Prosecution’s failure to call Musa key to ex-cops’ successful appeal in Altantuya murder

The failure of the prosection to call Deputy Superintendent Musa Safri and the failure of the trial judge to consider the notice of alibi were among the main reasons for the acquittal of two former policemen in the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu.In the 47-page written judgment released this morning, the three-man Court of Appeal bench ruled the failure to call Musa proved fatal to the prosecution's case as he could have unravelled the narrative...

Prosecution not at fault, AG says there was no need for Musa to testify

Despite the Court of Appeal ruling that the failure of the prosecution to call Deputy Superintendent Musa Safri to the stand had weakened its case, the Attorney-General’s stand is still that Musa was of no relevance to it.Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, in disagreeing with the ruling, said there was no need to call Musa, who was the aide-de-camp of Datuk Seri Najib Razak, to unfold the narrative of the prosecution’s case."While respecting the Court of...

Students denounce plan to list PTPTN loan defaulters in credit bureau database

Student activists are planning to hold a demonstration to protest the announcement by Education Minister II Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh to link PTPTN loan defaulters to Bank Negara's credit bureau database.Adam Adli Abdul Halim, a well-known student-rights activist, said university students did not take the issue lightly, adding that they will not let it go without doing anything."We are discussing it. We will definitely protest," Adam told The Malaysian...

Echoing Pakatan, Umno Youth wants no blacklist of varsity loan defaulters

Umno Youth reached across the political aisle today to back Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) call to stop Putrajaya’s move to list National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) defaulters on Bank Negara’s Credit Bureau database.Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said the wing disagreed with the public-shaming exercise, and urged the federal government to try other credit collection mechanisms to collect from the defaulters.“The government could use other...

Putrajaya to fly students out tonight as Egypt grows more restive

The government will evacuate Malaysian students in Egypt starting from tonight, following reports of growing security risks in the area, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today.He said a team from Malaysia’s national security council in Cairo found that the situation is becoming more uncertain, and advised for evacuation to begin immediately.“From tonight, we will be booking tickets on commercial flights via Oman and Istanbul, among other...

Putrajaya has revoked PR status of Johor resort owner in surau backlash

Putrajaya has revoked the permanent resident (PR) status of a resort operator in Johor who had allowed a group of Buddhist to meditate in the resort's surau, saying  he was being "insensitive to Muslims and Islam".Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today the revocation was done in accordance with provisions in the Federal Constitution, adding the resort operator was told this while under detention."He is a Singaporean and the PR...

Can you name Malaysia’s best Home Minister ever?

Someone wondered the other day: who was Malaysia's best Home Minister?The question was in response to the increasingly irrational behaviour of Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who has only one move in his playbook: use the sledgehammer to pummel and bully his way to hero status in Umno.Justice, fairness, moderation are words that have no place in Zahid's small world, crowded out by grandstanding.The question was also in response to a growing sense...

Dakwa jenayah dirancang untuk ganti EO: Pemuda Umno lapor polis

Pemuda Umno Malaysia membuat laporan polis ke atas Pengerusi DAP Sarawak, Chong Chieng Jen kerana mendakwa insiden kes tembak-menembak serta jenayah yang berleluasa di negara ini merupakan sebahagian daripada sandiwara Barisan Nasional (BN) bagi mengembalikan beberapa akta yang telah dimansuhkan.Menurut  Ketua Pemuda Umno, Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar (gambar) laporan tersebut di buat hari ini di Balai Polis Indera Mahkota, Pahang.Kata Khairy...

The 30% rule – what holds back Opposition from Putrajaya

There’s no two ways about it  the road to Putrajaya is not a urban highway but rather one than wends its way through the kampungs and plantations of Malaysia, reveals a study of the way votes went in the past general election.Just 30%, a little under one-third of Malaysians, live in the rural and semi-rural parts of Malaysia, but they sent 71% of the politicians into Parliament last May 5.Yes, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) snared 51% of the popular vote....

Zahid was part of EO repeal effort, reminds ex-NST boss

Despite his active lobbying for fresh preventive laws now, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had been part of the same Cabinet that agreed to repeal such legislation not long ago, Datuk A. Kadir Jasin reminded today.The former New Straits Times(NST) group editor-in-chief noted Zahid's bellyaching over the loss of these laws but said neither the minister nor his Cabinet colleagues could claim they had not been partially responsible for it."The question...

In continuing crime surge, minister blames preventive law repeals again

In the face of rising concern over the crime rate, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi repeated his assertion today that the police force had lost its bite in the repeal of laws that once allowed them to detain suspected criminals without trial.With violent crimes on the rise and suspicions linking the sudden spate of shootings to gangland turf wars and firearms smuggling, the Home Minister appeared insistent on the need for preventive detention as a vital...

Ahead of Umno polls, Najib warns members away from money politics

Umno members should steer clear of money politics to protect the party’s image during its internal elections this October, its president Datuk Seri Najib Razak has said.He said Umno members should lodge complaints upon discovering any attempt at money politics during the crucial polls.But he also noted that amendments to its party constitution, where a larger pool of party members now have a say in the elections, would make it more difficult...

Empowering Malays is the solution, not handouts, say Pakatan leaders -

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) has pledged to address Malay concerns without relying on “discriminatory” race-based policies, saying educating, empowering and raising the skills of the community are the best ways to improve their livelihood.PR leaders agreed that the Malays, as the country’s dominant ethnic group, should have their needs attended to but stressed that this must not be...

The enemy will come from within, Pak Lah tells Najib

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s biggest roadblock to reforming the country will come from his own Umno, according to Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in a new book due out next week.“Najib is trying to do many good things. He is trying to transform the economy, the government and make changes.“But he faces the same problem that I did ― resistance,” Malaysia’s fifth prime minister wrote in the 620-page book titled “Awakenings: The Abdullah Badawi...

Let Parliament weigh merits of TPPA, PAS urges Putrajaya

Putrajaya must allow Parliament to debate the merits of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) before committing the country to the controversial and secretive trade deal, PAS information chief Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said today.Saying the agreement could have far-reaching effects on the country’s ability to chart its own economic course, Tuan Ibrahim said it was vital to pore over the details of the treaty while the country still possessed...

'Address urban woes or we'll lose more in GE14'

Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin has urged party leaders to work to address the concerns of urbanites or face risk losing more seats in the 14th general election.At a buka puasa event organised by Federal Territories Umno, he said that the woes range from bread and butter issues to matters like human rights and corruption."If we do not fulfil our responsibilities, take things for granted and merely pray for support, then maybe we will not be...

Black 505: 3 pemimpin AMK didakwa Selasa ini

Tiga pemimpin Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK) menerima saman hadir ke Mahkamah Majistret Kuala Lumpur pada 6 Ogos depan atas tuduhan melanggar Akta Perhimpunan Aman 2012.Ketua AMK, Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, timbalannya, Khairul Anuar Ahmad Zainuddin dan naib Mohd Nazree Mohd Yunus menerima saman itu selepas memberi keterangan di ibu pejabat polis daerah Dang Wangi pagi tadi.Menurut Shamsul Iskandar, mereka akan didakwa di bawah Seksyen 4(2)(b) atas...

Ahli mahu menantu Hadi dihadap ke JK disiplin

Seorang anggota seumur hidup PAS membuat aduan kepada Jawatankuasa Disiplin berhubung kenyataan anggota Majlis Syura Zaharuddin Muhammad, yang juga menantu presiden, kerana menuduh terdapat sabotaj dalaman secara terbuka.Dalam surat yang dihantar hari ini yang salinannya diberikan kepada Media, Zulhazmi Shariff menggesa jawatankuasa displin menyiasat kesahihan dakwaan Zaharuddin yang dikatakan berlaku semasa pilihan raya umum lalu.Bagaimanapun, jika...

Muhyiddin lurches to the right after quiet spell

COMMENT Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin 'fast draw' reaction to the most recent instance of an alleged insult to Islam was badly off the mark.From remarks he made at a breaking of the fast function last Tuesday, he appears to have concluded that the video on YouTube that shows a woman cleaning her dogs while posting a Hari Raya greeting was a man and a non-Muslim.The person in the offending video turned out to be a Muslim woman who is now...

Najib's response shows gov't not serious about Fitch

MP SPEAKS Najib Abdul Razak's immediate response to Fitch Ratings' revision of Malaysia's outlook to negative does not give confidence that the government views the matter seriously.The prime minister tried to make light of the negative revision by pointing out that Fitch still "affirmed our rating". He said a negative element "is just the revision of our outlook but that depends on the move the government would make".While Najib, who is also the...

Stop harassing dog trainer, says Ambiga

Since news of her canine Hari Raya video broke, Maznah Mohd Yusof, or better known as Chetz, has become a household name.The 38-year-old Muslim dog trainer received death threats, the imam in her neighbourhood allegedly attempted to assault her and the police have arrested her.She is now being held for investigation under the Penal Code and Sedition Act.Commenting on this, former Bar Council president S Ambiga expressed concern over the harassment...