Rabu, 5 Mac 2014

Suara Sri Andalas

Suara Sri Andalas


Selangor To Make Water MoU Public Next Week

Posted: 05 Mar 2014 01:10 AM PST

SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government will make public the contents of the water agreement it signed with the federal government next week as promised, Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said today.

Khalid said the Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Maximus Ongkili had agreed in principle for Selangor to make the memorandum public.

He said the state had to undergo certain procedures as required under its Freedom of Information Act before the document could be released.

He, however, declined to confirm the authenticity of a MoU document revealed by PKR strategist Rafizi Ramli yesterday, adding that the state did not approve the release of the said document.

"We are only interested in releasing our own documents," he said Khalid indirectly dismissed Rafizi's claims that only a number of items in the MoU, such as the Langat II Water Treatment Plant, were irrevocable.

"The decision has been made by the state, you (reporters) should read the whole document," he told a press conference after the weekly executive council meeting.

He said the signing of the MoU had nothing to do with his recent out-of-court settlement with Bank Islam on a shares dispute worth RM67 million.

He also refused to name the PKR leader whom he had claimed might wish to alter the water deal if the person knew about the deal earlier.

No water increase for three years

Selangor inked the MoU with Putrajaya last Wednesday to allow the federal government to build the Langat 2 Water Treatment Plan in exchange for the state to take over four water concessionaires.

The MoU marked the end of six years of intensive horse-trading between the two sides since Selangor announced its intention to restructure the state's water industry and assets.

Many Selangor PKR leaders, such as Rafizi and Anwar Ibrahim, were, however, kept in dark over the MoU and had since been questioning the deal.

Khalid said last Saturday that the contents of the MoU was irrevocable and binding, as he had specifically asked for the word "irrevocable" to be written in there.

Meanwhile, Khalid also announced that the federal and state governments had agreed to sign a yet-to-be-drafted agreement which would detail the plan of the water restructuring exercise.

He said the proposed agreement would eleborate on issues such as future water tariffs and estimated revenue after the exercise.

He added that the proposed agreement stated that there would be no increase in water tariff for the next three years.

Source: FreeMalaysiaToday

No Directive for More Water Rationing

Posted: 05 Mar 2014 01:00 AM PST

KUALA LUMPUR: Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) said today it had yet to receive any directive from the Selangor government to implement the third stage of water rationing necessitated by the current drought.

Syabas Corporate Communications and Public Affairs assistant general manager Priscilla Alfred said there would no change to the second stage of the water rationing.

The second stage started on Sunday following a reduction by 200 million litres a day in the release of raw water from the Sungai Selangor Dam.

In a portal yesterday, Selangor state executive councillor Elizabeth Wong stated that the people of Selangor must prepare themselves to face the third phase of rationing if the level of water in the Klang Gates Dam continued to drop.

She said the third stage of rationing would involve more consumers, including people living in the Ampang and Melawati areas.

Wong was quoted as saying that as of yesterday the water at the dam was at 52.91% capacity.
She said the situation would be declared as critical if the level dropped to 50%, which would force the implementation of the third phase of water rationing.

Priscilla, asked to comment on the complaints by consumers that they received muddy water upon resumption of the water supply each time, said it was caused by sediments in the Syabas mains system.

"It is definitely an issue, but it only happens to consumers in certain areas. As such, we urge the affected consumers to let the water flow for a few minutes before using it, because it is unsafe for use," she said.

The second stage of water rationing, involving 260 areas with 413,617 households, entered its fourth day today.

Source: FreeMalaysiaToday

Anwar Berusaha Buat Kali Terakhir Tangguhkan Rayuan Kes Liwat

Posted: 05 Mar 2014 12:50 AM PST

Lima hakim Mahkamah Persekutuan sekarang sedang bersidang bagi mendengar permohonan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim untuk menangguhkan keputusan Mahkamah Rayuan yang menolak permonan beliau untuk mengenepikan peguam Tan Sri Muhammad Syafee Abdullah sebagai ketua pendakwa dalam rayuan kes liwatnya.

Anwar memfailkan permohonan menangguhkan pelaksanaan dan notis rayuan kepada Pendaftar Mahkamah Persekutuan pagi ini.

Pendengaran dengan notis yang singkat itu ditetapkan selepas peguam Karpal Singh dan Sivarara Rasiah menemui Ketua Hakim Negara Tun Ariffin Zakaria di pejabatnya petang ini.

Perbicaraan ke atas rayuan pendakwaan kes liwat ditetapkan selama dua hari mulai esok.

Isnin lepas, tiga hakim Mahkamah Rayuan yang diketuai Datuk Balia Yusof Wahi memutuskan peguam tidak boleh diputuskan tidak layak dan tidak baik hanya kerana lembaga disiplin mendapati dirinya bersalah atas salah laku.

Katanya, walaupun Lembaga Disiplin Peguam dan Peguamcara mendapati dirinya bersalah kerana salah laku, menjadi tugas pendakwaraya menentukan samasa Shafee layak atau orang yang sesuai untuk mengetuai pasukannya dalam kes sodomi itu.

Kata Balia, permohonan Anwar remeh, menyusah dan menyalahgunakan proses mahkamah untuk melengah-lengahkan rayuan itu.

Balia juga menolak untuk memberikan penangguhan sehingga rayuan ke Mahkamah Persekutuan.

Anwar memfailkan permohonan kali ketiga bagi mengenepikan Shafee dengan alasan beliau tidak layak dan sesuai kerana didenda RM5,000 atas kesalahan salah laku oleh Lembaga Disiplin Majlis Peguam.

Beliau juga mendakwa, ia akan mengakibatkan pertembungan kepentingan kerana pegawai penyiasat Jude Blacious Pereira didapati tidak boleh dipercayai dalam penyiasatan Suhakam sebelum ini.

Anwar pada awalnya mencabar kesahihan perlantikan Shafee di bawah Kanun Prosedur Jenayah tetapi ia ditolak Mahkamah Persekutuan pada 20 November tahun lalu.

Permohonan keduanya adalah berdasarkan akuan bersumpah bekas ketua Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah Kuala Lumpur Datuk Mat Zain Ibrahim, juga ditolak Mahkamah Persekutuan pada 11 Februari.

Pada 9 Januari 2012, Anwar 66, dibebaskan oleh Mahkamah Tinggi daripada dakwaan meliwat bekas pembantunya Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan di sebuah kondominium Bukit Damansara pada 2008.

Sumber: TheMalaysianInsider

Jurang Pendapatan Akibat Potong Subsidi

Posted: 05 Mar 2014 12:40 AM PST

Satu kajian Universiti Malaya menunjukkan pemotongan subsidi bahan api boleh menyebabkan ketidakseimbangan pendapatan bandar dan luar bandar merosot ke tahap yang direkodkan pada tahun 1970.

Profesor Pusat Kajian Kemiskinan dan Pembangunan Universiti Malaya Dr Fatimah Kari berkata isirumah Melayu-Bumiputera miskin akan terjejas paling teruk kerana mereka sudahpun berada dalam lurah kemiskinan yang dalam, sama ada di bandar atau di luar bandar.

Fatimah yang membentangkan hasil kajiannya kepada media hari ini berkata kemerosotan itu boleh berlaku dalam jangka pendek sehingga tempoh sederhana jika jurang pendapatan ini tidak ditangani melalui dasar ekonomi.

"Kita amat bimbang perkara ini. Pada tahun 1970, nisbah pendapatan antara luar bandar dan bandar ialah 1:2 iaitu untuk setiap RM1 yang diperolehi oleh orang luar bandar, orang bandar mendapat RM2.

"Data terbaru diterima pada tahun 2012 ialah 1:1.7. Kami rasa ada kemungkinan ia akan kembali kepada tahun pada tahun 1970.

"Ini situasi yang menekan, dan ini bermakna tindakan afirmatif selama 40 tahun kini sia-sia," kata Fatimah.

Sumber: MalaysiaKini

Fomca - Baiki Mutu Hospital Swasta Dulu

Posted: 05 Mar 2014 12:30 AM PST

Gabungan Persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (Fomca) menegaskan bahawa bayaran perubatan untuk sektor perubatan swasta tidak patut dinaikkan sebelum kualiti perkhidmatan tersebut ditingkatkan.

Naib presiden Fomca Ratna Devi Nadarajan berkata Fomca menerima 882 rungutan mengenai penyedia perkhidmatan kesihatan pada tahun 2011 dan yang majoritinya melibatkan sektor swasta.

"Tanggapannya ialah perkhidmatan kesihatan swasta memberi perkhdmatan lebih baik.

"Tetapi antara rungutan diterima adalah rawatan yang teruk dari doktor, kegagalan memberitahu sebab untuk rawatan, (melakukan) ujian tidak perlu untuk untuk mengenakan bayaran kepada pelanggan dan dos yang salah (untuk ubat-ubatan)," kata beliau ketika dihubungi.

"Jadi dengan peningkatan bayaran, mereka mesti tunjukkan bagaimana perkhidmatan mereka bertambah baik.

Dengan kenaikan kadar bayaran itu, pesakit yang mengadu mengenai mutu perkhidmatan sepatutnya mempunyai peluang lebih baik untuk menuntut gantirugi, katanya.

"Sekarang, jika mereka tidak gembira dengan perkhidmatan perubatan, mereka boleh bawa kes kepada Majlis Perubatan Malaysia. Tetapi ramai yang tidak sedar bahawa proses dan panelnya terdiri oleh para doktor.

"Sebuah tribunal perubatan yang mirip Tribunal Tuntuan Pengguna di bawah Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri, Koperasi dan Kepenggunaan Malaysia patut diperkenalkan," kata beliau.

Sumber: MalaysiaKini

Anwar Ibrahim

Anwar Ibrahim


[PRESS STATEMENT] Court of Appeal Registrar Must Reveal Reasons for Unusual Haste in Fixing Fitnah II Appeal dates

Posted: 05 Mar 2014 12:28 AM PST

Subject: Press Statement: Court of Appeal Registrar Must Reveal Reasons for Unusual Haste in Fixing Fitnah II Appeal date

I refer to the appeal of the Fitnah II case by the BN government against opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on 6 &7 March 2014.

We are disturbed by the unusual haste in which the March 6 &7 dates have been fixed.

The appeal had been fixed for case management on 28.2.2014. Anwar’s lawyers then received a call from the deputy registrar of the Court of Appeal (CoA) asking for free dates between March 7 and March 10, 2014.  It should be noted that the dates insisted upon by the CoA are on the eve of the nomination day for the Kajang by-election. ( If Anwar is convicted, he would be disqualified from contesting the by election.)

On 28 February 2014, the court insisted on fixing March 6 &7 as the appeal dates. The dates were fixed despite Anwar’s lawyers  stating that those are not their free dates.  Why was the CoA in such a hurry to fix these dates?

More surprisingly, the CoA had on 12 Feb had allowed a stay of the Fitnah II appeal pending disposal of Anwar’s appeal to Federal Court on the application for Judy Pereira to be recalled.

Having granted the stay, why did the CoA rush to fix the appeal dates even before the Judy Pereira appeal was heard?

In fact, Anwar had up to 6 March to file his petition of appeal for the Judy Pereira appeal to the Federal Court.  However in a highly unusual move, Shafee Abdullah filed an application to strike out the Judy Pereira appeal. More surprisingly the Federal Court allowed on 4th March the striking out of the Judy Pereira appeal, which decision was clearly wrong in law and in fact.

It should be remembered that the Fitnah II appeal is a matter of great public interest. The court must be candid and transparent in managing the Fitnah II appeal.

The Malaysian public has a right to fullest disclosure pertaining to this appeal.

We hereby call upon the Chief Registrar of the CoA to disclose the reasons for the hurried fixing of the Fitnah II appeal dates.

Issued by

N Surendran

Vice President Keadilan

&

Member of Parliament, Padang Serai

Human rights groups call on court to throw out Putrajaya’s sodomy appeal against Anwar

Posted: 04 Mar 2014 10:49 PM PST

TMI

As Putrajaya prepares to fight the acquittal of opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pic) on a sodomy charge in the Court of Appeal tomorrow, two human rights groups have called for the dismissal of the case, saying it was “politically motivated”.

Suaram and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) urged the court to dismiss Putrajaya’s appeal, saying that it was motivated to dampen the “serious political challenge” the federal government had experienced since Independence.

“The prosecution has expedited proceedings in an apparent attempt to prevent Anwar Ibrahim from running for the post of Menteri Besar of Malaysia's richest and most populous state,” Suaram executive director Yap Swee Seng said in a statement today.

The NGOs also drew attention to Anwar’s candidacy in the Kajang by-election and bid to become the next Selangor Menteri Besar, noting that an unfavourable court decision would mean an end to Anwar’s plans.

“If the Court of Appeal upholds the prosecution’s appeal, it could immediately sentence Anwar to a jail term which would result in his inability to run in the by-election,” the statement read.

Nominations for the by-election have been fixed for March 11 while polling will be on March 23.

Political analysts have said Anwar was walking a tightrope by contesting the Kajang state seat with the sodomy case still hanging over his head.

The sodomy offence which Anwar had been accused of carries a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping.

Under the law, an MP or assemblyman who is jailed for a year or more and slapped with a fine of RM2,000 or more will be disqualified.

In 2012, the High Court acquitted Anwar of a charge of sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan at a Desa Damansara condominium unit in Bukit Damansara in 2008, based on tainted DNA evidence presented by the prosecution.

Umno lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah is to lead the prosecution team in the appeal proceedings, which begins tomorrow.

On March 4, the Federal Court allowed Putrajaya’s application to strike out the notice of appeal filed by Anwar to recall the investigating officer in his sodomy case – former Superintendent Jude Blacious Pereira – as a witness.

Anwar had also failed in his three attempts to remove Shafee as the prosecutor. He had first challenged the legality of Shafee’s appointment under the Criminal Procedure Code but this was dismissed by the Federal Court on November 20.

His second application to disqualify Shafee, based on a statutory declaration (SD) by former Kuala Lumpur Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Mat Zain Ibrahim, was also dismissed by the Federal Court on February 11.

Anwar filed the third application on February 25 to disqualify Shafee on grounds that the senior lawyer was not a fit and proper person to accept the appointment as he was found guilty of violating the Legal Profession Publicity Rules 2001 and this, too, was struck out on March 3.

International NGO Human Rights Watch had previously urged Putrajaya to drop its appeal against Anwar’s acquittal. It had also noted that the attack on Anwar was politically motivated.

"Malaysian authorities are only adding insult to injury by appealing Anwar's acquittal, compounding the injustice already inflicted on Anwar and his family,” Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch’s Asia division, had said.

FIDH president Karim Lahidji said today that the appellate court’s decision would be a “litmus test” for the independence of the Malaysian judiciary.

“The Court of Appeal must uphold international standards of fair trial come this March 6 and 7,” he added.