SOURCE:
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2018/12/30/ppbms-rashid-cheered-for-demanding-govt-projects-to-help-party-chiefs/

PPBM’s Rashid cheered for demanding govt projects to help party chiefs

FMT Reporters

 -

December 30, 2018

Former EC chief Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman gets rousing applause after he demanded the government to help PPBM division chiefs.

PETALING JAYA: PPBM vice-president Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman has come to the defence of delegates at its general assembly who called for government resources to help the party.

The former Election Commission chief said PPBM must do all it could to win elections “by hook or by crook”.

“Looking at the situation now, we cannot defend our position as the governing party because the division chiefs are being left out,” he said in his winding-up speech to rousing applause from delegates.

“I am lucky that the prime minister gave me a job with a big salary so that I can support my division,” said Rashid

Earlier, PPBM Youth chief Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman warned party leaders against requesting government contracts and positions, saying they could be considered as corruption.

Rashid, who is heading a government committee on electoral reforms, said PPBM division heads should be given opportunities in order to fund party activities.

He said it was “stupid” to think that party leaders should not get help from the government.

“In elections, we must win by hook or by crook,” he said.

In his speech, Rashid also urged the government to restore the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK), which was abolished by the government in May.

JKKK was largely seen as politically charged, with Umno being accused of using the committee to ensure its influence in rural areas.

But Rashid said “government people” must occupy these positions.

“All development projects should be channelled to these committees and the division chiefs must benefit,” he said.

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SOURCE: 
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/2018/12/30/sombong-bodoh-tak-manfaat-kekuatan-kerajaan-kata-rashid/

Sombong, bodoh tak manfaat kekuatan kerajaan, kata Rashid

Adam Abu Bakar

 -

December 30, 2018

Ab Rashid Ab Rahman ketika berucap kepada 1,200 perwakilan PPBM hari ini.

PUTRAJAYA: Sombong dan bodoh kalau tidak menggunakan kekuatan kerajaan untuk pertahankan kemenangan, kata Naib Presiden PPBM, Tan Sri Ab Rashid Ab Rahman di tengah-tengah retorik pimpinan parti lain di mesyuarat agung tahunan hari ini.

Berucap kepada 1,200 perwakilan yang bersidang di Pusat Konvensyen Antarabangsa Putrajaya petang tadi, Ab Rashid terus-terang mengatakan parti-parti pemerintah harus memastikan ketua-ketua bahagian masing-masing mampu mempertahankan kawasan mereka daripada seteru politik.

“Tidak usah cakap sombong, bahawa jangan rampas kerja orang, ambil itu dan ini. Bagi saya pandangan itu pandangan bodoh. Dalam pilihan raya, dengan apa cara sekalipun, kita mesti menang,” katanya disambut tepukan gemuruh dan sorakan para perwakilan yang berdiri.

Rashid berkata pimpinan parti wajar memberi “senjata”, iaitu bantuan dan sokongan, kepada ketua-ketua bahagian dan cawangan agar wakil-wakil parti itu boleh berkhidmat dengan lebih berkesan di kawasan masing-masing.

“Sebab apa ketua bahagian ditinggalkan begitu sahaja? Saya ketua bahagian, dan saya diberikan kerja oleh perdana menteri, diberikan gaji yang besar maka saya mampu pertahankan bahagian saya,” katanya.

Rashid mengingatkan dia bukan seorang ahli politik dan tidak menyukai “cara ini”, tetapi parti politik mesti buat apa yang sepatutnya dalam berpolitik, termasuk menubuhkan semula Jabatan Pembangunan Persekutuan (JPP) dan Jawatankuasa Kemajuan dan Keselamatan Kampung Persekutuan (JKKKP).

“Bagi negeri yang kalah jangan putus asa, kena lawan balik. Kita mesti pertahankan kerusi, segala projek yang dikawal kerajaan persekutuan mesti disalurkan kepada JPP dan ketua bahagian mesti dapat faedah.

“Kembalikan sistem lantik ketua kampung dan sebagainya supaya kita dapat menyusup pengaruh,” katanya.

JPP adalah agensi yang menyelaras, memantau dan mengawal rapi pelaksanaan projek pembangunan persekutuan di peringkat negeri. Bertanggungjawab secara langsung kepada unit penyelarasan pelaksanaan di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, ia mengundang kontroversi kerana didakwa mewujudkan ‘kerajaan dalam kerajaan’.

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SOURCE:
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2018/12/31/bersih-condemns-rashid-reminds-ppbm-of-5-year-contract-to-serve/?utm_medium=push&utm_source=webpush

Bersih condemns Rashid, reminds PPBM of 5-year ‘contract’ to serve

FMT Reporters

 -

December 31, 2018

Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman says there is nothing wrong in demanding government contracts to benefit PPBM.

PETALING JAYA: Electoral reforms coalition Bersih 2.0 has joined the chorus of condemnation over remarks by a PPBM leader demanding government projects to help the party’s machinery.

Saying it was shocked by PPBM vice-president Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman’s speech at the party’s general assembly yesterday, Bersih said it raised suspicions of government leaders’ commitment to do away with patronage.

“To be the government is not a reward, but a responsibility entrusted to politicians by the people. Serve diligently, effectively and honestly and the people will renew the contract every five years,” the coalition said in a statement.

Rashid, the former Election Commission chairman, drew flak from some party leaders for his call to give party chieftains government contracts, although it was greeted with applause from delegates attending the PPBM general assembly.

Among others, Rashid said it would be stupid not to demand government favours for the ruling political party, saying elections must be won “by hook or by crook”.

Bersih reminded PPBM members that it was the practice of political patronate and abuse of government resources that led to Umno’s fall.

“Has Rashid and the cheering delegates forgotten so quickly why Malaysians rejected the previous Umno/Barisan Nasional government just seven months ago?” it asked.

Bersih also urged Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to come down hard on corruption by implementing tough laws against cronyism as well as to regulate political financing.

It also called for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to be made answerable to Parliament, and for the Election Commission to be vested with prosecutorial powers against election offenders.

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Court dismisses bid to postpone takeover of Sri Maha Mariamman temple site !

SOURCE:
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2018/11/435558/court-dismisses-bid-postpone-takeover-sri-maha-mariamman-temple-site

Court dismisses bid to postpone takeover of Sri Maha Mariamman temple site






The High Court today dismissed with costs an application by three devotees of the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in USJ 25 near Subang Jaya to defer implementation of the interim consent judgment and writ of possession by One City Development Sdn Bhd, the developer-owner of the temple site. (NSTP Archive)

By Bernama - November 29, 2018  

SHAH ALAM: The High Court today dismissed with costs an application by three devotees of the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in USJ 25 near Subang Jaya to defer implementation of the interim consent judgment and writ of possession by One City Development Sdn Bhd, the developer-owner of the temple site.

Judge M. Gunalan made the decision in chambers with regard to the application by the plaintiffs, namely S. Thangaraju, 37, M. Mohanakrishnan, 59, and S. Nagarajah, 52

Besides One City Development, the trio had also named as the defendants one K. Chellappa; one M. Nagaraju; the Selangor Town and Country Planning director and the Selangor government.

Lawyer Claudia Cheah Pek Yee, for One City Development, said to reporters after the proceedings that the court decided, among other things, that the plaintiffs had no locus standiand that One City Development is the rightful owner of the land where the temple stands.

The plaintiffs had filed the application on Nov 12 to postpone the implementation of the interim consent judgment of March 11, 2014, and writ of possession that was to have been executed on Nov 22.

On Nov 10, they had also sought a court order to nullify the consent judgment and an injunction to prohibit the defendants and others from entering the temple compound and using coercion to take possession of the temple site.

The issue of the relocation of the temple triggered riots early Monday and Tuesday near the temple, resulting in a firefighter being seriously injured, several other people also hurt, 23 cars torched and a section of the One City Mall damaged.

The police have arrested 30 people so far to assist in the investigation into the riots. -- Bernama

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COMMENT:

Banks always give "unfair" terms and conditions - and sort of "force" us to sign - Bank Negara may have overlooked on some of the unfair terms and conditions - AND customers are always RIGHT - So its TIME to talk back and fight for your RIGHTS if you think that your banks have treated you unfairly.

Banks are NOT always right - the bank officers may also have mis-interpreted certain terms and conditions - Do not be afraid to talk back and file a complaint or take legal actions against your banks or bank officers that you think "mistreated" you!

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SOURCE: 
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2018/12/27/dont-hesitate-to-challenge-unfair-contracts-says-couple-who-won-cimb-case/

Don’t hesitate to challenge unfair contracts, says couple who won CIMB case

V Anbalagan

 -

December 27, 2018

Anthony Lawrence Bourke (right) and wife Alison Deborah Essex Bourke who won their case against CIMB Bank last week.

PETALING JAYA: A British couple who won their case against a commercial bank which attempted to use an exemption clause in a housing loan agreement to ward off a civil suit has advised customers to test their rights in court.

Anthony Lawrence Bourke said they should first get legal opinion whether to proceed or otherwise.

“In our case, the first lawyer whom we met was not familiar with the subject matter but was kind enough to refer to another counsel who agreed to take up the case,” Anthony told FMT via e-mail.

He and his wife Alison Deborah Essex Bourke, who now live in the United Kingdom, filed the suit in 2015 against CIMB Bank Berhad on the grounds that a clause in the agreement excluded the bank from liability.

It was a setback for the couple when the High Court in late 2015 dismissed their claim.

Two years ago, the Court of Appeal reversed that decision and last week the Federal Court, in a landmark ruling, affirmed the finding – a small win for bank customers.

“It was costly, stressful and time-consuming to pursue the action but we were encouraged by the unanimous decision of the Appeal court judges in agreeing with us and this gave us more confidence in the Malaysian justice system,” Anthony said.

Anthony said the legal battle was challenging but as minion litigants against the giant bank, they had to be courageous and patient.

“It is a long process with many decisions to make along the way but we pursued our case as we believe the bank was unjust to us,” he added.

Lawyer Ong Yu Jian.

Their lawyer Ong Yu Jian said the couple wanted to buy a property as they were participants of the “Malaysia My Second Home programme” where the government allows foreigners to live in the country on a long-stay visa of up to 10 years.

The bank, in 2008, granted them a term loan facility of RM715,000 to purchase the property in Kuala Lumpur from a developer.

The property was still under construction and payment was to be made progressively by the bank based on the certificate of completion issued by the architect to the developer.

In early 2014, the developer sent an invoice seeking a progress payment of RM25,557.12 but CIMB did not release the money as it needed to conduct site visit inspections on the property.

A year later, the developer terminated the sale and purchase agreement (SPA) with the couple as the bank had not paid the money.

The couple filed a claim against the bank for breach of contract, negligence and breach of fiduciary duty, seeking for damages suffered resulting from the termination of the SPA.

CIMB took the position that the courts must give effect to the clear and plain meaning of the words in exclusion clauses, regardless of how unreasonable it might be.

The three-member Federal Court said the exemption clause in the agreement was against public policy as Section 29 of the Contracts Act 1950 prohibited the right to sue.

Justice Balia Yusof Wahi, who delivered the ruling said the bargaining powers of the parties to that agreement were different and never equal.

“In today’s commercial world, the reality is that if a customer wishes to buy a product or obtain services, he has to accept the terms and conditions of a standard contract prepared by the other party.

“There is the patent unfairness and injustice to the plaintiffs. It is unconscionable on the part of the bank to seek refuge behind the clause and abuse the freedom of contract,” he said.

He said the right of access to the courts had always been jealously guarded by the common law and the general principle remained that contracts which sought to oust the jurisdiction of the courts were invalid.

Ong said this decision, was essentially a clarion call to banks that if you made a mistake you would have to pay for it, like everyone else.

He said the public did not have to worry anymore as the Federal Court had said that this sort of exclusion clause was no longer enforceable.

He said the court ruling would compel banks and other financial institutions to remove unfair exclusion clauses in their standard agreements.

Ong said this decision simply forced them to be more fair and careful when excluding their liability.

“If there are no longer such clauses to protect them from negligence or breach of contract, it would invariably force them to be more careful in their conduct.

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Kutipan derma PH tarik perhatian !

Source:
http://www.utusan.com.my/berita/nasional/penglibatan-taikun-dalam-kutipan-derma-ph-tarik-perhatian-1.802593

Sofian Baharom & Juani Munir Abu Bakar

10 Disember 2018 6:33 PM

Penglibatan taikun dalam kutipan derma PH tarik perhatian

Perdana Menteri yang juga Pengerusi Pakatan Harapan, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad (tiga, kiri) bergambar bersama pembeli gambar iaitu Pengarah Urusan Platinum Victory, Datuk Seri Gan Yu Chai (empat, kiri) dan Pengarah Eksekutif Platinum Victory, Gan Yee Hin (dua, kiri) yang telah membida dengan harga RM500,000 pada Majlis Makan Malam Amal Pakatan Harapan 2018 di Pusat Konvensyen Antarabangsa Putrajaya (PICC), malam tadi. Turut kelihatan Timbalan Perdana Menteri merangkap Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Majlis Makan Malam Amal Pakatan Harapan 2018 Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (tiga, kanan), Presiden Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (BERSATU) Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yaasin (dua, kanan), Presiden Parti Amanah Negara (AMANAH), Mohamad Sabu (kiri) dan Setiausaha Agung DAP, Lim Guan Eng (kanan). - UTUSAN ONLINE/fotoBERNAMA

PUTRAJAYA 10 Dis. - Majlis Makan Malam Amal Pakatan Harapan (PH) malam tadi yang bertujuan mengumpul dana secara telus dan berintegriti terus ke akaun pakatan itu menyaksikan penglibatan beberapa taikun kontroversi yang menarik perhatian ramai.

Terdapat daripada mereka sanggup membelanjakan setengah juta ringgit bagi membida gambar-gambar bersejarah para pemimpin utama PH pada malam tersebut.

Antara yang menarik perhatian adalah penjualan gambar kenangan sidang akhbar pertama Tun Dr. Mahathir selepas mengangkat sumpah sebagai Perdana Menteri bersama pemimpin gabungan parti PH pada Mei lalu, yang mencatatkan jualan lelongan tertinggi iaitu RM500,000.

Potret tersebut telah dibeli oleh Pengarah Urusan Platinum Victory Sdn. Bhd., Datuk Seri Gan Yu Chai yang syarikatnya terlibat dalam pembangunan projek kediaman Rumah Mampu Milik Wilayah Persekutuan (Rumawip) di bawah kerajaan terdahulu.

Selain itu, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif (CEO) syarikat pengeluar sarung tangan getah terbesar di dunia, Supermax Corporation Berhad, Datuk Seri Stanley Thai turut membeli gambar yang merakamkan saat-saat Dr. Mahathir memulakan tugasnya sebagai Perdana Menteri pada harga bidaan RM350,000.

Stanley sebelum ini, pernah menggemparkan negara apabila memohon maaf kepada bekas Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak atas penglibatannya dengan kempen pembangkang ketika itu dalam Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-13 (PRU-13).

Beliau turut mengakui dipengaruhi dan dieksploitasi oleh pihak pembangkang ketika itu untuk mendapat sokongan dan undi orang Cina pada pilihan raya.

Beliau dan isterinya pernah dihadapkan ke Mahkamah Sesyen di Kuala Lumpur pada 2014 atas tuduhan menyampaikan maklumat yang tidak boleh didapati secara umum berhubung saham APL Industries Bhd. (APLI).

Jutawan permaidani, J. Deepak pula telah membeli gambar potret hitam putih Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail pada harga RM150,000.

Nama Deepak menjadi terkenal apabila beliau menyaman Najib dan isteri, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor serta dua syarikat untuk menuntut ganti rugi berjumlah RM676 juta iaitu kerugian yang dialaminya dalam transaksi pembelian tanah.

Gambar Presiden Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin telah dibeli oleh Pengerusi Eksekutif Metro Kajang Management Sdn. Bhd., Datuk Alex Chen Kooi Chew pada harga RM110,000.

Pengurusan kanan Metro Kajang iaitu Pengarah Urusannya, Tan Sri Eddy Chen dilantik sebagai pengerusi baharu Perbadanan PR1MA Malaysia pada 1 Oktober lalu.

Gambar Setiausaha Agung DAP, Lim Guan Eng dan bapanya, Lim Kit Siang telah dijual pada harga RM100,000 kepada warga China yang hanya dikenali sebagai ‘Hwang’ dengan bidaan RM100,000 manakala gambar Presiden Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah), Mohamad Sabu pula dibeli individu bernama Salahuddin dari Pahang yang membida RM10,000. - UTUSAN ONLINE

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Source: 
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2018/12/11/im-not-offended-says-minister-missing-in-picture-sold-at-ph-fundraiser/

I’m not offended, says minister ‘missing’ in picture sold at PH fundraiser

Ho Kit Yen

 -

December 11, 2018

Entrepreneur Development Minister Redzuan Yusof comparing the original picture to the one sold at the Pakatan Harapan fundraising dinner recently.

PUTRAJAYA: Entrepreneur Development Minister Redzuan Yusof says he is not offended that his image was removed from a picture showing Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders which was auctioned off at the coalition’s fundraising event recently.

He said he was not blaming anyone over the removal of his image and believed it might have been a mistake.

“I can’t say what is the motive behind it but I think this could be just a mistake by the printer,” Redzuan said at his ministry here.

“It’s up to the conscience of those who had reproduced the picture and sold it for over half a million”.

Pictures of the photograph without Redzuan, who is a PPBM member, went viral on social media today.

The picture was sold for RM500,000 to businessman and Platinum Valley managing director Gan Yu Chai during the PH charity dinner recently.

Redzuan said the original photograph which showed him with Dr Mahathir Mohamad and other top PH leaders was taken hours after Mahathir was sworn in as prime minister following the coalition’s election victory in May.

In the original photograph, Redzuan could be seen smiling behind the prime minister.

But he was missing in the version that was sold on Sunday.

The picture was among items auctioned during a dinner in Putrajaya to raise funds for the coalition as it entered its seventh month in power.

A senior source in PH confirmed that Redzuan’s image was missing from the picture.

“It’s strange. We are not sure if this is unintentional or has to do with some party rivalry in PPBM,” the source said.

When asked if he was considering filing a police report over the matter, Redzuan, who is the Alor Gajah MP, said there was no need to do so.

“Why should I pursue this issue any further?

“To me, it is the responsibility of the printer to come forward and explain about this mistake,” he said, adding that PH had to justify the RM500,000 price tag to the buyer.

Redzuan said mistakes should not have happened because the picture captured a historic moment for PH.

“If you are selling a piece of history, then you sell history as it is and do not alter history,” he said

.

Source: 
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2018/12/10/we-are-responsible-for-malaysia-says-dr-m-after-tmj-outburst/

We are responsible for Malaysia, says Dr M after TMJ outburst

Soo Wern Jun

 -

December 10, 2018

Dr Mahathir Mohamad says Putrajaya is responsible for all of Malaysia.

PUTRAJAYA: Dr Mahathir Mohamad today defended one of his Cabinet members after the Johor crown prince accused Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar of interfering in the state’s affairs.

The prime minister was responding to comments by Tunku Mahkota Johor (TMJ) Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, who said the issues surrounding the development of Pulau Kukup were not for the federal government to decide.

Mahathir denied that Putrajaya had intruded into Johor’s affairs.

“We have not touched on the Sultan,” he told reporters today.

“All we have touched is that Pulau Kukup should not be developed, (and) it should remain as a forest reserve, particularly as it is, a special mangrove forest.

“We don’t want the mangrove forest to be cut down for development. It may be sultanate land, but it cannot be developed,” he said.

Yesterday, Tunku Ismail called Xavier an “outsider”, saying his ministry had no jurisdiction “to override the Johor State Constitution”.

“The only one who can change the constitution is the Ruler. The letter Johor have issued is clear that Pulau Kukup will remain protected as a National Park,” he said.

He said Johor would deal with the issue in “our own ways”.

“This is Johor, where there is a Constitution that existed even before Malaysia was formed,” said TMJ.

Mahathir today said Putrajaya was responsible for the whole of Malaysia.

“Malaysians are not outsiders, the federal government are not outsiders,” said Mahathir.

“We are responsible for all the things that happen in the whole country.”

The Cabinet has earlier decided that Pulau Kukup would remain a national park.

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Source: 
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2018/12/05/ask-national-security-council-about-yemen-ops-hisham-tells-liew/?utm_medium=push&utm_source=webpush

Ask National Security Council about Yemen ops, Hisham tells Liew

Adam Abu Bakar

 -

December 5, 2018

Former defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

KUALA LUMPUR: Former defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein today skirted questions on the Ops Yemen 2, carried out during his watch purportedly without Cabinet approval, telling Deputy Defence Minister Liew Chin Tong to seek clarification from the National Security Council (NSC).

Hishammuddin did not respond to media questions on whether the operation in support of the Saudi-led Arab Alliance offensive in Yemen needed Cabinet approval.

“He (Liew) should know what the NSC is. I think he has forgotten the NSC. He said the operation was not brought up in Cabinet, so what about NSC? Ask NSC, ask them what we actually did.

“However, the information must be declassified as it is of national importance,” he told reporters at Parliament

Liew told the Dewan Rakyat on Monday that Malaysian Armed Forces clandestinely aided the Arab Alliance under Ops Yemen 2 which had no prior Cabinet approval.

He said Malaysia’s involvement was limited to tactical and logistical support for Saudi Arabia.

Amanah’s international bureau chairman Raja Kamarul Bahrin then accused the previous Barisan Nasional government of conspiring with the Arab Alliance to “commit sin” against the Yemeni people.

He said Malaysia’s action to provide logistical support for the war in Yemen was no different from the US’ supply of weapons to the Israeli military to kill Palestinians.

“Our hands are stained with the blood of the Yemenis killed by the bullets and explosives we supplied,” he said.

Hishammuddin said he was prepared to be investigated over whether his actions were appropriate or had contravened provisions in the Federal Constitution.

“I don’t fear anything. There are those who say there is blood on our hands, but these people don’t talk about our troops rescuing Malaysians in Yemen,” he added.

He said he was puzzled as to why this issue was still being raised even though he had explained it many times as the defence minister in the previous administration.

“Maybe this (deputy) minister still has the opposition mindset, unable to change, pointing fingers, finding fault.

“I believe they are trying to divert attention from their weaknesses,” he said.

Meanwhile, when approached by reporters, Liew reiterated that the Cabinet must approve all matters requiring government funding.

“This matter definitely was not decided in Parliament or the Cabinet, and it was a major decision that involved an expenditure of RM14 million over three years.

“It also involved a large number of Armed Forces personnel,” he said.

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Provide legal aid to all foreigners, Msian Bar urges Putrajaya !

Source: 
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2018/10/30/provide-legal-aid-to-all-foreigners-bar-urges-putrajaya/

Provide legal aid to all foreigners, Bar urges Putrajaya

V Anbalagan

 -

October 30, 2018 3:50 PM

Bar president George Varughese hopes RM14 million will be set aside under Budget 2019 for the National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK). (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Bar hopes the government will set aside about RM14 million for the National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK) in Budget 2019 for lawyers to represent marginalised groups in criminal proceedings, its president, George Varughese, said.

“We must provide access to justice to all, including foreigners who are vulnerable,” Varughese told FMT on his expectations on the budget which Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng will table on Friday.

He said Thailand was a fine example that provided legal aid to all foreigners in criminal cases.

“We too should work towards that goal if the international community is to hold us in high esteem for providing access to justice to all,” he said.

Currently, he said YBGK only provided assistance to Malaysians and also foreigners aged below 18.

Lawyers appear for suspects during remand proceedings, bail applications and to mitigate when the accused persons plead guilty to a crime.

He said the Bar was of the view that a budget of between RM10 million and RM12 million should be allocated to YBGK at the present rate of work it is doing.

“Another RM2 million will be sufficient to cover all foreigners, based on statistics available from the lower courts,” he added.

YBGK was incorporated in 2011 by ex-prime minister Najib Razak and the government provided a launching grant of RM5 million while the Bar contributed another RM200,000.

For 2012, the government provided RM10 million and for 2013 another RM20 million.

“From the beginning, the government has provided a total of RM35 million. All this money was parked with the finance ministry and the allocation was released in stages to YBGK,” he said

Varughese said it was unclear how much allocation was set aside to YBGK from 2014 to 2017.

“We have been informed by the managers of YBGK that it received RM9 million from the Prime Minister’s Department this year,” he added.

YBGK is a joint enterprise between the government and the three Bars of Malaysia — the Malaysian Bar, Sabah Law Association and the Advocates’ Association of Sarawak.

It was found that 80% of those charged in court for criminal cases were unrepresented because they could not afford the legal fees.

However, over the last two years, YBGK ran into hiccups due to lack of funding and reports of alleged false claims by lawyers.

Between April 2012 and December 2015, YBGK lawyers handled 535,986 cases.

Suu Kyi loses yet another award - for her inaction and silent against atrocities and genocides !!

COMMENTS: 

With so many awards being striped from Suu Kyi, she is "disowned" by the international community, and those that once gave her the "awards" felt betrayed and ashamed by Suu Kyi  inaction and silent behaviour and attitude!  SHAME on Suu Kyi !!  She is one of them now - the same gang and mind with the dictatorship juntas that she so disliked before!

SHAME on Suu Kyi, and shame on the Myanmar junta government for the atrocities and genocides committed on the Rohingya people!

The United Nations and USA must take actions on the military juntas government of Myanmar and send those responsible for the atrocities and genocides to the International Court of Justice for trial !! 

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Source:
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/highlight/2018/11/30/suu-kyi-loses-yet-another-award-freedom-of-city-award-for-paris/

Suu Kyi loses yet another award — Freedom of City award for Paris

AFP

 -

November 30, 2018

Suu Kyi has award revoked because of multiple violations of human rights recorded in Myanmar. (Bernama pic)

PARIS: Paris city will strip Aung San Suu Kyi of her honorary freedom of the French capital over her failure to speak out against a crackdown on Myanmar’s Rohingya minority, a mayor’s spokeswoman said Friday.

Mayor Anne Hidalgo decided to revoke the honour because of the “multiple violations of human rights recorded in Myanmar and the violence and persecution by Myanmar’s security forces against the Rohingya minority”, the spokeswoman told AFP.

The move, which follows similar decisions by Glasgow, Edinburgh and Oxford, would make Myanmar’s de facto leader the first person to lose the freedom of the French capital, a purely symbolic award.

The move will be finalised by the city council at a meeting in mid-December, the spokeswoman said.

Nobel peace laureate Suu Kyi, once feted as a democracy icon in the mould of Nelson Mandela for leading opposition to Myanmar’s military junta, has fallen out of favour in the West over her inaction in the face of the crackdown on the mostly Muslim Rohingya.

More than 700,000 Rohingya fled violence in the Buddhist-majority country last year, mostly to neighbouring Bangladesh.

A UN rights team found evidence of widespread murder, rape, torture and arson and called for top generals to be prosecuted for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Hidalgo’s office said the mayor wrote to Suu Kyi late last year to “express her concern and call for respect for the rights of the Rohingya minority”, but that the letter went unanswered.

Suu Kyi’s supporters argue that she has no powers to rein in the army.

She has already been stripped of her honorary Canadian citizenship and her Amnesty International’s “Ambassador of Conscience Award”.

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