Day: September 13, 2016

EC: No extra seats in peninsula during re-delineation

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Source: The Star Online

EC secretary Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh. Pic drawn from The Star Online.

EC secretary Abdul Ghani Salleh. Pic drawn from The Star Online.

PETALING JAYA: The number of Parliamentary and state assembly seats in the peninsula will stay the same for the Election Commission’s (EC) latest nationwide re-delineation exercise.

However, the number of state assembly constituencies in Sabah will increase by 13 to a total number of 73 seats.

Certain Parliamentary and state constituencies across the country will also undergo name changes and amendments to their existing electoral boundaries, the EC said in statement on Tuesday.

EC secretary Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh (pic) said its recommendations on the review of the delimitation exercise for all Parliamentary and state constituencies will be placed on display for one month beginning Sept 15 at specified locations. Read more →

Let Bar remain independent, urges Gerakan’s Baljit

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Source: FMT News

“Bar Council a barometer of feelings in the country and the government should tolerate constructive criticism from them.” — Baljit Singh

GEORGE TOWN: Defer tabling of the proposed amendments to the Legal Profession Act 1976 (LPA) in Parliament until further discussions are held, Gerakan National Legal and Human Rights Bureau Chief Baljit Singh said today.

He said Gerakan was against the proposed amendments for it would threaten the independence of the Bar as a whole.

The Bar is a professional body that governs all advocates and solicitors in Peninsular Malaysia. The amendment, moved by the Attorney-General (AG), will be tabled in Parliament next month.

Baljit felt the proposed amendments, especially the inclusion of two government appointees within the Bar Council, would affect the credibility of the Bar as a whole.

“Whether we like it or not, the Bar Council throughout the world is viewed as an effective check and balance of the government of the day.

“Yes, there are criticisms … they have been viewed as favouring the Opposition, but that is the case of the Bar around the world. We should take their opinions as is,” he said at a press conference at the Penang Club here today. Read more →

Immigration Dept to start freezing assets of employers who protect illegal foreign workers

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Source: The Star Online

A group of foreign workers waiting for their documents to be processed. Pic taken from The Star Online.

A group of foreign workers waiting for their documents to be processed. Pic taken from The Star Online.

SEPANG: The Immigration Department will start freezing the assets of employers who hire and protect illegal foreign workers from next month.

Its Director-General Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali said that there is a provision under Section 56(1) of the Immigration Act to freeze assets and bank accounts of employers, however, it has not been fully enforced.

“We don’t want the public to get shocked when we finally take this measure come October this year. It’s not a new thing.

“We hope the media can relay the message to the public so that we can create awareness, as well as inform employers of the consequences they face when they protect their illegal foreign workers,” he said at a press conference here on Tuesday. Read more →

Oct 26 court date to hear Azmin’s bid to declassify 1MDB audit report

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Source: NST Online

File photo shows a man walking past a 1MDB billboard in Kuala Lumpur. The U.S. Department of Justice filed lawsuits on Wednesday seeking to seize dozens of properties tied to Malaysian state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), saying that over $3.5 billion was misappropriated from the institution. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

File photo shows a man walking past a 1MDB billboard in Kuala Lumpur. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court today set Oct 26 to hear Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Azmin Ali’s leave application to proceed with his legal bid to declassify the Auditor General’s (AG) final report on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), currently placed under the Official Secrets Act 1972 (OSA).

Counsel Michelle Kummar confirmed that deputy registrar Norazlin Othman decided on the hearing date during case management in her chambers this morning.

“The leave application will be heard before judge Datuk Hanipah Farikullah,” said Michelle.

She said copies of the legal action would later be served on the three respondents, namely; Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Auditor General Tan Sri Ambrin Buang and the Malaysian government.

Through the judicial review application filed on Aug 15, Azmin had sought a court declaration that there was a conflict of interest on Najib’s part, due to the PM’s role as 1MDB adviser, when he directed Ambrin to classify the report under the OSA. Read more →