National Express Malaysia

I will quit Kita if I am outvoted, says Zaid

2012-02-17T04:17:00.001+08:00

Ku Li: Corruption may see BN’s downfall

2012-02-17T04:00:00.002+08:00

Razaleigh pointed that no 'public relations exercises' can mask corruption and 'dysfunctional democracy'.

KUALA LUMPUR: Respected Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah today said no government rife with corruption can survive public anger and warned Putrajaya that it may suffer the same fate as ousted regimes in the Arab Spring.

Speaking at the Royal Selangor Club luncheon talk earlier today, the Kelantan prince spoke of Malaysia’s “dysfunctional” political economy, which he blamed on money politics as a result of the of the policies under the tenure of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Malaysia under Mahathir is often characterised by neo-liberal policies which Razaleigh said kickstarted the politics-business relations and resulted in crony capitalism.

“As a consequence of economic policies in the past, inequalities have also widened. Today, Malaysians suffer from a very wide inequality… and the widening inequality will go into a deeper crisis of confidence among the people.

“No democratic system, no institution as envisaged by our Federal Constitution, can survive a political economy of this nature.

“There is too much money in politics and it has become inseparable from power and the electoral process,” he said.

Razaleigh, the Gua Musang MP, often described as “the country’s last statesman”, has been vociferous in his criticism against the Najib administration and his own party Umno.

He had helped set up Angkatan Amanah Merdeka (Amanah), an NGO aimed at rekindling the spirit of the Federal Constitution.

But observers say he is using it as a platform to put pressure on the ruling coalition to clean up and buck up.

Lesson from the Arab Spring

His deputy in Amanah, a former minister and a senior Umno member, Sheikh Kadir Fadzil, had also been vocal against the Najib government.

He claimed leaders from the ruling party practised widespread money politics to win votes and posts in party elections.

International observers and economists say corruption remains the biggest problem in Malaysia, denting the country’s economic edge and repelling investments.

Foreign direct investments to Malaysia have dropped significantly as investors now opt for its neighbours.

Razaleigh said that no “public relations exercises” can mask corruption and “dysfunctional democracy”, citing the bloody Arab Spring that saw voters ousting governments that had ruled for decades.

“The lesson we have to learn from the Arab Spring is that a dysfunctional democracy, however well dressed by public relations exercises or subsequently by the media, cannot withstand the realities… of the abuse of power and wanton accumulation of wealth.

“That is the most important message, I think, that the Arab Spring has conveyed and we must take cognizance of it,” he said

Thailand seeks handover of Iranian bomb suspect

2012-02-17T03:57:00.004+08:00

The Iranian man fled to Malaysia after the bomb blasts in Bangkok.

BANGKOK: Thailand is seeking the extradition of an Iranian suspected in an alleged bomb plot against Israeli diplomats in Bangkok following his arrest in Malaysia, police said today.

“The court approved his arrest warrant so the National Police Office will refer the case to the Attorney-General’s Office to coordinate for his extradition,” national police chief Phrewphan Damapong told reporters.

“We will expedite the process.”
Malaysian police announced yesterday that the unnamed Iranian had been detained in Kuala Lumpur earlier the same day.

He was among three suspects in the bombings that rattled Bangkok on Tuesday and have piled pressure on Tehran amid accusations of a terror campaign against the Jewish state.

On Monday, bombers targeted Israeli embassy staff in India and Georgia before escaping.

In Bangkok, two Iranians were detained over three blasts that occurred on Tuesday. They were charged with causing an illegal explosion and other offences, Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said.

One of the men – named as 28-year-old Saeid Morati – had his legs blown off as he hurled an explosive device at Thai police while fleeing an apparently unintended blast at a house in the Thai capital, officials said.

The other suspect was detained trying to board a flight out of the country.

Meanwhile, Malaysia confirmed that an Iranian man was arrested yesterday over the failed bomb attack in Bangkok.

According to a Bernama report today, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the 31-year-old man was held at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal as he was about to leave for Iran after flying in from Thailand the previous night.

The National Intelligence Agency of Thailand suspects that he was involved with two others caught in Bangkok in relation to the attempted bomb attack, he said in a statement.

Hishammuddin also said Malaysia is most serious and committed in stamping out terrorist threats and subversive activities which undermine peace and security.

He said the authorities would not allow Malaysia to be used as a location, base or transit by terrorists or individuals wanted in any country.

Branch leaders must play their role, says MIC man

2012-02-17T03:54:00.003+08:00

Madhu also wants all MIC leaders at every level to stop speculating on which seat the president would contest.

PETALING JAYA: All MIC branch chairmen nationwide must consolidate and strengthen the largest Indian based political party in the country ahead of the general election, party central working committee member Madhu Marimuthu said today.

“It is not the time to rock the boat, we are going to face a do or die elections where the relevance and survival of MIC will be tested…as grassroots leaders, it is time for us to resolve community issues,” he said.

He said this in reaction to a recent statement by the Taman Mujur MIC branch chairman VT Rajen who called on MIC president G Palanivel to stay clear of existing parliament seats held by MIC representatives.

The branch chairman had also issued an ultimatum to Palanivel, saying that if the MIC president intended to contest any of the seats won by the MIC at the 2008 general election, he would launch “Gerakan Anti Palanivel”.

MIC only won three parliamentary seats at the 2008 general election namely in Cameron Highlands, Tapah and Segamat. The party won the Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat in the subsequent by-election.

Cameron Highlands and Tapah are being held by SK Devamany and M Saravanan respectively. Both are party vice-presidents. The Segamat seat in Johor is being held by Dr S Subramaniam, the party deputy president and Human Resources Minister.

“The focus on the parliamentary seats seems to be moving by constituency by week, first Cameron Highlands, then Sungai Siput, what’s next?” asked Madhu.

Madhu also wanted all MIC leaders at every level to stop speculating on which seat the president would contest but stay unite to support the party’s chosen candidates as the MIC fate lies on the outcome of the next general election.

“MIC must field the best candidate at each constituency. The MIC leadership should be allowed to make the right choice at the right time to be endorsed by BN leadership,” he added.

On a related matter, Madhu also took a swipe at Gadong Kecil branch chairman M Karunanidhi for asking Palanivel to resign as the party’s Perak state chairman.

“What is wrong in changing state leadership as it is the president’s prerogative. Besides it is no secret that Karunanidhi is closely linked with a veteran state leader. It is so obvious and he is confusing the matter further by asking the appointment of Dr Subramaniam as the state chief,’ he added.

Pakatan should share power with ‘third force’

2012-02-17T03:51:00.001+08:00

Some groups calling themselves the third force are reminding Pakatan that they were the instrumental force in the last general election.

GEORGE TOWN: It’s high time Pakatan Rakyat learned to share power with Hindraf and other civil rights movements and social activists who refer to themselves as the “third force”.

Hindraf Makkal Sakti said that Pakatan should learn to share seats and power with the independent third force if it wants to triumph in the next general election.

Its national coordinator W Sambulingam said Pakatan must realise that it would not have enjoyed the last electoral successes without the effective campaigning and decisive help of the third force.

“Thus, Pakatan should be willing to cooperate and share power with the third force which truly represents the people,” he told FMT.

He called on Pakatan to do some soul-searching to recognise the contributions and sacrifices made by the third force for the coalition success in the last polls.

“Pakatan cannot do it alone. It must share the power with the third force to vote out Umno and company,” said Sambulingam.

Next week, Hindraf will organise a Hindraf- ABU forum in Buntong, Ipoh, to reach out to the Indian electorate and disseminate the ultimate message “Umno Must Go.”

This was the main reason behind Hindraf choosing Buntong, a Tamil-speaking Hindu heartland in Ipoh, as the next venue for the newly formed Hindraf-ABU team.

Sambulingam, N Ganesan, PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, NGO Solidariti Anak-Anak Muda Malaysia leader Badrul Hisham Shaharin, or better known as Chegu Bard, ABU coordinator Haris Ibrahim will be among the main speakers at the forum.

Sambulingam urged the police to provide better protection to the forum and the crowd and stop rowdy mobs from gate-crashing.

On Jan 21, a rowdy mob, believed to sponsored by a top political party, gate-crashed and attacked those attending a Hindraf-ABU forum in Klang, causing serious injury to at least one person.

Prof Dr Chandra Muzaffar responds to Anwar Ibrahim

2012-02-17T03:42:00.003+08:00

Malaysia's Latest Proton Saga

2012-02-17T03:39:00.002+08:00

The Doc goes for a ride in his favorite car

Questions of insider trading in national car shares remain unanswered a month after sale to a Mahathir crony
For nearly three decades, Malaysia’s national car project, Proton, has suffered through endless troubles, nearing its demise several times only to be propped up again and again by the government.

For years, the government sought foreign buyers to come in and save the project, Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Bhd. The carmaker has cost the country’s consumers billions in lost opportunity costs from the steep tariffs levied against other carmakers in addition to the losses the company made on its own, estimated at US$2-3 billion, plus the cost of building its factories. The preferential tariffs haven’t stopped consumers from turning to other makes anyway.

In January, DRB-Hicom Bhd, controlled by billionaire Syed Mokhtar al-Bukhary, a longtime Mahathir friend and United Malays National Organization crony, agreed to take the ailing carmaker off the hands of Khazanah Nasional Bhd., the state-owned investment fund which owned 42.7 percent of the shares after taking the company over during an earlier period of distress. The subsequent events have raised many questions of insider trading, none of which have ever been addressed either by Proton, Hicom or Bursa Malaysia, the country’s stock exchange.

In the two months prior to the announcement of the sale, Proton’s shares went on a wild ride, beginning on Nov. 14, when the shares traded thinly, at only about 3,000 per day at a price of around RM2.70 (US88 cents)

According to official announcements by Bursa Malaysia, the Kuala Lumpur main board, the shares took off on Nov. 15, rising to RM3.21 on volume of 4.3 million shares traded. Over the next 12 days, daily volumes averaged 4.4 million shares. By Dec. 5, volumes increased to 20 million shares per day – 60 times the November average - with the price rocketing up by nearly 25 percent over the period to RM4.50 per share.

Proton’s Wild Ride
It wasn’t until Dec. 5, three weeks after the shares began to gyrate that Bursa Malaysia issued an Unusual Market Activity enquiry. On the next day, Proton announced: “"The Board of Directors of Proton wish to clarify that after making due enquiry with the Board of Directors and major shareholders, the company is not aware of any reason for the unusual market activity in the shares of the company recently, and further, that there is no material corporate development not previously disclosed."

Certainl not! On Jan. 17, DRB-Hicom announced it would buy Khazanah’s stake in the carmaker for RM1.291 billion, the equivalent of RM5.50 per share. That meant that those smart enough – or informed enough -- to buy the Proton shares in November at RM2.70 had effectively doubled their money in two months.

Insider trading?
“The above chain of events makes a bad overall impression. It looks very much that certain parties were privy to inside information,” wrote M A Wind, who blogs for Asia Sentinel. “Why was Bursa Malaysia so late with its Unusual Market Activity query? The share price of Proton had increased already over three consecutive weeks by a whopping 70 percent while daily turnover had risen 20-fold when it finally took action.”

The announcement on December 6, 2011 by Proton that neither it nor Khazanah Nasional were aware of any unusual activity looks puzzling to say the least. The market was rife with rumor, but neither Proton nor Khazanah Nasional said they were aware of any activity.

More suspiciously, the share price more or less stratified at RM 5.50 several days before the final announcement on January 16, 2011 – the DRB-Hicom offer price, which seems to suggest that unknown parties might have known what it would be.

Also, both Proton and DRB-Hicom appeared remarkably passive in issuing announcements, both only responding to queries from Bursa Malaysia (most notably on Dec. 6, 8 and 13, 2011 and Jan. 9, 2012), not initiating the announcements themselves although the stock exchange’s website says: "We place significant emphasis on timeliness, adequacy and accuracy of disclosure to enable investors to make informed investment decisions."

”Let’s be clear,” said a Kuala Lumpur-based investment banker. “All of Malaysia is one big insider-trading casino. There aren’t any other kind of trades.”

The banker declined to speculate on who made the killing. However, he said the clues point to top political figures. The car company was government-owned, the new ownership is close to top United Malays National Organization figures.

One of the victims of the exercise appears to be Malaysia workers -- the Employee Provident Fund, which provides retirement benefits for 13 million private and public sector employees of about 485,000 institutions and companies in the country. The EPF acquired an additional 830,000 shares in 2007 in one of many bids to rescue the company, making Malaysia’s taxpayers owners of the company whether they wanted to be or not.

The EPF, presumably unassuming, sold off some 15 million shares for a price well below the mandatory general office price, which is estimated to have cost the fund roughly RM20 million to RM30 million on the trades.

The next question is why Mokhtar wanted to take over the car project, initiated in the early1980s by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad against the advice of his advisors, all of his critics and common sense. It has been unable to achieve economies of scale that would allow it to survive and flourish. Although local media reported that the financier was considering a possible tie-up with Volkswagen AG of Germany, as long ago as 2004 – eight years ago – it had been vainly seeking buyers that included Volkswagen, the American giant General Motors and PSA Peugeot-Citroen of France. None of the bids has ever worked out.

However, Proton Holdings Bhd registered a first-half 2010-2011 pre-tax profit of RM186 million in the first half of its 2010/11 financial year, built on improved market sentiment and a 13 percent increase in vehicle sales. From an earnings point of view, the company is described by analysts nonetheless as “quite hopeless. But the company holds some valuable assets, including land on which its old factory is sited in Petaling Jaya, and the UK-based Lotus manufacturer or sports and racing cars. The Net Asset Value is RM9.81, the company has RM1.3 billion in the bank and almost no debt.

“If in 3 months time Lotus is sold for a huge price, then we know why,” said an analyst. “ Maybe Syed Mokhtar knows already how to unlock the value.

Selling off the assets, however, would probably infuriate Mahathir, something the tycoon probably would not want to do for fear of retaliation by the still-powerful former premier. The 86-year-old Mahathir is said to be readying a return as a special advisor. On Feb. 6, he wrote an enthusiastic entry in his blog, Che Det, saying he had test driven a new model and found it to be an excellent car.

Proton was the focal point of Mahathir’s dream to turn Malaysia into an industrial powerhouse built on the country’s considerable natural wealth of rubber, palm oil and crude. The car was one of a flock of mega-projects that Mahathir forced onto Malaysia in the 1980s and 1990s, creating steel mills, the

US$475 million Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, a US$5.5 billion Putrajaya administrative capital, the US$2.4 billion Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the US$15 billion Multi-Media Super Corridor which was supposed to eclipse Silicon Valley. The Bakun Dam in Sarawak was to generate enormous amounts of electrical power to be piped through 1,500 kilometers of underwater cables to West Malaysia. A vast network of highways was flung across the country.

Japan’s Mitsubishi Corp persuaded Mahathir to retool an even-then ageing Lancer in 1985 and put an Islamic star and shield on the hood to create the first Proton Saga. Mitsubishi, however, quit in 2004 and sold its 16 percent stake back to Proton Holdings Bhd, the parent holding company.

After Mitsubishi pulled out, the absence of newer models and the inability to find a reliable and technically sound foreign partner meant that sales began to decline. Although Proton had more than 60 percent of the market in 2002, that fell to 30 percent by 2006. It has hovered around 30 percent ever since, despite the preferential government treatment. A 2007 Wall Street Journal-Asia report suggests that Proton burned up RM300-500 million ringgit annually.

14 GROs Rounded Up In Anti-Vice Operation

2012-02-17T03:29:00.000+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 16 (Bernama) -- Police detained 14 guest relations oficers (GROs) and two local men during raids at three massage parlours at Jalan Radin Anum, Sri Petaling here starting at 9pm Thursday.

Bukit Aman Secret Societies, Gaming and Anti-Vice Unit chief ASP Shahrul Nizam Jaafar said that 13 of the women were from China and the other from Indonesia. They were aged between 21 and 35.

"Initial investigations revealed that six of the women had abused student passes, six of them did not possess work permits and the others had abused their social visit passes," he told reporters here.

He said two of the premises did not have licences and the other had misused its acupuncture licence.

"This centres offered massage services for RM80 during the first 45 minutes and the price went up to tailor customers need," he said.

However, he said no condoms were found at the parlours during the raids carried out by five officers and eight members of the unit.

Syria: seven–year–old girl shot as she called messages of support from bedroom window

2012-02-16T05:05:00.000+08:00

Seven – year – old Julnar is dead, shot by a government sniper as she called out messages of solidarity for civilians in Homs from her bedroom window, according to her mother.

Seven-year-old Julnar al Nakeshbandi was killed by a sniper bullet through her bedroom window

By A Telegraph Reporter in Damascus

As Syrian troops unleashed the first wave of the week – long barrage against Homs last week, mosques across restive districts of Damascus called citizens to prayers of protest. At 2.30 in the morning, calls of "God is Great" washed across the districts from the minarets and residents took to the streets in angry protest.

"Julnar heard the mosque's call, so she started to wake me up. She wanted to join in," said her mother. "I put a chair at her bedroom window for her to stand on and I started chanting 'Allah Akhbar' with my daughter."

Suddenly the little girl fell to the ground. Blood was oozing from two bullet wounds in her stomach.

Panicked, her mother rushed her to a neighbour's ground – floor apartment. Outside came the constant rattle of gunfire as government troops sought to silence the protest.

"I knelt quietly next to my dying daughter on the floor. I held her hand, I whispered with her verses that Muslims must say before they die," said her mother. "Around me everyone was weeping and screaming. Somebody massaged her chest".

They rushed the little girl to hospital where doctors tried to save her during three hours of surgery.
She died just before dawn prayers as she came out of the operating theatre. Frightened of the incendiary reaction that might come from the child's death, the funeral was a rushed and controlled affair.

Security forces prevented the attendance of men. Only her father and two brothers were allowed to go.
At a court, Julnar's father was made to sign a paper confirming that his daughter was killed by a stray bullet.

But her defiant mother is certain it was a targeted killing, but that the bullet was intended for her.
A prominent activist who organised demonstrations and shouted slogans in the face of regime officials, the mother is known for her hatred of the President Bashar al – Assad.

Living in a community that is a mixture of Sunni and the ruling minority Alawite sect, hers is a position that is much disliked by some. An Alawite next – door neighbour had twice threatened her at gunpoint to stop her activities, she said.

"I am not sure who shot my daughter, but I am sure it was an Alawite," she spat, her sadness suddenly flaring into rage. "The Alawites in our neighbourhood are being armed. All my Alawite colleagues at work have been given guns," she added. "I wish the Sunnis could arm themselves. I would be the first to go to the presidential palace to shoot him.

"Julnar was the happiness of my life. Now I am living only for taking revenge."

Julnar's full name has not been disclosed at the request of her family.

Zaid: I regret challenging Azmin for PKR deputy

2012-02-16T04:59:00.001+08:00

In Malaysia, a growing homeless generation

2012-02-16T04:57:00.000+08:00

Property prices in urban areas such as Penang and Kuala Lumpur rose by up to 40 per cent in 2010. — propertymalaysia.my pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15 — The sight of newly-built condominium units right down the street from where he lives irks 24-year old Keoh, who says they are a symbol of something which he cannot afford.
The young man, who only wanted to be known as Keoh, carves a living as a fish trader and scoffed at the development within his neighbourhood in the fishing community of Jalan Bagan, Sekinchan. Costing RM500,000 a unit, he says the condominiums are an eyesore to him and those in his community.
“I stay with my parents. I work everyday, going to Perak in the morning to get my supplies of fish and drive a truck back here. But what have I got to show for it? I cannot afford to even buy a home in Sekinchan,” he told The Malaysian Insider.
“Even prices here are rising, and we are still earning the same. I do not think that any of my neighbours can afford a condominium like the one at the end of the road,” he said, adding that earning a monthly income of less than RM2,000 a month did not leave him much choice other than staying with his family.
Young adults, who are putting off buying a house, citing property prices as the underlying cause, are reflecting a growing trend.

Keoh says he cannot afford a home even in rural Sekinchan — Picture by Jack Ooi

Property prices have not been used as an election issue in the past but both coalitions have begun to realise its potential impact on young adults, who represent a sizable chunk of the country’s electorate.The National House Buyers Association (HBA) last year warned that an entire generation of young adults risks being locked out of the property market due to runaway house prices.
Keoh previously lived in Subang, Selangor and worked as a mechanic for two years before financial constraints and family obligations brought him back to his Sekinchan hometown.
“I came back to help out the family business. Staying here, you’d think that the cost of living would be cheaper, but it is quite the opposite,” he said.
Twenty-seven-year-old Phillip Tay shares Keoh’s frustration. A biotechnology graduate-turned-marketing executive, he cuts a decent picture of the average middle-class graduate with a stable job and his own car.
“But the reality is, I cannot afford to purchase my own home. I live with my parents. After paying for monthly essentials, all I am left with is a little bit of savings.
“I think this is a frustration shared by many of my peers. We have jobs, some even professionals, but prices keep getting higher. We pay bills and more bills, and once we’re done with that there’s not much money left,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

Tay is staying with his parents like many of his peers due to the cost of property. — Picture by Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

Tay believes the root problem lies in stagnant wages versus an increasingly high cost of living, which is in turn reflected in the price of homes.“What the government can do is to come up with policies that can help address the issue of stagnant wages. Prices are going up but wages aren’t. I’d vote for a government which can look into that,” he said.
Accounts executive Rachel Tan says that young adults today are so debt-laden that it becomes impossible for them to even think about owning property.
“Young working adults are stuck right now, there’s poverty of a different kind. There’s a lot more debt at this age ... someone my age already has so many loans to repay even before they can own a home, once they get out of university,” said the 23-year old living in Subang Jaya.
For pharmacist, Balqis Mohamad Zin, working with the government provides a better sense of financial security compared to working in the private sector.
But she too, like many others, is concerned about her future amid ever-rising living costs.
“The cost of property is very high, especially in urban areas. The cost of living worries me. Currently, I still get family support, but what if I get married in the future? What I am earning right now will not be enough.
“I am thankful to be employed, I know some people who are still unemployed after graduation. But where is my future from here? Financially I am concerned,” said the 25-year old.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, in an attempt to address the issue of unaffordable property, introduced the 1 Malaysia Housing Programme (PR1MA), an affordable home ownership scheme late last year.
Najib initiated the first phase of PR1MA in July, which involves the construction of 42,000 houses on 20 strategic sites. Each unit will be sold for between RM150,000 and RM300,000 depending on location and size, and targets first-time homeowners with a household income of between RM2,500 and RM6,000.

Yanti told The Malaysian Insider, “The realistic choice is to live with my family.” — Picture by Jack Ooi

The scheme is a continuation of the prime minister’s attempt to tackle soaring property prices in urban centres following the My First Home programme launched in March last year which caters to lower-income households with a budget of RM220,000 and below.Not to be outdone, the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government launched a Selangor affordable housing scheme last year offering apartments priced below RM100,000 to those who earn a monthly income of between RM2,500 and RM5,000.
But despite the vast array of affordable housing schemes available, the root problem of the high cost of homes still remains an issue, and looks set to prevail in the future.
There is also concern that low-cost housing schemes will have stigmas attached to them and therefore will be less attractive to homebuyers.
Property prices in urban areas such as Penang and Kuala Lumpur rose by up to 40 per cent in 2010 fuelled by low interest rates and a surge in speculative buying, although prices grew slower last year due to dampened sentiment from tightening measures such as a hike in the real property gains tax for early disposals.
Some reports have also estimated that property prices jumped from 5.9 times income in 1989 to 10.9 times in 2010.
The Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey rates markets, whose property prices are 5.1 times median income or more, as “severely unaffordable”.
The House Price Index (HPI), as prepared by the Valuation and Property Services Department, rose 7.5 per cent in the second quarter of last year as compared with the same period in 2010.
For urban centres like KL, to which young working adults are gravitating, the HPI has seen a rapid increase since 2004, growing relatively slowly from 100 in 2000 to 108 in 2003, before rising sharply from 115 in 2004 to 167 in the second quarter of last year.
“The prices are exorbitant and beyond the reach of young adults,” HBA secretary-general Chang Kim Loong told The Malaysian Insider last year. “The price increases are not commensurate with salary increases. How are young adults going to catch up (with house prices)?”
“It’s simple math. The combined income between me and my husband does not even amount to RM3,000 ... the realistic choice is to live with my family. Cheaper costs.
“For me, I will vote for a government that will continue to provide aid, to help us. It’s difficult living when everything has a price,” Yanti, a cook from Sekinchan concludes.

Palanivel unveils his vision for Brickfields

2012-02-16T04:54:00.001+08:00

The MIC president promises a “breath of fresh air” and an “economic transformation”.

KUALA LUMPUR: A minister on a walkabout usually flits from one place to another, pausing only for a speedy round of handshakes and a couple of claps on the back. But the newest Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, G Palanivel, opted to break tradition.

During his second official visit to Brickfields yesterday he gathered his MIC posse and Brickfield’s small traders at a street corner where he spent a good chunk of time keenly listening to the latter’s woes and debating solutions with the former.

The soft-spoken man has a fondness for Brickfields. It is an area that he visited regularly during his University Malaya days and which he still frequents weekly for provisions and religious items.

“I am one of you,” he told the small group of traders surrounding him. Having said that however he still needed to be brought up to speed on the issues that Brickfields has been forced to grapple with since the birth of Little India last year.

Among the traders’ main grouses were the exorbitant rentals, the crime rate and the threat of two malls planned by Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB) in the area.

The ensuing recommendations bubbled up swiftly from Palanivel, Deputy Minister of Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing and MIC vice president M Saravanan, and Brickfields Business Community chairman and MIC senator Barath Maniam.

The traders claimed that since Little India’s launch, their rentals had sky-rocketed from RM20,000 to RM70,000. Barath Maniam suggested that Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) bring back the Rent Control Act to ease the traders’ financial burden.

He also proposed that the traders be given preference in purchasing shop lots in the upcoming malls to avoid a nasty and direct hit to their businesses.

Economic transformation

As for petty crime, Palanivel pointed out that police personnel needed to be stationed at the currently unmanned and abandoned police booths.

And then he proceeded to lay out his vision and ambition for Brickfields and Little India.

“This place needs to come alive beyond Deepavali,” Palanivel told the traders. “The businesses of Indians should always be booming like it is on Serangoon Road (Little India) in Singapore.”

Palanivel, who has recently been elected the Transformation Chief for the Indian Community, pledged to bring about a “fresh breath of air” and an “economic transformation” to Brickfields and its inhabitants.

“We need to bring in more international tourists, not just from India, but also from Japan, Korea and Singapore,” he stated. “After all these tourists arrive at KLIA and take the train into KL Sentral. Brickfields is just a stone’s throw away.”

Palanivel has already won the support of Tourism Minister, Ng Yen Yen, to turn Brickfields and Little India into a tourist attraction.

The first step would entail Ng meeting the people of Brickfields after which a masterplan would be drawn up incorporating input from the people as well as various government ministries and departments.

“There are two ways to promote Brickfields,” Palanivel said. “The first is to advertise Little India in tourism brochures and the second is to organise weekend festivals so that the area is always alive.”

His ideas included a sound system to broadcast music and a public TV to screen programs like cricket matches for the many tourists from India.

Up to MIC

In emphasising the need for Brickfields to undergo “continuous facelifts”, Palanivel urged the traders to seek assistance from him and promised to convey their needs to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

But he also reminded them that such projects, as large scale as they are, would require both time and adequate financing both of which he declined to provide an estimation.

“We should start the process immediately with the masterplan which involves more talks with the people,” Palanivel asserted. “Then the transformation can gradually be rolled out in stages.”

When the discussion finally broke up, the traders left with murmurs of satisfaction. Now the ball is in MIC’s court and it’s next serve will determine how the game is played in the upcoming general election.

Whither the Indian community?

2012-02-16T04:49:00.002+08:00

Their votes may be pivotal in the 13th GE but they are a species under threat and the future looks dim unless concerted efforts are made to safeguard their future.
COMMENT

KUALA LUMPUR: Najib Tun Razak was a beleaguered politician at the Thaipusam celebrations at Batu Caves on Feb 7, 2012. Many listened intently as he appealed to the Indian community of largely Tamil descent to place and put their ‘Nambikei’ (trust) in him.

This was not a whimsical appeal. In the run up to the last general election, towards the end of 2007, the Hindraf episode was the wake up call to Umno-BN that their long held sway and hold on Malaysians was now to be put to a stern test.

A much maligned BN tottered virtually on the edge of defeat and only just managed to stave off the effects of a political tsunami. The lessons of that episode still rankles in the minds of BN leaders and they are aware that the Indian votes in the 13th GE could prove decisive to both sides of the political divide.

The Indians are savouring their moments of glory and greatly relishing the overtures of Najib’s “Nambikei” and have even cheekily requested for a two-day Deepavali holiday. The BN views them as prime voters whose votes they want to build upon to maintain their grip on power, and later, as envisaged, to firm up and tighten this grip once more as before.

While the Chinese community appear to have all but deserted the MCA and Gerakan to opt for DAP, and the Malays are skewered three-ways between PAS, PKR and Umno, the Indians are being wooed by BN as Pakatan appear to have offered them not much so far.

Can and should Indians put their trust in the call of the prime minister? Perhaps it is up to each individual Indian voter to do some soul searching before casting their precious vote, as much is at stake and they should certainly not play their cards wrongly.

The Indian community is under much stress and things are not looking up for them right. Their future is in limbo and this is due to a number of factors. But the community should learn to sit up and pay heed to where they are heading in the quagmire of the currently changing Malaysian political landscape.

Dwindling population

Long considered the third largest ethnic group in Malaysia, the community’s dwindling population needs to be addressed or they will see themselves being eclipsed by persons of Indonesian origin as the third largest race in the country.

In the past, if the community had any difficulty, it was the exceedingly high birth rate. The birth of large numbers of infants in an Indian family caused much hardship and deprivation to them.

This was especially true among the families working and residing in the rubber plantations in the rural areas. While in the past this population explosion was viewed with concern, now it is the declining birth rate among Indians that is of concern.

Falling birth rates among Indians have reached alarming proportions. Indians constitute only 9% of the population of the nation as opposed to much higher percentages in the last few decades.

Wither the Indian community in Malaysia? This certainly means that Indians as a race have in all probability been displaced as the third major component or racial group with the influx of Indonesian immigrants.

There are a number of factors that have led to the Malaysian Indian population dwindling. The most important is that the strength of their economic status has been downgraded, causing them to either not marry or have few children in the event they are married couples.

Another important factor is the emigration of highly qualified and educated individuals, who have left Malaysia for greener pastures. Their departure along with their families in tow has resulted in the Indian population to dwindle further.

What is now becoming a bigger worry is the number of Indian youth who are opting to stay single or tying the knot at much older ages, usually well past their prime and causing the number of childless marriages among Indians to go on the rise.

While the Chinese community has addressed this problem by forming Cupid Clubs to play matchmaker and get single Chinese men and women to court and marry, the same measure may have to be adopted by Indian groups representing the community.

The formation of Cupid Clubs have resulted in a greater number of marriages taking place within the Chinese community. The Indian groups can also play a similar matchmaker role among single Indian men and women.

Wake up call for Indians

While the Indian community needs to repopulate itself, there is also a dire need for them to reinvent themselves in the sphere of economic activity so as to gain a larger share of the economic pie.

While on this front, several groups representing the interests of the Indian community have taken upon themselves the role to empower Indians by creating business and educational opportunities, the momentum needs to be sustained and to grow much further.

The admission of Indian students to public and private institutions of higher learning in this country has also witnessed a drastic drop in numbers. The reluctance of a growing number of Indian youths to secure a sound education and a brighter future is now glaringly evident.

Instead, what is happening is that Indian youth are more likely to be associated or linked with criminal and underworld activities, with Malaysian jails housing large numbers of Indian prisoners in ratio to the numbers of their population.

This has caused the socio-economic status of the Indian to downgrade rapidly. There is a need by Indian groups representing and leading the Indian community to be more watchful and vigilant and to steer Indians, especially Indian youth, in the right direction.

While all is not lost, the Indian community needs to wake up to the challenges of a globalised world or they will only have themselves to blame for becoming failures in their own country.

The need is urgent and pressing that Indians in Malaysia not go into a time warp but be aware that they are a species under threat and in all likelihood may not count or favour anymore as voters or as an important ethnic group in the years to come.

It is therefore imperative that Indians rise up and answer this wake up call to pull the community out of the doldrums and to strive to contribute in a greater and more meaningful and impactful way towards building a better Malaysian society.

The writer has been teaching and writing throughout Asia since 1984.

Questioning the faith

2012-02-16T04:40:00.001+08:00

In times of great personal loss, emotional upheavals and uncertainty, we, including the most pious amongst us, sometimes tread on the blasphemous path.
COMMENT

Four years ago, I had lost my mother to cancer. During the months from her diagnosis to her demise, I saw her withering like a flower. Not a day had passed then that I did not turn to God, pleading with him to spare her life. But as time passed, she slipped further and further into the jaws of death.

And when she had breathed her last, I became enraged with God and cursed Him for turning a deaf ear to my prayers. Overwhelmed with resentment, I shut the door of the altar at home and extinguished Him from my heart. Both the door and my heart had remained closed for more than a year.

But time, as it always does, healed the wound.

When the anger had subsided, I opened the door of the altar once again and sought forgiveness for all the harsh words uttered to Him. As I reflected on those who were unfortunate to have lost their loved ones at a tender age, I thanked Him for blessing me with my mother’s presence for three decades.

But just like Hamza Kashgari, till this day, there are certain things about Him that I love, certain things about Him that I despise and certain things about Him that I do not understand.

In times of great personal loss, emotional upheavals and uncertainty, we, including the most pious amongst us, sometimes tread on the blasphemous path, questioning our beliefs and the existence of a compassionate and omnipresent divinity. Faith, after all, is a personal bond beween an individual and his maker.

How many times had we gone to a place of worship and threw our hands up in exasperation and contempt demanding answers whenever fate struck us with a cruel blow?

Religious scriptures reveal that great masters and prophets had also been assailed by the arrows of doubt during their spiritual endeavours. Even Jesus had looked up to the heavens during the crucifixion and questioned his Father why he had been abandoned. What more mere mortals like us?

Death for a poet?

Now, there is a possibility that the 23-year-old poet and newspaper columnist from Saudi Arabia could be put to death for questioning his faith or to be more precise, the infallibility of Prophet Muhammad.

Fearing for his life, he chose to flee his country, hoping to seek refuge in New Zealand. But a transit at Kuala Lumpur proved to be disastrous. Under pressure from the oil-rich kingdom, Malaysia acted swiftly to deport him despite objections from human rights organisations and before a court here could rule on an application filed against the move, with Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein brushing aside concerns for his life as ridiculous.

Commenting on this, a Muslim opposition leader had criticised the deportation, noting that Malaysia did not possess a commendable record with regard to human rights and this would taint it further.

PKR’s Badrul Hisham Saharin also questioned Malaysia’s seriousness regarding such issues and claimed that Dr Mahathir Mohamad, during his tenure as prime minister, had also insulted the prophet but never apologised for it.

On the same note, even Mahathir appeared to disagree with the repatriation, saying that a proper study of the case should have been conducted first as it might involve the loss of a life.

However, there is little doubt that Kashgari should have known better.

He should have realised that his remarks would stoke up tempers in a nation that is deeply religious and sensitive about its faith. And now the issue had taken a political twist, becoming a battle between the liberal and conservative forces within and outside the kingdom.

Kashgari himself had said that he was being made into a scapegoat of a larger conflict.

The controversy also ignited a worldwide debate over the the right to the freedom of expression, with numerous quarters calling on the Saudi government to respect critical viewpoints regardless of how bitter a pill it might be to swallow.

But perhaps Kashgiri was just a young man embroiled in some form of personal turmoil, and who like most of us, became angered and confused by the trials and tribulations of life. His actions were perhaps unwarranted of such an uproar.

Perhaps, his free-spirited nature grew frustrated with a regime that stifled freedom and chose to voice out against it, which most of us do in silence or in safe confines. Perhaps his only fault was to air his thoughts on a public forum in a country high on religious fervour and low on tolerance.

According to one news report, Kashgari, who had drawn the ire of Muslims for stating that there were certain aspects about Prophet Muhammad which he loved and others which he loathed, was described by a former colleague as being a loner and a dreamer.

“He had a broken look in his eyes and I think that was a sign of sadness or depression. He’s a poet and had a lot of philosophical ideas,” the newspaper editor had remarked.

The mind of a poet is a dangerous thing, for it refuses to conform and is often enticed by the romanticism surrounding the spirit of rebellion. But it is this, a mind that cannot be shackled by the chains of authority albeit even divine sanctioned ones, which is the creative catalyst behind all great poetic works, including that of Muslim poets.

To err is human

Kashgari later confessed that his offensive tweets were posted during a difficult psychological state and he had since repented and apologised.

“I declare my repentance and I distance myself fully from all the misleading ideas that affected me and made me write expressions that I do not support. I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God. I shall live and die firmly believing in it… I strongly adhere to the testimonies that there is no deity but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah,” he had wrote.

Only God knows if Kashgari had truly seen the light or if his repentance was a desperate attempt to escape the executioner’s blade.

Nevertheless an apology had been tendered and the “sinner” had expressed remorse. And for those who choose to continue baying for his blood, do remember that to err is human and to forgive is divine.

As one learned Muslim friend remarked, “God is compassion, and the prophet is the personification of that compassion. I am certain that the prophet would have forgiven him.”

Don’t be too attached to your post, Dr M tells Shahrizat

2012-02-16T04:37:00.003+08:00

She should take action in the interest of the party, says the former prime minister.

SERDANG: Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today advised Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, beleaguered by the National Feedlot Corporation (NFCorp) issue, not to be too attached to her post.

He said Shahrizat, who is also Wanita Umno chief, should take appropriate action in the interest of the party.

“I am not asking her to resign but we should always think of the problems we are creating for the party.

“That is why, I myself after being too long (in the party) and people were getting fed up of me, had stepped down from my post.

“So, don’t love your position too much that you dont’ want to let go. One day, we still have to do so,” he told a news conference, here.

Mahathir said the party’s interest should be the priority in making a decision.

“If we think this will be best for the party, we should take action accordingly, but it is up to her (Shahrizat) to make the decision,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mahathir urged the public to decide for themselves whether the out-of-court settlement between former Malaysia Airlines (MAS) executive chairman Tajudin Ramli and Pengurusan Danaharta Nasional Bhd was a cover-up.

Asked whether the settlement was a case swept under the carpet, he said: “I don’t know. I am not in the government. This is for the government to answer.

“This is a democratic country. If you think the government is sweeping things under the carpet, you can always decide not to support the government.”

Yesterday, Tajudin and national asset management firm, Pengurusan Danaharta, reached an out-of-court settlement concerning a civil suit filed six years ago over RM589 million in debts incurred by the corporate figure for the purchase of MAS shares.

Asked whether the terms of the settlement should be made public, Mahathir said, “You should conduct a campaign to ask them to open up and tell people how much of public money they have spent”.

- Bernama

ABU in Bandar Tun Razak on 17/2/2012

2012-02-16T04:29:00.005+08:00

Click on the banner to view it in full size.
See you all there.
Yes, I’ve been asked to speak and I will be there.

Use Of Indelible Ink For Voting Comes Into Force

2012-02-16T04:26:00.002+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15 (Bernama) -- The use of indelible ink for voting in general elections comes into force today following it being gazetted on Feb 13, said Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Yusof.

He said the EC has made plans to use indelible ink during the 13th general election.

However, he said the ink had yet to be purchased as it can only be used within three months.

"We cannot order the ink early because after three months, the ink will no longer be indelible," he said during an interview by Suhaimi Mohammad on the "Dialog" programme titled "Daftar dan Undi" (Register and Vote) aired live on RTM1 here Wednesday night.

Abdul Aziz added: "It will take only two weeks to receive the ink. Our preparation in terms of the boxes, bottles and bottle lids is already underway."

He said the EC would put an order for the ink as soon as dissolution of Parliament is announced.

Abdul Aziz said, however, the colour of the ink had yet to be determined and that it would not be used for postal voting.

He advised voters not to allow other parties to ink their fingers before arriving at voting centres to ensure their eligibility to vote is not compromised.

He said voters would have their left forefinger inked at their respective voting centres, adding that use of the ink had been approved by the Chemistry Department, Health Ministry and National Fatwa Committee.

On Dec 19, 2011, Abdul Aziz announced that the EC would use silver nitrate indelible ink for the 13th general election, which is different from the indelible ink proposed during the 2008 general election, but was not implemented after the method's effectiveness was questioned by various quarters.

Perkasa: Najib went to Batu Caves with 'unity torch'

2012-02-15T04:49:00.003+08:00

Islamic Group Tells Muslims: ‘Don’t Attend Rituals of Other Religions’

2012-02-15T04:47:00.000+08:00

Kuala Lumpur. The Ulama Association of Malaysia has urged Muslims to avoid participating in non-Muslim religious festivities, in a call seen by some as aimed at Prime Minister Najib Razak’s recent attendance at a Thaipusam celebration.

The association’s secretary-general Mohd Roslan Mohd Nor said Muslims should be more careful about this matter because it had a bearing on their faith. A guideline set in 2005 and approved by the National Fatwa Council, he said, was clear about Muslims attending the religious celebrations of non-Muslims.

“Among the criteria set is that the event must not include rituals that are against the Islamic faith,” he said in a statement, adding that Muslims should not participate in such rituals as it may jeopardise their faith.

The association is a non-government group that promotes Islamic values.

The statement did not name any specific incident of infringement, but it came soon after Datuk Seri Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor made a much-publicized visit to the Batu Caves Hindu temple during the Thaipusam festival on Feb 7.

Last week, the conservative Perak Mufti Harussani Zakaria told a news Web site that the visit showed Najib had “sacrificed” his faith. He said he had repeatedly advised the Prime Minister not to take part in such events. “It’s an idolatrous act. I don’t know why this happened... when we don’t join in the celebrations of other races in their houses of worship.”

The Perak Mufti added that Muslims may attend festive open houses but not enter houses of worship where religious ceremonies are carried out.

Najib has not responded to the criticism. This is the first time his visit to the Batu Caves has stirred criticism, although he had previously gone there four times in three years, as part of efforts to consolidate crucial Indian support.

When he visited Batu Caves during Thaipusam for the first time in 2010, he was the first prime minister to do so in more than 30 years. Najib had also sought to meet the Christian community the same year, but his first such meeting was marred by overzealous aides who instructed church officials to remove crucifixes and to avoid singing hymns.

Yesterday, the Ulama Association of Malaysia urged all the religious authorities to give the right advice to the country’s leaders.

“At the same time, all leaders who are Muslims are advised to comply with the views of the religious leaders,” said Mohd Roslan.

He said non-Muslims should also understand and respect the Islamic values of their Muslim friends.

The Islamic authorities had also banned Muslims from doing yoga, saying it may involve elements of the Hindu religion.

Observers have warned that such conservative views, if repeated by the clerics and played up by the media, could deepen religious divides in Malaysia and also damage Najib’s efforts to reach out to minority communities.

“It will ignite a certain kind of sentiment on both sides,” said the director of the Centre for Public Policy Studies, Ng Yeen Seen.

Reprinted courtesy of Straits Times Indonesia. To subscribe to Straits Times Indonesia and/or the Jakarta Globe call 021 2553 5055.

Peserta mogok lapar masuk hospital

2012-02-15T04:39:00.004+08:00

Gan Ee Seng bertindak demikian untuk terus mendesak kerajaan negeri Pahang membayar wang sebanyak RM70 juta kepada syarikat pelaburannya.

KOTA DAMANSARA: Peserta mogok lapar yang turut mengancam membakar dirinya hari ini dimasukkan ke hospital Sungai Buloh setelah mengalami dehidrasi ekoran tidak makan dan minum selama 24 jam.

Gan Ee Seng, 55 tahun bertindak demikian untuk terus mendesak kerajaan negeri Pahang yang masih gagal membayar wang sebanyak RM70 juta kepada syarikat pembalakan di mana beliau turut melabur.

Bapa kepada tiga orang anak ini melabur di dalam syarikat Seruan Gemilang Makmur Sdn Bhd dan semalam memulakan mogok lapar beliau di Padang Kota Damansara.

Berbekalkan sebuah khemah dan tidur hanya beralaskan sekeping kotak, tindakan Gan ini menarik perhatian beberapa ahli parlimen dari Pakatan Rakyat yang turut meninjau keadaan beliau. Gan yang kelihatan lemah dan tidak bermaya hanya terbaring tanpa mengeluarkan sebarang kata-kata walaupun kehadiran ramai pemberita dan orang awam di kawasan berkenaan.

Beliau difahamkan turut mengalami masalah kesihatan lain seperti tekanan darah tinggi, kencing manis dan hanya diberi minuman sebelum van ambulans tiba.

Antara yang hadir termasuklah ahli parlimen Segambut Lim Lip Eng, R Sivarasa (Subang) dan Tan Kok Wai (Cheras).

Tan menyifatkan perkara seumpama ini tidak sepatutnya berlaku kerana
ia akan memberi kesan kepada pelaburan di negeri berkenaan.

“Kerajaan negeri Pahang gagal untuk membayar sejumlah wang seperti yang diperintahkan mahkamah. Perkara ini tidak patut berlaku dan usaha Gan adalah supaya kerajaan negeri mengambil perhatian mengenai hal ini,” katanya kepada media yang hadir.

Kerajaan negeri harus bertanggungjawab

Sementara itu Lim pula berkata perkara tersebut pernah dibawa ke parlimen dan mahu kerajaan negeri Pahang serta Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob bertanggungjawab di atas perkara tersebut.

Malah beliau turut mengarahkan ahli Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ) dan polis untuk terus memantau Gan yang mengancam untuk membakar dirinya.

“Saya akan mencuba yang terbaik untuk menghentikan hal seperti ini.

Kami membantu apa yang mampu. Dan saya telah arahkan ahli

MBPJ dan polis untuk berada di sini kerana beliau (Gan) mahu membakar dirinya,” kata Lim.

Baik Lim mahupun Sivarasa, mereka tidak bersetuju dengan tindakan Gan membakar diri. Namun menyifatkan ia sebagai satu usaha berterusan untuk kerajaan negeri mengambil perhatian terhadap isu ini.

Pada September 2008, kerajaan Pahang diperintahkan membayar RM60 juta kepada sebuah syarikat pembalakan selepas gagal dalam usaha terakhirnya di Mahkamah Persekutuan bagi mendapatkan kebenaran untuk merayu.

Kerajaan negeri Pahang dan Pengarah Perhutanan Negeri telah memohon kebenaran untuk merayu terhadap keputusan Mahkamah Rayuan yang menolak rayuan mereka untuk melanjutkan masa bagi memfailkan notis rayuan.

Notis rayuan itu adalah terhadap keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi Kuantan pada 25 Mei 2007 yang memerintahkan mereka membayar RM37,127,471.60 kepada Seruan Gemilang dengan faedah pada kadar lapan peratus setahun mulai 31 Disember 2000 sehingga selesai pembayaran.

Mahkamah Tinggi memerintahkan mereka membayar jumlah itu kepada Seruan Gemilang setelah berpuas hati bahawa Pengarah Perhutanan Negeri telah bertindak secara cuai apabila enggan mengguna pakai pelan terkini yang dikemukakan oleh Seruan Gemilang yang telah diluluskan oleh Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri pada 5 April 2000, sebaliknya mengarahkan pelan asal yang diluluskan oleh exco pada 7 Januari 1998, diguna pakai.

Pada 9 Disember 2002, Seruan Gemilang memfailkan saman terhadap Kerajaan Negeri Pahang dan Pengarah Perhutanan Negeri bagi memohon ganti rugi RM31 juta kerana didakwa melanggar perjanjian kontrak konsesi pembalakan berhubung pengeluaran kayu balak di atas tanah milik Umno di Mukim Bebar, Daerah Pekan seluas 4,000 hektar.

Rebel MIC man refuses to back down

2012-02-15T04:20:00.003+08:00

VT Rajen says he will push ahead with the Gerakan Anti-Palanivel if the president does not steer clear of existing parliament seats.

KUALA LUMPUR: Combative MIC branch chairman VT Rajen has insisted that he will form the Gerakan Anti-Palanivel (GAP) movement despite receiving a recent show-cause letter from the party leadership.

In a press statement, the Taman Mujur branch chairman said the GAP movement will be mooted if party president G Palanivel refused to steer clear of contesting in MIC’s four Parliament seats.

“I received the show-cause letter on Sunday and I will reply to the letter,” he said.

“My concern is very simple, do not disturb the incumbents. Let’s give them another chance to defend their constituencies,” he added.

MIC’s four MPs are deputy president and Human Resource Minister Dr S Subramaniam (Segamat) vice-presidents and deputy ministers SK Devamany (Cameron Highlands) and M Saravanan (Tapah); and P Kamalanathan (Hulu Selangor).

According to Rajen, the four MPs are the real “winnable candidates”.

“They won the seats despite the political tsunami and we should appreciate them and should preserve them in their respective constituencies,” he said.

‘This is a democratic party’

Rajen also rubbished a statement by certain party members that the president has the right to choose the seat which he wished to contest.

“MIC is a democratic party where the president cannot act like a dictator. As president, he should strengthen the party first instead of seeking positions,” he added.

Meanwhile, Gadong Kecil branch chairman M Karunanidhi refused to apologise for calling on Palanivel to resign.

“There is no reason to apologise to the party,” he told FMT.

Karunanidhi, who received a show-cause letter on Feb 8, said that he would not respond to it.

“Palanivel has been MIC’s Selangor state chief for more than 10 years and MIC lost all its seats in the state in the last election.

“While his own state (Selangor) is in tatters, he is now planning to rejuvenate MIC’s strength in Perak,” he added.

Karunanidhi said he attempted to call the president, who has taken over the Perak MIC chief post last week, several times but the latter could not be reached, forcing him to turn to the media.

What we have lost over 40 years

2012-02-15T04:17:00.001+08:00

Malaysia’s future lies not only in good governance, transparency, an end to corruption, and whatnot. These are of course important. More importantly, Malaysians must learn to respect the individual’s right to his/her beliefs and choices. This is what we have lost and what we had back in the 1950s and 1960s.
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
Five couples nabbed in early Valentine's Day raids
(The Star) - Five couples were nabbed during the early hours of Valentine's Day for alleged khalwat (close proximity), in raids conducted by the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) and Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).
In the raids that began at 12.30am Tuesday, enforcement officers swooped in on the couples, who were found in budget hotels around Kota Damansara and Bandar Sri Damansara here.
The men and women were aged between 20 and 30.
Some covered their faces with towels as they were escorted from hotel rooms into the Jais vans.
The operation, known as the Petaling District Level 6th Anti-Vice Campaign, was conducted by a total of 85 enforcement officers from Jais, MBPJ, the Immigration Department, district land office and police.
The couples were released on bail and will be charged in the Syariah court as soon as possible.
The raid ended at about 4am.
Under the Selangor Syariah Criminal Enactment 1995, khalwat is an offence which is punishable with a jail term of up to two years or fine up to RM3,000 or both, upon conviction.

************************************************

The last time something like this happened in Selangor we blamed PAS. We blamed Hasan Ali, the PAS man in charge of religion who we called an Umno mole, a Trojan horse, an ex-BTN operative, and whatnot.
Well, Hasan Ali is gone. He is history. Religion now comes directly under the Menteri Besar, a PKR and not a PAS man. But it is still business as usual.
Now, this is not merely a Pakatan Rakyat problem. This also happens in other states, which are not Pakatan Rakyat ruled. In fact, it happens all over Malaysia. The woman who was arrested and caned for drinking beer happened in Pahang, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s home state.
No, today I am not talking about corruption. I am not even talking about religion. I am talking about civil liberties.
I know that as a Muslim I should not be talking about this, especially in opposition to it. If I do want to talk about it I should be in support of any move to eradicate sin and vice. Nevertheless, I did say in my interview some time ago (which you can see on Youtube) that if I want to talk about civil liberties, then I would have to remove my Muslim cap and put on my civil liberties cap. I can’t be wearing both caps at the same time just like when I want to talk about the third estate (the rakyat) I need to remove my Pakatan Rakyat cap (which many of you hate when I do that).
Now, this will probably give you an impression that Islam is not compatible with civil liberties. Actually, it is not only Islam. All the Abrahamic faiths are not compatible with civil liberties -- although nowadays heresy and apostasy are no longer punishable by death in England, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, etc., like, say, 400 or 500 years ago.
Note though, it was not that long ago that witches were still burned alive at the stake in America. So we really don’t have to go that far back in history to see what we would today call barbaric practices.
MCLM, when first mooted almost eight years ago, was not supposed to be involved in politics or the elections. It was supposed to be a purely civil liberties movement to uphold the right of Malaysians to decide how they want to live their lives and what they would like to believe or not believe. This, of course, would include the right to even not believe in God, if that is what you wish to believe.
I may not believe that Jesus died on the cross and came back to life three days later. But if that is what you believe then you have a right to believe that -- and whatever else you may want to believe and practice.
Anyway, somehow, MCLM ended up becoming a political movement and people started perceiving MCLM as a political party that aspires to contest the elections. Maybe that is our fault for talking about quality candidates and about helping Pakatan Rakyat look for such candidates and offer these candidates to them for the next election. That overshadowed everything else that MCLM was trying to do.
We have since abandoned all talk about elections and candidates. MCLM will soon be holding its first annual meeting and elections. Anyone who is a member is eligible to contest (we have slightly over 1,000 members). And I hope MCLM will soon see a new committee that can chart its course and focus on issues involving civil liberties.
The talk about forbidding Santa Claus hats, barring gay singers from performing in Malaysia, banning Valentine’s Day, and much more, are issues involving civil liberties. No doubt Malaysia practices Shariah laws and under these laws Muslims are forbidden from doing many things and are obligated to do many others.
But what if you are not a Muslim? Must you also be subjected to the same taboos? And, more importantly, what if you are a Muslim? Does the state have a right to interfere in your lifestyle, beliefs, sexual preferences and whatnot?
This is a debate that will never see a consensus. You can’t debate when you apply two different value systems. One debater will be talking from religion’s point of view and the other from the civil liberties point of view.
Do you know that the First Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, used to go to the horse races every weekend? He also gambled with his Chinese friends (played cheekee) and would drink like a fish (not sure if fishes do drink). That was one of the issues Dr Mahathir Mohamad used against him when he wanted to oust the Tunku (read Dr Mahathir’s letter to the Tunku: you can Google it).
But then, in spite of what many, today, would view as a most ‘immoral’ Prime Minister, Malaysia was a peaceful place. There was no racism and religious intolerance. In fact, the Tunku used to say that he was the happiest Prime Minister in the world.
Then the Tunku became heartbroken and was no longer happy. Until the day he died he still cried whenever he talked about the matter (read ‘The Tunku Tapes’ by K Das). And the issue that brought him to tears was the blackest day in Malaysia’s history, May 13.
The Tunku asked, why did God allow him to live to see the day when Malaysians would kill fellow Malaysians? He would rather have died than see that day. The Tunku was devastated and not long after that he resigned as Prime Minister. He seldom smiled again after that, not even when we threw him an 80th birthday party and launched the University Malaya Tunku Abdul Rahman Chair of International Law with a launching grant of RM1 million as his birthday present on 8th February 1983.
(Incidentally, how many of you lawyers out there are beneficiaries of this foundation?)
The Tunku was probably Malaysia’s first civil libertarian. And he believed that you decide what you want to believe and how you would like to live your life. And not only was the Tunku the happiest Prime Minister but we Malaysians of the 1950s and 1960s were the happiest people in the world.
Then the politicians decided they would end all that. Led by Tun Razak, Dr Mahathir, Datuk Harun Idris, and those of their ilk, they triggered May 13 and attacked the Tunku. The Tunku was blamed for May 13. It is because he was too ‘soft’ to the Chinese, they alleged.
And, since then, Malaysia has never been the same again.
Can we reverse all this? I really don’t know. But that is what MCLM will have to explore. It may be possible or it may not. Only time can tell. But MCLM must be absolutely apolitical and non-partisan. It must also be brave enough to speak out against any religious ruling that is opposed to civil liberties even if the religionists accuse them of being heretics and apostates.
Malaysia’s future lies not only in good governance, transparency, an end to corruption, and whatnot. These are of course important. More importantly, Malaysians must learn to respect the individual’s right to his/her beliefs and choices. This is what we have lost and what we had back in the 1950s and 1960s.

India and the Politics of Aid

2012-02-15T04:14:00.001+08:00

The winner: Rafale

Loss of a major combat fighter jet contract stirs anger in Westminster
Soon after the Indian Air Force rejected the UK’s Eurofighter Typhoon jets in favor of the French Dassault Rafale for its US$20-billion medium multi-role combat aircraft project, considerable rancor surfaced in Britain over sending aid to an increasingly prosperous India.

The decision has kicked off a major discussion in both India and the UK about the nature of aid. Andrew Mitchell, the UK’s Secretary of State for International Development, acknowledged that the focus of the £250 million annual payments included seeking to sell the Typhoon, which is in violation of the stated rationale of British overseas aid “to fight poverty and promote health and education.”

The real reason behind the irritation, analysts say, is not so much the millions of pounds sterling in aid to Delhi but the fact India signed the deal with France for the Rafale fighter jets despite the fact that British aid to New Delhi is nearly 15 times more than Paris’s. Prime Minister David Cameron is vowing to persuade Delhi to reconsider.

The aid debate is fraught with other questions about the very nature of aid. Conservative groups in rich countries have always opposed aid as they see it as an extension of the welfare state. Developing country elites, on the other hand, are inimical to this outreach initiative because as a columnist put it, it smacks of “dependency, neo-colonialism and reminds them of domestic policy failure.”

In other words, the episode has necessitated a reexamination of foreign aid at a time when emerging economies like India, China and Brazil are growing in economic and geopolitical heft, while the developed countries are experiencing economic woes.

“That pockets of wealth should co-exist with swathes of poverty is increasingly common in the developing world. The provision of aid is politically trickier because it must walk a tightrope between elite narratives and continuing deprivation,” said an editorial in the Hindustan Times.

Does it make any sense, the anti-aid lobby in Britain is arguing, to lavish that kind of annual aid on a burgeoning superpower that is snapping up expensive warplanes, has a defense budget that tops US$30 billion, a figure that has more than tripled since the 1998 nuclear blasts, and is seeking to put the first Indian astronauts into space by 2016?

Besides, the anti-aid crusaders point, India has 153,000 US dollar millionaires — 20 percent up in a year, compared with Britain’s own meager increase of less than one percent. Plus, such is the economic power of India that it now gives out more foreign aid than it receives, and has handed over £ 3.5 billion to cement relations with Africa. So why does it need aid?

There was outrage in India too. The blogosphere erupted with toxic comments over British expectations. “It is a clear case of misplaced expectations. India is not a British colony; it decides its own policy,” commented one blogger. “Its time the British came out of their colonial mindset and stopped behaving like a feudal master.”

France, meanwhile, has been gloating over the sale of the Rafale -- called “the white elephant of French arms manufacturing” -- with embattled President Nicolas Sarkozy, who faces a bitterly contested election later this year, trumpeting it as a “major boost” to the French economy.

To buttress its argument in support of canceling all aid to India, the anti-aid groups in Britain raked up finance minister Pranab Mukherjee’s last August statement in the Rajya Sabha (upper house) where he had mentioned that India did not need British aid as it was “peanuts.” “We do not require the aid. We will voluntarily surrender it (if the UK decides to cut down the aid)… It is peanuts in our total development exercises (expenditure),” Mukherjee had said.

The Sunday Mail quoted a leaked memo which reportedly said the then foreign secretary, Nirupama Rao, proposed not to take any further assistance from the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) with effect from April 1, 2011, because of the negative publicity generated by the agency regarding Indian poverty. The paper added, quoting official transcripts, that the British government then “begged” India to take the money.

According to India’s aid policy, the nation is not in favor of Overseas Development Assistance or bilateral aid that creates repayment obligations. In 2003, it said it was not keen on tied aid, though bilateral aid is considered kosher from G-8 countries and EU. For non-EU European countries, “aid is acceptable only if it is above US$25 million annually”.

However, with the two-way arguments threatening to snowball into a diplomatic crisis, New Delhi has been trying to downplay it, saying that its decision to buy Rafale jets over Typhoons was made purely on “technical grounds”. For instance, it is being pointed out the "life cycle cost" of operating the Typhoon over a 40-year period, with 6,000 hours of flying, was found to be "higher" than Rafale after extensive calculations of flight costs, spares, maintenance and the like.

However, a section of defense analysts said the choice of the Rafale’ over Typhoon is a “strategic blunder”. “There is a clear disconnect between the MEA and MoD (ministry of defense) on the matter,” said one expert. “Costs appear to have outweighed their final choice and not strategic considerations.”

More than anything else, the arguments and counter arguments over the jet deal underscore the macro debate over the politics of foreign aid, not to mention the unarticulated expectation that the donor’s “favor” will be reciprocated by the receiver in the form of some economic tradeoff.

“The Typhoon episode is strongly reminiscent of the concept of 'tied' aid, or a quid pro quo expected by the donor party,” said NGO activist Sudhakar Bokade formerly with the Indian army. “It is ridiculous of Britain to expect that India would award it an expensive defense contract purely out of obligation. This expectation totally kills the spirit of charity. It is far better to strike the aid off from one’s foreign policy agenda than give in to such sentiments.”

Bokade added that aid should be about poor people and the social transformational potential they embody rather than “blatant commercial tradeoffs”.

There is another pertinent aspect to the aid conundrum as pointed out by The Guardian in a recent article. “Underlying the debate raging over British aid to India,” said the newspaper, “is the myth that the subcontinent's strong, market-driven growth of the past two decades has pulled hundreds of millions out of poverty…In reality, since 1991, during which time India has experienced the highest growth in recent history, there has been no significant reduction in poverty or hunger. Two in every five children remain malnourished.”

The paper argues further that “the neo-liberal policies unleashed by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, when he was finance minister in the early 90s, have widened class disparities obscenely”.

In other words, Bokhade said, it would be morally wrong of the UK to terminate aid to India as it hosts the largest number of the world's poor.

“London should fulfill its obligations to set right the gross structural imbalances that continue to plague the world despite tectonic shifts in power between the so-called rich and poor nations,” the activist concluded.

Target: Lim Guan Eng

2012-02-15T04:08:00.001+08:00

The Malaysian Insider
Feb 14, 2012

FEB 14 — This is some friendly advice to Lim Guan Eng. Watch your back. Team Najib have identified you as a main target, a real problem for them in the coming general elections.

In the power circles in Putrajaya, Lim Guan Eng is a problem, not only in Penang but in urban areas and even in East Malaysia where the feedback is that the Penang CM is popular.

So the strategists in Umno have decided that Lim must be kept busy fending off attacks. He must be kept off balance and so worried that he will not leave Penang to campaign for Pakatan Rakyat.

Aiding and abetting Umno in this task are some turncoats in DAP and PKR and Chinese businessmen. They have been promised a big payoff.

Guan Eng, you can expect your name to be dragged in the mud just like Anwar Ibrahim’s.

The only difference is that the administration will not use the mainstream media because they know that you will sue. They are going to employ the Umno bloggers to destroy you.

If you have skeletons in the closet, you are in trouble. If you don’t have, they will make it up.

This so-called expose on the Bayan Mutiara land deal should be see in this light. I don’t expect Rahman Dahlan to take up your dare and challenge you that the land was sold through open tender. The last thing he wants is for you to show him up to be what he is.

He and other Umno politicians just want to distract you and tar your image.

Bomb Suspect Arrested At Airport

2012-02-15T04:04:00.003+08:00

By Jamaluddin Muhammad

BANGKOK, Feb 15 (Bernama) -- An Iranian was arrested at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport here Tuesday night, in connection with a series of three bombing incidents in the capital earlier.

Bangkok Metropolitan police chief Pol Lt Gen Winai Thongsaeng said the man was picked up as he was about to take a 6pm flight out of the country.

Three bomb explosions rocked Bangkok today, including an incident where an Iranian man lost his legs when a bomb he hurled at a police patrol car, ricochetted and struck him at Sukhumvit 71 Road here.

The suspect detained at the airport was believed to be one of the two housemates of the bomber. The other is still at large.

Earlier, National Police Deputy Chief Pol Gen Pansiri Praphawat said, apart from the bomber, four locals were injured in the bombing incidents.

He said the first bomb exploded at a house rented by the Iranian at Soi (lane) Preedeepanomyong 31, off Sukhumvit 71 Road about 2pm. Later, the police found several home-made bombs inside the house.

Pansiri said, as the Iranian man tried to run away after the explosion, he flagged down a taxi at the roadside of the Soi but threw another bomb at the taxi when the taxi driver refused to stop after being alerted by the public that he carried bombs.

He said a police patrol car managed to intercept the bomber in front of a school at Sukhumvit 71 Road and the bomber threw the third bomb at the patrol car but it ricochetted and exploded, causing him to lose his legs.

It could not be ascertained whether today's bombing incidents are linked to the terrorism alerts in this capital issued by some countries last month.

On Jan 13, the United States Embassy here warned that foreign terrorists might conduct attacks against tourist areas in this capital in the near future.

A terrorist suspect, a 48-year-old Lebanese, was detained in this city on Jan 12, and more than four tonnes of explosive materials discovered later.

ABU sentimen yang mampu jatuhkan Bn : Md Sabu

2012-02-15T04:02:00.003+08:00

Saya akui, perubahan pemerintahan itu bukan matlamat akhir perjuangan rakyat. Dia mesti menegakkan justice dan keadilan. Sebab itu saya cukup suka apabila melihat munculnya kumpulan ABU ini," kata Timbalan Presiden PAS, Mohamad Sabu, sebelum menambah, bahawa beliau melihat ABU "...boleh menjatuhkan kerajaan Barisan Nasional, mereka juga mampu menjatuhkan kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat kalau menyeleweng nanti."

Demikianlah penilaian Mohamad Sabu terhadap ABU, singkatan kepada "Asal Bukan UMNO" - satu kempen untuk menolak UMNO-Barisan Nasional dalam Pilihan Raya Umum akan datang. Seperti biasa, pemidato terkenal ini tidak lupa mencuit rakan seperjuangannya dalam Pakatan Rakyat, mendakwa bahawa orang yang berkuasa menunjukkan kecenderungan yang hampir sama, lantas memerlukan pengawasan yang rapi.

"Amar makruf nahi mungkar, sebut senang nak laksana payah!" sindirnya dengan nada berjenaka, mencungkil gelak ketawa kira-kira 150 orang hadirin di bawah pentas, dalam "Forum Kiri: Kebangkitan Dunia Arab: Apa telah terjadi selepas satu tahun?", anjuran Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) di Dewan Perhimpunan Cina KL-Selangor, semalam.

Beliau yang lebih dikenali dengan Mat Sabu, sempat berkongsi pengamatannya terhadap pergolakan politik yang berlaku di Timur Tengah, selepas genap satu tahun beberapa regim digulingkan. Malah, Mat Sabu sempat mengaitkan beberapa fenomena yang berlaku di Timur Tengah, dengan apa yang berlaku di tanahair kita sekarang.

Sebelum ini, Penyelaras Antarabangsa PSM Choo Chon Kai (gambar kiri) selaku panelis, menekankan bahawa perjuangan tidak seharusnya dibubuh noktah apabila satu regim digulingkan dan digantikan dengan kerajaan yang baru, kerana perubahan struktur yang menyeluruh tidak semestinya berlaku.

Choo Chon Kai antara tahanan EO (di bawah Ordinan Darurat) ketika kerajaan Barisan Nasional cuba mematahkan perhimpunan BERSIH 2.0. Menurut Choo, revolusi yang berlaku di Timur Tengah setahun yang lalu masih belum selesai, memandangkan sistem yang lama masih wujud, dan isu-isu seperti kemiskinan, pengangguran, kenaikan harga dan sebagainya, masih belum diselesaikan.

Kalau tak dapat semua, jangan tinggal semua

Seorang lagi panelis, Hishamuddin Rais mengambil sikap yang lebih sinikal terhadap kebangkitan rakyat yang disifatkan "Arab Spring" oleh media Barat. Beliau cuba mengetengahkan kontradiksi utama di sebalik manifestasi di mana demonstrasi raksasa berlaku, mengaitkan kepentingan Amerika Syarikat dalam pergolakan ini. Malah, untuk beliau, pertukaran kerajaan hanya pertukaran sekumpulan pelawak yang baru untuk berkuasa, tanpa perubahan dari segi struktur.

Mat Sabu (gambar kanan) bersetuju dengan sebahagian pengamatan itu, bahawa ada kalanya kebangkitan rakyat itu di-hijack oleh sesetengah pihak. Malah beliau sempat bergurau dengan merujuk apa yang berlaku di Malaysia, di mana secara tiba-tiba bekas menteri datang dan mengakui dirinya pun ABU, malah mengutuk UMNO lebih kuat daripada pembangkang.

Bagaimanapun, beliau cuba melihat ciri-ciri positif daripada apa yang berlaku di Timur Tengah setahun yang lalu, satu perjuangan untuk mendaulatkan keadilan, dan sekurang-kurangnya rakyat negara berkenaan telah keluar dari alam diktator yang teruk selama 50 tahun sebelum ini.

"Memanglah kita ada satu idealistik yang kita perlu capai, tetapi dalam konteks perjuangan, kalau kita tidak dapat semua, jangan kita tinggal semua," kata Mat Sabu.

Projek Alaf Baru untuk Amerika Syarikat

Berucap sebelum Mat Sabu, Hishamuddin Rais menyeru agar hadirin tidak terpengaruh dengan manifestasi tanpa meneliti kontradiksi sebenar yang berlaku di Timur Tengah. Sambil mendakwa bahawa demonstrasi raksasa di Dataran Tahrir itu hanyalah manifestasi yang dicetuskan kontradiksi yang lebih utama, Hishamuddin Rais memperkenalkan "Projek Alaf Baru untuk Amerika Syarikat" (Project For The New American Century) kepada hadirin. Menurutnya, projek ini difikirkan otak-otak yang cerdik-pandai, graduan dari Universiti Havard dan Universiti Yale tetapi berhaluan kanan.

Beliau mengimbas sejarah, perjanjian pada tahun 1923 antara Amerika Syarikat dengan Arab Saudi, di mana Amerika berjanji mempertahankan Arab Saudi dengan syarat minyak akan dijual-beli dengan menggunakan dollar Amerika. Lantas Amerika Syarikat terselamat dengan hanya mencetak wang dollar Amerika. Ia menjelaskan juga mengapa media seperti Washington Journal, New York Times berdiam diri, apabila pencabulan hak asasi berlaku secara berleluasa di Arab Saudi?

"Tidakkah anda rasa itu sesuatu yang pelik?" tanya Hishamuddin Rais, merujuk kepada bagaimana kuasa Barat yang sering lantang dalam isu pencabulan hak asasi apabila berlaku di Dunia Ketiga. Malah, Hishamuddin Rais menyatakan bahawa pernah wujud gerakan sayap kiri yang progresif di negara-negara Timur Tengah ini, namun digagalkan oleh Amerika Syarikat. Beliau menambah, bukan lagi rahsia di mana wujudnya hubungan yang intim antara badan perisikan Amerika Syarikat, CIA dengan Ikhwan Muslimin, badan yang memperjuangkan gerakan Islam.

Untuk Hishamuddin Rais (gambar kanan), apa yang berlaku setahun yang lalu di Libya, Mesir, Tunisia dan sebagainya, adalah "pembocoran" yang terpaksa dilakukan, ketika kuasa Amerika berdepan dengan ombak kuasa rakyat, untuk menangguhkan revolusi agar perubahan struktur secara total dapat dielakkan. Dalam perhitungan Amerika Syarikat, musuhnya bukan Syria, Libya, Tunisia dan sebagainya, tetapi China. Kewujudan projek Alaf Baru untuk AS itu adalah untuk memastikan kuasa Amerika tidak dicabar mana-mana bala tentera di dunia ini.

Hishamuddin Rais berkata, perjuangan ini belum berakhir dan masih berjalan, kerana kontradiksi utama masih kekal. Sebagai penyelesaiannya, satu sistem ekonomi di mana manusia tidak dijadikan hamba, lebih demokrasi dan terbuka, di mana manusia saling menghormati sesama manusia perlu diwujudkan, katanya. - petikan merdeka riview(BM)

Report: Prescription pills found around Whitney’s bath-tub

2012-02-15T04:01:00.002+08:00

Some have suggested that “drug abuse” (usually taken to mean illegal or hardcore drugs) played a part in Whitney’s downfall, but reports have emerged that prescription pills were found around her hotel bath-tub.
The Daily Mail reported:

The body of the singer, 48, was found in a bathtub at her suite on Saturday, surrounded by different bottles of prescription pills including ibuprofen – a painkiller, Xanax – an anti-anxiety drug, Midol – for menstrual cramps, amoxicillin – for bacterial infections and several others.

Her doctors are said to be facing questions.
Read the full report, which is quite revealing.
Not what Big Pharma would like to hear.

Maldives: Islamists Storm National Museum, Destroy Entire Collection of 12th Century Buddhist Statues…

2012-02-14T06:21:00.003+08:00

Bamyan styled Islamists effectively erased all evidence of its Buddhist past of pre-Islamic Maldives.
Trouble in paradise: Maldives and Islamic extremismes.

: Nobody will be able to see this priceless Buddhist Sculpture anymore

MALE — At the Maldives’ National Museum, smashed Buddhist statues are testament to the rise of Islamic extremism and Taliban-style intolerance in a country famous as a laid-back holiday destination.

On Tuesday, as protesters backed by mutinous police toppled president Mohamed Nasheed, a handful of men stormed the Chinese-built museum and destroyed its display of priceless artefacts from the nation’s pre-Islamic era.

“They have effectively erased all evidence of our Buddhist past,” a senior museum official told AFP at the now shuttered building in the capital Male, asking not to be named out of fear for his own safety.

“We lost all our 12th century statues. They were made of coral stone and limestone. They are very brittle and there is no way we can restore them,” he explained.

“I wept when I heard that the entire display had gone. We are good Muslims and we treated these statues only as part of our heritage. It is not against Islam to display these exhibits,” he said.

Five people have since been arrested after they returned the following day to smash the CCTV cameras, he said.

The authorities have banned photography of the damage, conscious that vandalism of this kind which echoes the 2001 destruction of the Bamiyan Buddha statues in Afghanistan by the Taliban is damaging for the nation’s image.

The gates of the two-storeyed grey building, which opened in 2010, are padlocked and an unarmed guard keeps watch.

The Maldives, a collection of more than 1,100 coral-fringed islands surrounded by turquoise seas, is known as a “paradise” holiday destination that draws hundreds of thousands of travellers and honeymooners each year.

Visitors’ contact with the local population is deliberately kept at bay, however, with most foreigners simply transferring from the main international airport directly to their five-star resorts on outlying islands.

Few have any idea they are visiting a country of 330,000 Muslims with no religious freedom, where women can be flogged for extramarital sex and consuming alcohol is illegal for locals.

Islam is the official religion of the Maldives and open practice of any other religion is forbidden and liable to prosecution.

The religious origins of the Maldivian people are not clearly established, but it is believed that a Buddhist king converted to Islam in the 12th century.

Thereafter, the country practised a mostly liberal form of the religion, but more fundamentalist interpretations have spread with the arrival of money and ultra-conservative Salafist preachers from the Middle East.

In 2007, following a bombing that wounded a dozen foreign tourists, the former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom banned head-to-toe coverings for women as a sign of his intent to battle conservative Islamic thinking.

At the museum, another official said that fundamentalists had threatened to attack the museum on previous occasions unless it withdrew the Buddhist display.

The country’s ultra-conservative Islamic group, the Adhaalath Party, condemned the attack, but said they remained opposed to Nasheed’s decision to accept three monuments from India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

: Islam is the only official religion of the Maldives and open practice of any other religion is strictly forbidden like other Islamic countries in the cresent world. The natural beauty of Maldives could not able to bring any change of the barbaric Islamic Mind.(AFP/File, Ishara S.Kodikara).

“Our constitution does not allow idols and that is why we objected to the monuments,” General Secretary Mohamed Muizzu said, referring to the gifts to mark a South Asian summit held in November in the Maldives.

The monuments, which included one of pillar featuring Buddhist motifs, and which had been on display in the southernmost island of Addu, have all since been vandalised.

The Adhaalath party supports new president Mohamed Waheed, who Nasheed accuses of taking part in a coup, and is due to join the new government.

Waheed called the museum attack “totally unacceptable” and denied there was religious violence in his country.

Former foreign minister Ahmed Naseem disagreed.

He said extremists were thriving in the Maldives and that they were partly responsible for the toppling of Nasheed and the installation of Waheed. “What we had was a military coup backed by religious extremists,” he said.

“There is a strong influence of Islamic fundamentalists in the country and they will get stronger,” Naseem told AFP. “These groups are funded from abroad. “This threat is not only to us, but the rest of the world as well.”

The moderate Nasheed, who was educated in Sri Lanka and Britain, was consistently accused of being under the control of Jews and Christians by religious opposition parties now linked to the government

There were also demonstrations over proposals from the transport ministry to allow direct flights from Israel.

“We strongly condemn the anti-Semitic words and the other commentary recently,” US assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs Robert Blake said during a visit to Male on Saturday.

“Under President Nasheed, the Maldives tried to improve relations with Israel and showed what a progressive country they were and we really commend them for that.”

British Islamist Anjem Choudary Launches 'Shariah for India,' Vows to Demolish Hindu Temples and Bollywood; Muslims Urged to Join In New Delhi March Next Month Marking 88th Anniversary of the End of Islamic Caliphate

2012-02-14T06:18:00.002+08:00

By: Tufail Ahmad - Memri

It should be noted that during the British rule, Indian leaders like Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Mahatma Gandhi campaigned for the Islamic caliphate led by Turkey – Gandhi doing so perhaps to gain Muslim support against British colonial rule in India.

Shariah for Hind plans to campaign for reestablishing Islamic rule in India with an ideological agenda which outlines a much purer form of Islamic rule for the country than that which existed during various periods of rule by Muslim kings in India both before and during the British era.

According to the ideological agenda stated on the group's website, Islamic Shariah will be enforced in India; temples and statues of Hindu gods and Indian leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi will be demolished; and Bollywood, the world's largest movie industry, will be abolished in order to make way for a monotheistic Islamic rule in the country.

Shariah for Hind – Leaders and Website Details

It appears that preparations for establishing Shariah for Hind began sometime in 2011; its website was launched in January 2012.

The domain for the website was created on January 3, 2012, according to its registration details.[1] The registrant for this website is "Abu Rumaysah c/o Dynadot Privacy, PO Box 701, San Mateo, CA 94401, United States."[2]

The two leaders of this organization are identified as Sheikh Anjem Choudary and Sheikh Omar Muhammad Bakri. On the contact page of the website, these two names are published prominently: Sheikh Anjem Choudary, Judge of the UK Sharia Court, and Sheikh Omar Muhammad Bakri, who is identified as "Expert on Islamic Groups Worldwide." Bakri's phone number is given as 00961 70957759 – 961 being the country code for Lebanon. Choudary's phone number is given as 0044 7956 600 569.

The website of Sharia for Hind gives the name of its chairman as Abu Baraa and his phone contact as +44 7856827605. It also gives another phone contact, +44 7956041034, for Abu Rumaysah – Spokesman, a former Hindu, of Convert 2 Islam.

Shariah for Hind – The Ideology

"There is a Consensus among All Muslim Scholars That It is Not Permitted for Non-Muslims to Have Authority over Muslims; India Needs to Return Back to Her Glorious Islamic Past; India Needs a Muslim Revolution"

In a statement, titled "The Need for Muslim Rule in India," Shariah for Hind notes that Muslims cannot live under non-Muslim rule, stating:[3]

"There is a consensus among all Muslim scholars that it is not permitted for non-Muslims to have authority over Muslims. Allah says in the Quran, 'I have created you (Muslims) a leading Ummah (nation) in order to witness the affairs of mankind.' [EMQ 2:143]

"Islam is the only religion to have maintained its relationship with God, with a miraculous book called the Quran and meticulous sciences that ensure texts recorded during the life of the final Messenger Muhammad can be verified, understood and authenticated. This cannot be said for any of the other world religions, which have literally been lost in translation.

"Fundamentally however, Islam is not a secular religion and, unlike the 'biggest democracy in the world' [i.e. India], always refers its governance back to the supreme commander, Allah (God).

"The Islamic constitution remains intact 1400 years after its inception, and emphatically puts the Indian constitution to shame. Political parties such as the BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] and Indian [National] Congress have let India down because just like their British predecessors they were never suited to be rulers and so ruined their country with backward and evil policies."

"India needs to return back to her glorious Islamic past. India needs a Muslim revolution."

"Indian Political Parties Have Preyed on the Muslim Community, As the Wolf Preys a Lamb; They Have Divided Us with Nationalism and Poisoned Us with Democracy"

In a statement, Shariah for Hind identified its political objective as follows:[4]

"As a nation we used to move mountains.

"The Muslim Ummah (nation) is a community unparalleled in history. At its height in power it ruled over three continents. It brought tyrants to justice and liberated the oppressed. History still records their magnificent conquests, which against all odds defeated the mightiest of superpowers.

"But somewhere along the line that bright light waned and in 2012 we (Muslims) find ourselves bizarrely under the thumbs of the very people we were meant to liberate! India is now ruled by the most incompetent, unqualified and wicked individuals who have no clue about their purpose in life, let alone how to rule a nation. The Indian constitution, just like its Pakistani and Bangladeshi counterparts, [is] an appalling attempt at law and order, a stab in the dark, a gross display of trial and error.

"Indian political parties have preyed on the Muslim community, as the wolf preys a lamb; they have divided us with nationalism and poisoned us with democracy but most significantly have made us forget what the final Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him) was sent down for i.e. the total domination of the world by Islam.

"And so we lay defenseless, strewn and confused.

"The Shariah4Hind project has thus been launched to kick start the return of Islam in the Indian subcontinent. Raw, undiluted and without compromise; it is the wild card which will inshaa'allah (God willing) make the Indian government forget about Kashmir. It is a call to unite over half a billion Muslims to retake what is rightfully theirs and galvanize a superpower unmatched in the world.

"3rd March 2012, New Delhi, India. A new spring waits."

The Muslims versus the Non-Muslims

"The Whole of India is in Fact [a] Muslim Land, the Authority Belongs to… [Muslims] and That They Should Take It From the Current Ruling Party to Implement the Shari'ah... Instead [of] Begging for Rights from the Hindus, the Muslims in India Must Govern By the Law of the Creator Allah"

A January 2, 2012 press statement issued by Shariah for Hind urges Muslims to join. Following are excerpts from the statement:

"The elections [for states in January-February 2012] in India are underway and the main parties have not hidden their eagerness to garner the Muslim vote. From the Samajwadi Party (SP) promising job reservations to Deobandis [scholars of Darul Uloom Deoband seminary], the Congress party talking to Barelvis [clerics of Barelvi schools of thought based in the town of Bareilly], Rahul Ghandi [of Congress party] meeting the head of Nadwa[tul Ulema seminary in the town of Lucknow] to discuss minority welfare and the ruling [Bahujan Samaj Party] BSP's Muslim face being in touch with several Muslim clerics, the race is on to bolster their respective vote bank and to win the elections. [Note: All seminaries cited here are in Muslim-heavy Uttar Pradesh state.]

"What is on offer for Muslims in the battle for their votes is supposedly community empowerment, quality education, protection and sensitivity in one form or other. Even the Peace Party and Ulema Council [political parties led by Muslims] have emerged to claim their stake.

"Sadly, the true rights of Muslims … [are] nowhere to be seen and no Islamic Scholar has had the courage to demand it. This is that the whole of India is in fact [a] Muslim land, the authority belongs to them and that they should take it from the current ruling party to implement the Shariah. Instead [of] begging for rights from the Hindus, the Muslims in India must govern by the law of the creator Allah (SWT). In fact it is an act of shirk (polytheism) to [be] rule[d] by other than what Allah has revealed or to ask another to do so (i.e. by voting for them).

"There is no Islamic justification for the Deobandis or Barelvis to participate in the kufr (non-Islamic) electoral system to elect someone who will violate the sanctity of Allah (SWT) by ruling according to man-made law. This is an act of apostasy from any Muslim which must be condemned."

"We Therefore Call Upon All Muslims to Rise on the 3rd of March 2012 (the 88th Anniversary of the Destruction of the Last Islamic State) in New Dehli in a Public Demonstration and Demand… to Establish the Khilafah [Islamic Rule]"

"We therefore call upon all Muslims to rise on the 3rd of March 2012 (the 88th anniversary of the destruction of the last Islamic State) in New Dehli [Urdu for Delhi] in a public demonstration and demand what is rightfully theirs i.e. the authority, to establish the Khilafah and rule by the laws of God alone. To raise awareness about this obligation and to call for it and to work to establish it is an obligation upon Muslims wherever they are and to accept anything less is an act of war against Allah and his Messenger Muhammad (saw).

"Once established, the Islamic State will guarantee the rights of all citizens, Muslim and non-Muslim. It will be the job of the Khalifah [Islamic caliph] to ensure that food, clothing and shelter are afforded to all citizens and that they have a good Islamic education. The Khalifah will also be responsible to remove all public idols and ban alcohol and free-mixing between the genders in the public arena. Moreover institutions such as Bollywood and the caste system will be eradicated.

"The non-Muslims, whether Hindu or Sikh will have certain rights and responsibilities as set out by the divine law, in summary the privileges that they will have are:

"1. In return for paying the Jizya [Islamic poll tax on non-Muslims], their life and property will have sanctity. The Imam (khalifah) will have a duty to protect the non-Muslim citizens from the Muslims and the non-Muslims because they are living under his authority. Moreover they will benefit from the same welfare as all other citizens except what Shari'ah specifies for them and as long as they commit to abide by the law of Islam in the public arena. They will live among the Muslims and take Daw'ah i.e. be propagated to by the Muslims to embrace Islam.

"2. The non-Muslims will be allowed to live in the Muslim land (India and other territories which will be annexed to it in due course) i.e. they can go everywhere except where Allah (SWT) or the Khalifah prohibits, such as the haram [the Holy Mosque] in Mecca or to live in the Arab peninsula, although they can go to trade there.

"3. Muslims will be obliged to protect the non-Muslims because they are part of the Islamic State.

"4. Muslims will never attack their own temples and not take their pigs or alcohol unless they demonstrate them publicly.

"5. The non-Muslims also have the right to access the welfare system. The Jizya is only taken from able-bodied mature men, not women or children or priest or majnoon (mentally ill) or those incapable or disabled."

"The Hindus or Sikhs or Other Non-Muslims… Must Not Build Any New Temples Nor Start to Sell Them and Buy New Ones, as Islam Forbids Us to Cooperate in the Bad Deeds; They Will Not Do Any Public Gathering of Their False Religion – Like Celebrating Christmas or Halloween or Diwali"

"In return, the Hindus or Sikhs or other non-Muslims will have certain duties, in summary:

"1. They must pay the Jizya depending on what the Khalifah adopts as the amount, for example a minimum of 1 Dinar a year or a maximum of 4 Dinar if rich.

"2. They must receive Muslims as guests if they are travelling. This applies to Muslims and non-Muslims if Muslims pass by.

"3. They must not build any new Temples nor start to sell them and buy new ones, as Islam forbids us to cooperate on the bad deeds.

"4. They must not show their symbols publicly or what is in their religion, like the pigs or alcohol or crosses or idols.

"5. They will not do any public gathering of their false religion – like celebrating Christmas or Halloween or Diwali or Guy Faulks night etc…

"6. Moreover they must be distinguished by their clothes so that we know who they are.

"7. They cannot raise their houses above ours.

"8. They must not harm Muslims in any way, not to insult Allah and his messenger or insult the book of Allah

"9. They will have the same liability in relation to the society i.e. the public law like in relation to adultery and stealing etc…"

The Cultural and Religious Agenda

"The Reconquest of India by Muslims Would See the Complete Demolition of Bollywood; Polytheism, Interfaith and Promiscuity and All of the Other Various Ills of the Bollywood Industry would Be Replaced with Islamic Monotheism"

A copy of Filmfare magazine that will be published under the Islamic Rule in India

The Shariah for Hind declares that the 2012 will mark the beginning of the end of Bollywood. Its statement on this subject declares:[5]

"The Indian cinema industry, commonly referred to as Bollywood, has a huge impact around the world. Bollywood produces some 1,000 films every year and sells over three billion cinema tickets in the same period. It is one of the most recognized symbols of India commanding a hypnotic influence over its followers.

"The impact of Bollywood in India and around the world should be a cause for great concern. The industry is luridly marred with corruption that has become progressively worse over the years. Notable examples include:

"Polytheism (glorifying the worship of idols, false gods, actors, actresses etc.)

"The promotion of interfaith (making Hindus and Muslims equal)

"Anti-Muslim propaganda

"Acting

"Nudity

"Free-mixing

"Promiscuity and fornication

"The exploitation of women

"Music

"The reconquest of India by Muslims would see the complete demolition of Bollywood and the Indian cinema industry. Its presence would be deemed as wholly unacceptable and in total opposition to the ethos of Islam. Ultimately, significant steps would be taken in order to see its complete destruction.

"With all remnants of the Bollywood industry thrown into the dustbins of history, possible uses of confiscated resources under Islamic rule include 'Da'wah' (the propagation of Islam) and Islamic education.

"In conclusion, polytheism, interfaith and promiscuity and all of the other various ills of the Bollywood industry would be replaced with Islamic monotheism (Tawheed) and righteousness, providing a healthy environment for Muslims and non-Muslims to live under."

"Associating Partners or Equals to Allah (God) is Seen as the Biggest Crime in Islam; The Establishment of the Shariah in India will Ultimately See an End to All Public Idols and Statues; We Envisage the Construction of Masjids (Mosques), Symbolizing the Transformation from Polytheism to Monotheism"

The head of Hindu god Lord Shiva is cut off in an image on the Shariah for Hind website

Shariah for Hind declares that statues of Hindu gods and of Indian leaders such Mahatma Gandhi will be demolished, as outlined in this statement:[6]

"India is one of the few countries in the world where explicit idolatry is openly celebrated. Public displays of paganism are common with idols present in nearly every town and city. Famous public idols include the Murudeshwara or Shiva statue in Karnataka, which stands at over 35 metres tall. Census reports show that over 800 million Hindus currently reside in India, with idols playing a big role in ritual practises.

"Statues of public figures are also a common feature of the Indian landscape. The Indian state of Gujarat announced in 2011 a project to build the world's tallest statue paying 'tribute' to one of the foremost protagonists of Indian independence, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, a close companion of the tyrant Mohandas Gandhi.

"Associating partners or equals to Allah (God) is seen as the biggest crime in Islam. Allah says in the Quran, '…Indeed, associating partners with Allah is a great injustice.' [EMQ 31:13]

"Islam also prohibits the construction of statues of living beings, men or women, righteous or wicked. Allah (God) relates to mankind (in the Quran) about the downfall of the people of 'Ad, who erected large statues in commemoration of pious men. They were destroyed by a terrible storm.

"The establishment of the Shariah in India will ultimately see an end to all public idols and statues. Although non-Muslims (Hindus, Buddhists etc.) will not be prohibited from practising their religion privately, construction of idols and statues (in the public arena) will. Large scale projects outlining the destruction of public idols and statues will most likely be enforced, returning India back to her glorious Islamic past.

"As a possible replacement to India's (public) idols and statues, we envisage the construction of Masjids (mosques), symbolizing the transformation from polytheism to monotheism, from darkness to light."

* Tufail Ahmad is Director of the MEMRI South Asia Studies Project (www.memri.org/sasp)

Najib says new security laws will demand higher burden of proof

2012-02-14T06:06:00.001+08:00

The repeal of the ISA is part of the reforms announced by Najib during his Malaysia Day address in September. — File pic

PETALING JAYA, Feb 13 — Replacement security laws for the Internal Security Act (ISA) will demand a higher burden of proof before arrests can be made, Datuk Seri Najib Razak indicated today.The prime minister told hundreds of senior police officers here that it will be “more demanding to enforce” the new laws once “the much-maligned ISA is consigned to the history books.” The ISA allows for detention without trial.
“We cannot be in the state of mind of just arresting anyone but must ask if the evidence can stand in the court of law,” he said at the International Conference on Principled Policing here.
Najib acknowledged criticisms that the ISA is “archaic and draconian” and called on the force to transform itself to “a higher level of professionalism” especially in the collection of evidence, in which there “cannot be compromise.”
The Barisan Nasional (BN) chief had announced the repeal of the ISA in a raft of reforms during his Malaysia Day address last September but later said it would only be done in March after two new replacement laws are drafted.
But police have continued to use the ISA, most notably in a sweep of 13 suspected Islamic militants in Sabah last November.

Hishammuddin maintains the ISA replacements will still allow for arbitrary arrests.

Just days after Najib’s announcement, resistance began to surface, with political hardliners like Perkasa’s Datuk Ibrahim Ali calling on the prime minister to preserve the spirit of the ISA in the two new laws.Opposition lawmakers and civil society groups such as the Bar Council have remained sceptical of the reform, expressing fears that the enactment of two new laws meant the ISA was merely being repackaged.
De facto law minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz had said days after Najib’s announcement that the new laws, focusing on terrorism and race and religious issues respectively, would not be as repressive as the controversial law being repealed. The new laws are to be tabled at next month’s parliamentary sitting.
The minister in the prime minister’s department then said “no one can be arrested on the basis of differences in political ideologies and extended detention can only be approve through the courts.”
But Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein insisted in November the ISA substitutes will continue to provide for preventive detention as practised in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia to fight against terrorism.
Najib had kicked off his reform package in October after tabling the repeal of the Restricted Residence Act and the Banishment Act.
These reforms appear to be key concessions by Najib to win back middle Malaysia before a general election expected this year.
His administration had come under heavy fire for its clampdown on the July 9, 2011 Bersih rally for free and fair elections.
Police had fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse tens of thousands of demonstrators in chaotic scenes, which resulted in nearly 1,700 arrested, scores injured and the death of an ex-soldier.

Hisham defends Saudi deportation amid protests

2012-02-14T06:04:00.000+08:00

The minister also denied receiving any court order to stop the deportation of the 23-year-old.

UPDATED

SUNWAY: Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein today stuck by Putrajaya’s controversial decision to deport Saudi journalist Hamza Kashgari amid protests and concerns that he may be executed.
The minister also denied receiving any court order to stop the deportation of the 23-year-old.
Hishammuddin said the decision was made to protect Malaysia’s reputation, adding that he does not want the country to be a safe haven “for terrorists and those who are wanted by their countries of origin, and also be seen as a transit country”.
Saudi Arabia’s English daily Arab News cited today informed sources as saying Hamza, who fled to Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, will face charges of blasphemy for allegedly mocking the Muslim Prophet Muhammad in his twitter postings,
Blasphemy is a crime punishable by death under Saudi Arabia’s strict interpretation of Islamic syariah law. It is not a capital crime in Malaysia.
He was deported from Malaysia yesterday, just hours before his Malaysian lawyers managed to obtain a court order to stop him from being send back to Saudi Arabia.
However, Hishammuddin dismissed concerns that Hamza may be executed as ridiculous, and defended the Saudi authorities.
“Allegations that he would be executed, abused, do not make sense. The country being accused is a dignified country. These are serious allegations against Saudi Arabia,” he told a press conference here.
Malaysia deported Kashgari on Sunday despite fears voiced by human rights groups that he could face execution in his home country over his Twitter comments that were deemed insulting to the Muslim prophet.
He caused an uproar in the oil-rich kingdom with comments posted on the Prophet’s birthday a week ago, prompting some Islamic clerics to call for him to face the death penalty.
No injunction

Kashgari fled the country, but was arrested by the police here on Thursday as he transitted through Kuala Lumpur International Airport. He was on his way to New Zealand.
Facing pressure over its actions, the Malaysian police had said that any charges brought against Kashgari by Saudi Arabia are internal.
Malaysia shares close relations with many Middle Eastern nations through their shared religion but is seen as a leading global voice for moderate Islam although observers say this latest controversy, on top of rising domestic Islamisation, is slowly erasing that image.
Kashgari’s lawyer in Malaysia, Mohammad Noor, told Reuters yesterday that a court order had been obtained to prevent the deportation but he was not allowed to see his client.
But Hishammuddin claimed the court issued no such injunction and said they were only rumours spread on the internet.
“Maybe in the Internet there was a court order (but) there was no injunction. No court order was given to prevent us from returning him to Saudi.
“If there was a court order, we would abide by it, but there wasn’t, so don’t make up stories,” he said.
The home minister added that Kashgari should be aware of the repercussions of insulting Islam and he would’ve been charged locally even if he was not deported.

Ramasamy sues Star, journalist for RM10 million

2012-02-14T06:02:00.002+08:00

Ramasamy's lawyer says that the suit is vital as the daily did not apologise after publishing defamatory articles.

KUALA LUMPUR: Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy today filed a defamation suit for RM5 million each against English daily, The Star and its journalist Ian McIntyre.

He is also seeking an interim injunction against the daily and McIntyre to stop them from publishing articles defaming him.

The suit was filed in Kuala Lumpur High Court.

Ramasamy was accompanied by his lawyers A Sivanesan who is also Sungkai state assemblyman, A Magesan, R Kenghadharan and R Prabhakaran.

Speaking to journalists at the court lobby, Sivanesan said: “My client had to file a suit because The Star did not heed Ramasamy’s demand for an apology on Dec 28 last year.

“The second article implied that my client is a hypocrite, has no moral standing, dishonest, untrustworthy, illegal leader, without calibre and does not deserve to hold his positions,” said Sivanesan.

On Dec 23 last year, The Star published an article entitled “Distress in DAP continues” by McIntyre.

The article quoted Ramasamy as saying that there was a plot to oust him because he turned down requests for projects and favours from grassroot members.

Ramasamy accused The Star of publishing a baseless report and denied the allegations on Dec 26.

The Star then published the allegations again on Dec 27 in an article entitled “What Ramasamy said in the interview with The Star”.

This article alleged that Ramasamy is having an extra-marital affair.

Sivanesan also said that the two articles has damaged Ramasamy’s position as a leader and hurt his character and reputation.

The suit also alleged that McIntyre had published the articles to paint the DAP in a bad picture.

Kashgari’s deportation a black day

2012-02-14T06:00:00.001+08:00

Malaysia has little regard for human rights, says DAP, and reports in Saudi Arabia say that Kashgari has been detained on arrival in Riyadh.

GEORGE TOWN: The deportation of Hamza Kashgari, a 23-year-old Saudi Arabian jounalist, clearly showed that the government has scant regard for human rights, rule of law and justice.

DAP international bureau secretary Liew Chin Tong said it was often cynically observed that foreign policy was merely an extension of domestic politics.

“In the case of Malaysia, it is unfortunately true.

“It was a black day for Malaysia’s international image,” the Bukit Bendera MP said in his e-statement here today.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s government detained and deported the young Saudi at Kuala Lumpur International Airport following an Interpol request.

Kashgari was en route to New Zealand to seek asylum.

The journalist had fled his country after his twitter comments about Prophet Muhammad triggered calls for his execution.

The Arabian columnist was detained by Malaysian authorities despite fears voiced by human rights groups that he could face execution in his home country.

He was deported despite his lawyers obtaining a Malaysian court order to prevent it.

Liew noted that Malaysia was now also the butt of international jokes as a result of the BBC’s global apology over the FBC Media scandal.

The Malaysian government paid public relation company FBC Media to make a series of eight documentaries for the BBC about Malaysia, while failing to declare it was paid 17 million pound by the Malaysian government for “global strategic communications”.

Investigations into the scandal uncovered 15 breaches of editorial guidelines of which eight were related to FBC’s programmes on Malaysia.

But, Liew said the millions that the Najib administration spent on public relations companies were meaningless if the government cannot uphold basic human rights principles in the case of Kashgari and uphold integrity in the BBC-FBC case.

“Malaysia is not a backwater banana republic.

“We used to pride ourselves as an important and supposedly principled player in the international arena.

“The deportation was a black day for Malaysia in the eyes of the world,” Liew added.

Arrested in Riyadh

Meanwhile Saudi newspaper Arab News says Kashgari has been detained on arrival in Riyadh after being deported from Malaysia.

Kashgari caused an outcry among devout Saudis earlier this month, when he used his Twitter account to post thoughts about the Prophet Muhammad they deemed insulting to Islam.

The comments by the 23-year-old columnist for Jeddah-based newspaper al-Bilad triggered tens of thousands of Twitter responses, many from enraged Saudis calling for his death.

Kashgari quickly apologized and deleted his Twitter account, but fled the country last Tuesday as the outrage grew.

A day later, a committee of senior Saudi clerics appointed by the king declared Kashgari to be an apostate – a crime punishable by death – and called for him to be put on trial.

Christoph Wilcke, a senior researcher with New York-based rights group Human Rights Watch, told Voice of America that Kashgari is “very unlikely” to get a fair trial in which the offending remarks can be explained.

Wilcke said the senior Saudi clerics who called for Kashgari to face trial also have predetermined its outcome by declaring him an apostate. He said one cleric even called for the blogger to be executed.

But, Wilcke said there is a chance that Kashgari could appeal to Saudi King Abdullah for leniency and avoid execution. He noted the case of Hadi al Mutif, a member of the minority Ismaili sect whom the government pardoned last week after arresting him for apostasy in 1993 and later sentencing him to death.

Problem parenting

2012-02-14T05:58:00.003+08:00

Parents seem to think that parenting is pampering with strings attached, strings that end on the report card, strings that can sometimes sink into a bloody mess.

COMMENT

When a 15-year-old schoolboy murders a 40-year-old female teacher in a classroom, the writing on the wall conveys all too clearly that there is something grossly wrong with the society in question.

We have seen that happen in the West. We are now seeing that happen in India, in Chennai which fancies itself as a citadel of religion, tradition and culture!

Last week, Uma Maheswari teaching in a north Chennai school was in her class waiting for students to get in before she could begin her Hindi lesson of the day when the teenager rushed in with a knife, slashed her throat and stabbed her repeatedly on her chest.

Maheswari died on the way to the second hospital, the first one having been ill-equipped to handle such a serious injury.

The boy did not flee, and was taken in by the police.

Later, he said (or bragged) that he was inspired by the latest Hindi film, Agneepath, to commit the crime. In the Bollywood movie, Hrithik Roshan’s character lets the fire of revenge simmer in him for years before he brutally kills all those who had murdered his schoolteacher father.

The Chennai boy had been livid with his teacher because of her comments in his dairy on his poor performance in class.

The teenager was reportedly a pampered child, one who got Rs 100 every day as pocket money, and which he used this time to buy the killer weapon. He had been carrying it on him for three days before he spotted Maheswari alone in the classroom.

The act was not pre-meditated, not one carried out on the spur of an angry moment.

It is true that the present education system in India places a terrible burden on the child. A five-year old has to pass a test before it is admitted into the kindergarten class. Then begins the daily grind to school, its back bent with the weight of books it has to carry.

Later, the boy or the girl is pressured into being a performing puppet: he or she has to score marks as close as possible to the full 100. If it is 99, it is great, still better if it is 100. Figures like 98 or 97 are okay, but anything below this is frowned upon by the school, which is obsessed with its reputation and record, and, of course, by parents.

Money spinning professions

Fathers and mothers want their children to get into money spinning professions like medicine or engineering, maybe information technology. And for a seat in a medical or engineering college, they are prepared to pay huge bribes (call them capitation fees) that run into tens of lakhs of rupees.

It hardly ever matters if the child learns anything. Real education is not something that anybody is bothered about in today’s India. What matters are the numbers in one’s report card.

I personally believe that parents are to be blamed – at least to a very large degree, to the kind of growing violence in the community.

To begin with, in the country where consumerism is king, parents spoil their children by bribing them with goodies in exchange for those magical figures on their test papers.

In the early years of a child’s life, a father or mother wracked by guilt for spending too much of time at work shower sons and daughters with expensive toys.

Later, gifts could be expensive holidays, cars, cameras, mobile phones and what have you, and these merely disturb the sense of balance in a teenager. He/she grows up in a kind of valueless vacuum, believing that money can buy just about everything, even lives.

Drunken driving of some of India’s celebrity sons is a case in point. So what if men are killed on the streets.

A rich friend of mine gifted an awfully expensive car to his son when he turned 18. The boy could have well done with a modest vehicle. He drives to college in that every day, probably fuelling discontent and jealousy among his poorer peers.

A relative of mine sends her college-going daughter only by plane, because the girl does not want to travel by train. And mind you, the relative can ill-afford such lavishness.

Pampering with strings attached

In Chennai, parents routinely bring their below-18 children for movies with gory adult content. Agneepath was not meant for the 15-year-old schoolboy.

Theatre managements faced with dwindling revenues look the other way when children troop into such adult screenings.

Sadly, parents seem to think that parenting is pampering with strings attached, strings that end on the report card, strings that can sometimes sink into a bloody mess.

That 15-year-old boy will serve three years in a correction home, where the chances are that he would not be corrected. For, reformatory centres in India hardly reform the young, often turning them into real criminals.

Nothing, as we all know, can serve a child better than a family. But in India today, this core unit itself is in need of reformation.

Gautaman Bhaskaran is a Chennai-India based author, columnist and film critic, and can be contacted at gautamab@hotmail.com . He is an FMT columnist.

Syariah-based hire-purchase Act to be introduced

2012-02-14T05:52:00.003+08:00

The Star

BERA: A new hire-purchase Act in accordance with Islamic principles will be introduced, said Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said a study of the draft Act was being discussed with a panel comprising Islamic economists and Muslim consumer associations, and it was being finalised.

The draft would also look into examples of Islamic legislation used in other countries.

Ismail Sabri said the new Act, called the Islamic Hire-Purchase Act, seeks to settle issues and financing problems usually found in common hire-purchase legislation, such as the Hire Purchase Act 1964 and Pawnbrokers Act 1972.

“The new Act will give protection not only to Muslim consumers but all consumers as well.

“This will be an alternative legislation for those who wish to buy vehicles or pawn their valuables.

“With the new Act, consumers will not have to lose their new vehicles or be penalised with higher financing rates after they have paid, for example, 75% of their loans.

“The mechanism of the loan payments under the new Act is still being studied. We have formed a panel to study the Islamic and commercial legislation concerning the proposed Act,” he said after meeting haj pilgrims at Bera mosque here yesterday.

Ismail Sabri said at present, consumers could still have the option of using the Islamic banking system for their hire-purchase and pawning needs, such as the Ar-Rahnu (for pawning) or Al-Hijrah Tuma Al Bait (hire purchase) syariah-based systems.

Polis serbu rumah Ketua AMK Rembau dan rampas komputer

2012-02-14T05:46:00.002+08:00

Kenyataan Ketua AMK Rembau

Pada 13 Febuari 2012 kira - kira jam 9.00 pagi saya mendapat panggilan telefon dari Pegawai Polis yang dikenali sebagai ASP Wisma dari IPD Ampang. Beliau memaklumkan saya perlu berada pada jam 11.30 pagi di Balai Polis S2 untuk dirakam kenyataan.

Sampai di balai polis dia memaklumkan perlu ke rumah saya dan pejabat saya kerana polis hendak membuat rampasan komputer. Saya bersama dengan polis telah menuju ke kediaman saya di Senawang. Dalam perjalanan saya telah menghubungi che'GuBard, Ketua Cabang Rembau memaklumkan perkara ini. Arahan che'GuBard ialah jangan benarkan polis masuk selagi peguam tidak sampai.

Setelah menunggu 15 minit dikawasan rumah saya, akhirnya peguam Jason dan beberapa wartawan sampai. Juga tiba YB Ravi (ADUN PD Bandar) dan YB. P.Gunasekaran (ADUN Senawang). Sekumpulan polis masuk ke rumah saya dengan berpakaian seragam, isteri saya yang sedang cuti sakit terkejut, anak-anak tentu keliru dan jiran - jiran pasti bercakap. Mereka membawa keluar komputer kami sekeluarga yang isteri saya sering buat kerja pejabat yang tak selesai dan anak - anak sering gunakan juga untuk urusan kerja sekolah mereka.

Kes ini bersangkutan dengan kes akaun twitter palsu / menyamar yang mulanya menggunakan twitt handle @AMK_Rembau. Twitt ini wujud ketika pemilihan parti dan digunakan sebagai strategi memburukkan nama Ketua Cabang Rembau yang pada ketika itu menawar diri bertanding Ketua AMK Pusat. Strategi ini memang berluasa tanpa dikawal ketika itu penggunaan akaun laamn sosial palsu meruapakn antara strategi utama politik jahat menjatuhkan che'GuBard ketika itu.

Namun semuanya tidak berhenti selepas pemilihan selesai. Akaun palsu yang menggunakan identiti AMK Rembau ini terus digunakan dengan menggunakan ayat-ayat lucah, kasar dan ada kalanya melampau seperti menghina raja. Saya yakin ini semua untuk memburukkan che'GuBard.

Pada 5 Julai, saya selaku Ketua AMK Rembau telah mengeluarkan kenyataan rasmi mengenai kewujudan twitter AMK Rembau ini. klik sini untuk baca.

Namun pada 27 Disember lepas, ASP Wiswar telah 'menahan' che'GuBard dan merampas telefon 'Blackberry' miliknya kononya kerana ada laporan oleh Umno ke atas twitter 'AMK Rembau' yang menghina raja. klik sini untuk baca lanjur

Serentak dengan itu saya juga ada dihubungi oleh ASP Wismar. Kemudian saya sendiri dua kali menghubungi pegawai polis tersebut untuk bertanya apa yang saya perlu bantu atau adakah saya perlu hadir ke balai. Malangnya dia cuma kata tak apa nanti akan hubungi semula.

Sehingalah pagi semalam datang dan terus mendesak. Saya terangkan mengenai twitter tersebut dan sedia tunjukkan beberapa bukti yang kaitkan beberapa suspek, malangnya ASP tersebut seperti tidak tahu lansung bagaimana twitter beroperasi dan hanya ikut arahan iaitu 'bosnya' suruh rampas komputer dan bawa balik.

Saya cuma mahu tegaskan di sini hari ini keluarga saya terganggu, isteri saya dan anak saya. Saya beri masa tiga hari kepada manusia yang menyamar disebalik twitter AMK Rembau yang selepas dari siasatan polis bermula dengan menahan che'GuBard menjelang tahun 2012 lepas telah beberapa kali menukar twitt handle nya agar tampil segera.

Boleh hubungi saya melalui email atau telefon. Jika tidak saya 'terpaksa' menyerahkan semua bukti dan maklumat berkaitan kamu kepada polis dengan membuat laporan polis 'semula' mengenai kes ini. Ternyata akaun twitter tersebut berbalas twitt dengan beberapa mereka yang kononya bertaraf pemimpin pusat. Termasuk berbincang hadir dalam program dan belanja makan.

Ketika kita perlu fokus berdepan Umno Bn dalam PRU yang semakin dekat kenapa perlu ada perangai busuk seperti ini ? Kamu yang konon berwajah suci depan tetapi sebenarnya berhati busuk suka membunuh sesama jemaah dan umpama gunting dalam lipatan.

Sani Md Shah

Ketua AMK Rembau

14 Febuari 2012

Whitney Houston's storied career: A regal rise, a tragic fall

2012-02-13T03:41:00.001+08:00

(CNN) -- The news broke on the eve of Grammy Awards, the music industry's biggest night: The woman with the pitch-perfect voice who once reigned as the queen of pop at the awards show had died.

Whitney Houston was found dead Saturday by her bodyguard on the fourth floor of an upscale Beverly Hills hotel where only hours later she was to attend a pre-Grammy bash hosted by her longtime mentor, Clive Davis.

Her death, at age 48, was the final chapter of a storied career that began with the nurturing by superstar cousin Dionne Warwick, soared in the 1980s and 1990s with one record-setting achievement after another, stalled as her drug use and marriage to Bobby Brown made for tabloid fodder and was on the rebound with a highly anticipated star turn.

"You're going to remember where you were when you heard the news. It's that significant. She was undoubtedly one of the greatest superstars of all time," music producer Simon Cowell said.

"One of the greatest voices in our lifetime we're likely ever to hear. And to hear this news, it really, really, really upset me."

Houston's voice, once described by The New York Times as "peerless," influenced and inspired a new generation of singers, from Mariah Carey to Christina Aguilera, and garnered a legion of fans.

"Her notes soared to places most singers dream of reaching," Aguilera said.

Houston seemed destined for stardom almost from the very beginning.

Born on August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey, to gospel great Cissy Houston, cousin to both Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick and goddaughter to Aretha Franklin, Houston's upbringing was the embodiment of musical greatness.

Grief flows at hotel where Houston died

She honed her vocal skills from a young age, singing in the church choir and taking the stage occasionally with her mother. As a teenager, she sang backup for Chaka Khan on "I'm Every Woman," a song Houston would re-record in 1992 and that would go on to become one of her biggest hits.

As the story goes, Clive Davis spotted Houston in 1983 in a New York nightclub performing and signed her on the spot.

Houston released her debut album, "Whitney Houston," in February 1985 to wide acclaim. Rolling Stone magazine called her "one of the most exciting new voices in years."

With the release of the album, her commanding voice combined with a natural beauty and a clean-cut image made her an instant star.

Fans: Whitney Houston's music spanned an era

A generation danced their way through the 1980s to a string of her hits, including the poppy "How Will I Know," "Saving All My Love For You," "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" and "The Greatest Love Of All."

But it was in the 1990s that she shot into the superstar stratosphere with two songs that showcased her stunning octave range and her maturity.

On January 27, 1991, while the United States was at war in the Persian Gulf, Houston performed "The Star Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XXV to a record 79 million viewers.

During a time when the country seemed divided by the war, her searing, heartfelt performance seemed to unite a nation at least for a few minutes. Her rendition -- the gold standard by which all performances of the national anthem are judged -- was released as a single and reached the Top 20 on the U.S. Hot 100 Billboard.

Houston's version was re-released in 2001 following the September 11 terrorist attacks, and proceeds from the sales were donated to charity.

That was followed up by her cover of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" recorded for the movie "The Bodyguard," in which she also made her acting debut.

Stunned celebrities mourn Whitney Houston

While the movie received mostly poor reviews, the song went onto to sell 10 million singles, winning Grammy's record of the year and best female pop vocal. The soundtrack was named album of the year.

"I will always be grateful and in awe of the wonderful performance she did on my song and I can truly say from the bottom of my heart, 'Whitney, I will always love you. You will be missed,'" Parton said.

But by the time the movie opened, Houston's clean-cut pop image had begun to tarnish with her marriage to R&B bad boy Bobby Brown. The two met in 1989 and married three years later.

HLNtv.com: What about Bobbi Kristina Brown?

Their relationship became tabloid fodder, with every misstep chronicled and the couple's relationship a subject of constant speculation. Brown's notorious hard-partying led him to several run-ins with the law and stints in jail.

While Houston managed to maintain a successful music and movie career through the end of the 1990s, starring in "The Preacher's Wife" and "Waiting To Exhale," her behavior turned increasingly erratic amid reports of heavy drug use.

By the 2000s, her career was in free fall as her album sales dropped off and her voice began to show signs of wear.

The rumors were further fueled by her gaunt appearance and crass behavior on the 2001 short-lived Bravo reality show "Being Bobby Brown," which she later said in an interview she only did to try to save her marriage. The couple, who had a daughter together, divorced in 2007.

Brown performed at a "New Edition" concert Saturday night in South Haven, Mississippi.

"The atmosphere felt bittersweet," said iReporter Moshiu Knox, who attended the concert with his wife. "Bobby was crying during his performance and at one point had to walk off stage. ... The crowd was emotional and tears were flowing all over the arena."

Video of the concert shows Brown asking the audience to pray for the couple's daughter. "If you find the time, can you say a prayer for me because I'm going to need it," he says.

In an infamous interview in 2002 with ABC's Diane Sawyer, Houston admitted to using drugs but denied the use of crack.

"Crack is wack," she said, quoting a line taken from Keith Haring mural painted in 1986.

It was during the same interview, she told Sawyer: "The biggest devil is me. I'm either my best friend or my worst enemy."

Houston bounced in and out of drug rehab twice, declaring herself drug-free during a 2010 interview with Oprah Winfrey, though an Australian tour that same year was fraught with reviews that she sounded "croaky" and, at times, appeared disoriented.

Recently, Houston was working to turn around her career -- and image -- with a star turn in the upcoming movie "Sparkle,'' the remake of a 1976 film that is said to be loosely inspired by the Supremes.

The night Houston died she was to be a guest of honor at Davis' annual pre-Grammy bash.

"She loved music and she loved this night that celebrated music," Davis told party-goers.

"Her family asked that we carry on."

She would have loved that, too.

Bangladesh: JeI activists vandalise Hindu temples

2012-02-13T03:34:00.002+08:00

New Delhi: Fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami activists vandalised several Hindu temples in the Hathazari area of Chittagong in Bangladesh on Thursday and Friday, forcing the law enforcement authorities to impose Section 144 of the Bangladesh Penal Code that bans public gatherings in the affected area.

According to the website bdnews.com, Muslims, allegedly instigated by the fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami, first damaged a temple in the compound of the Loknath Sebasram at Nandirhat on Thursday evening and blocked the Chittagong-Rangamati Road on Friday morning in retaliation to a mosque being damaged by people coming out of the Loknath Sebasram.

The website report further said that at least three other Hindu temples were attacked by the Islamic activists.

It said that damage was inflicted on the Sri Sri Jagadeshwari Ma Temple, the Jagannath Bigroho Temple at Nandirhat and the Kalibari Temple in Sadar Upazila. The Sri Sri Jagadeshwari Ma Temple was also burnt, it added.

The Primary and Mass Education Minister of Bangladesh, Afsar-ul-Ameen, has visited the area and instructed local authorities to take steps to normalise the situation.

Local administration officials blamed the Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, the Islami Chhatra Shibir, for the incidents.

Reacting to the incident, liberal and secular minded people in Bangladesh said such events could pose a threat to the country’s secular fabric.

Haroon Habib, a 1971 war veteran and a senior journalist, told ANI in a telephonic interview that: “These are very tragic events. Bangladeshis were never communal even under military rule. People must see a definite political motive behind these events.”

He added: "There is a definite extremist political agenda behind these attacks. There are elements who want to destabilise the incumbent Hasina Government.”

Haroon also blamed the local administration for not acting tough against fundamentalist elements in the area.

Allegations have it that houses belonging to Hindus in the area were also vandalised. Leaders of the minority Hindu community have blamed the ''indifference'' of the administration for the prevailing situation.

Rejecting suggestions of fundamentalism being on the rise in Bangladesh, Haroon said there was no existential threat to the current regime, but he cautioned the Sheikh Hasina government not to be complacent.

He also opined that there were many elements in Bangladesh who were unhappy with Sheikh Hasina’s close ties to New Delhi, as also her move to make the Constitution of the country more secular.

Recently, the Bangladesh Army had foiled a coup attempt by retired and serving Army officers who had fundamentalist leanings.

India has said that it is keeping a close watch on emerging developments in both Bangladesh and Maldives.

ANI

Trouble in paradise: Maldives and Islamic extremism

2012-02-13T03:32:00.001+08:00

MALE — At the Maldives' National Museum, smashed Buddhist statues are testament to the rise of Islamic extremism and Taliban-style intolerance in a country famous as a laid-back holiday destination.

On Tuesday, as protesters backed by mutinous police toppled president Mohamed Nasheed, a handful of men stormed the Chinese-built museum and destroyed its display of priceless artefacts from the nation's pre-Islamic era.

"They have effectively erased all evidence of our Buddhist past," a senior museum official told AFP at the now shuttered building in the capital Male, asking not to be named out of fear for his own safety.

"We lost all our 12th century statues. They were made of coral stone and limestone. They are very brittle and there is no way we can restore them," he explained.

"I wept when I heard that the entire display had gone. We are good Muslims and we treated these statues only as part of our heritage. It is not against Islam to display these exhibits," he said.

Five people have since been arrested after they returned the following day to smash the CCTV cameras, he said.

The authorities have banned photography of the damage, conscious that vandalism of this kind which echoes the 2001 destruction of the Bamiyan Buddha statues in Afghanistan by the Taliban is damaging for the nation's image.

The gates of the two-storeyed grey building, which opened in 2010, are padlocked and an unarmed guard keeps watch.

The Maldives, a collection of more than 1,100 coral-fringed islands surrounded by turquoise seas, is known as a "paradise" holiday destination that draws hundreds of thousands of travellers and honeymooners each year.

Visitors' contact with the local population is deliberately kept at bay, however, with most foreigners simply transferring from the main international airport directly to their five-star resorts on outlying islands.

Few have any idea they are visiting a country of 330,000 Muslims with no religious freedom, where women can be flogged for extramarital sex and consuming alcohol is illegal for locals.

Islam is the official religion of the Maldives and open practice of any other religion is forbidden and liable to prosecution.

The religious origins of the Maldivian people are not clearly established, but it is believed that a Buddhist king converted to Islam in the 12th century.

Thereafter, the country practised a mostly liberal form of the religion, but more fundamentalist interpretations have spread with the arrival of money and ultra-conservative Salafist preachers from the Middle East.

In 2007, following a bombing that wounded a dozen foreign tourists, the former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom banned head-to-toe coverings for women as a sign of his intent to battle conservative Islamic thinking.

At the museum, another official said that fundamentalists had threatened to attack the museum on previous occasions unless it withdrew the Buddhist display.

The country's ultra-conservative Islamic group, the Adhaalath Party, condemned the attack, but said they remained opposed to Nasheed's decision to accept three monuments from India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

"Our constitution does not allow idols and that is why we objected to the monuments," General Secretary Mohamed Muizzu said, referring to the gifts to mark a South Asian summit held in November in the Maldives.

The monuments, which included one of pillar featuring Buddhist motifs, and which had been on display in the southernmost island of Addu, have all since been vandalised.

The Adhaalath party supports new president Mohamed Waheed, who Nasheed accuses of taking part in a coup, and is due to join the new government.

Waheed called the museum attack "totally unacceptable" and denied there was religious violence in his country.

Former foreign minister Ahmed Naseem disagreed.

He said extremists were thriving in the Maldives and that they were partly responsible for the toppling of Nasheed and the installation of Waheed. "What we had was a military coup backed by religious extremists," he said.

"There is a strong influence of Islamic fundamentalists in the country and they will get stronger," Naseem told AFP. "These groups are funded from abroad. "This threat is not only to us, but the rest of the world as well."

The moderate Nasheed, who was educated in Sri Lanka and Britain, was consistently accused of being under the control of Jews and Christians by religious opposition parties now linked to the government

There were also demonstrations over proposals from the transport ministry to allow direct flights from Israel.

"We strongly condemn the anti-Semitic words and the other commentary recently," US assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs Robert Blake said during a visit to Male on Saturday.

"Under President Nasheed, the Maldives tried to improve relations with Israel and showed what a progressive country they were and we really commend them for that."

Shame covers sleaze

2012-02-13T03:31:00.001+08:00

Many connected with the university admit that "seedy affairs had been going on in the holy precincts" for some time. – File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Sex scandals have rocked the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) in recent months, with several faculty and staff members accused of preying upon the vulnerable female students or juniors.
Many connected with the university admit that “seedy affairs had been going on in the holy precincts” for some time. But they did not speak on record.
Acting president Sahabzada Sajidur Rehman of the university, however, confirmed that recently a professor and a librarian left the university after allegations of rape emerged against them.
“We did not approach the police to investigate the allegations as it would have brought bad name to the university and set parents of the 9,500 girls studying here worrying,” he told Dawn on Thursday.
Sources in the university claimed that the professor of economics department used to offer his victims “good marks” in examinations in return for sex. He would even force himself upon the unwilling with threats of failing her.
It was shocking to hear the president of the University Staff Welfare Association, Chaudhry Mohammad Nazir, say “the situation is far worse than what you know”.
IIUI sources said the professor’s escapades came to an end after he landed his last victim on January 20, a Friday. The university asked the victim to file a formal complaint for initiating action against the accused but her family refused.
However, the students union took up her case and threatened the university administration it would go public with the evidence, the sources said.
It was claimed to be the same kind of evidence that had gone viral on the internet and forced the university’s old librarian to resign a few months earlier.
That was despite the university administration’s alleged attempt to make his victim – a female assistant – to resign on the charge that she was a willing partner. But she firmly refused and went on leave.
On her return, the administration assigned her to a new department, according to her colleagues.
It is not that families of the victims of coercive sex took their sufferings lying down. One father reported a senior faculty member to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat which instructed the Islamabad police to investigate.
When the investigators arrived to probe, however, the university officials pleaded with them to hush up the matter as “the accused has already been punished” and a probe would only tarnish the image of the university and scare the parents.
It is a different matter that for the librarian the punishment meant retiring six months before it was due, and for the professor resigning on his own and securing a new job in the National Agriculture Research Centre, allegedly with the help of friends in the bureaucracy.
khawar.ghumman@gmail.com

Another ceramah aborted after 'gangsters' strike

2012-02-13T03:28:00.000+08:00

A ceramah on academic freedom was aborted last night after a rowdy group of youths wrecked and blockaded the intended venue at Kampung Idaman, Klang.

When contacted, Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM) president Ahmad Syukri Ab Razab said the "gangsters" had broken chairs and strewn them in the multipurpose hall before the ceramah began.

"They also surrounded the venue and we were forced to take refuge at a nearby food stall while waiting for the situation to calm down," he said.

However, the group of some 70 people, Ahmad Syukri said, refused to budge, prompting the students numbering, about 15, to lodge a police report at Pandamaran police station.

"We arrived at Pandamaran police station at about 10.30pm, the gangsters followed us and started to gather there on their motorcycles."

The incident was the second time a ceramah was disrupted in Klang, the first being a ceramah by Anything But Umno (ABU) where rowdy youths on motorcycles stormed the venue at Jalan Kebun and reportedly beat up a youth.

‘Hit by stones and sticks'

He said that due to the tense situation, local police decided to escort the students to the Klang district police headquarters for the report.

"Three police cars escorted us in a convoy of five but when we came out they threw stones and hit our cars with sticks.

Thankfully the windows did not shatter but (Kumpulan Aktivis Mahasiswa Independen deputy president) Khalid Mohd Ismath's (left) car was badly dented, but there was nothing the police could do," he said.

The gangsters again followed the students to Klang district police station headquarters and their numbers swelled to over 100, claimed Ahmad Syukri.

"After making the police report, we were advised not to leave the police station for our safety.

"Even at 4am, the gangsters were still outside, we had to escape through another door with the help of local residents," he said.
The students managed to leave without incident and no one was injured that night, said Ahmad Syukri.

The ceramah last night was part of the students' nationwide road show for academic freedom. However this was the first time it has been disrupted.

Despite virtual death sentence, Malaysia sends Saudi blogger home

2012-02-13T03:21:00.004+08:00

Kashgari is alleged to have posted blasphemous comments on his Twitter account. — Reuters pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 12 — Malaysia deported a Saudi Arabian blogger today, police said, despite fears voiced by human rights groups that he could face execution in his home country over Twitter comments he made that were deemed insulting to the Prophet Mohammad.

Hamza Kashgari, a 23-year-old columnist, sparked outrage in the oil-rich kingdom with comments posted on the Prophet’s birthday a week ago that led some Islamic clerics to call for him to face the death penalty.

Kashgari fled the country, but was arrested by police in majority-Muslim Malaysia on Thursday as he transited through Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

“The Saudi writer was repatriated to his home country this Sunday morning,” a police spokesman told Reuters. “This is an internal Saudi matter that we cannot comment on.”

Malaysia has a close affinity with many Middle Eastern nations through their shared religion. But it is also a US ally and a leading global voice for moderate Islam, meaning that the decision to extradite Kashgari is certain to be controversial.

“Saudi clerics have already made up their mind that Kashgari is an apostate who must face punishment,” Christoph Wilcke, senior Middle East researcher at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement on Friday.

“The Malaysian government should not be complicit in sealing Kashgari’s fate by sending him back.”

Kashgari’s lawyer in Malaysia, Mohammad Noor, told Reuters by telephone that he had obtained a court order to prevent the deportation, but had not been allowed to see his client.

“If the government of Malaysia deports him to Saudi Arabia, disrespecting the court order, this is clearly contempt of court, unlawful and unacceptable,” he said.

The Star newspaper quoted Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein as saying that Kashgari had been repatriated and that the charges against him would be decided by Saudi authorities.

“Malaysia has a longstanding arrangement by which individuals wanted by one country are extradited when detained by the other,” he was quoted as saying.

Blasphemy is a crime punishable by execution under Saudi Arabia’s strict interpretation of Islamic syariah law. It is not a capital crime in Malaysia.

Reuters could not verify Kashgari’s comments because he later deleted them, but media reported that one of them reflected his contradictory views of the Prophet — that he both loved and hated him.

Kashgari later said in an interview that he was being made a “scapegoat for a larger conflict” over his comments. — Reuters

Kashgari deportation unlawful and cruel, says PKR veep

2012-02-13T03:20:00.001+08:00

Surendran accused the authorities of rushing the blogger’s deportation in order to circumvent the legal process. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 12 — PKR vice president N. Surendran denounced the federal government for sending Saudi Arabian Hamza Kashgari home today, where he will likely be executed for alleged blasphemy.

“The deportation was unlawful, unconstitutional and a cruel act. The deportation was carried out in an unholy haste in order to defeat the legal process in Malaysia,” he said in a statement.

Surendran pointed out that a High Court had convened unusually on a Sunday to issue an interim order barring the deportation.

“The issuance of the order meant that the High Court judge had found basis in Hamza’s complaint that he was being illegally held by Malaysian authorities and that his deportation would be unlawful,” he said.

The human rights lawyer said there was no basis for the Malaysian government to deport Hamza as there is no extradition treaty between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.

Surendran added that the offence the blogger is accused of does not attract capital punishment in Malaysia.

He said the deportation was in breach of Malaysia’s legal norms and constitutional principles. It also violated international law and human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, continued Surendran.

“Prime Minister Najib Razak must be held accountable for this unlawful and arbitrary action by his government and must answer for the black mark upon Malaysia’s international reputation,” he demanded.

Faith is not a bottle of vodka martini

2012-02-13T03:18:00.001+08:00

Najib's Islamic faith can neither be shaken nor stirred.
COMMENT

Faith is a belief system that comes from within. It is not something that can be, to paraphrase Britain’s fictitious spy, James Bond’s famous line, “shaken not stirred”.

In short, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s faith in Islam is not a bottle of vodka martini.

Yes I am writing this in response to Perak mufti Harussani Zakaria’s remarks over Najib’s visit to Batu Caves in conjunction with Thaipusam.

An online media report quoted Harussani as saying: “Najib’s visit is blasphemous. I have been telling this to him for years.”

It also quoted Harussani as saying that Najib “sacrificed his faith” and that it was an “idolatrous act” on Najib’s part when he attended the Thapusam festival on Tuesday.

Najib has been visiting Batu Caves for the past three years.

How can Najib’s Islamic faith be shaken and stirred when his motive of being there is purely political, not religious?

He was there to announce about the funds for the temple and additional Tamil schools, hence Harussani’s contention that Najib joined Thaipusam celebration does not hold water.

From a political perspective, one can decipher Najib’s “nambikei” (trust) speech as a bait for election.

At the end of the day, Najib & Co must obtain the people’s trust to form the next government at the 13th general election.

Harussani does not need to do so since his appointment as mufti, by convention, is done by the sultan.

It is also vital for Najib to be present in Batu Caves, Selangor, since 52% of the voters in Selangor are non-Malays.

My second point would look at the issue from the Islamic perspective.

Islam is a religion of reason

The Islamic civilisation had world reknowned scholars such as Avicenna because arguments are based on facts and Muslim scholars then were able to reason.

Unfortunately, Harussani has not given any reasoning in lashing out at Najib.

Based on the news report, Harussani also did not present his argument by using the four sources of Islamic as his basis for argument. The four are Al- Quran, As-Sunnah, Ijma and Qiyas.

The Sunnah are actions and quotations of Prophet Muhammad that is recorded in the Hadith.

Ijma is the general consensus among Muslim jurists (ulama) on a particular issue whereas qiyas refers to process of legal deduction where jurists are allowed to argue by using the Quran and Sunnah.

As a mufti which is equivalent to the top most religious official, Harussani’s statement is detrimental to Malaysian Muslims as it gives the impression that the faith of the Muslims can be shaken and stirred.

It also serves to belittle Islam to the Western world that has not wholly come out of Islamophobia since the 9/11 incident in 2011 where Muslim terrorists crashed two airlines onto the World Trade Center in America.

Saudi journalist deported; court order comes too late

2012-02-13T03:16:00.001+08:00

Injunction order obtained by Malaysian lawyers acting for Kashgari's family came too late to stop the deportation.
FULL REPORT

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia today deported a young Saudi journalist wanted in his home country over a Twitter post about the Prophet Mohammed, defying pleas from human rights group who said he faced execution.

Hamza Kashgari, who was detained in Malaysia on Thursday after fleeing Saudi Arabia, has now left the country, national police spokesman Ramli Yoosuf said.

“He was deported to Saudi Arabia,” Ramli told AFP. A government offical said Kashgari was escorted back to his home country by Saudi officials.

“He has been deported. He was picked up by Saudi officials at the airport,” said the source who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Kashgari fled to Malaysia after making comments on the microblogging site deemed insulting to the Prophet Mohammed, which triggered outrage and death threats.

Insulting the prophet is considered blasphemous in Islam and is a crime punishable by execution in Saudi Arabia.

Kashgari’s detention sparked outrage from human rights groups, with Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch urging Malaysia not to send him back to face severe punishment and possibly a death sentence.

Malaysian rights activist Fadiah Nadwa Fikri condemned the move, saying that a court order to prevent Kashgari’s deportation was secured Sunday but that immigration authorities advised he had already been deported.

“It is a blatant violation of the law and human rights,” she said.

Fadiah said Kashgari’s mother and brother had arrived in Malaysia to seek his release and were distraught at the news of his repatriation.

“They are very distressed. They broke down in tears. They fear for his safety,” she said, adding that they will also return to Saudi Arabia Sunday.

Fadiah said Kashgari had been intending to travel to New Zealand where he planned to seek asylum. He flew to Malaysia via Jordan and was in transit when he was detained.

“He flew to Malaysia because there was no visa requirement,” she said.

Malaysia and Saudi Arabia do not have a formal extradition treaty but have close ties as fellow Muslim countries.

Long-standing arrangement

The home ministry defended its stance earlier Sunday.

“Malaysia has a long-standing arrangement by which individuals wanted by one country are extradited when detained by the other, and (Kashgari) will be repatriated under this arrangement,” it said in a statement.

“The nature of the charges against the individual in this case are a matter for the Saudi Arabian authorities.”

Human Rights Watch senior Middle East researcher Christoph Wilcke had said Saturday that Malaysia should not be “complicit in sealing Kashgari’s fate by sending him back”, where he would be unlikely to face a fair trial.

Kashgari’s controversial tweet sparked tens of thousands of responses, according to an online service that tracks Twitter postings in the Arab world.

He tweeted: “I have loved things about you and I have hated things about you and there is a lot I don’t understand about you.

“I will not pray for you.”

Kashgari apologised but a committee of top clerics branded him “an “infidel” and demanded he be tried in an Islamic court, while a Saudi Facebook page calling for his execution has attracted thousands of followers.

- AFP

‘Najib guilty of blatant abuse of power’

2012-02-13T03:14:00.003+08:00

DAP veteran Karpal Singh accuses the PM of misusing government facilities to canvass for votes and criticises the AG for keeping silent.

GEORGE TOWN: DAP chairman Karpal Singh has slammed Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak of kickstarting his election campaign trail early by misusing government facilities and paraphernalia.

He questioned why the Attorney-General’s Chambers had not pressed any charges against Najib, who is also the Barisan Nasional chairman and Umno president, for blatant abuse of power.

He noted that Najib had been using government facilities to canvass votes across the country for BN and Umno.

Karpal rebuked Najib’s use of government transportation, bodyguards, state-sponsored functions and civil servants in his current nationwide ala election tour had infringed the election laws.

“This is blatant abuse of power and violation of election rules. I wonder why the AG has not taken any action. Why is the AG so silent and allows the prime minister to get away with it?” he asked.

AG quick to act against Pakatan leaders

Comparatively, he said the AG Chambers had been quick in taking action against Pakatan Rakyat leaders, even for merely suggesting that the Sultan of Perak could be sued.

Karpal noted that the Federal Constitution provisions allowed the royalty to be sued in certain issues.

“However, I am being charged with sedition for making a legal suggestion during the height of the Perak constitutional crisis,” he added.

Pointing out that Pakatan was a government in waiting, he cautioned Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail to carry out his public duty without fear or favour.

“The AG should be reminded that he is being watched closely,” said Karpal.

The DAP veteran also slammed MCA for making false claims that DAP supported PAS’ Islamic agenda.

MCA, he said, had resorted to the cheap political stunts of 1999 to avoid being completely wiped out in the next general election.

In 1999, he added, MCA deceived the people by ridiculing DAP’s electoral links with PAS.

As a result, he said the party suffered major electoral reverses including his and party adviser Lim Kit Siang’s shock parliamentary defeats.

“DAP has always categorically opposed PAS’ agenda of forming an Islamic state and implementing the hudud laws. MCA should stop the lies,” he added.

Who the fuck are you to tell me what to do?

2012-02-13T03:12:00.002+08:00

My reasons as to why I wanted a change of government back in 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1995, 1999 and 2004 remain the same. That has not changed. I am not prepared to tolerate slight corruption. I am not prepared to tolerate slight racism. I am not prepared to tolerate slight extremism. I am not prepared to tolerate slight intolerance. I am not prepared to tolerate slight Talibanism. I am not prepared to tolerate slight whatever it may be.
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
The year was 1976, mid-January to be exact. Tun Razak Hussein (current Prime Minister Najib’s father) had just died and Tun Hussein Dato’ Onn had just taken over as Prime Minister. I had just migrated to Kuala Terengganu barely two years before that in 1974.
There was a raging debate going on as to who will take over as Hussein Onn’s new Deputy. There were many theories and many names. I said: Dr Mahathir Mohamad. There was a minute of silence while everyone pondered on my choice before all shook their heads and said ‘no way’.
Dr Mahathir became Deputy Prime Minister and that launched my new ‘career’ as a political observer, analyst, commenter, and whatnot.
That was 36 years ago. I was only 26 then. Hence for more than half my life I have been doing what some would call ‘shit-stirring’.
It was a couple of years later that I first met Tok Guru Ayah Cik (Hadi Awang) in his house in Rusila. He had just come back from his studies in the Middle East. I liked Tok Guru the instant I met him. From then on I would make many trips to the Rusila mosque to hear Tok Guru’s usrahs (lectures) and kutbahs (sermons) about the struggles and sacrifices of Muslim freedom fighters over more than 1,000 years.
Then, in 1979, the Islamic Revolution of Iran exploded and I became ‘inspired’. I visualised a similar Islamic revolution in Malaysia. When a delegation of the Islamic Revolutionary Council came to Malaysia I attended the gathering and when they told us that the purpose of their trip was to export the Iranian Revolution to Malaysia my hair stood on end. I was practically getting an orgasm.
Well, I was only 29 then and at 29 you are always idealistic and a great romantic, if you know what I mean.
Anwar Ibrahim had been detained under the Internal Security Act in 1974 and was spending his time in Kamunting. On his release 20 months later he took his ABIM, which was formed in 1971, on a road show all over Malaysia.
The last I had seen Anwar was back in 1965 when I was still in school, the Malay College Kuala Kangsar. So it was more than fourteen years since I had last seen him. Now Anwar was visiting Kuala Terengganu and was speaking at a PAS ceramah and I just had to go listen to him.

I was smitten. Anwar moved me to tears. Anwar spoke about an Islamic revolution. Anwar was my hero, my alma mater, my prefect in school, and he was going to lead us on a jihad so that we can fight and die for Islam and get to go straight to heaven where 72 virgins were awaiting us. (Well, I did say I was idealistic and a romantic at that age).
In 1981, Dr Mahathir ousted Hussein Onn and took over as Prime Minister. In 1982, Anwar broke our heart when he joined Umno. This was the same party he had been condemning as ahli neraka (members of hell). Now he was joining these same people we had sworn to defeat even if we have to die doing so.
A couple of months later I went to Mekah with a few PAS leaders. I met up with Mustapha Ali, Fadzil Noor, and a few others and spent a week discussing Malaysian politics and Anwar’s betrayal to the cause. I also joined an anti-Saudi-anti-US demonstration organised by the Iranians.
Man, was it huge. There were easily more than 100,000 people. We practically took over the streets of Mekah. The Saudi army with guns just stood there and did not dare shoot at us. (The following year they did shoot and thousands from both sides died: but I missed that one…sigh….)
Soon after I returned from Mekah the Special Branch called me in. The Director told me that I had been identified as a threat to Umno and was just one step short of detention under the ISA. I was told to report back to the Kuala Terengganu police station the following day at 7.00am.
The following day they brought me to the Menteri Besar’s residence. Wan Mokhtar Ahmad, the MB, told me that they do not want to take action against me because I am the nephew of the Tengku Ampuan of Terengganu. But they warned me that if they were forced to detain me they would do so. Hence, I had better tone down my anti-Umno activities.
A few days later a judge phoned me and asked whether we could have lunch. I did not know this judge but had heard his name mentioned many times (he was a very close friend of a very close friend in ABIM).
We met for lunch at the Primula and the judge told me that the government wanted to detain me under the ISA but he had warned them not to. He said he had told them that since I was the nephew of the Tengku Ampuan that may cause a conflict between Umno and the palace. He suggested they just talk to me.
That explained why I was called in to meet the Director of the Terengganu Special Branch and the following day brought to meet the MB in his house.
I, of course, never did tone down. In fact, I did the opposite. I spoke to Tok Guru Ayah Chik and arranged to bring him to Kuala Lumpur. I told him that PAS should not remain just a kampong party. It needs to penetrate the urban areas and the big city. PAS needs to gain acceptance from the city dwellers and the non-Malays. If not, it will never become a national party and get to form the federal government.
Tok Guru’s first ‘big city’ ceramah was held in Masjid Mujahideen in Damansara Utama in 1983. The crowd was huge. Never before had that mosque seen so many people. From then on it became a monthly affair and PAS was soon on the way to conquering the city. Of course, it took 25 years before that would happen, as the 2008 general election proved. But it did eventually bear fruit. PAS is now a national party.
No doubt I now no longer believe in the Iranian Revolution. I also no longer believe that Malaysia should be turned into ‘The Islamic Republic of Malaysia’. I am now 62, not 32. But I sill believe in PAS as I did 36 years ago in 1976.
And, sure, I am critical of PAS. I whack them when they want to bar Elton John from singing in Genting. I whack them when they confiscate beers in Seven-Elevens. I whack them when they ask the government to ban Valentine’s Day celebrations. And so on and so forth.
And, sure, many of you whack me for whacking the opposition. But who the fuck are you to tell me what to do? I have earned my right to whack the opposition.
Where were you back in the 1970s? Many of you were not even born yet then.
Who were you supporting back in the 1970s? Many of you supported Barisan Nasional and voted for the ruling party in 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1995, 1999 and 2004. Only now, in 2008, did you vote for the opposition. And just because you voted opposition in ONE election you feel you have earned the monopoly to talk about the opposition and no one else should talk, especially if it is talk that is critical of the opposition.
Many wakil rakyat (members of parliament and state assemblypersons) who won in 208 were not even in politics yet in the 1970s. Hell, many were not even born yet then. But now that they are the wakil rakyat (because we voted for them, mind you) they feel we have no right to criticise them or chide them.
Let me make one thing very clear. We opposed Barisan Nasional and Umno back when Hussein Onn was the Prime Minister and Dr Mahathir Mohamad the Deputy Prime Minister because they were evil. They were corrupted. They were racists. They did not allow freedom of speech. They violated the Federal Constitution of Malaysia.
Of course, they were not that bad then, back in the 1970s. They were only a shade of what they are today. But we still opposed them nevertheless. But many of you did not oppose them. In 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1995, 1999 and 2004 you voted for them. While we tried to kick them out you voted for them.
My reasons as to why I wanted a change of government back in 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1995, 1999 and 2004 remain the same. That has not changed. I am not prepared to tolerate slight corruption. I am not prepared to tolerate slight racism. I am not prepared to tolerate slight extremism. I am not prepared to tolerate slight intolerance. I am not prepared to tolerate slight Talibanism. I am not prepared to tolerate slight whatever it may be.
That was what you all said in 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1995, 1999 and 2004. You were prepared to tolerate corruption, racism, extremism, intolerance, Talibanism, etc., as long as it is slight. Now that slight has become major. Now it is impossible to eradicate corruption, racism, extremism, intolerance, Talibanism, and more. Now is it almost impossible to kick Barisan Nasional and Umno out. You have allowed them to get a strong grip on the country that it is now almost impossible to kick them out.
I can see that many Chinese are prepared to accept the slight corruption and slight everything else in the interest of kicking out a Malay government. This sounds like this is not about eradicating corruption but about kicking out the Malays. From where I am sitting this sounds like it is about Ketuanan Cina versus Ketuanan Melayu.
Yeah, sure, the Chinese are practical and realistic people, not like the Malays who are emotional. The Chinese can accept slight corruption as long as Umno is kicked out. Just make sure the money is in a red and not white envelope.
Do you know that another word for realism is hypocrisy?

Greece set to agree to bailout as Germany demands action

2012-02-13T03:09:00.006+08:00

By Harry Papachristou and Matt Robinson - Reuters

ATHENS (Reuters) – Greek lawmakers looked set to agree to a deeply unpopular bailout deal on Sunday to avert what Prime Minister Lucas Papademos warned would be “economic chaos,” and Germany demanded Athens dramatically change its ways to stay in the euro.

The austerity bill sets out 3.3 billion euros ($4.35 billion) in wage, pension and job cuts as the price of a 130-billion-euro rescue package from the European Union and International Monetary Fund – Greece’s second since 2010.

Greece needs the funds before March 20 to meet debt repayments of 14.5 billion euros and the bill has stirred anger on the streets and turmoil within the coalition government.

Addressing the nation late on Saturday, Papademos warned that failure to back the bill would mean a disorderly default and “set the country on a disastrous adventure.”

“It would create conditions of uncontrolled economic chaos and social explosion,” he said.

“The country would be drawn into a vortex of recession, instability, unemployment and protracted misery and this would sooner or later lead the country out of the euro.”

Greece’s Communist Party accused him of “lying and scaremongering.”

But euro zone paymaster Germany ratcheted up the pressure, saying Europe needed action, not words.

“The promises from Greece aren’t enough for us any more,” German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said in an interview published on Sunday in Welt am Sonntag newspaper.

German opinion polls show a majority of Germans are willing to help, Schaeuble said, “but it’s important to say that it cannot be a bottomless pit.

“That’s why the Greeks have to finally close that pit. And then we can put something in there. At least people are now starting to realize it won’t work with a bottomless pit.”

“Greece needs to do its own homework to become competitive – whether that happens in conjunction with a new rescue program or by another route that we actually don’t want to take…”

When asked if that other “route” meant Greece would have to leave the euro zone, Schaeuble said: “That is all in the hands of the Greeks themselves. But even in the event (Greece leaves the euro zone), which almost no one assumes will happen, they will still remain part of Europe.”

DIRE WARNINGS, STORMY DEBATE

He said that the rescue efforts for Greece were proving more difficult than efforts to unify Germany in 1990.

“The reason is the realization that there is a need for change, and change dramatically, still needs to develop further with a lot of people in Greece.”

The 300-seat parliament is due to begin debating the bill at 2 p.m. (1200 GMT) before a vote expected late in the evening.

Demonstrators have pledged to turn out in force at 6 p.m. (1600 GMT) on the main square in front of the assembly, although rainy weather may limit the numbers of protesters.

The austerity measures include 300 million euros in pension cuts and a 22 percent reduction in the minimum wage from about 750 euros a month.

The bill aims to cut Greece’s bloated state sector workforce by about 150,000 people by 2015.

It also provides for a bond swap to ease Greece’s debt burden by cutting the real value of private investors’ bond holdings by some 70 percent.

On a day of dire warnings and stormy debate on Saturday, leaders of the ruling coalition told uneasy lawmakers to support the bill or be dropped from party lists for an election that could come by April.

At least 20 deputies from the two main parties in the Papademos coalition threatened on Saturday to vote ‘No’ – but the bulk of the coalition’s 236 MPs are still all but certain to approve the package. Six members of his cabinet have resigned.

Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos said the deal had to be approved by Sunday or the country would miss a February 17 deadline to offer the debt “haircut” to its private-sector bondholders.

Euro zone finance ministers also expect Greece to explain by then how 325 million euros from this year’s total budget cuts, as yet unspecified, will be achieved before it agrees to the bailout.

Bailout documents released on Friday left blank the amount of the full rescue package, and Venizelos said Greece might need 15 billion euros more to save the country’s banks, confirming estimates from EU officials.

The EU and IMF say they will not release the aid without clear commitments by the main party leaders that reforms will be implemented, whoever wins the next election.

Hearing date set for ex-professor

2012-02-13T03:08:00.001+08:00

The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has set Sept 24 and Sept 25 to hear former Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) law professor Dr Abdul Aziz Bari’s defamation suit against Kulim Bandar Baru MP Datuk Zulkifli Noordin and Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd.

High Court judge Justice Zabariah Mohd Yusof fixed the date after issuing orders for the parties in chambers yesterday.

Lawyer Azhana Mohd Khairudin acted for the professor while counsel Rohanidah Shafie appeared on behalf of Utusan.

Rohanidah later said the judge had ordered the parties to file various documents including statement of agreed facts and issues to be tried by April 13.

She said the judge had set April 17 for case management of the civil suit.

Dr Abdul Aziz sued Zulkifli and Utusan for allegedly defaming him in relation to his remarks on the Sultan of Selangor’s decree over a church raid.

He also named Utusan Malaysia group editor-in-chief Datuk Aziz Ishak as a defendant in the defamation suit.

In his lawsuit, Dr Abdul Aziz said Zulkifli had on Oct 17 last year uttered slanderous words against him, which were published in the Utusan Malaysia newspaper the next day.

He said the words implied that he was rude and not qualified to be a lecturer or a professor.

He said the publication had caused him to suffer embarrassment, humiliation and torment in terms of dignity, credibility, character and reputation.

Dr Abdul Aziz said he had been insulted and ridiculed among society by the article.

He said Zulkifli had uttered such words which were published by Utusan on purpose, without any cross-checks and without considering his dignity.

He said he had sent a notice to the defendants to withdraw the allegations, apologise to him and pay damages but they did not.

In the statement of claim, filed on Dec 22 last year, he is seeking general, exemplary and aggravated damages, costs and further relief deemed fit by the court.

He is asking the High Court to direct the defendants to apologise to him and retract all defamatory words in the newspaper within 24 hours from the court order.

Malaysian Students Scramble Through Window As Roof Collapses

2012-02-13T03:07:00.000+08:00

JAKARTA, Feb 12 (Bernama) -- Thirty female students, including 11 Malaysians scrambled to safety through the back window of their two-storey house in Grogol, North Jakarta when its front roof collapsed during a heavy downpour last night.

Neighbours came to their rescue by broking the window.

One of the Malaysian students, Nor Ubudiah Seti said they took some personal items and documents with them as they scrambled to safety.

"We heard a very loud noise from outside the home as if a cement truck had overturned before neighbours shouted to us to leave the house as the front roof had collapsed.

"We could not get out of the front door as it was blocked by debris from the collapsed roof and climbed out of the window," said Nor Ubudiah, a fourth-year medical student at Trisakti University here, Sunday.

The Malaysian students were putting up with their friends nearby and turned down an arrangement made by Malaysian Education Attache and First Secretary (Education) Ludinata Misnun to house them at the Malaysia Hall.

According to the students, the Malaysia Hall located in South Jakarta is very far from Trisakti University in North Jakarta and moreover they would be sitting for an examination this weekend.

‘Dr Rosmah’ and Curtin University

2012-02-13T03:05:00.003+08:00

Back in Australia after a New Year’s jaunt in Sydney, Rosmah was awarded an honorary doctorate at Curtin University’s Bentley campus in Perth yesterday.

Rosmah receiving her honorary doctorate from Chancellor of Curtin University Jim Gill. Photograph: Bernama

Rosmah received her scroll along with 600 other graduating students.
What are Curtin University’s links to Malaysia?
In 2010, the Malaysian Qualifications Agency granted Curtin University of Technology in Sarawak self-accreditation status following an institutional audit that included a visit by an MQA panel of auditors to the university campus. The campus was opened in Miri in 1998.
Curtin Sarawak has received various sources of funding in Malaysia:

In August 2003, Curtin Sarawak became the first international university in Malaysia to be entitled to access the prestigious IRPA grants (“Intensification for Research in Priority Areas”) of the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment.
In December 2004, researchers at Curtin Sarawak were awarded their first IRPA grant.
In addition to sources of funding from the Federal Government, Curtin Sarawak has also access to funds from the Sarawak State Government as well as from various industrial partners.

If this is true, why are public funds going to a foreign university when many schools in Sarawak don’t even have basic facilities? How much has Curtin received in total?
In addition, the Sarawak government’s BioValley Park Project is to be developed at the Curtin Sarawak campus. The project is supposed to boost R&D to meet the state’s technological needs, particularly for the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score).
Curtin Sarawak is also associated with the Sarawak leadership.
From the Curtin website:

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan, who is also the chairman of the Curtin Sarawak Council, said the first phase of the project spearheaded by the state Ministry of Industrial Development will be developed on a 10-acre site at the campus.

The Perth Now website reports:

LAST time Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak visited Perth, he was met with angry protests during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
Today, it was a far more peaceful visit as he slipped into Curtin University on a hush-hush private visit with his wife, who accepted an honorary doctorate…
The Prime Minister’s last visit to Perth for CHOGM in October was met with angry protests when a “Bersihkan Malaysia” group held a rally in Forrest Place to campaign for electoral reforms in Malaysia.

Temples, shops of Hindus attacked at Hathazari

2012-02-11T05:09:00.002+08:00

Chittagong, Feb 10 (bdnews24.com) – Authorities clamped Section 144 banning public gathering at Hathazari on Friday amid mounting tensions after several Hindu temples were vandalised and torched there.

Local people claimed religious bigots of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Chhatra Shibir incited the vandalism and arson of the temples from Thursday evening to Friday noon.

Tensions that boiled over into violence originated Thursday morning following rumours that a mosque had been attacked. Allegations have it that houses of Hindus in the area were also attacked. The leaders of the Hindu minority there blamed the 'indifference' of the administration for the situation.

Another group of people took to the Chittagong-Rangamati road blocking traffic from Nandirhat to Hathazari Sadar upazila around 11am Friday. They also said their Friday prayers on the road.

They alleged a mosque had allegedly been hurled with brick bats from a procession of Loknath Sebashram Thursday morning. The blockaders demanded arrest of those linked with 'hurling brick bats on the mosque'.

After simmering tensions through the day, primary and mass education minister Afsarul Ameen, city Awami League president A B M Mohiuddin Chowdhury, Chittagong Development Board chairman Abdus Salam and city Awami League's joint secretary Ibrahim Hossain Chowdhury Babul went to the area and calmed the agitated locals in the afternoon.

"Tensions mounted following a misunderstanding. Security in temples and mosques in the area has been strengthened and the law enforcers have been alerted," Ameen said.

Chittagong district deputy commissioner Faiz Ahmed told reporters about the ban on public assembly through the imposition of Section 144.

"Police will take action if they see any gathering," he said.

TIT FOR TAT: THE ORIGIN

According to the local people, Hindus in the area took out a procession to celebrate the founding anniversary of Loknath Sebasram Thursday morning.

They used microphone and drums in the procession.

When the procession was passing a mosque, Muslims in the mosque forbade them to drums. At one stage, someone hurled a brick bat on the procession.

An altercation took place at once which turned into chase and counter-chase when someone from the procession responded by throwing a brick bat.

Police organised a meeting between the two parties which was allegedly delayed with ill-intention. A group of Muslims said that the meeting will be held in the mosque and the Hindus agreed.

The meeting started in the evening. Requesting anonymity, several of those who attended the meeting told bdnews24.com that a handful of miscreants vandalised a temple on the Loknath Sebasram premises when the meeting was underway.

They also vandalised seven to eight cars of the temple's visitors.

Puja Udjapon Committee convenor Ashok Kumar Deb told bdnews24.com that someone broke a windowpane of the mosque after the incident in the morning and a rumour that Hindus vandalised the mosque spread in the area.

On Friday morning, temples in the area were vandalised and shops owned by Hindus were torched and looted after madrasa students in the area gathered following an announcement through a PA system.

A bdnews24.com correspondent in Chittagong said he saw tell-tale signs of vandalism in three other temples in the area. They are the Sri Sri Jagadeshwari Ma Temple and Jagannath Bigroho Temple at Nandirhat and Kalibari Temple at Sadar upazila.

The Sri Sri Jagadeshwari Ma Temple was burnt, too.

JAMAAT-SHIBIR BLAMED

Many of the people in the area said a quarter is provoking the incident and Zila Parishad administrator M A Salam pointed the finger at Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir.

As the area is only three kilometres away from the Chittagong University (CU), many of the leaders and activists of Chhatra Shibir's CU unit live there.

Moreover, the largest madrasa of the country is located in the area and Shibir allegedly controls it.

Zila Parishad administrator Salam said adequate police were not deployed in the area to tackle the situation after Thursday's incident.

Salam, an Awami League leader, said Jamaat and Shibir leaders were fuelling the tension to destabilise the situation after CU was ordered shut on Wednesday following deaths of two Shibir men in clashes with activists of pro-government students.

Hathazari Thana BNP chief S M Fazlul Haque blamed the administration for the unpleasant events.

"The situation would not have been like this in the first place had the administration been on alert at the beginning," he said.

Haque added that all local supporters and activists of BNP were asked to work together to protect communal harmony in the locality.

Local MP and Jatiya Party presidium member Anisul Islam Mahmud went to the area in the morning but failed to get the situation any better.

The disturbing developments prevented the annual festival of the Loknath Temple to begin Friday morning. A large number of Rapid Action Battalion members and police have been deployed there.

bdnews24.com/corr/mu/mc/ost/bd/2345h

Hindu Sangam and Malaysian temple authorities should revamp Hindu festivals.

2012-02-11T04:51:00.002+08:00

By Saravanan,

Malaysian Indian forum are shocked with some photographs of Thaipusam and complains from the festivals. Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai (Jan/Feb). Pusam refers to a star that is at its highest point during the festival. The festival commemorates both the birthday of Lord Murugan, the youngest son of Shiva and Parvati, and the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a vel (spear) so he could vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman. According to the true story of Thaipusam it is more of devotion and love towards Lord Muruga. In all Hindu scriptures surrendering to the lord was well emphasized but in recent times the celebration of spiritual festivals has been turned to fun fair.

Mr.Arvind Raj, A senior member says “The truth about Batu caves is, it has no system at all, everyone implement their own rules!” During such festivals garbage is thrown everywhere and the atmosphere doesn’t reflect a holy place. The festival has been turned to be a fun fair without the real motive of the Thaipusam. Since it is a holy festival, we are suggesting the Hindu Sangam and Maha Mariamman authorities to make traditional dresses as compulsory for devotees. Man should wear dhoti or least kurta and for women Saree or Chudithar should be the dress code. We got multiple complaints that women are wearing sexy cloths like short pants or tights till uphill. Our religion never taught to wear sexy dresses to temples and these dress guidelines will steadily make the Indians aligned to customs and culture of holy place.

During this Thaipusam, we were extremely shocked with 2 kavadis which were carried with Manchester United football club logo and with DAP logo. It is high time to control superstitious worship and back to the real thaipusam. Many of our members are asking for immediate action.
Many were observed that why this kolavery (Tamil song) was widely used for kavadi dance. Youngsters never been taught about the history and importance of such festival for many years. And eventually festivals are turned more like a street dance festival.

The policeman even stopped devotees (especially kids and women) who were holding Pal Kudam, Kavadis from entering the main gates and diverts them through the exit gate as the main gate is blocked for the Prime Minister Najib. The policemen should have arranged for alternate routes for devotes before blocking them and should have managed the crowd better.

I personally have seen the same festival in the same shape 30 years ago and now in 2012 also we are seeing the same. It is high time for the authorities to intervene and take stern action in future to make this festival showcasing our true Tamil culture and customs.

Passing assets to Bumi elites a return to Dr M’s failed policies, MPs say

2012-02-11T04:20:00.000+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 10 — Lawmakers across the political divide are wary of Putrajaya’s move to

Umno supreme council member Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin gave the example of Khazanah’s MAS-AirAsia share swap as a deal that resulted in the public suffering. — file pic

transfer 10 non-core businesses from Khazanah Nasional Bhd and Permodalan Nasional Bhd to Bumiputera companies.

They say it mirrors the failed Mahathir-era plan to groom Bumiputera entrepreneurs in the 1990s.

While Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs support efforts to grow Bumiputera equity, which stood at 22 per cent in February last year, short of the 30 per cent target set by the government, they told The Malaysian Insider it has so far benefited only a handful of “crony elites.”

Umno supreme council member Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin said “the government must be transparent as to which Bumiputera company is being selected to ensure the national interest is served.”

“If we keep feeding the same Ali Babas which we’ve already helped, then this doesn’t help anything,” the Kinabatangan MP said, referring to Khazanah’s recent divestment of its 32 and 42.7 per cent stake in Pos Malaysia and Proton respectively to DRB-Hicom, controlled by Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar al-Bukhary.

The state investment arm had announced last month the sale of its shares in the national carmaker for RM1.3 billion, which followed from the RM623 million divestment in Pos Malaysia to Malaysia’s richest Bumiputera entrepreneur.

Bung Mokhtar also added that Khazanah handing over 20.5 per cent of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) in exchange for a 10 per cent stake in AirAsia was another deal that resulted in the public suffering.

His Umno colleague Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed also said “this is nothing new and has been done for the past 40 years under the New Economic Policy (NEP).”

“If you compare with Mahathir’s time, instead of Mr Halim and Mr Tajuddin, read Mr Syed Mokhtar,” said Pulai MP Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed, referring to the two poster boys of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s now discredited policy of nurturing a class of Malay corporate captains on government largesse.

Tan Sri Tajuddin Tamli, Tan Sri Halim Saad and others flew high in the 1990s but their true mettle was tested during the Asian financial crisis. Nearly all of them fared poorly.

Tajuddin helmed MAS from 1994-2001, after which it was renationalised as it struggled under a mountain of debt.

Halim’s Renong was also the subject of a reported RM10 billion bailout by the government which was completed after Tun Abdullah Badawi became prime minister in 2003.

PAS vice president Datuk Mahfuz Omar said that “the government seems to have a habit of handing over profitable businesses to its cronies who are incompetent.” — file pic

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday the divested entities will be awarded to Bumiputera companies that have good potential to grow after an open evaluation process.

Last year, Khazanah made a total of eight divestments which brought in proceeds of RM7.7 billion and helped to push the company’s profit before tax for the full year to RM5.3 billion from RM3 billion in 2010.

This included the complete privatisation of PLUS Bhd through a joint acquisition by UEM Group Bhd and the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF).

But DAP strategist Liew Chin Tong told The Malaysian Insider today that “the government cannot say functions like postal services are ‘non-core’ when everyone depends on them.”

“A private company will try to make profit whereas the government can help keep the cost of this basic amenity low. Even if Khazanah makes a profit from Pos Malaysia, it goes back into the taxpayers’ coffers.

“None of this helps the bottom 40 per cent of society, nearly three-quarters of whom are Bumiputera,” the Bukit Bendera MP said, referring to households earning RM1,500 per month or less.

PAS vice president Datuk Mahfuz Omar also said that “the government seems to have a habit of handing over profitable businesses to its cronies who are incompetent, and then being forced to nationalise the losses when these cronies fail.”

“And then they say that is in the national service because it is a key function. Look at how we’ve bailed out Renong and MAS,” the Pokok Sena MP said.

Najib ‘sacrificed his faith’ to attend Thaipusam do, says Perak Mufti

2012-02-11T04:17:00.003+08:00

Najib (centre, left) and Rosmah (centre, right) wave to the crowd from within a flower garland during the Thaipusam celebrations at Batu Caves, February 7, 2011. — Picture by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 10 — Perak Mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria today expressed his dismay over the prime minister’s decision to “sacrifice his faith” to attend Thaipusam celebrations at Batu Caves recently.

Harussani said even though he advised Datuk Seri Najib Razak every year not to join such events, the Barisan Nasional (BN) chief appeared not to place much importance on his faith or Islam.

“It’s an idolatrous act. I don’t know why this happened... when we don’t join in the celebrations of other races in their houses of worship.

“The prime minister should have sent a Hindu minister to take his place... as Muslims cannot be involved in other religions’ festivities,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

Harussani added that the minister in charge of Islamic affairs or a religious advisor should have advised Najib not to attend the event held two days ago.

“We cannot join in (on other religions’ celebrations). They perform religious rituals, and as Muslims, we cannot be present,” he said, adding that going to open houses was acceptable but not places of worship.

On Tuesday, Najib attended the annual Thaipusam festival at Batu Caves — his third visit in as many years — where he announced an allocation of RM2 million to build a cultural centre in the area.

Najib, who wore a yellow kurta and was joined by his wife, Datuk Seri Rosmah Mansor, had said he was happy to join in the festivities.

‘Election reforms still not enough’

2012-02-11T04:15:00.003+08:00

NGOs say that despite the reforms the Election Commission has a long way to go to win over people's confidence.

PETALING JAYA: The Election Commission (EC) has made some changes to the electoral process but NGOs say it is not enough.

In the last two months, the EC has been announcing a slew of changes. Many of these changes stem from the interim report of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on electoral reforms tabled in Parliament in November last year.

One example is the much-contested issue of indelible ink which the EC said yesterday will be gazetted into law come Feb 15.

Other changes include early voting for the armed forces personnel. This exercise will include some 200,000 army and police officers.

The move is also seen to address the concerns of many parties who have claimed that postal votes have been abused in favour of the ruling government in the past.

However, many NGOs are not impressed by the EC’s changes. Many of them labelled these changes as cosmetic, saying that the EC had a bigger task of winning back public confidence.

“Why should we give the EC credit? It took them 50 years to even propose these changes.We know that they are doing it because they feel the pressure from the people.

“The issue does not concern these reforms so much as it concerns the EC’s legitimacy itself. People must have faith that the EC is not working for any party and that the government that is elected is done so in a free and fair manner, ” said Wong Piang Yao of Tindak Malaysia.

Lack of confidence

Wong, who had participated in all six of PSC’s public hearings, said that these suggestions were merely “cosmetic changes” and that the EC had to work twice as hard in order to gain public trust.

Referring to the use of indelible ink which was rejected at the eleventh hour in the 2008 election, Wong said that he was “cautious” with the EC’s proposed reforms.

“It has to do with public confidence and the EC has very little at the moment based on past experience,” he added.

He said there needs to be an automatic voter registration system in place, voting for overseas Malaysians and other issues to be addressed to achieve a fairer election process.

The lack of confidence in the EC also persists as there are many concerns regarding the new early voting system involving the armed forces.

The EC announced yesterday that political party observers were now allowed to observe the early voting process which allows for greater transparency.

Commenting on this, Mafrel secretary-general Shaharudin Othman said that it was a positive move by the EC . However, he raised many questions regarding the manner in which these early votes will be handled.

Many unanswered questions

“Having political observers present at camps is not new as they were also allowed to be present previously but there are many unanswered questions.

“Can the observers stay back with the ballot boxes to ensure that there is no hanky-panky? Will the ballots be counted immediately to prevent any doubts?” he asked.

Bersih steering committee member, Wong Chin Huat, raised similar concerns.

“You can have early voting for the armed forces, you may have political observers there, but what happens after the polling stations in the camp close?

“Who stays back to observe? What guarantee is there that the votes will not be tampered with?” he asked.

Responding to this, PAS member in the PSC, Hatta Ramli said that this new process would ensure some transparency.

Explaining the differences, he said that political observers were previously allowed into the voting areas for the armed forces.

“The difference was that the army men were given the ballot paper and they could take the paper out of the camp. After a designated period they would return the form in envelopes. Technically through this way, they could have someone else vote on their behalf,

“But through early voting it is exactly like ordinary voting. The vote is cast immediately.

“Now the political observer can check if each army man has voted, check his IC number and see if he is around the stated age,” he said.

He also added that there will not be a break in the trail of the ballot as political observers are allowed to stay back with the ballot box.

“Now they can stay back with the ballot box to ensure that it is not tampered with.

“The ballots will be counted on election day itself. If early voting takes place three days in advance, then the political party representatives can stay back for three days and follow the ballot box to the counting station on polling day.”

He said that this was conveyed by the EC during its meetings with PSC, adding that it was merely a suggestion made by the EC but voiced his hope that it will be implemented.

When asked why the ballot papers could not be counted immediately, DAP member of PSC Anthony Loke said that there was a consensus that it will not be done at the moment.

“From our discussion there are many pros and cons to it. You don’t want the results to be revealed before election day itself as there may be a psychological effect on the voters or the party that is trailing.

“For now, it will be counted on election day.”

Pro-Palani man decries revolt threat

2012-02-11T04:13:00.003+08:00

The call for a Gerakan Anti Palani is childish, says the Kota Raja division chief.

KLANG: The leader of a key MIC division today came out in support of party president G Palanivel to counter the threat of a revolt against the latter.

RS Maniam, chairman of MIC’s Kota Raja division in Selangor, accused Taman Mujur branch chief VT Rajen of trying to destroy the party with his call for a movement to unseat the party president.

Rajen has been issued with a show-cause letter from MIC’s disciplinary committee for calling on Palanivel to resign over reports that the party president was conspiring to nominate himself as candidate for the Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat in place of incumbent SK Devamany.

In making the call, he threatened to spearhead a Gerakan Anti Palanivel (GAP), reminiscent of the Gerakan Anti Samy Vellu that was launched a few months before the former party president gave up his post to Palanivel in late 2010.

In a statement to the press, Maniam said Rajen was only showing how “childish and politically immature” he was.

Maniam’s opinion would carry weight with some sections of MIC because Indian voters in Kota Raja account for 28% of the electorate there. No other parliamentary constituency in the country can boast a higher figure.

He said GAP would be an extremist movement and Rajen’s call for it showed that he was devoid of ideas and merely trying to gain popularity “for reasons best known to himself”.

“Comments like these are the least that MIC now needs. Instead the focus should be on serving the Indian community better by understanding their needs.

“He should be talking on such issues and not on ways to destroy the party.”

He said Palanivel should be allowed the privilege of choosing where he would contest in the next elections. “This should be a basic right of the president.”

Rajen’s threat came after reports that Palanivel, anxious to legitimise his political position with a parliamentary seat, was secretly planning with the Cameron Highlands Umno chief to enable himself to stand for election in the hill resort. Incumbent Devamany, a vice president in MIC, has not made any significant comment on the reports.

Rajen warned Palanivel not to go for any parliamentary seat currently held by MIC.

Disciplinary committee chairman KS Nijhar confirmed today that he had given Rajen two weeks to explain his outbursts. He said a similar show-cause letter had been issued to Gadong Kecil branch chairman M Karunanidhi, who has also called for Palanivel’s resignation over the same issue.

Haris: What happened to the 2010 findings?

2012-02-11T04:11:00.001+08:00

Selcat taken to task for absolving sand-mining company Kumpulan Semesta from any wrongdoing while an inquiry into its operations is yet to be concluded

PETALING JAYA: Human rights advocate, Haris Ibrahim, wants to know why the Selangor Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) has not released the written findings on the 2010 inquiry into a sand mining scandal.

In a blog posting on his People’s Parliament today, Haris also rebuked Selcat chairman Teng Chang Khim for pleading ignorance of the latest expose by blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin (RPK).

RPK alleged that Amirudin Shari and Mat Suhaimi Shafiei, the Batu Caves and Sri Muda assemblymen respectively colluded with a contractor to benefit from the sand mining operations.

He said the contractor gave cash to Suhaimi to finance the latter’s programmes while Amirudin provided a supporting letter to Double Dignity Sdn Bhd, a company belonging to the contractor.

Both assemblymen, said RPK, were part of Double Dignity’s directors.

“Selcat held a public inquiry into the administrative aspects of sand-mining in Selangor in June 2010 after Kapar MP S Manikavasagam exposed improprieties in the operations.

“The proceedings were adjourned in June 4 to await further submissions of evidence from Manikavasagam,” said Haris.

“Manickavasagam wanted to produce witnesses but Teng reprimanded him for not providing written statements first.

“Since then, Manickavasagam who was initially anxious to expose corruption in the state sand mining industry had become very quiet,” said Haris.

Teng yesterday claimed he was in the dark over the latest allegations made by RPK and said he needed time to study before considering holding a public inquiry on his allegations.

Haris reminded Teng that the latter had absolved Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd (KSSB) of any wrongdoing in June 2010 although the hearing has yet to be concluded.

Haris added that when he contacted Teng last year to ask of outcome of the inquiry, he was told the written findings will ready by November.

“But nothing has come forth. Teng absolved KSSB before the hearing was completed. Manickavasagam had also failed to produce his witnesses. Why is it so?” asked Haris.

When contacted, an upset Teng said neither he or his committee members had made any public announcements on releasing a written statement on the 2010 inquiry findings.

On the latest allegation by RPK, Teng said he had already called for a meeting with his committee members on the matter. “We will let the press know of developments,” he said.

Police detain Saudi tweeter

2012-02-11T03:57:00.003+08:00

The Saudi journalist fled his country after making some Twitter comments about Prophet Muhammad.

KUALA LUMPUR: The police today said they had detained a young Saudi journalist who fled his country after Twitter comments he made about the Prophet Muhammad triggered calls for his execution.

Hamza Kashgari was taken into custody after flying into Malaysia’s main international airport yesterday, police spokesman Ramli Yoosuf told AFP.

“Kashgari was detained at the airport upon arrival following a request made to us by Interpol after the Saudi authorities applied for it,” he said.

The state news agency Bernama said the 23-year-old Kashgari had been detained by Muslim-majority Malaysia “for allegedly insulting Islam and the Prophet Muhammad”.

AFP could not immediately confirm where the 23-year-old Kashgari flew in from and officials in Interpol’s office in Malaysia could not immediately be reached for comment.

Last week, on the prophet’s birthday, he tweeted: “I have loved things about you and I have hated things about you and there is a lot I don’t understand about you.

“I will not pray for you.”

As fellow Muslim countries, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia have close ties but do not have a formal extradition treaty.

However, an official with the Malaysian home ministry who asked to remain unidentified said Kashgari could be extradited under other bilateral security agreements.

Malaysia has in the past summarily deported people it considers undesirable.

Fadiah Nadwa Fikri, a spokeswoman for Malaysian activist group Lawyers for Liberty, said Kashgari was a blogger who had decried the “oppression of women”. “This is again a violation of freedom of expression. He has every right of making comments and so on without being persecuted,” she told AFP.

“Malaysia should give asylum to him. But instead they are conspiring with the Saudi government. It’s abhorrent.”

‘An infidel’

Kashgari’s controversial tweet sparked some 30,000 responses, according to an online service that tracks Twitter postings in the Arab world.

Insulting the prophet is considered blasphemous in Islam and is a crime punishable by death in Saudi Arabia.

Kashgari has apologised but that has not stemmed calls for his head.

A committee of top clerics branded him “an “infidel” and demanded he be tried in an Islamic court, while a Facebook page entitled “The Saudi people demand Hamza Kashgari’s execution” has attracted thousands of followers.

The incident has shone a spotlight on the use of freewheeling social media networks such as Twitter and Facebook in deeply conservative Saudi Arabia.

Top Saudi cleric Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah al-Sheikh has called Twitter “a great danger not suitable for Muslims” and “a platform for spreading lies and making accusations”.

But millions of Saudis, including many government officials, have created Twitter and Facebook accounts.

The true meaning of a civil society

2012-02-11T03:52:00.001+08:00

Luckily Perak is a Barisan Nasional run state and Najib is the head of Barisan Nasional. If the Selangor Mufti had done this and if he had whacked the Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, the Pakatan Rakyat people would have screamed that he had been bought off, he is working for Umno, he is on Najib’s payroll, and so on.
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin

(Mail Online, 10 February 2012) - A Christian street preacher told two gay men they were 'sinners' who would 'burn in hell' as they walked past him on a busy high street, a court heard today.
In a case, which could reignite the debate over the boundaries of free speech, Michael Overd, 47, is accused of using threatening language towards civil partners Craig Manning and Craig Nichol when he saw them as he preached on a busy high street last July.
The court heard claims the lay preacher was provoked by a previous altercation with the couple in October 2010, when he singled them out when he saw them holding hands.
The defence claim that Overd, of Creech St Michael in Somerset, did not threaten the pair but was merely exercising freedom of expression by loudly reading from the Bible as they passed, and accused them of being threatening towards the preacher when they saw who he was.
Giving evidence at Taunton Magistrates' Court, Mr Nichol said that as soon as Overd saw them from around 10 metres away on July 16 last year 'the expression on his face changed'.
'He said "I have already told these two sinners over here that they are going to burn in Hell",' he said.
'He looked at us and pointed at us when he said it. His voice was quite loud and very clear. I felt angry, embarrassed and ashamed.’
'It was a really busy day and I felt that everyone was looking at us when he was saying these things to us. I asked him who he was to judge me and he said "It’s God’s words, it is in the Bible".’
'He said I should repent and ask God for forgiveness.'
Paul Diamond, representing Overd, claimed his client was merely reciting a passage from 1 Corinthians, which says: 'Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor homosexuals nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.'
He said his client was allowed to use freedom of expression to read from the bible and accused the pair of threatening violence against Overd, something they deny.

*************************************

Interesting or not? In Britain, even if you are a preacher, imam, rabbi, priest, or whatever, if you quote from the Holy Book and condemn someone as a sinner who is going to burn in hell, you will be arrested and charged in court.
Yes, Britain practices freedom of speech. You can even criticise the Queen and the Royal Family -- not like in Malaysia where you would be charged for sedition, like Karpal Singh, if you were perceived (even wrongly-perceived by a Malay, non-English-speaking reporter) that you have criticised the Sultan.
Nevertheless, as much as Britain practices and allows freedom of speech, they do draw the line somewhere. And if you try to impose your religious beliefs and values on others you will get arrested and will be sent to jail. In short, keep your religion to yourself and don’t pass judgment on others, or else you get sent to jail.
In Malaysia it is the opposite.
PAS wants to ban Valentine’s Day. The Perak Mufti condemned Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak for attending the Thaipusam celebrations at the Batu Caves (READ MORE HERE).
In Malaysia, if you whack the Mufti for imposing his values on others and say that it is a stupid attitude, you may instead get arrested for ‘insulting Islam’.
In the first place, how can the Perak Mufti whack the Prime Minister? Is he not a government officer who is paid a salary from the government coffers? Is he not supposed to ‘show loyalty’ to Barisan Nasional?
Luckily Perak is a Barisan Nasional run state and Najib is the head of Barisan Nasional. If the Selangor Mufti had done this and if he had whacked the Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, the Pakatan Rakyat people would have screamed that he had been bought off, he is working for Umno, he is on Najib’s payroll, and so on.
No way will the Pakatan Rakyat people allow the Selangor Mufti to whack Anwar. So how come the Umno people are keeping quiet when the Perak Mufti whacks Najib? Very strange! Is the Perak Mufti a Trojan horse who has been paid off by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to undermine Najib? Strange indeed!
Anyway, as they say, one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter. In that same spirit, one man’s freedom of speech is another man’s Trojan horse. Such are the ways of humankind.
And in Britain if you moralise and whack ‘sinners’ you go to jail. In Malaysia, if you whack the moraliser and ‘bible-thumper’ you end up in jail instead.
I can see that my work will never be accomplished in my lifetime…..sigh……

Personal Data Act may be enforced soon

2012-02-11T03:44:00.002+08:00

The Star
By FLORENCE A. SAMY

KUALA LUMPUR: The Personal Data Protection Act may be implemented this year after enforcement personnel and department staff have been trained, said Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.

“This is to ensure that all parties understand the law before it is enforced. Awareness programmes are also on-going for consumers and those in the industry,” he said after opening the new Personal Data Protection Department and awareness seminar here yesterday.

Training, he added, would be given to members of the Attorney-General's Chambers and the police. The Act was gazetted in June 2010.

Dr Rais said the Act aimed to protect people's personal data, such as bank account details, credit card information, medical history, blood type and communication details, to ensure it was not abused.

“A person is committing an offence if he keeps personal data without permission or does not abide by the seven principles in the Act,” he said, adding that offenders could face a fine of up to RM30,000 and a year's jail.

He said the new law, which complements the Communications and Multimedia Act, would help Malaysia become a leading e-commerce and communications centre.

On Thailand's move to back Twitter's controversial censorship policy, Rais said the authorities would study the developments objectively.

“If what is being done in Thailand results in something good for the nation, then we will look into it from various aspects and we will take into account legal issues and personal rights. We will also look at the importance of online transactions and communication among people,” he said.

The micro-blogging site announced recently that it had refined its technology for specific content to be withheld in a certain country but viewed elsewhere in the world.

The move has come under heavy criticism for stifling freedom of speech.

Thailand has become the first country to publicly endorse Twitter's decision.

On Pas Youth's proposed memorandum against media publicity for Valentine's Day, Dr Rais said he was ready to accept any memorandum from them.

However, he noted that Malaysia was a multi-racial country where different cultures and practices had to be respected.

Hishammuddin Confirms Arrest Of Saudi Arabian Newspaper Columnist

2012-02-11T03:42:00.003+08:00

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 10 (Bernama) - Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein has confirmed the arrest of Saudi Arabian newspaper columnist Mohammad Najeeb A Kashgari at KL International Airport (KLIA) Thursday.

Hishammuddin said the Saudi citizen better known as Hamza Kashgari, 23, was arrested by police at about 9.40am at the request of Saudi Arabian authorities for reportedly insulting Islam and Prophet Muhammad.

"The police have been in contact with authorities in Saudi Arabia to determine further action," he said in a statement Friday.

Bernama Thursday quoted an Interpol source that the columnist was arrested by police shortly after his arrival at KLIA.

Hamza was reported to have made posting that insulted Islam via social networking site Twitter, causing outrage in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi media said Hamza made posting on Prophet Muhammad's birthday celebration last week, implying that he was interacting with the prophet, as if they were of equal status.

Hamza also said that he liked some characteristics of the prophet while others were not to his liking.

Following Hamza's posting, some 30,000 Twitter entries venting anger were made in less than 24 hours.

Old Penang: Penang Road

2012-02-11T03:39:00.002+08:00

This is what Penang Road looked like in the early 20th century – we once had a car-free George Town, didn’t we?

(Click on picture to enlarge)
This is approaching the junction at the end of Chulia Street. Notice the trolley buses, rickshaws, and bicycles and pedestrians – all environmentally friendly.
Thanks to Ric Francis for forwarding this picture.

Infiltration Jihad from Bangladesh targeted Eastern Region & NE of Hindusthan for Total Islamization.

2012-02-10T06:37:00.001+08:00

Bangladeshi Infiltrators, DGFI and Jihad Groups in BD are most dangerous for Indian Security. West Bengal and Assam is in most vulnerable situation.

A Documentary Film on Infiltration and Jihad conspiracy into India by the Bangladeshis to Break India.

by Good Health TV || Producer: Mayank Jain.

The Bangla Crescent Part-1

What does GOI want to make Eastern Region/North Eastern Region of India?
Mughlistan, Graeter Bangladesh, New India or Muslim Bangabhumi??
Bengali Hindus perhaps want to be refugee again and they do not capable to retaliate against this conspiracy of earlier Left Regime or the Present TMC-Congress Ruling in West Bengal and the Congress Ruling in Assam, all dedicated to Islamization of West Bengal and Assam.
Bangladeshi Jihad Group Hizb-ut-Tharir calls to capture India again under Islamic rule.

Provocation of BD Fundamental Islamic party ~ Hizb-ut-Tharir:

Oh Muslims!

You have been victimized throughout the ages by Indian Aggression. This enemy Nation have killed your Army Top Brasses, constructed the Farrakka Dam, deprived you from the proper water share and mercilessly killed your brothers & sisters in the border. But, your present rulers are proved totally failure to check this aggression of India. To check this enemy, there is only one option to establish the Khilafat State here. Hence, in this democratic system, you must not spoil your time and toil, aspiring a solution from Awami League, BNP or any agents of any Political parties.

Oh Muslims!

You have to do one and only one job ~ you have to appeal all the persons with power as they remove Hasina Govt. and transfer the power to Hizb-ut-Tharir, because this is the only political party who are leading you the in the dream of being a Nation for world leadership and your area to control. We will build a Khilafat State and implement Quran and Shunnah….. We will make strong and modern military power. And must take all practical steps to regain India as a Muslim land……..”

Recent Poster of Hizb-ut-Tharir of Bangladesh to Capture Indian again under Islamic rule.(English rendering is made by the blogger)

India’s ‘Mexican’ Problem (Read Islamic Problem): Illegal Immigration from Bangladesh.
“Assam is facing external aggression and internal disturbance on account of large-scale illegal migration of Bangladeshi nationals and it becomes the duty of the Union of India to take all measures for protection of the State of Assam because it poses a threat to the integrity and security of the North-Eastern region,..”
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
“[Indian] Bengali farmers have woken up in the morning to find Bangladeshis squatting on their land; shops and small businesses have changed hands through distress sale engineered by the party faithful; homesteads left vacant for a day have been grabbed.”…… Kanchan Gupta ~ Veteran Journalist in Daily Pioneer. Read here the original in International Business Times.

Deaf girl, 10, 'trafficked to UK and kept as sex slave in cellar by elderly couple for almost 10 YEARS'

2012-02-10T06:28:00.004+08:00

A deaf 10-year-old girl was trafficked into the UK, repeatedly raped, kept in a cellar and treated as a virtual slave for almost a decade, a court heard today.

The orphaned youngster from Pakistan, who is profoundly deaf and has no speech, was locked in a cellar each night where she would sleep on a concrete floor and by day was forced to work for no money and was sexually assaulted, Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester was told.

Her alleged abusers were Ilyas Ashar, 83, and his wife, Tallat Ashar, 66, who deny charges of false imprisonment, human trafficking, sexual offences, violence and benefit fraud.

Ilyas (left) and Tallat (right) Ahsar deny charges of false imprisonment, human trafficking, sexual offences, violence and benefit fraud

If their alleged victim displeased them she would be forced into their cellar where the girl would 'sit there for hours crying and locked in', the court heard.

They kept the girl, now aged between 19 and 21, at their home in Cromwell Road, Eccles in Salford, Greater Manchester, after bringing her into Britain from Pakistan in June 2000, Peter Cadwallader, prosecuting, told the jury.

It is alleged that the 10-year-old girl was kept in a cellar at the family's home (pictured)

The victim’s true age is not known but it is thought she was aged between 10 and 12 when she came to the UK, allowed in by immigration on the basis she was to work as a domestic servant.

But it was a 'mystery and matter of concern' how a child that age could get through immigration and there may be 'significant and proper' criticism of the Border Agency, whose role had a 'good deal to answer for', the prosecutor said.

Although supposed to be employed as a domestic help, she was never paid and just given food and lodging, Mr Cadwallader told the jury.

Instead the girl was made to cook, clean, do the washing and ironing for the Ashars and clean the houses and cars of their family and friends, the court heard.

She was also kept in the cellar to work for hours packing football shirts and clothes and mobile phone covers, the jury was told.

'They would be upstairs while she was doing the work,' Mr Cadwallader added.

'She was the subject of forced labour in that she was made to work for Ilyas and Tallat Ashar as a domestic servant and do other work for them and members of their family.

'In essence it is the prosecution case that she lived in a state of servitude when she entered the Ashar home in Pakistan, then later when she was brought to this country in June 2000.

'The Crown say she was the ideal target for this exploitation as she is and was extremely vulnerable. The

The alleged offences took place in Cromwell Road in Eccles, Greater Manchester

Crown’s case is she was physically abused. She was sexually abused, which included being raped by Ilyas Ashar.

'She was exploited economically, in that benefits, state benefits in this country, were obtained in her name, the money being kept by the Ashars. At night the door at the top of the stairs down to the cellar was locked and bolted so she could not get out during the night.

'There were no washing or toilet facilities in the cellar so that if she needed to use the bathroom during the night she had to bang on the cellar door in the hope that she was heard and the door opened.

'On other occasions, during the day, presumably when she displeased Tallat Ashar, she was pushed into the cellar, pushed down the stairs and the door locked.

'She would sit there for hours crying and locked in,' Mr Cadwallader told the jury.

The alleged victim had no family or friends in the UK and had never been to school in Pakistan or Britain.

She cannot read or write and the only people she knew in Britain were the Ashars, who told her both her parents were dead. She was however taught to write her signature - so her name could be used to claim benefits, it is alleged.

Despite her disabilities the victim has an average, or higher, intelligence level, the jury was told.

Mr Cadwallader added: 'We believe you will find her to be a remarkably resilient young woman who tells things as they are.'

Ilyas and Tallat Ashar both deny two counts of human trafficking into the UK for exploitation and a single count of false imprisonment.

Ilyas also denies 12 counts of rape, Tallat denies one count of sexual assault and unlawful wounding and the pair along with their daughter Faaiza, 24, deny charges of benefit fraud.

The case continues.

Lankan fishemen rescued by Indian trawler, return home safe

2012-02-10T06:24:00.001+08:00

Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka welcomes returning rescued Sri Lankan fisher-folk on 09 February at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

Four Sri Lankan fishermen who were recently rescued by an South Indian fishing community returned safely to Sri Lanka on 09 February. “Thanks to the valuable support of Indian authorities, the fisher community in South Indian Kanyakumari area, the Sri Lankan High Commission in Chennai and our Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne, they have returned safely with no incidents” announced a relieved and a happy Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka.Minister Bathiudeen was at the BIA to receive the returning fisher-folk who arrived by flight UL 122 landing on mid-day of 09 February. Minister Bathiudeen has been in constant touch with the Sri Lankan High Commission of Chennai since the four Muslim fishermen from Kalmunai went missing on January 9 off Valaichchenai high seas.
The fishermen were stranded for 15 days at the Indian Ocean and floated close to Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin), the southernmost tip of Indian Peninsula, when an Indian fisheries trawler spotted the marooned party and promptly rescued them, thereafter handing them over to the Kanyakumari coast guard. The four feeble and exhausted Muslim men were then taken over by the Tamil Nadu Police but were not remanded. The feeble Muslim fishermen were thereafter taken over for urgent survival care by Rev. Father J. Churchill upon the request of TN Police. Rev. Fr Churchill, with the assistance of his neighbouring Kanyakumari fisher community, nourished them back to life within the next four days. “The Fishermen were not arrested nor remanded by the Indian Coastguard since we have in advance informed them through our High Commission in Chennai of the possibility of four Muslim Sri Lankan fishermen drifting towards Kanyakumari or Southern Indian shores. As a result, the Indian authorities did not attempt to arrest them but instead promptly transferred them for proper care under Rev. Father J. Churchill who treated them for the next four or five days” revealed Minister Bathiudeen.
The four fishermen are Abdul Raheem, Ismail Isma Lebbe, M. Pithchai Naeez, and M. Hasan Basher from Kalmunai.
Speaking of his rescue, Mohammed Hasan Basher (40), one of the stranded fisher-folk said: “We are relieved and happy to return home alive. We thank the Indian and Sri Lankan officials and Minister Bathiudeen for their efforts to save us.”
Hasan Basher added: “We were treated well warmly hosted by the caring fisher community of Kanyakumari and they attended to every urgent need of us with no second thoughts. But they also complained to us that when they arrive in Sri Lanka by accident or in a similar way that we did, they are always promptly arrested, harassed and treated in the shabbiest way about which they expressed their displeasure."
- Asian Tribune -

Khazanah, PNB to hand over businesses to boost Bumi equity

2012-02-10T06:23:00.000+08:00

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 9 — Khazanah Nasional Bhd and Permodalan Nasional Bhd will be asked to transfer a total of 10 non-core businesses to worthy Bumiputera-owned companies as part of Putrajaya’s efforts to grow the community’s equity.

Bumiputera equity stood at 22 per cent in February last year, short of the 30 per cent target set by the government.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the divested entities will be awarded to Bumiputera companies that have good potential to grow.

“Bumiputera companies will be invited to take part via an open evaluation process... and (divested) companies will be transferred to the best, most secure and capable (Bumiputera) companies,” he told reporters here after attending a Bumiputera Agenda Action Council meeting here.

State investment arm Khazanah will be asked to divest five companies while PNB will let go of another five, he added.

The Najib administration’s Bumiputera economic agenda, led by Teraju, intends to create a visible pool of Bumiputera companies that can take on projects worth RM1.4 trillion and divestment of government assets under the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP).

The ETP, which aims to double per capita annual income by 2020, will see government and government-linked companies divest “non-core” assets.

Last year, Khazanah made a total of eight divestments which brought in proceeds of RM7.7 billion and helped to push the company’s profit before tax for the full year to RM5.3 billion from RM3 billion in 2010.

Key divestments included the sale of its 32 per cent stake in Pos Malaysia to DRB-Hicom Bhd for RM622.8 million and the complete privatisation of PLUS Bhd through a joint acquisition by UEM Group Bhd and the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF).

Last month, Khazanah also announced the sale of its 42.7 per cent stake in national carmaker Proton Holdings Bhd to DRB-Hicom for RM1.3 billion.

Govt sued over status of Tamil schools

2012-02-10T06:18:00.003+08:00

A Hindraf leader and a DAP assemblyman have filed a RM55 billion civil suit against the government to turn all Tamil schools into fully aided schools.

PETALING JAYA: Two Indian leaders today filed a RM55 billion civil suit against the Malaysian government to turn all Tamil schools in the country into fully-aided schools.

The leaders, Hindraf Makkal Sakthi leader P Uthayakumar and DAP’s Kota Alam Shah assemblyman M Manoharan, filed the suit this morning at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

The duo filed the suit in their individual capacities.

Also named in the suit as defendants were Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his deputy cum Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

When contacted, Manoharan said the suit was filed as the government was in breach of Article 12 of the Federal Constitution which, among others, guarantees rights to education to all Malaysian.

“So when all national schools receive full aid from the government, why should Tamil schools receive only partial aid?” asked Manoharan.

He also said that out of 523 Tamil schools nationwide, only about thirty percent of it were fully aided while the rest only receive partial aid in terms of teachers’ salary.

The DAP assemblyman added that in Selangor alone, which houses 97 Tamil schools, only 37 of it were fully aided.

“And many partially aided Tamil schools nationwide have to fork out their own money to pay for utility bills, maintenance and to get other facilities for the students,” he said.

Hearing date for the case has yet to be fixed.

FMT Chat; with Haris Ibrahim

2012-02-10T06:16:00.003+08:00

Malaysia's Anti-Opposition Bloggers

2012-02-10T06:15:00.002+08:00

Ahiruddin says I did it with my little hatchet

Does Kuala Lumpur have a home-grown version of China’s ’50-centers?’
Is Malaysia getting its own version of China’s so-called 50-centers, the legions of Chinese bloggers who monitor websites and reply to criticism of the government for money?

Ahiruddin Attan, the Kuala Lumpur-based pro-government blogger who writes under the name “Rocky’s Bru” says last September he pulled together friends to set up what he calls a small news portal called The Mole with the idea “to give certain balance to the reports of Malaysiakini, Malaysian Insider, Malaysia Today.”

In Ahiruddin’s view, “there are too many anti-establishment, anti-government sites in Malaysia.”

The Malaysian Insider reported last year that the government had provided US$10 million for the project. Other reports circulating in Malaysian political circles say the bloggers have been provided with US$10 million by the United Malaysia National Organization, the country’s biggest political party, and another US$10 million from the Malaysian billionaire Syed Mokhtar al Bukhary to follow the proliferating anti-establishment news organizations that are thronging Malaysia and state the government’s viewpoint.

But, Ahiruddin said in a telephone interview: “That US$10 million is totally crap. There is no truth at all in it. We are really small.” A former editor of a variety of UMNO publications including the Business Times, The Malay Mail and The Sunday Mail, he says he derives his current income from his continuing directorship at the Mail, a Kuala Lumpur-based daily tabloid. To reports that he had bought a Harley-Davidson motorcycle with his new-found wealth, he snorted. The Harley, he said, is 12 years old.

Despite Ahiruddin’s denials, other sources insist that at least 10 to 15 people are involved in the effort, with government support.

Because all of Malaysia’s mainstream media, including newspapers and television, are owned by its ruling political parties the country has generated perhaps the most vociferous opposition Internet news portals in the region, with some, including Malaysiakini and the Malaysian Insider, providing professional coverage of the government.

Although government officials grit their teeth over what the news portals publish, they have adhered to a pledge made by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to leave the Internet censorship-free. Mahathir made the pledge in 1995 to promote the international development of his multi-media Super Corridor, which was designed to attract high-tech industry across the globe. In 1998, the government allowed Malaysiakini to begin operations.

The result, along with the proliferation of news sites, most of them anti-government, has been an explosion of readers who gather their news from the Internet. According to Freedom House, a whopping 55 percent of Malaysians had access to the Internet in 2011. And, the NGO said: “In the watershed elections of March 2008, the ruling National Front coalition lost its two-thirds majority for the first time since 1969. In addition, opposition parties won control of five of the country’s 13 states, including those with relatively high Internet penetration rates…Together with the growing popularity of independent online news outlets, the use of the Internet for political mobilization was widely perceived as contributing to the opposition’s electoral gains.”

“Any blog that is registered, we will pick up their story automatically, we only pick up some stories to follow up, to do follow-through,” Ahiruddin said. “Talk about a blog war room is totally crap.”

The so-called “50-cent party” arose in China in 2005 when Nanjing University officials hired students to search bulletin boards for undesirable information and counter it with comments friendly to the Communist Party. The price for each entry was said to be half a yuan (0.8 US cents) although varying prices have been paid by different Chinese organizations.

The result has been a deluge of comments, not only on Chinese bulletin boards but almost any Internet publication across the globe that contains stories about China. Any even-mildly negative story about China on the pages of Asia Sentinel is certain to generate swift and angry replies charging a pro-US bias, calling attention to the once-dominant history of western colonizers in China and decrying US interference in international affairs.

LAPOK

2012-02-10T06:14:00.002+08:00

1. Anwar telah menyatakan kepada BBC, iaitu kepada bangsa Barat, bahawa undang-undang Malaysia lapok, ketinggalan zaman.

2. Tentulah Anwar tahu bahawa lapok dan ketinggalan zaman, bagi orang Barat bermakna tidak seperti apa yang terdapat di Barat sekarang. Sejak revolusi Perancis, slogan Liberte`, Egalite`, Fraternite`, iaitu Kebebasan, Persamaan dan Persaudaraan menghantui fikiran Barat sehingga apa sahaja yang tidak menepati slogan ini mesti ditukar atau dihapus.

3. Oleh kerana BBC bertanya berkenaan kes liwat Anwar, maka undang-undang yang didakwa jumud oleh Anwar tentulah berkenaan larangan terhadap hubungan seks di luar nikah.

4. Apakah undang-undang yang tidak lapok berkenaan seks yang terdapat sekarang di Barat? Bermula dengan keagongan konsep “freedom” atau bebas dan persamaan, mereka menjunjung tinggi hak yang sama antara lelaki dengan perempuan. Yang mula dituntut oleh kaum perempuan ialah hak mengundi dalam pilihanraya. Dan hak ini telah diberi kepada mereka seperti yang diberi kepada lelaki.

5. Kemudian ia melarat kepada hak yang sama dalam pakaian. Ini dituruti dengan kebebasan seks. Jika lelaki sebelum atau selepas kahwin boleh adakan seks dengan mana-mana perempuan kenapa perempuan tidak boleh dengan mana-mana lelaki. Atas nama kebebasan dan persamaan maka masyarakat pun memberi hak ini kepada mereka. Maka siapa sahaja, lelaki atau perempuan boleh tidur dengan siapa sahaja bila-bila sahaja. Dengan ini institusi perkahwinan antara lelaki dengan perempuan dianggap tidak penting lagi.

6. Sebaliknya institusi perkahwinan dan kekeluargaan di beri makna yang baru. Bersekedudukan di takrif sebagai berkeluarga. Bila bosan dengan pasangan, tukar sahaja. Penceraian tidak diperlukan lagi. Siapa yang menjadi bapa kepada anak tidak penting.

7. Dimasa yang sama, sekatan terhadap apa jenis seks yang boleh memuaskan nafsu dihapuskan juga atas nama kebebasan. Dengan itu lelaki boleh meliwat lelaki dan perempuan mengadakan hubungan seks dengan perempuan.

8. Kenapa harus hubungan seks dilakukan antara dua orang sahaja? Kenapa tidak beramai-ramai. Dan seks beramai-ramai pun diadakan.

9. Kemudian diadakan pula perkahwinan antara lelaki dengan lelaki atau perempuan dengan perempuan. Pendek kata apa sahaja yang dilarang oleh agama, adat atau undang-undang yang menyekat nafsu, hendaklah dihapuskan. Segala yang menghalang dianggap lapok dan tidak sesuai dengan kebebasan dan persamaan. Dengan bangganya orang Barat mempamirkan pengamalan seks mereka sebagai hak asasi manusia.

10. Seperti biasa apa yang dicipta oleh Barat dianggap oleh mereka sebagai baik bagi semua manusia. Dengan itu mereka melancarkan usaha untuk mengembangkan konsep kebebasan dan persamaan mereka berkenaan seks.

11. Tentangan yang terkuat terhadap seksualiti merdeka ini datang dari orang Islam. Untuk mengatasi tentangan ini mereka mengenalpasti orang Islam yang boleh menjayakan perjuangan mereka. Bermula dengan tuntutan kebebasan yang mudah diterima, umpamanya hak asasi manusia, hak memilih Kerajaan (demokrasi), hak bersuara, kebebasan media, kempen Barat sudah sampai kepada serangan terhadap nilai-nilai moral orang Islam, pegangan mereka kepada agama, adat dan undang-undang yang menghalang kebebasan hubungan seks.

12. Undang-undang biasa dan undang-undang Islam digambarkan sebagai jumud dan perlu diganti dengan undang-undang Barat. Berzina dan meliwat disaran supaya menjadi sebahagian daripada hak asasi manusia termasuk hak asasi orang Islam.

13. Kita dapati Barat dengan kerjasama orang Islam tertentu sudah berjaya kerana di Malaysia sudah ada orang Islam yang anggap segala sekatan terhadap aneka jenis seks sebagai menidakkan kebebasan semulajadi manusia, sebagai zalim, terutama kepada pembesar politik. Dan ramai sudah orang Islam di Malaysia yang percaya ahli politik seperti inilah yang patut dipilih untuk memerintah negara Malaysia. Dengan kuasa yang diberi kepada mereka ini maka segala yang lapok di negara ini akan diganti dengan pendapat semasa termasuk merdeka seks.

14. Walaupun Barat menerima zina dan liwat sebagai perkara biasa, tetapi mereka tidak dapat terima paksaan keatas mangsa zina atau liwat. Sebab itu apabila seorang wanita melaporkan yang pengarah IMF Strauss Kahn telah merogolnya pihak berkuasa terus tangkap Strauss Kahn dan jawatannya dilucutkan.

15. Di Malaysia juga apabila lapuran diterima dari mangsa yang dianya telah di liwat, tentulah wajar tertuduh dikenakan tindakan undang-undang. Ini sudah tentu tidak lapok kerana Barat juga mengamalkannya.

16. Disini ingin saya jelas bahawa “teknikal” bukan bermakna tidak. Jenayah berlaku, bukan tidak berlaku. Hanya hakim tidak dapat hilangkan keraguannya terhadap bukti yang tertuduh melakukannya. Mungkin orang lain!! Kenapa mangsa tidak menuduh orang lain, wallahuwalaam.

P.S.

a. Newsweek melaporkan berkenaan tuduhan merogol yang dibuat oleh Diallo, perempuan kulit hitam yang bekerja sebagai pencuci bilik hotel terhadap Dominique Strauss-Kahn, pengarah IMF, seorang orang besar berkulit putih.

b. Walaupun Strauss-Kahn ditangkap kerana merogol dan ada bukti yang mangsa telah dirogol, tetapi pendakwaraya tidak membawa kes ini untuk dibicara dalam mahkamah.

c. Kononnya Diallo suka membohong. Apakah pembohongan yang dibuat? Kononnya dia membohong tentang apa yang dilakukan olehnya selepas dirogol, bilik mana yang dia pergi dan berapa lama.

d. Kononnya dia (biasa) membohong berkenaan duit yang diberi kepadanya dan lain-lain pembohongan lagi. Akhbar melapor oleh kerana dia biasa membohong, panel hakim tidak akan percaya yang dianya telah dirogol. Sebab itu Strauss-Kahn tidak dihadapkan ke mahkamah.

e. Tanya penulis rencana dalam Newsweek, “apakah panel hakim tidak tahu yang perempuan yang membohong juga boleh jadi mangsa rogol?”

f. Di Malaysia soalannya ialah apakah orang yang melafazkan sumpah dengan menjunjung Quran dalam masjid juga tidak boleh dipercayai? Sebaliknya orang yang tidak berani bersumpah boleh dipercayai.

Let MPs have a free vote when Parliament reconvenes on 12th March on whether Shahrizat should resign as Minister over the RM330 million NFC “cattle condo” scandal

2012-02-10T06:12:00.000+08:00

Now, even Gerakan, the political party whose President had to get into Cabinet by the backdoor of Parliament, has joined the pack of wolves in Barisan Nasional demanding for the resignation of Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil as Minister for Women, Family and Community Development.

Although couched in the sweetest of words, calling on Shahrizat to “sacrifice” for Barisan Nasional and expressing “much sympathy” for her, the Gerakan Deputy President Datuk Chang Ko Youn hoped that the Wanita UMNO chief will have the “magnanimity to vacate her position as a minister in the cabinet and focus her energy on combating this…assault on her family”.

It will not be long before Gerakan leaders themselves will be asked by their Umno counterparts to make “sacrifices” for the larger interests of UMNO and Barisan Nasional.

Be that as it may, it is clear that the Gerakan Deputy President has either not heard or believed Shahrizat protesting in the loudest of voices that she is married to the chairperson of National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) which has nothing to do with her official duties as Minister of the Cabinet.

The question is how many Ministers, Members of Parliament and Barisan Nasional leaders at all levels are of the same mind – not heard or believed Shahrizat’s protestations.

MCA President Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek had publicly blamed Shahrizat for “poor handling” of the “cattle condo” scandal causing the public to perceive the NFC project as “real rotten”.

UMNO internal protests against Shahrizat has become like a suppressed volcano in UMNO – despite calls by the former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir, former Wanita UMNO chief, Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz and the current Wanita UMNO deputy chief Datuk Kamila Ibrahim that Shahrizat should resign as Cabinet Minister.

Would Shahrizat survive a secret ballot in the Cabinet if there is a vote whether she should just pack up her bags and resign as Minister for Women, Family and Community Development?

May be, all Members of Parliament should have a free vote when Parliament reconvenes on 12th March on whether Shahrizat should resign as Minister for Women, Family and Community Development over the RM330 million NFC “cattle condo” scandal.

Would Shahrizat agree to such a free vote as the first item of Parliamentary business next month?

Would the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin have any objections to let MPs decide Shahrizat’s Cabinet future?

Freedom of speech not absolute, Court of Appeal rules

2012-02-10T06:09:00.003+08:00

The Star

PUTRAJAYA: Although Karpal Singh as a Member of Parliament and prominent lawyer has the right to make political comments and express his views on the Constitution and laws, the rights and freedom of speech enshrined in the Federal Constitution are not absolute, the Appeals Court has ruled.

Justice Datuk Ahmad Ma'arop, in his 105-page judgment, said the freedom of speech as guaranteed in the constitution meant a person had the right to speak, write or publish anything he or she liked as long as they did not break the laws.

As such, he said, what was uttered by Karpal Singh at a press conference in 2009 regarding Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak over the political crisis in the state then, had exceeded the boundaries permitted by laws and amounted to sedition.

Ahmad further said the prosecution only needed to prove that the words uttered by Karpal Singh had the tendency to be seditious.

He said the prosecution need not prove that the words uttered had caused actual violence to take place or adverse reactions. He added that whether the words uttered by Karpal Singh were true or otherwise, were immaterial.

"In considering whether the words uttered by the respondent (Karpal Singh) were seditious or not, the views of the witnesses who heard them are not the determining factor and in actual fact, are not relevant.

"It is the court that will decide whether the words of the respondent were seditious or not," he said.

On Jan 20, Justice Ahmad, who presided over a three-man bench of the Court of Appeal, had ordered Karpal Singh to enter defence on a charge of uttering seditious words against Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak during a press conference in 2009.

The panel, which also comprised justices Datuk Clement Allan Skinner and Datuk Seri Mohamed Apandi Ali, had set aside the Kuala Lumpur High Court's decision on June 11 2010 to acquit and discharge Karpal Singh from a sedition charge over the matter without calling for his defence.

Karpal Singh was charged with uttering seditious words against the Sultan of Perak at his legal firm in Jalan Pudu Lama in Kuala Lumpur between noon and 12.30pm on Feb 6 2009.

He was alleged to have said that the removal of Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin as mentri besar of Perak by the sultan could be questioned in a court of law.

The charge under section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act carries a maximum RM5,000 fine or three years' jail, or both if convicted.

The Appeals Court, on Jan 20, had also fixed Thursday for mention of Karpal Singh's case at the High Court.

In his judgment, Justice Ahmad said the panel did not accept Karpal Singh's submission that Section 3(1)(f) of the Sedition Act 1948, which makes questioning the rights and privileges of rulers an offence, was against the Federal Constitution.

Justice Ahmad further held there there was no doubt in the panel's mind that the press conference was called with the minimum motive of hoping that what was said at it would be published.

He said Karpal Singh at the press conference had repeatedly uttered words that clearly meant that the Sultan of Perak had broken the law, did not follow the law and did not respect the law.

Soi Lek, Guan Eng To Debate On Chinese Political Future

2012-02-10T06:07:00.000+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 9 (Bernama) -- Come Feb 18, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who is also Penang chief minister, will lock horns in a debate on issues relating to the Chinese political future.

Dr Chua said he had accepted the invitation for the debate which was organised by the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (Asli) and MCA think-tank, Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Research (Insap), during one of the sessions at the one-day forum on Malaysian Chinese political future at a hotel here.

"I will be having a debate with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng during the Feb 18 Chinese political conference.

"I thank him for accepting the organiser's invitation for the debate," he told reporters after chairing the MCA Central Committee meeting at the party headquarters here Thursday.

The forum titled, 'Malaysian Chinese at the Political Crossroads', is expected to be officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

All Chinese-based political parties, both in Barisan Nasional and the opposition, have been invited to present their achievements at the forum.

Apart from leaders of political parties, other speakers would include representatives of non-governmental organisations.

As order breaks down in Syria, its Christians suffer the consequences

2012-02-09T08:27:00.000+08:00

Left Foot Forward’s Ed Jacobs is a member of the Christian Socialist Movement and City Evangelical Church in Leeds and writes in a personal capacity.
As Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov today meets with President Bashar al-Assad in Damascas, the estimated 2.5 million Christians in Syria live in fear, stuck between a rock and a hard place.
As the news of Syrians being slaughtered continues at a relentless pace, it is thought that over one hundred Christians have now been targeted, either killed or kidnapped in brutal ways. Reporting last month, the organisation Barnabas Fund which campaigns on behalf of persecuted Christians has explained:

The Christian community in Syria has been hit by a series of kidnappings and brutal murders; one hundred Christians have now been killed since the anti-government unrest began.
A reliable source in the country, who cannot be identified for their own safety, told Barnabas Fund that children were being especially targeted by the kidnappers, who, if they do not receive the ransom demanded, kill the victim.
And the source provided detailed information – some of which cannot be made public for security reasons – about incidents that have taken place since Christmas.
Two Christian men, one aged 28, the other a 37-year-old father with a pregnant wife, were kidnapped by the rebels in separate incidents and later found dead; the first was found hanged with numerous injuries, the second was cut into pieces and thrown in a river. Four more have been abducted, and their captors are threatening to kill them too.
On 15 January two Christians were killed as they waited for bread at a bakery. Another Christian, aged 40 with two young children, was shot dead by three armed attackers while he was driving a vehicle.”

Perhaps because of such brutality, however clear things might seem, Christians in Syria remain wary of what “change” might mean for their country, looking to Iraq where their brothers and sisters in Christ are now making a mass exodus as a result of the attacks they have faced and Egypt where the prospect of an Islamist government has been matched by on-going attacks on Christians in a way not previously seen under President Hosni Mubarak.
Aware of this, President Assad is now using a policy of fear to court favour among Syria’s Christian communities. In an article published recently in “The Australian”, Richard Beeston explained:

When Father Basilious Nasser got an urgent call to say that one of his parishioners had been shot and needed help, the priest went immediately. As he tried to rescue the man on a street in the city of Hama, the cleric was shot twice by a sniper and died.
It is still unclear whether he was killed by government forces or the opposition, but his death nine days ago has shocked the Christian community.
For centuries, the ancient eastern churches have thrived on their ability to avoid becoming embroiled in the region’s volatile politics. But increasingly, the 2.5 million Christians in Syria fear being dragged into the violence.
There is no end in sight to the bloodshed, and hopes for a foreign-mediated solution dimmed yesterday as UN Security Council members failed to reach agreement yet again on a resolution to end the violence.
The fateful moment for Syria’s Christians can be traced back 10 months ago, when President Bashar al-Assad summoned leaders of the community to his palace and gave them an ultimatum: support me, or your people will suffer.
Perhaps mindful of the plight of the Christians in Iraq and Egypt, who have come under attack since the removal of secular dictatorships over the past decade, the leaders agreed.

As the West continues to look in anticipation at the opportunities that the Arab Spring could present, in Egypt and Iraq to name just two countries, the long lost promise of democratic futures, based on freedoms allowing Christians to pursue their faith free from intimidation, has so far failed to materialise.
Having actively called for President Mubarak to go in Egypt, intervened in Libya and spent years in Iraq we have a responsibility now to use all the muscle and leverage we have secure such freedoms. It is only then that Christians in Syria will truly have the confidence to escape the grip of fear with which President Assad now holds them.
And that goes for our “friends,” for want of a better word, too.
When Saudi Arabia for example finds itself third on the list of countries that persecute Christians, with reports before Christmas of 42 Christians in the country being arrested and tortured, why then did David Cameron’s recent visit to Saudi include a delegation of arms deals?
How perverse that we sell arms to a government that then subsequently used them to persecute Christians among others. Likewise, whilst Afghanistan, a country we supposedly “liberated” from the Taliban is second on the watch list of countries persecuting Christians, coming behind only North Korea, what message does it send when we sign a long-term partnership agreement with them?
In an e-petition I’ve recently established I call for the government to take action on three fronts:

1. To hold a full debate on the floor of the House of Commons on the issue of the persecution of Christians worldwide, mirroring similar debates in the Lords to enable our elected representatives to express their views.
2. That the government should be prepared to use sanctions, such as those related to trade where supposedly “friendly” countries fail to protect Christians from persecution or worse still, perpetrate such acts themselves.
3. To establish a new, annual report on the state of religious freedoms worldwide to highlight and expose those countries that fail to uphold the basic right to allow freedom of religion, free from intimidation.

In his speech marking the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, David Cameron spoke of the UK as a “Christian country” before declaring that should “actively stand up and defend” the values and morals from it that have shaped the UK. It’s time to stand up and stand up clearly for those very same values and moral worldwide as well.
As we look at the hideous position Syria’s Christians now find themselves in, let us remember the words of Martin Luther King:

“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends.”

EU: 'Being too Western' reason for 71% of 'honour' killings

2012-02-09T08:26:00.000+08:00

Via the Irish Independent:

Yes, it's a cultural rather than a religious thing, stemming from some nasty tribal customs of South Asia and the Middle East, but though Hindus, Sikhs and the odd Christian might be perpetrators, the blunt truth is that honour killings are mainly Muslim-on-Muslim (91 per cent worldwide, 84 per cent North America, 96 per cent Europe).

Worldwide, two-thirds of victims (93 per cent women) were killed by their families of origin: 49 per cent in North America, 66 per cent in Europe and 72 per cent in Muslim countries. More than half the victims died in agony, having been either gang-raped or burned or stoned or beheaded or stabbed many times.

Being 'too Western' did for 58 per cent: this includes being insufficiently subservient, rejecting Islamic dress, wanting a career, having non-Muslim friends or boyfriends, rejecting an arranged marriage or leaving an abusive husband. This criterion covers 91 per cent of North American murders, 71 per cent of European and 43 per cent in the Muslim world. Offences against sexual propriety (eg being raped or accused of adultery) were the justification for the other murders.

Court of Appeal: Freedom of speech not absolute

2012-02-09T08:23:00.003+08:00

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 8 — The rights and freedom of speech enshrined in the Federal Constitution are not absolute, the Court of Appeal ruled today.

As a result, statements made by Karpal Singh at a press conference in 2009 about Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak in relation to the political crisis in the state at the time, exceeded the boundaries permitted by the law and amounted to sedition.

This is despite the fact that Karpal (picture) in his capacity as a Member of Parliament and lawyer has the right to make political comments and express his views on the Constitution and the law, a 105-page judgment by Justice Datuk Ahmad Ma’arop added.

The Star Online reported Justice Ahmad as ruling the freedom of speech as enshrined in the Constitution meant a person had the right to speak, write or publish anything he liked so long as he does not break the law.

He also said the prosecution only needed to prove that the words uttered by Karpal could be deemed seditious — and not that they had led to an actual act of violence or an adverse reaction.

The news portal also quoted Justice Ahmad as saying it is immaterial as to whether Karpal’s statements were grounded in fact or not.

On January 20, Justice Ahmad, who presided over a three-man bench of the Court of Appeal, ordered Karpal to enter his defence on a charge of uttering seditious words against Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak during a press conference in 2009.

The panel, which also comprised justices Datuk Clement Allan Skinner and Datuk Seri Mohamed Apandi Ali set aside the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision on June 11, 2010 to acquit and discharge Karpal from the sedition charge without calling for his defence.

Karpal was charged with uttering the seditious words at his legal firm in Jalan Pudu Lama in Kuala Lumpur between 12pm and 12.30pm on February 6, 2009.

He is alleged to have said that the removal of Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin as mentri besar of Perak by the sultan could be questioned in a court of law.

The charge under section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act carries a maximum RM5,000 fine or three years’ jail, or both if convicted.

The Appeals Court, on January 20, also fixed tomorrow for mention of the case at the High Court.

In his judgment, Justice Ahmad said the panel did not accept Karpal’s submission that Section 3(1)(f) of the Sedition Act 1948, which makes questioning the rights and privileges of rulers an offence, was against the Federal Constitution.

Justice Ahmad further held the panel were in no doubt that the press conference was called with the hope that the proceedings would be reported.

He said Karpal at the press conference had repeatedly uttered words that clearly inferred the Sultan of Perak had broken the law, did not follow the law and did not respect the law.

Slim win seen for BN in Selangor

2012-02-09T08:21:00.003+08:00

The Barisan Nasional is optimistic of wresting control of the state but with a three-seat majority.

By Rashid Ahmad

KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional (BN) is confident of capturing Selangor but with a slim majority of 31 state seats out of 56 in the coming general election.

This assessment is based on the current sentiments of the Malay voters who are said to be fed up with the many unfulfilled promises of the Pakatan Rakyat-led state government, the fading credibility of PKR de facto chief Anwar Ibrahim and the inability of PAS to control its partners – DAP and PKR – concerning Islamic issues.

BN currently holds 21 state seats in Selangor comprising 18 (Umno), one (MCA), and one from a PKR defector.

For the coming general election, Umno will field candidates in 35 seats, MIC six, while the remaining seats go to MCA and Gerakan.

BN does not pin much hope on MCA and Gerakan to win the hearts and minds of the Chinese voters.

Sources said that of the 41 seats that Umno and MIC would be contesting, 31 were considered “winnable” while the rest are even. Thus, its majority will be only three seats.

“BN is confident of taking back Selangor with a slim majority, despite the problems that the Pakatan-led state government is facing such as unfulfilled promises and internal strife.

“The ruling coalition is expected to scrap through despite the personal efforts of BN chairman and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak in trying hard to woo the voters.

“This thin margin of victory is primarily due to factionalism and infighting in Umno, MCA and Gerakan.

“Besides, the three parties are unable to regain the confidence of the Chinese and Indian voters.

“If Umno is truly united and MIC can be sure of obtaining more than 70 percent of the Indian voters, BN can get a higher majority,” the source said.

Sleepless nights

Another source said Umno and MIC would be fielding 60 percent new faces in the 41 seats they would be contesting (35 Umno and six MIC).

He added that such a drastic move would create “sleepless nights” for the incumbents who feel that they are still “relevant” or “winnable” if chosen again. But that decision – selection of candidates –will have to come from Umno president and Selangor chief Najib Tun Razak.

“You can expect a lots of fireworks in the BN camp when the names of the new candidates are released (by Najib) come nomination day. The incumbents will definitely not want to give up their seats without valid reasons.

“They have their own reasons for wanting to stay on. Moreover, faction heads who are working from behind the scene will want to make sure that their people are fielded again, given that party elections will have to be held just after the general election.

“Umno, in whatever new form it assumes, will still be the same as the internal power play is a far more serious matter than the general election,” the source said.

Three BN camps

Several sources said the Selangor Umno leadership would field new faces with “clean record”.

“When this happens, the incumbents will be upset. They will ask the leadership, ‘Am I corrupted?’

“They will claim that after serving the people in a clean manner, why should they be replaced by unknowns?” a source said.

To complicate matters, the three Umno factions in Selangor are working hard to ensure their men –the incumbents – are picked again to defend their seats.

The heads of these three camps are said to be Sri Serdang assemblyman Satim Diman, Sungai Panjang assemblyman Dr Mohd Khir Toyo and Selangor BN liaison deputy chief Noh Omar.

“These three factions want their incumbents retained so that they can become delegates to the party elections. They hope the delegates will vote for them (the faction heads) for a post in the Umno’s supreme council,” the source said.

The source added that BN can only win more more seats in Selangor if the internal discord in PKR and PAS continues unabated.

Ku Li talks about the mysterious plane crash in Sabah

2012-02-09T08:19:00.003+08:00

Berikan kepercayaan kepada rakyat, bukan sebaliknya! — Sakmongkol AK47

2012-02-09T08:17:00.002+08:00

8 FEB — Nampak nya, bila PM Najib menyeru kaum India mempercayai nya, dia sudah lupa kepada slogan dia sendiri. Suatu ketika dahulu, semasa berkobar kobar semangat liberalism dan terlalu taksub untuk meyakinkan dunia barat, PM Najib telah berkata bahawa zaman dimana pemerintah lebih tahu segala nya sudah berakhir. The age of government knows best is over. Translated, it also means, the age of big brotherism is over.

Tapi kita tahu, PM Najib kadang-kadang tidak tahu apa yang sudah diucapkan. Maklum sahajalah, sebahagian besar ucapan mengenai dasar-dasar negara, di sediakan oleh con-sultans. Slogan itu sedap di dengar, tapi perlaksanaan nya tidak ada.

Dan baru-baru ini, kita dengar PM Najib berkata perbelanjaan keatas kebajikan rakyat akan memufliskan negara. Adakah bantuan kepada rakyat yang susah, bayaran melalui jabatan kebajikan masyarakat misalnya, akan memiskinkan negara? Kenyataan ini amat sukar di terima memandangkan dalam masa 10 tahun (2000-2009) sebanyak satu trillion atau 1,000 billion telah hilang dari negara akibat pemindahan wang ke luar negara secara haram! Bayangkan jika jumlah tersebut di aplikasikan kepada kebajikan masyarakat! Maka yang sebetulnya membengkrapkan negara ini ialah rasuah dan pemindahan wang secara haram.

Pemindahan wang secara haram ini seperti nama nya, ialah pemindahan wang yang di perolehi secara rasuah atau haram kedalam akaun pemilik nya di luar negara. Tentu ada cara nya, kerajaan yang jujur mahu mendapatkan wang ini.

Slogan zaman kerajaan tahu segala nya sudah berakhir ketika di ucapkan menimbulkan perasaan gembira di kalangan rakyat. Apakah ertinya slogan itu bila di terjemah dengan jujur? Apabila di terjemah, slogan itu bermaksud, segala inisiatif bermula dari rakyat bukan dari pemimpin. Ertinya, PM Najib mahu memindahkan kuasa kepada rakyat. Tetapi itu semua untuk menyedapkan telinga.

Dari dulu, sekarang dan selama nya, Umno tidak akan memindahkan kuasa kepada rakyat. Kepada Umno, rakyat bukan nya tahu apa mereka mahu. Kerajaan lah yang super tahu. Sebab itu PM Najib kata percaya sama saya. Lu tolong gua, gua tolong lu. Beri saya nambikei, tembikai atau apa pun- maksud sebenar yang mahu Najib katakan ialah, kerajaan tahu segala nya. Itu sebab, caya sama gua.

Tapi, bila PM Najib berkata percaya pada saya, he has got it in reverse. Yang patut di sampaikan kepada PM Najib ialah, percayalah kepada rakyat, bukan sebaliknya. Jadi kita ulang — PM Najib, percayalah kepada rakyat. Kita tahu apa yang mesti di lakukan.

Tidak pula kita dengar PM Najib kata percaya kepada Umno. Dia hanya sebut percaya pada saya. Mungkinkah Presiden Umno pun tidak percaya kepada parti nya sendiri. Malang nya, inilah yang terjadi kepada Umno. Ia sebuah parti yang tidak di percayai dan tidak boleh di percayai.

Bagaimana rakyat mahu percaya kepada Umno jika Umno sendiri tidak yakin kepada rakyat? Bagaimana orang Melayu mahu yakin kepada Umno jika Umno tidak mempercayai orang Melayu? Cuba kita tanya — kepada siapakah Umno mempertaruhkan masa depan nya? Kepada orang Melayu atau kepada ahli parti yang seramai tiga juta itu?

Umno sebetulnya tidak mewakili orang Melayu. Yang di wakili oleh Umno ialah orang Melayu terpilih dan Melayu yang berkepentingan. Malahan, orang Melayu yang berada di luar Umno tidak di anggap Melayu oleh Umno. Siapakah Umno yang merasakan diri nya, berhak mendefinisikan siapa Melayu dan tidak Melayu? Bahkan, jika mahu di kira, ramai orang Melayu yang menyifatkan Najib Razak dan Hishamudin Hussein Onn tidak cukup Melayu. Mereka Melayu, tapi quotient Melayu mereka kurang.

Jangan lah kita percaya sangat apabila PM Najib berkata dia insaf dan merasakan apa yang RAKYAT rasakan. Najib mula jadi Melayu bila dia menggantikan Tun Razak sebagai ahli parlimen Pekan dalam tahun 1976.

Lihatlah kepada Umno wahai bangsa Melayu. Umno adalah parti yang mempertaruhkan masa depan nya kepada majority ahli nya yang berjumlah tiga juta itu. itu pun kesetiaan tiga juta ahli nya di perolehi melalui ugutan dan rasuah dan bentuk-bentuk pujukan yang lain. Umno di dominasi oleh golongan tender-preneur bukan oleh penyokong yang meyakini perjuangan Umno.

Parti yang menaruhkan masa depan nya diatas sogokan dan ugutan dan bukan diatas perjuangan untuk satu SERUAN, tidak akan bertahan lama. Umno ada jasad tetapi tidak ada roh. Ini ancaman terbesar kepada Umno.

Orang Melayu tidak ada masa depan dengan parti politik macam Umno hari ini. — sakmongkol.blogspot.com

* Sakmongkol AK47 is the nom de plume of Datuk Mohd Ariff Sabri Abdul Aziz. He was Pulau Manis assemblyman (2004-2008).

Malaysia Awaiting Arrival Of Indonesian Maids From March

2012-02-09T08:15:00.003+08:00

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 9 (Bernama) -- The government is optimistic of receiving the first batch of Indonesian maids in early March after a two-year freeze, said Human Resource Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam.

He said Malaysia had done all things agreed upon by both countries and was awaiting the arrival of the first batch of Indonesian maids.

He said the efforts included a meeting between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to iron out the problem amicably at the end of last year.

However, the actual number of the first group of Indonesian maids will depend on the number of applications made through employment agencies in the country, he said at a news conference here Wednesday.

Indonesia officially withdrew the moratorium on the sending of maids to Malaysia starting Dec 1 last year but would only send them from March.

A total of 121 Malaysian employment agencies are getting ready to collaborate with their Indonesian counterparts in the placement of maids from the republic to Malaysia starting early next month.

Meanwhile, Subramaniam urged Indian youths to capitalise on the "My Career Fair 2012' specifically organised for them where over 2,500 job opportunities in government agencies, and government-linked and private companies would be up for grab.

Organised by the Cabinet Committee for the Indian Community under the Prime Minister's Department, it will be held at the Dewan Tunku Canselor, Universiti Malaya on Saturday, the Skudai Multipurpose Hall, Johor Baharu (Feb 19), the University Putra Malaysia's Grand Hall (Feb 25) and the Tamil Methodist Hall, Ipoh (March 4).

Under the Democracy Tree: Remembering Perak power grab

2012-02-09T08:14:00.003+08:00

Perak Pakatan reps gathered under the Democracy Tree in Ipoh on 6 February to recall the third anniversary of the power grab in the state.

Photograph: Kinta Kid

Remember how Speaker Sivakumar was literally dragged out of his chair?
Kinta Kid has the full story with pictures here.

Racist Militia Slaughter 12 "Black" Libyans

2012-02-08T05:30:00.001+08:00

The death toll from yesterday’s attack by the Misrata brigade on a refugee camp in Tripoli has reached 12.

Doctors and locals report that two of the dead were women and one elderly man. The exact number of injured is unknown although many videos have emerged online and in mainstream western and GCC media of wounded victims.

Inhabitants in the camp in the Janzour area are from the town of Tawergha, whose entire and predominantly Black Libyan population of about 35,000 were forced to flee from relentless attack by NATO and the Misrata rebels.

The attack began when a heavily armed rebel militia from Misrata entered the squalid camp situated in a naval base firing anti-aircraft guns mounted on pick up trucks in the air to scare the inhabitants. This was followed by some of the rebels opening fire on the inhabitants.

Following the attack, Tawerghans took to the streets in protest. This could be seen on an Al Jazeera English video (which is now notated as "private.") However, the AJE report omits any mention of the inherent racism of the rebels that has been exposed by their systematic persecution of Black Libyans and migrants from other countries on the continent since the beginning of the crisis in Libya. It also omits that the channel has been at the forefront of aggravating racist attacks as a result of its relentless an unsubstantiated claims of a systematic policy by the Jamahiriyah government of hiring “African mercenaries” - racist terminology in itself which implies a separation between Libyans from Africa despite that the nation is African.

Reuters reported that Abdelhafid Suleiman, head of the military council of Janzour, claimed that the inhabitants were armed with “sticks and knives”. But locals and doctors have insisted the inhabitants were unarmed and critics have stressed that this accusation contains racist language in line with the well documented racism of the Misrata rebels.

Elsewhere, reports have cited a statement released by locals in Janzour the Wershafana people of Libya pledging to arm the people of Tawergha so that they could defend themselves.

"Speaking Truth To Empower."

Father held for killing infant

2012-02-08T05:28:00.001+08:00

BEHRAMPORE: A man allegedly hurled his one-and-half- month-old daughter at Mangaljone Mathpara in Raghunathgunj on Sunday night. Manoyara Khatun's forehead was badly injured and she died of heavy bleeding. As the news spread, the villagers informed the police.

Majibar Rahman was had been upset with his wife for having giving birth to a girl. Kohinoor Bibi, the baby's grandmother said, "When he came yesterday with some medicines and baby food, we forgave him. How could we suspect that he would kill his own child? Such cruelty is unacceptable to us and even to Allah! Allah would surely punish him."

Abusing his wife for having given birth to a daughter, on Sunday,he snatched Manoyara and hurled her to the ground. He had allegedly also killed his first child.

"As I gave birth to a daughter, my husband was annoyed with me. We are poor and thus he wanted a son. He accused me regularly and did not even come to my father's house to see the baby. But I could not imagine that he could kill his own daughter. I demand exemplary punishment," said the baby's mother.

Annappa E, additional SP of Murshidabad, said, "Police have started inquiry. Majibar was absconding at first but we finally arrested him from Raghunathgunj."

In another incident, police found the body of a newborn at Ghatbandar on the banks of Bhagirathi in Behrampore on Monday noon. "The parents probably had brought the baby in a bag and left it there. The baby's head was smeared with blood," said police.

Batu Caves: Temple of Garbage

2012-02-08T05:25:00.003+08:00

Tuesday, February 07, 2012 -- Once again Batu Caves has turned into a sea of garbage on Thaipusam where dustbins were hard to locate like kids lost in the crowd and if you are lucky enough to find one, you will be greatly disappointed as these bins will be extremely overflowing. The corrupted temple management is unable to solve this problem year after year.

Many assigned to serve drinks but none assigned to remove the trash

Festive air fills Batu Caves

KUALA LUMPUR -- An air of festivity filled Batu Caves as thousands of Hindus, tourists and traders thronged the famed Thaipusam spot today ahead of the festival tomorrow. Devotees flooded the Sri Subramaniyar Swami Temple as early as 8am, heads shaven before climbing up 272 steps to the temple, carrying the pal kudam, or milk pots, to fulfill their vows.
A businessman from Ipoh, Dhilip Kumar, 23, said he was stunned by the beauty of Batu Caves and the festivity at the location.
"This is my first time to Batu Caves, I did not expect that many Hindus to come each year. There were thousands today and perhaps by tomorrow the number will exceed a million," he told Bernama.
Traffic in the area was under control by police and the Federal Reserve Unit.
At mid-day, the route to Batu Caves was slow-moving, especially along the Middle Ring Road II (MRR2), to allow devotees cross the road to the temple.
Karmalanita, 29, a lawyer from Melaka, said she brought a milk pot to be presented to Lord Murugan as she prayed for the peaceful departure of her husband, who passed away in an accident in November.
A trader, P Gunaseelan, 59, from Gombak, came with his wife to make a vow for his child's successful heart bypass operation on Feb 23.
Also known as Thaipooyam, or Thaippooyam in Malayalam, the festival observes the birthday of Lord Murugan, as well as commemorating his destruction of an evil power named Soorapadman.
As in previous years, the festival in Batu Caves attracted thousands of tourists.
Martin Nick, 59, an engineer from Denmark said, "This is my first time here, I'm surprised to see the big statue of Lord Murugan here, the biggest I have ever seen."
Edvard Lambert, 38, a photographer from Scotland had his head shaved along with other Hindu devotees in Batu Caves to fulfill his vow to have a daughter after eight years.
The festival was also an opportunity for traders at the Batu Caves, offering various items from food to clothes. -- Bernama

2 brothers died near Batu Caves

NST, 07/02.12

OMBAK: A trash truck with faulty brakes rammed into a motorcycle, killing two brothers, here near the Batu Caves roundabout.

Pix by Fahirul N. Ramli

1 / 1

Farouk Nor Shaharuddin, 18, and Norshahrizal Shaharuddin, 22, were on their way to Ulu Yam recreational park with five other friends when they met with the accident.
In the 1.25pm incident opposite the Batu Caves temple, the truck which was on MRR2 heading north, also hit a lorry, car and a bus before it halted.
Police who were on standby for Ops Palu at the temple came immediately and sent the victims to Selayang Hospital.
At 2pm, a firetruck came to clean the blood off the road.