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]

Anwar to contest Permatang Pauh - Malaysiakini

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid

Anwar Ibrahim announced today that he will contest a by-election for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat which was vacated by his wife and PKR leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Wan Azizah told a packed press conference at the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya this afternoon that she had resigned as member of parliament for the seat but will retain her post as PKR president.

I have officially submitted my resignation letter as Permatang Pauh MP to the House Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia today to make way for my husband to contest as a candidate for Pakatan Rakyat in a by-election as soon as possible," she said.

"This is consistent with our goals towards securing a parliamentary majority and forming a new government within this year," she added, stressing that her decision was the right decision for Malaysia.

"Anwar Ibrahim has articulated a vision for Malaysia that has brought hope to the people. He has the experience and intelligence to reinvigorate our economy, and the charisma and integrity to unite he Malaysian people and restore credibility to our institutions of governance."

Wan Azizah said the people in Permatang Pauh have a special affinity for Anwar, who was their elected representative prior to his sacking as deputy premier and subsequent arrest a decade ago.

[More at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/87047]

Doctor: No evidence of sodomy - Malaysiakini

By Beh Lih Yi and P Tarani

There is no evidence that Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan was sodomised, according to the doctor who examined him four hours before he lodged a police report alleging he was sexually assaulted by PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim.

It is believed that Anwar's former aide Saiful went to two different hospitals on June 28 - the day he lodged the police report claiming that he was sodomised by his ex-boss.

He first went to Hospital Pusrawi (Pusat Rawatan Islam) in Jalan Tun Razak - a government-linked Islamic medical institution - at about 2pm.

According to a copy of the two-page medical report obtained by malaysiakini yesterday, Saiful went to the hospital complaining of 'tenesmus' - a medical term for difficulty and pain in passing motion.

He was examined by Dr Mohamed Osman Abdul Hamid, the medical officer on duty.

The doctor said that the patient had alleged he was assaulted by the intrusion of a piece of "plastic" in the anus.

Mohamed Osman, according to his medical report which was recorded at 2.14pm, found "zero active bleeding", "zero ulcer or pus", "zero tear and scar" in Saiful's anus.

He also stated that Saiful appeared "alert", "comfortable", "not pale" and did not show any fever symptoms.

[More at http://malaysiakini.com/news/86834]

Terengganu Executive Councillors Get To Use Mercedes Temporarily - Bernama

KUALA TERENGGANU, July 27 (Bernama) -- The 14 Mercedes E200 Kompressor cars purchased by the Terengganu government will be used temporarily as official cars for the state executive council members and senior state government officers.

Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said said the cars would be used pending completion of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA)'s investigations into the high maintenance cost of the state's fleet of Proton Perdana V6 Executive cars.

He said the ACA had taken the Proton Perdana cars that were used by the state executive councillors and officers.

"So the executive council members and officers will have to use the Mercedes...the prime minister had also said that (we) can use the Mercedes cars once in a while," he told reporters at a dinner with state Umno leaders here last night.

State Tourism and Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee Chairman Datuk Za'abar Mohd Adib arrived to attend the Malaysia Flora Fest 2008 in Johor Baharu yesterday in one of the new Mercedes cars.

Two days ago, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced that the Terengganu government could keep the Mercedes Benzes, but only for use by its guests and not for the state exco members and its senior officers.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=348791]

Exco men use Merc despite Cabinet order - The Star

By Gladys Tay

JOHOR BARU: At least four of Terengganu's eight state executive council members are using newly purchased Mercedes-Benz E200 Kompressor cars despite a Cabinet directive against doing so.

Several of them were seen travelling in the cars to official functions and meetings.

Those who were seen taking rides in the car said they were waiting for Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said to make an announcement at Wednesday's state executive council meeting on when to give up the cars.

Terengganu Tourism, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Za’abar Mohd Adib attended the Malaysian Flora Fest here yesterday in his gleaming new black Mercedes-Benz.

“I think the issue is overblown,” said Za'abar yesterday when met after the function.

When asked whether he knew about Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's announcement, he said he was aware of it and that Ahmad had already commented about it.

On Friday, Abdullah had announced that all the Mercedes-Benzes bought by the state for its executive council members could only be used for foreign dignitaries.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/27/nation/21934843&sec=nation]

Anwar back at ACA to give statement - The Star

PUTRAJAYA: PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived at the Anti-Corruption Agency headquarters here at 9.50am Monday to continue giving his statement on the alleged fabrication of evidence in the “black eye” incident of 1998.

He was accompanied by lawyers R. Sivarasa and Param Cumaraswamy.

In Anwar's report lodged on July 1, he had alleged that Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan and Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail had fabricated evidence in the “black eye” investigation in 1999.

Musa was the investigating officer and Gani led the prosecutor in the case in which Anwar had been beaten up by the IGP then, Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Noor.

Anwar emerged from the ACA office at 1.15pm.

Commenting on Musa's defamation suit against him, Anwar said, "I’ll be happy to meet him in court."

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/21/nation/20080721100616&sec=nation]

PM: I've met with PAS leaders - The Star

By Izatun Shari

PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi admitted that he had personally met with "highest-level" PAS leaders three times to discuss Islam, Malay unity and other issues.

The Prime Minister however declined to reveal whom the leaders were, merely saying that they were top-level leaders who could make decisions in the Islamist opposition party.

PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat was not present during these discussions.

Nik Aziz had earlier said he was open to the idea of “small discussions” between PAS and Umno members, but not to party-to-party meetings.

"We have held meetings, which are at the initial stage. There is no need to give other details. You will make all sorts of speculation," Abdullah told reporters after launching National Cooperative Day here on Sunday.

Abdullah, also Umno president, had previously only indicated that he was "ready to hold" muzakarah discussions with PAS leaders to strengthen unity among the Muslims in the country.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/20/nation/20080720130215&sec=nation]

Najib committed to transition plan - The Star

By Jane Ritikos

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak says he is committed to the transition plan for him to take over the Umno presidency from his predecessor in 2010, despite an Umno branch in his Pekan constituency nominating him for the presidency.

Najib, who is Umno deputy president, also dismissed his nomination by the branch on Friday saying:

"It is only one branch. There are 134 more branches. The Pekan division that I lead will be committed to the transition plan that I have agreed upon."

As such the Pekan division would nominate Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib to defend their president and deputy president posts respectively at the party election in December, he said.

He said this Saturday after closing the two-day Bumiputra Economic Convention 2008 themed "Leapfrogging the Bumiputra Economy", organised by Federation of Malay Economic Bodies (Gabem) and Umno Youth.

On bumiputra equity ownership, Najib said it appeared to be stagnant at 18% to 19% while the target was to achieve 30% bumiputra equity by 2020.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/19/nation/20080719221309&sec=nation]

Existing DNA sample too old, says PM - Malaysiakini.tv

The authorities require a fresh DNA sample from Anwar Ibrahim because the sample extracted 10 years ago is too old, said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today.

Anwar ‘no’ to foreign forensic expert - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will not agree to the idea of a foreign forensic expert of his choice to draw a DNA sample from him, said lawyer R. Sivarasa.

“They (the police) fail to understand Anwar’s concern as explained this afternoon. It does not address the possible fabrication of DNA (test results) starting with Saiful (Bukhari Azlan) himself,” he said yesterday.

To a question whether Anwar and his lawyers would consider allowing the international expert to carry out the DNA test, he said they could “start to look at that” as the expert might be able to advise them.

However, he said this would not make a difference if there was a possibility that the samples would be tampered with.

He said they would resist any legal action for Anwar to provide a DNA sample because the law does not provide for it.

At his press conference earlier, Anwar had said that if there was “compelling evidence one, two, three and four which needs an international expert,” then he would be willing to submit to DNA testing.

[From http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/18/nation/21856305&sec=nation]

Cops arrest Anwar - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived at the city police headquarters here in a white Pajero at 1.15pm Wednesday after being arrested by the police.

He had been arrested in front of his house in Bukit Segambut.

His lawyer Sankara Nair said the police told Anwar that he was being arrested for investigations under Section 377C of the Penal Code for alleged "carnal intercourse against the order of nature."

On June 28, his 23-year-old former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan had lodged a police report alleging that Anwar had sodomised him.

Asked if Anwar was handcuffed, Sankara said he was not.

Anwar started giving his statement to the police at about 2.50pm, said another of his lawyers R. Sivarasa, also the Subang Member of Parliament (MP).

Anwar's wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said he had called her from the police car to say he had been arrested.

"He asked me to go home to look after the children," she said when met in Parliament lobby earlier Wednesday.

Wan Azizah was at the city police headquarters by 1.30pm, followed 25 minutes later by daughter Nurul Izzah and her husband Raja Ahmad Shahrir.

"It's a feeling of deja vu with what happened 10 years ago," Wan Azizah said, adding that she was unhappy over how the arrest had been conducted.

"We'd already given our assurance that he would be at the police headquarters at 2pm," she said.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/16/nation/20080716101744&sec=nation]

Anwar Given Until 2pm Tomorrow To Present Himself At KL Police HQ - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 (Bernama) -- Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been given until 2pm tomorrow to present himself at city police's headquarters to give a statement in connection with an alleged sodomy complaint filed against him by his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

Federal Police CID director Datuk Mohd Bakri Zinin said should Anwar not heed the warning, the former deputy prime minister faced possible arrest.

"Police will take action under the law if he does not show up. Action will also be taken under the Penal Code against anyone who tries to prevent police if it becomes necessary to arrest Anwar," he told a press conference here Tuesday.

Anwar did not turn up at city police headquarters yesterday to give a statement on the case although it was said he had agreed to do so.

Commenting on reported remarks by Anwar's lawyer, S.N. Nair that his client was awaiting notification under Section 111 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) to present himself for questioning, Mohd Bakri said:"Anwar should have come yesterday as he had agreed he would. This is his case. He should be the one coming to see the police and not the other way round."

Asked if the police were practising double standards where Anwar was concerned because they did not arrest him after the report was made by the 23-year-old Saiful, Mohd Bakri said it depended on investigations and that police could not act hastily.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=346246]

Anwar fails to show up - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim failed to turn up for an appointment with the police yesterday despite agreeing earlier to allow his statement to be taken at the city police headquarters.

Following the no-show, police said they were considering several options to get the PKR de facto leader to give his statement.

CID director Commissioner Datuk Mohd Bakri Zinin said police wanted to record Anwar’s statement under Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).

“He had verbally agreed through his lawyer to come and give us his statement to assist us in our investigations following a report lodged by his former aide who alleged that he had been sodomised by Anwar,” he said at a press conference at the city police headquarters in Jalan Hang Tuah here.

Comm Bakri said police issued Anwar with a notice under Section 111 of the CPC to come forward and to give his statement.

Section 111 of the CPC empowers police officers to require the attendance of witnesses.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/15/nation/21822910&sec=nation]