Hindraf leaders V.Ganabatirau and R. Kenghadaran are among the 13 detainees released from detention under the Internal Security Act.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar told this to RTM in a telephone interview on Friday night.
The others released included JI members and three foreigners - Myanmar nationals San Khaing and Amir Hussain; and Indian national Sundaraj Vijay.
All three foreigners were detained in 2007 for alleged falsifying of documents.
The other detainees released are seven members of Darul Islam Sabah and one from Jemaah Islamiah.
The Darul Islam Sabah members are Mohd Nazri Dollah, 34; Mohd Arasad Patangari; Pakana Selama; A. Artas A. Burhanuddin, 41; Francis Indanan, 41; Idris Lanama, 34; and Binsali Omar, 43.
They were among 11 members arrested in April 2002 for allegedly helping to organise the 2002 Bali bombings.
The sole Jemaah Islamiah member is Wan Amin Wan Hamat.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Court allows Nizar to challenge Zambry’s legitimacy as Perak MB
Former Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin succeeded in his bid to get leave from High Court for a judicial review challenging the legitimacy of his successor.
The court set Wednesday for case management.
Justice Abdul Aziz Abd Rahim ruled that the leave application for a judicial review was not frivolous or vexatious.
In his opinion, he said, Nizar has convinced the court that there was a prima facie arguable case.
In granting the leave under Order 53 of the Rules of the High Court 1980, the judge said the court did not have to see the merits at the leave stage.
“The applicant has a very low threshold to meet at the leave stage,” he said in his ruling in open court on Friday.
Justice Abdul Aziz said he was bound by the apex court ruling that leave could be granted to Nizar if it found that there were issues to be investigated further with submissions from both parties.
“I agree with the submissions of the applicant’s counsel Sulaiman Abdullah that the material facts were not questioned.
The issue of justiciability or non-justiciability of the decision of the Sultan of Perak over the dissolution of the state Assembly is not questioned by both parties.
“Both agreed that the Sultan of Perak has absolute discretion over the dissolution of the State Assembly and the appointment of the Mentri Besar.
Justice Abdul Aziz said Nizar only questioned the appointment of Dr Zambry was valid or not under the Perak Constitution.
He said that the obvious fact was that Nizar has asked the Sultan to dissolve the state Assembly in order to solve a situation of “deadlock” but the ruler had not granted his request.
At that time, Nizar did not resign as Mentri Besar nor was he rejected from being a Mentri besar due to a motion of no confidence was tabled and adopted at the Assembly.
“The issue (to be examined further during the inter-parte hearing) is whether Nizar has lost the confidence of the assembly and whether he had to resign under Article 16(6) of the Perak Constitution,” he said.
In an immediate ruling, Justice Abdul Aziz ordered Sulaiman to file fresh documents by Tuesday for the hearing of the judicial review.
In his suit filed on Feb 13, Nizar, who is a PAS member, is challenging the legitimacy of his successor, Datuk Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and the new state government.
Nizar is seeking to get a declaration that he is the rightful Mentri Besar of Perak and an injunction to bar Dr Zambry from discharging his duties as the Mentri Besar.
Justice Abdul Aziz further ordered the two parties to appear before him on Wednesday for case management.
In immediate response, lead counsel Datuk Cecil Abraham, who held a watching brief for Dr Zambry, said Nizar did not need to serve papers to him and that he would appear in the court proceedings.
Senior Federal Counsel Datuk Kamaluddin Md Said, who is the Attorney-General’s Chambers representative, told the judge that he would seek instructions from the Attorney-General whether to file an appeal against the ruling or proceed with an application to intervene in the substantive motion.
Speaking to reporters later, Sulaiman said he was happy on the basis that laws relating to the judicial review had been upheld by the judge.
“At all times, Nizar had said that according to law and Perak Constiution, the situation had not arisen where the office of Mentri Besar had fallen vacant to enable the Sultan to appoint Dr Zambry as appointee to the office of MB.
“Nizar has been consistent. He is not challenging the authority or the decision of the Sultan of Perak,” he said.
Sulaiman said he was glad that finally his client, who had to go through tremendous struggle to put the case to court ,could see “some light in the tunnel”.
The court set Wednesday for case management.
Justice Abdul Aziz Abd Rahim ruled that the leave application for a judicial review was not frivolous or vexatious.
In his opinion, he said, Nizar has convinced the court that there was a prima facie arguable case.
In granting the leave under Order 53 of the Rules of the High Court 1980, the judge said the court did not have to see the merits at the leave stage.
“The applicant has a very low threshold to meet at the leave stage,” he said in his ruling in open court on Friday.
Justice Abdul Aziz said he was bound by the apex court ruling that leave could be granted to Nizar if it found that there were issues to be investigated further with submissions from both parties.
“I agree with the submissions of the applicant’s counsel Sulaiman Abdullah that the material facts were not questioned.
The issue of justiciability or non-justiciability of the decision of the Sultan of Perak over the dissolution of the state Assembly is not questioned by both parties.
“Both agreed that the Sultan of Perak has absolute discretion over the dissolution of the State Assembly and the appointment of the Mentri Besar.
Justice Abdul Aziz said Nizar only questioned the appointment of Dr Zambry was valid or not under the Perak Constitution.
He said that the obvious fact was that Nizar has asked the Sultan to dissolve the state Assembly in order to solve a situation of “deadlock” but the ruler had not granted his request.
At that time, Nizar did not resign as Mentri Besar nor was he rejected from being a Mentri besar due to a motion of no confidence was tabled and adopted at the Assembly.
“The issue (to be examined further during the inter-parte hearing) is whether Nizar has lost the confidence of the assembly and whether he had to resign under Article 16(6) of the Perak Constitution,” he said.
In an immediate ruling, Justice Abdul Aziz ordered Sulaiman to file fresh documents by Tuesday for the hearing of the judicial review.
In his suit filed on Feb 13, Nizar, who is a PAS member, is challenging the legitimacy of his successor, Datuk Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and the new state government.
Nizar is seeking to get a declaration that he is the rightful Mentri Besar of Perak and an injunction to bar Dr Zambry from discharging his duties as the Mentri Besar.
Justice Abdul Aziz further ordered the two parties to appear before him on Wednesday for case management.
In immediate response, lead counsel Datuk Cecil Abraham, who held a watching brief for Dr Zambry, said Nizar did not need to serve papers to him and that he would appear in the court proceedings.
Senior Federal Counsel Datuk Kamaluddin Md Said, who is the Attorney-General’s Chambers representative, told the judge that he would seek instructions from the Attorney-General whether to file an appeal against the ruling or proceed with an application to intervene in the substantive motion.
Speaking to reporters later, Sulaiman said he was happy on the basis that laws relating to the judicial review had been upheld by the judge.
“At all times, Nizar had said that according to law and Perak Constiution, the situation had not arisen where the office of Mentri Besar had fallen vacant to enable the Sultan to appoint Dr Zambry as appointee to the office of MB.
“Nizar has been consistent. He is not challenging the authority or the decision of the Sultan of Perak,” he said.
Sulaiman said he was glad that finally his client, who had to go through tremendous struggle to put the case to court ,could see “some light in the tunnel”.
Hand over updates
Handover of duties of PM04.50pm: Abdullah officially hands over his duties as PM to Najib.
04.10pm: Najib and his wife Rosmah arrive at Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya for the handing over of duties as PM ceremony from Abdullah to him.
03.55pm: Abdullah and his wife Jeanne arrive at Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya for the handing over of duties as PM ceremony from him to Najib.
Swearing in ceremony10.27am: Swearing in ceremony of Najib as PM ends.
10.25am: Abdullah’s wife Jeanne conferred the Darjah Seri Setia Mahkota Negara, which also carries the title Tun.
10.23am: Abdullah conferred the nation's highest award, Darjah Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara, which carries the title Tun.
10.10am: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak sworn in as Prime Minister before the Yang di Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin at Istana Negara.The swearing in ceremony is also witnessed by the two previous Prime Ministers, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
09.55am: King arrives for swearing in ceremony.
09.45am: Abdullah and Najib arrive at Istana Negara.
09.30am: Ministers and officials gather at Istana Negara. Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad also arrives at the Palace.
04.10pm: Najib and his wife Rosmah arrive at Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya for the handing over of duties as PM ceremony from Abdullah to him.
03.55pm: Abdullah and his wife Jeanne arrive at Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya for the handing over of duties as PM ceremony from him to Najib.
Swearing in ceremony10.27am: Swearing in ceremony of Najib as PM ends.
10.25am: Abdullah’s wife Jeanne conferred the Darjah Seri Setia Mahkota Negara, which also carries the title Tun.
10.23am: Abdullah conferred the nation's highest award, Darjah Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara, which carries the title Tun.
10.10am: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak sworn in as Prime Minister before the Yang di Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin at Istana Negara.The swearing in ceremony is also witnessed by the two previous Prime Ministers, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
09.55am: King arrives for swearing in ceremony.
09.45am: Abdullah and Najib arrive at Istana Negara.
09.30am: Ministers and officials gather at Istana Negara. Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad also arrives at the Palace.
Najib sworn in as Malaysia's sixth Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was sworn in as Malaysia’s sixth prime minister Friday, taking over from Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who stepped down after leading the country for over five years.
Najib 55, took his oath of office before Yang di Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin at Istana Negara.
Dressed in a black baju Melayu complete with sampin, Najib arrived at the palace, accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor. Together they entered the Balairong Seri at 10am, followed by Abdullah and his wife, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah.
A total of 319 guests, including former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, attended the historic event.
The ceremony, steeped in tradition, began when Tuanku Mizan and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Zahirah entered the throne room at 10.05am and the national anthem was played by the Malaysian Armed Forces band.
After taking his oaths of office, loyalty and confidentiality, Najib signed the four instruments of appointment, followed by the reading of the doa selamat.
The instruments of appointment were then signed by Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Alauddin Mohd Sheriff as witness and handed over to Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan.
At the same ceremony, Abdullah was conferred the nation’s highest award, the Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara (SMN), while Jeanne received the Seri Setia Mahkota (SSM) by Tuanku Mizan. Both awards carry the title Tun.
The handing over of the Prime Minister’s duties from Abdullah to Najib took place about 4.50pm at the fifth floor of the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya
At the ceremony, Abdullah handed to Najib the Prime Minister’s blue desk file to signify the official handing over of duties and responsibilities.
Najib was born in Kuala Lipis, Pahang, on July 23, 1953, and is the eldest son of the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, the nation’s second prime minister, and Tun Rahah Mohd Noah.
His appointment is most significant in the country’s history in that this is the first time that a prime minister’s son is holding the post.
His leadership capability began to surface when he was elected Pekan Umno division Youth head in 1976 and he went on to become the country’s youngest Member of Parliament at the age of 22 when he won the Pekan seat unopposed in a by-election following his father’s death.
He then went from strength-to-strength in politics and Government to reach the pinnacle as Umno president and Malaysia’s prime minister. - Bernama
Najib 55, took his oath of office before Yang di Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin at Istana Negara.
Dressed in a black baju Melayu complete with sampin, Najib arrived at the palace, accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor. Together they entered the Balairong Seri at 10am, followed by Abdullah and his wife, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah.
A total of 319 guests, including former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, attended the historic event.
The ceremony, steeped in tradition, began when Tuanku Mizan and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Zahirah entered the throne room at 10.05am and the national anthem was played by the Malaysian Armed Forces band.
After taking his oaths of office, loyalty and confidentiality, Najib signed the four instruments of appointment, followed by the reading of the doa selamat.
The instruments of appointment were then signed by Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Alauddin Mohd Sheriff as witness and handed over to Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan.
At the same ceremony, Abdullah was conferred the nation’s highest award, the Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara (SMN), while Jeanne received the Seri Setia Mahkota (SSM) by Tuanku Mizan. Both awards carry the title Tun.
The handing over of the Prime Minister’s duties from Abdullah to Najib took place about 4.50pm at the fifth floor of the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya
At the ceremony, Abdullah handed to Najib the Prime Minister’s blue desk file to signify the official handing over of duties and responsibilities.
Najib was born in Kuala Lipis, Pahang, on July 23, 1953, and is the eldest son of the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, the nation’s second prime minister, and Tun Rahah Mohd Noah.
His appointment is most significant in the country’s history in that this is the first time that a prime minister’s son is holding the post.
His leadership capability began to surface when he was elected Pekan Umno division Youth head in 1976 and he went on to become the country’s youngest Member of Parliament at the age of 22 when he won the Pekan seat unopposed in a by-election following his father’s death.
He then went from strength-to-strength in politics and Government to reach the pinnacle as Umno president and Malaysia’s prime minister. - Bernama
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Power handover begins (Updates)
10:57AM PM leaves the palace, winds down the car window and waves to the press.
09:59AM PM arrives at Istana Negara
09:55AM King arrives at Istana Negara
The transition of power from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak begins Thursday as he has an audience with the King to seek permission to resign.
Reporters and a small group of people gathered outside the palace as Abdullah drove in to meet the Yang diPertuan Agong Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin who had arrived minutes earlier.
Abdullah did not stop to speak to the press.
Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak will be sworn in as the sixth prime minister on Friday in a planned power transition that has been one year in the making.
The king has already consented to Najib's appointment, the government's chief secretary, Mohamad Sidek Hassan, had said.
Abdullah, who became the the country’s fifth premier in October 2003, was pressured to step down after the ruling National Front coalition suffered its worst results in the March 8 general elections last year when it lost its two-thirds majority in Parliament.
09:59AM PM arrives at Istana Negara
09:55AM King arrives at Istana Negara
The transition of power from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak begins Thursday as he has an audience with the King to seek permission to resign.
Reporters and a small group of people gathered outside the palace as Abdullah drove in to meet the Yang diPertuan Agong Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin who had arrived minutes earlier.
Abdullah did not stop to speak to the press.
Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak will be sworn in as the sixth prime minister on Friday in a planned power transition that has been one year in the making.
The king has already consented to Najib's appointment, the government's chief secretary, Mohamad Sidek Hassan, had said.
Abdullah, who became the the country’s fifth premier in October 2003, was pressured to step down after the ruling National Front coalition suffered its worst results in the March 8 general elections last year when it lost its two-thirds majority in Parliament.
Penang appoints Candiah to boost state and PDC
Fixed-income securities specialist Julian Candiah has been appointed special adviser to the Chief Minister and deputy general manager I of the Penang Development Corporation (PDC).
The appointment was effective yesterday.
Born in Bukit Mertajam, Candiah had previously worked at international investment banks such as Credit Suisse Financial Products, Bear Stearns, J.P. Morgan, Merrill Lynch and BNP Paribas in London, Hong Kong and Singapore.
His responsibilities included the management of senior-level client relationships with major banks, corporations, investment funds and government entities.
“Julian has a wide range of experience to help the state chart new frontiers and areas concerning venture capital and drawing funds,” said Lim.
Candiah, 41, graduated with first-class honours in engineering and has a Master’s degree in manufacturing engineering from Cambridge University.
He was also a Cambridge Commonwealth Trust scholar.
After 14 years in the banking industry predating the current financial and economic crisis, Candiah ventured into private enterprise. He is currently a partner in several private equity firms and other companies with regards to investments and financial transactions.
“Julian will provide suggestions and carry out programmes that can help transform the state into an international city that is globally competitive, based on excellence and a knowledge-based economy,” Lim said.
“His expertise can assist in attracting new investments into the state.”
Lim said Candiah’s ability would help transform PDC into a competitive company, on par with government-linked companies and other top multi-national companies and private companies.
“At the same time, his experience will also help PDC general manager Datuk Rosli Jaafar immensely in carrying out a restructuring exercise,” he said.
The appointment was effective yesterday.
Born in Bukit Mertajam, Candiah had previously worked at international investment banks such as Credit Suisse Financial Products, Bear Stearns, J.P. Morgan, Merrill Lynch and BNP Paribas in London, Hong Kong and Singapore.
His responsibilities included the management of senior-level client relationships with major banks, corporations, investment funds and government entities.
“Julian has a wide range of experience to help the state chart new frontiers and areas concerning venture capital and drawing funds,” said Lim.
Candiah, 41, graduated with first-class honours in engineering and has a Master’s degree in manufacturing engineering from Cambridge University.
He was also a Cambridge Commonwealth Trust scholar.
After 14 years in the banking industry predating the current financial and economic crisis, Candiah ventured into private enterprise. He is currently a partner in several private equity firms and other companies with regards to investments and financial transactions.
“Julian will provide suggestions and carry out programmes that can help transform the state into an international city that is globally competitive, based on excellence and a knowledge-based economy,” Lim said.
“His expertise can assist in attracting new investments into the state.”
Lim said Candiah’s ability would help transform PDC into a competitive company, on par with government-linked companies and other top multi-national companies and private companies.
“At the same time, his experience will also help PDC general manager Datuk Rosli Jaafar immensely in carrying out a restructuring exercise,” he said.
Ministry gives most aid to PR-led states
The poor in the Pakatan Rakyat-led states topped the list of those receiving aid from the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.
“We are giving more to the Opposition-led states. There is no favouritism here and this is shown in our statistics for Projek Cari, a special project launched to reach out to the poor,” said Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.
Of the 128,944 poor nationwide who had applied for aid under Projek Cari, only 54,671 were approved, she said.
Dr Ng added that 27,629 had been rejected and 46,644 applications were still pending.
Perak topped the list with 4,974 who had received welfare under Projek Cari from October to March.
Following Perak was Kedah with 4,254 new cases, Selangor (4,092), Kelantan (3,454), Penang (2,363), Pahang (2,281), Sabah (2,218), Johor (1,866), Negri Sembilan (1,653), Malacca (1,358), Sarawak (1,005) and Perlis (594).
She said that Projek Cari was now trying to trace other poor persons as the second economic stimulus package had provided more funds for the ministry.
She also said that the Budget allocated for welfare under her ministry from 2006-2008 had increased from RM350mil to RM850mil this year. She added that the ministry would review on a yearly basis those earning below RM720 a month.
While every state government would have its own welfare policy, Dr Ng said the ministry had a holistic and consistent policy for all the states and did not interfere with the states.
She said this in response to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng who announced that each of the 728 hardcore poor families identified in the state would have an income of at least RM500 per month.
She added that the federal funds allocated to Penang had increased and her ministry was still looking out for the poor in the state.
Apart from allocating RM2.249mil for 9,720 poor Penangites in the first two months of the year, the ministry also traced an additional 2,363 poor Penangites through Projek Cari.
They were classified as new cases and a total of RM703,570 was disbursed to them.
Of the 2,363 people, 555 were Malay men 353 Chinese men, 167 Indian men, 711 Malay women, 354 Chinese women and 223 Indian women, said Dr Ng.
“We are giving more to the Opposition-led states. There is no favouritism here and this is shown in our statistics for Projek Cari, a special project launched to reach out to the poor,” said Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.
Of the 128,944 poor nationwide who had applied for aid under Projek Cari, only 54,671 were approved, she said.
Dr Ng added that 27,629 had been rejected and 46,644 applications were still pending.
Perak topped the list with 4,974 who had received welfare under Projek Cari from October to March.
Following Perak was Kedah with 4,254 new cases, Selangor (4,092), Kelantan (3,454), Penang (2,363), Pahang (2,281), Sabah (2,218), Johor (1,866), Negri Sembilan (1,653), Malacca (1,358), Sarawak (1,005) and Perlis (594).
She said that Projek Cari was now trying to trace other poor persons as the second economic stimulus package had provided more funds for the ministry.
She also said that the Budget allocated for welfare under her ministry from 2006-2008 had increased from RM350mil to RM850mil this year. She added that the ministry would review on a yearly basis those earning below RM720 a month.
While every state government would have its own welfare policy, Dr Ng said the ministry had a holistic and consistent policy for all the states and did not interfere with the states.
She said this in response to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng who announced that each of the 728 hardcore poor families identified in the state would have an income of at least RM500 per month.
She added that the federal funds allocated to Penang had increased and her ministry was still looking out for the poor in the state.
Apart from allocating RM2.249mil for 9,720 poor Penangites in the first two months of the year, the ministry also traced an additional 2,363 poor Penangites through Projek Cari.
They were classified as new cases and a total of RM703,570 was disbursed to them.
Of the 2,363 people, 555 were Malay men 353 Chinese men, 167 Indian men, 711 Malay women, 354 Chinese women and 223 Indian women, said Dr Ng.
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