Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Global depression could last several years: Medvedev
- Mustafa Ali denies Hasan Ali's claims
- Hasan Ali fighting back
- Man arrested in bribery bid, believed linked to NFC
- Property market to see a gradual slowdown next year
- MAS admits cargo unit ‘under review’
- Nasha: I’m with PAS, never Umno
- Explain Puasa month meeting at hotel, Hasan told
- Reject Ketuanan Melayu, Sabah Muslims told
- ‘Umno wants rebel leader to remain in PAS’
- Blogger lodges report against Taiping MP
- Pakatan to hold final convention in January before polls
- Prove blogger’s claims are false, rep urged
- Police report lodged against protesters
- Wong: Hasan’s apostasy comments his opinion
- Hasan: PAS has lost sight of the Malays
- DAP mum on PAS debacle
- Jamil wants Islamic units meet on sexuality, apostasy
| Global depression could last several years: Medvedev Posted: 22 Dec 2011 01:09 AM PST (AFP) -- President Dmitry Medvedev warned Thursday that a global economic depression could last for several years and require Russia to step up efforts to improve its competitiveness. "We really are facing difficult times," Medvedev said in his last address to the nation before March presidential elections in which he will be ceding his place to his predecessor and mentor Vladimir Putin. "The global economic depression could last several years, while competition for the minds, the ideas, the resources -- it will only get stiffer, and we are in the epicentre of this race. "But even in these most difficult times, we have no right to stop our development. This work will require perseverance, effort and, of course, time." Both Putin and Medvedev have taken credit for helping Russia survive the worst of the 2008-2009 global financial crisis and insisted that only their team will be able to deal with current economic challenges. Medvedev noted that "many politicians, heads of international organisations and leading economists and businessmen" have all warned of the onset of a global economic depression in the months to come. "It is obvious that difficult times await us all," Medvedev stressed. "I have already said that our country honourably survived the test of crisis. The current team passed this test. "I hope that we will cope with the new challenges, whoever becomes Russian president or whoever heads the federal government," he added in reference to the premiership post he has been promised by Putin under his presidency.
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| Mustafa Ali denies Hasan Ali's claims Posted: 22 Dec 2011 01:07 AM PST (Bernama) -- PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali today denied the party's Gombak assemblyman Datuk Dr Hasan Ali's claims that PAS was losing grassroots support because it had deviated from its original struggle of championing Islam. However, he did not deny the possibility that fence sitters might have doubts as to where PAS was heading. Speaking to reporters here today, Mustafa said PAS' main policy of championing Islam remained intact and that its members understood this. "Islam is PAS' main struggle and this has never changed. It is only the strategies and approach that have changed. PAS' collaboration with other parties is not wrong, the policy remains the same but the approach is different," he said. On Tuesday, Hasan, who is also a Selangor state executive councillor, had said that he had proof that die-hard PAS supporters were beginning to question the party's struggle and planned to stop backing PAS because it had deviated from its original struggle. In KOTA BHARU, Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who is also PAS' spiritual leader, also denied that the "welfare state" concept now championed by PAS deviated from Islam. Hasan had also claimed PAS was deviating from championing Islam by introducing the welfare state concept. Nik Aziz said the concept only served to further reinforce its Islamic struggle.
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| Posted: 22 Dec 2011 01:05 AM PST (Sin Chew Daily) - Having learned that he has been dropped as a candidate in the coming general election, PAS' Hasan Ali launched an instant strike back. Besides refuting allegations that he was championing cross-party cooperation with Umno, he also slammed the party central for forsaking the party's original objective of establishing an Islamic state. Hasan Ali is a piece of thorn in the flesh of the Paktan-led Selangor state government, and his mentality is drifting further and further apart from the party's core leadership. After the non-ulama sect has won the party elections, even president Hadi Awang openly pledges that the party would not work with Umno and would stay loyal to its Pakatan.allies. Hasan Ali has lost his support inside the party while the rift with the more open-minded leaders in the party widens. A strong supporter of the party president, Hasan Ali was appointed the state Exco member in charge of religious affairs. His numerous "misdemeanours" such as banning the sale of liquor in Shah Alam's convenience stores, barring liquor-selling entertainment spots in Subang Jaya from hiring Muslim workers, cracking down on "indecent" acts on Valentine's Day, and the raid by JAIS on the DUMC, have all been condoned by the people. In open defiance of the party's resolution, he showed up at the mammoth anti-apostasy rally organised by Perkasa and other NGOs in October. But what really blasts off the ammunition is an Utusan article stating that he fell short of the required divisional nomination quota to make it to the list of electoral candidates. The article went on to say that he was the only "saviour" to deliver Selangor out of the doldrums and unite the Malays. Although PAS initially denied it had sidelined Hasan Ali, he nevertheless targeted his firepower at the party leadership, claiming that he would stay loyal to Allah alone and would not require the approval from the party. Secretary-general Mustafa Ali accused both Hasan Ali and former deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa of leaning towards Umno, saying that PAS would be least concerned about them leaving the party and joining Umno. From a more positive perspective, conflicts arising before the general election are not a bad thing, as they give the party a chance to fix its problems ahead of the election, provided that such conflicts would not tear the party apart. Two things PAS should avoid at all costs: 1. Hasan Ali has accused the party leadership of forsaking the Islamic state objective in favour of a welfare state in order to please its Pakatan allies, and such an accusation would inevitably gain him massive support from the party's conservatives and religious clerics. If unfortunately the differences in ideology get widened into a destructive rift, the party could be split into two distinct camps not unlike the Camp A and Camp B during the 1987 Umno infighting. It is imperative that PAS resolve the Islamic state and welfare state controversies, or it will not be able to go into the election battlefield in unison. Despite the clarification by vice president Salahuddin Ayub that PAS advocates a caring and equitable society, not a welfare state, it is still essential for the party to make its stand clear and obvious. 2. Hasan Ali and Nasharudin alone will not bring down PAS, but if other leaders such as Youth chairman Nasrudin Hassan, Federal Territory Youth chief Kamaruzaman Mohamed and the PAS Ulama Council have voiced their support, the destruction could be definite. The current rift within PAS would determine whether the party would eventually persist on its moderate approach or would return to conservatism.
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| Man arrested in bribery bid, believed linked to NFC Posted: 21 Dec 2011 05:48 PM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - Police have arrested a man who allegedly tried to bribe senior officers investigating a high-profile commercial crime, believed to be linked to the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) scandal. The police obtained a remand order from the magistrates court today for the 45-year-old man.
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| Property market to see a gradual slowdown next year Posted: 21 Dec 2011 04:49 PM PST (Bernama) - The Malaysian property market is likely to see a gradual slowdown next year, taking into consideration the uncertainty in the global economic situation. President of Fiabci Malaysia, Yeow Thit Sang, said the high-end residential units were already seeing a slowdown both in pricing and the take-up rate. "There are fewer expatriates from multinational companies (MNCs) coming here and rentals with a yield of between six and eight per cent are no longer achievable. "Investors in these units will have to wait longer to realise their investment. The slowdown in global economy is definitely affecting the high-end property market," he told Bernama in an interview recently. He also saw a fallout for office space next year, saying the category was already overbuilt and the overhang felt in the market with rental falling and a slow take-up rate. However, there is a huge demand for low medium and medium-cost residential units below RM300,000 with most developers building high-end units to cash in on the good time. "The government's effort in building such units in joint venture with developers will help the low income earners to own affordable homes. "Building such units will not be fast enough to relieve the pent-up demand over the last five years," he added. Meanwhile, Zerin Properties' chief executive officer, Previndran Singhe, said the slowdown in the property market would only last in the first quarter next year and the industry will be stable afterwards. "Prices will remain stable, with asking prices, not values, becoming more reasonable as owners check their values to real pricing. "At present, sentiment is down due to the eurozone financial crisis and the US double dip fears, which has been faring for a long time, but I think we are more Asia focused," he told Bernama. If and when China goes on reverse gear, then there would have to be concerns in the market, otherwise, barring external shocks, the industry should have a stable year next year, he said. Contrary to common belief and expectations, the property market has registered 214,764 transactions worth RM64.75 billion within the first half of 2011. Against the first half of 2010, the volume and value of transactions recorded double digit growth of 18.1% and 29.7% respectively.
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| MAS admits cargo unit ‘under review’ Posted: 21 Dec 2011 04:42 PM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - Loss-making Malaysia Airlines (MAS) confirmed today MAS Airlines Cargo's (MASkargo) "under review" with its managing director Shahari Sulaiman on extended leave. The Malaysian Insider reported yesterday the flag carrier is investigating allegations of kickbacks in its cargo unit that has led Shahari to go on leave since early November. It is understood that an internal investigation report has been sent to the MAS board although the unprofitable airlines has not lodged a police report over the issue. "We confirm that since Encik Shahari Sulaiman went on leave, his deputy, Encik Mohd Yunus Idris, assumes his responsibilities as is normally the case in most organisations. "As part of the Business Plan to improve operational, administrative and financial management of all MAS subsidiaries, MASkargo's operations and management structure are also under review," it said in a response to The Malaysian Insider. The Malaysian Insider reported that new managing director Ahmad Jauhari Yahya and the top management have been going through the books for all divisions in the national carrier that has posted losses of some RM1.2 billion in the three quarters of the current financial year. MAS is not expected to make profits until 2013 despite a new business recovery plan. However, it is not clear why MAS has not lodged a police report over the alleged kickbacks in MASkargo, which made a record pre-tax profit of RM142 million in 2010. It is understood that investigations started and a domestic inquiry was done but fresh allegations revived the probe. The Business Times had reported that Shahari has been away since early last month after fresh allegations about problems in the cargo unit. The new MAS board had begun looking into all aspects of the airline operations after a share swap between the national carrier and Asia's biggest budget carrier, AirAsia in early August.
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| Nasha: I’m with PAS, never Umno Posted: 21 Dec 2011 04:36 PM PST (The Star) - Embattled former PAS deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa has pledged his loyalty to his party, denying claims he intends to join Umno. "All these claims that I am trapped in the agenda and games of our political enemies are far from the truth and baseless," Nasharudin said in a press statement yesterday. He noted that ever since he had joined PAS, which he pointed out was the voice of Islam for the country's Muslims, he had never, even for one moment, stated that he intended to join Umno. "I would like to stress, for the umpteenth time, that there is not an iota of truth of my intention to join Umno," he said. "I am a PAS member, and my struggle to uphold Islam and help Muslims in any way remains with PAS." The Bachok MP said his recent actions, opinions and "political calculations" should not be used to make the "simplistic conclusion" that he had plans to join Umno. Nasharudin has been under fire over his allegations in an interview with a Malay daily that the party was "loose" and had "cast aside" its Islamic principles to pursue political power. He was quoted as saying that public perception was that the party had not been steadfast on several matters and described this as "dangerous". Nasharudin, who was a two-term deputy president before he was ousted by Mohamad Sabu in the June party elections, said the party should be consistent in making its stand on numerous issues and let the president make the decisions, as was the case in the past. Speculation has been rife that Nasharudin and Selangor executive councillor Datuk Dr Hasan Ali, the former state party chief, would be dropped in the next general election.
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| Explain Puasa month meeting at hotel, Hasan told Posted: 21 Dec 2011 04:01 PM PST PAS secretary-general reveals that a meeting allegedly took place in August between the rebel leader, Nasharuddin and three others. But he refuses to reveal anything more. (Free Malaysia Today) - PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali has asked rebel leader Hassan Ali to explain the details of a meeting which allegedly took place during the fasting month in August. Previously, Mustafa claimed that Hasan's attacks on PAS resulted from the latter walking into a trap set by the party's rivals Umno, prompting Hasan to challenge Mustafa to provide proof of this. Speaking at a press conference at the PAS headquarters here today, Mustafa said he was aware of Hasan's movements and activities. "I will just say this, he has asked for proof so let him explain the meeting that took place during the Puasa month between him, Nasharudin Mat Isa (former PAS deputy president) and not more than three others at the Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur after tarawih prayers (in the evening). "What was discussed? Was it a political meeting? Was it something to do with economics or both?" he asked. Mustafa, however, refused to comment when asked if the other three were from or linked to Umno. "That is all I want to say. I want Hasan to know that we know his movements. I love (sayang) both Nasharudin and Hasan very much and I have known them for a long time. So I hope Hasan will stop talking (making statements to the press against PAS)," he said.
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| Reject Ketuanan Melayu, Sabah Muslims told Posted: 21 Dec 2011 03:57 PM PST In Kinabatangan constituency, immigrants outnumber locals by five fold. (Free Malaysia Today) - United Borneo Front (UBF), which has been calling for the reinstatement of Sabah and Sarawak rights as stipulated under the Malaysia Agreement, wants Sabah Muslims to reject Umno's 'Ketuanan Melayu" (Malay supremacy) concept. "Sabahan Muslims should reject the Ketuanan Melayu concept because Malays were non-existent during pre-Independence (in Sabah)," said UBF vice chairman Awang Ahmad Shah. "As Sabahans we should look forward above religion and race and not let the federal government divide us by race and religion. "Who will look after us when our oil are exhausted and Sabah becomes a liability to the federal government?" Awang Ahmad said the acceptance of foreigners as 'bumiputeras' or 'Malay' had sidelined local natives. "The federal leaders should make Sabahans proud to be Malaysians by practicing justice and respecting the feelings of Sabahan Malaysians. "We shouldn't be deprived of our rights and our resources as well as the opportunities to develop and progress with dignity. We deserve the right to speak and choose without fear," he added. Awang Ahmad was hitting out at Malaysian Muslim Welfare Association (Pekida) Sabah chairman Mohd Akjan Ali Muhammad who had objected to the proposed Royal Commision of Inquiry (RCI) claiming it would cause racial tension among the various ethnic groups in Sabah. Describing Akjan's claim as not only irresponsible but scandalous, ridiculous and treasonous to all genuine Sabahans, Awang Ahamd said: "All ethnic groups in Sabah including local Suluks and Bajaus have been living together and working hand in hand since Independence in 1963 and have even formed the state government together and shared the power. "Our concern on the wrongful issuance of IC, MyCards and citizenship to the illegal immigrants is genuine as these foreigners have numbered almost equal to the local population." Government ignoring due process Local politicians and civil rights groups are incensed that thousands of allegedly unqualified illegal immigrants have been granted citizenship purely for political purposes. They claim that the mass issuance of MyKads by the federal government to illegal immigrants has encouraged the influx of foreigners to the state to the extent that the local population is on the verge of becoming a minority. Awang Ahmad said that it was ironical that instead of protecting Sabah from being "invaded" by Indonesia or the Philippines as promised by Tunku Abdul Rahman, the present government had caused a reverse takeover of Sabah by ignoring due process and granting citizenship to all-commers. "This is the problem that we are talking about" added Awang Ahmad. "Only the RCI can independently investigate the roots of the problems and offer remedies to be taken to resolve the problem of illegal immigrants and the granting of citizenships to them who are unqualified," he said. UBF, an NGO set up by Jeffrey Kitingan last year, has been warning that Sabahans are feeling threatened on all fronts as employment, education, politics, business and quarrels over land become common along with crime and social problems. Already public transportation such as taxis and buses are dominated by immigrants or new Sabahans while enrollment in public universities and colleges has become more difficult, Awang Ahmad claimed.
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| ‘Umno wants rebel leader to remain in PAS’ Posted: 21 Dec 2011 03:51 PM PST According to the PAS secretary-general, Hasan Ali is more valuable to Umno if he kicks up a fuss from within. He also reiterated the latter may have fallen into a trap. (Free Malaysia Today) - Former Selangor PAS commissioner Dr Hasan Ali will not leave the Islamic party for Umno nor will the latter welcome him, PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali said today. This was because strategically, the controversial PAS man was much more valuable for Umno if he remained in PAS. "Should he leave the party and criticise PAS, no one will believe him. If you do it (criticise the party) from within the party, it will cause confusion. "It is politically strategic. It works the same with Umno as well. If you are no longer in the party, people will not believe what you say. That is my evaluation (of the situation)," Mustafa told a press conference at the party headquarters here. Hasan's refusal to toe the party line had dominated headlines over the past few days with the veteran politician slamming PAS for deviating from its Islamic struggle. Ressurecting the sensitive Umno-PAS unity talks issue, the Selangor exco for religious affairs also said that he would not mind being the middleman to bring the two arch-rivals together for the sake of Islam. Following Hasan's comments, another round of in-fighting surfaced. This time it was in the form of former deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa who also echoed that PAS had steered away from its original fight. Nasharudin, however, stated that he would not join Umno. Commenting on this, Mustapa thanked Nasharudin for "distancing himself" from the controversy and urged Hasan to do the same. "If Hasan follows in Nasharudin's footsteps, then it will be over," he said. 'Umno's political trap' Mustapa suggested that Hasan might have fallen into Umno's trap to stir up trouble in PAS, adding that the latter might not even be aware of this. "A political trap is unlike a trap set for a monkey which you can see. You may fall into the (political) trap even without realising that you have walked into it. This (controversy) can give mileage to Umno," he said. Mustafa also said that based on what transpired during a political bureau meeting last night, it was obvious that Hasan did not have the kind of support he claims.
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| Blogger lodges report against Taiping MP Posted: 21 Dec 2011 08:17 AM PST MACC to investigate allegation against DAP politician (New Straits Times) - A BLOGGER has lodged a report against member of parliament for Taiping, Nga Kor Ming (DAP), over his alleged involvement in fixing a tailoring contract in 2008. Ahmad Sofiyan Yahya, who blogs in www.sekupangdua.blogspot.com, lodged the report at the Perak Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters in Meru Raya, near here. The 47-year-old from Pengkalan Pegoh said he was disappointed with Nga for failing to address the allegation, which he had raised in his blog, of the politician's alleged involvement in fixing the contract involving tailor-made lounge suits for the city councillors here. "Nga had accused me in a Malaysiakini report of making up stories and challenged me to report the matter to the MACC if I had any evidence. I am taking up his challenge." Ahmad Sofiyan said he had received documents, which allegedly revealed abuse of power in the awarding of a tailoring contract to sew and supply lounge suits, and had posted them on his blogsite. He said the city council here had already decided to award the contract to Goodman Tailor on April 3, 2008, but changed its mind following Nga's intervention. "The documents, which I received, showed the state government (then under Pakatan Rakyat) recommending Ethan and Elton to supply and sew the lounge suits. "According to the tender list, Ethan and Elton was the last name on the list of bidders while Goodman Tailor was at the top of the list." He said a check with the Companies Commission of Malaysia showed that one of the directors of Ethan and Elton was Wong Seow Ching, who is Nga's wife. At the time, Nga, who is also Pantai Remis state assemblyman, was in charge of the local government's portfolio. "I also found out that Ethan and Elton was registered on April 23 after Nga was appointed state executive councillor," said Ahmad Sofiyan, adding that the documents could be viewed on his blogsite. Meanwhile, MACC investigations director Datuk Mustafar Ali said the body would investigate any issues involving corruption even in the absence of an official report. |
| Pakatan to hold final convention in January before polls Posted: 21 Dec 2011 08:02 AM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - Pakatan Rakyat (PR) will hold next month what will likely be the pact's last national convention before a widely-expected general election, and use the meet to iron out its polls strategy. The Malaysian Insider understands the convention will take place in Kedah on January 14. Previous conventions were held in the PR-ruled states of Selangor and Penang. The national convention aims to smoothen the working relationship between the three component PR parties — PKR, PAS and DAP — while also focusing on the opposition's game plan against the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN). "We plan to focus on a more detailed and cogent articulation for our vision and offer to all Malaysians. The plan is to refine our various plans for Malaysia, if given the chance to govern at federal level," Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar told The Malaysian Insider. The PKR vice-president said the focus of the convention would be very specific — PR leaders will prepare its members for polls by briefing them on what issues to tackle when speaking to potential voters. She said the federal opposition would ensure that its future manifestoes or plans would be geared towards attracting young voters. "We have various documents to date, ranging from Buku Jingga, 100 day plan, the opposition leader's Malaysian Economic Agenda, and the notable successes from PR governed states," she explained. Nurul Izzah also said PR would use the convention to drive home the point to their members that they should be well-informed about on-going scandals concerning BN leaders. "Granted, scandals — especially BN's success at making Malaysia a haven for black money laundering — are important highlights to cement reasons for change at the federal level," she said. But she stressed the point that PR will explain to voters is that they have a solution and a team of leaders who will reduce wastage and corruption should the opposition take over Putrajaya.
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| Prove blogger’s claims are false, rep urged Posted: 21 Dec 2011 07:58 AM PST (The Star) - Pantai Remis state assemblyman Nga Kor Ming has been urged to prove his innocence over allegations made by a blogger on a tailoring contract awarded to his wife's company. Perak MCA secretary Datuk Tan Chin Meng said Nga had merely claimed that the documents, which surfaced in the blog, were forged but did not deny the contents. "On one hand, Nga claimed that the documents were forged, but on the other hand, he did not deny the contents of the blog," he said in a press statement issued here yesterday. He suggested that the Perak DAP secretary lodge a police report over the allegations. "If the documents were indeed forged, then Nga should lodge a police report to allow investigations to begin, which will prove his innocence," he said in a statement yesterday. According to the blog, Nga's wife won a tailoring contract to make lounge suits for Ipoh city councillors shortly after Pakatan Rakyat took over the Perak Government. The minutes of the Ipoh City Council meeting revealed that Ethan & Elton, of which she was a director, was the highest bidder, charging RM650 per suit compared to the lowest price offered by Goodman Tailor at RM450 a suit. The blog claimed that a contract for 24 lounge suits was awarded to Goodman Tailor on April 3, 2008, but was later given to Ethan & Elton at the suggestion of the then state government. "It is curious that a company which was set up shortly after Pakatan Rakyat took over the Perak Government can win a contract even though its bid turned out to be the highest," Tan said. He noted that Nga was a member of the state exco in charge of education, local government, housing and public transport at the time, adding that he owed the public an explanation. "Nga should explain the suspicious circumstances of how his wife's company won the tailoring contract," Tan added. Blogger Ahmad Sofiyan Yahya, who writes under the Sekupang Dua blog, lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission over Nga's alleged involvement in the tailoring contract. "Nga has accused me of making up evidence in a report on Monday and to live up to his challenge, I am now lodging a report against him," he said here yesterday. Ahmad Sofiyan added that he had received the documents after Pakatan Rakyat took over Perak. Nga said the allegations were "totally unfounded" and reserved the right to file a defamation suit.
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| Police report lodged against protesters Posted: 21 Dec 2011 07:57 AM PST (The Star) - Sekretariat Suara Keamanan Mahasiswa lodged a police report against Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia for taking down a flag bearing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's image in front of the Umno headquarters at the Putra World Trade Centre. Suara Keamanan chairman Muhamad Mukhlis Maghribi said the action has provoked and caused discomfort among Malaysians, especially graduates. "We urge the police to investigate whether SMM is registered under the Registrar of Societies or the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971," he said after lodging a report at the Patani Road police station here last night. On Saturday, some 200 students marched under the SMM banner to push for the abolition of the UUCA and other laws they considered restrictive. The protesters ended their march in front of the Umno headquarters and briefly took down a flag bearing Najib's image and replaced it with an SMM flag.
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| Wong: Hasan’s apostasy comments his opinion Posted: 21 Dec 2011 07:56 AM PST (The Star) - State executive councillor Elizabeth Wong says there will be no action taken against fellow state exco Datuk Dr Hasan Ali over his recent remarks about apostates in Selangor. "His comments were made in a personal capacity and not as an executive councillor," Wong told reporters after the weekly state executive council meeting here yesterday. "The state government has found no report, so far, of Hasan making such statements in his capacity as a state executive councillor. "As a PAS member, yes, he has made those comments. "Therefore, the state government will not be taking any action against him. It is an internal party matter," added Wong, who is state Tourism, Consumer Affairs and Environment committee chairman. Dr Hasan, who is in trouble with PAS leaders over his stand on the alleged shift in the party's struggle, had reportedly said on Tuesday that his research team, Unit Selamatkan Aqidah, had found 41 apostates in Petaling Jaya and was continuing to collect more data on the issue.
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| Hasan: PAS has lost sight of the Malays Posted: 21 Dec 2011 07:54 AM PST (The Star) - Embattled PAS leader Datuk Dr Hasan Ali has continued his tirade against the party, saying that it has lost sight of the Malays since coming under the Pakatan Rakyat banner. He said PAS had veered away from its fundamental role as a defender of Islam. "In the rush to take over Putrajaya, we may end up forgetting our core group of supporters the Malays," he said in an hour-long interview on TV3's Soal Jawab. Dr Hasan said the party's current crop of leaders reflected an imbalance in representation between the ulama and professional groups. He added the ulama-professional ratio in the party's leadership when he first joined the party stood at around 70:30, but it was now the other way round with professionals forming the majority on the party's powerful central working committee. Dr Hasan, who is the Selangor state executive councillor in charge of Islamic affairs, Malay customs, infrastructure and public amenities, said this situation "will influence" the party's direction, as professionals were prone to rationalising options as opposed to the ulama group's tendency to stay true to Islamic principles. Dr Hasan added that a victory for Pakatan and by extension PAS in the next general election would be meaningless under the current arrangement if nothing was done to uphold the place of Islam, the Malays and the royal institution, three issues which he said formed the core of his political struggles. Dr Hasan sidestepped a question on whether or not he would leave PAS as widely speculated, choosing instead to quote a verse from the Quran to say that he left it to Allah to decide. He said he "loves" his party, but hinted at keeping his options open as he was now mired in a "volatile situation". Dr Hasan, and former deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa, have been under fire from party colleagues over the past several weeks. There is speculation that both will be dropped by the party in the national polls. The pair have also been slammed by top leaders for proposing that PAS revive unity talks with arch-rivals Umno, with some even saying Dr Hasan is free to leave the party and join Umno.
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| Posted: 21 Dec 2011 07:53 AM PST (The Star) - Selangor DAP leaders are shying away from the latest controversy surrounding PAS, saying it is the Islamic party's internal issue. They have refused to be drawn into the in-fighting despite the DAP and PKR being labelled by former Selangor PAS chief Datuk Dr Hasan Ali as the "stumbling blocks" in the PAS Islamic state agenda. "I do not want to be dragged into the dispute between him (Dr Hasan) and the others in PAS," said Selangor DAP chairman Teresa Kok when asked by The Star for her views on the PAS feud. "So, I choose not to comment." On Tuesday, Dr Hasan had said he had wide support in PAS for the party to return to its original struggle of forming an Isla- mic state. The 64-year-old Selangor executive councillor blamed the party's alliance with the DAP and PKR for the shift towards setting up a welfare state. He said the alliance was causing a lot of dissent within PAS. The party's influential Dewan Ulama has thrown its support behind Dr Hasan and former deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa, who lamented that PAS was no longer seen in its Islamic image.
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| Jamil wants Islamic units meet on sexuality, apostasy Posted: 21 Dec 2011 07:50 AM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom has called for a meeting of the various state Islamic religious departments to determine how to address cases of apostasy, homosexuality, and trans-sexuality among Muslims. "I have asked Jakim to arrange the meeting soon so that we can inform the people about the law and on its enforcement to resolve the issues," the minister in charge of Islamic affairs was quoted in a Bernama Online report today. The minister was referring to the Control and Restriction of the Propagation of Non-Islamic Religion to Muslims Enactment, which is applicable in all states aside from Perak, the Federal Territories, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak. It is unclear how the enactment pertains to homosexuality, which is not an offence per se under any Malaysian law. Jamil is outspoken on issues of sexuality, having previously been reported by Utusan Malaysia as saying that being homosexual was "unconstitutional". He subsequently said he was misquoted and that he meant homosexuality was against the Penal Code. The minister had also criticised Seksualiti Merdeka — the sexuality awareness event that was banned recently despite having run unhindered in previous years — for promoting "a deviation from society's norms". Jamil said Malaysians had a responsibility to unite and stop any promotion of homosexual, lesbian or bisexual practices. In today's report, he also spoke of a need to inform the public that proselytising to Muslims was an offence in states where the aforementioned enactment was applicable.
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