The Malaysian Insider :: Malaysia

Bodies of two men found floating in sea

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:36:59 GMT

GEORGE TOWN, May 19 —The bodies of two unidentified men - believed to have drowned - were found floating in separate incidents here today. The police have classified the cases as sudden death. In the first incident at 10.45am, a group of anglers in Fort Cornwallis spotted the body of a man, in his 30s, floating in the sea. Timur Laut police chief ...

Taib wants infrastructure development issues resolved

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:25:07 GMT

KUCHING, May 19 — Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud wants all Sarawak members of parliament appointed to the federal government to resolve the state's infrastructure development issues which are unique, as compared to those in the Peninsular. Works Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof said this was conveyed by Abdul Taib to those ministers and ...

Pakatan to resolve Selangor exco allocation in two days, says DAP

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:19:08 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 — The Selangor DAP has met Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim over the composition of the state executive council and the matter should be resolved within the next two days, DAP's Tony Pua said this evening. The Selangor DAP chairman had disputed Khalid's allocation of posts to the three parties that make up Pakatan ...

Kit Siang accuses IGP, Zahid of ‘playing politics’, tells them to curb crime

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:08:53 GMT

GEORGE TOWN, May 19 ― The country’s new police chief and home minister should stop “playing politics” and start keeping Malaysians, tourists and investors safe from crime and harm, DAP’s Lim Kit Siang said today. The DAP advisor’s criticism today follows both Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar (picture) and Home Minister Datuk ...

No AirAsia ads till Azran Osman Rani apologises, ‘Utusan’ says

Sun, 19 May 2013 05:43:44 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 — Claiming AirAsia advertisements to be cheaper than hair and herbal products, Utusan Malaysia’s Awang Selamat has told the Umno-owned paper to stop taking the airline’s ads until its sister company’s chief executive apologises for criticising the broadsheet’s racist piece. In its Mingguan Malaysia weekend edition today, ...

Karpal to Tunku Aziz: Stop exposing party secrets

Sun, 19 May 2013 05:24:45 GMT

GEORGE TOWN, May 19 — DAP chairman Karpal Singh has warned former party chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim to stop exposing the DAP’s internal secrets to the public. Karpal, who is also the member of parliament for Bukit Gelugor, said he would take legal action if Tunku Abdul Aziz did not stop making the disclosures aimed at discrediting the ...

Sidelined Sarawak reps demand seats in Najib’s Cabinet

Sun, 19 May 2013 05:09:19 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 ― Overlooked lawmakers in the Barisan Nasional’s (BN) East Malaysian vote bank say they should also be aboard Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s Cabinet, believing they had earned full ministerial positions after their victorious run in the May 5 polls. Some 40 branches of Sarawak’s SPDP said they will petition the prime minister to ...

After PKR’s MB kerfuffle, Selangor DAP now disputes exco list

Sun, 19 May 2013 04:27:05 GMT

PETALING JAYA, May 19 ― The Selangor DAP is questioning the state executive council composition announced by Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim yesterday, barely a week after a furore in PKR over the state’s top post was settled. State DAP deputy chairman Tony Pua said the party was supposed to get four exco seats instead of the three ...

As taps run dry, Subang Jaya rep demands usage data from SYABAS

Sun, 19 May 2013 04:19:16 GMT

PETALING JAYA, May 19 ― Subang Jaya assemblyman Hannah Yeoh demanded today data from Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (SYABAS) detailing water usage in her constituency that was hit by supply disruptions since last Wednesday. SYABAS was quoted by national news agency Bernama yesterday as saying that the water treatment plants could no ...

Chinese businessmen say boycott on community’s products “racist”, will hurt economy

Sun, 19 May 2013 02:28:34 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 ― The call by pro-Umno bloggers and Muslim groups for a boycott of Chinese businesses is racist and will harm the country’s economic growth, according to businessmen from the community. Malaysia’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 4.1 per cent in the first quarter of the year as a result of weaker exports and slower ...

Three guards hacked up like ‘meat’ in brutal Cheras attack

Sun, 19 May 2013 01:50:20 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 ― Two men launched a savage attack upon three security workers at an apartment complex here yesterday, hacking away at their victims with parangs as though they “were meat”, The Star reported on its website today. The gruesome attack was captured on a closed-circuit television recording, but is unclear if the video was able ...

Five held after slashing, chasing cop to police station

Sun, 19 May 2013 00:35:11 GMT

SEGAMAT, May 19 — Five men were arrested after they allegedly attacked a policeman with machetes along Jalan Labis-Segamat and pursued him for 2km until he reached the Labis police station near here, yesterday. The policeman, who is attached with the Sixth Battalion of the General Operations Force, Bakri, Muar, was earlier travelling in a car with ...

MB: Selangor exco to be sworn in within two weeks

Sat, 18 May 2013 23:04:19 GMT

KLANG, May 19 ― The Selangor executive council will be sworn in within the next two weeks, Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said yesterday. He added that PAS will take four spots in the state executive council, while PKR and the DAP will get three seats each. “The list of names that was given to the Sultan includes alternative ...

Overlooked BN MPs being placated with Cabinet reshuffle pledge, say sources

Sat, 18 May 2013 22:58:02 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 ― Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs not given a government post have been told they will get other jobs or a place in a Cabinet reshuffle after the Umno polls ― if they stop grumbling in public, say sources. The Malaysian Insider understands that Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s aides and a few ministers have told these BN lawmakers that ...

Thousands turn up at Penang’s Esplanade for ‘illegal’ rally

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:57:21 GMT

GEORGE TOWN, May 18 – Thousands turned up at the Esplanade to attend the Penang Pakatan Rakyat state government rally this evening despite the police declaring it an illegal rally. The crowd started streaming in from 7pm and by 10pm, they had filled more than half the field. The crowd was not as huge and overwhelming as the last rally held in ...

Water supply shortage due to maximum output at treatment plants: Syabas

Sat, 18 May 2013 14:09:11 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 – Supply of clean water in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur is steadily decreasing due to water treatment plants reaching maximum production levels, according to Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas). It said the treatment plants could no longer cater to increasing demand from consumers. “The problem is not linked to rainfall or ...

Bumis already capable of investing in equities, says Shahrir

Sat, 18 May 2013 12:47:48 GMT

JOHOR BAHARU, May 18 — Malays and other Bumiputeras can now afford to be involved in equity investments, says Member of Parliament for Johor Baharu Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad. He said this followed an increase in their income which enabled them to have extra money to invest. "Their income will go up year by year. Using a kampung calculation, in ...

Mukhriz says no to organiser of Pakatan rally

Sat, 18 May 2013 12:14:03 GMT

ALOR SETAR, May 18 – Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir said he would not allow Pakatan Rakyat to hold a rally at the Sultan Abdul Halim Stadium in Suka Menanti on Tuesday for it (rally) was not a wise thing to do. Mukhriz said although he felt that any group was entitle to hold an assembly, but its purpose should be scrutinised ...

Chef held in connection with wife’s death

Sat, 18 May 2013 12:09:58 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 – The police have detained a chef in connection with the murder of his wife early today. The arrest followed the death of the 28-year-old woman – believed to have been physically abused – upon arrival at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre’s emergency ward here. Initial police investigations have indicated that the woman was ...

Council enforcement officer caught for robbing convenience store

Sat, 18 May 2013 12:05:57 GMT

GEORGE TOWN, May 18 – He was a government servant who led a dual life. By day, he worked as an enforcement officer at the Penang Municipal Council. At night, his ‘enforcement duties’ bordered on the wrong side of the law. Early this morning, policemen in a patrol car spotted the man fleeing from a 24-hour convenience store in Lebuh Pantai here and ...

A Cabinet snub leads to a restless BN

Sat, 18 May 2013 11:26:23 GMT

ANALYSIS, May 18 – When Datuk Seri Najib Razak decided to name 12 East Malaysians to the Cabinet this week, the prime minister was recognising their contribution to ensuring a majority for a Barisan Nasional (BN) government. The BN chairman’s move was to please the Sabah and Sarawak parties which did better than most of the peninsula-based ...

Kedah to stop logging pending review: Mukhriz

Sat, 18 May 2013 10:56:15 GMT

ALOR SETAR, May 18 – The Kedah government will temporarily cease all logging activities in the state pending a study on their impact on the environment and the people’s livelihood, said Menteri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir. He said this followed complaints from villagers that logging activities in their areas had affected the supply and quality of ...

Putrajaya does not endorse but won’t block ‘buy Chinese last’ campaign, says minister

Sat, 18 May 2013 10:31:35 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 – Putrajaya does not approve a campaign to boycott Chinese businesses initiated by pro-Umno bloggers and backed by several Muslim groups, Datuk Hasan Malek said today but the new Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism minister added that he cannot block their right to do so. Several pro-Umno bloggers and the Muslim ...

Malaysia can become great through balanced education: Idris

Sat, 18 May 2013 09:57:45 GMT

BESUT, May 18 – Education and Higher Learning Minister II Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh is confident that Malaysia can become a great nation through a good and balanced education process. He said balance between education and character for a developing country like Malaysia was necessary because it was already practised by peaceful and developed ...

Exco appointment not an issue of being subservient, says Johor MB

Sat, 18 May 2013 09:29:22 GMT

JOHOR BAHARU, May 18 – Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin has emphasised there is no issue of any representative or race being subservient in the appointment of Johor state executive councillors. This is because the state government formed under Barisan Nasional (BN) was based on the concept of cooperation and consensus among all ...

IPF confident PM recognises 22-year support: Sambanthan

Sat, 18 May 2013 09:21:08 GMT

PUTRAJAYA, May 18 – The Indian Progressive Front (IPF) is confident that Datuk Seri Najib Razak will give due recognition to the party, following Barisan Nasional’s (BN) triumph at the 13th General Election (GE13). IPF president Datuk M. Sambanthan said the prime minister who fostered the spirit of ‘nambikkai’ (trust) among members of the party ...

Umno rebels under investigations for sabotage, results next week

Sat, 18 May 2013 08:56:05 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 – Umno has cast its eye inwards to weed out troublemakers within the party that had wrecked its candidates’ campaign for the May 5 polls, and the results of its investigations are expected to be known by next week. The ruling Malay party had sacked 61 party members nationwide who had run as independents on April 22 for ...

Student activist arrested under Sedition Act

Sat, 18 May 2013 08:49:07 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 – Student activist Adam Adli Abdul Halim was arrested this afternoon under the Sedition Act that his lawyer believes is due to his remarks at a forum on May 13. Adam Adli, 24 (picture), had apparently told a forum at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall this week that Malaysians “cannot wait for five years to ...

Abolish Senate, says Karpal

Sat, 18 May 2013 07:04:46 GMT

GEORGE TOWN, May 18 — DAP chairman Karpal Singh said today the Federal Constitution should be amended to abolish the Senate. “There is no need for the Senate. It is an unnecessary expense required to be borne by the people. It does not serve a useful purpose. “It only encourages those who have been rejected by the people or others to be brought ...

Jala’s comments, Ahmad Maslan’s finance post show looming GST, says DAP

Sat, 18 May 2013 06:15:15 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 — The DAP has warned Malaysians that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) could be implemented soon following Datuk Seri Idris Jala’s comments on the broad-based tax and the appointment of Umno information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan as deputy finance minister. Jala, who is a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, told a forum ...

AirAsia X CEO’s Utusan comments raise troubling responses

Sat, 18 May 2013 06:01:19 GMT

COMMENT, May 18 — In the mainstream media, AirAsia X chief executive Azran Osman Rani is being vilified for expressing disgust at Utusan Malaysia’s blatant racism against the Chinese community in the aftermath of Election 2013. But Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s declaration that Malaysians unhappy with the election results can leave ...

Nine Perak state exco members sworn in

Sat, 18 May 2013 05:18:49 GMT

KUALA KANGSAR, May 18 — Nine Perak state assemblymen today took their oaths of office as members of the State Executive Council at Istana Iskandariah, Bukit Chandan here. The swearing-in ceremony and the pledge of loyalty as well as the oath of secrecy were carried out before the Regent of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah. Six of those appointed are ...

Waythamoorthy says he’s a ‘performer

Sat, 18 May 2013 03:33:07 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 — Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) chairman P. Waythamoorthy has dismissed criticism following his government appointment last Wednesday. He was named deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, despite being head of the Indian rights movement that organised a mass protest in 2007 against the Barisan Nasional (BN) ...

No compromise with opposition on street protests, says Zahid

Sat, 18 May 2013 03:03:08 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 — Putrajaya will not compromise but will take stern action against Pakatan Rakyat (PR) if it foments chaos on the streets, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi . Umno-owned daily Utusan Malaysia reported Ahmad Zahid today as saying that prevention was better than cure, after tens of thousands of Malaysians thronged ...

Paul Low blasted as BN ‘apologist’ over media remarks as anti-graft minister

Sat, 18 May 2013 02:24:26 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 — Datuk Paul Low came under the DAP’s hammer today for what the opposition branded as his first “failure” in the transparency test over remarks in several media interviews on the heels of his appointment to the Cabinet. The new minister was accused by opposition MP Tony Pua of being an “apologist” for rationalising the ...

Discontent in BN parties over Cabinet posts

Sat, 18 May 2013 00:56:47 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 — All is not well among Barisan Nasional (BN) parties over the distribution of Cabinet posts as Sarawak’s PRS has decided to reject its appointments while SPDP is also upset its four federal wins did not get the party anything. Several senior Sabah Umno MPs are also grumbling that they were overlooked in the Cabinet ...

MCA may need to accept other races, says Donald Lim

Fri, 17 May 2013 22:59:38 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 — The MCA may have to open its party membership to other races after its worst result in history in Election 2013 as it cannot just bank on the Chinese vote, says the party’s Selangor chief Datuk Donald Lim. He said the Chinese component party under the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government should look at the bigger picture ...

Youths killed in car-van collision

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:00:34 GMT

PASIR PUTEH, May 17 — Two youths died in separate hospitals early today, when the car they were travelling in with two friends, collided head-on with a van in Bukit Yong here last night. Fadzhilhafizie Zakaria, 26, who was driving the car, was pronounced dead about 3am at the Jerteh Hospital. The other, Tuan Mohd Rizuan Zakaria, also 26, died at ...

TNB: Beware of imposters

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:22:55 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 — Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) has advised the public to be wary of those posing as TNB workers or contractors. In a statement here today, it said a TNB staff or contractor was obliged to wear a uniform (red T-shirt, blue jacket with logo and name) while carrying out an official task. “They (TNB staff) can only inspect the ...

Three to be charged for election related offences

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:10:20 GMT

PUTRAJAYA, May 17 — Deputy Solicitor-General II Datuk Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah said three men will charged in the magistrate’s courts for committing election related offences. One would be charged in the magistrate’s court in Yan, Kedah on Sunday for intentionally causing hurt to the complainant armed with a knife, he told a press conference ...

Ghani committed no offence during GE13 campaign, says Singapore

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:35:25 GMT

SINGAPORE, May 17 — The Singapore authorities have clarified there was no offence on the part of former Johor menteri besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman when he visited the republic during the campaigning period for Malaysia’s 13th General Election (GE13). In response to media queries and a police report on Ghani allegedly canvassing for votes in ...

Tunku Aziz to Anwar: Get on your rickety bike and ride into sunset

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:29:31 GMT

PETALING JAYA, May 17 — Former DAP vice-chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim has this advice for Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim: “Get on your rickety political bicycle and ride into the sunset!” He said this when urging the government to apply the full force of the law to prevent nationwide illegal rallies which protest against the ...

Jamil: Muslims should forget ideological differences

Fri, 17 May 2013 11:59:16 GMT

GURUN, May 17 — Muslims in this country should forget their political ideology differences heightened during the recent 13th general election campaign and reunite now for the sake of unity of the ummah (Muslim community), said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharum. He said Muslims must not drag on or prolong ...

Mukhriz: Put aside political beliefs, help develop Kedah

Fri, 17 May 2013 11:56:46 GMT

JERLUN, May 17 — Kedahans have been urged to put aside their political beliefs and forget conflicts during the 13th general election (GE13) campaign and focus on developing the state. Menteri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said various polemics and split among society occurred because politics were extensively discussed by the people and mass ...

Call to instill national reconciliation through education

Fri, 17 May 2013 11:47:22 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 — The emphasis on unity in education and sports in schools could help achieve national reconciliation as aspired by Datuk Seri Najib Razak, said Malaysian Teachers Foundation Berhad chairman Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom. “Through education under one roof, students could learn, eat and carry out activities together. I also feel ...

Youth killed during karaoke session at Terminal 2, Seremban

Fri, 17 May 2013 11:18:24 GMT

SEREMBAN, May 17 — A youth was slashed to death when he went to check on a quarrel involving a group of people at a karaoke centre in Terminal 2 here early today. In the incident, Mohd Hairulnizam Hanafiah, 23, sustained a neck injury and collapsed. He was sent to the Tuanku Jaafar Hospital where he succumbed to the injury about 2am. District ...

Parties in girl’s citizenship civil suit to settle

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:58:04 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 — The High Court has asked the parties involved in the legal battle over a 13-year-old girl’s citizenship to look into settlement. The girl’s counsel Annou Xavier told reporters that judge Rosilah Yop had asked the parties to do so after the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) findings confirmed that the girl’s biological father was ...

‘Indian community should accept Waytha’s appointment’

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:29:13 GMT

PUTRAJAYA, May 17 — The MIC respected the prime minister’s decision to appoint Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) chairman P.Waythamoorthy as a deputy minister although the party held a different view, said MIC deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam. Hence, he urged the Indian community including MIC members to accept the appointment of ...

MCA members told to respect party’s decision on Cabinet posts

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:05:19 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 — Selangor MCA Publicity Bureau chief Datuk Yap Pian Hon has urged MCA members to respect the party’s decision to stay out of all Cabinet posts. “Party members had unanimously passed a resolution at the 2011 and 2012 annual general assemblies to decline all government posts should MCA’s performance in GE13 (13th General ...

DAP picks two assemblymen for Exco posts

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:48:16 GMT

SHAH ALAM, May 17 — DAP today confirmed that former Selangor legislative assembly speaker Datuk Teng Chang Khim and Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah have been chosen to represent the party in the Selangot state executive council (Exco) line up. DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng in a statement said he had acceded to Teng’s request who ...