Wan Azizah Quits For Hubby....

.....and the party, of course.
PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail finally did it. She has quit as Permatang Pauh Member of Parliament to make way for husband Anwar Ibrahim to contest in a by-election.

She handed her resignation letter to Parliament Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia today.

At a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, she said she would remain party president.

Of her husband, Dr Wan Azizah said:
"Anwar Ibrahim has the experience and intelligence to reinvigorate our economy, and the charisma and integrity to unite Malaysians.

"And I'm not saying this just because he is my husband."

Read the rest of the story HERE.

This is another interesting development in our country's politics....

Maid(s) In Terengganu...

Blogger Tehsin Mukhtar drew my attention to this report (in Star Online). I agree with Tehsin who is totally cheesed off with the Terengganu government's plan.

Terengganu government, is sorely missing the whole point of helping single mothers.

Perhaps, their intention is, er, ...noble, sincere. But surely this cannot be how you want to help single mothers.

Single mothers need to be self-reliant. Not to be servants.

So, what happens to their children when they're working as maids, obviously away from their own homes.

This is not a practical solution to an otherwise surmountable problem.

And, oh, I foresee problems.

Also read Tehsin's take on it HERE. She calls the idea "insanely stupid".

KUALA TERENGGANU: The Terengganu state government has come up with a programme to train single mothers to be turned into skilled domestic helpers.

The training, including childcare, to start next year will allow Malaysian families to source domestic help from their own backyard.

Terengganu is believed to be the state with most number of single mothers, at more than 20,000.

State Education, Higher Education, Human Resource, Science and Technology committee chairman Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman said the state government has asked the Terengganu Skill Development Centre (Tesdec) to prepare the training module.

“Suggestions would also be given to Tesdec to acquire and emulate the training system of Indonesia and other neighbouring countries,” he said after opening an employment carnival at Gong Badak here on Tuesday.

For a start, the trained domestic helpers would be placed at homes in his constituency of Seberang Takir, Ahmad Razif said.

“This placement of domestic helpers at homes in Seberang Takir will be the pilot project, and it would expanded to all homes once fine-tuned,” he said.

Ahmad Razif said employers would also feel more relaxed knowing that their maids were locals and lived close to their homes.

“This would also help single mothers to continue being self reliant and to reduce their financial burden,” he said.

Ahmad Razif said the Terengganu government could help other states train their single mothers if the scheme proves effective here.

Tuesdays With Bapak

A Silent Prayer -- Tuesday, July 29 2008

I remember one evening some time in the 1970s when I silently broke into tears just thinking about Mak. About when she'd leave us all.

It was a morbid thought.

And then I shook my head for I could not ever believe that Mak would leave us. That Mak would, one day, die.

Mak was going to live forever. She was going to be around when I'm old and grey. Mak would be surrounded by her dozens of grandchildren and great grandchildren.

That made me smile. And I never had morbid thoughts of her since.

For that was why her death in 1990 affected me so deeply, as it did my siblings. It took a long time for me to come to terms with her passing. For the pain to heal.

I never had such thoughts about Bapak, though. Not that I was thinking about him leaving us or that he'd live a thousand years to see many things, many changes.

I just never thought about his mortality.

Until, of course, the last couple of years when he showed clear signs of aging -- physically and mentally.

We're quite used to Bapak's lapses in memory. There were times we felt that Bapak was just pretending to forget names and events. We couldn't be quite sure whether his lapse in memory was for real. Because there were a great many times he was lucid and clear. Crisp and detailed.

But it was that time just before Father's Day that I felt really affected by Bapak's behaviour.

He had asked about Kak Eda.

"Lama Kak Eda tak datang," he told me. He had a faraway, longing look about him.

I told him Kak Eda had passed away.

Bapak was shocked.

"Nobody told me," he said. I told him Kak Eda died of cancer last March.

"Bapak. Of course you know that Kak Eda passed away. It's just that you cannot remember it now," I said softly, stroking his arm.

Bapak was silent for a long time.

I didn't know what else to say or do. I kept silent too.

I wondered -- does he remember that Mak and Kak Piah are no longer with us? I dared not think aloud, fearing that my suspicion would be confirmed.

Bapak's physical well-being has taken a turn for the worse. He is no longer even able to take that few steps to the bathroom.

He rests most of the time.

We are naturally so disturbed by this.

Dear, Bapak. I wish I could turn back the clock just a little to when you were hale and hearty, and your mind sharp and alert.

That is, of course, impossible.

And I so do miss our chats.

So I pray for your well-being. That we -- your children and grandchildren - are not a distant memory. And that when it is your time, I will be there for you. With you.

So, Was There Or Was There Not.....

According to Malaysiakini -- breaking news, "there is no evidence that Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan was sodomised, according to the doctor who examined him four hours before he lodged a police report alleging he was sexually assaulted by PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim."

And according to Raja Petra of Malaysia Today, the doctor who examined Saiful on June 28, "has gone underground with his family" after he was detained by police for three days.

(Does private investigator Balasubramaniam come to mind? But in this case, the good doctor purportedly stood his ground and refused to budge -- sticking to his report.)

But police, according to the NST online, have made a swift denial of the Malaysiakini report, saying that it was "another attempt to sabotage police investigations".

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar was quoted as saying that the Malaysiakini report is also aimed at confusing the people.

Here's the rest of the NST report:

"Police, he said, were considering investigating the news website and a blog over their reports, which referred to a medical report allegedly issued by Pusrawi Hospital on Jalan Tun Razak.

The news report claimed that there was no evidence that Anwar’s former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan had been sodomised.

However, Ismail declined to comment on the medical report itself, saying investigations were ongoing.
Mohd Saiful had alleged that he had been sodomised by the de facto leader of Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

Ismail also quashed rumours that Dr Mohamed Osman Abdul Hamid, the Pusrawi Hospital medical officer who examined Mohd Saiful on June 28, had been picked up by police.

“Mohamed Osman’s statement had been recorded by police earlier on in the investigation, as such, rumours circulating about his arrest by police are untrue,” Ismail said.

Attempts to get in touch with Pusrawi Hospital officials were futile as all questions were met with a “No comment” answer.

According to the news website, Dr Mohamed Osman had examined Mohd Saiful about four hours before lodging a police report alleging he had been sexually assaulted by Anwar.

Mohd Saiful went to the hospital about 2pm on June 28 complaining of ’tenesmus’, a medical term for difficulty and pain in passing motion.

Dr Mohamed Osman, a Burmese Muslim, is said to be on leave. "

Just so typical -- the developments surrounding the sodomy allegation against Anwar and allegations that Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and wife, Rosmah Mansur are involved in the murder of Mongolian model Altanuya Sharibuu.

At this point and the way things are moving, I tell you, we will never ever know the truth! Because we don't even know what's not....

LATEST (July 29 2008): Press statement by Anwar Ibrahim HERE.

Who Do You Think....

...should be the next PM?

Don't mind my asking. I know, I know....this is such a loaded and leading question. I can already hear your choices. Or the lack of..

I know many of you are in a dilemma. You might have decided on a choice earlier, and right up to the March 8 general election of who'd be the best candidate to succeed Pak Lah. Rather, the "right" person to lead the country.

Of course we are aware that his deputy, Najib Abdul Razak, is his chosen successor. And that the choice of PM is neither yours nor mine (to make), but the one thousand-something Umno division heads and their coteries.

But, you feel that if you had your way, you'd want so-and-so to be Pak Lah's successor. Right?

No harm in that.

With hell's that's been going on and several unpleasant and unsavoury developments taking place, you're now stumped. Dazed.

You think this country deserves better.

Maybe you're right. And maybe you're so wrong.

This has been and is undoubtedly a hot topic which has got that much hotter.

So many are convinced that we are in deep sh....., I mean trouble.

And you are thinking -- "Look at our country. Who can get us out of this mess. Our economy is affected. Foreigners are laughing at us?"

Don't our political leaders love the country, you ask.

Yeah. Forget the side shows. Those are only a distraction. The real story is about power. About the premiership.

When I posted in Facebook some weeks ago that I was thinking of emigrating, concerned friends asked me what was really going on in my mind.

I had to admit that it was just an expression of frustration. Just my way of making a statement. I do not wish to emigrate. Of course not.

Really, even if I had billions of Ringgit/dollars/Francs stashed away somewhere, I'd not want to go away. I'd not leave this country. I'd definitely stick around.

(Ok...in the first place, me having those billions could never happen!)

Someone smsed me this: "How I wish there is someone out there who can take us to some place better."

Such a naive thought, you may remark. But this was not from a naive person.

I am not a card carrying member of any political party. I do have, er...soft spot for some leaders from both sides of the divide.

Which means, I have no vested interest in my preference for an individual or individuals.

Anyway, try listing down all the eligible candidates thus far and see which one (if any) can make us proud.

The Kembara Mahkota 2008..

Once every year for the past 10 years, the Tengku Mahkota of Johor Tengku Ibrahim Ibni Sultan Iskandar leads 30 Harley riders and 20 vehicles on a tour of the rural areas.

The four-day Kembara has evolved into an integral "mesra" programme to which villagers look forward for that is when they get to meet the Tengku Mahkota and his consort, Raja Zarith Sofiah and their children.

This year, I was invited by Raja Zarith to be part of her entourage in the Kembara. She usually accompanies the Tengku Mahkota on the first day. This time, the first day (Thursday, July 24), took us to Ulu Tebrau, Pontian, Batu Pahat and Muar.

The Tengku Mahkota's visit is the highlight for these villagers who make elaborate plans for their royal guests such as "taking part" in cookery competitions including food-tasting.

It is also an opportunity for the district offices to have the Tengku Mahkota present aids to the less fortunate such as bicycles for children and cash for the disabled and the poor.

The royal couple and their children -- this time Tengku Aminah, Tengku Abdul Rahman and Tengku Abu Bakar accompanied them -- joined the villagers for "minum pagi", lunch and "minum petang".

You can see and feel the excitement in the air.

I spoke to the villagers. And how their day was made!

But really, it is as much an exciting and thrilling affair for the Tengku Mahkota, Raja Zarith and their family.

It is something they all look forward to.

The Kembara Mahkota, however, is no walk in the park. Riding through the Johor countryside rain or sun, all day, is pretty gruelling. And for the non-riding participants, it can be tiring.

In the morning at Istana Pasir Pelangi before the launch (which was at Bukit Timbalan), the Tengku Mahkota personally made sure everything was in order.

(I have to go now. I will write more with the interviews and photos. And also how Johor Chief Police Officer Mokhtar Mohd Shariff was "pulled aside" by a disabled Bangladeshi who claimed that his former employer (Felda in Ulu Tebrau) had abandoned him. Now, I don't know Mokhtar, and unless he was pretending, he really seemed genuinely concerned and made sure his officer, Hasani Husain took down every word from the Bangladeshi, Mohd Syed Husain so that the police could find a way fo helping.)

Would You Have Decided on The Mercedes?

....to replace your four year-old Perdana?

I mean, let's face it. We all have our own favourite models.

For the sake of argument, would you have bought another Perdana V6 or the Mercedes E200 Kompressor?

Did the Terengganu Government do the right thing by buying 14 of the Mercedes for its state excos and senior officials.

It spent RM3.43m for them.

Menteri Besar Ahmad Said defended the decision saying that it had planned to buy the E200 Kompressor for a long time to replace its Proton Perdana V6 Executive fleet.

It is a move to cut cost because he says that the Perdana V6s are high maintenance. Therefore, cheaper to have the E200 Kompressor in the long run, he said.

So, is the state government "far-sighted" for opting for the Mercs, as Ahmad Said claimed?

Read more HERE.

Do you buy his argument? Or do you think that, it's just, you know, an excuse to splurge?

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak has reservations here. He said that it has been the government's policy that all federal government ministries and state government use the national car.

Making his point, he said he and his boss (the Prime Minister) use the national car.

Read it HERE.

Walkable Cities.....

I'm sorry if I have not updated my blog and have not posted anything about Anwar Ibrahim's arrest and release. I could not because I was in a place far from the madding crowd. A rustic and picturesque place where you can hear the "whispering winds" and the rolling waves. I could stay there forever....

I think I am trying to not replay the 1998 saga in my head. Every bit of that saga is still vivid in my head, in my mind. So, while nothing of it has been purged from the deepest recess of my being, nothing of the latest events has escaped me.

I know that this is 2008. Anwar is not that same man who was dragged -- I mean, taken out of his home. And today he is the de facto leader of a political party.

I hope you all don't mind if I am not posting about it.....just yet!

So amid all this political development, let's lighten up a bit, while we can.

So, let me bring to your attention, this (Reuters) article about "walkable" cities.

Most of us who have been abroad would know because we often find ourselves enjoying walking - a lot of walking, I might add -- in these foreign cities, never quite depending on automobiles for transport.

Don't go too far. Singapore comes to mind.

And we know why!

Good pedestrian-friendly sidewalks/pavements. And great boulevards!

Read this.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - San Francisco, New York and Boston are the United States' most walkable cities, according to new rankings from a website that evaluates how easy it is to live in the nation's cities and neighborhoods without a car.

Walkscore.com, which uses an algorithm to identify those neighborhoods boasting the most amenities per person, published its ranking on Thursday and deemed San Francisco the most walkable city, with a "Walk Score" of 86 out of 100.

The ultimate goal is to see the site's scores included in property listings, said Mike Mathieu, founder of the company that created the site's software.

"What we see is someone calling up a broker and saying 'I want three bedrooms, two baths, a walkability score of 85, what've you got?"' Mathieu said.

Type an address, and the site generates a map showing the nearby grocery stores, cafes, movie theaters, schools and parks.

New York received a score of 83, Boston a score of 79.

Scores greater than 70 indicate neighborhoods where it's possible to get by without owning a car, while scores greater than 90 qualify communities as a "Walker's Paradise."

Did They Set Up Road Blocks In Search Of Nini?

I kept thinking today after passing through a couple of road blocks (including one yesterday), whether a similar action was taken in police efforts to search for Sharlinie through January this year.
(see the box on the left).

I don't remember any report of road blocks being mounted in the search for Nini.

Maybe there were in areas surrounding the location she was last seen. Just that I was never (made) aware of them. Or, if none was ever set up, the police had a reason for that.

Nini....we never stop thinking of you.....

Risky Malaysian Visitors...

Not that I will be visiting Britain anytime soon. But I am offended that we Malaysians are considered by Britain to be very risky visitors -- oh you know -- prone to criminal acts of overstaying, (passport) fraud, and terrorism.

Malaysia is one of the 11 countries warned by the British government that their citizens need visas to visit the UK unless they "significantly reduce" the risk they pose.

Malaysia is in the good company of Brazil, Namibia, South Africa, Venezuela, Bolivia, Botswana, Lesotho, Mauritius, Swaziland, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Britain's Home Office report identifies bogus passports, criminal acts and terrorism as possible risks posed by visitors.

(source:BBC News)

However, Foreign Minister Dr Rais Yatim will be meeting senior British officials in London on Tuesday to present Malaysia's case -- to exempt Malaysians from applying for visa.

Rais is taking advantage of the six-month grace period to make things right, before the decision is final.

Britain's decision was made on the basis of cases of Malaysians found to be abusing their entry permits and overstaying.

Rais said that British Foreign Secretary David Miliband had alerted him during a bilateral meeting in May to the problem.

Miliband had said a total of 1,524 Malaysians violated British laws, for offences which included overstaying, credit card fraud, illegal employment and other crimes.

I suppose, the rest of us are being punished for those bad apples....

The Longest Two Years......

...I imagine for a lot of people who are hoping that Umno president and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will step down by the end of the year.

Pak Lah announced yesterday that he will be stepping down in June 2010 after which he will hand over power to his chosen successor, (deputy Umno president and DPM) Najib Abdul Razak.

And for those who had convinced Pak Lah to stay on (for reasons known to them or for very obvious reasons): well, there's enough time to do...whatever.

So much for all those speculations that there'd be contests for the top two Umno posts, that there'd be changes in the party leadership...

Pak Lah said that the next two years would give him enough time to help rejuvenate and strengthen the party.

NST online has the story HERE.

But you may want to read what former Umno veteran Sanusi Junid has to say about Pak Lah's decision to hold on to the party presidency and country's premiership. Read it HERE!

ABOLISH THE INTERNAL SECURITY ACT!

There is nothing that can support the continued existence and use of the most draconian and dangerous piece of legislation -- the Internal Security Act.

This Act has, largely, been abused in the last few decades. It is obsolete and has no relevance (to our society/our country) whatsoever except to be abused by political leaders in power.

Not even the argument that the ISA is a necessary evil -- for the detention of criminals for which a trial is no guarantee that they be put behind bars -- can convince me that "we still need the ISA".

Bollocks, I say!

I read with sadness about the death of 17 year-old Aina Mardiah Shahrial, the eldest daughter of Shahrial Sirin, an ISA detainee.

She died on July 3. Shahrial was unable to see his dying daughter due to a lack of urgency on the part of people who could make it very possible for him to be with her.

It is a heart-wrenching story. Rocky's Bru has open letter for Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar HERE.

Also Tehsin's HERE.

Several bloggers are planning to set up a fund for families of ISA detainees.

I think it is a great idea!

Opposition MPs File A Motion of No-Confidence Against PM

Pakatan Rakyat MPs led by MP for Permatang Pauh and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Ismail, have filed a motion of no confidence against the Prime Minister and his Cabinet.

The motion, filed under Section 18 (1) and (2) of the House Standing Order, was passed to Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia at his office in Parliament House at 3.30pm today.

The Speaker has promised to give full consideration to the motion.

According to the NST, "it has been understood that the motion will be rejected after it is read on Monday."

NST also said that "Dr Wan Azizah is not perturbed by the reality that the motion will be rejected."

So what's the whole point, you may ask?

Dr Wan Azizah said: "The idea of filing the motion is to highlight the people's grievances against the Barisan Government."

She was speaking to a packed Press conference at the Parliament lobby.

Read the NST online HERE.

Anwar Wants Sodomy Case Investigated Under Syariah

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Anwar Ibrahim has filed a complaint with the Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department (Jawi) on what he claimed was slander by a former aide who has accused Anwar of sodomising him.

Anwar, who was companied by his wife Dr Wan Azizah Ismail and his lawyer Kamar Ainiah Kamaruzaman, lodged the complaint with the investigation unit of the Jawi Enforcement Division at the Jawi office at 10.15 am (Thursday, July 10).

He said he filed the complaint to have the accusation against him investigated under the Federal Territory Syariah Criminal Offences Act 1997, on the advice of several "ulama" (religious scholars) who had also advised him not to subject himself to "mubahalah" (malediction).

"I have lodged a complaint to seek to have the case brought to the Syariah Enforcement Division to clear my name and that of my family from the malicious and humiliating slander.

"It was on the advice of ulama that this matter has been brought (for investigation) under the "Qazaf" law and provision," he told reporters after lodging the complaint. (Qazaf means to wrongfully accuse a man or woman of adultery or homosexuality.)

Anwar's former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 23, lodged a report on June 28 at the Jalan Traverse police station accusing Anwar of having sodomised him, and was reportedly prepared to subject himself to malediction in the matter.

Anwar, when asked why he had sought to have the matter investigated under Syariah law, said: "I am not prohibiting the investigation under civil law. This is only to clear my name."

Anwar's lawyer, Kamar Ainiah, said her client had asked the Enforcement Division to expedite the investigation for an early decision to have the case brought to the Syariah Court.

She said Anwar wanted the case to be handled under Section 41 of the Federal Territory Syariah Criminal Offences Act 1997.

The section referred to Qazaf offences, and conviction would result in a jail term of three years or a fine of RM5,000 or both, she said.

Kamar Ainiah said Anwar wanted the matter to be referred to the Syariah Court because of the absence of a similar provision under civil law.

(source: Bernama)

Pak Lah To Step Down in June 2010..

UPDATE!

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will step down as Umno president and Prime Minister in June 2010. This is confirmed.

He will then hand over power to his deputy, Najib Abdul Razak.

Yes.. Najib is his chosen successor.

My earlier posting!

According to Malaysiakini, Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is expected to announce that there will be no contest for the top two posts in Umno.

He will be making the announcement after the party's supreme council meeting which he chaired this afternoon.

Malaysiakini cited Umno sources saying that Abdullah will stay on as Umno president (and PM) until June 2010. After that he will hand over the presidency (and premiership) to his deputy Najib Abdul Razak.

Still waiting for confirmation. But if that is true....whoa! A very looong two years!

Bala Is Safe And Sound...

...but he's not telling where he is. Neither are the police.

So, we only know, or rather we have been told that his whereabouts is somewhere in "a neighbouring Asean country" (according to Bukit Aman CID chief Mohd Bakri Zinin).

Bakri confirmed that police had gone to this neighbouring Asean country to meet Mr P.I, and had already taken his statement.

But, Bakri refused to divulged Balasubramaniam's whereabouts when pressed for it.

He also said the police weren't happy with allegations that they are behind his disappearance.

"We have no motive in this matter. I am unhappy with assumptions from people that we are involved in this,” he told a Press conference at the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters today.

Okay. Let me (Nuraina) be frank here. Under the circumstances and in the wake of some very explosive "disclosures" -- ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

Hence, the speculations. And, all, very unpleasant, unsavoury and ugly, I'm sure. (Not good for the health.)

Anyway, Bakri said that the police are trying to wrap up investigations. So, y'all. Please give them time and space.

(source: Malaysiakini)

For an interesting read, click HERE!

Di Mana Kau, Balasubramaniam?

I tried hard not to think about him but I just can't. His face keeps popping up in my head.

Balasubramaniam S/O Perumal, where are you?

We know that you and your family are okay because your nephew R. Kumaresan said so -- that he spoke to you and your wife -- and we don't have any reason to not believe him.

But, really -- where have you gone to with your family?

Are you in someone's "protective custody"?

Are you still in the country? (The police said that you are still around here somewhere but, you know -- that's what the police said.)

Are you...afraid?

I don't want to give you any assurances because I'm in no position to do so. But you know what...Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar and Federal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Mohd Bakri Zinin have already given their word that you'd be safe, that you and your family be given protection.

How's that?

Music To Start My Day and End My Week...

.....there was music to accompany our aerobics class this morning at Taman Lembah Kiara in Taman Tun Dr Ismail...Hurray!

Because of a technical problem at the park, our instructor had not been able to play his music for our session the last three weeks.

So, finally...this morning was good!

But, hush....don't ask me about other things, ok?

I can tell you about last night's All-Blogs 100 Days gathering, though.

It was great ---so many people were there, among whom were newly-elected wakil rakyat, Nuru Izzah Anwar ( who came with hubby Raja Ahmad Shahrir), Loh Gwo Burne, Wee Choo Keong and Mukhriz Mahathir.
Marina Mahathir, Raja Petra Kamaruddin and wife, Marina as well as Engku Emran and celebrity wife, Erra Fazira were also among the more than 100 people at Blog House.

Nurul Izzah and Marina chatted for a bit. Raja Petra was invited to say a few words. He refused to be drawn into making any strong political statements. But, nobody was disappointed.

Instead, he said at Blog House, everyone comes together and discard their political (or personal) differences.

Read more about it H E R E.

To a better week ahead!

Bala's New SD...

Click HERE to find out what Balasubramaniam Perumal's new statutory declaration (which replaces the original one he made public yesterday) is all about.

The guy looked a mess, like he didn't have enough sleep!

Just thinking aloud. Bala spoke about being under duress. Was he under duress to release the first SD or was he under duress to replace it?

I had a bad dream last night. Perhaps I forgot to "baca-baca sebelum tidur".

Tonight I shan't forget to. Can't take these nightmares. Dah-lah bangun pagi, rupa-rupa-nya bukan mimpi.

Bala Retracts Parts Of His SD....

....because he was forced to make the declaration under duress.

We all have read Balasubramaniam Perumal's statutory declaration which he made public at the Parti Keadilan Rakyat headquarters yesterday.

The private investigator made some very serious and damning allegations regarding sexual relations between Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and murdered Mongolian model Altantuya Sharibuu.

(Altantuya was murdered -- her body blown-up -- in 2006. Political analayst Abdul Razak Baginda who is closely linked to Najib is charged with abetting in her murder, allegedly committed by two policemen.)

This morning, at a Press conference in Kuala Lumpur, Bala withdrew THAT SD and produced a new one.

"I wish to retract the first declaration. I was compelled to affirm the July 1 declaration under duress," he said. But he did not reveal who forced him to affirm the first declaration.

He retracted several paragraphs of his SD, among which are that Najib introduced Razak to Altantuya and that Najib had a sexual relationship with her.

Bala was hired by Razak to deal with Altantuya when she allegedly harassed him and threatened to cause him a lot of trouble.

Oh, by the way, Bala has found himself a new lawyer now.

Americk Sidhu, the lawyer who was with him yesterday, did not even know what had been going on, as of yesterday after Bala's PC at the PKR HQ.

(source: The Star online and Malaysiakini. More to come.)

OKAY.....is this a circus (as my friend Zainul Arifin has aptly described the whole damn thing), or what?

Rocky's Bru did tell us to be prepared for another SD (after Bala's SD yesterday). And viola!

As it gets more bizarre, it gets to be more and more convoluted and unbelievable.

More questions. No answers.

Makes me wonder -- have you people no shame?

I'm so so so tired. Don't even mention that S-word!

High Court Decision Today On Rafidah's Election Case.

UPDATE:

The Ipoh High Court has rejected two petitions to annul the election results for the Kuala Kangsar parliamentary and Kubu Gajah state seats, both of which were won by Barisan Nasional candidates in the March general election.

The Kuala Kangsar seat was won by Wanita Umno chiefi Rafidah Aziz and the Kubu Gajah seat byRaja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar.

Justice Datuk Zakaria Sam rejected the Kuala Kangsar petition without costs and the Kubu Gajah petition with costs.

Zakaria, in his judgment, said Rafidah had signed the original nomination form while the other two nomination papers which were not signed were copies and it was sufficient to prove that she really intended to contest for the seat.

Click HERE for full Bernama report.

My original posting:

The Ipoh High Court decides today whether to hear an election petition challenging the results of the Kuala Kangsar parliamentary constituency in which Wanita Umno chief Rafidah Aziz won.

The petition seeks to declare the results null and void.

Rafidah won the seat by a majority of 1,458 votes, defeating Perak Pas deputy commissioner Dr Khairuddin Abd Malik.

Businessman Ahmad Jamaluddin Abd Majid has named Rafidah as the first respondent in the petition after she failed to sign two of three sets of her nomination papers in the March 8 general election.

Returning officer Mohd Ghazali Jalal and the Election Commission have been named as the second and third respondents in the petition by businessman Ahmad Jamaluddin Abd Majid. Rafidah beat Perak PAS deputy commissioner Dr Khairuddin Abd Malik in the elections.

Election judge Zakaria Sam, who is also presiding over a separate election petition, will similarly decide today whether or not to hear an election petition seeking to declare the results of the Kubu Gajah state seat null and void.

(I will update later.)

Nothing Personal (Against Najib) : Anwar

"There is nothing personal here, I want to reiterate. I know some people are trying to portray it as a personal battle. I have evidence, I submit, evidence against Najib or even Abdullah or whoever.
"We are here. We are talking about the country and the credibility of the institutions of the country and the state of the economy, the way it is managed or mismanaged in this country. "These are the fundamental issues. It is not about Najib or Anwar or Altantuya or whoever." -- Parti Keadilan Rakyat adviser and de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim replying to a question at the Press conference yesterday after private investigator Balasubramaniam Perumal made public his statutory declaration.

PKR vice-president Sivarasa Rasiah who was also at the Press conference, responded to question on whether he was concerned that Balasubramaniam's SD could lead to a mistrial of the ongoing trial.

Sivarasa said:

"That's the obvious. The omission of evidence from the proceedings will certainly lead to a mistrial. So it is timely that Mr Bala has come forward with this and it will allow the prosecution to do something about it because we haven't reached the half-time point of trial. They're just about to make submissions whether there is a case to answer. I hope the prosecution takes this into account and do what is supposed to be done."

Blogger Hard-T has (more-or-less) of what transpired at the Press conference. Read it HERE.

Najib Says Saiful Complained To Him That He Had Been Sodomised...

And he (Saiful Bukhari Azlan) appeared "highly traumatised", said Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Why this bit of information is being disclosed only now remains unexplained and is something only Najib can answer.

Read the Bernama report below:

Najib admitted today (July 3) having met Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan before because he (Saiful) wanted to reveal that he had been sodomised by Parti Keadilan Rakyat advisor Anwar Ibrahim.

Najib said that their meeting was the first between them and it took place at his (Najib's) residence several days before Saiful, who appeared to be highly traumatised, had made a police report on the sodomy allegation on Anwar.

"I received his (Saiful's) visit in my capacity as a leader and he as an ordinary citizen who wanted to tell me something... I don't know him before this," Najib told a press conference at his Parliament office in Kuala Lumpur.

Saiful, 23, made a police report at the police beat base at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital on June 28 that he had been allegedly sodomised by Anwar at a condominium in Damansara on June 26.

When asked why the former aide to Anwar had come to him on the matter, Najib said that he did not know but assumed that the youth needed his help after Saiful said that he knew one of his (Najib's) officers.

Najib said Saiful had also come to his office to meet one of his officers to regarding a scholarship application but he (Najib) did not meet Saiful then.

The deputy prime minister also denied allegations that he had conspired against Anwar.

Asked whether he (Najib) believed that what was said by Saiful had basis or otherwise, Najib said initially he was also unsure that what had been said by Saiful was true or false.

"I wouldn't dare say... I thought he (Saiful) looked genuine because he was afraid. His hands were cold. But I am not brave enough to make a conclusion. I told him to make his own decision," he said.

Najib also denied that that he had advised Saiful to make a police report.

He said that during their meeting, Saiful had told everything that had happened to him.

When asked on what was told by Saiful, Najib smiled and said, "Oh, there were many stories, I might tell one day but after the court case."

Najib also said he was ready to give evidence if needed following his expose.

"Yes, I am ready. But what is there to ask? I merely heard his story. What is more important is the explanation from him, not from me," he said.

Another SD (This Time) From A PI....

.....that's another statutory declaration from private investigator Balasubramaniam Perumal (left), a former police officer who claimed to have been working for Abdul Razak Baginda during the time (Razak) he was threatened by Mongolian model Altantuya Sharibuu, her disappearance and murder.

Very lurid. Very serious. But this is still hearsay and not evidence.
Bizarre!
Nevertheless, how will this impact on the on-going trial because Mr Bala has made some really serious and damning allegations?

Meanwhile, you can believe him. Or not.

Me? I don't believe in SDs.....

Anyone else has an SD to make?

STATUTORY DECLARATION

I, Balasubramaniam a/l Perumal (NRIC NO: 600928-08-6235) a Malaysian Citizen of full age and residing at No. 32, Jalan Pelangi 1, Taman Pelangi, Rawang, Selangor do solemly and sincerely declare as follows :-

1. I have been a police officer with the Royal Malaysian Police Force having jointed as a constable in 1981 attached to the Police Field Force. I was then promoted to the rank of lance Corporal and finally resigned from the Police Force in 1998 when I was with the Special Branch.

2. I have been working as a free lance Private Investigator since I left the Police Force.

3. Sometime in June or July 2006, I was employed by Abdul Razak Baginda for a period of 10 days to look after him at his office at the Bangunan Getah Asli, Jalan Ampang between the hours of 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m each working day as apparently he was experiencing disturbances from a third party.

4. I resigned from this job after 2 ½ days as I was not receiving any proper instructions.

5. I was however re-employed by Abdul Razak Baginda on the 05-10-2006 as he had apparently received a harassing phone call from a Chinese man calling himself ASP Tan who had threatened him to pay his debts. I later found out this gentleman was in fact a private investigator called Ang who was employed by a Mongolian woman called Altantuya Shaaribuu.

6. Abdul Razak Baginda was concerned that a person by the name of Altantuya Shaaribuu, a Mongolian woman, was behind this threat and that she would be arriving in Malaysia very soon to try and contact him.

7. Abdul Razak Baginda informed me that he was concerned by this as he had been advised that Altantuya Shaaribuu had been given some powers by a Mongolian ‘bomoh’ and that he could never look her in the face because of this.

8. When I enquired as to who this Mongolian woman was, Abdul Razak Baginda informed me that she was a friend of his who had been introduced to him by a VIP and who asked him to look after her financially.

9. I advised him to lodge a police report concerning the threatening phone call he had received from the Chinese man known as ASP Tan but he refused to do so as he informed me there were some high profile people involved.

10. Abdul Razak Baginda further told me that Altantuya Shaaribuu was a great liar and good in convincing people. She was supposed to have been very demanding financially and that he had even financed a property for her in Mongolia.

11. Abdul Razak Baginda then let me listen to some voice messages on his handphone asking him to pay what was due otherwise he would be harmed and his daughter harassed.

12. I was therefore supposed to protect his daughter Rowena as well.

13. On the 09.10.2006 I received a phone call from Abdul Razak Baginda at about 9.30 a.m. informing me that Altantuya was in his office and he wanted me there immediately. As I was in the midst of a surveillance, I sent my assistant Suras to Abdul Razak Baginda’s office and I followed a little later. Suras managed to control the situation and had persuaded Altantuya and her two friends to leave the premises. However Altantuya left a note written on some Hotel Malaya note paper, in English, asking Abdul Razak Baginda to call her on her handphone (number given) and wrote down her room number as well.

14. Altantuya had introduced herself to Suras as ‘Aminah’ and had informed Suras she was there to see her boyfriend Abdul Razak Baginda.

15. These 3 Mongolian girls however returned to Abdul Razak Baginda’s office at the Bangunan Getah Asli, Jalan Ampang again, the next day at about 12.00 noon. They did not enter the building but again informed Suras that they wanted to meet Aminah’s boyfriend, Abdul Razak Baginda.

16. On the 11.10.2006, Aminah returned to Abdul Razak Baginda’s office on her own and gave me a note to pass to him, which I did. Abdul Razak Baginda showed me the note which basically asked him to call her urgently.

17. I suggested to Abdul Razak Baginda that perhaps it may be wise to arrange for Aminah to be arrested if she harassed him further, but he declined as he felt she would have to return to Mongolia as soon as her cash ran out.

18. In the meantime I had arranged for Suras to perform surveillance on Hotel Malaya to monitor the movements of these 3 Mongolian girls, but they recognized him. Apparently they become friends with Suras after that and he ended up spending a few nights in their hotel room.

19. When Abdul Razak Baginda discovered Suras was becoming close to Aminah he asked me to pull him out from Hotel Malaya.

20. On the 14.10.2006, Aminah turned up at Abdul Razak Baginda’s house in Damansara Heights when I was not there. Abdul Razak Baginda called me on my handphone to inform me of this so I rushed back to his house. As I arrived, I noticed Aminah outside the front gates shouting “Razak, bastard, come out from the house”. I tried to calm her down but couldn’t so I called the police who arrived in 2 patrol cars. I explained the situation to the police, who took her away to the Brickfields police station.

21. I followed the patrol cars to Brickfields police station in a taxi. I called Abdul Razak Baginda and his lawyer Dirren to lodge a police report but they refused.

22. When I was at the Brickfields police station, Aminah’s own Private Investigator, one Mr. Ang arrived and we had a discussion. I was told to deliver a demand to Abdul Razak Baginda for USD$500,000.00 and 3 tickets to Mongolia, apparently as commission owed to Aminah from a deal in Paris.

23. As Aminah had calmed down at this stage, a policewoman at the Brickfields police station advised me to leave and settle the matter amicably.

24. I duly informed Abdul Razak Baginda of the demands Aminah had made and told him I was disappointed that no one wanted to back me up in lodging a police report. We had a long discussion about the situation when I expressed a desire to pull out of this assignment.

25. During this discussion and in an attempt to persuade me to continue my employment with him, Abdul Razak Baginda informed me that :-

25.1 He had been introduced to Aminah by Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at a diamond exhibition in Singapore.

25.2 Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak informed Abdul Razak Baginda that he had a sexual relationship with Aminah and that she was susceptible to anal intercourse.

25.3 Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak wanted Abdul Razak Baginda to look after Aminah as he did not want her to harass him since he was now the Deputy Prime Minister.

25.4 Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Abdul Razak Baginda and Aminah had all been together at a dinner in Paris.

25.5 Aminah wanted money from him as she felt she was entitled to a USD$500,000.00 commission on a submarine deal she assisted with in Paris.

26. On the 19.10.2006, I arrived at Abdul Razak Baginda’s house in Damansara Heights to begin my night duty. I had parked my car outside as usual. I saw a yellow proton perdana taxi pass by with 3 ladies inside, one of whom was Aminah. The taxi did a U-turn and stopped in front of the house where these ladies rolled down the window and wished me ‘Happy Deepavali’. The taxi then left.

27. About 20 minutes later the taxi returned with only Aminah in it. She got out of the taxi and walked towards me and started talking to me. I sent an SMS to Abdul Razak Baginda informing him “Aminah was here”. I received an SMS from Razak instructing me “To delay her until my man comes”.

28. Whist I was talking to Aminah, she informed me of the following :-

28.1 That she met Abdul Razak Baginda in Singapore with Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

28.2 That she had also met Abdul Razak Baginda and Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at a dinner in Paris.

28.3 That she was promised a sum of USD$500,000.00 as commission for assisting in a Submarine deal in Paris.

28.4 That Abdul Razak Baginda had bought her a house in Mongolia but her brother had refinanced it and she needed money to redeem it.

28.5 That her mother was ill and she needed money to pay for her treatment.

28.6 That Abdul Razak Baginda had married her in Korea as her mother is Korean whilst her father was a Mongolian/Chinese mix.

28.7 That if I wouldn’t allow her to see Abdul Razak Baginda, would I be able to arrange for her to see Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

29. After talking to Aminah for about 15 minutes, a red proton aeroback arrived with a woman and two men. I now know the woman to be Lance Corporal Rohaniza and the men, Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azahar. They were all in plain clothes. Azilah walked towards me while the other two stayed in the car.

30. Azilah asked me whether the woman was Aminah and I said ‘Yes’. He then walked off and made a few calls on his handphone. After 10 minutes another vehicle, a blue proton saga, driven by a Malay man, passed by slowly. The drivers window had been wound down and the driver was looking at us.

31. Azilah then informed me they would be taking Aminah away. I informed Aminah they were arresting her. The other two persons then got out of the red proton and exchanged seats so that Lance Corporal Rohaniza and Aminah were in the back while the two men were in the front. They drove off and that is the last I ever saw of Aminah.

32. Abdul Razak Baginda was not at home when all this occurred.

33. After the 19.10.2006, I continued to work for Abdul Razak Baginda at his house in Damansara Heights from 7.00 p.m. to 8.00 a.m. the next morning, as he had been receiving threatening text messages from a woman called ‘Amy’ who was apparently ‘Aminah’s’ cousin in Mongolia.

34. On the night of the 20.10.2006, both of Aminah’s girl friends turned up at Abdul Razak Baginda’s house enquiring where Aminah was. I informed them she had been arrested the night before.

35. A couple of nights later, these two Mongolian girls, Mr. Ang and another Mongolian girl called ‘Amy’ turned up at Abdul Razak Baginda’s house looking for Aminah as they appeared to be convinced she was being held in the house.

36. A commotion began so I called the police who arrived shortly thereafter in a patrol car. Another patrol car arrived a short while later in which was the investigating officer from the Dang Wangi Police Station who was in charge of the missing persons report lodged by one of the Mongolians girls, I believe was Amy.

37. I called Abdul Razak Baginda who was at home to inform him of the events taking place at his front gate. He then called DSP Musa Safri and called me back informing me that Musa Safri would be calling handphone and I was to pass the phone to the Inspector from Dang Wangi Police Station.

38. I then received a call on my handphone from Musa Safri and duly handed the phone to the Dang Wangi Inspector. The conversation lasted 3 – 4 minutes after which he told the girls to disperse and to go to see him the next day.

39. On or about the 24.10.2006, Abdul Razak Baginda instructed me to accompany him to the Brickfields police station as he had been advised to lodge a police report about the harassment he was receiving from these Mongolian girls.

40. Before this, Amy had sent me an SMS informing me she was going to Thailand to lodge a report with the Mongolian consulate there regarding Aminah’s disappearance. Apparently she had sent the same SMS to Abdul Razak Baginda. This is why he told me he had been advised to lodge a police report.

41. Abdul Razak Baginda informed me that DPS Musa Safri had introduced him to one DSP Idris, the head of the Criminal division, Brickfields police station, and that Idris had referred him to ASP Tonny.

42. When Abdul Razak Baginda had lodged his police report at Brickfields police station, in front of ASP Tonny, he was asked to make a statement but he refused as he said he was leaving for overseas. He did however promise to prepare a statement and hand ASP Tonny a thumb drive. I know that this was not done as ASP Tonny told me.

43. However ASP Tonny asked me the next day to provide my statement instead and so I did.

44. I stopped working for Abdul Razak Baginda on the 26.10.2006 as this was the day he left for Hong Kong on his own.

45. In mid November 2006, I received a phone call from ASP Tonny from the IPK Jalan Hang Tuah asking me to see him regarding Aminah’s case. When I arrived there I was immediately arrested under S.506 of the Penal Code for Criminal intimidation.

46. I was then placed in the lock up and remanded for 5 days. On the third day I was released on police bail.

47. At the end of November 2006, the D9 department of the IPK sent a detective to my house to escort me to the IPK Jalan Hang Tuah. When I arrived, I was told I was being arrested under S.302 of the Penal Code for murder. I was put in the lock up and remanded for 7 days.

48. I was transported to Bukit Aman where I was interrogated and questioned about an SMS I had received from Abdul Razak Baginda on the 19.10.2006 which read “delay her until my man arrives”. They had apparently retrieved this message from Abdul Razak Baginda’s handphone.

49. They then proceeded to record my statement from 8.30 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. everyday for 7 consecutive days. I told them all I knew including everything Abdul Razak Baginda and Aminah had told me about their relationships with Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak but when I came to sign my statement, these details had been left out.

50. I have given evidence in the trial of Azilah, Sirul and Abdul Razak Baginda at the Shah Alam High Court. The prosecutor did not ask me any questions in respect of Aminah’s relationship with Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak or of the phone call I received from DSP Musa Safri, whom I believe was the ADC for Datuk Seri Najib Razak and/or his wife.

51. On the day Abdul Razak Baginda was arrested, I was with him at his lawyers office at 6.30 a.m. Abdul Razak Baginda informed us that he had sent Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak an SMS the evening before as he refused to believe he was to be arrested, but had not received a response.

52. Shortly thereafter, at about 7.30 a.m., Abdul Razak Baginda received an SMS from Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and showed, this message to both myself and his lawyer. This message read as follows :- “ I am seeing IGP at 11.00 a.m. today …… matter will be solved … be cool”.

53. I have been made to understand that Abdul Razak Baginda was arrested the same morning at his office in the Bangunan Getah Asli, Jalan Ampang.

54. The purpose of this Statutory declaration is to :-

54.1 State my disappointment at the standard of investigations conducted by the authorities into the circumstances surrounding the murder of Altantuya Shaaribuu.

54.2 Bring to the notice of the relevant authorities the strong possibility that there are individuals other than the 3 accused who must have played a role in the murder of Altantuya Shaaribuu.

54.3 Persuade the relevant authorities to reopen their investigations into this case immediately so that any fresh evidence may be presented to the Court prior to submissions at the end of the prosecutions case.

54.4 Emphasize the fact that having been a member of the Royal Malaysian Police Force for 17 years I am absolutely certain no police officer would shoot someone in the head and blow up their body without receiving specific instructions from their superiors first.

54.5. Express my concern that should the defence not be called in the said murder trial, the accused, Azilah and Sirul will not have to swear on oath and testify as to the instructions they received and from whom they were given.

55. And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same be true and by virtue of the provisions of the Statutory Declaration Act 1960.

SUBCRIBED and solemnly )

declared by the abovenamed )

Balasubramaniam a/l Perumal ]

this day of 2008 )

Before me,

………………………………….
Commissioner for Oath
Kuala Lumpur

Please read Rocky's Bru. HERE.

The Episode When Ezam Talks......

Or when he spills the beans on his one-time political idol, Anwar Ibrahim.

I can already guess what he'll say when he says it, judging by his remarks on Anwar yesterday.

Mohamed Ezam Mohd Nor, former Parti Keadilan Rakyat Youth chief, said he was not surprised by the latest (second) sodomy allegation against Anwar.

The allegation was personal and not politically-motivated as alleged by Anwar, he remarked.

He did not elaborate except to say that he had his reasons and that he would explain it at a suitable time.

Ezam declined to comment further because he did not want to shame people. And I suppose he meant Anwar or the alleged victim Saiful Bukhari Azlan and their families. Or Anwar alone.

He was quoted by Bernama as saying:

"I will not shame people, unless my honour is being challenged that I need to defend it and tell the truth."

Ezam, a former Anwar's confidant, said this at a Press conference at the Selangor Anti-Coruption Agency's office in Shah Alam yesterday. He was there over allegations of abuse of power by the office of the Selangor Menteri Besar.

Ezam quit PKR in June last year over misunderstandings and disagreements with another of Anwar's confidant, Azmin Ali. He is now back in Umno.

You can read the Bernama report HERE.

I suppose when Ezam does tell all....it won't be pretty.

I hope if he decides to pull the rug -- because I'm sure his "testimony" will be damning -- he will do so in all honesty and sincerity. I mean, we know where he is coming from. You cannot blame people if they doubt his story. You know, ex-confidant, ex-good friend....ex this and ex that. The credibility issue, you know what I mean?

But then again, if anyone knows Anwar (other than his wife and Azmin) very very well and intimately, it's Ezam.

By the way, Ezam - digressing a bit - whatever happened to all those files on corruption by the Barisan Nasional Govenment you compiled when you were chairman of the Movement for Democracy and Anti-Corruption (Gerak)?