Malaysian opposition says power takeover may be delayed

Agence France-Presse - 9/12/2008 7:05 AM GMT

Malaysia's opposition admitted Friday it might not meet its goal of seizing power by next week as it sent a delegation to pursue potential defectors from the government on a trip to Taiwan.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has repeatedly said he is "on track" to topple the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition by next Tuesday, but his party said in a statement that it could be delayed.

"The process of transformation to a new government... is proceeding smoothly and we believe that Barisan Nasional will be replaced in a very short period," the statement said.

"The date might be delayed from September 16... but the agenda is still going on," it said, adding that one complicating factor had been the government's move to ship lawmakers overseas this week.

The ruling coalition sent 46 parliamentarians on a controversial and hastily arranged "study trip" to Taiwan, in what Anwar has said is an attempt to "corral and seclude" parliamentarians amid the high-stakes negotiations.

Leaders of Anwar's Keadilan party, which fronts the three-member opposition alliance, were headed there Friday to meet up with the delegation, in a "gatecrashing" move that is likely to irritate the government.

"We are looking forward to meeting with BN MPs and to have discussions and meals with them," Keadilan information chief Tian Chua, who is leading the four-person team, told AFP.

"Our team will also meet with Taiwan's government and opposition parties to brief them on the political situation in Malaysia," he added.

Anwar needs 30 of the 140 coalition lawmakers to defect in order to form a new government. Most of the potential crossovers are believed to be from the Sabah and Sarawak states on Borneo island.

"They play all sorts of political games so don't get carried away... I don't think BN MPs will defect," deputy premier Najib Razak told reporters.

The opposition alliance gained unprecedented ground in March's general elections, securing a third of parliamentary seats and five states from the coalition, which has ruled since independence from Britain half a century ago.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has faced repeated calls to quit since the polls debacle, and in recent days his plan to hand over power to his deputy by mid-2010 has come under renewed scrutiny.

Trade Minister Muhyiddin Yassin -- who is seen as a potential challenger -- this week said Abdullah should consider stepping down earlier to allow a new leader to address the issues that have eroded government support.

On Friday, Najib was also lukewarm over the 2010 plan that he had earlier backed wholeheartedly, and said it would have to win the support of the ruling party's 191 divisions in December internal elections.

"His statement shows a change in stance from what he said in July when he appeared to be fully behind the plan," said Tricia Yeoh from the Centre for Public Policy Studies.

http://news.my.msn.com/

Raja Petra Kamaruddin arrested

KUALA LUMPUR, September 12, 2008 (AFP) - Prominent Malaysian blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, who has targeted government figures on his website, was arrested Friday under internal security laws, his wife said.

Raja Petra, founder of the controversial Malaysia Today website, has already been charged with sedition and defamation after linking Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife to the sensational murder of a Mongolian woman.

The blogger's wife Marina Lee Abdullah said he was arrested by police at his home under legislation that allows for detention without trial.

"They came here and arrested him under the Internal Security Act for inciting hate in his articles on Islam," she told AFP.

The Internal Security Act, which human rights groups have pushed to have abolished, provides for renewable two-year periods of detention without trial and is normally used against suspected terrorists.

It has also been used to lock up opponents of the government, and last year five Hindu rights activists were detained after mounting an anti-discrimination protest that targeted government race policies.

AFP

MSN Malaysia reports: Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar was quoted by The Star website stating that Raja Petra had been detained under Section 73 (1) of the ISA as he had been deemed a threat to security, peace and public order. He said that under the section Petra would be held for 60 days.

“The police will do an assessment during this period and if they feel he should be held more than 60 days, the police will then refer to me,” he said.

Petra's arrest comes a day after the Cabinet ordered the Multimedia and Communications Commission (MCMC) to reinstate access to all blocked websites, of which Malaysia Today was one.

The star also reported Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor as saying, “Instead of blocking access to offensive websites, the Cabinet wants authorities to investigate and act quickly against the owners of these sites."

The minister also added that the government was asking the MCMC to "closely cooperate" with the authorities in monitoring any website or blog to ensure that it does not contain "seditious, racist or religiously insensitive remarks."

http://news.my.msn.com/

Sajian dulang

Oleh JOHANNA A. SOBREY
johanna.sobrey@kosmo.com.my



Anda penggemar makanan Asia? Jom singgah dan nikmati apa yang disediakan di Kafe Delicious.

KAFE Delicious yang menawarkan pelbagai menu seperti pasta, sandwic, salad, hidangan tempatan dan pencuci mulut kini tampil dengan hidangan istimewa bersempena bulan Ramadan.

Disediakan dalam satu set untuk dua orang, sajian dalam dulang itu meliputi sembilan lauk-pauk yang memenuhi selera.

Menurut Chef Eksekutif The Delicious Group Sdn. Bhd, Wan Mohd. Sabri Wan Sidek, buat kali pertama kafe itu menyediakan sajian istimewa untuk berbuka puasa.

"Kami masih mengekalkan menu-menu sedia ada, cuma kali ini kami menyedia bagi pelanggan yang inginkan suatu kelainan pada waktu berbuka," kata beliau.

Mengapa set ini diperkenalkan? Wan Mohd Sabri berkata, pelanggan yang lebih menggemari makanan Asia tidak semestinya tertumpu pada hidangan tempatan.

Kesembilan-sembilan hidangan yang disajikan dalam satu dulang itu termasuklah tulang rusuk lembu menumis-reneh, udang goreng bersama pucuk paku dan sambal belado, salad mi tongfen (glass noodle), otak-otak daun pisang dan ikan kurau kering masin.

Selain itu, ulam dan sambal belacan, emping melinjo, acar limau dan acar Nyonya melengkapkan sajian.

Dulang lauk yang dilapik dengan daun pisang itu turut disajikan bersama nasi putih, air sirap dan buah kurma.

"Sebagai pelengkap hidangan, pelanggan boleh memilih mana-mana hidangan pencuci mulut.

"Selain itu, jika mereka mahu, terdapat juga agar-agar istimewa, Delicious Jello yang berharga RM9.90 untuk mengumpul dana bagi Persatuan Kebajikan Kanser Payu Dara," katanya.

Sabri berkata, pilihan hidangan yang menarik pelanggan lauk tulang rusuk lembu yang ditumis-reneh selama lima jam bagi memastikan kelembutan daging dan kelazatan rempahnya dirasai.

Persekitaran santai di Delicious dengan dinding putih digabung dengan bantal berwarna firus dan biru,memberikan suasana selesa untuk menikmati hidangan.

Tempat duduknya juga selesa dan dekorasi unik seperti sangkar burung putih di siling.

Sejarah Delicious bermula apabila Benjamin Yong, pengasas Delicious pulang dari Australia setelah memperoleh ijazah dalam bidang psikologi. Beliau kemudian bergabung tenaga bersama ibunya, Helen Read, pengasas rangkaian pakaian Ms Read dan Abby Leong, rakan Read.

Delicious yang kini berusia empat tahun itu kini boleh didapati di tiga lokasi utama ibu kota iaitu di pusat beli-belah Bangsar Village II, Bangsar; One Utama, Damansara Utama dan The Marc Service Residence, Jalan Pinang.

Hidangan set Ramadan Delicious itu disediakan pada harga RM89.90++ untuk dua orang.

http://www.kosmo.com.my/

‘Saya tetap suami dia’ - Tertekan selepas isteri mengaku sudah berkahwin lagi

Oleh HISHAM IDRIS
berita@kosmo.com.my



AHMAD keluar dari bangunan Jabatan Hal Ehwal Agama Terengganu di Kuala Terengganu semalam.


KUALA TERENGGANU – Sebelum ini, pahitnya bermadu hanya dirasai oleh isteri apabila suami mereka berkahwin lagi.


Tetapi bagi Ahmad (bukan nama sebenar), 58, beliau menderita ‘dimadu’ apabila isterinya didakwa mempunyai seorang lagi suami.


Ahmad mendakwa, isteri yang dipanggil Ju dan dikahwini sejak 1995 itu, secara senyap-senyap telah berkahwin dengan seorang lelaki lain lebih setahun lalu.


Menurutnya, perbuatan Ju sudah menjadi buah mulut rakan-rakan dan hanya terbongkar empat hari lalu apabila beliau bertanya kepada anak sulungnya berusia 11 tahun yang mengetahui ‘rahsia besar’ ibunya.


Jelasnya, pada mulanya isterinya yang berumur 43 tahun itu enggan mengakui perkara itu, tetapi selepas didesak barulah dia mengaku telah berkahwin dengan seorang lelaki lain.


“Yang menghiris hati saya apabila isteri saya mengaku menjadi isteri kedua suami barunya yang sudah mempunyai 10 orang anak,” katanya kepada Kosmo! di sini semalam.


Lelaki yang menampung hidup dengan menjual kereta terpakai itu mendakwa, dalam tempoh tersebut Ju telah menggilirkan hari untuk bersamanya dan suami barunya.


Ahmad berkata, Ju tinggal bersamanya dari Isnin hingga Khamis, manakala Jumaat hingga Ahad pula bersama suami keduanya.


“Selama ini saya tak tahu perkara ini sebab isteri saya bekerja di Kuala Terengganu dan ada kalanya dia tinggal di rumah orang tuanya.


“Rupa-rupanya selama ini dia tinggal bersama lelaki itu sedangkan saya menyangka dia di rumah ayahnya,’’ kata Ahmad yang mempunyai tiga orang anak dengan Ju.


Ditanya sama ada beliau mengenali ‘madunya’ itu, Ahmad menjawab: “Tak, saya tak kenal, tapi menurut isteri saya dia bekerja di Kuala Terengganu dan lelaki itu kenal saya.’’


Ahmad mengakui selama ini tidak ambil peduli apabila ada rakan-rakan bertanya mengenai rumahtangganya kerana mereka mendakwa kerap melihat Ju bersama seorang lelaki lain.


“Anak saya juga beritahu, emak mereka suruh memanggil lelaki itu sebagai Bak (panggilan untuk ayah) sama seperti mereka memanggil saya. Saya adalah Bak 1, lelaki itu pula Bak 2,’’ katanya.


Mengenai perasaannya dimadukan isteri, Alias berkata, beliau kini buntu dan sedar perbuatan isterinya menyalahi hukum agama.


http://www.kosmo.com.my/

Malaysian blogger arrested under tough internal security law

Agence France-Presse - 9/12/2008 6:18 AM GMT


Prominent Malaysian blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, who has targeted government figures on his website, was arrested Friday under internal security laws, his wife said.


Raja Petra, founder of the controversial Malaysia Today website, has already been charged with sedition and defamation after linking Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife to the sensational murder of a Mongolian woman.


The blogger's wife Marina Lee Abdullah said he was arrested by police at his home under legislation that allows for detention without trial.


"They came here and arrested him under the Internal Security Act for inciting hate in his articles on Islam," she told AFP.


A Home Ministry official said he was not immediately able to comment on the case.


The Internal Security Act, which human rights groups have pushed to have abolished, provides for renewable two-year periods of detention without trial and is normally used against suspected terrorists.


It has also been used to lock up opponents of the government, and last year five Hindu rights activists were detained after mounting an anti-discrimination protest that targeted government race policies.


Abdul Razak Baginda, a close friend of the deputy premier, has been charged with abetting the murder of 28-year-old Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu, whose body was blown up with explosives.


Two police officers from an elite force, whose duties included guarding the prime minister and his deputy, were also charged with the killing.


http://news.my.msn.com/

Malaysian opposition pursues MPs to Taiwan

Agence France-Presse - 9/12/2008 4:14 AM GMT


Malaysia's opposition admitted it might not meet its goal of seizing power by next week as it sent a delegation to pursue potential defectors from the government on a trip to Taiwan.


Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has repeatedly said he is "on track" to topple the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition by next Tuesday but his party said in a statement that it could be delayed.


"The process of transformation to a new government... is proceeding smoothly and we believe that Barisan Nasional will be replaced in a very short period," it said.


"The date might be delayed from September 16... but the agenda is still going on," it said, adding that one complicating factor had been the government's move to ship lawmakers overseas this week.


The ruling coalition sent 46 parliamentarians on a controversial and hastily arranged "study trip" to Taiwan, in what Anwar has said is an attempt to "corral and seclude" parliamentarians amid the high-stakes negotiations.


Leaders of Anwar's Keadilan party, which fronts the three-member opposition alliance, were headed there Friday to meet up with the delegation, in a "gatecrashing" move that is likely to irritate the government.


"We are looking forward to meeting with BN MPs and to have discussions and meals with them," Keadilan information chief Tian Chua, who is leading the four-person team, told AFP.


"Our team will also meet with Taiwan's government and opposition parties to brief them on the political situation in Malaysia," he added.


The leader of the government tour, Tiong King Sing, told the New Straits Times he was not worried about the opposition plans.


"They can send their leader, they can send whoever they want. It is up to them," he told the paper. "We have no fear."


Anwar needs 30 of the 140 coalition lawmakers to defect to form a new government. Most of the potential crossovers are believed to be from the Sabah and Sarawak states on Borneo island.


The opposition alliance gained unprecedented ground in March's general elections, securing a third of parliamentary seats and five states from the coalition, which has ruled since independence from Britain half a century ago.


http://news.my.msn.com/