I have been fair, I want to be fair, I’ll always be fair

Please do learn to forgive.

As any one of us can make errors, why not try to forgive others?

It is so hard to forgive and yet it is very easy to simply highlight one's errors, and seemingly enjoy other's falls!

When Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has assured all Malaysians that his policies will be fair and equitable to all communities.

“I have been fair, I want to be fair and I will always be fair. This is my promise to you,” said Abdullah.

Abdullah also said the younger post-independence generation should learn the meaning of consensus and patriotism.

“The presence of many young people who came to the Merdeka event in Malacca showed that these future leaders understand and embrace the aspirations of our country,”


When Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi became Prime Minister 45 months ago, he invited Malaysians to speak up and pledged to “hear the truth, however unpleasant”, from the people.

Wee had acted on Abdullah’s invitation and spoken up about the injustices and wrongs in Malaysia 50 years after Merdeka so that the country could be improved to become a better nation capable of competing with the rest of the world, wrote Uncle Kit.

Wee had done what very few Malaysians had done, taking the national flag Jalur Gemilang with him when he went overseas to study, and waving the national flag when his multi-national university sports team won a game, showing his pride and love for the nation.

Which Umno Minister or leader demanding for a pound of flesh from Wee for his Negarakuku rap had such love and pride for the country as to take the national flag with him or her when going overseas?

It is a disgrace that the Cabinet last week spent a lot of time to discuss Wee’s case neglecting the many important national issues plaguing the country, particularly rising crime and worsening corruption. What is even more shocking, no Cabinet Minister had time to listen to the grievances of Malaysians articulated by Wee in his Negarakuku rap but only how to demonise, criminalize and crush Wee.

The Negarakuku rap video clip on YouTube has doubled to almost 2.5 million hits because of the irrational and outrageous Cabinet decision last Wednesday, reeking with double standards when extracting an apology from Wee and yet refusing to put the issue to rest by insisting that Wee face the full consequences of the law.

- Lim Kit Siang

When Klang politico-strongman Zakaria Deros built his mansion without permission, the cabinet was quick to urge forgiveness for a much bigger offence. Where is the justice in that?

Would the de facto law minister be very much interested in getting the attorney-general to see what charges can be laid on Zakaria? After all, he has apologised and we have forgiven him, but the course of law must take its due process.

If the powers-that-be are unable to do so, then they should definitely stop making a mountain out of a molehill regarding the ‘Negarakuku’.

- Negarakuku: Nazri out to detract public attention
SKD, letter to Malaysiakini

Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word

What have I got to do to make you love me
What have I got to do to make you care
What do I do when lightning strikes me
And I wake to find that you're not there

What do I do to make you want me
What have I got to do to be heard
What do I say when it's all over
And sorry seems to be the hardest word

It's sad, so sad
It's a sad, sad situation
And it's getting more and more absurd
It's sad, so sad
Why can't we talk it over
Oh it seems to me
That sorry seems to be the hardest word

What do I do to make you love me
What have I got to do to be heard
What do I do when lightning strikes me
What have I got to do
What have I got to do
When sorry seems to be the hardest word

- Elton John

Student must face the law, Cabinet, however, accepts his apology

The Cabinet has accepted the apology by student Wee Meng Chee, who caused a furore with his Negaraku rap video clip on video-sharing web portal YouTube, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

However, the Prime Minister said the law would still have to take its course.

Wee, 24, could be charged under the National Anthem Act 1968 with disrespecting and lowering the prestige of the Negaraku, he said.

Abdullah said a Minister had brought up the matter during the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

“He (Wee) said he wants to apologise, we can accept. But if it is an offence, how to let him go without him being punished? The law has to take its course,” he said.

Nazri said “the offence was not against the Prime Minister or Ministers concerned but against the nation.”

”If he had committed an offence, and I think it was an offence, then we must allow the Attorney-General to investigate and decide whether to take him to court,” said Nazri.

“To not prosecute him is not ‘on’ at all because he has committed an offence against the nation and no one, not the Cabinet or political parties, are in a position to forgive him.”

Wee could be charged under the Sedition Act because he had insulted the symbol of the nation, he said.

“We cannot be like the West where you can have the underwear with the design of the Union Jack. In Britain, you can insult the Queen or the flag, I don’t care, but in this country we have laws and we cannot set a precedent whereby you commit an offence, apologise and get away with it,” Nazri said, adding that Wee was not a boy but a 24-year-old man and he should be held responsible for the act.

“It is not about ethnicity or being racial but it is against national interest,” he said.

When asked how Wee had insulted the national anthem, Nazri said the song was supposed to be sung in a proper way, otherwise it would mean insulting the song, especially when the lyrics were changed.

“Malaysia Negaraku ku. Ku ku can also mean ‘cuckoo’, so it was insulting. I don’t think this was done out of ignorance. He was a university student and he meant to insult the national anthem,” he said. (From The Star)

In their attacks against the student and threatening him with the Sedition Act, Umno is also seeking to incite its members and Malays into a patriotic frenzy over the issue, opposition leaders claimed, reports Malaysiakini.

Umno has taken patriotism as their last refuge in taking action against a 24-year-old student's parody of the national anthem, say opposition leaders

Namewee interview in Taiwan tv, about Goverment and Malay !!

At the mean time, the Star reported that the MCA will continue to assist student Wee Meng Chee who has come under fire for his Negaraku rap video clip.

“We feel that young people make mistakes, more so when they are overseas and may not know about the sensitivities at home,” said MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek yesterday.

He said Wee should be given a chance, adding that Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, as the de-facto Law Minister, was merely doing his job, in reference to the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department criticism of Wee’s Mandarin rap number which used the Negaraku as background.

In their attacks against the student and threatening him with the Sedition Act, Umno is also seeking to incite its members and Malays into a patriotic frenzy over the issue, opposition leaders claimed.

'Namewee' apologises

The Negaraku rap video was meant to be a satirical social commentary on life in Malaysia as a Chinese and it was never meant to be an insult to Islam or the Malays.

-Wee Meng Chee (Namewee)

After two weeks of threats from Umno politicians, controversial video author Wee Meng Chee today issued an open apology to those who were offended by his work, quoted from Malaysiakini.

The Star reported that,Taiwan-based university student Wee Meng Chee, who created a controversy with his Negaraku videoclip on YouTube has tendered his apology for hurting the feelings of Malaysians offended by his work.

"The controversy has taught me a lesson in nationalism and race relations. To end the controversy, I have decided to pull out the videoclip from my blog and I hope other bloggers would stop distributing the videoclip,'' he said.

Meanwhile, Wee Meng Chee had written a clarification in his blog "我的名字叫明志" :

KEPADA SEMUA PIHAK MEDIA

MENUJUKAN KESILAPAN TENTANG LAPORAN BERITA PIHAK MEDIA METRO

Sebab-sebab menegaskan tentang kesilapan berita :

Pada 7 Aug 2007, saya mendapat tahu dari beberapa pihat tentang surat khabar Melayu – Metro dan berita dari televisyen melaporakan hasil ciptaan lagu saya baru-baru ini yang telah melanggar undang undang di Malaysia. Tetapi selepas saya membaca berita-berita yang berkenaan, saya mendapati bahawa berita yang dilaporkan oleh surat khabar Metro mempunyai kesilapan yang serious. Pihak pemberita menggunakan cara yang agak subjektif untuk melaporkan berita ini dan menyebabkan masyarakat salah faham tentang hasil karyaan yang telah saya ciptakan.

Pertama, pihak metro mengatakan hasil ciptaan lagu saya adalah menghina negara, bangsa, agama dan kerajaan tanpa memahami maksud tersirat lirik tersebut.

Kedua, pihak metro tidak menterjemahkan lirik cina ke melayu agar pihak ramai boleh memahami lirik tersebut dan menilai maksud yang disampaikan ataupun adakah lirik saya ini adalah menghina negara, bangsa, agama ataupun kerajaan. Disebabkan ini ialah lagu cina, masyarakat melayu tidak dapat memahami maksud yang hendak disampaikan dan mereka hanya boleh mengetahui maksud lirik ini melalui pihak media.Saya berasa pihak media tidak patut disebabkan hasil jualan dan melaporkan perkara yang tidak benar dengan tidak profesion.

Di sini, saya ingin menerangkan beberapa keraguan dalam isu ini

1. Sebab apa saya mencipta lagu ini pada awalnya
Saya meminat memain muzik. Kali ini, saya akan menggunakan lagu Negaraku sempena hari Kemerdekaan yang akan datang. Saya tidak berniat untuk menghina negara tercinta – Malaysia. Terdapat banyak cara untuk mencipta sebuah lagu dan salah satu cara ialah ‘sampling’ yang akan menjadikan sebuah lagu jadi effect lain. Dalam kes ini, saya telah memilih lagu Negaraku. Apa yang saya hendak FOKUS disini ialah lagu Negaraku adalah sebuah lagu yang perlu dihormati. Dengan itu, apabila saya mencipta lagu ini saya TIDAK ubah melodi dan lirik lagu Negaraku tetapi saya mengunakan melodi dan lirik asalnya. Namun begitu, saya juga megubahkan cara untuk mempersembahkan lagu ini kepada cara R&B. Sebelum ini, terdapat ramai orang mengubah cara nyanyian lagu Negaraku di pelbagai persembahan terbuka termasuk sambutan sempena Hari Kemerdekaan. Berdasarkan dari segi muzik, sekiranya lagu ciptaan tetap mengamalkan maksud asalnya, saya berasa tidak ada apa-apa yang tidak kena. Tetapi kalau hasil cipta saya betul-betul melanggar undang-undang, saya berasa amat kesal!

2. Menegaskan kebenaran
Lagu ini cuma menglibatkan lirik Negaraku di bahagian korus manakala di bahagian verse saya telah menggunakan kemahiran rap. Lirik dalam bahagian rap yang saya mempersembahkan kebanyakan adalah berdasarkan dari apa yang pernah saya atau kawan alami. Apa yang saya hendak fokus disini ialah saya menggunakan cara huraian untuk menyampaikan maksud lagu tersebut dan bukannya mengkritik. Tujuannya adalah untuk membiarkan pendengar menilaikan betul salahnya. Contohnya, dalam lirik saya ada mengatakan orang cina sukar mendapat tawaran dari universiti tempatan tetapi saya tidak mengesahkan bahawa itu adalah satu perkara yang baik atau tidak. Saya cuma menghuraikan perkara tersebut dan membiarkan pendengar yang menentu perkara tersebuat adakah betul atau salah.

3. TIDAK menghina agama
Sekali lagi saya menerangkan bahawa saya tidak mengkritik apa-apa sahaja termasuk agama.Salah satu dari bahagian lirik saya ada mengatakan yang sebahagian orang islam melafazkan Al-Quran out of tune, ada pula yang pecah nada, dan ada yang macam kokokan ayam.Lirik-lirik yang saya huraikan diatas, saya ada menyatakan SEBAHAGIAN dari mereka yang melafazkan Al-Quran dan bukannya semua orang. Saya sebagai seorang ahli muzik senang bagi saya membezakan penyanyi yang out of tune ataupun pecah nada. Sekali lagi saya menerangkan yang saya TIDAK mengkritik sebarang tentang agama tetapi saya cuma menyuarakan kemahiran mereka di bahagian nyanyi seperti apabila kami dengar kawan-kawan kita nyanyi tidak bagus dan menyuarakan pendapat sahaja. Saya harap masyarakat tidak terlalu sensitive terhadap isu ini dan sememangnya saya sendiri amat hormat setiap agama kerana agam tidak boleh dilanggar.

4. Ganguan yang dialami kerana kesalahan yang dibuat dari pihak media
Disebabkan kesalahan pihak media melaporkan berita ini, ia menyebabkan orang ramai tidak boleh menilaikan betul salah terhadap isi kandungan lyric lagu ini dan ia juga mengancam keselamatan keluarga saya. Saya menerima comment-comment dari blog dan youtube yang mengatakan mereka hendak membakar rumah dan membunuh saya. Di sini, saya ingin mengharapkan orang baik di luar sana agar menterjemahkan lirik cina ini kepada melayu supaya orang ramai boleh memahami isi tersirat yang ingin saya sampaikan dan biar orang ramai tahu yang saya sebenarnya tidak berniat jahat dalam ciptaan lagu ini. Sebenarnya saya sendiri mempunyai ramai kawan melayu sejak kecil, saya tidak ingin disebakan kesilapan laporan berita ini dan menghilang sahabat-sahabat karib saya.

5. Sekiranya lagu ini tidak mengapi-apikan masyarakat
Selain dari mereport perkara yang tidak adil bagi saya, pihak media yang berkenaan juga mengatakan lagu ciptaan saya mengapi-apikan masyarakat. Bagi saya, tidak mudah sesebuah lagu tidak mengapi-apikan masyarakat apatah lagi menyebabkan peperangan atau salah faham yang akan berlaku? Saya percaya bahawa rakyat Malaysia mempunyai kemampuan untuk bernilai sesuatu perkara sama ada betul atau salah. Sebenarnya orang ramai faham dengan lirik dalam lagu ini, mereka akan tahu lagu ini semata-mata hanyalah untuk hiburan. Disebaliknya, pihak media yang melaporkan perkara ini dengan tidak profesion dan subjektif adalah tujuan utama yang menyebabkan perkara ini berlaku! Ini adalah satu perkara yang serious dan saya berharap pihak media boleh memperbetulkan berita yang tidak berkenaan itu dan menjaminkan saya dan keluarga saya selamat.

6. Lirik lagu patut diterjemahkan
Saya bersungguh-sungguh mengharapkan sesiapa yang boleh menterjemahkan lirik lagu ini dari bahasa cina ke bahasa melayu agar orang melayu berhak mengetahui apa maksud lirik dalam lagu ini. Dengan ini, mereka juga boleh menilai adakah saya sedang menghina negara, rakyat, agama ataupun kerajaan. Dengan ini juga ia boleh memberi saya, masyarakat melayu, masyarakat cina mahupun rakyat malaysia satu pesanan yang adil.

Here is another video clip in response to Namewee's "Negaraku".

20 killed in Malaysia bus accident !

Twenty people were killed and several critically injured when a passenger bus in Perak overturned early today- Malaysiakini

SMASHED UP: The bus which just winched out of the ravine- NST

Rescuers checking out the roof of the bus. - NST Pix by Ikhwan Munir.

FATAL TRIP… Fire and Rescue personnel assisted by policemen loading up the 19 dead bodies onto a truck, in what is believed to be one of the country's worst traffic accidents. At press time, 19 people who were on board the northbound express bus are reported dead while 10 others are injured, three of them critically. A police spokesman said the ill-fated bus was travelling from Melaka to Butterworth when it skidded while descending a hill, and crashed into a railing on the left of the road before plunging into a five-metre deep drain. Pix: Dusa Abbas/Bernama

The illfated express bus being lifted from the ditch at 229km North-South highway near Bukit Gantang in Taiping - Starpic

Police personnel identifying the bodies from the bus accident at the scene - Starpic

At least 20 people died when an express bus overturned on Malaysia's main highway Monday, tearing off the vehicle's roof and flinging seats into the air in what officials said was the country's worst traffic disaster.

Nineteen people were killed at the site while one died in a nearby hospital in the northern town of Taiping, local fire department spokesman Amirudin Kamarudin told The Associated Press.

Nine other people on the bus were hospitalized with various injuries, including a young boy and a man who are in intensive care, said a hospital doctor who did not wish to be named because she was not authorized to speak to the media.

"The impact of the accident ripped off the roof," Raja Musa Raja Razak, the police chief of the area, told the AP by telephone from the site in Bukit Gantang, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) north of Kuala Lumpur.

"The front portion (of the bus) is mangled. The rest of the body is intact. But the seats (must have been) flying here and there, and there was a lot of blood everywhere," he said.

The driver was among the dead, Raja Musa said. Previous police and news reports erroneously said the driver was injured.

The nine injured included two Vietnamese and one Nepali who worked in northern Malaysia, Raja Musa said.

National news agency Bernama said two Indonesians were among those killed, but Raja Musa said only one Indonesian had been identified.

"It is the worst traffic accident in the (modern) history of the nation," said Transport Minister Chan Kong Choy who visited the scene.

Chan's aide quoted him as saying the accident appears to have been caused by "human negligence." The aide declined to be named because he is not authorized to make public statements.

The cause of the accident was not immediately apparent, although Amirudin, the fire department spokesman, said there were no skid marks on the road, indicating the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel.

The accident occurred before dawn on the North-South Expressway, which runs 880 kilometers (550 miles), the entire length of the country from the Thai border in the north to Johor Bahru at the southern tip of the Malaysian peninsula.

Bernama said the private transport company bus was going downhill when it hit a protective barrier on the side and careened 20 meters (yards) off the road before flipping over and falling into a 5-meter (20-feet) -deep ditch.

Raja Musa said the weather was fine and that the downhill slope was not steep.

Many passengers were flung out of the bus through the gaping roof and others were pinned inside when the sides of the vehicle crushed on impact, Bernama said, citing police.

Some of the bodies could only be extricated after a crane pulled the bus upright, the agency said.

While Malaysia's notoriously bad motorists are often involved in accidents, bus crashes are relatively rare and such serious ones with mass casualties even more infrequent.

Malaysia has a high-quality highway system with a speed limit of 110 kilometers (70 miles) per hour. But speeding is common, and many do not follow safety procedures; tailgating occurs frequently, as does failure to signal before changing lanes.


According to Bernama, the driver of the bus, Rohizan Abu Bakar, 38, was among the dead. He was from Taman Seri Petaling in Kulim, Kedah. Also killed was an Indonesian national, H. Abu Bakar, who was from Medan, Sumatra.

Besides the bus driver and the Indonesian national, the dead passengers identified are T. Krishnan, 46, of Taman Haji Muslim in Kuala Ketil, Kedah; Fadliz Ahmad, 22, of Jalan Penaga, Taman Maju in Jasin, Melaka; Josli Arshad, 22, of Jalan Dang Merdu in Jembatan Duyong, Melaka;

Nazri Noordin, 35, of Desa Baiduri in Bandar Baru Ayer Itam, Penang; Pang Tee Min, 58, of Jalan Ong Kim Wee, Melaka; Mohd Yazid Md Yusoh, 23, of Jalan Koklam Air Utama of Phase 4, Taman Maju in Jasin, Melaka;

Md Basri of Kampung Pulai Darat in Merlimau, Melaka; and Kamis Said, 62, of Batu 22 1/2 Pasir Gembor, Tanjung Bidara in Masjid Tanah, Melaka.

The co-driver of the bus, P. Veeraman, 36, of Taman Sri Merbau in Sepang, Selangor, was critically injured and is in the ICU of Taiping Hospital.

The two Vietnamese nationals have also been sent to Taiping Hospital. They have been identified as Quang Ngoi Hung and Ngu Yeh Hui Vinh, 27.

Also admitted to the hospital are Mohd Fauzi Hassan, 27; Shahril Afendi, 22; Zurina Rashid, 23; Mohd Zahidi Che Ahmad, 22; and Siew Ken Meng (male), 21.

The Nepali, Chatrapati Eyam, 24, was the only passenger who was slightly injured and was allowed to leave the hospital after outpatient treatment.

Malaysia defies doubts, history with pipeline plan

YAN, Malaysia, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Rice farmers, not the oil industry, could make the most money from Malaysia's bold plan to build a $7 billion pipeline across the country.

In the sleepy coastal town of Yan, the proposed starting point for the pipeline, farmers at road-side eating stalls talk excitedly about the state-backed project, which would require the developers to buy up a swathe of rural land.

But in the corridors of the oil industry, there are still plenty of doubts about the economics of the project, which was recently approved by Malaysia's cabinet as a way of providing a short-cut for Middle East crude bound for East Asia.

"It will be very hard for them to make money out of it," U.S. industry expert Al Troner, managing director of Asia Pacific Energy Consulting, said by phone from Houston.

Malaysia and neighbouring Thailand have toyed for many years with the idea of piping oil from the Andaman Sea to the South China Sea, removing the need to ship crude around the Malayan peninsula -- but the dream has never left the drawing board.

"This is one of the old projects that never dies. There's some possibilities but I don't see anything very new about the situation," Troner said.


At Yan, there is no sign of construction work yet on the unattended rice fields, waiting to be harvested in coming weeks. Nor is there activity on the nearby mangrove swamps where oil storage tanks are planned to be built.

But the developer, Trans-Peninsula Petroleum, a little-known firm owned by two former executives of state oil firm Petronas, has signed up backers for the 310 km (193-mile) pipeline and insists that, this time, the dream will become reality.

"A lot of people want to come in. We are now about 70 percent of our target to establish a security of demand," said Syed Izhar Al-Idrus, a director and shareholder of Trans-Peninsula.

He said the company was also talking to several Middle Eastern investors, but declined to give further details.

MOMENT OF TRUTH APPROACHES

The pipeline would stretch from Yan on Malaysia's northwest coast to the small fishing port of Bachok in the east.

Oil tankers currently take Middle East crude through the Malacca Strait and around both Malaysia and Singapore before sailing north to ports in Japan, China and South Korea.

The pipeline aims to cut time and costs by bypassing the crowded strait, conduit for over a quarter of the world's seaborne crude. But two years ago Thailand scrapped a similar pipeline project, partly because of rising steel costs.

The Malaysian project would involve laying three 48-inch pipelines over the difficult Titiwangsa mountain range, to transport 6 million barrels of oil per day -- more than enough for all of Japan, an enormous volume for any pipeline.

Day-storage tanks would be built in Yan and Bachok, and mooring facilities off both. The project also includes a new storage facility in Jeli in northeastern Kelantan state to hold up to 180 million barrels -- two days of global oil consumption.

Construction is scheduled for eight years from 2008.

But some analysts say it remains cheaper and potentially quicker to sail around Singapore than to unload a super-tanker at Yan, pipe the crude to Bachok and put it on another tanker.

OSK Research cited the cost to ship oil from the Gulf to the Far East using a very large crude carrier at $2.28 per barrel, and using the pipeline at $2.92.

DEFYING THE NAY-SAYERS

Experts say the investment is large and the return distant.

"The concern would be the huge up-front investment that you would have to put in and what could well be a very long pay-back period," said Chris Eng, an analyst at OSK Investment Bank.

But Syed Izhar disagreed, saying pay-back period for the project, which will derive revenues from oil throughput and storage charges, was expected to be over seven years.

"For Sumed, they've done it in five years," he said, referring to Suez-Mediterranean pipeline, an alternative to the Suez canal. "They have been in existence for the past 30 years, and for the past 26 years they have been making money."

Trans-Peninsula aims to divert a third of oil passing through the Malacca Strait, which analysts think is overly optimistic.

But no one doubts the rice farmers will make a return.

"I think there will be no objection if the price is right," said 41-year-old Md Yusof Yahya, one of hundreds of rice farmers whose land will need to be bought by the developers.

"People here are quite excited, some are planning to look for another plot of land while some just want to invest the money and stop farming," added Yusof, wearing t-shirt and jeans and sipping coffee at a roadside cafe at Yan.
(Source)

'Bocor' MPs apologise to all women, again ?

The MPs who made the "bocor" remarks in Parliament made a formal public apology to all women after meeting Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil Friday morning.

Ten days after making a sexist remark in Parliament, the two "bocor" MPs relented to the furore of women in the country and apologised.

Emerging from a 40-minute meeting with Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil this morning, both said they apologise to all women in the country if their remarks had insulted them.

Shahrizat said there is now "closure" with the open apology by Jasin MP Datuk Mohd Said Yusof and Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Mokthar Radin.

She added that her Ministry accepts the apology with "grace".

"It is up to them to personally and specifically apologise to (Batu Gajah MP) Fong Po Kuan," she said.

"I would like to categorically state that sexism in any form, by words or action, by men or women, whether in Parliament made by elected representatives of both Government and Opposition or indeed anywhere else in this country, is not acceptable.

"I have in no uncertain terms communicated to the two MPs from Kinabatangan and Jasin the Ministry's unflinching stand on this matter i.e. do not trifle with gender issues.

However, Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) and Datuk Mohd Said Yusof (BN-Jasin) refused to refer to Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) when asked whether the apology was also extended to her (Fong).

Bung had in the Dewan Rakyat on May 9 remarked that Fong also "leaked every month" (in apparent reference to women's menstrual cycle) during a heated debate on Parliament House's leaky roof.

It was not a sincere apology from Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) and Datuk Mohd Said Yusof (BN-Jasin).

"They should be suspended for a year for making such sexist remarks in Parliament," Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) said today.

She said the apology was meaningless as it was made a week after the sexist remark and most importantly the two Barisan Nasional MPs did not apologise personally to her and to her constituency.

She said during a forum last night, the public had agreed that the two MPs should be suspended for 12 months in total. Six months for making the remark and another six months for not apologising personally to her.

"They should be sent to do community service for women groups during the suspension period and their allowances should also be donated to women groups or non-governmental organisations," she added.

"They should also apologise to me personally," she told reporters after viewing their apology in a SMS news alert service today.

A recording of the event showed Bung saying: "Mana bocor, Batu Gajah pun tiap-tiap bulan pun bocor juga (Where is the leak? Batu Gajah MP also leaks every month." Mohd Said then supported Bung.

The Cabinet had on Wednesday (May 16) discussed the "bocor" issue and mandated Shahrizat to handle the matter today.

Shahrizat told reporters: "Both MPs raised their hands to indicate they surrender when they stepped into my office. Before I could say anything, they apologised and gave an assurance it will not happen again."

The minister, who was not her usual smiling self, looked stern throughout her press briefing. She did not even smile for press photographers.

Shahrizat said sexist remarks in any form, made by men or women, by representatives of the Government or the Opposition, are unacceptable.

"I told the two MPs of my ministry's unflinching stand on the issue and reminded them not to repeat it in future, especially in Parliament.

"If I was in parliament on that day (May 9), I would have stood up and demanded for an explanation, " she said, adding she will inform Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on the meeting and its outcome.

"As they (the two MPs) have tendered their public apology to the women of Malaysia, through this ministry, we must have the grace to accept it with a serious reminder that this kind of episode must never recur," she said.

For the past 10 days, non-governmental organisations, especially those related to women affairs, had issued press statements to censure the MPs, demanding for an apology.

Bung said: "I also have a wife and a daughter. I humbly ask for the forgiveness of all women across the country if they felt they were insulted by my remarks.

"Mohd Said and I came to meet the minister with a sense of responsibility and repentance. It should not have been an issue at all, but it was highlighted by the media ... dragging all the women nationwide into the issue.

"With the apology, I hope the DAP will not continue to harp on the issue. Stop selling old newspapers, it's not in demand anymore."

Mohd Said said: "I clasp my 10 fingers and extend my apologies if the 'bocor' remark had hurt the feelings of women or any other party."

Reading out a prepared statement, Mohd Yusof said he regretted the May 9 incident in the Dewan Rakyat which he alleged was manipulated by certain parties.

The whole incident, he said, was turned into a negative affair and did not reflect the true situation.

"I was only defending matters concerning the Barisan Nasional which the Opposition had ridiculed and made baseless accusations," he said.

The Opposition, he further alleged, in their debates in the parliament which also saw them using 'impolite' words, often touched on his integrity as an MP.

Claiming he has never put women down, Mohd Yusof said women's associations in his constituency have been given allocations.

"I have succeeded in creating women entrepreneurs in the agriculture industry in Jasin, especially among 62 single mothers," he added.

Mohd Yusof however reiterated the issue was not in any way related to discrimination against the women or MPs being insensitive to the gender issue, but that it was a plot by the Opposition to run down the government's agenda.

Both MPs then hurriedly left the press conference in the lobby of the ministry and declined to answer questions fielded by reporters.

"Sorry, we have to leave ... I have a flight to catch," said Bung Mokhtar before he and Mohd Yusof shoved their way through the media gathering.

During the press conference, a three-member DAP team, led by secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok and Fong handed over a one-page memorandum to Shahrizat's press secretary.

The DAP memorandum:

BY HAND

Y.B. Dato' Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil
Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga Dan Masyarakat
Aras 1-6, Blok E
Kompleks Pejabat Kerajaan Bukit Perdana
Jalan Dato' Onn
50515 Kuala Lumpur

Yang Berhormat Dato' Seri,

10-Point Resolution To Uphold Women's Dignity Towards A First World Parliament

We are instructed by the participants and the major women organisations at a "Uphold Women's Dignity, Towards A First World Parliament" forum in YMCA Hall in Brickfields Kuala Lumpur on 17th May to convey the following 10 points for immediate action from YB during the meeting with YB Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN - Kinabatangan) and YB Datuk Mohd Said Yusof (BN - Jasin) at 10 am today.

1) That the meeting OBSERVES that the remarks on 9 May 2007 in Parliament by both BN MPs against YB Fong Poh Kuan (DAP - Batu Gajah) while they were in a heated argument over the ceiling leakage in the Parliament building, is highly offensive and demeaning towards all women as well as a form of sexual harassment towards YB Fong in her performance of her duties.

2) FURTHER OBSERVES that both BN MPs have a dismal record as a serial offender of sexist remarks that displayed outright contempt, mockery and even hostility towards women.

3) AFFIRMS that Parliament should be a forum for serious discussion where issues that affect Malaysians and the country's future in a reasoned and rational manner instead of being perverted to spew demeaning insults based on one's race, gender or religion.

4) HEREBY RESOLVES that YB seeks that:-

a) both MPs unconditionally and unreservedly withdraw and apologise to both YB Fong Po Kuan and all women for such unacceptable behaviour that is contrary to social, cultural and religious norms of Malaysian society; and

b) severe penalties be meted out against both BN MPs in the form of suspension for a period of 6 months as a Member of Parliament, 6 months community service in a women NGO, 6 months MP's allowance be donated to women NGO groups and be stripped of their Datukships;

c) both MPs be required to attend counseling to remove their innate hostility and prejudice against women;

d) a Cabinet Committee on Gender Equality and a Parliament Caucus on Gender Equality be established to remove discriminatory practices both in and outside Parliament;

e) a full apology be made by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Nazri Aziz and UMNO MPs for Petrajaya, Tangga Batu, Johor Baru for defending both MPs, looking at it from a humorous perspective and promoting their right to utter such offensive language as freedom of speech;

f) a Code of Conduct be adopted by all political parties prescribing criteria that proscribe any candidates with a past history of prejudice and discrimination against women; and

g) courses on gender sensitization be given to all elected representatives and members of the Cabinet.

To this purpose a People's Parliament comprising of concerned citizens and netizens shall spread the message of upholding women's dignity and upgrading the personal standards and qualities of MPs. We trust that YB would perform your duty without fear or favour.

Restore the dignity of both women and Parliament!


Yours faithfully,

LIM GUAN ENG
SECRETARY-GENERAL

All that Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil wants is closure and for people to “move on” over the ‘bocor’ issue.

Read Malaysiakini's report here.

Zorro said:"CROCODILE TEARS? SHARIZAT NEED TO HAVE MORE MUSCLES."

Sarawak CM sues PKR officials, Malaysiakini and Utusan !

Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud has filed a law suit against two media organisations - independent online news portal Malaysiakini and Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia - for alleged defamation over the timber kickbacks scandal.

Speaker Datuk Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar informed the Sarawak State Assembly when the resumed Wednesday that Taib filed the suits against Utusan Malaysia and Malaysiakini in the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Tuesday.

Taib named as defendants MKini Dotcom Sdn Bhd, the publisher of Malaysiakini, and its chief editor Gan Diong Keng, also known as Steven Gan.

The defendants named in the lawsuit against Utusan Malaysia are its proprietor and publisher Utusan Melayu (Malaysia) Bhd, Utusan Online and group editor Datuk Mohd Khalid Mohd.

In the Kuching High Court, a suit was filed against PKR state liaison chief Wan Zainal Wan Sanusi and the party’s Stampin branch chairman See Chee How.

Mohd Asfia said the lawsuit against the PKR officials was related to the distribution of leaflets which contained articles from Malaysiakini and Japan Times.

In his personal statement to the assembly on Monday, Taib said legal action would be initiated against Japan Times and other media publications which had published false allegations against him, unless they retract the articles concerned, apologise, pay legal costs and damages.

He said the Japan Times had alleged that "1.1bil yen was paid to Sarawak officials as kickbacks or rebates and lubricant to facilitate the timber trade."

Taib warned others against repeating similar allegations, otherwise "they can have their day in a court of justice to provide factual justification for making such false and malicious allegations or be condemned in damages."

Air Asia Sucks / missing boy found

Missing Yin Found - Five-year-old Mohammad Nazrin Shamsul Ghazali or Yin, who has been missing since March 31, was found in Sentul this evening, Acting Kuala Lumpur police chief SAC I Zulhasnan Najib Baharuddin said.


Air Asia Sucks - If there was more choice I would never fly Air Asia again. Find out why.


Do you know the meaning of :

BLOGERRA
BLOGGERITA
BLOGGERONOMOUS
BLOGGERITIS
BLOGGEREXIC
BLOGGERHOEA

According to CGOPD, the explanation here.

Chieft of anti-graft agency leaves office under corruption allegation cloud

Malaysia's top-anti graft official left office Saturday facing corruption allegations, but the government bid him farewell with a commendation of his leadership and "proactive" work.

In a statement released through the official Bernama news agency, the government said it was not renewing the employment contract of Zulkipli Mat Noor, head of the Anti-Corruption Agency, when it expired Saturday.

The statement, issued late Friday, expressed the government's "highest gratitude and thanks" to Zulkipli for his services during the six years he held the post.

"Under the leadership of (Zulkipli), various proactive and renewal efforts were undertaken including upgrading the network of collaboration at the international level," the statement said.

Zulkipli is being investigated by national police over allegations he illegally amassed substantial property and assets and misused government vehicles.

He has not been available for comment since the controversy began.

Zulkipli has denied the allegations to police. Police have questioned 21 witnesses including Mohamad Ramli Manan, a former state director at the Anti-Corruption Agency, who first made the corruption allegations.

The case has become an embarrassment for Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who promised to crack down on corrupt officials when he took power in 2003. Malaysia was ranked 44th in Transparency International's corruption index last year, an improvement of seven places from 2003.

Zulkipli, 57, joined the Royal Malaysian Police in 1949 as an officer in the Special Branch and later became its head. He was appointed chief of the Anti-Corruption Agency on April 1, 2001, on a two-year contract. It was extended three times until he reached retirement age in July 2005.

Subsequently, the contract was extended for one year until July 20, 2006, and once again for about nine months until March 31, 2007, the statement said. It did not explain why the last contract was for less than a year.

Prince probed for assaulting woman friend

Kerabat diraja disiasat kes pukul kekasih

KUALA LUMPUR: Seorang anggota dekat keluarga diraja sedang disiasat berhubung dakwaan menyerang seorang gadis baru-baru ini.

Siasatan awal menunjukkan wanita muda itu, dalam lingkungan 20-an, dipukul selepas dia didakwa bermain kayu tiga dengan kerabat tersebut.

Wanita itu, yang cuba membuat aduan polis di sebuah negeri, terpaksa membuat laporan kes tersebut ke ibu pejabat polis persekutuan di Bukit Aman selepas tidak ada balai sanggup menerima aduannya.

Putera itu turut membuat aduan polis berhubung kes tersebut.

Difahamkan seorang pegawai polis bahagian anti-dadah, yang telah berkahwin, didakwa mempunyai hubungan cinta dengan gadis itu ditukarkan dalam tempoh 24 jam ke Sarawak untuk kerja-kerja pejabat.

Polis sedang menyiasat dan dalam proses mengambil keterangan beberapa saksi.

(From mSTAR)


Prince probed for assaulting woman friend

KUALA LUmpUR: A member of a royal family is being investigated for allegedly assaulting a woman recently.

Initial investigations showed that the woman, in her 20s, was beaten up after she supposedly two-timed the prince.

The woman, who claimed that she had earlier tried to lodge a police report in the state, was forced to report the matter to the Federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman as no one in the state wanted to accept her report.

It has also been learnt that a married narcotics police officer, supposedly involved with the woman, was transferred within 24 hours to Sarawak to carry out desk duties.

The prince has also lodged a police report.

Police have begun investigations into the case and are said to be in the process of recording statements from witnesses.

(The Star)



Fathi Aris Omar alerted Susan to this bizarre story, he also poses some questions in his blog titled "Kerabat" here.

• Who is the Prince, who is the woman, and who is the policeman?
• Where are they from, which state, is it somewhere near Bukit Aman?
• Who had so much power to transfer the police officer out of the state within such a short time?

This story, at a glance, seem like a fairytale, but in fact has all the elements of a crime related to violence against women (she was beaten), abuse of power (transferring police officer out of state) and poor police ethics (police not willing to accept the woman’s report because it involved a royalty).

“Proof the power of blogs. If mSTAR could write about this story, why not blogs?” challenged Fathi.

Well, though a police report had been lodged, why is mSTAR online reluctant to publish the full story? Is it because it involves a royalty?

(Read Susan's "The prince, the lady and the policeman" here.)

Improve governance, stop interfering media

Malaysia Information minister has told domestic newspapers not to quote from Internet blogs or use them as sources of information, accusing the websites of spreading rumours, reports said Wednesday.

Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin said most websites were aimed at being provocative and were run by frustrated journalists and political pundits, the Star daily reported.

"Do not quote them because you are disgracing yourself as you are the authority. Do not give credit to such anarchist websites," Zainuddin was quoted as saying.

Malaysia's media is kept under tight control, while blogs have seen an increase in popularity as Malaysians take to cyberspace to discuss politics and social issues.

Blogs run by Malaysians in recent months have alleged corruption by government figures in writings that later sparked mainstream news reports.

"The information posted on the blog website may be something provocative, politically motivated, inaccurate and is mostly rumour floated for the interests of certain parties," Zainuddin was quoted as saying by the state Bernama news agency.

The minister also called on Malaysians to regard blogs with suspicion and refer to the mainstream media for the truth, Bernama reported.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi earlier this year accused Malaysians of using the Internet to rumour-monger.

Two bloggers are currently being sued by the government-linked New Straits Times Press for defamation.

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

The government has within a week given a second warning to the mainstream media that they must not cross the boundary set by the government. The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) condemns the call by the Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin to the media not to quote from blogs and online portals. The minister's call is a further bite into editorial independence and to compel the media to toe the government's line.

In a statement posted on March 21 on the Ministry's official website, the Minister urged the mainstream press not publish information from the Internet, especially blogs. Calling blogs' content as provocative, inaccurate and politically motivated, he said journalists who quoted them are indirectly promoting and giving blogs undeserved credit.

The minister also asked the public to refer to the mainstream press for credible information.

His statement came after the Ministry of Internal Security, headed by the Prime Minister himself, issued a similar warning to all mainstream press on March 13, as reported by the online news site Malaysiakini.com and The Sun daily.

CIJ condemns the government's warnings which smack of political desire to gag the press. In an environment where the media is subject to administrative and legislative controls, there is little confidence in information from the "authoritative sources".The people's desire to know reflects the obvious weakness in the media system in Malaysia caused by an interfering Executive. That the warnings came amidst investigation of a high-profile corruption case, which first broke out in the blogosphere, reinforces the impression that the government has an agenda to limit public discussion and control public opinion.

CIJ calls the government to terminate the warnings, repeal the Printing Presses and Publication Act 1984 and set up a Parliamentary Select Committee on communication rights to uphold its promises and guarantee in Federal Constitution for freedom of expression.

The Centre for Independent Journalism, Malaysia (CIJ) is a media organization that aims to improve current Malaysian journalism practice and independence through advocacy, research and analysis, training and practical work. Started in 2001, CIJ has initiated various projects in developing grassroots communications skills through training, infrastructural support and direct action.


Issued by

Sonia Randhawa
Executive Director


Related News :

Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) - Official admits to checking media over "sensitive issues"; press warned from citing "unverified" online information.
Read here.

Aliran : Blogging for change

Susan Loone : Another ‘dimwit’ minister on the loose

Rocky : Zam on dignifying bloggers

Khoo Kay Peng : Zam Catches Foot in the Mouth Disease Again

Marina M : Be scared, Zam, be really scared...

The Sydney Morning Herald. : Don't trust blogs, Malaysain minister tells press

JOHOR ROYALTY OFF THE HOOK

The four suspects, including a member of the Johor royal family, detained two years ago for allegedly gate-crashing and assaulting a group of foreigners at a wedding reception on PulauRawa, Johor, may escape punishment.


(Source)


Bravo to The Royal Malaysia Police !

The Royal Malaysia Police have again surpassed Interpol's crime-solving benchmark of 20%, reports Bernama.

The creditable 36.89 per cent crime-solving rate attained last year by the Royal Malaysia Police has surpassed the crime-solving rate benchmark set by the International Police (Interpol) for two consecutive years.

This reflected the dynamism and commitment of the Royal Malaysia Police, said CID Director Datuk Christopher Wan Soo Kee.

"Last year, we managed to solve 73,281 of the 198,622 criminal cases recorded. According to Interpol's benchmark, a country must have a 20 per cent crime-solving rate in a year.

"This is an achievement we can be proud of. I personally believe our police force can better the current record in the years ahead. I always aim for 100 per cent...we will do our level best," he told Bernama in an exclusive interview.

"In 2005, our crime-solving rate was 48.45 per cent or 76,284 of the 157,459 cases recorded," said Wan.

He said the Interpol adopts a four-point criteria in determining whether a case has been solved.

The criteria are:

* If there is a confession or solid evidence against the accused

* The accused is caught red-handed though he/she pleads not guilty

* The accused is identified regardless of whether he/she is being detained, still at large or has died

* Investigations showed no offence has been committed.

Last month a proposal to restrict the movements of immigrants in order to deter them from committing crime was met with an outcry from NGOs which said foreigners were responsible for only a fraction of the total crime index.


A report by Reuter's Clarence Fernandez suggests otherwise.


Malaysia's rising crime mars govt's rosy picture

With an eye to early elections, Malaysia is beating the drum about its healthy economy, but surging crime levels offer a stark reminder that the government has yet to deliver on key law-and-order promises. Malaysia expects to host more than 20 million tourists this year as it marks its 50th anniversary of independence, but burglaries, shootouts in shopping malls and motorcycle-borne bag snatchers are just some of the hazards visitors could face.

In recent months, public attention has been riveted by the murder of a Mongolian model whose body was feared to have been blown to bits and the theft of a cargo of $13 million worth of computer chips in northern Penang.

Police figures show that crime in Malaysia rose 14 percent last year to 225,836 incidents against 198,017 in 2005, and the proportion of serious crimes, such as murder, rape and armed robbery, grew 26 percent.

Though the government paints a rosy picture of the economy, crime is being fuelled by a volatile mix of factors that includes a huge migrant labour force, the rising cost of living and a vast gulf of deprivation between rich and poor, one analyst said.

Balanced Reporting Can Counter Internet Influence ?

Keen competition in news gathering must abide by the journalism tenets to avoid sensitive issues from being highlighted, said Internal Security Deputy Minister Datuk Fu Ah Kiow.

Despite the challenges posed by the Internet, an information superhighway, the mainstream media must not waiver from giving the correct and accurate picture of an event or an incident to the people, he said.

Fu said the media must practise balanced reporting unlike the Internet which had no specific guidelines.

"I hope the prevailing close government-media relations will be maintained for the good of both parties. I am willing to accept criticisms and comments from the media and the people, especially transparent and constructive ideas," he said.


Meanwhile, Wong Chun Wai feels that it was a poor public relations management, that leads to Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor found himself having to clarify that he did not label all women bloggers as liars.

The recent controversy started when Tengku Adnan was asked to respond to a complaint by Indonesian journalist-blogger Nila Tanzil on not being able to shoot and film at various places when she was here for the Flora Fest 2007.

It was a case of one unhappy journalist. After all, Tourism Malaysia invited over 6,000 media journalists and travel agents for its many programmes and we can assume that the majority were satisfied with how things were handled.

But instead of confining the problem and solving it, we have created a bigger hole by allegedly accusing bloggers of being liars and that the majority of bloggers are purportedly unemployed women.

Naturally, the remark angered many bloggers, both men and women, who protested strongly.

This time, the uproar was reported in several newspapers overseas. It was another case of another Malaysian politician shooting himself in the foot, which all seem so familiar by now.

Last week, Tengku Adnan tried to diffuse the controversy by clarifying that he did not mean all bloggers but was referring to the Indonesian journalist.

It’s not a very clever thing to do. It’s hardly good public relations to call someone a liar in public. Tourism Malaysia may have its reasons for running its media programme but as with any operational manner, it should just quickly defend itself with its side of the story to the press when criticised.

There is absolutely no need for anyone to be defensive or upset over Nila’s complaint. No one is suggesting that the ministry or Tourism Malaysia is not doing their job but all complaints should be taken seriously, more so if they are from the media.

There is also nothing wrong in making an apology to the said reporter, who continued to promote Malaysia strongly in her programme despite her unhappiness. In planning and implementation, mistakes can be made. Just rectify the mistakes and move on, it’s that simple.

If guides accompanying the press need to be better trained to meet their job demands, then train them better.

There is no need to take criticisms badly. Some of our politicians or bureaucrats seem incapable of handling such brickbats, preferring to hear things that they want to hear only. Instead of addressing the issues concerned, some have reacted negatively and with intolerance.

To suggest that bloggers have an anti-national agenda simply implies that some of us are still not logged into blogsphere.

Some have yet to see the importance of the New Media, assuming that bloggers are all political commentators, without understanding that many travel writers have embraced the new medium for their writing.

From food reviewers to motoring journalists, many have chosen blogging to gain a bigger audience to complement the print and electronic media that they work in.

It’s a new world but it is still not too late for some of our politicians and bureaucrats to check out blogsphere.

Did you know that Names like tongkat ali, kacip fatimah and misai kucing may not be familiar to the Japanese.

But these herbs with their scientific names, Eurycoma longifolia (tongkat ali), Labisia pumila (kacip fatimah) and Orthosiphon stamineus (misai kucing) are among those that have penetrated the highly competitive Japanese market.

Tongkat ali is well-known in the Southeast-Asian region for its testosterone-enhancing ability to improve desire and sexual initiation :)

Tongkat Ali is also being researched for its possibility as an anti-cancer supplement.

A study by the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Fukuyama University in Japan a few years ago found that anti-hypertensive substance in the leaves of the misai kucing could reduce high blood pressure.

The Star and the Liar

In today MStar :

Video papar Altantuya bersama anak cacat

Satu klip video memaparkan kehidupan wanita warga Mongolia yang dibunuh di Puncak Alam Oktober lepas, Altantuya Shariibuu, kini boleh ditonton di sebuah blog seorang aktivis Malaysia.

Video itu diterbitkan oleh Shariibuu Setev, bapa kepada mangsa pembunuhan yang menggemparkan itu, diperolehi oleh Susan Loone, seorang koordinator di pertubuhan hak asasi Forum Asia di Bangkok.

Susan, dulu seorang wartawan, berkata video lebih empat minit itu hanya memaparkan kandungan berunsur "human interest" dan tidak mengandungi sebarang maklumat baru berhubung kes berkenaan.

Video yang diklasifikasi sebagai dokumen peribadi itu dimuatkan di laman video popular Youtube.com, namun hanya boleh diakses melalui blognya May the Truth Save Us All (sloone.wordpress.com).

"Video itu dihantar kepada saya untuk digunakan secara khusus di blog saya... Ia hanya untuk memperingati Altantuya, tiada sebab lain," katanya ketika dihubungi mStar Online semalam.

Difahamkan Shariibuu menghantar video yang turut memuatkan rakaman anak lelaki Altantuya berusia tiga tahun itu melalui salah seorang teman rapatnya di Mongolia, setelah Susan memintanya berbuat demikian.

"Encik Shariibuu mula membuat rakaman tersebut pada Disember 2006. Rakaman video Atanshagai juga dibuat pada bulan itu," katanya.

Dalam video tersebut, Shariibuu turut bertindak sebagai penyampai suara latar sewaktu menerangkan imej dan rakaman di dalamnya.

"Altantuya mengorbankan dirinya demi kepentingan orang lain," kata Shariibuu yang berbahasa Mongolia dalam video itu, seperti ditranskripkan di blog Susan, dan menyifatkan anaknya itu sebagai seorang wanita muda Mongolia yang baik tetapi dibunuh secara kejam.

Video berkenaan juga memberi beberapa maklumat mengenai hubungan antara Altantuya dan keluarganya serta kelayakan akademik bermula daripada pendidikan awal di Chimkent, Russia.

“Dia sering membebankan dirinya dengan kerja, untuk membalas budi orang tuanya, untuk membesarkan anaknya dan menyekolahkan saudara perempuannya," kata Shariibuu, pengarah maklumat dan pendidikan di Universiti Kebangsaan Mongolia.

Katanya lagi, Altantuya gembira dengan kehidupannya sebagai seorang ibu tetapi bebannya juga semakin bertambah setelah melahirkan anak lelaki pertamanya Mungunshagai, 9, hasil hubungannya dengan Maadai, 32, seorang penyanyi hip hop.

“Kemudian, Altantuya melahirkan anaknya yang kedua (Aganshagai) dan berusaha keras untuk memeliharanya sebagai budak lelaki yang sihat."

DNA Aganshagai dilaporkan akan diperiksa hari ini oleh pasukan khas daripada Malaysia dan keputusan mengenainya bakal diketahui pada Sabtu.

Di blognya, Susan menyatakan video ini boleh menambahkan maklumat, khususnya melalui imej, tentang Altantuya yang selama ini dikenali sekadar sekeping foto kecil yang dimuatkan di akhbar dan sumber-sumber polis.

"Tertarik dan ingin tahu lebih mendalam tentang wanita ini, saya menjejak semula kehidupannya di tanah penuh daya tarikan Mongolia dan cuba memahami wanita ini di sebalik tabir berita dan cerita yang sensasi dan tanpa asas. Ia bukanlah kerja yang mudah," katanya.

Menurut blog itu, video tersebut agak sukar diakses semalam dan masalah itu kini sudah diatasi. (Source)

A video clip of Mongolian beauty Altantuya Shaariibuu, whose body was blown up in Shah Alam last October, has been posted on the popular video sharing website YouTube.

The four-minute video compiles some of her pictures with a narration in Mongolian by her father, Dr Shaariibuu Setev.

Former journalist and blogger Susan Loone, who posted the video on www.youtube.com, said the video was only a human-interest piece and there was no new information about her murder case.

Loone also posted an English translation of the narration on her blog May the Truth Save Us All (sloone.wordpress.com).

When contacted by mStar, the Malay news portal of The Star, she said:

“The video was specifically meant for me to use on my blog. It is to remember Altantuya. There’s no other reason.

“Dr Shaariibuu started making the video in December 2006. The video recording of Atanshagai (Altantuya’s three-year-old son) was also made in that month.”

mStar learned that Dr Shaariibuu had sent the video to Loone, which contained recordings of Atanshagai, through a close friend in Mongolia after she asked for it.

According to the English transcription in Loone’s blog, Dr Shaariibuu described his late daughter as someone who had “a rare nature, did not begrudge her friends and sacrificed herself for the sake of others.”

He said she was “a nice Mongolian girl who got killed by cruel murderers.”

Dr Shaariibuu said Altantuya was happy with her life as a mother although her burdens grew after giving birth to her first son (Mungunshagai, nine), following her relationship with hip hop singer Maadai, 32.

It was reported that her second son Atanshagai’s DNA was tested on Thursday and the result would be known today.

You see, that's the power of bloggers liars !



Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi smiled when asked if he had found a bride.

Lifting his hands to his ears, he said it was too late for reporters to ask the question.

“The press conference is over. It is too late,” he said as he walked away with a grin.

Abdullah had recently said that rumours regarding his marriage were just that – rumours.