Info leak ban shows insincerity in Putrajaya’s graft fight, Pakatan says

The Penal Code amendment prohibiting the leaking of government information showed that Putrajaya was not serious in combating corruption, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers said today.

PKR’s Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli criticised the amendment, which was passed in Parliament yesterday, for promoting a “yes-man culture” in the civil service, pointing out that the law did not specifically protect leaks of information on corruption.

“What the amendment does is effectively creating a civil service who will not want to rock the boat because there is a heavy price to pay, even if he whistleblows on corruption,” Rafizi told The Malay Mail Online in a text message today from Mecca.

Continue Reading..

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.

Continue Reading..

Shafee’s appointment as lead prosecutor in Anwar sodomy appeal raises questions

An unprecedented move by the government to use Umno lawyer Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah as the lead prosecutor in the appeal against the acquittal of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the sodomy case has raised eyebrows as this could lead to more charges of this being a politically-motivated case.

Shafee told the three-man Court of Appeal bench chaired by Datuk Ramly Ali that he was appointed by the Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail.

He is replacing former solicitor-general II Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden who led the prosecution team in the trial stage.

Shafee, a former deputy public prosecutor before he went into private practice, told reporters that he received a letter from Abdul Gani on July 11 to lead the prosecution team.

"My appointment is in accordance with the Federal Constitution and the Criminal Procedure Code. The AG is the only person, and not even the prime minister, who can direct me on this," he said.

Continue Reading...

Pakatan Rakyat to sue Election Commission over indelible ink

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) will file a civil suit against the Election Commission (EC) on Monday over the use of indelible ink in Election 2013, Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar said today.

The PKR vice president said EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusuf and deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar have allegedly lied regarding the indelible ink, making contradicting statements regarding its silver nitrate content.

“We have necessary documents and evidence against the EC. You cannot keep changing your statements regarding the silver nitrate from 5 to 7 per cent to only one per cent and later it is akin to food colouring,” she told an electoral forum organised by the Malaysian Bar Council here.

Continue Reading....

BN MP causes uproar with WikiLeaks claim that Anwar has millions.

When Member of Parliament Liang Teck Meng (BN-Simpang Renggam) claimed in the Dewan Rakyat that Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had stashed away RM332 million in 20 banks in four countries, including Israel, he almost brought down the house.

Quoting anti-secrecy organisation WikiLeaks, Liang said the Permatang Pauh MP was said to have a treasure-trove of US$66 million (RM209 million) and SGD$49 million (RM123 million) in 20 banks in the United States, China and Singapore besides Israel, reported Bernama yesterday.

"This information went viral on the Internet. And when I read this, I wondered where this money comes from," he said when debating the motion of thanks on the royal address.

Liang said that all accounts had detailed particulars of the holder's name, position and passport number as well as the date the account was opened and the maturity date. The government should investigate the matter as one of the accounts was opened in Israel where Malaysia had no diplomatic relations, he said.

Continue Reading..

PKR won’t boycott swearing in of MPs

PKR will not snub the swearing in of its elected representatives and denied ever making the suggestion, party deputy president Azmin Ali has said, after the move drew criticism even from both sides of the divide, including the party’s own allies in Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

“There has been speculation in the media that KEADILAN may boycott the swearing-in ceremony of MPs at the Dewan Rakyat on June 24, 2013. I wish to state categorically that at no point of time did KEADILAN decide to carry out any boycott of the oath-taking process.


Continue Reading..

PKR should not boycott Parliament swearing-in, says its Wanita chief

PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin said that all Pakatan Rakyat MPs should not boycott the Parliament swearing-in ceremony.

"In my opinion, we should attend the swearing-in. It is only after we are sworn in as Members of Parliament that we can sit in the Dewan.

However, she was unrepentant over the boycott of the briefing session for MPs in Parliament on Tuesday.

"All of us in Pakatan already agreed not to attend the briefing.

"But the swearing-in is important to the constituents and those who voted for us to raise their concerns in Parliament," she said in a press conference here Wednesday.

Continue Reading...

PKR: Pandikar’s threat unlawful, exposes blatant bias

The Dewan Rakyat Speaker’s threat to drop Pakatan Rakyat (PR) elected representatives as Members of Parliament is unlawful and exposes his blatant bias towards the opposition, PKR has blasted.

Party vice-president N. Surendran (picture) argued that Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia has no legal ground to issue the threat, claiming that the Parliament Standing Orders clearly compel the Secretary of the Dewan Rakyat to administer the oath to any MP who has yet to do so.

Continue Reading...

2 held over robbery at PKR’s sec-gen’s house

Police detained two men in connection with a robbery at the house of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution in Kampung Air Hijau here last Thursday.

Machang district police chief DSP Che Malek Bedot said the suspects, aged 23 and 22, were arrested at their respective houses in Kampung Gosong here at 1.05am yesterday.

He said the two men would be remanded for three days from today to assist investigation.

Several items, including laptops, watch, handphones and foreign currency notes, were found when police raided their houses.

Continue Reading...

PKR: Parliament boycott only a suggestion

Tian Chua (left) said the call to boycott the Parliament sitting was only a suggestion and no official decision has been made.

The call to boycott the Parliament sitting was only a suggestion and no official decision has been made as of now, PKR vice-president Chua Tian Chang has clarified.

Several newspapers reported today that the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) anchor party was alone in its decision to snub the swearing in of its lawmakers on June 24 to protest against alleged fraudulence in Election 2013.

“We are just boycotting the swearing in as a protest until all members of the Elections Commission (EC) resigns.

“But this is only a suggestion. No decision has been made,” Chua, who is also Batu MP, told The Malaysian Insider.

Last Friday, PR leaders said its MPs are expected to boycott next Tuesday’s parliamentary briefing as a symbolic gesture to show the pact’s seriousness in its push for electoral reforms.

The DAP’s Anthony Loke (picture) confirmed the decision, which was made earlier this week by the PR leadership council, saying the move comes on the back of the string of rallies held nationwide to protest against Barisan Nasional’s (BN) alleged use of fraud to win the just-concluded Election 2013.

Continue Reading..

Nurul Izzah entry ban lifted, say Sabah cops

Sabah police confirmed today that the state has lifted its ban on Nurul Izzah Anwar entering the east Malaysian state.

State police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Hamza Taib reportedly confirmed this with Astro Awani today but did not offer further information on why the ban was retracted.

The police chief also claimed that no other individuals apart from Nurul Izzah were placed on a travel blacklist, despite information found in leaked correspondence between Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman’s office and the state’s Immigration Department.

“As far as the police have mentioned, no other individuals were banned apart from Nurul. But even then, that ban has been retracted,” DCP Hamza told the station.

Continue Reading...

Nurul Izzah rubbishes claims of planned Sabah protest

Federal lawmaker Nurul Izzah Anwar, barred from entering Sabah on Thursday, described allegations that PKR planned to have a demonstration at KDCA “as fabricated and utterly ridiculous”.

“The allegations are meant to tarnish my character and justify the unjustifiable deportation of BN dissenters,” she said in a brief message.

“I deplore the fact that the Sabah Barisan Nasional government is repeating such fabrication without an ounce of responsible fact-finding,” she added.

The Lembah Pantai MP and PKR vice president was responding to an article in Borneo Insider quoting sources that she was planning to head a PKR demonstration at the KDA during the state-wide Kaamatan.

Her denial comes soon after Penampang MP Darell Leiking said that the accusation is a “lie and rifled with speculation”.

Continue Reading..

Crackdown begins!

Batu MP Chua Tian Chang, activist Haris Ibrahim and PAS’s Tamrin Ghafar were arrested for sedition today and brought to the Jinjang police station for questioning, according to reports.

It is understood the trio were detained separately in an apparent police crackdown today. This is the third police investigation into sedition since the May 5 general election.

“I was arrested, now in the police car, at Jalan Kuching, heading towards the Jinjang police station,” Tamrin, the son of former deputy prime minister Tun Ghafar Baba, told The Malaysian Insider in phone call at 2pm today.

Continue Reading...

As thousands rally in Kedah, Mahfuz warns BN against needless spats

Mahfuz reminded Mukhriz that the previous PAS administration had extended the use of the state stadium for Najib’s rally in January.

Thousands attended the “Black 505” rally here last night, where Kedah PAS chief Datuk Mahfuz Omar warned Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders against sparking conflict as the majority was with Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

Estimating that a crowd of 50,000 had gathered outside the state PAS headquarters, Mahfuz criticised newly-minted Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Kedah Chief Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir for warning against the rally.

“I would advise Zahid to accept that the majority of the people are with the Pakatan Rakyat and don’t start a war with the people. Be rational,” the PAS vice-president and Pokok Sena MP was quoted as saying in media reports.

Continue READing..

Nik Nazmi charged over Kelana Jaya rally, risks disqualification as lawmaker

Nik Nazmi (centre) speaks to the press after he was charged in court today.


PKR’s Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad was today charged under the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) 2012 with failing to give the police 10 days’ notice for the post-election rally at the Kelana Jaya stadium on May 8.

The PKR communications director pleaded not guilty when the charge under section 9 (1) of the Act was read out to him in the Sessions Court here.

If convicted under section 9(5) of the same Act, Nik Nazmi could be fined up to RM10,000, which could see the Seri Setia state assemblyman losing his seat.

Continue Reading..

Khaled is Johor MB, Khalid helms Selangor

Permas assemblyman Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin was sworn-in as Johor's 15th Menteri Besar, together with nine state executive members, in front of the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar at the Sultan Ibrahim Building in Bukit Timbalan.
Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim receiving the letter of appointment from Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah in Klang.


Two Menteris Besar were sworn in this morning.

In JOHOR BARU, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin was sworn in as the Johor Menteri Besar before the Sultan of Johor at Sultan Ibrahim building.

The new exco line-up will see all new faces, except for Mahkota assemblyman Md Jais Sarday and Johor Lama assemblywoman Asiah Md Ariff.

Among the new faces were: Datuk Tee Siew Kiong (Pulai Sebatang), Datuk Hasni Mohammad (Benut), R Vidyanathan (Kahang), Abd Mutalib Abd Rahim (Layang-Layang), Datuk Abd Latiff Bandi (Endau), Ismail Mohamed (Bukit Serampang) and Datuk Zulkurnain Kamisan (Sri Medan).

Tee and Vidyanathan will both represent the Chinese community under MCA and the Indian community under MIC, being part of the Barisan Nasional state government.


Continue Reading..

Khalid to be sworn in as Selangor MB tomorrow

Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim will be sworn in tomorrow as Selangor mentri besar for a second term, Bernama reported today.

The national news agency quoted the confirmation from an official at the Selangor mentri besar’s office that will finally end the dispute over the top government post in the country’s wealthiest state.

“The exco line-up is already prepared,” Khalid (picture) was quoted by Bernama as telling reporters at the Bukit Kayangan palace in Shah Alam.

“We target two weeks at the latest and a week at the earliest for the new exco to be appointed,” he added.

Continue Reading..

Anwar: Ex-judge’s ‘racist’ warning to Chinese would make Hitler proud

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has slammed former Court of Appeal judge Datuk Mohd Noor Abdullah for warning the Chinese of a Malay backlash, saying the latter’s “racist” remarks would make German Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler proud.

The Pakatan Rakyat (PR) de facto leader wrote in a brief blog posting last night that unlike Umno, leaders in his pact would not spread such racial discord but propagate peace and mutual respect among the country’s many races.

“How long more are we to tolerate such hate mongering and race baiting from the illegitimate Najib government?” Anwar (picture) asked.

Continue Reading..

GE13: Azmin Ali questions Wan Azizah

Azmin flanked by his supporters while speaking to reporters in Petaling Jaya.

PKR deputy president Azmin Ali has launched a thinly veiled attack against president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail for failing to consult Selangor party leaders over who should be the mentri besar.

The Selangor PKR chief had fired the first salvo a day earlier by saying that the next mentri besar should not be a “lame duck” who allowed himself to be led by others.

The reference was seen as a dig at Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.

At a packed press conference yesterday, Azmin said Dr Wan Azizah had sent a letter to the palace endorsing a particular candidate for the post without the knowledge of state PKR leaders.

Continue Reading..

Azmin: I am not gunning for the MB post

PKR deputy president Azmin Ali says he will never betray PKR nor is he aiming for the MP post.