My first post on the overcrowding at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) was posted in Apr 2008. It has been almost a year and there is still no news. Kuching residents has repeatedly called for the setting up of another general hospital to complement the present overworked SGH.
Many complaints received are about the lack of facilities at the SGH, which were the cause of many a frustration among the people.
SGH also lacked certain facilities and this has somewhat caused patients to endure longer appointment dates. Members of the public also had to go through the hassle of getting a parking space in the cramped hospital compound.
So while millions has been thrown into the space program and to buy frogs in Perak, the federal government is still closing their ears and eyes.
Related posts:
* Sarawak General Hospital badly overcrowded, Part 2
* Sarawak General Hospital badly overcrowded
From TheBorneoPost
Another general hospital urgently needed
By Puvaneswary Devindran
KUCHING: City folk are yearning for an additional general hospital for quite sometime now but nobody seems to know when it will ever materialise.
The latest one to join in the chorus is the central youth of Sarawak United People’s Party, which called for the setting up of another general hospital to complement the present overworked Sarawak General Hospital.
SUPP youth chairman Sih Hua Tong said they had received many complaints about the lack of facilities at the SGH, which were the cause of many a frustration among the people.
“They complained that SGH lacked certain facilities and this has somewhat caused patients to endure longer appointment dates,” he told a press conference here yesterday.
He said members of the public also had to go through the hassle of getting a parking space in the cramped hospital compound.
He said gratitude and appreciation no doubt should go to the health workers, and the people knew that the hospital was doing its best to cater to their needs but one general hospital was simply not enough.
“We urge the federal government through the Health Ministry to quickly set up another general hospital to provide better medical facilities to the people,” he said.
He hoped Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai would come here to see for himself the situation first-hand at the SGH.
The need for a second general hospital has been making headlines in many local newspapers of late.
Last year, Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud announced the need for the city to have two more general hospitals – one to be located between the city and Santubong and the other, in rapid growing Samarahan.
He said plans for these hospitals had to be drawn up as soon as possible because by 2020, this city would have a population of about a million people.
“It is an open secret that Kuching is in urgent need of another general hospital. This is further compounded by the fact that the hospital is a specialist referral hospital in the state.
“Although the newly refurbished wings is appreciated, this still does not solve the age-old problem of having not enough beds.
It was also reported in January last year that the best estimates put the number (of bed) at around 800, which is far from adequate with the city’s population.
In May last year, the Health Minister on his visit to the hospital said the government was looking at two options to solve overcrowding at the hospital. One was to build a second public hospital and the other one was to acquire an existing facility.
Liow said the authorities were studying these options although the long-term plan was that another hospital might be needed to complement SGH.
Besides SGH, there are three other hospitals in the city; Normah Medical Specialist Centre, Kuching Specialist Centre, and Timberland Medical Centre. All are either privately run or government linked.
For the time being, remaining employees of Western Digital Media Sdn Bhd (WD), Kuching can sigh a temporary relieve as their factory closure has been postponed. WD, a harddisk manufacturer is in the midst of negotiations with an interested foreign company to take over the factory.
List of current harddisk manufacturers:
As of 2007, these vendors include Seagate, Western Digital, Samsung, ExcelStor, Toshiba, Fujitsu, and Hitachi. Fujitsu is reportedly selling it's hard disk unit to Western Digital.
If a foreign company were to buy WD, it would be either Seagate, Samsung, ExcelStor, Toshiba or Hitachi.
Related posts:
* Hitachi - Western Digital deal off
List of notable defunct harddisk manufacturers:
* Apple, Inc. - produced the proprietary Lisa 20MB Widget drive in-house in 1984 for less than two years before getting out of the drive business.
* Atasi Corp. - bankrupt
* Areal Technology - acquired by Tomen Corp
* Cogito Systems - bankrupt
* Computer Memories Inc. (CMI) - left industry in 1986
* Conner Peripherals - merged with Seagate in 1996
* Conner Technologies - merged with ExcelStor in 2001
* Control Data/Imprimis - hard disk drive business acquired by Seagate in 1989
* Digital Equipment Corporation - hard disk drive business acquired by Quantum in 1994
* Epson - left industry
* Hewlett Packard - left industry
* IBM - hard disk drive business acquired by Hitachi in 2002
* Integral Peripherals - first 1.8" rigid HDD, bankrupt in 1998
* International Memories (IMI) - spun off by Memorex in 1977, left industry in 1985
* Iomega - left industry
* JT Storage - bankrupt in 1999
* JVC - left industry
* Kalok - bankrupt in 1994
* Kyocera - left industry
* LaPine Technologies
* Maxtor - acquired by Seagate in 2006
* Memorex - acquired by Burroughs 1981 and then merged into Unisys 1986, HDD division shut down in 1988.
* Micropolis Corporation - bankrupt in 1997
* Microscience International - bankrupt in 1992
* MiniScribe - bankrupt and then acquired by Maxtor in 1990
* Ministor - bankrupt in 1998
* Mitsubishi - left industry
* NEC - left industry
* PrairieTek first 2.5" rigid HDD, bankrupt in 1991
* Priam Systems - product line acquired by Prima International in 1991
* Quantum Corporation - hard disk drive business acquired by Maxtor in 2000
* Rahm Rotationals - renamed/merged in 1994 to Tamir Tech (purchased by Quantum 1995)
* Rodime - first 3.5" rigid HDD, shut down manufacturing in 1991, licensed its patents until the patent business was sold for $1.5M in July 2003. The company was then the subject of a reverse merger and became Sportech PLC
* Storage Technology Corporation (StorageTek or STK) - left industry
* Syquest - bankrupt in 1998, some patents acquired by Iomega. Re-emerged selling cartridges for their previously-discontinued products.
* Tandon - acquired by Western Digital in 1988
* Texas Instruments - left industry
* Tulin Corporation - bankrupt
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From TheBorneoPost
Western Digital closure postponed: Dr Chan
By Chin Kee Leong
KUCHING: The closure of Western Digital Media Sdn Bhd (WD) has been postponed because the company is still in negotiations with an interested foreign company, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan.
Dr Chan said when contacted, the outcome would only be known in the weeks to come.
However, Dr Chan declined to reveal the name of the foreign company interested in taking over WD’s operation.
“I was told that WD is in the midst of discussion with an international company interested in buying out the operation. Perhaps that is why WD postponed the closure date of the factory and did not want to retrench their employees just yet.
“If the negotiation is successful, the remaining employees will still be needed to continue with its factory operations,” explained Dr Chan, who is also Industrial Development Minister. Dr Chan said that negotiations would take time because it involves a large investment and must be done carefully.
He added that his ministry is trying its best to convince the potential buyer to take over WD’s operations.
Dr Chan advised WD’s employees to be patient and not take hasty action before knowing the fate of the company, which operates at the Samajaya Industrial Free Zone.
“If WD is closed later and the employees are retrenched, I believe the workers will be paid appropriate compensation – that is the requirement,” he stressed.
Dr Chan was responding to comments by WD employees that the company is putting off the actual date factory operations will cease to delay paying compensation to them.
On Monday a WD employee, who declined to be named, had complained about a letter dated Feb 3 announcing compensation would be paid on Feb 20.
The employee concerned claimed that it was the management’s strategy to pressure the employees.
“When the employees cannot stand the indefinite suspension they will quit, which means that they will not be paid compensation,” said the employee.
WD had earlier been expected to close its factory operations here next month, leaving about 1,500 employees unemployed.
Teachers going mad teaching subjects in English, yelled TheStar. Well, uncommitted teachers can surely go mad. No problem with me. This stemmed from some Malay teachers who are "going mad" for not able to handle teaching the Mathematics and Science subjects in English.
If the kids can learn English, why it is so difficult for the adult teachers to learn English. In fact Chinese and Indian kids can conversed in their mother tongue, Bahasa Malaysia as well as English. Don't tell me, the Malay only want to conversed in Bahasa Malaysia. Do they want to stay under the coconut shell forever? Bila lagi nak landing kat bulan.
Back to the school. Initially when the government announced the policy of teaching English in Maths and Science subjects, most Malay teaches are not supportive or committed to the project. Hishammuddin Hussein has spend millions of Ringgit to buy multimedia PCs, notebooks, printers and other electronic devices, including capital cost to upgrade the human resources, so that teachers can upgrade their English proficiency. Enough time were given. Even allowances were allocated.
Most of them however were reluctant to attend courses, workshops and seminar to improve their command of English. A few years down the road, they were left behind by Chinese, Indian and East Malaysian natives teachers in term of English proficiency. Hence, it not blind leading the behind as far as Malay teachers are concerned, it was their ego and mentality that put them in the current spot. Don't blame the government, don't blame English language. Blame themselves.
Prof Abdullah Hassan (the Malaysian Translators Association president) meanwhile suggested that the English subjects should be dropped as he argued that it will pointless since there will be no enough job openings that demand good English due to the current economic situation. For a person who qualified to be called a Professor, he is very short and narrow minded. The government policy is to benefit our future generation. Prof Abdullah however, has run out of idea that he now use the weakened economy as an excuse to propose the cancellation of the English subjects. I think he got his Professorship from some cheap Internet site.
Related posts:
* Teachers letdown in teaching Maths and Science in English
* Malaysia Education System Going Backward - Part 3
* Malaysia Education System Going Backward - Part 2
* Malaysia Education System Going Backward
* Mastering second language does not make Malay less Malay
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From TheStar
Teachers going mad teaching subjects in English, claims rep
By RASLAN BAHAROM
TAIPING: Some Malay teachers in Bagan Serai are “going mad” as they cannot handle teaching Mathematics and Science subjects in English, claimed a state assemblyman .
Dr Khalil Idham Lim Abdullah (Titi Serong) said the teachers themselves had to take English classes to improve their command of English.
While they are still grappling with the language, they are required to teach their students as well, said Khalil, who was chairman of the Perak Backbenchers Club in the former Pakatan Rakyat-led state government.
“The teachers themselves have a poor command of English. How do we expect them to teach their students?” he asked in his speech after a briefing on the subject at the state PAS headquarters in Jalan Air Kuning on Tuesday.
Some teachers, he said, “have simply gone crazy” because of this, likening the matter to the blind leading the blind. He claimed the minimum passing mark for both subjects were lowered to ensure that only a rosy picture was painted of the move.
Earlier, the gathering was told by Malaysian Translators Association president Associate Prof Abdullah Hassan that a big gathering is scheduled to be held in front of Istana Negara at 2pm on March 7 to protest against the teaching of Mathematics and Science in English.
Prof Abdullah said the argument that the usage of English would provide better job opportunities could only hold water if there were plenty of job openings.
Idris Jala or rather Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has barely pass the test in the financial report card submitted to Bursa Malaysia. MAS make fewer millions for last year.
Malaysia Airline System Bhd (MAS), despite the challenging times that has seen a number of airlines going bust, has posted a net profit of RM46 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 (Q4).
Profit was 81% lower than the same quarter in 2007 due to the challenging environment compounded by volatile oil prices and slowing demand.
Revenue came in at RM3.70 billion.
For the corresponding period, it had reported a net profit of RM241.92 million on the back of RM4.07 billion in revenue.
The company reported Thursday that Q4’s profit was the tenth quarter of profits for the airline after it instituted changes backed by dynamic pricing, managing costs and innovation.
Related posts:
* Moment of truth for Idris Jala
I don't really bother about personal advertisement but this is a full page ad bought by a fellow Malaysian in the STAR today. I am proud of a Malaysian called Anas Zubedy who dare to speak. I'll give it a 110% marking for her initiative.
Dear Malaysian Politicians,
Please stop the power chase, call for a truce and focus on the economy.
I do not claim to speak on behalf of all Malaysians, but I have strong convictions that many share my sentiments. Our concern today is not who rules the country or heads the state governments but the looming bad economy.
Whether Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat leads, it is meaningless if Malaysians have no job to go to, no money to pay rent and no means to put food on the table.
I am a business owner, like other business owners and managers of corporations I have a responsibility to ensure people under my care and payroll continue to have jobs and a decent income to take home. We work hard and willing to go the extra mile to make sure our nation not only survive this crisis but come out stronger and wiser. We need your help.
Let me explain. I am in the business of Training, Development and Consultancy and have 20 people in my team.
Saedah is 42. She keeps the office clean and helps organise the training rooms. She has four children and her husband is unemployed. She was first hired on a part time basis, because she is very hard working and has a great attitude, we offered her a full time job to help provide a stable income for her family. Even then, when her third child started school this year, it was a struggle for her to buy new school uniforms and other necessities. Saedah lives on a ‘kais bulan, makan bulan’ basis, so, if she is jobless, her tap runs dry.
Samsuri is 27 years old. He lives with his sister and her family in a low cost government flat in Sunway. He does our despatch, helps with various clerical works and occasionally acts as a driver. During the first week at zubedy, we learned that he not only did not have money to buy new clothes and shoes for work, he had no money for lunch. Like Saedah, if he has no job, his tap runs dry too.
Alicia in Client Servicing turns 26 this year. She lives with her dad who is 71 years old and retired. Her mom passed away when she was little. Alicia is a hard-working team member, has a gentle caring outlook and fun to be with. (We like to poke fun at her as she blushes easily). Last May her dad went through a major operation, thank God he has recovered well. Alicia needs a job, both for herself and her dad.
Sudesh, 38, is one of our facilitators. When his father passed away last year, he moved back and lives with his mother in Seremban. He shuttles between Kuala Lumpur and Seremban daily, leaving home sometimes as early as 4 in the morning and returning late at night. He is no stranger to hard work and sacrifice, he knows what he needs to do to survive and to care for his mother, but he too needs a job.
Like fellow Malaysians, every one of us in zubedy needs employment, those that live from hand to mouth like Saedah and Samsuri and others like Alicia and Sudesh with family to care for. We Malaysians need the Malaysian economy to be strong. We need you, our leaders, to work hard and to work together to make our economy viable.
So this is my plea.
Pakatan Rakyat, please stop your attempts to take over the federal government and persuade BN’s lawmakers to join you. Stop all legal proceedings, no more 916 and let go, just let go. The nation can wait till the next general elections if they want change. By doing so, Malaysians will see your party as caring, unselfish and gracious and give you their support in the next elections.
Barisan Nasional, please stop any attempts to take over PR states and win over PR’s lawmakers. You have proven your point with Perak. The nation can wait for the next general elections if they want your party. Focus all your talent, energy and hard work in steering the country out of an economic downturn. By doing so, Malaysians will see your party as caring, unselfish and smart and give you their support in the next elections.
BN and PR! Call for a truce. Get together and compromise. Someone has to give in. Or has hate consumed your heart till it blinds you? You can do it. You have enough intelligent people between you. I am sure you can find solutions. Take the nation to heart. That is why you are in politics in the first place.
Focus on the people.
Focus on the economy.
Anas Zubedy
Managing DirectorZubedy (M) Sdn Bhd
Source: zzzdreams
Just shortly after the passing of Batang Ai state assemblyman Datuk Dublin Unting, the Internet rumour mills have been on overdrive churning out combo lists of potential candidates for the Batang Ai by-election (expected to be held within these 60 days).
For the BN, two names have surfaced even before the death of Dublin. The two potential candidates from BN coalition are Nelson Mujah and Nelson Naga Alam. Nelson Mujah, Lubok Antu district officer is the brother of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Douglas Uggah Embas. Nelson Naga Alam is the private secretary to the late Dublin Unting. Nelson is a local, while Mujah is from Balingian.
For the PKR side, the likely candidate is Nicholas Bawin, a veteran politician in Batang Ai. In the last election, despite his handicap such as the lack of money and logistical support, Bawin on a SNAP ticket did quite well securing 2,489 votes as against Unting’s 3,298 votes, a majority of 806 votes.
Bookmark this page for future updates.
UPDATES:
* Mar 04, 2009 - Batang Ai by-election on April 7 simultaneous with Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau
For more news, check out Broken Shield - Batang Ai by-election: more than a litmus test of support.
Checking for the latest news on slow Streamyx Internet connection? No news is good news? It's the opposite for Streamyx subscribers. No news meant no progress. Same old story. Streamyx still suck. Screamyx is driving me crazy lately!!
Connectivity for ping sensitive things like online gaming, streaming, ventrilo, etc. will suffer. Websites taking forever to load. Downloads were not possible.
Restoration time not known eventhough TM has announced that their restoration has been completed in Jan 2009! Insiders from TM suggested it is not. The connection restoration to normal bandwidth will "probably" be completed by end of this month.
In the meantime, forget about logging to Facebook, uploading photos to your Flickr gallery. Forget about Torrent, BitComet, LimeWire, YouTube Downloader for a while.
I for one, is really tempted to ask Steamyx, please roll over and die asap.
In doubt or just plain curious on the religion of Idris Jala, the Managing Director of Malaysia Airlines? You come to the correct page. I post this page since MalaysiaDigest got a lot of queries on Datuk Idris Jala religion.
Idris Jala was born in 1958 as a member of the Kelabit tribe from the Bario highlands in Sarawak, Malaysia. His name sounds like a Malay name but Idris Jala is not a Malay. He is a Christian. Yes, a man with a Malay name is a Christian. Surprise ? Not in Sabah or Sarawak, whereby the native with their first name in English is a Christian but a native with his or her first name in Malay is not necessary a Muslim.
Could the global economic meltdown unravel the remarkable recovery achieved by Malaysia Airlines (MAS) over the past three years?
It is a question which could be answered on Thursday when the airline unveils its full-year results for 2008. The results could also be a verdict on managing director Idris Jala’s efforts to put it on a stronger footing through drastic measures over the last three years.
The airline posted a profit of RM198 million during the first nine months of last year.
But with travel demand collapsing in the October- December period, analysts forecast full-year earnings at only between RM190 million and RM210 million – implying almost zero bottomline growth during Q4 FY08.
This is far short of the airline’s own profit target range, made last year, of RM400 million to RM1 billion.
Still, the fact that MAS will remain in the black at all this year is vindication of Mr Idris’s efforts to boost yield, cut inefficient routes, raise productivity and bring costs under control – goals he outlined in his now-famous Business Turnaround Plan (BTP) in 2006.
Related posts:
* Who is Idris Jala
* For those in the doubt, check out Idris Jala's religion
More news at MalaysianInsider - Moment of truth for MAS
The government is quite good in playing some ploy to deceive the rakyat (that's us). I'm short of calling the government as a con artist. Anyway, government ministers are also quite good in giving excuses, reasons and in-direct information.
From the snippet below, according to Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, if RM51 airport tax is collected from an international flight, RM5 is allocated to ERL (owned by YTL Corporation). That's roughly about 10% share. The airport tax is meant for the government who is the servant to the rakyat.
Ong Tee Keat also revealed that in 2008, RM292 million airport taxes were collected from KLIA (he didn't says how much were collected from foreigners). Based on the 10% allocated given to ERL, that would amount to about RM29.2 million. RM29.2 million given for free YTL. Of course, Ong Tee Keat has reminded us that it is the "concession" money.
Wonder how much YTL refunded back to their kaki in the government. Only in Malaysia.
From MalaysianInsider
Fly or ride, or neither, taxpayers still pay ERL
By Shannon Teoh
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 – Malaysians have been subsidising the Express Rail Link (ERL) service since last April, it was revealed in Parliament today
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said that YTL Corporation’s ERL Sdn Bhd, the operator of the high-speed rail service from here to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, had been indirectly subsidised since last April because the company is unable to cover costs due to poor sales.
Answering a question from PKR’s Azmin Ali, the minister said that under a concession agreement for the rail service, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), the operator of KLIA, is required to pay ERL a portion of service charges it levies on all passengers.
But since April 1 last year, the finance ministry has been reimbursing MAHB for the money it pays ERL.
Ong said this arrangement was a result of a restructuring exercise in MAHB under a “marginal cost support scheme.”
He did not, however, reveal how much has been paid indirectly to ERL under the scheme.
Ong told Parliament that ERL was not being given any allocation from airport taxes, but under the concession agreement, an allocation from passenger service charges levied by MAHB was due to ERL since 2002.
“For example, if RM51 is collected from an international flight, RM5 is allocated to ERL,” he said.
Later, he told reporters that the Finance Ministry has been reimbursing this amount to MAHB since April 2008 but insisted that “ERL gets no monetary support from the government.”
However, the fact that the government-linked company is reimbursed for whatever it pays ERL by the government, effectively makes it an indirect subsidy.
Ong justified the allocation to ERL by pointing out that there had been a massive capital outlay to operate the rail line but that ticket sales “cannot cover the cost of the outlay and maintenance.”
He added that the allocation was agreed upon based on projected traffic before the ERL had begun operations.
“With the inception of the low-cost carrier terminal two years ago, (ERL) takings have further deteriorated,” he said.
Ong also revealed that the government has collected RM1.86 billion in airport taxes since 2004.
In 2008, RM446.4 million was collected, with RM292 million from KLIA.
All is not well in the MCA as the party’s top two leaders look set to go toe-to-toe in a battle which is likely to have an adverse impact on the greater Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.
An online news portal claimed that supporters of the deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek are planning to call for an extraordinary general meeting to remove party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.
Ong’s backers are also planning to have Dr Chua hauled up before the party’s disciplinary committee to have him suspended for up to two years for “tarnishing the MCA’s image.” This is apparent when Ong said that the party won’t back illegal act.
More story from MalaysianInsider - First shots fired in MCA civil war and Tee Keat says party won’t back illegal act
PUTRAJAYA, Feb 24 – There has to be a by-election for the Sarawak state assembly seat of Batang Ai following the death of long-serving assemblyman Datuk Dublin Unting today.
Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said the Sarawak state assembly was only over two years old and, according to the state constitution, the assembly’s term ends in July 2011.
“Which means there are more than two years to go. So a by-election is necessary,” he told Bernama here.
Abdul Aziz said this when asked to comment about the death of Dublin, 53 (** some media reported that he was 56), the vice-president of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) at the Normah Medical Centre in Kuching at 1.25am today due to a stroke suffered in May last year that left him in a coma. Ingkot suffered a stroke following a radio interview.He leaves behind widow Datin Froline Moriah Dimies Impoi and three children.
He was also state minister for sports and agriculture as well as the assistant minister for Agriculture (Research and Coordination), retained the seat after beating challenger Nicholas Bawin from the Sarawak National Party (SNAP) in the May, 2006 state election.
In KUCHING, state legislative assembly speaker Abang Othman Abang Fata said the EC would be formally notified of the vacancy of the Batang Ai state seat by today.
“We are awaiting the death certificate from the National Registration Department so that we can inform the EC,” he told Bernama here today.
The Sarawak state election was last held on May 20 2006 and the Sarawak BN won 62 seats of the 71 seats contested while nine seats fell to the opposition, six to the DAP and two to Parti Keadilan Rakyat. One seat was won by an independent candidate.
Sarawak BN comprises Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP). – Bernama
Here a summary of the Maju Institute of Educational Development (MIED) scandal over alleged mismanagement of fund.
* MIED is an education arm of MIC.
* Samy Vellu is the MIED chairman.
* MIED chief executive officer P. Chitrakala Vasu to go on leave.
* Missing amount totaled to RM5.265mil at MIED.
* Mismanagement of awarding of construction contracts for AIMST.
* Tan Sri M. Mahalingam, a signatory of MIED cheques, was removed as MIC treasurer-general last December.
From TheStar
A MIED top official linked to funds mismanagement
By FLORENCE A. SAMY
PETALING JAYA: The Maju Institute of Educational Development controversy has taken another twist with the MIC president pointing fingers at a top MIED personnel for the alleged mismanagement of funds amounting to millions of ringgit.
Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu claimed that they had identified the person as the one allegedly responsible for the missing RM5.26mil He also hinted that more discrepancies would be revealed.
“The police are investigating the case. MIED has made a report to the police over two people. The first stage of the missing amount is RM5.265mil.
“We investigated and identified that the money was taken under different disguise and put into someone else’s account. We have to report this to the police.
“We cannot keep quiet and allow things to happen. We are still investigating and there are more and more coming,” he told reporters on Sunday at the MIC-owned MIED’s UPSR excellent achievement awards ceremony here yesterday. MIED is MIC’s education arm.
Controversy had plagued MIED over the alleged mismanagement.
On Saturday, it was reported that the Commercial Crimes Investigation Department was investigating two senior MIED executives for alleged criminal breach of trust.
Samy Vellu said Sunday that many had an incorrect perception that MIED was being investigated.
“MIED is not being investigated. We have reported to the police and have asked them to investigate,” he added.
On being queried by the police recently, Samy Vellu said the police came to see him given his capacity as the MIED chairman.
“Naturally, police came to see me as I am the head of MIED.
They wanted to find out what had happened - who is the chief executive officer, how did we employ her, what are her responsibilities - all this I have to answer,” he added.
Samy Vellu also chided the media for reporting that the construction cost of party-owned Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST) had ballooned, which he said was untrue.
He explained that there were four stages of construction, with the first stage costing RM235mil. The cost at the final stage, he said, stood at RM485mil. AIMST university, which is in Kedah, was officially opened last year. MIED runs AIMST through MIED Capital Sdn Bhd.
A furious Samy Vellu challenged the media to look into their account books, stating that “every cent is accounted for.”
“There is a project manager and a quantity surveyor to oversee the thing. We do not call for tender; the quantity surveyor calls for tender.
“The newspapers should have more responsibility. They should ask us,” he said, adding that they were planning to take legal action against a news agency which first stated that the cost had ballooned.
Samy Vellu said that it was impossible to build a university for RM265mil as “even the government university cost’s RM1bil.”
When the controversy broke out, Samy Vellu had asked MIED chief executive officer P. Chitrakala Vasu to go on leave. He also issued her with several show-cause letters which she had replied to.
Last week, a former MIC member lodged a police report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, alleging that he had evidence of alleged mismanagement in the awarding of construction contracts for AIMST.
Last month, MIC vice-president and MIED director Datuk Seri S. Sothinathan had lodged police reports over missing MIED files.
Last December, Tan Sri M. Mahalingam, a signatory of MIED cheques, was removed as MIC treasurer-general by Samy Vellu who said the move was part of an MIC rebranding exercise.
The people of Perak have been cheated in broad day light. Majority of the Perakian feel that the royal household and the BN make their decision against the will of the people. Perakian would rather want their state assembly to be dissolved and a new state election held to elect a true people-endorsed government.
BN taking over of the state government from the Pakatan Rakyat has basically robbed the democratic privilege of the people in Perak. Clearly they have been short-changed.
From The MalaysianInsider
IPOH, FEB 12 — If the Barisan Nasional and the Perak royal household had any lingering doubts about negative public sentiment towards the change of the state government, here is a message: doubt no more.
A survey of registered voters in Perak on Feb 8 showed that:
• 74 per cent of the respondents feel that the state assembly should have been dissolved after the defection of the three Pakatan Rakyat lawmakers
• 76 per cent of the respondents felt that the "people, through elections, should decide on who forms the government"
• 62 per cent of the respondents felt that the "role of the palace in this decision" means it does not recognise the will of the people
• 66 per cent of the respondents do not accept state governments formed through the defection of state assemblymen
• 59 per cent of the respondents feel that the political crisis in Perak would decrease support for Barisan Nasional.
Taken together, the poll by the Merdeka Centre suggests that Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and the BN may occupy the seat of government but a significant number of Perakians may not accept their legitimacy to hold power.
The political crisis unfolded in Perak when three Pakatan Rakyat legislators became independents and said that they would back the BN.
This wiped away the three-seat majority which enabled Pakatan Rakyat to rule the state since March last year.
After interviewing the three and the 28 BN representatives, Sultan Azlan Shah decided that BN had the majority in the state assembly. This was a controversial decision given that Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin and Pakatan Rakyat felt that the correct decision should have been for the Ruler to allow for the state assembly to be dissolved for fresh elections.
There is a roiling debate even among lawyers on the Sultan's decision, with the majority saying that he should have either agreed to the dissolution of the House or held off making any decision until a vote of no confidence against Nizar was taken in the assembly.
The survey findings indicate that many Perak voters also feel that the Ruler may have erred.
Some 507 registered voters were interviewed by telephone and the sampling was done randomly. The margin of error was about 4.5 per cent.
It was reported that hundreds of fish surfaced in the Batang Rajang as they struggled for air, some already dead. There also have been several reports of such incidents in Belaga and Kapit since late last year which was cause for much worry for the people there. Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) had found that the fish had practically suffocated to death and not poisoned.
The cause of the incident is very simple. Rajang River became too shallow due to heavy siltation. Siltation was caused by heavy and uncontrolled deforestation in upriver areas.
Now for the blaming game. Land Development Minister, James Masing said the local people for carrying out shifting cultivation have always been blamed for causing erosion but this (fish dying in large numbers) has not happened until recently.
We all know that the erosion is due to uncontrolled logging in upper Batang Rajang. The culprits (who happen to be associate of Taib Mahmud, the Chief Minister of Sarawak) are the timber companies. They rape the virgin jungle of Sarawak which resulted in massive deforestation and erosion and siltation which eventually make the Batang Rajang proned to flooding (which severely affected Sibu town) and hindering water nagivation due to shallow river. And now, the fishes are dying.
Who is going to enforce new policy to manage the environment in Sarawak or who is going to implement whatever corrective measures when the culprits are best friend to powerful politicians in Sarawak?
Related posts:
* Mighty Rajang River too shallow
* Siltation in Rajang River due to heavy deforestation
* Sarawak logging industry - one of the culprit
* Who's protecting Sarawak virgin jungles
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From TheBorneoPost
Not poison but silt that killed fish: NREB
By Raynore Mering and Florence Mervyn
KUCHING: The mysterious death of fish in Belaga and Kapit may have been solved and experts say it was not due to poison.
Initial investigations carried out by the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) had found that the fish had practically suffocated to death.
NREB controller Dr Penguang Manggil told The Borneo Post yesterday that the dead or dying fish were found with their gills clogged with mud.
Water sampling and test were carried out on the tributaries of the rivers leading to Bakun or Belaga and Kapit, and except for Murum river, the Balui, Belepeh and Linau rivers were all very murky.
“The water turbility (murkiness) was very high and there was high total suspended solid content. This could have been caused by erosion upstream. The gills of the fishes were found to be blocked by silt, and they are believed to have suffocated,” said Penguang.
According to Penguang, as the rivers’ water level subsided, the current of the rivers became stronger and this would also stir up more sediment.
Penguang said it was very unlikely that the fish had died because of poisoning or chemical contaminants in the rivers. Nevertheless, he said NREB had sent samples to the Chemistry Department for tests.
In Belaga yesterday, hundreds of fish surfaced in the Batang Rajang as they struggled for air, some already dead. There have been several reports of such incidents in Belaga and Kapit since late last year which was cause for much worry for the people there.
Penguang said the erosion of the rivers was caused by human activities upstream and he agreed that it would have long term consequences on the rivers as well as aquatic life. He said the death of the fish emphasized the importance of environmental impact assessment studies and the cooperation as well as awareness of all parties, including the local communities and the industries.
“We would like to call on everyone to ensure that whatever we do, it will have minimal impact on the rivers,” said Penguang.
Pengaung yesterday revealed that NREB had submitted a request for RM4 million from the federal government during the mid-term review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan to implement an ‘Integrated Watershed Management Plan for the Bakun Catchment Area’.
However, he said the request was not approved and NREB had again submitted a fresh request for funds under the coming 10th Malaysia Plan.
“The management plan is important due to the sensitivity of the area. It will be a blueprint for what we can and can’t do there. We hope that with this plan, we can better protect the Bakun catchment area,” Penguang.
Earlier yesterday, Land Development Minister Dato Sri Dr James Masing took NREB to task for the length of time it took the agency to find out what was causing the death of the fish and it stopping a recurrence.
In pointing out that the massive death of fish had already occurred twice, he fumed: “It’s been more than two months since NREB said it will investigate this and they have still not made their findings public.
“If the findings say that it is because of the mud suffocating the fish then the kampung people are just as good as these scientists who are paid so much.”
Masing, who is the assemblyman of Balleh, one of the affected areas, said that to his knowledge, the NREB was required to enforce a green area or buffer zone along the river banks to minimise erosion caused by human activities.
“The people carrying out shifting cultivation have always been blamed for causing erosion but this (fish dying in large numbers) has not happened until recently.
“NREB should find out who, or what, is causing this severe erosion and it should take action against the responsible parties without fear or favour. That is what they are there for,” said Masing.
Belaga police chief DSP Bakar Sebau told The Borneo Post’s sister daily, Utusan Borneo, that his station had received calls from the public about 10.30am and he had sent his officers to the ground to investigate.
“When they reached the river, my officers saw hundreds of fish, including baung and labang, floating on the surface. We found that their gills were full of mud and we believe the muddy water in the Batang Rajang is causing this,” he said.
UMNO, the party that can't seem to do well in elections lately scores its first "victory" in a long while.
No wonder politics has such a dirty name. The overwrought drama taking place in Perak boasts everything people find distasteful in politics.
Alleged buying over of elected officials. Outright lies told with straight faces. People suddenly disappearing before reappearing to make incoherent press statements. Backroom manoeuvrings, party hopping and re-hopping a few days later.
From The MalaysiaInsider
A new low in Malaysian politics
FEB 5 — So, the party that can't seem to do well in elections lately scores its first "victory" in a long while.
No wonder politics has such a dirty name. The overwrought drama taking place in Perak boasts everything people find distasteful in politics.
Alleged buying over of elected officials. Outright lies told with straight faces. People suddenly disappearing before reappearing to make incoherent press statements. Backroom manoeuvrings, party hopping and, in a feat that surely deserves to be recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records, re-hopping a few days later.
If March 8 is considered a big leap forward for Malaysian democracy, then yesterday's events signal a new low. The only consolation to be hoped for is the end of the political careers of the four Perak assemblypersons involved.
Of course, the orchestrated fall of a state government has been done before. As many would no doubt bring up, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim himself is known to have orchestrated a similar coup in Sabah in 1994.
And no doubt, many would bring up the PKR leader's Sept 16 attempt, which would have been a far larger operation, involving more than 30 MPs crossing over to form a new federal government.
Which naturally begs the question, if one side can do it, why can't the other? All's fair in love, war and politics, and if our laws and constitution allow for these political moves, then Malaysians shouldn't be outraged, right?
But let's not be fooled by false equivalencies, which I certainly expect BN leaders and the mainstream media to propagate.
Consider what has just happened:
A reasonably popular menteri besar and state government are being replaced not because of any failure on their part nor because of the people's wishes, but rather, to benefit politicians from a party that is evidently unpopular. Not one person so far has even bothered to convince the public that Datuk Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin's administration was in any way unfit to govern nor was Datuk Ngeh Hoo Kam accused of sodomy. In other words, there's little pretence that this wasn't a power grab for the sake of power alone.
Two of the crossover assemblypersons are facing corruption charges. Surely this is a huge red flag. If the two walk, deservedly or otherwise, it would be more than enough proof for the public that their exoneration was part of the deal. And if they are found guilty, then what does that say about BN's standards when it is willing to tolerate corruption just to gain power?
An inclusive state government that is conscious of Perak's diversity and also appointed the state's first Indian speaker and first female deputy speaker will have to give way to one that will be overwhelmingly Malay and male. This does not necessarily prevent them from serving all Perak folk, but is surely a step backwards.
Should a new state government be formed by BN, it will also not enjoy a significant majority over the opposition. So all this jumping around doesn't change the precarious balance of Perak politics, nor does it prevent a reversal of fortune several months down the line. Which could mean more tiresome drama.
At a time of great uncertainty, particularly in the economy, the last thing the people of Perak needed was political games to distract from getting the job done. And that was exactly what they got.
Until we change the laws, party hopping remains a legal move, albeit one considered by many as unethical. Regardless of your opinion on Pakatan Rakyat's attempt to secure the federal government via crossovers, it's important to look at the overall picture when comparing it with the Perak coup. We cannot be misled to thinking that they are equal, only that Datuk Seri Najib Razak succeeded where Anwar didn't.
At a time of such global change and uncertainty, it's certainly sad and unfortunate that the incoming Prime Minister would put Malaysians through all of this. Instead of convincing Malaysians that he will make a good Prime Minister, Najib has curiously chosen to score short-term partisan points by orchestrating the downfall of a legitimately elected government. Whatever the outcome of this Perak fiasco, one thing is certain: it will be yet another blow to the public perception of Umno and BN.
Pangkor assemblyman Datuk Dr Zambry Abd Kadir will be the new Perak Mentri Besar.
Meanwhile, former Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin was escorted out of his office by Ipoh OCPD Azisman Alias, while other Pakatan Rakyat state executive councillors were also asked to leave their offices, as the state's political impasse continued to take a turn for the worse in what is now a major constitutional crisis.
From TheStar
Zambry to be sworn in as new Perak MB
PETALING JAYA: Pangkor assemblyman Datuk Dr Zambry Abd Kadir will be the new Perak Mentri Besar, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.
Abdullah, who is Barisan Nasional chairman, announced this after returning from his official visit to Istana Kinta in Ipoh yesterday evening, where he had an audience with the Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah.
“Sultan Azlan Shah has consented to Zambry being appointed the Mentri Besar. He will be sworn in at 3.30pm tomorrow (today) at the Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar,” he said.
Abdullah added that the new state executive council would be sworn in at 10am the day after.
Zambry, meanwhile, thanked the Sultan, the Prime Minister and his deputy for trusting him to carry out the responsibility.
In December 2008, TM Streamyx connection was slow due to the disruption of their Internet services caused by circuit fault on the Southeast Asia – Middle East – Western Europe 4 (SMW4) submarine cable network between Palermo (Southern Italy) and Alexandria (Northern Egypt) linking Malaysia to Europe.
On January 06, 2009, Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) announced to her customers that the restoration works on the Southeast Asia – Middle East – Western Europe 4 (SMW4) submarine cable network between Palermo (Southern Italy) and Alexandria (Northern Egypt) linking Malaysia to Europe, has been fully completed.
However, come February 2009, TM Streamyx connection still sucks and frequently disconnected. Apparently their technology infrastructure still sucks.
malaysia ~ If you like this informative post, please subscribe to my full RSS Feed
Umno leadership is 'stooping low' in accepting two former PKR assemblypersons who have been charged with corruption. In fact, former PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has asked Umno to consider all views before accepting the errant PKR duo that has set off the political impasse in Perak state assembly.
Is Umno so desperate that it cannot wait for the criminal court decision against them before accepting them," the acerbic veteran politician wrote in his blog today, referring to the duo's favours-for-sex corruption hearing soon.
"If they are accepted now and then found not guilty, the so-called Umno-led government will be accused of influencing the court. True or not does not matter as the public's perception is such. It will have an effect in the 13th general election," said Dr Mahathir, a trenchant critic of outgoing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Writing that Umno is already seen as corrupt, breaking promises and giving priority to Abdullah's crony in Terengganu, he said: "If we add to all this by accepting those accused of sexual bribery, Umno's image will get worse."
The Barisan Nasional (BN) made its case for taking over the Perak state government today when a PKR state assemblyman defected back to Umno while three independents pledged their support for the coalition.
Jamaludin Mohd Radzi, Osman Jailu, Hee Yit Foong will back a BN government while Datuk Nasarudin Hashim, who had just two weeks earlier defected to PKR returned back to Umno.
“BN now has the majority to form the next government. We will seek an audience with the Perak Sultan.
“BN has 28 seats now, which is equal with Pakatan Rakyat, but we have three extra who are friendly to Umno and BN,” Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said at a press conference in Putrajaya today.
All four assemblymen appeared at the press cobnference with Najib.
Jamaluddin, Osman and Hee had earlier turned independent while Nasarudin had defected to PKR less than two weeks ago.
With their defections, it is looking likely that BN will get to form the state government.
More PKR lawmakers are expected to defect to BN.
Related posts:
* tic-tac-toe game in Perak State Assembly
From TheStar
Perak govt falls, BN claims majority
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin has just left Istana Kinta and told reporters that it was up to Sultan Azlan Shah to choose to dissolve the State Assembly or not. He will be holding a press conference at 6pm.
Barisan Nasional now commands the majority to form the state government in Perak with the return of Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasaruddin Hashim and the support of three independents -- Behrang assemblyman Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi, Changkat Jering assemblyman Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu, DAP’s Jelapang assemblyman and Perak state assembly deputy speaker Hee Yit Foong: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Najib said he would be seeking an audience with Sultan Azlan Shah in a day or two to inform him of Barisan's ability to form the new state government. Barisan and Pakatan now have 28 seats each. The three independents support Barisan, Najib said.
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is still in audience with Sultan Azlan Shah to seek his consent to dissolve the state assembly. He was seen entering Istana Kinta at 3:50pm.
Behrang assemblyman Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi, Changkat Jering assemblyman Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu, DAP's Jelapang assemblyman and Perak state assembly deputy speaker Hee Yit Foong and Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasaruddin Hashim spotted at the office of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
IPOH: Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin left Istana Kinta at 5.40pm and told reporters that it was now up to Sultan Azlan Shah to decide if the state assembly is to be dissolved.
Perak assemblymen Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (Behrang) and Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu (Changkat Jering)have quit PKR and Jamaluddin said on Wednesday that they were on the way to Putrajaya to join Umno.
Speculation is also rife that DAP’s Jelapang assemblyman and Perak state assembly deputy speaker Hee Yit Foong has defected or at least quit the party.
In the March 8 national polls, PKR won Perak with 32 seats against 27 Barisan seats.
On Tuesday, Nizar had reiterated that he would not be calling for state elections given the political developments of the past week but was prepared for any by-election.
---------------------------------------------
From MalaysiaInsider
BN set to form Perak govt as Sultan defers decision on dissolution
IPOH, Feb 4 – A Barisan Nasional (BN) government in Perak is looking all but certain after a PKR state assemblyman defected back to Umno while three independents pledged their support for the coalition.
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin also failed to secure consent from Sultan Azlan Shah to dissolve the state assembly in his last ditch attempt to have fresh polls and head off BN's attempt to seize power.
“The decision is now with the Sultan,” Nizar told reporters after an audience with Sultan Azlan Shah.
At a press conference in Putrajaya earlier, Deputy Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced to reporters that Jamaludin Mohd Radzi, Osman Jailu and Hee Yit Foong would back a BN government while Datuk Nasarudin Hashim, who had just two weeks earlier defected to PKR, would rejoin Umno.
“BN now has the majority to form the next government. We will seek an audience with the Perak Sultan.
“BN has 28 seats now, which is equal with Pakatan Rakyat, but we have three extra who are friendly to Umno and BN,” Najib said
He added that the three independent lawmakers had also informed the Sultan in a letter sent yesterday that they had quit their parties.
All four assemblymen appeared at the press conference with Najib.
Jamaluddin, Osman and Hee had earlier turned independent while Nasarudin had defected to PKR less than two weeks ago.
“The situation in the state is critical. I have to make sacrifices,” Nasarudin said when asked why he had decided to rejoin Umno.
The other three did not speak to reporters.
With their defections, it is looking likely that BN will get to form the state government.
More PKR lawmakers are also expected to defect to BN.
Najib said BN representatives would meet the Sultan as soon as possible to seek his consent to form the next state government.
With the defections to BN, the Pakatan Rakyat will only have 28 seats to Barisan Nasional’s 31 in the 59-seat assembly.
Nizar is now resting PR’s hopes on the Sultan in the hope that consent will still be granted for fresh polls.
The PR alliance of PKR, Pas and DAP are confident of winning fresh polls with a bigger mandate.
But with a four seat majority, and more defections likely, the Sultan looks likely to accept BN’s offer to form the next government.
I'm sure you are very familiar with the game of tic-tac-toe, which is a game where nobody win and can be very boring. Now, Perak is facing the same situation with her state assemblymen.
Days ago, an UMNO assemblymen defected to PKR and today, it has been officially revealed that two PKR assemblymen have resigned from the party and likely to join UMNO. It's clearly a game of "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" between Anwar and Najib. The last count for the 59 Perak State Assembly is that Pakatan Raykat hold 30 state seats and Barisan Nasional hold 27 state seats with two seats up for grabs in if by-elections are called.
From TheStar
Perak on the brink
IPOH: The Perak government is teetering on the edge with the resignation of two PKR representatives announced by the state assembly speaker V. Sivakumar earlier Sunday being challenged.
Sivakumar said he had received two faxed letters stating that Jamaluddin Mat Radzi and Mohd Osman Jailu had resigned their posts as assemblymen of Behrang and Changkat Jering respectively.
Their resignations are effective 5:45pm Sunday, he said in a statement, adding that this paved the way for by-elections in the two constituencies within 60 days.
He said he would inform the Election Commission officially Monday morning.
The Commission would then deliberate if and when by-elections are to be called.
However Jamaluddin denied vacating his seat. He said the resignation letter that was supposedly sent to Sivakumar was actually an old, undated “resignation letter” that he and the other six PKR assemblymen were forced to sign in late March last year.
“I am still the state assemblyman for Behrang. I have not resigned. I will challenge the validity of the letter as it was signed under duress,” he claimed, adding that he was discussing with his lawyers as to his next course of action.
He said there was no reason for him to resign his post just because he had problems with PKR leaders.
“My problems are with PKR leaders, not with the people of Behrang. I will not simply shirk my responsibilities to them,” he said.
He also denied rumours that he would be crossing over to Umno and Barisan Nasional, but confirmed that he would quit PKR and remain as an independent.
Mohd Osman could not be reached for comments as at press time.
Their resignations, whether valid or not, come after days of speculation that they were going to defect to Umno.
The Pakatan Rakyat state government is holding on with a razor-thin margin. It now holds 30 state seats against Barisan Nasional’s 27, with two seats up for grabs in the 59-seat State Assembly if by-elections are called.
Worse, rumours are also rife that Perak state assembly deputy speaker Hee Yit Fong, the DAP representative for Jelapang, is going to resign as well and join MCA.
When contacted at her home Sunday night, Hee declined to comment.
Missing in action
Earlier Sunday, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said that neither the state nor family members had been able to reach the two Perak state executive councillors.
He even said the state government would lodge a police report after consulting with their families.
Jamaluddin, 52, was the Perak Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Committee chairman while Mohd Osman, 57, headed the State Tourism and NGO Committee.
They were charged in a Sessions Court on Aug 25 last year with allegedly receiving bribes over the application for a RM180mil housing project in Sri Iskandar in Perak Tengah. Their case comes up for hearing on Feb 10.
After Umno’s Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasarudin Hashim crossed over to PKR last week, PKR and Umno have been involved in a psychological war, with both accusing each other of trying to pinch their assemblymen.
Jamaluddin and Mohd Osman have not been seen in public since Nasarudin crossed over to PKR last Sunday, with the media also failing to reach them for comments.
Speculation had been rife in Perak that the exco duo were going to resign from PKR and become Independents before joining Umno later.
No worries
PAS deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa said he only knew about the resignation Sunday night and had yet to receive a full report on the matter.
“I do not think that there would be more (people resigning or defecting). As it is, we are calling for a meeting to discuss the matter.
“More will be known on Monday morning,” he said, adding that the decision on who would contest in the by-elections had yet to be reached.
PKR information chief Tian Chua said that PKR is confident that it would be able to retain the seats in Behrang and Changkat Jering.
“We’re not worried -- we have succeeded in taking over the two seats from Barisan in the past, let alone retaining what we already have,” he said.
-----------------------------------
From MalaysiaInsider
Missing Pakatan lawmaker denies resigning, Perak in chaos
By Leslie Lau
IPOH, Feb 1 — Perak was thrown into a state of confusion tonight after at least one of two missing PKR state legislators denied resigning, hours after the state legislative speaker declared their seats vacant.
Behrang assemblyman Jamaluddin Mat Radzi said tonight that the “resignation letter” received by the speaker this evening was an undated document he was made to sign last March.
His “denial” will throw up questions on the legality or legitimacy of undated resignation letters, and also puts the focus on whether it will be the speaker, the Election Commission or even the courts which will decide such issues.
It is also the latest act in a power struggle which has lasted for weeks for control of the state government.
Earlier the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government in Perak appeared to have turned the tables on Barisan Nasional (BN) after the state legislative speaker declared vacant the two state seats held by the two PKR lawmakers who were expected to defect.
This would pave the way for by-elections for the two seats within 60 days.
Talk is also rife that a number of Umno state assemblymen are in talks to defect to PR.
The Speaker V Sivakumar said in a statement this evening that he had received resignation letters from the two PKR men had.
Sivakumar said he had received the letters by fax at his house.
He added that the Election Commission would be informed of the vacancy tomorrow.
The announcement capped a dramatic day which began when Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin said he would lodge a police report over the disappearance of Jamaluddin and Changkat Jering assemblyman Osman Jailu.
There have been swirling rumours that Jamaluddin and Mohd Osman, who were charged in a Sessions Court on Aug 25 last year with allegedly receiving bribes over the application for a RM180mil housing project in Sri Iskandar in Perak Tengah, may have decided to defect to Umno in the hopes of getting off the charge.
Their case comes up for hearing on Feb 10.
It appears now that the resignation letters from the two men were undated documents submitted to party leaders immediately after the March general elections.
PR officials in Ipoh say they are confident of retaining the two vacant seats and have indicated that they are also optimistic of a number of defections from BN to strengthen their hold on the state government.
This latest political drama had been sparked by the defection of Umno’s Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasarudin Hashim to PKR.
Following Nasarudin’s defection, the two PKR men disappeared.
Besides the two PKR men, there had also been rumours that that Hee Yit Fong, the deputy state assembly speaker and a DAP assemblyman is considering a defection to MCA.
The Malaysian Insider understands she wants to leave DAP because she does not get along with Nga Kor Ming, a DAP state exco member and Ngeh Koo Ham, the Perak DAP boss and senior exco member.
