Malaysian embassies going 'overboard' for VIP wives?

Both Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Foreign Minister Rais Yatim rejected the allegations that there were improprieties in the way VIP wives are treated at Malaysian embassies abroad.

Mohd Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) raised this issue at the Dewan Rakyat yesterday with emphasise on the DPM's spouse, Rosmah Mansor who was allegedly going on luxury shopping sprees, and whose large purchases were transported back home at the expense of the Malaysian embassy in London and national carrier MAS.The overseas missions apparently were required to go overboard in ‘helping' cabinet ministers and their wives. In defence of Rosmah, both the ministers re-emphasised that the claim was untrue.Najib added that Azmin was being ‘petty and frivolous'.The issue began during the Supplementary Supply Bill debate, when Azmin (left) highlighted reports he received."The complaint that we have received is that many of the officers at the embassies abroad are ordered to receive these pembesar (VIPs) and their wives even when they are holidaying," he said."Certain personalities among the wives of cabinet ministers spend huge sums, go on shopping sprees for luxuries, refuse to pay taxes at the airport or to (Malaysian Airline System) MAS, and the foreign affairs ministry has to bear the said expenses," he added.This, he summed up, made the embassy neglect their official obligations.

To a question from Mohd Puad Zarkashi (BN-Batu Pahat), Azmin said he has proof of his claims from the embassy in London itself.Ibrahim Ali (Independent-Pasir Mas) agreed with Azmin and mentioned he knew of embassy staff who were made to accompany VIPs to karaoke joints and entertainment centres.Speedy responseIn his winding up speech, Rais informed Parliament that he had just received a fax from the Malaysian ambassador in London denying Azmin's allegations.

The fax, according to Rais, explained that the ambassador only helped with Rosmah's arrival and departure."They did not pay anything for her and with this explanation, it is up to Azmin to accept it as something that he needs to explain for later," said Rais."This matter does not need to be extended because there are bigger things to discuss. Our embassies will give help to Malaysians abroad but to claim this, the ministry says it is not true," he stressed.Azmin then interjected to say that while he had nothing against embassies helping Malaysians in difficulty, however the issue at hand was the special treatment that certain Malaysians receive."I think you should be sincere in this. Not every Malaysian gets the same welcome when they go overseas," said Azmin, citing the treatment faced by students involved with opposition party functions and PKR officials when overseas.

Azmin also expressed surprise at the efficiency and speed of the investigation into the matter."If the minister says he received a fax from the ambassador, I congratulate the ambassador for responding in a few hours.""It is impossible that in that short time frame, that the minister can carry out investigations," he claimed.At a press conference held later, Najib reiterated his denial of Azmin's enquiry into his wife's actions."It's not true anyway," he added.

From Malaysiakini

I dunno about the shopping spree or the High Commission officials 'helping' VIPs wives but I do know this, no VIPs came to Papua New Guinea for visit since I first posted here. So I wouldn't know whether its true or not.Nevertheless, one of the responsibility of Embassy's officials is to assist our Malaysian VIPs when they are in the country and officials' wives or Perwakilan is tasked to accompany VIPs wives for sightseeing or shopping spree and give advise on do's and dont's in the host country.

Raitman

We had our first game in the Division 2 of the Papua New Guinea Soccer League against Apex team. I scored one goal as we won the game 3-2.Our next game versus Los Negros we lost 3-2. Our third game held last weekend again Raitman lost 2-1.

Warm up before a game

To the battle (I hope the captain has ordered me a new jersey.The current seems like I am going for a swimming competition...hehehehe)

yeah...


Our strong supporters for each game we played.

Camping in our backyard

Wendy, Goru, Bonny setting up the tent, while Izkey become the 'mandur'

Wendy and Izkey in the tent bought by Wendy when she was in Malaysia

The brady bunch in the tent

We had our first family camping in our backyard last Saturday (24 May 2008), though we never slept in it...hehehehe.Only Izkey fell asleep in the tent and I had to carry him all the way from the backyard to our bedroom upstairs.It's not easy though....he's weight surpasses 20kg now. Anyway, we had a good short camping and took pictures to prove that we indeed had camping in Papua New Guinea.

Why we lost Pulau Batu Putih

No Entry!!!Bye-Bye Pulau Batu Putih

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), principal judicial organ of the United Nations, today rendered its Judgment in the case concerning Sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge (Malaysia/Singapore). In its Judgment, which is final, binding and without appeal, the Court

⎯ finds by twelve votes to four that sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh belongs to the Republic of Singapore;
⎯ finds by fifteen votes to one that sovereignty over Middle Rocks belongs to Malaysia;
⎯ finds by fifteen votes to one that sovereignty over South Ledge belongs to the State in the territorial waters of which it is located.

Reasoning of the Court
The Court first explains that the dispute between Malaysia and Singapore concerns sovereignty over three maritime features in the Straits of Singapore: Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh (a granite island on which Horsburgh lighthouse stands), Middle Rocks (consisting of some rocks that are permanently above water) and South Ledge (a low-tide elevation).

Having described the historical background of the case, the Court notes that the dispute as to sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh crystallized on 14 February 1980, when Singapore protested against the publication in 1979 by Malaysia of a map depicting the island as lying within Malaysia’s territorial waters. It further observes that the dispute as to sovereignty over Middle Rocks and South Ledge crystallized on 6 February 1993, when Singapore referred to the two features in the context of its claim to Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh during bilateral negotiations.

Sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh
Malaysia contends that it has an original title to Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh (dating back from the time of its predecessor, the Sultanate of Johor) and that it continues to hold this title, while Singapore claims that the island was terra nullius in the mid-1800s when the United Kingdom (its predecessor) took lawful possession of the island in order to construct a lighthouse.

Having reviewed the evidence submitted by the Parties, the Court finds that the territorial domain of the Sultanate of Johor did cover in principle all the islands and islets within the Straits of Singapore and did thus include Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh. It establishes that this possession of the islands by the Sultanate was never challenged by any other Power in the region; and that it therefore satisfies the condition of "continuous and peaceful display of territorial sovereignty". The Court thus concludes that the Sultanate of Johor had original title to Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh. It adds that this ancient title is confirmed by the nature and degree of the Sultan of Johor’s authority exercised over the Orang Laut ("the people of the sea", who inhabited or visited the islands in the Straits of Singapore, including Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh and made this maritime area their habitat).

The Court then looks at whether this title was affected by developments in the period between 1824 and the 1840s. In March 1824, the colonial Powers in the region, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, signed a Treaty which had the practical effect of broadly establishing the spheres of influence of the two Powers in the East Indies. As a consequence, one part of the Sultanate of Johor (under Sultan Hussein) fell within the British sphere of influence while the other (under Sultan Abdul Rahman, Sultan Hussein’s brother) fell within a Dutch sphere of influence. In August 1824, Sultan Hussein ceded the island of Singapore, together with its adjacent seas, straits, and islets to the extent of 10 geographical miles from the coast of Singapore to the English East India Company in the so-called Crawfurd Treaty. Finally, in a letter of 25 June 1825, Sultan Abdul Rahman "donated" certain territories, which were already within the British sphere of influence, to his brother, thereby confirming the division of the "old" Sultanate of Johor. After careful consideration of the legal effects of these developments, the Court finds that none of them brought any change to the original title.

The Court turns next to the legal status of Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh after the 1840s to determine whether Malaysia and its predecessor retained sovereignty over the island. It observes that in order to do so, it needs to assess the relevant facts, consisting mainly of the conduct of the Parties (and of their predecessors) during the period under review.

The Court examines the events surrounding the selection process of the site of the lighthouse and the construction of the latter, as well as the conduct of the Parties’ predecessors between 1852 and 1952 (in particular with respect to the British and Singapore legislation relating to Horsburgh lighthouse and in the context of the Straits lights system; constitutional developments of Singapore and Malaysia; and Johor regulation of fisheries in the 1860s), but is unable to draw any conclusions for the purposes of the case.

The Court notes that in a letter written on 12 June 1953 to the British Adviser to the Sultan of Johor, the Colonial Secretary of Singapore asked for information about the status of Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh in the context of determining the boundaries of the "Colony’s territorial waters". In a letter dated 21 September 1953, the Acting State Secretary of Johor replied that the "Johore Government [did] not claim ownership" of the island. The Court considers that this correspondence and its interpretation are of central importance "for determining the developing understanding of the two Parties about sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh" and finds that the Johor’s reply shows that as of 1953 Johor understood that it did not have sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh.

The Court finally examines the conduct of the Parties after 1953 with respect to the island. Having reviewed all arguments submitted to it, it finds that certain acts, inter alia the investigation of shipwrecks by Singapore within the island’s territorial waters and the permission granted or not granted by Singapore to Malaysian officials to survey the waters surrounding the island, may be seen as conduct à titre de souverain. The Court also considers that some weight can be given to the conduct of the Parties in support of Singapore’s claim (i.e., the absence of reaction from Malaysia to the flying of the Singapore ensign on the island, the installation by Singapore of military communications equipment on the island in 1977, and the proposed reclamation plans by Singapore to extend the island, as well as a few specific publications and maps).

The Court concludes, especially by reference to the conduct of Singapore and its predecessors à titre de souverain, taken together with the conduct of Malaysia and its predecessors including their failure to respond to the conduct of Singapore and its predecessors, that by 1980 (when the dispute crystallized) sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh had passed to Singapore. The Court thus concludes that sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh belongs to Singapore.

Sovereignty over Middle Rocks and South Ledge
Malaysia claims that the two maritime features have always been under Johor/Malaysian sovereignty while Singapore’s position is that sovereignty over the features goes together with sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh. With respect to Middle Rocks, the Court observes that the particular circumstances which led it to find that sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh rests with Singapore clearly do not apply to Middle Rocks. It therefore finds that original title to Middle Rocks should remain with Malaysia as the successor to the Sultanate of Johor.

As for South Ledge, the Court notes that this low-tide elevation falls within the apparently overlapping territorial waters generated by Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh and by Middle Rocks. Recalling that it has not been mandated by the Parties to draw the line of delimitation with respect to their territorial waters in the area, the Court concludes that sovereignty over South Ledge belongs to the State in the territorial waters of which it is located.

(excerpt from ICJ's press release)

The first hour makes me excited as the judgement seems in favour for Malaysia and have full sovereignty over PBB. However, once the judge touched on the 1953 letter by the Secretary of Johor State and explained the significant of the letter to the case, my heart was beating fast as I suspects this would be our downfall.Nevertheless, we won a consolation prize for Middle Rocks.As Minister Rais said it is a 'win-win' situation. My personal view, we lost!!

Tun Mahathir quits UMNO

Second political tsunami on the way???

Pengumuman Keluar Dari UMNO

Hari ini, Mei 19, 2008 saya mengumumkan keputusan saya untuk keluar daripada UMNO. Isteri saya turut bersama.Keputusan ini dibuat kerana UMNO yang ada sekarang bukan lagi UMNO yang ditubuh 62 tahun dahulu yang berjuang untuk bangsa Melayu, Agama Islam dan Negara Malaysia (Malaya); UMNO yang menggagalkan Malayan Union, memperjuangkan kemerdekaan Malaya dan Malaysia dan membangunkan Malaysia sehingga menjadi Negara yang termaju di antara Negara membangun di dunia.UMNO yang ada sekarang hanya wujud untuk menyokong Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, keluarganya dan tindakan serta dasar yang tidak secocok dengan kepentingan bangsa, agama dan negara.Kepimpinan Dato Seri Abdullah jelas membawa kekalahan dan bencana kepada Barisan Nasional, UMNO, MCA, MIC, Gerakan dan PPP.

Kemenangan UMNO di Sabah dan BN di Sarawak bukan kerana kepimpinan Dato Seri Abdullah.Saya akan jelas satu persatu dasar-dasar dan tindakan Dato Seri Abdullah yang menjadikan Kerajaan pimpinannya dan parti BN dibenci oleh ahli-ahli parti komponen sendiri.Walaupun sebelum perisytiharan ini saya adalah ahli UMNO tetapi sebenarnya selepas saya letak jawatan sebagai Perdana Menteri saya tidak dilayan sebagai ahli UMNO.Saya tidak dibenarkan berjumpa ahli UMNO dan ahli UMNO tidak dibenarkan hadir apa-apa perhimpunan di mana saya dijemput sebagai jurucakap atau penyampai ucapan.Menteri-Menteri yang dahulu berada dalam Kabinet saya tidak dibenarkan atau tidak berani atau tidak mahu jumpa saya lagi.Jemputan oleh UMNO dan bukan UMNO kepada saya diarah ditarik balik oleh Mneteri Besar dan Polis.

Ramai pemimpin UMNO melepaskan kata-kata kesat kepada saya dan ada yang menyuruh saya keluar daripada UMNO walaupun mereka baru sahaja masuk UMNO. Tidak ada pemimpin UMNO yang pertahankan saya secara terbuka.Wakil ke Perhimpunan Agong tidak dibenarkan menyuara pendapat mereka. Mulut semua orang ditutup.Yang didengar hanyalah media arus perdana yang memuji Dato Seri Abdullah sehingga dia percaya dia begitu popular dan akan sapu bersih parti lawan dalam pilihanraya umum ke-12.Hasilnya ialah kekalahan yang teruk bagi Barisan Nasional. Malangnya mesej yang hendak disampaikan oleh pengundi dan penyokong BN tidak dapat difahami oleh Dato Seri Abdullah.

Dia masih berkata dia menang. Ini sukar diterima oleh orang Kedah, orang Pulau Pinang, orang Perak, Selangor dan Wilayah Persekutuan.Oleh kerana Dato Seri Abdullah buta mata dan pekak telinga dan tidak faham mesej ahli BN, oleh kerana ahli UMNO pun turut bersama, oleh kerana proses demokrasi tidak berjalan, oleh kerana UMNO yang ada sekarang bukan lagi UMNO yang ditubuhkan 62 tahun dahulu, saya berpendapat penyertaan saya sebagai ahli UMNO tidak bermakna dan tidak berguna lagi.Justeru itu saya ingin umumkan bahawa saya sudah keluar daripada UMNO.

Saya ingin tegaskan bahawa saya bebas dan tidak menyokong mana-mana parti lawan.Saya akan pohon untuk masuk UMNO apabila Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi sudah berhenti daripada menjadi Presiden UMNO, Pengerusi BN dan Perdana Menteri Malaysia.

Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad (bekas ahli UMNO No 1)

Dr Siti Hasmah binti Mohd Ali (bekas ahli UMNO No 2)

Sources : http://www.chedet.com/

Joke of the day - Times 10

A woman was out golfing one day when she hit the ball into the woods. She went into the woods to look for it and found a frog in a trap. The frog said to her, 'If you release me from this trap, I will grant you three wishes.' The woman freed the frog, and the frog said, 'Thank you, but I failed to mention that there was a condition to your wishes. Whatever you wish for, your husband will get times ten!' The woman said, 'That's okay.' For her first wish, she wanted to be the most beautiful woman in the world. The frog warned her, 'You do realize that this wish will also make your husband the most handsome man in the world, an Adonis whom women will flock to'. The woman replied, 'That's okay, because I will be the most beautiful Woman and he will have eyes only for me.' So, KAZAM-she's the most beautiful Woman in the world!

For her second wish, she wanted to be the richest woman in the world. The frog said, 'That will make your husband the richest man in the world. And he will be ten times richer than you.' The woman said, 'That's okay, because what's mine is his and what's his is mine.' So, KAZAM-she's the richest woman in the world! The frog then inquired about her third wish, and she answered, '! I'd like a mild heart attack.'

Moral of the story: Women are clever. Don't mess with them.

Attention female readers : This is the end of the joke for you. Stop here and continue feeling good.

Male readers : The man had a heart attack ten times milder than his wife. Moral of the story: Women are really dumb but think they're really smart.. Let them continue to think that way and just enjoy the show.

PS: If you are a woman and are still reading this; it only goes to show that women never listen!!! But it also proves how brave I am to have had the guts to post this!!

D-Day for Malaysia

From the map above, there is a clear distinction Malaysia should win the case

The issue of Pulau Batu Puteh ( PBP ) pits Malaysia’s original title to the island against Singapore’s much later claim, which dates from 1980. The island lies 7.7 nautical miles (nm) from the Malaysian mainland but 25.5 nm over the sea from Singapore.

On 14 February 1980, Singapore protested a Malaysian map of its maritime boundaries, published in the previous year, which showed Pulau Batu Puteh belonging to Malaysia. Singapore’s Note of 14 February 1980 led to an exchange of correspondence and subsequently to a series of intergovernmental talks in 1993-1994 at which the respective positions of the two Parties were developed, but without any conclusion. Subsequently it was agreed that the matter should be resolved by reference to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Malaysia has undertaken extensive research in various institutions in 12 different countries throughout the world, including Malaysia, for almost 30 years prior to the oral hearings of the case.

Malaysia has an original title to Pulau Batu Puteh of long standing. Pulau Batu Puteh is, and has always been, part of the Malaysian State of Johor. Nothing has happened to displace Malaysia’s sovereignty over it. Singapore’s presence on the island for the sole purpose of constructing and maintaining a lighthouse there – with the permission of the territorial sovereign, Johor – does not displace Malaysia's sovereignty over Pulau Batu Puteh.

P/S : There would be a live telecast on the judgement regarding the Case Concerning Sovereignty Over Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge on Friday, 23 May 2008 at 4.00 p.m Malaysian time in RTM1. Keep our fingers cross folks. Thank God we have RTM reception here in Papua New Guinea! Who says PNG is a hardship post!!!

Dad's family album

The above pic was taken in Kg. Tanjung Rimau Dalam, Tampin, Melaka. I could notice some of my aunties and uncles and arwah Pak Jang (Al -Fatihah) in the pic including my dad. I think Paklong (Zahar), Pak Cik (Zaharim), Busu (Zaimah), Mak Lang (Zamnah). Ayah with the jambul far right at the back...hehehehehe.Others not familiar enough but I think our great great grandmother (moyang) is sitted at the front. I dunno when the pic was taken and I hope my cousins could enlighten me on this. Thanks rozain for the pic.

My grandfather, Zainal Abidin(Al-Fatihah) standing third from the right and my grandmother, Hasnah Baba sitted third from right.If I'm not mistaken, WanChu is sitted far left, arwah Tok Long standing left to my grandfather and Tok Cik sitted next to WanChu. The rest tak kenal laahh

Edwards' endorsed Obama

Thanks mate!

Hillary might be sweating her skirts already knowing Edwards has openly endorsed Obama for Democrats nomination for President. I think she should just withdraw from the race and nego with Obama for the Vice Presidency post before Edwards grab it. Get real , she cant win the nomination if she's gonna win in the remaining 5 states. She's still in a denial mode! (hmm...deja vu)

Glory Glory Man United

We are the champions!!!

Go to hell with Chelsea.They drew with Bolton 1-1 while ManU win 2-0 at Wigan's. It is the tenth EPL Trophy for our beloved Sir Alex Ferguson. Kudos to Ronaldo and Giggs who scored the winning goal. Glory,Glory Man United....Now its time for double in Moscow next week for the Champions League Trophy.

RPK Jailed!!

Pic coutesy of Rockybru's blog

Malaysia Today founder and editor, Raja Petra chose to be arrested rather than posted bail of RM5000.00 for something he believes in.Anyway, there is a saying, 'Berani Buat Berani Tanggung'. So i guess RPK proves to the world that he is man of his word.It's kindda hard to find a man of this sort in this world.You one in a billion Pete!

Live parliament telecast may go longer than 30 mins

KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 — Barely days after proposing cancellation, Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek is now talking of giving more air time to the live telecast of the Dewan Rakyat Question Time set at 30 minutes.
He said the ministry was prepared to consider this as well as other suggestions to improve the quality of the telecast, subject to Cabinet approval.
His positive outlook came after he declared to reporters: "I'm happy that today's sitting went without any hitches." This, certainly, in stark contrast to last Wednesday's chaos.
The happy turn of events was also noted by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia who said: "Praise be to God. If everyday the sitting is like today's, I as the speaker am very happy."
He said that unlike Wednesday's commotion, the MPs generally understood and accepted what the people wanted – they should not waste time raising petty issues.
"Hopefully, this will continue. They have listened to my advice and people's feedbacks. When they read in newspapers that this is for the good of the people, then they should consider these views," he said.
Shabery has also been moved enough to consider the possibility of the Dewan Rakyat session be broadcast live over the radio and Internet.
The sitting today managed to deal with eight oral questions during the 90-minute Question Time — four each from government backbenchers and Opposition members – compared to only three on Wednesday.
Pandikar Amin said the people's representatives should make full use of the one-and-a-half hours allocated to ask questions verbally and listen to the reply from the government.
On new MPs who had not understood the House procedure and standing orders, Pandikar Amin said they should follow closely the running of the meeting.
Meanwhile, the DAP, in a statement today, also asked the Information Ministry to extend the live telecast of Question Time to the full one-and-a-half-hours to make the proceedings more meaningful, in line with international norm.
Bukit Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong said mature Parliaments such as in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and even South Africa broadcast their entire Question Time segment on television.
"I call on the government, through the Information Minister, to move a motion in Parliament to establish a Parliamentary Select Committee, comprising members from both sides of the divide to study the parameters, measures and methods of parliamentary telecast," he said.
Liew said when the British Parliament decided in principle to telecast its proceedings in 1989, the Select Committee on Televising of Proceedings of the House spent a year to study, plan and implement the move on behalf of Parliament.
"A similar set-up exists in the Australian Parliament in the form of a Joint Committee (of senators and House of Representatives) on the broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings," he added. — Bernama

Thank you YB Shabery Chik for considering to extend the live telecast. He was my former Parliament Secretary in Wisma Putra. Kudos YB!

Malaysian Blogger King

Raja Petra @ Pete @ Peter @ Raja, an editor and creator of famous Malaysiatoday was summoned late last night to appear in Court today to be charged (expected under Sedition Act). He was summoned because of his article in Malaysiatoday purportedly relates YAB DPM with the murder of Altantuya. The murder trial case is currently ongoing. I guess because of the long going court case since last year and statement revealed and reported in the MSM given by many witnessess, public opinion had hit center stage making their own judgment.