DPM: Sarawak will remain under BN KUCHING: Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is confident that Sarawak will continue to be governed by the Barisan Nasional (BN) based on the track record of BN leaders in the state who were getting solid support from the federal government. Expressing satisfaction with the state BN’s preparation for the 10th Sarawak state election on April 16, Muhyiddin said the people of Sarawak understood and valued the various efforts taken by the BN leadership towards their wellbeing. “What is important is that we continue the development agenda under the BN through transformation programmes and will take into consideration core areas that will enable us to achieve our transformation objectives,” he told reporters after holding a meeting with leaders of BN component parties in Sarawak as well as members of Sarawak BN’s supreme council, at the headquarters of Parti Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) here today. Also present were Sarawak Chief Minister and ...

House erupts over spending bill glitch KUALA LUMPUR: Parliament erupted today after Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia shot down an opposition MP’s move to declare a supplementary expenditure by the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry as unconstitutional. Earlier, Pandikar Amin adjourned the sitting for 15 minutes after PKR’s Indera Mahkota MP Azan Ismail pointed out a glitch when the ministry did not include RM133 million spending in its Supply Bill, which is required under the Article 101 of the Federal Constitution. “If Parliament approves this without having the spending included in the bill, it becomes unconstitutional,” Azan said at a press conference. Azan, along with other opposition MPs, said that it was negligent of the government to overlook this requirement, adding that it was pertinent to debate every single sen spent from taxpayers’ money. However, Pandikar Amin dismissed the argument, saying after the break that the government was not required to do so as ...

Rahim Thamby Chik seems to have lost his mind while in the political wilderness, and while he goes back there to look for it the rest of the country should not be left wondering who was exactly on the tape that everyone is talking about. I mean, nearly every conversation with an adult friend that we have not met for the last week would inevitably begin with a query whether I have seen the tape or it inevitably ebbs towards that topic. Malaysians cannot avoid the subject though some are keen to see and others say they loathe it. Let's get back to Rahim or RTC. We all know that he has an axe to grind with Anwar for leaking those stories about an affair he allegedly had with a 16-year old girl and I completely understand his anger with Anwar but as a politician he must hold on to Machiavelli like a painter holds on to a brush, it is the most important tool in a politician's arsenal. First and foremost politicians should know that the objective is the most important thing and if it...

Mat Cendana's BLOG REVIEW by Mat Cendana I love this! `Independent' media website MalaysiaKini published this letter titled Focus on high priority issues than dodgy porn clip ... and another one of Where is our moral high ground? And the president of the Malaysian Consultative Council for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) [ Phew! So loooong ] expressed "Utter horror and sheer disgust over scandalous sex video" ... And so on and so forth. The first is written by one Rajiv Nambiar, whoever he is. The second is by the president of MCCBCHST, Reverend Dr. Thomas Philips; while the third is from Prof Dr Mohamad Tajuddin M. Rasdi ( See his profile here . Ini semua bukan orang lekeh-lekeh ye. Cuma Rajiv tu aku tak tahu: kalau Ravi Nambiar, pernah dengar... The Star , kalau tak silap ). There's a couple of common themes here - all are riding a high horse, and all want to divert from the most important issue of all ... WHO is the pers...

March 30, 2011 KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 Former deputy minister Datuk Tan Tiong Hong died at 8.30am today.Tan, who is the current vice-chairman of the Kepong MCA division, is said to have been having breakfast alone in his house at Seri Bukit Persekutuan when he collapsed.It is understood that Tan did not suffer from any known illness and may have hit his head on a table corner immediately after he collapsed.Tan's funeral will be held this Sunday. Those who would like to pay their last respects may do so at No 15, Persiaran Persekutuan, Seri Bukit Persekutuan from tomorrow till Saturday.Tan held a number of government positions in the 1980s, including deputy education minister and deputy finance minister. He started his political career by joining MCA in 1969 but left the party three years later and joined Gerakan. However, in 1981, he returned to MCA.

March 30, 2011 SHAH ALAM, March 30 The state government today appealed to the High Court to suspend all questioning of its staff by theMalaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), until the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the death of the late Teoh Beng Hock, which began two weeks ago, is completed.In this affidavit, the mentri besar said that the references and inquiries conducted by the RCI have a direct link to whether the MACC had acted in a legitimate manner in its investigation, especially during the questioning of individuals when conducting its statutory duties, according to a statement from the MBs office.It also said that the affidavit is based on media reports and testimonies given to the RCI about the wrongdoings that had taken place during MACC investigations, especially during the questioning of the late Teoh.I believe that the RCI report is very relevant to the issues disputed in this action because the court has facts regarding MACC investigation procedures and up...

Accused of sexism, Bung cries ‘sexual harassment’ Bung (left) claimed he was now being targeted by women. — file pic KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 — Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin today claimed he has been targeted and harassed by women after claiming in Parliament that female drivers were slow and oblivious to traffic. Bung had also complained that “when you honk at them, they get agitated with some even showing hand gestures to other drivers.” “I would like to ask for help from the Speaker because there has been sexual harassment against me,” he said in Parliament today. Today, Bung condemned Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers for twisting his statements and criticised Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil for failing clarify the facts with him. Shahrizat has described Bung’s statement against women drivers as completely uncalled for and offensive. According to Bung, Shahrizat should have approached h...