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Mohan is MIC
Youth chief
KUALA LUMPUR: MIC Youth coordinator T. Mohan
won the MIC Youth chief’s post, defeating his
opponent S. P. Muthu Velloo after garnering 321
votes to Muthu Velloo’s 148 in the party’s polls
yesterday.
Datin Paduka P. Komala Devi retained her
position as Wanita MIC chief when she won by
a 26-vote majority in a straight fight against her
deputy S. Thangesvari. Komala Devi obtained 238
votes, and Thangesvari 212.
The announcement of the results was made
by MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu at
Dewan Merdeka at the Putra World Trade Centre
at 6.10pm.
The MIC Youth deputy chief’s position was won
by Youth Political Bureau chief V. Mugilan who
garnered 266 votes. His opponent R. Vidyanan-
than, who is the Kahang assemblyman in Johor,
obtained 204 votes.
The deputy Wanita chief’s post went to Dr C. V.
Prema from Perak who obtained 279 votes. She
defeated Negri Sembilan Wanita MIC chief Dr P.
Thanaletchumi who secured 172 votes.
Both wings also voted 12 candidates into the
National Youth Council, 35 delegates to the MIC
General Assembly and two candidates for posts
in the Central Working Committee.
When opening the simultaneous general as-
sembly of the MIC Wanita, Youth, Puteri and Putera
wings, Samy Vellu announced that the age limit for
Youth members would be raised from 40 to 45. He
said the MIC would have more people from the
younger generation who could provide second
echelon leaders.
A report on amendments to the MIC constitu-
tion will be tabled at the 63rd MIC Youth delegates
conference on Sept 12 for approval.
“This move is important so that the Youth will
be prepared for the 13th general election where
more than two million new younger generation
voters are expected to vote for the first time,”
Samy Vellu said. – Bernama
Lawyers not above the law, Suhakam inquiry told
KUALA LUMPUR: Bar Council president Ragunath
Kesavan told a Human Rights Commission of Ma-
laysia (Suhakam) public inquiry here yesterday
that lawyers were not above the law as there
had been cases of lawyers being arrested by the
police.
He said as such, the arrest of five lawyers
from the Kuala Lumpur (KL) Legal Aid Centre by
police on May 7 this year was not the first case
as before that veteran lawyer Karpal Singh had
been arrested and charged for allegedly uttering
seditious words. Several other lawyers had also
been charged in court, he added.
However, Ragunath said what the Bar was
concerned about was how and why they (the KL
Rohaizat eligible to
contest: Zahid
BUKIT MERTAJAM: Permatang Pauh Umno
division secretary, Rohaizat Othman (pix), is
eligible to contest as Barisan Nasional (BN)
candidate for the Permatang Pasir state seat
by-election even if his civil lawyer’s licence
had been revoked by the Malaysian Bar Coun-
cil.
Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad
Zahid Hamidi said the issue would not affect
Rohaizat’s chances in the by-election.
“Umno’s legal adviser has run a check
and found that he (Rohaizat) is still eligible
Legal Aid Centre lawyers) were arrested by the
police, as they had gone to the police station to
meet their clients who had called to say they
were in police custody.
“The police arrested them when they were
on duty. They were not taking part in the as-
sembly in front of the Brickfields police station.
They were there to see their clients,” he said.
Ragunath said if the five lawyers who were
arrested were part of the assembly, the Bar
would not have called for an extraordinary
general meeting (EGM) after their arrest.
Ragunath, the eighth witness, was speak-
ing at the inquiry which started on Friday and
is chaired by Suhakam Commissioner Datuk
to contest in Permatang
Pasir,” he told reporters
after visiting the BN opera-
tions centre in Bukit Meraj, Jalan
Permatang Pauh, here, yesterday.
Zahid, who is also Penang Umno liaison
chief, was commenting on media reports
pertaining to the revocation of Rohaizat’s civil
lawyer’s licence by the Bar Council.
Ahmad Zahid said the licence was revoked
in 2003 following problems incurred by the
former partner in the legal firm.
briefs
DPM: Opportunists who rouse
racial sentiments are traitors
KUDAT: Opportunists who jeopardise public
order and create racial tension are traitors and
should be opposed completely, said Deputy Prime
Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
He said Malaysia, which is unique because of
its plural society, is enjoying peace because of
the policy adopted several decades ago by past
leaders and this policy must be upheld.
“Malaysia has become a model nation be-
cause although we have diversity in culture, we
have a strong sense of unity. Now, we are striving
to strengthen the economy, improve social edu-
cation, health, rural infrastructure, and schools
especially in Sabah.
“We want to continue (development ef-
forts), others should not try to create disputes
... The agenda on national development is most
important, nothing else is more important,” said
Muhyiddin, who is also Umno deputy president,
when opening the Kudat and Kota Marudu Umno
divisional delegates conference, here yesterday.
Stop fighting over religion,
Pak Lah tells Umno and PAS
KEPALA BATAS: Former prime minister Tun
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has called on Umno
and PAS to cease fighting over issues on Islam
but to discuss and reach a consensus on the
matter for the benefit of Muslims.
He said although there had been several
attempts for discussion between Umno and
PAS, they never materialised and efforts
should continue to be made until a consensus
was reached on the matter.
Abdullah, who is Kepala Batas Umno chief,
said this when speaking to reporters after
opening the divisional delegates meeting
yesterday.
He expressed confidence that both par-
ties could reach a consensus on the matter
if both explained the intention of having the
discussion, as well as matters to be discussed
beforehand.
“Umno has to clarify what it wants to talk
about first. Is it about the party, the govern-
ment or other issues,” he added.
Abdullah, who was the former Umno presi-
theSun | MONDAY AUGUST 17 2009
Muhammad Shafee Abdullah and assisted by
commissioners Datuk Dr Michael Yeoh Onn
Kheng and Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria.
Among those arrested were Fadiah Nadwa
Fikri, Murnie Hidayah Anuar, Ravinder Singh
Dhalliwal and Syuhaini Safwan. They were ar-
rested at 9.30pm on May 7, and were released
the next day.
The Bar Council president said after hearing
about the lawyers’ arrest, he went to the Jalan
Travers police station where they were detained
on May 8, but was not allowed to see them.
The inquiry, which is being held at Suhakam’s
inquiry room on the 29th Floor of Menara Tun
Razak here, will resume on Aug 29. – Bernama
“The Bar Council’s decision must be
respected by the lawyers registered under it.
Legally, Rohaizat is probably innocent, but
morally, it can be questioned by his oppo-
nents,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid said Rohaizat could still
serve as syariah lawyer if he chose to do so
because only the syariah court could revoke
his licence.
“This is an issue of public perception.
We will explain to the voters what really
happened,” he said while admitting that
the Opposition would definitely use the
issue to their advantage.
On Friday, Deputy Prime Minister
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that
Rohaizat was picked to contest in the by-elec-
tion, which is being held following the death
of its assemblyman Datuk Mohd Hamdan
Abdul Rahman on July 31.
The Election Commission has fixed today
for nomination day and Aug 25 for polling.
The constituency has 20,290 registered vot-
ers including one postal voter.
Of the total, 72.36% are Malays, 25.85%
Chinese, 1.63% Indians and the rest comprise
others. – Bernama
dent, hoped parties contesting in the Perma-
tang Pasir by-election would not use religious
issues in their campaigns. – Bernama
1M’sia concept to be
promoted with Rukun Negara
MALACCA: The government will promote the
1Malaysia concept together with the Rukun Ne-
gara (national principles) so that the implementa-
tion would achieve better and effective results.
Information Communication and Culture Min-
ister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said the ministry,
in its campaign to go to the ground to promote
the 1Malaysia concept, would also inculcate the
national principles into their programmes.
“It is learnt that Rukun Negara is one of the
principles that could bring us closer to the na-
tional objectives more effectively.
“It is also proven that the principles, which
were not only able to build an individual personal-
ity, can also enable the community to achieve
greater success following the independence.”
He said this after opening the Bukit Katil Umno
divisional delegates meeting at the Malacca Inter-
national Trade Centre, here yesterday.
Also present was Malacca Chief Minister Datuk
Seri Mohd Ali who is also Bukit Katil Umno chief.
BN should review seat
allocation, says Khaled
KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional (BN)
should review the allocation of seats among
component parties to suit the needs of the
electorate, Higher Education Minister Datuk
Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said.
He said this was because the practice of
giving the same party to contest the same
state and parliamentary seats during elec-
tions would not ensure a win.
“Such a practice should be dropped for
the next general election if it does not bring
success to the party,” he said after opening
the Wangsa Maju Umno delegates meeting
here yesterday.
To this end, BN parties should identify fac-
tors that would contribute to victory based on
the attitude and stand of the population.
Khaled also said Umno leaders at all levels
should be aware of the party’s situation after
the general election and find ways to put
it on the right track. “The party leadership
will do anything, including taking drastic and
extraordinary measures which are difficult to
introduce.” – Bernama