Raja Petra's Malaysia Today website hacked and altered - NST

KUALA LUMPUR, Wed:

If you click to open the Malaysia Today website just now, you will be greeted by a smiling Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad dressed in army fatigues, an obvious picture alteration to the Mel Gibson movie poster “We Were Soldiers.”

The site, edited and owned by the controversial Raja Petra Kamarudin, was hacked since early this morning by a hacker simply known as Gasakdotnet.

The hack appeared to be a political statement alluding to Dr Mahathir’s “battle” for his country when he was prime minister from 1981 to 2003, which also includes the tagline "My Countrymen, My Fellow Malaysian."

In the tradition of movie promotions, the hacked poster is drumming up support for a “movie now showing nationwide”, another statement alluding to Dr Mahathir’s series of lectures and meetings criticising the Prime Minister's policies and management style.

Malaysia Today is no stranger to hacks, which included earlier attacks that prevented surfers from viewing the site.

[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/Frontpage/20080702195713/Article/index_html]

Malaysians Perceive Corruption To Be Declining - Survey - Bernama

PUTRAJAYA, July 2 (Bernama) -- A local survey has revealed that Malaysians now perceive corruption in the country to be declining in contrast to findings by Transparency International.

The survey, which was done by the Statistics Department and funded by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU), showed that from the total 10 points of the corruption perception index, Malaysia scored 6.79 points compared to 5.10 points in Transparency International's index. The lower the figure the worse the situation.

According to the National Integrity Perception Index Research Report 2007, which was launched, here today, the people's perception on corruption alleviation was expected to be better this year and in the future.

Malaysian Integrity Institute President, Datuk Dr Mohd Tap Salleh when presenting the findings, said this was due to the government's development policy and increase in transparency, including efforts to make the Anti- Corruption Agency (ACA) a fully independent commission.

Speaking to reporters after the launching, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan, however, said that both findings should not be compared as they involved different sets of respondents.

"This is the first time such the survey was conducted. It's a good start and will be the benchmark to improve national integrity," he said.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=343500]

Malaysia's Anwar vows to seize power - AP

By Vijay Joshi

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has vowed to seize power soon, stepping up his campaign against the government as he fights back an accusation of sodomizing a young worker in his office.

Addressing some 7,000 people on Tuesday night, Anwar accused the ruling National Front coalition government of being corrupt, inefficient and uncaring. He promised to set right the problems plaguing the country, including bringing down fuel prices, which were raised by a whopping 41 percent to 63 percent last month.

The opposition will "rule in a short while" and "the next day we will lower the price of oil," he said to loud cheers in his first public meeting since he was hit by the sodomy accusation last week.

Police are investigating the allegation by a 23-year-old male aide. Anwar, 60, who is married with six children, says he is a victim of a conspiracy by a desperate government clinging to power.

Sodomy, even if consensual, is punishable by up to 20 years in prison in Muslim-majority Malaysia.

The government has denied any hand in the claim.

[More at http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/07/02/ap5175884.html]

I have a strong alibi, says Anwar - The Star

VIDEO: Anwar: We Will Fight

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dismissed the sodomy accusation, saying he has a strong alibi to prove his innocence.

“I have ample proof and witnesses,” he said at a packed press conference at the PKR headquarters here yesterday.

Anwar was silent for a few seconds, then took another question, before replying to a question on his whereabouts on Thursday night last week when his 23-year-old former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan alleged that he had been sodomised by Anwar.

The PKR de facto leader declined to elaborate on the matter, saying he had been advised by his lawyers to refrain from doing so.

Compared to the first time when he was charged with committing sodomy in 1993, Anwar said he was well prepared with facts and documents now.

“Back then, the police stole my diary and never returned it. We struggled to think of what happened years ago. This time, events are still fresh in my memory. There is the diary and witnesses.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/2/nation/21715548&sec=nation]

Dr M not surprised by sodomy allegation - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he was not surprised over the recent sodomy allegation against his former deputy Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“I am not surprised at all. He is saying it is a fabrication but he said the same thing last time,” he said when asked to comment on the new allegation.

The allegation came about after a 23-year-old former aide of Anwar lodged a police report on Saturday alleging sodomy. The de facto leader of PKR in turn filed a suit against the aide claiming defamation and malicious falsehood.

Anwar has vehemently denied the accusations and said it was a political conspiracy against him given his plans to return to Parliament.

Anwar alleged that the Government was out to get him, just when he was about to announce where he would be contesting in a by-election. The Government has denied his allegation.

“He will have lots of stories. There is always conspiracy as far as he is concerned. I’m not surprised at all,” Dr Mahathir said in an interview.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/2/nation/21714819&sec=nation]