2 theSun | THURSDAY MAY 21 2009

news without borders

No action against Uthayakumar, says Hisham

by Husna Yusop
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PUTRAJAYA: Home Minister Datuk Seri
Hishammuddin Hussein said no action will be
taken against released Hindraf leader P. Uthaya-
kumar for skipping a scheduled advisory coun-
cil meeting in Kamunting on Tuesday.
He said this is because it was not part of
the conditions for his release from the Internal
Security Act detention camp.
“The board had called them (former ISA de-
tainees) to check on the level of rehabilitation
and attitude of those detained under ISA. If he
(Uthayakumar) did not show up, the council
will make a report based on its own observa-
tion. It does not breach any laws which enable
us to take action,” he said.
“But, we view seriously his threats of street
demonstrations and other allegations made which
are threats in nature. We don’t compromise this.
If it is against the law, we will take action.”
Hishammuddin said the council will report
to him the outcome of the meeting.
Uthayakumar did not turn up for the meeting
– which was attended by former detainees Kota
Alam Shah assemblyman M. Manoharan, K. Vas-
antha Kumar, V. Ganabatirao and R. Kenghadha-
ran – citing article 5 of the Federal Constitution
which provides a citizen the right to live freely.
Hishammuddin also said based on his inves-
tigation, Uthayakumar’s refusal to sign the condi-
tions of release also was “not something that is
against the law and will not affect his release.”
Asked his comment on Uthayakumar’s plan
to hold street demonstrations and a public forum,
he said: “These are threats. We don’t base our-
selves on threats. Once they convert the threats
into something that break those conditions, then
we’ll take action without fear or favour.”
On police clamping down series of gath-
erings including small ones and candlelight
vigils and claims that their action has made as
if wearing black is an offence, he said “it is not
as simple as the way it is being painted”.
“That’s how it has been made to look at but
there are many things which the public, in-
cluding those involved (in gatherings), do not
know or realise. Just wearing black, of course,
is not an offence. Don’t think I’m too naïve to
say we are going to imprison everybody who
wears black,” he said.
“But there is more to it than that. And if they
want to sue me and the inspector-general of
police for that, both of us are willing to go to
court and explain whatever actions that have
been taken.”
He said the ministry looks at the matter not
from the angle of a particular incident only but
based on the context of national security.

I am not crazy for power, says Najib

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri
Najib Abdul Razak said he was not like
someone who was crazy for power for the
sake of power only.
“I don’t craze for power for the sake
of power but I need power to serve the
people and ensure successful nation-
building.
“But there are some people who cannot
wait to be in power,” he said at a function
in his honour at the Finance Ministry
here.
“Power is only a means to an end and
the end is about serving the people and
nation,” he said obviously hitting at a
certain opposition leader.
Najib said to reach where he was now,
he did not “take an express bus” but a
“normal bus which journeyed 33 years in
his political career”.
Najib said the experience made him
not only ready but humbled to take on
such a heavy responsibility.
He said this was why he needed
everyone’s cooperation to carry out the
responsibility entrusted to him.
The prime minister said one of the
people’s yardsticks was how the govern-
ment managed the economy.
He said the people would accept the
existing government if it could carry out
its duties well.
“The public will like us, businessmen
will like us, smallholders will like us and
this will translate into greater support for
us,” he said.
The function was held to celebrate
the appointments of Najib as prime
minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Mo-
hamad Hanadzlah as finance minister II
and Datuk Wira Chor Chee Heung and
Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin as deputy
finance ministers.
It was also to appreciate the services
of former finance minister II Tan Sri Nor
Mohamed Yakcop who is now minister Calls
in the Prime Minister’s Department and
former deputy finance Minister Datuk grow
Seri Kong Cho Ha who has been made for war
housing and local government Minister. crimes
Najib, who is also finance minister, said
Nor Mohamed’s experience in handling probe into
the 1997 financial crisis made him very Sri Lanka
suited to handle the nation’s economic conflict
planning through the Economic Planning
Unit. pg 6
He said Ahmad Husni’s experience as
deputy finance minister before this would
hold him in good stead in his new role.
As for Kong, Najib said he (Kong)
now held an important portfolio in terms
of delivery and services to the people.
– Bernama

Ayub (centre)
holds a press
BERNAMAPIX

conference with
the seized ganja in
the foreground.

Police seize 227kg of ganja

by Bernard Cheah
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
GEORGE TOWN: Police seized 227kg of
ganja worth about RM900,000 in Butterworth
on Tuesday, making it the biggest drug bust in
the state this year.
Five men, aged between 25 and 35, were
arrested after they flee the scene in two cars
in Bagan Dalam.
State police chief Datuk Wira Ayub Yaakob
said yesterday the Penang, Kedah and Bukit
Aman narcotics units raided a warehouse in
Bagan Dalam at about 12pm on Tuesday and
nabbed the suspects based on a tip-off.
“Upon inspection, police found 10 jute
sacks containing ganja, placed in rear seats
and the car boot of one of the cars, weighting
about 227kg,” he said.
He said the ganja is believed to have origi-
nated from a neighbouring country and was
meant to be marketed in Klang Valley.
“Apart from the ganja, police also seized
both cars and RM15,000 cash from the scene,”
he told reporters at a press conference held in
the Penang contingent police headquarters.
The case was being investigated under
section 39(B) of the Dangerous Drugs Act
1952, which carried the death penalty upon
conviction.
On a separate issue, Ayub said police have
arrested 750 individuals in the state, alleged
to be involved in drugs, in the Ops Sepadu,
which is aimed to tackle drugs nationwide.
Of the total, 583 of them are drug addicts,
12 were drug dealers and the rest, 155, were
in possession of drug.
He said among the items seized dur-
ing the ten day operation, which started on
May 10 and ended on Tuesday were ganja
weighing 227.109kg, heroin (402.74gm), syabu
(18.54gm), ketamine (112.2gm), Eramin 5 (329
tablets), psychotropic pills (38.1gm), Ecstasy
pills (20 tablets) and WY pills (141gm).