Baby with two heads

Two-headed baby under police guard
By Andy Rudd, Mirror.co.uk 27/08/2008


A baby boy born with two heads has been put under police guard in a Bangladesh hospital after a 15,000 strong mob arrived to look at it.

The baby, named Kiron, weighed 5.5kg when he was born on Monday morning by caesarean in Keshobpur.

Gynaecologist Mohamad Abdul Bari said: "He has one stomach and he is eating normally with his two mouths. He has one genital organ and a full set of limbs.

"He was born from one embryo but there was a developmental anomaly."

Doctors have been unable to determine whether the baby has one or two sets of vital organs.

Due to the large crowds gathering at the hospital to try and see the baby, both the mother, 22, and son have been moved to a larger hospital and the police have been called in.

"Around 150,000 people gathered yesterday from different areas. It became tough for us to care for the baby,” Mr Bari added.

"We called police to tackle the situation and they are guarding the hospital in Jessore as well."

Yong: Malaysia, Be Ready For Change

SAPP President Datuk Yong Teck Lee on the landslide victory of PKR Advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the Permatang Pauh by-election 26 August 2008

Kota Kinabalu, August 27, 2008

1. The land slide victory of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim augurs well for non-racial politics in Malaysia. The rejection of racial politics shown in the March general elections has been repeated resoundingly by the voters of Permatang Pauh of whom 69% are Malays.

2. But the BN leadership, especially UMNO, never learn. Instead of strengthening national unity among the people, UMNO tried desperately to whip up racial emotions on the NEP issue by mob demonstrations in Penang immediately after the elections. The orchestrating of the student demonstrations at UiTM by UMNO this month, the inflammatory speeches of their MPs in Parliament and racial instigation against SAPP MPs over the no confidence motion in June all prove that the BN and UMNO are still trapped in the old mind set of racial compartmentalization of Malaysian politics.

3. In fact, after the March general elections, both the PM and DPM had declared that the BN would conduct independent studies on the losses suffered by the BN and why people were rejecting BN. Several high level BN committees were even formed to re-brand BN.

4. But instead of changing for the better with people-friendly policies, the BN government played around with fuel prices at the whims and fancies of the Prime Minister inflicting suffering on the ordinary people. High level corruption continues unabated. And according to news reports quoting senior UMNO leaders, this year's UMNO party divisional and branch elections are the dirtiest and most corrupted by money politics ever in the history of UMNO.

5. When SAPP first declared no confidence in the PM, almost all the BN component parties chose to condemn SAPP instead of solving the issues affecting the people raised by SAPP. SAPP reminds the BN component parties to join the SAPP's move of no confidence in the PM so as to effect change for the better in the country. SAPP now calls on the people in Malaysia, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, to be ready for change.


The result of the Permatang Pauh by-election 2008, is a testimony that the people including BN and UMNO members are rejecting BN administration.

Party Keadilan's Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim garnered 31,195 votes while BN 15,524 votes, giving a majority of 15,671 votes.

Although BN's total membership in Permatang Pauh is 26,942 ( UMNO 19,442, Gerakan 2,900, MCA 2,400, MIC 1,700, PPP 500 ) but BN managed to secure only 15,524 votes. This shows that a total of 11,271 BN members have opted to support Party Keadilan's Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

As Permatang Pauh is in the home state of the Prime Minister, the failure of BN in wresting Permatang Pauh from the opposition, is an expression of no-confidence on the Prime Minister's leadership.



Issued by SAPP HQ

Majimbun's Press statement

Press Statement by YB Datuk Eric Majimbun
MP for Sepanggar/ Deputy President of Sabah Progressive Party
26 August 2008


CONVENTION ON SABAH ISSUES


1. About 1,200 people are expected to attend the Convention on Sabah Issues to be held at the Putera Theatre Ballroom in Kota Kinabalu on August 30, from 12.30 pm to 4.30 pm.

2. Organizing Chairman, Datuk Eric Majimbun, said the current political development in the country had prompted SAPP to organize this convention.

3. This convention is a follow up to a Special Committee chaired by Majimbun which was set for the purpose of collecting, compiling and analyzing issues submitted by the people.

4. The convention will provide an opportunity for views and recommendations to be expressed by the people. The views will be compiled into a document for endorsement by other political parties, organizations and individuals paving the way for it to be adopted as a roadmap for Sabah towards establishing a trustworthy government and a progressive, just and harmonious society.

5. We feel it is important during this critical period for the people to re-connect with the history of Sabah¡¯s independence, the position of Sabah as a state within the Federation of Malaysia as well as the current economic condition of the State.

Among the speakers will be former Chief Minister Datuk Harris Salleh.

Below is the full text of the statement.

No way says Maximus

KOTA KINABALU, Aug 25 (Bernama) -- Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) deputy president Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said the PBS Kiulu division was intact, despite claims to the contrary by division chief Sindin Ranggangon that it was dissolved.

"It is nonsense for Sindin to announce the dissolution of the Kiulu division when proper procedures were not followed.

"Sindin has no power to dissolve branches or division," he told Bernama here Monday.

Dr Maximus, who is also science, technology and innovation minister, was asked to comment on Sindin's claims today that the PBS Kiulu Division was dissolved at a special meeting in Kampung Pukak Sunday, with the majority of its office-bearers reportedly resigning their posts.

Sindin, who was issued a show-cause letter recently for suggesting party president Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan hand over the leadership to another leader, resigned from the party with immediate effect.

He also declared his intention to join Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

Dr Maximus said the support of the party, especially in Kiulu, remained solid.

"Sindin is not a real loss to the party. He has saved time for the disciplinary committee from holding its next meeting and take the necessary action on him," he said, adding that the party headquarters would appoint an acting division chief among the remaining members of the division soon.

On Aug 14, the PBS disciplinary committee issued a show-cause letter to Sindin for asking Pairin to hand over the reins of the party to other PBS leaders.

He had suggested Dr Maximus as the most appropriate.

Meanwhile, PBS secretary-general Datuk Radin Malleh said there was no provision in the party constitution that allowed an individual to dissolve a division.

Sindin quits, dissolves division

Sindin Ranggangon, who had called on Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan (Pix) to step down, had quit the party Saturday. Some 3,000 members of the party in the Kiulu Division followed him.

"We had also dissolved the Kiulu PBS Division," he said Monday. He had been called up by PBS disciplinary committee to explain his action against Pairin but no decision was made apart from issuing him a show cause letter.

Sindin headed the division after defeating the Kiulu Assemblyman Datuk Louis Rampas during the party's last election.

Sindin said he was seriously considering joining the opposition party - Party Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

Responding to Sindin, Rampas said he respected his decision to resign from the party. "Now it look like I have to start all over again, fillng up membership forms," he said.

Justice Ian Chin goes on long leave

Raised eyebrows as Judge Chin takes leave
25th August, 2008

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s Justice Datuk Ian H. C. Chin embroiled in the judicial “boot camp” controversy with former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has taken long leave, a Sabah-based tabloid reported today.

Court officials believe his leave is prior to going on optional retirement. Justice Chin, the 61 year-old Kota Kinabalu High Court judge, began his leave on Thursday.

But no confirmation was available if he is calling it a day or when he submitted his optional retirement papers.

Legal officials said Justice Chin, who packed many of his things from his office at the court building here before going on leave, has also informed them to postpone cases to next year.

They said the Internet savvy judge has also shut down his website at www.kkhighcourt.com where he was among the few to post case proceedings and judgments immediately after a trial.

A check showed that the website was no longer available since Friday.

Neither the Sandakan born Justice Chin, nor the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, Tan Sri Richard Malanjum, could be reached for comments.

In June, Justice Chin burst into the media limelight when he made an explosive judicial revelation during an election petition hearing in Sarawak by accusing Dr Mahathir of sending judges to boot camps.

His accusation was that selected judges were sent to the camp to ensure that they got the message in making favourable decisions for the administration of Dr Mahathir.

This saw Dr Mahathir lashing back at Justice Chin in his Chedet blogsite and denying the allegation of sending judges to boot camps with Dr Mahathir’s ex aide Matthias Chang even calling for the judge’s sacking.

Sabah lawyers said they have been hearing about Justice Chin’s intention to go for optional retirement since early this month but could not obtain confirmation as he was a judge who kept to himself.

They said if Justice Chin quit the judicial service where he could remain till the official retirement age of 66, it would be a big loss to the Malaysian judiciary because he was well respected and seen as a no nonsense judge in court.

Justice Chin, who was among the more senior of some 50 High Court judges in the country, began as a lawyer in the early 1970s and has unsuccessfully contested as a Berjaya party candidate twice in the elections.

He was later appointed Judicial Commission and rose to be High Court judge in early 1990s.

Pahit Manis in town

Yesterday evening I received an sms from Kuala Lumpur-based blogger Pahit Manis saying that he had just landed in Kota Kinabalu and would be calling me today.

This blogger, I had known for more then 30 years as he was my boss while I was working for the New Straits Times.

I was with NST in the time of Group Editors PC Shivadas, Datuk A Kadir Jasin, Datuk Ahmad Talib and Datuk Kalimullah Hassan.

The present Group Editor Datuk Syed Nadzri Syed Harun then was my immediate editor.

Count me out says Majimbun

Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) deputy president Datuk Eric Majimbun, who still maintained his support to any motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, denied he was one of 13 Barisan Nasional(BN) Sabah MPs planning to cross over to Pakatan Rakyat after the Permatang Pauh by-election next Tuesday.

"This is a cheap publicity stunt by the opposition to attract people's attention at the expense of others," said the BN-SAPP MP for Sepanggar.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat vice-president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan has said that 13 BN MPs, including two from SAPP, will switch camps if PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wins the seat.

"That is typical of them. He did not even name me when he said 13 BN MPs, including two from SAPP. There are only two SAPP MPs, Datuk Chua Soon Bui and I. So in his statement he must have meant me, but why didn't he say so?"

Majimbun, who was in Permatang Pauh with Chua, MP for Tawau, to observe the election campaign, challenged Jeffrey to name all the other MPs ready to jump ship.

"Going by his statement, the 11 others are from Umno, so why not name them now."

Jeffrey claimed that the 13 MPs had met with him and expressed their support for Anwar. Sabah has 24 BN MPs.

Majimbun, who was Kota Kinabalu Native Court chief judge before entering politics, said he had not been in contact with Jeffery for him to make such a preposterous statement.

Points to ponder

Datuk Yong Teck Lee speaking to reporters at the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) HQ at Bornion Centre, Luyang after unveiling of the "Malaysia 1963" bill board on Wednesday, August 20.


The SAPP president said:-

For 45 years, the nation has been struggling with the idea whether the national day (Hari Kebangsaan) should be celebrated starting from 1957 (when Malaya achieved independence) or 1963 (when Malaysia was formed after the Malaysia Agreement with the United Kingdom, Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak).


Both Sabah and Malaya achieved independence on August 31 but on different years; Malaya in 1957 and Sabah in 1963. On 16 September 1963, Malaysia was officially formed and the new Malaysia flag with 14 stripes of red and white and the 14-pointed star was raised for the first time in Malaysia.


At one of the BN Supreme Council meetings last year (2007 being 50 years after Malaya achieved independence), this was debated again, mainly between the UPKO President who favoured 1963 and an UMNO leader who insisted on 1957. As we all know, the federal government defied historical truth and went ahead to declare the 50th Hari Kebangsaan for Malaysia, thereby using 1957.


Today, we see that the authorities still insist on using the historically erroneous date of 1957 for Hari Kebangsaan. What saddens the people is that even the Sabah State Government has mistakenly or obediently adopted the 1957 date by declaring this year's (2008) Hari Kebangsaan as 51st rather than 45th. We note that Sarawak has done the right thing by celebrating the the 45th Hari Kebangsaan and not the 51st Hari Kebangsaan.


SAPP calls on the Sabah State Government to do justice to the early pioneers of Sabah and the founders of the Malaysia to declare 2008 as the 45th Hari Kebangsaan and not the 51st Hari Kebangsaan. People in Sabah (then North Borneo) and Sarawak has nothing but colonial rule to celebrate in 1957. As true Malaysians, we should celebrate 1963.


Our bill board "Malaysia 1963" at our party HQ today is to highlight to the Government and the people that we celebrate Malaysia 1963 and the 45th Hari Kebangsaan. We call on academicians, historians, civil servants and our political leaders to speak up in the interests of history and true facts so that the government will respect history and truth.

Let us pray....

PRESS STATEMENT ON THE WARNING AND “SHOW CAUSE” LETTERS ISSUED BY THE HOME MINISTRY TO THE HERALD

A series of warning letters culminating in a “show cause” letter have been issued by the Home Ministry to the HERALD-The Catholic Weekly in respect of articles carried by the paper which, according to an official from the Home Ministry, were allegedly “politically inclined and touched on Islamic issues”.

The Herald is a weekly publication printed by the Catholic Church in Malaysia. It carries news of current affairs and religious and educational articles with a view to propagating the Catholic faith. The Herald is sold in churches and not by newsvendors. The Herald has a circulation of 13,000 copies per week and a readership estimated at 50,000.

In seeking to control the contents of the Herald, the Home Ministry’s warning and “show cause” letters go against Article 3 (1), Article 10 (1) (a) and Article 11 (3) (a) of the Federal Constitution i.e. the right to freely practice one’s religion, the general freedom of speech and expression and the right of a religious group to manage its own affairs. Such controls would deprive the Catholic community of current information and education relating to their faith and such an act by the authorities is tantamount to a curtailment of religious freedom.

The Honourable Home Minister has said that the Herald should restrict its articles to matter pertaining to religion only. In an article carried by the Sun on 14.8.2008, he was quoted as stating:

“If you are to write on religion, then you are supposed to touch on matters pertaining to:

• questions on rituals,

• adherence to God,

• followers

• and anything related to your divine mission.”

It is significant that the Honourable Minister referred to matters pertaining to the adherence to God, followers and anything related to the divine mission. The Catholic Church teaches that it is the duty of Christians to contribute along with the civil authorities to the good of the society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity and freedom. This contribution of Christians to society is rooted in love. This love manifests itself in social and political charity. Social charity is to seek the good of all people not only as individuals but as a larger, social community. In order to promulgate social charity, it is necessary to organise and structure society in order that no member of society is left in need. Organising and structuring society requires the application of political charity. This teaching in found in the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church and for the purpose of easy reference this can be read on pages 207 & 208 under the section “The Way of Love”.

The reporting in the Herald is in line with the teachings of the Catholic Church on social and political charity and on each Catholic’s mission as an adherent of the faith.

Ultimately, the interpretation of what constitutes religious matters should be left to the leaders and adherents of the faith in question. The Home Ministry is not in a position to dictate to Catholics (or for that matter, the proponents of any other faith) the scope of their religion.

The Catholic Lawyers’ Society of Kuala Lumpur calls on the Home Ministry to withdraw its warning and “show cause” letters and maintain the Herald’s publishing permit.

Dated this 18th day of August 2008

Mabel Sabastian
President
Catholic Lawyers’ Society Kuala Lumpur

This make sense

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee on Tuesday said:

1. Based on preliminary information, it seems that BN will spend more on the Permatang Pauh by-election than the RM 50 million that government is spending on tackling the illegal immigrant woes in Sabah and Labuan.

2. The national BN is already sending thousands of campaigners to Permatang Pauh. Knowing the extent and extravagance of BN campaigning, the costs will likely be in tens of millions of ringgit.

3. Sabah BN alone has announced sending hundreds of people to Permatang Pauh in Penang. UMNO Sabah leaders, youth, wanita, puteri and putera and BN components such as PBS are lining up to impress their federal leaders that they will diligently campaign to ensure a BN victory. For many UMNO divisional delegates, a trip to Permatang Pauh is also a joy trip for the on-going party divisional election campaign.

4. The costs of traveling, accommodation, food and campaigning will definitely amount to millions of ringgit. Where will this money come from? The money will not come from the national BN because the national BN is already near bankrupt by being unable to settle the (High Court) judgment debt of Ringgit 218 milllion as a result of the unpaid election bills of the 2004 general elections. It remains to be seen how the BN will settle the election debts of the March 2008 general elections. And now the BN has to face their most-feared opponent in a by-election.

5. We call on the Sabah government leaders not to allow Sabah to be the milking cow for the BN election debts of RM 218 million and for Permatang Pauh by-election. The reported RM 16 million purportedly sourced from Sabah and intended for the Permatang Pauh by-election that was intercepted by anti-money laundering law enforcement agencies in a foreign country lends credence to our worries.

6. SAPP asks the Sabah UMNO and other BN leaders whether it is in their conscience to waste Sabah peoples' money in this extravagant way.

7. At a time when large numbers of families in Sabah cannot afford an extra meal, people are struggling with petrol prices, children foregoing tuition classes, sick people missing out on medical treatment, tenants worried about over due rentals and electricity bills, the Sabah BN leaders must show that they care enough to do something about the peoples' livelihood. We all know that the worst is yet to come. By year end, families will face the prospects of higher school bus fares and various expenses related to schooling. Low income parents will have to make a heart breaking choice of either to send their kids back to school or to let them work in a tough job market due to economic stagnation with more jobless people. Inflation will rise beyond 8% and ordinary people will have to forgo some basic necessities of life.

8. On the part of SAPP, we shall only send a 3-cadre team to study the by-election for research purposes. Our 2 MPs might spend the week end parliament break to visit the constituency of Permatang Pauh with other MPs.

13 Sabah MPs to ditch BN?

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan has claimed that 13 Sabah members of parliament will cross over to the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) if PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wins the Permatang Pauh by-election next Tuesday.

He also claimed that the 13 MPs had met with him and expressed their support for Anwar.

“We speak the truth. I am talking about the 13 MPs who will join Pakatan Rakyat after Anwar wins this (Permatang Pauh) by-election... they are just waiting (to crossover),” he told reporters after delivering a talk in Jalan Berapit,Bukit Mertajam Monday night.

Jeffrey said two of the MPs were from the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and the rest from Umno.

The PR needs at least 30 more MPs to be able to form the Federal Government. Sabah has 24 Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs.

Anwar is involved in a three-corner fight for the Permatang Pauh seat, vacated on July 31 by his wife and PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to enable Anwar become an MP. The BN has fielded Seberang Jaya state assemblyman Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah. The third candidate is Hanafi Mamat of Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia (Akim). — BERNAMA

My Say:

SAPP MPs identified - Datuk Eric Majimbun (Sepanggar) and Datuk Dr Chua Soon Bui (Tawau). Who are the other 11 MPs??

Sabah politician again!!!

Another Sabah high-ranking politician comes under ACA scrutiny

KUALA LUMPUR, Tues: Another high-ranking Sabah politician has come under the scrutiny of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) for alleged bribery involving almost RM60 million.

Bernama learnt that the probe on the 48-year-old politician began after the Sabah ACA received 23 reports from a branch leader of a political party last month, pertaining to the matter.

It is learnt that the suspected politician was a former chairman of a housing development company.

Bernama learnt that the Sabah ACA had seized files and documents from the company recently, and recorded statements from several senior officers of the company to facilitate the probe.

It is learnt that the politician had influnced and bribed few senior officials of the housing development company to obtain housing projects under a construction company which he owned.

Bernama also learnt that most of the projects obtained by the politician did not meet the dateline upon completion. Some of them were stalled due to dire financial straits.

The said politician had also allegedly used his power to give sub-contracts to his proxies, which included some high-ranking politicians.

The proxies returned the favour by ’rewarding’ the politician with millions of ringgit.

The complainant in the case, who wanted to be identified only as Zul, said he had sent an official letter to the political party’s supreme council to take futher action against the errant politician.

“In the letter, I had clearly stated the offences committed (by the politician). I hope the ACA will conduct a fair probe into his wrong-doings which were committed since 2004,” said Zul.

Zul said he had also lodged a report at the Semporna police station early last month on the matter.

Bernama also understands that the complainant had made a statutory declaration at the Semporna Magistrate’s Court last month on his ACA and police reports. — BERNAMA


My Say:

When a similar reports was widely published in all the newspapers earlier this month, Labuan Member of Parliament Datuk Yussof Mahal responded openly declaring that `May be I am the one'.

Will the politician indicated in this latest report do the same?

Musa Aman: Nothing to do with me

"I would like to stress here that I have no political and financial connection with this man," Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman said of a posting HERE linking him with a Sabahan businessman arrested in Hongkong last Thursday for alleged money trafficking and laundering.

"He is not my nominee and I have no nominee," Musa, Who is also Sabah Finance Minister.

"I know him and as Chief Minister of Sabah I meet a lot of friends and I have many friends," he said when asked by reporters whether he knew Michael Chia as the businessman named in the report.

Malaysia Today quoted a close source of the Hongkong police and Interpol that they had monitored the person's activities for three months.

The reported stated that the businessman who was reported to have had his Malaysian passport impounded was nabbed together with Singapore worth RM16 million inside his baggage while trying to board a flight to Kuala Lumpur at the Chejk Lap Kok Airport.

Just a show-cause letter

Kiulu Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) divisional chief Sindin Ranggangon who called for party president Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan to step down was yesterday issued a show-cause letter by the party's disciplinary committee.

PBS secretary general Datuk Radin Malleh said Sindin was given two weeks to reply why action should not be taken against him for his action which was against the party's interest.

Radin said the committee noted that Sindin's action was not in the best interest of the party but at the same time acknowledged his right to be heard.

In an immediate respond, Sindin said he would reply the letter within the stipulated time. He reiterated his stand to stay put with PBS.

My Say:

I am optimistic that Sindin is not alone in wanting Pairin to step down as PBS president. The others remain silent for reason best known to them only.