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Blogging 101: News Snippets As At 6 December 2010

khir toyo bungalow snippet corruption

(News snippet – Khir claims that this whole piece of property only valued RM3.5 million when others claim that it is about RM24 million. What do you think? Image source: The Edge Markets)

Snippet 1 – Khir Toyo Charged with Corruption

Ha, some interesting development with fishing in the “big fish” by the MACC

The hands of the law could have done it better (like that costly RM1.8 million trip to Disneyland and the missing RM9.9 million Balkis fiasco) but I guess something is better than nothing.

The Star reports:-

Former Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo has been charged with accepting two land lots for RM3.5mil when the said lots were bought by Ditamas Sdn Bhd director Shamsuddin Haryoni for RM6.5mil.

The charge under Section 165 of the Penal Code carries a two-year jail term, fine or both.

Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail commended the MACC for a thorough investigation into the case and the prosecution would be calling about 16 witnesses.

Whilst we will look forward with this case rather interestingly (because charging is one thing, a conviction is another – still remember PKFZ?), one has to wonder why the AG took that long to pull the man into the “cage”?

The AG has explained it – we hope that the case is indeed water-tight – the last we want is for this case ending up as nothing but shadow play for the Government’s concerted fight against corruption. We do not want those who wasted tax-payers’ money by the millions to slither away by means of technicality and lack of evidence (we sure hope having rival groups to the “Conquer Selangor Mission” has nothing to do with it).

samy vellu snippet

(End of an era or end of a headache? The set down of the MIC head honcho was expected after Dr M and MCA President had stepped down as well. It is time for someone new. Image source: www.daylife.com)

Snippet 2 – Samy Vellu (yes, finally!) Steps Down

So, this is it?

After years being a pain in a neck for the community, MAIKA shareholders and many of the highway users, we finally heard this – “The moment I leave this room, I am no longer the president” – Hallelujah! But it sounds like it is not the end of the story. Not the end of the taxpayers’ money wasted down the drain.

Free Malaysia Today reports:-

So the deal was made. Samy Vellu leaves, and in return he gets the post of Malaysia’s special envoy for infrastructure to South Asian countries. A position with ministerial status. It is also apparently to give him face, provide him a dignified exit.

But why should the MIC get another ministerial position after its poor performance at the last general election? Where is the regard for values if rewards are given when they are not deserved?

More importantly, why create a new position which would incur cost to the taxpayer? Samy Vellu’s salary, perks, claims and whatever else in the new position he’s taking will amount to a substantial amount. Why does the rakyat have to pay for it?

Does that sounds so wonderful – some kind of “rewards” for the earlier date for stepping down as the President!

child marriage snippet children

(A case of a wealthy Muslim cleric who took a 12-year-old girl as his unofficial wife. In Indonesia, the court was not amused with this and handed six years prison sentence. In Malaysia, it is a whole different story. Image source: The Body Shop Malaysia)

Snippet 3 – Child Marriage

For a moment there, I thought it happened somewhere in the deep, lawless village in Pakistan but as one can say, nothing is impossible in Bolehland.

The New Sunday Times had front-paged the picture of 14-year-old Siti Marham Mahmod, and husband Abdul Manan Othman, who participated in a 1Malaysia wedding celebration at the Federal Territory Mosque on Saturday.

The couple had tied the knot in July after getting the consent of the Syariah Court

(Source)

It is good that the Government via the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is making a lot of noise on this but will the “noise” translate it into forceful action?

And the funny part of the whole deal is that the marriage was approved by the Syariah Court – what happened to the protection of the minor? Why the parents could not wait for a few more years until the minor is able to decisions for herself? It certainly unsettling that this is happening in modern Malaysia. Still, think we are on route to achieving Vision 2020?

And lastly…I leave you with a joke…yes, it is

At least, that is what I thought when I read this:-

MCA made full use of today’s Barisan Nasional (BN) convention to push for equal treatment within the coalition, sternly telling its Umno allies that there should not be a “big brother, small brother” system in the ruling pact

(Source)

Ya, right!

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