3 INDONESIAN CHRISTIANS EXECUTED - Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva & Marinus Riwu; Same FATE for 3 Islamic Bali BOMBERS & 6 Australian “Bali NINE”?

ABOVE:The Protest to Free them all in vain for the executed

Update: Sept 26 06

Executed Indonesians denied the Last Rites

The three Indonesian Christians who were on death row accused of inciting violence against Muslims in 2000, and who were executed by firing squad on the night of 22 September 2006, were denied the last rites – reports Dan Bergin on Independent Catholic News.

Fabianus Tibo, Marianus Riwu and Dominggus Silva had repeatedly denied any involvement in the riots. Many church and human rights groups campaigned for the men's reprieve and a reopening of the case. The execution was delayed in August 2006 after an appeal from Pope Benedict.

Before the execution, the three men were not allowed to see a priest and receive the Sacraments. Father Tumbelaka, parish priest at Poso's Saint Therese Parish church who had been visiting them, was refused access to them by the Prosecutors Officers.

The Office has also denied the church permission to take the bodies to a chapel of rest in Palu St Mary's Cathedral as they had requested.

"I am deeply disappointed that the Prosecutor's Office rejected their demand to be confessed and receive the Sacraments one last time," he said.

The decision violates Indonesian law which grants death row convicts the right to have their last wishes granted.

Father Tumbelaka has celebrated Mass for the men's families.

"There are no more tears in our family . . . we have lost the power to cry," said Robert Tibo, Fabianus's eldest son. In his last public statement, Robert's father, Fabianus, said he was "not afraid of dying." Instead, he said: "I am praying that my family be able to provide for themselves and forgive me for not being with them all these years."

Previously known as Celebes, Sulawesi is Indonesia's fourth largest island. 80 per cent of residents are Muslim, while 17 per cent are Christian.

= = = = = = = = = = =

Despite protests and appeals, the Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono allowed the executions of the 3 Christians. Now the question remains will those on the death row face the same music if the death sentences are to be enforced.

The violent past started in December 1998 brawl in Poso led to months of religious violence in which hundreds died. Previously known as Celebes, Sulawesi is Indonesia's fourth largest island80% of residents are Muslim, while 17% are Christian.

But when you kill a man, you believe that you kill him forever? The hunter is forced to emotionally identify with its prey. So to kill is to be killed. The balance of life sustains all.

There is never any justification for violence. There is no justification for hatred. There is no justification for murder. Those who indulge in violence for whatever reason are themselves changed, and the purity of their purpose adultered.

Hate creates destruction on earth and until the lessons are learned, destruction follows destruction. In the terms of other systems, that kind of destruction does not exist - but we believe that it does, and the agonies of dying are sorely felt everywhere.

It is not that we must be taught not to destroy, for destruction does not actually exist. It is that we must be trained to create responsibly.

==================================



Mobs riot after Indonesia executes Christians
Mark Forbes Herald correspondent in Jakarta, and agencies

INDONESIAN firing squads executed three Christian activists yesterday, ignoring international pleas to abandon capital punishment. The three were shot on the darkened runway of Palau Airport in Central Sulawesi province in the early hours of the morning.

Amnesty International condemned the executions and expressed grave fears for the six Australian members of the Bali Nine and others on death row in Indonesia. It called on the Australian Government to take a leadership role to abolish death penalties across the region.
ABOVE; The executed three with their lawyer during the trial

Christian mobs rioted after the executions of Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marinus Riwu, torching cars and homes and smashing windows in government offices. Church leaders took to the streets to call for calm and 4000 police were deployed to prevent clashes with Muslim communities.

The executions, the first carried out in Indonesia for more than 15 months, indicate the administration of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono remains committed to enforcing death sentences. Many commentators claim the three Christian executions open the way for the executions of the three Islamic fundamentalist Bali bombers, Amrozi, Imam Samudra and Ali Gufron.

Authorities in Sulawesi fear the executions will reignite a simmering religious conflict which took more than 1000 lives in 1999 and 2000. The three Christians were convicted in connection with the killing of more than 70 men, women and children who had sought refuge in a school in the Central Sulawesi town of Poso in May 2000. At their trial, no witnesses testified to seeing any of them kill anyone. Strong doubts were raised about the fairness of their trial and there were allegations the sentences were driven by pressure from hardliner Muslim groups.

Human rights and church groups opposed the executions and the Pope had pleaded for the men to be spared. The European Union had made a last-minute appeal for Indonesia to impose a moratorium on the death penalty, describing the practice as "cruel and inhumane". Amnesty International said it was "deeply disappointed that despite the debate on the death penalty that the case had sparked across Indonesia, the state went ahead and killed these three men".
The executions raised strong fears for the fate of all those awaiting execution in Indonesia, an Amnesty spokesman, Tim Goodwin, said.

"Australia's traditionally strong position on the death penalty has been undermined in recent years by the Australian Government's double standard. "Amnesty International is calling on the Australian Government to take a consistent and principled stance against the death penalty in all cases and regardless of the nationality of the people facing execution."

The director of the International Crisis Group, Sidney Jones, said the executions of the three Christians had been widely linked to allowing the executions of the Bali bombers to go ahead without provoking a Muslim backlash. However, Ms Jones said a larger factor in the pressure to execute was "naive belief that if these three Christians were executed it would address the demands of Muslims in Poso for justice". The executions would make the bombers' executions easier to carry out politically, she said, although it was unclear if Muslim groups would oppose the sentences. It was difficult to gauge whether they would have a direct effect on the cases of the Australians on death row, Ms Jones said.

Indonesia executed two people for murder in 2005, a woman and a man. Following the execution of two men in May 2001, there was a de factooratorium on the death penalty in Indonesia until 2004. Before 2001, there had been no executions in the country for six years. More than 60 people are on death row in Indonesia, including the six Australians sentenced to death for their role in the Bali Nine heroin smuggling scheme.

ABOVE:The mourners praying for the three executed

Indonesia to execute militants ; Last Updated: Friday, 22 September 2006,

08:54 GMT 09:54 UK, BBC

Three Indonesian Christian militants sentenced to death for attacks on Muslims in 2000 are due to be executed on Thursday or Friday, lawyers said.

Fabianus Tibo, Marianus Riwu and Dominggus Silva had been set to face the firing squad last month but won a reprieve after a papal appeal. The men were found guilty of inciting attacks during religious rioting in Central Sulawesi in 2000.

Their supporters and rights groups have questioned the trial's fairness. Some 4,000 extra troops have been deployed in religiously-divided Sulawesi amid fears the executions could spark further violence. "If there are unwanted actions, or actions tending toward anarchy, police will not hesitate to take repressive action," Central Sulawesi police chief Badroddin Haiti said.

Gang violence

Lawyers for the three men said provincial prosecutors delivered a letter saying the executions would take place on Thursday 21 September, though one report said it could take place on Friday.

Attorney General Abdul Rachman Saleh told reporters the letter, delivered late on Monday, said the men would be shot in 72 hours time. The men say they are innocent of the charges that they masterminded a series of attacks on the Muslim community in the Central Sulawesi district of Poso in 2000, killing at least 70 people.

The attack was part of a wave of violence that left more than 1,000 people killed. It was triggered by a brawl between Christian and Muslim gangs in December 1998. The men's execution was delayed last month after a plea for clemency from Pope Benedict XVI and demonstrations by thousands of Indonesian Christians.

Three Muslim militants are also currently on death row for their part in the 2002 Bali nightclub bombings that killed more than 200 people.

Catholic World News sums up:

The lawyers for three Catholics on Indonesia's death row will take their case before the International Criminal Court in Geneva, the AsiaNews service reports.

Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marinus Riwa were condemned to death because they were found guilty of masterminding a massacre of 200 Muslims in Poso during inter-faith clashes in 2000. Their case has drawn international attention, with both Christian leaders and human-rights activists protesting that the court convicted them under heavy pressure from Islamic militants.

Originally the three men were scheduled to die on August 12. Their execution was postponed, but rumors now circulating in Indonesia suggest that it could be rescheduled soon.

GoTo TOP (Main Page)

SAMY VELU Angered by DAP Queries Ordered INVESTIGATION of Sub-STANDARD Refurbishment Repairs; NAJIB:NO Intention to Cover Up; PM: Sub-Con NO PAYMENT

Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu was grilled by opposition members over the poor monitoring of school repair projects in Parliament when winding up the debate for the ministry in the Dewan Rakyat.

He was miffed after being queried why "no action was taken against the contractors for shoddy work in school repairs and whether the cabinet reprimand against the Depputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Ong Tee Kiat would be withdrawn".

Meanwhile the works ministry has directed an immediate probe on the sub-standard refurbishment and repair works at SKC KUNG YU in Muar. The Works Minister Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu said that Rm30,000 was allocated for the project but the refurbishment works were not that much.

In another written reply to DAP's query of NON-PAYMENT to Chinese Sub-Cons, PM Abdullah refused to interfere in this "ali-baba" business. (see below)

Datuk Samy Vellu: “I have issued a directive for the Engineer and technician to be investigated by the department before any action can be taken”

After Wednesday's cabinet meeting, Deputy Primier Datuk Seri Najib responded: “The cabinet takes a serious view of such matters. We don’t want to cover up any weaknesses that have taken place. It is not the government intention to cover up cases like this from the people”

from SUN; http://www.sun2surf
PWD probes school's repair work
B. Suresh Ram Updated: 07:15PM Tue, 19 Sep 2006

KUALA LUMPUR: The Public Works Department (PWD) is to investigate how
RM30,000 was released to a contractor for repairs at SJKC Kung Yu in Muar
when the work done was valued at only RM3,000.

"Repairs at SJKC Aik Hwa were completed satisfactorily at RM20,000. But the job at Kung Yu is not satisfactory," Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said when winding up the debate for the ministry in the Dewan Rakyat
yesterday.

ABOVE: The affected 65 year old School in Panchor, Muar

He and Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting inspected the two schools in Johor on Monday for a first-hand look following the fuss kicked up by MCA vice-president and Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat who claimed that funds for the schools were "hijacked".

Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein took offence of Ong's statement and complained to the cabinet which reprimanded Ong for breaching the rules by commenting on another ministry's affairs.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed then apologised to Hishammuddin on behalf of Ong.
Samy Vellu said: "I have no power to suspend or shoot people. Action can only be taken upon completion of investigations."

Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) asked: "Will the cabinet retract its decision to reprimand Ong?"

Opposition Leader, Lim Kit Siang (ABOVE) and Fong Po Khuan (BELOW) posing the "annoying and irritating" questions to Samy Vellu in Parliament on Tuesday, 19th Sept 06

To repeated questioning from Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) on why there was no action taken against the Kung Yu contractor, Samy Vellu told her that the matter is "still under investigation".




An angry Samy Vellu with clenched fists replied: "I do not have any connection with the matter. I do not want to answer that."

"You are a lawyer - you do not know the law is it? Don't tell me that you shoot a person first, and then take him to court?"

Earlier, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng urged the cabinet to retract its reprimand of Ong."
In an immediate reaction, Ka Ting said: "Lim is merely playing politics on the matter. Guan Eng can say what he likes. That's a very political statement. I will not fall into his trap."
____
from NST
http://www.nst.com.my/

Ministers to report findings on Chinese schools to Cabinet
19 Sep 2006

MUAR: Two ministers yesterday visited SJKC Ai Hwa in Panchor and SJKC Kung Yu in Kundang Ulu, schools embroiled in a controversy over claims that funds intended for them had been misused.

ABOVE: Samy being shown documents relating to the renovation of the School

ABOVE and BELOW: Part of the shoddy repair works being done on the school for less than RM3000 and the billing came to RM30,000


Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, who arrived with Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, said he would report his findings to the Cabinet.

He said the Cabinet would decide on the matter based on the findings.

The controversy arose when Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat, at a dinner with teachers and board members of a Chinese school in Muar recently, was quoted as saying that government officers had misused funds earmarked for refurbishment of several Chinese schools in Johor.

Ong later denied the report, saying his statement had been translated wrongly.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein rapped Ong over his statement while the Cabinet reprimanded the MCA vice-president for commenting on another ministry's affairs.

Education Ministry secretary- general Datuk Dr Zulkarnain Awang later clarified that the repair and upgrading works of the two schools had been completed and the bills, RM29,950 for SJKC Kung Yu and RM19,941.16 for SJKC Ai Hwa, had been settled.

Samy Vellu said he was happy to see works carried out in both schools but declined to say whether they were up to standard.

"I want to make sure the contractors carry out the work according to the allocation."

Samy Vellu said the school board could lodge a report if the repair work was shoddy.
==================================

Education Ministry Wants Issue Of Repairs Of SJKC Stopped; September 19, 2006 15:34 PM

JOHOR BAHARU, Sept 19 (Bernama) -- The Education Ministry wants the issue of alleged mismanagement of funds to upgrade two national-type Chinese schools (SJKC) in the state not be prolonged.

Its Deputy Minister Datuk Hon Choon Kim said it was also clear that the Education Department officers were not involved and he hoped the Works Ministry would resolve the issue as soon as possible.

"The alleged mismanagement does not involve the Education Ministry. What is more important is that the issue should not be prolonged considering that the ministry has other matters to give priority to."

Hon said this after officiating the 24th national-level Prime Minister Unity Trophy's oratory contest and Bahasa Malaysia written test for Chinese and Tamil national-type primary schools, here Tuesday.

He said there were more than 10,000 schools throughout the country and the ministry certainly had various other matters to address in developing the country's education sector.

The mismanagement issue cropped up after Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat claimed there were government officers squandering special funds for upgrading SJKC Ai Hwa and SJKC Kung Yu in Panchor, Muar.

Yesterday, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu visited the two schools and said that he might table a report on the project to the Cabinet tomorrow if the report was ready.

Commenting on the oratory contest and written test, Hon said the two competitions were meant to further improve the students' skill in the national language.

Such competitions also serve to strengthen unity among students in line with the recently launched Student Integration Plan for Solidarity.

A total of 75 students sat for the written test while 30 students are taking part in the oratory contest which will end tomorrow.

==============================================

UTP Contractors Told To Solve Problems By Themselves; September 20, 2006 18:42 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the main contractors and sub-contractors involved in the construction of the Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) campus in Tronoh, Perak must solve the problems that emerged by themselves.

The Prime Minister said the issues were between the main contractors and sub-contractors, and that the parties should find the best way to solve them.

"Petronas has held several meetings with all those involved and advised them to settle their disputes," he said in a written reply in the Dewan Rakyat Wednesday.

Abdullah was replying to Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) who had asked whether the Prime Minister would protect and assist Chinese sub-contractors involved in the UTP project who had completed their work but were bogged by payment disputes.

Fong also wanted to know whether action would be taken against Stagno Tech Sdn Bhd, a main contractor in the project, for withholding about RM2 million due to the sub-contractors.

Abdullah said in the case of the UTP development, the construction jobs were offered to several main contractors according to the selection process adopted by Petronas.

He said the main contractors had then appointed several sub-contractors to complete several packages of the job on their behalf.

"Even though Petronas doesn't intervene in the deal between the main contractors and sub-contractors, it always advises the main contractors to ensure that they deal with their sub-contractors in a fair and orderly manner," he added.

MORE Pics - DATUK NAZRI’s Clowning Action in Parliament; Gesturing with Fingers and Hands; WAR of Words with Opposition members Led to WALKOUT

ABOVE: The renovated Malaysian Parliament; how many have been inside in the public gallery?

The Dewan Rakyat came to a standstill on Monday when several DAP members traded heated words with the Minister n the Prime Minister Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz during the winding up debate for the Budget 2007. And this caused several opposition members including the leader Lim Kit Siang to leave the hall for 5 minutes as a sign of protest.

Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang : "We walk out in protest, to show our anger & our frustration" speaking outside the Dewan Rakyat during the 5 minutes walkout

When Lim Kit Siang asked Datuk Nasri for an explanation on the government’s direction under the leadership of Prime Minister and also wanted an explanation of Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi remarks in Havana that he had not lost control off the administration, Datuk Nasri however, refused to give the floor to the opposition leader seeking a clarification on his questions leading to a war of words that lasted for 15 mins. In the end the Deputy speaker Lim Si Cheng has to intervened and calm the explosive situation.

UPDATE: 23^rd Sep 06’ From The Sun; 22 Sept 2006

The Nazri exit mystery
Nazri is not one to run away from a good fight or an opportunity to disparage members of the Opposition, especially Kit Siang. by Zainon Ahmad.

QUITE a few MPs are still speculating on why Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz left the Dewan Rakyat on Monday without completing his 80-page roundup of the general debate onBudget 2007.

He did not leave in a huff and neither was there anger on his face. In fact he even smiled at a few BN backbenchers as he made his way out of the House, leaving almost everyone quite nonplussed by his behaviour. In fact DAP MPs felt quite insulted by Nazri's turning his back on them after doggedly reading his speech at breakneck speed, seemingly
oblivious to their requests for penjelasan (clarification) on his replies relating to, among other things, the tsunami fund, the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and the role of Umno Youth deputy leader Khairy Jamaludin.

Others, especially BN MPs, were quite annoyed because ­ even though the minister said he would give his speech to those who wanted them ­ much of the responses to the queries they made would not be recorded in the Hansard. There was pandemonium and complete bedlam as everyone spoke at the same time ­ Nazri reading his speech with DAP MPs shouting for penjelasan and making loud remarks that "he is out of control", BN backbenchers shouting back at the oppositionists to keluar and deputy speaker Datuk Lim Si Cheng shouting cukuplah, cukuplah as he strove to restore order.

When order returned, things started getting out of hand again when Nazri was arguing with Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) over the use of such unparliamentary words such as kurang ajar and pekak. Lim then called for everyone's cooperation to maintain order in the House or he was going to limit the time for the minister's reply. When Fong said it was fine with her, Nazri said "if you want me to stop, I'll stop. I'll stop. I'll stop now". The deputy speaker said Nazri should finish his speech and asked for the number of pages he had left.

When Nazri told him 60, Lim asked whether half an hour would be sufficient.
Nazri: I can finish now.
Lim: Can you finish in half an hour? I leave it to you. Can you finish
it in half an hour?

Nazri: Sekarang boleh habis.

Lim: It's up to you.
Nazri: Mr Speaker, since my speech is very long and since it will be distributed to those interested, I now end my rounding up. Thank you.
Lim: Sudah habis? Baik.
Why did Nazri do what he did? Was he hounded out of the Dewan by Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang and his band of 11 DAP men and women who were plainly quite irritated and angry with Nazri for ignoring their pleas for clarification? Surely not. Nazri is not one to run away from a good fight or an opportunity to disparage members of the
Opposition, especially Kit Siang. In fact he is known to have emerged unscathed from the many verbal scrapes, in the Dewan Rakyat as well as outside.

Did he feel he was under pressure because he was pressed for time or was he peeved with deputy speaker Lim harassing him by asking him if he could finish in half an hour? All these were speculated upon by some MPs in the comfort of their Members Lounge. Yet some others offered even more bizarre and outrageous explanations for Nazri's
behaviour that day.

They all agree that it could not be due to his being deluged with requests for clarification because others too, especially Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who began his rounding up speech when the Dewan sat again after lunch, had to put up with countless requests for clarification. It was the normal thing.

Others agreed with Fong's assumption that Nazri had to cut short his delivery to give his colleagues from the PM's Department, Deputy Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Suliman and parliamentary secretary Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim, time to complete their rounding up by lunch time so that Najib could start his at 2.30.

In fact Fong said so to Najib even before he could start his speech. After the deputy prime minister refused to give in to her repeated requests for penjelasan, she shouted in her shrill voice and in English: "Is the whole parliament to suit the time of the deputy prime minister?"

She sat down only after the uproar died down and only after she managed to shout above the din that "hopefully what happened today would not be repeated". Najib took about half an hour and was followed by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy. Most ministers turned up to respond to the points raised about their ministries during the debate.

The 31 ministries managed to complete their responses by around midnight on Thursday ­ the last day of the meeting. The Supply Bill 2007 or Budget 2007 will be scrutinised further at committee stage when the Dewan Rakyat, adjourning for Ramadan, reconvenes in November. Among the thoughts that MPs returning to their constituencies will take with them will be Nazri's use of "your mentor" a euphemism for Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, whenever he was involved in an altercation with Karpal Singh (DAPBukit Gelugor). Another was linking the term dictatorship with the former PM.

This came about on Tuesday, when Nazri, explaining why Abdullah was being talked about as losing control, said it was because people could speak freely now.

"During the past administration, it was a bit of a dictatorship, people were not free," he said.

=====================================
At the Dewan Rakyat yesterday: 'Unstoppable' Nazri irks DAP;19 Sep 2006
Wan Hamidi Hamid, Eileen Ng and Arman Ahmad

---

A SLANGING match erupted in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday as DAP MPs trained their guns on, who did not disappoint them.

Although the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department was forced to cut short his 80-page speech to 20 pages, he gave as good as he got.
He refused to give way to Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur), who wanted clarification on the direction of the government under Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Lim had sought clarification on the Prime Minister’s remarks in Havana, Cuba, that he had not lost control of his administratio

However, Nazri continued like a "bullet train" — Lim’s description of his speaking style — which infuriated Lim further.

Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) and Chong Eng (DAP- Bukit Mertajam) entered the exchange at this point to challenge Nazri’s statement that he reserved the right to continue without giving way.

As the 12 DAP MPs tried to get deputy speaker Datuk Lim Si Cheng’s attention to speak, the minister, who is known for his frank manner, refused to accede.

For close to 50 minutes, mayhem prevailed as MPs from both sides of the political divide exchanged words which threatened on occasion to get them into hot water.

When calls for "point of order" and repeated attempts to get the minister to provide explanations failed, unparliamentary language crept in.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz: Using his left & right index fingers he silenced the DAP members with unparliamentary language

But MPs from both sides managed to steer clear of trouble despite words like "kurang ajar’" (rude), "bodoh" (stupid) and "pekak" (deaf) as Si Cheng had his hands full maintaining decorum.


Datuk Nazri gesturing , "no way will I give the floor"

As Nazri stood his ground and read from his prepared speech, Datuk Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar (BN-Larut) told the DAP MPs to leave if they did not want to listen to Nazri.

This led to a "walkout" by 10 DAP MPs led by Kit Siang but it was short-lived as they trooped back five minutes later.

In the interim, Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) asked Si Cheng to "restrain the out-of- control minister" but Nazri was not to be stopped.

The verbal fracas came to an end when Si Cheng asked Nazri to shorten his speech.

"Can you finish it in half an hour?" he asked, to which the minister replied that he could do so immediately.

"With this I end my reply. Those who are interested in my speech can get printed copies from me later," he said.

Nazri had started off well in his winding-up on the debate on the Supply Bill 2007 but walked into problems when talking about funds raised for tsunami victims and former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s allegations against the government.

Speaking in the lobby later, Nazri reiterated his stand that he had the right not to give way to opposition MPs. He said MPs could discuss his reply during the committee stage of proceedings.

===========================================

From The Sun; 19 Sept 2006
Speedy Nazri; UPROAR AS MINISTER RACES THROUGH WINDING-UP
by B. Suresh Ram and Pauline Puah

KUALA LUMPUR: A minister did a Speedy Gonzalez to finish reading out his 80-page windingup speech, sparking an uproar and a brief walkout of the Dewan Rakyat by six opposition MPs.

What roused their ire was that Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz refused to entertain any interjections for clarification and was bent on racing through the text.

The reason for his haste: "There are 30 ministers who need to wind up in the remaining four days of sitting before the fasting month break. "They (MPs) will have their opportunity (to ask questions) in November."

Datuk Nazri : "Listen, there are 30 ministers... ask more questions in November"

Nazri started by denying that there was misuse of the Tsunami Aid Fund
.
As he was speaking abnormally fast, the DAP MPs got agitated when Nazri refused to allow interjections. They shouted and accused him of disrespect and misleading the House.

Nazri, who is the minister overseeing parliamentary affairs, irked the MPs when he uttered kurang ajar (ill-bred) against Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) who accused him of misleading the House for providing wrong data on the Tsunami Aid Fund.
Datuk Nazri explaining: There is no misuse of the Tzunami funds, Audit Report confused with National Disaster Fund

Unfazed, Nazri continued to speak and also ignored Deputy Speaker Datuk Lim Si Cheng's attempt to stop him when Karpal invoked the Standing Order to get Nazri to withdraw the words.

Karpal Singh: "Withdraw the words....kurang ajar (ill-bred)"

Before Lim could restore calm, explaining that Nazri had in fact withdrawn his statement, Nazri interjected: "It's his business if he (Karpal) is deaf."

Datuk Nasri: "It's his business if he (Karpal) is deaf." gesturing to his right ear

This prompted Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) to shout:

"Chase him out of the House."


Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang also objected that no one would understand Nazri if he continued speed reading.

Datuk Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar (BN-Larut) then lent his support to the minister by saying: "If they (Opposition MPs) are stubborn. Chase them out of the House." Shouts of "Get out! Get out!" were heard from the

Above the din, reporters were unable to hear Nazri who continued reading his speech. At this juncture, the DAP MPs, except Fong and wheelchair-bound Karpal, walked out. They returned about five minutes later.

Karpal Singh had several times tried to stop Nazri from delivering his speech.

Karpal Singh:

"We have to control him (Nazri). He has become mad (gila)," said, sparking another round of commotion.
Lim asked Nazri how much longer he would need and Nazri replied: "It is 60 pages." When Lim asked if he could finish it within half-an-hour, Nazri said:
"I could finish it now." He promptly sat down.

In a statement later, Lim said: "Nazri behaved in the most unchar acteristic manner in refusing to entertain any clarification during his winding up speech on Budget 2007.

"He shot off his reply like a bullet train, utterly disregarding whether it is understood by MPs from both the Barisan Nasional and Opposition."

Lim said there was totally no give-and-take to allow MPs to seek clarification on his answers to many important issues, which included whether Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has "lost control" of the cabinet and government and his failure to "walk the talk" of his election pledges of reform, particularly in the areas of eradicating corruption.

Others include establishing an efficient public service delivery as having a professional world-class police service with the establishment of an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission.

GoTo TOP (Main Page)

Read on next posting:

SAMY VELU Angered by DAP Queries Ordered INVESTIGATION of Sub-STANDARD Refurbishment Repairs; NAJIB:NO Intention to Cover Up; PM: Sub-Con NO PAYMENT

MORE Pics - LADY DRIVER Killed – KIA Rio Car Plunged 25m from OPEN CAR Park Down Hill Slope at CIMB Building At Jalan Semantan Early Monday Morning

ABOVE: The PArking lot where the car went over the hillslope BELOW

No man or woman consciously knows for sure which day will be the last for him or her in this particular life, that each calls the present one. Mortality with its birth and death is the framework in which the soul, for now, is expressed in flesh.

The knowledge is usually hidden for many reasons, but the fact of death, personal death, is never forgotten. It seems obvious, but the full enjoyment of life would be impossible in the framework, now, of earthly reality without the knowledge of death.

Spiritu­ally the death sentence given you is another chance at life, if you are freely able to accept life with all of its conditions and to feel its full dimensions, for that alone will rejuvenate your spiritual and physical self

Our condolences must be to the family and relatives of this unfortunate woman.

Acting CIMB V-P Plunges To Death From Hillslope Open Car Park; September 18, 2006 23:57 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 (Bernama) -- An Acting Vice-President of the Commerce International Merchant Bankers Berhad (CIMB) was killed when her car plunged 25 metres from an open carpark on a hillslope near the CIMB building in Jalan Semantan here Monday.
The car after falling 25m down the hill slope

CIMB Assistant General Manager (Corporate Communications) Tengku Zarina Tengku Ibrahim said Norhalili Yahya, 45, who was Acting Vice-President (Legal Division) for the past six years, died on the spot.

She died on the spot after the impact

It is believed she had accidentally pressed the accelerator instead of the brake pedal, causing her Kia Rio car to jump off the road divider before plunging to the ground.

A witness, Mohd Hafis Hashim, 21, said it happened at about 7.15am when he and a friend heard a loud crash.

"I was startled. I saw a car sliding down from a hillslope and I immediately called the police," he told reporters at the scene.

A security guard, who wished to be identified only as Azhari, said Norhalili usually came to office early to be assured of a parking lot due to limited parking space in the area.

"She normally arrives at 6.30am and will sleep in the car while waiting for the office to open," he said.

Norhalili's husband, Shuib Osman, 48, a pilot, said his wife left home at about 6am and before leaving she had asked him to take care of their youngest son who is sick.

"She left while I was leaving the house to a mosque for the subuh (morning) prayers. At about 7.30am, I got the news of her death," he said when met at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre mortuary.

Shuib said last night they had made plans to go back to his village in Muar for the Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

He said his wife was from Petaling Jaya and they have three children -- Mohd Faiz, 16, Noramira, 12, and Mohd Arif, 7.

According to Norhalili's brother Azman Yahya, she had planned to opt for the company's voluntary separation scheme (VSS) recently because the family was already financially secured.

He did not disclose why his sister did not opt for the scheme.

About 200 people attended the funeral after Asar prayers at the USJ 22 Muslim cemetery.

MORE Pics – SIX CRIMINAL ROBBERS & 1 Policeman Killed in SHOOTOUT near Termeloh, Pahang Early Monday Morning at 4 am - Mentakab Industrial Park.

ABOVE: TWo Kancil cars were stopped acting on tip-off and when they charged at the Policemen, they were shot; apparently two fled but were shot again. BELOW: the Kancil car from which the police seized a number of items (see below)

Six robbers armed with parangs were shot dead at Mentakab Industrial Park when they refused to surrender and charged at the Police. A police constable aged 24 was also killed.

One of the robbers is believed to be Rela members and the other five are Indonesians. The shooting began when Police acting on a tip-off of the group activities stopped two suspicious Kancil cars at about 4 am in the park and ordered the occupants to come out. But they charged at the Policemen who opened fire.

Details from Bernama,

Six Robbers, One Constable Killed In Shooting Incident; Sept. 18, 2006 14:19 PM

TEMERLOH, Sept 18 (Bernama) -- Six criminals -- a Malaysian believed to be a Rela member and five Indonesians -- who were believed to be planning a robbery in Mentakab, were shot dead by police in an operation at the Mentakab Industrial Estate, near Temerloh early this morning.

A police constable was also killed in the shooting incident.

Pahang police chief Datuk Abdul Razak Bokhari said in the 3.45am incident, a police party acting on a tip-off on the group's activities, followed two Kancil cars, each carrying three suspected criminals.

Pahang police chief Datuk Abdul Razak Bokhari, briefing newsmen about the shooting and the weapons and items seized. BELOW: A chinese Sword?

On arriving at the scene, the police team which was on operation codenamed "Ops Rantau", intercepted the two vehicles before ordering the occupants out.

"When they got out of their cars, they tried to attack the police with parangs. In self-defence, the police fired shots. Four of the criminals were shot dead while another two escaped," he told reporters here today.

Abdul Razak said both criminals who tried to escape were shot dead about 75 metres away from the scene of the first incident.

However, a policeman was also killed, believed to have been shot during the drama.

He said those killed were identified as Sabarudin Bakar, 50, believed to be a Rela member from Kampung Cempaka, Lanchang, while the five Indonesians were Imron, 32, and Memet Nawawi, 34, both from Belakang Padang, and Muhammad Saad, 37, Abdul Manaf, 31, and Basar Raja Guntur, 34, all from Batam.

The policeman who was killed was Constable Mahathir Tawile, 24, from Kampung Titingan, Blok 6, Tawau, Sabah.

On Mahathir's death, Abdul Razak said police were still investigating whether he had accidentally shot himself or otherwise.

ABOVE: Display of items seized from the Cars, other items six wallets, five handphones, two wrist watches and a talisman or amulet,

He said police seized five passports, four parangs, a Chinese sword, two iron cutters, an iron lever, a screw driver and a mask from one of the criminals.

Other items were six wallets, five handphones, two wrist watches and a talisman or amulet, believed to be used by the criminals for their protection, he added.

Abdul Razak said following the incident, said to be the biggest success for Pahang police this year, police believed they could solve 69 house-breaking and robbery cases in the state since January this year.

"Ops Rantau was launched to hunt down criminals since January this year, and we are always prepared. Following our success, we believe we can solve 69 robbery and house-breaking cases involving this group in Pahang."

Abdul Razak said the Rela member who was shot dead was believed to be a member of the group and served as the "guide" for other members to commit the crime.

"On the two Kancil cars used by the criminals, we are still investigating whether the cars were stolen.”
The constable, aged 24 from Sabah who died in the line of durty. Did he accidently shot himself?

He said Constable Mahathir, a bachelor, had served the criminal investigation unit in Temerloh for three years.

His remains will be sent to his village in Tawau, Sabah for burial.

And from STAR

Six robbers shot dead, cop killed in ambush; News Update by The Star Newsdesk

TEMERLOH: Six robbers, armed with parangs, were shot dead by police at the Mentakab industrial park near here early Monday.

A police constable was also killed when the robbers refused to surrender and charged at the police.

The drama unfolded at about 3.45am when policemen spotted two cars and its occupants behaving suspiciously.

They trailed the cars to the industrial area before intercepting them.

The robbers got out of their cars and started charging at the police party who opened fire, killing them in the melee.

Police believed the six were about to rob a factory when they were spotted.