Tri-elections: There's still independent candidates hovering around

Its' looks like that we are still far away to be a developed and unity nation. As we can see at Bukit Selambau, there are 13 independent candidates that think they can win the people's heart. It's good for democracy, but think it in a positive manner. I don't know how and on what basis  they are thinking, but obviously they are all gonna lose their deposit, definitely. If the independant is facing BN, a chance is there, but when two big party join the fray, I can only say goodbye to these independent candidates. Congratulation on your braveness and I think if they donate the deposit money to the needy people is more than worth it instead of giving it free to SPR... sigh... when is our people will be free from 3rd. world mentality, if this is the case... I don't think 2020 vision will be realised on time..... think about it....

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/3/29/nation/20090329165043&sec=nation

Published: Sunday March 29, 2009 MYT 4:51:00 PM - The Star
Tri-elections: Bkt Selambau sets new record
By DHARMENDER SINGH


PUTRAJAYA: The Bukit Selambau state by-election set a record Sunday with 15 candidates contesting.

Election Commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said this was the first time in Malaysian election history that there has been a double-digit number of candidates for a seat; the highest number of contenders for a seat until now had been eight.

Sabah has had eight-cornered fights for state seats in the last several general elections. During the 2008 general election, there were eight contenders each for the Tanjong Kapor and Sukau seats.

Abdul Aziz said the high number of candidates would not pose problems for the Commission in ensuring a smooth election, adding that his staff were prepared to handle the task.

On the Commission’s decision to limit party flags from the Opposition alliance to only the party contesting the seat, he said it was acting according to the rules that did not allow parties not contesting in a general election or by-election to put up their flags during the campaign period.

“The reason Umno and MCA can put up their flags in Bukit Selambau where a MIC candidate is standing is because Barisan Nasional is a registered entity and the two are its component parties.

“However Pakatan Rakyat is not registered and therefore we cannot accept its partners as components, so we had to disallow any Opposition party -- apart from PKR -- from putting up flags,” he said Sunday.

He said the Commission was not at fault in this case as the Opposition had already collected the necessary forms to register the Pakatan coalition some time ago but never submitted them.

Abdul Aziz said the Commission was aware that all Opposition parties had put up their flags even before the nomimations Sunday but had not taken any action as it was not known who would officially contest until after the nominations.

“The Opposition leaders are aware of the rules and I hope they will take down the flags on their own; if they fail to act we will have to instruct the local council to do so,” he said.

Lower EPF dividend despite highest ever earnings of 20bil

Where are all the money goes to? Is it being use inside the 60bil mini budget? EPF blame that lower rate of returns due to the global economic crisis. The earnings for 2008 is 20bil which is the highest ever EPF get, but why they are referring to 2009 economic crisis as a reason to blame? Maybe they want to use the money for emergency such as unexpected General Election or even by-election in order to favour the ruling party, who knows?.... Malaysia is always can right? Malaysia Boleh....

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/3/17/nation/3493990&sec=nation

Tuesday March 17, 2009 - The Star
EPF declares 4.5% dividend for 2008


PETALING JAYA: The Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) Board declared a 4.5% dividend yesterday for its members, blaming the lower rate of returns on the global economic crisis.

EPF declared a 5.8% dividend in 2007.

However, despite the financial meltdown, EPF recorded its highest ever earnings of RM20bil in gross income last year, up 9.36% from the RM18.29bil recorded previously.

“While last year was challenging due to the unprecedented global financial crisis that has impacted economies worldwide, EPF’s investment portfolio for the year performed better at the gross income level compared to 2007.

“But due to the sharp decline in the equity markets, a large provision has to be made, resulting in marked reduction in net income,” said its chairman Tan Sri Samsudin Osman.

The dividends will be credited into members’ accounts on March 23.

Higher levy means consumer will bear the cost, not the restaurant owner

What another stupid move again by our minister. The intention not to lower the levy which is to reduce our dependantship on foreign workers, I'm afraid will not achieve the target but instead, the consumer will bear the cost as the restaurant increase their price. This is happen when the minister is for so long cannot feel how ordinary people situation is.Why they cannot think on this simple matter haa? I'm also confident that after a few protest after this, they will adhere to them again...you know, flip-flop government right?

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/3/18/nation/3503355&sec=nation

Wednesday March 18, 2009 - The Star
No lower levy for eateries


KUALA LUMPUR: The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry will not support calls by restaurant operators to lower the levy for foreign workers, saying he has no sympathy on this issue.

Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said most restaurants needing many foreign workers were those operating 24 hours – and they had to face the higher cost in the form of a higher levy.

“I will not support their request. I have no sympathy on this levy reduction issue,” he told reporters here today.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, when tabling the mini budget in the Dewan Rakyat on March 10, outlined a move to raise the levy on foreign workers except for those in construction and plantation sectors as well as housemaids.

Four days later, four national associations representing Indian, Muslim, Chinese and Bumiputera restaurant operators urged the Government to drop the levy increase, saying that it was unreasonable in view of the economic slowdown and dwindling revenue.

MACC, this time their teeth become so soft

MACC as we can see, the statement made by commission’s Investigation director is shockingly different as the investigation is about to start for Ali Rustam case for money politics. They are willing to wait for the report instead of proactively investigate such matter without fear and favour as they show to investigate Khalid Ibrahim cow and car issue.... What a double standard they are practising, people who think will know the truth now....

One more question is why he can still maintain as Chief Minister but his bid to be a no. 2 post cannot? Which one is higher in ranking? Normally, somebody cannot contest due to their membership has been revoke, but he is still UMNO member, maybe due to the fact that he is Chief Minister in which, if he was sacked from UMNO, the post will also under scrutiny which is bad for UMNO. What a major mistake UMNO did now....

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/3/18/nation/3502191&sec=nation

Wednesday March 18, 2009 - The Star
MACC to wait for report before acting


KUALA LUMPUR: The Anti-Corruption Commission is waiting for Umno disciplinary board’s report about alleged money politics before it can take any action.

“We need information and reports from the party. We cannot press charges if no reports have been made,” the commission’s Investigation director Datuk Syukri Abdul told Bernama yesterday.

The Umno disciplinary board yesterday found Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, also the Umno vice president, guilty of the party’s ethics on graft and money politics via an offence committed by an agent.

Flip-Flop, again and again

In a desperate measure and pressure by so many factors, the Government did retract or rescind a few decisions on the country direction for the past few weeks. In what I can say is the flip-flop decision made by the cabinet which consist of ‘YES’ man law maker who did agree for a certain issue without considering “rakyat” or the people at the first place. They made a decision with a standby factor inside their mind in which if there is a protest by a big group of people, they are willing to reverse the decision spontaneously.
The drama was started with a decision to increase the Toll at 5 highways and day after the protest, the government decide to defer the decision to the following year, but this decision comes with a high price, the government need to compensate the highway concessioner for the sum of hundred million ringgit using our tax payer money. 
The second decision was really a big issue in which the decision to allow the gazetted use of Allah’s name for Christian. Without feeling guilty, Syed Hamid Albar admits the mistake but do not take the responsibility on the issue. If this is happen to other developed country or even Thailand, the minister was voluntarily offer to step down, but this is not happen in Malaysia because they feel so vulnerable and the rakyat will still vote for them no matter what the issue is. They are still in state of denial and comfortable enough in any decision they’ve made.
The third issue was on the Fish box in which the ruling were asking all the industry related to fish to use the designated box for all their transaction. The box was very expensive and was supplied by only one supplier. After a few protest, they are also rescind the decision. What a joke they are presenting to the people, which are an insult to our intelligence. Hope this is the last decision they made and after this, hopefully, the new government will replace all the jokers.... Malaysia Boleh...

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/2/28/nation/3369392&sec=nation

Saturday February 28, 2009 – The Star

Toll hike on hold indefinitely
By ROYCE CHEAH, MERGAWATI ZULFAKAR and MAZWIN NIK ANIS

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/3/1/nation/3376793&sec=nation

Sunday March 1, 2009 – The Star
Mistake in gazette, Christians still can’t use ‘Allah’

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/3/9/nation/3438269&sec=nation

Monday March 9, 2009 – The Star
Ministry reverses decision on insulated fish boxes
By SYED AZHAR, MANJIT KAUR, CHRISTINA TAN, YENG AI CHUN and YUEN MEIKING

Flip-Flop decision, but nobody take the responsibility

It is now something normal when the Government retract certain approved policy, which is in actual situation was considered abnormal. This flip-flop decision was surface due to the cabinet minister which are sick as they were infected by the"YES syndrome". They don't really care what the people want, but they do care what the minister want.

If in Japan or other developed country, the minister which is reponsible for the decision will voluntarily step down, but in Malaysia, they kept pretending such as nothing was happened. They don't even feel guilty on the such problem. This is one of the denial syndrome in which they think that they are still immune and feel that the people will still vote for them no matter what the decision that they've made.

Last few week, Syed Hamid Albar retract the decision in gazetting the use of Allah name in christian publication and then the government retract the toll increase decision. Later this week, the government retract the fish container ruling. How can such a big decision that affecting the people can be agreed at the cabinet level and then rescinded as the people react on the decision. Do they ever think the people at the first place? I don't think so....

The same thing happen to the PPSMI issue. Frankly speaking, most of the parent glad to see their children have a good command in English, of course most of them agreed with the teaching of Science and Math in English but, is this the correct way in addressing the weakness? by sacrificing our language for the sake of foreign language? Is the Malay language is that weak and unable to be used for technical subject? Are we going to use Malay language only for the sake of Malay is the national language for Malaysia? Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka should take the blame, for the last few years, nothing has been done in striving our national language as their chairman is now been elected from the person who is supporting UMNO. Why do we need to talk in English when we want to be interviewed for work? Who made this ruling at the first place? This is happened because our people himself who started the trend and because of nobody at the top do care about the use of our national language. Look at China, Korea, Japan and even Indonesia, they use their own language for all kind of situation. If we don't uplift our national language especially the Malay, who else will do it? For me, my idea in order to solve the issue is to strenghten the English subject itself, maybe they can introduce one new subject such as English for communication and not to disturb the teaching which is originally teach in national language. It's a very sad thing happened...sigh.... Malaysia Boleh!

PPSMI again and again, government still in the state of denial

When the gathering is not getting the support from the people, they said that Malaysian people do not support the anti-PPSMI movement, this is happen when the movement first met at SOGO sometime in February,which is not so many people turn out. But, when the 100,000 gathering is getting a support from thousand, they said that the anti-PPSMI is being a tool of opponent and start to blame them as not having a good discussion with government but took the issue onto the street... I don't know what really happen out there in our government, do they listen to the people's voice or do they only listen to the higher ranking politician in BN?... Its' looks like they are still in the state of denial..... May the issue contribute to speed up the sinking of the BN ship soonest...Ameen...

Kugan case: First postmortem vs Second postmortem

In Kugan case, the outcome from the two postmortems tell a different story. The first postmortem stated that his death is due to the water inside the lung, while the second reveals a shocking result in which his death was stated as he was beaten to death and his kidney was failed.

I'm not in a position to defend any criminal, but if and only if the person is the one who commit a serious crime, I had no reserve but agree for any punishment but the punishment must be according to the law.

The question is, why there are two different report? Is the police instruct the first autopsy to be covered up? If this is the case, how can we believe at our police force which was suppose to protect us instead? That's why most of us now don't have a trust on the police force.... because they are the one who messed it up themselves....

History in the making: Democracy in danger

Today is the day where our democracy has been snubbed again. During Mahathir era, there is a little we can hope from the law, and then after Abdullah Badawi took the reign, there is a hope, but not anymore. Today, as you can see, the court, the police and all government machinery have been mobilised in order to deny Pakatan Rakyat from pursuing their job.

The police is taking order from the state secretary not the speaker itself which is weird and the police is also able to deny entry of the speaker and state legislative to the "dewan". While the court ruling which is almost the fastest ruling in which at the morning session deny the private lawyer from representing the Speaker on the reason that the Speaker has to use a state lawyer and by evening, the judgement was gazetted, where the sitting made earlier was stated as deemed illegal. Can we say that this is the contempt of legislative to the executive power which is guaranteed under Malaysian Constitution? How can the state lawyer can represent the speaker as at the same time,the same lawyer is representing the new MB which is the plaintiff? Isn't there was a conflict of interest?

Today, what can I say is, democracy in Malaysia is became dim and dimmer... Today is the day where black episode of democracy appears and surrounding among us. The same thing with the ACA which is now rebranding to SPRM or MACC.... What else can we hope now?

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/3/3/nation/20090303161258&sec=nation

Published: Tuesday March 3, 2009 MYT 4:12:00 PM
Updated: Tuesday March 3, 2009 MYT 6:24:13 PM
High Court restrains Perak Speaker (updated)


IPOH: The High Court here has granted an order to restrain Perak Speaker V. Sivakumar from convening any unlawful meetings purporting to be state assemblies.

Judicial Commissioner Ridwan Ibrahim, who heard from lawyers on both sides in chambers, made his decision under Section 44 of Specific Relief Act.

Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir was seeking an injunction from the High Court to stop “all unlawful assembly sittings” by Pakatan Rakyat, which had formed the state government before Barisan Nasional took over in late January.

Dr Zambry’s lead counsel Firoz Hussein Ahmad told reporters after the hearing that he had submitted that the Speaker does not have the power to call any assembly, even an emergency sitting such as the one held earlier Tuesday.

The High Court order has no time limit and penalties would be decided later if and when the Speaker holds the next meeting deemed illegal.

The restraint order however is not retrospective and does not over Tuesday morning’s emergency sitting in which three motions were passed, including one calling for the dissolution of the state assembly to pave the way for fresh polls.

Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran had earlier said it was a clear conflict of interest that the legal advisor who acted for Dr Zambry in a case last week represented Sivakumar in a case brought forward this time by Dr Zambry.

“How can he act for both plaintiff and defendant? It’s a clear case of conflict,” Kulasegaran said on behalf of Sivakumar.

Ridwan earlier Tuesday ruled, based on the Government Proceedings Act 1965, that five lawyers appointed by the Speaker had no locus standi to represent a government officer but that he should be represented by the state legal advisor or somebody appointed by the latter.

Sivakumar said he had not authorised the state legal advisor to act on his behalf.

“I have not received any communications from the legal advisor’s office nor have I given any instructions to him,” Sivakumar said in a statement handed out by Kulasegaran.

Dr Zambry also sought a court declaration that Sivakumar’s decision to suspend and bar him and six executive council members was unconstitutional and ultra vires the state constitution. That suit would be mentioned on Thursday.

Also to be heard Thursday is the lawsuit filed by three independents -- Behrang assemblyman Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi, Changkat Jering assemblyman Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu and Jelapang assemblyman Hee Yit Foong -- seeking a declaration that their seats are not vacant and that they are still the elected representatives of their constituencies.

BN desperate measures as 3rd March approaching

As a 3rd of March approaching, BN stretches their muscles in order to defy the Perak state emergency seating. Despite the legal ways, there are a few steps taken, in which there is one unprecedented moves taken as there is a notice of closure of secretariat office in which the "dewan" is located. They're also using a police force as a last defence to avoid the former exco to have a meeting... They really want to fight Perak to be at their hand whether it is correct or not...What a desperate move by BN....

Monday March 2, 2009 - The Star
Ongoing political drama in Perak

* Two lawsuits filed against Speaker V. Sivakumar
* State Secretary’s office issues circular that main entrance to Secretariat will be closed on Tuesday
* Perak CPO warns members of the public not to gather outside the Secretariat building
* Nizar says they would have emergency sitting at coffeeshop or canteen if the doors to the Dewan were barred
* Perak exco member Mohd Zahir serves notice of misconduct against Sivakumar