Malaysiakini's report:
SHAH ALAM: Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) deputy president Hamid Hussain, who allegedly ordered that the Sri Mahakaliaman temple be demolished, has been suspended for a week effective today. - Malaysiakini.com
FULL REPORT: MPAJ councillor suspended! - malaysiakini
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 – More than 50 per cent of Malay voters polled recently felt Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail's controversial remarks about the Chinese community were inappropriate, according to a recent survey by the independent Merdeka Centre.
As expected, a total of 90 per cent Chinese voters and 97 per cent of Indian voters found his "immigrant" remarks inappropriate. (ref. malaysiakini)
Full Article: Majority of Malays find Ahmad Ismail's remarks inappropriate - Malaysiakini.com
Selangor PKR leader S Manikavasagam will not relinquish his post as the party’s state liaison deputy chief, said his political secretary M Shanmugam today.
The Kapar MP, who could not be contacted, had earlier threatened to quit if no stern action was taken against the person responsible for the demolition of a Hindu temple in Ampang. - Malaysiakini.com
Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader P Uthayakumar and two Buddhists are said to be fasting in solidarity with Muslim fellow-detainees at the Kamunting detention centre in Perak
Muslims fast from dawn to dusk during the month of Ramadhan, which began on Sept 2 this year.
This is the fourth week my brother Uthayakumar and the other two detainees have joined their Muslim friends to fast. This is also to protest their detention without trial,” said London-based Hindraf leader P Waythamoorthy. - Malaysiakini.com
Two Molotov cocktails were thrown into the family home of Seputeh member of parliament Teresa Kok in Kuala Lumpur early today.
However, no one was hurt in the incident. Teresa's parents are living in the house at Jalan Ipoh together with her siblings.
The family has lodged a police report over the attack.
Kok, a senior Selangor state exco member, will be holding a press conference this afternoon on the matter. - Malaysiakini.com
Report from Malaysiakini.com:
The Umno supreme council today decided to postpone its party polls and annual general meeting to March next year to allow for a smooth transfer of power from Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to his deputy.
The meeting, along with party elections, was scheduled to be held in December. - MALAYSIAKINI
FULL REPORT: UMNO AGM POSTPONDED- Ref malaysiakini
Malaysiakini's report
A special Umno supreme council meeting will take place tomorrow morning amidst speculations that the party elections could be postponed to next year and the president might step down earlier than planned.
According to Umno information chief Muhammad Muhammad Taib, all members of the supreme council were informed of the meeting today. - malaysiakini.com
Foreign direct investment (FDI) outflow in Malaysia has exceeded inflow for the first time ever, underscoring fears that investors might be losing confidence in the government and its economic policies.
"This is a period when we should be riding the commodity boom. Perhaps this is a sign of a prolonged lack of confidence in the government and its economic policies," economist Dr Lim Teck Ghee told Malaysiakini.
Malaysiakini's report
The inflation rate has jumped to a 27-year high of 8.5 percent in August, driven by the escalating cost of food and fuel, according to official data released today.
"The result was slightly higher than expected but the central Bank Negara would not raise interest rates to ensure growth," said Wan Suhaimi Saidi, an economist with Kenanga Investment Bank. malaysiakini.com
FULL ARTICLE: Inflation at 27 year high! - Malaysiakini
Malaysiakini's report:
The two top positions in Umno must be contested in order to strengthen the party's democratic process, said Umno supreme council and Foreign Minister Dr Rais Yatim.
MCPX
"Umno is in dire need of a strong democratic process and I belong to that group where the (positions) of the president and the deputy president should be challenged," he said.
FULL REPORT: Rais wants contest for UMNO top 2 - Malaysiakini.com report
According to DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, it will be a case of ‘too many cooks spoiling the broth’ if everyone at the Pakatan Rakyat alliance were allowed to speak on their avowed formation of a new government.
"Statements on this matter are best left to Anwar Ibrahim," Lim told Malaysiakini in a phone interview today.
"To be consistent and purposeful in the matter of forming or negotiating a new federal government, we should not allow too many people to make statements." - Malaysiakini.com
It appears that Dr Mahathir Mohamad will not rest until his successor vacates the administrative capital as soon as possible.
Since ties between the duo soured shortly after Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took over the reins in 2003, Mahathir has launched a series of attacks against the prime minister.
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 — Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng last night floated the possibility of Perak acquiring the Kamunting ISA detention camp as a start to ending the tough security law.
Lim, himself an ISA detainee in the 1987 crackdown, said the Pakatan Rakyat states can start a donation drive among Malaysians to help acquire the colonial-era camp in northern Perak.
"The state can acquire land for two reasons; economic development and for public purposes, but we have to study the law first," Lim told the Abolish ISA forum held at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall here.
"The land can then be used for development of low-cost houses," the DAP secretary-general said.
"I am sure Malaysians want to contribute towards the effort to remove the stain of the ISA off
Lim said other Pakatan-ruled states could also help Perak to acquire the detention camp, although he admitted it could be a costly exercise.
FULL ARTICLE: Pakatan wants to take over Kamunting ISA camp - ref. malaysiakini
PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim is back at the Sessions Court today over the sodomy charge levelled against him by a former aide.
This morning Sessions judge SM Komathy Suppiah will be hearing arguments from both the prosecution and the defence counsel on whether the case can be transferred to the High Court.
At the last hearing, the prosecution had sought permission for the matter to be transferred to the High Court. However the defence team objected to the transfer notice as it was signed by attorney- general (AG) Abdul Gani Patail.
Their objection was on the basis that the AG should not have played any role in this case as he was being investigated following a complaint that the had tampered with evidence in Anwar's cases 10 years ago.
Justice Komathy then adjourned the matter to today to give both parties time to research the matter and to submit arguments. - Malaysiakini.com
From Malaysiakini.com:
The Pakatan Rakyat opposition today said it has begun talks over a transition of power from the ruling coalition, after it claimed to have signed up enough defectors to topple the government.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who has refused to meet with opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, however denied that contacts were being made through intermediaries.
"There are no such meetings whatsoever with Anwar's people," he told reporters.
Tian Chua, information chief of Anwar's PKR, said there had been several meetings since the weekend between "our middleperson and Abdullah's middleperson".
"Our intention in holding them is for a transition of power to the opposition but I cannot speak for the other side," he told AFP.
"So far it looks good and we will wait to see what happens."
Meetings had been held
Tian Chua said contact was made initially on the weekend and that more than one meeting had taken place.
Anwar said earlier this month that he had the support of more than 31 lawmakers from the ruling coalition but refused to release the list of names until Abdullah agreed to a meeting - Malaysiakini
FULL ARTICLE: Pakatan negotiating with the government - ref. malaysiakini
Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin will be sent to the Kamunting Detention Centre in Taiping, Perak today to begin his two-year detention under the Internal Security Act, said his lawyers.Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar had signed his detention order last night for the blogger to be held without trial under section 8(1) of the tough security law. Under the Act, the government can renew his detention indefinitely.
Lawyers said the police had informed them this morning that they would be taking Raja Petra to the detention centre. - malaysiakini.com
Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin will be sent to Kamunting Detention Centre in Taiping, Perak today to begin his two-year detention under the Internal Security Act, said his lawyer.
The home minister has signed his detention order last night to be held without trial under section 8 of the tough security law. Under the Act, the government can renew his detention indefinitely.
Tan met with Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman this morning to discuss his position in the state cabinet since he is no longer in BN. He is required to resign his posts, but was reportedly reluctant to do so.
After the meeting, Musa announced that Tan would remain as his deputy for now.
FULL REPORT: SHOCKING REVELATION: PM CAN INTEFERE WITH ACA INVESTIGATIONS! - Malaysiakini
The war of attrition continues over the sudden withdrawal of Sabah Progressive Party (Sapp) from Barisan Nasional on last week as a “shocking revelation” came to light.Its disgruntled ex-deputy president Raymond Tan (left) claimed on Saturday that he had been instrumental in preventing the arrest of party president Yong Teck Lee in June in relation to allegations of corruption.
An English-language daily in Sabah quoted Tan as saying that Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had wanted Yong arrested by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA). This was after Yong spearheaded a no-confidence vote against Abdullah’s leadership.
In defending himself against claims of ingratitude by failing to support the Sapp pullout, Tan revealed that he had intervened on Yong’s behalf in June.
He said he had pleaded with Abdullah not to arrest Yong as it would be a bad move, and had even gone on television with a plea to allow the latter to speak up.Tan, who has since quit the party, claimed he had always been protective of Yong and that this has not changed in spite of their differences of opinion over the Sapp pullout.
In an immediate response, Sapp newly-appointed information chief Chong Pit Fah described this as a “a shocking revelation [...] that he can influence the prime minister to stop ACA action”. - malaysiakini
BUTTERWORTH: PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said that more Barisan Nasional Members of Parliament were keen to cross over to the Pakatan Rakyat.
She said that her husband and Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim were holding discussions with them in Kuala Lumpur.
“Anwar is making extra effort to meet more MPs as some were sent to Taiwan and Hong Kong,” she said.
She said this when asked about Anwar’s absence from his Permatang Pauh constituency yesterday where he was scheduled to give Hari Raya aid.
She also said an official letter had not been sent to the Yang DiPertuan Agong but that would be the next course of action.
Friday, September 19, 2008KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Malaysia's deputy leader abruptly scrapped a trip to the Middle East on Friday amid deepening political uncertainty sparked by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's attempt to seize power.
Also Friday, police released an opposition lawmaker who was detained last week along with two other people under a law allowing indefinite detention. The arrests had intensified the climate of political restlessness in the country.
An aide to Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak denied he was postponing his overseas tour because of politics, saying Najib wants to remain in Malaysia over the next week to tackle his new job as finance minister.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi relinquished his finance ministry portfolio to Najib on Wednesday as part of a protracted power hand-over. Abdullah has promised to step down before 2010 amid escalating demands from his ruling party for his swift retirement.
FULL ARTICLE:
Pakatan Rakyat’s relentless pursuit to take control of the central government from Barisan Nasional could well take the opposition coalition to Istana Negara.
Pakatan had already sought an audience with the constitutional monarch to stake its claim on the federal government by sending an official letter to the king a few days ago, PAS Parit Buntar MP Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa told an anti-ISA forum in Penang last night.
If the king grants an audience, which Pakatan leaders hope will happen soon, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim would then produce the names of parliamentarians backing him to convince the monarch that a change in Putrajaya was inevitable.
Mujahid said the opposition coalition was banking on the king to advise Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to call for an emergency session of Parliament to face the vote of no-confidence which Pakatan intends to table.
Expressing confidence that the king would intervene to thwart a political crisis, Mujahid said the opposition camp was boosted by royal precedents set in its decisive intervention on the appointments of mentris besar for Perak, Perlis and Terengganu after the March general election. - Malaysiakini.com
FULL ARTICLE:Anwar vs. Badawi Part 2: Battle in the Istana - Malaysiakini report
Parliamentarian Teresa Kok, who was released today after being held for seven days under the Internal Security Act, will sue the government for her ‘unlawful arrest and detention’.
At a packed press conference held at the DAP headquarters in Petaling Jaya at 3.30pm, Kok told journalists that she was repeatedly interrogated by her captors on three issues.
This include whether she had mobilised the Bandara Kinrara residents to put up a petition over the azan (morning call to prayer) issue and whether she had said that the allocation for Islamic religious council Jais should be used for other religions.
The third issue was her previous statement opposing to the road signs written in Jawi.
“I denied the first two,” the Seputeh MP, who was released unconditionally at 1pm, told journalists at the DAP headquarters in Petaling Jaya. DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang was among the party leaders who were present at the press conference.
“I see my detention as a ploy by Umno to cover up its embarrassment over the Ahmad Ismail’s racist remarks,” she said in referring to the suspended Umno’s Bukit Bendera division chief. - Malaysiakini.com
FULL ARTICLE:
A fresh legal poser for Anwar Ibrahim emerged when a Penang group calling itself ‘Concern Citizens’ lodged a police report against the opposition leader for creating “instability, disharmony and disorder” over his Sept 16 plan to seize power.
In the police report lodged at 3pm at the Jalan Patani police station in Georgetown today, the de facto PKR leader was alleged to have incited public hatred against the duly-elected Barisan Nasional federal government.Group spokesperson Wan Abidin Zain claimed that Anwar’s relentless pursuit to take Putrajaya from BN’s grasp was “undemocratic, immoral and irresponsible”. - Malaysiakini.com
FULL REPORT:
"I have spoken to the other two MPs and they have denied that the thought had even crossed their minds," he was quoted as saying in Bernama today.
DAP Seputeh MP Teresa Kok was released at 1pm today, after being held under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for a week, said her lawyer Sankara Nair.
At press time, she was at tha Jalan Travers police station, he told Malaysiakini.
She will be holding a press conference at 3.30pm at the DAP headquarters in Petaling Jaya. Malaysiakini.com
Ful article here: Anwar vs. Abdullah - Showdown in the Istana Negara? (ref. MALAYSIAKINI)
Anwar, a former deputy prime minister and finance minister, is due to return to court on Sept 24 where he faces charges of having sodomised an ex-personal aide.
The 61-year old has pleaded not guilty and says the allegations are trumped up by enemies to kill his political comeback.
Meanwhile, the Pakatan - consisting of the DAP, PAS and PKR parties - is due to hold an emergency meeting to discuss its next course of action. If it chooses not to wait until next month, then its next recourse would be to see the King, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin.Under Malaysian law, the king has the right to accept and formalise any new government that can show proof of sufficient mandate in Parliament. He can also order fresh election if the prime minister - either outgoing or incoming - recommends it.
"The toppling of the Barisan Nasional government by getting the allegiance of the majority of the 222 members of parliament to support a Pakatan Rakyat federal government is neither subversion nor organised violence," said DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang in a statement.
Malaysiakini.com
The former prime minister marked another milestone in his astonishing career by publishing a book based on his blog CheDet.com.Aptly named 'Blogging to Unblock' as Dr Mahathir Mohamad only started blogging after he claimed to be blacked out by mainstream media – the book (in English and Bahasa Malaysia) is entirely made up of his postings.
At 83, the former premier continued to display his wit and sharpness in the ensuing press conference in Putrajaya after the book launch.
Commenting on the portfolio swap between Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib Abdul Razak yesterday, Mahathir said that it was about time.
"I think it is an admission that he (Abdullah) cannot manage the Ministry of Finance. But actually there is nothing there because all the time it was being managed by (Finance Minister II) Nor Mohamed Yakcop anyway.
"Only problem is there is a lot of interference with Nor Mohamed (that's what I learnt). He, himself (Abdullah) played no role at all in the management of the finances of the country," said Mahathir. - malaysiakini.com
Malaysian shares plunged nearly 4 percent in Thursday morning trade, with the benchmark Composite Index breaching a key psychological point, pulled by steep falls on Wall Street and domestic political uncertainty.
However, a mini technical recovery helped the index - which dived at the opening bell - to trim losses during afternoon trade.
The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index closed the day at 991.66 points, down 1.13 percent.
Dealers said players were still trying to digest a sudden move by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to hand over his finance portfolio to deputy premier, Najib Abdul Razak, and assuming instead the latter’s defence minister post. - Malaysiakini.com
Malaysiakini report:
MCA and Gerakan leaders should practice what they preach and resign from their ministerial posts to protest the Internal Security Act and its abuse by the Barisan Nasional government, said an opposition leader.
“Until today, I have yet to see them doing it even though at the outset they were very vocal against ISA and the recent crackdown,” said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.
Lim, who is also Penang chief minister, challenged the MCA and Gerakan leaders to prove their sincerity on the issue.
Full article here: Guan Eng: MCA, Gerakan, you dare to quit or not? (ref. malaysiakini)
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today rejected a call by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim for am emergency Parliament session to debate a no-confidence motion.
