Anwar-Leaks vs WikiLeaks

KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim today moved to stem the impact on his sodomy trial of US cables released by WikiLeaks claiming he had sex with a male aide in a honey trap set by enemies.

Anwar's lawyer Sankara Nair told AFP he will file a complaint with the court hearing Anwar's sodomy case over articles in the local media which could affect the former deputy premier's ongoing trial.

Most newspapers in the country carried the allegations on their front page with influential Malay daily Utusan running a headline stating: "Singapore spy agency verifies sodomy act".

"Clearly it's a case of sub-judice, it's hearsay and conjecture, intelligence reports are not based on facts generally, they are based on rumours and I have served in the security services before so I know that the last thing you do is to trust such a report," said Nair.

"The judge must call up the newspapers and ask them to explain why they wrote the piece and to show their proof. If they can't do this then they will be cited for contempt," he added.

"If this is not sinister then it is totally unethical reporting. I have advised my client to file a lawsuit against these papers as well."

The leaked US state department cables from November 2008 were given to Australia's Fairfax media group, which reported Sunday the Australian and Singapore intelligence agencies' assessment of Anwar's ongoing case.

"The Australians said that Singapore's intelligence services and (former prime minister) Lee Kuan Yew have told ONA (Office of National Assessments) in their exchanges that opposition leader Anwar 'did indeed commit the acts for which he is currently indicted'," the cable read.

"ONA assessed, and their Singapore counterparts concurred, 'it was a set-up job and he probably knew that, but walked into it anyway'," according to the cable.

Anwar, 63, has vehemently denied sodomising his aide, 25-year-old Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan, claiming he was the victim of a political conspiracy.

He faces 20 years in prison if found guilty of sodomy, a serious crime in Muslim-dominated Malaysia.

Human Rights Watch has urged Malaysia to drop the charges against Anwar, condemning the case as a "charade of justice".
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KUALA LUMPUR: On his first day back in Parliament, independent Pasir Mas MP Ibrahim Ali told Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim not to cry conspiracy over WikiLeaks.

"I don't know if it is a trap or not... for me, what's important is that when we do something wrong, and when people take the opportunity to trap us, we cannot accuse others of conspiracy," the Perkasa president told reporters.

Read: Anwar acts to stem WikiLeak effect on sodomy case

According to Internet whistleblower WikiLeaks, a US department cable issued in November 2009 showed that Singapore officials believed that Anwar was guilty of his sodomy charge.

The revelation, which was contained in a message between the Singaporean intelligence and an Australian agency, said that Anwar "did indeed commit the acts for which he is currently indicted".

Reacting to the message, Anwar had accused the Malaysian police and their Special Branch division of contributing to the leak.

However, Ibrahim, who spent the last two months recovering from a heart bypass surgery, said that he was not surprised with Anwar's reaction.

He also advised the opposition leader to take action against WikiLeaks.

"I am not surprised at all (with Anwar). We have talked about him for many years, even during (former prime minister) Mahathir Mohamad's time, to the time where he was sacked as deputy prime minister," Ibrahim said.

"The best thing for him to do is to sue (WikiLeaks). I don't know (how to do so) from what point of the law, but that is the best way for him."

The firebrand MP also criticised the government for not taking action against controversial rapper Wee Meng Chee, or better known as Namewee.

by Patrick Lee

Woman Lawyer in Sodomy Case Had Sex with Saiful

KUALA LUMPUR: In a sensational twist in the sodomy trial of the Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, a prosecutor has been dropped after being accused of having an affair with the star witness.

Defence lawyers said the move bolstered its charge that Mr Anwar, a former deputy prime minister who was sacked and jailed on separate sex and corruption counts a decade ago, is the victim of a political conspiracy.

The prosecution said it was dropping Farah Azlina Latif from its team, following claims she was romantically involved with Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 25, who has accused Mr Anwar of sodomising him.

''This can be very difficult for us, but any personal matter, if it can have any implication in whatever form … will be handled very seriously,'' the Attorney-General, Abdul Gani Patail, said on Tuesday.

''This move is also to ensure that the smooth running of the case is not affected.''

An official at the Attorney-General's office confirmed his comments, and said that Ms Farah Azlina would be transferred to another department.

The defence said it had sought an official explanation from the prosecution after a leading Malaysian political blogger wrote that the lawyer was in a sexual relationship with Mr Saiful, who has a fiancee.

''The implications are serious,'' Mr Anwar's lawyer, Sankara Nair, said yesterday.

''There is a perception that Saiful could have been given access to confidential information of the trial and that would compromise the integrity of the prosecution.''

Mr Sankara said the development strengthened fears that there was a conspiracy against Mr Anwar, after Mr Saiful testified that he met prominent individuals including the Prime Minister, Najib Razak, before lodging his complaint.

However, the Attorney-General said that Ms Farah Azlina, one of eight prosecutors in the case, had no access to confidential information.

The sodomy trial, which began in February and has been punctuated by lengthy delays, is set to resume on August 2.

Mr Saiful, who was an aide in Mr Anwar's office, has accused the 62-year-old of sodomising him in 2008. If convicted, Mr Anwar could face up to 20 years imprisonment. Sodomy, even among consenting adults, is illegal in Malaysia.

Mr Anwar has said he is the victim of a plot to stop him taking power, after the opposition made huge strides in the 2008 elections, stunning the Barisan Nasional coalition, which has been in power for 50 years.

Trial of Opposition Leader Proceeding Unfairly

Source: Human Rights Watch
(New York) - Government prosecutors in the trial of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim should turn over their evidence to the defense before hearings resume in order to comply with fair trial requirements, Human Rights Watch said today. The government has charged Anwar, head of Malaysia's opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat (People's Alliance or PKR) with "sodomy" for alleged consensual homosexual conduct.
Anwar, 63, faces a possible 20-year prison term and whipping under a colonial-era law that criminalizes "carnal intercourse against the order of nature."

Even if he is imprisoned for only one day or fined as little as 2,000 ringgit (US$625), Anwar would be forbidden by election law from running for office for five years. In 2008, the PKR had made political gains that ended the two-thirds parliamentary majority long enjoyed by the ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional (National Front or BN).

"Basic fair trial rights require giving Anwar access to the prosecutor's evidence so he can defend himself," said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "Unfortunately, the prosecutors have tilted the playing field against Anwar by keeping key documents from his lawyers."

Human Rights Watch said that the government has yet to fulfill a February 9, 2010 promise by Nazri Abdul Aziz, a senior government minister in the Prime Minister's Department, that the "rights of both the accuser and the accused will be respected during the trial of Mr. Anwar."

Since Anwar's arrest on July 16, 2008, the case has featured repeated court rulings denying defense requests to provide crucial prosecution documents. The courts have denied access to the list of proposed prosecution witnesses and their statements to prosecutors, including those of Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, a former aide to Anwar and his accuser. They have also denied defense access to a security video recording from the condominium where the alleged crime occurred.

The courts have also denied defense requests for copies of clinical and other notes, reports, materials, and specimens related to Saiful's examination by three Kuala Lumpur Hospital doctors on June 28, 2008, two days after the alleged incident. Additional requests for the accuser's complete medical history, for the doctors' qualifications and experience, and for the standard sexual assault equipment and kits used to examine alleged victims were also denied. A forensic expert hired by the defense complained that lack of such evidentiary materials would hinder his ability to assist the defense during the cross examination of the three doctors.

In the latest development, the Court of Appeal has scheduled a hearing for August 6 on Anwar's appeal seeking access to the medical records, which will be several days after the three doctors are scheduled to be cross-examined by the defense.
General practice in Malaysia is for the prosecution to make all evidence available to the defense during the pre-trial period. In Anwar's case, the court concluded that the defense could request the information during the course of the trial. However, when the trial got under way on February 2, 2010, and the defense asked for disclosure, the judge said he was restricted by the pre-trial disclosure decision. The only information available to the defense comes from the in-court testimony of prosecution witnesses.

"Anwar's lawyers have been forced to defend their client with one arm tied behind their back," Robertson said. "By failing to turn over critical evidence, the courts and the prosecutors are only raising doubts about the fairness of the proceedings, and demonstrating again that the charges are politically motivated."

The proceedings appear to contravene section 51A, a March 2006 amendment to Malaysia's Criminal Procedure Code designed to encourage wider access to prosecution evidence. The section includes a provision for the prosecution to turn over "any" document that it will use as evidence and a written statement of facts favorable to the defense with the exception of any fact that "would be contrary to public interest."

"The Malaysian government asks the international community to honor its democracy and commitment to rule of law, but there is a wide gap between government rhetoric and the reality," Robertson said. "If the government is sincere about holding a fair trial, then it needs to order the prosecutors to turn over the documents Anwar's lawyers have requested immediately."

Home Minister Hishamuddin Should be Sacked

Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein has spoken out against criticising of the police force. But one cannot turn a blind eye to the reputation the force has brought upon itself, says Ms Batik.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has spoken out against criticising the police force. “If these attacks continue, how can we teach the younger generation about nationhood?” he apparently asked at a Warriors Remembrance Dinner organised by the Ex-Policemen’s Association of Malaysia recently (theSun, 5 July 2010).

What has criticising the police got to do with teaching the younger generation about nationhood? Has the man lost the plot completely? While not belittling the efforts put in by our police force to fight crime and acknowledging the many difficulties the police force faces in terms of inadequate personnel, funding etc., one cannot turn a blind eye to the reputation the police force has brought upon itself. In a written parliamentary reply recently, the Home Minister himself revealed that a total of 279 suspects had been shot dead by the police between 2000 and 2009, while 147 died in police lockups during the same period (Malaysiakini, 28 June 2010). And let’s not even go into allegations of corruption and cover-ups. The Home Minister cannot expect the public to keep quiet if they know and feel that something is wrong with PDRM.

Perhaps the Home Minister might consider this: “One of the most elementary requirements for public confidence in the police force is a trust in the fact that members of the service will be accountable should they mistreat citizens or their public responsibility..... And the best way of generating that confidence is to convince people that in the case of grievances, there is a speedy, effective and independent mechanism for getting it remedied” (Police and Human Rights: A Manual for Training Police. Danish Inst. of Human Rights). Our country had a chance at this but the lack of political will to implement the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) put an abrupt stop to this endeavour.

Improving the police force is not just a Malaysian concern. In the United Kingdom (UK), the Human Rights Act 1998 brought the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR) into UK law in 2000 (www.warwickshire.police.uk). “The Act makes it unlawful for a public authority to act in a way which is incompatible with a Convention right. Police officers are "public authorities" for the purposes of the Act because their role includes certain public duties. Six principles applicable to each area of policing to reach compliance with Human Rights were identified:

1. LEGALITY - is there a legal basis for police actions? Is that legal basis in statute, regulations, case law and is it available to a member of the public?

2. PROPORTIONALITY - can the police demonstrate that actions taken were "proportionate" to the threat or problem it sought to prevent?

3. RELEVANCE/NECESSITY - was the police action strictly relevant to the particular threat/problem.

4. SUBSIDIARITY - was the police action the least "force/intrusive" available?

5. EQUALITY OF ARMS - in any trial process did the defendant have the same information and access to information as the police/prosecution?

6. REMEDY - is there an independent public remedy available to the citizen?

The article at the website ends with the line “Your decisions and those of the officers you supervise are liable to be tested against these criteria to ensure compliance with human rights.”

Now why can’t we do something like this here, Home Minister? Take courage and have some backbone for there will be no lack of ideas as to how to reform PDRM and you can be assured of public support.

Don’t worry about teaching the younger generation about nationhood. But if you feel you must worry, then worry about the current examples being set by your government - for our young people learn by example!

Abdul Razak Baginda is innocent - it is Najib : says P Bala

P Balasubramaniam, the private investigator involved in the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case has claimed that Abdul Razak Baginda was not involved in the murder case and that he was made a scapegoat instead. Abdul Razak was a close associate of the prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, was charged but was acquitted in the case. Bala is currently in London in self-exile.

He said “As far as I am concerned, Razak is a scapegoat. He has got nothing to do with the murder. Yes, he was financing her and he had a relationship with her, but as far as I am concerned, he is innocent. In fact, my testimony in court saved him,” His lawyer Manjeet Singh Dhillon said “What we had intended, if MACC had turned up, was for Bala to highlight the series of events in that are a conspiracy web at the highest level to keep out references to Najib. Why did they miss a golden opportunity? Because it is dangerous to people who hold the reins of power. Never in theory nor practice, do you make that decision beforehand. You collect all statements and investigate and then you decide on witnesses,”

41% of Malaysia's civil servants suspected to be involved in corruption

From: zero
Subject: 418,200 or 41% of Malaysia's civil servants suspected to be involved in corruption

Whoa...so many Malaysia civil servants suspected of corruption...

But having said that I chanced upon a visit to a low ranking Malaysian
civil servant in Malaysia and found he and his family actually lived in
a big bungalow house furnished with fancy gold lined furniture plus many
high tech household amenities.

I was shocked at I saw! He lived more like a "Malay sultan" than a lowly
Malay civil servant ! How does a Malay civil with less than Rm2000 a
month salary afford all that as well as raise so many children !

In contrast, I am very much comforted that our Singapore lowly paid
civil servant are made of much humbler stuff and kept straight and
honest by the system itself.

Greed has no boundary and if not kept in check, it will destroy the soul.
Seriously speaking internal actions cultivate a perception that the
Govt is seeking to protect them.... and even then the possibly with
the protection of the higher-ups or some connecte persons and
compnaies are even higher. It happens even first world or developed
countries too.
==============================================================
418,200 or 41% of Malaysia's civil servants suspected to be involved in
corruption.

It is shocking that it has been revealed that 41% of public servants
(normally referred to as government servants by governments seeking to
create a mindset that they should be supporters for...and vote for only
the UMNO-led BN. The correct term is 'public servants' and they are
meant to serve the Malaysian public - their loyalty is first to
Malaysians - not the government of the day).

41% - this was revealed by their own union, and the question is why the
lack of actions against these public servants. Maybe, the law need to be
amended to add 'special punishments' for civil servants, i.e.
termination, and maybe even loss of other benefits, including pension
for the more serious offenses.

There must also be publicity as to the nature of these offences - and
the punishments meted out. This will help educate the public - and will
certainly be a deterrent.

TEMERLOH: Cuepacs is alleging that 418,200 or 41% of the 1.2 million
civil servants were suspected to be involved in corruption last year.

Its president Omar Osman said this was worrying and needed to be tackled
urgently.

“To combat the scourge, Cuepacs will work closely with the Malaysian
Anti-Corruption Commission,” Omar told reporters after opening the
triennial general meeting of one of the affiliates of the umbrella union
here yesterday.

Omar said besides corruption, Cuepacs would also not protect civil
servants with disciplinary problems. For example, playing truant or
forging medical certificates.

“There have been cases where a one-day medical leave was doctored to
read as 11 days,” said Omar. - Star, 3/6/2010, 41% of civil servants
involved in corruption
Should the actions taken against these corrupt civil servants be
internal...and hidden from the public? Or should they be charged in
court, and accorded a fair and open trial? I believe that they should be
charged and tried. Internal actions always gives the perception that the
government is seeking to protect some - possibly the 'higher-ups' or
some connected persons/companies.

Police Officers Confirm there are Ghosts in Pudu Prison

Well, if only the police had been kinder in their execution of duties, the ghosts may decide to go elsewhere. The tearing down of this historical landmark at Pudu would release the ghosts to the open, and will come back to haunt UMNO and the Barisan Nasional. Just watch how they ended history and ended themselves in the coming months....

THE older the structure, the more likely it is to be haunted. Given the chequered history of Pudu Prison – which dates back to 1895 – you can be sure it has more than its fair share of ghostly tales.

Abu Bakar Juah says it was common to hear things at night – footsteps where no one was supposed to be, chains rattling, and even hearing someone or something taking a bath when everyone is locked in.

“We normally shout out loud that we are merely trying to make a living and tell whatever that’s out there to leave us alone,” he says.

Haji Aziz Haji Idris tells of an encounter while on duty at one of the guard towers when he was still a young officer.

“It was shortly after midnight and I was on night duty with another person when I saw an officer approaching. As we had been trained, I banged my rifle on the floor and shouted out ‘Everything all right, sir!”

Aziz says the figure said nothing but raised his hand, and then suddenly disappeared.

He also remembers one particular bunk in the warder’s dormitory which everyone tried to avoid.

“Anyone who slept there would be sure to feel an unseen force pressing down on his chest. They may try to shout or move but will be helpless to do anything,” he says, adding that some would rather sleep on the floor than use the bunk.

Abu Bakar also recalls a weird phenomenon – a ball of fire the size of a football that suddenly appeared and rolled out of sight.

“It happened every once in a while, and in cycles. Everyone would be talking about it for a while,” he says.

But the scariest tale is that of a recurring apparition of a woman. Aziz believes it was the ghost of a woman who was hanged there.

“She had tried to kill herself previously by slitting her throat. She survived but before she was fully recovered, the execution order came,” he says.

“She was brought to the execution chamber and hanged – but because of the injury, her head was literally torn off. It was a gruesome death and that is the ghost that many people have seen.”

He recalls an encounter with this apparition.

“I was on duty at Block D, where death row is located, and directly above the execution chamber is a huge anchor stone.

“Out of the corner of my eye I saw a figure sitting on this stone. Malays believe ghosts’ feet do not touch the ground, and when I bent over to look, the figure disappeared,” he says.

But a fellow officer’s encounter was even more shocking.

“Once, a police officer was interviewing prisoners and it was getting late. However, he said that he could interview one more, and I went down to bring another one.

“As he was filling in some forms he saw a figure sitting down. Thinking it was another prisoner he looked up, only to see a headless woman with blood flowing down her chest. The officer ran down the stairs as fast as he could,” he says.

Aziz believes Pudu Prison is a very “dirty” place and in some places is a giant graveyard.

“During World War II, the British buried Japanese soldiers there, and when the Japanese took over, they buried the British there.

“The ghosts here are real,” says Aziz.
----------------------------------------------
Authorities begin tearing down historic Malaysian jail
By Melissa Goh

KUALA LUMPUR: The walls of Malaysia's historic Pudu jail have started coming down.

For the onlookers here, it was part of their history coming down.

The wrecking ball moved in on Monday night to start work on the controversial redevelopment of one of Kuala Lumpur's icons.

When the clock struck 10pm, the first wall of the 115-year-old Pudu prison came crumbling down.

Hundreds of people watched on and traffic came to a standstill as bulldozers moved in full force.

Many Malaysians fail to understand why the government insists on demolishing this historical building despite widespread protest. Some are picking up pieces of the fallen walls as souvenirs for their future generation.

Mrs Liew and her son and daughter were among the crowd scrambling to collect remnants of the building that used to boast one of the longest murals in the world.

She says:" I'm very sad because it's a part of our history, they (children) like the building very much. It's very beautiful."

Others had hoped that the authorities would keep the facade of the building, or at least one of the walls intact.

One person says: "I've travelled around the world to China, Europe, they are preserving. Why can't we do it?"

But the Malaysian government decided that Pudu prison was not suitable to be made into a heritage site because it's not something that the country is proud of.

Efforts to promote it as a tourist destination had failed.

The MP in charge of the area in downtown Kuala Lumpur felt differently.

Fong Kui Lun, MP, Bukit Bintang, says: "Whether it's good memories or bad memories, I think it witnessed the development of Kuala Lumpur and the people are very concerned because Pudu jail is one of the landmarks"

Historians are lamenting the loss of yet another iconic building that served as a reminder of Malaysia's social history.

Some of the more prominent inmates who had been housed here included Mona Fandey, the witch doctor behind one of the country's most notorious murders and gangster Botak Chin.

Malaysia Ban Cartoons

Malaysia has banned three works of political cartoons that criticise the government, claiming that they pose a security threat.

Mahmood Adam, the home ministry's secretary-general, explained: "All three publications have been banned for their contents that can influence the people to revolt against the leaders and government policies... The contents are not suitable and detrimental to public order."

The works are mainly collections of comics by Zulkifli Anwar Ulhaque, known as Zunar, and other local cartoonists, questioning current events, such as police shootings and the sodomy trial of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Two books are banned, Perak, Land of Cartoons and 1 Funny Malaysia, and one magazine, Issues in Cartoons.

Zunar, a cartoonist for more than 20 years, told an AP reporter: "In Malaysia the government... won't allow alternative views. You can do cartoons, you can do whatever art work you want, but it must be in line with the government (view)."

Last month, Malaysian authorities seized more than 6,000 copies of a pro-opposition newspaper, saying it did not have a printing permit. All publications require government-approved annual licences. Zunar's website: http://www.cartoonkafe.com/

----------------------------------------------

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia banned three works of political cartoons that criticize the government, but one of the artists said Friday he was obligated to highlight issues other cartoonists would not.

The government said the cartoons in two books and a magazine posed a security threat.

Malaysia has banned dozens of publications in recent years, but usually because of sexual content or alleged misrepresentation of Islam, its official religion. But the latest ban is certain to spark complaints that the government is disallowing critical views.

"All three publications have been banned for their contents that can influence the people to revolt against the leaders and government policies," said a statement by Home Ministry Secretary General Mahmood Adam on the official news agency Bernama. "The contents are not suitable and detrimental to public order," he said without elaborating.

The works are mainly collections of comics by Zulkifli Anwar Ulhaque, known as Zunar, and other local cartoonists, questioning current events, such as police shootings and the sodomy trial of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

The books, titled "Perak, Land of Cartoons" in Malay and "1 Funny Malaysia," were published late last year. The magazine, "Issues in Cartoons" in Malay, with a circulation of 15,000 copies, was launched in February with three volumes coming out since then, Zunar said.

Independent online news portal Malaysiakini, which publishes "1 Funny Malaysia," said it would file a court case to challenge the ban of its book. Its chief executive officer, Premesh Chandran, said the book was a compilation of cartoons already published on Malaysiakini's website.

"It's peculiar that the book is banned ... as so far there is no evidence of public disturbance stemming from these cartoons," he told The Associated Press.

Cartoonist Zunar, who has published the other two works, told the AP he was still waiting for an official letter from the ministry but vowed not to stop drawing

-----------------------

“I WILL NOT STOP DRAWING TILL THE LAST DROP OF MY PEN.” (Press statement by Zunar on book ban)

At press time, I have yet to receive the official letter from Ministry of Home Affairs on the ban on my books.
Based on the news report on Malaysiakini (24 June 2010), Ministry of Home Affairs quoted saying that three of my publication were banned, namely “1Funny Malaysia”, “Perak Darul Kartun” and “Isu Dalam Kartun (IDK)”.

“1Funny Malaysia” is a collection of my published work from the year 2005 until 2009, in Cartoonkini on a popular web-based news portal, Malaysiakini.
"Perak Darul Kartun" is a book published by my own company Sepakat Efektif Sdn Bhd.

"Isu Dalam Kartun (IDK)" is a monthly magazine with a publishing permit from Ministry of Home Affairs. Three issues have been published; vol1, vol2 and vol3.

Last year, another mangazine of mine “Gedung Kartun” was confiscated and banned. According to the latest statement from Ministry of Home Affairs, all six of my publication, as well as my team of cartoonist, are listed in the “Prohibited Publication” list.

In the Malaysiakini report, Head of Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Datuk Seri Madmood Adam quoted stating these books are banned because they are not suitable for reading by the public.

All three publications will put in the “Prohibited Publication” list due to content that will influence public perception on country’s leadership and government policies. They are not suitable for reading by the public and may jeopardize public order.

Zunar’s Statement:

1. The government / Ministry of Home Affairs accused my cartoons that the content will influence public perception against on country’s leadership and government policies. Thus, they not suitable for reading by the public and may jeopardize public order. This is a serious accusation and must be supported by strong reasoning and proof.

2. With this ban of the six publication, it also means that all 312 cartoons and the whole team of cartoonist are being banned as well.

3. I demand Ministry of Home Affairs to explain the definition of “content will influence public perception against on country’s leadership and government policies. Thus, they not suitable for reading by the public and may jeopardize public order.”

4. I demand Ministry of Home Affairs to identify which cartoon of the 312 cartoons is categorized as “a threat to national security and not suitable for reading by the public”. I am responsible of all my cartoons and willing to face law if I break any of them.

5. From the business perspective, this action by Ministry of Home Affairs had cause considerably large amount of losses to my company. It is estimated amount of loss may climb to RM50,000 to RM80,000 with the returning of the publications from the vendors.

6. I would like to stress that material gains is not my objective. As a cartoonist, it is my social responsibility to expose the truth; the lies and corruption by the BN government. Saidina Ali once said, “Telling the truth to the tyrant leader is the real patriot”.

7. The government can ban my books. They government can ban my magazine. But the government cannot ban my mind. “I WILL NOT STOP DRAWING TILL THE LAST DROP OF MY PEN.”
Zunar

(Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque)
Kartunis/Editor kartun
zunar49@gmail.com
03 22724045
Publications are available for purchase online at www.cartoonkafe.com or by calling the hotline at 03-2272 4045.

Malaysia Ban Sport Betting

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has decided not to issue the sports betting licence to Ascott Sports Sdn Bhd.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said the decision was made after taking into consideration the views of various quarters which clearly showed that the majority did not agree to the issuing of the licence.

Najib, who is also Umno president, said the decision was also agreed upon unanimously by members of the Umno supreme council which met last night.

"Since the approval was decided in principle and a survey was carried out, although there were groups who supported as well those who did not support or opposed the decision, it was clear to the government that a majority of the people did not agree that the licence be issued to Ascot Sports.

"As such, I hereby wish to announce that the government has decided that the licence will not be issued," he told reporters after chairing the meeting.

Najib said the licence was issued in 1989 but the company had returned it to the government in 1990 after suffering huge losses.

Since then the company had tried to renew the licence a number of times but only recently the government had approved the issuance of such a licence in principle, based on a number of terms.

Social problems

Najib said the government's aim was to control illegal betting that was said to be in the region of RM10 billion, as well prevent other social problems.

At the same time, the prime minister said the government had also decided that Muslims were totally prohibited from being involved in any sports betting whether buying, working or becoming a member of the board of directors in a betting company.

"This condition was firmly specified by the government," he added.

When asked whether the decision was agreed upon by other Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties, he said they all accepted the decision in the interest of the nation.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, emphasised that Ascott would not be paid any compensation because the Finance Ministry had the right to revoke any gambling licences issued.

He said Ascott had also been informed of the decision and it understood why the government did not issue the licence.

Brother of Prime Minister Criticizes NEP

Datuk Seri Nazir Abdul Razak, the younger brother of prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has criticized the NEP (New Economic Policy) as proposed by the federal government saying that the policy is unfair to a majority of Malays and that the government should protect the interest of the majority of Malays and not just the selected ones.

He said “I have met a Malay professional overseas who refused to return to Malaysia because he is of the view that successful Malays are not welcomed in the country. This is because the Malays’ success is always linked to NEP. In fact some of them refused to return thinking that the NEP is not for them but only to selected Malay groups, so they are better off working overseas. Certain aspect of the NEP such as scholarships allocation should be retained. Those who have been trying to stop efforts to review the NEP are those who are benefiting from the NEP. That was why some contractors were not happy with open tender but they never ask if they get the job, what would happen to other Malay contractors. Why refuse to compete?”

In an interview with Mingguan Malaysia, he added that “In the long term NEP is about national unity. But today we have deviated from the original intention of the NEP to achieve unity. For certain parties, NEP has become the cause of disunity because the policy has been misused by some people for profit,”

mentality and attitude of the Malays have to change : Maslan

Umno Information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan urged the Malays to change their mindset to be in line with Vision 2020 objectives which consists of progress in business, unity, politics, leadership and education.

The mentality of Malays must change to be more open minded and competitive to seize any opportunities. Ahmad stressed that Malays must obtain knowledge as education is the basis for progress. Besides that, he also urged the Malays to explore the business sector to earn a better income.

Malays should change their mindset to be in tandem with the objective of Vision 2020 which encompasses progress in education, business, unity, politics and leadership.

Umno Information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan said they should also be competitive to be able to seize opportunities and be successful.

"The mentality and attitude of the Malays have to change so that they will be more open minded and competitive," he said when opening the Wangsa Maju Umno divisional meeting here Saturday.

Ahmad, who is Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, emphasised the need for Malays to acquire knowledge being that education was the basis for progress.

"Without knowledge, we cannot change the society," he added.

He also encouraged them to venture into the business sector for better income.

At a media conference later, Ahmad said there was no need for the government to entertain Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz's call for the government to give time before holding a general election to enable the contesting political parties to prepare themselves.

Perkasa and Gertak not supported by Malay Majority: Nazri

KUALA LUMPUR, June 18 — If it were not for Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, right-wing groups like Perkasa and Gertak would cease to exist, says Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.

The minister in the prime minister’s department said the reason for the rise of these Malay rights groups was because the former prime minister had been endorsing their agenda by “speaking out” against the Najib administration.

The low turnout at the Gertak rally, said Nazri, showed Dr Mahathir did not have the support of the Malay majority.

“He is an icon. Groups like Perkasa, Gertak will die out without Dr Mahathir’s presence,” Nazri told The Malaysian Insider in an exclusive interview this week.

The blunt politician pointed out that the small number of followers within these groups indicated that Dr Mahathir had the backing of only a minority of Malays.

“There are many Malays who believe in what Datuk Seri Najib Razak is doing. (Right-wing) groups like these are just fringe elements,” said Nazri when asked to comment on the low turnout at Gertak’s “Melayu Bangkit” rally in Kuala Terengganu four days ago.

Among the leaders who had attended the rally, which attracted just some 1,000 people, was Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said.

Nazri defended Ahmad’s presence at the rally, saying the mentri besar’s attendance was “out of respect” towards the former PM who ruled the country for 22 years.

“Malays are generally respectful of their elders... the only one who did not go (to the rally) was me,” said Nazri in jest.


A half empty hall listening to Dr M.

Perkasa has been vocal in opposing several of Najib’s reform plans, specifically proposals in the New Economic Model (NEM) which touch on opening up the economy and doing away with affirmative action quotas.

Dr Mahathir, who has also been critical of the NEM, has been seen at many Perkasa functions as well as the Gertak rally on Monday, which was originally scheduled for May 13 — a sensitive issue due to race riots on that date in 1969.

At the rally, he praised the government for rectifying what he called mistakes in the New Economic Model through the recently tabled 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP).

Nazri said Dr Mahathir’s actions were only helping the opposition. — file pic
Dr Mahathir said the 10MP had identified problems which were overlooked by the NEM.

“(I think) he is the best prime minister the country has had. My issue with him is that after he stopped becoming prime minister he ‘menyusahkan kita’ (troubles us). Dr Mahathir must remember that the prime minister right now is Najib. He should help us. By doing what he’s doing its only helping the opposition,” said Nazri.

The law minister gave an example from the 1990s when Dr Mahathir was Umno president. He had advised Nazri, who was then Umno Youth deputy chief to not make his objections towards the appointment of Tan Sri Rahim Tambi Chik as Umno Youth chief public.

“Back then Dr Mahathir came up to me, and said that if I had any issues I should settle it within these four walls... he said I could approach him about it (the objections). Well, now he (Dr Mahathir) should heed his own advice,” said the outspoken Umno leader.

The Padang Rengas MP said Dr Mahathir was only “destroying his own legacy” by attacking the current Barisan Nasional government.

“By attacking the government, he is destroying his own legacy. He created all of us... I’m his creation, Najib is his creation. Don’t kill your own creations,” said Nazri.