Civil servants taking side jobs and expose to bribes frauds

Cash assistance: Omar (left) presenting the mock cheque to Noor Rashidah Friday.

The rising costs of goods and living have forced many low-ranking civil servants to take up part-time jobs.

And the worry is, their productivity and performance levels as public servants would be exposed to power abuse.

Cuepacs president Datuk Omar Osman said the congress was concerned that civil servants might get involved in corruption to obtain extra income.

Omar was speaking to newsmen after a briefing session with Perak Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism officers here yesterday.

Tears flow for murdered baby

K. Vijayakumar (left), his wife M. Kavitha,36 and their three children say their final goodbyes to V. Seshagiry at their home in Bercham, Ipoh, yesterday.

Even the sky opened up when the body of an innocent 9-month-old baby boy placed in a coffin was taken out in a hearse from the house in Taman Indah Sakthi, Bercham here yesterday.

It was raining cats and dogs when the priest was performing the prayers for Seshagiry before the hearse left the house. The body was buried at the Buntong Crematorium at about 11.30am.

Family members could not hold back their tears on seeing the body while friends were saddened over the tragedy.

Kit Siang: Soi Lek killing the people’s hope for change

Lim Kit Siang accused Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek today of destroying the people’s hopes by dictating that they had no choice but to accept the status quo in the present administration under Barisan Nasional (BN).

This, said the DAP adviser, was reflected in Dr Chua’s recent reminder to the Chinese community that their hopes should be based on the political realities in Malaysia.

Lim (picture) insisted that the MCA president had missed the point when he challenged PKR to abolish Malay privileges, pointing out that the opposition had never argued over the special position of the Malays as enshrined under Article 153 of the Federal Constitution.

The point of contention, said Lim, was the BN government’s “blatant abuse” of the New Economic Policy (NEP) and refusal to implement needs-based affirmative action policies.

Wee slams bad translation

Lost in translation: The offending backdrop during the welcoming ceremony for Wen at Putrajaya.

Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong has criticised the inaccurate translation on a backdrop during a ceremony to welcome Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his entourage in Putrajaya on Thursday.

Describing the translation as nonsensical, he stressed that it did not reflect the quality of the Chinese language in Malaysia.

“The standard of our Chinese language is way above the inaccurate translation,” he said when asked to comment on the words in Chinese printed on the backdrop which was apparently a direct translation of the sentence Istiadat Sambutan Rasmi Sempena Lawatan Rasmi TYT Wen Jiabao Ke Malaysia.

The backdrop with serious syntax and grammatical errors was put up at a stage in front of the Prime Minister’s Department.

Pandemonium ahead of Eskay's oath-taking

It was pandemonium at Masjid Amru al As in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur today as at least 500 people - both opposition and government supporters - chant "There is no God but Allah" in the main hall.

It was anticipated that businessman Shazryl Eskay Abdullah would take an oath to prove he is telling the truth about the sex video he claims is of Anwar Ibrahim. He was said to be on his way to the mosque. It was later learnt that he would be coming at the time for Asar prayers, at around 4.30pm.

Everybody has the right to sumpah laknat, says PM

Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today that everybody has the right to perform a sumpah laknat oath but the government will not interfere by encouraging or deterring the act.

The prime minister was referring to the sumpah laknat oath taken by Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah today by swearing in God’s name that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is the man featured in a sex video that was recently shown to journalists.

Najib (picture), who is also the Umno president, stressed that individuals and political parties should take the same approach as the government.

Closure for EON Cap deal? Hong Leong taking over EON saga.

The board of EON Capital Bhd (EON Cap) has accepted the RM5.06bil takeover bid by Hong Leong Bank Bhd (HLB), capping a 16-month battle to create the country's fourth-largest bank by assets. It also proposed a surprise net interim dividend of RM312mil, or 45 sen per share, in addition to the offer price.

“The directors intend to manage this transaction in a manner that is fair and equitable to all parties concerned ... The additional interim dividend payment is in addition to the offer price of RM5.06bil and was secured after much negotiation with Hong Leong Bank ...,” said EON Cap chairman Gooi Hoe Soon in a statement.

The announcement came a day after the court ruled in favour of EON Cap and stopped EON Cap's largest shareholder Primus Pacific Partners Ltd's attempt to block the sale and a day before HLB's offer expires.

In a separate announcement, EON Cap said Primus had served the company's solicitors a notice of appeal, appealing the court decision. No date has been fixed for the appeal, which was largely expected by market observers.

Eskay takes religious oath

Businessman Shazryl Eskay Abdullah took an oath (sumpah laknat) that he was in the sex video along with Anwar Ibrahim and that Anwar was the man having sex with a woman in the video at about 4.15pm today.

He was accompanied by Rahim Thamby Chik and Shuib Lazim who screened the video to journalists alongside Eskay on Mar 21.

AirAsia reintroduces fuel surcharge from May 3

AirAsia, the low-cost carrier, will reintroduce the fuel surcharge for all domestic and international routes beginning May 3 to offset escalating jet fuel price.

To date, the price has exceeded US$140 (RM420) per barrel.

"Rising jet fuel prices and continuous upward spiral caused by the situation in the Middle East and other external factors have made it imperative for us to reintroduce the fuel surcharge " said regional head of commercial Kathleen Tan in a statement today.

She however said AirAsia would continue to ensure its fares would remain low despite the fuel surcharge.

She also said all flight bookings made before May 3 would not be affected by the fuel surcharge.

Meanwhile, she said, the airlines' recent partnership with Expedia, the world's online travel agency, and other initiatives, which are currently in the pipeline would further increase its revenue for ancillary income.

Illegals greasing palms of Immigration officers to gain entry into country

Bribes given to civil servants, especially law en-forcement personnel, range from RM3 to RM35,000 in one transaction, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said.

Between April and December last year, 414 people 125 of them foreigners had been arrested, the MACC said.

According to the MACC's 2010 Annual Report, corruption and other wrongdoings by enforcement officers, including Immigration officers at entry points, were among the reasons why some foreigners could enter the country illegally.

Najib: Oath-taking is Eskay’s choice

Businessman Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah’s decision to take the sumpah laknat (oath-cum-curse) over the sex video scandal is his personal choice and does not involve Umno or the Government, says party president Datuk Seri NajibTun Razak.

Malaysian still clamouring for panda

Malaysia is still hoping that China will loan its most famous icon, the panda, as a strong gesture towards long standing relationship between the two countries which established diplomatic relations in 1974.

The president of the Federation of Malaysian Chinese Association, Tan Sri Pheng Yin Hua, said Malaysia was among the first countries to have established diplomatic ties with China and both countries had enjoyed a long history of diplomatic relations as well as trade exchanges.

"It would be of great significance if China could loan a pair of pandas to Malaysia as a symbolic gesture for such long standing relationship between the two countries. Many countries have enjoyed the panda diplomacy policy. We hope China can lend us their pandas," he told Bernama in an interview.

Help little Cai Wai lead normal life

Chai Mui Lee holding her daughter, Teo Cai Wai, who needs RM40,000 to undergo heart surgery.

It was smooth sailing for Chai Mui Lee during her first year of motherhood.

However, the 34 year old had been living a nightmare in the past few months because her 19-month-old toddler had poor appetite and was often panting while being fed.

Teo Cai Wai has also barely grown compared with other children her age as she weighs only 6kg.


Chai took her daughter to Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor Baru for a check-up and initially, doctors diagnosed her as having a feeding problem.

After their second trip to the hospital, Teo was referred to Gleaneagles Kuala Lumpur and was diagnosed as having congenital heart defect with two holes in her heart.

"I was speechless when the doctor told me and my husband that our baby will not be able to have a normal life without surgery."

Anwar retaliates; calls Umno men drunkards, womanisers

 Anwar said he was familiar with the reputations of Umno leaders

Shazryl (centre) is accompanied by Rahim (left) and Shuib during his oath-swearing, April 29, 2011.


Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim lashed out last night by calling Umno leaders alcoholics and philanderers, hours after Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah took an oath against the opposition leader.

Shazryl performed the “sumpah laknat” oath yesterday by swearing in God’s name that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is the man featured in a sex video recently shown to journalists.

The unedited sex video was also uploaded last Thursday to video sharing website YouTube.

“When I came in, I could see that you were looking at my face and my stomach,” Anwar joked when addressing to a huge crowd in Ampang here.

There, he continued to attack Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, blaming the two as the masterminds behind Barisan Nasional’s (BN) dirty politics of pornography.

“Najib and Rosmah are practising filthy politics and pornography. Where in the history of the countries, including the Malay and Muslim world, where leaders are willing go to an extent most despicable and obscene for the sole reason of retaining power,” he said.

Eskay swears oath one of the Datuk T swear about alleged Anwar sex tape scandal

All three members of Datuk T enter mosque for an oath-taking ceremony wearing bullet-proof vests under their clothes. Only Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah completed the sumpah laknat (oath-cum-curse) ceremony

Soi Lek a coward, says Anwar

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim called Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek a coward last night after the MCA president said he would be the first to vote for PKR if it dared to abolish Malay privileges.

Anwar stressed Pakatan Rakyat (PR) will safeguard every provision in the federal constitution, especially Article 153 on the Malay special position.

“Chua Soi Lek wants us to fight among each other. We will not be dictated by you (Dr Chua). You don’t have the courage to face the corrupt practice of the Malay leaders.

“MCA leaders do not have the courage. We (PR) will rise and fight the corrupt, both Malay and Chinese,” he said during a rally with over 200 people in Ampang here last night.

He said the difference between Barisan Nasional (BN) and PR was that his pact fought for the plight of poor Malay while the ruling coalition only looked to protect the wealth of their own families.

iPad 2 sold out in five hours

Conspicuous consumption: A long line of customers forming before opening time at Midvalley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur Friday.

The iPad 2 ran out of stock in less than five hours yesterday after authorised Apple dealers opened their doors to excited buyers.

Long lines formed outside stores with hundreds turning up since 9pm the night before to be among the first in the country to own a unit of the second-generation of Apple's hugely popular Tablet computer.

By about 10am, more than 300 people were already waiting patiently at the Machines outlet at the MidValley Megamall. The line was so long it almost looped back to the start.

UK Britain Royal Family Wedding Photos.

Prince William and Kate Middleton married at Westminster Abbey yesterday in a sumptuous show of British pageantry that attracted a huge world audience and injected new life into the monarchy.

Before a flawless exchange of vows, a veiled Middleton wearing a laced dress with a long train, the first "commoner" to marry a prince in close proximity to the throne in more than 350 years, walked slowly through the 1,900-strong congregation.


As they met at the altar William, second in line to the throne, whispered to her, prompting a smile. The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams declared the couple married with the words: "I pronounce that they be man and wife together."

Tens of thousands of people thronging the streets outside cheered when they heard the words, and again as the newly-weds left the abbey in a 1902 open-topped state landau carriage bound for Buckingham Palace, the queen's London residence.

Huge cheering crowds strained to catch a glimpse of the beaming couple as well as the military bands in black bearskin hats and cavalrymen in shining breastplates who escorted them to the palace.

Royalities and Celebrities rub shoulder in the events.

Prince William and his best men his brother Prince Harry.

Prince William giving his vows.

Kate waving to the crowd the day before the ceremony.

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip leaving Westminster Abbey after the wedding ceremony yesterday

Prince William makes Kate Middleton his princess by putting the wedding ring on his bride’s finger at Westminster Abbey, London, yesterday.

Malaysia Agong in Prince William and KAte Middleton Royal Family marriage.

Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in London.Royal watchers waving Union Flags as they walk along The Mall towards Buckingham Palace after the wedding yesterday.Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah attending the wedding yesterday.


To wild cheers and with their flags aloft, the crowds surging up The Mall finally saw the moment they had all been waiting for as Prince William kissed his bride Kate Middleton.

The net curtains of the Buckingham Palace balcony began twitching right at 1.23pm and then right on schedule, two minutes later, the world's most-watched newlyweds emerged, sparking huge cheers.

The rest of the royal family came out, although Queen Elizabeth II kept discreetly to one side -- this was her grandson's big day.

Kapar MP gets sex vid in mail, demands cops explain

Manikavasagam shows the envelope addressed to his office.Manikavasagam holds up the CD he says was mailed to him.

Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam today demanded police explain his receiving a compact disc (CD) containing the full version of the sex video allegedly featuring Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at his parliamentary office yesterday.

Manikavasagam asked how the CD could have been be distributed when the original copy of the sex video had been handed over to the police.

He also said after watching the CD multiple times that the person in the clip was not Anwar.

“I have seen the VCD about three times and I also watched again this morning but it is confirmed that the actor is not Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The actor’s physical attributes and his hair is all different.

NGOs propose alternative to minimum wage bill

An alternative bill to the National Wage Consultative Council (NWCC) Bill is expected to be put forward by a coalition of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), civil societies, elected representatives and trade unions.

The NWCC bill, to be tabled in June, is expected to coordinate and determine the minimum wage for the private sector in the country and to create a council that will decide on an appropriate minimum wage for workers in various sectors and areas.

Royal wedding joy in KL, too

Malaysians and Britons toasted the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton at the "Royal Wedding Celebration in Malaysia” hosted by The British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

MCA presidential council backs Chua’s stand

All the president’s men: Dr Chua walking out of the brainstorming camp with MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, secretary-general Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha (right) and other party leaders at Ayer Keroh, Malacca, Friday.

The MCA presidential council is backing its president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek's call for the party to give up all government posts if the Chinese community did not support its candidates in the next general election.

Dr Chua said the decision was taken after much consideration as this was to show our respect to the electorate, especially the Chinese community, hence we will turn down any offer for Government positions, he told reporters after the meeting at a resort here.

Cops seek 2nd sex clip blogger

Police said yesterday they had begun investigations into the individual who uploaded a segment of a sex video clip allegedly featuring an opposition leader and a prostitute on YouTube on Wednesday.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar told reporters at the Bukit Aman police headquarters that although no reports had been lodged over the matter, police still wanted to investigate the case.

"The investigating team is tracing the whereabouts and the identity of the blogger who uploaded the second part of the sex video."


The case is being investigated under the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commissions Act, and personnel from the Federal Commercial Crime Investigation Department have also been roped in to assist the team.

At 1.30pm on Wednesday, a one-minute and 47-second segment of the sex video clip was uploaded onto YouTube by "wakparjosudorno".

However, it was removed at 6.45pm for violation of the website's policy on nudity and sexual content.

Despite renewed attacks, Anwar says won’t quit politics

Snippets of the now-removed videos.

“Datuk T” maintains Anwar is featured in the video

Anwar said the attacks against him came with being opposition leader.

No amount of sex videos or sodomy charges will deter Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from staying on in politics and leading the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition, the 63 year-old politician has said.

Despite daily attacks by Umno against the party’s one-time deputy president, Anwar believes that leaving or quitting politics altogether was tantamount to “succumbing to Umno’s designs.”

The PKR de facto leader told The Malaysian Insider this week that even if some other PR leader were to replace him, the attacks by Umno-Barisan Nasional (BN) will not stop.

“In an undemocratic dictatorial rule, any credible face of the opposition would be attacked severely.

Bank Negara in Beijing

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak welcoming his Chinese counterpart, Wen Jiabao, with a firm handshake at the federal administrative capital in Putrajaya yesterday.



: Malaysia-China bilateral relations were raised to a higher level with the inking of several agreements and memorandums of understanding here yesterday.


The signing ceremony that marked another step towards greater cooperation and joint investments in higher education, energy, infrastructure and communications, among others, was witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his Chinese counterpart, Wen Jiabao.

Wen arrived on Wednesday for a twoday visit, accompanied by a team of 118 delegates, including four ministers.

A milestone was the agreement on the setting up of a Bank Negara Malaysia representative office in Beijing. This would facilitate trade settlement in local currency.


Najib said Kuala Lumpur and Beijing felt the agreement to settle trade in local currency was a huge step forward in bilateral trade. Malaysia is China’s biggest trading partner in Southeast Asia.

Another agreement was signed between China’s Huadian Engineering and Malaysia’s Janakuasa Sdn Bhd on the construction of a coal-fired power plant. Janakuasa had previously been awarded the US$1.5 billion (RM4.48 billion) project in Vietnam, expected to be completed in 2015.

China Premier Wen in Malaysia

A VERY BUSY DAY INDEED... Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has his day packed with meetings with Malaysia's Chinese community, meetings with Malaysia's former leaders and spending official time with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, left, shakes hands with Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak after the official welcoming ceremony in Putrajaya, Malaysia,

(TOP) Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, right, walks with Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak after official welcoming ceremony in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Thursday, April 28, 2011. (BOTTOM) Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao (L) inspects a guard of honour in Putrajaya. Wen is on a two-day visit to Malaysia to reaffirm relations and

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (right) meets Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at Shangri-la Hotel Kuala Lumpur.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at the launch of the ACCCIM Sosio-Economic Research Centre at Wisma Chinese Chamber in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur today.

Top Picture... Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak making a speech at Malaysia-China Economic Trade & Investment Cooperation Forum in Kuala Lumpur today. Bottom Picture... Najib with the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (left) at Malaysia-China Economic Trade & Investment Cooperation Forum.