Democracy Meets Tourism in Malacca Next Saturday (July 26)

The Malacca Bar Committee, Centre for Policy Initiatives (CPI), Civil Society Initiative for Parliamentary Reform (CSI-Parliament) like to invite you to the Conference on Roadmap to Local Elections held in King’s Hotel, Malacca, the coming Saturday (26 July).

While many in the opposition parties and civil society have been talking about reviving local elections for years, and it is clearly stated in the Federal Constitution that local government is within the state jurisdictions (Schedule 9 – State List – Item 7) and state laws may authorize the Election Commissions to conduct local elections (Article 113(4)), none of the Pakatan Rakyat-ruled states has taken any action towards that direction.

Why is such inaction?

How feasible is it for the states to carry out local elections on their own?

And how to push for local elections nationwide?

Can the National Council for Local Governments be a channel for federal-state negotiation on this?

This conference intends to seek concrete answers to these questions so that the public debate on whether to have local elections can move on to the next stage – either for more concrete action plan or for more in-depth concerns of local governance design. We proudly present distinguished panelists, Prof Abdul Aziz Bari, Tan Sri Dato Dr Chin Fook Weng, Mr Derek Fernandez, Dr Goh Ban Lee, Mr Andrew Khoo, Mr Edward Lee, Mr Ronnie Liu, Mr Victor Oorjitham and Mr Sivarasa MP to share their views in three sections titled “Why Local Democracy”, “The State Solutions” and “The Federal Solutions”.

While most conferences on democratization are organized in Kuala Lumpur, we believe it is all the more important to bring the agenda of institutional reform outside of the capital city to make it a more national one. To encourage participations from Malacca, all registrations will only cost RM 20, and an guided tour to the historical city in the evening, free for charge, is scheduled for those interested. You may therefore make next weekend your family holiday in Malacca. It will be democracy and vacation two-in-one!

For registrations, please contact Mr. Anthony Chua <ygchua@yahoo.com> , (Human Rights Sub-Committee Chairman), Mr. Lawrence Ang (Executive Secretary) – 06-284 5519 / 06-286 4514 or Mr Wong Chin Huat (chinhuatw@gmail.com) . Do register early as places (only 80) are being taken fast.

Detailed programme is as below:

Why must the police take Anwar so hastily?

Anwar was arrested by the police at about 12.55 pm outside his home. He has just returned from assisting ACA’s investigation on the IGP and AG and was about to go to IPK to assist investigation on the sodomy allegation against him.

Now, his arrest is not surprising. The question is why do the police need to do it in such a haste?

Does Anwar pose any clear and present danger to sodomize Mr Shaiful Bukhari or other “sweet young things” out there?

Is Anwar a clear and present danger that may tamper witness or obstruct justice?

Or, is he a clear and present danger to the BN government that he has won the Malaysiakini opinion poll after the televised debate on fuel hike?

If the answers to all the questions above are negative, then, the last possibility: there must be some negative correlation between the IQ and seniority in the police force.

If not driven by real security concern or political motive, would any smart police officer decide that Anwar must be arrested even before – rather than after – his investigation?

Given the poor credibility of the police and judiciary, already few would believe that Anwar may get a fair investigation and trial. Now, does anyone need any more convincing?

Najib may be saved legally, but the political damage is beyond repair

Balasubramaniam has retracted “the entire contents of my statutory declaration dated July 1, 2008″ which was said to have been made “under duress” (although he looked nothing like that in yesterday press conference) but especially seven paragraphs related to Najib Tun Razak, Abdul Razak Baginda and Altantuya.

I don’t think the damage on the deputy prime minister can be repaired even with this retraction. The goal of the game until yesterday was to keep the damaging revelations/claims from the public especially those having no access to internet or alternative news. That goal was scored yesterday with the statutory declaration that no newspaper or television channels dare to black out.

With this retraction, Najib may be saved legally at least from embarrassed questioning in court, but politically the damage is done and beyond repair. I wonder how he or UMNO leaders can now talk about expediting the transition of power from Abdullah. He now makes Dr Chua Soi Lek of MCA looking like a saint.

What is also beyond repair, in most Malaysians’ eyes I believe, is also the credibility of the police station. What had happened in the Brickfields Police Station that could make a man coming out to look more “under duress” than what he now claims to have suffered before the visit to the police station?

What Abdullah must do, if he is still interested in reform, is to have an independent commission investigating the whole tsudomy saga.

The following is the new statutory declaration released by P Balasubramanian today at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur.

What happened to Balakrishnan from 4.45 pm 3/7 to 10.20 am 4/7?

“Under duress” was the reason cited by private investigator for making the explosive statutory declaration about Najib’s relationship with Altantuya he now retracts, but you tell me, which Balasubramaniam looked more “under duress”?

 

 

 

 

 

 

BEFORE entering Brickfields Police Station at 4.45 pm 3/7 (the time and place, according to his original lawyer Americk Singh Sidhu)

AFTER entering Brickfields Police Station at 4.45 pm 3/7 (as he was with his new lawyer M Alurampalam at Prince Hotel about 10.20 am this morning)

Clearly, the truth must have been violated in this third episode of Tsudomy at some point, either before yesterday press conference with Anwar, or before the press conference this morning.

The one-million dollar questions: where? when? by whom? how?

I just hope there would not be the third high-profile sodomy victim.

Tsudomy now engulfs the second PM-in-waiting – Najib Razak

If the first tsudomy wave that appeared last Saturday has implicated the PR’s
prime minister in waiting, its second wave now engulfs the BN’s PM-in-waiting
- Najib Abdul Razak – too.

This is what Baginda Razak’s private investigator P Balasubramaniam claims

“Abdul Razak Baginda informed me that…

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

***Susan Loone warns that Anwar Ibrahim will be arrested within 48 hours, citing a post by a Dr Rafick. I am doubtful. Too many false alarms nowadays. Malaysians should just stay calm. We are living in an interesting time, just accept the reality that two prime-ministers in waiting have been implicated with a certain sexual preference. Don’t loose sight on the real issues. If you haven’t signed this memorandum for media freedom, do so now.

Read the following full 16-page statutory declaration sign by Abdul Razak Baginda’s private investigor P Balasubramaniam on July 1.

No calm before the Tsudomy?

Be warned, the Tsudomy is coming.

Will the allegation of sodomy against Anwar Ibrahim turn into another tsunami that will shorten Abdullah government’s lifespan if not end it immediately?

It looks like so. On one hand, the victim has walked into police station to give a testimony with a broad smile. On the other hand, Anwar is calling for a press conference to make ground-breaking revelations against his rival PM-in-waiting Najib. Go to his website to watch the live telecast but access may be a problem due to the expected huge traffic.

And KLSE has been shut down due to “multi-hardware failure and difficulty in connectivity”. One wonders if this problem will be solved by afternoon. After all, how many Malaysians would not think that this may be intended to prevent a collapse in the market should anything major happen today?

It is a time of trial. However, as a journalist friend reminds me, let us stay focused on the long term agenda and not react to every single development.

The question is, of course, would this tsudomy not sweep away our normal – even it is nothing usual now – political life with a constitutional government?

Let us hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

Anwar Ibrahim’s Police Report

POLICE REPORT LODGED BY DATO’ SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM

I, Anwar bin Ibrahim, (NRIC No: 470810-07-5095), hereby make the following police report based on information that I have recently received.

1.    This report is in relation to the investigation into the assault on me by the former IGP Tan Sri Rahim Noor on 20 September 1998. I believe Tan Sri Rahim Noor, after being prosecuted, pleaded guilty to the assault. I had lodged a police report in respect of the assault on 27.9.98.

2.    In relation to the investigation into the assault, I believe that the Investigating Officer ACP Mat Zain bin Ibrahim (now Datuk Mat Zain) had conducted a thorough investigation and prepared an investigation paper (“IP”) which was presented by October 1998 to the former Attorney General, Tan Sri Mokhtar Abdullah and his team which included the current Attorney General Tan Sri Gani Patail for further action.

3.    The said investigation paper concluded that Tan Sri Rahim Noor was the perpetrator of the assault on me. The said paper reached a conclusion after a thorough investigation which included medical reports by Hospital KL forensic specialists such as Dr. Ab. Halim Haji Mansar and Dr.Zahari bin Noor and statement from at least 60 witnesses. The medical reports concluded that the injury inflicted on me was consistent with an assault.

4.    Despite the contents of the Investigation paper and the medical reports already available, Tan Sri Mokhtar with the assistance of the current Attorney General, Tan Sri Gani Patail then obtained the services of another doctor whom I was informed to be one Dr. Abdul Rahman Yusof.

5.    Doctor Rahman in an undated and second report speaks of a “reconstruction of the scene” on 14 December 2008.  I believe that this so-called reconstruction of the scene never happened.

6.    It is an undisputable fact that Dr. Rahman’s reports in relation to the assault on me were done without actually even examining me at any time.

7.    However, despite the IP and the already existing medical reports, Tan Sri Mokhtar in his press statement of 5 January 1999 appears to accept the views of Dr. Rahman on the so-called “inconsistencies” in the other medical reports by the doctors who actually physically examined me.

8.    Tan Sri Mokhtar’s press statement also states that the investigation which had been carried out did not identify the person or persons responsible for my injuries. This is inconsistent with the IP which had already concluded by October 1998 that it was Rahim Noor who assaulted me. Tan Sri Mokhtar and his team therefore had willfully misled the public. As the police investigation done by Mat Zain had apparently not led to any conclusion, there was a public outcry and demand for a Royal Commission which was then set up. Tan Sri Mokhtar also made a false statement that the IP was submitted to him on 19.11.98. I believe that Tan Sri Gani Patail had full knowledge of the false contents of this press statement.

9.    I believe Tan Sri Musa Hassan and Tan Sri Gani Patail were present in Bukit Aman on 20 September 1998 and knew about the assault by Tan Sri Rahim Noor on me.   Tan Sri Musa and Tan Sri Gani further concealed the fact of the assault on me from the public until my black eye and injuries were revealed in court.

10.    I believe both Tan Sri Musa and Tan Sri Gani Patail were actively involved in the procuring of the second undated report by Dr. Rahman which makes false and incredible conclusions such as “the pattern and nature of the injuries are not consistent with a direct blow”, “accidental nature of the injuries could not be ruled out” and “self-inflicted nature of the injury should be considered”. They gave the instructions to Dr. Rahman to proceed to write this second report and were acting under the direction and/or jointly with Tan Sri Mokhtar Abdullah.

11.    These facts show that Tan Sri Musa Hassan, Tan Sri Gani Patail and SAC II Datuk Mat Zain bin Ibrahim (who, according to Dr. Rahman’s second report, accompanied him to the cell in Bukit Aman where I was detained and participated in the so-called reconstruction of the scene) conspired with Dr. Rahman to procure the production of this second report.  This was done so that my police report of 27.9.98 in respect of the assault would be regarded as a false police report for which I could be charged, or at the very least, to damage my credibility, so as to affect my defence in the other criminal cases where I was charged for so-called “corruption” and sodomy to facilitate a conviction.

12.    I wish to point out that Tan Sri Gani Patail was the senior prosecutor assisting Tan Sri Mokhtar in the prosecution against me. Tan Sri Musa Hassan was the Investigating Officer for my prosecution. I also believe, that in an unprecedented manner, an operation room specially for my prosecution was set up at Bukit Aman’s compound where all these individuals would meet regularly.

13.    This is not the first time that allegations of fabricating evidence had surfaced in connection with Tan Sri Gani Patail. I am informed that in the Federal Court decision Zainur bin Zakaria v Public Prosecutor [2001] 3 MLJ, Steve Shim CJ in delivering his judgment pointed out that “… was he not justified, on a prima facie basis, in complaining that Tan Sri Gani Patail’s conduct at the meeting on 2.10.1998 was an attempt to get Nalla to fabricate evidence in order to perfect charges against him for other alleged sexual offences?”  The references to “he” and “him” in that sentence are references to myself.

14.    In relation to the above, I refer to the following documents which will be of assistance to the police:

a.    The press statement by Tan Sri Mokhtar issued on 5.1.99.
b.    The notes of proceedings in the report of the Royal Commission of the evidence of Dr. Rahman
c.    The second undated report produced by Dr. Rahman exhibited in the Royal Commission report.

15.    I call for a fresh investigation into the fabrication of evidence in this case which I am advised is an offence contrary to section 192 of the Penal Code punishable up to 7 years imprisonment. I ask that all the persons who are implicated in the procuring of this second report by Dr. Rahman  i.e. Tan Sri Gani Patail, Tan Sri Musa Hassan, Dr. Rahman and Datuk Mat Zain bin Ibrahim be investigated thoroughly so that the truth is known and the offending individuals punished.
.
ANWAR BIN IBRAHIM
1st  July 2008

Seven Conspiracy Theories for the Sodomy II

Looking for a conspiracy theory to explain the Anwar-Saiful saga?

Here’s an interesting list of seven theories:

1. A certain political rival of Anwar

2. Anwar

3. Both of them

4. Saiful Bukhari

5. One of the close aides of either of the two top politicians

6. An even bigger player

7. It actually happened…

Read Scott Hong in full.

A must-read critique on Anwar’s handling of Saiful’s allegation

Some people think that the sodomy II saga could have been Anwar’s self-directed drama but I have not heard a single hypothesis with convincing story line as how and why Anwar would do it.

There is however one very sharp critique of Anwar’s handling of Saiful’s allegation by Ktemoc that you must not miss.

Quoting the opinion of an elder man,

“a cooler headed and confident leader in Anwar’s position could have adopted, regardless of whether Saiful was a victim (under duress) or a villain (under nefarious instructions).

He could have said (words to the effect): ”The sodomy allegations are absolutely ridiculous and I reject them totally. My main concern now is for the welfare and well-being of my aide, Saiful Bukhari Azlan.”

“I would like an opportunity for my medical representative to be present during poor Saiful’s medical examination, and to ascertain that he isn’t hurt, and to receive necessary medical attention if he has been.”

“I also want to ascertain that young Saiful had made the report on his own accord and without being under duress. If that has been the case, I’ll then take it from there.”

How statesman-like that would have been. Even if Saiful has been a treacherous culprit, Anwar Ibrahim would have emerged smelling of roses and looking like a demi-god of love, compassion and graciousness.

But alas, he failed his test under fire and has amply shown us that his concerns have been primary and mainly for ’himself, himself, himself – CUT!’

If Saiful had made the report under duress, then Anwar Ibrahim has been the one who has made the unkindest cut of all.”

Read the full text. Tell me what you think.