Survivors recall anxious moments

Matan sat on the roof of the boat as the hull was packed to the brim. As the express boat sunk, he scrambled and swam to safety, leaving his belongings behind.

“The boat was travelling at a normal speed when it suddenly rammed into a large timber log. The juragan (skipper) lost control of the boat due to the strong impact. The boat then hit a large rock in the water,” said the 50-year-old survivor, who only wanted to be known as Matan.

The collision, he added, resulted in the boat tilting to one side, which caused it to sink.
How it happened: Matan telling of is ordeal. How it happened: Matan telling of is ordeal.

This caused panic to the passengers inside the boat and also those sitting on the roof. Some of them smashed the side glass window to escape, he said.

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PKR banks on women power

Three women are set to fill all three places for PKR when the new Selangor executive council takes its oath of office today.

They include first-term Sementa assemblyman Dr Daroyah Alwi, a dentist.

The other two are Elizabeth Wong (Bukit Lanjan) and Rodziah Ismail (Batu Tiga), who defended their respective state seats at the recent general election.

Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, also a PKR nominee, was appointed Mentri Besar for a second term on May 14.

The other woman likely to be in his team is Selat Kelang assemblyman Dr Halimah Ali, from PAS.

A lot of haggling was reported to have taken place before all three parties in the Pakatan Rakyat agreed on their candidates for the exco line-up, which will now also consist of three representatives from DAP and four from PAS.

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Squash a step closer to Olympic inclusion

Squash, baseball/softball and wrestling have made the International Olympic Committee (IOC) shortlist for inclusion in the 2020 Olympic Games.

The IOC made the annoucement of the three shortlisted sports chosen from a list of eight at its summit in St. Petersburg, Russia on Wednesday.

A final decision will be made in September in Buenos Aires, Argentina just before a full IOC session at which the host nation of the Olympics will also be chosen.

With Malaysian squash queen Nicol David leading the charge, there is still reason to be optimistic that squash may make the cut.

One dead in Subang freak accident

A part of a boom crane fell off a trailer and crashed onto a passing car, killing a passenger and injuring the driver in it.

The incident occurred near the underpass of the Subang Airport-Subang Jaya road, off the Federal Highway, at around 4.30pm yesterday.

The accident caused a massive jam during the rush hour, which eased about two hours later.

The deceased, Kelvin Kumar, 26, was a restaurant worker, who was travelling with his employer, Anisa Abdul Rahman, 46.

Petaling Jaya Traffic chief DSP Wong Siw Choon said the worker died on the spot due to serious head and body injuries.

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Dr Subra denies plan to challenge Palanivel in party election

MIC deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam(wear glasses) has denied making any decision to challenge the top post in the coming party election.

He said Bernama's speculating article last Monday was only the views of the writer without any authentication.

"The writer of the article should have consulted and got my views before writing an article with far-reaching implications.



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Raja Nong Chik lodges police report against Nurul Izzah

Lembah Pantai Umno division head Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin today lodged a police report on a statement made by the Lembah Pantai Member of Parliament Nurul Izzah Anwar linking him to the purchase of 4.856 hectares of land in Bukit Kiara.

He said the report was to enable the police to investigate the statement made by Nurul Izzah, who is also Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president, one day before polling for the 13th general election.

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No charge against Chinese mother of baby in sewer

The mother of the Chinese newborn trapped in a sewer pipe in a stunning ordeal caught on video had raised the initial alarm and was present for the entire two-hour rescue but did not admit giving birth until confronted by police, reports said Wednesday.

The state-run, Hangzhou-based newspaper Dushikuaibao said police became suspicious when they found baby toys and blood-stained toilet paper in the 22-year-old woman’s rented room, in the building where Saturday’s rescue occurred in eastern China.

The woman, whose name was not revealed in state media reports, confessed to police when they asked her to undergo a medical checkup.

The woman told police she could not afford an abortion and secretly delivered the child Saturday afternoon in the toilet.

She said she tried to catch the baby but he slipped into the sewer line and that she alerted her landlord of the trapped baby after she could not pull the child out, the state-run, Jinhua-based Zhezhong News said.

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Hannah Yeoh named Selangor Speaker

Subang Jaya assemblyman Hannah Yeoh(pic) of the DAP was today named Speaker of the Selangor State Assembly, making history as the first woman Speaker in the country.

Her deputy is Seri Setia assemblyman Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad from PKR, when the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat government unveiled its new executive council line-up today.

News portal Malaysiakini reported today that Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim announced the line-up on his Twitter account.

The new exco was sworn in before Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah at Istana Alam Shah here this morning.

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Kin of dead toddler attack home

Overcome with grief, the family and relatives of an 18-month-old boy, who was killed when a car mowed into a wedding ceremony at Kampung Baru New Kopisan, Gopeng, attacked the home of the driver's father.

Kampar OCPD Supt Ng Kong Soon said six people, between the ages of 20 and 30, pelted stones and broke a car windscreen and a house window at Taman Gopeng.

Supt Ng said the incident occurred on Sunday at about 2am and later at night on the same day.

“Police have arrested all six, in Batu Gajah, Gopeng and Kampar, following the incidents.

“Among those arrested included the groom of the wedding and all of them are being remanded until May 30,” he said here yesterday.

On Saturday, the driver, identified as C.S. Senguttuwan, was involved in a high-speed car chase before he crashed into a canopy, where the toddler and his family were seated during the wedding at about 10pm.

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Explain why ex-judge and retired D-G still walking free, Kit Siang asks IGP

The DAP’s Lim Kit Siang called the national police chief’s bluff today, saying retired senior judge Datuk Mohd Noor Abdullah and former education director-general Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Arshad would have been arrested, questioned and charged with sedition if Bukit Aman were fully independent.

Highlighting the speedy arrest and prosecution of three opposition politicians and two other anti-government activists today, the Gelang Patah MP demanded Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar explain his men’s delay in acting against Mohamad Noor and Abdul Rahman who have been widely-panned for allegedly making racist and seditious remarks recently against the Chinese and Indian communities.

“Can IGP explain police double-standards in not enforcing the law against former Appeal Court judge and former Education Director-General despite their offences of sedition?” Lim (picture) asked in a statement

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Health Ministry suspends import of Taiwanese starch products used in bubble tea

The Health Ministry has suspended the import of 11 Taiwanese starch-based products after Singaporean authorities discovered maleic acid in some tapioca pearls or balls used in the popular “bubble tea” drink.

Food Safety and Quality senior director Noraini Datuk Mohd Othman said the suspension was a precautionary measure after they received early media reports on the issue.

“The Ministry has found that there have been no tapioca balls or tapioca pearls from Taiwanese company Sunright Foods Corporation imported to Malaysia. We are waiting confirmation from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office,” she said in a statement yesterday, adding that the ministry would continue to monitor imported products from Taiwan.

Singapore's Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority had found maleic acid in 11 starch-based products from Taiwan and has withdrawn them from the market.

It announced this shortly after the Sunright tapioca pearls had been recalled following Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) discovery of maleic acid in them.

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Malaysia’s stock market rise points to a bubble

Malaysia’s stock market is at risk of becoming a bubble, as it goes through an unsustainable growth spurt fuelled by a global thirst for yield, said a report by international analysts the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) today.

Together with neighbours Thailand and Singapore, Malaysia’s debt-to-income ratio has reached between 120 to 130 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP), a trend which has continued since 2011 after global outlook towards the region turned positive.

“Stagnation in industrialised nations means investors are turning to emerging economies in search of higher yield. ASEAN stock markets have ridden this wave of capital, sending stock prices skywards.

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Four policemen put on desk duty pending probe into Dharmendran lock-up death

Four policemen have been assigned to desk duties pending investigation into the death in police custody of N. Dharmendran.

City deputy police chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Amar Singh said the case is being investigated by a task force set up by Bukit Aman.

He said further action will be taken once the task force has completed its investigation.

“Until the investigation is over, the four policemen including an officer will be assigned to desk duties,” he said after handing over an appreciation letter to policemen.

During the ceremony, SAC Amar handed over an appreciation letter to Constable Muhalim Osob for handling the candlelight vigil outside Jinjang police station in support for Adam Adli Abd Halim, 24, with high professionalism.

Muhalim faced a group of lawyers who were denied entry to the Jinjang police detention centre to visit the student activist.

On May 23, police arrested 18 after the crowd failed to disperse despite warnings from the police.

‘Dharmendran’s family harassed by Paul Low’s officer and cops

(From left) Narayanasamy, Surendran, M. Marry and PKR human rights deputy chief S. Jayathas


An officer with newly-appointed minister Datuk Paul Low and the police have been accused of “harassing” the family members of police custodial death victim N. Dharmendran who was allegedly beaten to death in a lockup earlier this month.

PKR vice president N Surendran claimed today the deceased’s father, G Nagayarasamy, had received calls from an official purportedly working for Putrajaya’s anti-graft minister Datuk Paul Low who asked to meet him “secretly” and told him to stop engaging their current pro-opposition lawyers.

“They received a call from Mr Ravendran from the PMO who told Nagayarasamy that he wanted to meet to talk about the death and not to inform the lawyers and meet secretly,” Surendran told a press conference held in PKR’s headquarters here.

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Student activist Safwan refuses bail following sedition charge

An activist said Safwan (seated) was refusing to be released as a sign of protest against the BN administration

Student activist Muhammad Safwan Anang today refused to be released on a RM5,000 bail, choosing to be sent to prison after he was charged under the Sedition Act 1948.

His lawyer, Ariff Azam, said he was surprised at Safwan’s decision, saying that his client wanted to protest against the case in which he was charged this morning with uttering allegedly seditious words at a forum.

“My client Safwan said he’s not ready to come out despite being [bonded]... we are still trying to persuade him.


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All-woman team in PKR line-up for Selangor exco

PKR looks set to field an all-woman line-up in the Selangor executive council, with first-term assemblyman Dr Daroyah Alwi(right) joining Elizabeth Wong and Rodziah Ismail on the team.
Rodziah and Wong were the last to enter the palace gates at 10.30am.

With this line-up, PAS would have four exco members while PKR and DAP have three each.

Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim is expected to be in charge of land development and finances, while Teng will take on the trade and investment portfolio.

Iskandar (Housing), Rodziah (Welfare), Dr Halimah (Education), Dr Ahmad Yunus (Youth and Sports), Wong (Environment) and Ean Yong (New village development) are expected to continue on in their respective portfolios.

Ganabatirao(left), a former Shah Alam city councillor, is speculated to take on the local government portfolio, while Dr Daroyah and Sallehen will helm the health and Islamic Affairs portfolios respectively.

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Fans clash with police after Pahang-Johor DT football match postponed

Pahang supporters flooding the stadium during the Pahang-Johor DT football match at the Darul Makmur Stadium.

The FA Cup second-leg semifinal match between Pahang and Johor Darul Takzim at the Darul Makmur Stadium here tonight turned chaotic when the game was postponed due to overcrowding and unruly fans.

The game was earlier delayed when the stadium with 35,000 capacity, could not accommodate the huge turnout of fans, believed to be around 42,000, causing them to spillover and occupy the track area.

When FA of Malaysia assistant secretary-general Datuk Ahmad Fuad Daud made the official announcement of a postponement at 10.45pm, many of the disgruntled fans entered the field and clashed with the police personnel.

Some of them had also hurled objects, including mineral water bottles, into the pitch when the Johor DT fans gathered in the middle of the field.

It is learnt that several Johor DT fans were injured when those outside the stadium pelted stones into the stadium.

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Ex-minister says disgusted by ‘I love PM’ campaign

Those responsible for Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s “I Love PM” campaign should be sacked, former minister Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin has said as he expressed disdain for the attempt to endear the prime minister to Malaysians.

Zainuddin, or “Zam” as he is popularly known as, said the campaign that depicted Najib eating in stalls and mamak coffee shops with voters during the just-concluded polls, only showed hypocrisy as the prime minister was understandably still flanked by his personal assistants and bodyguards.

“His advisors thought that these pictures would show the elitist Najib and his aristocratic family living like regular citizens... but to the people, this is ‘extraordinary’ because they never bump into Najib in places like these.

“Former finance minister Daim Zainuddin called (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim a clown (King of Comedians would be more appropriate). To me, I call Najib an imitator,” Zam wrote in his blog Zamkata yesterday in a posting titled, “I love PM. It is disgusting”.


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11 passengers still missing, 179 survivors

Survivors of an overturned boat accident are seen on a riverbank of Rajang River in Belaga, Sarawak State on Borneo Island, 28 May 2013. An overcrowded river ferry capsized 28 May in eastern Malaysia, leaving an unknown number of people feared missing. Some passengers swam to safety but more might be trapped inside the boat.



Survivors' accounts say 11 passengers are still missing in the express boat accident in the Rajang River near Belaga yesterday while 179 others managed to swim to shore as at this morning, said Sarawak Police of Commisioner Datuk Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani.

He said the search and rescue (SAR) operation involving 100 personnel from the police, fire services, health department, welfare department and Kapit Resident's Office, 11 rescue boats and 18 divers were still continuing at the accident spot, at the Jeram Tukok/Jeram Bungan, about four hours journey upriver from Sibu.

"We have yet to confirm if those still missing are trapped in the sunken express boat or have been swept away by the swift river currents upriver," he told reporters on the sidelines of the Sarawak state legislative assembly sitting here.

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Nik Aziz: No PAS-Umno unity government as long as I’m alive

PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has vowed never to permit his party to form a unity government with Umno while he drew breath, saying he found no reason for such a co-operation.

In an interview with PAS organ Harakah published today, the former Kelantan mentri besar also issued a stern reminder to party members to never pursue the effort.

He said apart from a clash in party ideologies, there were many other issues that would render it impossible for PAS to join hands with Umno.

“No one can organise efforts for cooperation between PAS and Umno, much less do it quietly... this party is open to everyone and belongs to its members.

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Overloading continues despite boat tragedy

Despite the tragedy a day earlier, express boat operators in Kapit continue to overload their boats with people and goods on Wednesday as folks find their way back to the hometowns for the weekend Gawai celebrations.


The boats are still being overloaded with people and goods a day after one capzised along Balui river leaving 14 people still missing.

And the rush home for the weekend Gawai celebrations has added pressure on the situation.

The scene at the jetty here on Wednesday was a serious cause for concern.

There were parents carrying babies and passengers bringing at least two bags on board the boat. Even a heavy generator set was seen among the belongings. Officials from the Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) were helpless to control the situation.

The ticket price had also doubled due to the demand. Most of the passengers were aware of Tuesday's tragedy but said they had no choice but to take the river boat.

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In brewing MCA revolt, Soi Lek backs Matang-Scope deal

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek (pic) denied today that the party was undergoing any asset-stripping exercise, throwing his weight behind the proposed reverse takeover (RTO) bid by Matang Holdings Bhd in a move that could spark a major dispute with his deputy Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.(left)

Just hours after Liow and several senior party leaders slammed the deal at a press conference, Dr Chua issued a statement to insist that the planned takeover of listed electronics firm Scope Industries Bhd was meant to “add value” to the Matang Holding’ shares.

“It does not involve the sale of the any Matang Holdings asset and it is wrong to construe this transaction as asset stripping by MCA,” he said in the statement.

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Tian Chua, Tamrin, Haris rearrested in renewed crackdown

Politicians Tamrin Ghafar(middle), Chua Tian Chang (left) and political activist Haris Ibrahim (right) were re-arrested today, four days after a magistrate rejected a police application for their remand under the Sedition Act 1948 and the Penal Code.

At least one other student activist was also detained as police widened their crackdown against anti-Barisan Nasional (BN) and opposition activists which started last week.


Haris's lawyer Gobind Singh Deo said tonight that the "suspects" were being questioned at the Dang Wangi police station.

According to other reports on Twitter, student activist Muhammad Safwan Anang has also been detained by police.
"They are now in the Dang Wangi district police headquarters. They have been rearrested under the Sedition Act.

"We don't really know much about the situation and we are going there now," Gobind told The Star Online after Haris and Tamrin had been detained. Speaking to The Malaysian Insider later Gobind said: "The police have obtained a warrant of arrest so now they are arrested. We are still short of details at the moment but we believe they are arrested for sedition. Pursuant to the warrant they should be brought to court as soon as possible which is tomorrow morning.

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Search and rescue ops for Belaga boat survivors resumes tomorrow

This picture of a large crowd boarding the ill-fated boat was taken an hour before the boat left Tanjong Giam Bungan.Villagers getting ready to locate the 23 missing passengers of the capsized boat.The capsized boat submerged in the river

The search and rescue (SAR) operation for survivors of the ill fated express boat that sank this morning in the Rajang River near Belaga, will resume at first daylight tomorrow, said Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani.
As of 9.30pm tonight police confirmed there were 181 survivors while another 23 passengers were believed to be still missing in the accident after the overloaded vessel crashed into a rock and sank at the Jeram Tukok/Jeram Bungan, about four hours journey upriver from Sibu.

"The SAR operation, involving police personnel and other relevant agencies, was halted at 6pm due to darkness," he told Bernama here.

Based on initial findings, he said, police believed the express boat was overloaded with more than 200 passengers, who were returning for the Gawai Dayak festivities.

The identities of those still missing were sketchy because there were no official figures of passengers on board as the express boat operator was believed to have not kept a manifest, he said.

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Michelle Yeoh and Zang Toi set to receive honours

Celebrated actress Datuk Seri Michelle Yeoh and fashion icon Zang Toi are both said to be on the list of honours to be awarded by the King on his birthday.

Yeoh is on the list of people to be awarded the title of Tan Sri this Saturday, June 1.

According to a family member, Hong Kong-based Yeoh is busy working in Paris, but will be returning to Malaysia on Thursday, May 30 to prepare for the ceremony.

Michelle's fianc Jean Todt could also be attending the occasion.

Yeoh, 49 was born in Ipoh, Perak on Aug 6, 1963.

An actress of repute, she made her name as an action star in the Hong Kong film industry, and shot to international fame for her role in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

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Routine walk turns fatal for clerk in snatch theft incident

: A routine walk, the same that a 40-year-old clerk had done for the past 20 years, turned fatal after she was attacked by a snatch thief. Tar Bee Lin died due to severe head injuries.

She was walking alone to a bus-stop near her house in Taman Century here at around 8am on May 23 when a man in a motorcycle approached her.

The snatch thief then hit her on the back of the head with a blunt object, causing her to fall onto the side of the road.

He then grabbed Tar's backpack containing her laptop, house keys and some clothes.

Concerned passers-by who noticed Tar lying on the ground quickly alerted the police.

An ambulance later rushed her to Hospital Sultanah Aminah for emergency treatment.

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Home-made grenade found outside recreational club in Raja Uda

A home-made grenade was found outside of a recreational club in Raja Uda here early this morning.

Seberang Perai Utara police chief Assistant Commissioner Abdul Rahman Ibrahim said two security guards on duty had stumbled upon the grenade at 5.20am in front of the club’s main entrance.

“They saw a man threw a hand grenade wrapped in paper at the front door and sped off on a motorcycle,” he said


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Amok man grabs pistol from cop, fires 3 shots

A Myanmar national created a scene at the Chai Leng Park police station early this morning when he grabbed a pistol from a policeman manning the front-desk and fired three wild shots in the premises.

The 2am drama unfolded when the 33-year-old suspect arrived at the police station to lodge a report over a fight in Taman Inderawasih flats and claimed that someone had threatened him.

State Criminal Investigation Department chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Mazlan Kesah said acting on the information, the police motorcycles patrol unit were deployed to the scene.


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Subra set to launch bid to depose Palanivel

After a “contest-free” 20 years or so for the coveted post of president in the MIC, incumbent party chief Datuk Seri G. Palanivel is expected to face a tough challenge in the defence of his position at the party’s presidential polls to be called in about eight to nine months.

The last time the 67-year-old party had a presidential contest was in 1993, when the then MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu was challenged by S. Subramaniam, better known as Jumbo Maniam. Samy Vellu won the contest.

A prominent MIC veteran who spoke on condition of anonymity said the current deputy president, Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam, seems to be planning to mount a serious challenge for the post.


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'Don't drag me into your war,' says Samy Vellu

Former MIC president Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu has cautioned aspiring candidates in the forthcoming MIC elections not to drag him into their political battle.

"I will make my choice of who should lead the party at the right time. Don't drag me into your war," he said in response to a Bernama report.

The report quoted MIC deputy president Datuk Dr S.Subramaniam as saying that Samy Vellu had given him the green light to take on Datuk Seri G.Palanivel for the MIC president's post in the elections scheduled next year.

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EC denies Malaysia’s voting system will keep BN in power forever

The Election Commission (EC) has denied claims that the first-past-the-post voting system practised in Malaysia will keep the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN) in power forever, while insisting that it is among the best electoral systems in the world.

Academics have said malapportionment — unequally-sized constituencies — and gerrymandering — manipulation of electoral boundaries — have led to one rural vote being equal to six urban votes in the May 5 general election where Pakatan Rakyat (PR) won the popular vote but BN got to form the government.

“This first past the post, it’s not until forever that BN will win. This first past the post is a simple system where (there’s a) contest for seats in an area,” the EC deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar told The Malaysian Insider in an exclusive interview.

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Wife of detainee who died in police lockup lodges report

The wife of 32-year-old N. Dharmendran who died while being detained in a lockup at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters on Tuesday has lodged a police report on his death.

Dang Wangi police chief ACP Zainuddin Ahmad said Marry a/p Mariay Susay, accompanied by about 30 family members and the deceased’s friends arrived at the station at 11am today.

In a media statement, he said police were forced to tighten security and prevented the whole group from entering all at once to reduce the congestion at the enquiries counter as there were also other members of the public who were in the premises for their respective purposes.


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Football fan in coma after falling while trying to retrieve flag

Words of comfort: Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) player Ahmad Tarmimi (left) speaking with Roshdi’s mother after visiting Roshdi at Hospital Sultanah Aminah.

An ardent football fan is in a coma after he fell about 15m while trying to retrieve his club flag from a pole on the upper stands in the Larkin Stadium here at the end of a match.

Factory worker Roshdi Rosiman, 29, was trying to retrieve the flag he had earlier hung in support of Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) during a match against Pahang on Saturday night when he could have accidentally been pushed by other supporters in their haste to leave the stadium.

Roshdi was rammed against a fence put up along the top of the stadium near the pole.

As the fence gave way, he lost his balance, slipped and fell, hitting an awning along the way before landing on the ground.

Johor Baru South OCPD Asst Comm Zainuddin Yaacob said Roshdi, who had injuries on his legs and back from the fall, was still conscious when he was rushed to Hospital Sultanah Aminah for emergency treatment.


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SOSMA duo rearrested for terrorism, says lawyer

Yazid Sufaat and Muhammad Hilmi Hasim were rearrested for terrorism this morning under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (SOSMA) 2012 despite the High Court throwing out similar charges last week for inciting terrorism in Syria, their lawyer said today.

Yazid’s lawyer Fadiah Nadwa Fikri said today that they were arrested under section 130K(a) of the Penal Code, which falls under SOSMA, for harbouring terrorists for terrorist activities, but said it was unknown if Halimah Hussein, who had also been charged under the security law, was rearrested as well.

“It’s mala fide definitely,”

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2 Perak opposition politicians charged under Peaceful Assembly Act

Ipoh Timur MP, Thomas Su Keong Sing, 52 (second from left) dan Perak PKR Secretary, Mohamad Anuar Zakaria, 45 (second from right) walks out of the Ipoh Mahkamah Sesyen after being charged under Section 9(1) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 for not giving sufficient notice to the Ipoh Chief of police for an illegal rally on May 9 and 12 Mei.


For the first time in Perak, two opposition politicians have been charged under the Peaceful Assembly Act for organising political gatherings without permits.

DAP's Thomas Su Keong Siong, 47, and PKR's Anuar Zakaria, 45, were both charged at the Ipoh Sessions court this morning for holding illegal gatherings on separate occasions.

Su, who is DAP member of Parliament for Ipoh Timur, was charged for organising a DAP ceramah at Dewan Chin Woo here on May 9.


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Toddler dies as fleeing suspect rams car into wedding guests

Tragic incident: The wedding canopy in shambles after a wanted man rammed his car into it at Kampung Baru New Kopisan in Gopeng, killing 18-month-old Thamilarasan (inset).


A wanted man fleeing from the police in his car mowed through a crowd of wedding guests, killing an 18-month-old boy and injuring two others.

Patrolmen chasing the suspect aborted their pursuit to help rush the victims to the Kampar Hospital, following the tragic 10pm incident at Kampung Baru New Kopisan in Gopeng, about 25km from here, on Saturday.

Due to his injuries, T.Thamilarasan was transferred to the Raja Permai-suri Bainun Hospital here, where he died at around 5am yesterday.

The suspect, said to have at least 13 criminal and drug-related records, escaped.

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EC seeks polls law review

PETALING JAYA: The Election Commission (EC) will soon begin a review of election laws and voter registration procedures to deal with complaints such as unusually large number of voters registered at the same address.

Among the matters being considered by the commission was to seek the power to “remove” voters who do not live at the address and update the registration in accordance with the address listed in their MyKad.

“We will examine in detail all aspects related to the present laws governing voter registration to look at all the loopholes which can give room for fraud by any political party when they register voters,” EC deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar (pic) said yesterday.


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Palanivel: MIC to discuss merger with PPP, IPF, Makkal Sakthi

MIC will discuss with People's Progressive Party (PPP), the Indian Progressive Front Malaysia (IPF) and Makkal Sakthi on the possibility of merging all the parties.

MIC president Datuk Seri G.Palanivel said the merger aimed to forge cooperation between all the parties in the interest of the Indian community for the 14th general election (GE14).

"The proposal for the merger of these parties was raised at the meeting of the MIC central working committee on Friday.

"I will share the proposal with the other political parties representing the Indian community in the near future," he told reporters after opening the 51st General Meeting of the Malaysia Tamil Writers Association.

Palanivel, who is Natural Resource and Environment Minister, explained that the proposal must first be discussed with leaders of the political parties.

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Hospital Bahagia former patient charged with killing grandmother

A former patient at Hospital Bahagia, Tanjong Rambutan was today charged in the Magistrate's Court here for murdering his 84-year-old grandmother.
Shahriman Mohd Shaidi, 35, allegedly killed Che Minah Hassan at Kampung Pasir Pekan Hilir, Wakaf Baharu, Tumpat at 7.15am on May 11 this year.

However, no plea was recorded from the accused who faces the death sentence under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
Magistrate Mohd Isa Mohamed fixed July 1 for re-mention pending the post mortem and DNA reports.

Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Salam Yusof appeared for the prosecution while the accused was not represented.

People can decide if time for BN to be a single party: Tengku Adnan

The people and members of the Barisan Nasional (BN) can decide whether the time is right to turn BN into a single party with a new name in line with the current political changes, said BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

He said the proposal which was made before the 13th general election (GE13) had been revived and should be given serious attention so that BN remained relevant especially to youths.

"We (BN) are indeed looking at the issue of whether the time is ripe for BN to morph into a single party. Whether the people are ready or not we don't know. But many are saying it must be done. We are looking at and scrutinising the methods to implement the proposal.

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The Wall Street Journal: Anwar asked Jusuf to broker deal over GE13

International daily The Wall Street Journal has reported that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had sought former Indonesian vice-president Jusuf Kalla to broker an accord with Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak over the 13th general election.

However, the Opposition leader turned his back on the peace deal, Jusuf told the paper in a recent interview.

He said Anwar had approached him about an agreement two months ago and they met at his Jakarta home, where the PKR adviser asked him to reach out to Najib and secure his (the prime minister's) commitment for a peaceful election outcome.

Jusuf, who had brokered peace agreements in various conflicts across the Indonesian archipelago during his time as vice-president from 2004 to 2009 and also had roles in peace negotiations in Thailand and Sri Lanka, said he shuttled back and forth between Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur to meet both Anwar and Najib.

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PM Najib: BN has to adapt to remain relevant

Change is imminent and Barisan Nasional has to adapt if it wants to continue to be relevant, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said the political landscape would continue to undergo significant change due to several factors.

"Among the elements that will bring forth changes are urbanisation, better standards of living and access to information and communication technology.

"Nothing is constant. Whether it is quick or not, change will happen," said Najib at a thanksgiving event with members of Pekan Barisan's election machinery here Sunday.

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Najib and Palanivel to discuss deaths in police custody

The recent death in police custody and strengthening of the Indian community will be among the issues that MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel will discuss when he meets with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak next week.

"We will look into the matter. I will meet him either on Monday or Tuesday," he said at a press conference Friday after the party's Central Working Committee meeting.

Palanivel said he would also discuss the Indian economic agenda as well as accusations by Hindraf chairman P.Waythamoorthy towards the party.

"We want to bring back the Indian votes as well as have discussions with PPP and IPF on strengthening the party.

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