EXPLAIN OR FACE ACTION

Monday September 8, 2008 MYT 9:37:45 PM

PM to Ahmad Ismail: Explain, or face action

PUTRAJAYA: Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail’s fate will be decided Tuesday after a meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“He will be asked to explain himself, after which we will decide what action will be taken against him,” Abdullah said.

“I’m very unhappy with what has happened and will take a firm stand on the issue,” he told reporters after meeting ambassadors and foreign dignitaries at Wisma Putra on Monday.

When briefed on a meeting earlier Monday in which Ahmad had asked Gerakan to leave the Barisan Nasional coalition, Abdullah said, “Ahmad should not blame other parties; it’s not for him to ask a component party to leave Barisan.”

Ahmad, already embroiled in a controversy where he is alleged to have described Malaysian-Chinese as “squatters,” has also been involved in a war of words with Gerakan.

Earlier Monday, he said Gerakan should leave the coalition because it has only created chaos among the component parties.

He also said that Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon should be stripped of his post as the state Barisan chairman and the post be given to the MCA.

He said this was because a few Chinese leaders from Gerakan, including Dr Koh, had deliberately taken advantage of the situation and turned it into a racial issue “to hide their own weaknesses.”

Dr Koh should apologise not only to the Malays and the Muslims but also to the Chinese in the country for creating so much tension, he said at a press conference called by leaders and representatives of the 13 Umno divisions in Penang, led by state Umno liaison committee deputy chairman Datuk Abdul Rashid Abdullah and secretary Datuk Azhar Ibrahim.

Ahmad made veiled threats as well, saying that “He (Dr Koh) is a leader who is really good at tai chi but I would also like to remind everyone not to forget that the Malays are equally good at silat,’’ referring to two martial arts disciplines.

He reiterated that he would not apologise for his remark made at a ceramah on Aug 23 and was prepared to face the consequences.

He said what was important now was for all parties to be united so that there would be peace and harmony in the country -- however, at the end of the 40-minute press conference, reporters who were in the meeting room witnessed several supporters bringing down a picture of Dr Koh, which was hanging on a wall, and tearing it to pieces.

When contacted later, Ahmad denied any role in the incident.

SOURCE: http://thestar.com.my

ANWAR WON

Anwar is Permatang Pauh MP (Final update)

BUKIT MERTAJAM: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has won the Permatang Pauh by-election.

The PKR de-facto leader was returned to Parliament with a majority of 15,671 votes, exceeding the 13,388-vote majority won by his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail in the March 8 general election.

Anwar garnered 31,195 votes to beat Barisan candidate Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah, who polled 15,524 votes, while Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia candidate Hanafi Hamat lost his RM15,000 deposit after getting only 92 votes. There were 447 spoilt votes.

"This is the people's victory," Anwar said in a victory speech.

"Permatang Pauh has given a clear signal to the leadership of this country. We demand change. We want freedom. We don't want to live with corruption and oppression.

"We want an independent judiciary, we want the economy to benefit the vast majority not the corrupt few," he added.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the result was proof that democracy was still alive in the country and there was no manipulation involved.

"As we have pointed out right from the start, we would be facing a tough challenge," he said.

The closely watched by-election was called after Dr Wan Azizah resigned as the MP on July 31 to enable her husband to run for election.

Anwar held the seat for four terms before he was sacked from his Deputy Prime Minister's post in 1998 under corruption and sodomy charges.

Dr Wan Azizah, who had been known as a reluctant politician, won the seat for a third term in March.

A mammoth crowd comprising PKR leaders and supporters gathered early at the tallying centre at the Tuanku Bainun Teacher Training College in Bukit Mertajam to celebrate Anwar's victory.

Supporters in the crowd let off fireworks as returning officer Roslan Yahaya announced the results about 10pm.

Voter turnout was relatively high, at about 80% of the total of 58,459 registered voters in the constituency.

Barisan was the underdog from the start in the hard-fought by-election that Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak described as a titanic challenge.

Anwar’s convincing victory was reminiscent of his heyday, when he secured a stunning 23,515-vote majority in the 1995 general election by polling 27,945 votes. In Tuesday's polling, 47,258 voters cast their ballots, or 80.83% of the 58,459 total number of voters.

SOURCE: http://thestar.com.my

AZIZAH SAYS SORRY

Wednesday August 6, 2008

Azizah says sorry to pixman

GEORGE TOWN: PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has apologised to a Guang Ming Daily photographer who was allegedly assaulted by a group of party supporters on Sunday.

Loh Huay Hoon, 25, said she received a call from Dr Wan Azizah at 11.40am yesterday.

“Wan Azizah said she was shocked to see a picture of me being attacked by a group of men in the newspapers,” she said.

Loh lodged a police report on Monday, saying she was kicked, choked and hit on the head by some of the men in the group.

The men had tailed her to the car park after a ceramah by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the Seberang Jaya Expo site.

“Wan Azizah said looking at the picture, she would also be afraid because the man was so huge.

“She apologised profusely many times and said PKR would conduct an internal investigation on the matter,” said Loh.

Dr Wan Azizah, she added, explained that the security personnel were jittery about security that night as somebody had found a bullet at the expo site.

“She said Anwar was also angry with the security personnel because they were strict with the crowd when the people tried to shake hands with him,” said Loh.

Loh believed she was attacked after an exchange of words with security personnel who tried to stop her from moving closer to snap pictures of Anwar.

She said the conversation lasted about five minutes and she accepted Dr Wan Azizah’s apology.

Meanwhile, Central Seberang Prai OCPD Asst Comm Dr Mohd Shah Hussin Shah said police were trying to identify the men who allegedly attacked Loh, based on a press photograph and would interview the person who took the picture.

Penang Gerakan condemned the attack and called for a thorough police investigation into the incident while Guang Ming Daily said it might take legal action against the attacker.

Penang PKR secretary Abdul Malik Abul Kassim said the party’s preliminary investigation found that the attackers were not part the usual group of security personnel.

He said one of the attackers was not among those who attended a briefing for security on Sunday before the ceramah.

“We do not deny that he was wearing a PKR uniform but that does not make him a security official,” he said, adding that the person could have been planted.

ARTICLES SOURCE: http://thestar.com.m

IRAN VOWS NO NUCLEAR

Sunday August 3, 2008

Iran vows no nuclear retreat on day of deadline

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrives at the presidential office to attend a welcoming ceremony for his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad in Tehran August 2, 2008. (REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl)

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran will not retreat "one iota" from its nuclear rights, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Saturday, the day of an informal deadline set by Western officials in a row over Tehran's atomic ambitions.

Ahmadinejad made the remark in a statement posted on the presidential website after talks in Tehran with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Copyright © 2008 Reuters

WAN AZIZAH QUITS

Thursday July 31, 2008 MYT 5:12:01 PM


Wan Azizah quits, Anwar to contest

By ROYCE CHEAH



PETALING JAYA:

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has resigned as Permatang Pauh Member of Parliament to make way for her husband Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to contest in a by-election.


At a packed press conference at the party headquarters on Thursday, Dr Wan Azizah said the decision was made after deliberations with her family, the PKR leadership and its partners in the Pakatan Rakyat loose coalition of Opposition parties.


"I have officially submitted my resignation as MP to the Parliament Speaker, Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, to make way for my husband, Anwar Ibrahim, to contest as a candidate for Pakatan Rakyat in a by-election as soon as possible," she said.


Dr Wan Azizah, who showed no emotion during the press conference, said it was the right decision for Malaysia and that she would continue serving as PKR president and chairman of the Peace Foundation.
Together with her were PKR vice-presidents Azmin Ali and R. Sivarasa, her daughter and Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, and Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai.
Dr Wan Azizah also thanked her supporters in Permatang Pauh who had stood by her in the most difficult of times.


"Anwar Ibrahim has the experience and intelligence to reinvigorate our economy, and the charisma and integrity to unite Malaysians.
"And I'm not saying this just because he is my husband," she added.


As to who would be taking over as the Opposition leader in Parliament, Dr Wan Azizah said that would be discussed with other Pakatan Rakyat leaders.
Anwar, under a police investigation for allegedly sodomising a former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 23, had previously said he would contest in the Kulim-Bandar Baharu parliamentary constituency, where an election petition is pending.



The case is scheduled for hearing on Aug 19.
On Thursday, Anwar said he had decided to contest in Pematang Pauh instead because the Kulim petition might take too long to settle.


He had previously said that he would have the numbers to form the government by Sept 16, and said the sodomy allegation was a part of a conspiracy to stop him from doing so.


He has denied the sodomy allegations and has filed a defamation suit against Mohd Saiful.
The Election Commission is required under the law to call for a by-election within 60 days.
Its chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said the Commission would start preparing for the by-election upon receiving notice from the Speaker.


Also on Thursday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar announced that the police had wrapped up their investigations into the sodomy case, and have sent their report to the Attorney-General's Chambers for further action.


articles source: http://thestar.com.my/

THAKSIN OVER MYANMAR LOANS

Top Thai court hits Thaksin over Myanmar loans


BANGKOK (July 30, 2008) :

Thailand's Supreme Court said on Wednesday it would hear a case against ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra relating to allegations he arranged soft loans to Myanmar while in office to benefit his family's telecoms business.

The court's decision is the latest blow to Thaksin's bid to clear his name after his removal in a 2006 military coup, in which he was accused of "rampant corruption".

Given the general perception that he is the driving force behind the coalition that came to power after an election in December, it is also another blow to an administration already being hammered by the courts, nationalists and an ailing economy.

An army-appointed graft panel has accused Thaksin of ordering a state bank in 2004 to increase the size of a loan to the military-ruled former Burma to buy telecoms equipment from a company owned by Thaksin's family.

The deal caused the bank to lose 670 million baht (US$20 million), the panel alleged. Thaksin has denied any wrongdoing.

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej is expected to reshuffle his cabinet this week, although it is hard to see the move deflecting criticism from an administration under attack for being a Thaksin proxy.

A small party announced its departure from the coalition on Tuesday, but Samak said this would not derail his plans to submit a list of new ministers to the king for approval.

"It won't affect the cabinet reshuffle," he told reporters in answer to a question about the withdrawal of the Pue Pandin (For the Motherland) party from the coalition.

Announcing the departure, Pue Pandin boss and Industry Minister Suvit Khunkitti criticised Samak's push to amend the 2007 army-designed constitution and his handling of the economy at a time of stuttering growth and decade-high inflation.

"We think amending the constitution is less important than tackling the economic problems," Suvit said. "But when parliament convenes in August, the government is going to amend the charter."

He also had scathing words for the government's conduct in a nationalist spat with Cambodia over competing claims to a 900-year-old Hindu temple on their border.

Samak has kept unusually quiet about the planned new line-up, saying only that it will involve 10 portfolios.

A respected career diplomat, Tej Bunnag, was appointed foreign minister at the weekend to replace Noppadon Pattama -- Thaksin's lawyer -- who was forced to resign over the Preah Vihear temple dispute with Cambodia.

However, newspapers are speculating that Samak's new cabinet will contain a host of Thaksin loyalists.

"The names of new ministers being speculated on in the newspapers suggest that those who have been loyal to Mr. Thaksin are being favoured," political commentator Sukhum Nuanskul told Reuters. - Reuters

ARTICLES SOURCE: http://www.thesundaily.com

ANWAR: I DON'T FEAR ARREST.

Anwar: "I don't fear arrest."
Tim Leonard

newsdesk@thesundaily.com

KUALA LUMPUR (July 30, 2008) : Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today went to the Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department (Jawi) where he handed over a copy of a medical report by Hospital Pusrawi based on an examination done on his accuser Saiful Bukhari Azlan that showed no signs of sodomy.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim surrounded by reporters at Kuala Lumpur Syariah Court today.

He also submitted other 'evidence' to support his complaint lodged with the department on July 9 that the 23-year-old man had made false accusations against him.

"I was asked what other evidence could be produced to substantiate my claims, other than medical evidence and alibi, and I have done all these...which is somewhat similar to the normal criminal cases conducted by the police," Anwar told reporters after spending close to two hours at the department.

He was accompanied by his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, his lawyers and friends.

He praised Jawi investigators as being more professional than the police.

"I can sense the manner questions asked was more professional...wanting to know the facts and not in an accusing tone," he said.

Anwar said there was no reason why the police should charge him for sodomy because there was no proof.

Despite rumours of his imminent arrest published in blogs and newspapers, Anwar declared that he was not afraid of being arrested.

The rumours had prompted scores of local and foreign journalists and photographers to posiition themselves in front of his house in Bukit Segambut.

"Let me remind that this country is not a police state. The decision (to charge) must be based on facts and law. If they (police) follow the law, then the facts, the alibi and the medical report is enough to drop the case," he said,.

It has been a month since the sodomy report was lodged, and it is learnt police have yet to complete the investigation.

Anwar later lashed out at Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan.

Asked to respond to Syed Hamid's comment that he (Anwar) was not co-operating with the police, Anwar said: "Ask Syed Hamid if he is willing to be stripped naked and his private parts examined and made to sleep on a cement floor.

"I have cooperated all this while. So why is he (Syed Hamid) saying that I am not co-operating (with the police)?" he asked

Syed Hamid was referring to the fact that Anwar had refused to offer his DNA sample, which Anwar reportedly said he feared would be tampered with.

Anwar said he also did not fear the Kuala Lumpur Hospital's medical report on Saiful as he believed it would vindicate him.

He said if the medical examination and investigations were done professionally, like the one done by Pusrawi, he believed the authorities would come up with the same conclusion that he did not sodomise anybody.

The authorities had said they would stand by the HKL report, which is normally done in any such investigation.

A copy of the medical report on Saiful, carried out by a Myanmar doctor attached with Pusrawi allegedly claims there were no signs of sodomy.

Anwar said his reform agenda and his intention to run for Parliament are still on track despite the possibility of arrest.

ARTICLES SOURCE: http://www.thesundaily.com