TWO court cases-- sentencing sends wrong messages!

First, a local one; next a foreign wan, and Desi feels BOTH SENTENCES HANDED DOWN ARE ATROCIOUS, and do not reflect the severity of cimes committed. The culprits got away LIGHT! Well, one is in Bolehland, famed for inequalities of judgment, and the other in a Western country way too extremme in democrazies and human rights. OIF you beg to differ, you can get the Here out of Hell! -- Knotty Desi knot used to others deferring to him, so DON'T nod thy BUMmer head!:)

From the Star Online:~~


No coercion or violence used
By SHAILA KOSHY
koshy@thestar.com.my




KUALA LUMPUR: Former national youth squad bowler Noor Afizal Azizan (pic) would not have gotten off with a five-year good behaviour bond for having sex with a minor if he had been older or had used coercion or violence.

In a 14-page written judgment released yesterday, Court of Appeal president Justice Raus Sharif said Noor Afizal 19 at the time of the offence and now 21 had not “tricked the girl into submitting to him”.

Sitting with him were Justices K.N. Segara and Azhar Ma'ah.


Justice Raus said Noor Afizal had cooperated with the police, shown remorse and issued a guarantee that he would not repeat the offence.

If such had not been the case, “we would not have any hesitation, as we have done in many other cases of similar nature, to impose a lengthy custodial sentence.”

There was public uproar on Aug 8 when the court allowed Noor Afizal's appeal against a High Court decision to sentence him to five years' jail for statutory rape of the 13-year-old girl.

In his oral decision, Justice Raus said he agreed with Noor Afizal's counsel that public interest would not be served if he received a jail sentence when he had “a bright future”.

On July 5 last year, the Malacca Sessions Court bound Noor Afizal over for RM25,000 to be of good behaviour for five years after he pleaded guilty to committing the offence at King's Hotel in Malacca a year earlier.

The public prosecutor succeeded in his appeal to the High Court.

Yesterday, Justice Raus said that sentencing in such cases should be based on the facts of each case and that it was neither feasible nor desirable to try to lay down any fixed sentence.

He said the observations of the court should not be “misconstrued as intending to have blanket application” on other young offenders similarly charged.

He noted that Noor Afizal “was not very much older” than the girl, who was 13 years and four months old when they checked into the hotel and had consensual sex.

He said the girl had not complained and the incident only came to light on July 19 when her father read an entry in her diary indicating that she had had sex with Noor Afizal.

Justice Raus said the bowler, who is supporting his family and had achieved many successes in sport, surrendered when he was told that the father had lodged a police report.

He said the Sessions Court had correctly invoked Section 294 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which deals with first offenders and had been guided by legal precedents on sentencing young offenders.

Justice Raus said the court had also considered public interest, that the sex was consensual, the appellant's guilty plea and remorse and that it was a registrable offence.

He said it was a misconception that Section 294 exonerated the offender.

He added that convictions under the section would be part of the offenders' criminal record for the rest of their lives.

Justice Raus said the bond gave Noor Afizal a chance to “turn over a new leaf” as he would be arrested for rape if he broke the conditions.

“If the suspended prison sentence has the effect of rehabilitating him, then public interest has indeed been served and best served,” he said.



*******************************************

From nytimes.com:)~~~~~~~


Norway Mass Killer Gets the Maximum: 21 Years



OSLO — Convicted of killing 77 people in a horrific bombing and shooting attack in July last year, the Norwegian extremist Anders Behring Breivik was sentenced on Friday to 21 years in prison — fewer than four months per victim — ending a case that thoroughly tested this gentle country’s collective commitment to values like tolerance, nonviolence and merciful justice.
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Anders Behring Breivik was taken to Ila Prison, outside Oslo, on Friday after his sentencing.
Mr. Breivik, lawyers say, will live in a prison outside Oslo in a three-cell suite of rooms equipped with exercise equipment, a television and a laptop, albeit one without Internet access. If he is not considered a threat after serving his sentence, the maximum available under Norwegian law, he will be eligible for release in 2033, at the age of 53.

However, his demeanor, testimony and declaration that he would have liked to kill more people helped convince the judges that, however lenient the sentence seems, Mr. Breivik is unlikely ever to be released from prison. He could be kept there indefinitely by judges adding a succession of five-year extensions to his sentence.

The relative leniency of the sentence imposed on Mr. Breivik, the worst criminal modern Scandinavia has known, is no anomaly. Rather, it is consistent with Norway’s general approach to criminal justice. Like the rest of Europe — and in contrast with much of the United States, whose criminal justice system is considered by many Europeans to be cruelly punitive — Norway no longer has the death penalty and considers prison more a means for rehabilitation than retribution.

Even some parents who lost children in the attack appeared to be satisfied with the verdict, seeing it as fair punishment that would allow the country, perhaps, to move past its trauma.

“Now we won’t hear about him for quite a while; now we can have peace and quiet,” Per Balch Soerensen, whose daughter was among the dead, told TV2, according to The Associated Press. He felt no personal rancor toward Mr. Breivik, he was quoted as saying.

“He doesn’t mean anything to me,” Mr. Soerensen said. “He is just air.”

Even more than a year later, the events of that day are still almost impossible to fathom, so brutally, methodically and callously was the attack carried out. After setting off a series of bombs in downtown Oslo that killed eight people, Mr. Breivik made his way to tiny Utoya Island, where, dressed as a police officer and toting a virtual arsenal of weapons, he calmly and systematically hunted down and shot dead 69 others, most of them young people attending a summer camp run by the Labor Party. Hundreds were wounded.

Norway’s soft-touch approach, which defers to the rights of the accused and the rights of victims as much as it gives weight to the arguments of prosecutors, informed every aspect of Mr. Breivik’s trial. As the accused, he was given ample time to speak of his rambling, anti-Muslim, anti-multicultural political views, which included a rant about the “deconstruction” of Norway at the hands of “cultural Marxists.”

He interrupted witnesses freely, smiled when the verdict was announced and entered court on Friday making a fascist salute, his right fist clenched.

“The thoughts of murder were evidently stimulating for the defendant,” Judge Arne Lyng said, reading from the 90-page judgment. “This was clear when he talked about decapitating ex-Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland.” It is hard to imagine, the judgment continues, “that such a term-limited sentence is sufficient to protect this country from this man.”

As the court listened to the killer, so it listened to his victims, who were treated in the proceedings with care, even tenderness. The court heard 77 autopsy reports, listened to short biographies describing the lives of each of the dead and allowed the survivors to describe in great detail what happened and how it has affected them since.

“At first I was shot in the arms and I thought, ‘O.K., I can survive this; it’s O.K. if you’re shot in the arms,’ ” Ina Rangones Libak, 22, said in May in testimony that had spectators laughing and crying by turns, according to news accounts at the time. “Then I was shot in the jaw. I thought, ‘O.K., this is a lot more serious.’ Then I was shot in the chest and I thought, ‘O.K., this is going to kill me.’ ”

But as she lay there, she heard a friend say, “We can’t leave Ina here,” and she was then cradled by a group who hid together even as Mr. Breivik shot others nearby, taking off their clothes to use as tourniquets. In the end, Ms. Libak told the court, “We are stronger than ever.”

The sense that Mr. Breivik’s hateful beliefs should not be allowed to fill Norway with hate, too, was part of the country’s response to the attacks from the beginning. In April, tens of thousands of people around the country gathered for a mass singalong of “Children of the Rainbow,” a song Mr. Breivik denounced in court as Marxist propaganda, to show that he had not shattered their commitment to tolerance and inclusiveness.

Mr. Breivik’s guilt was never at issue in the 10-week trial, which ended in June; the question was whether he was sane, as he claimed, or insane, as the prosecutors argued. On Friday, a five-panel judge ruled him sane and gave him what he had sought: incarceration in a regular prison, not a mental hospital.

Many said they did not mind that Mr. Breivik prevailed in his argument, since the court’s declaration that he was not insane forced him to be accountable for what he had done.

“I am relieved to see this verdict,” said Tore Sinding Beddekal, who survived the shootings on Utoya by hiding in a storeroom. “The temptation for people to fob him off as a madman has gone. It would have been difficult to unite the concept of insanity with the level of detail in his planning.”

Unni Espeland Marcussen, whose 16-year-old daughter, Andrine, was killed by Mr. Breivik, said: “I will never get my daughter Andrine back, but I also think that the man who murdered her has to take responsibility, and that’s good.”

Bjorn Magnus Ihler, who survived the Utoya shootings, said that Norway’s treatment of Mr. Breivik was a sign of a fundamentally civilized nation.

“If he is deemed not to be dangerous any more after 21 years, then he should be released,” Mr. Ihler said. “That’s how it should work. That’s staying true to our principles, and the best evidence that he hasn’t changed our society.”


Mark Lewis reported from Oslo, and Sarah Lyall from London. Alan Cowell contributed reporting from Paris.

PS: Desi just did the Cut&Pastry, without any remuneration OK! ~~ YL

Keeping Track of SAMSUNG shares 'COS some of my ER Play the Market....

They are damned privileged -- they have the spare c(R)ash!:( -- knotty Desi who wroks heART for his esteAmedReaders, some dimes:):)

FRom the NST online edition on Bluesy Mondae:

27 August 2012 | last updated at 10:45AM
Samsung shares plunge after US Apple patents verdict


SEOUL: Shares in Samsung Electronics opened 6.75 percent lower Monday after a US court fined the South Korean firm $1.05 billion for breaching Apple’s patents.

A woman walks past a signboard of Samsung Galaxy S3 at a mobile phone shop in Seoul on August 27, 2012. Shares in Samsung Electronics opened 6.75 percent lower on August 27, 2012 after a US court fined the South Korean firm 1.05 billion USD for breaching Apple's patents. AFP
1 / 1

After 15 minutes of trading the shares had fallen by 6.81 percent to 1,187,000 won.

A jury in San Jose, California ruled Friday that Samsung infringed six Apple patents for smartphones or tablet PCs.

Analysts said the judge in the case could later decide to triple the damages because jurors found Samsung acted “wilfully”. They rejected the Korean firm’s counterclaims against Apple.

Samsung has said it would contest the verdict.

“The context of the loss in this case is a lot worse than had been expected,” including the amount of damages Samsung is now facing, said Hi Investment and Securities analyst Song Myung-Sup.

If the ruling leads to a US sales ban on the Samsung products subject to dispute, it will start eating away the company’s revenue from the fourth quarter, Song said.

Analysts said a key point would be whether the patents battle spreads to Samsung Electronics’ flagship Galaxy S III phone. The products ruled to have infringed Apple’s patents are all older models. AFP




Read more: Samsung shares plunge after US Apple patents verdict - Latest - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/latest/samsung-shares-plunge-after-us-apple-patents-verdict-1.129845##ixzz24jTMdBPl

IF thou art a foreign journalist, and a JEW,....

and a Malaysian connection, it's hazardous to thy Hellth -- Oops, Health!:) ~~ knotty Desi who is born Malaysian but has Chinese ancesty roots to be proud of. But if you wanna make it hazardous for me to disclose this foreign connection, I will humbly withdraw it.


From the MI, which I quote OF10 nowadayts:)~~~

British paper fires pro-Israel columnist over undisclosed Malaysia news fixing


August 27, 2012


KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 — British newspaper The Guardian has terminated the services of conservative American columnist Joshua Trevino as its United States correspondent over his alleged relationship with a company implicated in a news-fixing campaign financed by the Malaysian government and for running a website that attacked Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and other opposition interests here.

In a short statement issued over the weekend, the newspaper said it had recent learned that Trevino “was a consultant for an agency that had Malaysian business interests and that he ran a website called Malaysia Matters. In keeping with the Guardian’s editorial code this should have been disclosed.”


Trevino reportedly called a Gaza flotilla a ‘Nazi convoy’. — Picture courtesy of globalpost.com
Trevino had recently been hired by The Guardian to be its conservative columnist in the United States. His appointment drew a firestorm of protests from liberal activists after it emerged he had urged Israel to shoot at the humanitarian flotilla in 2011 that was seeking to break its naval blockade of Gaza.
When boats carrying unarmed civilian activists attempted in June 2011 to break the blockade of Gaza, Treviño tweeted out a message to the Israeli army: “Dear IDF: If you end up shooting any Americans on the new Gaza flotilla — well, most Americans are cool with that. Including me.”

Trevino also reportedly called the flotilla a “Nazi convoy.”

The Guardian made no mention of the criticisms, but instead pointed to Trevino’s previous ties with an “agency” it did not name but is alleged to be FBC Media, the now-defunct company at the centre of the Malaysia news-fixing scandal involving broadcasters BBC and CNBC last year.

“Under our guidelines, the relationship between Joshua and the agency should have been disclosed before the piece was published in order to give full clarity to our readers,” said Janine Gibson, editor-in-chief, Guardian US.

In response Trevino said: “I vigorously affirm that nothing unethical was done and I have been open with the Guardian in this matter. Nevertheless, the Guardian’s guidelines are necessarily broad, and I agree that they must be respected as such.”

Trevino is a well-known conservative commentator and a former speechwriter in the President George W. Bush administration.

He has reported extensively in the past few years on Anwar’s Sodomy II trial on his Malaysia Matters website, which is now defunct.

Trevino had also frequently criticised Anwar in his other columns in other publications such as the Huffington Post.

FBC Media, the company alleged to have been referred to by The Guardian, made eight programmes for the BBC about Malaysia while failing to declare it was paid £17 million (RM85 million) by the Malaysian government for “global strategic communications” which included positive coverage of Malaysia’s controversial palm oil industry.

The BBC also used FBC to make a documentary about the spring uprising in Egypt without knowing the firm was paid to do PR work for the regime of former dictator Hosni Mubarak.

The BBC was forced to make a public apology over the matter.

FBC had also been exposed to have doubled up as a publicity firm for the Najib government and was paid millions of pounds to conduct a “Global Strategic Communications Campaign”.

But Putrajaya last year ended its RM94 million contract with FBC, which started in 2007, after it was revealed Malaysian government leaders regularly appeared in paid-for-TV programmes.

The Malaysian Insider has reported of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak contracting a series of public relations strategists, including APCO Worldwide, to polish his personal image and his government’s locally and worldwide.

Late last year the government said image consultants FBC Media helped raise the standing of Malaysia as a tourism and investment destination during the RM94 million three-year deal that began in 2007.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz told Parliament that the London-based media company, which is facing bankruptcy, “supported the efforts of government leaders and ministers” to burnish the country’s image overseas.

MONDAE BLUES: Students, Parents, Educationists, Take Heed...

From the Malay Mail, online today:


'Students good at reciting but cannot comprehend'
MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012 - 15:26
by Andrea Mathew
Location:
PETALING JAYA

MALAYSIAN students are only good at reciting from text books but cannot comprehend and analyse information, said Dr Ranjit Singh Malhi.

He said the education system mostly emphasised learning through rote memory or memorisation, and local examination papers focused primarily on lower-order thinking skills.

To illustrate this, Ranjit revealed that a Masters of Public Administration examination paper from a top local public university had only tested the students on their ability to collect and understand information.

"The questions tested students on memorising skills, while ignoring the more important aspects of learning which include evaluation, synthesis, application and analysis, which are higher order thinking skills," he said.

"At Master's level, students need to be learning how to apply the knowledge they learn and not just cram facts to pass a test."

A questions offering 25 marks in the same paper asked students to "describe the strategies that should be followed in order to implement ISO9000 in an organisation".

He said such questions required students to regurgitate textbook answers with no critical thinking.

A critical thinking question, on the other hand, would be one that required a student to apply the knowledge he had learned for problem solving, said Ranjit.

He cited a Diploma in Human Resource Management test he set for students in his class as an example of testing critical thinking.

A question, also offering 25 marks, reads: "Select a particular function of Human Resource Management such as recruitment and selection, training or performance evaluation. Discuss action steps that can be taken based on Total Quality Management’s philosophy to improve it".

Ranjit said higher order thinking was necessary as worldwide trends moved towards a reduction in acquiring content to what was really necessary.

"Today’s workforce does not require an employee to read the Encyclopaedia. Instead, people who survive learn how to learn, because skills and knowledge are quickly outdated," he said.

He also stressed the importance for students to "learn how to learn from young", pointing out to neighbouring Singapore’s initiative.

Related story:


Lack of quality teachers will hamper reforms, says expert

Nostalgia: I went wit' some buddies to Ka Ra OK the night Abay...

I grew up on Nat King Cole -- he was a very cool soul! -- singing velvety-voiced "lonesome" blues numbers. One favourite has been RS, and when I coo-ed it at Butterfry Varrey, a "lady" came up to ask about the singer and the song. We exchanged pleasantries and sum... You bye Desi endless lounds of tehtarik and loast lamb, and I will tell (a)More. Till I hear from ye -- with a cheque for 20mil mayhaps? -- here's nostalgia on Sundae morn -- hope it maketh you day, and LIFE2, longer, knot neccessary badder UNLESS YOU PAY UP! See, I aweways preach: There is no such thing as a free lunch, NOR free dine or supper, due and dame. Mayhaps I do it for a country gal who won't do a "ramblin' rose" nuber on me! ~~ Desi, of10 singin' TONGUE-in-CHICK:)~~~

SO via: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF3OQCkr5kY

Ramblin’ Rose Lyrics
Send "Ramblin’ Rose" Ringtone to your Cell
Songwriters: WILKIN, MARIJOHN / BURCH, FRED B.
-artist: nat king cole
-peak billboard position # 2 in 1962
-words and music by noel sherman and joe sherman


Ramblin' rose, ramblin' rose
Why you ramble, no one knows
Wild and wind-blown, that's how you've grown
Who can cling to a ramblin' rose?
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/n/nat+king+cole/ramblin+rose_20098082.html ]
Ramble on, ramble on
When your ramblin' days are gone
Who will love you with a love true
When your ramblin' days are through?

Ramblin' rose, ramblin' rose
Why I want you, heaven knows
Though I love you with a love true
Who can cling to a ramblin' rose?

Spoken


Ramblin' rose, ramblin' rose
Why I want you, heaven knows
Though I love you with a love true
Who can cling toa ramblin' rose?

Samsung vs Apple bytes -- Desi keeps my BizSavvy ER posted!

SEE HOW HEart Desi the BUMmer works for thee?! Can credit into my PBB AC 438182.... any some you can spare... In Rupians also CUN! No "T". Cun in blogsperak means, if I read aweOFhelen's lips properly, means "GENG"! or canggih! or current&faddish lah! If Desi interprets wlongly, blame it on the teacher who hails from eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeEpoh, the sound you maketh when confronted with an NS snake?!
Hence BLOGSPErAK, now you understand what DDC is!? AND THAT'S A RHETORICAL Q!
From our friendly MInsider:)~~~~

A: largersmallerresetEmail Print
Apple triumphs over Samsung, awarded over US$1b in damages


UPDATED @ 07:52:04 AM 25-08-2012 August 25, 2012

An evidence slide comparing Samsung’s Galaxy Tab to the Apple iPad, which was presented during the trial. — Reuters pic
SAN JOSE (California), Aug 25 — A US jury yesterday handed Apple Inc. a sweeping victory in its legal war with Samsung, ruling that the Korean company had copied critical features of the hugely popular iPhone and iPad and awarding the US company US$1.051 billion (RM3.258 billion) in damages.
The verdict — which came much sooner than expected — could lead to an outright ban on sales of key Samsung products and will likely solidify Apple's dominance of the exploding mobile computing market.

A number of companies that sell smartphones based on Google's Android operating system may now face further legal challenges from Apple, a company that is already among the largest and most profitable in business history.

Shares in Apple, which just this week became the biggest company by market value in history, climbed almost 2 per cent to a record high of US$675 in after-hours trade.

Brian Love, a Santa Clara law school professor, described it as a crushing victory for Apple: "This is the best-case scenario Apple could have hoped for."

The jury deliberated for less than three days before delivering the verdict on seven Apple patent claims and five Samsung patent claims — suggesting that the nine-person panel had little difficulty in concluding that Samsung had copied the iPhone and the iPad.

Billions of dollars in future sales hang in the balance.

Apple's charges that Samsung copied its designs and features are widely viewed as an attack on Google Inc and its Android software, which drives Samsung's devices and has become the most-used mobile software.

Apple and Samsung, two companies that sell more than half the world's smartphones and tablets, have locked legal horns in several countries this year.

Earlier on Friday, a South Korean court found that both companies shared blame, ordering Samsung to stop selling 10 products including its Galaxy S II phone and banning Apple from selling four different products, including its iPhone 4.

But the trial on Apple's home turf — the world's largest and most influential technology market — is considered the most important.

The fight began last year when Apple sued Samsung in multiple countries, accusing the South Korean company of slavishly copying the iPhone and iPad. Samsung countersued. Apple had sought more than US$2.5 billion in damages from Samsung, which has disputed that figure.

The companies are rivals, but also have a US$5 billion-plus supply relationship. Apple is Samsung's biggest customer for microprocessors and other parts central to Apple's devices.

A near clean sweep?

The US jury spent most of August in a packed federal courtroom in San Jose — just miles from Apple's headquarters in Cupertino — listening to testimony, examining evidence and watching lawyers from both sides joust about seven Apple patents, five Samsung patents, and damage claims.

Jurors received 100 pages of legal instructions from US District Judge Lucy Koh on Aug. 21 prior to hearing the closing arguments from attorneys.

Lawyers from both tech giants used their 25 hours each of trial time to present internal emails, draw testimony from designers and experts, and put on product demonstrations and mockups to convince the jury.

At times, their questions drew testimony that offered glimpses behind the corporate facade, such as the margins on the iPhone and Samsung's sales figures in the United States.

From the beginning, Apple's tactic was to present what it thought was chronological evidence of Samsung copying its phone.

Juxtaposing pictures of phones from both companies and internal Samsung emails that specifically analysed the features of the iPhone, Apple's attorneys accused Samsung of taking shortcuts after realizing it could not keep up.

Samsung's attorneys, on the other hand, maintained Apple had no sole right to geometric designs such as rectangles with rounded corners. They called Apple's damage claim "ridiculous" and urged the jury to consider that a verdict in favor of Apple could stifle competition and reduce choices for consumers.

The California trial has produced its share of drama and heated moments. Lawyers routinely bickered over legal matters in the jury's absence, filed rafts of paperwork to thwart each other's courtroom strategy, and sometimes even resorted to public relations tactics to make their views known. — Reuters

King political froggie Ibrahim Ali maketh Desi laugh with his antics on Anti-Hopping Law!

A fw names come to mind when we talk of Forggies in Malaysian politics -- Ibnrahim Ali, Jeffrey Kitinggan, Wee Choo Keong, Zulkiflie Noordin, ad nauseum.... Perkosa's, Ooops, Perkasa's Ib giveth the loudest applause to the proposed Anti-Hopping law now being revived at the Penang State Legislature level.

Of course, it's always the empty vessel that makes the most noise. BUT IN POLITICS, THE MORE DANGEROUS ARE THOSE WHO SING WITH A FORKED TONGUE. This KATAK is the prime example of the double-speak politicians, or who holds on to the principle: DO AS I SAY, DON'T DO AS I DO!

From mmail.com.my:

Stop jumping ship, says Ibrahim
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2012 - 13:53
by Azril Annuar
Location:
PETALING JAYA


VEHEMENT: Switching parties should not be part of personal agenda.

MALAYSIA’s most active party hopper and Pasir Mas MP, Datuk Ibrahim Ali is himself against party hopping.

However Ibrahim, who has been accused of being a political “turncoat” himself, clarified that he was “against” jumping ship if it was done as part of a “personal agenda”.

He said Opposition defacto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s move to entice BN politicians, as is being done now especially in Sabah, to join him is only part of the latter’s plan to become the nation’s premier.

Asked about DAP national chairman Karpal Singh’s stance against party hopping, Ibrahim blasted Karpal saying: “I think the first thing for Karpal Singh to do is to advice Anwar not to try to pull over BN members to join Pakatan.

“Karpal Singh must be consistent. He should not consistently attack BN. He must be consistent in his principles. If you’re talking about human rights and democracy, it is up to the members whether they want to hop or not.

“For example if the party doesn’t perform and serve the people well, how can the member stay with the party?” Ibrahim told The Malay Mail.

He said that the most important reason for being an MP or a state assemblyman is to serve the people.

“If the party isn’t fulfilling its promises, you shouldn’t be in the party. You can hop with solid reasons. For Anwar, it’s different. He just wants to fulfill his personal agenda to become Prime Minister, not to serve the people. I am against doing it for personal agenda,” he said.

****He proceeded to defend himself, saying he never hopped from PAS and that he only contested under the party flag as an independent.

“It’s a collaboration between us. I help them, they help me,” he said.

Ibrahim was first elected to Parliament in the 1986 election for the United Malay National Organisation in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

He later held the seat for Semangat 46 before losing it and recontested it as an independent candidate in the 2004 election. In the 2008 election, Ibrahim ran for the seat on the endorsement of the opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party and was re-elcted.

However, Ibrahim subsequently fell out with PAS, and now sits as an independent in Parliament, having indicated a willingness to support the BN government.

DESIDERATA: This para **** highlighted bu Desi (THUS BOLDED) maketh Ibrahim the greatest HYPOCRITE of damned all! Yeah, PAS is your papa's maid to use to F***K as you like eh? After successful gaining entry, YOU CRY WOOLF EH -- The party leadership wants me out,, so I go eh?

DESIDERATA2:

A longer piece that examines the contrary views of more politicians follows, yes, from THE MALAY MAIL, which for the past six months that I occasionally peep in, now features some "readable" reports, unlike just a year back when it was just like NST, Utusan, another UMNO-pro-paganda-ganda-wang anda mouthpiece:( Please NOTE that the highlights are awe mine, Desi''s , alone KNOT anywan else'S ~~~YL, Desi

To hop or not to hop?
Politicians on both divides discuss beliefs on ‘political frogs’
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2012 - 14:17
by Azril Annuar
Location:
PETALING JAYA



IT’S a Catch-22 situation with some politicians caught between principles and political expedience when it comes to party hopping.

The present debate was sparked following DAP national chairman Karpal Singh’s stand on party hopping, which he labelled as a “betrayal of the electorate”.

In the meantime, Pakatan Rakyat de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is enticing Barisan Nasional (BN) members to cross over.

PKR information chief Chua Tian Chiang (Tian Chua) denied the recent BN exodus in Sabah, for instance, as incidents of party hopping as the three politicians did not join for any favourable gain.

“People who quit the BN because they disagree with the policies are not party hopping. This happens in any democracy,” he said.

“Party hopping is enticing someone by buying them over. We have nothing to offer them.

“The Sabah MPs left on principle”.

The Sabah exodus saw Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin, Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing and Senator Datuk Maijol Mahap resign from their respective BN parties to become pro-Pakatan politicians.

PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub said that if a BN member prefers PR due to matters of principle, it is acceptable as the Opposition “has never offered any rewards” to those who jump ship.

“What happened in Sabah was not party hopping. We engaged with them. If someone shares our belief, he is welcome to join us. We have never offered anyone any rewards to join us.

“This is our principle and we believe that the truth will prevail,” he said. DAP vice-chairman M. Kulasegaran agreed with his chairman, saying it would be beneficial to both the PR and BN if the Anti Hopping Act comes into effect.

“The current law says that if an MP resigns, he cannot contest in the next five years. We need to address this law. If someone wants to change party, he should resign from his post as MP and re-contest.

“That is the morally correct ground to stand on as you will not be betraying your electorates,” said the Ipoh Barat MP, who saw his coalition lose Perak after the resignation of two PKR and one DAP assemblywoman from their parties to be BN-friendly independents.

MIC deputy president and Human Resource Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam also agreed with Karpal’s views, saying it is an “unspoken rule of loyalty for honourable politicians”.

However, he blasted his political exponent, pointing out that Anwar’s actions spoke volumes against Karpal’s moral high ground.

“Of course, in principle Karpal’s right, but PR is enticing others from BN to join them.

“So, whatever principle they preach, they shouldn’t go around and entice others to join Pakatan.

“Within Pakatan there is no consistent policy. Individuals and parties do whatever they want.

“It’s not surprising that one person speaks from a moral platform while the other goes about doing whatever he wants to do,” Subramaniam said.

Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, meanwhile, believes in party loyalty.

“I don’t believe in party jumping until and unless you’re sacked, or the party ceases to exist.

“I hope the rakyat will look at this seriously and do their own evaluation that even within Pakatan Rakyat, there are senior party members who have been leading figures in DAP who disagree with the opposition leadership,” he said.

DESIDERATA2: I remember once the Sabah State Legislative Assembly (I stand/sit coirrected OK!) had indeed adopted an Anti-Hopping Law, but the PBS brothers Pairin Kitingan and Jeffrey led their cohorts destroyed this progressive concept/move which would have prevented the fall of duly-elected government when MONEY could buy over some ADUNs to jump ship.

Before the Parliament can proceed with such a law, I recommend it rescinds the "bar" of resigning MPs to re-contest (within five years?); this would enable any MP to resign on grounds of PRINCIPLE, then re-contest as an Independednt. Kudos to such a practitioner SHARIR SAMAD, once MP of Johor Bahru elected on BN-UMNO ticket, who resigned as he opposed the UMNO top leadership on certain issues. He gallantly won the seat again as an Independent. Hey, king Froggeie Ibrahim, can take some tuition of what PRINCIPLED POLITICS means from YB Shahrir?

To Each his/her Own -- Woe OR Love

I befriended afew nue fRiends under a dulian tlee near the famous yellow busstop afronting Al Jazira in my capitalistic town of Selemban aka Fulong. I like fuLONG becos it has Desi's LUST NAMA!:) OR :(

Anyway, back from digression -- with another diversion into wordsmithry, whether you rike it OR knot, this is my democrazy cyber home, you dont do what you like, it's I DO WHAT I RIDE! -- my new fRiend sported a T-shirt and I spied writ: "WEDNESDAY, HHH", so knotty Desi told him to change it to FRIDAE, as WedNURSEdaei's Childe is FULL OF WOE!

He turned his back -- knot side OK, dat's for veteran soldiers who have no culture, Seremban folks do! -- and on the reverse is advertrised "IS A DAY FOR A FINE RUN"!

Desi is humbled, so that's why I preach: To each his/her OR evne its OWN. Even a dog or cat must have its day, OK! that's why "it" is dare! Fine wit' Desi IF it isn't fine with yee -- YOU THINK I CARE?! OK, this is a rhetorical Q! ~~ YL, Desi, knottyAmor5eThanUsual

DESIDERATA2: I'm looking forward to Friidae, Fool of Love. Now, be a gOod boy/gal/it, YouTube to list' to Matt Monro -0- you learn GoOD DICTION is ASgong's English should be spoke:) NEVER ever forrow dat ex-MENTERI BESAT of Selangor who did NOT know what was stated in Oz Immigeresn Form (Maybe he wanted it in Bahasa Melayu? Hey, Ms Gillard, can/cunt konsider for his sHake? Hence, the knotty is BUMMmer Desi's signing of'/oaf!

PS: that "HHH" is for Hash House Harriers, if some of my ER are also named Ignoramuses:(

DESIDERAT2: c how Desu works heART for ye, my EsteemedReaders, OR art thou steAmed? Though it be festive Hari Laya Aidilfitri, dont dlink too mush! I pronounce Laya for RAya cos the Chinoserie in me maketh "fun" with words. And for those LATEcomers why I writHe wedNURSEdae for that 3ord day of the weAk, it's to show how many of our TV presenters pronouse the word, and I'm subtly telling my ER, do't imittyate damn, the nurse is "away with leave" and should be SILENBT save the "ass" sound. IF YOU STEAL NO UNDERSTAND after my long XXplanation, Get the here/hear out of hell!:(



This old nursery rhyme "Day's of the Week" is said to have been written
to help children learn the days of the week.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

There are several versions, but this is the one passed
down through my family.


And, Yes, I was born on a Wednesday...





Monday's Child is fair of face

Tuesday Child is full of grace

Wednesday's Child is full of woe

Thursday's Child has far to go

Friday's Child is loving and giving

Saturday's Child works hard for a living

But Sunday's Child is fair and wise

and good and gay

author unknown
DESIDERATA3: Cos you are a lazy hazy BUMmer, I sought -- yes, this is the past tense of SEEK, knot SEEKED! -- from Goodle's:~~~


WEDNESDAY'S CHILD

Sung by Matt Monro

Songwriters: BARRY, DAEMION / GILBERT, JULIA

Wednesday's child is a child of woe.
Wednesday's child cries alone, I know.
When you smiled, just for me you smiled,
For awhile I forgot I was Wednesday's child.

Friday's child wins at love, they say.
In your arms Friday was my day.
Now you're gone, well I should have known,
I am Wednesday's child, born to be alone.

Now you're gone, well I should have known,
I am Wednesday's child, born to be alone.

Wednesday's child, born to be alone

LINK to Matt Monro from whom I learnt/learn English DICTION-ary, and knot nery, for that means balang-balang like paper, pen and other things related to writing!:(

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUPRnDYA6Z4


DESI's parting APpeal: Can you make out a check for 20million to PBB: 438182....; hey in Rupiahs oso CUN! You wanna really bye over my Midnight Voices abode, write me at: chongyl2000@yahoo.com, OK, will oblige with the MiSSing four-digits -- like the nurses, they awe wenmt AWOL for Raya break:)

A Singer's APPLAUSE

The LYRICS to my Anthem above for month of August -- to commemorate someone XXXXpezial:):)


Best Chinese Music
∟1950 - 1999: Best Music in the Second Half of the 20th Century
∟1986 - Zhang Sheng Xiang Qi (掌声响起) -- A Singer's Applause
Zhang Sheng Xiang Qi (掌声响起) - A Singer's Applause, Lyrics by Chen Guifen (陈桂芬), Music by Chen Jinxing (陈进兴), Produced in 1986.



Year: 1986
Title: Zhang Sheng Xiang Qi (掌声响起) - A Singer's Applause
Lyrics: Chen Guifen (陈桂芬)
Music: Chen Jinxing (陈进兴)
Original Performer: Feng Feifei (凤飞飞)
Genre: Folk Song
Rating: 7/10
Lyrics:
孤独站在这舞台
听到掌声响起来
我的心中有无限感慨
多少青春不在
多少情怀已更改
我还拥有你的爱
好像初次的舞台
听到第一声喝采
我的眼泪忍不住掉下来
经过多少失败
经过多少等待
告诉自己要忍耐
掌声响起来我心更明白
你的爱将与我同在
掌声响起来我心更明白
歌声交会你我的爱

DESIDERATA: VIA this LINK:) ~~~ http://www.herongyang.com/chinese/Music/1986-Zhang-Sheng-Xiang-Qi.html.

DEsi will try to seek a Chinoserie sexpert's skills to try to "pin-yin" into English, Ms/Mr/inbetween PAtioence, OK? Ms Patience is also Ms Virtuous, remember?! -- YL, Desi

SelAmat HAri RayA Aidilfitri

To awe of my/YL's/Desi's Muslim friends at home and abroad.

No drinking if you must drive
No politicking if you hail from opposite
Side of THIS divide
I wish all my Blogger mateys I call BUMmer
"SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI"

BN-UMNO talks right, acts left-ist!

And bravo to the CIJ (Centre for Independent Journalism) for speaking out. Following is the Malay Mail report. I ain't paid for circulating this! -- YL, Desi

No change to Evidence Act
Amendment has passed through all procedures and accepted as law, says Rais
FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012 - 13:31
by Hamzah Nazari
Location:
AMPANG

THE Cabinet’s decision to retain the amendment to Section 114(A) of the Evidence Act 1950 is in line with the prime minister’s call to put people first.

Barisan Nasional (BN) ministers and political leaders said the amendment was in the larger public interests and would not see an innocent person being penalised as the law was water-tight to prevent such occurences.

Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said the Cabinet had on Wednesday found the amendment to be justified as it had already passed through all the necessary procedures and accepted as law.

The Cabinet had complied with Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s directive from Saudi Arabia to discuss the unpopular amendment, which critics say would make a person guilty until proven innocent.

Najib tweeted on Tuesday: “I have asked Cabinet to discuss section 114A of the Evidence Act 1950. Whatever we do we must put people first.”

The tweet coincided with Internet Blackout Day, an online protest organised by the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) against the section.

Rais said there was nothing to fear in the provision because the presumption was something that could be explained by the accused.

“It is a presumption of fact, it is not a presumption of guilt. Therefore everyone who is subject to the charge that falls under the category of Section 114(A) will have the right to rebut in a court of law and it is up to the court to finally justify what is to be done,” he said.

“Section 114(A) as it was set out to be amended and details under its provisions give a presumption which is common and based on the rule of law,” Rais said after a function yesterday.

“On the government side, we have discussed it thoroughly and the point of view of the Prime Minister that it be discussed has been fulfilled,” he said.

He agreed though, that sentiments of certain parties must be heard and such hearings could be continued.

“You must understand the principle.

“Once parliament has debated it, and in this case it has been debated by both parties; the opposition and the ruling party, and parliament has officially passed this bill and it was already accepted as law.”

“Therefore to say now you have to do something else is actually a political afterthought, it is not something that is actually based on legality or non-legality of it,” he said.

Other related stories you can read at mmail.com.,my:)~~~~


Chua: Opposition smacks of political dishonesty

Review problematic Act, says Saifuddin

'Decision not in line with the times'

DS Anwar Ibrahim on Google Hangout On Air on Aug 17, 2012

PRESS STATEMENT
17 AUGUST 2012

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be the first Malaysian and South East Asian politician to be featured on a Google Hangout on Air event.

Previously, Google Hangout has been used to engage citizens by the President of United States, Barrack Obama and also the Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard.

This unprecedented event will be held on Friday, 17th August 2012 at 10.30PM.
It can be viewed live from http://www.youtube.com/user/anwarhangout/featured.
So far, more than 700 people have marked their attendance on the facebook page and it is expected to increase even further.
The public can submit their questions via Twitter by using the hashtag #BorakAnwar or by posting it on the Google Plus Events page (http://is.gd/borakanwar) and the Facebook page (http://tiny.cc/borakanwar).
A group of Malaysians will be appearing as guests online from home, all connected via Google Hangout. The 6 guests will take turn to ask questions and each will be rotated to the main view whenever he/she is speaking. 40% of the questions will come from the panellists, 40% from written questions online and the remaining 20% will be picked from questions forwarded while the event is going on.
This Hangout will be moderated by Sharifah Shahidah, Operations Director at KEADILAN’s Secretary General's Office.
Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be streaming live from a studio at TV Selangor.
---
Dihantarkan kepada anda melalui / Delivered to you by:

BIRO KOMUNIKASI
PARTI KEADILAN RAKYAT
A-1-09, Merchant Square
No. 1, Jalan Tropicana Selatan 1
47410 Petaling Jaya

Tel: +603 7885 0530
Fax: +603 7885 0531
E-mail: komunikasi@keadilanrakyat.org
Web: www.keadilanrakyat.org



**********************************************


KENYATAAN MEDIA
17 OGOS 2012

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim akan menjadi ahli politik pertama di Malaysia serta Asia Tenggara untuk dipaparkan dalam acara "Google Hangout on Air".
Sebelum ini, Presiden Amerika Syarikat, Barack Obama dan juga Perdana Menteri Australia, Julia Gillard, telah pun menggunakan Google Hangout untuk berinteraksi bersama rakyat.
Acara julung kali ini akan diadakan pada hari Jumaat, 17 Ogos 2012 pada pukul 10:30 malam.
Ia boleh ditonton secara langsung di http://www.youtube.com/user/anwarhangout/featured.
Setakat ini, lebih daripada 700 orang telah pun menandakan kehadiran mereka di halaman Facebook dan dijangka akan meningkat semakin tinggi lagi.
Orang ramai boleh mengemukakan soalan-soalan mereka melalui Twitter dengan menggunakan hashtag #BorakAnwar atau secara bertulis di halaman Google Plus Events (http://is.gd/borakanwar) dan Facebook (http://tiny.cc/borakanwar,) .
Sekumpulan rakyat Malaysia akan muncul sebagai tetamu online melalui Google Hangout dari rumah masing-masing. 6 tetamu ini akan mengambil giliran untuk bertanya soalan dan masing-masing akan menjadi paparan utama apabila sedang berucap. 40% daripada soalan akan ditanya oleh ahli panel, 40% daripada soalan bertulis online manakala 20% selebihnya datang daripada soalan yang dikemukakan semasa acara sedang berlangsung.
Pengarah Operasi di Pejabat Setiausaha Agung KEADILAN, Puan Sharifah Shahidah, akan menjadi moderator bagi Google Hangout kali ini.
Acara Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim ini akan disiarkan secara langsung dari studio di TV Selangor.

Suhakam inquiry is more reliable than MSM reports on Bersih3.0 rally!

YES< finally there is a sighting of the "light at the end of the tunnel" from the ongoing Suhakam inquiry into the Bersih3.0 demostration referred to as "428". Yes, the MSM especially Bernama would have us believe the protest crowd numbered just 25,000, while independent estimates put it at ten-fold. MSM always quoted Bernama on the 10-percent figure, BUT WHEN BN-UMNO ORGANISED ANY PROTESTS, or those organised by Perkosa led by froggie wan Ibrahim Ally, an extra zero is added to the tally.

Today's MI report reproduced belowlifts Desi's heart -- there is ye hope for NegaraKu! ~~ YL, Desi


No cop hurt during Bersih rally, Suhakam inquiry told


By Thanusya Shanmuganathan August 13, 2012
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13 — No policeman was injured in the chaotic April 28 rally for free elections in the capital city contrary to reports of the men in blue being hurt by demonstrators and which had been alleged to have triggered police to retaliate, the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) inquiry heard today.

Insp Norazmee Mohamed, from the Dang Wangi police station here, said he was not aware of any police officer being injured in clashes that had sprouted in several spots leading to Dataran Merdeka and the venue of the rally organised by electoral reform group Bersih.

“I was not informed of any injuries sustained by my officers,” he told a three-man panel led by Suhakam vice-chairman Datuk Dr Khaw Lake Tee (picture).

“If indeed an officer was injured, it is the standard operating procedure (SOP) to inform me but I did not receive any information,” he said.

Norazmee was the second person called to testify today, after another police officer, ASP Ahamad Jais Ujang.

Norazmee said he had been briefed earlier in the day on April 28 by Ahamad, who was his superior, and told to form a human barricade around Dataran Merdeka.

Ahamad, who was in charge of keeping demonstrators from entering the blocked-off Dataran Merdeka, testified earlier that he had been informed that two officers had been injured by demonstrators.

“My OCPD told me in a briefing that a PEMANDU officer and a traffic policeman were also injured when the police made arrests during the rally,” said Ahamad.

He did not disclose the identities of the injured or offer further information on the PEMANDU official, but was likely referring to a representative from the government’s Performance and Delivery Unit, the efficiency agency under the Prime Minister’s Department.

Ahamad, who heads the police’s religious and counselling unit, said he was only informed of the incident from his superior officer after he went back to the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) in Jalan Semarak.

Ahamad also told the inquiry that he directed the policemen under his charge against being violent or reacting emotionally towards the crowd and to stay calm, even if they were provoked.

“My orders were clear. I told all my 1,000 officers not to react in any unruly manner.

“I also told them not to make any arrests, if possible,” he said.

Despite his orders, Ahamad said a few officers had arrested several people after the crowd broke through a barbed-wire barricade and entered Dataran Merdeka. He noted that the time then was about 3pm.

“I saw an officer arresting a man wearing a yellow T-shirt. I asked him who gave him orders to make arrests but my officer kept mum,” he said.

“The arrests may have happened when my officers felt things were getting out of control and felt they should make arrests,” he said.

He added that he then took those detained to Pulapol for further action.

Ahamad said he saw many of the detainees were injured and bleeding.

“My officers should not have used violence on the crowd. They were ordered to use minimal violence to control them,” he said.

Ahamad did not submit any reports or videos of his operations that day as he was unsure if it was needed.

“I was merely looking out for the well-being of my officers. I did not see anything wrong happen that day, except for incidents where my officers injured a few detainees.

“Arresting people was not my job, so I did not submit any reports to the OCPD,” he said.

The inquiry continues on August 15.

MORE TO COME

Journaists are in dangerous terrotry under the UMNO regime!

We all know that western journalists go all out to cover the news in the Arab Spring countries -- many at the risk of their life. Lucky ones escaped unscathed, less lucky ones return home with broken limbs, yet some don't get to go back. THESE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE EITHER DELIBERATELY KILLED BY THE RULING REGIME, or become unfortunate "COLLATERAL DAMAGE".


NegaraKu has not reached that stage when media personnel are on such dangerous mission when a momentary lapse can take away a journalist's life. But the UMNO--oh, NO!-regime in their panicked state are slowly but surely moving towards the cliff, and the horizon is nigh when some humans would become sacrificial lambs at the expense of UMNO's expediency to hold on to Federal Power, NO MATTER WHAT! Mr Prime Minister, over "crushed bodies"?

From the MI cometh this news report hinting of what will come with BERSIH's next mass-gathering if there is no evidence the Election Commission can get its act together before GE-13, instead of now acting in cahoots with the UMNO regime, Police and some sections of the Judiciary to "cow" the people. See how they "handcuffed" Rafizi Ramli who whistleblew of the National Feedlot Corp's RM250million scandal -- BUT THE NFC CHAIRMAN, WAS PRIVILEGED TO WALK INTO THE COURTS HANDCUFFS-FREE to face charges. All because he's hubby to ex-UMNO Minister and steal current Wanita UMNO thief -- oops, Chief!

This world under UMNO -- how long more would they be allowed to SHOOT THE MESSENGER?

My fellow Malaysians, you must DO WHAT IS RIGHT AT GE-13 -- THROW OUT A REGIME THAT'S BRINGING THE RAKYAT TOWARDS THAT CLIFF INTO OBLIVION! ~~ YL, Desi


Cops assaulted 12 journalists, NUJ tells Bersih panel


By Thanusya Shanmuganathan August 10, 2012

A Bersih supporter is surrounded by policeman during the rally for free and fair elections in Kuala Lumpur, April 28, 2012. — File pic
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10 ― Police were wrong to attack and injure reporters on duty at public rallies, the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) inquiry into the Bersih rally heard today from a journalists’ union leader, who added that a dozen members have complained of assaults.
“The policemen should not cause physical injuries on journalists,” said National Union of Journalists (NUJ) Malaysia secretary-general Anbalagan Veerasamy during today’s session of the inquiry.

“Even if they (journalists) have committed any offences, there is no need to hurt them. Just arrest them.”

Anbalagan, also a reporter with the New Straits Times Press, said he attended the April 28 rally to observe whether the reporters on duty that day were following standard operating procedure (SOP).

He added that it is also improper for police to confiscate personal effects of the journalists such as cameras and memory cards.

“I think the police did this so they can delete all evidence of them (police) committing violence during the rally,” he said.

Anbalagan added that to date, 12 journalists have submitted reports to NUJ, alleging they were assaulted by policemen during Bersih 3.0.

“Some journalists claim they were attacked by groups of people masquerading as policemen because they did not wear any identification tags.

“This unruly manner by the police has to stop so reporters can perform their duties, without being afraid of their safety,” he said.

He said that the Bersih rally was not “social unrest”, despite NUJ’s handbook for journalists stating that any public gathering is considered as such if any chaos occurs.

“The journalists were there on duty. They did not cause any chaos,” he said, responding to ACP Jamaluddin Abdul Rahman, who was holding a watching brief for the police.

Anbalagan also denied policemen’s allegations that they had problems identifying journalists during the rally due to the crowd.

“I do not think could have been problems to identify journalists there. Their behaviour would have shown they were journalists, even if their attire failed to do so.

“I see no reason for any confusion,” he said.

The inquiry panel, led by Suhakam vice-chairman Datuk Dr Khaw Lake Tee and aided by commissioners Professor Datuk Dr Mahmood Zuhdi Abdul Majid and Detta Samen, will be interviewing some 22 witnesses and selected members of the police force over a period of 22 days.

The inquiry continues on August 13. -- Malaysian Insider

S'pore paper seldom criticises Malaysian gov't. but on the Rafizi case, SBT says it succinctly!

via The Malaysian Insider:)~~~~~~

Rafizi prosecution wrong move, Singapore daily suggests


August 06, 2012
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 6 — Putrajaya’s move to charge Rafizi Ramli has only served to raise the PKR strategy chief’s public stature in the run-up to key national polls as it appears to run counter to the federal government’s pledge to combat corruption, a Singapore paper suggested today.

Rafizi was charged on August 1 with violating the Banking and Financial Institutions Act (BAFIA) in exposing confidential banking details related to National Feedlot Corporation Sdn Bhd (NFCorp), in a case that has put whistleblower protection laws under greater scrutiny.

“Transparency International Malaysia has urged for whistleblowers to be protected as they ‘put themselves at great risk to their livelihood and career and also to their work, family and community relationships’,” Singapore’s Business Times reported today.


File photo of Rafizi (right) being led in handcuffs when he was charged with violating the Banking and Financial Institutions Act on August 1, 2012.
The anti-graft watchdog has stressed that public perception of selective prosecution would prove damaging to Malaysia’s enforcement agencies in the fight against corruption, as well as being inconsistent with the purpose of the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 despite Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s denial of double standards, the paper reported.

The paper highlighted the different treatment the authorities accorded Rafizi when they handcuffed him during a pre-dawn arrest at his home before taking him to court and the man whose company he had exposed for alleged corruption in a RM250 million cattle farming scandal, NFCorp chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Salleh Ismail, who was left uncuffed to walk into court.

“Already, the prosecution of Mr Rafizi has only served to raise his stature in the eyes of the public,” the paper said in its article titled “Govt may be making the wrong move in charging Rafizi” published today.

Apart from his NFCorp expose, Rafizi has gained additional prominence after he went public with confidential Treasury documents showing an allegedly less-qualified consortium led by engineering firm George Kent, which he has linked to Najib, weeks before the government announced it as the winning bid for a lucrative RM1 billion rail expansion project in the Klang Valley.

Rafizi has also accused Najib of interfering in the bidding process by awarding the contract to a close associate who owns George Kent.

The paper noted that Rafizi’s role in exposing financial mismanagement in companies linked to the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government has raised his profile as among the young up-and-coming politicians in the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact that could see a regime change in Malaysia for the first time since the nation gained independence 55 years ago.

“Should the 35-year-old accountant be fielded in the coming general election, he is expected to be a formidable opponent,” the paper said.

Rafizi has told The Malaysian Insider that despite the legal hurdles he will continue his revelations on alleged corruption in the government.

He faces two court charges for his exposes that could land him in jail and set him back millions of ringgit and a shot at a Parliament seat.

DESIDERATA: The highlight (BOLDED THUS) is mine alone. YL, Desi

aND HERE FOLLOWS ANOTHER MALAY mAIL REPORT WHERE THE hIGHER eDUCATION DEPUTY mINISTER IS APPAULDED BY dESI, A secong time WITHIN A WEEK!:) tHE SCRIPT IS DIFFERENT SPECIALLY TO DRAW THY attensyen-LAH, KENTorKNOT!

Minister comes under fire

All, including Rais, must respect press freedom, says Saifuddin
MONDAY, AUGUST 06, 2012 - 12:37
by Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani
Location:
PETALING JAYA

UMNO supreme council member Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah has criticised a senior party member for attacking The Malay Mail after the paper highlighted public disenchantment over the country’s National Day celebrations.

The Malay Mail front-page story on Friday, headlined “We’ve had enough!”, pointed out the anger felt by Malaysians, calling on politicians to respect the spirit of Merdeka.

The Malay Mail also ran an editorial calling on both Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to stop hijacking Merdeka.

However, Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim went on the attack on his Twiiter account and tweeted “The Malay Mail shows its true opposition colours, today, in its lead misleading story.”

Rais also later added that the theme was approved by the Cabinet and that it was the ministry’s responsibility to publicise the success the BN government had achieved over the past 55 years.

Saifuddin said that ministers and the administration must safeguard the sanctity of the press.

“We, as ministers and members of the administration, should uphold the notion of press freedom to its fullest. We must be able to accept different views and diff erent perspectives even to the extent that people may not agree at all we say.

“I’ve seen what was written in The Malay Mail and think it is The Malay Mail’s way of presenting the voice of the people. I thought it was fair. If we don’t agree, we can rebut, but that is it."



FLASHBACK: Our Page 1 on Friday which Rais criticised on Twitter

He also added that it was unnecessary for Rais to admonish the paper.

“I don’t think there is any need for that to be done. It is a newspaper. A newspaper works like a newspaper.

“We may have one or two newspapers we prefer to read and one or two which we prefer not to even touch, but we should respect newspapers as newspapers,” he said.

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim recently announced that PR held states of Selangor, Kelantan, Penang and Kedah may hold Merdeka celebrations with its proposed alternative theme, Sebangsa, Senegara, Sejiwa (One Nation, One Country, One Soul).

The federal government had chosen Janji Ditepati (Promises Fulfilled) as this year’s national day theme, but received flak from the public for ignoring the Merdeka spirit and espousing BN’s political agenda.

The Malay Mail also conducted an online poll, last week, on which Merdeka theme was preferred by the public.

As at 6.30pm yesterday, 5,986 readers had voted, with 98 per cent choosing 'One Nation, One Country, One Soul' and two per cent for 'Promises Fulfilled'.

Water boy Georgie, Behave thyself, Kent-OR-knot?

I've blogged on this "shameful" daylight robbbery when a contractor acts in consort with UMNO goons at the expense of the Rakyat/taxpayers. The Edge weekly via Malaysian Insider details the CONgame being played out before our very eyes, and they expect PKR Director of Strategy Rafizi Ramli to keep quiet. Hey, PKR leaders are made of sterner stuff! -- YL, Desi

Industry: George Kent likely to subcontract 80pc of Ampang LRT work


August 05, 2012
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 — The George Kent-Lion Pacific joint venture, which has fallen under scrutiny for winning the RM1 billion Ampang LRT tender despite allegedly lacking rail expertise, may have to subcontract nearly 80 per cent of works for the project, The Edge Weekly has reported, citing industry executives.

This is because George Kent, more known as a manufacturer of water meters, pipes, valves boilers and fibre glass reinforced polyester water tanks, is not the original manufacturer of any of the components needed for the Ampang LRT line extension, one executive was quoted as telling the business newspaper.

“It is not uncommon for large portions of contracts to be given to subcontractors by the main contractor when it involves general work packages, for example, construction,” a rail sector project consultant was quoted as saying.

But the consultant added that subcontracting more than 30 per cent of the specialised work package was questionable, as George Kent should have been originally selected for specific technical capabilities.

The award of the lucrative Ampang LRT extension project to the George Kent consortium on Tuesday has come under heavy fire following claims of political interference in the tender process, as alleged by PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli.

Rafizi had also claimed George Kent had scored the lowest points in the technical and commercial evaluation process for the project and that it was initially the UK-based Balfour-Beatty consortium that was selected for the award by the Finance Ministry Acquisition Committee.

The PKR leader had also accused Datuk Seri Najib Razak of reversing the decision and granting the tender to George Kent instead, which he claimed was controlled by a “close associate” of the prime minister.

According to The Edge, George Kent even approached Balfour-Beatty to become one of the subcontractors but industry executives claimed the UK-based consortium had spurned the offer.

But the firm reportedly told the paper that it was still interested in participating in Malaysia’s rail sector projects, despite refusing to comment on any possible tie-up with George Kent.

Quoting a top executive at Siemens, The Edge reported that the German-based engineering group would likely participate in the Ampang LRT project as a subcontractor.

Siemens, the executive told the paper, was capable of undertaking most of the project’s major subsystems.

The long delayed systems work tender is said to be the most technical package in the Ampang line extension project, which industry executives have agreed would be the most complex.

It comprises seven major sub-systems: signalling, track works and a third rail, communications, supervisory control and data acquisition, power supply and project management as well as systems integration.

“Even with experienced contractors, the job represents a huge challenge for seasoned railway players,” they were quoted as saying.

On Thursday, George Kent came out for the first time to deny allegations that it had won its tender bid for the Ampang LRT project despite being not as qualified.

In the company’s first statement to the media since winning the Ampang LRP project on Tuesday, Cheong Thiam Fook, executive director of George Kent and also project director of the George Kent-Lion Pacific joint venture (GKLP-JV), said that the partnership was well positioned to deliver the project.

“We strongly refute the baseless allegations that GKLP-JV failed the full technical and commercial evaluations,” said Cheong, who is also a qualified engineer and was involved in the construction of the Ampang LRT line Phase 1 and 2 from 1994 to 1998.

He added that there was “also absolutely no question that George Kent has a healthy balance sheet and is in a strong cash position”.

As of January this year, George Kent had cash and cash equivalents of RM54.9 million while its debts amounted to RM34.46 million.

For the 2012 financial year ended January 31, the group reported a profit of RM19.3 million on the back of RM152.2 million in revenue.

Cheong said that George Kent has managed to diversify into managing construction projects involving complex mechanical and engineering requirements in Malaysia and overseas, and has successfully delivered large projects on time and on budget, including the construction and design of the new Kuala Lipis Hospital valued at RM100 million, which was recently completed with zero variation orders.

Fashionistas have arrived in CHINA! -- So Who says Communism doesn't allow...

BOURGEOSIE to THRIVE?

After viewing CCTV regularly the past few years, especially its international news coverage plus its CULTURE EXPRESS featuring the fashion scenes across Milan, Paris and LA, and Shanghai of course, you get a feeling -- for a Socialist like Desi -- China has truly all the Capitalist trappings that put Malaysians in envyschool. A recent press report says China now has 1million multi-millionaires (ie above USD1 million)! Midnight Voices that's Desi's cyberhome being flogged off at 20million has NO TAKERS -- I thought there's a sucker born every nanasecond nowadies? -- so far. I told my marketeers like IpohLang aweOFhelen I would even consider the payment in RUPIAHS! Mousey writHers are truly wickedened beggars for a conTINENTAL bukapuasa/lunch/supper:( -- YL, Desi, knottyaSsusual

From AFP and Relaxnews via MI:)~~~


China’s passion for fashion catapults blogger to stardom


August 05, 2012
BEIJING, Aug 5 — Until recently Han Huohuo was just a 20-something Chinese fashion blogger.

Today he enjoys front-row seats at European catwalk shows and rubs shoulders with the editor of Chinese Vogue.

More than a million people now follow the wildly famous fashion blogger on weibo, China’s answer to Twitter, and a leading website recently listed him among the country’s top 20 movers and shakers in the industry.

The 28-year-old’s flamboyant style — he favours women’s clutches, skintight black pants and the occasional high heel — and passion for the industry have won him fame in a country where fashion icons are just starting to emerge.

Experts say his rapid rise to fame over the past four years was propelled by international brands eager to latch onto anyone who holds sway in China — set to become the world’s largest luxury market by 2015, according to a Boston Consulting Group forecast.

“You’ve got so many luxury brands throwing money at China and they are grabbing people who have some sort of influence,” said Chloe Reuter, who runs a luxury communications agency in Shanghai, Reuter PR.

“It’s extraordinary what kind of stuff they get given. They fly first class and have chauffeurs.

“Because everything is very new, people are basically being catapulted into A-list segments — something that might take a lot longer anywhere else.”

Han’s (picture) unconventional style would stand out anywhere, but in China, it is particularly unusual.

His microblog — set against a leopard-print background — features a stream of portraits of himself stalking city streets in leather pants, designer purses, fur-lined coats and gold bracelets.

Part of his head is shaved, while what hair he has is long and swept back like a mane.

Not everyone likes his look, with some scorning his feminine style as “abnormal” and “evil”.

“It’s just like Lady Gaga,” Han said in an interview with AFP, referring to the pop star known for extravagant outfits. “A lot of people criticise her but many are also praising her because she did what others didn’t dare to do.

“The reason I got attention is that I did what others didn’t dare to do,” he added. “I think I encouraged a lot of people.”

Han launched his blog in 2008 but since then his microblog, which he began in 2009, has become his main outlet for expression.

‘Celebrities out of nothing’

Han is now so well-known that he says he sometimes dresses down when he goes out to avoid being pestered for photos.

Most of his fans simply follow him on his Weibo account.

“I look at it pretty often. He has his own ideas and opinions,” said Jiang Li, a design student at the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology.

“We see him as one of the trendier fashion icons,” said her classmate Guan Jiao.

Han entered fashion early — and almost by accident.

Bored with university, he left to work as a travel writer for a Beijing magazine that decided to launch a fashion section. The management tapped Han to run the new venture simply because he was the youngest person in the office.

From there he became an editor at the Chinese version of Marie Claire magazine, where he built up his fashion knowledge and network, leaving four years later in 2010 to start his own projects.

Now his fame extends to the upper crust of the fashion world, including the editor of Chinese Vogue, Angelica Cheung.

Cheung says bloggers like Han are “very good in terms of influencing this younger generation of consumers,” but cautions that they could lose their position as quickly as they won it if they only post uninformed or unoriginal views.

“I think certainly these fashion bloggers create a lot of celebrities out of nothing,” she said. “The only ones who will remain are the ones who have real knowledge and insight into the fashion industry.

“Even with Han Huohuo, he’s still young. There’s still a lot to learn.”

And other fashion voices are cropping up as well — not only online personas such as “Dipsy” (270,000 followers) and Leaf Greener (30,000) but also artists including Yi Zhou, models like Du Juan and editors such as Cheung, said Reuter.

As he seeks to establish himself beyond his blog, Han has worked with labels including Hong Kong-based Linea Rosa to design shoes and clothing, compiled a fashion photography book and appeared as a judge on a Chinese fashion design television show.

He says his style has evolved into plainer clothing like T-shirts, although bold accessories — especially women’s purses — are still a must.

“Accessories must stand out,” he said. “I really like women’s clutches because I think men’s accessories are too ugly... They’re impossible to use.

“I don’t care what people say. I figure, I like them, and that’s the most important thing.” — AFP/Relaxnews

I SALUTE the (UMNO) deputy higher education minister for his views on Rafizi's charge...

I have often lambasted BN ministers,, and used the term "goons" to describe especially UMNO Cabinet ministers, like I di in the previous post/s.

TODAY I must give credit where credit is due -- finally a deputy minister SAIFUDDIN ABDULLAH, showed that some UMNO leaders are indeed capable of having a critical mind, and more importantly, to speak up whe it matters.


Early this morning, I saw the frontpage of Malay Mail and invested RM1 for a print copy -- I was delighted to read the following on page 1. SECOND LEAD:

Public perception at stake
over Rafizi's charge

By ASRUL HADI ABDULLAH SANI
______________________________________


I arrived home about an hour ago, went to Mmail.com.my to routine pick the item via Cut&Paste for comment for this post. But after half an hour --even going back to Google search -- I could NOT find the online copy! WHICH IS VERY UNUSUAL AND SUSPICIOUS!
 I wrote an email to the editor asking the WHY? query BUT THERE WAS NO "send" operation key...Maybe Desi is a litttle blur...I will try to contact ASRUL the reporter LATER on the issue. At the back of my mind, I wonder if the newspaper DIT NOT WISH TO ENCOURAGE readers to visit this report!?


DESIDERATA: I went to mole.com after spying a link at rockyberu's and there was this item headed:

Whistleblower Act cannot save Rafizi.
Of course I "beg to differ" with the gist of that report -- I won't C&P for you lazy bummers hear, so go visit dare! I would go back there to pick up a comment countering the UMNO-related I.nternet semi-news-cum-blog aggregator.. Before that, I will now COPY OUT in longhand the Malay Mail's report (italicised and in RED) which lifted my heart this morn!:)

WHILE the law may side with theauthorities, public perception will be destroyed following the charging of
PKR strategic director Rafizi Raml and former Public Bank cleark Jhari Mohamad yesterday for violations to the Banking and Financiakl Institutions Act (BAFIA).


It will probably be the first casualty of the Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA) 2010.


Although it protects those who give information to the authorities, the perception would be that if you "snitch", the government will come after you, said UMNO supreme council member Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah


"The charge will have a negative impact on national perception towards the government's anti-corruption efforts, Saifuddin, the deputy higher education minister told the Malay Mai.

"More importantly, I think this case is going to put the Whistleblower Act to closer scrutiny because the Act is supposed to protect whstlebowers in many areas, including from civil and criminal action especially against detrimental actions.


"I am not a lawyer but a politician and I am concerned with perception.


"I have been reading through social media and the preception is very simple -- the Act is not effective."


~~ To be cuntinued...

Okay, guys, thanks for being Ms, Mr or... Patience, also a Ms Virtuous surely! @10.24PM, Here's dat Comment I left at mole.com:~~~

"

ylchong· 9 hours ago

I believe Rafizi Ramli had performed "national service" by exposing the NFC scandal -- taking personal risk which is done for the "national good". I also congratulate the ex-Public Bank employee Johari Mohamad for acting in the same spirit, and the Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA) 2010 should have protected him, for he did not expose the "scandal" for personal benefit and again, for the "national good". By extension, Rafizi acting in concert with the channeler Jhari. should enjoy protection under the WPA too. They should NOT have been charged under the BAFIA. 

I too congratulate deputy higher education minister -- and Desi seldom praises UMNO leaders, but will give credit where credit is due! --SAIFUDDINABDULLAH as reported in the Malay Mail today frontpage sa saying that "The charge will have a negative impact on national perception towards the government's anti-corruption efforts." 

"More importantly, I thhink this case is going to put the WPA to closer scrutiny bevcause the Act is supposed to protect whsitleblowers in many areas, including from civil and criminal action especially against deteimental actions." (the minister was further quoted in theMalay Mail report)

Report

Reply

1 reply · active 6 hours ago

UMNO goons ae now desperate: Rafizi Ramli's arrest proves it!

News break by The Malaysian Insider:~~~

Anwar: Najib’s ‘personal vendetta’ to charge Rafizi

By Clara Chooi

August 01, 2012

Rafizi was charged today with violating the Banking and Financial Institutions Act (BAFIA) in exposing confidential banking details related of NFCorp.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today accused Datuk Seri Najib Razak of having a “personal vendetta” against PKR’s Rafizi Ramli for exposing the scandals in his administration, saying today’s move to arrest and charge the young leader was to silence him.

The Opposition Leader said he was certain Rafizi’s charges were because of the latter’s pursuit of exposes involving the National Feedlot Corporation (NFCorp), which is run by the family of former minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, and the George Kent consortium, which just won the lucrative Ampang LRT extension deal.

Rafizi has repeatedly accused Najib of allegedly interfering in the tender bid and granting the multimillion contract to George Kent, which he claimed was controlled by a “close associate” of the prime minister and which also scored one of the lowest points in the technical and commercial evaluation for the project.

“By exposing continuously these scandals for months, Rafizi has built powerful enemies and now they are using what is at their disposal.

“This is Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s personal vendetta being played out by the various government agencies,” Anwar said in a statement here.

The Permatang Pauh MP added that the move to charge Rafizi in court today was merely a smokescreen to frighten off Malaysians trying to unearth the truth behind the awarding of contracts involving Barisan Nasional (BN) leader.

“I commend Rafizi and the courage he has shown, and to his family I ask them to bear through these hard times and remember that social justice will prevail in the end,” he said.

Rafizi, who is PKR’s strategy director and the man at the forefront of the famous National Feedlot Centre (NFC) exposes, was charged today with violating the Banking and Financial Institutions Act (BAFIA) in exposing confidential banking details related of NFCorp.

By exposing continuously these scandals for months, Rafizi has built powerful enemies and now they are using what is at their disposal. — Anwar Ibrahim

The firm, owned by Shahrizat’s family members, runs the federal government’s cattle farming project that has been at the centre of a RM250 million scandal.

The charge proffered under Section 97(1) of the BAFIA stated that Rafizi had disclosed four customer account profiles detailing the balance summary for the NFCorp, the National Meat and Livestock Sdn Bhd, Agroscience and Industries Sdn Bhd and NFCorp chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Salleh Ismail, to two individuals identified as Yusuf Abdul Alim and Erle Martin Carvalho.

Under Section 103(1)(a) of the same law, he could be fined a maximum of RM3 million and jailed up to three years if found guilty, which could seriously hobble Rafizi’s chance of standing as a candidate in the 13th general elections that must be held by April next year when the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition’s mandate expires.

The NFCorp and the cattle farming scandal hit the headlines last year when the Auditor-General reported that it had missed its production targets.

Shahrizat, who was a minister when the project was awarded to her family in 2006, relinquished her Cabinet post in early April over the allegations against her family.

On March 12, her husband, Mohamad Salleh, pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court to two counts of criminal breach of trust involving RM49.7 million with regards to the purchase of two condominium units.

He also pleaded not guilty to two other charges under the Companies Act.


DESIDERATA: Please also read my post here YESTERDAY -- when all our troubles seem'd so far away!
Rafizi was doing "NATIONAL SERVICE" in exposing the NFC scandal -- instead of going after the culprits, Najib's admin deems it more concveniet to "shoot the messenger" OR EVEN PERSECUTTE ANY POTENTIAL "WHISTLE-BLOWER, so waht's the point of this piece of (SHIT! inmo-lah, k!) legislation.

But I know Rafizi won't be cowed by UMNO goons or Sharizat's family's farm cows. I believe the UMNO leaders led by its chief are running scared, hence their hunting down a young and potential MP that Rafizi Ramli represents. BUT PKR LEADERS ARE MADE OF STERNER STUFF! Also, JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL -- the people's justice!

 Cometh the 13th General Elections -- which must be held the latest by June 2013 -- Malaysians must show their power in the ote! VOTE wisely -- VOTTE FOR CHANGE IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT led by incompetent and daylight-robbery BN/UMNO leaders!