Who and why would anyone wants to put Anwar’s life in ‘grave danger’, at this point of time?

 

So it was true PKR Adviser and convicted Former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim sought sanctuary in the Turkish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. The excuse was, “Under assassination threat”.

NST has the story:

2008/06/29

Anwar holes up in Turkish Embassy following ‘death’ threats

By : Mazlinda Mahmood

SHAH ALAM, Fri:

Parti Keadilan Rakyat de-facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has holed himself inside the Turkish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur following alleged death threats made against him after a former aide lodged a police report accusing Anwar of sodomy.

“I have been instructed to formally inform (the media) that Anwar is now at the Turkish Embassy where he will remain until a time which will be determined later, based on our discussion with embassy officials,” said PKR vice-president Azmin Ali. “He is in a safe place and is healthy and well.

Azmin said only Anwar’s wife, Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, his children and immediate family members, are allowed to visit him at the embassy. Admission into the embassy will be barred to outsiders without official business.

At 6.05pm, Anwar confirmed his location in a statement posted on his blog. “I am issuing this statement from within the embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Kuala Lumpur. I was transported to the embassy earlier this morning fearing that my personal safety was in danger. I thank all those who offered to assist me in this time of need and am grateful to the Turkish Ambassador for extending an invitation to seek refuge within the Embassy,” Anwar said in his statement.

Anwar claimed that since the March 8 elections, numerous credible sources from within the government and military intelligence had advised him that certain agents from within Barisan Nasional leadership have initiated plots to cause harm to him or his family or his supporters.

“I have been told that my assassination has not been ruled out as means to subvert the people’s will and bring an end to the transformational changes taking place in Malaysia.

“Notwithstanding the threats which are intended to silence my voice, I intend make public new evidence implicating that the Inspector General of the Police Musa Hassan and the Attorney General Gani Patail engaged in criminal acts of fabricating evidence in cases launched against me in 1998,” Anwar alleged.

Azmin claimed the decision to move Anwar to a protective place was made by the political bureau and supreme council in a meeting which ended at 5am today.

Anwar reportedly received a ‘real’ death threat from an unidentified person and was covertly moved from the Quality Hotel here in an unmarked car to the embassy after the dawn prayers, eluding the media and plainclothes policemen camping at the lobby.

Anwar was at the hotel with other senior PKR officials for a two-day party retreat to discuss future programmes.

Asked why the Turkish Embassy was chosen, Azmin said calls were made to several embassies late last night and the Turks were the first to respond positively to ensure Anwar’s safety.

“In this pressing situation, we immediately made the necessary arrangements,” he said. “During our discussion late last night, several communications took place between the party and several embassies.”

On whether Anwar is seeking asylum from the Turkish government, Azmin dismissed the idea, saying that in the near future and for his safety, PKR felt that their leader needed to be at a safe place. “That was the decision of the party leadership and he agreed to it,” he said.

Asked to comment on Azizah’s statement on Anwar reportedly attending a meeting on Thursday, the day he allegedly sodomised his special officer, Azmin said he would not disclose the details of Anwar’s alibis.

“A statement has been issued from him personally,” he said. “The president and deputy president have also given the party’s official statement and I would not go beyond that.”

************************************************************

 

Funny thing is, who and why would anyone want to physical hurt or threaten Anwar up to endangering his life, that he actually need to seek sanctuary in a foreign diplomatic mission in this country?

What did he actually do and why at this point of time?

Politically, yes, he is growing stronger. But this is not this week’s news. He had the ‘Black 14’ rally in Kampung Baru in mid April and other more rallies all over the country and he was fine, trumpeting his arrogance then. He made one announcement after another about how and when the Pakatan Rakyat ‘unholy’ coalition he managed to set up will seize power from Barisan Nasional, include the ‘fluid’ execution dates promises. That also includes the one in Ulu Kelang few weeks back,  immediately after Government had the hefty petrol price increase, where thousands of people came to hear his rhetorics and out of this world promises, like always.

Anwar was so confident of himself that he actually took up the challenge to have the public debate, organize by an online paper with a Cabinet Minister.

So why suddenly, when young Saiful Bahri Azlan decided to make a Police report after alleging being sodomized by Anwar for the eighth time and “Anwar starting to get more “demanding”, after announcing his engagement” (just like what happened to UKM lecturer Hairani Mohd. Nafiz), now Anwar’s life is under grave threat that tantamount to ‘assassination’?

(Lets get this right: “Anwar sodomise a young man, so the ‘Government’ tried to assassinate Anwar for this????”. I have gone through so many fictional political thriller works and I must confess, this the most ridiculous of them all!)

Wouldn’t the ‘boy who cry wolf’ aka Saiful Bahri, be the one who should be under grave threat, especially by the mob-mentality rabid Anwar supporters?

Again, Wan Azizah and Azmin is quick with the “Police and Judiciary cannot be trusted” excuse (conveniently, these are the people who rallied on ‘Judicial Reforms’ since last September with the revelation of the V K Lingam tapes). So by wrongfully accusing Anwar with preposterous sexual criminal charges, the BN Government could even demise faster. So, again, how would it benefit the Government if Anwar were to be assassinated, at this point of time?

How can this episode this time, not be another crappy Anwar Ibrahim sordid sandiwara, all over again?

Where exactly is Anwar, now?

Where is Anwar Ibrahim?

Since the explosive story about young Saiful Bukhary Azlan made a Police report in Hospital Kuala Lumpur Police Beat exactly 24 hours ago, no one ever heard from Anwar. We only had PKR Vice President R. Sivarasah, then PKR President Wan Azizah Wan Ismail making statements.

They are still talking about “Conspiracy, Police and Judiciary cannot be trusted”. So what is new?

We also heard stories that 1,000 odd PKR members surrounded Quality Inn hotel in Shah Alam and barred anyone from coming up to meet Anwar. The Police have not taken any statements from him yet, after the Police report made.

Why hasn’t Anwar face the media yet, personally, rather than have his statement read by his reps?

Unconfirmed reports also said Anwar sought asylum in the Turkish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, citing fear of ‘assassination’. Stories also rave around the sms that the Turkish Foreign Office will issue a statement on this.

If this story is good, then some of us should help him. We should set up an NGO immediately; Liberation of International Working group for Anwar in Turkey or L.I.W.A.T. for short.

Any takers? 😉

Old habits die hard!

It seems that former convict Anwar Ibrahim has done it again. Another staff made a Police report again that the Former Deputy Prime Minister had sodomised him. Like before, Anwar vehemently denied ever doing that to this young man.

The Star has the story:

Sunday June 29, 2008

Anwar denies sodomy claims

By LOURDES CHARLES, STEVEN DANIEL and WANI MUTHIAH

 

SHAH ALAM: Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was left fighting for his political credibility, calling a press conference at 1.20am today to deny allegations that he sodomised his aide.

He described the allegations made by his aide in a police report lodged yesterday as a “total fabrication”.

Anwar’s statement was read out by PKR vice-president Sivarasa Rasiah at the press conference at a hotel in Shah Alam.

The statement, which was also faxed to media offices, said: “The police report lodged against me today is a complete fabrication. I believe we are witnessing a repeat of the methods used against me in 1998 when false allegations were made under duress.”

Asked why Anwar was not at the press conference, Sivarasa said Anwar was very busy attending to “too many telephone calls.”

Earlier, a man claiming to be an aide of Anwar lodged a police report alleging sodomy by the PKR leader.

It is learnt that the man, in his 20s, lodged the report at a police beat base here at 5.45pm.

He is being treated at a hospital in Kuala Lumpur.

Sources said the man alleged that he was sexually assaulted last Thursday inside a luxury apartment in the city.

He also alleged that it was not the first time that Anwar had sexually assaulted him.

Sivarasa said the aide started working for PKR three months ago to help out in the general election.

City CID chief Senior Asst Comm II Ku Chin Wah confirmed that a report had been lodged but declined to give details.

Sources said police were waiting for the medical report from the hospital before proceeding with investigations.

They also said Anwar was expected to be called up by the police to have his statement recorded.

********************************************************

This is just a de javu. Eleven years ago, Azizan Abu Bakar made the same charges against Anwar Ibrahim, then Deputy Prime Minister. When he was acting Pime Minister (as Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad was abroad for a much needed extended holiday), he instructed the Police Special Branch (SB) to intimidate Azizan and Ummi Halfida Ali and forcefully extract for a letter reversing their earlier confession for the sodomy story.

In the 1998 UMNO General Assembly, Khalid Jaffri’s book “50 dalil kenapa Anwar tidak boleh menjadi Perdana Menteri” was distributed to UMNO delegates, which prompt Private Secretary Azmin Ali to make a Police report at Dang Wangi Police Station. An investigation was carried out by then ACP Musa Hassan (now IGP Tan Sri)  discovered about the SB was instructed to detain and intimidate Azizan and Ummi for the reversal confession.

On 2 September 1998, Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad sacked Anwar from his Cabinet post and a day later MT UMNO sacked him as a party member. After successfully launching his ‘Reformasi’ movement for two weeks and taking it nationwide, he was arrested on 20 September 1998 and eventually charged in court on 29 September 1998 for abuse of power and sodomy. Read the chronology here.

After a highly controversial trial, which include Anwar claimed he was poisoned with arsenic during detention. On 14 April 1999 Justice S. Augustin Paul found Anwar guilty for misusing his powers and he convicted for a six year jail term, in a record 320 page judgment. He served the term failing to get the appeal through, even at the Federal Court.

Then Anwar went to court again. This time for the sodomy charge against Azizan Abu Bakar. For all time’s sake, lets recap what Azizan Abu Bakar said sometime ago. For those who cannot remember Azizan, he was Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail’s personal driver who made a complaint about Anwar sodomising him and eventually testified in court. It went trial as one of highly controversial criminal case which drew attention from all corners of the world and went up to the Federal Court stage.

The nine year conviction by High Court Judge Ariffin Jaka on 8 August 2000 was over turned by a three man Federal Court panel on 2 September 2004. However, the majority decision reached at:

 

“The testimonies of one Dr. Mohd Fadzil and one Tun Haniff and the conduct of the first Appellant (ie Anwar) confirmed the appellants’ involvement in homosexual activities. However such evidence did not corroborate Azizan’s story that the appellants sodomised him on the date, time and place specified in the charge.”

Additionally, the majority also held:

“even though reading the appeal record, we find evidence to confirm that the appellants were involved in homosexual activities and we are more inclined to believe that the alleged incident at Tivoli Villa did happen, sometime, this court, as a court of law, may only convict the appellants if the prosecution has successfully proved that the alleged offences as stated in the charges, beyond reasonable doubt.”

 

Read also Matthias Chang’s “Anwar is a convicted criminal”, where these quotes were originally extracted from.

For all intend and purpose, Anwar and his people quickly responded with “venomous lies against him”, again this time the moment this story of sodomy report against him was made. It seems history has a way of repeating itself.

It is indeed a case of hard habit to break, including the responses!

*Updated 100pm

Read Rocky’s Bru on the Police report made by Saiful Bukhary yesterday

Forum ‘Kontrak Sosial’ Majlis Peguam: Tafsiran sempit dan fakta dimanipulasi

 

Penganalisa politik Dr. Farish A. Noor pagi ini menghina UMNO sebagai “Memomokan orang Melayu bahawa mereka diancam” agar parti nasionalis Melayu untuk terus mengamalkan politik “Memberi perlindungan kepada orang Melayu seolah olah orang Melayu ini binatang, yang sentiasa memerlukan perlindungan. Binatang ternakan (ayam, itik, kambing) perlu dilindung dan akhirnya akan disembelih”.

Beliau mengatakan demikian dalam pengulungan program Forum Kontrak Sosial anjuran Majlis Peguam di Auditorium Majlis Peguam, Lebuh Pasar, Kuala Lumpur. Beberapa ahli Pemuda UMNO yang hadir bangkit, meminta laluan cuba mencelah dan secara tegas menegur Dr. Farish yang dianggap keterlaluan dan ketelanjuran bahasa. Dr. Farish walaubagaimanapun tidak pula menarik balik atau meminta maaf.

Sebelum itu, beliau menegaskan bahawa kerakyatan warga Malaysia dan konsep sistem politik negara ini ditubuhkan adalah sebagai ‘maya’ (artificial). Maka ‘Kontrak Sosial’ yang diujudkan “secara maya” adalah alasan untuk mengekalkan konsep ‘bukan nyata’ (vague) seperti kewarga negaraan untuk menentukan bahawa rakyat mempunyai sifat ‘kekitaan’ (sense of belonging)”. Oleh itu, beliau menjelaskan bahawa ‘Kontrak Sosial’ boleh di’ubah semula’.

Dr. Farish yang kini Fellow Kanan Fakulti Sains Politik Rajaratnam Universiti Nanyang Singapura juga menolak bagaimana sistem politik Malaysia yang berdasarkan menjaga kepentingan dan menurut kaum yang beliau anggap sebagai ‘pemerintahan berpuak’ (sectarian rule).

Forum dimulakan dengan pembentangan kertas kerja oleh Dr. Mavis Puthucheary yang mengatakan sebenarnya UMNO tidak mendapat mandat rakyat seluruh negara untuk merundingkan ‘Kontrak Sosial’, yang beliau dakwa sebenarnya tidak ujud dan sengaja diada adakan. Konsep ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ yang pertama kali digunakan oleh Mantan Setiausaha Politik Perdana Menteri Ke II Dato’ Abdullah Ahmad (sekarang Tan Sri) di Singapura pada 1986 merupakan sesuatu yang sengaja diada adakan untuk menentukan kuasa Melayu pada UMNO terus relevan.

Beliau juga menegaskan bahawa konsep ‘Kongsi Kuasa’ yang diamalkan Kerajaan Perikatan, kemudian Barisan Nasional membatasi prinsip pemerintahan demokrasi. Oleh itu, ‘Kontrak Sosial’ sebenarnya tidak ujud.

Mantan MP DAP bagi Petaling Jaya Dr. Kua Kia Soong pula menegaskan bahawa “Ketuanan Melayu” merupakan imaginasi ‘politikus yang mengambil kesempatan’ (political carpet baggers) dan pejuang Kemerdekaan sebenar merupakan golongan berhaluan kiri seperti Independent Malayan Party, Angkatan Pemuda Insaf dan pengganas seperti Parti Komunis Malaya. British bersetuju memberikan Kemerdekaan Malaya kepada UMNO kerana mereka bersifat lebih pro-British. Parti Perikatan didakwa sebagai sesuatu yang diujudkan British dalam agenda Neo Colonialist.

British, yang memulakan penyusunan semula masyarakat semasa darurat melalui sistem ‘kampung baru’ (new village) disifatkan Dr. Kua sebagai ‘Kem Tahanan’ (concentration camps) dan merupakan agenda untuk menentukan orang keturunan Cina sentiasa dalam keadaan ‘dikawal’.

Dr. Kua masih lagi mempertahankan bahawa UMNO merupakan golongan ‘samseng’ (hoodlums) dan peristiwa berdarah rusuhan kaum 13 Mei 1969 merupakan angkara ‘samseng’ (hoodlums) dalam UMNO.  Peranan DAP menghina orang Melayu Kampung Baru pula tidak langsung disebut sebagai punca rusuhan itu. “Kuasa pada Melayu wajar dikurangkan dari masa ke semasa (Malay control should be reduced in time)” dan mengutarakan konsep “Malaysian, Malaysia”. Dr. Kua juga menyifatkan sistem yang diamalkan oleh pemerintahan yang diterajui UMNO sebagai ‘Fasis’ (Facist).

Pembangunan ekonomi orang Melayu selepas Merdeka pula disifatkan sebagai “Kelas Kapitalis Negara Melayu” (Malay State Capitalist Class), terutama selepas keujudkan MARA, Bank Bumiputra, Tabung Haji selepas Kongress Ekonomi Bumiputra I (1965) dan II (1966). Beliau juga membangkitkan mengenai ITM, program Asasi Sains UM dan Matrik USM.

Peguam terkenal Tommy Thomas, sebagai panelis ketiga tidak bersetuju dengan kedua panelis awal ini dan menjelaskan bahawa ‘Kontrak Sosial’ merupakan elemen penting (“Striking feature“) dalam Perlembagaan Tanah Melayu dan mencadangakan bahawa sejarah dikaji dengan perjalanan dan tafsiran yang betul. Peranan Raja Melayu dalam proses Kemerdekaan juga perlu diambil kira.

Beliau menyanggah hujah bahawa UMNO dan perikatan bersama MCA dan MIC tidak mewakili aspirasi rakyat Malaya. Perikatan yang mendapat mandat 51 dari 52 kerusi dalam Pilihanraya Umum 1955 dan undi popular 80% merupakan manifestasi jelas bahawa kerjasama akrab tiga pihak ini membuahkan ‘Kontrak Sosial’ yang dipersetujui antara Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, Dato’ Razak Hussein, Dato’ Dr. Ismail Abdul Rahman, Dato’ Panglima Bukit Gantang Hj. Wahab dengan Tan Cheng Lock, Col. H.S. Lee dan V. T. Sambathan. Ianya merupakan sesuatu yang benar dan selesaian kepada kemelut isu isu tertentu setiap kaum, yang diterima British sebelum Kemerdekaan dicapai, termasuk soal kerakyatan kaum immigran. Proses  untuk mengesahkan kerakyatan juga dipermudahkan.

“Hanya sebab ‘Kontrak Sosial’ tidak boleh didefinisikan hari ini, tidak bermakna ianya tidak ujud (Just because Social Contract is undefinable today, doesn’t mean it did not exist)” dan memberi tafsiran  sebagai “Perundingan (tawar menawar) yang berjaya dicapai antara tiga kaum dibawah pemerhatian British (Bargain reached by the three communities under observation of the British)”.

“‘Roh Kontrak Sosial’ ujud yang (dimanifestasikan dalam bentuk beberapa artikel) dalam Perlembagaan Tanah Melayu merangkumi keperluan orang Melayu tidak diabaikan, tiada penindasan kaum, tiada pemecahan negara (partition) dan sebagai balasan, orang Melayu meminta Bukan Melayu memberikan taat setia tidak berbelah bagi kepada Negara”.

Thomas menjelaskan bahawa ‘Kontrak Sosial’ diperkukuhkan lagi dengan kemasukan Sabah dan Sarawak dalam Persekutuan Malaysia dan ianya berlaku sedikit perubahan menjelang Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) dilaksanakan pada 1971. Walaubagaimanapun, semenjak PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi menerajui Kepimpinan, ancaman keatas ‘Kontrak Sosial’ makin ketara dan lebih banyak diperbincangkan.

Forum hari ini menyaksikan bahawa ada pihak pihak yang sengaja memutar belitkan fakta dan sejarah dan memberikan tafsiran sempit, menurut kepentingan politik dan aspirasi mereka, hanya kerana mereka menentang DEB dan mahukan konsep “Malaysian, Malaysia” menjadi teras utama program pembangunan ekonomi dan pengagihan kekayaan, sebagaimana yang mula mula diketengahkan PAP dan kemudian diteruskan DAP sehingga hari ini.

Mukhriz membuat ulasan mengenai tatacara etika pemilihan UMNO

Exco Pemuda UMNO Dato’ Mukhriz Mahathir, yang juga Ahli Parlimen Jerlun hari ini membuat kenyataan mengenai Tatacara Etika Pemilihan UMNO yang dikeluarkan MT UMNO dalam “Tata Etika Ahli UMNO” bertarikh 27 Mac 2008. Peraturan yang perlu dipatuhi oleh semua pemimpin dan ahli UMNO ini disemua peringkat ini rata rata yang disifatkan ramai sebagai “tidak demokratik dan terlalu mengongkong”.

Beliau mengulas mengenai lebih keterbukaan dalam proses pemilihan jawatan dalam UMNO. Ini kerana ramai yang mempunyai bakat kepimpinan dan kaliber yang baik, yang masih tidak dikenali oleh ahli UMNO kini berhadapan dengan peraturan yang menyekat mereka dikenali dan dekati oleh ahli. Menurut Mukhriz, amat penting bahawa ahli UMNO diberikan secukup peluang untuk mengenali bakal pemimpin, terutama yang akan mewarisi parti satu hari nanti.

Mukhriz juga membuat ulasan mengenai bagaimana mereka yang belum ada jawatan, samada dalam parti maupun dalam Kerajaan akan lebih tidak akan dikehadapankan dengan larangan ketat yang ujud dalam peraturan ini.

Semua ulasan dibuat dalam temuramah dengan Bernama yang ini dirakam dan sediakan dalam format You Tube.

Menurut Tata Etika Ahli UMNO, bakal calon tidak dibenarkan menghadiri majlis dan bertemu ahli UMNO, termasuk majlis sosial seperti kenduri tahlil dan perkahwinan dan juga yang dianjurkan bukan atas platform UMNO, seperti NGO. Hanya mereka berjawatan dalam Kerajaan sahaja boleh bertemu akar umbi, atas kapasiti mereka dalam jawatan rasmi masing masing. Calon juga dihalang untuk mengeluarkan sebarang kenyataan, termasuk dalam medium elektronik, walaupun atas kapasiti peribadi. Larangan ini juga merangkumi pengurus kempen dan wakil calon dan melanggari akan dikenakan tindakan tata tertib, termasuk dipecat dari parti.

Namun begitu, Presiden UMNO PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi telah melakukan beberapa siri pertemuan dengan pemimpin peringkat Cawangan UMNO di Kuala Lumpur. Pada mulanya, ianya diatur oleh Perhubungan UMNO Negeri. Kebelakangan ini, ianya diambil alih oleh Jabatan Hal Ehwal Khas (JASA), Kementerian Penerangan dimana ahli UMNO ini dibawa dengan bas ke ibu negara, diberikan penginapan di hotel dan jamuan, disediakan keraian seperti persembahan artis, diberikan wang berjumlah RM 100-150.00 dan kain pelikat.batik, setiap peserta. Ini sepatutnya melanggar sebagaimana tertera dalam Tata Etika Ahli UMNO kerana PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah dijangkakan akan bertanding mempertahankan jawatan Presiden tetapi ianya masih diteruskan, atas alasan pertemuan dianjur Jabatan Kerajaan dan bukan platform parti.

Bagaimana pula kalau pemimpin yang mahu menawar diri yang tiada jawatan Kerajaan, seperti Mantan Naib Presiden UMNO Tengku Tan Sri Razaleigh Hamzah?

UMNO perlu maju kehadapan dan menyahut cabaran dinamism dunia hari ini dan bukan mengadakan sekatan yang sebenarnya akan menjadi counter productive parti nasionalis Melayu itu. Rata rata ahli UMNO diakar umbi mendambakan ‘pendemokrasian’ dalam UMNO dan UMNO perlu menjadi parti akar umbi dan bukan hanya mementingkan Kepimpinan.

Rabu lepas, Tengku Razaleigh yang dijadualkan berucap kepada ahli UMNO sekitar Seremban membatalkan hasratnya minit terakhir kerana sekatan yang tertera dalam buku Tata Etika Ahli UMNO.

*Perkembangan dikemas kini Jumaat 27 Jun 2008 1100 pagi

Ini pandangan seorang lagi Exco Pemuda UMNO mengenai Tata Etika Ahli UMNO dalam konteks bagaimana ianya disalah gunakan oleh Kepimpinan.

Tun Dr. Mahathir: Set up a tribunal to investigate Justice Ian Chin

 

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad this morning said there was a Police report against Miri High Court Judge Ian Chin in discharging his duty where he had vested interests against the parties involved.

Justice Chin had a grudge against former Sabah Foundation Boss Dato’ Syed Kechik, who he believed had a part in getting former’s father and brother being detained by the authorities. He heard in chambers and issued an injunction, which reversed a decision by another judge in 1996 on a claim of RM 40 millon land deal which was awarded to the claimant, Zara Sdn. Bhd. and Benita, Sdn. Bhd. by another judge. For the record, Justice Chin was a Berjaya member, contsted twice and one of the manifesto was to get rid of Dato’ Syed Kechik, who is a Kedahan from Sabah. Hence,  as reported, brother Judges found his judgment, “flawed”.

In the March 2008 Federal Court judgment when the case put forth by Zara and Benita,  Justice Chin was found to extremely prejudicial and unwarrantly attacking the credibility of Syed Salem Al Bukhary (representing his brother Dato’ Syed Kechik).

“A tribunal should be set up to investigate the reports against Justice Chin”, urged Tun Dr. Mahathir in a media conference at his Petronas office, on the 86 Floor of Tower One, KLCC. He held up a compiled report against Justice Chin which is two inch thick. When PKR adviser Anwar Ibrahim highlighted the video recording was then thought to be of lawyer V K Lingam ‘names dropping’, a special three man tribunal was set up which eventually led to the Royal Commission of Inquiry having to convene and investigated the complaint thoroughly.

When asked why suddenly he made scathing attacks against Tun Dr. Mahathir, “Maybe he believed that by demonizing Dr. Mahathir, he would earn merits with the Government”, stating that Dr. Mahathir himself knew he was ‘not popular’ with the current administration.

Justice Chin attracted attention when he claimed Tun Dr. Mahathir issued “veiled threats” against Judges and made Judges “go through bootcamp”. Two Judges openly discredited Justice Chin, which included a serving Judge and was reported to say Justice Chin “flawed in his judgment”. The former Prime Minister expressed his dismay when now Justice Chin is claiming that Tun Dr. Mahathir “Could have dropped words here and there”.

Malaysiakini reported this two days ago:

Judge hits back at ‘devil incarnate’ Mahathir

 Jun 24, 08 8:55pm

High Court judge Ian Chin, who two weeks ago make stunning allegations that he was threatened by Dr Mahathir Mohamad for a number of decisions in high-profile cases, has today fired another stinging salvo at the former prime minister

“…Dr Mahathir for what he had done and for what he is trying to do is a devil incarnate but to those who had suffered under his hands, even that description my be rather complimentary,” said Chin in open court during a hearing of an election petition in Sibu, Sarawak, this afternoon.

He told lawyers from both parties of the election petition to decide whether he should continue hearing the case in light of the attacks on his integrity.

Mahathir had denied issuing a ‘thinly-veiled threat’ at a 1997 judges conference that they would be sacked if they decided unfavourably against his government.

Chin, a High Court judge for Sabah and Sarawak, said he had also been sent to an indoctrination ‘boot camp’ where participants were pressured into making pro-government decisions.

While Mahathir conceded the existence of such ‘work camps’, he said these were held for participants to learn about Malaysia’s political system, the Barisan Nasional concept, ethics and moral values and democracy.

Chin also took offence with Mahathir in stating that there was a police report made against the judge for hiding his past when hearing a certain case.

“Dr Mahathir, by waving the supposed police report the way he did, lent support to the general held view that this prime minister kept a docket on everyone useful but with a skeleton in their cupboard so that he can manipulate then on pain of disclosing the skeleton,” he said in a lengthy defence against the ex-PM’s remarks.

<!–[if gte vml 1]> <![endif]–><!–[if !vml]–><!–[endif]–>“I thought only the Stasi of the then communist East Germany do such a thing but then it was done for the benefit of the state not for an individual.

“In my view, he is trying to exploit this general belief to wave that supposed police report to get the public to believe that I have committed something unlawful which he is privy to and which the public is not unaware so that my integrity could be put under suspicion to make what I have revealed unbelievable.

“Let me declare to the public that I am as clean as a whistle and my life is an open book.”

Boot camp: Judge told to carry egg

Chin also argued that his shocking revelations on the state of judiciary during Mahathir’s times was not because he was passed over for promotion.

He tendered a number of letters he wrote to two different chief justices in which he told them that his wife wanted to return to Kota Kinabalu.

“Since I do not want promotion before, now or in the future nor any appointment after my retirement, what do I get out of all this knowing very well that I will be the target for vilification?

“It is this. I must be able to sleep well after I retired knowing that I have done all I can, like all the crucified judges before me, to tell Malaysians the danger they are in regarding the state of the judiciary.”

Chin revealed more about the boot camp he attended as a judge and the humiliation which participants were forced into.

“…You surrendered your wallet, your air ticket and handphone when you checked into the camp and you cannot go anywhere as it is in an isolated place and you cannot leave for anywhere as there is no transport.

“You are totally cut off from the outside world, with no newspapers or television and with selected news conveyed to you at the assembly for the purpose of sampling reaction such as the news that a certain party had won a by-election which elicited some applause from some young officers but they earned the rebuke of a High Court judge as that was an improper display of partisanship.

He said the objective of the boot camp was to “make us take orders” and a “junior officer was made our leader from whom we have to take orders from and one Sessions Court judge who disagreed with that was made to publicly apologise on a podium to his junior officer leader”.

“Another method employed was to chisel away the view we held of how independent we should be in our job as High Court judges and this they did by punishing or humiliating a High Court judge by making him carry a brick all the time after he broke the egg which each of us must carry wherever we went, including marching.

“All these were, in my view, for the purpose of softening us to take order for the benefit of the government, meaning Dr Mahathir.”

**********************

Justice Chin most probably was describing Biro Tata Negara’s  national  integration development program, which Tun Dr. Mahathir explained  that thousands of political, civil service and  even corporate leaders  and industry captains attended but not a word of complaint.

When asked whether this would hamper de facto Law Minister Dato’ Zaid Ibrahim’s promises for law reforms when he was appointed in the Cabinet, “How can someone who was found by his own party of money politics misconduct and not allowed to contest (in General Elections) be appointed as a Cabinet Minister?”, doubting Zaid would do the right thing as he had swallowed what Justice Chin said, wholesomely without checking.

Lawyer Matthias Chang made a Police report against Justice Chin at Jalan Travers Police station in the afternoon. He repeated his challenge of Chin citing himself for contempt of court and face Chang for an open debate.

* Full photographical reporting of the media conference can be viewed at Jinggo Fotopages

Ku Li berceramah di Seremban?

Kenapa?

Tun Dr. Mahathir: The Government is absolute failure & everyone is thinking for their own political career

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad said this morning that the last 100 days is a disaster, “The Government is not responding to the rakyat (message). The Government is in denial”. He added, “There is no Government now. Everyone is just anxious in their own political future”.

“The Government is absolute failure! They resolve everything by giving money”, as he gave the examples of RM billions extended to Sabah and Sarawak whenever PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi met their leaders and also the unprecedented ex-gratia payments made to the sacked Judges. He said this at the media conference after the launching Dr. Salleh Buang’s book “Smart Growth” in Perdana Leadership Foundation this morning.

“To spend money, there must be provisions. Now the Government is giving away money secretly”, in reference to the ex-gratia payments, when ask where did the money is coming from. “When you do anything in secret, (there is) a lot of things to hide”.

“The PM says something, the Cabinet says something, the Ministers says something else. Then there’s ‘flip-flop’ decisions!”, responding to the question on de facto Law Minsiter Dato’ Zaid Ibrahim’s proposal for law reforms, announced the day he was listed in the Cabinet after the 8 March General Elections.”A dinner is given to back his proposal (for Zaid Ibrahim’s Judicial reforms) and he had the PM announced the ex-gratia payments (where else the Cabinet already decided there will be no apology to Tun Salleh Abas and the five sacked Judges)”.

When asked about DAP Chairman’s move to motion on Raja Petra’s statutory declaration based on “reliable source”,  at the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, “They are not really interested in Justice. They are not really interested in solving the crime. It’s a political agenda. This is an opportunity they seize to run down someone”.

Last night, former Supreme Court Justice Tan Sri Azmi Kamaruddin, who was suspended for three months during Tun Salleh Abas’s tribunal period appeared on TV 1. He was asked whether he was ready to appear on TV and tell his story “Yes I am. But don’t have to call me. They can call anyone else, including other Judges. Some of them can give contradictory opinion”. He then elaborated on Justice Ian Chin’s inconsistency statements on the “Veiled threat”, “Today, Ian Chin said ‘I dropped hints here and there’”. “I hear ‘hints’ that he is a corrupt Judge, but that is only a ‘hint’”. He also said he will ask for  Judicial Review for decisions already made in court, responding to the question on V K Lingam’s intention after the tribunal convened.

“I am guilty as ‘Judge’ (charge)”, adding sarcastically which drew laughter from the Press in the PLF conference room.

The former Prime Minister also elaborated on nation’s financial standing, “Petronas has a lot of money. In 2006, they made RM 86 billion. The Goverment supposed to have a lot of money. On one hand The Government is freely distributing money and yet they claim they have deficit”, and explained that the country’s saving ratio is high, which is 40% of the GDP.

Global-geo-political changes and impact on trade and shipping in Asia

SPEECH BY TUN DR MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD

 ON GLOBAL-GEO-POLITICAL CHANGES AND IMPACT ON TRADE AND SHPPING IN ASIA AT THE CONVENTION CENTER, KUALA LUMPUR                         

 ON 24 JUNE 2008

 

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen;

 

1.        Firstly may I thank the organisers for this invitation to speak on “Global Geo-Political Changes and the Impact on Trade and Shipping in Asia”. Perhaps I should begin with a short review of the history of shipping.

2.        Since the days of the Phoenician traders, the fate of the Mediterranean countries affected shipping in the Mediterranean Sea.

3.        When the Europeans finally found their way to the East, their ships began to appear in Asian ports.  Unlike Asians, the Europeans came in armed merchantman.  Soon they were fighting each other as they began to seize the lands of their trading partners to ensure monopoly of supply of Eastern spices.

4.        The English took to tea drinking and they built fast clippers to carry tea from China and later to carry opium to China.  That lead to the Opium Wars and the seizure of Chinese ports.

5.        Over the centuries, the Europeans came to dominate Asian seas as they try to protect their shipping and trade.

6.        Great ports grew in the littoral Asian states.  Penang, Singapore, Manila, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Kobe and Tokyo grew and prospered as trade, particularly the export of Asian spices and industrial products grew.

7.        In the meantime the colonies of the European nations had been developed to produce raw material such as minerals and rubber for European industries.  Trade pattern and shipping changed to reflect the European conquest of Asia and their need for raw material for their industries and the export of the industrial products.

8.        Japan industrialised after the European model and Japanese policy of importing raw material to process and add value for re-export saw the emergence of great Japanese shipping companies  dominating the Eastern seas.

9.        The Europeans saw a need to curb Japan and after Japan joined Germany and Italy, it was subjected to sanctions and curbs of its oil imports.  This lead to the Pacific War which ended in Japan’s defeat.

10.      But Japan rebuilt its industries quickly and began exporting good quality manufactured goods even more.  To fuel Japanese industries oil was needed.

11.      Again shipping and trade patterns changed as huge tankers were built to transport crude oil to Japan.  The tankers grew in size and number and there was talk of million ton tankers.  Danger of  pollution by oil spills grew as these behemoths pass each other along narrow straits.

12.      Following Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and China grew and adopted the Japanese strategy of importing raw materials, processing and adding value and exporting the products.

13.      Southeast Asian countries followed suit.  Then India decided to get into the act.  Asia was converting into a huge powerhouse of industry and trade.  Shipping grew at a faster rate, especially after containers and container shipping grew.  With the coming of air travel, passenger shipping almost disappeared, to be replaced partly by cruise ships.

14.      Geopolitical factors continued to influence trade and shipping in Asia and the world.

15.      For a long time, Communist China was reclusive, refusing to have much to do with the rest of the world.  Then Deng Siaw Peng changed the whole concept of Communism.  Keeping its centralised authority he allowed a modified version of the market economy to function.

16.      Within a very short time this sleeping giant woke up to become the worlds manufacturing centre.  Huge ports were built, ships of all kinds were launched and trade grew by leaps and bounds.  The growth of the GDP was phenomenal and seems unstoppable.

17.      Hard on the heels of China came India.  The demand for ships grew and port-cities propered.  World trade increased tremendously creating demands for more ships and new trade routes.

18.      Malaysia had been a trading centre for 1800 years, beginning with the export of jungle produce in exchange for the products of China, Japan, India and the Arabian peninsular.  Its ports provided shelter and victualing facilities for ships sailing East and West.

19.      Various Malayan ports prospered when they became collecting centres for the products of the Malay Archipelago for re-export to Asia and Europe.  The greatest port was Malacca, founded in the 13th century.

20.      Ships from Arabia, India, China and Japan stopped in Malacca to wait for the monsoon winds.  In Malacca they exchanged their lacquer ware, silver and bronze products, perfume, silk etc for spices and minerals such as tin.  Some traders stayed longer or permanently and Malacca grew and prospered.

21.      But in 1909 the Portuguese arrived and two years later they conquered Malacca.  Thus began the colonisation of the Malay Peninsular.

22.      Between the Peninsular and Sumatra lies the Straits of Malacca.  Ships sailing East and West found the Straits to be the shortest and the most convenient.  I don’t know who officially designated it as an international waterway.  But it has been so regarded for centuries now.  I don’t think the Malay Rulers of the Peninsular states made any formal declaration that the Straits was an international waterway.  Nor have they ever protested.  Nor is the Malaysian Government going to protest.

23.      But the character of shipping passing through the Straits have changed.  Ships now carry dangerous cargo including oil.  These ships are so big that their keels may be just one or two metres above the sea bed in several places along the Straits.  Their numbers have also increased tremendously and as they pass each other there is grave danger of collisions.

24.      Ships often rid themselves of sludge in the Straits.  Should they collide, the oil tankers in particular could pollute the whole narrow strait and the shores of peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra.  The oil and tar would damage the beaches, kill fish and birds on the shores and affect the livelihood of fishermen.

25.      Malaysia and Indonesia are not entitled to collect any fees for passage through the Straits.  But both countries have to maintain costly equipment and men to deal with pollution of the Straits as well as piracy and maintenance of navigational aids.  Of course with the advent of the GPS light-houses many no longer be needed.  But they still have to be mantained.

 

26.      Passage via the Straits saves millions of dollars through the short cut that it offers.  But is it fair that Malaysia and Indonesia should be burdened with overseeing shipping and dealing with pollution in the strait when the beneficiaries are the shipping companies.

27.      The argument is that the straits is not a man-made waterway.  It was fine in the “good old days” of sailing ships.  But as I said, the kind of ships using the Straits are very different now and pose real danger to the littoral states.  It is time that ancient concepts be reviewed and replaced with new ones to deal with realities of the time.  After all territorial waters was just three miles when guns had only a short range, and when more powerful guns were invented the powerful countries claim their territorial waters extended to twelve miles off shore.  So why cannot we change the concept of international waterways which are not man made.  We cannot wait for an Exxon Valdez to happen and pollute the whole straits before we rethink our concepts.

28.      Global geo-political changes will continue to impact on trade and shipping.  Everyone says that the future belongs to Asia.  I am inclined to agree.  Attempts will be made by the current world powers to prevent this from happening.  But this will be dangerous and futile.

29.      It would be far better for the world to accept and to adjust to the ascendency of Asia.  But Asia too must not be too eager to flex its muscles.  If we are going to claim that we are civilised we should give up the idea of using force to resolve disputes between nations.  Killing people so you can advance your national agenda is primitive and unworthy of our claim to being civilised.  If we can ban wars then this will be the biggest single Geo-Political decision which will increase world trade and the associated shipping industry. 

Thank you.

 

MP BN mengundi usul kenaikan harga tanpa keikhlasan

Semalam, Dewan Rakyat telah mengundi Usul Penstrukturan Harga Minyak dan Kenaikan Harga Barangan yang dibawa oleh Menteri Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Penguna Dato’ Shahrir Samad. Pembangkang, yang cuba menghalang usul ini dibentangkan, gagal berbuat demikian.

Utusan Malaysia melaporkan:

Pembangkang gagal – Usul subsidi minyak dibawa kerajaan lulus dengan majoriti undi

Oleh HATA WAHARI

KUALA LUMPUR 23 Jun – Cubaan pakatan pembangkang untuk menolak usul penstrukturan semula subsidi minyak dan isu kenaikan harga barang yang dibentangkan kerajaan di Dewan Rakyat hari ini tidak berjaya apabila keputusan undian belah bahagi memihak kepada kerajaan.

Usul tersebut disokong oleh 129 Ahli Parlimen Barisan Nasional (BN) manakala 78 undi menolak usul yang dikemukakan oleh Menteri Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna, Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad.

Dewan Rakyat mempunyai 222 kerusi dengan BN mempunyai 140 Ahli Parlimen dan pembangkang dianggotai 82 wakil.

Ini merupakan kali kedua pembangkang memilih kaedah undian belah bahagi selepas berbuat demikian ketika undian meluluskan Rang Undang-undang Perbekalan 2008 pada 28 Mei lalu, yang juga memihak kepada kerajaan sebanyak 92 berbanding 60 undi menentang.

Usul itu antara lain menjelaskan secara terperinci penstrukturan semula subsidi minyak iaitu strategi yang boleh mengelakkan negara daripada terjejas ekoran kenaikan harga minyak di pasaran dunia dan tidak meletakkan Malaysia dalam kemelesetan ekonomi.

Ia juga menghuraikan penjimatan hasil penstrukturan semula subsidi minyak yang disalurkan kepada golongan miskin serta kumpulan berpendapatan rendah dan sederhana.

Ketika membentangkannya, Shahrir turut menggariskan peranan Petronas dalam pembangunan negara dengan pendapatannya digunakan untuk aktiviti-aktiviti ekonomi.

Kesemua 129 Ahli Parlimen BN yang menghadiri mesyuarat kedua penggal pertama Parlimen ke-12 itu menyokong usul tersebut termasuk Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dan Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Usul itu dibahaskan selama tujuh jam dari pukul 12.30 tengah hari oleh seramai 18 wakil rakyat iaitu sembilan daripada BN dan sembilan wakil pembangkang, antaranya Ketua Pembangkang, Datin Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Sebanyak 11 Ahli Parlimen BN tidak hadir semasa pengundian termasuk dua Ahli Parlimen Parti Maju Sabah (SAPP), Datuk Dr. Chua Soon Bui (BN-Tawau) dan Datuk Eric Enchin Majimbun (BN-Sepanggar) yang disebut-sebut minggu lalu akan mengemukakan usul undi tidak percaya terhadap Abdullah.

Ahli Parlimen BN lain yang tidak hadir semasa pengundian usul kerana urusan rasmi ialah Menteri Luar, Datuk Seri Rais Yatim (BN-Jelebu), Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan, Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique (BN-Setiawangsa) dan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (BN-Bagan Datoh).

Turut tidak hadir ialah Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz (BN-Kuala Kangsar), Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad (BN-Kangar), Datuk Seri Tengku Azlan Sultan Abu Bakar (BN-Jerantut), Datuk Tiong Thai King (BN-Lanang), Datuk Dr. James Dawos Mamit (BN-Mambong) dan Raimi Unggi (BN-Tenom).

Empat Ahli Parlimen pembangkang yang tidak hadir pula ialah Gobind Singh Deo (DAP- Puchong), Chow Kon Yeow (DAP-Tanjung) dan Nurul Izzah Anwar (PKR-Lembah Pantai).

Usul itu pada mulanya dipersetujui diputuskan melalui undi persetujuan suara semasa sidang dipengerusikan oleh Timbalan Yang Dipertua, Ronald Kiandee.

Bagaimanapun, ia terpaksa dimuktamadkan dengan pengundian belah bahagi oleh Yang Dipertua Dewan Rakyat, Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia selepas Ahli Parlimen pembangkang membuat bantahan.

Bantahan itu menyebabkan dewan menjadi gamat seketika apabila wakil daripada kedua-dua belah pihak saling mempertahankan keputusan masing-masing.

Datuk Mohamad Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) berhujah bahawa keputusan Ronald itu telah dibuat dan ia adalah muktamad.

Ahli Parlimen pembangkang, bagaimanapun, bertegas mahukan pengundian dijalankan melalui belah bahagi berdasarkan kepada Peraturan Mesyuarat Perkara 44 (3).

Ketua Whip PKR, Mohamed Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) yang bangun membantah keputusan Ronald menegaskan, Ahli Parlimen DAP-Ipoh Barat, M. Kulasegaran telah bangun lebih awal untuk meminta pengundian dijalankan secara belah bahagi.

Kulasegaran mendakwa ada Ahli Parlimen BN yang akan menolak usul itu dan mencadangkan agar sistem pengundian di Dewan Rakyat diubah bagi melindungi mereka yang bercadang menolak mana-mana usul kerajaan.

Dewan kecoh seketika dengan pertikaman lidah antara penyokong kerajaan dan Ahli Parlimen pembangkang itu, mendorong Pandikar Amin memutuskan supaya pengundian dijalankan secara belah bahagi.

Terdahulu, Dr. Tan Seng Giaw (DAP-Kepong) ketika membahaskan usul tersebut menyarankan kerajaan mengkaji perolehan syarikat minyak negara, Petronas, agar ia dapat digunakan bagi membantu mengurangkan bebanan rakyat.

Katanya, kenaikan harga minyak dan barangan lain amat membebankan rakyat dan beliau percaya peningkatan itu lebih tinggi daripada gambaran inflasi 2.9 peratus yang dinyatakan kerajaan.

Halimah Sadique (BN-Tenggara) pula mencadangkan agar kerajaan menyediakan satu akaun khas bagi menyatakan penjimatan yang diperoleh daripada penstrukturan semula subsidi harga minyak.

****************************************************

Usul yang diluluskan 129 undi menyokong dan 78 undi menentang ini diadakan secarakan undi terbuka, melalui sistem pengundian blok. Usul ini dilihat sebagai ‘pengesahan’ kepada kepada kenaikan harga yang diumumkan secara mendadak oleh PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi hampr tiga minggu lepas. Kenaikan harga minyak secara mendadak ini diberitakan tidak dibincangkan dalam Kabinet terlebih dahulu dan diputuskan dalam perbincangan antara Menteri Kewangan Kedua Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yackop, Menteri Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani Dato’ Mustapha Mohamad dan Menteri diJabatan Perdana Menteri Dato’ Amirsham A. Aziz yang pada asnya tertumpu kepada perbincangan cadangan menarik subsidi keatas gas asli untuk pembekal tenaga bebas (IPP).

Hari ini, ramai MP BN menyuarakan ketidak puasan hati dengan cara pengundian usul ini. Dalam pertemuan tertutup sesama antara mereka (Kelab Penyokong BN – BN BBC) di Parlimen, mereka meluahkan perasaan bahawa sebenarnya ada antara mereka yang tidak bersetuju dengan usul ini, yang dianggap sebenarnya membebankan rakyat. Malangnya, mereka ‘terpaksa’ akur dengan ketetapan parti dan kemudian akan berdepan dengan rakyat dikawasan masing masing dan mempertahankan usul yang mereka sendiri tidak bersetuju.

Sistem whip yang diamalkan tidak membenarkan MP meluahkan perasaan sebenar rakyat yang mereka wakili tetapi sebaliknya mengundi usul yang ditetapkan oleh parti. Dikhabarkan BN BBC cuba mendapatkan pertemuan seberapa segera dengan Timbalan Perdana Menteri Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak, selaku Ketua Whip Dewan Rakyat mengenai ini.

Dilemma MP BN yang cenderung untuk bangkit bersama sama tidak menyokong usul ini ialah Pembangkang mengunakan sepenuhnya peluang mempolitik dan polemikan isu Kenaikan Harga Barang ini dengan perkataan seperti “Menganiaya rakyat”. Ini sebenarnya lebih menghalang MP BN untuk bersama sama mereka dalam menentukan usul ini tidak diluluskan. Sepatutnya Pembangkang mengambil kedudukan non partisan dan mengutarakan hujah hujah menentang usul ini dari perspektif objektif rakyat , bagi mencari penyelesaian dan bukan mencari mileage demi kepentingan politik mereka semata mata.

Dalam pada itu, tiada siapa yang mengaku, termasuk Menteri DiJabatan Perdana Menteri Dato’ Seri Mohd. Nazri Aziz, yang juga Menteri yang bertanggung jawab hal ehwal Parlimen, mengeluarkan arahan melarang pemberita berkeliaran sekitar lobi Parlimen sehinggakan dikhabarkan bahawa pemberita bercadang untuk memboikot Parlimen. Cadangan ini tidak disenangi MP, samada BN ataupun Pembangkang. MP Kinabatangan  Dato’ Bung Radin Mokhtar telah membuat pengumuman bahawa pemberita dibenarkan masuk ke kawasan lobi dan penghadang diangkat. Pemberita selepas itu kelihatan di Parlimen untuk membuat liputan, termasuk media alternatif.