Malaysia Will Be Bankrupt If Government Reduces Oil Prices, Says Najib

TUARAN, Dec 30 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said on Sunday that the country will become bankrupt if the government reduces oil prices, which were skyrocketting in the world market.
"Throughout the world oil prices are rising, it's not possible for the opposition to bring fuel prices down. It simply does not make sense ... they (opposition) are just trying to make fools of the people of Sabah.
"Sabah people if they want they can reject the present Barisan Nasional (BN) government. We have lost here (Sabah) before but won back (in the general election) because the people had faith in the BN," he said when opening the Tamu Besar Cultural Festival here today.
As such, Najib urged Sabahans not to be influenced by empty promises made by the opposition that if they were voted in to form the new government after the upcoming general election, they would reduce fuel prices.
In November, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim attended several political ceramahs (talks) in Sabah and had pledged to reduce fuel prices if the party was returned in the election.
Najib said the opposition was merely using the tactic (promising to reduce fuel prices) as a ploy gain the support of the people.
"Don't come here (Sabah) and try and fool the people. We can use Petronas' profits to reduce fuel prices, but on the condition we (government) have to forego development projects like building schools or universities.
"If all expenditure is going to be for reducing fuel prices, the country will become bankrupt," he said, adding that fuel prices in Malaysia were the lowest in the region.
"We also know that if we don't find new oil reserves by 2011, our oil imports will exceed exports. We are not like Saudi Arabia or Kuwait, our oil production is only around 700,000 barrels annually," he said.
Najib said opposition leaders should convey the truth to the people and not make empty promises.
He said the issue of oil prices needed to be managed wisely to ensure the BN government could carry out various development projects that had already been planned.
"With the oil revenue we have, we can build univerisities, hotels and carry out other development projects, all of which make Malaysia a progressive nation," he said.
Najib also reminded the people to avoid participating in street demonstrations in trying to air their grouses to the government
"Its not our culture. Our culture is consensus building so that everyone benefits. This is the culture the BN has practised all along," he said.
At the function, Najib also announced that the federal government had approved the construction of a new district hospital for Tuaran which would cost some RM120 million.

tunku : when comes election as usual opposition will come up with stupid promises such as to reduce oil price etc because they knows that they will never win.anyway as najib says that malaysia will be bankrupt if the government reduces the price , which were skyrocketting in the world market , that's fine. we don't want our country to go bankrupt but we hope government will not increase the price again as when the petrol price increase all the prices of all goods increases too.

Several KL Roads To Be Closed In View Of New Year Countdown Bash

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 28 (Bernama) -- Several roads in the city will be closed in conjunction with the 2008 New Year Eve countdown celebrations.
People who want to participate in the events, which will take place at eight locations, are also advised to park their vehicles in the designated areas or use public transport.
The eight locations are Dataran Merdeka, KLCC Twin Towers, Bukit Bintang, Merdeka Stadium, Bangsar/Telawi, Sri Hartamas, Mid Valley and KL Sentral.
Kuala Lumpur acting traffic police chief ASP Ng Fook Long told a news conference today the police expect traffic congestion with some 1.5 million vehicles entering the city then.
He said the road closure would be implemented in permanent and temporary phases.
Roads to be totally closed in the vicinity of Dataran Merdeka are the stretches from the Jalan Hishamudin traffic lights, the Jalan Raja traffic lights and Jalan Raja from the Jalan Raja-Jalan Tun Perak intersection.
Jalan Raja will be closed on Sunday for the construction of a stage while the surrounding roads would be closed from 6pm on Monday.
Those going to Dataran Merdeka can park their vehicles at Jalan Sultan Sallehudin (for motorcycles), Padang Merbuk (buses) and the Dayabumi Complex, Central Market, Bukit Aman car park, National Monument, National Mosque and Islamic Arts Museum (cars).
The car park for VIPs is in front of the National History Museum and Jalan Mahkamah Persekutuan.
At the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC), the affected roads are Jalan Persiaran Exxon Mobil to the Jalan Stonor traffic lights, which will be closed from Sunday for the construction of a stage, while roads leading there, namely Jalan P.Ramlee, Jalan Pinang, Jalan Kia Peng and Jalan Stonor, will be closed in stages.
The car park for the KLCC event is the Exxon Mobil car park, areas around KLCC and the KLCC basement car park.
Jalan Telawi 3 Bangsar Baru will be closed from 3pm on Monday to 1am on Tuesday. The roads in the vicinity, such as Jalan Maarof and Jalan Telawi 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, will be kept open but could be closed if necessary.
The MCA will organise a concert at Merdeka Stadium and the roads around the stadium such as Jalan Hang Jebat, Jalan Changkat Stadium and Jalan Stadium would be turned into one-way roads as the situation demanded.
Ng said visitors to Merdeka Stadium can park their vehicles in front of the stadium, at Sekolah Menengah Victoria, Jalan Hang Jebat, Jalan Changkat Stadium, by the Chinese cemetery (Jalan Kerayong), UDA Ocean/Plaza Warisan and Padang Merbuk.
Several roads in Bukit Bintang will also be closed, from the Jalan Imbi-Jalan Sultan Ismail traffic lights to the Jalan Sultan Ismail/Jalan Bukit Bintang traffic lights, from midnight on Sunday for the construction of a stage.
The roads will be reopened at 5am on Tuesday.
Visitors can park their vehicles at Imbi Plaza, Low Yat Plaza, Sungai Wang Plaza, BB Plaza, the Pavilion, Berjaya Times Square, Lot 10 and a private car parks around Jalan Imbi and Jalan Bukit Bintang.
Outer ring roads like the Seremban Highway heading towards Jalan Tun Razak, the Kampung Pandan roundabout to Jalan Tun Razak (towards Bukit Bintang), the Jalan Kuching exit road from Mahameru towards the Putra World Trade Centre and the Bukit Petaling/Jalan Dewan Bahasa exit road towards the Jalan Loke Yew/Hang Tuah traffic lights will also be closed.
The Jalan Kuching exit road from Mahameru, the "Y" exit road from both directions going up towards Jalan Sultan Ismail and the exit road to the Dato Onn roundabout from all directions towards Jalan Raja will be closed if necessary.
Ng advised motorists to come early and plan their journey along alternative roads and avoid the roads that would be closed.
He said that police from other branches such as narcotics and crime will also mount their operations on New Year's eve. He advised parents to monitor the movement of their children who normally ride bicycles in groups on New Year's eve.

tunku : let us celebrate the new year eve moderately,please. we don't want any death etc on new year eve. instead of having party ,let us all pray no matter what religion we are from, to our God that next year will bring more peace ,prosper and harmony to our nation and to all of us.there's no point of over in celebrating the new year, we came from God and to Him we shall return.the world is going haywire, with wars, global warming ,fightings, killings etc.what will be the future of our next generation?

Pakistan's Bhutto assassinated in gun, bomb attack

just before she was shot






RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated on Thursday in a gun and bomb attack as she left an election rally in the city of Rawalpindi.
State media and her party confirmed her death.
"She has been martyred," said party official Rehman Malik.
Bhutto, 54, died in hospital in Rawalpindi. Ary-One Television said she had been shot in the head.
Police said a suicide bomber fired shots at Bhutto as she was leaving the rally venue in a park before blowing himself up.

"The man first fired at Bhutto's vehicle. She ducked and then he blew himself up," said police officer Mohammad Shahid.
Police said 16 people had been killed in the blast, which occurred during campaigning for a January 8 national election. It is unclear if the poll will now go ahead.
"It is the act of those who want to disintegrate Pakistan because she was a symbol of unity. They have finished the Bhutto family. They are enemies of Pakistan," senior Bhutto party official Farzana Raja told Reuters.
Bhutto's father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was Pakistan's first popularly elected prime minister. He was executed in 1979 after being deposed in a military coup.
A Reuters witness at the scene of the attack said he had heard two shots moments before the blast. Another Reuters witness saw bodies and a mutilated human head strewn on a road outside the park where she held her rally.
NO WORD FROM MUSHARRAF
A spokesman for President Pervez Musharraf said he had to confirm the news before commenting.
President George W. Bush was informed of Bhutto's death at his Texas ranch, where he was spending the year-end holiday.
Bush had no immediate reaction. A U.S. State Department official said: "The attack shows that there are still those in Pakistan trying to undermine reconciliation and democratic development in Pakistan."
In France, Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner issued a statement firmly condemning what he called "this odious act".
"He pays homage to the memory of Ms Bhutto, an eminent figure in Pakistani political life," the ministry statement said.
"He reaffirms our country's commitment to Pakistan's stability and its democracy, which must be at the centre of attention of the entire international community."
A suicide bomber killed nearly 150 people in an attack on Bhutto on October 19 as she paraded through the southern city of Karachi on her return from eight years in self-imposed exile.
Islamist militants were blamed for that attack but Bhutto had said she was prepared to face the danger to help the country.
In her speech on Thursday, Bhutto spoke of the risks she faced.
"I put my life in danger and came here because I feel this country is in danger. People are worried. We will bring the country out of this crisis," Bhutto told the rally.
TEARS, SHOTS
People cried and hugged each other outside the hospital where she died. Some shouted anti-Musharraf slogans.
Another former prime minister and opposition leader, Nawaz Sharif, spoke to the crowd.
"My heart is bleeding and I'm as grieved as you are," Sharif said.
Residents of Karachi, Bhutto's home town, said they had heard gun shots after news of her death spread, apparently from her enraged supporters.
On international financial markets, gold and government bonds rose while U.S. stock futures fell on Thursday after news of Bhutto's assassination.
Analysts say the shock of the Bhutto news triggered a classic capital flight to assets which are considered as safe havens in times of geopolitical stress.
Bhutto became the first female prime minister in the Muslim world when she was elected in 1988 at the age of 35. She was deposed in 1990, re-elected in 1993, and ousted again in 1996 amid charges of corruption and mismanagement.
She said the charges were politically motivated but in 1999 chose to stay in exile rather than face them.
Bhutto's family is no stranger to violence.
Both of her brothers died in mysterious circumstances and she had said al Qaeda assassins tried to kill her several times in the 1990s.
Intelligence reports have said al Qaeda, the Taliban and Pakistani jihadi groups have sent suicide bombers after her.

tunku : Al Fatihah. It was expected though after the first attack couple of month ago. i strongly believe it was not done by musharraf as he's not that stupid to do such act. it's the militant group.

Samy Vellu To Hit The Road To Solve Problems Faced By Indians

MUAR, Dec 26 (Bernama) -- MIC president Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu said Wednesday that he will traverse the country in his effort to solve problems faced by the Indian community.
"I am going to go from place to place and shoot down any problems the Indians may be facing," he told reporters after opening the newly-refurbished Pagoh rest area on the North-South Expressway (southbound) near here today.
Samy Vellu, who is also Works Minister, said he needed do this to counter baseless allegations made by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), a non- registered organisation, about the party.
He said the MIC had identified those who had taken part in the illegal assembly organised by Hindraf in the federal capital recently and that these people would be provided with the appropriate counselling.
"We will clarify matters with them. We have already done so in Penang, Kulim and Teluk Intan and will go to all the places where the Hindraf followers are," he said, adding that yesterday such a session was held in Mantin with a group which sent some 250 people to the Hindraf rally.
The group, he said, claimed that they were dissatisfied with the government for not keeping a promise made 36 years ago to resolve their housing problems in Mak Mandin, Penang.
Samy Vellu said he would approach Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon to try and resolve the matter.
"When they get their houses, their problem is solved," he said.
On remarks by Public Service Department director-general Tan Sri Ismail Adam that Indians were not keen on jobs in the public sector, Samy Vellu said that this was not correct as his feedback showed thousands of Indians had applied to join the civil service last year.
"I will be raising this up with the Cabinet," he said.

tunku : where were you samy all these while ????????? you just woke up ? or you know that you days are numbered. samy suddenly became superman after hibernating for so long, flying here and there to help people.bravo mr samy.

Call For History Subject To Be Made Compulsory In Schools

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 26 (Bernama) -- The Federation of Peninsular Malaysia Malay Students (GPMS) Wednesday called on the government to make History a compulsory subject that students must pass in the national examinations.
Its deputy president Syed Anuar Syed Mohamad said the History subject was important to promote patriotism and understanding of the nation's history among school students.
"The participation of youths in the recent illegal street demonstrations here shows their lack of understanding of the nation's struggle for independence," he said.
Syed Anuar said the subject, introduced to students from Form One to Form Three only, must be extended to those in Form Four up to Form Six to give them more opportunities to do research on what they had learned in class.
He said GPMS also proposed that the Higher Education Ministry set a condition that applicants to the higher learning institutions must pass History, besides making it a compulsoty subject for undergraduates.

tunku : i totally agree with gpms called.every citizen of this country should know by heart the history of this country.there are Malaysians who actually don't know the history of Malaysia and they don't deserve to be Malaysian. they always degrade their own country where they are breathing and earning, so ungrateful lot.History subject should be made compulsory.

Few non-Malays applying, says PSD

NON-Malays are just not interested in government jobs, judging by statistics from the Public Services Department (PSD), Berita Harian reports.
Of the 486,802 applications to work in the civil service last year, Chinese and Indians only accounted for 1.78% and 2.5% respectively.
PSD director-general Tan Sri Ismail Adam said the situation was difficult to change although the PSD had been trying to reduce the gap between the races in the civil service.
He said the Government had never condoned sympathy or discrimination when hiring new staff, including those at the Diplomatic and Administration level.
“The main aspect that is given attention is based on merit or academic qualifications, not race. There is no truth if certain parties assume that the race factor is given consideration by us.”
The report said the issue was raised with Ismail because it was brought up by Hindraf which held a public demonstration on Nov 25.

tunku : for government jobs, not everyone keen to work as the salary is low if compared to private sector. to say there is discrimination is a total lie.i suggest hindraf fill up the application forms and submit it to PSD rather than accusing the government unnecessarily.

WHERE ARE THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES?

SOLDIERING ON ... This sad-looking tent, set up by the roadside in Lenga near Muar, is home to eight people.
Musa Abdul, 45, (right) an ex-soldier, and his family have been forced to stay in the small tent set up in an unhygienic environment because his hut, which is itself, dilapidated was flooded.
To make ends meet Musa, a rubber tapper, has to look for empty cans, boxes and scrap metal. The rubber estate is also flooded and he can't go tapping.
Staying with him in the tent are his wife Umi Sia Abdullah (left) and six children. Seen in the picture are two of his children Alim Musa, six (second right) and Nur Musa, four.

tunku: it's so sad that there are still people who are without house. I just wonder what is the johor government doing? PLS HELP HIM, give him proper shelter.

Police Willing To Consider Issuing Permit For Gathering

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 (Bernama) -- Police are willing to reconsider the application by Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI) for a permit to hold a gathering here on January 5.
The gathering which was to be held at Dataran Merdeka here tonight was cancelled by the organisers.
"We will review the application and issue a permit if we are certain it will not disturb the peace," Dang Wangi police chief ACP Zulkarnain Abd Rahman told Bernama.
Checks by Bernama found the square to be what it usually is on a Saturday night without signs of any illegal gathering taking place.
The GMI had wanted to hold the gathering to call for the abolishment of the Internal Security Act (ISA).

tunku : why don't these organizers apply permit to do the demonstration in stadiums? as police has said before if they apply to do it in a stadium, police will give them permit, so please do so. Don't go to the streets , it creates traffic jams, it disrupt businesses etc.you will still receive the publicity if you do it in a stadium, call all the local and foreign medias.

ACA Interviews Dr Mahathir Over Controversial Video Clip

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 21 (Bernama) -- Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad revealed that he was interviewed by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) yesterday over the video clip of images of a person purported to be a lawyer speaking on the telephone on the appointment of judges.
"The ACA interviewed me and they asked me questions and I answered them," he told reporters after the launch of a book, "The Third World and International Law", at the Perdana Leadership Foundation office here today.
The book was written by Tunku Sofiah Jewa. Also present were Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali and Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.
Dr Mahathir said he was interviewed by three ACA officers for an hour at the foundation's office .
He said he was also willing to testify if the law required him to do so.
However, Dr Mahathir said: "I don't know whether Lingam said it or not. I did not see the tape. What I saw was on TV3, that's all. So I don't know about it."
He pointed that a Royal Commission had been set up to look into the allegations.
"It is up to the commission to see whether there is truth or not in the allegations," he said.
The government has appointed former Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Haidar Mohamed Noor as chairman of the six-member Royal Commission of Enquiry to ascertain the authenticity of the video clip and the identity of the speaker, the person he was speaking to over the phone in the clip and the persons mentioned in the conversation.
When asked on the government's decision to invoke the Internal Security Act (ISA) on the group behind the activities which threatened public order and national security, Dr Mahathir said: "I used the ISA too.
"It is up to the government and the people to decide, as you know we are a democratic country. If you elect people who are supportive of the ISA, naturally the ISA will be there.
"If you don't like the ISA, you have to elect people who don't like the ISA. The choice is yours."
According to Dr Mahathir, he was elected by the fact that he supported the ISA.
"I was elected by the people, so I thought the people approved the ISA, that's why I implemented the ISA," he said.
On claims of ethnic cleansing here, Dr Mahathir said he read a lot about ethnic cleansing in Bosnia.
"I have yet to see a lot of Indians being killed here. Malays killing Indians and all that....I think that's a bit absurd."
On street demonstrations, he said the people were entitled to raise (issues) but there were other ways of doing it.
"Not unless they are prevented from making their presentation in other ways.
"If they don't have a choice, of course they may resort to demonstrations. But if they have a choice, they have their own leaders to explain their problems. I think that should be their first choice," he said.
On the newly launched book, Dr Mahathir said "This book, to me, is very important".
"Most of the knowledge we have about international law and the Third World comes from the writings of Europeans and they are naturally bias."
He said he had not read about many of the things mentioned in the book.
"That is why it's interesting, and I think a lot of Asians, Africans and American Indians need to do research and write books from their own viewpoint for a better balance."

HINDRAF — Bane upon the Nation

By Dr.Chandra Muzaffar

No single episode in Malaysian society in recent years has had such a negative impact upon Indo-Malay ties as the actions and allegations of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf). Its reckless, scurrilous allegations have hurt and angered a lot of Malaysians in all walks of life.
It is utterly ludicrous to accuse the UMNO-led government of embarking upon the "ethnic cleansing" of the Indian community. Is there an organized, systematic attempt on the part of the State to eliminate the Indian minority which is what ethnic cleansing is all about? Do Hindraf leaders even understand the term and what it implies?
By the same token, how can one talk of the marginalization of the entire Indian community? While it is true that 2.9 percent of Indian households live below the poverty-line — the national average is 5.7 percent — aren't Indians well represented in the middle and upper echelons of society? They constitute 11.5 percent of the professional and managerial class, which is above the percentage of the Indian population in the country that stands at 8 percent.
For a community which does not command a majority in any parliamentary or state constituency in the country, Indians are not only members of parliament and state assemblies but also occupy places in the federal government and in most state executive councils (state cabinets). They are executive council members even in those states where the Indian component is less than 5 percent of the population. Would a government that is bent on marginalizing and cleansing Indians accord such a significant role — in relation to its population percentage — to the community in national and state politics?

If the government pursued a goal as diabolical as ethnic cleansing, would the principal language of the Indian Malaysian community, namely Tamil, be a medium of instruction in the government managed national primary school system? Would Tamil be a language medium in the public broadcasting system? Would Deepavali, the main religious festival of Indian Hindus, be observed as a national holiday? Would a community that has been completely marginalized and is threatened with ethnic cleansing be able to practise its religion and its culture in relative peace and harmony? If Hindus are facing annihilation, how does one explain the glaring fact that in the state of Selangor, on a per capita basis, there are more Hindu temples than mosques and suraus put together? The total Hindu-Indian population in the state is about one quarter of the total Malay-Muslim population.
Even on the demolition of a Hindu temple in Shah Alam on 15 November 2007 — the one issue that triggered a massive emotional backlash against the government — Hindraf leaders and their supporters have been less than honest. It was not widely made known within the community that the temple was on private land and that the developer had offered cash assistance to the temple committee to build a new temple on an alternative site. The temple was not the only place of worship that was brought down; a surau was also demolished. In most instances, when temples or other places of worship are forced to yield to development projects, alternative sites are made available.
As structures, temples in particular are somewhat problematic since a number have been constructed without obtaining prior approval from relevant local authorities. Because they are illegal structures, the authorities have been forced to act. This is a problem which the Malaysian government had sought to address more than two decades ago. A committee was established under the aegis of the Prime Minister's office in 1980 comprising government officials and NGO leaders (I was a member of that committee) to formulate guidelines on the construction of places of worship. Unfortunately, these guidelines have been breached on numerous occasions by both representatives of the religious community concerned and local authority officials.
Instead of explaining the complex sensitivities involved in the whole question of the construction and demolition of temples, Hindraf appears to have exaggerated and distorted the real issues at stake. Together with other issues such as Hindu-Muslim legal tussles over conversion and custody, the deaths in police custody of some Indian prisoners and the Kampong Medan incident of 2001, demolitions have provided grist to the Hindraf mill. They have served to fuel baseless allegations about the "ethnic cleansing" of the community.
At this juncture, we should ask why Hindraf leaders and certain politicians have chosen to dramatize specific –sometimes legitimate — grievances via wild allegations about ethnic cleansing and marginalization? Dramatizing the alleged "oppression and suppression of a people" through exaggerated claims is a technique which unscrupulous individuals and groups resort to in order to win popular sympathy. They also serve to smear and shame one's target — in this case the UMNO-led government and perhaps indirectly the MIC leadership.
What this suggests is that there may also be a political motive. Of the three communities in Peninsular Malaysia, it is the Indian community which has, in the course of the last three decades, provided near unanimous electoral support to the Barisan Nasional. With the twelfth General Election just around the corner, certain politicians linked directly or indirectly to Hindraf are perhaps seeking to weaken the BN's electoral strength by exploiting genuine Indian grievances against the government.
Whatever the motives, the genuine grievances of the community should be addressed in a sincere and rational manner. Some of them I have alluded to. Others are linked to the ethnic approach to nation-building, the camouflage of the underclass in Malaysian society, the limited scope for democratic protest, the role of Indian political leadership and the long-term debilitating consequences of a plantation culture upon a segment of the community. To resolve these and other challenges, there has to be a truly national effort that goes beyond ethnic perspectives.
How can one expect the nation to commit itself to such a mission when Hindraf's communal pronouncements and postures have poisoned the atmosphere?
Dr. Chandra Muzaffar is a Malaysian political scientist.

tunku : most of the hindraf leaders are from dap and pkr, so you know what is their motive? they know that they will lose in the general election so they are trying to do something in a gangster manner.these people are real cowards ( another name for coward is parkunan ). go and win the heart of voters and proof yourself good,then leave it to the ballot boxes.

11 Seditious, Smut Blogs, Websites Blocked, Dewan Negara Told

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 19 (Bernama) -- Eleven blogs and websites with seditious and lewd contents have been blocked from being accessed by Internet surfers, the Dewan Negara was told Wednesday.
Besides blocking the websites and blogs, the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry has also drawn up long-term programmes in collaboration with CyberSecurity Malaysia to boost awareness on cyber security among computer buffs.
To begin with, the www.esecurity.org.my website was launched recently, Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Dr Mohamed Ruddin Abdul Ghani said.
Replying to Senator Datuk Armani Mahiruddin, he said it was not difficult to block websites and blogs than e-mails featuring advertisements and pornography.
"So far there is no specific mechanism to monitor e-mails as there are millions of e-mails being sent daily," he said.
Mohamed Ruddin also said the ministry has not done any study to gauge to what extent information technology has an impact on the moral of teenagers.

tunku : i wonder which blogs is that?

When will they set up the Royal Commission Of Inquiry for Anwar's Video?

Lawyer videoclip: Commission to call witnesses in Jan

KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Commission of Inquiry into the controversial 'judge-brokering' videoclip will begin calling witnesses from Jan 14-25 to help in its investigations.
Commission chairman Tan Sri Haidar Mohd Noor said a list of witnesses would be proposed by deputy heads of prosecution from the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Datuk Azmi Ariffin and Datuk Nordin Hassan.
“The DPPs will assist the Commission in carrying out its tasks and have been given till the end of the month to come up with a list of witnesses.
“The list will then be scrutinised by the Commission in the first week of January; we will use our discretion in choosing the relevant witnesses to subpoena,” Haidar said after meeting with the four other commissioners at the Jalan Duta Court Complex here Tuesday.
The other members of the commission are former Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Steve Shim Lip Kiong, former Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Mahadev Shankar, former Solicitor General Puan Sri Zaitun Zawiyah Puteh and Suhakam commissioner Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Khoo Kay Kim.
The videoclip, first made public in September, shows a lawyer in a telephone conversation purportedly brokering the appointment of judges.
The Commission was formed to ascertain the authenticity of the videoclip, identify the speaker, the person he was speaking to and the persons mentioned in the conversation, ascertain the truth of the content of the conversation, determine whether any person identified or mentioned in the clip has committed any misbehaviour, and to recommend appropriate action against them.
Haidar said the Commission had also agreed in principle that inquiries would be heard in open court but cautioned that there may be instances where there would be closed-door inquiries if certain witnesses requested it.
He said March 11 was the last day for the Commission to hand in its report, although there was a provision to ask for an extension.
The Commission could also issue warrants of arrest to witnesses who do not turn up after being subpoenaed, he added.

Hindraf tearing apart community even more

AT LAST somebody has spoken up. I agree with V.K. Chin that there is no unity among the Indians and the Indian-based organisations in the country (“Indian groups should join hands for community” – The Star, Dec 14).
A hundred and one organisations are fighting for 101 causes in 101 directions!
And on top of that, each has its own agenda, but never the interest of the community in mind.
I am sure that not all Indians support the Hindraf cause.
We saw the demonstrators carrying pictures of Mahatma Gandhi. Did he at any time teach the people to betray their own country?
I have one question to the leaders of Hindraf.
Did any of their family members take part in the rallies they organised?
Are any of their family members or relatives facing charges in court for illegal assembly?
Those who are facing the consequences today are innocent people, innocent people who were misused by Hindraf leaders.
We all have grievances and complaints.
They need to be addressed in a proper and orderly manner.
The Government is ever ready to listen to us.
It is very painful to see that the learned lawyers are the ones who divert the attention of the community towards committing a very irresponsible act.
Let the incident of Hindraf be a lesson to us.
Let us all put our hands and minds together for the betterment of the Indian community.
For me, peace and harmony is precious.
I am a proud Malaysian - born a Malaysian, living as a Malaysian and shall die a Malaysian!

K. RAJESWARY,
Kuala Lumpur.

tunku : me too proud to be Malaysian - born a Malaysian, living as a Malaysian,shall die a Malaysia and will die for MALAYSIA.

Indian groups should join hands for community
ALL Indian groups must work together to help in uplifting the economic, welfare and social status of the community. This is the only way to ensure that Indians can enjoy all the benefits under the nation’s development programmes.
They will never be able to achieve this objective if there is no unity among them. They cannot operate in isolation and they must team up to do the job.
It is important therefore that all organisations, including political parties and religious, youth and welfare bodies join hands. Without this solidarity, they will be mere voices in the wilderness.
Every association must work purely in the interests of the community, and there must be no hidden agenda. So far, the Malaysian Indian Congress, being a key component member of the Barisan Nasional, has been the one representing Indians in the Government.
Since it is a political party, it has been carrying the flag of the Indian community for the past 50 years. In fact, it is the oldest political party of the ruling coalition.
Being the junior of the Big Three in Barisan, the MIC has actually performed above expectations in exacting more benefits from the Government for the Indians.
Much of this credit must go to its president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, who has become such a political force since he took charge of the party some 30 years ago. He is really the face of the Indian community.
Of course there are some Samy-come-lately who feel that he is not doing enough, and trying to belittle his contributions to the welfare of the community. They even tried to topple him.
But these detractors should not waste their time on such negative pursuits. Being in the political mainstream, the MIC is the proper forum to channel Indian grievances and complaints to the Government for action.
The other Indian-based organisations can only act as pressure groups since they represent a very small percentage of the Indian community, unlike the MIC.
Naturally, Samy cannot promise every Indian a million ringgit, but he can assure them of education, economic and social opportunities. He can be more effective if the other Indian non-governmental organisations can work with his party or whoever heads the MIC in the years ahead.
In other words, the party cannot be sidelined, or to use a more common term these days, be marginalised. If any new group is keen to promote Indian interests, they must do it together with the MIC.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Umno will never waver from this position. No one can hope to have a meeting with Pak Lah about the future of Indians without the presence of Samy Vellu or the MIC’s representatives.
After all, it would appear that the MIC and Indian NGOs have the common objective of looking after the community’s interests. So what is wrong with working together, unless they have their own political agenda?

That's my business: Chong

Kota Kinabalu: Former Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat said Saturday it is his prerogative on who to choose as his lawyer in his suit over the Goddess of the Sea (Mazu) statue project.
"It appears Umno wants to have a finger in every pieÉas if I have to consult them in whatever I do.
"When I build the Mazu statue, they want to get involved. Now that I engage Ansari Abdullah (opposition Sabah Keadilan Liaison Committee Chairman) to be my lawyer, they also want to get involved. I am not using their money to pay for the lawyer's fees," he said.
Chong was contacted for his response to Umno Youth National Secretary Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan's call to the Barisan Nasional (BN) Disciplinary Committee to demand an explanation from Chong for engaging Ansari as his counsel.
On Wednesday, the Tanjung Kapor Assemblyman filed an appeal in the High Court, here, against the Kudat Town Board's (KTB) withdrawal of an earlier approval to construct the multi-million ringgit 100-ft Mazu statue in Kudat.
Chong, in his capacity as Kudat Thean Hou Charitable Foundation (Foundation) Chairman, named the KTB and the Central Town and Country Planning Board in the Local Government and Housing Ministry as the first and second respondents, respectively.
"Are they trying to teach me what to do? Who is Abdul Rahman to tell me who to engage?" said Chong, who was also a former Chief Minister.
Although having stepped down as BN component Liberal Democratic Party President, Chong remains as a party Advisor.
Chong said regardless of whether Ansari is an opposition politician, the fact is that the latter is a very senior lawyer in the State.
As to Abdul Rahman's labelling of Ansari as a person who has been running down the Government at every opportunity, Chong claimed "many people are running down the Government."
On Abdul Rahman's call for Chong to be subjected to disciplinary action (if found to be breaching party ethics, he said Abdul Rahman "is more than welcome if he has any standing at all."

tunku : i think sabah umno is too much in this, it's Chong kah kiat's right who ever he wants as his lawyer, there is no such think in party constitution that you can't engage a lawyer from the opposition.i guess rahman dahlan should just shut his mouth up.

Don’t spread rumours via SMS, warns IGP

KUALA LUMPUR: Those spreading rumours via SMS on racial clashes can be detained under the Internal Security Act.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan, who issued the warning, said police were aware of unscrupulous persons spreading rumours via SMS to incite racial clashes.
He said there were such messages being circulated predicting racial clashes in Kampung Baru.
“We have our intelligence and we are prepared,” he said after attending a seminar on Neighbourhood Watch at the National Institute of Public Administration in Bukit Kiara Saturday.
On the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), Musa said more of its members had been arrested but he could not reveal the number yet.
He said the DAP had the right to go to court to seek the release of the Hindraf members being held under the ISA.
“It is their right and they can try to do it,” he added.

tunku : by all means, put them under ISA as these culprits are the most dangerous species.

PM Asks AG To Consider Dropping Attempted Murder Charges Against 31

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has asked Attorney-General (AG) Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail to consider the appeals by 31 people who took part in an illegal demonstration in Batu Caves last month, to drop the attempted murder charges against them.
Abdullah, who is also Internal Security Minister, said he had asked the AG to decide on the matter as soon as possible.
He said he sympathised with the 31 charged and believed that they were misled by the group which was behind the illegal assemblies in the federal capital and in Batu Caves on Nov 25.
He said the 31 detained had also rejected the extremist group and promised that they would not take part in any activities organised by the group in future.
"The AG had informed me about this as representation had been made to him.
"This shows that many people had been misled by the group. I pity them...so I told the AG to please consider the representation and decide on the matter as quickly as possible," he said after chairing the Umno Supreme Council meeting here Saturday.
Yesterday, MIC president and Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu conveyed the appeals made by parents of the 31 Indians detained without bail for charges of attempted murder, to the AG. A policeman was injured in the illegal demonstration.
Samy Vellu said the parents also requested MIC's help to secure the release of their loved ones.
Thirteen Indian-based non-governmental organisations which met the prime minister yesterday over problems faced by the Indian community, also appealed for the attempted murder charges against the 31 to be dropped.
On the arrest of the five extremists which was deemed wrong under the law by DAP chairman Karpal Singh, Abdullah said this was incorrect.
"The law allows the minister to act under Section 1 of the Act (ISA) after he is satisfied with the investigations carried out," he said.

tunku : this is umno leader which hindraf accused of murdering hindus and demolishing their temples who is asking the AG to consider dropping the attemted murder charged on the Group 31.the fact is that people were fooled by hindraf.

Najib: Look at Gitmo first

KUALA LUMPUR: The United States should cover its own backyard before demanding that other countries give their political prisoners a fair trial, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.
“Can they give a fair trial to the detainees in Guantanamo Bay? We’ll only respond if they do so,” the Deputy Prime Minister told a press conference after chairing the 36th Malaysia-Indonesia General Border Committee Meeting (Malindo GBC) yesterday.
He was asked to comment on the US State Department’s demand that Malaysia give Internal Security Act detainees a fair trial.
On Thursday, five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders were arrested under the ISA with two-year detention orders and taken to the Kamunting detention centre.
Asked if another Hindraf leader, P. Waythamoorthy, 41, would be arrested under the ISA, Najib replied: “I don’t know, I am not responsible. Can you address it to the police?”
He said major sections of the people had demanded the Government take sterner action much earlier.
“We have been very patient, we have been quite tolerant. We wanted to see how things develop and give people a chance to conform with the requirements of the law,” he said, adding that enough warning and advice had been given.
“We’ve said that nobody’s above the law, so when the ISA was used, it should not have been a surprise to anyone,” he said.
Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin said the decision to use the ISA showed the Government’s determination to safeguard public order and security.
“The people have been waiting for such an action to deal with the case, and after it was taken they are generally in support of it,” he told reporters after launching the ministry’s Quality Day celebration yesterday.
Zainuddin said was ready to counter negative reports about Malaysia.
He said all divisions in his ministry would explain the Government’s actions to the local and foreign media.
Zainuddin, however, believed that negative reports by the western media would not damage the country’s image and turn away tourists and investors as the country had its competitive edge.
“In fact, since the country’s independence, the western media has never supported us.
“Whatever policies we have implemented, such as the New Economic Policy, have been negatively reported by the western media, but still, we have been successful,” he said. – Bernama

tunku : the devil will never look at themselves.good reply from najib.at least our ISA detainees are not tortured etc.they are free to do anything in there, some even get their degree while in there, family members can visit them.US always talk rubbish.

A coward struggle from London

Struggle will go on, says Hindraf leader

KUALA LUMPUR: The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) will continue its peaceful struggle through prayers advocating the rights of Malaysian Indians, its chairman P. Waythamoorthy said.
Waythamoorthy, contacted by telephone in London Friday, said the group was undeterred by the arrest of its leaders.
“Hindraf will continue to defend the five leaders detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) and the other 31 Indians arrested for the peaceful walk in the city.
“We have further lost confidence in the Government after it detained our top officials without trial,” said Waythamoorthy, who will plan the group’s next course of action from London. He is currently there to garner international support for Hindraf.
He urged supporters to remain calm and pray for the release of those detained and others arrested.
On Thursday, P. Uthayakumar, M. Manoharan, R. Kengadharan, V. Ganabatirau and K. Vasantha Kumar were arrested under the ISA. They have been detained at the Kamunting detention centre.
Their detention order was signed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also Internal Security Minister.
“Arresting our leaders does not mean we are without a leadership. I, and a few others, will continue to lead our non-violent struggle for Indian rights in Malaysia,” said Waythamoorthy.
“I will continue to issue statements from London and keep the Indians informed through the other leaders in Malaysia.” He stressed that Hindraf would remain apolitical and did not want any political party to hijack the movement’s struggle.

tunku : those hindraf supporters may be damn stupid to choose a coward as their chairman. he's enjoying life in london, while they have to do all the dirty jobs down here.if you are brave enough, come back and struggle not struggling from london.P.Waythamoorthy COWARD.

Soft drinks may cause cell damage

PENANG: The Government has been urged to phase out the use of sodium benzoate as a preservative in soft drinks because research has shown that it can cause cell damage.
Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) president S.M. Mohd Idris said a recent research done by Professor Peter Piper from Sheffield University in England suggested that this common preservative could switch off vital parts of the DNA, causing serious cell damage in humans.
“Once the cell is damaged, it might eventually lead to degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease,” he told a press conference here yesterday.
In Malaysia, the use of benzoic acid or sodium benzoate is allowed under the Food Regulation 1985.
The amount of benzoic acid allowed ranges from 2,000ppm (parts per million) in flavoured drink concentrate to 800ppm in soft drinks for direct consumption.
Mohd Idris also urged the Government to curb the marketing of soft drinks and other high-calorie beverages, as these drinks are capable of causing a variety of disease such as cancer, osteoporosis, obesity and tooth decay.
When contacted, Health Ministry parlimentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said the ministry was concerned over the matter.
“We will look into the research from various aspects like how it was conducted, what research methods were adapted and how many items were tested,” he said.
He said the ministry would also consult various international organisations including the World Health Organisation on the matter.

tunku : it also cause cancer,gain weight etc, so don't drink it.

How Hindraf can help itself

I WOULD like to make some suggestions on the issues that Hindraf should strongly consider and carry out but in a responsible approach – legally, through the proper channels and peacefully.
First, identify all Hindu temples situated on private land. Assist the temple committee or whoever is running the temple to acquire the land by seeking the help of the local authority or the state government.
Next, Hindraf should lobby the Government to grant some sort of authority to the Malaysian Hindu Sangam to enable MHS to come up with rules and regulations with regard to the building and management of all Hindu temples in the country.
This will ensure temples are built in accordance with the law and managed professionally.
Only then will we not find huts, shacks or trees being turned into places of worship.
Hindraf should join forces with all Hindu religious bodies and experts to educate the Hindus on the fundamentals and true meaning of the religion.
Another issue Hindraf could help resolve is the problems faced by Indian youths.
Advise the thousands who attend its gatherings and assemblies to stay in school, acquire knowledge and learn skills to upgrade their lives for the benefit of all, especially their families.
Now, this surely is a more positive agenda.
Encourage them to leave gangsterism and hooliganism, not to overly indulge in Tamil movies and mega serials, and more importantly to shift their thinking that the only way to earn a living is by force, brutality and violence.
There are almost four million foreigners earning a decent living and enriching their families back home, and I wonder why our youths complain of the non-existence of opportunities for them as citizens of this country.
Next, Hindraf should get into the system and change the Malaysian Indian leadership through the democratic process if they are unhappy with the present leaders.
If and when they become leaders, make the changes. Keep in mind that leaders in Malaysia should not represent one particular race or religion but each and every citizen of Malaysia.
Please drop this hostile approach.
Abide by the law. Rallies can’t work in Malaysia.

RAJRAJEN,
Klang, Selangor.

tunku : wish more people are like rajrajen, if you strive hard no matter where you will succeed.

At Last, ISA for Hindraf leaders.

Five Hindraf leaders detained under ISA

PETALING JAYA: Police said they have detained all five leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) under Section 8 (1) of the Internal Security Act.
The five are P. Uthayakumar, M. Manoharan, R. Kenghadharan, V. Ganabatirau and Vasantha Kumar. They were picked up at various locations in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Seremban.
They will be detained for two years.
Yesterday, was released on police bail after having been arrested on Tuesday for a second sedition charge.
Uthayakumar was among three Hindraf leaders who were charged at the Klang Sessions Court on Nov 23 for allegedly making speeches to incite hatred at a gathering in Batang Berjuntai, Selangor, on Nov 16.

tunku : GOOD JOB and well done, majority of malaysian support this move but there are others too which needed to put under ISA, one of them is wayta moorthy.

'Silent majority has spoken' ??

PETALING JAYA: Damai Malaysia, an umbrella body comprising 395 non-governmental organisations representing nearly 1.5 million members, handed over a memorandum to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
The memorandum criticised recent illegal street demonstrations, which Damai said had caused problems and created tension among Malaysia's multiracial population.
Upon receiving the memorandum, Abdullah said that illegal street demonstrations were not part of our culture or way of life.
"We have progressed because we have been able to maintain democratic institutions which respect the law, while the people have enjoyed the fruits of peace and political stability.
"If freedom cannot be respected and used in a responsible manner, the people themselves will be at the losing end.
"As can be seen from today's memorandum, the people who remained silent have now stood up to make their stand.
"They want peace to be maintained," he told reporters after receiving the memorandum.
Damai Malaysia representatives also included those from 75 Chinese-based and 20 Indian groups and associations.
In the joint-declaration read by Damai chairman Mohd Saiful Adil Mohd Daud, members expressed their disgust at street demonstrations, and the use of religious and racial issues to create hatred among Malaysians.
They also condemned individuals and groups who used lies and slander against the country and asked for foreign intervention into Malaysia's internal affairs, he said.
Damai advisor and Bukit Bintang MCA chief Senator Datuk Dr Lee Chong Meng said the Bersih and Hindraf illegal demonstrations last month had caused tourists to avoid Malaysia.
Cheras Hindu Youth Organisation vice-president S. Ariivazhagan expressed disappointment that Hindraf had used religion to protest.

tunku : i agree that majority criticised recent illegal street demonstrations and the silent majority has spoken.i believe that BN gaining more support, thanks for the stupidity of hindraf which made the silent majority wakes up. i just wonder what this silent majority thinks of pak lah's leadership.they should voice out whether they are with him or not, i guess many have doubts on it.the the one who opposed the bn government, please go all out to vote them out, don't go to the streets but to the ballot boxes.

Demos By Umno Youth And Hindraf Have Nothing In Common

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Immigration Denies Anwar Held

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 11 (Bernama) -- The Immigration Department today denied that it detained Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the KL International Airport upon his return from overseas this morning.
Immigration Director of Enforcement Datuk Ishak Mohamed said Anwar had used the normal immigration counter at the airport.
"He was not detained at the counter. He was allowed to leave the airport," he said when contacted by Bernama.
Anwar, in a media statement this morning, said he was held by an immigration officer who informed him that his name appeared on the "suspects list" but without any elaboration.
The PKR advisor claimed that he was detained temporarily at the airport before his passport was returned to him and he was allowed to leave for home.

tunku : so this moron is a big time liar as he always been.he is so desperate for publicity.what to expect from an ex prisoner moron.

Uthayakumar nabbed, freed on bail, nabbed again,

KUALA LUMPUR: In a dramatic sequence of events, Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) legal adviser P. Uthayakumar was arrested twice over alleged seditious offences Tuesday.
At 9.20am, policemen picked him up outside a shopping mall in Bangsar and brought him to a Sessions Court at noon to face a charge of publishing a seditious letter in a website.
Eight hours later, after he posted bail of RM50,000 for allegedly posting the Nov 15 letter on the Police Watch website, he was arrested again at the lobby of the Jalan Duta court complex.
By 7pm, his lawyer M. Manoharan said Uthayakumar had been taken to the Pudu prison in connection with another sedition case.
In the proceedings earlier in the day, Uthayakumar pleaded not guilty to a charge of publishing the alleged letter, which contained the titles:
>Commonwealth Ethnic Indians Peace Loving Subjects In Malaysia Persecuted By Government-Backed Islamic Extremist Violent Armed Terrorist Who Launched A Pre Dawn Violent Armed Attack and Destroyed The Kg Jawa Mariaman Hindu Temple At 4.00am This Morning (15.11.2007)
> Appeal For UK To Move Emergency UN Resolution Condemning “Ethnic Cleansing” In Malaysia, and
> Appeal To Refer Malaysia To The World Court and International Criminal Court For Crimes Against Its Own Ethnic Minority Indians
The letter was addressed to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Uthayakumar was said to have committed the offence at Menara Mutiara Bangsar between Nov 15 and Dec 8.
Judge Sabariah Othman ruled it was a bailable offence and considered his similar case in Klang as well as the current situation.
Attorney General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail objected to the bail, saying it was in public interest.
He said the accused had repeated the offence.
Gani added: “He is a lawyer and knew the meaning of the words used in the letter. He purposefully did it in a website which is accessible to everyone. “
Gani, who led seven prosecutors, said there was another police report against Uthayakumar for sedition. “We will be charging this man again.”
Manoharan asked the court to reject the charge, claiming it was groundless because the letter did not carry his client’s signature.
Sabariah Othman ruled that the absence of a signature did not make the charge defective and rejected the preliminary objection by the defence.
She set five days from Jan 7 for trial.
Uthayakumar was among three Hindraf leaders who were charged at the Klang Sessions Court on Nov 23 for allegedly making speeches to incite hatred at a gathering in Batang Berjuntai, Selangor, on Nov 16.
On Monday, the Shah Alam High Court ruled that the Sessions Court judge had made a mistake when, on Nov 26, she granted the three lawyers a discharge not amounting to an acquittal.
The High Court, which set aside the lower court’s decision, ordered them to be present at the Sessions Court today for the charge to be reread to them.
In another development, CECIL FUNG reports that a 45-year-old man was the latest to be charged for alleged participation in the unlawful Hindraf rally last month.
M. Selvanathan was charged with being a member of an unlawful assembly under Section 143 of the Penal Code.
According to the charge, he had allegedly “displayed criminal force against policemen who were carrying out their official duties.”
He was accused of committing the offence between 6.30am and 9am on Nov 25 at an area near the MIDF Building in Jalan Tun Razak and the Jalan Ampang intersection.
He was given an alternative charge, under Section 27(8) of the Police Act 1967, which accused him of being involved in an illegal public assembly.
Selvanathan was also charged with continuing in an illegal assembly despite having the knowledge that the assembly had been ordered to disperse.
He claimed trial to all charges.
Magistrate Ahmad Solihin Abd Wahid granted bail at RM3,000, which was posted. He fixed Feb 11 for a mention of the case to allow Selvanathan to appoint a lawyer.

tunku : this man is very dangerous for our peace country, he should be in a cage.

Malaysia detains Anwar, arrests Indian lawyer

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia on Tuesday detained de facto opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and arrested a human rights lawyer and about a dozen opposition leaders, amid growing complaints the government was harassing opposition politicians.
Immigration officials detained former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim at the country's main airport upon returning from Istanbul via Singapore before being cleared for entry, his lawyer William Leong said.
"It's just a clear harassment," Anwar told Reuters. "It's a desperate attempt to harass and intimidate the public and deflect the attention from major issues of corruption among UMNO leaders and the judiciary."
UMNO is the United Malays National Organisation, Malaysia's main ruling party.
In the incident that lasted about half an hour, Anwar said he was stopped because his name was on immigration's "suspects list" although he was not informed why.
Anwar said he was allowed to leave after a senior immigration officer came out to speak to him, but his name remains on the list, which could bar him from leaving Malaysia.
"No grounds were given," Anwar's lawyer Leong said of the detention. "There appears to have been some note which put the official on alert to stop him from coming in and to detain him until he obtained approval from the superior."
Police on Tuesday arrested human rights lawyer P. Uthayakumar, who helped organise 10,000 ethnic Indians to protest last month against racial discrimination.
The 46-year-old Uthayakumar would be charged later on Tuesday for sedition for statements he made in a book, his aide said without elaborating.
In the Malaysian capital on Tuesday, dozens of policemen blocked the main entrance to the parliament building to foil an opposition-led rally demanding free and fair elections.
Riot police, armed with batons and shields and backed by a water cannon, took positions close to the parliament while vehicles passing through were checked.
Police arrested about a dozen opposition leaders, including the leader of Anwar's Keadilan (Justice) party, Tian Chua, after the car he was travelling in broke through a police cordon and headed toward parliament to hand over a memo demanding reforms in the electoral process.
Tian was arrested after he defied police orders to leave the car. Police then handcuffed and carried him out of the car before bundling him into a waiting police patrol car.

tunku : when i read the news heading i was so happy but later arrgghhhh only for an hour ? anyway, serve you right anwar.

Malaysia Gets Tough

The government brings legal actions against organizers of recent protests.
Following through on a threat, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has decided to get tough. Authorities Monday filed three legal actions against organizers of recent protests and threw one lawyer in jail overnight for displaying protest signs on private property Saturday.
The charges were condemned by human rights organizations and the opposition. Some opposition figures and lawyers also were arrested and kept in jail overnight Sunday for attempting to organize another protest. Earlier, eight people, including two opposition party leaders, were arrested for taking part in a banned Nov. 10 rally in Kuala Lumpur. Later Monday, police issued a restraining order to stop the electoral reform group Bersih from gathering at Malaysia's Dewan Rakyat, or Parliament, to hand in a protest memorandum asking for a constitutional amendment on electoral reform.
Abdullah Badawi added another threat Monday in a speech to business leaders in which he said he would sacrifice public freedoms for the sake of national stability.
“If the choice is between public safety and public freedoms, I do not hesitate to say here that public safety will always win,” he said. “I will not sacrifice my sense of accountability to the greater public, especially in the face of police intelligence about planned fighting or other violent intent," Abdullah Badawi said. "We must never ever take our peace for granted."
The rising tension makes it difficult to predict when Abdullah Badawi will call national elections, which under Malaysia’s parliamentary system can come sometime next year, largely at his discretion. The government is believed to want to call elections shortly after the first of the year. However, Fazil Mohamad Som, an analyst with the World Islamic Economic Forum, told AFP: "Given the rallies, racial issues and the expected fuel price hikes, general elections appear unlikely until after the middle of next year."
This week’s flash point was an attempt by lawyers and others to march from downtown Kuala Lumpur to the Bar Council building. They were denied a police permit and ignored a police order to disperse. The crowd of about 50 people included lawyers and activists. Court hearings Monday were thronged by supporters of the jailed individuals and opposition leaders who condemned the actions.
A Kuala Lumpur-based analyst, who asked that his name not be used, said that “strong rumors” are circulating of a wider crackdown, with the use of the Internal Security Act, a tough colonial-era law put into effect by the British government in an effort to thwart a Communist rebellion in the 1960s.
“Those who think they will be arrested, I am made to understand, have prepared themselves and their families,” the analyst told Asia Sentinel. “While it is not a certainty that the government will invoke the ISA, the fact that we have even come to this point alters the positive dimensions of this administration."
As evidence of the toughening government stance, last Friday government officials told Malaysia’s newspapers not to “sensationalize” arrests of ethnic Indians following an unprecedented rally against racial discrimination.
However, several high-ranking Malaysian government officials at an official dinner in Hong Kong last Thursday said that while Abdullah Badawi might threaten use of the ISA, it was doubtful that he would actually condone its use.
Another analyst minimized the government’s action, saying that “There have been arrests, but only two from the (Nov. 10) rally last month and another few lawyers from yesterday’s march. Not a real crackdown. Until they do a sweep like Operation Lalang and detain everybody under the ISA, that’s not a crackdown.”
Operation Lalang, ordered by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in October 1987, resulted in the jailing of 116 people and the closure of two newspapers. Opposition leaders and social activists were jailed for as long as two years.
The prime minister came into office in 2003 publicly opposed to the use of the ISA, which allows for preventive detention and denial of a lawyer to any person deemed a threat to public security. The detention order can be renewed indefinitely.
But he has been beset by protest demonstrations, and he faces the possibility of more this month, with de facto opposition leader Anwar Ibraham and the clean government organization Bersih threatening marches in all 13 of Malaysia’s state capitals.
Two weeks ago, the Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) organized demonstrations in Kuala Lumpur to protest the treatment of Malaysia’s 2 million ethnic Indians. The demonstration turned violent and one policeman was injured. Some 31 ethnic Indians now have been charged with sedition and attempted murder over the incident. Hindraf has subsequently been alleged by the Inspector General of Police to be receiving information and armed support and training from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which the group denies.
Abdullah Badawi’s increasing problem is a public perception that he is detached from his duties and in thrall to his son-in-law, Kairy Jamaluddin, who is resented for allegedly having gained inordinate power. Originally regarded as a reformer when he followed Mahathir to power, Abdullah Badawi said he would wipe out corruption “without fear or favor” and vowed to rid the country of its long-running racial and religious polarization between the ethnic Malay majority, and Chinese and Indian minorities. In recent months, however, members of the United Malays National Organisation, the dominant ethnic political party, have made increasingly inflammatory statements about the right of Malays to dominate the political process.
Abdullah Badawi himself is widely regarded as decent and honest. An October poll by the New Straits Times newspaper, which is owned by UMNO, put his popularity rating at 76 percent. The question, however, is not the perception among rank-and-file voters as much as it is inside UMNO itself. Despite the crowds that opposition parties are drawing, it appears almost impossible that any ruling coalition parties could be defeated. Part of his problem, analysts say, is that he has had to modify his anti-corruption rhetoric to keep the party’s old guard in line.
Indeed, an UMNO official, Mohd Ali Rustam, demanded Sunday that the authorities invoke the ISA or withdraw the citizenship of some of those arrested, calling them traitors to their country.

tunku : first,i don't support street protest coz it does more harm than good. Bersih and Hindraf street protest are just to create tense before the election.hence, the government should take stern action on them especially with hindraf where they tried to create racial tense which is very dangerous.but i believe pak lah won't use ISA coz he has no guts and he only think of winning the election and to maintain his 2004 popularity.anything that harm the nation and it people doesn't concern him but if the person is harmful to his family, they will be no second thought, he put the person straight away under ISA, like he did to Buhary Syed Abu Tahir, a Sri Lankan national with Malaysian permanent residency, sat with Kamaluddin on the board of Scomi-linked company Kaspadu.we need a real pm as our leader not a 'lembik' person like pak lah

Ignore SMS on gathering in Kg Baru, says Selangor MB

KUALA LUMPUR: The Indian community has been advised not to heed an SMS that claimed Hindraf would hold a gathering in Kg Baru, said Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo.
He said the messages were sent out with the intention of causing anger among the Malays and create racial tension.
“The Indian community should also ignore the messages. I hope the police will take action against those who are spreading false information,” he told reporters after attending the opening of the heritage building of the Sultan Suleiman Club by the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah yesterday.
“Hindraf should not provoke the Malays in Kg Baru, which was where many Malays struggled for the country’s independence and where they protected themselves during the May 13 incident in 1969.”

tunku : there is sms asking indians to gather and also sms asking malays to gather at kg. baru.the police should get the one who spreading it, it's very dangerous as anything can happen even 5-10 people gather at the scene.to those out there who are trying their best to create tension,please stop it.we don't want any racial tense in our country.

Hindraf An Extremist Group - Khir

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 8 (Bernama) -- Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo described the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) as an extremist group which could destabilise the country's multi-racial population.
"I hope the Indians are not influenced by Hindraf," he said in a "live" interview on RTM1 at Angkasapuri tonight.
He said action should be taken against Hindraf to protect the country's peace adding the Selangor government had provided educational and job opportunities to all races, the Indians included.
On the destruction of the temple at Kampung Rimba Jaya, Shah Alam he said it had to be done as it was sitting on private land owned by a developer.
"We pulled it down on Nov 15, not three days before Deepavali, that too after getting a court order. Other than the temple, a surau and some squatter houses were also pulled down," said Khir.
He said the government had decided to give RM40,000 compensation for the temple relocation and was agreed by the original owner until Hindraf members took over.
"They (Hindraf) twisted the facts and incited the Indians to break the law sending ten enforcement officers to hospital," he said.
Khir said Selangor has a population of 2.5 million Muslims with 358 mosques and 1,000 suraus, 1.3 million Chinese with 1,015 Buddhist temples and 640,000 Indians with 810 Hindu temples.
"The distribution of Hindu temples are more than that for the other religions. This shows that there is no discrimination and if they say we are not fair then it is a big lie," he added.

India Distances Itself From Hindraf Issue

NEW DELHI, Dec 8 (Bernama) -- India, which has been courted by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) to shore up support for its cause against alleged discrimination in Malaysia, has somewhat distanced itself from the issue after the Malaysian group was said to have links with terrorist organisations.

Yesterday, India's External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, when asked by reporters on an announcement by the Malaysian police that Hindraf was suspected to having links with foreign terrorist organisations, said every government had its own way to fight terrorism.

"Terrorists have no nationality. In respect of any terrorist connection, all countries are entitled to take any appropriate action according to their laws and international conventions," he said.

The senior minister's remarks came after the Malaysian government said Hindraf was suspected to have links with the Sri Lanka-based Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a group that has been fighting for a separate homeland since 1983.

The Times of India, a leading newspaper here, suggested that the Indian government had decided to stay clear of the matter by headlining its story, "INDIA WASHES ITS HANDS OFF MALAYSIAN PROTEST".

India has been taking a cautious stand on the Hindraf issue, especially after Indian lawmakers and opposition political parties like the Hindu hard-line Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) forced the Indian government to intervene following a Hindraf-led demonstration in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 25.

Well-placed sources said the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, whose powerful ally is Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, was not so keen to pursue the matter further as it would jeopardise the healthy bilateral relations between both Malaysia and India.

Earlier this week, Hindraf leader P. Wytha Moorthy arrived in New Delhi in the hope of meeting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Mukherjee to canvass support for his organisation's cause but to no avail.

"There were too many formalities to meet the people in the government like the prime minister and other ministers," Waytha said before leaving the Indian capital.

Anwar , Hindraf and LTTE ?

Anwar Explains Why He Is In India

NEW DELHI, Dec 7 (Bernama) -- Former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he had been invited to attend some conferences on democracy in India and that he had only raised genuine grievances faced by minority groups in Malaysia during his current lectures.
"These conferences were planned five months ago, I gave my commitment and I attended," he told Bernama when asked what made him come to India at this time.
"The lectures were about the state of democracy and I gave my honest answers."
When asked about demands from certain ethnic Indians in Malaysia, he claimed that the Malaysian government's response had been unwise.
Anwar arrived in New Delhi yesterday to present a special lecture entitled "India and Worldwide Movement for Democracy: What India Can Learn From Others and What It Has To Give".
Last Saturday he attended the Islamic Peace Conference in Mumbai.
Earlier, Hindraf leader P.Wayatha Moorthy met Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani here but failed to meet Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The Malaysian lawyer also delivered a lecture on human rights at a law symposium.

Thorough Probe On Alleged Hindraf Terror Links, Says A-G

SHAH ALAM, Dec 7 (Bernama) -- Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said today a thorough investigation would have to be conducted before any legal action could be taken against the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) which is suspected to have the support and help of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) of Sri Lanka.
He said the Attorney-General's Chambers would have to gather all the facts and complete information before taking any action because the alleged involvement of the LTTE was most serious.

"I don't think we would file any charge against them (Hindraf) anytime soon because we have to get the facts, get everything there and decide according to the facts. We don't simply go and charge them.
"This is not a game, it is a very serious matter and I definitely take this very seriously. I really believe that an investigation has got to be done. It has to be done and it is definitely a concern," he told reporters when approached outside the High Court here.
Abdul Gani was commenting on a statement by Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan today that there was evidence of Hindraf having strived to garner the support and help of the terrorist group in Sri Lanka.
Abdul Gani said the LTTE had been declared a terrorist organisation by countries such as the United States, Britain, Australia, India and several nations in Europe.
He also said that a United Nations (UN) resolution signed by Malaysia also emphasised that all member countries of the UN were not permitted to support or have any link with terrorist groups.
Abdul Gani said his linking Hindraf to the LTTE in his argument at the Sessions Court here on Wednesday was based on a police report.

"Somebody lodged a police report that there is ground that these people have been going out to (establish) contact with this LTTE.
"I mentioned in court that there is a police report and that is our concern. If there is none, I wouldn't be worried. Shouldn't I be worried? I think everybody in this world is worried if there is any connection with terrorist groups," he said.
Abdul Gani had raised the matter in court when asking the court not to grant bail to 31 people suspected to be Hindraf supporters who had taken part in an illegal assembly, with one of the grounds being that they were probably linked to the LTTE.
The court did not record Abdul Gani's statement after strong opposition from the defence lawyers.

tunku : well if you really sees behind the scene, anwar and hindraf are cooperating with each other and i believe anwar was the master mind of the 25th November street demonstration.the police should really probe into this matter as it is very serious.anwar is cooperating with hindraf and hindraf cooperating with Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) of Sri Lanka a terrorist group.