Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Dr M says American mothers are promiscuous in attack against US free speech
- More film retaliation as suicide bomber near Kabul airport kills nine
- Six govt bodies to act against Suaram
- Chaos at US embassy in Jakarta over anti-Islam film
- Thai US embassy to close ahead of film rally
- Suaram faces ‘misleading accounts’ charge, says minister
- Suaram says prepared for scrutiny but wants probe on Scorpene too
- Yahya spells reasons for joining PKR
- ‘Slight voter swing to BN’
| Dr M says American mothers are promiscuous in attack against US free speech Posted: 17 Sep 2012 07:39 PM PDT
Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad suggested today that American mothers "sleep around with just about anybody" when he attacked the United States for defending free speech while PKR warned governments against exploiting Muslim anger to restrict freedoms as protests continued to spread across the Muslim world over a controversial film mocking the Prophet Muhammad. Malaysia's outspoken former prime minister said the West's idea of freedom of expression as being a part of human rights was one that may not be accepted in the cultures of Asians or Muslims worldwide. In contrast, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali said in a separate statement that "dictatorial regimes" should not exploit the anger of Muslims to curtail freedoms. "Those who blame freedoms for the production of the film are leaders who are anti-democratic and anti-freedom of the people, and are exploiting the anger of the people to reduce democratic space for political purposes," he said. Dr Mahathir was unrelenting, however, in his attack against the US which has officially condemned the film. "It would seem that the liberal West believes that free speech is licence to curse and insult other people without limit. I think Western values have gone crazy," the now-retired Dr Mahathir wrote in his blog today. "How would one feel if someone comes up to you and calls you 'a bastard, the offspring of sex between your mother and some man who is not your legally wedded father'?" "The Americans would feel nothing because in their society this is normal. Their mothers sleep around with just about anybody," said the controversial political veteran. Such a practice would be considered a norm in an American society, he said, adding that apart from American mothers, fathers behave much the same way. "It is an expression of the equality of the sexes," he said. Dr Mahathir was railing against US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, whom he said had appeared to defend the maker of the film when the latter was quoted in the media as saying, "We do not stop individual citizens from expressing their views, no matter how distasteful they may be." US embassies worldwide have been placed on high alert following protests against the controversial video, which have even led to the death of a US ambassador and three other Americans last week during a protest at its consulate in the Libyan city of Benghazi. Protests have spread to other countries across the Muslim world, and have also reached Malaysian shores, uniting Muslims here from across the political divide in their bid to express their unhappiness at the US for the film. The youth wing of Malaysia's largest Muslim party Umno will be organising a mass protest after Friday prayers this week, while last week's global protests were also joined by Islamist party PAS.
| |||||
| More film retaliation as suicide bomber near Kabul airport kills nine Posted: 17 Sep 2012 03:20 PM PDT
(Reuters) - A suicide bomber blew up a mini-bus carrying foreign and local contract workers near Kabul airport in Afghanistan today, with at least nine bodies lying near the wreckage, a Reuters witness at the scene said. Eight of those killed were foreign workers for an international courier company, a senior police source said, while the other was an Afghan translator. Eight Afghan workers were injured in the blast. Afghan insurgent group Hezb-e-Islami claimed responsibility for the suicide attack and said it was launched in retaliation for a film mocking the Prophet Muhammad. "A woman wearing a suicide vest blew herself up in response to the anti-Islam video," said Zubair Sediqqi, a spokesman for the militant faction, which does not usually carry out such attacks. The attack underscored growing anger in Afghanistan over the film, which has enraged much of the Muslim world and led to the killing last week of the US ambassador to Libya and three other Americans. Thousands of protesters clashed with police in the Afghan capital yesterday, burning cars and hurling rocks at security forces in the worst outbreak of violence since February rioting over the inadvertent burning of Korans by US soldiers. The suicide attack was the first in Kabul involving a woman and the foreigners killed were mostly Russian and South African pilots working for an international courier company, senior police sources said. The toll was the highest on foreigners in the city since last April when an Afghan air force pilot gunned down eight US military flight instructors and an American civilian adviser after an argument at Kabul International Airport. Hezb-e-Islami, which means Islamic Party, is a radical militant group which shares some of the Taliban's anti-foreigner, anti-government aims.
| |||||
| Six govt bodies to act against Suaram Posted: 17 Sep 2012 03:11 PM PDT
However, it is ultimately up to the attorney-general to decide whether to take the human rights operating entity to court, says minister Ismail Sabri Yakob. Anisah Shukry, FMT Six government agencies are taking action against Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd, the operating entity of human rights organisation Suaram, under five sections of the Companies Act 1965. "The Companies Commission Malaysia (CCM) has no power over Suaram as it is not registered as a society. As such, we are taking action against Suara Inisiatif Rakyat for its misleading accounts," said Minister of Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ismail Sabri Yaakob. He said the six agencies, which included CCM, Registrar of Societies (ROS), Bank Negara, the Home Ministry and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commissions (MCMC), were not interested in the source of the organisations' funds. Suaram had been under media and government scrutiny lately due to its foreign source of funds, particularly its alleged links to currency speculator George Soros. "We know where their funds come from, but [the issue is with] the way they report their accounts, which is misleading," Ismail said, although he refused to elaborate. The scope of their investigations, he said, would be based on Sections 364(2), 166A(3), 169(14), 167(1), 167(2), and 132(1) of the Companies Act 1965. But the ultimate decision as to whether Suara Inisiatif Rakyat would be charged in court was with the Attorney General, he said, adding that he would be meeting with AG Abdul Gani Patail later today over the matter. "Everything looks okay. We've already met with the deputy [AG] over this. It's just a matter of the AG signing yes or no," he said. He also said the other agencies, such as ROS and Bank Negara, would be taking action against either Suaram or Suara Inisiatif within their own jurisdictions. "For example, Suaram has not been registered as a society, so the ROS will take action against them for that," he added.
| |||||
| Chaos at US embassy in Jakarta over anti-Islam film Posted: 17 Sep 2012 03:00 PM PDT
(Asia One) - JAKARTA - A rally protesting the movie, Innocence of Muslims, turned chaotic as members of the Islamic Society Forum (FUI) clashed with police in front of the US Embassy in Jakarta on Monday. The clash was sparked after the Central Jakarta Police officers blasted tear gas at hundreds of FUI members. Protesters retaliated by throwing rocks at police officers. The group demanded that the US government punish the film director for insulting the Prophet Muhammad. "According to Islamic law, [the director] must face the death penalty," said the rally coordinator Bernad Abdul Jabbar to The Jakarta Post earlier on Monday. The FUI began the protest at 1 p.m. by marching from the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle to the embassy. "It is supposed to be a peaceful rally. However, several members brought eggs with the intention of throwing them. The bottom line is we don't want the protest to be chaotic," he added. Central Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Angesta Romano Yoyol previously said that they had deployed 2,000 personnel to guard the rally. Jakarta Police chief Untung S. Rajab reportedly came to the scene, in an effort to calm down the protesters. | |||||
| Thai US embassy to close ahead of film rally Posted: 17 Sep 2012 02:56 PM PDT
(Asia One) - THAILAND - The US Embassy will close today when "several hundred people" are expected to protest about an anti-Islam film in front of the mission's compound in downtown Bangkok. US citizens also have been warned to exercise caution and to avoid large crowds or gatherings, the embassy said in a statement posted on its website yesterday. It said it was informed by police that a demonstration involving several hundred people was planned on Wireless Road in front of the US mission from 1pm to 2pm today. "Demonstrators will assemble at Lumpini Park and march to the embassy. The large number of demonstrators is expected to disrupt traffic in the area," the statement said. Because of the expected protest, the embassy "will be closing to the public at noon and non-essential personnel will be sent home", it said. The embassy said it was unaware of any specific threat to Americans in Thailand, but it advised them to avoid areas that might be targeted for demonstrations. "Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence with little or no warning. You should avoid areas that may be targeted for demonstrations and exercise caution if within the vicinity of any demonstrations or large gatherings. You should monitor local media to keep updated with the latest information about demonstrations and areas to avoid," the US mission said on its website. Embassy spokesman Walter Braunohler confirmed that the planned rally was part of a wave of protests, some of which have turned violent, against a low-budget trailer for a movie titled "Innocence of Muslims". The film is believed to have been made by a small group of extremist Christians in the United States. In its statement, the embassy did not mention Muslims or say whether the planned protest was connected to the controversial film. An official at the Japanese Embassy, which is close to the US compound, said closure was under consideration, but the Netherlands plans to keep its nearby embassy open because it has an entrance on a separate street. Protests have been staged since last Tuesday in at least 20 countries, with at least 17 people killed and dozens wounded in violence linked to the film. Buddhist-majority Thailand has about 1.2 million Muslims - 4 per cent of the population - according to the latest data. Many live in the Southern provinces near the Malaysian border. Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul said police would be instructed to provide security at the US Embassy as well as its consulate in Chiang Mai, although the US mission had not made any specific request in regard to the rally. "I have ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work with the police," he said. However, Surapong did not think violence similar what has happened in other countries such as Libya and Egypt would occur here. Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit said no suspicious movements had been found in Thailand linked to the protest. "But we will not lower our guard; we will keep a close watch," Yongyuth said.
| |||||
| Suaram faces ‘misleading accounts’ charge, says minister Posted: 17 Sep 2012 02:38 PM PDT
Ida Lim, The Malaysian Insider The Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) plans to bring charges against the operating entity of Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) for its "misleading accounts", the Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said. "We will take legal action on Suara Inisiatif based on accounts that was reported to us... there are misleading elements in accounts," he told reporters today. He declined to reveal the specific clause in the Companies Act 1965 that will be used to bring charges against Suara Inisiatif within the next two days, saying that the Attorney-General will decide on the charge. Ismail (picture) said the CCM was not bringing charges against Suara Inisiatif for receiving foreign funds. "In one year, we investigate over 200 cases, Suara Inisiatif is one of them... not because we have personal problems with Suara Inisiatif," he said. He was responding to questions on whether SSM carried out similar investigations on other registered companies. Ismail added that the other five government agencies involved in the probe have agreed to take action based on existing legal provisions. He said the CCM's scope of investigation is based on five sections in the Companies Act — sections 364 (2), 166A (3), 169 (14), 167 (1), 167 (2), 132 (1).
| |||||
| Suaram says prepared for scrutiny but wants probe on Scorpene too Posted: 17 Sep 2012 02:31 PM PDT
Suaram members at the launch of the 'Stand up for Suaram' campaign outside the CCM office in Kuala Lumpur on September 18, 2012. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng Ida Lim, The Malaysian Insider Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) will give its full co-operation in the probe against it by six government agencies, the human rights watchdog's chairman Arumugan Kalimuthu said today. "Suaram is prepared to be scrutinised and investigated. We will fully co-operate with CCM and any other bodies that are interested to look at our books," he told reporters. The Companies Commission Malaysia (CCM) is currently investigating Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd, the operating entity of Suaram. "I would warn those who are responsible in the government for the scandal of Scorpene to open up (the) books..." Arumugan said, adding that the "true facts" should be revealed to taxpayers. Suaram is currently in the limelight due to its part in an ongoing French inquiry probing possible corruption in Malaysia's multibillion ringgit purchase of two Scorpene submarines, which has been linked to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the murder of Mongolian model Altantuyaa Shaariibuu. Arumugan was speaking at the launch of "Stand Up for Suaram", a campaign to draw support for the watchdog.
| |||||
| Yahya spells reasons for joining PKR Posted: 17 Sep 2012 02:18 PM PDT
Mariah Doksil, Borneo Post KOTA KINABALU: Former deputy minister Datuk Haji Yahya Lampong spelled out his reason for joining the opposition, saying it was nothing personal but just Barisan Nasional's (BN) system of having absolute power, which he said is similar to the communist brand of politics. Yahya maintained that a democratic system refers to a government by the people, and the majority of the voters are those who are not affiliated to any political party. He added if the total number of voters is ten million, only two per cent of that number should be members of political parties and the remaining 98 per cent would decide the government for the next five years and that government is subject to change. "As an example, over 46 million people are registered as voters to vote in elections in the United Kingdom which has three major political parties, namely the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats. "The Conservative party and the Labour party each has about 300,000 members while the Liberal Democratic party has about 200,000. This means to suggest that out of 46 million voters in the UK, only 800,000 are members of one of the political parties. Their total number does not even reach one million," he said. "However, unlike the BN, nobody knows exactly the number of BN members, but it was disclosed by Umno secretary general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor on September 9, 2010 that the coalition had about seven million members," he said. Yahya also quoted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who announced on May 20, 2010, that Umno has about three million active members. According to Yahya, the total number of voters who cast their votes in the 2008 general elections was 10,952,139 and if the figure was to stay, he perceived that the BN would be in power forever, only because they have the number. "In the next general election, there will be approximately 11,579,280 eligible voters, although this is not the final figure. And with the BN claiming to have seven million members, they will certainly stay in power. "This system is very much similar to the system adopted by the communists and we certainly do not want to see this state of affair occurring in our country. "Why similar? Because the majority of voters in the communist system are members of the party. Whenever there is a general election, they are assured of power and staying in power. It is not subject to change," he said. "I do not want to vote for a government which is not subject to change. I do not want my children or even my grandchildren to vote for a government professing absolute power because we will be denied of transparency and proper check and balances," he stressed. Touching on the pledge of giving back a 20 per cent oil royalty to the state, Yahya said only the opposition had taken the liberty to promise the Sabahans with that figure. He admitted however that it was now too late to talk about more because that promise had been given to be fulfilled. "This is likened to something having dropped from the sky because BN cannot give this to us," the former Kota Belud member of parliament said. "If the people vote Pakatan Rakyat to power, a 'Yayasan Rakyat' will be formed to allow for every Sabahan aged 18 years and above to be entitled for cash contribution from the government since the money belongs to the people. "We will develop the necessary infrastructure and at the same time we will give back to the people their money as a form of bonus," he said. Yahya, who is a former Tempasuk assemblyman and whose entry into Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) was announced by de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Saturday, confirmed the announcement and said "it was time to change."
| |||||
| Posted: 17 Sep 2012 01:52 PM PDT
A Gerakan leader and a university don feel that because of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's abrasive style some Chinese voters are seen to favour Barisan Nasional. Hawkeye, FMT GEORGE TOWN: If one were to believe Gerakan, there is a slight shift of Chinese support towards Barisan Nasional. They say this shift is because of Teng Chang Yeow, who was made the Penang Gerakan chief earlier this year. Even though the shift is so slight it is enough to give BN optimism it would fare better in the coming general election, says Penang Gerakan vice-chairman Wong Mun Hoe. Wong claims that Teng's style has won some Chinese voters and he has united BN to take on Pakatan Rakyat. "One important element going into any political battle is unity. Teng has restored that in BN. Also, Umno has rebranded itself to please the voters. Wong said another factor for the slight swing is Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's tendency to be harsh towards critics. He said Lim is forever attacking the previous state government and his partisan politics has made the average voter fed up. "Lim should be forward-looking, but instead he is dwelling on the past. Where is the master plan for sustainable development?" He also disputed Lim"s alleged remark that Pakatan has secured 95% of the Chinese vote bank ahead of the next election. 'Focus on protest voters' Wong claimed there is also a swing of Indian voters back to BN because "never in the country's history, has there been a prime minister who has done so much for the community". From resolving vernacular educational issues to helping them restore their citizenship documentation, Najib has done much and is willing to do more for the Indian community, he said.
| |||||
| You are subscribed to email updates from Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 ulasan:
Catat Ulasan