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news without borders
Malaysia needs NEP
for all, says Khir
by Maria J. Dass
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
SHAH ALAM: Malaysia needs
a new economic policy that is
relevant to all races, says Umno
Supreme Council member Datuk
Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo.
“The Malays are not fond of
the New Economic Policy (NEP),
the Chinese do not like it and the
Indians hate it,” said the former
Selangor mentri besar who is vy-
ing for the post of Umno Youth
chief in March.
He said this when asked why
Barisan Nasional lost Kuala Ter-
engganu to the Opposition and if
this was a sign for Umno and the
coalition to make some changes.
Speaking to reporters at the
Selangor headquarters yesterday,
he said Umno and BN needed to
make three changes to remain
relevant politically. They are
changes to:
» party and coalition;
» administration; and
» current economic policy.
Currently, the income gap is big
as Malays have an average income
of RM2,800, Indians RM3,200 and
Chinese RM4,400, he said and this
is why a new economic policy
needs to be drawn up.
Graft report lodged against BN
KUALA LUMPUR: Two Members
of Parliament yesterday lodged
a report with the Malaysian
Anti-Corruption Commission
(MACC) to initiate a probe on
Barisan Nasional leaders over
several “promises” they made
to voters when campaigning in
the Kuala Terengganu by-elec-
tion last week.
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng
and Kelana Jaya MP Low Gwo
Burne lodged the report at the
Federal Territory MACC office
at noon.
They submitted copies of
newspaper reports of BN lead-
ers making promises to award
certain funding should they win
the by-election and also on the
allegations made by reporters
claiming they had received
several hundred ringgit from
Khir said there was also a
need to narrow the disparity in
the quality of life among the peo-
ple in terms of infrastructure.
“In some places in Sabah,
Sarawak and even Kuala Tereng-
ganu, there are people who
do not even have water and
electricity in their homes. I do
not feel that making changes in
Umno and BN is good enough to
garner votes and support.
“Umno and BN need to
change just like after May 13,
1969, when the late premier Tun
Abdul Razak changed Perikatan
to BN which was open to other
parties,” he said.
“The problem of lack of
interaction with the people and
arrogant leaders can be resolved
individually. But we urgently
need to make changes to the ad-
ministration because one major
problem is that the people do not
feel the presence of government
officials.
“We see major policies made
at the top level which means
nothing when it reaches the
bottom rungs of society. These
should trickle down nicely, that’s
why the government should look
at the machinery involved, espe-
cially at district level offices.”
officers at the media centre set
up for the by-election.
Among them were the an-
nouncements by Deputy Prime
Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul
Razak on the setting up of a
Fishermen’s Emergency Fund
with a launching capital of
RM1million, extra and direct
funding of almost RM24 million
for development of Chinese
schools and a pledge to “look
after” Class F contractors – al-
locating about RM15.8 million
worth of contracts for them.
“These announcements
made by BN are questionable, “
said Lim, adding that FT MACC
director Azni Hamzah said a
thorough investigation would
be carried out to ascertain if
there were elements of graft.
– Charles Ramendran
theSun | FRIDAY JANUARY 23 2009
Cops to quiz deputy ministers
over morgue incident
by Charles Ramendran Although he did not name the two the Selangor CPO that the post mor-
newsdesk@thesundaily.com deputy ministers, it is understood he tem report revealed Kugan’s death
was referring to Datuk S.K. Devamany was the result of fluid retention in
PETALING JAYA: Police will record and T. Murugiah, both with the Prime his lungs and not from the injuries he
statements from two deputy ministers Minister’s Department. sustained. Hence, the family wants a
who were present at the Serdang Hos- Khalid also said a post-mortem second post mortem to be conducted
pital mortuary when about 50 family showed that Kugan had died of exces- at the UMMC,” said Police Watch and
members and friends of 22-year-old sive fluid in his lungs. He said the report Human Rights committee head S.
A.Kugan, who died in police custody, also stated that the injuries on his body Jayathas.
allegedly forced their way in to view were not the cause of his death. He said the family’s lawyer N.
his body on Monday. “However, I assure the family that Surendran will handle the legal proce-
Selangor police chief DCP Datuk we will not spare anyone responsible dures required to apply for a second
Khalid Abu Bakar said an official at the for the injuries caused to him. I give my post mortem to be conducted.
mortuary lodged a report with Sepang word that there will be no cover-up as I He said Kugan’s body was only sent
police alleging several dozen people do not condone abuse of power if that to the UMMC morgue at about 9pm
barged into the mortuary and wheeled was the case. I urge his family to be and the deceased’s family lodged an-
Kugan’s body out of the cold room. calm and not take the law into their other police report over the incident.
Beruas The hospital official also alleged own hands.” he said. In response, Khalid said as far as the
Umno that the people had handled the body At about 2.30pm, Kugan’s funeral police are concerned the first post mor-
vice-chief and took photos of it. took place at his house at Puchong tem was done on legitimate grounds
charged Khalid said police are probing the Kinrara. Among the 200 people who and Kugan’s family had claimed the
case as trespass with criminal intent attended was MIC president Datuk Seri body initially without protest.
with graft and also for criminal intimidation. S. Samy Vellu. He said it was the family’s right to
pg4 He said it was wrong for anyone Meanwhile, in a twist of events, call for a second autopsy after seeking a
except hospital officials to handle the Kugan’s remains which were taken for relevant order from the court of law. “Our
body as a post-mortem had yet to be burial at a cemetery in Puchong was priority now is to probe on how and who
conducted and there is an ongoing instead taken to the University Malaya inflicted those injuries on Kugan.”
investigation into the man’s death. Medical Centre (UMMC) mortuary after Khalid also cautioned those who
He said a police officer who arrived
at the mortuary after being called
the family of the deceased expressed
dissatisfaction over the first post
carried banners of Kugan’s body
which he said had sensitive and racial
permitted only a family member to mortem conducted at the Serdang slogans.
identify the body, but the crowd defied Hospital. “I hope they will stop carrying such
the instruction and rushed into the cold “The family is not convinced and is banners. Otherwise we will be forced
room. unhappy with the statement made by to take action against them,” he said.
Rasdi Ramli said the fatalities reported on “We are confident the warm and
Wednesday comprised 10 motorcyclists, mutually beneficial relations that hap-
two pedestrians, a car driver, a lorry driver pily exist between our two countries
briefs and a jeep driver, Bernama reports.
Most of the accidents occurred on mu-
will develop further and flourish under
your new administration,” said the King
nicipal roads, totalling 514 cases, followed in a letter dated Jan 14 to Obama.
15 fatalities on third day by federal roads (247), state roads (195), Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi,
expressways (109) and other roads (54). in his congratulatory letter, said Malay-
of Ops Sikap sia looked forward to working closely
KUALA LUMPUR: The number of fatalities King, PM congratulate with the Obama administration in ad-
reported under Ops Sikap 19 continued to dressing issues of bilateral concern.
increase with another 15 people killed in Obama “Malaysia looks forward as well to
road accidents nationwide on Wednesday. WASHINGTON: Yang di-Pertuan Agong your leadership in finding solutions to
This brought to 35 the number of people Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin and Raja pressing international issues, in particu-
killed since the operation began three days Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah lar a just, lasting and comprehensive
ago. have congratulated Barack Obama on his peace in the Middle East,” he said in the
Bukit Aman public relations officer Supt inauguration as the 44th US president. letter dated Monday. – Bernama