Sedition reports: Defiant Karpal says PM seeks to divert attention - Malaysiakini.tv

DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh warned Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Najib Abdul Razak of legal action shouldthe pair continue to make 'defamatory remarks' against him.

Raja Petra released on bail - TheStarOnline.tv

Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin was released on bail Friday. He was greeted by his wife and supporters at the Petaling Jaya session court.

Malaysian opposition leader faces sedition probe for allegedly insulting sultan - AP

By Julia Zappei, AP

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - A Malaysian opposition figure faced a police probe for alleged sedition Friday after he was accused of insulting a state sultan.

Karpal Singh, chairman of the Democratic Action Party, sparked an uproar when he claimed earlier this week that Sultan Azlan Shah, the titular head of northern Perak state, acted beyond his authority by interfering with the firing of a religious official.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said late Thursday that police must investigate Karpal for making comments that upset many people and were "seditious and insulting" to the sultan.

Karpal, a prominent lawyer and member of Parliament, denied being disrespectful to Azlan and insisted he would not retract his remarks.

"I stand by what I have said," Karpal told The Associated Press. "What I've said is purely a legal matter."

Karpal claims Azlan had no right to recently reinstate a state religious department chief who was fired by an opposition alliance that wrested control of Perak and four other states in March general elections.

[More at http://news.aol.com/story/_a/malaysian-opposition-leader-faces/n20080509003909990007]

Abdullah Outlines Measures To Ensure Umno Continues To Get Support - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, May 9 (Bernama) -- Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Friday outlined several measures to ensure its supporters continued to support the party and those not supportive returned to its fold.

He stressed among them were for Umno to remain strong and united.

The 62-year-old party should not been seen as divided with internal squabbles going on, he said.

According to him, all the agenda of the Barisan Nasional (BN) and the government helmed by Umno should also be implemented well as promised to the people.

In this matter, he said current issues and hot matters like inflation should be tackled wisely.

The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told this to reporters after chairing a special meeting of Umno's Superme Council, which lasted more than four hours, at Menara Dato' Onn here.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=331929]

PM Yet To Look At Commission's Report On Lingam's Video Clip - Bernama

Kuala Lumpur, May 9 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Friday he will study the report by the Royal Commission on the V.K.Lingam video clip before deciding whether it will be made public or otherwise.

"I haven't seen it yet. Let me look at what is being said. Before looking at it, you (the media) have asked me to make a decision.

"I want to see the contents, what is being said, then we will decide," he told reporters after chairing a special meeting of the Umno Supreme Council at Menara Datuk Onn, here Friday.

The Royal Commission on the V.K. Lingam video clip had submitted its report to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Friday.

When asked whether he had received a copy of the report, Abdullah said he had not seen the report.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=331921]

Raja Petra released on bail - The Star

VIDEO: Raja Petra released on bail

By M. Mageswari

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin who was released on bail Friday said that he did not go on “hunger strike” in prison.

He also vowed to continue updating his Malaysia Today news portal in a day or two.

Raja Petra, 58, said he had refused to eat because "prison food is paid by the rakyat."

“I do not think the rakyat's money is well spent, so I refused to eat any food,” he said after his release on a RM5,000 bail at the court premises here.

The father of five said he had not eaten any food since he was charged in the Sessions Court here on Tuesday for sedition.

“Since I could not have food from outside, I did not eat at all. I want to go back and have breakfast now. I am dehydrated,” said Raja Petra who smiled and immediately drank a bottle of mineral water supplied by his wife Marina Lee Abdullah.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/9/nation/20080509095825&sec=nation]

Nizar won’t comment on what DAP leader said - The Star

IPOH: Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is keeping mum on comments that he wilted and buckled under royal pressure.

Asked about the statement by DAP chairman Karpal Singh that he had bowed down by apologising to Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah over the reinstatement of Perak Religious Department (JAIP) director Datuk Jamry Sury, Nizar said: “No. No. No. No statement from me.”

Speaking to reporters yesterday after a meeting with non-governmental organisations at the state secretariat, Nizar also said that no date had been fixed for the meeting with Sultan Azlan Shah to extend his apology.

Nizar had on April 29 transferred Jamry out of JAIP, supposedly for the latter’s refusal to cooperate with the new state government.

Three days later, Sultan Azlan Shah, through his son Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, ordered Nizar to retract the transfer order immediately.

The Regent of Perak, who is also Perak Malay Custom and Religious Council chairman, told Nizar that matters pertaining to the appointment, placement and transfer of officers and staff who managed Islamic affairs came under the jurisdiction of the Sultan, as the head of Islam in the state.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/9/nation/21195343&sec=nation]

Tee Keat: Drop the ‘ketuanan’ - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The phrase, ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy), should not be brought up any more as it creates the impression that one race is the master while the others are slaves, MCA vice-president Datuk Ong Tee Keat said.

Ong said the phrase had nothing to do with the Federal Constitution and was not something that needed to be said any more considering the special position the Malays already have.

“For other races, ketuanan (superiority) implies the word kehambaan (slavery). The root word of ketuanan is tuan (master), and that does not give it a good meaning.

“In Malaysia, we have lived together for so long and the relationship is not the same as between a master and a slave,” he said, after launching the 6th Golden Bull Award 2008 for Malaysia’s 100 outstanding small-medium enterprises (SMEs).

Ong said Malaysians had to move forward with more respect for each other and deal with more important issues.

When asked if he was afraid of any backlash, Ong said:

“What backlash? I’m speaking the truth.”

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/9/nation/21194900&sec=nation]

Reports lodged against Karpal - The Star

By Kuldeep S. Jessy and Steven Daniel

KUALA LUMPUR: Three police reports have been lodged against Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh for his statements against the Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah, who directed the Perak Government to reinstate state Religious Department director Datuk Jamry Sury.

Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) chairman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing and Malay Unity Action Front chairman Osman Abu Bakar lodged the reports separately yesterday.

Tengku Adnan said the comments made by Karpal Singh were seditious and were an insult to the royalty.

“He had made a strong comment that the Sultan and royalty were subject to the law just like a normal citizen following the amendments to the Federal Constitution in 1993.

“The comments were like a warning to the Sultan of Perak and other Malay Rulers that they should not interfere in state administrative matters,” he said after lodging the report at 5.15pm at the Sentul police station here.

Tengku Adnan said Karpal Singh’s comments could incite anti-King and anti-Rulers sentiments among the people and expected more police reports to be lodged.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/9/nation/21201401&sec=nation]

Anwar threat 'sheer speculation' - NST

KUALA LUMPUR: The purported threat by Parti Keadilan Rakyat's de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to form the next federal government should be regarded as mere speculation, Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin said.

"It is sheer speculation. It is probably part of a psy-war, an initiative on Anwar's part," he said after launching Metaltech Malaysia 2008 in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

He was commenting on Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's remark not to take Anwar's threat lightly.

Muhyiddin said Barisan Nasional component parties in the recent supreme council meeting gave their commitment that their elected representatives would not cross over to Pakatan Rakyat.

[From http://www.nst.com.my/Friday/National/2235468/Article/index_html]

Pas, Pakatan MPs join fray - NST

THE Barisan Nasional has found unlikely allies in some Pas and Parti Keadilan Rakyat MPs who are uncomfortable over DAP chairman Karpal Singh's recent comments about the royalty.

They are understood to have indicated this to DAP MPs, including party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, at a lunch meeting yesterday.

Playing down unhappiness among Pakatan Rakyat members over the Bukit Gelugor MP's statements, the Penang chief minister and Bagan MP said no decision had been taken on the matter.

PAS secretary-general Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar said the party found Karpal's statements "discomforting".

"But we are not going after him for making the statements," he said in the Parliament lobby.

Kamaruddin said the party's stand was clear that it accepted the system of a constitutional monarchy where rulers had a greater role than royalty in other countries.

'Many Malaysians upset with Karpal' - NST

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said yesterday that he had instructed Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor to lodge a police report against DAP chairman Karpal Singh for making allegedly seditious remarks about the Sultan of Perak.

The prime minister and Umno president said Karpal's questioning of Sultan Azlan Shah's prerogative as the state's head of religion had angered many, including non-Malays.

"It was seditious and insulting to the Sultan, that is how it is seen in the eyes of the rakyat," he said after opening the Fifth Malaysian International Halal Showcase here.

Abdullah said it was as if the Bukit Gelugor MP was ignorant of the Sultan's scope of duties.

"Many Malaysians, including those from Umno and also the non-Malays are upset with his statement.

"I have been informed that many others will also be filing complaints with the police."

[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Friday/Frontpage/2235570/Article/index_html]