Friday, October 14, 2016

Anwar's suit to challenge NSC Act thrown out

A High Court threw out a lawsuit by PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to stop the implementation of the National Security Council (NSC) Act 2016 after ruling that it had no jurisdiction to decide over the issue. 

On Friday, High Court (Appellate and Special Powers) judge Justice Hanipah Farikullah dismissed the civil action after hearing a preliminary objection by Senior Federal Counsel Datuk Amarjeet Singh that the court had no jurisdiction to decide the matter.

Anwar's lead counsel N. Surendran told the media that the judge accepted the preliminary objection that the legal challenge should be filed at the Federal Court by way of obtaining leave from the apex court.

Surendran said Justice Hanipah did not accept their submissions that the High Court had jurisdiction under Article 4(1) of the Federal Constitution to decide the lawsuit on inconsistency of the NSC Act with various provisions of the Federal Constitution.

Anwar’s co-counsel Latheefa Koya said the judge ruled that leave should be obtained from the Federal Court as it involved challenge on the power of the Parliament to make law under Article 4(3) of the Federal Constitution.

Speaking to reporters after the decision was delivered in chambers, SFC Amarjeet said he had argued that only the Federal Court had the jurisdiction on the issue relating to legislative competence of the Parliament to make law.

"We say it is on the issue of (legislative) competency but they said it is on inconsistency (of the NSC Act) with the provisions of the Federal Constitution," added SFC Amarjeet.

Surendran said they would appeal to the Court of Appeal against the court decision, adding that Anwar was ordered to pay RM3,000 in costs to the defendants.

On Aug 2, Anwar filed his originating summons and named the Government and the National Security Council as defendants.

Anwar had challenged the Act, which took effect on Aug 1, on grounds that it was unconstitutional.
He sought to stop the operation of the NSC Act in his bid to restore the power of the King on Royal Assent.

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Gerakan and MCA against casino in Penang

Gerakan: One casino enough Malaysia does not need more than one casino, according to Gerakan. Party secretary-general Liang Teck Meng told reporters on Thursday that "generating revenue" should not be made an excuse to build a casino.

 He was referring to the proposal by the newly-minted Penang Front Party (PFP) to build a casino in Penang. "If that was the case, then every state would build a casino. Imagine if it starts there (Penang), then Malacca, Johor, and all will do it.

"That's not how it should be, one in Genting Highlands is enough for the country," he said. Liang, however, added that unless the government found the proposed casino was "truly useful for the country and economy", it should not pursue it. Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had shot down the suggestion for a casino, saying it was uncalled for.  

MCA: Idea of building a casino in Penang 'immoral' The proposed casino in Penang will turn into a breeding ground for vice activities, says the MCA Religious Harmony Bureau.

Its secretary Chris Daniel Wong said in a statement Thursday that the idea of building a casino by the Penang Front Party was “uncalled for” and “immoral”. “Malaysia is not a gambling den and neither does our culture promote such activities,” he said.

Wong added that social problems like prostitution and borrowing from loan sharks would come with gambling, destroying the institution of family and society. “Therefore, such a proposal has no place in the heart of Malaysia.

 “Malaysia does not need such an unwanted tourism attraction that has no benefit in the long term,” he said. Wong said he believed the Tourism and Culture Ministry, and the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry would also condemn the proposal.

Monday, October 10, 2016

Muhyiddin's statement like counting chickens before they hatch

Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak has criticised Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's statement that the Opposition will be able to take over Johor if it wins just 10 more seats in the next general election.

"This is called counting your chickens before they hatch. First of all, Muhyiddin needs to convince the voters that he has something better to offer them compared to the current government.

"At the moment, it appears like Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) is merely set up to oust Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, just like PKR, a party to free Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from jail," Salleh said in a blog post on Sunday.

Muhyiddin was quoted as saying that the Opposition only needs 10 more state seats to replace Barisan Nasional as the Johor state government in the next general election.

Johor has 56 state seats, of which Barisan has 37 with 19 held by the Opposition.

Salleh, who is also Umno Treasurer, said Pakatan Harapan had not even decided whether to admit Pribumi into the Opposition coalition or whether the party was merely going to enter into an electoral pact on seat distribution.

"This must first be established because if they cannot agree even before the election, how are they going to agree after the election in the event they do win Johor?

Salleh also noted that former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had said that the Opposition does not need to reveal its candidate for prime minister just yet and neither does it need to set up a shadow cabinet.

"Pakatan Harapan wants Anwar as the prime minister. Does this mean Mahathir does not want Anwar? In that case whom does Mahathir want?" Salleh asked.

"Mahathir said in London recently that he wants Muhyiddin as the Opposition candidate for prime minister and today he says no need to decide yet. Is this because PPBM and Pakatan Harapan do not disagree on the candidate."

Salleh said it was a known fact that PAS could not agree to both Anwar and Muhyiddin.

"So who will PAS choose as the prime minister?" he asked.

Salleh said that these were more important issues to resolve instead of counting the number of seats the Opposition was going to win.

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Salleh Said: Opposition has failed in Sabah

The resignations of several Sabah PKR and DAP leaders shows that the Opposition has failed to present itself as a viable alternative in the state, said Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak.

The Communications and Multimedia Minister said the resignations also indicated that there was something wrong within PKR and DAP, and that the leaders were there to secure political positions.

"It clearly shows the failure of PKR and DAP to become an alternative in Sabah because if they are doing a good job, the leaders will not jump to another party.

"I am confident that the people of Sabah can judge the intention of these leaders who are chasing after political positions and clearly uninterested in giving the best services to the rakyat," he told reporters after launching the Asia Pacific Satellite Communications Council 2016 on Tuesday.

Salleh said only Barisan Nasional offered political stability in the state and would continue with its development agenda.

On Sunday, Klias assemblyman Datuk Lajim Ukin announced his departure from PKR, and is expected to join a local-based party headed by former Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal.
PKR's Moyog assemblyman Terrence Siambun followed suit, about a week after the party's sole federal lawmaker in Sabah, Darrell Leiking, announced his resignation.

Seven Sabah DAP leaders also resigned on Sunday, including Likas assemblyman Junz Wong who quit his secretary position in the state chapter.