Putrajaya says RM1.18b worth of projects announced for Sarawak polls

By Clara Chooi
The Malaysian Insider
Jun 21, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, June 21 — Putrajaya revealed today that it had announced projects worth a total of RM1.18 billion in Sarawak during the just-concluded state polls.

In a written response to Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh) yesterday, the Prime Minister’s Department explained that until April 30 this year, a total of 62 programmes and projects were announced for the hornbill state.

Of the total, it added, 52 projects were kicked off this year with the remainder to be carried out in the years to come.

“The programme/projects announced were planned earlier,” it said. Continue reading “Putrajaya says RM1.18b worth of projects announced for Sarawak polls”

Hackers ‘steal entire 2011 census’

By Christopher Williams
21 Jun 2011 | The Telegraph

The entire 2011 UK census database has been stolen by hackers and will be published online, it has been claimed.

Ryan Cleary, an alleged member of the hacking group behind the claim, LulzSec, was arrested in Essex this morning by specialist cyber crime officers from Scotland Yard.

The 19-year-old was taken to a central London police station and remains in custody on suspicion of Computer Misuse Act and Fraud Act offences Continue reading “Hackers ‘steal entire 2011 census’”

Kit Siang ajak BN sertai perhimpunan Bersih 2.0

21 June 2011 | Roketkini

KUALA LUMPUR, 21 JUN – Semua pemimpin Barisan Nasional dijemput menyertai perhimpunan Bersih 2.0 sebagai tanda sokongan kepada usaha rakyat prihatin yang mahukan pilihan raya yang bebas, adil dan bersih.

Ketua Parlimen DAP Lim Kit Siang berkata Datuk Seri Najib Razak, timbalannya Tan Sri Muhyiddin dan pemimpin-pemimpin BN lain perlu turut serta dalam perhimpunan aman itu yang dijadualkan pada 9 Julai ini. Continue reading “Kit Siang ajak BN sertai perhimpunan Bersih 2.0”

Govt strangely silent on Perkasa’s racist threats

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid
Free Malaysia Today
June 21, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang wants to know why the Najib administration is so silent on the racist threats made by extremist Malay group Perkasa and bloggers.

The Ipoh Timur MP said the government has so far been silent on the groups’ May 13 threat against a planned mass rally calling for free and fair elections by Bersih despite the seditious nature of such a warning. Continue reading “Govt strangely silent on Perkasa’s racist threats”

Bersih 2.0’s fair and just demands

By Toh Kin Woon
June 21, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

JUNE 21 — In recent weeks, many negative, unfair and unreasonable statements have been made against Bersih 2.0. Some of these bordered on vicious personal attacks, in particular against its Chairperson, the highly respected Ambiga Sreenevasan. These attacks arose following the announcement by, and firm commitment of, the entire Steering Committee to hold a peaceful walk to demand for electoral reform and upholding of democracy on 9 July. As a member of Bersih 2.0’s Steering Committee, I feel duty bound to come to its defence.

Allow me first to reiterate the overall objective of our coalition, which is to help the Election Commission realise its noble goal of conducting elections that are fair and clean. All will agree that the attainment of this goal is a must, if Malaysia is to be a fully developed country. Apart from high income, a just and democratic electoral system is an important institution of a first world country. Continue reading “Bersih 2.0’s fair and just demands”

Ibrahim Ali and a sex-changed Umno

By Sakmongkol AK47
June 21, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

JUNE 21 — Ibrahim Ali continues to abuse Umno and it stands idle. He continues to belittle Umno every moment he gets and Umno absorbs the punishment willingly. Umno must be led by masochists. Are we enjoying receiving pain and getting sexually aroused at that?

Ibrahim Ali continues to humiliate Umno and all we can do is say, Ibrahim Ali is harmless and he speaks for the unspeaking Malay. Continue reading “Ibrahim Ali and a sex-changed Umno”

British joint-venture gets Kelana LRT job for RM670m

June 21, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, June 21 — A Malaysia-British joint-venture has won the coveted Kelana Jaya light rail transit extension project for RM670 million, operator Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad said today.

Prasarana said it issued the Letter of Award to CMC-Colas-Uniway (CCU) to undertake works worth RM673, 920, 651.04.

“The job entails the engineering, procurement, construction, testing and commissioning of system works for the Kelana Jaya Line Extension project,” Prasarana said in a statement. Continue reading “British joint-venture gets Kelana LRT job for RM670m”

European NGOs want Taib’s assets in Germany frozen

Malaysiakini | Jun 21, 11

More Europe-based NGOs are plying pressure on the authorities there to freeze the assets of Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud.

In a press statement today, Swiss NGO Bruno Manser Fund said that it had written to German chancellor Angela Merkel on the matter, together with two German NGOs – the Society for Threatened Peoples and Rettet den Regenwald.

They asked “the German government to clarify Deutsche Bank’s business ties with Taib and to freeze all Taib (right) assets in Germany.

“We are seriously concerned that, as a leading German financial institute, Deutsche Bank is closely cooperating with the highly corrupt and internationally discredited Taib regime.
Continue reading “European NGOs want Taib’s assets in Germany frozen”

99% support for Bersih rally in ‘Star’ poll

Malaysiakini | Jun 21, 11

A staggering 99 percent of slightly more than one million respondents in a poll by The Star Online have indicated support for the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9.

The actual number of respondents cannot be confirmed as the poll was taken down about noon today.

The Star Bersih pollAccording to a screen capture taken by a Facebook user, the number of respondents had hit 1.3 million at 12.25pm from 527,330 recorded at 6.11am today, according to a Google Cache snapshot of the website.

To the question ‘What is your view on the proposed Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9?’, 1,312,917 respondents answered ‘It should be allowed to go on’ as at 12.25pm.

The other option – ‘It should be cancelled’ – was selected by 14,222 respondents.
Continue reading “99% support for Bersih rally in ‘Star’ poll”

Kit Siang invites Najib, Cabinet to march with Bersih

By Clara Chooi | June 21, 2011
The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, June 21 — DAP’s Lim Kit Siang today called on the Najib administration to support the Bersih 2.0 Rally, and urged the Inspector-General of Police to facilitate the election watchdog’s July 9 gathering in the nation’s capital.
The first Bersih rally in 2007 saw up to 50,000 people take to the capital’s street, but they were forced to disperse by police armed with tear gas and water cannons, sparking chaotic scenes which embarrassed the government.

“I would like to call on the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Cabinet ministers and leaders of all Barisan Nasional compnent parties to come forward to join in the Bersh 2.0 rally on July 9 to support the civil society initiative for free and fair elections.
Continue reading “Kit Siang invites Najib, Cabinet to march with Bersih”

A reply to the EC

By Ambiga Sreenevasan
June 21, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

JUNE 21 — We thank the EC for the invitation but the time for talk and discussion has passed. This is due to the reports of blatant abuses of power in the recent Sarawak election and in view of the impending General Elections.

The EC’s continued assertions that they have no power to act in the face of such abuses and the information that the suggestions they have made to the Government for reform have met with no success gives us little hope in further discussion. Continue reading “A reply to the EC”

Democracy and freedom of expression

By Art Harun
June 21, | The Malaysian Insider

JUNE 21 — In The Wolf and The Silence of the Lamb, I said, among others:

“The core of democracy is representation. It is a system of governance where the people are represented by representatives who are elected by the people. These representatives then form a government. The government than governs the people. A state is then formed, consisting of the government and the people it governs.”

More importantly, I attempted to correct the popular notion that democracy was the cause of liberty. After alluding to Marx’ Utopian state, I opined: Continue reading “Democracy and freedom of expression”

Supporting Bersih 2.0: It’s personal

By Hafidz Baharom
June 21, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

JUNE 21 — 2008 was the first time I voted, and this was in the state of Selangor, in its capital city of Shah Alam. At the time, I was given the choice, in terms of Parliament members, of either voting for a person the same age as John McCain who had been given a “safe” seat, or vote for a person whose brother in Johore is as honest and true to his conscience in voting.

Of course, one point against the latter was that he was from PAS. However, when you have an 80-year-old aunt from Wangsa Maju suddenly calling you to vote for Umno, you know something’s up, right?
Continue reading “Supporting Bersih 2.0: It’s personal”

Call on leaders of all BN component parties to join in the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9

I would like to call on the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Cabinet Ministers and leaders of all Barisan Nasional component parties to come forward to join in the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9 to support the civil society initiative for free and fair elections.

Let July 9 be a historic day in Malaysia to celebrate the coming-of-age of 54 years of parliamentary democracy where political parties, both ruling and opposition, together with the civil society, can come together to address the major defects of our democratic system of governance – the many serious flaws of the electoral system failing to give real meaning to the principle of “one person, one vote, one value”; a clean, free and fair election process and elected government hich commands unquestioned credibility, legitimacy and authority.

I am sure representatives from Barisan Nasional parties would be welcomed to join the Bersih 2.0 steering committee to ensure that the July 9 Bersih 2.0 rally will be an event all Malaysians regardless of political affiliation would feel proud as a Malaysian. Continue reading “Call on leaders of all BN component parties to join in the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9”

EC chief, it’s too little, too late

Malaysiakini Your Say | Jun 21, 11 9:09am

‘The EC under your watch has been arrogant and blatantly partisan and refused to even look at the mountains of evidence of widespread electoral fraud.’

EC prepared to meet Bersih if it scraps rally

Anak Bangsa Malaysia: Too little, too late, Election Commission chief Abdul Aziz Yusof. Only when faced by the unstoppable wrath of the people do you even give the impression of getting off your high horse.

The EC under your watch has been arrogant and blatantly partisan. You refused to even look at the mountains of evidence collected by multiple parties showing widespread electoral fraud – not just in the recent Sarawak state elections but also in numerous previous by-elections.
Continue reading “EC chief, it’s too little, too late”

How long will Hisham let Ibrahim run amok?

Malaysiakini Your Say | Jun 21, 11

‘It appears Ibrahim Ali has now been mandated by Najib to set in motion the events to realise the counting of ‘crushed bodies’ in their defence of Putrajaya.’

Bar Council: Use Sedition Act against Ibrahim Ali

Rubystar_4037: Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, if you are doing your job, then you should know that Ibrahim Ali is a clear and present danger to the harmony and peaceful existence of all rakyat in Malaysia.

Ibrahim knows that the Home Ministry will not touch him, Utusan Malaysia will fan his fiery brimstone speeches, Dr Mahathir Mohamad is behind him, that he has tremendous value to Umno, the RMP (Royal Malaysian Police) will not arrest him, he will not be put under the ISA and that he is above the law.
Continue reading “How long will Hisham let Ibrahim run amok?”

Bersih 2.0 to EC: Enough talk, now we walk

Hafiz Yatim | Jun 20, 11 6:36pm
Malaysiakini

The Coalition for a Free and Fair Election (Bersih 2.0) movement will proceed with its march on July 9 despite attempts by the Election Commission (EC) dissuade them from proceeding by offering a dialogue.

Bersih 2.0 chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan (right) said the movement’s representatives have already met the EC with its proposals for electoral reform before but there had been no progress.

“We thank the EC for the invitation but the time for talk and discussion has passed. This is due the reports of blatant abuses in the recent elections in Sarawak and in view of the impending general election.

“The EC’s continued assertions that they have no power to act in the face of such abuses and the information that the suggestions they have made to the government for reform have met with no success gives us little hope in further discussion,” she said. Continue reading “Bersih 2.0 to EC: Enough talk, now we walk”

Ready for psychological warfare

By Samuel Aubrey
June 20, 2011 | Borneo Post

KUCHING: State BN elected representatives have braced themselves for a possible massive ‘onslaught’ by the opposition during the eight-day State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting which starts today.

Chief Minister and State BN chairman Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud told reporters yesterday that they (BN assemblymen) were now prepared to respond to members from the opposition in the august House. Continue reading “Ready for psychological warfare”

Kit Siang demands action against Perkasa

By Joseph Sipalan
Jun 20, 11 | MalaysiaKini

Senior opposition parliamentarian Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor) today demanded that the government take a clear position on Perkasa and its recent string of allegedly seditious statements against the upcoming Bersih 2.0 rally this July 9.

In trademark style, Lim (left) made clear his incredulity over Perkasa’s controversial behaviour as he hammered both the government and the right wing Malay rights NGO for the growing tension surrounding the planned mass gathering. Continue reading “Kit Siang demands action against Perkasa”