Webwatch: Mongolia hints to bring Altantuya case to international court

In connection with the recent court decision to acquit the suspect Abdul Razak Baginda, the Minister for Exterrnal Relations of Mongolia Mr. S.Batbold has sent another letter addressed to the Foreign Minister of Malaysia Mr. Rice Yatim requesting the latter to pay attention to and render support for ensuring conditions for a final court decision free from politics and other side influence.

The letter carries a statement by Mongolia’s Government testifying that it will have a strong reasoning for turning to the international court in order to defend rights and interests of its citizen if the court’s final decision results in unfair trial and proceedings.

Report: Anti-ISA mega rally planned for March

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 7(PATC) : The Abolish ISA Movement(GMI) is planning a mega protest against the act which allows for detention without trial here in March, Islamic Party of Malaysia(PAS) vice president Mohamad Sabu made the announcement in a press conference at the party headquarter here last night.

/end.

Report: BERSIH plans a gathering on Nov 9

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6(PATC): A coalition for a free and clean election (BERSIH) is planning a gathering on Nov 9, at 9pm to commemorate its one year anniversary.

The event to be held at a field near the Amcorp Mall in Petaling Jaya near here will among others be  attended by Islamic Party of Malaysia(PAS) vice president Mohamad Sabu.

A handbill distributed today by a BERSIH secretariat urged the public to wear yellow and to bring candles.

Last November some 100,000 Malaysians turned the street of Kuala Lumpur yellow with their demand for postal votes to be abolished, for indelible ink to be used to prevent multiple voting, for fair access to the media for all parties and for complete revision of the electoral rolls.

/end.

Statement: Tourism Minister misled Parliament, says state exco

Press Statement

 

5 November 2008

  

TOURISM MINISTER MISLED PARLIAMENT

APOLOGISE OR BE REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE OF PRIVILEGES

 

 

I am aghast by the false statements made by the Minister for Tourism, Azalina Othman during Question Time in Parliament on Tuesday 4 November 2008, which were aired live on RTM1 and reported by major newspapers and blogs today.

 

From the news reports, she had misled the august House, among other misleading information, on the following:-

 

1. That I did not attend the opening of the Ministry of Tourism’s launch of ‘ZOOM’ (‘No party sentiments in promoting tourism’, Bernama, 5 November 2008)
2. That I was invited to Pulau Carey during the Minister’s visit there. (‘Pelancongan: Negeri pembangkang tidak dipinggir, Utusan Malaysia ms 8, 5 November 2008)
3. That I lied to the Honourable Member of Parliament Shah Alam, Khalid Samad (‘We’re fair to all states: Azalina’, The SUN, page 6, 5 November 2008)

 

 

For the record, I was present at the Ministry’s launch of ‘ZOOM’ where Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi graced the event. The Exco for Tourism from Kedah, Penang and I even had the opportunity to speak to the Prime Minister, who was seated on the next table.

 

The Minister challenged me to prove that I was never invited to Pulau Carey in her programme there (Berita Harian, 5 November 2008). Allow me to state publicly that I was never invited to Pulau Carey by the Minister. In fact the Minister herself has never stepped foot officially on Pulau Carey.

 

In Selangor, the Minister has visited the following sites – Batu Caves, Pulau Ketam and Royal Gallery Klang. On those occasions, I was left out on purpose, whereas by convention, I should have been informed to host or to to accompany the Minister.

 

Similarly, I have never received an invitation to programmes organised by the Selangor Tourism Action Council (MTPN-Selangor).

 

It is an open secret that since the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry and state governments was cancelled after the General Elections, and with the chairmanship of the State Tourism Action Councils in the 5 Pakatan Rakyat states relegated to BN officials, there has been very limited communication and cooperation of the Ministry with Pakatan Rakyat states.

 

Even the General Manager of the Selangor Tourism Action Council, when invited to meet me for discussions on tourism matters, was too frightened to meet officially. In the end, he only spoke to me on a personal basis.

 

The disconnect between the state governments and State Tourism Action Councils is glaringly unproductive and unhealthy for the nation. Further, the signal sent to the tourism industry is extremely negative and jeopardises the tradition of close collaboration of the state government with related government agencies.

 

I do not wish to prolong this unnecessary protracted war of words with the Minister. It has been 7 months since we took office, and the Minister should be looking into revamping the current communication channels to foster closer and productive ties with state governments. To carry on in this current mode of operations and communications is detrimental to the nation. 

 

Nonetheless, Pakatan Rakyat states’ Excos on tourism will continue to soldier on despite the odds, as we are mindful of the national importance of tourism to the economic health and wealth of the nation.

 

Tourism is a national agenda and all parties should be mindful that success in this sector needs proper official channels and access to plans, programmes and decision-making by the state governments to the Ministry of Tourism. Political interference serves only personal agendas. To this end, I have from very beginning, instructed state officials, including local councils, to cooperate fully with the Ministry of Tourism.

 

I call on the Minister to apologise publicly as her statements, assertions and insinuations have gravely affected my credibility and that of the Selangor state government. Failure to do so will compel me to refer the Minister to the House Committee of Privileges for censure.

  

Released by,

  

Elizabeth Wong

EXCO for Tourism, Consumer Affairs and Environment

Selangor State Government

Webwatch: Obama Wins in Ohio, Dealing Blow to McCain’s Hopes

Senator Barack Obama appeared on the verge of winning the White House on Tuesday, holding his own in states that voted Democratic in 2004 and capturing the critical Republican state of Ohio from Senator John McCain, according to early returns and surveys of voters leaving the polls.