PENANG, May 24 ─ DAP chairman Karpal Singh wants the Attorney-General (A-G) to drop a death threat charge against a college student who had posted it on a PAS Youth website.Karpal, who received the death threat, said this was because he had accepted the apology from the 19-year-old and the fact that he was still young.
"But the court process has to go on because my statement has been recorded. I only want the A-G to drop the charge.
"His apology was sincere and I have accepted it," he told a press conference at his office here today.
On April 26, the teenager turned up at the Johor Baru South police headquarters to assist police with investigations into the posting of the death threat.
Accompanied by his father and a PAS supporter, the student had also handed a letter of apology to Karpal through Johor DAP deputy chairman Norman Fernandez.
In the letter, he had also asked the DAP stalwart to withdraw the police report.
The youth was investigated under Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation.
Karpal also said police recorded his statement this morning on his comments on Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's remarks that some judges lobbied for positions during his tenure as prime minister.
The statement was recorded by ASP Sidambaram Arunasalam of the Penang police contingent.
Meanwhile, Karpal who is also MP for Bukit Gelugor, said the DAP was saddened over the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) verdict in handing over sovereignty of Pulau Batu Puteh to Singapore.
"Pulau Batu Puteh is only 10km from Johor but 65km from Singapore... the island should be owned by Malaysia," he said.
He said, however, the ICJ decision was binding and not subject to appeal. ─ Bernama
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Karpal Wants A-G To Drop Death Threat Charge Against Student
Saturday, May 24, 2008
The Good, The Bad, And The Funny!
If you've been following some of the news lately, besides the Mahathir-Pak Lah Saga and the whole Pulau Batu Puteh deal, this would've caught your attention in the news:
Govt Has No Plans To Increase Fuel Prices - Shahir
Now that's good isn't it? I mean, if there's anything to be thankful for, it's that the fuel prices in this country won't be increasing tomorrow! Then again, those leading the Govt are known to change their minds as often as the price of crude oil changes these days, so I won't be singing praises just yet. Give me a year, and if it still remains, I might compose a song for them, to be sung throughout the ages! Speaking about the price of oil, I picked up today's edition of the NST and I found something 'amusing'. Did you know that 30 years ago, the price of crude oil was around USD1.80 a barrel? Today, the price is USD140 a barrel! It's just so unbelievable that oil was ever that cheap that it just made me laugh!
MELAKA, May 24 (Bernama) -- The government has no plans to increase fuel price despite the price hike of petrol by 30 per cent in Indonesia beginning Saturday, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said.
On the contrary, he said the government was now focusing on managing the subsidy system to prevent leakage and smuggling.
"For the time being, we are not considering increasing the price of petrol and diesel although we are aware of the impact of the crude oil price hike in the world market.
"We will see how the subsidy system is being managed to encourage saving and ensure that there will be no detrimental effects (to the country)," he told reporters after attending a consumer forum and dialogue at Ayer Keroh here Saturday.
Shahrir said, with the fuel price reaching AS$135 (RM434.18) a barrel, it had put the government under more pressure in managing the subsidy system.
Anyway, moving on...
The Bad
Alright. This just pissed me off when I read it. Taken from Fong Po Kuan's blog, the MP for Batu Gajah:
Read more on that here. My say on it: This is just bullshit! You guys fucked up! A few days ago the damn Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar confirmed that there was "no evidence of any indelible ink being smuggled in from neighbouring countries as alleged by the EC chairman". Then after that, on the 17th of May, the SPR chairman issued a statement to the contrary and said he had been instructed by the Cabinet to cancel plans to use the indelible ink. In short, you fucked up! Big time! Now not only can't you explain how it is that the Cabinet had a say in the matter at all, especially four days before the elections, you're pointing fingers that it's the EC's fault for the whole mess.I tried but failed. None wants to take responsibility for cancelling the decision to use the indelible ink, four days before the recent general election.
This evening, a few opposition MPs tried hard to find out more about this issue when Datuk Seri Nazri was replying on behalf of the Prime Minister’s Department but we were more confused after hearing Datuk Seri Nazri replies. In fact, I found more inconsistencies.
Nazri blamed it on Election Commission (EC). Also, Nazri kept repeating the “concern” of the Cabinet and stressed that the Cabinet wanted to ensure that none would be denied the right to vote under Art. 119 of the Federal Constitution. He did not deliberate much on the police reports lodged related to “smuggling of ink.” (I will put up the complete details when the Hansard is ready.)
Hasn't the 12th GE taught you guys anything? THE PEOPLE DON'T TRUST YOU! The rakyat know that you guys just lie through your teeth and you guys just never give us a reason to give you the benefit of the doubt! Come on! Show a bit of humility, be humble enough to admit that you guys fucked up and you won't do it again, that you'll start playing nice, and we might just let you get off on a lighter sentence! Else, the hammer will strike, and you will definitely hear the fat lady sing! So cut the crap, stop lying or hiding, and just come out and be responsible adults, we want the TRUTH! After all, it's not like we don't already know that you guys fucked us up during the last GE in someway, so it won't be anything that'll cause heart attacks nationwide.
Enough of this shit.
The Funny
UMNO = Sarkis (circus)? I stumbled upon this while reading Rocky's Bru. Apparently the comedian, among other things, that was P. Ramlee had quite the balls in his day! The movie 'Bujang Lapuk' has to be one of my favourites of that era and like most, this scene had escaped me as one that was actually poking fun at UMNO.
To understand the joke better, redirect yourself to another post by OpEd, P.Ramlee - Umno = Circus!
Hilarious! Now try imagine any current local movie doing something like this and getting away with it! Ha ha.
Hats off to you Tan Sri! You certainly were quite the joker!
Friday, May 23, 2008
PM Charged
Indelible ink fiasco: Police report against PM, 3 othersAgain, this post is for all those whom I know personally, who would rather wait for me to tell them of such news, rather than go around the blogosphere or the alternative media websites updating themselves. See, I do care for you guys! Oh yeah, I've bold the part of the article that I think would get you up to speed on why the PM, Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Ab Rashid Ab Rahman and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan are being charged.
By Debra ChongKUALA LUMPUR, May 22 – Looks like Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has another headache to add to his expanding cluster.
At 11.30am today, the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) and National Institute for Electoral Integrity (NIEI) lodged a report at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters against the government over the cancellation of the indelible ink at the March general elections.
Faisal Mustaffa and Amin Iskandar, from Bersih and NIEI respectively, in their joint report named the prime minister, Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Ab Rashid Ab Rahman and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan as the parties responsible for causing the cancellation of the indelible ink, bought at a cost of RM2.4 million from India.
The two non-profit organisations, which have been keeping a close watch on the proceedings of the electoral process and maintain that the last general elections were conducted unfairly, want the
named individuals investigated for what they allege was a conspiracy to tamper with the electoral process.
"Bersih and NIEI are of the opinion that the conflicting statements among the four parties need to be investigated and action taken. Based on media reports, it's clear that there was a plot among the four parties named," said Faisal in a statement to the media.
The police report was made following the shocking statement issued by Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar in Parliament on May 5.
Four days before the March 8 election, the EC had announced that it was cancelling the use of the indelible ink, which it had been touting as an additional safeguard against the phenomenon of phantom voters which is believed to have long plagued the Malaysian electoral process.
The EC claimed that there had been efforts to smuggle in indelible ink from neighbouring countries, which would interfere with the exercise. The IGP also claimed that several police reports had been filed in Perlis, Kedah and Kelantan between February 16 and 21 and that the police had conducted investigations regarding the ink smuggling incident.
"In a written reply to Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar confirmed that in actuality, there was no evidence of any indelible ink being smuggled in from neighbouring countries as alleged by the EC chairman.
"On 17 May 2008, the SPR chairman issued a statement to the contrary and said he had been instructed by the Cabinet to cancel plans to use the indelible ink," said Faisal.
He also accused the EC chairman of being under the Cabinet's manipulation and rebutted the latter's statements that the electoral process was free and fair were untrue.
"EC failed to amend the Constitution to allow or enforce the implementation of the indelible ink. This actually frustrates the citizen's right to a free and fair elections,” Faisal explained, referring to the commission's failure last year to get Parliament to pass the laws allowing the use of the indelible ink.
The EC had overlooked the legal aspect altogether when it received approval from the National Fatwa Council to use the indelible ink.
"Rashid, as EC chairman, must take responsibility and resign immediately for the disappointing unprofessional attitude demonstrated by EC officials in handling this matter so that the next time round, such things won't happen again," said Faisal firmly.
Interesting. Will post the updates as I get them. For now, I thank God we have groups like Bersih and NIEI still attentive to issues such as this, that most would deem 'water under the bridge', and that they still continue fighting for the rights of the rakyat!
KUDOS BERSIH! KUDOS NIEI!
Parliament Unites In Condemnation!
Anyway, a few days back, this was on The Malaysian Insider:
Threat to Karpal unites parliament in condemnation
KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat today temporarily buried their differences over Karpal Singh and jointly condemned the death threat against him. On Tuesday afternoon, a man wearing a full-faced helmet, dropped off an envelope at the veteran lawyer’s office in Kuala Lumpur.The letter contained a live bullet and a note warning him not to question the special rights of the Malays and the constitutional powers of the sultans. It said that if he persisted, the bullet will be lodged in his forehead.
Karpal, the DAP MP for Bukit Gelugor and one of the most recognisable politicians here, has been at the centre of controversy after he questioned the powers of the Perak Sultan to override the Menteri Besar and reinstate the head of the state’s religious department.
He has been criticised heavily by BN politicians, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and the Attorney-General’s Chambers is mulling bringing charges of sedition against him.
But all that baggage was left behind today as MPs condemned the death threat against DAP chairman Karpal Singh.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said the act went against how Malaysians resolved disputes.
"If there is any unhappiness about his (Karpal's) statement, we have proper channels in the Malaysian system to deal with this," he said during a press conference attended by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, Opposition leader Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and DAP MP Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong), Karpal's son.
Lim said the DAP opposed any form of violence. “We believe in the ballot, not the bullet," he said, hoping that the police would offer protection to Karpal.
Umno Youth chief Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein, who has crossed swords with Karpal on a number of occasions, said: “We want the police to investigate and take action. Although there were racial sentiments in statements made by Karpal, we do not condone death threats. We do not support anyone who sends bullets."
Wow. It's nice to see that our Members of Parliament are human beings after all, that despite their differences, they have it in themselves to actually condemn the threat that was made towards him (Karpal).
It's the right thing to do, and these people actually knew it! I'm flabbergasted! For once party politics were pushed aside! Did you ever thought it was possible in your lifetime? There might be hope still.
Well, kudos to you, both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat MPs! Let's just hope that this puts an end to the whole issue, and that those responsible (the man in the full-faced helmet and his accomplices) are caught. I don't think Malaysia is that bad, that we have to resolve to 'barbaric' ways to end conflicts. That is not the Malaysia that I would want to live in, and its definitely not the Malaysia that we are all fighting for.
So once again,
KUDOS TO OUR MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT!
There Is A God... And He Is A DEVIL!
To all Chelsea fans...
So as you dwell with your famous Russian,Dedicated to the bunch of Chelsea fans,
On your trophy-less, crisis-plagued season,
Do remember the lesson:
You might have the money,
But we have the GLORY!
who were sitting behind me at the mamak and just couldn't shut up!
(that is, 'till Terry screwed up!)
THE CHAMPIONS OF ENGLAND
THE KINGS OF EUROPE
MANCHESTER UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB
The Red Devils!
GLORY GLORY MAN UNITED!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Who Said Life Wasn't Like The Movies?
Alright, I probably got you curious didn't I? If you want to know more, read RPK's post here found on Malaysia Today.
Cast your mind back to 2002. Now that you've done that, read this excerpt of that post:
Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak and not Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is Dr Mahathir’s real choice as successor, said an extremely nervous UMNO insider whom I met at a secluded coffee shop on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. And Mahathir had really intended to go at the end of this year, not next year.
Intrigued? Want to know more? I'm not going to ruin the 'movie' for you!
Go on... read it!
I just finished my last paper for the semester.
So, I think I'll take a rest and start out fresh tomorrow!
Additional Updates (23 May 2008):
I have to apologize as I'm too tired to comment on this post. Besides, I thought it best that those who have actually read the article through the link would have their own view on the matter. Would love to hear your comments though, so feel free to place them in the comments section of this post! Thanks.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Live Bullet Sent To Karpal
What do you think about this? I can't afford to subscribe to Malaysiakini so this are some of the excerpts of the report from other blogs around the blogosphere:
DAP leader and parliamentary Karpal Singh received a live bullet in an envelope at his law firm in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.I don't think there's much to comment on as of yet, plus I don't have much time right now on my hands even if I wanted to, but this is one story that is definitely bound to make headlines for the next few days at least. Developments on this issue will be all around the blogosphere soon enough, so do keep an eye out for them.
The live bullet was accompanied with a note warning him against speaking out on the controversial issues of Malay rights and the constitutional powers of the sultans.
The wheelchair-bound politician lodged a police report over the death threat at 5pm at Dang Wangi police station.
Met at the police station later this evening, Karpal told reporters that the envelope was hand-delivered to his receptionist at 12.30pm.
“The man was wearing a helmet and he had his visors drawn down. He left hurriedly,” he said, adding that the police have confirmed that bullet was a 9mm ‘live bullet’.
Over the past week, the renowned lawyer has had 20 police reports lodged against him after he had said the Sultan of Perak had acted unconstitutionally in the transfer of a religious department official and criticised Regent of Kelantan's message at a forum last month.
Karpal, who is member of Parliament for Bukit Gelugor in Penang, added that he would consider asking for police protection in the future “if necessary”.
Asked if the incident would change his stand on the Perak Sultan’s recent order for the Religious Department Director Jamry Sury to be reinstated, Karpal said he issue had been deemed settled.
He said that he and other quarters have all voiced their arguments and that there was no need to prolong the debate any further.
Oh, in case you haven't noticed, I've just recently subscribed to Nuffnang. So please do spend some time on the survey on the right of this blog. It'll be nice to know the type of people that actually stumble across my blog, besides those that I've personally invited. And as always, feel free to leave comments and suggestions on ways to improve this blog (or myself). Tips on add-ons to get for this blog are highly appreciated. Thanks!
(No 'usual sign-off' again today. Am I losing it?)
