The 'curse' that brought BN down - Malaysiakini.tv

There is a curse in Malaysia, and it's called the delivery system. The MIC president says that the government wants to give, but the man in between, does not want to let it trickle to the ground.

Parti politik Melayu perlu pertahan hak Melayu - Utusan

KUALA LUMPUR 16 April – Parti-parti politik Melayu tidak seharusnya terlalu ghairah berpolitik sehingga mengabaikan kepentingan kaum sendiri.

Ketua Satu Gabungan Penulis Nasional (Gapena), Tan Sri Prof. Emeritus Dr. Ismail Hussein berkata, parti-parti berkenaan perlu bersatu padu bagi menyelamat orang Melayu dan sekali gus negara ini.

Ini kerana, kata beliau, pertubuhan itu mendapati terdapat unsur perkauman yang tebal pada pilihan raya lalu.

“Pada ketika ini, beberapa parti politik Melayu pula nampak ghairah dengan kemenangan yang diperoleh, tetapi kelihatan mereka tidak memegang kuasa secara mutlak, mereka seolah-olah ditunggangi kepentingan yang lain bukannya kepentingan Melayu.

“Jika keadaan ini berlanjutan ia akan memusnahkan bangsa Melayu,” katanya dalam kenyataan yang dikeluarkan kepada Utusan Malaysia di sini hari ini.

Menurut beliau, parti politik Melayu terutama UMNO pula terpaksa menjadi pemimpin nasional, sehingga tidak dapat memberi perhatian kepada masalah bangsa sendiri.

[More at http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2008&dt=0417&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Politik&pg=po_05.htm]

Police double standards - Malaysiakini.tv

The police today soften their earlier stand and had visited Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim's office in Shah Alam to take a statement from him in regards to a probe into the Monday night Black 14 gathering.

Tamil daily Makkal Osai banned - Malaysiakini.tv

The Home Ministry today rejected the renewal of Tamil daily Makkal Osai's publication permit, a move believed to be related to the widespread coverage given to the opposition.

KL police chief accuses PKR of 'twisting facts' on permit application - NST

By : Fadhal A. Ghani

KUALA LUMPUR, Wed:

Kuala Lumpur police Chief Datuk Muhammad Sabtu Osman has accused Parti Keadilan Rakyat of “twisting the facts” about applying for a permit to hold the Monday night rally at the Sultan Sulaiman Club in Kampung baru here.

“They were told to apply for the permit but they never did. The matter was made clear to them during a meeting on Friday,” Muhammad said. “They are twisting the facts that they were not told to apply for a permit.”

PKR’s Monday night rally at Kelab Sultan Sulaiman in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur was to celebrate Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s freedom from the five-year ban that barred him from contesting the polls. Khalid had contended that no permit was needed because it was held inside private grounds owned by the Selangor Government.

Today, the lawyer representing the four PKR leaders - Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, PKR president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, PKR vice-president Azmin Ali and Khalid’s special officer Yahya Sahri - sent a fax to police seeking a meeting at the Selangor Menteri Besar’s office but police only agreed to record Khalid’s statement of at his office in Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Building in Shah Alam.

Two uniformed policemen arrived at Khalid’s office at the 21st floor at 1pm and left 90 minutes later after recording his statement. “We understand that Khalid is busy with his duties,” Muhammad said.

Police, he said, had made it clear to the other three that their statements will be recorded at the Selangor police contingent headquarters.

[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/Frontpage/20080416190048/Article]

Clearer Guide On Succession Plan When The Time Comes, Says Najib - Bernama

PETALING JAYA, April 16 (Bernama) -- A clear guide on the succession plan will be given to Umno members when the time was ripe, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri najib Tun Razak said Wednesday.

At the moment, he said, there was no indication whatsoever on when to implement the transition plan.

"There is no indication of timing yet. When the right time comes, we will give a clearer guide," he said when asked to comment on the pressure from certain quarters on the succession talks.

Najib, who is also Umno deputy president, was speaking at a press conference after heading the party's management committee in a closed-door meeting with Selangor Umno leaders in Subang Jaya.

Asked on the importance for having a definite time frame to set the succession plan in motion, Najib said: "Not for me...I cannot demand, it would be proper if it comes from the president.

"He has the wisdom to decide what is best for the country and I believe that," he said.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=327267]

Perak Government Slams MCA For Belittling Move On Permanent Land Titles - Bernama

IPOH, April 16 (Bernama) -- The Perak government slammed MCA for belittling the state government's move to give permanent land titles to all new villages and planned villages in the state.

Executive council for education, local government, housing and public transportation Nga Kor Ming said instead of belittling the move, MCA should call on state governments under Barisan Nasional to similarly give permanent titles to new and planned villages.

"What has MCA done to help the people in the new and planned villages obtain land titles all these years?" he told reporters after the state executive council meeting here Wednesday.

Nga said the state government had set up a special committee to study the matter to ensure the move was implemented in accordance with the regulations.

Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin announced early this month that more than 60,000 villagers who had been occupying their land since 1948 would be given permanent titles as a gift for voting the DAP-PKR-PAS pact in the March 8 general election.

Nga also urged the Perak BN to decide whether the 349 local council members from the coalition would resign from their post.

"Some of them are willing to resign but others are not. We are confused by this conflicting stand," he said, adding that only MCA councillors had resigned from the post so far.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=327243]

甲首长：无法顺利登入‧部落格屡遭骇客入侵 - Guang Ming Daily

（马六甲）甲州首长拿督斯里莫哈末阿里声称，他较早前创设的“透过眼镜的莫哈末阿里”部落格遭骇客入侵，以致真正的使用者无法顺利登入。

首长今日（週三，16日）为市政厅主办的姐妹城研討会主持开幕后说，他的部落格遭很多人“干扰”，而且经常有骇客入侵，当局已进行数次维修。

他指出，他在部落格里已针对数项事件发表看法，尤其是反对党近日的施政措施，他早已实行。

[From http://www.guangming.com.my/node/25271]

Malaysia deputy leader denies government on brink of collapse - AP

By Sean Yoong, AP

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - Malaysia's deputy prime minister on Wednesday dismissed opposition claims that the government is on the brink of collapse, but urged ruling party members to unite after massive election losses.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said there was no evidence that members of the ruling United Malays National Organization party were about to defect to the opposition.

"We are watching it very closely of course but so far there is no indication of anyone wanting to cross over," he told reporters.

Still, the statement was a tacit acknowledgment of the deep instability in the Malay party, which has governed Malaysia since independence in 1957 as the dominant member of the National Front coalition.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said Monday he has the secret support of at least 30 government lawmakers, enough to bring down the government. Anwar's opposition alliance has 82 seats in the 222-member Parliament and needs 30 more to form a majority of 112.

But Anwar said he does not want to form a government with a wafer-thin majority, and is waiting for more lawmakers to defect before making his move.

Najib said Anwar's claim may be "gamesmanship," but added, "we cannot take things for granted either."

[More at http://news.aol.com/story/_a/malaysia-deputy-leader-denies-government/n20080416085809990014]

Standard Price For LPG Nationwide - Bernama

PUTRAJAYA, April 16 (Bernama) -- The price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in Sabah and Sarawak has been reduced by eight sen to RM1.75 per kg effective Wednesday to standardise the retail price of LPG throughout the country.

Previously, the retail price of LPG was RM1.75 per kg in Peninsular Malaysia and RM1.83 in Sabah and Sarawak.

Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said taxpayers will now have to bear additional RM16.32 million annually for the LPG subsidy.

He said the decision was made at the Cabinet meeting last Tuesday chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as part of moves to counter inflation. The decision was agreed upon by the Cabinet this morning.

"This is the beginning. As much as we can, we would continue to standardise the prices of goods in Sabah and Sarawak with the Peninsular especially the controlled goods," he told reporters here.

[From http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=327233]

慕克力：无须等到党选‧阿都拉职权应移交纳吉 - Guang Ming Daily

（吉打‧亚罗士打）尤崙国会议员拿督慕克力建议首相拿督斯里阿都拉，在12月份之前的中央党选移交职权予副首相拿督斯里纳吉，无须等待巫统党选才行动。

他说，如果高层职位出现竞选，处理不当或会影响政党的团结和稳定，因此在党选前有策略性且顺畅的转移职权，是不会影响党和政府操作的恰当策略。

他指出，前首相敦马哈迪医生在2003年2月3日移交职权给现任首相，当时大马经济、治安及政治稳定，应用一年时间逐步进行权力转移程序，但现在的情况和局势却完全不同，不能再等待多时。

坚信阿兹莎不会成女首相

他透露：“我每次回选区见群眾和党基层时，他们都反映对现有领导层的忧虑，並希望看到首相尽快以顺畅的方式转移职权，以恢復党的元气，让所有工作能更有序的进行，党员也能重新团结整合。”

慕克力今日（週三，16日）於吉北双弄看访一名家境贫寒智障的15岁男孩后，向记者如此表示。

针对公正党顾问拿督斯里安华週一（14日）在“黑色14大集会”中声称公正党主席拿汀斯里旺阿兹莎即將成为大马首任女首相，慕克利说，这个梦想不会成真，这仅是安华的个人梦想。

[More at http://www.guangming.com.my/node/25254]

Malaysia bans Tamil-language daily: manager - AFP

Malaysia has imposed a ban on a leading Tamil-language newspaper critical of the government, its general manager said Wednesday -- a move the opposition called a "crackdown on human rights."

S.M. Periasamy, general manager of the critical Makkal Osai daily, told AFP that he had received a letter from the home ministry -- which is in charge for internal security -- saying the paper's annual permit would not be renewed.

"It means our daily has been banned," he said.

Periasamy said no reasons were given for the government action, adding that he would immediately appeal to Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar.

"From tomorrow, the daily will not hit the streets. If we continue to publish, the directors could be jailed," Periasamy said.

Opposition lawmaker Lim Kit Siang, chairman of the Democratic Action Party, said the newspaper had been banned for giving too much coverage for the opposition since it made stunning gains in March 8 general elections.

[More at http://news.my.msn.com/regional/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1346169]

Malaysian daily, in rare outburst, slams PM party - Reuters

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - A Malaysian newspaper controlled by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's party launched a rare attack on party leaders on Wednesday, branding them as boors and greedy following its worst election showing.

"Enough is enough," the New Straits Times newspaper said in its front-paged editorial that also subtly ticked off former premier Mahathir Mohamad for seeking Abdullah's resignation.

Abdullah, whose United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party heads the governing coalition, should be allowed to carry on as prime minister and party leader, the daily said.

"But all the worms crawling out of the UMNO woodwork -- especially the retired and those with shelf lives past due who have found new breath in their calls for a party coup -- won't let him," it said.

For the first time in 40 years, the opposition denied the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition a two-thirds parliamentary majority and seized control of five of the country's 13 states.

Abdullah has insisted he would not step down and but would seek re-election as UMNO chief at party polls in December.

[More at http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-33067720080416]

PKR leaders to meet police today about club gathering - NST

By : Fadhal A Ghani, Regina Lee and Joseph Sipalan

PETALING JAYA: Four PKR leaders summoned by police to have their statements recorded will meet police today at the Selangor Menteri Besar's office.

The four are party president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, vice-president Azmin Ali, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and his special officer Yahya Sahri.

The four were supposed to have their statements recorded at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters at 3pm yesterday, but their counsel asked for a postponement.

Lawyer Latheefa Koya met the investigation officer at the Dang Wangi police station yesterday afternoon and made arrangements for the meeting to be held today at the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah building in Shah Alam at 10am.

Latheefa said the four could not be present as the notices were issued to them yesterday morning at their homes and that they had prior engagements.

City police chief Datuk Muhammad Sabtu Osman, however, warned that if the four did not attend the meeting today, arrest warrants would be issued.

[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Wednesday/National/2214890/Article/index_html]

Visa nod for Hindu priests, artisans and musicians from India - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The Cabinet has decided to approve and renew visas and permits for Hindu priests, musicians and artisans from India.

Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said the issue was brought to the attention of the Cabinet, which made the decision at its meeting last week.

“The Cabinet agreed to allow and to extend the services, but for special categories only,” he said in a statement here yesterday.

The MIC secretary-general said he would meet with non-governmental organisations and Hindu bodies as soon as possible to discuss the categories as well as the guidelines to be established.

He will also have discussions with Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar and Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal on the implementation of the decision.

Dr Subramaniam said the Cabinet wanted locals to be trained to reduce dependency on foreigners.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/16/nation/20962129&sec=nation]

Some veterans back Abdullah, others want handover - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The Umno Veterans Association has pledged support for Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as party leader and Prime Minister and asked him not to quit.

However, Mubarak, the association of former Barisan Nasional MPs and assemblymen, which has many members who are also Umno Veterans members, said it backed a handover from Abdullah to his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Abdullah here yesterday, Umno Veterans Association chairman Tan Sri Tajuddin Ali said he told the Prime Minister that he “must stand firm and never be shaken by anybody.”

“If anyone moves a vote of no confidence against him, it would be a futile one for sure,” he said.

Tajuddin described the present discourse going on in Umno over its performance in the March 8 general elections as an effort to “cure hiccups with some good medicine.”

On whether Umno members were making this move to ensure Umno’s survival, he said: “We have given Pak Lah full mandate, full confidence and he must stay there. He has got every right to stay there.”

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/16/nation/20962888&sec=nation]

Ongkili: Anwar wants to destabilise Government - The Star

PETALING JAYA: PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been criticised by Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) for continuing to talk about MPs crossing over to Pakatan Rakyat.

PBS deputy president Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said Anwar's actions were only intended to destabilise the Government.

“Why does he continue to engage in destabilising the Government by enticing members to cross floors?

“Not only is this unprincipled but downright dangerous.

“Why doesn’t he let the Government do its job just as Barisan Nasional allows the Opposition state governments to do their work?

“They should cooperate and let the Government run its show,” he said during his visit to the Meteorological Department here yesterday.

Ongkili was asked to comment on Anwar’s statement that Pakatan Rakyat was ready to form the Federal Government and was waiting for the right time and numbers.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/16/nation/20960482&sec=nation]