WHITHER UMNO?

UMNO'S POPULAR SUPPORT AND BACKBONE -- 1957



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UMNO'S POPULAR SUPPORT AND BACKBONE -- 2011

THE END FOR POWER CRAZY TYRANTS IS VERY NEAR.

Malaysian Lawyer Disbarred In Brunei

A Malaysian senior lawyer has failed in the Court of Appeal to overturn a decision to remove his name from Brunei's Roll of Advocates and Solicitors.

Mr Manjeet Singh Dhillon, 65, a veteran lawyer with 38 years of practice in Malaysia was admitted on an ad hoc basis to represent Mr Wong Tim Kai in a corruption trial in Brunei.

At the time of his petition for the ad hoc admission in November 2004, Mr Dhillon failed to mention the fact that he was found guilty in contempt of court by the Supreme Court of Malaysia in November 1990 and was fined RM5000 for the conviction.

In November 2006, while the corruption trial was ongoing, Mr Wong Tim Kai filed an application to the High Court seeking to en force his right to a counsel of his choice and that having chosen Mr Dhillon to represent him, for his counsel who was "properly admitted to the Brunei Bar" to have a 'right of audience' and to have conduct of Mr Wong's defence.

According to a press statement from the Attorney General Chamber yesterday, the application was first heard by the Chief Justice at the High Court who dismissed the application and ordered the removal of the lawyer's name from the roll of advocates and solicitors of Brunei. Following the decision, Mr Wong launched an appeal against it.

During the hearing before the Court of Appeal, the Attorney General of Brunei argued that Mr Dhillon's failure to disclose the conviction and fine imposed by the Malaysian Supreme Court in November 1990, called into question whether he had been "properly admitted" at all.

Ahmad Jefri Abd Rahman and Nurhayana Janis Abdullah Lim represented the Attorney General while Mr Balwant Sidhu and Rudi Lee appeared for the appellant.

In his defense, Mr Dhillon through his lawyer said that there was no deliberate attempt to mislead or to withhold facts and that the conviction was at the "back, not forefront of Mr Dhillon's mind and it had never occurred to him that he should make disclosure" of the conviction.

The Court of Appeal however, found no merit in the reasons advanced to explain or excuse Mr Dhillon's failure to disclose the conviction.

It was emphasised that an applicant for admission to the roll of advocates and solicitors was obliged to do so with "utmost good faith and candour, comprehensively disclosing any matter which may reasonably be taken to bear on an assessment of fitness to practice".

The Court of Appeal also further noted that the "primacy of the pro-active obligation of an applicant to make candid, comprehensive disclosure".

The judges noted that Mr. Dhillon's curriculum vitae that were submitted to support his application was designed to "clearly put forward Mr. Dhillon as an advocate whose career was without a blemish".

The CV detailed an extensive career of Mr Dhillon as Counsel of the Malaysian Bar from 1970 to 2004 as well as his activities and publications. There, however, was no mention of the contempt on November 5, 1990.

Judges found that Mr Dhillon in his affidavit in July 2007 had been "less frank with the Court" when he stated that "he had never been censured or had any form of disciplinary action instituted against him".

Contempt of court by an advocate is on its face a serious offence and should have been disclosed at the time of applying for admission to the roll of advocates and solicitors.(Brudirect.com)

Don't Reelect These Scoundrel MPs In Next GE Says SIS.

Sisters In Islam (SIS) executive director Zainah Anwar: "I would like to say that Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN – Kinabatangan), Mohd Said Yusof (BN – Jasin), Mohamad Aziz (Sri Gading-BN), Abdul Fatah Harun (Rantau Panjang-Pas) and Badruddin Amirulddin (Jerai-BN) should not be selected to contest in the next general election. And if they are selected, I urge the voters to reject them. We will also campaign to enlighten their voters as to why we think they are not fit to be elected."

Those are indeed strong words which have been directed at the actions of the elected representatives. The one thing these men have in common apart from being 'Honourable' Members of Parliament is that they are all Malays. How regrettable that a race whose culture, genteel manners and soft-spoken politeness are legendary should now as a whole be tarnished by the unthinking words of a few of these songkok wearing bozos. Four of the five hopeless MPs are from BN. Come general elections, how would the wanita and puteri wings, of say Umno, campaign for these foul-mouthed candidates? Would they forget that such an incident ever took place and go house to house asking women to vote for them? Or would they make a stand and reject their nominations as not befitting an MP? Going by the reactions of the number two in Wanita Umno, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, who gave a slow motion belated response to the 'bocor' issue, rocking the Umno boat for the sake of upholding principles is very very unlikely.

To protesters who gathered at the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry to highlight their anger at the sexist remarks made by the two MPs in parliament, all that Sharizat could say was "please don’t be over emotional, we know that it is very important to be gender sensitive and that sexist remarks should not be made in parliament. I will bring it up to the cabinet." I wonder if this would have been her studied response if the insult had come from a group of DAP MPs? She would have probably stood on her bench at Parliament House and on behalf of all women screamed "male chauvinism, suspend the MPs" while milking every possible advantage in rubbishing the opposition. Unfortunately for her it turned out to be ruling party clowns, otherwise with her histrionic abilities Sharizat would have been a shoo-in for the International Trade and Industry portfolio at the next Cabinet reshuffle. In that sense I suppose she is genuinely saddened by the turn of events!

Related story in today's TheStar: Jasin MP denies making ‘bocor’ comment
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Update: Explain, Najib Tells BN MPs Implicated In 'Leak' Issue

Another Thug Brings Disgrace To Datukship Award.

The following report is from TheStar update.

Police are investigating an allegation that a prominent Sabah businessman threatened two security guard at a new shopping complex here five-days ago.

The businessman, who is a Datuk, is alleged to have threatened to shoot the two guards at the Warisan Square Shopping Complex here after the duo asked him to park his car properly.

Kota Kinabalu City deputy chief Rowell Marong said on Monday that investigations were (started) but no arrest or statements had been recorded from the suspect.

Asked if they had seized the pistol from the accused, Rowell, who is acting city police chief, said that he will be seeking the advise of his superior officer before taking the next step!! (Emphasis and exclamation mark mine.)

In the 10.30am incident on April 4, one of the shopping complex security guard Erwan Raodi and a colleague claimed that they approached the Datuk requesting him to park his Mercedez Benz properly.

However, the businessmen opened his hand pouch that purportedly contained two pistols and in a loud voice said: "which one of you fellows want me to put into your head."

He also claimed to be a police officer and could get them arrested. The businessman, a Sarawakian and long time resident in Sabah, got back into his car and left, Erwan told a press conference facilitated by his boss Nizam Lee. Erwan, who claimed that he was shaken by the whole incident, lodged a police report immediately.

***** I simply can't figure out why so many businessmen, more than half of them criminal types, are favoured candidates for datukships by most states. Is the money they 'donate' or invest to deserve a title so much or so needed that the MB/CM of the state can become blind to their background? Pointing fingers at sham vetting by the police convinces no one.

Just reading about this wealthy, well-placed and connected thug above, speaks volumes of the standards our state governments employ in selecting candidates for honours. Shameful!
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Earlier related post: Habitual Conman Honoured With Malacca Datukship!
Update 4/10/07 on further police action/inaction: Police: Datuk's pistol will be seized after verifying claims of threats.

Still No Justice For Housewife Molested By Cop Two Years Ago.

(The above image is titled "No one is above the law.")

It is reports like this that makes you angry with a system that is accountable to no one. The police, politicians and the highly connected it seems can get away with murder and there is nothing the ordinary citizen can do to get some justice. This sorry episode where a housewife is molested in the office of a policeman to whom she had gone to secure help to get her husband released from detention is a case in point.

After having made police reports against the randy copper and given the runaround for two years now she has been told that there is no proof and the case is closed! I wonder how many other women this horny bastard has molested or raped in the interim period.

Details from TheStar is published below.

***** For two years, a housewife lived in hope that action would be taken against a lance-corporal who allegedly molested her.

Last month, she received a letter informing her that there was no evidence to charge the policeman, formerly attached to the Pengkalan Hulu narcotics branch.

The 33-year-old woman told a press conference on Monday that she wanted the authorities to re-open the case as she was not satisfied with the outcome. “I even moved with my family to Batu Gajah just to get away from that man,” she said. “I want justice, that’s all,” she said crying.

In her police report, the mother of two said she went to see the policeman in his office alone on March 15, 2005, to secure bail for her husband who had been detained for a drug offence. She claimed that after 15 minutes, the policeman held her hand and tried to open the buttons of her blouse. Despite her protests, he groped her, squeezed her breasts and kissed her several times.

The woman said the policeman later arranged bail for her husband but continued to harass her with obscene phone calls and invitations to have sex with him.

When contacted, Pengkalan Hulu OCPD Deputy Supt Anwar Omar confirmed that the Deputy Public Prosecutor’s office could not pursue the case due to lack of evidence.

“Because of the allegation the policeman concerned was transferred to Johor last year. He also advised the woman to approach the DPP’s office or the state CID chief if she wanted the case re-opened. *****

Frankly I don't know what else to write about this injustice. Should we just keep quiet and allow criminal acts by the police to go on and on? How can the system be improved to prevent such things from occuring again? Any ideas?
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Chief Justice Must Show The Same Efficiency He Demands From Other Judges.

Why is the position of Chief Judge of Malaya still vacant? Asking this question is Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang.

He is quoted in the NST today as saying it had been 2½ months since the retirement of the former Chief Judge of Malaya, Tan Sri Siti Norma Yaakob, on Jan 5.

"The excuse that it will take some time to fill the position as it has to be forwarded to the prime minister, who will then advise the Conference of Rulers on the appointment, and that the Conference meets only once in every three months is unacceptable.

"It reflects poorly on the efficiency and professionalism of the Chief Justice that he could not ensure a smooth transition for high judicial appointments so that a new Chief Judge of Malaya could take over immediately after Siti Norma retired on Jan 5."

***** Currently Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim is the acting Chief Judge of Malaya. Kit Siang is absolutely justified in questioning the Chief Justice's intentions, motives and lame excuses for this inordinate and deplorable delay. It is as if he does not want another powerful figure apart from him to govern the judiciary and is intent on delaying the appointment of the Chief Judge for as long as he can.

A lot of suspicion was cast on Ahmad Fairuz, when after Tan Sri Siti Norma retired, he went on a judge transferring spree which by right should have been left to the next Chief Judge of Malaya. (You can read about that here: Why Is The Chief Justice In A Reckless Hurry To Transfer Judges?)

It is about time that Ahmad Fairuz realizes that people are increasingly suspicious of his true intentions and he had better dispel any doubts by personally seeing to it that the vacancy is filled immediately. Or is the candidate whom he prefers to be the Chief Judge not acceptable to the others? Anyone would like to hazard a guess?
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