A carnival-like Geramm rally - TheStarOnline.tv

Several NGOs and Pakatan Rakyat leaders stage a peaceful rally to protest against the petrol hike at Kelana Jaya stadium on Sunday.

PM: I know that people are fed-up with politicking - The Star

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is aware that the people are fed up with the political bickering that is going on in the country and has pledged to give priority to the needs of the people.

"I also know that the people are becoming fed up with the political manoeuvring taking place currently.

"Slandering has become more rampant. One no longer cares whether the accusations are true or otherwise," Abdullah said to Bernama Sunday.

He was commenting on the Sunday Star front-page report on the reaction of the people and community leaders over the political exchanges in the past few weeks.

"My main priority is to pay attention to important issues like the rising prices of fuel and goods, and to continue with the development programmes for the people," he said.

"The government wants to ensure a situation where the people need not worry or be afraid. They should be able to concentrate on their priorities in ensuring they can overcome their current problems and can do their best for themselves, their families and companies or organisations they represent,"

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/6/nation/20080706224400&sec=nation]

18 Witnesses Give Statements On Sodomy Report - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 (Bernama) -- Police have recorded statements from 16 witnesses concerning the report alleging that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had sodomised his aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

"To date, we have recorded statements from 18 witnesses including several doctors who had examined the complainant (Saiful)," said CID Director Datuk Bakri Zinin at a media conference at the Kuala Lumpur Contingent Police Headquarters (IPPKL), here Sunday.

He said the case was being investigated under Section 377c of the Penal Code.

"Police are still in the process of identifying several other individuals believed to be involved in the case and they will be called up very soon to assist investigation," he said.

Bakri said a court order would be issued against anyone failing to turn up to record their statement on the date and time stipulated by the police.

Asked when police would record Anwar's statement, he said: "It's all up to the findings of the police investigation."

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=344304]

Thousands Attend Rally Protesting Fuel Price Hike - Bernama

PETALING JAYA, July 6 (Bernama) -- Supporters of opposition parties and extremist organisations Sunday defied orders by the authorities and joined a rally organised by the Coalition Against the Fuel Price Hike (Protes) at the Kelana Jaya Stadium here.

Many of the thousands of demonstrators, including supporters of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), wore red T-shirts and shouted anti-government slogans as they gathered to listen to speeches from their leaders from 10 am to midnight.

The presence of the police and other authorities around the stadium helped to ensure that the rally participants, some of whom were seen to be aggressive, did not resort to any mischief.

Nevertheless, the rally, carrying the theme "Protest of One Million People", forced the residents in the vicinity of the stadium to spend their Sunday "locked" in their homes for fear of their safety due to the presence of a large number of unidentified people in the area.

It is learnt that many of the rally participants who came from outside the Klang Valley had begun to gather at the stadium from as early as 5 am. The rally did not have a police permit.

Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said the police would continue to monitor the rally, particularly the speeches of the opposition party leaders.

"We will monitor their speeches to detect elements of sedition and, if they resort to such a thing, we will conduct an investigation under the Sedition Act," he said when met at the Petaling Jaya district police headquarters, here.

He also said that the police had received not less than 10 telephone calls from residents in the vicinity of the stadium complaining about the rally.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=344298]

Thousands at Kelana Jaya to hear Anwar - Malaysiakini

Thousands of people have gathered for the last leg of the anti-oil hike protest at the Kelana Jaya stadium.

MCPXAt the final run of the day-long rally, several top Pakatan Rakyat leaders will be giving their ceramah.

Among the speakers are DAP leader Lim Kit Siang, PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa and the star for the day - PKR's de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar who arrived at the venue about 9.45pm when Lim was speaking, took over the rostrum at about 10.15pm.

The rally is organised by the Coalition Against Inflation (Protes).

Organisers said that about 20,000 to 30,000 people were in the stadium to hear Anwar.

Anwar in his talk responded to calls by Umno Youth and Putera Umno for him to swear upon the Quran of his innocence at the National Mosque following a sodomy claim against him.

"They have asked me to swear in god's name. I will do so only if they charge me in the syariah court," he said.

"This was the advice given to me by religious scholars in and out of the country," added the charismatic opposition leader who is fighting accusations of alleged sodomy by his former aide Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

The police are investigating Saiful's report on the matter and said today that they had taken statements from 18 persons regarding the allegation.

Anwar also told the crowd that if the authorities were to charge him with sodomy at the syariah court, they would then have to produce four witnesses.

[More at http://malaysiakini.com/news/85644]

Najib: The truth will prevail - NST

By : B. Suresh Ram

PEKAN: Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday pledged he would carry out his responsibilities as an Umno member, elected representative and deputy prime minister to the letter, irrespective of the challenges that come his way.

He said he would not let challenges, including slander, keep him from his responsibilities.

"My wife and I will face these challenges.

"The truth will prevail," he said at the joint opening of the meetings of the 139 branches of the Pekan Umno division yesterday.

Najib also said that he would not shy away from helping anyone who sought his help.

"I will continue to receive people at my home to help them in whatever way that I can, including signing a letter of assistance and giving allocations."

He called on party members and leaders of the division to continue helping the people and strengthen the party.

He also told them not to just seek positions in the upcoming party elections.

"The struggle does not end with you gaining positions, but what you do with that position."

[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sunday/Frontpage/2286648/Article/index_html]

Anwar has no hope of becoming PM, says Ezam - The Star

IPOH: PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has no chance of ever becoming prime minister, said former PKR Youth chief Ezam Mohd Nor.

Ezam, who was Anwar’s political secretary when he was deputy prime minister, dismissed claims that Anwar had managed to convince 30 MPs to leave Barisan Nasional for Pakatan Rakyat.

“If he had the numbers today, he would be going to the Istana tonight.

“He just doesn’t have the numbers,” he told reporters after a closed-door ceramah at the Perak Umno building here yesterday.

Ezam, who left PKR last year and rejoined Umno last month, said if Anwar was really serious about forming the next government, he could have done so quietly instead of “making noise”.

“The focus should have been on strengthening the party. Instead, they (Pakatan) hold demonstrations to sidetrack the people.

“But you make noise because it’s a psychological war to bind together (a party) that is not strong. Only people who are not strong will make noise,” he added.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/6/nation/21752727&sec=nation]