Dr M calls for proof on allegations by Barry Wain taken from theSTAROnline

Published: Friday December 25, 2009 MYT 2:12:00 PM
Updated: Friday December 25, 2009 MYT 6:43:32 PM

Dr M dares Barry Wain to prove allegations

By SIRA HABIBU

PETALING JAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has challenged author ofMalaysian Maverick: Mahathir in Turbulent Times to provide documented proof that he had burnt RM100bil during his tenure as prime minister.

Dr Mahathir said he reserved his right to sue author Barry Wain, who is with Singapore think-tank Southeast Asian studies, for libel.

He said the country would have been in deep financial trouble if it had lost such a hefty sum, adding that the government had honoured its financial commitments even during slow economic growth.

Highlighting three instances that cost Malaysia a fortune, Dr Mahathir had stressed in his blog that the quantum of losses could not have exceeded RM10bil.

He attributed the losses to London Metal Exchange ruling that its tin speculators need not honour contract to sell tin as they did not physically have the produce; to Bank Negara’s trading of foreign currencies, and to Bank Bumiputra’s losses in Hong Kong.

“Altogether I don’t think the amount lost added up to RM10bil even,” said Dr Mahathir.

Dr Mahathir also pointed out that during his 22-year tenure as the prime minister, Petronas had paid the government RM126bil.

Whereas during Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s five-year tenure, Petronas had paid RM270bil as it enjoyed unprecedented profits due to high oil price.

The former premier also welcomed DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang’s proposal to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to set up a royal commission to ascertain if he had burnt RM100bil on grandiose projects and on corruption.

Dr Mahathir said the commission should comprise foreigners and representatives from Transparency International, and that it should also investigate Abdullah’s regime to ascertain which projects were financed using Petronas funds and the costs involved.

The commission should also investigate the amount of losses due to the cancellation of the crooked bridge and Johor Baru-Padang Besar railway projects, he added.

Dr Mahathir said the proposed commission should be given full access to government documents and accounts for the period between 1981 and 2009, adding there should be no cover up.

“Depending upon the result of the commission, I reserve the right to sue Barry Wain, Lim Kit Siang and Malaysiakini.com for libel for a sum to be disclosed later,” he said.

Dr Mahathir also said that Wain would not criticise Singapore leaders as his colleagues who had written such stuff had lost in the defamation suits filed against them.

Updated News on Borneo - Dec 2009

http://www.borneoecotours.com/uploads/newsletter/eZone/29/

Malaysian Transexual Marries in the UK, and now worries for her safety - Taken from TheStar online

Thursday December 3, 2009

Transsexual worries for safety after negative reactions to ‘marriage’

By CHOI TUCK WO

LONDON: Malaysian transsexual Mohammed Fazdil Min Bahari is afraid to return home due to the negative reactions over her marriage to a Briton.

She has received a lot of negative e-mails and comments from people, some even accusing her of insulting the Malaysian government.

Mohammed Fazdil or Fatine, said she felt frustrated that people did not understand she had come to the United Kingdom because she wanted to be with the man she loved.

She added that she could not do that in Malaysia and people in the country seemed to be taking a religious point of view over the matter.

“I am so frightened to go back. I am worried for my safety,” she said in response to what she claimed was the inaccurate portrayal of their love story by a Malay tabloid which caused the negative reactions.

Controversial ‘marriage’: Mohammed Fazdil or Fatine and Young posing for a photo after they were married in a civil partnership in the UK last May.

Speaking up for the first time after The Sun newspaper in London broke the story, Fatine said she did not know what to do as her family had already disowned her.

“I’ve spent hours on the phone asking for forgiveness. I love them but I can’t change what has happened,” said the 36-year-old makeup artist.

Fatine said it was a shame that the article had twisted their story as it was never their intention to insult the Malay community.

“They also put my father’s name in it, which was unnecessary and my mother is now afraid to leave the house,” she added.

Fatine also said that she understood that the Malays were very traditional and that “people like me aren’t acceptable”, but she hoped things would cool down eventually.

Fatine, who married Ian Young in a civil partnership in May, faces deportation back to Malaysia after her Leave to Remain visa was rejected by the Home Office over an “incorrect” photograph.

A second application with a passport photograph with a white background as required, instead of blue, was submitted for reconsideration but it was also thrown out in October.

The pair has just submitted their third application for a Right to Family Life under the Human Rights Act in Britain.

On Monday, Immigration director-general Datuk Abdul Rahman Othman said the department might take action against Fatine when she returned home as it viewed problems like overstaying seriously.

Young, 30, however, maintained that Fatine’s application was still being processed by the UK Border Agency and she should not be classified as an overstayer.

“All we want is to be married, happy and living together.

“The only way we can do this is over here in the UK,” said Young, who runs a property maintenance company.

He said the article also made it sound like they were trying to make a mockery of Muslim laws, which was never their intention.

“As a result of the way we have been portrayed, I now feel that we would be in more danger than ever if we were to try and live in Malay-sia,” he added.

A looming Indonesian Invasion?? Taken from the StarOnline

Published: Thursday October 8, 2009 MYT 2:10:00 PM
Updated: Thursday October 8, 2009 MYT 2:36:31 PM

Security forces on alert for ‘Bendera invasion’ (Update)

By MAZWIN NIK ANIS

mazwin@thestar.com.my

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia’s security forces, particularly those guarding the coastlines, have been put on alert after an Indonesian group threatened to invade the country on Thursday.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop said any security threat to the country and its people would not be taken lightly, whether or not the attacks take place.

“Our security forces are on alert. They are ready and prepared to meet whatever threats that may come our way. We are always on guard,” he told reporters on Thursday.

However, he said there were no reports of sightings of Indonesians entering the country bearing “long bamboo poles.”

On Sept 28, The Daily Chilli reported that Benteng Demokrasi Rakyat (Bendera) had amassed bows and arrows, samurai swords and bamboo spears for an invasion of Malaysia.

Their mission is to “avenge” all alleged wrongs committed against Indonesia.

The group managed to attract media attention and frenzied supporters with its war cry of “kill Malaysians” and was the same group that set up roadblocks at Menteng, the heart of Jakarta, to “sweep” Malaysians off the street recently.

Both Malaysian and Indonesian authorities scoffed at the idea, saying the threats should not be taken seriously.

Border patrols stepped up
In KUCHING, the Royal Malaysia Police have stepped up security at all entry points from West Kalimantan to Sarawak as a precaution following threats from Bendera, national news agency Bernama reported.

Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohmad Salleh said patrols by the General Operations Force had been doubled starting Thursday, especially at the Tebedu and Serikin border posts and several illegal trails at the Sarawak-Kalimantan border.

“So far, we have not received any report of moves by the group known as Bendera to enter Sarawak,” he told reporters after the Sarawak police contingent’s monthly assembly and Aidilfitri open house at its headquarters here.

Mohmad said police would also set up roadblocks at major roads leading in and out of the state besides monitoring the industrial and plantation areas where many Indonesians were employed.

He said a police team from the Criminal Investigation Department had surveyed the areas and so far nothing unusual had happened, Bernama reported.

He also said that so far there had been no reports of Malaysians going to Kalimantan being threatened or those there being disturbed.

SBY asks Indonesians not to harass Malaysians - Taken from the Jakarta Post Online

Don't harass Malaysians, SBY says

Erwida Maulia and Ary Hermawan , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Fri, 09/11/2009 3:11 PM | World

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told the Indonesian public on Thursday not to harass Malaysian citizens residing in the country, saying the actions taken by a group of nationalist earlier in the week were "excessive".

The president said the group broke the law and risked harming ties between Indonesia and Malaysia when it set up a road block in Central Jakarta looking for Malaysians to "sweep" out of the country.

"The *Indonesian* government has done our part. We have officially protested and taken diplomatic actions. We are working, and the Eminent Persons Group *a group established to improve Indonesia-Malaysia ties* is working. Why does there have to be such excessive actions?" said Yudhoyono at the Presidential Office.

The President reminded the nation that about 1.8 million Indonesian citizens are currently working, living or studying in Malaysia, and that they could face the consequences of the harassment.

"On principal issues, like territorial boundaries, we have to be firm. On the Ambalat dispute, on things related to national sovereignty, we're being firm. On other issues I believe there is still a better way out," the President said.

The Jakarta police dispersed a group of people who conducted an ID check targeting Malaysian nationals on Tuesday, following a series of spats between Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur over their alleged cultural "theft" and ongoing border disputes.

Malaysia is concerned by the incident and has summoned Indonesia's Ambassador, Da'i Bachtiar for clarification and to assure the safety of its citizens living in Indonesia.

Malaysia's Foreign Ministry issued Wednesday a statement urging the Indonesian government "to take the necessary actions in order to ensure the welfare and well-being of Malaysian citizens in Indonesia are taken care of, as well as to ensure that such aggressive actions of certain extremists in Indonesia are curtailed immediately."

Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Nanan Sukarna said on Thursday the police could not ban citizens from expressing their opinions, but made it clear they would not tolerate flag-burnings or the interrogation of members of the public.

Nanan however played down Tuesday's bullying by the nationalist groups, saying the media should not hype such incidents. He added that there had been no official request from the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta to boost security near their premises, although the activists said they planned to conduct the next rally near the embassy.

"We will do our job as usual," he said.

Susilo Makes His Comments on SWEEPING MALAYSIA - Taken from NST Online

Susilo against 'Sweeping Malaysian' campaign

2009/09/11

By Shuhada Elis and Alang Bendahara

KUALA LUMPUR: A day after the Malaysian government conveyed its concerns over the “Sweeping Malaysian” vigilante campaign in Indonesia, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono yesterday described his citizens’ action as “excessive”.

Susilo said the campaign was against the law and would put ties between Indonesia and Malaysia at risk.

On Tuesday, Indonesian activists of Relawan Ganyang Malaysia had conducted a raid on a street in Central Jakarta, hunting for Malaysians. They did not find any.

The Jakarta Post quoted Susilo as saying that the Indonesian government had done its part by sending protest notes and taking diplomatic action.

“We are working, and the Eminent Persons Group (a group established to improve Indonesia-Malaysia ties) is working. Why does there have to be such excessive action?” he had said while opening a plenary cabinet meeting at the Presidential Office yesterday.

He also reminded the nation that about 1.8 million Indonesian citizens were currently working, living or studying in Malaysia, and that “sweeping” the streets for Malaysians could harm their presence.

“Let’s think about how to manage problems more wisely. On principal issues like territorial boundary, we have to be firm.

“On the Ambalat dispute, on things related to national sovereignty, we’re being
firm.

“On other issues, I believe there is still a better way out — good solutions that don’t need to involve violent actions that are against the law, moreover during Ramadan,” the president said.

Although the Malaysian government has not issued any ban on travel to Indonesia following the campaign there, Malaysians are taking precautions by cancelling their holidays to the republic.

Tour agencies are reporting “thousands of ringgit” in losses.

The agencies have been recording cancellations over the past week.

QS Travel Services Sdn Bhd executive director Noraida Othman said her company had been receiving phone calls from clients day and night.

She also received messages asking whether it was safe to go there. Noraida said some 100 clients had cancelled their trips to Jakarta, Bandung and Bali, which had resulted in losses of up to RM30,000.

These three Indonesian cities are among top destinations for Malaysians. Travellers are opting not to take risks with their safety as threats against Malaysians in the republic have escalated over the past few weeks.

Yesterday, Jakarta Post reported nine rallies in the Indonesian capital.
One of them was held in front of the Malaysian embassy there, a foreign ministry official here said.

Noraida said those who had already paid for their trips had no other choice but to continue with their plans to holiday in the republic.

“About 30 people are going to different parts of Indonesia in the next few weeks but they need to be assured of their safety. Who can provide them this assurance?”

A Sinisini.com spokesman said Malaysians were afraid of the demonstrations held in Indonesia.

The company, which operates online, has noted a drastic number of cancellations, especially for tour packages to Jakarta.

“There have been more than 50 per cent cancellations as of today.
“People pay for holidays to unwind and enjoy themselves, not to worry about their safety.”

He said besides the influenza A (H1N1) pandemic, the current situation had added to the losses the tourism industry was suffering.

However, checks with local carriers AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines found there were no cancellations so far by passengers flying to Indonesia.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry and the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta will continue to monitor the situation closely and issue regular reports.

An operations room has been set up to receive reports of any related incidents from members of the public, especially Malaysian citizens currently in Indonesia.

It can be contacted at 03-88892746 and 03-88874570 (Wisma Putra) or the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta (+6221-5224947 and +6221-5224971).

The rape of young Penan girls: Cops want more info - Taken from theStarOnline

Published: Thursday September 10, 2009 MYT 4:04:00 PM
Updated: Thursday September 10, 2009 MYT 4:38:00 PM

The rape of young Penan girls: Cops want more info

By STEPHEN THEN and SHARON LING

MIRI/ KUCHING: Sarawak police say they would not be able to nail the loggers who raped and sexually abused Penan women and girls in timber concession zones despite a government report that confirmed these crimes -- not unless they get detailed information.

The Women and Family Affairs Ministry has confirmed that these crimes -- first uncovered by the Bruno Manser Fund on its website, then highlighted by local media -- had taken place, but police said they need detailed information that can lead them to these rapists.

The head of the Criminal Investigation Department in Sarawak, Senior Asst Comm 2 Huzir Mohamed, told The Star on Thursday that the police need more detailed and specific information like names, dates and places.

“We need the names of specific victims, where they can be found, more accurate information on the dates and places of the incidents and descriptions of the people who had committed these (sexual crimes).

“We need to interview these victims. If the report is too general and not precise, it will be difficult for us to probe effectively.

“The ministry must furnish us with more details,” he said when was asked whether the police could launch an investigation to pinpoint the rapists following the ministry’s public disclosure that there had been numerous cases of rape and sexual abuse against Penan girls and women in Ulu Baram in northern Sarawak.

When they first investigated the case, the police found no evidence of these crimes, Inspector-Gene ral of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said in November last year.

However, the continuing public outcry over the horrific crime prompted the Government to study the matter more deeply.

The 111-page report was compiled by a special committee set up by the ministry on Oct 8 last year.

The committee visited numerous Penan settlements in Long Item, Long Kawi, Long Luteng, Long Belok and Niah and said that it had identified several Penan girls and women who had been raped and sexually violated.

The committee members, made up of representatives from several ministries, spoke to these victims in the settlements, as well as two victims who were brought to the Women’s Aid Organisation shelter home in Selangor.

The two victims, aged 17 and 21, had also lodged police reports in Bukit Aman.

“For every case, the committee had difficulties in getting the exact dates of the incidents because the victims could not remember the exact details,” the report said, stressing that these incidents happened years ago.

The report described the testimonies of a 17-year old “Cindy” who said she was raped when she was 12.

She said she was raped by a logging company worker (the name of the company was also disclosed) inside a boarding school, outside the school and when she took a ride on the logger’s vehicle from Long Kawi to Long Lama.

Raping 10yr-old girls
Another girl “Bibi” said she was raped twice by a logger named “Johnny” and she became pregnant in 2005.

The report said the victim told the committee that she did not lodge a police report because she did not know where to go to do so.

She was also uneducated and afraid, said the report, adding that some of the victims had been sexually violated when they were only 10.

The report also said schoolgirls were often molested by lorry drivers while travelling to school in timber company vehicles.

It documented one incident in which a 14-year-old girl’s breasts were touched by a lorry driver. In another incident, a lorry driver tried to molest a group of 10-year-old girls but they managed to escape.

The report highlighted the vulnerability of Penan schoolgirls to such abuse because of their dependence on timber vehicles to transport them to and from school.

“The Penans are overly dependent on timber companies because logging tracks are often the only means of access to their villages,” it said, adding that schools and clinics were four to six hours away by logging track and the Penans were too poor to afford their own transport.

The report said the Penans were also afraid that the authorities may not believe them and would accuse them of trying to create trouble for the logging companies.

The report, however, said that there are Penan women and girls who had admitted to having sexual affairs with some of these loggers, adding that there were some who had married these timber workers.

In the report, the ministry did not recommend what the police should do nor provide exact details of the criminals, where they could be found or if they are still working with the timber company concerned.

Addressing the issue
A copy of the report was released to PKR women’s chief Zuraida Kamaruddin by the ministry on Tuesday and subsequently madeavailable on the Sarawak-based blog Hornbill Unleashed.

On addressing the sexual abuse, the report called for programmes to be conducted to raise the awareness of the Penans on personal safety, sex education and violence against women.

It also recommended the appointment of “trusted” lorry drivers and student management assistants to escort Penan schoolchildren back to their villages.

The report also found that the Penans had little access to registration, healthcare and education due to their poverty and the remoteness of their settlements.

It said many Penans did not have personal documents while their children had a high drop-out rate at school.

“All these issues are closely related to imbalanced development. The lack of infrastructure such as roads and public transport make it difficult for the Penan to communicate with the outside world including government agencies.

“The Penans also feel neglected because of negative perceptions and prejudices against them,” it said.

As such, it said there should be greater involvement of the Penans in the process of making decisions which affect them.

Meanwhile, the Bruno Manser Fund, which first broke the Penans’ allegations of sexual abuse last September, welcomed the release of the task force’s report.

However, it voiced concern that the report apparently did not have any legal consequences for the perpetrators.

“It is high time that those responsible for the crimes described in the report will face the legal consequences of their conduct,” it said in astatement released on the Borneo Project website.

Torture by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission - Taken from theStarOnline

Thursday September 10, 2009

Assistant manager: MACC officers tortured me during questioning

By WANI MUTHIAH

SHAH ALAM: The “mystery witness” accusing Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission of torture during questioning has turned out to be a 23-year-old assistant manager.

T. Sivanesan, who was brought in by the legal team holding a watching brief for the family of political aide Teoh Beng Hock, claimed that he was beaten up by commission officers in September last year.

He testified at the inquest into Teoh’s death that he was hit on his body and buttocks with an iron rod wrapped with a newspaper and blindfolded with a yellow towel when held at the Selangor MACC office in Plaza Masalam from Sept 4 to Sept 9 last year.

Sivanesan, who works with Puncak Rezeki Makmur Sdn Bhd, said three officers - known only as Zulkifli, Ashraf and J - had gone to his house in Jenjarom on Sept 4 and asked him to accompany them to their office to help with some investigations.

“When I was there, an officer called Mohan came in and told me in Tamil that if I didn’t speak the truth, the place would become hell,” he said, adding that the officers later brought in a pair of handcuffs together with documents for him to sign and admit his guilt.

Sivanesan claimed that the beating started after midnight when he was taken to a dark room and accused by a tall, bespectacled officer of being “stubborn”.

“He slapped my cheeks five or six times and told me to sign the documents. When I still refused, he ordered me to strip down to my underwear,” he said.

He claimed there were about 10 to 15 officers in the room then, one of whom - who was known as Ashraf - used a profanity and a racial slur against him and beat his genitals with a cane.

He said he twice blacked out during the interrogation to wake up with a packet of ice cubes shoved down the front portion of his underwear.

He later gave in and admitted his guilt because he could no longer bear the pain.

Sivanesan said he lodged a police report on Sept 11 last year and was treated at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang for injuries on his head, genitals and kidneys.

Teoh, who was the political secretary to Selangor executive councilor Ean Yong Hian Wah, had been summoned to the state MACC office at the 14th Floor Plaza Masalam here for questioning on July 15.

He was found dead on the fifth floor service corridor of the building the following day.

In PETALING JAYA, Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said the chambers wanted a revision to the coroner’s decision to accept Sivanesan’s statement, which he stated was “totally irrelevant”.

“We feel the inquest has diverted from the original aim and want it to be back on track,” he added.

TEOH'S INQUEST DAY 17 - Taken from TheStarOnline

Published: Tuesday September 8, 2009 MYT 9:05:00 AM
Updated: Tuesday September 8, 2009 MYT 1:06:34 PM

Teoh Inquest (Day 17)

Follow the developments here and on Twitter

1pm: Abdul Razak says there is no need to put witness on the stand just to discredit him and ask irrelevant questions as 'this is not a trial.'

12.45pm: Gobind disagrees with Abdul Razak. He says the police report has accusations implicating the witness (Mohd Ashraf).

Gobind questions the 'fear' that the MACC has regarding the matter. "Why the fear? If you haven't done anything wrong, then say you didn't do anything wrong."

Gobind insists that Mohd Ashraf would have the chance to counter the allegations if he is allowed to take the stand.

Abdul Razak says Gobind cannot implicate Mohd Ashraf because after viewing the report, Mohd Ashraf's name was not mentioned in the report.

Gobind says the report stated 'several MACC officers' and Mohd Ashraf is a MACC officer.

Lawyer Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, for the Selangor government, supports Gobind's argument, saying Mohd Ashraf works for the MACC at the time the report was lodged.

12.35pm: Court resumes with Abdul Razak saying that the police report is irrelevant to the inquest for a few reasons. One is that the person who lodged the report on Sept 11, 2008 is a suspect while Teoh was a witness.

11.50am: Lawyer Tan Hock Chuan (representing the Attorney-General's Chamber) suggests that police report Gobind Singh Deo mentioned on Aug 28 (relating to abuse and torture by MACC officers) be given to Datuk Abdul Razak Musa, the lawyer for MACC. Gobind agrees.

Court takes a short break for parties to view the report.

11.24am: 19th witness MACC officer Mohd Ashraf Mohd Yunus, 25, recalled to the stand for the second time.

Executive councillor Ronnie Liu walks in and sits at the front row of the public gallery.

SHAH ALAM: The inquest into the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock will resume at 11am Tuesday after a week’s hiatus.

The proceedings are expected to be explosive given that the lawyer holding a watching brief for Teoh’s family, Gobind Singh Deo, has been allowed to bring in a “mystery witness” to testify against the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Teoh, who was the political secretary to Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, was summoned to the state MACC office at the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam to be quizzed over the alleged irregular disbursement of state funds on July 15.

He was found dead at the building’s 5th floor service corridor the next day.

An inquest had been ordered to probe his death.

The mystery witness had lodged police reports against several Selangor MACC officers alleging that they had brutalised him when he had been hauled up for questioning.

It is believed some of the MACC officers mentioned in the police report were also being called as witnesses in the Teoh inquest.

According to sources, the witness would only be brought in after all the MACC officers involved in Teoh’s case have been grilled.

Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas had adjourned the proceedings to Tuesday on Aug 28 to give time for the MACC officers to seek legal counsel.

He had also informed the MACC officer who had testified on Aug 28, Mohd Ashraf Mohd Yunus, that he need not answer any questions that he feels would implicate him.

Malek Imtiaz Sarwar is heading the legal team holding a watching brief for the state whilst counsel Tan Hock Chuan and DPP Mohd Abazafree Mohd Abbas are assisting Azmil Muntapha.

Datuk Abdul Razak Musa is holding a watching brief for the MACC.

Sabahan Beauty Daphne Iking's Case - Corporate Figure accused of Enticing this married Lady - Taken from TheStarOnline

Tuesday September 8, 2009

Iking case in December

KUALA LUMPUR: The highly-anticipated case involving a corporate figure who is accused of “enticing” married celebrity Daphne Iking will be heard on Dec 9 and 10 at the magistrate’s court here.

This is pending a decision of the High Court for another magistrate to hear the case.

Celebrity docket: Iking’s husband is embroiled in a legal battle with a corporate figure over her.

Magistrate Mohd Faizi Che Abu kept the dates for hearing after counsel for Choy Khin Ming, Akbar Din Abdul Kader, told the court that he had filed an appeal at the High Court Registry on Aug 26 against Mohd Faizi’s ruling on Aug 21 not to allow the case to be tried by another magistrate.

“The notice of appeal has been filed and the court has acknowledged it,” Akbar Din said.

However, no date has yet been fixed for the matter to be heard by the High Court.

Iking’s husband – Ryan Chong – and Choy are embroiled in a legal battle with the former accusing Choy of “enticing or taking away or detaining with a criminal intent a married woman”, a crime under Section 498 of the Penal Code.

If found guilty, he can be jailed up to two years, fined or both.

Only Choy was present in court yesterday, accompanied by a friend.

Heading the prosecution on behalf of Chong is lawyer Wong Kian Kheong, while, besides Akbar Din, Jagjit Singh stood for Choy.

Also in court was Iking’s counsel Ravi Nekoo.

Akbar Din had earlier sought for the case to be tried by another magistrate on the grounds that Mohd Faizi had heard the statement of complaint and issued the summons against Choy.

This is Too Much!! Why do these stupid people do this? Article taken from TheStarOnline

Photo taken from : http://suomenkuvalehti.fi/kuvat/2009/09/07/malaysia-temple-protest

Published: Tuesday September 8, 2009 MYT 12:02:00 PM

Cow head protest: A-G’s decision lauded

PETALING JAYA: The MCA Non-Government Organisation Liaison Bureau has lauded the Attorney-General’s decision to charge the protesters responsible for bringing a cow’s head to a controversial demonstration over the relocation of a Hindu temple to Section 23, Shah Alam.

Bureau chairman Datuk Ti Lian Ker said the Aug 28 incident involving 50 protesters went against the Malaysian political culture of consensus building in a legal and peaceful manner.

“We hope that the decision to charge these illegal demonstrators and those who had inflamed religious and racial sentiments will be consistent and without regard of their political support or affiliations so that the rule of law prevails,” he said in a statement Tuesday.

The protestors had dragged the decapitated head of a cow, stamped and spat on it during the protest. The cow is considered sacred by Hindus.

Ti said the police and the A-G should also charge residents who “committed criminal assault and battery” against Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad in last Saturday’s dialogue.

“Both are elected representatives of the people. The uncouth mob behaviour displayed by several residents -- such as carrying a chair in a display of violence to an elected official -- must not be allowed or encouraged,” he said.

Ti said that actions like street protests against the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English was a form of political blackmail by an “aggressive minority against the political will and desire of the silent majority.”

“Of late, we have seen Malaysians developing a tendency to resort to mob antics and violence to express themselves.

“This trend of violence in whatever name must be stopped and there should no justification given. An offence is still an offence,” he said.

KK IS OUT OF SUGAR!!!!

Photo from : http://www.phyast.pitt.edu/~micheles/scheme/sugar.jpg

OMG.. The whole of KK is out of sugar.

Though it is a known fact that too much sugar is bad for health, but fact remains that we still need sugar.

I went out to the whole of KK City yesterday and every supermarket is OUT of this commodity.

To the Malaysian Government : WHAT ARE YOU DOING??????!!!!!

Kuala Dimensi - Port Klang Free Zone Project - Money Laundering Suspicion - Taken from theStarOnline

Saturday September 5, 2009

Freeze on bank account

By LOURDES CHARLES

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have or dered a bank to freeze about RM140mil in the account of Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd, the turnkey developer of the controversial Port Klang Free Zone pro ject.

It is learnt that Commercial Crimes Inves ti gations Department (CCID) officers have asked the bank to freeze the account as the money is be­lieved to have been derived from the Port Klang Free Zone project.

Sources said the CCID officers were also be lieved to have traced several hundreds of millions more in another account and were making arrangements to freeze that account too.

It is learnt that the CCID officers invoked Section 44 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act to freeze the account pending investigations.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan also briefed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on the PKFZ investigations yesterday.

Police investigations were initiated following a report lodged by Port Klang Authority (PKA) chairman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng.

“We are going through all documents pertaining to the project to ascertain if there are any shoddy dealings or misappropriation of funds or any other criminal of fence.

“A special task force has been set up specifically to investigate the matter, and we need time to go through every document,” he said.

Musa said his officers would be calling up the parties involved.

He urged those to be called up to cooperate to ensure a speedy in vestigation as it was of public interest.

Meanwhile, Deputy CEO of Kua la Dimensi Sdn Bhd Datuk Faizal Haji Abdullah said in a statement: “KDSB (Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd ) confirms that several of its accounts have been frozen. The accounts were frozen late yesterday afternoon.

“We regard this as part of the investigation process and we are giving our fullest cooperation to the police. In the meantime, KDSB is taking advice on the legality of the freezing orders.”

A task force, set up by the Transport Ministry had on June 10, found possible fraud, including overcharging and unsubstantiated claims running into hundreds of millions of ringgit by Kuala Dimensi.

The eventual amount in dispute could run up to as much as RM1bil.

Kuala Dimensi chief executive officer is Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, is treasurer-general of the Sarawak Progres sive Demo cratic Party. Kuala Dimensi’s deputy chief executive officer is Datuk Faisal Abdul lah.

The task force comprised Skrine partner Lim Chee Wee and PricewaterhouseCoopers Adviso ry Services’ managing director Chin Kwai Fatt, and senior executive director Lim San Peen.

PKA chairman Lee Hwa Beng lodged two reports – one with the police and the other with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Com mission (MACC) – upon receiving the 370-page report with 2,500 appendices from the task force.

Lee in his report said the task force had found that Kuala Dimensi had:

> POSSIBLY made fraudulent claims on electrical infrastructure worth RM55.8mil, which had yet to be carried out on the site, and 33kv supply works and civil infrastructure works worth RM83mil, as TNB had rejected the proposal for Kuala Dimensi to undertake the work;

> NOT provided any document to support its claim of at least RM231mil as preliminaries under the development agreements, besides making claims for items it was not contractually entitled to, such as procurement of a performance bond and payment for insurance premiums totalling RM5mil;

> NOT justified its claim for variation works of RM62mil under Additional Development Works and New Additional Development Works agreements;

> APPEARED to have made an “over claim” for hotel works for which Kuala Dimensi had claimed RM69.6mil compared to the quantity surveyor’s valuation of RM44.7mil.

> NOT produced any invoice or payment voucher for the RM61mil which the company claimed was professional fees and expenses incurred; and

> CLAIMED RM254.9mil as extra work done even though the purported revised works fell within the scope of the original works envisaged in the main development agreement.

Breaking News - Earthquake in Indonesia's TasikMalaya - Taken from Indahnesia.com

LIPPO CIKARANG - An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 on the Richter Scale struck 143 kilometers southwest of Tasikmalaya at 14:55 local time. The quake was felt as far as Yogyakarta and Jakarta. A tsunami alarm as been issued.

* 142 km (88 miles) SW (226°) from Tasikmalaya, Java, Indonesia
* 144 km (89 miles) S (190°) from Bandung, Java, Indonesia
* 156 km (97 miles) SSE (159°) from Sukabumi, Java, Indonesia
* 242 km (150 miles) SSE (164°) from JAKARTA, Java, Indonesia

Spiderman Gets FINED!! Taken from theStarOnline

Published: Wednesday September 2, 2009 MYT 11:22:00 AM

"Spidey" fined RM2,000 for trespassing Petronas Twin Towers

By LISA GOH

KUALA LUMPUR: French “Spiderman” Robert Alain Philippe was fined RM2,000 after he pleaded guilty to criminal trespass for scaling the Petronas Twin Towers.

The 47-year-old was fined the amount in default of two months jail at the KL magistrate’s court on Wednesday.

He had scaled Tower 2 of the Twin Towers early Tuesday morning and succeeded in his third attempt to conquer the building about two hours later.

He first tried to scale the building on March 20, 1997, and made a second unsuccessful attempt in 2007, after which he was freed without charge. Each time he reached the 60th storey before being intercepted by authorities.