Update public on Taib probe, MACC urged

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission should update the public on its probe into Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, says Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) secretary-general Josie M. Fernandez.

 On Saturday, MACC said in a statement that a multi-agency task force, which included personnel from the Attorney-General’s Chambers, had been formed to investigate the graft allegations.

  In dismissing doubts on its efficiency, particularly in dealing with corruption allegations against the 77-year-old politician, MACC said it had  recorded statements from 20 people and examined 400 files in its investigations.

It also said the probe had started before a video, which implicated Taib in corrupt dealings, was posted on the Internet.

However, it added that an additional team of 10  investigators was formed after the video went viral.

  Although the agency had begun investigating graft allegations against Taib for  some time, Josie said  MACC should  not be tightlipped on the developments of the case.

  If there were any issues impeding the investigation, Josie said these should be made public to show that     MACC was a transparent investigative body.

  Josie yesterday said the allegations against Taib had been highlighted   seven years ago, as many reports against him had been made by the people of Sarawak, whom she claimed  had "become victims of corruption".

  "The public must be kept informed on the direction of the investigation  and what had taken place."

PSM wants 'mutual respect'

The love-hate relationship between Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) and the opposition coalition looks likely to continue, at least for the time being.

This was after delegates at PSM's 15th national congress in Cameron Highlands endorsed a resolution for it to continue having dialogue with Pakatan on its relationship with the loose opposition coalition.

In his opening address at the congress on Friday, PSM president Dr Nasir Hashim admitted that their relationship with Pakatan was in shambles during the general election on May 5.

When contacted yesterday, party secretary-general S. Arutchelvan said the party was ready for future dialogue but this had to be based on mutual respect.

He said this was the consensus reached by the 300 delegates on the resolution on Saturday night. "PSM has not closed its doors on future dialogue with the Pakatan leadership. The ball now is in their court."

Arutchelvan also said the party was waiting for opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's next move following his recent statement that PSM was welcome to join Pakatan on condition that the party endorsed the opposition pact's common policy platform.

However, Anwar's statement contradicted that of PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution who had earlier stated that Pakatan would not be accepting PSM.

Arutchelvan, who retained his party post unopposed at the party's congress, said PSM would only decide on its next course of action after the dialogue had taken place.

He said that his party's dialogue with Pas on June 18 had yielded "quite positive results".

On another matter, Arutchelvan said the party's delegates had also endorsed a resolution calling for PSM to use its own emblem in the next general election.

PSM had sought to use its white fist emblem in the May general election, but did not get the consent from Pakatan's leadership, resulting in its candidates contesting under the PKR banner.

Govt seeks 'fair solution over conversions'

The cabinet has come up with several suggestions to resolve the issue of unilateral religious conversion of minors, including reviewing the interpretation of Article 12(4) of the Federal Constitution.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the cabinet had suggested that any legal dispute over the matter filed in the civil courts system should be dealt with in the same system.

He said the cabinet had also asked the Attorney-General's Chambers to come up with proposals over the issue.

"I raised the issue in the cabinet meeting three weeks ago following an incident in Seremban, and we had discussed the matter extensively.

"As far as the cabinet is concerned, we want fairness to be given to all parties concerned and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has agreed on this stand," he said after opening the Penang Free School carnival here yesterday.

Present were state health director Datuk Dr Lailanor Ibrahim, state education director Ahmad Tarmizi Kamaruddin and the school's bicentenary committee chairman, Datuk Abdul Rafique Abdul Karim.

Dr Subramaniam said the issue arose following confusion in the interpretation of Article 12(4) of the Federal Constitution, which states that "the religion of a person under the age of 18 years shall be decided by his parent or guardian".

Dr Subramaniam said apart from the religious conversion issue, the cabinet had also discussed the proposed amendment to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976, which covers the custody, alimony and protection of children.

"It will be an uphill task and we have to handle the matter delicately as it involves sensitive issues but the cabinet is committed to finding a fair and just solution," he said.

The debate on unilateral conversion had resurfaced after an Indian hair salon operator in Seremban lodged a police report against her estranged husband for allegedly converting their two children without her knowledge and consent.

S. Deepa, 29, claimed that her husband, N. Viran, 30, who had converted to Islam after he was released from jail more than a year ago, took their children Mithan, 5, and Sharmila, 8, from a kindergarten in Jelebu in April and had them converted.

Deepa demanded that the Pusat Dakwah Islamiah Paroi, where the children were converted, should cancel the conversion.

The couple, who are in the process of divorce, were married for nine years and her husband was jailed for four months last year for involvement in a pirated DVD syndicate.

Read more: Govt seeks 'fair solution over conversions' - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/govt-seeks-fair-solution-over-conversions-1.310861#ixzz2XlEwtbA6

Tee grateful that sultan will issue statement

Datuk Tee Siew Kiong, MCA's sole state executive councillor, is grateful that the Sultan of Johor will be issuing a statement which he believes will resolve the issue pertaining to his appointment.

He said his critics, who were ironically party members, kept on attacking him probably because they still could not swallow the fact that it was the sultan who had appointed him to enable a Chinese to represent the community in the state's administration.

Even after his party membership was suspended for three years, he said the attacks never ceased, and he could not figure out why he was still being singled out for attacks when there were others who could be the subject of such attacks.

"As a Buddhist, it is not my style to lie. Since the sultan is going to issue a statement, I think this will do me justice and prevent any further attacks.

"Truth will prevail eventually. I have nothing to hide and, therefore, have nothing to fear. The sultan's decree is an order."

The New Sunday Times reported that the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, would issue a statement to put an end to the issue. Tee had accepted the appointment as the sultan had decreed him to do so.

When asked about the appointment of other former and present MCA leaders to government posts, but were not subjected to any attacks, Tee refused to comment, saying that it was better to leave that to the party's disciplinary board, just like what had been done to him lately.

It was reported that a senior Johor MCA leader had revealed that Tee was not the only party member who had accepted a government post, as there were others who had done so.

Citing examples, he named former president Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting, who is currently the prime minister's special envoy to China and former party vice-president Tan Sri Dr Fong Chan Onn, who is the chairman of the Sustainable Energy Development Authority of Malaysia.

Also on the list were the prime minister's political secretary, Wong Nai Chee and MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, who was appointed as the chairman of the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board.

When asked on the definition of a government post, Tee said this would mean anyone paid by the government.

DAP wants Pas to boycott by-election

Move will send a strong signal of Pakatan's unhappiness over indelible ink, says Guan Eng

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng will propose to its coalition partner Pas  to boycott the Kuala Besut by-election.

The reason for it is because of the indelible ink issue. Lim said he would forward the proposal to Pakatan's supreme council. However, any final say on the matter would be left to Pas, he added.

"If Pas decides to contest, DAP will still render the necessary assistance," he said after opening the party's community centre here yesterday.

Lim said the Election Commission was confused over the use of the indelible ink and it was handling the matter lightly.

He also said the EC had yet to respond to Pakatan's claims of election fraud.

As such, Lim said boycotting the by-election would send a strong signal of Pakatan's dissatisfaction.

When asked how crucial the Kuala Besut seat was, Lim said if both sides of the political divide won 16 seats each, the state assembly speaker on the coalition to run the state government.

If Pas accepts DAP's proposal, it will not be the first time that Pakatan would be boycotting a by-election. In 2007, it boycotted the Batu Talam by-election in Pahang by not fielding any candidate.

The Kuala Besut by-election has to be held following the death of its assemblyman Dr A. Rahman Mokhtar (Barisan Nasional).

Dr Rahman, who was also state Health, Women, Family and Community Development Committee chairman, defeated Pas' sole female candidate in Terengganu in the 13th General Election with a 2,434-vote majority.

Meanwhile, Bernama reports that the Besut Umno division is confident voters will support BN in the by-election.

Division information bureau chairman Datuk Wan Zakaria Abdul Rahman said this was because BN was fulfilling its promises made in the GE13 through various development projects.

DAP ni Mastermind,yang bodoh PAS sebab selalu kena jadi pak turut....please wake up PAS!!!

WOW!!!! Cash bonus if you marry in Selangor

Couples intending to get married this year will receive a RM100 bonus on top of an earlier announced RM200 incentive.

Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said yesterday this was in line with Selangor Pakatan's promise in its 13th General Election manifesto to offer a RM500 gift to couples getting married for the first time.

Those who wish to apply for the incentive must be 35 years old or younger and must have been residing in Selangor for at least 15 years.

"It is also to collect information for use in other 'Merakyatkan Ekonomi Selangor' programmes, for example, including them in the state's affordable housing programme."

Khalid said during a marriage incentive giveaway ceremony at Bangunan Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah here yesterday.

He said the RM100 bonus would not apply to the first phase recipients who had received up to RM400 per couple in the ceremony yesterday, which involved about 170 couples. Couples can register at their community service centres in all 56 state constituencies.

PR must prove it....

Kedah govt may close one Kuin campus

The Kedah government is considering shutting down one of the two Kolej Universiti Insaniah (Kuin) campuses as the institution has been left in dire financial straits under the previous Pas-led administration.

State Education, Transport and Public Works Committee chairman Datuk Tajul Urus Mat Zain said the option was being considered because of the high costs to maintain its main campus in Kuala Ketil, near Sungai Petani, and a branch in Mergong, here.

Tajul said the matter would be decided during a meeting with Kuin stakeholders and a task force that had been set up to investigate problems faced by the institution.

"This is one of the many options that the state government is considering to stabilise the situation.

"Initial findings by the task force showed that it is costly to maintain both campuses simultaneously.

"However, we need to study this option thoroughly if we want to close down either one of the two campuses.

"The main campus lacks hostel facilities, while the branch in Mergong cannot cater to the rise in the number of students.

"At the same time, we have to consider the hardship faced by its students and staff.

"Some students have to make more than one long journey to get to their classes at the main campus from their hostels here."

Tajul was asked to comment if the state government had come up with a solution for Kuin.

Another option being considered is to cancel programmes with low student enrolment, which had contributed to the hike in operating costs.

He added that the state government was also looking at the status of Insaniah Holdings Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary under Kuin that runs courses at the institution.

Haze problem: three ministers discuss to resolve the problem

Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore have discussed ways to reduce the risk of haze, which has affected the three countries in past weeks.

The discussion was conducted in an informal meeting initiated by Malaysia on the sidelines of the 46th Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, yesterday.

Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman attended the meeting with his counterparts from Indonesia and Singapore, Dr R.M. Marty M. Natalegawa and K. Shanmugam.

The Asean-Malaysia National Secretariat of the Foreign Affairs Ministry said the three ministers discussed ways to reduce the haze, including the quick ratification and execution of the Asean Transboundary Haze Pollution Agreement.

"The ministers had a frank discussion on the recent problem caused by the haze that affected many parts of Peninsular Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore," it said.

During the meeting, the ministers noted the improving situation in Sumatra, whereby the hot spots had been reduced from 16,500ha to 4,081ha.

They said that as of last week, the number of hot spots had dropped to seven from 261 because of cloud- seeding and water-bombing.

Haze oh haze please go away...:(

DAP leaders to complain to RoS

Two Indian-led branches fail to receive notice to convene AGMs

SEREMBAN: DAP has come under another round of fresh allegations that it is marginalising the party's Indian members.

The allegation comes from two Indian-led DAP branches in Negri Sembilan which failed to receive notice to convene their branch annual general meetings (AGMs).

The leaders are upset their branches were removed by their headquarters from a list of branches supposed to hold their AGMs.

DAP Desa Dahlia branch president Richard Francis Soosay said he had no inkling as to why his branch was removed from the list although he had never resigned from the party.

"We have waited patiently until today as it's the last day to issue the notice. The party branch should be given seven days' notice to conduct an AGM according to the party's constitution.

"We believe this is DAP's tactic to marginalise and terminate those branches whose leaders were vocal in their disapproval in the party."

DAP Nilai Perdana deputy president S. Rajashegher said the action taken by DAP headquarters showed the party's aim to marginalise Indians in the party. This is because most of individuals whose names were terminated from the party's list recently comprised Indian members.

"This time, whole branches were terminated. It is unseemly to deny our rights as we are still legal DAP members and possess 'Certificate A', which indicates that the branch has paid its annual fees and thus qualified to hold its AGM."

He said DAP members sacked by the party should have been given notices and 14 days time to justify the sacking to the party's disciplinary board.

Present were Ladang Paroi DAP deputy chairman David Dass, former Negri Sembilan Wanita DAP deputy chief K. Saroja Devi, Taman Tuanku Jaafar DAP branch chairman S. Palniyandi and Taman Paroi DAP branch deputy chairman P. Jeganath.

Dass said his rights were denied when he did not receive any letter to attend his branch AGM recently.

"The same goes for leaders from the Ladang Regent and Taman Tuanku Jaafar DAP branches."

He believes this was due to his vocal views on party matters.

Dass said he and others not issued formal notices would lodge complaints with the Registrar of Societies in Putrajaya tomorrow.

He also urged state opposition chief Anthony Loke Siew Fook, who is also DAP organising secretary, to step down.