Latest Brief From Malaysiakini

Respect cyclists' right to enter Parliament, cops told
The police have been warned not to "harass or arrest" the 'Ride for Change' campaign cyclists as they end a 16-day nationwide tour at Parliament House tomorrow.

Issuing the call, 21 civil society groups jointly demanded that Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar and Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan should immediately stop police harassment of the cyclists.

"The minister and the police must guarantee the cyclists' safety and freedom to submit their memorandum demanding policy and institutional reforms, to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and parliamentary Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim (tomorrow)," they said in a statement today.

The campaign, organised by grassroots coalition Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (Jerit), has been riddled with police harassment and arrests from the day it started on Dec 3.

Two teams of cyclists had begun the journey from Kedah and Johor in the bid to raise public awareness of issues such as food shortage, environmental problems, draconian laws and the impending economic crisis.

Since the campaign kicked off, the 100-odd cyclists - many of whom are teenagers - have seen much drama with arrests and roadblocks. Several bicycles were torched by arsonists.

Iraq to probe 'abuse' of shoe-throwing journalist

Iraq's justice system is to probe the case of the journalist who hurled his shoes at US President George W Bush, officials said on Tuesday, as his brother said he had been beaten up by security agents.

"Muntazer al-Zaidi has been transferred to the judicial authorities who have opened an investigation. But it is too soon to say who was behind this act," General Qassem Atta, spokesman for a Baghdad security plan, told AFP.

The journalist's brother. Durgham, said Muntazer has a broken arm and ribs after being struck by Iraqi security agents.--AFP

Victory is mine, says Samy's challenger

When its life cycle draws to an end, legend has it that the mythological Phoenix builds itself a nest of cinnamon twigs. It then ignites the twigs, resulting in both the nest and bird being reduced to ashes.

And from the smouldering remains, a young phoenix arises, reborn anew to live again.

On March 8, Malaysian voters had incinerated the nests of the ruling coalition and among the long list of casualties was MIC, which save for a couple of featherweights, was almost burnt to crisp.

Since then, the scorched heavyweights have been licking their wounds and cracking their heads on how to resuscitate and rejuvenate the party as well as to re-court the estranged Indian community, whose support they once relished.

However, detractors conclude that this is nothing short of a mission impossible, with the word 'impossible' in bold print due to the continued presence of its long-serving president at the helm.

While the resilient, some have attributed to it to less flattering reasons, S Samy Vellu believes he still has what it takes to return the party to its former glory, many within and outside MIC feel that the time has come for the 72-year-old chieftain to take a bow and bid farewell.

And now, from the shadows, an unlikely candidate has emerged to offer MIC the chance of making a difference at the top, a notion once considered too sacrosanct to even dwell upon.

Q&A: I'm not seeking revenge

In a recent exclusive interview with Malaysiakini, M Muthupalaniappan, who is challenging S Samy Vellu for the MIC presidency, reveals the reasons which motivated him to vie for the top post.

The veteran politician is also of the opinion that former MIC deputy president S Subramaniam will not contest for president, despite the grapevines suggesting that such a plan is not to be ruled out.

Apart from this, the former Samy Vellu ally also shares his thoughts on several other issues, including the debt-ridden investment arm of MIC, Maika Holdings.

Hindraf hunger striker taken to hospital

Hindraf coordinator S Jayathas who has been on a hunger strike with 14 others to protest the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) was admitted to hospital today, organisers said.

P Waytha Nayagi, another participant in the hunger strike which began on Sunday, said Jayathas was taken by ambulance to hospital.

The hunger strike is being staged at a small Hindu temple in Seri Gombak. Participants are consuming only water.

Public inquiry into Balkis funds

A public inquiry will be held into the contributions from six government-linked companies (GLCs) to the defunct Badan Amal dan Kebajikan Isteri-isteri Selangor (Balkis), a charity organisation comprising the wives of the previous menteri besar and BN state assemblypersons.

According to the state's select committee on competency, accountability and transparency, initial investigations have revealed that there are "several cases which require further investigations."

Committee member and Taman Medan assemblyperson Haniza Mohd Talha said there have been large contributions made to Balkis every month.

The contribution from one particular GLC touched RM1 million a year since the formation of Balkis in 1985, she added.

Balkis courted controversy when it was reported that the funds belonging to the organisation had been transferred to another account when Selangor fell into the hands of the opposition alliance, Pakatan Rakyat, in the March 8 polls.

Its former president Zaharah Kechik, who is the wife of former menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, had reportedly called for an emergency meeting on March 11 to dissolve the organisation and close the account a day later.

The funds, amounting to RM9.9 million, were said to have been channeled to a different account before the money was transferred to the Badan Amal dan Kebajikan Tenaga Isteri-isteri Menteri (Bakti), an organisation helmed by the prime minister’s wife and comprising wives of ministers and deputy ministers.

Detainee's wife: I did not say I would sue

The wife of Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee T Vasanthakumar has rebutted a claim that she had prevented the use of her husband’s photo on banners at an anti-ISA forum in Klang last Saturday.

K Vikneswari said this in response to a Malaysiakini report quoting organisers in the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) as saying that “she would sue if we put up her husband’s photo” on one of the banners.

Expressing disappointment over the claim, Vikneswari said that she had “never spoken to any of the coordinators about not putting my husband’s photo on the banners”.

“I am so upset that the report quoted an unnamed source on something that could tarnish my image,” she said when contacted.

The now-banned movement co-organised the forum with opposition party PAS to call for the release of the Hindraf 5 on the first anniversary of their arrest under the tough security law.

Proton sued for RM500 mil by ex-Chinese partner

Proton is being sued for half a billion ringgit by China's Goldstar Heavy Industrial over the collapse of their joint venture plan to build vehicles in China.

The Star daily said Goldstar had started legal action in Guangdong province, seeking about 1.0 billion yuan (RM503 million) in compensation over the failed venture.

The two companies were to have produced vehicles in a plant in Dongguan province, but Proton reportedly said Goldstar failed to obtain a licence for the joint venture.

Goldstar's legal action contravenes "the agreed arbitration process", the Malaysian firm told the daily, adding that arbitration had been due to be held in Singapore in March.

The Star said Proton had instead signed an agreement to partner with another Chinese firm, Jinhua Youngman Automobile Manufacturing, with a goal of selling 30,000 units of its GEN-2 model in China.

Proton has been trying to develop export markets as it suffers a steep decline in market share in Malaysia, where it has been outgunned by imports in a newly deregulated environment.

The automaker was formed 25 years ago as part of an ambitious national industrialisation plan, but it has suffered from a reputation for poor quality and unimaginative models.