Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Najib’s turn at Google Hangout, aims for cyber-savvy crowd
- Umno, PAS youth wings to hold separate protests over anti-Islam video, cartoon
- Hudud feud heats up between Karpal and PAS leaders
- Actress sues California man behind anti-Muslim film
- Najib tells Chinese voters to stop ‘confrontational culture’
- Umno will never regain Selangor
- Battle between ‘familiarity’ and ‘change’
- Guidelines for women bosses spark outcry
- Waytha still a ‘national threat’?
- Ad Calling Jihad ‘Savage’ Is Set to Appear in Subway
- Dr M: Najib’s cash handouts ‘very close’ to vote buying
- Free speech or incitement? French mag runs cartoons of Prophet Mohammed
- Dr M: BN won’t get supermajority
- Taib is worth RM45b, believe it or not
- Freeze Taib’s accounts, govts told
- Fake website or serious opposition mouthpiece? - PBS
- Zakir Naik’s host defends invite
- Duo’s application struck out in RPK suit
- White House: Libya attack may have been preplanned
- 'Fatwa' to kill issued against anti-Islam filmmaker
- French Mag to Publish Cartoons of Prophet Mohammed
- Uproar over Ngeh’s tweet on anti-Islam video
- Dr M says American mothers are promiscuous in attack against US free speech
- More film retaliation as suicide bomber near Kabul airport kills nine
- Six govt bodies to act against Suaram
- Chaos at US embassy in Jakarta over anti-Islam film
- Thai US embassy to close ahead of film rally
- Suaram faces ‘misleading accounts’ charge, says minister
- Suaram says prepared for scrutiny but wants probe on Scorpene too
- Yahya spells reasons for joining PKR
- ‘Slight voter swing to BN’
- Terengganu invents furnace for efficient Quran disposal
- Nizar: A bigger tsunami taking shape in Umno
- FOC briyani for ‘LGBTs’
- PAS: Don’t delay hudud
- More urging Dong Zong duo to cancel rally for sake of Chinese education
- Ismail Embong among three named Tokoh M’sia
| Najib’s turn at Google Hangout, aims for cyber-savvy crowd Posted: 19 Sep 2012 03:36 PM PDT
Jahabar Sadiq, The Malaysian Insider Datuk Seri Najib Razak will host a Google Hangout on September 29, becoming the second Malaysian politician to connect with IT-savvy Malaysians especially youths who form a distinct demographic of the 13 million eligible to vote in the next general election. The Malaysian Insider understands that the prime minister will answer questions in the hour-long session in the online forum from 4pm that Saturday, a day after he tables the Budget 2013 proposals in Parliament. The budget is the last one before elections that must be called by middle 2013. "Datuk Seri Najib is having a Google Hangout on September 29 at 4pm and this will add to other efforts in cyberspace," a source told The Malaysian Insider. It is learnt that his communication team is working on the details of the Google Hangout and an advertising campaign to promote the event, which will centre on the government's efforts to develop the country into a high-income developed nation by 2020. It is also understood that Najib, who is finance minister, will also answer questions about the Budget 2013 proposals. The Google Hangout comes at a time when the Malaysian authorities lodged an official complaint to Google and its video-sharing site YouTube about the anti-Islam film clip "Innocence of Muslims" which is seen as denigrating Prophet Muhammad and the faith, which is the country's official religion. YouTube has blocked access to the video clip from Malaysian Internet Protocol (IP) addresses but other services remain. The video-sharing site is popular in Malaysia and is mainly used by opposition politicians who want to bypass local free-to-air television stations which are either run by the state or by pro-government owners. Najib's main political foe, Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, was the first politician in the country to hold a Google Hangout, which allows virtual meetings of up to 10 people or a broadcast to an online audience of millions. Anwar's event drew thousands when it was held on August 17, two days before the Eid festival when Malaysian Muslims return home to celebrate the end of the holy Ramadan fasting month. US President Barack Obama hosted a Google Hangout last January as part of his re-election campaign. The forum comes in the form of live video connections and video YouTube questions. Najib, who will seek his own mandate in the next polls, is one of the country's most popular politicians online through his blog www.1malaysia.com.my, his two Facebook accounts and his Twitter microblogging account. His main Facebook page has 1,181,087 likes against Anwar's 388,219 likes in a country which has some 12.9 million Facebook accounts.
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| Umno, PAS youth wings to hold separate protests over anti-Islam video, cartoon Posted: 19 Sep 2012 02:12 PM PDT
(The Star) - Umno Youth and PAS Youth will hold separate protests Friday over the anti-Islam video and a satirical cartoon published in a French magazine deemed insulting to Prophet Muhammad. Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said the wing, together with 10 other non-governmental organisations, will now gather at Majid Jamek in Kampung Baru "to show displeasure over the video and cartoon as well as to condemn the violence targeted at innocent people." It is learnt that PAS Youth supporters would continue with their gathering outside the American Embassy in Jalan Tun Razak. Earlier, both sides had reportedly agreed to gather in solidarity outside the embassy. "We have decided to change the venue to the Masjid Jamek due to security reasons," Khairy told a press conference Thursday. "The Home Ministry and police have advised us to break up the crowd as we are expecting more than 5,000 to join the gathering," he said.
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| Hudud feud heats up between Karpal and PAS leaders Posted: 19 Sep 2012 01:50 PM PDT
(The Star) - The feud between DAP stalwart Karpal Singh and PAS leaders over the implementation of hudud laws has heightened. The DAP chairman insisted that he had every right to object to the implementation of hudud despite PAS' warning for him not to meddle in its internal affairs. Karpal said PAS, being only a component party in Pakatan Rakyat, should not commit the group to a policy that would have detrimental effects on its aim to attain power. "I hope PAS leaders will carefully re-evaluate the party's stand on the implementation of hudud in the country. They should do so in the interest of Pakatan. "The warning to me by PAS not to interfere in its internal affairs is clearly misplaced and unwarranted," he said in a statement here yesterday. The issue of hudud, added Karpal, could only jeopardise Pakatan's chances of gaining federal power as well as retaining the five states it won in the last general election. Hudud, he said, was not even included in Pakatan's common policy framework enshrined in the Buku Jingga. On Tuesday, PAS ulama vice-chairman Dr Mahfodz Mohamed had advised Karpal not to be a stumbling block when it came to the implementation of hudud law in the country. Karpal also implied that it was pointless to pursue the hudud agenda as even the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code Enactment was void. Reminding PAS leaders that the Federal Constitution was the supreme law of the land, the DAP stalwart said there was no place for hudud in secular Malaysia. Karpal also described it a matter of "grave disturbance" that PAS' upper echelon leaders were still pushing for the implementation of hudud. PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat had said the implementation of hudud should not be delayed because it was a religious obligation. PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, ulama chief Datuk Harun Taib and several other leaders had also said they would not forgo the hudud agenda. Only the Anwarinas in PAS, including Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, had called for an end to free airing of views on hudud as it would jeopardise their performance in the elections.
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| Actress sues California man behind anti-Muslim film Posted: 19 Sep 2012 01:41 PM PDT (Reuters) - LOS ANGELES: An actress in an anti-Islam film that triggered violent protests across the Muslim world sued a California man linked to its production yesterday for fraud and slander, saying she had received death threats after the video was posted on YouTube. Actress Cindy Lee Garcia, who also named Google Inc and its YouTube unit as defendants, asked that the film be removed from YouTube and said her right to privacy had been violated and her life endangered, among other allegations. It was the first known civil lawsuit connected to the making of the film that has circulated online as a 13-minute trailer, including under the title "Innocence of Muslims." The film, which portrays the Prophet Mohammad as a womanizer and a fool, helped generate a torrent of violence across the Muslim world last week. The US ambassador to Libya and three other Americans were killed in an attack in Benghazi. US and other foreign embassies were stormed in cities in Asia, Africa and the Middle East by furious Muslims. Garcia accused a producer of the movie, whom she identified as Nakoula Basseley Nakoula along with the alias Sam Bacile, of duping her into appearing in a "hateful" film that she had been led to believe was a simple desert adventure movie. "There was no mention of 'Mohammed' during filming or on set. There were no references made to religion nor was there any sexual content of which Ms. Garcia was aware," said the lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. For many Muslims, any depiction of the prophet is blasphemous. Caricatures deemed insulting in the past have provoked protests and drawn condemnation from officials, preachers, ordinary Muslims and many Christians. "This lawsuit is not an attack on the First Amendment nor on the right for Americans to say what they think, but does request that the offending content be removed from the Internet," the lawsuit said. The suit accuses Nakoula, Google and YouTube of invasion of privacy, unfair business practices, the use of Garcia's likeness without permission and intentional infliction of emotional distress. A representative for Nakoula's criminal attorney declined to comment on the lawsuit. "We are reviewing the complaint and will be in court tomorrow," said a Google spokesman.
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| Najib tells Chinese voters to stop ‘confrontational culture’ Posted: 19 Sep 2012 01:33 PM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - Datuk Seri Najib Razak has urged voters from the Chinese community to shun what he called the confrontational culture adopted since Election 2008 in making demands, in a Malaysia Day letter sent out to voters by Barisan Nasional's (BN) campaign machinery in Selangor.
The letter, written in Chinese, appeared targeted at younger voters who are Chinese-educated — with the demographic considered a major supporter of public protests and gatherings such as the last few Bersih rallies.  The Malaysia Day letter which BN sent to primarily Chinese-educated voters in Selangor. Chinese voters are also seen as leaning heavily in favour of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parties. "After the March 2008 elections, we have found that the non-confrontational culture had vanished into thin air, to be replaced by a confrontational approach. "Even if we acknowledge street demonstrations and openly debate sensitive subjects as a right of the public, should we not also consider whether a confrontational approach is the right way to solve problems and to push for reforms?" said Najib. The letter sent by Selangor BN was signed by Najib as prime minister and state BN chairman. In the letter, the PM did not cite examples of the confrontational approaches allegedly adopted by voters. But the BN administration has been rocked in recent years by two major public rallies organised by the Bersih electoral reform movement. Police action in violently clamping down on both rallies has hurt the BN government's popularity. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/najib-tells-chinese-voters-to-stop-confrontational-culture/ | |||||
| Umno will never regain Selangor Posted: 19 Sep 2012 01:25 PM PDT
(Free Malaysia Today) - If the voter swing remains at 7% in the coming general election, then Barisan Nasional will likely be left with less than 90 seats.
The general election is expected to be held very soon and that will be the best time for Umno. Later dates would place Umno in a very precarious position to do damage control on issues that are coming out of the woodwork. Also, Umno thinks that what it has done in terms of handing money and cash to the public is sufficient to bring back the voters that it lost in the 2008 general election. We are not going to dispute that assessment. But we are not going to overrate its chances in getting back what it has lost either. On average, the vote swing towards the opposition in 2008 was around 12%. With all the money it has given out, all the propaganda it is dishing out through the audio-visual and Umno-owned new media, it has probably succeeded in getting back at the most 5%. That still leaves a 7% vote swing in favour of Pakatan Rakyat on the whole. If the swing remains at 7%, Barisan Nasional will likely be left with less than 90 seats. They are out! Umno will never regain Selangor Meanwhile, in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory with 11 parliamentary seats, Pakatan still has a surplus of 15%. That is assuming that while Umno went on the offensive, Pakatan has been sleeping. In Selangor specifically, bearing in mind the water issue, I predict the vote swing will stay around 15%. With a 15% vote swing, how will Pakatan fare in Selangor? Umno can only retain the current six parliamentary seats it has if over the past four years Umno has managed to regained 18% of the swing votes it lost in 2008. But that is very unlikely given the gangster-style manner Umno is taking to recapture Selangor. Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2012/09/20/umno-will-never-regain-selangor/
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| Battle between ‘familiarity’ and ‘change’ Posted: 19 Sep 2012 01:23 PM PDT
(Free Malaysia Today) - Can PKR's Rafizi Ramli persuade loyal Pandan voters to veer away from their hardworking two-term Barisan Nasional MP Ong Tee Keat in the coming polls? It will be a battle of many titans in the coming 13th general election. Perhaps, one of the most watched and hotly contested seats in Selangor will be the Pandan parliamentary constituency. To date, speculation is rife that PKR's Rafizi Ramli, 35, will likely challenge MCA's incumbent Ong Tee Keat, 56, provided the latter is still slotted to re-contest in the Pandan seat. Ong is currently serving his second term. Unperturbed by his uncertain political career and resolutely serving his constituents, Ong is also playing his card close to his chest. Since Ong lost his party presidential post – in a three-cornered contest at an extraordinary MCA-AGM election in 2010 – to his arch nemesis Dr Chua Soi Lek, he has been sidelined by his party. However, close supporters in Pandan claimed that Ong has been constantly facing internal sabotages carried out by hidden hands from the higher-ups in his party. His detractors have deliberately spun endless rumours and speculations to discredit his loyalty to his coalition partner, Barisan Nasional. But Ong took it all in his stride, kept his silence and continued his focus on his constituency services. Kelvin Ang, 48, founding publisher of the Malaysia Book of Records (Chinese edition), in commenting on Ong's track record, said: "Since the 2008 [electoral] tsunami, Tee Keat has never stop serving the constituents. "He never bad-mouthed his party predecessors or his critics." Recalling an incident which indicated Ong's commitment to his constituency, Ang said: "I remember on one occasion, Tee Keat had a bleeding nose for having had to walk under the hot weather visiting the constituents. "The next day, he had a plaster across his nose but he still showed up for another event," Ong told FMT. It is this trait in Ong that Rafizi has found "challenging" in the latter's quest for the Pandan seat. Ong admired Rafizi said Ong's success in the previous general election was due to voters' "familiarity" with him, but was doubtful if a similar feat can be achieved in the next general election. According to Rafizi, the next tsunami will drown out Ong's performance record as the majority of the voters want a complete change of national government. What will voters from Pandan want? Will they overwhelmingly vote for "change" hence, rejecting a "familiar" member of parliament who has served them with a personal touch for the past years? As a staunch Buddhist, Ong has many admirers in his constituency. "Tee Keat is straightforward. His distaste for corruption is known within his circle of supporters. That's why those opportunists and pretentious people from his own party do not speak highly of him because they do not get any benefits from any organised charity events," said a local NGO leader CL Liew, 61, who has known Ong for the past 23 years. "Tee Keat is particularly concerned with public safety and his strong, generous support for Rukun Tetangga – providing uniforms and transport logistic vehicles like battery-driven bicycles – was much appreciated. Buddhist organisations and mosques also received much assistance from him during cultural and religious celebrations," Liew said. There are many areas of concern (in Pandan), Ong told FMT. "Pandan's constituency profile comprises middle-income and poor residents. Hence, the large numbers of apartments, low-cost flats and pockets of squatters in the area." "This led to the problem of stratified property management for the medium-cost apartments and condominiums. I think the situation is rather bad. "Problems like flooding and soil erosion are also emerging. For example, Taman Putra, Bukit Permai and Cheras Baru were hit with soil erosion recently, which had never happened before," Ong said, adding that there is a need for more expert management to cope with these concerns. He said that was one reason he had set up a "special squad" to identify areas of neglect to tackle the various problems like garbage collection, road repairs, clogged drains besides upgrading the quality of life of the residents like providing more recreational facilities in green lung areas and children's playground. "The high residential density has also given rise to the need for regular free medical check-ups for the elderly. Mobile clinics, acupuncture services, specialised health screening sessions [ultra sonic screening of digestive tracts] for the poor income group are organised by networking with the various local NGOs, which have been very successful. A haemodialysis centre is also ready to provide services at Taman Maju Jaya in the constituency," he added. Will it be a referendum? For education, Ong said the list of services included free tuition classes for students sitting for the SPM and UPSR examinations. Many long-serving supporters like Ang and Liew acknowledged that Ong is an MP who walked the talk. "For more than 20 years, Tee Keat had served his constituency well and we hope he will be given another chance to re-contest in Pandan," Liew said. Will the fight in Pandan be a referendum for "change" or "personalised services" between Rafizi and Ong? Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2012/09/20/battle-between-familiarity-and-change/
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| Guidelines for women bosses spark outcry Posted: 19 Sep 2012 01:03 PM PDT  (The Star) - The dust on the gay guidelines has barely settled before a new one has surfaced this time, directed at female bosses. The guidelines (pic) are listed in the Health Ministry's MedikTV Facebook page and feature eight "tips" on how to be a "good female boss". It was uploaded as a photo link but has been taken down at press time. The tips, written in Bahasa Malaysia, advised women to "banyak berbincang dengan orang bawahan, khususnya pekerja lelaki" (have many discussions with your subordinates, especially male workers). It also advocated they "pandai mengambil hati orang bawahan" (be smart in winning your subordinates' hearts) and "jangan menunjuk ego kuasa di depan orang bawahan terutama semasa memberi arahan" (don't flaunt your ego and power in front of your subordinates, especially when giving orders). However, the ministry has been quick to express its strong disapproval of the photo, with Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin saying MedikTV had apologised for the post. "It has also given a guarantee that all posts after this will not be prejudicial in nature or side any party," she said in an SMS. Rosnah also stressed that the guidelines had not been published by the ministry and had nothing to do with "any of the concepts or campaigns introduced by MOH". MedikTV also posted an apology on its Facebook page, stressing that the posts were not ministry policy. "This is our responsibility. All feedback should be channelled to us without involving other parties," it said. An online news portal reported that the Information Department had also shared the photo on its Facebook page on Tuesday. However, both links on the MedikTV and Info Department's Facebook pages had been removed at press time. Facebook users had described the guidelines as sexist and discriminatory. | |||||
| Waytha still a ‘national threat’? Posted: 18 Sep 2012 11:53 PM PDT
(The Sun Daily) - Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader P. Waythamoorthy, 46, was prohibited from leaving the country on Tuesday after being told by airport officials he was classified as a "threat to national security" in the immigration department's records.
Waytha, who spent five years in self-exile in the UK, was held up at the LCCT, Sepang while checking in for a Manila flight at 5.30pm. "It was a business trip and it has gone to waste as a result. This is absolutely ridiculous. I had no problems entering the country last month. I was told by immigration officers that the police have classified me as a national threat, and I am not allowed to leave the country," he told theSun. He learnt the immigration had clarified that the prohibition order was issued by the police in 2007 and it may be outdated. Waytha lodged a report against Immigration Director Datuk Alias Ahmad, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar and Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein at 11am today at the Travers police station, claiming the prohibition was a breach of human rights. "The restriction should have been removed if it is outdated. I am leaving for London on Saturday and I hope to not face similar problems," he said. Waythamoorthy said he would institute legal action against the relevant parties if the prohibition remains active. Officials from the police, immigration and Home Ministry were not reachable for responses. Waythamoorthy left the country in November 2007, fighting Hindraf's cause from overseas before returning to Malaysia last month. On Aug 2, Ismail was reported to have said that the police will monitor the movements and activities of Waythamoorthy and that no action would be taken against him as long as he abides by the law. On Aug 1, Waythamoorthy entered the country via the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex in Johor Baru with a passport issued to him on July 30 by the Malaysian High Commission in Singapore. His passport was revoked on April 2008. Upon his return, Waythamoorthy said he would not be taking sides in the country's political arena nor would Hindraf become a political party as its main duty was to champion the cause of the Indian community in the country.
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| Ad Calling Jihad ‘Savage’ Is Set to Appear in Subway Posted: 18 Sep 2012 11:39 PM PDT
(New York Times) - As violent and sometimes deadly protests consume much of the Muslim world in response to an American-made video mocking the Prophet Muhammad, New Yorkers will soon encounter another potentially inflammatory rendering of Islam: an advertisement in the transit system that reads, "In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man." It concludes with the words, "Support Israel. Defeat Jihad," wedged between two Stars of David. After rejecting the ads initially, then losing a federal court ruling on First Amendment grounds, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said on Tuesday that the ads were expected to appear next week at 10 subway stations. "Our hands are tied," Aaron Donovan, a spokesman for the authority, said when asked about the timing of the ad. In July, Judge Paul A. Engelmayer of Federal District Court in Manhattan ruled that the authority had violated the First Amendment rights of the group that sought to place the ad, the American Freedom Defense Initiative. The authority had cited the ad's "demeaning" language in barring its placement. The authority, which appealed the July ruling, also asked the judge to postpone implementing his decision until after its next board meeting on Sept. 27. But in an order late last month, Judge Engelmayer granted the agency just two more weeks to revise its ad policy or to seek a further stay from an appellate court. It has done neither. Now, the authority finds itself in a precarious position. The American Freedom Defense Initiative has also purchased ad space in Washington, but the transit authority there said Tuesday that it had "deferred" the ad's placement "out of a concern for public safety, given current world events." A similar option is not available to New York's transportation authority because of the court order, according to the agency. Mr. Donovan said the authority might consider revising its ad policy at its board meeting next week. Pamela Geller, the executive director of the American Freedom Defense Initiative, said in an e-mail Tuesday that transit officials in Washington were "kowtowing to the threat of jihad terrorism." She added that recent events in the Middle East had not given her pause "for a second" about posting the ads in New York. "I will never cower before violent intimidation, and stop telling the truth because doing so is dangerous," she said. "Freedom must be vigorously defended." She added, "If someone commits violence, it is his responsibility and no one else's." The group has also advertised at Metro-North Railroad stations, with posters that cite "deadly Islamic attacks" since Sept. 11 and read, "It's not Islamophobia, it's Islamorealism." The transportation authority has said it did not try to block these ads because they did not meet the agency's threshold for "demeaning" language, as the ad referring to a "savage" had. Muneer Awad, the executive director of the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said the ads were an attempt to "define Muslims" through hate speech. "We're encouraging American Muslims to go out there and define themselves," he said. Mr. Awad added that the group had not called for the ads' removal, though it has asked the transportation authority to redirect funds it receives for the ads to the city's Human Rights Commission. "It's perfectly legal to be a bigot and to be a racist," he said. "We want to make sure there's a counter-voice."
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| Dr M: Najib’s cash handouts ‘very close’ to vote buying Posted: 18 Sep 2012 11:34 PM PDT
Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad admitted today that the Najib administration's penchant for handing out cash to Malaysians through its various people-centric policies was "very close" to vote buying. But the former prime minister said the government was running out of time with polls drawing closer as the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition needed a bigger mandate to tighten its grasp on Putrajaya. "I do not believe in giving money to the people. I believe in giving facilities. But I think when a government has no time and they are facing an election, they make a decision that is easy," Dr Mahathir said in his keynote address at the Perdana Leadership Foundation's CEO Forum 2012 here. "If you give people money, then they should support (you). Maybe it is not vote-buying... but it is very close to that," he said, to laughter from the audience. The government is expected to announce a second round of RM500 cash handouts to lower-income households when Budget 2013 is tabled next week, in a move that is seen as giving Najib and his BN pact's ratings a boost ahead of polls expected soon. The first round of handouts under the Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia (BR1M) programme, which involved some five million families and cost taxpayers RM2.6 billion, saw Najib's approval ratings shoot up to 69 per cent, largely due to a surge of support from low-income households. Throughout his address, Dr Mahathir repeatedly mentioned the Najib administration's cash handouts, at one point even saying that "he (Najib) has a lot of money". "Now we have a new man as the head (of government)," he said when recalling the succession of prime ministers after he stepped down in 2003. "I won't say anything bad about him because I support BN. "The only thing I'm going to say is that he has a lot of money and he is giving away money to everyone. "During my time, I didn't give away money. I could have even given money to myself but I didn't. I think I made a mistake there," he said in jest. Najib will table the Budget on September 28 and besides the fresh BR1M handout, he is expected to announce other measures to boost domestic spending and the economy in a bid to head off a worsening economic outlook as he prepares to call his first general election. The economy grew at a surprising pace of 5.4 per cent in the second quarter, blowing away economists' expectations and potentially giving rise to a feel-good factor ahead of the general election. But the good news is not expected to last, as the global outlook is likely to affect Malaysian exports. Malaysia's surprisingly strong second-quarter economic growth despite weakening exports was largely due to the buffer of ongoing construction projects and increased spending attributed to civil servant salary hikes and government cash handouts, say economists, which could point to uneven growth in the months ahead. This means many ordinary Malaysians are not feeling the positive effects of economic growth, making the second BR1M handouts necessary to continue maintaining any economic momentum. A number of international ratings agencies also say that Malaysia has yet to present a convincing plan to tackle the twin fiscal threats of its federal budget deficit and federal debt even though strains on its credit profile are increasing. The ratio of federal government debt to GDP reached 51.8 per cent at end-2011 despite strong GDP growth but barring a further deterioration in the global economy, the government should be able to meet its 2012 deficit target of 4.7 per cent of GDP. The opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) has criticised the Najib administration for what it says is vote buying by the BN government through public spending in the form of various handouts such as the BR1M.
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| Free speech or incitement? French mag runs cartoons of Prophet Mohammed Posted: 18 Sep 2012 11:33 PM PDT
(CNN) - After a week of deadly, international protests against an anti-Islam film, a French satirical magazine is fueling the debate between freedom of expression and offensive provocation. The magazine Charlie Hebdo published cartoons featuring a figure resembling the Prophet Mohammed in an issue that hit newsstands Wednesday. Magazine director Stephane Charbonnier said his staff is "not really fueling the fire," but rather using its freedom of expression "to comment (on) the news in a satirical way." "It happens that the news this week is Mohammed and this lousy film, so we are drawing cartoons about this subject," Charbonnier told CNN affiliate BFM-TV on Wednesday. "It's more turning in derision this grotesque film than to make fun of Mohammed." The "lousy film" he's referring to is "Innocence of Muslims," an amateurish, 14-minute video that mocks the Prophet Mohammed as a womanizer, child molester and killer. The video drew international attention last week and spawned heated protests in more than a dozen countries. Any depiction of Islam's prophet is considered blasphemy by many Muslims. France will close embassies and schools in about 20 countries on Friday, the main Muslim day of prayer, as a precaution, the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday. It is already boosting security in some locations. There has been no violence reported as a result of the cartoons so far. They were published just a day after hundreds of Muslims took to Twitter to satirize the U.S. magazine Newsweek's cover story on "Muslim Rage." Muslims posted tongue-in-cheek tweets about what enrages them, such as having a really good hair day but no one knowing because you wear a hijab. Hend Amry, who posted that tweet as @LibyaLiberty, said Charlie Hebdo's latest cartoons were a cynical attempt to inflate sales. Opinion: Media don't get #MuslimRage She compared it to the French magazine that printed topless photos of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge last week. "Like printing tawdry pics of (Catherine) Middleton -- lowbrow rating booster," she said. "If we're going to chart it on the Muslim insult-o-meter, it is less inflammatory than the 'film,' but does continue the East/West divide we see," she told CNN. Charlie Hebdo journalist Laurent Leger said the magazine has shown Muslim men and Muslim extremists in the past, but does not explicitly state that the cartoons are depictions of the Prophet Mohammed. Rather, he said, the cartoons are open to interpretation. "The aim is to laugh. We want to laugh at the extremists -- every extremist. They can be Muslim, Jewish, Catholic. Everyone can be religious, but extremist thoughts and acts we cannot accept," Leger said. Hend Amry said she didn't believe that was really the magazine's intention. "No it isn't. It's for ratings," she said. Leger said the magazine was within its rights. "In France, we always have the right to write and draw. And if some people are not happy with this, they can sue us and we can defend ourselves. That's democracy. You don't throw bombs, you discuss, you debate. But you don't act violently. We have to stand and resist pressure from extremism." The cartoons are already drawing strong condemnation by the French Muslim community. Mohammed Moussaoui, president of the French Council of Muslim Faith, described a feeling of "indignation against this new Islamophobic act" to BFM-TV. He said the cartoons are "insulting for the prophet of Islam," and described their publication as a "new provocation." French authorities have already taken precautionary measures, with police vehicles parked outside the offices of Charlie Hebdo late Tuesday. The offices were the scene of an attack last November, when they were burned on the day the magazine was due to publish an issue with a cover appearing to make fun of Islamic law. The cover featured a bearded and turbaned cartoon figure of the Prophet Mohammed saying, "100 lashes if you're not dying of laughter." The magazine received threats after it announced that the edition would be guest-edited by the Prophet Mohammed and dedicated to the Arab Spring, Charbonnier told BFM-TV in November. The cartoonist known as Luz has been under police protection since last year, when one of his illustrations depicting the Prophet Mohammed was featured on the cover of that issue. Luz told CNN the latest cartoons depicting Mohammed are not featured on the cover. "We learned our lesson," Luz said. French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault weighed in on the debate Tuesday, expressing "his disapproval of any excess" and appealing "to the spirit of responsibility of each," according to a statement from his office. "The prime minister states that the freedom of speech makes up one of the fundamental principles of our republic. This freedom is expressed within the confines of the law and under the control of the courts," the statement read. Outside the country, security at French embassies have been reinforced, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said. "I am against all provocations, especially during a period as sensitive as this one. I do not see any usefulness in such provocation," he told the radio station France Info. "There must be freedom of speech, but I am absolutely opposed to any provocation." France has seen rising tensions over its rapidly growing Muslim minority -- the largest Muslim population in western Europe. Last year, the country banned the wearing of Islamic veils and other face coverings, claiming they were both degrading and a security risk. Belgium has passed similar legislation, and Switzerland banned the building of minarets, the tall spires which often stand next to mosques.
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| Dr M: BN won’t get supermajority Posted: 18 Sep 2012 11:27 PM PDT The influential former prime minister says Najib's government is weak. Syed Jaymal Zahiid, FMT Influential former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today described the Najib government as weak and predicted that it will not gain the much-needed parliamentary supermajority in the upcoming polls. Malaysia's longest-serving premier said the present government under Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak was too focused on "surviving" after its record losses in the 2008 general election, meaning it could not make "strong decisions" needed to push the country forward. Mahathir had in the past hinted repeatedly that Najib was making concessions to popular and opposition demands to shore up support and warned that this could weaken his administration. Speaking at the 2012 Perdana Global CEO Forum here today, the country's fourth prime minister said he would not "say anything bad" of Najib's performance now but hinted that it was too occupied with wooing voters at the expense of development. "I think Barisan Nasional will win but I think the majority will not be so good," he said in his keynote address entitled "What to expect post-13th general election". "If you ask me, will BN deliver after it wins? Today the government is not strong… it is trying to survive. What it is doing is just surviving. When a government is only trying to survive, it cannot focus on development." Mahathir also hinted that Najib, an unelected prime minister who took office in April 2009, was splashing out cash to woo voters and hinted that it was almost "close to vote buying". Spending a lot of money "I won't say anything bad about Najib. I'm supposed to be campaigning for him but what I can tell you is, he is spending a lot of money. I wish I could have done that but we didn't have that much money then," he joked. The former premier had often dodged rating Najib's performance in the past, repeatedly saying that he would avoid giving negative feedbacks. Observers interpret Mahathir's response as a hint that the outlook on Najib's leadership and approach to redeem BN's losses in 2008 was not good. And while he is seen campaigning hard to ensure the ruling coalition stays in power, analysts said this does not necessarily translate into endorsement for Najib. Today, Mahathir again urged voters to be mindful of voting in the opposition, saying that although the present administration may have its weaknesses, the country can improve with only a reshuffle in leadership. He said voting the opposition into power could be disastrous and the voters will have to "pay the price" when most of the policies of the opposition are in place. BN claimed most of the ideas proposed by Pakatan Rakyat were populist and unrealistic. Pakata had promised to raise oil subsidies, lower car prices and cut taxes but the government said these measures will affect revenue and hinder development.
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| Taib is worth RM45b, believe it or not Posted: 18 Sep 2012 11:23 PM PDT When Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud told longhouses residents in Sungai Aup, Sibu, in 2010 that he had 'more money than he can ever spend', people understood that he was rich. But how rich, was anyone's guess. Pushparani Thilaganathan, FMT Earlier today, Swiss-based NGO, Bruno Manser Fund (BMF), threw some light when it released its report: The Taib Timber Mafia. Facts and Figures on Politically Exposed Persons from Sarawak, Malaysia. According to the report, Taib and his 20-member family clan are collectively worth US$21 billion (RM64 billion). Taib himself is worth US$15 billion (RM45 billion) and, according to the report, "is the richest man in Malaysia"… his wealth having been derived from "plundering the state during his three decades as Chief Minister of Sarawak". It further explains why Umno and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak cannot muscle old man Taib out of his decades-old political seat. Also wallowing in wealth are Taib's better known siblings Onn Mahmud, Tufail Mahmud, Raziah Mahmud and his children Mahmud Bekir, Sulaiman Rahman, Jamilah and Hanifah. Also in this elite loop is his first cousin Hamid Sepawi. Lesser known to the masses are Taib's 12 other clan members, also "business magnets" worth millions in US dollar. Disclosing these financial details in a 45-page report released in Brussels in conjunction with the visit of the Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister, Bernard Dompok, to the European Union, BMF noted that "godfather" Taib and his family may have more "assets hidden in offshore districts", which may be untraceable. "The facts and figures of the Taib family are merely the tip of the iceberg as many family assets are likely to be hidden overseas or in offshore districts where information is virtually impossible to obtain." But the extensive research into Taib's business in Malaysia and overseas had, however, uncovered the vast dimensions of the family's illicit assets. "This report aims to build up international pressure against the corrupt Taib family and provide investigating bodies, journalists, Sarawakians and interested parties with detailed evidence on the Taib financial empire. "The report also aims to demonstrate the financial and political control that Taib has over Sarawak and provides profiles on the chief minister and his family members, all of whom have financially benefited from the destruction of Sarawak's rainforest," it said. The reports claimed that Taib abused his position as chief minister, state finance minister, and planning and resources minister, to award his family members with timber and palm oil concessions, state contracts and directorships in Sarawak's largest companies. It notes that in 2009, his three ministries controlled 49.6% of the state's operating expenditure of RM1.19 billion (US% 391 million) and 80% of the state's development expenditure of RM3.08 billion (US$1.01 billion), with the other 10 ministers sharing the rest. Overflowing wealth Detailing the wealth list of the Taib clan, the report said that the second richest man in Malaysia was Taib's brother Onn Mahmud, who is worth US$2 billion (RM6 billion). Also sharing the billionaire tag with a net worth of US%1.5 billion (RM4.5 billion) and US$1 billion (RM3 billion) respectively were Taib's elder son Mahmud Bekir and his Canada-based socialite daughter Jamilah Taib-Murray. His two other children – the "invisible" Kota Samarahan MP, Sulaiman Rahman, is worth US$300 million (RM900 million) while and daughter Hanifah has US$400 million (RM1.2 billion) to her name. Taib's sibling Onn Mahmud has an alleged net worth of US$1.5 billion (RM4.5 billion) and is the second richest man in Malaysia, while his other brother Tufail has US$600 million (RM1.8 billion) and sister Raziah is worth US$500 million (RM1.5 billion). Other siblings noted in the report are Arip Mahmud who is worth US$100 million (RM300 million), Ibrahim Mahmud and Ali Mahmud at US$20 million (RM60 million) each. His sister Ferdahanum and Zaleha are worth US$10 million (RM30 million) each while the net worth of another sister Aisah Zainab is not known. Also mentioned in the report is Taib's cousin Hamid Sepawi who made the Forbes Asia 2012 list . Hamid, who is the founder of Ta Ann Group, a timber conglomerate, is worth US$175 million (RM535 million), according to the list. Next in line is Taib's in-laws. His daughter Jamilah's husband, Sean Murray, is worth US$10 million (RM30 million) while Hanifah's spouse Syed Ahmad enjoys US$20 million (RM60 million) in assets. Of his brother-in laws, Robert Geneid (Raziah's spouse) has US$10 million (RM30 million) and Ferdahanum's man Abdul Aziz Husain has US$20 million (RM60 million).
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| Freeze Taib’s accounts, govts told Posted: 18 Sep 2012 11:20 PM PDT A Swiss NGO has lumped Taib Mahmud together with 'money launderers' Indonesian president Suharto and Philippines' Marcos. (FMT) - Swiss NGO, Bruno Manser Fund (BMF), has reiterated its call for governments and banks around the globe to freeze the assets of Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud and his family. It has also called on anti-corruption and anti-money-laundering authorities worldwide to investigate the Taib family's business activities. In a statement issued in conjunction with the release of its report 'The Taib Timber Mafia. Facts and Figures on Politically Exposed Persons from Sarawak, Malaysia' in Brussels, Belgium earlier today, BMF said the Taibs could be compared to Indonesia's president Suharto and president Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines. "The Taibs are being compared to the Suharto and Marcos clans who have also stolen billions from their countries. "According to Transparency International, former Indonesian president Suharto had embezzled US$15 to US$35 billion, while former Philippines president Ferdinand Marcos is thought to have stolen between US$20 and US$900 billion. "We want the governments and banks around the globe to freeze Taib family assets. "These assets should be frozen and restituted to the people of Sarawak, and the Taib family and their co-conspirators should be prosecuted for corruption, abuse of public funds, fraud, money laundering, tax evasion and other related crimes," noted the statement, alluding to the report which detailed Taib and his family's extensive wealth. According to the report, which was released to coincide with the visit by the Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister, Bernard Dompok, to the European Union, Taib and his 20-member clan are worth US$21 billion (RM64 billion). And the extensive wealth, the report claims, was derived "through the almost complete political and economic control of Sarawak" over the past three decades. "Taib Mahmud has systematically plundered a country once rich in natural resources, particularly oil, gas and timber. While the proceeds of the oil and gas extraction are mostly benefiting Malaysia's federal government, the Sarawak state government enjoys total autonomy as to the use of the state's forest resources and state lands. "The Bruno Manser Fund estimates the combined net worth of 20 Taib family members at close to US$21 billion, which have been acquired through the almost complete political and economic control of Sarawak, over three decades. "In particular, the Taibs have established monopolies over the granting of timber and plantation concessions, the export of timber to third countries, the maintenance of public roads as well as over the production and sale of cement and a number of other construction materials," it said. Taib's assets being monitored Taib, an impoverished carpenter's son, has been helming Sarawak since 1981. According to the report, his personal wealth now stands at US$15 billion (RM45 billion), making him the richest man in Malaysia. The second richest man in Malaysia is his brother Onn Mahmud with a net worth of US$1.5 billion (RM4.5 billion). Both have been closely linked to logging scandals dating back to 1981, the year Taib assumed the chief minister's post. The report cited two key scandals – one in 2007 and another in 2008. "In 2007, a scandal exposed by the Japanese tax authorities revealed that tens of millions of US dollars had been paid in secret, illegal kickbacks by Japanese shipping companies exporting timber from Sarawak. "The money was paid directly to Hong Kong companies linked to the chief minister's brother, Onn Mahmud. The Japanese cartel concluded an agreement in 1981 with Malaysia's Dewan Niaga Sarawak regarding lumber transport. "Dewan Niaga is a state-affiliated agency in charge of lumber export control and is headed by Onn Mahmud, one of Taib's brothers. "In 2008, Indonesian newspaper, Tribun Pontianak, revealed that around 30 shipments of illegal Indonesian logs were imported into Sarawak and re-exported to other countries every month. Chief Minister Taib Mahmud was implicated in this timber scam," the report noted.
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| Fake website or serious opposition mouthpiece? - PBS Posted: 18 Sep 2012 05:24 PM PDT
(Bernama) - Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) has urged Malaysians in Sabah to look at the website http://suarapakatanrakyat.com/ postings since August 2011 to judge for themselves whether Suara Pakatan Rakyat is a fake website or a serious opposition mouthpiece created specifically to discredit Barisan Nasional (BN) in a systematic manner. PBS has described the opposition's denial and calls for evidence to link the blog to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) as a desperate attempt to distance itself from the controversial but popular pro-opposition blog. PBS assistant secretary-general Daniel Kinsik said the PBS police report and subsequent statement (over an article) did not point finger specifically at PKR, but rather the blog and the blogger whose writings were obviously pro-opposition and critical of BN. PKR Sabah deputy secretary-general Darrel Leiking had earlier challenged PBS secretary-general Datuk Henrynus Amin to produce evidence to link PKR to the blog. "What evidence is Darrel talking about when the PBS police report simply urged the police to investigate the seditious nature of the article," said Daniel in a statement, here, today. "Why is he so jumpy when nothing is said to specifically accuse PKR of being the author of the blog? Does he know something we do not know?" What is there to be afraid of? "As a lawyer, Darrel should read the PBS police report and subsequent statement, before jumping to conclusion merely based on sensational headlines created by the editors to add spark," he said. Daniel said PKR Kadazandusun and Murut leaders were confused and started acting strange as the controversial article mocking the Sumazau dance must weigh heavily on their conscience as opposition leaders, knowing very well Suara Pakatan Rakyat is a mouthpiece for the opposition agenda. "Notwithstanding the police investigation, PBS' stand is that the article in the Suara Pakatan Rakyat blog is seditious in nature and seems to be the work of those closely linked to the opposition agenda. "If indeed Pakatan Rakyat has nothing to do with the controversial blog, they should take legal action to stop Suara Pakatan Rakyat from further publishing, using a name closely identical to theirs," he said. However, Daniel said, the people of Sabah would not be easily fooled by the opposition denial, as Darrel's antics merely reinforced public suspicion that Pakatan Rakyat was desperate and afraid of the unexpected turn of events against them.
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| Zakir Naik’s host defends invite Posted: 18 Sep 2012 05:12 PM PDT Saba Islamic Media invites non-Muslims to the controversial orator's talks. G Vinod, FMT Saba Islamic Media today defended its invitation of controversial Islamic orator Dr Zakir Naik to give talks in Malaysia, saying its purpose was to promote harmony among people of various religions. Saba spokesman Shakirin Kakulal Govindji said his organisation was inviting non-Muslims to Naik's talks and would give them priority during the question-and-answer sessions. News that the Mumbai-born physician-turned-orator was coming to Malaysia next week has caused fierce debate on the Internet, with some commentators alleging that Naik has often insulted non-Islamic faiths in his talks. "We are a multi-religious country and we want to maintain the peace and harmony in Malaysia," Govindji told FMT. "In the past 20 years, Saba Islamic Media has worked towards building bridges with people of different faiths in the country." He said that among Saba's objectives in inviting Naik was to have him clarify Islamic views on unity among people of all faiths, the Islamic perspective on modern science, and Muslims' misconception of terrorism and jihad. Naik is scheduled to deliver a series of talks between next week and Oct 7 at several venues, including the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC). Govindji said there would be a non-Muslim panellist at the PWTC event. "We also invite non-Muslims to attend the talks," he said. "Priority will be given to them to pose questions. Rest assured that no one will stop you. "So I urge those who disagree with Zakir's thoughts to put forward your rebuttals and allow him to answer them. Zakir has agreed to end the sessions late to accommodate all questions." Govindji also explained his own views on inter-faith harmony. He said that although there were doctrinal differences between religions, this did not mean that people of different faiths could not unite on common ground.
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| Duo’s application struck out in RPK suit Posted: 18 Sep 2012 02:48 PM PDT
(The Star) - The High Court here has struck out an application by two lieutenant colonels to amend their statement of claim in a defamation suit filed against blogger Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin. High Court judge Justice Su Geok Yiam dismissed the application after ruling that the issues for amendment brought up by Lt-Col Abdul Aziz Buyong and Lt-Col Norhayati Hassan were matters of evidence rather than fact. She also ruled that there had been no satisfactory explanation for the delay in the amendment. No date has been set for the next mention. Raja Petra was charged with defaming Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and the two senior military officers in a statutory declaration made at the Jalan Duta court complex on June 18, 2008. However, the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court subsequently granted him a discharge not amounting to an acquittal over the charge. The two lieutenant colonels have since filed separate RM1mil defamation suits against him.
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| White House: Libya attack may have been preplanned Posted: 18 Sep 2012 02:13 PM PDT
(Yahoo News) - THE White House on Tuesday explicitly left open the possibility that last week's dramatic attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, which left four Americans including U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens dead, was a preplanned attack. Press secretary Jay Carney suggested the assault could have been the work of an armed group looking to "take advantage" of unrest he blamed on an anti-Islam video available online. Carney repeatedly described that footage as the "precipitating" cause of the protests and the violence targeting American diplomatic posts in Egypt, Libya, Sudan, Tunisia and elsewhere.
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| 'Fatwa' to kill issued against anti-Islam filmmaker Posted: 18 Sep 2012 02:04 PM PDT
(Agencies) - A Fatwa was issued against filmmaker Nakoula Basseley Nakoula amidst warnings from Hizbollah of dangerous repercussions if the anti-Islam film is released in full. Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah called the film the "worst attack ever on Islam". Hizbollah warned of "very dangerous" global repercussions if an anti-Islam film is released in its entirety, as a fatwa was issued against the film's producer who has gone into hiding with his family. The warning from Hizbollah's Hassan Nasrallah came as the death toll from a week of violence sparked by the movie rose to 19. An eruption of Muslim anger over a trailer of the American-made film that appeared on the internet has spread across the world, taking hold Monday in Afghanistan, Indonesia, the West Bank, the Philippines and Yemen. Tens of thousands of demonstrators poured into the streets of southern Beirut to denounce the film at Nasrallah's request, and the head of the powerful Shiite Muslim group surprised supporters by making a rare public appearance. Nasrallah, whose Lebanese movement is blacklisted in the United States as a terrorist group, has called for a week of protests across the country over the film, describing it as the "worst attack ever on Islam". "America must understand ... the US must understand that releasing the entire film will have dangerous, very dangerous, repercussions around the world," he told the rally. The filmmaker Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, a 55-year-old Egyptian Copt and fraudster who was sentenced to 21 months in prison in the US in June 2010, has not been seen since Saturday when he was questioned by his US parole officer. The risks now facing those involved in the production of the film "Innocence of Muslims", which depicts the Prophet Mohammed as a thuggish womanizer, were underlined when a Salafist cleric in Egypt called Monday for the deaths of all those involved in its making. The film producer's family joined him in hiding, as more cast members of the film that outraged the Islamic world insisted they had been duped into making it. Before dawn on Monday, officers from the Los Angeles County sheriff's department escorted four members of Nakoula's family out of their home to be driven in unmarked police vehicles to an undisclosed location to join him. The terrorism monitoring service SITE Intelligence Group said Ahmad Fouad Ashoush issued his fatwa, or religious edict, against the cast and crew of "Innocence of Muslims" via jihadist internet forums over the weekend. "I issue a fatwa and call on the Muslim youth in America and Europe to do this duty, which is to kill the director, the producer and the actors and everyone who helped and promoted the film," the cleric said. The controversial movie has sparked a week of furious protests outside US embassies and other American symbols in at least 20 countries. In Pakistan, thousands of students burned US flags and chanted anti-American slogans in the northwestern city of Peshawar, where Osama bin Laden kept a home during the 1980s jihad against Soviet troops in adjacent Afghanistan. In the nearby district of Upper Dir, a protester was killed and two others wounded in a shoot-out with police. In Karachi, Pakistan's biggest city, another demonstrator died after being shot in the head during clashes with police near the US consulate on Sunday. The US embassy in Islamabad was closed on Monday because of the risk of demonstrations and diplomats have been banned from all but essential travel throughout the country. In neighboring Afghanistan, protests turned violent for the first time when more than 1,000 people rallied in Kabul, setting police cars and containers ablaze, police told AFP. Between 40 and 50 policemen were "very slightly wounded" by stone-throwers and members of the crowd waving sticks, said Kabul police chief Mohammad Ayoub Salangi. Google has barred access to the video of the film in Egypt, India, Indonesia, Libya and Malaysia, while the government has restricted access to Google-owned YouTube in Afghanistan. Later, Pakistan blocked access to YouTube after an order from Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf to do so, following the video-sharing website's failure to take down the anti-Islam film. Attempts to access YouTube met with a message saying the website had been classed as containing "indecent material". In Jakarta, protesters hurled petrol bombs and clashed with Indonesian police outside the US embassy shouting "America, America go to hell", as demonstrations in the world's most populous Muslim nation turned violent. The capital's police chief Untung Rajab said 11 policemen and a protester were injured and taken to hospital, and that four protesters were arrested. Mass demonstrations after the main weekly Muslim prayers on Friday saw 11 protesters killed as police battled to defend US missions from mobs in Egypt, Lebanon, Sudan, Tunisia and Yemen. The unrest began in Cairo, where protesters stormed the US embassy late Tuesday, replacing the Stars and Strips with an Islamic flag. Hours later it spread to the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, where the US consulate came under sustained attack, killing four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens. In Afghanistan, two US Marines died and six US fighter jets were destroyed when Taliban fighters on Friday stormed a giant airfield to avenge the film. The United States has deployed counterterror Marine units to Libya to protect its embassy in Tripoli and stationed two destroyers off the North African coast. A Marine unit was also dispatched to protect the US embassy in Yemen, where police shot dead four protesters and wounded 34 others on Thursday as a mob breached its perimeter. There were more protests in Yemen on Monday. The United States has evacuated all non-essential staff and family members from Sudan and Tunisia and warned US citizens against travel to the two countries. Libya said it has arrested 50 suspects in connection with the consulate attack. | |||||
| French Mag to Publish Cartoons of Prophet Mohammed Posted: 18 Sep 2012 09:53 AM PDT The offices of the Charlie Hebdo magazine destroyed in a bomb attack in Paris, 2011 (ABC News) - A French satirical magazine is set to publish several cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed on Wednesday, a move that is likely to inflame the Islamic faithful and militants who have already rioted in more than 20 countries over a movie mocking the prophet. Depictions of the prophet are strictly prohibited and considered blasphemous by Muslims. Cartoons of Muhammad published in Denmark in 2005 and then reproduced in newspapers across Europe triggered riots throughout the Mideast and Africa. Churches and embassies were torched and at least 100 people died in the outbreaks and police crackdowns. The magazine "Charlie Hebdo" has confirmed that it will publish the cartoons, but has not revealed what they will depict. French newspaper "Le Monde" reports that some of the cartoons show the prophet in "particularly explicit poses," without providing any further detail. The move comes as Muslims are still simmering after riots in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and nearly 20 other countries over the move "Innocence of Muslims." U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans died during an attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya. French government ministers have criticized the magazine's decision and police in Paris have stepped up security around its offices. Read more at: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/09/french-mag-to-publish-cartoons-of-prophet-mohammed/
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| Uproar over Ngeh’s tweet on anti-Islam video Posted: 18 Sep 2012 09:49 AM PDT
(The Star) - Perak DAP chief Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham has sparked an uproar over his tweet questioning whether Muslims were "wasting time and energy" in protesting the controversial anti-Islam Innocence of Muslims video clip. Politicians from both sides of the divide banded together to hit out at Ngeh, with many calling him insensitive. Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin described Ngeh's comments as insensitive and offensive, adding: "It clearly shows that he and DAP have failed to understand Islam and Muslims, our respect for the Prophet and our feelings." He also noted that Ngeh had indirectly criticised PAS who were planning to join a peaceful assembly on Friday over the matter. "No wonder PAS cannot trust DAP when their senior leaders regularly betray a lack of respect for Muslims," Khairy said. In his Twitter account, Ngeh, who is Sitiawan assemblyman, posted: "Khairy wants Muslim protest against Sam Bacile. For Islam or his political gains? Are Muslims wasting too much time and energy on this?" It was reported that Umno and PAS members are planning a massive protest on Friday against the anti-Islam film that mocks and insults Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. Information, Culture and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim tweeted that Ngeh was unfit to be a political leader for denying the rights of Muslims to uphold their religion. PAS Youth secretary Khairul Faizi Ahmad Kamil said Ngeh should be careful with his statements, pointing out that it was not Khairy who mooted the idea to hold a massive protest on Friday. "This issue involves all Muslims and it is mandatory for Muslims to protect the good name of Prophet Muhammad regardless of their political affiliation," he said yesterday. Kota Belud MP Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said Ngeh displayed "extreme insensitivity" in questioning whether the planned protest was politically motivated. MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said Ngeh's comments reflected insensitivity towards the feelings of Muslims. He stressed that the displeasure against the video clip had nothing to do with politics and that even Google and YouTube had taken measures to deal with the matter. "How can people in our country use this as a political tool? This is the problem with some, especially in DAP, who always look at things with a political slant," he said. Former DAP vice-chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim said the remark by Ngeh was unsustainable and uncalled for. Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir slammed Ngeh, saying it was not right for him to make such a statement especially in relation to such a sensitive issue. Three police reports have been lodged against Ngeh. Ngeh said he was very disappointed that some people had twisted the meaning of his tweet, reiterating that he respected the rights of everyone to protest or demonstrate. "There is no doubt that I condemn the video but my tweet was a question and not a statement as some have claimed, belittled Islam," he said. "I agree with the Malaysian Young Ulama that there needs to be restrain and a need to not cause further unrest. We should focus on the person who made the video and not the whole of the United States, where there are also Muslims living." | |||||
| Dr M says American mothers are promiscuous in attack against US free speech Posted: 17 Sep 2012 07:39 PM PDT
Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad suggested today that American mothers "sleep around with just about anybody" when he attacked the United States for defending free speech while PKR warned governments against exploiting Muslim anger to restrict freedoms as protests continued to spread across the Muslim world over a controversial film mocking the Prophet Muhammad. Malaysia's outspoken former prime minister said the West's idea of freedom of expression as being a part of human rights was one that may not be accepted in the cultures of Asians or Muslims worldwide. In contrast, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali said in a separate statement that "dictatorial regimes" should not exploit the anger of Muslims to curtail freedoms. "Those who blame freedoms for the production of the film are leaders who are anti-democratic and anti-freedom of the people, and are exploiting the anger of the people to reduce democratic space for political purposes," he said. Dr Mahathir was unrelenting, however, in his attack against the US which has officially condemned the film. "It would seem that the liberal West believes that free speech is licence to curse and insult other people without limit. I think Western values have gone crazy," the now-retired Dr Mahathir wrote in his blog today. "How would one feel if someone comes up to you and calls you 'a bastard, the offspring of sex between your mother and some man who is not your legally wedded father'?" "The Americans would feel nothing because in their society this is normal. Their mothers sleep around with just about anybody," said the controversial political veteran. Such a practice would be considered a norm in an American society, he said, adding that apart from American mothers, fathers behave much the same way. "It is an expression of the equality of the sexes," he said. Dr Mahathir was railing against US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, whom he said had appeared to defend the maker of the film when the latter was quoted in the media as saying, "We do not stop individual citizens from expressing their views, no matter how distasteful they may be." US embassies worldwide have been placed on high alert following protests against the controversial video, which have even led to the death of a US ambassador and three other Americans last week during a protest at its consulate in the Libyan city of Benghazi. Protests have spread to other countries across the Muslim world, and have also reached Malaysian shores, uniting Muslims here from across the political divide in their bid to express their unhappiness at the US for the film. The youth wing of Malaysia's largest Muslim party Umno will be organising a mass protest after Friday prayers this week, while last week's global protests were also joined by Islamist party PAS.
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| More film retaliation as suicide bomber near Kabul airport kills nine Posted: 17 Sep 2012 03:20 PM PDT
(Reuters) - A suicide bomber blew up a mini-bus carrying foreign and local contract workers near Kabul airport in Afghanistan today, with at least nine bodies lying near the wreckage, a Reuters witness at the scene said. Eight of those killed were foreign workers for an international courier company, a senior police source said, while the other was an Afghan translator. Eight Afghan workers were injured in the blast. Afghan insurgent group Hezb-e-Islami claimed responsibility for the suicide attack and said it was launched in retaliation for a film mocking the Prophet Muhammad. "A woman wearing a suicide vest blew herself up in response to the anti-Islam video," said Zubair Sediqqi, a spokesman for the militant faction, which does not usually carry out such attacks. The attack underscored growing anger in Afghanistan over the film, which has enraged much of the Muslim world and led to the killing last week of the US ambassador to Libya and three other Americans. Thousands of protesters clashed with police in the Afghan capital yesterday, burning cars and hurling rocks at security forces in the worst outbreak of violence since February rioting over the inadvertent burning of Korans by US soldiers. The suicide attack was the first in Kabul involving a woman and the foreigners killed were mostly Russian and South African pilots working for an international courier company, senior police sources said. The toll was the highest on foreigners in the city since last April when an Afghan air force pilot gunned down eight US military flight instructors and an American civilian adviser after an argument at Kabul International Airport. Hezb-e-Islami, which means Islamic Party, is a radical militant group which shares some of the Taliban's anti-foreigner, anti-government aims.
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| Six govt bodies to act against Suaram Posted: 17 Sep 2012 03:11 PM PDT However, it is ultimately up to the attorney-general to decide whether to take the human rights operating entity to court, says minister Ismail Sabri Yakob. Anisah Shukry, FMT Six government agencies are taking action against Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd, the operating entity of human rights organisation Suaram, under five sections of the Companies Act 1965. "The Companies Commission Malaysia (CCM) has no power over Suaram as it is not registered as a society. As such, we are taking action against Suara Inisiatif Rakyat for its misleading accounts," said Minister of Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ismail Sabri Yaakob. He said the six agencies, which included CCM, Registrar of Societies (ROS), Bank Negara, the Home Ministry and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commissions (MCMC), were not interested in the source of the organisations' funds. Suaram had been under media and government scrutiny lately due to its foreign source of funds, particularly its alleged links to currency speculator George Soros. "We know where their funds come from, but [the issue is with] the way they report their accounts, which is misleading," Ismail said, although he refused to elaborate. The scope of their investigations, he said, would be based on Sections 364(2), 166A(3), 169(14), 167(1), 167(2), and 132(1) of the Companies Act 1965. But the ultimate decision as to whether Suara Inisiatif Rakyat would be charged in court was with the Attorney General, he said, adding that he would be meeting with AG Abdul Gani Patail later today over the matter. "Everything looks okay. We've already met with the deputy [AG] over this. It's just a matter of the AG signing yes or no," he said. He also said the other agencies, such as ROS and Bank Negara, would be taking action against either Suaram or Suara Inisiatif within their own jurisdictions. "For example, Suaram has not been registered as a society, so the ROS will take action against them for that," he added.
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| Chaos at US embassy in Jakarta over anti-Islam film Posted: 17 Sep 2012 03:00 PM PDT
(Asia One) - JAKARTA - A rally protesting the movie, Innocence of Muslims, turned chaotic as members of the Islamic Society Forum (FUI) clashed with police in front of the US Embassy in Jakarta on Monday. The clash was sparked after the Central Jakarta Police officers blasted tear gas at hundreds of FUI members. Protesters retaliated by throwing rocks at police officers. The group demanded that the US government punish the film director for insulting the Prophet Muhammad. "According to Islamic law, [the director] must face the death penalty," said the rally coordinator Bernad Abdul Jabbar to The Jakarta Post earlier on Monday. The FUI began the protest at 1 p.m. by marching from the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle to the embassy. "It is supposed to be a peaceful rally. However, several members brought eggs with the intention of throwing them. The bottom line is we don't want the protest to be chaotic," he added. Central Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Angesta Romano Yoyol previously said that they had deployed 2,000 personnel to guard the rally. Jakarta Police chief Untung S. Rajab reportedly came to the scene, in an effort to calm down the protesters. | |||||
| Thai US embassy to close ahead of film rally Posted: 17 Sep 2012 02:56 PM PDT
(Asia One) - THAILAND - The US Embassy will close today when "several hundred people" are expected to protest about an anti-Islam film in front of the mission's compound in downtown Bangkok. US citizens also have been warned to exercise caution and to avoid large crowds or gatherings, the embassy said in a statement posted on its website yesterday. It said it was informed by police that a demonstration involving several hundred people was planned on Wireless Road in front of the US mission from 1pm to 2pm today. "Demonstrators will assemble at Lumpini Park and march to the embassy. The large number of demonstrators is expected to disrupt traffic in the area," the statement said. Because of the expected protest, the embassy "will be closing to the public at noon and non-essential personnel will be sent home", it said. The embassy said it was unaware of any specific threat to Americans in Thailand, but it advised them to avoid areas that might be targeted for demonstrations. "Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence with little or no warning. You should avoid areas that may be targeted for demonstrations and exercise caution if within the vicinity of any demonstrations or large gatherings. You should monitor local media to keep updated with the latest information about demonstrations and areas to avoid," the US mission said on its website. Embassy spokesman Walter Braunohler confirmed that the planned rally was part of a wave of protests, some of which have turned violent, against a low-budget trailer for a movie titled "Innocence of Muslims". The film is believed to have been made by a small group of extremist Christians in the United States. In its statement, the embassy did not mention Muslims or say whether the planned protest was connected to the controversial film. An official at the Japanese Embassy, which is close to the US compound, said closure was under consideration, but the Netherlands plans to keep its nearby embassy open because it has an entrance on a separate street. Protests have been staged since last Tuesday in at least 20 countries, with at least 17 people killed and dozens wounded in violence linked to the film. Buddhist-majority Thailand has about 1.2 million Muslims - 4 per cent of the population - according to the latest data. Many live in the Southern provinces near the Malaysian border. Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul said police would be instructed to provide security at the US Embassy as well as its consulate in Chiang Mai, although the US mission had not made any specific request in regard to the rally. "I have ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work with the police," he said. However, Surapong did not think violence similar what has happened in other countries such as Libya and Egypt would occur here. Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit said no suspicious movements had been found in Thailand linked to the protest. "But we will not lower our guard; we will keep a close watch," Yongyuth said.
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| Suaram faces ‘misleading accounts’ charge, says minister Posted: 17 Sep 2012 02:38 PM PDT Ida Lim, The Malaysian Insider The Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) plans to bring charges against the operating entity of Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) for its "misleading accounts", the Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said. "We will take legal action on Suara Inisiatif based on accounts that was reported to us... there are misleading elements in accounts," he told reporters today. He declined to reveal the specific clause in the Companies Act 1965 that will be used to bring charges against Suara Inisiatif within the next two days, saying that the Attorney-General will decide on the charge. Ismail (picture) said the CCM was not bringing charges against Suara Inisiatif for receiving foreign funds. "In one year, we investigate over 200 cases, Suara Inisiatif is one of them... not because we have personal problems with Suara Inisiatif," he said. He was responding to questions on whether SSM carried out similar investigations on other registered companies. Ismail added that the other five government agencies involved in the probe have agreed to take action based on existing legal provisions. He said the CCM's scope of investigation is based on five sections in the Companies Act — sections 364 (2), 166A (3), 169 (14), 167 (1), 167 (2), 132 (1).
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| Suaram says prepared for scrutiny but wants probe on Scorpene too Posted: 17 Sep 2012 02:31 PM PDT Suaram members at the launch of the 'Stand up for Suaram' campaign outside the CCM office in Kuala Lumpur on September 18, 2012. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng Ida Lim, The Malaysian Insider Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) will give its full co-operation in the probe against it by six government agencies, the human rights watchdog's chairman Arumugan Kalimuthu said today. "Suaram is prepared to be scrutinised and investigated. We will fully co-operate with CCM and any other bodies that are interested to look at our books," he told reporters. The Companies Commission Malaysia (CCM) is currently investigating Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd, the operating entity of Suaram. "I would warn those who are responsible in the government for the scandal of Scorpene to open up (the) books..." Arumugan said, adding that the "true facts" should be revealed to taxpayers. Suaram is currently in the limelight due to its part in an ongoing French inquiry probing possible corruption in Malaysia's multibillion ringgit purchase of two Scorpene submarines, which has been linked to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the murder of Mongolian model Altantuyaa Shaariibuu. Arumugan was speaking at the launch of "Stand Up for Suaram", a campaign to draw support for the watchdog.
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| Yahya spells reasons for joining PKR Posted: 17 Sep 2012 02:18 PM PDT
Mariah Doksil, Borneo Post KOTA KINABALU: Former deputy minister Datuk Haji Yahya Lampong spelled out his reason for joining the opposition, saying it was nothing personal but just Barisan Nasional's (BN) system of having absolute power, which he said is similar to the communist brand of politics. Yahya maintained that a democratic system refers to a government by the people, and the majority of the voters are those who are not affiliated to any political party. He added if the total number of voters is ten million, only two per cent of that number should be members of political parties and the remaining 98 per cent would decide the government for the next five years and that government is subject to change. "As an example, over 46 million people are registered as voters to vote in elections in the United Kingdom which has three major political parties, namely the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats. "The Conservative party and the Labour party each has about 300,000 members while the Liberal Democratic party has about 200,000. This means to suggest that out of 46 million voters in the UK, only 800,000 are members of one of the political parties. Their total number does not even reach one million," he said. "However, unlike the BN, nobody knows exactly the number of BN members, but it was disclosed by Umno secretary general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor on September 9, 2010 that the coalition had about seven million members," he said. Yahya also quoted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who announced on May 20, 2010, that Umno has about three million active members. According to Yahya, the total number of voters who cast their votes in the 2008 general elections was 10,952,139 and if the figure was to stay, he perceived that the BN would be in power forever, only because they have the number. "In the next general election, there will be approximately 11,579,280 eligible voters, although this is not the final figure. And with the BN claiming to have seven million members, they will certainly stay in power. "This system is very much similar to the system adopted by the communists and we certainly do not want to see this state of affair occurring in our country. "Why similar? Because the majority of voters in the communist system are members of the party. Whenever there is a general election, they are assured of power and staying in power. It is not subject to change," he said. "I do not want to vote for a government which is not subject to change. I do not want my children or even my grandchildren to vote for a government professing absolute power because we will be denied of transparency and proper check and balances," he stressed. Touching on the pledge of giving back a 20 per cent oil royalty to the state, Yahya said only the opposition had taken the liberty to promise the Sabahans with that figure. He admitted however that it was now too late to talk about more because that promise had been given to be fulfilled. "This is likened to something having dropped from the sky because BN cannot give this to us," the former Kota Belud member of parliament said. "If the people vote Pakatan Rakyat to power, a 'Yayasan Rakyat' will be formed to allow for every Sabahan aged 18 years and above to be entitled for cash contribution from the government since the money belongs to the people. "We will develop the necessary infrastructure and at the same time we will give back to the people their money as a form of bonus," he said. Yahya, who is a former Tempasuk assemblyman and whose entry into Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) was announced by de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Saturday, confirmed the announcement and said "it was time to change."
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| Posted: 17 Sep 2012 01:52 PM PDT A Gerakan leader and a university don feel that because of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's abrasive style some Chinese voters are seen to favour Barisan Nasional. Hawkeye, FMT GEORGE TOWN: If one were to believe Gerakan, there is a slight shift of Chinese support towards Barisan Nasional. They say this shift is because of Teng Chang Yeow, who was made the Penang Gerakan chief earlier this year. Even though the shift is so slight it is enough to give BN optimism it would fare better in the coming general election, says Penang Gerakan vice-chairman Wong Mun Hoe. Wong claims that Teng's style has won some Chinese voters and he has united BN to take on Pakatan Rakyat. "One important element going into any political battle is unity. Teng has restored that in BN. Also, Umno has rebranded itself to please the voters. Wong said another factor for the slight swing is Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's tendency to be harsh towards critics. He said Lim is forever attacking the previous state government and his partisan politics has made the average voter fed up. "Lim should be forward-looking, but instead he is dwelling on the past. Where is the master plan for sustainable development?" He also disputed Lim"s alleged remark that Pakatan has secured 95% of the Chinese vote bank ahead of the next election. 'Focus on protest voters' Wong claimed there is also a swing of Indian voters back to BN because "never in the country's history, has there been a prime minister who has done so much for the community". From resolving vernacular educational issues to helping them restore their citizenship documentation, Najib has done much and is willing to do more for the Indian community, he said.
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| Terengganu invents furnace for efficient Quran disposal Posted: 16 Sep 2012 06:02 PM PDT
(Bernama) - The Terengganu Islamic Affairs Department (JHEAT) has devised a furnace to dispose of copies of the Quran using a more efficient burning system. JHEAT Research Division principal assistant director, Mohamad Noor Mohd said the furnace would facilitate the disposal process, reduce burning time and was more environment-friendly. "Previously, disposal was a long process because several steps were involved such as separating the paper, shredding, burning and then dumping the ashes into the sea. "With this new furnace, shredding and burning will go on simultaneously," he told Bernama. He said the furnace was invented by 10 department staff who took nine months to design it, while its production took another four months to complete. Head of the invention team, Wan Zainuddin Wan Mansor said their main challenge was complying with syariah requirements and not violating Department of Environment (DOE) regulations. "The DOE does not allow burning so as to preserve the environment, but use of this furnace is approved as it does not affect our environment," he said. Eleven Quran will produce about one kilogramme of ash and the furnace will be able to carry out unlimited amount of burning. The furnace, costing RM7,000 to produce, won third place in an Innovative and Creative Invention competition among the state government departments and agencies recently.
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| Nizar: A bigger tsunami taking shape in Umno Posted: 16 Sep 2012 03:34 PM PDT The PAS leader claims that Mahathir, Tengku Razaleigh and Muhyiddin are baying for Najib's blood as they fear his continued leadership will disintegrate Umno and BN. Humayun Kabir, FMT TAIPING: PAS claims that Umno is facing a greater political tsunami within the party than what it experienced during 2008. Perak PAS deputy chief Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin told FMT that the 2008 political turmoil within Umno was on a low-key level but now it had become more vicious. In 2008, politicking within Umno led by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad resulted in the then prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi being forced to resign. There were also allegations that frustrated Umno members who were not selected as candidates in the general election had sabotaged Umno by supporting the opposition. "It is a no holds barred struggle as speculation is that the three Umno leaders – Mahathir (Mohamad), Tengku Razaleigh (Hamzah) and (Deputy Premier) Muhyiddin (Yassin) are (competing among themselves in) trying to replace Najib as Umno president before the coming general election," said Nizar. He said the three Umno leaders feared that the party might disintegrate and BN would lose the coming general election if Najib continued to lead. To back his argument, Nizar said it was reported that posters calling for Muhyiddin to replace Najib had been widely circulating in Johor. He said it was also reported that Mahathir was ready to resume his former premier post if requested to do so. The vocal PAS leader also did not rule out the possibility of Razaleigh's movement Amanah Rakyat replacing the present Umno. Nizar predicted that it would be an "all out dirty political war" within Umno as members fight for personal gains rather than ensuring that BN wins in the coming general election. Anger in Perak Umno Speaking at a ceramah in Perak last week, Nizar said Umno was also facing a political dilemma at the state level. "I was told that Najib has demanded that 90% of the Umno candidates in Perak must be new faces, professionals, having educational backgrounds and not necessarily committee Umno members to be winnable candidates in the coming general election. "An Umno division deputy chief told me that most members are frustrated. So they are just waiting for the date when Najib will declare the dissolution of Parliament and many from Perak will quit and join Tengku's Amanah. "Ku Li had come to Perak in April and he gained some momentum (in recruiting members for Amanah). So within Umno there is another Umno," he pointed out. The PAS leader also revealed that there was intense infighting within Perak Umno over several seats. Nizar, whose left arm was in a sling, told the crowd that on Thursday evening, he was plucking coconuts in his house compound, when a coconut fell and injured his left shoulder. During his speech, Nizar also showed slides and video recordings on the alleged wrongdoings of Umno members. He also showed the controversial YouTube video clip of Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor dancing on the first day of Hari Raya celebrations at their official residency in Putrajaya.
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| Posted: 16 Sep 2012 02:25 PM PDT
Looking good for food: Herukh (second from right) giving away free briyani to (from left) Pang, Loh and Jerome Kugan at Fierce Curry House in Bangsar Utama. (The Star) - A briyani shop here poked fun at the purported guidelines to spot gays and lesbians for schoolchildren by giving away free meals to men wearing tight-fitting V-neck T-shirts and carrying sling bags. What started off as a pub conversation quickly set siblings and owners Herukh and Kubhaer T. Jeswant of the Fierce Curry House in Bangsar Utama to add some fun to their business and celebrate the diversity of their patrons. "When the guidelines came out, we thought it was ridiculous. "But instead of joining in the fray to condemn it, we thought it would be an interesting concept to give out free briyani meals to the first 15 men who walk in with a V-neck and a man-bag," said Herukh, who publicised his offer on Facebook. By midday yesterday, the brothers had to extend their promotion to another 10 customers after receiving a roaring response. Kubhaer said even women walked in with V-neck T-shirts and man-bags but they were disappointed because the offer was only for men. "If only the guidelines were easier to identify," he said, bursting with laughter when The Star met them yesterday. Yayasan Guru Malaysia Bhd and the Putrajaya Consultative Council of Parents and Teachers Associations, who organised a parenting seminar in Penang, had distributed the alleged guidelines to participants on Thursday. Among others, the guidelines said tendencies of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenderers (LGBT) can be spotted among boys wearing tight-fitting V-neck T-shirts and carrying large sling bags, and girls who enjoy the company of their own gender. The Education Ministry has since denied it had endorsed the guidelines although it views cases of social ills in the community seriously. Actor and events manager Alfred Loh who enjoyed his free briyani said it was a great way to raise awareness, not particularly for any rights groups but on current issues. "As a completely heterosexual man, it is also a wonderful way to discover a new fashion sense," he said, beaming in his red V-neck and a borrowed black man-bag. Gay rights activist Pang Khee Teik said that he was happy with the public outcry over the absurdity of the guidelines. "I'm glad that Fierce Curry House acknowledges that education, like food, must be made available to everyone," he said.
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| Posted: 16 Sep 2012 02:20 PM PDT
(The Star) - Implementation of hudud should not be delayed because enforcing it is an obligation and not an option, said PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat. "Hudud is part of the syariah legislation that is compulsory in Islam. "To me, there is neither legal basis nor necessity based on logic to delay its enforcement. "(And) nowhere in the world, whether in the democratic or communist systems, are laws implemented only after making the rakyat understand and accept them,'' he said on his blog. The recent statement by the Kelantan Mentri Besar is an apparent rebuttal against calls by certain political parties that hudud could only be implemented only after creating public awareness and gaining their acceptance. PAS leaders have stepped up their calls to implement hudud with president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang recently creating a stir by saying that the party would not forgo its plans to implement hudud. Even his deputy president Mohamad Sabu had said that they would implement it if they had two-thirds majority support in Parliament to amend the Constitution. PAS deputy Mursyidul Am Datuk Dr Harun Din and Perak deputy Youth chief Dr Raja Ahmad Al Hiss had also backed Hadi. However, the polemics over hudud had prompted the Erdogans in PAS to call for an end to free airing of views on hudud in the public sphere. PAS central committee member Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad had said that the issue would hamper the party's performance at the coming general election. Nik Aziz said all other laws in Malaysia had been implemented without first seeking public acceptance. He added that while the Syariah Criminal Code Enactment (that includes hudud) was passed in Kelantan 19 years ago, it could not be enforced because of objection from the Federal Government. "This includes a warning through an official letter sent by then prime minister (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad) that has yet to be retracted,'' he said. Using the analogy that fishermen could enjoy better catch when riding on high waves, Nik Aziz implied that Muslims should decide in the interest of religious obligation even when the tide was against them.
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| More urging Dong Zong duo to cancel rally for sake of Chinese education Posted: 16 Sep 2012 02:16 PM PDT
(The Star) - AN increasing number of the board of directors of Chinese schools have come forward to urge the United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) chairman Yap Sin Tian and his deputy Chow Siew Hon to call off the 926 rally demanding the resignation of Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong. They said the rally would harm the development of Chinese education, Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press reported. Nanyang reported that on Saturday, representatives of the board members from 40 Chinese primary schools in Malacca urged the two to set aside their personal grievances and not to politicise the Chinese education problems. On Sept 8, over 110 representatives from Pahang Chinese primary schools' board of directors as well as their parent-teacher associations slammed Yap and Chow for misusing the organisation's resources to call for a rally for their personal agenda. A day later, a group of parents from SJK Jinjang Utara wanted the school's former board chairman Yap Sin Tian to "leave the school alone" for the sake of its students. Yap and Chow, who was SJK Jinjang Utara's deputy chairman, had also submitted a list of nine names for the school board to the Education Department last year instead of the required 15. Earlier this year, another group submitted a complete list which was accepted by the state Education Department. Yap had accused the Education Ministry of trying to grab power from the school board by not accepting his list of names and has initiated a rally on Sept 26 calling for Dr Wee's resignation. Datuk Chin Kon Tow, the board chairman of SRJK (C) Masjid Tanah in Malacca, said the school would not attend the 926 rally, and urged other primary schools in the state not to attend as well. He said Dr Wee had worked hard to solve the Chinese education problems, so there was no reason to call for his resignation. "Will it solve the problems (in Chinese schools) once and for all just by asking the Deputy Education Minister to resign?" Chin asked. Chin said Yap and Chow should return to talks with the relevant authorities to find solutions for the development of Chinese education.
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| Ismail Embong among three named Tokoh M’sia Posted: 16 Sep 2012 02:11 PM PDT
(The Star) - Three Malaysians have been honoured with the Tokoh Hari Malaysia award during the Malaysia Day celebration here. Tan Sri Harris Salleh from Sabah, Tan Sri Hamdan Sirat from Sarawak and Ismail Embong from Terengganu were honoured for their services and contributions to their states and the country. Hamdan is a former state commissioner of police, former acting governor and former state public service commission chief. Ismail is a prolific national artist whose works include a mural of Malaysia's history and a life-sized painting called Tujuh Negarawan that features the seven past and present Umno presidents. Harris was Sabah's chief minister from 1976 to 1985. The trio received their awards from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak here yesterday. Najib also presented awards to two national Paralympic athletes who won the silver and bronze medals in London recently. The duo are Hasihin Sanawi, who won the silver in the men's archery, and Mohd Ziyad Zolkefli, who captured the bronze in the men's shot putt at the Paralympic Games in the F20 category. Najib also presented the Malaysia Book of Records certificates to the organisers of Dikir Barat and Twitter Merdeka. Dikir Barat entered the Malaysia Book of Records after it managed to gather 8,500 participants. The other two certificates were given for the largest gathering of Twitter users (10,128) and most tweets within an hour (3,611,323) during the Merdeka Day event at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Aug 31.
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