Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Lajim objects to revival of CM rotation
- Pehimpunan 1 juta orang Pakatan Rakyat 24 Januari
- PAS supporters are Islamic warriors, says wing's secretary
- The excitement of the chase
- PAS delegate hits out at Pakatan partners over hudud
- Different cars on road to Putrajaya
- PAS delegates lobby for Hadi Awang as PM, not Anwar
- Couple with six children skip meals every month when funds are low
- Two PAS leaders support one-seat proposal
- Reformasi: The big leap forward
- ‘DAP shows disrespect to PAS over ‘hudud’ issue’
- ‘Mansor staring at defeat’
- Dewan Ulamak: Hadi paling layak jadi Perdana Menteri
- PAS nak jaga hati Anwar walaupun kenyataan Nurul Izzah langgar prinsip akidah
- S’gor govt asked for Selayang council president’s transfer, says Chief Secretary
- Dato Ramli Yusuf given a ceremonial farewell by PDRM
- Pas members who love the microphones and cameras
- Malaysia's Internet Conundrum
- Ambil iktibar ucapan dasar Presiden PAS - Wan Azizah
- Karpal hits out at Harun over hudud mischief
- The NATO syndrome
- Hadi outlines ways to set right the economy
- 'Beware of BN’s plot to create rift among ourselves'
- Cuepacs demands Derek Fernandez apologise over ‘monkeys’ remarks
- PAS committed to change - the Islamic way, says Hadi Awang
- ‘Unholy’ chatter unnerves PKR leader
- Mubarak gesa anggota Islam PKR keluar parti
- PAS Youth's Nasrudin tells what he's worth
- Forging Unity through a Benevolent State
- Beggar-Malaysians queue for rice, oil and flour, thanks to BN
- Hadi: Beware of the 'money hurricane'
- Anak Nik Aziz dicadang cabar Muhyiddin di Pagoh
- Road to hell
- Is Malaysia an Islamic or secular state?
- PAS – making the right choice
- Is Islam under threat?
- Irene Fernandez insists constitutional provisions inspire racial discrimination
- PAS members firm on hudud
- Anwar comes to daughter Nurul Izzah’s defence
- PAS leaders grilled for turning blind eye on audit report
- PAS Youth shoots down Bersih 4.0 before GE13
- PAS Youth slams party organs
- High stakes general election
- Perkasa calls Irene Fernandez a traitor after study says Constitution promotes discrimination
- Sending mixed signals
- Theologian: It’s a call to return to God
- Jeffrey’s STAR blows hot and cold
- Mat Sabu mahu ketuai pengisytiharan harta
- PAS says will field more women in coming election
- Ex-MIDA chief snubs Selangor invite to head Batu Caves taskforce
| Lajim objects to revival of CM rotation Posted: 16 Nov 2012 07:42 PM PST
(Daily Express) - Sabah Reform Alliance (PPPS) Chairman Datuk Lajim Ukin objected to the proposal to revive the Chief Minister rotation system in Sabah, saying it will only disrupt the State's administration. He said if the system were to be re-implemented, it would be as though Sabah has no credible leader to lead the State. "It will disrupt all the development planning because before it can be implemented, the Chief Minister is changed and automatically all the government officers are also replaced. The system will cause anxiety among the government officers thinking if the new Chief Minister will be needing them or not. It will create a very bad working environment," he said, commenting on the proposal by Upko Keningau recently. Met after opening the Beaufort parliamentary level Ma'al Hijrah celebration at Surau Nurul Ihsan in Limbawang here on Thursday, Lajim said the changing of Chief Minister should only be done if it was unavoidable and to stop the rot in the State Government administration under a non-performing leader. He said the system was implemented by the Barisan Nasional (BN) previously just to hoodwink the component leaders. "The BN had a hidden agenda when the rotation system was implemented, that is to continue holding power by giving several Sabah leaders the chance to become Chief Minister before it was scrapped. "At that time, the BN realised that the rotation was not beneficial at all and in fact was only jeopardising the State's administration. Therefore, I totally object to any suggestion to revive it," he said. Meanwhile, Lajim expressed support to a suggestion by the PAS youth wing that the posts of Prime Minister and Finance Minister be separated to ensure transparency in the management of the nation's finances. He said the two posts should not be held by the same person as what is practised by BN now, which is aimed at strengthening the position of the nation's top leader to the extent that it affects the check-and-balance system in monitoring how the country's money is spent. He claimed BN is practising this system because the Prime Minister fears that if the powerful finance portfolio is held by someone else, it might affect the former's influence. "Umno is worried that if the two positions are separated, as was the case when Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was Finance Minister, he would become so powerful that he posed a threat to the Prime Minister," added Lajim, a former federal Deputy Minister. Lajim also cited the case of another former Finance Minister, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who became so powerful that he lost to Dr Mahathir in the fight for the Umno presidency by just 40 votes. "Thus, Umno is not going to have another person holding the finance portfolio to prevent history from recurring," Lajim, also a former Sabah deputy chief minister, said.
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| Pehimpunan 1 juta orang Pakatan Rakyat 24 Januari Posted: 16 Nov 2012 07:36 PM PST Perkara ini dinyatakan oleh Timbalan Presiden PAS, Mohamad Sabu semasa berucap di muktamar parti di Kota Baru hari ini. Muda Mohd. Noor, FMT Pakatan Rakyat akan mengadakan pehimpunan besar-besaran membabitkan kira-kira 1 juta orang membabitkan orang politik dan NGO di ibu negara 14 Januari tahun depan. Perkara ini dinyatakan oleh Timbalan Presiden PAS, Mohamad Sabu semasa berucap di muktamar parti di Kota Baru hari ini. Perhimpunan itu kerana menuntut Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya (SPR) mengadakan pilihanraya yang adil dan bersih. "Perhimpunan di peringkat negeri juga diadakan. Pada 1 Disember di Johor; Melaka (8 Disember); Pahang (9 Disember); Terengganu (14 Disember); Perak (16 Disember) dan Sabah (24 Disember). "Manakala negeri-negeri lain belum ditetapkan lagi," kata beliau. Bagaimanapun, tempat perhimpunan belum ditetap tetapi membayangkan di Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil, Stadium Nasional atau di tengah-tengahnya. Mohamad menjelaskan pada mulanya, Pakatan Rakyat mahu mengadakan konvensyen tetapi NGO mahu membetulkan kerajaan yang ada dengan mengadakan perhimpunan. "Saya yakin jika perhimpunan itu disertai sejuta orang, kita akan menawan Putrajaya," katanya lagi. Beliau menambah, keputusan mengadakan perhimpunan mega dibuat dalam mesyuarat pimpinan Pakatan Rakyat baru-baru ini. Katanya, beliau sekali lagi dipilih untuk mengetuai perhimpunan tersebut.
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| PAS supporters are Islamic warriors, says wing's secretary Posted: 16 Nov 2012 07:34 PM PST (The Star) - Members of the PAS Supporters Congress are Islamic warriors, declared its secretary J. Parkaran. He said they would go all out to fight for PAS, in line with its PAS For All battle cry. "But we need ammunition," he said when debating the keynote address of the party president during the 58th PAS Muktamar on Saturday. He said they would be fighting without ammunition if they were excluded from PAS programmes and activities at grassroots and state level. He said they would continue supporting PAS because it followed the Al-Quran. "Man-made laws can change, but the (decrees in) Al-Quran never change," he said. Parkaran, who is chairman on a Parent-Teacher Association, called on PAS to champion the grouses of teachers over the implementation of school-based assessment system. We fear that such a system would victimise students whose parents are supporters of the opposition, he said. Sabah speaker Awang Laiman Ikin said supporters of Sabah PAS also asked when they could hold party events.
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| Posted: 16 Nov 2012 06:50 PM PST
Do you need to take over the federal government before you can say the right things? Do you need to take over the federal government before you can eliminate abuse of power and corruption in the state government? Do you need to take over the federal government before you can come to a consensus and come out with a common policy? THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin I have friends who like to go fishing. (A couple of people I know also like to go hunting). I asked them as to why they bother to waste so much time fishing. It is also not cheap, mind you. The tackle costs quite a bit of money, especially when you lose the lures (which cost more than the fish). Would it not be easier and cheaper to just go buy the fish at the market? It would be faster too -- fishing 'expeditions' can take a whole day. One day they invited me to join them in their fishing trip. In an hour we caught 56 fish. That is almost a fish a minute amongst the five of us. I must say it was quite exciting. I proudly brought the fish I caught home to show my wife. I did not tell her that that was the only fish I caught, though. You see, for the first half hour or so, I was flat out on the deck of the boat due to an attack of seasickness (which I suffer from if the boat is not moving and rolls from side to side). I was vomiting my guts out and polluting the sea. Only when my fishing mates carried me over the side of the boat and threatened to drop me into the sea did I stop vomiting. It seems the fastest way to end your seasickness is to get dumped into the sea. I must say it worked. The threat was good enough. It was then that I understood that the excitement was not in the cooking and the eating of the fish. After all, how could five of us eat 56 fish anyway? It was the excitement of the hunt or the chase, as they say. And that goes for 'people hunting' as well. Friends who go 'hunting' in the clubs on Saturday night tell me the same thing. It is not about getting the women into bed. If not then they just need to go visit a brothel. It is the excitement of the 'hunt' -- to see whether you can 'nail' your 'prey'. What would you think of that woman if you smile at her and she immediately walks up to you and says 'you can poke your pecker into my pussy any time'? That would be a turn off. You need to sweet-talk her first -- such as 'what's a nice woman like you doing in a place like this?' or 'what's a woman like you doing in a nice place like this?', etc. Then you offer to buy her a drink, ask her if she would like to dance, and then ask her if she would like to adjourn to somewhere 'quieter'. In that same context, we need to make the politicians and political parties 'hunt' or 'fish' for our votes. They need to 'court' us to get us to vote for them. If we tell them that they are guaranteed our votes and come hell or high water we would still vote for them that will make them complacent. They must not take us for granted. We are not prostitutes. They can't just throw some money onto the bed and expect us to strip and lie down on our backs so that they can screw us. If they want us then they will need to work hard at wooing us. As what we told Anwar Ibrahim in London in 2010, in the 2008 general election many of us would have voted for a donkey or a monkey as long as they stood on the platform of Pakatan Rakyat. However, we have since seen what these monkeys and donkeys have turned out to become. Some have deserted the opposition. Some are not performing as we had hoped. Some proved to be as corrupt as the Barisan Nasional people we kicked out. Some are making silly statements that do not help the opposition cause and actually helps Barisan Nasional. Some have demonstrated arrogance. Some are pompous and condescending and talk to us as if they are our betters rather than our 'servants'. At this point of my article some of you 'apologists' are going to scream that we can't expect perfection. We can't expect Pakatan Rakyat to achieve everything in a mere five years. If we can give Barisan Nasional 55 years then why can't we also give Pakatan Rakyat 55 years before we judge them? These apologists tend to forget that the leaders and politicians from DAP, PKR, and PAS are not five-year-old politicians. The opposition politicians have been around a long time, as long or longer than those from Barisan Nasional. Some have served as Cabinet Ministers (even some from PAS during the time that PAS joined Barisan Nasional 40 years ago). Some have been Chief Ministers (Menteri Besar). Nik Aziz is probably the second-longest serving Menteri Besar after the Sarawak Chief Minister. So the opposition leaders and politicians are not 'new'. Why must we give them 55 years? We must not forget, when they campaigned for our support and our votes, they told us what was wrong with Barisan Nasional and they told us what they were going to do to right all these wrongs. Hence they knew what was not right and they knew what to do to put it right. They promised us, not we promised them. So it is their job to deliver on these promises. The other excuse the apologists offer is that Pakatan Rakyat is not yet the federal government so we can't expect them to achieve much until they take over the federal government. Granted in some cases this is true. But this is not true for everything. Do you need to take over the federal government before you can say the right things? Do you need to take over the federal government before you can eliminate abuse of power and corruption in the state government? Do you need to take over the federal government before you can come to a consensus and come out with a common policy? Not everything requires you to be the federal government before you can do it. Many things are party matters. Many things are coalition matters. Many things are state government matters. Many things are council matters. Some things, of course, are federal matters. But not everything is a federal matter. Is the selection of candidates a federal government matter? That is a party matter and has nothing to do with the federal government. Is the allocation of seats a federal government matter? That is a coalition matter and has nothing to do with the federal government. Is the election or selection of council members a federal government matter? That is a state government matter (and decided by the party, mind you) and has nothing to do with the federal government. Is the declaration of assets a federal government matter? That is a party matter and has nothing to do with the federal government. Is the distribution of tithes (zakat and fitrah) a federal government matter? That is a state government matter and has nothing to do with the federal government. Is the building of low-cost homes for the homeless a federal government matter? That is a state government matter and has nothing to do with the federal government. Is the allocation of state land to the landless a federal government matter? That is a state government matter and has nothing to do with the federal government. Is the abolishing of negotiated tenders and the implementation of an open tender system for state contracts a federal government matter? That is a state government matter and has nothing to do with the federal government. There are many things that are party matters, coalition matters and/or state government matters. You do not need to wait until you form the federal government before you can do something about them. Take the Islamic State and Hudud matter as another example. Do you need to be the federal government before DAP, PKR and PAS can come to an agreement on that issue? You do not even need to be the state government before you can come to an agreement on this. Barisan Nasional would not dare announce their candidates until the morning of Nomination Day. This is because Barisan Nasional does not trust its own members and they know that if they announce their candidates too early then there would be a genuine danger of internal sabotage. Hence they wait until the eleventh hour to announce their candidates to reduce the danger of internal sabotage. Even then it still happens, as Barisan Nasional recently confessed. But why does Pakatan Rakyat not announce its candidates early so that these candidates can start working the ground and the voters can get to know them early instead of finding out who they are at the last minute on the morning of Nomination Day? Well, for the same reason why Barisan Nasional does not dare announce its candidates early, plus for an added reason -- to avoid Barisan Nasional buying them off. Hence Pakatan Rakyat does not trust its own candidates plus it does not trust its own party members. Pakatan Rakyat is worried that if the candidates are announced too early then it may suffer internal sabotage and/or the candidates may get bought over. What, therefore, does this say about the candidates? Are these the people we want? If 'A' is chosen to contest instead of' B', then 'B may sabotage 'A' or Barisan Nasional may buy off 'A'. And if 'B' is chosen instead, the same thing may happen as well. Hence do not announce yet whether it is 'A' or 'B'. Wait until the last minute to make the announcement. Is this because Pakatan Rakyat is not yet the federal government? Would none of this happen once Pakatan Rakyat is already the federal government? Pakatan Rakyat needs to convince us that it is worthy of our vote. Pakatan Rakyat must work for our vote. If we tell Pakatan Rakyat that we are definitely going to vote opposition never mind what they do or do not do, then we are going to have a very complacent and very lazy Pakatan Rakyat. There are no guarantees in life. There is no guarantee that every one of you reading this article is going to still be alive tomorrow. If you do die tonight, there is no guarantee that you are going to go to heaven or to hell. In fact, no one can give you a money-back guarantee that heaven and hell even exist. So how can we guarantee Pakatan Rakyat our votes? In the first place, should we even be giving anyone this guarantee? If you want me then come and court me. Bring me flowers and chocolates. Take me out to dinner. Come meet my parents and bring me to visit your parents. Then I will decide whether you are going to get into my pants. If you merely want a wham bam, thank you ma'am, then go visit a brothel. And if you are a prostitute and are prepared to prostitute yourself, well and fine. But don't expect me to do the same just because you are doing that. If you can't convince me to vote for you that is your problem, not mine. If you don't know how to win my vote then you do not deserve my vote. That is the long and short of it all. I am not here to serve the politicians. It is the politicians who must serve me. So serve me. And convince me that you are worthy of being my servant. I need not convince you of anything because the vote is in my hand, not yours. As the boy said to the girl when he dropped his pants to show her his dick: I have this, which you need. And the girl dropped her knickers to show the boy her pussy: ah yes, but with one of these I can get ten of those. | ||
| PAS delegate hits out at Pakatan partners over hudud Posted: 16 Nov 2012 04:20 PM PST
(Bernama) -- A delegate at the PAS congress here today hit out at leaders of PAS' opposition pact partners for wavering on the issue of 'hudud' law which PAS proposed to implement if it gets to form the federal government after the next general election. Zahari Arip, a delegate from the Federal Territory, said the opposition pact partners should join hands in implementing hudud after PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had given the green light to implement it in accordance with democratic principles. "Why are they saying that hudud is not a priority, that hudud should be postponed because the people do not have a proper understanding of it, and that the priority was getting to Putrajaya and not implementation of hudud? "The implementation of hudud remains the core business of PAS and cannot be an incidental goal," he said when speaking during the debate on the PAS president's policy speech. Zahari said convincing non-Muslims about hudud should not be the question because they would find it acceptable and conducive to life. Meanwhile, the PAS Supporters Club said it was prepared to represent PAS in meeting with leaders of opposition pact partner DAP to discuss the hudud issue. Its chief, Hu Pang Chaw, said the club representatives were prepared to meet with DAP chairman Karpal Singh to explain the hudud law, the proposed implementation of which by PAS had become an issue. "We have met with the MCA leadership to explain hudud," he said when approached at the congress.
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| Different cars on road to Putrajaya Posted: 16 Nov 2012 03:51 PM PST
PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang had his sights set on Putrajaya when he opened the PAS muktamar and chose to sidestep the thorny issue of hudud and the Islamic state. Whatever some in the party may think about Mat Sabu and his lack of religious credentials, he is able to do what Hadi cannot do — he is a good organiser, a rebel rouser and very entertaining. He has promised the delegates that the next muktamar will be in a hall in Putrajaya. Joceline Tan, The Star KOTA Baru is flush with political banners. The moment one steps out of the airport, one is greeted by banners welcoming those returning from the Haj or the tetamu-tetamu Allah (guests of God). One banner shows Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat smiling like a proud grandfather. Another shows the man who Umno says will be the next Mentri Besar, Datuk Mustapa Mohamed, wearing a blazing red baju Melayu and an even bigger smile than the Tok Guru. But banners of Nik Aziz alongside PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang dominate the landscape, especially along roads leading to Putik, the party centre where the muktamar is taking place. The official muktamar banner usually includes the deputy president and everyone has noticed that Mohamed Sabu, better known as Mat Sabu, is missing from the banner this year and no one can quite explain why. One possible reason is that the party is still feeling awkward about the fact that, apart from Hadi, the deputy and the three vice-presidents are all non-ulama. Hence, it is best to allow the two top ulama to shine for now. There were a few other famous faces missing at the opening of the muktamar yesterday. Pakatan Rakyat's "future prime minister" was not there for the second year in a row but his wife and PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail was. DAP's mentor figure Lim Kit Siang, a usual attendee, was also absent. He had a dental appointment and Dr Tan Seng Giaw took his place. Hadi's policy speech was his longest and most political since becoming PAS president. It was an election type of speech that reaffirmed that his party is committed to its partnership with Pakatan. His Dewan Ulama chief Datuk Harun Taib had been uncompromising about the party's stand on hudud but Hadi sort of sidestepped the issue and is taking the stand that PAS and DAP would agree to disagree on Islam and hudud for now. Hadi and his ulama chief seem to be driving different cars on the road to Putrajaya. He gave the assurance that if the coalition wins power, it would be a smooth and peaceful transition and there will be no victimisation of civil servants. He also dangled carrots in front of Sabah and Sarawak voters, offering to return 20% oil royalties to the two states. His slogan of PAS ganti Umno (PAS to replace Umno) has caught on and he labelled Umno the "party of devils," a reference to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's call to Malaysians to vote for the devil they know. He said the party's Negara Berkebajikan (welfare state) would be better than Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's 1Malaysia policy in promoting national unity but he will have to take it beyond sloganeering if he wants to convince people out there. The Negara Berkebajikan idea is still as hazy an idea today as when it was introduced three years ago. Even the muktamar audience seemed lukewarm to the idea. They either prefer the Islamic state concept or, like most people, they are still unsure what the new concept is really about. As the muktamar chairman noted, the weather outside was hotter than the mood in the hall. The signs are that Mat Sabu will have to assume the role of "war general" in the election. He took centrestage at the Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat rally held in the Kota Baru stadium in the evening. Kota Baru is the second stop of the event which was launched in Negri Sembilan earlier this month. It is as good as an election campaign minus the candidates. The rally is Mat Sabu's version of the Arab Spring. Many in PAS are inspired by what is going on in Egypt and they hope the rallies will build up a momentum for regime change. Whatever some in the party may think about Mat Sabu and his lack of religious credentials, he is able to do what Hadi cannot do — he is a good organiser, a rebel rouser and very entertaining. He has promised the delegates that the next muktamar will be in a hall in Putrajaya. This is his big moment and the opportunity to show the party why he deserves to be their No 2. He is under a lot of pressure to deliver. He knows that the conservatives in the party are gathering their forces to push him from the No 2 spot at the party election next year. This was very clear from the tone of the meetings at the Dewan Pemuda and Dewan Ulama a day earlier. For instance, criticism of slanted reporting by the party propaganda organ Harakah and its online sister Harakahdaily was read as a warning shot by the conservatives in the party. The two publication bodies were accused of not giving sufficient coverage to the ulama viewpoint. The critics are basically warning people in the party not to dominate the party organ for their own interests. They are setting the stage for the party polls next year and the talk is that the conservatives want an ulama as deputy president and also ulama figures among the three vice-presidents. The general election is foremost on the mind of everybody in PAS but so is the party election for some of them.
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| PAS delegates lobby for Hadi Awang as PM, not Anwar Posted: 16 Nov 2012 03:36 PM PST
Mohd Farhan Darwis, The Malaysian Insider The PAS annual conference or muktamar was shaken today when a delegate from the party's religious wing proposed party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang for the post of prime minister and earned enthusiastic support from the floor. Hairun Nizam, from the PAS Ulama wing, told the crowd of over 1,000 delegates here that PAS members should not lobby for other leaders to hold the post, claiming that Abdul Hadi was the "best person" to lead the nation. "I'd like to ask the delegates — who is the best person to lead the Malaysian government if not for Tuan Guru president?" he said to boisterous shouts of "Takbir" from the floor as delegates shouted their approval. "This is not for the sake of revering him, but he is the most qualified person to become the next prime minister... and we, as proteges of an Islamic party, should not campaign for others to take on the post," he said in his speech during the debate on the party president's address. Hairun added that to form an Islamic state, the leader of the highest office in the country must be a person with a thorough knowledge of religious laws and practices. "When a country becomes Allah's congregation, is submissive to Allah, then it is only right that its top leader is one who knows the most about His commandments. "This is to ensure that this Islamic government can progress without being influenced by matters that invite power abuse or that violate Islamic principles," he said. Hairun's suggestion and the resounding support from party delegates contradict the stand taken by the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leadership, which has repeatedly endorsed its de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the post of prime minister. Just yesterday at the pact's mammoth Himpunan Merdeka Rakyat rally in the Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium here, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang reaffirmed this stand, declaring that PR parties DAP, PKR and PAS were united in selecting Anwar to replace Umno's Datuk Seri Najib Razak should the pact wrest federal power in the next general election. "Anwar will be the seventh prime minister, not the sixth," he told the tens of thousands gathered at the venue.
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| Couple with six children skip meals every month when funds are low Posted: 16 Nov 2012 03:00 PM PST
(The Star) - An empty stomach is something Siti Nor Aisah Wagiman is familiar with when funds are low at the end of every month. The 34-year-old mother of six said she and her husband would sometimes skip meals so their children would have enough to eat. "This can go as long as two weeks whenever we do not have enough money to buy essentials like rice," she said in an interview at Razak Mansion, Jalan Besi, where she lives in a one-bedroom flat. Siti Nor Aisah, who works as a security guard, said she was the main breadwinner of the family and earned RM1,200 a month. "The rent alone for our apartment is RM400 a month," she said. "There is little left to buy food and necessities." She claimed that her husband suffered from haemorrhoids which made him unable to hold down a permanent job. As Siti Nor Aisah has to be at work from 7am to 7pm, five of her children are being looked after by her mother-in-law while the eldest, a 14-year-old girl, is taken care of by her father. "She is physically disabled. Her arms are deformed," said Siti Nor Aisah. "When she was in primary school, she had monetary aid from the Welfare Department but this stopped for the past two years now. We don't know why," she said. Mother-in-law Siti Rubiah Abdul Razak, 59, who lives nearby in another one-room unit, said her grandchildren would go around the neighbourhood collecting boxes, tins and bottles to be sold for money. "They would pass me the money and ask me to buy vegetables for them," she said, adding that they could get about RM3 to RM5 a day. A neighbour, George Fernandez, who contacted The Star to highlight the family's plight, said he sympathised with the family. "They are so hungry that on certain days, the children would come to my house for food," he said.
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| Two PAS leaders support one-seat proposal Posted: 16 Nov 2012 02:48 PM PST
(The Star) - Two PAS leaders have voiced support for DAP chairman Karpal Singh's "one candidate, one seat" proposal for the upcoming general election. PAS vice-president Sallehuddin Ayub said Karpal's proposal was in tandem with PAS' strategy of fielding one candidate, in general, for one seat. "It will help convince the people of Pakatan Rakyat's sincerity in serving their voters," he said at the sidelines of the PAS muktamar here. However, Sallehuddin said there could be exceptions, citing that DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng might be allowed to contest two seats if this was a way to help Pakatan. Likewise, he said PAS leaders might also be asked to contest two seats. Sallehuddin's views was shared by his counterpart Datuk Mahfuz Omar, who stressed on their goal of defeating Barisan Nasional. "If this means that each Pakatan candidate must only contest one seat, then it should be supported. "If it also means that certain candidates should contest two as it enhances our chances, then it must also be supported," Mahfuz said. In another development, Kelantan PAS deputy commissioner II Datuk Nik Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah warned that Kelantan PAS might lose seats in the elections if it allowed complacency to creep in. In the last elections, Kelantan PAS won 34 of the 40 state seats. Nik Mohd Amar also rubbished talk that Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, 82, was ailing. However, he acknowledged that Nik Aziz had been advised by his doctor to go for a check-up every day to treat a "prostate problem".
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| Reformasi: The big leap forward Posted: 16 Nov 2012 02:29 PM PST Is the general election being delayed as a ploy by Barisan Nasional to simply put off the potential takeover of Putrajaya by the 'reform' movement? The release of the former deputy prime minister and finance minister was also the culmination of the long and strong campaign led by people like Raja Petra Kamarudin, the Malaysia Today editor in chief and maestro of "citizen journalism" in Malaysia. By Ali Cordoba, FMT It was in September 1998 that the "reformasi" movement started in Malaysia. Since then, the reform movement has grown from a "group" of people pressing for change to that of a formidable opposition coalition. With this great leap forward, the "reform" movement in Malaysia is bound to make history again in the next general election with massive gains and a potential total defeat of the ruling Barisan National coalition. A great push forward for the Pakatan Rakyat in the 13th general election will have untold consequences for Umno, in power since independence in 1957. It will also mean that Malaysia has finally made headway in choosing a "reform" movement that was thought to have run out of steam in the 2004 BN's historic victory. In 1998, a majority of the "reformasi" supporters had to hide behind the cloak of the "Internet" to promote the movement or propose ideas on how to rein in the masses against the BN and Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the then prime minister. Since then, the country has made serious gains in "Internet" freedom to the extent that the government of Najib Tun Razak is facing a daily uphill battle against "pro-reform" and "pro-opposition" elements. With Anwar Ibrahim's release from jail in 2004, the reform movement made an incredible revival. To many, the release of Anwar, promised by the Abdullah Ahmad Badawi regime in case of a big victory in the election, was an act of divine intervention. However, to a few observers, it is the intense pressure from some members of the International Islamic Ulema (Muslim religious figures) and the Arab World that led to the release of the most popular political figure in the country. In 2003, the Abdullah regime was in the midst of wooing the Saudi Arabian, Qatari and UAE regimes to win their favours and gain in respect and investment projects. Attempts by the Abdullah regime to win the Arab world on its side failed as the need to release Anwar became a pressing element in the negotiations. These were the behind-the-scenes event that were not reported by the local or international media as they were kept under wraps by the Abdullah government. Nonetheless, after the big win by the BN against an ailing opposition that had decided not to campaign on the "Anwar Ibrahim" issue (particularly by PAS), the Abdullah government decided to free Anwar. Mahathir's move The release of the former deputy prime minister and finance minister was also the culmination of the long and strong campaign led by people like Raja Petra Kamarudin, the Malaysia Today editor in chief and maestro of "citizen journalism" in Malaysia. It was his hard work, tough writings on the freeanwaribrahim.com blog and his campaigns in the country that helped in Abdullah regime's considerations. During the time of Mahathir, negotiations to free Anwar and allow him to have an operation in Germany backfired when the former prime minister angrily uttered the now infamous "muktamad". Mahathir was being pressed by the local and international media on rumours that Anwar would be freed and that negotiations between the Anwar group and Mahathir's government were ongoing on the issue. The fact remains that the Mahathir regime was not prepared to let go of Anwar from its claws as his release and subsequent presence in Germany would have been negative for the regime. Not only Anwar would be free to campaign against the Mahathir regime from Germany while receiving treatment for his growing back pain, there was also the possibility that Anwar would raise funds through his friends in Germany. That would have meant a triumphant return of Anwar at the KLIA, a return that would have probably caused tremors within the Mahathir regime at that particular fragile era. In Germany, Anwar would have been aided by his close "friend" and ally, the former president of Indonesia, Burhanuddin J Habibie. The latter established himself in Germany after his downfall as the "replacement" president following the removal of General Suharto from power in the aftermath of the Indonesian "reformasi". This would have meant a lot of support not only for Anwar but also for the "reform" movement in Malaysia. At that particular time what remained of the movement launched by Anwar in 1998, at least in the eyes of the public, were merely echoes of "reformasi" and "memories" of the police beating and tear gas in the streets of Kuala Lumpur. His flight to Germany would have been an unexpected boost to the Malaysian reform movement. It was, however, just a question of delaying the "tsunami" that would almost wipe out the BN in 2008.
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| ‘DAP shows disrespect to PAS over ‘hudud’ issue’ Posted: 16 Nov 2012 02:24 PM PST PAS should reconsider its association with DAP, says the political secretary to the prime minister. (Bernama) - The DAP has unabashedly shown outright disrespect to its political partner PAS by dismissing the latter's announced proposal to implement "hudud" if it gets to form the federal government after the next general election, said Mohd Fatmi Che Salleh, the political secretary to the prime minister. He said this was evident from the statement of DAP chairman Karpal Singh that the party's position on the hudud issue could not be subjected to any compromise and it was fundamental for the party's existence. "I was not at all surprised by Karpal's dismissal [of the proposal] because the DAP has all along expressed opposition to an Islamic state. It was to be expected. "If PAS wants to really champion Islam, it should reconsider its association and cooperation with the DAP," he told reporters after launching a social gathering of members of the Kelab Suara Muda, here, last night. The issue of implementation of hudud came up again when PAS Dewan Ulama chief Harun Taib said after the Dewan Ulama assembly two days ago that the opposition pact had generally agreed to the implementation of hudud if the opposition was able to form the government after the 13th general election. However, Karpal Singh and DAP deputy chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw issued statements to the contrary. Tan said yesterday he did not know how the issue of the opposition pact having agreed to "hudud" surfaced when the DAP only accepted the position of Islam as provided for in the Federal Constitution. He said the points of agreement between PAS and DAP on the implementation of hudud, should the opposition pact form the federal government, were based on the provisions in the Federal Constitution. | ||
| Posted: 16 Nov 2012 02:22 PM PST Mansor won't be able to take Nibong Tebal because of internal strife in PKR, says Independent MP Tan Tee Beng. Leven Woon, FMT Penang PKR chief Mansor Othman, who has been picked to contest the Nibong Tebal parliamentary seat in the coming general election, may face defeat, say Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng. Tan said the local PKR was plagued with internal strife while Gerakan and MCA members who voted for him in 2008 due to personal ties would not do the same for Mansor. He was commenting on the announcement by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday that Mansor will be the candidate for Nibong Tebal. Previously a Gerakan Youth leader, Tan was elected in 2008 under PKR banner, defeating incumbent Penang Umno chief Zainal Abidin Osman. However, he quit a year later to become an independent after the party disciplinary panel took action against him for criticising Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. Last month, he announced his decision to drop his Nibong Tebal seat and shift to contest a state seat in Penang island in the 13th general election, which must be called by April 2013. Nibong Tebal is a semi-rural seat at the southern part of Penang mainland with 46% of its voters being Malays, 38% Chinese and 17% Indians. Tan said the ability of a party election machinery to mobilise the crowd would be the key factor to determine the winner in Nibong Tebal. Mansor's likely opponent, Zainal Abidin, is a popular figure among the voters, he added. Pointing out that he (Zainal Abidin) garnered around 30% of the Malay votes in 2008, Tan said it would be hard for Mansor to do the same. "The sentiment is that Mansor has not been working for the Malays. Despite being the deputy chief minister, he is a very weak leader," he said. On the Chinese votes, Tan said Mansor stands to lose another 20% of the Chinese votes, on top of the 20% hardcore BN Chinese supporters. He noted that he only obtained 80% of the Chinese votes in 2008 when the anti-establishment mood was at its peak among the Chinese. He believed that out of the 80%, 20% of it might come from the Gerakan or MCA members who have no problem voting him.
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| Dewan Ulamak: Hadi paling layak jadi Perdana Menteri Posted: 16 Nov 2012 02:19 PM PST Berikutan itu, tegas wakilya Mohd Asri Daud adalah tidak sepatutnya ahli dan pemimpin berkempen supaya orang lain menjadi Perdana Menteri. Muda Mohd. Noor, FMT Dewan Ulama PAS tetap mahukan Presiden Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang sebagai Perdana Menteri Malaysia selepas menawan Putrajaya dalam pilihanraya umum ke 13. Berikutan itu, tegas wakilya Mohd Asri Daud adalah tidak sepatutnya ahli dan pemimpin berkempen supaya orang lain menjadi Perdana Menteri. "Datuk Seri Presiden yang paling layak menjadi Perdana Menteri Malaysia kerana kita mahu pemimpin yang baik. "Apa guna kita menang pilihanraya tetapi kita tidak boleh tegakkan Islam," katanya ketika membahaskan ucapan dasar Presiden di muktamar ke 58 di Kota Baru hari ini. Sebelum ini komponen Pakatan Rakyat yang disertai PAS, PKR dan DAP setuju melantik Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sebagai Perdana Menteri jika menang pilihanraya umum ke 13. Manakala dalam ucapannya, Ketua Dewan Himpunan Penyokong PAS, Hu Pang Chaw, untuk menang PRU, PAS memerlukan perancangan yang jitu. Beliau mencadangkan PAS menubuhan pasukan khas untuk mengumpul data serta melancarkan perang saraf menjelang pilihanraya. "Jika PKR ada bas, DAP ada lori, PAS boleh beli kapal terbang tetapi yang ada enjin supaya boleh terbang," katanya. Beliau juga mencadangkan mesyuarat PAS menjemput DHPP bagi sama-sama menguatkan parti. Beliau juga memberitahu, sokongan orang Cina kepada PAS bertambah apabila Presiden MCA, Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek menyerang PAS.
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| PAS nak jaga hati Anwar walaupun kenyataan Nurul Izzah langgar prinsip akidah Posted: 16 Nov 2012 12:53 AM PST
(Bernama) - Seorang bekas anggota Dewan Ulama PAS Kelantan berkata kenyataan Naib Presiden PKR Nurul Izzah berhubung kebebasan beragama baru-baru ini melanggar prinsip akidah. Bekas Setiausaha Dewan Ulama PAS Kelantan, Wan Ismail Wan Ahmad, berkata bagaimanapun Dewan Ulama PAS Pusat menolak perbahasan mengenainya di Muktamar ke-51 semata-mata bagi menjaga hati Penasihat PKR Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Ketua Dewan Ulama PAS Pusat, Datuk Dr Harun Taib, menolak isu itu diperbahaskan pada muktamar ke-51 Dewan Ulama Pas Pusat di sini semalam atas alasan ia merupakan isu kecil yang tidak perlu diperbahaskan. Wan Ismail berkata agenda utama PAS kini adalah menawan Putrajaya dan parti itu memandang perkara lain yang menggugat matlamat itu, sebagai perkara remeh dan tidak perlu diperbesar-besarkan. "Kenyataan Datuk Harun Taib tak nak sentuh pasal Nurul Izzah takut Anwar Ibrahim kecil hati sebab orang PAS puja Anwar. Kalau menang (pilihan raya umum) Anwar boleh jadi perdana menteri," katanya ketika dihubungi Bernama di sini. "Tetapi adakah (Datuk Seri) Nik Abdul Aziz akan ada dalam jemaah menteri pembangkang?" tanya beliau. Harun juga ketika mengulas nasihat Mufti Perak, Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria, dan bekas timbalan presiden PAS Nasharuddin Mat Isa supaya anggota parlimen Lembah Pantai itu bertaubat dan menarik balik kenyataannya berkata, Nurul Izzah tidak perlu berbuat demikian. Ismail yang juga antara pengasas PAS berkata apa yang dituturkan oleh anggota parlimen Lembah Pantai itu ternyata melanggar prinsip-prinsip berkaitan akidah dalam Islam. "Ikut kaedah dalam Islam, akidah boleh rosak dengan tiga cara iaitu melalui perkataan, perbuatan dan iktikad (niat dalam hati)... majlis (forum) yang dibuat itu juga tak betul sebab dibuat di gereja," katanya. "Nampak macam PKR nak tarik undi bukan Isla." Laporan portal berita pro-pembangkang pada 3 November lepas memetik Nurul Izzah sebagai berkata: "Rakyat tidak seharusnya dipaksa menganut agama tertentu dan perkara ini juga patut terpakai kepada orang Melayu. "Apabila anda bertanya saya, tiada paksaan dalam beragama... bagaimana seseorang itu boleh berkata, maaflah, ini (kebebasan beragama) hanya terpakai kepada orang bukan Melayu, ia sepatutnya diguna pakai secara sama rata," katanya pada forum bertajuk "Negara Islam: Versi Mana; Tanggungjawab Siapa?" di Subang Jaya, Selangor.
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| S’gor govt asked for Selayang council president’s transfer, says Chief Secretary Posted: 16 Nov 2012 12:49 AM PST
(The Star) - The termination of the secondment of Datuk Zainal Abidin A'ala as the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) president, which took effect Thursday, was made upon a request from the Selangor government, said Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Dr Ali Hamsa. He said he was informed by the Selangor State Secretary, through a letter dated Oct 15, 2012, that Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim had decided that another officer should replace Zainal Abidin. "Taking into account the decision made by the Selangor Mentri Besar and the local authority, the Public Service Department (PSD) had on Nov 6 issued a letter of approval for the proposed termination of secondment of Zainal Abidin as MPS president effective Nov 15, 2012. "The transfer letter for Zainal Abidin was issued on Nov 9, stating that he would be transferred to the National Institute of Public Administration (Intan) effective Nov 15, 2012 in line with the request from the Selangor government," he told reporters here Friday. Zainal Abidin's sudden transfer to Intan had sparked controversy as it was said to have been connected to a 29-storey condominium project next to Batu Caves, Selangor. Dr Ali said in order to fill the vacant top post at the council, the PSD had submitted the names of 14 suitable candidates for the Selangor government's consideration, but it was learnt that the Selangor government already had their preferred candidate.
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| Dato Ramli Yusuf given a ceremonial farewell by PDRM Posted: 16 Nov 2012 12:41 AM PST Comment by Din MericanThis morning I received via sms an invitation from Dato Ramli Yusuf, former Director, Commercial Crime Investigation Department to inform me that the Royal Malaysian Police Force (PDRM) is giving him a formal farewell. He wanted to honor me as one of the many Malaysians who had supported him in his quest for justice, and wanted me to attend the ceremony as his guest. I felt I it was not necessary for me to attend as I would have done the same thing for any Malaysian who is a victim of injustice. I did that for Lawyer Rosli Dahlan, and the six Police Officers who were victimized and charged in court when Musa Hassan was Inspector-General of Police (IGP) for revealing Musa's link to a crime syndicate in Johor Bahru. When justice beckons, we Malaysians must come together to fight for the Rule of Law and Justice. Being indifferent or silent is not an option. As Edmund Burke says,"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." It may be recalled that the former IGP conspired with the Attorney-General (A-G), and the MACC to destroy Dato' Ramli's reputation and career. But they failed as Dato Ramli was acquitted by our courts on all charges. I did not tell Ramli that I would not attend. I just thanked him for the invitation . I later discovered that the current IGP, Tan Sri Ismail Omar, gave him a grand send off (Hafiz Yatim's article below) in the best traditions of the PDRM. I was told that he was given a guard of honor salute and was sent off in the Police ceremonial Land Rover accompanied by PDRM bagpiper's march past with the IGP himself walking behind the Land Rover and all the PDRM Directors and Police Chiefs in tow. Apparently it was a very emotional send off. I am sure Dato' Ramli was very moved by this gesture of atonement by the Force, belated as that may be. If I had previously thought that Dato' Ramli Yusuf had sold out, I must to apologize because the former CCID Director did not mince his words in his farewell speech . It was a hard hitting speech where he singled out the "devious behavior" of the former IGP and the current A-G. Let us hope that today's ceremonial send off has brought about a good end to the humiliation and indignities Dato Ramli Yusuf suffered for half a decade. The Force which had obviously abandoned him (and his five officers too) when he needed its support has now expressed its regret openly. That should be good enough at least for the time being. Tan Sri Ismail Omar can now focus on rebuilding PDRM's image and morale. As for Dato Ramli Yusuf, I wish him all the best in his retirement. I am hopeful, however, that at the appropriate time, he will not hesitate to initiate legal proceedings against both the former IGP Musa Hassan and the incumbent A-G Abdul Gani Patail.–Din Merican
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| Pas members who love the microphones and cameras Posted: 16 Nov 2012 12:36 AM PST
(NST) - Pas Consultative Council ticked off party members who like to issue statements contrary to decisions made by the party on internal matters. Deputy spiritual adviser Datuk Dr Haron Din said there were certain leaders who gave different impressions to the media although they had agreed to decisions made at council meetings. "They are unaware that the enemy will blow out their dissenting views to the media and this will not be to our advantage," he said when answering questions from the delegates on Pas' 2011-2012 annual report at the party's 58th muktamar in Pengkalan Chepa here. Haron said this should not happen as the council's decisions including Pas' co-operation with other opposition parties were approved by the council. A delegate from Perlis, Yaakob Abu Seman also touched on the same subject during the debate session to support the presidential address. He said there was no need for Pas leaders to be too excited to talk to the press on any issue without having the full understanding of the subject. Besides, he said, the leaders had appeared to be contradicting each other on the same issue after their statements were reported by the media. "There are those who become excited to talk when they see tape recorders and television cameras from members of the media," he said. Yaakob said party leaders had also failed to explain adequately to the people on Pas' concept of benevolent state since it was introduced as one of the main party's struggles. He said the people, especially in the rural areas, were in the dark about the benevolent state as they still could not grasp the meaning of the concept.
Read more: Pas members who love the microphones and cameras - Latest - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/latest/pas-members-who-love-the-microphones-and-cameras-1.172176#ixzz2CP82tWNf Pas Consultative Council ticked off party members who like to issue statements contrary to decisions made by the party on internal matters.Deputy spiritual adviser Datuk Dr Haron Din said there were certain leaders who gave different impressions to the media although they had agreed to decisions made at council meetings. "They are unaware that the enemy will blow out their dissenting views to the media and this will not be to our advantage," he said when answering questions from the delegates on Pas' 2011-2012 annual report at the party's 58th muktamar in Pengkalan Chepa here. Haron said this should not happen as the council's decisions including Pas' co-operation with other opposition parties were approved by the council. A delegate from Perlis, Yaakob Abu Seman also touched on the same subject during the debate session to support the presidential address. He said there was no need for Pas leaders to be too excited to talk to the press on any issue without having the full understanding of the subject. Besides, he said, the leaders had appeared to be contradicting each other on the same issue after their statements were reported by the media. "There are those who become excited to talk when they see tape recorders and television cameras from members of the media," he said. Yaakob said party leaders had also failed to explain adequately to the people on Pas' concept of benevolent state since it was introduced as one of the main party's struggles. He said the people, especially in the rural areas, were in the dark about the benevolent state as they still could not grasp the meaning of the concept. Read more: Pas members who love the microphones and cameras - Latest - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/latest/pas-members-who-love-the-microphones-and-cameras-1.172176#ixzz2CP82tWNf | ||
| Posted: 16 Nov 2012 12:32 AM PST
Authorities would like to shut opposition sites, but former PM promised it would stay free The government wasn't particularly concerned with the blogs until recently, said Jahabar Siddiq, the editor of Malaysian Insider, because the majority of voters read publications or watched television in their own language. But more recently as many as 1 million overseas Malaysians, most of whom deal in English as the lingua franca, also are internet-savvy and read English. Asia Sentinel In August of 1996, when he launched the 50 km-long Multimedia Super Corridor between Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia's new international airport in an attempt to lure high-tech startups to his country, then-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad made a promise to prospective international investors that the Internet would remain forever free from political interference.
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| Ambil iktibar ucapan dasar Presiden PAS - Wan Azizah Posted: 15 Nov 2012 07:29 PM PST (Harakah Daily) -- Presiden PKR Datuk Wan Azizah Wan Ismail mengambil iktibar dari ucapan dasar Presiden PAS Datuk Seri Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang yang memberikan gambaran yang luas merangkumi semua aspek. Beliau berkata, Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi banyak menyentuh isu-isu semasa yang sepatutnya ditangani oleh semua pihak khususnya membabitkan pergolakan umat Islam di luar negara.
Sorakan peperangan Sementara itu, Pengerusi Badan Bebas Pemantau Pilihan Raya Malaysia, Mafrel, Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh menyifatkan ucapan dasar Presiden PAS Datuk Seri Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang sebagai sorakan peperangan khususnya kepada jentera parti bagi menghadapi pilihan raya nanti.
Media beri tumpuan Dalam pada itu, AJK PAS Pusat, Ustaz Idris Ahmad mendakwa, media Umno memberi tumpuan kepada Muktamar PAS kali 58 di PUTIK pada 16-18 Nov 2012. | ||
| Karpal hits out at Harun over hudud mischief Posted: 15 Nov 2012 06:43 PM PST The DAP chairman says that PAS ulama chief Harun Taib's assertion on DAP's stand on hudud was mischievous and a long way from the truth. (FMT) - DAP chairman Karpal Singh today stressed that his party had never agreed to the introduction of hudud in the country as claimed by PAS ulama chief Harun Taib yesterday. "The position of the DAP on this issue cannot be subject to any compromise. It is fundamental to its existence," said Karpal, who is also a senior lawyer, in a statement. He added that Harun's assertion on DAP's stand on hudud was mischievous and "a long way from the truth". "The DAP has time and again publicly asserted its stand against the introduction of hudud in the country. Hudud cannot exist in Malaysia which is a secular state," he said. Harun, while speaking at the PAS muktamar in Kota Baru yesterday, had said that PAS had clarified its views on hudud with DAP on many occasions, even before Pakatan Rakyat was formed. He also claimed that while Karpal seemed disagreeable to the implementation of hudud, that "does not mean he disagrees". To this, Karpal rebutted, saying that he had always rejected hudud. "I have always disagreed and publicly stated my reasons for saying so based on the provisions in the Federal Constitution and interpretations of this provisions by the highest court in the country," he said. The DAP veteran also weighed in on the current controversy raised by PKR vice president Nurul Izzah Anwar's statement on religious freedom for all, including Malays, in the country. Karpal said that there were cases decided before the Malaysian courts in which the judges had ruled that the federal constitution guarantees a freedom of religion, even for Muslims.
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| Posted: 15 Nov 2012 05:47 PM PST
If we really want to show the compassionate side of Islam then the proper thing to do would have been to investigate the reason why that soldier stole. If it is true that he stole because he is too poor to feed his daughter, then instead of jailing him he should have been put on welfare and every month the religious authorities give him money to feed his daughter. NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin Ex-soldier jailed 3 months for stealing RM22 milk (Bernama) - A former soldier was sentenced to three months' jail by the magistrate's court here today for stealing a packet of milk worth RM21.99 from a supermarket last Tuesday. Senior Assistant Registrar Jesseca Damis handed down the sentence on Mohd Sobir Kashim after he pleaded guilty to the charge. She ordered Mohd Sobir to serve the sentence from today. Mohd Sobir, 32, was charged with stealing a packet of Anlene Gold milk at the Jaya Gading Supermarket in Semambu near here at 2.15pm last November 13. In her judgment, Jesseca said the offence committed by Mohd Sobir was serious although the amount involved was small. "You are a former soldier and should not have committed an offence like this," she added. Earlier in mitigation, Mohd Sobir, from Padang Serai, Kedah, said he stole the packet of milk so that he could sell it to get money to buy food for his daughter. ************************************************ Two days ago, His Highness the Sultan of Selangor spoke up regarding Islam. Yesterday it was the turn of His Highness the Sultan of Pahang. Today, Their Highnesses the Sultan of Terengganu and the Raja of Perlis spoke up. That makes four with five more to go. Their Highnesses want only those 'qualified' to do so to speak on Islam. Those non-qualified should not do so, titah (decree of a royal nature) Their Highnesses. And 'qualified' here means you must possess a piece of paper with your name on it. I have never been one to follow royal decrees. When my uncle and aunty were summoned for an audience before His Highness and were ordered to instruct me to apologise regarding what I said about His Highness the Sultan of Perak, I did the opposite. I whacked even harder. Then I was told to comply with this royal decree or else get disowned by my family. And my family would inset notices in the mainstream newspapers to announce to the world about my 'eviction' from the family. My response to that was to 'disown' my family by going into self-imposed exile. Hence before my family can sack me, I sack my family first. And I swore I would never ever step foot in Selangor again. So I will have no choice but to live and die by that oath. Will I ever go back to Malaysia? many people ask me. I doubt it. Like it or not, I have already burned my bridges and I do not want to become another Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Rais Yatim, Kadir Sheikh Fadzir, Ibrahim Ali, etc. who also burned their bridges and swore that if they died and got reborn they would still never rejoin Umno -- and then went and rejoined Umno. I would like to be like Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Hussein Onn who held on to their principles. They never rejoined Umno and died outside Umno even though both were once Prime Ministers of Malaysia. So, the more Their Highnesses say don't talk about Islam, the more I want to talk about it -- because I never listen to royal decrees. But I am not going to talk about the Qur'an or whether Muslims should or should not be allowed to leave Islam. Instead, I want to talk about the story (above) regarding the soldier who was jailed three months for stealing a packet of milk. Theft is theft (or shoplifting is shoplifting) and under the law you are punished for that crime even if the amount you stole is a mere ten cents (that is if anything in Malaysia can still be found priced at ten cents). That is how the law works. But that is not how it works in Islam and I do remember people saying that Malaysia is an Islamic country (according to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to be exact) and that Islam is the religion of the Federation (according to the Federal Constitution of Malaysia) and so on. Okay, so we have some ambiguity here. Malaysia is not an Islamic State. Malaysia is not a Secular State either. Malaysia is a Westminster Parliamentary Democracy with Islam as the religion of the nation where the laws are passed by Parliament but certain laws passed by God will affect only the Muslims while non-Muslims are spared God's commands. Does that sound confusing? I hope so because that was the intention! Anyway, that Malay soldier, who I assume is also Muslim, stole a packet of milk, and what appears to be a non-Muslim judge punished him with three months jail. Now, in Islam, the soldier should have been asked why he stole that packet of milk. And this is what the news report said: Mohd Sobir, from Padang Serai, Kedah, said he stole the packet of milk so that he could sell it to get money to buy food for his daughter. Once that soldier makes this declaration, the judge should have summoned the Kedah Religious Department, which comes under the PAS-led Kedah State Government, to go to court to explain why a soldier who has served his country at a great risk to his life should be in a situation where he has to steal something worth RM22 to feed his daughter. The religious authorities collect millions of Ringgit every year from Malaysians. And some of that money is supposed to be used to help the poor, weak, old, sick, crippled, homeless, destitute, orphans, widows, unfortunate, etc. So what happened to all that money, which by now must come to billions? If the Kedah Religious Department did not help this soldier who is too poor to feed his daughter, and hence had to steal to feed his daughter, then the Kedah Religious Department should be chided and the judge should order them to look after the financial welfare of the soldier. If the Kedah Religious Department still fails to look after the welfare of the soldier and he has to continue to steal to feed his daughter, then the Director of the Kedah Religious Department should be sent to jail instead. If you steal out of greed then you pay for that crime. But if you steal out of necessity then the authorities must be punished instead. That is how Hudud works, although Malaysia does not implement Hudud. Okay, Malaysia does not implement Hudud. But Malaysia does implement the tithe collection system (zakat and fitrah), which is compulsory for Muslims and they can be arrested if they do not pay this tithe. It is nice to see Their Highnesses making statements upholding Islam. But Malaysia seems to be suffering from the NATO syndrome, a.k.a. no action, talk only. If we really want to show the compassionate side of Islam then the proper thing to do would have been to investigate the reason why that soldier stole. If it is true that he stole because he is too poor to feed his daughter, then instead of jailing him he should have been put on welfare and every month the religious authorities give him money to feed his daughter. That is what they would do in a 'kafir' country like Britain, which is not an Islamic country but more Islamic than Malaysia. Yes, every year we celebrate 'heroes day' to remember all those so many soldiers who died for their country. Then we send the not yet dead soldier to jail because he had to steal to feed his daughter. We honour the dead and jail the living. Only dead people are heroes. Living people are a burden to the country. And then we scream that this is Islam and that we should uphold Islam and that those who speak against Islam should be punished and all that crap. Islam is not about talking. Islam is about acting. And we expect soldiers to die for us so that we can have a good life and when they can't feed their children we send them to jail. How can I not cry when I write this article? Am I getting too emotional in my old age or am I the only Muslim who has a heart? Maybe I am getting too old and that's why I cry a lot. Oh, by the way, the nine Rulers are Colonels-in-Chief of the various branches of the Armed Forces while His Majesty the Agong is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. I hope Their Highnesses are ashamed with themselves. And that is all I want to say about that particular matter. And don't you wankers ever try to suggest that the Malays get all sorts of benefits while the non-Malays are oppressed -- not while we still have Malays who cannot even feed their children, especially Malays who risk their lives so that the non-Malays can have a peaceful and prosperous county to live in. | ||
| Hadi outlines ways to set right the economy Posted: 15 Nov 2012 04:10 PM PST
(Harakah Daily) -- Warning that Malaysia would go bankrupt if it still remained under Barisan Nasional after the next general election, PAS president Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang today offered a series of remedies to rectify the situation. "Implementing economic transformation via a BN government style on par with that of wealthy countries in the West is not what the people desire. The value of our ringgit continues to shrink, such that the abundance of it is now meaningless," he told delegates attending the 58th PAS Muktamar at the Kelantan Islamic Training Centre (Putik) complex, Pengkalan Chepa. | ||
| 'Beware of BN’s plot to create rift among ourselves' Posted: 15 Nov 2012 04:02 PM PST
(Harakah Daily) -- PAS President Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang has called on all party members and leaders to get themselves prepared for BN's plan to create bickering among PAS leaders in the run-up to the 13th general election. Hadi said all members of the party must be on the highest alert to deal with mischief and provocation from the media, adding that ties between PAS and DAP as well as PKR would continue to be their target to weaken Pakatan Rakyat.
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| Cuepacs demands Derek Fernandez apologise over ‘monkeys’ remarks Posted: 15 Nov 2012 03:39 PM PST
(Bernama) - Cuepacs yesterday demanded that Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) member Derek Fernandez make a public apology for allegedly using the word 'monkeys" on civil servants. Cuepacs president Datuk Omar Osman said Cuepacs regretted that such a word was used in referring to civil servants and viewed the matter seriously. "If it is true that he had made the remarks…we want him to apologise to all civil servants and also make a correction of his statement. "Is he does not, Cuepacs will call an emergency meeting and organise a picket in front of the office where he works…we regret this because there has never been a case of a councillor branding civil servants as monkeys," he told a press conference at the Information, Communications and Culture Ministry's integrated complex in Kepayan near here yesterday. Omar said this in commenting on the statement made by Fernandez regarding the replacement for MPPJ mayor Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman ,who has been promoted, by the Public Service Department (PSD). Fernandez was quoted as saying by The Malay Mail on Monday "let's see who the candidates are. If they (PSD) are going to nominate some monkeys, we will reject".
KOTA KINABALU: Cuepacs yesterday demanded that Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) member Derek Fernandez make a public apology for allegedly using the word 'monkeys" on civil servants. Cuepacs president Datuk Omar Osman said Cuepacs regretted that such a word was used in referring to civil servants and viewed the matter seriously. "If it is true that he had made the remarks…we want him to apologise to all civil servants and also make a correction of his statement. "Is he does not, Cuepacs will call an emergency meeting and organise a picket in front of the office where he works…we regret this because there has never been a case of a councillor branding civil servants as monkeys," he told a press conference at the Information, Communications and Culture Ministry's integrated complex in Kepayan near here yesterday. Omar said this in commenting on the statement made by Fernandez regarding the replacement for MPPJ mayor Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman ,who has been promoted, by the Public Service Department (PSD). Fernandez was quoted as saying by the Malay Mail on Monday "let's see who the candidates are. If they (PSD) are going to nominate some monkeys, we will reject". — Bernama Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/11/15/cuepacs-demands-derek-fernandez-apologise-over-monkeys-remarks/#ixzz2CMx2PBxv Cuepacs yesterday demanded that Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) member Derek Fernandez make a public apology for allegedly using the word 'monkeys" on civil servants. Cuepacs president Datuk Omar Osman said Cuepacs regretted that such a word was used in referring to civil servants and viewed the matter seriously. "If it is true that he had made the remarks…we want him to apologise to all civil servants and also make a correction of his statement. "Is he does not, Cuepacs will call an emergency meeting and organise a picket in front of the office where he works…we regret this because there has never been a case of a councillor branding civil servants as monkeys," he told a press conference at the Information, Communications and Culture Ministry's integrated complex in Kepayan near here yesterday. Omar said this in commenting on the statement made by Fernandez regarding the replacement for MPPJ mayor Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman ,who has been promoted, by the Public Service Department (PSD). Fernandez was quoted as saying by the Malay Mail on Monday "let's see who the candidates are. If they (PSD) are going to nominate some monkeys, we will reject". Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/11/15/cuepacs-demands-derek-fernandez-apologise-over-monkeys-remarks/#ixzz2CMwusUgp Cuepacs yesterday demanded that Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) member Derek Fernandez make a public apology for allegedly using the word 'monkeys" on civil servants. Cuepacs president Datuk Omar Osman said Cuepacs regretted that such a word was used in referring to civil servants and viewed the matter seriously. "If it is true that he had made the remarks…we want him to apologise to all civil servants and also make a correction of his statement. "Is he does not, Cuepacs will call an emergency meeting and organise a picket in front of the office where he works…we regret this because there has never been a case of a councillor branding civil servants as monkeys," he told a press conference at the Information, Communications and Culture Ministry's integrated complex in Kepayan near here yesterday. Omar said this in commenting on the statement made by Fernandez regarding the replacement for MPPJ mayor Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman ,who has been promoted, by the Public Service Department (PSD). Fernandez was quoted as saying by the Malay Mail on Monday "let's see who the candidates are. If they (PSD) are going to nominate some monkeys, we will reject". Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/11/15/cuepacs-demands-derek-fernandez-apologise-over-monkeys-remarks/#ixzz2CMwusUgp | ||
| PAS committed to change - the Islamic way, says Hadi Awang Posted: 15 Nov 2012 03:27 PM PST
(The Star) - PAS is committed to pushing for change the Islamic way, says its president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang. He said the push for a 'benevolent state' was in line with the party's Islamic agenda. Stressing that the party had never deviated from its Islamic principles, Hadi said PAS was "committed to spur change to gain Allah's blessing, making Islam our core struggle." He said this in his keynote address at the 58th PAS Muktamar at Pusat Tarbiyah Islamiah Kelantan (PUTIK) here on Friday. Hadi said a benevolent state reflected perfect and holistic Islamic teachings, as propagated and implemented by the Prophet Muhammad. Under these principles a leader should be fair even to foes when governing an Islamic system, he said. "PAS is offering the rakyat the concept of fairness in Islam."
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| ‘Unholy’ chatter unnerves PKR leader Posted: 15 Nov 2012 02:51 PM PST The religious rhetoric by BN leaders was also 'a smokescreen to prevent more important questions being raised'. Joseph Bingkasan, FMT KOTA KINABALU: The theological yammering by politicians in the peninsula should be a wake-up call that the secular nature of the constitution is under threat, a Sabah opposition leader said. PKR deputy secretary-general Darrell Leiking is worried about how politicians are flogging religion and personal opinions to promote their partisan brand of politics of the country. The senior PKR leader, a practising lawyer, said talk of incorporating any religious edicts or any statutes that have theological overtones into the country's laws would be contrary to freedom of belief guaranteed under the constitution. He said Pakatan Rakyat is clear about this and its component parties have spelt this out in their Buku Jingga or the Common Policies of the coalition. Leiking said he was worried how Barisan Nasional was using any means to exploit religious beliefs of various leaders to drive a wedge between the diverse communities in the country. "We have read differing views [of leaders] within Pakatan. It is clear that while PAS speaks to its audience of its mission, PAS speaks and honours its commitment as set out in the Buku Jingga as well," he added. Leiking said the opposition coalition's manifesto spelt out its stand on religious matters clearly and precisely and lashed out at the Umno-led BN coalition for twisting PAS leaders' words for political convenience. The PKR leader was referring to the spate of criticisms by MCA and Upko leaders chastising some Pakatan personalities for being too liberal and un-Islamic while at the same time making overtures to PAS to join them so that Islamic laws could be implemented by BN. He said these components parties were playing a dangerous game to divert attention from their diminishing status in the ruling coalition and to remain relevant. "I would say they have politicised the hudud law. I am almost convinced that Prime Minister Najib [Tun Razak] and Umno may have given these BN leaders the go-ahead to use this issue of hudud to win their case come the general election. "I see it as an act of winning by whatever means they deem necessary and sadly this is at the expense of the harmony that is already in place in our multi-faith society."
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| Mubarak gesa anggota Islam PKR keluar parti Posted: 15 Nov 2012 02:47 PM PST Majlis Bekas Wakil Rakyat Malaysia berkata ahli-ahli PKR beragama Islam harus bertanya mengapakah sampai kini Nurul Izzah belum bertaubat atau menarik balik kenyataannya. (Bernama) - Majlis Bekas Wakil Rakyat Malaysia (Mubarak) hari ini menggesa ahli PKR yang beragama Islam mengkaji semula keahlian mereka dalam parti itu berikutan kenyataan kontroversi Naib Presidennya Nurul Izzah Anwar berhubung dengan kebebasan beragama. Ketua Penerangan Mubarak Abdul Rahmman Sulaiman berkata ahli-ahli PKR beragama Islam harus bertanya mengapakah sampai kini Nurul Izzah belum bertaubat atau menarik balik kenyataannya walaupun dinasihatkan Mufti Negeri Perak Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria supaya berbuat demikian. "Mengapa Nurul Izzah enggan menarik balik kenyataannya, adakah dia percaya dengan kenyataan yang dibuatnya," kata beliau. Mufti berkenaan dilaporkan semalam menasihatkan Nurul Izzah bertaubat serta menarik balik kenyataan berhubung kebebasan beragama pada sebuah forum di Subang Jaya baru-baru ini kerana ia mengelirukan dan membawa implikasi kepada akidah. Laporan portal berita pro-pembangkang pada 3 Nov lepas memetik Nurul Izzah, yang juga anggota Parlimen Lembah Pantai, sebagai berkata: "Rakyat tidak seharusnya dipaksa menganut agama tertentu dan perkara ini juga patut terpakai kepada orang Melayu. "Apabila anda bertanya saya, tiada paksaan dalam beragama…bagaimana seseorang itu boleh berkata, maaflah, ini (kebebasan beragama) hanya terpakai kepada orang bukan Melayu, ia sepatutnya diguna pakai secara sama rata," katanya pada forum bertajuk "Negara Islam: Versi Mana; Tanggungjawab Siapa?". Sebelum ini, bekas timbalan presiden PAS Nasharuddin Mat Isa juga menyifatkan kenyataan Nurul Izzah mengelirukan serta beliau meminta anak sulung Penasihat PKR Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim itu supaya bertaubat. Anwar mendakwa kenyataan anaknya telah diputarbelit oleh media pro kerajaan tetapi seorang peserta forum itu yang merupakan seorang peguam tampil menyatakan bahawa Nurul Izzah memang membuat kenyataan itu yang berbangkit daripada soalan beliau seperti dilaporkan dan dirakam. Abdul Rahman berkata semua orang Islam harus menjaga kemurnian akidah termasuk ahli-ahli PKR yang beragama Islam. "Kalau ahli-ahli PKR hendak menjaga akidah, mereka tiada pilihan lain kecuali memikirkan semula kedudukan mereka dalam parti tersebut," kata beliau.
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| PAS Youth's Nasrudin tells what he's worth Posted: 15 Nov 2012 01:16 PM PST
(Harakah Daily) -- To show he meant business, PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hasan yesterday laid bare his personal assets during the winding down speech at the wing's muktamar. He also declared that he had RM9,000 in his bank account. Out of his monthly RM2,800 income, RM2,500 is allowance from the party for his duties as PAS Youth chief while RM300 is rental income.  The father of six also tabled the breakdown of his monthly expenses comprising of a home loan at RM530 and his vehicle for which he pays RM1,400 monthly."Meanwhile my wife is paying loan for her own house at RM1,230 a month. These are the assets I am declaring, that I owned, as a gimmick for the assets declaration proposal, insha Allah that will be followed by all PAS Youth exco members," he said. PAS Youth had earlier announced that its executive council members including those not contesting in the coming general election would have to declare their assets. During the opening of PAS Youth's general meeting, party deputy president Mohamad Sabu gave his commitment to turn the proposal into a reality, but reminded that assets declaration must also be made at the end of one's office term.
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| Forging Unity through a Benevolent State Posted: 15 Nov 2012 01:07 PM PST (Harakah Daily) -- The following is translation of the full text of the presidential address at the 58th PAS Muktamar held in Kota Bharu, November 16, 2012. 1. The Honourable Permanent Chairman, Mursyidul Am, Deputy Mursyidul Am, members of the Shura Council, the Deputy President, Vice Presidents, Chairpersons of the Ulama, Youth and Muslimat wings, the Secretary-General and Daily and Central Committee members, PAS State and Federal Territories Commissioners, executive councils of the wings, PAS Supporters Congress chairman and members, leaders and friends from Pakatan Rakyat, NGOs, print and electronic media personnel, all party representatives, observers, ladies and gentlemen. 2. Welcome to all the delegates and guests from across the country and afar. Welcome to those attending this muktamar for the first time as PAS members, ordinary people, artistes, laureates, sportspeople, academicians, former high-ranking public officials, corporate and society figures and all who wish to be with PAS in carrying the message of Islam in our country. Your attendance will surely enliven our muktamar and inject spirit into and promote closer bonds between us to uphold Islam as Allah's gift to all when the world is asking to be rescued amid waves of humanitarian crisis in every field. 8. We must realise that politics is just a test for humankind, to see whether they will establish a government which pleases Allah by upholding Islam, which is fair to all, or whether they will anger him by choosing others. In this regard, PAS is extremely committed to drive change towards seeking Allah's grace by holding Islam as its principle, with the elasticity of an Islamic system suitable for all times and places, by referring to the Quran, the Sunnah, the consensus of the ulama and analogical reasoning, based on the tenets of the Sunnah wal-Jama'ah and the guidance of political law (fiqhus-siyasah) in its actions. 9. This is the core struggle of PAS after witnessing UMNO, the core party of Barisan Nasional, fail to uphold Islam and, as maggots with thousands of millions of dollars in bribes, display a bad example to people, not to mention the latest RM40 million political corruption in Sabah, power abuses, social injustices and so on. UMNO has also failed to empower the Malays with Islam and to show an example of true Islam to the people, leaving Muslims in this country to be challenged and belittled by rude statements by MCA leaders, who are close allies of UMNO in BN.
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| Beggar-Malaysians queue for rice, oil and flour, thanks to BN Posted: 15 Nov 2012 01:04 PM PST
How can a nation be of a developed-status when its citizens are given 'candies' in exchange for support? Truly if after five over decades of political supremacy, a party has to peddle freebies to garner support, it speaks volumes of Malaysia's political maturity. Beggar-Malaysian The popular trend these days is to announce through the grapevine that residents should rush to a nearby field or public centre as free rations of rice, oil and flour are being distributed. But before you can collect your bundle of aid on producing your NRIC, you have to sweat it out listening to some rhetoric on the microphone on why you should support a politician or his/her party, come GE-13. Many households now already will tell you they are having excess bags of rice, oil and flour. Some are wondering what to do with these more than ample supplies cramping their kitchen cupboards. Maybe, if there was a buy-back syndicate in operation, the beggar-Malaysians would be happy to trade-off the groceries for cash – never mind even if it is below market rates. At the rate the politicians are going around handing out rice, oil and flour and in some cases T-shirts and CDs, one certainly cannot be faulted for thinking that Malaysians have been hit so badly by some massive natural disaster that they now need help in the form of emergency food aid. Or has the economy being so rock-bottom that the government needs to give handouts to help relief starving Malaysians? What kind of political campaign is this? Sounds very much like a tribal tyranny does it not? When you take inventory of the numerous occasions all across the country where politicians are giving handouts in the form of groceries, you wonder if Malaysia really is a fully developing nation that is just a doorstep away from becoming a developed nation. How can a nation be of a developed-status when its citizens are given 'candies' in exchange for support? Truly if after five over decades of political supremacy, a party has to peddle freebies to garner support, it speaks volumes of Malaysia's political maturity. Firstly, it implies that we are a corrupt society with no qualms in having to bribe our way through, taking advantage of the hard-pressed working class. Secondly, it could also hint that Malaysians are so poor that they do not mind stooping so low to beg for a living. Third, it certainly does not translate to or provide that reputation of a caring leadership. If you still adamantly claim that it is caring for the welfare of the rakyat in these hard times, then the question is how come the citizens have been reduced to begging for essential goods when we had so much of resources and wealth generated from the oil-rich nation of which the BN was solely in-charge of all these five over decades. While the thinking rakyat munch over these thoughts, the gullible rakyat continue to await in eagerness of when someone else will come calling with more bags of rice, oil, flour and T-shirts.
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| Hadi: Beware of the 'money hurricane' Posted: 15 Nov 2012 12:52 PM PST
(Harakah Daily) -- PAS president Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang has warned members of what he termed "hurricane of money" to be unleashed by Barisan Nasional in the run-up to the much-awaited general election, and said the party must be prepared to face such a challenge. "In the run-up to the 13th general election, the nation will see a hurricane of money going into houses and into every human soul in our country. PAS will be faced with this challenge, to face people being persuaded with money, development projects and so on, apart from the various scams that have become the main weapon of our opponents," Hadi said in his presidential address to open the 58th PAS Muktamar. The muktamar, the final general assembly before the next polls due in March 2013, is being held at the Kelantan Islamic Training Centre (Putik) conference hall in Pengkalan Chepa.
'Different type of Malays' Hadi said the continued delay by prime minister Najib Razak in calling for the elections was part of a strategy to not only weaken the opposition morally and financially, but also to create issues and tensions. "During this period, too, we will be confronted by attempts to create racial discord and tension by the mainstream media, the very tools to defend the voracious UMNO-BN government. Be firm with the congregation and surely we will be safe and able to cope with this challenge," said Hadi. He also thanked party workers, including Harakah and the online daily Harakahdaily who "are faced with the BN media", saying they had been dedicated in their struggle despite being paid lower than their counterparts in the same profession. 'Clogs' Ulama | ||
| Anak Nik Aziz dicadang cabar Muhyiddin di Pagoh Posted: 15 Nov 2012 12:42 PM PST
(Sinar Harian) - Timbalan Ketua Pemuda Pas Pusat, Nik Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz dicadang bertanding di kawasan Parlimen Pagoh yang kini disandang oleh Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. Muhyiddin juga merupakan Timbalan Presiden Umno."Sekarang ini bukan sekadar Kelantan, tetapi agenda untuk menuju ke Putrajaya, mana mungkin kita tidak mampu bertanding di mana-mana kerusi dicalonkan kalau sekiranya kita mengatakan kita hendak ke Putrajaya. "Memandangkan sekarang ini, yang sebaiknya kita letak Timbalan Ketua Pemuda kita, kita calonkan bertanding di Pagoh, di Johor," kata perwakilan dari Kelantan, Ahmad Marzuk Shaary yang disambut dengan laungan takbir para perwakilan. Ahmad Marzuk ketika membahaskan ucapan dasar Ketua Pemuda Pas berkata, Pemuda harus menyahut cabaran bertanding di mana-mana kerusi dan bukannya hanya di negeri-negeri yang ada jaminan menang seperti di Kelantan. Nik Abduh, anak Menteri Besar Kelantan, yang berada di pentas menganggukkan kepalanya mendengar cadangan itu. Kerusi Parlimen Pagoh merupakan satu lagi kubu kuat Umno-Barisan Nasional di Johor, yang disandang Muhyiddin sejak 1978. Sebelum ini, Presiden Pas, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang mengejutkan negara apabila menyatakan beliau sedia bertanding di kerusi Parlimen Pekan jika diputuskan demikian oleh parti. Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak merupakan Ahli Parlimen Pekan sejak 1976. Nik Abduh sebelum ini disebut akan bertanding pada Pilihan Raya Umum ke- 13 (PRU13) bersedia sekiranya parti menamakan beliau sebagai calon. Nik Abduh, yang dipilih sebagai Timbalan Ketua Pemuda Pas Pusat berkata, bapanya mengambil masa 40 tahun untuk mendidik beliau dalam dunia politik khususnya untuk menentang Umno. "Saya sudah sedia jadi calon sejak 10 tahun dulu, saya juga sedia tunggu 20 tahun lagi untuk dicalonkan, sebelum ini ayah sudah siapkan 40 tahun untuk lawan Umno," katanya. Dalam wawancara bersama Sinar Harian sebelum ini, Timbalan Ketua Pesuruhjaya Pas Kelantan, Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah membayangkan Nik Abduh dicalonkan dalam PRU13 atas kapasiti sebagai Timbalan Ketua Pemuda Pas Pusat. Bagaimanapun, Nik Amar berkata, keputusan itu bergantung kepada Nik Abdul Aziz yang juga Pesuruhjaya Pas negeri dan Pas Pusat yang akan menentukan kedudukan akhir senarai calon terbabit. Antara kerusi dikaitkan dengan Nik Abduh adalah kerusi Parlimen Kubang Kerian setelah penyandangnya yang juga Naib Presiden Pas, Salahuddin Ayub disahkan berpindah ke Johor.
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| Posted: 15 Nov 2012 12:19 PM PST It may well be that Nurul has quoted from the Quran, but that freedom had long been removed, especially and particularly in Malaysia, yes, our dear sweet Malaysia - please read on to understand what I mean. KTemoc Konsiders Recently, there was much ado about a letter to Malaysiakini by Steven Oh, where our world famous (but domestically infamous) Police wanted from the online news portal, details about that letter and its writer … or else. Malaysiakini held on courageously to its policy of confidentiality on the identity of letter writers, which lamentably for our policed state ... with that 'or else' Damocles' Sword hanging over MKINI's head … would have resulted in the seizure of its computer equipment, because our men in blue just love forensic IT and would go to any lengths to dabble in that discipline (the forensic science, not 'police discipline', wakakaka).
Fortunately, Steve Oh agreed to MKINI releasing his details. The whole brouhaha was of course related to Nurul Izzah's statement about 'freedom of religion, even for Malays' (or 'no compulsion in religion') utterance. I believe she has since regretted making that impetuous statement ('impetuous' for a Malaysian Muslim, especially one from Pakatan), which in mitigation, was uttered in the adrenalin-flowing exuberance during a campaign forum. We know that subsequently, a no-doubt  Anyway, Siti Kasim, a member of the Bar Council human rights committee and Orang Asli rights advocate, the very person who asked Nurul that fatal question, had expressed her disappointment with Nurul for backing away from her statement, that of freedom of religion, even for Malays' (or 'no compulsion in religion'), and opined the young politician had wanted to 'impress' her audience. Siti Kasim had been right in saying that statement effectively translated - in the past tense of course as Nurul has since denied such a meaning - into Malay-Muslims having the right to leave the religion, or that dreaded word in Islam, commit apostasy. Siti Kasim, having experienced the tap-dancing antics of Mr Manmanlai, lamented that Nurul has failed to stand firm on her remark. But as I stated in an earlier post in mitigation of Nurul's hypersonic back-pedalling: ... maybe Nurul indeed wanted to impress her audience but alamak, Siti, cut her some slack lah as Nurul is still young and really, a babe in the political woods. Besides, to a Muslim, apostasy is an extremely serious issue, in which the punishment could well be death, though of course the authorities in Malaysia won't go to that extent. Okay, that brings us back to Steve Oh's letter to MKINI titled Nurul's watershed idea for the nation where he referred to Nurul's "original" (wakakaka) statement with unrestrained glee, going on to was eloquence over Nurul's courage and brilliant perception, etc etc ad nauseum. Alamak, this man didn't care that there was NOT even one teeny weeny itsy bitsy swallow for a summer make, wakakaka.  All this means that Steve Oh's extravagant effusive ebullient praises for Nurul was a bit premature, because as we know, Nurul has backed away from that pro-apostasy statement pronto, and given Malaysia's draconian boleh-ness, we most certainly don't blame her. But Nurul's statement provided a wonderful springboard (titik tolak) for Steve-Oh's agenda-driven train, so how to stop it ler, wakakaka. Thus, as if that religious freedom thingy was not bad enough, he used Nurul's faux pas to commandeer a larger landscape than mere 'freedom of religion'. Whether his points reflect his own sentiments or that of non-Malays are irrelevant because in his discourse he has screwed up Nurul's positionkau kau, and only succeeded in lending fuel to those out to get the poor girl. Each time I read arguments by people like Steve Oh or some Church leaders or non-Muslims coming out to defend Nurul, I cringed even before she did, because I believe without any doubt that their secular or Western-Christian based arguments would rile many Muslims. No matter how brilliant and sincere their unwitting (perhaps even deliberate and opportunistic) arguments might be, they won't move nor convince most Muslims. Read more at: http://ktemoc.blogspot.com/2012/11/road-to-hell.html
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| Is Malaysia an Islamic or secular state? Posted: 15 Nov 2012 11:55 AM PST Malik Munip, NST WRITING'S IN THE LAW: Several provisions in the Constitution disqualify Malaysia from being a secular state, writes Malik Munip The debate on the nature of Malaysia's identity—whether it is a secular or an Islamic state—is mired in confusion. The confusion firstly is of a semantic nature—a lack of clarity on what defines a secular or an Islamic state. The second confusion is about the extent of any entity's authority—be it former Premiers, The Alliance Memorandum or the Reid Commission--in deciding the debate. This article will discuss the second confusion first. Secular or Islamic State: Premier vs. Premier Though Malaysian Prime Ministers are vested with a whole battery of executive authority, nonetheless, they do not have the power to determine the identity of a country merely by making an announcement either way. Indeed, if we think about it, even an individual's identity cannot be determined by a pronouncement—a person doesn't become a Muslim, a Christian, an apostate or any identity along the 'faith- atheist' spectrum simply due to a declaration. To have meaning and force, the declaration must correspond with the individual's belief and practice. So if by itself a declaration cannot determine the religious identity of an individual, can it determine the identity of a state? Nonetheless, many people attribute Malaysia identity as either Islamic or Secular, by citing the positions of previous Prime Ministers on the subject. Hence to shore up their claim, the proponents of a secular state will often draw on the statements of Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Hussien Onn. In this regard an often cited statement (but not the only example) used to represent the position of the former Premiers would be from a February 1983 Star report where the Tunku said "The country has a multi-racial population with various beliefs. Malaysia must continue as a secular State with Islam as the official religion". Another issue also reported Tun Hussien's support for the Bapa Kemerdekaan, "The nation can still be functional as a secular state with Islam as the official religion." Unsurprisingly those that argue that Malaysia is already an Islamic State wouldn't cite the first and third Premiers. Instead they would quote Tun Mahathir's following statement in September 2001 to support their position: "Umno wishes to state clearly that Malaysia is an Islamic nation. This is based on the opinion of ulamaks who had clarified what constituted as Islamic country.... " . But with all due respect, there are limits in determining the nature of a country's identity by simple reference to a Prime Ministerial declaration. After all, if Malaysia already possesses many of the features that define a secular state, then her secular nature doesn't change just because a Prime Minister says otherwise. And vice versa—if Malaysia has many attributes of an Islamic state, or a feature that disqualifies her from being a secular state, then it won't be a secular State regardless of how many previous and future Prime Ministers states to the contrary. So although they are Prime Ministers, nonetheless, their statements, in and by themselves do not automatically determine the nature of Malaysia's identity. At best their statements would be a description of Malaysia's pre-existing identity. And like most descriptions, it would be valid only in so far it is accurate. The Alliance Memoranda vs. The Reid Commission Of course, in articulating their positions, participants in the debate don't limit themselves to Prime Ministerial declarations—references to legal authorities and legal documents will also be part of the argumentative arsenal. In this regard none comes with higher prestige than the Federal Constitution and its drafters, the Reid Commission. So with respect to whether Malaysia is an Islamic or a secular state, let's sink our teeth into what the Federal Constitution and the Reid Commission have to say on the matter. In the Federal Constitution, both terms, Islamic State or Secular State does not appear. Nonetheless, Article 3 of the Federal Constitution states that Islam is the religion of the Federation. This provision has often been cited to support the claim that Malaysia is an Islamic State or at least not a secular one. Yet, many who claim to have read the Reid Report find this argument unconvincing; they maintain that the Commission stated that any provision in the proposed Constitution providing for Islam as the state religion will not invalidate the position of the Federation as a secular state. Strictly speaking, this portrayal of the Reid Commission's position is incorrect. In respect to Islam being made a state religion, the Commission did not commit itself to that position. As historian Joseph Fernando wrote in his book 'The Making of the Malayan Constitution': "In respect of religion, the Commission decided not to make any provision relating to an official religion for the Federation although the Alliance had proposed that Islam should be made the official religion". In fact it was the Alliance and not the Reid Commission that wanted a declaration for Islam to be made the State Religion. And similarly, it was the Alliance that made the claim that such a declaration would not negate the position of the federation as a secular state. What the Reid Commission did was to acknowledge (see paragraph 169 of its report) that the Alliance wanted to insert such a provision; they themselves were reluctant to commit to it (with the exception of one member, Justice Hamid). Be that as it may, even if was the Alliance and not the Reid Commission that made the claim that having a state religion would not negate Malaya's status as a secular state, nonetheless, shouldn't such a claim prove beyond doubt, that Malaysia is a secular State? After all, the Alliance played a crucial role in the constitution-making process—before, during and after the Reid Commission's drafting. Additionally, they were the primary characters involved in securing Independence; hence, if the Founding Fathers claim that the country is a secular State, then it must be binding right? Uhm, not quite. Firstly, none of them were recognized authorities on the inter-related issue of secular states and secularism, or its relationship to religion and Islamic States. It should be noted that the issue of an Islamic State has theological dimensions, yet none of them were theologians. And on the issue of a secular State, the problem was that they never defined properly what a secular state is; they just claimed that having Islam as the religion of the Federation doesn't annul its status as a secular state. Within the context of such statements, their conception of a secular state seems to be a conception by negation—conceiving it by what it is not, rather than what it is. Such a conception is not convincing. In short, since the Alliance were not experts on the issue of Secular States, secularism or its relationship to Islam and not exact in conveying what they meant, does it make sense for us to elevate their claim (that having a state religion doesn't negate Malaya as a Secular State) as being the final authority on the matter? Indeed according to the Joseph Fernando, there is evidence that in private, even the Reid Commission were not convince by the Alliance claim—to them, it was a contradiction. And for those who have some exposure to the literature on secular states and secularism, this shouldn't be surprising. Why? Because the Alliance's position just doesn't correspond with the accepted understanding of what constitutes a secular state. And that is the point: if a statement or description doesn't match up with the reality then regardless of the social standing of the entity making the statement, it cannot be authoritative. So in determining whether Malaysia is a secular state or otherwise, instead of citing what former Premiers or the Reid Commission or the Alliance Memoranda says on the matter, it would be more pertinent to ask: What defines a secular state? And does the statement of the Alliance Memoranda and those that echo it, tally with such a definition? What is a Secular State? The acid test The literature on the subject of secular states and secularism is vast; as such there exist various interpretations. Nonetheless, there is a general consensus that the foundation of a secular state is the principle that state and religion must be separate. Consequently, a secular state will have, among others, the following characteristics: the state must be neutral towards religion; the state cannot give religion a privilege position in the public arena; the state's coercive powers and resources cannot be utilised in the service of any religion; the State should not privilege a religion or its adherents over another; the state should not privilege religion over irreligion; the state should not permit religion to be a requirement of public office; and the state should not interfere with the affairs of religion and vice- versa. Now by having Article 3 of the Federal Constitution, obviously Malaysia is not neutral towards religion. It gives Islam a privileged status over other religions. Nonetheless, if Article 3 was the only Islamic feature in the Constitution, perhaps the claim by the Alliance that having a State Religion doesn't imply a non-secular state can still be defended. But let's have a peek at other Articles of the Federal Constitution. Through Article 11(4), missionary work amongst Muslims can be controlled and restricted. Yet there are no laws restricting missionary work to adherents of other faiths. Then there's Article 12(2). This article has far reaching consequences; it empowers the Federation and the states to establish or maintain Islamic institutions or provide assistance in that process. It also sanctions them to do same with regards to providing instruction in the religion of Islam. In pursuant of those purposes, it also authorises the use of public funds. Both the above Articles violate the principles of a secular state on multiple scores. And these two Articles are not the only one; there exist other Articles that do the same. For instance, Malays are entitled to wear the cloak of Article 153, but professing Islam is a requirement of being Malay under the Federal Constitution. But let's cast our view beyond the Federal Constitution to the State Constitutions whereby the Islamic features are even more pronounced. Many State Constitutions require the State Secretary to be a person who professes Islam. In those States the default legal requirement for the position of the Menteri Besar is also a person who professes Islam. And the state religion of most of the States that make up the Federation is Islam. In these States, not only is neutrality towards Islam not practice, but unlike the federal position of Prime Minister, religion is made a requirement of the public offices of the Menteri Besar and State Secretary. And beyond the formal structure of the constitution, there are other characteristics that these states have which are at odds with the essence of a secular state. With a name like Terengganu Darul Iman for example, is it realistic to expect otherwise? And does Kelantan under Nik Aziz seem like a secular state to you? But it is not the scope of this article to elaborate. Conclusion So to recapitulate the question: Is Malaysia a secular state? Well, by the characteristics that define a secular state then Malaysia by definition is not a secular state; it violates the principle attributes of a secular state on multiple fronts. Breaches to the tenants of a secular state are not the exception; it is almost the rule. In Malaysia, religion is not separated from the state but entrenched, empowered, enforced, expressed and elevated. Hence, does this mean Malaysia is an Islamic State? My answer is: I don't know; I have no idea what a universally accepted Islamic state in the contemporary world looks like. But it does mean Malaysia disqualifies from being a secular state. Dr Malik Munip taught history at University of Malaya for two decades, and was also a former Member of Parliament for Muar
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| Posted: 15 Nov 2012 11:53 AM PST
Will there be 'an arrangement of sorts' between PAS and Umno after the general election at the expense of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition? CT Ali, Free Malaysia Today There are many in PAS who will not have Anwar Ibrahim as their prime minister. Many also see PAS' alliance with DAP and PKR as a necessary evil if they are to be relevant in politics at the national level. There are many still within PAS who have begun to vocally question the need of these "arrangements" when there is a willing and able ally in Umno which can deliver far more than what DAP and PKR can deliver to PAS. An ally racially and religiously in sync with PAS – an ally that will allow them to keep Kelantan, Kedah and give them Terengganu. So why, they ask, are they in Pakatan Rakyat and not with Umno? Of course, the state of PAS politics and the politics in the states under PAS is really the business of PAS and nobody else, except when it concerns the state of Pakatan and the state of our nation. And what is happening in PAS today concerns all of us. PAS with its overtones of Islam, slightly masked by its overtones of political expediency, is now increasingly unable to internally contain the ever-widening divide of these factions within PAS that see this 13th general election as the definitive moment for each of their varying ideology to be tested and proven in order to achieve what they are all agreed upon: to establish Malaysia as a country based on Islamic legal theory derived from the primary sources of Islam, the Quran, Sunnah as well as Hadiths. So wither goes PAS ulamas and its technocrats? Wither goes this Islamist political party that has a loyal membership of over one million, strong organisational structure and an ability to source for funding that is the envy of its coalition partners within Pakatan? Wanting a win-win situation As I have said previously, politics demand much more than what the aged can give and PAS has an abundance of this in Nik Aziz Nik Mat, Hadi Awang and Azizan Abdul Razak. For the moment, their absence from PAS' first-tier leadership is unthinkable only because its second echelon of leaders are still sorting out their allegiance to the ranks of the ulamas or the technocrats within PAS. Do not be distracted by the claims of either factions that the other has compromised too much or too little in the name of political or religious expediency – these are but the nuances of individuals promoting their individual agendas. What is reality is the existence of opposing factions within PAS that now have real choices to make in the run-up to and after the 13th general election. What choices PAS will make will depend on the numbers it has allied to or against what Pakatan has to offer PAS and what Umno has to offer PAS. How will PAS ensure that heads they win and tails they win too? This they can only do when they have sorted out among themselves which factions have the numbers to make the "right" choice for PAS. Until then the bickering and the arguments will be contained within PAS with the intermittent leakages by those who seek to have their voices heard by the "masses" – something even PAS cannot prevent from happening despite the Islamic vows and oath-taking it requires of those who are its members Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2012/11/16/pas-%E2%80%93-making-the-right-choice/ | ||
| Posted: 15 Nov 2012 11:49 AM PST
The writer takes a cynical and satirical look on the Islamic threat that will backfire on the political and religious hypocrites. Iskandar Dzulkarnain, Free Malaysia TodayYes, leave the Muslims alone and let us sort out our differences. Whether the Muslims choose PAS or Umno will be decided in the next election. And most people believe that race and religious issues will disappear naturally after the election, so be patient. Yes, Islam is under threat. It is not only from Christians who purportedly try to convert weak Muslims or from MCA which keeps on insulting the hudud penal code but also from within our very own borders. Wahabbism is purportedly on the rise and Shi'itism, too, among the Sunni followers of Islam in this country. The Al Arqam sect which was supposedly neutralised by the government is rearing its head again. There are also other deviant Muslim sects operating quietly in the country, and their low-key activities are yet to attract any attention. Recently, 20 of Al Arqam followers were arrested for celebrating the 75th birthday of the late Ashaari, the founder of the deviant Al Arqam sect. It has even been reported that Rawang, a back water town, has registered phenomenal economic growth due to its activities The late founder's wife, Khatijah Am, is operating from an expensive mansion (RSA Palace) in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. She is purportedly overseeing a "government" already in place in the country. Although no one really knows how big the movement is, there is fear that it is large enough for them to form a "shadow cabinet" with 41 different ministries. Even the Malaysian government doesn't have that many ministries. Some of the ministries include the ministry of the netherworld (kementerian alam ghaib), the ministries of true souls and sects (roh suci dan tariqat), death and the hereafter (kematian dan akhirat) and family and holy sex (keluarga dan seks suci). Intelligence agencies have reported that it is part of a plot to overthrow the government and to form an Islamic state. It also said that Khatijah had since been holding a total of 54 monthly meetings with "top leaders" of the sect in Malaysia via video conferencing, where she holds the post of prime minister. It is also reported that nearly RM800,000 is collected each month through various sources to fund the movement. A clairvoyant of sorts, Khatijah claims she receive direct orders from her late husband. Meanwhile, Nurul Izzah Anwar's statement on the freedom of religion for the Malays seems to have confused everyone in the country. Now she is facing investigation by JAIS and legal action may be taken against her. Even the news media and Barisan Nasional politicians were totally confused, judging by the vehement reaction towards her seemingly innocent statement. How can we expect the ordinary Muslims not to be confused? A pondok cleric with far-sighted vision has declared that it is forbidden for Muslims to vote for opposition party DAP. A Pahang mufti has also backed a growing campaign among Umno-aligned religious leaders to echo the same after several Islamic scholars called the secular party "belligerent infidels". Apparently, DAP is not such an innocent political party, after all. Threats to our way of life Even the Jews are known to be a security threat to the country and to Islam. That is why the government refuses to have anything to do with the Jews and Israel. Communism is another credible threat that needs to be constantly monitored. Some non-Muslims pose a threat as they continue to ridicule the government about "sin taxes" collected from alcohol, gambling and cigarettes, even though the government has made it clear that such taxes go into a separate account. Some have even gone to the extent of questioning income taxes paid by non-Muslims in this country. Now isn't that going a little too far? Not only that, "it is also very unnecessary of non-Muslims to comment on Islam by using far- fetched examples of "political hypocrisy". They should put a full stop to it or comment on their own religion. The actions of a few renegade Muslims cannot be used to judge the majority of law- abiding Muslims. As we speak, action is being taken on an outrageous letter to Malaysiakini written by one "Steve Oh." How can Steve humiliate the country and its people by espousing such liberal views? Doesn't he have a heart? Yes, leave the Muslims alone and let us sort out our differences. Whether the Muslims choose PAS or Umno will be decided in the next election. And most people believe that race and religious issues will disappear naturally after the election, so be patient. Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2012/11/16/is-islam-under-threat/ | ||
| Irene Fernandez insists constitutional provisions inspire racial discrimination Posted: 15 Nov 2012 11:45 AM PST
(The Malaysian Insider) - Human rights activist Irene Fernandez has stood by the findings of a report citing the Constitution's protection of Malay rights for racial discrimination in Malaysia, insisting that certain provisions in the country's supreme law should be amended or entirely removed. The outspoken executive director of rights group Tenaganita said that the form of affirmative action in government policies that were inspired by Articles 89 and 153 of the Federal Constitution had only succeeded in benefiting an elite few among the Malay upper class. "This form of affirmative action, these provisions, they are no longer relevant as they have failed and only benefited the top few. "And this is clear even among the Malays and the Muslims themselves," she pointed out when contacted by The Malaysian Insider yesterday. On that note, Fernandez (picture) insisted that the joint study by Tenaganita and international charity organisation Equal Rights Trust (ERT) had been spot-on in suggesting the total repeal or amendment to certain provisions in the Federal Constitution. She acknowledged that the study had ruffled the feathers of a few Malay right-wingers, including Malay rights group Perkasa, but said she would stand by the findings. Perkasa Youth has labelled the veteran activist a "traitor" for the ERT-Tenaganita study titled "Washing the Tigers: Addressing Discrimination and Inequality in Malaysia", and lodged a police report against her for allegedly questioning the special position of the country's dominant ethnic group. But Fernandez pointed out that the study, published on the ERT's website on Monday, had been thorough in its research, even including case studies and interviews with numerous individuals before drawing up a conclusion and issuing recommendations. "You can pull the yarn as far as you want," she said, when pointed out that Perkasa members had even linked apostasy to the study's recommendation to review constitutional provisions on Malay rights. "But the issue in front of us is this — we as a nation, do we want to achieve equality and non-discrimination? If we do, we have to be bold enough to ensure that everyone has equal treatment that is guaranteed in the Federal Constitution," she said.
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| Posted: 15 Nov 2012 11:41 AM PST (The Star) - The pent-up frustration of the PAS grassroots over its testy relationship with Pakatan Rakyat partners has come out in the open. The Dewan Ulama reaffirmed its hudud agenda while hitting out at leaders who "confuse" members. Dewan chief Datuk Harun Taib declared that PAS would be steadfast on its plans to implement hudud law despite the barrage of contrary views from outside the party. He said the dewan had the role of addressing the confusion among new members who were made to believe that hudud was not a matter to be discussed because of the pact with Pakatan partners. "Some are confused, thinking that the time is not right to implement hudud because Malaysia is a multi-racial country. "This is happening because members fail to understand the party'starbiyah (nurturing and strengthening) effort," Harun said when opening the Dewan Ulama general assembly here yesterday. His speech was read out by dewan vice-chief Dr Mahfudz Mohamad. Harun said the championing of hudud was part of the party's Islamic agenda to make it the law of the land. "Major crimes like theft, robbery, illicit sex and apotasy are serious problems affecting the people. hudud must be implemented to solve them," he added. Later, at a press conference, Harun reiterated that PAS would push for hudud to be implemented if it was given the mandate to rule the country. According to him, Pakatan had agreed that not only hudud but also Syariah law would be implemented if PAS had the majority in Parliament. Harun said DAP chairman Karpal Singh was against hudud because of his failure to attend dialogues organised by PAS. On press reports that Perak Mufti Datuk Seri Harussani Zakaria had asked PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar to repent for her freedom of religion remarks, Harun said that Harussani himself should repent for not supporting the Islamic struggle. The Youth wing also pushed for hudud while pledging support for the ulama leadership and asking PAS to take the lead in Pakatan. Negri Sembilan delegate Mohd Zulkarnain Mohd Zaki rapped the Youth leadership for not setting policies on entertainment, sports, jobs and the economy for PKR and DAP to follow. Johor delegate Mohd Faizal Khalid criticised the Youth leadership for failing to speak up against Pakatan leaders "who have erred". "The wing is supposed to be a pressure group pushing for change but we do not hear any criticism from them against Pakatan governments," he said when debating the keynote address of Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan at the 53rd Youth Muktamar yesterday. Penang delegate Hasbul Wizar said PAS should be the dominant party in Pakatan. Selangor delegate Sharhan Humaizi Halim said that Pakatan-controlled states should be administered according to the Islamic model. Pahang delegate Fadli Ibrahim said the ulama leadership should be maintained because "they were instrumental in ensuring great victory in the last general election". He said that "germs, snakes and poisons" should be eliminated from the party.
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| Anwar comes to daughter Nurul Izzah’s defence Posted: 15 Nov 2012 11:37 AM PST
(The Star) - Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim defended his daughter Nurul Izzah over her alleged remarks about freedom of choice in religion for Muslims. Saying that Nurul Izzah had not been given a fair chance to defend herself, Anwar said that even former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had said in 2007 that there was no compulsion in religion and that there was nothing that can stop Muslims leaving Islam. "Nurul Izzah's statement didn't even come close to that. She just said that there is a verse in the Quran that says that there is no compulsion in religion, but we are bound by the constitution," Anwar told reporters after attending the opening ceremony of a Maal Hijrah seminar at the Tabung Haji Complex here yesterday. Abdullah, speaking after opening the 18th Conference of International Islamic FIQH Academy in Putrajaya on July 9, 2007, had said that religious authorities should find out the grouses of Muslim converts who wanted to return to their former religion. The then Prime Minister had said this in response to a question about the spate of court cases at the time involving people seeking to leave the faith. News reports of the 2007 event by The Star, New Straits Times, The Sunas well as wire service Reuters showed that Abdullah had made no mention that there was no compulsion in religion or that nothing can stop Muslims from leaving Islam as Anwar has alleged. [And the spin goes on ... - MTadmin] Asked to comment on Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah's statement that faith should not be politicised or used to gain political mileage, Anwar said: "I think what Tuanku meant is that you shouldn't use religion to demonise people in the media, (or to) to attack your political opponents." Nurul Izzah had allegedly made the remarks at a public forum on Nov 3, titled Islamic State: Which vision? Whose responsibility?, where she had purportedly implied that religious freedom should be accorded to all races including Malays. The Lembah Pantai MP and PKR vice-president has since drawn flak from many quarters for her alleged remarks but has said that her words during the function had been misquoted.
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| PAS leaders grilled for turning blind eye on audit report Posted: 15 Nov 2012 02:29 AM PST (Malaysiakini) - Delegates at the 55th PAS Youth Muktamar today grilled their top leadership in the wing, for failing to voice out against PAS-led states which had been criticised in the Auditor-General's Report 2011, as well as on other issues.
Criticism part of wing's culture Several other delegates were also critical of the leadership, ticking them off for not making enough effort to lend their voices in ceramah at the state level, as well as inconsistencies in foreign policies.
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| PAS Youth shoots down Bersih 4.0 before GE13 Posted: 15 Nov 2012 02:27 AM PST (Malaysiakini) - In a near unanimous decision, delegates at the PAS Youth Muktamar in Kota Bharu today rejected a motion for a Bersih 4.0 protest before the next general election. Delegates who spoke against the mooted protest when debating the motion, argued that party resources should be channeled towards facing looming polls rather than organising a mega protest. Pas Youth chief declares assets In another development, PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan surprised delegates by publicly declaring his asset before them during the closing of the Muktamar.
Income: RM2,500 per month allowance from PAS Youth Rental income: RM300 per month Housing loan: RM530 per month Car loan: RM1,400 per month Spouse's income: RM4,000 per month Spouse's housing loan: RM1,200 per month Assets: A house worth RM130,000 (2004); Pajero Sports (2011); and Hyundai Trajet (2007); RM9,000 in savings. "And those are my assets. I hope the PAS Youth exco can follow suit in declaring their assets," he said. Nasrudin said all exco members in PAS Youth must fill a form to declare their assets and this would be for party consumption. However, he added that if any of them were to contest in the next general election, this information would be made public online.
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| Posted: 15 Nov 2012 02:16 AM PST (The Sun Daily) - PAS Youth slammed party organs Harakah and Harakah Daily today, claiming they had strayed from the original intent for which they were created. Federal Territory Youth chairman Kamaruzaman Mohamad, who tabled the motion in the annual muktamar (general assembly), said the standard of reporting of the newspaper and news portal has deteriorated and their credibility as party organs is diminishing. He said the PAS central committee should re-structure the editorial line-up for both the two media outfits. "For example, when the crises involving our ex-leaders such as Nasharuddin Mat Isa and (Datuk) Hassan Ali surfaced, Harakah front-paged it. "It should not have happened. Harakah as the party organ should hide this kind of stories and not publicised our leadership problems," he said. Kamaruzaman said Harakah has also carried several articles that promoted allegedly "deviant teachings". Delegates from Kedah and Selangor defended Harakah but the motion was strongly supported by almost all of the 800-strong representatives and will be brought to the the party's muktamar that will start tomorrow. On the other hand, the delegates rejected a motion for the wing to mobilise another rally calling for clean and fair elections, as a follow up to the July 9 Bersih 3.0 rally in Kuala Lumpur. Tabling the motion, Malacca delegate Aminuddin Abdul Jalil argued that the rally must be held as the Election Commission had failed to address concerns raised over the integrity of the electoral roll. "The Bersih (rally) is our (only) avenue ... It is a people uprising and I am confident PAS Youth can play a leading role in this movement," said Aminuddin. His motion was supported by Pahang delegate Mohd Fadhil Noor Abdul Karim but objected by Kedah delegate Mohd Azan Awang and Johor delegate Sheikh Omar Ali. Other motions accepted during the muktamar were to slam MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek on his anti-hudud statements; to postpone the implementation of the Automated Enforcement System; and to demonstrate against the Israeli offensive on Gaza after Friday prayers tomorrow.
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| Posted: 14 Nov 2012 07:54 PM PST
Penangites flocked to listen to Bersih 2.0 co-chair Ambiga Sreenevasan speak on the crucial issues that surround the coming general election. Anil Netto has the story. ALIRAN More than 500 Penangites packed the first floor hall at the Caring Society Complex in Penang to listen to Bersih 2.0 Steering Committee co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan's thoughts on 'Elections and Democracy'. In a stirring address at the forum organised by Aliran on 7 October 2012, Ambiga thanked the audience in Penang for their impressive turnout at the Bersih 3.0 solidarity gathering at the Esplanade on 28 April. She highlighted the harassment experienced by Suaram after it had exposed the Scorpene submarine scandal and noted that the brouhaha about the human rights group's sources of funding mirrored Bersih's own experience not long ago. But after the Bersih 2.0 rally last year, she said Bersih had been funded entirely by Malaysians, she noted. "In fact, I even get SMSes from ordinary Malaysians asking, where can I send money to Bersih; I want to help." Ambiga noted the irony of politicians complaining about sources of funding: "Who are they to question these groups about their sources of funding when they have practised dirty money politics for the longest time?" The former two-term Bar Council chairperson complained that postal votes are easily manipulated and lamented the lack of integrity of the electoral rolls, which now cannot even be challenged in court. Even the media are not free and during election campaigns they fail to display party manifestos over television, keeping the public in the dark. "It's a disgrace!" she said. High stakes involved Meanwhile, the government is ignoring 'the elephant in the room': corruption. "All of you are here because you are concerned about the level of integrity in public life." At the same time, she pointed to selective prosecution, the most glaring of which was the one that eventually resulted in the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock over an investigation into just RM2000. Meanwhile, she said it is ridiculous that our politicians are not saying anything about political aggression or violence. "It shows me there is tacit support for it." On the other hand, the young woman who stepped on the Prime Minister's image was handcuffed and publicly condemned. Free and fair elections are important because they bolster democracy and they encourage a respect for fundamental rights, she said. People are now more engaged and interested in what is happening as they realise that the rot has to stop now. "Vote for people who will uphold the Federal Constitution, for those who will do something to curb corruption, for goodness sake," Ambiga urged the participants. Undemocratic governments will not be able to survive for long, as people have more access to information. But although three million have registered as voters since 2008, another three million have not yet voted. "We need to reach out and draw these people in." The next general elections are going to be very contentious, and people are getting more interested and engaged because they realise that the rot has to stop now. "Dictatorships have elections too but it doesn't mean they are democracies; but if you have clean and fair elections, you will be working your way to a vibrant democracy. If you have clean and fair elections, it makes your MPs more accountable and reduces corruption." Studies have found that the poor will also be better represented, she said. A game-changer Is there hope at the end of the day? Yes, there's a lot of hope, she said, "because there are a lot of good right-thinking Malaysians who want to put things right. They are not going to accept second best or people talking rubbish." Ambiga referred to an International Crisis Group report, which noted the strengthening of civil society and pointed to the Bersih movement as a "game-changer". Also present was Bersih Steering Committee member Dr Wong Chin Huat, who highlighted discrepancies in the electoral rolls. He said Bersih had moved beyond an electoral reform movement to a movement to renew the nation. He stressed the importance of a high voter turnout to send a clear cut message that this country wants to move forward, not backwards. Chin Huat then described how ordinary Malaysians cast aside their old fears and came out in their tens of thousands for the Bersih 3.0 rally. "You have more and more Malaysians coming out. You know you are not alone." "We need to renew our independence and reclaim our country." Focus on clean and fair elections, added Ambiga. "Everything we do from now will help, I promise you." Change is needed Earlier, Aliran president Francis Loh welcomed the crowd and then Aliran secretary Mustafa K Anuar took over as emcee. He promised the participants that images of the audience would not be photo-edited to show a much larger crowd squeezed like sardines! The crowd roared knowingly. A heavy downpour outside the hall did not dampen the crowd's enthusiasm for the forum as they hung on to every word. Before Ambiga took the floor, the immediate past president of Aliran, P Ramakrishnan, in his welcome address mentioned that the only way electoral reforms could be achieved would be via a change of government in the upcoming general election. Rama pointed out that civil servants once had to retire at the age of 55. Now the ruling parties have ruled for 55 years. It is time for them to retire at the general election! The voters are the masters and the politicians are the servants, he said. Malaysians are the torch-bearers of freedom and it is our duty to bring about change.
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| Perkasa calls Irene Fernandez a traitor after study says Constitution promotes discrimination Posted: 14 Nov 2012 07:48 PM PST
Ida Lim, The Malaysian Insider Perkasa Youth today urged prominent activist Irene Fernandez to return her citizenship, claiming that she is a "traitor" to the country, over her involvement in a study on discrimination that questioned constitutional provisions surrounding the position of Malays. "If she cannot obey (akur) this country's laws, please return the citizenship voluntarily, she can go any country that she likes, to any countries where she finds the laws suitable, so please return the citizenship, since she's also not Malay," Irwan Fahmi Ideris, the Perkasa youth chief, told reporters at the Dang Wangi police station today. "So here we ask the authorities to investigate and take the necessary action against the traitor," he said after lodging a police report against Fernandez over the study that was carried in The Malaysian Insider yesterday. Irwan also said they feared for Fernandez's safety, saying that such statements would incur the wrath of ignorant villagers and fellow Malaysians. "We ask that her safety be guaranteed," he said, saying that he was "sympathetic" to her. When asked if Perkasa Youth would seek an apology from Fernandez, he said that he thinks this matter "cannot be forgiven", again insisting that she returns her citizenship. "This is already overstepping the limits, when our religion, our kings are disputed. But we practise a system that is the same as Britain's," he added, pointing out that UK also has a monarch. Perkasa is a Malay right-wing group that is known to champion Islam, the rights of Malays and the royal institution. Yesterday, The Malaysian Insider reported that a UK-based study on discrimination and equality in Malaysia showed that the country should repeal or amend two constitutional provisions protecting the special rights and land of the Malays to avoid discrimination on the basis of race or ethnicity. The study was jointly conducted by international charity organisation Equal Rights Trust (ERT) and Malaysian rights group Tenaganita. Fernandez is the executive director of Tenaganita. The four-part study said the existence of Articles 89 and 153 of the Federal Constitution were among the strongest causes behind racial discrimination in Malaysia as both had purportedly failed to meet the original intention for positive action. Instead, the provisions had "violated international law standards", it was said in the executive summary of the "Washing the Tigers: Addressing Discrimination and Inequality in Malaysia" study published on the ERT's website late Monday.
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| Posted: 14 Nov 2012 06:50 PM PST
In Islam you cannot separate the church from the state like they do in Christianity. Islam is closer to Judaism than to Christianity. The Jews consider themselves a race and they aspired to set up their own nation, Israel. The Muslims, too, consider themselves a nation -- an ummah (community) -- and they too aspire to set up an Islamic nation (or Islamic State). How many times have we heard Muslim scholars and religious people say 'Ummah Islam'? This means the Community of Islam or the Nation of Islam. THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin
Don't mix Islam with politics: Selangor Sultan (Bernama, 14 Nov 2012) -- The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has warned against an inclination of mixing Islam with politics for it could confuse and divide the Malays. He said confusion arose when people who were not qualified to interpret Qur'anic verses began elucidating them based on their own understanding and desire or it could go against the actual meaning. "Qur'anic verses are not like poetry verses that can be interpreted according to one own taste and belief." "I want the Malays to defend the sanctity of Islam through their might and wisdom as had been done by Prophet Muhammad, his companions, mujahid (warriors), and Islamic leaders." "The Malay leaders of yesteryears had used their wisdom to define the characteristics of the Malays in Article 160 (2) of the Federal Constitution that they should adopt the Malay culture, speak Bahasa Melayu and being Muslims," he said at the state-level Maal Hijrah celebration at the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque here, tonight. *************************************************** That was what His Highness the Sultan said last night, as reported by Bernama. As what His Highness has titah (royal decree), I will not quote and interpret any verses from the Qur'an. After all, I am not taking Qur'anic studies in Oxford. I am just taking history, plus philosophy of religion thrown in. Hence I shall restrict my comments to only the historical aspects of the subject. Judaism, Christianity and Islam are what we call the Abrahamic faiths. And note the word 'faiths', which means you need to believe in the absence of evidence. Now, they are called 'Abrahamic' faiths because all three have their roots in the Prophet Abraham (or Ibrahim, to the Muslims). In fact, the Muslims believe that Abraham and his son Ismail (Ishmael) built the Ka'bah in Mekah, the direction Muslims face when they pray. The Jews are a race. You need to be born a Jew. You cannot 'become' a Jew like you can become a Christian or a Muslim -- although some people have converted to Judaism. Followers of Christianity and Islam, however, are not a race. Christians regard Christianity as a faith (of the Christian faith) while Muslims regard Islam as an adeen (a way of life). And that was why the Jews wanted a 'homeland', which they now have. So the Jews went on to create a nation called Israel. The Christians went on to separate the church from the state. And the Muslims went on to form governments and conquered new territories to extend their system of government to these territories. If you were to ask a Muslim as to why Islam 'interferes' in the lives of the people, why they 'police' behaviour/morality, why they want to impose an Islamic system of administration and laws, etc., they will reply that this is because Islam is not a religion but a system of governance -- meaning a complete way of life (adeen, as mentioned in the Qur'an). Using the Muslims' own arguments, Islam is a total/complete political system that determines the administration and laws of the country. And that is why Muslims talk about an 'Islamic State' -- or, as Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said, Malaysia is a Muslim country. Hence, Islam is not merely a religion where you pray, fast, pay tithes, etc., and then go on and lead your own life without any interference from the government. Islam is a form of government -- it governs what you can and cannot do very strictly, even in the privacy of your bedroom. So how can His Highness the Sultan of Selangor decree that Islam and politics should not mix, or that you should separate politics from religion? Islam is politics! In Islam you cannot separate the church from the state like they do in Christianity. Islam is closer to Judaism than to Christianity. The Jews consider themselves a race and they aspired to set up their own nation, Israel. The Muslims, too, consider themselves a nation -- an ummah (community) -- and they too aspire to set up an Islamic nation (or Islamic State). How many times have we heard Muslim scholars and religious people say 'Ummah Islam'? This means the Community of Islam or the Nation of Islam. Now, 'nation' does not necessarily mean 'country'. For example, the 'Indian Nation' is a collection of various Native American tribes within the United States of America. So it can, in a way, be called a nation within a nation. If you were to trace the history of the three Abrahamic faiths, you can see that the Jews started, from the very beginning, as a race or tribe -- for example, Moses led his people out of Egypt to cross the Red Sea. The 'religion' came later. (If Moses had been smart enough to lead his people a bit farther east they would have ended up in Saudi Arabia and today they would own all the oil). Christianity and Islam, however, started as cults. It was much later that Christianity became a religion (with a doctrine or dogma) and Islam became a political system (or way of life, adeen, government, etc.). Hence the Jews emerged immediately as a Nation the day Moses led his people out of Egypt and settled in the 'Promised Land'. The Christians and Muslims, however, evolved over time and transformed into what Christianity and Islam is today by 'reinventing' itself through a clearly defined doctrine. Christianity began to lose its cult status after the time of Jesus and during the time of Paul (see the timeline below). However, it was not until more than 300 years later that Christianity was 'defined' with a clear doctrine and almost 800 years before Catholicism took root. As for Islam, as early as during the time of Prophet Muhammad it established itself as a system of government and the Battle of Badr in 624 defined what Islam was going to become -- a political force. Now, since His Highness the Sultan is Malay, and hence will be from the Shafi'i school of Islam, let us talk about Mazhab Shafi'i or the Shafi'i school of Islam. The Shafi'i school of Islam was established around 200 years or so after the time of Prophet Muhammad during the reign of Hārūn al-Rashīd (the Caliph of the One Thousand and One Nights fame). Hence Malays are following a branch of Islam that was established long after the death of the Prophet and during the time of 'liberalisation'. This can be said to be the beginning of the 'separation of church and state', when power over religion was transferred into the hands of the scholars (ulama') who were not too happy with the 'liberal' lifestyle of the Caliph. Let me conclude this piece as follows. Islam says it is not a religion but a way of life. Prophet Muhammad embarked upon setting up a system of government based on an Islamic system of administration. Malays follow the Shafi'i school of Islam, which was established 180-200 years after the death of Prophet Muhammad and when the Hadith began to emerge (and that is why Malay Muslims talk more about the Hadith than the Qur'an). In short, just like what happened in Christianity, Islam was defined (or redefined) later and what Malays practice today is the 'reinvented' version of Islam, just like what the Christians are doing. Hence His Highness the Sultan's Royal Decree is not in line with the Medina version of Islam but follows a later form of Islam where religion and state are separated. If you follow Prophet Muhammad's Medina version of Islam then Islam is the state. Of course, I am analysing things from the historical point of view and not from the theological point of view -- so certainly theologians will disagree with my hypothesis. But then that is their view (based on theology) while I have my own view (based on history). *************************************************** TIMELINE Paul the Apostle's (c. AD 5 – c. AD 67) leadership, influence and legacy led to the formation of communities dominated by Gentile groups that worshiped the God of Israel, adhered to the "Judaic moral code", but relaxed or abandoned the ritual and dietary teachings of the Law of Moses, that these laws and rituals had either been fulfilled in the life of Christ or were symbolic precursors of Christ, all on the basis of Paul's teachings of the life and works of Jesus Christ and his teaching of a New Covenant (or "new testament") established through Jesus' death and resurrection. The First Council of Nicaea was a council of Christian bishops convened in Nicaea in Bithynia (present-day İznik in Turkey) by the Roman Emperor Constantine I in AD 325. This first ecumenical council was the first effort to attain consensus in the church through an assembly representing all of Christendom. The Battle of Badr was fought on Saturday, 13 March (AD) 624. The Second Council of Nicaea met in AD 787 in Nicaea (site of the First Council of Nicaea) to restore the use and veneration of icons (or holy images), which had been suppressed by imperial edict inside the Byzantine Empire during the reign of Leo III (717–741). His son, Constantine V (741–775), had held the Council of Hieria to make the suppression official. Caliph Hārūn al-Rashīd (17 March 763 or February 766 – 24 March 809) was the fifth Arab Abbasid Caliph that encompassed modern Iraq. Imam Shafi'i a.k.a. Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i (AD 767-820) or 150-204 years after Prophet Muhammad's hijrah/migration from Mekah to Medina.
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| Theologian: It’s a call to return to God Posted: 14 Nov 2012 03:20 PM PST
(The Star) - Apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary are usually associated with calls to return to God, said a Catholic theologian. Malacca-Johor Diocesan Pastoral Institute director Rev Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek said while some people believed that Jesus Christ's mother's appearance heralded tribulations times, this was not always the case. "Whenever our Lady appears," Kuek said, "it is usually because people need to be assured, need hope or to be uplifted." He cited the 1858 apparitions in Lourdes as an example, saying he believed Virgin Mary had appeared there to give hope in a time of social turmoil. He reminded Catholics to always be focused on Jesus. "An apparition is never an end in itself. Our Lady never points towards herself. It is always Her Son she points to." Kuek reaffirmed, however, that the veracity of the image on the Sime Darby Medical Centre's window would only be confirmed following tests by the Church.
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| Jeffrey’s STAR blows hot and cold Posted: 14 Nov 2012 03:08 PM PST Leaders of local opposition, STAR, who recently returned from the party's recent SWOT analysis meeting are pessimistic about the party's direction. STAR has a few Muslim leaders within its fold but their influence is limited. Despite the drawback, the party is not giving up its bid to contest in mainly Muslim areas for a bigger share of power in the 60-seat state assembly. Calvin Kabaron, FMT KOTA KINABALU: Has the State Reform Party (STAR) peaked too soon in Sabah? The party is seeing a slowdown in membership applications, it has failed to attract high profile former Barisan Nasional leaders who have quit the ruling coalition and its campaign is disjointed. Tongues are wagging and party leader, maverick local politician Jeffrey Kitingan, is taking most of the flak. He is being blamed for being indecisive in the face manifold problems confronting the local opposition party that was formed 10 months ago. Hints of despair in the party are surfacing and Kitingan who is no stranger to controversy may fall into a political abyss yet again by "refusing to listen to good and alert colleagues", according to people with knowledge of the situation in the party. Insiders say party leaders are worried local politicians such as independent MPs Lajim Ukin and Wilfred Bumburing who resigned from the ruling coalition three months ago, do not see STAR as a viable option. While it is widely known that BN component parties like Umno, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut organisation (Upko) are experiencing a leak in their membership, the former BN parties' supporters are shunning the local opposition parties for PKR. The latest example is former Lahad Datu PBS strongman, Mohamadin Ketapi, who like Bumburing and Lajim, is known to have met Kitingan a few times but did not join the party. STAR has a few Muslim leaders within its fold but their influence is limited. Despite the drawback, the party is not giving up its bid to contest in mainly Muslim areas for a bigger share of power in the 60-seat state assembly. But the party may also have other organisational and management problems. While its financial status is unknown, PKR and even fellow local opposition party, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) are deemed to be in a better position in this area. STAR's two separate wings – youth and women – on the other hand are said to lack cohesion. SAPP may get a free ride from Pakatan Rakyat in three Chinese dominated state seats – Likas which was once held by SAPP president Yong Teck Lee, Api-Api where Yong's nemesis PBS Yee Moh Chai is incumbent and Luyang, where the party's incumbent Melanie Chia remains popular. STAR, on the other hand, remains unsettled as the 13th general election gets closer. It is sending out conflicting signals and giving "false hope" according to some within the party. STAR's leaders pessimistic Such is Ghani's popularity in the constituency that he is reportedly being pursued by Sabah Umno. STAR's search for credible leaders who can pose a challenge is bogged down. Of its four deputy state chairmen, only Nicholas Guntobon, a young medical practitioner is certain to contest in Liawan, Keningau. Another, Paul Voon is said to be hesitant, while outspoken Daniel John Jambun is said to be struggling to get his party's endorsement for contesting in Inanam which is also being eyed by SAPP's Sepanggar MP Eric Majimbun. Jambun could also be good for the Sepanggar parliamentary seat but since Kitingan has agreed to the status quo with SAPP, his deputy chairman is in a fix. He may still go up against the SAPP candidate in Inanam but this would split the opposition vote.
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| Mat Sabu mahu ketuai pengisytiharan harta Posted: 14 Nov 2012 03:00 PM PST
Nomy Nozwir, The Malaysian Insider Mohamad Sabu berkata beliau dan pemimpin tertinggi PAS komited untuk mengisytiharkan harta menjelang pilihan raya umum akan datang. Dipetik dari Harakahdaily, timbalan presiden PAS itu berkata, beliau harus menunjukkan contoh kepada ahli-ahli PAS dan usaha tersebut harus dimulakan oleh beliau sendiri. "Saya beriltizam untuk mengisytiharkan harta saya sebagai contoh perubahan yang harus dilakukan sebagai timbalan presiden," kata beliau ketika merasmikan muktamar Dewan Pemuda PAS yang berlangsung di Dewan Jubli Perak, di Kota Bharu malam semalam. Dalam ucapan di hadapan 1,000 orang delegasi, Mohamad mengambil pendirian agar agenda PAS dan Pakatan Rakyat (PR) ke Putrajaya harus dimulakan dengan satu perubahan berani. Mohamad yang mesra dengan panggilan Mat Sabu berkata, perubahan bermula oleh PAS termasuk mereka yang akan menjadi wakil rakyat dan ahli majlis. Dewan Pemuda PAS sebelum ini telah mengumumkan akan membuat pengisytiharan harta menjelang PRU akan datang. Keputusan rasmi dan mekanisme akan ditentukan dalam muktamar nanti. Cadangan Pemuda itu turut disokong oleh Setiausaha Agung PAS, Datuk Mustafa Ali, Ketua Penerangan, Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man dan Pesuruhjaya PAS Selangor, Dr Rani Osman. Baru-baru ini Setiausaha Pemuda PAS, Khairul Faizi Ahmad Kamil mengumumkan kesemua exconya bakal melakukan pengisytiharan harta semasa muktamar dewan tersebut di Kelantan esok. "Kemungkinan besar akan ada majlis pengisytiharan harta itu pada muktamar kali ini. Dengan harapan ia akan merintis kepada semua pimpinan PAS," katanya dipetik dari Harakahdaily. Khairul Faizi juga dilaporkan berkata langkah tersebut bagi menunjukkan ketelusan barisan kepimpinan Pemuda PAS Pusat, biarpun mungkin tidak semua dicalonkan pada pilihan raya umum (PRU) ke 13 akan datang. Langkah pengisytiharan harta itu turut disokong oleh Pengerusi Umno Pahang, Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob. Kata menteri besar Pahang itu, ia adalah wajar supaya anggota Umno bersih dari elemen prasangka sebelum layak dipilih mewakili parti dan mengelakkan seseorang itu hidup diluar kemampuan yang tidak seimbang dengan pendapatan.
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| PAS says will field more women in coming election Posted: 14 Nov 2012 02:52 PM PST
(Bernama) - PAS is looking at increasing the number of women candidates for the upcoming 13th general election, said its president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang. He said the move was made considering the encouraging performance of its women leaders at the parliamentary and state levels. Hadi was speaking to reporters after opening the 52nd annual assembly of the party's Dewan Muslimat (women's wing) at the Kelantan Trade Centre, here, yesterday. Earlier, in his speech, Hadi said PAS recognised women's role including its women wing's since 59 years ago. PAS Dewan Muslimat chief Siti Zailah Mohd Yusof, in her address, urged all the party's women members to be prepared in facing the coming general election.
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| Ex-MIDA chief snubs Selangor invite to head Batu Caves taskforce Posted: 14 Nov 2012 02:46 PM PST
(The Malaysian Insider) - Former Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) chief Datuk N. Sadasivan has rejected the Selangor government's offer for him to lead the state's taskforce on a controversial Batu Caves condominium project. Sadasivan, who received the offer yesterday, confirmed with The Malaysian Insider this morning that he had declined the appointment but did not state a reason. "Yes, I did receive the Selangor government's offer but I rejected it. At this juncture, I cannot comment," he said when contacted. Yesterday, Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim announced the state executive council's decision to appoint Sadasivan to the taskforce, two weeks after the state issued a temporary stop-work order on the Dolomite condominium pending the committee's findings. Khalid had cited Sadasivan's vast experience, noting that the latter had previously served as a director in private companies and two government-owned financial institutions ― Bank Negara and Pengurusan Danaharta Nasional Berhad ― as well as on state oil firm Petronas's board of directors. Khalid said he would meet with the committee this week to inform them of the state's purpose and added that the committee would also be tasked with studying other construction projects within the Batu Caves area. "Among the committee's scope are to re-evaluate all the development projects that have been done and planned in Batu Caves, and take into account each aspect – including the people's welfare, the Hindu community's interest, environmental safety and existing legislation." "The state government is of the opinion that this committee's scrutiny will benefit and add value to efforts to make Batu Caves a UNESCO World Heritage site," he said. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, in his speech at MIC's Deepavali open house at Batu Caves, promised that Barisan National (BN) would stop the project were it to recapture Selangor in the next polls. He had also said the BN government would apply to make Batu Caves a UNESCO World Heritage site after Malaysia's term as a member of the World Heritage Commission ends in 2015. The 29-storey Dolomite Park Avenue condominium project has turned into a political crisis as Batu Caves is the religious focal point of Hindu Indians who form the majority of the 1.7 million Indians and are a key voting group in many urban seats in Selangor. About 300 Hindu and non-governmental activists joined a "Save Batu Caves" rally in the Batu Caves temple complex to protest against the condominium construction on October 26, saying it was an environmental risk that would jeopardise the temple grounds but did not furnish proof to substantiate their allegations. The project was given the nod by state authorities in 2007, but MIC and Barisan Nasional (BN) have in recent weeks pressured the current Pakatan Rakyat (PR) administration into calling a halt to the project amid a battle for Indian votes.
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"Misalnya isu Palestin yang semakin bergolak, Filipina dan Rohingya," katanya ketika ditemui di khemah perkarangan Putik.
Katanya, di awal ucapan Presiden PAS menggariskan semula konsep Negara Berkebajikan sebagai teras kepada perjuangan parti itu.
Hajat untuk melihat PAS berpecah dan mencadangkan supaya perwakilan membangkitkan masalah kerjasama PAS dengan PR insyaAllah tidak berhasil, sebaliknya hubungan semakin intim, katanya.
Hadi said should PAS be given the mandate to rule as part of Pakatan Rakyat, the party would strive for a shift to an economic philosophy that was fairer.
He said PAS members should not get involved in matters detrimental to the party's struggle such as busying over petty matters.
In his speech, themed "Forging Unity through a Benevolent State", Hadi pointed out that since the phrase 'Negara Berkebajikan' (Benevolent State) was introduced as PAS's vision at the last muktamar, many have been accusing PAS of deviating from its Islamic struggle.
Debating on the motion on PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan's (left) speech which was presented last night, Johor PAS representative Mohd Faizul Mohd Salleh pointed out it did not contain a single criticism of Pakatan Rakyat states.
Speaking to reporters later, PAS deputy youth chief Nik Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz (left) said criticism of leaders was part of the wing's culture.
"But it is not our intent to frighten anyone but to continue our struggle for a clean general election," he said.
His income and assets are as follow:
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