TERESA

Teresa: "I was made a scapegoat..."
Giam Say Khoon

PETALING JAYA (Sept 19, 2008) : DAP's Seputeh MP and Selangor senior executive councilor Teresa Kok, who was released from a seven-day detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA) today, has claimed that she was made scapegoat in the move to contain the outrage over the alleged racist remarks.

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok makes a gesture during her press conference at the DAP office today.

"I see my detention as a ploy by Umno to try to cover up the embarassment and the outrage over the racist statements made by (Bukit Bendera Umno division chief) Ahmad Ismail in Penang," she told a press conference shortly after her release at the DAP headquarters here.

"I wonder why they chose an innocent person like me as I have never made any racist remarks or racist speeches in the past," she said, adding that she has instructed her lawyer to sue the government for her unlawful arrest and detention.

She also urged police to investigate her report lodged against Utusan Malaysia, columnist Zaini Hassan and former Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo under the Penal Code.

She also reiterated that she will sue the newspaper, the columnist and Mohd Khir for defamation.

On her detention, she said she was held at a detention camp "somewhere between Sentul and Jalan Ipoh" in Kuala Lumpur.

Kok, 44, said the police officers were only able to ask her a few questions entirely based on an article by Zaini, titled "Azan, jawi, JAIS, Uitm dan ba-alif-ba-ya" that was published in Utusan Malaysia on Sept 10.

She said the three main questions that the investigation officers asked were:

> Whether she mobilised a group of residents at Bandar Kinrara to present a petition to oppose the azan at the Bandar Kinrara mosque;

> Whether she made a statement that 30% of the Selangor Islamic Department (JAIS) allocation is to be given to other non-Islamic religious bodies; and

> Whether she opposed the road signates which contained Jawi wordings in Kuala Lumpur.

"I denied the first two accusations as I did not do any such things. I also told them the issue of opposing Jawi road signages in Kuala Lumpur were done in January or February this year at the request and following the pressure of resident associations.

"I was quite surprised that there were no other questions posed to me besides these few main questions," she said, adding that when she asked why she was being detained, the police officers only told her that they were only following orders from "the top".

Recounting her ISA detention ordeal, Kok said: "I was put in a six by eight holding cell everyday after 5.30pm and my only opportunity to get fresh air was during the sessions with the investigation officers which was conducted in an air-conditioned room.

"The food (at the detention camp) was similar to dog food, there was one day that I was only given two hard-boiled eggs with gravy and cucumber for my lunch and dinner," she said. (It was earlier reported by her parents that Kok suffered from diarrhoea).

Kok was spirited and happy at the press conference and answered questions animatedly. Asked if she cried during her detention, she said she was very upset and sorry for her family, friends and supporters who prayed for her release when she was informed that she might be detained for 28 days.

"A chief inspector told me that I would be detained for another 28 days and asked me to sign the order. This was ridiculous as I had given my full cooperation answering all questions and there was nothing else they needed to know.

"I blasted all the officers and told them that it was uncalled for but I did not blame them because it was not their fault," she said.

Kok also said when she was detained, she had just had a meeting with potential investors from Guangdong, China, adding that her arrest would have an impact on her duty which was to bring investors into Selangor, and by extension , the country.

Kok also called for the release of Malaysia-Today blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin, the five Hindraf leaders and all other 60 over detainees under the ISA.

"I would like to thank all politicians in the ruling parties as well as the Pakatan Rakyat, NGOs, churches and all social organisations who have campaigned and prayed for my release," she added.

Asked if she would fight for the release of Zaini if the author is detained under the ISA, she said: "Of course, I will fight for Zaini's release because one should be charged in court and not detained under the ISA."

Kok also specially thanked former de facto Law Minister Senator Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, who resigned after protesting against the use of the ISA on the three people arrested last Friday.

"He (Zaid) is really my friend and I thank him for taking a stand on this issue and I hope that he will be one of the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) members," she said.

Also present were Kok's parents, Kok Kim Tong and Poh Seh Kwon, Ipoh Timur MP Lim Kit Siang, , DAP chairman and Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh, Selangor

Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, other Selangor executive councilors, Federal Territories and Selangor MPs from Pakatan Rakyat and a group of supporters who brought a chocolate cake, mooncakes and a few bouquets of flowers.

Lim said the release of Kok and Sinchew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng after their detention under the ISA was further proof of the abuse of the Act, as the law is only meant for subversion and organised violence.

Kok's father, Kim Tong said he was very happy for his daughter's release. "I thank the people who showed their love, concern and care about Teresa.

She is now not just my daughter as everyone has taken her like their daughter. I also would like to thank all religious bodies, the churches, temples and mosques for their support," he said.

SOURCE: http://www.thesundaily.com

WASHINGTON SUMMONS MALAYSIA ENVOY

Saturday September 13, 2008 MYT 5:41:36 PM

Washington summons Malaysian envoy

KUALA LUMPUR: The United States has summoned Ilango Karuppannan, the charge d’affaires of the Malaysian embassy, to protest what it called the “crackdown on dissent” at a time when the opposition was attempting to form a new government.

According to the AFP, Ilango was summoned to the State Department after the three arrests under the Internal Security Act (ISA) on Friday.

”Peaceful expression of political opinions is a fundamental right and critical to a democracy,” a State Department official told AFP.

”The United States believes that the Malaysian Government should provide due process and treatment consistent with Malaysian law and international standards,” said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

”We expect that democratic countries that purport to advocate free expression of political views will not curtail such freedom,” the official said.

This is the second time Ilango was summoned to the State Department in a month.

The last time was when PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was charged with sodomy.

”The United States firmly believes that freedom of the press and freedom of speech are fundamental to a vibrant democracy,” the State Department official said.

On Friday, Malaysia Today news portal editor Raja Petra Kamarudin, Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng and Seputeh MP and Selangor senior executive councillor Teresa Kok were arrested under the ISA.

Three publications - Sin Chew Daily, The Sun and Suara Keadilan - have also been issued show-cause letters by the Home Ministry for breaching guidelines set by the Government.

SOURCE: http://thestar.com.my

US - RUSSIA

U.S.-Russia ties soured further by Georgia crisis

By Sue Pleming

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Washington's poor relations with Moscow have soured further over Russia's military action against Georgia and experts say it will be impossible for President George W. Bush to mend them before his term ends.

An unidentified military aircraft is seen near anti-missile flares over the town of Gori, about 80 km from Tbilisi, August 12, 2008. (REUTERS/Gleb Garanich)

"This is the most intense crisis in U.S.-Russia relations since the end of the Cold War," said Russia expert Stephen Jones, a professor at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts.

With just months before Bush leaves office in January, 2009, there had been efforts to focus on areas of cooperation and paper over disagreements on a missile defense shield in Europe proposed by Washington and a strong U.S. push for NATO membership for Georgia.

But experts say a rapprochement is unlikely and Russia's actions in Georgia will make it tough for a new U.S. president -- whether it is Democrat Barack Obama or Republican John McCain, who has taken a hard line against Russia.

"This is a setback for U.S.-Russia relations and it will make it very difficult for this administration to push forward any kind of positive initiative," said James Collins, former U.S. ambassador to Russia.

He predicted Russia's military action in Georgia and its breakaway regions, would also make it harder for "pragmatists" in Washington.

"This will confirm the views of those that have been Russia critics and have taken the harder line. They will be saying, 'I told you so,'" said Collins, now with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

A senior U.S. official warned that Russia's integration into the World Trade Organization and other global clubs may now be at stake because of its actions in Georgia, adding "that's what's at stake when Russia engages in behavior that looks like it's from another time."

Former senior State Department official Steven Pifer predicted the focus of the administration in the waning months would be more on Afghanistan and Iraq rather than Russia.

"Unless someone has a particularly brilliant idea to give it some impetus, there should be a do-no-damage mode (with Russia) before January 2009," he said.

REGIONAL INFLUENCE

Although the Georgia crisis has damaged ties, it was in America's national interest to continue dealing with Moscow on many issues, one of which is Iran's nuclear program, said State Department spokesman Robert Wood.

"It has affected the relationship. There is no doubt," he said. "But we will continue to work with Russia."

Moscow's military action in Georgia followed years of bellicose statements and promises by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and other officials to rebuild Russia's military might.

The conflict has renewed concerns that a nationalist Russia, strengthened by oil revenues, will seek to directly influence states in the formerly Soviet sphere.

The impact on U.S. influence in the region is uncertain but experts say the United States cannot ignore Russia's wealth and strategic influence.

Washington's lack of leverage with Moscow was underscored by Europe's lead role in mediating. France's President Nicolas Sarkozy took a lead role and was in Moscow on Tuesday as Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced a halt to military operations in Georgia.

The Bush administration grappled with how to respond, delayed sending an envoy for days and relied on key staff who were on vacation, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, a Russia specialist.

Washington's close ties with Georgia, which Bush has hailed as a beacon of democracy, meant the rest of the world did not see the United States as an honest broker in the conflict.

Some Russia experts believe the United States dropped the ball by putting too much faith in Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. Not enough was done to restrain his actions in South Ossetia, which triggered the crisis.

"We thought Saakashvili was going to be a nice prudent democrat and failed to look at the signs. We talk ourselves into these things," said Robert Hunter, a former U.S. ambassador to NATO now with RAND Organization.

Not enough attention was paid to intelligence which showed a build-up of Russian military hardware and troops in the region before the invasion, said Hunter.

The State Department's Wood rejected such suggestions. "I don't think there was a failure of intelligence or U.S. policy here," he said. "We have been working the diplomatic track on this and the Russians clearly over-reacted. This was plain and simple, blatant aggression on the part of Russia."

Copyright © 2008 Reuters

SOURCE: http://thestar.com.my

UMNO MEMBERS JOIN PKR

Tuesday August 12, 2008 MYT 8:55:37 AM


150 Umno members join PKR


By ELIZABETH LOOI


PETALING JAYA: Two former leaders of the Bandar Tun Razak Umno division led 148 members to cross over to PKR.

Norasida Silam, who was the deputy chairman of the division, and Azmi Hassan, a former deputy chairman, handed over application forms to Bandar Tun Razak MP Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, who is also Selangor Mentri Besar, at the division's PKR office on Monday.


“Norasida wanted to join us because he said he could no longer tolerate the non-existence of democracy practice in Umno, for instance the quota system for party elections,” said Bandar Tun Razak PKR deputy chief Othman Karim.


“He said ... he prefers to work for the people, not only for the Malays,” said Othman.


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

COP FOUND DEAD

unday August 10, 2008 MYT 8:16:09 PM

Syabu theft: Cop found dead (updated)

BY MEERA VIJAYAN & FARIK ZOLKEPLI

JOHOR BARU: A 40-year-old policeman who was being investigated for the RM1mil syabu theft from the state police headquarters was found dead at an oil palm plantation.

The body of L/kpl Morne Aliamat, from the state Narcotics unit, was discovered at the plantation in Setia Indah at about 11.40am here on Sunday.

Police also recovered a semi-automatic pistol, a bullet casing and a motorcycle owned by Morne.

Johor police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff classified the case under Sudden Death.

“We discovered a gunshot wound on the right side of the victim’s head.

“We have to wait for the post-mortem results to discover whether it was suicide or otherwise,” he told pressmen at the state police headquarters here.

He confirmed that the victim was being investigated for the syabu theft and his statement had been recorded.

DCP Mohd Mokhtar said the victim went missing on Thursday and his wife had lodged a missing persons report at Tampoi police station on Saturday.

“He joined the police force on Jan 17, 1990 and has been attached to the Johor Narcotics unit since March 16 last year," he said.

Meanwhile, on the syabu theft case, DCP Mohd Mokhtar said police had released the two other suspects, both aged 21, on police bail and rearrested them under Section 3(1) of the Special Preventive Laws.

“Both men are acting Corporals and they joined the police force two years ago,” he said.

He added that the first suspect, who was released on police bail and rearrested under the same law on Friday, was a 34-year-old lance-corporal who joined the force in 1995.

DCP Mohd Mokhtar said the task force assigned to the case was working around the clock to catch the culprits and solve the case.

“I like to make it clear that there is no cover-up.

“We will catch those responsible,” he said.

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

NO SIGN OF SODOMY

Doctor: No sign of sodomy

August 07, 2008 Categories: News




THE doctor who examined Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s accuser has reportedly proclaimed in a statutory declaration (SD) that he did not find any evidence that Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan had been sodomised.


In his statutory declaration posted on blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin’s website Malaysia Today, Dr Mohamed Osman Abdul Hamid says he stands “firm by my findings” that he found no evidence of Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan being sodomised.

The portal also posted a medical report purportedly prepared by Dr Osman for his employer, Pusat Rawatan Islam (Pusrawi) medical centre, in which he had listed the chronology of Saiful’s visit to the centre on June 28.


The report states Saiful went to Pusrawi’s Emergency Department at 2.14pm that day and was sent to Dr Osman by an assistant called Hidayah.

The report, dated June 30, claims Saiful had complained he could not even sit down because of “pain in the anus for two days”.


It says that assisted by a nurse, Yazihan Yusof, Dr Osman examined Saiful’s anus and found it to be “normal”, that there was no sign of bleeding, piles, abcess, pus, injury, tear or discharge; that Saiful’s “anus was clean, dry and looked normal” and that “no abnormalities (were) seen”.


The report claims Saiful told Dr Osman that he had been sodomised by a VIP and wanted to report to the police, despite the doctor’s confirmation that he found no evidence of sodomy.


“I advised him to go and see a doctor at any government hospital because, according to his complaint, it was a criminal case,” the report says. “After that, he left the hospital. I didn’t prescribe any medication and didn’t gave (give) any referral letter.”

The posting of Dr Osman’s report was followed with the posting of his statutory declaration, purportedly signed before Commissioner of Oaths Mohd Annuar Mohd Salleh, on Aug 1.


In it, Dr Osman says he recorded his findings in Pusrawi’s standard medical examination folder.

“I later learned that the medical examination folder was widely circulated in the media and Internet, and I was shocked and surprised to find out that the exact medical examination folder, with its exact content, without amendment or addition, found its way to the media,” the posting says.

The statutory declaration also says Dr Osman was only aware that the medical report had been circulated after he went on leave.

The posting also says Dr Osman was visited by an officer from the Brickfields police station in July.


Dr Osman said he was asked to sign and stamp all “nine to 10 pages” of his statement to police, which the officer prepared in Bahasa Malaysia.

The posting says the officer returned a week later with a typed statement and asked Dr Osman to sign it.


“I read a few paragraphs and made a few amendments to the statement with the officer’s assistance,” the doctor says.

He also queried why Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s name had appeared in the statement when it was never brought up in the first interview.


He said he pointed out that Saiful had not named the alleged perpetrator. The officer, the posting says, then told Dr Osman that Anwar was the accused, and that he signed the typed statement because he did not want to have “any issues with the police”.


Dr Osman also claims that a female officer from the Jalan Hang Tuah police station visited him a week later to take another statement in Bahasa Malaysia, and that the officer had translated it into English before asking him to sign on it.


From the onset, he says, the officer told him he would be “charged” if he did not co-operate with the police.


Dr Osman also says in the statutory declaration that he decided to apply for leave after this, out of fear for his and his family’s safety. He is said to have left the country.


ARTICLES SOURCE: http://www.mmail.com.my

BUSH VISIT

Thais clean up for Bush visit

July 31, 2008 Categories: Asean+


BANGKOK: Asis Times Online reported that as a clean-up measure ahead of US President George W. Bush’s visit to Thailand next week, pirated DVDs, fake Swiss watches and imitation designer garments are fast disappearing in a red-light strip in Bangkok, which is a popular destination with bargain-hunters and others.


The two-day visit by Bush is part of his final Asian tour as chief executive.

Last week, Thai police launched a crackdown to rid Patpong of vendors who line the streets in the evening with their fake goods, shouting out bargains for pirated versions of Hollywood films such as Sex and the City and The Devil Wears Prada. Another part of this sprawling city, the backpacker areas around Khao San Road, saw similar raids.


The news report said the police effort highlights simmering US-Thai trade tensions, which have recently come to a head over Bangkok’s moves to produce generic versions of US patent-protected pharmaceutical drugs.


It added that Washington recently downgraded Thailand onto its “priority watch list” of countries that habitually violate intellectual property rights.


ARTICLES SOURCE: http://www.mmail.com.my

LOWER FUEL PRICES

Thursday July 31, 2008 MYT 8:28:26 PM


PM: Govt may lower fuel prices



PUTRAJAYA:

The Government is considering lowering retail fuel prices, in line with falling global crude oil prices, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

He said the Cabinet discussed the possibility on Wednesday, a day after crude oil slipped to US$122.19 (RM402) a barrel.
Petrol prices were raised by 41% and diesel by 63% in early June to curb a runaway subsidy bill when crude prices were hovering around US$140 (RM460.60) a barrel.


“We are looking at it very, very carefully. Of course I would be so happy if we can reduce it,'' the Prime Minister told AP in an interview here Thursday.


But he said the Government was wary of lowering prices at the pump just to have to hike them when oil markets rose again, Abdullah said.
Crude has fallen over the last three weeks from a record high of US$147.27 per barrel on July 11, in part, on expectations that the spike in prices over the last year has begun to dampen demand by the United States for petrol.


But the slide has since halted and sweet crude for September delivery was holding steady at US$126.81 (RM417.20) per barrel Thursday in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Abdullah said the Government was conducting a study to find out if retail fuel prices can be brought down and would announce a decision “at an appropriate time.''


He acknowledged that rising inflation was weighing heavily on the Government by handing the Opposition a way to criticise its economic policies.
“This has been regarded as a weakness of the Government today for allowing prices to go up. I am upset also myself. We are paying more than before. It is a burden to us,'' he said, adding that the Government was taking steps to reduce inflation.


Abdullah said the Government was making efforts to boost income levels of the poor as well as improve transport services and seek cheaper sources of power.


Bank Negara has raised projections for average inflation for this year to between 5.5% and 6% from 4.2%.
Also, the Government announced last week that consumer prices spiked by 7.7% in June compared with the same month last year. It was the steepest climb in 27 years, spurred by higher gasoline prices.


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

Deadly wreck

A 43-year-old administrative assistant was killed in Marang when this car collided head-on with another car at Km50.2 Jalan Kuala Terengganu-Kuantan, near Kampung Jambu Bongkok, yesterday.

Sabanan Yassin, from Kuala Ibai, Kuala Terengganu, was a passenger in the car driven by Mohd Khairul Azali Ramli, 28, a clerk, who broke both legs
and has been admitted to Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital.


State public order and traffic police chief Superintendent Farid Mahmud said Sabanan and Khairul were heading towards Dungun from Kuala Terengganu when the car skidded and spun several times before colliding with the other car.


The driver of the other car, Carl Benjamin Kono, 64, from Kuala Lumpur, escaped unhurt. — NST picture by Noor Asnida Alias

articles source: http://www.nst.com.my