Screenshots

ORIGINAL POST

Two persons are awaiting their fates at this point in time as I blogged this entry.

No news has come out regarding Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim, who was said to have applied for an extension of his service but was facing severe obstacles.

Ahmad Fairuz's name was linked to alleged brokering of judges' appointments exposed in the Lingam Tape. His tenure as the CJ expires as he turns 66 today.

There is also no news whether Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Ramli Yusuff, dubbed the RM27 million man, will be arrested after he spilled the beans yesterday on the police, the ACA, the Attorney-General's Chambers and the Ministry of Internal Security -- all four direct reports to the Prime Minister.

In an unprecedented departure from police culture in Malaysia, he included detailed accounts of investigations against an underworld kingpin in a three-page statement distributed to the press yesterday.

At the press conference, Ramli was adamant that he would not resign even though he claimed the ACA had breached Section 21(4) of the Anti Corruption Act 1964 by leaking the information about his being probed for alleged undeclared assets.

He said he will serve out his tenure as he is due for retirement on December 9 this year. He is slated for leave prior to retirement starting from November 3, during which he would perform his umrah (minor haj) in Mecca.

He said, during his absence, he hoped the issues of his men being mistreated by the ACA, and other irregularities involving the ACA and the AG's Chambers "will be dealt with by the Ministry of Internal Security" of which PM Abdullah is the minister.

He also revealed that, until September 2006, he was cleared of any corruption allegations and was confirmed as a three-star general.

"If I am under ACA investigation, definitely, they won’t confirm my rank," he said. "But, when I was about to get my PGPP (Pingat Gagah Pasukan Polis) - the highest award from the police force - it was cancelled because I was under ACA investigation."

He denied the allegation against him, claiming that his source of income is more than his assets -- even after almost 38 years in the force. "It is up to the ACA to make an evaluation," he said.

Precarious situation

Let's set aside the case of the CJ seeking an extension to his tenure as it is being deliberated by the Conference of Rulers right now.

Let me hasten to put it in context that the Rulers, who normally do not rock the boat, collectively showed their strength earlier this year when they refused to endorse the Prime Minister's candidate for the Chief Judge of Malaya, the third most senior post in Malaysian judiciary.

Ramli's situation is precarious as the stakes are stacked against him. While Ramli's superior, IGP Musa Hassan, was recently given a 2-year extension to his service by the Abdullah Administration about one year ahead of his schedule retirement, Ramli did not indicate he will get the same treatment.

At the explosive press conference yesterday, Ramli had implied the existence of factions in the police force.

However, his claim was denied the same day by Musa, who would only concede a “difference of opinion”.

Interestingly, Musa had recently claimed that he was being framed by his own men after he was cleared of yet another ACA investigation that implicated him, the Inspector-of-Police, in an alleged RM2 million bribery in releasing three gangsters.

What had all these made-by-police exposé meant to you?

Three key questions of governance

According to reporters who covered the press conference, it was Ramli who prodded the journalists to raise as many questions as they liked.

In between, Ramli raised several questions on good governance, or the lack of it, in many high places.

Firstly, was there trial by media to his disadvantage?

Ramli questioned how did the press manage to know about the ACA investigation on him when the notice served on him under Section 32 (1) (A) of the Anti Corruption Act 1964 was supposed to be confidential. Quote Malaysiakini:

“Therefore I don’t know how this could have been leaked. According to New Straits Times and Berita Harian, their source is from the ACA,” he said.

On the effects of the media reports, Ramli said it was embarrassing and had taken a toll on his personal life.

He said it was not fair for the ACA to reveal such information to the press as no action had been taken against him.

“I’ve been suffering for three months since (the news) appeared in the papers. The papers didn’t clarify with me either. I think it’s not fair. I’m an ordinary human being. I have feelings. I have my family,” he said.

Secondly, how well did the ACA protect police informants?

Ramli said there exists a clear and present danger as to the intelligence gathering ability of the police force and its ability to protect its informants.

He added that, when several officers of the CCID investigating into the underworld kingpin and banishing him to Kelantan were arrested and charged in court for allegedly falsifying evidence, the names of the confidential informants have been disclosed in the charge sheets.

He said he was gravely concerned by the manner in which the identities of police informants are dealt with in investigations carried out by the ACA. "The identities of the informants were obtained through the circumvention of the Inspector General's Standing Orders," he said.

On this matter, Ramli paraphrased Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi’s call for authorities to protect whistleblowers.

“So I think we, we as the police force must protect our informants. That is my stand,” he said.

Thirdly, was there political manoeuvring in the AG's Chambers?

Ramli claimed it was unprecedented for an officer of the Attorney-General’s Chambers, attached as the legal adviser of the Ministry of Internal Security, to decline to advise and direct his officers in CCID in the case of underworld kingpin and related activities of crime syndicates involving Datuks and JPs.

Ramli said it was deputy internal security minister Johari Baharom who directed him to investigate Ah Longs which led to the banishment of a gambling kingpin and have him banished to Kelantan.

Press reports later said the ACA and the police Criminal Investigation Department had cleared the Chinese kingpin of any wrongdoing. Subsequently, the kingpin applied to the High Court to set aside the banishment order against him.

He said his officers had to prepare affidavits of the events surrounding the preparation of the investigative papers on the kingpin for the benefit of the deputy minister of internal security -- Johari Baharum.

"Those affidavits were to be filed in the High Court arising from the application by (the kingpin) to have his banishment order set aside," he revealed yesterday.

"Given the constraints of time, we, the officers of the CCID, sought legal advice from a private law practice who advised and assisted in the preparation of the draft affidavits concerned," he added.

"I was under advice at the time that the Attorney-General (Abdul Gani Patail) was under a duty to advise and assist us in the preparation of the said affidavits under Article 145 of the Federal Constitution and the Government Proceedings Act, 1956," he said.

Subsequently, he and his officers were directed to deliver up the confidential case files containing the names of the confidential informants to the Attorney-General's Chambers.

"I have since been aware that officers of the ACA have tracked down these informants and taken statements from them," he said.

"Subsequently, these informants have made further statements in connection with their seeking of protection from the deputy minister of internal security."

Please, oh please don't ask me if Johari Baharum had been of any help, the way Ramli had related to us.

This is 4 years of Abdullah Administration for you. As the two big men await their fates, other Malaysians hang theirs on the line should governance fails further.

UPDATES: The Umno-led Selangor government is tearing down Hindu temple again. Lawyers went to help and were arrested, handcuffed. My colleague blogged: The Police Must Be Crazy.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 05:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

By nightfall today, it would have been four years of Civil Law, Syariah Law and the Son-in-Law, post-Mahathir.

Plus, perhaps, some corridors here and there.

Are you in good hands?

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Zorro zapped again after reading Aniza Damis!

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Even whistle-blower informants assisting in Police's own investigations have no identity protection, let alone people privy to the authenticity of the Lingam Tape.

That's the chilling truth that blew up in a made-by-Police exposé today.

In a hastily called press conference just now, Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Ramli Yusuff has confirmed that he is the police officer being investigated for having RM27 million in undeclared assets.

A Malaysiakini.tv video clip shows that Ramli had ordered reporters from Malaysiakini and Malaysia-Today out before he started the press conference.

Ramli said his press conference, held at the CCID headquarters in Bukit Perdana, Kuala Lumpur, was to "clarify things... certain things".

He subsequently issued a three-page statement, in which he made a number of allegations, including that the police force had failed to stand by him and his officers during the ACA investigation on them (see below). Quote:

I have until today remained silent about developments in the police force, in particular, the arrest and prosecution of officers of the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) who are alleged to have falsified statements of confidential informants in connection with the banishment of one ...

He also revealed that his legal adviser, Rosli Dahlan, was arrested on the eve of Hari Raya, and charged for the alleged failure to comply with a notice served on him at the behest of the ACA.

He said he was "gravely concerned by the manner in which the identities of police informants are dealt with in investigations carried out by the ACA".

"In the charge sheets, the names of the confidential informants have been disclosed," he added.

“The identities of the informants were obtained (by the ACA) through the circumvention of the Inspector-General’s Standing Orders," he claimed.

"Given these events, there exists a clear and present danger as to the intelligence gathering ability of the police force and its ability to protect its informants," he said.

Empire strikes back?

Malaysiakini said it understood that Ramli had been ordered to declare his assets, which he did on Sept 19 to the ACA deputy public prosecutor.

October 25, Screenshots made a casual mention of more things to come in this blog entry. Is the Empire striking back? Will Jedi ever return? Or political Darth Vader is set to continue ruling?

SOURCE: Malaysiakini

If the Hari Raya open house is still on, it's worth revisiting deputy Internal Security Minister Johari Baharum, whose name and official designation and functions were mentioned numerous times in Ramli's statement.

Particularly, Ramli left this cliff-hanger before he concluded his press statement:

I will be departing for my umrah (minor haj) and in my absence, I hope these issues will be dealt with by the Ministry of Internal Security.

Johari's boss in the Ministry of Internal Security is none other than Prime Minister, Abdullah Badawi.

Interesting.

From Malaysiakini

Ramli: Disturbing events in the force
Oct 30, 07 3:26pm

The following is the full three-page press statement released by Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief Ramli Yusuff today.

I have until today remained silent about developments in the police force, in particular, the arrest and prosecution of officers of the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) who are alleged to have falsified statements of confidential informants in connection with the banishment of one Goh Cheng Poh @ Tengku.

Sometime last year, a joint committee and a special task force were established at the cabinet level and PDRM (Malay acronym for the Royal Malaysian Police) respectively to combat the worrisome menace of Ah Long (loan sharks) activities and illegal gambling.

In March 2007, the deputy minister of internal security (Mohd Johari Baharum) gave specific directives to the CCID on the activities of certain crime syndicates operating in Johor involving certain Datos and JPs (both are honorific titles).

The investigations by the CCID led to the eventual detention and banishment of the said Goh Cheng Poh @ Tengku to Jeli, Kelantan. The detention and banishment order was made under the hand of the deputy minister of internal security, based on the intelligence gathered by police officers of the CCID.

(The person being banished) Goh is on his own confession a person of questionable background, having been banished previously and who was involved in a shooting incident in which a friend of his was shot and murdered. The merits of his banishment are a matter which is within the subjective purview and prerogative of the deputy minister of internal security and, consequently, I am not at liberty to comment.

Soon after the banishment order was made by the deputy minister of internal security, the press reported that both the ACA (Anti-Corruption Agency) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID – another police department) had already investigated and cleared Goh of any wrongdoing.

This certainly did not include the subject matter of the CCID’s investigations into Goh's affairs as directed by the deputy minister of internal security. In the aftermath of these newspaper reports, Goh applied to the High Court to set aside the banishment order made against him by the deputy minister of internal security.

AG's unprecedented stance

In an unprecedented stance, the legal adviser of the Ministry of Internal Security, an officer of the Attorney-General’s Chambers, declined to advise and direct my officers and I (to) prepare affidavits of the events surrounding the preparation of the investigative papers on Goh for the benefit of the deputy minister of internal security.

Those affidavits were to be filed in the High Court arising from the application by Goh to have his banishment order set aside. Given the constraints of time, we, the officers of the CCID, sought legal advice from a private law practice who advised and assisted in the preparation of the draft affidavits concerned.

I was under advice at the time that the attorney-general (Abdul Gani Patail) was under a duty to advise and assist us in the preparation of the said affidavits under Article 145 of the Federal Constitution and the Government Proceedings Act, 1956.

My officers and I were then directed to deliver up the confidential case files containing the names of the confidential informants to the Attorney-General's Chambers. I have since been aware that officers of the ACA have tracked down these informants and taken statements from them. Subsequently, these informants have made further statements in connection with their seeking (of) protection from the deputy minister of internal security.

During the course of these events, the press began widely reporting the involvement of a Sr. (senior) police officer for the following:

1. Investigation by ACA into the unexplained accumulation of wealth alleged to be RM27 million;
2. Investigation by the ACA of the said senior police officer taking on the role of an "enforcer/godfather” of a company in Sabah and being its shareholder/director without departmental clearance; and
3. Investigation for the abuse of powers by the CCID in the crime preventive action concerning the detention and banishment of the aforesaid Goh.

Although the name of the officer was not disclosed, it is a public knowledge that I was the officer referred to in these widely sensationalised news.

I understand that one Sok One a/l (anak lelaki) Esen, an ACA officer, has sworn and filed an affidavit in the proceedings brought by Goh to have his banishment order set aside. In that affidavit, Sok One confirmed that the ACA was investigating the CCID in connection with Goh’s allegations of CCID officers having abused their powers.

My lawyer arrested

On the eve of Hari Raya, one of my longstanding friends who also acted as my legal adviser was arrested and charged for the alleged failure to comply with a notice served on him at the behest of the ACA.

One of the officers present at the time of his arrest and detention was the said Sok One. He was also one of the lawyers who assisted in the preparation of the affidavits of CCID officers filed in the proceedings in connection with the Goh case.

Within the week, several officers of the CCID were arrested and charged in court for allegedly falsifying evidence concerning the banishment of Goh. In the charge sheets, the names of the confidential informants have been disclosed.

I am gravely concerned by the manner in which the identities of police informants are dealt with in investigations carried out by the ACA. The identities of the informants were obtained through the circumvention of the Inspector General's Standing Orders. Given these events, there exists a clear and present danger as to the intelligence gathering ability of the police force and its ability to protect its informants.

These are disturbing events and will undeniably have a deep impact, not only on the CCID but the police force as a whole. The officers of the CCID have been mistreated by the ACA and are yet to be protected by their own force.

I will be departing for my umrah (minor haj) and in my absence, I hope these issues will be dealt with by the Ministry of Internal Security.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 03:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

At the 14th Malaysian Law Conference yesterday, former Lord President and former Yang DiPertuan, Sultan Azlan Shah, spoke at length about the concept of the Rule of Law, and the prescription of "Government of laws, not of men".

Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi was more straight to the point. He rebuked and reprimanded the Malaysian Bar over its recent ‘Walk for Justice’ in Putrajaya.

He mentioned nothing of Bar Council's demand in association with the peace walk, namely the setting up of a Royal Commission to investigate the Lingam Tape controversy, and the establishment of a judicial appointments commission for the appointment and promotion of judges.

Instead, Abdullah blamed the walk for potentially creating "the impression that a problem has reached an intractable impasse - even when in reality, it has not."

He said the Council should have anticipated the repercussions of its public protest against the state of the judiciary.

'You scare away foreign investors'

According to Associated Press, Abdullah even warned the country's lawyers that their demands for judicial reforms could clash with national interests and send foreign investors fleeing.

He gave an example by saying when the Bar Council officially supports dissenting judgments or pushes forward its view that Malaysia is a secular state, it must take care to not simply represent the views of certain segments of society, or any internal pressure groups or its members.

However, Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan echoed the Sultan's stand by saying that ensuring the rule of law via judicial reforms would be good for investment and is crucial if Malaysia wants to have a modern economy.

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What does Parliament House mean to you, dear Malaysians?

Some Parliamentarians -- in the wake of leaking roofs and Samy Vellu's escalating bills jumping from RM50 million to RM100 milion, and still counting -- are proposing for the Parliament House to be shifted to a spanking new office in Putrajaya, the administrative capital.

Is the Parliament just an office or an institutional edifice that encapsulates the independence of the Legislature?

Democracy & Separation of Powers

Malaysia practises Parliamentary Democracy. The Legislature is one of the three branches of a democratic government, alongside the Executive and Judiciary.

In all possibility, the Legislature can in theory provide for a vibrant system of checks and balances as an independent autonomous institution, or as mere wallpaper trappings of democracy.

Right now, Judiciary is rotten, while Legislature, in reality, is seen as an extended arm of the Executive, more so with the incumbent controlling over 91% majority of the Dewan Rakyat.

Read what Shaila Koshy wrote on Sunday: Where should Parliament sit? Then, even pretentiously allured by the prospects of getting to buy a retirement home in the land that the Parliament currently sits, tell us, if we should move the Parliament House to join Abdullah Badawi in Putrajaya?

Or, in simpler terms, tell us WHAT does Parliament House mean to you as 21st century Malaysians?

For context, the Palace of Westminster, which houses the Parliament of the United Kingdom, was built in the 1860s.

Malaysia's Parliament House was built in the 1960's. It was opened by the third Yang DiPertuan Agong on on November 21, 1963.

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UPDATED VERSION. DISQUIET, the word popularised by lawyer-blogger Malik Imtiaz Sarwar who used it as the title for his blog, popped up in Sultan Azlan Shah's speech when he opened the 14th Malaysian Law Conference this morning.

He received a 2-minute standing ovation from the 1,500 strong audience made up primarily of lawyers and legal experts when he finished his opening speech.

Associated Press said the Abdullah Administration is now facing mounting pressure to pursue judicial reforms, as the country's former Yang DiPertuan Agong has voiced distress that judges are losing their case in the court of public opinion.

The wire agency said, by relating to recent "disturbing events relating to the judiciary", Sultan Azlan Shah was making an apparent reference to a scandal involving a video tape that allegedly provides proof of judicial corruption.

The Sultan, who is a former Lord President, said:

Sadly I must acknowledge there has been some disquiet about our judiciary over the past few years and in the more recent past. In 2004, I had stated that it grieved me, having been a member of the judiciary, whenever I heard allegations against the judiciary and the erosion of public confidence in the judiciary.

Recently there have been even more disturbing events relating to the judiciary reported in the press. We have also witnessed the unprecedented act of a former Court of Appeal judge writing in his post-retirement book of erroneous and questionable judgements delivered by our higher courts in a chapter under the heading “When Justice is Not Administered According to Law”. There are other serious criticisms.

I could be wrong, but I reckon Sultan Azlan Shah was referring to the book by former Court of Appeal Judge N.H. Chan, titled: Judging the Judges.

Significantly, Sultan Azlan Shah said he felt compelled to speak at length on the issues relating to the Malaysian Judiciary, and the urgency to seek redemption and to regain the glory of a time when our Judiciary and legal system were the pride of the region.

"It is my earnest hope that the Malaysian judiciary will regain the public’s confidence and it will once again be held in high esteem as it once was held," he said.

He brought up some recent cases. Quote:

Only last week, I read in a latest Malaysian law report that a case of medical negligence involving a death of a lawyer took 23 years to reach the Court of Appeal.

Similarly there have been reports that some judges have taken years to write their grounds of judgements involving accused persons who have been convicted and languishing in death row.

Surely, such a situation cannot be tolerated in any progressive nation.

Rule of Law

Before giving his opinion about the quality of Judiciary in current day Malaysia, Sultan Azlan Shah spoke about the Federal Constitution and pillar of Rule of Law, as expounded by Lord Woolf in April 2004; and how present day judges should behave themselves judicially.

He recalled his days sitting in the Federal Court in 1977 during which he spoke on the 3 essential features of our constitution. He quoted himself:

“It is the supreme law of the land embodying three basic concepts: One of them is that the individual has certain fundamental rights upon which not even the power of the state may encroach.

The second is the distribution of sovereign power between the states and the federation, [...]

The third is that no single man or body shall exercise complete sovereign power, but that it shall be distributed among the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government, compendiously expressed in modern terms that we are a government of laws, not of men.”

Having explained the prescription of "Government of laws, not of men", Sultan Azlan Shah drove home the message that those who are entrusted to administer and uphold the constitution -- meaning the Executive, or government of the day -- must embalm in their hearts and minds of a belief in the values and principles that animate the august document, the Federal Constitution.

He reiterated that the prescription that “we are a government of laws, not of men” describes the basic principle that runs through our entire constitution-the principle of the Rule of Law.

Based on the non-compromising sanctity of the Constitution, Sultan Azlan Shah said our Judiciary and judges can enjoy assured security of tenure under the Constitution. Therefore, the judges should discharge their duties impartially, confidently and competently.

Loss of confidence in Judiciary

He said in these days, judges must ever be mindful that the loss of independence can come from many sources, and not just from the Executive.

He reminded the judges that they must piously resist the lure of socializing with business personages and other well connected people or face "the unedifying spectacle of recusal applications:.

(The Lingam Tape popped up on my mind!)

Quote:

Nothing destroys more the confidence the general public, or the business community has in the judiciary than the belief that the judge was biased when he decided a case, or that the judge would not be independent where powerful individuals or corporations are the litigants before him.

Confidence in the judiciary may also be eroded where the business community perceives incompetence in decision-making. A judgment in a banking or commercial transaction that is contrary to the established norms or which is incomprehensible in its reasoning is bound to give rise to suspicion and loss of confidence.

It therefore becomes apparent, that our attempts to establish ourselves as a leading financial and commercial center will fail, if we do not have a competent judiciary to decide on complex commercial disputes. In this regard, it is utmost importance that the foreign investor have faith in the competence and integrity of our judiciary.

(Oh gee, Harry Lee's recent address at the International Bar Association Conference Singapore jolted my mind. What a concurrent view!)

Judges should be like Caesar's wife

Interestingly, Sultan Azlan Shah chose to rub it in further by advising the judge to be like Caesar’s wife, that he should be above suspicion.

Explaining further, Sultan Azllan Shah said public confidence in the judiciary is based on four evaluating criteria. They are:

(1) the principle of independence of the judiciary;
(2) the principle of impartiality of adjudication;
(3) the principle of fairness of trial; and
(4) the principle of the integrity of the adjudicator.

He then asked: How does our judiciary measure today against these criteria?

Good lawyers, bad lawyers

After the judges, Sultan Azlan spoke on good lawyers and bad lawyers.

It was reported that Sultan Azlan Shah had the conference delegates in stitches when he mistakenly said "there are good lawyers and bad judges" when he meant "bad lawyers" before smiling and correcting his error.

To him, bad lawyers are those who are in clear dereliction of their responsibilities, have either misled the courts, or attempted to choose the judges or courts for their cases to be heard so as to obtain a favourable decision in their client’s favour.

This is serious interference with the administration of justice and the process of the court, he said.

Therefore, according to him, there cannot be an independent Judiciary without an independent Bar.

Rocky and I are particularly kept on high-wire anxiety as both of us, in the course of our blogging life, are currently facing defamation suits instituted by a politically-linked listed media company.

'Don't trample underfoot their rights'

Sultan's last salve at the judges related to the execution of justice in a plural society.

He said: "Judges in Malaysia must be ever mindful that they are appointed judges for all Malaysians."

They, he added, must be sensitive to the feelings of all parties, irrespective of race, religion or creed, and be careful not to bring a predisposed mind to an issue before them that is capable of being misconstrued by the watching public or segments of them.

Lastly, he chose to quote the observation from his predecessor at the Bench, Tun Suffian:

“In a multi-racial and multi religious society like yours and mine, while we judges cannot help being Malay or Chinese or Indian; or being Muslim or Buddhist or Hindu or whatever, we strive not to be too identified with any particular race or religion – so that nobody reading our judgement with our name deleted could with confidence identity our race or religion, and so that the various communities, especially minority communities, are assured that we will not allow their rights to be trampled underfoot.”

We must say a prayer to all the Subashini's in Malaysia for Tun Suffian is long dead.

NOTE: The full text of Sultan Azlan Shah;s speech is available on the Bar Council website.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

IS THERE A STAND-OFF BETWEEN EXECUTIVE AND MALAY RULERS? The 14th Malaysian Law Conference was held in Kuala Lumpur today, after months of planning and protocol arrangement.

However, people attending the conference could sense that there was a shroud of of uneasiness between the Prime Minister and the the Malay rulers.

As it is, the opening ceremony this morning was a function attended by the Sultan but the Prime Minister was said to have made an 11th hour decision to absent himself.

According to Star's Shaila Koshy, the Bar Council's biennial Malaysian Law Conference was supposed to have struck two firsts: a ruler who is a former head of the judiciary himself, and the head of government will attend the conference together.

Protocol arrangement has earlier confirmed that Sultan of Perak and former Lord President, Sultan Azlan Shah, will open the conference and give a short speech, while Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will deliver the keynote address.

Abdullah sent in his court jester instead.

Shooting down various proposals raised by Malaysian Bar Council, de facto law minister Nazri Abdul Aziz said the erosion of public confidence in the judiciary is a matter of perception by the lawyers, who he termed as minority group of the country.

However, Sultan Azlan Shah, who declared open the conference, said public perception of the judiciary ultimately matters. (Read the Sultan's full speech here.)

Nazri is a subject of Perak, where Sultan Azlan Shah is the incumbent ruler.

Quote Malaysiakini:

"The principle quality that the judiciary must possess is impartiality. It means that judges are not only free from influence of external forces but also of one another," he said.

The former Lord President had the delegates in stitches when he mistakenly said "there are good lawyers and bad judges" when he meant "bad lawyers" before smiling and correcting his error.

He also said that judges should resist socialising with business personages and other well-connected people.

He added that it is time for the country to undertake major reforms in its commercial court structure and procedures to compete with other countries.

Meanwhile, Malaysiakini also reported that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi cancelled his appearance at the opening ceremony at the eleventh hour to officiate the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) today.

However, he is to make up by reading his keynote address at a dinner hosted by him for conference participants tonight.

The three-day conference is themed: '50 Years of Independence'. Topics covered include issues related to the Federal Constitution, the country's legal system after 50 years, the rights of the stateless and indigenous people, freedom of expression in arts, freedom of information, and the role of Asean in Burma.

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MP for Jerai Badruddin Amiruldin (BN -- Umno), apologised to MP Karpal Singh (DAP - Bukit Glugor) in the Dewan Rakyat today.

However, Karpal was not in the House to accept Badruddin's apology. Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah), who represented Karpal, praised Badruddin for his action.

"You have just set a very good example (to everyone in the Dewan Rakyat). I will certainly pass the message to Karpal," she said.

Badruddin made the apology while debating the Supply Bill 2008 this morning. Apart from Karpal, he also apologised to "others who could have been offended" by his statement

Last week, Badruddin came under fire for disparaging Karpal Singh for being wheelchair-ridden because God had punished him.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 12:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

Knowing the human flaws in de facto Law Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz, NST journalist Aniza Damis must have got the better of him -- she virtually cajoled the minister to do a mental striptease in public!

Read this interview, where the minister said about bloggers:

I don’t (read blogs). I don’t waste my time. The few pieces that people print for me are just rubbish.[...]

Our bloggers are really not up to standard. When they put up something, it’s not something that they want to discuss in a very intellectual way. It’s more because of their anger - the language they use. Why should I read all this rubbish? When the standard of our bloggers is upgraded, then probably I will look at what is written. But anyway, they are a minority. My concern is for the majority.

Oh yes, it takes a journo-blogger to conclude that Nazri doesn't read blogs. If he did, they were printout versions prepared by people, not reading off computer monitor by himself.

In actual fact, Nazri's interview has a larger picture in mind, It's about the super limbo in the current Abdullah Administration: The video clip, the walk, the panel.

Lawyer-blogger Malik Imtiaz read the interview and concludes that this Nazri "reminds us of how much we are to blame for the Government we have".

Read Imtiaz's blow-by-blow deconstruction of the joker -- here and here.

Here are the parts of disquiet:

It is a chilling indication of how far removed the Government is from the needs and aspirations of the people, of how drunk with power those who lead us are.

It dramatically underscores the need for us to start thinking about what we need to do to improve the system around us. Judging by Nazri's comments, the Government is in no hurry as its interests, and by that I take it those of the individuals who form the government, are served.

1. Q: Is there a crisis in the judiciary? Why is there a perception of there being one?


2. Q: Some 1,000-2,000 lawyers were involved in the Bar Council walk. Are you saying that that many lawyers have been misled?


3. Q: You don’t think 1,000 (lawyers taking the walk) is enough?


4. Q: Aren’t the views of the minority also important?


5. Q: So, if you wanted to be convinced (that there is a crisis), you would need 7,000 lawyers to walk?


6. Q: Do you really want that many people marching in the streets?


7. Q: But what if people want a BN government, but they also want you to ensure a clean judiciary?


8. Q: You’re the de-facto Law Minister. And they are not asking for a sacking — they are asking for a more transparent appointment system.


9. Q: But if we had a transparent system, perhaps all judicial appointees would be acceptable to the people.


10. Q: Can the (Judicial Appointments) commission be appointed by consensus or stakeholders?


11. Q: You have said the government was happy with the current system of appointments. Why?


12. Q: Is the tenure of the chief justice going to be extended?


13. Q: The video-clip issue will not yet be settled at the time of his retirement (scheduled for Thursday). Don’t you think that it’s rather unfortunate for him to retire before this matter is settled?


14. Q: Has the prime minister indicated anything to you?


15. Q: If you just take into account what is printed in the media and what comes out in the blogs, it would appear that there is a crisis in the judiciary.


16. Q: Coffeeshop chit-chat is not important?


17. Q: But the fear that is felt is genuine.


18. Q: So, you don’t think it’s important to try to address the worries of these people?


19. Q: Do you read blogs?


20. Q: Indians in Malaysia are a minority. Does that mean that they don’t count?


21. Q: What did you mean when you said that, by walking, the lawyers were behaving like the opposition?


22. Q: Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan said the reason they walked was that they felt all their appeals were falling on deaf ears.


23. Q: But why would you want to cover your ears?


24. Q: Maybe walking just says that they are partisan towards justice?


25. Q: Is there anything wrong in walking for your beliefs?


26. Q: If, for instance, the Bar Council wants to take that avenue (of getting an appointment with the PM) now, can they still take it?


27. Q: The Bar Council claims that they have never been able to get an appointment with the CJ.


28. Q: But you are more than an ordinary person. You are also the de facto law minister.


29. Q: That’s very irresponsible (for Nazri to say "you cannot divorce me from the fact that I am also a human being").


30. Q: Why didn’t the government empower the panel to compel witnesses?


31. Q: What if the video clip is genuine, but the person doesn’t want to come forward?


32. Q: Why can’t you set up something that can compel a person to come forward?


33. Q: The third party that brought forward the video clip says they are not going to talk to the panel; it is only going to talk to a royal commission.


34. Q: If people come forward and give their statements to the panel, and the authenticity of the video clip is verified, what would the next step be?


35. Q: Why not just set it (Royal Commission) up from the beginning?


36. Q: There is less than two weeks for people to come forward with what they have. Are you hoping that they will?


37. Q: Maybe the informants’ concern is not so much the government, but that the parties in the video clip might take action against them.


38. Q: So how is anyone supposed to do their work, if they are not protected?


39. Q: Where is the Witness Protection bill now?


40. Q: You have said that even without a Witness Protection Act, the government can still protect witnesses.


41. Q: So, why do we need a Witness Protection bill?


42. Q: If someone were to come forward now, on the video clip, how much protection could you offer?


43. Q: But that requires the person to come forward first. This is no guarantee of protection.


44. Q: What happens, if, by the closing of office hours on Nov 7, no one has come forward to the Independent Panel) ?


45. Q: So, the conclusion is that there is no issue?


46. Q: But at the same time, a video clip has been released, there’s been a walk, there’s been concern?


47. Q: So, the government’s not going to do anything?


48. Q: Would you be sad, if no one came forward?

Finally, after all the 49 leading and loaded questions, journalist Aniza was satisfied she got the story, and Nazri said: "But because this is a video clip whose authenticity has not been verified, then no further action can be taken."

Now, go to Malik Imtiaz's DISQUIET.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 10:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBacks (0)

HSBC-COBRA Rugby 10s is entering into the finals today. This is the 38th international tournament organised by my kind of sports club, which comprises civilian rugby enthusiasts who expect only token subsidy from the government. They rest is resilience and hard work on their own.

LensaPress photos by Jeff Ooi

More pictures are available in LensaMalaysia photography portal.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 08:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

The proclamation was made by Indonsia's Communications and Information Minister Muhammad Nuh at the Pesta Blogger 2007 held at Blitz Megaplex in Jakarta, yesterday (October 27).

The bloggers' meet was attended by over 480 participants. Unspun said at least about 400 of them were bloggers while the rest were observers. It has been an unprecedented bloggers gathering that was made up of bloggers not only from Jakarta, but from as far away as Poso.

Don't let ZAM read this. he can't take it

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 08:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Terry Fox Run 2007 Kuala Lumpur is back again the following Sunday, November 4.

Photography portal LensaMalaysia.com will reprise its role using the power of pictures for a noble cause, raising fund for cancer research, a legacy left behind by Canadian cancer victim, Terry Fox.

The Terry Fox Run is not a speed competition, but a leisurely family run outing.

You are invited to buy the Terry Fox Run T-shirt, put them on on Run Day, and join the fun for a noble cause. Proceeds of the T-shirt sales, donations and sponsorship contributions will go to cancer research at The Cancer Research Initiatives Foundation (CARIF).

Thus far, about 4,500 T-shirts had been sold. If you have not got yours, they are still available at the following T-shirt collection points manned by volunteers this weekend:

Bangsar Shopping Centre (20-21 October 207)
Ground Floor
Hours: 10am - 8pm

Menara Citibank (29 October – 2, November, 2007)
Lobby
Hours : 12-2pm daily

1-Utama (27-28 October)
Hours : 10am-10pm

Mid Valley (Starts from 30 October)

November 4, about 25 Moderators and members from LensaMalaysia will turn up in full gears to record the event, which will be held at the Lake Garden, Kuala Lumpur.

The pictures, about 1,500 images were taken in last year's event, will be compiled into a limited edition photobook for archiving and public display to promote the event for years to come.

The Terry Fox legacy

The Run is named after Terry Fox, the young man who inspired these events being held concurrently around the world on September 17.

Terry Fox was 18 years old when he was diagnosed with bone cancer. His right leg was amputated above the knee. Whilst in hospital, Terry was moved by the suffering of cancer patients, particularly children. So much so that he resolved to run across Canada (a distance of 8,500 kilometers) to raise money for cancer research. He called his journey the “Marathon of Hope”.

Terry Fox running in Marathon of Hope (left); The Terry Fox memorial statue, Ottawa

Terry Fox, despite losing one leg to cancer, ran a marathon (42 kilometers) a day for 143 consecutive days - a total distance of 5,373 kilometers. At that stage, Terry was forced to abandon his run as the cancer spread to his lungs. Terry Fox died at the tender age of 22. Before he died, he knew that a fund-raising event, associated with the Terry Fox Foundation, would be held each year, with the same objectives as the Marathon of Hope - to help find a cure for cancer.

Since 1981, the Terry Fox Run has raised more than RM1.3 billion in aid of cancer research around the world. You would be interested to note the Terry Fox Foundation requires that the funds raised be used for cancer research in the country where the Run is held. The Terry Fox Run in Malaysia has raised more than RM500,000 since 2001.

It's a family event

The Terry Fox Run Kuala Lumpur 2007 will begin and end at the Lake Gardens, Kuala Lumpur. The Starting Time of the run is 9am, but you are advised to arrive at the starting point before 8.00am. The route, measuring 6.5km (with a shortcut for kids cutting it down to 3.2km) is a scenic and shaded one. Family coming in cars are advised to look out for the two designated drop-off points.

Take note, too, that the Terry Fox Run is an inclusive family event. No registration is required and no fees are payable. Participants may run, jog, walk, cycle, roller-blade or otherwise propel themselves along the route.

However, the organisers encourage participants to purchase a T-shirt for the run as well as to raise awareness for the cancer research. The T-shirt, each priced RM25, is available in the following sizes:

1 ) XXS: 28/19.5 (Chest circumsference/length, inch)
2 ) XS: 33/22
3 ) S: 36/24
4 ) M: 41/27.5
5 ) L: 44/29
6 ) XL : 47/30.5

Due to popular demand, the Organisers have decided to include XXXXs - baby size (100pcs) , XXXS - toddler size (100 pcs) and XXL (200pcs). While stocks last only!

The price for the T-Shirt (all sizes) is RM 25.00 per piece. Of course, extra donation is welcomed!

Light breakfast will be served on Run Day, courtesy of sponsors. There will be children's activities and live performances to add up to the carnival moods.

Here's the programme:
8.30am: Gathering of participants
8.45am : Warm up session led by Fitness First
8.55am : First flag off of participants on wheels (bicycles, roller skates, roller blades etc)
9.00am: Flag-off for all participants by the Canadian High Commissioner

The Speaker of the Canadian House of Parliament will be present.

There will be 3 tents at the flag-off site:

• The Food & Beverage Tent - It will be ‘open’ throughout the morning. There will be bottled drinking water from Manulife and KL Hilton, Milo from the Milo Vans, bananas from Millennium, muffins from KL Hilton, buns from Gardenia.
• Emergency services Tent - Provided by Sunway Medical Hospital (ambulance, paramedics, & rehabilitation medicine team)
• Children’s Tent - Activities by Madscience, Face Painting, Colour sand drawing

Importantly, participants are urged to refrain from littering, and dispose the garbage into the big plastic bags at the designated areas.

'Don't run away. Run with us!'

Let's give a helping hand in promoting the events. There have big corporations who have bought T-Shirts in bulk for their employees to participate in Corporate Teams.

Most importantly, for all of us caring Malaysians, buy the T-shirt and bring out your family for this charity run.

Last year's pictures are in Screenshots archive -- here and here -- and LensaMalaysia archive.

The shot I liked most of all my pictures last year is this one: Happiness is... being together:

Additional details are available on www.terryfoxrunkl.org and LensaMalaysia Photographers Forum.

For information about the work that CARIF does, please contact Ms. Yoon Sook Yee at phone +603 5630 6774 or sookyee.yoon @ carif.com.my.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 08:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

The People's Petition, initiated by prominent human rights lawyer Haris Ibrahim, was submitted at 10.35am to officials representing the Agong, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, today.

The online petition, which carries 5,036 signatures, was to seek the Agong’s intervention in establishing a Royal Commission of Inquiry into scandalous allegations about judicial promotions.

The petition was started on Sept 25 and was initially slated to be delivered yesterday but last-minute kinks, including amending the language of protocol, had to be ironed out.

Meanwhile, Haris emphasised that details of those who had submitted the petition and the Istana officials who accepted it will be safeguarded in "order to protect them".

Read the People's Parliament blog for details.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 08:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

Today, October 27, marks the 20th anniversary of Operasi Lalang.

A total of 108 dissidents, including Opposition leaders, academics, educationists, NGO activists, were imprisoned without trial under the Internal security Act (ISA).

October 29, 1987: three newspapers were suspended, namely The Star, Sin Chew Jit Poh and Watan.

Many say Malaysia's journalism was cowed and never recovered ever since.

An English public forum will be held at the KL-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall on October 31, titled Remembering Operasi Lalang (1987 - 2007).

Guest speakers include: Malek Hussin, the executive chairperson of Malaysian for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel) who just won a RM2.5 million suit against the government, Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, chairperson of the working committee of the Abolish ISA Movement (GMI), and several Operasi Lalang internees who are still soldiering on till today.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 08:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

This year, Umno will hold its annual general assembly, probably the last before the next general election, on the day Hindus celebrate Deepavali.

Just as the foreign press are arranging for media accreditation to cover the event, Michael Backman -- The Age's columnist who referred to the Rafidah Aziz controversy connected to the issuance of APs and called Malaysia Bodoh for the colossal waste and theft transcending the country -- has fired another salvo two days ago, timed in the run-up to the Umno AGM.

His October article is titled: Malaysia's PM seems to be failing his people at every chance

This is Backman's take on Malaysia's future:

Malaysia is truly at a cross-roads. It has many good people with great potential but it is slipping beneath the waves of mediocrity, weighed down by officials intent on an orgy of plunder while the ship's captain stands idly by.

The process of government needs to be dramatically and urgently overhauled. Malaysia needs a dynamic, strong visionary leader who is up to the task. Instead, it has Abdullah Badawi.

Backman said some October 31, that's next Wednesday, Abdullah Badawi would have been Malaysia's Prime Minister for four years. "Abdullah came to office promising to fight corruption and to be a breath of fresh air. He has failed on both counts."

Backman said Abdullah has all the world's opportunities to redeem his lame leadership, but flunked. Quote:

Abdullah has had three chances in recent times to show that times have changed in Malaysia and to clearly assert his authority when presented with examples of such theft.

He has blown each one.

Apparently, Backman was referring to how Abdullah had used taxpayers' money to bail out the authority ridden by waste and theft.

As a context, Backman was pointing to three of such major waste and theft taking place in the ministries run by Rafidah Aziz (Backman: She's still there!), Azalina Othman (the RM224 screw-driver) and Hishamuddin Hussein (allowing an official to approve a RM450 million payment when his authority was RM5 million), and Chan Kong Choy (the RM4.2 billion PKFZ fiasco).

Will Abdullah make a difference this Umno AGM? Backman said: "Ramadan has just ended and once again Malaysia has been treated to the spectacle of government ministers and other officials fasting and playing the pious Muslim on the one hand and stealing from their fellow Malaysians on the other."

Seeing all this waste and theft in Malaysia, who should take the rap? Backman said:

One might ask what on earth the Finance Minister has been doing in the face of all this waste and theft. Or, indeed, even who is the Finance Minister? Extraordinarily, it is Abdullah. In a break with tradition, he occupies that post as well as being Prime Minister. The firings should start with him.

But can Abdullah be removed? It's a near impossibility, Backman said.

Before 1987, anyone who wanted to challenge the president of the ruling UMNO party (and hence prime minister), needed to get endorsements from just two divisions of UMNO. Previous prime minister Mahathir Mohamad had that changed after his finance minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah challenged him for the leadership and almost won.

Would-be challengers must now acquire the endorsement of 30 per cent, or 58, of 191 divisions. This means that the prime minister's office needs to pay off fewer than 150 division heads with government contracts and licences
to ensure their support.

Getting rid of Abdullah

Apparently, we read from the article that Backman visited Malaysia recently, and spoke to many "elder statesmen, established businessmen and intellectuals" in the country.

He concluded that, ironically and despite the frail leadership quality, Abdullah has achieved "one remarkable feat none of his predecessors could", that he has "united most of his country's elder statesmen, established businessmen and intellectuals together.

United? "They are united in their utter dismay at his performance [...] the despair is compounded by the near impossibility of getting rid of Abdullah.

Why such a malaise even among Malaysia's cream lot of country's elder statesmen, established businessmen and intellectuals put together? Here's the stinger:

Critics within UMNO are anaesthetised by patronage and sadly the Prime Minister probably thinks that he is doing a good job because his inner circle constantly tells him he is.

He is their ticket to riches, after all.

Ticket to riches. You think only the 4th Floors boys are laughing all the way?

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

I don't have time to plot the proxy server settings to access my Gmail. But it bugs me for the 4th day now!

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 03:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

UPDATED VERSION. October 23, The NST journalist who covered the Dewan Rakyat beat reported that Member of Parliament Badruddin Amiruldin (BN/Umno - Jerai) had taruh-ed fellow MP, wheelchair-bound Karpal Singh (DAP - Bukit Glugor) kaw kaw and chialat:

Now you are sitting in a wheel chair. God has punished you (Tuhan qada kepada dia)."

Unfazed, Karpal said his wheelchair "status" was temporary.

Badruddin -- who must have just completed his one month of soul-cleansing and accomplished the holy Ramadan, and obviously in the Hari Raya mood of maaf zahir dan batin -- was reacting to Karpal's speech, in which the Opposition MP remarked that there was little hope of seeing courtesy and good manners in the august house of Parliament.

Apparently, MP Badruddin had used the word 'puki mak' in the Dewan Rakyat and got away with it (see Hansard DR-22102007, pages 43-45).

SOURCE: Hansard DR-20071022, Pages 43-45

Today, The NST followed up with a story collecting responses from the public.

Peter Tan in Seoul... Picture courtesy The Digital Awakening

Blogger Peter Tan, a wheelchaired person and a volunteer for Independent Living Programme for People with Disabilities Kuala Lumpur, offered his views:

AS a wheelchair user for the last 23 years, I am absolutely upset with Jerai member of parliament Datuk Badruddin Amiruldin for telling fellow-MP Karpal Singh that the latter's use of a wheelchair is a punishment from God

Badruddin's remark is an affront to all wheelchair users, implying that our condition is a punishment and that we are all sinners.

Representatives from the Society of the Orthopaedically Disabled Malaysia and the Malaysian Spinal Injuries Association also spoke up to criticise that I'm-No MP.

They want the MP, who is also the deputy speaker for Umno general assembly, retract his insensitive statement.

Let's see if Malaysians are having their opinions wheelchaired too -- and take it as a punishment from God?

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (19) | TrackBacks (0)

CASE 1: Yesterday, police officer Hong Ken Hock, with the rank of ASP, was hauled to court to face charges of using fake witness statements pertaining to a businessman said to be involved in illegal activities.

Hong is from the Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department's Operations/Technical Assistance Division.

CASE 2: Also yesterday, police officer Baharin Mohd Rose, with the rank of DSP, was charged in court for using fake witness statements pertaining to the same businessman from Johor Baru who was banished to Jeli, Kelantan.

Baharin is from the Public Safety and Order Division, Internal Security Ministry, Putrajaya.

CASE 3: October 3, policemen Nordin Ahmad and Wong Boon Wai were charged in Batu Pahat with 14 counts of forging witness statements and using forged documents in the CID office in Kluang.

According to theSun, it was alleged the forging of the witness statements and the usage of forged documents were designed to be used against three people.

Nordin Ahmad carried the rank of Chief Inspector, while Wong is a Lance Corporal.

All four accused were allowed bail of RM10,000 each. Their cases will take time to settle, and by then, nobody will be able to keep track of who is right and who is wrong -- all in the name of upholding the rule of law.

Where's IPCMC?

What does all this -- a system that allows police to use fake witness statements to nab suspects -- mean to an individual's safety?

Proceed to trial, in a system where judges are alleged to be brokered and fixed, and former Lord President Tun Suffian's words linger on: "When I am asked what I thought, my usual reply is that I wouldn't like to be tried by today's judges, especially if I am innocent."

Where's the IPCMC -- the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission?

On Sunday, former IGP Hanif Omar wrote in his column:

Here is further cause for the much-delayed IPCMC. But will the IPCMC be in the shape envisioned by the Royal Commission?

Strange that the Law Minister has not circulated the draft bill to erstwhile members of the Royal Commission for their comments!

Aye that. Isn't the IPCMC recommended by the Royal Commission, with draft bill ready but all stranded at the Attorney-General's Chambers, meant as a recourse to redeem police reputation?

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 07:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

The Finance Ministry disclosed yesterday that the Abdullah Administration will pay RM292.5 million in compensation to developer Gerbang Perdana over last year's cancellation of the controversial "crooked bridge" to Singapore.

Similar disclosure was made by Finance Ministry parliamentary secretary at the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

Of the amount, RM237.5 million is for the abrupt cancellation of the project, and RM55 million for work already done.

However, the developer will still have to wait for the real money to flow into its coffers.

"We have yet to decide on when exactly the payment for the compensation will be made but we will announce full details of the plan very soon," said the official, who declined to be named, quoted by the AFP.

Earlier, it was estimated that the preliminary works done was RM170 million while the compensation to Gerbang Perdana would amount to RM100 million [ see chart ].

Chart courtesy Malaysiakini

It is not clear why the figures were raised from the original estimates.

Broga incinerator

Meanwhile, the compensation claimed by the contractors for the cancelled Broga incinerator project, estimated to cost RM1.5 billion, has yet to be determined.

The incinerator project was awarded to the contractors -- a consortium comprising Ebara Corporation of Japan and Harta Summa, a local company -- without an open tender.

However, July 7, Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Najib Razak turned around by saying that the decision to cancel the project was made during a meeting with Housing and Local Government Minister Ong Ka Ting last year.

The reason: "Too expensive" to build and maintain, on hindsight. No elaboration was given.

August 4, Singapore Business Times reported that Ebara Corporation, which has completed the design and proceeded with the viability and environmental studies on the incinerator, filed a claim of RM500 million in July.

Rumours reported by the media quoted the figure to between RM500 million and RM700 million.

Both Najib and Ong denied the quantum quoted. But pay we will.

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 06:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

Customers demand choice and options. Even AirAsia shouldn't be pampered with a monopolistic outlook for budget air travel.

Besides aircraft choice between jet (AirAsia) and turboprop (Firefly), cost of land transfer connectivity, routing and frequency of service, and air-worthiness of the carrier will be prime decider for budget travellers commuting across short domestic destinations.

Firefly website: www.fireflyz.com.my

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 06:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

2007 will be gone in two more months. So you think general election will be in 2008 and feel-good factors shall return?

Today, the independent Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER) announced that it has cut its 2008 growth estimate to 5.4% from 5.8%, citing a shaky outlook for the United States and the global economy.

Before this, the Abdullah Administration had estimated a 6.0% growth for 2008.

However, MIER maintained its forecast of 5.7% expansion in 2007, but predicted a downturn the following year.

MIER executive director Mohamed Ariff Abdul Kareem did put in a caveat: "The forecast is made on the assumption that there would be no recession in the US. However... there is the 30 to 35% chance that a recession will happen in the US."

Mohamed Ariff also said figures indicate that Malaysia's growth in the second half is not going to get any better, after the economy grew by 5.6% in the first half of 2007.

Overall, MIER said Malaysia was vulnerable to the effects of the subprime crisis on the US economy, as well as a surge in oil prices that "could undermine global growth".

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 06:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

My Gmail is constipated again, right now!!!

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The October 15 speech by Umno vice president cum Malacca Chief Minister, Mohd Ali Rustam, at the People’s Progressive Party’s state convention has become a headline story in theSun.

Did Ali, the prime suspect in perpetrating the recent pig farm demolition controversy, say all these right in the face of all PPP delegates?
1 ) Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is a pengecut (coward)?
2 ) The Perak Menteri Besar is kaki bodek?
3 ) Tthe Pahang Menteri Besar is gila who does crazy things?
4 ) The PPP should get out of Barisan Nasional?

According to theSun, the Prime Minister has asked his officers to verify and to investigate complaints made by PPP members that the Umno vice-president had, besides asking the PPP to leave the Barisan Nasional, also insulted other BN and Umno leaders. Quote:

Mohd Ali, who opened the PPP state convention on Oct 15, had in his speech told the PPP that it could leave the coalition if it was not satisfied with the lack of seat allocation. What did not make the news was his alleged use of disparing remarks made about other leaders.

Following his speech, Mohd Ali told journalists covering the event that his remarks were meant for delegates and that they should not publish it.

"There is decorum to be practised among BN members. They don't go around talking bad about fellow members. So the PM is concerned about this," said a source. "The PM has already asked his aides and officers to investigate."

"We don't know how the PM is going to deal with it, but the findings will be discussed in closed doors at the Umno Supreme Council meeting since the alleged remarks were directed at Umno members," said another source, adding that the PM's aides are in the midst of obtaining a recording of the day’s events to verify the accusations.

“If proven true, Ali Rustam will be asked to explain and may face censure," the source added.

When contacted, PPP president M. Kayveas declined comment, merely saying he has informed Abdullah of Mohd Ali's remarks.

Ali is the senior-most Umno vice president by default after Mohd Isa Samad was removed in 2004 for implication in money politics. This made him besar kepala being the immediate next-in-line to the party's deputy chief, Najib Abdul Razak,

Posted by Jeff Ooi at 02:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)