SAPP Aborts No-confidence Motion Against PM - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 (Bernama) -- The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has aborted the planned no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at the current sitting of the Dewan Rakyat.

Its vice-president Datuk Dr Chua Soon Bui said the decision was taken following the federal government's positive reaction to the illegal immigrant issue in Sabah.

"Whatever we have raised (before) is for the benefit and interest of the people. We won't be pursuing the issue (no-confidence motion) at the moment and we are still in Barisan Nasional (BN).

"As for the show-cause letter, we have until July 29 to reply. We still support the party's (BN) stand and in this letter they want us to explain the motion and why we are not happy with the prime minister," he told reporters before meeting Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia at parliament house here Monday.

Dr Chua, who is Member of Parliament for Tawau, was accompanied by MP for Sepanggar Eric Majimbun.

Asked on the turn of events, Dr Chua said besides action against illegal immigrants, there were still other issues like citizenship, religion, language and native rights which had yet to be resolved by the federal government.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=344638]

Anwar dares PM and DPM to discuss how to tackle oil crisis - The Star

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has challenged the Prime Minister and his deputy to a live debate on July 15 to discuss how to tackle the oil crisis and reduce the local price of petrol and diesel.

He said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak kept saying that there was no way that prices could come down in view of the high international oil prices.

“They don’t know how to bring down the prices.

“I am prepared to take on the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister and even the whole Cabinet to debate the matter live on television,” he told a rally to protest the fuel price hike at the Kelana Jaya Stadium.

Anwar is already slated to debate the issue live with Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek on July 15.

“There are some people who ask me ‘Anwar are you sure you can conclusively bring down the fuel prices’. My answer is yes,” he said.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/7/nation/21756482&sec=nation]

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]

Raja Petra quizzed by cops over statutory declaration - The Star

By Kuldeep S. Jessy

KUALA LUMPUR: Raja Petra Kamarudin, the editor of news portal Malaysia Today, was quizzed by the police Saturday over his statutory declaration on June 18 claiming he had knowledge that three other persons were present when the body of Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu was blown up on Oct 19, 2006.

He was summoned to the Sentul police station at 5pm Saturday and was allowed to leave at about 7.45pm.

His lawyer William Leong, who is also the Selayang MP, accompanied him to the station. Also present was his wife Marina Lee Abdullah, Pandamaran state assemblyman Ronnie Liew and Batu MP Tian Chua who arrived at about 7.30pm.

Earlier, Liew created a commotion when he had a disagreement with Sentul OCPD Asst Comm Ahmad Sofian Md Yassin who did not allow him to go into the room where Raja Petra was being questioned.

More than 100 people waited outside and inside the police station compound and cheered when Raja Petra walked out.

Some of them were wearing yellow T-shirts with the words ''Justice For All...tantuya'' and the photograph of Raja Petra printed on the front.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/5/nation/20080705224232&sec=nation]

P.Balasubramaniam And Family Reported Missing By Nephew - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, July 5 (Bernama) -- Private investigator P.Balasubramaniam, who was involved in the controversy over the statutory declaration (SD) concerning the murder of Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu, has been reported missing since Friday together with his wife and three children.

Balasubramaniam's nephew, R. Kumaresan, 27, accompanied by lawyer N. Surendran, lodged a police report on the disappearance of his uncle and his family at the Brickfields District Police Headquarters, here at 5pm Saturday.

Kumaresan said he failed to contact his uncle after Balasubramaniam held the media conference at a hotel here, Friday morning.

"I tried to contact my uncle almost 10 times but failed. Finally at 6pm yesterday, I decided to go to his house and found that Bala's car was there. However, no one was at home," he told reporters after lodging the police report.

He said he had made the police report because he feared for the safety of Balasubramaniam and his family, especially the safety of his wife and children, two boys and a girl aged between five and 11.

"Previously, this thing (disappearance) had never happened as we always keep in touch because I am very close to them," he said.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=344149]

I Have No Knowledge Of Anything - Najib - Bernama

PEKAN, July 5 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said he knew nothing about the statutory declaration made by private investigator P Balasubramaniam, retracting the earlier declaration which he made under duress and because he was disappointed with the government.

"I have no knowledge of anything," said the Deputy Prime Minister.

He said this when asked to comment on the latest statutory declaration made by Balasubramaniam yesterday which denied all the allegations he had made that linked Najib to the Mongolian woman, Altantuya Shaariibuu.

In his statutory declaration Friday, Balasubramaniam admitted that his earlier statutory declaration was inaccurate and untrue.

At a press conference Friday, Balasubramaniam's lawyer, M Arulampalam clarified that his client had made the statutory declaration on July 1 under duress and because he was disappointed with the government.

Asked whether the earlier statutory declaration by the private investigator had affected his image, Najib replied: "I have to face it, what can I do. I have to accept the fact that in Malaysian politics one can resort to dirty tactics, it's even alright to manipulate the law as long as one's objective is achieved."

Najib said he was leaving it to the authorities to take whatever action against the private investigator.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=344144]

Political drama is a plot by Anwar, says Dr M - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad claims that all the high-stake political drama now playing before the eyes of the public is a result of the plotting by PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

"I am not seeking sympathy from anyone. But it is a little bit too much to expect me to forget and forgive something that is happening now as a result of Anwar's plotting.

"Anwar has succeeded in blackening my name in the United States and Europe of course, but also in Muslim countries. They all think I simply threw him in prison for political reasons.

"He never said anything about how he was tried, how he was defended by nine lawyers, how the judge wrote a 360-page judgment against him, how his appeals were thrown out twice," Mahathir said in his blog www.chedet.com.

Dr Mahathir added, "He (Anwar) has sued me for RM100mil. He has successfully caused my lawyer to lose credibility. Now I have no lawyer to defend me against his suit. I still have this suit against me."

Anwar, he said, had now turned his attention on Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/5/nation/20080705195738&sec=nation]

Lawyer: Second SD was probably made under duress - The Star

By Shahanaaz Habib

KUALA LUMPUR: Americk Singh Sidhu, the lawyer who had prepared the first statutory declaration for private investigator P. Balasubramaniam, is convinced his client was intimidated to retract his declaration.

He believed the private eye had been coerced “by either threats or promises as I can think of no other reason”.

Balasubramaniam's first statutory declaration which he made public on Thursday in a press conference with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim alleged that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had had a sexual relationship with Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Balasubramaniam had said the police had omitted vital information about Najib's relationship with the murdered Mongolian translator.

Speaking at a press conference at the PKR headquarters yesterday, Americk Singh said his client had made the first statutory declaration voluntarily without duress.

He said he had first met Balasubramaniam two months ago at a restaurant where he was asked to help draft a formal document on the Altantuya case.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/5/nation/21748837&sec=nation]

Military Intelligence Deny Giving Anwar Information About His Safety - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's Military Intelligence on Friday denied that it had been a source of information for Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim concerning threats to his safety or that of his family members.

Its director Lt Gen Datuk Mohd Salleh Ismail also denied it had a report on the Mongolian Altantuya murder case as claimed by blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin in his statutory declaration (SD) made at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on June 18.

"Statements made by Anwar that military intelligence had warned him about threats to his safety are not true. He might have other sources of information but certainly not from my department," he told reporters after opening a basic digital photography course at Kolej Multimedia Telekom here.

He said this when asked to comment about Anwar claiming on Sunday that he had received information from government sources and military intelligence that Barisan Nasional (BN) agents planned to harm or assassinate him and also harm his family members and supporters.

Touching on Raja Petra's SD, he said:"Since I took over (as Director of Military Intelligence) I have no knowledge that such a report exists."

In his SD, Raja Petra had alleged that a copy of the report was in the possession of Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin, who is also the Member of Parliament for Rembau, and that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had knowledge of it.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=343971]

Malaysia voices displeasure over US statement - The Star

By Mazwin Nik Anis

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has ticked off the United States over what the Government regarded as "meddling into its internal affairs", following a statement by the US state department on recent investigations on Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's case.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim said a letter was dispatched to the US Embassy Friday morning addressed to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, voicing Malaysia's "displeasure and unhappiness" over the statement.

"The comments were uncalled for and Malaysia takes a serious view in respect of this position. We made it very clear in our letter that we are displeased with the statement. I hope this is taken stock of.

"Malaysia is a sovereign country with its own rules and laws and the United States should not condemn us just because they do not like our system or because they do not approve of our laws," he told reporters Friday after opening the media centre for the 6th Developing Eight (D8) Summit.

On Monday, foreign wires reported that US State Department spokesman Tom Casey as saying the United States would oppose any "politically motivated investigation" or prosecution of Anwar.

"The main point for us is that the rule of law needs to stand above politics," Casey was quoted as saying in the statement, adding the department "hoped there would not be a pattern" because Anwar had faced similar charges in 1998.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/4/nation/20080704200231&sec=nation]

Kuala Kangsar election petition dismissed - Malaysiakini

By Athi Veeranggan

The Ipoh High Court today dismissed an election petition that challenged the victory of former minister Rafidah Aziz in the Kuala Kangsar parliamentary constituency.

Election Judge Zakaria Sam ruled that Rafidah's "silly mistake" in failing to sign two out of three sets of her nomination papers in the March 8 general election was not a proper reason to nullify the final outcome.

He added that the election for the seat proceeded freely, fairly and without any corrupt practices.

"Her presence at the nomination centre to submit her papers was enough to prove her consent to accept the nomination to contest," he said.

Since signing and submitting nomination papers were merely part of an electoral process, he said Rafidah's mistake was unsubstantial for the election officer to neither reject her candidacy nor stop the election process.

Moreover, the petitioner did not mention any other wrongdoings like corrupt practices in his affidavit, other than on the ‘missing signature', he added.

He said non-compliance to the requirement to sign all three nomination papers would not have affected the election results anyway, stressing that "it was a mere technical error.'

[More at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/85558]

PI retracts stunning statutory declaration - Malaysiakini

By Soon Li Tsin

Private investigator P Balasubramaniam today retracted his stunning statutory declaration which had linked Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to murdered Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu.

The said declaration claimed that Najib had a sexual relationship with Altantuya and that he was the one who had introduced the deceased to political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda.

In his new statutory declaration dated July 4, Balasubramaniam said that he was forced to make his earlier declaration under duress.

"I wish to retract the first declaration. I was compelled to affirm the July 1 declaration under duress," the new statutory declaration read.

He however did not reveal who forced him to affirm the first declaration.

Balasubramaniam disclosed this during a brief press conference at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur this morning. Also present was lawyer M Arulampalam.

[More at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/85552]

Abdullah: Govt stable, don’t believe in rumours - NST

By : V. Vasudevan and Joseph Sipalan

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is safe and stable, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said as he calmed jitters over the country's political outlook.

"This government is a stable government. Please believe that.

"The administration is moving, projects are being implemented.

"Please don't get overexcited about what is happening. There are a lot of rumours. Please don't believe them.

"Don't panic about what is happening," he said after chairing the first meeting of the Northern Corridor Economic Region board of directors yesterday.

Abdullah said there were no security issues or concerns in the country.

He dismissed rumours that an exercise being conducted by the police and army was a prelude to emergency rule.

"Please don't read anything into it. I don't think anyone should be worried. This is an exercise and should not be regarded as something else.

"Rumours here, rumours there. It is as if rumours are lording over us. I am not so wrong to say that Malaysians are very gullible."

[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Friday/Frontpage/2284946/Article/index_html]

Anwar: Proof on Najib soon - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Evidence allegedly linking Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to murdered Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu will be released in the next few days.

“The next evidence will come in the next few days. Just be patient. This is not the end. I just want to test the nerve and commitment of the Prime Minister,” said PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He was taking questions from reporters at the press conference where private investigator P. Balasubramaniam – once hired by Abdul Razak Baginda – released a statutory declaration that alleged Najib’s involvement with Altantuya.

Anwar pointed out that when his wife Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and daughter Nurul Izzah met the Prime Minister in Parliament on Tuesday, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi gave the assurance that he would investigate Anwar’s recent police report against the Attorney-General (A-G) and Inspector-General of Police (IGP) about fabricating evidence in the 1998 infamous “black eye” incident.

Anwar, however, noted that just 10 minutes after Abdullah gave the assurance, he (Abdullah) told reporters he had full confidence in the A-G and IGP.

“So I don’t know what he means by giving that assurance because my police report involves these two key institutions and they had fabricated evidence against me,” he said.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/4/nation/21738312&sec=nation]