Thumbs up for PSM’s move to join Pakatan

Several political analysts say that PSM's possible entry into Pakatan Rakyat will strengthen the opposition pact, but one analyst says that it depends on the socialist party's intention.

PETALING JAYA: Political analysts have lauded Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s (PSM) eagerness to join Pakatan Rakyat.

However, USM political analyst Dr Mohamad Zaini Abu Bakar said whether PSM would be a boon or a bane to Pakatan would depend on the socialist party’s intention.

“If they are just forming an electoral pact for the general election, then I anticipate some jostling for seats which will affect Pakatan’s status quo,” he added.

Yesterday, PSM secrteary-general S Arutchelvan said his party was keen to join the opposition pact and had written to Pakatan on its interest in September.

Zaini said if PSM intended to join Pakatan with an open heart, it would further strengthen the opposition pact in the long run.

However, the analyst said PSM would have to find a common denominator with Pakatan in terms of ideology and be prepared to make some sacrifices for it.

“That itself could be a problem as Pakatan’s ideology itself is unclear. As for Barisan Nasional, we can see that it strives for development, nationalism and so on,” he added.

He also said PSM’s entry into Pakatan would only sway urban voters as they lacked support from rural areas.

“And most voters in Malaysia still dwell in rural areas,” he added.

Minimum wage snag

Independent analyst Khoo Kay Peng, however, said that it would be good for Pakatan to accept small parties like PSM into its fold

“Although a small party, it has committed members at its disposal. Pakatan should consider allowing small parties in. BN is geared towards the majority and losing out on minority voices,” he pointed out.

Khoo said that PSM would fit well in Pakatan’s fold as they shared common views on many issues such as providing free education.

“That’s why I’m not surprised by the announcement. In the last few years, PSM and Pakatan leaders have worked together well,” he said.

On Pakatan being a “union of strange bedfellows” as alleged by some quarters, Khoo dismissed the notion saying even Pakatan had implemented some socialist-type policies in the states it was ruling.

“For example, Selangor’s free water policy and Penang’s RM100 aid to the elderly. It’s a socialist thing.

“Even Pakatan’s free education call and PAS’ welfare state policy is socialist in nature,” he said.

UCSI political analyst Ong Kian Meng concurred with Khoo’s assessment, saying PSM and Pakatan shared many things in common.

“PSM itself has agreed to support Pakatan’s common policy framework. Besides, the socialist party’s members stood by their principles even during tough times,” he said.

However, he said that Pakatan and PSM disagreed on the minimum wage quantum.

While PSM champions for a minimum wage of RM1,500, Pakatan leaders announced that the coalition would only support for the minimum wage to be capped at RM1,100.

“This needs to be sorted out between both parties,” said Ong.

Contacted later, PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu said PSM’s application would be considered at the Pakatan’s leadership council meeting slated to be held soon.

“Personally, I welcome anyone to join Pakatan but it all depends on our presidential council meeting,” he said.

Housewife’s death: ‘Police trigger-happy’

Klang MP Charles Santiago and Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo said those involved in the shooting of Pua Bee Chun should be brought to justice.

PETALING JAYA: Klang MP Charles Santiago and Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo charged today that the police were trigger-happy in the shooting of housewife Pua Bee Chun.

Pua was killed in a police shoot-out on Jan 18. She was shot in Taman Sentosa Klang when she and driver Song Chee Chai were chased by the police after they were spotted behaving suspiciously.

Both the MPs said the police personnel involved in the shooting should be charged with her death.

Santiago also called for the immediate suspension of those involved and demanded that the police conduct an inquiry.

“The police involved should be charged under Section 304 of the Penal Code [culpable homicide not amounting to murder] because they were shooting randomly.

“The police are trigger-happy, and this trigger-happy behaviour is not acceptable. Those guilty of such incidents must be brought to court,” he said.

(Those charged under this section can be imprisoned for up to 20 years upon conviction.)

Gobind questioned the necessity for the police to open fire, saying “24 bullets were fired, was it necessary? Why haven’t the police taken action?

“The police should give an explanation as to why there was a need to shoot that many times.”
Gobind also said that it is the police’s duty to ensure they do not shoot unnecessarily.

“They should evaluate the situation, and decide whether it is necessary to shoot. They should follow the standard operating procedure [SOP]. If they do not adhere to the SOP, there are grounds that the police have committed a criminal offence,” he said.

“In so far as evidence is concerned, the police have ordered for the CCTV footage to be erased. Even the clothes she was wearing was not given back to the family,” he said.

Santiago said that this month alone there have been three known deaths linked to the police, citing the case of Chang Chin Te who died while in police custody, C Sugumaran who was allegedly beaten to death by the police and the case of Pua Bee Chun who died during a police shoot-out.

‘No protection for rakyat’

Gobind lauded Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s move in intervening in Sugumaran case but stressed that the prime minister should do this in similar other cases.

“It is good that the prime minister has intervened [by instructing Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai to submit a forensic report on the death of Sugumaran], but he should do this for all cases.
“There should be a general requirement if police caused the death of someone. They should explain how such incidents occurred.

“Also, if, for example, a family demands a second post-mortem to be conducted, the police should assist and not make it harder for the family,” Gobind said.

Pua’s husband, Foo Voon Kong, 27, said that the police have not been contacting him.

Gobind stressed that the police, other than conducting investigations, also have a duty to take care of the victims’ families.

“They rarely communicate with the family and instead put up a barricade between them and the families involved.

“The prime minister should make it a practice for the government and the police to assist the families. These people are going through a hard time and they just want an explanation,” he said.
Gobind also questioned how is it possible to go to court if there is no evidence as the CCTV recording has been wiped out.

“If you’ve got nothing to hide, then you’ve got nothing to fear,” he said.

“So many people have died in police’s hands. This shows that there is no protection for the rakyat,” said Gobind.

“We really call for the implementation of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission [IPCMC] to safeguard the interests of the people and to monitor the conduct of the police,” he said.

Pua, 22, is survived by her husband, a four-year-old daughter and a three-year-old son.

‘Video MP Loh’ promises another exposé

Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gwo Burne who shot to fame with the VK Lingam video says he has another one on judiciary fixing.

PETALING JAYA: Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gwo Burne, who became an overnight sensation with the VK Lingam tapes, says he has another video exposing case fixing within the judiciary.

Loh will be revealing to the media next week a video recording showing an alleged ongoing case fixing within the judiciary, but declined to divulge any details as yet.

“It is regretted that I cannot reveal anything due to legal reasons, but when releasing the video, I wish to inform the public of this likely violation of justice,” Loh told FMT.

He added that he has since met with representatives from the Bar Council, who have advised him on the legal matters regarding the video.

“When you do something like this [release a controversial video], there tends to be some people who will challenge you in court,” Loh said.

Asked if he was afraid of repercussions, Loh bravely replied: “There is nothing I am afraid of in the world.”

“They can challenge and threaten me, but nothing will hold me back,” he said.

“I am working for a better Malaysian society and environment,” he added.

Asked if he was responsible for recording the new video, Loh laughed: “I don’t always take videos-lah!”

“Otherwise other people will look at me as someone who always takes videos and avoid being around me.”

The 38-year-old Loh shot to fame in 2007 when a video that he shot led to a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the manipulation of judicial appointments.

The video earned him the parliamentary seat when he contested in the 2008 general election, defeating Barisan Nasional candidate Lee Hwa Beng and independent Billi Lim.

Loh’s low quality video was made public in September 2007 by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and showed lawyer VK Lingam allegedly talking to former Chief Judge of Malaya Ahmad Fairuz Abdul Halim about the appointment of the latter into the office of Chief Justice of the Federal Court.

Ahmad Fairuz retired as the Chief Justice of the Federal Court in late 2007 after his tenure was not renewed due to objection from the Conference of Rulers.

Fact File: The Selangor water crisis

Tarani Palani and Stephanie Sta Maria, fz.com

There seems to be no end to the water problem in Selangor.

THE latest water disruption due to breakdown of the Wangsa Maju water pump in late December has sparked a fresh round of finger pointing between Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) and the Selangor state government over the state's long-standing water issue.

 

The Selangor government once again questioned Syabas' capability to cater to the needs of over seven million people in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. Syabas on the other hand argued that the state has blocked essential funding to improve its piping and other important maintenance work, hence crippling its efforts to provide quality service. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has pledged to solve the water problem if BN wins back the state in the coming general election. 

 

Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim announced on Jan 29 that the state government will take over all four water concessionaires – Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd (PNSB), Syarikat Pengeluaran Air Sungai Selangor Holdings (Splash), Konsortium ABASS and Syabas – in 14 days. This will no doubt bring about another round of arguments on the matter. 

 

fz.com gives the low-down on the issue by retracing the stalemate and details of the relevant parties in the infrastrctural problem that has no resolve in sight yet. In the meantime, the people suffer while the bickering continues.

 

Year/Date	Event
2007 Jan 15	MTUC and other applicants file for judicial review after Energy, Water and Communications Ministry denies the request to release Syabas audit report and water concession agreement between Syabas and Selangor.
2008  Jan 19	Selangor writes to federal government to revoke water concession but receives no response.
May	Selangor government freezes Syabas capital expenditure (capex).
2009 Jan 24	Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim announces plans to complete takeover of assets and operations of water companies.
Feb 13	Selangor offers RM5.7 billion to Syabas, Puncak Niaga, Splash and Abass, to acquire water assets and concessions.
Feb 18	Federal government - through SPAN - says it will directly negotiate with water concessionaires.
Feb 20	All four water concessionaires reject Selangor's offer.
Feb 23	Selangor Water Review Panel urges federal government to respect state government's right and allow it to negotiate with water concessionaires.
April 17	Coalition for Sustainable Water Management says projected water demand inflated to justify RM9 billion Pahang-Selangor raw water transfer project.
June	Selangor offers RM9.3 billion to Syabas to take over its operations. Splash and Abass accept offer, but Syabas and Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd reject it. Selangor prevents Syabas from raising tariffs by 37% as per concession agreement saying that Syabas had not fulfilled conditions for increase.
October	Konsortium Abass serves Syabas originating summons for RM63 million for payment of electricity costs and purchase of water invoices.
Nov 19	Splash sues Syabas for RM196 million in relation of supply of treated water.
2010  Feb 24	Syabas sends Selangor a letter of demand for RM339 million for refusing to allow a hike in water tariffs last year.
April 6	Construction on Pahang-Selangor raw water transfer project begins and is scheduled for completion in May 2014.
July 12	Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin says Selangor struggling to absorb cost of providing free water. Predicts water crisis in two years.
July 15	Water and Energy Consumers Association of Malaysia says risk of water rationing in Selangor possible if impasse between federal and state governments unresolved.
July 20	MB Khalid says there is enough water for KL and Selangor consumers until 2019. Says Pahang-Selangor raw water transfer project could have been pushed to 2016.
July 23	Syabas denies Khalid's statement, says current water supply can only last until 2014. Says cannot reduce non-revenue water further because of freeze on capex.
2011 Jan 7	Selangor makes third bid for state water concessionaires at RM9 billion.
Jan 21	Selangor writes to federal government to revoke water concession but receives no response.
March 23	Syabas asks Selangor to lift freeze on capex.
June 22	Selangor govt blames Syabas for 48-hour water disruption in Klang Valley affecting 1 million people.
2012  July 15	Syabas asks SPAN to allow water-rationing programme. Claims reserves of treated water at 2%. The 'safe' level of treated water is 20%.
July 16	Selangor denies water shortage. Blames Syabas for incompetency and invokes Clause 32 of concession agreement to take over Syabas operations.
July 17	Selangor exco member Ronnie Liu visits Selangor dams. Says all dams are at peak capacity and accuses Syabas of manufacturing water crisis.  Syabas says there is shortfall in treated water, not raw water, because Selangor has prevented construction of Langat 2.
July 18	Selangor announces water panel and reshuffle of Syabas top management. Syabas says it has continuously alerted Selangor to possible water crisis.
July 19	A Special Cabinet Committee on Selangor Water Issue, chaired by Muhyiddin, is set up to discuss the water crisis.
July 23	Committee rejects Selangor's proposed takeover of Syabas. Also says that tender process for the RM3.8b Langat 2 will proceed.
July 25	Water Monitoring Committee finds that Syabas operating below actual capacity in providing enough treated water.
Sept 4	Pengurusan Aset Air Bhd (PAAB) opens tenders for Langat 2 despite not receiving Selangor's approval.
Oct 26	Muhyiddin says Pahang-Selangor raw water transfer scheme may not fulfil objective because of delay in construction of Langat 2.
Dec 27	Tenders for Langat 2 close.
2013 Jan 3	Syabas says Selangor's delay in building additional pumping system in Wangsa Maju responsible for water supply disruption.
Jan 15	Syabas says water disruption 95% restored after bypass works.
Jan 15-22	Water disruption hits Petaling, Sepang, Klang, Kuala Langat and Hulu Langat due to river pollution affecting Sungai Semenyih Water Treatment Plant.
Jan 19	Syabas says ready to be audited by Selangor government.
Jan 29	MB Khalid says state government will take over all four water concessionaires - Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd (PNSB), Syarikat Pengeluaran Air Sungai Selangor Holdings (Splash), Konsortium ABASS and Syabas – in 14 days.
Jan 30	Federal Court grants leave to Coalition Against Water Privatisation (CAWP) to argue for access to Syabas' water concession agreement dated Dec 15, 2004 when BN ruled Selangor.

Key issues	State govt says	Syabas says
Syabas’ distribution capacity	The 34 treatment plants in the state are capable of treating 4,807 million litres of water per day (MLD). The ongoing mitigation project will reportedly boost the plants’ capacity to 5,139 MLD – but Syabas is only capable of distributing 4,411 MLD.   Syabas is incompetent and frequently wastes much of the funds allocated to increase its capacity through the capex. The capex is allocated to Syabas when there is scheduled works.	Its hands are tied as the state refuses to budge from the freeze on its capex. The capex is essential to improve its capacity such as replacing old pumps in order to treat more water to cater for the growing demand of water.
Reserve level of treated water	State govt officials posts photos of dams that are full to refute shortage of water claimed by Syabas. But none has the figure for the reserve level of treated water.    Klang MP Charles Santiago, co-ordinator for Coalition Against Water Privatisation, says that it was not possible for the representatives to know the actual level as only Syabas can provide those numbers and there is no independent audit to verify those numbers.	The reserve level of treated water was 2% in July 2012 and 1% in January 2013, way below the 'safe level' of 20%.   To address the acute shortage, Syabas proposes water-rationing in July 2012 but later cancelled the exercise, saying a more 'long-term' plan is better following takeover bids from the state government.
	More to come – Is there a real need for RM3.9b Langat 2?

Najib’s fate up to Umno if BN does not improve in polls, says Dr M

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 31 – It is up to Umno members to decide if Datuk Seri Najib Razak should step aside if Barisan Nasional (BN) fails to get a stronger mandate in Election 2013, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.

But the former prime minister (picture), a staunch supporter of the administration, said Najib was unfortunately faced with the disadvantage of inheriting a weak government headed by Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

“I think he’s trying to do better than Tun Abdullah. And I think he can,” Dr Mahathir added.

Dr Mahathir said it was his personal opinion that Najib should give way to Deputy Umno president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin if BN only scores a slim majority in the elections.

“If he fails, he should move of course,” Dr Mahathir told reporters during the 15th Malaysia Strategic Outlook Conference here.

However, he said that the decision ultimately lies with party members to decide the fate of their president.

In a luncheon address earlier today, Dr Mahathir has described Najib’s administration as weaker from the previous ones due to a slim majority in the last elections.

As a result, Najib’s administration has to resort to meeting demands and delivering handouts in order to satisfy every parties, he said.

MORE TO COME

Indonesian tells RCI he voted after court official got him blue IC

An Indonesian immigrant who arrived in Sabah in 1973, received a blue identity card in 1979 from a Tawau Native Court official. – Filepic

KOTA KINABALU, Jan 31 – An Indonesian immigrant told the royal inquiry on illegal immigrants here today that a Tawau Native Court official had given him a blue identity card in 1979 to vote for the ruling party.

Yuhanis Bira, 57, said he arrived in Sabah in 1973 and received the identity card six years later from the court official, whom he did not name, without producing a birth certificate.

“He (the official) said can support the government... so I support the government lah,” said Yuhanis at the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) today.

“Through voting?” asked Datuk Ahmad Abd Rahman, who kept a watching brief for the Sabah Law Association.

“Yes,” replied Yuhanis.

Yuhanis said that he registered as a voter in 1981 and has voted in every election since.

The Berjaya party governed Sabah from 1976 to 1985 under then-Chief Minister Tan Sri Harris Salleh.

He has denied to the RCI the existence of “Project IC”.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the country’s longest serving prime minister who was in power from 1981 to 2003, has been accused of spearheading the so-called “Project IC”, in which citizenship was allegedly given to immigrants in exchange for their votes.

Yuhanis said today that he only paid the court official RM12 for the identity card, which he received in 1979 after meeting the court official a year earlier.

According to the Citizenship Rules 1964, people who want to apply to be a Malaysian citizen by naturalisation must become a permanent resident for more than 12 years and have been in Malaysia for more than 10 years.

Another Indonesian immigrant called Berahim Abdullah testified today that a friend had helped him obtain a blue identity card in 1990 without having to produce a birth certificate, ten years after he arrived in Sabah to look for work.

Berahim, who is working as a chef, also said that he registered as a voter and has voted four times in Kunak.

Asked why he registered as a voter, Berahim said it was to support the Barisan Nasional (BN) government.

Both Yuhanis and Berahim also said that their identity cards stated their place of birth as Sabah, though they admitted that they were born in Indonesia.

A few Pakistani and Indian immigrants testified recently about obtaining blue identity cards — either from runners or from the National Registration Department (NRD) directly — within just a few years of arriving in Sabah without producing birth certificates.

The inquiry before former Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Steve Shim Lip Kiong resumes on February 22.

Dr M implicates Anwar in Project IC but says has no proof

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 31 – Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today suggested Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s involvement in the issuance of identity cards to illegal immigrants in Sabah but he admitted having no proof to back his claim.

The former prime minister (picture)alleged that the so-called “Project IC” might have happened without any knowledge and orders from the top.

“(Anwar) had a hand, but in the IC project, what happens on the ground isn’t always what the directives are all about,” Dr Mahathir told reporters here.

“What they do on the ground is sometimes different from the instructions that are given.”

He insisted that he has only now heard about the “wrongful things” being done on the ground in Sabah.

“Yes, it’s his own initiative,” replied Dr Mahathir when asked whether the exercise was on Anwar’s own initiative.

Dr Mahathir had earlier joked that his former deputy prime minister can sometimes be too keen for his own good, when asked whether he had asked Anwar to handle the Project IC.

“He normally takes the initiative himself, I don’t have to tell him. He took more initiative than I would like him to,” Dr Mahathir said.

He however admitted that he has no evidence admissible in court to back his allegations regarding Anwar.

“There are things you know, but there is no documentary proof,” he added.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the country’s longest serving prime minister who was in power from 1981 to 2003, has been accused of spearheading the so-called “Project IC”, in which citizenship was allegedly given to immigrants in exchange for their votes.

But former Sabah Chief Minister Tan Sri Harris Salleh, who administered the state from 1976 to 1985, denied to the RCI the existence of “Project IC”.

Dr Mahathir told a press conference recently that foreigners in Sabah had indeed received citizenship, but stressed that it was “within the law”.

MORE TO COME