DAP offers to help AGC convict ‘correct’ Altantuya killers -

The DAP legal bureau today offered its services to prosecutors in the high-profile murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, suggesting that an overworked Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) may have led to the acquittal of two former policemen previously convicted of the killing.

This comes as Segambut MP and bureau member Lim Lip Eng (picture) lodged a police report in Jinjang here over the Court of Appeal’s decision to free ex-police commandos Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar Umar of their conviction in 2009 of the gruesome murder.

“Give DAP legal bureau the fiat (authorisation order), we will make sure the correct person is prosecuted and convicted,” Lim said in a statement here.


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DAP gives Utusan Malaysia 48 hours to answer letter of demand

DAP national legal head Gobind Singh Deo (pic) has given Umno-controlled daily Utusan Malaysia 48 hours to respond to a letter of demand over two defamatory articles.

The two articles headlined "At last the drama has ended" and "Kit Siang manipulated CEC elections?", were dated August 17 and 18.

The first article quoted the Equity Report said to be written by a Father Augustus Chen, while the other report was that DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang had manipulated the party polls last December.

"The article quoting the Equity Report had no verification. Editor Zulkifli Jalil and reporter Kasthuri Jeevendran as well as Utusan Malaysia, have to answer all the allegations," Gobind said at the party's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

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DAP leaders to meet members personally to explain need for party re-election

DAP leaders will go down to the ground to explain to members and supporters the rationale behind their decision to hold fresh party elections.

Party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng announced this in a statement today, adding that the tour will begin after the 2008-2011 Central Executive Committee (CEC) meets coming Thursday.

Lim reiterated that the decision to hold new polls to elect the CEC was made so that the Registrar of Societies (RoS) would not have any reason to de-register the party.

"The bitter and painful decision made by party leaders in an emergency meeting of the 2012-2015 CEC on Wednesday night to hold re-elections was solely to prevent RoS from being given another opportunity to abuse their powers by de-registering the party.

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Karpal: I’ll declare assets when CM asks for it

DAP national chairman Karpal Singh has no problem declaring his assets and will do so when Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng calls for all local MPs to declare their assets.

“I have always advocated that all elected representatives publicly declare their assets. I welcome and fully support the Chief Minister’s recommendation that MPs in Penang declare their assets, and I will do so in due time,” he said yesterday.

However, the Bukit Gelugor MP said he would not respond to every single call from other parties and individuals such as Penang Bar Committee criminal law chairman Ranjit Singh Dhillon over the issue.

“I do not have the time to respond to this kind of people,” he said.


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DAP's Phee has most assets, while PAS man owns only car and motorcycle

DAP Sungai Puyu assemblyman Phee Boon Poh probably has the most in terms of assets among Penang’s Pakatan Rakyat’s assemblymen, with eight properties including joint properties, some of which are in Hamilton, New Zealand.

According to his asset declaration, Phee, who is a state exco member, jointly owns houses (inherited) and land in Hamilton, an apartment in Pantai Molek, Butterworth, a house in Taman Dalia, a shophouse in Bandar Mutiara (inherited), land in Teluk Air Tawar, a penthouse in Bagan Ajam and bungalow land in Batu Kawan.

Phee also owns shares in 24 companies and unit trust shares in six companies.

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Karpal, Anwar to sue Umno man, Utusan, NST, TV3 over bribery claim

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Karpal Singh said today they will sue Barisan Nasional (BN)’s Permatang Pauh candidate Dr Mazlan Ismail and three media outlets next week for defamation over corruption claims.

Karpal also denied Mazlan’s allegations that he was paid over RM50 million by Anwar as legal fees and to bribe judges and prosecutors.

“They’re ridiculous, frivolous, without any basis and made recklessly,” Karpal told reporters at the PKR headquarters here today, after lodging a police report jointly with Anwar on the matter.

“We intend to collate the necessary evidence to file actions against TV3, Utusan and New Straits Times, and of course, Mazlan himself,” added the DAP chairman.

Media Prima, which publishes the English daily New Straits Times, is owned by Umno. The ruling party also owns the Utusan Group that publishes Utusan Malaysia, a Malay-language daily. TV3 is a news network operated by Media Prima.

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Muhyiddin must apologise for inferring non-Muslims behind dog bathing video, says Pakatan

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin should apologise for jumping the gun and blaming non-Muslims for being behind a video clip depicting a dog undergoing ablution similar to Muslims before prayers, DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang said today.

"He should apologise for condemning the video without checking the facts," said the Gelang Patah MP in a statement in Kuala Lumpur today.

Muslim dog trainer Maznah Mohd Yusof, 38, had recorded a Raya greeting video three years ago that showed her washing dogs' paws while the call for Azan is heard in the background.

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In uproar over pre-Merdeka film, Guan Eng points out BN’s communism link

Lim Guan Eng today labelled Umno Youth and Utusan Malaysia “hypocrites” for criticising local flick “The New Village” over its portrayal of communism, reminding them that one of its own, Khairy Jamaluddin, had once established an alliance with the Communist Youth League (CYL) of China.

The DAP secretary-general said Khairy, now a minister and Umno Youth’s chief, had in his capacity as the Barisan Nasional (BN) Youth chairman, announced the formation of a permanent secretariat in October 2009 to strengthen ties with the CYL.

At the time, Lim claimed Khairy had said that the secretariat was a “party-to-party” direct linkage between both movements and would serve as a platform to facilitate continuous bilateral programmes and promote a stronger bond between BN Youth and the CYL.

“And yet no action is taken when Khairy knowingly, consciously and intentionally establishes a direct linkage through a permanent secretariat with the CYL,” the Penang chief minister said in a statement.


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Little chance of setting up new party if DAP de-registered, says RoS

If the Registrar of Societies (RoS) decides to de-register DAP, its members have been told not to harbour hopes of setting up a new party, The Star reported today.

RoS director-general Datuk Abdul Rahman Othman said they would not likely entertain requests for a new party.

“They can apply. But the right to approve is with the RoS. We did not even entertain 29 applications to set up new parties submitted over the last five years," he said.

Abdul Rahman was commenting on a plan by DAP members to set up a new party if DAP was de-registered, following complaints of election fraud in the party's central executive committee (CEC) election in December.

The director-general, when asked, said it was up to the party members to determine if the party should call for a fresh CEC election, adding that the party was now in limbo as the CEC was not recognised.

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Haul up Utusan over ‘false news’, DAP demands

Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia must be punished for disseminating “false news” that the police planned to use the Sedition Act over the Seri Pristana fiasco, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng demanded today.

According to the Bagan MP, this was a new low even for the newspaper that “openly called for the bloody May 13 racial riots that killed thousands of innocent Malaysians to be celebrated as a holy day.”

“Nothing is beyond Utusan Malaysia,” Lim (picture) said in a statement.

“[The] public had had enough of lies spread by Utusan Malaysia to foment fear and hate amongst Malaysia’s multi-religious society.”

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Overseas trips for PM cost RM44mil over five years

THE Prime Minister’s office has spent a total of RM44.071mil on overseas trips over the past five years.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim said the sum was recorded between 2008 and May this year.

Shahidan said this in a written reply to Nga Kor Ming (DAP - Taiping) who asked for the Prime Minister’s expenditure for foreign trips over the past five years.

During a press conference at the Parliament lobby, Nga called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to explain the gains of the trips to justify the expenditure.


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DAP leaders to complain to RoS

Ladang Paroi deputy chairman David Dass (right) says he was among those who did not receive any letter to attend the annual general meeting of his branch.

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."

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DAP MP petitions to disqualify 2 ministers, 3 deputy ministers

DAP MP M. Kulasegaran (pic) filed a petition today to disqualify two ministers and three deputy ministers in the Cabinet, saying their appointments did not comply with the Federal Constitution.

Kulasegaran named ministers Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar and Datuk Paul Low, deputy ministers P. Waythamoorthy, Dr Loga Bala Mohan and Datuk Ahmad Basha Md Hanipa as respondents in the judicial challenge.

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Pua says would laud Putrajaya for action on errant cops

DAP’s Tony Pua said today that he would be “the first to praise the government” if police officers found guilty of misconduct were punished.

The DAP publicity chief was responding to Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) chair Datuk Heliliah Mohd Yusof, who questioned yesterday if federal opposition pact Pakatan Rakyat (PR) would “praise any government body despite it being set up with heartfelt sincerity”.

“Let me declare upfront that I will be the first to praise the government if the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) is set up and brings to book all who are guilty of misconduct,” said Pua in a statement today.

“However, I’d like to ask the chairperson of EAIC if she actually thinks that the commission has delivered anywhere remotely close to what was promised?” added the Petaling Jaya Utara MP.

Pua pointed out that the EAIC ― which investigates complaints of abuse of power in the police force and 18 other enforcement agencies ― has only recommended one disciplinary action and two warnings to civil servants since its inception in 2011.

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DAP mulls over action against Er for snubbing boycott

Just the one: Ahmad Shabery and MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong jesting with Er – the sole opposition MP – at Parliament House.

DAP will deliberate on whether action will be taken against its Bakri MP Er Teck Hwa who has apologised for attending the Parliament briefing despite a boycott by Pakatan Rakyat, said party national organising secretary Anthony Loke.

Er created a stir yesterday when he was the only one of the 89 Pakatan Rakyat MPs who attended the briefing for parliamentarians.

Loke said Er was issued a show-cause letter to explain his action which went against party orders.

However, Loke made it clear that DAP would not be boycotting the MPs swearing-in ceremony on June 24.

“He has responded and publicly apologised via Facebook.

“We will deliberate on whether his apology is sufficient or if he needs to be penalised further and referred to the disciplinary committee. No decision has been made yet,” Loke said yesterday.

Er in his Facebook posting apologised for his actions and said he would accept the consequences.

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Former DAP man Tunku Aziz files police report over alleged death threat

Former DAP vice-chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim filed a police report at the district police headquarters here Saturday, claiming that someone had made threats against his life.

He said that he received a call to his personal mobile from a 013 number at around 10.10pm Friday while he was at home.

"The person who called had a male voice. The conversation was very short. I asked him who he was and he said 'I kill you' and hung up," he said.


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Jenice Lee sues DAP over expulsion from party

Former Teratai Assemblywoman Jenice Lee Ying Ha today filed a suit against DAP on her expulsion from the party.

Lee, 33, who filed the suit through the legal firm of Messrs. Harjit Sandhu at the Civil High Court registry here, named DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng as the defendant.

In the statement of claim, Lee (picture) seeks a declaration for her membership in DAP since 2001 to be reinstated immediately, cost and other relief deem fit by the court.

She claimed that her expulsion from the party, which she knew through the media last April 20, was null and void because an investigation by the Registrar of Society (ROS) revealed that the election of the party’s central executive council (CEC) members, held in December last year, was not in accordance with the DAP constitution.

In the recent 13th general election, Lee, the former Selangor DAP publicity secretary, contested as an Independent candidate for the Teratai seat, but lost.

Kit Siang: BN cooked up ‘Red Bean Army’ to burn DAP

Lim Kit Siang accused Barisan Nasional (BN) today of an elaborate conspiracy allegedly orchestrated with the help of former DAP members to demonise the opposition party ahead of and following Election 2013.

The DAP adviser claimed in a statement here that a preliminary inquiry has revealed that the conspiracy was hatched some three months before Parliament was dissolved on April 3, and was aimed at running down the party’s image ahead of the crucial polls.

According to Lim, the ploy included allegations of the “fictitious Red Bean army (RBA)”, a purported online operation of cybertroopers allegedly funded by the DAP to incite hatred, particularly among the Chinese, against BN.

“The main purveyors of the lies about the ‘Red Bean Army’ are the Umno/BN owned/controlled print media, which include Utusan Malaysia, New Straits Times, Berita Harian and Star, both before and after the 13th General Election on May 5,” the Gelang Patah MP alleged in the statement.

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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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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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