Woman surrenders to cops in wardrobe murder case

By RASHITHA A. HAMID

KUALA LUMPUR: A 22-year-old woman, believed to be a friend of the husband of a woman found dead in a closet, has surrendered herself to the police.

Ampang Jaya deputy OCPD Supt Amiruddin Jamaluddin said she was detained when she turned up at the police station at about 1am yesterday.

It is learnt that the woman, who works in a catering company, had earlier been seen with the victim’s husband, who has gone missing.

They were spotted together at 9pm, several hours after the body of 39-year-old Fazlina Ahmad was found inside a wardrobe in the master bedroom of her house in Jalan Pinggiran Ukay on Wednesday evening.

Fazlina and her younger daughter, Marian, in an undated photo.

Supt Amiruddin said Fazlina’s husband has been missing since her body was discovered.

Neighbours saw him leaving his double-storey house at around 5pm.

Initial investigations revealed that the woman and Fazlina’s husband had known each other for almost a year through a business meeting.

On Wednesday, police went to the victim’s house following a report lodged by a friend of hers who had been unable to contact her.

Supt Amiruddin also said that police had not ruled out family problems as the motive for the murder.

“But we had never received any report about abuse from the victim,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Fazlina, who was an execu­­tive with a private company, was believed to have died due to suffo­cation hours before the body was found.

The mother of two girls, Nurin, seven, and Marian, five, was found dead with her mouth and nose wrapped with binding tape and covered with a bedsheet.

Police are still waiting for a post-mortem report to ascertain the cause of death.

Supt Amiruddin also said police were looking for the vic­­-tim’s husband to assist in their investigations.

Fazlina’s elder sister Faezah said she last met the victim last Saturday when she returned to her hometown in Jelutong, Penang, for a holiday.

She said Fazlina had confided in her that she was going through domestic problems and that she wanted to talk about it further when she returned home again on Wednesday.

Al-Qaida link in failed plane attack(update2)

WASHINGTON: A Northwest Airlines passenger from Nigeria, who said he was acting on al-Qaida's instructions, tried to blow up the plane Friday (Saturday in Malaysia) as it was landing in Detroit, law enforcement and national security officials said.

Passengers subdued the man and may have prevented him from detonating the explosives, the officials said.

"We believe this was an attempted act of terrorism," a White House official said. Federal officials imposed stricter screening measures after the incident.

Rep. Peter King of New York, the ranking Republican member of the House Homeland Security Committee, identified the suspect as Abdul Mudallad, a Nigerian. King said the flight began in Nigeria and went through Amsterdam en route to Detroit.



This picture provided by J.P. Karas shows Northwest Airlines Flight 253 on the runway after arriving at Detroit Metropolitan Airport from Amsterdam on Friday, Dec. 25, 2009. U.S. officials say a Northwest Airlines passenger from Nigeria said he was acting on behalf of al-Qaida when he tried to blow up the flight Friday as it landed in Detroit. Delta and Northwest have merged. (AP Photo/J.P. Karas)

There were 278 passengers aboard the Airbus 330.

There was nothing out of the ordinary until the flight was on final approach to Detroit, said Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Elizabeth Isham Cory.

That is when the pilot declared an emergency and landed without incident shortly thereafter, Cory said in an e-mail message.

The plane landed at 11:51 a.m. EST.

One of the U.S. intelligence officials said the explosive device was a mix of powder and liquid.

It failed when the passenger tried to detonate it.

The passenger was being questioned Friday evening. An intelligence source said the Nigerian passenger was being held and treated in a Michigan hospital.

All the sources spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was continuing.

One law enforcement source said the man claimed to have been instructed by al-Qaida to detonate the plane over U.S. soil.

The official said an official determination of a terrorist act would have to come from the attorney general.

The official added that additional security measures are being taken without raising the airline threat level.

The official declined to describe what additional measures law enforcement was taking.

The White House was coordinating briefings for the president through the Homeland Security Department, the Transportation Security Administration and the FBI.

A law enforcement source said the explosives may have been strapped to the man's body but investigators weren't immediately certain, partly because of the struggle with other passengers.

One passenger from the flight was taken to the University of Michigan Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Tracy Justice said.

She didn't know the person's condition, or whether the person was a man or woman.

She referred all inquiries to the FBI. Passenger Syed Jafri, a U.S. citizen who had flown from the United Arab Emirates, said the incident occurred during the plane's descent.

Jafri said he was seated three rows behind the passenger and said he saw a glow, and noticed a smoke smell.

Then, he said, "a young man behind me jumped on him."

"Next thing you know, there was a lot of panic," he said.

Rich Griffith, a passenger from Pontiac, said he was seated too far in the back to see what had happened.

But he said he didn't mind being detained on the plane for several hours.

"It's frustrating if you don't want to keep your country safe," he said.

"We can't have what's going on everywhere else happening here."

President Barack Obama was notified of the incident and discussed it with security officials, the White House said.

It said he is monitoring the situation and receiving regular updates from his vacation spot in Hawaii.

J.P. Karas said he was driving down a road near the airport and saw a Delta jet at the end of the runway, surrounded by police cars, an ambulance, a bus and some TV trucks.

"I don't ever recall seeing a plane on that runway ever before and I pass by there frequently," he said.

Karas said it was difficult to tell what was going on, but it looked like the front wheel was off the runway.

"We encourage those with future travel plans to stay in touch with their airline and to visit www.tsa.gov for updates," Homeland Security Department said in a statement.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has been briefed on the incident and is closely monitoring the situation.

The department encouraged travelers to be observant and aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious behavior to law enforcement officials. - AP

Earlier report

WASHINGTON: U.S. officials say a Northwest Airlines passenger from Nigeria said he was acting on behalf of al-Qaida when he tried to blow up a flight Friday as it landed in Detroit.

U.S. Rep. Peter King identified the suspect as Abdul Mudallad, a Nigerian. King said the flight began in Nigeria and went through Amsterdam en route to Detroit.

One of the U.S. intelligence officials said the explosive device was a mix of powder and liquid.

It failed when the passenger tried to detonate it.

The passenger was being questioned Friday evening.

Both of the officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was continuing.

The motive of the Christmas Day attack was not immediately clear. - A

PAS have ‘strong’ case of misconduct against Hasan, Khalid

By G Manimaran, Adib Zalkapli and Syed Jaymal Zahiid

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 25 — Selangor PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Hasan Ali and his former deputy Khalid Samad are expected to be censured for misconduct after the party disciplinary committee wraps up its probe next month.

Disciplinary committee chairman Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man told The Malaysian Insider that they have a strong case against the two Selangor PAS leaders.

He disclosed that Hasan and Khalid, who is Shah Alam MP, will be called in for further explanation on Jan 7 and 9.

“We are satisfied with the written explanation given by them and we found that there is case against both of them. So, we decided to call them to give their verbal explanation on certain aspects,” Tuan Ibrahim told The Malaysian Insider.

However he did not say what type of further testimony was required from the two leader, who have publicly differed on policy.

“We have already informed Khalid and he agreed to cooperate with us and meet the committee on Jan 7.

“However no date has been set with Datuk Hasan and the secretariat will keep in touch with Datuk Hasan for him to meet us,” he added.

The duo are under investigation for making statements that are detrimental to the Islamist party.

Among the evidence submitted to the committee was an audio recording of a PAS leader ridiculing the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat government.

Tuan Ibrahim, who is also one of the vice president, explained that any disciplinary action against them will depend on their explanation.

“There is no decision yet whether there is a need to call other witnesses,” he further explained.

The committee has three choices; give written warning, suspend or expel from the party depending on the severity of their offences.

“The disciplinary committee will decide the sentences, not the central committee. But they can appeal to central committee,” Tuan Ibrahim said.

He also dismissed rumours that Hasan has been sentenced by the disciplinary committee during their meeting on Wednesday night.

“We are still in the mid of studying their explanation, so no such thing,” he said.

The rumour of the disciplinary action against Hasan started to emerge yesterday morning, just hours after the disciplinary committee meeting on Wednesday night.

The disciplinary committee was also said to have recommended for Hasan to be suspended from the party for two-terms.

In retaliation to the decision Hasan is alleged to be making preparations to declare himself as an independent state assemblyman.

Hasan could not be reached for his comment.

On Wednesday, Hasan told reporters that he is willing to resign from party positions if asked by the party leadership.

The Malaysian Insider also understands that rumour of Hasan’s sacking was spread by party leaders from a rival faction in an attempt to pressure the disciplinary committee to punish the Gombak Setia assemblyman.

The group who has been opposing Hasan’s leadership are worried that the disciplinary committee is buying time before acquitting him, said a party insider.

However, the other two PAS vice presidents Salahuddin Ayub and Datuk Mahfuz Omar when contacted by The Malaysian Insider dismissed the rumour, saying that they would have been informed about it.

“Whatever the decision is, it must first be approved by the central committee but we have not heard anything yet,” said Mahfuz.

Salahuddin concurred with Mahfuz but said that he was ‘unsure’ if the disciplinary committee had indeed passed a sentence against Hasan.

Meanwhile Khalid laughed and described it just a “joke” of end of the year.

“I heard about the rumours and also some blogs carrying such information,” said Khalid who is also Shah Alam PAS chief.

However he explained that it is too early to say about the outcome of the disciplinary committee’s decision.

He assumed that they should only able to know the final outcome by the end of January.

“Now we are still at preliminary stage, they (the disciplinary committee) still going through our explanation and then they have to present at the central committee meeting for debate,” he said.

Draft on Pakatan Rakyat Policy

As Malaysians look towards the future and faces the question of what it would mean to be a Malaysian in the 21st century, our nation needs more than what we have experienced thus far in the last 52 years, in the areas of governance, the economy, social welfare and our cultural lives.

What Malaysia needs is a regime change. A common and truly participatory Malaysian democratic project of regime change will save us from the dangerous old politics of racism, discrimination, corruption and oppressive rule experienced over the last 52 years.

The Pakatan Rakyat, responding to the rakyat’s indomitable democratic spirit and hunger for true and fundamental change, accepts the unique opportunity and mandate given by the Rakyat on March 8, 2008, to re-imagine and chart a new and decisive course in Malaysia’s history.

To this end, the three member parties, in a spirit of mutual respect and common deliberation, taking full account of our respective political beliefs and values, have sought to transcend these differences in authoring this common document called the Dasar Pakatan Rakyat.

We believe that the higher and more fundamental values for all Malaysians, Justice, Dignity and Mutual Respect, should be the basis for our citizenship, identity and our common good.

We have resolved in our Dasar Pakatan Rakyat to:

1. Put a clear and decisive end to the politics of racism and discrimination in all government policies and legislation.

2. Restore the Supremacy of the Federal Constitution and the Rule of Law, where there will be greater democratization in all public institutions, organs of government, the courts and other law enforcement agencies .

3. Develop a truly People’s Economy, as opposed to an economy that has benefitted cronies and those with vested interests, where corruption and wasteful public spending will be vigorously combated. We will instill greater transparency and accountability in government and the public sector.

4. Restore meaning to Federalism where States’ rights are defended and economic wealth will be shared on a fair and equitable basis, including tax revenues and oil royalties.

5. Abolish the ISA and all oppressive and draconian laws that infringe every Malaysians’ fundamental liberties and human rights.

6. Arrest the years of under-investment and bad planning in our education, transport and health-care systems, where greater resources will be mustered and better managed for their revitalization and the well-being of all Malaysians.

7. Develop a social protection agenda to ensure all marginalized and vulnerable groups are protected and their welfare safe-guarded.

8. Enhance greater democratic and cultural space for the flourishing of a vibrant multiculturalism and also for the arts and literature.

We are confident that all Malaysians will find these policies and much more in our Dasar Pakatan Rakyat, being a part of our sacred pact with the Rakyat, our sincere commitment to effect real and substantive changes to the daily lives of every single Malaysian citizen.

Malaysia for All,

Prepared by Boon Kia Meng
On behalf of the Drafting Committee,
Sekretariat Pakatan Rakyat.

Najib’s budget passed by a narrow 66-63 vote

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s debut Budget 2010 was nearly scuttled by the Pakatan Rakyat late last night when it barely got through by a 66-63 vote margin at the third reading in the Dewan Rakyat.

Najib and Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat saved Barisan Nasional the blushes when they turned up to tilt support to the ruling coalition which lost its customary two-third parliamentary majority in Election 2008.

It is understood that this is the first time that the national budget was approved with such a narrow margin, where a rejection would have a negative implication for the Barisan Nasional government which has been in power since independence in 1957 when it was called the Alliance.

Parliamentary democracy practices consider a rejected budget as a no-confidence move towards a sitting government and indirectly opens the way for the formation of a new government.

Several Pakatan Rakyat leaders, including Parliamentary Opposition chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, crowed about their near success in a rapid sequence of tweets.

They considered the vote a “major success” to nearly defeat Barisan Nasional in rejecting the Budget.

The Malaysian Insider understands that the top leadership in the rival blocs have directed for strict action against their lawmakers who were missing in last night’s vote. The Dewan Rakyat has had extended its sessions in the past few weeks to finish its business by this Thursday before it takes the year-end recess.

Before the crucial third reading, the Budget was approved with just one vote at the committee-stage debate for the Home Ministry - which was the last ministry to have its allocation approved.

Pakatan had considered a similar move to derail the Budget 2009 during debates last year after Anwar’s “Sept 16” project to take over Putrajaya failed. But that too came to naught.

However, they nearly succeeded to bloody Barisan Nasional’s nose for a second time in as many years with the Budget 2010, even forcing Najib to rush back to Parliament to cast his vote from the Chong Hwa Independent School’s 95th anniversary celebrations. He was accompanied from the dinner by Ong and also Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department who cannot vote as he is a senator.

Barisan Nasional has 137 of the 222 seats in the Dewan Rakyat, followed by Pakatan Rakyat’s 82 and three independents.

The Dewan Rakyat ended its annual Budget session at 11.15pm after the third reading concluded. Najib had tabled the Budget 2010 worth RM191.5 billion on Oct 23 with three strategic thrusts of moving the nation to a high-income economy, ensuring a holistic development and prioritising the people’s wellbeing.

[Ong Tee Keat comes late, but early enough to save the Najib budget. - Picture by Choo Choy May]

Ong Tee Keat comes late, but early enough to save the Najib budget. - Picture by Choo Choy May
It was his first Budget as Prime Minister and themed 1 Malaysia, Prosperity for All that allocated RM138.3 bilion or 72.2 per cent for operational expenditure and RM53.2 billion or 27.8 per cent for development expenditure.

The Budget 2010 was 11.2 per cent lower than the RM215.7 billion Budget 2009, which was aided later by two economic stimulus packages.

Kubang Kerian MP Salahuddin Ayub commented that Pakatan Rakyat has flexed its muscles in the key Budget vote.

“Our prsence was felt... We have shown an important indicator tonight,” the PAS vice-president told The Malaysian Insider after the vote last night.

“The one-majority vote at the committee stage and three votes at the third reading has given us the confidence that we can do something significant in Parliament... that Pakatan Rakyat can be a serious alternative

“According to House of Commons practices, rejecting the Budget would mean a no-confidence vote against the government of the day,” he added.

It is understood the government bench realised its peril after DAP Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng asked for a vote by division after Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop wound up the debate at the committee stage.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia acceded to the request and the vote went 64-63 in Barisan Nasional’s favour.

The situaton recurred during the vote at the end of the Budget’s third reading when DAP Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran asked for a vote by division.

By this time, Najib and Ong had taken their seats and the Budget 2010 was approved with 66 votes for and 63 votes against.

News adopted from themalaysianinsider.com

Negri MB’s RM10m tip of hot money iceberg

Mohamad is alleged to have sent RM10 million to London through a money changer.
By Lee Wei Lian
KUALA LUMPUR Dec 4 — When aides to the Negri Sembilan mentri besar sent RM10 million to London via a money changer recently, they were just following in the footsteps of many who have sought the hawala system to move ill-gotten gains and wealth to more secure locations.

Apart from flouting exchange laws and possibly the Anti-Money Laundering Act, the trail of money outside the country betrays a lack of confidence in the future of Malaysia as they are basically transferring funds outside the country through underground channels.

The Malaysian Insider understands that Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) is unlikely to charge any of them because the list contains a number of prominent Malaysians, including top businessmen, chiefs of some government-linked companies (GLCs), politicians and several ordinary people either sending money for their children's needs abroad or just plain distrustful of Malaysia's future.

And the list is too long as BNM has discovered that these well-heeled tycoons, cutting across all racial lines, and the rest have been using the network of Indian-Muslim money changers across the world to remit millions of ringgit every month to offshore accounts.

The only thing BNM has done is to cancel the licences of the money changers, with some 40 licences taken back this year.

The case came out in the open when Batu MP Chua Tian Chang revealed that Negri Sembilan MB Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan had used Salamath Ali money changers in KLCC Suria to send RM10 million to London. The money changer lost its licence and its shoplot is now closed, ostensibly for renovations.

Several Indian-Muslim money changers and opposition leaders say Mohamad's transfer is just one of many transacted daily to move millions of ringgit to "safe havens" abroad, potentially depriving the nation of capital and breaking local laws in the process.

Chua, who is also PKR strategy chief, told The Malaysian Insider he has access to a list of high-profile personalities who used the money changer transfer services, also known as hawala as practised in India.

He claimed among them is a senior minister's wife who allegedly had money transferred to her overseas and a major GLC chief who apparently moved £3.2 million (RM18 million) worth of funds to London.

But Chua said that he will not reveal the names until he is "absolutely sure".

“This is only the tip of the iceberg," Chua said. "Millions of dollars are going out and I think it is affecting the economy."

Money changers say however that authorities should not focus on the hawala system but rather on why some politicians have access to so much money and moving it abroad.

"We are just doing a service and the commission is very little," said a prominent money changer in central Kuala Lumpur.

Others added that it will be difficult to prove that the money has moved as transactions are in cash and politicians will not appear in person at the money changer but send runners to do the deed.

In Mohamad's case, he blamed the RM10 million transfer on an aide who chose Salamath Ali Money Changer, which later had its licence revoked on Oct 26 for contravening Section 30 of the Money-Changing Act 1998 which states that no licensee may remit or transfer funds outside Malaysia.

The hawala system has been described as a "subsystem" of the conventional banking system. It is run on trust where money given to a money changer in one country will be paid out by a money changer in another with just one phone call.

This network of money changers will settle outstanding debts later using coded chits or notes via their own clearinghouse system which could involve contra of funds, exchange of jewellery or even runners moving bags of cash.

The use of hawala in Malaysia grew after capital controls were imposed in the wake of the 1998 Asian financial crisis where the movement of large sums of money to locations outside Malaysia required Bank Negara's approval.

Some individuals also prefer it as it is cheaper and faster than using conventional banks and leaves no trail.

The United Nations had promised to eradicate hawala as a potential conduit for financing global terrorism and crime and Bank Negara has been quietly working to ensure the integrity of the local banking system particularly the independent money changing system.

In April this year, Bank Negara revoked the licences of 19 money changers and another 20, including Salamath, in October.

The list of money changers whose licences have been revoked can be found here.