Thousands March to Protest Price Hikes !!

http://my.news.yahoo.com/protestors-descending-dataran-merdeka-rally-against-rising-cost-141743825.html

On New Year’s Eve, thousands march to protest price hikes but Putrajaya still in BN’s hands

The Malaysian Insider – 13 hours ago

Thousands defied Putrajaya and rallied at Dataran Merdeka tonight against the rising cost of goods and services, as police looked on after warning for days earlier it was a gathering to topple the ruling coalition.

The boisterous crowd which had streamed to the fringe of the square from Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Masjid India and Central Market was largely peaceful, but several lines of police officers stood between them and revellers who had gathered in the square for the national new year's eve countdown celebration.

"Inside is for those who want to celebrate New Year's Eve. If you want to protest, you may do so on the other side," said Dang Wangi OCPD Zainulddin Ahmad.

However, police, just after 11pm, relented as the streaming crowd breached the police and City Hall barricades to join the revellers in the square.

Just before midnight the concert at the Dataran Merdeka was halted in view of the surge of protestors. City Hall personnel formed a line in front of the stage, and the lights were turned off.

Despite a pledge to stay apolitical, the crowd repeatly chanted slogans against the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Umno and his Barisan Nasional coalition partners

Several opposition politicians present lending their support included P. Kasthuri, Nik Nazmi, Steven Sim and Teoh Kok Seong.

PAS supporters sat in a circle at the Jalan Parlimen-Jalan Raja intersection and listened to speeches from several party leaders instead of joining the throng that made it to Dataran Merdeka.

PAS central committee member Dzulkefly Ahmad explained how the public will be burdened by recent government policies, while vice-president Salahudin Ayub said that the people have shown courage by attending the rally despite threats from the government.

"There is no way for the government to ignore voices from all walks of life," he said.

A grandmother who wished to be known only as Julie said she was compelled to join the protest to urge the government to respect the people's wishes.

"The rakyat is suffering. The government cannot play deaf now," she said, holding a sign stating "Respect the voice of the people" in front of the police barricade.

The protesters had gathered earlier at the Sogo shopping centre in Kuala Lumpur with most clad in black, with some wearing the masks of English revolutionary Guy Fawkes, who has now become a global symbol of public revolt against the establishment.

However, the mood remained carnival and traders who had set up stalls in the vicinity of the Dataran Merdeka are doing a brisk business.

The crowd chanted "Bangkit, bangkit. Bangkit rakyat."

At Dataran Merdeka, a 1,000 strong crowd has begun to gather, also voicing their displeasure at the rising cost of living. A group of people were seen attempting to break through police barricades at Jalan Raja to get to Dataran Merdeka.

The protest is being organised by a group calling itself Gerakan Turun Kos Sara Hidup or Turun

Suaram, who has promised legal aid to any protestor detained by the police, had 10 personnel deployed in Dataran Merdeka

"We are here to check if there is any crackdown by the police and will provide legal assistance to those protesters who are arrested," said its coordinator Syukri Razab, adding that several lawyers were on stand-by to help.

The mass protest was prompted by the various recent increase in the prices of goods and services, such as the cutting of fuel and sugar subsidies, while other hikes are looming for next year, including electricity tariffs, assessment rates for KL properties, public transport charges and toll rates for major highways.

Police have been on high alert after claims circulated online purportedly claiming the intention of the protest is to topple the government.

Police said four non-governmental organisations (NGO) - Gerakan Turun Kos Sara Hidup (Turun), Solidarity Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM), PKR-backed group Jingga 13 and youth group Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) - as being the organisational and motivational force behind tonight's protest.

SMM chairman Mohamed Bukhairy Sofian, however, maintained that the gathering is to protest against the rising cost of living, and not to overthrow the Barisan Nasional (BN) government.

Anti-price hike movement Gerakan Turun Kos Sara Hidup (Turun) chairman Azan Safar had clarified also last week that the price hike protest is not linked to another gathering allegedly aimed at ousting the government. - December 31, 2013.

Kondo RM110 Juta di New York ?!

http://my.news.yahoo.com/najib-perlu-jelas-kondo-rm110-juta-milik-anak-062205641.html

Najib perlu jelas kondo RM110 juta milik anak tirinya, kata PKR

The Malaysian Insider – Mon, Dec 30, 2013

PKR hari ini meminta Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak menjelaskan pembelian sebuah unit kondominium berharga AS$33.5 juta (RM110 juta) di New York oleh anak tirinya, Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz, seperti dilaporkan sebuah portal berita baru-baru ini.

Pengarah Strategi PKR Rafizi Ramli berkata Najib mempunyai tanggungjawab moral untuk memberi penjelasan kerana ia berkaitan tentang ketelusan dan akauntabiliti.

"Perdana Menteri harus memberikan penjelasan kerana ia merupakan piawaian ketelusan dan akauntabiliti negara yang mengamalkan politik matang.

"Pihak yang terlibat dengan dana awam menjadi tanggungjawab kepada mereka menjelaskan dan membuktikan sumber dana itu sah dan tidak berkaitan dengan dana awam," kata beliau kepada pemberita di Petaling Jaya hari ini.

Sabtu lalu, portal berita Sarawak Report mendakwa Riza membeli sebuah kondominium tujuh bilik pada 19 November tahun lalu di West 63rd Street di Park Laurel, New York.

Riza merupakan anak kepada isteri perdana menteri Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor hasil perkahwinan sebelumnya.

Rafizi berkata dengan pendapatan Riza Shahriz yang pernah berkhidmat dalam beberapa firma sebelum ini tidak akan mampu membeli kondominium berharga RM110 juta.

"Jika gajinya beberapa juta ringgit sebulan barulah dia boleh kumpul wang sebanyak itu dan umurnya sama dengan saya. Kita tahu berapa pendapatan pegawai bank. Beliau pernah berkhidmat dengan firma audit KPMG dan HSBC di London.

“Pendapatannya kira-kira £8,000 sebulan, ditolak dengan cukai 40% dan insurans 11%. Pendapatan yang tinggal hanya £4,000 sebulan. Saya pernah tinggal di London, £4,000 sebulan ditolak perbelanjaan kereta dan kos sara hidup lain, jumlah yang boleh disimpan £3,000 sebulan atau £36,000 setahun bersamaan RM150,000,” katanya.

Ahli Parlimen Pandan itu berkata berdasarkan laporan media, Riza Shahriz menceburi pelaburan bidang perfileman menggunakan wang pelabur dari Asia dan Asia Tengah.

“Kita nak tahu siapa pelabur yang mempunyai wang sebegitu banyak. Mengikut laporan, dana yang disalurkan tidak mengikut cara biasa memerlukan sokongan bank dan jaminan. Sebab itu lebih cepat kerana mempunyai dokongan pelabur yang tidak diketahui.

"Saya pasti itu bukan wang simpanannya. Biarpun simpanan daripada kecil seperti ibunya. Saya jamin tak cukup sebanyak itu,” katanya yang mendakwa penerangan daripada Riza Shahriz akan menghapuskan kecurigaan awam dan menolak tanggapan wang itu datang daripada bantuan keluarga.

Selepas sidang media tersebut, Rafizi membuat laporan di Balai Polis Tropicana, Petaling Jaya kepada empat blog Umno yang bertanggungjawab menyebarkan berita dan emel palsu untuk mewujudkan suasana huru-hara.

Katanya, penyebaran berita palsu itu boleh menjejaskan ketenteraman awam dan mewujudkan suasana panik yang jelas melanggar undang-undang dan berbahaya.

“Sebelum ini, Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) selalu menangkap anak muda yang sering menulis di Facebook yang tidak disenangi pemerintah. Jika PDRM tegas dalam perkara kecil seperti komen di

Facebook, mengapa mereka tidak memanggil blogger Umno yang secara terang melanggar undang-undang.

“Jika PDRM hanya menyiasat saya dan bukan dalang di sebalik emel palsu, jelaslah polis hanya menjadi alat Umno bagi tujuan politik mereka,” katanya yang turut menyebut plot menggulingkan kerajaan hanyalah taktik Barisan Nasional menutup kemarahan rakyat akibat kenaikan harga barang.
 – 30 Disember, 2013.