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• AG report won’t affect voter mindset
• Problem-plagued Proton ‘in trouble’
• Musa Aman scandal punctures Najib’s vision
• Who is the Taiko Tai in Taman Kaya, Ipoh, Perak Malaysia?
• Is March GE too late for Najib?
• Azmin-Khalid feud enters a new level
• And the fight intensifies
• PAS renegade Hasan Ali says will never join Umno
• The bogeyman and ‘under siege’ stratagem
• Guan Eng teaches Najib how to fight graft
• In latest tirade, MCA warns against principles of 'Koran' in national culture
• MCA is anti-Islam, says PAS Youth
• BN needs to be cautious
• Suspense too much for some
• ‘Graft in military housing since 90s’
• National debt soars to RM456.12 bil
• Malaysia's third quarter GDP to slow
• Sultan yet to give nod for discussion on Talamgate
• Sabah like a second home for MILF leaders
• Hasan Ali tiada kapasiti desak Nik Aziz letak jawatan, kata PAS
• Ali Baba contractors ‘killing-off’ Dayak business
• GE13: Should the global community care?
• Umno menikus bila berdepan MCA
• Misuari: It’s a recipe for another big, big war in Mindanao
• Wow !! 3 olang apek cina masuk Masjid apa hal??
• Azmin to be hit by FAC scandal?
• PAS man wants to know Christians’ 9% secret
• Ex-IGP Musa withdraws "black eye" suit against Anwar

AG report won’t affect voter mindset Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:48 PM PDT Political analysts say the report has little implication on BN's reputation and is not an indicator of the GE13 announcement. Alyaa Azhar, FMT Political analysts believe that the newly released Auditor-General's (AG) report will not play a big role in swinging votes to Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat. Political analyst James Chin felt that the unnecessary spending and wastage in the AG report will do little to affect public opinion. "There is nothing new in the report. Both sides seemingly provide ammunition for the other, whereby they will pick up whatever bad things left behind for the other. "The AG report will not place a major dent on BN," Chin further added. Mohammad Agus Yusoff, a UKM political science professor, said the increased government revenue mentioned in the report is good news for the country. However, he said that revenue collected by the government is only a matter of numbers. "The people don't really bother about the numbers but what is more crucial to them is whether the numbers really benefit them in their daily lives. "If it does benefit the people then it is a successful achievement for the government. The government should use this revenue as the medium to balance and pay off the national debt instead of adding more debt to the country," he added. Agus said the AG report is not instrumental in affecting voting trends. "In order for the people to vote a certain party, they have to feel the impact. They have to feel that they are actually getting something that will benefit them," he said. Parties should be accountable Regarding the issue of negligence and poorly managed projects which were highlighted in the report, Chin said that responsible parties should be held accountable. He said however little will be done to address the issue. "It is usually the same thing each time. People will be very noisy about it, the typical commotion ensues but then later everyone forgets about it," he said. Agus agreed. "So far there has not been any firm action taken against those who are responsible; so far there has not been any prosecution. "Usually in the initial phase, there will be noises here and there but after the noise dies down, there has not been any substantive action taken against those involved: Any follow-up action has never been done," he said. The AG report highlighted increased government revenue of 16.19% and improved ratings for many ministries and government agencies. However, along with the positive reports, there were also several issues of inefficient projects and wastage of public funds. For example, the military housing projects awarded to sub-par contractors and road construction projects in Sarawak which do not meet deadlines and are wanting in safety standards. READ MORE HERE

Problem-plagued Proton ‘in trouble’ Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:43 PM PDT DRB-Hicom working out plan to remedy the national carmaker's problems. by Azli Jamil, FMT DRB-Hicom Bhd will announce a working plan to remedy problems faced by national carmaker Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Bhd (Proton) next month, said its chief operating officer Che Khalib Mohamad Noh. The plan is paramount and if not implemented could bring serious negative consequences to DRB, a major investor in Proton, said Che Khalib. "Proton is in trouble and if we don't solve Proton's problem, not only Proton would go down but the whole DRB will go down," Che Khalib said after his presentation at the Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountant-Bursa Malaysia Business Forum in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. He, however, did not elaborate on the details of the problems faced by Proton. The problems, if not resolved, would affect its 11,000-plus employees and the whole automotive ecosystem surrounding Proton, he said. Meanwhile, a newswire reported yesterday that DRB's group managing director Mohd Kamil Jamil said Proton's performance would have an impact on DRB as the acquisition of Proton was a major financial investment for the former. The report quoted Mohd Khamil as saying that DRB's management can add value to Proton and realise its potential as the national carmaker before finalising a turnaround plan. It was reported in September that Mohd Khamil said DRB planned to introduce a yet-to-be announced foreign partner to Proton. In the same report, it said Proton has raised the domestic sales target to 200,000 units for the current financial year ending March 31, 2013, up from 167,000 previously. Furthermore, Proton has been given an additional RM120 million funding for development of hybrid vehicles. READ MORE HERE

Musa Aman scandal punctures Najib’s vision Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:41 PM PDT While MACC's head of investigation is claiming that it is still in the midst of investigation, how could minister Nazri claim in the same breath that MACC has concluded that there was no evidence of corruption? Kim Quek Prime Minister Najib Razak's refusal to disclose the donor of the S$16 million contraband cash seized at the Hong Kong International airport, following his minister's earlier acknowledgement of the cash as donation to Sabah Umno, has only heightened suspicion over the web of deceit and cover up of high corruption in the corridor of power. His minister Nazri Aziz had earlier (Oct 11) given a written reply in parliament denying that the said S$16 million cash was Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman's money, claiming that it was a donation to Umno party in Sabah instead, even though the carrier of the cash, Michael Chia Tien Foh, was a well known personal agent and close associate of Musa Aman, as will be elaborated later. In a further attempt to dismiss the notion of any impropriety over the episode, minister Nazri added in his statement that the Malaysian Anti-Corrupition Commission (MACC) has concluded that "no element of corruption was proven". However, this statement has glaringly contradicted MACC's latest stance on the issue, aired only a few days earlier.  Answering questions by reporters on the sideline of the recently concluded Sixth Conference of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA) in Kuala Lumpur, MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Shukri Abdul said on Oct 5: "The investigation against Musa is on corruption and we have completed the investigation, but the panel has instructed us to get more evidence."  By "the panel", Shukri Abdul was referring to MACC's operations review panel, which instructed the operation division to collect further evidence against Musa after being presented with the report on the case during the panel's last sitting in May. While MACC's head of investigation is claiming that it is still in the midst of investigation, how could minister Nazri claim in the same breath that MACC has concluded that there was no evidence of corruption? DISHONEST ANSWERS ALL ROUND Obviously, one of the two is lying; or more likely, both are lying, as there is no credibility in what these two gentlemen have said, if we were to take into consideration the full circumstances of the case. Nazri is unlikely to have told the truth, as he couldn't have known more than the head of investigation. As for Shukri, how serious can we take his word that MACC couldn't come to a conclusion despite four long years of investigation into a simple case of someone caught red-handed while smuggling an enormous sum of laundered cash? After all, evidence galore in the Internet of the intricate network of money flow originating from timber corruption in Sabah with Michael Chia as one of the focal points of the trail that eventually ends up in Musa Aman's personal account in UBS AG in Zurich. In fact, a flow chart showing these money movements complete with account details was produced by the Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), a copy of which has been conveyed to MACC, according to Sarawak Report website, which has also posted the chart in http://www.sarawakreport.org/2012/04/hold-on-trust-for-aman-more-devastating-evidence-from-the-icac-investigation/. It is not difficult to see from this elaborate network of bank accounts and money transactions that the S$16 million incident is only the tip of the iceberg of a  clandestine operation to siphon massive timber corruption money from Sabah. Apparently, ICAC has also forwarded its findings to MACC, and requested for inter-country co-operation to wrap up the case, but such attempt was reportedly blocked by Attorney General Gani Patail. Can MACC deny that it is in possession of the fruits of ICAC's laborious investigations into the case including the said money flow chart that conclusively crucifies Musa Aman? Perhaps the parliamentary select committee on corruption should summon MACC chief commissioner Abu Kassim to answer this question. MUSA'S LIES EXPOSED Adding to the credibility crisis of the duo – Nazri and Shukir – is the blanket denial by Musa Aman of all allegations against him. Responding to Sarawak Report's various allegations that among others, Musa's two sons studying in Australia regularly received timber kickbacks from bank accounts controlled by Chia, Musa flatly denies these in a written statement on April 12, 2012 that reads: "I deny all these allegations. I wish to put it on record once again that I have no business association whatsoever with an individual named Michael Chia". Musa's denial, however, was contradicted by banks statements produced in the Singapore High Court in a civil suit (Suit No.752 of 2010/N) in June that was brought by Chia's former associate and now adversary involving a money dispute. To defend its position in the dispute, UBS AG produced bank statements that clearly showed that Musa's sons Mohammed Hayssam Musa and Hazem Musa Hazem Mubarak Musa were regular recipients of money remitted from accounts of companies which Chia claimed to be under his control. These British Virginia registered shady companies with large amount of unaccounted for cash regularly flowing mysteriously through their accounts are obvious vehicles of money laundering. Thus both UBS AG and Chia, out of the necessity to defend their respective positions, had unwittingly produced in court evidences that tell us that Musa Aman has told a blatant lie that he has no link whatsoever with Michael Chia. More than that, these bank documents also collaborate documents in Sarawak Report's possession (including the abovementioned flow chart) that regularly surface in its frequent exposure of Musa Aman's nefarious ventures as the notorious timber baron of Sabah.  Interestingly, according to Sarawak Report, these secret reports are leaked documents from not only ICAC, but also from MACC, which has carried out a parallel investigation on Sabah timber corruption, following the arrest of Michael Chia in Hong Kong on 14 Aug 2008 for money smuggling and laundering. Judging from MACC's long silence and inaction despite the wealth of evidence of Sabah timber corruption in its hands, it is not difficult to visualize the limitations under which it has to operate. UMNO INCRIMINATES ITSELF Prime Minister Najib Razak certainly didn't help matters with his curt refusal to divulge the source or any information that may lessen the gravity of this scandal. In that encounter with the press after chairing the Barisan Nasional supreme council meeting on Oct 12, he even tried to sanitize this sordid incident by saying "every political party has the right to receive political donation as long as it is done in a proper way".  He added that the amount of the donation is irrelevant, repeating the proviso that "as long as it is done in a proper way". It really boggles the mind to think that the Prime Minister could consider such bizarre fashion of conveying donation as "the proper way". May we remind the Prime Minister that money smuggling and money laundering are serious criminal offences, for which Michael Chia would have been prosecuted, convicted and jailed and the cash confiscated, if not for the Malaysian government's refusal to extend its co-operation to the Hong Kong authorities. And since Michael Chia is only a courier, the master for whom he serves – Umno – is even more guilty. In any democratic country, law enforcers would have swung into action following the Prime Minister's open admission of such association of breach of law; but of course, in Boleh Land, this is business as usual – nothing to make a fuss about. This latest scandal is only one of many that have been incessantly popping up lately despite the imminence of a crucial election. It only serves to reinforce the hard fact that our self-styled "reformist" Prime Minister's many "transformations" he claimed to have brought to the nation are more illusion than substance. As for his vision of "best democracy" and "developed nation" status in the near future, is it not a land too far to reach?

Who is the Taiko Tai in Taman Kaya, Ipoh, Perak Malaysia? Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:35 PM PDT JakunMalaysia   Visit  http://helenang.wordpress.com/2012/10/16/senior-citizen-bullied-but-the-star-badmouths-victim-instead/, http://mediaperak.com/2012/09/10/samseng-dap-taman-kaya-1-video & http://weehingthong.wordpress.com/ (the aggrieved Malaysian). These sites have good descriptions of what happens to an individual Malaysian when the purported political power in your hands dictate how it is to be, even if it infringes basic human rights such as those like Simon Thong need to face. You want to talk about the law, the due process and what it is? Then don't practice your 'look and see' from a distance when regular Malaysians like Simon Thong get harassed. You think we are politically right for what it has to be within the new found escapism through the opposition? Simon Thong is not political but humane and just in his affairs to ensure his freedoms of choice and liberty. But look how easily he is portayed to be the villain while the politicians hold reign. Do you get it? Or are you going to be the semua tahu and semua boleh preacher without understanding his predicament within a society that uses politics to meet its means.   Thank you.

Is March GE too late for Najib? Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:32 PM PDT PM Najib has missed his best opportunity to hold the polls in March this year. By next March, he would have lost the element of surprise.  Selena Tay, FMT All throughout this year, from January till now, it can be seen that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has got no clear strategy in regard to the general election. He will only call for the polls once he is sufficiently sure that he has gained the rakyat's support. Hence the second round of the RM500 cash aid to strengthen the people's support for him. This can only mean that after the first round of the cash aid, he is still not confident of the people's support and it is now extremely obvious that he is playing it by the ear. At first, most people were thinking that he was busy crafting a strategy and that he is the cautious type but his indecisiveness has shone through and revealed that he has no game plan after all. Now after announcing the second round of the RM500 cash aid and various goodies to be given out, he is again pondering the scenario of "before and after". He is now thinking whether to hold the polls after the goodies have been given out or before the goodies have been distributed. There are two schools of thought concerning this matter. This columnist has interviewed 11 people in Kuala Lumpur who are eligible for the cash aid and their response in regard to BR1M 2.0 can be summed up into two groups which will be categorised as Mr A and Mr B. Mr A said, "If the general election is held this year, it shows that the prime minister is insincere in regard to the goodies as he is just fishing for votes and so I will vote for Pakatan Rakyat. If the election is next year, I will vote for Najib as it means that he is sincere in giving because he gives the goodies to everyone although he is not sure whom we will vote." On the other hand, Mr B said, "If the polls are held this year, I will vote for Barisan Nasional as I am afraid I will not get the goodies next year if they were to know I voted for Pakatan. If the polls are held after I have obtained the cash aid, it is bye-bye to BN as I cannot be bothered with them anymore. This Budget 2013 is their zenith, their last hurrah, their final fling and therefore I will vote for Pakatan." To sum up: The first group will vote for Pakatan if polls are held this year and vote for BN if the polls are held next year. Their vote is based on whether they perceive Najib as being sincere or not. The second group will vote for BN if polls are this year and vote for Pakatan if the polls are next year. Their vote is based on fear that they will lose the cash aid if they were to vote for Pakatan. The above results show that it is difficult to read people's mind as the results are evenly matched. Thus the results are inconclusive. The Pakatan voters There could be more people in the first group or more people in the second group whether the polls are held this year or next. Difficult to tell and it is this difficulty that Najib is facing now. However, the purpose of the survey above is to ascertain if the cash aid has any bearing on the voting patterns and is not done to predict election results. Still, there is yet a third group of people who will vote for Pakatan regardless of whether the polls are held this year or next. These people are of the opinion that they will get the cash aid whoever is the government of the day as the aid is from public funds – taxpayers' money and therefore the rakyat's money. READ MORE HERE

Azmin-Khalid feud enters a new level Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:28 PM PDT The PKR deputy president, according to Raja Petra, is on a 'whispering campaign' to court support against the MB. Syed Jaymal Zahiid, FMT Raja Petra Kamarudin claimed today that the Azmin Ali-Khalid Ibrahim fight is being raised to a new level with the latter planning to exploit a land tussle issue to incriminate the Selangor menteri besar. The firebrand blogger said that Azmin, who is PKR's No 2, is now on a "whispering campaign" to court support against Khalid who was said to have abused his power in the land deal. The 18.51 acre of land in the middle of Klang town near the Goldcoast Hotel and the new Klang Mosque is allegedly owned by Yayasan Selangor, a state statutory body. Raja Petra, who runs the popular website Malaysia Today, said Khalid had used his power to give the land to his "blue-eyed girl" executive councillor Elizabeth Wong who had wanted it for a Chinese cultural centre project. Yayasan Selangor was said to have objected to the idea but was forced to concede when the Selangor MB allegedly interfered in the matter. The body purportedly had an initial joint-venture plan with Persada Sdn Bhd to develop the land. It later sent a letter of appeal dated July 12, 2011, to Khalid against surrendering the land. Secret war "Azmin is suggesting that there is something not too kosher about this land transaction, which he says Khalid approved. "Azmin's boys say Elizabeth Wong abused her authority with the backing of Khalid and they want to use this as the leverage to oust Khalid," wrote Raja Petra. The self-exiled blogger added that while Azmin exposes what he claims to be Khalid and Khalid's people's wrongdoings, "Umno is consolidating in their attempt to grab back Selangor from Pakatan Rakyat". Raja Petra had said in the past that the rivalry between Azmin and Khalid's faction provided a glimpse into the former's ambition to strengthen his position as Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim's successor. Anwar, who is also PKR's de facto leader, is seen as the only factor that keeps the secularist DAP and Islamist PAS together. His moderate image and politics are seen as a key appeal to Malaysia's mutiracial electorate. Azmin's "secret war" against Khalid and his ambitions for the party may rattle the fragile unity between the three major component parties in Pakatan, said the Malaysia Today webmaster.

And the fight intensifies Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:00 AM PDT   The Azmin Ali-Khalid Ibrahim fight in this game of thrones is being raised to the next level. Azmin's team is now on a whispering campaign regarding a piece of government land involving Khalid's 'blue-eyed' girl, Elizabeth Wong, which they say Khalid personally approved. And they say this is an abuse of power. THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin Battle for MB post eclipses polls (The Star, 14 Oct 2012) - The rivalry between Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and Azmin Ali for the Selangor Mentri Besar post has overshadowed the battle for control of the state. The exchange of fire between loyalists of Azmin Ali and Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim last week was not the first but it was the fiercest to date. The stakes have increased as the general election draws near and there is no denying that the two PKR leaders are doing what it takes to be in the cushy seat of Selangor Mentri Besar (MB). The Azmin-Khalid feud has reached a new level of intensity. But politicians are such natural actors. When Khalid walked into the House shortly before the Dewan Rakyat session began on Monday, Azmin leapt to his feet with outstretched arms. There was no man-hug that would have been over-acting but they smiled like they were in a toothpaste advertisement as they shook hands, knowing that all eyes were on them. Anyone looking at the pair last week would have been puzzled, even confused, as to whether they are rivals or buddies. The two adversaries are, quite ironically, seated next to each other Khalid as the Bandar Tun Razak MP and Azmin as Gombak MP. Azmin immediately launched into an earnest explanation about his interview in a Malay daily that had sparked off the latest rounds of attacks, saying that the reaction generated was not fair to both of them. Khalid was quite blas about it and told him: "No problem, there's no need to apologise. In fact, I just told reporters outside: Thank you to Azmin for saying that I am federal material.'" The pair even left the House together a couple of hours later Khalid to attend a meeting and Azmin to visit one of his party workers in hospital. In the afternoon, they were together again, this time at a PKNS meeting in Shah Alam. Again, there were lots of smiles and jovial exchanges, with Azmin praising Khalid's handling of Selangor's financial affairs. It was not exactly Oscar-winning stuff but it was a good show. Beneath the civil smiles and pleasantries lie a simmering rivalry that is centred around the post of Selangor MB. The two men are savvy enough to leave all that I-say-you and the you-say-me attacks to their machais. They are well-matched to take on each other. Khalid is the MB, but Azmin pulls the strings in PKR as the deputy president, Selangor chief and party election director. Azmin is not only a political animal but a smooth operator. Khalid, on the other hand, is not as naive as some imagine. Behind that absent-minded professor demeanour is a man determined to hold on to what he has. READ MORE HERE: http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/guest-columnists/52124-battle-for-mb-post-eclipses-polls ***************************************** The Azmin Ali-Khalid Ibrahim fight in this game of thrones is being raised to the next level. Azmin's team is now on a whispering campaign regarding a piece of government land involving Khalid's 'blue-eyed' girl, Elizabeth Wong, which they say Khalid approved. And they say this is an abuse of power. Azmin had wanted Elizabeth kicked out long ago, ever since the naked photos controversy first emerged. Azmin's boys had insisted that Anwar get rid of her. But Khalid defended her, just like how he defended Faekah Husin, much to Azmin's chagrin. So Anwar backed off rather than upset Khalid. But Azmin is not finished with Elizabeth, especially since she, together with Faekah, is guarding Khalid's back. Azmin is suggesting that there is something not too kosher about this land transaction, which he says Khalid 'illegally' approved. This is the story according to Azmin and gang. Yaysan Selangor is the owner of an 18.51 acre piece of land in the middle of Kelang town near the Goldcoast Hotel and the new Kelang Mosque. In March 2011, Elizabeth Wong met up with Yayasan Selangor and instructed the Yayasan to hand over the land to her for purposes of a Chinese cultural centre. The Yayasan told Elizabeth that they had already signed a joint-venture agreement with Persada Istemewa Sdn Bhd to develop the land into commercial and residential property. Elizabeth replied that she has already discussed the matter with Persada and they have agreed to work with her. Yayasan Selangor was not happy to hand over the land and they asked why such a big piece of land in the middle of the town needs to be surrendered for a cultural centre when it would not need land that big in size. Furthermore, the cultural centre can always be built outside the town centre instead of in the middle of town. This irritated Elizabeth and she warned them that if they refuse to hand over the land then she would use her powers as an EXCO member to ask the Menteri Besar, who is the Chairman of the Yayasan, to intervene. A few days later, on 21 March 2011, Elizabeth sent the Menteri Besar a letter asking for his approval to surrender the land for a Chinese cultural centre. Four days later, on 25 March 2011, Khalid wrote to the Yayasan Selangor. In that letter, the Menteri Besar said that the Board had already discussed the matter and that the Yayasan should hand over the land to Elizabeth. The letter said: 'Sdr. Ilham, sudah dibincang di lembaga, sila uruskan'. On 11 April 2011, a company called Persada Istemewa Sdn Bhd sent the Menteri Besar a letter proposing to develop the land into commercial property and housing as per their joint-venture agreement. The letter was copied to Ronnie Liu. In reference to the 11 April 2011 letter from Persada, the Menteri Besar sent Yayasan Selangor a letter dated 4 May 2011 asking the Yayasan for its comments on the proposal. Yayasan Selangor replied on 23 May 2011 with a four-page report. On 14 June 2011, Yayasan Selangor sent the Menteri Besar a letter appealing against surrendering the land to Elizabeth for a Chinese cultural centre. On 17 June 2011, the Kelang town council sent the Yayasan a letter telling them that the land has already been approved for a cultural centre. On 12 July 2011, Yayasan Selangor replied to the 17 June 2011 letter from the Kelang town council and said that they do not agree to surrender the land for a cultural centre. Azmin's boys say that Elizabeth Wong abused her authority with the backing of Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim and they want to use this as the leverage to oust Khalid. The question they raise is: why should a government-owned land meant for development be handed to the Chinese when it should be reserved for Bumiputeras? And while Azmin exposes what he says is Khalid's and Khalid's people's wrongdoing, Umno is consolidating in their attempt to grab back Selangor from Pakatan Rakyat.

PAS renegade Hasan Ali says will never join Umno Posted: 15 Oct 2012 06:56 PM PDT (The Malaysian Insider) - Sacked from PAS, renegade lawmaker Datuk Hasan Ali said today he will never join Umno as he still supports the Islamist party even as he vowed to expose weaknesses in the party he alleged was controlled by a group of progressive Muslims he branded as "Anwaristas'. The self-styled champion of Islam denied allegations that he had been "bought" by the country's largest Malay party — which is also the mainstay of the Barisan Nasional (BN) federal government — to conduct public speeches nationwide. "I am still with PAS and will not join Umno. Therefore, my decision should be respected by all parties," he told state news agency Bernama after a dialogue session with civil servants in Besut organised by the district youth council. "Until today, I speak on the principle of upholding Islam in this country even though I have to used my own funds," he was quoted as saying. The Gombak Setia assemblyman had been Selangor's executive councillor for Islamic affairs until he was booted from PAS in January. The former Selangor PAS commissioner had blamed Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for being the reason that led to his sacking from the Islamist party, which is part of the state's ruling Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact. Hasan said the "Anwaristas" — a new group of Islamic democrats alleged to take their cue on religion from Anwar — were not only acting as the shield and chief mover in PAS but had also become its spokesman, leading to the marginalisation of the group of PAS ulama, or the religious scholars. The role of the ulama in PAS had shrunk and some were expelled for speaking out in defence of Islam, Hasan said. "Therefore, people should not wonder if in the near future, PAS will sack more of the ulama, including Nasharudin Mat Isa, for championing Isla

The bogeyman and ‘under siege’ stratagem Posted: 15 Oct 2012 06:08 PM PDT   In Malaysia's situation, you can regard the liberals as the reformist group, or Pakatan Rakyat, while the conservatist group is Barisan Nasional. The 'war' between liberalism and conservatism in the mid-1800s in Europe saw the collapse of the monarchies and the emergence of republics. Hence do not underestimate the 'danger' of liberalism versus conservatism. THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin The Cuban Missile Crisis occurred over a 13-day period from 16-28 October 1962. That was 50 years ago. I was still in standard six then and many of you were probably not even born yet. To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Department for Continuing Education of the Oxford University is holding four lectures (details as below). I have signed up to attend these lectures this weekend so Malaysia Today may be slightly slow in the news updating during that period. I am not going to give you my opinion regarding the Cuban Missile Crisis, at least not until I have attended the lectures this weekend. What I want to do instead is to talk about the use of bogeymen and 'under siege' stratagem as a political tool. When the government raises a crisis, this can unite the people. Hence if the impression can be created that Islam or the Muslims or the Malays are under attack (under siege), this can unite the Malays-Muslims against what they perceive as a common enemy. To do this, though, you need to create a bogeyman. In the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Bogeyman for the Americans was the Communists and their satellite states such as Cuba. We must remember that just a year earlier, in 1961, America got involved in the Vietnam War and by 1962 America's troops in Vietnam had tripled. This war was supposed to be to stop the march of Communism but it was not well supported and most Americans were opposed to this war. Many Americans were openly opposed to the Vietnam War and it even spawned a peace movement, the Hippie culture (make love not war), Woodstock (with the many 'protest' songs), etc. Later, the Vietnam War escalated into an Indo-Chinese War when America began to bomb and invade Cambodia. In 1970, 500 students from the Kent University, Ohio, protested the Cambodian invasion resulting in 4 students being shot dead and 9 wounded. Anyway, in short, Americans did not support America's involvement in foreign conflicts. Martin Luther King, Jr., Muhammad Ali, Jane Fonda, and many more, all opposed the Vietnam War. And they were persecuted because of it. Communism had to be portrayed as an evil and the enemy of the 'free world'. America was becoming very divided and famous people were being attracted to the cause of the anti-war movement. The government had to make the people realise that war was necessary to protect the free world from the evil of Communism. Hence Communism must be seen as 'the enemy'. Today, of course, Communism is no longer feared. So they need a 'New Communism' and this new threat to the free world is Islam, the 'New Communism'. Islam is the new threat to the free world and the people must unite against radical Islam for the sake of democracy. That is in the west. In Malaysia the same strategy is used. Islam is a threat, or rather 'radical' Islam, so MCA plays up this issue to the hilt. Thus you are seeing a lot of rhetoric from the Barisan Nasional coalition partners as to the threat to democracy if Pakatan Rakyat were to come to power and PAS gets to turn Malaysia into an Islamic State with the Shariah criminal laws of Hudud as the laws of the land. MCA, of course, plays to the Chinese gallery. For the benefit of the Malay-Muslim audience, DAP is portrayed as an enemy of Islam with a hidden agenda of turning Malaysia into a Christian State. So both the Chinese and Malays are under siege -- the Chinese under siege from an Islamic State and the Malays under siege from a Christian State. To the Chinese, the bogeyman is Islam, while to the Malays it is Christianity. And to put icing on the cake, revelations of Christians converting Muslims to Christianity is played up. If the people can be made to believe that they face an evil and dangerous enemy they can be made to set aside their political differences and to unite against this common enemy. Chinese would no longer be MCA Chinese or DAP Chinese and Malays no longer Umno Malays or PAS Malays. It would be simply reduced to Malays versus Chinese. And in such a situation Umno and Barisan Nasional would benefit the most. The trouble is, Malaysians have big mouths. Since 2008, Malaysians have become more arrogant and they no longer care about what they say. They will say what they want to say and will even throw dares and challenges, which just increases the animosity between the races. Hence the loose talk only goes to help make the rift even bigger. The siege mentality becomes worse and the focus becomes 'unite against the enemy'. And the enemy of the Malays is the Chinese (in particular the Christian Chinese) and to the Chinese it is the Malays (in particular the radical Muslims). Common enemies are required to be able to unite the people. If there were no common enemy or, more accurately, a perceived common enemy, then the people would be divided along political lines. And in that type of situation you will see the liberals on one side and the conservatives on the other. In Malaysia's situation, you can regard the liberals as the reformist group, or Pakatan Rakyat, while the conservatist group is Barisan Nasional. The 'war' between liberalism and conservatism in the mid-1800s in Europe saw the collapse of the monarchies and the emergence of republics. Hence do not underestimate the 'danger' of liberalism versus conservatism. The government, therefore, cannot afford for Malaysia to be divided between liberalism and conservatism. Malaysia must be united so that the liberalism versus conservatism tide can be stemmed. And for this to happen Malaysians must be divided racially and religiously. When each race and religious grouping sees itself under siege, they would discard political ideology and unite. And this is why a bogeyman needs to be created whether it is Communism, America, Israel, Russia, Cuba, China, Vietnam, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, radical Islam, radical Christianity, Zionism, or whatever. And this is why Barisan Nasional and Umno are so successful. And they are successful only because Malaysians are so gullible and naïve. Malaysians can be made to feel that they are under siege and that a bogeyman is lurking in the dark waiting to get them. Maybe this is because when we were kids our parents planted the hantu syndrome into our minds. Hence we are able to see hantu everywhere. Bodohnya rakyat Malaysia. Percaya sangat dengan hantu. ***************************************** The Cuban Missile Crisis: 1962 Lecture 1: John Kennedy, American Foreign Policy and the Cuban Missile Crisis PROFESSOR MARK WHITE Department of History, Queen Mary, University of London   Lecture 2: Soviet Communism and the Cuban Revolution in the 1960s DR GEORGE LAMBIE Principal Lecturer, Department of Public Policy, De Montfort University   Lecture 3: The Cuban missile crisis: how close to Armageddon? PROFESSOR LEN SCOTT Professor in International History and Intelligence Studies, Aberystwyth University   Lecture 4: The Cuban missile crisis in cultural memory RIKKY ROOKSBY Tutor for OUDCE (Department for Continuing Education)

Guan Eng teaches Najib how to fight graft Posted: 15 Oct 2012 03:45 PM PDT The Penang chief minister and DAP secretary-general outlines six steps for Putrajaya to follow. Athi Shankar, FMT DAP has proposed six crucial steps for Putrajaya to fight graft and rescue the country from bankruptcy. Party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng proposed making public declaration of assets, implementing open competitive tenders, barring family members from government contracts, protecting genuine whistleblowers, removing Barisan Nasional leaders with extravagant lifestyles and coming clean on political donations. "Will BN leaders walk their talk by applying the six steps?" asked the Penang chief minister. He called on the federal government to first emulate his Pakatan Rakyat state government by institutionalising public declaration of assets. Lim and his state executive councillors had already publicly declared their assets so he could not see any reason for Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and the federal Cabinet doing so as well. "The declaration was even certified by an international accounting firm," pointed out the Pakatan leader in his blog posting. Lim, the Bagan MP, also called Najib to immediately drop BN leaders with extravagant lifestyles, owning luxury homes, cars and huge personal bank accounts in foreign countries. The third step was to bar family members of BN leaders from involving in government business to avoid another RM250 million "cow – condo" National Feedlot Centre scandal. Lim also called on Najib's administration to protect, not to prosecute, genuine whistleblowers, who exposed corruption cases leading to charges in court. The fifth, he said, BN must come clean on political donations such as the RM40 million political donation to Sabah Umno. Finally, he wanted the federal government to implement open competitive tenders like in Penang. Without open competitive tenders, he said public projects were directly negotiated and awarded to cronies causing loss of public revenue such as the cheap sale of the Sungai Besi Air Force Base land. Similarly, he asked whether the RM386 million for 57 KR1M stores in Sabah and Sarawak or RM6.7 million per store was justified. At RM6.7 million per store, he wondered whether the KR1M stores were selling basic necessities like sugar, salt and rice or luxury items like jewellery and designer handbags. Due to the implementation of an open competitive tender system in Penang since 2008, Lim claimed that his state government was able to table surplus budgets each year with proceeds from the savings going back to the people annually in the form of an "anti-corruption dividend". Unless action was taken against unhealthy practices, he warned that the Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI) on Malaysia would not only drop further "but the country may go bankrupt." Probe Sabah Umno Lim said Malaysia's CPI dropped from 37 in 2003 to 60 in 2012, prompting TI Malaysia Chapter deputy president Mohammad Ali to note that elements of state-facilitated grand corruption were prevalent. He noted that even Housing and Local Government Minister Chor Chee Heung had admitted that corruption cost Malaysia RM26 billion every year. He pointed out that the Global Financial Integrity Report from Washington estimated that more than RM1,077 million of illicit money flowed out illegally from Malaysia between 2000 and 2009. READ MORE HERE

In latest tirade, MCA warns against principles of 'Koran' in national culture Posted: 15 Oct 2012 03:36 PM PDT "...They will use the principles of the Koran [sic], and Islamic ethics and values into the nation's economic, social, and political culture," he wrote, using the archaic English spelling for the Muslim holy book. (Harakah) -  Chinese-only party MCA has launched a scathing attack on any attempt at inculcating Islamic values in governance, and warned non-Muslims that Quranic principles and Islamic ethics would form national culture if Pakatan Rakyat comes to power. The warning was made by deputy chairman of the party's publicity bureau, Loh Seng Kok, in a statement condemning an advisory by the Alor Setar Municipal Council that models on billboard should not appear scantily dressed. Claiming that such a ruling was "detrimental to both the nation's economic policies and competitiveness", Loh went on to suggest that it also trampled on non-Muslim rights. "It is preposterous for the Pakatan state government to come up with such guidelines, ignoring the rights of the Chinese community and other non-Muslims," he said, adding that the instruction from Alor Setar mayor Mat Noh Ahmad was made "even without any amendments to the Constitution", in an apparent reference to the argument that the Federal Constitution must be amended if Islamic criminal laws were to be introduced. "This is against the interest of the non-Muslims, and will even affect the state's economic development," he added. But the focus of the party's latest attack appears to be Islamic values, and Loh did not mince his words voicing displeasure over a statement by PAS president Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Abdul Awang encouraging the incorporation of Islamic values in governance. "...They will use the principles of the Koran [sic], and Islamic ethics and values into the nation's economic, social, and political culture," he wrote, using the archaic English spelling for the Muslim holy book. "Thus I urge the Chinese community to not be fooled by PAS, and to not think that DAP representatives can prevent PAS from achieving their goal of hudud law if Pakatan takes over Putrajaya," the statement added.

MCA is anti-Islam, says PAS Youth Posted: 15 Oct 2012 03:31 PM PDT (Harakah) - PAS Youth leader Nasrudin Hassan has decried the fact that MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek had been spared any action by the authorities over a spate of comments denigrating Islam and Muslims. "Even worse, his ally UMNO has not done anything to defend the sanctity of Islam, let alone to take action against the MCA president," Nasrudin wrote in Harakahdaily recently. Nasrudin recalled a series of comments touching on Islam by the MCA leader, including his infamous remarks questioning Muslim women who prefer not to have skin contact with the opposite sex. Apart from this, Chua was slammed by Muslims when in 2010 he linked corruption in Muslim countries to the fact that they were Muslim-majority nations. Later that year, during a visit to Kota Bharu, he expressed disappointment that shops there were closed for Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration. To illustrate how UMNO has succumbed to MCA's propaganda against Islam, Nasrudin (above) said a day after Chua had threatened to come out of Barisan Nasional if BN endorsed the Islamic capital punishment for serious crimes, or hudud, UMNO president Najib Razak declared that the laws would never be impelemented. More recently, Nasrudin said other MCA leaders have also joined Chua in making Islamophobic statements. In August, Selangor MCA chief Donald Lim Siang Chai voiced out against any attempt at forming an Islamic government during the state MCA convention in August. Earlier this year, Tourism minister Ng Yen Yen criticised the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) for disallowing Muslims from working at outlets serving liquor, while former Subang Jaya state representative from MCA Lee Hwa Beng was on record saying that Islamic state would impose ban on all other religions. "The latest is by Kedah MCA chairman Chong Itt Chew who questions and mocks Alor Setar Municipal Council's dress code requiring decent attire for models on advertisement billboards," said Nasrudin. "What is unfortunate is the fact that UMNO has kept silent in the face of its close ally MCA continously insulting and ridiculing Islam."

BN needs to be cautious Posted: 15 Oct 2012 03:24 PM PDT Many questions have been raised after Sabah Umno was alleged to have received RM40 million in political donations. If the Sabah Umno had received the money through a proper way, why was the money brought into the country in cash, instead of being transferred directly into the account? If it was a legitimate donation, why was the businessman carrying the large sum of money detained in Hong Kong? Lim Sue Goan, Mysinchew It will certainly be favourable to BN if the next general election can be held soon as even MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has said that there are signs showing the return of Chinese votes, while the support rates of Malay and Indian voters are very satisfactory. In politics, however, even one day can be too long, let alone the election which might be held early next year. To maintain the advantageous position as mentioned by Chua, BN must prevent suspicious incidents before the election. Unfortunately, BN is unable to curb the occurrence of such incidents. Many questions have been raised after Sabah Umno was alleged to have received RM40 million in political donations. If the Sabah Umno had received the money through a proper way, why was the money brought into the country in cash, instead of being transferred directly into the account? If it was a legitimate donation, why was the businessman carrying the large sum of money detained in Hong Kong? To prevent money laundering, many countries, including Malaysia, impose cash limit for foreign travellers. Had the businessman obtained an approval to bring in the large sum of money into Sabah? If yes, from whom did he get the approval? Umno refused to disclose the source of the donation. That being the case, how can it accuse non-governmental organisations of receiving foreign funds? The ruling coalition has even failed to show transparency. The issue might evolve into a political issue in Sabah as it is the poorest state in the country and the issue could trigger unhappiness among the poor. According to the latest poll, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman's approval rate has dropped by 15 per cent to 45 per cent. A further decline might become a threat to the BN regime. The government should introduce legislation to control political donations to avoid the inflow of unknown funds and corrupt practices. The control over political donations is also crucial to show the credibility of the government and political transformation. Once the perception of not being fully committed to curb corruption is deep-rooted, it will be difficult for BN to fight for votes from swing voters. BN should also be concerned about the people's perception as ill-feelings can hardly be eliminated. For example, Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam spent RM600,000 for his son's wedding and many people are not able to save such an amount of money even if they worked very hard until the day they retire. The Automated Enforcement System (AES) also lacks transparency, causing its good points to be neglected. People are more interested in knowing the background of the two contracted companies and what kind of benefits they can get. Could it be RM700 million as claimed by the alternative coalition? Some people have questioned the technology of the AES and whether the system has made things difficult for motorists. For example, the fine limit for speeding is RM300, which must be paid within two months without discount. According to the Road Transport Act 1987, a discount at different rates should be given to people based on the traffic rules they have violated. Does this mean that the AES has violated the law? Some people have also raise a question over the accuracy of the AES since it has not been appraised by any authoritative independent groups or experts. Motorists who receive AES summonses can only appeal to the courts. It is unreasonable, including for those whose vehicle registration numbers have been faked. It takes time to settle in courts and motorists will have to take leave to do so. Have the officials involved tried to put themselves in the public's shoes? There is nothing as a sure win before the election is held and the situation could change at any time. Therefore, BN still needs to be cautious.

Suspense too much for some Posted: 15 Oct 2012 03:18 PM PDT After more than a year of intense speculation, the whole country is still kept in suspense as to the date of the 13th general election. Slightly more than 13 million Malaysians aged 21 and above are eligible to cast their ballots to choose 222 representatives in the Federal Parliament and 505 representatives in 12 state assemblies (except Sarawak, which already held its state election on April 16 last year). Philip Hii, The Star AT FIRST the people thought that the general election was going to be in July last year. When nothing happened, the date Nov 11, 2011 was mentioned. They pointed out that the number 11 was Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's favourite number. Favourite or no favourite, the polls did not happen. Then came the new year and speculators pointed to March, May, July and finally the last month of this year as the "The Day". The intensity of the speculation has diminished somewhat as many people have adopted a "let-it-be" attitude. For some, the delay has made them anxious. Others are rather fed up, while certain segments of the business community are impatiently waiting for their usual election-related windfall. Even the components of the ruling coalition are rather restive. Only the Opposition seems to welcome the delay, saying that it is working in their favour as it gives them more time to reach the voters. The current speculation is that the elections would likely be held after February next year when the distribution of government handouts as promised in Budget 2013 has been completed. Najib might also wait for the expiry of his Government in March next year, which would compel Opposition-ruled Penang, Selangor, Kedah and Kelantan to participate in the general election simultaneously. If none of the above happens, the polls must be held by June 27 next year, at the very latest. January next year is considered a good election month because of the "feel-good" factor as Chinese New Year falls on Feb 10. It is believed that holding the elections close to the Lunar New Year would garner more Chinese support. "It is the first time in our country's history that uncertainty over an election date has dragged on for so long. It is inconvenient for employers and employees," said a businessman who wanted to be known only as Wong. He said the uncertainty had made it difficult for him to approve leave application of his staff, especially those who applied for November and January. "The best I can do is grant them a short period, from two to five days, but on condition that they must return to work if the elections are called," Wong added. A graphic designer, Angela, said she was worried that her approved leave from Nov 21 to 30 would be revoked. "If that happens then it would be a great loss to me as I have bought an air ticket to Bali," she said. Those most affected by the uncertainty are civil servants, police, military personnel, printers, and members of the media. Some party members and workers in the ruling coalition are also starting to get "irritated". An old SUPP member said withholding the announcement of the election date so close to the end of the current ruling government's term could be interpreted as a "show of weakness and indecisiveness". He said many Malaysians were already politically mature and most of them have already decided who to vote for, or whether to vote at all. Slightly more than 13 million Malaysians aged 21 and above are eligible to cast their ballots to choose 222 representatives in the Federal Parliament and 505 representatives in 12 state assemblies (except Sarawak, which already held its state election on April 16 last year). In 2008, Barisan Nasional under the leadership of Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi suffered its first major setback when Pakatan Rakyat won 82 seats, thereby denying the ruling coalition of a two-thirds majority. Barisan also lost control of five states — Penang, Selangor, Kelantan, Kedah and Perak. It, however, regained Perak following the defection of three Pakatan assemblymen. Following the poor showing, Abdullah announced that he would step down. On March 26, 2009, Najib was elected unopposed as the new Umno party leader, paving his way to the nation's premiership. Abdullah tendered his resignation on April 2 and the next day, Najib was sworn in as the sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia. It is stipulated in the Malaysian constitution that the general election is held every five years. The country's past 12 general elections were on Aug 19, 1959; April 25, 1964; May 10, 1969; Aug 24 and Sept 14 1974; July 8, 1978; April 22, 1982; Aug 3, 1986; Oct 21, 1990; April 25, 1995; Nov 29, 1999; March 21, 2004; and March 8, 2008.

‘Graft in military housing since 90s’ Posted: 15 Oct 2012 03:13 PM PDT The Malay Army Veteran Association chief also claims previous contractors dished out contracts to cronies. Syed Jaymal Zahiid, FMT Corruption involving military housing had been widespread since the 1990s, the president of the Malay Army Veteran Association (PVMT) Mohamad Ali Baharom alleged today. Yesterday the 2011 Auditor-General report revealed that the Defence Ministry had spent a whopping RM3.2 billion for poor quality living quarters with a 84% cost overrun from the initial cost of RM1.2 billion. The quality of the quarters was said to be marred with damages and construction defects causing safety concerns for occupants. Reparations were slow to come and low quality furniture was supplied. The report also stated that the contractors failed to complete construction within the initial contract period and were given time extensions of 94 to 1,240 days. "This issue has been around since I was still in the army. That was in the 1990s. It is blatant cheating (by the contractors)," Mohamad, better known as Ali Tinju, told FMT in a brief interview. The PVMT president said similar complaints were lodged with Mindef on the poor quality of housing and suspected corruption in the process but the issue never got out into the open. Mohamad alleged government-owned National Housing Company Bhd (SPNB) had also provided poor quality housing despite being awarded hefty contracts later distributed to politically-connected contractors. SPNB implicated "It was the same with SPNB. The houses were of very poor quality. I have visited the houses of the generals. "They may look good outside but the interiors are rife with problems. They handed out the contracts to their cronies," he said, adding that Mindef should rectify the problems and prosecute those involved. The contractor implicated in the 2011 AG report was Syarikat USL, a joint venture of the Finance Ministry-owned Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd and the Armed Forces Fund Board Sdn Bhd. The report described the company as "inexperienced" and "technically incompetent". Mindef was censured and urged to ensure that it appoint only eligible and capable contractors. The report also noted that although USL was fined RM87.12 million for the delays, the Finance Ministry waived the penalty following an application by Mindef. In 2006, the same company was censured for sub-par delivery of an air force quarters project in Subang. Despite the reprimand, no repairs were made. However, the report revealed, the ministry had nevertheless issued a "certificate of making good defects" to indicate that repairs had been completed.

National debt soars to RM456.12 bil Posted: 15 Oct 2012 03:08 PM PDT The 2011 Auditor-General's report shows that the debt percentage to Malaysia's GDP is shrinking, largely due to the GDP increase. Patrick Lee, FMT Malaysia's national debt is at its highest yet: at a whopping RM456.12 billion, according to the 2011 Auditor-General's report. It is a RM49.02 billion (12%) increase from 2010′s figure (RM407.1b) and 51.77% of the country's RM881.08 billion Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In comparison, 2011′s debt percentage of the national GDP was lower (2010 recorded 53.15%). This might be due to the RM115.1 billion increase in GDP, of which a total of RM765.9 billion was recorded in 2010. According to the report, about RM438.02 billion of Malaysia's national debt was local while the remaining RM18.1 billion was foreign. The country also appeared to be spending more this year due to its rising debt. The report said that 2011′s expenditure due to the debt was RM17.72 billion, from 2010′s RM15.62 billion. At the same time, the country's deficit was shown to have reduced to 2008 levels, recorded at RM42.5 billion of the GDP, or 4.82%. In 2008, Malaysia's GDP stood at RM740.72 billion, with a deficit of RM35.57, or 4.8%. Last year's deficit was also lower than 2010 and 2009 numbers, which were at RM43.24b (5.64%) and RM47.42b (7.03%). These numbers were despite a 16.1% increase in government revenue, which saw Putrajaya collecting an estimated RM185.42 billion, compared to 2010′s 159.65 billion. The report said that efforts to control 2011′s deficit were due to foreign and local loans, which the Auditor-General's Department said, grew by as much as RM36.33 billion last year, or a total of 113.56 billion. In 2011, the government had a total of RM107.09 billion in local loans, with RM6.47 billion in foreign loans. The report added that the government also had a higher loan repayment in 2011, at about RM65.35 billion, or RM33.52 billion from 2010.

Malaysia's third quarter GDP to slow Posted: 15 Oct 2012 02:57 PM PDT (Bernama) – Malaysia's gross domestic product (GDP) for the third quarter of 2012 will be lower due to the reduced trade figure recorded for that quarter, said Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Husni Hanadzlah. However, the country is on track to achieve the 4.5 per cent to five per cent targeted gross domestic product (GDP), for 2012. "We believe that our third quarter is lower than the second. This is because of the global economic conditions. It has not improved and as a result, our trade has been affected," he told reporters after the launch of the ninth Kuala Lumpur Islamic Finance Forum 2012 (KLIFF 2012) today. Malaysia's total trade in August fell to RM104.84 billion compared with RM106.17 billion in the same month last year. Recently, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that Asia will continue to power the global economy, but warned there was an increasing risk that growth in the region, could drop to levels last seen during the global financial crisis. The Fund foresees the Asian region economy expanding 5.9 per cent in 2013, 0.7 of a percentage point below the April estimate, it said in an update to its regional economic outlook. The IMF added that a hard landing in China's economy remained a low probability risk, but warned that such a scenario would have a significant impact on Asian economies, if it did occur. Malaysia's economy strengthened to 5.4 per cent in the second quarter 2012 against 4.9 per cent in the preceding quarter, led by continued expansion in the services and manufacturing sectors. He pointed out that the GDP for the second quarter will be the highest recorded in 2012. He noted that the destabilisation effects of QE3 will not impact Malaysia's economy. Meanwhile in his speech earlier, Husni said there is a need to expand the Shariah framework to provide solutions to sophisticated high net worth individuals, balancing the tenets of Islam and the complexities and realities of current financial, legal and taxation requirements. He said by expanding the range of value-add structures, products and services, the wealth management industry is in a position to play a key role in diversifying system-wide risks. "At the same time it adds depth and breadth to the country's domestic direct investment marketplace, secondary market liquidity and expansion of local talent pool and technical expertise. "In the last 10 years, our domestic investment management industry has expanded rapidly. This development was supported by a prudently sequenced deregulation measures, especially in regards to the market』s access to products and services, as well as the opening up of distribution channels within the industry," added Husni. Global Islamic assets have grown at an average rate of 15 per cent to 20 per cent per annum for the last 10 years to reach US$1.3 trillion in 2011. Husni said the government had also strengthened the standards for investor protection by enhancing disclosure and governance standards. "As a result, our domestic Assets Under Management (AUM) grew at a compounded rate of 21 per cent per annum from RM55 billion in 2000 to RM377 billion in 2010," he noted. Malaysia's AUM is estimated to grow to RM1.6 trillion in 2020. The KLIFF 2012 is a two-day forum beginning today and organised by the Centre for Research and Training in collaboration with Hisham, Sobri and Kadir, the Association of Islamic Banking Institutions Malaysia and Amanie Advisor. The forum has brought together scholars, practitioners, industry players and the public who have an interest in Islamic Banking and finance.

Sultan yet to give nod for discussion on Talamgate Posted: 15 Oct 2012 02:45 PM PDT (The Star) - The Selangor Sultan has yet to give his royal consent for a special state assembly meeting, indicating that the discussion on the Talamgate and water issues would be held at the same sitting as the state Budget's announcement on Nov 19. Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah had yet to decide on the special meeting but has consented to the one on Nov 19 to table the state Budget. "We will abide by whatever the Sultan says. In fact, some of the state representatives have also expressed the view that the special sitting is not necessary," Khalid told reporters after meeting state heads of departments here yesterday. The state government was hoping to hold the special sitting two weeks before Nov 19 to discuss the White Paper on the Talam debt recovery and water restructuring exercise as well as the number of new voters in the state, which Khalid had labelled as "suspicious". (A White Paper is a government or other authoritative report on a major issue that provides information or proposals on it). On July 3, MCA Young Professionals Bureau Chief Datuk Chua Tee Yong had challenged the Selangor Government to explain how its exercise to recover a RM392mil debt from Talam ended in questionable deals worth over RM1bil. The state government is said to have obtained a grant of RM392mil and acquired additional assets worth RM284mil from Talam, bringing the total acquisition to RM676mil. This RM676mil purchase of assets was said to be part of the RM1bil deal. On a separate matter, Khalid said he would speak with Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on a proposal from a Canadian company on membrane technology to ease an impending water shortage in the state. He claimed that the technology would produce the same results at a fraction of the cost of the multi-billion ringgit Langat2 project. "Membrane technology will generate one million litres of treated water per day, which would be the same as the Langat 2 treatment plant when it is completed. "Besides, the implementation of the membrane technology would cost not more than RM800mil compared to the cost of Langat 2, which is about RM2.5bil to RM3bil."

Sabah like a second home for MILF leaders Posted: 15 Oct 2012 02:42 PM PDT (The Star) - Sabah is like a second home to several Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commanders who have either worked or stayed with relatives in the East Malaysian state. Commander Adnan Ebrahim lived at Kg Likas in Kota Kinabalu city for about two years during the Marcos era in the 1980s after he accompanied his comrade Sema Bayao (pic) to seek medical treatment there. "He was injured in a gunbattle with the Philippine government soldiers and could not go to the hospital in Mindanao as he would be arrested," he said, speaking in Malay. Adnan, 54, joined the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) as a soldier when he was 15, saying he wanted to fight Manila's injustice against Muslims. When MNLF split, he joined the breakaway MILF to fight for the Bangsamoro people. In Sabah, Adnan worked odd jobs including as a coffeeshop dish washer and manual labourer while Bayao, after recovering, worked as a contract labourer, earning daily wages of RM10 to RM12. Adnan said life was good in Sabah because there was no trouble. "In Mindanao, it was a time when (Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos) imposed martial law. And we did not have freedom of movement. Life was dangerous as we were hunted by the Philippine army," he said. "At times, we had no food we were always on the run." "Sabahans did not know I was actually a Moro fighter who had fled my country. I did not tell anyone as I was afraid that there were Philippine government spies in Sabah." Adnan and Bayao, 50, later decided to come back and continue their fight for Bangsamoro people. Now that a peace pact has been signed, Adnan and Bayao said they would not be going back to Sabah any time soon. Instead, they are hoping Sabah investors will be coming to Mindanao instead.

Hasan Ali tiada kapasiti desak Nik Aziz letak jawatan, kata PAS Posted: 15 Oct 2012 02:31 PM PDT Mohd Farhan Darwis, The Malaysian Insider Pemimpin PAS bersependapat menegaskan bekas Pesuruhjaya PAS Datuk Dr Hasan Mohamed Ali tidak mempunyai kapasiti mendesak Mursyidul Am PAS, Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat meletak jawatan kerana beliau hanyalah "orang luar" daripada parti. Naib Presiden PAS, Datuk Mahfuz Omar menegaskan, Hasan (gambar) tiada hubung kait dengan PAS dan menggesa beliau agar "berdiam diri" daripada mencampuri urusan dalam parti. "Dia tiada hubung kait dengan parti ... lebih baik dia diam sahaja. "Dia umpama bekas menantu, yang minta bekas mertua untuk meletak jawatan sebagai mertua, tidak masuk akal langsung," kata Ahli Parlimen Pokok Sena itu kepada The Malaysian Insider. Senada dengan Mahfuz, Naib Presiden PAS Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man turut menegaskan Hasan tidak sepatutnya mengeluarkan kenyataan sedemikian kerana beliau bukan lagi ahli PAS. "Urusan melantik Datuk Dr Haron Din, sebagai Mursyidul Am perlu di bawa ke peringkat Majlis Syura. "Hasan tiada kapasiti, dia bukan ahli PAS," kata Pesuruhjaya PAS Pahang itu lagi. Sebelum ini presiden Jalur Tiga (Jati) itu meminta Nik Aziz  melepaskan jawatannya sebagai Mursyidul Am PAS, kerana mengeluarkan kenyataan parti DAP tidak pernah menggganggu perjuangan PAS dan akan membantu parti Islam itu untuk menang pada Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 akan datang. Hasan menegaskan, kenyataan seumpama itu amat keterlaluan dan akan memberikan peluang kepada DAP untuk terus menyerang dan menjadikan mereka lebih ganas menghentam dasar Islam, yang diperjuangkan PAS. Beliau berkata sudah tiba masanya jawatan itu diserahkan kepada Timbalannya, Datuk Dr Haron Din, yang padanya mempunyai kemampuan dan kewibawaan yang setara dengan Nik Aziz. Hasan yang juga Adun Gombak Setia berpandangan kenyataan Nik Aziz itu menghiris hati dan perasaan ahli dan penyokong PAS yang sudah tidak sabar dengan penghinaan demi penghinaan DAP terhadap agama Islam.

Ali Baba contractors ‘killing-off’ Dayak business Posted: 15 Oct 2012 01:56 PM PDT 'Ali Baba' contractors are squeezing Dayak contractors out of busienss in Pakan, Sarikei, Bintagor, Selangau, Kanowit and Sri Aman constituencies.  Joseph Tawie, FMT SARIKEI: Discontent Dayak contractors in Pakan may cost Julau MP Joseph Salang to lose substantial votes in the coming general election. Salang, who is also Deputy Minister of Information, Communications and Culture, seems to be unable to help his genuine Dayak contractors. According to the contractors, they are shabbily treated and are victims of the famed 'Ali Baba contractors' disease which surfaced during the era of Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. According to a local contractor Joseph Allen, in Pakan the Ali Baba contractor has been active for the past three years. "This contractor is aligned to certain government officers. He 'sapu' (clean-sweeps) all big projects with high profit prospects meant for Pakan because of his connection with certain government officers," said Allen. The 'Ali Baba' system in Pakan works through three bumiputera companies which are under the control of a non-bumiputera contractor. The practice has been going on for three years. These projects which include village road projects, public infrastructure and basic infrastructure projects were passed through the Public Works Department (JKR) to this Ali-Baba contractor. Last week several frustrated bumiputera contractors met with the Resident of Sarikei division to voice their complaints only to be told that there was nothing he could do to help them. Dissatisfied with the answer, the group led by Hereward Gramong approached Salang last Saturday in Sibu because most of the federal-funded projects in Julau were channeled through Salang. Salang instead advised them to discuss with the officers handling the projects or tenders. But instead of meeting the officers handling the projects, the Pakan district Bumiputera Contractors Association met on Sunday to discuss their next move. Malpractices and abuse of power They agreed to write a petition letter to Salang with copies extended to the Pakan assemblyman and Minister of Social Development William Mawan Ikom, Meluan assemblyman Wong Judat, Sarikei Division Resident, Divisional Engineer and Pakan and Julau district officers. In the letter, they demanded that the authorities concerned bar the three Ali-Baba contractors who they identified, from vying for tenders offered through Pakan District Office. They demanded that officers sitting in the tender board be changed as they suspected there were some elements of malpractices and abuse of power. The bumiputera contractors also suggested that in order to ensure fair distribution of projects among the genuine bumiputra contractors, there should be a casting of lots (cabut undi) or on rotation system especially for projects though JKR for Class F, Class EX and Class E contractors rather than by open tender. READ MORE HERE

GE13: Should the global community care? Posted: 15 Oct 2012 01:45 PM PDT All the so-called reforms are like attempting to varnish a table that is ridden with termites. By S Ambiga, FMT Those in the international community may be forgiven for saying… "is there a problem with the democratic process in Malaysia?". In the international arena, our leaders portray Malaysia as a moderate Islamic nation that is built on the democratic principles that are enshrined in our Federal Constitution. The fundamental rights of freedom of expression, freedom of association, freedom of assembly, the right to life and a fair electoral process, are indeed guaranteed under our Federal Constitution. The reality is, however, far less idyllic. There are serious questions whether these rights are respected and upheld by those in power. Since before the 1990s, Malaysians have been pushing for a reform of the system of governance. There has been growing discontent over issues like rampant corruption, abuse of power, deaths in custody and selective prosecution (or persecution), to name but a few of the grouses. We are increasingly alarmed by the use of race and religion by politicians to divide the people for political gain, with no regard whatsoever for the possible long-term consequences of this conduct. We note with disgust our mainstream media descending to the lowest depths of junk journalism. We are appalled at the growing instances of political violence. In the clearest example of how low we have sunk, human rights defenders and civil society who are seen as opposing the government are facing ruthless attacks by the government of the day. Suaram, established in 1989 and which has in the past year been exposing possible corruption by Malaysians in high places in the purchase of Scorpene submarines from France, is suddenly facing investigation by several government agencies. The mainstream media is once again playing its role in showing no regard whatsoever for presenting the whole truth. In a front-page news story, preposterous claims were made that NGOs like Suaram and Bersih were funded by organisations like National Democratic Institute (NDI) and Open Society Institute (OSI) for the purpose of overthrowing the government. Directors of Suaram have been hauled up by enforcement agencies for their exposé on the corruption, yet our anti-corruption agency fails to even begin to investigate the claims of Suaram that a huge commission of RM500 million had been received by a Malaysian entity in the Scorpene deal. Civil society is now continuously portrayed in the media as the enemy which is seeking to overthrow the government at the behest of foreign powers. These accusations have also been hurled at Bersih, more so since July last year when we had a successful rally of more than 50,000 people on the streets of KL, clamouring for clean and fair elections. Another rally was held in April this year when more than 200,000 people were on the streets, again asking for electoral reform. Malaysians do not easily take to the streets. The numbers must mean that there were good reasons why they did. What reforms? I will not go into more details of the attacks that human rights defenders have had to face by those in authority or those who had the tacit approval of the authorities. Suffice it to say they have been sustained and relentless. When asked, our leaders will say that this government is reforming because of the replacement of many oppressive laws, and the apparent move to greater democracy. They will say that after the Bersih rally last year, a parliamentary select committee (PSC) for electoral reform was set up and a report issued. What they don't go on to explain is, what replaces these oppressive laws and what they are doing to effectively implement the PSC recommendations. In my view, the new legislation just does not go far enough, and the important recommendations of the PSC report are largely ignored or poorly implemented. Bersih also continues to receive reports of electoral malpractices and the integrity of the electoral roll leaves much to be desired. Our Election Commission does not enjoy public confidence and is not seen by many as independent. This, together with all the other issues that plague our system of governance, leads to the inevitable conclusion that the next crucial general election will be seriously flawed. All the so-called reforms are like attempting to varnish a table that is ridden with termites. It is difficult to fix a system that is fundamentally flawed by building on the same rotten foundation. That is, even if there is real political will to reform. The Global Commission on Elections, Democracy and Security which is headed by Kofi Annan (former United Nations secretary-general) and which has many distinguished members including Ernesto Zedillo (former president of Mexico), Madeleine K Albright (former US Secretary of State) and Professor Amartya Sen, issued a ground-breaking report on clean and fair elections dated September 2012. In his foreword, Annan states, "The spread of democracy across the world has been one of the most dramatic changes I have witnessed over the course of my career. In country after country, people have risked their lives to call for free elections, democratic accountability, the rule of law and respect for human rights. Elections are the indispensable root of democracy…" I make no apologies for quoting from this report at length for I cannot say it better. The report clearly outlines that clean and fair elections are not just about choosing leaders, but are about building a solid framework for a democracy that works for the people. Some conclusions After studies, the following were some of the conclusions arrived at: 1. "Elections with integrity are important to values that we hold dear – human rights and democratic principles. Elections give life to rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, the right to take part in the government of one's country through freely elected representatives, the right of equal access to public service in one's country, and the recognition that the authority of government derives from the will of the people, expressed in 'genuine periodic elections' which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot. 2. Elections are fundamental to the ethos and principles of democracy… 3. Citizens lose confidence in democratic processes when elections are not inclusive, transparent, and accountable. When elections have integrity, they bolster democracy, respect fundamental rights, and produce elected officials who are more likely to represent their citizens' interests. 4. But in addition to promoting democratic values and human rights, elections with integrity can also yield other tangible benefits for citizens. Evidence from around the world suggests that elections with integrity matter for empowering women, fighting corruption, delivering services to the poor, improving governance, and ending civil wars… 5. Electoral accountability, in turn, is associated with lessening government corruption… 6. Electoral accountability, in turn, has direct benefits for improving representation of the poor… 7. Even in countries emerging from civil wars – the most difficult of contexts for building democracy – research now shows that when the termination of the war is accompanied by elections in which former combatants run for office and campaign for votes, countries are less likely to revert to civil war. At the same time, however, other studies note that fraudulent elections are correlated with societal violence and political instability…" In an interview after the presentation of the report, Stephen Stedman, director of the Global Commission and a political scientist from Stanford, was asked what the motivation was for the report. In speaking of the chairman (Kofi Annan), he said that Annan was "driven by his experience of having to deal with several elections in Africa that had become violent and had gone off the rails. And there is a frustration he feels about how little attention had been paid to those places before they blew up". READ MORE HERE

Umno menikus bila berdepan MCA Posted: 15 Oct 2012 01:36 PM PDT Pelbagai kenyataan dikeluarkan oleh pemimpin MCA yang secara terang-terangan menolak pelaksanaan hudud di negara ini. (FMT) - Ketua Dewan Pemuda PAS Pusat, Nasrudin Hassan Tantawi menyifatkan Umno menikus apabila berdepan dengan MCA terutama membabitkan isu pelaksanaan hukum hudud. Menurut Nasrudin, pelbagai kenyataan dikeluarkan oleh pemimpin MCA yang secara terang-terangan menolak pelaksanaan hudud di negara ini. Bagaimanapun, Umno yang pernah dituduh hilang akal juga didakwa gagal mengambil sebarang tindakan berkesan ke atas MCA dengan mengeluarkan kenyataan yang biadap terhadap Islam dan para penganutnya. "Presiden MCA Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek pada 23 September 2011 pernah menegaskan di hadapan para wartawan, jika Umno melaksanakan hudud, MCA akan keluar Barisan Nasional. Ekoran ugutan keras MCA itu, sehingga kini Umno terpaksa menikus demi kepentingan survival politik mereka. "Pada 4 December 2011 , selepas merasmikan Forum mengenai hudud di Wisma MCA, sekali lagi Chua menegaskan bahawa Malaysia akan kehilangan pelabur dan negara akan binasa jika hudud dilaksanakan. Malah beliau juga menekankan bahawa hudud tidak adil kepada semua khasnya kaum wanita disamping menyebut bahawa undang – undang Islam adalah kejam. Menambah "kecut"nya Umno berdepan MCA ialah apabila Presidennya menulis dalam twitternya pada 1 Julai 2012 (sebagai respon) kepada Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Kemelah yang mencadangkan pelaksanaan hudud di Johor bahawa: "Adun Umno Johor itu tentu sudah kehabisan idea dan hilang akal untuk mencadangkan hudud di Johor meliputi bukan Islam," katanya dalam satu kenyataan hari ini. Beliau turut merujuk kepada kenyataan Setiausaha Agung MCA, Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha yang menempelak gara-gara beliau menegaskan bahawa parti itu adalah anti Islam. Menyifatkan Kong sebagai berpura-pura apabila pemimpin itu mengaitkan DAP sebagai parti yang anti Islam. "Kenapa pula Setiausaha Agung MCA bertanya demikian? Bukankah pemimpin-pemimpin MCA, terutamanya di dalam media milik mereka The Star, secara konsisten menegaskan kepada masyarakat non-Muslim bahawa undi untuk DAP adalah undi untuk hudud? "Ertinya MCA seperti mahu mengesahkan bahawa DAP menyokong hudud. Maka apa masalah DAP bersama PAS dalam Pakatan Rakyat  dan apa perlunya PAS menganggap DAP anti Islam pula. MCA yang sangat ketara sikap anti Islamnya. "Pemimpin MCA juga selalu mengulangi 'statement' bahawa "DAP  tunduk kepada PAS," katanya.

Misuari: It’s a recipe for another big, big war in Mindanao Posted: 15 Oct 2012 01:19 PM PDT Moro leader Nur Misuari (sulu.gov.ph photo) (Inquirer News) - "This framework agreement to me would be a recipe for another big, big war in Mindanao," Nur Misuari said. "Cut my throat if Hadji Murad can ensure peace in Mindanao," Misuari said, referring to Murad Ebrahim, chairman of the MILF, who witnessed the signing of the framework accord in Malacañang Monday with President Aquino and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak. Misuari, leader of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) that signed a peace agreement with the government in 1996, continued to rant Monday against a new peace accord. The MILF, he said, is "so unpopular in Mindanao." He claimed many MILF members returned to the MNLF because they, too, were upset about the framework agreement for the creation of a new autonomous region in Mindanao, to be called Bangsamoro. Misuari's extreme pessimism came in sharp contrast to cautious optimism of most Muslims in Mindanao and the guarded optimism of the Catholic Church that greeted the signing in Malacañang yesterday of the preliminary peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). 1996 peace deal But the chair of the MNLF Central Committee lauded the signing of the framework agreement. "The signing of the government's agreement with the MILF proved that our decision to enter the 1976 Tripoli Agreement was the right thing to do," Muslimin Sema, now mayor of Cotabato City, told the Inquirer by phone. Sema, however, wanted to know how the new agreement would harmonize with the 1996 peace deal with the MNLF. The answer will come when the Transition Commission begins work on the creation of the Bangsamoro, which will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Read more at: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/289674/misuari-its-a-recipe-for-another-big-big-war-in-mindanao

Wow !! 3 olang apek cina masuk Masjid apa hal?? Posted: 15 Oct 2012 01:15 PM PDT   Batu vs Batu Sekeping gambar menceritakan segalanya.Kenapa tiga orang cina tak fobia dengan agama islam? kini mereka tanpa segan silu berdamping dengan gerakan islam khususnya parti Pas serta berani masuk ke kuliah agama. Pada zaman Umno/Bn kuat orang orang cina cukup takut dengan gerakan islam seperti Pas, mereka di perbodoh bodoh oleh Umno dengan dakyah yang serong terhadap gerakan islam seperi isu hudud, kalau sokong pas nanti kamu akan dipotong ~ anu~dan sebagainya..   Tetapi kini alhamdulilah segalanya telah berubah, mereka dilihat semakin berani serta sudah faham apa itu agama islam semenjak mereka berdamping dengan parti Pas. Mereka tau apa pantang larang agama islam serta yang mana baek atau buruknya. Janganlah pula kita bersangka buruk tujuan mereka hadir ke majlis itu, kena berfikiran positif jangan sempitkan minda kita dengan benda yang negatif. Diharap mereka akan di beri hidayah oleh Allah supaya mereka mendapat petunjuk tentang kebenaran agama islam. insyaallah. Read more at: http://batuvskayu.blogspot.com/2012/10/wow-3-olang-apek-cina-masuk-masjid-apa.html

Azmin to be hit by FAC scandal? Posted: 15 Oct 2012 01:09 PM PDT Popular blogger Raja Petra claims that revelations about alleged financial irregularities involving the Free Anwar Campaign are set to embarrass PKR deputy president. (FMT) - The silent spat between PKR deputy president Azmin Ali and Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim's political aide Faekah Husin is set to simmer further with both parties working on their whispering campaigns to seriously undermine the other. Popular blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin, in his latest blog posting in Malaysia Today, claimed that Azmin, having failed to have Faekah sacked from PKR during the party's political bureau meeting last week, has now embarked upon questioning Faekah's sexual orientation. "They [Azmin's camp] are 'whispering' that Faekah is a lesbian and that her partner is a lady doctor. "This is actually a very old story and not even a story for that matter. Everyone knows that these two single girls are sharing a house. But that does not make them lesbians, as what Azmin's boys are trying to suggest," said Raja Petra. And he said that Faekah was not taking the personal attacks on her quietly. "She is fighting back. Her 'team' is talking about the large sums of money Azmin has been [allegedly] siphoning out in the name of the party as well as in the name of the Free Anwar Campaign (FAC) over the last 12 years since 2000. And they are talking about millions," he said. He added that although the story was not new and that he had written about it in the past, "Faekah's 'gurkhas' are resurrecting this story in light of the recent Suaram and Malaysiakini exposé, which more or less involved the same people". Raja Petra, the founder of FAC, said that he knew about how certain leaders in PKR had made use of the campaign to "collect millions" for themselves. He added that he was only paid RM3,000 to run the campaign – RM1,000 from Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and RM2,000 from Anwar's brother, Rosli, while the others were using FAC's name to enrich themselves. He also said that one particular Anwar Ibrahim aide had misrepresented himself as a FAC director in London to arrange "financing" for the FAC. Trusted aides "Millions changed hands but not a cent went to the FAC," he said, adding that there were a number of other occasions when FAC's name was used to raise a lot of money. He claimed that Anwar was aware of these but had chosen not to do anything. Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/10/16/azmin-to-be-hit-by-fac-scandal/

PAS man wants to know Christians’ 9% secret Posted: 15 Oct 2012 12:34 PM PDT Source: National Census 2010 "How can only 9.2 percent of the population, a minority group, set up a Christian state? Tell me how in the world this could happen?" uppercaise » Outnumbered, outvoted, outgunned, and wanting to take over? Mujahid Yusof Rawa, head of national unity in Parti Islam (PAS) and son of a party founder, wants to know the Malaysian Christians' secret formula for taking over the country. Speaking in Penang on Sunday, Mujahid derided recent claims that DAP politicians and Christian leaders were conspiring to set up a Christian state in Malaysia by asking: "How can only 9.2 percent of the population, a minority group, set up a Christian state? Tell me how in the world this could happen?" Quoting official statistics, he said Malaysia also had more Buddhists than Christians. "They should be saying that Buddhists want to create a Buddhist state as they constitute about 16 percent of the country's population." His remarks were lauded by the Catholic Bishop of Melaka-Johor, Rev Fr Paul Tan, who said Mujahid had made a "mathematics-based exorcism" of the Christian bogeyman. The controversy had been created by the Umno-friendly former PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa, who had accused DAP leader Lim Guan Eng of planning a Christian state. "The gentleman from Parit Buntar (Mujahid) has offered the simple explanation that the notion of nine percent of Malaysians that are Christian trying to make over the rest of the population in their own image is inherently — mathematically — absurd," the bishop said. SEE ALSO: » Outnumbered, outvoted, outgunned, and wanting to take over?   Citizens % Citizens plus Foreigners % Islam 15,762,012 60.59 17,375,794 61.32 Buddhism 5,459,065 20.99 5,620,483 19.84 Christianity 2,392,823 9.20 2,617,159 9.24 Hinduism 1,666,365 6.41 1,777,694 6.27 Traditional 351,073 1.35 356,718 1.26 Unknown 101,832 0.39 271,765 0.96 Other 96,378 0.37 111,759 0.39 No religion 183,808 0.71 202,763 0.72 TOTAL 26,013,356   28,334,135   In other remarks at the forum, Mujahid also urged national political leaders to ensure that, as much as a Muslim has the right to pray in the mosque, Christians, Buddhists and Hindus must have the same rights to pray in their own places of worship. A prayer with the new bishop A prayer of peace: chief ulama of Penang PAS, Soib Mohd Amin, leading a prayer with Bishop Sebastian Francis during a courtesy call on the bishop at his bishop's office at Holy Spirit Cathedral, Penang, in September. Photo: Anil Netto "Saying this does not make me less of a Muslim. This is the new politics we are talking about," said Mujahid, who is MP for Parit Buntar and chairman of the PAS national unity committee. In his party capacity, Mujahid has led PAS delegations to visit four Catholic churches in Penang and also paid a courtesy call on the new Catholic Bishop of Penang, Rev Fr Stephen Francis, who was installed last month. PAS team shows no fear of the cross Specially for you: Mujahid Yusuf Rawa, MP for Parit Buntar, and Abdul Rahman Kasim of Tasik Gelugor PAS present a cake to the new Bishop of Penang, Rev Fr Stephen Francis, in a courtesy call last month. Photo: Anil Netto PAS has made a concious effort to reach out to the non-Muslim population since the 2008 election, when the newly-elected MP for Shah Alam, Khalid Abdul Samad, visited the Church of the Divine Mercy in his constituency and received a standing ovation from the congregation. Samad was the first elected Muslim wakil rakyat to visit the church since it was completed in 2005 — after 28 years of controversy, during which the Barisan Nasional-run state and city council revoked planning permission, halted building works, moved the location several times, resulting in a suit by the church, and its final location in Hicom-Glenmarie Industrial Park on the outskirts of Shah Alam city. Islamisation by Umno and BN frightened of the cross Barisan Nasional frightened of the cross In contrast to the approach taken by Khalid and Mujahid, most of the Muslim leaders of Barisan Nasional have been hesitant at being seen with Christian clergy. A Christmas tea party last year, attended by the prime minister, was embroiled in controversy after it was revealed that his aides had requested that crosses and other religious items not be displayed. Read more at: http://uppercaise.wordpress.com/2012/10/16/pas-wants-to-know-christians-secret/

Ex-IGP Musa withdraws "black eye" suit against Anwar Posted: 15 Oct 2012 12:31 PM PDT (The Star) - Former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan has withdrawn his suit against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim over the Opposition leader's allegation that he fabricated evidence during investigations into the "black eye" incident in 1998. Counsel Kamarul Hisham Kamarudin, acting for Musa, told High Court judge Justice Asmabi Mohamad Tuesday that his client was withdrawing the suit. The suit had been fixed for trial Tuesday, over three days. Later, Musa told reporters that both parties had discussed the issue and he was made to understand that there was a misunderstanding over his role in the case against Anwar and he accepted an out-of-court settlement. In his statement of claim filed on July 21, 2008, Musa said the allegation was baseless, untrue and had tarnished his personal reputation, image, sincerity and good name. Musa filed the suit three weeks after Anwar lodged a police report against him. The PKR leader, in his police report lodged on July 1, 2008, claimed that Musa and Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail had fabricated evidence and hidden facts in the investigation into the physical assault on him by the then IGP Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Noor, in 1998. Musa further contended that Anwar acted with bad intentions in lodging the report against him. He said Anwar's police report, in its natural and ordinary meaning, alleged that he had misused his power to fabricate evidence. He contended that Anwar had committed defamation repeatedly when he allowed the report to be reproduced on several websites, including his own blog, which was accessible to the public. Musa sought an unspecified amount in damages for slander and an injunction restraining Anwar, his servants or his agents from further publishing the alleged defamatory words, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.

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