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Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News


How siege mentality works

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 02:39 PM PST

When will Muslims get out of this siege mentality and stop looking at every act by non-Muslims as an act to undermine Islam? I suppose as long as Judaism and Christianity are seen as competitors to Islam this psyche will never change. Can you see that only Judaism and Christianity are treated with hostility? This is because Muslims do not perceive Hinduism and Buddhism as competitors.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

U.S. triples foreign arms sales in 2011

By Mike Mount, CNN Senior National Security Producer

International weapons sales by the United States tripled in 2011 to a record high of $66.3 billion, according to a congressional report that noted big fighter jet and helicopter purchases by Saudi Arabia.

The data by the non-partisan Congressional Research Service noted an "extraordinary increase" over 2010, saying the total U.S. figure accounted for almost 78 percent of sales globally.

Russia followed the United States at $4.8 billion with France at $4.4 billion, according to the report, "Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations, 2004-2011."

China's 2011 sales were at $2.1 billion but focused less on large weapons platforms such as planes and more on smaller weapons, selling them to Asian countries and to African nations, the report said.

The data allows members of Congress to see "the level of arms transfers by major weapons suppliers to nations in the developing world ... where most the potential for the outbreak of regional military conflicts currently is greatest and where the greatest proportion of the conventional arms trade is conducted," according to the report.

A number of countries in the near-East and Asia, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, continued or resumed large-scale weapons purchases because of continued threats from Iran.

Saudi Arabia was the biggest buyer of arms from the United States, making up about half of the 2011 total at $33.4 billion, according to the report.

Saudi Arabia bought some 84 new F-15 fighter jets to add to its fleet as well as upgrades for 70 others. The purchase also included ammunition and missiles for the planes. Saudi Arabia also bought numerous Apache attack helicopters and multi-use Blackhawk helicopters.

With its very close proximity to Iran, the United Arab Emirates bought an advanced missile shield system called the Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and its corresponding radar systems for almost $3.5 billion. The U.A.E. also bought $939 million worth of Chinook transport helicopters.

Oman bought 18 F-16 fighter jets for $1.4 billion.

"For certain developing nations in these regions, the strength of their individual economies appears to be a key factor in their decisions to proceed with major arms purchases," according to the report.

Last year was the eighth-straight year the United States led global arms sales. The United States and Russia made up almost 70 percent of weapons sales in the developing world between 2008-11.

While the United States showed huge growth in sales, the international arms market is, "not likely growing at all," according to the report.

"There continue to be significant constraints on its (international arms market) growth, due, in particular, to the weakened state of the global economy," the report said.

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

Saudi Arabia is the world's 11th highest military equipment purchaser. And if you notice something else as well, Muslim countries appear to be spending a lot on arms purchases and would spend even more if the US did not block or embargo sales to certain 'unfriendly' Muslim countries.

To prevent war you must be prepared for war, the military strategists say. Hence you arm yourself to the teeth to make sure that no one starts harbouring any ideas of invading your country. And if you own more arms than your neighbour, your neighbour would not dare attack you.

However, since you are well armed, you now pose a threat to your neighbour. Hence your neighbour too needs to match you and also has to become well armed or else you might attack this neighbour instead.

And that is why it is called an arms race. You compete or race with each other to see who can be better armed. So, when your neighbour buys 20 fighter jets you buy 30. When your neighbour buys 30 tanks you buy 40. And so on.

History has shown us that most wars are fought between neighbours. Once in a while we have wars such as Britain versus Argentina over the Falkland Island. Most times, however, it is East versus West or North versus South of the same country or ethnicity.

Of course, the US breaks this rule by getting involved in wars all over the world and halfway across the world. But then being the policeman of the world and in the interest of selling more arms they need to keep wars going. Furthermore, if other countries fight each other, then most likely they would leave the US alone.

Arms trading is probably one of the largest businesses (I was told second to the entertainment industry: which includes music, movies, theatres, casinos, theme parks, clubs, discos, TV, radio, game/reality shows, etc.) and extremely lucrative. There is no compromise on security, which means price is not a criteria. You buy what needs to be bought and pay what needs to be paid with no hesitation. You cannot afford to worry about money when life and limb are at stake.

Muslim countries appear to be top of the list of arms purchasers. And a big portion of their budget is spent on arms rather than on education, health, welfare, and whatnot. And it is basically money down the drain.

How much of those billions that are spent are actually productive? Let us look at Saudi Arabia as one example. Saudi Arabia has not fought any wars. Yet it is the largest buyer of arms. What happens to all those arms that it buys? Well, after a couple of years the weapons become obsolete and need to be mothballed. Then they need to buy the latest and improved version to replace the scrapped armoury.

Hence these billions of weapons have a short shelf life and need to be discarded even though they have never been used. And that is why I said it is money down the drain. It is like buying car insurance. You do not need car insurance unless you crash your car. And probably 99% of the people who buy car insurance do not crash their car. Hence it is money down the drain. Arms are also insurance -- insurance against your neighbour attacking you, which you never use in the end

With the exception of Saudi Arabia, most countries that spend a huge chunk of their budget on arms are also countries where the people are poor. That means the more you spend on arms the poorer your people are. And that is because to be able to spend on arms you need to sting on health, education and welfare.

I sometimes wonder whether this is because of the siege mentality, more so amongst Muslims. Muslims seem to view 'others' (including other Muslims) as enemies. Hence they need to arm themselves to the teeth to secure themselves against these enemies.

Islamic history is all about jihad and wars. This is the 'culture' that Muslims are brought up with. So it is in the Muslim psyche that they are constantly on war mode and hence the need to arm themselves.

And this is also why we hear so much statements and rhetoric from Malaysian Muslims regarding enemies of Islam. To the non-Muslim it may be puzzling as to why Muslims always view others as enemies. And why do Muslims always jump at their own shadow and imagine an enemy lurking in those shadows?

If you can understand this then you can understand why Malaysian Muslims are so sensitive about Bahasa Malaysia Bibles and the use of the word Allah in these Bibles. Muslims regard non-Muslims as a threat to Islam so every move made by non-Muslims is viewed with suspicion. Muslims are constantly in war mode so any act by non-Muslims would be perceived as an act of war.

When will Muslims get out of this siege mentality and stop looking at every act by non-Muslims as an act to undermine Islam? I suppose as long as Judaism and Christianity are seen as competitors to Islam this psyche will never change. Can you see that only Judaism and Christianity are treated with hostility? This is because Muslims do not perceive Hinduism and Buddhism as competitors.

Judaism and Christianity share the same roots with Islam while Hinduism and Buddhism do not. Hence Muslims do not care whether Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, etc., also use the Allah word but for sure the Jews and Christians must not. That is the Muslim psyche.

And countries like Saudi Arabia spend billions on arms not because they fear the Jews and Christians but because they fear their fellow Muslims. Is this not ironical? And trust me: many Muslims are going to be very upset with what I just wrote. And they are going to be upset with me not because they feel I have lied but because I have told the truth.

But is this not also what the Pakatan Rakyat people are like, even the non-Malays/non-Muslims? They are angry with me not because I lie but because I have told the truth. And since I have told the truth they are not able to rebut what I say other than angrily accuse me of lying without explaining what then is the truth if I have lied.

Maybe I should say that this is not a Muslim psyche but a Malaysian psyche -- they get angry about the truth. But is it not the truth that in 2011 the US tripled its arms sales and the majority of these countries are Muslim countries while Saudi Arabia is the largest purchaser? So why get angry about what I wrote when it is true?

 

God’s voice on earth

Posted: 06 Jan 2013 03:01 PM PST

Hence the Church and the Crown had to work in tandem. The Crown drew its legitimacy from the Church (which recognised the king as God's representative) while the Church got its powers at the pleasure of the Crown. It was a convenient joint venture of two corrupt systems that existed mainly to oppress and suppress the people.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

In the past, until about 500 years or so ago, the 'common people' in Christendom did not interpret religion themselves. That is because religion was communicated in a language that the masses did not speak. Hence they needed 'middlemen' to help interpret religion. And these middlemen would interpret religion in a 'politically correct' manner.

Then, by the late 1400s to early 1500s, religion began to be communicated in the people's mother tongue. The English read religion in English, the Germans in German, and so on. This reduced the need for middlemen and made them redundant. And people began to realise that the middlemen had been taking the people for a ride and were 'tailoring' religious decrees (fatwah) to suit the political agenda of the powers-that-be.

For example, for Catholics, divorce was not allowed. However, if the king wanted to take on a new wife then the religious authorities could always declare that the king's first marriage was null and void. Hence he need not divorce his first wife to marry his second wife since his first wife was not really his wife in the first place. The first wife no longer exists so the second wife becomes the first wife.

Then, when he wants to get rid of his second (but now first) wife to marry his third (but now second) wife, he can declare that she has committed treason against God's representative on earth and hence by offending the king she has offended God and can, therefore, be put to death. Then, on the day they execute his second (but considered first) wife, he can go marry his third (but considered second) wife.

Religious decrees or fatwah have been a very useful political tool for Christendom. The Church and the Crown shared power. Hence rules need to be laid down that serve both the Church and the Crown. When the Church ignores the Crown then the Crown will act against the Church and the Church would lose its powers and status.

Hence the Church and the Crown had to work in tandem. The Crown drew its legitimacy from the Church (which recognised the king as God's representative) while the Church got its powers at the pleasure of the Crown. It was a convenient joint venture of two corrupt systems that existed mainly to oppress and suppress the people.

That was up to about 500 years ago in Christendom. Since then, especially around 200 years ago, the people got rid of this menace called the Church and later even the menace called the Crown. Hence the two biggest exploiters and oppressors of the people were removed. Today, many people go to church only three times in their life -- when they are christened, when they marry (if they have a church wedding), and when they die (unless they get blown up in Iraq or Afghanistan). Other than that they go to the pubs.

As I said, that was up to about 500 years ago in Christendom. In Islamdom, they still have not got rid of the 'Church' and in many countries the 'Crown' as well. And that is why in some Muslim countries we still have monarchs who are the head of religion. And we also still have religious authorities that pass decrees or fatwah.

Basically, many Muslim countries are still hundreds of years behind Christendom. Hence those who live in such countries suffer what the people in Christendom suffered up to about 200 to 500 years ago. And that is why we still read news reports such as the two below from NST (regarding dogs) and Hakarah (regarding fatwah or decrees).

The religious authorities tell us what we can and cannot believe in plus what we can and cannot do. They interpret what is and is not allowed. And we are compelled to follow these rulings or face arrest and punishment.

But is this really what God stipulated? This is what the religious authorities say God has stipulated. Can we disagree with this? We cannot disagree with this. Can we interpret things our own way? We cannot interpret things our own way. They will interpret it for us.

You will notice one thing, though. Most times they will quote the Hadith when they pass rulings or decrees. But why quote the Hadith and not the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam? That is because the Qur'an is 'silent' on many issues so if they quote the Qur'an then they will not be able to support what they say. Hence they need to quote the Hadith.

What if you do not accept the Hadith? You cannot. You must accept the Hadith. If you reject the Hadith then you are a deviant and can be arrested and punished.

What if you follow a certain sect of Islam that does not recognise the Hadith or it recognises a different set of Hadith and not the ones that you recognise? You cannot. You can only follow the sect of Islam that the government says you can follow and if you follow another sect of Islam then you can get arrested and punished.

Basically, Islam, today, is where Christianity was 500 or 200 years ago. However, while Christendom has reformed and has allowed freedom of choice, Islamdom does not allow freedom of choice. The religious authorities in Islamdom decide what you can and cannot do and there are no two ways about it.

Hence, while the Qur'an does not say that dogs are not allowed (in fact, there is a verse that allows dogs to be used for hunting and game procured from hunting is halal to eat), because they use the Hadith and not the Qur'an to make their rulings, most Malays will not keep dogs.

And note that I said 'Malays' and not 'Muslims' because the one-time Mufti of Terengganu kept a dog and would take his dog out for a walk every day even when he went to market to buy his fish. And the one-time Mufti of Kelantan said that dogs are not only allowed but you can even bathe your dog.

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

Islam allows blind to use dogs

EYES AND EARS: There is no issue in using the services of trained dogs, says Perlis mufti

(NST) - There is no rule in Islam which prohibits the use of service dogs to guide the blind, said Perlis mufti Dr Juanda Jaya.

"Using the services of guide dogs which are well trained is allowed in the religion, including the Syafie mazhab, which is subscribed to by Muslims in the country.

"There is no issue on using service dogs for various purposes like hunting, guarding and as guiding dogs," he told the New Straits Times, yesterday.

Considered as one of the most sought after service dogs, guide dogs are trained from young to act as eyes and ears for the blind.

Guide dogs are also trained to improve the mobility of the blind and have been proven to help them lead independent lives.

On why blind Muslims in the country do not consider having guide dogs, Juanda said there was confusion on the exact ruling and status of dogs in the religion.

"People need to learn to differentiate between religion and culture in order to make decisions in their lives and to not follow blindly what others say about rulings in Islam."

Fatwa Council president Tan Sri Dr Abdul Shukor Husni said there was no specific fatwa issued for guide dogs for the blind.

"It is mainly because we didn't receive any enquiry or requests from the affected community to consider a fatwa on guide dogs.

"If there is a request and we see a present need for the issuance of a fatwa on guide dogs, we will have a meeting to discuss this issue thoroughly," said Shukor, while calling for Muslims who are concerned about the issue to come forward.

In 2008, the United Kingdom's Muslim Law (Syariah) Council issued a fatwa stating that "a blind person, in the light of syariah law, will be allowed to keep a guide dog to help him and if required to take him to the mosque for his prayers".

Then, 18-year-old Mohammed Abraar Khatri, who lost his sight because of a degenerative disease the same year, championed the rights of Muslims to use the services of guide dogs with help from the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and the Muslim Council of Britain.

His guide dog, named Vargo, accompanied Mohammed to school, outings and to the mosque.

A special compartment was set up within the mosque compound to let the dog stay while Mohammed went to pray.

Perak mufti Tan Sri Dr Harussani Zakaria said Muslims were allowed to keep dogs if they were trained to be guard dogs, to watch over the garden (kebun) or to be seeing-eye dogs.

"It is said in a hadith that the angels do not like the barking of dogs and will not enter a house in which a dog is kept. But that does not mean that we cannot keep them for certain purposes."

"We are permitted to keep them, as long as they are not kept in the house, and we have to sertu if we touch them when they are wet."

Sertu, he said, is the act of washing the skin with water six times and with a mixture of water and earth once.

It is often mistaken for the term samak, which is the act of cleaning an animal's skin with rough materials such as sand or ashes.

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

Tidak boleh buat fatwa berdasar andaian – Mufti

(Harakah Daily) - Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan tidak boleh mengeluarkan sesuatu fatwa hanya berdasarkan andaian atau laporan akhbar semata-mata.

Mufti Pulau Pinang, Datuk Seri Hassan Ahmad berkata, dalam menyelesaikan isu yang disebut sebagai 'Amanat Haji Hadi', Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan perlu bersemuka dengan Presiden PAS itu sendiri.

"Ia mesti mengikut prosedur. Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi perlu dijemput untuk berbincang dan bagi mendapatkan penjelasan. Ia tidak boleh diselesaikan mengikut andaian," katanya dipetik Sinar Harian Online.

Semalam, Datuk Seri Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi berkata, sejak 31 tahun lalu, beliau langsung tidak pernah menerima apa-apa surat atau dipanggil untuk memberi keterangan kepada Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan berhubung petikan ucapannya yang dibuat di Banggol Peradong, Terengganu, 31 tahun yang lalu yang kemudian dipopularkan pihak tertentu sebagai 'amanat' itu.

Katanya, tindakan itu tidak adil bagi dirinya kerana tidak diberi peluang menjelaskan perkara sebenar berhubung polemik itu sehingga kini.

Sebelum ini hanya Majlis Fatwa Negeri Melaka, yang mengeluarkan fatwa berhubung amanat itu yang diwartakan pada tahun 2002.

Sebaliknya tiada fatwa khusus di peringkat Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan berhubung perkara itu.

Mengulas fatwa yang dikeluarkan di peringkat negeri itu, Hassan berkata, Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan tidak boleh bergantung kepada fatwa yang dikeluarkan oleh majlis fatwa di peringkat negeri.

Kuasa mengeluarkan fatwa, katanya, adalah kuasa negeri dan fatwa yang dikeluarkan oleh Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan tidak semestinya satu keputusan mutlak kerana kuasa agama kekal di bawah kuasa negeri.

 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 20)

Posted: 04 Jan 2013 06:01 PM PST

Haji Hamid and I discussed this matter and it was agreed that if the police do arrest and charge Dr Wan Azizah then I would have to admit that I had, in fact, smuggled Anwar's blood, urine, hair and fingernail samples into Australia. Then the Melbourne pathologist office can make their test results official. This would save Dr Wan Azizah from the charge of making a false police report but I would instead face the risk of being charged for smuggling.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Anwar's trial is halted by arsenic claim

(The Independent, UK, 11 September 1999) - Malaysia politician Anwar Ibrahim is being poisoned with arsenic by the authorities while in prison, his lawyer said yesterday at the trial of the former deputy prime minister on sodomy charges.

Karpal Singh said secret tests on Anwar's urine proved that the politician, who is already serving six years for corruption, has an alarming level of arsenic in his body. "I suspect some people in high places, in all likelihood, are responsible for his condition," Mr Singh said. "The family and Anwar Ibrahim are alarmed. He is in jeopardy of his life."

The trial was adjourned by Judge Ariffin Jaka, who ordered that Anwar, 52, be taken to hospital for tests. Later, Mr Singh showed a report said to be from an Australian pathology lab, indicating the urine sample tested had 77 times more arsenic than normal human urine.

Anwar's relatives somehow obtained a urine sample and smuggled it out last month using a false name, Mr Singh said. The lab report carried the name Subramaniam and an age of 59.

Before the hearing was adjourned indefinitely, prosecutors said there was no proof that Anwar was being poisoned in prison. Arsenic could have entered his body through food given to him by family and friends in court, the Attorney General, Mohtar Abdullah, said

Anwar flew into a rage at that, pounding the wooden railing of the dock and stamping his feet. "Fed by my wife! I was poisoned by Azizah!" he shrieked ironically, referring to his wife, who heads an opposition party that has vowed to end the government's 18-year rule.

Anwar is accused of sodomising his former family driver. He says the sex and corruption charges are part of a political conspiracy to end his challenge to the Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad. He faces up to 20 more years in prison if convicted of sodomy.

Anwar was arrested on 20 September last year, 18 days after the Prime Minister fired him. He was beaten on the night of his arrest by the police chief of Malaysia.

When the judge asked Anwar how he felt, he said: "I am generally all right, I am not feeling any pain, but certainly I am not my usual self." Anwar said he had lost weight and hair, symptoms he connected to arsenic poisoning. His wife later said he lost 9kg (19lb) this year.

"This is attempted murder," said Azizah. "I'm very alarmed, very frightened, to learn that his life is in danger."

The Deputy Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, said that he had ordered an immediate investigation.

Anwar Ibrahim (R) smiles as he arrives at hospital under guard in Kuala Lumpur September 10. Anwar was taken to the hospital on Friday after his lawyer Karpal Singh said a pathologist in Australia had found arsenic in Anwar's urine.

Anwar Ibrahim, second from left, is welcomed by staff of National University Hospital on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur as he arrives for his medical test Friday, Sept. 10, 1999.

Anwar Ibrahim, center, waves to his supporters as he was discharged from National University Hospital where he was admitted to be checked for possible arsenic poisoning, Monday, Oct. 4, 1999 in Kuala Lumpur.

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

I can't quite remember the exact day in August 1999 it was, but I know it was a Friday and before the 10th of September 1999, the day the arsenic poisoning of Anwar Ibrahim issue exploded.

I remember it was a Friday because I had just returned from my Friday prayers when I received a phone call from Anwar's MCKK classmate, Haji Hamid Rashid, who was also my 'boss'.

I was then working in the R&D division of Parti Keadilan Nasional (now called Parti Keadilan Rakyat or PKR), basically a psychological-warfare (psywar) unit to handle the Internet media war long before the advent of Blogs or new portals such as Malaysiakini.

At that time there were only 280,000 Internet subscribers in Malaysia compared to 15 million or so today. Nevertheless, we saw the importance of the Internet long before Umno realised it in 2008 and we decided to get in from the ground floor because he who is first 'controls the market', so to speak.

Haji Hamid's phone call was rather strange. Normally he would drop in to the PKR office at Phileo Damansara -- a building owned by Anwar crony, Datuk Ravi Dharan, one-time Samy Vellu crony who made millions as a Barisan Nasional stooge -- and we would hold our discussions in a special 'bug-proof' room.

Haji Hamid never considered the phone a safe medium of discussion as the powers-that-be can listen in on whatever we discuss. Hence that phone call was most unusual. And the discussion was even stranger.

"No names!" said Haji Hamid. "Meet me now at the PJ Hilton car park. No further explanation."

I jumped onto my motorcycle, a Yamaha Virago, and rushed to the PJ Hilton. I arrived there in less than 15 minutes, parked my bike, and hung around. There was no sign of Haji Hamid so I thought that maybe I was early.

After waiting for about 10 minutes or so my phone rang and Haji Hamid said, "Turn and face the highway." I was facing the PJ Hilton, expecting Haji Hamid to come from there. I turned to face the highway as instructed and I saw someone hiding behind one of the pillars of the flyover. He signalled to me to come over.

I walked over and as I got closer I could see that it was Haji Hamid. Apparently he had arrived before me but he wanted to monitor me before showing himself lest I was followed.

Haji Hamid then explained that Anwar had been poisoned with arsenic. They had secretly taken some of Anwar's blood, urine, hair and fingernail samples and had sent them to the Melbourne for testing under the name of Subramaniam and the tests proved that Anwar had a high level of arsenic in his system.

They then tried to send a second set of samples, this time in Anwar's name, but the Malaysian police had found out and had intercepted and confiscated them before they could leave the country.

Now Anwar was under close monitoring so no one could get to him for another set of samples. However, what the police did not know is there was a third set of samples. But these cannot be sent through the normal channels because the police were monitoring all the courier companies. Hence they needed to be smuggled out.

Haji Hamid explained that none of Anwar's family dared smuggle the samples out because the minute they try to leave the country they will be stopped and subjected to a 100% check. Haji Hamid wanted me to help find someone who can act as a smuggler.

I told Haji Hamid it would be too risky to trust someone else to do this job and that I had better do it myself.

We walked in to the PJ Hilton and asked the concierge to check flights to Melbourne, Australia. The earliest available flight was Monday. Haji Hamid told the concierge to make the flight booking, who asked me the name of the passenger. Haji Hamid pointed to me and the concierge replied, "Raja Petra, right?"

Haji Hamid went pale. Haji Hamid told the concierge to hold on and he pulled me aside. "He knows who you are," Haji Hamid said. "It's too dangerous. We need to abort."

I assured Haji Hamid that he had nothing to worry about. Clearly the concierge was one of us since he knows who I am. Reluctantly Haji Hamid agreed to proceed but he cautioned me that if I got caught I was on my own. I assured Haji Hamid that he would not get dragged into this if I got caught.

The flight booking for Monday was done and we went back to the car park. Haji Hamid then handed me a polystyrene box with a sealed container submerged in dry ice inside it. "Put this in the fridge until your flight on Monday night," he told me. "But do not break the seal."

I went home and emptied the fridge in my bedroom and placed the sealed box inside it. "What the hell are you doing?" my wife Marina asked. I explained to Marina what was going on. "You are storing Anwar's piss in my fridge?" she asked.

"Well, look at it this way," I replied, "one day when Anwar becomes Prime Minister and when he complains that I piss him off we can remind him that when he was in prison we were the trustee to his piss. Hence we have every right to piss him off."

On Monday night Marina drove me to the airport and I tried to look as cool as I could when I checked in. "Any luggage?" they asked me. "Only this box, which I will hand carry," I replied.

I walked through the security check and immigration clearance. They X-rayed the box and allowed it through. There was also no 'red flag' on my passport. I breathed a long sigh of relief as I walked onto the plane and sat down. My last two days were filled with visions of getting stopped or arrested but it was plain sailing with no hiccups.

I arrived at Melbourne airport and phoned the number that Haji Hamid had given me. The man at the other end asked me my name and said he would call me back in a few minutes. He then called up Haji Hamid to verify my identity and then called me back with instructions on where I was supposed to go.

I jumped into a taxi and headed for the place. The person I had spoken to earlier, one of Anwar's Malaysian lawyers, was waiting outside the gate. He then escorted me in and told me he is not allowed to touch the box I was carrying.

We went to the pathologist's office where a local Australian lawyer was waiting. They asked me to place the box on the table and then took photographs of the box from all angles. The Australian lawyer then inspected the seal and confirmed that it had not been broken or tampered with.

In the presence of both the Malaysian and Australian lawyers, they broke the seal and removed the contents from the box. I waited while they did a test on the samples and confirmed that there was indeed a high level of arsenic.

Nevertheless, the test would have to be 'off the record'. This was because not only were the samples smuggled out of Malaysia but they were also smuggled into Australia, which was a crime. The only way they could make the test official would be if I were to declare that I had smuggled them into Australia. But that would mean I would also be admitting that I had committed a crime and would have to face arrest.

The rest of the story is in The Independent news report of 11th September 1999 (above).

When this issue exploded on 10th September 1999, the Malaysian police interrogated Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who had made a police report on the matter, and threatened to arrest and charge her for the crime of making a false police report.

Haji Hamid and I discussed this matter and it was agreed that if the police do arrest and charge Dr Wan Azizah then I would have to admit that I had, in fact, smuggled Anwar's blood, urine, hair and fingernail samples into Australia. Then the Melbourne pathologist office can make their test results official. This would save Dr Wan Azizah from the charge of making a false police report but I would instead face the risk of being charged for smuggling.  

Fortunately the Malaysian police did not carry through with their threat of arresting and charging Dr Wan Azizah for the crime of making a false police report and I was spared the agony of having to face a charge of smuggling. I hear that the Australian government does not take too kindly to those caught smuggling human tissue samples into Australia.

TO BE CONTINUED

 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 1)

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 2) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 3) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 4) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 5) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 6) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 7) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 8) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 9) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 10) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 11)  

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 12) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 13) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 14) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 15) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 16) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 17) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 18) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 19) 

 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 19)

Posted: 01 Jan 2013 05:44 PM PST

I was totally sold on the idea, so much so that a couple of years later I joined the Iranians in Mekah to protest against America and the Saudi government, the stooge of the Americans. My commitment to Islam, PAS and the Islamic State was absolute. And Anwar was going to lead this Islamic Revolution of Malaysia and turn Malaysia into the Islamic Republic of Malaysia.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Some say that Anwar Ibrahim and I have a love-hate relationship. I suppose this is true in some ways. It is probably because after 'travelling the same road' for 50 years since 1963, so to speak, there are many things about each other that we can no longer tolerate.

Back in the 1960s, when we were in the Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK), Anwar demonstrated strong anti-British tendencies. This, of course, irritated me like hell because I always felt more British than Malay. Hence I took very personal his anti-British rhetoric.

You see; I was the only 'Mat Salleh' in MCKK at that time so I considered Anwar's anti-British stand as a personal attack. And the fact that Anwar's classmates (who were three years my senior) threw stale bread at me and shouted "Hoi, Mat Salleh sesat!" made it even worse, even though Anwar did tell them, "Janganlah kacau dia."

And that is one reason why just two and half years later, halfway through form three, I left MCKK to join the Victoria Institution (VI). I felt I had no place in a 'Malay school'. I hated the MCKK and was very happy when, in form three, I transferred to the VI and was able to surround myself with non-Malay friends.

That ended my relationship with the MCKK and hence with Anwar Ibrahim as well.

In 1974, my family moved to Kuala Terengganu. Family then meant my wife and one-year-old daughter, Suraya. Later my mother-in-law joined us and stayed with us till the day she died. She converted to Islam just before she died and was buried in Masjid Kolam, Kuala Ibai, Kuala Terengganu.

1974 was the same year that Anwar was detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA). We talked about it, of course, but his detention never bothered me. In fact, I felt that they should not only detain him but they should throw away the key as well. After all, Anwar was the one who used to whack the British ten years before that back in 1964 when we were in the MCKK (I was in 'The Big School' in form 2 and he was in form 5 when I first heard him speak).

We must remember that Anwar was the President of the Muslim students association or Persatuan Kebangsaan Pelajar Islam Malaysia (PKPIM). He was also the President of University Malaya's Malay language association or Persatuan Bahasa Melayu Universiti Malaya (PBMUM). Furthermore, he was one of the founding members of the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia or Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM).

I used to live in Bangsar, not far from the University Malaya, and I would go to see the demonstrations that they organised. I would take photographs of these demonstrations (I still have the photos, all black and white, though). I also saw all the English language signboards and road signs that they vandalised by painting them over with red paint.

Therefore, as far as I was concerned, Anwar was an anti-British, Malay supremacist racist. I heard him talk and I saw him in action at those demonstrations. He deserved what he got and the government should keep him locked up for a very, very long time.

About 20 months later, Anwar was released from detention. He then took over the leadership of ABIM and started campaigning against Umno and the government. A year or so later, as I had written many times, I 'discovered' Islam and became a 'Born Again' Muslim.

I soon began to attend the ceramah or rallies organised by PAS. In 1979, the Islamic Revolution of Iran rocked the world and I got dragged in to 'political Islam'. I strongly believed that Islam is not a religion but a way of life or adeen. And this adeen involves the setting up of an Islamic system of government a la Iran.

Anwar attended some of those PAS ceramah as a guest speaker and I was mesmerised by what he said. Man, could he talk! Back in the early 1960s he would 'talk bad' about the British. By the late 1970s he was whacking Umno and Barisan Nasional and was espousing the virtues of Islam and an Islamic State.

I was totally sold on the idea, so much so that a couple of years later I joined the Iranians in Mekah to protest against America and the Saudi government, the stooge of the Americans. My commitment to Islam, PAS and the Islamic State was absolute. And Anwar was going to lead this Islamic Revolution of Malaysia and turn Malaysia into the Islamic Republic of Malaysia.

And this cannot be achieved by mere rhetoric. It has to be a bloody revolution. People must die, thousands of people, like in Iran.

I was so bold as to even declare to an Umno man, Dr Zakaria, in a gathering at the Sultan of Terengganu's palace, that we must line up all the Umno people against a wall and shoot them dead.

Dr Zakaria was flabbergasted. He shook his head and walked away. The head of ITM Dungun, Ibrahim, who was standing beside us, pulled me away and whispered to me that I should be careful with what I say. That type of talk can get me sent to Kamunting.

What is Kamunting? Nothing! We are talking about blood flowing on the streets. We are talking about shooting dead 20,000 corrupt people like they did in Iran. We will burn down Kamunting together with the Prime Minister's house, then Hussein Onn, of course.

Then, in 1981, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad took over as Prime Minister. Soon after that Anwar 'abandoned the cause' and joined Umno. We were walking around in a daze like a cucaracha sprayed with Shelltox or, as the Malays would say, macam anak ayam hilang emak ayam.

Not long after that I went to Mekah to find peace with myself. I needed to contemplate where our so-called Islamic Revolution was now heading with the loss of our 'Imam Khomeini of Malaysia'. I now felt only hatred for Anwar and my new perjuangan was to see the destruction of this traitor to our cause named Anwar Ibrahim, and his boss, Dr Mahathir.

TO BE CONTINUED

 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 1)

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 2) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 3) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 4) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 5) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 6) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 7) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 8) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 9) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 10) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 11)  

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 12) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 13) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 14) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 15) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 16) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 17) 

The journey in life is never a straight line (PART 18) 

 

Seeing is believing

Posted: 30 Dec 2012 05:27 PM PST

Note one thing: your perception is influenced by your values and standards. It is not about what the other person is. It is about what you are. If you think drinking is bad then your perception of someone who drinks would be bad. If you think that capitalism is bad then your perception of a capitalist would be bad. If you think that fundamentalism is bad then your perception of a fundamentalist Muslim would be bad.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

And Malaysia's 2012 Word of the Year is ...

Perception.

That is what a Malaysian is told this year when reporting a robbery or a snatch theft and believing that this means crime is on the rise in what has been one of the safest countries in Southeast Asia.

That is what a Malaysian is told this year when complaining about rising graft or rising cost of living and thinking that the country is sinking through global indices in what is supposedly an Asian tiger of a nation.

Perception. The reality, according to the authorities, is that statistics this year shows that crime in Malaysia has dipped. Graft in Malaysia has also dipped and the authorities are going after those in the private sector now.

And the economy is rising, so that means more money in the pocket. Not only that, the government has been dishing one-off cash handouts of RM500 to households earning up to RM3,000 a month.

Yet, how many cases of robberies and snatch theft have we heard that occur in urban areas, especially near traffic lights? Is it a case of being more aware because of social media, as some authorities claim, despite official statistics showing a drop in crime?

How about living costs outstripping wages? How do you try to fathom a nation with an annual five per cent economic expansion and a policy of subsidising food and fuel that still needs to give cash handouts?

And the cheek to tell someone who has been robbed, or having to pay a bribe or pay more for groceries that it is just their perception that it is getting worse is just putting salt to the wound.

It is too easy to blame social media for such tales to turn viral. It is too easy to tell people to be more careful and take steps to be more vigilant and complain about corrupt practices and profiteering.

Also too easy to just announce policies and initiatives without ensuring they are implemented to the letter. Putting more boots on the ground, going after the big fish in corruption cases and targeting subsidies to specific demographics rather than an elephant gun spray of goodies for news headlines.

To be fair, Putrajaya has been taking action. There is a raft of policies and laws in place to cut crime, reduce graft and living costs. But the efforts do not seem to bear fruit as fast as they have been promised or implemented.

And this is where the word "perception" can bite the authorities or the government of the day.

The perception that it isn't doing enough or doing things fast enough to make a difference.

There are a slew of projects under various abbreviations but the change isn't being felt because it takes time for housing projects to finish or industries to rise and people to get better paying jobs.

Therein lies the irony, that nothing is as instant as perception.

Jahabar Sadiq, The Malaysian Insider

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

Yes, what Jahabar Sadiq wrote today in his editorial in The Malaysian Insider is very true. Everything in life is about perception -- and more so when it comes to politics. Politics is built on perception.

The perception that Communism is bad and Capitalism is good is what we grew up with. So, if we want to frighten someone, all we need to do is accuse him or her of being a Communist and he/she will back off and tone down.

My question would be: so what if I am a Communist? What is wrong with being a Communist? If I declare that I am a Communist that is as good as declaring that I am a Pariah because the perception is that those who are Communists are Pariahs. Hence if someone accuses me of being a Communist I would deny it even if I do believe in Communism because Communists are outcasts.

Do you believe in God? Many people do. But not all humans believe in God. It is estimated that only about half of humankind believe in God. But less than 10% of the people will openly admit that they do not believe in God. And this is because the perception is if you do not believe in God then you cannot be a good person. Hence, to avoid being labelled as a bad person, you will never admit that you do not believe in God although in reality you do not believe in God.

Do you know that 30 years ago back in the 1980s Mercedes Benz started assembling its S Class in Malaysia? This is because Malaysians used to buy (I do not know whether they still do) the most number of S Class models per capita in the world. Hence Malaysia was the only other country outside Germany that assembled the S Class.

To Malaysians, if you drive the S Class Mercedes Benz or the 7 series BMW then the perception would be you have arrived. You have made it. You are successful. Maybe your liabilities exceed your assets, which means you are technically bankrupt, but the car you drive gives people the perception that you are successful so everyone wants to do business with you.

There is also the perception that if we change the government, meaning we kick out Barisan Nasional, Malaysia would be a better place to live. Foreigners who come to Malaysia for the first time and who see the way Malaysians behave would probably never come to that conclusion. For example, seeing the way Malaysians drive is evidence enough that Malaysians are inconsiderate, rude, arrogant, only care about themselves, and much more.

Malaysians are absolutely ill bred and uncultured. Hence changing the government will not make Malaysia a better place.  It may help to reduce corruption slightly but not eliminate it totally. But it will never make Malaysia a better place.

A better country is not just subject to the government it has. It is very dependent on the people in that country. England changed its system of government more than 400 years ago back in 1649. It kicked out its monarch and turned England into a republic.

Did that make England a better place? The people were still the same. The mentality was still the same. The people never changed. Hence, while they may have changed the government, the country did not become a better place. Therefore the perception that by changing the government the country becomes a better place is a fallacy if the people themselves refuse to change.

And what perception do you get from this statement I just made? Your perception would be therefore I am saying DO NOT change the government. Is this what I said? This is the perception you get although this is not what I said.

And why do you get this perception? You get this perception because you refuse to admit that the fault with the country lies with its people. You want to believe that what is wrong with the country is someone else's fault, not your own fault. Hence you put the blame on the government. If not then you will have to admit that it is your own fault.

This is due to a disease called denial syndrome. Most Malaysians suffer from this disease. It is a disease where you blame others for what went wrong rather than admit that what went wrong is your fault.

Most Muslims will say that Islam suffers from a perception problem. Islam is a victim of bad publicity. And they will blame the western media for this. The western media is giving the perception that 'Islam is the new Communism'. And since Communism is the Pariah therefore Islam would also be perceived as the Pariah.

But it is not Islam that is at fault, Muslims will say. It is the fault of a minority of Muslims who have given Islam a bad name. This minority has dragged Islam through the mud. The majority of Muslims are not like that. But the western media is giving the perception that it is Islam and not a minority of Muslims that is bad.

However, that is not the perception that the non-Muslims have. Most non-Muslims perceive Islam as a bad religion. The fruit of a poisonous tree would be poisonous, they will argue. Hence it is Islam itself and not just a handful of Muslims who is at fault.

So, is Islam the victim of negative perception that has given the religion a bad image? Or is Islam itself fundamentally flawed? The answer depends on whether you are a Muslim or not and hence how you perceive Islam is subject to this crucial point.

We perceive PERKASA as a racist organisation. We do not perceive Dong Zong and Hindraf as also racist organisations. Why is that? PERKASA fights for Islam and the Malay language. Dong Zong fights for Chinese education and the Chinese language. Hindraf fights for the Tamils and Hinduism. So why are not all three organisations classified as racist organisations? Why is only PERKASA a racist organisation but not the others?

Barisan Nasional is a racist party. Pakatan Rakyat is not a racist party. Has Pakatan Rakyat agreed to remove Islam as the official religion of Malaysia? Has Pakatan Rakyat agreed to remove the Malay language as the official language of Malaysia? Why do we even need an official religion and official language when other democracies all over the world do not have official religions and official languages?

Education Ministers have always been Malay. Why is that? In a democracy where meritocracy should prevail the abilities and not the race of that person should be the deciding factor.

Can Pakatan Rakyat announce that it would appoint a Chinese as the Education Minister? Why not? Why can't a Chinese become the Education Minister and why can't Pakatan Rakyat agree to this and make a public announcement on the matter?

In fact, why can't we have a non-politician as an Education Minister? Can we give that job to one of the leading academicians? We want the best education system. We do not want education to be used as a political tool and to brainwash Malaysians.

The problem with Malaysia is the mentality and attitude of its people. Changing the government will not help if the mindset of the people remain the same. Hence we need to do a massive overhaul of our education system. And we can't trust a politician to do this.

Yes, it is all about perception. And the perception is that everything involving the government is bad while everything involving the opposition is good. And PERKASA supports the government so it is bad. Dong Zong and Hindraf support the opposition so they are good.

What if Dong Zong and Hindraf announce that they will support anyone who agrees to their agenda? And what if Pakatan Rakyat disagrees with their agenda while Barisan Nasional agrees to it? And since their agenda is what matters Dong Zong and Hindraf now support Barisan Nasional and they announce so. Would Dong Zong and Hindraf still be considered good or are they now just like PERKASA, a racist organisation? What will your perception of Dong Zong and Hindraf be?

Note one thing: your perception is influenced by your values and standards. It is not about what the other person is. It is about what you are. If you think drinking is bad then your perception of someone who drinks would be bad. If you think that capitalism is bad then your perception of a capitalist would be bad. If you think that fundamentalism is bad then your perception of a fundamentalist Muslim would be bad.

Whether something or someone is good or bad is not about whether it is really good or bad but about your interpretation of good and bad. If I perceive all religions as bad then I would have a very low opinion of religionists. Religionists, however, would perceive me as a Godless person and someone who cannot be trusted.

And if I support Hindraf on it latest stand that it will not support either Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat unless they support Hindraf's agenda how would you perceive me? Am I a true democrat who fights for the oppressed minority or am I a traitor to the cause? The question is: which cause are you using to come to this conclusion, Hindraf's cause or your own cause?

Yes, your perception is guided by your interest. You will have a good perception of someone when it suits your agenda and you will have a bad perception of that person when it conflicts with your agenda. Perceptions are not real. And that is why most of you perceive that you are going to heaven because you are following the true and correct religion. And is this not why Malaysians are fighting over who has the right to use the word 'Allah'?

 

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net

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Curse of No. 13 to usher the end of Sabah BN?

Posted: 08 Jan 2013 10:26 AM PST

http://greaterlongbeach.com/gwp/wp-content/gallery/politics-and-city-halls/friday13.jpg 

Jason Matius
 
There is now serious talk spreading among the Sabah opposition parties concerning the effect of numbers in the political fortunes of political parties in Sabah. And to the opposition parties' delight, the numbers appear to point to the death knell of the Barisan Nasional in the next general election.
 
A series of text messages and excited conversations concerning the number thirteen, prophesying BN's supposed impending fall, have been making their rounds among mainly opposition supporters here. These messages remind Sabahans of the fact that USNO, Sabah's first government, was defeated by Berjaya in 1976 (7 + 6 = 13), Berjaya was defeated by PBS in 1985 (8 + 5= 13), and PBS was toppled from power by BN in 1994 (9 + 4 = 13). Also interesting is that each of these three governments ruled for exactly nine years!
 
Whether you are superstitious or not, you'd admit it's not easy to simply brush aside these uncanny series of 9s and 13s which marked the length of life and sensational deaths of three past governments. Many even believe this is Sabah's equivalent to Malaysia's strange RAHMAN prophecy, the arrangement of initials of the names of all the past prime ministers from the beginning to the present one. Many of those who believe these are not mere coincidences, are also convinced the Sabah's series of 13s will continue at least to the next general election.
 
This belief is reinforced by the fact that for the forthcoming polls, the number 13 is not even hidden like in the past in which the last two digits of the year had to be added to come up with the jinxed number 13. In GE13 the number is wholly and clearly written, not once but TWICE, i.e. the last two digits of the year, and in the number of the times the general elections will be conducted! One clearly written 13 is bad enough, but twice?
 
In the past, many observers were expecting the Sabah BN to fall in 2003, i.e. nine years after 1994, but when it didn't happen, BN supporters had said BN had successfully broke the nine-year jinx. But now some can argue for the interesting fact that the nine-year series has not been broken, but simply doubled to 18 years, i.e. to 2012, plus a few month to reach 2013, the year which ends with 13.
 
Other than these numbers, it has been mentioned in the biography of the late Tun Fuad Stephens that when he won his state assembly seat in Kiulu in 1985, his majority was exactly 1,111. To the Chinese observers it was a bad omen because 1111 added to four and four in Chinese is pronounced the same way as the word for death. Shortly afterward Stephens along with many others died in a plane crash which is now called the Double Six Tragedy because it happened on the June 6. Many people, however, say it should have been called the Triple Six Tragedy, to include the year 1976, the year it happened; hence completing it to 666, which is the number of the devil.
 
Will the jinx of the number 13 really see the end of Sabah BN in the hands of the opposition? Many people can't wait to find out.

 

Perkasa Lawan Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat 112

Posted: 08 Jan 2013 10:17 AM PST

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ygBbgNUeFpo/UNvKp5Su1SI/AAAAAAAAIu8/ED4SLgdbr1A/s1600/%23KL112+Himpunan+Kebangkitan+Rakyat.jpg 

Himpunan Rakyat112, satu himpunan raksasa yang dikendalikan oleh pihak yang menuntut keadilan, rakyat boleh melepaskan kemarahan mereka terhadap parti pemerintah dengan aman tanpa rusuhan. Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat 112 juga dapat sokongan NGO.    

 

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/312373_488323484539314_2058074162_n.jpg 

Timbalan Presiden PAS, Mohamad Sabu bersalaman dengan CP Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri bin Mohd Zinin, Pengarah Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah PDRM, gambar di atas menceritakan Mat Sabu, Pakar perancang demo yang mewakili komiti NGO ini berjabat tangan dengan pegawai atasan PDRM.  

 

Sumber Fb Polis Di Raja Malaysia

"Pihak polis meminta kerjasama yang baik dari penganjur dan orang ramai dan mereka sendiri akan bersama-sama memastikan himpunan 12 Januari ini akan berlangsung dalam keadaan aman dan damai.

"Polis dan kami sama-sama berazam untuk menjadikan himpunan ini sebagai rekod himpunan paling aman sebelum PRU dan polis juga berkata inilah perubahan sejarah pentadbiran polis dibawah akta baru," katanya kepada media  

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNeE1nd41Ea1Y3dXy9RnvzSarUFrY-_QpfoKg36fRXKTMgVcBcVv43vW6B7s6EQD2rd3FpONFScYWg1jCZcwL72VNNSX2SvNVCpOjGEbAQeVSgkiWeaVh3kxkPHy4NPpcFNH4wrViiCI/s400/perkasa-lapor-polis.jpg 

Walau bagaimanapun PERKASA, satu pertubuhan anti-demokrasi, anti-perpaduan rakyat dan NGO racist ini berkeras dan mahu menghalang kebangkitan rakyat. Mereka memainkan peranan seolah-olah bertentangan dengan perlembagaan yang diwartakan, hak dan kebebasan perhimpuan rakyat. 

Perkasa membuat laporan polis terhadap Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat (HKR) anjuran Pakatan Rakyat pada Sabtu ini. 

Timbalan Ketua Penerangan Perkasa Abdullah Mansor membuat laporan itu di Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah (IPD) Dang Wangi di sini hari ini. 

Abdullah dalam laporan polisnya berkata, pihaknya bimbang pembangkang sengaja mengadakan himpunan itu sebagai cubaan untuk menghidupkan suasana seperti di Dataran Tahrir, Mesir kerana mendapat maklumat kumpulan itu akan berkumpul di Dataran Merdeka. 

Perkasa sebuah NGO yang pro UMNO. Amat takut dan risau periuk nasi mereka pecah akibat UMNO kalah dalam PRU13. Perkasa masih tidak sedar dalam Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat 112, ramai peserta yang menyertai HKR 112 adalah terdiri dari bangsa Melayu yang beragama Islam. Mereka ini juga perjuang dan pembela Melayu.   

 

Big problems, small solutions

Posted: 08 Jan 2013 10:13 AM PST

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/najib-bn-SPR.jpg 

Compared with Anwar's ideas to solve the nation's woes, Najib's 1Malaysia This and 1Malaysia That are but small painkillers providing short-term relief

Selena Tay, FMT 

Soon 10 million Malaysian citizens will be able to enjoy the 1Malaysia Privilege Card and do online shopping at the 1Malaysia Privilege Portal. This may be a way of enabling the rakyat to obtain a bit of discount benefits but this is not solving the problem in the long run.

A friend of this columnist mentioned that 5% discount is given for purchases at a fast-food outlet but the discount is only limited to purchases of less than RM20. Do your math and see how little the discount comes up to!

Frankly, all these 1Malaysia ideas are not solving the problems at all. They are just little ideas yielding tiny gains for the rakyat. One of the biggest problems faced by the nation is corruption.

Is there any major effort by the relevant authorities to curb this crime? Forget the NKRAs (National Key Result Areas) and the KPIs (Key Performance Index) but has there been any real reduction in corruption? Zilch, nil, tiada.

Another major problem is the ever-rising crime rate. Any reduction? Not really. Snatch thefts and house break-ins are rampant and rife. Instead, the Najib administration comes up with 1Malaysia This and 1Malaysia That. These are not problem-solvers but small painkillers that provide short- term relief.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is not doing the big things to solve the big problems. Is there any idea or plan on how to curb the massive illicit fund outflow? Again zilch, nil, tiada. In fact, in the first place there is no effort being made to acknowledge that there exists big problems such as corruption, rising crime and illegal fund outflow.

Instead, attention and action have been diverted to giving small discounts and small cash aid here and there. Clearly, Najib is not a man of big ideas when it comes to benefiting the rakyat.

Just compare with Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim who has ideas such as abolishing road tolls, reducing petrol prices and giving out taxi permits. Now these are big ideas.

In regard to taxi permits, so far the Najib administration has only handed out four new tyres. This gift amounts to only RM520 whereas the taxi permit costs nearly three times that amount at RM50 per day, which comes up to RM1,500 per month. That is the reason why the prime minister does not really understand the situation on the ground.

Making up for lost time

As for the RM500 cash aid handed out under the BR1M programme, curbing inflation is the better move in the long term. And curbing inflation can only be done with good management of the economy. By handing out cash aid, Najib is only applying the painkiller solution of instant but temporary relief unlike Anwar's ideas which solve the problem once and for all.

In respect of this, Pakatan Rakyat's promises are the better deal and we should put Pakatan in power to see if the better deal becomes the real deal. Let us see how Pakatan performs as the federal government and how BN performs as the opposition. Then and then only can real comparison be made between the BN era and the Pakatan era.

Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2013/01/09/big-problems-small-solutions/ 

What value our degrees?

Posted: 08 Jan 2013 10:05 AM PST

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZzbfl7NVwpnUbbqn5q_4ubpMLZp5i2TYAwMnemBTFSNpkjio0D6jOITJzJNsNWrHkTJGCTxUUSRW9iHxyCsekTfNlVeI7Cx0io6eQVTDzHMCdL0c0G8cWTdTVICQGeUxKBXX20g4fT07/s400/Fresh+Grad.jpg 

R. Nadeswaran, The Sun 

"Citizen is a special status held by the people who have the right to be in a country. For example, people deserved to choose their own life such as individual freedom, freedom of workship, and citizenship through marriage. It was the important thing to be the advanced country and also decrease the poor people. Moreover, Malaysia is a wonderful city. People have to choose their own minister to be right choosed after 'Pilihan Raya'. In Malaysia also they have no age limits to their want to get studies. It was a good thing to us and also to be the advanced city in 2020. Malaysia also have their own systems and also rules.

Malaysian Constitution is the most important things in Malaysia it is because Malaysia was the most beautiful country. Besides, the Yang DiPertuan Agong has the highest positions according to the constitution. Other than that, people in this country deserved to choose their own choice for example their Prime Minister. It is shown that Malaysian was a great city than others. In Malaysia also they have no war it is because Malaysia was a calm country. Moreover, Malaysia also trying to together with the other country to move forward to be the advanced city in the eyes of the world."

NO, the above are not the work of some foreign students trying to learn English. Neither are they of primary school pupils attempting their Standard Three English language test. No, they have not been edited and are reproduced as they were written and submitted.

The creators of the above are final year students of a multiple award-winning university. These are excerpts of their essay on Malaysian studies. Despite the poor language and content, they will be "passed" by the university and perhaps given an "A" for their efforts.

Will these students be able to word a job application? Will they be able to go through a job interview? Will employers want to give jobs to this category of students who cannot string two sentences without five mistakes? Will these students be prepared to face the outside world?

Later this year, they will "graduate" complete with gowns and mortars in front of proud parents and relatives. They will receive scrolls from a VVIP and pay a small fortune for the ceremony and photographs.
They will join the thousands of young men and women who would fall under the category of unemployed or unemployable graduates. But the scroll is not worth the paper it is printed on.

In short, they are the end-products of production lines that have been set up to churn out graduates, irrespective of their skills, knowledge or ability. To enable these production lines to function, a whole load of people get licences or permits to set up "tertiary institutions". There is no quality control and the end result is that some of them are absolutely useless and make money from the National Higher Education Loan (PTPTN).

As the government continues to provide more funds for education under the PTPTN scheme, more young people look forward to a tertiary education and a degree. But in the eagerness to create more graduates, some universities are closing an eye to the weaknesses and shortcomings of students.

In 1997, the PTPTN scheme was launched at a time when private colleges were starting to bloom, and foreign universities such as Monash University and Nottingham University were invited to set up their campuses in Malaysia. The PTPTN was supposed to be a rolling fund to provide loans to students who could not afford tertiary education.

Today, the PTPTN scheme, as one observer remarked, is no different from or maybe worse than the "sub-prime" loan scandal in the US.

You lend money to people (children) who are "not qualified" to "buy" a degree that is worth very little, on the belief that the value of the degree will keep increasing. When the value appreciates and there is a regular income, the loan can be settled and therefore everybody will be happy. But the bitter truth is that the degree is not a guarantee of regular income and hence the loan defaulters. Under these circumstances, will the government be able to recover the loans or will they be written off?

R. Nadeswaran has met several "graduates" who cannot hold a simple conversation. Comments: citizen-nades@thesundaily.com

 

Are Malaysia’s law-enforcing institutions paralysed?

Posted: 08 Jan 2013 09:48 AM PST

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The 200 acre land is designated for a building military camp, and Awan Megah is prohibited from conveying it to any third party. In addition, the Selangor State government, which is the administrator of all lands in the state, has also declared that it will not approve any transfer of the said land unless it is used to build the military camp. Hence, Boustead is effectively barred by law to acquire the land. With this land transaction being a castle in the air, Boustead is, in truth, paying out RM160 million for which it gains nothing. 

Kim Quek

The total impotence of law-enforcing institutions across the full spectrum of the Malaysian polity to deal with high corruption and criminal activities of the ruling elite is mercilessly exposed through the serial unfolding of scandals by Deepak Jaikishan – one time close associate of the Prime Minister's wife.

 

First, it was the police, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC) and the Attorney General who have remained steadfastly silent despite a series of swirling exposes for more than one month of Prime Minister Najib Razak's family's alleged acts to cover up the PM's alleged link to the murder of Mongolian beauty Altantuya.

 

In addition to accusing the family of committing bribery and criminal coercion in order to come up with a false statutory declaration to protect the PM, Deepak also accused the family of having accepted bribery from him for facilitating his participation in a scandalous Defence Ministry (Mindef) project – the construction of the RM100 million National Defence Education Center (Puspahanas). The PM and his family have also remained strangely and inexplicably silent.

 

Now, even the Securities Commission, watchdog of the securities market, is also found wanting in protecting the integrity of the Malaysian Stock Exchange when it fails to haul up a Defence Ministry-linked company embarking on a dubious deal, which was apparently designed to quell the politically explosive Deepak-Najib scandal. Listed company Boustead Holdings Bhd, an investment arm of the military pension fund entity (LTAT) under Mindef, is playing Santa Claus to dish out millions of ringgit in cash to silence whistle-blower Deepak and the Mindef project recipient, Selangor Umno women wing's chief Raja Ropiaah Raja Abdullah, who was sued by Deepak over alleged breach of trust in their ill-fated partnership in the project.

 

MINDEF TO THE PM'S RESCUE

 

Boustead is buying up Deepak's company Astacanggih Sdn Bhd for RM30 million, and at the same time also buying the disputed 200 acres of land from Ropiaah's company Awan Megah (M) Sdn for RM130 million. Upon this announcement by Boustead, Deepak instantly withdrew his law suit against the Umno leader, presumably appeased and refrained from further blowing his trumpet.

 

However, behind the Boustead maneuver that resulted in this lightning development are facts that are perhaps stranger than fiction – the goods that Boustead are chasing after are in truth illusionary to its shareholders. For Astacanggih is but an asset-less shell company that has never filed its accounts with the Companies Commission, and the 200 acre land, which was intended as Mindef's part payment to Awan Megah for undertaking in 2005 to complete the Mindef project, is still vested with the government, as the project was never constructed.

 

Furthermore, the 200 acre land is designated for a building military camp, and Awan Megah is prohibited from conveying it to any third party. In addition, the Selangor State government, which is the administrator of all lands in the state, has also declared that it will not approve any transfer of the said land unless it is used to build the military camp. Hence, Boustead is effectively barred by law to acquire the land.

 

With this land transaction being a castle in the air, Boustead is, in truth, paying out RM160 million for which it gains nothing.

 

So shouldn't the Securities Commission as well as the MACC have stepped in to probe the directors of Boustead and LTAT respectively over this outrageous fraud and betrayal of the welfare of military personnel and veterans, who have obviously become sacrificial lambs at the altar of political expediency of the political masters? 

 

And shouldn't the Defence Minister, who has apparently initiated such a political move to save Najib's skin, be also investigated by MACC over such abuse of power, corruption and bribery on his part?

 

 

PM ABUSED POWER TO GRANT PROJECT

 

As a further blow to the image of PM Najib, he happened to be the Defence Minister who approved in 2005 the award of the project to Awan Megah, which is now found to be a company that has remained dormant since 2003, certainly without the wherewithal to design and construct the RM100 million Mindef facilities. This is clearly an act of abuse of power and corruption.

 

In any democratic country where the government is popularly elected, the prime minister would have stood up to face these serious and unyielding allegations by either denying or acting to reclaim his dignity; and the law-enforcing institutions would also have swung into action – one after another – to uphold the law. But in Malaysia, we have only eerie silence, save the noises made by the opposition, mainly through the Internet, as the relative news are blacked out in the mainstream media.

 

Obviously, our institutions, including the mainstream media (all newspapers and TV channels), have either been neutered or reduced to serving as lapdogs of the political masters; and unless these institutions are thoroughly reformed, the plundering and breach of law by the ruling elite with impunity will only get worse – a path that will lead eventually to state bankruptcy and national catastrophe.

For peace-loving Malaysians who yearn for the restoration of rule of law, what alternative do they have other than to seek a change of government by granting a new mandate – through the coming election – to the opposition alliance, whose corruption-free leadership has demonstrated the ability to administer the state governments under its control with integrity and prudent financial management? 

Mustafa: Hudud application impossible for now

Posted: 08 Jan 2013 09:45 AM PST

http://fz.com/sites/default/files/styles/mainbanner_645x435/public/mustafa-ali%20Hudud_2.jpg 

(fz.com) - Hudud, the Islamic system of criminal law, is destined to remain entangled in a series of legal, political and administrative processes that will prevent its application for a long time to come, says PAS Secretary-General Datuk Mustafa Ali.

At the mention of the complexities that surround Hudud - ranging from the implementation issues that it entails, the differing stances on the subject taken by Pakatan Rakyat coalition members and its incessant appearance in the headlines since 2008 - Mustafa chuckles.
 
"But you have never seen Hudud being implemented," he responds, drawing attention to the contrast between all the talk over the matter on the one hand, and the lack of any legal or practical steps taken to implement such laws.
 
Speaking to fz.com in an interview recently, the Islamic party strongman says that he would not be surprised if the issue makes another comeback just as the general election approaches.
 
He says that although the Pakatan parties - PAS, DAP and PKR - have "agreed to disagree" over the issue, it will not just go away as it is close to the heart of any Muslim and it was a matter of principle for followers of Islam to uphold.
 
"No Muslim, whether in PAS or Umno, can say that Hudud is not in Islam or that it is against the teaching of Islam. But if you speak to an Umno person, although they would agree with this, there are so many "buts" and "buts" (to justify its lack of implementation)," he says.
 
Hudud, says Mustafa, must be discussed in a broader perspective, as it is a "very small" portion of the Islamic justice system.
 
"It is more of a deterrent than a form of punishment... more to instill fear in the people. It is just a small part of all the different systems of life in Islam such as economics, education and social well-being. Hudud is a very small part of criminal law," he said.
 
In what (for now) appears to be the last word on the issue, Pakatan decided in September 2011 that DAP will stick to its opposition to the issue and PAS cannot be forced to abandoned its principle to implement the law.
 
Flanked by 20-odd top Pakatan leaders, the coalition's head Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said then: "Pakatan respects the PAS initiatives and aspirations (to implement the Hudud in Kelantan), but we have to reach a consensus… DAP is opposed to that and PKR and PAS respect that decision".
 
He also said that the matter was a non-issue as the existence of the Second Syariah Kelantan Criminal Enactments 1993 and the Terengganu Syariah Criminal Enactments 2003 required amendments to the Federal Constitution.
 
Referring to these state laws, Mustafa reiterates, as he has done many times before, that the passage of any laws containing elements of Hudud must follow the democratic process.
 
"Even in Kedah (where PAS holds 16 out of 36 state seats), we don't have the numbers to implement Hudud (or pass any related legislation)," he says, noting that the state laws passed in Kelantan and Terengganu were voted for by a two-thirds majority in their respective state assemblies.
 

Minimum wage

Posted: 08 Jan 2013 09:41 AM PST

http://komunitikini.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Malaysia-Ringgit.jpg 

YT Teh 
Top Gloves just announced its foreign workers' salary will increase from RM1200 to RM1800 (inclusive of overtime) due to implementation of RM900 minimum pay. RM600 represents a fifty percent increment for these workers. Just assuming two million foreign workers in Malaysia, the increment is going to cost Malaysian companies RM14.4 billion. Why are we increasing minimum pay which will mainly benefit foreign workers?
Instead of the RM900 minimum wage, can we ask companies like Top Glove to set aside a compulsory contribution of RM100 per foreign worker which would be distributed to its local work force earning below RM1500 as special subsistence assistance for poor Malaysians? Prices of goods are already going up rapidly. Low income Malaysian workers will suffer most.
Beware, the opposition's simple solution of RM 1200 minimum wage is even more disastrous. We need a solution that truly benefits and builds up the local work force.
Just my honest contribution of ideas.

 

Five contradictions in restricting the use of 'Allah'

Posted: 08 Jan 2013 09:38 AM PST

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There are major contradictions in the claim that the word 'Allah' belongs only to Muslims and Islam and does not apply to non-Muslims and other religions (JAKIM), and in the insistence that non-Muslims must convert to Islam to use the word 'Allah' (Perak's mufti Harussani Zakaria).

Pak Sako, CPI 

The contradictions are as follows.

1. If we disallow non-Muslims from using the word 'Allah', are we implying that Allah has no relation to the non-Muslims, that Allah did not create the non-Muslims, but to whom Allah must belong if He is the Creator of all things?

2. If we say Allah is not the god of the non-Muslims, does this not imply that besides Allah there must exist a second god specifically for the non-Muslims, the former god of Muslim converts? Does this not clash with the Islamic concept of tauhid, which proposes that there cannot possibly be another god apart from Allah, and that no being can perform the work of a god other than Allah?

3. If we maintain that 'Allah' has no relevance to other religions, who then ultimately created these religions if not Allah, the Creator of all things? Are we suggesting that Allah got it wrong before unveiling Islam? But if tauhid is to stand and Allah is the sole Creator, and if Allah is infallible, perfect and all-knowing, does it not mean that Allah happily created, with no games intended, all the variety of religions and religious philosophies including Christianity and Hinduism?

Read more at: http://english.cpiasia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2465&catid=219&Itemid=189 

 

Questions over ‘fatwa’ effect on non-Muslims after Selangor Sultan’s ‘Allah’ decree

Posted: 08 Jan 2013 09:27 AM PST

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(The Malaysian Insider)Christian church leaders have expressed concern over the effect of the Selangor Sultan's royal decree banning followers of faiths other than Islam from using the word "Allah" to describe their gods.

 

The state Ruler had also instructed the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) and the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (JAIS) yesterday to take firm action against all groups, including non-Muslims, who continued to question the state fatwa (edict) and a 1988 state law restricting use of the Arabic word.

"Can a fatwa be applied to a non-Muslim?" asked Father Lawrence Andrew, the editor of the country's sole Catholic newspaper, Herald, when contacted by The Malaysian Insider yesterday.

In December 2009, the High Court ruled that the word "Allah" was not restricted to Muslims and the Catholic Church had the right to published the word in the Malay section of its weekly newspaper, Herald.

The priest declined further comment, saying he would leave the question to be answered by legal experts, after pointing to a key issue raised in the Herald's court challenge three years ago.

In her 2009 ruling, High Court judge Datuk Lau Bee Lan found that "a non-Muslim could be committing an offence if he uses the word 'Allah' to a Muslim but there would be no offence if it was used to a non-Muslim".

Rev Hermen Shastri from the Methodist Church told The Malaysian Insider that the High Court's judgment is still legally in effect pending the Home Ministry's appeal to ban non-Muslims using the word, which it had argued in court was a security threat.

"Until overturned, Christians have the right to use it," Shastri, who is secretary-general of the Council of Churches in Malaysia (CCM), an umbrella body representing all the Protestant churches nationwide.

CCM president Bishop Datuk Thomas Tsen told The Malaysian Insider he was worried about the consequences of the decree on Sabah and Sarawak Christians living in the state.

"Of course I am concerned about the effect on our people who live here, especially when Najib talks about 1 Malaysia and we want to speak in one language," the Lutheran bishop said, referring to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's remarks.

Like Andrew, he declined comment on the Selangor sultan's statement, but highlighted a 10-point agreement issued by the Najib administration in April 2011, allowing Christians in Borneo Malaysia the freedom to use it in their worship, ahead of the Sarawak state election.

Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/questions-over-fatwa-effect-on-non-muslims-after-selangor-sultans-allah-decree/ 

Muhyiddin: We are not bankrupt

Posted: 08 Jan 2013 09:23 AM PST

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(The Star)Malaysia is not bankrupt but is cash rich with a record collection of RM125bil in taxes last year, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.

Refuting Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's allegation that the country was on the verge of bankruptcy, he said the Government would not have been able to afford RM560mil aid for 5.6 million students or the BR1M aid if the Government was strapped for cash.

"Therefore, I would like to appeal to all of you not to fall into the Opposition's trap," he said during a meet-the-people session at the district padang here.

Citing another example, he said critics had accused the Government of implementing the AES project because it had run out of cash to fund its programmes.

"Malaysia is not the first or only country to implement AES.

"We were forced to do so as thousands of Malaysians are dying on the roads annually due to accidents," he said, adding that 6,000 fatalities were registered last year.

Muhyiddin, who was here for a one-day working visit, said Malaysia had not only received huge foreign investments but had been recognised as one of the most progressive economies in the world.

"While most countries, including Europe and the United States, were facing economic uncertainties, we have continued to register a 5% growth."

"In fact, experts have forecast that we will be able to do equally well, if not better, this year as our country and economy are well managed."

Muhyddin said the per capita income of the rakyat was also set to increase to US$15,000 (RM45,250), by 2020.

The per capita income of Malaysians was only US$7,500 a year ago and this had since increased to US$9,700 (RM21,120), he said.

He said Pakatan Rakyat could not be an alternative to Barisan Nasional because its members were always at loggerheads with each other.

"They cannot agree to simple things as we have seen in Kelantan and Selangor on several occasions," he said.

During his visit, Muhyiddin handed over RM20.65mil to the state government for the RM100 aid to be given to 206,500 students in the state, RM4.1mil for several projects here and RM3.5mil for the redevelopment of a hawker centre. 

Japanese embassy: What RM207b?

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 07:23 PM PST

The embassy says it has never confirmed that the sum was paid to the Malaysian government as compensation for the Death Railway project.

Lisa J. Ariffin, FMT

The Japanese embassy today denied any knowledge of the RM207 billion compensation for Japan's Death Railway project as pursued by PAS' Mohamad Nizar Jamaludin.

Japan's second secretary to Malaysia Takaharu Suegami said today his government never confirmed that RM207 billion was paid to the Malaysian government to compensate some 30,000 Malaysians once recruited as forced labour in its Death Railway project.

"Regarding the compensation of RM207 billion inquired by (Nizar), it is outside of the involvement and knowledge of the government of Japan," he said in a statement.

"We must remind you that the embassy of Japan has never confirmed that RM207 billion was paid to the Malaysian government as compensation for the victims of the 'Death Railway' project," he added.

Suegami's statement followed claims that RM207 billion in compensation was paid a decade ago, but neither the surviving victims nor their families had received any payment.

Nizar had earlier told FMT that he had obtained internal information regarding the issue from the Finance Ministry in the form of a memorandum quoting the sum of RM207 billion.

Agreement for RM25m settled in 1972

Suegami said all matters related to compensation during the Second World War had been settled under the San Francisco Treaty, 1952.

He added there was also a mutual agreement between Malaysia and Japan in 1967 whereby Japan had agreed to supply Malaysia with grants, products and manpower totaling RM25 million.

"The necessary arrangements for its implementation were already conducted by the two governments," he explained.

"The government of Malaysia has agreed that all questions arising out of the unhappy events during the Second World War which may affect the good relations between the two countries are fully and finally settled.

"All the supply in accordance with the agreement was completed by May 6, 1972," he added.

Suegami assured that his country was dedicated to building future-oriented and cooperative relationships with Asian nations, and would continuously work to achieve "peace and prosperity of the world in the future as well".

Finance Ministry memo

Nizar had said he received an internal memorandum quoting the RM207 billion sum as compensation for the Death Railway project.

READ MORE HERE

 

Embassy clarifies report on 'Death Railway' compensation

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 06:22 PM PST

(Harakah Daily) - The Japanese embassy in Kuala Lumpur has clarified a report by Harakahdaily quoting Bukit Gantang member of parliament Nizar Jamaluddin.

Nizar, who heads Jejak, a secretariat formed to investigate the claim that compensation paid by Tokyo to the Malaysian government for victims of the Death Railway project has yet to reach them, had last week met officials of the embassy to get more details.

In its report, Harakahdaily quoted Jejak as saying that the embassy's second secretary Takaharu Suegami confirmed money had been paid to the Malaysian government in the 1990s.

In a short email to Jejak clarifying the report, the embassy said it was not aware of any other compensation paid to Malaysia other than the 1967 agreement between Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur.

Under the deal signed in September 1967, the two governments agreed that Japan would pay "blood money" to the Malaysian government being settlement of the issue of compensation to those forced to work on the "Death Railway", an ambitious project by the Japanese imperial power to link Burma and Thailand with 400-kilometres of railway tracks.

The Japanese embassy also further clarified today that the compensation, in the form of grants and services worth some RM25 million to Malaysia, was transfered "around 1970's or 80's", but added that it had to check with its government on the list of victims as well as whether there has been any other compensation.

Nizar had earlier suggested that based on documents he had, Japan had paid some RM207 billion to the Malaysian government in 2004, while the money had yet to be distributed to family members of the estimated 30,000 Malaysians who worked as forced labourers for the project.

 

Deepak offers to buy back Astacanggih from Boustead unit

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 05:55 PM PST

(The Malaysian Insider) - Carpet dealer Deepak Jaikishan has offered to buy back Astacanggih Sdn Bhd shares sold to a unit of Boustead Holding Bhd last year, a deal that is linked to land swapped for the scandal-hit Puspahanas project.

The controversial businessman declined to give reasons for the earlier sale but said he wants back shares in his company.

"I want to buy back the shares from Boustead," Deepak (picture) told reporters here today.

In a filing with Bursa Malaysia last December 27, Boustead said its wholly-owned unit Bakti Wira Development Sdn Bhd was acquiring an 80 per cent stake in Astacanggih for RM30 million.

Boustead said the shares were purchased from Prestige Dimension Sdn Bhd and other minority shareholders of Astacanggih on December 20.

Bakti Wira Development and Astacanggih also signed an agreement with Awan Megah (M) Sdn Bhd on December 27 to acquire 80.94ha of freehold land in Klang, Selangor, for RM130 million.

Awan Megah is the developer of the National Defence Education Centre project or Puspahanas in Putrajaya that is behind schedule. The project was awarded to Senator Raja Datuk Ropiaah Abdullah's Awan Megah in 2005 and was due to be completed in 2011.

Despite the controversy over RM100 million Puspahanas project and the land swapped for the project, Boustead said the acquisition will present an opportunity for the group to expand its land bank.

"Moreover, the land was adjacent to 283.28ha of development land held under Jendela Hikmat Sdn Bhd, a company which the group and Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera jointly holds 60 per cent equity interest," it said.

Boustead said it was optimistic of the land's prospect considering its strategic location.

"The demand for industrial land in this location has been on the uptrend with the completion of UMW's latest storage and testing plant in Bukit Raja, Klang," it said.

 

Memang saya yang kirim SMS penafian ‘Black Rose’: Deepak

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 05:38 PM PST

Menurut Deepak, Rafizi perlu mengaku siapa pihak ketiga yang dimaksudkan agar tidak menyusahkan pihak lain.

Perak Today

"YA, Kiriman SMS beberapa hari lalu kepada rakan-rakan media adalah dihantar oleh saya sendiri."

Kontroversi yang melibatkan Peniaga Karpet, Deepak Jaikishan semakin hangat diperkatakan terutama dikalangan media-media siber puak pembangkan atau lebih khusus PKR.

Walaupun Deepak bukanlah individu yang menyokong BN atau UMNO khususnya, namun kenyataan beliau juga telah diputarbelitkan oleh beberapa pemimpin PKR.

Sehinggakan, wujud satu cerita yang mengatakan peniaga itu menerbitkan sebuah buku berjudul 'Black Rose' yang menceritakan mengenai Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak dan Isteri, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor berkaitan kes pembunuhan Altantuya.

Situasi itu sememangnya menimbulkan syak wasangka kerana Deepak, sejak dari awal lagi bukanlah golongan pro-BN namun beliau kini seolah-olah telah disabotaj oleh pemimpin PKR.

Susulan kewujudan buku yang dikatakan diterbitkan oleh Deepak, satu kenyataan balas telah dibuat peniaga terbabit bagi merungkai kekeliruan yang timbul.

"Saya rasa ada pihak yang nak ambil kesempatan tentang perkara ini… saya nak tegaskan buku saya adalah sebuah novel dan nama-nama di dalam buku ini tidak menunjukkan mana-mana individu.

"Peguam dan kawan-kawan saya ada salinan buku itu dan buku saya bukan sampah seperti buku yang mereka katakan itu.

"Saya tahu ada pihak yang tidak berminat untuk mengetahui perkara sebenar malah individu terbabit cuba menghalang saya dari menyatakan kebenaran.

"Saya sendiri tidak faham kenapa Pengarah Strategi Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Rafizi Ramli boleh mengemukakan bukti kononya ada dokumen… fakta mana yang dia dapat ni," katanya dalam sidang media petang tadi.

Justeru, kini Deepak mencabar Rafizi supaya mengemukakan bukti bahawa terdapat pihak ketiga yang menyerahkan dokumen berkaitan transaksi pembelian barang kemas yang mengaitkan Rosmah.

Menurut Deepak, Rafizi perlu mengaku siapa pihak ketiga yang dimaksudkan agar tidak menyusahkan pihak lain.

"Bila perkara ini berlaku mulalah ada pihak yang kata ada orang UMNO di belakang saya atau saya telah dibayar oleh individu lain untuk menjatuhkan Rosmah.

"Apa ni… Im Not For Sale, saya sumpah tidak ada orang UMNO di belakang saya.

Terdahulu, laporan MalaysiaKini menyatakan perlancaran buku 'Black Rose', satu siri buku yang dijanjikan oleh ahli perniagaan permaidani, Deepak Jaikishan yang mengisahkan persengketaan beliau dengan keluarga Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Difahamkan Siri pertama – Black Rose 1.0 – telah diedarkan kepada media malam ini dalam bentuk e-buku setebal 26 halaman dengan pengarangnya dinyatakan sebagai 'Spirit of Altantuya'.

Lantas, Deepak telah menafikan pelancaran buku tersebut dikeluarkan olehnya melalui SMS kepada semua media dan meminta namanya dikeluarkan.

READ MORE HERE

 

Looking at things realistically

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 04:53 PM PST

Hence with 10 seats in the FT, 10 in Johor, 25 in East Malaysia, 11 in Kedah, 12 in Kelantan, 11 in Penang, 18 in Perak, 17 in Selangor, 1 in Terengganu, 1 in Melaka, 3 in Negeri Sembilan, 5 in Pahang and 0 in Perlis, Pakatan Rakyat can just scrape through with the majority that it needs to form the new federal government -- 124 Parliament seats for Pakatan Rakyat versus 98 seats for Barisan Nasional.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

In the March 2008 general election, Pakatan Rakyat won 80 Parliament seats in Peninsular Malaysia and only two in East Malaysia -- one each in Sabah and Sarawak. Barisan Nasional won 140 Parliament seats in total.

Let's say this time around Pakatan Rakyat manages to retain its 80 Parliament seats in Peninsular Malaysia. It does not lose any of its seats and neither does it increase its seats in Peninsular Malaysia. That would mean Pakatan Rakyat would need to win at least 32 seats from East Malaysia (or an increase of 30 seats from the current two) to form the new federal government.

The first question would be: would an increase from two to 32 be a realistic aim? Is that not too large a jump to expect?

Nevertheless, 32 seats from East Malaysia would give Pakatan Rakyat a mere two-seat majority -- 112 Parliament seats for Pakatan Rakyat versus 110 for Barisan Nasional. That is too risky, as Barisan Nasional needs to buy over only one Pakatan Rakyat Member of Parliament to trigger a hung Parliament -- or two Pakatan Rakyat MPs to take over the government.

Hence Pakatan Rakyat needs more than just an additional 32 seats. Preferably it should be at least 42 seats to make it safe for Pakatan Rakyat so that Pakatan Rakyat wins 122 Parliament seats versus 100 for Barisan Nasional.

However, East Malaysia has only 56 Parliament seats -- 25 in Sabah and 31 in Sarawak. So 42 seats would not be a realistic target. At best Pakatan Rakyat may be able to win between 3-8 Parliament seats in Sabah and 7-11 in Sarawak.

That would give Pakatan Rakyat only 10 to 19 Parliament seats in total -- far short of the 32-42 that Pakatan Rakyat needs to form the new federal government (or form the new federal government with a safe majority of 22 seats).

Let's average those worst (11) and best (19) case scenarios for East Malaysia and put it as 15 seats in total. Added to the 80 seats from Peninsular Malaysia, that would give Pakatan Rakyat only 95 seats. And that would mean Barisan Nasional would still form the federal government with 127 Parliament seats.

Hence 11-19 seats from East Malaysia are not enough. From the total of 56 seats for East Malaysia, Pakatan Rakyat must win at least 25. And this would mean Pakatan Rakyat must cooperate with other East Malaysian parties because on its own Pakatan Rakyat can never win 25 of the 56 seats from East Malaysia.

On top of that, Pakatan Rakyat would need to win an additional 15 seats from Peninsular Malaysia from its current 80. I am assuming, of course, that Pakatan Rakyat can retain every single one of its 80 seats from Peninsular Malaysia. This would then give Pakatan Rakyat a total of 120 Parliament seats versus only 102 for Barisan Nasional.

We are, of course, working on the assumption that Pakatan Rakyat can retain all its 80 Parliament seats from Peninsular Malaysia and then it wins an additional (new) 15 seats from Peninsular Malaysia plus 25 seats from East Malaysia (which would include some 'joint venture' arrangements with other non-Pakatan Rakyat parties). If not then it will not work.

But where are these seats going to come from?

Well, in the 2008 general election, Pakatan Rakyat won only 1 seat in Johor from the 26 seats in total. Hence Pakatan Rakyat would have to increase its seats in Johor to at least 10.

In Pahang, Pakatan Rakyat won only 2 of the 14 seats. It would need to win at least 5 seats this time around.

In the Federal Territory, Kedah, Penang and Selangor, Pakatan Rakyat may have already peaked. Hence it needs to look at Perak where it won only 13 of the 24 seats and try to increase this to 18 -- or an additional 5 seats.

Hence with 10 seats in the FT, 10 in Johor, 25 in East Malaysia, 11 in Kedah, 12 in Kelantan, 11 in Penang, 18 in Perak, 17 in Selangor, 1 in Terengganu, 1 in Melaka, 3 in Negeri Sembilan, 5 in Pahang and 0 in Perlis, Pakatan Rakyat can just scrape through with the majority that it needs to form the new federal government -- 124 Parliament seats for Pakatan Rakyat versus 98 seats for Barisan Nasional.

Of course, if Pakatan Rakyat can win 1 seat in Perlis, 2 in Melaka, and 3 in Terengganu, then it will sail in with 128 seats versus Barisan Nasional's 94.

The earlier question I asked was: but where are these seats going to come from? The next question to ask, I suppose, is: can this be done?

Pakatan Rakyat is confident that it can win at least 122-127 seats, leaving Barisan Nasional with only 95-100 seats. Barisan Nasional, on the other hand, is confident it can win 130-135 seats, leaving Pakatan Rakyat with only 90 or so seats.

Only one can be right. Both cannot be right. Hence the other must be wrong. Which one do you think is right?

 

Lim: Umno lying about DAP and BM bibles

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 03:22 PM PST

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said that the allegation that his party will print 100,000 Bahasa Malaysia Bibles with the word Allah are insane lies.

Athi Shankar, FMT

The DAP said today that the allegations it planned to print 100,000 Bahasa Malaysia copies of the Bible using the word Allah are insane lies.

Deputy Education Minister Mohd Puad Zarkashi made this allegation at a press conference in Putrajaya yesterday.

Party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng demanded Puad, an Umno supreme council member, to show proof or else withdraw and apologise for what he termed as "insane lies."

Puad is also quoted to have said that the copies would be distributed for free in several states, including Kedah and Kelantan.

Unfortunately, said Lim, Puad's lies were printed in Umno-controlled newspapers – New Straits Times, Berita Harian and Utusan Malaysia.

"Puad's lies are insane and without any basis whatsoever. I will direct the DAP leaders to lodge police reports against Puad and the three Umno-controlled papers tomorrow for such insane and dangerous lies to create public disorder.

"The DAP will also consider other legal measures against Puad and the newspapers," Lim, the Penang Chief Minister, said in a statement today.

Lim insisted that DAP had never got involved in religion, believing that religion was a matter of personal faith for the individual that should neither be exploited nor politicised.

Moreover, he pointed out that the DAP neither has the resources nor the financial muscle to print and distribute an astonishing 100,000 Bahasa Malaysia edition of the Bible.

He said Puad's statement was just another Umno lie against DAP to win votes in the coming general election.

He wonders whether Umno would next even accuse the DAP of being responsible for Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu's murder.

READ MORE HERE

 

Pakatan: Non-Muslims can use ‘Allah’

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 03:19 PM PST

G Vinod, FMT

Pakatan Rakyat today announced that it has no qualms about non-Muslims using the word "Allah" to refer to God as long as it is not misused.

Speaking at a press conference here today, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said that "Allah", which is written in the al-Quran, is special and cannot be translated properly to other languages.

"That's why Muslims of all races refer to God as Allah. So non-Muslims can use the holy word although it may not reflect the original meaning," he explained.

Also present were PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim and DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang.

However, the decision made by Pakatan runs contrary to the Selangor Islamic Religious Council's (MAIS) stand today that non-Muslims in the state are forbidden from using the word "Allah".

"The Sultan of Selangor, Sharafuddin Idris Shah, had decreed that non-Muslims are forbidden from using the word "Allah", as mentioned by His Majesty on Feb 18, 2010, as the name is a sacred word for Muslims," said MAIS secretary Mohd Misri Idris in a statement issued this morning.

Misri added that the ruler had also urged MAIS to take action against Muslims or non-Muslims should they go against the decision under Selangor's Non-Islamic Religions Enactment (Control of Propagation Amongst Muslims) 1988.

Hadi, who is also Marang MP, said he regrets that Umno has resorted to use the holy word as a political tool to further its agenda.

"Umno, a party that represents a large number of Malay-Muslims, has politicised the matter without considering the sensitivity of Malaysia's multi-religious society," he added.

Asked on the ruler's decree, Hadi refused to comment. saying his statement was sufficient.

Commenting on the matter, Anwar praised PAS for its move, saying the decision was in tandem with Islamic teachings.

"While we don't object to non-Muslims using the word Allah, we also urge all quarters including the churches not to misuse the holy word as the name is revered greatly by Muslims," he said.

READ MORE HERE

 

How siege mentality works

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 02:39 PM PST

When will Muslims get out of this siege mentality and stop looking at every act by non-Muslims as an act to undermine Islam? I suppose as long as Judaism and Christianity are seen as competitors to Islam this psyche will never change. Can you see that only Judaism and Christianity are treated with hostility? This is because Muslims do not perceive Hinduism and Buddhism as competitors.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

U.S. triples foreign arms sales in 2011

By Mike Mount, CNN Senior National Security Producer

International weapons sales by the United States tripled in 2011 to a record high of $66.3 billion, according to a congressional report that noted big fighter jet and helicopter purchases by Saudi Arabia.

The data by the non-partisan Congressional Research Service noted an "extraordinary increase" over 2010, saying the total U.S. figure accounted for almost 78 percent of sales globally.

Russia followed the United States at $4.8 billion with France at $4.4 billion, according to the report, "Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations, 2004-2011."

China's 2011 sales were at $2.1 billion but focused less on large weapons platforms such as planes and more on smaller weapons, selling them to Asian countries and to African nations, the report said.

The data allows members of Congress to see "the level of arms transfers by major weapons suppliers to nations in the developing world ... where most the potential for the outbreak of regional military conflicts currently is greatest and where the greatest proportion of the conventional arms trade is conducted," according to the report.

A number of countries in the near-East and Asia, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, continued or resumed large-scale weapons purchases because of continued threats from Iran.

Saudi Arabia was the biggest buyer of arms from the United States, making up about half of the 2011 total at $33.4 billion, according to the report.

Saudi Arabia bought some 84 new F-15 fighter jets to add to its fleet as well as upgrades for 70 others. The purchase also included ammunition and missiles for the planes. Saudi Arabia also bought numerous Apache attack helicopters and multi-use Blackhawk helicopters.

With its very close proximity to Iran, the United Arab Emirates bought an advanced missile shield system called the Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and its corresponding radar systems for almost $3.5 billion. The U.A.E. also bought $939 million worth of Chinook transport helicopters.

Oman bought 18 F-16 fighter jets for $1.4 billion.

"For certain developing nations in these regions, the strength of their individual economies appears to be a key factor in their decisions to proceed with major arms purchases," according to the report.

Last year was the eighth-straight year the United States led global arms sales. The United States and Russia made up almost 70 percent of weapons sales in the developing world between 2008-11.

While the United States showed huge growth in sales, the international arms market is, "not likely growing at all," according to the report.

"There continue to be significant constraints on its (international arms market) growth, due, in particular, to the weakened state of the global economy," the report said.

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

Saudi Arabia is the world's 11th highest military equipment purchaser. And if you notice something else as well, Muslim countries appear to be spending a lot on arms purchases and would spend even more if the US did not block or embargo sales to certain 'unfriendly' Muslim countries.

To prevent war you must be prepared for war, the military strategists say. Hence you arm yourself to the teeth to make sure that no one starts harbouring any ideas of invading your country. And if you own more arms than your neighbour, your neighbour would not dare attack you.

However, since you are well armed, you now pose a threat to your neighbour. Hence your neighbour too needs to match you and also has to become well armed or else you might attack this neighbour instead.

And that is why it is called an arms race. You compete or race with each other to see who can be better armed. So, when your neighbour buys 20 fighter jets you buy 30. When your neighbour buys 30 tanks you buy 40. And so on.

History has shown us that most wars are fought between neighbours. Once in a while we have wars such as Britain versus Argentina over the Falkland Island. Most times, however, it is East versus West or North versus South of the same country or ethnicity.

Of course, the US breaks this rule by getting involved in wars all over the world and halfway across the world. But then being the policeman of the world and in the interest of selling more arms they need to keep wars going. Furthermore, if other countries fight each other, then most likely they would leave the US alone.

Arms trading is probably one of the largest businesses (I was told second to the entertainment industry: which includes music, movies, theatres, casinos, theme parks, clubs, discos, TV, radio, game/reality shows, etc.) and extremely lucrative. There is no compromise on security, which means price is not a criteria. You buy what needs to be bought and pay what needs to be paid with no hesitation. You cannot afford to worry about money when life and limb are at stake.

Muslim countries appear to be top of the list of arms purchasers. And a big portion of their budget is spent on arms rather than on education, health, welfare, and whatnot. And it is basically money down the drain.

How much of those billions that are spent are actually productive? Let us look at Saudi Arabia as one example. Saudi Arabia has not fought any wars. Yet it is the largest buyer of arms. What happens to all those arms that it buys? Well, after a couple of years the weapons become obsolete and need to be mothballed. Then they need to buy the latest and improved version to replace the scrapped armoury.

Hence these billions of weapons have a short shelf life and need to be discarded even though they have never been used. And that is why I said it is money down the drain. It is like buying car insurance. You do not need car insurance unless you crash your car. And probably 99% of the people who buy car insurance do not crash their car. Hence it is money down the drain. Arms are also insurance -- insurance against your neighbour attacking you, which you never use in the end

With the exception of Saudi Arabia, most countries that spend a huge chunk of their budget on arms are also countries where the people are poor. That means the more you spend on arms the poorer your people are. And that is because to be able to spend on arms you need to sting on health, education and welfare.

I sometimes wonder whether this is because of the siege mentality, more so amongst Muslims. Muslims seem to view 'others' (including other Muslims) as enemies. Hence they need to arm themselves to the teeth to secure themselves against these enemies.

Islamic history is all about jihad and wars. This is the 'culture' that Muslims are brought up with. So it is in the Muslim psyche that they are constantly on war mode and hence the need to arm themselves.

And this is also why we hear so much statements and rhetoric from Malaysian Muslims regarding enemies of Islam. To the non-Muslim it may be puzzling as to why Muslims always view others as enemies. And why do Muslims always jump at their own shadow and imagine an enemy lurking in those shadows?

If you can understand this then you can understand why Malaysian Muslims are so sensitive about Bahasa Malaysia Bibles and the use of the word Allah in these Bibles. Muslims regard non-Muslims as a threat to Islam so every move made by non-Muslims is viewed with suspicion. Muslims are constantly in war mode so any act by non-Muslims would be perceived as an act of war.

When will Muslims get out of this siege mentality and stop looking at every act by non-Muslims as an act to undermine Islam? I suppose as long as Judaism and Christianity are seen as competitors to Islam this psyche will never change. Can you see that only Judaism and Christianity are treated with hostility? This is because Muslims do not perceive Hinduism and Buddhism as competitors.

Judaism and Christianity share the same roots with Islam while Hinduism and Buddhism do not. Hence Muslims do not care whether Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, etc., also use the Allah word but for sure the Jews and Christians must not. That is the Muslim psyche.

And countries like Saudi Arabia spend billions on arms not because they fear the Jews and Christians but because they fear their fellow Muslims. Is this not ironical? And trust me: many Muslims are going to be very upset with what I just wrote. And they are going to be upset with me not because they feel I have lied but because I have told the truth.

But is this not also what the Pakatan Rakyat people are like, even the non-Malays/non-Muslims? They are angry with me not because I lie but because I have told the truth. And since I have told the truth they are not able to rebut what I say other than angrily accuse me of lying without explaining what then is the truth if I have lied.

Maybe I should say that this is not a Muslim psyche but a Malaysian psyche -- they get angry about the truth. But is it not the truth that in 2011 the US tripled its arms sales and the majority of these countries are Muslim countries while Saudi Arabia is the largest purchaser? So why get angry about what I wrote when it is true?

 

Death Railway: Ships or billions?

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 01:01 PM PST

The Japanese embassy claims that compensation was paid in the form of two ocean-going cargo ships, but Nizar Jamaluddin says the ships were for Japanese atrocities during World War II, not the 'Death Railway'. 

Lisa J. Ariffin, FMT

Confusion reigns over the compensation for Japan's Death Railway project, with the consulate saying it has reimbursed in the form of two cargo ships while PAS' Mohamad Nizar Jamaludin continues to pursue the RM207 billion allegation.

According to Nizar, the Japanese embassy claimed it had already fully compensated some 30,000 Malaysians once recruited as forced labour in its Death Railway project – in the form of two cargo ships "and all others".

Japanese envoy to Malaysia Shigeru Nakamura had made this claim when approached by the Bukit Gantang MP following allegations that RM207 billion in compensation was paid a decade ago, but neither the surviving victims nor their families had received any payment.

Nizar told FMT today that during a meeting with Nakamura, the latter claimed that compensation was paid fully in the form of two ships "and all others" in 1967 and that he (Nakamura) believed "all matters pertaining to the death railway are settled".

However, once pointed out by Nizar that the two "blood debt" ships were presented to the Malaysian government for Japanese atrocities during World War II and had "nothing to do with the Death Railway", Nakamura promised to consult his Tokyo counterparts to determine if the allegations are true or otherwise.

"We are now waiting for confirmation of the total amount and exact amount and who had acknowledged the acceptance of the RM207 billion," the PAS leader told FMT today.

"I have approached the Japanese embassy to find out if the allegations are true and they are committed to find out," he added.

Finance Ministry memo

Nizar said he had obtained internal information regarding the issue from the Finance Ministry in the form of a memorandum quoting the sum of RM207 billion.

"It was a memo from the Finance Ministry mentioning they will cooperate with the Attorney-General's Office and the Human Resources Ministry to make a Cabinet paper to approve how the particular amount shall be dispersed," he said.

"That's why in parliament I tried to ask the minister of finance (Najib Tun Razak). Because from the memo, I was made to understand the amount was kept in the treasury," he added.

However, until today, there had yet to be a response from the minister.

READ MORE HERE

 

Anwar’s suit: Scathing attack on judge

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 12:56 PM PST

An article published on the Perkasa website questions Justice VT Singham's political leanings and casts aspersion on his sexual orientation.

RK Anand, FMT

An article published on the Perkasa website launches a scathing salvo against High Court Judge VT Singham, who is presiding over Anwar Ibrahim's defamation suit against Utusan Malaysia.

Among others, it cast aspersion on the judge's sexual orientation, political leanings as well as his past judgments.

Singham is scheduled to deliver his verdict on the RM50 million suit on Jan 22, and the writer believes that it would favour the opposition leader.

"Singham is known to lean towards the opposition. According to observers, when there are cases involving politicians, he would ensure a victory for the opposition," read the article.

As an example, the writer said in 2011, the judge rejected the application by Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to strike out certain parts in Anwar's defence statement pertaining to a suit over a sex video.

Singham had also ordered Hishammuddin to pay RM25,000 in cost to Anwar.

"The home minister filed a suit against Anwar over the opposition leader's statements to the media… where he accused Hishammuddin of being responsible for showing the video to a group of editors and reporters, organising the screening and being part of a plot involving the prime minister and the police top brass.

"These accusations did not make sense because those who were responsible [for exposing the video] did not conceal their identities. That is why there are doubts about Singham."

The writer was referring to the video which depicted a man resembling Anwar having sex with a prostitute. The opposition leader had denied that it was him in the footage and accused his political rivals of attempting to tarnish his image.

Meanwhile, the article also claimed that Singham's judgments in non-political matters have also been disputed, for example, a rape case involving a National Service trainer.

"He had freed the accused on the premise that the credibility of the victim was in question for reporting the matter late.

"This was a weak reason because in almost all rape cases, the victims are late in lodging a report because of the dilemma and trauma endured. The comments in the social media revealed that many were displeased with Singham's decision."

'Why is he not married?'

Stooping to a personal level, the writer also questioned Singham's unmarried status despite the judge being in his fifties and insinuated that he could be homosexual.

"Imagine a judge who is capable in every sense still unable to find a match even at this age. He must have been a 'desired man' in the early years of his career.

"The only explanation for a man who does not choose any woman as a partner despite being capable and in the pinnacle of his career is that he does not desire any woman.

"Perhaps he agrees with Anwar that the laws concerning homosexuality in Malaysia are outdated because he himself has led a difficult life because of these laws. Is this the factor that has shaped the 'manner' of how Singham executes his judicial duties?"

The writer claimed that if the judgment favoured Anwar, then it would prove that there is something amiss with the judicial system, that it is not fair and independent because it is controlled by the opposition.

Anwar sued Utusan based on a Jan 17 report published on its frontpage quoting former PAS leader Hasan Ali, who called on the people to reject the opposition leader based on the former's views on laws regarding homosexuality in Malaysia expressed during an interview with BBC.

READ MORE HERE

 

Anwar has changed

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 12:47 PM PST

Zaid Ibrahim

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's lengthy article entitled "Change" has once again set political tongues wagging. Not that Dr M has written anything new – it's just the same, old tirade against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Pakatan Rakyat.

Whatever Dr M says however, must never be brushed off as inconsequential. Like Robert Mugabe and Hosni Mubarak, he has a large following and some rebuttal is required lest people believe him.

He first flogged US President Barack Obama as someone who did not deliver on his promises of change. He forgets that Obama was re-elected with an bigger margin than the first time he won the presidency. Dr M also ignores the fact that American citizens are in a better position to judge their President than a wealthy but old and retired Malaysian Prime Minister.

He then went on to say that Anwar and his friends in the Pakatan would bring havoc to the country, even if they rule for only five years. Anwar and the Pakatan, he said, would make all kinds of sweet promises but would not be able to deliver them. Why? The main thrusts of his argument were as follows:

Anwar did not accomplish much when he was in government, and even when he tried to do something, he was a disaster. During the 1998 financial crisis, for example, he wanted to follow the solutions prescribed by the International Monetary Fund, solutions Dr M said would have only bankrupted the country. He then said Anwar is not as pious or religious as he appears, and is a corrupt politician who practises cronyism to enrich his friends and family.

For now,  my  response to these allegations is to say that even if all of the above were true, we should still give Anwar and his friends a chance to rule. This is because Dr M is unable to give an objective assesment of Anwar. He is dumfounded that his nemesis is not only politically alive, but will probably be the next Prime Minister. Dr M is unable to accept this possibility as this would be a devastating defeat for him. Dr M is unable to accept that the person he targeted with the whole machinery of the state is still an active political leader  who is more popular than he is. In other words, Dr M is too disturbed by Anwar's thriving success to give a balanced view .

I have been an Anwar follower from afar for a long time. I was never his friend, but my interest in politics made me especially interested in him when my first preference, Tun Musa Hitam, pulled out of the political arena. When Anwar was sacked in 1998 and the black eye incident became worldwide news, I felt really sorry for him. I could not do much except to quietly support the Free Anwar  campaign. I even named my horse "Deputy Coming Back" in 2000 as a symbolic  gesture of support.  Unlike Dr M, I can give a better and more detached assesment of both Anwar and his friends in the Pakatan, which voters in the upcoming General Election can rely on.

Yes, Anwar did not do much good when he was  in UMNO. His tenure as  Education Minister   was poor and even as Deputy Prime Minister, he  was not a trailblazer. He was  imperious,  feudalistic, strong willed and more interested in strenghtening his position in the party than pushing for real reform. But he was obviously good enough for the job; Dr M would not have picked him as his successor otherwise.

Anwar was never shy about showing off his Malay and Islamic agendas, even if these made non- Malays/non-Muslims uncomfortable. His "slaughter" of Tun Ghafar Baba manifested the rapacious character of a man who was willing to abandon friendship and good behaviour so long as he could become Prime Minister. He had friends and allies who were given concessions and allotted shares in public companies. There was no doubt that he was filling up his war chest. In short, he did what a typical UMNO leader would do if he wants to move  up the ladder and be Prime Minister.

However, I believe that tragic and traumatic experiences can change a man. Anwar has suffered more than any political leader I know and because of these hardships, he is a different man today. He still wants to be Prime Minister (who doesn't), but he knows Malaysians have also changed. Today the people want a cleaner and more responsible Government. They do not want a corrupt leader who would only enrich himself, his party and his family. Anwar and the members of his family are not rich, and live modestly.

Stories of him having billions stashed away are lies. He has wealthy friends, of course, and they have kept his struggle going. I don't believe money is terribly important to Anwar and his family, so I don't think we will have pilferage on a huge scale when he becomes Prime Minister. So one up for him.

Malaysians also want to coexist in harmony. They are tired of UMNO's divide-and-rule system. Anwar has  travelled  far and wide in his political campaigns and has seen for himself how groups outside the gated communities live. He relates well with the rural as well as the urban poor and emphatises with the grievances of the marginalised. His concern for the less fortunate is genuine. His strong sense of justice is perhaps due to his own experiences, but they are real and something we can trust him with. He has changed, but Dr M has not. Two up.

An important point to remember is that Anwar has a close relationship with PAS. I was initially sceptical that PAS could ever be a strong political force in a moderate Malaysia because for many years, they were hystericaly extreme in their views. Today Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang is no longer the firebrand Islamic leader from Rusila of the 1980's, but a moderate and practical politician. PAS has many young and moderate leaders, and they inject a strong ethical amd moral dimension to governance, at least more so than UMNO.  I believe Anwar's influence on PAS and political Islam as a whole is positive. Three up.

READ MORE HERE

 

Sultan Selangor kesal Guan Eng ungkit isu kalimah Allah

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 12:31 PM PST

(The Malaysian Insider) - Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah terkejut dan kesal dengan tindakan Setiausaha Agung DAP Lim Guan Eng, yang meminta agar Putrajaya membenarkan kalimah Allah digunakan dalam semua Bible berbahasa Melayu baru-baru ini.

Berikutan dengan kenyataan dan gesaan tersebut, Sultan Selangor itu telah memanggil satu mesyuarat khas dengan beberapa orang Ahli Majlis Agama Islam Selangor (MAIS), Mufti Selangor serta pegawai tertìnggi MAIS dan JAIS pacla 6 Januari 2013.

"DYMM Sultan Selangor telah membuat ketetapan dan menitahkan dengan tegas bahawa kalimah Allah yang merupakan kalimah suci khusus bagi umat Islam tidak boleh sama sekali digunakan di Negeri Selangor oleh mana-mana agama bukan Islam yang Iain sebagaimana yang telah difatwa dan diwartakan pada 18 Februari 2010," kata Setiausaha MAIS Datuk Mohd Misri Idris dalam satu kenyataan hari ini.

Perdebatan di mahkamah mengenai isu perkataan "Allah" masih belum diselesaikan, dengan Gereja Katolik masih dihalang dari menggunakan perkataan tersebut dalam akhbar mingguannya The Herald, walaupun keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi membenarkannya pada 31 Disember, 2009, kerana Kementerian Dalam Negeri pada 2010 membuat rayuan ke atas keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi itu, dan sejak itu mahkamah tidak membuat sebarang keputusan untuk menetapkan tarikh untuk perbicaraan.

Menurut Mohd Misri lagi, Sultan pernah mengeluarkan titah sama berkaitan penggunaan kalimah Allah tiga tahun yang Ialu apabila isu ini pertama kali dibangkitkan akan tetapi tidak diendahkan.

"Namun DYMM Tuanku amat kesal kerana titah Baginda tersebut telah dipandang ringan oleh sesetengah  sehingga isu yang sama dibangkitkan semula," katanya.

"Berikutan dengan itu DYMM Tuanku juga telah menitahkan MAIS dan JAIS untuk mengambil tindakan tegas terhadap mana-mana pihak sama ada orang bukan Islam atau di kalangan orang Islam sekalipun yang masih mempersoalkan atau memperlekehkan Fatwa yang telah dikeluarkan mengikut peruntukan undang¬ undang yang sedia ada di Negeri Selangor."

Polemik penggunaan kalimah Allah timbul kembali apabila Lim dalam perutusan Krismasnya pada 24 Disember lalu menggesa kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN) untuk membenarkan penggunaan kalimah Allah dalam Injil bahasa Melayu memandangkan ia telah dibenarkan di Sabah dan Sarawak sejak 50 tahun lalu dan digunapakai di Timur Tengah hampir seribu tahun lalu.

Ketua Penerangan PAS Pusat Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man kemudian memberi respon bercanggah dengan pendirian presiden parti tersebut Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang pada tahun 2010 apabila  berkata kalimah "Allah" dalam Alkitab, terjemahan Injil bahasa Melayu tidak akan mencerminkan maksud asal ayat tersebut.

 

Stupid and indecent proposal

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 12:14 PM PST

The Jakarta Post

The plan to regulate how women sit as pillion riders on motorcycles in the city of Lhokseumawe in Aceh is not only stupid, it is also grossly indecent. The mayor of this gas town, Suaidi Yahya, may have cited sharia (Islamic law) in support of his plan, but the very idea itself is discriminative and indecent.

Stupid is something some of us can live with but indecent is something we have to stop.

Talk about stupid, one solution for female pillion riders, who find themselves on a motorbike with a man who is not driving safely, is to take the helm — to be the one wearing the pants — except that would probably be seen as even more indecent by the mayor especially if the man straddles behind her. 

His suggestion that women should sit sideways with their legs dangling off to one side is neither safe nor comfortable. Perhaps the mayor could try riding that way for a day to experience it. For good measure, someone should choreograph an accident and watch him fall off the motorbike. Just be sure that he wears a helmet, we don't want anything bad to happen to him. 

Stupidly enough, Mayor Suaidi actually has plenty of supporters, although not surprisingly from the city's ulama, supposedly the guardians of the people's moral standards. Seriously, you have to have a dirty, sick, indecent mind to find it improper for a woman to straddle pillion: Forget her safety, she is displaying her curves and look — her legs are apart.

Aceh leads Indonesia in pushing the implementation of sharia. It is the only province that practises sharia side by side with the national laws and has come up with the most sharia bylaws, some of which are extremely discriminative of women. 

Outside Aceh, there are more than 50 mayoralties and regencies that have formally adopted sharia through the local political processes, and they in turn have also come up with their own stupid bylaws.

The central government appears to have washed its hands in the name of regional autonomy, despite many of these sharia bylaws, which are clearly discriminatory against religious minorities and women, running counter to the Constitution.

Aceh, for example, has introduced canning as a means of punishment for certain types of offences. Some towns, including the capital city of Banda Aceh, hold weekly public spectacles after Friday prayers to whip sinners. Not surprisingly, most of those punished are women. 

As evidenced by the planned ban on straddling motorcycles, almost all sharia bylaws target women. There is the ban on wearing jeans, the ban on riding in the same car with a man who is not her spouse as well as the ban on walking the streets alone after night curfew — which if broken can lead to the woman facing accusations of prostitution.

What is most indecent about Suaidi's proposal is that it is carried in the name of Islam, and in doing so the mayor lends credence to the view that Islam represses women. That is certainly one interpretation of Islam that many ulama and men like Mayor Suaidi would not deny (and probably wholeheartedly agree with). 

It is really up to decent Muslim men and women across Indonesia, whom we hope make up the majority, to stop all discriminatory practices that not only go against Islamic teaching but also tar the good name of their religion.

 

Permuda PAS: Perhimpunan Sabtu ini fasa terakhir rampas Putrajaya

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 12:11 PM PST

Rakyat Malaysia di London, Taiwan dan Sydney telah pun bersedia untuk mengadakan himpunan yang sama bagi meraikan himpunan rakyat di Kuala Lumpur ini.

(FMT) - Himpunan kebangkitan rakyat di Stadium Merdeka di Kuala Lumpur Sabtu merupakan fasa terakhir Pakatan Rakyat merampas Putrajaya dalam pilihanraya umum ke 13.

Ketua Pemuda PAS, Nasrudin Hassan berkata, pihaknya telah mengeluarkan arahan kepada seluruh saf pemuda untuk turun beramai-ramai menjayakan himpunan ini.

"Saya ingin mengambil peluang ini untuk mengajak seluruh rakyat Malaysia khususnya golongan muda untuk  turun beramai-ramai menjayakan himpunan ini.

"Ayuh kita jadikan himpunan kebangkitan rakyat 2013 suatu pengalaman yang menakjubkan lalu mencatat lakaran penting dalam lipatan sejarah negara untuk menuntut perubahan.

"Mari bersama kita mencorak masa depan yang lebih gemilang untuk Malaysia," katanya dalam blog Pemuda PAS yang diterbitkan hari ini.Nasrudin berkata, pihaknya menjangkakan sekurang-kurangnya 50,000 Pemuda PAS untuk bersama-sama warga Malaysia yang lain membanjiri dataran Stadium Merdeka.

"Suara sejuta umat akan bergema merayakan perubahan, InsyaAllah!," katanya lagi.

Himpunan di luar negara

Nasrudin juga berkata, sehingga setakat ini pihaknya diberitahu rakyat Malaysia di London, Taiwan dan Sydney telah pun bersedia untuk mengadakan himpunan yang sama bagi meraikan himpunan rakyat di Kuala Lumpur ini.

READ MORE HERE

 

Show proof, MIC tells PKR

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 11:57 AM PST

A MIC leader tells Chua Jui Meng not to spin tales over the compensation for the Death Railway workers.

B Nantha Kumar, FMT

A MIC leader has challenged PKR vice-president Chua Jui Meng to expose the evidence regarding the Death Railway compensation.

S Vell Paari claimed that the opposition leader had come up with another tale to confuse the Indian community.

"Since [PKR vice-president] N Surendran failed to convince the Indians on the 'stateless Indians' issue, now its Chua's turn…" said the MIC publicity and communication chief.

In a FMT article on Sunday, Chua urged former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to clear the air over the alleged compensation given by the Japanese government.

The compensation, believed to be amounting to RM207 billion, was meant to be distributed to some 30,000 Malaysians who had been recruited as forced labourers by the Japanese to build the Thai-Burma rail link.

The money was believed to have been transferred by the Japanese government to Malaysia in the 1990s.

Vell Paari, however, found it odd that apart from Pakatan leaders, nobody else was aware of the compensation.

"He (Chua) said the money was given in the 1990s. Then, how come there was not a single media report about this?" asked the MIC central working committee (CWC) member.

Furthermore, he said that it was not a small sum which could be concealed.

"It is a huge amount. And the Japanese government would not have paid the compensation without the knowledge of international bodies such as the United Nations," he added.

Vell Paari also challenged Chua to ask his de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim about the compensation since the latter was the deputy prime minister in the 1990s.

"Let's say, if Chua is talking the truth that the Umno led government 'hijacked' the money, then Anwar must have also been a part of it," he said.

Anwar was deputy prime minister and also finance minister between 1993 and 1998.

Yesterday Anwar had confirmed that RM207 billion Death Railway compensation was sent to the Malaysian government but added that the money did not go through the Treasury. He also called on Mahathir to explain the matter.

READ MORE HERE

 

No more feel-good factor for BN

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 10:48 AM PST

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With the surprise of an early election now gone, Najib will find out soon that his polls date will no longer be a secret.

Amir Ali, Free Malaysia Today 

A stale Barisan Nasional, with its image tarnished and its glitter diminishing, is in desperate need of a new image and a new face to get back its traditional "feel-good factor" in Malaysian politics.

With the general election nearing rapidly, BN is finding itself cornered with Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak failing to cash in on numerous chances to regain popularity. The missed opportunities, since June last year to hold early polls, have pushed BN to the limit of its capacity.

The 2013 Budget – seen as a popular, electoral budget – was one of BN's attempts to shore up its crumbling base. The small handouts (as provided for under the budget) came in trickles and did nothing to boost BN's image. There was no real feel-good factor after the budget was unveiled.

A flurry of accusations against Najib and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, further eroded BN's image. Besides, people have been treating Najib with disdain for delaying the announcement of the polls date.

The fact that Najib is undecided over the polls date shows that BN is worried it might suffer a defeat.

Najib had had his fair share of feel-good factors when he took over the helm of the government from Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2009. Since then, it has been an uphill battle for BN to regain the high ground.

Moreover, Najib's hesitation also showed up his weaknesses – his indecisiveness and lack of tact in outplaying his opponents.

With the element of surprise gone, the polls date can no longer be kept a secret.

It has been reported in many blogs and online news portals that BN is facing a silent revolt that could lead to the downfall of Najib even before the polls are called.

While this seems to be a long shot, is BN seeking to push forward new faces as leaders in order to regain its lost glitter? Nevertheless, it is clear that BN has failed to outwit the opposition given the blurry situation over the election date.

But BN is hoping that Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim might lose his patience over the delay and commit some tactical mistakes. Yet again, the BN strategists have failed to try Anwar's patience to its limits.

Opposition seems well prepared

There have been many times when BN showed it was gearing up for early polls in 2011 and 2012. This kept the opposition on high alert, forcing Pakatan Rakyat to campaign literally on a daily basis in order not to be caught napping when Najib dissolves Parliament.

By constantly pushing back the election date, the BN hopes Pakatan will eventually run out of money and patience. This did not happen.

On the contrary, Pakatan seems well prepared for the 13th general election, based on its rallies and its constant highlighting of controversial issues linked to BN throughout the year.

The fact that the opposition is warning the regime not to delay the polls beyond April, and to stop any race-based campaigns, is seen as unhealthy for BN. However, some local pundits believed that BN is wary of calling for polls before April 2013.

The theory that has been floating around for some time now is that BN will eventually call for polls in April, thus forcing the four Pakatan-led states to hold the state polls at the same time.

Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2013/01/08/no-more-feel-good-factor-for-bn/ 

Leaders of change

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 10:32 AM PST

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(Al Jazeera) - Meet three inspirational leaders committed to tackling their countries' most stubborn problems.

Watch the video at: http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/south2north/2013/01/201315819281981.html 
(PM Najib appears at about 12:00 of the video)

What do you think of your leaders? Do you think you could do a better job than them? Are they corrupt and tired old men or are they youthful and energetic, but do you still wonder if they are going to turn out one day just like the old bad guys?

All three of our guests on this week's South2North know what it takes to be a leader.

Joining Redi in the studio are two people who have been hand-picked as future leaders of Africa. They were both chosen from hundreds of candidates by the prestigious African Leadership Institute to join a selected group of Tutu Fellows, named after their patron, Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

For the past year, Al Jazeera's cameras have been following the Tutu Fellows, and next week we start a four-part documentary series about them.

Zied Mhirsi, a Tunisian doctor, fiery revolutionary, media entrepreneur and public health expert, is very outspoken, endearing and provocative. Having been involved in the Tunisian revolution, he now has high hopes of making another change.

Swaady Martin-Leke, originally a child refugee from Liberia, is now a businesswoman, calling herself a citizen of the world.

A glamorous, cosmopolitan entrepreneur, Swaady founded a tea company to show that African products are more than handicrafts. She uses her mixed heritage to provide an international perspective to Africa's problems.

"In our generation what is unique is that we had to experience a lot of changes in a very short period of time. Also we are born with a responsibility and as Africans we are born with that responsibility to change our continent in our lifetime and see all these changes happen and be part of it."

The two young leaders have different opinions on many things like Swaady believes in having benevolent dictators in Africa. She says:

"We are not really ready for democracy but it's not acceptable in the current global context to actually say that we are not ready for democracy. So what's happening is until we get benevolent dicators like in Rwanda we are basically at the mercy of our governments and in the meantime we're just almost victims of democracy."

Zied Mhirsi, who was involved in using social media during the Tunisian uprising is appalled by her opinion:

"Democracy is not based on the president, it's based on the citizens. We are one billion Africans ... and I'm shocked that you go back to the example of a benevolent dictatorship .... This is where we are because of this kind of dictatorship. I can go back to the example of Rwanda, they can only do it to a certain extent. We did it in Tunisia for 20 years, we educated the population ... You need to have freedom so people can thrive and have ideas and exchange and do things, so they can innovate and bring the new economy that will bring growth. We are young leaders and we are here to promote a new style of leadership  - you can't go back ... and say what we need is another dictatorship."

The two also discuss the Arab Spring, Aids, women's rights and how selling luxury tea can make a difference in Africa.

On this episode of South2North we also hear from someone who is already a leader of his country. Earlier Redi Tlhabi spoke to Najib Tun Razak, Malaysia's prime minister, who has been in politics almost all his adult life, about leading his country of nearly 29 million people - and how he is using social media to do so.

"As a politician I believe that we have to be adaptive, we must adjust our style ... I think the young people today want a government that listens to them, that would create opportunities for them, social mobility, create jobs for them ... It's about bringing about real change and real change is taking place in Malaysia and I believe the young people here have the confidence ..."

He also discusses modern and progressive Islam and the issues of violence and extremism:

"The Global Movement of Moderates will give a very positive image of Islam to the world, especially to the western world ... If moderates get together and if moderates speak out, if moderates occupy the centre stage then we can drown out the voices of hatred, violence and extremism ... Islam as it is applied in Malaysia is consonant with modernity, with progress, with social justice, including respecting the rights of women ... we are proud of our achievements." 

CAT rips off DAP’s outlook

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 10:26 AM PST

The party has lost much of the clean, accountable and transparent image it has been trying to build over the last 40 years.

Baradan Kuppusamy, The Star 

SOMETHING has changed in the way voters now perceive DAP, arguably the strongest of the three parties in the Pakatan Rakyat coalition which is selling itself as a government-in-waiting.

Perception is everything in politics and voter perception of DAP, once deemed to be a clean, transparent and accountable party, has now taken a hit in the wake of two scandals hogging the headlines in recent weeks.

The scandals – a Kelantan land controversy involving two Perak DAP leaders and an election fiasco that saw a defeated Malay candidate elevated as a winner – have shaken the party to its core with even members beginning to question the party's credentials.

While the election fiasco can be explained as a "technical error", the land scandal involving over 10,000ha of reforestation, is more difficult to explain because of the public perception that a small man's party should not be involved in land deals.

The land scandal has hit the party hard because, as one member puts it, new towkays are beginning to take root in a party that had fought for – and always represented – the simple man.

While party elders - adviser Lim Kit Siang and chairman Karpal Singh - have openly admitted the election fiasco and blamed it on a technical error in computing, critics argue that the "technical error" is a convenient ruse to "elect" a Malay candidate – Zairil Khir Johari – to the CEC after the entire slate of eight Malay candidates were wiped out in the Dec 15 party election.

"The election foul-up saw votes being realigned, with some leaders getting more votes and others getting less. In the process, a Malay candidate who initially lost was later declared a winner.

"It's hard to buy this because the party has a long experience and prides itself as being open on election matters," said a Selangor DAP member, who is a lawyer.

"It is a simple process of counting 1,800 votes for the first 20 winning candidates," the member said, requesting anonymity because of a gag order on all members.

"Another fact is, although the foul-up was known to leaders al­­­­­most immediately, it took them nearly three weeks to bring it to the attention of the CEC. This delay is inexcusable and is the reason there is now so much speculation."

One frequently asked question is, how could such a foul-up happen when the party had conducted elections for over four decades without anybody questioning the results?

"This is the first time in DAP history and its embarrassing," admitted Karpal, but this is not enough for the party grassroots who want the leaders to explain the foul-up.

The Kelantan land controversy, involving Perak DAP chairman Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham and state secretary Ngar Kor Ming, is equally weighing on the minds of members as the party gears up for the big electoral battle ahead.

More than the election fiasco, the land scandal will surely test the voters' patience with the party and its CAT (competency, accountability and transparency) credentials.

The two party stalwarts, who are elected CEC members, were found involved, with other shareholders, in a venture involving nearly 10,000ha of reforestation land.

Their involvement is legal but public perception has it that they should not have been involved in the scheme.

"Are we transparent and accountable or are we doing the same thing that the people had rejected?" asked a Perak DAP leader who requested anonymity.

Perak DAP is already badly divided between the Ngeh-Nga faction on one side, and a faction led by Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran on the other.

Kulasegaran triumphed in the con­­­­test despite not having the Foo­­­chowsand their supporters openly backing him, said an insider.

"In the general election, their fight will divide DAP and give Barisan Nasional a chance to retain the state," the insider added.

Given the long years DAP has existed and the fact that it is part of a government-in-waiting with ot­­­­­­­­her allies, it is inexcusable for DAP to make such an election counting blunder and later offer excuses party members perceive as lame.

Nor is it advisable for two of the party important lawmakers in Perak to involve themselves in land deals that the public perceive as not entirely above board.

On both scores – the land controversy and the election fiasco – DAP has blundered badly, especially among the urban and upward mobile voters who are unhappy with how matters have turned out with the party.

 

Villagers warn: We’ll holdback support for BN if..

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 10:24 AM PST

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(Free Malaysia Today) - Village leaders in the Mas Gading constituency are wanting to know why SPDP is lying to the people by saying that their sacked elected reps are no longer in BN.

Several community leaders from the Mas Gading parliamentary constituency in Sarawak have allegedly threatened to withold their support for Barisan Nasional if the incumbent Dr Tiki Lafe is not retained.

Lafe, who won the seat on a BN ticket while in Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP), is currently in no-man's land.

He along with four other elected representatives were sacked from SPDP last year following a protracted crisis with party president William Mawan. The other elected representatives were Peter Nansian (Tasik Biru) Sylvester Entri (Marudi), Rosey Yunus (Bekenu) and Paulus Gumbang (Batu Danau).

The five have since formed a controversial 'Kelab BN Sarawak' which although unregistered as yet, seems to have the backing of Sarawak's Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud.

SPDP has refused to recognise the BN Club or its members and has pledged to field its own candidates in its two parliamentary seats in the coming general election.

SPDP has nominated Anthony Nogih, Deputy General Manager of Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra) to contest the Mas Gading seat.

In a joint statement today, the unnamed community leaders pleaded with the top BN leadership to reject SPDP's candidate (Nogih or anyone else) in Mas Gading in the coming election.

"This is because SPDP has been rejected in Mas Gading, and we, being very strong BN supporters, can also be rendered helpless to help BN retain the seat," said the statement.

The statement also further urged the top BN leadership not to blame the community leaders as it was "the party (SPDP) that had got rid of the people in the first place."


Sacked reps still under BN

They alleged that the real intention of SPDP in sacking Tiki and four other elected representatives was to get BN's top leadership to also sack them from BN.

"SPDP should realise that these elected representatives effectively stood on BN tickets and were BN wakil rakyat and have remained that way until now.

"So how can BN be so trigger happy to shoot itself in the foot like SPDP?

"Furthermore, the BN wakil rakyat of Mas Gading is the incumbent and is still serving the government in various capacities and serving the rakyat very well," they said.

The villager leaders further pointed out that Tiki still commands overwhelming support of the rakyat and is in command of BN machinery on the ground.

"But for SPDP to always claim that the elected representatives they sacked were not BN or half BN and partyless is rather ridiculous.

"The fact that these wakil rakyat are still full-fledged BN reps clearly show that SPDP is misleading and worst, lying to the people especially in Mas Gading by saying that these wakil rakyat are not in BN and partyless?

Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/01/07/villagers-warn-well-holdback-support-for-bn-if/ 

God Is Not A Christian: Desmond Tutu And The Dalai Lama's Extraordinary Talk On God And Religion

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 10:20 AM PST

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(Huffington Post) - "I've frequently said I'm glad I'm not God," Tutu continued. "But I'm also glad God is God. He can watch us speak, spread hatred, in his name. Apartheid was for a long time justified by the church. We do the same when we say all those awful things we say about gays and lesbians. We speak on behalf of a God of love.

Adapted from THE WISDOM OF COMPASSION: Stories of Remarkable Encounters and Timeless Insights by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Victor Chan by arrangement with Riverhead Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA), Inc., Copyright © 2012 by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Victor Chan

The Dalai Lama, wearing an orange visor, was on stage sitting next to Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who had just flown in from South Africa. The Dalai Lama sat in his usual lotus position on a leather armchair that was a size too small for his folded legs. His knees stuck out a smidgen beyond the armrests.

"My main concern," he said to Tutu, "what's the best way to talk about deeper human values like love, compassion, forgiveness, these things. Not relying on God, but relying on ourselves."

Tutu was hunched forward in his chair; he was carefully examining his hands, which were resting on his lap. He was dressed in a dark suit and a striking purple shirt with a decidedly magenta hue. A large metal cross hung below the clerical collar.

The Dalai Lama said, "I myself, I'm believer, I'm Buddhist monk. So for my own improvement, I utilize as much as I can Buddhist approach. But I never touch this when I talk with others. Buddhism is my business. Not business of other people. Frankly speaking"—he stole a glance at the archbishop and declared firmly—"when you and our brothers and sisters talk about God, creator, I'm nonbeliever." He laughed, perhaps a little self-consciously.

It seemed to me that the Dalai Lama's feelings about God have changed over the years. In an early interview, when I asked him if he thought there was a God, he answered simply, "I don't know." He took the view of an agnostic: he understood that it's not possible to know one way or another whether God exists.

"In Buddhism no creator," the Dalai Lama said at the Chan Centre. "But we also accept Buddha, bodhisattvas, these higher beings. However, if we only rely on these higher beings, we would just sit there, lazy." He leaned into his chair, threw his head back, and rolled his eyes heavenward.

"Won't help, won't help. So that's my view," the Dalai Lama concluded.

Tutu crossed his arms in front of his chest. He looked pensive, deep in thought. Then a smile creased his face.
He said, "I was thinking when you were talking about God or no God, who you blame?" Tutu lifted both his legs from the floor and rocked back and forth in his chair. He was gripped in a fit of uncontrollable mirth. Perhaps it was an inside joke. If so, I didn't get it. Perhaps he meant that if there is no God, then there is no one to blame but ourselves?

Tutu stared at the Dalai Lama as his trademark giggle filled the hall. The Dalai Lama then bowed deeply in homage, his head nearly level with his folded knees. He whipped off his visor and saluted his South African friend with an exaggerated flourish. Both men seemed to derive an enormous kick out of Tutu's cryptic question.

Tutu said nothing more for the longest time. He was gathering his thoughts, preparing to expound further on the subject.

Although diminutive, all of five feet and four inches, his is an imposing figure. His facial features are broad and remarkably plastic.

Before Tutu could resume, the Dalai Lama pleaded, "I think . . . maybe I interfere. May I respond, just a little, just a little?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Tutu screeched in a loud, high-pitched voice that took the audience by surprise. He turned completely sideways and trained his eyes on the Dalai Lama, his face one of pure animation. The two elderly spiritual leaders, for one short, unforgettable moment, became kids again, horsing around and thoroughly enjoying each other's company. At one gathering in Oslo, after a particularly rambunctious episode, Tutu admonished the Dalai Lama in mock seriousness, "Look here—the cameras are on you, stop behaving like a naughty schoolboy. Try to behave like a holy man."

The audience at the sold-out Chan Centre was delighted with the bantering. It was heartening to see that these two global icons did not take themselves too seriously. That they could, without being the least bit self-conscious, display such childlike playfulness. The Dalai Lama was carried along by the archbishop's animal vitality, his irreverence, his lighthearted theatrics.

He was so in synch with the African that he did something I have seldom seen him do before. He interrupted Tutu, with no regard for niceties or etiquette, in mid-thought.

But now that Tutu had given him permission to interrupt, the Dalai Lama turned serious. He said to the archbishop, "The problem is, if we involve religious faith, then there are many varieties and fundamental differences of views. So very complicated.

"That's why in India"—he pointed a finger at Tutu for emphasis—"when they drafted the constitution they deliberately used secular approach. Too many religions there"—he counted them out one by one with his fingers—"Hindu, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, Jainism. So many. And there are godly religions and there are godless religions. Who decides who is right?"

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/07/god-is-not-a-christian-tutu-dalai-lama_n_2421553.html?icid=hp_religion_art_more 

 

Indonesia province to ban women from straddling motorbikes

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 10:17 AM PST

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(The Guardian) - Proposed sharia law in Aceh province would force women to ride side-saddle in order to make their curves less visible

Authorities in Indonesia's Aceh province are pressing ahead with a proposed Islamic law that would ban female passengers from straddling motorbikes despite reported opposition from the central government.

Aceh introduced a version of Shariah, or Islamic law, in 2009, after it gained autonomy from the government in a 2005 peace deal to end a long-running separatist war there. The Aceh laws regulate women's dress and public morality, require shops and other places to close at prayer time, and are enforced by a special unit. Punishments can include public caning.

On Monday, authorities in northern Aceh distributed a notice to government offices and villages informing residents of the proposed law, which would apply to adolescent girls and women. It states that women are not allowed to straddle motorbikes unless it's an "emergency," and are not allowed to hold onto the driver.

Suaidi Yahya, mayor of the Aceh city of Lhokseumawe, said a ban was needed because the "curves of a woman's body" are more visible when straddling a motorbike than when sitting sideways with legs dangling.

"Muslim women are not allowed to show their curves, it's against Islamic teachings," he said, declining to give details of what the punishment would be for violators.

Last week, Home Ministry officials told local media they would try to block the law because it was discriminatory.

While rare in the West, riding sidesaddle on a motorbike is common in much of Southeast Asia, particularly for women wearing skirts. There appear to have been no studies on which is safer, straddling or riding sidesaddle, though many women say they feel more secure and comfortable straddling.

Nurjanah Ismail, a lecturer on gender issues at the Ar Raniry Islamic Institute in Aceh's capital, Banda Aceh, criticized the proposed law.

"There is no need to question this practice, let alone regulate it, because people do it for safety," she said. "Women sitting in that way cannot be considered bad or in violation of Shariah. Islam is beautiful, so do not make it difficult."

It is unclear how popular the Shariah provisions are with locals in Aceh, which while devout by Indonesian standards is a far cry from parts of Pakistan or the Middle East. Enforcement of laws is patchy and mostly targets young men and women. Caning, when applied, typically is aimed at causing humiliation rather than pain.

Since 2005, many other regions in Indonesia have issued Shariah-inspired bylaws that ban such things as alcohol or tight clothing, alarming rights activists and others who value the country's secular heritage. The government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, which relies on the support of Muslim political parties, has not spoken out against the laws, much less challenge them.

 

"Saya tidak tahu bukti Kristianisasi yang macam mana lagi masyarakat mahukan"

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 10:12 AM PST

ZyOqBYu7qT4 

There are millions of Muslims in this country and she picked on a few cases as an example to show there is a movement by the Christians to convert the Muslims ... she calls herself an academic in Islamic Studies? ....... if the Malays want to leave Islam, it's precisely because of people like her!!

Or watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyOqBYu7qT4 

The problem with this country is, Malaysians underestimate the capability of the Malays to accept open discussion on what they term as 'sensitive'. They want this to remain 'sensitive' so as to remain in control and have a strong grip on the minds of the Malays ... this would ensure they will remain relevant.

 

YBAM Urges Ministry of Education to Offer Non-Islamic Classes

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 10:00 AM PST

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The current Malaysian Education System which lacks non-Islamic religious education may have caused a barrier in the mutual understanding required and hence adversely affected unity among the people with different faiths in our society. The Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 Preliminary Report which highlighted only a single religion has overlooked the contributions of the non-Islamic religions in the development of this country.

 

The Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia (YBAM) 

The Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia (YBAM) presented the Memorandum of the proposals on Religious Education to "The Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 Preliminary Report" to the Minister of Education today. YBAM urges the minister to seriously consider the need of religious education to non-Muslim students and to offer non-Islamic classes and establish religious societies in schools.

 

The memorandum is signed by 74 organisations of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism, and was presented to the Minister of Education by the Deputy President of YBAM, Loh Yit Phing, and Deputy Secretary General, Dr. Koh Yit Yan. The memorandum was received by Dr. Raslan Haniff Abdul Rashid, who is the Special Officer to Minister of Education Malaysia.

 

Loh Yit Phing mentioned that since the Education Blueprint was introduced in September 2012 by the Prime Minister, YBAM, through various occasions, had voiced the worries among Buddhist community towards the Blueprint, including the memorandum presented to the Deputy Education Minister, Datuk Wee Ka Siong during the Workshop on National Education Blueprint organised by MCA on 6 October 2012.

 

"In order to ensure that the government look into this matter seriously, started in November 2012, YBAM started to collect the signatories from the religious, cultural and educational organisations, and at the same time, to make an appointment with Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education for the presentation of Memorandum. The appointment was only confirmed a week ago but a representative, Dr. Raslan Haniff Abdul Rashid was appointed to receive the memorandum." YBAM presented the memorandum consists of five proposals and strategies so as to help children understand the religion better, leading to mutual understanding. 

The memorandum stressed that the Education Blueprint should recognise religious diversity and emphasizes the importance of religious education with the following five proposals:

•         To implement non-Islamic religious classes at all primary schools so as to shape children with good character and ethical and moral values

•         To establish non-Islamic religious societies in schools as part of their extra-curricular activities and for the students to be able to earn extra-curricular marks for participation in these societies

•         To strengthen the narrative on the development of all major religions in the History Textbook for secondary schools, and to provide proper explanations and clarification on the teachings of all major religions practiced in our country

•         To support and encourage secondary school students to volunteer at charitable organisations, religious organisations / institutions or other non-profitable organisations and for these students to be able to earn extra-curricular marks for such participations

•        A section in the History Textbook for use in primary schools (there are a few chapters in each section), which will be introduced in 2014, should be allocated to elaborate on the teachings of all major religions, importance of these religions to human civilization, as well as the contributions of the major religions to the development of our nation

 

Attachment

Related document on the memorandum of the proposals on Religious Education is as follow:

 

Memorandum of The Proposals on Religious Education to "The Malaysia Education Blueprint  2013-2025 Preliminary Report"

The teaching of traditional religions plays a vital role in the development of a country as well as promotes harmony in a pluralistic society. Hence, religious education must be included in the Malaysian Education System and it must be in line with the National Education Philosophy. It is important to nurture respect and tolerance in our children by having them learn about and understand all major religions practiced in our country. The "Rohani" (Spiritual) aspect of the Malaysian Education Philosophy of the development of "Jasmani, Emosi, Rohani and Intelek" must be enhanced in our education of pupils of all religions in this country. 

The current Malaysian Education System which lacks non-Islamic religious education may have caused a barrier in the mutual understanding required and hence adversely affected unity among the people with different faiths in our society. The Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 Preliminary Report which highlighted only a single religion has overlooked the contributions of the non-Islamic religions in the development of this country. The Malaysian Constitution safeguards the freedom of religion and the freedom of religious belief in our country. With this in mind, we urge the Government to seriously look into the needs of non-Muslim students with respect to their own religions. 

In light of the above, we now request for an Education Blueprint which recognises religious diversity and emphasizes the importance of religious education. Accordingly, we, 

1)       Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia (YBAM),
2)       Fo Guang Shan Malaysia,
3)       Fo Guang Education Centre Bhd,
4)       Fo Guang Foundation,
5)       Malaysia Christian Youth Association,
6)       Buddha's Light International Association (Malaysia Chapter),
7)       Rantau Buddhist Association,
8)       Vajrayana Buddhist Council of Malaysia,
9)       Persatuan Penganut Berugama Buddha Air Kala,
10)     Persatuan Buddhis Selayang,
11)     United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia,
12)     Dharma Drum Mountain Malaysia Center,
13)     The Klang & Coast Buddhist  Association,
14)     Persatuan Penganut-penganut Agama Buddha Simpang Renggam,
15)     The Segamat Buddhist Society,
16)     Persatuan Pengajian  Agama Buddha Kulai,
17)     Raub Buddhist Association,
18)     Persatuan Buddhhist Kemaman,
19)     Persatuan Penganut Agama Buddha Paloh,
20)     Persatuan Buddhist Gurun,
21)     Gabungan Persatuan Alumni Universiti Taiwan, Malaysia,
22)     Persatuan Buddhist Kedah Tengah,
23)     Geha Bodhi Care Centre,
24)     Persatuan Penganut Agama Buddha Triang Hilir,
25)     Persatuan Penganut  Agama Buddha Dungun,
26)     Persatuan Penganut Agama Buddha Pertang,
27)     Persatuan Penganut Buddha Bodhi  Kuala Lumpur,
28)     Pusat Buddhisma Kemanusiaan Melaka,
29)     Perlis Buddhist Society,
30)     Mengkarak Buddhist Association,
31)     Tanah Merah Buddhist Society,
32)     Persatuan Penganut Agama Buddha Ju Shi Lin Kuala Krai,
33)     The Gua Musang Buddhist Association,
34)     Persatuan Penganut Buddha Kuala Krai,
35)     Kelantan Buddhist Association Youth Section,
36)     Persatuan Buddha Wakaf Bharu Kelantan,
37)     Shah Alam Buddhist Society,
38)     Persatuan Penganut Agama Buddha Kampung Baru Dangi,
39)     Erdi Buddhist Temple,
40)     Persatuan Buddhis Jong Shan,
41)     Persatuan Buddhist Pontian,
42)     Persatuan Penganut Buddha Ching Kang,
43)     Robson Heights Buddhist Society,
44)     Persatuan Penganut Buddhis Mentakab Pahang,
45)     Sasana Abhiwurdhi Wardhana Society Youth Section,
46)     Lundu Buddhist Society,
47)     Persatuan Agama Buddha Prajna Seremban,
48)     Persatuan Penganut Agama Buddha Sauk,
49)     Pertubuhan Penganut Agama Buddha Ulu Tiram,
50)     Research For Social Advancement,
51)     Persatuan Penganut Agama Buddha Yuan Jue Chan Malaysia,
52)     Kuching Tze Yin Buddhist Orthodox Association,
53)     Persatuan Penganut Agama Buddha Amitabha Kuala Kangsar,
54)     The United Chinese School Committees' Association of Selangor and Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur,
55)     Persatuan Buddhist Paka,
56)     The Penang Buddhist Free School Ex-Pupils Association,
57)     Persatuan Triyana Dharma Cakra Vihara,
58)     Jitra Buddhist Association,
59)     Theravada Buddhist Council of Malaysia,
60)     Guan Yin Temple Buddhist Society,
61)     Sarikei Buddhist Orthodox  Association,
62)     Persatuan Buddhis Karak,
63)     Taiping Biddhist Society,
64)     Batu Niah Buddhhist Society,
65)     Pertubuhan Penganut-penganut Agama Buddha, Johor,
66)     Than Hsiang Buddhist Welfare Association,
67)     Persatuan Buddhist Sitiawan,
68)     Bukit Beruang Buddhist Society,
69)     Persatuan Penganut Agama Buddhis Mengkuang,
70)     Miri Buddhist Society (1993),
71)     Malaysia Hindhudharma Mamandram,
72)     The Malaysian Consultative Council for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST),
73)     Terengganu Buddhist Association,
74)     Terengganu Buddhist Youth Circle

would like to officially propose five points and strategies to be included in the Education Blueprint:

First Proposal: To implement non-Islamic religious classes at all primary schools so as to shape children with good character and ethical and moral values.

Strategy: This can be implemented in stages, starting with the older children in primary schools. We propose that one period per week is allocated for religious class and that the subject is non-examination based. We, together with other national non-Islamic religious organisations, will work with the Curriculum Development Centre (Bahagian Pembangunan Kokurikulum – BPK) to provide the necessary syllabus and instructors' guide, as well as the relevant training to the teachers. 

Second Proposal: To establish non-Islamic religious societies in schools as part of their extra-curricular activities and for the students to be able to earn extra-curricular marks for participation in these societies.

 

Strategy:  To instruct officials in the Ministry of Education and headmasters of all schools to execute and implement the "Education Circular 2011" (SURAT PEKELILING IKHTISAS BILANGAN 2 TAHUN 2011), that is, to approve and assist the formation of the non-Islamic religious societies in schools when the requirements have been met. We, together with other national non-Islamic religious organisations, will assist in the establishment of these religious societies in all primary and secondary schools and provide necessary resources and training.

 

Third Proposal: To strengthen the narrative on the development of all major religions in the History Textbook for secondary schools, and to provide proper explanations and clarification on the teachings of all major religions practiced in our country.

 

Strategy: A section in the History Textbook for use in secondary schools (there are a few chapters in each section) should be allocated to elaborate on the teachings of all major religions, their formation and developments, the importance of these religions to human civilization, as well as the contributions of the major religions to the development of our nation.

Fourth Proposal: To support and encourage secondary school students to volunteer at charitable organisations, religious organisations / institutions or other non-profitable organisations and for these students to be able to earn extra-curricular marks for such participation. 

Strategy: This practice is very common in developed countries and has helped in reducing crime rate among youths, as well as in nurturing the youth in becoming more caring and sensitive to the less privileged. We, together with other national non-Islamic religious organisations, will assist in recommending a list of the participating religious organisations and institutions.

 

Fifth ProposalA section in the History Textbook for use in primary schools (there are a few chapters in each section), which will be introduced in 2014, should be allocated to elaborate on the teachings of all major religions, importance of these religions to human civilization, as well as the contributions of the major religions to the development of our nation. 

 

Strategy: The Ministry of Education should value the importance of all religious teachings, as well as their contributions to our nation building. We, together with other national non-Islamic religious organisations, will work together with the Curriculum Development Centre (Bahagian Pembangunan Kokurikulum – BPK) to devise a suitable content for that section in the History Textbook.

 

The Witch of Anw-dor?

Posted: 06 Jan 2013 09:52 PM PST

KTEMOC KONSIDERS

Alexander vs Porus, King of India

There have been headlines that the Indians are once(?) again the king-makers in Malaysian politics, much to the joy of Uthayakumar, his HRP, even MIC, PPP, MUIP, and wakakaka, KIMMA as well as various kutu BN component parties and organizations that claim to represent Indian Malaysians.

Indeed, and so are we joyous as well ... especially kaytee as I had penned the following posts eons before the cries of marginalisation of Indians rang out:

(1) The Toddy Syndrome

(2) Malaysia's Economic Pariahs?

(3) Hated by Indra

Indra

... but hold on a ding dong minute, the king-making claim seems to be not what we had visualize and want. It's not about Indian voters tipping the balance of outcomes in the coming general election, and while this may yet be realized, the king-makers we are discussing in this post are the new G-Ds of "truth" and a King Saul like bloke who could call up or upon Malaysian Witches of Endor or more correctly, Witches of Anw-dor wakakaka.

On one side we have, as mentioned, B-D, the new G-D of 'Truth' especially the D of the Divine Duality, who in esoteric exotic erotic Taoism-like exercise, is making many PKR supporters go into wild orgasms at the "truth" spewed out like deep fried Manapparai murukku (chap rose hitam - haram certified, wakakaka), very non-halal (non-kosher) thus spicy and enticing but yawnnnnnnnn, something we non-PKR people are already familiar with ...

.... while (what G-D gives with one hand, G-D takes away with the other) RPK informs us in The 'third party' whom Rafizi Ramli spoke about of one Datuk Ravi who marvellously has a panel of bomohs on his payroll and is reputed to be the alleged Mursyidul Am sub rosā* to PKR, in fact one personally advising the party's de facto head, Anwar Ibrahim.

* sub rosā literally means 'under the rose', from the ancient use of the rose at meetings as a symbol of the sworn confidence of the participants or secret. You have to decide whether it is a black rose.

Wow, a double Makkal Sakti!

... and eat your roast lamb's heart out, Datuk TRJR*.

[* = Datuk Tiga Ratus Juta Ringgit, wakakaka]

Since 'tis the season of faith and we have been talking about matters relating to Judeo-Christianity, etc, it may be said that in Judeo-Christianity, the first official bomoh was Aaron, brother of Moses. He was the High Priest of the Hebrews, and only his direct descendants from the Tribe of Levi, referred to at times as Aaronites, could be priests.

But since the good book says he was a prophet, perhaps we need to leave him and other Aaronites (Hebrew priests) out of this discussion on witch doctors (or shamans or bomoh) ...

... which then makes the Witch of Endor as the most famous bomoh in the bible, wakakaka.

Witch of Endor, King Saul & ghost of Samuel

This is just a wee digression, a t'ng k'ooi (chong hei) meandering before I come back to the Indian king-maker and his panel of bomohs.

According to the Old Testament, King Saul (Israel's first king) was an unmitigated schizophrenic who was further depressed by leng chai David becoming the people's choice for kingship - so the Bible tells us but there's more to it than what the Bible hopes we would believe.

There was a battle looming and Saul wanted to consult God about his chances but alas God didn't answer him which doesn't surprised me in the least because God's usual mouthpiece Samuel coincidentally wasn't around, wakakaka.

Unfortunately for Saul (in more than one way), the treacherous Samuel, his priest-advisor, who seditiously abetted leng chai David in a failed coup d'etat, was dead. So Saul decided to ask the Witch of Endor to raise the ghost of Samuel for pre-battle consultations.

But I have my doubts about this.

You see, Samuel hated Saul's guts because prior to Saul becoming Israel's first king on the people's demand, Samuel as a Judge-Priest was running the country. He appointed his two sons as his successors, and I am sure you have heard of such legacies (in  North Korea, I mean wakakaka), but the Israelites told them (Samuel's sons) to f-o, wakakaka, and demanded Saul be appointed King instead.

Saul made 1st King of Israel by Israelites

Obviously insofar as Samuel was concerned, there was nothing that Saul ever did right – for example, there was a pending battle with the Amalekites. Samuel told Saul to wait for seven days after which they would meet and Samuel would then give further instructions on sacrifices to god prior to battle. But as would have it, Samuel did not arrive even after 7 days; Saul's army was fidgeting so Saul started preparing for battle by conducting the standard offer of sacrifices.

Aha! Just as Saul finished doing that, guess who popped out from behind the bush? Caught you! Yes, Samuel arrived and railed against Saul for not waiting for him as he was the priest and the only who could offer sacrifices to god (so said he), of course conveniently acting dunno that he did not arrive even after the promised seven days.

Naturally the bomoh, ooops I mean, priest told Saul that god's not happy with him and would take away his kingship.

Then bloke told Saul the latter had again fallen out of God's favour because he (Saul) was too soft hearted and didn't slaughter all the Amalekites in a genocide instructed by Samuel.

Samuel's continuous fault finding with Saul, using god's name, remind me of a judge who once upon a time, long long ago, wakakaka, became the Lord President after he found his boss, then the incumbent Lord President, guilty of some alleged wrong, following which the Lord President was sacked and his prosecutor-judge-successor was promoted to become Lord President, wakakaka.

Obviously the biblical Judge-Priest (ruler before King Saul) wanted to achieve the same thing, wakakaka.

But realizing Saul had the people's support, he decided to become king-maker and promoted David as a worthy successor, claiming of course the murderous adulterous treacherous David was god's chosen ... thus wrote the Davidic supporters in the Bible, wakakaka.

Hebrew Bible

Maybe Samuel had hope to control David but he died at the age of 53 - just as well for him because there was no one in biblical history more devious, treacherous and evil than David, whose symbol today is on the flag of Israel.

Eventually David murdered Saul and his family (sons and daughter, his own wife) and seduced Saul's wife and a few other men's wives to get Saul's throne, so a wee BTN-style creative redaction of the Judaic records were done during the Judeans' captivity in Babylon to whitewash David's crimes.

So the story of Saul calling the Witch of Endor to raise Samuel from the dead for pre battle consultations was a further demon-ization (excuse the unintended pun) of King Saul by Davidic supporters, apart from the gross implausible geographical details related to the sequence of events, indicating they were fabricated.

But consulting bomoh has been an intrinsic part of Malay culture, which I dare say, due to the muhibbah-ness of our society, some Chinese and Indians and a few Eurasians have participated too, wakakaka.

Yes, there are 3 activities that bind us closely like bro's and sis' - namely, sports (especially the faves of gamblers, wakakaka), 4-Ekor (see multiracial crowd at 4-Ekor shop wakakaka and the magnanimous policemen who would be so tolerant of double and even triple parking outside an 4-ekor shop, wakakaka), and consulting the bomoh (to dapat 4-Ekor lah, wakakaka).

4-D shop, wakakaka

My uncle told me that during the days of Tunku (or was it Tun Razak) PM-ship, the Vice Chancellor of our only university was, I believe, Prof Ungku Aziz who did the unusual. He engaged a bomoh to consecrate a hall in UM, and he did in an open ceremony where there were a number of invited guests including VIPs, wakakaka.

Ungku Aziz was big on Malay culture and he reckoned a bomoh consecrating the hall would be a nice touch, wakakaka. A few Malays grumbled but most smiled at his Malay-ness or eccentricity. The unique occasion was reported in most of the newspapers, ad that's how my Unc came to know about it. Today I wonder which Malaysian university VC dares do such a thing, wakakaka.

Another uncle story - Recalling my uncles were in the Armed Forces, they heard this one about a certain Malay Regiment Battalion commanding officer (CO) during the Emergency. Bloke was a bit of a sexual perv, but let's keep clear of that as we want to discuss the bomoh in the story. 

Apparently, as the story went, bloke wanted to ambush a known CT group in his area of operations  As he lacked intelligence (the military kind, wakakaka) he consulted a bomoh in a hope to get a head start on other battalion commanders. The bomoh assured him that if he laid an ambush at location X, he would get those CTs. Of course the ambush was in vain, or we would have ended the Emergency a lot earlier, wakakaka. But something happened - he whacked the bomoh kau kau, wakakaka.

READ MORE HERE

 

Anwar and Taib playing ball?

Posted: 06 Jan 2013 06:57 PM PST

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is rumoured to have dropped at least nine PBB incumbent MPs who are very loyal to Taib, replacing them with pro-federal candidates.

Joseph Tawie, FMT

KUCHING: It's no longer whispers and rumours spinning out of Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu's (PBB) corridors in Sarawak. In fact it is now common knowledge that Chief Minister Taib Mahmud, who also helms BN's leader party PBB, is betting on more than one horse in the general election.

Taib is towing the talk in Barisan Nasional whilst shaking hands with Pakatan Rakyat.

At least that's what Anwar Ibrahim insinuated to FMT here today when he said that he has made "some contacts with some state BN leaders".

It also further confirms rumours that Taib had sent a strong message to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak not to interfere with PBB's recommendations and sent a 'senior' PBB man to meet with Anwar.

Said Anwar, who is de facto leader of Pakatan Rakyat: "Yes I do have some contacts with them many times. I met them at the airport, in Parliament and outside Parliament. We are very civil in politics."

Anwar, who was here on a three-day visit to assess the the political situation in Sarawak, was commenting on rumours that he had met some of state BN leaders over the possibility that they might join Pakatan Rakyat before or after the general election.

Anwar, they said, had discussed the 'latest development' with PAS and DAP leaders and it appears everyone is in agreement.

Rumours were rife that Taib and some component party members are unhappy with Najib's insistence on choosing the candidates in the coming election.

Najib is rumoured to have dropped at least nine PBB incumbent MPs who are very loyal to Taib replacing them with pro-federal candidates.

Others unhappy with similar moves by Najib are Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party president William Mawan and the Parti Rakyat Sarawak chief James Masing.

READ MORE HERE

 

Anwar: RM207b ‘not sent through Treasury’

Posted: 06 Jan 2013 04:45 PM PST

Former finance minister Anwar Ibrahim claims both Japanese and Malaysian officials "have evidence" that the money was sent to the government.

Joseph Tawie, FMT

KUCHING: Former deputy prime minister-cum finance minister Anwar Ibrahim today confirmed that RM207 billion Death Railway compensation was sent to the Malaysian government but added that the money did not go through the Treasury.

"Why you have to ask the former finance ministers to explain? If the money came to the Treasury, I would surely have been informed.

"During my time as finance minister, it was not sent through the Treasury.

"But they (both Japanese and Malaysian officials) have evidence that it was sent to the government.

"So I think the then Prime Minister (Dr Mahathir Mohamad) needs to explain. What is the present Prime Minister (Najib Tun Razak) is doing?

"Najib should conduct a full investigation," Anwar said, adding that the issue had been raised in Parliament by one of the Pakatan Rakyat MPs.

Anwar was commenting on the 'missing' RM207 billion paid by the Japanese government as compensation to the Malaysian government over the 'Death Railway' project in the 1940s.

The money was meant to be distributed to some 30,000 Malaysians who had been taken as prisoners of war and used as forced labour by the Japanese to build the Thai-Burma rail link.

The infamous Death Railway was to boost Japan's supply route for its forces in Malaya and nearby Asian countries during the Second World War.

According to PAS, the Japanese Embassy had recently revealed that it had in the 1990s paid a compensation of RM207 billion to the Malaysian government for families of the victims.

Today blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin had called for former finance minister Anwar and Daim Zainuddin, along with Mahathir, to explain the whereabouts of the RM207 billion.

 

Opposition capers in Sabah

Posted: 06 Jan 2013 04:20 PM PST

The chances for PR to win and deny BN's two-thirds majority in Sabah are high if it allows state-based opposition parties to contest one-to-one against the ruling party in all the 60 state constituencies. 

Arnold Puyok, The Malaysian Insider

Sabah politics has never failed to generate the interest of political pundits. Not only does Sabah have a lot of political mavericks known for their political stunts, Sabah politics is also as unpredictable as the weather. The withdrawal of two former BN strongmen, Wilfred Bumburing and Lajim Ukin, to align with PR has heightened the race to win public office in Sabah. BN is banking on its track record while PR is riding on the promise to form a transparent, democratic and people-friendly government. 

The state-based opposition parties SAPP and STAR are also promising a better and more reliable government. But different from PR, they rely heavily on the "Borneo Agenda" to rally support. The PR-friendly groups such as APS (Angkatan Perubahan Sabah) led by Wilfred is tasked to go into the Kadazandusun areas to weaken STAR while Lajim's PPPS (Pakatan Perubahan Sabah) is responsible for consolidating the Muslim support in PR.

All the state-based opposition parties resort to sloganeering to woo new supporters. The very mention of "inikalilah" (this is the time) reminds one of STAR with its no-holds-barred approach in championing Sabah's rights and autonomy. APS's campaign motto is "ubah" (change), almost similar to PPPS's "tukar". Can PR and state-based opposition parties provide a strong challenge to BN that has more than 50 years of experience in electoral politics?

In the effort the deny BN any chance of winning, PR is determined to have a one-to-one fight with the ruling party. However, such a plan seems remote judging from the way PR deals with the issue of seat allocation. The chances for PR to win and deny BN's two-thirds majority in Sabah are high if it allows state-based opposition parties to contest one-to-one against the ruling party in all the 60 state constituencies. 

As PR's main aim is to win Putrajaya, it will have to win a certain number of parliamentary seats in Sabah even though the task of winning has become difficult than ever. The SAPP's strongholds are mainly in Chinese-majority areas. The state-based opposition party to watch is STAR, whose support is growing particularly in the Kadazandusun areas even though there has been rumour that the party has lost support following the allegation that it is funded by UMNO to split the support for PR.

STAR's "Borneo Tea Parties" seem to bear fruits at least among young professionals, especially teachers. If STAR's facebook account is used to measure the party's popularity, the Sarawak-based party should be commended for its ability in attracting new members in such a short time.

SAPP had said that it managed to strike a deal with STAR. But Jeffrey Kitingan's statement in the media that he is determined to "do it alone" squashed SAPP's attempt at finding an amicable solution to end the squabble over seat allocation. It is possible for all the state opposition-based parties to contest against each other and thus give BN the advantage to return to power.

READ MORE HERE

 

Ex-Youth chief: PAS ulama council should make ‘Allah’ call

Posted: 06 Jan 2013 03:54 PM PST

(The Malay Mail) - The PAS Syura Council has been urged to publicly make their stand on Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's call to the government to allow the use of the word "Allah" in the Malay version of the Bible in his Christmas message.

This is to clear the confusion among the grassroots over who should issue statements on the matter — the PAS leadership or the Syura Council, said former Penang PAS Youth chief Mohamed Hafiz Mohamed Nordin, who is also the coordinator of Jaringan Melayu Pulau Penang (JMPP), a non-governmental organisation.

He said the issue had not been discussed even at the annual PAS Muktamar or party assembly since 2010. "However, several PAS leaders like Mat Sabu (PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu), who doesn't have the capacity to talk on the matter, has released a statement on it. The stand should be made by the Syura Council, not him or any PAS leaders."

Mohamed Hafiz, who claims to represent the grassroots and ordinary PAS members, said he was informed of their dissatisfaction over several matters, including the use of "Allah" in the Bible.

"Many from Penang, Kedah, Selangor and Kelantan, among others, have supported me over the matter." He had launched a signature campaign against Lim's proposal on Jan 4 and would hand the list along with 25 police reports on the matter to the Inspector-General of Police.

 

300,000 for Himpunan rally?

Posted: 06 Jan 2013 03:46 PM PST

Pakatan Selangor, aiming to mobilise a mammoth crowd on Jan 12 for its people's uprising rally, hits out at Stadium Merdeka management for delaying approval of the venue.

G Vinod, FMT

Pakatan Rakyat Selangor announced today that it would mobilise 300,000 people for the Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat scheduled for Jan 12 at Stadium Merdeka.

Selangor PAS commissioner Abdul Rani Osman said that he had informed all his branches and divisions to mobilise its members for the rally.

Speaking at a press conference held at the PKR headquarters, Abdul Rani said: "I hope my fellow PKR and DAP friends from Selangor would urge their members to attend the rally."

Also present at the press conference were Selangor DAP chief Teresa Kok and state PKR secretary Amirudin Shari.

Rani urged the public to attend the rally, saying that it would be an ideal avenue to voice their grouses against the government.

"Come to Kuala Lumpur a day earlier," he urged the public, "And please use the public transport to avoid traffic congestions."

The PAS leader also urged rally participants to maintain decorum at all times during the rally and to be "wary of agent provocateurs on that day".

Kok criticised the Stadium Merdeka management for dragging its feet in giving approval for the use of the venue for the rally.

"During Bersih 3.0, the government said it will allow rallies in a stadium.

"But till now, the stadium management, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and the police have not responded to our application," she said.

 

‘Dr M, Anwar and Daim must explain the RM207b’

Posted: 06 Jan 2013 03:31 PM PST

The former PM and two of his finance ministers must be held accountable for the 'missing' billions in compensation paid by the Japanese to Malaysia.

Lisa J. Ariffin, FMT

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad as well as previous finance ministers Anwar Ibrahim and Daim Zainuddin must explain what happened to the RM207 billion in compensation paid by Japan to the Malaysian government, said prominent blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin today.

"Both the finance minister as well as the prime minister must be held accountable for any wrongdoings and transgressions," said Raja Petra, better known as RPK, in his blog posting.

During World War II, the Japanese had conscripted over 30,000 Malayans as forced labour and used prisoners of war to build the infamous Death Railway to boost its supply route for its forces in Malaya and nearby Asian countries.

The Japanese Embassy revealed that it had paid RM207 billion in compensation to the Malaysian government in the 90s for families of victims.

Raja Petra also supported opposition advisor Lim Kit Siang's call that Daim, the one-time finance minister, must be held accountable for wrongdoings and transgressions during his watch and that he could not just wash his hands and shift the blame solely to Mahathir.

Kit Siang said: "Anwar Ibrahim, the finance minister from 1991 to 1998, must also be accountable for whatever happened during his watch. Prior to that, from 1984 to 1991, Daim was the finance minister and was reappointed in 1998 after Anwar was sacked."

Raja Petra said although the 'missing' RM207 billion was a good election issue and favourable to the opposition, it could have repercussions on Pakatan Rakyat if the allegations were true.

"If the government were to release information to prove that Anwar had a hand in the matter yet chooses to remain silent, this issue could backfire badly on the opposition," he said.

Anwar should go public

He said Anwar could easily settle the issue by denying knowledge of the matter, or say that the money was "hijacked" at the behest of Mahathir and that the matter was beyond his (Anwar's) control.

"From my dealings with the finance ministry since 1977, I'm aware that the ministry has certain autonomy and has been known to override the wishes of the prime minister," he said.

He explained that the prime minister's department, finance ministry, and Bank Negara are very protective of their respective turfs and were careful about infringing on each other's territory.

"The relationship of the prime minister, finance minister, economic adviser to the government, and Bank Negara governor was a complicated relationship and we never knew at each point of time who we should be talking to if we wanted things done," he said.

"Each was the boss of his own turf. Anwar knows this and hence should go public so that Malaysians can get to the truth of the matter because RM207 billion is a lot of money.

"The truth should not remain hidden," said RPK.

READ MORE HERE

 

God’s voice on earth

Posted: 06 Jan 2013 03:01 PM PST

Hence the Church and the Crown had to work in tandem. The Crown drew its legitimacy from the Church (which recognised the king as God's representative) while the Church got its powers at the pleasure of the Crown. It was a convenient joint venture of two corrupt systems that existed mainly to oppress and suppress the people.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

In the past, until about 500 years or so ago, the 'common people' in Christendom did not interpret religion themselves. That is because religion was communicated in a language that the masses did not speak. Hence they needed 'middlemen' to help interpret religion. And these middlemen would interpret religion in a 'politically correct' manner.

Then, by the late 1400s to early 1500s, religion began to be communicated in the people's mother tongue. The English read religion in English, the Germans in German, and so on. This reduced the need for middlemen and made them redundant. And people began to realise that the middlemen had been taking the people for a ride and were 'tailoring' religious decrees (fatwah) to suit the political agenda of the powers-that-be.

For example, for Catholics, divorce was not allowed. However, if the king wanted to take on a new wife then the religious authorities could always declare that the king's first marriage was null and void. Hence he need not divorce his first wife to marry his second wife since his first wife was not really his wife in the first place. The first wife no longer exists so the second wife becomes the first wife.

Then, when he wants to get rid of his second (but now first) wife to marry his third (but now second) wife, he can declare that she has committed treason against God's representative on earth and hence by offending the king she has offended God and can, therefore, be put to death. Then, on the day they execute his second (but considered first) wife, he can go marry his third (but considered second) wife.

Religious decrees or fatwah have been a very useful political tool for Christendom. The Church and the Crown shared power. Hence rules need to be laid down that serve both the Church and the Crown. When the Church ignores the Crown then the Crown will act against the Church and the Church would lose its powers and status.

Hence the Church and the Crown had to work in tandem. The Crown drew its legitimacy from the Church (which recognised the king as God's representative) while the Church got its powers at the pleasure of the Crown. It was a convenient joint venture of two corrupt systems that existed mainly to oppress and suppress the people.

That was up to about 500 years ago in Christendom. Since then, especially around 200 years ago, the people got rid of this menace called the Church and later even the menace called the Crown. Hence the two biggest exploiters and oppressors of the people were removed. Today, many people go to church only three times in their life -- when they are christened, when they marry (if they have a church wedding), and when they die (unless they get blown up in Iraq or Afghanistan). Other than that they go to the pubs.

As I said, that was up to about 500 years ago in Christendom. In Islamdom, they still have not got rid of the 'Church' and in many countries the 'Crown' as well. And that is why in some Muslim countries we still have monarchs who are the head of religion. And we also still have religious authorities that pass decrees or fatwah.

Basically, many Muslim countries are still hundreds of years behind Christendom. Hence those who live in such countries suffer what the people in Christendom suffered up to about 200 to 500 years ago. And that is why we still read news reports such as the two below from NST (regarding dogs) and Hakarah (regarding fatwah or decrees).

The religious authorities tell us what we can and cannot believe in plus what we can and cannot do. They interpret what is and is not allowed. And we are compelled to follow these rulings or face arrest and punishment.

But is this really what God stipulated? This is what the religious authorities say God has stipulated. Can we disagree with this? We cannot disagree with this. Can we interpret things our own way? We cannot interpret things our own way. They will interpret it for us.

You will notice one thing, though. Most times they will quote the Hadith when they pass rulings or decrees. But why quote the Hadith and not the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam? That is because the Qur'an is 'silent' on many issues so if they quote the Qur'an then they will not be able to support what they say. Hence they need to quote the Hadith.

What if you do not accept the Hadith? You cannot. You must accept the Hadith. If you reject the Hadith then you are a deviant and can be arrested and punished.

What if you follow a certain sect of Islam that does not recognise the Hadith or it recognises a different set of Hadith and not the ones that you recognise? You cannot. You can only follow the sect of Islam that the government says you can follow and if you follow another sect of Islam then you can get arrested and punished.

Basically, Islam, today, is where Christianity was 500 or 200 years ago. However, while Christendom has reformed and has allowed freedom of choice, Islamdom does not allow freedom of choice. The religious authorities in Islamdom decide what you can and cannot do and there are no two ways about it.

Hence, while the Qur'an does not say that dogs are not allowed (in fact, there is a verse that allows dogs to be used for hunting and game procured from hunting is halal to eat), because they use the Hadith and not the Qur'an to make their rulings, most Malays will not keep dogs.

And note that I said 'Malays' and not 'Muslims' because the one-time Mufti of Terengganu kept a dog and would take his dog out for a walk every day even when he went to market to buy his fish. And the one-time Mufti of Kelantan said that dogs are not only allowed but you can even bathe your dog.

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

Islam allows blind to use dogs

EYES AND EARS: There is no issue in using the services of trained dogs, says Perlis mufti

(NST) - There is no rule in Islam which prohibits the use of service dogs to guide the blind, said Perlis mufti Dr Juanda Jaya.

"Using the services of guide dogs which are well trained is allowed in the religion, including the Syafie mazhab, which is subscribed to by Muslims in the country.

"There is no issue on using service dogs for various purposes like hunting, guarding and as guiding dogs," he told the New Straits Times, yesterday.

Considered as one of the most sought after service dogs, guide dogs are trained from young to act as eyes and ears for the blind.

Guide dogs are also trained to improve the mobility of the blind and have been proven to help them lead independent lives.

On why blind Muslims in the country do not consider having guide dogs, Juanda said there was confusion on the exact ruling and status of dogs in the religion.

"People need to learn to differentiate between religion and culture in order to make decisions in their lives and to not follow blindly what others say about rulings in Islam."

Fatwa Council president Tan Sri Dr Abdul Shukor Husni said there was no specific fatwa issued for guide dogs for the blind.

"It is mainly because we didn't receive any enquiry or requests from the affected community to consider a fatwa on guide dogs.

"If there is a request and we see a present need for the issuance of a fatwa on guide dogs, we will have a meeting to discuss this issue thoroughly," said Shukor, while calling for Muslims who are concerned about the issue to come forward.

In 2008, the United Kingdom's Muslim Law (Syariah) Council issued a fatwa stating that "a blind person, in the light of syariah law, will be allowed to keep a guide dog to help him and if required to take him to the mosque for his prayers".

Then, 18-year-old Mohammed Abraar Khatri, who lost his sight because of a degenerative disease the same year, championed the rights of Muslims to use the services of guide dogs with help from the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and the Muslim Council of Britain.

His guide dog, named Vargo, accompanied Mohammed to school, outings and to the mosque.

A special compartment was set up within the mosque compound to let the dog stay while Mohammed went to pray.

Perak mufti Tan Sri Dr Harussani Zakaria said Muslims were allowed to keep dogs if they were trained to be guard dogs, to watch over the garden (kebun) or to be seeing-eye dogs.

"It is said in a hadith that the angels do not like the barking of dogs and will not enter a house in which a dog is kept. But that does not mean that we cannot keep them for certain purposes."

"We are permitted to keep them, as long as they are not kept in the house, and we have to sertu if we touch them when they are wet."

Sertu, he said, is the act of washing the skin with water six times and with a mixture of water and earth once.

It is often mistaken for the term samak, which is the act of cleaning an animal's skin with rough materials such as sand or ashes.

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

Tidak boleh buat fatwa berdasar andaian – Mufti

(Harakah Daily) - Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan tidak boleh mengeluarkan sesuatu fatwa hanya berdasarkan andaian atau laporan akhbar semata-mata.

Mufti Pulau Pinang, Datuk Seri Hassan Ahmad berkata, dalam menyelesaikan isu yang disebut sebagai 'Amanat Haji Hadi', Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan perlu bersemuka dengan Presiden PAS itu sendiri.

"Ia mesti mengikut prosedur. Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi perlu dijemput untuk berbincang dan bagi mendapatkan penjelasan. Ia tidak boleh diselesaikan mengikut andaian," katanya dipetik Sinar Harian Online.

Semalam, Datuk Seri Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi berkata, sejak 31 tahun lalu, beliau langsung tidak pernah menerima apa-apa surat atau dipanggil untuk memberi keterangan kepada Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan berhubung petikan ucapannya yang dibuat di Banggol Peradong, Terengganu, 31 tahun yang lalu yang kemudian dipopularkan pihak tertentu sebagai 'amanat' itu.

Katanya, tindakan itu tidak adil bagi dirinya kerana tidak diberi peluang menjelaskan perkara sebenar berhubung polemik itu sehingga kini.

Sebelum ini hanya Majlis Fatwa Negeri Melaka, yang mengeluarkan fatwa berhubung amanat itu yang diwartakan pada tahun 2002.

Sebaliknya tiada fatwa khusus di peringkat Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan berhubung perkara itu.

Mengulas fatwa yang dikeluarkan di peringkat negeri itu, Hassan berkata, Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan tidak boleh bergantung kepada fatwa yang dikeluarkan oleh majlis fatwa di peringkat negeri.

Kuasa mengeluarkan fatwa, katanya, adalah kuasa negeri dan fatwa yang dikeluarkan oleh Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan tidak semestinya satu keputusan mutlak kerana kuasa agama kekal di bawah kuasa negeri.

 

Japanese WWII Reparations: Are PR Politicians on LSD?

Posted: 06 Jan 2013 01:44 PM PST

The Malaysian and Japanese governments inked a pact on the issue on Sept. 21, 1967, Malaysian Foreign Ministry parliamentary secretary Ahmad Shabery Cheek was quoted as saying by Malaysia's national news agency Bernama. Under the deal, the Japanese agreed to pay "blood money" to the Malaysian government, he told the parliament here. The money was used to set up the Malaysia International Shipping Corporation, he said.

Pure Shiite

Looking substantively at the issue, first, Article 14 of the San Francisco Peace Treaty states, "It is recognized that Japan should pay reparations to the Allied Powers for the damage and suffering caused by it during the war." This authorizes reparations by recognizing war responsibility. Other claims rights and settlement of property rights, return or compensation for Allied property, compensation for Japanese mistreatment of Allied prisoners of war, resolution of the claims rights of neutral nations, and debt return from the prewar period, etc., are minutely specified in Articles 15 to 18. This may differ slightly from the war responsibility being debated today, but Japan here indicated an attitude to deal sincerely with war responsibility and resolving the various problems arising from the war. Based on the peace treaty, Japan concluded reparations agreements with the Philippines and South Vietnam and concluded individual peace treaties and reparations agreements with Burma and Indonesia, which were not parties to the San Francisco Peace Treaty. Cambodia and Laos were parties to the San Francisco Peace Treaty but forfeited their right to claim indemnities, so Japan concluded grant capital aid cooperation agreements with these two countries in return. (This type of aid is classified as "quasi-reparations" in Japan, and in the domestic budget is included not in the general account but in the special reparations account.) With another non-participant in the San Francisco Peace Treaty, India, Japan concluded a peace treaty in June 1952, ending the state of war and confirming India's renunciation of indemnities from Japan. 6 Japan recognized its war responsibility and agreed to pay indemnities in these various peace and reparations agreements.
In the reparations agreements with the Philippines and South Vietnam, there is no clear reference to war responsibility, but given that these treaties were based on Article 14 of the San Francisco Peace Treaty, in which "it is recognized that Japan should pay reparations to the Allied Powers for the damage and suffering caused by it during the war," obviously there was no need to repeat these provisions. In the individually concluded peace treaty with Burma, Japan recognized its responsibility by stating that "Japan is prepared to pay reparations to the Union of Burma in order to compensate the damage and suffering caused by Japan during the war." There is a similarly worded article in the peace treaty with Indonesia, based upon which a reparations agreement is concluded. Although not specifically reparations, Japan concluded so-called grant capital aid agreements in the 1960s and provided grant loans as a form of quasi-reparations to Malaysia and Singapore, whose ethnic Chinese communities strongly demanded redress for damage suffered from Japanese occupation. These agreements state, "Japan recognizes that the (early and total) resolution of problems arising from unfortunate incidents during World War II in Malaysia (Singapore) would contribute to promoting its friendly relations with Malaysia (Singapore)." They thus recognize Japan's responsibility, and further state that the contracting parties "agree that all problems arising from unfortunate incidents during World War II are hereby totally and conclusively resolved." -

READ MORE HERE

 

Guan Eng to await Mansor's report on aide's arrest

Posted: 06 Jan 2013 01:33 PM PST

(The Star) - Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state government will cooperate fully with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in a graft case involving an aide to Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Mansor Othman.

"We will wait for Mansor to return from overseas and submit his report on the matter by Thursday," he said here Monday.

Lim said the state would take action if the aide was a contract officer with the state government.

Mansor, who is the Penang PKR liaison chairman, is away in Mecca.

It was reported earlier that the 56-year-old aide was arrested with two others in a MACC sting operation in Seberang Jaya.

The three were arrested for allegedly offering a bribe and abusing their positions when handling a sexual harassment case.

 

 

Army Chief to Suara Pakatan Rakyat: "If you insult Kanang, you insult us"

Posted: 06 Jan 2013 01:20 PM PST

(Malaysian Digest) - A pro-Opposition news portal's act of trivializing the contributions of the late national hero Datuk Temenggong Kanan Kanang Anak Langkau is tantamount to insulting all army personnel and their families.

This is the opinion of Armed Forces general Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin, who also believes that the portal's report, titled "Kanang Bukan Hero Sebenar' (Kanang Isn't A True Hero) is not only rude, but also ignorant. 

Zulkifeli said it was regrettable that some people are unclear of Kanang's sacrifices. 

He stressed that the government's decision to accord full state honors to the national hero was made in view of his invaluable contribution towards defending the country.

"I ask those who made such statements to kindly read up on history and realize that Kanang had sacrificed plenty; all of this is in the history books.

"It is sad when a small group pounces on the opportunity to capitalize on his death to deny something which is already public knowledge," Berita Harian quoted him as saying.

On Saturday, Suara Pakatan Rakyat, a pro-Opposition portal, had questioned the government's actions in according full state honors for Kanang's passing, especially when he already received a salary and allowances when he was in the army.

The writer of the article also proclaimed that Kanang is not "a true hero."

Following the incident, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera (PBB) supreme council member, Datuk Idris Buang, lodged a report at the Kuching police headquarters to urge the authorities to investigate the website for defamation.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister's political secretary, Abdullah Saidol, said the writer's comments were out of line and ignorant.

He said the article was not only written without basis, but was also irresponsible and deeply offended the feelings of others, including the Ibans, which is the largest community in Sarawak.

He said the writer should have been more attuned to the sensitivities of Sarawakians and not make any statements which contradict what has been written as historical fact.

Abdullah, who is also Semop assemblyman, said Kanang was not only a true warrior, but was also a symbol for many in defending the country.

Sarawak Veteran Rangers Association president, Lt Kol (Rtd) Robert Rizal Abdullah, said those who made such statements have clearly never seen how Kanang's stomach suffered gruesome wounds in the course of conflict.

"How can someone of sound mind issue a statement like that? Kanang himself once declared that he had died and lived again, only to continue fighting.

"Is all this not enough?" he said.

Kelab Sayangi Perdana Menteri president, Mohd Shahar Abdullah, likened the news portal's article to a grave insult and also treacherous towards the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong.

"All awards accorded to Kanang were presented by the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong. Why would anyone wish to question whether Kanang was a true hero or otherwise?"

"This is an insult to the country's Ruler, the Iban community, Kanang's next-of-kin and an irresponsible act towards all Malaysians."

 

Privatisation of Government Land: Ways of Skinning the Cat

Posted: 06 Jan 2013 01:02 PM PST

A Kadir Jasin

THERE are many ways to skin a cat, so goes an English saying. Since a fair number of today's political bigwigs are English educated, some spending many years in England, I believe they know its meaning.

I believe that the cat refers not to our lovable tabbies at home but to the big cats that the colonials loved to hunt – the tigers, lions, leopards, cheetahs and jaguars.

So when the government granted the privatisation of a 223.33-acre military land in Bukit Raja, Selangor, to a little-known private company, Awan Megah Sdn Bhd, which belongs to the Selangor Wanita Umno chief, Raja Ropiaah Raja Abdullah, turned into a mischief, it appears that it had not skinned the cat the right way.

And its silence on the vicious allegations that the family of the Prime Minister, Mohd Najib Abdul Razak, was involved with carpet dealer, Deepak Jaikishan, is deafening.

The spat between the Umno bigwig and Jaikishan, who claimed ownership of the land, saw the ghost of murdered Altantuya Shaariibuu and the second statutory declaration by the mysterious PI Bala being brought to live just as the general is around the corner.

In the process, carpet trader sued his business partner Raja Ropiah (which he recently claimed had been withdrawn) and published an online book about the deal in which dragged members of Mohd Najib's immediate family into the cesspool -- something that the opposition loves to embrace and the Barisan Nasional could not afford as the GE looms.

The sad thing is, the iconic Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT) had been dragged in as well or, more appropriately, had been used solve the problem of the smelly carcass of the badly skinned big cat.

Its property development arm, Boustead Holdings Berhad, had stepped in to by the land and the concession that goes with it for a combined price tag of RM160 million.

I would not dare claim to know much about land appropriation and property development. But when I was briefly involved (as a junior partner) in the management buyout (MBO) of the New Straits Times Press Berhad (NSTP) and Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad (TV3) back in the early 1990s, we were involved in the privatisation of the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station land that is today known as KL Sentral via the Bursa Malaysia-listed property developer, the Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad. Today, MRCB is owned by the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and KL Sentral has become the showpiece of urban renewal. (I left NSTP and severed all relationship with MRCB/NSTP/TV3 groups in 2000).

Better Ways Of Privatising Government Land

There are certainly other better ways of privatising the Bukit Raja land and, for that matter, all military and government-owned landed properties. I have seen companies offering better terms for military land. For instance, from the outset they roped in the LTAT by forming or prosing to form joint venture companies in which the LTAT is the majority shareholder. The private sector companies that made these proposals are reputable Bursa Malaysia-listed companies.

In one case that I came across, a Bursa Malaysia-listed property developer proposed to acquire a piece of Ministry of Defence land and replace it with a piece of land of equal size elsewhere and build on it whatever is required by Mindef.

It also pledged to build a military enclave on the privatised site whereby serving and retired military personnel would be offered special discounts to buy houses and apartments.

But they were not always successful. People linked to political parties or have access to the inner circles were more likely to receive the privatisation and they would then sell the projects to developers for quick profits.

In the case of the Bukit Raja land, it was sold to Boustead. If indeed Boustead had been eyeing the land since 2005, as it was reported telling Bursa Malaysia, it should have made the bit itself instead of buying it from a vendor.

The moral of the story is, you either skin the big cat well or you will get scratched. In the worse case scenario, the dying cat may bite off your head.

READ MORE HERE

 

Graft, financial waste definitely wrong, be it RM30k or RM100m

Posted: 06 Jan 2013 12:49 PM PST

Jahabar Sadiq, The Malaysian Insider

The RM30,000 bribe to muzzle a complainant in a sexual harassment case in Penang has hit the headlines, reinforcing the point that no one in Malaysia should accept or tolerate corruption and any financial misconduct in the country.

So, while it is refreshing and laudatory to see mainstream newspapers reporting the Penang case that involves a civil servant and a political aide, questions remain why the local media is silent on the RM100 million National Defence Education Centre (Puspahanas).

Why are they wasting so much ink over RM30,000 and not a drop for the project which has seen government land being swapped and sold but no building in plain sight in Putrajaya.

Is RM100 million just change compared to the raft of multi-billion ringgit federal projects? But RM30,000 is a lot and makes news because it involves a political aide from the federal opposition?

What is the greater crime here? A company with no track record gets a RM100 million construction job in 2005 and is paid with three parcels of government land worth RM72.5 million and RM27 million cash. 

This company, which is Selangor Wanita Umno chief Senator Raja Datuk Ropiaah Abdullah's (picture) Awan Megah (M) Sdn Bhd, failed to build Puspahanas by 2011 but got to sell the land last month to a unit of public-listed Boustead Holdings Bhd, which is majority owned by army pension fund Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT).

Yet no one in government or the local media have raised a hue or cry about a facility that has yet to be completed? Or question how the Boustead unit can buy land which is apparently locked to Raja Ropiaah's firm that she had to work out complicated deals to fund her project.

By all means, expose corruption as little as the one that one that cost Teoh Beng Hock's life in 2009. And the latest one in Penang. Peg and assume reports that show Pakatan Rakyat (PR) also contains elements who are corrupt and not above to dirty tricks.

But go for the big fish too. How can anyone close their eye to the most daylight of robberies, a company that gets away with more money than the cost of the building it never built?

How can the Ministry of Defence keep quiet about this? How can the Ministry of Finance not say a word?

Public land is swapped for a prestigious national project but nothing gets done and everyone is as silent as the Puspahanas worksite.

The Barisan Nasional (BN) government has put eradicating graft as a top priority by beefing up the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and setting up more anti-graft courts.

READ MORE HERE

 

SUPP feels the heat over ‘unaccounted’ RM11 bil

Posted: 06 Jan 2013 12:33 PM PST

Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP), hoping to redeem itself in the general election, must explain the secrecy behind the 'missing' RM11 bill from the state coffers.

Joseph Tawie, FMT

KUCHING: Sarawak DAP's flogging of the 'missing' RM11 billion from seven years of the state budget has got rival Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP) all hot and furious.

Demanding that DAP 'show proof', SUPP Youth secretary-general Wilfred Yap said: "If the RM11 billion had indeed gone into a black hole as alleged, then that would amount to a criminal breach of trust, corruption, corrupt practice and abuse of power.

"DAP is being very irresponsible to the public at large in its intention to try to create or paint a picture of corrupt practice or abuse of power by the Sarawak government.

"They should produce evidence to either the police or MACC for investigation. Otherwise DAP should stop and refrain from manipulating and confusing the public just for votes."

Yap was reacting to opposition DAP's flush of flyers on the issue. Tens of thousand of copies of the flyers printed in English, Chinese and Malay have been distributed in Kuching, Bau, Serian and Sri Aman.

According to the flyer, launched late last week, since 2006, more than RM11.373 billion which was about 50% of the state development expenditure of RM23.281 billion, have gone into a 'black hole'.

The flyer and its content is now posing a major threat to SUPP which is aiming to redeem itself in the 13th general election after a disastrous outing in the state polls.

In a statement today, Yap who is tipped to contest the Stampin seat, challenged the opposition to name those responsible for the alleged malpractice.

"The figures quoted are from accounts of the Sarawak government which had already been audited by the National Audit Department.

"Any accountant worth two cents would understand that there is no such thing as itemisation of each individual grant or allocation to approved agencies or itemisation of each individual item of expenditure of approved agencies from the grant or allocation.

"The approved agencies have already been referred to as corporations, companies or organisations which had been approved to promote the economic, social or educational development in the state.

"It is also clear that the approved agencies are in turn audited by qualified accountants both from the public and private sectors. The lumps sum figure does not mean that it had gone into a black hole," he said adding that the issue might undermine his chances of retaining the seat.

DAP's rebuttal

Reacting to Yap's statement, Sarawak DAP secretary general Chong Chieng Jen urged Yap to do his homework before shooting his mouth.

"If Yap does not how to read the budgets or where to find them, I can show him. He can fix a time with me so that I can bring him to the State Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) where there are stacks of budgets in the DUN library," said Chong, who is the Kota Sentosa assemblyman.

READ MORE HERE

 

Government aid to be paid out between January and March

Posted: 06 Jan 2013 11:55 AM PST

http://starstorage.blob.core.windows.net/archives/2011/12/11/nation/n_3aid.jpg 

(Bernama) - Payment of various aid announced in the 2013 Budget would be held between January and March, said Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah.

He said this included the 1Malaysia People's Aid 2.0 (BR1M 2.0), Early Schooling Special Assistance, 1Malaysia Book Voucher and 1Malaysia Contribution for Veterans Without Pension (SVTB1M).

"In January, we will focus on schooling aid that involves schools nationwide. The BR1M 2.0 will be paid in February.

"We will then give out RM1,000 to veterans without pension, and this will be organised by the defence ministry through the Ex-Servicemen's Association," he told reporters here today.

He said distribution of 1Malaysia Book Vouchers to university students and Form Six students was expected in March.

However, Ahmad Husni said there might be some payment after the set period as a result of various factors.

"March is not the final date for payment. For example, some BR1M payment may be late because of late applications.

"We want payments to be made, according to each institution such as schools, with students enrolling in January, so we want to ensure payment is made then.

"University students begin in March, so payment should be done during that time," he added.

 

'Political tsunami' has ended under Najib's leadership

Posted: 06 Jan 2013 11:53 AM PST

http://mynewshub.my/eng/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Najib-Urges1.jpg 

(Bernama) - The 'political tsunami' of 2008 came to an end when the Barisan Nasional (BN)-led government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak carried out various changes to look after the lot of Malaysians.

Umno information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan said, the demise of the 'political tsunami' was based on 10 things carried out by the prime minister.

 
They included promises honoured, transformation, justice for all, turning Malaysia into a developed and high performance nation, prioritising the people and being outstanding on the world stage.
 
"Datuk Seri Najib has indeed, stopped the 'political tsunami'. In 2008, we were worried of the 'political tsunami', but in 2013, I am confident it has ended," said Ahmad after the 'A Morning With The People' programme at the Karentina Housing Programme in Batak Rabit here today.
 
He described Najib's achievements since he became prime minister as "excellent" because he gave new enthusiasm and confidence to face the coming general election.
 
In this regard, Ahmad was confident the BN would win at the 13th general election, including in Teluk Intan, when the people of various races were getting more confident of the prime minister's reforms.
 
"The confidence is not based on theory but in going down to the field. I have been going down to the field for many years.
 
"I see the people like us, they come to our programmes and listen to our explanations. All these indicate that the 'political tsunami' has ended," he said.


 

The ABC of Public Trust and Accountability.

Posted: 06 Jan 2013 11:48 AM PST

http://dinmerican.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/zairil-khir-johari.jpg?w=545 

Let us teach UMNO people some ABC. How to conduct oneself in a transparent manner and show people we are committed to the principle of accountability. The UMNO people are going to town ridiculing DAP for making an error in counting the votes for Zairil K Johari and coming out in the open, owning up to the mistake. They would rather keep people in the dark, stealing from the country, making stupid statements when caught. 
 
sakmongkol AK47 
A party coming out in the open showing all that its committed to the principle of transparency and more important on accountability is demeaned because of that?  clearly then, it means transparency and accountability do not exist in UMNO's vocabulary. Deceit and irresponsibility are.
 
What would UMNO do? Use mistakes to defraud people? It's better to keep and hide things from people? It's better not to answer or even pretend not to know, the whereabouts of Puspahanas? Where is that damn thing? The government is not answering despite having given the leeching lady RM27 million of taxpayers' money. Is Raja Ropiaah milking money on behalf of UMNO?
 
It's better to keep quiet and hide from people the whereabouts of the RM207 billion or whatever amount paid by Japan to some 30,000 death railway conscripted laborers? UMNO supports and condones silence and hiding malpractices such as the RM500 million commission earned by middlemen in the purchase of malfunctioning submarines. Or defrauding the people into believing that the proposed west coast expressway breaks new ground in the way piratization privatization is made? Whether the new west coast expressway of 223km costs RM31 million or RM 22 million per kilometer, people want to know what kind of stones and premix go into the building of the road? Why can't JKR do it and make it toll free too? JKR can make it at probably a fraction of the cost. I am told by some JKR engineers, maybe at RM2.5 billion, much lesser than the soft loan given by UMNO to the contracting company. Are the bridges made of gold?  People want to know how could a person associated with failure to pay debts owning to the Selangor government and having a company with a dismal business record can get the award for the highway?
 

 

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