Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Malaysia may ban yoga for Muslims: cleric


Muslims in Malaysia may be barred from the ancient practice of yoga if they engage in Hindu "religious elements" during the exercise, a top Islamic cleric said Wednesday.

Harussani Zakaria, a controversial cleric from the northern Perak state, said the government-backed National Fatwa Council would soon release a decree, or "fatwa", which would decide if Muslims were allowed to practise yoga.

"If it involves any faith or religious elements it is definitely not permissible but if it is just a form of exercise that is all right," Harussani told AFP.

"Muslims cannot practice yoga in its original form because it involves another religion," he said in response to a call to ban Muslims from engaging in yoga.

Islam is the official religion of Malaysia, where more than 60 percent of the population of 27 million are Muslim Malays who practice a conservative brand of the religion.

The practice of yoga, a popular stress-buster in Kuala Lumpur, dates back thousands of years in India, where it was a favorite of holy men before becoming hugely popular internationally, especially among western celebrities.

Zakaria Stapa, a professor in the Islamic faculty of the National University of Malaysia, had called on Muslims to stop practising yoga, saying it could cause them to "deviate from their faith", news reports said on Wednesday.

Muslims in Malaysia practised yoga not just for exercise but also as part of the growing urban lifestyle and involved "chanting mantras while in various positions", he said.

"Why should we look for other alternatives to exercise and search for peace? Yoga could cause (Muslims) to stray from their faith because its movements are according to the style and traditions of Hinduism," he said.

The fatwa council, one of Malaysia's highest Islamic bodies, last Friday banned women from dressing or behaving like men and engaging in lesbian sex, saying it was forbidden by the religion.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Malaysian PM backs heir over Mongolia murder case

Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Monday defended his deputy, who is slated to take power next year, against allegations that he interfered in a high-profile murder case.

"I can't believe that he would be involved in abuse of power," Abdullah told reporters after a political website published an SMS exchange over the case allegedly between deputy prime minister Najib Razak and a lawyer.

"I believe in him that he would be a good person, he would be prime minister and provide leadership," Abdullah added.

The popular Malaysia Today site was founded by Raja Petra Kamaruddin, who has been jailed under tough security laws for earlier linking Najib to the 2006 murder of 28-year-old Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Najib's close friend, Abdul Razak Baginda, is on trial for abetting the murder. Two police officers from a unit that guards the prime minister and his deputy have been charged with the killing.

Najib, who is expected to replace Abdullah when he steps down next March, has repeatedly denied any involvement in the slaying of Altantuya, whose body was blown up with explosives, and said he had never even met her.

The SMS exchange purportedly showed Najib and Shafee Abdullah, a lawyer who initially represented Abdul Razak Baginda, discussing the case along with possible charges and outcomes.
The site alleged that Najib spoke with police and officials in the attorney general's chambers about the case, "something that suggests an abuse of executive power," Malaysia Today said.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Malaysia's unloved new capital begins to show the cracks



On a hillside overlooking the grandiose administrative capital that Malaysia has built at vast expense, vacant lots marked with the names of dozens of countries lie empty.
It's a diplomatic enclave without diplomats, embassies or limousines -- and one of the most visible failures of Putrajaya, a multi-billion-dollar extravaganza of monumental avenues, lakes and dome-topped buildings.
Putrajaya was the branchild of former premier Mahathir Mohamad who ordered construction to begin on the site of an palm oil plantation in 1996, despite the economic firestorm that swept the region the following year.
Mahathir, who turned Malaysia from a tropical backwater into one of Southeast Asia's biggest economies, was a fan of mega-projects including the Petronas Twin Towers, which was for a time the world's tallest building.
The massive scale, cost and ambition of Putrajaya sets it apart as perhaps his biggest achievement, but less than a decade after it was unveiled, the cracks are beginning to show and Mahathir has joined the ranks of detractors.
"At night it is deserted, because all there is there is government offices. We want to see a living town," he said earlier this year, accusing his successor Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi of losing interest.
"When I see broken tiles and broken pavements, I feel saddened," said Mahathir, who envisioned Putrajaya as a triumph of Islamic development, as well as relieving congestion in the overcrowded capital Kuala Lumpur.
"If leaders don't take an interest, neither will minor officials."
Kuala Lumpur lies 25 kilometres (15 miles) north, and clogged highways and poor public transport links make Putrajaya an often unpopular destination for those compelled to visit for business or bureaucracy.
Most government ministries have relocated there, despites the grumbles of employees, but private business has been slow to follow despite government incentives and encouragement.
Mahathir said that not enough has been done to attract the private sector, or the foreign missions that were supposed to occupy the diplomatic enclave that has already been established with access roads, shops and landscaping.
Many countries have bought plots, but so far only the Iraqis have broken ground, and most diplomats have no intention of giving up their missions in central Kuala Lumpur, and their elegant colonial-era residences nearby.
While those in Kuala Lumpur may sneer, Putrajaya's 60,000 residents are generally full of praise for their purpose-built town, with its clean air, wide boulevards and lush parks.
Most are public servants who have been won over by subsidised housing, and facilities like shopping centres and cinemas that have gradually sprung up.
"Initially everyone complained but now they are more comfortable as there are no traffic jams, not like in Kuala Lumpur," said education ministry employee Robiah Kamal, 33.
"The facilities are very good -- schools, nurseries and clinics -- and you don't have to rush for everything," she told AFP at the gleaming Alamanda shopping complex where office workers converge at lunchtime.
Despite the pleasant surroundings and the topiary along the highways, critics of Putrajaya say it was a massive waste of money and that its architecture is grandiose and culturally inappropriate.
The overwhelmingly Islamic-style buildings are out of place in a country which is dominated by Muslim Malays, but also home to large ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities, says architectural academic Mohamad Tajuddin.
He criticises the magnificent lakeside mosque as being designed more for tourists than the faithful, and says the prime minister's office, a giant edifice topped with a green "onion dome," is downright arrogant.
"Palatial is alright if you're a king who owns the country, but we are a democracy and we're supposed to be ruled by the people," he said.
"If you want to go and see your leader, it should be easy to do so. If you want to pray, it should be easy to do so -- instead of creating a fortress-like atmosphere."
A spate of problems at the grand Putrajaya ministries last year, including collapsing ceilings and a burst water pipe that inundated the immigration department, raised more questions.
"I feel ashamed. These are new buildings and there are problems. There must be something wrong," Abdullah said at the time.
Tajuddin argues Putrajaya should have been designed in sympathy with Malaysia's harsh sun and tropical storms, with shaded path and breezy verandas instead of baking hot avenues and expanses of paved plazas.
"If you're going to have a kingdom designed to show opulence, it's going to be maintainance-intensive. Things are going to get broken very fast. Landscaping and flowers are all very expensive," he said.
Samusudin Osman, president of the Putrajaya Corporation which runs the town, has heard all the complaints before and good-naturedly urges critics to be realistic.
"People have very high expectations of Putrajaya, they expect it to be world class," he says.
He admits his own children aren't keen on the place and complain it's too quiet, "but for heaven's sake, this is an administrative centre, it has to have some air of formality."
The total cost of building the capital -- shared between the government and the developer -- has never been released but at least 20 billion ringgit (5.9 billion dollars) has come from public coffers.
"There are much better things to do for the money," said veteran opposition figure Lim Kit Siang who dismisses the project as a symptom of Mahathir-era "megalomania".
"My first impression of it was that it was a monstrosity and I don't think my views have greatly changed."

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Malaysia's military urges action against race troublemakers

Malaysia's armed forces chief Thursday called for "stern action" against those inciting racial conflict in the multicultural country, after the government warned tensions were rising.

A senior member of the ruling party was suspended for three years on Wednesday for triggering a race row with an outburst against ethnic Chinese, calling them "squatters" and warning them not to seek political power.

General Abdul Aziz Zainal, the military chief who earlier this week warned that racial issues were a "major threat to the country", again called for a lid to be put on any troublemakers.

"I only voice my concern on this issue, stern action must be taken to prevent it from happening," he told a press conference.

"There is no country that wants to see itself in turmoil," he added.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has raised concern about the state of ethnic relations in Malaysia, where the population is dominated by Muslim Malays who live alongside large ethnic Chinese and Indian communities.

"The racial situation in our country looks like it is showing signs of strain and increasing tensions among races," he said as he announced the measures to punish errant ruling party member Ahmad Ismail.

"We for so long have been able to control the situation so that nothing untoward happens, but we can't allow a situation like this to continue... which could affect our peace and stability," he said.

Deputy police chief Ismail Omar also sounded a warning on Wednesday, saying that racially charged statements had triggered a dangerous rash of inflammatory messages on Internet blogs and SMS text messages.

"I am issuing a stern warning to all quarters to refrain from making statements on sensitive issues via the various media," he said, according to the state Bernama news agency.

Ahmad's comments had raised fears of a split in Abdullah's coalition of race-based parties, which includes ethnic Chinese parties that were infuriated by the diatribe.

"The patience of the Malays and Muslims has a limit. Do not push us to the wall, as when we turn back we will be forced to push the Chinese in the interests of our own survival," Ahmad said in a press conference Monday.

"The Chinese should not try to be like the Jews in America -- it is not enough they control the economy, now they want political control," he said.

Malays dominate politics in Malaysia, while ethnic Chinese are prominent in business. Stirring up conflict between the groups is a serious offence in a country which is still haunted by past racial violence.

The latest row erupted as opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim -- whose Keadilan party is the first pan-racial party in Malaysian political history -- attempts to woo the support of enough coalition lawmakers to topple the government.

In March elections the opposition dramatically increased the number of seats it holds, and Anwar this week said he is "on track" to sign up the 30 defectors he needs to seize power.

Agence France-Presse - 9/11/2008 6:22 AM GMT

Monday, August 4, 2008

Anwar gets big welcome


Rapt attention: Anwar addressing the crowd in Permatang Pauh Sunday night

BUTTERWORTH: PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will contest the Permatang Pauh by-election even if he is put behind bars.

“Whether or not I am allowed to campaign and whether or not I'm thrown into the lock-up, I will definitely stand in Permatang Pauh,” he said to a huge crowd at his “homecoming” ceramah at the Seberang Jaya expo site.

He said he chose Permatang Pauh because some of the election petitions now in the courts would take a long time to settle.

He noted that his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had made clear of her intentions to step down as Permatang Pauh MP to pave the way for him.

“So there is no issue of us suami isteri (husband and wife) cheating Permatang Pauh voters,” he said at the function which was attended by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa.

On allegations that he was buying Barisan Nasional elected representatives to cross over to Pakatan Rakyat, Anwar said he did not have the money to buy the politicians.

Anwar later appealed to the public to donate at least RM1 each for his election campaigns in Permatang Pauh.

He also recalled the ordeal that he spent while under police custody and the medical examination that he had to go through for his sodomy allegation.

“If you have high blood pressure, please don’t read the news or watch the television in the next few weeks because you will be hearing all the accusations that they will hurl against me and Wan Azizah.

“They are doing all the things simply because I want to bring down the fuel price,” he added.

He noted that people had asked him why he was eager to go to Parliament to which he said he merely wanted to reduce the price of fuelwhich could be done.

Earlier in Butterworth, Anwar thanked Permatang Pauh voters for supporting him since 1982.

“You later supported my wife from the 1999 general election and helped her win with a bigger majority in the general election in March,” he said at the PKR Youth operations centre.

Dr Wan Azizah also thanked the voters for supporting her.

“I am vacating my seat not for personal interests, but for our common struggle to create history in Permatang Pauh, for Anwar to lead the nation,” she said in her speech.

The Star Monday August 4, 2008

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Malaysia's Anwar says he may be charged with sodomy

Malaysia's opposition figurehead Anwar Ibrahim insisted Wednesday he will fight a by-election later this year and form a new government despite fears he will soon be charged with sodomy.

"There are thousands of criminal cases not properly investigated. Why pursue this with zeal and in an unjust way? Is it because I will participate in a by-election," Anwar told reporters.

"You want me to withdraw? No. I will continue to pursue the change. Let's see if they want to charge me," he said after being interviewed by Islamic sharia enforcement officials over the sodomy allegations.

The former deputy prime minister admitted that his family and friends will undergo the same suffering they experienced in 1998 if he is "victimised, arrested and jailed."

Anwar has said the allegations of a young male aide, a repeat of charges that saw him jailed a decade ago, have been fabricated to block his plans to topple the coalition that has ruled Malaysia for half a century.

He has demanded that police stop the investigation and called the aide, 23-year-old Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan, an "outright liar" who was working with others in power to frame him.

Police, however, have said they will continue sodomy investigations on Anwar despite a leaked medical report which he said had vindicated him as it showed no evidence that his accuser was sodomised.

A senior hospital official Wednesday said the report "looks genuine" and said the doctor who examined Saiful was not a specialist.

Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said the medical report was part of a whole chain of evidence which police were investigating, the Star daily reported.

"We have to let the police complete their investigations, submit their investigating papers to the prosecutor and let the prosecutor decide if there is a case," the home minister was quoted as saying by the newspaper Wednesday.

Sodomy even between consenting adults is a crime punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment in mostly Muslim Malaysia.

Anwar aims to return to parliament for the first time in a decade if a court orders a by-election near his home town -- the next step in his political rehabilitation after being sacked in 1998 and later jailed on sodomy and corruption charges.

A high court in Kedah state will hear a challenge on August 19, asking it to invalidate the result in a seat that was won by his Keadilan party in March 8 general elections.

Anwar described the police investigations as a "political vendetta" against him and reminded the security authorities that Malaysia was not a "police state."

"They accuse me of being a person planted by the Americans. They accuse me of wanting to sell this country to China. I advise the police to probe (the allegations) based on facts," he said.

Agence France-Presse - 7/30/2008 11:21 AM GMT

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Opposition plan to seize power in Malaysia on track: Anwar

Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday said an opposition plan to seize power remained intact despite a series of secret talks between one of its partners with the ruling government.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi over the weekend announced his United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) had held three meetings with the opposition Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS) to discuss issues related to Islam and Malay unity.

Local reports said the move by PAS to engage UMNO without the knowledge of Anwar's Keadilan and the Chinese-dominated Democratic Action Party (DAP) had created rifts in the opposition, which is divided along religious and idealogical lines.

But Anwar, a former deputy prime minister, said PAS had assured him that it was committed to the opposition Pakatan Rakyat alliance.

"We are still on track. It is not a question of toppling the government but to ensure that the people win. I have said that I am the prime minister in waiting.

"For now, I have no reason to question the intention of the PAS leadership. They have given an assurance to me that the collaboration with the opposition remains and is unchanged," he said.
PAS youth chief Salahuddin Ayub told AFP that there will be no more "secret meetings" with UMNO.

"We remain committed to the opposition pact. We will work together. We will not discuss with UMNO the issue of power sharing," he said.

In April, the three opposition parties announced a strategic alliance after humbling the ruling coalition with unprecedented gains in elections the month before.

The parties, rallied by Anwar, claimed more than a third of parliamentary seats and five of the 13 states in the March 8 polls, handing the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition its worst electoral result since 1969.

Anwar also said he had briefed 38 foreign diplomats from key Western countries including the United States on the political situation in Malaysia.

He also said he had talked to them about the sodomy allegations levelled against him by a 23-year-old male former aide.

He said the claims had been fabricated to prevent him from seizing power and showed he posed a threat to Abdullah's coalition, which has ruled Malaysia for more than 50 years.

A return to parliament would be the next step in the political rehabilitation of Anwar, who was sacked as deputy premier in 1998 and jailed on sodomy and corruption charges.

The sex conviction was later overturned, but the corruption count barred him from public office until April.


Agence France-Presse - 7/23/2008 11:22 AM GMT

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Malaysia's Anwar vows to topple government


Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on Monday vowed to topple the prime minister despite what he called attempts to "demonise and intimidate" him.

Anwar said allegations of sodomy levelled by a 23-year-old male aide showed he posed a threat to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's National Front coalition, which has ruled Malaysia for more than 50 years.

"We are on track to take over the government. We want to pursue this agenda for reform," a smiling Anwar told reporters.

"Clearly, I am a political threat."

Anwar spent a night in police cells last week after he was arrested on sodomy allegations he says the government fabricated to prevent him from seizing power.

"What is the issue? I have not seen the (police) report (made by Saiful)," he said.

Anwar's Keadilan party aims to establish a new coalition government by the end of the year, its information chief told AFP.

"We are confident a change of government will happen by year-end," said Tian Chua.

A return to parliament would be the next step in the political rehabilitation of Anwar, who was sacked as deputy premier in 1998 and jailed on sodomy and corruption charges.
The sex conviction was later overturned, but the corruption count barred him from public office until April.

Fired up by Anwar's charismatic presence, the opposition Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance made unprecedented gains in March general elections, leaving it just 30 seats short of ousting the ruling coalition.

But the accusation by aide Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan that Anwar sexually assaulted him threatens to derail the former deputy premier's political comeback.

On Monday, Saiful's father Azlan Mohammad Lazim said his son was "ready to swear at any time ... in a mosque ... that he was sodomised as reported to the police, once the investigations are over."

Anwar has refused to provide a DNA sample to police saying he feared the evidence would be manipulated, but on Monday Saiful's lawyer urged him to cooperate.

"Saiful is urging Anwar to give his DNA sample and to cooperate with the police to speed up the investigation," Zamri Idrus told reporters.

"I was appointed in July as Saiful's counsel and I saw him just a few days ago. We are asking Anwar to give greater cooperation to the police and we push for a quick resolution to the investigation," he said.

Anwar Monday condemned police over his arrest last Thursday, when he spent a night in a cell and underwent a strip search.

"Why ambush and arrest me? Why put me in a cell? Why treat me like a common criminal? There is a pattern to demonise and intimidate me," he said.

The comments came as Malaysia's police chief filed a defamation lawsuit accusing Anwar of fabricating evidence.
Anwar has accused Musa Hassan and attorney general Abdul Gani Patail of manipulating evidence in an investigation into an alleged beating he received while in police custody ten years ago.

Anwar welcomed the lawsuit, saying he was prepared to face Musa in court.
"I will deal with this in court. I am happy to take him to court," Anwar told reporters after giving a statement to prosecutors.

Agence France-Presse - 7/21/2008 11:14 AM GMT

Friday, July 11, 2008

Malaysia PM's handover plan fails to silence critics


Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's decision to step down in favour of his deputy in mid-2010 has not silenced calls for a prompt change of leadership after a drubbing in March elections.

Abdullah said Thursday he had struck an agreement with his deputy Najib Razak to hand over power, but first wanted the opportunity to implement reforms and projects promised since he came to office five years ago.

The premier has faced repeated calls to resign from within his ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), after unprecedented losses in the elections and a fuel price hike that triggered public outrage.

Although his announcement was aimed at silencing these dissident factions, and averting a challenge in UMNO leadership polls in December, rumblings from within have already begun.
Party vice president Muhyiddin Yassin, a potential leadership contender who has much to lose under the deal, said some in the party preferred a quicker handover and wanted to decide their new leader for themselves.

"Some have expressed concern that if the duration is that long the situation will not become more convincing. This needs to be taken into account," Muhyiddin told state news agency Bernama.

"The election is still far. Why the haste to make the decision now," he said. Muhyiddin was tipped as a number-two to Najib after Abdullah's departure, but will now have to wait two years for a chance at the role.

UMNO veteran Razaleigh Hamzah, a prince from northern Kelantan state who wants to challenge Abdullah for the top job, also questioned the premier's right to hand over the party's leadership to Najib.

"It's improper for Abdullah to hand over any post as it is an elected post," he told Bernama. Traditionally the president of UMNO, which leads a national coalition representing Malaysia's various races, is also prime minister.

"Many people are unaware that the PM must get permission from various institutions especially the King before doing this," he said.

Abdullah's predecessor Mahathir Mohamad, a staunch Najib ally who had a very public falling out with Abdullah, predicted that Najib will never become prime minister.

"Although Najib was promised that a transition would take place in 2010, all kinds of accusations will be hurled at him so that Najib would appear unfit to even be deputy prime minister," Mahathir said in his blog.

"One of Abdullah's more trusted lieutenants will take over and the new person won't take over as PM in 2010 due to a lack of experience so Abdullah will continue to rule until the next elections," he added.

Najib and opposition figurehead Anwar Ibrahim are now gripped in a bitter political brawl, with both facing serious misconduct accusations that could prevent them from vying for the country's top post.

Najib has been forced to deny accusations that he had an affair with a Mongolian woman murdered in 2006, while Anwar faces new allegations of sodomy -- the same charge he was jailed over a decade ago -- which he says are fabricated by the government.

Analysts are divided over the need for a quick handover, which could end political uncertainty that has hampered Malaysia's financial markets.

"A faster departure means a new leader who can start making changes to the country," said analyst Azmi Sharom.

Some, however, think the prime minister needs time to deliver on the promises that he was punished in the general elections for not delivering.

"He is putting a time frame with enough time so that he will have a visible legacy and be remembered with kindness," said pollster Ibrahim Suffian from the Merdeka Centre.

"Abdullah needs to ensure that the changes cannot be rolled back by any successor," he told AFP.
Agence France-Presse - 7/11/2008 7:46 AM GMT

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Malaysia's PM to stand down in mid-2010


Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Thursday he would stand down in mid-2010, after facing repeated calls to quit since disastrous March elections.


Abdullah said he had struck an agreement with his deputy Najib Razak to hand over power but first wanted the opportunity to implement reforms and projects promised since he came to office five years ago.


"I have decided to hand over my position to Najib to take over as party president in June, in the middle of 2010," Abdullah told a press conference.


The president of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), which leads the Barisan Nasional coalition, is traditionally prime minister.


"I have achieved an agreement with Najib that I will not lead the BN and UMNO in the next election... and also this means that a transition of power must take place," he said.


Abdullah had resisted calls to quit after general elections that handed the opposition unprecedented gains, and a fuel price hike that triggered public outrage and a series of protests.


"My wish is to strengthen the party and carry out the implementation of programmes and promises made at election time," he said as he stood alongside Najib and other senior UMNO leaders.


Najib pledged his support for Abdullah and urged the party to accept his decision and re-elect the premier in leadership elections in December where disgruntled UMNO elements had been expected to vent their feelings.


"Today starts the process of the transition of power in an orderly manner, following UMNO tradition, where he has given support for me to be his replacement," he said.


"I will continue to accept Abdullah as head of the party," he said.
"I urge members to support the candidacy of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as president of the party in the upcoming elections and urge party members to accept this."


Asked about his feelings, Abdullah jokingly pretend to cry and said: "I feel a little sadness, nothing more than that. I feel a sense of achievement, I have taken steps that are well received.
After a meeting of UMNO division and branch leaders -- whose support Abdullah needs to stay in power -- the embattled premier said he was confident the party would accept the long-range departure plans.


"The meeting gave me a standing ovation after this so I think it was well received," he said.
Political uncertainty since the elections, which has hurt Malaysia's financial markets, was heightened after opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said he is poised to seize power with the help of government defectors.


Anwar and Najib are now gripped in an astonishing political brawl, with both facing serious misconduct accusations that could decide who will be the next prime minister.


Anwar faces new allegations of sodomy -- the same charge he was jailed over a decade ago -- which he says are fabricated by the government, and Najib has been forced to deny accusations that he had an affair with a Mongolian woman murdered in 2006.


Abdullah dismissed suggestions that the ongoing trial in that case -- a close friend of Najib has been charged with abetting the murder -- had played a role in the timing of his departure.
"I think that is separate. This is a decision at a party level," he said.


The opposition alliance on Thursday filed a motion in parliament seeking to hold a debate on the "loss of confidence" in the coalition government.


"The public has lost confidence in the integrity of the government," said Anwar's wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who leads his Keadilan party.


"The people are now facing a huge crisis, having to bear the burden of expensive fuel, the higher cost of food and basic needs. The parliament should debate this motion," she said.



Agence France-Presse - 7/10/2008 1:34 PM GMT

Monday, June 30, 2008

Amnesty fears rights violations in Malaysian mass deportation

International rights watchdog Amnesty said Friday that Malaysia's plans to deport tens of thousands of illegal migrants from Borneo island could lead to serious human rights violations.

The government this week announced a campaign to drive out the migrants, mostly from the Philippines and Indonesia, who have settled in Sabah state on Malaysia's half of Borneo.

"We are of the opinion that the federal government's unilateral action may result in serious human rights violations," Amnesty said, warning that many of those targeted were asylum seekers and refugees from the southern Philippines.

Amnesty's branch in Malaysia called on the government to establish a Royal Commission of inquiry to study the issue of illegal migration to Sabah.

"We fear that the simplistic and arbitrary action of mass crackdown by the federal government in addressing such a serious and complex issue will only elevate the ongoing human rights and humanitarian concerns in Sabah and the region to a serious crisis level," it said.

Politicians in Sabah have pushed the national government to expel the illegal migrants, saying they were a burden on the economy and pose a security threat by engaging in crime and the drugs trade.

Authorities say there are 130,000 illegal migrants in the impoverished state, but local politicians put the figure as high as 500,000. Many of them work in the timber and plantations industries.

Amnesty said some of the settlers had lived in Sabah for more than 10 years, and that they risked "cruel, inhuman or degrading" treatment during deportation.

"In 2002, reports indicated that the process of mass deportations of undocumented migrants led to the deaths of children, due to dehydration and disease in detention centres in the state of Sabah," it said.

Indonesian officials have also said they were concerned about the deportation plans, the latest in a series of periodic crackdowns by Malaysia that have caused conflict between the two countries in the past.

Malaysia splits Borneo island with Indonesia.

Agence France-Presse - 6/27/2008 10:10 AM GMT

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Malaysia's Anwar seeks refuge at embassy after sex allegationss


Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim took refuge at the Turkish embassy Sunday after denying allegations he sodomised a male aide, the same charge that saw him jailed a decade ago.

The former deputy prime minister denounced as a "complete fabrication" a police report allegedly lodged by the 23-year-old aide, and said it was an attempt to sideline his spectacular return to the political stage in March elections.
He said threats had been made against him and that since Sunday he has taken refuge at the Turkish embassy in Kuala Lumpur on the invitation of the ambassador.

"The police report lodged against me earlier today is a complete fabrication. I believe we are witnessing a repeat of the methods used against me in 1998 when false allegations were made under duress," he said.

"I have been told that my assassination has not been ruled out as a means to subvert the people's will and bring an end to the transformational changes taking place in Malaysia," he said in a statement.

The new sex charges triggered fears Anwar faced imminent arrest, but police said they would first carry out an investigation.

Anwar was sacked as deputy prime minister in 1998 and convicted on sodomy and corruption charges which he said were politically motivated. He spent six years in jail but was released in 2004 when the sex charge was overturned.

"These actions are being repeated today to undermine the forces of reform and renewal which were unleashed in the March 2008 elections," Anwar said, dismissing the affair as a "charade".

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, whose government was shaken by the elections that handed the opposition unprecedented gains including a third of parliamentary seats, denied any involvement in the affair.

"We had no plans to do anything to him just because he says he's made a political comeback," Abdullah told a press conference.

Criminal Investigation Department chief Bakri Zinin said the aide had personally written the report detailing an incident at a condominium in an upmarket Kuala Lumpur suburb.
"It's mere allegation at this point. We will look into it and establish the allegations first to see whether it is true or not," he told reporters.

Anwar said the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition was striking back after he gave evidence against the government and police over the fabrication of evidence in the original case against him.
"I urge the Malaysian people to stand against the repressive forces that will be unleashed by the government in the coming days and weeks," he said.

Since the March polls, Anwar has said he is poised to form a new government with the help of defectors from the ruling coalition, undermining Abdullah who has faced repeated demands to step down over the election debacle.

Anwar's wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail accused the government of orchestrating the allegations which she condemned as "a political murder against my husband".

She produced a photograph of the aide with a staff member of a senior politician and said it proved a link with the government, which was trying to divert attention away from problems such as fuel price hikes.

About 100 supporters gathered at a hotel where Anwar's Keadilan party leaders were meeting, shouting "Reformasi" or "Reform," the opposition movement's battlecry.

"We will take to the streets if they arrest him," said social activist Marvin Madahvan.
James Chin, a political analyst from Malaysia's Monash campus, said more mud-slinging would emerge as the date approaches by which Anwar said he would seize power.

"As we head towards September 16, Anwar's own deadline on when he will topple the government, more and more political things will be coming out of the closet from both sides," he told AFP.

"In all probability, these sorts of events are designed to distract the population from real issues such as the slowdown in the economy and the rising fuel prices."

Agence France-Presse - 6/29/2008 11:40 AM GMT

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Malaysian govt pushes through vote on fuel price hike


Malaysia's ruling coalition pushed through a vote supporting its fuel price hike in parliament Monday, but the opposition said the debate highlighted intense public opposition to the move.

The Barisan Nasional won the vote 129 to 78, and avoided a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi which a minor party in the 14-party coalition had campaigned for.

Abdullah has been fighting for his political survival since a drubbing in March elections, and this month's 41 percent increase in petrol prices has put him under further pressure.

"They wanted to turn this into a vote of no-confidence in the PM but the Barisan Nasional was united," said cabinet minister Nazri Aziz.

"There is no question about BN MPs wanting to jump over to the other side," he told reporters, after the opposition said it would soon form a new government with the support of defecting lawmakers.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Shahrir Samad told parliament that Malaysia could not continue to pay out for expensive fuel subsidies.

"One of the reasons the government was forced to increase the fuel price was because the subsidy, which was 8.8 billion ringgit (2.5 billion dollars) in 2007, was expected to reach 27 billion this year," he said.

"We cannot afford this," Shahrir said, adding that the government had taken measures to protect citizens from inflation.

The Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance said it was reluctant to mount a formal no-confidence vote, but that the parliamentary debate emphasised unhappiness with the government's performance.

"The Pakatan Rakyat are trying to highlight the problems with government policies, and our opposition to today's motion shows the people's lack of confidence in Abdullah," said Azmin Ali, vice-president of Keadilan, which heads the alliance.

"This is something which we can use to send a message to the government. The present leadership... are incompetent to manage the economy and the future of Abdullah to lead this country is untenable," he told AFP.

Two lawmakers from the Sabah Progressive Party, a coalition member which dropped a bombshell last week when it called for the no-confidence vote, were absent from parliament after saying they had received threats.

"Events in the last 24 hours have taken a disturbing turn. Among others, we have received reports of intimidating and bullying tactics," the president of the Chinese-based party Yong Teck Lee said in a statement.

He said there had been text messages and phone calls "implying threats" to the two MPs and their aides, and that at a gathering of the ruling party UMNO "aggressive words touching on racial incitement were used."

Its parliamentarians had been recalled to Kota Kinabalu in Sabah state on Borneo island to discuss their safety and that of their families and offices, he said.
Agence France-Presse - 6/23/2008 12:01 PM GMT

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Malaysia's Anwar says fuel hike aids bid to seize power


Malaysia's opposition figurehead Anwar Ibrahim said Sunday his bid to seize power with the help of defecting government lawmakers had been boosted by an unpopular fuel price hike.

Anwar said that at least 30 parliamentarians are willing to cross over to the Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance, and that if the opposition gained power, the fuel price would immediately be cut.

"According to our timetable it is still on. Now it is more attractive after the price hike," Anwar said at a press conference after a meeting with members of his Keadilan party's supreme council.
"In the light of the political and economical uncertainties led by the government, we have seen clearly more interest and support for Pakatan Rakyat and this applies even to members of parliament," he said.

"There is absolutely no reason... for them to remain and support the leadership that has failed the nation."

Anwar said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's decision last week to hike the price of fuel by 41 percent and restructure the country's oil subsidy system was an "ill-conceived" plan.

He said that as Malaysia was a net oil exporter, the current high price of crude oil on world markets would earn the country a fortune in additional revenue.

"I stand by my decision that when Pakatan Rakyat forms the new government fuel prices definitely will be cut. I will immediately resign, if I do not keep my word and reduce the price of fuel," said Anwar, a former finance minister.

Anwar said he could not elaborate on the timetable for the government lawmakers to cross over, for fear of harassment and intimidation.

"We have to do it very cautiously, mindful of the fact that the system is quite repressive in this country," he said.

Abdullah's Barisan Nasional coalition was punished by voters in March general elections for failing to rein in the cost of food and fuel, losing a third of parliamentary seats and five states to the opposition.

The opposition only needs 30 lawmakers to gain a simple majority in parliament, and topple the government.

Abdullah's leadership is also in doubt, with persistent calls for him to quit to take responsibility for the election debacle.

"Politically the message was clear on March 8. Economically it is now a disaster. That is why they are calling on them to resign," Anwar said.
Agence France-Presse - 6/8/2008 9:37 AM GMT

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Malaysian minister denies Amnesty's secret killings report


Malaysia's home minister on Thursday denied his country carried out executions in secret as claimed in a recent report by human rights group Amnesty International.

Amnesty, in a report on death sentences and executions on Tuesday, said "many countries carry out executions in secret and refuse to divulge any information on the use of the death penalty."
It said these countries include China, Singapore, Malaysia and Mongolia.

"We do not have secret killings, as anyone who commits a crime here has to go through the process of law. We cannot simply kill people, Malaysia is a country of law," home minister Syed Hamid Albar told state news agency Bernama.

"I don't know how they could come up with such a report. Did they meet and speak to anyone or just listen to rumours?" he added.

Amnesty International Malaysia coordinator K. Shanmuganathan said in a statement that the report did not put forward any fact of arbitrary executions in the country.

He also urged the government to provide more reliable information about executions.
Amnesty International Malaysia "calls on the government of Malaysia to make an official release on all statistics on executions and death sentences in Malaysia to date," he said in the statement.
Attempts by AFP to reach Shanmuganathan for additional comment were not successful.

Agence France-Presse - 4/17/2008 11:43 AM GMT

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Malaysian police probe Anwar's wife over illegal rally


Malaysian police on Wednesday began investigating the wife of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and other top party leaders over a banned gathering to mark his return to active politics.

Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Anwar's wife, who heads the Keadilan party, was among four people questioned following a rally Monday which police said was illegal.

"We have answered all their questions and we leave it to the police," Wan Azizah later told reporters.

"If you compare what happened here to (the way the police treat the ruling United Malays National Organisation), it would seem that we are getting more attention," she said in a reference to the way police disrupted Monday's gathering.

Anwar, a former deputy prime minister who was sacked and jailed a decade ago, said at the rally he had enough support to form a government but would not act until he had a more comfortable majority.

But police halted his speech midway and closed down the rally, which drew 10,000 supporters to celebrate the end of his ban from politics.

Party vice president Azmin Ali, Selangor state chief minister Khalid Ibrahim and his aide were also ordered to turn up at police headquarters.

Azmin said he did not understand why police were keen to investigate gathering.
"(The police) had a series of meetings (with organisers) prior to the event. Even on the day itself, they sent down senior police officers to discuss the traffic flow outside the club," he added.
The rally marked the expiry of Anwar's official ban from public office.

Once seen as the heir apparent to long-time leader Mahathir Mohamad, he was subsequently convicted on sex and corruption charges and spent six years in jail, before storming back to prominence in March elections.

With Anwar at the helm a reinvigorated opposition seized a third of parliamentary seats and five states in the worst ever showing for the Barisan Nasional coalition that has ruled for half a century.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Malaysia's Mahathir urges PM Abdullah to resign


Veteran ex-leader Mahathir Mohamad on Tuesday urged Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to resign following disastrous election results.

Abdullah, also president of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), is facing increasing calls to quit from party leaders.

"I ask (Abdullah) to resign," the former prime minister, who ruled Malaysia for 22 years, told a gathering of at least 2,000 UMNO members.

The focus of the meeting was to analyse the March 8 election results but it turned out to be a platform to demand Abdullah's resignation.

UMNO members criticised Abdullah and the alleged influence son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin, who is a deputy leader of the powerful UMNO youth wing, has over him in decision-making.
"Anyone else would have already resigned but (Abdullah) has no shame," Mahathir, who picked Abdullah to succeed him October 2003, told a cheering crowd.

Mahathir said Abdullah had ignored the will of the people, while the veteran's son, Mukhriz, a lawmaker, echoed the call for Abdullah to go.

"To bring about (reform), the top leadership has to be held responsible. The prime minister must gracefully withdraw," Mukhriz said.

He urged UMNO members to speak out and not be intimidated.

"Be brave, if you love your country and speak out," he said. "We have been told to keep quiet but I ask you now to stand by my side."

Abdullah, 68, has claimed a mandate to rule despite unprecedented election losses, but observers say he is on borrowed time.

Senior lawmaker Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah had said he would challenge Abdullah's leadership if he received enough support.

Agence France-Presse - 4/1/2008 9:12 AM GMT MSN

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Malaysian PM to downsize cabinet: report


Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is expected to unveil a slimline new cabinet early next week, cutting back posts after unprecedented election losses, a report said Thursday.

The Star daily cited sources as saying that posts would be trimmed in line with the smaller government presence in parliament, where it now has 140 lawmakers compared to 198 in the outgoing administration.

Abdullah told the state Bernama news agency the new line-up would reflect the coalition's racial power-sharing concept and would include all the communities -- majority Muslim Malays and minority ethnic Chinese and Indians.

"Wait a few more days," he said late Wednesday, when asked when the cabinet would be unveiled.

The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition lost its two-thirds majority for the first time in four decades, and conceded four more states to a resurgent opposition in March 8 polls.

Abdullah's previous cabinet had a whopping 32 ministers, 39 deputy ministers and 20 parliamentary secretaries, with jobs handed out to many of the 14 race-based parties that make up the Barisan Nasional.

The large cabinet had been criticised as unwieldy and wasteful, but The Star said Abdullah faced a headache in reducing positions while still keeping the coaliton members happy. It said some ministries could be merged.

Political observers have also said that Abdullah will have difficulties finding ethnic minority candidates to fill prominent posts, after the Chinese and Indian parties in the coalition were punished in the elections.

The only Indian cabinet minister in the outgoing administration, Samy Vellu, lost his parliamentary seat which he had held since 1974.

The minority parties in the coalition bore the brunt of voter anger over rising "Islamisation" of Malaysia and criticisms the government was insensitive to the needs of minorities.

Agence France-Presse - 3/13/2008 4:24 AM
Malaysia's Islamic party supports reforming pro-Malay policy
Malaysia's conservative Islamic party PAS on Wednesday backed an opposition plan to reform positive discrimination policies for Muslim Malays, saying they were unfair to minorities.

The Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) is part of a three-member opposition alliance which made huge strides in weekend elections, seizing control of four more states and a third of parliamentary seats.

Opposition figurehead Anwar Ibrahim has said that the discrimination policies which give majority Malays benefits in education, housing and business would be sidelined in the five states the opposition now controls.

He said the New Economic Policy (NEP) championed by the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) would be replaced with a system to boost poor Malaysians whether they be Malay, ethnic Chinese or Indian.

"There are many aspects of the New Economic Policy which are good and can be implemented, but its failure is because of UMNO's abuse of power, corruption and double standards," PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said.

"We will keep plans to help the poor Malays and the underprivileged, but we cannot rob non-Malays of their rights in the name of protecting Malay rights," he said.

Hadi Awang said the unfair elements would be jettisoned, but he did not specify exactly how the policy would now operate in the areas under PAS control.

The NEP was launched in the early 1970s in an effort to improve the lot of Malays, who dominate the population in the multiracial country, and to close the wealth gap with ethnic Chinese who are prominent in business.

However, it has been criticised for failing to address hard-core poverty and improperly benefiting rich Malay entrepreneurs.

The Democratic Action Party, which took power in industrialised Penang on Tuesday, has said it will dismantle the discriminatory policies in the state that is home to many foreign high-tech firms, including Intel and Sony.

Hadi Awang said PAS-led state governments would implement an open tender system for government contracts similar to that announced by new Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

The three opposition parties, including Anwar's Keadilan, are to rule most of the five states in various coalitions. However, they have large ideological differences and Abdul Hadi said PAS has yet to hold direct talks with the DAP.

The DAP was part of an opposition coalition with PAS and Keadilan in the 1999 general elections, but they broke ranks in 2001 because of the Islamic party's call for an Islamic state -- a goal that has since been dropped.

Abdul Hadi said Keadilan was now acting as a mediator as the parties attempt to cobble together coalitions in newly acquired states.
Malaysian opposition unveils multiracial line-up in key state
The new ethnic Chinese chief minister of Malaysia's Penang state on Wednesday picked a Malay and an Indian as his deputies, underlining the opposition's multiracial image.

Lim Guan Eng, head of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), was appointed chief minister Tuesday after a stunning performance in weekend polls which handed Penang and three other states to a three-party opposition alliance.

Lim, who will govern one of the nation's richest states and the only one dominated by ethnic Chinese, appointed Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin from the Keadilan party and the DAP's P. Ramasamy to serve with him.

Ramasamy, a former political science lecturer at the National University of Malaysia, described his appointment as "an historic moment."

"There has never been an ethnic Indian deputy chief minister before and the appointment shows the DAP is living up to its electoral promise to represent all races," he said.

Analysts said Lim's efforts will cement the opposition's unprecedented polls performance against the Barisan Nasional -- a coalition of 14 race-based parties -- and recast the image of the DAP as a Chinese-based party.

"I think this reflects the extra sensitivities given by the DAP to reflect its brand of multiracial policies," said James Chin, a political science professor at Monash University's campus in Kuala Lumpur.

"Now they are telling the whole world that they are truly a multiethnic party."
Malaysia's weekend elections, which deprived the government of its two-thirds parliamentary majority for the first time in its half-century history, has shattered the nation's race-based political scene.

Opposition figurehead Anwar Ibrahim's Keadilan has also emerged as a truly multiracial party, with lawmakers and supporters from all three races -- posing a direct threat to the Barisan Nasional. Malaysia's media changes tone after shock poll results

Previously, it had touted itself as the only institution that could claim to represent Malaysia's racial spectrum.

Gerakan, a component party of the Barisan Nasional which had ruled Penang since 1969, was wiped out in the March 8 polls. It only fielded ethnic Chinese candidates.
Malaysia's media changes tone after shock poll results
Malaysia's government-friendly media has changed its tone after shock election gains by the opposition, aiming to win back readers alienated by biased coverage, industry sources said Wednesday.

Malaysia's mainstream newspapers and television networks, many of them partly government-owned, were awash with flattering coverage of the ruling coalition ahead of Saturday's polls.

But after unprecedented losses, which saw the government lose its two-thirds parliamentary majority for the first time in four decades, opposition figures who had been ignored or vilified are now being splashed on front pages.

"It is a wake up call for us. The mainstream media should revisit and review our policies," said Azman Ujang, general manager of the state news agency Bernama.

Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders ranks Malaysia 124 out of 169 on its worldwide press freedom index, and says the main media are "often compelled to ignore or to play down the many events organised by the opposition".

But Azman said the mainstream media now has a "higher responsibility" to report news fairly or face being abandoned by its audience, which flocked to blogs and online news portals for impartial election coverage.

"Malaysian media can learn from this because the people have spoken loud and clear, not only what kind of government they want but also the kind of media they prefer," he told AFP.

Gayathry Venkiteswaran from Malaysia's Centre for Independent Journalism said there had been some "positive changes" in media which likely felt they now had no choice but to report fairly on the opposition.

"Editors and journalists here have to do a lot of soul-searching. It is very hard to dismantle practices which have been in place for such a long time."

On Wednesday, the government-linked New Straits Times, which attacked opposition figurehead Anwar Ibrahim last week, ran a front-page report detailing the opposition's agenda as it assumes power in Penang state.

"New Penang chief minister rings in the changes," it said, listing initiatives including fighting corruption and promoting clean government, in coverage unthinkable only days ago.

Media consultant G. Manimaran said the media had the chance to reverse dwindling readership among urban, educated Malaysians who have been moving to alternative online sources of information.

"This is the first time in 20 years of journalism that I am seeing people queueing up to buy newspapers," he said.

A senior journalist from the government-linked press said that with Malaysia's richest states of Penang and Selangor -- which surrounds Kuala Lumpur -- in opposition hands, media owners had to switch tack.

"With so many states under the opposition you have to be fair in reporting or the paper is going to lose a lot of money," said the journalist who declined to be named.

Malaysians polled by AFP said they were pleasantly surprised with the post-election coverage.
"They (mainstream newspapers) were obviously one-sided before but now at least they are giving much better coverage. We see more opposition faces, this is certainly fairer," said Alex Matthews, a doctor.

"Although I don't usually read papers, I thought it was better coverage. The papers were snapped up so fast," said lawyer Audrey Pillai.
Malaysian opposition targets race policies, warns govt
Malaysia's opposition Tuesday announced plans to dismantle race-based discrimination policies and warned the government not to sabotage the transition of power as it prepared to rule in five states.

After a stunning weekend election performance that seized a third of parliamentary seats and four new states from the ruling coalition, an opposition figure was sworn in Tuesday as chief minister in Penang.

Lim Guan Eng, head of the Democratic Action Party which is a part of a three-member opposition alliance, immediately targeted positive discrimination policies for Muslim Malays who dominate the nation's population.

"We want to run the state government administration free from the New Economic Policy that only breeds cronyism, corruption and systematic inefficiency," he told reporters.

"Instead, we advocate a stakeholders' economy for all, based on the principle of shared prosperity in an equitable manner," he said.

The New Economic Policy was introduced in the early 1970s to bridge the wealth gap with ethnic Chinese who dominate business, by giving Malays advantages in education, housing and business.

It was one of the factors behind a flight by ethnic Chinese and Indian voters in weekend polls, which deprived the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition of a two-thirds majority in parliament for the first time in four decades.

Penang, styled as Malaysia's "Silicon Valley", is Malaysia's only Chinese-majority state and is home to the manufacturing operations of electronic giants such as Intel and Sony.

The opposition, led by Anwar Ibrahim who represents the Keadilan party, also took the states of Kedah, Perak and Selangor. The Islamic party PAS already ruled Kelantan in the north.

Anwar also targeted the discrimination policy Tuesday, saying that in the opposition-ruled states it would be sidelined in favour of a new merit-based programme aimed at the needy irrespective of their race.

"This will immediately increase foreign investment, improve the state's tax revenue and begin to promote more equity and income parity," he said.

The political earthquake triggered a 9.5 percent decline on the stock market Monday as investors grew panicky over the prospect of an untested opposition running key states.
Anwar sought to reassure investors, admitting the scale of the victory caught everyone by surprise, but promising "business-friendly" policies and a crackdown on corruption.

He said the impact on the bourse and the ringgit currency would not persist unless the ruling coalition "chooses to pursue a regressive policy of punishment" and freezes planned big-spending state development programmes.

"We would warn Barisan Nasional however, that doing so will further alienate its position with the people."

Anwar conceded there could be a review of projects in the states which have changed hands, but downplayed concerns over cancellations.

"We will have to respect the existing agreements. But where adjustments are required, we have to look at it, especially those that imposed hardship to the people," he said.

"I may be in the opposition but I will not sacrifice the economic performance of this country. I assure that we will be market friendly and implement all the initiatives (of the previous administration)."

US investment bank Merrill Lynch said the negative reaction on the stock market, which staged a partial recovery Tuesday, was due to an expected slowdown in the decision-making process with a strong opposition in parliament.

But it described the results as "a blessing in disguise for Malaysia in the long-term".
"The current status quo has been shaken and the government may address some of its shortfalls which will eventually help the competitiveness of the country," it said.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Malaysia's opposition takes over in Penang

Malaysia's opposition was sworn in to power Tuesday in Penang, one of the nation's richest states, and swiftly announced plans to dismantle controversial race-based discrimination policies.
Lim Guan Eng, head of the Democratic Action Party, was appointed chief minister after a stunning performance in weekend polls which handed Penang and three other states to a three-party opposition alliance.

Lim immediately targeted the New Economic Policy, which was introduced in the early 1970s to bridge the wealth gap between the Muslim Malays who dominate the population and the ethnic Chinese who are successful in business.

"We want to run the state government administration free from the New Economic Policy that only breeds cronyism, corruption and systematic inefficiency," he told reporters.

"Instead, we advocate a stakeholders' economy for all, based on the principle of shared prosperity in an equitable manner," he said.

Lim said all government contracts would be conducted through an open tender system, unlike the practice of the previous administration. The new procedure takes effect immediately.

"To show transparency, information about the tender bids will be uploaded to an Internet portal for all to see," he said.

Lim also raised the prospect of scrapping a controversial 25 billion ringgit (7.8 billion dollar) development project on Penang island that was proposed by Barisan Nasional. Locals oppose the project out of environmental concerns.

The new chief minister said the project had aroused "much concern among the people in Penang" and that "scrapping it is definitely an option".

In a gesture of gratitude to voters, Lim cancelled all outstanding parking tickets and fines for illegal street vendors.

Penang, styled as Malaysia's "Silicon Valley", is home to the manufacturing operations of electronic giants like Intel and Sony and the only state to have a majority of ethnic Chinese voters.

Ethnic Chinese and Indian voters led the electoral charge against the coalition in weekend polls, depriving it of a two-thirds majority in federal parliament for the first time in four decades.

The minority communities were concerned about the rising "Islamisation" of Malaysia, and angry over the government's refusal to withdraw or reform the New Economic Policy, which they criticise as outdated and unfair.
Agence France-Presse - 3/11/2008 9:54 AM MSN News

Embattled Malaysian PM sworn in despite polls setback

Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was sworn in for a second term Monday, winning the backing of his ruling coalition despite unprecedented losses in weekend elections.

Trade on the Malaysian bourse was suspended when shares plunged more than 10 percent in the wake of the Barisan Nasional coalition's shock loss of its crucial two-thirds parliamentary majority and four states to the opposition.

Voters punished the government for rising inflation and its mishandling of racial tensions, leading to a backlash from Malaysia's minority ethnic Chinese and Indians as well as Muslim Malays who form its powerbase.

But a defiant Abdullah rejected calls from his predecessor Mahathir Mohamad to step down, and went to the royal palace in Kuala Lumpur to take an oath before Malaysia's King Mizan Zainal Abidin in a solemn ceremony.

Later, after meetings of the Barisan Nasional and the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) which leads it, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said they had given Abdullah their "full support" to remain as leader,

Abdullah was upbeat despite the rebuke handed to the coalition which has ruled for half a century, and downplayed the loss of the two-thirds majority which had allowed it to amend the constitution at will.

"It will not hamper us from carrying out government policies. We have a strong majority," he said, adding that "the security situation in the country is peaceful and there is no sign of any chaos."

But Abdullah conceded that UMNO, which represents majority Muslim Malays, needed to consider reforms.

"UMNO has accepted what happened was a lesson to us," he said. "We do recognise the shortcomings and we will try to introduce new policies so that we can progress."

Abdullah's task now is to form a new government under the Barisan Nasional, which is made up of 14 race-based parties including ethnic Chinese and Indian parties that were annihilated in the polls.

Meanwhile the opposition, led by former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim -- who has made a stunning political comeback after his sacking and jailing a decade ago -- was getting down to business.

The opposition parties -- Anwar's Keadilan, the Chinese-based Democratic Action Party (DAP) and the Islamic party PAS -- won an unprecedented four states in the polls.

PAS also extended its margin in northern Kelantan state, which it had held by a thin majority.
Anwar said late Sunday that the opposition parties would be able to put aside their ideological differences and govern effectively.

He said they would "focus on the economic issue and trying to resolve some of the problems affecting the masses, particularly in the issue of poverty and the normal needs of an average citizen."
Anwar is banned from holding public office until April due to a corruption conviction, and he said his plans to enter parliament in a by-election are on hold until he consolidates his party's gains.
Observers said Malaysia's fractured, race-based political scene has been shattered by the electoral outcome, and looked set to be replaced by a modern two-party system.

The Star newspaper said in an editorial that Barisan Nasional could consider reforming into a one-party, multi-racial organisation, to face the challenge from Keadilan which represents all three ethnic groups.
"The first page of the new Malaysian political era opens today," it said.

Malaysia's bourse was shaken by the political earthquake, leading to a one-hour suspension triggered when the bourse fell by more than 10 percent.

The main index finished down 123.11 points, or 9.5 percent, at 1,173.22 in the biggest tumble since the height of the Asian financial crisis in September 1998, when it dived 21 percent in a single session.

Abdullah expressed confidence in Malaysia's fundamentals.

"The government of Barisan Nasional will be a strong government. We will ensure the economy continues to remain strong. Whatever actions we have taken are working well and has been welcomed by the private sector," he said.

Agence France-Presse - 3/10/2008 12:11 PM

Malaysia's ruling party supports PM to remain: deputy PM

Malaysia's ruling party has given Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi its "full support" to stay on as leader, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said Monday after a shock election setback.

"The UMNO Supreme Council has given its full support to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to remain as the prime minister and UMNO president," Najib said after a meeting of the party's policy-making body.

"And this stance is very important to maintain investor confidence in our country and to allow the party to face all the challenges."

Abdullah has faced calls for his resignation after the unprecedented losses in Saturday's polls, which deprived the government of its two-thirds majority for the first time since 1969 and handed the opposition four more states.

"We hope there will not be any doubt about the leadership in UMNO or any speculation that there would be a leadership change," Najib said after the meeting of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).

Abdullah was upbeat after being sworn in for his second term earlier Monday, downplaying the loss of the two-thirds majority, which prevents the ruling coalition from amending the constitution at will.

"We were eight seats short of securing a two-thirds majority but we accept the decision," he said.
"It will not hamper us from carrying out government policies. We have a strong majority," he said, adding that "the security situation in the country is peaceful and there is no sign of any chaos."

Abdullah indicated that UMNO, which leads the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, was in for a period of introspection.

"UMNO has accepted what happened was a lesson to us and it is a signal that we need to give attention to the expectations of the people, which we need to carry out," he said.

"We do recognise the shortcomings and we will try to introduce new policies so that we can progress."

After the stock market plunged more than 10 percent during Monday's session as investors panicked over the election result, Abdullah expressed confidence in Malaysia's fundamentals.

"The government of Barisan Nasional will be a strong government. We will ensure the economy continues to remain strong. Whatever actions we have taken are working well and has been welcomed by the private sector," he said.

Agence France-Presse - 3/10/2008 11:51 AM

Malaysia's Anwar says opposition is 'government in waiting'

Malaysian opposition figurehead Anwar Ibrahim said Tuesday that the three parties he rallied to stunning election results were a "government in waiting".

Anwar, a former deputy premier who has made a spectacular political comeback after being sacked and jailed a decade ago, said he is in no hurry to return to parliament when a ban on his taking public office expires next month.

"I have not dealt with this issue yet. My priority now is to assist and help the state governments to establish themselves," he said, after the opposition took four states from the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition in Saturday polls.

"I will attend parliament. But I will be in the public gallery.

He laughed off a question about whether he saw himself as a future prime minister, but he made his ambitions clear.

"I don't like the term 'opposition head'. We are the government in waiting," he told a press conference.

Anwar has previously said he will return to parliament through a by-election in a seat held by his Keadilan party after April, when the ban related to a corruption conviction expires.

In 1998, Anwar was convicted on sex and graft charges that he dismissed as politically motivated. The sex charge was later quashed.

Keadilan won 31 seats for the biggest opposition presence in the new 222-seat parliament, while the Chinese-based Democratic Action Party won 28 and the Islamic party PAS won 23.
Sitting on the opposition benches will be Anwar's wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who extended a majority in her parliamentary seat in Saturday's poll, and his daughter, Nurul Izzah Anwar, who won in her first attempt.

Anwar weathered blistering personal attacks during the campaign from Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's ruling party, which was clearly rattled as he criss-crossed the nation delivering barn-storming speeches.


Agence France-Presse - 3/11/2008 8:02 AM

Malaysia's Islamic party urges PM to resign after polls shock


Malaysia's Islamic party, which made big strides in weekend elections, Tuesday called on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to resign in the interests of the nation.

Abdullah was sworn in for a second term and won the backing of his ruling coalition on Monday despite the worst electoral setback in its half-century rule over Malaysia.
PAS vice president Husam Musa said Abdullah must take responsibility for the Barisan Nasional coalition's loss of its two-thirds majority and another four states to the three-party opposition alliance.

"We are calling for his resignation not in the interest of PAS or any party. It is in the interest of the nation," he told reporters, adding the prime minister should quit before the country is dragged into a "semi-crisis".

"We want to see a more stable Malaysia. Very weak leadership cannot bring progress to Malaysia," he said.

PAS, the Chinese-based Democratic Action Party, and Keadilan -- led by former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim -- formed a loose alliance to deny Barisan the two-thirds majority it needs to amend the constitution at will.

Musa hailed the unprecedented seizure of four states, which lie along Malaysia's west coast, and include the nation's two wealthiest regions of Selangor and Penang, which is Abdullah's home state.

PAS also extended its majority in northern Kelantan which it has ruled since 1990.
"The whole corridor has collapsed and the prime minister doesn't even have his own political base after losing Penang," Husam said.

"Even the stock market has reacted to this instability," he added, referring to the 9.5 percent slump on the local bourse on Monday.

Abdullah has already resisted calls by his predecessor Mahathir Mohamad to step down, with the veteran politician saying he had made a mistake in selecting him for the top job in 2003.

Agence France-Presse - 3/11/2008 10:24 AM MSN-News

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Malaysian court jails woman in apostasy case: court

A Malaysian woman who renounced Islam was sentenced to two years in prison by a Sharia court, the official Bernama news agency said Monday.

Judge Mohamad Abdullah ordered Kamariah Ali, 57, a follower of a group that practises teachings that are inconsistent with Islam, to serve the jail term in the northeastern Kelantan state.

The judge said his decision was made in the public interest, adding that Kamariah had committed a serious offence.

"There are many implications from her action. If she dies, some parties will be fighting over where she will be buried," he said.

"What she did was not within the concept of freedom of religion," he added.
Kamariah, a graduate of Al-Azhar University in Egypt, was charged under the Sharia criminal offence Enactment. She had renounced Islam in 2005.

Islam is Malaysia's official religion. More than 60 percent of the nation's 27 million people are Muslim Malays.

But while the constitution defines the ethnic majority Malays as Muslims it also guarantees freedom of religion. The country's minority Chinese and Indians are mostly Buddhists, Hindus or Christians.

Renouncing the faith is one of the gravest sins in Islam.

The court's verdict comes amid mounting racial and religious tensions in multiracial Malaysia, where minority religious groups fear their rights are being undermined, even though the country is traditionally seen as moderate.

Agence France-Presse - 3/3/2008 11:49 AM

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Malaysia's Anwar vows to dismantle race policies

Malaysia's opposition figurehead Anwar Ibrahim vowed Tuesday to end race-based discrimination policies, lower fuel prices and fight corruption in a policy manifesto ahead of March 8 polls.

Anwar, who was deputy prime minister until being sacked and jailed in 1998, said long-running policies favouring majority Malays had only benefited cronies of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).

"The New Economic Policy has been abused to enrich the family of UMNO leaders and their cronies," said Anwar who is campaigning for the Keadilan formally led by his wife.

"If you really want to deal with the issue of poverty, why can't we just say we have an affirmative action policy helping the poor and the marginalised. It should not be racially based."

Malaysia has pursued an affirmative action program for Malays and indigenous groups known as "bumiputras" since the 1970s to close a wealth gap with the minority Chinese community.

However, it has been criticised for failing to pull a large number of Muslim Malays out of poverty, and of ignoring the minority ethnic Indian community, which is also disadvantaged.
The manifesto entitled "A New Dawn for Malaysia," centred on battling rising inflation, which has triggered public anger and rare public protests as the prices of food and fuel edge higher.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has said the government cannot afford to continue spending 43.4 billion ringgit (13.5 billion dollars) annually to subsidise essential items.

Anwar, who was heir apparent in 1998 to then-premier Mahathir Mohamad, spent six years in jail on sex and corruption charges. The sex charge was overturned but the corruption count bars him from taking public office until April.

His wife has said she will stand aside to make way for Anwar to contest her seat in a by-election after the March polls, in a plan that could see him return to parliament within months.

Anwar said Abdullah was "in denial" over the state of the economy.

"Keadilan promises to lower the price of petrol ... as well as manage the prices of basic goods to ensure a consistent supply. Tolls and tariffs will also no longer be raised," he said.

Keadilan has forged a loose alliance with two other opposition parties who have agreed to stand just one candidate against the government in each constituency, avoiding damaging three-cornered contests.

The opposition hopes that gripes over inflation, rising crime rates and mounting ethnic tensions will enable it to reduce the government's thumping majority below two-thirds for the first time in history.

Agence France-Presse - 2/26/2008 11:17 AM

Malaysian court rejects Hindu activists' freedom bid: lawyer

Malaysian court Tuesday rejected a freedom bid by five Hindu rights activists being detained without trial after mounting an anti-discrimination protest, their lawyer said.

"The High Court rejected their application for freedom," said Karpal Singh who is representing the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) members who were detained under the Internal Security Act last December.

Karpal said the court threw out the defence argument that the detention was unlawful because there had been no 60-day investigation period beforehand.

"I think their detention has far-reaching consequences. You are placing dictatorial powers in the hands of the internal security minister," he told AFP.

Hindraf infuriated the government by mounting a mass rally last November alleging discrimination against minority ethnic Indians in Malaysia, where the population is dominated by Muslim Malays.

They are being held in the Kamunting detention centre in northern Perak state for an initial period of two years.

Police used tear gas, water cannon and baton charges to break up the Hindraf street protest which drew 8,000 people.

Another lawyer S. Sivanesan said the detainees would Wednesday file an appeal with the Federal Court, the highest court in the country.

Hindraf members immediately condemned the decision and vowed to punish the ruling National Front coalition in March 8 general elections.

"We are clearly disappointed with the ruling. On the 100th day of detention (on March 22), Hindraf will organise a worldwide protest," P. Waythamoorthy, a brother of one of the detainees, told AFP from London.

Hindraf coordinator R. Thanenthiran said many Indians would cast protest vote in the polls, which are expected to reduce the government's large majority.

"We will teach the Prime Minister Adullah Ahmad Badawi a lesson in the election. We will reject his government," he said.

Ethnic Indians, who make up eight percent of the country's population, say they are disadvantaged in terms of wealth, opportunities and education.

Muslim Malays, who make up 60 percent, control the government while the ethnic Chinese, at 26 percent, dominate business.
Agence France-Presse - 2/26/2008 5:28 AM

Monday, February 25, 2008

Malaysian govt targets inflation anger in manifesto

Malaysia's ruling coalition touted its economic credentials in a policy manifesto launched Monday ahead of March 8 polls, in a bid to ease public anger over rising prices of food and fuel.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, whose leads the Barisan Nasional multi-ethnic coalition, acknowledged unhappiness over the government's plans to dismantle fuel subsidies that are draining state coffers.

"When oil prices go up, we must have an action plan to reduce the burden of the people," he told hundreds of cheering party faithful. "We want to ensure that the people do not suffer."

The manifesto, entitled "Security, peace and prosperity," also dealt with issues including rising crime rates and ethnic tensions, which are expected to reduce the government's thumping majority at the general elections.

Barisan Nasional claimed 90 percent of parliamentary seats in 2004 polls but the opposition is hoping the gripes will take the coalition's majority below two-thirds for the first time in the nation's history.
Abdullah derided a loose pact between the opposition parties, who will field just one candidate against the government in each seat, as an "alliance of convenience".

"They cannot convince the people, they have a sharp divergence in their ideologies. People do not believe they can bring development," he said.

Against charges that Abdullah has failed to eradicate corruption as he promised at the last polls, the manifesto said the government would "continue to enforce anti-corruption measures without fear or favour."

It also touched on complaints from Malaysia's ethnic Indians that the government dominated by Muslim Malays has displayed gross insensitivity by demolishing hundreds of Hindu temples.

The manifesto said the coalition would "ensure provision of reserved land for places of worship" in development areas where many of the shrines and temples have been torn down.

The coalition, which has a formidable election machinery developed over the half-century it has been in power, also Monday launched an advertising campaign to address voter gripes over rising costs.

Full-page newspapers said the government was spending 43.4 billion ringgit (13.5 billion dollars) annually to keep the cost of living low.

Against complaints over the rising cost of food, it said that subsidised staples like flour, sugar, cooking oil and petrol cost less in Malaysia than in other Southeast Asian countries.

Rising costs have triggered rare public protests in recent months, and the government is preparing the ground for an extremely unpopular overhaul of the fuel subsidies, which are costing more as the price of oil spirals.

Petrol prices are particularly sensitive in Malaysia, which has poor public transport and where most people are dependent on their cars to get to work and school.

Agence France-Presse - 2/25/2008 11:54 AM

Malaysian inflation likely to rise: central bank

Malaysia's inflation rate is likely to rise in the first half of 2008 as the impact of high prices for commodities and food make their mark, the central bank said Monday.

Bank Negara said prices had been on an upward trend, contributing to higher inflation globally.
"Consequently the impact of these developments on inflation in Malaysia is expected to be felt in the first half of 2008," it said in a statement.

The central bank maintained its overnight policy rate at 3.5 percent, where it has stood since April 2006.

"The latest indicators show strong domestic demand will provide the support for the Malaysian economy to perform well in the coming months," it said in a statement.

"The demand for financing by businesses and consumers remain strong, with robust investment activity as corporations expand capacity, and steady consumption growth also being supported by a stable employment environment and growth in incomes."

The risks to the Malaysian economy are primarily from the external sector, it said.
However, Bank Negara said a slowdown in global growth is expected to ease some of the inflationary pressures.

Rising prices are a major headache for the government, which will contest general elections on March 8.

The ruling coalition touted its economic credentials in a policy manifesto launched Monday, in a bid to ease public anger over high inflation and an anticipated shake-up of expensive fuel subsidies.

"When oil prices go up, we must have an action plan to reduce the burden of the people," Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said. "We want to ensure that the people do not suffer."

The consumer price index rose 2.0 percent over 2007.

Agence France-Presse - 2/25/2008 11:36 AM