Archive - 23 November 2011

BUDGET 2012 It was passed late in the day after the third reading by Second Finance Minister Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah, through a majority voice vote.

A police investigating officer (IO) implicated in the loss of RM11,700 and several other exhibits from the Selangor contingent headquarters has been transferred to another department.

Nga Kor Ming is ordered out of today's sitting after uttering the words 'political prostitute' and 'frog' against Yit Foong.

They collective agree that the Bill is a progressive start for reforms but raise doubts on the enforcement of nitty-gritty provisions.

Deputy Defence Minister Abdul Latiff Ahmad says finding any documentary evidence of such would mean the gov't is ‘stupid’.

UPDATED 8.20PM After testing seven KR1M products, the ministry orders a recall of the brand's oyster sauce.

NFC executive chairperson Mohamad Salleh Ismail's statement was recorded yesterday by the Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Department.

The former prime minister says the new act was important to ensure that public assemblies would be free from violence.

The Court of Appeal in Putrajaya today ruled that Senator S Nallakarupan should furnish details to Anwar Ibrahim in connection with his allegation that the opposition leader had received RM60
million from him and a gaming company.

Seven people who were injured during the Kampung Medan clash, about 10 years ago, lost in their appeal at the appellate court in Putrajaya today to overturn a High Court’s dismissal of their negligence and breach of statutory duties civil suit against the police and the government.

This is assuming that the next GE would be held simultaneously for all states including S'gor, Penang, Kedah and Kelantan.

If Pakatan Rakyat can be fully prepared for by-elections 16 times in a row, and winning eight contests, it can also be ready for the general election.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng says the state is still trying to find an amicable solution with the Public Services Department.

UPDATED 4.35PM The opposition coalition’s leaders say the bill is more repressive than section 27 of the Police Act. [VIDEO INSIDE]

The High Court in Kuala Lumpur today set Dec 2 to hear an application by the government for a stay of an order to surrender property worth more than RM32 million to Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB) and eight others.

PKR’s strategic director reminds the Umno Youth chief that he has yet to respond to his invitation to debate the NFC wrangle.

State assemblyperson for Pantai Manis, Abdul Rahim Ismail, says the explanation would put to rest any confusion with regard to the project.

Opposition politicians, activists and the legal fraternity are outraged by a proposed new law they say cracks down on the right to peaceful protest.

UPDATED 5.30PM DAP's Tony Pua says the government has effectively given an astounding subsidy of RM3 billion to the company.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen says Opposition Leader Tony Abbott should support Labor’s bill to allow offshore processing of asylum seekers in Malaysia.

The state’s most ardent street protest organiser sees the Bill as 'not a big problem', as long as procedures are followed.

COMMENT By way of these processes, the third largest community in the country is denied true representation, writes Uthayakumar.

UPDATED 5.30PM PARLIAMENT The PAC chief is 'fed up' with how public funds are mismanaged shortly after interviewing gov't officers on the fiasco.

PARLIAMENT He is pushing for an army base in Pasir Mas, hinting that it will increase the number of military-based voters.

The Education Ministry circular does not prevent schools from inviting them to witness disbursement of the RM100 aid to students.

Mohd Puad Zarkashi says a RM50-million allocation was made to cover the aid to 500,000 students of private schools.

UPDATED 4.55PM EC should meet BN and Pakatan to decide when GE should be called, says Guan Eng.

Power giant Alstom is the second foreign company implicated in the multi-million bribery of Malaysian gov't officials.

COMMENT A year after her release from house arrest, political developments in Burma are moving at a frenetic pace.

UPDATED 3.15PM BERSIH INQUIRY Tear gas canisters were fired into Chinese Maternity Hospital car park, says Yap Jee Kit.

PARLIAMENT The Dewan Rakyat speaker says ‘elements of secrecy’ are involved and that details can be obtained from the Home Ministry.

The Peaceful Assembly Bill, which went to Parliament yesterday, is a loaded gun that BN is pointing at its own head.

Floods in T'ganu and K'tan have forced the evacuation of more people, taking the number of evacuees to 1,674.

The feeding frenzy escalates in Malaysia.

UPDATED 12.10 He has allegedly been barred from speaking at a seminar at Selangor International Islamic University College.

Perhaps in 50 years, when society is more mature, these restrictions can be lifted, argues the Malay rights NGO.

FREE VOXPOP 'Going by Deputy Minister in the PM's Dept VK Liew's stupid reasoning, those with high mobility should not register to vote?'

COMMENT Najib’s liberal agenda is exposed as a sham; the two-plus years of waiting for him to come good on reformist pledges a charade.

FREE VOXPOP 'As the DPM was the agriculture minister when the National Feedlot Corporation project was conceived, doesn't the buck stop there?'

FREE VOXPOP 'A lowly university rector issuing instructions against a deputy minister? That's insubordination.'

FREE YOURSAY 'It's amazing how BN keeps making false promises of greater democracy only to infuriate Malaysians with...'

FREE YOURSAY 'It's even more evident, not that it ever was not, that the hallmark of the Umno gov't is deception.'