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• Karpal vindicated by FMT poll
• Hindraf doubts Najib’s sincerity
• Karpal: Three-man team to decide DAP election candidates
• ‘Spent force’ Zaid should retire
• Freedom of religion only for non-Muslims: Masing
• Freedom to choose religion equals changing faith, says Umno sec-gen
• DPM: We’ll continue to help Chinese schools
• PM hands out RM563mil to Felda households
• SIS: Recognise freedom to change faith
• SIS: ‘Islam is not a one way street’
• Nurul Izzah submits transcript to JAIS, to proceed with suit
• DAP shoots down Karpal's 'one candidate, one seat' proposal
• Selangor land deal draws flak
• Tengku Adnan: Problem of perception main challenge for Umno
• Nurul: Under-21 persons registered as voters
• Hadi wants Nurul to explain
• Reprimand Pakatan leaders for sensitive remarks on Islam, DPM urges Nik Aziz
• Airing Muslim convert’s dream stirs trouble
• Cops probe Malaysiakini for sedition
• PKR launches election website
• Nurul Izzah to tell JAIS apostasy row is Utusan’s fault
• Non-MPs barred from Parliament PC area
• ‘I am disappointed with Nurul’
• ‘Stop targetting Nurul’
• Cops search home of suspect’s sister in royal Facebook slur probe
• Malaysian government's Malay policy failure
• Bahrain revokes citizenships of 31 people
• Dr M: I told Petronas to enrich my son
• PAS ready to meet Selangor Sultan to explain Nurul Izzah issue
• Log tale
• Muslims can't leave Islam: Dr Mahathir
• Six NGOs urge France to investigate SUARAM over Scorpene report
• Ex-Perlis mufti backs Nurul Izzah, says ‘no compulsion in Islam’
• Nurul Izzah may face action over Islam remark, says deputy minister
• Where is the oil fund?
• Kohilan, three MIC reps gave nod to Batu Caves project
• Sultan regrets Nurul’s remarks

Karpal vindicated by FMT poll Posted: 10 Nov 2012 12:16 AM PST The poll carried out by FMT revealed overwhelming support for the DAP chairman's 'one man-one seat proposal'. Athi Shankar, FMT DAP national chairman Karpal Singh is vindicated by overwhelming public support for his "one man-one seat" proposal as indicated by a FMT poll. He said the news portal poll showed that his proposal had caught the public's imagination as it had become a major political issue of national interest. The FMT poll on "Do you agree with Karpal Singh's 'one candidate-one seat' policy?" showed 2,037 or 78% out of 2,622 readers, who voted as of today (Saturday) backing the formula. Another 499 readers or 19% did not support it while 86 or three percent voters were unsure. "The people overwhelmingly supported the 'one man – one seat' proposal. I feel vindicated," Karpal told reporters during his Bukit Gelugor parliamentary constituency visit here today. Asked on party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng's call on members not to discuss the issue in public, he concurred that the public debate should be laid to rest for now. But he conceded that it would be difficult and improper to control the public, especially party members, from airing their views on an issue of such importance. "The FMT poll showed it has become a major public interest issue," he noted. Currently, DAP had nine double seat elected representatives, both as MP and assemblyperson. Apart from Lim, who is Bagan MP and Air Putih assemblyman, Penang has executive councillor and party state chairman Chow Kon Yeow as Tanjung MP and Padang Kota assemblyman and Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy as Batu Kawan MP and Prai assemblyman. Perak had party's state chairman Ngeh Koo Ham as Beruas MP and Sitiawan assemblyman and secretary Nga Kor Ming as Taiping MP and Pantai Remis assemblyman. Selangor's executive councillor and party chairman Teresa Kok is Seputeh MP and Kinrara assemblyperson while DAP's Negeri Sembilan chairman and Youth chief Anthony Loke Siew Fook is Rasah MP and Lobak assemblyman. In Sarawak, there are Sibu MP and Bukit Assek assemblyman Wong Ho Leng and Bandar Kuching MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen. CEC approved the formula Karpal also revealed that the party's central executive committee (CEC) had delegated its power to a three-man special committee to ultimately decide on the "one man – one seat" issue and its exemptions, and choice of candidates for each constituency. READ MORE HERE

Hindraf doubts Najib’s sincerity Posted: 09 Nov 2012 05:57 PM PST (FMT) -- Hindraf has cast aspersions on the sincerity of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's invitation to hold a discussion. The premier's courtship, said Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy, had not left the movement flushed with excitement as it could be related to the coming general election. "We are not exactly excited about this invitation but we have decided to give him the benefit of doubt," he told reporters here. He said the invitation had come late on the part of the government since the Indian poor had been marginalised for decades. Waythamoorthy also urged Najib to lift the ban on Hindraf imposed by his predecessor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's administration. "It does not make sense for the prime minister to meet leaders of a banned organisation. "There is no timeline on when it should be lifted but of course we would like for the ban to be lifted as soon as possible," he added. Hindraf had become a foul word during Abdullah's tenure after the movement staged a massive street protest in 2007, which was seen as the catalyst for the following year's political tsunami. Meanwhile, Waythamoorthy also called on Najib to shed his "current box of thinking" in order to facilitate meaningful discussions between them. "He must be able to come far with us to consider our suggested solutions which are permanent, comprehensive and practical," he added. On Aug 29, Hindraf made open requests to both Najib and Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim to hold discussions on finding solutions to the long-standing problems plaguing the Indian poor. Anwar responded first and talks between them had started, with more meetings in the pipeline. On a related matter, Waythamoorty said Hindraf would unveil its five-year blueprint to bring the Indian poor into the mainstream of national development on Nov 25. This would be its prioritised plan as derived from its 18-point demand given originally to the government in August 2007. Asked for a preview of the blueprint, Waythamoorty said he was not in a position to reveal its contents but gave an example of the condition of 350,000 stateless Indians in Malaysia. "The solution would be for anyone born in Malaysia from Aug 31, 1957 onwards to be declared as citizens of Malaysia. "A statutory declaration by those involved should be sufficient for the National Registration Department (NRD) to issue them with a blue identity card," he added.

Karpal: Three-man team to decide DAP election candidates Posted: 09 Nov 2012 03:02 PM PST (NST) - All DAP candidates appointed to contest in the coming general election will now be decided by a three-man team. Party national chairman Karpal Singh, advisor Lim Kit Siang and secretary general Lim Guan Eng form the three team members. "we will look into all recommendations of candidates and then endorse it," Karpal said at a press conference in Air Itam adding that the trio were delegated the task by the central executive committee. Karpal also said he would want the discussion on the single seat single candidate policy to put to rest.

‘Spent force’ Zaid should retire Posted: 09 Nov 2012 02:26 PM PST (FMT) -- A PPP leader has suggested that former de facto law minister Zaid Ibrahim consider retiring from politics following his decision to quit the Kita party which the latter founded. In view of the uncertainty which Zaid allegedly created following his decision to leave Kita, Perak PPP deputy chairman Naran Singh said the outspoken personality should just leave politics. He said Zaid is showing the reflection of being a "spent force" by making statements that he wants to contest in the Pekan parliamentary seat where the incumbent is none other than Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. This, he charged, showed that Zaid wanted cheap publicity from this episode and many pundits are wondering if the latter is indeed sincere in carrying out his plan. "Zaid should contest against Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim or PKR deputy president Azmin Ali if he wants to make a political impact," Naran added. The Kelantan-born political maverick was once considered a rising star in Umno and he was made a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (overseeing law) during former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's last tenure. He quit on principal grounds after disagreeing with the federal government's move to impose the now defunct Internal Security Act law on a few individuals including a vernacular newspaper journalist. Zaid subsequently joined PKR and was jostling for the deputy president post with the party's present incumbent Azmin. The lawyer, however, lost his bid for the deputy presidency and later quit PKR, citing voting irregularities as the reason. He eventually formed Kita but was then involved in a spat with one faction which broke away from the party before recently announcing that he was quitting Kita altogether. To this, Naran said Zaid was highly respected at one time, but now, many cannot seem to fathom what he wanted to do. The political leanings of Zaid also seemed uncertain as he seems to side with Pakatan Rakyat, but had previously lambasted PKR, Naran said, adding that the electorate now needed leaders with strong convictions on how to move the country forward. "Zaid must understand that voters prefer leaders who are steadfast in their struggle," he added. Meanwhile, Naran also lent his support to DAP chairman Karpal Singh for calling on the party to only allow its members to contest one seat each during the next general election. Read more

Freedom of religion only for non-Muslims: Masing Posted: 09 Nov 2012 02:10 PM PST (Borneo Post) - Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) viewed the recent statement by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar as nothing else but an attempt to gain popularity among the people. The party president Tan Sri Dr James Masing said he had always been given to understand that freedom of religion in Malaysia was only applicable to non-Muslims. "Therefore, I am surprised when she (Nurul) said that religious freedom in Malaysia is inclusive," he quipped. Masing, who is Land Development Minister, said the statement by the Lembah Pantai MP also shows that PKR was a populist party with no fixed agenda to administer the country. He stated this when commenting on Nurul's statement that irked many Muslims, including the Sultan of Selangor, Islamic scholars and some BN leaders. Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassan has described the statement as unwarranted especially when it comes from a fellow Muslim. Nurul was in the limelight after expressing her view on religious freedom by suggesting that Muslims should be allowed to follow any religion of their choice. Her father Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is the opposition de facto leader, in defending his daughter claimed that Nurul's statement was not only misinterpreted but also manipulated.

Freedom to choose religion equals changing faith, says Umno sec-gen Posted: 09 Nov 2012 01:54 PM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - Telling a Malay he can choose his faith is the same as telling him he can change it, Datuk Tengku Adnan Mansor said as he weighed in on the growing uproar sparked by a recent remark from PKR's Nurul Izzah Anwar expressing her support for religious freedom for all Malaysians. The PKR vice-president's remarks at a forum last week drew widespread backlash among conservative Muslim groups and Umno hardliners, who accused the opposition rising star of supporting apostasy. "Recently, we want to ask Nurul Izzah Anwar, what's the difference between choosing religion and changing religion?" Tengku Adnan, who is secretary-general of Umno, the country's oldest and largest Malay political party, told Malay daily Utusan Malaysia in an interview published today. "To me, it is the same but this is what she had applied and I am confident that in the end Malaysians will realise this." The veteran politician's comment backing the conservatives is likely to stir up religious debate and could drive a bigger wedge within the Malay-Muslim community, who form some 60 per cent of the country's 28 million population and whose vote is crucial to form the next government at the 13th general elections due soon. Umno, the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition's mainstay, has some three million members but the Malay-Muslim vote is split three ways with the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact's Islamist party PAS and its urban-based reform ally, PKR, drawing increasingly greater support. Race and religious issues are inseparable in Malaysia, where the Malays are constitutionally defined to also be Muslims. The country's supreme law states that Islam is the religion of the federation but also provides for other religions to be practised freely. Nurul Izzah has denied supporting apostasy and accused Utusan Malaysia and its other pro-BN Malay newspaper Berita Harian of allegedly twisting her statement. An Umno deputy minister has also said the first-term lawmaker for Lembah Pantai could be prosecuted for her remarks purportedly insulting Islam. "There are no such provisions for now, but it can be included under provisions on insulting Islam or causing Islam to be insulted," Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim, deputy minister in charge of Islamic affairs, told Parliament last week. "Anyone who orally or in written form mocks or causes Islam to be degraded, can be imposed with a penalty of not more than RM3,000 or jail of not more than two years, or both." But Nurul Izzah has found support from popular Islamic scholar Datuk Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, who backed her remarks that there is no compulsion in Islam. The Univesiti Sains Malaysia (USM) lecturer said he had written an article two years ago titled "Iman Tidak Boleh Dipaksa (Faith Cannot be Forced)", and added that the content was "the same" as that which Nurul Izzah had stated. "Malays cannot be forced and [they] believe voluntarily. But, through preaching, a person can be brought back to the faith," he was quoted by another Malay daily, Sinar Harian, as saying last week.

DPM: We’ll continue to help Chinese schools Posted: 09 Nov 2012 01:50 PM PST (The Star) - The Deputy Prime Minister has reiterated the Government's assurance that Chinese schools will stay and that Barisan Nasional will continue to assist in their development. Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also Education Minister, said the Barisan government would continue to assist the national-type Chinese schools based on the real need of the Chinese community. "It is the wisdom of our past and present leaders that, not only is Chinese education preserved in this country, but it also becomes part of the national education system," he said when opening the 14th World Chinese Book Fair at the Mines International Exhibition and Convention Centre here yesterday. Also present were Deputy Education Minister Datuk Wee Ka Siong and founder of Country Heights Holdings Berhad Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew. Muhyiddin stressed that the Government was always committed to raising the quality of education in all types of schools. He hoped that the Chinese community would not fall prey to the agenda of certain quarters who liked to politicise education for their political gain. "At the same time, let us not forget the role of education as a means to unite Malaysians of all races. "Let us make all schools in this country as unity schools, where children of all races can mingle freely, learn to accept differences and respect each other," he said. Separately, Muhyiddin's nine-day working visit to Australia starting today will be used to gain new ideas especially in the field of education, besides forging closer bilateral ties, reported Bernama. Muhyiddin, who begins his visit to Australia in Melbourne, among others, will deliver a keynote address at the 4th World Chinese Economic Forum (WCEF) rganised by the Asian Strategic and Leadership Institute (Asli), the first time it is being held outside Malaysia.

PM hands out RM563mil to Felda households Posted: 09 Nov 2012 01:47 PM PST (The Star) - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Saturday handed out RM563mil to 112,635 Felda households under the third phase of windfall handouts specifically targeted at the young generation of settlers. Each will receive RM5,000 each. The handout is the final instalment promised by Najib earlier this year, in line with the move to channel profits made by listing Felda Global Ventures on the stock exchange. The first handout of RM5,000 was given to the settlers and the second RM5,000 to their wives.

SIS: Recognise freedom to change faith Posted: 09 Nov 2012 01:33 PM PST The Islamic NGO condemns the attacks on PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar, and points out that faith by compulsion may lead to hypocrisy. Leven Woon, FMT Freedom of religion as a right enshrined under the Federal Constitution must also recognise the freedom to change faith, said Sisters In Islam (SIS). Rallying behind PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar's call for freedom of religion for all, the NGO said faith in any religion was based on free will. "How can Muslims demand this notion of religious freedom for those wishing to convert to Islam and at the same time argue the denial of this freedom to leave Islam? "Faith by compulsion may lead to hypocrisy," SIS said in a statement. The Muslim women rights advocate maintained a strong position against legislation of faith, saying that such practice was meaningless. "Islam itself means submission to the will of God – not the will of men. The willing submission of the self to faith and belief must therefore be attained through conviction and reason of the individual, not by coercion and duress. "This is clearly mentioned in the Quran, Surah Yunus 10:99, 'And had your Lord willed, those on earth would have believed – all of them entirely. Then would you compel the people in order that they become believers?'," SIS added. The organisation also condemned the attacks against Nurul over the latter's remark made during a forum last week, pointing out that it reflected the shrinking of democratic space for civil public discussion. It noted that Malaysians were routinely reprimanded or attacked for raising issues pertaining to freedom of religion even though the right was enshrined in Article 11 of Federal Constitution. It said problems and conflicts would always arise in a multi-religious society like Malaysia, such as non-Muslims who convert to Islam without resolving their duties to their earlier non-Muslim marriage and born-Muslims who never led a Muslim life as they were raised by non-Muslim families. There are also cases where one converts spouses to Islam unilaterally and coercively and born-Muslims who wish to leave Islam out of their free will. "There have been court judgments allowing Muslim converts to leave Islam. "The Administration of the Religion of Islam (Negeri Sembilan) Enactment 2003 contains legal procedures by which one may do so," it added. SIS noted that the Quran was explicit and consistent in its recognition of freedom of religion.

SIS: ‘Islam is not a one way street’ Posted: 08 Nov 2012 05:55 PM PST Zurairi AR, The Malaysian Insider Freedom of religion must also include the liberty to change one's religion, a Muslim women's group said today following the uproar sparked by a speech by PKR lawmaker Nurul Izzah Anwar on the issue. In a press statement to the media, Sisters in Islam (SIS) asked how Muslims demanding freedom for potential Islamic converts to enter the religion could at the same time deny exit to those looking to leave Islam. "Faith by compulsion may lead to hypocrisy," the group said. When contacted by The Malaysian Insider today, SIS programme manager Suri Kempe clarified that the NGO is not asking for anyone to "actively leave Islam", merely the freedom to leave the religion for those who no longer believed. "Islam is not a one way street," Suri said. The PKR vice president's statement at a public forum entitled "Islamic State: Which version, whose responsibility?" in Subang Jaya last Saturday, has resulted in attacks from several religious hawks and Umno politicians suggesting that her remarks meant she supported Muslims renouncing Islam and turning "murtad" or apostate. Nurul Izzah has since lodged a report with Selangor religious officials to clarify the matter, and will take legal action against Umno-owned newspapers Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian as well as a number of blogs for allegedly twisting her statement. Apostasy and freedom of religion is a contentious issue in Malaysia, where the Malays — who make up 60 per cent of the 28 million population — are constitutionally defined to also be Muslims. While freedom of religion is guaranteed for non-Muslims under Article 11 of the Federal Constitution, all Malays are Muslims under the law. Islamic laws forbid Muslims from renouncing their religion and the country's Islamic legal system has provisioned that a state must impose mandatory punishment for apostasy. The country's dual system of both Islamic law and federal law has resulted in controversies to the freedom of religion under Article 11 when Muslims try to convert to other religions. The prominent cases include Lina Joy (Azalina Jailani), Revathi Massosai and Nyonya Tahir (Wong Ah Kiu).

Nurul Izzah submits transcript to JAIS, to proceed with suit Posted: 08 Nov 2012 04:51 PM PST Amin Iskandar, The Malaysian Insider Nurul Izzah Anwar, who has been accused by Umno of supporting apostasy for Muslims, met with Selangor religious officials today and submitted her a transcript of a speech she made to clarify her statement on religious freedom. The PKR vice-president's statement, at a public forum on "Islamic State: Which version, whose responsibility?" in Subang Jaya last Saturday, has resulted in attacks from several religious hawks and Umno politicians suggesting that her remarks meant she supported Muslims renouncing Islam and turning "murtad" or apostate. "I have lodged a report which tells the real story to JAIS director Datuk Marzuki," she said, after meeting with the Selangor Islamic Religious Department. "Thank God, JAIS had given good co-operation." Nurul Izzah was accompanied by her lawyer Fadlina Sidek while meeting the director and three officers of JAIS to lend her co-operation on the matter. Fadlina told reporters that the legal action against Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia, Berita Harian and a number of blogs for allegedly twisting her statement in the recent forum will go ahead. Nurul Izzah also confirmed that she had lodged complaints against the publications to JAIS. Datuk Zulkifli Noordin, vice-president of Malay right-wing group Perkasa, was quoted yesterday as being willing to provide a lawyer to Utusan Malaysia if Nurul Izzah decides to go ahead with her suit. In a forum organised by Perkasa last night, Zulkifli said that he was willing to defend the daily pro-bono,  "We're not defending Utusan Malaysia, we're defending the Malay race, Islam," he said. Race and religion issues are inseparable in Malaysia, where the Malays — who make up 60 per cent of the 28 million population — are constitutionally defined to also be Muslims.

DAP shoots down Karpal's 'one candidate, one seat' proposal Posted: 08 Nov 2012 04:28 PM PST (NST) - The DAP central executive committee (CEC) has shot down its national chairman Karpal Singh's "one candidate, one seat" proposal. Instead, party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the question of whether a candidate stands for both parliamentary and state seats should be decided on a case-by-case basis. He said the decision was unanimously made by the CEC at its meeting on Monday night. "It was decided that any decision on this matter (one seat, one candidate) should be decided on a case- by-case basis as it relates to political strategy and winnability," he said in a statement. Lim, who is a member of parliament and also a state assemblyman, said all party members should refrain from publicising the issue. He said talking about such issues, which touch on the internal party mechanism, would only expose the party to further attacks, especially from the mainstream media. The CEC decision effectively buries Karpal's proposal that the party only allocate one seat for every candidate it fields in the coming general election. The veteran party leader had proposed that only Lim be given an exemption as the latter needed to bring state issues to Parliament in his capacity as Penang chief minister.

Selangor land deal draws flak Posted: 08 Nov 2012 04:13 PM PST PUZZLING: Cultural centre to be built on land belonging to Yayasan Selangor (NST) - THE state government has been asked to explain the status of a 7.4ha land  belonging to Yayasan Selangor, which has recently been approved for the construction of a Chinese cultural centre. Yayasan Selangor (YS) Alumni Action Committee chairman Badrulzaman Baharudin said the failure of Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to defend the land, with an estimated value of RM60 million, was proof that the state government had been selling all the foundation's assets to fund its losses. Badrulzaman, who represents more than 20,000 alumni members, called on the state government to cancel the proposal, after it had earlier decided to demolish the Tun Dr Ismail and Toh Puan Norashikin hostels at Kampung Pandan, Kuala Lumpur, for development at the end of the year. "State executive councillor Elizabeth Wong had issued a  letter to the menteri besar, dated March  21 last year, requesting the approval for the cultural centre to be built at land lot PT 4221. "We also received information that the land transaction had happened at short notice with approval gained on May 18 last year. "How did the deal go through so soon in less than two months? Who made the call? And why was there no discussion within YS management  prior to the decision?" YS Hostel Alumni Association president Captain (R) Azme Dollah  claimed that the Kampung Pandan hostel would be closed after the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination was over at the end of the year.   He said Form Two and Four students had  been ordered to move out of the hostel early this year. "The aim was to provide students from rural areas a chance to adapt to urban life.  What will happen to them?"   Azme said the excuse to close down the hostel for development to generate income made no sense as YS had declared RM51 million in reserves while the state government had declared RM2.1 billion in its reserves.

Tengku Adnan: Problem of perception main challenge for Umno Posted: 08 Nov 2012 03:57 PM PST   (Bernama) - Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the problem of perception is the main challenge in strengthening the image of the party. He said after the 2004 general election, Umno not only faced accusations of practising cronyism, being elitist and corrupted, but also ex-members, who could not get positions when in Umno, sowed negative perceptions about the party. "Those disappointed, they leave we know. When they do not succeed in the party they quit. He should ask why he did not make it in Umno. There must be a reason. Don't think they were blocked (from moving up) or pressured (to leave)," Tengku Adnan stressed. He said this to Bernama in an exclusive interview at Umno's headquarters at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) here in conjunction with Umno's general assembly from November 28 to December 1.  He said despite facing difficulty of confronting the "enemy", he was optimistic the image of the party would improve further through efforts implemented, including the political transformation initiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is also Umno president.  Tengku Adnan said as the government, Barisan Nasional headed by Umno was not free of making mistakes but the new leadership under Najib had carried out numerous innovations to overcome shortcomings.  "I am not saying we are perfect as a government… indeed there were mistakes made but we can see our new leader is making, and has made changes. We want to move forward, we don't want to go back. Give him a chance," he said. Touching on the general assembly, he said delegates could touch on any issue under the topics of the president's address, economy, politics, religion and education subject to the guidelines set by the Committee on Resolutions which is chaired by Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein. "We do not restrict because the committee will have discussions with delegates and issue guidelines because some get over-excited when given a microphone. "We also remind delegates not to use the gathering as a platform to project themselves and attract the attention of the leaders to pick them as candidates for the general election," he said. Tengku Adnan said the delegates must also focus their speeches on the importance of believing in the policies of Umno which was fighting for all the communities and not only as an umbrella of the Malays. He said their excitement to debate also must be moderated so that what would be said would not offend any party. He said those debating must also be sensitive to the accusations hurled by the opposition against Umno and insert reminders in their debates that the party did not promise riches to individuals but fought in the interest of the people. The general assembly this year will be attended by 2,759 delegates.  Meanwhile, Umno's two-day Wanita, Youth and Puteri general assemblies will start on November 27. Each wing will be represented by 991 delegates.

Nurul: Under-21 persons registered as voters Posted: 08 Nov 2012 03:43 PM PST (FZ.com) - A total of 772 individuals under the eligible voting age of 21 have been registered as electorates in the Lembah Pantai constituency, its MP Nurul Izzah Anwar revealed on Thursday. Citing an example, she said, a voter born on June 19, 1990 was listed in the master electoral roll on March 2, 2011, three months before the individual turned 21.   "The Election Commission (EC) must explain if those not of legal age can be registered as a voter," Nurul Izzah told a press conference in parliament.   Apart from that she pointed out that postal voters in her constituency had increased by a staggering 1,500% in the past four years.   The number stood at 154 in 2008 but rose to 2,227 by the third quarter of 2012.   They included 383 postal voters who were previously objected to during the display of the quarterly supplementary roll.   The MP said that these voters were supposed to be listed at the Bukit Jalil temporary holding facility, but they are now registered as postal voters at the Travers police station.   "In early 2011, I found that the Bukit Jalil temporary holding facility, which  is 12 km away from Lembah Pantai and located in the Bandar Tun Razak constituency in 2008, was included as a Lembah Pantai postal voting centre.   "After making several objections to the EC, I am now shocked to find the latest data indicating that the 383 postal voters have been moved from the Bukit Jalil temporary holding facility to the Travers police station," she added.   Nurul Izzah also complained of more than 31,544 voters on the electoral roll who are without complete addresses. And of 31 voters, 22 of whom were moved from Seputeh, and all of them were registered to seven units at the Kampung Limau low cost flats.   She said attempts to meet with the Federal Territories Election Commission chief on these issues have failed despite having tried repeatedly.   "So we have met with (Minister in the Prime Minister's Department) Datuk Seri Nazri (Abdul Aziz), who has instructed the EC chairperson and his officers to come and address MPs in Parliament on Nov 19 on these issues," said Nurul Izzah.   Nevertheless, in order to have make the EC's job easier, she said opposition MPs who have found similar irregularities in their checks will proceed to submit their findings to EC by tomorrow.   Kuantan PKR parliamentarian Fuziah Salleh who was also at the press conference expressed frustration as she claimed that EC in her constituency claimed ignorance of the discrepancies.   "The point is, it's not our job to audit the electoral roll. We have other things to do as MPs, this is taking up our valuable time. And we should not have to hire staff or recruit volunteers and spend late nights checking the roll," she said.   Among others, Fuziah said she has raised issues over rubber-stamping the ballot papers instead of the previous practice of ballot papers with perforations.   "This opens up to more fraud. Anyone can make a rubber stamp. We are within six months of elections and still these problems are there," she hit out.

Hadi wants Nurul to explain Posted: 08 Nov 2012 03:21 PM PST (The Star) - PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang wants Nurul Izzah Anwar to explain her controversial "freedom of religion" statement to clear the air over the issue, which has drawn public outcry and a rebuke from the Sultan of Selangor. "We will not make assumptions based on media reports. We must hear what she has to say," he said when asked about the alleged statement by the PKR vice-president that freedom of religion applied equally to all, including Malays. The Lembah Pantai MP had purportedly said this in response to a question at a forum on the Islamic state in Subang Jaya on Nov 3. She has denied claims that her statement supports murtad (apostasy) and will meet Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) director Datuk Marzuki Husin today to clarify her remarks. "In Islam, we cannot penalise anyone even when 1% is unclear," said Hadi. PAS Youth deputy leader Nik Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz agreed with the party president, saying all quarters should wait for Nurul Izzah's explanation. "Only she can tell what she really meant," he said. Meanwhile, PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan has denied that the wing was holding a protest to condemn Nurul Izzah. "We are certainly not staging any protest against her," he said, responding to text messages claiming that the wing would be staging such a protest. Those sending out the SMSes were taking advantage of the situation to attack Nurul Izzah and dampen ties among Pakatan Rakyat allies, he said in a statement.

Reprimand Pakatan leaders for sensitive remarks on Islam, DPM urges Nik Aziz Posted: 08 Nov 2012 03:14 PM PST (The Star) - PAS is trying hard to show solidarity with its allies in Pakatan Rakyat but it is really strange when its spiritual adviser shrugs off sensitive statements made by the coalition leaders on Islam, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said. The Deputy Prime Minister said Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who is also Kelantan Mentri Besar, should be brave to criticise the Pakatan leaders befitting his ulama standing and champion of his party's struggle for Islam. "Instead, he chose to remain silent every time controversial or sensitive remarks on Islam are made by his fellow Pakatan leaders. "Nik Aziz should advise them against making statements that are in contradiction to Islamic beliefs," Muhyiddin told reporters at a village gathering at the Mara Skills Institute at Lubok Jong here yesterday. Present were Kelantan Umno liaison chief Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamad and his deputy Datuk Dr Awang Adek Husin. "As an ulama, one must right what is wrong. The same goes for the sensitive remarks uttered by other Pakatan leaders, like (DAP secretary-general) Lim Guan Eng and (DAP national chairman) Karpal Singh. "The latest is the controversial remarks on the Muslims' faith by (PKR vice-president) Nurul Izzah Anwar," he said. "In the end, all this is done for political exigency and nothing else," added Muhyiddin, who is Umno deputy president. Asked about Kelantan, he said the people should judge whether it has a responsible government able to bring socio-economic welfare and development to the state. Muhyiddin said there had been empty promises and little effort to help the poor or to improve the living standards of the lower-income groups.

Airing Muslim convert’s dream stirs trouble Posted: 08 Nov 2012 02:56 PM PST A Hindu group has filed a police report over an 'insensitive' radio programme which featured a speaker who converted to Islam after having a dream. RK Anand, FMT In the latest episode of brewing tensions with regard to issues of faith in Malaysia, a Hindu organisation has filed a police report over a programme aired on a Tamil radio station. State-owned radio station Minnal FM had featured an interview with a Muslim convert last night and his remarks had irked the Malaysia HinduDharma Mamandram. Speaking to FMT, the organisation's secretary-general Rishi Kumar Vadivelu said that the speaker claimed to be a former Hindu born in the priestly Brahmin caste. The Indian national added that prior to converting, he was a pious Hindu and well-versed with the religion's scriptures. "Identifying himself as a 'Mahaguru', the speaker claimed that he had dreamt of the Arabic words which a Muslim recites to profess his faith. "And when he searched for the meaning of those words, he had apparently realised that this was the truth and urged the listeners to evaluate for themselves," said Rishi. Following this, the Malaysia HinduDharman Mamandram convened an emergency council meeting at around 11pm and decided to file a police report on the matter. The report was lodged with the Brickfields police headquarters here. 'This is insensitive' Expressing disappointment with the editorial gatekeepers in Minnal FM, Rishi asked how these officials had allowed such a programme to be aired. "We have nothing against the promotion of Islam but the speaker has no right to make statements that belittle other faiths. "Airing this programme is insensitive on the part of Minnal FM and airing it now, when the Hindu festival of Deepavali is around the corner, is extremely insensitive," he said. In view of this, he wanted the Information, Communications and Culture Ministry and Minnal FM officials to accept responsibility and ensure that such a thing did not recur. Inter-faith issues continued to be a problem in Malaysia, especially with its status still mired in dispute as to whether it is an Islamic or secular state. In the past, Hindus were incensed when a group of Muslims staged a street protest with a severed head of a cow, considered a sacred animal to Hindus. The protest was held to object the construction of a Hindu temple in a predominantly Muslim neighbourhood in Shah Alam. Hindu activists and organisations saw red when the authorities had allowed the protest to take place without hindrance and were slow in their condemnation of the act. Of late, the church had also often found itself embroiled in controversies such as the legal tussle over the usage of the Arabic term "Allah", accusations of proselytising of Muslims and even a plot to turn Malaysia into a Christian state. These religious tensions remain a thorn in the flesh of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, putting his much publicised 1Malaysia slogan under the spotlight. 'Will the cops raid Jakim?' Weighing in on the issue, MIC leader S Vell Paari also condemned the airing of the programme on Minnal FM last night. He said while there was nothing wrong with promoting the values of Islam, such programmes however should not serve as a cloak to convert those of other faiths. READ MORE HERE

Cops probe Malaysiakini for sedition Posted: 08 Nov 2012 11:11 AM PST   (The Sun Daily) - About 15 police personnel including six officers armed with a search warrant went over to the office of online news web portal Malaysiakini.com yesterday over a probe into an alleged seditious article published in the website. The police personnel from the Subang Jaya district police headquarters were apparently investigating a report on an article titled "Nurul's watershed idea for the nation" which was in response to the controversy surrounding Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar over her recent statement on religious matters. The commentary was written by the web portal's columnist Steve Oh. When contacted by theSun, Malaysiakini's chief editor Fathi Aris Omar said the police had recorded a statement from him, news editor Gerald Martinez and human resource manager A Shamini. The police team arrived at Malaysiakini's office in Bangsar at about 5.15 pm and spent about 90 mins carrying out investigations over the article under the Sedition Act. Fathi said police did not seize anything but had told the web portal's officials that they would return today (FRI) to resume their probe at the premises. In response to case, Malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan said in a news report in the web portal that the police visit can be described as "yet another case of intimidation and harassment". "There is nothing considered as seditious in Oh's letter. We are consulting our lawyers on the matter," he said. Subang Jaya police chief ACP Yahaya Ramli told theSun that the operation was not a raid but police had merely gone to the web portal's office to record statements over the article.

PKR launches election website Posted: 07 Nov 2012 05:56 PM PST www.demirakyat.my is the central point of information on the party's election efforts, says Nik Nazmi.  Anisah Shukry, FMT PKR today launched a website to canvass netizens for votes in the coming election. PKR communications director Nik Azmi Nik Ahmad told reporters www.demirakyat.my would serve as the party's main election platform and the central point for information on its election efforts. "The website is the place the public can visit to find out all they need to know about their candidates," he said. "All our election materials, including candidate lists, will be included on the site. "It will allow netizens to share our election messages, speeches, visuals and other paraphernalia either directly with people in their communities or with their virtual communities in Facebook and Twitter, for instance." Most important, Nik Nazmi quipped, would be the "donation page" because the "resource-strapped PKR" needed funds for its campaign. The site informs donors how their money will be put to use. For example, a donation of RM100 would allow PKR volunteers to reach out to voters residing in rural areas. "The website is a call to action and will be increased in capacity to display information about all election candidates as we progress to the general election," Nik Nazmi said. He said he expected www.demirakyat.my to attract large traffic, adding that it had been receiving 1,500 hits a day even before it was launched. He said the target groups included Malaysians living overseas who might not return in time for the general election but could contribute in ways other than voting for Pakatan Rakyat candidates. READ MORE HERE

Nurul Izzah to tell JAIS apostasy row is Utusan’s fault Posted: 07 Nov 2012 03:31 PM PST Mohd Farhan, Darwis, The Malaysian Insider Nurul Izzah Anwar, who has been accused by Umno of supporting apostasy for Muslims, will meet Selangor religious officials tomorrow to explain to them that she has been the victim of slander by Utusan Malaysia, the newspaper owned by the Barisan Nasional (BN) party. The PKR vice-president's statement, at a public forum on "Islamic State: Which version, whose responsibility?" in Subang Jaya last Saturday, has resulted in attacks from several religious hawks and Umno politicians suggesting that her remarks meant she supported Muslims renouncing Islam and turning "murtad" or apostate. "I will go to JAIS office at 11am tomorrow to lodge a complaint against Utusan Malaysia for their slander against me," Nurul Izzah (picture) told the media in the Parliament lobby today, referring to the Selangor Islamic Religious Department. Yesterday, popular Islamic scholar Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin defended her, and pointed out that her remarks that Malays also have freedom of religion meant there was no compulsion in Islam. Mohd Asri was also reported as saying that Nurul Izzah's initial remark could have been misconstrued because it was not explained in detail. He said the first-term federal lawmaker had contacted him to help explain to the public her statement and that he agreed with her remarks that there was no compulsion in Islam. In Parliament yesterday, deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim said that legal action may be taken against Nurul Izzah. Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad also joined Muslim conservatives in dismissing the view that there is no compulsion in Islam, telling those professing the faith not to get too "carried away by western ideals". Earlier this week, Nurul Izzah said she will take legal action against Umno-owned dailies Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian for allegedly twisting her statement in a recent forum. She has reportedly denied that she is supporting apostasy among the country's Malay-Muslim community. Race and religion issues are inseparable in Malaysia, where the Malays — who make up 60 per cent of the 28 million population — are constitutionally defined to also be Muslims.

Non-MPs barred from Parliament PC area Posted: 07 Nov 2012 03:11 PM PST Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia says this iss because non-MPs are abusing Parliament grounds.  Patrick Lee, FMT Anyone who is not a member of Parliament will no longer be allowed to speak to the media at a special press conference area within the Parliament lobby. Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia said the space, reserved for MPs, was misused by others to give press conferences. "This is for those people who purposely use Parliament facilities to sit with the MPs for coverage," he told reporters in his chambers. At the same time, he said that people were still allowed to speak to the media within Parliament grounds, so long as it wasn't within the special press conference area. There had been many times during Parliament sessions when groups or individuals were invited by various MPs to speak to the media. In many cases, some of them had been members of these MPs' own political parties, and would sometimes take charge of these press events. Earlier today, Pandikar told the Dewan Rakyat that with immediate effect, the press conference area could only be used by MPs. Invoking Standing Order 93 and 94, he said the matter would be relayed to the Prime Minister, the Minister in charge of Parliamentary Affairs, the Opposition Leader and the head of Parliament's Administration. At the time, none of the MPs present in the House stood up to object. Pandikar also said that some Parliaments around the world did not even allow the press to enter their grounds. He added that even India's Parliament had a special press conference area outside its gates. READ MORE HERE

‘I am disappointed with Nurul’ Posted: 07 Nov 2012 02:46 PM PST The lawyer who posed the sensitive question on religious freedom is disappointed that the PKR leader has changed her stand.  Leven Woon, FMT A lawyer who posed the question on religious freedom to PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar during a forum last Saturday is disappointed with the politicians 180 degree turn. Siti Kasim, a member of the Bar Council human rights committee, said she was disappointed that Nurul had "retracted" her remark. "I believe Nurul was just trying to impress the people, she didn't think of the consequences," she told FMT. Siti said Nurul should have stood firm on her remark that freedom of religion was a right for all including the Malay-Muslim. "There's nothing wrong about it, she is saying the truth. I expected a hoo-ha after that. But as a politician, you just need to stick to the truth," she added. She wondered if Nurul was merely adjusting herself to the largely non-Muslim audience on that day and making a political remark. At the forum titled "Islamic state: Which vision? Whose responsibility?", Siti asked Nurul whether freedom of religion should be extended to the Malays since the PKR leader talked about the issue in her speech. Siti said while Nurul did not mention about apostasy in her response, the latter however was a clear supporter of freedom of religion for the Malays. "In the following days she 'retracted' her remark, and said she did not support apostasy. But indirectly when you say you support freedom of religion, and if Malay wants to get out from Islam, that's apostasy," she pointed out. The Orang Asli rights advocate said she once posed the same question to Nurul's father, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, but failed to get a direct response. "He was going around the bush and didn't answer directly. We want politicians to be straight forward," she said. Meanwhile, Siti said it was high time for the issue to be debated as the Federal Constitution did not exclude the Malays from their right to freedom of religion. She said the individuals who criticised Nurul were the conservatives who insisted that their version of religion was the correct one.

‘Stop targetting Nurul’ Posted: 07 Nov 2012 02:43 PM PST A MIC leader and a business group express disappointment with the wave of attacks launched against the PKR vice-president. RK Anand, FMT Caught in the eye of a religious storm, PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar is staring at the possibility of being probed by the Islamic authorities. But an outspoken MIC leader cautioned the powers-that-be against "doing to her what was done to her father." Party communication chief S Vell Paari said Nurul – whom he described as "one of the few bright sparks in a pitch black room" – should not be hauled up over a political vendetta. Furthermore, he added that Nurul had explained herself. In 1998, Nurul's father Anwar Ibrahim was sacked as the deputy prime minister. He was then charged with sodomy and corruption, which Anwar claimed were trumped up by his former boss turned arch nemesis Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Anwar, now the opposition leader, was once again charged with sodomy in 2008 but had been acquitted this year. Once again, he accused his political rivals of hatching a plot. Conceding that he had no authority to comment on issues pertaining to Islam, Vell Paari explained that he was looking at the matter from a different vantage point. "While it is common for politicians to sing a different tune and issue threats of legal action when the heat is turned on, Utusan however is not the benchmark for free and accurate reporting either. "So Utusan's reports must be taken with not a pinch but rather a fistful of salt," he added. The MIC leader also took a swipe at Mahathir for claiming that Nurul was influenced by the ideals of Western liberalism. Firstly, he said it was wrong for the former premier to presume that the daughter of his nemesis had supported apostasy, when there were two versions to the dispute. Secondly, Vell Paari said Mahathir should stop blaming everything on the West as if this part of the world was free from sin. "If these critics feel that the West is the root of all evil, then they should stop wearing tailor-made designer suits and stop being chauffeured around in continental cars," he quipped. On a more serious note, Vell Paari said the latest controversy highlighted once again how the political climate in Malaysia was now enveloped in hate and fear. "Politics of hate and fear have become the staple diet in this country with both sides of the divide indulging in such antics to seek mileage. This must stop. "Both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat leaders must cease this unhealthy brand of politics as it impedes the maturing process of this nation," he added. Give them room to express Meanwhile, Malaysian Indian Business Association (Miba) president P Sivakumar was also disappointed with the attacks launched against Nurul. He told FMT that the younger generation of leaders must be given the scope to express themselves without fear of reprisals, be it from their seniors or the authorities. READ MORE HERE

Cops search home of suspect’s sister in royal Facebook slur probe Posted: 07 Nov 2012 12:42 PM PST (FMT) -- The police paid a pre-dawn visit this morning to the rented home of Asiah Abd Jalil, sister to Ahmad Abd Jalil ― the man being investigated for allegedly criticising the Johor sultan ― and searched the premises without a warrant, just hours after the family held a gathering at the landmark Dataran Merdeka here last night pushing for his release from detention.   Asiah told The Malaysian Insider four policemen had knocked on the door of her rented home in Klang at about 6.30am today and initially asked to record her family's statements. The family declined as they were rushing to Johor Baru where Ahmad was to be presented before a magistrate at 2.30pm today. The police then asked to search the home she shares with her children and another brother, to which she agreed after consulting her lawyer, Fadiah Nadwa Fikri. "They conducted a thorough search but it was done in a professional manner. They asked for permission and allowed my mother and I to cover our aurat before entering," Asiah said over the phone as the family drove through Seremban. "They said they were looking for something but we have no idea what they're looking for." Asiah said she believed the police had gone to her Klang house because it was the address listed on Ahmad's MyKad even though he no longer lived there, having moved to Damansara Damai recently. Ahmad, a 27-year-old quantity surveyor was arrested at his office in Cheras on November 2 and hauled to face the Johor police for allegedly posting seditious remarks against the Johor royal house on Facebook. Yesterday Johor CID deputy director Asst Comm Nor Azizan Anan denied that Ahmad had been forced to confess to the crime while under police interrogation. Ahmad was remanded a further three days from Tuesday under Section 233 (1)(b) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for his alleged Facebook insult against the Johor Sultan. Section 233 deals with an "improper use of network facilities or network service, etc". Section 233(1)(b) stipulates that "a person who initiates a communication using any applications service, whether continuously, repeatedly or otherwise, during which communication may or may not ensue, with or without disclosing his identity and with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any person at any number or electronic address, commits an offence". Read more

Malaysian government's Malay policy failure Posted: 07 Nov 2012 10:16 AM PST   (PressTV) - It was designed to close the vast economic gap between the Malays and non-Malays, especially Chinese.   Watch video at: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/11/07/270955/malaysian-governments-malay-policy-failure/     When the New Economic Policy was introduced in 1970, the majority Malays only controlled 3% of the economy.  The policy gave Malays a host of special privileges, including in getting government contracts, lower interest rate loans and places in university, aiming to increase their economic share to 30%.  But critics say most of the benefits have just gone to big companies close to the ruling party.  The organisation representing businesses owned by Malays who are also known as Bumiputera says despite a huge increase in membership, Malay businesses are still struggling.  The government says the policy has narrowed the economic gap, reduced poverty among Malays, created a sizeable middle class and prevented tensions between Malays and non-Malays from boiling over.  Prime Minister Najib Razak has acknowledged that the implementation of the policy has been flawed.  Najib has floated the idea of moving to a system of helping those most in need regardless of their race. But he is facing resistance from conservatives in his party who still want to maintain all the privileges for the Malays.

Bahrain revokes citizenships of 31 people Posted: 07 Nov 2012 09:59 AM PST   Some of those stripped of citizenship were never accused of committing a crime, the opposition claimed  (Al Jazeera) - The decision, they said, "is intended to punish them for expressing peaceful dissent and thereby intimidate others from exercising their right to freedom of expression."  List of 31 people, many of them activists and two former MPs, comes amid ongoing government crackdown on opposition.  Bahraini authorities have revoked the citizenships of 31 people, among them two former members of parliament, for having "undermined state security," state news agency BNA reported. The names of the 31 activists, including brothers Jawad and Jalal Fairuz, both ex-MPs who represented the opposition Shia al-Wefaq party, were listed in Wednesday's report, which quoted an interior ministry statement. Also named was Ali Mashaima, son of prominent activist Hassan Mashaima who is head of the Shia opposition movement Haq and who is serving a life sentence for allegedly plotting against the monarchy. The government move comes after Bahrain late last month banned all protests and gatherings to ensure "security is maintained," after clashes between Shia-led demonstrators and security forces in the Sunni-ruled country. The Gulf state, Bahrain, home to the US Fifth Fleet and strategically situated across the Gulf from Iran, has experienced unrest since February 14 last year when protests erupted calling for democracy. Hundreds of people were arrested when the security forces, aided by troops from neighbouring Saudi Arabia, crushed the uprising within a month. However, protests resumed months later and happen on a regular basis in villages around the country.  Many activists, some whose names appear on Wednesday's list, were tried in a special military court set up at the time. Another former MP and leading al-Wefaq member, Matar Matar, told AFP that some named on the list were acquitted by the military court while others were never charged with "undermining state security." Other opposition sources said that some of the named activists are currently living abroad. 'Grave concern' According to the International Federation for Human Rights, 80 people have died in Bahrain since the unrest began. Two local rights groups -- The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights -- voiced "grave concern" over the decision to revoke the citizenships. "The BYSHR and the BCHR express grave concern over the systematic targeting of prominent political activists, former members of parliament, clerics and others," they said in a statement. The decision, they said, "is intended to punish them for expressing peaceful dissent and thereby intimidate others from exercising their right to freedom of expression." Read more at: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/11/2012117122240601519.html?utm_content=automate&utm_campaign=Trial6&utm_source=NewSocialFlow&utm_term=plustweets&utm_medium=MasterAccount

Dr M: I told Petronas to enrich my son Posted: 06 Nov 2012 06:40 PM PST The former premier mocks a reporter who asked an embarrassing question. Syed Jaymal Zahiid, FMT Dr Mahathir Mohamad today mocked a Malaysiakini reporter for questioning him on lucrative multimillion ringgit petroleum contracts involving Petronas and SapuraKencana Petroleum Bhd, of which his son Mokhzani is vice-president. The visibly annoyed former prime minister, who is adviser to the national oil company, said he had used his influence with Petronas to ensure that SapuraKencana win the business. "Yes, of course, he is given it because I instructed Petronas," he told the reporter. "You can put that in your paper." "I presided over everything. I told them, 'Please give to my son and not to anybody else'." The reporter's question came during a press conference that followed the presentation of a patron award to Mahathir from the Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP). The reporter raised the question in defiance of a plea by the event organisers that the media confine the session to town planning and other issues related to the function. The reporter asked if Mahathir thought there was a conflict of interest in the award of two contracts, worth RM836 million in total. Mahathir replied: "That is what I've been doing all the time. Even the time when I was prime minister, everything goes to my children. "But when everything goes to the children of other PMs, you don't want to mention because he is a nice man." Mahathir left shortly afterwards, cutting the press conference short. An event official later told FMT the reporter should have "been more respectful". "We wanted the press conference to be confined to the event," he said. "It's okay that he wanted to ask the question, but he could have framed it in a more tactful way." Reuters reported last week that Allied Marine & Equipment Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned unit of SapuraKencana, was awarded a RM700 million underwater services contract for three and a half years by Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd. Another wholly-owned unit, Kencana HL Sdn Bhd, was awarded a RM135.8 million engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning contract from HESS Exploration and Production Malaysia BV for an integrated gas project in the Kamelia Field in the North Malay Basin. The contracts were announced in two stock exchange filings last Thursday.

PAS ready to meet Selangor Sultan to explain Nurul Izzah issue Posted: 06 Nov 2012 06:33 PM PST Mohd Farhan Darwis, The Malaysian Insider PAS leaders today said they are ready to meet the Selangor Sultan to give an explanation over the allegations that Nurul Izzah Anwar had supported freedom of religion for Malays. Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, a PAS central committee member, did not dismiss the possibility that the king, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah did not receive Nurul Izzah's actual statement. "I am convinced the Sultan did not get Nurul (Izzah)'s actual statement...if not, I myself can meet the Sultan to tell." "I am close enough with the Sultan...I can bring the actual statement to the Sultan," Dr Dzulkefly (picture), who is also the Kuala Selangor MP said during a press conference in Parliament today. Utusan Malaysia carried a report on its front page today, saying that the Selangor of Sultan was shocked with Nurul Izzah's statement in the forum: "Islamic State: Which Version, Whose Responsibility" in Subang Jaya last Saturday. The PAS Dewan Muslimat today also expressed support for Nurul Izzah, stressing that the attacks on the PKR leader was carried out by political foes who had pre-judged her before listening to her explaination. "This issue has been politicised and intentionally magnified (diperbesarkan)," the Kota Raja MP Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud said in the same press conference. Nurul Izzah has since then denied supporting apostasy among the Muslim community, and yesterday said she will take legal action against Umno-owned dailies Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian for allegedly twisting her statement. READ MORE HERE

Log tale Posted: 06 Nov 2012 06:03 PM PST   (The Economist) - A new investigation accuses HSBC of ignoring its own sustainability policies Global Witness, a campaigning group, has analysed the publicly available financial records of seven of Sarawak's largest logging and plantation companies. It identified loans and other financial services from HSBC that it estimates have generated at least $116m in interest payments and $13.6m in fees for the bank since 1977. Although lending has declined over the past decade, HSBC continues to list Sarawak loggers among its clients, in apparent violation of its own Forest Land and Forest Products Sector Policy. SOME big banks do little more than pay lip service to environmental issues. HSBC likes to think of itself as different. It has signed up to many initiatives, including the Equator Principles, a set of social and environmental standards launched in 2003 for project financiers. It was one of the first banks to have its implementation audited by a third party. The bank proudly trumpets the HSBC Climate Partnership, a $100m scheme with the WWF and others that provided clean water to more than 30m people. An upcoming report points to a blot on HSBC's copybook: its financial support of unsustainable logging in Sarawak, a Malaysian part of Borneo. The bank maintains commercial ties with some of the most active logging and plantation firms there, despite their failure to meet HSBC's sustainability policies. Sarawak has lost more than 90% of its "primary" forests to logging and has the fastest rate of deforestation in Asia. Sarawak has only 0.5% of the world's tropical forest but accounted for 25% of tropical-log exports in 2010. As timber stocks have become depleted, the loggers have moved into the palm-oil business, clearing peat-swamp forests to make way for plantations. The deforestation has been accompanied by abuses against indigenous groups, including harassment and illegal evictions. Allegations of corruption and abuse of public office dog Abdul Taib Mahmud, Sarawak's chief minister, finance minister and planning-and-resources minister, who is believed to have firm control over the granting of logging licences. Mr Taib has long denied being corrupt. Global Witness, a campaigning group, has analysed the publicly available financial records of seven of Sarawak's largest logging and plantation companies. It identified loans and other financial services from HSBC that it estimates have generated at least $116m in interest payments and $13.6m in fees for the bank since 1977. Although lending has declined over the past decade, HSBC continues to list Sarawak loggers among its clients, in apparent violation of its own Forest Land and Forest Products Sector Policy. On paper HSBC's forest policy gets high marks, including from BankTrack, a network of NGOs that monitors lenders. When it was drawn up in 2004, the policy required clients to have 70% of their activities certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), or equivalent, by 2009, with evidence that the remainder was legal. (The FSC is a global non-profit body that sets standards and does independent certification for logging and forest products.) Not only did the seven firms analysed fail to meet that deadline, but none has any FSC-certified operations today. Ta Ann Holdings, for example, listed HSBC as a "principal banker" in its 2011 annual report. Ta Ann does not have FSC certification, and has failed to obtain full verification of the legality of its Sarawak concession under the independent "Verified Legal Origin" scheme. The firm has been accused of clear-felling rainforest that is home to endangered orangutan and of cutting down conservation forest for plantations. Ta Ann told Global Witness it is "collaborating closely with HSBC towards achieving full compliance" with its forest policy. Another forestry conglomerate that is still banking with HSBC, according to its annual report, is WTK Holdings, whose intensive logging is widely believed by pressure groups to have caused landslides that ended up blocking a 50km (31-mile) stretch of river in 2010. None of WTK's operations is FSC-certified. Read more at: http://www.economist.com/news/finance-and-economics/21565622-new-investigation-accuses-hsbc-ignoring-its-own-sustainability-policies-log

Muslims can't leave Islam: Dr Mahathir Posted: 06 Nov 2012 03:39 PM PST Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad joined Muslim conservatives today in dismissing the view that there is no compulsion in Islam, telling those professing the faith not to get too "carried away by western ideals". "We are Muslims. We do not change our religion," the influential former prime minister told a press conference this afternoon. "Others ... their beliefs perhaps permit them (to convert). We should not be too taken by western thoughts." Dr Mahathir said that such freedom, if allowed, could lead to racially-charged arguments, even among those in the same religion. "If we're free to do this and that, in the end, we start to produce films that ridicule other religions and then we fight among us. "So do not be too carried away by western ideals. A man can marry a man, a woman can marry a woman... and the family is destroyed," he said. Dr Mahathir was asked to wade into the controversy surrounding remarks made by PKR's Lembah Pantai MP, Nurul Izzah Anwar, who recently expressed her support for freedom of religion for all Malaysians, including Malays, in a forum last Saturday. Her remarks drew widespread backlash among conservative Muslim groups and Umno hardliners, who accused the PKR vice president of supporting "apostasy". But Nurul Izzah has denied this and yesterday said she would take legal action against Umno-owned dailies Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian for allegedly twisting her statement. The PKR leader has, however, found support from popular Islamic scholar Datuk Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, who said in an article in Sinar Harian today that there is no compulsion in Islam. "After hearing her explanation, I understand what she meant. The 'no compulsion' is from the aspect of practice in the religion of Islam. "If truly there were compulsion, this country's government would certainly take action against a Muslim individual, for example a Muslim woman who does not wear the tudung (headscarf)," he told the Malay daily. The Univesiti Sains Malaysia (USM) lecturer told the newspaper he had written an article two years ago titled "Iman Tidak Boleh Dipaksa (Faith Cannot be Forced)", and added that the content was "the same" as what Nurul Izzah had stated. "Malays cannot be forced and [they] believe voluntarily. But, through preaching, a person can be brought back to the faith," he was quoted as saying. Race and religion issues are inseparable in Malaysia, where the Malays — who make up 60 per cent of the 28 million population — are constitutionally defined to also be Muslims. The country's supreme law states that Islam is the religion of the federation but also provides for other religions to be practised freely. In Parliament today, a deputy minister Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim said legal action may be taken against Nurul Izzah for purportedly insulting Islam. "There are no such provisions for now, but it can be included under provisions on insulting Islam or causing Islam to be insulted. "Anyone who orally or in written form mocks or causes Islam to be degraded, can be imposed with a penalty of not more than RM3,000 or jail of not more than two years, or both," the deputy minister in charge of Islamic affairs said.

Six NGOs urge France to investigate SUARAM over Scorpene report Posted: 06 Nov 2012 03:33 PM PST (Bernama) - Six non-governmental organisations (NGOs) today urged the French government to conduct an investigation on Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) for wrongly filing a report in 2009 on the purchase of two French-made Scorpene submarines by Malaysia. Young Malaysian Journalists Club (YMJC) president, Dzulkarnain Taib said the NGOs had handed over a joint memorandum to the French Ambassador to Malaysia, Martine Dorance at the embassy, here at 2.30 pm today. Besides YMJC, the memorandum was also signed by Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia, Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia, Malaysia Malay Network, Malaysian Crime Prevention Awareness Board and Malaysian Consumerism Protection Board. He said the memorandum demanded the French government to investigate SUARAM for acting as a bogus non-governmental organisation and had manipulated the French justice system in the Scorpene probe. "SUARAM's false pretension could threaten the long-established relationship between Malaysia and France," he told Bernama here today. Dzulkarnain claimed SUARAM had acted in bad faith to claim itself as a bona fide representative of the Malaysian people and wrongfully used this charade to hoodwink the French courts to be appointed as the plaintiff or parti civile vis-avis the Scorpene issue.

Ex-Perlis mufti backs Nurul Izzah, says ‘no compulsion in Islam’ Posted: 06 Nov 2012 03:29 PM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - There is no compulsion in Islam, popular Islamic scholar Datuk Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin has said in his defence of PKR's Nurul Izzah Anwar who has been under attack from Umno-linked conservative Muslim groups over her recent remark on the subject of faith — a hot button topic in mainly Malay-Muslim Malaysia. The still influential former Perlis mufti was weighing in on the controversy that has erupted following the PKR vice president's statement at a public forum on "Islamic State: Which version, Whose Responsibility?" in Subang Jaya last Saturday, with several religious hawks suggesting that her remarks meant she supported Muslims renouncing Islam and turning "murtad" or apostate. "After hearing her explanation, I understand what she meant. The no compulsion is from the aspect of practice in the religion of Islam. "If truly there were compulsion, this country's government would certainly take action against a Muslim individual, for example a Muslim woman who does not wear the tudung (headscarf)," he told Malay daily Sinar Harian. The Univesiti Sains Malaysia (USM) lecturer told the newspaper he had written an article two years ago titled "Iman Tidak Boleh Dipaksa (Faith Cannot be Forced)", and added that the content was "the same" as what Nurul Izzah had stated. "Malays cannot be forced and [they] believe voluntarily. But, through preaching, a person can be brought back to the faith," he was quoted as saying. Mohd Asri was also reported saying that Nurul Izzah's initial remark could have been misconstrued because it was not explained in detail. He added the first-term federal lawmaker had contacted him to help explain to the public her statement and that he agreed with her remarks that there was no compulsion in Islam. The Lembah Pantai MP, who is expected to defend her parliamentary seat in the coming 13th general election, was reported by state news agency Bernama as saying that no one should be compelled to adopt a particular religion and that this applied to Malays as well. Following the outcry, she has been forced to deny that she was supporting apostasy or encouraging Muslims to renounce Islam. Race and religion issues are inseparable in Malaysia, where the Malays — who make up 60 per cent of the 28 million population — are constitutionally defined to also be Muslims. The country's supreme law states that Islam is the religion of the federation but also provides for other religions to be practised freely.

Nurul Izzah may face action over Islam remark, says deputy minister Posted: 06 Nov 2012 03:20 PM PST Mohd Farhan Darwis, The Malaysian Insider Legal action may be taken against PKR vice president Nurul Izzah Anwar for purportedly insulting Islam, a deputy minister in the prime minister's department told Parliament today. Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim's statement comes following allegations that Nurul Izzah had expressed her support for freedom of religion for all Malaysians, including Malays, in a forum last Saturday. "Lembah Pantai (MP Nurul Izzah) said Malay-Muslims are free to choose their religion. In other words, (they) can exit Islam; that is apostasy...what's the punishment that can be imposed on Lembah Pantai?" Sri Gading MP Datuk Mohamad Aziz had asked her in a supplementary question today. "There are no such provisions for now, but it can be included under provisions on insulting Islam or causing Islam to be insulted," Mashitah said during Question Time today. "Anyone who orally or in written form mocks or causes Islam to be degraded, can be imposed with a penalty of not more than RM3,000 or jail of not more than two years, or both," the deputy minister in charge of Islamic affairs said. Nurul Izzah has denied supporting apostasy and yesterday said she would take legal action against Umno-owned dailies Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian for allegedly twisting her statement. READ MORE HERE

Where is the oil fund? Posted: 06 Nov 2012 11:51 AM PST How many more financial scandals that have emptied our national coffers can Malaysia afford? By Chua Jui Meng, FMT The RM250 million Cowgate fracas has hardly settled and now we have the RM40 million Sabah Umno crony scandal. If the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) had not been hijacked, low-income Malaysians today would be enjoying affordable beef. We will not be paying about RM27 for a kilogramme of beef now when it was only about RM7 per kg in 2000. The NFC project would have been successful if the RM250 million had been distributed to 1,000 experienced cattle breeders nationwide, with each getting RM250,000 to expand their herd of cattle. What knowledge or credentials do Shahrizat Abdul Jalil's husband and her children have to justify them to be given the project allocation? Now we have Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz's defence of Sabah Umno crony timber tycoon Michael Chia. After defending Chia in Parliament, saying there was nothing wrong with Chia carrying RM40 million in a suitcase for Sabah Umno, we are shocked by his son Nedim's connection with Chia. Nedim was seen driving a more than RM500,000 Hummer registered in the name of Michael Chia. Not only that, pictures of Nedim wearing a Richard Mille Tourbillon (model RM 002 V2) watch worth RM1,072,000 have surfaced in social network Facebook. What is happening to Malaysia and its ruling lawmakers? Scandals that expose their enormous wealth are surfacing regularly while our RM502 billion federal debt continues to climb. How many more financial scandals that have emptied our national coffers can Malaysia afford? Petroleum fund Petronas was set up in 1974 and its first CEO Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah recently revealed that there were plans for the establishment of a Tabung Warisan Petrolium (National Petroleum Heritage Fund) for the future of Malaysians when our oil wells run dry. Has there been any such oil fund set up? As far as I know there has never been a disclosure by the government of the existence of such a fund. With the billions or even trillions of ringgit in oil revenue over some four decades, there is absolutely no excuse that is acceptable to Malaysians for this tragic betrayal of the people's trust by our "oil sheikhs … Mahathir, Abdullah and Najib". Norway, where they have oil in the North Sea, the country's oil fund known as Norway Pension Fund stands at US$656 billion or RM2 trillion. And the country has a population of only five million people. UAE-Abu Dhabi Investment Authority's oil-revenue sovereign wealth fund is at US$627 billion or RM1.9 trillion. Almost all oil producing countries have established their own oil funds for their peoples' future but not Malaysia. This is a serious indictment of the present regime. Instead, after 55 years, the corrupt BN government has given us a RM502 billion federal debt that is fast growing. The Petroleum Act 1974 must also be amended to remove the prime minister's absolute powers over Petronas and its finances. Now, no one has the right to question the prime minister's decision. Only the prime minister, not even his deputy, is privy to Petronas' accounts. Living in debt Pakatan Rakyat has pledged to make Petronas accountable to Parliament and this should lead to the establishment of the long awaited National Petroleum Heritage Fund. Read more

Kohilan, three MIC reps gave nod to Batu Caves project Posted: 06 Nov 2012 10:10 AM PST   (The Sun Daily) -  It's official - all 19 members who attended the full board meeting of the Selayang Municipal Council voted in favour of approving the Dolomite Avenue Park project in Batu Caves in 2007. Despite earlier denials and assertions by some councillors that they were neither party nor privy to the approval process, minutes of the meeting held on Nov 29, 2007 - obtained by theSun - show otherwise. Deputy foreign affairs minister Datuk A. Kohilan Pillai, who was a councillor between 1997 and 2008, had voted in favour of the project. So did the three councillors from the MIC – Rajakupal Sinnathamby, Jayakumaran Govindasamy and Rajandran Muniandy. Both Gerakan, of which Kohilan is a member, and the MIC, have recently accused the current Pakatan-led Selangor government of approving the project. On Oct 26, former MIC president and works minister, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, spearheaded a demonstration at the Sri Subramaniar Temple at Batu Caves - which is beside the project site - calling for a stop to the project. Kohilan, who had joined the scores of protesters, has since vehemently denied his involvement in the project's approval, claiming that only a "planning permit" was issued during his tenure. Such a permit is also referred to as a "development order" which allows immediate development. Kohilan has reportedly claimed that the application from Dolomite was basic and did not indicate details. But documents show that the application was submitted with detailed layout and building plans. The minutes also show that approval was given for dual-development - 18 units of three-story shop-lots and two tower blocks – one of 25-storeys and another of 29. In a twist of irony showing that local councils can work efficiently if they want to, council president Datuk Zainal Abidin Azim issued the go-ahead on Nov 30 – just 24 hours after the full board endorsed the approval. The minutes also showed that approval was "subject to conditions" and these included those recommended by the Geosciences and Minerals Department which has since briefed the state government on non-compliance. It is learnt that the department indicated that the developer had failed to comply with some of the conditions set, especially the construction of the Geobrugg that should have been done before the work on the shop lots had begun. Yesterday, theSun reported that the council had also defied objections from the Selangor Department of Environment (DOE) which had expressed its reservations on development which is in close proximity to the limestone hills.

Sultan regrets Nurul’s remarks Posted: 06 Nov 2012 10:08 AM PST   (The Star) -  The Sultan of Selangor has expressed regret and surprise at a statement by PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar that Malay Muslims are free to choose their faith under the religious freedom factor. Selangor Islamic Affairs Council (Mais) chairman Datuk Mohamad Adzib Mohd Isa said Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah totally rejected any view that Malay Muslims were free to choose another religion and denounce Islam. In a statement here yesterday, Mohamed Adzib said: "As the adviser to the Sultan of Selangor, Mais will assist him to be cautious, sensitive and firm on anyone who challenges the sanctity of Islam, whether in terms of ideology or practice, particularly in Selangor." Nurul Izzah, who is Lembah Pantai MP, was reported as saying at a forum on Saturday that no one should be compelled to adopt a particular religion and this applied to the Malays as well. Following a public outcry over her statement, she denied she was supporting murtad (apostasy) or encouraging Muslims to renounce Islam. She told reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday that she was ready to meet the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) to explain her remarks. Jais director Datuk Marzuki Husin said the MP's statement was akin to saying all religions are the same. "This is not correct as Islam is not the same as other faiths," he said, stressing that Jais could act against Nurul Izzah if it has information on what she exactly said at the forum.

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