The government today announced a 10 sen reduction per litre of fuel, effective Thursday 25 September 2008.

With the reduction, the price of RON97 petrol will be sold at RM2.45 per litre, RON92 petrol at RM2.30 per litre while diesel will be sold at RM2.40 per litre.

Press statement by Anwar Ibrahim in Petaling Jaya on Tuesday, 23 September 2008

On Tuesday I met with Pakatan Rakyat leadership from PAS in Kota Bharu, Kelantan and from DAP in Kuala Lumpur. Kelantan Mentri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat and PAS President Hajji Hadi Awang reaffirmed their commitment to the spirit and the goals of the coalition and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng expressed his satisfaction in the progress being made to strengthen and broaden the consensus among the Pakatan Rakyat parties and supporters from BN.

We also discussed the next steps that Pakatan Rakyat should take towards forming a government that reflects the support of the majority of Members of Parliament. Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi’s failure to accede to our request for an emergency session of Parliament represents another attempt by the UMNO-led BN government to sabotage and scuttle the democratic process.

Nevertheless I along with my colleagues in Pakatan remain confident that the people’s desire for change shall soon be attained. We will proceed cautiously towards our goals and we agreed neither to be provoked into hasty action nor to take an irresponsible approach that would lead to instability and greater uncertainty in country. I am not aware of any negotiations taking place between Pakatan Rakyat and the Prime Minister - statements made yesterday suggesting that a line of communication was open were misinformed.

There is a crisis of confidence in the current leadership of the nation at a time when the Malaysian people are demanding solutions for the highest increases in prices in two decades, increasing joblessness and the dramatic decline in investor confidence.

While the newly appointed Finance Minister boasts that the country is in sound economic standing, the facts tell a different story. In 2008 already over RM 125 billion has been withdrawn from the country by investors weary of a government that has failed to implement a single reform to ensure judicial independence and that continues to use draconian laws such as the ISA to detain its citizens without due process of law.

These basic reforms are cornerstones of Pakatan Rakyat’s vision to revive the economy, to create more growth and good jobs for Malaysian people, to attract foreign investment, and to ensure adherence to constitutional guarantees including the position of Islam as the religion of the federation, the freedom to practice other religions, Bahasa Melayu as the national language and the freedom to practice mother tongue languages, and the status of the Malay kings and the special position of the Malays and bumiputera.

Anwar Ibrahim
Opposition Chief
De-facto leader, Keadilan

Sessions Court judge S M Komathy sets 7 October to delivery the decision on whether Anwar’s sodomy trial will be transferred to the High Court.

On 10 September, the prosecution had applied for the case to be transferred to the High Court, with the transfer notice signed by the Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail. However, the defence argued that the transfer notice signed by the AG is invalid as the Prime Minister has said the AG will not be involved in the Anwar’s sodomy case due to conflict of interest.

Anwar had lodged a police report against Abdul Gani for tampering with evidence related to the earlier sodomy case in 1998.

Press Statement by Lim Guan Eng in Penang on Tuesday, 23rd September 2008:

The Penang Chief Minister YAB Lim Guan Eng has extended the condolences to the family of former Bukit Tambun Assemblyman Lai Chew Hock over the shocking murder of Lai’s wife Toh Ju Lee by robber outside their family home last night.

I have contacted with Chief Police Officer Dato’ Wira Ayub Bin Yaakob to express my concerns at the crime situation in Penang especially before the murder of Madam Toh last night， there was a robbery at the Penang International Airport the previous day involving the loss of RM840,000 worth of gold.

Dato’ Ayub has briefed me on the situation and I have convey the state government’s request to the police to beef up security and increase police patrol to combat crime particularly during the Hari Raya holiday.

Dato’ Ayub shares the state concerns and assured me that the police will monitor the situation closely to try to check crime.

The Penang state government urges federal government to speed up the installation of 48 CCTVs in Penang to help the police to prevent crime. The installation of these CCTV is necessary in lieu of inadequate police personnel to conduct regular police patrol.

MPPP have already installed 31 CCTVs in Penang island and will receive 24 more. MPSP has no CCTV and will also receive 24 CCTVs from the federal government.

I have instructed both local council to write to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government to grant the 48 CCTVs to be installed immediately to help the people of Penang enjoy the 4 basic rights of security to lives, to work, to study and play in a safe and secure environment.

Apart from existing approved CCTV, the Penang state will still require an additional 285 CCTVs. We hope that federal government can supply the 285 CCTV required or the Penang government will have to think of alternative measures to ensure public safety in Penang.

Lim Guan Eng
Penang Chief Minister
DAP Secretary-General