Keputusan permohonan Zahid 16 Julai

Utusan Malaysia Jun 19, 2008

SHAH ALAM 18 Jun - Mahkamah Tinggi di sini menetapkan 16 Julai ini keputusan permohonan Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi untuk membatalkan saman malu seorang usahawan, Amir Bazli Abdullah yang mendakwa dikasari oleh menteri itu dalam satu kejadian, hampir dua tahun lalu.

Tarikh itu ditetapkan oleh Penolong Kanan Pendaftar, Nur Zafirah Mohamed Ali di kamar beliau hari ini.

Pada 5 Julai tahun lalu, Amir Bazli, 38, selaku plaintif memfailkan saman untuk menuntut sejumlah ganti rugi yang akan ditentukan oleh mahkamah kerana mendakwa ditumbuk oleh Ahmad Zahid pada 16 Januari 2006.

Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri itu yang dinamakan sebagai defendan dalam saman tersebut diwakili oleh peguam Shashi Menon. Peguam Nicholas Netto pula hadir bagi pihak peguam Karpal Singh yang mewakili plaintif.

Ahmad Zahid memfailkan permohonan untuk membatalkan saman itu pada 29 Ogos tahun lalu dengan alasan kejadian tersebut tidak pernah berlaku dan sengaja direka oleh Amir Bazli.

Decision on suit against Ahmad Zahid on June 18

The Star, Friday June 6, 2008

SHAH ALAM: The High Court will decide on June 18 whether to dismiss a suit against a minister for assault.

Its senior deputy registrar Wan Norisham Wan Yaakob fixed the new date as the presiding senior assistant registrar Nurzafirah Mohamed Ali was on leave.

Entrepreneur Amir Bazli Abdullah, 38, filed the suit against Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of Islamic Affairs, on July 4 last year.

Amir Bazli claimed that the minister's agents had threatened him while he refuelled at a petrol station in Bangi on Jan 16, 2006.

He claimed that Ahmad Zahid punched him in the face after a misunderstanding and then confined him in the minister’s Kajang home.

The plaintiff is seeking an unspecified amount in damages.

Ahmad Zahid applied to strike out the suit on Aug 29 last year, claiming the plaintiff was lying and had portrayed him as a violent man.

GLCS to help government develop idle wakaf land

The Star, Wednesday June 11, 2008

BY MAZWIN NIK ANIS

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said wakaf land available nationwide was valued at RM1.1bil and development had been slow due to financial limitations.

“We have decided that wakaf land needed to be developed, as the owners had given it away to be used for good purposes,” he said yesterday.

“Since the land bank is of substantial value, I am confident that GLCs would be interested in cooperating with us to develop it.”

Speaking at the launch of the wakaf, zakat and haj department’s human resource management and ICT strategic plan on Monday, Ahmad Zahid said the cooperation could either be build-and-transfer, profit-sharing or joint venture.

“We all feel the necessity to have a plan to develop wakaf land. However, we will have further brainstorming sessions to determine the type of development,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid wants to liberalise zakat sharing

The Star, Monday June 9, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR: Tithes (zakat) should be distributed across the country so that more of the less fortunate can benefit from them.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi proposed that the tithes be distributed “cross border” and not be restricted by state boundaries.

He said RM2.2bil in tithes were collected nationwide from 2005 to 2007, with Selangor and Kuala Lumpur topping the list.

“Selangor collects no less than RM180mil a year while Kuala Lumpur collects RM160mil,” he told reporters yesterday after launching a Salam Hadhari programme.

He said the proposal to allow the “tithes to cross borders” did not need to be “difatwakan” (religiously decreed).

“We only need to come up with guidelines. The only constraints are the states’ guidelines, and we must find ways around them,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid said although religious affairs came under the authority of the respective Malay Rulers, it was not impossible to coordinate the distribution of tithes so that the system could become more efficient.

“If the Federal Territory wants to help those in another state, it should be allowed, or to help someone in Penang but who originated from another state,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid also told corporate companies to get the advice of religious experts before launching their campaign promotions, especially those offering prizes in contests using SMS, reported Bernama.

He said this was necessary to ensure such contests did not have elements of gambling that could confuse Muslims in the country.

He said such contests raked in profits only for the organisers and seldom the consumers.

“To me, when a person who contributes money to a contest which does not give him or her any benefit and is not able to get back the money, it is considered gambling and therefore haram,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid was reacting to a statement by Perlis Mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin a few days ago over an SMS contest organised by a local telecommunications company which offered a car as the prize, which he said contained elements of gambling.

Zahid proposes ‘cross border’ tithes

The Star, Sunday June 8, 2008

By TEH ENG HOCK

KUALA LUMPUR: Tithes (zakat) should be distributed across the country so that more of the less fortunate can benefit from them.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi proposed that the tithes be distributed “cross border” and not be restricted by state boundaries.

He said RM2.2bil in tithes were collected nationwide from 2005 to 2007, with Selangor and Kuala Lumpur topping the list.

“Selangor collects no less than RM180mil a year while Kuala Lumpur collects RM160mil,” he told reporters after launching a Salam Hadhari programme on Sunday.

He said the proposal to allow the “tithes to cross borders” did not need to be “difatwakan (religously decreed)”.

“We only need to come up with guidelines. The only constraints are the (existing) states' guidelines, and we must find ways around them,” he said.

Zahid said although religious affairs came under the authority of the respective Malay Rulers, it was not impossible to coordinate the distribution of tithes so that the system could become more efficient.

“If Federal Territory wants to help those in another state, it should be allowed, or to help someone in Penang but who originated from another state.

Unity among Malays at lowest level, says Zahid

The Star, Sunday June 8, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR: Unity among Malays is at its lowest level as there is no concerted participation towards their development, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Lamenting that many “organisations” no longer placed emphasis on issues relevant to the Malays, Ahmad said there was no clear-cut single direction adopted by the Malays.

In the same light, he added that the political prowess of Malays was slowly eroding.

“For example, the notion of Ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy) is no longer relevant to many. The rights of Malays as guaranteed under the Constitution should be defended.

“However, let me make it clear here that when we speak of Ketuanan Melayu, in no way am I implying that other races should be sidelined or rejected. We have to defend our rights, and that’s all I’m saying,” said Ahmad Zahid during a press conference yesterday.

The minister was clarifying a statement made in his speech earlier, when officiating the Persatuan Seni Silat Cekak Convocation Ceremony held in conjunction with the association’s 42nd and 43rd anniversary celebrations at the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) in Gombak near here.

In his speech, Ahmad Zahid had said, “The rights of Malays in this country should not be questioned by others. If this is so, we too can question their rights.”

He clarified that his statement in no way rejected other races or religion, reiterating that Malays should stand up to defend their rights.

“But when the issue is raised, many regard it as if we (Malays) are trying to confiscate the rights of other races. This is not so,” said Ahmad Zahid.

Asked why he had digressed from his original speech text to raise this issue at the event, he replied, “Takan kamu semua tak tahu” (You all know why), refusing to elaborate further.

On his recent visit to Saudi Arabia, Ahmad Zahid said that his purpose there was to discuss several issues relating to the pilgrimage charges for Malaysians performing the Haj in Mecca.

The de facto Islamic Affairs Minister, said he was there to attend an annual international meeting with the Haj Minister of Saudi Arabia together with other ministers of similar capacities.

Among the issues highlighted included accommodation and amenities for Malaysian pilgrims.

“Lembaga Tabung Haji (LTH) is looking at renting hotels, hostels, houses and other accommodation with closer proximity to ease the burden of travelling for pilgrims.

“However, there has been a 300% increase in accommodation costs and we are in talks with the Saudi government to maintain previous prices,” he said.

He added that the Saudi government also hoped Malaysia could send more general medical practitioners with the pilgrims. Currently, six doctors accompany pilgrims on their journey. Ahmad Zahid said they would comply with this request.

Asked on the quota of Malaysian pilgrims performing the Haj, he said that was no increase (0.1% or 27,000 pilgrims per year).

He added that the Saudi government also lauded Malaysia’s Haj Passport (which is issued by LTH) as it included strict security measures.

Kes batal saman malu terhadap Ahmad Zahid 18 Jun

Utusan Malaysia Jun 6hb, 2008

SHAH ALAM 5 Jun - Permohonan Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi untuk membatalkan saman malu seorang usahawan, Amir Bazli Abdullah yang mendakwa dikasari oleh menteri itu dalam satu kejadian pada Januari 2006 akan disebut semula pada 18 Jun ini.

Ahmad Zahid yang kini Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri memfailkan permohonan itu pada 29 Ogos tahun lalu dengan alasan kejadian itu tidak pernah berlaku dan sengaja direka oleh plaintif (Amir Bazli).

Timbalan Kanan Pendaftar, Mahkamah Tinggi di sini, Wan Norhisham Wan Yaakob yang menyebut bagi pihak Penolong Kanan Pendaftar, Nur Zafirah Mohamed Ali memutuskan tarikh itu di kamar beliau hari ini.

Peguam Karpal Singh yang mewakili Amir Bazli semasa ditemui di luar mahkamah memaklumkan, tarikh untuk keputusan bagi permohonan Ahmad Zahid itu juga akan ditetapkan pada hari tersebut.

Amir Bazli, 38, memfailkan saman malu terhadap Ahmad Zahid pada 5 Julai 2007 dan menuntut sejumlah ganti rugi yang akan ditentukan oleh mahkamah kerana mendakwa ditumbuk oleh menteri kabinet itu pada 16 Januari 2006.

Ahmad Zahid selaku defendan dalam kes ini diwakili peguam Shashi Menon.

Kes saman Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi akan diketahui 18 Jun

RTM Dilaporkan Wan Rozza 05/06/2008

Keputusan permohonan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi untuk mengenepikan saman yang difailkan seorang usahawan yang mendakwa dirinya telah dikasari akan diketahui 18 Jun ini.

Keputusan itu ditangguhkan kerana Penolong Kanan Pendaftar, Nur Zafirah Mohamed Alu yang sepatutnya mengendalikan kes berkenaan sedang bercuti.

Sebutan kes itu dibuat di hadapan Timbalan Kanan Pendaftar Wan Norhisham Yaakob di Pejabat Pendaftaran Mahkamah Tinggi Shah Alam oleh peguamcara pihak plaintif, Karpal Singh.

Pada 5 Julai 2007, seorang usahawan, Amir Bazli Abdullah memfailkan writ saman tehadap Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid.

Dalam writ saman itu beliau mendakwa dikasari Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid pada 16 Januari 2006 sehingga mendatangkan kecederaan teruk di bahagian muka.

Ahli Parlimen Bagan Datoh itu bertindak sedemikian apabila mendapati Amir Bazli menjalinkan hubungan dengan anak perempuannya dan pernah keluar bersama.

Pada 28 Ogos tahun yang sama, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid yang ketika itu Timbalan Menteri Penerangan telah memfailkan permohonan mengenepikan writ saman yang dikemukakan Amir Bazli.