SYDNEY MORNING HERALD and FINANCIAL TIMES REPORT ON DSAI

Anwar gets bail to fight election for wife’s seat

Out and about … Anwar Ibrahim leaves court yesterday. He pleaded not guilty to sodomy charges and was released on bail.

M. Jegathesan in Kuala Lumpur
August 8, 2008

MALAYSIA’S de facto Opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, has pleaded not guilty to sodomy charges and been released on bail 19 days before the by-election that is expected to return him to Parliament.

“This is a slander. It is a malicious allegation and I am not guilty,” Anwar said from the dock yesterday after being accused of sodomising his aide, Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 23, on June 26.

Anwar, a former deputy prime minister who was jailed in 1999 and convicted of sodomy charges that were later overturned, has said the new allegations were concocted by the Government to prevent him from seizing power.

The Sessions Court judge, Komathy Suppiah, ordered that Anwar could go free on a bond of 20,000 ringgit ($7000) until the next hearing on September 10.

“A man is innocent until proven guilty. I don’t think there’s any likelihood that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will abscond,” she said, using his honorific title.

Sodomy, even between consenting adults, is illegal in the conservative and predominantly Muslim nation, and carries a penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment.

The charges indicated a consensual sex act, which the aide reportedly said took place at an upmarket Kuala Lumpur apartment.

Anwar welcomed the bail decision, which allows him to campaign for the August 26 by-election, and said the prosecution had been ill prepared.

“You can see how haphazard this has been. I am pleased with the decision and will proceed with my campaign,” he said.

His wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who vacated her parliamentary seat in northern Penang state to make way for Anwar, condemned the charges as “politically motivated” and said her husband was innocent.

“It’s a big relief that bail has been given. Anwar’s health is not too good,” she said.

Security was tight outside the packed courtroom, which was guarded by about 200 police, mostly riot squad officers. About 400 Opposition supporters gathered peacefully outside.

In anticipation of protests, roads leading into the capital, Kuala Lumpur, were blocked, causing traffic jams.

The allegations followed a declaration from Anwar that he would oust the Government with the help of defecting parliamentarians in the wake of elections which had handed the Opposition a third of parliamentary seats.

The coincidence has raised fears of a conspiracy. “The Malaysian Government appears to be manipulating the legal system to shore up support for its continued rule and undermine the Opposition,” the Asia director for Human Rights Watch, Brad Adams, said in a statement.

“This case is really about preventing challenges to the Government’s rule,” he said. The ruling coalition has held power since independence from Britain half a century ago.

Human Rights Watch said Anwar’s previous trials for sodomy and corruption, which landed him in jail for six years until 2004, “raised serious concerns about judicial independence and fairness”.

The Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, on Wednesday denied Anwar’s claims of engineered allegations.

“There’s no conspiracy,” he was reported in the New Straits Times as saying. “How could I insist that he be charged? The police are not so stupid to simply charge if there is no evidence.”

Agence France-Presse

Sex, power and party politics
Anwar Ibrahim, the Malaysian opposition leader, said yesterday…of allegedly sodomising a former aide.Mr Anwar told the Financial Times that he was gathering…opposition coalition might be cracking.Mr Anwar was barred from contesting general elections…
Aug 1 2008, By Assif Shameen, Financial Times

Transcript Anwar Ibrahim
The FT’s Assif Shameen spoke to Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia’s opposition leader…you don’t think they have a case?Anwar Ibrahim: First of all, with all the evidence…just cooperate with investigators?Anwar Ibrahim: I am cooperating and I have cooperated…
Jul 31 2008, FT.com site

Anwar on bail after pleading not guilty
Burton in Singapore, Financial Times

To defend Anwar is to defend Malaysian democracy

We know Anwar Ibrahim well and have the highest regard for him…prosecute is being used to try to discredit Mr Anwar, the remarkable leader of the opposition…to succeed it would be a tragedy for Mr Anwar personally, for the people of Malaysia…
Aug 7 2008, By Sandra Day O’Connor and Abdurrahman Wahid, FT.com site

Anwar Ibrahim, the Malaysian opposition leader, was released…attempt to derail a political comeback.Mr Anwar, who plans to stand in a by-election in…maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment.Mr Anwar welcomed the court’s decision to grant him…
Aug 8 2008, By John

Malaysia’s Anwar pleads not guilty to sodomy

Anwar Ibrahim, the Malaysian opposition leader, was released…attempt to derail a political comeback.Mr Anwar, who plans to stand in a by-election in…maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment.Mr Anwar welcomed the court’s decision to grant him…
Aug 7 2008, By John Burton in Singapore, FT.com site

PESAKIT BUAH PINGGANG KURANGKAN ULAM

Dengan hanya membaca tajuk artikel yang dimuatkan pada beberapa akhbar tempatan contohnya Sinar Harian bertarikh 27hb Julai 2008 yang lalu, kita akan terus menghukum “ulam bahaya, mesti dijauhi”. Sebenarnya memakan ulam yang berlebihan hanya berbahaya kepada pesakit yang menghidap masalah kegagalan buah pinggang (ginjal) sahaja dan mungkin mendapat rawatan dialisis sebanyak tiga kali seminggu.

Kandungan mineral bernama kalium yang tinggi terdapat dalam ulam boleh memudaratkan jantung bagi pesakit di atas dek kerana jumlah kalium dalam darah terlampau tinggi lantaran kegagalan fungsi ginjal mengnyahkan lebihan kalium (hiperkalemia). Bahaya hiperkalemia ialah kepada jantung (jantung terhenti). Keadaan ini berlaku jika kalium melebihi 7.0 mmol/l (julat normal 3.5-5.5)

Bagi orang awam yang sihat seperti saudara saudari, pengambilan ulam adalah sangat-sangat digalakkan disebabkan khasiat yang terdapat pada ulam. Selain bertindak sebagai pembekal asid folate bagi tujuan pembinaan sel darah merah, ulam mengandungi anti-oksidant yang dapat mencegah penyakit-penyakit yang berpunca dari lebihan radikal bebas seperti kanser dan lain-lain.

Ulam juga amat digalakkan kepada pesakit yang menghidap hipertensi atau penyakit tekanan darah tinggi kerana kalium yang wujud dalam ulam dapat mengurangkan tekanan darah. Juga pesakit hipertensi yang menggunakan ubat jenis diuretik seperti lasix (sila rujuk doktor anda) adalah disarankan mengambil makanan yang kaya dengan kalium seperti pisang dan ulam.

Akhir sekali, ulam bertindak sebagai serabut atau pelawas mudah buang air besar. Bagi ibu hamil pengambilan ulam adalah suatu amalan pemakanan yang sangat baik bagi mencegah kurang sel darah merah (anemia) dan buasir (akibat sembelit).

Galakkan dan biasakan anak-anak kita mengambil sayur-sayuran hijau terutamanya jenis ulam. Ini kerana ramai kanak-kanak tidak gemar makan sayur kerana mungkin tidak mendapat “model” atau suri teladan dari ibu bapa.

Contoh ulam yang masyhur di negara kita

Petai
Dalam tiap-tiap 100 gram (g) bahagian yang boleh dimakan mengandungi: air 70 g, protein 10 g, lemak 1.8 g, karbohidrat 16.9 g, kalsium 126 miligram (mg), fosforus 3 mg, ferum 3.4 mg, natrium 11 mg, kalium 376 mg, vitamin B1 0.15 mg, vitamin B 2 0.2 mg, niasin 0.5 mg dan vitamin C 32.7 mg

Jering
Jering mengandungi khasiat makanan sederhana. Dalam tiap-tiap 100 gram (g) bahagian buah muda mengandungi: air 93 g, protein 3.5 g, karbohidrat 1.7 g, lemak 0.1 g, kalsium 21 miligram (mg), fosforus 25 mg, ferum 0.7 mg, vitamin B1 0.1 mg, vitamin C 12 mg

Pegaga
Maklumat lanjut tentang Ulam

Aktiviti Exco Pendidikan pada 09/08/08: Perasmian Mesyuarat PIBG SRA Pandan Indah

SRA Pandan Indah telah julung kali mengadakan Mesyuarat PIBGnya pada 9hb Ogos 2008 dan Exco Pendidkan Selangor telah diberi kesempatan merasmikannya. Di majlis tersebut sekeping cek bernilai RM10K telah disumbangkan oleh GIPS kepada PIBG

En Takril, Pengurus Besar Yayasan Selangor sedang menyampaikan cek kepada YDP PIBG.

KEMISKINAN BAKAL BAHAN KEMPEN BN DI PP

Setiap kali menjelang Pilihanraya(PR) samada PR kecil atau umum, tajuk kemiskinan akan timbul. “Tradisi membela rakyat” menjadi slogan yang sedap dimainkan bak kata pepatah menanam tebu di tepi bibir, belum sempat kertas undi dimusnahkan, sebagai contoh dalam PRU ke 12, nah harga minyak naik melambung sekali henjut tersentap dan terduduk “orang kampung”.

Agaknya bilakah media akan memulakan tayangan klip video orang-orang miskin di Permatang Pauh? Selepas Permatang Pauh akan menyusul agaknya Sanglang.

Di Selangor, selain program ” jejak kasih” tidak pernah diberitakan tentang kemiskinan baik tegar mahupun biasa di kaca TV selama BN/UMNO memerintah Selangor lebih 50 tahun. Kemiskinan digambarkan hanya wujud di negeri-negeri bawah pemerintahan dulu Barisan Alternatif dan kini Pakatan Rakyat.

HISTERIA PELAJAR SEKOLAH: 2 KES SATU DI SARAWAK DAN SATU DI SEMENANJUNG

Pernahkah terlintas di fikiran anda kenapa biasanya dilaporkan hanya pelajar beragama Islam sahaja yang terlibat dengan” mass hysteria” atau histeria beramai-ramai? Lebih kerap berlaku lagi ialah kejadian pelajar perempuan sekolah agama menjerit-jerit, berlari-lari atau mengoyakkan pakaian mereka. Pernahkan dilaporkan pelajar menganut agama lain selain Islam di serang histeria di asrama mereka?

Anda boleh berbincang dengan para Ustaz/Ustazah serta Pengamal Perubatan Islam seperti ahli Persatuan Kebajikan Dan Perubatan Islam Bandar Baru Bangi dan sebagainya. Peubatan moden memberikan stres atau tekanan perasaan sebagai antara sebab-sebab berlakunya histeria. Tidak hairanlah jika histeria kerap berlaku ketika musim peperiksaan.

Kepincangan perubatan moden ialah ia tidak mengiktiraf secara rasmi kewujudan alam ghaib serta penghuninya seperi jin dan iblis. Sains Emperikal adalah asas kepada sistem perubatan moden. Masakini, istilah yang digunapakai ialah “evidence-based medicine”.

Persoalannya kenapakah pelajar Islam lebih kerap diserang histeria terutama pelajar sekolah Agama?

Pelajar histeria diganggu ‘benda ganjil’ dipercayai datang dari Gunung Gading
Borneoonline
Serian Sarawak

Lihat wanita tanpa wajah

Oleh Mohd Nur Asnawi Daud
Harian Metro
asnawi@hmetro.com.my

SUBANG JAYA: “Saya lihat seorang wanita tanpa wajah menyebabkan saya menggigil ketakutan dan menjerit sekuat hari sebelum tidak sedarkan diri,” kata seorang pelajar perempuan Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan USJ 23 di sini, semalam.

Dia antara beberapa pelajar sekolah itu yang diserang histeria pada Selasa lalu dan semalam.

Pelajar tingkatan satu yang enggan namanya disiarkan ketika ditemui di rumahnya di Puchong, semalam berkata, sebelum kejadian, dia sedang belajar dalam kelas, jam 8 pagi.

“Tiba-tiba saya terdengar seorang pelajar perempuan tingkatan lima menjerit menyebabkan saya seram.

“Saya cuba mententeramkan diri tapi mula takut menyebabkan saya menangis,” katanya.

Menyedari dia menangis, beberapa pelajar dan guru bergegas membantunya.

“Cikgu suruh saya baca ayat suci al-Quran bagi mengelak terkena gangguan,” katanya.

Katanya, dia bagaimanapun terus menangis dan tidak menyedari apa yang berlaku sebelum dibawa ke sebuah bilik untuk ditenteramkan.

Wartawan yang menyedari kejadian itu pagi semalam bergegas ke sekolah terbabit, tetapi dilarang memasuki pintu pagar sekolah oleh pengawal keselamatan.

Harian Metro difahamkan, kebanyakan pelajar sekolah itu yang diserang histeria menjerit dan meraung seolah-olah dirasuk makhluk halus.

Malah, ada yang bertindak agresif, termasuk menumbuk seorang guru perempuan yang cuba mententeramkan keadaan.

Kejadian itu menyebabkan sesi pembelajaran terhenti apabila guru, kakitangan dan pelajar lain bertungkus-lumus menenangkan pelajar yang diserang histeria.

Sementara itu, seorang pelajar lelaki tingkatan tiga yang menyaksikan kejadian itu, berkata suasana sekolah menjadi kelam-kabut Selalu lalu.

Ini mengakibatkan dia bersama guru dan kakitangan sekolah serta pelajar lain terpaksa membantu mereka.

“Saya dan beberapa kawan membantu pelajar lelaki dan perempuan bagi mengelak mereka melakukan perbuatan berbahaya ketika tidak sedarkan diri.

“Pembelajaran di sekolah terhenti seketika kerana kejadian terbabit dan pelajar yang diserang histeria dibawa balik ibu bapa masing-masing,” katanya.

Kejadian semalam pula, menurutnya, beberapa lagi pelajar diserang histeria, namun ia tidak seteruk dua hari sebelum itu.

Pelajar histeria diganggu ‘benda ganjil’ dipercayai datang dari Gunung Gading
Borneopostonline

SERIAN: Sebuah kelas di Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Serian gempar semalam dipercayai diganggu ‘benda ganjil’ yang menye-babkan para pelajarnya histeria dan memaksa pelajar lain pada sesi pagi pulang awal, iaitu sekitar jam 11.30 pagi.

Menurut sumber yang boleh dipercayai, seorang atau dua pelajar histeria sejak tiga minggu lalu semasa sesi kelas berlangsung. Kejadian dipercayai berlaku sejak sekumpulan pelajar itu kembali dari satu lawatan ke Gunung Gading, Lundu yang dianjurkan oleh pihak sekolah.

Menurut sumber yang di-temui Utusan Borneo di sini semalam, ‘makhluk-makhluk’ ganjil itu mungkin mengekori pelajar pulang ke rumah dan menimbulkan masalah di seko-lah dengan ‘merasuk’ mereka.

Dipercayai sejak minggu lepas, pelajar-pelajar yang dirasuk adalah kebanyakannya dari kelas sesi pagi dan semua mereka adalah perempuan kecuali semalam apabila seorang pelajar lelaki dilaporkan turut ‘dirasuk’. Manakala tiada laporan diterima mengenai histeria di kalangan pelajar sesi petang setakat ini.

Seorang saksi kejadian, Nurul Ain Majalis, pelajar tingkatan empat berkata lima pelajar di asrama telah diserang ‘makhluk’ tidak dikenali pada malam sebelumnya.

Nurul berkata dia bersetuju dengan teori bahawa ‘makhluk’ itu mungkin datang dari Gunung Gading memandangkan dia terdengar khabar bahawa seorang pelajar memetik bunga dari gunung itu dan membawanya pulang lalu ‘makhluk’ itu mungkin telah mengekori pelajar berkenaan.

Seorang lagi pelajar, dikenali sebagai Mohd Affi Mohan mendakwa ‘makhluk’ tersebut marah dengan tindakan seorang pelajar yang tidak menghormati kawasan berkenaan semasa lawatan ke Gunung Gading, di mana pelajar tersebut minum dari kolam yang kemungkinannya membangkitkan kemarahan ‘makhluk’ itu.

Manakala pengetua sekolah, Ramli Zainuddin mengesahkan bahawa hanya 12 pelajar sahaja yang histeria dan bukan 20 seperti yang dilaporkan sebelum ini.

Aktiviti ADUN Selat Klang pada 08/08/08: Ziarah Warga Sg Udang Yang Kurang Bernasib Baik

Ziarah terhadap warga Kg Sg Udang yang kurang bernasib baik telah diadakan pada petang Jumaat 8hb Ogos 2008 dan nama-nama mereka telah disenarikan untuk tindakan selanjutnya.
Turut sama dalam ziarah di atas ialah pemb Khas ADUN Tn Hj Kamaluddin serta Tn Hj Aziz seorang dermawan Kariah masjid Sg Udang.

Pandangan di dalam salah sebuah rumah yang diziarahi

Begitulah daifnya sesetengah dari warga Selangor amnya

Warga yang berberkenaan menendatangani dokumen tertentu.

ELECTION OFFENCES ACT 1954 : PARTY WORKERS TAKE NOTE

With general election and polling occurring every four or five years and the occasional by-elections, knowledge and skills regarding election rules and its offences need to be mastered by the select few in the party and party machinery also need to be updated from time to time regarding election regulations and its amendments if any. It is no good to put the blame on others for our ignorance and apathy.

Election petitions for three states dismissed
sun2surf
IPOH (Aug 8, 2008) : The High Court here today dismissed three petitions by Barisan Nasional seeking to nullify the election results for the Kuala Kurau, Lubuk Merbau and Kuala Sepetang state seats, all of which were won by Pakatan Rakyat candidates in the March 8 general election.

Kuala Kurau and Kuala Sepetang were won by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Lubuk Merbau by PAS.

Justice Wan Arfah Wan Ibrahim dismissed with costs the petitions which were filed by the defeated Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates, naming the respective winners, returning officers and the Election Commission (EC) as respondents, except for Lubuk Merbau where only the assemblyman was cited.

The Kuala Kurau seat was won by Abdul Yunus Jamahri who defeated Mohd Salleh Mat Disa of Barisan Nasional with a 467-vote majority while Mohd Zainuddin Mohd Yusof beat Datuk Jamal Nasir Rasdi with a 72-vote majority in Lubuk Merbau and Tai Sing Ng won Kuala Sepetang with a 564-vote majority over See Tean Seng.

In striking out the Kuala Kurau petition, Wan Arfah held that an act of soliciting for votes or persuading voters not to vote for a particular party or candidate or loitering 50 metres of a polling station was not and could not fall within the conduct of any election.

She said the impugned acts were allowed in an election but they only became an offence if on polling day they were carried out within 50m of a polling station which is an act of campaigning for votes.

The petitioner, Mohd Salleh, had alleged that Abdul Yunus, in his own name or through his workers or agents was wilfully soliciting, loitering or persuading or attempting to persuade people to abstain from voting within 50m from the limits of the polling station at Sekolah Agama Al-Hidayah, contravening the Election Offences Act 1954.

In the Lubuk Merbau petition, defeated candidate Jamal Nasir claimed that assemblyman Mohd Zainuddin had committed corrupt practice by putting up banners which did not carry the name and address of the printer and publisher and that he had exerted undue influence when his banners and posters blocked those of the petitioner.

However, the judge held that he had failed to show these offences or identify the person alleged to have committed the corrupt practice.

MRR2 AND ITS PROBLEMS REVISITED

The Middle Ring Road 2 has on paper consumed RM308.8 Millions of Rakyat’s money. Everyone responsible should be called upon to give their testimonies and evidence in the court of law irrespective of whether or not lives have been lost in the latest “act of God” as some one claimed a few years ago when cracked appeared in all the pillars except one. Call that some one as well as his Department’s top brass.

ACA to reopen files on MRR2 over graft claims

©New Straits Times
by Deborah Loh and R.S. Kamini

• Samy Vellu: No comments
• ‘Department told not to use carbon straps’

PUTRAJAYA: The Anti-Corruption Agency will reopen its files on previous allegations of corruption in the construction of the Middle Ring Road 2.

It is also planning to question the contractors involved in building the RM238.8 million highway (Package 11) which has so far incurred an additional RM70 million in repairs.

ACA sources said the agency would relook previous investigation papers in determining whether charges could be pressed this time around.

In the latest incident on Sunday, parts of the nine-year-old MRR2 had to be closed for repairs over a three-week period after pieces of concrete fell from its pillars.

The flyover and road below it were closed from 10.30am to 5pm on Sunday after cracks appeared on Pillar 28 after three of the 18 carbon fibre straps on the pillar peeled off and some clumps of concrete fell on the road and several cars.

Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed later ordered the closure of two of the six lanes on the left of the flyover for its team of consultants to study the damage.

In February 2006, the ACA received a report lodged by the Indian Progressive Front (IPF) party on problems involving the MRR2.

The MRR2 had been closed twice before this: on Aug 9, 2004, after cracks were found on 31 of its 33 pillars as a result of improper anchoring of the cross-beams and in February 2006 when it was closed for safety reasons.

In the interim period, independent consultant, Halcrow Consultants Ltd from the United Kingdom, conducted studies.

The affected stretch was partially reopened in November 2004 to light vehicles before the eventual closure.

More repairs were conducted and the highway was reopened in December 2006.

Meanwhile, Public Works deputy director-general 1 Datuk Mohamad Husin, when contacted, said the MRR2 task force would study the incident closely.

“We will be following up on the issue closely including looking at reports submitted by Halcrow,” he said.

He said German consultants, Leonhardt, Andra and Partner will continue to remain the official consultant.

“It was a collective decision by the government (to use carbon fibre straps) but the task force will study the damage while our engineering forensic experts will investigate the cause of the cracks.”

On the cost of repairs, Mohamad said it would not be a problem as it would be borne by the contractors — Sukmin Sdn Bhd, Konsortium Kontraktor Melayu and Bumi Hiway Sdn Bhd.

Samy Vellu: No comments

KUALA LUMPUR: The man who promised last year that the Middle Ring Road 2 would be “safer than ever” does not want to be drawn into Sunday’s near-catastrophic incident when chunks of concrete fell on cars.

Former works minister Datuk Seri Samy Vellu said he was leaving the matter to Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed as he was no longer the minister.

“I am an ordinary person. No comment. It is unfair for me to make any comments as there is already a minister.

“Only the minister should be able to say what should be done. He has already gone to the site. He made a statement and I have read it,” he said when reporters asked him to comment on the matter.

He said he would only answer questions from a Government-appointed panel of inquiry on the matter.

“There are many things in my head. I will only answer if there is an inquiry from within,” he told journalists.

He had been asked about a suggestion that an independent panel of inquiry be set up to investigate the cracks that had developed on the MRR2.

“I won’t say anything about it. That is the desire of the public. Let the government do what it likes. I have no comments on it,” he said.

A day before the MRR2 was reopened last year to traffic, Samy Vellu had said that the road had a safety standard of 1.7 which was higher than the 1.5 British Standard benchmark.

On Sunday parts of the MRR2 had to be closed for repairs for three weeks after pieces of concrete fell from its pillars.

Mohd Zin later ordered the closure of two of the six lanes on the left of the flyover for its team of consultants to study the damage.

Earlier, the MIC chief announced that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi would open the party’s Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology in Semeling, Kedah, on Aug 17.

He said the RM500 million AIMST would hold its first convocation in October this year with about 300 medical and bio-technology graduands.

‘Department told not to use carbon straps’

KUALA LUMPUR: The carbon fibre reinforced plastic straps supposed to strengthen the pillars beneath the Middle Ring Road 2 gave way on Sunday because of their limited ability to undergo change without breaking.

Halcrow’s senior consultant (bridge engineering) Roger Buckby said the company advised the Public Works Department in 2005 not to use such carbon fibre straps because of the problem of ductility.

“We advised them not to use carbon fibre straps because of its limited ductility (but the department proceeded with using the carbon fibre straps),” he said when commenting on how three of the 18 carbon fibre straps on one of the 33 pillars on the MRR2 could have peeled off on Sunday.

He said cracks found on 31 of the 33 pillars of the flyover in 2004 were initially caused by a design flaw and poor reinforcement detailing.

The primary cause, however, was the delayed ettringite formation (DEF) which caused Halcrow to recommend that carbon fibre straps should not be used for strengthening the pier heads.

DEF is believed to be a result of improper heat curing of the concrete to strengthen a structure.

Halcrow was called to conduct a study on cracks on the MRR2 in 2004.