At the Dewan Rakyat
Reports by Elizabeth Looi, Zulkifli Abd Rahman and Florence A. Samy
STRONG words were exchanged between Barisan Nasional MPs and their colleagues in the Opposition when the issue of corruption came up during question time.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz was speaking about Malaysia's poor ratings on the Transparency International corruption index when Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang stood up and accused the Government of not doing anything about corruption.
Lim brought up the case involving Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Johari Baharum who is being investigated by the Anti-Corruption Agency.
Johari had earlier denied allegations made in the Internet of a politician receiving money to ensure the freedom of suspects detained under the Emergency Ordinance.
Lim questioned why Nazri, who was in charge of legal affairs, could not say anything about the investigations.
Nazri said he could not reply on behalf of the Attorney-General because that would be seen as trying to usurp his powers.
“Malaysia cannot become a successful and developed country if such people (Lim) are in the House.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/6/22/parliament/18101571&sec=parliament]
Friday, June 22, 2007
Debate takes ugly turn - The Star
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Malaysia In The `Premier League' Of CPI - Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR, June 21 (Bernama) -- Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said although the preception on corruption in this country is considered to be unfavourable, Malaysia is still included in the `premier league' comprising 50 countries with the least corruption.
"When we have reached (the group of) 50, how can we go up further? We are already in the premier league, it is not easy to improve," he said in the Dewan Rakyat when responding to a question from Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (Keadilan-Permatang Pauh) who wanted to know the measures taken by the government in view of the decline in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) for Malaysia prepared by Transparency International compared to countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore.
Malaysia's position dropped five rungs to 33 last year from the 39th spot in 2005.
Nazri said although the CPI was a study based on foreign perception or opinion, which did not reflect the real situation in the country, the negative perception must be accepted as a reminder to all strata of society to work harder to eliminate corruption.
He said the government would redouble efforts to check corruption through various approaches perticularly in terms of the legal aspects, counselling and social education and thus improve Malaysia's position from the CPI perspective.
"Efforts will also be made to improve the government's delivery system for services particularly those involving the economic sector, forging closer cooperation with the GLCs (government-linked companies) and the private sector in the context of the prevention of corrupt practices and strengthening integrity, and to seek the cooperation of the various sectors within and outside the country to assist in changing the preception," said Mohamed Nazri.
[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=268750]
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Doctored photos of Perak DAP leaders in sex acts - The Star
IPOH: Doctored photographs showing several Perak DAP leaders supposedly performing sexual acts have been circulated to the Chinese press.
The pictures, sent to the e-mail addresses of the Chinese newspapers here, have caused an uproar among the leaders, whose faces were superimposed on those of the “participants” of the sex acts.
The doctored photographs targeted Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan, Sitiawan assemblyman Ngeh Koo Ham, Pantai Remis assemblyman Nga Kor Ming and Menglembu assemblyman Keong Meng Sing.
The four told reporters yesterday that the first e-mail containing the faces of Ngeh and Fong reached the China Press office on June 5.
Ngeh, who acted as spokesman, said that over the next two days photographs of other leaders in similar acts were also e-mailed to other Chinese newspapers.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/6/10/nation/17985354&sec=nation]
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Nik Aziz: Muslims should not back parties that are non-Islamic - The Star
By Ian McIntyre
KOTA BARU: Lost souls – that is how PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat describes Malays who vote for non-Islamic parties.
He urged them to return to the true path of Islam so that their religious direction could be corrected.
“Muslims should only vote parties whose political struggle is for Islam.
“Those who vote non-Islamic parties are sesat (lost).
“They should review their faith and throw their support behind Islam,” he said at a dinner he hosted for the media covering the party’s muktamar.
He was asked about the split among the Malay voters.
On PAS rejoining Barisan Nasional, Nik Aziz, who is Kelantan Mentri Besar, revealed that he was once asked to join Umno but rejected the offer.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/6/3/nation/17920488&sec=nation]
