Zaid sacked from Umno - The Star

By Sa'odah Elias, Royce Cheah and Nurbaiti Hamdan

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno has sacked former de-facto Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim for attending events organised by several opposition parties.

Announcing this last night, Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the sacking would take effect immediately.

He said Zaid would not be given the chance to appeal against the decision.

“We need to take this drastic action because Zaid’s action in attending functions and being seen with opposition leaders are against the party’s ethics.

“In such cases, we need to act tough. Umno is always consistent and we cannot be seen as practising double standards,” he told reporters after chairing the Umno supreme council meeting here.

When contacted, Zaid said he would speak to the press tomorrow.

Last week, Zaid started another round of attacks against him by his former Umno colleagues when he attended yet another high-profile Pakatan Rakyat event on Saturday.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/3/nation/2707326&sec=nation]

Confirmed: Shahrizat to go for top post - Malaysiakini

Wanita Umno deputy chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil today announced that she will contest for the wing's top post next year.

The former cabinet minister - who was appointed as a special adviser to the prime minister after the March 8 elections following her defeat in the Lembah Pantai parliamentary constituency - made the announcement in a two-paragraph statement this afternoon.

"I, Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, hereby confirm that I accept the nominations and support to contest the position of chief of the Wanita Umno Movement Malaysia in March 2009.

"Wanita Umno must be united in strengthening the party as well as be bold in bringing about changes and renewal," read the statement.

The announcement ended speculations as to whether or not Shahrizat would accept the 73 nominations for her to contest against incumbent chief Rafidah Aziz, who received 117 nominations at the division level.

Previously, Rafidah had stated that she would defend her post and hand over the reins to Shahrizat in June.

[More at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/93457]

Court frees ISA detainee Raja Petra - Malaysiakini

By Hafiz Yatim

Controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin was released from his Internal Security Act (ISA) detention at 3.20pm.

The editor of the popular Malaysia Today website was brought to the Shah Alam High Court just five minutes earlier.

Expressing surprise with the decision, Raja Petra said: "Not many people have challenged the act (ISA) so much and I did not have much high hopes (of being released).

"This application allowed under Section 8 is a special prize. I am tired."

"This showed ISA cannot be used. I hope this is not a political decision. I don't want to be the prime minister. I want Anwar to be the PM," he said.

"We have to fight all-out and get the ISA abolished," he told reporters.

[More at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/92620]

Petrol prices cut by 15 sen per litre - The Star

PUTRAJAYA: Petrol and diesel prices will go down 15 sen a litre from 12.01am on Saturday - the fourth reduction since August.

The new price of a litre of RON97 will be RM2.15 from RM2.30; RON92 will be RM2.05 from RM2.20; and diesel will be RM2.05 from RM2.20.

The prices will be reduced so that the people could enjoy the benefit of the recent drastic drop in global fuel prices, said Prime Minister Datuk Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in a statement on Friday.

The Star reported on Friday that petrol price will go down by 15sen and that petrol dealers expect another round of price cuts on Nov 15.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said that if the world crude oil price continued to drop at the present rate, local pump prices would likely revert to the pre-June price of RM1.92 per litre.

Shahrir, who said the average world crude oil price for October was US$76.40 (RM267.40) per barrel, said the average for November might go below US$70.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/10/31/nation/20081031175020&sec=nation]

Abdul Razak Baginda acquitted - Malaysiakini

By S Pathmawathy

The Shah Alam High Court today acquitted political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda of abetting the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Justice Mohd Zaki Md Yasin ruled that the prosecution has failed to prove a case against Abdul Razak.

"I find there is no prima facie case for him to answer his charge. He is therefore acquitted and discharged," said Mohd Zaki.

Abdul Razak, a close associate of Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak had faced the death penalty by hanging if found guilty of abetting the 2006 murder of his former lover Altantuya, whose body was blown up with explosives in a jungle clearing.

In one of the longest hearings in Malaysia's history, the court spent 151 days hearing testimony from 84 witnesses on whether Abdul Razak and two police officers accused of carrying out the murder should face trial.

The court however ordered chief inspector Azilah Hadri, 32 and corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, 37 - from the elite Special Action Force (UTK) which guards the prime minister and deputy prime minister - to enter their defence to the charge of murder.

[More at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/92191]

MCA GENERAL ASSEMBLY: Victory for Tee Keat, Soi Lek - NST

KUALA LUMPUR: Former MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek scored an upset in a tightly-contested four-cornered race to clinch the party's deputy presidency yesterday.

Dr Chua beat his nearest rival, secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan, by a slim 114-majority.

The former health minister received 1,115 votes against Ka Chuan's 1,001. Vice-president Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai could only manage 209 votes, while Tanjung division vice-chief Lee Hack Teik had 10.

There were 33 spoilt votes.

Datuk Ong Tee Keat, as expected, staved off a challenge from former health minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng to be elected the party's new president.

The transport minister garnered 1,429 votes against Chua's 917. There were 22 spoilt votes.

In a day of widespread rumours of upsets and super-charged tension, delegates awaited with bated breath while MCA elections steering committee chairman Tan Sri Wong See Wah announced the results at 9.45pm.

[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sunday/Frontpage/2379614/Article/index_html]

Petrol prices reduced - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Petrol prices will be reduced by a further 10sen to 20sen from Wednesday.

RON 97 petrol is reduced by 15sen to RM2.30; RON 92 petrol is reduced by 10sen to RM2.20; and diesel is reduced by 20sen to RM2.20.

A post on the Prime Minister's Office website (www.pmo.gov.my) said the decision was made following the marked drop in the global oil price of late.

"The lowering of the fuel prices is also made to speed up the reduction of retail prices so that the people will be able to enjoy the benefits sooner," the post added.

The statement was signed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The previous two reductions were on Aug 23 and Sept 24.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/10/14/nation/20081014175211&sec=nation]

Fuel prices down by 10sen - The Star

By Lee Yuk Peng

PUTRAJAYA: Prices of petrol and diesel are 10 sen cheaper from midnight Wednesday.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said the retail price of RON97 is reduced from RM2.55 per litre to RM2.45 per litre, the price of RON92 is lowered from RM2.40 to RM2.30, while diesel is reduced from RM2.50 to RM2.40 per litre.

In reading out a statement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badaw, Shahrir said the 10 sen reduction is the maximum value that the Government could reduce.

It is also the second adjustment made by the Government.

The first adjustment to reduce the fuel price was made on Aug 23.

Shahrir said the Cabinet, which met Wednesday for the last time this month, decided to reduce the fuel price since people would start their balik kampung exodus this weekend to celebrate Hari Raya.

“It is hoped that the price reduction will reduce the burden of the people this festive season,’’ he said.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/9/24/nation/20080924171710]

Teresa Kok released from ISA detention - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Seputeh MP Teresa Kok was released from detention under the Internal Security Act at about 1pm on Friday.

Her father Kok Kim Tong and mother Poh Seh Kwon were at the Jalan Travers police station here when she was released.

“I am happy that I have been released and I’m okay,” she told reporters gathered at the police station.

“I do not know why I was released today, just as I do not know why I was detained,” she added.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said that Kok had been released at 1.30pm after investigations showed there was no reason to detain her any further.

"She was released unconditionally," he added.

Kok, 44, later Friday told a press conference at the DAP headquarters in Petaling Jaya that she would sue Utusan Malaysia and its columnist Zaini Hassan over articles written about her.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/9/19/nation/20080919132938&sec=nation]

Sin Chew reporter released - The Star

By Derrick Vinesh and Christina Chin

BUKIT MERTAJAM: Warm hugs from her anxious family members and friends saw Tan Hoon Cheng almost breaking down in tears as she returned home in Taman Alma, here at about 4.15pm Saturday.

The 33-year-old Sin Chew Daily reporter, who was detained Friday under the Internal Security Act (ISA), was released in less than 24 hours.

She was all smiles as she spoke to her family and friends for a mere 20 minutes before heading to stay at a friend’s house to avoid the media.

Clad in a pale orange T-shirt and jeans, Hoon Cheng remained calm and composed, as four police officers dropped her off in a four-wheel drive at 4.15pm.

Her brother Weng Tong, 37, said Hoon Cheng told him that she was taken to the Perak police headquarters in Ipoh instead of the Bukit Aman Police Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur as they had initially thought.

“The police drove her from the Penang police headquarters to Ipoh at about 8.30am and returned to the same place on the island at about 2.30pm.

“Due to slight traffic congestion on the Penang Bridge, they only reached our home in Bukit Mertajam at about 4pm,” he said Saturday.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/9/13/nation/20080913100931&sec=nation]

ISA dragnet widens: MP Teresa Kok too - Malaysiakini

DAP leader Teresa Kok has also been detained under the Internal Security Act - the third person to be detained without trial today.

It is learnt that the Selangor senior executive councillor and Seputeh parliamentarian was stopped by the police at about 11.18pm on her way back from a function in Kuala Lumpur.

She was arrested after her vehicle was blocked by three police patrol cars.

Deputy inspector-general of police Ismail Omar said that Kok's arrest was made under Section 73(1) of the Act.

According to party stalwart Lim Kit Siang, the three police cars with over 10 police personnel stopped Kok at her condominium entrance and took her away.

He said that she was arrested while returning to her condominium in Kuala Lumpur from a Mooncake Festival reception in her constituency office.

Kok has been in news in recent days - especially in the Malay dailies - after it was claimed that she had told mosque officials in Kota Damansara, Sri Serdang and Puchong Jaya to tone down the call to prayer.

Kok however had denied the allegations.

[More at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/89608]

ISA arrest No 2: Sin Chew journalist held - Malaysiakini

Sin Chew Daily journalist Tan Hoon Cheng has been arrested today under the Internal Security Act at 8.30pm at her home in Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

Tan, 33, is the second person after Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin, to be arrested under the tough security law which allows for detention without trial.

She was taken by the police to the Penang police headquarters, where a crowd of 100 supporters have gathered to express their concern.

Tan was the first journalist who reported that local Umno chieftain Ahmad Ismail had allegedly said that Chinese Malaysians are “squatters” in the country.

Deputy inspectorp-general of police Ismail Omar has confirmed her arrest under ISA.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's political secretary Ng Wei Aik was at the police headquarters to obtain more information on Tan's arrest.

"Penang police chief Ayub Yaakob has just confirmed the arrest of the journalist under section 73(1) of ISA to the chief minister," he told reporters gathered at the Penang police headquarters at about 10.45pm.

[More at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/89602]

Raja Petra arrested under ISA - Malaysiakini

By Andrew Ong

Controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin was arrested today under the Internal Security Act for allegedly being a threat to security, peace and public order.

According to Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar, the 58-year old father of five would be detained under Section 73(1) of the ISA, which allows for detention of up to 60 days.

“The police will do an assessment during this period and if they feel he should be held more than 60 days, the police will then refer to me,” Syed Hamid was quoted as saying by The Star.

The minister also confirmed that the Sin Chew Daily, The Sun and Suara Keadilan were issued show cause letters. "They have been given a week to reply," he added.

Raja Petra's wife Marina Lee Abdullah earlier told Malaysiakini that 10 police personnel from Bukit Aman came to their home in Sungai Buloh at about 1.10pm to arrest him.

When Malaysiakini contacted her at 1.25pm, the police personnel were still there. However, Raja Petra - popularly known by his initials RPK - was taken away to an unknown destination at 1.50pm. The police also confiscated some books and VCDs.

[More at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/89544]

PM: It’s a caring Budget - The Star

By Yeng Ai Chun and Roslina Mohamad

KEPALA BATAS: Budget 2009 is not about the Government wanting to gain back its popularity but for it to fulfil its responsibility to the people, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He said the Government had a responsibility to the people, adding that the Budget was a “caring budget.”

“If we don’t give, we are accused of being uncaring, that we do not have feelings and we are deaf to the people’s hardship.

“But when we give, we want to be popular. So how now? What do you choose? Give or don’t give?” he said after chairing the Bertam Umno branch meeting yesterday.

When asked to comment about Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s remark that the budget is akin to giving gula-gula (sweets) to the poor and the people in Sabah and Sarawak, Abdullah said Anwar also does the same.

“He also tried to sweeten the people by saying he would cut petrol prices by 70 sen. Isn’t that sweets?” replied Abdullah, adding that the Government had received many good responses to the Budget.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/8/31/budget2009/22213329&sec=budget2009]

Anwar sworn in as MP - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as Permatang Pauh MP at 10.05am Thursday in a brief ceremony in Dewan Rakyat here.

Anwar, who turned up for the event in a simple black baju melayu, was accompanied by his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and their daughter Nurul Izzah.

The moment he entered the Dewan, he was instantly surrounded by other Pakatan Rakyat members, including Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

However, only three ministers were present in the House for the swearing-in.

The swearing-in took place in front of Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia.

After the swearing-in, Anwar took his place on the first seat on the Opposition block.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/8/28/nation/20080828100910&sec=nation]

It's Anwar, as expected - NST

By : A. Kathirasen, Sharanjit Singh, Lee Keng Fatt, Elizabeth John, Audrey Dermawan, S. Arulldas, Adie Suri Zulkefli, Melissa Darlyne Chow and Sajahan Waheed

BUTTERWORTH:

As expected, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim won the Permatang Pauh by-election yesterday.

He polled 31,195 votes compared with the 15,524 obtained by Barisan Nasional's Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah.

Anwar's majority of 15,671 votes was bigger than that obtained by his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail in the March general election.

The third candidate, Hanafi Mamat, who contested on a Parti Keadilan Insan Malaysia (Akim) ticket, only managed to get 92 votes, losing his RM15,000 deposit in the process.

There were 447 spoilt votes.

With the win, Anwar takes back the seat he had held from 1982 to 1999. In 1998, after he was sacked from government and jailed, Dr Wan Azizah won the seat in the general election that followed. She was returned again on March 8 but resigned on July 31, to force a by-election so that Anwar could return to Parliament.

That Anwar was set to make his political comeback after a 10-year absence, of which six were spent behind bars, became apparent by the time polling stations closed at 5pm.

An estimated 40,000 Pakatan Rakyat supporters swarmed the Tuanku Bainun Teacher Training College grounds to celebrate the victory.

The crowd began to gather at the area from 4pm. Conspicuously missing were Barisan Nasional supporters.

When the crowd grew larger, the field set aside for BN supporters was opened to Pakatan Rakyat supporters.

The crowd cheered each time the returning officer announced Anwar had won in a particular polling station.

Shouts of "reformasi" and "Merdeka" filled the air with supporters waving their party flag.

Dubbed the "mother" of all by-elections, BN was the underdog from the start as Permatang Pauh has long been Anwar's turf.

[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/Frontpage/2333408/Article/index_html]

Gov't slashes petrol price by 15 sen - Malaysiakini

The government announces that price of RON97 petrol will go down by 15 sen from RM2.70 to RM2.55 per litre at the pumps beginning midnight, a reduction of 5.6 percent.

Meanwhile, the lower grade RON92 petrol will be slashed by 22 sen from RM2.62 to RM2.40 a litre.

For diesel, the price will go down by eight sen, from RM2.58 to RM2.50.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi made the announcement today - two days after he reiterated that petrol prices would not be cut before Aug 31.

It is believed that the announcement was made ahead the crucial by-election in Permatang Pauh to be held next Tuesday.

"The petrol prices were fixed after taking into account the real price of petrol from Aug 1 to Aug 21, as well as the fixing of 30 sen subsidy for both grades," he said in a statement.

[More at http://malaysiakini.com/news/88353]

Saiful swears he was sodomised - The Star

By Loong Meng Yee, Zulklifi Abd Rahman and Nurbaiti Hamdan

KUALA LUMPUR: Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan took the ultimate religious step to maintain his honesty by swearing on the Al-Quran that he was sodomised by his former employer Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He challenged Anwar to also swear on the Quran, and dared him to deny the allegation in Allah's name inside a mosque.

"It is time to honour my responsibility as a Muslim and to stand up for the truth. I deeply understand that if I am lying, I will be cursed by Allah, and woe will befall me, my family and for generations to come," said Saiful, 23, in his first ever meeting with the press at the Dynasty Hotel here.

The lanky young man, wearing a light chocolate baju melayu and black pants, was calm throughout the 15 minutes press conference on Friday. He had first read from a prepared text and answered some questions from reporters before leaving the meeting room.

He had came straight to the press conference at 7.12pm after performing the swearing at the Federal Territory mosque. Saiful was accompanied by father Azlan Mohd Lazim and lawyer Zamri Idrus.

Saiful maintained he had performed the swearing voluntarily and even dared invoke Allah's name because he was telling the truth.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/8/15/nation/20080815185456&sec=nation]

Arif Shah is BN candidate - The Star

Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah is the Barisan Nasional candidate for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat by-election.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak made the announcement in Permatang Pauh Wednesday night.

Arif Shah is the assemblyman for Seberang Jaya, which is among the three state seats under the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency.

The other two are Permatang Pasir, which was won by PAS in the March 8 general election; while PKR clinched the Penanti seat.

The Permatang Pauh seat fell vacant on July 31, when Anwar's wife and PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail resigned to make way for her husband to contest.

Nomination for the by-election is Saturday while polling will be on Aug 26.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/8/13/nation/20080813210322&sec=nation]

Anwar pleads not guilty to sodomy, freed on RM20,000 bond - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim walked out of the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on a RM20,000 personal bond without surety after he pleaded not guilty to a charge of sodomising former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

Many PKR supporters welcomed the decision of the judge to allow the bond because the PKR adviser was charged under Section 377B of the Penal Code for committing unnatural sex, a non-bailable offence.

The giving of bail is a discretionary exercise by the Sessions court.

The offence is said to have been committed at Desa Damansara Condominium in Jalan Setiakasih, Bukit Damansara, between 3.01pm and 4.30pm on June 26.

The prosecution is led by Solicitor-General Datuk Idrus Harun and Attorney-General's Chambers' head of prosecution Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden.

The defence is a nine-man team led by senior lawyer Sulaiman Abdullah.

The whole process of charging, granting bail and leaving the courthouse was over in 90 minutes without much fuss.

[From http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/8/8/nation/22031841&sec=nation]