Anwar now a threat to economy and national security, says Abdullah- NST

BERNAMA:

PUTRAJAYA, Wed:

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today that Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has now become a threat to the economy and national security.

The Prime Minister said Anwar’s actions all this while had not only affected political stability but also economic stability.

“As a result of his actions, certain fund managers had made reports that Malaysia was not a good investment destination because of political uncertainties,” he told a press conference at his office here. Asked on what action would be taken against him, Abdullah said the government would do what was needed.

Abdullah said Anwar had spread lies about the economic situation in the country including that no foreign direct investment was coming in and that the nation was no longer competitive.

The truth, Abdullah said, was that FDI was still flowing into the country and not only that, Malaysia was a preferred investment destination.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also the chairman on the Cabinet Committee on Investment, interjected and said the rate of investment this year might even be higher than last year.

On the nation’s competitiveness, Abdullah said Malaysia’s ranking had improved from 23rd place to 19th place now.

Abdullah said Anwar wanted to bankrupt the nation by exploiting the fears of the people and belittling the country abroad.

Najib also said Anwar’s political games had adversely affected the nation’s economy.

LATEST: Blogger Kickdefella picked up by police -NST

By : Sharifah Mahsinah Abdullah

KOTA BARU, WED:

THIRTY-EIGHT-year-old blogger Syed Azidi Syed Aziz a.k.a Kickdefella, was arrested by police in Kota Baru at 5pm today for inciting the public to fly the Malaysia flag upside down.

The man or better known as Sheikh Kickdefella, was detained by a police team from Bukit Aman at his house in Kampung Demit near Kubang Kerian.

The man, who is an officer with the state-owned Perbadanan Menteri Besar Kelantan, was at home with his family when he was detained. It is believed he was detained under Sedition Act.

His wife Bariah Ishak, 38, said three policemen came to their house and arrested her husband. She said her husband was then brought to Kuala Lumpur.

The family is considering to hire a lawyer soon.

Blogger Kickdefella Arrested – BERNAMA

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 17 (Bernama) — The police Wednesday arrested blogger Syed Azidi Syed Aziz or better known as Kickdefella under the Sedition Act, according to Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar.

Ismail gave the confirmation when approached at a “breaking of the fast” reception at the residence of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in Putrajaya Wednesday night.

The function was also attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Cabinet ministers, menteris besar and chief ministers.

Ismail declined to elaborate on the detention.

In KOTA BAHARU, Kelantan state executive councillor Datuk Husam Musa said Syed Azidi, 38, who is Corporate Communications Officer of Menteri Besar Incorporated (PMB), was expected to be brought before the Kota Baharu Magistrate’s Court Thursday for the police to obtain a remand order before being taken to Kuala Lumpur.

Husam told reporters at the Kota Baharu district police headquarters that Syed Azidi was picked up over an article he had written.

Syed Azidi, who runs the blog Kickdefella, had once suggested that the Malaysian flag be flown upside down during the celebrations marking the nation’s independence anniversary.

Earlier, Syed Azidi’s wife Bariah Ishak said her husband was picked up from their house in Kampung Demit at 5.05 pm.

She said three plainclothes policemen came in a white Pajero vehicle with tinted glass and told her they were detaining her husband and would bring him to Kuala Lumpur Wednesday.

Kelantan deputy police chief SAC II Amir Hamzah Ibrahim, when contacted, said he could not confirm the detention as Kelantan police were not informed about it.

— BERNAMA