theSun | THURSDAY APRIL 16 2009
news without borders
Poser over Penang
deputy CM issue
KUALA LUMPUR: The decision to allow
the post of Penang deputy chief minister
(DCM) I to remain vacant for now to give
Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) de facto leader
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim more time to sort
out internal issues has raised more questions
than answers.
According to political analysts, PKR is
pushing for a by-election in the Penanti state
constituency held by Mohammad Fairus
Khairuddin, who resigned from the state’s
second most-powerful post on April 8 follow-
ing allegations that linked him with illegal
quarrying activities.
But the option of a by-election is said to
be opposed by other parties in the opposition
coalition, namely DAP and PAS.
“PKR wants a by-election but DAP and
PAS do not want one. Both DAP and PAS
said it would not be good for the image of the
opposition coalition as people are already
feeling tired of having too many by-elections.
Unless it is necessary, don’t push for it,” said
a Penang DAP leader, who spoke on condi-
tion of anonymity.
According to party insiders, Anwar has
three options to fill the DCM I post which is
reserved for PKR in the DAP-PKR-PAS coali-
tion state government.
The first option is to appoint state executive
councillor and Batu Maung assemblyman
Abdul Malik Abdul Kassim but the problem
is that Malek has been perceived as the man
behind Fairus’ downfall.
The second option is to appoint Sungai
Bakap assemblyman Maktar Shapee but he
does not have strong academic credentials.
This has left Anwar with the third choice
– of having a by-election to be contested by
a candidate of his choice who would be ap-
pointed to the post on winning the seat.
Raiding homes for pirated
discs ridiculous: PCPA
by Bernard Cheah
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
GEORGE TOWN: Several Penang-based non-
governmental organisations (NGOs) are against
the police move to raid residential houses for
pirated discs.
Penang Consumer Protection Association
(PCPA) president K. Koris Atan said the move was
“not feasible, ridiculous and just a rumour being
circulated by the public.”
“What if the consumers themselves burn a
copy of a movie or songs for their own use and
keep the discs, is that wrong? The police have to
use their discretion,” he said.
Koris said the police had more urgent matters
to attend to, like maintaining peace and public
order, than to go after individuals with pirated
discs.
“The police and the Trade and Consumer Af-
fairs Ministry should go after the big fish instead,
like those involved in illegally manufacturing
such discs,” he added.
Penang CPO Datuk Wira Ayub Yaakob had said
Don’t write untruths, bloggers warned
KUALA LUMPUR: Bloggers can criticise the
government, but action can be taken against
them if they write untruths, said Information,
Communications and Culture Minister Datuk
Seri Dr Rais Yatim.
Advising bloggers not to touch on personal
matters, he said the issue was also discussed
at the first meeting of the new cabinet yester-
day.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul
Razak had agreed to shorten the name of the
ministry to Information, Communications and
Culture, by removing “Arts”, Rais said after a
visit to the Information Department at Wisma
9
This option is clearly against public opin-
ion, with the people being “sick and tired” of
by-elections. There have already been five
by-elections since the general election in
March last year.
“PAS, which is holding the Permatang
Pasir state seat one of the two state constitu-
encies under Permatang Pauh, is also not in
favour of a by-election,” a party source said.
But analysts said there is a strong pos-
sibility that PKR would be pushing for a
by-election in Penanti, either to be held in
May or June.
This is to take advantage of the opposition
coalition’s popularity after having won four
of the five by-elections so far.
If a by-election is held upon Fairus vacat-
ing the seat, PKR has a very good chance
of retaining it, with Dr Mansor Othman, a
former university lecturer and Anwar’s po-
litical secretary, tipped to be the candidate,
said Penang-based political analyst Datuk
Seah Chee Kim.
But some quarters in the coalition are not
comfortable with Mansor and there is also
speculation that state PKR chairman Datuk
Zahrin Mohd Hashim, who is also Bayan
Baru MP, will be picked as the candidate.
Whether there is a by-election or not, the
delay in naming the new DCM 1 is already
causing some damage to the credibility of the
state government.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was to have
made the appointment last week after Fairus
officially resigned as DCM 1, but he gave An-
war a week to decide on the PKR candidate
to replace Fairus.
Lim said yesterday the post would remain
vacant for the moment to allow Anwar more
time to resolve internal party issues first.
– Bernama
the police may check homes and set up road-
blocks in the state to search for pirated discs or
video, as steps to crackdown on music and film
piracy seemed ineffective.
The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP)
said the crackdown on pirated DVDs and VCDs
should start at the source and not consumers.
“Even if they (the police) were to go after the
consumers, traders involved in the piracy busi-
ness would still have their way in the market,”
said CAP vice-chairman Mohideen Abdul Kader.
He said the police must have a warrant from
the court to enter people’s houses to search for
pirated goods.
Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) Penang
coordinator Lau Shu Shi said: “It is an invasion of
privacy of any civilian.
“Without the necessary information and war-
rant, the police cannot simply enter anyone’s
house or pry into someone’s car at a roadblock,”
she said.
Lau added that the police should inform the
individuals of what they are looking for before
they enter their houses or check their vehicles.
Sime Darby.
Rais said the three ministries amalgamated
into one would undertake greater enforcement
under the Communications and Multimedia
Act.
He said the ministry would implement the
“1Malaysia” programme with resolve so that
it was understood and accepted by all levels
of society.
Rais said the Information Department was
reminded to give priority to the public interest
in the villages, new villages and urban centres in
the delivery of information and social guidance.
– Bernama