30 April 2014

Di mana sebenarnya pusara MH370 - di Lautan Hindi atau Teluk Bengala atau Teluk Siam...

The GeoResonance search team scanned the ocean floor for metals found in commercial planes. This image shows the results for aluminium (left) and titanium (right)
The scan showed metal deposits consistent with a large plane. This second image shows the results for copper (left) and engine alloys (right)

Serpihan MH370 Dikatakan Ada di Teluk Bengala...

Sebuah perusahaan eksplorasi laut mengaku telah menemui serpihan dari pesawat Malaysia Airlines MH370. Serpihan tersebut ditemui di Teluk Bengala atau sekira 5,000 kilometer dari lokasi pencarian ketika ini. 

Menurut perusahaan yang berpusat di Adelaide, Australia, ini, mereka telah melakukan pencarian sendiri dari serpihan MH370 tersebut. 

Perusahaan ini melakukan pencarian di daerah sekira 2 juta kilometer persegi. Dari keterangan jurucakap perusahaan tersebut, David Pope, mereka melakukan pencarian dengan teknologi canggih termasuk dengan bantuan satelit. 

"Kami tidak menyatakan itu pasti serpihan MH370, namun petunjuk dari kami harus ditindaklanjuti," ucap Pope, seperti dikutip dari New Indian Express, Selasa (29/4/2014). 

Melihat adanya laporan dari perusahaan eksplorasi awam Australia, Pemerintah Malaysia menyebut mereka segara mengkaji laporan terbaru itu. 

"Kami akan melakukan pemeriksaan dan memverifikasi laporan ini," jelas Dirjen Jabatan Penerbangan Awam Malaysia Azharuddin Abdul Rahman. 



GeoResonance membandingkan penemuan mereka dengan berbagai foto yang diambil pada 5 Mar , tiga hari sebelum MH370 dilaporkan hilang. Hasilnya, perusahaan itu tidak menemukan apa yang mereka deteks  setelah MH370 dilaporkan hilang.

"Serpihan-serpihan  itu tidak ada di lokasi tersebut sebelum hilangnya MH370. Kami tidak mengatakan serpihan-serpihan itu pasti MH370, tetapi kami rasa ini petunjuk yang boleh dikembangkan," kata Pope.

Sementara itu, juru cakap GeoResonance lainnya, Pavel Kursa, menambahkan, sejumlah elemen yang ada dalam sebuah pesawat terbang komersial terdeteks  di Teluk Bengala itu.

"Kami mendeteksi adanya elemen-elemen kimia dan material yang digunakan untuk membuat sebuah Boeing 777, misalnya aluminium, titanium, tembaga, besi, dan material lainnya," tambahnya - Reuters
Private firm claims to have found MH370: Australian company detects 'wreckage of a commercial airliner' in the Bay of Bengal

Is it the wreckage? Michael Hoebel is pictured showing an image of what he believes is the wreckage of missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. He found the image on a website that shares satellite images
US pilot claims MH370 still 'in one piece' off Malaysian coast right where it vanished...

A pilot from New York believes he has found the wreckage of the missing Malaysia Airline Flight 370 off the coast of Thailand after searching thousands of satellite images online.

Michael Hoebel, 60, spent hours trawling through the images made available to the public on a crowd-sourcing website, TomNod.com, before coming across what he believes is the doomed plane.

The recreational pilot from Tonawanda said he was shocked to discover that the aircraft, which vanished two months ago, appeared to be in one piece beneath the water off the northeast coast of Malaysia, just west of Songkhla in Thailand. The image was taken days after the crash.


'The perfect size': He said he used a scale given by the website and compared it to the specifications listed on Boeing's website - and discovered that the figure in the water was the right size

Is it the wreckage? Michael Hoebel is pictured showing an image of what he believes is the wreckage of missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. He found the image on a website that shares satellite images.

The perfect size': He said he used a scale given by the website and compared it to the specifications listed on Boeing's website - and discovered that the figure in the water was the right size.


Discovery: He said that the lighter markings on the image matched up with the design of the plane

Discovery: He said that the lighter markings on the image matched up with the design of the plane.

He told WIVB that he used the scale at the bottom of the map on TomNod and compared them to the specs on Boeing's website to establish that the white figure he saw was the perfect size.

'I was taken aback because I couldn't believe I would find this,' he told the news channel.


Where is the plane? A map shows where Hoebel believes the plane is, compared to its intended flight (red line) and suspected flight path (in blue)

Where is the plane? A map shows where Hoebel believes the plane is, compared to its intended flight (red line) and suspected flight path (in blue)

He pointed to the image on his computer as he explained why he thought it was the missing airliner.

'The lighter skin where the wing attaches to the fuselage - you see that lighter skin,' he said, comparing the grainy image to a photograph of the make of plane.

And when WIVB reporter Ed Drantch questioned if the shadow could be a shark, Hoebel responded: 'That's a 210ft shark.'

TomNod allows members of the public to go through millions of satellite pictures in a bid to help investigate the crash.

It also allows other users to rate whether or not they agree with another user's theory - and so far, no one has disagreed with Hoebel's, he said.

No one else has noted finding the wreckage at the same spot, he added.

He said that he started searching for the plane because he wanted to aid the investigation to help the families who had lost loved ones.

He added that he has contacted the NTSB and the FBI with what he found - but so far they have not contacted him in response.

This weekend, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said surface search efforts for the plane have been scaled back because it is 'highly unlikely' clues will be found on the surface.


Certain: Hoebel said that he had looked through thousands of satellite images to come across this one

Certain: Hoebel said he looked through thousands of satellite images to find the potential wreckage.


Hobby: The recreational pilot, 60, said that he felt deeply for the families who have lost their loved ones

Hobby: The recreational pilot, 60, said that he felt deeply for the families who have lost their loved ones.

Instead, the search will enter a new phase with the focus on the ocean floor - despite there being no 'pings' from what was earlier hoped were the aircraft's black boxes.

Mr Abbott said that as the aircraft, which had 239 people on board, has been missing for 52 days, if there had been any debris from the aircraft it would have now sunk.


Malaysia's Prime Minister, Mr Najib Razak, has also conceded that investigators have made no substantial progress since March 8 - the date that the plane is believed to have crashed.

'That's all we have until today,' Mr Najib told the Wall Street Journal.


No signs: Royal Navy submarine HMS Tireless concluded its work searching for the black box on Friday

No signs: Royal Navy submarine HMS Tireless concluded its work searching for the black box on Friday.


Are they looking in the right place? A map shows the planned search areas just west of Australia

Are they looking in the right place? A map shows the planned search areas just west of Australia.


No answers: Relatives of some of the Chinese passengers on board the Malaysia Airlines flight comfort each other as they continued their sit-in protest outside the Malaysian embassy in Beijing

No answers: Relatives of some of the Chinese passengers on board the Malaysia Airlines flight comfort each other as they continued their sit-in protest outside the Malaysian embassy in Beijing - Dailymail

Juruterbang dakwa MH370 Di Laut Cina Selatan... 




Photo: 1 Mei 2014.

Mohon sebarkan.

cheers.

29 April 2014

Jangan masuk perangkap UMNO...

Setiausaha Agung DAP Lim Guan Eng kata PAS perlu berfikir panjang sebelum bekerjasama dengan Umno untuk membentangkan hudud di Parlimen. – Gambar The Malaysian Insider, 29 April, 2014.

DAP memberi amaran kepada rakan sekutunya PAS agar jangan jatuh ke dalam perangkap Umno berhubung isu pelaksanaan hudud di Kelantan.

Setiausaha Agung DAP, Lim Guan Eng sebaliknya berkata PAS perlu berfikir panjang kesannya jika mempercayai Umno selepas Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom bersetuju untuk membantu PAS membentang hudud di Parlimen.

Katanya, tindakan PAS itu seolah-olah cuba mengkhianati sokongan undi bukan Melayu terhadap kemenangan parti itu semasa Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 (PRU13) 5 Mei lalu.

 "PAS hanya menambah jurang risiko perpecahan dalam Pakatan Rakyat yang selama ini diidamkan Umno," katanya dalam kenyataan hari ini.

Tegasnya, PAS mungkin akan kehilangan Kelantan sama seperti mereka kehilangan Terengganu semasa PRU 2004 selepas meluluskan undang-undang hudud pada tahun 2003.

Malah tidak mustahil semua kerusi yang dimenangi PAS melalui sokongan bukan Melayu di luar Kelantan, Terengganu, Perlis dan Kedah.

Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang itu juga mengulangi pendiriannya bahawa DAP sama sekali tidak akan berganjak dengan keputusan untuk menentang hudud di Kelantan dan Terengganu.

"Ia bertentangan dengan Perlembagaan dan semangat kemerdekaan 1957 dalam konteks perpaduan antara kaum, kepelbagaian agama dan masyarakat pelbagai budaya," katanya.

Lim turut membidas Presiden PAS, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang yang berpandangan Pakatan Rakyat dan DAP bersetuju hudud dilaksanakan pada tahun 2011.

Katanya, Hadi tersilap dan menggesa supaya meneliti kenyataan Pakatan Rakyat yang menyatakan secara jelas mengenai perbezaan pandangan DAP dengan PAS dan membantah hudud.

"DAP akan terus bekerja dengan pemimpin PAS dan menekankan kita tidak pernah bersetuju dengan undang-undang hudud di Kelantan dan Terengganu sebelum atau selepas terbentuknya Pakatan Rakyat pada tahun 2008," tegasnya.

Cubaan beberapa ahli Parlimen PAS membentangkan undang-undang persendirian di Dewan Rakyat dengan harapan hudud dapat dilaksanakan di Kelantan menimbulkan semula ketegangan antara PKR dan DAP.

Gabungan tiga parti itu menafikan kemenangan Barisan Nasional (BN) di dua negeri iaitu Selangor dan Kelantan semasa PRU13.

Ramai yang menjangkakan ahli Parlimen Umno akan menyokong rang undang-undang hudud yang akan dibentangkan PAS selepas Jamil Khir dan Pengerusi Umno Kelantan Tan Sri Annuar Musa menyatakan sokongan terbuka.

Umno mempunyai 88 ahli Parlimen manakala PAS ada 22, namun dilihat masih kekurangan 39 ahli untuk dijadikan undi majoriti dua pertiga sebelum diluluskan Parlimen. – tmi


PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa says Umno is determined to get PAS to fight with DAP on the hudud issue and break up the Pakatan Rakyat alliance. – The Malaysian Insider, April 29, 2014.


UMNO using hudud to break up Pakatan...

PAS insiders are blaming Umno for incessantly goading the Islamist party to try to implement  hudud, leading to an open spat with its Pakatan Rakyat (PR) allies now.

Former Kelantan exco member and PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa told The Malaysian Insider that he believed Umno was trying to break up the PR alliance with the issue, which cropped up in 1990 and in 2001.

"They are determined to get us to fight with DAP. A break-up will naturally benefit Umno as both of us are Muslim parties," he said, without wanting to be drawn further on the consequences of PAS leaving Pakatan.

Husam said he did not think the private member's bill planned for Parliament would go far as Umno had yet to make a stand on the matter.

 "To me, the biggest issue here before we go further is to know what is Najib's stand. Will BN support this private bill? If yes, then we can discuss. If not, it is clear that they are just playing with PAS to serve their agenda.”

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said last week Umno was ready to listen to PAS's proposal regarding the implementation of hudud this year. Previous PAS attempts to table the Islamic law had been frustrated by the Barisan Nasional-dominated Parliament.

"We want to hear from PAS. If they are willing to propose it to us, we are ready to listen," Najib had said, although he cautioned that the people must understand the law before it could be implemented.

Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob recently announced the state's plan to table a private member's bill in Parliament to implement hudud law in the state.

The bill would enable the Kelantan Shariah Penal Code II, which was passed in 1993 by the state assembly, to be enforced.

Ahmad's announcement closely followed the statement by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom that Putrajaya would back the state's move to implement hudud.

Deputy Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Mohamad Amar Nik Abdullah had said last week the state government did not need the blessings of PKR and DAP to implement hudud.

Echoing Husam, a party activist told The Malaysian Insider that a certain faction in the party was bent on consolidating PAS's Malay support, and this had triggered the current rift with its PR partners.

Members of this faction, according to him, had also arranged a meeting last weekend between Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and former Kelantan menteri besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

"They want a repeat of the Barisan Alternatif (Alternative Front) break-up which was brought about after PAS attempted to implement hudud in Terengganu. It resulted in DAP leaving it and the BA crumbling.

“If that happens, then PAS can combine forces with Umno," the activist told The Malaysian Insider, referring to the break-up in 2001.

Another party insider said the group wanted to have a "working relationship" with Umno while remaining in Pakatan Rakyat.

"How this will be achieved is still being worked on," he added.

PAS-DAP ties appeared to have strained after DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke suggested that PAS leave the PR coalition if it was intent on implementing hudud in Kelantan.

The Seremban MP had urged PAS to respect and abide by the consensus agreed to by PKR, DAP and PAS.

A claim by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang added to the storm, when he was quoted in the media as saying on Sunday that PR had agreed to PAS's hudud agenda in Kelantan.

The claim was immediately refuted by DAP leaders, including secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo, reminding Hadi that DAP had never agreed to hudud being implemented in any part of the country.

In an attempt to cool things, DAP veteran leader Lim Kit Siang urged party leaders to stop issuing statements on the matter, pending a meeting by PR's Supreme Council.

PR leaders are set to meet in the next few days.

Kit Siang, saying the meeting would be held as soon as possible, was, however, tight-lipped about the date or venue.

PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu said the meeting would happen soon.

"We will meet to discuss the issue and I hope that a solution found," Mohamad told The Malaysian Insider. – tmi

UMNO gunakan hudud untuk pecahkan Pakatan

Dr M targets Bersih on evils of street protests...

There were no large-scale street protests during the tenure of Dr Mahathir Mohamad - apart from when his nemesis Anwar Ibrahim was sacked from government. This is because, Mahathir's detractors point out, he ruled with an iron fist and dissenters were often thrown behind bars.

But since he stepped down in 2003, street protests have become a common feature under his two successors and this has been a bitter pill for Mahathir.

In his latest blog posting, the former prime minister expresses how these demonstrations are organised with the aim of toppling elected governments and trains his guns on electoral watchdog Bersih.

"So far Malaysia has been spared the instability from massive, prolonged street demonstrations. But the signs are already there.

"Obviously, there are Malaysians who would like to bring down the elected government through demonstrations," Mahathir says.

The series of Bersih demonstrations, he added, were obviously meant to excite public support to discredit the government, and eventually to bring it down.

"The government is accused of cheating in previous elections so as to justify rejection of the coming elections should the government party win. Massive and continuous demonstrations would then be held.

"So far the numbers in the demonstrations are not big enough to paralyse the country. Though disruptive, the businesses, including the small street stalls, have not been stopped.

"But the hope of the organisers of Bersih must be to attract millions to participate and to be daily affairs so that the usual daily life of the people will be disrupted," he addsed.

The next step, according to the former premier, would perhaps be to occupy government buildings.

"The police would be provoked into taking violent actions. International news agencies and their television crews would then record the violence which would be broadcast throughout the world to discredit the majority elected government.

"Of course violence on the part of the demonstrators would not be recorded or shown," he says.


Read Mahathir's  latest blog posting

Dr M terus mengeluh tentang demo besar


Ambiga schools Dr M on nation's real foes...

"Corruption, abuse of power, destruction of fundamental institutions, erosion of human rights, racism and extremism... Do you want me to go on?" asked S Ambiga.
          
Responding to Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the former Bersih chairperson said the elements mentioned above, and not street protests, are what cause instability in a nation.

"And as far as Malaysia is concerned, these are the factors that have caused and are causing instability," Ambiga added.

Without the slightest doubt, Ambiga told Malaysiakini, Mahathir and the Election Commission (EC) are aware that elections are not free and fair in Malaysia.

"They know what the people want, but they lack confidence (of winning) if the election is free and fair.

"It is they who are destroying democracy, and you can quote me on this in the strongest possible terms," said the lawyer, who has led two mammoth Bersih rallies in the past.

Form RCI on GE13

Challenging the government to establish a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the last general election if it felt that the contest was free and fair, Ambiga argued that holding elections does not mean that true democracy exists.

In his latest blog posting, Mahathir trained his guns on the Bersih rallies when expressing his views on the perils of street demonstrations.

Among others, he accused Bersih of organising the rallies, which clogged the major arteries of Kuala Lumpur and drew international attention, to discredit and topple the government.

However, Ambiga reminded Mahathir that street demonstrations are a fundamental right, provided for by the Federal Constitution.

"How can anyone say a fundamental right creates instability?

"Street demonstrations allow citizens to vent their views in between elections, and is practised in healthy democracies," she added.

The former Bar Council president said she agreed with Mahathir that a change in government should come through the ballot box.

"It was never Bersih's intention to bring about a change in government through street protests and we have always stressed that we believe in peaceful protests.

"But on that note, change through the ballot box can only take place if elections are free and fair," she added.

Ambiga also said the Bersih People's Tribunal, set up to look into the last general election, came up with a damning indictment on the elections.

"People want to bring change through the ballot box. They want to work within the system, but when the system is so unfair, what do you expect the people to do?" she asked.

Disappointed but not surprised

Meanwhile, current Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah said she is disappointed with Mahathir’s comments but not surprised.

According to her, attempting to quell critical voices has always been the former prime minister's modus operandi.

Like Ambiga, Maria also reminded Mahathir that freedom to assemble is enshrined in the constitution.

"We recognise that there should be limitations to freedoms, for example there should be no hate speeches. But these limitations must adhere to international standards.

"The limitations cannot be based on the criteria of wanting to stifle dissent or views that the powers that be do not agree with," she told Malaysiakini.

Maria also noted that time and again, Mahathir, BN leaders and their demagogues have accused Bersih of attempting to overthrow the government.

"I wish to challenge that accusation. Governments come and go, that is a democracy.

"But when you hear something critical, you should not immediately brand it as an attempt to overthrow the government

"Even if Pakatan Rakyat comes to power, we will also be critical if something is not right," she added.-mk



cheers.

Susan Rice bertemu Pakatan Rakyat...

TPPA, kehakiman topik pertemuan Pakatan-Rice...

Pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat meminta Amerika Syarikat yang merupakan "juara demokrasi" dunia agar menegur amalan demokrasi di Malaysia, yang disifatkan sebagai tempang dan tidak mematuhi sistem demokrasi itu sendiri. 

Antara yang paling ketara adalah kerajaan BN yang memerintah Persekutuan tidak mematuhi sistem Persekutuan atau 'federalism' di Malaysia apabila hak negeri yang bukan di bawah kuasa parti pemerintah di peringkat negeri diketepikan, kata Datuk Mustafa Ali.

"Misalnya, kerajaan pusat menafikan hak negeri untuk mendapatkan royalti minyak di Kelantan," kata Setiausaha Agung PAS itu kepada Susan Rice, Penasihat Keselamatan Amerika Syarikat dan tiga lagi pegawai Amerika dalam pertemuan 45-minit dengan pemimpin PR itu.



Turut serta dalam pertemuan di sebuah hotel terkemuka di Kuala Lumpur pagi ini adalah Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dan Setiausaha Agung DAP Lim Guan Eng.

Dalam pertemuan itu, Anwar menjelaskan pendirian Pakatan Rakyat tentang mengapa mereka tidak bersetuju dengan TPPA secara keseluruhannya ketika disoal oleh Rice.

Anwar turut menyentuh soal integriti kehakiman di negara, namun tidak menyentuh secara spesifik terhadap kes beliau sendiri, kata Mustafa kepada The Malaysian Insider.




Lim pula menekankan isu kegagalan sistem di Malaysia yang tidak memberikan kemenangan kepada PR, walaupun mendapat 52% undi popular dalam Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 (PRU13) lalu.

Pertemuan ini diadakan sempena lawatan Presiden Amerika Barack Obama ke negara ini.

"Saya turut menekankan kegagalan Malaysia dalam memberikan kebebasan media di negara ini, di mana semua media arus perdana dikawal oleh kerajaan," kata Mustafa.- harakahdaily

The White House Official Statement

Anwar, Guan Eng, Mustafa meet US advisor Susan Rice as Obama sends best wishes to Pakatan Rakyat

Perjanjian TPPA membolehkan warganegara asing bebas memiliki hartanah termasuk rumah...

Warganegara asing di negara ini bebas memiliki hartanah termasuk hartanah kediaman di negara ini apabila Kerajaan Malaysia bersetuju menandatangani Perjanjian Perkongsian Trans Pasifik (TPPA) nanti.Mantan Pengarah Bank Negara, Dr Rosli Yaakob berkata, ini berlaku apabila perjanjian itu tidak membenarkan sebarang sekatan kepada warga dan pelabur asing di negara ini untuk memiliki hartanah dengan menikmati keistimewaan yang sama dinikmati warga tempatan.

“Kedatangan Barrack Obama adalah untuk memastikan Malaysia tandatangani TPPA ini."




Di bawah TPPA rakyat Amerika, Jepun dan negara lain bebas membuat perniagaan dan membeli apa-apa sahaja di dalam negara itu.“Tentunya salah satu yang jadi tumpuan mereka adalah melabur dalam pemilikan hartanah termasuk perumahan.“ Ini akan menolak harga ke atas.

Harga hartanah jadi lebih tinggi, rakyat sendiri kena bersaing dengan pelabur asing yang mempunyai kewangan yang lebih baik untuk memiliki hartanan di negara sendiri,” kata Dr Rosli ketika dihubungi Selangorkini ini di sini hari ini.


Beritahu beliau lagi, kouta dan keistimewaan potongan tujuh peratus yang dinikmati kaum Bumiputra dalam pembelian hartanah pada masa ini juga bakal terhakis sekiranya TPPA dilaksanakan selaras dengan dasar Layanan Adil dan Sama Rata (FET).Mengulas kedatangan Presiden Amerika Syarikat, Barrack Obama, Dr Rosli berkata lawatannya itu bagi memastikan Kerajaan Malaysia bersetuju menandatangani perjanjian TPPA.

“Rakyat kena sampaikan mesej kepada kerajaan, kita tolak kerana TPPA boleh gadaikan kedaulatan negara.“Jangan biarkan negara dijadikan alat politik dalam agenda Amerika untuk mengekang kemaraan ekonomi negara China di persada dunia,” kata Dr Rosli lagi.

Katanya lagi, langkah kerajaan menandatangani TPPA hanya menunjukkan pentadbiran Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak merupakan sebuah pentadbiran yang lemah dan boleh digertak sehingga terpaksa tunduk dengan kehendak negara kuasa ekonomi dunia itu.- selangorkini


We told Obama what Najib didn't...

Members of the civil society presented Malaysia in its rawest form to US President Barack Obama during their nearly hour-long meeting with him yesterday.

Human rights group Hakam exco member Ambiga Sreenevasen, who was among those present, shared with Malaysiakini what was discussed during the historic session.

"Some of the issues (raised) were the divisive politics, religious and racial extremism, discrimination, authoritarianism of the government by way of repressive legislation, free and fair elections and the rule of  law...," Ambiga said.

Also highlighted were the charges against Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and the persecution of the opposition by way of sedition charges and charges under the Peaceful Assembly Act.

Obama, she said, was also briefed on how Malaysian authorities stifled the media.

"We made it clear that Malaysia was neither a  moderate Muslim nation nor was it a democracy in the true sense of the word," the former Bar Council president added.

Ambiga's views were similarly shared by Bersih 2.0 chairperson Maria Chin Abddullah, who said  Malaysia was neither a democratic nor a moderate country, and that old laws were used against the opposition, as highlighted by Bar Council president Christopher Leong, who were among those who met with Obama.

Earlier today, PKR vice-president N Surendran also pointed out that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had mislead the public by saying that the Sodomy II case against Anwar was private action when it was the attorney-general who initiated the charge.

Obama meets, Najib did not 


Ambiga said Obama had put the civil society leaders at ease and that the meeting very informal, throughout.

“Obama was concerned about what we raised and agreed with us on the importance of upholding the rule of law and human rights. Interestingly, he had apparently earlier said, at the town hall meeting (at Universiti Malaya) that Malaysia cannot prosper as a nation if there was discrimination against the non-Muslims.

“This is a significant statement by him and needed to be said. Sadly, we decry such discrimination in other countries but do not fully appreciate the effects of such conduct on the future of our nation.”

As what had been reiterated by Maria (left), Christian Federation of Malaysia general secretary Rev Dr Hermen Shastri and Leong, Ambiga said the US President indicated he would raise these concerns with the Malaysian government when he can.

Obama, Ambiga said, asked the NGOs to continue with their engagement on human rights issues.

She pointed out that lawyer Honey Tan, one of the proponents of the Universal Periodic Review and one of the participants, made an interesting observation, that while the Prime Minister Najib has not met with these members of civil society groups despite requests made, the US president has.

“Hence, we are very appreciative of the time the US president spent with us. More importantly, I believe that this meeting sends out a powerful message that civil society plays a significant role in the advancement of democracy the world over,” Ambiga, a recipient of the  US International Women of Courage Award in 2009, said.


'A divided nation for the next generation' 

In reference to Obama's statement at the state dinner that Malaysia should have, in the next generation, a better nation than the one given to us, Ambiga said in Malaysia's case, the next generation was not being handed over a better Malaysia.

“We are handing them a nation divided by religion and race. Ultimately we recognise this is our battle to fight. For us it was important the president knew about Malaysia as it is, and put the human rights on the agenda of cooperation with the Malaysian government.”

Ambiga said while Najib had stated the Peaceful Assembly Act for shoring his reform image, he failed to admit that this law prohibits street protests and that opposition members are facing charges on the matter.

While Najib also declared that the government had nothing to do with Anwar's sodomy trial, he failed to admit that it was the government that appealed against the High Court's acquittal of Anwar.

She also described Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's immediate response to Obama by saying that Malaysia does not discriminate as not encouraging and Ambiga wondered whether there would be a change in the Malaysian government's attitude to human rights and civil society.- mk


The Obama visit...

President Obama, came, saw and left. There must be some substantive issues discussed between him and the government- but  because it’s a discussion of a very high quality suited to the 21st century, just like the TPPA, the discussions were shrouded in secrecy.

The way Obama went about doing his visit to Malaysia appears to be an all American affair with little or minimal supervision or control from the PM’s office. He went to meet up NGOs who are critical of the BN government. This could not have been an agreed itinerary by the government. 

Obama went to visit the national mosque. He went to the University of Malaya where he engaged selected students. The American president does his thing the American way. Malaysians could only look on.

The president even brought his own car. The Malaysian government could not even get the car to fill gas from PETRONAS. Instead the Americans filled up from a brand familiar to Americans- Caltex. 

A phalanx of special agents and security personnel body-guarded Obama and his entourage.  Obama could not trust Malaysian security personnel who may want to allow a security breach by an unidentified entity assumed to be non-hostile.

UMNO has been silent about the visit. Usually the UMNO people and its controlled media will be jumping up and down proclaiming the visit a triumph and endorsement of what Najib is doing. 

Instead we are hearing counter attacks from UMNO leaders like Zahid. I hope Zahid understood what Obama said when the latter spoke because speaking English to Zahid is a tiring enterprise. 

The only person who have tons of bragging rights to regal whoever wants to listen to him is Khairy Jamaludin, the minister assigned to chaperon Obama. KJ’s braggadocio will not endear him to the UMNO warlords.

For the former ambassador Jamaludin Jarjis, the visit vindicated his appointment as a special ambassador on a special mission. His tour of duty as ambassador included tasks to cultivate da man Barack and to feed information to media cells and media guerrillas in USA to discredit Anwar. 

Obama came to Malaysia, Anwar is going to the lockup soon- so in that sense,  JJ has succeeded. He can now concentrate making money through PRIMA and other business endeavours. And continue to be a nuisance in parliament.

What has Obama achieved? We know the American president did not come to Malaysia to say good things about Najib. He has probably come to apply pressure to Najib to sign the TPPA.

So Dr Mahathir- who’s the America’s man for Malaysia now? Has Najib become America’s man for Malaysia? If it were Anwar, Dr Mahathir would have come into town and label him an American agent.

Democrat Obama is just another spokesman for big businesses who has come to Malaysia to say, open up or else. As consideration, we will slight Anwar by not meeting up with him; we will issue palliatives on the policies of the government and will say the politically correct Sound Bites.

There was one statement from Obama that is causing less than desirable implications. President Obama says Dato Najib has the instincts for unity and moderation. That’s a most diplomatic way of saying- hey man I think you suck. It only serves to confirm that Najib is not a rational leader who believes that the way forward is moderation and unity.

Instincts as we already know are associated with animals who don’t think but act on instincts and impulses. So what Obama is saying, Najib’s intelligence is at the same level of animals like chimpanzees and orang utans.

We are really not sure what Obama’s agenda is. It’s not all complimentary on Najib as we all saw. Patting each other is just a show of bonhomie that hides the bitter medicine which may have been communicated to Najib. Maybe it was hey yo jibby, when will yaalls sign the tppa? Hey man- you gotta jive in with the Chinamen.

Obama must have spoken about the sorry state of the rule of law, impingements on rights of the citizens, worsening race relations made by irrational UMNO and pro UMNO elements.

So Obama concedes that Najib does have the instincts  but elements within his party and outside are cancelling out what could have blossomed from instincts into rational thoughts and actions.

This is not a visit which Najib can rejoice on. It is more a visit of the college principal coming down to scold the errant student.- Dato' Mohd.Ariff Sabri bin Hj. Abdul Aziz@sakmongkol AK47





cheers.

28 April 2014

Landasan 1km menghubungkan KLIA dan KLIA2 berharga RM100 juta...


Jawatankuasa Kira-kira Wang Negara (PAC) mempersoal mengapa pembayar cukai perlu membayar kira-kira RM100 juta untuk penyambungan KLIA Express bagi menghubungkan Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) dan KLIA2 dengan jarak hanya satu kilometer.

KLIA Express ialah sistem Express Rail Link (ERL) yang kini berfungsi menghubungkan KL Sentral dan Putrajaya Sentral.

"Walaupun jaraknya hanya satu kilometer tetapi kos pembinaannya yang dibiayai oleh kerajaan adalah RM100 juta.

"Lepas itu, masih lagi dikenakan bayaran untuk airport transfer dari KLIA to klia2. Kita pun nak tanya apa rasional memberikan pampasan atau membayar kos penyambungan ini," kata Pengerusi PAC Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed dalam sidang medianya petang ini.- mk



Why the RM100 million price tag for a 1km line link between KLIA and KLIA2

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has questioned why taxpayers have to fork out some RM100 million for the extension of the KLIA Express to link KL International Airport (KLIA) and KLIA2 over a distance of only 1km.

KLIA Express is a Express Rail Link (ERL) system which currently links KL Sentral and Putrajaya Sentral.

"Even though the distance is only 1km, the construction cost footed by the government is RM100 million.

"Furthermore, passengers will still be charged for airport transfer between KLIA and KLIA2," PAC chairperson Nur Jazlan Mohamed told a press conference this afternoon.


Nur Jazlan said the link should have been included as part of the KLIA2 project as it is within the same area.
 
"We want to know the rationale for (the government) having to foot this construction cost," he said.
 
Nur Jazlan said the PAC learnt that passengers will be charged RM2 for using the link.
 
He noted passengers who use the full length of the ERL are already charged RM35 for a one-way trip and its operator can easily recoup the cost.
 
Nur Jazlan said this matter was also put to AirAsia's top leadership who testified before the PAC today. The PAC is investigating why the cost of KLIA2 had ballooned from RM2 billion to RM4 billion.
  
"We also wanted to know their opinion on this," he said. 

"PAC also wants to know, the government controls MAS (Malaysia Airlines), MAHB and at the same time, why MAS continues to record losses while AirAsia continues to rake in profits," he said.- mk


Sebuah pesawat ringan terjatuh di padang golf Kota Baru...

Sebuah kapal terbang latihan dari Akademi Latihan Penerbangan Asia  Pacific (APFT) dilaporkan terjatuh di sebuah padang golf berhampiran Taman Kurnia, Kota Bharu, jam 12.30 tengah hari tadi.

Pilot cedera agak parah kakinya patah dan di hantar ke Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, untuk rawatan lanjut. 


Menurutnya, lima anggota bomba tiba di tempat kejadi kira-kira jam 12.52 dan lima minit kemudian pihaknya berjaya mengeluarkan mangsa yang tersepit di dalamnya.

“Mangsa Shangar Muthu, 20, berbangsa India yang merupakan pelajar tahun akhir dari Akademi Latihan Penerbangan Asia Pacific (APFT),” ujarnya.

Menurut Norizalwan lagi, keadaan mangsa agak kritikal dan kini dirawat di Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab ll, Kota Bharu untuk mendapatkan rawatan.

Katanya, mangsa mengalami kecederaan yang agak parah di bahagian muka dan badan.


Sementara itu seorang saksi ketika ditemui Mohd Zairie Ismail, 43 ketika ditemui memberitahu bunyi pesawat ringan itu agak lain berbanding biasa.

Katanya, kebetulan beliau berada di tingkat atas nampak dengan jelas pesawat tersebut menjunam jatuh.



“Saya kebetulan di tingkat atas sedang mengimpal bumbung, selalu tengok pesawat latihan ni, tapi hari ni pesawat ni bunyinya agak lain membuatkan saya rasa ingin melihat.

“Kebetulan bila saya tengok dia tengah nak menjunam jatuh, syukurlah di padang tempat yang tidak ada orang,” ujarnya.- harakahdaily

Anwar Ibrahim speaks to  Thepchai Yong during their interview.

Anwar: An Opaque system of cover-ups...

Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim spoke to the Nation's Group Editor-in-Chief Thepchai Yong in Kuala Lumpur last week prior to the visit of US President Barack Obama. He expressed his disappointment that Obama didn't see him, criticised the Najib government for what he sees as a cover-up in its handling of missing flight MH370, compared the ongoing political situation in Thailand and Malaysia, and urged a more "aggressive" approach by the Malaysian government in helping Thailand seek a peaceful solution to the southern insurgency. Here are excerpts of the interview:

THEPCHAI: ARE YOU DISAPPOINTED THAT US PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS NOT SEEING YOU DURING HIS VISIT TO KUALA LUMPUR?

ANWAR: Our request is that the US stays consistent and coherent. The US ambassador has explained that the [Obama's Asian visit] doesn't include meeting opposition leaders. I can't complain because the US has consistently been in support of the democratic process, rule of law, and has taken up my case. In that sense, I appreciate it. But I find it difficult to accept that the Malaysian government can use the trade agreement [TPP] and business to pressure the president of the United States. That doesn't go well for those fighting for freedom and reform.

SO YOU BELIEVE THE NAJIB GOVERNMENT WAS BEHIND THE DECISION OF THE US PRESIDENT NOT TO SEE YOU?

Yes, because their position has been clear. When I had programmes to see the president of Indonesia, Prime Minister Abhisit in Bangkok, or the visiting prime minister of Turkey, there were always problems and pressure. When they wanted to see me they were all stopped through diplomatic channels.

WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO SAY TO PRESIDENT OBAMA IF YOU SEE HIM?

Be consistent with the American foreign policy in supporting reform agenda, transparent governments, democratic reforms. They have sent battalion after battalion of troops to Afghanistan and Iraq and also drones in the war on terrorism, and here they can't be muted when the UMNO regime is using the court to deny my basic rights and those [rights] of other political leaders.

IT HAS BEEN TWO MONTHS SINCE THE DIS-APPEARANCE OF MH370 AND THERE ARE NO |INDICATIONS THAT THE PLANE WILL BE |LOCATED ANY TIME SOON. YOU HAVE SPOKEN OUT STRONGLY ON WHAT YOU SEE AS THE INEFFICIENCY AND INCOMPETENCE OF THE NAJIB GOVERNMENT. AND YOU HAVE ACCUSED THE GOVERNMENT OF A COVER-UP. WHAT IS YOUR THEORY ON THIS?

It's a tragedy, not only for the crew members, the passengers and their families, but it also opens up some of the major flaws in our opaque system of governance. No transparency and accountability. It's very difficult to understand what happened when there was a huge cover-up. I know the government is angry when I say that but I know about the radar which was procured when I was minister of finance. The Marconi system is a very sophisticated system comparable to the Thai radar system. And up to today, the government has not even released the cargo manifest of the flight except to say it was four tonnes of mangosteens . The Thais and Malaysians laugh about it because we know this is not the mangosteen season and you cannot get four tonnes off-season easily. The passenger list and the cargo manifest are there on all flights. Why are we hiding them? And there was also Interpol's report of stolen passports and we overlook(ed) that. 

SO YOU ARE SAYING THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT THE GOVERNMENT KNOWS BUT IS NOT TELLING THE PUBLIC?

Sure. The radar issue is known to the government. The cargo manifest is also known to the government. These have happened in the past. We had a case some years back in which two jet engines went missing and no one was accountable. There was also the murder of a Mongolian model [which was linked to an aide of Prime Minister Najib] and there was no record when she came in, when she left. This tradition of an opaque |system of cover-up has happened many times in the past. But it was not of |interest to the international community until MH370.

WITH THE SOPHISTICATED RADAR SYSTEM YOU DON'T THINK THE PLANE COULD JUST DISAPPEAR INTO NOWHERE?

It was not possible. It is a very sophisticated radar at Gong Kedah [the air force facility in northern Malaysia]. It can read from the border of Thailand to central Malaya, South China Sea and Indian Ocean. If the objects were just kites I would understand. But if they are huge planes, even small planes like Cessna, flying low or high they can be easily detected. The Marconi replaced the old radar system which also could read but this one is much better. The air force staff might be asleep but … the beeps would be so loud that they must have been alerted and there would [be the] recording of the radar. The plane crossed five provinces, Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Perak, Penang our heartland. We have major security problems if the government says it cannot detect.

DO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN THEORY AS TO WHAT HAPPENED?

It's concealing and cover-up. 

FOR A PERIOD THE INCIDENT APPEARED TO BE POLITICISED WHEN THE FACT THAT THE FLIGHT CAPTAIN ZAHARIE AHMAD SHAH, WHO WAS A CARD-CARRYING MEMBER OF YOUR PARTY AND A DISTANT RELATIVE OF YOURS, WAS HIGHLIGHTED. 

Seven hours after the decision of the court of appeals to convict me, Zaharie took off with the flight. I do not deny he is a card-carrying and active member of the party. He was known to have expressed his views against frauds in the elections and corruption in this country and supporting reforms. He supports democratic transition, free elections, which means he is against any form of extremist, fanatical or terrorist activities. They tried [to politicise the incident] for a few days but when the international media went after them to see how absurd, insane [it was ] of them to cast a suspicion like that they all backed off, saying they were not linking it to any political activities and Anwar was exploiting it. All UMNO blogs and Malaysian media made reference that Zaharie was a fanatical supporter of Anwar.

WHY DO FOREIGN MEDIA COME TO YOU, THE OPPOSITION LEADER, INSTEAD OF GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES TO GET INFORMATION AND COMMENTS ON THE MH370 INCIDENT?

They came to me because the government was trying to link Zaharie to me. But more important it was because there was a lack of transparency and accountability on the part of the government. The prime minister came for a press conference and refused to take questions. This is because they are familiar only with the UMNO-controlled and government-controlled compliant media which would not ask questions. But in this case, they had to face international media, not only The Nation, but CNN, BBC, Chinese and Indian media. They knew there were questions they could not answer. So because of the failure of Prime Minister Najib and the government's flip-flopping they came to me. And fortunately, I happen to know about the radar. I know the system. I know the place. And I don't deny that I know Zaharie, who is related to my daughter-in-law. But only because they are my relatives they cannot all be hijackers.

BUT CAN THE GOVERNMENT ALSO ACCUSE YOU OF TRYING TO POLITICISE THE INCIDENT?

They did because they thought I was getting the media attention. But I didn't say anything beyond the facts. There are questions about the radar, the cargo manifest, the passports and the flip-flop answers. Nothing beyond that. The government has to address these questions but until today there are no answers to the questions of the radar, the cargo manifest and the passports. When they government is asked about the cargo, the answer is mangosteens. That's why people resort to asking opposition leaders and asked me how I would handle the situation. My answer was that in one second I would decide to be transparent and tell them our problems and our weaknesses and what we would do. They twisted it and quoted me as saying that in one second I would solve all the problem.

THE MH370 INCIDENT HAS PUT MALAYSIA UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT THE WAY IT HAS NEVER SEEN BEFORE. BUT THERE ARE SUGGESTIONS THAT SUCH GLOBAL SCRUTINY MIGHT FORCE THE GOVERNMENT TO HAVE A SECOND THOUGHT ABOUT THROWING YOU BACK INTO JAIL. DO YOU SEE THAT POSSIBILITY?

I would be happy if that is a case. But we are not dealing with a democratic regime that is sensitive to the sentiments of the public and international community. We are dealing with a corrupt and opaque authoritarian regime that knows only brute force and power. They feel that if I am the threat, they will deal with the threat. The international media now are monitoring what is happening in Malaysia. So I think it would be immensely helpful because now people are looking at the court proceedings. I recently had lunch with the EU ambassadors and I had no need to brief them because they all followed the case [Anwar's trial] quite well, not from our media, of course, but from court proceedings. That is very much welcome because it creates awareness and it helps us.

WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE MAJORITY OF MALAYSIANS ARE NOT GETTING THE INFORMATION THEY WANT ABOUT MH370 FROM THE LOCAL MEDIA?

You are right. The local media always report information given them by the government. The UNMO says this is the best way we can handle the situation and we are being praised all over the world. But according to the latest survey, 54 per cent of Malaysian say their handling of MH370 crisis was very poor. They blame the government for that. 

SO WHAT YOU SAY TO INTERNATIONAL MEDIA DOES NOT GET REPORTED BY THE LOCAL MEDIA?

Never. Even during the election. My role as the opposition leader was completely erased and I didn't even have one minute of airtime on our national television.

DO YOU THINK MAHATHIR STILL WIELDS ANY INFLUENCE IN UMNO THESE DAYS?

He has [a] small influence. Combined with former finance minister Tun Daim and others who are billionaires, they can fund a lot of civil society operations and can get a lot of people to attend activities. But I don't believe they wield a lot of influence, even within the ruling party. One evidence is [that] when he contested to be a delegate to a UMNO meeting he lost. And his son also lost his bid for vice presidency of the party. Of course, that made him very angry.

IN HIS MEMOIRS, MAHATHIR MADE IT CLEAR HE STILL HOLDS GRUDGES AGAINST YOU. WHAT ABOUT YOU?

I am a forward-looking person. I was bitter and was in prison for eight years. But I have to move on. Mahathir has done something positive for the country too but has destroyed institutions in the process - the media, the judiciary, the corruption. His children are billionaires and there are cronies. Unfortunately, he still has this mindset of the past. His bitterness is clear. I don't think I want to be like that. You have to overcome not only fear but also anger. If your intention is to be in power like Mahathir, full of hatred and venom, I don't think you would have time to lead the country.

HE HAS HAD HIS DAYS BUT WHY WOULD HE STILL WANT TO BE BITTER AND VENGEFUL?

I think most retired dictators have the same problem. They still want to dictate. For 20 years you are the authoritarian leader, you want people to listen and obey, not to question. So even after retirement, he cannot accept the fact that people oppose him and … Anwar criticises him in public. Things like these are still eating into him. I feel sorry for him. He should have peace and tranquillity and move [on], be a statesman. But he has his strengths too. I don't deny the hard work, the vision and other things he has done, including the latitude given to me to function as [a] minister of many portfolios.

NOW YOU ARE FACING THE PROSPECT OF GOING BACK TO JAIL. ARE YOU FEARFUL?

You get on with time and you are no longer young. You have been through what you thought was [the] worst. But because you continue to persevere on the path of freedom and, of course, you have to battle against the corrupted and the unjust. I have overcome fear. I was in London a fortnight ago for a conference with former Vice President Al Gore, former Irish President Mary Robinson and other personalities. All of them advised me to stay back in London because there is no point going to jail.

STAYING BACK MEANS SEEKING EXILE?

Yes, seeking exile. Going back means you are not going to get a fair trial. They know I will be condemned to jail. But I, without hesitation, decided to come back. This is my country.

BUT THIS IS PROBABLY WHAT THE NAJIB GOVERNMENT WANTS TOO.

Yes, they prefer to see me out of the country. But I, all my life, I am here fighting for reforms. We are lacking behind in many ways. We used to be better economically but we have lost out. Despite all the political commotion, the battles between the red and yellow shirts, the Thai economy is still moving, albeit at a slower pace. But we are behind because of the issues of governance and endemic corruption. So I believe people like me have a small role to play. But I have to overcome fear. And overcome fear to me is a great achievement.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT? YOU LOST A CHANCE TO CONTEST IN THE BY-ELECTION IN SELANGOR THAT WOULD HAVE PROVIDED YOU WITH A SPRINGBOARD FOR A BIGGER POLITICAL [MOVE] AND YOU ARE NOW FACING A PROSPECT OF GOING BACK TO JAIL.

Que sera sera. What will be will be. But we shouldn't believe that authoritarian and corrupt leaders have the final say. I will continue to persevere inside or outside prison. We trust [the] wisdom of the people. Without the media, without the resources and with electoral frauds we still won 52 per cent of the popular vote. Can you imagine if the election was free, if I had an hour of airtime on television. We would easily have garnered 60 per cent. Everybody says that and some observers say we would have got a minimum of 58 per cent, which would be seen as a resounding victory. But it did not happen because everybody knows there were electoral frauds. Can you call it a democratic election when we didn't have even one minute of airtime? 

BUT SHOULDN'T THE RESULT OF LAST YEAR'S ELECTION HAVE COME AS A RUDE AWAKENING FOR THE RULING COALITION?

Based on the essence of their policy, clearly there is no change. As you said, any reasonable persons looking at the election result, with the cheating and the media control, you still managed to get only 47 per cent of the votes. You should shift so that you will be popular, more transparent. In fact, when the ethnic Chinese and Indian chose to support the opposition, the first reaction from Najib was "what more do the Chinese want?" And following that he strengthened the pro-Malay policy. The Malay policy is designed to benefit their family members and cronies, not the poor marginalised Malays. 

YOU WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN UNITING THE OPPOSITION PARTIES BUT AS YOU SAID YOU ARE NOT GETTING ANY YOUNGER AND FACING A PROSPECT OF BEING JAILED. HOW DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE OF THE OPPOSITION WHEN YOU WILL BE NOT PLAYING AN ACTIVE POLITICAL ROLE FOR WHATEVER REASONS?

Political leaders tend to think they are invincible and irreplaceable. But you can be successful only when you are able to give exposure and train new leaders. In our party, across all ethnic groups, we have a growing number of young team members in their 40s and 30s who show the capacity to be effective and articulate leaders with a clear vision for reform, freedom and justice. I am, therefore, very much encouraged by this trend. I don't think this is just an Anwar's role. Yes, given the circumstances, I did my part. The coalition parties are quite cemented and strong. It will be difficult to break them. 

Read full interview here



cheers.