Idris and Yusuf to prosecute in Anwar's case

• Anwar’s legal team to tackle charge head-on
• Anwar to be charged with sodomy
• Pak Lah: I am not involved in sodomy charge
• Saiful thankful Anwar finally brought to justice

KUALA LUMPUR: Solicitor-General Datuk Idris Harun and the Attorney-General's Chambers prosecution chief Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden will lead the prosecution against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today.

Idris, 53, confirmed that he would be there together with Yusof to prefer a charge of sodomy against Anwar.

“I will be there tomorrow (today),” he said, declining to comment further on the matter.

Idris has been thrust into the limelight as the Government had decided that Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail and Inspector- General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan should not be involved in the newest sodomy case against Anwar.

This was because the former deputy prime minister had accused the two of fabricating evidence against him when he was assaulted while in the police lock-up in 1998.

There is nothing curious about the S-G making the decision to prosecute because he is legally empowered to perform any of the functions performed by the A-G, as provided for under Section 40A of the Eleventh Schedule to the Federal Constitution.

Under Section 376(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code, the S-G shall have all the powers of a Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) and shall act as Public Prosecutor in the absence or inability of the A-G to act.

Idris, an honours law graduate of Universiti Malaya, was appointed Malaysia's 16th S-G on April 27, 2006.

He was a parliamentary draftsman before that appointment and has largely done civil work in his 28 years in the Judicial and Legal Service.

He has also served as a DPP with the Royal Customs & Excise Department between 1992 and 1993.

Idris has also held the post of head of the prosecution unit of Kuala Lumpur and served as senior federal counsel for the Anti-Corruption Agency.

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Anwar’s legal team to tackle charge head-on

PETALING JAYA: The group of lawyers defending PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim say they are ready to tackle the sodomy charge head-on, including the political conspiracy theory.

They also expressed their disappointment that neither they nor Anwar had seen the copy of the police report lodged by his accuser Mohd Saifuil Bukhari Azlan or the medical report.

“The legal team has not been given anything by the police or the prosecution. Nothing. But we will fight hard with the few resources as we are going against the might of the state, “ said lead counsel Sulaiman Abdullah.

Sulaiman said that the political underpinnings of the criminal case were “undeniable.”

“The sequence is clear. Datuk Seri announced he is running for the Permatang Pauh by-election. The Election Commission fixes nomination day (on Wednesday) and almost immediately he (Anwar) is summoned to appear in court.

“The nexus between the one and the other is unmistakable. Datuk Seri is facing the dual burden of the allegations and the fight to save the nation.

“He has not flinched and will face this trial fortified with prayers from his family and friends,” he said yesterday at a press conference called by Anwar.

Anwar will be represented by three other main lawyers besides Sulaiman, namely PKR vice-president and Subang MP Sivarasa Rasiah, Sankara Nair and Saiful Izham Ramli.

Four or five more lawyers would be on stand-by as back-up.

Sankara Nair said that Anwar would likely be charged under Section 377B of the Penal Code for voluntarily committing carnal intercourse against the order of nature.

“This is a non-bailable offence but normally bail is granted by the court for sodomy and rape offences, except for Anwar. They don't like to give,” he quipped.

Sankara Nair also said there was no previous indication that Anwar would be charged today until he received the phone call at 8.47am yesterday from the police.

“I was told to bring my client to court at 10am to be charged. I then received a fax at 10am and then Brickfields CID Chief Deputy Supt Jude Pereira personally handed over the notice to Anwar at 12.20pm. We are ready to battle it out,” he said.

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Anwar to be charged with sodomy

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be charged today with sodomy and the legal battle will have serious implications on his comeback bid in the Permatang Pauh by-election, which he engineered by getting his wife to resign the seat.

Nomination Day is set for Aug 16 and polling day 10 days after that, but the question now is whether the PKR adviser will be on hand to personally campaign or will he be locked up as a sodomy is a non-bailable offence.

Reacting to the Election Commission announcements on the date and the authorities’ decision to charge him, Anwar accused the Government of conspiracy to fix him to prevent him from making a political comeback.

He even held Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi personally responsible. Anwar cited the timing of the EC’s announcement and when the police served him with the notice that he is to be charged for sexually assaulting his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari.

Brickfields CID chief Asst Supt Jude Pereira was at the PKR de facto leader's house in Bukit Segambut at about 12.15pm, five minutes after the EC issued its statement.

However, Abdullah denied Anwar’s claims, and stressed that he had reminded police not to charge Anwar if they did not have enough evidence.

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Pak Lah: I am not involved in sodomy charge

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has denied being involved in the fresh sodomy charge against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and to sabotage the PKR adviser’s attempt to return to Parliament.

“How can I insist that he be charged? If there is no evidence the police are not stupid to charge him,” the Prime Minster said when commenting on Anwar’s accusation that he (Abdullah) had planned the sodomy charge.

Abdullah dismissed Anwar’s claim that the charge was an attempt to deflect public’s attention from the Government’s problems.

“The Government’s problem is a huge problem and this one is not going to deflect other kind of problems we are having at the moment. I don’t see that,” he told reporters after chairing the Barisan Nasional supreme council meeting yesterday.

He said he had never given the police the impression that he wanted Anwar to be charged.

“I am not one to ask people to charge (other people). I did say that if you have something to charge and you have evidence then charge. If you don’t have evidence then drop the charge, drop the whole thing and the investigation.

“So that is up to them to see and decide on the basis of their investigation whether there is enough evidence to charge or not,” the prime minister said.

Abdullah also said that if the police had enough evidence, they were duty bound to charge Anwar because they had to protect the rights of Anwar’s accuser Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

“Don’t forget that there is another person, Saiful. You seem to forget Saiful and you think Anwar is more important. This is the issue of the law,” he said.

On Anwar’s claim that the charge was meant to sabotage his election campaign due to its timing which coincided with the Election Commission’s announcement of the Permatang Pauh by-election date, Abdullah said that he was not the one who announced the date and he did not ask for the charge to coincide with it.

“But the story of the charge against him is not new and emerged even before (Anwar’s wife and PKR president Datuk Seri Dr) Wan Azizah (Ismail) resigned (as Permatang Pauh MP),” he said.

On whether Saiful would also be charged if he was a willing partner, he said:

“You better read your law. If there is rape the accused will have to face action. This is a matter for the law. But I am not lawyer and I won’t get involved. We’ll see what happens in court.”

Asked about possible street demonstrations, he said: “Anwar should tell them not to resort to demonstrate.”

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Saiful thankful Anwar finally brought to justice

PETALING JAYA: Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan is thankful to Allah that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will finally be brought to face justice.

His lawyer Zamri Idrus said in a statement that Mohd Saiful, who was Anwar’s former aide, would give full co-operation to ensure that the judicial court process ran smoothly.

“Mohd Saiful also hopes that all Malaysians will pray that the legal process is carried out smoothly so the truth can be proven in a just manner,” he said yesterday.

Zamri also said he would hold a watching brief for Mohd Saiful today.

In another development, the doctor who examined Mohd Saiful has failed to report for work after going on leave and cannot be contacted, said Hospital Pusrawi.

The hospital’s medical director, Dr Kamaruddin Ahmad, said Dr Mohamed Osman Abdul Hamid was supposed to return to work three days ago after his two-week leave.

“I think he is afraid to return to duty,” said Dr Kamaruddin when contacted by mStar yesterday.

Any action, he said, would only be taken once the hospital has spoken to Dr Mohamed Osman.

Dr Mohamed Osman, a Myanmar national, was put under the spotlight when his medical report on Mohd Saiful was leaked on the Internet on July 29.

The report stated that there was no sign that Mohd Saiful was sodomised as alleged in his police report in June.

The hospital had since denied that they had performed a sodomy examination on Mohd Saiful.

-TMB

Police: Don't listen to rumours

• Abdullah: I didn't order police to charge him
• Saiful: I want truth told
• I will turn up, says Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be charged with sodomy today, more than a month after a police report was lodged against him by his former aide.

He was informed of the court action against him by Brickfields Criminal Investigation Department chief Deputy Superintendent Jude Pereira.

The police officer served the Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader with a notice about noon yesterday.

Pereira and a sergeant went into Anwar's bungalow and came out 20 minutes later.

Moments later, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar, in a faxed statement, said a notice was served on Anwar.

"Police have completed the sodomy investigation in accordance with the country's laws.

"The investigation paper was forwarded to the Attorney-General's Chambers and a decision was made to charge Anwar."

Anwar was told to present himself at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex today at 10am.

Speaking to the New Straits Times later, Ismail urged city folk to go about their business as usual today.

He said there would be added police presence in various parts of the city but no roads would be closed. "We urge the public not to listen to rumours. The added police presence is simply to thwart any untoward incidents."

Anwar's former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 23, had lodged a report in June claiming that he had been sodomised by his former boss.

Anwar was arrested on July 16 and detained for a night at the Kuala Lumpur city police headquarters where he had his statement recorded.

His detention was hotly protested after it was alleged that police had used rough-handed tactics when effecting the arrest.

During his detention, the former deputy prime minister was taken to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital where he underwent a medical examinaion.

He, however, refused to give a blood sample for DNA tests claiming that the evidence could be fabricated.

Anwar was released on bail the next day and was told to report to the city police headquarters on Aug 18. But he has now been served with the notice to appear in court today.

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Abdullah: I didn't order police to charge him

KUALA LUMPUR: The prime minister said he did not instruct the police to charge de facto opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim with sodomy.

"How could I insist that he be charged? The police are not stupid to charge just because so and so might have said something to that effect," said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"And I am not one to ask people to charge. If you have something to charge, if you have evidence to charge, you charge. If you don't have, drop it. That's what I said," he said after chairing the BN supreme council meeting yesterday.

Abdullah said the case was going to court as the authorities had decided they had a case against Anwar. He said it was up to the police to decide, on the basis of investigations already carried out, whether there was enough evidence for them to prefer charges.

"If they think there is enough evidence to charge, they will have to charge," he said while stating that Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar had told him about the police decision to charge Anwar today.

Abdullah said people should not forget there was another party in the case -- the complainant, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

"Another person looking for justice is the victim. You seem to forget Saiful. You think Anwar is more important.

"This is an issue of law. Somebody feels that he needs justice and he makes a report to the police. And the police, therefore, have a duty to conduct investigations, to question him, to invite others to assist in the investigations.

"If there is nothing, no evidence whatsoever, drop the charge. Drop the whole thing, the investigation. Don't do it. If there is evidence to charge, they have to charge. You can't stop them from doing that. They have to think of Saiful."

Abdullah also replied to a claim by Anwar that he had planned for Anwar to be charged today to deflect attention from the problems the government was facing.

"Why should I try to deflect from the problems of the government? They are huge problems.

"This (issue) is not going to deflect the kind of problems that we are facing at the moment."

He called on Anwar to prove his innocence in court and ruled out the possibility of street demonstrations similar to the last time Anwar was arrested in 1998.

"Why should there be demonstrations? Anwar should tell them (his supporters) there is no need to demonstrate -- ' I (Anwar) am going there (the court). I am going to face them. I am going to show them this is all nonsense' -- that's what he (Anwar) should do.

"Not resort to demonstrations to stop the process of law," he said.

To another claim by Anwar that the charge was being made out against him to sabotage his by-election campaign, Abdullah said: "We (the BN) did not announce (the election date). Neither did I ask for it to coincide this way."

Abdullah said that if the Election Commission did not announce a date anytime soon, Anwar would be making another allegation against the government.

He said if the commission did not call the by-election within 60 days, Anwar would then ask why it was being delayed. "There will always be something (ada saja)."

Abdullah noted that Anwar's sodomy investigation had been going on for some time.

He said some had claimed that Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had resigned so that the authorities would not charge Anwar with sodomy.

"There are some people who say this. There is never one version of the story. There are at least two versions. Sometimes three, four, five or 10 versions."

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar also denied that the government was attempting to derail Anwar's plans to contest the Permatang Pauh by-election.

"He should see this as an opportunity to clear his name in court. I ask everyone not to politicise the case or debate it any more as this would be sub judice," he said at the closing of the police force's Quran reading competition at the Police College in Cheras.

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Saiful: I want truth told

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's accuser, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, is relieved that his complaint is finally being taken to court.

The 23-year-old, who had been in protective custody since he lodged the police report against his former boss in late June, had earlier also accused Anwar of delaying police investigations.

Yesterday, in a statement faxed by his lawyer Zamri Idrus, Mohd Saiful said he would give his full cooperation during the trial.

He also called on Malaysians to pray that the court process would proceed smoothly and that the truth would be revealed.

Zamri, when contacted at his Johor Baru office, said his client had conveyed the message to him after being notified that Anwar had been summoned to court.

Zamri said he would be present at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court here today to hold a watching brief on behalf of his client. He, however, could not say if Mohd Saiful would be present in court.

During the course of the investigations, Mohd Saiful had, through a website, challenged Anwar to swear on the Quran that the sodomy allegation did not take place.

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I will turn up, says Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR: While claiming that there is a political conspiracy against him, Pakatan Rakyat de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he would still turn up in court today to face the sodomy charge levelled against him.

"The same day they announced the date for the by-election, a subpoena was served against me," he said at the Parti Keadilan Rakyat headquarters yesterday.

Anwar is contesting the Permatang Pauh by-election on Aug 26. This followed a move by his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, to vacate the seat last week to pave way for his return to politics.

Although he said the trial would be nothing but an attempt at character assassination, Anwar gave his word that he would show up in court at 10am.

"Up until today, the police have yet to show me the report filed against me by my accuser, Saiful Bukhari, on June 28.

"There has also not been any communication between the police and my lawyers as to which courtroom the case will be heard and the exact nature of the charge. But I will still turn up," he said, adding that his lawyers were confident the case would be thrown out of court, due to the lack of evidence.

"However, if I am put on trial, that means that an enormous injustice is about to be perpetrated upon the Malaysian people, worse than those actions taken during the judicial crisis in 1988 and my previous sodomy charge in 1998, this time by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahamad Badawi."

Anwar's words yesterday also marked the first time, he has publicly and directly attacked Abdullah, to the extent of accusing Abdullah as the chief architect of the conspiracy against him.

On the Permatang Pauh by-election, Anwar, who last won the seat with a 23,515 majority under the Barisan Nasional banner, said he was confident that he would be able to retain the seat with a comfortable majority.

"Even if I should be denied bail, the election campaign will continue. Dr Wan Azizah and my other opposition colleagues will make sure the job gets done, provided the Election Commission can uphold the integrity of the election process."

Anwar said his campaign theme would be "Change!"

Among the topics he planned to touch on were the country's economic situation, good governance, racial unity and restoring the country's international image.

-TMB

Bakar@~penarik beca ditahan polis

Blogger yang menggendalikan blog ~penarik beca, ditahan polis malam tadi.

Menurut isterinya, empat orang polis datang kerumah mereka dan menahan Bakar (nama sebenar Penarik Beca) bersama-sama dengan telefon bimbit dan laptopnya.

Hanifah Maidin, peguam yang akan mewakili Bakar menghubungi polis sebentar tadi dan disahkan bahawa Bakar a.k.a Penarik Beca ditahan dibawah Akta Hasutan.

Kepada rakan-rakan blogger dan pembaca blog, marilah kita menyatakan sokongan kepada Bakar dan tidak akan tunduk diatas segala tekanan yang diberikan oleh pemerintah terhadap blogger!

EXCLUSIVE ( MUST READ!!!) : What the IGP and AG do not know......yet

trafik agak sesak dalam blog ni...kalau tak dapat tengok attachment dibawah, korang klik di [ sini ] - blogmaster Topeng Perak

Today, 7 August 2008, the government is going to charge Anwar Ibrahim for the alleged crime of sodomy. What they do not know yet is that we have a few surprises in store for them. One of them is the documents below. They will most probably deny Anwar bail just so that they can keep him in jail the entire duration of the trial. These documents, however, prove that there is no case against Anwar and the police are trying to build a case around fabricated evidence.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Klik pada gambar untuk paparan yang jelas.

Govt will not ignore problems faced by non-Muslims

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 7 - The government will not ignore issues faced by non-Muslims in the country, especially problems pertaining to religion and faith, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi guaranteed.

He said the government was concerned with issues raised by non-Muslims, through organisations like the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST), and promised that these problems would be attended by the relevant authorities.

He said this in reply to issues raised by MCCBCHST president Datuk A. Vaithilingam at the Council's silver jubilee dinner, attended by Abdullah here Wednesday night. "We are concerned about the issues raised by the Council.

We do not impose constraints on people of different faiths discussing these issues although they are sensitive in nature. Only through discussions can we understand and try solve the issues," the Prime Minister said.

He said although the nation was made up of various races and religion, all Malaysians were friends who were sincere towards each other with a common objective which was to make the country a more peaceful place without fearing that they will lose their right to practice their respective religions.

Abdullah also commended Malaysians for being able to "sit down and discuss" various issues, especially on religion, without having the fear of repercussions from any other party.

"We are a nation of many faiths. This is what Malaysia is and will always be. We have to a certain extent reached a high degree of tolerance.

If not for this tolerance we would have disintegrated as a nation a very long time ago. The last 50 years is not 50 years of failure but 50 years of success," he added.

He also said Malaysia's success in maintaining social harmony is "a commendable and remarkable achievement" which was the envy of many other nations that claimed to be multiracial.

"Ours is a good mix, no one race can oppress another race and no one race can form the government and govern this country...this is my belief.

It is the friendship and cooperation among the races, which profess various religions, that has brought us this far and we cannot and should not discard this proven and tested formula," he said.

Abdullah said the nation was governed by the objective that all races must remain united and have equal access to justice even when the matter concerns religion.

"When I became the Prime Minister, I wanted to hear the truth. There is no use of praising me if you do not tell me the truth.

Only after the truth is known can a problem be solved. So the truth, however painful must be told. And in overcoming problems, justice is important.

People have placed their trust in me and I must fulfill their expectations," he added.

On issues raised by the MCCBCHST, he said they were being addressed but "when we deal with these issues, it must be understood properly by members of their own faith."

He said while the government had promised to look at religious issues it was not intended to please of pacify a certain segment of the society, which had brought-up the issues in the first place.

However, the Prime Minister said that to solve these issues, all segments of the Malaysian society must sit together and find ways to overcome the problems which had cropped-up.

Earlier Vaithilingam in his speech said the Council was concerned about several issues especially the fair treatment of the police force in handling religious issues and the judiciary in tackling religious cases. He also raised the fact that religious classes were not taught at schools, although Muslims had separate religious classes during school hours, the lack of funds to construct non-Muslim places of worship, and the difficulty in bringing priests and musicians based overseas into the country for a long period.

"We want the government to take urgent action to solve these problems.

This if left unresolved could have a bearing on the nation. All Malaysians must feel that they have a right to justice and non-Muslims should not be subjected to Islamic laws.

"Ultimately it boils down to respect. We feel that there is a plenty of space for all Malaysians to practice their respective religions. We remain committed to the government and have faith in the Prime Minister to solve these issues," he added.

-TMB

Seminar Draf KL 2020 Pelan Bandaraya Kampung Baru 19 Ogos Ini

KUALA LUMPUR, 7 Ogos (Bernama) -- Penduduk Kampung Baru yang masih kurang faham mengenai Draf Kuala Lumpur 2020 Pelan Bandaraya Kampung Baru digalak menyertai seminar mengenai perkara itu yang akan diadakan pada 19 Ogos ini di Hotel Legend di sini.

Naib Presiden Persatuan Pembangunan Kampung Dr Mohd Yusof Ismail berkata seminar itu antara lain bertujuan meningkatkan kefahaman pemilik-pemilik tanah mengenai aspek-aspek tertentu Draf Kuala Lumpur 2020.

"Dengan ini bolehlah pemilik-pemilik tanah membuat kesimpulan mengenai faedah yang mereka boleh perolehi daripada pembangunan Kampung Baru," katanya dalam satu kenyataan media, di sini, Rabu.
Dr Mohd Yusof berkata seminar itu yang akan diadakan secara percuma akan melibatkan penyertaan pakar-pakar profesional seperti perancang bandar, arkitek, jurutera dan syarikat pembangunan hartanah Bumiputera untuk meneliti kesesuaian aspek-aspek tertentu pelan berkenaan bagi membantu meningkatkan kefahaman pemilik-pemilik tanah.

Katanya hasil percambahan pandangan dan interaksi antara kedua-dua kumpulan profesional dan pemilik-pemilik tanah Kampung Baru akan dikumpulkan sebagai pandangan awam, untuk disalurkan kepada Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) bagi memenuhi Akta Perancangan Wilayah Persekutuan sebelum Deraf Pelan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur 2020, Jilid 4:Kampung Baru diterimapakai.

Bagi mereka yang berminat menghadiri seminar berkenaan bolehlah menghubungi Che Wan Ahmad dari syarikat Identiti Focus Sdn Bhd di talian 03-78043289/016-9336433 atau Dr Mohd Yusof di talian 012-2353940 untuk mendapatkan maklumat lanjut.

Debat Koh Tsu Koon Dan Lim Guan Eng Pada 20 Ogos

KUALA LUMPUR, 7 Ogos (Bernama) -- Satu lagi debat menarik dijangka dijalankan di Pulau Pinang atau di sini antara pemangku Presiden Gerakan Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon dan Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang Lim Guan Eng berkenaan isu-isu semasa pada 20 Ogos ini.

Jurucakap parti Gerakan memberitahu Bernama bahawa debat anjuran portal berita, Agenda Daily yang dijangka dipanaskan dengan menyentuh isu-isu semasa terutama Pulau Pinang, merupakan kali kedua antara Koh dan Lim.

Ia pernah diadakan 10 tahun lalu ketika kedua-dua mereka merupakan pemimpin pemuda parti masing-masing.

Katanya portal berita itu sedang menyediakan format, lokasi dan tema debat, yang telah diperkatakan sejak minggu lepas.

"Beliau (Koh) telah memutuskan sebentar tadi untuk mengadakan debat itu. Beliau sangat teruja untuk berhadapan dengan Lim, yang juga merupakan Setiausaha Agung DAP," katanya.

Katanya tarikh itu telah disahkan, tetapi belum lagi diketahui sama ada ditetapkan sebatang syarat lain.

"Lim telah bercakap kepada media terlalu banyak dan telah mengelirukan rakyat. Sekarang, ini peluang Gerakan itu bertindakbalas terhadap propaganda DAP," katanya, sambil menambah bahawa anggota-anggota Gerakan juga teruja dan memberi sokongan kepada sepenuhnya tindakan Koh untuk berdebat dengan Lim.

"Kami akan membiarkan orang ramai untuk memutuskan sama ada Lim hanyalah tin kosong yang sekadar membuat bunyi bising," katanya.

Baru-baru ini, Koh, bekas Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang, mencabar Lim untuk berdebat mengenai dakwaan isu penyelewengan tanah jika Lim membuat cabaran secara rasmi.

Pada masa yang sama, Koh berkata beliau mahu debat itu diadakan secara adil dan diadakan selepas mahkamah selesai mendengar kes itu.

Koh juga meminta semua fail dan dokumen mengenai kes itu yang disimpan di pejabat Ketua Menteri dan jabatan kerajaan negeri diubah status dan diberikan kepadanya untuk beliau bersedia menghadapi debat itu.

Bagaimanapun, dengan perkembangan terkini hari ini, semua syarat seperti telah diketepikan untuk debat diadakan tidak lama lagi.

Sementara itu, Lim ketika dihubungi malam ini berharap Koh tidak akan meletakkan sebarang syarat untuk debat pada 20 Ogos itu, dan berkata ia sepatutnya berkenaan isu penyelewengan tanah di Pulau Pinang.

"Apa yang rakyat mahu tahu adalah berkenaan penyelewengan tanah. Jika anda mahu berdebat mengenai isu-isu lain, ia tidak mencapai matlamatnya," katanya.

Bulan lepas Agenda Daily menganjurkan debat terbuka antara Menteri Penerangan Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek dan Penasihat Parti Keadilan Rakyat Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim berkenaan isu minyak di Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

Dua Pakar Perunding Dari Jerman Siasat Kerosakkan MRR2 Di Kepong, Kata JKR

KUALA LUMPUR, 7 Ogos (Bernama) -- Dua pakar perunding Jerman dibawa ke tapak kerja pembaikan jejambat Jalan Lingkaran Tengah 2 (MRR2) di Kepong pagi Rabu bagi menyiasat dan mengkaji kerosakannya untuk memastikan kesemua laluan dapat dibuka kepada lalu lintas dalam tempoh tiga minggu.
Timbalan Ketua Pengarah Kerja Raya I Datuk Ir Mohamad Husin berkata dua pakar perunding daripada syarikat jururunding Leonhardt, Andre & Partners tiba petang semalam dan dibawa ke tapak itu untuk mengkaji kerosakan serpihan konkrit serta serpihan Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) yang telah jatuh.

"Pasukan petugas juga bermesyuarat dan berbincang dengan perunding dan kontraktor mengenai langkah-langkah yang perlu diambil oleh kontraktor dan perunding mengenai tugas masing-masing bagi mencapai ketetapan bagi membuka semua lorong dalam masa tiga minggu," katanya dalam satu kenyataan yang dikeluarkan di sini.

Pasukan petugas khas ini ditubuhkan oleh Jabatan Kerja Raya untuk menjalankan siasatan serta menyelia kerja pembaikan oleh kontraktor.

Pada Ahad lepas jejambat itu ditutup kira-kira lima jam dari pukul 10.30 pagi berikutan keretakan dikesan di jejambat MRR2, dan berikutan kejadian itu dua daripada enam lorong ditutup kepada lalu lintas.

Cabaran Besar Menjadi Speaker Wanita Pertama Di Negara Islam, Kata Dr Fehmida

KUALA LUMPUR, 7 Ogos (Bernama) -- Dr Fehmida Mirza, wanita pertama dilantik sebagai Speaker Dewan Kebangsaan Pakistan, berkata ia merupakan satu penghargaan dilantik ke jawatan itu walaupun dibebani tanggungjawab yang berat.

"Dalam kes saya, menjadi speaker wanita Pakistan pertama merupakan satu penghormatan dengan tanggungjawab yang berat, cabaran besar tetapi sudah banyak perubahan berlaku sejak pilihan raya umum lepas.

"Sebelum ini, semua isu-isu penting negara dibawa di luar Parlimen tetapi sekarang buat pertama kali, isu-isu berkenaan tanah, tenaga, air dan kemiskinan dibawa ke Parlimen," kata wanita yang wajahnya mirip bekas Perdana Menteri Pakistan Benazir Bhutto kepada pemberita di sini, Rabu.

Dr Fehmida, 51, yang turut menyertai Persatuan Parlimen Komanwel (CPA) berkata beliau gembira untuk menyatakan usaha-usaha yang dilakukan anggota-anggota Parlimen Komanwel diiktiraf oleh negara-negara mereka berikutan perkembangan kemanusiaan, masyarakat dan ekonomi.

Doktor perubatan itu yang menjadi anggota Parlimen sejak 1997 berkata beliau sangat gembira dengan peningkatan penerimaan terhadap status wanita menyamai lelaki.

Berbicara mengenai wajahnya yang mirip Benazir, Dr Fehmida berkata ramai yang mengatakan beliau seperti Benazir dan baginya ia satu penghormatan.

"Orang di kawasan saya juga merasakan begitu," katanya ketawa, sambil mendedahkan bahawa Benazir adalah orang yang memperkenalkan beliau kepada politik pada 1997.

"Benazir Bhutto adalah inspirasi kepada kami semua. Apa yang ada pada saya hari ini kerana perjuangan beliau," kata anggota Parti Rakyat Pakistan, sebuah parti politik sosialis Islam berhaluan kiri di Pakistan yang mencapai kejayaan cemerlang pada pilihan raya negara itu 18 Feb lepas.

Pada masa ini, 75 daripada 342 wakil dalam Dewan Kebangsaan Pakistan adalah wanita. Pakistan adalah negara Islam kedua terbesar selepas Indonesia.

Abdullah Nafi Dakwaan Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR, 7 Ogos (Bernama) -- Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi hari ini menafikan bahawa beliau mengarahkan supaya penasihat Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dihadapkan ke mahkamah Khamis.

"Bagaimana saya boleh berkeras supaya dia didakwa. Jika tiada bukti, polis bukan bodoh hanya kerana si polan itu atau si polan ini mungkin berkata dakwa. Dan saya bukanlah orangnya yang meminta orang itu didakwa.

"Ini adalah isu undang-undang, seseorang itu yang berasa perlu keadilan, dia membuat laporan polis. Oleh itu, polis bertanggungjawab untuk menjalankan siasatan," katanya kepada pemberita selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat Dewan Tertinggi Barisan Nasional di sini, Rabu.

"Apa yang saya kata adalah jika anda mempunyai sesuatu untuk mendakwa, jika mempunyai bukti untuk mendakwa, kamu dakwa. Jika tiada, gugurkan (dakwaan). Itu yang saya kata", katanya.

Abdullah berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas dakwaan Anwar bahawa keputusan kerajaan mendakwa dia di mahkamah adalah satu usaha untuk mengalih tumpuan ramai daripada krisis keyakinan yang dihadapi Perdana Menteri.

Abdullah berkata polis berhak untuk menyiasat dan ia terpulang kepada mereka untuk memutuskan bentuk tindakan berdasarkan daripada siasatan yang dijalankan.

"Jika mereka fikir mereka mempunyai cukup bukti untuk mendakwa, mereka perlu mendakwa kerana jangan lupa orang lain yang nampaknya dilupakan, Saiful. Anda fikir Anwar itu lebih penting," katanya.

Abdullah berkata jika polis tidak mempunyai bukti, baru mereka perlu menggugurkan dakwaan dan keseluruhan siasatan itu.

"Jika mereka mempunyai bukti untuk mendakwa, anda tidak boleh menghalang mereka daripada berbuat demikian," katanya.

Menyentuh tindakan pihak polis mendakwa Anwar sebaik sahaja Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) mengumumkan tarikh pilihan raya kecil Permatang Pauh hari ini sebagai satu unsur sabotaj untuk menghalang Anwar bertanding pada pilihan raya kecil itu, Abdullah berkata perkara terbabit adalah dua perkara yang berbeza.

Beliau berkata sekiranya tarikh pilihan raya kecil Parlimen Permatang Pauh tidak diumumkan oleh SPR hari ini, pelbagai persoalan juga tetap akan timbul mengenai dakwaan kes terbabit.

Katanya, siasatan tuduhan liwat Anwar telah dilakukan lebih awal daripada tarikh perletakan jawatan Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail sebagai Anggota Parlimen Permatang Pauh.

"Ada orang kata mungkin perletakan jawatan Wan Azizah sebagai satu helah supaya mudah-mudahan Anwar tidak dibawa ke mahkamah. Ada juga yang bercakap macam tu.

"Cerita-cerita begini tak pernah satu versi. Cerita ini sekurang-kurangnya dua versi. Kadang-kadang tiga, empat, lima, sepuluh versi. Begitulah selalunya ditambah dengan ratusan cakap-cakap yang keluar daripada blog dan khabar angin," katanya.