San Rafael, CA – April 08, 2011 — Contact: Tom Andrews, 415/507-9962

Amy Luna Manderino of Berkeley CA won the title of Miss Cougar International on Friday, April 1, 2011, at Hedonism II Resort & Spa at Negril Beach in Jamaica, during International Cougar Week, March 27 – April 2, 2011. Previously she won the titles of Miss Cougar California and Miss Cougar San Francisco East Bay.

Amy Luna is an award-winning choreographer and ethnic dancer and has toured internationally as Artistic Director and principal dancer of her two dance companies, Lunatique and Shuvani. She has performed bellydance, flamenco, salsa, and bollywood dance at exotic locations worldwide. She is the creator of the “Play for a Lifetime” music method, which she currently teaches at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, CA. She is also a rescue scuba diver, motorcyclist, nature and wildlife photographer, and member of American Mensa, the high IQ society.

“Cougars are more than just a pretty face,” says Amy Luna. “We’re the total package-passionate, confident, and FUN!” She is available for interviews with the news media by emailing or by calling 415-507-9962. Her website is http://www.amyluna.com.

International Cougar Week was co-sponsored by The Society of Single Professionals, the world’s largest non-profit singles organization, and many other organizations. Anyone wishing more information about this and many more events and vacations for cougars may visit http://www.CougarEvents.com or call 415/507-9962. Anyone wishing more information about Hedonism II may visit http://www.hedonismresorts.com.

Contact:
Rich Gosse
Society of Single Professionals
205 Mark Twain Avenue, San Rafael CA 94903
Tel: 415-507-9962
E-Mail: richgosse@richgosse.com
Web: http://www.cougarevents.com
 

 WWE has released the following footage of John Cena talking

about Edge’s retirement after last night’s RAW ended:

http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/wwe/Footage_of_Cena_Discu

ssing_Edge_More_on_Edge_s_SmackDown_Appearance.html

——————————
Update on Edge’s Retirement, Speculation on His WWE Future

and More
By Marc Middleton
Apr 12, 2011 – 8:08:26 AM

 
- As noted before, Edge has legitimately retired from WWE due

to issues with his neck that haven’t been improving. Edge had

been talking about retiring in two years but told someone as

recent as a few weeks ago that he felt like he had five more

years left.

It’s said that Edge has some writing projects that he will be

working on and that he knows what he wants to do with his

life and those plans don’t have much to do with wrestling. The

feeling is that Edge will always stay affiliated with WWE but

won’t be someone you see working full time behind-the-

scenes as an agent or something.

Regarding Edge and the World Heavyweight Title, there was

some confusion at RAW last night as to why WWE didn’t put

Alberto Del Rio over at WrestleMania 27 if they knew there was

even a small chance that Edge would be leaving soon.

While WWE’s announcement notes that Edge got his MRI

results the Monday after WrestleMania, sources indicate that

he’s been feeling more intense pain for a few weeks now but

didn’t think he would be forced to retire. Had they known Edge

would have to retire, more emphasis would have been put on

the WrestleMania match to make it feel more special.
————————-

Matt Hardy, JR, Vickie & Others Comment on Edge’s

Retirement
By Marc Middleton
Apr 12, 2011 – 6:51:30 AM

 
- Several WWE Superstars, Divas and former stars have took to

Twitter and commented on Edge retiring. Here are some

comments:

Yoshi Tatsu: “I can’t believe it. I’m very sad. But thank you very

much Edge.”

Eve Torres: “An emotional night for sure. #ThankYouEdge.

One of the most creative, hard working, passionate, & helpful

men in the WWE. We’ll miss you!”

Gail Kim: “Thank u Edge for everything u have given to the

business and ur friendship. We r sad 2 c u go but grateful 4 ur

health.also can’t wait 2 c christian induct u to the HOF.”

Wade Barrett: “I have a tremendous amount of respect for

Edge. A great career and a great human being.”

Howard Finkel: “Thank you Edge for everything that you gave

and meant to this industry, and personally speaking, thank

you for your friendship!”

Mick Foley: “A sad day for wrestling, but what an amazing

career for Edge. I was so fortunate to have been his opponent,

his partner, his friend.”

Joey Styles: “In wrestling you make many acquaintances and

few friends. Edge is a friend. My friend, seeing you was always

a pleasure and never a chore.”

Michelle McCool: “Didn’t catch raw but heard about most

important part. I love you Edger! Thank you all you’ve given to

a biz I have always loved! Mad respect goes out to all you’ve

done not only for your fans, but for us as well. I am so blessed

to call u a friend! Thx for always helping me! Ily.”

Kelly Kelly: “Thank you Adam for everything.. you’ve been

such a great friend your an amazing person, n inspiration and I

had the honor of working with u!”

Jim Ross: “Edge will always be one of my favorites. I’m so

grateful I was in a role to help him launch his wwe dream.

Dreams do come true. Edge=HOF!”

Vickie Guerrero: “I’m so sad to see Edge leave…I’m honored I

got to learn so much from him. He will be missed.”

Matt Hardy: “Heard Adam is retiring because of physical issues

that won’t allow him to safely continue wrestling. He’ll be

missed, we’ve certainly had our fair share of issues.. Both

good and bad. But I tip my hat to Edge who is one of the

greatest I’ve ever been in the ring with. Adam resides in NC

now-sure I’ll run into him down the road. Glad that him & I are

in a good place. We came in as friends, & went out that way.”

Kevin Nash: “the loss of Edge is a sad day 4 the WWE great in

ring,but such a special guy out,he still has years left to give.”

—————————-
John Cena & Randy Orton Pay Tribute To Edge Following Raw
By Daniel Pena
Apr 11, 2011 – 11:59:47 PM

 
After Raw went off the air, Randy Orton gave the RKO to Alex

Riley. John Cena then gave the Attitude Adjustment to The

Miz.

Both Cena and Orton paid their respects to Edge, who

announced earlier in the show that he would never compete

again due to a serious spinal condition. Cena referred to him

by his real name, Adam Copeland. Cena recalled Edge winning

the WWE Championship from him in the Elimination Chamber

and that people thought he would never amount to more than

a tag team champion.

Cena mentioned that when Edge said he was leaving due to

medical reasons, he wasn’t joking. Cena asked for one more

send-off from the audience so Edge could hear them

backstage.

Cena placed the microphone in the center of the ring and the

crowd gave Edge a standing ovation. Both Cena and Orton left

the ringside area to conclude the event.

—————————–
World Heavyweight Title Update, Christian Comments on

Edge, More
By Marc Middleton
Apr 11, 2011 – 11:12:02 PM

 
- Natalya and Christian have took to Twitter tonight and

commented on their friend Edge retiring. Here’s what they

wrote:

Natalya: “My thoughts are with Edge, and thank you so much

for the wonderful memories. You’re a real, true friend and ill

never forget it”

Christian: “I’ve shed my tears..And from here on out I choose

2celebrate 1 of the greatest careers in WWE history..Cant wait2

induct u in the HOF #Edge”

- Awesome Kong, Brie Bella, Jack Swagger, Adam Copeland,

Edge, Mason Ryan and other WWE terms were trending on

Twitter tonight during RAW.

- WWE has announced that Edge will surrender the World

Heavyweight Title at tomorrow night’s SmackDown tapings.

———————————-
WWE’s Official Announcement on Edge Retiring
By Marc Middleton
Apr 11, 2011 – 10:34:22 PM

 
- Below is WWE’s official announcement on Edge retiring from

their website:

Less than a week after his successful title defense against

Alberto Del Rio at WrestleMania XXVII, World Heavyweight

Champion Edge has been forced to retire from in-ring

competition due to injury. The unexpected news brings to an

end a storied WWE career spanning 13 years and consisting of

11 World Title reigns.

The Rated-R Superstar had been suffering numbness and

uncontrollable trembling in his arms and hands. This is not

the first time Edge has experienced these symptoms of

nueropraxia. An MRI in Atlanta last Monday was sent to Dr.

Joseph Maroon, a renowned neurosurgeon and professor of

neurosurgery at The Pittsburgh School of Medicine. After

careful examination of the MRI, it was determined that Edge

would never be cleared to compete again, and thus, he is

forced to retire.

In 2003, Edge underwent a two level spinal fusion of the discs

between his C5, C6 and C7 vertebrae. After being cleared to

compete, The Rated-R Superstar returned to the ring, resulting

in stenosis of the spine, or a narrowing of the spinal column,

above and below the fused discs. This narrowing resulted in

less and less of the vital fluid needed to protect the spinal

cord. Medical professionals cannot clear Edge to compete ever

again in WWE since doing so could result in paralysis or even

death.

————————–
Update on Edge’s Retirement from Tonight’s RAW
By Marc Middleton
Apr 11, 2011 – 10:23:56 PM

 
- WWE sources indicate that the Edge retirement from

tonight’s RAW is 100% legitimate and not part of a storyline.

The story that Edge told about tests coming back and showing

issues with his neck are true. Edge was handed a mic at RAW

tonight and told to go out and say bye however he wanted.

No word yet what will happen to the World Heavyweight Title.

—————————-

    Less than a week after his successful title defense against Alberto Del Rio at WrestleMania XXVII, World Heavyweight Champion Edge has been forced to retire from in-ring competition due to injury. The unexpected news brings to an end a storied WWE career spanning 13 years and consisting of 11 World Title reigns. (CAREER PHOTOS)

The Rated-R Superstar had been suffering numbness and uncontrollable trembling in his arms and hands. This is not the first time Edge has experienced these symptoms of nueropraxia. An MRI administered at Atlanta Midtown Diagnostic Imaging last Monday was sent to Dr. Joseph Maroon, a renowned neurosurgeon and professor of neurosurgery at The Pittsburgh School of Medicine. After careful examination of the MRI, it was determined that Edge would never be cleared to compete again, and thus, he is forced to retire.

In 2003, Edge underwent a two level spinal fusion of the discs between his C5, C6 and C7 vertebrae. After being cleared to compete, The Rated-R Superstar returned to the ring, resulting in stenosis of the spine, or a narrowing of the spinal column, above and below the fused discs. This narrowing resulted in less and less of the vital fluid needed to protect the spinal cord. Medical professionals cannot clear Edge to compete ever again in WWE since doing so could result in paralysis or even death.

   More Photos  =>

http://wwe.mylaunchpad.com.my/shows/raw/2011-04-11/edge-announcement

Datuk Shazryl Eskay (L), with Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik, is known to have once been a member of Anwar’s inner circle. — Pic by Choo Choy May

    Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders predicted a backlash today for Umno after Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik admitted that businessman Datuk Shazryl Eskay, Perkasa’s Datuk Shuib Lazim, and himself were behind Monday’s screening of a sex video allegedly featuring Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The sex video scandal surfaced early on Monday when a mysterious “Datuk T”, had shown to journalists a black-and-white video of a man performing sexual acts with a woman of apparently East Asian origin in a hotel room, dated February 21.

The PKR de facto leader had since came out to deny that he was the man in the video, backed by his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as well as his fellow opposition leaders.

Anwar had later pointed the finger at Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for conspiring against him.

Today, opposition leaders jumped on the fact that the trio was linked to Umno, calling it a political attack to distract voters from “real issues”.

Selangor DAP vice chairman, Charles Santiago told The Malaysian Insider that it came as no surprise that the people behind the screening of the video are linked to Umno.

“From day one, people knew it was Umno, it’s just that people didn’t know which faction of Umno it was coming from and so it was obvious that this was the Mahathir faction that seems to be involved in this episode.

“I think it’s an overkill and I think there is going to be a backlash,” he said.

PAS Shah Alam MP, Khalid Samad, said that this fiasco was “clearly politically motivated” when there are former Umno leaders actively involved.

“It was done purely to make sure Anwar is out of the picture and it will backfire on them.

“I think basically we just have to say that they are going to go all out to create the perception that Anwar is a sex-crazy individual who has no control over his sexual desire,” he said.

Abdul Rahim is a former Malacca chief minister who was charged with statutory rape of a minor in 1994, but the public prosecutor later withdrew the charge citing lack of evidence. He is now the chairman of RISDA.

Shazryl was known to be formerly in Anwar’s inner circle. He is currently the plaintiff in the case that was filed in January 2002, claiming a breach of contract by Merong Mahawangsa Sdn Bhd and Datuk Yahya A. Jalil — for failing to pay him RM20 million after he had procured the Johor crooked bridge project for them.

Perkasa treasurer, Shuib, was a former Sungai Petani Umno division leader, and is Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd. Shafie Apdal’s father-in-law.

PKR communications director, Nik Nazmi, said that the continuous political attack against its de facto leader was getting tiresome.

“This is to show that Anwar is morally incapable and a hypocrite, although you don’t know what the pattern is, whether he is gay, a womaniser or a member of the Muslim Brotherhood.

“This shows that what we are saying, made up to smear Anwar, as he is seen to be the biggest threat to Umno” he said.

He said that people were getting tired of such political ploys.

Santiago said that today was a “great day” for the opposition because there was “ample proof now that this has been doctored” and this is a propaganda tool of the “desperate Umno boys because only desperados will do something like this”.

“If you want to knock off your opponent, it is through policy debates, it’s through various development policies and so on, that you outsmart the other guy there. That’s the advantage that you bring but here you want to be a sleazeball and by doing this, you think people are going to support you. People will not because they voted for a prime minister, they vote for an opposition leader, they don’t vote for the best husbands in the world, or the best fathers in the world.

“As a voter, you vote for the candidate that you think will bring about change in the government, that will bring about progress for the people, development for the people. That’s who people vote for, not for sleazeballs,” he said.

March 23, 2011

Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik (R) and Datuk Shazryl Eskay at today’s press conference. — Pic by Choo Choy May

Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik admitted today that businessman Datuk Shazryl Eskay, Perkasa’s Datuk Shuib Lazim and himself were collectively the mysterious “Datuk T” behind Monday’s screening of a sex video allegedly featuring Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The former Malacca chief minister also admitted that both he and Shazryl were behind the video.

He told reporters at a joint press conference together with Shazryl that the trio had chosen to step forward on their own accord because they wanted to show that “a person with high ambitions of wanting to be national leader and prime minister of Malaysia … was not qualified.”

“This matter is important, especially to Muslims because they will not accept a person without … honour, integrity … to represent them,” he said, adding that they would fully cooperate with the police on the matter.

Shuib was absent from the news conference.

Abdul Rahim and Shazryl both denied the video was doctored.

“I am 100 per cent convinced because it’s me in the tape. I am in the tape. Why should I lie?” Shazryl shot back.

However, he ignored reporters when asked why he happened to be in the room where the sex act had been recorded.

Abdul Rahim, who turns 61 next month, repeatedly denied he was doing this out of vengeance against Anwar, whom he said had lied and forced him to quit his chief minister post years ago over the alleged statutory rape of a minor.

“It’s a coincidence. He had asked me to resign last time, so now I just want Anwar to follow in my footsteps,” he told reporters when questioned about the strategic timing of the sex expose.

He said the trio had wanted to screen the video two weeks ago, but could not find a suitable place to do so.

Abdul Rahim said Anwar had given him his marching orders in 1994, claiming they came from then-Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Shazryl describes himself as a friend to Anwar — Pic by Choo Choy May

    Shazryl describes himself as a friend to Anwar. — Pic by Choo Choy May“He lied. Dr Mahathir told me he did not give them,” the former Umno vice-president once allied to Dr Mahathir said.

Anwar was deputy prime minister from 1993 until he was sacked under a cloud of sex and corruption charges in 1998.

Shazryl, who described himself as a friend to Anwar, added that Sungai Petani MP Datuk Johari Abdul — nephew to Shuib and known to be a close associate of Anwar — was also convinced it was the PKR de facto chief after watching the video on Monday afternoon.

“When Johari came in, he said, ‘That’s him’,” Shazryl told reporters today.

The businessman who is party to a lawsuit in an ongoing trial over Malaysia’s “crooked bridge” to Singapore suggested that Johari had changed his story after failing in his demand for money.

Shazryl said Johari had demanded RM1 million per person to draw seven PKR MPs with him to cross over to Umno.

He denied PKR’s claims today that he had gone public with the sex expose in a bid to blackmail Anwar.

“If I wanted to blackmail, I would have gone straight to Anwar,” said Shazryl who said he was a whistleblower but was being punished publicly.

He also denied he had a falling-out with Anwar and was seeking revenge.

He added that he was worried for his safety now and hopes the police would contact him soon as he had only that one recording of the sex video.

Asked why he did not go to the police instead, Shazryl said: “I don’t know where to go.”

The former Malacca chief minister denies pursuing a vendetta against Anwar. — Pic by Choo Choy MayAbdul Rahim, who turns 61 next month, repeatedly denied he was doing this out of vengeance against Anwar, whom he said had lied and forced him to quit his chief minister post years ago over the alleged statutory rape of a minor.

Abdul Rahim also said that PKR Sungai Petani MP Datuk Johari Abdul had demanded money to defect after the latter was shown the video on Monday afternoon.

The former Malacca CM also urged Putrajaya to set up a royal commission to investigate the authenticity of the video.

Abdul Rahim said the royal commission’s members should comprise opposition lawmakers, and named Anwar’s wife and PKR president, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, as foremost on the list.

He added that the panel should include law and forensic experts from outside the country, such as from Singapore, Australia and India, as well.

Johari had suggested earlier today that businessman Shazryl was the mysterious “Datuk T”, and that Abdul Rahim was among those behind the screening of a sex video.

Johari also accused the two men of attempting to entice him and other PKR MPs to defect after he had viewed the recording, which he said was of a person who only vaguely resembled Anwar.

According to Johari, Abdul Rahim had also promised to bring him to see Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak after he had viewed the sex video.

Anwar has already accused Najib of being directly involved with the screening of the sex video.

ISC continues to challenge Ng Yen Yen with its graft allegations.

    The Tourism Ministry’s former advertising agency vowed today to undertake a “worldwide suit” against those staking claim over its creation of the award-winning “Malaysia, Truly Asia” campaign.

Integrated Strategic Communications (ISC) insisted that it had both conceived and produced the campaign for the past 12 years and earned 40 awards for its effectiveness, despite a recent claim by former Culture, Arts and Tourism Minister Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir that the initiative had been his.

The agency also warned that its lawyers and nearly all participants involved during its live presentation of “Malaysia, Truly Asia” to Tourism Malaysia in June 21, 1999, were prepared to testify under oath that it was ISC that had started the campaign.

“It was the ISC agency group which conceived and produced the campaign and no one else, and [ISC] will undertake a worldwide suit against those falsely claiming otherwise,” the agency said in a statement today.

It also continued to challenge Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen with its graft allegations, claiming this time that the Tourism Minister was fully aware of the “ambiguities and irregularities” involved in a recent contract tender, which it had originally been bidding for.

The agency had, however, withdrawn its bid on January 26 this year, claiming the process was fraught with dubious practices.

ISC founder and chief executive officer Austen Zecha claimed that Ng had called on the agency yesterday to reveal all complainants on the matter but rubbished the request as a “grandiose offer” and an exercise in “redundancy, if not futility”.

“The Tourism Minister fully knew what ambiguity or irregularities were involved in the recent tender process from which the ISC agency group withdrew in January, well before the decision on the five eventual winners was made in February,” he said in the statement.

Another ISC spokesperson said that Ng’s offer was similar to urging the “offending party” to investigate its own offences.

“Hello, is anyone home?” the spokesperson said in the statement.

The spokesperson added that Ng’s purported attempt at “smoke-screening” was ineffective as the minister’s statements were only printed in one newspaper that is owned by her political party.

Ng is the vice-president of MCA, the second largest component party in the ruling Barisan Nasional, which also owns leading English daily, The Star newspaper.

“And one can only wonder at the pathetic intelligence of those who seem to be trying their best at ‘spin-controlling’ this sad issue for both the current ‘administration’ of Tourism Malaysia, or the Ministry, and the newspaper owned by the Minister’s political party.

“Whoever or whatever group it is needs to start by learning to have a full and thorough grasp of all the facts, the dates and their chronology, and the history of our country’s tourism body before even trying to cover-up the recent misdeeds and questionable tracks,” the spokesperson said.

Instead of deflecting the accusations made against her, Zecha said Ng should come clean on the numerous allegations raised by the ISC since it withdrew its tender.

Among others, he reminded, the ISC had urged the ministry to explain why the agency had only been allowed to bill Tourism Malaysia RM3 million for work done in the past two years when its contract was worth RM18 million each year.

At the same time, Zecha accused the ministry of undertaking more direct bookings in Europe without explaining itself or revealing the benefactors of such an action.

“There has been no explanation to-date on why this was done or who authourised that and who benefitted from the standard commissions which would have gone to an agency duly registered with our Treasury,” he said.

Zecha also questioned the charge against Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab Beg for allegedly misappropriating RM888,000 for a project in Dubai in August last year.

The charge, he alleged, had been made barely three hours after the closing of all tender submissions for the RM381 million three-year advertising and promotions contract that ISC was attempting to renew at the time.

Zecha continued that this blocked Mirza from exercising his responsibility of chairing Tourism Malaysia’s agency selection panel, which he said was according to the customary criteria for both the bidding agencies’ qualifications and the shortlisted ones’ live presentations.

“And, pray tell, who in the Treasury told the ministry not to bother with such professionally called for ‘live’ presentations, as the minister recently stated?” he asked.

Zecha had recently alleged that both he and his deputy were jointly approached on January 19 to “offer the client” (the ministry) a 50 per cent “rebate” or an annual share of the firm’s income from the account.

In exchange, he said, ISC would then renew another three-year Tourism Malaysia contract for the Europe, North America and Oceania tender.

“This essentially led ISC to decide to withdraw its tender on Wednesday, January 26,” Zecha had said last week.

   Executive director and major of shareholder Merong Mahawangsa, Datuk Yahya A. Jalil (picture), denied today that he sought help from Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah and told the High Court that the plaintiff had voluntarily offered his services instead.

Shazryl, the plaintiff in the case, had filed the suit in January 2002, claiming a breach of contract by defendants — Merong Mahawangsa Sdn Bhd and Yahya — for failing to pay him RM20 million after he had procured the rights to the Malaysia-Singapore International Gateway (SIG) bridge project.

He was also named today as one of three persons behind the mysterious entity “Datuk T” who had screened a sex video allegedly featuring Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Shazryl had earlier testified that, in addition to approaching the late Tan Sri Megat Junid Megat Ayub for help, he had also helped Yahya gain access to then-deputy prime minister, Anwar.

Yahya admitted today to having a casual meeting with Anwar at the former minister’s house with Shazryl in 1998 but couldn’t recollect discussing the bridge.

“I cannot remember if I brought this blueprint (Malaysia-Singapore International Gateway) to Anwar,” he said.

“The purpose of meeting him was because Datuk Shazryl Eskay said he was able to help,” he added.

Yahya added that he could not remember if he had promised 16.6 per cent of shares in Merong Mahawangsa to Shazryl.

He also denied that he had requested help from Shazryl for access to foreign funding for the project.

He also did not agree that Shazryl had helped him in the letters to Anwar, Megat Junid and Economic Planning Unit (EPU) on the SIG project.

However, Yahya agreed that his company, Gerbang Perdana Sdn Bhd, was paid RM155 million by the government for the Gerbang Selatan Bersepadu (GSB) project in Bukit Chagar, Johor Bahru — the new location of the customs, immigration and quarantine complex.

But Yahya was quick to stress that GSB was different from SIG bridge project.

He also acknowledged to not paying the RM20 million agreed to Shazryl as the conditions were not met in the letter of undertaking.

According to the letter, the agreement is void if the project is withdrawn or no longer “sustainable.”

Plaintiff’s counsel Datuk C.V Prabhakaran argued that the SIG was mutually terminated and that Merong Mahawangsa had received compensation.

Gerbang Perdana’s financial director, Azhar Abdul Aziz, later testified to explain that the SIG and GSB are two different projects — the former was a privatisation exercise while the latter a design-build, turnkey contract.

“The SIG is a bridge from Johor to Singapore but the plan was discarded in 2001 and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had instructed it be changed in its entirety,” said Azhar.

Azhar added that the bridge was changed into a crooked bridge to the existing causeway.

In his statement of claim, Shazryl Eskay said Yahya, executive director and major shareholder of Merong Mahawangsa, had enlisted his help to procure the project from the government and to secure RM640 million in foreign funds for the project.

Shazryl claimed the second defendant had sought his help for his “discretion and good relations” with the government.

Shazryl Eskay said the second defendant suggested RM20 million in remunerations for his services, which has not been paid.

The “crooked bridge” project was terminated by the Abdullah administration in 2006.

Shazryl Eskay is seeking a RM20 million payment from the defendants as well as interest, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.

Judge Justice V.T. Singham has set April 13 for both counsels to submit their written submissions and March 5 for the decision.

MCA Deputy President Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said Nazri’s comments 'uncalled for'

 The MCA today said it is “saddened” by Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz’s comments, which were published today in the Chinese daily, Nanyang Siang Pau, comparing the second largest party in the ruling coalition to a “grieved woman” who was “sexually abused” but refusing to divorce her husband, in this case, the Barisan Nasional (BN).

MCA Deputy President Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai told reporters today that Nazri’s comments on MCA and the MCA president were “uncalled for”.

“Especially at this juncture when you’re talking about promoting racial harmony, 1 Malaysia, by calling MCA a grieved woman, sexually abused and always complaining to others, and wanting to be a hero to the Chinese community and more or less that, telling us to leave the Barisan Nasional … we deeply regret that he mentioned all these.

“We will bring the matter to the Barisan Nasional Supreme Council,” he said.

Wanita MCA Chief Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said that as a woman, she finds it unacceptable that the Minister in the PM’s Department had used the words, “grieved woman” and “sexually abused” to describe MCA.

“I think all Barisan Nasional leaders must always heed the words of our prime minster at the first BN convention when the prime minister said that leaders in BN suffer from amnesia, denial, arrogance and delusion — delusion of one’s popularity and one’s ability to win and not needing support in all areas.

“The decision for MCA to stay or leave BN is MCA’s and MCA’s alone. However, if Minister Nazri feels that MCA is a liability, bring it to Umno’s supreme council, BN supreme council,” she said.

MCA International Affairs Bureau chairman Datuk Chor Chee Heung said that he had spoken to the deputy prime minister about the issue but he had merely responded by saying it was Nazri’s personal opinion and does not reflect the stance of BN or Umno.

“It has left a bad taste in the mouth,” he said.

Chor added that it is not up to Nazri to ask that MCA leave the ruling coalition, calling him “too arrogant” for saying such comments.

When asked if the party wants an apology from Nazri, Ng said that was not what they are after and stressed that MCA will bring this matter before the BN’s next supreme council meeting.

“We will not do anything at the call of one person and Nazri doesn’t represent Umno, he doesn’t represent the highest leadership or BN and we at MCA stand firm in our political objective and that is with other BN parties to bring about 1 Malaysia, which the prime minster has always said is about inclusiveness.

“We, MCA, do not feel pressured or stressed out by this,” she said, although the MCA leader’s expression hinted otherwise, during the press conference called at the eleventh hour, after the Parliamentary session had ended for the day.

Nazri later clarified that what was said was his own opinion and stressed that this is a free country.

“The question asked was that some MCA members claim they lost in the last GE because Umno was arrogant,” he said.

He said he did not believe that the Chinese didn’t vote for MCA because Umno was arrogant as he had won the Chinese vote in his own constituency.

“If the allegations are true, MCA should have left us. But the fact they are still with us, it’s not true.

“I never asked MCA to leave. If it’s true they should have left. The fact they didn’t leave then not true la,” he said.

MCA vice president Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said that such comments will not weaken the party spirit.

“Now that Malaysia is in the process of reforming itself, we need to allocate more of our time to our own duties and not brag about how good we are.

“MCA will not be discouraged by statements such as the one made by Nazri, but rather, we will continue to voice our dissatisfactions whenever there is unfairness or untruth. We will not keep quiet. MCA represents the people’s voice and we will not take a single step back when facing barriers,” he said.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has asked Telekom Malaysia (TM) to either blacklist or suspend dealings with Alcatel-Lucent over the bribery case involving the GLC and the French telecommunications giant.

The MACC made the request recently, according to a statement today from the anti-graft investigators.

Alcatel-Lucent had on December 28 last year, agreed to pay US$137 million (RM508 million) to resolve US criminal and civil probes after it admitted to bribing officials in countries including Taiwan, Malaysia and Costa Rica.

The filing on Malaysia titled “The Malaysia Bribery Scheme” was eight paragraphs long and reported that “from October 2004 to February 2006, Alcatel bribed government officials in Malaysia to obtain confidential information relating to a public tender that Alcatel ultimately won, the result of which yielded a telecommunications contract valued at approximately US$85 million”.

The filing said the TM employees who received bribes were “foreign officials” within the meaning of the US Foreign Corrupt Practises Act and “were in a significant position to influence the policy decisions Telekom Malaysia made.”

It added the Basel-based Alcatel Standard made significant lump-sum payments through US bank accounts to two consultants labelled “Malaysian Consultant A” and “Malaysian Consultant B”, purportedly for market research.

“Alcatel Standard paid US$200,000 to Malaysian Consultant A in 2005 for a series of ‘market reports’ describing conditions in the Malaysian telecommunications market. Similarly, Alcatel Standard paid US$500,000 to Malaysian Consultant B in 2005 for a ‘strategic intelligence report’.

“However, the work product these consultants prepared could not justify the size of Alcatel Standard’s payments. In fact, Malaysian Consultant A and Malaysian Consultant B did not appear to render any legitimate services to Alcatel Malaysia in connection with these payments,” the filing said.

In a statement today, MACC said it had asked the Malaysian government to blacklist, suspend or take all necessary action on all local and international companies known to have used corrupt means to procure public contracts

Nazri Aziz reasoned that it is not Umno’s task to monitor the individual actions of its three million strong membership.

  Umno leaders moved today to distance themselves from the men who have claimed responsibility for the sex video that shows a man alleged to be Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim having sex with a Chinese prostitute.

“We are a party of three million members. If one or two use their individual right to pursue this, there is nothing we can do,” said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.

Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik had admitted today that businessman Datuk Shazryl Eskay, Perkasa treasurer Datuk Shuib Lazim and himself were collectively the mysterious “Datuk T” behind Monday’s screening of the 21-minute sex video.

Umno’s former Malacca chief minister also admitted that both he and Shazryl were behind the video.

He told reporters at a joint press conference together with Shazryl that they wanted to show that “a person who wants to be national leader and PM was not qualified.”

“They have done this in their individual capacity without our knowledge. Umno does not want to be associated with this,” the Padang Rengas MP added.

Supreme council member Datuk Seri Rais Yatim said that the matter was a criminal affair and should not be the subject of accusations and claims.

“It must be investigated by the police and the Attorney-General. The investigation is to ensure that no names or parties are dragged into the issue and slandered,” the information, communications, and culture minister said.

He also urged the three men to lodge a police report so that the investigation can proceed according to the laws of the country.

Abdul Rahim also claimed that PKR Sungai Petani MP Datuk Johari Abdul had demanded money to defect after the latter was shown the video on Monday afternoon.

Johari had suggested earlier today that businessman Shazryl was the mysterious “Datuk T”, and that Abdul Rahim was among those behind the screening of a sex video.

He also accused the two men of attempting to entice him and other PKR MPs to defect after he had viewed the recording, which he said was of a person who only vaguely resembled Anwar.

According to Johari, Abdul Rahim had also promised to bring him to see Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak after he had viewed the sex video.

Anwar has already accused Najib of being directly involved with the screening of the sex video