Anwar a traitor to Malay cause, says Khairy - The Star

KUALA KANGSAR: Umno Youth has labelled Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim – who was once head of the movement – a traitor to the Malay cause.

In making the declaration, Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaludin said: “The (coming) general elections is not about politics but the future of the Malays.”

“Anwar is a puppet of the United States and the Jews, thus he must be hounded until there is no more place for him to run to,” he told a state Umno Youth gathering on Wednesday night.
Among the 5,000 people present were the wing’s former chief Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Deputy Information Minister, and Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd Tajol Rosli Ghazali.

Khairy said the movement was angered by Anwar’s persistence in wanting to do away with the New Economic Policy, a cause close to the hearts of the Malays.

“He wanted to abolish it simply because he wanted to win the support of the non-Malays,” he said.

In Kuala Lumpur yesterday, Khairy said there should be no more statements from any Barisan Nasional component party leaders concerning demands for extra seats for the parties.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/8/3/nation/18486221&sec=nation]

Bloggers Who Slander Must Be Brought To Book, Says Khairy - Bernama

KIMANIS (Sabah), July 28 (Bernama) -- Umno wants bloggers who resort to slander to be brought to book, said Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

He said these bloggers did not think about the sensitivities of others and the repercussions their writings can cause.

"There are no laws in the cyberworld except for the law of the jungle. As such, action must be taken so that the "monkeys" behave," he told reporters after opening the Papar, Kimanis and Sipitang Umno Youth annual delegates conference here today.

Khairy said there were some bloggers who thought they were above the law.

He said this when asked about Malaysia-Today webmaster Raja Petra Kamaruddin being called by the police for alleged seditious comments posted on it.

Khairy added that he too had been slandered on websites but had yet to take legal action because the case might take a long time to be settled.

[From http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=276105]

Police Quiz Malaysia Today's Blogger - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 (Bernama) -- Police today interviewed Malaysia Today's blogger, Raja Petra Kamaruddin following a report lodged on Monday by Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib who claimed that the blog had churned out sensitive remarks.

Accompanied by his wife, Marina Lee Abdullah, 51, and Parti Keadilan Rakyat information chief Tian Chua and several supporters, Raja Petra, 57, showed up at Dang Wangi Police District headquarters at about 11am.

Raja Petra who was led into the police headquarters by a policeman gave his statement at 12.15pm and until 6pm he had yet to leave the station.

According to Marina, Raja Petra received a call from a police officer with the rank of an ASP at 8am asking him to give a statement at the police station.

Dang Wangi District Police Chief ACP Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman confirmed that Raja Petra was summoned to give his statement over his article in Malaysia Today's blog on July 11 which was said to delve on religious and racial sentiments.

This is the second time Raja Petra was summoned by police to give a statement over his article posted in the blog which started in August 2004. He had given a police statement last year.

[From http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=275482]

Umno Youth Hails Action Against Errant Bloggers - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 (Bernama) -- The Umno Youth movement said it fully supports the government's move to act against webmasters and bloggers who flouted the law and belittled the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Its Economic Bureau chief Datuk Reezal Merican Naina Merican said although they were free to voice their opinions, they should do so responsibly.

"Those found guilty of insulting the king must be brought to justice," he said in a statement here today.

Reezal Merican, who is also Federation of Peninsular Malay Students Association president, said nowadays bloggers were abusing freedom of speech to the extent that they dared to insult the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and disseminate slander and lies against the administration, the prime minister and his deputy.

Concerned about errant bloggers, he said, the movement lodged a report with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission on July 10.

Meanwhile, Umno Youth Public Complaints Bureau chief Datuk Subahan Kamal described groups who write on sensitive issues which include insulting the king and Islam as irresponsible and having little respect for the dignity of the people or the country.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=275477]

Mat Taib Lodges Police Report Against Malaysia Today - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, July 23 (Bernama) -- Umno information chief Senator Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib today lodged a police report against blogsite Malaysia Today for carrying articles deemed to have insulted the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Statements and comments posted in the blogsite dated July 11 were deemed to have contravened the Penal Code, Sedition Act and the Communication and Multimedia Act, he told reporters after lodging the report at the Tun H.S. Lee police station here.

"It was over a report which had insulted the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the monarchy. It had also insulted and poked fun at Islam as the official religion of the federation."

Muhammad said comments posted on the blogsite also incited hate betweem the various races and could affect unity and national security.

The Kelana Jaya Umno division leader said he had been advised against divulging the statements and comments to the media as they were too sensitive.

"As responsible citizens, we cannot allow such articles to be posted on blogsites and urged the authorities to act in accordance with the law," he added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said today the government is not on a witch hunt for bloggers.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=275035]

Malaysia Not Secular State, Says Najib - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Tuesday Malaysia is not a secular state but an Islamic nation with its own interpretation.

He said the country had never been affiliated to secularism but was always driven by the fundamentals of Islam as it is clearly stated in the constitution that Islam is the official religion.

"Islam is the official religion and we are an Islamic state. But as an Islamic state, it does not mean that we don't respect the non-Muslims. The Muslims and the non-Muslims have their own rights (in this country)," he told reporters after officiating the "International Conference on the Role of Islamic States in a Globalised World" on behalf of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at a hotel here.

The conference is organised by the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (Ikim). Ikim chairman Tan Sri Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid and director-general Dr Syed Ali Tawfik Al-Attas were present.

Najib was asked whether Malaysia was seemingly moving towards being a secular state.

"I have to correct you. We have never been secular because being secular by Western definition means separation of the Islamic principles in the way we govern a country.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=273699]

Apologise or face action, BN leaders tell Tian Chua - The Star

TANGKAK: Say sorry! That is what several Umno and MCA leaders want Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) information chief Tian Chua to do to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak over a doctored picture depicting Najib with Abdul Razak Baginda and a woman alleged to be Altantuya Shaaribu that was posted on the Internet.

While Najib said yesterday that he would not make any comment at the moment over the doctored photo, his colleagues gave Tian Chua an ultimatum to apologise or face legal action.

Najib said he would, for the time being, let the people vent their anger at Tian Chua.

“There is no need for me to comment on the matter at present,” he said.

Tian Chua had said the photograph, which he had created personally, was merely a fantasy and a work of art.

However, Tian Chua insisted that he would not retract the photograph or apologise to anyone.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/7/8/nation/18246748&sec=nation]

Debate takes ugly turn - The Star

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]

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]

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]

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]

Wan Azizah wins unopposed - The Star

By Shahanaaz Habib and A. Letchumanan

SEREMBAN: In a dramatic turn of events, Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail won the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) presidency uncontested.

It came after her husband Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was denied the right to contest by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) on Friday and Abdul Rahman Othman pulled out of the race at 2pm yesterday.

Anwar is barred from entering politics until April 2008 but had applied to the ROS for an exemption. The ROS letter came at 4.30pm on Friday.

The former deputy prime minister, who was sacked from Umno and jailed for corruption, was released in September 2004.

In a special address to the delegates at the party's fourth national congress, Anwar said he would be the party's de facto leader.

“If you want me to be legitimate, then give Wan Azizah the president's post but I will lead the party.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/5/27/nation/17856513&sec=nation]

MPs say sorry - The Star

By Jane Ritikos

KUALA LUMPUR: Nine days after they made their “bocor (leak)” remarks that led to an uproar among women’s groups, the two Members of Parliament finally made a formal apology to all Malaysian women.

Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin, who made the remarks in Parliament on May 9, and Jasin MP Datuk Mohd Said Yusof who supported him, issued a public apology yesterday to women “who might have been offended” by their words.

Bung Mokhtar and Mohd Said however maintained that they were merely carrying out their duty as Barisan MPs in defending the Government against “the Opposition’s unfounded claims”.

In doing so, some of the Barisan MPs might have gone overboard but there was no intention to insult women, said Mohd Said.

On May 9, during a heated exchange in the Dewan Rakyat with Opposition MPs over the roof leak at Parliament House, Bung Mokhtar had said: “Mana ada bocor? Batu Gajah pun bocor tiap-tiap bulan juga. (Where is the leak? The Batu Gajah MP also leaks every month.)”

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/5/19/nation/17778132&sec=nation]

Shahrizat to meet with MPs - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil will meet with the two MPs who have been criticised by groups for making sexist remarks against a female MP in Parliament recently.

“I will meet MP for Jasin Datuk Mohd Said Yusof and MP for Kinabatangan Datuk Bung Mokthar Radin on Friday,” said Shahrizat in a press statement.

She said the meeting was scheduled following a Cabinet mandate yesterday.

“The issue alleging MPs who had used the bocor (leaking) word has been discussed in Cabinet. I have been asked to look into the issue further,” said Shahrizat.

Her statement, however, did not state the general sentiment of other Cabinet members when the matter was brought up for discussion.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/5/17/nation/17750459&sec=nation]

MP says sorry to women, then retracts his apology - The Star

By Muguntan Vanar and Florence A. Samy

KOTA KINABALU: Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Moktar Radin said he was sorry to all Malaysian women for his “unintended remarks,” but retracted the apology following a Cabinet directive to discuss the matter with Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

“I tender my apologies to all Malaysian women,” Bung Moktar said when contacted yesterday morning.

“It was not my intention to hurt any woman. I said it in the heat of an argument with DAP members who were calling me binatang (animal) and accusing Barisan of corruption.

“I too strongly feel that women’s feelings should be respected as I too have a mother whom I respect greatly. If my remarks have hurt the feelings of women in Malaysia, I sincerely apologise,” said Bung Moktar, who with Jasin MP Datuk Mohd Said Yusuf were accused of using un-parliamentary language against Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan at Wednesday’s sitting.

However, Bung Moktar said the public must understand that at the time of the incident, there was a heated exchange of words between government backbenchers and opposition MPs.

“They (the DAP MPs) were all standing and we also stood up and in the heat of the argument, I uttered the words without intention to hurt anyone, let alone women,” he said, adding that the Speaker had rejected the opposition motion.

“I am ready to apologise in Parliament if I am asked to,” he said, adding that the next session of Parliament would only be on June 18.

In the afternoon, he called up The Star requesting to withdraw his earlier statement.

“I have been directed by the Cabinet to meet with the Women, Family and Community Development Minister to explain what exactly transpired in Parliament,” he said.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/5/17/nation/17747459&sec=nation]

Group hands over memo to minister, demands apology - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: A group of women – and men – gathered in front of the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry yesterday to protest against the sexist remarks made by two MPs and demanded their suspension and an apology.

Led by the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG), a coalition of seven non-governmental organisations, the protestors, including representatives from various political parties like Wanita MCA Beliawanis, DAP, PAS and Parti Keadilan Rakyat, handed over a memorandum to minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil calling for an end to sexism in Parliament,

The furore started last week in the Dewan Rakyat when Opposition MPs tried to raise a motion on the leaking ceiling near the media centre.

Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN – Kinabatangan) and Datuk Mohd Said Yusof (BN – Jasin) then said “Mana bocor? Batu Gajah pun bocor setiap bulan. (Where is the leak? Batu Gajah [MP Fong Po Kuan] also leaks monthly).”

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/5/16/nation/17738289&sec=nation]

Jasin MP denies making ‘bocor’ comment - The Star

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Mohd Said Yusof, one of the two Barisan Nasional MPs, who uttered sexist remarks against women in Parliament, refused to say if he would apologise or not.

The Jasin MP even denied making such statements saying that the media had blown it out of proportion.

This is despite Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil’s plan to bring up the matter in today’s Cabinet meeting to see if it is possible to amend the Standing Orders to include a requirement that the language used in Parliament be gender sensitive.

Shahrizat also said on Monday that it would be an honourable thing for the MPs to apologise.

When asked if he would apologise, Mohd Said said: “Let it be. The press exaggerated it. I didn’t say it. I don’t want to comment anymore.”

Mohd Said said he would issue a statement on the matter in Parliament today.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/5/16/nation/17736594&sec=nation]

Sexist remarks to be brought up to Cabinet - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The issue of sexist remarks by two Barisan Nasional MPs will be brought up in tomorrow’s Cabinet meeting.

Stating her “deep displeasure” over the remarks, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said an apology from the MPs would be the honourable thing to do.

“I will bring this up to the Cabinet to see whether it is possible to amend the Standing Orders to include that language used in Parliament must be gender sensitive.

“I see this happening over and over, and it’s getting worse,” she said.

Last week, following Fong Po Kuan's (DAP – Batu Gajah) observations of leaks in the Parliament building, Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN – Kinabatangan) reportedly said:

“Mana ada bocor, Batu Gajah pun tiap-tiap bulan bocor juga (Where is the leak? Batu Gajah leaks every month too).”

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/5/15/nation/17725639&sec=nation]

Said refuses to apologise - The Star

THERE will not be any apology from Jasin MP Datuk Mohd Said Yusof over his remark to Batu Gajah MP Fong Poh Kuan, reported China Press.

Mohd Said was quoted as saying that he did not need to apologise because his bocor tiap-tiap bulan juga (leaks every month, too) statement did not mean a woman’s period.

Mohd Said and his colleague Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin have come under fire for saying in the Dewan Rakyat that Fong also “leaked every month.”

“Who says that it means the menstruation cycle? Bocor can be translated into different things.

“Besides the leaks in the Parliament building, it can also mean to urinate.

“Apologise to Fong Poh Kuan? What is there to apologise for? I did not mean to offend her or other women,” he said when contacted by the daily on Saturday.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/5/14/nation/17719222&sec=nation]

There they go again - The Star

ON THE BEAT: WONG CHUN WAI

It’s amazing how our lawmakers who repeatedly display political cockiness, make sexist remarks and behave in an uncouth manner can still get themselves re-elected.

THERE he goes again with his looney tunes. The incorrigible Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin has once again infuriated most Malaysians with another of his off-colour remarks.

The loud Sabah politician, who has a notorious reputation for using un-parliamentary language, created Malaysian parliamentary history when he uttered a four-letter word against a DAP woman six years ago.

The microphones of all MPs had to be switched off by the Speaker in the heat of the debate but Mokhtar’s profanity was loud enough for other members and reporters to hear. He must be proud of his record.

Strangely, the Hansard, which records the House meetings in verbatim, has no record of the outburst during the debate. Things would have remained that way until the media approached Bung Mokhtar in the lobby and, to their surprise, he admitted the deed and went on to defend himself on record.

Before that, the MP sparked a controversy when he uttered a sexist-tainted boleh masuk sikit? (Can I come in a little?) remark in his attempt to seek clarification from Bukit Mertajam MP Chong Eng.

As expected, he said he meant no harm and that the phrase was commonly used in Sabah.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/5/13/focus/17710011&sec=focus]