Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Waytha still a ‘national threat’?
- Ad Calling Jihad ‘Savage’ Is Set to Appear in Subway
- Dr M: Najib’s cash handouts ‘very close’ to vote buying
- Free speech or incitement? French mag runs cartoons of Prophet Mohammed
- Dr M: BN won’t get supermajority
- Taib is worth RM45b, believe it or not
- Freeze Taib’s accounts, govts told
- Fake website or serious opposition mouthpiece? - PBS
- Why should politics be in black and white?
- Zakir Naik’s host defends invite
- The basis of it all
- Who’s your Daddy?
- Talk is cheap
- Duo’s application struck out in RPK suit
- Pejabat SUARAM diserbu pegawai ROS, polis
- White House: Libya attack may have been preplanned
- 'Fatwa' to kill issued against anti-Islam filmmaker
- There’s something about Selangor
- Killing innocents is never the answer
| Waytha still a ‘national threat’? Posted: 18 Sep 2012 11:53 PM PDT
(The Sun Daily) - Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader P. Waythamoorthy, 46, was prohibited from leaving the country on Tuesday after being told by airport officials he was classified as a "threat to national security" in the immigration department's records.
Waytha, who spent five years in self-exile in the UK, was held up at the LCCT, Sepang while checking in for a Manila flight at 5.30pm. "It was a business trip and it has gone to waste as a result. This is absolutely ridiculous. I had no problems entering the country last month. I was told by immigration officers that the police have classified me as a national threat, and I am not allowed to leave the country," he told theSun. He learnt the immigration had clarified that the prohibition order was issued by the police in 2007 and it may be outdated. Waytha lodged a report against Immigration Director Datuk Alias Ahmad, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar and Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein at 11am today at the Travers police station, claiming the prohibition was a breach of human rights. "The restriction should have been removed if it is outdated. I am leaving for London on Saturday and I hope to not face similar problems," he said. Waythamoorthy said he would institute legal action against the relevant parties if the prohibition remains active. Officials from the police, immigration and Home Ministry were not reachable for responses. Waythamoorthy left the country in November 2007, fighting Hindraf's cause from overseas before returning to Malaysia last month. On Aug 2, Ismail was reported to have said that the police will monitor the movements and activities of Waythamoorthy and that no action would be taken against him as long as he abides by the law. On Aug 1, Waythamoorthy entered the country via the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex in Johor Baru with a passport issued to him on July 30 by the Malaysian High Commission in Singapore. His passport was revoked on April 2008. Upon his return, Waythamoorthy said he would not be taking sides in the country's political arena nor would Hindraf become a political party as its main duty was to champion the cause of the Indian community in the country.
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| Ad Calling Jihad ‘Savage’ Is Set to Appear in Subway Posted: 18 Sep 2012 11:39 PM PDT
(New York Times) - As violent and sometimes deadly protests consume much of the Muslim world in response to an American-made video mocking the Prophet Muhammad, New Yorkers will soon encounter another potentially inflammatory rendering of Islam: an advertisement in the transit system that reads, "In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man." It concludes with the words, "Support Israel. Defeat Jihad," wedged between two Stars of David. After rejecting the ads initially, then losing a federal court ruling on First Amendment grounds, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said on Tuesday that the ads were expected to appear next week at 10 subway stations. "Our hands are tied," Aaron Donovan, a spokesman for the authority, said when asked about the timing of the ad. In July, Judge Paul A. Engelmayer of Federal District Court in Manhattan ruled that the authority had violated the First Amendment rights of the group that sought to place the ad, the American Freedom Defense Initiative. The authority had cited the ad's "demeaning" language in barring its placement. The authority, which appealed the July ruling, also asked the judge to postpone implementing his decision until after its next board meeting on Sept. 27. But in an order late last month, Judge Engelmayer granted the agency just two more weeks to revise its ad policy or to seek a further stay from an appellate court. It has done neither. Now, the authority finds itself in a precarious position. The American Freedom Defense Initiative has also purchased ad space in Washington, but the transit authority there said Tuesday that it had "deferred" the ad's placement "out of a concern for public safety, given current world events." A similar option is not available to New York's transportation authority because of the court order, according to the agency. Mr. Donovan said the authority might consider revising its ad policy at its board meeting next week. Pamela Geller, the executive director of the American Freedom Defense Initiative, said in an e-mail Tuesday that transit officials in Washington were "kowtowing to the threat of jihad terrorism." She added that recent events in the Middle East had not given her pause "for a second" about posting the ads in New York. "I will never cower before violent intimidation, and stop telling the truth because doing so is dangerous," she said. "Freedom must be vigorously defended." She added, "If someone commits violence, it is his responsibility and no one else's." The group has also advertised at Metro-North Railroad stations, with posters that cite "deadly Islamic attacks" since Sept. 11 and read, "It's not Islamophobia, it's Islamorealism." The transportation authority has said it did not try to block these ads because they did not meet the agency's threshold for "demeaning" language, as the ad referring to a "savage" had. Muneer Awad, the executive director of the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said the ads were an attempt to "define Muslims" through hate speech. "We're encouraging American Muslims to go out there and define themselves," he said. Mr. Awad added that the group had not called for the ads' removal, though it has asked the transportation authority to redirect funds it receives for the ads to the city's Human Rights Commission. "It's perfectly legal to be a bigot and to be a racist," he said. "We want to make sure there's a counter-voice."
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| Dr M: Najib’s cash handouts ‘very close’ to vote buying Posted: 18 Sep 2012 11:34 PM PDT
Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad admitted today that the Najib administration's penchant for handing out cash to Malaysians through its various people-centric policies was "very close" to vote buying. But the former prime minister said the government was running out of time with polls drawing closer as the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition needed a bigger mandate to tighten its grasp on Putrajaya. "I do not believe in giving money to the people. I believe in giving facilities. But I think when a government has no time and they are facing an election, they make a decision that is easy," Dr Mahathir said in his keynote address at the Perdana Leadership Foundation's CEO Forum 2012 here. "If you give people money, then they should support (you). Maybe it is not vote-buying... but it is very close to that," he said, to laughter from the audience. The government is expected to announce a second round of RM500 cash handouts to lower-income households when Budget 2013 is tabled next week, in a move that is seen as giving Najib and his BN pact's ratings a boost ahead of polls expected soon. The first round of handouts under the Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia (BR1M) programme, which involved some five million families and cost taxpayers RM2.6 billion, saw Najib's approval ratings shoot up to 69 per cent, largely due to a surge of support from low-income households. Throughout his address, Dr Mahathir repeatedly mentioned the Najib administration's cash handouts, at one point even saying that "he (Najib) has a lot of money". "Now we have a new man as the head (of government)," he said when recalling the succession of prime ministers after he stepped down in 2003. "I won't say anything bad about him because I support BN. "The only thing I'm going to say is that he has a lot of money and he is giving away money to everyone. "During my time, I didn't give away money. I could have even given money to myself but I didn't. I think I made a mistake there," he said in jest. Najib will table the Budget on September 28 and besides the fresh BR1M handout, he is expected to announce other measures to boost domestic spending and the economy in a bid to head off a worsening economic outlook as he prepares to call his first general election. The economy grew at a surprising pace of 5.4 per cent in the second quarter, blowing away economists' expectations and potentially giving rise to a feel-good factor ahead of the general election. But the good news is not expected to last, as the global outlook is likely to affect Malaysian exports. Malaysia's surprisingly strong second-quarter economic growth despite weakening exports was largely due to the buffer of ongoing construction projects and increased spending attributed to civil servant salary hikes and government cash handouts, say economists, which could point to uneven growth in the months ahead. This means many ordinary Malaysians are not feeling the positive effects of economic growth, making the second BR1M handouts necessary to continue maintaining any economic momentum. A number of international ratings agencies also say that Malaysia has yet to present a convincing plan to tackle the twin fiscal threats of its federal budget deficit and federal debt even though strains on its credit profile are increasing. The ratio of federal government debt to GDP reached 51.8 per cent at end-2011 despite strong GDP growth but barring a further deterioration in the global economy, the government should be able to meet its 2012 deficit target of 4.7 per cent of GDP. The opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) has criticised the Najib administration for what it says is vote buying by the BN government through public spending in the form of various handouts such as the BR1M.
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| Free speech or incitement? French mag runs cartoons of Prophet Mohammed Posted: 18 Sep 2012 11:33 PM PDT
(CNN) - After a week of deadly, international protests against an anti-Islam film, a French satirical magazine is fueling the debate between freedom of expression and offensive provocation. The magazine Charlie Hebdo published cartoons featuring a figure resembling the Prophet Mohammed in an issue that hit newsstands Wednesday. Magazine director Stephane Charbonnier said his staff is "not really fueling the fire," but rather using its freedom of expression "to comment (on) the news in a satirical way." "It happens that the news this week is Mohammed and this lousy film, so we are drawing cartoons about this subject," Charbonnier told CNN affiliate BFM-TV on Wednesday. "It's more turning in derision this grotesque film than to make fun of Mohammed." The "lousy film" he's referring to is "Innocence of Muslims," an amateurish, 14-minute video that mocks the Prophet Mohammed as a womanizer, child molester and killer. The video drew international attention last week and spawned heated protests in more than a dozen countries. Any depiction of Islam's prophet is considered blasphemy by many Muslims. France will close embassies and schools in about 20 countries on Friday, the main Muslim day of prayer, as a precaution, the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday. It is already boosting security in some locations. There has been no violence reported as a result of the cartoons so far. They were published just a day after hundreds of Muslims took to Twitter to satirize the U.S. magazine Newsweek's cover story on "Muslim Rage." Muslims posted tongue-in-cheek tweets about what enrages them, such as having a really good hair day but no one knowing because you wear a hijab. Hend Amry, who posted that tweet as @LibyaLiberty, said Charlie Hebdo's latest cartoons were a cynical attempt to inflate sales. Opinion: Media don't get #MuslimRage She compared it to the French magazine that printed topless photos of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge last week. "Like printing tawdry pics of (Catherine) Middleton -- lowbrow rating booster," she said. "If we're going to chart it on the Muslim insult-o-meter, it is less inflammatory than the 'film,' but does continue the East/West divide we see," she told CNN. Charlie Hebdo journalist Laurent Leger said the magazine has shown Muslim men and Muslim extremists in the past, but does not explicitly state that the cartoons are depictions of the Prophet Mohammed. Rather, he said, the cartoons are open to interpretation. "The aim is to laugh. We want to laugh at the extremists -- every extremist. They can be Muslim, Jewish, Catholic. Everyone can be religious, but extremist thoughts and acts we cannot accept," Leger said. Hend Amry said she didn't believe that was really the magazine's intention. "No it isn't. It's for ratings," she said. Leger said the magazine was within its rights. "In France, we always have the right to write and draw. And if some people are not happy with this, they can sue us and we can defend ourselves. That's democracy. You don't throw bombs, you discuss, you debate. But you don't act violently. We have to stand and resist pressure from extremism." The cartoons are already drawing strong condemnation by the French Muslim community. Mohammed Moussaoui, president of the French Council of Muslim Faith, described a feeling of "indignation against this new Islamophobic act" to BFM-TV. He said the cartoons are "insulting for the prophet of Islam," and described their publication as a "new provocation." French authorities have already taken precautionary measures, with police vehicles parked outside the offices of Charlie Hebdo late Tuesday. The offices were the scene of an attack last November, when they were burned on the day the magazine was due to publish an issue with a cover appearing to make fun of Islamic law. The cover featured a bearded and turbaned cartoon figure of the Prophet Mohammed saying, "100 lashes if you're not dying of laughter." The magazine received threats after it announced that the edition would be guest-edited by the Prophet Mohammed and dedicated to the Arab Spring, Charbonnier told BFM-TV in November. The cartoonist known as Luz has been under police protection since last year, when one of his illustrations depicting the Prophet Mohammed was featured on the cover of that issue. Luz told CNN the latest cartoons depicting Mohammed are not featured on the cover. "We learned our lesson," Luz said. French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault weighed in on the debate Tuesday, expressing "his disapproval of any excess" and appealing "to the spirit of responsibility of each," according to a statement from his office. "The prime minister states that the freedom of speech makes up one of the fundamental principles of our republic. This freedom is expressed within the confines of the law and under the control of the courts," the statement read. Outside the country, security at French embassies have been reinforced, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said. "I am against all provocations, especially during a period as sensitive as this one. I do not see any usefulness in such provocation," he told the radio station France Info. "There must be freedom of speech, but I am absolutely opposed to any provocation." France has seen rising tensions over its rapidly growing Muslim minority -- the largest Muslim population in western Europe. Last year, the country banned the wearing of Islamic veils and other face coverings, claiming they were both degrading and a security risk. Belgium has passed similar legislation, and Switzerland banned the building of minarets, the tall spires which often stand next to mosques.
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| Dr M: BN won’t get supermajority Posted: 18 Sep 2012 11:27 PM PDT
The influential former prime minister says Najib's government is weak. Syed Jaymal Zahiid, FMT Influential former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today described the Najib government as weak and predicted that it will not gain the much-needed parliamentary supermajority in the upcoming polls. Malaysia's longest-serving premier said the present government under Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak was too focused on "surviving" after its record losses in the 2008 general election, meaning it could not make "strong decisions" needed to push the country forward. Mahathir had in the past hinted repeatedly that Najib was making concessions to popular and opposition demands to shore up support and warned that this could weaken his administration. Speaking at the 2012 Perdana Global CEO Forum here today, the country's fourth prime minister said he would not "say anything bad" of Najib's performance now but hinted that it was too occupied with wooing voters at the expense of development. "I think Barisan Nasional will win but I think the majority will not be so good," he said in his keynote address entitled "What to expect post-13th general election". "If you ask me, will BN deliver after it wins? Today the government is not strong… it is trying to survive. What it is doing is just surviving. When a government is only trying to survive, it cannot focus on development." Mahathir also hinted that Najib, an unelected prime minister who took office in April 2009, was splashing out cash to woo voters and hinted that it was almost "close to vote buying". Spending a lot of money "I won't say anything bad about Najib. I'm supposed to be campaigning for him but what I can tell you is, he is spending a lot of money. I wish I could have done that but we didn't have that much money then," he joked. The former premier had often dodged rating Najib's performance in the past, repeatedly saying that he would avoid giving negative feedbacks. Observers interpret Mahathir's response as a hint that the outlook on Najib's leadership and approach to redeem BN's losses in 2008 was not good. And while he is seen campaigning hard to ensure the ruling coalition stays in power, analysts said this does not necessarily translate into endorsement for Najib. Today, Mahathir again urged voters to be mindful of voting in the opposition, saying that although the present administration may have its weaknesses, the country can improve with only a reshuffle in leadership. He said voting the opposition into power could be disastrous and the voters will have to "pay the price" when most of the policies of the opposition are in place. BN claimed most of the ideas proposed by Pakatan Rakyat were populist and unrealistic. Pakata had promised to raise oil subsidies, lower car prices and cut taxes but the government said these measures will affect revenue and hinder development.
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| Taib is worth RM45b, believe it or not Posted: 18 Sep 2012 11:23 PM PDT
When Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud told longhouses residents in Sungai Aup, Sibu, in 2010 that he had 'more money than he can ever spend', people understood that he was rich. But how rich, was anyone's guess. Pushparani Thilaganathan, FMT Earlier today, Swiss-based NGO, Bruno Manser Fund (BMF), threw some light when it released its report: The Taib Timber Mafia. Facts and Figures on Politically Exposed Persons from Sarawak, Malaysia. According to the report, Taib and his 20-member family clan are collectively worth US$21 billion (RM64 billion). Taib himself is worth US$15 billion (RM45 billion) and, according to the report, "is the richest man in Malaysia"… his wealth having been derived from "plundering the state during his three decades as Chief Minister of Sarawak". It further explains why Umno and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak cannot muscle old man Taib out of his decades-old political seat. Also wallowing in wealth are Taib's better known siblings Onn Mahmud, Tufail Mahmud, Raziah Mahmud and his children Mahmud Bekir, Sulaiman Rahman, Jamilah and Hanifah. Also in this elite loop is his first cousin Hamid Sepawi. Lesser known to the masses are Taib's 12 other clan members, also "business magnets" worth millions in US dollar. Disclosing these financial details in a 45-page report released in Brussels in conjunction with the visit of the Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister, Bernard Dompok, to the European Union, BMF noted that "godfather" Taib and his family may have more "assets hidden in offshore districts", which may be untraceable. "The facts and figures of the Taib family are merely the tip of the iceberg as many family assets are likely to be hidden overseas or in offshore districts where information is virtually impossible to obtain." But the extensive research into Taib's business in Malaysia and overseas had, however, uncovered the vast dimensions of the family's illicit assets. "This report aims to build up international pressure against the corrupt Taib family and provide investigating bodies, journalists, Sarawakians and interested parties with detailed evidence on the Taib financial empire. "The report also aims to demonstrate the financial and political control that Taib has over Sarawak and provides profiles on the chief minister and his family members, all of whom have financially benefited from the destruction of Sarawak's rainforest," it said. The reports claimed that Taib abused his position as chief minister, state finance minister, and planning and resources minister, to award his family members with timber and palm oil concessions, state contracts and directorships in Sarawak's largest companies. It notes that in 2009, his three ministries controlled 49.6% of the state's operating expenditure of RM1.19 billion (US% 391 million) and 80% of the state's development expenditure of RM3.08 billion (US$1.01 billion), with the other 10 ministers sharing the rest. Overflowing wealth
Detailing the wealth list of the Taib clan, the report said that the second richest man in Malaysia was Taib's brother Onn Mahmud, who is worth US$2 billion (RM6 billion). Also sharing the billionaire tag with a net worth of US%1.5 billion (RM4.5 billion) and US$1 billion (RM3 billion) respectively were Taib's elder son Mahmud Bekir and his Canada-based socialite daughter Jamilah Taib-Murray. His two other children – the "invisible" Kota Samarahan MP, Sulaiman Rahman, is worth US$300 million (RM900 million) while and daughter Hanifah has US$400 million (RM1.2 billion) to her name. Taib's sibling Onn Mahmud has an alleged net worth of US$1.5 billion (RM4.5 billion) and is the second richest man in Malaysia, while his other brother Tufail has US$600 million (RM1.8 billion) and sister Raziah is worth US$500 million (RM1.5 billion). Other siblings noted in the report are Arip Mahmud who is worth US$100 million (RM300 million), Ibrahim Mahmud and Ali Mahmud at US$20 million (RM60 million) each. His sister Ferdahanum and Zaleha are worth US$10 million (RM30 million) each while the net worth of another sister Aisah Zainab is not known. Also mentioned in the report is Taib's cousin Hamid Sepawi who made the Forbes Asia 2012 list . Hamid, who is the founder of Ta Ann Group, a timber conglomerate, is worth US$175 million (RM535 million), according to the list. Next in line is Taib's in-laws. His daughter Jamilah's husband, Sean Murray, is worth US$10 million (RM30 million) while Hanifah's spouse Syed Ahmad enjoys US$20 million (RM60 million) in assets. Of his brother-in laws, Robert Geneid (Raziah's spouse) has US$10 million (RM30 million) and Ferdahanum's man Abdul Aziz Husain has US$20 million (RM60 million).
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| Freeze Taib’s accounts, govts told Posted: 18 Sep 2012 11:20 PM PDT
A Swiss NGO has lumped Taib Mahmud together with 'money launderers' Indonesian president Suharto and Philippines' Marcos. (FMT) - Swiss NGO, Bruno Manser Fund (BMF), has reiterated its call for governments and banks around the globe to freeze the assets of Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud and his family. It has also called on anti-corruption and anti-money-laundering authorities worldwide to investigate the Taib family's business activities. In a statement issued in conjunction with the release of its report 'The Taib Timber Mafia. Facts and Figures on Politically Exposed Persons from Sarawak, Malaysia' in Brussels, Belgium earlier today, BMF said the Taibs could be compared to Indonesia's president Suharto and president Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines. "The Taibs are being compared to the Suharto and Marcos clans who have also stolen billions from their countries. "According to Transparency International, former Indonesian president Suharto had embezzled US$15 to US$35 billion, while former Philippines president Ferdinand Marcos is thought to have stolen between US$20 and US$900 billion. "We want the governments and banks around the globe to freeze Taib family assets. "These assets should be frozen and restituted to the people of Sarawak, and the Taib family and their co-conspirators should be prosecuted for corruption, abuse of public funds, fraud, money laundering, tax evasion and other related crimes," noted the statement, alluding to the report which detailed Taib and his family's extensive wealth. According to the report, which was released to coincide with the visit by the Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister, Bernard Dompok, to the European Union, Taib and his 20-member clan are worth US$21 billion (RM64 billion). And the extensive wealth, the report claims, was derived "through the almost complete political and economic control of Sarawak" over the past three decades. "Taib Mahmud has systematically plundered a country once rich in natural resources, particularly oil, gas and timber. While the proceeds of the oil and gas extraction are mostly benefiting Malaysia's federal government, the Sarawak state government enjoys total autonomy as to the use of the state's forest resources and state lands. "The Bruno Manser Fund estimates the combined net worth of 20 Taib family members at close to US$21 billion, which have been acquired through the almost complete political and economic control of Sarawak, over three decades. "In particular, the Taibs have established monopolies over the granting of timber and plantation concessions, the export of timber to third countries, the maintenance of public roads as well as over the production and sale of cement and a number of other construction materials," it said. Taib's assets being monitored
Taib, an impoverished carpenter's son, has been helming Sarawak since 1981. According to the report, his personal wealth now stands at US$15 billion (RM45 billion), making him the richest man in Malaysia. The second richest man in Malaysia is his brother Onn Mahmud with a net worth of US$1.5 billion (RM4.5 billion). Both have been closely linked to logging scandals dating back to 1981, the year Taib assumed the chief minister's post. The report cited two key scandals – one in 2007 and another in 2008. "In 2007, a scandal exposed by the Japanese tax authorities revealed that tens of millions of US dollars had been paid in secret, illegal kickbacks by Japanese shipping companies exporting timber from Sarawak. "The money was paid directly to Hong Kong companies linked to the chief minister's brother, Onn Mahmud. The Japanese cartel concluded an agreement in 1981 with Malaysia's Dewan Niaga Sarawak regarding lumber transport. "Dewan Niaga is a state-affiliated agency in charge of lumber export control and is headed by Onn Mahmud, one of Taib's brothers. "In 2008, Indonesian newspaper, Tribun Pontianak, revealed that around 30 shipments of illegal Indonesian logs were imported into Sarawak and re-exported to other countries every month. Chief Minister Taib Mahmud was implicated in this timber scam," the report noted.
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| Fake website or serious opposition mouthpiece? - PBS Posted: 18 Sep 2012 05:24 PM PDT
(Bernama) - Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) has urged Malaysians in Sabah to look at the website http://suarapakatanrakyat.com/ postings since August 2011 to judge for themselves whether Suara Pakatan Rakyat is a fake website or a serious opposition mouthpiece created specifically to discredit Barisan Nasional (BN) in a systematic manner. PBS has described the opposition's denial and calls for evidence to link the blog to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) as a desperate attempt to distance itself from the controversial but popular pro-opposition blog. PBS assistant secretary-general Daniel Kinsik said the PBS police report and subsequent statement (over an article) did not point finger specifically at PKR, but rather the blog and the blogger whose writings were obviously pro-opposition and critical of BN. PKR Sabah deputy secretary-general Darrel Leiking had earlier challenged PBS secretary-general Datuk Henrynus Amin to produce evidence to link PKR to the blog. "What evidence is Darrel talking about when the PBS police report simply urged the police to investigate the seditious nature of the article," said Daniel in a statement, here, today. "Why is he so jumpy when nothing is said to specifically accuse PKR of being the author of the blog? Does he know something we do not know?" What is there to be afraid of? "As a lawyer, Darrel should read the PBS police report and subsequent statement, before jumping to conclusion merely based on sensational headlines created by the editors to add spark," he said. Daniel said PKR Kadazandusun and Murut leaders were confused and started acting strange as the controversial article mocking the Sumazau dance must weigh heavily on their conscience as opposition leaders, knowing very well Suara Pakatan Rakyat is a mouthpiece for the opposition agenda. "Notwithstanding the police investigation, PBS' stand is that the article in the Suara Pakatan Rakyat blog is seditious in nature and seems to be the work of those closely linked to the opposition agenda. "If indeed Pakatan Rakyat has nothing to do with the controversial blog, they should take legal action to stop Suara Pakatan Rakyat from further publishing, using a name closely identical to theirs," he said. However, Daniel said, the people of Sabah would not be easily fooled by the opposition denial, as Darrel's antics merely reinforced public suspicion that Pakatan Rakyat was desperate and afraid of the unexpected turn of events against them.
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| Why should politics be in black and white? Posted: 18 Sep 2012 05:16 PM PDT
Narrow view of politics reduces it to a two-size fits all dichotomy: you are either all Pakatan or all BN, writes Ong Kar Jin. By Ong Kar Jin, FMT The world is not black and white. Even for the colour blind, there are shades of grey (indeed, as many as ahem, Fifty Shades of Grey!). One of the first things we learn as we grow up is that things are often not simple – nuances permeate our world. Somehow, however, this awareness that the world is not binary is suspended in our perception of Malaysian politics. Depending on whether you follow the mainstream or alternative media, every forthright political participant is pigeon-holed as either an anti-government/pro-opposition troublemaker, or a government-paid lapdog cyber trooper. Following on from this artificial labelling is the "all-or-nothing" expectation of the personalities involved. Nothing good must be said of the other side, and 100% adherence to your side is demanded. A recent example is the comment by PAS member of parliament for Hulu Langat Che Mat Che Rosli that radiation levels from the much-loathed Lynas plant were low. He was swiftly bombarded with criticisms including charges that he was paid by the government to lie and he had turned traitor. Che Mat, a nuclear scientist by training, was blasted for stating a fact as he saw it. Or consider the issue of low wages in Malaysia: those who opposed minimum wage were swiftly branded as selfish rich capitalists while those who supported it were labeled socialists. This binary view turned Twitterjaya into a class warfare background. Lost in the hostilities was a deeper consideration of the issue at stake, and the reasoning behind the different positions. Refsa considers this narrow view of politics a serious impediment to the development of a mature democracy in Malaysia. It reduces politics to a two-size fits all dichotomy: you are either all Pakatan or all BN: "[My side] is always good. [My side] is always right. [The other side] is always wrong." This all-or-nothing approach is presumptuous and undesirable. It is presumptuous as the stifling of dissent suggests that only the views of the party leaders are correct and important. It is undesirable as it fails to recognise different opinions on particular issues and prevents constructive discourse. The fact is there can be many potential approaches to address the social problems of our day. Rational, intelligent thinking people would be expected to evaluate proposed policies on a case-by-case basis, and cannot be expected to always support everything a particular party is doing. Constructive criticism must be welcomed. Dissenters must not be labelled as traitors. Expanding our horizons All mature democracies accept constructive criticism as necessary for improvement. Consider this: back in 2008, then Democratic US presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton had differing opinions on how to run the economy and conduct foreign policy. They intensely criticised each other's proposals, and the debates allowed a consensus on the 'best' policies to evolve. So much so that Mrs Clinton subsequently agreed to serve as President Obama's Secretary of State! No one was called a traitor or chucked into some stereotypical category, because the American public recognised the goal of the discourse. Recognising the colourful views that people have can be bitter, but is ultimately beneficial. For our democracy to mature, we Malaysians must expand our horizons and realise that people have a right to express different stands on different issues. We may have our political leanings but it does not mean we have to support our particular party blindly all the time, for we are not mindless automatons. In fact, like any parent who has scolded their child will know, it is those who give fair criticism that truly have their beloved's best interests at heart. Sadly, our mainstream media is not facilitating this maturation process. Part of the internet vitriol directed at Che Mat following his comments on the Lynas plant were probably because he was misrepresented in the mainstream media. He said that radiation levels were low but the most critical issue of waste disposal had yet to be addressed; the mainstream media quoted him as saying Lynas was safe!
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| Zakir Naik’s host defends invite Posted: 18 Sep 2012 05:12 PM PDT
Saba Islamic Media invites non-Muslims to the controversial orator's talks. G Vinod, FMT Saba Islamic Media today defended its invitation of controversial Islamic orator Dr Zakir Naik to give talks in Malaysia, saying its purpose was to promote harmony among people of various religions. Saba spokesman Shakirin Kakulal Govindji said his organisation was inviting non-Muslims to Naik's talks and would give them priority during the question-and-answer sessions. News that the Mumbai-born physician-turned-orator was coming to Malaysia next week has caused fierce debate on the Internet, with some commentators alleging that Naik has often insulted non-Islamic faiths in his talks. "We are a multi-religious country and we want to maintain the peace and harmony in Malaysia," Govindji told FMT. "In the past 20 years, Saba Islamic Media has worked towards building bridges with people of different faiths in the country." He said that among Saba's objectives in inviting Naik was to have him clarify Islamic views on unity among people of all faiths, the Islamic perspective on modern science, and Muslims' misconception of terrorism and jihad. Naik is scheduled to deliver a series of talks between next week and Oct 7 at several venues, including the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC). Govindji said there would be a non-Muslim panellist at the PWTC event. "We also invite non-Muslims to attend the talks," he said. "Priority will be given to them to pose questions. Rest assured that no one will stop you. "So I urge those who disagree with Zakir's thoughts to put forward your rebuttals and allow him to answer them. Zakir has agreed to end the sessions late to accommodate all questions." Govindji also explained his own views on inter-faith harmony. He said that although there were doctrinal differences between religions, this did not mean that people of different faiths could not unite on common ground.
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| Posted: 18 Sep 2012 05:05 PM PDT  Looking beyond the recently-signed Kuching Declaration, the most important thing is not about what's being said before the elections, but what comes after it. Yet, the document is quite vague on how best to address the states' problems beyond the royal commission of inquiry on illegal immigrants (which the Barisan-led government has already agreed to) and increasing oil royalties. "These are all essentially the same things they promised in 2008," said Dr Jeniri Amir, a political communication and history lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. Yu Ji, The Star THE Kuching Declaration, by the Pakatan Rakyat, seeks to redress the development imbalance between Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah should it win the impending general election. The declaration's seven points relate to restoring the spirit of the "Malaysia Agreement". It includes upping the number of Sarawakians and Sabahans in decision-making positions within the civil service, initiating a royal commission on illegal migrants, and increasing oil royalties for both states from 5% to 20%. In the last paragraph of the declaration, it summarises the points as "an incontrovertible contract between Pakatan Rakyat and the peoples of Malaysia". Leaving aside the outcome of the polls, the declaration brings to light two significant points. Firstly, will the majority of Sarawakians and Sabahans see the significance of the declaration? Secondly, does Pakatan Rakyat, and in particular PKR, have enough good candidates in rural constituencies? The second point will determine whether Pakatan has a good chance at taking the helm of Putrajaya. We know how strong DAP is in the urban and a couple of semi-rural areas. PAS, meanwhile, has not had much success in this liberal state. One of the prime movers of the Kuching Declaration is a restaurateur, who happens to be the ex-manager of singer/actress Ning Baizura. Vernon Kedit runs the popular "the Dyak" restaurant in Kuching, which has a 4.5 out of five rating on tripadvisor.com. When asked to help organise Pakatan's Malaysia Day celebrations here, Vernon applied the same flair he had acquired as a pop star's manager as well as the attention to detail so evident in his restaurant's food. The man is smart, eloquent and has a passion for all things Sarawak. "We could have just had an 'event', or we could have a significant one. We chose the latter," Vernon told me in an interview this week. For two weeks, Vernon and his Pakatan counterparts — including state DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen, a multi-term MP and state assemblyman, and PAS officials — discussed and debated the contents of the declaration. Several key words were removed and then reinstated just days ahead of Malaysia Day. The final version was preceded by eight drafts. On Sept 16, six state and national Pakatan leaders signed the declaration at Chong Lin Commercial Centre, the venue of a massive ceramah on the eve of 2008's general election, which led to Barisan's worst showing since Merdeka. Altogether, six documents were signed - one for each of the signatories to take home. Three billboard-sized declarations were also on their way back to the headquarters of each of the Pakatan parties. The Kuching Declaration, according to Vernon, is a legal document. "Whereas Buku Jingga is a book of policies, the Kuching Declaration is a very legal piece of paper. You cannot bring Buku Jingga to court, but you can bring the declaration to one," Vernon said. "It guarantees us autonomy and as equal partners within Malaysia." The underlying theme of the declaration is the ones stating "Sarawak for Sarawakians," and "Sabah for Sabahans". Yet, the document is quite vague on how best to address the states' problems beyond the royal commission of inquiry on illegal immigrants (which the Barisan-led government has already agreed to) and increasing oil royalties. "These are all essentially the same things they promised in 2008," said Dr Jeniri Amir, a political communication and history lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. Jeniri also dismissed the declaration as a "gimmick to win the "hearts and minds" of Sarawakian and Sabahan voters. How exactly would autonomy translate into better governance to ensure that Sarawakians and Sabahans have, say, better education opportunities, he asked. "Yes, there are inequalities and yes, the Opposition has made inroads into the rural areas, judging by the votes in the last state elections. "Barisan should seriously consider some of the problems raised by Pakatan. "But on the declaration, it's just the same promises all over again." Personally, I doubt the declaration would have much impact beyond the urban middle-class. How many people in Baram or Hulu Rajang know about the Malaysia Agreement? How many young people know about the 18- and 20-point agreements? In time, will the Kuching Declaration be remembered as a significant happening; or will it fade away as a mere footnote in history? All that depends on the outcome of the general election. After all, the only thing that matters the most is not what is being said before the elections, but what comes after it.
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| Posted: 18 Sep 2012 05:00 PM PDT
Malaysia is also facing an economic downturn, no matter what the bastions of power say. It's getting harder to get jobs, be promoted and be awarded projects, the right way. Brilliant graduates and professionals are dismayed when they find out that meritocracy doesn't exist in corporate Malaysia. Dina Zaman, The Malaysian Insider Of course, everyone is talking about this phenomenon. From the office worker, to the budding fashionista, right up to high society itself. "Well. I suppose it is a good sign…. that… Melayu dah maju," a friend said. You must have seen them: The New Rich and Beautiful. The young men are handsome, and the young women appear regularly in local magazines. They drive the best. Porsche Cayenne is the car of the moment, though by the time this is published, the new rich may have moved on to another make. An 800 square feet apartment with a RM4,000 rental tag does not deter them. Their precincts? "Oddly enough," the said friend observed, "there's a lot of them in Kota Damansara. (pause) Well. The cars." Inevitably the conversation will lead to the ever oft question: Who's their father? Or mother? This phenomenon is nothing new. Edith Wharton and F. Scott Fitzgerald recorded the clash of old and new money in their novels. Vanity Fair – the high brow magazine which reports on politics plus lifestyle and entertainment – and Tatler UK are glossy and excellent bibles of the rich and powerful. In Malaysia, local editions of high society magazines like Tatler, Prestige, as well as the uber fashionista's must-have, GLAM, are showcases of the who's who, who's rising, who's had a botched nose job, and occasionally the fallen. And in this gilded world, the backbiting, the status jostling and social brokerage is only for those with courage and tenacity. This seems to be the domain of social opportunists. So who are the new and young rich? A good majority belong to the Concession Generation. Daddies and mummies were shrewd proxies and held government contracts. Not all of them were given contracts through unethical means, but nevertheless, their wealth sprang from work and projects with the government of the day. How are they different from the offspring of old money? Anoura (names have been changed to protect the privacy of those interviewed) captured the difference rather succinctly. Anoura parties with them. "These kids go to national schools, or private schools which only teach the national curriculum. They don't go to private international schools, that the children of old money do." Why is that? She laughed. "Sebab they all tu ramai bodoh. You think they can pass IB (International Baccalaureate?) The expat kids and the old money kids are bloody smart, okay? Their worldview is global. Budak-budak ni, at the end of the day, Melayu beb." May we quote you on that? "Sure. Just don't use my real name. I'm part of the system too." Anoura sighed. She knows the system too well. Her father is part of it. "To get the deal, sometimes, he has to 'kill' the tenders." Her father was once a civil servant, and most of his friends were too. Like the many brokers and wheeler-dealers in the city, he and his friends just need to strike that ONE deal, and they'll be happy. And because of their former work in the government, they understand the protocols. This leg-up has helped somewhat, but they haven't got that deal yet. Not yet. "Even a small meal with the guys at the bottom of the rung costs RM500. That's one dinner. Imagine a few dinners a week. In all the years my father has started brokering for deals, he has been swindled by friends. They have to pay cuts to the people who may help them along the way. Why does he do this? Simple. After all the things they've gone through, they think they deserve a deal."
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| Posted: 18 Sep 2012 04:33 PM PDT
And what I mean is that while we talk about struggle and sacrifice in the interest of seeing change, very few are prepared to compromise and sacrifice for the sake of this change. Hence all this talk of struggle, sacrifice and change is mere idle talk that is going to lead to nowhere. NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin Kalau takut pada risiko, usah bicara tentang perjuangan. Kalau takut dipukul ombak, jangan berumah di tepi pantai. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. There is a reason why Muslims fast for 30 days during the month of Ramadhan. It is to teach, train and condition yourself to endure pain and suffering, resist temptation and lust, and to enter into a mental state of tolerance and patience. Many Muslims who seldom pray or do not pray at all would still fast. You rejoice when the month of Ramadhan arrives and you gladly deny your body its desires. In short, you abstain from worldly needs and distractions. Muslims also have to pray five times a day. And to be able to pray five times a day on a very rigid schedule means you must also have discipline. You must also live with inconvenience because no matter whether you are travelling on a journey or locked in a meeting you must always find the time to pray, even when it is not really convenient to do so. Even if you are sick in bed you will wake up to pray and then go back to sleep. Hence facing and tolerating inconvenience is a daily routine for you and you endure it not with a sigh of regret but with a willing heart and joy. You look forward to your prayers, as you do your fasting. Humans have needs and urges. Humans have passion and emotion. Humans suffer thirst and hunger. Humans suffer vanity, ego, anger, lust, fear, envy, greed, jealousy, and much more. But all these need to be suppressed. There are only two things you are allowed to feel: patience and tolerance. Everything else need to be set aside. Considering that these are the objectives and ideals of fasting and praying five times a day, those who comply to these tenets or rituals should have been taught, trained and conditioned to become marvellous human beings. If by the time you are, say, 30, and you have been praying five times a day and fasting for 30 days every year since you were in standard one, you would have been programmed to smile under duress and under any provocative situation. This, however, does not appear to be so. In spite of all that training, Muslims still have a very short fuse and will fly off the handle at the slightest provocation. They will become very violent and will easily resort to physical action when rubbed the wrong way, however mild that provocation may be. Muslims give the impression that they are a time bomb just waiting to explode. This is the greatest contradiction you will find in Muslims. Their lips would constantly utter words such as berjaung (struggle), korban (sacrifice), sabar (patience cum tolerance), etc. But it is only lip service. It is not something in their hearts. It makes you wonder whether their prayers and fasting have done any good. Would they have been better off smoking marijuana and doing meditation? At least those who do would preach love, tolerance and peace although they may not believe in Allah or Prophet Muhammad. The 'turn the other cheek' doctrine is nonexistent for most Muslims. They do not even practice the concept of 'an eye for an eye'. It is more like 'your whole head for an eye' dogma. Hence we are seeing the violent reaction all over the world at what Muslims perceive as an insult to Prophet Muhammad. The irony of this whole thing is that those who are punished are not really the culprits. We punish other people for something someone else did. If an Indonesian robs us in Bangsar we bomb Jakarta although that particular Indonesian who robbed us may be living in Petaling Jaya. Malays/Muslims are not the only ones who demonstrate hypocrisy, though. Chinese, Indians, natives of East Malaysia, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, etc., are also the same. They talk about struggle and sacrifice. But struggle and sacrifice are what they expect others to do. They themselves would not do all this. They understand that struggle and sacrifice work hand-in-glove. One can't exist without the other. But are they prepared to endure one for the sake of the other? Very few Malaysians would although they accuse others of violating this basic principle of the cause. Okay, we want change. We want to see the end of Barisan Nasional rule. We want to see a new government. And we want Pakatan Rakyat to be that new government. I can buy that. I have no problems with that. I am prepared to struggle for that. I am even prepared to sacrifice for that. But are you? Are you people who are screaming and shouting about change prepared to also struggle and sacrifice to see this change happen? Or do you want others to do the struggling and sacrificing so that you can be spared this inconvenience? Actually, the majority of you are all talk. Mere hot air. Very few of you are prepared to struggle and sacrifice. You talk about struggle and sacrifice, no doubt. But you talk about it in the context of what you expect others to do, not what you are prepared to do. And most of you will deny this. And you will get very angry if I were to suggest this. You are noble and sincere and how dare I accuse you otherwise? But most of you are actually a load of bullshit. And to make matters worse you do not even realise you are a load of bullshit. So you are noble and sincere, are you? You are prepared to struggle and sacrifice, are you? You want to see change, do you? Well, let's see. Are the Malays prepared to drop the Islamic State and Hudud agenda in favour of a Secular State for the sake of change if that is the only way to kick out Barisan Nasional and replace it with Pakatan Rakyat? Are the non-Malays prepared to embrace the Islamic State and Hudud agenda for the sake of change if that is the only way to kick out Barisan Nasional and replace it with Pakatan Rakyat? Are the Chinese prepared to drop their Chinese school and mother-tongue education agenda in favour of national schools for the sake of change if that is the only way to kick out Barisan Nasional and replace it with Pakatan Rakyat? Are the Indians prepared to drop their Hindu agenda for the sake of change if that is the only way to kick out Barisan Nasional and replace it with Pakatan Rakyat? Are the East Malaysians prepared to drop the 18/20-Point Agreements and accept federalisation for the sake of change if that is the only way to kick out Barisan Nasional and replace it with Pakatan Rakyat? Are the Malays prepared to drop the New Economic Policy in favour of meritocracy for the sake of change if that is the only way to kick out Barisan Nasional and replace it with Pakatan Rakyat? Are the non-Malays prepared to embrace the New Economic Policy for the sake of change if that is the only way to kick out Barisan Nasional and replace it with Pakatan Rakyat? Are the Malays prepared to drop the Monarchy in favour of a Republic for the sake of change if that is the only way to kick out Barisan Nasional and replace it with Pakatan Rakyat? Are the Malays prepared to accept a woman or non-Malay Prime Minister for the sake of change if that is the only way to kick out Barisan Nasional and replace it with Pakatan Rakyat? Rest assured the above are but a few examples. My list can go on and on if you wish to include the rights of gays, conversion of Muslims to other religions, Bibles in Bahasa Malaysia, English as the language of the Federation, and so much more. But I trust even these few examples demonstrate what I mean. And what I mean is that while we talk about struggle and sacrifice in the interest of seeing change, very few are prepared to compromise and sacrifice for the sake of this change. Hence all this talk of struggle, sacrifice and change is mere idle talk that is going to lead to nowhere. And you got the bloody cheek to scream at me for not being true to the cause and for refusing to join the fight for change? How can you expect me to join a group that comprise of a whole bunch of hypocrites? |
| Duo’s application struck out in RPK suit Posted: 18 Sep 2012 02:48 PM PDT
(The Star) - The High Court here has struck out an application by two lieutenant colonels to amend their statement of claim in a defamation suit filed against blogger Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin. High Court judge Justice Su Geok Yiam dismissed the application after ruling that the issues for amendment brought up by Lt-Col Abdul Aziz Buyong and Lt-Col Norhayati Hassan were matters of evidence rather than fact. She also ruled that there had been no satisfactory explanation for the delay in the amendment. No date has been set for the next mention. Raja Petra was charged with defaming Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and the two senior military officers in a statutory declaration made at the Jalan Duta court complex on June 18, 2008. However, the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court subsequently granted him a discharge not amounting to an acquittal over the charge. The two lieutenant colonels have since filed separate RM1mil defamation suits against him.
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| Pejabat SUARAM diserbu pegawai ROS, polis Posted: 18 Sep 2012 02:20 PM PDT
Pejabat Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) di sini hari ini diserbu oleh enam orang pegawai pendaftar pertubuhan (ROS) dan polis. Menurut peguam yang berada di pejabat SUARAM, Fadiah Nadwa Fikri, polis dan pegawai ROS itu datang ke pejabat SUARAM pada sekitar 11:50 pagi tadi. "Mereka cuba untuk masuk ke pejabat untuk menggeledah pejabat, tetapi kami tidak benarkan kerana mereka tidak mempunyai waran geledah. "Setakat ini mereka hanya berada di luar pejabat, dan kami masih tidak membenarkan mereka masuk, keadaan masih lagi dalam keadaan terkawal," kata Fadiah lagi. Serbuan ini dikaitkan dengan dakwaan SUARAM menerima dana asing dan pertubuhan ini dikatakan mempunyai "akaun yang meragukan". Badan hak asasi manusia itu dikatakan menerima serangan kerana terus terlibat dalam siasatan dari Perancis berkenaan penyelewengan wang bernilai berbillion ringgit untuk membeli dua buah kapal selam Scorpene.
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| White House: Libya attack may have been preplanned Posted: 18 Sep 2012 02:13 PM PDT
(Yahoo News) - THE White House on Tuesday explicitly left open the possibility that last week's dramatic attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, which left four Americans including U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens dead, was a preplanned attack. Press secretary Jay Carney suggested the assault could have been the work of an armed group looking to "take advantage" of unrest he blamed on an anti-Islam video available online. Carney repeatedly described that footage as the "precipitating" cause of the protests and the violence targeting American diplomatic posts in Egypt, Libya, Sudan, Tunisia and elsewhere.
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| 'Fatwa' to kill issued against anti-Islam filmmaker Posted: 18 Sep 2012 02:04 PM PDT
(Agencies) - A Fatwa was issued against filmmaker Nakoula Basseley Nakoula amidst warnings from Hizbollah of dangerous repercussions if the anti-Islam film is released in full. Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah called the film the "worst attack ever on Islam". Hizbollah warned of "very dangerous" global repercussions if an anti-Islam film is released in its entirety, as a fatwa was issued against the film's producer who has gone into hiding with his family. The warning from Hizbollah's Hassan Nasrallah came as the death toll from a week of violence sparked by the movie rose to 19. An eruption of Muslim anger over a trailer of the American-made film that appeared on the internet has spread across the world, taking hold Monday in Afghanistan, Indonesia, the West Bank, the Philippines and Yemen. Tens of thousands of demonstrators poured into the streets of southern Beirut to denounce the film at Nasrallah's request, and the head of the powerful Shiite Muslim group surprised supporters by making a rare public appearance. Nasrallah, whose Lebanese movement is blacklisted in the United States as a terrorist group, has called for a week of protests across the country over the film, describing it as the "worst attack ever on Islam". "America must understand ... the US must understand that releasing the entire film will have dangerous, very dangerous, repercussions around the world," he told the rally. The filmmaker Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, a 55-year-old Egyptian Copt and fraudster who was sentenced to 21 months in prison in the US in June 2010, has not been seen since Saturday when he was questioned by his US parole officer. The risks now facing those involved in the production of the film "Innocence of Muslims", which depicts the Prophet Mohammed as a thuggish womanizer, were underlined when a Salafist cleric in Egypt called Monday for the deaths of all those involved in its making. The film producer's family joined him in hiding, as more cast members of the film that outraged the Islamic world insisted they had been duped into making it. Before dawn on Monday, officers from the Los Angeles County sheriff's department escorted four members of Nakoula's family out of their home to be driven in unmarked police vehicles to an undisclosed location to join him. The terrorism monitoring service SITE Intelligence Group said Ahmad Fouad Ashoush issued his fatwa, or religious edict, against the cast and crew of "Innocence of Muslims" via jihadist internet forums over the weekend. "I issue a fatwa and call on the Muslim youth in America and Europe to do this duty, which is to kill the director, the producer and the actors and everyone who helped and promoted the film," the cleric said. The controversial movie has sparked a week of furious protests outside US embassies and other American symbols in at least 20 countries. In Pakistan, thousands of students burned US flags and chanted anti-American slogans in the northwestern city of Peshawar, where Osama bin Laden kept a home during the 1980s jihad against Soviet troops in adjacent Afghanistan. In the nearby district of Upper Dir, a protester was killed and two others wounded in a shoot-out with police. In Karachi, Pakistan's biggest city, another demonstrator died after being shot in the head during clashes with police near the US consulate on Sunday. The US embassy in Islamabad was closed on Monday because of the risk of demonstrations and diplomats have been banned from all but essential travel throughout the country. In neighboring Afghanistan, protests turned violent for the first time when more than 1,000 people rallied in Kabul, setting police cars and containers ablaze, police told AFP. Between 40 and 50 policemen were "very slightly wounded" by stone-throwers and members of the crowd waving sticks, said Kabul police chief Mohammad Ayoub Salangi. Google has barred access to the video of the film in Egypt, India, Indonesia, Libya and Malaysia, while the government has restricted access to Google-owned YouTube in Afghanistan. Later, Pakistan blocked access to YouTube after an order from Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf to do so, following the video-sharing website's failure to take down the anti-Islam film. Attempts to access YouTube met with a message saying the website had been classed as containing "indecent material". In Jakarta, protesters hurled petrol bombs and clashed with Indonesian police outside the US embassy shouting "America, America go to hell", as demonstrations in the world's most populous Muslim nation turned violent. The capital's police chief Untung Rajab said 11 policemen and a protester were injured and taken to hospital, and that four protesters were arrested. Mass demonstrations after the main weekly Muslim prayers on Friday saw 11 protesters killed as police battled to defend US missions from mobs in Egypt, Lebanon, Sudan, Tunisia and Yemen. The unrest began in Cairo, where protesters stormed the US embassy late Tuesday, replacing the Stars and Strips with an Islamic flag. Hours later it spread to the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, where the US consulate came under sustained attack, killing four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens. In Afghanistan, two US Marines died and six US fighter jets were destroyed when Taliban fighters on Friday stormed a giant airfield to avenge the film. The United States has deployed counterterror Marine units to Libya to protect its embassy in Tripoli and stationed two destroyers off the North African coast. A Marine unit was also dispatched to protect the US embassy in Yemen, where police shot dead four protesters and wounded 34 others on Thursday as a mob breached its perimeter. There were more protests in Yemen on Monday. The United States has evacuated all non-essential staff and family members from Sudan and Tunisia and warned US citizens against travel to the two countries. Libya said it has arrested 50 suspects in connection with the consulate attack. |
| There’s something about Selangor Posted: 18 Sep 2012 01:54 PM PDT
Najib's speeches now are no longer subtle. His message is loud, brash and clear. Selena Tay, FMT The decision by the Pakatan Rakyat-helmed Selangor state government to dissolve the State Legislative Assembly next year seems to have greatly annoyed the Barisan Nasional leaders who have openly accused the Selangor government of being afraid of losing. And Pakatan will lose Selangor because the dirty voter rolls will enable BN to regain Selangor easily. As BN is so cocksure of getting back Selangor, it will only be a matter of time so it has to be patient for just a few more months. Still, this means that BN's plan to hold the polls in November, assuming that it is in November, has encountered a minor glitch for it must be thinking of recapturing Selangor in the 13th general election. Maybe that is why BN is so cross with Pakatan. Yes, this must be the reason. The statement by the Election Commission (EC) that it is a waste of time, money and resources if Selangor were to hold separate polls is also most telling. And perhaps it is this small hiccup that has caused Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to come out with a statement that he was "worried about the future of the Malays and the Muslims should the country come under a different regime" as reported in a local English daily on Sept 16. Well, what have MCA and MIC got to say to this? The same English daily also reported Najib as saying, "I believe those in DAP are not at ease with the position of the Malays and Islam. Just ask those who experience it in Perak and Selangor. PKR is weak. With its combination with others, and if DAP wins big, where will the Malays place their hope?" True, ugly colours What does this show about the 1Malaysia slogan and the credibility of Najib as the one who admitted that 1Malaysia is his brainchild? Back to the question of the general election. Assuming that the polls are planned for November, the latest strategy by the Selangor government has put BN in a fix as the prime minister has vowed to regain Selangor in the 13th general election. This means that he will have failed in his mission if he were to hold the polls in November. It is this thought which must have irked him, is it not? And postponing the polls to March next year is too risky. Some issues that lurk beneath may suddenly resurface to trouble BN besides the unpredictable global economic outlook. Therefore, BN has embarked on a rampage in a frenzied attempt to garner support, especially from the business community where Selangor is concerned. Every Selangorian and especially the business community should remember that Pakatan's prudent management has managed to save the state RM1.9 billion in reserves as at end of last year. Thus BN now no longer bothers if its true, ugly colours are being revealed. It hopes the gullible rakyat will be blind to its faults and its Machiavellian motive to grab Selangor at all costs as well as to win big by regaining the two-third majority in Parliament. BN's election machinery has been activated and the groundwork already started. In the mainstream media, too, there is an overdose of BN's propaganda advertorials. Is it possible for BN to sustain the momentum until March next year? By then, the rakyat will be so fed up and bored to death!
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| Killing innocents is never the answer Posted: 18 Sep 2012 01:42 PM PDT
Violence only begets violence, and once more the poorest and the weakest suffer most. AZMI SHAROM IN 1998, the Clinton administration approved a cruise missile strike on Baghdad. It missed its target (an Iraqi military installation) and hit a civilian home killing the residents. The strike was approved in response to the "guilt" of some Iraqis who had supposedly threatened the life of George Bush the elder. It did not seem to matter that the trial for said crimes was not even over yet when the missile was launched.
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