Selasa, 15 Mei 2012

Anwar Ibrahim

Anwar Ibrahim


Scorpene Gate: You Can Run, But You Can’t Hide

Posted: 15 May 2012 06:38 PM PDT

Malaysiakini

The selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers.

‘If they don’t have anything to hide, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t respond positively to the French court’s request.

Paris court can’t touch us, says Zahid Hamidi

Starr: As leaders in the government, Premier Najib Abdul Razak and Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi have the moral responsibility to respond in the affirmative and attend the court proceedings in Paris.

Refusal to attend is tantamount to perverting the course of justice. If they don’t have anything to hide, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t respond positively to the French court’s request.

To argue otherwise would be seen in a bad light, which could also affect the international standing of the country and the credibility of its leaders.

Freemsia: Why are you so worried about being called up to testify in a Paris court? If you are innocent, you do not have anything to fear or be so defensive. Unless, of course…?

HangTuah: This is the minister who once said he was prepared to lay down his life for the PM but did not have the balls to go down in the Scorpene submarine with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Maybe the French can’t legally touch Najib and Abdul Razak Baginda but that does not exonerate them from having committed graft in this particular case.

If they did no wrong why should they be scared to testify? You know why and I know why and everybody knows why. The 100-plus million euros ‘commission’ to Perimekar is clear evidence of a hefty kickback.

You know what, when it comes to matters of such import, our former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has nothing to say. I wonder why. I really cannot wait for the beans to be spilled.

Confused: “Who are they to issue a warrant of arrest? We are not subjected to French laws,” said Zahid.

Such an arrogant comment. Let’s see how they are going to enter the European Union when that warrants are issued. We shall see who laugh last.

Multi Racial: When this minister talks, you can get a good feel of his intelligence. Obviously, something must be wrong with the way BN selects its ministers.

Come to think of it, they might be using other criteria, other than being honest, hardworking, intelligent, knowledgeable, non-racist and having some experience.

Cantabrigian: Zahid, of course you are not subjected to French law, but the company in France is. Corruption is not a one-way crime. There has to be a giver and a taker.

It’s not about arresting and punishing you, but mostly to find the facts about the criminal act. If they can find a link that Umno proxies were the ones doing the unlawful stuff, it’s good enough for the rakyat.

And don’t blame them for pointing the finger at you later because you have already been given the chance to testify and defend yourself.

Dood: Sure, the Paris court can’t touch you, but wait till it gets turned into a Europe-wide arrest warrant or, better yet, Interpol arrest warrant, and then let’s see whether you can hide in Malaysia forever.

Up2U: Well said, Ahmad Zahid. In Malaysia, who can touch you and your Umno colleagues, including your BN cronies, until and unless Umno so decide.

Don’t Run From Scorpene Inquiry, Najib told

Posted: 15 May 2012 05:35 PM PDT

Harakah

Prime minister Najib Razak should protect the good name of the country and not avoid the on-going French probe into the alleged kickbacks linked to Malaysia’s purchase of the Scorpene submarines, said PAS’s Salahuddin Ayub.

"If the prime minister has integrity and wants to be seen as someone with dignity and morals, he should give full cooperation to all legal requirements," said the PAS vice president.
 
Last month, rights group Suaram revealed that French public prosecutors had obtained evidence in the form of a fax page dated June 1, 2001, in which Najib, the then Defence minister, had sought a payment of US$1 billion for Perimekar, a company owned by Abdul Razak Baginda.

Razak had been acquitted of a charge of murdering Mongolian citizen Altantuya Shaariibuu, with whom he said he had an affair and whose murder was linked to the Scorpene purchase.

The ongoing tribunal in Paris has listed several top Malaysian officials, including Najib and Defence minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Zahid had earlier questioned the tribunal’s powers to issue a subpoena and seek Interpol help if witnesses refused to attend.

"Who are they to issue a warrant of arrest? We are not subjected to French laws," Zahid had said.

Salahuddin said Zahid’s remarks only raised more public suspicion over Najib's role in the case.

He added that Najib should instead use the opportunity in the French probe to clear his name once and for all.

"If UMNO is out of power, the new government will definitely give full cooperation to Interpol to drag Najib to the inquiry," said Salahuddin.

Siri Jelajah Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim Ke Perak

Posted: 15 May 2012 05:29 PM PDT

Merdeka Rakyat – Pasca Bersih 3.0

18 Mei 2012 (Jumaat)

1)    6.00 Ptg – Hi – Tea

        Lokasi: Asrama Anak Yatim Ulu Sepetang, Batu Kurau

2)    7.15 mlm – Solat & Tazkirah Maghrib

        Lokasi:  Masjid Lama Jelai, Batu Kurau

3)    9.00-12.00 mlm – Ceramah Perdana 1 – Merdeka Rakyat – Pascal Bersih 3.0

        Lokasi : Dataran Pekan Selasa, Pekan Batu Kurau

4)    9.00–12.00 mlm – Ceramah Perdana 2 – Merdeka Rakyat – Pascal Bersih 3.0

        Lokasi : Dataran Rakyat, Pekan Tanjong Piandang, Parit Buntar

5)    Penceramah:

i.                    YB Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim

ii.                  YB Dato' Saifuddin Nasution

iii.                YB Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa

iv.               YB Dato' Ngeh Koo Ham

v.                 YBhg Dr Muhammad Nur Manuty

Goverment’s Law Academy Move to Silence Lawyers, Says Bar

Posted: 15 May 2012 04:26 AM PDT

The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 — The Malaysian Bar accused Putrajaya today of feeling "threatened by an independent Bar" after Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz proposed a law academy to be "an alternative" to the statutory body of lawyers and called on the Bar Council to dissolve itself.

The de facto law minister had said this in response to the Bar's resolution condemning "excessive" and "indiscriminate" use of force by police during the April 28 Bersih rally and its demand that the government and police chief apologise for alleged acts of police brutality.

"The announcement lends itself to the perception that the proposal is revived from time to time when the government feels threatened by an independent Bar that does not countenance the abuse of power by the institutions of the state (the police, in this case), and speaks up in defence of the public at large.

"The Bar, in doing so, is fulfilling its duty under section 42(1)(a) of the Legal Profession Act, namely, 'to uphold the cause of justice … uninfluenced by fear and favour'," president Lim Chee Wee said in a statement, adding the Bar was "flabbergasted" at Nazri's statements.

Nazri and Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein had accused the Bar Council, which administers the Malaysian Bar, for being prejudiced in condemning the police and government after the April 28 rally spiralled into chaos.

Nazri said yesterday the proposal to set up a law academy will be discussed by the Cabinet and the Attorney-General soon as it is high time a new organisation, other than the Bar Council, be formed to represent those who have studied law.

The Padang Rengas MP had said the setting up of the academy was aimed at avoiding a monopoly in the issue of legal interpretation.

"I'm sure those in academia would have a better interpretation of the law. The Bar Council may not get it right all the time. They are very partisan. I don't think they should be given a monopoly," he said.

But Lim said today the Bar was opposed to Nazri's proposal of a legal academy, "which appears similar to the proposal that the Government had mooted, and subsequently withdrawn" in 1996 and 2002.

I'm sure those in academia would have a better interpretation of the law. The Bar Council may not get it right all the time. They are very partisan. — Nazri Aziz

"Regrettably, this third occurrence appears to have come about purely as a reaction to the Bar's strong message… of grave concern and condemnation of the use of excessive force by the police during the public assembly.

"The test of a mature and democratic society is the manner in which it treats the weakest amongst it. On April 28, 2012, when the mighty weight of the police was unleashed without restraint onto the streets of Kuala Lumpur, many innocent participants were undeservedly harmed."

Lim also urged the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration "not to attack the messenger, but to act on the message contained in the Bar's final report and the extraordinary general meeting resolution instead."

The Malaysian Bar approved the resolution on Friday after only 16 out of 1,270 lawyers opposed the resolution, which contained findings of alleged police brutality against protesters and members of the media.

A total of 939 votes were recorded in support of the resolution. There are some 14,000 members of the Malaysian Bar.

The April 28 rally, which saw tens of thousands gather at six different locations before heading to Dataran Merdeka, was peaceful until about 2.30pm when Bersih chief Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan asked the crowd to disperse.

But the former Bar Council president's announcement was not heard by most of the crowd who persisted to linger around the historic square which the court had already barred to the public over that particular weekend.

Just before 3pm, some protestors breached the barricade surrounding the landmark, leading police to disperse the crowd with tear gas and water cannons.

Police then continued to pursue rally-goers down several streets amid chaotic scenes which saw violence from both sides over the next four hours.

Kemenangan Presiden Baru Perancis Cepatkan Siasatan Scorpene

Posted: 15 May 2012 03:50 AM PDT

KeadilanDaily

Ketua Umum KEADILAN, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim berkata, kemenangan Presiden Perancis yang baru, Francois Hollande akan mempercepatkan siasatan terhadap skandal rasuah Scorpene membabitkan Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

"Kemenangan presiden baru Perancis akan mempercepatkan siasatan kes rasuah kapal selam," kata Anwar dalam satu ceramah di Batu Caves, baru-baru ini.

Menurut Anwar, rakan karib Perdana Menteri yang juga pemilik Perimekar iaitu Abdul Razak Baginda dan Najib sendiri antara saksi yang akan dipanggil.

Katanya, Mahkamah Perancis bukan hanya menghadkan siasatan mereka terhadap pembelian Scorpene, tetapi juga akan mengheret siasatan dalam kes pembunuhan Altantuya Shaariibu, apabila turut memanggil Dr Setev Shaariibu sebagai saksi perbicaraan.

"Kalau begitu, nama Malaysia akan terjejas. Proses keadilan sedang berjalan, apa keputusan saya tidak tahu.
"Tetapi yang saya tahu, ia tidak seperti badan kehakiman seperti Malaysia. Ia (Mahkamah Perancis) lebih bebas dan terbuka dan siasatan adalah berat kerana melibatkan kes rasuah yang besar.

"Kes ini ada kaitan dengan penjualan Submarine di Pakistan yang melibatkan 13 orang terbunuh dan penjualan submarine di Taiwan yang menyebabkan seorang terbunuh, dan di Malaysia mengakibatkan seorang terbunuh (Altantuya)," ujarnya.
Pendakwa awam Perancis yang menyiasat urus niaga pembelian Scorpene baru-baru ini menemui bukti bahawa Najib ketika menjadi Menteri Pertahanan meminta AS$1 bilion (RM3 bilion) untuk syarikat tempatan Perimekar daripada DCNI – anak syarikat pembuat kapal Perancis DCN.

Menurut kertas pendakwaan yang didedahkan NGO hak asasi Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), terdapat faksimili menunjukkan Najib meminta jumlah itu sebagai syarat mengadakan pertemuan dengan beliau pada 14 Julai 2001.
7 Mei lalu, Francois Hallonde, menewaskan Nicholas Sarkozy untuk jawatan presiden.

Provokasi Umno Di Saat Akhir

Posted: 15 May 2012 01:54 AM PDT

Harakah
Ahmad Lutfi Othman

Keriuhan teka-teki tarikh Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-13 kembali bergema. Kali ini, ramai bersetuju bahawa ia hampir pasti diadakan sebelum Ramadan; lebih tepat 9 Jun ini, iaitu penghujung cuti sekolah. Namun, ada pihak melihat tarikh itu tidak sesuai, terutama faktor hari keputeraan Yang di-Pertuan Agong, yang akan dirayakan pada 2 Jun.

Apa pun, cuti sekolah tidak semestinya menjadi ketetapan untuk mengadakan pilihan raya. Puasa dijangka bermula 21 Julai. Maka, boleh saja Parlimen dibubarkan, sebelum bulan penuh keberkatan itu, selewat-lewatnya pertengahan Jun.

Walaupun ada desakan kuat dan menyeluruh agar tempoh kempen minimum ditentukan 21 hari, tetapi seperti diketahui umum, yang dipersetujui Jawatankuasa Pilihan Parlimen (PSC) hanya 10 hari.

Dengan itu, jangka masa daripada hari Parlimen dibubarkan hingga tarikh mengundi, tidak akan melebihi sebulan. Gosip terkini: Bubar Parlimen, 14 Mei; penamaan calon, 26 Mei; dan mengundi, 9 Jun.

Jika mahu ditunda lagi melepasi Ramadan, tarikh alternatifnya sama ada sebaik saja Aidilfitri, tetapi sebelum penerbangan pertama haji (tempoh yang dilihat begitu singkat dan mengikat), ataupun selepas rombongan terakhir jemaah haji pulang ke tanahair, iaitu hujung November.

Bekas Perdana Menteri, Dr Mahathir Mohamad pernah mengadakan pilihan raya semasa musim haji dan dikritik hebat. Saya kira Najib tentu mahu mengelak sebarang insiden yang boleh mencalarkan imejnya lagi, terutama pada kaca mata masyarakat Melayu.

Sesungguhnya gerak-geri Perdana Menteri Najib Razak diperhatikan secara dekat dan cermat. Diari beliau diamati terutama jadualnya ke luar negara, termasuk menghadiri konvokesyen anaknya.

Pengumuman “durian runtuh” kepada peneroka Felda — meskipun dipertikai daripada segi amaun, yang dilihat kecil (RM15,000) berbanding sepatutnya RM38,000 seperti kata Husam Musa  — dianggap membawa petanda pembubaran Parlimen semakin dekat.

Sebelum aroma bantuan one-off hilang serinya, Najib perlu mendapat mandat buat kali pertama daripada rakyat. Beliau cukup menyedari, dibantu informasi perisikan rasmi dan tidak rasmi, majoriti pengundi tidak sabar lagi menunggu kesempatan untuk melakukan perubahan menyeluruh.

Ramai menjangkakan, tidak mustahil Najib mencipta sejarah mengejutkan, malah mampu mengalahkan rekod Presiden Perancis, Nicolas Sarkozy, yang gagal melepasi penggal pertama pemerintahannya.

Najib bakal kecundang dalam pilihan raya pertama yang diterajuinya? Ya, cuba bayangkan situasi itu. Masakan Najib dan konco-konconya sekadar menunggu hukuman rakyat? Sudah pasti tidak.

Segala ikhtiar  dan perancangan (lebih tepat, komplot) diusahakan bagi menyekat kemaraan Pakatan Rakyat. Jika komplot jahat dan licik itu didedahkan, misalnya melalui konspirasi SPR-JPN dalam memanipulasi senarai daftar pemilih, mereka bersikap pekak badak saja. Persetankan!

Meskipun Umno-BN kalah di Kelantan sejak sekian lama, dan pernah tewas di Sabah dan Terengganu, manakala empat tahun lalu lebih buruk lagi dilanda tsunami politik, iaitu kecundang di Perak, Selangor, Kedah dan Pulau Pinang (selain Serambi Makkah), namun ia tetap berkuku di peringkat persekutuan, yang masih memungkinkan untuk terus menguasai sumber dan peluang ekonomi.

Kekalahan itu rupanya tidak pernah menginsafkan pemimpin, aktivis dan penggerak Umno. Mereka mungkin lebih kerap turun ke padang, menyantuni rakyat, mengambil berat keperitan orang ramai, dengan pelbagai slogan menarik, tetapi motif utamanya hanyalah untuk meraih kembali kuasa.

Lagak dan gaya kehidupan mewah pemimpin Umno di negeri-negeri yang mereka kalah ini masih tidak banyak berubah. Benar sekali, rasuah politik dan amalan koprupsi tidak dapat dicerai-tanggal daripada budaya Umno. Ubat mujarab adalah memberikan pengajaran bermakna dengan menyingkirkan Umno-BN dari Putrajaya.

Taliah hayat kini mungkin terputus satu saluran, tetapi jantung masih berdegup. Keghairahan untuk kembali merebut takhta tidak pernah pudar, malah mungkin semakin segar-bugar!

Ingat ucapan popular Najib, yang menggesa ahli-ahli Umno mempertahankan Putrajaya walaupun ke “titisan darah yang terakhir”. Bagi saya, frasa itu ia bukan sekadar pembakar semangat, tetapi menyimpan motif tersirat yang menggerunkan.

“Sejak awal merdeka, khususnya di zaman Pemuda Tahan Lasak, gelagat Umno memang dikenali dengan tindakan provokasi yang melampau, terutama sewaktu kempen pilihan raya. Saya bimbang, ketika mereka di ambang kejatuhan, macam-macam perkara buruk boleh dicetuskan Umno,” petikan emel yang saya terima daripada pembaca Harakah.

Beliau menambah, parti-parti dalam Pakatan Rakyat terbukti sabar dan reda ditimpa kekalahan. Tiada rusuhan dicatatkan, sebaliknya pemimpin dan ahli-ahlinya tabah melalui siri tribulasi yang memedihkan.  

Zaman sudah berubah. Rakyat kian matang dan cerdik. Proses pendemokrasian dan fenomena langit terbuka, serta kemajuan ekonomi dan pertambahan kelas menengah telah mengubah lanskap politik Malaysia.

Umno yang gelisah berdepan kebangkitan rakyat, masih memainkan sentimen dan emosi perkauman (kadang-kadang bersalut agama yang dangkal). Ia akan terperangkap dengan jeratnya sendiri. Aksi ganas menganggu aktiviti Pakatan makin memburukkan lagi imej yang sedia jelik itu.

Umno akan mencuba seribu dalih, termasuk serangan psikologi dan juga fizikal, bagi menghalang peralihan kerajaan dalam PRU13 yang kritikal ini.

Ahli dan penggerak Pakatan tidak harus terjerumus dalam “permainan kotor” Umno itu. Rakyat sedang memerhati, menilai dan menghakimi. Tetap istiqamah dengan strategi dan pendekatan yang telah dirumuskan. Sampaikan maklumat secukupnya ke seluruh pelosok tanahair.

“Parti yang paling kurang melakukan kesilapan akan meraih kemenangan dalam PRU13.” Peringatan itu saya kira cukup bermanfaat dalam situasi sekarang.

Najib’s London Speech Drowned by Chants of Bersih

Posted: 14 May 2012 10:21 PM PDT

Malaysiakini

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's speech to overseas Malaysians at a get-together in London last night was interrupted by repeated chants of "Bersih! Bersih!" from the floor.

The chanting started when Najib took to the stage, and it continued when he began his speech.

According to a footage uploaded on Internet, after some 25 seconds into his speech, Najib was clearly annoyed by the chanting; he raised his right hand and told the protesters to stop it.

"Can you please stop it? Can you stop it, please?" he said, to some inaudible reply from the floor.

"I know, I know, but can you stop it? You can meet with me later, okay? Please, can you stop it?" Najib tried to defuse the anger.

"I want to vote…Why you don't allow me to vote…," a participant shouted as the chanting continued.

"No, no, no, okay… alright, alright, you… no, no, you wait for me," Najib responded.

"You have to respect… (inaudible)," the man replied.

Fortunately the chanting died down soon after that and Najib was able to continue his speech.

The event dubbed 'An Evening with the Prime Minister' was organised by the Malaysian High Commission at the prestigious 02 Arena in the UK capital, which can accommodate about 2,000 people.

According to Malaysia's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Zakaria Sulong, the event was to enable Malaysians in London to interact in an informal manner with the prime minister.

The O2 Arena is well-known for the staging of pop concerts and prestigious events.

The building which features most uniquely on the European city's skyline is one among the many venues chosen for the 2012 London Olympics. It was also on the itinerary for the late pop legend Michael Jackson's final tour which never happened.

The PM's gathering raises the question whether the lavish event was funded by public funds.

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