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Dr Mahathir: I Have Not And Will Not Apologise To Anwar Ibrahim

KUALA LUMPUR — Former Malaysian premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has revealed that he has not and will not apologise to his former protege-turned-enemy and now ally, incarcerated opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim.

In an interview with Australian broadcast agency SBS World News, Dr Mahathir said this is because he has never asked his detractors to apologise for criticising him.

“We have all said nasty things about each other. I don’t ask people to apologise for calling me all kinds of names and accusing me of all kinds of wrongdoings.

“What happened is in the past and we can’t be apologising for something that happened in the past,” he was quoted as saying.

Anwar was Dr Mahathir’s deputy until they had a falling out in 1998, an event which sparked protests by Anwar supporters calling for political reform in the country.

He was imprisoned on charges of corruption and sodomy shortly after, though Anwar claimed he was innocent and that the charges were politically-motivated.

The former Umno man was released from prison in 2004 and went on to lead the opposition coalition, but was jailed again in 2015 on separate sodomy charges and is currently behind bars serving a five-year sentence.

Last September, the two nemeses met face-to-face, under friendly circumstances, for the first time in 18 years — but the reunion has been described as a political ploy which “demonstrates the depth of their political opportunism and desperation”.

Aside from Anwar, Dr Mahathir has also showed support for the DAP and its advisor, Mr Lim Kit Siang, who has been one of the former premier’s harshest critics for decades.

When asked who will be named prime minister should Pakatan Harapan win the upcoming 14th general election, Dr Mahathir responded by saying “party infighting” has prevented the opposition pact from uniting and discussing the issue.

“It is divisive. The moment you name a (candidate for) prime minister, there is going to be a lot of unsatisfied people who may sabotage the new opposition coalition,” Dr Mahathir said.

“So it is better for us to name a prime minister (once) we win. It becomes irrelevant to name a prime minister now and then we lose,” he added.

It is believed that Dr Mahathir was referring to Anwar’s party, PKR, which recently lost an ally, Pas, which ended its “tahaluf siyasi”, or political cooperation.

Pas’ Syura Council decided that the move was necessary in order to defend the party’s Islamic agenda, aside from accusing PKR of breaking many terms of its conditional cooperation, including failing to support Pas in its Islamic agenda, and working against it in two by-elections last year.

Source: www.todayonline.com

May 16, 2017
Police Looking For Man In Suspected Insulting Of Modesty Case

**APPEAL FOR INFORMATION**

CRIMINAL TRESPASS AND INSULTING THE MODESTY OF A WOMAN

Police are appealing for the subject shown in the images below to assist with investigations into a case of Criminal Trespass and Insulting the Modesty of a Woman at Sun Plaza, 30 Sembawang Drive on 7 May 2017.

The subject is believed to be in his 30s and was last seen wearing the attire as shown below.

Anyone with information on the subject can call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000. You can also submit the information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness. All information will be kept strictly confidential.

Source: Sembawang NPC

May 16, 2017
Singapore Customs Investigation Officer Jailed For Seeking Bribe For Intimate Acts

A Singapore Customs investigation officer (IO) abused his position by trying to obtain a bribe from a woman in the form of intimate acts.

Jonathan Sasayiah, now 31, was jailed for three months yesterday after a district court found him guilty of the July 15, 2014 offence following a 10-day trial.

The woman, who cannot be named due to a gag order, had been fined $500 for having two sticks of contraband cigarettes.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Navin Naidu said Jonathan called the woman, who was facing serious financial difficulties, on July 2, 2014 to ask her out on a date.

The mother-of-four testified that he called her again 13 days later to ask how she was going to settle the fine.

He said he could help her reduce it, and asked what he would receive in return for his assistance.

The woman suggested they have dinner but he rejected the idea.

She said he then asked if they could “make out”.

DPP Navin said the woman understood that “make out” meant to have sex, and she made a police report the next day on July 16.

Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau officers arrested Jonathan on Aug 13.

DPP Navin urged District Judge Michelle Yap to sentence Jonathan to at least five months’ jail.

Stressing that the former IO had abused his position, he said: “The accused knew that the complainant was a young single mother… who was in dire financial straits and his corrupt conduct served to exploit this.”

Source: www.tnp.sg

May 16, 2017
Ex-Husband Never Pay Maintenance, Jobless Single Mother Faces Daunting Prospect Of Losing House

A single mum with two grown-up children – one in university and the other in polytechnic wrote in to us about the compulsory acquisition of her 3-room flat by HDB.

She owes HDB about $33,000 in mortgage rent or about 3 years equivalent. Each month her rent is $600.

Her ex-husband also did not fulfill his maintenance obligation and has since declared himself bankrupt.

The single mum used to earn $3600 working in a 4-star hotel in her hay days but her last drawn pay has dwindled to below $2000 creating all kinds of livelihood problem.

She is currently jobless for the past few months and was dismissed from her job due to depression over the matter.

Single mum seems to be in the public picture of late as they struggle to take care of their kids and try to make ends met.

Its a tough preposition for them if the ex-spouse fails to play their part by delaying the maintenance payment or worse declare themselves bankrupt to get a downward variation.

We only pray that once the house is acquired by HDB they could get a cheaper rental unit from HDB and not owe HDB any more back debts which will only deepen their family crisis.

My heart goes out to the two growing-up children who are still studying in tertiary institutions. It will be a very stressful period for them too…

Source: Gilbert Goh

May 16, 2017
15 Year Old Battling Leukaemia Needs Your Help

My name is Nickson, and this is my story. Just like any teenager, I am an active 15 years old boy, with my bright future in front of me and filled with zest of life ahead of me. I have always been leading an active lifestyle, and an avid basketball player and I even qualified for a slot for Singapore Youth Basketball Team. Life was truly amazing for me!

However, on a fateful day on September 2015, I collapsed at home due to high fever and after several tests, doctors revealed that I’m is suffering from an aggressive form of leukaemia. My world came tumbling down, and not sure what to think for a 15 years old.

Thereafter, we seek medical attention from both KK Hospital and NUH, specialising in childhood leukaemia. I underwent chemotherapy and I harvested my father’s bone marrow in the hope for a full recovery in Sep 2016 in which I suffered a relapse just 3 months later which is in Nov 2016. After the relapse, my father’s cell was subsequently harvested to support the treatment of my leukaemia while searching for a compatible unrelated donor.

During the interim while looking for a compatible donor, we will have to repeat the harvesting of my father’s cells and the usage of a German drug by the name of Blinatumomab in order to stabilise my condition. The drug, Blinatumomab, cost about roughly SGD $220,000 in which is infused into the body over a period of one month. I am lucky to be insured under insurance for all treatments I’m doing in Singapore but for any procedures, various blood tests and treatments that my father is doing in order to harvest his cells to me (or if there’s any matching donors) insurance or Medisave doesn’t cover them and we’ve to pay solely in cash.

However, the doctors in Singapore recommend us to seek treatment for in Seattle Hospital in USA, as it is the only place in the world for cell therapy and there are already two successful proven cases who have returned back to Singapore with full recovery results.

All the health insurance in Singapore can only cover local treatments, and not overseas treatment. The deposit for the hospital in Seattle requires a minimum of SGD $700,000, and my parents were at the complete shock and lost in their thoughts upon hearing the treatment cost, and it’s way beyond our means.

As parents, I know they want their children to be healthy, and if there’s anything wrong with us, they will always seek the best possible treatment for us. We’re not sure if we can find any unrelated donors at this stage, but the possibility of me recovering through cell therapy is high, and we’re sincerely urging your kind helping hand and generosity to help my parents to lessen the burden and fundraise for my treatment.

My father is the sole breadwinner of the family, and my mom has become a full-time housewife in order to take care of me and my brother.

My life is not even half way through and the option for the cell therapy there is by far the most feasible and effective option for my full recovery. Results were already proven with two patients having gone there for the similar treatments and came back with very good results leading to a complete recovery from the dreadful disease. The cure that best fits my stubborn persistent leukaemia is only available in Seattle.

I and my family can never thank you enough in helping us for this fund raising for my treatment in the States and our family will forever be indebted to all the help and support we have received. Thank you so much for all the kind assistance rendered and we wish all good health.

Please help me to fight this leukemia so that I can continue walk the path in front of me. No amount is too small and we thank you again for your kind generosity.

Nickson Yee

Source: https://give.asia

May 16, 2017