'Tutup Jonker Walk bukan hukuman pada Cina'

Menteri Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz berkata, penutupan pasar Jonker Walk di Melaka tiada kaitan dengan dakwaan yang menyifatkannya hukuman kepada pengundi Cina di negeri itu.

Sebaliknya, beliau berkata, penutupan pasar malam itu hanya bersifat sementara apabila ia akan ditutup selama empat minggu untuk percubaan.

"Hukuman untuk apa? Tidak ada yang peribadi dengan kaum Cina. Ini tidak benar (hukuman pada kaum Cina)," katanya yang ditemui pemberita selepas majlis pembukaan Parlimen penggal ke-13 di ibu negara.

Katanya, ketua menteri Melaka Datuk Idris Haron juga memberitahunya bahawa penutupan berkenaan dibuat susulan aduan orang ramai yang merungut mengenai kesesakan lalut lintas.

"Jadi (Idris) kata, akan cuba untuk tutup selama empat minggu dan kemudian kita akan tengok keputusannya sama ada penutupan itu akan mengurangkan kesesakan lalu lintas," katanya.

Isu berkenaan timbul susulan dakwaan ADUN Kesidang, Chin Choong Seong bahawa penutupan pasar Jonker Walk oleh kerajaan negeri Melaka merupakan "pembalasan" kepada pengundi Cina yang telah menyokong pembangkang pada Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 yang lalu.

Laporan Kwong Wah Daily pula pada hari Isnin lalu memetik kenyataan Idris yang berkata, mesyuarat anggota exco pada 12 Jun lalu memutuskan untuk menutup pasar malam berkenaan demi memenuhi hasrat rakyat.

Idris dalam laporan itu turut mengingatkan bahawa pihak yang menyatakan bantahan apabila pasar malam itu ingin diperkenalkan pada 13 tahun lalu adalah DAP.

Pada masa itu, DAP menyelar kerajaan dengan dakwaan menggadaikan hak pengguna jalan demi kepentingan 200 orang pengusaha gerai, katanya.

Kebanyakan warga Melaka pula kini memberi sokongan penuh kepada DAP berbanding calon MCA, katanya.

"Maka kami memutuskan untuk membatalkan pasar malam dan berharap mereka akan gembira," katanya seperti dipetik akhbar itu.

Seramai 100 orang pengusaha gerai berkenaan berhimpun dan berarak di Jonker Street pada Ahad malam lalu untuk membantah keputusan terbaru itu.

King praises economic showing and women, haze makes history in Parliament

The haze caused history of sorts yesterday when the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah was forced to inspect the guard of honour indoors for the first time at the opening of Parliament.

The King did the inspection in the banquet hall before giving his Royal Address at the start of the 13th Parliament of Malaysia today.

In his speech, the King called on all parties to accept and respect the results of the 13th General Election for the sake of the country. "It was carried out according to the democratic process and we now have to work together to bring the nation to greater heights, achieving the developed nation status by 2020," he said in his opening address.

He also offered his condolences to families of armed forces who lost their loved ones while defending the country during the recent Sulu intrusion in Lahad Datu. - June 25, 2013.

His Majesty congratulated the elected members of parliament and urged them to serve the people with dedication and integrity.

Pointing out the progress he had seen throughout his first and second reign, the King said he that he was proud to be able to witness Malaysia increase its global competitiveness in recent years.

"Despite the economic unrest in Europe last year, our country has managed to stay on a strong economic path.

"Surpassing the 2 per cent poverty level target by 2015, we achieved 1.7 per cent last year."

Under the Dasar Komoditi Negara, he said the country will be looking at increasing commodities export earnings from RM13 billion in 2010 to RM242 billion in 2020.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong also praised women for their contribution to the country's econony, adding that the Government was looking at increasing the number of women decision-makers in the corporate sector to 30 per cent.

"We will also aim to increase the overall number of women in the workforce to 55 per cent by 2015."

He said the public service had succeeded in playing an important role in realising the National Trasformation Policy that covers the Government's tansformation programme, economy, politic and social.

He said these programmes have succeeded in contributing significantly to economic development and national harmony. 

He expressed hope that that civil servants will continue with efforts to improve the delivery system based on three aspects: efficient service, accuracy and integrity, apart from creative thinking, innovative and an emphasis on productivity.

The King also said that the Felda Transformation Programme will continue to enhance education and training programmes for the new generation so that they become more skilled and innovative.

Priority will be given to peace and security and the Government will work towards closing the gap between the perception and the reality of safety in the country, he said.

It is also committed to preserving the dignity of Islam based on Syariah principles and its position as the official religion. As such, he hoped that the position Of Islam will not be questioned by any persons to the point of subverting the faith. He called on the nation to be rid of divisive factors and instead focus on factors to enhance national unity. - June 25, 2013.

Ghani Othman is new Sime Darby chairman

KUALA LUMPUR: As earlier speculated, former Johor menteri besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman has been appointed Sime Darby Bhd chairman effective July 1, taking over from interim chairman Tan Sri Samsudin Osman.

In an announcement yesterday, Sime Darby said Ghani will be appointed as an independent and non-executive director. He had served as the Johor menteri besar for four terms lasting 18 years before losing to DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang in the 13th general election.

Samsudin, who was made an interim chairman following the sudden resignation of Tan Sri Musa Hitam on Nov 8 last year, will revert back to his former post of non-independent and non-executive director.

Following Ghani’s appointment as independent and non-executive director, Sime Darby’s board of directors will comprise 13 directors, of whom five are independent directors.

Industry observers say Ghani, who had recently retired from active politics following his defeat to Lim for the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat, is well-versed with Sime Darby’s businesses and operations.

"He always met with Sime Darby’s top bosses whenever there were matters related to the conglomerate’s assets in Johor, which comprise mainly oil palm plantations and properties. Sime Darby management and staff should not have any problem dealing with him," an analyst said.

Another industry observer said Ghani’s appointment as Sime Darby chairman could be a prelude to his appointment as the next chairman of Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB). PNB is the majority shareholder of Sime Darby.

"Market talk has it that current PNB chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid, who is already 74 years old, is making way for a new and younger person to head the important government institution.

"Ghani, who is 66 years old, fits the bill well. He has the clout as a former federal minister as well as a menteri besar of a very important state. Furthermore, he has the business acumen to carry PNB to its growth trajectory," she added.

Ghani, who holds a master’s degree in political economics from the University of Queensland, Australia, was a former dean of the Faculty of Economics and Administration of Universiti Malaya from 1980 to 1984. He started as a lecturer in 1974 in the same university before taking a plunge into politics as a Senate member from December 1984 to July 1986.

He later became a member of parliament for the Ledang constituency in August 1986, and was subsequently made deputy energy, telecommunications and post minister (May 1987 to November 1990), deputy finance minister (November 1990 to November 1993) and youth and sports minister (December 1993 to March 1995). In March 1995, he was made Johor menteri besar.

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on June 25, 2013.

Agong mahu semua pihak hormati keputusan PRU13

Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah bertitah supaya semua pihak menghormati keputusan pilihan raya umum ke-13 lalu di Dewan Rakyat hari ini.

Selepas pilihan raya 5 Mei lalu, pembangkang Pakatan Rakyat (PR) enggan mengiiktiraf keputusan tersebut dengan mendakwa berlaku penipuan dan salah guna kuasa sepanjang tempoh berkempen, malahan turut mendesak pemimpin tertinggi Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) meletak jawatan.

Tuanku bertitah pilihan raya yang lalu telah berjalan dengan proses demokratik dan menggesa semua ahli-ahli Parlimen yang baru supaya bekerja untuk rakyat bagi memastikan matlamat negara maju 2020 dapat tercapai.

"Beta menyeru semua pihak menerima dan menghormati keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-13 yang telah diadakan mengikut lunas sistem demokrasi dan seterusnya bekerjasama serta berganding bagi membolehkan negara melangkah ke depan untuk mencapai matlamat negara maju," kata Tuanku.

Sejak pengumuman keputusan Pilihan Raya 2013, PR telah menganjurkan Himpunan “Black 505” di seluruh negara menolak keputusan pilihan raya.

Penganjurnya, Datuk Johari Abdul turut berkata himpunan berkenaan akan terus dijalankan walaupun Yang Di-Pertuan Agong telah menitahkan agar setiap rakyat menerima keputusan pilihan raya.

PR juga telah memfailkan 39 petisyen pilihan raya yang membabitkan 25 kerusi parlimen manakala 14 kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN).

Manakala Barisan Nasional pula memfailkan petisyen bagi sembilan kerusi Parlimen dan 12 DUN.

Dalam titahnya lagi, Tuanku turut menyampaikan ucapan takziah kepada anggota keselamatan yang terkorban dalam tragedi di Lahad Datu, Sabah akibat pencerobohan tentera pengganas Sulu pada Mac lalu.

"Beta dan Raja Permaisuri Agong merakamkan ucapan takziah kepada keluarga anggota pasukan keselamatan yang telah terkorban semasa mempertahankan negara dalam insiden serangan kumpulan pengganas Sulu di Lahad Datu dan Semporna," kata Tuanku.

Prestasi dan pertumbuhan ekonomi negara yang baik turut disentuh Tuanku dalam titahnya dan berharap kerajaan yang dipilih oleh rakyat pada pilihan raya baru-baru ini dapat meneruskan kesinambungan kejayaan bagi mencapai sasaran pertumbuhan ekonomi yang diunjurkan antara lima peratus hingga enam peratus tahun ini.

"Beta sukacita kerana semasa pemerintahan Beta yang terdahulu dan kali kedua ini, Beta telah menyaksikan kemajuan negara bergerak secara progresif.

"Beta berharap pada tahun ini negara akan berjaya mencapai sasaran pertumbuhan ekonomi yang diunjurkan antara lima peratus hingga enam peratus," katanya lagi.

Sebelum itu, Tuanku buat kali pertama dalam sejarah negara terpaksa melakukan pemeriksaan perbarisan di dalam bangunan Parlimen ekoran keadaan berjerebu yang teruk di seluruh ibu kota pagi ini.

Sidang Dewan Rakyat bermula secara rasminya bermula semalam selepas menyaksikan seramai 222 ahli Parlimen daripada kedua-dua belah pihak mengangkat sumpah di Parlimen.

Sidang ke-13 kali ini akan dikendalikan oleh Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia selepas dilantik untuk penggal kedua dan bakal dibantu dua timbalannya iaitu Datuk Ronald Kiandee dan ahli Parlimen Kuala Krau, Datuk Ismail Mohamed Said. - 25 Jun, 2013.

NAJIB AKAN UTUS SURAT KEPADA YUDHOYONO KUATKUASAKAN TINDAKAN LEBIH BERKESAN TANGANI JEREBU

KUALA LUMPUR, 24 Jun Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak akan mengutus

surat kepada Presiden Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono untuk memohon kerjasama

republik itu supaya menguatkuasakan tindakan lebih berkesan terhadap pihak yang

menyebabkan masalah jerebu.

Perdana menteri berkata beliau juga telah meminta Menteri Sumber Asli dan

Alam Sekitar Datuk Seri G. Palanivel supaya menemui rakan sejawatannya dari

Indonesia berhubung perkara itu pada Rabu ini.

"Soalnya bukan siapa milik kepada ladang berkenaan tetapi kesalahan yang

berlaku tidak kira sama ada milik Indonesia, Malaysia atau Singapura, asalkan

mereka melakukan kesalahan, tindakan perlu diambil terhadap mereka," katanya

kepada pemberita selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat Dewan Tertinggi Barisan

Nasional (BN) di sini malam ini.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas mengenai langkah kerajaan

untuk menangani masalah jerebu yang melanda negara.

Najib berkata negara turut menawarkan kapal terbang water bomber milik

Malaysia yang boleh membantu memadamkan kebakaran di kawasan yang terjejas.

Kapal terbang ini sedut air yang boleh disimbah ke kawasan yang sedang

terbakar dan boleh memadamkan api walaupun dari kawasan yang dikatakan peat soil

(tanah gambut).

"Ini bukan begitu mudah sebab api itu di bawah permukaan dan ia memerlukan

tindakan yang lebih berat untuk memadamkan api tersebut," katanya.

Najib turut memberitahu solat hajat khas akan diadakan di Masjid Negara esok

bagi mendoakan supaya hujan sebagai antara langkah menyelesaikan masalah jerebu.

Altantuya murder trial: DSP Musa should have testified

The failure to call Datuk Seri Najib Razak's aide-de-camp, Deputy Superintendent Musa Safri, constitutes a mistrial which led to the conviction of former police officers  Sirul Azhar Umar and Azilah Hadri in the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006.

Counsel Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin, who is representing Sirul, said this was because Musa was the only person who could shed light on the numerous phone transactions between himself and Abdul Razak Baginda. Razak Baginda was then the political analyst to Najib, who was then the deputy prime minister.

In his affidavit, Razak Baginda had said there were more than 30 phone calls and text messages to Musa on Oct 19, 2006, to stop his then lover, Altantuya, from harassing his family.

Razak was initially charged with abetting in the murder of Altantuya but was later acquitted by the High Court without having his defence called.

Sirul and Azilah, who were former Special Action Squad members, were then found guilty and sentenced to death for her murder.

"In Razak Baginda's affidavit, he had also said Musa called him, the day after Altantuya went to his house, to tell him that he would be sending an officer there to help him. It was then Azilah called Razak."

But based on the phone records, it showed Azilah had called Razak Baginda first, prior to Musa's call. Hence, Kamarul said, there was no proper sequence and Musa should have been called to clarify this.

Kamarul argued that the affidavit by Razak Baginda was prejudicial to Azilah and Sirul, and Musa's testimony was pertinent to clarifying this.

Meanwhile, counsel Datuk Hazman Ahmad, who is representing Azilah, submitted his client did not have any explosives in his possession. The trial heard that Altantuya was shot before her body was blown up with C4 explosives.

Hazman said a witness in the trial at the High Court had testified that the Bukit Aman Special Action Squad, which Azilah was attached to, had no C4s in their store and that their members were not trained to handle that explosive.

"No doubt her death was tragic, but the question here is who could have had these explosives and who could have caused her death?" asked Hazman.

"There is no evidence to link Azilah to the explosive nor was there any evidence to show that he was trained to handle C4. "The trial judge had misdirected himself in delivering his decision.

"From the beginning, we have filed a notice of alibi but the judge had erred in not directing his mind to this," Hazman told a three-man bench led by Datuk Mohamed Apandi Ali.

He also said the trial judge had also erred in accepting the evidence that it was Azilah who led police to the crime scene when the accused claimed he did not give any such statement to the police.

"Police had staged a show to make it look like Azilah was the one who had led them to the crime scene," said Hazman, adding that the evidence should have been rejected as there were  inconsistencies among the other police witnesses.

"The witness claimed Azilah told the police where the Mongolian woman was shot and her body blown to bits, but their sequence as to what he allegedly told them was different."

Hazman also pointed out that before Azilah allegedly showed police the crime scene, the media was already there. Apandi quipped:  "Sometimes media personnel are more resourceful and more efficient than the police."

Counsel J. Kuldeep Kumar, who also represented Azilah, said the record of the call details tendered during trial had been tampered with as there was a break in the chain of evidence.

Kuldeep said the maker of the document had admitted in making a mistake in scripting the document and that the document should not have been admissible.

"There was a misdirection of the trial judge as there were inconsistencies in the documents," Kuldeep said.

He said it was clear the chain of evidence was broken as the document was not authenticated. In fact, he said, the document originated from an email.

Kuldeep also submitted that the station diary on the night of the murder had cast a reasonable doubt on the whereabouts of Azilah.

"Prosecution claimed that he was on the way to Puncak Alam at that time, but the station diary indicated he was in Bukit Aman and was going on escort duty for the deputy prime minister."

On April 9, 2009, Sirul and Azilah were convicted and sentenced to death by the High Court for the murder of Altantuya at Mukim Bukit Raja, Shah Alam, between October 19 and 20, 2006. - June 24, 2013.

YUDHOYONO MINTA MAAF KEPADA MALAYSIA DAN SINGAPURA TENTANG MASALAH JEREBU

JAKARTA, 24 Jun Presiden Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

meminta maaf kepada Malaysia dan Singapura yang dilanda jerebu sehingga

menjejaskan kualiti udara kedua-dua negara itu akibat kebakaran hutan dan tanah

gambut di Sumatera.

"Atas apa yang terjadi ini, selaku presiden saya meminta maaf dan pengertian

saudara-saudara kami di Singapura dan Malaysia," katanya pada sidang akhbar di

Pejabat Presiden di sini pada Isnin malam.

"Tentu, tidak ada niat Indonesia atas apa yang terjadi," katanya.

Yudhoyono berkata pada masa ini kawasan yang terlibat dengan kebakaran itu

iaitu Jambi, Bengkulu, dan Riau ditetapkan sebagai daerah bencana berstatus

darurat, dan kerajaan pusat mengerahkan tenaga secara maksimum untuk menangani

bencana itu.

Beliau berkata Indonesia bertanggungjawab penuh untuk mengatasi masalah itu

dan beliau yakin ia akan dapat diatasi dengan 

Yudhoyono berjanji bahawa Indonesia akan berusaha memadamkan titik-titik api

yang membakar hutan Indonesia dengan melakukan hujan buatan melalui pembenihan

awan selain mengerah pasukan pemadam kebakaran di darat termasuk menggunakan

tenaga anggota tentera.

Pada sidang akhbar itu Presiden Indonesia itu turut menyindir beberapa

pegawai kerajaan republik itu yang menyebut nama syarikat perladangan yang

dipercayai menyebabkan kebakaran itu, yang katanya tidak seharusnya mereka

lakukan.

"Dari apa yang saya pantau setiap hari, ada pernyataan dari sejumlah pegawai

yang menurut saya tidak semestinya disampaikan seperti itu," katanya.

Beliau berkata syarikat berkenaan belum dipastikan terlibat dalam pembakaran

itu dan para pegawai kerajaan harus menghindari daripada mengeluarkan kenyataan

sedemikian.

"Kalau ada syarikat lalai, apa lagi menyebut namanya jelas tidak diperlukan

seperti itu. Sama halnya menyebutkan syarikat asing yang dimiliki negara jiran

kita, itu juga tidak diperlukan," katanya.

Apa yang lebih penting pada masa ini ialah tumpuan kepada usaha mengatasi

bencana kebakaran dan asap yang sudah berlarutan selama seminggu ini, katanya.