Great injustice to Najib as he was unrepresented during appeal, says dissenting Judge Datuk Abdul Rahman Sebli, who chaired the five-member bench

 Great injustice to Najib as he was unrepresented during appeal, says dissenting judge

Bernama

Mac 31, 2023

Great injustice to Najib as he was unrepresented during appeal, says dissenting judge

Justice Abdul Rahman said Datuk Seri Najib Razak's counsel (Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik) had been denied the opportunity to submit as said by the latter that he was not prepared to do so after taking the case at the last minute. - BERNAMA/Filepic

PUTRAJAYA: The sole dissenting judge in Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's review application today held that it was unfair for the former prime minister to pay the price for the mistakes done by his counsel in the SRC International Sdn Bhd appeal hearing.

Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Datuk Abdul Rahman Sebli, who chaired a five-member bench, said Najib's counsel (Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik) had been denied the opportunity to submit as said by the latter that he was not prepared to do so after taking the case at the last minute.

"The counsel did not submit after informing the panel of judges that he was unprepared to do so. This led to only one party submitting before the earlier panel, which was the deputy public prosecutor Datuk V.Sithambaram.

"The applicant (Najib) was not heard at all. The applicant is at a great and substantial injustice. He was in a disadvantaged state, as he was not represented during the appeal. It was unfair that the applicant was paying the highest price for the mistakes done by his counsel.

"The applicant's only interest is to see his lawyer act for him in his best interest, nothing more and nothing less," the judge said when allowing Najib's application to review the decision of the previous panel of the Federal Court which upheld his conviction and 12 years jail sentence and fine for misappropriation of RM42 million in SRC International funds.

In the 4-1 majority judgment, the four judges who dismissed the former prime minister's application were Federal Court judges Datuk Vernon Ong Lam Kiat, Datuk Rhodzariah Bujang and Datuk Nordin Hassan and Court of Appeal judge Datuk Abu Bakar Jais.

In his decision, Justice Abdul Rahman said that the previous bench should have let the applicant (Najib) address the bench first before the prosecution made its submissions.

"This did not happen, the prosecution was allowed to submit for two full days...this was surreal," said the judge, adding that the conviction against the accused should be quashed as there was no legal representation.

Justice Abdul Rahman opined that an adjournment should have been granted, not to scuttle the case, but to allow for the former premier to find a new counsel.

"The applicant (Najib) has the right to effective counsel. In the present case, the earlier panel had denied the applicant the right to have effective counsel. The counsel was shackled.

"The previous panel had said that it had given Najib's counsel four months to prepare. It was not true. The four months were for Messrs Shafee and Co (Najib's previous counsel). They were not for his new counsel Hisyam. Hence, the application for review for the adjournment must be granted," said Justice Abdul Rahman.

Najib, 69, who was in the dock, was seen nodding his head in agreement with the judge.

On July 28, 2020, the then High Court Judge Datuk Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, who is now a Court of Appeal judge, sentenced Najib to 10 years' jail on each of the three counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) and each of the three counts of money laundering, and 12 years' jail and RM210 million fine, in default five years' jail, in the case of abusing his position.

On Dec 8, 2021, the Court of Appeal upheld the High Court's decision and rejected Najib's appeal to set aside his conviction and jail sentence, as well as the fine.

On Aug 23, 2022, a five-member bench of the Federal Court led by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat dismissed the appeal by the former Pekan MP to overturn the conviction and sentence. Najib began his 12-year jail term in Kajang prison on the same day.

Najib then filed the review application to quash the earlier Federal Court's verdict. Besides that, he had also filed for a royal pardon in September last year.

On Jan 5, this year, he also filed a petition before the United Nations Human Rights Council Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) to ask for a release from prison or retrial of his SRC International case following an appeal hearing at the Federal Court which he claimed had serious defects and was contrary to the rules of international justice.

-- BERNAMA

PM Anwar - one of the first leaders to meet Xi Jinping after his re-election

 PM Anwar - one of the first leaders to meet Xi Jinping

Mac 31, 2023 

The Prime Minister was greeted by Jinping upon arrival before the two continued their meeting which lasted almost an hour. - Photo/ Office of the Prime Minister

The Prime Minister was greeted by Jinping upon arrival before the two continued their meeting which lasted almost an hour. - Photo/ Office of the Prime Minister

BEIJING: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim paid a courtesy visit on Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People, here this evening.

The Prime Minister was greeted by Jinping upon arrival before the two continued their meeting which lasted almost an hour.

It was the first four-point meeting between the two leaders, and Anwar was among the first foreign leaders to visit Jinping after his re-election as president for a third term on March 10.

Also accompanying the Prime Minister in the meeting were Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir and Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.

Previously, Zambry informed that the discussion will focus on new steps that can be taken in various fields to further fuel bilateral relations, especially in the context of the 10th anniversary celebration of the Malaysia-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Establishment Malaysia-China Diplomatic Relations.

The two leaders will also discuss concrete steps that can be taken in the field of trade, political cooperation, corruption prevention and civilizational issues.

After the meeting with Jinping was over, Anwar then met with the chairman of the National People's Congress, Zhao Leji, at the same location.

Tonight, the Prime Minister is scheduled to attend an iftar organized by the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce, where the program is expected to be attended by leaders of the Muslim community in China and Malaysian corporate figures.

Anwar arrived in Hainan on March 29 to begin his official visit to China, before visiting Beijing until Saturday (tomorrow).

Family of scammers collect hundreds of thousands over the years for 'cancer-stricken' daughter

 

1. Selangor police have launched an investigation into an alleged donation scam, where a family in Sentul is asking for RM400,000 to fund their cancer-stricken daughter’s surgery, NST says.

A source says the campaign has raised over RM308,000. https://t.co/n9uNv2nIuu

— BFM News (@NewsBFM) March 31, 2023

Operasi tangkap anjing liar: Warga emas didakwa halang tugas penjawat awam

 Operasi tangkap anjing liar: Warga emas didakwa halang tugas penjawat awam

Bernama

Mac 31, 2023 

Patrick Khoo Kian Wui, 69, didakwa dengan sengaja menghalang anggota MBPJ daripada menjalankan tugas-tugasnya di sebuah rumah di Taman Kanagapuram di sini, pada 9 malam, 22 Mac lepas. - Gambar/ Bernama

Operasi tangkap anjing liar: Warga emas didakwa halang tugas penjawat awam

Patrick Khoo Kian Wui, 69, didakwa dengan sengaja menghalang anggota MBPJ daripada menjalankan tugas-tugasnya di sebuah rumah di Taman Kanagapuram di sini, pada 9 malam, 22 Mac lepas. - Gambar/ Bernama

PETALING JAYA: Seorang lelaki warga emas mengaku tidak bersalah di Mahkamah Majistret di sini hari ini atas pertuduhan menghalang penjawat awam dalam operasi penangkapan anjing liar oleh Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ) minggu lepas.

Patrick Khoo Kian Wui, 69, yang bekerja sendiri didakwa dengan sengaja menghalang anggota MBPJ Azizul Azzim Norehan daripada menjalankan tugas-tugasnya di sebuah rumah di Taman Kanagapuram di sini, pada 9 malam, 22 Mac lepas.

Pendakwaan dikemukakan mengikut Seksyen 186 Kanun Keseksaan yang membawa hukuman penjara maksimum dua tahun atau denda sehingga RM10,000 atau kedua-duanya, jika sabit kesalahan.

Timbalan Pendakwa Raya Farhanah Fuad menawarkan jaminan RM5,000 dengan seorang penjamin, namun peguam Rajsurian Pillai yang mewakili tertuduh memohon jaminan rendah atas alasan anak guamnya hanya tinggal kira-kira empat kilometer (km) dari kompleks mahkamah selain telah hadir secara sukarela di Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Petaling Jaya sepanjang siasatan dijalankan.

Majistret Shahril Anuar Ahmad Mustapa membenarkan Khoo diikat jamin RM2,000 dengan seorang penjamin dan menetapkan 16 Jun ini untuk sebutan semula kes.

Jumaat lalu, media melaporkan pihak polis menjalankan siasatan terhadap sebuah rakaman kamera litar tertutup yang tular memaparkan insiden pergelutan antara anggota MBPJ dengan seorang lelaki semasa operasi menangkap anjing liar.

Lelaki itu dikatakan cuba melindungi kumpulan anjing liar dengan memasukkan haiwan itu ke dalam premisnya, menyebabkan pasukan penangkap anjing cuba menghalang tindakannya sebelum berlaku pergelutan.

-- BERNAMA

The charges against Sam Ke Ting are invalid in "basikal lajak case", lawyer tells Court of Appreal

 

The Court of Appeal was told that the conviction of clerk Sam Ke Ting for reckless driving that killed eight teenage cyclists should not stand because the charges against her were flawed.

Lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, who represented the woman, argued that there was a doubling of the charge because the prosecutor included two different offenses in the charge, namely reckless driving and dangerous driving.

"This is wrong. Only one offense is legally allowed to be stated in the charge," he said.

Hisyam argued this in Sam's appeal against the High Court's decision which convicted her of reckless driving and sentenced her to six years in prison and a fine.

The lawyer said there was prejudice against his client because there was a "miscarriage of justice" because she was convicted of a charge not recognized in law.

"The High Court judge convicted Sam of driving recklessly or dangerously. The appellant (Sam) did not get what should have been stated in the law," he said in front of a panel of three judges consisting of Hadhariah Syed Ismail, Hashim Hamzah and Azman Abdullah.

Sam, 27, was initially acquitted and released without being called to defend himself by the Johor Bahru Magistrate's Court on 18 November 2019, on charges of reckless driving causing the death of 8 teenagers riding a modified bicycle, known as a bicycle lajak

The eight teenagers who died in the incident are Mohamad Azrie Danish Zulkefli, 14; Muhamad Shahrul Izzwan Azzuraimie, 14; Muhammad Firdauz Danish Mohd Azhar, 16; Fauzan Halmijan, 13; Mohamad Azhar Amir, 16; Muhammad Harith Iskandar Abdullah, 14; Muhammad Shahrul Nizam Marudin, 14 and Haizad Kasrin, 16.

She is alleged to have committed the offense at Jalan Lingkaran Dalam, Johor Bahru, Johor at 3.20am, 18 February 2017. Sam was 22 years old at the time of the incident.

On 18 February 2021, High Court judge Shahnaz Sulaiman allowed the prosecution's appeal and ordered the case to be returned to the Magistrate's Court for Sam to defend herself on the charge of reckless driving. 

On 10 October 2021, the Magistrate's Court acquitted and released Sam at the end of the defense case. The prosecution appealed to the High Court.

On April 13 last year, High Court judge Abu Bakar Qatar allowed the prosecution's appeal and convicted her of reckless driving. Sam was sentenced to six years in prison and fined RM6,000.

The woman then appealed to the Court of Appeal and on April 18 last year, the Court of Appeal granted her application to suspend the execution of the prison sentence and fine and released her on RM10,000 bail with one surety while her appeal was heard.

In today's appeal hearing, Hisyam also argued that in the Magistrate's Court, the prosecution's case was a case of reckless driving, but when the case was brought to the High Court first, the prosecution's stance changed to dangerous driving.

Meanwhile, another lawyer representing Sam, Harvinderjit Singh argued that what happened that day was an "emergency situation" and said that the situation was created by the victims and not by Sam. 

The victim was riding a modified bicycle at 3 am, he said and added that the prima facie finding against Sam by the first High Court was wrong.

The court fixed April 11 to resume the appeal proceedings after Deputy Public Prosecutor Tengku Amir Zaki Tengku Abdul Rahman said he would take two hours to argue.

Ab Rauf selesai angkat sumpah Ketua Menteri Melaka ke-13

 

Member of the Tanjung Bidara State Assembly, Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh was sworn in as the 13th Chief Minister of Melaka this afternoon.

The swearing-in ceremony for him who is also the Chairman of the Melaka UMNO Liaison Body took place in front of the State Speaker, Tun Mohd Ali Rustam at the Office of His Excellency (TYT), at 3.33pm.

Also present at the ceremony were the Melaka State Secretary (SUK), Datuk Zaidi Johari and Melaka High Court Judge, Datuk Anselm Charles Fernandis who also witnessed the signing ceremony of the Oath of Office of the Chief Minister of Melaka, Loyalty and the Oath of Secrecy.

The ceremony also ended the puzzle of who will replace Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali as the previous chief minister after he resigned from the position he held since March 2020.

Sulaiman, who is the Lendu assemblyman, relinquished the position he held since March 9, 2020 to replace Adly Zahari who failed to gain the trust of a large number of Melaka assemblymen at the time.

Malacca's political turmoil then once again came to a head when four assemblymen withdrew their support for Sulaiman, forcing a State Election (PRN) to be held which saw the Melaka National Front (BN) win comfortably with 21 of the 28 State Legislative Assembly (DUN) seats.

The name of Ab Rauf, 62, was then hotly mentioned to replace Sulaiman's position before he denied it several times.

Ab Rauf holds the position of Member of the Supreme Working Council of UMNO and also Chairman of the Melaka UMNO Liaison Body.

He also contested for the first time on the political stage in the Tanjung Bidara State Assembly (DUN) seat in the State Election (PRN) last November 2021.

Source: Astro Awani

Jailed Malaysian ex-PM Najib loses final bid to review graft conviction

 Jailed Malaysian ex-PM Najib loses final bid to review graft conviction

Reuters

Mac 31, 2023 

Najib was jailed last year after Malaysia's Federal Court upheld a guilty verdict and 12-year prison sentence handed down to him by a lower court. - BERNAMA/Filepic

Jailed Malaysian ex-PM Najib loses final bid to review graft conviction

Najib was jailed last year after Malaysia's Federal Court upheld a guilty verdict and 12-year prison sentence handed down to him by a lower court. - BERNAMA/Filepic

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia's top court on Friday dismissed a bid by jailed former prime minister Najib Razak to review his corruption conviction over the multi-billion dollar scandal at state fund 1MDB, ending Najib's judicial efforts to challenge the guilty verdict.

Najib was jailed last year after Malaysia's Federal Court upheld a guilty verdict and 12-year prison sentence handed down to him by a lower court.

Najib can no longer challenge the conviction in court, but he has applied for a royal pardon which if successful could see him released without serving the full 12-year term.

Federal Court Judge Vernon Ong said a five-member panel voted 4-1 to dismiss Najib's application to review the conviction.

There was no miscarriage of justice in the top court's decision last year, he said, adding that a review was granted only in "very limited and exceptional circumstances".

"In the final analysis, and having regard to all circumstances, we are constrained to say that the applicant (Najib) was the author of his own misfortunes," Ong said.

Investigators have said some $4.5 billion was stolen from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) - co-founded by Najib during his first year as prime minister in 2009 - and that more than $1 billion went to accounts linked to Najib.

Najib, 69, was charged after he lost a general election in 2018.

He was found guilty by a high court in 2020 of criminal breach of trust, abuse of power and money laundering for illegally receiving about $10 million from SRC International, a former unit of 1MDB. He lost all his appeals.

The former premier has consistently pleaded not guilty.

Najib faces three other trials related to graft at 1MDB and other government agencies.

Donald Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury after a probe into hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels, First US President to face charges.

 Trump criminally charged in New York, a first for a US ex-president

Reuters

Mac 31, 2023 12:19 MYT

Trump criminally charged in New York, a first for a US ex-president

Trump said he was "completely innocent" and indicated he would not drop out of the 2024 presidential race. - REUTERS/Filepic

NEW YORK: Donald Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury after a probe into hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels, becoming the first former U.S. president to face criminal charges even as he makes another run for the White House.

The specific charges are not yet known, as the indictment remains under seal. CNN on Thursday reported Trump faces more than 30 counts related to business fraud.

Trump said he was "completely innocent" and indicated he would not drop out of the 2024 presidential race. He accused Bragg, a Democrat, of trying to hurt his chances of winning re-election against Democratic President Joe Biden.

"This is Political Persecution and Election Interference at the highest level in history," he said in a statement.

Shortly after, Trump appealed to supporters to provide money for a legal defense. He has raised over $2 million, according to his campaign, since he incorrectly predicted on March 18 that he would be arrested four days later.

Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination according to polling, received support from a number of his potential challengers on Thursday including Florida Governor Ron Desantis and former Vice President Mike Pence.

"This will only further serve to divide our country," Pence said.

While the White House did not comment, Democrats said Trump was not immune from the rule of law.

"I encourage both Mr. Trump’s critics and supporters to let the process proceed peacefully and according to the law," said the top Democrat in the Senate, Chuck Schumer.

The charges will likely be unsealed by a judge in the coming days. Trump will have to travel to Manhattan for fingerprinting and other processing at that point.

Bragg's office said it had contacted Trump's attorney to coordinate a surrender, which a court official said would likely occur next Tuesday.

Trump's lawyers Susan Necheles and Joseph Tacopina said they will "vigorously fight" the charges.

The Manhattan investigation is one of several legal challenges facing Trump.

Bragg successfully prosecuted Trump's business last year on tax-fraud charges, leading to a $1.61 million criminal penalty.

The presiding judge in that case, New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, is expected to oversee this case as well, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Trump could use the case to stoke anger among his core supporters, though other Republican voters might tire of the drama. Some 44% of Republicans said he should drop out of the race if he is indicted, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released last week.

Outside the courthouse, several protesters silently held signs criticizing Trump. Authorities bolstered security around the courthouse after Trump called for nationwide protests on March 18, recalling his charged rhetoric ahead of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters.

HUSH MONEY

Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, has said she received money in exchange for keeping silent about a sexual encounter she had with Trump in 2006.

The former president's personal lawyer Michael Cohen has said he coordinated with Trump on the payments to Daniels and to a second woman, former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who also said she had a sexual relationship with him. Trump has denied having affairs with either woman.

Trump in 2018 initially disputed knowing anything about the payment to Daniels. He later acknowledged reimbursing Cohen for the payment, which he called a "simple private transaction."

"No one is above the law," Daniels' lawyer Clark Brewster said on Twitter.

Cohen pleaded guilty to a campaign-finance violation in 2018 and served more than a year in prison. Federal prosecutors said he acted at Trump's direction.

Cohen said he stood by his testimony and the evidence he provided to prosecutors. "Accountability matters," he said in a statement.

No former or sitting U.S. president has ever faced criminal charges.

Aside from this case, Trump faces two criminal investigations by a special counsel appointed by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and another criminal probe by a local prosecutor in Georgia.

Trump has escaped legal peril numerous times. In the White House, he weathered two attempts by Congress to remove him from office, including for the Jan. 6, assault on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters, as well as a years-long probe into his campaign's contacts with Russia in 2016.

In last year's tax-fraud trial, the Manhattan District Attorney's office targeted Trump's business but declined to charge Trump himself with financial crimes.

In the hush-money case, legal experts say Bragg is expected to argue Trump falsified business records to cover up another crime, such as violating federal campaign-finance law, which makes it a felony.

'Sulaiman has health problems, UMNO appoints Rauf ' - Ahmad Zahid

 

'Sulaiman has health problems, UMNO appointed Rauf instead' - Ahmad Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR: UMNO President, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, confirmed that the party has sent the name of the Melaka UMNO Liaison Body Chairman, Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh, as the new Melaka Chief Minister.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that UMNO had also sent a letter to the Yang Dipertua Negeri Malacca, Tun Mohd Ali Rustam, to accept the resignation of Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali as Chief Minister.

"I have already sent a document to TYT Melaka to accept the resignation of the Chief Minister (Sulaiman) and the party hereby proposes through the document Datuk Seri Rauf as the new Chief Minister," he said.

He said this in a press conference after chairing the National Council for the Development of Entrepreneurs and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (PMKS), at the Parliament Building, yesterday

When asked if Sulaiman had informed the reason for his resignation, Ahmad Zahid said it was due to health problems.

Commenting on whether the appointment of a new EXCO line-up will involve Pakatan Harapan (PH) component party representatives, Ahmad Zahid said that his party took the same approach as the Unity Government at the national level.

"I have already discussed this matter and therefore we take the spirit of the Unity Government which is running well at the national level.

"I am sure that spirit will flow to Melaka so that good optics can be shown not only to the people of Melaka but to Malaysians as a whole," he said.

The Federal Court by 4-1 majority, rejected DS Najib Razak's application to review conviction and sentence in SRC International Case, thus August 23rd Decision Stays

 Najib remains in prison

ASTRO AWANI

Mac 31, 2023 

Najib is reported to have filed a petition to obtain a royal pardon on September 2 last year. - Image file

PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court today rejected Datuk Seri Najib Razak's application to obtain permission to review the Federal Court's decision rejecting the final appeal of the RM42 million embezzlement case belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd.

Following that, the decision made on 23 August last year by a panel of judges chaired by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, which upheld Najib's guilty conviction, 12-year prison sentence and RM210 million fine, is permanent.

This means that the former Prime Minister remains in Kajang Prison and his last option to be released is through a royal pardon from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Najib is reported to have filed a petition to obtain the pardon on Sept 2, 2022.

Today's proceedings were heard by a panel of five Federal Court Judges chaired by Chief Justice of Sabah and Sarawak Abdul Rahman Sebli, together with Datuk Vernon Ong Lam Kiat, Datuk Rhodzariah Bujang, Datuk Nordin Hassan and Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Abu Bakar Jais.

The decision was made with a 4-1 majority, namely Vernon Ong, Rhodzariah, Nordin and Abu Bakar in favor of rejecting Najib's appeal as it was not meritorious.

Vernon Ong when reading the decision said that the right of the former Town Member of Parliament to get a fair trial was not denied during the appeal hearing.

On the other hand, he said, his lawyer, Datuk Hisyam Teh Po Teik refused to present oral arguments despite being allowed to do so by Tengku Maimun.

Therefore, he said, Tengku Maimun finally had to reject the appeal.

"In that regard, there was no error by the court during the hearing of Najib's appeal in the SRC International corruption case amounting to RM42 million by a panel of judges last year," he said at the Federal Court here, today.

The panel of judges made the decision after finding that the application for permission to review was more geared towards an application to review the merits of the panel's decision in the final appeal in August 2022.

Also present today was Najib's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, accompanied by several lawyers, who arrived at the Palace of Justice at about 8.50am.

Hundreds of supporters who were seen waiting for Najib's appearance since 7am, on both main routes leading to the court building, were occasionally heard chanting 'Bossku' and 'Allahu Akbar'.

On 28 July 2020, High Court Judge at the time, Datuk Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali found Najib guilty on seven charges of breach of trust, abuse of position and money laundering of SRC funds.

Mohd Nazlan accordingly sentenced Najib to 12 years in prison and a fine of RM210 million, and the decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal on 8 Dec 2021 and a five-judge panel of the Federal Court last August.

Wyndham Acmar Klang's Mustika Nusantara Buka Puasa Buffet @ RM148.00 | Buy 4 Free 1 | #ramadan #ramadhan #iftar #bukapuasa

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See short video by Selangor TV: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Zl3SMLI0w94

SOCIAL MEDIA CONTEST

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Neighbours shocked to find out four siblings died in fire, thought no one was at home

 Neighbours shocked to find out siblings died in fire, thought no one was at home

BERNAMA

Mac 30, 2023 18:18 MYT

Nabila Sedu (sitting in short-sleeved shirt) & Thein Ko Htut,(standing in blue shirt), parents of four children who died in Kampung Sabak Awor, waiting at the Forensic Department, Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital , Muar, today. - BERNAMA

Nabila Sedu (sitting in short-sleeved shirt) & Thein Ko Htut,(standing in blue shirt), parents of four children who died in Kampung Sabak Awor, waiting at the Forensic Department, Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital , Muar, today. - BERNAMA

MUAR: Villagers at Kampung Sabak Awor were shocked when they found out that the fire that razed their neighbour's house yesterday claimed the lives of four siblings as they thought no one was at home during the incident.

Limat Sawal, 53, who lives 100 metres from the house said he assumed no one was in the house because he did not see the children nor the family's Perodua Kancil there.

"Usually, we see the four children playing outside the house and there is a car but at the time of the incident, the car was not there, so we thought there was no one at home.

"We didn't think that the victims were inside and only realised there were in there when their mother came home and told us that her children were still inside," he told reporters when met at the scene, today.

Limat said he was the first one to notice the fire and rallied the villagers to put it out using water from a nearby tap.

"It happened so fast...I am heartbroken. I could not bring myself to look at the children who were around my grandson's age. Their mother is on good terms with the villagers and often says hello, her children always played here," he said.

A fellow villager Idris Sehan, 76, said he found out about the incident after performing the tarawih prayer.

"I was shocked when they told me about it...the house belongs to my cousin who has been renting it to the family for the past four years," he said.

In the 7.49 pm incident, Puteri Aisyah Tenko To, eight, Mohd Hakim, six, Mustakim, four, and Fatihah Aisyah, three, were believed to have tried to save themselves by hiding in the bathroom in the kitchen.

Polis mengesahkan menerima laporan mengenai seorang lelaki yang dipercayai memukul serta membakar seekor anjing

POLIS TERIMA LAPORAN LELAKI PUKUL, BAKAR ANJING HIDUP-HIDUP

30/03/2023 09:48 PM

JOHOR BAHRU, 30 Mac (Bernama) -- Polis mengesahkan menerima laporan mengenai seorang lelaki yang dipercayai memukul serta membakar seekor anjing liar secara hidup-hidup, baru-baru ini.

Pemangku Ketua Polis Daerah Johor Bahru Utara Supt Fariz Ammar Abdullah berkata pihaknya dimaklumkan kejadian berkenaan yang didakwa berlaku berhampirandi  sebuah klinik haiwan di Taman Impian Emas, Skudai.

Beliau mengesahkan menerima laporan polis pada 2.59 petang, Isnin lepas, daripada orang awam yang memaklumkan haiwan liar berkenaan dipukul dan dibakar hidup-hidup, selain memberitahu mengenai video itu tular.

“Tujuan laporan polis dibuat adalah untuk merujuk kes terbabit kepada Jabatan Veterinar Johor bagi menjalankan siasatan berhubung penyeksaan haiwan.

"Kes ini akan disiasat Jabatan Veterinar Johor mengikut Seksyen 29(1)(e) Akta Kebajikan Haiwan 2015 yang memperuntukkan hukuman denda minimum RM25,000 dan maksimum RM100,000 atau penjara sehingga tiga tahun atau kedua-duanya jika sabit kesalahan," katanya dalam kenyataan, hari ini.

Sebelum ini, tular satu video berdurasi 8 minit 54 saat menunjukkan seorang lelaki menghidupkan api dipercayai terhadap seekor anjing yang terhalang oleh dinding.

Video itu turut menunjukkan lelaki berkenaan dilihat meninggalkan kawasan tersebut dengan memandu kenderaannya.

-- BERNAMA

 

Newly appointed Immigration DG Datuk Ruslin Jusoh said he will focus on integrity issues

 NEW IMMIGRATION DG TO FOCUS ON INTEGRITY, TACKLE ABUSE OF POWER

AMONG STAFF

Datuk Ruslin Jusoh

30/03/2023

PUTRAJAYA, March 30 (Bernama) --  Newly appointed Immigration director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh said he will focus on integrity issues among the staff to overcome abuse of power in the department. 

Speaking at his first media conference today after his appointment on March 22, Ruslin said he will also stress the need of each officer especially those assigned to the enforcement division to adhere to the rules and law.

“It would not be fair for me to point fingers at all the Immigration officers when it is just a fraction of them whom I consider ‘naughty’.

“But if there is a clear act of refusal to obey orders, I will not hesitate to take stern action not only against the rank and file but also the top management,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ruslin said the department was giving its full cooperation to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in connection with the investigation involving its enforcement officers suspected of being involved in a smuggling syndicate of foreign migrants from the Philippines to the Peninsula.

He said the department will not compromise if the officers concerned are found guilty and will leave it to the MACC to investigate.

“We will take stern action including dismissal if they are found guilty after going through the due process of law,” he said.

The media had earlier reported that five Immigration officers were among nine individuals remanded for six days to assist in the investigation of a syndicate to smuggle illegal immigrants through the Tawau Airport in Sabah.

They were alleged to have accepted bribes between RM100 and RM3,000 for every illegal immigrant from the syndicate as an inducement to release the immigrants using someone else's MyKad.

--BERNAMA

President Joko Widodo expressed sadness over FIFA's decision to cancel the hosting of the 2023 Under-20 World Cup in Indonesia

 Joko Widodo expressed his disappointment with FIFA's decision

BERNAMA

Jokowi said the decision also disappointed all his people but wanted them to quickly forget it and not point fingers at anyone to blame. - File photo/ YouTube of the Presidential Secretariat

Jokowi said the decision also disappointed all his people but wanted them to quickly forget it and not point fingers at anyone to blame. - File photo/ YouTube of the Presidential Secretariat

JAKARTA: President Joko Widodo expressed sadness over the decision of the International Football Federation (FIFA) to cancel the hosting of the 2023 Under-20 World Cup in Indonesia.

He said the decision also disappointed all his people but wanted them to quickly forget it and not point fingers at anyone to blame.

"We should respect and accept the decision," he said in a statement today.

The General Manager of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), Erick Thohir was also urged to avoid his country being subject to disciplinary action and try to host another FIFA tournament.

FIFA on Wednesday withdrew the right to host the Under-20 World Cup from Indonesia after some of the country's politicians objected to the participation of the Israeli team.

Indonesia was chosen as the host of the 2023 edition of the competition in October 2019 while the Israeli team qualified for the tournament in July 2022.

The U-20 World Cup is scheduled to start from May 20 to June 11 involving 24 countries and taking place in six locations namely Bali, Bandung, Jakarta, Palembang, Solo and Surabaya.

-- BERNAMA

PM Anwar arrives in Beijing to continue official visit to China

 Anwar arrives in Beijing to continue official visit to China

Bernama

Mac 30, 2023

PM Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was accompanied by Transport Minister Anthony Loke and Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming and they were met on arrival by China's Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong.

Anwar arrives in Beijing to continue official visit to China

PM Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was accompanied by Transport Minister Anthony Loke and Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming and they were met on arrival by China's Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong. - Astro AWANI

BEIJING: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived here Thursday to continue his official visit to China to advance the strategic partnerships between Kuala Lumpur and Beijing.

The special aircraft carrying Anwar from Hainan landed at the Beijing Capital International Airport at 4.30 pm local time.

He was accompanied by Transport Minister Anthony Loke and Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming and they were met on arrival by China's Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong.

Present to welcome him were China's Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing and Malaysia's Deputy Chief of Mission to China Sanmugan Subramaniam.

Anwar will meet China's President Xi Jinping on Friday, where they are expected to discuss the strategic elements of the bilateral relationship and chart the course for reinvigorated relations in the post-pandemic era taking into a more challenging international environment.

He is also scheduled to meet with the Chairman of the National People's Congress Zhao Leji.

On Saturday, Anwar will be accorded an official welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People by the newly appointed Chinese Premier Li Qiang, followed by a bilateral meeting. Both leaders will also witness the signing of three MoUs to deepen economic ties between the two governments.

As part of the visit, the prime minister will have engagement sessions with high-profile investors and Chinese captains of industry, and will also be delivering a keynote address at a Malaysia-China business forum.

Anwar's maiden official visit here, since assuming the office in November last year also coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Malaysia-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) this year and the two countries will also mark their 50th year of diplomatic relation in 2024.

The visit is historic, according to the Foreign Ministry, as it is expected to fortify economic relations with China, which will surely result in greater trade and investment flows.

Apart from Loke and Nga, the Malaysian delegates also comprised Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, International Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang and Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.

China has been Malaysia's largest trading partner since 2009. In 2022, the total bilateral trade was valued at RM487.13 billion (US$110.62 billion), an increase of 15.6 per cent from 2021.

Prior to the visit to the Chinese capital city, the prime minister had attended the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2023 (BFA 2023) in Hainan where he delivered a speech stressing the need for issues related to the technological competition to be a principal agenda item to discuss at the highest levels, along with security and general economic matters.

Analysts are optimistic that Anwar's visit to China, the first by a Malaysian prime minister since 2019 and after the COVID-19 pandemic, will path the way for greater trade and political cooperation between the two countries.

Centre of ASEAN Regionalism Universiti Malaya (CARUM) director, Dr Rahul Mishra said Anwar's participation in the BFA 2023 which was considered as "Asian Davos" and being one of the first foreign leaders to visit China and meet with Xi after his reelection as China's President for the third term early this month, is of great importance.

"This is particularly so in view of the ongoing US-China trade war, Russia-Ukraine conflict, and growing disruptions in international trade and upheavals in international politics. Since several Heads of Government and State were also present at the forum, it helped to get a better sense of regional and international pulse," he said.

Dr Hoo Chiew Ping, a senior lecturer in Strategic Studies and International Relations at the National University of Malaysia (UKM) said as Malaysia and China celebrate a significant milestone in their relationship, Anwar's visit is opportune to set out the direction to propel the longstanding ties to greater heights.

She expects both sides to take stock of the progress made in the key joint cooperations including the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) and seek to accelerate the completion of the RM74.96 billion mega project, which spans 665km across four states in Peninsula Malaysia.

Hoo said Anwar should also seize the opportunity to leverage China's Global Development Initiative to bring in more Chinese investors to invest in the future-oriented industry in Malaysia, such as in technology, cyberspace, and artificial intelligence.

-- BERNAMA

'I was forced to sign several documents before GE14 nomination' - Zuraida

 'I was forced to sign several documents before GE14 nomination' - Zuraida

Bernama

Mac 30, 2023 

Zuraida said the documents were handed over to her to sign without an explanation of the terms or conditions. - BERNAMA/Filepic

'I was forced to sign several documents before GE14 nomination' - Zuraida

Zuraida said the documents were handed over to her to sign without an explanation of the terms or conditions. - BERNAMA/Filepic

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice president Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin told the High Court here today that she was forced to sign several documents prepared by the party, a day before the candidate nomination took place for the 14th General Election (GE14).

Zuraida, 65, said the documents were handed over to her to sign without an explanation of the terms or conditions.

"It was an urgent situation at the time and I didn't have the opportunity to properly read or examine the content of the documents I signed.

"I was only told that I had to sign certain documents to allow me to contest under PKR, which made me think that they were just normal documents to permit me to contest using the party's name and I was given no other choice apart from signing the documents prepared by the party.

"At the time, I had signed those documents under duress without being given a real choice, because I wanted to continue to provide my services to the people, especially in the Ampang Parliamentary constituency," she said, adding that she was unsure if she had signed the bond worth RM10 million that tied her to the party, or other documents.

The former minister of housing and local government said this when reading her witness statement at the hearing of the suit filed by PKR against her for allegedly violating the terms of the bond, in front of Judge Datuk Akhtar Tahir.

Zuraida, as the defendant, also insisted that she did not sign any documents related to GE14 of her own volition, and would not have signed those documents if given a real choice.

"The same goes for other PKR candidates, they also had no real choice but to sign the documents prepared by the party if they wanted to contest during GE14," she said, adding that the documents related to GE14 were prepared and determined by the party unilaterally.

The politician said it was absurd for PKR to spend RM10 million on her alone during GE14, besides claiming that PKR's claim in the suit was baseless and was a vicious attempt by the party to enrich itself.

"I have no knowledge of the amount (of money) spent by PKR and I did not receive any money to spend from the party to carry out the campaign during GE14. If I want to talk about the expenses made using my own hard-earned money for the election campaign throughout my involvement under the party, I can state here that the amount is uncountable.

"However, I never considered the matter to be burdensome, because I believed in the party's goals. As far as I can remember, during my time running under PKR, I only once received funds from Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (PKR president) amounting to RM10,000, to be used as funds in the General Election campaign in 2008.

"After that, no more money was received from PKR and I had to mobilise the energy and time of my supporters to find funds to campaign, including for GE14. The PKR headquarters also did not have enough money to pay party staff salaries and the management office even contacted me and requested for RM40,000," she said.

On the demand amounting to RM10 million by PKR, Zuraida said it was baseless, extreme and unreasonable.

PKR's statement of claim filed on Sept 28, 2020, said that Zuraida had signed the bond of RM10 million based on the terms and conditions set.

The party claimed that Zuraida had agreed to pay the sum of RM10 million within seven days if several things occurred after a member won the election on a PKR ticket, such as resigning from the party, joining another party, or becoming an independent.

The court set June 23 for a decision.

At the proceedings which took place online, Zuraida was represented by lawyer Muhammad Nizamuddin Abdul Hamid while PKR was represented by lawyer Navpreet Singh.

-- BERNAMA

Malaysia PM Anwar Ibrahim & Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2023

 

PM Anwar Arrives in Hainan

Musa Hassan's wife files for divorce

 Musa Hassan's wife files for divorce

Mac 30, 2023 

Elly Afizahwati (left) submitted an application for divorce against Musa Hassan according to Section 47 of the Enactment of the Islamic Family Law (Selangor) 2003

Musa Hassan's wife files for divorce

Elly Afizahwati (left) submitted an application for divorce against Musa Hassan according to Section 47 of the Enactment of the Islamic Family Law (Selangor) 2003.

SHAH ALAM: The domestic crisis of former Inspector General of Police, Tan Sri Musa Hassan came to light again when his wife filed for divorce at the Syariah Lower Court here on Thursday.

Housewife, Puan Sri Elly Afizahwati Abdul Jalil, 42, filed for divorce in accordance with Section 47 of the Islamic Family Law Enactment (Selangor) 2003.

The mother of an eight-year-old boy, was present accompanied by her syariah lawyers, Datuk Hazizah Kassim and Noorulhuda Daud.

The former businesswoman appeared in court wearing a baju kurung, filing the application because of a shiqaq (prolonged dispute).

The court then set next May 11 for the re-mention of the case.

For the record, this couple got married on August 2, 2013 and was blessed with a child.

On March 9, Musa said that the domestic problems he was facing were not new but had been going on for almost three years.

In fact, he said, they no longer live together since six months ago.

He also urged the public to respect his privacy.

Previously, three video clips lasting nine seconds, 56 seconds, and 10 seconds were uploaded by Twitter users showing an argument between a couple which was also witnessed by a child.

The police confirmed that they have opened investigation papers regarding an incident involving Musa and his wife, whose video recording went viral on social media since the beginning of this month

Tindakan seorang pemandu Mazda CX5 mengejar Proton Wira berakhir tragedi apabila ia menyebabkan seorang maut manakala dua parah

 Mazda CX5 kejar Wira, seorang maut dua parah

28 Mac 2023, 

BULETIN TV3

BATU PAHAT: Tindakan nekad seorang pemandu Mazda CX5 mengejar sebuah Proton Wira berakhir tragedi apabila ia menyebabkan seorang maut manakala dua parah di Jalan Parit Jalil, Parit Sulong, petang semalam.

Ketua Polis Daerah Batu Pahat, Asisten Komisioner Ismail Dollah berkata, kejadian jam 3.30 petang apabila pemandu CX5 yang juga pemilik kilang, berang selepas mendakwa penumpang hadapan Proton Wira yang dikejar itu melarikan telefon bimbitnya.

“Tiba di lokasi kejadian, Mazda CX5 yang dipandu suspek berusia 31 tahun secara bersendirian hilang kawalan dan terlanggar belakang Proton Wira dinaiki si mati yang diekorinya.

“Proton Wira itu pula dipandu lelaki berusia 39 tahun dengan penumpang hadapannya yang juga lelaki berumur 43 tahun dari Taman Putera Indah, Tongkang Pechah,” katanya pada sidang media di Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah (IPD) Batu Pahat, hari ini.

Akibat rempuhan dari belakang, Proton Wira terbabit hilang kawalan lalu memasuki lorong bertentangan sebelum bertembung dengan Perodua Axia yang dinaiki sepasang suami isteri.

“Pertembungan itu menyebabkan penumpang hadapan Proton Wira telah meninggal dunia di lokasi manakala pemandunya cedera ringan.

“Suami isteri yang menaiki Perodua Axia pula cedera parah dan kini dirawat di Hospital Sultanah Nora Ismail (HSNI), Batu Pahat,” katanya.

Beliau berkata, suspek tidak cedera manakala si mati bekerja sendiri, selain tiada tangkapan dilakukan.

“Saksi kejadian diminta membantu siasatan dengan menghubungi Pegawai Penyiasat Inspektor Muhammad Asma’i Md Yusuff di talian 013-6550128.

Dalam pada itu, Pegawai Bomba Kanan II Badrul Hisyam Loi Abdullah, berkata anggota Balai Bomba dan Penyelamat Batu Pahat dan Yong Peng bersama enam jentera dikerah ke lokasi kemalangan.

“Seorang mangsa tersepit di dalam Proton Wira dan mangsa lain berjaya keluar sebelum kami tiba.

“Kami mengeluarkan mangsa yang tersepit dengan menggunakan peralatan khas dan mangsa disahkan meninggal dunia di lokasi oleh kakitangan perubatan,” katanya

SRC: Najib's fate will be known tomorrow

 SRC: Najib's fate will be known tomorrow

Mac 30, 2023 

If the court grants Najib's application to review, the panel of judges will set another date for the proceedings. - File photo/BERNAMA

If the court grants Najib's application to review, the panel of judges will set another date for the proceedings. 

PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court here on Friday will decide whether former Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is allowed to review his conviction and sentence in the RM42 million embezzlement case of SRC International Sdn Bhd or vice versa.

It will be decided by a panel of five judges from the Federal Court led by the Chief Justice of Sabah and Sarawak, Abdul Rahman Sebli together with Datuk Vernon Ong Lam Kiat, Datuk Rhodzariah Bujang and Datuk Nordin Hassan including Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Abu Bakar Jais.

If the court grants Najib's application to review, the panel of judges will set another date for the proceedings.

There is also a possibility that the five-judge panel will hear revision arguments from both sides, on the same day, which is this Friday.

However, if the court rejects the former Pekan Member of Parliament's application, his last option is to remain in Kajang Prison and seek a royal pardon from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Reportedly, Najib has already filed a petition to obtain a pardon on September 2, 2022.

On September 6 last year, Najib filed an application to review the Federal Court's decision, which upheld his conviction, sentence and fine for misappropriating SRC funds.

Through the notice of motion filing the notice of motion through the law firm Messrs. Shafee & Co, Najib made a number of requests, firstly, requesting an order that the decision of his main appeal be set aside and that he be acquitted of the charges.

Secondly, Najib applied for a review of the decision of the panel of five judges of the Federal Court chaired by the Chief Justice, Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, on August 23, which did not grant a stay of proceedings following the withdrawal of his defense lawyer, Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik.

Next, he applied for his appeal to be heard by another Federal Court quorum, not less than seven Federal Court judges or those deemed appropriate by the court.

He also requested to present additional evidence involving the High Court Judge, Datuk Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali (currently Judge of the Court of Appeal) and the cancellation of the trial or declared invalid.

In the affidavit, he believed and was advised by his solicitor that the decision of the Federal Court could be reviewed in accordance with Rule 137 of the Federal Court Rules 1995.

In this proceeding, Deputy Public Prosecutor, Datuk V Sithambaram was on the prosecution side while Najib as the appellant was represented by lawyer, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.

On 22 July 2020, the High Court here found Najib guilty of seven charges of breach of trust, abuse of position and money laundering of SRC funds.

Najib was sentenced to 10 years in prison for each of three cases of breach of trust and three cases of money laundering each while 12 years in prison and a fine of RM210 million, if not five years in prison for one case of abuse of position.

However, Najib only had to serve 12 years in prison after the judge ordered the sentences to run concurrently.

The conviction and sentence against Najib was later upheld by the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court.

Najib, who is now 70 years old, is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence in Kajang Prison after failing in his last appeal at the Federal Court to set aside the conviction, sentence and fine on August 23 last year. 

Source : Astro Awani

Zuraida signed RM10mil bond willingly - Saifuddin

 Zuraida signed RM10mil bond willingly - Saifuddin

Bernama

Mac 29, 2023 

Saifuddin said Zuraida was aware that candidates chosen to contest in the GE14, under the party's banner, need to sign the bond.

Zuraida signed RM10mil bond willingly - Saifuddin

Saifuddin said Zuraida was aware that candidates chosen to contest in the GE14, under the party's banner, need to sign the bond. - SinarHarian

KUALA LUMPUR: PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail told the High Court today that former PKR vice-president and Ampang MP Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin had signed a bond that binded her to the party, willingly.

Saifuddin, 59, who is also the Home Minister said Zuraida was also aware that candidates chosen to contest in the 14th General Election in 2018, under the party's banner, need to sign the bond.

This was a condition stated in an agreement signed by the party's candidates before contesting in the 14th general election in 2018.

"As the secretary-general of the party, I can confirm that the defendant (Zuraida) never sent a letter or official document to raise any objection or contest the validity of the bond, whether before or after being elected as a Member of Parliament.

"I have also not received any letter from the defandant to claim that she was forced to sign the bond," said Saifuddin who appeared as a witness in suit filed by PKR against Zuraida for breaching the agreement (bond) that she had signed,

Saifuddin said Zuraida as the former PKR vice president and also member of the party's political bureau had attended a political bureau meeting at the PKR headquarters on April 17, 2018.

"During the Political Bureau meeting, I had informed that a code of conduct for candidates has been prepared to specify that every candidate must execute a bond prior to being issued with a letter from the party to to contest in the 14th General Election.

"Since the defandant had attended the meeting, she would have been aware of the need for candidates to sign the bond if they wished to contest in the 14th General Election on a PKR ticket. The defandant did not raise any objection but instead agreed that was a need to set such terms and conditions to control the action of candidates who contested under the party's banner and received the support from the party," he said.

Saifuddin who appeared as PKR's first witness said the bond requirement was to bind candidates and to ensure candidates understood that the party incurred a significant amount to promote the party and giving the candidates permission to use the party's logo, flag, emblem when contesting under the party's ticket.

Zuraida had decided to leave the party on Feb 24, 2020 to join Bersatu, a party that later formed a new coalition to take over the federal government.

On Oct 2, PKR filed a lawsuit against Zuraida on behalf of the party for breaching the agreement, seeking up to RM10 million in damages.

PKR had said it was invoking Section 71 of the Act to establish its rights to recover compensation from the benefits Zuraida enjoyed as Ampang MP, in addition to the benefits she received during her tenure as housing and local government minister.

PKR claimed that by signing the bond, Zuraida agreed to pay the party a sum of RM10 million at the latest seven days, in the event of several incidents, after winning the election on a PKR ticket, including if she resigns from the party or joins other political parties or becomes an independent elected representative.

"Due to her defection, the party lost the representation of a member of Parliament in Dewan Rakyat and a Minister in the cabinet but the defandant refused to vacate her post and instead enjoyed all the benefits as Member of Parliament and Minister under party BERSATU and Perikatan Nasional (PN).

"Therefore, it was not fair for the defandant to enjoy such perks which would not have been possible if she had not won the seat under PKR," he said in his witness statement during today's proceedings.

The hearing was held online and presided by High Court judge Datuk Akhtar Tahir.

-- BERNAMA

Dewan Rakyat approves bills related to stalking offences

 Dewan Rakyat approves bills related to stalking offences

Bernama

Mac 29, 2023

Ramkarpal Singh said the amendment is to protect victims of stalking, both women and men. - BERNAMA/Filepic

Dewan Rakyat approves bills related to stalking offences

Ramkarpal Singh said the amendment is to protect victims of stalking, both women and men. - BERNAMA/Filepic

KUALA LUMPUR: Individuals found guilty of stalking, regardless of whether they are men or women, can now be jailed for up to three years or fined, or both.

This is after the Dewan Rakyat today passed the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill 2023 with a new section 507A introduced into the Penal Code (Act 574) for the offence of stalking.

The section states that whoever repeatedly by any act of harassment, intending to cause, or knowing or ought to know that the act is likely to cause distress, fear or alarm to any person or the person's safety, commits the offence of stalking.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Ramkarpal Singh said the amendment is to protect victims of stalking, both women and men.

"This punishment is sufficient when compared with other countries," he said when winding up the debate on the bill in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Regarding the scope of duties of private investigators or security agencies, which include the task of stalking, Ramkarpal said that the offence is classified according to several elements, including causing a feeling of fear towards someone.

"If the police, MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) and investigating officers carry out their duties without knowing who they are investigating and there is no element of fear, then it is not stalking," he said.

Also passed was the Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Bill 2023 which, among other things, sought to amend the First Schedule of Act 593, resulting from the inclusion of provisions on a new offence of stalking in the Penal Code.

The Dewan Rakyat sitting continues tomorrow.

-- BERNAMA