Jabu: I will not be distracted by bloggers

By Churchill Edward

KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang said he will not fall prey to bloggers who are trying to keep him away from his constituents.

Jabu, who holds the portfolios of Minister of Rural Development and Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communications, said bloggers’ criticism of him would not prevent him from maintaining his personal touch with the grassroots.

He said what the bloggers were trying to do was to confine him to his desk answering their accusations and allegations, which he would never do because he needed to know the feel of the ground.

He said as a minister he would be too busy just to sit down at his desk responding to bloggers’ criticisms, particularly those levelled against him, the state government and the Barisan Nasional (BN).

“If I am confined to my desk at my office answering to the blogs, I will be falling into the trap of this people (bloggers) who are trying to entrap me or to immobilise me so that I will not be in contact with the people who depend on the portfolios assigned to me,” Jabu said to reporters in his office in Wisma Bapa Malaysia after receiving a courtesy call from The Netherlands Ambassador to Malaysia, Lody Embrechts, yesterday.

He said: “I don’t have any intention to reply (to the bloggers) otherwise I will end up not being mobile. My portfolios require that I look after rural development apart from visiting rural areas. These are my priorities,” he said.

Jabu, who is Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy president said: “I have my own conscience and programmes. If the best of what I have done are still not good to the people who disagree with me, then it is up to them to make their interpretations.”

He said he would rather leave it to the general public (or the electorates) to make judgment on his performance.

“Everybody is entitled to his own opinion. They can do what they like as long as it is within limits. But I believe nobody, including the bloggers, are perfect,” he said. He said he would not copy his critics by setting up his own blog just to counter them.

Of late blogs set up by some Dayak intellectuals have mushroomed. Some of the articles published by these blogs are not so kind to the government.

Jabu said he could not tell if the criticisms would affect the election result of the next State polls which could be held before 2011.

Jabu yesterday went on to relate what he had done since becoming minister in the 1970s.

“One of the things that I do is to consistently believe that it was indeed a good thing that I am entrusted by the government to pursue an organisation, Salcra. It started in 1976 after I introduced the Salcra Bill in the State Legislative Assembly,” he said.

“I tell you about my experience. Since 15 years ago there were already a lot of criticisms levelled against me and most of them were from my own people and community (the Iban) and I don’t expect it to end. Even now we have the blocking and blogging which I don’t have any control over,” he said.

By ‘blocking’, it could only be assumed that Jabu was referring to illegal blockades aimed at stopping land development.

“But my conscience tells me that when I do my job, I will do it well. As chairman of Salcra, despite all the criticisms from the opposition, the bloggers and blocking included, last year I was successful in distributing RM52 million dividends to 16,000 participants of Salcra,” he said.

“And in spite of it I didn’t get any credit from them including those from my own community. But I don’t mind that. It was not that I wanted credit or praise. No. But it is my duty to serve and if I can help a lot of people - more people would be happy. There were few people (who are) not so happy but then such is the order of the world,” he said.

He said should he stop becoming Salcra (Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority) chairman 15 years ago, he could not imagine as to what would happen to the participants now.

“Now Salcra has managed to pay out dividends to last year’s 16,000 participants who were among the more than 80,000 people benefitting from dividends worth a total RM295 million,” he said.

“If there are people still criticising me for that, I advise them to name any organisation which can performed 10 per cent of what Salcra - the organisation that was entrusted to me to lead - had done,” he said.

“I leave it to the general public to make judgment. I think, in whatever we do and for as long as we got clear conscience, commitment to people, to get results, practising social corporate responsibility and being accountable to the Salcra Board as well as to government, my conscience is clear,” he said.

Jabu also commented on the request by the blog dayakbaru.com to the government to set up ‘Dayak Centre for Community Change’.

He said the blog may come up with whatever name they wished for such centre.

“It may sound palatable (pleasant) but no name can be impressive enough unless they (proposers) can proof themselves by delivering the goods,” he said.

Jabu said he had endured criticisms for the last 35 years, including those coming from the blogs now, and that he was not about to throw in the towel.

HOPE FOR SARAWAK?

Malaysiakini

“It looks like there is now hope for Sarawak.”

MCPX

This was the text of a SMS from a KL-based senior bank manager, a Lun Bawang, after reports on Saturday night that PAS had crushed the Barisan Nasional and won the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat with a 2,631-vote majority in a by-election.

This would be the second win for the Pakatan Rakyat after the March 2008 general elections, confirming waning support for the country’s ruling coalition.

The Orang Ulu senior bank manager, a PKR supporter, was referring to PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim-led Pakatan Rakyat’s (PKR/DAP/PAS) campaign already underway to wrest control of Sarawak from the BN in the next state elections due at the latest by 2011.

He said: “The KT result confirmed for the second time, after Permatang Pauh, that the wind of change that swept the country on March 13, 2008 is real and here to stay.”

“In fact it is gathering strength instead of dying out as the BN would hope!”

He added: “To the Sarawakians it says the moment of truth is now. It’s time the voters show (Chief Minister) Taib Mahmud the final curtain.”

There has been talk that long-serving Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud may call the state elections earlier. Although he has publicly ruled out elections this year, many believe it will be to pave the way for his son Sulaiman, 39, the Samarahan MP and deputy tourism minister, to eventually take over from him.

‘Change in the making’

Almost without any exception local PKR party leaders and supporters said the Kuala Terengganu by-election result which many people had believed would be won by the BN would be a big boost to the morale of Pakatan Rakyat, believing it to reflect the national mood for change.

In its major roadshows so far in places like Kuching, Sibu and Miri, PKR has proclaimed that “Change We Can” and “Change in the Making” as their campaign theme in both urban and rural areas of Sarawak.

Sarawak has 71 state assembly seats , of which eight are in the hands of the Opposition (DAP 6, PKR 2) and one Independent (pro-BN).

Senior leaders of state BN component parties Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Sarawak United People’s Party(Supp) have already warned their BN colleagues to take the threat from Pakatan, especially PKR, seriously.

Even within Taib’s own party Parti Pesaka Bumiputera (PBB) some senior leaders – all Malays – have told the chief minister not to take the threat from PKR lightly.

But Taib doesn’t seem worried or seem to care, said several political observers.

PKR has already penetrated far and deep into Dayak areas which represent a total of 28 state seats while DAP’s support among the Chinese, especially in the urban centres, is growing too.

This will be at the expense of largely SUPP. DAP’s six state assemblypersons won in urban areas, and political observers say DAP is likely to make greater impact the next round in more areas in central (Sibu) and northern (Miri) Sarawak regions.

DAP eyes Chinese majority areas

There are 17 Chinese majority and mixed state constituencies ,most of which are likely to be contested by DAP with a few going to PKR’s Chinese candidates.

The Malay/Melanau areas with a total of 25 state seats are going to prove to be a tough nut to crack. Taib’s PBB has a strong hold on the Malay/Melanau seats.

But the vulnerable ones are said to be in and around Kuching ,in Simunjan, Gedong and Sibu, largely because of local issues and problems. In the last state elections, PAS lost narrowly in one of the Malay seats in the Simunjan area.

A combined Pakatan Rakyat campaign could have a significant impact, just as what has been seen in Permatang Pauh and Kuala Terengganu.

If the Pakatan Rakyat were to win also in Pensiangan (a by-election will be held if PBRS leader Joseph Kurup lost his appeal), that would further confirm a swing among the rural constituents towards the Opposition and spell big trouble for Sabah BN in the next general elections as well.

In Sarawak, the Opposition has played up to great effect, various issues regarding the growing disquiet over the land issue, Taib’s leadership, amassed wealth of top politicians in the state, cronyism, nepotism, corruption and marginalisation of various groups in business, civil service and other economic opportunities.

PKR will continue with its roadshows ahead of the state elections and will bring in their bigwigs, including Pakatan Rakyat’s chief minister and mentris besar, to meet the locals and give a boost to their local party leaders’ efforts to shore up support for their respective parties.

The three major dinner gatherings in Kuching, Sibu and Miri have attracted thousands to come and listen to such leaders as Anwar Ibrahim and Selangor Mentri Besar Khalid Ibrahim.

Other road shows will be held in other major towns in Sarawak with seminars in between to prepare party members for election work.

A senior party leader told Malaysiakini that they will expose their potential candidates at such gatherings and seminars to the grassroots. “We believe the state elections could be held this year and so we must be prepared,” he added.

COULD THIS BE DUE TO RIVER POLLUTION?

I strongly believed that the death fishes that found floating in Sungai Tiau Mujong Kapit was caused by river pollution. Many of the fishes are protected species (Empurau and Semah). If no effort to stop our forest destruction there will be no more of these special fish in future.

I urge the relevant authority to look after this problem seriously. Stop all the forest destruction activities, that activity only benefit those intruder but not the people.

Stop giving the concession to those intruders! That land should be belonged to the indegenous people.

LANGRIMBA

DELICIOUS IKAN EMPURAU RM300 PER KILO

Oleh Churchill Edward

KUCHING: An investigation team with better equipment will be sent to probe the cause of death of fishes found floating in Sungai Tiau in Munjong, Kapit.

This assurance came from State Natural Resources and Environmental Board (NREB) yesterday.

Yesterday its Environmental Quality Controller Dr Penguang Manggil told The Borneo Post that this time around they just have to probe deeper into the matter.

“At this point of time, I cannot tell what has happened. At the same time, we couldn’t pin-point the cause. We will have to send a probe team over there (Sungai Tiau, a tributary of Sungai Baleh) but they will be better equipped this time around,” he said.

He revealed that the last time, his team of investigators could not arrive at a conclusion over their findings on the new year occurrence of dead fishes floating in Sungai Rajang between Long Murum in upper Belaga and Kapit.

“Our men then (at Belaga), came only three days after the occurrence. By that time it was difficult for them to determine the cause,” he said.

Penguang said these two cases are similar to one several years ago when a river overflowed, a process he described as “over topping”.

thesundaypost reported that residents along Sungai Tiau had said on Jan 10 that they saw dead fishes swept away by strong currents.

Apart from the strong current, the water level was also relatively high, said Tuai Rumah Nisin Bunyau.

Another witness Dinggai Geramong from Rumah Bangkong also in Mujong reported that the dead fishes included buris, baung, adong, keli, empurau, semah, tengkadak and toman apart from prawns.

From Jan 14 and 17, two enforcement and licensing officers from the Agriculture Ministry in Kuching - Zakri Padil and Chong Ted Kin - as well as several other staff were at the scene to investigate. They brought some of the fishes to Kuching.

In the Belaga case, the “over-topping” of the river include siltation when incidence of dead fishes is common, Penguang said yesterday.

However, he could not say whether the fishes died as a result of suffocation or other causes.

In that incident, some villagers were quick to blame logging ponds which discharged chemicals that contaminated the river.

But the authority said it was too early to tell as investigation was still ongoing.

The only thing for certain now was that nobody wanted to eat the fish there.

When contacted several days after the (Belaga) incident, Baleh assemblyman Dato Sri Dr James Masing, who is also Land Development Minister, advised people not to eat or buy the fish there.

According to him, it was hard to believe that the fish had died as a result of the muddy water since it had been there for “a long time.”

KT ELECTION RESULT SERVES SERIOUS WARNING TO BN INCUMBENTS

JAN 19 – Election results cannot help but provide an exhausted citizenry relief from the suspense of the weeks preceding polling day. More than that, they are a reality check on the political state of affairs.

That is one reason why polls are so captivating, and when carried out fairly, they also leave all involved on all sides with the feeling that they did take part in something grand and meaningful.

Naturally, a by-election tells much less than what a general election would and the consequences of the results are infinitely less imposing.

That is true for normal times. But these are not normal times in Malaysia.

The Kuala Terengganu by-election on Saturday took place right in the middle of a protracted battle between the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) and the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) that started even before the latter was properly formed on April 1 last year.

There appears to be no end to this war of wits and the weaving of intrigues. Perhaps that is the point of a democracy – to institutionalise inherent differences and thus, defuse their potential to cause violence.

Buoyed by their success in last year’s March 8 elections, and indeed as if in answer to a calling, the Democratic Action Party (DAP), Parti Islam SeMalaysia (Pas) and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) could not but make one more attempt at forming a coalition that could finally challenge the BN for federal power.

With Pas’ success in Kuala Trengganu, the baby that is the PR has survived its shaky infancy.

BN has now lost two by-elections in a row, and badly at that. The first was at Permatang Pauh in Penang state when former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was elected back into Parliament in August last year.

With these coming after the drubbing that the government suffered in the general elections, and if we consider how consistently BN won four by-elections during Abdullah Badawi’s first mandate period, it is hard for anyone to continue claiming that the tide has indeed turned for BN since March 08.

However, what the PR needs to be cognisant of is exactly the fact that tides do change. No doubt the three member-parties of PR will ride the present gush in their favour for as long as they can.

Malaysians can only hope that it will wash away much that has gone wrong with BN and put into place institutions and values that will take the country into a new stage of concerted development.

To steal one of United States President-elect Barack Obama’s lines (who does not do that nowadays?) we may be witnessing a rebirth of inter-ethnic cooperation taking place in Malaysia. The first birth took place in the 1950s under Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, and the second happens now, half a century later.

Identifying the differences between the two conceptions and the two births may provide a roadmap for how the new-born consensus is to be nurtured.

Now, when the Islamist party actually won over 3,000 votes more than it did 10 months ago in the Kuala Trengganu parliamentary constituency, its members cannot avoid learning at the nation-wide level that non-Muslims are not necessarily going to vote against it.

If non-Muslims are indeed part of its potential constituency, then there is an understanding that dialogues are necessary.

Pakatan Rakyat’s achievement in its nine-month existence is this: Being able to sell the idea to otherwise race-fixated Malaysians that they are not each other’s enemies and their battles do not have to be fought by proxy through race-based political parties.

This is not a new product. It was sold once upon a time to Malayans in the twilight years of British domination of Malaya by Tunku Abdul Rahman.

But much has changed since then. That was no longer the product that BN had been selling over the last couple of decades.

The most important change is the fact that the country has been ruled for 50 years by an increasingly powerful BN that grew more corrupt, more callous, more uncaring and less competent. It had become a goal unto itself.

With hubris eating up BN credibility and the population hollowed of hope, the tide turned and a rebirth of inter-ethnic cooperation became necessary.

“Enough is enough” is thus the common sentiment through which the two conceptions took place. As in March last year, Chinese and Indians voted in Kuala Trengganu for a Malay-based party outside BN’s framework.

That had been BN’s trump card. It has now lost that monopoly. Tides ebb and babies grow big. BN waited too long to reinvent itself.

Nations live on a diet of successive myths. Once one is gone, another is adopted. The latest myths to go are that Malaysia’s fate is synonymous with BN’s fate, and the well-being of the Malay community is dependent on the well-being of the once-dominant United Malays National Organisation.

Dr M: Wrong choice of candidate caused BN to lose

KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad blamed the choice of candidate for Pas' win in the Kuala Terengganu by-election.

"The results of the by-election clearly echo the results of the March 2008 general election where people were not fond of both sides but had to make a choice."

Asked about the Barisan Nasional's chances in the next general election, Dr Mahathir said if it continued to field candidates who were not favoured by the rakyat, it would suffer more losses.

He spoke after launching the "Save the Palestinians" campaign organised by a coalition of Malaysian non-governmental organisations.

Prior to the vote, Dr Mahathir had posted on his blog, Chedet.com, that Azharudin would get more votes than expected because the BN and Pakatan Rakyat could not be trusted.
Azharudin received only 193 votes and lost his deposit.

SOURCE: NST

MOMENT OF TRUTH, PEOPLE WANTED CHANGE AND TIRED OF ALLEGATIONS

When will BN start listening to the people?

JAN 17 — The temptation will be there to spray blame around tonight. The natural instinct of some Umno members will be to shovel a pile of blame on Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, equating rejection by a margin of 2.631 votes in Kuala Terengganu to disdain for his weak leadership of the party and country.

He will be a convenient target for Umno snipers as Barisan Nasional's Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh has been tagged as his man, having once served as the PM's political secretary.

He will be an easy target because he has been the party's fall guy since March 8, 2008. So why not hang him out to dry for one last time before he leaves office in March? The temptation will certainly be there to take this path of least resistance. It's easy. It's self-serving. It's convenient.

But if Umno/BN members continue to believe this yarn, and choose to ignore the third strong message sent by Malaysians in 10 months, then they should accept that defeat will be the only possible outcome every time they contest an election.

The ruling coalition was stunned on March 8, losing its customary two-thirds majority in Parliament and control of five states. Political pundits argued that Malaysians had sent a clear message that they wanted change and they had grown weary of the excesses and corruption of the government.

They were not interested in Abdullah's neatly-bound report card, which was part of his election manifesto. They were tired of being fed morsels while the ruling party politicians were feasting.

Stung by defeat, Abdullah promised reforms. But it was clear that he was a dead man walking. His party believed that he was the cause of their rejection and remained unmoved on the need to reform and change.

That much was clear during the Permatang Pauh by-election when once again BN politicians spoke about development and how their policies had developed the country. They promised money and offered to improve the infrastructure of the constituency in Penang.

It was a rare day when Umno/BN speakers tackled the vexing issues of corruption, racial equality, rehabilitating the country's institutions and arrogance of ruling party politicians — the so-called soft issues which Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his comrades in Pakatan Rakyat raised time and time again.

Anwar won handsomely in Permatang Pauh and Umno/BN blamed Abdullah once again. They said that because of confusion over the succession issue, the party members were not motivated enough to campaign and win over the voters. They noted that as long as Abdullah helmed the party, inertia and paralysis would be the feature of any election campaign.

So Abdullah's flirtation with a two-year transition plan was tossed out the window after the Permatang Pauh by-election defeat in August. He was shown the door. As a result of that defeat, Umno changed the way how it campaigned in Kuala Terengganu.

Checks by The Malaysian Insider showed that the party machinery worked much better than in Permatang Pauh. Umno/BN members did solid spade work but they just found fewer people willing to listen to their story.

An Umno official said last night: "We keep talking about development and yet people want to be inspired. We sound tired and the Opposition sound like the guys with the ideas. We know most of the time it is just sloganeering but even their slogans of democracy, justice sound fresh.

''We know the only way for us to recapture our place among Malaysian voters is for us to be honest and take on the aspirations that are important to them.''

He noted that Abdullah was a non-factor in the by-election. So much of a non-factor that Pakatan Rakyat speakers at political rallies hardly mentioned his name. Instead, Pas officials hammered away at corruption in Umno and in the government. They dredged up the same issues of accountability, arrogance, injustice and abuse of power. Umno/BN answered these accusations with silence. There was no vision of a better Malaysia to offer.

Why? Because they have spent the better part of the last 10 months defending the status quo and blaming Abdullah and others for their ills. Tonight, it was pretty obvious who the voters were rejecting all along — the tired Umno/BN politicians and their tired message.

BRAZILIAN KAKA JOINS MAD-CITY

JAN 16 - Kaka has given the green light to join Manchester City after the club increased their offer to a phenomenal £243million (RM1,263million).

AC Milan last night confirmed they had received the mind-boggling bid which changes the face of world football.

And we can reveal the Kaka camp gave their blessing for City to approach Milan six weeks ago when they first saw just how much was being offered.

The Italian giants admitted on their official TV outlet the Milan Channel they had received the bid in a dramatic bulletin.

And they even invited fans to express their views over whether the club should sell Kaka, confessing Milan's board would take a couple of days to make a decision.

It all means the Brazilian playmaker's sensational signing is practically in the bag. Milan Channel director Mauro Suma, regarded as the man who speaks for the club's powerful vice-president Adriano Galliani, made the announcement yesterday evening.

Crucially, no Milan officials would comment - an admission they are ready to sell Kaka in the most astonishing deal in football history.

But the club did offer fans the chance to take part in a 'Deal Or No Deal'-style vote to decide whether Milan should let him go!

City officials are due to fly to Italy on Monday for meetings with Kaka and his father Bosco Leite.

And last night City boss Mark Hughes insisted the Brazilian is worth every penny.

Hughes said: "Make no mistake, this is no scattergun approach to world stars of football.

"We've made a measured, calculated and, of course, football decision that works for us. "That's why we're interested in a player of his quality because he's the type we need to drive the club forward.

"I have no idea whether he will end up here. It is dependent on too many factors. But it has moved forward at a pace this week."

Sources close to the deeply-religious Kaka insist he will not be motivated purely by money and will take other factors into consideration.

He will want to see how a move to Manchester will fit into his lifestyle and also find something that will challenge him.

Sparky hopes he will be excited by the vision of helping City become one of the world's top clubs.

He said: "Everybody knows we're at the beginning of a long journey and if people want to join us they'll have a fantastic time in the coming years.

"That's what we try to sell them if we get chance to speak to players.

"It is not something that will happen overnight and we have to let people understand what we are trying to do and understand where this club will go in the next few years.

"Once they understand that and recognise the people driving it forward they will become excited by what we can offer." - The Sun

REBATE FOR OUTBOAT MOTOR USERS??

KUCHING, Jan 15 (Bernama) -- The federal government will channel financial aid of RM22 million to help outboard motor owners in Sarawak because of higher fuel prices due to high transportation costs, especially in the interior areas of the state.

Deputy Chief Minister, Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, said those who use outboard motors in their daily activities and had registered with the district office would be given a one-time rebate of RM705.

He announced the aid when giving out Ammophos fertiliser subsidy of RM59,580 to 360 families from 14 longhouses in Ulu Spak in Betong. The fertiliser is to increase the yield from hillside padi planting.

Last month, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister, Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad, said the rebate was the result of a proposal to the federal government to lighten the load of residents in the interior as the cost of fuel there could be up by three times due to transportation costs.

Up till now 31,000 owners of outboard motors have registered with district offices.

-- BERNAMA

THE OTHER PRS KEEN TO WORK WITH PKR?

Is PRS a Dayak Based Party??

Written by Dr. John Brian Anthony

Is that a silly question?

An important Malay friend asked such a question to me - and after looking at my dumb expression he asked whether he has asked a silly question.

My reaction was - NO! it is not a silly question but many of us Dayak do not recognize that PRS or its leader are actually not using their brain enough. But why is that so? They cut off the link between PBDS and PRS entirely just for their own personal agenda. The same person is still a Minsiter today - shamelessly saying that he is representing the Dayak interest. How can that be so?

After PBDS was deregistered:

Taib says PRS should replaced PBDS. What replacement - asking PBDS members to join PRS or that PRS should continue the Dayak agenda that PBDS has started. But has PRS done anything to continue with the PBDS struggle. I need education on this - as i seem to lost track of the continuity of PBDS Dayak agenda. Maybe PRS Deputy Federal Minister from Selangau should be able to enlighten us on some of the issue.

To expect the President of PRS to say anything - is too much to expect. He looks to much after his self- well being. He has family to look after and Dayak is not so important to him. If Dayak is important to him, why is he so impotent in politic?

Does PRS President see himself as a new entity and as such Dayak issues raised by PBDS is not PRS issue. If that is the acse then why is PRS a Dayak Based Party? It should be James personal agenda party. It has no interest in the problems or promoting the well-being and progress of Dayak.

PRS to join Pakatan Rayaat?

PKR dinner in Kuching showed that the (other) PRS is keen to work with PKR. Is this motivated by wanting to bring progress to Sarawak or is this an option to revive the political life of certain politician.

It is such a shameful politic when people join another political party for personal reason and not for a more encompassing reason of wanting to bring changes and progress to Sarawak. Then, even if PKR do win, these old recycle politic would come in the way of changes and infringe on the expectation of Dayakbaru.

Let no one think this opinion shows disunity for PR support. It is something that all serious politician must think about - the well-being of one self is not important. We must bring real changes with new ideas and values to progress Sarawak. If not, then we will fall back into the sin of current BN. which is all politics are tied to business nd position.

So saw such happeng in PKR selangor. PKR supporter wanted good position in Councils, in GLC, you name it. They asked for lucrative contract and even before the MB was sworn in, they brough contractors to the door of the to be MB, at that point in time. Together with the late Daniel of PKR, we were in Shah Alam witness this shameful happening.

True enough, today such problems rear its ugly head as those with “personal agenda’ bring their “personal self serving agenda” into politic. It make the Selangor PKR government look bad.

I hope we in Sarawak should not do similar thing. Do not be in PKR politic if we want to link business with it. We should be better than that!

Dayak Educational Fund

Many ex- PBDS leaders are still in government and holding high political position. The question is, where is the Dayak Education Fund now, last spearheaded by PBDS. Does it means that no PBDS than there is no Dayak Educational Fund?

The last information on the fund was a balance of $7million - where is that now? Is it still available or is it already in individual pocket.

Who were in PBDS and now with PRS? You Dayak YB’s better answer this question. Many Dayak have donated money into this fund collection in the PBDS haydays - as individuals who are still holding Ministerial position etc, you must come out clean on this Dayak Educational Fund.

This is an example of dayak political leaders exploiting Dayak aspiration.

Dayak College

It makes life of those after the Dayak Educational Fund more difficult to ask for assistance from the Dayak community. The earlier group has failed to deliver on their promise with money donated by Dayak and I believed the BN government gave some form of assistance towards this fund. Have we fail again?

Conclusion

It is quite easy for Ex-PBDS leaders to forget their committment. For Dayakbaru - we remember vividly. When it comes to State or snap Parliamentary election - we want the people not to forget all thses wrong doing and unfulfilled promised. It is painful for the Dayak community. The community has to struggle to get whatever support they can get and many Dayak student missed the opportunity to further their education because certain dayak leaders are not responsible enough to uphold their commitment to the community.

Dayak Arise - make the change.

ATLANTUYA MURDER TRIAL JANUARY 15 2009

Disclaimer: The publishing of this articles in this blog is merely for my own reading purposes, I don't have any intention to spread the news to gossip anyone mentioned in here. However, I do not prohibit anybody wish to make comment.

LangRimba

Extracted from Malaysiakini dated 15th January 2009

Azilah, the 32-year old chief inspector, took up the post of Najib’s chief escort on Oct 20 - just a day after the murder allegedly took place. He tells the court how he came to know Razak Baginda, the latter’s problem with Altantuya and how he roped in his colleague Sirul to help out.

By SK English Team

Taking the witness stand for the first time, Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri told a charged courtroom today that Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s aide-de-camp Musa Safri instructed him to help Razak Baginda, Najib’s former adviser and close friend.

“It was on Oct 17, 2006, while in Pekan, Pahang while accompanying the Deputy Prime Minister, Musa approached me and asked me whether I knew anyone from the Brickfields district police station,” said the 32-year old Azilah.

“I told him I knew Deputy Superintendent Idris Abdul Karim who is the head of criminal investigations of the Brickfields station, whom I know since my days as an investigating officer in Sepang police.

“Musa told me that his friend Abdul Razak needed help as he had been threatened by someone. Musa gave me Abdul Razak’s cell number for me to contact.”

Azilah, together with Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, his colleague from Special Action Unit, an elite outfit tasked to protect Najib and his office, are on trial for the ruthless and gory murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu.

The beautiful 28-year old Altantuya was murdered and her body blown up with explosives to prevent identification at a location between Lot 12843 and Lot 16735 in a jungle clearing in Mukim Bukit Raja between 10 pm on Oct 19, 2006, and 1 am the following day.

The case been widely followed both nationally and internationally because the beautiful 28-year old Altantuya was alleged to have been Najib’s mistress before passing her to Razak Baginda, who has admitted taking her in as his lover.

Although Najib has denied the allegations, he has not been able to shake off the accusations, which flared again when Razak was acquitted and discharged without having to enter his defence on charges of having abetted Azilah and Sirul in the murder.

The public prosecutor too drew fire when he decided against appealing Razak’s acquittal. If found guilty, Razak - a political analyst - would have faced the death penalty.

Prominent lawyer Karpal Singh, acting on behalf of Altantuya Shaariibuu’s family, has however filed an application to compel the prosecution to appeal against Abdul Razak’s acquittal.

How Azilah contacted and met Razak Baginda

Meanwhile, during his testimony today, Azilah appeared to deny any involvement in the murder as he was not at the scene of the crime at the alleged time of the murder and claimed to have an alibi. He also repeatedly referred to Altantuya as a “Chinese woman” and not by her name.

Azilah told the Shah Alam High Court today that he tried calling Abdul Razak when he got back to Kuala Lumpur the next day on Oct 18.

However, he only got a wrong number. He then inquired from Musa again and this time got another number for Abdul Razak.

Azilah said he managed to contact Abdul Razak this time and introduced himself. The political analyst asked Azilah to meet him at his office at Bangunan Getah Asli.

Azilah said he went to Abdul Razak’s office that day itself on Oct 18, where he met the latter in his study.

“After introducing myself as Musa’s friend, Abdul Razak related his problems to me of being threatened by an unknown Chinese man and a Chinese woman (Altantuya),” said Azilah.

“He did not give any background of the people who threatened him or what was the reason behind it but he allowed me to listen to a voice mail on his cell phone where a man with a Chinese accent said ‘Saya mahu kasi pecah you punya muka ‘(I want to break your face),” the policeman said.

Then, Azilah said Abdul Razak allowed him to listen to another voice mail and this time of a woman speaking in English who also threatened him.

“After hearing his problem, I advised Abdul Razak to lodge a police report. However, he did not want to do so and asked me to patrol in front of his house in Bukit Damansara to prevent those two from causing trouble in front of his residence.

“Abdul Razak also gave me an address of a room in Hotel Malaya where Altantuya was staying and wanted me to tell the woman to stop harassing him. He also gave me Altantuya’s handphone number (017-3992411), whom he referred to as Aminah,” said Azilah.

How Sirul got involved

On returning to his office in Bukit Aman, Azilah said he was briefed that he was to lead a team to Hong Kong soon.

While at the police headquarters, Azilah said he met Sirul and asked if he was willing to help Abdul Razak.

Later both Azilah and Sirul met up at the Central Market and decided to go to Hotel Malaya.

“When arriving at the room, I did not dare knock on the door for fear of disturbing the privacy of the occupants. I also feared that it maybe the wrong room as the number Abdul Razak told me was different to what he wrote on a note pad,” said Azilah.

The next day on Oct 19, while he was briefing his officers over the trip to Hong Kong, Azilah said he found out that the trip had been cancelled. He was asked to escort Najib the next day on Oct 20.

“I went out to break fast with Lance Corporal Rohaniza at a Thai restaurant in Petaling Jaya. While there, I received a phone call from Abdul Razak informing me that the Chinese woman (Altantuya) was causing disturbances outside his home and required my help,” recounted Azilah.

“He asked me to go to his house where a private investigator P Balasubramaniam was waiting there with Altantuya,” he added.

When and how Azilah met Balasubramaniam and Altantuya

Together with Lance Corporal Rohaniza Roslan, who was then his girlfriend, he drove to Abdul Razak’s house that night itself - the night of the alleged murder.

He also contacted Sirul, who said he would meet him there.

After exchanging brief introductions with the Indian man - Balasubramaniam - Azilah said he walked back to his car and contacted Razak again. This time, Razak told him to send the woman back to the hotel.

By this time Sirul had also arrived at the scene.

As Azilah walked back towards Balasubramaniam and Altantuya, they walked towards the policeman’s car. The woman voluntarily got into the vehicle, Azilah testified.

“Nobody gave any orders,” Azilah said, when asked by his counsel Hazman Ahmad if anyone had ordered her to get into the car.

Azilah then drove off in the car with Rohaniza, Sirul and Altantuya.

When and why Altantuya moved to Sirul’s jeep

Sirul then asked to be dropped off at his jeep before the two vehicles moved off together towards Bukit Aman.

However, Rohaniza said that they could not drop Altantuya at her hotel as she (Rohaniza) needed to meet a friend in Petaling Jaya.

Azilah then called Sirul to ask if he could send the woman back and he agreed. They stopped the cars and moved the woman to Sirul’s jeep.

This was the last time Azilah mentioned Altantuya in his testimony.

After reaching Bukit Aman, Azilah then went to Wangsa Maju with his fiancee, Norazila Baharudin, to have char kuey teow. It was 10.30 pm at this point and Azilah claims that they spent 45 minutes eating. By the time Azilah had returned to Bukit Aman, it was 12.20am.

He said that he then left with Rohaniza to Putrajaya to take up his assignment as Najib’s chief escort. He added that when he arrived at the Special Action Unit transit house in Putrajaya, he saw another person in the living room and identified him as Che Kamarizaman.

The hearing continues tomorrow with the cross-examination of Azilah by the prosecution.

Yes to micro financing

IN the American comedy film, Yes Man, the main character Carl Allen (played by Jim Carrey) is a junior loan officer who used to reject almost every application that came his way. It was not just due to good, old-fashioned banking practices but also part of his overall morose outlook on life.

After attending a motivational seminar called “Yes!’’ he was determined to say “yes” to almost every opportunity that came his way. When it came to giving out loans, he had begun saying ‘yes’ to almost every application that was presented to him.

His bosses were shocked when they discovered he had approved more than 500 applications when they would have approved only 30 to 40. But those were small loans for which the repayment track record turned out to be very good.

“These people are so grateful,’’ his boss told Carl. They made sure the loans were repaid. Soon, his work in this new area of micro financing got noticed and Carl was promoted with a good raise.

In current times when huge loan and trading portfolios have collapsed, it is significant that the ordinary man and the productive small loans are being highlighted.

With so much focus on the financing for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), people here may also have overlooked the potentially vibrant business in micro financing. The amounts are much smaller but taken together, its power and role in helping to reinvigorate the economy cannot be under-estimated.

To garner more interest, banks and associations should plan more initiatives that highlight the success stories and opportunities in micro financing. Putting up stickers at entrances of banks is a good idea but we should go further than that. The recent Micro Financing Expo revealed a lot of public interest in this area.

Charging high interest rates on micro finance may be a dampening factor in its growth. It pays for loan officers to get to know these people and their businesses better. They should start getting to the ground, if they have not already, and not just sit in their offices, saying they have “no time to go through every small detail.’’

With the economy taking a while to recover, these small loans may just help make up the loan growth numbers. Sometimes, banks get misleading information from people who are out to cheat for a few bucks. There have been cases where set-ups and machinery had disappeared after the loan was dished out!

To ensure that micro financing works, it is important that genuine business cases are presented. It must also be a strong part of our micro-financing culture that every dollar borrowed must be repaid before further purchases or small investments are made.

The Government and private sector should work hand in hand to revive the economy. At this juncture, it may be difficult to take big steps as the world is still reeling from the effects of the crisis. But we should not ignore the problem and start taking small steps.

Recently, the Government decided to end its austerity drive and allow the purchase of assets, moving into new premises and renovation of offices. These may not sound like grand measures but they give opportunities to people in office equipment, commercial property and renovation services.

In the same vein related to a sound micro finance culture, people involved should be careful in their dealings with public money, as the crisis has taught us that every cent should be accounted for. There should be no more inflated and unnecessary claims even for the smallest item of office equipment.

Netanyahu: Destroy Hamas, Stop Nuclear Iran

JERUSALEM -- Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that Israel must remove Gaza's Hamas rulers from power to ensure victory over "terror."

He expressed full support for his country's punishing, 18-day offensive against the militants — even though it is being conducted by politicians who are running against him in Feb. 10 elections.

"At the end of the day there will be no alternative but to bring down the regime of Hamas, a terrorist organization pledged to our destruction," Netanyahu told foreign reporters in Jerusalem.

Netanyahu, a top contender to become prime minister in next month's vote, said toppling Hamas would not necessarily have to be part of the current offensive, but would eventually have to happen.

He said Hamas, along with the Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah, are Iranian proxies located on Israel's southern and northern flanks.

"Ultimately Israel cannot tolerate an Iranian base right next to its cities," Netanyahu said.

Israel sees Iran as its top threat, and believes the country is working to develop a nuclear bomb — something Tehran denies.

"If the proxies of Iran enjoy a nuclear umbrella, we have crossed into another realm," said Netanyahu, who leads the right-of-center Likud Party. "That is something we really don't want to contemplate."

Netanyahu enjoyed a wide lead in the polls before Israel began its Gaza offensive on Dec. 27. However, since the war began he's been losing ground to Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni of the centrist Kadima Party and Defense Minister Ehud Barak of the left-leaning Labor Party.

The war is enormously popular among Israelis, who see it as a way of stopping Hamas rocket attacks on southern Israel. The offensive has killed some 900 Palestinians and 13 Israelis.

Netanyahu rejected calls to delay the elections because of the Gaza fighting.

"I think if we do not hold it on time, it will give the terrorists an enormous victory. It means that they hold Israeli democracy hostage," he said.

Even though Israel would not necessarily have to drive Hamas from power now, he said the Jewish state should not pull out of Gaza unless it receives assurances the militants will not rearm through smuggling at the Gaza-Egypt border.

Hamas wrested control of Gaza in June 2007 from the moderate forces of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The Islamic militants now rule the territory while Abbas' Fatah movement is in charge of the West Bank. The two territories are located on opposite sides of Israel and are together supposed to make up a future Palestinian state.

Netanyahu said conditions are not ripe for serious negotiations on a final peace deal with Abbas — a position that could put him at odds with the incoming Obama administration in the United States.

© 2009 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Learning and speaking English language is part of Western culture?

Politics before good sense – Cheong Suk-Wai

By Cheong Suk-Wai

Some months ago, a Chinese Malaysian undergraduate asked me to comment on an English language project paper that her lecturer had asked her to rewrite.

The paper had been put together while she was on emergency leave by her two project mates, who happened to be Malay Malaysians.

I was bemused to read what they had written – paragraph after paragraph with neither head nor tail. They had cut and pasted bits and pieces from various English-language newspapers without quite understanding what these bits and pieces meant.

I was reminded of this incident while reading about the latest uproar among the country's intelligentsia over the compulsory use of English, instead of Malay, to teach mathematics and science to primary and secondary school students.

So politicised has the issue become that non-governmental organisations (NGOs), such as the influential Malay writers' group Gabongan Persatuan Penulis Nasional Malaysia (Gapena), have threatened to sue the government for violating Article 152 of the Malaysian Constitution, which calls for only Malay to be used in all official matters.

Nothing in Article 152 prohibits the teaching or learning of any other language – but never mind: The NGOs are planning mass protests on the issue over the next two months.

Gapena's president, Tan Sri Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Ismail Hussein, told this newspaper: “The problem with English being taught in this way is that we are being colonial again. This is the psychological problem.”

Prof Ismail stressed that the Malay intelligentsia's quarrel with the government is only against English being the only channel for the students to learn crucial core subjects, and not with the study of English itself. They are worried that Malay students studying maths and science in English would abandon Bahasa Malaysia by the time they enter university, thus killing the language.

The country's Education Ministry introduced this limited “English only” policy in 2003 to improve the English skills of Malaysian students.

Students can now choose to be examined entirely in English in both subjects or answer questions in both English and Malay.

The main medium of instruction in Malaysian public schools was English until 1970. It was changed to Bahasa Malaysia, as Malay is officially called, to foster national unity in the wake of racial riots in May 1969.

The chief problem of switching back to English is that 60 per cent of Malay students live in kampungs, where it is hard to find any English-language newspaper on sale. But young urban Malays are also not enamoured of English.

British-educated lawyer Emilda Shardin, for instance, laments that while her 10-year-old daughter writes well in English, she resolutely refuses to speak it. “She tells me: ‘Buat apa kita cakap bahasa orang lain?’ (‘Why should we speak the language of others?’)”.

Emilda blames her daughter's all-Malay social circle for that attitude. They see English as a part of Western culture – or budaya kuning (yellow culture) – something that will lead them far astray from the path of Islam.

Malay parents resent especially the extra stress their children face from having to learn English. As one of them, corporate planner Hamzah Shafiee, put it: “Malay students must pass these core subjects which are taught in a language they don't quite understand. They are being doubly pressured. Why can't their studies be selesa (comfortable)?”

What's worse, the country's maths and science standards have slid since the ministry rolled out the policy.

The December 2008 Trend In Mathematics And Science Studies' global-ranking report showed that Malaysian secondary school students scored an average of 474 points in maths and 471 in science in 2007, compared to their counterparts in Singapore, who scored 593 and 567 points, respectively.

In 2003, Malaysian students scored an average of 508 in maths and 510 in science; and in 1999, they scored 519 and 492, respectively.

To be sure, it is not only the Malays who are opposed to learning maths and science in English. The Chinese, many of whom send their children to vernacular schools, also oppose the policy.

Singaporeans might well wonder why young Malaysians are so resistant to a lingua franca that will open global doors. The short answer is that they are just mirroring their teachers' attitude towards the language.

A survey last year by the Malaysian Education Ministry of randomly selected national schools found that 35 per cent of its teachers could hardly speak English.

Last September, then-Deputy Education Minister Razali Ismail admitted that most teachers were not enthusiastic about English and spent allowances meant for English- language learning aids on “unrelated purposes”.

The truth is that it is high time Malaysians saw the mastery of English as a productivity, not political, issue. More than 50,000 of the country's graduates are jobless today. Most of them are poor, female, Malay and cannot speak enough English to hold a two-minute conversation in the language.

How are they to impress employers, many of whom list English fluency and the ability to think critically as their chief job requirements?

The Education Ministry said last week that it would decide soon whether or not it will continue with this limited “English only” policy beyond this year. It would be a pity to scrap it just as it is beginning to make headway.

Three weeks ago, the ministry released the 2008 Lower Secondary Assessment results, showing that 51 per cent of the 26,378 candidates answered all exam questions entirely in English, compared to 22 per cent in 2007.

English was also the subject in which students showed the most improvement, with 75 per cent of students passing exams in it last year, compared with 71 per cent in the five preceding years.

One wonders how much more time will be squandered revisiting pointless linguistic arguments before Malaysia's Malay intelligentsia realises that the country cannot embrace globalisation unless the people at least partially embrace English.

PRS-SPDP merger not so soon, says Masing

By Jacob Achoi

KUCHING: The proposed merger between Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) will not happen in the near future.

PRS president Dato Sri Dr James Masing said the merger would definitely not take place within this year.

Speaking to reporters here yesterday, he said although the merger concept was still there, the implementation would be slow.

“The concept is still there, and we still believe that we must do it (merge), and the implementation is slow because to fit the ‘bolts and nuts’ does take a lot of time,” he said.

Masing had earlier received a RM500,000 cheque from Sime Darby Berhad for the improvement of infrastructure in five schools in Kapit.

According to Masing, state Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, who is also the chief minister was helping both parties to merge.

“The chief minister is helping us a lot, and actually he is the one who is giving us ideas and hints on what we should do,” Masing said, adding that Taib had also told them not to rush with the merger process.

He agreed with Taib that the merger should not be done in a hasty manner.

Taib, in his text of speech when opening SPDP’s 6th annual general assembly in Sibu on Saturday was all for the proposed merger of the two parties, but said there was no point rushing into it.

The chief minister said he himself took three years to explain before Parti Berjasa and Parti Negara finally became Parti Bumiputera in 1966.

And Masing said he was taking the hint from Taib, adding that the merger was like a marriage where the partners had to know each other before going to the altar.

Masing also said PRS did not feel threatened by the claim that many PRS members were joining Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

On PKR, he likened the party’s presence in the state as a mirror to see one’s shortcomings and rectify them to help and solve the problems of the people.

“PKR is like a mirror that reflects the fault on your face. If you have a black spot of pimples just correct it and you will be a better man.

“I don’t feel threatened with the mirror because I’m confident with my own face,” he explained.

According to him, PKR movement in the state was a cause for the party to review itself.

He pointed out that the party was not taking any challenge lightly, adding that the party would continue to do its ‘homework’ and listen to the grassroots about their grouses.

My wife my pillar of strength and source of inspiration: Taib

By Samuel Aubrey and Churchill Edward

KUCHING: Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud describes his wife Datuk Amar Puan Sri Laila as his pillar of strength and source of inspiration in his long political career.

He said Laila had many wonderful qualities, but that the one particular quality that really stood out was her patience.

He said it was her patience that made her capable of tolerating his temperament.

Taib also said Laila was always very clear about the line that separated his family life and office.

“She did not interfere in my politics and that was probably how we have managed,” he said at their 50th or golden wedding anniversary at the newly-opened Four Points by Sheraton Kuching hotel here last night.

He said Laila had been by his side through the thick and thin of his career as a politician and minister.

He cited one example where Laila had to walk across a log bridge across the river when accompanying him in one of his trips to rural Sarawak.

“I showed her the way and she did not fall,” he said, adding that he must acknowledge that it was never easy for just any woman to be a politician’s wife, especially to a man who had many tempers.

“More so if he is such a man in his younger days,” he said, referring to himself more in jest.

“Laila has been a major part in making my life very bearable,” said Taib in a speech that both tickled the audience and provided them with a rare insight into his marriage.

When Taib took to the podium, Laila was standing by his side and they looked very loving.

Taib and Laila said last night’s celebration would not be complete without them thanking their four children, Jamilah Hamidah, Mahmud Abu Bekir, Sulaiman Abdul Rahman and Hanifah, who together give the couple 15 grandchildren.

Taib also thanked God for the many joys he had in his life, saying: “Whenever I’m happy, my first thought is to always thank God for his blessings and I think my life has shown how much God is with us.

“Perhaps I have lots of problems, trials and tribulations in trying to chart out the course of my life, but I think life is nothing without being thankful to God,” he said.

He also thanked people who had given him advice, especially his uncle, former head of state and chief minister Tun Abdul Rahman Yakub.

He hastened to say: “If not for him, I would probably be a doctor. It was he who influenced me by saying, ‘Look, you can’t take up medicine. You must take up law and come back and serve the country’.”

Although Taib initially did not welcome the advice, it was eventually his desire to help the people of Sarawak that put him into the path he is in now.

“Even (Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri) Dr George Chan has to abandon his profession (as doctor) in order to serve the people,” he quipped.

Taib also said that during his political career, he had met people with different political wavelengths but their differences had instead taught him very valuable points.

As a gesture of apprecia-tion for sharing the joys of their 50th wedding anniversary, the couple also handed over donations of RM50,000 each to four charitable organisations.

The recipients were Sibu Community Services Association, Lembaga Anak-Anak Yatim Sara-wak, Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak and Sarawak Hearts Foundation.

Earlier, the guests were given a pleasant surprise when Jamilah rendered a few songs including ‘When I Fall In Love’ and ‘You Raise Me Up’ to comme-morate the occasion.

There was also a poetry recital by Datu Dr Adi Badiozaman Tuah and his wife Datin Fatimah Abdullah.

Among those paying tribute in a special video presentation were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang, Taib’s former classmate Anuar Razak and former univer-sity mate John Kiosogious.

DAP threatens to leave Pakatan Rakyat over hudud

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 14 – The DAP today threatened to withdraw from the Pakatan Rakyat (PR), which also comprises Pas and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), if Pas insists on implementing the hudud laws (Islamic penal code) if the opposition alliance comes to power in the country.

DAP chairman Karpal Singh, in issuing the warning, reiterated that the hudud laws did not fit with the DAP’s principles and were not contained in the PR manifesto for the general election held last year.

"By right, PAS should consider the views of the DAP as a member of the Pakatan Rakyat and respect our stand," he told reporters outside the Istana Negara, here.

Earlier, Karpal Singh had handed over to the palace a letter for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, on the appointment of Tan Sri Zaki Tun Azmi as the chief justice. The letter was received by the secretary of Istana Negara, Zainab Muhammad, outside the rear entrance of the palace.

The issue of hudud laws cropped up again on Dec 21 after Pas vice-president Datuk Husam Musa said the party had never forgotten its struggle to bring about Islamic administration in the country, including implementing hudud laws. – Bernama

Azilah, Sirul to produce defence tomorrow

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 14 – Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar who have been accused of murdering Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, will produce their defence at the Shah Alam High Court tomorrow.

Lawyer Datuk Hazman Ahmad, representing Azilah, will begin the defence case and he confirmed to Bernama that he has prepared seven witnesses while Sirul's counsel, Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin, said that so far he had no witnesses other than the accused.

On Nov 10 last year, Justice Datuk Mohd Zaki Md Yasin gave the defence two months to prepare including to contact and question witnesses they would call to the stand.

Azilah, 32, and Sirul, 36, who are operatives of the police's Special Action Unit, are alleged to have murdered Altantuya, 28, at Mukim Bukit Raja between 10pm on Oct 19, 2006 and 1am the following day.

The court on Oct 31 last year acquitted and discharged political analyst Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda, 48, of abetting them without calling him to enter defence. – Bernama

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• I am innocent
• Razak Baginda: Najib never met Altantuya
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• Body found in trolley bag
• Lack of interest in second stage of trial

When the going gets tough ... go faster

By Paul Si and Shannon Teoh

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 14 – Do you get the feeling that a revolution is in progress? The kind where heads roll, as one of the headlines on The Malaysian Insider screams out today? Or the kind where you hear someone say “Let them eat cake”. (Apparently, she who was famously said to have said it did not actually say it since she was only 10 at the time it was written down. But that’s another story.)

Amid all the doom and gloom, there’s some cheery news on the automotive front. While the American Big Three are still panhandling in Washington, DC, and can’t-go-wrong Toyota is about to post its first-ever loss, Malaysians will be pleased, I'm sure, to know that Maserati is picking up speed here.

Could we interest you in a Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S? It’s a “sports thoroughbred touted as the “Most Powerful Luxury Car” that was recently unveiled at the North American Auto Show 2009, and is about to go on sale here.

Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S

“This luxurious four-door sports sedan houses a 4.7- litre V8 engine with a power increase to 433 horsepower; a new management software for the gearshift, single rate-dampers for the front and rear suspension, the springs are stiffer and it has a lower ride height, and a new sports exhaust that creates a captivating, deep and throaty sound.” That’s what the release says.

“Styling cues include a new black grille with a Trident logo, metallic titanium finish headlights, new side and rear ‘shadow line’; with black finishing around the doors, body-coloured door handles and black twin oval exhaust pipes, new M-design seats with perforated Alcantara and leather upholstery, and ‘titanium coloured’ composite material trim.”

“It is truly a car that carries the statement of individuality and subtly hints to the world that one has indeed arrived!”

How much? If you need to ask … Okay then, I’ll take two.

Meanwhile, Lamborghini is reported to be “looking to expand its dealer network, especially in China and Latin America, even as the global economy continues to sputter”.

In an interview at the North American International Auto Show, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann did concede that the super-luxury car maker is feeling the fallout from the credit crisis and the economic slowdown.

“We are not unaffected by the global crisis,” Winkelmann was quoted as saying. (And we are not unimpressed.)

How about a Lamborghini LP 560-4 for just over RM2 mill?

Lamborghini, whose cheapest Gallardo model starts at around RM2 million here, has seen cancellation of some orders for its hand-made vehicles.

If you can't quite scrape together the RM2 million plus change for a Gallardo LP 560-4 any time soon, try looking for some Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.shares.

While nearly all other automakers have seen their sales accelerate downhill, Lamborghini, posted a record 2008 global sales figure. Around the world, the Italian exotic builder sold 2,430 cars in 2008, up from 2,406 the year before.

While “the order banks are shorter,” Winkelmann said, Lamborghini plans to add 10 more dealerships this year to cater to its patrons in emerging markets, such as China, after expanding its network by 15 dealers in 2008.

Winkelmann said the company would continue to launch a new model every year despite the downturn in the auto industry.

The company, part of Volkswagen AG’s Audi group, had to close its sole factory in Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy, for eight extra days because of the weakness in the auto industry.

Also, just for the billionaires who are now millionaires, BMW Malaysia is launching the all-new, all-singing, all-dancing 7 Series today.

The fifth generation 7 replaces the previous eight-year-old model, which had boosted the German automaker's in the Malaysian premium saloon market by 253 per cent over sales of its predecessor.

The 5th generation 7 Series.

Despite a sharp increase in price from the outgoing models, BMW Malaysia managing director Geoffrey Briscoe believes that customers will pay for this car even if they have to hold off their purchase initially.

“It represents the top 3-4 per cent of our sales. Those who buy this car may hold off for awhile but they are still there and will pay for this car, not because they need this car, but because they want it,” he said.

The model is available in two variants, the 740Li and 750Li, both long-wheelbase models, which increase wheelbase by 140mm.

The 740Li, equipped with BMW's most powerful six-cylinder engine, developing 326hp, retails at RM848,800 before insurance. The 750Li, claimed to possess the world's most efficient V8 petrol engine, generating 407hp, goes for RM1,138,800.

These represent a sharp increase over the outgonig models, which sold for RM748,000 and RM948,000 respectively.

But, even at the new prices and in these interesting times, a millionaire can eat his cake, and still have it.