DAP wins Sibu with a majority of 398 votes

Thomas Cup quarter-final Malaysia vs China

The most anticipated match in the world is here.

our beloved Lee CHong Wei will be up against Lin Dan.

Don't missed this high class macth between this two titans at 7pm today!

go go Malaysia.

Hafiz Hashim the saviour to semi-final

BREAKING NEWS!

History is repeated again when Malaysian is tied 2-2 with the opponent tonight.

The quarter-final match between Malaysia and Denmark finally ends in the favour of Malaysia after 5 hours and 10 minutes.

This time, Hafiz Hashim got into rhythm and rescued Malaysia by crashing down Joachim Persson in straight set 21-12, 21-10.

Hafiz became the saviour of Malaysia after Malaysia lost the third and fourth match through Wong Choon Hann and the new combination of Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif/ Hoon Thien How

Malaysian players showed more fighting spirit and aggressiveness in their game tonight compared to the match between Japan last night.

Malaysia will face China in the semi-final this Friday May 14.

Malaysia lost to Japan, qualified to quarter-finals

BREAKING NEWS! Malaysia lose to Japan 2-3 in the just concluded Group B match.

Malaysia’s quest in the Thomas Cup seems to be a bit shaky when they lost to the underdog team from Japan.

Malaysia gained the first 2 points through Datuk Lee Chong Wei and doubles Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong.

Chong Wei scores 21-12, 21-13 while Kien Keat/Boon Heong scores 21-13/21-17.

Then Malaysia crashed down, tamed by the Japanese for the next 3 games.

Wong Choon Hann who expected to get a winning point to Malaysia in the group match lost 17-21, 18-21. His game was slow and he made a lot of careless mistakes.

Hope and pressure were high on the fourth game when Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif/Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari in action. But they too were kicked off by a more aggressive pair from Japanese with the score 15-21, 12-21.

Hafiz Hashim, the third single player who played in the fifth match failed to won the match point for Malaysia.

Despite having the advantage of the homeground support, height, experience and skills, the world ranking 22 lose to world ranking 214 player by 10-21, 21-14, 18-21.

It is indeed a sad, dissappointing and humiliating day for Malaysia's badminton team. Too many mistakes made in the last 3 games.

Japan not supposed to be a threat to Malaysia based on the paper and analysis by the coaches.

Anyway the good news is Malaysia still qualified to quarter-finals.

Just hope that Malaysia can make a miracle in the quarter-finals and hopefully the fresh draw won’t put Malaysia and China in the same group.

Despite The Hurdles, Malaysia Set To Smash The Opposition To Bag Thomas Cup

KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian men's team will be playing against all odds in their mission to bring back the Thomas Cup which Malaysia last won in 1992, when the prestigious Thomas and Uber Cup tournament kicks off at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Sunday.

Led by skipper Datuk Lee Chong Wei, the other men's singles players are Wong Choong Hann, Muhd Hafiz Hashim and Tan Chun Seang while their doubles are Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong, Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif/Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari and Hoon Tien How/Ong Soon Hock.

Despite the problems which demoralised the players such as the sacking of Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) secretary-general Ganga Rao, the RM2 million incentive debt and communication breakdown among the doubles, the team managed to display patriotism and unison, especially during the team-building course in Port Dickson, three weeks ago.

Rao's case is now over, the government has paid the incentive while the men's doubles, especially Mohd Zakry/Mohd Fairuzizuan, have promised to work closely, in and outside the court.

And a week before the tournament started, the men's singles chief coach, Rashid Sidek, was hospitalised and quarantined when he tested positive for Influenza A (H1N1).

Two days later, Rashids' brother, Misbun, who is also the men's singles coach, was quarantined when three of his children were hospitalised due to high fever.

Rashid and Misbun however, were discharged from their quarantine and resumed duty on Saturday.

Judging from the men's team list, the burden still lies with world number one men's singles player Chong Wei, who has been consistent after securing three championships since January.

He began the year by winning the Malaysian Open Super Series in January, and followed up that feat by clinching the Korean Open Super Series the same month and added the prestigious All England singles title in March.

Choong Hann and Hafiz meanwhile, have gone through a lean spell, since last year.

As for the doubles pairs, Koo/Tan won the Malaysia Open Super Series while Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif/Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari remain a competitive pair despite failing to land any title.

Malaysia, seeded third in the Thomas Cup after Indonesia and China, was drawn in Group B, together with the sixth seeds, Japan and minnow Nigeria.

The country is expected to have an easy path against Nigeria but will face resistance against Japan.

Chong Wei however, should be extra careful when playing against the Japanese new star, Kenichi Tago, who pulled a surprise by marching to the All England final but the Malaysian beat him in straight sets.

Group A comprises China, South Korea and Peru; Japan, Malaysia and Nigeria (Group B), Denmark, Germany and Poland (Group C) while Group D is made up of Indonesia, India and Australia.

Two teams from each Group will march to the quarter-finals.

BAM president Datuk Nadzmi Salleh has predicted that only five countries -- China, Indonesia, South Korea, Denmark and Malaysia -- stood a chance to win the prestigious Thomas Cup.

For the first time ever, world governing body, Badminton World Federation (BWF) has changed the Thomas and Uber Cup format by introducing a fresh draw for the quarter-finals.

The move will prevent any team from choosing their rivals in the cross-over quarter-finals.

Malaysia's former doubles specialist, Jalani Sidek, who played alongside his brother Razif in the winning 1992 squad, said on paper, Malaysia would easily cruise to the quarter-finals.

"But the draw for the quarter-finals knock-out stage is crucial for every team as they can't choose their opponents.

"If Malaysia meet either Denmark or Indonesia in the quarter-finals, I believe we can meet the semi-finals target," he said.

Meanwhile, Malaysia's women's team might need a miracle to meet their semifinals target in the Uber Cup.

They might be fresh from winning the gold medal at the Laos SEA Games last December but without two experienced players, Lydia Cheah and Julia Wong, who are injured, the semifinals target might be a tall order for them.

Lydia was replaced by Sanatasah Saniru and Julia, by Sonia Cheah.

The other women's singles are Wong Mew Choo and Tee Jing Yee while the doubles are Chin Ee Hui/Wong Pei Tty, Woon Khee Wei/Vivian Hoo Kah Mun and Goh Lui Ying/Ng Hui Ling.

Malaysia, the sixth seed in the Uber Cup, was drawn in Group A, together with the top seed, China, and the United States of America seeded 11th.

Group B comprises Indonesia, Denmark and Australia; Japan, Russia and Germany (Group C) and South Korea, India and South Africa (Group D).

China is tipped to win the Uber Cup for the 12th time, having won it six times consecutively, since the 1998 edition.

The Greal Wall women's team also won the Uber Cup in the 1984 edition, for five consecutive times until the 1992 edition.

~ Bernama, http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=496493

Memorandum menuntut kebebasan media

Memorandum menuntut kebebasan media:  Hentikan campur tangan politik dan Self-Censorship (3 Mei 2010)

Kebebasan Akhbar: 30% terendah di dunia

Malaysia bukan sahaja terjerat dalam ekonomi pendapatan sederhana, kini juga berada di bawah paras 30% negara yang terendah di dunia dari segi kebebasan akhbarnya.

Menurut laporan Freedom House yang diumumkan setiap tahun menjelang Hari Kebebasan Akhbar Sedunia, kedudukan Malaysia dalam ranking kebebasan akhbar amat mengejutkan;-

Tahun 2003: Kedudukan ke-71 daripada 100 negara
Tahun 2004: Kedudukan ke-154 daripada 193 negara
Tahun 2005: Kedudukan ke-152 daripada 194 negara
Tahun 2006: Kedudukan ke-141 daripada 194 negara
Tahun 2008: Kedudukan ke-150 daripada 195 negara
Tahun 2009: Kedudukan ke-143 daripada 195 negara
Tahun 2010: Kedudukan ke-141 daripada 196 negara

Antara negara ASEAN, kita jauh di belakang Timor Timur, Filipina, Indonesia, Thailand, malah Kemboja.  Kesemua negara ini lebih miskin daripada Malaysia.

8 pencabulan kebebasan akhbar dalam 12 bulan lalu

Kami, individu dan pertubuhan sivil yang berikut, menggesa agar pimpinan Perdana Menteri Najib Razak terutamanya, dan pengamal media menjawab lapan insiden pencabulan kebebasan media yang penting sejak Hari Kebebasan Akhbar tahun lalu.  Pencabulan ini berlaku kerana campur tangan negara, atau institusi bukan negara, dan self-censorship (tapis-diri) oleh institusi media.

Pertama: Pembatalan rancangan dokumentari Empangan Bakun oleh TV2

Pada 28 April 2010, Ketua Pengarah Penyiaran RTM, Ibrahim Yahya memberi arahan terus kepada rancangan Galeri Mandarin Nasional, TV2 untuk menarik dan membatalkan penyiaran siri dokumentari Empangan Bakun, selepas dua episod disiarkan.  Dokumentari ini mendedahkan keadaan hidup lebih 10 ribu orang asli yang berpindah dari Belaga ke Sungai Asap dan Sungai Koyan, untuk memberi laluan kepada pembinaan Empangan Bakun pada tahun 1998. 【Satu lagi campur tangan BN dalam kebebasan media TV, penerbit TV2】

Penerbit rancangan, Chou Z Lam mendakwa pihak atasannya memberi alasan bahawa "unsur sensitif" dalam dokumentari bakal mendatangkan kesan yang tidak baik untuk PRK Sibu yang akan berlangsung pada 16 Mei, dan pilihan raya negeri Sarawak.

Kedua: Campur tangan dan penapisan (Censorship) di ntv7

Pada 20 April 2010, Joshua Wong Ngee Chong yang pernah memenangi anugerah,  juga penerbit Editor's Time meletak jawatan sebagai protes kerana pihak atasan syarikatnya tunduk kepada aduan daripada isteri Perdana Menteri, Rosmah Mansor.  Kononnya Rosmah Mansor telah memanjangkan (forward) satu sms berbau rasis kepada pihak atasan ntv7, melontarkan tuduhan terhadap rancangan forum yang menyaksikan perdebatan antara ahli politik Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Rakyat dan penganalisa politik bebas.

Berikutan aduan tersebut, ntv7 mengambil keputusan untuk tidak membincangkan isu PRK Hulu Selangor yang berlangsung pada 25 April dalam rancangannya, dan mengelakkan isu politik secara umumnya pada ketika itu.  Pemimpin pembangkang juga dilarang untuk hadir ke rancangan sebagai ahli panel.  Bagaimanapun, pihak atasan ntv7 tidak menafikan tuduhan Joshua Wong.

Tuduhan campur tangan daripada Rosmah Mansor juga dilenyapkan dari kesemua media arus perdana.  Pada hakikatnya, daripada media arus perdana, hanya Nanyang Siang Pau dan Oriental Daily yang melaporkan perletakan jawatan Joshua Wong.

Ketiga: "Laporan kurang tepat" China Press

Pada 13 Mac 2010, Kementerian Dalam Negeri telah mengeluarkan surat tunjuk sebab kepada China Press, satu akhbar bahasa Cina, kerana "kesilapan" dalam laporannya berhubung perletakkan jawatan Ketua Polis Negara, Musa Hassan pada 25 Mac.

Di bawah Seksyen 8A, Akta Mesin Cetak dan Penerbitan tahun 1984, perbuatan menyiarkan berita yang tidak benar dengan niat jahat akan mengakibatkan mereka yang bersabit dijatuhkan hukuman penjara tidak melebihi 3 tahun atau denda tidak melebihi RM 20,000 atau kedua-duanya sekali.

Menteri Dalam Negeri, Hishammuddin Hussein yang mana bidang kuasanya mencakupi polis dan akhbar, mengesahkan penamatan perkhidmatan Musa Hassan pada akhir September tahun ini.  Pada 19 Mac 2010, China Press meminta maaf lantaran kesilapannya dalam laporan, dan menggantung Teoh Yong Khoon dari jawatan Ketua Pengarangnya selama dua minggu.

Keeempat: Melenyapkan kritikan hukum sebat terhadap wanita

Pada 24 Februari 2010, lantaran daripada laporan polis oleh beberapa badan bukan kerajaan, The Star, akhbar bahasa Inggeris meminta maaf secara terbuka kerana menyiarkan artikel "Persuasion, not compulsion" (Pujuk, bukan paksa) yang ditulis oleh Pengarangnya, P.Gunasegaran pada 19 Februari.  Artikel ini mengkritik hukuman sebat terhadap tiga wanita yang melakukan kesalahan persetubuhan luar nikah.

Majlis Agama Islam Selangor (MAIS) mendakwa bahawa "mohon maaf" tidak memadai dengan apa yang dilakukan, maka MAIS membuat laporan polis pada 25 Februari terhadap P.Gunasegaran dan Sister in Islam (SIS), kerana "memperlekehkan" Islam dan Hukum Syariah.

Perkembangan yang menyusul menyaksikan bagaimana KDN mengeluarkan surat tunjuk sebab kepada The Star, yang kemudian menarik satu artikel kolum oleh Mariana Mahathir, anak perempuam bekas PM yang menyentuh isu sebat.

Kelima: Panduan baru untuk akhbar

Pada 17 Disember 2009, menurut laporan Malaysiakini, KDN telah memanggil satu mesyuarat bersama editor akhbar, membincangkan panduan baru untuk penerbitan.  Istilah dengan definisi kabur yang digunakan dalam panduan tersebut dirangka untuk "self-regulation" (pengawalan diri).

Menurut laporan, akhbar diarah untuk tidak melaporkan isu seperti bersekedudukan, hubungan seks luar nikah, homoseksual, counter-culture, dan dilarang menyiarkan gambar alat kelamin manusia dan pemakaian G-strings.

Keenam: Gangguan MCMC terhadap Malaysiakini

Pada 3 September 2009, Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia (MCMC) menuntut agar Malaysiakini, satu media internet untuk menarik keluar dua klip video berkenaan protes terhadap perpindahan kuil Hindu di Shah Alam.  Salah satu klip  video merakamkan sidang media pada 2 September 2009 yang diadakan Hishammuddin Hussein, Menteri Dalam Negeri yang membela peserta demonstrasi.

Pemangku Pengarah Kanan Bahagian Pemantauan dan Penguatkuasaan MCMC, Abdul Halim Ahmad mendakwa video tersebut mengandungi unsur yang menyinggung dan mencetuskan kemarahan komuniti India.  Pada 8 September, MCMC menyoal siasat 10 orang staf Malaysiakini untuk lebih daripada 8 jam.

Ketujuh: Rampasan buku

Pada 25 Ogos 2009, Pegawai KDN dari Bahagian Kawalan Penerbitan telah merampas 408 naskah majalah kartun, Gedung Kartun ketika menyerbu pejabat penerbitnya di Kuala Lumpur.  Majalah kartun yang dikelolakan oleh kartunis terkenal, Zunar ini berjenaka dengan perhubungan antara kes pembunuhan Altantuya Shaariibuu dengan PM Najib.

Ketua Penolong Setiausaha Bahagian Kawalan Penerbitan dan Teks Al-Quran, Abdul Razak Abdul Latif mendakwa majalah tersebut dirampas kerana tidak mempunyai permit, dan rampasan tersebut bertujuan untuk "siasatan". 【Gedung Kartun】

Pada 24 Disember 2009, buku berjudul "Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times" telah ditahan di kastam Pelabuhan Klang, menjurus kepada "pengharaman" sehingga April 2010.  Bagaimanapun, tiada penjelasan diberikan lantaran "penahanan" yang lama ini.  Buku yang ditulis oleh Barry Wain, bekas editor Asian Wall Street Journal ini menuduh bekas PM Mahathir Mohamad harus bertanggungjawab kepada kerugian sejumlah RM100 billion semasa beliau menerajui pemerintahan negara.【Malaysian Maverick: "Buku dalam tahanan" laris di Singapura】

Pada 29 Januari 2010, sebanyak 64 naskah buku terbitan Malaysiakini, "Where is Justice" dan "1Funny Malaysia" dirampas di Pulau Pinang dan Melaka.  Buku berjudul "Where is Justice" mempertikaikan pihak polis dan SPRM dalam isu kematian dalam lokap, sementara "1 Funny Malaysia" adalah koleksi kartun Zunar.

Kelapan: Pengacara ntv7 ditukar

Pada 15 Julai 2009, MerdekaReview, media online melaporkan penerimaan surat amaran oleh pengacara rancangan isu semasa ntv7, Point of View, Florence Looi (gambar kanan), selepas beliau meminta ahli panel untuk menilai prestasi pentadbiran Najib 100 hari pertama, dalam rancangannya.【"Tak Wajar Menilai Najib" Pengacara ntv7 diberi amaran】

Rancangan ini menyiarkan episod terakhirnya pada 5 Julai, sementara Florence Looi pula diberikan tugasan baru.

Sungguhpun pencabulan kebebasan media sering dijalankan atas nama untuk memelihara keharmonian di antara kaum dan agama, namun tindakan ini selalunya bersifat selektif.  Akhbar harian Utusan Malaysia dan majalah Al-Islam milikan UMNO telah menyiarkan laporan bersifat hasutan, menyinggung dan tidak profesional, tetapi tidak diambil tindakan oleh kerajaan.

Bahayanya kawalan media

Kebebasan media dijamin di bawah artikel 10(1)(a) Perlembagaan Persekutuan.  Pencabulan kebebasan media akan mengundang kesan:

Pertama, melupuskan media sebagai kuasa keempat, mengakibatkan kegagalan orang awam untuk menyemak negara dan mempromosikan pentadbiran yang baik;

Kedua, menekan perbincangan umum, yang selalunya secara selektif atas nama isu sensitif, bakal menghalang keharmonian yang sebenarnya, iaitu keharmonian yang wujud hasil daripada saling mengenali antara warga Malaysia dari etnik, agama, budaya, bahasa dan sosial ekonomi yang berbeza.

Ketiga, dengan menutup ketidakadilan dan ketidakharmonian, mangsa yang terpinggir akan terus dipinggirkan - wanita, orang asli, golongan miskin dalam dan luar bandar, minoriti seksual, dan kumpulan monoriti yang lain.  Suara dan masalah mereka tidak dapat didengar.  Pembatalan rancangan dokumentari Empangan Bakun oleh Galeri Mandarin Nasional telah melenyapkan masalah kaum asli daripada dipaparkan di depan audien.

Campur tangan dari kerajaan dan bukan kerajaan, penapisan diri telah menjurus kepada situasi yang merbahaya ini.  Sememangnya, ia disempurnakan dengan akta media yang zalim dan anti-persaingan seperti Akta Mesin Cetak dan Penerbitan 1984, Akta Komunikasi dan Multimedia 1998, Akta Rahsia Rasmi 1972 dan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri 1960.

Tuntutan Kami

Kami, individu dan pertubuhan yang menurunkan tandatangan di bawah, menuntut agar tindakan berikut diambil sebelum Hari Kebebasan Akhbar yang akan datang:

Pertama, Menubuhkan Suruhanjaya Di-Raja atau Jawatankuasa Pemilihan (Select Committee) untuk mengkaji reformasi akta media, supaya:-

a. Memastikan agar wujudnya minimum entry barrier untuk media cetak, penyiaran dan internet untuk menjamin kemajmukan pengamal media.

b. Kesemua mekanisme pemeriksaan politik harus dihapuskan, dan diganti dengan institusi yang ditubuhkan oleh pengamal media dan pertubuhan masyarakat sivill yang bebas.

Kedua, Kerajaan Persekutuan, negeri dan tempatan harus mempertahankan kebebasan dan hak wartawan serta warga negara untuk menyalurkan informasi, dan hak untuk tidak diugut oleh institusi bukan kerajaan.  Sementara mengkaji akta yang sedia ada, kerajaan harus mengelak daripada menggunakan akta yang sedia ada untuk menekan media.

Ketiga, daripada mengamalkan penapisan diri, pengamal media seharusnya mempertahankan profesional dan kebebasan akhbar.

Untuk matlamat jangka pendek, kami menuntut agar perkara di berikut diselesaikan sebelum hujung bulan ini:

Pertama, ntv7 dan TV2 perlu menyiasat dan memberi penjelasan berikutan tuduhan self-censorship baru-baru ini;

Kedua, PM harus menjamin barisan kerajaan atau keluarganya tidak akan mengancam profesional pengamal media dalam pemilihan topik, perspektif dan sumber berita.

Organisasi yang mengambil inisiatif untuk merangka memorandum ini:

1. Writers Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)
2. Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
3. Civil Rights Committee of KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (CRC-KLSCAH)
4. Coalition for Clean and Fair Election (BERSIH)
5. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
6. Zunar & ‘Gedung Kartun’ Group
7. Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)
8. Centre for Policy Initiatives (CPI)
9. Research for Social Advancement (REFSA)
10. New Era College Progressive Front

Memorandum ini akan terbuka untuk endorsement pertubuhan dan individu sehingga 28 Mei 2010.  Individu digalakkan untuk menandatangani petisyen online di  http://www.petitiononline.com/20100430/petition.html

*Memorandum ini diterjemah daripada edisi bahasa Cina dan Inggeris-nya, ditambah dengan link untuk kemudahan pembaca yang ingin mengetahui lebih lanjut tentang isu berkenaan.

*Sumber http://merdekareview.com/bm/news.php?n=10763

Ipoh Dried Curry Mee

Location: Opposite MGS / near Tow Boo Kong Temple, Ipoh

First Speakers' Square launched in Penang

4th May 2010, Penang: Penang marks its own history today with the launch of Speakers' Square at Esplanade here this morning at 8.30am. It was launched by the Penang Chief Minister, YB Lim Guan Eng and attended by some 150 people including Penang State Excos, NGOs members, community leaders as well as the public. This Speakers' Square is the first of its kind in Malaysia. In his speech, YB Lim Guan Eng said everyone should be happy because they now have the platform to voice up and practice their rights under the Article 10 of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia. He reminded that although people are free to talk, they must be responsible for what they say. Those who wish to participate can do so every Wednesday and Sunday from 6pm-10pm.  

Yellow Ribbon Campaign for Press Freedom

Sempena Hari Kebebasan Media Sedunia yang akan berlangsung pada 3 Mei 2010, Pertubuhan Wartawan dan Jurugambar Akhbar Cina Pulau Pinang (Pewaju) akan mengadakan "Kempen Ribon Kuning demi Kebebasan Media" untuk meningkatkan kesedaran para wartawan dan orang ramai mengenai kebebasan media.

"Ribon Kuning" merupakan simbol kebebasan media yang sentiasa menjadi topik hangat di Malaysia, terutamanya wujudnya Akta Penerbitan dan Mesin Cetak 1984 (PPPA) yang mencengkam organisasi media dan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri 1960 (ISA) yang mengugat para wartawan. Akan tetapi Akta Kebebasan Maklumat yang dinanti-nantikan oleh orang ramai tidak nampak perkembangan positif.

Oleh yang demikian, kami amat berharap saudara dan saudari dapat memberi sokongan kepada kempen kami yang dicadangkan berlangsung selama dua hari, iaitu pada 3hb dan 4hb Mei. Selain itu, saudara dan saudari juga amat digalakkan supaya memakai ribon kuning dan menyertai majlis pelancaran Dataran Pidato pada pukul 8pagi 4hb Mei di Padang Kota Lama @ Esplanade.

Berikut merupakan maklumat mengenai kempen ini:

Nama Kempen: Kempem Ribon Kuning demi Kebebasan Media (Yellow Ribbon Campaign for Press Freedom)

Tarikh: 3hb dan 4hb Mei 2010

Masa: Sepanjang Hari

Tindakan:

1. Memakai ribon kuning di lengan atau di baju, dan

2. Mengedarkan ribon kuning kepada kawan-kawan lain, dan

3. Mengadakan perbincangan mengenai topik kebebasan media dan tindakan lain

Sumber: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=117513618270116

Memali: Menteri nafi Musa Hitam arah tembak

Menteri Dalam Negeri Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein berkata spekulasi bahawa Tun Musa Hitam mengarahkan polis menembak mati dua penduduk semasa peristiwa berdarah Memali di Baling pada 1985 adalah tidak benar.

Ketika itu, Musa (kanan) merupakan timbalan perdana menteri dan juga menteri dalam negeri.

Hishammuddin berkata, pada 19 November 1985, polis menjalankan operasi untuk menangkap Ibrahim Mahmud dan 35 pengikutnya di bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) 1960 kerana disyaki terlibat dalam kegiatan yang menggugat keselamatan negara.

"Semasa operasi tersebut, pihak polis telah diserang oleh pengikut-pengikut Ibrahim Mahmud dengan bersenjatakan senjata api, parang, pedang dan buluh runcing," katanya.

Hishammuddin memberitahu demikian dalam jawapan bertulisnya kepada pertanyaan lisan Senator Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim, yang juga naib pengerusi DAP, di Dewan Negara Isnin lalu.

Menurutnya lagi, pihak polis telah menyeru penyokong Ibrahim supaya meletakkan senjata dan menyerah diri secara aman.

'Demi mempertahankan diri dan mematahkan serangan tersebut, pihak polis terpaksa menggunakan senjata api dan melepaskan tembakan," tambahnya.

Peristiwa tersebut kata Hishammuddin telah mengorbankan empat anggota polis dan 14 orang awam termasuk Ibrahim manakala 23 anggota polis dan 14 orang awam mengalami kecederaan.

Selepas tragedi berdarah kira-kira 25 tahun lalu itu, Musa sentiasa dikaitkan dengan arahan menembak penduduk kampung tersebut memandangkan beliau menjadi menteri dalam negeri pada ketika itu.

Beliau juga pada masa itu memangku tugas perdana menteri ketika Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad berada di luar negara.

Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/130402

Free WiFi if PR takes Putrajaya

Fuh! Goosebump listening to the speech by YB Lim Guan Eng! Fuh! Wow wow!! U should look at how united the Malaysians are, flooded the whole stadium!

BN recaptured Hulu Selangor

The Hulu Selangor by-election has just ended and the result has been announced.

MIC has recaptured back Hulu Selangor Parliamentary seat that they lost in the last General Election through P.Kamalanathan.

He beat Datuk Zaid Ibrahim from PKR.

This is the official result from Election Commission.

BN - 24,997
PKR - 23,272
Majority -1,725
Spoilt votes - 731

Westlake in total darkness again

While people in Hulu Selangor are tensed up and excited for the polling day tomorrow for the by-election, people in Kampar, Perak were in darkness this evening.

UTAR students’ accommodation, Westlake was blacked out again this evening. This is the second time it happened this year.

Other places like New Town, Kampar Old Town and another UTAR students’ accommodation in Eastlake were also in total darkness.

The black out which started around 5.25pm resumed only after 3 hours at 8.30pm.

System down due to the black out has caused vehicles lining up at Petronas petrol station.

Parents claim daughter shunned by school

SEREMBAN: The parents of a 14-year-old girl, who alleged that she was raped by a policeman in Rembau, are now claiming that their daughter is being shunned by her school.

The girl's 36-year-old father, who works as a production operator in a factory, claimed yesterday that the school had stripped his daughter of her prefect post and demoted her from the third class to the last.

"She is in Form Three and was in the third class out of eight. But after the incident, the school administrators sent her to the last class. How can they do this to her when she is the victim?

"Instead of protecting her and giving her counselling for the trauma she endured, they are treating her like a bad person," he said.

He also claimed that his daughter was so traumatised by the incident that her studies have been affected.

"She was also very active in sport and had taken part in numerous sports competition representing her school and the district.

"But now, she hardly goes to school and is embarrassed due to fear of being shunned by her friends and teachers," he said.

The parents yesterday highlighted the matter to state Education Department director Datuk Abdullah Muhammad.

Abdullah said he would look into the matter immediately and get a report from the school principal.

"If this is true, it shouldn't happen like this... it is the school's responsibility to help a student in dealing with such situations and not make her a victim."

Efforts to reach the school principal for comment were futile.

The girl had claimed that she was raped by her policeman friend at his police quarters on March 17.

The victim also alleged that on March 20 , he punched her when the girl told him that she wanted to relate her ordeal to her mother.

On Thursday, state police chief Datuk Osman Salleh stressed that police would not protect any officer involved in crime.

The girl's father had claimed that the police were slow in taking action because the person allegedly involved was an officer who was attached to the traffic unit in Rembau.

Osman advised the parents to meet him or state Criminal Investigations Department chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Zaki Masroh to find out about the case.

"We are just waiting to iron out some details before handing the case to the prosecution unit," he said, adding that the officer had been transferred out of the district police headquarters.

vote 1Malaysia!

Another big blow to Pakatan Rakyat and Zaid Ibrahim in the last 24hour before the people of Hulu Selangor cast their vote on who's the best candidate to be their representative.

This video is from Citizen Journalist Chan Lilian.

KPT larang pelajar IPTA kempen di Hulu Selangor

KUALA KUBU BARU: Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi (KPT) hari ini mengeluarkan arahan melarang semua pelajar di Institusi Pengajian Tinggi Awam dan Swasta di negara ini terlibat dengan sebarang kempen pada pilihan raya kecil (PRK) Hulu Selangor.

Menurut kenyataan yang dikeluarkan oleh Unit Komunikasi Korporat KPT tindakan tegas akan diambil ke atas mana-mana pelajar yang terlibat dalam kegiatan berkempen mengikut Akta Universiti dan Kolej Universtiti (AUKU) 1971 dan Akta Institusi Pendidikan Tinggi Swasta.

Pilihan raya kecil Hulu Selangor diadakan ekoran kematian penyandangnya, Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad.

Pilihan raya kecil kali ini melibatkan pertandingan satu lawan satu antara calon Barisan Nasional P. Kamalanathan dan Parti Keadilan Rakyat diwakili Datuk Zaid Ibrahim .

Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) telah menetapkan 25 April ini sebagai hari pengundian.

Nik Aziz may not be good enough to win it for Zaid

HULU SELANGOR, April 22 — One of the things that is immediately noticeable in the Hulu Selangor by-election is the near absence of campaigners from PAS, the party that usually forms the meat and bones of previous Pakatan Rakyat (PR) campaigns.

After a noisy presence during nomination day, the imported PAS bandwagon moved on and has not returned, leaving the local campaigners from the Islamist party overwhelmed with the task of mobilising hardcore Malay support for PR’s Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.

Zaid is not an easy candidate to sell by PAS leaders to its hardcore supporters, especially with his admission of past transgressions over his drinking and love for race horses.

Hardcore PAS supporters in Hulu Selangor, estimated at about 7,000-strong, have flinched at having to shoulder Zaid.

That is why PAS spiritual leader Datuk Seri Nik Aziz Nik Mat is rushing from Mecca to hit the hustings in Hulu Selangor this week to help clean up Zaid’s image and lend his credibility to persuade Malay voters to back PR.

But can the venerated Tok Guru, who left on April 5 for Mecca to perform the umrah, turn the tide for Zaid, especially with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak also entering the fray for Barisan Nasional (BN)?

Najib’s presence last night in Hulu Selangor has added momentum to Umno’s campaign among the Malays and given new impetus to BN’s flagging campaign for support from Chinese and Indian voters.

Historical reasons are also working against the Tok Guru.

PAS’s presence in Hulu Selangor had always been thin because the state seats in the parliamentary constituency had been held by Umno giants like Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib and the late Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad, who was an Umno state executive councillor for 14 years before switching over to PKR in 2006.

They had made sure PAS did not grow in Hulu Selangor although it had a big-time preacher in Datuk Ismail Kamus, a local, who fought the BN’s Datuk G. Palanivel in 2004 but lost heavily by 14,483 votes.

But then the majority was not surprising and had nothing to do with Palanivel personally but had everything to do with the departure of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as prime minister and the arrival then of Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who promised major reforms that never took shape.

After that loss Ismail went on to become a national figure on the Islamic lecture circuit but PAS failed to put roots in Hulu Selangor which continued as an Umno bastion.

It is largely because of these historical reasons that PAS is weak in Hulu Selangor, except for a minimal presence in Malay villages and Felda settlements in Malay-majority-Hulu Bernam.

Ironically, PAS now has strong support from among the Chinese in the urban centres in Hulu Selangor because of national issues and this was one reason why local PAS leaders wanted to field Ismail again but PKR leaders were quick to announce that the seat would be defended by PKR with PAS assisting.

Importing PAS supporters in the last leg of the by-election to shore up Malay support for Zaid may not work because Umno had already penetrated the villages months earlier and reconnected with the voters there.

The message from many of the voters in these Malay villages to Umno was that they would consider voting BN if Palanivel was dropped.

Although Zaid’s capital among Chinese and Indian voters, who together make up about 45 per cent of the voters, remains intact but among the majority Malays who make up about 55 per cent, his standing has eroded largely because of the “non-Islamic” character issue.

According to Tay Tian Yan, Sin Chew deputy editor in chief, in a recent commentary titled “Counter-Marketing Politics”, “many non-Muslims do not seem to understand it and ask if drinking is really that serious at all? And can this thing decide everything?”

He said Muslims can also ask: Isn’t drinking serious enough? Couldn’t it decide everything?

He went on to say that “this is Malaysia, a country where different ethnic communities and religions have completely different views on the same issue.”

In trying to help Zaid, Nik Aziz will be battling strong prejudice against liberals like Zaid.

But PAS insiders say the presence and support from Nik Aziz could convince the PAS hardcore to stay with Zaid but might not move the fence-sitters who, they say, are already convinced that Zaid is not their man.

“The Malay villagers here are hardworking peasants... they slog for a living. They are not just against alcohol. Their friends, Chinese, Indians and Orang Asli, all drink,” said a PAS member when met in Kalumpang.

“They are put off by the image of a man of ease with unlimited wealth and expensive habits,” the member said.

That’s the image Nik Aziz has to clean up and even he may not be able to do it in one or two ceramahs on the last leg of the Hulu Selangor campaign.

~ from http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/60892-nik-aziz-may-not-be-good-enough-to-win-it-for-zaid

Liberty is A Constitutional Right

On March 11th, he was arrested at his apartment’s parking lot in Segambut. Police brought him to an apartment he rented in Kepong, and after entering, claimed that in that residence, he possessed 800grams of cocaine, and 140grams of methamphetamine, and accused him of processing and trafficking, putting him under the risk of being charged under Section 39B, which carries the death penalty.

On March 12th he was remanded for 7 days. When my parents inquired if we can engage a lawyer, the Investigation Officer told us “No need”.

On March 17th, after our family waited more than an hour, we were allowed to see him for the very first time, under supervision.

Again my mother asked if we should get him a lawyer, again the I.O advised against it, claiming “Lawyer tak boleh buat apa-apa sekarang. Buang duit je. (Lawyer can’t do anything now. It’s simply a waste of money).”

On March 18th, his remand was extended another 7 days. The magistrate inquired why there was no lawyer present for him, and whether he was made aware he had the right to a counsel of his choice. He replied “No.” Therefore, he requested for one, and only nine hours later, did the I.O call to inform my mother, who promptly engaged Amer Hamzah Arshad.

But the very next day, the police used their Executive authority under Section 28A that vetoed his right to a counsel. All requests made by our lawyer to visit him was denied.

Only after we complained to SUHAKAM, did the police allow Amer to visit him.

On the last day of his remand.

After the investigations were concluded.

For only 15 minutes.

On March 25th, he was brought to court, and charged under Section 12(2) for possession of 0.24grams of metaphetamin in his Segambut residence. Nothing the police claimed they found in the Kepong residence, the cocaine and shabu that was “already packaged to be distributed” or the so called “cocaine processing mini-lab” was brought to court.

Because there WAS none.

He was released on bail. A trial date was set. He was so close to being free, and seeing his 4 year old son again.
But as he was signing the papers of his release, the Plainclothes were outside waiting.

Not two steps after he came out of the bail department, without any explanation, they re-arrested him. Amer was restrained from protecting him, and only after Amer repeatedly asked them to show their I.D, did they do so. Still, no explanation was given to the family. We were merely told to go to the Headquarters and speak to Inspector Kang. The same guy who claimed my brother possessed the cocaine they NEVER found.

He never saw us, he was “in a meeting.” He wasn’t too occupied to give the press a statement, but was unavailable to see us.

We were told by the new I.O for this case, and the DSP (the guy who signed the papers denying my brother the right to a counsel) that they are detaining him for 60 days under the Special Preventive Measures Act (LPK), after which, they could further detain him for 2 years if found guilty.

Guilty according to THEM. For under this act, it is a detention without trial, like the Internal Security Act. Any information gathered from “witnesses” and “investigations” will never be disclosed to him or his lawyer, or the court. He will also not be able to defend himself against any allegations. Under this act, he will never have his day in court.

On March 25th, my brother, Ben, was denied his Constitutional rights.

For 2 weeks, our family went through hell. Sleepless nights, press waiting outside our door, Ben had asthma attacks after the police delayed themselves in acquiring the requested medication for 3 days, Mama, who is a cancer patient herself, suffered chest pains and lost her voice.

We felt it was all worth it, for we would be able to have him back.

But now, a new nightmare has begun.

Whether or not Ben is guilty, should not be for the Police to decide. If they HAD the evidence to strengthen their warrant for re-arrest, why was it not brought to court? Why is Ben not given a chance to defend himself? How can we ever know the authenticity of these so called witnesses and their statements? If there were ANY to begin with?

Under this act, I could simply be caught for any crimes of drug offences the police accuse me of, because they can claim they have enough information (even if they have absolutely nothing) and detain me. For 60 days, for 2 years, and even EXTEND it after.

Acts like this and the ISA are licenses for ARBITRARY arrest and detention. Anytime. Anywhere. Anybody.

My family and Amer will not back down. We will fight for Ben’s right. We will speak up for all of those who were silenced before us, who will be silenced hereafter.

But we seek your help. In any way at all, help us fight this. Re-post this, write on your blogs, write to your local representative, to our newspapers, and together we shall use our voice, our art, our space, to stand up not just for Ben, but for all our rights.

Liberty is a Constitutional right. It’s time to get it back.
- Elza