at the Desa Damansara condominium between 3.01pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008.



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Subpoena him, and if he refuses to, charge him with contempt of court. Would be nice to see this man behind bars for all the damage that he has done to the PDRM and Malaysia.

Can a lawman defy the Law? In Malaysia it seems that all BN politicians from UMNO can and with impunity as the judges and courts are subservaint to BN-UMNO.

If Najib, Rosmah and ex IGP refuses to testify then on technical reasons alone, Anwar should be acquitted of all charges or else its a travesty of justice.

Felda loses RM200m suit against former deputy minister

Felda has lost its RM200 million defamation suit against former Land and Co-operative Development Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong, according to a court judgment today.

The federal land development agency and its investment arm Felda Global Ventures Holding Sdn Bhd lost their defamation case and were ordered to pay costs to the former Gerakan leader who joined PKR after the 2008 general election.

Felda had claimed in its filing on January 25 that Dr Tan implied it was corrupt and committed legal offences in an issue of Suara Keadilan published on June 22 last year.

But High Court judge Zabariah Mohd Yusof ruled today that the plaintiffs had failed to prove that the PKR disciplinary chief had said any defamatory words.

She ordered Felda to pay RM70,000 in costs to Dr Tan who in turn has to cough up RM30,000 for a preliminary point he raised earlier in the suit.

In his statement of defence, Dr Tan admitted to giving an interview to Suara Keadilan reporter Faizal Zakaria but insisted he did not defame the two plaintiffs.

He claimed that what he said was true and was published based on qualified privilege, which permitted him as a former deputy minister in charge of the federal authority to relay such information to his party organ.

Felda had brought the suit over Suara Keadilan’s cover story in Malay titled “Kontroversi,” which continued on page three with the heading “RM662 construction only involved three individuals.”

The plaintiffs had alleged that the article defamed them as it implied the repossession and construction of Menara Felda on prime land in the capital’s “Golden Triangle” would benefit cronies.

Dr Tan had responded that it was fair comment on the plaintiffs’ financial standing, expenditure, management and activities made in the public interest and did not defame the plaintiffs.

Speaking to The Malaysian Insider later, Dr Tan explained that the judge had dismissed the case based on a technicality.

“None of Felda’s witnesses could prove that I said what was written in Suara Keadilan,” he said, adding that Faizal, who interviewed him for the article, was not subpoenaed as a witness.

However, Felda had filed another RM200 million suit against Suara Keadilan over the same article last year which is still pending.

Felda’s lawyers Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin and Mahinder Singh Dulku said they would seek instructions on whether to file an appeal.



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BN govt will ask GLC to talk peace with crony Tajudin Ramli, but have war with Dr Tan of opposition! What a hypocrite!

he plundering started in 1983- BMF , then MAS n now billion dollar PKFZ scandal. we are progressing to the billion dollar league, FANTASTIC under BERSIHLAH NEGARA ( BN )

$70,000 is alot of money. Felda could have used this sum of money to help its settlers. The No.1 man helming Felda was once charged & convicted of corruption. Felda should be managed by a professional and not by a politician(s).

FELDA will be next GLC plundered by the BN administration.Your 200mil lawsuit figure was just plucked from the sky.So why is the govt so afraid of the billion dollar counter suit by Tajuddinwhen Axiata or MAS has the facts and a strong case ?
The truth will prevail !!

FELDA was once the brightest spot in the country. Its initial ideal was very noble and brought alot of benefit to rural malays. Only recently when some govt agencies (R*SDA) started to become businessman, then they see FELDA as a super big ATM machine. UMNO knows with so many settlements and families, stealing 1k from each family will not be noticible so fertiliser kena hantam, replanting kena hentam, buy crushing machinery kena hentam, buy computer kena hentam, buy airticket kena hentam, for all you know buy plastic bag also kena hentam. Now days, FELDA settler are very poor, most of the youth there takes drugs and very in debt with the kedai runcit in the settlement.

PM must pledge polls committee concludes before election held

The prime minister must give his assurance that he will not call snap polls before the parliamentary select committee on electoral reform has done its job if he is sincere about having clean elections, PKR has said.

PKR central leadership council member Elizabeth Wong (picture) said without such a guarantee, Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s decision to form the select committee amounts to little more than a “red herring” and “smokescreen” given the considerable time it will take to study the system.

She pointed out that, based on the Selangor government’s experience with its Freedom of Information (FOI) select committee, the proposed parliamentary committee will need “a minimum of more than one year” to look into the existing system’s weaknesses and propose relevant changes.

“If he (Najib) is really sincere... he has to give us a commitment that a general election will not be held until the select committee has finished their job, they have already presented the report to Parliament and the reforms are in place,” Wong told reporters at PKR headquarters here today.

Wanita PKR chief Zuraida Kamaruddin added that until then Najib must also put a stop to the 6P programme for illegal immigrants, given allegations that the amnesty drive has been used by Barisan Nasional (BN) to pad the electoral roll with voters sympathetic to the ruling coalition.

Najib announced yesterday that a bipartisan parliamentary select committee will be formed “as soon as possible” to examine the current electoral system, a key demand of the Bersih July 9 rally.

His announcement was seen as a major concession acknowledging the political fallout from his administration’s harsh clampdown on the rally for free and fair elections.

The Najib administration was roundly criticised in the international media, with his reformist image taking a major hit after authorities took extreme measures including firing tear gas and water cannons at largely peaceful demonstrators.

The prime minister’s decision also suggests he was forced to give space to Bersih and its iconic leader Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan as the government has been floundering since last month’s rally.



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Majority of us, no longer trusting "UMNO" as our government because they are not honest, no principle and created a lot of trouble to the country & rakyat. Malaysia is a beautiful country, we want a new PM who can lead the country with compassion & wisdom, transparent & no corruptions . Everyone of us want to be happy & rich, we don't like the government make us unhappy & poor. The very purpose of our lives is happiness and joyfulness. That is very clear.

another distortions....Deputy EC chief says caught off-guard by polls reform panel

Election Commission (EC) deputy chairman Datuk Wira Wan Ahmad Wan Omar has expressed surprise but welcomed the Najib administration’s move to form a parliamentary select committee to study the current electoral system.

He said it would help the battered EC handle recent criticism and demands made of it, but he admitted not expecting the prime minister’s move which appeared to be a major concession to polls reform group Bersih.

“I didn’t expect the prime minister... to take this step,” Wan Ahmad (picture) told today.

“However, I see that the prime minister has made the right announcement and he has shown sincerity in satisfying the people about the electoral system,” he said.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday that a bipartisan committee comprising Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers would prevent further accusations of electoral roll “manipulations.”

Najib’s latest announcement is a major concession that acknowledges the political fallout from his administration’s harsh clampdown on the July 9 Bersih rally.

His administration was roundly criticised in the international media, with his reformist image taking a major hit after the authorities took extreme measures including firing tear gas and water cannons at largely peaceful demonstrators.

Polls watchdog Bersih took to the streets in the capital city on July 9 to demand for fair and free elections, defying warnings of police action, which finally resulted in nearly 1,700 arrests, scores injured and one ex-soldier dead.

PR demanded recently for an emergency Parliament sitting to be held to discuss allegations of permanent residence holders being registered as voters and given instant citizenship.

Wan Ahmad said the parliamentary select committee would enable political parties to discuss the necessary steps to improve the current electoral system.

“As we have said earlier, the SPR is a body that runs elections; we have no power to amend laws because laws and Acts are enacted by the Dewan Rakyat. Parliament is a good platform to discuss issues about the electoral system,” he said, using the EC’s Malay acronym.

To run an election, the EC refers to the Federal Constitution, state constitutions, Elections Act 1958, Elections Offences Act 1954, Elections (Conduct of Elections) Regulations 1981 and Elections (Postal Voting) Regulations 2003.

Wan Ahmad pointed out that a parliamentary select committee in Australia comprised MPs in proportion to their representation in the House of Representatives, which were government, opposition and independent lawmakers.

BN has 137 members in the Dewan Rakyat, PR has 75 (DAP — 29, PKR — 23, PAS — 23), the Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) has one and there are nine independent members.

Asked if there was hope for a thorough reform, Wan Ahmad said it was difficult to answer at this point.

“We do not know yet the terms and references of this committee. So, we need to wait first. Maybe in a few days’ time, we’ll know the mechanism and terms and references, and what needs to be refined... then we will know the results of discussions,” he added.



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The Parliamentary Select Committee will be set up just to defuse the heat. Just like all the previous Royal Commissions, there is no real intention to find the truth or make reforms. All are just shadow plays.

So no wonder the EC was caught off-guard. It was not consulted because it was just a Najib's PR exercise.. Najib is just good at making grand announcements without any substance or follow-through.

When Bersih, Ambiga and opposition asked for reform, you accused them of having political agenda; when Najib announced to look at reform, you said "he has shown sincerity in satisfying the people about the electoral system".

Where is the impartiality that EC and its people should exhibit at all times? If anything, to kick off the so-called reform, please sack this joker. Then we are talking.

Watch out there is a ploy behind, Prime MInister's sudden therapy on electrol reform, no chance i suspect there will be injustice knowing that he's been pressured. Rakyat we must be alert, keep the 8 demands on the right track, we want to use the indelible ink that's our first demand and the rest follows............

This is likely to be a delaying tactic by Najib so that all the problems of unfair voting are shelved until after GE13. After all, Najib is only concerned with GE13; after that, he might not even be the PM if he doesn't win a 2/3 majority in GE13. So this polls reform panel is a good solution for Najib.