‘Overly liberal’ economic model worries Malay groups

Worries about an impending “overly liberal” New Economic Model has prompted nearly 80 Malay groups to form the Malay Consultative Council (MPM) to push the government to maintain affirmative action for the country’s dominant race.

A Malay leader revealed that the MPM wants the Umno-led Barisan Nasional government to maintain a “guided” New Economic Policy (NEP) that protects the Malays and Bumiputras, saying the community was worried about moves to abolish subsidies and other forms of aid.

“We don’t want an economic model that is overly free or overly liberal... we want a model that can lead the interests of the Malays,” the leader told The Malaysian Insider on condition of anonymity after attending the MPM launch in the Sultan Sulaiman Club yesterday.

The Malaysian Insider understands that the MPM is disappointed with the government for not having comprehensive discussions with Malay groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) about the New Economic Model (NEM), to be launched next month in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1 Malaysia concept and global economic trends.

There were also several Malay NGO leaders who felt the current problems are due to a weak government that was meeting the demands of other races in the economic sector. Najib had freed 27 economic sub-sectors from mandatory Bumiputra participation last year and also reduced quotas for Bumiputra equity in initial public share offers.

The MPM felt that Malay political leaders themselves are sidelining Malay interests, the leader said without identifying these politicians.

It is understood that while MPM was formed to defend and protect Malay rights and Islam, it will initially focus on the economy.

Among the prime movers in MPM are Perkasa, ex-Umno lawmakers council Mubarak, Peninsula Malay Students Confederation (GPMS), Malay Professional Thinkers Association and Cuepacs.

The MPM will organise a round-table conference for its members on Mar 7 to discuss the future economic direction of the Malays and an introduction to the NEM which Najib had promised would lead to higher income based on innovation and creativity.

“Yesterday’s meeting was focused on protecting Malay interest in the economy, we don’t want the Malays to continue being sidelined by open economic policies.

“To ensure that the NEM has affirmative approaches to help the Malays and Bumiputras because we hear this element is missing in the new model ... this was the emphasis by the NGOs supporting the MPM,” he added.

The leader said a majority of NGOs in the MPM had disclosed that Malays and Bumiputras feel their position was threatened as the country’s economy is still being controlled by minority groups.

Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali yesterday said MPM’s role is to protect and be the frontline against quarters that continuously try to undermine the rights, privileges and economy of the Malays, position of Islam and Malay Rulers in the country.

He said the MPM will play its role as a pressure group to the government to ensure it does not stray from the core principles in the Federal Constitution, particularly Article 153 that protects the Malays.

Earlier this month when opening the 1 Malaysia Economic Conference, the prime minister had asked local industries to accept changes that are occurring without expecting much protection from the government.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, is battling to reduce deficits and steer the economy out of the recession.

He announced last week that the country’s economy grew 4.5 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2009 with overall growth shrinking 1.7 per cent against earlier gloomier estimates of 3 per cent.

However, the Najib administration is also battling to keep the economy afloat as foreign direct investments continue to fall.

International Trade and Industry deputy minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir promised last week that the NEM would make appropriate concessions for the Bumiputras in line with previous policies, including the NEP.

He admitted to have received visits from NGOs representing various industries and sectors who had expressed worry that the NEM would be too open and reduce opportunities for Bumiputera entrepreneurs and businessmen.

Mukhriz said that the government would give the appropriate consideration for all quarters in its policies.

news courtesy of Malaysian Insider

Stay away from beaches, Sabahans warned

Coastal residents in southern Sabah have been advised to stay away from the beaches as there are likely to be rough sea conditions and rising sea level, starting from noon and lasting until 6pm today.

The Meteorological Department warning is due to the huge magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck central Chile yesterday, triggering tsunami waves that spread across the Pacific ocean, affecting places as far away as Mexico, Tahiti, Hawaii, Tonga, Samoa Islands and New Zealand. – Bernama

Najib’s 1 Malaysia means total acceptance of diversity

Datuk Seri Najib Razak today attempted to revive his battered 1 Malaysia concept by urging Malaysians to adopt its paradigm of “total acceptance” of the country’s diversity instead of mere “tolerance”.

The Prime Minister launched his 1 Malaysia idea when he took office last April but a recent spate of racial and derogatory remarks from his Umno party has further divided rather than united Malaysian behind his Barisan Nasional government.

“We started off with one basic paradigm and that is tolerance. The next paradigm is a shift from tolerance to total acceptance. This is when we accept the differences of our people, when we accept diversity as something that is unique,” Najib said at the Sin Chew Daily’s Chinese New Year open house here.

He added that the third and final paradigm of 1 Malaysia was to celebrate diversity.

“To celebrate diversity – that is our final destination. Then we can achieve ‘Bangsa Malaysia’ and 1 Malaysia,” the Umno president said.

Najib added that certain groups may embark on separate pathways but what was important was that all Malaysians converged and reached the same final destination.

“I am sure we all share this same dream – to achieve unity, harmony and prosperity – but we may take different paths to get there. Sin Chew may take a different path, Utusan Malaysia may take a different path but what is important is that we must converge and reach that final destination.

“Of course we much allow discourse and room for dissent and differences of opinion but we must ensure that it is not at the expense of harmony,” he said.

Najib’s remarks came after nearly 80 Malay groups formed the Majlis Perundingan Melayu or Malay Consultative Council (MPM), ostensibly to protect and defend Malay rights, Islam and the Malay Rulers which they claim is being questioned and sidelined in recent months.

A Malay group leader said the MPM will focus on the economic rights and privileges of the Malays and Bumiputeras to ensure they are not neglected in the New Economic Model (NEM) that the Najib Administration will introduce next month to stimulate the economy.

Najib had said innovation and creativity is needed to push Malaysia into a high-income nation, adding protection and subsidies will have to give way to greater competition in a global world. Malay groups warn that such a move will shrink their share of the economic pie which they claim is dominated by minority groups.

Malaysia recorded 4.5 per cent growth in the fourth quarter of 2009 which helped it out of the recession although the 2009 GDP contracted 1.7 per cent, less than than the 3 per cent contraction forecast earlier.

news courtesy of Malaysian Insider

Ministry studying policy to enhance culture

The Information Communication and Culture Ministry plans to draw up a policy that will enhance or commercialise the country's arts and culture.

Its minister, Rais Yatim said the policy, to be presented to the cabinet for approval, would highlight the various aspects of he industry.

"We are studying the creative industry more closely and the ministry, with the cooperation of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and the Ministry of Education, will look closely at how we have to develop the creative industry to meet the commercial needs and requirement of our own arts and culture.

"The aspects that we are studying are, firstly the type of guidance that we should give; secondly, the incentives that must be studied more closely; and thirdly, the level of our culture that can be reflected through the involvement of the arts industry itself," he told reporters after launching the 'Laman Santai' programme and the 'Iqwal 1Malaysia' album in Kuala Lumpur last night.

Govt 'always seeking to assist local music industry'

Earlier in his speech, Rais said the government was always making efforts to assist the local music industry by providing various incentives including funds to boost the growth of the industry.

"Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak himself, when tabling the 2010 budget, was concerned with the development of the industry and had allocated RM200 million which will also be used to enhance the local music industry so as to become more competitive," he said.

He said the ministry was also formulating a more comprehensive policy for the National Creativity Industry so that the industry would have a proper road map to safeguard the interest of cultural activists.

The Iqwal 1Malaysia album is the first of its kind in Malaysia featuring six songs in six languages, namely Bahasa Melayu, English, Mandarin, Iban, Kadazan and Tamil, rendered by Ikhwal Hafiz Ismail who has been singing since the age of four and who started writing lyrics for songs at the age of 12.

The album has also been recognised by the Malaysia Book Of Records as the "First Artiste To Record 1Malaysia Songs Album In Six Languages".

Rais said his ministry, through 'Tabung Penggiat Seni' had contributed RM50,000 to cover the cost of producing the album as well as for the release of an English album in the United States.

- Bernama

Deputy minister: More accidents because more vehicles

18.5 million registered vehicles, with 700,000 more yearly. — file pic

An increase of 700,000 vehicles each year is among the contributory factors that lead to a higher accident rate, said Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri.

He said according to present Road Transport Department records there were 18.5 million vehicles registered in the country.

“The number increases the risk of accidents as everyone wants their own vehicle to the point of not placing importance on public transportation as compared to developed countries like South Korea,” he told reporters at the launch of the “Kempen Rakan Trafik” campaign at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) here this morning.

On the Automated Enforcement System (AES) to be implemented to reduce road accidents, Abdul Rahim said the government as a matter of policy had approved its use.

“The AES is a system where cameras are installed at high-accident prone areas to monitor speeding and record driving violations. For a start, 600-700 cameras will be installed in stages in areas identified in Peninsular Malaysia,” he said.

The AES system has been widely used in developed countries like the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom. — Bernama

Tsunami roars across Pacific after massive Chile quake

A tsunami roared across the vast Pacific Ocean after a massive killer quake in Chile yesterday, with dozens of nations on alert for destructive waves and thousands of people fleeing their homes.

The ominous sound of evacuation sirens blared in Hawaii, French Polynesia and the South Pacific as a tsunami raced around the "Ring of Fire" after the 8.8-magnitude quake in Chile, which left at least 147 people dead.

About 50 countries and territories along an arc stretching from New Zealand to Japan were braced for powerful waves, five years after the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster that killed more than 220,000 people.

Fifteen hours after the quake, tsunami waves had crashed into the Chilean coast and powered west to pound French Polynesia and the Chatham Islands of New Zealand, where officials warned bigger waves would follow.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, set up by Pacific governments after a tsunami unleashed by a 9.5-magnitude earthquake in Chile in 1960, warned of possible "widespread damage" from waves as high as three metres.

"We could be looking at an all-day event," US National Weather Service meteorologist Eric Lau told AFP, as officials warned that the US and Canadian west coasts could also be hit.

"It will stop once it hits the land masses on the other side of the Pacific, in Asia. The wave is spread out across the entire body of water in the Pacific."

Thousands of people in the US state of Hawaii moved to higher ground, rushing to grocery stores to stock up on food and water and queuing at petrol stations, and authorities warned people not to put themselves in harm's way.

"If you live anywhere in the evacuation zone, you have to evacuate," Oahu Emergency Management Department John Cummings said as tsunami sirens wailed for the first time in 16 years.

"We're going to treat this as a destructive-type tsunami."

US President Barack Obama, who was born in Hawaii, warned that the US western seaboard may see dangerous waves and currents throughout the day.

"In the hours ahead, we'll continue to take every step possible to prepare our shores and protect our citizens," he said.

One tsunami measuring nearly 2.5 metres slammed into Talcahuano, one of about 11 coastal towns in Chile hit by the wave, according to the Pacific centre. There was no immediate word of casualties.

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet announced a partial evacuation of Easter Island, but the island of about 4,000 people, known for its hundreds of monolithic stone statues, received a relatively small onrush of water.

The pan-Pacific tsunami warning applied also to Central America, and authorities as far afield as Russia's Sakhalin island were monitoring the potential for tidal trouble.

Waves of 750km per hour

One expert said the mass of water would be hurtling towards Hawaii at 200 metres a second or 720 kilometres an hour.

"Mid-ocean, the wave is travelling at around the speed of a jet plane," Roger Bilham, a professor of geological sciences at the University of Colorado, told AFP.

"The amplitude of the wave is small when it's mid-ocean, but it may rise to five to 10 metres when it reaches Japan or the Philippines."

Tsunamis generally come in waves and the first may not be the largest.

But the Pacific Warning Center, which manages a network of early-warning electronic buoys strung across the Pacific Ocean, said local authorities can assume the threat has passed when no major waves have been seen for two hours.

In the island paradise of French Polynesia, waves hit the Marquesas Islands and the Gambier archipelago, but there were no casualties or major damage reported.

Schools across the region were closed, the port in Papeete was evacuated and thousands in Tahiti's hillside areas were taken to safer areas. However many residents along the coast refused to leave for fear of looting.

A half-metre tsunami struck New Zealand's eastern Chatham Islands, with officials warning that the country's entire east coast was at risk from impending waves of up to three metres.

"It is expected that the greatest wave heights will occur between six and 12 hours after the initial arrivals," the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management said.

However, fisherman were still heading out to sea and in Napier on the east coast of the North Island, unperturbed stallholders were setting up their Sunday market.

No tsunami threat to Malaysia

In the South Pacific island nations of Tonga and the Cook Islands, residents were making their way to higher points inland.

Many islanders are still living in makeshift shelters following a terrifying tsunami in Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga that trashed entire villages in September, leaving more than 180 people dead.

Despite the early warning system, the September waves came so suddenly that there was little time to flee to higher ground.

The region is in the middle of the 'Ring of Fire', a belt of seismic fury responsible for most of the world's tremors and volcanoes.

The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre warned of the "possibility of dangerous waves, strong ocean currents and foreshore flooding" along the coast between Sydney and Brisbane.

Authorities in Indonesia and Taiwan said they were monitoring, while Philippine officials started planning for possible evacuations.

Seismic waves could reach the east coast of Japan around noon (11am Malaysian time), the country's meteorological agency said.

Malaysia's Meteorological Department said that there is no tsunami threat to the country.

However, it warned the people living along the coastal areas of Lahad Datu, Semporna, Tawau and Sandakan in Sabah to be alert of high waves and rising sea water from noon today.

news courtesy of Malaysiakini

CHAP GOH MEI - 28.02.2010

Wishing all my Chinese relatives, friends & readers

HAPPY CHAP GOH MEI

From:

Mohd. Kamal Abdullah

Of lies and half-truths: what BERNAMA did not report

When asked what Johari would say, Malaysia Today was told that he will confirm that his office received a visit from several Chinese underworld figures to seek protection against the threats and intimidation they received from the MACC. The MACC wanted them to retract their statements about Musa Hassan’s complicity with the Along.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

I have said this before and I will say it again: there is currently a ‘war’ going on between the Malaysian government-owned and government-controlled mainstream media and what they call ‘the alternative media’. And who is winning this war? I really don’t know so you will have to be the judge of that. But I would like to believe that the mainstream media is being utterly overwhelmed by the alternative media.

In fact, you could even say that the alternative media has taken over the role of the mainstream media. Of course, there are those who would say you must not believe everything you read on the Internet. Well, again, you will have to be the judge of that -- but I would dare venture that thus far the government has not been able to rebut a lot of what Blogs such as Malaysia Today have revealed.

The government modus operandi is to deny (that is also what the American presidents are told to do). Deny what the alternative media says without giving the government’s side of the story. Just deny. They also distort the news and print half-truths. For example, like in my son’s case, they sent Suhakam to the prison and then the mainstream media announced that my son’s wound was self-inflicted.

Did I say it was not self-inflicted? Did I say that the guards held him down and shoved the razor blade down his throat? Did I not say that my son slashed his wrist and then swallowed the razor blade, meaning self-inflicted? So why the need to ‘confirm’ what I had already said, and then spin it as if they are ‘correcting’ what I said? The way they spun it was as if I said the opposite to what Suhakam found out whereas what Suhakam said was exactly what I said.

Can you see how it works now?

Now, to understand the mainstream media you need to read not what they say but what they DO NOT say. But then how do you read what they DO NOT say if they do not say it? Ah, that is what Malaysia Today is for. Malaysia Today will then reveal what they did not say -- the missing pieces, the gaps in the story -- so that you can see the bigger picture.

And this is why Malaysia Today is very dangerous to those who walk in the corridors of power. And that is why they are offering me a deal. I can come home and everything will be peachy-rosy and honky-dory like it used to be. But the deal is I must stop writing. I will be put on what they call ‘police supervision’. I need to report to the police headquarters in Bukit Aman from time to time. And I must surrender my passport over to the government and not stray more than 10 kilometres from my home.

In short, I shall be put under a sort of house arrest, like what happened to Ustaz Badrul Amin back in 2001. I may not write, meet a ‘crowd’ of more than four people, or give public talks (ceramah). I must stay indoors (in my own home) from 8.00pm to 6.00pm, and all that – just like the terms and conditions they imposed on Ustaz Badul Amin back in 2001.

Okay, enough digressing. Let us cut to the chase and get to the issue I want to talk about today. But before that first read the Bernama report below.

*************************************************

Former commercial crime director’s case decision on March 12

The Sessions Court here today set March 12 to rule on former Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Ramli Yusuff who is facing two charges of failing to declare ownership of shares and interests in two properties worth more than RM1 million.

Judge M. Gunalan fixed the date after hearing submissions from deputy public prosecutor Datuk Abdul Razak Musa and Ramli’s counsel Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.

A total of 35 prosecution witnesses had testified during the trial, including Ramli’s two younger sisters Roslina and Rohmah.

Ramli’s friend, Datuk Ling Keak Ming, who assisted the former senior police officer sisters in acquiring the two shop-lots at Jalan Yap Kwan Seng here, also testified.

Ramli, 57, was charged with failing to declare the ownership of 20,000 Telekom Malaysia Berhad shares, 154,000 Permaju Industries Berhad shares and interests in two office properties worth RM1,032,840.

The offences were allegedly committed at the office of the ACA deputy public prosecutor in Putrajaya on Sept 17, 2007. — Bernama, 25 February 2010

*************************************************

Read it? Okay, now let’s have some fun. Let’s tear to pieces this Bernama report and fill in the gaps in their story. Then you will be able to see the bigger picture, which is not contained in the Bernama report.

On Thursday, 25 February 2010, Bernama reported that the decision in the case of Dato' Ramli Yusuff, the former Director of the Commercial Crimes Investigations Department (CCID) of the Malaysian police force (PDRM), will be delivered on 12 March 2010. Bernama also highlighted that a total of 35 prosecution witnesses had testified during Ramli’s trial -- which included his two younger sisters as well as his old friend of 30 years, Datuk Ling Keak Ming.

By reporting all this, Bernama made it appear like the MACC had lined up so much evidence and that so many witnesses had testified against Ramli. They are painting the scenario that the evidence against Ramli was so overwhelming that even his own family and friends testified AGAINST him.

That couldn’t be further from the truth. That is what is called ‘journalistic slant’ or ‘spin-doctoring’, the magician’s tool used by journalists and newspapers to paint a certain ‘picture’ when the facts are not enough to support the story they are carrying.

The truth is Bernama was simply lying and telling half-truths. Utusan Malaysia did the same to lawyer Rosli Dahlan and then later had to profusely apologise for their “untruthful article and regret their conduct and the damage they caused him” (to quote what they printed later). Utusan Malaysia then acknowledged that their “article was written and published in a sensational manner to generate publicity which exceeded the parameters of ethical journalism surrounding the investigation of YDH Dato’ Pahlawan Ramli Hj Yusuff” (again to quote them).

Now flashback to 2007: what did the mainstream media sensationalise then?

Malaysians will probably still remember that the mainstream media carried on its front page the story of the ‘RM27 million cop’. This story was featured for weeks on end.

This story was calculated to overshadow what Ramli’s CCID was about to expose regarding IGP Musa Hassan’s complicity with the Chinese underworld Along (loan shark) syndicate. The ‘RM27 million cop’ story was to camouflage the plot by A-G Gani Patail and IGP Musa Hassan in pressuring the Deputy Home Minister, Dato’ Johari Baharom, to release the Along boss, Goh Cheng Poh @ Tengku Goh.

In the end, the criminal was released while six policemen plus the Director of the CCID and lawyer Rosli Dahlan were arrested.

A very chilling story was narrated by Musa Hassan’s ADC in his Statutory Declaration that Malaysia Today published at that time. Yet, there was total silence. In military terms – it was 'mission accomplished'. Ramli has been eliminated, and even if he gets acquitted he can never return to the PDRM as he has already reached retirement age.

Back to the charges against Ramli and I quote Bernama: “Ramli, 57, was charged with failing to declare the ownership of 20,000 Telekom Malaysia Berhad shares, 154,000 Permaju Industries Berhad shares and interests in two office properties worth RM1,032,840”.

So it was never RM27 million then! Why the newspaper headlines calling him the ‘RM27 million cop’?

Now, one very crucial element, which is missing from the Bernama report, is why wasn’t the verdict delivered on 25 February 2010? Why did Dato’ Razak Musa insist on further ‘oral submissions’ despite having already filed full written submissions? In short, why delay the verdict until 12 March 2010?

The answer is very simple. If the verdict to acquit Ramli were delivered on 25 February 2010, he would be a few days short of his 58th birthday, and therefore, technically, can still return to the PDRM.

You see, Ramli’s 58th birthday is on the 29th of February 2010. Yes, a leap year. And Ramli had signed on to serve until his 58th birthday. Therefore, if the PDRM is really short of successors to take over as IGP, as they claim, then Ramli can return to the police force and be offered a contract to serve two or three years whereby he can then clean up the entire force (which is bad news for the syndicate).

This is not impossible. After all, Christopher Wan was given an extended service by contract and then made the CID Director, regardless that he had never served as a crime officer. IGP Musa Hassan is a very good example of a man who has overstayed his welcome (three-year contract and due to be extended yet again to four years), resulting in all the ills in the police force that we are witnessing today.

Remember Judge Supang Lian's comment that IGP Musa Hassan is an untruthful witness when he acquitted Ramli of another charge in Sabah? Even the judge thinks that IGP Musa Hassan is a scumbag not fit to be the IGP and that Ramli was being fixed up.

So, to make sure that Ramli can never return to the PDRM whereby he will ‘haunt’ his persecutors, Prosecutor Razak Musa, IGP Musa Hassan and A-G Gani Patail plotted to delay the verdict. That is how much they fear Ramli. They know that Ramli will for sure expose them for what they are. They also know that Ramli would not play ball with these scumbags. Even during the Royal Commission of Inquiry on Anwar’s beating, Ramli would not play ball to cover up the black eye incident. And because of that IGP Rahim Noor was forced to resign and was sent to jail.

Ramli also eradicated the illegal immigrant problem in Sabah -- only to get into trouble with the Biro Tata Negara, which had issued Malaysian NRICs to these Indonesians and Filipinos. Do you now get the picture why Sabah and Sarawak are Barisan Nasional’s new power-base?

That is why Ramli can never be forgiven nor allowed to return to power.

Malaysia Today had previously related the story of how the MACC charged Ramli purely on the statement of one underworld operator, Moo Sai Chin, a known criminal and a self-confessed briber, murderer, pimp and everything else that an underworld kingpin is. Moo was under IGP Musa Hassan’s custody when he was purported to have been overcome by "a sudden wake of conscience" and revealed that he had bribed several police officers to cover up a murder case in Perak.

Moo never named Ramli in any of those reports. Instead, it was the MACC that lodged several cover reports against Ramli. Malaysia Today had tracked the suspicious reports from No. 098/07, which was based on No. 075/2007, which in turn was based on No. 072/2006, which, again, was based on No. 065/2006.

All these point to a conspiracy to eliminate Ramli.

Under cross-examination, DPP Kevin Anthony Morais, the Deputy Director of Prosecutions, MACC, already admitted that 28 out of the 35 witnesses were interviewed AFTER Ramli was charged, thereby confirming that the charges against Ramli were made hastily. The fact that Ramli was arrested and his only statement was recorded on that very morning, just before he was charged, is significant to show that he was fixed up by the MACC. In Dato’ Seri Shafee Abdullah’s words, that shows the recording of statement process was just a "melepaskan batuk ditangga". It showed that the MACC and A-G Gani Patail have decided to charge Ramli even before they took his statement.

In short, there was no proper or bona fide investigation.

Now, at the closing of the prosecution’s case, all that Malaysia Today has been saying since 2007 about the plot to get rid of Ramli Yusuff has been proven true. The same thing will be proven of the things that Malaysia Today said about lawyer Rosli Dahlan. It is already clear that there was no predicated offence to invoke the issuance of the section 32 Notices against either of them. The brutality suffered by Rosli Dahlan is already the subject of the RM50 million legal suit that he has filed.

That is another story altogether, however, and a very interesting story indeed.

With all these happening, Dato’ Johari Baharom also “suddenly had a wake of conscience”. One of his aides, Nazree, contacted Malaysia Today to say that Johari is very concerned about the six policemen’s fate. He added that Johari wants it made known that he is willing to be subpoenaed as a witness in these six police officers’ trial.

This is certainly going to be dynamite. Johari was the Deputy Home Minister at the centre of the entire controversy. What he would be saying would surpass a C4 explosion.

When asked what Johari would say, Malaysia Today was told that he will confirm that his office received a visit from several Chinese underworld figures to seek protection against the threats and intimidation they received from the MACC. The MACC wanted them to retract their statements about Musa Hassan’s complicity with the Along.

The pieces of the jigsaw puzzle are all now falling into place. Malaysia Today had previously posted the Statutory Declarations of these underworld figures and we were accused of publishing ‘lies’.

The question you may be asking is: why is Johari so brave now? Well, the answer is apparently connected to the rumour about the recent raid on Musa Hassan’s house that led to the discovery of RM1.5 million in cash! Do they still wish to deny this?

The Malays have a saying: takkan pokok bergoyang jika tiada angin, takkan ada asap jika tiada api….The English too have saying: There is no smoke without fire, London bridge is falling down……

news courtesy of Malaysia-today.net

Liow: Resolutions Should Be Debated

MCA Vice-President Datuk Seri Liow Tiong
Lai urged the party's leadership to allow delegates to debate resolutions,
including the proposal to amend party constitution, to be tabled at the party's
Annual General Meeting (AGM) on March 7.

He said the delegates had the rights to debate the proposal before the
Central Committee (CC), the party's decision-making body, make its decision.

"The delegates have sent in their resolutions so it should be tabled and
debated at the AGM.

"This is not an amendment to party constitution... it is just a proposal to
amend the party constitution; so it can be debated and then the AGM can decide
on it and the CC can relook into it and make a decision," he told a news
conference after attending the Wangsa Maju Barisan Nasional 1Malaysia Chinese
New Year open house here, today.

Yesterday, a central committee member, Datuk Ti Lian Ker, who is aligned to
MCA President Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, urged Liow's faction to withdraw their
resolutions, saying they were unconstitutional.

Among the resolutions were calling for fresh polls and the proposal to amend
party constitution to standardise the appointment and removal of executive
office bearers and their deputies by the president.

Ti claimed that the resolutions were unconstitutional as any proposal to
amend the constitution needed prior referrals from the respective divisions and
the CC.

news courtesy of Malaysian Digest

Sport minister disappointed by 'rude' Indonesian fans

Youth and Sports Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek expressed disappointment with the action of Indonesian football fans who showed disrespect to the national anthem (Negaraku) during an AFC Cup futsal match in Jakarta on Monday.

He added that the action by the Indonesian fans who snubbed the Negaraku which was played before the match between Malaysia and Vietnam, can bring about diplomatic implications between both countries.

"However, I do not believe it was done on purpose by the Indonesian FA or the Indonesian government.

"This is the work of a small group who were out to disrupt the cordial relationship between the two countries," he told reporters at a dialogue session for agencies and departments under the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industries Ministry in Kemaman today.

Indonesian FA fined

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had fined the Indonesian FA RM17,006 for the action of their fans who did not rise from their seats when Negaraku was played and the compel matters further, they sang the Indonesian national anthem instead.

The Indonesian Youth and Sports Minister had subsequently apologized for the action of the Indonesian football fans.

Ahmad Shabery however, said he would not send a memorandum to his counterpart over the matter as the fine slapped by AFC was sufficient.

- Bernama

No tsunami threat to M'sia in wake of Chile quake

The Meteorological Department has confirmed that there is no tsunami threat to Malaysia following a huge, 8.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Chile this afternoon, triggering waves towards several coastal areas in the country.

However, it warned the people living along the coastal areas of Lahad Datu, Semporna, Tawau and Sandakan in Sabah to be alert of high waves and rising sea water from noon tomorrow.

- Bernama

Who will succeed Taib Mahmud?

The triennial delegates conference of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) starting in Kuching on Monday may be a humdrum affair as there is no contest for key positions except for some seats in the party’s supreme council.

Still, for political reasons, this conference will generate much interest among political analysts and party members as the long-serving party president and Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud may choose the occasion to indicate his possible successor, at the very least.

Some in the party’s inner circle are speculating that Taib will provide some hints on his possible next-in-line as this might be his last term to head PBB, the most powerful political party in Sarawak. But will he really? Many are also doubtful that he will do so at this juncture.

“He should have an exit strategy by now but there’s no evidence of this,” said Datuk Seri Daniel Tajem, an Iban who served as deputy chief minister to Taib in the early 1980s.

Tajem, who is now an advisor to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sarawak, said Taib should have just taken the bull by the horns and publicly announce that he would quit.

Political analyst Dr Sivamurugan Pandian believes that Taib will relinquish his top party position only after the next state election because if he steps down now, it might trigger be a power struggle within the party. “He has to groom someone to take over. We may see some indication who is likely the person after the PBB convention,” he said.

Dr Sivamurugan said from a political strategy perspective, it would not be wise for him to step down before the state election as the party might be focusing more on who is going to be the next chief minister instead of winning and retaining power in the state election.

“Which issue would they want to focus, the state leadership or state election? Taib would not become an election issue if he stay on and lead the campaign in the coming state election. The thinking of the people in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak are all different. That’s why, it would be better for Taib to step down only after the state election,” he added.

The potential successors are likely to come from those in the party’s deputy president position, who are normally being groomed to take over the top leadership. But then again in Sarawak politics, it does not mean that this would happen for sure.

Taib, 74, is believed to be seriously looking for leaders to lead the party. He has helmed PBB since March 26, 1981, a period of about 29 years. What is interesting is that whoever succeeds him as PBB president is going to be the chief minister of Sarawak.

In the past, Taib has eyed a number of PBB leaders who could take over from him, including Tan Sri Dr Sulaiman Daud, Datuk Seri Effendi Norwawi, Datuk Bujang Ulis, Datuk Abang Abu Bakar Mustapha and Datuk Seri Adenan Satem.

However, all of them had somewhat disappeared into political oblivion, for a number of reasons. Some were said to be impatient, some just gave up waiting.

PBB was formed following the merger between Parti Bumiputra and Parti Pesaka in January 1973. In the party’s history, no one has ever challenged the party president and most of the party’s top positions went uncontested, except on two occasions, in 1998 and 2005, but it only involved the deputy president’s post.

In 1998, both Adenan and Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg challenged each other for deputy president, which was reserved for the Malay/Melanau section of PBB.

Abang Johari triumphed following strong backing from the Dayak members despite the fact that Adenan was strongly backed by Taib at that time. Adenan, the vanquished, was later appointed by Taib as the party’s senior vice-president. Seven years later, Adenan mounted another challenge on Abang Johari, but the delegates conference was postponed when it was reported that some of Adenan’s supporters were found to have allegedly duplicated branches in some 40 constituencies.

PBB was later advised by the Registrar of Societies to have the election or risk being de-registered like the now defunct Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS).

Taib hinted in 2006 that he would have one last shot as the chief minister. The term of the current state administration will expire by July next year. But, as early as last year, Taib sent a signal that he was preparing to step down and was reported to be looking for someone regardless of race to be trained to take over from him.

Talk of Taib preparing to pass on the baton picked up momentum in April last year after the demise of his wife, Puan Sri Laila Taib, who had been described as the pillar of support for Taib in his political career.

Thus, the focus of interest will be on the current batch of senior leaders — Deputy President I Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, Deputy President II Abang Johari and Senior Vice-President Datuk Seri Awang Tengah Ali Hassan as possible successor.

Alfred Jabu, an agricultural graduate and experienced politician, has been tutored by two of Sarawak’s best known politicians — Tun Abdul Rahman Yaakub, the former chief minister and Yang Dipertua Negeri, and later by Taib himself. Since having been elected as state assemblyman for Layar in 1974, he has been appointed to various ministerial posts, including deputy chief minister under Rahman, and since March 1981 under Taib.

Another chief ministerial candidate is Abang Johari, who comes from an illustrious family where his father, Tun Abang Openg, was the first governor of Sarawak. Holding an MBA degree from a British university, he is said to have shown his capability as industrial development minister before being moved to the tourism ministry. In the recent state Cabinet reshuffle, he was tasked to look after the state ministry of housing and urban development.

Taib’s son, Datuk Seri Sulaiman who recently resigned as deputy tourism minister, has also been mentioned as another possible candidate as there is speculation that his father wants him to return to Sarawak and be “trained to take over”. Political observers who have closely monitored Sarawak politics said although Sulaiman had not offered to contest any position in the party’s election, it did not mean that he would not be picked as a candidate in the next state election.

Another aspirant for chief minister is Awang Tengah, the minister of public utilities and the second minister of planning and resource management, which is considered by some as be the most powerful ministerial position after Taib in the state Cabinet.

There is also talk that Taib has also sought the views of people close to him, including some Dayak and Chinese ministers regarding his possible successor.

So, who will succeed Taib? The guessing game continues. — Bernama

Groups form consultative body to defend Malay rights, Islam

About 50 groups today launched the Malay NGO Consultative Council (MPM) to defend Malay rights and Islam at the historic Sultan Sulaiman Club here, where a similar gathering nearly 60 years ago led to the formation of Umno.

Among the prime movers are Perkasa, ex-Umno lawmakers council Mubarak, Peninsula Malay Students Confederation (GPMS), Malay Professional Thinkers Association and Cuepacs.

The Malaysian Insider was barred from reporting the event but a media release said among those who spoke were Perkasa president and Pasir Mas MP Datuk Ibrahim Ali, Mubarak chief Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang and Malay Professional Thinkers president Professor Datuk Dr Kamaruddin Kachar who is a former director-general of the National Civics Bureau (BTN) which the opposition claims spreads hate ideology.

The MPM was launched by GPMS president Jais Abd Karim followed by a dialogue and a signing ceremony to form the body.

The MPM press release said “following several discussions by several Malay NGO leaders, there was a desire for a consultative council to bring together as many Malay NGOs concerned about current developments faced by the Malays”.

“It is apparent that there is pressure on Malay rights and privileges in their own country, towards the position of Islam as the official religion, the position and sovereignty of the Malay Rulers that is always being questioned, the New Economic Policy that is being sidelined despite the lack of achievement by the Malays and also national security,” it said.

These are among several “sensitive” issues for the Malays which have become provocative matters by those who want to destroy the security and prosperity of the country, the statement added.

The statement said the consultative council is not a platform for confrontation unless they are forced by parties described as those “inciting” racial tension.

“The main function of this council is to act as a medium to gather Malay NGOs that share the same stand to handle pressures faced by the Malays, Islam, Malay Rulers, national security, public order and other related issues,” the statement said, adding the idea to form the body was made early last month.

The MPM will form a task force that will be chaired by council members in rotation.

The statement also said the MPM had resolved each member should jointly study issues important to the Malays, Islam, Malay Rulers, national security and public order that is brought up or questioned by others, or to be championed by the community.

Others include the preparation and implementation of action plans to handle or oppose provocations against issues that relate to Malays and Islam, or issues seen as inciting or hateful.

The resolutions decided by MPM are:

• Resolutions must be based on facts and documents tabled at lawful MPM meetings;
• MPM members who disagree with the resolutions must accept the decision of the majority and be prepared to sign the agreed resolutions;
• MPM members who refuse or abstain from resolutions or decisions can choose not to sign off without affecting their membership; and
• If any MPM member opposes any of its resolutions or decisions, they will automatically cease to be members.

Special NKRA Lab on Illegal Immgrants to be Formed

A separate laboratory under the National Key
Result Areas (NKRA) for Sabah and Sarawak will be formed soon to deliberate on
the possible solution to the problem of illegal immigrants, particularly in
Sabah, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok
said here today.

He said the inclusion of the issue of illegal immigrants in the NKRA for the
two states underlined the seriousness of the federal government in addressing
the problem once and for all.

"Whatever avenue can be utilised should be used for this purpose and it's
very beneficial but we need inputs from all on what actions need to be taken (to
solve the perennial problem)," he told reporters after attending a Chinese New
Year open house hosted by State Assistant Minister of Finance and Moyog
assemblyman Donald Mojuntin at the Penampang Community Hall, here.

Dompok, who is also United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation
(UPKO) president, was asked to comment on the call by Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS)
president Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan yesterday for inclusion of
immigration matters and the creation of more job opportunities in the NKRA for
Sabah and Sarawak.

In making the call, Pairin said the NKRA Pemandu (Performance Management and
Delivery Unit) Committee on the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) in
Sabah and Sarawak should conduct research on the need to protect the immigration
powers of the two states.

There was a need for such a move as Sabah, in particular, was still
grappling with the problem of illegal immigrants, said Pairin, who is a Sabah
deputy chief minister.

On Wednesday, the NKRA Pemandu Committee on the GTP in Sabah and Sarawak
agreed to facilitate five laboratories -- covering education, economy,
infrastructure, social development, and land and legal matters -- to help
enhance bumiputera development in the two states.

news courtesy of Malaysian Digest

UM student body develops more rashes

The animosity between Universiti Malaya's two student factions deepened further with the 'pro-mahasiswa' group decision to boycott the newly-appointed student representatives council led by its rival 'pro-aspirasi'.

The move followed alleged irregularities in the recently concluded campus polls.

The final straw was their exclusion from the council committee, despite winning eight of the nine university-level seats or general seats (kerusi umum).

The UM student representative council elections are contested into two stages - the nine university-level seats represent the entire university, while the 32 faculty seats represent individual faculties.

Though nearly sweeping all university level seats, the 'pro-mahasiswa' faction was edged out of the race for the faculty seats, winning only 17 compared to 21 for its rival.

The first step was boycotting the Friday afternoon ceremony to mark the appointments to the 38-seat council at the Dewan Tunku Canselor.

Following this, the 17 elected 'pro-mahasiswa' student representatives formed a 'shadow cabinet', to serve as an alternative voice for UM students.

Its spokesperson Mohd Fadzil Jamal said the group will boycott all activities organised by the student council.

"The 'pro-mahasiswa' elected representatives will not recognise the newly-appointed cabinet... but we will still fight for the students," said Fadzil, who is also the 'shadow cabinet' chair.

Fadzil (right) said it was unfair that 'pro-mahasiswa' elected representatives are excluded from the council committee and placed only in sub-committees, despite their numbers.

"This is an insult to the students who have voted for us," he said.

E-voting rigging poser

UM is a traditional hotbed of student activism with the two groups keenly contesting campus polls.

The 'pro-mahasiswa' group, often seen as anti-establishment, has consistently complained that the campus administration is backing their 'pro-aspirasi' rivals.

This year witnessed the 'pro-aspirasi' group regaining control of the student council, but the victory is tainted by claims of irregularities in the newly implemented electronic-voting system.

At the height of the 'pro-mahasiswa' faction's protest, hundreds of their supporters surrounded the chancellery to pressure vice-chancellor Ghauth Jasmon (above) to annul the poll results and call for fresh elections.

However, the university administration dismissed their appeals and denied that the new voting system was flawed.

news courtesy of Malaysiakini

Pakatan vows one-on-one fight in Sarawak

Pakatan Rakyat has agreed that all contests between the opposition coalition and Barisan Nasional in the upcoming Sarawak state election will be straight fights.

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution said Pakatan has begun preparations for the state polls expected to be held within the next few months, possibly between June and July.

The state election in Sarawak, last held in 2006, must be called within 16 months. Sarawak is the only state in Malaysia in which its election is not held at the same time as national polls.

Saifuddin said the one-on-one strategy employed by the opposition coalition, which resulted in great success at the 2008 general election, would be adopted at the Sarawak state election.

“PKR, DAP and PAS have in principal agreed to contest the state seats one-on-one with BN. We certainly hope to make significant impact this time,” he told Malaysiakini.

The political tsunami of 2008 saw five states in Peninsular Malaysia falling to the opposition as well as the ruling BN being denied its much vaunted two-third majority in Parliament.

There are 71 seats in the Sarawak assembly, of which 62 are controlled by BN. DAP, newly-formed Parti Cinta Malaysia and independents collectively hold nine seats.

However, the bitter rivalry between local DAP and PKR chieftains in Sarawak, as well as the potential for unexpected independents jumping into the fray, may throw a spanner in the works for Pakatan.

The 2008 general election saw a number of three-cornered fights among the Pakatan parties in Sabah and Sarawak as local leaders were unable to reach an amicable solution.

Saifuddin, who is also Machang MP, said the matter was discussed at the Pakatan presidential council meeting on Monday.

The PKR secretary-general said the council will focus on discussing the Sarawak state elections in the coming weeks, in particular the right strategies to be employed and the deployment of its resources.

“We hope this would help us to be better prepared when the time comes,” he said.

Najib announces goodies

In a clear sign of an impending state election, Prime Minister Najib Razak went to Sarawak last week and announced several goodies including a RM35 million allocation to improve living conditions in four resettlement schemes.

During his visit to Sarawak, Najib had confidently predicted that the opposition parties would be unable to challenge BN dominance in the state in the upcoming election.

According to him, the results of the 2008 general election would not influence Sarawak voters as the people there were concerned more with local issues than national ones.

The prime minister is making yet another trip to Sarawak on Monday, this time to officiate the 12th Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) convention in Kuching.

Najib, who is also BN chairperson, sees the state election as a vital indicator of his popularity as premier, a position he held since last April.

The component parties comprising Sarawak BN are PBB, Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP).

Meanwhile, Pakatan leader Anwar Ibrahim said he too would be making frequent visits to the state in the coming months.

news courtesy of Malaysiakini

'EMBARRASSING MALAYSIANS - WRITE PROPER ENGLISH

EXPOSED - the english language mistakes (as pointed), Malaysians have made during the recent demonstrations at the Australian Embassy.

Surprise to many, most of these demonstrators are 'educated' scholars from reknown Universities in the United Kingdom!!!!!

It looks like public funds have be wasted to educate them.

Terpaksa balik ke sekolah-lah.

"Bahasa jiwa bangsa"

Details : http://www.skthew.com/2010/02/27/wahhh-the-england-is-really-powderful-lahh/

Tyranny of the Malaysian bureaucracy

RECENTLY we have had two clear examples of how tyrannical and vicious the Malaysian bureaucracy can be, and how unyielding it is to any reform measures or initiatives.

This Mr Hyde side of the Malaysian bureaucracy is not the usual dark side that the Malaysian public is familiar with – one associated with inefficiency, laziness, poor service, abuse of power or corruption.

It is one that is part and parcel of the hidden racially-charged context of our institutions and it smacks of the ideology of Malay dominance – or even Malay supremacy – that the civil service has come to personify.

This is the dark side that is generally kept away from public scrutiny and accountability, not only because it runs against the grain of what a modern, progressive and representative civil service is, but also because it is regarded as politically incorrect to discuss or analyze it.

The first example appeared just two weeks ago when a courageous whistleblower, Dr Selvaa Vathany, a doctor from the Orang Asli Affairs Department (JHEOA) Hospital, Gombak, made startling claims of rampant malpractice, misappropriation of resources and other wrongdoings by the hospital staff and associated agencies of government dealing with the Orang Asli.

Resources are hijacked

Dr Selvaa is not your ordinary whistleblower. Providing details on the importance of healthcare and medical assistance for the Orang Asli – their children are 15 times more likely to die from malnourishment compared to other children – she revealed that for entire communities “essentials given out are limited to one to two bottles of cooking oil, six to eight tins of canned food, two packets of 400g Milo, 15 to 20 small packets of milk powder, 10 to 20 diapers, two bottles of detergent and 10 to 20 pairs of slippers, per visit.

These are distributed at random. . . If the villagers are lucky, distribution could be as frequent as once in every two to three months.

She noted that “a tin of infant milk is divided into six small packets with 15 to 20 packets distributed to a village of between 250 to 500 people”.

All of this is strong circumstantial evidence that resources meant for Orang Asli communities are hijacked, possibly by the very people entrusted with the responsibility of distributing them to these vulnerable groups.

In her press conference, she also pointed to an institutional defect in which individuals without medical training and incapable of following Health Ministry protocols and standards were made hospital administrators and were appointed from the Rural and Regional Development Ministry.

Extensive cover-up

Most tellingly, she pointed to an extensive cover-up of the scandal with little or no follow-up to the complaints made to the Prime Minister’s Department, Rural and Regional Development Ministry, Health Ministry, Chief Secretary, Public Service Department and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

The only follow-up that has taken place appears to have been the thuggish and unacceptable response of the team from the Rural and Regional Development Ministry who “questioned the complaint… made by the Orang Asli in an unprofessional manner”, and threatened and attempted to intimidate them.

For her professionalism and integrity in speaking out on behalf of a marginalized and impoverished community, Dr Selvaa is now being transferred to Kedah where presumably she will be left to rot and to rue her courageous challenge of the status quo.

Outsiders controlling the Orang Asli

The second example also relates to the Orang Asli and it concerns the response of the Orang Asli Affairs Department to the demand for increased representation at the management level in government agencies formed to handle Orang Asli affairs.

According to the group raising these concerns, the JHEOA is staffed by over 80 percent non-Orang Asli, resulting in decisions not favourable to their needs and the marginalization of Orang Asli voices in important policies that affect their livelihoods.

This is not the first time that such concerns have been raised. During the past 50 years we have had a constant stream of written petitions, memoranda, press statements, expert reports and academic work that have drawn attention to the way in which the government has violated the basic rights of the Orang Asli and analyzed how the JHEOA and associated government agencies have been the main instruments for control and repression of the community.

In response, the Government has simply ignored them or opted for delaying tactics.

In this particular instance, in typical foot-dragging response, the department’s Director-General Mohd Sani Mistram said that the group should have gone through the “proper channels” to air their grievances and that it was an “internal matter” between the Orang Asli and the department.

Cold shoulder treatment

Both these cases – the punishment meted out to a whistleblower and the cold shoulder treatment of legitimate Orang Asli grievances – epitomize how dangerous it is for our democratic system to remain silent or passive in the face of an increasingly out of touch and unrepresentative civil service. They are the tip of the iceberg of many unexposed and undisclosed abuses that needs to be put in the spotlight of public scrutiny.

At the end of the day, the most effective public scrutiny that can realistically have an immediate impact on these cases of rogue individuals and agencies of the civil service that are throttling the Orang Asli is that coming from Malay intelligentsia and Malay civil society.

Indeed, some Malay colleagues have shown goodwill in helping the Orang Asli to correct some of the “historical injustices” that have been perpetrated on the original inhabitants of the Peninsula. It could make a difference if Malay leaders are willing to take up the case of Dr Selvaa and stop her victimization by the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development.

At the same time, more Malaysians of conscience need to step up to the plate if the Orang Asli community is to regain their rightful place in the country.

news courtesy of Malaysian Mirror

Agong returns after German treatment

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin returned home tonight after undergoing advanced physiotherapy in Bad Wiessee, Germany since Jan 26.

His Majesty, who arrived at the Royal Malaysian Air Force Base in Subang, near here at 11.30pm, was accompanied by Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah and their children.

A statement from the Istana Negara today said Tuanku Mizan was reported to be in fine condition after seeking treatment at the Medical Park, St Hubertus.

Tuanku Mizan also expressed his appreciation to all the people who had prayed for his wellbeing throughout the period he was undergoing treatment.

On Nov 30, last year, Tuanku Mizan had a knee surgery at the Klinikum Rechts Der Isar Medical Centre, Der Technischen Universitat Munchen, Munich. — Bernama

Cuepacs insist female majority bad for civil service

Cuepacs secretary-general Ahmad Shah Mohd Zin is sticking to his guns over his controversial statement that the increasing number of female civil servants would create a negative impact on the service’s delivery system.

He claimed that his statement, published on Monday, had been taken out of context by female groups and leaders who were merely trying to “politicise the issue” when they lambasted him and called him “sexist”.

Amongst the groups were the Wanita MCA and Wanita Gerakan wings which claimed that Ahmad Shah had shown clear disrespect and disregard to women.

Even Prime Minister Datuk Seriu Najib Tun Razak had stepped in to assure women that it was their delivery service that mattered and not their gender.

Ahmad Shah also insisted that he had no intention to threaten the gender and had only been pushing for “gender equality” between the two sexes as it was lopsided in the civil service.

“Why should I threaten women? My mother is a woman. I also have two daughters.

“I never said it was a problem that women are working in the civil service. What I said was that in the long run, the dominance of female presence in the service would have a negative impact on the growth and progress of the country,” he told The Malaysian Insider last night.

He explained that the negative impact would be due to women’s general working attitudes which tended to be inflexible and rigid as well as the fact that they needed to take long maternity leaves.

Ahmad Shah added that the government not only should adhere to its policy of reserving 30 per cent of decision making posts for women, but should also tweak the criterion for qualifying candidates into the posts.

“At the present moment, candidates are chosen based on their academic qualifications — at least 90 per cent of the criterion is based on academic achievements. But this does not suffice in the real world.

“In that case, even a blind person can get the job, so long as he or she fulfills the relevant qualifications,” he said, adding that most women were generally better than men in academics.

Ahmad Shah suggested that the criterion be expanded to include emotional strengths, ability to cope under pressure, leadership skills and other skills.

“There must be a mechanism proposed to measure these things before a candidate is selected. Only then is the candidate suitable to hold the respective post,” he said.

In his statement earlier, Ahmad Shah had also said that almost three quarters of the new posts in the administrative and diplomatic service were currently being filled by women.

His claim however was contested by the Public Services Department, which revealed that female presence on the higher management, management and professional as well as support staff roles in the service was 53 per cent in comparison with men at 47 per cent.

According to its figures, women made up 28 per cent of the higher management workforce, 61 per cent of the management and professional fields and 50 per cent in the support staff group.

Ahmad Shah however insisted that the 61 per cent ultimately meant that in the coming five years, females would dominate the majority of the higher managerial posts in the service.

“It is this way now and the same group would be promoted and will form the team for the higher managerial posts. As mentioned before, this affects the delivery system of the service,” he said.

When questioned on whether the present female dominance in the service merely meant that the men, especially the youths, were not interested or incompetent, Ahmad Shah again blamed it on the qualification criteria.

“Woman are better at academics somehow,” he said.

According to the 2007 statistics from the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, the female labour force made up for only 36 per cent of the total labour force of about 10.5 million people.

Of the female population at 13.34 million (46 per cent of the total population), the female labour force made up for 46.4 per cent. A majority of them work in the service and shop and market sales workers.

According to the Gender Gap Index 2009 (on gender equality), which rates Malaysia at the low rung of 101 out of 134 countries, the female adult unemployment rate was still higher than men at 3.43 per cent to 3.22 per cent.

Figures from the PSD show that there are 1.29 million jobs in ministries and state administrations up for grabs and more than 250,000 still remain unoccupied.

news courtesy of Malaysian Insider