Outgoing IGP 'let go' at Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin

FMT:

Hamid: Hamzah disebalik ‘surat keramat’ tahan pertukaran pegawai polis bermasalah

KUALA LUMPUR: Ketua Polis Negara Abdul Hamid Bador mendakwa Menteri Dalam Negeri Hamzah Zainudin di sebalik pengeluaran ‘surat keramat’ yang menahan pegawai kanan polis tertentu yang bermasalah ditukarkan.

Beliau berkata Hamzah bertindak “angkuh” dan mengabaikan tanggungjawabnya dalam menggalas jawatan sebagai pengerusi Suruhanjaya Pasukan Polis (SPP).

“Dengan bangganya, angkuhnya, (Hamzah berkata) ‘saya pengerusi SPP’. Apa yang dia buat? Tanyalah ahli-ahli (SPP) yang lain itu. Berapa banyak kes yang tersangkut di situ tak diambil kira. Berapa ramai orang ditahan kerja, belum ada keputusan.

“Yang penting, pada dia ialah pada hari itu, dia cuba nak membela, nak menangguhkan pertukaran yang telah saya tetapkan untuk memenuhi tradisi tindakan yang diambil oleh KPN-KPN sebelum ini.

“Apabila seseorang itu dikaitkan dengan satu-satu isu, maka tindakan yang terbaik sekali dibuat segera ialah pindahkan dia keluar daripada jabatan. Itu yang saya buat.

“Keluar pula surat keramat suruh menangguhkannya. Saya bukan kata dia bersalah atau tak bersalah. Saya serahkan kepada SPP,” kata Hamid.

Hamid berkata Hamzah bertindak menyekat dua pegawai atasan daripada dipindahkan, namun beliau menyanggah keputusan menteri itu.

“Saya hanya pindahkan keluar daripada 31 orang itu, 29 telah saya pindahkan. Yang lagi dua ini macam kenapa ‘special’ sangat? Dia tak bagi dipindahkan. Saya langgar juga. Saya keluar arahan: ‘Tukar!’,” kata beliau.

Hamid berkata beliau tidak tahu menahu Acryl Sani Abdullah akan menerima surat perlantikan sebagai KPN baharu daripada Hamzah sehingga pagi tadi.

Acryl Sani yang merupakan timbalan Hamid, menerima surat pelantikannya daripada Hamzah hari ini.

Pada sidang media terakhirnya selaku KPN, Hamid berkata beliau agak terkejut kerana berpandangan surat pelantikan itu boleh diserahkan Isnin depan, sehari sebelum beliau (Hamid) bersara secara rasmi.

“Pagi tadi saya diberitahu. Saya fikirkan ia boleh dilakukan Isnin depan tapi mereka mahu percepatkan. Mana lah tahu ada orang potong jalan ke kan? Bahaya sekarang ini. Dia bawa mesin pengorek buat jalan baru ke?” kata beliau tanpa mengulas lanjut.

Hamid sebelum ini mendakwa Hamzah campurtangan dalam urusan polis bersabit pelantikan pegawai atasan. Beliau kesal kerana SPP yang dipengerusikan Hamzah dicemari dengan unsur politik.

Hamid berkata beliau tidak bercadang mencabar pelantikan Acryl Sani sebagai KPN, dan mahu bersara sebagaimana yang ditetapkan.

“Itu pilihan kerajaan. Jadi saya sokong. Namanya pun saya juga cadangkan untuk mengambil alih. Insya-Allah (dia) boleh (jalankan tanggungjawab). Kalau tak boleh, tanggungjawab anda semua untuk buat teguran,” Hamid memberitahu pemberita.

Hamid mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Dr Mahathir Mohamad dan Muhyiddin Yassin kerana memberinya peluang untuk menjadi KPN.

The uncaring and unjust PAS government

finance-twitter:

Burger & Rojak Sellers Slapped With RM50000 Fine – That’s What You Get For Voting PAS And Supporting A Backdoor Government

In the 2018 General Election, UMNO-led Barisan Nasional (BN) won only 8 state seats while PAS grabbed a whopping 37 seats in Kelantan. Opposition Pakatan Harapan was totally wiped out. After learning that PAS had won big, Mohd Hafeez, a 42-year-old diehard Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) supporter kissed the ground and said – “God is great, the people have spoken.”

Ahmad Saifuddin, a voter from Kelantan’s capital Kota Bharu, revealed that he voted for PAS because it was his responsibility to do so as a Muslim. The undergraduate from Kuala Lumpur said – “My family has been PAS supporters for generations. We were brought up with PAS Muslim values. I was never tempted by BN’s promises of so called economic development.”

Meanwhile, Nur Fatimah, a rice farmer in Kelantan, complained about rising cost of living, the factor that made her to change her mind. She said – “Milk powder for my children has doubled in the countryside. I have to work doubly hard so that we can pay our rent. I’m just sick of it”. Indeed, the state of Kelantan has been governed by the Islamist party for decades.



Even though PAS failed to form the federal government in the May 2018 General Election, the party eventually joined forces with bitter enemy UMNO to form a national cooperation in Sept 2019, which was glorified as “Muafakat Nasional” under the pretext of Malay-unity. Subsequently, in March 2020, both parties conspired with traitors Muhyiddin Yassin and Azmin Ali to launch a coup.

The legitimately and democratically elected multiracial Pakatan Harapan coalition was toppled as a result of the coup. Since March 2020, a Malay-Muslim government called Perikatan Nasional has been ruling not only at the federal level, but also at the state level in Kelantan through the UMNO-PAS-Bersatu alliance, all of which are Malay-based political parties.

So when a burger seller was slapped with a RM50,000 fine on Sunday (April 25) for violating the movement control order (MCO), it raises an interesting question. Have PAS hardcore supporters like Mohd Hafeez, Ahmad Saifuddin and Nur Fatimah been taken for a ride after fellow Kelantanese were being victimised by the same party that they had voted for?



The burger seller, 38-year-old Wan Mohd Faisal Wan Kadir, had nowhere to express his frustration, but the social media, where he complained how the authorities slapped him with the maximum penalty of RM50,000 for operating his burger stall which he set up in front of his house at around 11pm. But he said there were no customers at the stall when several policemen approached him.

Wan Mohd Faisal, who had been slapped with a RM1,000 compound previously for the same offence, argued – “I have folded the tables, but haven’t closed the stall as I was preparing orders for factory workers. Many of my customers buy my burgers after 9pm. I hope the authorities can reduce the amount because I cannot afford to pay as I only sell burgers”.

However, Kota Baru district police chief ACP Abdul Rahim Daud said besides operating beyond 10pm restriction, the burger seller also violated the standard operating procedure (SOP) by setting up tables for customers and failing to provide a body temperature scanner. The police chief said – “Due to the offences, we issued the maximum compound of RM50,000. However, he can appeal”.



In what appeared to be yet another flip-flop and confusion, de-facto Law Minister Takiyuddin Hassan stunningly said on Tuesday (April 27) that the maximum fine for business operators exceeding their permissible operating hours was RM10,000. He said – “Offenders are given a 50% discount if they pay off the compound notice within 7 days and 25% if paid within a period of 14 days”.

Obviously someone has lied, either due to incompetence or a desperate political damage control. Was Minister Takiyuddin trying to say the police was not only incompetent, but also had wrongly and illegally issued the RM50,000 compound to the burger seller? But from where did the district police chief gets his SOP guidance and penalty rates, if not from the backdoor government itself?

Known as one of the most corrupt institutions, it’s hard to believe that the Royal Malaysia Police is insensitive to numbers and can’t differentiate between RM10,000 and RM50,000. If indeed the Kelantan police had misinterpreted the law, the police officers involved should at least be demoted, if not fired. Otherwise, Takiyuddin should be held responsible for creating a bad image for the police force.



Make no mistake. Mr Takiyuddin, the Secretary-General of PAS Islamist party since 2015, is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kota Bharu since May 2013. Therefore, it’s not a coincidence that he was forced to come forward to fix the fiasco because the burger seller happens to be from Kampung Rambutan Rendang, a village located in Kota Bharu.

Hilariously, the burger seller was not the only one being victimized by the clueless and incompetent Malay-centric government. Now, a rojak seller in Kota Bharu has stepped forward to complain that he too had received a similar fine. In total, there were at least three stall operators in Kelantan who had hit the RM50,000 compound jackpots.

The rojak seller, 42-year-old Mohd Azizi Mohd Nor, said – “I was shocked when I saw the amount. To even get RM100 every night selling rojak is hard because I am only operating in a kampung (village) area. When the police came, my shop was already closed at 10pm, with most of the lights turned off. Only the kitchen was still open because my wife and I were still cleaning up”.



Mohd Azizi complained that it would still be too expensive, even if the compound is reduced to RM10,000. The Kelantanese said he would rather go to prison if push comes to shove – “This is the first time I’ve been issued a compound, but it was already RM50,000. I work as a mechanic besides helping my wife sells noodles on regular days”.

However, another minister, Defense Minister cum Senior Minister “Turtle Egg” Ismail Sabri said the RM50,000 fine was supposed to be for companies – suggesting there are double standards for business owners. His statement means RM10,000 compounds are for small business owners like the burger or rojak seller, while RM50,000 penalty is for large corporations.

It’s true that both burger and rojak sellers might have violated the SOP and must be punished. But the authorities should be smart enough to know that there’s no way the stall owners could afford to pay the massive fines. Assuming the rojak seller could make RM100 profit a day, he would need to work for free for the next 500 days to pay the RM50,000 compound. Why can’t a warning be issued first?



It also appears that the authorities have two sets of rules when comes to fairness and compassion. Exactly why the police were so firm and strict with the burger and rojak seller when some ministers were not punished at all despite repetitively breaching and violating the MCO lockdown rules? For example, Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa had violated the SOPs multiple times but was never fined, let alone arrested.

Dozens of ministers, including Annuar Musa, Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, Higher Education Minister Noraini Ahmad and Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin had breached the MCO rules by travelling interstate to attend the wedding reception of the daughter of Jelebu MP Jalaluddin Alias in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, on March 14.

Isn’t this a classic example of how a Malay government screws fellow Malay burger and rojak sellers, but closed an eye when Malay ministers themselves had violated the rules? And exactly where is the PAS’ fake holy man – President Abdul Hadi Awang – when Kelantan Malay-Muslims were being targeted by unfair and uncompassionate Malay authorities?



Arguably, Hadi Awang and his extremist PAS minions are worse than suicide bombers for causing unnecessary hardship and more damage to fellow Muslims’ struggle to make ends meet during the holy month of Ramadan. All the PAS lawmakers, along with UMNO and Bersatu ministers for that matter, cannot point fingers at Chinese DAP now because it’s a Malay-Muslim government who runs the show.

In the same breath, where is the “Malay first” Prime Minister Mahiaddin Yassin when Malay stall owners need him the most for justice? PAS gullible supporters had been scammed for rejecting the corrupt and evil UMNO in favour of PAS when leaders from both parties eventually hugged and kissed each other in 2019. Ignorant supporters had also been tricked with the so-called PAS Muslim values.

PAS Muslim values have always been to firstly reward its top leaders with fat salaries and big cars, especially Mercedes Benz. Blind PAS supporters, to their horror, also finds chicken prices have skyrocketed under the Perikatan Nasional government, a similar economic mishandling during the previous Barisan Nasional government where milk powder hit the roof. You deserve the government you voted for.

Stop commenting on Ganapathy’s death or risk prosecution, Gombak police chief warns

MM Online:

Stop commenting on Ganapathy’s death or risk prosecution, Gombak police chief warns public

Gombak district police chief ACP Arifai Tarawe urged the public not to make baseless comments and racialise the whole situation as it may hamper investigations, amid the rise of the hashtag #JusticeForGanapathy.

— Picture by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR, Apr 30 — Gombak district police chief Arifai Tarawe has warned the public today against commenting, making videos and posting them on social media regarding the death of A. Ganapathy.

He urged the public not to make baseless comments and racialise the whole situation as it may hamper investigations, amid the rise of the hashtag #JusticeForGanapathy.

A.Ganapathy

“If you want to do it, quote someone with authority,” said Arifai today during a press conference at Gombak police headquarters.

“If you still want to do it then don’t do it in a way that will make people angry, worried or annoyed. This is not a racial issue.

“They will be prosecuted by law if they persist,” he added.

Arifai revealed today that police are currently investigating allegations that Ganapathy was beaten while in custody.

He said they found traces of methamphetamine in his blood and that prior to being taken into custody he already had health issues, particularly an ankle injury to his right leg.

While in hospital, Ganapathy’s leg contracted necrotising fasciits and he suffered from breathing difficulties. That leg was eventually amputated on the morning of March 9 and Ganapathy passed away on April 18.

Since then, Malaysians have been in an uproar over his death, claiming once again that police brutality led to another innocent man dead while in custody.

They also pointed out how ethnic Indians are disproportionately found dead in police custody.

Many expressed their feelings over the injustice on social media including Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman on TikTok.

Is PN govt "hoping" pandemic will surge, so parliament (non-capitalised 'p') will remain suspended?

FMT:

Will Putrajaya use surge in Covid-19 cases to extend emergency?

University students have been allowed to return to their hometowns for Hari Raya, sparking fears this will cause a spike in Covid-19 cases.

PETALING JAYA: Two opposition figures have warned that the government may use the surge in Covid-19 numbers to extend the emergency beyond August and maintain the suspension of Parliament.

Klang MP Charles Santiago of DAP said the government might take the opportunity to push a new parliamentary sitting to the end of the year “or even next year”, and PKR deputy information chief G Manivannan said there was an urgent need to tighten standard operating procedures (SOPs).

They also criticised Putrajaya’s decision to allow university students to return to their hometowns for Hari Raya festivities, saying this might add to the surge in the number of Covid-19 infections.

“They may take home the virus or bring it back with them to their universities,” Santiago said.

The government might then say the fight against Covid-19 was not over and might extend the emergency, he said.

“This means the 2022 federal budget and the 12th Malaysia Plan may not be debated.”

Manivannan pointed to statements by medical experts about the likelihood of infection numbers going up if students were to travel to their home states.

“By right, when the numbers are up, the government should be tightening the SOPs,” he said.

He added that the public could expect the emergency to be prolonged.

Yesterday, Malaysia recorded 3,332 Covid-19 cases. Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah warned weeks ago that weak compliance with SOPs might see infections hitting 5,000 by the end of May.

Civil rights lawyer Fahri Azzat said he hoped Putrajaya would not take advantage of the situation to extend the emergency.

He agreed with Santiago and Manivannan that Covid-19 cases might rise with students going home and that this would give the government an excuse to extend the emergency.

He said Putrajaya should not make “short-sighted decisions” to quell public anger over its double standards in enforcing SOPs.

He noted the anger expressed on social media after celebrity Noor Neelofa Mohd Noor and her family were allowed to travel to Langkawi from Kuala Lumpur.

Covid-19 at Popular Penang ‘nasi kandar’ eatery

MM Online:

Popular Penang ‘nasi kandar’ eatery ordered to close after employees test positive for Covid-19

A sign on social distancing is seen at Restoran Nasi Kandar Kayu, Jalan Todak, Penang on May 5, 2020. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin

GEORGE TOWN, April 30 — A Penang restaurant famous for its nasi kandar has been ordered to close for sanitisation works after some of its employees tested positive for Covid-19.

The Penang Kayu nasi kandar restaurant in Bukit Jambul here was issued a notice of closure dated April 29.

According to a spokesman from the state Health Department, around three employees had tested positive for Covid-19.

He said the other employees will have to undergo swab tests and be placed under quarantine for a minimum of 10 days.

It is likely that the 24-hour restaurant will be closed for the 10-day duration.

The nasi kandar shop, which was opened in the 1970s by a group of Penangites, has 10 branches in Kuala Lumpur and an outlet in Melaka.

Over the past week, dozens of schools in Penang have been closed while some have reverted to online learning due to Covid-19 infections among students.

As at April 27, Penang has an estimated R-naught of 0.99, among the lowest in the country while the national R-naught was 1.12.

At present, Penang has 15 active clusters in which eight involve the manufacturing

Mystery of the missing 150,000 laptops

Focus Malaysia:

Mystery of the 150,000 laptops solved, but why the slow delivery?

The Opposition has finally gotten an answer to one of the greatest ‘mysteries’ of all time: An update on the 150,000 laptops that had been promised to students from low-income families.

The laptops were previously announced by Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz during his 2021 Budget presentation back in November 2020.

The laptops were supposed to be distributed to primary and secondary school students in February 2021 to help them attend online classes.

February came and went, students have physically returned to school, but the laptops were nowhere in sight…until recently, that is.

Yayasan Hasanah, the government-appointed secretariat of the CERDIK initiative, recently announced that 13,000 laptops have already been distributed to state education departments by government-linked companies (GLCs) and government-linked investment companies (GLICs).

Of the total, over 1,000 students have received their devices so far. Based on the current supply chain capacity, CERDIK is targeting at least 50,000 students to receive their devices by end-May, with the balance expected to be distributed by end-September 2021.

But why the slow delivery?

With an increasing number of places being placed under the enhanced movement control order (MCO) due to rising COVID-19 cases, B40 students from the areas are once again forced to deal with issues concerning the Teaching and Learning at Home (PdPR).

Adding to this is the Education Ministry’s recent announcement that PdPR for all schools in Malaysia will be conducted for two weeks after the Hari Raya Aidilfitri break.

According to its minister, this is to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission that could happen outside school during the festive season.

Well, guess what? This is also two more weeks without the necessary gadgets that are meant to facilitate the online learning process. In case you didn’t already know this, PdPR is meaningless if the students do not have the necessary devices to study.

What were the students from B40 groups supposed to do until they get their devices in September? This is assuming, of course, that there will not be another mysterious delay.

In addition to expediting the installation of internet infrastructure in rural areas, the Government and the corresponding ministries must step up and expedite the delivery of the rest of the laptops to students.

After all, it is only right that all students be given a fair chance when it comes to education. – April 29, 2021

DAP 'devil' tells how he shed horns in Malay heartland

Malaysiakini:

DAP 'devil' tells how he shed horns in Malay heartland

Yeo Tung Siong believes that DAP can win over the hearts and minds of Malay voters without being accused of degrading itself in the process.

In an interview with Malaysiakini, the Pekan Nanas assemblyperson recalled his personal experience with regard to Malay constituents when he first contested the Johor state seat eight years ago.

Yeo, a teacher-turned-politician, said his campaign material, which included banners of DAP's top leaders, were defaced with “horns and fangs” during the 2013 general election.

"The banners either disappeared or were vandalised.

“They were defaced with devil horns and fangs. The narrative was DAP is evil," he said, adding that those images still remain fresh in his mind.

On his campaign trail at a Malay kampung, Yeo (above) said a villager chided him for turning up only during an election to hoodwink people into supporting DAP.

Against all odds, he managed to unseat MCA, which controlled the seat since it was created in 2004. Yeo secured 53 percent of the votes in the Chinese-majority mixed constituency, winning with 2,669 votes.

At the time, Pekan Nanas comprised 58 percent Chinese voters while Malay voters were 39 percent of the total electorate.

However, the redelineation exercise prior to the 2018 general election turned Pekan Nanas into a Malay-majority mixed seat with 54 percent Malay voters. Chinese voters comprised 45 percent while Indian voters stood at one percent.

Pekan Nanas assemblyperson Yeo Tung Siong distributing aid.

Despite this, Yeo managed to retain the seat with a majority of 1,308 votes. He secured 52 percent of the votes in Pekan Nanas.

The Malay votes for him also increased to more than 25 percent.

Dispel animosity to win their trust

Commenting on the change in mindset, Yeo attributed it to his hard work on the ground.

"Over time, they (Malay voters) were willing to speak with me.

“This year, I attended the funeral of a Foodpanda delivery person who died in an accident. His father spoke of his son's last wish, which was to repaint the main entrance to the kampung.

“So we participated in a gotong-royong to repaint the structure.

"The father is an Umno member. But no matter who the person is, a relationship can be built when people communicate with each other. This dismantles any suspicion,” he added.

Citing another example, Yeo said he learned that a Malay stall operator's wife was diagnosed with cancer and highlighted the matter on social media.

“When I went to a stall later, I bumped into the operator's nephew from Johor Bahru, who told me he learned of his aunt's ailment from my Facebook post,” he added.

According to Yeo, it is crucial to dispel any animosity before earning the trust of Malay voters.

"If the constituents harbour hostility (towards DAP), it will be useless even if you distribute 10 million leaflets. You will not make any progress even if you struggle for half a century.

"In the past few years, I have been to many places, the people I meet invite me into their homes and serve me drinks.

“They may not vote for you but at least they are no longer hostile (towards a DAP politician),” he added.

Supports 'blue ocean' strategy

Yeo said DAP, which is witnessing an internal debate after Sungai Pelek assemblyperson Ronnie Liu remarked that it should protect its "Chineseness", should increase its efforts to gain the support of the Malay community.

Sungai Pelek assemblyperson Ronnie Liu.

"I agree with the direction of the party's 'blue ocean' strategy, given the demography of the population.

“Many of the Chinese-majority seats will be transformed into mixed seats in 10 years or even to Malay-majority seats in 20 years.

"Without joining the 'blue ocean' and understanding the pulse of Malay voters, DAP will decline over time.

"The Malay electorate has been DAP's weakest spot over the decades, we must overcome this. You can talk about 'Hua Sha' (Chinese chauvinists) and 'Ying Sha' (English chauvinists), but my feeling is that the Malay community focuses on what the politicians are doing," he added.

Yeo also said he disagreed with DAP's practice of fielding “parachute candidates” during elections.

"If the situation permits such as when there is a political wave (of change) in the 2013 and 2018 polls, then it is understandable if you want to send more good candidates into Parliament or state assemblies.

"But when the situation is not favourable and the candidates are not winnable, the person must work hard for a long time (to overcome the odds)... Will a 'parachute candidate' be able to stay on to complete this task?

“How will the grassroots perceive this? Will they think that these candidates only appear during elections and disappear after?” he added.

Calling on the DAP leadership to exercise caution on this issue, Yeo said such scenarios would frustrate both the voters and the grassroots, leading to disputes.

In the 2013 general election, DAP heavyweights like Lim Kit Siang, Liew Chin Tong and Teo Nie Ching moved from their original parliamentary constituencies in other states to contest in Johor. All three won.

In 2018, Liew, who is also Johor DAP chief, moved again. This time from Kluang to contest against MCA president Wee Ka Siong in Ayer Hitam. Liew lost by a narrow margin of 303 votes.

Yeo, who is also Johor DAP assistant organising secretary, is seen as belonging to another camp that opposes Liew, who is speculated to face a challenge in the May 2 state party polls.

The 'Atuk'-risation of electronic "evidence" in criminal proceedings

FMT:

It’s me in leaked audio recording, confirms Hamzah

Home minister Hamzah Zainudin says he is the man in a leaked audio recording discussing the police force.

PETALING JAYA: Home minister Hamzah Zainudin has confirmed it is his voice in a leaked audio recording of a man talking about the reshuffle in the police force.

At a press conference today, Hamzah insisted he had not done anything wrong when talking about promotions and the change of roles in the police force.

However, he said the act of taping other people’s conversations is an offence.

*********

MM Online (05 Mar 2020):

SRC trial: MACC chief reveals deputy’s aide first to obtain Najib’s phone recording

MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya is pictured at the Kuala Lumpur High Court March 5, 2020. ― Picture by Hari Anggara

KUALA LUMPUR, March 5 — Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Latheefa Koya told the High Court today a special officer to her deputy was the first person who obtained the nine audio tapes which showed an alleged cover-up surrounding the 1MDB investigation back in 2016.

Testifying as the 12th defence witness in Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s RM42 million SRC International Sdn Bhd corruption trial today, Latheefa was earlier asked to outline the chronology of events leading up to the January 8 press conference which subsequently resulted in the bombshell revelation of recordings that she claimed shows a conspiracy at the highest level of the then Barisan Nasional (BN) government.

She was subpoenaed by Najib’s defence team as they wanted to admit the audio recordings in court to support their case.

Under examination-in-chief by Najib’s lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Latheefa testified that she discovered the existence of the tape recordings the week before her scheduled press conference after being approached by MACC deputy commissioner Datuk Seri Azam Baki.

Muhammad Shafee: When did you discover the existence of the tape recordings?

Latheefa: On Friday, January 3, a week before I had a press conference on January 8, I was approached by Azam in MACC Putrajaya who informed me he had received a package which contained a couple of thumb drives, nine of them.

Latheefa: He said he received it from his special officer who got it from his house. Immediately, I directed Azam to organise for a team to look into the documents in there.

Muhammad Shafee: When he came to see you, did he bring the package?

Latheefa: No.

When asked for her reaction, Latheefa said she asked Azam what he knew as she did not know whether it was an audio or video recording at the time.

She then told the court Azam’s special officer had received the nine thumb drives along with a piece of paper detailing the recordings’ narrative placed inside an envelope on the morning of January 3.

Following that, Latheefa said the MACC’s technical team worked through the weekend of January 4 and 5 to preserve the contents of the recordings by making copies, before deciding to make them public on January 8.

“The main basis is the shocking revelation of covering up and fabricating evidence and involvement of individuals who were not supposed to be,” she said.

Muhammad Shafee then asked her what the MACC did next to determine the authenticity of the recordings.

Latheefa: On Monday (January 6) I met up with the team in the morning to discuss and look at documents. I was told this is an audio recording and it has got various dates and involved certain personalities.

We started playing the recordings and we found out the content of those recordings is discussing about certain files involving certain personalities. When it was being played, my deputy, the head of MACC’s Anti-Money Laundering Division, and few others were able to recognise the identities of the people speaking.

It was a very clear recording. We were able to identify who and recognise what they were talking about. Based on the contents, we were able to confirm this was authentic.

Muhammad Shafee: By the 8th, had you made a clinical determination that these tape recordings have not been tampered?

Latheefa: The nature of conversation doesn’t look like it was cut, so we don’t see any possibility of it being a fake. The other reason, we were listening to the conversation and we double checked the events that happened before and after, and these dates commensurate the dates of the recording.

*********

kt notes:

First, let us remind ourselves of Hamzah's assertion that the act of taping other people’s conversations is an offence.

Second, Latheefa Koya presented to the court a series of recorded conversations of allegedly the then-PM. Offence? National security concerns? Obviously not as the judge allowed that. 'Atuk'-rised?

Thirdly, Latheefa informed the court that her officer had received the nine thumb drives along with a piece of paper detailing the recordings’ narrative placed inside an envelope on the morning of January 3. Any security concern of the surreptitious nature of the acquisition? Obviously none - Najib must be eff-ed kaukau.

Fourthly, any verification of the recordings a la the alleged gay sex clips of a minister frolicking in gay abandonment at a Sandakan Hotel? Again, none. Latheefa said: my deputy, the head of MACC’s Anti-Money Laundering Division, and few others were able to recognise the identities of the people speaking. Wow. Recall how the authenticity of the gay sex clip was dismissed by Atuk even before the police had a chance to assess its veracity?

ST (Sing): I believe sex video is fake, says Mahathir

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad remarked that technology allows many things to be fabricated.

PHOTO: AFP

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has said he believes a sex video involving one of his senior Cabinet ministers is fake, remarking that technology would even allow such images of him to be fabricated.

"I do not believe this is genuine. Nowadays, we can do a lot of things with videos and pictures if we are good at it," he told reporters at an event in Shah Alam on Wednesday (June 12) night, according to Malaysiakini.

“Perhaps one day you will see my picture in this kind of production."

Economic Affairs Minister Azmin Ali had on Wednesday evening categorically denied he was one of the men in a series of videos leaked the day before. An aide of a deputy minister had earlier put up a separate video on Facebook saying and he and Mr Azmin were the men in the clips.

Lastly, the court accepted those recordings, even though then-PM Mahathir said "Nowadays, we can do a lot of things with videos and pictures if we are good at it" let alone audio recordings. Amazing.

The 'Atuk'-risation of criminal proceedings clearly seen in the 'Gay Sex' video clips and the 'then-PM' audio recordings.

End-note: 'Atuk'-risation means eff-all that's fair and standard, no standard established rule need to be applied, but new created rules and standards could do [such as carrying Anwar's alleged mattress' into court]. Wakakaka.

Dei Kamarul Zaman Yusoff, Dengki ke?

FMT:

UUM must investigate lecturer for stoking religious tensions, says Anwar

Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim is seen here helping the Malay youth who was using a bicycle to make food deliveries. (Steven Sim Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) must launch an investigation into controversial lecturer Kamarul Zaman Yusoff for allegedly stoking religious tensions in comments made about a DAP MP.

Kamarul Zaman Yusoff

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim’s assistance to a Malay youth who was facing some tough times had been “made an issue” by the academic.

Sim had presented the youth, who is a food delivery rider, with a motorcycle after finding out he was using a borrowed bicycle to get by.

Kamarul then accused Sim of “Christianisation” and warned Malay-Muslims against accepting help from “Christian evangelists”.

During a speech at an Iftar event in Bangi today, the Pakatan Harapan chairman questioned why an act of kindness had become such an issue, and called for an internal investigation by the university into the lecturer’s comments and actions.

“Why was it such a big issue. There were no problems, but it became a big issue because he (Sim) helped a Malay person,” Anwar said.

He said that regardless of race, it is an elected representative’s job to help those who are struggling.

Anwar also criticised the “weak and slow” leadership in the country for allowing issues that inflame racial and religious tensions to go unchecked.

Following his comments about Sim, Kamarul received massive backlash with netizens visiting UUM’s Nuzul Al-Quran post on social media to call for him to be sacked.

Former New Straits Times Press group editor-in-chief A Kadir Jasin was one of those who left a comment, saying that Kamarul did not live up to public expectations of an academic.

“We encourage intellectuals to write and be expressive based on knowledge and not to look for cheap publicity by making statements that are shallow, partisan and insulting to the point of being subjected to legal actions repeatedly.

“I hope this episode of ‘seekor kerbau membawa lumpur habis sekandang terpalit’ (troublemaker or rotten apple) can be removed once and for all,” he wrote.

Why is little Tawau redder than the 'reds' in peninsula

FMT:

Why is little Tawau redder than red in peninsula, asks Sabah NGO

Tawau police chief Peter Umbuas speaking to the residents of Kampung Baru Pasir Putih who gathered for a peaceful protest on Tuesday night. (Tawau police pic)

KOTA KINABALU: Tawau is a red zone, but so are Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. Yet, Tawau is under MCO while the other two are under conditional MCO – and the residents in the rural town are seeing red about this.

Sabah Human Rights Centre chairman Sherzali Asli said the government must understand that economic opportunities in the state’s east coast district are fewer than in the peninsula, given the huge differences in economic robustness.

However, he said the rules imposed in rural Tawau were much stricter compared to that in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur which are comparatively much denser and complex urban centres.

kt notes: Wakakaka, but above highlighted comparatives are DOUBLED - not good English. Should have been 'much strict' or just 'stricter', and 'much dense' or 'denser'. Look for more in article, wakakaka.

“Businesses (in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor) are allowed to stay open till midnight and the public is allowed to dine in at eateries albeit with SOPs,” he told FMT.

Sherzali Asli.

“Indeed, certain retailers selling Hari Raya-themed clothes and items are even allowed to open till 2am.

“This clearly shows a blatant lack of trust towards Tawau, which is less urbanised and has a much smaller population than Selangor and KL.

“Tawau and the many localities under the enhanced MCO should not be treated like adopted children as far as the imposition of SOPs for a red zone is concerned.

“People in Sabah, in particular, Tawau, are desperate and the government should not use the same framework used in the peninsula here and expect it to work.”

As a consequence, Sherzali said two Tawau villages have held demonstrations after the EMCO at their localities were extended. Traders have also voiced out against the lack of business opportunities as a result of these strict guidelines.

The villages in question are Kampung Muhibbah Raya and Kampung Baru Pasir Putih.

However, the Sabah government ended the EMCO at the second village yesterday after protests there.

He said the government must give the residents of Tawau and the many localities under EMCO some freedom to conduct their businesses, with appropriate SOPs to allow them to survive in these trying times.

“The government needs to handle the situation from a humanitarian and realistic angle.

Yes, the virus can kill you but so will starvation.

“Impose the necessary restrictions if you must but not to the extent that the people in Tawau, in particular the localities under EMCO, are increasingly deprived of their right to earn,” he said.

Sarifuddin Hatta.

Warisan’s Merotai assemblyman Sarifuddin Hatta agreed with calls by Tawau food traders recently for the government to allow dine-ins even if the district is under MCO. The MCO is scheduled to end tomorrow.

Sarifuddin said he had met vendors who had been doing business without a proper trading licence in order to survive.

“These traders have been fined many times by the local authorities for selling their items without a permit but they don’t mind so long as they are able to earn some cash,” he told FMT.

“They have been selling items ranging from coconuts to chicken wings and nasi kuning by the roadside to feed their families.

“Many of them held proper jobs before. Now they have turned to these businesses to survive.”

Sarifuddin said the government should allow businesses to run as usual even if the MCO is extended but with stricter SOPs in place.

“Give the warongs a chance but, of course, they must follow the SOPs. If they don’t, then issue the appropriate fines for the violations they commit.

“I’m sure they are aware of the rules and understand they will be punished for flouting them.

“They will accept tighter SOPs as long as it they get an opportunity to earn some vital income,” he said.

Sarifuddin said the people will not expect handouts from the government if they could work to survive.

“But if you stop their business activities and don’t give them the necessary aid, then many problems will arise.”

***

kt notes:

Dei, mana CM Sabah? Jangan diam2 dan makan gaji-buta saje!

Non-capitalised 'g' please when praying to god for Pak Hadi's swift recovery

Malaysiakini:

Hadi undergoing follow-up treatment at IJN

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has been admitted to the National Heart Institute for follow-up treatment.

He was previously warded at the institute on Feb 15 after suffering from shortness of breath.

"Hadi is currently undergoing follow-up treatment at IJN, on the doctor's advice, for several days," said the Marang MP's political secretary Syahir Sulaiman on Facebook last night.

He called for the people to pray for the PAS president's wellbeing.

***

kt notes:

Indeed, let us all pray for Pak Hadi's swift recovery. However we should only beseech our lord god, with the non-capitalised 'g'.

China to USA: We are rice eaters lah, not hot dogs gobblers

FMT:

Stop imposing democratic ideals on us, China warns US

BEIJING: China warned the US today against imposing its democratic ideals, while criticising trade sanctions and military moves in Beijing’s backyard just hours after President Biden’s speech on American geopolitical priorities.

The remarks came after Biden’s first address to Congress, in which the US leader placed a renewed focus on diplomacy and said the country was in competition with China and others to win the 21st century.

Biden added that “autocrats think democracies can’t compete”, while noting the US welcomes competition and is not looking for conflict.

Asked about the speech, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said it was normal for the US and China to compete in some areas.

“But this kind of competition should be a track and field race, not a duel to the death,” he told a regular press briefing on Thursday.

Wang also warned that “forcing other countries to accept one’s democratic system… will only create divisions, intensify tension, and undermine stability”.

In his speech, President Biden also said the US would stand up to unfair trade practices such as subsidies for state-owned enterprises and intellectual property theft.

But China lashed out a day later at the US for “violating the market principle of fair competition” and “politicising” issues such as the economy, trade and technology, in reference to the trade war between both countries in recent years.

“China is committed to developing a relationship with the US based on non-conflict and non-confrontation,” Wang said.

While Biden said he told Chinese President Xi Jinping the US would maintain a strong military presence in the Indo-Pacific to prevent conflict – just as it did with Nato in Europe – China highlighted issues with US deployments in the region.

China’s defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian added in a separate statement Thursday that, since the inauguration of the current US government, the frequency of US warships sent to China’s maritime territory increased by 20% from last year.

The frequency of reconnaissance aircraft activity in the region also increased by 40%, Wu added, saying that China “resolutely opposes this”.

“The US frequently sends warships and planes to carry out activities in maritime waters and airspace near China, advancing regional militarisation and threatening regional peace and stability,” he said.

Sedition probe against Fahmi Reza result of broken Harapan promise - PH was no better than those it criticise[d/s]

Malaysiakini:

Sedition probe against Fahmi Reza result of broken Harapan promise

by S Thayaparan

"In fact, they were all justifying the use of the Sedition Act and now we pay the same price again.”

- Former Malaysian Bar president K Ragunath

COMMENT | When I see all these activists chanting “Free Fahmi” and “Political satire is not a crime”, all I can do is shrug. Well, yeah kids, it is a crime here in Malaysia and you know that when Pakatan Harapan had a chance to ditch such laws, they chose not to.

It is convenient to blame the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government for problems this country faces, but when Harapan promised solutions to these problems, they never delivered. As always, blame-shifting and deflection will define how Harapan handles issues like these.

It is pointless laying the blame on PN because, ultimately, it was Harapan’s responsibility to repeal these laws because, for the Malay uber alles government, sedition laws were always tools in their box of dirty tricks.

Not only did Harapan throw free speech advocates under the bus, never mind the citizens of Malaysia, who think that such issues are important, they were toying with the idea of ditching the sedition law, but replacing it with another. One form of repression for another. Is this the best Harapan has to offer?

When Ronnie Liu was hauled up by the then Harapan state under sedition laws for posting pictures of Thais protesting against the Thai monarchy, you have to wonder, if Harapan could have prevented this by repealing such laws.

But wait, under Harapan, a woman’s march was investigated under sedition laws, then there was the preacher Wan Ji Wan Hussin and of course who could forget the persecution of Fadiah Nadwa Fikri.

Preacher Wan Ji Wan Hussin

Keep in mind that these are the stories that made the news cycles. Meanwhile, the Harapan state was also considering laws that would make news portals responsible for readers comments, which was taking the stifling freedom of speech to a whole new level.

You better believe that these issues are important to me because, in countless pieces, I have been warning that these laws that Harapan chooses to waffle on will come back and bite them on their behinds, but more importantly, the average rakyat who does not have the luxury of being politically connected, or have a social media presence, will feel the full brunt of these laws when speaking up on issues that affect every Malaysian.

These laws are enacted to muzzle the public but, more importantly, are vital tools in the “fear box” to remind the public that whatever they say or do against the state is always under scrutiny.

You can never tell what you say or do is seditious or illegal because these laws are there for the convenience of the ruling elite, rather than any kind of traditional normative values or reasoning of a functional democracy.

So, of course, when Harapan was in power, there was all this waffling because suddenly they realised that having these instruments makes it easier to restrict dissent. This is why the world's smallest violin was playing – at least in my mind – when Amanah vice-president Mujahid Yusof Rawa questioned why he was being investigated under the Sedition Act for questioning the legitimacy of the current prime minister.

kt notes: When someone is whining and you are tired of hearing it, you can play the world's smallest violin to provide musical ambiance to dramatize their annoying whine. This is accomplished by rubbing your index finger and thumb together and saying, "This is the world's smallest violin, and it's playing just for you."

Lawyer Syahredzan Johan, who is also the political secretary to Lim Kit Siang, said in 2015: "We are saying that we have certain principles that we adhere to as a democracy. Freedom of speech and expression is part of our DNA, so we hold on to these values. If we don't say something because we are afraid they will come after us, then we are saying that these values are not that important to us. Do we want to be the kind of society that allows the authorities to do as they please because we fear getting into trouble?”

To be fair to Syahredzan, he was always on the side that wanted these laws abolished and he was sceptical of tinkering with them.

Lawyer Syahredzan Johan

However, the reality is these laws were used on the opposition and activists for years and those same people who felt the oppression of these laws chose instead to commit to some sort of political pacts with fascists instead of their commitment to repealing such laws.

When P Waytha Moorthy, then minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said this in 2019 – "However, I do agree that there are elements within the Sedition Act which should remain, which I believe may be applied in the Penal Code and so on." – you have to wonder exactly what other pernicious laws that Harapan political operatives thought beneficial to them when they were in charge.

This would make their rejection of these laws hypocritical because when in power they suddenly see the benefit of such instruments, just not when the other party uses these laws.

Of course in typical wonky Harapan thinking, RSN Rayer (Harapan-Jelutong) said this: "Is there a proposal, before repealing the Sedition Act, to enact a new law that keeps the aspiration of the Sedition Act while ensuring that it cannot be abused?" This is absurd because the aspiration of such laws is, as Syahredzan rightly pointed out in 2015, is to "imprison the minds of citizens" and as such, abuse is the very definition of such laws.

If you really want to see the kind of legalese that the Harapan state was engaging in, you should read the spat between lawyers for Wan Ji and the Attorney-General's Chambers. In the same article, then AG Tommy Thomas said: "Upon assuming office on June 2018, I decided, with regard to alternative laws in our statute books (including provisions in the Penal Code), to only turn to Sedition Act as a measure of last resort.”

I have no doubt that problems like these will continue to boil over, and tragically it will be lost on many that Harapan had the solutions but failed to implement them.


S THAYAPARAN is Commander (Rtd) of the Royal Malaysian Navy. Fīat jūstitia ruat cælum - "Let justice be done though the heavens fall."

Why some teachers made lewd comments on FB?

Malaysiakini:

Teen wants apology for lewd comments, some allegedly by teachers

Teenager Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam has demanded an apology from those who left lewd comments about her body under social media postings on her interview with Malaysiakini yesterday.

The teenager, who recently lodged a police report against her teacher for allegedly making a joke about rape, posted a video on TikTok and Twitter seeking an apology.

The lewd comments include those commenting on the size of her breasts, her body shape and how the photo of her clad in a long-sleeved top was a "challenge for men trying to observe the fast during Ramadan".

Others condemned her for not covering her aurat, and said her dressing was the reason she is the subject of sexual harassment.

Malaysiakini has removed various lewd comments and barred errant commenters from leaving comments on the news portal's Facebook page.

The news portal had interviewed Ain (above) and her father, both of whom consented for Ain's photo to be published alongside the interview.

apologize. #MakeSchoolASaferPlace pic.twitter.com/67IlmKhDm0— ain #MakeSchoolASaferPlace (@ant33ater) April 27, 2021

"If you really want to make a change, start speaking out when you see this sort of paedophilic, grooming behaviour by adults.

"We must let them know it is time for them to take accountability for their actions. Start speaking up. #MakeSchoolASaferPlace," the 17-year-old said on Twitter.

"Do not let my fight be in vain. I am willing to go through all this if it means no student will ever have to go through or feel what I feel right now. For our next generation. For us. Make a ruckus," she added.

'Bringing shame to the teaching profession'

Some of the lewd comments came from Facebook accounts, whose owners claim to be school teachers.

Malaysiakini cannot independently verify if teachers were the ones who had left such comments.

Commenting further, Ain's father Saiful Nizam Ab Wahab said lewd comments purportedly by teachers bring shame to the teaching profession.

"I feel sorry for the teaching profession which is increasingly smeared by trashy individuals like these," he said.

Saiful Nizam said teachers are already facing a lot of challenges in teaching today, and need not be smeared by lewd comments left by their colleagues.

"From a rape joke (by a teacher) to a rape threat by a student, and now body shaming and cyberbullying by teachers?"

He added that the lewd comments also show how "sick" society is.

"Dear men. Please stop thinking with your genitals," Saiful said.

***

kt notes:

For the answer as to why some teachers could even make lewd comments against a student, let's return to a MKINI report one week ago:

Malaysiakini:



'Lesbian, pondan' - Netizens find more questionable articles on MOH education portal

After coming under fire for a victim-blaming article on sexual harassment, members of the public have highlighted more questionable write-ups - this time concerning homosexuality - on the Health Ministry’s public health portal.

One article from 2013 claims that women tend to become lesbian if they “prioritise their career”.

It also claims women who “further their studies” in a female-centric environment could turn into lesbians.

“When a woman pursues higher education where all the students are women, it is as if they are ‘surrounded’ (and thus) create a romantic atmosphere with each other, like in a female dormitory.

“Supervision and social encounters with women could also make women form a dependence and love for each other.

“Women who choose to put their careers above other priorities, celebrate their own independence and reject archaic roles that society forces upon them believe only women understand women,” said the article to the question “Why does one become lesbian?”.

Another article also from eight years ago states that men become pondan (homosexual) because they are raised in a society that “does not educate them about their sexual identity”.

Both were authored by an academic who is also a registered psychiatrist.

They were published in MyHealth - a website that serves as the ministry’s platform to educate the public on a wide variety of health conditions and issues.

Homosexuals ‘choose to be less accepted’

Also found on the website is a 2012 article on sexual orientation which discourages the use of words like pondan.

It said homosexuals should not be discriminated against and should be given equal treatment.

It also said that homosexuality was not a mental health disease.

However, the write-up said those attracted to the same gender could end up “suffering in silence” from conforming to societal standards, and have a higher risk of developing drug abuse, mental health issues, sexually transmitted diseases and “behavioural” problems.

It then encourages homosexuals to seek help from groups like Befrienders - an NGO most known for offering help to those who have suicidal thoughts or struggle with mental health issues.

“If you choose to be heterosexual, you will belong in the majority.

“If you choose homosexuality or bisexuality, you should be aware that you are choosing to be less accepted by society,” the article read.

This piece was authored by two paediatricians.

Following the publication of this article, the MyHealth portal has since become inaccessible. It continued to display the message "sorry, we're doing some work on the site" as of 3.30pm today.

Other than the victim-blaming sexual harassment article, @KKMPutrajaya has more rubbish on its website than you think. pic.twitter.com/oT712fXGCB— Azmir (@azmirliberty) April 13, 2021

These articles were unearthed by Twitter users after uproar over a now-deleted article on the portal which erroneously claimed sexual harassment happened when victims have a “sexy and attractive body shape”, “charming personality”, “unsuitable clothing style” and “unrestricted social interactions”.

kt notes: Therein lies the answer why Malaysians have been misled into making such lewd comments even when such abusive actions are wrong - why or how 'wrong' when it's sanctioned by the authorities in black & white?

It further “advised” women against working alone past the usual working hours to prevent being sexually harassed.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah later said the article - which was written by a registered counsellor - was the author’s “personal opinion”.

This was despite it being on the ministry’s website since 2016.