Cuepacs demands cash for overtime work

KUALA LUMPUR: Cuepacs is demanding cash payment instead of off-days for overtime work by civil servants.

Its secretary-general, Ahmad Shah Mohd Zin, said today that since last December almost 50,000 support staff from various government departments and statutory bodies had been given just off-days for the overtime work.

"For every eight hours of overtime work they were given one day off," he said.

"We consider this as exploitation and want the government to take immediate steps to stop this practice because it is very demoralising and affects the staff productivity," he told Bernama today.

Cuepacs, he said would meet the Chief Secretary of the Government and the Public Service Department (PSD) director-general to sort out the issue.

Bernama understands that the departments had resorted to such measures to cut cost and also to speed up their delivery service.

"Our output targets are much higher now and we need the cooperation of our staff to work longer hours," said a department head.

"However, our allocations for overtime are insufficient, hence we have come up with this system of giving off-days.

"Except for a few workers, most of them were agreeable to the arrangement as they were keen to meet the set target and improve the delivery system in line with present government policy," he said.

Prosecution urges judge not to recuse from Anwar trial

KUALA LUMPUR: Solicitor-General II Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden today reminded Judge Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah not to be perturbed by criticism arising from the ongoing sodomy trial of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim while persuading the judge to not recuse himself.

During submissions today, the lead prosecutor told Mohamad Zabidin that people would invariably express criticism against a judge's decision, regardless of which side the ruling favoured.

But for a judge to bear potential criticism in mind when making a decision was tantamount to "not doing your duty (as a judge)", Mohd Yusof added.

"Your lordship has ruled against the prosecution in (Anwar's bid for additional) evidence but we didn't say you are biased so just rule out (the recusal) proceedings," Mohd Yusof said, referring to Mohamad Zabidin's earlier decision to award Anwar additional documents and evidence.

The Federal Court on Jan 29 had overruled Mohamad Zabidin's decision, ruling that Anwar was not entitled the documents and evidence the latter had demanded from prosecutors.

Mohamad Zabidin today heard lengthy submissions from Mohd Yusof and Anwar's lead counsel Karpal Singh after Anwar filed an application seeking Mohamad Zabidin's recusal.

Anwar, in his affidavit, had contended that there could be "a fear of a real danger of bias" on the part of Mohamad Zabidin after the latter refused to caution Utusan Malaysia or cite the paper for contempt.

In earlier arguments for Mohamad Zabidin to stop hearing the trial, Karpal accused the former of "not stating the truth" and, by extension, "lying" when Mohamad Zabidin declined to cite Utusan Malaysia during proceedings last week.

"In this application, what's fundamental is this, and I say this without mincing my words, whether your lordship is indeed guilty of not stating what is the truth. What's not true can also be described as false and a lie," Karpal said.

Referring to precedents, Karpal added that a judge who did not speak the truth would have lost his right to sit on the bench and preside over the trial.

Karpal was challenging Mohamad Zabidin's finding that the bed placed in the master bedroom of the apartment unit where the alleged sodomy took place was mentioned in open court.

"This means your lordship did not tell the truth and this means your lordship lied. If so your lordship cannot be unbiased and impartial. Your lordship ought to step down," Karpal said, disagreeing that Saiful had mentioned the bed in open court.

Karpal also said it was of "fundamental importance" that justice must be "manifestly, expressly and undoubtedly be seen to be done".

"There's no point in blaming the foreign press for critcising our legal system if judges cannot live up to what's expected of them in trial...

"The judiciary must redeem itself. Your lordship ought to redeem yourself. A judge must not lie, he must not say what is not the truth," Karpal said, maintaining that the recusal application was not a "personal affront" against Mohamad Zabidin.

Karpal reminded Mohamad Zabidin he was bound by the Judges' Code of Ethics and could be referred to a disciplinary committee if found to be acting partially.

The veteran lawyer also took a swipe of judges, remarking that previous judges were "giants in their own right unlike present judges".

In submissions, Karpal also argued that a judge should recuse himself based on the test of a "reasonable apprehension of bias".

In reply to Karpal's arguments, Mohd Yusof submitted that the test should be a test of "real danger of bias" rather than a probability of bias.

According to Mohd Yusof, a real danger of bias could be found in a situation where a judge had "a personal friendship or animosity" with any person involved in a case or if a judge had expressed an "extreme or unbalanced" views during the courts of a hearing.

"The presumption of judge's impartiality has to be challenged on serious grounds... The burden of proof is on the applicant, strong proof must be showed," Mohd Yusof said.

Mohd Yusof added that Anwar's grouses against Utusan Malaysia was not an issue that had bearing on the sodomy charge or the trial's final outcome.

"Judges are trained to confine themselves to evidence produced in court rather than what the newspaper decides to report. The matter complained about is something extraneous, petty (remeh) and is something that shouldn't be complained about," Mohd Yusof added.

Mohd Yusof also ticked off Karpal for using "strong language" when the latter contended that Mohamad Zabidin had "lied".

"So to say that your lordship lied is very strong words. You can argue a client's case without fear or favour but to use strong language is unacceptable. We can be firm but we have to be polite. I'm not even asking the court to cite Karpal for contempt but use proper language," Mohd Yusof said.

After hearing submissions, Mohamad Zabidin said "obviously I cannot make my decision today" before summoning counsels into his chambers to fix a date to deliver his decision.

Mohamad Zabidin then reappeared shortly after and announced Feb 18 to deliver his decision.

Anwar doubtful over Saiful death threat

KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today scoffed at the "suspicious" circumstances surrounding the purported Facebook death threat against his former aide and sodomy accuser Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

Commenting on the matter, Anwar said he was informed by his staff that the person had commented on the Facebook page and removed the comment shortly after but the screen capture of the posting had remarkably made its way to Saiful's email "in a short time".

"It can't be that they (the police) don't know who sent the email. Investigate lah," Anwar said, when met after his sodomy trial at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today.

When asked if he had known about the purported death threat posted on his Facebook fan page, Anwar remarked, "My Facebook page has thousands (of followers), how would I know?"

"He (Saiful) is fully monitored by an effective police team. Whereas I am only monitored by Azizah only," Anwar quipped, while gesturing to his wife and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) President Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail, who was standing beside him.

Saiful on Tuesday lodged a police report on the threat against his life at the Sentul district police station, claiming that he was informed of the death threat on Monday via email from an unknown person.

The 24-year-old told reporters Tuesday that the email came with an attachment of a screen capture of the purported posting on Anwar's Facebook fan page showing a comment left by a Anaz Zahari who allegedly wrote in Bahasa Malaysia, "To all friends, whoever knows or meets Saiful Bukhari Azlan anywhere, you are obliged to kill him using any method for the sake of mankind's peace".

Saiful last week testified, alleging that he was sodomised by the former deputy prime minister on June 26, 2008 at the Desa Damansara condominium in Bukit Damansara here.

Saiful gets death threat via Facebook

KUALA LUMPUR: Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 24, who alleged that Anwar Ibrahim had sodomised him and is the main witness in the ongoing trial, filed a police report Tuesday saying he had received a death threat on Facebook.
In his police report filed at the Sentul police headquarters, Saiful said that he had received an e-mail Monday asking him to check the Facebook Fanpage of Anwar.
When Saiful went to Facebook, he saw a message from someone calling himself Anaz Zahari who urged anyone who met Saiful to kill him.
In his police report, Saiful said that he viewed this as a serious matter and feared for his and his family’s safety.

Dr Zambry is valid Perak MB, Federal Court rules

PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court ruled on Tuesday that Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir is the rightful Perak Mentri Besar.
The decision was read out by Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Arifin Zakaria, who sat with Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Alauddin Mohd Sheriff and Federal Court judges Datuk Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin, Datuk Wira Ghazali Mohd Yusoff and Datuk Abdull Hamid Embong.
The bench ruled that the Court of Appeal was right in reversing the High Court ruling.
The apex court ruled that if a mentri besar refused to resign, his office was deemed to have been vacated.
The bench ruled that the vote of no confidence could be determined by other means than from the Perak Assembly.
It was the final step in the appeal by former Pakatan Rakyat Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin to reclaim the Mentri Besar's post.
However, the losing party in a court case can apply to the Federal Court to review its own ruling under Rule 137 of the Rules of the Federal Court to challenge the matter on constitutional points.
A calm-looking Nizar told reporters Wednesday that the decision was “not unexpected” and that he and his team would need to study the written judgement before deciding what to do next.
The conflict over who was the rightful Mentri Besar arose last year after three Pakatan assemblymen quit their parties to become independent state assemblymen, leaving Pakatan and Barisan with 28 assemblymen each in the 59-seat Perak legislative assembly.
The Sultan of Perak then named Dr Zambry the Mentri Besar of Perak.
Nizar took the matter to the High Court which ruled in his favour. Dr Zambry, however, got a stay of judgement and went to the Court of Appeal which overturned the High Court ruling.
Nizar then appealed to the Federal Court.
Dr Zambry, who was not in court, later told reporters that the court's decision would allow Barisan Nasional to continue working for the people.
Meanwhile, Dr Zambry's lawyers came out of the court room waving happily to the crowd. Dr Zambry was not present in the court.
Supporters of both sides erupted into shouting slogans with Dr Zambry supporters chanting 'Hidup BN' while Nizar's supporters shouted 'tipu, Zambry penakut, MB haram.'
Earlier, supporters of both Dr Zambry and Nizar had gathered outside the court as early as 7am with some of them shouting ‘bubar dun’ and ‘hidup rakyat’.
FRU personnel had a tough time managing the crowd. In the end, Dr Zambry’s supporters were kept to the left while Nizar’s supporters moved to the right of the area leading to the court room.

Malaysia's Anwar pleads not guilty at sodomy trial

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim pleaded not guilty of sodomy on Wednesday as his accuser gave lurid testimony in a trial that could end his political career.

Anwar, a former deputy premier who was sacked and jailed on corruption and sodomy charges a decade ago, dismissed the allegations as a "malicious" plot to neutralise an opposition that made huge strides in 2008 elections.
"It is trumped up by political masters using the prosecution for that purpose," he told the High Court as the case began after months of delays.
Prosecutors said they had DNA samples and other evidence to prove that Anwar, 62, had sexual relations with Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan, a former aide, at an upmarket Kuala Lumpur condominium.
Saiful, 24, testified that Anwar, using vulgar language, asked him to have sex with him shortly after he came to the apartment on June 26, 2008 to deliver a document.
"I told him I was not willing to do it. Anwar was angry and ordered me to the main bedroom," he told the court.
"After that he asked me to rinse myself. I went to the toilet to rinse myself. I came out and hung my clothes on a hanger and I was only wearing a towel around myself."
Saiful said that Anwar, also wearing just a towel, then embraced him. His testimony was cut short as the judge agreed to a defence application to hear the rest of the account in a closed hearing on Thursday.
During the testimony one of Anwar's daughters yelled out "liar" and as Saiful left the court Anwar turned to him and said: "Very good, very good, well rehearsed."
Prosecutors said that two days after the alleged incident Saiful underwent a medical examination at a hospital.
"The prosecution will also bring specimens of semen from Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan's anus which is verified by the chemistry department as belonging to the accused," deputy public prosecutor Mohamed Yusof Zainal Abiden said.
He said that Anwar's guilt would be proven through Saiful's testimony, as well as "forensic evidence from doctors and chemists alongside circumstantial evidence and documentary evidence".
Saiful was the first witness called in the trial, which is taking place after months of delays caused by defence applications to strike down the case and obtain access to evidence including medical reports and closed-circuit television footage.
Sodomy, even among consenting adults, carries a penalty of up to 20 years in Malaysia, a conservative and Muslim-majority country.
Anwar has accused Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife of helping concoct the charges, and said he would call them as witnesses as he fights a charge that could redraw Malaysia's political landscape.
The Barisan Nasional coalition government suffered its worst ever results in the 2008 polls, when Anwar rallied the opposition to seize a third of parliamentary seats.
The trial, which defence lawyers say could drag on for eight months, presents a major challenge for both sides of the political divide, and will be a high-profile test of Malaysia's justice system.
It comes as the opposition is increasingly beset by infighting, while the government is struggling to defend Malaysia's image as a moderate and stable Muslim-majority nation.
Anwar, a married father-of-six, was a celebrated finance minister before being sacked in 1998 in a policy row with then-premier Mahathir Mohamad during the Asian economic crisis.
He was convicted of sodomy and corruption but, after six years behind bars, his sexual misconduct charge was overturned and he was freed in 2004.

Dates (Kurma)

The date is one of the most nourishing fruits. It is a food of great importance and called the bread of the Sahara, but is now universal. Dates can be eaten both fresh and dry fruit. The date is a cylindrical fruit ranging in color from yellow to reddish brown. It's flesh surrounds a single seed that contains 60 to 70 per cent sugar. The seeds of the fruit, roasted and ground into a powder that makes a beverage called 'date coffee'. Tree-ripe dates are delicious fruit. However, dates ferment very rapidly. Therefore, they are dried in the sun.

Dates are valuable as medicine for their tonic effect. Being easily digested, they are very useful for supplying energy and repairing waste. Milk in which clean and fresh dates have been boiled is a very nourishing and restorative drink to children and adults alike, especially during convalescence.

The nicotinic content in dates is an excellent remedy for intestinal disturbances. Liberal use of dates keeps in check the growth of pathological organisms and helps to establish a colony of friendly bacteria in the intestines.

The date is a laxative food. It is highly beneficial in the treatment of constipation as the roughage provided by it stimulates sluggish bowels. They should be immersed in water at night and taken after making them into a fine syrup the next morning to secure laxative effect.

With only 24 calories per date, dates are high in dietary fiber, low in fat, cholesterol, and sodium, and contain three times the potassium that bananas have. Very few other fruits offer this healthful combination. Dates have the highest concentration of polyphenols among dried fruits. Dates also a must for a Muslims in Ramadhan, just eat dates you can stay health and active all day without feel hungry till break fast.


One date contains:

23 calories
.2 grams of protein
.7 grams of fiber
Potassium - 54 mg
Phosphorus - 5 mg
Magnesium - 4 mg
Calcium - 3 mg
Sodium - 0 mg
Iron - .08 mg

Banana; truth facts about this fruits

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose - combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proved that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

A banana can help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must for our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND among people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, one of the twenty common "amino acids" that make up all proteins that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work: Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronic ulcer cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer, tryptophan.

Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be re-balanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine", eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%"

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

A Banana Contains:

86 calories in a medium banana

1 gram of protein

3 grams of dietary fiber

26.9 g carbohydrates

23.9 g sugar

467 mg Potassium

43 mg Magnesium

27 mg Phosphorus

7 mg Calcium

1.3 mcg Selenium

.4 mg Iron

Also trace amounts of zinc, manganese and copper

95 IU Vitamin A

11 mg Vitamin C

22.5 mcg Folate (important during pregnancy)

.7mcg Vitamin B6

.6 mg Niacin

.31 mg Pantothenic Acid

.67 IU Vitamin E

Remember: If you have a latex allergy, check with your doctor before eating banana

A banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around.

Fun Facts

Peel a banana from the bottom and you won't have to pick the little "stringy things" off of it. That's how the primates do it.

Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster and do not ever store it in a fridge.

Soooooo.......... "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

When on the go
carry your banana without bruising