Ahad, 16 Oktober 2011

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So, the conclusion is….

Posted: 16 Oct 2011 02:26 AM PDT

In fact, I have always tried to preach the same values regarding Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. I was always of the opinion that we must do the Christian thing and not hate him for what we perceive he has done to Malaysia but instead love and forgive him, as what the Christians have said Jesus Christ taught us.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

We have had a good debate in 'What's the beef?'. However, as they say, all good things must eventually come to an end.

With more than 400 comments, which chances are many would not be bothered to read, it may be prudent to summarise the conclusion of these so many opinions.

The first, and probably most important point that was made very clear, is that non-Christians have no business talking about Christianity or the Bible because they know very little about 'other people's religion'. That, in my opinion, is a very sound and valid point because I too have been saying the same to non-Muslims who pass comments and give opinions on Islam.

So I would agree with this first conclusion.

The next point is that non-Muslims can never agree to the implementation of Hudud in Malaysia even if an irrevocable guarantee is given that non-Muslims would not be affected by this, or any Islamic laws, in any way. The fact that no one can be assured of what may happen in the future and whether these guarantees would be revoked later does not give the non-Muslims any comfort.

I can sympathise with the non-Muslims and understand their apprehension. Would the implementation of Hudud be the opening of a Pandora's box that once opened could never be closed again? Who can tell? It is best, therefore, that we take no risks.

Considering that PAS is committed to Islam and that Hudud is one of their aspirations, it would be safer, therefore, that Pakatan Rakyat is not allowed to come into power. 

Umno has made it very clear that it will never allow Hudud to be implemented, even in the states, let alone at national level. Umno has demonstrated its good faith by blocking the implementation of Hudud twice, once in Kelantan and again in Terengganu. It would, therefore, be safer that Barisan Nasional is allowed to form the federal government rather than Pakatan Rakyat where the uncertainties of Hudud would hang over our heads.

Of course, if you were to look at Hudud from the legal and constitutional aspect rather than from the angle of religion, it would be logically impossible for Pakatan Rakyat to implement Hudud. And the fact that PAS would be contesting merely one-third the seats, and even if they combined these seats with other Muslim MPs from PKR they would still not be able to get the two-thirds required to amend the Constitution, there would still be an element of risk even if that risk is merely 1%.

I suppose we can do worse than vote in a corrupt, manipulate, racist, repressive and evil government. And a corrupt, manipulate, racist, repressive and evil government is certainly more desired than a clean government that may one day impose Islamic laws on the Muslim population with no water-tight guarantee that the non-Muslim population would not also be subjected to the same, even if some may want to argue that such a possibility is zero to 1%.

One point I would like to add -- which most people focused on although it was not really the issue we wanted to address -- was the matter of the Old and New Testaments.

I admit that most Muslims are confused about this, and I suppose that would include me. The fact it is called Old and New gave non-Muslims the impression that both form part of the Bible -- just like how Muslims treat the Koran and Hadith as two parts of the same thing.

It is good that this matter was clarified and now Muslims and other non-Christians would get a better grasp of Christianity. Most, if not all, non-Christians were under the impression that both Bibles are Christian Bibles based on what the Christians did for almost 2,000 years until 1850.

What was of particular interest to me was the fact that the Old Testament is a Jewish Bible and not a Christian Bible. This makes one wonder why the Jews and Muslims fight so much when both their Holy Books teach the same thing and the fact that Islamic laws are actually Jewish laws.

I was especially attracted to the argument that the Christian Bible, the New Testament, preaches non-violence, non-hatred, love, forgiveness, turn the other cheek, and so on. In fact, I have always tried to preach the same values regarding Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. I was always of the opinion that we must do the Christian thing and not hate him for what we perceive he has done to Malaysia but instead love and forgive him, as what the Christians have said Jesus Christ taught us.

I trust in spite of the heated debate we saw in the last posting, this matter has come to an amicable ending and we can now all rest easy with the knowledge that we are united in our views and share the same opinion on how we should proceed from hereon.
 

What’s the beef?

Posted: 13 Oct 2011 06:32 PM PDT

Now, the Christians condemn Islam for being barbaric (in particular reference to Hudud). But these are the same laws in the Bible. And the fact that Christians and Christian countries no longer follow these laws does not mean that the Bible has abolished these laws. These laws are still in the Bible. In fact, it says very clearly in the Bible that you are to kill your own children if they become apostates.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

I remember back in the 1980s (if I'm not mistaken) when Malaysia introduced the RM1,000 fine for littering. We joked that if you smoke a cigarette during the fasting month of Ramadhan and you see a policeman, keep smoking. If you were to throw the cigarette onto the road you would get fined RM1,000 for littering. If you keep smoking you would get arrested for smoking in public when you are supposed to be fasting. The fine is only RM300 -- so it is cheaper.

What has that joke got to do with what I am going to say today? Nothing, really, I just wanted to get your attention. Well, actually it is linked in some small way. I wanted to demonstrate that Islamic laws or Shariah laws have existed for a long time in Malaysia. It is not something new or something that is just about to be implemented. And there are many laws under the Shariah, the only one that is yet to be implemented would, of course, be that very controversial law called Hudud, which deals with 'serious crimes' (at least from the Islamic perspective).

However, Shariah laws have always been imposed only on Muslims (or those perceived to be Muslims or suspected to have converted to Islam: hence the body snatching cases). Non-Muslims are exempted or immune from these laws.

We once discussed a hypothetical situation. What if a man (or woman) was arrested for khalwat (close proximity: which means being in a secluded place with someone you are not married to) and he (or she) was dragged before the Shariah court to face charges? The charges are read to him/her and he/she responds by asking the court to prove that he/she is a Muslim.

You see; close proximity is only a crime if you (or both of you) are a Muslim. If you are not a Muslim then no crime has been committed. So this man (or woman) asks the court, "How do you know that I am a Muslim?"

That is a valid question. He/she may have been born from Muslim parents and may even have a Muslim name on his/her birth certificate and identity card. So, 'constitutional speaking', he/she is a Muslim.

But what are the criteria for one to be regarded as a Muslim? Aren't there certain doctrines you have to believe in (beyond any shadow of doubt) to be a Muslim? And aren't there certain fundamentals you have to believe in plus certain rituals you have to perform to be a Muslim?

What if you doubted that Prophet Muhammad was really a Prophet? What if you suspected (but are quite not sure) that he learned 'Islam' from Khadijah's cousin Warakah Nawfal, who was a Christian Ebionite priest -- considering that there is a lot of overlapping between Islam and the Old and New Testaments? (Khadijah was Prophet Muhammad's first wife). What if you suspected (but are quite not sure) that the Koran may not have come from God but was actually drafted by Prophet Muhammad from what he had learned from Warakah?

If you start thinking like this then never mind if you were born from Muslim parents and have a Muslim name in your birth certificate and identity card. You are NOT a Muslim. You doubt the prophethood of Muhammad and you doubt that the Koran is God's word. That means you are not a Muslim.

So, if you were to tell the Shariah court this -- about your doubts and that you do not think what Islam says about Prophet Muhammad and the Koran are correct and maybe are just myths -- then the court cannot try you as a Muslim. And since the Shariah court can only try Muslims, then it would have to stand down. 

Of course, then the religious department can arrange to send you for 'religious rehabilitation'. But that is another matter. The point is, they can't try you for khalwat since you have professed to not believing in the doctrine of Islam and that you doubt its veracity and suspect that these stories are mere myths and old wives' tales.

Say, after many months in the detention camp and they still can't 'rehabilitate' you. You still insist that you do not believe in what you consider myths. Well, they can't put you to death because Hudud laws have not been implemented yet in Malaysia. So they will eventually have to let you go (which is what happened to one of my friends after two years of detention).

Now, if they had implemented Hudud, and if the Hudud law for apostasy is death, then they can cut off your head.

Actually, if you were to analyse the Hudud laws carefully, you can see that they are actually similar to the old Judeo-Christian laws. So one would not be faulted if one were to say that Islam was 'hijacked' from earlier religions (although Muslims would get very upset with you for saying this).

Now, the Christians condemn Islam for being barbaric (in particular reference to Hudud). But these are the same laws in the Bible. And the fact that Christians and Christian countries no longer follow these laws does not mean that the Bible has abolished these laws. These laws are still in the Bible. In fact, it says very clearly in the Bible that you are to kill your own children if they become apostates.

This is still in the Bible and has never been amended. And the fact that Christians and Christian countries today no longer implement these laws is for no other reason other than that Christians are bad Christians. The Christians have defied God and have rejected the Bible. There are very few Christians who still listen to God and follow God's word as laid out in the Bible. If they were true Christians, they too would kill apostates -- people who leave Christianity to become Muslims.

Anyway, some Muslims want Islamic laws to be implemented. I am of the opinion that we let the Muslims work this out amongst themselves. Today, hardly any Christian would agree to be subjected to 'barbaric' Bible laws although this would mean they are violating the Bible. I suspect that the majority of Muslims would also decide to do the same. But it is up to the Muslims to decide this matter, not for non-Muslims to decide on behalf of the Muslims.

The only thing the non-Muslims should be concerned about is that these Islamic laws would only be imposed on Muslims and not on non-Muslims, like what has been the case thus far. How these guarantees would be put in place is a matter that can be discussed and agreed upon. And once the non-Muslims are satisfied that they would be immune or exempted from ALL forms of Islamic laws, then let the Muslims do what they want. After all, in a democracy, everyone has a right to his/her religious beliefs and practices as long as it does not affect other people.

 

So, who calls the shots then?

Posted: 12 Oct 2011 03:38 PM PDT

Two days ago, it was announced that Gadang Holdings has been awarded the Shah Alam hospital contract for a price of RM410.87 million. This is RM60 million above the approved price of RM352 million. The Ministry of Finance actually rejected Gadang Holdings as well as the price increase but the Ministry of Works went ahead and awarded the contract to Gadang Holdings and at a higher price as well.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Gadang subsidiary gets RM410.87m Shah Alam hospital job

(The Edge, 11 Oct 2011) -- GADANG HOLDINGS BHD has accepted a RM410.87 million contract from the Public Works Department to undertake the completion of the abandoned works at the Shah Alam Hospital. 

It said on Tuesday, Oct 11 that its wholly owned subsidiary Gadang Engineering (M) Sdn Bhd had accepted the letter of acceptance for the project at the 300-bed hospital.

Gadang said the contract was to be completed within a period of 24 months from the date for possession of site and was expected to contribute positively to its future earnings.

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Now read the exchanges of letters below between the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health. It appears that the contract was awarded to Gadang Holdings at this higher price even though the Ministry of Finance rejected BOTH Gadang Holdings and the application for a price increase. 

Now write your election manifesto

Posted: 11 Oct 2011 02:45 AM PDT

We have discussed what we want to see in a government and what we want to see implemented in Malaysia. We have also discussed about our understanding of ethics. Assuming a political party appointed you to be in charge of drafting its election manifesto, what will this election manifesto look like? Now let's see you write your election manifesto.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

POST YOUR COMMENTS HERE

Just write ONE of the articles of the election manifesto. Choose any one but note what others have already written and unless you can draft it better than that then try to address a different article.

Start with a heading, then the objective(s), and then how you propose to meet this objective.

Remember, just one, any one.

 

What is ethics?

Posted: 10 Oct 2011 01:00 AM PDT

Okay, in the posting yesterday (What are you looking for?), many comments have been posted as to what Malaysians would like to see in their government and what they would like to see implemented in Malaysia. But would not all this be possible and realised if we had a government (and politicians) that put ethics above politics, economic growth, development, etc? Would not what we want be automatically achieved through an ethical government? What, in your opinion, is ethics (from your understanding of the concept)?

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

POST YOUR COMMENTS BELOW

As a guide, maybe you would want to address the issue of RELATIVISM -- where what is ethical within one society may not be in another. Also consider what is 'morally acceptable' against the backdrop of Malaysian society and norms. Also note that 'morals' is subjective and depends on your upbringing and the community you live in plus your religious persuasion. Therefore, when you talk about ethics, you may want to qualify it as ethical relativism and not ethical absolutes.

This discussion may help you understand how far you are prepared to go and whether you have set limitations and boundaries into achieving what you aspire to see and also how much compromises you are prepared to make on ethics as long as it achieves the end.

 

What are you looking for?

Posted: 09 Oct 2011 03:52 PM PDT

Over the last month or so, since Malaysia Today opened up the comments section to all and sundry and allowed readers to post 'no-holds-barred' comments -- even when they were stupid, bigoted, out of topic, bad language, etc. -- we have read many views, some of them warped as well. But we are yet to read about THE most important view of all, and that is what it is that you are looking for. Today, we shall discuss that. 

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

POST YOUR VIEWS BELOW

As a guide (but not necessarily you MUST touch on all these issues), you may want to take into consideration the present state of affairs in Malaysia, what in your opinion is wrong with the country, and what you would like to see as the NEW DEAL (New Deal meaning changes, reforms, better system, etc., and could be about the health, education, economic, judicial, etc., system(s)).

You may also want to touch on what you view as the limitations or obstacles (such as cultural, religious, economic, historical, legal, etc.) that the government would face if it wanted to implement some of these proposals and therefore what kind of compromises and how far these compromises would have to go to at least meet these aspirations part of the way.

I have used the word 'government' not in the context of the present Barisan Nasional government or the 'future' Pakatan Rakyat government but as government in general (meaning that we should not concern ourselves about who forms that government but that whosoever does form the government would have to do all this -- a hypothetical government of sorts).

A short 500-word essay would be good rather than one-liners, but it is crucial that your essay is not out of topic or flies off tangent.

 

Iqraq

Posted: 08 Oct 2011 05:38 PM PDT

The Muslims believe that the first word ever revealed to Prophet Muhammad was IQRAQ (read). I am sure this was done for a reason. So READ, and understand what we are talking about. To scream and shout, "You know nothing about Islam. You are not learned. Go learn from an ustaz," is not good enough. Even those ustaz you are talking about do not read those three books I mentioned above.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

There are some who say that those who know nothing about a subject matter should not be talking about it. I can agree with that. But then it all depends on what you mean by 'know nothing'.

Maybe there are some who don't know how the Islamic Shariah laws should be applied or interpreted. This is because they are not judges or lawyers. But then, they could be historians and they know their history very well. And because of that, they know the HISTORY of the Shariah. Which means they are certainly qualified to talk about the Shariah from the historical aspect of those laws.

Therefore, to tell a historian to stop talking about the Shariah because he or she is not trained in Islamic laws is not quite correct. If this historian not only knows the history of the Shariah but is also lecturing about it in one of the universities, this makes him or her more than qualified to talk about it.

For Muslims and non-Muslims alike, I would like to recommend you to buy and read just three of the many books I have in my library. These books are:

ISLAM AND THE SECULAR STATE (NEGOTIATING THE FUTURE OF SHARI'A) by Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na'im (Harvard University Press)

 

THE MANY FACES OF POLITICAL ISLAM (RELIGION AND POLITICS IN THE MUSLIM WORLD) by Mohammed Ayoob  (National University of Singapore)

 

A HISTORY OF ISLAMIC LAW by N. J. Coulson (Edinburgh University Press)

 

These three books will suffice for now to be able to make you an 'expert' on the Shariah. I can recommend another dozen more books if you are still 'hungry' for more knowledge.

The Muslims believe that the first word ever revealed to Prophet Muhammad was IQRAQ (read). I am sure this was done for a reason. So READ, and understand what we are talking about. To scream and shout, "You know nothing about Islam. You are not learned. Go learn from an ustaz," is not good enough. Even those ustaz you are talking about do not read those three books I mentioned above.

 

 

Not talking about the budget

Posted: 07 Oct 2011 05:20 PM PDT

So, we will eventually lose these people when Malaysia is no longer lucrative. And we have already lost many Malaysian citizens who have sent their money overseas to invest in other countries. And this is not only of late but has been happening over the last 20 to 30 years, but has become more critical over the last five years or so.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

No, I am not going to talk about the budget. So many others have analysed the budget in detail so you can read what they have to say.

What I do want to talk about is: how is Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak (or even Anwar Ibrahim for that matter, if he happens to become the next Prime Minister) going to stop Malaysia from continuing down the slippery slope?

First we had the brain drain. More than one million Malaysians, the majority of them non-Bumiputeras, of course, live and work overseas. These are people with education, qualifications, and/or skills/abilities (and in many cases, money as well).

I met many waiters/waitresses and restaurant workers all over the UK (all Chinese, of course) who were from Ipoh, Penang, Sungai Siput, Bukit Bintang, Jalan Ipoh, and so on. And now they work all over London and in Nottingham, Manchester, Liverpool, etc.

And you know what? The minute I walk into the restaurant they start whispering. Then, one by one, they come over to our table to talk to me. They recognised me the minute I walked into the restaurant -- and this is because they read Malaysia Today.

Yes, they may be merely waiters/waitresses or restaurant workers, but they are internet-savvy and loyal Malaysia Today readers -- even though you may think they are merely 'labourers'.

And they are not here in the UK working in restaurants because they are stupid, unqualified, uneducated, etc. It is because they have lost confidence in Malaysia -- plus they get more money working in the UK than in Malaysia.

You may think that the cost of living in the UK is higher. Maybe it is higher in some areas but not in everything. You can buy a house for 100,000 pounds (which will cost RM1 million or more in Malaysia for the same type of house) and a car for 8,000 pounds (which will cost more than RM150,000 in Malaysia for the same car).

You earn ten times or more in the UK than what you earn in Malaysia for the same job but the cost of living is not ten times higher, especially outside London.

Anyway, we have more than one million talented Malaysians serving foreign countries when they could be serving their mother country instead. And they spend their money here. They don't send it home to Malaysia. How are we going to convince them to come home to Malaysia and serve Malaysia?

Then we replace these one million Malaysians with four million 'imported' workers. For every one 'quality' Malaysian we have lost we replace him or her with four 'lower quality' foreign workers.

Is this a good exchange, quality for quantity?

Then these four million foreign workers (many now given citizenship so that they can vote for Barisan Nasional) send more than half their earnings home. They don't spend their money in Malaysia. So Malaysians don't get to see any trickle-down affect. They send their money home. So billions of Ringgit leaves the country every month.

Go check with Bank Negara if you want the details (which is what the opposition should be doing instead of arguing about hudud).

Okay, that is about the brain drain. Now what about capital flight?

Do you know that for the last 20 to 30 years, Malaysian tycoons have been quietly investing overseas? Some have even wound down their businesses or sold off their investments in Malaysia to transfer their operations and investments to other countries.

The government screams about how great Malaysia's FDI is. It is like screaming about how much money I earn every month. Yay, I earn RM5,000 a month! But I do not tell you that I spend RM10,000 a month. So what's so great about my RM5,000 earnings a month?

Sure, we have FDIs. But the foreign investors are only here because they can make money. Many foreign companies even have a policy of not buying property in Malaysia. They would rather rent, even if they have to pay more for rental compared to if they bought this property.

This is so that they can wind up their operation and go home super-fast if they need to. If they own property, it takes longer to get out of Malaysia because they need to sell of their assets first. So rent, don't buy.

So you see, they do not intend to become Malaysian 'corporate citizens'. They just want to make money and then go home when they can't make money any longer. They are not loyal to the country. They are just loyal to money.

So, we will eventually lose these people when Malaysia is no longer lucrative. And we have already lost many Malaysian citizens who have sent their money overseas to invest in other countries. And this is not only of late but has been happening over the last 20 to 30 years, but has become more critical over the last five years or so. 

As I said, I do not want to talk about the budget. That's because I am not impressed. I want to know how the government (and the opposition if it becomes the government) is going to stop Malaysia from continuing down this slippery slope of brain drain and capital flight.

Please also read this: After brain drain, now capital flight?

 

Allow me to respond

Posted: 06 Oct 2011 06:26 PM PDT

Below are just some of the many comments in my article 'So, teach me the 'jalan yang betul' then!' I would like to respond to them as I feel further debate or clarification is required so that we can 'clear the air' on this matter that appears to be dividing us and threatens to break up the opposition like it did once before about a decade ago.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Dear RPK

Recently your posts have become more convoluted with everything ending up in a paradox. Bear in mind I believe the majority of Malaysia Today readers are reasonably educated and have broader mindset, If they weren't they won't even bother visiting. I'm afraid if this continues, such tedious yet complex arguments may deter the growing viewership might plummet to the depth of the ocean. Malaysia Today is the instrument of the third force as you claim so cater to the third force. Stop this nonsensical bashing and continue to direct people to the right path. I feel that Malaysia Today has entered another stage of in its struggle for freedom. I'm pretty much aware that most of the people that visit have realized the Injustice that they are living in yet we are still confused on what to do. Yes, we know the system is corrupt, so what do we do? Do we just quit our jobs and protest everyday on the street or just keep on and increasing our political bashing on the net. Therefore I hope you could focus your efforts on the next step, which is showing the people what to do next.

written by Almassy, October 07, 2011 05:39:22

 

MY RESPONSE: The fight for reforms or change is not a 'single-focus' job. It is 'multi-prong' job. We have to do, as what in the IT world they would say, multitasking. So we do not talk about just one issue. We take about many issues because there are so many things that ail Malaysia.

We continue to reveal the transgressions of those in the corridors of power -- although due to the 'selective prosecution' policy that is being practiced in Malaysia (where those close to the powers-that-be are 'immune' from the long arm of the law) very little is going to come out of this effort other than merely 'educating' the Malaysian public so that at least they get to know their government better.

To you, getting to the bottom of the hudud matter may be nonsense. As you said: 'Bear in mind I believe the majority of Malaysia Today readers are reasonably educated and have broader mindset….' I suppose this also means you.

However, judging by the quality of the comments that you read in Malaysia Today, does this give you the impression that 'the majority of Malaysia Today readers are reasonably educated and have broader mindset'? The impression I get is that the reverse is true.

Anyway, we should not just focus on the comments to form our opinion. Can 100 readers who comment give you a good yardstick when more than a million others who read Malaysia Today do so quietly without commenting? What about the private e-mails and phone calls I receive from readers who express their opinion and their opinion is they are not sure yet whether they are going to vote for Pakatan Rakyat come the next election?

So we need to respond to what people say. This is because other people may get influenced by what is being said. For example, some are of the view that if hudud is implemented, pork, gambling, liquor, etc., will be banned. So we have to counter that.

Some are of the view that if they vote Pakatan Rakyat then for sure hudud is going to be implemented. Again, we have to counter that.

So we need to constantly rebut and reply to negative comments because, if we don't, then people might believe these comments to be true and Pakatan Rakyat is going to suffer a serious erosion of support come the next election.

We are not talking religion here. We are talking about politics and reforms. But when religion is being dragged into politics, then we have no choice but to face it head on and address the issue.

And that is what I am doing: engaging the religionists who want to treat this matter as if it were a religious issue when in fact it is a political issue.

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Pete,

You are learned man and I sense that as you are getting old and perhaps been 'exile' for such a long time you are getting 'religious' in your posting. Also most of the posting are for argument.

When one gets older he tends to be closer to his God or his beliefs. But Pete, MT is getting too 'religious'. Its time you go to Malaysian politics and as our election is looming you may have to use your MT to drive in some message of changes so that readers will be more updated about what is going on with our political parties. You have deep throat around and of course you always get the wind first.

written by neilahmad, October 07, 2011 08:10:55

 

MY RESPONSE:  I think I have covered most of the points in your comment in my response above. I just want to add one more point. Malaysia Today is not getting more religious. Religion is being used more now than before to gain political mileage. And this hudud issue has set the opposition back a wee bit and has given Umno a slight upper hand (which can escalate if we are not careful). So we avoid addressing this matter at our own peril.

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RPK,

I would like to say that even you are not in the position to comment about Hudud unless you know more than the others. Why not we let people know what hudud is all about. Its not merely chopping off people hands...

written by monty, October 07, 2011 09:29:10

 

MY RESPONSE: Hudud is not about religion. It is about the law and the Federal Constitution of Malaysia. And people well versed in the law and the constitution ARE addressing this matter. (See here: 'Right to question hudud law' and 'At variance with the Constitution')

But then the religionists (in this case the Islamists) are shouting them down and telling them that they should not talk about hudud and that only religionists should talk about it.

This is where we have to 'out-shout' them. Is hudud a religious issue or a legal cum constitutional issue? I say it is a legal/constitutional issue and it not only affects the constitution but democracy as well (if the minority pushes it down the throat of the majority).

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RPK,

I think you should stop wasting time in changing or bashing the Malay Muslim. They are not going to change since they are brought up in such narrow minded. Don't talk about ordinary people even the educated Malays also sometimes act very funny when comes to religion.

You should continue write about Islam because I believe more non-Muslim are starting to understand the beautiful of Islam and how open is Islam is.

written by DR Politics, October 07, 2011 09:35:13

 

MY RESPONSE: Ah, this is my favourite topic. The non-Malays and non-Muslims lament that the 'noisy minority' is screaming their heads off while the 'silent majority' is keeping quiet. "Where is the silent majority Malays-Muslims?" they ask. "Why are they keeping quiet? They should speak up!"

Well, I am one of those in the 'silent majority' that you are talking about -- only that I am not silent but I speak up. Do you want me to keep quiet and just let the noisy minority go on screaming? I can, if you wish. At least the Malays would not become so angry with me, like now.

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Most of the Malays can't even understand Arab language, what more to say understanding Hudud? They are depended to Ustaz, Imam and etc. Ask that particular Malay, does he fully understand Islamic law or the Quran?

written by Meh, October 07, 2011 10:49:02

 

MY RESPONSE: There is nothing complicated here. Hudud laws, as the name implies, are about the law. The question is: which laws do we want for Malaysia? My answer is: parliament makes the laws. That is why we call them lawmakers. So, can we let parliament do its job?

Now, if you are not happy with parliament, then vote the parliamentarians out of office. Install a new parliament. Just hope that the new parliament is better than the old parliament. And that is our job as voters.

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Conclusion : All Muslims are taught to think that way, but some like Azmi dare to risk his life and question the religious teachers and the Quran. That is the argument about. If no one question Islam, then the nation will be like Somalia and the Islamic nations. Saudi and Brunei had the money and their countries are built by infidels or kafirs or using kafir's technologies. What is there to be proud of?

And for the information, today a Nobel peace prize may be awarded to a Muslim, but a woman, for questioning the Islamic authorities. Are you going to say that the Nobel committee had intended to insult Islam?

In a democracy, we question all things and are free to think and follows our faith or believe in anything we want to believe. Sadly Malaysia is a false democracy - a semi theocratic and racist nation. How much longer are we going to lie to the world?

written by earthman, October 07, 2011 11:09:43

 

MY RESPONSE: And this is the crux to the whole matter. In a democracy, we have a right to question and to express our views. However, when it comes to hudud, suddenly we have lost that right. Why is that so? Because, according to the Islamists, hudud is God's law so we cannot question it.

So, are you saying that we need to suspend democracy? PAS introduced the slogan 'PAS for all'. 'All' would mean non-Muslims as well, right? Or is PAS going to change its slogan to 'PAS for all-Muslims only'?

Malaysians have a right to defend their democratic right to question and to disagree. PAS should be the first to recognise this since it is accusing Barisan Nasional and Umno of being undemocratic.

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

There are highly intellectual Muslims who support Hudud. Not just narrow minded ones. Why we support? We have digested in our mind that Islam is the correct religion. Then it follows the Quran is the word of God. And since the Quran says Hudud is just as wajib as solat and fasting we support Hudud. A lot of people do not even understand Islam how do we expect them to understand Hudud. The least they could do is to follow Dr Tan the Catholic Archbishop and study the Quran. Dr Tan after studying the Quran supports Hudud. But these people think they are cleverer than Dr Tan, the Catholic Archbishop. He is a well read intellectual with a PhD! I rest my case.

written by johann, October 07, 2011 11:33:48

 

MY RESPONSE: I have already responded to this above. Hudud is about the law and the constitution, not about religion. You don't need to understand Islam to understand that.

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

Generally it is true that an expert of any subject or skill is more knowledgeable than the non-expert. That is true for a Hudud expert when compared to the layman.

However, in this case and the main point of Azmi Haron's contention is not about the contents of Hudud but rather 'In a democracy, EVERYTHING can be questioned'.

If Hudud and its limits cannot be questioned because it is divine and God's law, then it should not be proposed for implementation in a democratic nation like Malaysia.

Even if it is not democracy, normal human rights should grant permission to any human to question everything as a critical thinker.

To demand that one should not question Hudud because one is not a Hudud expert is beside the point, irrelevant and a 'strawman' to the point debated in that article.

As normal human beings with basic human rights, we need not be an expert on Hudud to question its effectiveness and impact on society. One need not be a professional engineer, theologian, drug scientist or gambler to raise questions when there are negative impacts arising from their activities. One can apply out-of-the-box critical thinking techniques besides employing other experts to handle the in-the-box questions.

It is very easy to tackle the Hudud question. If one must insist on God-commanded-Hudud, prove God exists first. If one cannot prove God exists, then one should keep God & Hudud private for psychological/emotional reasons and not bring it into public where it can effect (in grey cases) non-believers negatively. No immutable laws carved in stone tablets for 2011 onward pls

written by TMT, October 07, 2011 14:57:09

 

MY RESPONSE: I doubt I need to add anything more to the above. He/she took the words right out of my mouth.

 

So, teach me the 'jalan yang betul' then!

Posted: 06 Oct 2011 03:31 AM PDT

Next, he or she assumes that the writer of the article, in this case Azmi Sharom, is not knowledgeable about the subject matter that he wrote about. And he or she made this assumption merely because the writer of the article, in this case Azmi Sharom, has a different view. Therefore, if you have a different view, then this means you are not knowledgeable about the subject.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Saudara azmi anda kena jelas betul2. Anda Muslim Dan org yg berpelajaran tinggi Dan ramai pengikut....jgn samapi kita bawa mereka ke Jln yg sesat.....sy tk kata u sesat....tp rujuklah dulu pd mereka yg lebih mahir dlm bab Hudud. Yg u baca bukan maknanya u faham...u faham cara u...maybe betul maybe tak betul!!!! Innalillah......

written by Eshmaelajenoor, October 07, 2011 00:48:57

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

The above comment was posted by Eshmaelajenoor in the news item 'Right to question hudud law' by Azmi Sharom, originally published in The Star.

I have noticed many such comments posted in Malaysia Today, mainly by Malay-Muslim readers. They are all almost similar in nature.

First of all, the impression I get is that this reader is very lazy. He or she does not even bother to string a proper sentence with correct spelling, grammar, capitals, etc., and he or she uses incomplete or substitute words like 'u', 'tp', 'yg', 'sy', etc. This does not give an impression that this reader is serious in commenting.

Next, he or she assumes that the writer of the article, in this case Azmi Sharom, is not knowledgeable about the subject matter that he wrote about. And he or she made this assumption merely because the writer of the article, in this case Azmi Sharom, has a different view. Therefore, if you have a different view, then this means you are not knowledgeable about the subject.

That is a very pompous attitude. If you do not share my view then this means you have no knowledge about the subject matter.

This is the stand that many Malays-Muslims take and it is time these people accept the fact that not everyone shares their view. And it could be possible that they do not share your view not because they are ignorant. In fact, the opposite may be true. They may, in fact, be very knowledgeable and this is the main reason why they have an opposite view to yours.

Anyway, for Eshmaelajenoor to be able to know for a fact that Azmi Sharom is not knowledgeable about the subject can only be because Eshmaelajenoor IS knowledgeable about that subject. So, since Eshmaelajenoor IS knowledgeable about the subject, let us then engage in a discourse on Islam so that we can gauge the depth of Eshmaelajenoor's knowledge and assess whether Azmi Sharom, therefore, may actually be less knowledgeable about the subject matter he wrote about.

Allah, or God, in the Islamic perspective, has 99 properties or attributes -- what Muslims would call the 99 names of Allah.

The most crucial attribute of all is that Allah is omnipotent. This means Allah is all-powerful and nothing is beyond Allah's power. Probably the second most important attribute is that Allah is not born and Allah does not die. Allah is eternal. Even the Jews and Christians believe this.

Okay, if Allah is omnipotent and there is nothing Allah cannot do, can Allah commit suicide? Since Allah is eternal and cannot die, then logically speaking Allah cannot commit suicide. If Allah commits suicide then Allah will die, which means Allah would not then be eternal.

Hence, Eshmaelajenoor, if Allah is not capable of committing suicide, then how do you explain how Allah can be omnipotent when there are still some things that Allah is not capable of doing?

Yes, Eshmaelajenoo, please enlighten us on that and once you can satisfy us that you are certainly knowledgeable on matters of theism we can then probably accept your argument that Azmi Sharom is not knowledgeable enough and should not be talking about matters he clearly does not have enough knowledge to talk about.
 

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So, the conclusion is….

Posted: 16 Oct 2011 02:26 AM PDT

In fact, I have always tried to preach the same values regarding Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. I was always of the opinion that we must do the Christian thing and not hate him for what we perceive he has done to Malaysia but instead love and forgive him, as what the Christians have said Jesus Christ taught us.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

We have had a good debate in 'What's the beef?'. However, as they say, all good things must eventually come to an end.

With more than 400 comments, which chances are many would not be bothered to read, it may be prudent to summarise the conclusion of these so many opinions.

The first, and probably most important point that was made very clear, is that non-Christians have no business talking about Christianity or the Bible because they know very little about 'other people's religion'. That, in my opinion, is a very sound and valid point because I too have been saying the same to non-Muslims who pass comments and give opinions on Islam.

So I would agree with this first conclusion.

The next point is that non-Muslims can never agree to the implementation of Hudud in Malaysia even if an irrevocable guarantee is given that non-Muslims would not be affected by this, or any Islamic laws, in any way. The fact that no one can be assured of what may happen in the future and whether these guarantees would be revoked later does not give the non-Muslims any comfort.

I can sympathise with the non-Muslims and understand their apprehension. Would the implementation of Hudud be the opening of a Pandora's box that once opened could never be closed again? Who can tell? It is best, therefore, that we take no risks.

Considering that PAS is committed to Islam and that Hudud is one of their aspirations, it would be safer, therefore, that Pakatan Rakyat is not allowed to come into power. 

Umno has made it very clear that it will never allow Hudud to be implemented, even in the states, let alone at national level. Umno has demonstrated its good faith by blocking the implementation of Hudud twice, once in Kelantan and again in Terengganu. It would, therefore, be safer that Barisan Nasional is allowed to form the federal government rather than Pakatan Rakyat where the uncertainties of Hudud would hang over our heads.

Of course, if you were to look at Hudud from the legal and constitutional aspect rather than from the angle of religion, it would be logically impossible for Pakatan Rakyat to implement Hudud. And the fact that PAS would be contesting merely one-third the seats, and even if they combined these seats with other Muslim MPs from PKR they would still not be able to get the two-thirds required to amend the Constitution, there would still be an element of risk even if that risk is merely 1%.

I suppose we can do worse than vote in a corrupt, manipulate, racist, repressive and evil government. And a corrupt, manipulate, racist, repressive and evil government is certainly more desired than a clean government that may one day impose Islamic laws on the Muslim population with no water-tight guarantee that the non-Muslim population would not also be subjected to the same, even if some may want to argue that such a possibility is zero to 1%.

One point I would like to add -- which most people focused on although it was not really the issue we wanted to address -- was the matter of the Old and New Testaments.

I admit that most Muslims are confused about this, and I suppose that would include me. The fact it is called Old and New gave non-Muslims the impression that both form part of the Bible -- just like how Muslims treat the Koran and Hadith as two parts of the same thing.

It is good that this matter was clarified and now Muslims and other non-Christians would get a better grasp of Christianity. Most, if not all, non-Christians were under the impression that both Bibles are Christian Bibles based on what the Christians did for almost 2,000 years until 1850.

What was of particular interest to me was the fact that the Old Testament is a Jewish Bible and not a Christian Bible. This makes one wonder why the Jews and Muslims fight so much when both their Holy Books teach the same thing and the fact that Islamic laws are actually Jewish laws.

I was especially attracted to the argument that the Christian Bible, the New Testament, preaches non-violence, non-hatred, love, forgiveness, turn the other cheek, and so on. In fact, I have always tried to preach the same values regarding Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. I was always of the opinion that we must do the Christian thing and not hate him for what we perceive he has done to Malaysia but instead love and forgive him, as what the Christians have said Jesus Christ taught us.

I trust in spite of the heated debate we saw in the last posting, this matter has come to an amicable ending and we can now all rest easy with the knowledge that we are united in our views and share the same opinion on how we should proceed from hereon.
 

WIKILEAKS: EMBASSY RAISES RELA ROLE WITH MALAYSIAN IMMIGRATION

Posted: 16 Oct 2011 01:00 AM PDT

RELA, a volunteer auxiliary security force under the Home Affairs Ministry, has attracted criticism for reported abuses by RELA members primarily when rounding up illegal immigrants. RELA members receive a bounty for each illegal immigrant detained. Largely untrained RELA members have been accused of stealing the belongings of suspected illegal immigrants, extortion, using unnecessary force, and mistakenly detaining foreign tourists and legal residents. Given the lack of recognition for refugees under Malaysian law, RELA also has targeted refugee communities for immigration round ups, drawing concern from the UNHCR among others.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

1.  (SBU) Summary:  Members of Malaysia's People's Volunteer Corps (RELA) began taking up guard duties at immigration detention centers beginning January 15, according to press reports.  Government officials describe RELA's assignment as a stop-gap measure while responsibility for the immigration detention centers shifts from the Prison Department to the Immigration Department. 

Given RELA's poor reputation, Consular Chief raised questions about RELA's role with a senior Immigration official on January 22.  In response, the official emphasized the temporary nature of RELA's assignment.  Separately, RELA members reportedly raided two unsanctioned Burmese refugee camps over the past five days. We will continue to raise the issue of RELA with the Malaysian government and coordinate with UNHCR on refugee protection.  End Summary.

2.  (U) According to Malaysian press accounts, approximately 1,840 RELA members on January 15 began to take up duties as guards at immigration detention centers across Malaysia, with the exception of Sabah (due to Sabah's separate authority over immigration matters).  Home Affairs Minister Radzi Sheikh Ahmad told reporters that by March RELA would be responsible for 13 detention centers. 

The GOM is shifting responsibility for the detention centers from the Prisons Department to the Immigration Department, both under the Home Affairs Ministry.  As RELA gradually assumes its new role, it takes over from guards from the Prisons Department.  Minister Radzi indicated that RELA's role would last approximately one year while the government hired 1,100 new Immigration guards. Government statements in November 2007 suggested RELA's role at detention centers could remain necessary for up to two years.

3.  (SBU) RELA, a volunteer auxiliary security force under the Home Affairs Ministry, has attracted criticism for reported abuses by RELA members primarily when rounding up illegal immigrants.  RELA members receive a bounty for each illegal immigrant detained. Largely untrained RELA members have been accused of stealing the belongings of suspected illegal immigrants, extortion, using unnecessary force, and mistakenly detaining foreign tourists and legal residents. Given the lack of recognition for refugees under Malaysian law, RELA also has targeted refugee communities for immigration round ups, drawing concern from the UNHCR among others.

4.  (SBU) Embassy's Consular Chief called on Immigration Director General Wahid bin Md. Don on January 22 and raised questions concerning RELA's deployment to the detention centers.  Consular chief noted that supervision of immigration detention facilities is a key government responsibility and Malaysia's handling of this function would attract international attention. 

Wahid responded that RELA's involvement at the detention centers represented a stop-gap measure until the Immigration Department could recruit and train 1,100 new immigration enforcement officers to staff the centers.  In the interim, Wahid emphasized that RELA members would provide only security and not overall management of the detention centers, and he stressed the temporary nature of RELA's new role.  In addition, the government planned to hire another 3,000 new immigration enforcement officers to detect and detain illegal immigrants, implying that this would take away some pressure to use RELA in such a role.

5.  (SBU) Separately, Embassy received reports and documentary evidence of a RELA raid on January 19 on a refugee camp in the jungle near Putrajaya. 

(Note:  The GOM does not recognize or sanction any refugee camps.  End Note.)

The camp contained about 75 Chin refugees, and had received prior warnings that it should disband.  RELA reportedly burned the camp, and took or destroyed the refugees' belongings. 

The New Strait Times daily also reported the destruction of the camp, but stated that RELA Director-General Zaidon Asmuni denied RELA started the fires. Instead, he pointed fingers at a local municipal council, whose president denied knowledge of the raid. 

(Note:  RELA raids on camps sometimes occur following complaints by local residents or landowners.  End Note.

The news report stated RELA detained 23 persons following the raid.  Embassy also received a report of a RELA pre-dawn raid on January 23 on a second Burmese refugee jungle camp, which contained over 150 ethnic Chin.  RELA reportedly detained 26 refugees, including a four-month old baby.  Post forwarded the information to the UNHCR.

6.  (SBU) Comment:  Post will continue to monitor actions by RELA and seek ways to impress upon the Malaysian government that RELA's treatment of refugees and illegal migrants will be a matter of U.S. and international attention.  Post continues to coordinate closely with UNHCR on matters pertaining to refugee protection and, together with Refcoord Bangkok, facilitate UNHCR and U.S. refugee processing entities' access to refugees in immigration detention.

KEITH (January 2008)

 

What a little bird told me…

Posted: 16 Oct 2011 12:45 AM PDT

By Hakim Joe

Almost exactly one year ago in October 2010 and right after the PKR Party Elections Fiasco, ZR nominated himself to be the Ketua Cabang Pandan by virtue of his position as the Pandan PKR Elections Committee Chairman when results of the Pandan polls showed a tie between himself and Nik. This decision was backed up by Molly Cheah, the PKR Party Elections Committee Chairman even after a protest was officially lodged with PKR as no recount was performed after the decision was announced. It was much later announced that this was because the polling boxes went missing.

How was it even remotely possible that a candidate be given the authority to decide on the outcome of an election in the event of a tie? Why wasn't there a recount when the results showed a tie? How did one lose the polling boxes? How can the PKR Central Committee even consider ratifying the results? 

It was then well known amongst the PKR members that ZR was a devoted member of the Anwar/Azmin clique and that he was on the shortlist to be nominated as the PKR Pandan candidate in the forthcoming general election. As of one month ago, the ZR Election machinery was mobilizing its people all around the Pandan area ensuring that ZR be nominated as the Pandan candidate. That was four weeks ago. 

Nowadays, the Pandan area is without a Ketua Cabang PKR as ZR was quietly relieved of all his official posts in PKR (as of last week). What a little bird told me was that ZR was alleged to be caught red-handed with his hands way inside the cookie jar, to the tune of RM5,000 or thereabouts. However, there is no news of this fact as yet and an advance search on the Internet failed to provide any articles regarding this "misallocation of funds" as the PKR Central Committee is keeping this potentially explosive news all wrapped up in view of the forthcoming general elections. 

Remember the time when the PKR Supremo, albeit un-elected, assured us that he shall personally weed out the undesirables within the party ranks? Well, it can be said that he is actually doing so but what made him give his full support to ZR in the first place, and especially when the 2010 Pandan PKR election results showed a tie? Was it a really bad decision of his own or did his sidekick Azmin influence him in making this decision? If that is the case, does it actually show an appalling grasp of judgment within the top hierarchy of the PKR? 

Nik, who was never found with his hands in the cookie jar, was sidelined after lodging an "undesired" official protest in 2010 that was subsequently rejected without reasons, and after ZR authorized himself to act as the Ketua PKR Cabang Pandan, Nik's political fortunes took a headlong descent. One year in the political wilderness is a long time especially when the general elections are due and without a doubt, Nik can never make up ground for the mistakes made by Molly Cheah, DSAI and Azmin. Even appointing him as the defacto Ketua Cabang PKR Pandan now can never compensate for the series of undemocratic and appalling decisions made last year. Who are they to complain about the EC when they are practically practicing the same procedures? Is this a case of "I can do it but you cannot"? 

For those uninformed, there were officially over sixty separate appeals (one third of all seats) lodged after the PKR Party Elections in 2010 but none were addressed and the only statement issued was "we will look into the irregularities". So far as everybody is concerned, they are still looking into it and it makes one wonder in awe just how long they intend looking into it as one long year has already passed us by. To be impartial to PKR, they did not mention that they would be doing anything once they have had enough of time just looking into it but that remains to be seen as they are still looking into it (phase 1). Perhaps these people would consider the possibility of seriously thinking about doing something (Phase 2) once Phase 1 is over (God knows when) and proceed really thinking about doing something (Phase 3), to deliberate what needs to be done (Phase 4), plan how to do it (Phase 5) and actually doing it (Phase 6); and before you know it, Phase 6 will come into effect when you are watching the closing ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympics on television in full HD. 

DSAI must take full responsibility for this debacle but unfortunately that was certainly not the scenario. Is this who we potentially want sitting in Putrajaya next year? Some of us might think that he is the lesser of two evils, and rightly so, but why can't we settle for someone special who cares more for the country and its residents rather than himself or herself? (And no, I do not know of any such candidate now that is "constitutionally-qualified" to become PM). 

So, if there presently exist rotten apples like ZR within the PKR rank and file who cannot wait till the big-time to loot a mere RM5,000 now, what are the chances of a repeat of frog-like behavior once millions in cash are on offer after they are elected?

 

Malaysians Are Not MORONS!

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 09:27 PM PDT

I beg to differ from the opinion of our DPM. On the contrary, Malaysia is already on the verge of bankruptcy now if we do not take immediate steps to change BN government in power and bring in the present Opposition to rescue us from becoming the ASEAN Greece.

If I have a Colt 45 loaded with 6 rounds of silver bullets, I will fire like Gary Cooper in "High Noon" at these imbeciles of tongue-loose brainless politicians. But I have only one silver bullet (can't afford gold) so here goes the Russian roulette:

1.       Mahathir: Malays will lose power in 10 years if they don't unite

First of all, our dear near-senile Mahathir, please define the race Malay. How many types of Malays are there in this country? Are Mamaks Malays? During our schooldays, Mamaks were made fun of by my Malay schoolmates. Your award-wining achievement has been your ability to put yourself a Mamak on top of all the other Malays. Congratulations! When you made this speech you were also addressing members of Perkim as their President. Have you forgotten the principles and objectives of Perkim founded by our beloved First Prime Minister? You were talking to Chinese converts as well; are you suggesting that these Chinese Muslims should be thrown into the tong sampah?

You were right: The minority cannot rule the country in a democratic framework. Any donkey knows that without you telling us. The Chinese minority will never rule this country; at any rate, the brilliant ones have left Malaysian shores for greener pastures and are doing fine in their new countries of adoption. Our government has tried many times to coax them to return. But they are not biting.

2.       Malaysia will be bankrupt if Opposition wins – Muhyiddin

I beg to differ from the opinion of our DPM. On the contrary, Malaysia is already on the verge of bankruptcy now if we do not take immediate steps to change BN government in power and bring in the present Opposition to rescue us from becoming the ASEAN Greece. For the information of our frog-in-the-well Muhyiddin, Malaya was the No. 2 economy of Asia, repeat Asia (after Philippines) right after the 2md World War, and overtook Philippines during the Korean war when our rubber and tin brought in wealth to our rubber tappers who could buy GEC refrigerators even there was no electricity in the kampongs. They kept their valuable bajus and sarongs in the fridge from white ants and insects! You were not born yet, Tan Sri. From then on, Malaysia could have easily been the No. 1 economy (beating Singapore) in ASEAN but for the bloodsucking and wealth pilfering hands of later BN goons.

3.       Be grateful to BN government DPM tells people

When Muhyiddin said this, he was addressing a crowd in Ampangan, Negeri Sembilan. He was taking the residents to be fools who did not know the RM5 million he handed out (4 million for a new hawker center, ½ million to refurbish the market and ½ million to repair Ampangan flats) was actually coming from the Treasury which is money of the Rakyat, not BN's or Muhyiddin's or his Grand Papa's. You, Muhyiddin, should be grateful to the people, and everywhere you go addressing Malaysian crowds, please say a big thank you to the people for what you are, and what you have, now.

You must remember your roots from a small kampong Pagoh in Johor. Had it not been for your crafty and snaky worming your way into the upper echelon of UMNO, I doubt with your qualifications, you could even land a salesman's job in your fellow Johorean Tun Musa's Sime Darby. I don't have to write more, as Ali Kadir has slammed you in Malaysian Insider.

4.       Passport and MyKad

These 2 items came from the ministry of another pea-brain Johorean, Hishammuddin. Whilst it is right that we should respect the Malaysian passport and take good care of it, the Director-General cannot make a blanket ruling that if you lose your passport a 2nd time, the waiting time for a replacement is mandatory 3 years.

Of course, we know that in the past Malaysian passports were sold to waiting illegal immigrants, but these seller culprits should be classified differently from genuine bona fide cases of passports lost to snatch-thieves, in robberies and in fires, etc. How can you prevent genuine business men from getting replacement and deprive them of going overseas to do business for the country? Come on, put in a system to weed out the culprits from the real victims.

Now the MyKad: Not so long ago all Malaysians were told to change to the present MyKad. Now it seems the Rakyat are like a flock of sheep being herded again to do another change. Why? Because some company involved in the printing of the chips also needs to print money? These BN elite are very clever and resourceful in finding ways and means to suck, suck and suck money from the Rakyat and the Treasury!

Pete, have pity on me. Like all Malaysians we have no avenue to express our views, lesser still to vent our feelings, so we have all converge on you to give us the helping hand to disseminate 'banned' information to the voting Rakyat.

Salam,

Todak

 

Documents from the Bruno Manser Foundation about Taib Mahmud's money laundering in Australia

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 09:08 PM PDT

Dr M says Aziz Bari’s comments were disrespectful

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 08:50 PM PDT

(The Malaysian Insider) - Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad accused Consitutional expert Professor Dr Abdul Aziz Bari of disrespect for not apologising and promptly retracting his statement over the Selangor Sultan's opinion.

The International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) don had said that the sultan's position on the State Islamic Religious Department's (Jais) raid on a premise belong Damansara Utama Methodist Church was unusual and inconsistent.

Dr Mahathir told Bernama Online that the law lecturer's statement in a news portal was opposed to Eastern moral values. He stated that though he was uncertain Abdul Aziz broke the law, but on the level of moral values, it was disrespectful.

He was speaking to media after the 11th convocation of Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) which he presided as chancellor.

During the ceremony, he presented the Chancellor's Gold Award to Lai Chin Leong, 23, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering with honours with a cumulative grade point average of 3.89.

Muhammad Aiman Jamaludin, 22, and T. Kuhanesapathy, 23, won the silver and bronze awards, respectively.

 

Utusan claims Malaysiakini, Aziz Bari out to trivialise proselytisation

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 07:01 PM PDT

(The Malaysian Insider) - Utusan Malaysia lashed out at law professor Dr Abdul Aziz Bari and Malaysiakini today for allegedly attempting to divert public anger away from the controversial issue of proselytisation in Malaysia.

Its editors, writing under the pseudonym "Awang Selamat", accused the news portal of attempting to set a "trap" by publishing news meant to incite feelings of uneasiness against the Royal Institution, erode the spirit of the Federal Constitution and steer Malaysia towards becoming a republic.

The Umno-owned daily cautioned the authorities against allowing Malaysiakini "immunity" to freely publish alternative views, claiming the news portal was gaining strength as the country's "third force".

The daily was referring to the recent uproar over Abdul Aziz's recent response as carried by Malaysiakini to the Selangor Sultan's decree last week, where the academician reportedly said the ruler's intervention in the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) raid controversy was "uncommon and inconsistent".

"Strangely, it seems as if Malaysiakini has immunity to do as it pleases. In Singapore, wild and provocative comments will invite immediate action," said Awang in his column published in the paper's Sunday edition Mingguan Malaysia.

"Unfortunately in Malaysia, there are parties who should be shouldering this responsibility but have not been carrying out their duties with efficiency, steadfastness and effectiveness," he added.

Awang then sniped at the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) for allowing Malaysiakini to air such comments on its website, claiming the public had grown "bored" waiting for action to be taken.

"As usual, MCMC would have its reasons ... when Malaysiakini gains strength daily as the third force, on the back of provocation after provocation," he said.

He added it would not be surprising if "sentiments flared by the portal" would later shape the people's mindset.

"But do not blame Malaysiakini then, blame ourselves. We allowed it to reach such a stage," he said.

READ MORE HERE

 

Najib : History Shows Fair Election In Malaysia

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 06:51 PM PDT

SEREMBAN, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said history had shown that the ruling party, Barisan Nasional (BN), had never manipulated the poll so that it would always win in the general election.

If the general election in Malaysia could be easily manipulated, then the BN would not have handed over Selangor to the opposition or Kelantan remaining under PAS rule, he said.

"Although we don't manipulate, they (opposition) will always turn around. So, if we don't counter the allegations, the people will think that we have manipulated the general election and used instruments of the state such as the armed forces," he said in his speech at the closing of the BN Convention, here Sunday.

The allegations that the BN had used instruments of the state and the armed forces were also not true, he said.

"We can't even guarantee that we will get the military votes, there are military votes against us. The military, when we walk past them, they salute us, but when the election comes, we lose," he said.

A founder of PKR, Dr Chandra Muzaffar, who had previously contested on a PKR ticket, had once admitted to Najib that although he lost in Bandar Tun Razak, he had the majority of the military votes then.

He said Chandra himself had criticised the party that he once represented, saying that the allegation of manipulation in the general election was a lie spread by the opposition.

"When the soldiers cast their ballots in the box, there are observers who are representatives of the opposition present. They will protest at the slightest mistake. Although we don't manipulate, they are smart at turning around," he said.

The presence of the military and government servants had still not been able to ensure automatic victory for the BN.

Nevertheless, the opposition had no answer when the government announced various transformation policies that enabled the BN to gain political momentum, Najib said.

The opposition, however, were still smart in turning around and staging Bersih 2.0 and drawing up a lengthy script to launch an attack through demonstrations, the website and even video screening through the youtube.

"I notice that they have merged Bersih 1 and 2 in the youtube to criticise the government and the people think that the video is true. I notice in the video as though they had already prepared a well planned script," he said.

Their acting was good and could influence the people who might not realise this and if one were to think, who would go to the hospital for medical treatment as a result of serious injury and still be wearing the yellow shirt, Muhyiddin pointed out.

The BN might have been skilful in warfare previously and had won the general election 12 times, but this time around, the war had taken a new form and the BN could no longer use the old weapons in a modern war.

 

 

Gerakan adopts 16-point declaration

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 06:49 PM PDT

(Bernama) -- The Gerakan's 40th National Delegates Conference (NDC) 2011 has adopted a 16-point declaration, encompassing socio-economic, politics and government matters.

The two-day NDC, which started at Menara PGRM here today, among others, had declared the abolishment of the Internal Security Act (ISA), Restricted Residence Act, Banishment Act and Proclamations of Emergency and Emergency Ordinance as auguring well with the country's democratic progression and a step in the right direction.

The delegates however, said the two proposed new acts to replace the ISA should be clear and precise and not be used as a tool to stifle legitimate political dissent.

They also urged the government to establish a commission on national harmony and race relations to mediate on inter-religious and inter-ethnic issues and protect the rights of all Malaysians as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

They also called on the government to move away from race-based assistance and programme to those based on needs and to embark on programmes that will no longer differentiate Malaysians based on skin colour, religion or creed and region of residence.

On politics, Gerakan delegates declared their stand that Barisan Nasional (BN) continued to transform itself to remain relevant, and that every member worked together, in the spirit of 1Malaysia and not sabotage one another, work more closely on resolving the problems of the people, and ensure that they were a coalition at all times.

On party matters, the 40th NDC declared that they would persist with reforming and rejuvenating Gerakan to ensure the party remained a relevant and viable political force; and articulate solutions that are non-racial and progressive, and be the voice and choice of all Malaysians.

It also urged all Gerakan leaders and members, at all levels, to put the people and the party above themselves, stay united and committed to the party's ideology to overcome all challenges and strengthen the party.

Delegates to the NDC agreed to urge that the 2012 Budget be implemented efficiently and transparently, adding that they also welcomed the further liberalisation of 17 service sub-sectors.

The Declaration also called on the seventh National Key Results Area (NKRA) on tackling the rising cost of living to rapidly introduce measures to counter the steady increase in prices of essential foodstuff, goods and services.

On education, the delegates proposed that the government form a National Education Consultative Council with specific sub-committees to address concerns over the national education system to ensure it was relevant, holistic and inclusive.

On other matters, delegates also wanted to continuously and aggressively promote excellence, meritocracy and equal opportunities in public life so that the local talent could be retained, aside from luring back Malaysian talents overseas.

Gerakan delegates also urged the Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reform to review the depth and breadth of the electoral system to ensure that there would be no further abuse to insulate the government from accusations of electoral fraud.

The NDC continues tomorrow.

Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, in a press conference, said the declaration reflected the party's determination to join forces in making the national transformation a success for the benefit of the people.

 

Apologise publicly or we’ll sue, DAP warns Yong

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 06:45 PM PDT

By Queville To, FMT

PENAMPANG: The gloves seems to  have finally come off between Sabah DAP and the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) after months of party officials on either side taking potshots at each other.

Yesterday, Sabah DAP advisor Hiew King Cheu gave his arch-rival SAPP president Yong Teck Lee an ultimatum.

Said Hiew: "He (Yong) should prove his allegations against me. He should apologize to me and Sabah DAP publicly in the newspapers. If not, I'm going to sue him for defamation."

Hiew, who is also Kota Kinabalu MP was responding to Yong's accusation that he had colluded with Umno to defeat him (Yong) in the Batu Sapi parliamentary by-election last year.

Yong had also alleged that Hiew had an interest in a controversial waterfront project in the Kota Kinabalu.

Hiew told reporters at a press conference here that Yong's allegations were 'pure fabrication.'

"The allegations are damaging to me and Sabah DAP as a whole. Yong is merely twisting facts and making wild accusation on the issues and events," Hiew  said.

'Yong has a motive'

Hiew believed Yong's accusations were a calculated move aimed chiefly at discrediting and tarnishing his image and that of Sabah DAP.

"Yong has a purpose in putting out such a statement. He has a motive.

"His objective is to come to KK (Kota Kinabalu) to contest against me in the next GE.

"I challenge him to come to KK to contest against me in the KK MP seat and lets see whether the people of KK will support me, or him.

"As far as I know and as I've told the people of KK, I do things for the KK people, not for myself and my record is clean.

"But for Yong, it's up to the people to judge him," he said.

Hiew also said Sabah DAP is duty bound to safeguard the dignity, credibility and accountability of its leaders, especially after having put in a lot of hard work to rebuild Sabah DAP.

Yong should expose Umno

He said Yong and SAPP should aim their guns at Barisan Nasional and Umno instead of DAP.

"He (Yong) should concentrate on hammering Musa Aman (Chief Minister and Sabah BN chairman), (Abdullah) Badawi (former prime minister) or even (premier) Najib (Tun Razak).

"To us, he (Yong) is a good friend of Umno and I can prove that.

"He knows about the SAS (Saham Amanah Sabah) case, and he mentioned in his press statements that Umno people are involved.

"Yong Teck Lee knew all these while what's going on with SAS and that Umno people are involved. He has forgotten that during that time I was with him in SAPP.

"If he knows Umno people are involved in this particular scandal, why is he not coming forward to expose his Umno friends or at least be man enough to report to the MACC.

"Is Yong worried of going to jail? I'm not saying he's part of it (SAS controversy) but the way how he was putting it shows he knows all the details of where the RM300 million people's money had gone to.

"SAS started with RM500 million now remaining with RM200 million.

"Where's the RM300 million? Overnight deals, NBT, Sugarbun, you name it," Hiew said.

'Yong cannot run away'

Meanwhile, Sabah DAP chairman Jimmy Wong, who was also present, said Yong was in the BN at the time and therefore shared collective responsibility.

READ MORE HERE

 

Muhyiddn wants state religious councils to discuss apostasy

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 06:43 PM PDT

(Bernama) -- Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin feels that the question of apostasy should be discussed together by the various state Islamic religious councils because the question of religion is within the jurisdiction of the state governments.

The Deputy Prime Minister said this issue was an important one which concerned the religion and the Menteri Besar had more power in this context compared to him.

"Nevertheless, the punishment must be decided together to avoid problems from arising. To my knowledge, in some states, there are already enactments to prevent non-Muslims from spreading their religion (to Muslims)," he told reporters at a gathering with the Deputy Prime Minister in Kampung Paya today.

He said the enforcement of the enactment preventing non-Muslims from spreading their religion to Muslims was also under the jurisdiction of the state government.

The Apostasy Act was proposed by Perak Mufti Tan Sri Harunussaini Zakaria recently to punish individuals who were guilty of converting Muslims.

 

‘I’m willing to sacrifice myself for Gerakan’

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 06:21 PM PDT

Amid heavy criticism against him, Gerakan chief Koh Tsu Koon says he is willing to sacrifice himself for the party, but remained silent on certain "tough decisions" he would be making.

(Free Malaysia Today) - Embattled Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon has pledged to his party members that he was willing to "sacrifice" himself for the sake of the party, amid frustrations that the leader was "soft" and lacked decisiveness.

"Now, as far as I'm concerned, I'm not going to tell you today what exactly that I'm going to do, because I still need to do some checking and coordinating…but I'm going to assure you that I'm willing to sacrifice myself for the party," said Koh in his winding-up speech during the 40th Gerakan National Delegates Conference today.

Koh, who received some applause from delegates when he made the statement towards the end of his speech, however did not specify how he planned to "sacrifice himself".

"I will sacrifice myself for the party, in what way, and how, I will let you know, because this is a collective leadership.

"I cannot just charge ahead and sacrifice myself without the party to coordinate," he said.

"We will never run away, once a Gerakanist, always a Gerakanist," said Koh, who has for the past two days indicated that he would be making some "tough decisions" but would announce them only when the time was appropriate.

Koh vaguely explained that the "sacrifice" would come after "final assessments" by top leadership and himself, and that there were several options.

Not moved by emotions

He stressed that whatever he will decide won't be based on emotions but pure reason.

"Top leadership is also exploring the possibilities in the interest of the party. Will take into account several different scenarios," he added.

During his winding up speech, Koh also took pains to explain to delegates why he took more time in making decisions.

"We have different styles. Some people want fast, some people want slow. Slow sometimes more romantic… Its because before I make a decision I want everybody on board because when you make a decision, not everybody can be happy, I've seen examples of the past," said Koh.

"It's not because we don't want to make decisions, but we want to hold everyone together," he said.

Koh also took his hats off to the opposition, especially DAP and PAS, for their "fighting spirit".

"Whatever I don't agree with them, with DAP or PAS, we have to admire their fighting spirit when they are  down, we have to pay some respect. But I believe that if they can do it, Gerakan can do better," he said.

READ MORE HERE

 

Wall Street protests go global

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 03:55 PM PDT

(Reuters) ─ Anti-greed protesters rallied globally yesterday, denouncing bankers and politicians over the international economic crisis, with violence rocking Rome where cars were torched and bank windows smashed.

Galvanised by the Occupy Wall Street movement, protests began in New Zealand, touched parts of Asia, spread to Europe, and resumed at their starting point in New York with 5,000 marchers decrying corporate greed and economic inequality.

After weeks of intense media coverage, US protests have still been smaller than G20 meetings or political conventions have yielded in recent years. Such events often draw tens of thousands of demonstrators.

The demonstrations by the disaffected coincided with the Group of 20 meeting in Paris, where finance ministers and central bankers from major economies were holding talks on the debt and deficit crises afflicting many Western countries.

The Occupy Wall Street movement has gathered steam for a month, culminating with the global day of action. It remains unclear what momentum the movement, which has been driven by social media, has beyond yesterday.

While most rallies were relatively small and barely held up traffic, the Rome event drew tens of thousands of people and snaked through the city centre for several kilometres.

Hundreds of hooded, masked demonstrators rampaged in some of the worst violence seen in the Italian capital in years, setting cars ablaze, breaking bank and shop windows and destroying traffic lights and signposts.

Police fired volleys of tear gas and used water cannon to try to disperse militant protesters who were hurling rocks, bottles and fireworks, but clashes went on into the evening.

Smoke bombs set off by protesters cast a pall over a sea of red flags and banners bearing slogans denouncing economic policies the protesters say are hurting the poor.

The violence sent many peaceful demonstrators and local residents near the Colosseum and St John's Basilica running into hotels and churches for safety.

Not as large as hoped

American protesters are angry that US banks are enjoying booming profits after getting massive bailouts in 2008 while average people are struggling in a tough economy with more than 9 per cent unemployment and little help from Washington.

In New York, where the movement began when protesters set up a makeshift camp in a Lower Manhattan park on September 17, organisers said the protest grew to at least 5,000 people as they marched to Times Square in midtown Manhattan.

Some were disappointed the crowd was not larger.

"People don't want to get involved. They'd rather watch on TV," said Troy Simmons, 47, who joined demonstrators as he left work. "The protesters could have done better today. People from the whole region should be here and it didn't happen."

The Times Square mood was akin to New Year's Eve, when the famed "ball drop" occurs. In a festive mood, protesters were joined by throngs of tourists snapping pictures, together counting back from 10 and shouting, "Happy New Year."

Police said three people were arrested in Times Square after pushing down police barriers and five men were arrested earlier for wearing masks. Police also arrested 24 people at a Citibank branch in Manhattan, mostly for trespassing.

Small and peaceful rallies got the ball rolling across the Asia-Pacific region yesterday. In Auckland, New Zealand's biggest city, 3,000 people chanted and banged drums.

In Sydney, about 2,000 people, including representatives of Aboriginal groups, communists and trade unionists, protested outside the central Reserve Bank of Australia.

Hundreds marched in Tokyo. Over 100 people gathered at the Taipei stock exchange, chanting "we are Taiwan's 99 per cent" and saying economic growth had only benefited companies while middle-class salaries barely covered basic costs.

In Hong Kong, home to the Asian headquarters of investment banks including Goldman Sachs, over 100 people gathered at Exchange Square in the Central district. Students joined with retirees, holding banners that called banks a cancer.

Portugal was the scene of the biggest reported protest action, with more than 20,000 marching in Lisbon and a similar number in the country's second city Oporto, two days after the government announced a new batch of austerity measures.

Hundreds broke through a police cordon around the parliament in Lisbon to occupy its broad marble staircase.

"This debt is not ours!" and "IMF, get out of here now!," demonstrators chanted. Banners read: "We are not merchandise in bankers' hands!" or "No more rescue loans for banks!"

Around 4,000 Greeks with banners bearing slogans like "Greece is not for sale" staged an anti-austerity rally in Athens' Syntagma Square, the scene of violent clashes between riot police and stone-throwing youths in June.

Many were furious at how austerity imposed by the government to reduce debt incurred by profligate spending and corruption had undermined the lives of ordinary Greeks.

In Paris, around 1,000 protesters rallied in front of city hall, coinciding with the G20 finance chiefs' meeting, after coming in from the working class neighborhood of Belleville where drummers, trumpeters and a tuba revved up the crowd.

"This is potentially the start of a strong movement," said Olivier Milleron, a doctor whose group of trumpeters played the classic American folk song "This land is your land."

"The indignant ones"

The Rome protesters, who called themselves "the indignant ones," included unemployed, students and pensioners.

"I am here to show support for those don't have enough money to make it to the next pay check while the ECB (European Central Bank) keeps feeding the banks and killing workers and families," said Danila Cucunia, a 43-year-old teacher.

"We can't carry on any more with public debt that wasn't created by us but by thieving governments, corrupt banks and speculators who don't give a damn about us," said Nicla Crippa, 49. "They caused this international crisis and are still profiting from it. They should pay for it."

In imitation of the occupation of Zuccotti Park near Wall Street in Manhattan, protesters have been camped out across the street from the headquarters of the Bank of Italy for days.

The global protests were a response to calls by New York demonstrators for others to join them. Their example has prompted similar occupations in dozens of US cities.

At a small protest in Dublin, Ireland, Gordon Lucas, an unemployed software developer said "We don't have economic democracy anymore. ... I don't feel I am being represented."

In Madrid, around 2,000 people gathered for a march to the central Puerta del Sol. Placards read: "Put the bankers on the bench" and "Enough painkillers ─ euthanasia for the banks."

"It's not fair that they take your house away from you if you can't pay your mortgage, but give billions to the banks for unclear reasons," said 44-year-old telecom company employee Fabia, who declined to give her surname.

In Germany, thousands gathered in Berlin, Hamburg, Leipzig and outside the European Central Bank in Frankfurt.

Demonstrators gathered peacefully in Paradeplatz, the main square in the Swiss financial centre of Zurich.

In London, around 2,000 people assembled outside St Paul's Cathedral, near the City financial district, for a rally dubbed "Occupy the London Stock Exchange."

Joe Dawson, 31, who lost his job as a product developer at Barclays Bank, said he had taken his two children aged 10 and 8 to the rally to show them people had a voice.

"I'm not passive anymore and I don't want them to be. This is their future too," Dawson said. "I work four jobs parttime, I take whatever I can get."

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange told the crowd: "I hope this protest will result in a similar process to what we saw in New York, Cairo and Tunisia," he said, referring to revolutions in the Arab world.

Outside of New York, similar protests were held in other US cities and Canada. Hundreds turned out in Washington, DC, while a couple of thousand people gathered near Toronto's financial district as well as in Portland, Oregon.

A protest in Los Angeles drew about 5,000 people.

PRU 13: The Hudud Menace

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 02:45 PM PDT

By AsamLaksa

Once again religion rears its ugly head within the Malaysian political scene. Yeah, you heard me right, I said 'UGLY'. Religion in the Malaysian political context is like the developmentally challenged sibling whom is in your mind every day and you would sacrifice your many comforts of life to care for but you would rather he/she not be seen by your friends. It's like an embarrassment that you do not want to talk about.

Sure many Malaysian subscribe to the idea of 'to each his own' when it comes to religion but do not be so easily pleased in thinking that others have respect for your faith. It is really more like "go ahead believe in your delusions while I know better fool!" That is why this stand never pleases anyone.

One thing I can agree on with many commentators in Malaysia Today is that faith is personal. After all, each individual happens to have their own understanding on their own faiths, even within the same family. Don't believe me? Then go question your family members. This is because of the human intellectual strength or some would say weakness, always seeks to find reasons and rationales. A simple case is when someone strikes 4D they would try looking for a reason for their windfall be it on something they did last week, a lucky underwear, that 10 sen they gave to the blind beggar, etc.. Sure they say it is luck to you because it avoids going into details but few if any will say that it is just an outcome of probability.

Now this point of humans always seeking an explanation is universal and I am ok with that. What I am not ok with is ridiculous reasons.

I was listing to BBC Radio 4 which broadcast 'Thought for the Day' where guest speakers almost always are religious figures. This one episode made me laugh like mad. It was a day or two after the neutrino misbehaved at the Large Hadron Collider and the speaker was going on about the scientists unable to explain the anomaly and here he comes and give his take that the answer is the metaphorical "elephant in the room" – God. Yes, God explains everything. You have stubby toes – it is God. You have a tiresome spouse – it is God's will. Millions die from AIDS – it is God's punishment. How did Homo sapiens arise – God created them. Your parent with cancer – God is testing you.

Now back in Malaysia and the ugly hudud issue. I say that all Malaysians should have their thoughts known. Just because it doesn't directly affect non-Muslims doesn't mean they have no say. This is your country and only you can decide if it goes to the dogs. The deafening silence does not help anyone and we let the hudud phantom skulk back into its cave to wait for another day to menace the peace loving citizens.

I also do not buy this political double talk that PAS needs 2/3 majority thus they have no chance to change the constitution this time around. It still does not let the issue rest. There is no closure and it will haunt PAS for eternity.

Nor do I buy the talk that hudud won't be used as common law takes precedence which really means that we do not really need it but hey have it to please some people. Is that insulting their intelligence or what?

I have no ties to Islam thus I can easily ask pertinent questions without fear of the implications of the answers:

  1. Does Malaysia need hudud laws?
  2. Is there a gap in Malaysian law that hudud covers?
  3. Are hudud laws compatible with current values?
  4. Are hudud laws more effective than current laws?

If you can't justify hudud law then why are you walking around with this millstone round your necks?

Ok, so I am an atheist. Before that I was simply a non-believer for many years. I flirted for many years with one religion or another but nothing stuck. Then 2 years ago I had a revelation – there is no God. It is one of the best things ever and I am a better person for it. You want to know why? It is because I feel free to explore all ideas and see the elephants that trail others; this makes me understand others better and I learn more. I find it easier to deal with my wrongs as I do not attach any artificial moral codes. I become less afraid of the dark and I owe no loyalty to any one idea. I do no harm because it is ethical and not because I wish to win some Golden Ticket to some fantasyland. Pascal's wager and those ridiculous arguments for religion can go to hell because I am not hedging my principles and I am not fooled by circular arguments.

Now, I am not advocating atheism because there it is no use to tell others to break the fetters of culture and faith. It has to come from the person when they feel disillusioned and thus seek more answers. What I can preach to others is the need for them to widen their horizons and think for themselves. I pity those who spout "the truth is in the Book" because the real truth, the wonders of life is beyond any book.

Sure we can learn from religion. I like the concept of mindfulness and universal love. I say take the good and cast out the bad. What do I want? Good persons regardless of what you believe in. Individuals are the fundamentals of society and the more good persons out there the better society becomes. So start with yourselves. I was surprised at hearing a Christian that it is so hard to practice universal love. It is not hard nor is it about whether you can; it is whether you want to.

 

Bigger Role For Auxilliary Police Under NKRA

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 02:29 PM PDT

(Bernama) - GEORGE TOWN -- The police is formulating new and innovative methods to enable auxilliary policemen to contribute towards strategies under the National Key Result Areas (NKRA).

Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar said he had met with all agencies having auxilliary policemen to get them to contribute to the strategies, specifically in preventing crime and reducing the crime rate.

"Nevertheless, in the context of roping in the auxilliary police, several technical issues involving legalities need to be unravelled before this matter could be implemented," he said in his speech when opening a Sime Darby Plantation Sdn Bhd (SDP) Loyal Service Award 2010 at a hotel in Bukit Jambul, here yesterday.

He said auxilliary policemen could play a very important role in protecting\ company assets, factories, industries and plantations to ensure the economic development of the nation.

"The complementary component role of auxilliary police is very important to us and the filling up of vacancies are by some ex-soldiers who are keen to work in the rural areas," he said.

Ismail said population increase and economic activities which did not match the number of policemen were overcome by the presence of the auxilliary policemen. There were now 17,292 auxilliary policemen nationwide.

Meanwhile, Ismail said the police had successfully set up a main committee to fight syndicates stealing palm oil. Earlier in the ceremony, a total of 189 SDP auxilliary policemen received the service medal awards (Pingat Kebaktian- P.K.) for merit and loyalty after having served between 15 and 30 years in ensuring the security and smooth-running operation of the company.

(Bernama)

Malaysia Will Be Bankrupt If Opposition Wins - Muhyiddin

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 02:24 PM PDT

(Bernama) - SEREMBAN -- Malaysia will be bankrupt if the opposition wins the general election, said Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. He said the opposition was only good at making empty promises.

When Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak tabled the 2012 Budget, promising to retain the country's deficit at 4.7 per cent, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Anwar Ibrahim made a mockery of it.

"The shadow budget by the opposition shows its expenditure, purportedly for the people, but it does not take into account the deficit.

"If the deficit goes up to 10 per cent, it means the country is not managed well," he said when addressing a crowd of about 6,000 people at a dinner with the residents of Taman Tasik Jaya, here on Saturday.

Also present at the function were Menteri Besar Mohamad Hassan, Information, Communications and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim and Rembau Member of Parliament Khairy Jamaluddin.

Muhyiddin also advised the people not to be misled by Pas' promise of setting up an Islamic state, including to implement hudud law, saying that it was merely a rhetoric, like the Kelantan government's slogan of "Developing with Islam" promoted by its Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

"Barisan Nasional has carried out the agenda of developing with Islam much earlier," he added.

 

In NST, a reflection of Najib’s own dilemma

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 02:19 PM PDT

By Leslie Lau, The Malaysian Insider

ANALYSIS, Oct 16 — Malaysia's most pro-government newspaper the New Straits Times (NST) is searching for something which has been in scarce supply in recent years — credibility.

But the latest bid to reverse declining readership in the newspaper, which is controlled by Umno-linked interests, is also an extension of Datuk Seri Najib Razak's own attempt to reinvent an administration that has floundered in the past year.

The prime minister's media strategist, Abdul Jalil Hamid, was appointed this week to head the newspaper as part of moves by Umno to realign its media unit ahead of the next general election expected by early 2012.

At a meeting on Friday, Najib's latest appointee to the top position in the NST met senior editors and said that the newspaper needs to become credible.

The Malaysian Insider understands that the mood in the newsroom is one of amusement given that all new appointees have said the same thing and yet the daily has become even more one-sided in recent years.

News coverage since the Najib administration came to power has been decidedly anti-Opposition.

As a result, circulation has continued to plummet.

Circulation figures show that fewer than 70,000 copies of the newspaper are sold daily, compared to its rival The Star, which sells 247,000 copies on average, according to the latest Audit Bureau of Circulation statistics.

Overall, newspaper circulation has been falling, reflecting a global trend. But the NST's readership continues to fall at an alarming rate.

In recent months, the NST has also fallen increasingly under the influence of pro-Umno blogs, taking direction from bloggers financed by factions in the ruling party to attack political rivals.

Unverified stories that appear on Internet blogs have found their way onto the pages of the newspaper on a regular basis in much the same way that Umno's Malay daily Utusan Malaysia has operated since Najib came to power.

Abdul Jalil has not indicated yet if he intends to continue with this direction in his attempt to regain credibility.

It is understood that the general view in the newsroom is that Abdul Jalil's appointment will not have much impact because Putrajaya is uncomfortable with any balanced coverage of political issues.

In some ways, the NST's problems mirror the Najib administration's own credibility deficit.

Last month, the prime minister pushed aside the hawks that had been dominating space in his administration by announcing plans for a raft of reforms including the repeal of the Internal Security Act (ISA).

This was seen by political observers as a bid to reclaim middle Malaysia after the disastrous handling of the July 9 Bersih rally that gained the PM and Barisan Nasional (BN) unwanted negative publicity in the international media just as he was pitching the country to foreign investors.

The reinvention of the Najib administration after it reached its nadir in the July 9 crackdown has seen him hiring a group of political strategists that include members of the team behind Tony Blair's "New Labour".

Their plan is to reinvent Najib as a moderate reformist.

As part of the Najib team's big push, it is also understood that multi-million ringgit funding has also been worked out for a new website launched recently and the hiring of hundreds of people to promote "Brand Najib" and "Brand BN" on social media networks and other websites.

But as talk of elections grow louder, the prime minister returned to a reliable vote-getting strategy when he recently unveiled a Budget full of handouts and freebies.

The Wall Street Journal said that Najib's Budget dashed expectations of economic reform needed to promote growth.

It is against this backdrop that some journalists at the NST as well as the public are viewing the latest change at the top in the newspaper that has become of a symbol of Umno's leadership.

Crucially, when Najib first took office in 2009, he had indicated to senior editors at the newspaper then that he was not a fan of his predecessor Tun Abdullah Badawi's willingness to give the NST and other newspapers more space and freedom in which to operate.

Ultimately, the NST and the government are facing the same problem.

They are looking for credibility without going the extra yard.

Koh: Accept party’s choice of GE candidates

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 02:12 PM PDT

(Bernama) - KUALA LUMPUR: Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon today asked all party members to accept the candidates selected by the party leadership to contest in the next general election.

He said the party had begun evaluating potential candidates through interviews for more than a year now.

"The selection of candidates is very important for the next general election.

"We will always, with an open mind, give every interested individual a fair chance to be a candidate," he said in his presidential address at the 40th national delegates conference of the party opened by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, at Menara PGRM, here.

In a spirited tone, Koh asked the delegates: "So, are you willing to accept the decision? Are you willing to support the decision?"

The delegates replied in unison with a resounding "Yes".

Koh said that once the final decision has been made on candidates, the party members should accept it with "one heart" in the spirit of the party's slogan "Satu Hati".

He said that as the president, he would decide on the candidates by giving the due consideration.

"As the president, I shall fully decide with the best interest of the party and I will definitely fight together with you on the ground," he said.

 

Seat adjustments among BN component parties in next GE

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 02:11 PM PDT

(The Star) - KUALA LUMPUR: There will be seat adjustments among Barisan Nasional component parties for the coming general election, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said all parties in BN have agreed in principle but the details will be announced later.

"I won't say plenty (seat swaps) but we have started the process of adjustment to see what is the best formula. All emanates on the principle of who is the best candidate," Najib, who is BN chairman, told reporters at a press conference after opening the Gerakan's 40th National Delegates' Conference here Sunday.

He also said that BN was ready to reclaim Penang from the opposition.

"All the component parties in BN are prepared to work together to retake the state. We want Gerakan to return as a force to be reckoned with in the context of politics," he told the delegates in his speech earlier.

Najib also urged Gerakan to present their alternative plans in showing that BN is a better choice than the opposition in Penang.

He assured Gerakan that Umno would not claim the state leadership from them should BN succeeded in retaking Penang.

On Gerakan Wanita chief Datuk Tan Lian Hoe's call for party president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon not to contest in the general election, Najib said Dr Koh knows what needs to be done.

"We have a good working relationship...I leave it in his good hands...he knows what needs to be done."

DAP Perak tidak bimbang isu hudud

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 01:25 PM PDT

Oleh K Pragalath, FMT

PETALING JAYA: Isu hudud yang menjadi kontroversi di media sekarang tidak menjadi faktor penentu dan membimbangkan DAP Perak untuk mendapatkan sokongan pengundi Melayu pada Pilihan Raya Umum ke 13 (PRU 13).

Ketua DAP Perak dan juga Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Sitiawan Ngeh Koo Ham ketika dihubungi yakin pengundi Melayu lebih cenderung menyokong DAP yang sanggup berbincang dengan PAS meskipun berbeza pendirian.

"Pakatan Rakyat tidak menolak pelaksanaan hudud. DAP pula sanggup mendengar penjelasan PAS cuma DAP berbeza pendirian atas dasar keadilan," terang beliau yang juga ahli parlimen Beruas.

Kata beliau, pendirian Barisan Nasional (BN) tentang isu hudud ini pula sangat berbeza menyebabkan orang Melayu Perak merasa kurang senang dan akan menolak mereka dalam PRU 13 nanti.

"Perdana Menteri (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) mengumumkan bahawa hudud tidak akan dilaksanakan manakala MCA mengugut akan keluar dari BN," jelas Ngeh.

Isu hudud hangat diperkatakan sejak bulan lepas apabila Mursyidul Am PAS Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat merangkap Menteri Besar Kelantan mengumumkan hasratnya untuk melaksanakan hukum hudud di Kelantan apabila ia dicetuskan oleh bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Mesyuarat tertinggi Pakatan Rakyat pada penghujung bulan lepas memutuskan bahawa hudud tidak dapat dilaksanakan kerana tidak mendapatkan konsensus dari parti komponen Pakatan Rakyat – PKR, DAP dan PAS.

Pembahagian kerusi selesai

Dalam perkembangan berkaitan, Ngeh mengakui bahawa pembahagian kerusi Pakatan Rakyat di Perak untuk PRU 13 telah pun selesai.

Bagaimanapun beliau enggan mendedahkan butiran mengenai pembahagian kerusi itu.

"Ini adalah sebahagian daripada strategi kami di Pakatan Rakyat. Politik adalah seperti permainan catur dan kami tidak mahu beri kelebihan kepada BN," jelas beliau.

Ngeh turut mendakwa bahawa Pakatan Rakyat tidak akan mendedahkan strategi mereka kerana sudah ada usaha merosakkan nama baik Adun Pasir Panjang Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin yang juga bekas menteri besar.

Ketika ditanya berkenaan calon Melayu untuk DAP, Ngeh berkata Pakatan Rakyat Perak telah membuktikan bahawa politik mereka melangkaui batas kaum.

 

Seterusnya di sini.

Najib: Umno will not lay claim to Penang leadership

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 01:20 PM PDT

By Yow Hong Chieh, The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak assured Gerakan today Umno will never lay claim to the leadership of Penang should Barisan Nasional (BN) win back the state from the opposition at the next general election.

"Umno will never claim state leadership in Penang. We're prepared to work with the component parties in Penang," the prime minister told delegates at the Gerakan National Delegates Assembly here today.

"Each of us must offer ourselves to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. We must do that. If we do this, I will not give up on Penang."

He said he had discussed the matter with Penang Umno and the state party leadership had agreed it would not seek to take the reins in the northern state.

But Najib, who is also BN chairman, stressed that Gerakan must work harder to wrest back the state from DAP and be prepared to accept "adjustments" to the current seat allocation system for the greater good of the ruling coalition.

He said Gerakan should not be trapped in the past and that it needs to make "painful choices" to meet the demands of the post-2008 political landscape if the party hopes to return to its former days of glory.

Najib later told reporters BN was now hammering out the details of potential changes to seat allocations but stressed that this amounted to tweaks and not a complete overhaul of the existing system.

"We are a big family so it's more complex when we want to make any decision for an area," he said.

When asked if the state leadership would remain with Gerakan, Najib said BN was still discussing the matter but reiterated that Umno would not seek the role.

Gerakan, which governed Penang for 39 years, was wiped out in the state in the 2008 general election when it lost all 12 parliamentary seats it had contested.

 

READ MORE HERE.

It’s Muhyiddin who should be grateful

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 10:03 AM PDT

By Ali Kadir via The Malaysian Insider

You know elections are around the corner when the politicians start telling the electorate that we should be grateful for all the development around us. It is incredible that these Barisan Nasional (BN) politicians still make all these patronising noises, knowing full well how tired we are of listening to their rubbish.

But since we are on the subject of gratitude, let me offer a number of reasons why Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (yesterday for the umpteenth time he advised Malaysians to be grateful) and friends should be grateful to us.

1. BN should be grateful that they are still occupying Putrajaya despite clear evidence of corruption, nepotism and cronyism at the highest levels of government, including members of the Cabinet.

So tolerant are Malaysians that we have put up with leakages, inflated contracts and ostentatious displays of wealth by members of the Mahathir administration, the Abdullah team and the Najib government. We have put up with all this corruption in the name of development. So Muhyiddin and friends should be grateful to us for our blind loyalty and apathy.

2. BN should be grateful to us for tolerating and even embracing mediocrity. Malaysia's best and brightest are deserting the land of their birth as evidenced by a World Bank study which showed that more skilled Malaysians are working and living abroad.

And this brain drain has affected every level of society. Not surprising that we have the likes of Hishammuddin Hussein, Noh Omar, Kong Chong Ha as "our leaders" and continue accepting mediocrity as a fait accompli.

3. BN should be grateful to us for accepting stock and hollow answers to some serious questions such as who exactly ordered the RM24 million ring; how a lowly corporal was able to order riot police to fire tear gas and chemical-laced water into Tung Shin Hospital and how did we pluck out the figure of six per cent growth next year with the whole world preparing for economic Armageddon.

4. We should be grateful to Muhyiddin and friends for introducing race politics and playing the race and religious card at every turn and making Malaysia more divisive than ever. Thank you guys from the bottom of our hearts. We are grateful.

5. We are grateful to Muhyiddin and gang for flooding this land of ours with illegals and then giving them legitimacy for political purposes. The people of Sabah especially say a big thank you to you for completely swamping the state with foreigners.

6. We are grateful to BN for nurturing and developing individuals like Ibrahim Ali and Nazri Aziz. We would be a much poorer country without them.

In conclusion, we have much to be thankful to BN for. So let's show them our gratitude soon.

 

Muhyiddin: Decision to abolish PPSMI made after much thought

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 09:51 AM PDT

(The Star) - SEREMBAN: The Government's decision to abolish the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English was made after much thought and deliberation.

It also took into consideration that students were still struggling to communicate in English six years after the programme was introduced, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

He added that the issue was compounded by the problem of teachers having a poor command of English which made teaching and learning of the two subjects even more difficult.

Muhyiddin, who is Education Minister, said the Government did not make the decision in haste, but only did so upon discovering that pupils, particularly those in the rural areas, were lagging behind in the two subjects.

"Apart from having to learn a language which is not their mother tongue, our children are being made to study the two subjects in English as well," he said, adding that studies had also shown that pupils would better understand a subject if it was taught in their mother tongue.

He said a survey carried out by the Education Ministry showed that the majority of the 60,000 teachers who taught the two subjects in English also had a poor command of the language.

"They did not have sufficient training to be able to teach effectively," he said during a dialogue with teachers at the Raja Melewar Teacher's Institute here yesterday.

"Our decision to abolish the PPSMI (teaching of the two subjects in English) was correct and we will continue with the policy of upholding Bahasa Malaysia and strengthening English in schools," he added.

In Kampar, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the poor command of English among Malaysian graduates had caused the country to lose out in foreign investments.

He said students should not only be academically competent but must also be able to be fully proficient in English.

"The teaching of English should not be conducted in a structured manner.

"The subject is more than about learning grammar alone," he said after meeting English trainers from several countries here yesterday.

 

More flak for Koh as outspoken Gerakan members voice views

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 09:47 AM PDT

(The Star) - KUALA LUMPUR: While most Gerakan members are standing behind party president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, some are more vocal in their opinions.

Selangor Gerakan Youth deputy secretary Stephen Doss said he agreed with Wanita Gerakan chief Datuk Tan Lian Hoe who criticised Dr Koh for lack of leadership.

"The president should consider if he is a winnable candidate for the general election.

"We must be reminded that he lost in the 2008 general election," he said.

Doss also said Dr Koh's leadership did not put the party's interest above himself, claiming that he was being surrounded by "yes men".

Although the Wanita Gerakan delegates did not applaud Tan's speech until the end, many of those interviewed said they supported her statement while some described it as her "personal opinion".

However, Gerakan Youth chief Lim Si Pin stressed that it was important for members to close ranks and support their president as he was democratically elected.

"Like it or not, he is still our president and we have to stand behind him," he told reporters after opening the Youth meeting.

Gerakan deputy president Datuk Chang Ko Youn, who was at a press conference with Tan, said members could express their views freely, adding that it would not jeopardise the party's spirit or camaraderie.

"Let the delegates decide and debate during the conference," he said.

Serdang division delegate Cheah Cheng Huat urged Dr Koh to contest in the general election, adding that the party should "let people be the judge".

"In my opinion, he is a good leader because he did not run away from carrying out the responsibilities of a leader when he could have," he said.

Dr Koh had tendered his resignation following the party's poor performance in 2008 but stayed on following the request of then president Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik.

Earlier, when opening the Youth meeting, Lim said Cabinet decisions must be based on consensus of opinion from all Barisan Nasional parties.

Suggesting a "joint governance" system in which the Barisan council would be placed above the Cabinet, he added: "This is a Barisan government, not an Umno government nor an MCA, MIC or Gerakan government."

"Why are issues concerning education, economy and religion only left to certain ministers and not based on consensual agreement among all component parties?" he asked.

"If this is a power-sharing coalition government, shouldn't this be planned from the beginning at the Barisan Council level?" he said.

 

Passport Delayed

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 09:38 AM PDT

(NST) - JOHOR BARU: Those who lose their passports more than once, be warned — the Immigration Department will, from today, delay issuing their new passport for up to three years.

Immigration director-general Datuk Alias Ahmad said the department introduced this ruling to come down hard on those who kept losing their passports. At present, replacement passports are issued within one year. Those who lose their passports for the first time will have to lodge a report with the department and apply for a new one, which will be issued the same day.

Alias said the department was perplexed to receive an average of 3,500 cases of stolen, damaged and misplaced passports every month.

The passport holders came up with all sorts of excuses to justify their new applications, he added.

"However, their excuses become questionable if they lose their travel document repeatedly, say for the second time and more.

"The passport is an important document and should, therefore, be handled with care.

"There are even cases of passports ending up in washing machines.

"Some were torn, stained or have things scribbled on them.

"That really shows how careless the passport holders are.

"As a deterrent measure, be prepared to just stay in the country for up to three years and forget about any trips overseas." Alias also said his officers would thoroughly question those applying for a new passport after losing their travel document more than once.

Alias declined to elaborate when asked if there were cases of lost passports being sold to a third party for money.

He, however, did not rule out this possibility.

"All passports reported missing will be blacklisted — they will become null and void.

"Those in possession of them will no longer be able to use them to enter or leave the country." In the past, syndicates sold Malaysian passports to foreigners for huge profits.

These syndicates were said to be willing to buy Malaysian passports for between RM40,000 and RM50,000 each.

On Thursday, it was reported that those who lost their passports or identity cards no longer needed to lodge a police report. All they need to do is to report the matter to the respective departments.


Najib’s property gains tax ‘ill-advised’, says HBA

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 09:26 AM PDT

By Lee Wei Lian, The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 — The National House Buyers Association (HBA) claims the prime minister's revision of the Real Property Gains Tax (RPGT) was "ill-advised" as the new rate announced in Budget 2012 would only drive property prices up further.

HBA Secretary General Chang Kim Loong said this was because the revised rate would have little impact on short-term speculators looking to flip houses for profit and result in an increase in speculative property investments.

He noted the Real Estate Developers Association (Rehda) had praised the increase of RPGT from five to 10 per cent for houses sold within two years of purchase but had also said that the new measure would be meaningless to short-term speculators looking to flip houses for profit.

HBA Secretary General Chang Kim Loong claimed that it appeared the prime minister had listened to the opinion of business groups with vested interests and agendas. — file pic
Chang claimed that while Najib was right to try and ensure that every citizen could afford to have a roof over their head, it appeared that he had also listened to the opinion of business groups with vested interests and agendas.

Balloting for the 1 Malaysia Housing Programme (PR1MA), the government's affordable home ownership scheme, kicked off yesterday with draws for Kompleks Kejiranan in Putrajaya. A whopping over 7,000 applications were received for the 560 home units made available.

"It is unfortunate that our PM has been ill-advised on the true situation," said Chang in a statement to the media yesterday. "Thus, on the contrary, the Rakyat can expect to see an increase in speculative property investments which will in turn further drive up the prices."

Chang pointed out properties are typically not allowed to be sold during the construction stage, which takes two to three years, and therefore, raising the RPGT from five to 10 per cent for properties sold within two years would be meaningless.

Under the revised RPGT, speculators could purchase properties from developers during a launch and flip the properties on completion after two years and would have to pay only the same existing five per cent up to the fifth year, after which all profits are not taxable.

"With additional attractive financing packages, very often these speculators just need to pay the 10 per cent down payment and walk away with a lucrative gain at the end of the construction period," said Chang adding that over-speculation in the market was setting the stage for a property market "meltdown".

Chang said that if the Najib administration was keen to curb speculation, it needed to revise RPGT to 30 per cent for properties sold within two years; 20 per cent for sales between years two and three; 15 per cent for sales between years three and four; five per cent for sales between years four and five; and no tax for properties sold after year five.

Property buyers would also be allowed a one-time exemption from RPGT.

Chang said that such a proposal would not affect genuine homeowners and property investors but would prevent speculators looking to make a quick buck and drive up prices beyond general affordability.

"We urge the PM to seriously consider further and more effective measures to stem the drastic effects of excessive property speculation," said Chang.

"Short-term GDP growth should not be the sole criteria. We need to create a sustainable housing industry and excessive speculation is certainly one sure way to see the bubble burst. More importantly, the social aspects of house ownership should take prime consideration."

 

READ MORE HERE.

Robert Phang slams A-G Gani Patail Again

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 09:21 AM PDT

DIN MERICAN

I received an email from Tan Sri Robert Phang attaching his press statement attacking Dato' Seri Nazri Aziz and A-G Gani Patail. The press statement is very blunt.

Robert Phang questioned the government's seriousness on the cases involving Tajuddin Ramli. This stemmed from Nazri Aziz's statement that A-G Gani Patail has agreed to compound the offences committed by former MAS Chairman, Tan Sri Tajuddin Ramli.

Robert Phang again raised A-G Gani Patail's involvement in a corporate tussle in Ho Hup Bhd where  the A-G filed 11 charges for some very minor late filings of statutory returns.

The point raised by Robert Phang about A-G Gani Patail's selective prosecution and abuses of power is valid. We have seen many of such instances lately. The fact that A-G Gani has taken no action against Robert Phang for his incessant attacks can only suggest that all of Robert Phang's allegations are true.

Now read Phang's statement below:

Selective Prosecution by A-G Gani Patail

1.On 6th October 2011, it was reported that the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Dato' Seri Nazri Aziz gave a written reply to Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) in Parliament confirming that former MAS Chairman, Tan Sri Tajuddin Ramli, had committed offences under Sections 131 and 132 of the Companies Act 1965. The MalaysiaKini Report (dated October 6, 2011) is below.

2.This admission is a positive development. However, I find it very disturbing that A-G Gani Patail has agreed that Tajuddin would be let off lightly by just compounding the offences that Tajuddin had committed. Indeed, there is such a provision to compound offences under Section 371A of the Companies Act.  However, the exercise of such powers must not be abused. If A-G Gani Patail is allowed to do so, the Rakyat will view this as sweeping things under the carpet. Where is accountability? Where is corporate governance?

3.The acts which constitute offences under Section 131 and Section 132 Companies Act are very serious as they go to the very core of a company and of corporate governance. The Board of Directors and each and every director as fiduciaries of a company are expected to behave with honesty and integrity and must never place themselves in a position of conflict, what more to plunder a national company for their own benefit. That, in essence, were the allegations against Tajuddin Ramli. And yet despite Nazri Aziz's admission, A-G Gani Patail will just compound his offences. To me ,that is unacceptable.

4. I say so because I am now in possession of several charges for some very minor and technical offences. I am referring to the case of Dato' T C Low and his sister, Low Lai Yoong, involving a corporate tussle in Ho Hup Bhd. There were allegations that A-G Gani Patail had abused his powers by assisting his friend, Dato Vincent Lye, to prosecute Dato' T C Low.

Pictures have since surfaced in the internet of A-G Gani Patail with Vincent Lye at Ho Hup's office. Documents have also surfaced of gratifications being provided to A-G Gani Patail. A-G Gani Patail has denied, but to date, the MACC has not issued any statement on this matter.

5.What is perplexing to most company secretaries and those in the corporate world is that it is not uncommon for statutory returns to be delayed or filed slightly late with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM). But in the case of Dato T C Low where there was no dishonesty but just a mere lateness, no compound was offered. Instead, A-G Gani Patail filed a total of 11 charges against them. This is preposterous.  This constitutes an abuse of  power.

6.I call on the government that there should not be such discrimination. Everyone must be treated equally before the law. If Tajuddin's offence, which is very serious, can be compounded, then others should be too. Why is Tajudin given this special treatment? Why is the MACC not looking into this as a case of abuse of power?

7. If PM's Najib's vision is to transform the country, then, such inequalities and abuses must stop!

"HUMBLENESS IS GOOD VIRTUE, ARROGANCE SHALL FALL, THE MEEK WILL RULE THE WORLD".

READ MORE HERE

 

Mualaf

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 01:15 AM PDT

By Hakim Joe

What is Mualaf? According to the dictionary, it is a term to categorize those who are ready to embrace the Islamic religion and/or the new Moslem converts. However in Malaysia, all Malaysian-Chinese-Moslems are classified as such regardless of whether they have just converted or that they are fourth (or older) generation Moslems.

The question therefore remains when Islam was first introduced to the Chinese. According to World History, Islam was first brought to China between 616 and 618 AD by order of Uthman ibn `Affan (the third Sunni Rashidun or Caliph of the Muslim Empire) by Sahaba (companions) of Muhammad namely Sa'ad ibn Abi Waqqas, Sayid, Wahab ibn Abu Kabcha and another Sahaba (name unknown). This meant that Islam has existed in China for approximately 1.400 years. The Great Mosque of Xi'an (Huaisheng Mosque) in Shaanxi, China was erected in 742 AD and remains one of the oldest mosques in the world. 

In comparison, the Malay Peninsula in which we now call Malaysia was inhabited by prehistoric Proto Malays during that same time in history. According to the Kedah Annals, Kandaram or the Kedah Kingdom (630 – 1136 AD) was founded by Maharaja Derbar Raja of Gemeron, Persia, allegedly the descendents of Alexander the Great. Incidentally, the Proto Malays (Melayu Asli) were descendents of migrants originating from Yunnan, China. The Malays as we know them today are Deutero Malays and are the progeny of intermarriages between the Proto Malays and Negrito Orang Asli. When the Great Mosque of Xi'an was being built and more than one century after Islam was introduced to the Chinese, Hindu-Buddhism was the main religion here. 

Funan in Cambodia played a major part in the history and religion of the Malay Peninsula and according to Sejarah Melayu, the Khmer prince Raja Ganji Sarjuna founded the kingdom of Gangga Negara in the 700s in the northern part of the Malay Peninsula. The major religion then was Hinduism and between the 7th and the 13th century, the Malay Peninsula was ruled by the Srivijaya Empire, in which the major religion was initially Buddhism and then Hinduism at the later stages. 

Gangga Negara means "a city on the Ganges" in Sanskrit and Srivijaya means "Radiant Victory" in Sanskrit. Sanskrit is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism (an ancient Indian religion) and Mahāyāna Buddhism. 

Not only until the 13th century did Islam arrive at the Malay Peninsula (1402 to 1409 AD) purportedly brought in by Parameswara (a Srivijaya Prince who was born a Hindu) who was fleeing Temasek to avoid persecution. Parameswara (derived from the Sanskrit word Parameśhvara, a Hindu concept literally meaning the "Supreme Lord") allegedly converted to Islam (no evidence was found) when he married the Princess of Pasai (Samudera in Sumatra) and he adopted the Persian title "Shah", renaming himself Mahmud Iskandar Shah. It must be made known that Parameswara went on a boat trip with Chinese Admiral Zheng He (Cheng Ho) to China in 1411 to pay tribute to the Chinese Ming Dynasty Emperor. Incidentally Admiral Zheng He, his translator Fei Xin and his companion Ma Huan are all Moslems. Islam finally took hold after Parameswara's death in 1414 when his son, Raja Sri Rama Vikrama became the second Sultan of Malacca and called himself Sultan Megat Iskandar Shah.  

Islam has then existed in China for nearly 800 years. 

In 1910, the Christian missionary, Marshall Broomhall published a book on his findings and estimated that there exist over 9 million Chinese Moslems in China. The entire population of the Straits Settlement in 1901 was less than 1 million (including Europeans). 

So if your ancestors were born in China and have converted to Islam in 616 AD and that somewhere along the line, they have migrated to here, you are still a Mualaf by the fact that you are Malaysian-Chinese, albeit having your bloodlines being a Moslem for the past 1,396 years. 

Malaysia Boleh.

Escalating Tensions

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 01:08 AM PDT

By Hakim Joe

A new shooting war is on the verge of starting and this might turn out to be the modern Mother of all Conflicts. It will make Operation Desert Storm look like a picnic and the Afghan War child's play.

On Tuesday the 11th of October 2011, the United States alleged that Iranian government agents plotted to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States using explosives. Two suspects were charged in New York City, one man, Gholam Shakuri, has previously been identified as an operative of Iran's special foreign actions unit (Quds Forces) and the other, Manssor Arbabsiar, a car salesman who holds a U.S. citizenship and who is also holding an Iranian passport. The Justice Department says the men tried to hire a purported member of a Mexican drug cartel to carry out a bombing attack on Ambassador Adel al-Jubeir while he dined at his favorite restaurant, and unbeknownst to the suspects, the Mexican was a paid DEA informer and meetings between the informer and Arbabsiar were actually monitored and recorded by the DEA, the Secret Service, the Homeland Security, and the FBI. 

Also accused were Abdul Reza Shahlai, Arbabsiar's cousin who is a high ranking member of the Quds Force; Qasem Soleimani, a Quds commander who allegedly oversaw the plot; and Hamed Abdollahi, a senior Quds officer who helped in the coordination of the attempted assassination. Shahlai ws previously identified as the deputy commander of the Quds Force that planned the 2007 attack in Karbala, Iraq, that killed five American soldiers. 

Arbabsiar was arrested on September the 29th at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport while Shakuri, Shahlai, Soleimani and Abdollahi are all believed to be still inside Iran. 

That this alleged assassination attempt has been foiled is not the quintessence aspect here. Members of the U.S. Congress were quick to condemn Iran over the plot and have actively called for harsher sanctions against Iran even after the latter has vociferously denied any involvement in the assassination plot. The raising of stakes by both nations followed by potentially another few incidents between the two countries might spark a military confrontation in the Persian Gulf. That this attempt to assassinate Saudi Arabia's ambassador is not in question here but the uncertainty lies in the fact whether the Iranian government possesses prior knowledge of this plot, and not whether it is a rogue operation outside the Iranian government's sanction or a sting operation by the FBI. 

Iran is no walkover like Iraq. It is about four times larger than Iraq and has more than twice the number of residents. More importantly, Iran is suspected to possess nuclear weapons and the necessary delivery vehicles. During the Army Day last year, the Iranian military forces paraded the new Ghadr-1 ballistic missile system that has a proven 2,000 km operational range and is in the process of manufacturing a longer range air launched cruise missile (KH-55) of over 3,000 km range. Incidentally the distance between Teheran and Washington DC is over 10,000 km but the already-deployed Ghadr-1 is certainly capable of hitting targets within the Persian Gulf. 

There is no evidence that Iranian scientists have actually manufactured nuclear weapons but uranium is being frenetically enriched at the Iranian Special Weapons Facility located in Natanz with over 5,000 centrifuges being fed with uranium hexafluoride 24 hours a day non-stop. According to the IAEA Director General's report submitted to the Board on the 23rd of November 2010, Iran has accumulated an estimated 3,183kg of low enriched uranium (LEU), though not weapons-grade as yet. The Iranian LEU is graded between a level of 5% to 7% U-235. In comparison, advance medical research facilities in USA has an enrichment level of about 30% and weapons-grade nuclear weapons carry nuclear loads that has been enriched to levels above 65%, usually using P-239 (plutonium) instead of U-235 (uranium). 

Additionally, Iran reportedly possesses an estimated 9 operational submarines and over 200 naval crafts, over 350 combat aircrafts and over 1,200 main battle tanks supported by approximately 550,000 active personnel from its military, about 125,000 personnel from the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution, over 100,000 active personnel from the paramilitary volunteer force (Iran claims a membership of over 3 million) and another 100,000+ security forces (mainly police personnel). 

Furthermore, Iran possesses a sophisticated and growing biotechnology sector and chemical industry that is already one of the most advanced in the developing world and with that comes the inherent capability of producing both biological warfare (BW) and chemical warfare (CW) weaponries. Although there is no evidence pointing to the existence of either BW or CW stockpiles, Iran has never denied possessing the "dual-capable" infrastructure, raw material and expertise to mass-produce them. 

However, similarly to Iraq, it is the will to fight that commands all regardless of the numbers or equipment one possesses and judging from the 8-year Iran-Iraq War between 1980 and 1988, Iran will be no turkey shoot like Iraq. 

The U.S. Advance Overseas Forces comprising of the 5th Fleet (based in Bahrain), 6th Fleet (based in Italy) and 7th Fleet (based in Japan) might all be involved if plans are underway for a major armed conflict between the U.S. and Iran. Additionally, all U.S. forces stationed inside Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Afghanistan and Pakistan will be drawn into the fight with Israel covertly in support. If and when the shooting starts, Turkey and all the other Middle Eastern countries will be in a dire dilemma – either to act as a bystander or to take sides. Both Russia and China will definitely be drawn into the conflict, as major superpowers and almost unquestionably, NATO will be the medium used to initiate the conflict, with or without official sanction from the United Nations or agreement from Turkey, the only NATO member country that might stand up for Iran. Alternately, Turkey might take this advantage to become more influential in the Middle East when Iran is preoccupied with the conflict. Syria could possibly remain the only Middle East country to come out in support of Iran but then again, they are having internal troubles of their own at home. Libya is completely out of the picture at this juncture of time. 

Whether the entire world choose to believe that a car salesman in Texas was specifically commissioned by a select intelligence arm of the Iranian government to look for anyone who looked remotely like a Mexican drug dealer, moustache and sombrero included, and then order them a US$1.5 million hit on the Saudi ambassador in Washington, or not, the confrontation between Iran and NATO forces, which will comprise of over 80% U.S. and U.K. troops, will be a brutal affair with lots of collateral damage. Going to war in a country with over 73 million people is a surefire recipe for disaster regardless of how accurate the intelligent bombs and cruise missiles are. Taking into consideration the numerous "places of worship" and "historical sites" that remains untouchable, the U.S. risk losing more that what could be gained in an armed confrontation with Iran but then again, curbing Iran's ambitions at its roots might pose to be the only game in town.

 
 

Hudud and the Death Penalty

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 01:04 AM PDT

By Kua Kia Soong, Director of SUARAM

It is truly admirable that Malaysians oppose the inoperable hudud laws for their dehumanizing forms of punishment but I am surprised that these same people do not likewise vehemently oppose the death penalty that has existed in our system for so long.

On 20 July 1986, I presented a paper entitled 'The Quality and Equality of Mercy' a Bar Council Seminar (subsequently published in INSAF) soon after the hangings of Sim Kie Chon, followed by that of Barlow and Chambers.

The Malaysian government's response to foreign criticism was to point to their double standards and Dr Mahathir's characteristic response was: "I don't accept all this accusation of being barbaric…We learnt all this from them (Westerners)."

The Deputy Home Minister at the time was even quoted in Time Magazine on 5 August 1985 as saying: "The problem with the hanging process is that we've got to go through the ritual of appeal. That can take two years. I wish the Pardons Board would make faster decisions so that we can start hanging them…We plan to hang a person every week." The Attorney-General's Chamber even urged the mass media to "play up executions" as a deterrent. (Malay Mail, 18.8.83)

No Civilisation has a monopoly of Barbarism

Every feudal and pre-feudal social system – Chinese, Malay, Indian, Arab or European – has had penal systems involving the grossest cruelty imaginable. Punishment is an ancient response to wrongdoing. Throughout history, both the forms of punishment and the rationale for using it have changed markedly. Sociological studies have shown that penal systems everywhere are largely based on tradition, untested assumptions and inferences based on inadequate data.

The English penal system is usually cited for obvious reasons. During 18thcentury England, death was decreed for several hundred specific offences, particularly for those against property, including shooting a rabbit, stealing a handkerchief, damaging a public building. From the outset therefore, the law incorporated class and political considerations.

Comparative studies have shown that historically, the penalty as a judicial punishment has been seen to bear unequally and unjustly on the poor, on minorities and on oppressed groups in society.

The Triumph of Humanism

Progressively, the impetus for change was provided by the humanitarian and working class movements. The 18th century Enlightenment thinkers like Montesquieu and Voltaire provided the philosophical basis for reforms. There soon developed a more humanitarian outlook on crime and punishment and the emergence of humanist values.

A more humanitarian approach led to a concern for rehabilitation of "deviants" based on the personal worth of each human being. Thus, in the modern state and under international human rights standards, the judicial system is intended to protect the individual against the state. The 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights prohibits all forms of "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment."

Consequently, in 1908 hanging was abolished in Britain for children less than 16 years of age. Today, most countries forbid its use on offenders under the age of 18. Capital punishment for murder offences has been abolished in Britain since 1965. Although the issue has been brought up periodically in the House of Commons, it has always been defeated. Today, most of Europe has abolished the death penalty.

In the US, the death penalty was stopped by the Supreme Court in 1972 but was reintroduced in 1977. By the 1970s, capital punishment had been abolished as a statutory punishment in about one quarter of the world's nations.

The judicial taking of life has been described as "the most pre-meditated and most diabolical of murders." It is basically a relic of the primitive drive for revenge and it merely passes the responsibility to the judge or jury who are supposed to be acting on our behalf. It is indicative of the primordial psyche that we are not content that criminals be safely put away in prison, we demand their death!

Executions dehumanize society and undermine the common values upon which the full and free development of human society is based in all cultures. The value of human life is lessened once a state, in avowing the defence of its citizens, resorts to inhuman and degrading forms of punishment.

No Evidence that Capital Punishment Deters Crime

Perhaps the most popular misconception is that capital punishment acts as deterrence to crime for there is little evidence to show this. According to the British Home Office Research Unit study undertaken in the eighties, over the previous decade the increase in murders in the various categories had been insignificant. This was despite the fact there was a war in Northern Ireland.

Another strong argument against capital punishment is that it entails irrevocable miscarriages of justice. In Britain, if the law on hanging had not changed in 1964, at least six men would have been hanged for offences they did not commit. ASTRO watchers would have seen the film "Hurricane" about the former US boxer who spent more than twenty years in jail for a murder he did not commit. If he had been hanged soon after his conviction, his death would have been on the nation's conscience forever!

This was accounted for by the fact that no legal system is infallible. Moreover, as in the case of Hurricane and also in the British cases, miscarriages of justice usually take time to surface. Repeated appeals had failed to establish their innocence.

The vulnerability of all criminal justice systems to discrimination and error must also be taken into account. There are also human factors involved, particularly, political expediency, discretion and public opinion especially in the granting of clemency. The decision to disallow the former CPM leader Chin Peng from visiting his ancestors' graves is a clear example of these factors in play.

The world-wide comparative studies undertaken by Amnesty International have further shown that the wealthy, the politically well-connected and members of the dominant racial and religious groups are far less likely to be sentenced to death than the poor, supporters of the Opposition and members of minority groups. The Altantuya murder case demonstrates this tendency very well.

The Quality and Equality of Mercy

The Pardons Board is meant to be the last resort for the condemned when the judiciary has decided their fate. Under Article 42(5) of the Federal Constitution, it comprises the Attorney-General, the Prime Minister or Chief Minister, and three other members appointed by the Ruler or the Yang Di-Pertua Negeri. It tenders advice to the Yang Di-Pertuan Agung who acts on the advice to commute or not to commute the death sentence.

Thus, the Pardons Board is supposed to be capable of showing that human capacity for mercy or clemency. In the past, a former minister of culture, Mokhtar Hashim was pardoned after he had been convicted for murder. In the case of Sim Kie Chon, Barlows and Chambers during the eighties, the Pardons Board exercised its prerogative to refuse clemency on the grounds that it was "not justiciable". The undue haste to execute them was absolutely unnecessary especially when there were complaints that all legal avenues to save their lives had not been fully exhausted.

The incongruity of the fate of Mokhtar Hashim and that of Sim Kie Chon led to demands by the public for the criteria by which the Attorney-General recommends commutation of the death sentence or otherwise. The desirability of the AG's presence in the Pardons Board was also questioned since it was the AG who had instituted the prosecution and sought the death sentence in the first place.

It would be fairer and preferable for the Pardons Board to be made up of members who are seen to be independent and impartial, made up of the widest possible cross-section of society and representative of all classes and ethnic communities. A sizeable majority should be needed if the death sentence is to be upheld.

The case against the death penalty was best summed up by Lord Morris of Borth-Gest, a British High Court judge in the sixties:

"Can we be sure that the utter and irrevocable finality of the death sentence can always be matched by positive certainty of guilt? In no country, with the fairest system of law, with the most humane and conscientious judiciary do I feel that we can be satisfied of that."

WIKILEAKS: MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT DECIDES PROTON

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 01:00 AM PDT

Given the political sensitivities surrounding both Proton and its pyramid of local suppliers, most of which are owned by ethnic Malays, only a foreign partner could have demanded the kinds of reforms necessary to make the company competitive. Unfortunately, as long as the government continues to subsidize Proton's losses, neither the national automaker nor its vendors will have the incentive to become globally competitive. In the case of Proton, the GOM's unwillingness to upset its spoils system has once again undercut its efforts to rationalize the economy.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

1. (SBU)  Summary:  After nearly two years of back-and-forth negotiations with Volkswagen, the Malaysian government has decided that government-controlled auto maker Proton would no longer pursue a strategic partnership with the German auto manufacturer or any other foreign partner (including General Motors, with which it had also held discussions). Rather than look to a foreign partner to help revive the perennial loss-maker, the government announced that the firm was doing well and should be given a chance to turn around.

Its auto sales were expected to more than double in Asia, particularly for its new models. Industry experts claim the government backed off the idea of Proton taking on an international partner because hundreds of local vendors would be unlikely to survive the kinds of reforms a world-class partner would demand.

Many of these vendors are owned by ethnic Malays who enjoy protected status in multicultural Malaysia.  Taking action to force Proton to reform therefore would be unpalatable to part of the government's key Malay constituency, a particular concern to UMNO now with a national election on the horizon.  End summary.

2. (U) The Malaysian Cabinet has decided that national automaker Proton would no longer pursue a foreign partner. In announcing the decision on November 20, Finance Minister (II) Nor Mohamed Yackop said that recent signs of a financial turnaround by Proton had convinced the government that Proton could prosper without a foreign partner.  These signs included stronger than expected orders for Proton's new Persona model.

The announcement came as a surprise to most analysts, given reports that Proton was in the final stages of negotiations with Volkswagen which would have allowed the German automaker an equity (though likely not controlling) stake in Proton.

(General Motors reportedly was also still in the running as an alternative to VW). 

Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) President Aishah Ahmad publicly voiced doubts about the durability and depth of Proton's supposed turnaround, noting that a partnership with a foreign manufacturer would have been good for Proton's branding, and that Proton still needs to develop a sustainable, long term strategy to reverse its years-long slide from dominating the Malaysian market.

SMOKE AND MIRROR PROFITS

3. (U) Boosted by the sale of land and the wrap-up of some project development costs, Proton posted a million-dollar profit for its second quarter ending September 30, compared to USD 75 million in losses in Q2 last year in a long succession of multi-million dollar losses.  Revenue was up 3% over second quarter figures last year due to a 1.3% increase in auto sales.  Although this growth was modest, Proton Chairman Mohammed Azlan Hashim pointed to it as an indication that Proton's sales would rise from their current levels of 30,000 to 40,000 units per model to between 100,000 and 150,000 units per model by 2011, primarily through greater exports to China, India, ASEAN, and to a lesser extent Iran.

HOPES PINNED ON NEW MODELS, ASIAN DEMAND

4. (U) Ministry of International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz told the press that Proton had its own strategic plans to capture regional markets, especially in India, China and Southeast Asia.  She said the American and European automotive markets were different and "not for us"; rather, the growth market is in Asia.

Proton recently signed partnerships with the Governments of China and Thailand, including a deal to allow for the export of 30,000 Proton cars to China by the end of the year.  At an auto show in Thailand this week, Proton unveiled its new fuel-efficient model, the Savvy, its new sportscar the Neo, and its re-designed Gen.2, all of which Proton expects will help improve its sales in Asia. 

As recently as July Rafidah had told the press that the government was interested in selling its 43 percent stake in Proton that it holds through government investment arm Khazanah (the government indirectly controls additional shares of Proton, including 12 percent through the Employee Provident Fund and 8.8 percent through national petroleum corporation Petronas).

BUT QUALITY AND COMPETITIVENESS A PROBLEM

5. (U) At a recent panel discussion on Creating Global Champions Mr. Rameli bin Musa, Executive Vice Chairman for Ingress Corporation, a tier one vendor for Proton, said that a lot of vendors depended on Proton.  He described some of the challenges Ingress faced when the company began supplying auto parts for Honda and Toyota, including much tougher quality standards.

Another panelist, Mr. Yong Poh Kon, President of the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers, elaborated on this point, explaining that where Proton capped defective parts at 200 parts per million, Honda demanded no more than six per million, and Toyota ten per million.  This level of quality was one reason Malaysian auto parts suppliers were reluctant to venture beyond Proton for business, he said.

6. (U) Also at the conference, Akifumi Kuchiki, Executive Vice President of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) pointed out that Thailand quickly was becoming the "Detroit of Asia" and that Malaysia was being left behind. He suggested that Malaysia could focus on exporting automatic compact cars, while firms in Indonesia and Thailand could engage more in exporting pickup trucks and multipurpose vehicles, respectively. He said some of the constraints facing the Malaysian auto industry included an insufficient supply of unskilled labor, a need to upgrade the skills of its skilled labor, and an inadequate supply of quality parts manufacturers. Malaysia also needed to liberalize and deregulate national auto policies if it wanted to attract foreign firms in the support industries.

COMMENT:

7. (SBU) Comment:  The Malaysian Cabinet's decision to prohibit Proton from taking a foreign partner surprised most industry watchers, likely including Proton itself, which had appeared on the cusp of signing a deal with VW.  With the government focused on upcoming elections, however, politics trumped economic rationality.

Although long a supporter of Proton's efforts to seek a foreign partner, the government decided in the end that it was not yet ready to permit a fundamental shift away from a 20-year tenet of Malaysian industrialization - the promotion of a national car.  Given the political sensitivities surrounding both Proton and its pyramid of local suppliers, most of which are owned by ethnic Malays, only a foreign partner could have demanded the kinds of reforms necessary to make the company competitive. 

Unfortunately, as long as the government continues to subsidize Proton's losses, neither the national automaker nor its vendors will have the incentive to become globally competitive.  In the case of Proton, the GOM's unwillingness to upset its spoils system has once again undercut its efforts to rationalize the economy. 

KEITH (December 2007)

 

NRD To Issue New MyKad Starting January 2012, Says Hishammuddin

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 12:21 AM PDT

(Bernama) The National Registration Department (NRD) will introduce a new MyKad with state-of-the-art security features starting January next year, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said.

Hishammuddin said the new MyKad would have enhanced security features, especially the chip, which will have tamper-proof elements to prevent falsification, an issue raised by some.

"The Mykad with new structure which is of a higher quality will meet the security requirement and will be suitable for changes in time, situation and future challenges," he told reporters here today after launching the new MyKad structure here today.

Hishammuddin said the new MyKad with a polycarbonate body, uses laser cutting technology on its surface and chips tested by SIRIM and recognised semi-conductor laboratories.

"New applicants will issued the new Mykad while current holders of Mykad can change their old card for a new one.

Hishammuddin who is also the Semberong Member of Parliament added that the NRD would also continue its Outreach Programme using mobile NRD services to identify Malaysian citizens who do not have Mykad, especially those staying in remote areas.

Bye Bye Sarawak Reports!

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 12:18 AM PDT

By Sarawak Report

Taib Mahmud's $5million dollar a year 'Cyber-war Campaign' has conceded a humiliating defeat, with the final demise of the site 'Sarawak Reports'.

Sarawak Reports was part of a vicious network of internet sites, set up by the crooked UK-based production FBC Media, in a hired attempt to undermine this blog and to attack the opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

By adopting a virtually identical name to our own, FBC clearly hoped they could confuse web-surfers into reading their pro-Taib propaganda, instead of our research into Taib's 30 years of corrupt government.

However, there is little evidence that readers were in fact fooled by this costly exercise.  The site never dared to publish the handful of comments it received for its stories, which were little more than dreary 'puff pieces' praising Taib's 'progress and development' policies.

The site also carried a permanent section devoted to attacking the Editor of Sarawak Report and family members.

Black propaganda – who did they think they were kidding?

Collapse of Cyber-war campaign follows exposure of FBC Media

After Sarawak Report started to investigate, the whole truth behind the scandal came out.  We showed how FBC Media had commissioned a team of Republican bloggers in the States to write a series of attacking articles in a supposedly non-sponsored website called New Ledger.

First put it on the USA's New Ledger to give it credibility – then place it in Sarawak Reports!

These articles, by unheard of Americans, were then reproduced in Sarawak Reports as if they represented influential thinking in the US. 

Worse, we discovered a similar campaign was being carried out by the very same people against the opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, and this time the person who commissioned the attacks was the PM himself, Najib Razak!

The scurrilous articles about Anwar, written for New Ledger by non-entities in the States, were being reproduced in a separate blog called Malaysia Watcher.  Just this week the PM was forced to admit that his office has spent RM 84 million on such campaigns with FBC Media in just three years!

We can now report that Malaysia Watcher is likewise no longer accessible.

 

READ MORE HERE.

Protesters to greet Najib at CHOGM

Posted: 14 Oct 2011 08:35 PM PDT

Bersihkan Malaysia of Perth will join a rally organised by the CHOGM Action Network

(Free Malaysia Today) - When Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak goes to Australia for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) this month, he will be greeted by yet another rally calling for electoral reforms in Malaysia.

Delegations from 54 Commonwealth nations will attend the three-day meeting at the Perth Convention Centre on Oct 28 and the rally organisers, CHOGM Action Network (CAN), is seizing the opportunity to draw international attention to Malaysia's political situation.

CAN is endorsed by a wide range of activist networks, including Bersihkan Malaysia of Perth.

According to its Facebook page, Bersihkan Malaysia was set up to "nurture the spirit of unity to further the cause for democracy and justice on behalf of all Malaysians".  Its members are mostly Malaysians residing in Western Australia who took part in the July 9 Bersih rally there.

According to CAN spokesperson Chom Lee, participants in the Oct 28 rally will assemble at Forrest Place in downtown Perth to hear a number of speeches by notable speakers, including Bersih 2.0 steering committee member Wong Chin Huat.

There will be a march after the speeches. CAN is still in negotiations with the police department over the rally route, but it is hoping to be allowed to demonstrate close to the CHOGM venue.

"CHOGM is an international event and the best time to let the world know what is really happening in Malaysia," Lee told FMT by e-mail.

"There are many foreigners who are have been deceived by the government's lies and believe that Malaysia practices true democracy."

She said CAN would like to see Commonwealth leaders questioning Najib about Bersih 2.0′s eight demands as well as about corruption and separation of powers in Malaysia.

She gave several examples of alleged abuse of power and corruption, including deaths in custody and lingering questions about the purchase of Scorpene submarines and the wealth of Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud.

CAN will be holding a series of public forums until Oct 28 in an effort to attract at least 1,000 rally participants.

READ MORE HERE

 

Be grateful to BN government, DPM tells people

Posted: 14 Oct 2011 07:12 PM PDT

By Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider

SEREMBAN, Oct 15 — Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin told Malaysians today to be grateful to the Barisan Nasional (BN) government for its many efforts which have improved their lives.

According to Bernama Online, the deputy prime minister reportedly talked up the BN government's performance to a crowd of thousands after visiting the Ampangan market here, claiming it has always cared for the people by doling out aid and programmes for the needy.

He urged the Ampangan folk against following in the footsteps of people from Selangor and opposition-held states who voted for the opposition during Election 2008.

"It's not easy to be the government; the opposition is only good at making promises which they never have to fulfil," he was quoted as saying in Bernama Online.

Muhyiddin (picture) is on a day-long visit to several locations in Negri Sembilan, a state the federal opposition is said to be confident of toppling in the coming polls, speculated to be called within months.

The national news agency said Muhyiddin later announced a RM5 million allocation to Ampangan folk — RM4 million to build a new hawker centre, RM500,000 to refurbish the market and the remaining RM500,000 to repaint and repair the Ampangan flats.

The Malaysian Insider reported earlier this year claims by Pakatan Rakyat (PR) that a marginal five per cent swing in four key seats in the state would be enough to topple the BN government here.

State PR leaders had told The Malaysian Insider that a win in the Pilah, Kelawang, Lenggeng and Linggi state seats, where BN won by wafer-thin majorities in Election 2008, would secure the coalition a simple majority in the 36-member state legislative assembly.

READ MORE HERE

CIMB: good money chasing after haram money!

Posted: 14 Oct 2011 06:19 PM PDT

JO & Murak

It seems like our corrupted Najib's First Family (and ex-PM's Mahathir Family) are making new friends with fellow corrupted Filipino businessmen, specifically those in San Miguel Corporation.

I previously wrote about the scandal involving Mirzan Mahathir, a director in Petron, San Miguel's subsidiary, using his brother Mukhriz to swing the sale of Esso Malaysia's assets to San Miguel. While the shit on Mirzan is still growing and getting dirtier by the day, I want to highlight now, it's the PM's brother Nazir Razak's turn to move Malaysian money out of the country by using CIMB to buy San Miguel's soon-to-bust Bank of Commerce of the Philippines (as seen here http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/business/article/cimb-talks-with-san-miguel-for-bank-stake/). Another special brew in the making.

We Malaysians fail to understand CIMB's (in fact Nazir Razak's) move in putting in good clean Halal Bumiputra money to chase after bad haram about-to-bust bank that was built on money made from beer-drinking Filipinos!

We can only conclude that he is following the footsteps of Allah-condemned Mirzan Mahathir to gain assets in San Miguel in readiness for their coming "rainy days" when PR marches into Putrajaya.

Maybe this is not Najib's doing, but the work of Mahathir, the mastermind. Nazir was known to have differed with his PM brother in opinion over certain policy matters.

Mahathir as "Advisor" to Petronas did not give the correct and wise advice to the company that pays him so bloody well. Any donkey with common sense would have got Petronas to jump on the wagon and grab what ExxonMobil wanted to dispose of. He had his sons Mukhriz to approve and Mirzan (with San Miguel) to take over the assets. All the Mahathirs conveniently and strategically placed.

Aren't these crooks "Birds of a feather" making overseas nests ready to take off by first available Tony Fernandes's AirAsia or Ananda Khrishnan's private Gulfstream jet when the BN's chips fall at GE13? Classic example of the "ornithological specimens of the identical plumage congregate in closest proximity" so said Oliver Goldsmith.

But alas, that fateful flight from Malaysia with their ill gotten gains may not land them in luxurious karaoke clubs where San Miguel beer is served by a bevy of sparely-clad Filipina beauties, but right into the arms of the Law of Philippines, for one of the kingpins  of San Miguel Corporation, Roberto Ongpin is already being investigated by the Philippines Senate for insider trading, quite the same fate as recent Raj Rajaratnam of Gelleon Group Hedge Fund of the USA (details here http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/rajaratnam-gets-11-yr-jail-less-than-us-sought/148923/on).

Now Nazir, please don't pretend to be a saint for you aint one! We know, your overseas hangouts; we name a few for your verification: Estella Bar, Princess Bar, Queen Girl Bar in Manilla, Alexis illGALS in Jakarta, Hooters Paramatta, Hooters Penrith, Hooters Beach plus of course your secret boozing hideout in Mont Kiara.

My Bumi friends just could not care less what arak you drink or which birds you shoot, but for Pete's sake lay off your filthy haram hands from CIMB stakeholders' money by taking a stake in a falling Bank Haram. It is well-known to the Rakyat that 90% of all government IPO's, works, financing, etc. is given to Nazir Razak's CIMB on a silver platter, we cannot imagine all the Rakyat's hard earned money pumped into CIMB like giving freebies away, and now Nazir using it like his own money under CIMB's plans to create a formal link to this crooked haram company and its haram Filipino bank. We want no part of it, you understand?

 

Hilangnya sakit tak semestinya hilangnya penyakit

Posted: 14 Oct 2011 06:12 PM PDT

Tindakan menghilangkan sakit rakyat ini memang tindakan biasa BN terutamanya semasa pilihanraya sudah hampir tiba. Semasa hilangnya sakit buat sementara itulah selalunya pilihanraya akan di adakan dan mereka akan kembali sakit apabila pilihanraya sudah selesai dan Umno telah kembali berkuasa.

Aspan Alias, The Malaysian Insider

Sakit dan penyakit itu adalah dua perkara yang berlainan. Saya pernah menulis isu ini lama dahulu di dalam blog ini.Saya akan terus kepada relevannya isu sakit dan penyakit ini kepada pimpinan parti Umno/BN dan kerajaan yang memerintah sekarang ini.

Masih ada ramai yang percaya yang Umno akan masih di terima kerana kerajaan telah membentangkan belanjawan yang akan memulihkan sakit rakyat dan dengan bantuan "one off" sebanyak seribu dua itu akan mengembalikan sokongan ramai kerana orang ramai sudah hilang sakitnya dengan pembentangan belanjawan baru-baru ini.

Seseorang yang selalu menghadapi sakit kepala, telinga dan mata misalnya akan menghilangkan sakit-sakit itu dengan memakan panadol soluble dan berbagai ubat penahan sakit yang lain. Setiap kali selepas makan ubat penahan sakit itu sakit yang kita rasakan itu akan hilang, tetapi tidak beberapa ketika selepas itu sakit itu akan kembali dan kita menelan pil penahan sakit itu lagi.

Lama kelamaan pil penahan sakit itu tidak akan berkesan lagi kerana pil itu sudah melemahkan "immune system" tubuh kita. Akhirnya kita akan ke hospital juga untuk mencari sebab kenapa sakit-sakit mata, telinga dan kepala itu sentiasa berulang dan ubat penahan sakit pun sudah tidak berkesan lagi.

Sampai sahaja di hospital barulah kita tahu yang kita sudah menghadapi penyakit dan penyakit itu ialah darah tinggi rupanya. Sepatutnya kita tidak terus memakan pil penahan sakit sebelumnya. Sepatutnya kita patut selesaikan isu penyakit yang menyebabkan sakit yang kita rasai itu. Apabila darah tinggi sudah terlalu "acute" maka tubuh kita dengan sendirinya tidak akan berfungsi dengan baik dan tidak mungkin mampu untuk bertindak dengan baik lagi.

Apabila seseorang itu sudah tahu yang dia ada penyakit darah tinggi, dengan secara automatik dia tidak akan berada dalam tahap kesihatan yang baik untuk mengendalikan kehidupan dengan baik. Banyaklah pantang larang yang perlu di perhatikan kerana penyakit darah tinggi tadi akan memaksa seseorang menghidapinya untuk tidak melakukan banyak perkara dan akhirnya dia akan mati dengan penyakit itu juga.

Inilah yang sedang dihadapi oleh Umno dan BN. Sakit-sakit dalam BN itu memang sudah lama dirasakan oleh ramai tetapi Umno menyelesaikan masalahnya dengan memberikan ubat penahan sakit sahaja. Caranya ialah dengan memberikan ubat penahan sakit dengan memberikan projek-projek kepada "war lords" dalam Umno dan memberikan imbuhan kewangan "one off" kepada rakyat dalam bentuk wang ringgit seribu dua sahaja seperti yang di sebut dalam bajet 2012 yang lalu.

Walaupun mendapat sedikit wang dan akan menghilangkan sakit buat seketika tetapi sakitnya akan datang kembali dalam masa yang tidak berapa lama lagi. Seribu ringgit yang diberikan secara "one off" itu akan habis sekelip mata kerana bagi ramai yang mendapat seribu ringgit itu hanyalah sekadar melepaskan sebahagian kecil hutang semasa mereka sahaja. Selepas itu mereka akan kembali sakit kerana penyakitnya tidak diperbaiki. Penyakit sebenar mereka ialah kemiskinan.

Tindakan menghilangkan sakit rakyat ini memang tindakan biasa BN terutamanya semasa pilihanraya sudah hampir tiba. Semasa hilangnya sakit buat sementara itulah selalunya pilihanraya akan di adakan dan mereka akan kembali sakit apabila pilihanraya sudah selesai dan Umno telah kembali berkuasa.

Tetapi kini rakyat sudah tidak lagi mudah terpedaya dengan pemberian tunai "one off" itu kerana mereka tahu mereka akan kembali sakit tidak beberapa lama selepas pilihanraya di adakan. Rakyat mahukan pelan pembangunan untuk rakyat yang boleh diguna pakai buat jangkamasa yang panjang. Rakyat tidak lagi mahu ikan tetapi rakyat mahukan kail yang baik untuk membolehkan mereka mengail dalam jangkamasa yang lama untuk mendapat ikan selama-lamanya.

Penyakit yang di hadapi rakyat ialah kesusahan menghadapi kenaikan harga barang dan wang imbuhan "one off" itu hanya boleh membantu mereka dalam jangkamasa yang singkat sahaja sedangkan nyawa masih panjang lagi. Rakyat sudah mual mendengar pihak kerajaan mengumumkan kadar inflasi kita adalah di bawah 4 peratus tetapi harga barang keperluan meningkat berkali ganda.

READ MORE HERE

 

Less value for ringgit

Posted: 14 Oct 2011 05:38 PM PDT

Amid the sovereign debt problems continuing to brew in the 17-nation eurozone and growing fears of a double-dip recession in the United States, economists believe the weakness of the ringgit against major currencies, especially the US dollar or greenback, will likely persist for at least the next few months.

By CECILIA KOK, The Star

MALAYSIANS are now getting less bang for their buck, compared to early this year, as the value of their ringgit has depreciated against most major currencies in the world.

Against the widely perceived safe-haven currencies, US dollar and yen, for instance, the value of ringgit has fallen by about 2.3% and 8.4% year-to-date, respectively. Against other major currencies, the value of ringgit year-to-date has depreciated by around 3.4% against the British pounds; 6.7% against euro; 3.1% against the Singapore dollar; 2.6% against the Australian dollar; and 6.1% against the renminbi or yuan.

But maybe the depressed ringgit could spell some good news to local exporters, as the value of their goods and services will now become more attractive and relatively cheaper to foreign buyers. This could help cushion companies' overseas sales, which is a saving grace, especially at a time when international trade is expected to enter a slow and sluggish pace (if not falling off the cliff) because of the ongoing global economic uncertainties.

And perhaps, Malaysia will be able to draw more foreign tourists, as the weakness of ringgit has likely made the country a more affordable holiday destination to many. This presents a contrast to Malaysians with plans to travel to certain countries overseas, as the volatility of the ringgit, which will likely continue over the medium term, will likely give them less value for their money.

Amid the sovereign debt problems continuing to brew in the 17-nation eurozone and growing fears of a double-dip recession in the United States, economists believe the weakness of the ringgit against major currencies, especially the US dollar or greenback, will likely persist for at least the next few months.

It was just three to four months ago when the ringgit was seen strengthening, touching a record high of 2.939 against the US dollar on July 27, while its performance against other currencies were mixed. It has since lost about 6.8% to be trading at around 3.139 per US dollar on Thursday.

The weakening trend of the ringgit first became noticeable early last month, as the reversal of short-term foreign capital flows, driven by fear, accelerated between August and September. The unwinding of foreign investors' position in Malaysia was well reflected in the plunge of local equity prices during that period.

To put that into perspective, recent data released by Bank Negara showed that foreign investors were net sellers of Malaysian equities in August and September, having liquidated about US$290.6mil and US$149mil, respectively, of their holdings in the country. And as a reflection of the huge capital outflows from the country, the central bank's foreign exchange reserves fell sharply by US$5.3bil to US$131bil as at the end of September.

CIMB Investment Bank Bhd chief economist Lee Heng Guei explains to StarBizWeek that the volatile capital flows will remain the source of wild swings in the ringgit movement over the medium term.

But such predicament is not common only to Malaysia.

Asian currencies, save for the Chinese yuan and Hong Kong dollar, have all weakened against the US dollar quite significantly since the beginning of August due to capital outflows.

Greenback still reigns

For instance, the Indian rupee has fallen by more than 10% against the greenback in less than two months, while the South Korean won has fallen by about 9%, Singapore dollar by almost 6%, Taiwanese dollar by about 4.8%, Indonesian Rupiah by about 4.6% and Thai Baht by about 3.6%.

(Hong Kong dollar is pegged to the US dollar, while the Chinese yuan is traded in a managed-float system and face increasing US political pressure to appreciate at a faster pace. The value of the Chinese yuan has gained only by about 0.8% against the US dollar over the last two months and 3.5% since the beginning of the year. It is still deemed significantly undervalued against the greenback at current levels.)

The resurgence of the US dollar, economists say, is attributable to growing concern of investors over the increasingly gloomy global economic outlook for the medium term. The market has noted that investors have been scaling back their foreign holdings to put more money in US dollar-denominated assets, such as the US Treasury bonds, which have traditionally been regarded as safe haven, to protect their assets amid the global economic storm.

"In foreign exchange terms, there is simply nowhere else to hide; investors have bought the US dollar by default," HSBC Global Research's foreign exchange strategists explain in their newly published report.

Analysts at the international financial services provider reckon investors' retreat to the US dollar is not motivated by any particularly strong positive sentiment towards the greenback per se. In fact, they note that investors are well aware of the persistent structural problems in the world's largest economy.

"The fundamental rationale to be bullish on Asian currencies remains, but position reduction and the preference for US dollar liquidity in times of heightened stress overrides the underlying positive fundamental story," HSBC Global Research's analysts say, adding that they believe Asian currencies could face stronger headwinds ahead.

Such likelihood is accentuated by the dismal outlook issued by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over the week, citing increasing risks "decidedly tilted to the downside" for Asia because of the ongoing debt woes in Europe and a slowdown in the US economy. Reuters quoted the intergovernmental organisation warning about a risk of capital outflows from the region, as foreign investors from advanced economies could reverse the large positions they had built in Asian markets since 2009.

According to economists, the scope for real strengthening of Asian currencies is also limited by possible expansionary monetary policy measures, which regional central banks would likely implement to help sustain their domestic economic growth amid slowing external demand. Such measures could include cutting of interest rates, such as Bank of Indonesia's slashing of the country's benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 6.5% over the week. Reducing interest rates could narrow the interest-rate differential between the United States and emerging Asian economies, hence making it less appealing than before for investors to park money here.

In addition, some Asian policymakers would likely prefer to have a not-so-strong currency in order to sustain their export competitiveness and support economic growth. Singapore's policymakers, for instance, have signalled their preparation to intervene in the currency market to slow the appreciation of their dollar to help the country's main engine of growth, exports.

It's interesting to watch how the global economic situation will pan out in the next few months. While investors wait for the dust to settle, fear and uncertainties will remain the name of the game, and for Asia, it will mean vulnerability to downside volatility.

 

Hu stands by his statements

Posted: 14 Oct 2011 05:35 PM PDT

(The Star) - A defiant National PAS Supporters Congress chairman Hu Pang Chaw is standing by his public statements, including those which criticised the top party leadership, over the hudud law controversy.

He said: "I feel what I have done is in accordance with the party constitution. I believe that I have not gone against any party policies.

"However, I welcome the move by the party to seek explanation from me because I will have a proper platform to tell my side of the story," he said yesterday.

He was asked to comment on a press statement by PAS information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man that the party would seek an explanation on criticisms he made against the party leadership over the hudud issue.

Hu had made it known through the mainstream media and online news portals that he was objecting to hudud, saying that the law, if implemented, would alienate the Chinese votes from PAS.

His scathing remarks drew heavy fire from Kelantan PAS Youth chief Abdul Latif Abdul Rahman, who warned Hu not to vent his views to the press or threaten the Kelantan government.

Hu reiterated that bread and butter issues and the well-being of the people in Kelantan should be tackled first.

 

 

‘Do away with race-based policies’

Posted: 14 Oct 2011 05:27 PM PDT

Gerakan Youth says a serious review of the NEP must be done so that it does not stray from the original intent of eradicating poverty and ensuring equal distribution of wealth

(Free Malaysia Today) - Race-based affirmative action in the form of the New Economic Policy is a thing of the past, admitted two Barisan Nasional youth leaders – Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and Gerakan Youth Chief Lim Si Pin, today.

Lim, in his speech at the Gerakan youth conference, said: "If we continue to advocate affirmative action for the majority, who is going to take care of the minorities and the needy?

"It is time to question whether we still affirmative action based on ethnic lines. It will remain a noose around our necks if we do not deal with it (NEP) with decisiveness.

"If we continue to enrich the few who do not need it and ignore the poor, then we will create instability," said Lim, and reminded the government it would face "dire consequences" if it failed to listen to the masses.

Though Lim said he was not calling for a total abolishment of NEP, but a serious review and refocus to go back to its original intent to eradicate poverty and equal distribution of wealth.

Khairy, agreeing with Lim, said that even now the government is looking at changing the policies in regards to affirmative action.

"It is changing, now we are making sure that our priority is the lowest 40% based on income. These are the groups we must help regardless whether they are Malay Chinese, Indians or other races. Najib has expanded this, within Umno too," said Khairy.

"It is no longer about race. Within Umno we are supporting this, because we know those at the bottom 40% deserve assistance.

The change in affirmative action will help some of you understand that economic transformation is happening," said Khairy.

Khairy added that reforms are alone not enough and merely repealing the Internal Security Act will not do.

"As far as the Printing Presses and Publications Act, the current changes are not enough. We have to go further, why are we scared of a free media, do we lack confidence that we can't face the free media? Let the media regulate themselves. There's no need for the Home Ministry and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to regulate," he said.

'Young voters returning to BN'

Khairy also called for a Freedom of Information Act that counters the Official Secrets Act. "There are certain things we cannot reveal to the public… but we must show there are no secrets within the government, " he said, adding that Section 15 of the Universities and University Colleges Act, which prohibits student participation in politics also must be done away with.

READ MORE HERE

 

Why RM2 billion for Mindef IT project?

Posted: 14 Oct 2011 05:23 PM PDT

PKR questions the defence ministry's need to spend more than RM2 billion for an apparently unknown IT feature

(Free Malaysia Today) - PKR estimated that more than RM2 billion will be spent over an information technology (IT) project involving the Defence Ministry (Mindef).

Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar said that Mindef had directly awarded a Network Centric Operations (NCO) project to Sapura Secured Technologies Sdn Bhd over a 20-year period for the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF).

"More than RM2 billion will definitely be wasted on a project that we don't know about. Is it needed?" she told reporters at a press conference in Lembah Pantai today.

Nurul came to the conclusion based on a Oct 13 Parliamentary written response from Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Ahmad said that Mindef directly awarded the NCO project to Sapura over a a four-phase period involving 20 years, and four consecutive Malaysia Plans; from 2011 to 2030.

The first two years of the programme would also cost RM140 million.

"For now, Sapura has been given the responsibility to develop the Phase 1A of the NCO MAF Development Program, which will cost RM140 million over a two-year period."

"Subsequent development phases would depend on the performance and success in Phase 1A," he said.

Minister not forthcoming on details

Ahmad claimed that Sapura was suitable for the project, as it had an apparent expertise and "vast amount of experience" in defence matters, IT and security.

"It has to be stressed that the NCO MAF Development Program is one of capability development, where it is constantly changing based on needs and new input from each service," he said, adding that hardware and software needs could not be identified easily.

READ MORE HERE

 

Under probe FBC shuts down sites

Posted: 14 Oct 2011 05:17 PM PDT

Investigative portal Sarawak Report is celebrating the death of its Taib Mahmud-sponsored namesake

(Free Malaysia Today) - UK-based FBC Media, which Chief Minister Taib Mahmud commissioned for RM5 million to counter global reports against him in the run up to the April 16 state election, has  pulled back on its online network which was spewing out 'feel good' reports on Sarawak.

FBC Media had allegedly commissioned a team of Republican bloggers in the United States to write a series of attacking articles. Among the websites FBC  allegedly sponsored were the New Ledger, Malaysia Watcher and the infamous Sarawak Report(s) with an 's'.

The sites were commissioned as part of Taib's cyberwar campaign to counter widespread reports about Taib's unexplainable wealth, extensive business networks abroad, land policies which have led to massive deforestation in Sarawak and displacement of the state indigenous communities.

Apparently the last site to go down was the fake Sarawak Reports.

Celebrating the death of its namesake, the real Sarawak Report posted a report on its blog today claiming credit for blowing the lid off on FBC Media's unethical practices which included  producing allegedly 'illegal TV programmes commissioned by Taib' and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

FBC's dollar-deals with Najib and his Barisan Nasional administration came to light when it was disclosed in Parliament recently that the government spent RM94 million of the rakyat's money to promote the PM and the country's image.

FBC's 'opportunities' for Taib

After much denials, Putrajaya last month ended its contract with FBC after irrefutable proof of reports surfaced alleging that government leaders had appeared regularly in paid-for interviews on global television programmes on CNBC.

READ MORE HERE

 

Former MP leads group to join DAP

Posted: 14 Oct 2011 05:13 PM PDT

The move by former PKR members to join DAP unlikely to affect unity within Sarawak Pakatan Rakyat

(Free Malaysia Today) - Twenty former PKR branch leaders and members have applied to join Sarawak DAP much to the concern of political pundits who feel that the 'hop' will threaten the 'fragility' of the unity within Sarawak Pakatan Rakyat in view of the coming general election.

Both PKR and DAP alongwith PAS form the opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat. One political observer believes Pakatan should discourage party members jumping ship from within the coalition as such an action would jeopardise the coalition's unity and strategy.

The 20 members are being led by Jimmy Donald, a former state PKR vice-chairman. The rest include Jonas AK Reong, former chairman of PKR Serian Division, and Munan Laja, former chairman of Kapit PKR division.

Before joining PKR, they were mostly members of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and aligned to now partyless and 'seatless' Larry Sng, who is also assistant minister in Chief Minister Taib Mahmud's Cabinet.

When PRS president James Masing sacked Sng in 2006, the 20 left the party and joined PKR.

No outright acceptance

State DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen, when receiving the membership application forms,  said that any decision to accept the 20 as members would only happen after the party had discussed the matter with state PKR leaders.

"From DAP's point of view there are two conditions before we should consider the membership applications. Firstly, those members who want to join us should not breach any discipline of PKR or have been sacked by PKR for breach of party discipline.

"The second is that members who join us should not speak badly about PKR, or criticise or attack PKR because we are in the PK coalition. We will speak to PKR leaders before accepting them to DAP. There is no outright acceptance," said Chong, who is also the Kota Sentosa assemblyman.

Chong said DAP will stick by its 'guiding principles' in deciding whether or not to accept the new entries.

"DAP and PKR have a common bond and that is to topple Barisan Nasional government and to implement the policies of Pakatan when it becomes the government. hese policies are contained in our Buku Jingga as well as in our alternative budget," he said.

'DAP most autonomous national party'

Earlier in handing their membership applications to DAP, Donald who is the former MP for Sri Aman said: "We have chosen DAP because it is the most autonomous national party in Sarawak as its state chief is elected by the members in Sarawak as opposed to other national parties whose state chiefs are appointed from Kuala Lumpur.

"This is a very important consideration as the Barisan Nasional will fall. It is not a question of if but when. Sarawak is a very special state with many special rights. We have seen in Sabah where the state chief is appointed from Kuala Lumpur.

"Sabah now has more immigrants than the rightful people because at the behest of Kuala Lumpur the chief minster opened the state to all comers from other states in Malaysia.

"In Sarawak, we have to safeguard the 18 points agreement which was agreed upon at the formation of Malaysia," Donald said.

Insisting that Sarawakians must join nationwide political parties, Donald said that the present set-up whereby Sarawakians are ruled by state-wide parties only means that many able Sarawakians miss out hundreds, if not thousands of federal appointments and many decision-making opportunities in the federal government ministries, government-linked company (GLC), statutory bodies, service commissions and other ad hoc bodies.

"In my 13 years as a member of parliament, I have studied nearly all their annual reports and management structures and sadly in 99.9% of the cases there are no Sarawakians. In one or two rare cases, there are Sarawakian names but unfailingly, they are always the same people and the cronies of one man.

"Only if we are in the national parties can we hope to be included in all levels and sectors of the Malaysian Federation and bring real change to the lives of Sarawakians," Donald said.

READ MORE HERE

 

WIKILEAKS: Malaysia's 2008 Budget: Pork Sold Separately

Posted: 14 Oct 2011 01:00 AM PDT

The issue the Prime Minister isn't bringing up for this election-year budget is the problem of declining oil revenues. Petronas provides 35 to 40% of the GOM's budget. However, Malaysia is projected to be a net importer of oil within the next several years, based on a continued trajectory of 4% annual increases in domestic demand. This is a major problem because Petronas is obliged by the GOM to provide oil and gas for the domestic market at subsidized prices and it is responsible for covering the price gap between international and domestic prices.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

1.  Summary:  On September 7, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi unveiled his 2008 budget proposal. Billed as a "fiscally responsible" budget, it projects a deficit of 3.1%, down from 3.2% in 2007.   Although spending is up, the GOM projects higher GDP growth will generate more than adequate additional revenue flows to compensate for it.  The Prime Minister (PM) also announced that he expects the private sector, including foreign investors, to help fund government-initiated development plans. 

While the budget contained some important new tax provisions including a welcomed decrease in corporate tax rates, simplified tax collection on dividends, and enactment of additional tax preferences for the Islamic financial sector, the most important tax reform measure, implementation of the new Goods and Services Tax (GST) proposed in 2004, was missing. 

In a panel discussion following the release of the budget, Ministry of Finance officials insisted it was still on the table.  However, absent up-front support from the PM and with elections just around the corner, the GOM is unlikely to submit a GST proposal to Parliament in the coming year.  This leaves the GOM without an answer to how it will reduce its dependence on revenues from the oil sector, even though depleting oil reserves imply this revenue stream will shrink in the near future. 

Absent tax broadening measures like the GST, the GOM, which currently gets 38 percent of its revenue from the national oil company, will find it increasingly difficult to maintain its fiscal deficit within manageable bounds over the next decade.  End summary.

First, what the budget didn't do:

3.  For an election year budget, many Malaysians were surprised by what it did not do.  A widely anticipated voter-friendly cut in the top individual income tax bracket did not materialize, but neither did any additional "sin" taxes (on tobacco or alcohol) which the GOM tends to increase every year.  Consistent with its billing as a "fiscally responsible" budget, no large new development projects were announced as part of the budget. 

However, the Prime Minister already had announced plans to invest heavily in three regions on the peninsula, including the "Iskandar Development Region" bordering Singapore, plus Northern and Eastern Corridor Regional Development Plans. Similar regional development projects are rumored to be in the works for East Malaysia as well.  The Prime Minister announced that he is relying in large part on the private sector to finance these government initiatives.

Reducing the deficit?  A closer look at the numbers:

4.  A closer look at the numbers shows that the GOM's formula for lowering the deficit is a result of two underlying assumptions, both of which have been received with some skepticism by local analysts.

The first assumption is that real GDP will grow by 6 percent to 6.5% - a projection that analysts find somewhat optimistic. (Currently GDP is growing at approximately 5.7%.)  The second assumption is that the private sector - particularly foreign investors - will provide the lion's share of the funding needed for the three regional development plans laid out by the Prime Minister.

Spending up 2.5% from last year

5.  Total budget expenditures (operating and development) for 2008 are RM 168.8 billion ($ 48.2 billion) in 2008, up 2.5% from RM 164.7 billion ($ 47 .1 billion) in 2007.

Operating expenses up:

6.  Operating costs will grow 4% to RM 128.8 billion ($ 36.8 billion) in 2008.  Salaries comprise 28.1% ($ 10.3 billion) of operating expenditures and fixed charges and grants 49.6% ($ 18.3 billion).

$ 11.4 billion for development:

7.  Gross development expenditure is budgeted at RM 40.0 billion ($ 11.4 billion), 2.1% lower than the revised allocation of RM 40.9 billion ($ 11.7 billion) in 2007 as the government intends to count on the private sector to drive economic growth. This 8% reduction came as a surprise to many analysts, some of whom had projected an allocation of RM 48 to 50 billion ($ 13.7 to 14.3 billion) for 2008.

However, the Ministry of Finance also may tap into its supplementary allocation of US$ 2.35 billion when the government does a mid-term review of the Ninth Malaysian Plan in mid-2008.

8.  The biggest slice of the $ 11.4 billion development budget will go to education and training with $ 2.1 billion (18.4%), transport $ 1.9 billion (16.9%) and security $1.4 billion (15.2%).  Trade & Industry and agriculture will receive $ 1.1 billion (9.7%) and $ 1.05 billion (9.4%) respectively.

Plans to cut subsidies?

9.  Subsidies will constitute 7.9% ($ 2.9 billion) of operating expenditures, declining 15.8% from 9.8% ($ 3.5 billion) of operating expenditure in 2007, indicating the government will possibly reduce fuel subsidies (perhaps on gas) in 2008.  Fuel subsidies are about three quarters of the total subsidy payment.  So far, the government has kept its promise not to raise domestic fuel prices this year as crude oil prices continue to rise.

High oil prices to keep a lid on deficit, for now:

10.  Despite the increase in public spending, the government announced that it expected the fiscal deficit to remain under control at RM 20.9 billion ($ 6.0 billion) or 3.1% of GDP in 2008, down from an estimated RM 19.9 billion ($ 5.7 billion) or 3.2% of GDP in 2007.  The government projected revenue to increase 3.7% to RM 147.1 billion ($ 42 billion) in 2008 from RM 141.8 billion ($ 40.5 billion) in 2007, based on an assumption that oil prices will average $ 74 per barrel in 2007 and $ 75 per barrel in 2008.

Oil-related revenues are expected to contribute $ 15.9 billion or 38% of total revenue in 2008, up marginally from $ 15.3 billion or 37.9% of total revenue in 2007. (Comment: As the petroleum income tax collection is based on preceding year's income, the government can be confident of its oil revenue in 2008.  National oil company Petronas' dividend payment to the government will accelerate to $ 6.9 billion in 2007 from $ 5.1 billion in 2006.)

New tax provisions:

11.  Following are the most significant changes to the tax code proposed in the 2008 budget:

--  Corporate tax, reduced from 28% in 2006 to 27% in 2007, will be reduced further to 26% in 2008 and 25% in 2009. This compares favorably to most countries in the region, with the exception of Singapore (18%) and Hong Kong (17.5%).  Vietnam, China, Thailand, India, Indonesia and the Philippines all have higher corporate tax rates, ranging from 28% to 35%.  (Taiwan's corporate tax rate is also 25%, but there is an additional 20% withholding tax on dividends.)

--  Tax on dividends will no longer be adjusted to meet the recipient's tax rate.  Currently, taxpayers in brackets above the corporate rate are required to pay the difference; taxpayers in brackets below the corporate rate are eligible for a refund. (Dividend payments are not subject to double taxation in Malaysia.) Companies may opt for a six-year phase-in of this new provision.

-- Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) will be exempt from filing monthly tax estimates and paying monthly installments for the first two years of operations.  Tax for the full two years will be liable upon filing at the end of the two years.  A SME is defined as a company with ordinary paid-up share capital of less than RM 2.5 million (US$ 727,000).

--  Information & Communication Technology (ICT) companies will be required to locate within specified geographic areas to retain current tax incentives.  ICT companies will qualify for an exemption of import duties and sales tax for broadband equipment not produced in Malaysia.

--  Income derived from trading of Certified Emission Reduction (CER) certificates will be tax exempt.

--  Tax relief will be provided for post-graduate studies, sports and exercise equipment, children's educational accounts, computers, broadband subscription fees, and some retirement benefits.

-- Expatriate income tax will be calculated according to the number of days physically present in Malaysia.

--  A 7% cap on deductions for approved charitable contributions will be extended to individual taxpayers as well as companies. (Currently only companies are subject to the cap.)

--  Companies located in the Labuan Offshore Financial Center can make an irrevocable election to be taxed at the regular Malaysian rate, allowing them to benefit from bilateral tax treaties that otherwise would exclude them.

--  Taxpayers will be permitted to make mortgage payments out of their retirement savings accounts.

--  A number of new incentives will be enacted for companies engaged in Islamic finance, including Islamic insurance (reftel).

Comment:

12.  The issue the Prime Minister isn't bringing up for this election-year budget is the problem of declining oil revenues. Petronas provides 35 to 40% of the GOM's budget.  However, Malaysia is projected to be a net importer of oil within the next several years, based on a continued trajectory of 4% annual increases in domestic demand.  This is a major problem because Petronas is obliged by the GOM to provide oil and gas for the domestic market at subsidized prices and it is responsible for covering the price gap between international and domestic prices. This of course eats away at its profits and its taxable income which is so essential to government revenue flows.  While Petronas increasingly expands its operations overseas, it is unlikely to be able to do so rapidly enough to compensate for lost revenue when oil imports exceed exports.  The problem of preventing a ballooning fiscal deficit when that happens is the elephant that everyone pretends not to see.

KEITH (September 2007)

 

Anwar the unsinkable

Posted: 13 Oct 2011 07:45 PM PDT

Chua Jui Meng warns BN that prison will not erase Anwar's political appeal.

Chua, who became a political activist when he was studying law, joined MCA in 1976. He was elected as MP for Bakri (Johor) in 1986 and retained the seat for five consecutive terms. He became Deputy International Trade and Industries Minister in 1990 and Health Minister in 1995.

G. Vinod, Free Malaysia Today

Inside or outside of prison, Anwar Ibrahim will always be a force to reckon with.

That is the view of a lot of people, whether they like or hate the opposition leader. But Chua Jui Meng, who repeated the statement in a recent FMT interview, is an admirer.

"I've never seen a man so touched by God ," said the former health minister who is now a vice-president in Anwar's PKR.

Some may say that is a tad too effusive, even coming from a comrade in arms. But Chua insisted that he had "seen it all" in decades of active politics. "Anwar is touched by God in a very special way. Despite the persecution he is suffering, he is still as bold as ever."

One manifestation of that boldness, according to Chua, is that Anwar is never shy, even when addressing a predominantly Malay crowd, of articulating his belief that all races can thrive in Malaysia without anyone having to deprive anyone else. "That's extremely rare," coming from a Malay politician in Malaysia, he said.

He cautioned his former colleagues in Barisan Nasional that having Anwar behind bars would be politically detrimental to them.

Imprisoning him on "fabricated charges of sodomy" would only help Pakatan Rakyat win more seats in elections, he said.

"And I believe Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is not unintelligent to know that putting Anwar behind bars will make a martyr of him. Remember what happened in 1998. Those who don't learn from history are bound to repeat it."

Chua, who became a political activist when he was studying law, joined MCA in 1976. He was elected as MP for Bakri (Johor) in 1986 and retained the seat for five consecutive terms. He became Deputy International Trade and Industries Minister in 1990 and Health Minister in 1995.

He joined PKR in July 2009, citing Malaysia's need for a strong two-party system.

Game changer

Chua believes that BN leaders know how strong Anwar's political influence is and will continue to harass him.

But Anwar would always "bounce back strongly", he said.

"I always tell the non-Malays that it took 50 years for Malaysia to have a man the stature of Anwar."

Speaking about Pakatan's chances in the coming polls, Chua said the government's crackdown on Bersih 2.0 last July had swung fence-sitters to the opposition's side.

He dismissed the notion that the hudud controversy had caused a dwindling of support for the opposition bloc, saying that many non-Malays, especially the Chinese, had warmed up to PAS.

"The Chinese and Indians may not support hudud, but they respect PAS' views on it. They know PAS is a game changer in the current political landscape."

In addition, Chua said, the non-Malays were aware that it would be tough for PAS to legalise hudud in Malaysia without it occupying two-thirds of the seats in Parliament.

"And Umno should realise that it can no longer use hudud as a spectre to frighten the non-Malays like it did in 1999. People are more politically savvy these days."

In the aftermath of Anwar's sacking from the Cabinet in 1998, the Malays abandoned the ruling coalition but Chinese and Indians voters kept BN in power out of fear of racial riots and the hudud provisions of Islamic law.

Chua said the main challenge he was facing as PKR's Johor chief was to get Pakatan's message across to the rural areas. "Umno is going all out to prevent us from reaching out to Johoreans."

READ MORE HERE

 

Projek Hospital Shah Alam: Kerajaan tanggung lebihan kos RM70 juta

Posted: 13 Oct 2011 07:13 PM PDT

(Merdeka Review) - Akhirnya, Gadang Holdings Bhd yang "direstui" Kementerian Kerja Raya (KKR) memperolehi projek Hospital Shah Alam, mungkin dilihat sebagai tanda noktah kepada kemelut yang berlaku sekian lama.  Namun demikian, di sebalik kemelut ini, timbul pertikaian ketidaktelusan dalam kementerian kerajaan, di mana KKR menyerah projek ini kepada Gadang tanpa melalui Kementerian Kewangan dan Jabatan Perdana Menteri, dan mengakibatkan kerajaan perlu menanggung lebihan kos setinggi RM70 juta.

Dalam satu kenyataan di Bursa Malaysia pada 10 Oktober 2011, Gadang Holdings Bhd mengumumkan bahawa anak syarikatnya Gadang Engineering (M) Sdn Bhd telah memperolehi projek Hospital Shah Alam, dengan kontrak bernilai RM410.87 juta.  Projek ini akan disiapkan dalam tempoh 24 bulan.

Pernah dalam satu laporan eksklusif, MerdekaReview (edisi bahasa Cina) melaporkan bahawa terdapat enam syarikat yang menyertai perbidaan semula projek ini, dan Gadang Holdings Bhd yang "direstui" KKR telah berjaya memperolehi projek tersebut.  Sebagaimana yang diketahui, harga bidaan asal yang dikemukakan Gadang Holdings Bhd adalah RM431.66 juta, namun telah dikurangkan kepada RM410.87 juta kemudiannya, dan disiapkan dalam tempoh 24 bulan.

Masalah ketidaktelusan


Menurut laporan sebelum ini, setelah perbidaan tamat pada Disember 2010, KKR mengesyorkan Gadang Holdings Bhd kepada Kementerian Kewangan.  Namun demikian, Kementerian Kewangan mengeluarkan surat perintah pada 22 Mac 2011 kepada KKR, menyatakan bahawa cadangan Gadang sebagai kontraktor projek Hospital Shah Alam tidak diluluskan, malah meminta agar KKR mengadakan perbidaan semula.

Walaupun KKR membuat rayuan kepada Kementerian Kewangan pada Jun 2011, agar Gadang Holdings Bhd yang berjaya dalam perbidaan dipertimbangkan semula oleh Kementerian Kewangan untuk mengambil-alih projek Hospital Shah Alam.  Namun demikian, bukan sahaja Kementerian Kewangan menolak permintaan KKR dalam surat balasnya, malah cuba menyenaraikan Frontier Structure Sdn Bhd yang tidak berkelayakan ke dalam senarai perbidaan semula.

Bukan itu sahaja, lebihan kos untuk projek Hospital Shah Alam melebihi RM70 juta selepas perbidaan semula, mengakibatkan nilai kontrak baru melebihi nilai kontrak asal yang diluluskan, malah di luar bidang kuasa Kementerian Kesihatan untuk meluluskannya.  Kementerian Kesihatan perlu mendapatkan persetujuan Unit Perancang Ekonomi (EPU) sebelum mengeluarkan surat kelulusan.  Oleh yang demikian, Kementerian Kesihatan menangguhkan kelulusan yang diminta oleh KKR.

Dengan kata lain, walaupun Kementerian Kewangan telah mengeluarkan surat untuk tidak meluluskan Gadang Holdings Bhd daripada mengambil-alih projek Hospital Shah Alam, namun KKR bukan sahaja tidak menurut perintah Kementerian Kewangan, malah terus mengumumkan bahawa projek ini diserah kepada Gadang  Holdings Bhd tanpa melalui Kementerian Kewangan.  Sebagaimana yang diketahui, bukan sahaja Kementerian Kewangan, malah Jabatan Perdana Menteri tidak mengetahui keputusan KKR ini.

Lebihan kos yang ditanggung


Lantaran daripada penyerahan projek ini kepada Gadang Holdings Bhd, ia bermakna kerajaan perlu menanggung lebihan kos lebih daripada RM70 juta.  Menurut dokumen Kementerian Kesihatan, kos projek melonjak kepada RM556.51 juta selepas perbidaan semula, mencatat lebihan kos sebanyak RM74.91juta berbanding nilai kontrak asal.

Ia sebenarnya menunjukkan bahawa kerajaan BN masih mengekalkan budaya ketidaktelusan dalam perbidaan.  Ia bercanggah dengan program transformasi kerajaan yang disarankan kerajaan Najib, dan menyebabkan dasar pembaharuan dalam bidang perkhidmatan awam ini menjadi hanya satu retorik semata-mata.

Lebih penting, masalah lebihan kos projek Syarikat Hospital Shah Alam mungkin tidak dapat diselesaikan dengan pengambil-alihan oleh Gadang Holdings Bhd.  Isu pokoknya, walaupun Gadang Holdings Bhd berjaya memperolehi projek ini dengan sokongan KKR, namun projek Hospital Shah Alam ini juga berdepan dengan risiko kegagalan atau lebihan kos sekali lagi.

Ini kerana walaupun Gadang Holdings Bhd memiliki rekod membina hospital, namun pada hakikatnya ia tidak memiliki pengalaman yang sebenar dan profesional yang khusus.  Menurut maklumat yang diperolehi MerdekaReview sebelum ini, Gadang Holdings Bhd walaupun pernah memperolehi satu projek Hospital Rehabilitasi Cheras pada tahun 2008, namun syarikat ini terpaksa mendapatkan bantuan luar, iaitu perkhidmatan rundingan yang berkenaan dengan peralatan perubatan - kerana tidak memiliki pengetahuan dan pakar dalam bidang yang berkenaan.

 

Dangerous precedence in Sultan’s involvement in DUMC case

Posted: 13 Oct 2011 06:52 PM PDT

DANIEL JOHN JAMBUN

The decision to use the Sultan of Selangor with regards to the incidence of alleged proselytizing at the Damansara Utama Methodist church dinner has set a dangerous precedence because of several reasons. The people of Malaysia, regardless of the ethnic background and creed, are all directly involved and affected by this historic case in which the Sultan, as the head of Muslim affairs in Selangor, made a legal decision on the very sensitive matter.

While I doubt that the Sultan was truly informed on all aspects, implications, ramifications and potential repercussions of the case, what has been done has been done, and we have to proceed to deal with it, possibly for many years to come. The king may reverse the situation if he rescinds his ruling but this seems unlikely to happen. So the first question that needs to be asked is why hasn't the syariah court given the opportunity to contribute to the solution of the case? Since the case also involves non-Muslims, shouldn't the civil court also be involved? We realize of course that if the two courts joined the tussle, it would lead to confusion about which law to apply on whom. Should the Muslims be dealt with with syariah law and the Christians be dealt with by applying civil law? But how would one settle the case with two laws clashing on a case that could potentially result in differing judgments made on two different parties, or both parties becoming affected by ruling of laws that shouldn't apply to them? It would be a classic case of religious rights and freedom in which two irreconcilable laws try to dominate without any acceptable resolution! All it would do would be to cause an international embarrassment and shame to the country's ridiculous two-layered legal system!

So now we have a situation in which the Sultan has been used as an instrument of solution, which immediately results in many people raising issues about what's right and wrong. The royal ruling was made without any legal basis because he made it only as the leader of Islamic affairs in the state. There was no trial to decide who was guilty or not guilty. As a result the ruling in which the Sultan supported the raid by JAIS but assuring all that none would be charged, although the 12 Muslims who attended the fund-raising dinner would be given counseling, is spurious. The immediate assumption is that DUMC is guilty and that there was an attempt to proselytize. This then makes DUMC appear guilty, and so is in a defensive position while it is expected to keep silent and let the whole thing cool down. But it is not to be. Various parties are voicing out their unhappiness. The response from Sarawak is that one's religion is one's personal affair with God and none has the right to interfere in it.

The other issue is the question of JAIS' right to flagrantly enter a church and disrupt its activities. Ng Kam Weng, of The Micah Mandate writes that "the jurisdiction granted by Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution was to permit the state to control or restrict the propagation of religion among people professing to be Muslims. This must be read in the context of the Article itself which fundamentally provides for every person the freedom to profess, practice and propagate his religion…. There is no legal provision under the Propagation Enactment that allows Jais officials to intrude into the premises of DUMC, much less carry out a raid. From my reading of the Selangor Enactment (1988), the closest possible justification that can be offered by Jais are Sections 12 and 13, which specify that 'an authorised officer may investigate the commission of any offence under this Enactment and may arrest without warrant any person suspected of having committed any such offence.'"

By this, clearly JAIS is in the wrong and should be judged for a contravention of provisions of the Federal Constitution and the Propagation Enactment. I agree with Bob Teoh, an online commentator, that JAIS "cannot hide behind its spurious actions and be exonerated from its controversial intrusion into a charity dinner held at a church…. It must be held accountable for its actions because it strikes at the very heart of criminal jurisprudence, law enforcement, and administration of justice — Islamic or otherwise. Jais cannot (be)…allowed to get away with it through flawed reasoning…. Jais descended upon a charity function…without invitation, permission or due authority….  Conducting a search without a warrant or an order from the court is considered an extra-judicial action. Is Jais, therefore, exempt from due process? And if so, why?"

The simplistic method of using the Sultan to supposedly settle the whole thing down is clearly illegal and is a denial of the due process of law. What should have been done was to allow the due legal process to be carried out, especially because this is a test case for the country's dual legal system. Such a process may be protracted and expensive but it is necessary to give our judicial system a sense of honesty and transparency, and an opportunity for clarification and resolution for the long term legal benefits of all Malaysians. Unfortunately, because of the simplistic approach, we are all left hanging with the doubt and dissatisfaction. Because of this the civil-syariah dilemma will continue unresolved, and several questions will continue to haunt us. Will any church building be safe from raids by Islamic enforcement teams from now on, with or without reasonable cause? Which law should now precede in cases involving proselytization, or cases in which Muslim voluntarily joins a church to become Christians (without the church being aware that they are Muslims)? 

The other danger in this precedence is the now questionable position of the Sultan as the king of all the people of Selangor. He is installed as people's king, not merely the king of the Muslims. By taking sides in a religious issue, he has established an unwanted position as a king who is a protector of Muslims and no longer favouring the Christians. By making the decision he has also entered into the soiled realm of politics. Royals are supposed to be above politics being the patron and protector of all his people regardless of their race and religion. Sadly, in the case of Selangor, this may no longer be the case.

 

What’s the beef?

Posted: 13 Oct 2011 06:32 PM PDT

Now, the Christians condemn Islam for being barbaric (in particular reference to Hudud). But these are the same laws in the Bible. And the fact that Christians and Christian countries no longer follow these laws does not mean that the Bible has abolished these laws. These laws are still in the Bible. In fact, it says very clearly in the Bible that you are to kill your own children if they become apostates.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

I remember back in the 1980s (if I'm not mistaken) when Malaysia introduced the RM1,000 fine for littering. We joked that if you smoke a cigarette during the fasting month of Ramadhan and you see a policeman, keep smoking. If you were to throw the cigarette onto the road you would get fined RM1,000 for littering. If you keep smoking you would get arrested for smoking in public when you are supposed to be fasting. The fine is only RM300 -- so it is cheaper.

What has that joke got to do with what I am going to say today? Nothing, really, I just wanted to get your attention. Well, actually it is linked in some small way. I wanted to demonstrate that Islamic laws or Shariah laws have existed for a long time in Malaysia. It is not something new or something that is just about to be implemented. And there are many laws under the Shariah, the only one that is yet to be implemented would, of course, be that very controversial law called Hudud, which deals with 'serious crimes' (at least from the Islamic perspective).

However, Shariah laws have always been imposed only on Muslims (or those perceived to be Muslims or suspected to have converted to Islam: hence the body snatching cases). Non-Muslims are exempted or immune from these laws.

We once discussed a hypothetical situation. What if a man (or woman) was arrested for khalwat (close proximity: which means being in a secluded place with someone you are not married to) and he (or she) was dragged before the Shariah court to face charges? The charges are read to him/her and he/she responds by asking the court to prove that he/she is a Muslim.

You see; close proximity is only a crime if you (or both of you) are a Muslim. If you are not a Muslim then no crime has been committed. So this man (or woman) asks the court, "How do you know that I am a Muslim?"

That is a valid question. He/she may have been born from Muslim parents and may even have a Muslim name on his/her birth certificate and identity card. So, 'constitutional speaking', he/she is a Muslim.

But what are the criteria for one to be regarded as a Muslim? Aren't there certain doctrines you have to believe in (beyond any shadow of doubt) to be a Muslim? And aren't there certain fundamentals you have to believe in plus certain rituals you have to perform to be a Muslim?

What if you doubted that Prophet Muhammad was really a Prophet? What if you suspected (but are quite not sure) that he learned 'Islam' from Khadijah's cousin Warakah Nawfal, who was a Christian Ebionite priest -- considering that there is a lot of overlapping between Islam and the Old and New Testaments? (Khadijah was Prophet Muhammad's first wife). What if you suspected (but are quite not sure) that the Koran may not have come from God but was actually drafted by Prophet Muhammad from what he had learned from Warakah?

If you start thinking like this then never mind if you were born from Muslim parents and have a Muslim name in your birth certificate and identity card. You are NOT a Muslim. You doubt the prophethood of Muhammad and you doubt that the Koran is God's word. That means you are not a Muslim.

So, if you were to tell the Shariah court this -- about your doubts and that you do not think what Islam says about Prophet Muhammad and the Koran are correct and maybe are just myths -- then the court cannot try you as a Muslim. And since the Shariah court can only try Muslims, then it would have to stand down. 

Of course, then the religious department can arrange to send you for 'religious rehabilitation'. But that is another matter. The point is, they can't try you for khalwat since you have professed to not believing in the doctrine of Islam and that you doubt its veracity and suspect that these stories are mere myths and old wives' tales.

Say, after many months in the detention camp and they still can't 'rehabilitate' you. You still insist that you do not believe in what you consider myths. Well, they can't put you to death because Hudud laws have not been implemented yet in Malaysia. So they will eventually have to let you go (which is what happened to one of my friends after two years of detention).

Now, if they had implemented Hudud, and if the Hudud law for apostasy is death, then they can cut off your head.

Actually, if you were to analyse the Hudud laws carefully, you can see that they are actually similar to the old Judeo-Christian laws. So one would not be faulted if one were to say that Islam was 'hijacked' from earlier religions (although Muslims would get very upset with you for saying this).

Now, the Christians condemn Islam for being barbaric (in particular reference to Hudud). But these are the same laws in the Bible. And the fact that Christians and Christian countries no longer follow these laws does not mean that the Bible has abolished these laws. These laws are still in the Bible. In fact, it says very clearly in the Bible that you are to kill your own children if they become apostates.

This is still in the Bible and has never been amended. And the fact that Christians and Christian countries today no longer implement these laws is for no other reason other than that Christians are bad Christians. The Christians have defied God and have rejected the Bible. There are very few Christians who still listen to God and follow God's word as laid out in the Bible. If they were true Christians, they too would kill apostates -- people who leave Christianity to become Muslims.

Anyway, some Muslims want Islamic laws to be implemented. I am of the opinion that we let the Muslims work this out amongst themselves. Today, hardly any Christian would agree to be subjected to 'barbaric' Bible laws although this would mean they are violating the Bible. I suspect that the majority of Muslims would also decide to do the same. But it is up to the Muslims to decide this matter, not for non-Muslims to decide on behalf of the Muslims.

The only thing the non-Muslims should be concerned about is that these Islamic laws would only be imposed on Muslims and not on non-Muslims, like what has been the case thus far. How these guarantees would be put in place is a matter that can be discussed and agreed upon. And once the non-Muslims are satisfied that they would be immune or exempted from ALL forms of Islamic laws, then let the Muslims do what they want. After all, in a democracy, everyone has a right to his/her religious beliefs and practices as long as it does not affect other people.

 

Saya serah kepada polis - Aziz Bari

Posted: 13 Oct 2011 05:15 PM PDT

(Harakah Daily) - Pakar Perlembagaan, Prof Dr. Abdul Aziz Bari menyerahkan kepada polis untuk melakukan siasatan terhadapnya berhubung laporan yang dibuat, mendakwa beliau mempertikai titah Sultan Selangor dalam isu pemeriksaan terhadap Gereja Methodist Damansara Utama (DUMC).

Beliau berkata, semua orang mempunyai hak untuk membuat laporan polis jika tidak berpuas hati terhadap tindakan mana-mana pihak dan polis juga berhak melakukan tugas mereka.

"Hak orang nak buat laporan polis...saya tak boleh kata apa...terpulang kepada polis untuk ambil tindakan," katanya kepada Harakahdaily hari ini.

Aziz berkata demikian ketika diminta memberi respons kepada lima laporan polis yang dibuat terhadapnya semalam.

Satu laporan dibuat oleh bekas ketua Pemuda PKR Ezam Mohd Nor manakala empat lagi oleh NGO yang kritikal terhadap kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat di Selangor Gabungan Anti Penyelewengan Selangor (GAPS).

Dalam laporan masing-masing, mereka mendakwa, Aziz tidak sepatunya mengeluarkan kenyataan itu kerana kuasa Sultan dalam hal ehwal Islam termaktub dalam Undang-undang Tubuh Negeri.

Namun Aziz mempertahankan tindakannya itu dan menafikan beliau mengeluarkan kenyataan yang mencabar kuasa Sultan.

"Saya rasa apa yang saya sebut itu tak ada masalah dalam ruang lingkup yang kita boleh komen.

"Ada lagi kenyataan yang lebih teruk tapi tak ada pulak laporan polis dibuat terhadap mereka," katanya.

Malaysiakini Selasa lalu melaporkan Aziz sebagai berkata, tindakan Sultan Selangor campurtangan berhubung isu DUMC bukan tindakan yang lazim.

Menurutnya, walaupun sebagai ketua agama Islam negeri baginda mempunyai hak itu, tetapi ia perlu dijalankan selaras dengan ajaran Islam.

 

Selangor dances the limbo for JAIS

Posted: 13 Oct 2011 04:29 PM PDT

The Sultan's decree does not resolve important issues raised by the farcical raid on DUMC and has left many with bottled up feelings of resentment and discontent

Officials of DUMC have, from the outset, vehemently denied the allegations that Muslims had been proselytised at what they claim was a multiethnic gathering to raise funds for HIV/AIDS. They have however, criticised the actions of JAIS enforcement officials for their role and conduct in the unauthorised raid.

Mariam Mokhtar, Free Malaysia Today

The principal parties involved in the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (JAIS) raid on a Methodist church function last August have officially endorsed the sultan's solution, and the matter is deemed closed.

The Sultan of Selangor's brief statement said that "….there had been attempts to subvert the faith and belief of Muslims" during the dinner at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) organised by the NGO Harapan Komuniti during Ramadan.

Despite this, many issues remain unresolved and the rakyat is more perplexed than ever because his statement raises more questions than answers.

How much involvement has Umno in the affairs of an opposition led state, do state religious authorities think that they are above the law and had abuses of power by JAIS been swept under the carpet?

The statement did not allude to any evidence uncovered in these "attempts" at proselytisation, neither did it make reference to the Christians.

However, it mentioned that no further legal action could be taken because of insufficient evidence and that JAIS had acted correctly in conducting the search.

Sultan Sharafuddin said: "Therefore, after carefully deliberating the report by JAIS and after obtaining advice from religious authorities and legal experts, we are in agreement that there would be no prosecution against any party.

"We are satisfied that the actions of JAIS were correct and did not breach any law enforceable in Selangor. We command that (Islamic officials) provide counseling to Muslims who were involved in the said dinner, to restore their belief and faith in the religion of Islam."

Officials of DUMC have, from the outset, vehemently denied the allegations that Muslims had been proselytised at what they claim was a multiethnic gathering to raise funds for HIV/AIDS. They have however, criticised the actions of JAIS enforcement officials for their role and conduct in the unauthorised raid.

Perhaps, the most disquieting statement was when the sultan said that he was "gravely concerned and extremely offended by the attempts of certain parties to weaken the faith and belief of Muslims."

Malaysians have remarked that they are just as offended because nothing has been done to check high-handed officialdom and the mistrust which the officials have in the rakyat.

Firstly, they are offended that Malays are perceived to be of weak faith and an even weaker constitution, that their presence in a largely Christian flock, when hymns are sung or prayers said, could make them denounce their faith.

Secondly, the notion that any multiethnic event, be it a funeral, Christmas party, celebration of a festival or something as innocuous as a dinner, is seen as an attempt to convert the Muslim brethren.

As defender of the faith, the sultan had also directed his subjects to stop questioning the actions of JAIS and that activities which spread other religions to Muslims should cease.

He said: "The religion of Islam as practised in Selangor is one of tolerance. Muslims are always encouraged to respect the believers of other religions. However, persons or parties cannot take the opportunity to spread other religions to Muslims."

What if a similar raid was on a mosque?

But disgruntled non-Muslims have remarked: "It is all right for you Muslims. But who speaks for us, when members of our community undergo forced conversions?

"Families are torn apart, children are separated from their mothers, bodies are snatched from graves, marriages cannot be registered. Where is the freedom to practise our religion as provided in the constitution?"

A Malay resident of Petaling Jaya living beside a Church said: "No one questions JAIS for wanting to do its job. The issue is how JAIS conducted itself when it carried out the raid.

"Did JAIS have any respect of the sanctity of a place of worship? Did it even follow procedures when conducting the raid? Are there any standard procedures in the first instance?

"If a similar raid were to be conducted on a mosque, wouldn't there be a Muslim backlash? Without search warrants or strict adherence to guidelines to raid, do you think anyone will have any respect for authority if they simply bulldoze their way in?

"Where is the respect for another person's religion?" Where is our tolerance?"

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