REPORT ME FOR ORAL SEX

Report me for oral sex, Soi Lek challenges adversaries

FORMER MCA vice-president Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek, who quit all party and government posts in January because of a sex DVD, has challenged his adversaries to lodge police reports against him over oral sex performed in the video.

Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek

Chua made the challenge in an interview with Oriental Daily News published today, saying he was prepared to face the consequences, to prove that the DVD is a political conspiracy and to nab the people behind the filming of the video.

"They said oral sex is a crime, I hope they will go to the police, really!" said Chua who believes that if someone lodges a report, the police will have to trace the original DVD and the persons responsible for it, like the investigations into the Lingam video tape.

He also believes he will be vindicated when the persons and motives behind the filming of the DVD are revealed.

Chua, who won the Batu Pahat MCA division chief post without a fight last month, said: "The moment I declare my candidacy for a higher post, I am sure someone will lodge a (oral sex) report against me.

They have already warned me against contesting. I said they can go ahead and report me to the police."

"This shows that it (sex DVD) is a political conspiracy, an (MCA) internal conspiracy as they (political opponents) are very 'concerned' about my personal problems and conduct.

Asked if he is not afraid that he would be charged with oral sex, a crime punishable under section 377B of the Penal Code which provides for a sentence of up to 20 years imprisonment and whipping, and barred from contesting the central elections, Chua said he was ready to face the consequences.

"I will have the courage to face it," he said, adding that his political adversaries are resorting to all means to destroy him.

"You did not ask who is the mastermind behind this. Make a guess, who will benefit from all these? I am 90% sure of who did it (the sex DVD), except I lack the evidence."

"I encourage them to lodge police reports. People have seen all of me, what is there to be afraid of? I only want to tell MCA, the elections have become a slugfest," he said, adding that he does not want to see the party becoming a stage for mudslinging, with leaders being attacked for their personal conducts.

"I am a politician, I leave it to the members to decide my (political) destiny. I know that when I declare my intention to contest party posts, others will use the DVD against me.

"No one is perfect. Every leader has some kind of scandals except they are not exposed and debated in the open.

"Some say your scandal is your personal problem, and what is important is you are not corrupt and have not abused your power."

He said he understands that there are two schools of thought in the party regarding the issue.

"One is that I should be evaluated on performance, and regard my conduct as something personal. As long as my family accepts me, no one else should interfere. The other deems my private life more important than my performance."

Chua who admitted that the sex DVD has affected him to a certain degree, says he has two options:

> wallow in self pity and bitterness; or

> continue to use his experience and optimise his strength to do what he has been doing for the last 23 years; serve the party and the community.

The former Health Minister said following the incident, he did what he had to do as a responsible leader, and now wants to move forward.

He added that a poll conducted on Labis voters showed that 60% of them believed that the sex DVD is a personal problem and should not affect the public's assessment of his ability.

Chua said his comeback bid was not aimed at "taking revenge" at anyone but to let party members judge him.

"I believe MCA central delegates have the wisdom to pick the right leaders and will not allow a leader to be run down by the action of certain despicable people," he added.

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

ANGRY PASSENGERS

Angry passengers crash computers, desks


BEIJING (July 29, 2008) : Scores of Chinese air passengers smashed computers and desks and clashed with police on Tuesday after a night stranded at an airport without accommodation, state media said.

More than 170 passengers were due to leave Kunming, capital of southwestern Yunnan province, on three flights operated by China Southern Airlines late on Monday, but the flights were cancelled due to bad weather, Xinhua news agency said.

"All the passengers had to spend the night on the planes or in the departure hall," Xinhua said. "No one came to tend to their food and board."

The passengers clashed with airport police on Tuesday morning, smashing computers and desks, Xinhua said, blaming the melee on China Southern staff's "inappropriate working attitude".

At around 2am, many of the passengers -- including toddlers and people over 60 -- took taxis to a hotel where China Southern said they could stay, only to be turned away once they arrived, Xinhua said.

Frustration at mysterious delays, diversions and cancellations have at times boiled over into violence at Chinese airports as passengers try to storm grounded aircraft and police are brought in to keep the peace.

There have also been cases in which passengers, after delayed arrivals, have refused to get off the planes in protest. - Reuters

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

OBAMA

Wednesday July 30, 2008

Obama, Bernanke discuss U.S. economic risks

By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama met Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Tuesday, discussing the risk of further deterioration in a weakening U.S. economy.

US Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama speaks alongside his top economic advisors during a roundtable meeting at a hotel in Washington, July 28, 2008. Obama met Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Tuesday, discussing the risk of further deterioration in a weakening U.S. economy. (REUTERS/Jason Reed)

With U.S. economic troubles taking center stage in his battle for the White House with Republican rival John McCain, the Illinois senator met Bernanke at the Federal Reserve for about 40 minutes after speaking with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson by telephone in the morning.

"Senator Obama had an informative meeting with Chairman Bernanke at the Federal Reserve about the health of the U.S. economy and the risks of further economic deterioration," Obama's Senate spokesman Michael Ortiz said.

"Senator Obama made clear his respect for the independence of the Federal Reserve System and the special importance of its role during periods of economic uncertainty," Ortiz said.

Polls show the faltering U.S. economy has become the top issue by a wide margin in the Nov. 4 election contest with McCain, and Obama has turned his focus to potential solutions during two days of meetings with economic leaders and advisers in Washington.

A campaign adviser said Obama had wanted to talk with Bernanke about the U.S. housing crisis and what he saw as the need for tighter financial regulation and more fiscal stimulus to boost the economy.

Obama wanted the Fed chairman to give him "an update on where the economy is and where it's going," the adviser said, and was "not there to tell Bernanke how to do his job."

Obama reminded Paulson in the phone call that he supported housing legislation passed by Congress last week and now awaiting President George W. Bush's signature.

The measure gives the Treasury secretary wide discretion to extend a financial lifeline if needed to the two companies that are the largest source of U.S. home finance. Obama urged him to use that discretion to help homeowners, Ortiz said in a statement.

RESTORE CONFIDENCE

"The two men agreed that Washington must restore confidence in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in a way that protects the taxpayer and our financial system, and that we must reform and modernize our regulatory structure to avoid these problems in the future and protect average Americans," Ortiz said.

A Treasury Department spokeswoman said there would be no comment on the phone call with Paulson. The Federal Reserve had no comment on the Obama-Bernanke meeting.

McCain spokesman Taylor Griffin said the Arizona senator also "regularly consults with a range of experts including Bernanke and Paulson and has done so for years."

"Barack Obama's confused economic plans make it clear that he lacks experience on economic issues and has a great deal to learn," Griffin said. "Hopefully his meetings will help him to understand that raising taxes in a slowing economy is a sure way to kill jobs."

Obama organized the sessions with Bernanke and Paulson last week as he was traveling overseas because he kept seeing bad economic news from home, an adviser said. Obama's trip took him to Afghanistan, the Middle East and Europe.

Obama met in Washington on Monday with an all-star group of business and economic experts, including billionaire investor Warren Buffett, who participated by telephone, former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker and Google Chairman Eric Schmidt.

Obama also made another stop on Tuesday, his second in two days, at the downtown office of former Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder, who is heading his search for a running mate.

Obama expressed confidence in Bernanke during an interview with Reuters on Saturday, saying he had made some good decisions in difficult circumstances.

In a move that some criticized as a bailout, the Fed came to the rescue of investment bank Bear Stearns by helping to broker its takeover by J.P. Morgan Chase. The Fed and Treasury also offered a financial lifeline to mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The moves marked an expansion of the Fed's role in the financial system that has made some wary.

Bernanke's term as head of the U.S. central bank ends in January 2010 and the next president, who will take office in January 2009, will decide whether to nominate him for another term.

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