A man was shot dead by a security guard at the AmBank branch at Jalan Sungai Dua in Gelugor, Penang during an attempted robbery this morning, according to a police personnel at the scene.
Was Khalid Ibrahim the only candidate for Selangor MB after GE13?
Two differing accounts: Khalid says there were other candidates put forward by PKR and Pas for the MB’s post in 2008 and 2013 but…
… check out this TV3 report in 2013:
Menjelaskan perlantikan Menteri Besar Selangor itu, Setiausaha Sulit Sultan, Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani dalam satu kenyataan menggariskan tiga sebab mengapa Tan Sri Khalid dilantik semula ke jawatan berkenaan.
Alasan pertama, hanya nama Tan Sri Khalid dikemukakan oleh Pakatan dianggotai DAP, PKR dan PAS sebagai calon Menteri Besar Selangor.
Repeal of Sedition Act: Janji ditepati?
Remember when Najib promised on 11 July 2012 to repeal the repressive Sedition Act, a relic from the colonial era? The repeal was part of a slew of reforms he had pledged ahead of GE13.
“(The) Sedition Act represents a bygone era in our country and with today’s announcement we mark another step forward in Malaysia’s development,” Najib had said (See Sin Chew report).
Two years since Najib’s landmark announcement, opposition MPs and Aduns continue to be probed or charged under the Sedition Act.
Save Soonstead
This is a petition by the Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) to save Soonstead:
The heritage of Soonstead is threatened by a proposed 13-storey tower block which would necessitate the demolition of the house’s dining room wing and annexe buildings.
Bukit Mertajam in spotlight – for the wrong reasons
A few news items caught my attention recently.
The first one is datelined Bukit Mertajam, the link for which I put up recently:
Trafficking abuse of Myanmar Rohingya spreads to Malaysia
The United States recently downgraded Malaysia and three other countries to Tier 3 – the lowest possible ranking – in its annual Trafficking of Persons (TIP) Report due to insufficient action taken to prevent human trafficking and forced labour. We are in the same group as Zimbabwe, North Korea and Saudi Arabia! See this Guardian report: ‘US penalises Malaysia for shameful human trafficking record’.
And the second revelation is about dead bodies, some of them reportedly foreigners, found dumped in and around the Bukit Mertajam area:
Penang fast becoming a state where there is no peace for the dead!
‘Cyber-troopers’ and ‘internet shills’
Locally, we are used to hearing the term ‘cyber-trooper’. But that term does not seem to be widely used outside Malaysia. Instead, the closest term seems to be ‘internet shill’.
Mahathir withdraws support for Najib – but how valid are his grounds?
Uh-oh, the news that an incumbent Umno prime minister dreads – Mahathir is withdrawing support. Deja vu.
Let’s look at some of the reasons he gave (in bold), with my comments next to them.
Mahathir didn’t like it when:
Najib repealed the ISA – Of course, Mahathir wouldn’t be happy with this. But other oppressive laws such as the Sedition Act (which Najib had pledged to repeal) remain in place, and this really should keep Mahathir contented – though not many of the rakyat.
Rohingya human trafficking at our door-step
While the authorities are busy investigating nudists scampering around at Teluk Kampi, an even more outrageous saga is taking place under our nose.
Why racism stinks
Here’s a good example of why racism stinks. I believe ordinary people know racism when they see it and that explains the reaction of patrons of this cafe in Sydney to racist hiring policies.