Malaysia wants Anwar sodomy case concluded quickly

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (Reuters) - Malaysian authorities should wrap up their investigations into an allegation of sodomy against opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim as soon as possible, the home minister said on Monday.

Police have not pressed charges against Anwar since the allegation surfaced last month, raising questions about a case that has stoked political tensions and unsettled foreign investors.

"I always believe that in any criminal investigation, the earlier you wrap up the better it would be," Home (Interior) Minister Syed Hamid Albar, who oversees the police, told Reuters in an interview. "(Otherwise), there will be all sorts of unnecessary rumors."

But he declined to comment on a blogger's posting alleging that a private doctor found no evidence of Anwar's aide being sodomized.

"You cannot have a trial before a trial and a trial in the media and the Internet. I think that is not a very healthy position."

Anwar, 60, has dismissed the claim that he sodomized his former male aide as a political conspiracy to thwart his plans to lead the opposition into power for the first time in Malaysian history.

Sodomy is a crime punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment in Malaysia. The claim mirrors events in 1998, when his political ambitions were halted by a jail term for sodomy and corruption.

Syed Hamid strongly dismissed talk of a government conspiracy and said the country's security situation was under control and foreign investors should not be worried.

"I don't buy this conspiracy theory," he said at his office in the nation's administrative capital. "This is just simply a question of justice and fairness."

"To me, if you take off the face and the name, it's another criminal investigation."

Anwar is leading a loose alliance of three opposition parties to try to seize power from Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's government by mid-September.

His attempt to oust the government comes after the ruling National Front coalition, in power since independence from Britain in 1957, suffered its worst electoral setback in a March general election.

The United States and human rights groups have expressed concern over Anwar's case, with Washington insisting that transparency and rule of law must be followed in the case.

New York-based Human Rights Watch has said the allegation against Anwar "lacked credibility."

Syed Hamid, a long-time foreign minister before he was promoted to home minister in March, met foreign diplomats in Kuala Lumpur last week and warned them against meddling in Malaysia's affairs.

In an interview published in the Wall Street Journal on Monday, Anwar said he would continue to speak up despite the government intimidation.

"There's a lot of intimidation, a lot of efforts to derail this. If I choose to surrender, keep quiet, then it would adversely affect the process."

He called the allegation "unfortunate", but "a sign that the system is crumbling".

(Reporting by Liau Y-Sing and Jalil Hamid; Editing by Bill Tarrant)

Khak Ptuih!!! Amik Kau DNA Aku!!!

TP - tu...yang kaler merah tu aku komen skali ngan soklan aku...

PETALING JAYA: Timbalan Menteri Kesihatan Datuk Dr Abdul Latif ketika dihubungi menyifatkan, laporan Malaysiakini yang mendakwa ada laporan perubatan tiada kesan liwat ke atas Saiful berniat jahat bagi memberi gambaran tidak berlakunya perbuatan liwat.

“Laporan ini mempunyai unsur mala fide. Apa juga bentuk laporan sama ada kesan calar ada atau tidak, tiada siapa boleh buat kesimpulan liwat tidak berlaku selagi perkara berkenaan tidak dibicarakan di mahkamah,” katanya.( abis tu doktor tu apa la pulak fungsi dia??? lenkali kalau demam tak leh jumpa doktor la...kene pi mahkamah la biaq mahkamah putuskan hang demam ke tak...BANGANG nye menteri..! )

Lagi pun jelasnya, prosedur pemeriksaan juga mestilah mengikut prosedur siasatan sekiranya ia melibatkan aduan jenayah.

Menurut Dr Latif, jika benar ada laporan doktor mengenai isu liwat berkenaan disebarkan, Saiful sebagai pesakit boleh membuat aduan kepada Majlis Perubatan Malaysia.

"Jika benar, doktor berkenaan boleh disabitkan kesalahan boleh dikenakan tindakan di bawah Akta Perubatan 1971. Ini kerana katanya, doktor mempunyai sumpah kerahsiaan dengan pesakit," jelasnya lagi.

Tambah beliau, mengikut etika tiada doktor boleh mendedahkan laporan pesakit kecuali laporan berkenaan mempunyai kaitan dengan siasatan jenayah dan dibawa ke mahkamah.( abis tu yang dok geger geger siasat ni bukan pasal jenayah ke??? BANGANG nye menteri..! )

Katanya lagi, beliau berkata, jika laporan pesakit segaja didedahkan "itu adalah di luar tabie."

Sebelum ini, laman berita Malaysiakini dalam laporannya hari ini mendakwa telah memperolehi laporan dua muka surat oleh seorang doktor yang memeriksa Saiful Bukhari Azlan yang menyatakan tidak terdapat kesan liwat seperti yang didakwa.

Laporan hospital Pusrawi itu yang dikatakan telah tersebar luas memetik laporan seorang doktor, Mohd Osman Abdul Hamid yang melakukan pemeriksaan ke atas Saiful yang dikatakan telah pergi ke hospital itu terlebih dahulu sebelum menjalani pemeriksaan di Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL).

Sebelum ini, Saiful dalam laporan polisnya mendakwa telah diliwat oleh Penasihat Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Namun, sumber terdekat dengan rapat dengan Saiful Bukhari mempertikaikan kesahihan dokumen yang dikatakan sebagai laporan perubatan yang menyebut tiada kesan liwat terhadap Saiful.

Kata sumber itu, berdasarkan kertas yang diedarkan itu, itu bukan laporan perubatan sebaliknya hanya berupa catatan.

"Jika ia laporan perubatan, ia mestilah dalam format tertentu yang ditetapkan dan ada prosedur tertentu yang mesti dipenuhi oleh seorang doktor sebelum laporan berkenaan boleh diterima dan dibentangkan di mahkamah," kata sumber itu.( format kejadahnye??? aku banyak kali dah pi jumpa doktor...bini aku dah 3 kali dah beranak gini la laporannya...kejadah format-format??? ko ingat ni surat nak mintak tanah ke??? BANGANG nye menteri..! )

Tambahan

TP -Bila la menteri-menteri LEMBU ni nak mampus??? hidup buat sakit kepala otak rakyat je!!!

khak Ptuih!!! amik kau DNA aku!

Mahfuz: Maaf atas keterlanjuran

dikemaskini
PAS bulan lalu menafikan wujudnya rundingan PAS-Umno kerana mereka yang terlibat dalam pertemuan sulit itu tidak memaklumkan kepada jawatankuasa pusat parti itu, kata ketua penerangannya Mahfuz Omar hari ini.

"Ia (penafian) adalah kesalahan beberapa individu yang gagal memberikan maklumat sebenar kepada pimpinan PAS," katanya dalam satu surat terbuka memohon maaf kepada ahli dan penyokong parti itu.

"Tindakan mereka merahsiakan perkara-perkara tertentu berkaitan pertemuan dengan Umno telah menyebabkan pimpinan PAS mengambil pendirian bahawa tiada pertemuan dan rundingan antara PAS dengan Umno."

Hasil maklumat yang tidak lengkap itu, PAS mengarahkan Mahfuz mengeluarkan kenyataan menafikan pertemuan dua parti itu pada 10 Jun.

Dalam kenyataan panjang lapan perenggan, Mahfuz memohon maaf selepas dianggap "membohongi" ahli dan penyokong PAS sehingga menerima kritikan banyak pihak.

"Saya sedar kesilapan yang telah saya lakukan apabila mengumumkan tiada sebarang pertemuan dan rundingan antara kedua-dua parti.

"Saya menerima banyak teguran dan kritikan di atas 'pembohongan' ini daripada ahli-ahli dan penyokong PAS baik yang Islam atau yang bukan Islam serta rakan-rakan daripada Pakatan Rakyat," katanya.

Beliau menambah: "Oleh kerana tindakan beberapa individu atas nama PAS tanpa pengetahuan jawatankuasa kerja PAS pusat dan tidak pula memaklumkan tindakan mereka secara terperinci kepada parti, maka PAS mengarahkan saya membuat kenyataan menafikan adanya pertemuan dan rundingan tersebut.

"Ia adalah salah faham akibat adanya maklumat yang disembunyikan daripada pengetahuan jawatankuasa kerja PAS pusat."

Kenyataannya bulan lepas "bukanlah atas sifat peribadi" tetapi dibuat "atas kapasiti sebagai ketua penerangan PAS berdasarkan keputusan parti yang mengarahkan beliau berbuat demikian."


Berikut kenyataan penuh "permohonan maaf" Mahfuz, yang juga ahli parlimen Pokok Sena:

Kepada,
Semua ahli, penyokong dan pengundi PAS.

Pertamanya marilah kita bersyukur kepada Allah di atas segala nikmatnya. Saya menuliskan surat terbuka ini adalah dengan tujuan untuk memohon maaf kepada semua ahli dan penyokong PAS di atas kenyataan saya baru-baru ini yang menafikan wujudnya sebarang pertemuan dan rundingan antara PAS dengan Umno. Saya memohon berbanyak kemaafan di atas keterlanjuran ini.

Sebenarnya kenyataan yang saya buat sebelum ini bukanlah atas sifat peribadi saya, tetapi dibuat atas kapasiti sebagai ketua penerangan PAS berdasarkan keputusan parti yang mengarahkan saya berbuat demikian.

Saya tidak menyalahkan pimpinan PAS yang mengarahkan saya berbuat demikian, tetapi ia adalah kesalahan beberapa individu yang gagal memberikan maklumat sebenar kepada pimpinan PAS.

Tindakan mereka merahsiakan perkara-perkara tertentu berkaitan pertemuan dengan Umno telah menyebabkan pimpinan PAS mengambil pendirian bahawa tiada pertemuan dan rundingan antara PAS dengan Umno.

Saya berharap individu terbabit dapat tampil ke hadapan membuat penjelasan kepada ahli-ahli dan penyokong PAS tentang pertemuan berkenaan termasuk butir-butir perbincangan seperti yang didedahkan oleh presiden Umno baru-baru ini.

Mereka juga harus bertanggungjawab secara khusus dalam masalah ini kerana tindakan peribadi mereka.

Saya sendiri amat terkejut dengan pendedahan tersebut yang sama sekali bertentangan dengan kenyataan saya sebelum ini. Ia kemudian disahkan oleh Presiden PAS.

Lebih memeranjatkan lagi apabila "muzakarah" tentang kepentingan Islam dan ketuanan Melayu yang didedahkan oleh presiden Umno telah bertukar menjadi rundingan untuk membawa PAS menyertai kerjasama politik dengan Umno/BN.

Sebelum ini kami sendiri tidak dimaklumkan tentang apa yang didedahkan oleh Umno ini, bahkan kami diberitahu tiada sebarang pertemuan dan rundingan rasmi antara kedua-dua parti.

Apabila bekas menteri besar Selangor, Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo turut mendedahkan adanya rundingan khas selama empat hari berturut-turut selepas pilihanraya baru-baru ini, saya berpandangan ia adalah tindakan peribadi individu tertentu tanpa melibatkan sebarang keputusan parti.

Kerana itu, saya tidak mempunyai sebarang maklumat berkaitan rundingan yang disebut oleh Dr Mohamad Khir itu.

Saya berharap individu yang terbabit ini turut membuat penjelasan kepada ahli-ahli dan mengambil tanggungjawab di atas apa yang berlaku.

Atau saya meminta Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo yang mengaku turut terlibat dalam pertemuan di antara perdana menteri dan beberapa pimpinan PAS agar dapat memperincikan butir-butir pertemuan tersebut supaya kita dapat sama-sama mengetahuinya.

Oleh kerana tindakan beberapa individu atas nama PAS tanpa pengetahuan jawatankuasa kerja PAS pusat dan tidak pula memaklumkan tindakan mereka secara terperinci kepada parti, maka PAS mengarahkan saya membuat kenyataan menafikan adanya pertemuan dan rundingan tersebut.

Ia adalah salah faham akibat adanya maklumat yang disembunyikan daripada pengetahuan jawatankuasa kerja PAS pusat.

Saya sedar kesilapan yang telah saya lakukan apabila mengumumkan tiada sebarang pertemuan dan rundingan antara kedua-dua parti.

Saya menerima banyak teguran dan kritikan di atas "pembohongan" ini daripada ahli-ahli dan penyokong PAS baik yang Islam atau yang bukan Islam serta rakan-rakan daripada Pakatan Rakyat.

Kerana itu, dengan hati yang terbuka saya ingin memohon maaf di atas kesilapan yang saya tidak sengajakan itu.

Saya juga ingin mengucapkan terima kasih kepada seorang profesor universiti tempatan yang telah mengingatkan bahawa "jika kita lupakan sejarah, sejarah akan mendera kita".

Saya amat sedar tentang hakikat sejarah berkaitan kerjasama PAS-Umno yang telahpun saya sebutkan dalam kolum saya di Harakah pada minggu lepas.

Saya mengakui bahawa sejarah tidak pernah berulang, sebaliknya yang berulang ialah kesilapan manusia.

Saya menyeru pimpinan PAS supaya jujur kepada ahli-ahli dan penyokong parti serta berusaha memperkukuhkan pakatan politik sedia ada.

Saya mengajak ahli-ahli PAS memerhatikan hakikat sejarah yang ada supaya kesilapan itu tidak berulang.

Akhirnya, sekali lagi saya memanjatkan jutaan kemaafan kepada semua ahli dan penyokong PAS di atas ketelanjuran yang berlaku.

Saya bersedia untuk menerima apa sahaja teguran dan kritikan membina untuk kebaikan bersama dan saya juga rela dihukum oleh ahli-ahli di atas kesilapan yang tidak sengaja saya lakukan ini.

Maafkanlah saya.

Sekian, wassalam.

Hj Mahfuz Hj Omar
Ketua Penerangan PAS Pusat

-malaysiakini

PKR mahu doktor dilindungi

Setiausaha agung PKR menggesa keselamatan seorang doktor yang pernah memeriksa Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, yang mendakwa diliwat Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, dilindungi oleh polis.

Datuk Salehuddin Hashim berkata parti itu berasa gusar dengan dakwaan polis telah menyiasat Dr Mohamed Osman Abdul Hamid dan kini beliau dan keluarganya "sedang bersembunyi."

"Semua jaminan mestilah diberikan untuk menjaga keselamatan dan memberikan perlindungan kepadanya," kata Salehuddin.

Beliau juga mendakwa pendedahan laporan pemeriksaan terhadap pemuda 23 tahun itu menambahkan keyakinan PKR bahawa dakwaan terhadap penasihat parti itu "tanpa asas dan berniat politik."

"Kewujudan laporan perubatan ini mengikis lagi keyakinan orang ramai terhadap kewibawaan laporan polis yang dibuat (oleh Mohd Saiful) terhadap Anwar, satu laporan yang hingga kini kekal penuh kerahsiaan," katanya.

"Kenapa laporan perubatan ini hanya muncul hari ini, sebulan selepas dakwaan itu dibuat, selepas Anwar terpaksa bermalam di lokap, dan selepas polis menghabiskan banyak masa dan wang menyiasat kes ini"

-malaysiakini

MENGELABAH, BERZAKAR DAN BERZAKAR -LAH - Hishamuddin Rais

Hari ini telah terbukti semakin ramai rakyat menolak konsep Ketuanan Melayu tetapi tunggul-tunggulnya masih ada. Pelik tetapi benar tunggul-tunggul baru Ketuanan Melayu telah muncul kebelakangan ini. Kali ini bukan datang dari batang tubuh gerombolan United Malays National Organisation - tetapi dari gerombolan kecil – satu kumpulan yang selalu bertempik-tempik mengajukan dasar agama yang tidak memandang kaum, bangsa dan ras. Sewajibnya agama tidak betuankan Melayu tetap bertuankan Tuhan. Inilah yang menjadi pelik tetapi benar.

Gerombolan kecil yang selalu bertempik-tempik di atas dasar agama ini telah berkhutubah ke hulu ke hilir mengatakan agama yang mereka anuti adalah sejagat. Tup tup – apabila dicakar kulitnya maka keluarlah agama barunya yang bernama Ketuanan Melayu. Maka keluarlah retorik ajaran agama ini – untuk perpaduan bangsa dan khutubah-khutubah untuk menjaga keMelayuan dari terhakis. Inilah menjadi lebih pelik dan hampir tidak dipercayai kerana yang yang mejadi juru dongengnya ialah seorang yang amat keras pegangan agamanya.Sehinggakan sanggup pasa satu ketika dahulu ‘mengkafirunkan’ sesiapa sahaja yang tidak berpayung di bawah ketiaknya. Pelik tetapi benar.

Pelik ini bertambah pelik kerana pada awalnya juru dongeng gerombolan kecil ini telah menafikan yang mereka sedang berbincang untuk membuat satu ‘geng baru’ dengan gerombolan United Malays National Organisation. Manafikan sahaja tidak cukup. Juru dongeng gerombolan kecil ini ingin menyaman sesiapa yang cuba ‘menuduh’ mereka sedang bersubahat dengan gerombolan United Malays National Organisation. Hebat. Memang hebat. Malah juru dongeng ini menanggap semua cerita-cerita berzakar ini adalah ‘al-fitnah wal fitnah’.

Wah wah bukan main hebat kenyataan juru dongeng ini. Tup tup bila kain lunginya terbarai kelihatan seluar dalamnya koyak lagi masam lagi haprak. Ternyata apa yang dianggap ‘fitnah’ itu ialah benar – tidak lain dan tidak bukan ialah benar semata-mata. Ke mana hendak disurukkan seluar dalam yang koyak itu? Hanya mereka sahajalah yang dapat mencari sanad dan nas nya. Ini kerana dalam hal mencari-cari sanad dan nas ini mereka memiliki ketrampilan.

Apakah penafian awal dari juru dongeng itu satu pembohongan? Pasti ada nas dan sanad yang bolih mereka cari untuk menunjukkan ada bohong kecil, bohong besar, bohong wajib, bohong sunat dan bohong politik. Dalam kes ini, mengikut nas saya bohong ini adalah bohong yang bohong, tidak besar dan tidak kecil. Bohong adalah bohong.

Siakap senohong

Gelama ikan duri

Pandai cakap bohong

Bolih jadi menteri.

Kalau bukan bohong kenapa pada awalnya ada keinginan untuk menyaman tetapi tidak jadi? Pelik tetapi benar.

Terbukti tunggul-tunggul Ketuanan Mekayu ini masih bersepah-sepah lagi. Mereka datang dalam pelbagai bentuk. Penjaja utama yang menelurkan konsep Ketuanan Melayu ini ialah gerombolan United Malays National Organisation. Gerombolan ini telah lebih 50 tahun menjadi tuan. Hasil darinya, mereka hidup bersenang lenang merampok hasil negara untuk kroni dan suku sakat. Jadi kita tidak hairan jika mereka terus ingin menjadi tunggul – pergi tersepak pulang terlanggar – untuk mempertahankan Ketuanan Melayu.

Yang menjadi pelik tetapi benar ini ialah munculnya tunggul-tunggul baru yang hendak menumpang semangkuk ? Ini menjadi pelik.

Di samping ini ada juga macha-macha dan kumpulan-kumpulan kecil yang turut sama menyokong apa yang mereka tafsirkan sebagai – mu – zakar - rah. Macha-macha dan kumpulan ini mengangkat-angkat tangan dan kaki menyokong muzakar ini. Sebenarnya mereka ini telah mendapat serpihan ekonomi dari gerombolan United Malays National Organisation. Atau mereka diwujudkan sebagai anak syarikat gerombolan United Malays National Organisation. Ada juga diantara kumpulan-kumpulan kecil ini yang memakai jubah kumpulan belia hijau yang berjenamakan agama. Kumpulan dan macha-macha kumpulan belia hijau ini tidak seharusnya menghairankan kita semua. Ini perjuangan macha untuk cari makan.

Untuk kita semua memahami apa yang telah di muzakarkan dan apa yang telah di zakarahkan kita wajib memahami politik hari ini. Gerombolan United Malays National Organisation sedang nazak. Dari luar rakyat telah menolak mereka. Dari dalaman mereka sedang beramuk sesama sendiri untuk merebut ghanimah – harta rompakan perang. Inilah yang menjadi latar timbulnya muzakar dan zakarrah.

Gerombolan kecil yang muncul menjadi tunggul baru Ketuanan Melayu ini sebenarnya bukan orang jahat walau pun mereka membuat kerja-kerja jahat. Ada diantara mereka orang baik. Ada yang memiliki latar belakang agama yang baik. Tetapi baik sahaja tidak mencukupi dalam politik hari ini. Mereka ini gagal memahami apa makna politik. Mereka juga tidak memahami ekonomi sebagai asas politik. Mereka tidak memahami dinamika ekonomi kapitalis yang tidak memiliki agama dan tidak memiliki bangsa.

Ekonomi kapitalis bertuhankan keuntungan maksima.Cita-cita ekonomi kapitalis ialah untuk membolot semua punca-punca ekonomi. Punca ekonomi ialah bahan mentah, tanah dan tenaga buruh. Tidak wujud ketuanan Melayu atau ketuanan Cina atau ketuanan Melanau dalam sistem ekonomi kapitalis. Justeru, Pepsi Cola yang dijual di negara Arab itu adalah sama sahaja dengan yang dijual di Amerika walau pun dalam ejaan Jawi. Tujuan nya sama - untuk mencari untung.

Jika masih ada lagi tunggul-tunggul yang menjadi pengikut mazhab Ketuanan Melayu ini maka sahih yang mereka tidak memahami struktur sistem ekonomi kapitalis yang wujud dalam negara kita ini.

Ketuanan Melayu ini adalah satu konsep bayangan, satu ajenda politik yang digunakan olih gerombolan United Malays National Organisation untuk mencari sokongan orang Melayu. Jika ada Tuan maka pasti akan ada Hamba Abdi. Ketuanan Melayu ertinya akan ada yang menjadi hamba abdi kepada Melayu. Tidak mungkin orang Cina atau India, Kadazan atau sesiapa sahaja hendak menjadi hamba kepada Melayu. Malah orang Melayu sendiri pun tidak mahu menjadi hamba kepada sesiapa pun.

Justeru, lawan terhadap Ketuanan Melayu ialah Ketuanan Rakyat - politik, pemikiran, falsafah baru yang telah dicadangkan oleh Pakatan Rakyat. Ketuanan Rakyat ini bemakna kita warga di negara ini semua adalah sama tetapi tidak serupa. Kita sama sederajat walau pun kita tidak serupa agama, budaya, bahasa ibunda. Inilah falsafah yang diajukan melalui konsep Ketuanan Rakyat. Ketuanan Rakyat akan mementingkan rakyat dahulu bukan mementingkan keuntungan maksima. Rakyat itu iah kita semua – bukan orang Melayu sahaja.

Kenapakah bagitu susah hendak difahami konsep dan falsafah Ketuanan Rakyat ini ? Apa masalah untuk memahaminya? Ketuanan Rakyat ini selari dengan konsep semua agama; kecuali jika ada agama yang mengakui agama mereka mengatasi yang lain, atau agama mereka sahaja yang betul. Justeru Ketuanan Rakyat mengkukuhkan nilai baik sangka antara sesama manusia. Kitab-kitab suci, ajaran-ajaran nabi dan ahli-ahli falsafah semuanya mengajukan kesaksamaan antara manusia dengan manusia tanpa mengira bangsa atau agama.

Untuk tunggul-tunggul baru yang cuba bangun dengan Ketuanan Melayu ini rasa saya mereka harus menilai kembali asas kefahaman politik mereka. Mereka wajib melihat arus politik 2008 dimana rakyat keseluruhan telah menolak konsep dan propaganda Ketuanan Melayu dari gerombolan United Malays National Organisation.

Sesiapa pun bolih bebas untuk menjadi tunggul. Yang hendak bermuzakar ke arah mana pun biarkan mereka bermuzakar. Yang hendak mengelabah biarkan mengelabah. Politik baru Ketuanan Rakyat tetap akan akan muncul kerana ini hukum sejarah. Seperti kata datuk nenek moyang kita – pergi tersepak pulang terlanggar - seratus jong masuk anjing tetap bercawat ekor. END

(MUTAKHIR] Wan Azizah: Hubungan masih mantap, PAS tetap kekal dalam Pakatan Rakyat

(Mutakhir) PETALING JAYA: Presiden Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Datin Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail yakin keanggotaan Pas bersama Pakatan Rakyat akan terus kekal dan mantap.

“Hubungan kami (PKR, Pas dan DAP) masih baik dan akan terus baik seperti biasa,” kata beliau kepada mStar Online untuk mendapatkan ulasan mengenai tanda-tanda keretakan yang wujud dalam Pakatan Rakyat apabila Pengerusi Kebangsaan DAP, Karpal Singh mempersoalkan keanggotaan Pas bersama Pakatan Rakyat.

Ditanya mengenai cadangan yang dikemukakan Mursyidul Am Pas, Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat mengenai pembubaran Pas dan Umno bagi membentuk sebuah parti baru, beliau berkata, perkara itu mungkin hanya cadangan bagi mencari jalan penyelesaian terhadap masalah orang Melayu.

“Mungkin beliau (Nik Aziz) cuba selesaikan masalah. Namun saya belum mendapat penjelasan lanjut mengenai cadangan yang dikemukakan itu.

“Kita perlu dengar dulu penjelasan Pas. Buat masa ini saya tak boleh beri komen lanjut,” katanya.

Beliau turut ditanya sama ada ketiga-tiga komponen Pakatan Rakyat akan mengadakan perbincangan lanjut mengenai isu ini, beliau berkata “soalan itu kena tanya Ketua Umum (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim).”

Dr. Wan Azizah bagaimanapun menyifatkan Umno sengaja membesar-besarkan isu ini kerana parti itu sememangnya mengamalkan budaya politik perkauman.

“Umno mengamalkan politik perkauman, namun Pakatan Rakyat adalah berteraskan keadilan untuk pelbagai kaum dan etnik di Malaysia,” katanya.

-mSTAR Online

Press Release: Saiful's medical report

Very troubling reports have been published, which reveal the existence of a medical report of an examination done by a doctor on Mohd Saiful Bukhari bin Azlan a few hours before Saiful lodged a police report that he had been sodomised. The medical report apparently shows that there is no evidence that he had been sodomised by anyone.

Such reports raise some very serious questions that require immediate answers:

(1) Are the police in possession of such a medical report?

(2) Was the doctor concerned interviewed by the police and was he detained for any length of time?

(3) Is the doctor concerned facing any form of intimidation and if so, by whom?

(4) Is there a medical report by another doctor that either confirms or contradicts the first medical report?

(5) If it is true that the medical report exists showing a lack of prima facie evidence, what then could have been the justification for the vigorous actions taken against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as well as the public call by the authorities for his DNA sample?

The answers to these questions are of paramount importance, as they bring into focus the integrity of our law enforcement system.

These latest disclosures regarding the investigations into the sodomy allegations are not the only ones to raise questions that need answering. There is, for example, also the issue of P. Balasubramaniam’s abrupt “disappearance” that has yet to be satisfactorily explained. No one can deny that the circumstances of his first and second statutory declarations are highly unusual. All these show a pattern of events that cause much disquiet to right-thinking members of the public.

The Malaysian people are deeply troubled. A country that truly believes in the rule of law should not be faced with so many disturbing developments and unanswered questions.

The credibility of the Malaysian justice system as a whole is therefore at stake. The integrity of professionals, be they doctors or lawyers, must never be interfered with. The public must be left in no doubt that the criminal justice system in this country will not be misused or abused. There must be nothing less than an open and thorough investigation into these cases. This calls for the courage and professionalism of all those involved to do the right thing no matter the consequences. And those who have shown such courage and integrity must know that they live in a country where it is safe to do so.

Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan
President
Malaysian Bar

-TMB

South African judge becomes UN Commissioner of Human Rights

WHEN former South African president Nelson Mandela was languishing in prison, he had no access to a lawyer.

The officer commanding Robben Island Prison did not allow Mr Mandela or the other prisoners to seek legal advice.

In stepped a woman lawyer.

Mrs Navanethem Pillay was then the first non-white to open her own law firm in the Natal province.

She had by then won victories for prisoners of apartheid, including her husband, and was a champion for women's rights.

In 1973, she took on the might of the Robben Island's prison authorities and won Mr Mandela and his fellow political prisoners access to lawyers.

Her legal battle also exposed the appalling conditions actually prevailing on Robben Island at the time.

Such activities did not go down well with the government.

She was for many years denied a passport. She was also on a list compiled by the Bureau of State Security which ranked her along with Archbishop Desmond Tutu as a serious risk to the apartheid regime.

But Judge Pillay's actions also caught the eye of the UN. On Friday, the 67-year-old, who has a Harvard law degree, was named the new UN High Commissioner of Human Rights.

She will succeed Ms Louise Arbour of Canada who completed her five-year term on 30Jun.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had told the General Assembly his intention to appoint Judge Pillay, who has served since 2003 as a judge on the International Criminal Court in TheHague.

It has not been an easy route to success for the South African woman of Tamil descent.

As a member of a minority from an impoverished Indian neighbourhood in apartheid-era South Africa, the colour of her skin long kept her from becoming a judge, reported the Los Angeles Times.

For years, even though she was a lawyer, she could not even sign a contract without her husband's consent.

But Mr Mandela, who had come to know her during her visits to Robben Island prison, named her in 1995, after he became president, as the first non-white for the country's High Court.

'Judges were all white and male,' Judge Pillay said in a telephone interview from South Africa.

'The first time I entered a judge's chambers was when I entered my own.'

Though some question whether she can abandon her studied impartiality to become an activist for the world's oppressed, she says she has learned to discount the doubters.

'When you are appointed to a public position in the public glare, all people see is that there is someone new who is different from the norm, and wonder is she really able to do this job.'

She said a lifetime of facing injustice has made her sensitive to victims.

HUMBLE BACKGROUND

Her impoverished community collected money to pay for her university tuition, said the daughter of a bus driver, and planted in her the determination to give something back.

She made a name for herself in South Africa as a lawyer defending abused women and opponents of the apartheid regime.

Judge Pillay said she is ready to stand up against violators in instances where it would be impolitic for UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon to speak out.

For example, on a recent visit to Myanmar to ensure aid for cyclone victims, Mr Ban declined to call for the release of democracy leader Aung San SuuKyi.

'The high commissioner must be the fearless and consistent voice for the rule of law, justice, peace and human rights,' she said.

'I think it can only complement the secretary-general's position to have someone fairly independent and vocal speaking on these issues. He is in a more difficult position. People have different styles, but they still get things done.'

On the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, she presided over landmark cases in international law that established mass rape as a form of genocide, convicted a former head of government for crimes against humanity and prosecuted media for inciting genocide.

She also co-founded Equality Now, a New York-based international women's rights organization.

Before she was nominated as UN Commissioner, US diplomats made it clear to the UN Secretary General that she was not their first choice. They were concerned about her management skills and positions on abortion rights.

With the announcement of the nomination delayed four days after it was expected, UN corridors buzzed with questions of whether it had been derailed.

But the timing was just a matter of checking with member states and human rights groups, UN spokesman Marie Okabe said.

-The New Paper, Singapore

BN panel meets on Aug 6 to decide SAPP’s fate

KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 — The Barisan Nasional management committee will meet on Aug 6 to decide the affiliation of the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), which has openly said it does not support Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's leadership and would move or support a no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister.

The tiny Chinese-dominated Sabah party, which has two MPs, has also yet to reply to a show-cause letter which expires tomorrow, BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor told reporters today.

"We will discuss the matter in the management committee meeting on Aug 6," Tengku Adnan said, adding the BN supreme council will make the final decision on SAPP's membership in the 14-party ruling coalition. The coalition can either give a warning, suspend or sack the party, which also provides a deputy chief minister in Sabah.

BN sent the show-cause letter on June 30 and SAPP acknowledged receipt the day after but Tengku Adnan said there has been no further communication with the party, which has said it will not quit the BN.

SAPP president Datuk Yong Teck Lee gave an eight-point declaration to back its no-confidence vote against Abdullah in a party decision made on June 18. Its two lawmakers anti-climatically failed to turn up in Parliament on June 24 to initiate or support the no-confidence proposal. The party also failed early this month to make its move when the Dewan Rakuat Speaker rejected an opposition motion of no confidence as it did not carry a vote.

The former Sabah chief minister is expected to brief party members and the public about the party's decision later today at the party headquarters in Luyang, Kota Kinabalu. Yong has previously admitted that he met opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Hong Kong to discuss issues but denied any move to cross over to the Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

Anwar has claimed that MPs from Sabah and Sarawak will join the Pakatan Rakyat to form the federal government by Sept 16 if he can also get into Parliament. He declared last night he was aiming for the Kulim Bandar Baharu seat if an election court calls for a by-election in an election petition decision next month.

The Pakatan Rakyat's three parties won a historic 82 seats in the 222-seat Parliament, denying BN its traditional two-thirds parliamentary majority and also winning control of four more states apart from Kelantan.

-TMI

Leaked medical report vindicates Anwar, says PKR

KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 - Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's supporters say a leaked medical report that state his accuser was not sodomised backs his claim of innocence, as his legal team meets to discuss their next course of action in the allegations, which mirror a similar chain of events a decade ago that cost him a chance to be prime minister.

Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin's claimed that Dr Mohamed Osman Abdul Hamid from Hospital Pusrawi found no signs that Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan had any injuries consistent with sodomy in a June 28 medical report. Saiful had lodged a report on that day that Anwar had sodomised him two days earlier and on other occasions when they travelled together abroad.

PKR secretary-general Salehuddin Hashim said the leaked medical report confirms the party's stand that the allegations against their de facto party chief are "without merit and politically motivated". He added that it further erodes public onfidence in the police investigations into this case.

"Why has this medical report has surfaced only today, over one month after the allegations were made, after Anwar spent a night in jail, and after the police have spent so much time and money on this case?" Salehuddin asked in a press statement issued this evening.

"There should be a complete disclosure of the "facts" of this case to the public. Anything less will further diminish the public's trust in the institutions of governance and in particular the integrity of the office of the Inspector-General of the Police," he added.

He also noted the reports that Dr Mohamed Osman had been interrogated by the police for three days and that as a result, the doctor and his family have since gone into hiding. "Every assurance must be given for his safety and protection," Salehuddin said.

Anwar lawyer Sankara Nair told The Malaysian Insider that the legal team will discuss the latest developments while the MalaysiaKini news portal reported that Hospital Pusrawi is keeping silent on the matter. According to the medical report from the hospital, Dr Mohamed Osman had told Saiful to go to a government hospital for a second opinion,

PKR released the medical report to the media after it first appeared in the Malaysia Today news portal.

When contacted, Raja Petra stood by what he wrote and specifically confirmed that Saiful showed no signs of being sodomised in the medical report, Dr Osman had been detained by the police and asked to change the findings of his report and is now in hiding with his family.

He declined to comment on whether he had personally met with Dr Osman, saying that whatever was written in Malaysia Today was all he was ready to reveal at this point.

-TMI

Umno gagal gugat Pakatan Rakyat - Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR, 28 Julai (Hrkh) - Ketua Umum Parti Keadilan Rakyat (KeADILan), Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim menegaskan, bahawa Umno gagal menggugat muafakat dalama Pakatan Rakyat.

"Semalam di Bandar Tun Razak dan malam ini di Kulim saya memperakui kenyataan sebenar bersabit isu pembentukan Kerajaan Negeri Selangor selesai Pilihan Raya Umum ke-12, 8 Mac lalu.

"Saban hari saya berhubungan terus dengan pimpinan PAS khususnya Dato' Seri Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang dan juga pimpinan DAP. KeADILan, PAS dan DAP tidak berganjak dari ketetapan memperkukuh muafakat Pakatan Rakyat," katanya.

Anwar berkata demikian hari ini dalam satu ulasannya mengenai isu kerjasama Pakatan Rakyat dalam keadaan Umno cuba memecahbelahkan pakatan tersebut.

Justeru itu ujar beliau, Pakatan Rakyat harus waspada dengan muslihat Umno, termasuk dakwaan bekas Menteri Besar Selangor, Dato' Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo yang menyelar beliau sebagai penghalang utama ke arah pembentukan kerajaan PAS-Umno di Selangor.

"Ternyata Umno terdesak lemas lantaran pergelutan dalaman dan kegagalan mengatasi kemelut politik dan kegawatan ekonomi," tegas Anwar.

Perlu dijelaskan bahawa sehingga kini beliau tidak dapat mengesan sebarang langkah atau kenyataan dari pimpinan ketiga parti induk Pakatan Rakyat yang boleh ditafsirkan sebagai keretakan, katanya.

"Malah dalam perbualan telefon saya pagi Ahad (27 Julai) dengan Ustaz Hadi Awang, saya singkap perundingan di antara kami dan DAP tatkala memutuskan cadangan perlantikan Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim selaku Menteri Besar Selangor," ujar Anwar lagi.

Ketika itu Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi menghubunginya, Anwar menolak desas desus dan menegaskan bahawa beliau telah pun mengirim faks mengesahkan keputusan PAS menyokong pencalonan Tan Sri Khalid.

Justeru Anwar mengulangi kenyataannya bahawa kerjasama dalam Pakatan Rakyat sehingga kini tidak menunjukkan sebarang keretakan, malah Umno sebenarnya gagal menggugat pakatan. _

Wakil BN terkejut p'gulungan Lim

Wakil-wakil BN terkejut dengan perubahan yang diambil oleh ketua menteri Pulau Pinang apabila mendahului sesi penggulungan dalam sidang Dewan Undangan Negeri hari ini.

Tindakan Lim Guan Eng itu menarik perhatian ketua pembangkang, Datuk Azhar Ibrahim (BN-Penaga) yang menganggap amalan itu "luar biasa" kerana pada sesi-sesi penggulungan kerajaan sebelumnya didahului oleh anggota-anggota exco.

"Saya minta penjelasan daripada yang amat berhormat ketua menteri dengan perubahan amalan ini kerana saya terkejut sebab biasanya sesi penggulungan akan dimulakan oleh exco manakala ketua menteri selalunya mengambil giliran terakhir," katanya ketika Lim baru memulakan ucapan penggulungan pagi tadi.

Menurut Bernama, Lim berkata perubahan itu tertakluk kepada keputusan kerajaan negeri.

"Mungkin ketua pembangkang tidak biasa dengan amalan ini kerana ada negeri yang ketua menteri atau menteri besar jawab untuk semua," katanya.

Semasa penggulungan Lim itu, Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahya (BN-Teluk Bahang) membangkitkan kenyataan yang dianggapnya negatif oleh ketua pegawai eksekutif InvestPenang, Datuk Lee Kah Choon, mengenai keadaan pelaburan di negeri itu.

Menurut wakil rakyat itu, kenyataan Lee memberi gambaran bahawa negeri itu berdepan dengan krisis pelaburan dari dalam dan luar negara.

Beliau mencadangkan, Lee memberi kenyataan positif mengenai iklim pelaburan Pulau Pinang bersesuaian dengan kedudukannya dalam InvestPenang dan tidak membangkitkan perkara negatif.

Lee, dulunya timbalan setiausaha agung Gerakan, menimbulkan kegemparan apabila menerima tawaran kerajaan negeri pimpinan DAP untuk memegang jawatan itu - beliau kemudian dipecat daripada Gerakan.

-malaysiakini

Doktor: Tiada kesan Saiful diliwat

Tiada bukti Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, yang mengadu diliwat Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, pernah mengalami hubungan seks luar tabie seperti itu - demikian hasil pemeriksaan seorang doktor di sebuah hospital swasta, kira-kira empat jam sebelum membuat laporan polis sebulan lalu.

Menurut salinan laporan perubatan terhadap bekas pembantu Anwar itu, Mohd Saiful ke Hospital Pusrawi mengadu mengalami "tenesmus" - kesukaran dan kesakitan membuang air besar.

Dipercayai pemuda 23 tahun itu mendapatkan rawatan di hospital di Jalan Tun Razak itu kira-kira jam 2 petang pada 28 Jun sebelum diminta ke sebuah hospital kerajaan dan kemudian membuat laporan polis.

Ketika di Hospital Pusrawi, pemuda itu diperiksa oleh Dr Mohamed Osman Abdul Hamid.

Dalam laporannya itu, doktor tersebut menyatakan pesakit itu mendakwa diserang dengan dijolok bahan "plastik" di bahagian duburnya.

Mohamed Osman, seperti tercatat dalam laporannya yang direkodkan pada jam 2.14 petang, mendapati dubur Mohd Saiful "tidak mengalami pendarahan aktif", "tiada kesan ulser atau nanah", dan "tiada kesan koyak atau calar".

Beliau juga menyatakan pemuda itu kelihatan "jaga", "selesa", "tidak pucat" dan tidak menunjukkan sebarang tanda demam. Berita asal

-malaysiakini

Ezam teringin cabar Anwar di Kulim

TP - Ni statement paling BANGANG pernah aku baca...korang baca tang aku hilite kuning tu...BANGANG...

Bekas pemimpin kanan PKR Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor bersedia bertanding di kerusi parlimen Kulim-Bandar Baharu menentang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dalam pilihanraya kecil.

Bagaimanapun, beliau mengakui peluang sebagai calon BN menang adalah tipis kerana faktor-faktor politik dan ekonomi negara ketika ini.( TP - dah tau peluang tipis yang ngko nak lawan jugak tu pasai apa??? BANGANG budak lembu pawah nih!!! )

"Saya adalah underdog tetapi yang penting, saya berani mencabarnya secara habis-habisan,"( TP - hang bukan "underdog"...sebenarnya hang memang "DOG"! ) katanya ketika diminta mengulas kenyataan Anwar bahawa beliau akan bertanding di kerusi tersebut jika kemenangan PKR dalam pilihanraya umum 8 Mac diisytiharkan tidak sah.

Mahkamah akan mendengar petisyen pilihanraya calon BN Datuk Abdul Aziz Sheikh Fadzir bulan depan.

Dalam ceramahnya di Kulim malam tadi, ketua umum PKR menyatakan kesediaan beliau untuk bertanding setelah penyandangnya Zulkifli Nordin menawarkan kerusi berkenaan kepada beliau.

"Jika tidak ada aral melintang,dalam masa terdekat ini saya akan umumkan untuk bertanding di Kulim-Bandar Baharu ini.

"Terima kasih kepada Zulkifli yang menawarkan kawasan ini," kata Anwar di hadapan 10,000 yang hadir.

Pada pilihanraya lepas, Zulkifli memenangi dengan majoriti 5,583 – beliau memperolehi 22,255 manakala Aziz pula sebanyak 16,672.

Kulim Bandar Baharu mempunyai 67.93% pemilih Melayu, 21.13% Cina dan 11.48% India daripada jumlah keseluruhan 51,444 orang.

Bagaimanapun, Mohamad Ezam berkata pucuk pimpinan Umno akan menentukan sama ada beliau bertanding di kerusi itu atau seorang calon yang lain.

"Jika parti mahukan saya bertanding, saya sedia menerima dan mencabar Anwar di kawasan tersebut.

Mohamad Ezam, yang juga bekas pemimpin angkatan muda PKR berkata, ramai pemimpin parti pembangkang itu di peringkat bahagian dan negeri kembali ke pangkuan Umno tidak lagi.

"Saya telah menerima panggilan dari pemimpin berkenaan yang kebanyakannya dari Sabah, Selangor dan Perak untuk kembali semula ke Umno," katanya.

Mengenai hubungannya dengan pemimpin PKR, Mohamad Ezam berkata, masih ada yang masih bersahabat dengannya.

Mengenai Anwar, Ezam berkata beliau akan mendedahkan rahsia bekas timbalan perdana menteri itu apabila tiba masanya.

"Ketika ini saya tidak mahu mendedahkannya kerana ia membabitkan maruah Anwar dan keluarga.

"Anwar dan Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail tahu mengenai rahsia tersebut, sebab itu beliau mendiamkan diri apabila saya mencabarnya," katanya Iagi.

-malaysiakini

Malaysian shares end morning higher on Wall St lead, rate decision - UPDATE

KUALA LUMPUR (Thomson Financial) - Malaysian shares were higher at midday on Monday as investors were encouraged by gains on Wall Street and by the local central bank's decision to keep interest rates unchanged.

Bargain hunting in plantation stocks lifted the key index.

Wall Street advanced on Friday as firmer-than-expected economic data eased worries about the credit crunch and its impact on the U.S. economy.

Malaysia's Bank Negara kept the overnight policy rate (OPR) at 3.50 percent on Friday, saying raising interest rates would not solve the problem of rising prices, and that slowing growth would eventually correct inflation going forward.

'The decision by Bank Negara to leave the OPR unchanged has been well received, leading the market higher,'' said Phua Kwee Hock, an analyst at SJ Securities. 'The KLCI remains very much on an uptrend.''

'The current improved sentiment as evidenced by the expanding volume, could lead the local market to stage a sustainable recovery if volatility on Wall Street can be kept in check,'' analysts at MIMB Investment Bank said in a note.

The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) was up 13.26 points or 1.2 percent at 1,155.01.

The FTSE Bursa Malaysia 30-large cap index gained 83.87 points or 1.1 percent to 7,448.35, while the FTSE Bursa Malaysia second board index added 33.21 points or 0.6 percent to 5,452.12.

Advancers led decliners 367 to 115, with 162 stocks unchanged and 718 untraded.

Volume was 440 million shares valued at 454 million ringgit.

Cellular operator Digi.com topped gainers, jumping 2.5 percent to 24.50 ringgit while stock exchange operator Bursa Malaysia advanced 3.6 percent to 7.15 ringgit.

Among plantation stocks, midcap Glenealy Plantations surged 13.0 percent to 5.20 ringgit while IOI Corp was up 2.7 percent to 5.65 ringgit and Sime Darby was unchanged at 8.0 ringgit.

National power company Tenaga rose 3.1 percent to 8.35 ringgit, Telekom Malaysia gained 2.9 percent to 3.56 ringgit and Maybank, the largest bank in Malaysia, was flat at 7.55 ringgit.

The ringgit stood at 3.2660/2665 to the U.S. dollar at midday.

-TFN

No evidence that Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan

TIADA KESAN TUSUKAN PADA DUBUR SAIFUL BUKHARI

There is no evidence that Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan was sodomised, according to the doctor who examined him four hours before he lodged a police report alleging he was sexually assaulted
leader Anwar Ibrahim.

It is believed that Anwar's former aide Saiful (left) went to see two different hospitals on June 28 - the day he lodged the police report claiming that he was sodomised by his ex-boss.

He first went to the Hospital Pusrawi (Pusat Rawatan Islam) in Jalan Tun Razak, a government-linked Islamic medical institution, at about 2pm.

According to a copy of the medical report obtained by malaysiakini yesterday, Saiful went to the hospital complaining of tenesmus - a medical term for difficulty and pain in passing motion.

He was examined by Dr Mohamed Osman Abdul Hamid, the medical officer on duty.

The doctor said that the patient had alleged he was assaulted by the intrusion of a piece of "plastic" in the anus.

Mohamed Osman, according to his medical report which was recorded at 2.14pm, found "zero active bleeding", "zero ulcer or pus", "zero tear and scar" in Saiful's anus.

He also stated that Saiful appeared "alert", "comfortable", "not pale" and did not show any fever symptoms.

A senior Pusrawi official told malaysiakini this morning that the hospital had launched an internal investigation on how Saiful's medical report was leaked.

When malaysiakini showed him a copy of the report, he refused to return it saying, "It's our document."

A check at the emergency unit where Mohamed Osman is attached revealed that he has taken leave since last week.

Meanwhile, Pusrawi general manager Wan Mahmood Wan Yaacob refused to comment on the matter.

Conflicting medical reports

Mohamed Osman, in his report's concluding remarks, advised Saiful to go to a government hospital so as "to rule out" assault and sodomy.

At 6pm on that day, Saiful went to Hospital Kuala Lumpur for his second medical examination. He subsequently lodged a report against Anwar at the police beat stationed at the hospital.

According to an expert who have dealt with rape and sodomy cases, the victim must provide a second medical examination in a government hospital.

She said the court will only accept evidence from a government hospital but the first medical examination must collaborate with the second report, otherwise this could be challenged during the trial.

"From the report, the doctor had failed to find any evidence to support the patient's complaint. That was why he asked the patient to go to a government hospital to conclusively rule out assault or sodomy," said the expert who requested anonymity.

It is learnt that the police have recorded statements from Mohamed Osman after Saiful had lodged the report against Anwar.

The doctor was said to be under tremendous stress as a result of the police interrogation and was advised by the hospital to take leave.

Mohamed Osman, a Burmese Muslim, has 20 years of experience as a doctor. He previously worked in government hospitals before joining Pusrawi about a year ago.

Suspects nabbed over RM1.07m maintenance bill for Proton Perdana cars

PETALING JAYA: The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) has arrested three car workshop owners and seized eight of the 16 Proton Perdana V6 Executive cars owned by the Terengganu Government.

ACA enforcement director Datuk Shukri Abdull said one of the suspects was arrested on Friday and the other two on Saturday in connection with the RM1.07mil maintenance bill for the cars.

He said the men, aged between 30 and 50, have been remanded for four days since yesterday under the Anti-Corruption Act 1967 to assist in investigations.

“Investigations are still ongoing and we require more information to complete investigations,” he said.

Shukri also did not rule out the possibility more people would be arrested over the matter.

He said 10 people have been called up by his agency to give their statements.

“We won’t hesitate to call anyone. If investigations show any involvement by a state exco member or top government officials, then they will be called up as well to give their statements,” he said.

The real thing: Proton Holdings Bhd managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed with a genuine Proton Perdana gearbox during a press conference Sunday. He said unauthorised service centres using non-genuine parts led to the high cost of maintenance of the cars in Terengganu. – RAYMOND OOI / The Star

On July 22, the Terengganu Mentri Besar’s office revealed in a statement that the state government had been spending too much money since 2004 on the maintenance of the Proton Perdana used by state exco members.

Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said said that the state had bought 14 Mercedes Benz E200 Kompressor cars at RM3.43mil to replace the Proton Perdanas in a move to “cut costs”.

Last Wednesday, ACA officers visited the State Secretariat and State Treasury at Wisma Darul Iman in Kuala Terengganu to question senior officials and four drivers over the issue.

The officers removed several documents, including the servicing bills of the Proton Perdanas.

Related Stories:
Proton suspends Terengganu dealer over discrepancies
Seizure of cars forces exco men to use Mercs

-The Star Online

Sistem kenaikan pangkat PDRM diubah daripada temuduga kepada kursus

KUALA LUMPUR 28 Julai — Sistem kenaikan pangkat Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) akan diubah daripada kaedah temuduga kepada kursus bagi menentukan ia dibuat berdasarkan prestasi keseluruhan dan mereka yang benar-benar layak, kata Ketua Polis Negara Tan Sri Musa Hassan.

Beliau berkata kertas cadangan bagi mengubah sistem kenaikan pangkat itu telah dihantar kepada Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) pada akhir tahun lepas dan PDRM sedang menunggu kelulusan JPA.

“Kita akan wujudkan kursus-kursus kenaikan pangkat daripada anggota rendah sampailah kepada pegawai kanan.

“Dengan cara ini kita boleh uji kebolehan mereka daripada segi kepimpinan, pengucapan awam dan lain-lain lagi,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas Majlis Penyampaian Surat Ucapan Tahniah Kepada Lima Pegawai Kanan PDRM yang telah dinaikkan pangkat di sini hari ini.

Lima pegawai kanan itu ialah Timbalan Pengarah Siasatan Jenayah 1 Datuk Morza Zazarene, Ketua Polis Pahang Datuk Robiah Abdul Ghani, Timbalan Pengarah (1) (Gerakan), Jabatan Keselamatan Dalam Negeri dan Ketenteraman Awam Datuk Abdul Rahman Hussin, Ketua Polis Pulau Pinang Datuk Ayub Yaakob dan Ketua Polis Melaka SAC1 Mazlan Mansor.

Katanya penilai kursus kenaikan pangkat itu bukan sahaja terdiri daripada kalangan pegawai PDRM tetapi juga para pegawai JPA.

Musa berkata kaedah temuduga yang dijalankan sebelum ini tidak dapat menilai keseluruhan kebolehan pegawai dan anggota, yang mana pemilihan berdasarkan “dicadangkan” oleh ketua dan pegawai mereka.

“Kaedah sebelum ini, hanya bergantung pada yang dicadangkan daripada ketua dan pegawai mereka, tetapi kita tak uji lagi bagaimana kepimpinan mereka dan sebagainya. Mungkin dia bagus hanya dalam sesetengah perkara sahaja.

“Jika nak naikkan pangkat seseorang kena lihat menyeluruh daripada segi kepimpinan dan perwatakan. Ini kerana apabila seseorang dinaikkan pangkat orang bawah akan pandangnya sebagai pemimpin,” katanya.

Mengulas lanjut mengenai kursus kenaikan pangkat itu, Musa berkata mereka harus lulus dalam peperiksaan yang ditetapkan sebelum mengikuti kursus tersebut yang akan mengambil masa kira-kira dua minggu.

“Dengan cara ini juga saya mengharapkan akan lebih ramai lagi yang akan dinaikkan pangkat tidak kira sama ada di peringkat bawahan atau pegawai. Malah mereka yang pernah diambil tindakan disiplin juga boleh layak mengikuti kursus tersebut asalkan mereka telah habis hukuman serta lulus peperiksaan yang ditetapkan,” katanya.

Beliau berkata dalam proses kenaikan pangkat baru-baru ini, seramai 6,815 orang telah dinaikkan pangkat yang melibatkan 139 pegawai kanan dan 6,676 anggota peringkat rendah.

Musa berkata beliau sentiasa memastikan proses kenaikan pangkat berlaku dengan adil dan tidak dipengaruhi unsur-unsur tidak bertanggungjawab.

“Saya tidak pernah membeza-bezakan seseorang itu sama ada daripada segi agama, keturunan dan jantina.

“Malah kenaikan pangkat Datuk Robiah yang menjadi pegawai kanan wanita pertama menjawat jawatan Ketua Polis Negeri adalah contoh terbaik PDRM sentiasa mengiktiraf sesiapa sahaja pegawai yang berwibawa tanpa mengira jantina,” katanya.

Beliau berkata tidak mustahil juga pegawai kanan wanita yang kini semakin ramai membarisi kepimpinan PDRM akan dilantik menjadi pengarah atau suatu masa nanti dilantik menjadi Timbalan Ketua Polis Negara atau Ketua Polis Negara.

-UM Online

TP - Gambar hiasan

Malaysians caught working illegally in Australia

MELBOURNE, Sat - Four illegal workers — three Malaysians and a Singaporean — located during an immigration operation at Penola in South Australia will be removed as soon as possible, Immigration Minister Senator Chris Evans said.

The woman and two men from Malaysia no longer had valid visas for Australia while the Singaporean had her visa cancelled for working illegally. They had originally arrived in Australia on valid visas.

They had been working illegally in a farm and were caught after a tip-off.

“All will be transferred to the Maribyrnong Immigration Detention Centre in Melbourne and now face removal from Australia,” Evans said.

Employers convicted of employing illegal workers face fines of up to A$13,200 and two years’ imprisonment while companies face fines of up to A$66,000 per illegal worker.

-NST Online

Pedal power rides to the fore

Cyclists taking part in a riding campaign in George Town to show that pedal power is one way to fight the recent petrol price hike. — NST picture by GS Narinder Singh

GEORGE TOWN: The bicycle is back in vogue in Penang, and for good reason.

Two thousand cyclists rode in a 12km bicycle ride organised by the Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) yesterday to show that pedal power was one answer to the recent petrol price hike.

They took 45 minutes to cycle down Lebuh Pantai, Lebuh Chulia, Jalan Penang, Jalan Burma, Jalan Anson, Jalan Perak, Jalan Macalister, Lebuhraya Peel, Jalan Pangkor, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Lebuh Farquhar, Lebuh Light and back to Lebuh Downing where they had been flagged off.

CAP president S.M. Mohamed Idris who flagged off the ride at Bangunan Tuanku Syed Putra said the state government should create bicycle lanes along roads.

He also urged the state government to provide free bicycles to civil servants who wanted to cycle to work.
"Penang is a suitable place for cycling as most destinations are reachable by bicycles. The bicycle can help consumers save on transport costs," he added.

Mohamed Idris said the bicycle was cheap to maintain and was a healthy way of travelling.

"With this campaign and hopefully more to come, we hope to create a network of bicycle lovers throughout Malaysia to demonstrate the use of the bicycle as a transport solution," he added.

He said Malaysians had to reduce their dependence on motorised transport to reduce carbon emission and combat climate change.

Mohamed Idris also urged the Federal Government to declare on a Saturday a National Cycling Day to promote cycling.

Among the cyclists were retired teacher Tan Tiang Tat, 60, his daughter-in-law Lum Pek Yok, 38, and grandchildren Lim Shian Ying, 11, and Lim Shian Weei, 9.

"Yesterday, we practised hard at the playground at Sungai Nibong," said Tan.

"Today's event is well organised and we enjoyed ourselves," he added.

Meanwhile, Safiah Ibrahim, 49, came with 10 other friends -- eight women and two men -- from Bukit Mertajam to take part in the campaign.

"We hired a lorry to transport our bicycles while we drove here in two cars," she said.

Safiah said she was part of an all-women cycling group.

They cycle three or four times a week around Tasek Gelugor, Ara Kuda and Sungai Dua on the mainland.

They had no trouble finishing yesterday's ride as they are used to cycling more than 12km on their regular trips.

Since 2006, CAP has organised six bicycle campaigns in Penang, Alor Star, Ipoh, UUM campus and Kangar.

-NST Online

Sarawak’s 12 dam projects exempted due to Court of Appeal ruling

PETALING JAYA: The construction of 12 dams in Sarawak does not need to undergo Federal environment impact assessment (EIA) requirements due to a Court of Appeal ruling 11 years ago.

The ruling, pertaining to the Bakun dam project, said the Sarawak Government had jurisdiction over land matters and hence the Environmental Quality Act did not apply in the state.

Centre for Environmental Technology and Development Malaysia chairman Gurmit Singh said this meant the dam projects would follow the state’s environment regulations and could bypass federal laws.

“According to the state’s regulations, EIAs on such projects do not need to be scrutinised by the public,” he pointed out.

Gurmit said that if NGOs or affected stakeholders were to ask for EIAs under such circumstances, it would be pointless.

“It is just like a window dressing. How could we help without knowing what is inside or what the recommendations are?” he asked.

Universiti Malaya Centre of Excellence for Biodiversity Law director Prof Gurdial Singh Nijar, who fought the Bakun case on behalf of the indigenous people, said the ruling had indeed set a precedent.

“What this means is that it is a permissible legal route - the state government can take the same route in executing the projects.”

Prof Gurdial and Gurmit were both responding to the plan to build 12 hydroelectric dams in Sarawak that will push the total generating capacity in the state to 7,000MW by 2020 – an increase of 600% from the current capacity.

The dams will be located at Ulu Air, Metjawah, Belaga, Baleh, Belepeh, Lawas, Tutoh, Limbang, Baram, Murum and Linau rivers. The plan will also see an extension to the Batang Ai dam.

Gurmit added that apart from the legislation problem, the concept of EIAs as a whole needed to be re-looked to ensure that it was done independently.

-TMB

Nik Aziz to push for united Muslim party at Pas muktamar

KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 — After rejecting a muzakarah (dialogue) with Umno, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat surprised everyone over the weekend by asking Umno and Pas to dissolve and pave the way for a united Muslim party.

To prove his seriousness, the Pas spiritual leader will bring up the proposal at the Pas muktamar (annual meeting) in Ipoh next month.

"The muktamar will give me an opportunity to present my case," the Kelantan menteri besar told reporters in Kota Baru yesterday. Nik Aziz has been vehemently opposed to the idea of Pas leaders discussing political matters including cooperation with their Umno counterparts.

His counter proposal to the dialogue with Umno has put both parties on the defensive. Party leaders mostly from Umno have described the idea as unsuitable. Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said both parties should place priority on resolving their differences on Malay and Muslim unity.

Pas vice-president Mohamad Sabu called on his party leadership and members to stay calm and avoid making statements that could affect party unity. He believed that the priority for Pas was to strengthen its cooperation with Parti Keadilan Rakyat and DAP within the framework of the opposition's Pakatan Rakyat.

DAP chairman Karpal Singh, who has doubted Pas's credibility, wanted Pakatan to consider whether the Islamist party should be allowed to continue its membership in the loose coalition.

Former PKR strongman Ezam Mohd Nor, who has rejoined Umno, said it was yet another proof that Pakatan would not survive long due to their ideological differences. He claimed that those parties were duped by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who had his own personal agenda to become prime minister.

The Anwar factor has allegedly pushed certain Pas top leaders to have secret talks with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi immediately after the March 8 general election. The Islamist leaders feared that Islam and Malay unity could be eroded under Anwar's perceived liberal leadership.

Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang however insisted that Pas would remain committed to Pakatan despite the partners' different ideologies.

-TMI

ANWAR AKAN DIHADAPKAN KE MAHKAMAH DAN TIDAK DIBENARKAN IKAT JAMIN - SAIFUDIN NASUTION

Pelbagai usaha akan dilakukan oleh pihak tertentu untuk mengagalkan usaha Anwar untuk kembali ke parlimen dan akhirnya membentuk kerajaan pusat yang baru menjelang 16 September ini.

Usaha pertama ialah menuduh beliau meliwat Saiful Bukhari Azlan dengan menjadi Saiful sebagai pelakon utamanya.

"Tuduhan liwat merupakan usaha untuk menggagalkan perancangan Pakatan Rakyat untuk merampas kerajaan pusat".

"Kalau diibaratkan keretapi Butterworth ke Kuala Lumpur, keretapi kita sudah sampai ke Rawang dan tergelicir sedikit dari landasan, maka sudah tentu ia memakan masa untuk diperbaiki" .

"Saya yakin keretapi kita akan sampai ke Kuala Lumpur dan Pakatan Rakyat akan menjadi kerajaan baru menggantikan Barisan Nasional" kata Saifudin ketika berceramah di Dataran Pejabat PAS Bukit Katil malam tadi.

Menurutnya Umno dan Barisan Nasional cukup takut kalau-kalau Anwar dapat memasuki Parlimen sebab itulah pelbagai usaha dirancang untuk menghalang beliau.

Jadi usaha terakhir mereka untuk menghalang kemaraan Anwar dan Pakatan Rakyat ialah menghadapkan Anwar ke mahkamah dan hakim akan membuat keputusan tidak membenarkan Anwar diikat jamin.

"Kita kena ingat bahawa hakim adalah hakim politik, Peguam negara adalah lantikan politik, ini terbukti apabila perkara sama berlaku dalam kes liwat tahun 1998 dahulu" kata Saifuddin yang merupakan Ahli Parlimen Machang dan Perancang Strategi PKR.

Ceramah beliau tersebut mendapat sambutan yang diluar dugaan apabila orang melimpah sehingga keluar dataran Pejabat PAS Bukit Katil.

-MMUTA LIGAT

Ezam Marah Dah..! No way Anwar can make it, claims Ezam

Ezam at this morning’s press conference. On the right is Sapto.

PETALING JAYA, July 28 — There is no way Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim can become Prime Minister by Sept 16.

He doesn't even have the number of Barisan Nasional MPs crossing over, said Anwar's former protégé Ezam Mohd Nor, who left Parti Keadilan Rakyat to rejoin Umno last May.

"Setting Sept 16 for his so-called takeover of the government is just a diversion. It's not even serious," said Ezam, who meets Umno grassroots as well as fence sitters all over the country every week to expose what he really thinks of Anwar now.

"Look at (DAP chairman) Karpal Singh's statement alleging Pas of not being true to Pakatan Rakyat's struggle. There is a serious problem within the opposition.

"The cracks appeared long before, immediately after the March 8 election. What Anwar is doing is just trying to keep these parties of differing ideologies together so that he can achieve his personal dream, to become the prime minister," the former PKR Youth chief told reporters this morning.

Claiming that Anwar's aim was just a wild imagination, Ezam said he had asked his former mentor to just name those from the BN who were willing to cross over to the other side.

"Even if he wants to protect these MPs, just let me know from which states they hail from and from which parties. That's all. But Anwar has been silent on this," he added.

Last week, Anwar announced the entry of former Umno leaders from Pahang and Kedah including ex-Kuantan Umno division leader Datuk Fauzi Abdul Rahman, who was a deputy minister during Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's administration.

Nusantara entrepreneurs (from left) Imam Nur Aziz, Ezam, Sapto and Yon Mahmudi at this morning’s press conference.

When asked, Ezam said he was willing to contest against Anwar in any by-election if the Umno leadership would agreed to the move.

Anwar had announced yesterday that he would contest the Kulim Bandar Baharu by-election if the election court next month calls for one.

Despite joining Umno, the party's supreme council has ruled that Ezam was not eligible to contest for any post in the party elections this December.

Dividing his time between ceramahs in kampungs and his business in Indonesia, Ezam has decided to spend more time in Jakarta in his newly found vocation.

"Don't worry I'm not leaving politics. Just expanding my role in the region."

He is co-chairman of the Jakarta-based Nusantara Foundation aimed at forging closer relations between young entrepreneurs of Malaysia and Indonesia.

His Indonesian co-chairman Sapto Waluyo affirmed that Ezam's role would enhance relations between the two sides, as both of them have had experience in exposing corruption as well as promoting good governance.

-TMI

Royals start to flex their muscles

KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 — Malaysia’s deepening political crisis has tossed up an unexpected player — the country's usually passive royalty.

Over the past year, Malaysia's royal households have started to flex their muscles and, in the process, scored rare successes in pushing their demands with the government on issues ranging from the appointment of judges to the selection of menteris besar after the country's general election in early March.

Now, analysts and constitutional lawyers believe that the country's nine Malay sultans, who make up the Conference of Rulers, could determine the outcome of Malaysia's deepening political crisis, which has stoked murmurings of a possible snap election and also the possibility that a state of emergency could be declared.

That is because the limited powers the country's Rulers enjoy under the Constitution will determine the cause of action Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's government can take to hold on to power, lawyers and analysts say.

Consider the following:

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong must give his consent should the government decide to dissolve Parliament and hold fresh elections to stave off any attempt by the opposition to form the government.

Should Malaysia's political situation worsen to the point that the government decides to declare a state of emergency, the King must sign off on the plan.

Above all, the King is the commander-in-chief of the country's armed forces. In a situation of a military takeover, he will become the most powerful person in Malaysia.

"For the first time since independence, the country's Malay Rulers are being pressed to exercise powers that they previously never had to," said Tommy Thomas, one of Malaysia's most senior constitutional lawyers.

All of this is because of Malaysia's unstable politics.

The outcome of the March general election has pushed the country into uncharted political terrain.

The ruling Barisan Nasional's loss of its two-thirds majority in Parliament and control of five state assemblies to an opposition alliance led by former Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has seen the Abdullah administration lurching from one political crisis to another.

Many political analysts say that the country's political log-jam is what is prompting the country's Malay Rulers to play a more forceful role in politics through their public pronouncements and actions.

Last week, the urbane Regent of Perak, Raja Nazrin Shah, told a gathering of public servants that the country's Malay Rulers were not symbolic monuments, and that their views should be taken seriously.

"Rulers have a wider responsibility to ensure that the spirit of the Constitution, the philosophy behind every law and the bigger interest of the country and its people are always understood and protected," Raja Nazrin told his audience.

He added that when the advice given to Rulers contradicted the spirit of the Constitution, the chiefs of the royal households should not feel pressured to give their assent.

Many politicians and analysts say that comments by Raja Nazrin, who represents the largely new independent thinking among the Rulers, were clearly in reference to Malaysia's political despair, and they were intended to send a clear message that the Malay sultans were prepared to act independently in the event of a political face-off.

Malaysia's hereditary Rulers have long held a special role in Malaysian society.

They symbolise the special status of the country's Malay majority and are charged with protecting the Islamic faith and the community's customs.

Under the previous administration of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia's hereditary Rulers played largely traditional roles and were treated as rubber stamps for administrative decisions.

The Rulers were also not popular because they were often portrayed by the Mahathir administration as an institution that was more interested in feathering its own nest than safeguarding the rights of the country's Malays.

But the image of the country's Malay Rulers has changed dramatically in recent years, largely because of the higher profile roles played by Raja Nazrin and Malaysia's current King, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin from Terengganu, who have spoken openly about governance and combating ills such as corruption and narrowing the country's growing racial divide.

Sultan Mizan, in particular, has not shied away from exercising his constitutional clout.

Shortly after the general election, the King refused to reappoint Datuk Seri Idris Jusuh, the Umno candidate favoured by the Abdullah administration, as Terengganu menteri besar.

The government was forced to appoint little-known Datuk Ahmad Said to avert a looming political crisis.

Sultan Mizan also led a campaign by his brother Rulers to help restore credibility in the country's judiciary when he steadfastly refused to accept the government's candidates for two top judicial positions.

In the end, the government was forced to agree to the candidates favoured by the Rulers.

"The King has shown independent thinking," said a senior Umno minister, who asked not to be named.

"Things can go either way, in favour of the government or the opposition."

-TMI