Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- 'Sorry Anwar, Australia can't help you'
- Kazakhstan in legal move to ban opposition parties and media
- Tony Fernandes is a thief, claims MP
- Azmin: I’m loyal to the Mentri Besar
- Umno is ‘rakyat’, not wrong to acquire public land, says Kuang rep
- Perlis Raja Muda urges curbs on liberalism
- ‘No change to PAS hate politics’
- Tat: DAP will lose the election because of Teresa
- ‘HK chief prosecutor’s statement damning’
- ‘Can you expect thieves to arrest themselves?’
- ‘Affirmative action for Malays dangerous’
- Australia is Malaysia's last hope: Xenophon
- Pakatan rep wants Liu to resign over Batu Caves condo controversy
- Samy Vellu implicated in alleged land grab in Selangor
- PAS Ulama: Pakatan cannot ignore views expressed during muktamar
- Rafizi to meet HK’s anti-corruption officials tomorrow
- Malaysians overseas will be allowed to vote
- Hudud a dream, says Seng Giaw
- Guan Eng: We follow PR consensus that Anwar is prime minister
- Hindraf is with Karpal on hudud, Islamic state
- Analysts: Hadi as PM is a moot issue
- Hadi as PM: Is Najib responsible?
- PAS: Implementing hudud our right, no forcing of non-Muslims
- Woman's death shows risks of putting the church before civil law
- Asean leaders ink declaration
- Calls mount to scrap ASEAN human rights plan
- PM Abdullah urges Islamic teachers to be more understanding
- PAS must first win all the 60 parliamentary seat for Hadi to be PM
- Hadi: I’m ready to be PM
- PAS dials down on hudud, concedes it can’t rule alone
- PM signs Asean Human Rights Declaration
- ‘Umno-linked ustaz implied Prophet is racist’
- Anwar distances himself from Pas prayer
- Anwar: Pakatan to discuss future country leadership
- Anwar says ‘no problem’ if Hadi made PM
- Lajim objects to revival of CM rotation
- PAS supporters are Islamic warriors, says wing's secretary
- PAS delegate hits out at Pakatan partners over hudud
- 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
- ‘DAP shows disrespect to PAS over ‘hudud’ issue’
- ‘Mansor staring at defeat’
- S’gor govt asked for Selayang council president’s transfer, says Chief Secretary
- Pas members who love the microphones and cameras
| 'Sorry Anwar, Australia can't help you' Posted: 21 Nov 2012 01:11 AM PST
CARR: Australia is not the election authority for Malaysia. (Bernama) - Australia cannot and will not influence how Malaysia's elections are run despite a personal plea for help from Malaysian Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, said Australian Foreign Minister Senator Bob Carr. Anwar had reportedly written to Senator Carr asking for Australia to help ensure that the next Malaysian general election, most probably to be held early next year, was free of fraud and corruption. Anwar had reportedly told Carr he had uncovered evidence of fraudulent voter registration and other anomalies in the run-up to the polls. He had also questioned the independence of the electoral commission and claimed that the opposition was being excluded from the media. But Senator Carr said the Malaysian elections were a matter for the Malaysian people. "It's very hard for Australia to do anything about how they're run, as hard as it would be for Malaysia or another government to have a say in how Australian elections are run," he told ABC radio. "We're not the election authority for Malaysia." Carr said Australia wanted to see free and fair elections in every country. He said Anwar personally raised the concerns directly with him during a recent visit to Malaysia. Carr also poured cold water on the specific proposal of Australia sending election monitors to Malaysia, saying the Malaysian government would have to ask for the measure. He dismissed the suggestion that Canberra was reluctant to act because it wanted to maintain good relations with (Malaysian Prime Minister) Najib's government, with which it was still negotiating an asylum seeker swap deal. In an interview with ABC Radio on Wednesday, Anwar said he was concerned the election, which must be held by next June, would be rigged, and would have a large number of people eligible to vote but who would not be allowed to vote. Others far too young to vote, between age two and 12, were also on the rolls, he said. Anwar also claimed that the opposition had been denied access to the mainstream media. Anwar had discussed his concerns with former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd and sent a note to Carr seeking Australian assistance, saying Australia supported free and fair elections in Iraq, Afghanistan and Myanmar, and yet it was silent on Malaysia.
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| Kazakhstan in legal move to ban opposition parties and media Posted: 20 Nov 2012 09:04 PM PST
Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev speaks to the media during a celebration to mark Kazakhstan People's Unity Day in Almaty (reuters_tickers) ALMATY (Reuters) - The Central Asian state of Kazakhstan has moved to ban two opposition movements critical of President Nursultan Nazarbayev and to close dozens of opposition media outlets for "propagating extremism". In a step the opposition denounced as an attack on dissent in the oil-exporting former Soviet republic, prosecutors linked their request to last month's jailing of Vladimir Kozlov, leader of the unregistered Alga! or "Forward!" party. Kozlov was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years for trying to rally workers in a failed attempt to topple the government. After his trial, the United States accused Kazakhstan of using its justice system "to silence opposition voices". Nazarbayev, 72, has run Central Asia's most successful economy and largest oil producer for more than two decades, but has tolerated little dissent as he has pursued market reforms and attracted more than $150 billion in foreign investment. As well as leading Alga!, Kozlov, a fierce critic of Nazarbayev, was leader of the country's unofficial Halyk Maidany, or People's Front movement, which tried to unite groups with specific grievances against the government. He was found guilty of colluding with fugitive anti-government billionaire Mukhtar Ablyazov and of orchestrating dissent among striking oilmen in the prelude to riots last December that killed 15 people and dented Kazakhstan's reputation for stability. Nurdaulet Suindikov, a spokesman for the prosecutor-general's office, on Wednesday accused the two opposition movements Kozlov led and various media outlets of "propagating extremism". "Kozlov's sentence established that the activity of the unregistered Alga! and Halyk Maidany movements, as well as the activity of a number of mass media outlets, was extremist," he said. Suindikov said prosecutors in Kazakhstan's commercial capital, Almaty, had asked a court to ban the two movements as well as the media outlets. KAZAKHSTAN'S BIN LADEN? Suindikov said prosecutors were seeking the closure of eight newspapers and 23 Internet sites that operated under the umbrella of the Respublika publisher, as well as the Vzglyad newspaper and its Internet sites. Kazakhstan's marginalized opposition enjoys little support among voters. The country has never held an election that Western monitors have deemed fair, but Nazarbayev is popular in the country of 17 million for presiding over relative stability. Oksana Makushina, deputy editor-in-chief of the Golos Respubliki newspaper - part of the Respublika group - said her publication would try to get round any court order. "They may close the paper in legal form, but given the presence of the Internet, it is hard to do so in reality," she told Reuters. "We will continue fighting, unless we are put in a prison cell next to Kozlov." Mikhail Sizov, another leader of the Alga! party, said he believed Kozlov's imprisonment for his part in the Zhanaozen riots was the beginning of a wider campaign to destroy the entire opposition movement in Kazakhstan. "There is virtually an undeclared war going on between Mukhtar Ablyazov and Nursultan Nazarbayev," Sizov told Reuters. The satellite TV channel K+ and the Internet portals run by Stan TV are among the media outlets targeted by prosecutors. State TV ran a documentary this week that identified Ablyazov as the financial backer of both channels. Baurzhan Musirov, director of Almaty-based Stan Productions, which runs the Stan.KZ portal, denied it was financed by Ablyazov. Ablyazov has been on the run since February, when he was sentenced to 22 months in prison for contempt of court in Britain, where he had earlier received political asylum. His whereabouts are unknown. A theoretical physics graduate who built a fortune by snapping up banking and media assets in the 1990s after the Soviet Union collapsed, Ablyazov has said he fell out with Nazarbayev after campaigning for a change of government. He has failed to appear in a vast fraud case being heard in Britain, where his former bank, state-owned BTA, has brought nine charges against Ablyazov and his allies. In the same case, BTA has frozen assets worth around $6 billion. Kazakh political analyst Aidos Sarym said he believed the current campaign against the opposition was aimed at presenting Ablyazov as a "home-grown Bin Laden" or Kazakh version of the late al Qaeda leader.
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| Tony Fernandes is a thief, claims MP Posted: 20 Nov 2012 08:46 PM PST
(The Malay Mail) - Barisan Nasional's fiery Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin called businessman Tan Sri Tony Fernandes (pic) a "penyagak" (thief) in the Dewan Rakyat today. The outspoken MP, known for heckling opposition MPs and for being one of the louder voices in the House, was speaking during the Transport Ministry's wrap up during the committee stage of the ministry's Budget 2013 debate when he made his distaste for Fernandes and AirAsia known. "We all know that Tony Fernandes is a penyagak (thief). He will want 100 per cent profit in everything. He invests in everything, even sports," Bung said, while discussing the issue of whether the low cost airline would shift its operations to KLIA2 once the government completes its construction in April next year.
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| Azmin: I’m loyal to the Mentri Besar Posted: 20 Nov 2012 08:32 PM PST
(The Malaysian Insider) - PKR deputy president Azmin Ali said today that he has no intention of becoming the Selangor Mentri Besar, and pledged his loyalty to the Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim. "Let it be put on record, today November 21, that I am loyal to our Mentri Besar (Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim)," Azmin said, in a reply to Taman Templer assemblyman Datuk Subahan Kamal in the state assembly here. Subahan had asked earlier whether the Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman thought that he could do a better job as the Selangor MB. In his speech, Azmin had claimed that the Minister of Agriculture Datuk Seri Minister Noh Omar was lobbying to become the next Selangor MB by flinging wild allegations about the Selangor Economic Development Corporation (PKNS). Noh had last week accused Worldwide Holdings Berhad, a subsidiary of PKNS, of selling RM150 million-worth of shares to a non-bumiputera company. In October, Azmin had told Sinar Harian that Khalid is likely to be made a Cabinet minister if Pakatan Rakyat (PR) wins the general election, thus vacating the post. This remark had sparked speculation as to whether Azmin was after the post, but the remark was dismissed by Pakatan leaders as Azmin's personal view which had not been discussed with the leadership. Sacked Selangor executive councillor Datuk Hasan Ali also had alleged in March that Azmin's attacks on him were an attempt to topple the Selangor MB. He said that it is widely "understood" that Azmin had been trying to oust Khalid, an allegation that the Gombak MP had strenuously denied. Hasan said the Selangor PKR chief was trying to 'kill two birds with one stone': "It is likely true that the mentri besar is the first bird and Hasan Ali is the second."
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| Umno is ‘rakyat’, not wrong to acquire public land, says Kuang rep Posted: 20 Nov 2012 08:29 PM PST
Zurairi AR, The Malaysian Insider A Selangor assemblyman denied today that Umno had abused its political ties to grab state land meant for the public, as the party represented the people. All 24 plots of land in Selangor — alleged to have been acquired by Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties and former MIC President Datuk Seri Samy Vellu while they were in the ruling coalition — were meant for public amenities like multi-purpose halls and kindergartens, said Umno state lawmaker for Kuang, Abdul Shukur Idrus. "Umno is 'rakyat'... Umno represents 400,000 'rakyat' in Selangor. (The land plots) were not for an individual. They're for an organisation with many members. "Can't Umno receive land for the use of the people?" he asked, in response to backbenchers from the ruling Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact in the Selangor legislative assembly who had yesterday accused BN parties of being involved in a land grab when still in power. The allegation was said to involve 24 plots of public land in seven out of nine districts in the country's wealthiest state, which were acquired by the branches and divisions of Umno, MCA, MIC and Gerakan between 2000 and 2008. Each plot of land measures up to seven acres and has a collective total area of around 33.5 acres, mostly in commercial areas. Of the 24 plots, 15 are now owned by Umno branches or divisions, with six of them going to Umno Sungai Besar division, which was led by former Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Khir Toyo. MCA holds five plots, MIC three and Gerakan one. Datuk Seri Samy Vellu , together with an S Subramaniam and the late Tan Sri SOK Ubaidullah, who was one of MIC's founders, are named as the trustees for a 2,832 square metre plot in Kuala Selangor. The biggest plot in the list is a seven-acre piece of land in Klang, which is owned by the Umno Kota Raja division, followed by a 6.5-acre plot in Batu 14, Puchong, which is owned by the Umno Puchong division. Sekinchan assemblyman Ng Suee Lim had challenged the BN component parties to return the land to the public to prove that they really have the interests of the people at heart. "They have to prove that they are true fighters who are sincere to the people ... not give empty talk ... fighting for the people, but then grab their land," he said yesterday.
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| Perlis Raja Muda urges curbs on liberalism Posted: 20 Nov 2012 04:04 PM PST
(Bernama) - The Raja Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail, said efforts must be made to contain liberalism and stop it from engulfing the younger generation. He said its unrestricted spread, whether planned or otherwise, was dangerous and could change the country's character and foundation nurtured since independence. Speaking at the launch of the book "Ucapan Dasar Presiden Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung (GPMS) Kebangsaan Sepanjang Zaman" and the launch of the "One Student, One Licence" programme, here last night, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin said he hoped that GPMS (Federation of Peninsular Malaysia Malay Students Associations) and its more than 400,000 members nationwide could play a role in containing its spread. "GPMS needs ideas and new initiatives to ensure that the education agenda remains relevant and the younger generation can create a strong self identity in efforts to face the situation," he said. Meanwhile, GPMS president Jais Abdul Karim, when approached, said the 225-page book contains a collection of the speeches delivered by GPMS presidents since the federation was established in 1948.
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| ‘No change to PAS hate politics’ Posted: 20 Nov 2012 03:31 PM PST
(The Star) - PAS' consistency in belittling the faith of its Muslim political opponents shows that it lacks legitimacy as reformers, said Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein. He said despite the party's claims of being an agent of change and reform, there was no change to PAS' long-standing approach of spreading the politics of hate. "In the past they labelled our former leaders with names such as pig farmer or pharaoh. They called us infidels and said we won't go to heaven after we die. "What they are doing today by calling us murtad (apostate) is the same as what they have always done, yet they still shout about change and reform," Hishammuddin told reporters at his office here yesterday. PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat recently said that Umno has rejected Islam. "Umno has not only rejected Islam. It also mocked Islam and rejected ulama and this makes them heretics. Even if a Tok Guru wearing serban - whether he be bearded or not - he has committed apostasy as long as he has rejected Islam in his heart," Nik Aziz said at the end of the recent PAS muktamar. PAS also organised a special prayer at Stadium Mohamad IV in Kota Baru last Friday to pray for the destruction of Umno and Barisan Nasional for alleged cruelties that included denying Kelantan oil royalties. Hishammuddin said the latest attacks on Umno, when the party was praying for the people in Gaza, showed that PAS' only concern was politics. He said the only thing that had changed in PAS was its inability to censor its partners in Pakatan Rakyat when they raised sensitive issues regarding Islam, including DAP's continued rejection of hudud and the recent controversial comments by PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar on religious freedom for Muslims. "When their Pakatan partners raise these issues they keep quiet. But then they would label and accuse Umno in an attempt to divert public attention," said Hishammuddin.
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| Tat: DAP will lose the election because of Teresa Posted: 20 Nov 2012 03:24 PM PST
(The Kuala Lumpur Post) - Ex-DAP leader Tan Tuan Tat claimed that the party's state leadership under Teresa Kok will be a liability and will jeopardise the party's chance to be re-elected in the next General Election (GE). The former Selangor DAP auditor said that the party's state leaders have failed to live up to their positions to unite and strengthen the party, instead clinging to power by postponing the state elections which were scheduled for earlier this year. "Most members have become disenchanted and disillusioned by the incompetency, inefficiency and multiple standards shown by these leaders who think they won (the previous GE) because they are popular amongst grassroots members and the public. "The public and tax payers gave them a chance to change for better governance but apparently DAP Selangor has failed (to fulfil their obligations)," Tan said during a press conference. Citing the example of the low turnout at the DAP Selangor convention last month, Tan said it was due to the shenanigans of state leaders. "You think she's doing anything for Selangor? She couldn't even solve problems such as floods, rubbish, vice activities, complaints of corruptions, but instead, she swept it under the carpet," Tan said. Tan, who is also a former DAP Sungai Pelek Parliament Liaison Committee member, pointed out that a lot of grassroots members were frustrated with the way Kok handled the party. "Kok refused to admit her weak leadership and non-commitment to the grassroots members," he said. "She is no longer fighting for the people, but made a mockery of socialist concepts of equality and fairness for all and is more like a capitalist in nature for personal aggrandisement," Tan concluded. According to The Star's Joceline Tan, the poor turnout at the Selangor DAP convention was a missed opportunity to rally the troops to defend the premier state against a hungry opposition. "Of the 1,153 delegates, only 311 or 27% showed up for the annual meeting. The minimum quorum is 25% and party leaders were left struggling to explain the numbers," she wrote. "Kok did not appreciate the questions raised about the low turnout and she attempted to brush it off in a rather casual manner, attributing it to some delegates being "lazy," the rainy weather and that delegates had activities in their constituencies," Joceline said. According to blogger Shen Yee Aun, Kok is a failed leader since she holds too many posts in the state government and government-linked companies (GLCs). "Kok is wearing too many hats for being an Exco (Selangor Senior State Executive Councillor for Investment, Industry & Trade, SA (State Assemblywoman for Kinrara), MP (Member of Parliament for Seputeh) and also the Chairman of Selangor DAP," Shen said. - "She earns at least RM 40,000 a month but it seems she fails to strengthen Selangor DAP with her weak leadership as the leader of Selangor DAP," the blogger added. Meanwhile,due to these numerous positions, Kok was the first one to show her disagreement over DAP national chairman Karpal Singh's suggestion of 'one candidate, one proposal.
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| ‘HK chief prosecutor’s statement damning’ Posted: 20 Nov 2012 03:07 PM PST
Kevin Zervos has indicated that there was a conspiracy to cover up the RM40 million "political donations" case by Malaysian authorities, says PKR's strategic director. Teoh El Sen, FMT The statement yesterday by Hong Kong's chief public prosecutor points to a conspiracy by Malaysian authorities to cover up and halt investigations against Sabah chief minister Musa Aman and timber tycoon Michael Chia over the RM40 million "political donations" case, claimed PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli today. Rafizi said it also gives an impression that the Malaysian authorities – either the Attorney-General's chambers, the MACC or both – had supplied inaccurate information to Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), and in turn had tarnished the investigations. Rafazi was referring to FMT's exclusive interview with Hong Kong's Director of Public Prosecutions, Kevin Zervos, who yesterday said that Hong Kong authorities were ready to re-open the case if there was fresh evidence. Zervos said that previous evidence ICAC received from Malaysia indicated that the funds were "political donation", but expressed openness in delving into the "true nature" of the money. "When it was the Malaysian authorities who told the ICAC that the fund was a political donation, it confirms rumours that the ICAC was forced to halt investigations because they were unable to get full cooperation of Malaysian authorities," alleged Rafizi in a statement. "Furthermore, the statement by Zervos is more serious as it gives the impression that Malaysian authorities, either the MACC, AG's chambers or both are conspiring to stop investigations against Musa and Chia by giving inaccurate information, without a transparent and independent investigation." Rafizi said that he also concluded from Zervos's statement that Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz was not forthright in Parliament when he said that the ICAC had halted investigations because Hong Kong authorities had found that the money was political contributions to Sabah Umno. "Nazri never told Parliament that the ICAC had to stop investigations because Malaysian authorities had informed them that the RM40 million was a political donation," he said. MACC must reveal the truth Rafizi said he was sure the Malaysian authorities never handed proof or evidence that the RM40 million was a political contribution obtained legally. He urged Parliament to consider taking action against Nazri for what can be considered an attempt to mislead the House. "He implied that the RM40 million in political donation to Umno was a conclusion of ICAC and not supplied by Malaysian authorities," said Rafizi. He also demanded that MACC chief commissioner Abu Kassim Mohamed reveal the truth to Parliament. "I welcome the Hong Kong chief prosecutor's statement that he is willing to reopen the case. PKR will gather such evidences so that an investigation can be started by the ICAC." Yesterday, Rafizi said he would be travelling to Hong Kong meet with the ICAC Operations Review Committee as well as politicians there. He will be accompanied by PKR MPs William Leong (Selayang) and Hee Loy Sian (Petaling Jaya Selatan) and state assemblyman Chang Li Kang (Teja). The trip is to find out if the Malaysian government stonewalled ICAC's investigation of timber tycoon Chia, who was carrying the RM40 million, and to seek a re-opening of the 2008 case.
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| ‘Can you expect thieves to arrest themselves?’ Posted: 20 Nov 2012 03:02 PM PST A Sabah-based activist has accused Upko of pussyfooting around the illegal immigrant issue. Joseph Bingkasan, FMT KOTA KINABALU: The author of a book 'Lest We Forget' that chronicled the 'acquisition' of Sabah by Umno-linked authorities, who re-engineered the demographics of the state, is surprised that local leaders are now downplaying the facts. Expressing his concern, Dr Chong Eng Leong said he was worried that even a hardline local Barisan Nasional coalition component was backing away from the controversial issue after years of championing it. Chong is particularly incensed that state assembly representative Donald Mojuntin, the son of the late Peter Mojuntin who is lionised as a defender of Sabah's rights, was now choosing to limit the fallout from a widely acknowledged illegal act. He accused Mojuntin, from the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) party, who was formerly a parliamentarian of manipulating for personal reasons a pivotal issue in state and national politics. Mojuntin has also riled independents with his conciliatory stand on other sensitive Sabah-centric issues notably the date of the formation of Malaysia. Chong said Mojuntin's recent statement "let's not waste time and effort to over-politicise it" when speaking about the problem of illegal immigrants in Sabah, was self-serving. "I am sure Donald (Mojuntin) and Upko know that hundreds of thousands of foreign migrants are in the Sabah electoral rolls – they decide which political party to govern us. Isn't this problem a political issue, Donald?" asked Chong who is now with PKR and known for his stance on immigration reform. He said the coalition partners appeared confused over their stand on the issue with Upko president Bernard Dompok once saying that internal upheavals and the strained relationship between state and federal governments had hampered efforts to resolve the problem. Chong's book gives a detailed insight of the audacious re-creation of Sabah's ethnic and religious makeup of the state to tilt the balance of political power in favour of the ruling BN coalition and Umno in particular. He pointed out that though the Umno-led coalition had been governing Sabah since 1994, repeated calls by Sabah BN members for a royal inquiry since 1996 had not been entertained until this year and even then reluctantly and with limitations. "Isn't this political? Donald (Mojuntin) also said the RCI has no power nor manpower to take action on its findings and recommendations as this belongs to relevant bodies like police, immigration and the NRD," noted Chong. Immigration, police, NRD involved Chong said that by stating this, Mojuntin was conveniently ignoring the fact that during in the Likas election petition hearing in 1999, witnesses testified under oath that the meetings, chaired by the late Megat Junid, the deputy home minister at the time, discussed how ICs could be given to foreigners in Sabah and these meetings "involved immigration, NRD and top guns from Bukit Aman". "Can you expect the thieves to arrest themselves? "My research on this issue since the late 90's is to let us Sabahans (be) aware of this treacherous deed done by the federal government – Dompok knew the modus operandi as he had heard the testimonies from public and briefings by NRD when he was the chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Integrity in 2006." He said that Dompok is now urging the public to come forward and help the RCI to set things right but asked since he himself knew the modus operandi, would Dompok come forward to testify.
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| ‘Affirmative action for Malays dangerous’ Posted: 20 Nov 2012 02:52 PM PST Malays are the only race in the world with both political power and affirmative action, a human rights organisation noted at a forum here. Anisah Shukry, FMT Affirmative action for the Malays is dangerous as they are the majority group in Malaysia and already hold political power, a human rights organisation said last night. Jerald Joseph, the executive director of Dignity International, pointed out that Malaysia was the only country which implemented affirmative action for a majority group. "Malays in this country are the majority; they have political power. So with affirmative action, you actually double Malay power," said Joseph at the forum 'Multiculturalism Rhetorics: A breeding ground for racism?' As a result of this, he said, affirmative action provided discounts and aids for even the wealthy Malay at the expense of the truly needy, who comprised all races. "The slogan 'Malaysia Truly Asia' is truly rhetoric; Malaysians cannot even find common ground in Malaysia, nor demand similar rights and services," said Joseph. "Article 153 of the Federal Constitution should be dismantled, so that only those who truly need special privileges can access it." He was referring to a provision in the Federal Constitution which grants the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia responsibility for safeguarding the special position of Malays and natives of any of the states of Sabah and Sarawak. Article 153 specifies ways to do this, such as establishing quotas for entry into the civil service, public scholarships and public education. But Joseph noted that the government was likely to drag its legs when it came to amending provisions that he said were related to human rights. "It's ironic that the government has no problems changing the constitution when it suits their interests. "But when its related to human rights, then they talk about the sanctity of the constitution. "But the Malaysian constitution belongs to all of us Malaysians. So no one should stop us from discussing it," said Joseph.
'Trying to turn everyone into Malays' Co-panelist Mutuma Rutere, the UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, appeared to agree with Joseph's views on affirmative action. "The government should not allocate resources based on ethnic group, but instead they could perhaps distribute it based on the place of residence. "Instead of fighting for the rights of our own group, we should be fighting for the rights of everyone," Rutere stressed. Also present at the forum was Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa, the director of the Islamic Renaissance Front, who highlighted the government's attempts to promote "the Malay supremacy agenda."
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| Australia is Malaysia's last hope: Xenophon Posted: 20 Nov 2012 11:34 AM PST
Anwar Ibrahim's letter asking for Australia's help was handed to independent Senator Nick Xenophon when he was in Malaysia on a recent trip. He says Australia is Malaysia's last, best hope for free and fair elections. Listen at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-21/australia-is-malaysias-last-hope-xenophon/4383438?section=act TONY EASTLEY: Anwar Ibrahim's letter asking for Australia's help was handed to independent Senator Nick Xenophon when he was in Malaysia on a recent trip. Mr Xenophon spoke last night in the Senate about the letter. Senator Xenophon says Australia is Malaysia's last and best hope for free and fair elections. He's speaking here with our chief political correspondent Sabra Lane. NICK XENOPHON: Anwar Ibrahim wrote the letter in front of me last Friday in Kuala Lumpur. It really is a desperate plea for help. He really sees Australia as Malaysia's last, best hope to ensure that there are free and fair elections there. There are very serious concerns that what is occurring in Malaysia could see the wholesale rorting, the wholesale electoral fraud of the upcoming Malaysian general elections. And the implications for Malaysia, for the region I think are quite significant. SABRA LANE: And you've seen evidence of this rorting? NICK XENOPHON: When I was part of an international observer group last April the information that we were given indicates that the electoral roles appear to be quite irregular. I spoke to a former senior member of the military who told me that members of the military, that soldiers of lower ranks are basically stood over and told how to vote. That can't be in any way fair. It can't be in any way a secret ballot. SABRA LANE: What do you think Bob Carr and Australia should do? NICK XENOPHON: I think the very least we could do is to offer support to ensure that the elections are free and fair, to offer the services and the expertise of the Australian Electoral Commission, for there to be a parliamentary delegation to go to Malaysia now as a matter of urgency in the lead-up to the poll to look into these claims of the electoral rolls being fixed, to ensure that the voting process is fair. And to look at other fundamental issues such as the opposition parties not being able to have access to the mainstream media, to newspapers and television, to radio, not being able to even advertise during election periods. That is quite extraordinary. SABRA LANE: The Federal Government has its hopes still pinned on the so-called Malaysia swap deal - swapping asylum seekers. Do you think Australia is prepared to step up on Malaysia's elections, given that that deal is still yet to be enacted? NICK XENOPHON: I think some of the Malaysian opposition fear that that could constrain Australia's approach in terms of the up-coming Malaysian elections, but that really shouldn't be a consideration. It would be an act of gross cowardice on the part of Australia to be holding back its concerns on free and fair elections in Malaysia as a result of the people swap deal. SABRA LANE: On the issue of asylum seekers, you reluctantly backed the Government's legislation to recommence offshore processing, saying that if it stopped people from making a dangerous journey then all MPs had to eat some humble pie. What's your reaction to Amnesty International's visit to Nauru? It says conditions are completely unacceptable there and that those conditions are responsible for a terrible spiral of self harm and suicide attempts. NICK XENOPHON: Well it's very disturbing. I supported reluctantly a tough policy in order to deter people making a dangerous boat journey to prevent more people drowning at sea. But there's a distinction between supporting a policy that is tough and one that turns out to be cruel. And I think it's very important that those concerns be addressed. TONY EASTLEY: The independent Senator Nick Xenophon speaking to Sabra Lane. A spokesman for Senator Carr says the Foreign Minister received Mr Anwar's letter on Monday and he will consider it and respond shortly. Senator Carr's office says the Minister discussed the issue of "free and fair elections" with Mr Ibrahim on the phone during his visit to Kuala Lumpur earlier this month. | |
| Pakatan rep wants Liu to resign over Batu Caves condo controversy Posted: 20 Nov 2012 12:38 AM PST
(The Star) - State Local Government committee chairman Ronnie Liu has been challenged to resign if he is not able to stop the controversial 29-storey condominium project in Batu Caves. The dare came from his Pakatan Rakyat ally, Kota Raja assemblyman M Manoharan, at the state assembly sitting on Tuesday. "The temple is a national heritage. It is obvious that the people do not want the project or any other projects to be build next to the temple complex. "Therefore, if the project is not scrapped, will you resign?" Manoharan said in a supplementary question. Liu replied saying resignation should not be the issue. "What is important is that the project must be stopped and the state (government) is doing its best." "There is a lot to consider. For instance, the project cannot be scrapped as more than 60% of the units had been sold. "If the project is stopped, the state and federal government will have to compensate the developer," he said. Liu pointed out that the federal government also had the power to stop the project by revoking the developer's advertising license and sales permit.
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| Samy Vellu implicated in alleged land grab in Selangor Posted: 19 Nov 2012 06:03 PM PST
Zurairi AR, The Malaysian Insider Selangor backbenchers today accused Barisan Nasional component parties and former MIC President Datuk Seri Samy Vellu of allegedly being involved in land grabs when BN was still in power in the state. The allegation involves 24 plots of public land in seven out of nine districts in Selangor, which were acquired by branches and divisions of Umno, MCA, MIC and Gerakan between 2000 and 2008 when the state government was administered by BN. Sekinchan assemblyman Ng Suee Lim challenged the BN component parties to return the land to the public to prove that they really have the interests of the people at heart. "They have to prove that they are true fighters who are sincere to the people ... not give empty talk ... fighting for the people, but then grab their land," he said. Each plot of land measures up to seven acres and has a collective total area of around 33.5 acres, mostly in commercial areas. The plots were allegedly sold for only RM1 per square foot — amounting to around RM1.5 million in total — despite being worth at least RM20 million collectively on the market, Ng said. "All of them are high value properties ... after Umno, MCA, MIC and Gerakan obtained the land, they would immediately enter joint-ventures (to develop them) or sell them off for tens of thousands or millions of profit," accused Ng. Of the 24 plots, 15 are now owned by Umno branches or divisions, with six of them going to Umno Sungai Besar division, which was led by former Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Khir Toyo. "This shows that Umno is the king of land robbers," Sri Muda assemblyman Shuhaimi Shafiei said. MCA holds five plots, MIC three and Gerakan one. Datuk Seri Samy Vellu, together with an S Subramaniam and the late Tan Sri SOK Ubaidullah, who was one of MIC's founders, are named as the trustees for a 2,832 square metre plot in Kuala Selangor. The biggest plot in the list is a seven-acre piece of land in Klang, which is owned by the Umno Kota Raja division, followed by a 6.5-acre plot in Batu 14, Puchong, which is owned by the Umno Puchong division.
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| PAS Ulama: Pakatan cannot ignore views expressed during muktamar Posted: 19 Nov 2012 02:57 PM PST
(The Star) - The PAS Ulama wing has stepped up its call for their party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to be the Prime Minister if Pakatan Rakyat wins in the coming polls. The wing said Pakatan Rakyat could not ignore the views of PAS' one million members. "If PAS wins the most number of seats, naturally members expect the candidate to be picked from PAS. "However, Pakatan has yet to make a collective decision on the candidate for the top post if the coalition succeeds in capturing Putrajaya. The party has to abide by the decision," said Ulama Council vice-chief Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamed yesterday in response to objections from DAP leaders over Abdul Hadi as Prime Minister if the coalition comes to power. Ousted PAS leader Datuk Dr Hassan Ali warned that there would be a revolt in PAS if the Opposition parties reject Abdul Hadi when PAS wins the most number of seats in the election. "If Pakatan truly practises democracy, it should listen to the voice of the majority, and not the voice of a few top leaders in the Opposition," he added. PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu said the final decision would be made by the Pakatan leadership. "It is too early to broach the subject, as we must win first. What if Abdul Hadi and Anwar lose in the election? "Then perhaps even I can be the Prime Minister," he said. Meanwhile, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said it had always been Pakatan's stand that the candidate for the Prime Minister's post would be the Opposition Leader. "We stick by what has been agreed," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday. DAP chairman Karpal Singh said Abdul Hadi should stick to the consensus that Anwar be appointed Prime Minister if Pakatan comes to power. "PAS should do likewise without being told because the position has been accepted all along," he said in a telephone interview yesterday. He said Anwar was the most qualified and acceptable person to take on the role because he had the experience in government administration as the former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister. In KUALA TERENGGANU, state PAS commissioner Abdul Wahid Endut said Abdul Hadi was the best choice for the Prime Minister's post because he has no moral issues to contend with. "In the Islamic point of view, there's no one better," he said. However, Abdul Wahid said such hopes largely depended on the outcome of the general election. "We should focus on winning the election first. If PAS wins the majority of seats, he would be the logical choice," he added.
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| Rafizi to meet HK’s anti-corruption officials tomorrow Posted: 19 Nov 2012 02:20 PM PST The PKR whistleblower will meet with Hong Kong anti-corruption officials and politicians tomorrow over the RM40 million Michael Chia scandal. Patrick Lee, FMT PKR whistleblower Rafizi Ramli will travel to Hong Kong tomorrow as part of his quest to find answers over the alleged RM40 million Sabah Umno scandal. He said that the two-day trip will see him, PKR MPs William Leong (Selayang) and Hee Loy Sian (Petaling Jaya Selatan) and state assemblyman Chang Li Kang (Teja) meet with the Independent Commissions Against Corruption's (ICAC) Operations Review Committee (ORC). "The review committee can direct the ICAC to divulge certain information…We are going to get to the bottom of this," he told reporters at the National Oversight and Whistleblowers centre. Rafizi said that the committee, which was made out of ICAC-independent members, had the power to get the ICAC to take another look into closed investigations. Additionally, he and the PKR lawmakers would also meet with Hong Kong Legislative Council opposition members, including Leung Kwok-Heung (League of Social Democrats), James To Kun-Sun (Democratic Party), Raymond Wong Yuk-Man (People's Power) and Civic Party leaders. According to him, the trip, which would see him return to KL on Friday, had two objectives: to query if the ICAC's investigation of timber tycoon Michael Chia was stonewalled by the Malaysian government, and to re-open the 2008 case. In 2008, Chia was supposedly caught by ICAC officers for trying to smuggle RM40 million in Singapore dollars to Malaysia. In October this year, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz told Parliament that Chia had never been arrested, clearing him of corruption. This prompted Rafizi to reveal that Nazri's family had been using a RM459,000 Hummer vehicle that Chia owned, leaving the PKR strategic director to wonder if Nazri was in fact linked money-wise to the timber tycoon. Previously, the PKR leader also alleged that ICAC's investigation had been dropped after three years because of a supposed lack of cooperation by the Malaysian government.
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| Malaysians overseas will be allowed to vote Posted: 18 Nov 2012 06:19 PM PST
Pakatan Rakyat MPs were also promised by the Election Commission that Rela officers would remain as normal voters. G Vinod, FMT The Election Commission (EC) today promised to get the Parliament to gazette regulations to allow Malaysians overseas to vote in the next general election. DAP MP Anthony Loke said this at a press conference held at the Parliament lobby today. Also present were PKR MPs Fuziah Salleh and Nurul Izzah Anwar. This was revealed to the parliamentarians by the EC is a meeting held at the Parliament secretariat room. The meeting was chaired by EC chairman Abdul Aziz Yusof and his deputy Wan Ahmad Wan Omar. The nearly three hours meeting was attended by about 50 MPs from both sides of the political divide. Loke, who is Rasah MP, said he was glad by the assurance given by the EC. However, he also reminded the electoral body that they had only two weeks to gazette the required regulations. "I told them that they only have two weeks. The next parliamentary session will be held only after the 13th general election," he said. Loke added that Abdul Aziz also promised that military and police officers would be called for advanced voting, instead of being postal voters, for the general election except for those serving overseas and at the borders. "He also assured that Rela officers will not be postal voters and categorised as normal voters," he said. On related matter, Fuziah said that Pakatan leaders were concerned over some reports that Rela officers may be turned into postal voters and Abdul Aziz's assurance was timely. The Kuantan MP said that a parliamentary constituency would have between 8,000 and 10,000 Rela members, which could affect an area's electoral results.
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| Posted: 18 Nov 2012 03:25 PM PST
DAP vice-chairman criticises politicians for continuing to raise issue 'despite futulity of it' (The Malay Mail) - PAS's vision of implementing hudud is as good as building castles in the air. DAP national vice-chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw said the notion of implementing hudud law in Malaysia was "pure politics, nothing else". "In order to implement it, you need a two-thirds majority in Parliament and then only can the Constitution be amended," he told reporters after addressing a crowd at Kepong Baru from the party's new election campaigning vehicle, the "Dream Machine". "Are you sure you can get the two-thirds majority? I say, dream on." Tan said all religions, including Islam, did not espouse their followers to force their beliefs upon other people, and the matter of institutionalising Islamic law should be treated as such. He criticised politicians for continuously raising the matter despite the futility of it. "You know it cannot be done, why talk about it?" he said. PAS had previously called for the implementation of hudud law, and the Opposition's victory in several states after the 2008 general election had only served to bolster its claims. However, several key leaders within DAP have opposed the idea. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak had said implementing hudud law was not feasible in a multi-ethnic country like Malaysia but had yet to reveal Umno's stand on the issue. On another matter, DAP is planning to increase the number of vehicles to be used for campaigning in the lead up to the elections. Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai, who was present at the event, said DAP had one 22-wheeler truck, called the "Dream Machine", that will be used for campaigning. However, to meet popular demand, the party is planning to use another two 22-wheeler trucks for campaigning. "We have received too many requests from people for us to make more visits to their constituencies," he said. Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng and Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun were also present at the event. Lim said the "Dream Machine" will spend at least a day in each state.
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| Guan Eng: We follow PR consensus that Anwar is prime minister Posted: 18 Nov 2012 02:32 PM PST
(The Star) - The DAP is sticking with the consensus made by the Pakatan Rakyat that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim be Prime Minister if the coalition wins in the general election. DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said it has always been Pakatan's stand that the candidate for prime minister should be the Opposition Leader. "As far as DAP is concerned and based on what Pakatan had agreed, we go by the consensus and the choice for prime minister is Anwar." "We stick by what has been agreed all along," he told reporters when at the Parliament lobby. On PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang's statement that he welcomed calls that he be made prime minister, Lim said: "He has the freedom of expression and right to say it." Hadi told reporters after the party's congress over the weekend that he was thrilled to be prime minister. The Ulama and Muslimat wings of the party also reiterated their demands for Hadi to lead the nation.
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| Hindraf is with Karpal on hudud, Islamic state Posted: 18 Nov 2012 02:15 PM PST Hindraf Makkal Sakti feels that more Pakatan Rakyat leaders must speak up against PAS' extreme Islamist stand (FMT) - DAP chairman Karpal Singh is the lone voice against PAS' Islamist stand and this does not auger well for the non-Muslims in the country. Hindraf Makkal Sakti feels that when other Pakatan Rakyat leaders do not speak up againt PAS, the right of non-Muslims will be pushed aside if the coalition comes into power. Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy said DAP and PKR leaders' silence raised suspicions that they would not defend the rights of over 12 million non-Muslim citizens if PAS pushed for an Islamic state. He said their silence suggested that MCA theory of PAS to establish Islamic theocracy by amending the Federal Constitution with the help of all Muslim MPs from Pakatan and Barisan Nasional could be right. "Will PKR and Umno MPs vote against PAS Islamist initiatives? It is a million dollar question that only time will answer," the Hindraf leader told FMT here today. He said Hindraf like many other concerned NGOs were baffled on why others in DAP and PKR, especially non-Muslim leaders like Lim Kit Siang and his son Guan Eng, were silent on this issue. "Just imagine if there was no Karpal, no one in Pakatan would be voicing out against PAS.The DAP supremo is the only leader defending non-Muslim rights. Right thinking citizens should back him. He critised PAS of being fanatical in establishing an Islamic state and introducing hudud law, pointing out that an Islamist agenda was unconstitutional and would rock the very foundation of formation of Malaysia in 1963. He reminded that freedom of religion and, absolute protection of rights of natives to their own land, religion, culture and custom were among main conditions agreed upon by all parties when Malaysia was formed with merger of Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore.
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| Analysts: Hadi as PM is a moot issue Posted: 18 Nov 2012 02:13 PM PST Pundits shrug of calls at PAS muktamar as having little importance. Patrick Lee, FMT Political pundits attach little importance to calls for PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang to become Malaysia's next prime minister. At least four prominent analysts seem agreed that it will not affect Pakatan Rakyat's solidarity. They said the opposition alliance had firmly decided on Anwar Ibrahim's premiership even if some PAS members were averse to the idea. "This will not cause a rift in Pakatan because its leadership has formally agreed that Anwar will be picked as PM," said James Chin, a professor at Monash University. Chin was referring to the repeated endorsement of Abdul Hadi as premier-in-waiting during last weekend's PAS muktamar. Delegates who made the call included those of PAS's Ulama wing. Independent analyst Khoo Kay Peng said the PAS leader was never in the running for the prime minister's position. "I don't think this will be taken seriously, unless it is endorsed by the highest of PAS's leadership," he said. Furthermore, he added, Abdul Hadi might not make a better PM than Anwar, given their large differences in experience and international image. He noted that Anwar had held various ministerial posts, including that of deputy prime minister. Denison Jayasooria, a research fellow at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, said having a well-balanced federal cabinet was more important than deciding who should be PM. He also advised Pakatan to focus more on a comprehensive policy direction rather than on the PM's position. Universiti Malaya's Azmi Sharom said the question was premature and would not matter if Pakatan were to lose the coming general election. He pointed out that a potential PM needed first to win a seat, win the confidence of the majority of Parliament and have the endorsement of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong. He said that there was no way, at present, of knowing whether either Anwar or Abdul Hadi would win a seat in the 13th general election.
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| Hadi as PM: Is Najib responsible? Posted: 18 Nov 2012 02:06 PM PST Was there a 'deal' between Anwar Ibrahim and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak over Sodomy II; leading to the PAS dilemma over Anwar? Teoh El Sen, FMT Firebrand blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin has suggested that there may have been a 'deal' between Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim prior to the latter's acquittal in the Sodomy II charge in January this year. In his latest posting "Does ABU equal to Anwar-for-PM?", Raja Petra said that about a month before Anwar was acquitted, there was already news filtering out from Umno that Anwar would be freed, adding that the information came from 'high-ups' in Umno and was told to him by lawyer-activist Haris Ibrahim. "Sam [Haris] received from his contacts in Umno that Anwar would be acquitted from the 'Sodomy 2' charge. The information that Sam received was that Najib had made a deal with Anwar. However, it was not too clear what type of deal it was," wrote Raja Petra. He said that Anwar's acquittal would 'more or less confirm' that the latter had turned "Umno Trojan horse". Raja Petra also referred to the latest statements by the PAS Ulama and Muslimat wings' supporting party president Abdul Hadi Awang to be made prime minister, saying that this may have been in response to Anwar's unexpected acquittal. "We were not the only ones caught gasping by Anwar's acquittal. PAS, too, could not accept Anwar as prime minister. But for them to renounce Anwar would have been 'bad politics'. However, if Anwar were convicted for Sodomy 2, then the problem would solve itself. "Due to Anwar's conviction for Sodomy 2, he would be disqualified from becoming prime minister even if Pakatan Rakyat wins enough seats to form the next federal government," he wrote. "If Anwar had been convicted for Sodomy 2, it would have been considered 'good politics', said Raja Petra. According to Raja Petra, jailing Anwar would have had a adverse effect on Barisan Nasiona (BN). "The sympathy factor would be high and Anwar could be 'marketed' as a martyr and a victim of injustice. Having Anwar in jail would benefit the opposition a great deal. "Plus it would solve the additional problem of not having him as the Prime Minister in the event Pakatan Rakyat gets to form the federal government," he said. Was acquittal an independent decision? Raja Petra said PM Najib may have realised that acquitting Anwar worked better for BN than putting him in jail. "Najib, too, knew that PAS did not want Anwar as prime minister. Hence the prime minister would be doing PAS a favour by putting Anwar in jail. "But if Anwar were to be acquitted, then PAS would face a dilemma. Do they (PAS) keep quiet and accept Anwar as prime minister or do they openly declare that they cannot accept Anwar as prime minister?" "Was Anwar's acquittal an independent decision by the judge or was the judge's decision to acquit Anwar a brilliant political move by Najib to drive a wedge between PAS and PKR (plus also now between PAS and DAP it seems)?"
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| PAS: Implementing hudud our right, no forcing of non-Muslims Posted: 18 Nov 2012 10:22 AM PST
(Bernama) - PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has stressed that hudud is PAS' right to implement in this country when the time comes. "Hudud is our right, and we (PAS) will not be enforcing hudud on non-Muslims as they have their own religion. For example, Muslims caught drinking liquor will be punished under hudud law but not the non-Muslims," he told reporters at the end of PAS' 58th Annual Muktamar (General Assembly), here, yesterday. Hadi said a study done by PAS showed that many non-Muslims supported the implementation of hudud as they had no confidence with the existing law. The hudud issue rose again when the party's Dewan Ulama chief, Datuk Harun Taib said PAS would definitely implement hudud if the opposition group comes into power after the upcoming general election. However, this was disputed by several DAP leaders including its national chairman, Karpal Singh. On PAS-DAP relations, Hadi said it was different from that between Umno and MCA because DAP accepted Islam's position as stipulated in the Federal Constitution, while the question of rejecting hudud was another matter. Asked about the suggestion by the muktamar delegates for Hadi to be appointed prime minister, he said they were free to speak "but the most important thing is to ensure the opposition wins the upcoming elections first". On the preparations for the elections, Hadi said everyone in PAS was in the mood to do battle and a joint manifesto of the opposition allies would be drawn up, besides the manifestos for the respective states.
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| Woman's death shows risks of putting the church before civil law Posted: 18 Nov 2012 10:18 AM PST
(Brisbane Times) - One person's religious freedom must end where it hurts another's right to health or happiness - or, as in Halappanavar's case, the right to life itself. As protesters outside the Irish Parliament last week pointed out, Halappanavar had a heartbeat, too.
It is said that the best way to get a bad law overturned is to enforce it. When people see its consequences, the truism goes, they will be so appalled that public support for change will build up an unstoppable head of steam.
The death of Savita Halappanavar might do just that for the women of Ireland.
Halappanavar, 31, was 17 weeks pregnant with her first, much-wanted baby when she went to Galway's University College Hospital in pain. Doctors told her that her cervix had opened and amniotic fluid was leaking. Her pregnancy was ending and there was no hope for the child.  "One person's religious freedom must end where it hurts another's right to health or happiness - or, as in [Savita] Halappanava's case, the right to life itself." Photo: AP Over the next three days, in agonising pain, Halappanavar repeatedly begged for an abortion to get the miscarriage over quickly. Could doctors not induce the labour so she could give birth sooner?
Advertisement According to her husband, Praveen, the consultant told them this was not possible because there was still a foetal heartbeat and ''this is a Catholic country''.
That heartbeat stopped after four days and only then was Halappanavar taken to have the contents of her womb removed. She developed septicaemia, or blood poisoning, and was dead three days later.
Obstetrics 101 tells us that sepsis is more likely if the mother's membranes stay ruptured for a long time, or if she retains ''products'' in her womb after miscarriage, termination or delivery. A dilated cervix is like a open wound.
Halappanavar's homeland of India is aghast and there have been diplomatic flurries of concern. Three separate inquiries are under way into the catastrophe and no doubt there will be findings as to whether or not medical negligence was a factor.
That was a straw eagerly clutched by some defenders of the Irish Catholic Church after the scalding rage that erupted over Halappanavar's case.
''It has nothing to do with the church,'' one deeply Catholic woman assured me sharply. ''It sounds like medical negligence. And, anyway, it happened in a state hospital.''
She was channelling Pontius Pilate washing blood from his hands. In Ireland, politics is deeply intertwined with Catholic doctrine and the institutional power of the church - and the church's tough stance against abortion has protected a near total ban on the procedure.
Ireland still has on its books 1861 legislation that makes it a crime to procure a miscarriage. A 1983 amendment to the constitution acknowledges the right to life of the unborn child but is also meant to give equal right to the life of the mother.
In 1992, Ireland's Supreme Court was forced to interpret that during the case of X, a suicidal 14-year-old rape victim. The government was trying to stop her going to Britain to abort the pregnancy that had resulted from the rape. The court ruled that if there was a substantial risk to the mother's life - her life, but not her health - it would be lawful to terminate. Irish governments have prevented that judgment from coming into effect by failing to pass laws that would affirm and clarify it.
More than 4000 Irish women each year go to Britain to end pregnancies, according to British health statistics, with almost one in 10 Irish pregnancies ending in British abortion clinics. An unknown number go to other European countries. ''Abortion tourism'', they call it.
Years ago, it could be argued that the influence of church doctrine on the Irish government was democratic - the majority believed in Catholic teachings, so it was fair enough that they were reflected in Irish law and that church leaders were consulted about planned legislation.
But that is no longer the case. A poll in The Irish Times found that 77 per cent now believe abortion should be permitted in some circumstances. Other polls have found the hold of the church is weakening more generally - 77 per cent of Irish now think there should be female priests, 90 per cent want married priests and 70 per cent say the church's teachings on sexuality are not relevant to them at all.
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| Posted: 18 Nov 2012 10:17 AM PST
(The Star) - Addressing concerns that the declaration was not up to international standards, Najib said Malaysia's stand was that the country had its own norm and values. Asean leaders have adopted the Asean Human Rights Declaration at the 21st Asean Summit here. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak signed on behalf of the Malaysian Government at the Peace Palace yesterday where the summit is being held. The Asean Human Rights Declaration states that every person is entitled to certain rights regardless of race, gender, age, language, religion and political opinions, among others. The declaration also states that the rights of women, children, elderly and disabled persons and migrant workers are an integral and indivisible part of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Addressing concerns that the declaration was not up to international standards, Najib said Malaysia's stand was that the country had its own norm and values. "In fact we feel that the declaration has points which are better than the universal declaration of human rights," he told the Malaysian media after attending the first day of the summit. The Prime Minister said Malaysia rejected any inclusion of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in the declaration. "It depends on your values and norms and we reject LGBT but it does not mean any weakening in terms of the principle of human rights," he said. "The leaders did not discuss Malaysia's stand and they have accepted it. We have signed it and as far as we are concerned Asean countries have accepted (our stand)." Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan said the adoption of the declaration was a major development and member states were ready to commit themselves to it. "Asean shall pursue the protection and promotion of human rights in the region in our own way and also try to maintain the highest standard as expressed in various declarations and instruments of the international community," Surin told a press conference here. On his meeting with Myanmar President Thein Sein, Najib said he had expressed Malaysia's concern over sectarian violence which had resulted in internally displaced persons in Rakhine state. "Malaysia noted that while Rakhine is a very sensitive issue to Myanmar, it has generally been very forthcoming and cooperative to concerns raised by Malaysia," he said.
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| Calls mount to scrap ASEAN human rights plan Posted: 18 Nov 2012 10:14 AM PST
(Al Jazeera) - The draft hasn't been published officially but a copy obtained by Al Jazeera shows that these principles would require that human rights and freedoms be "balanced with the performance of duties" and be subject not only to regional and national "context" but limited on a variety of grounds including "national security", "public order" and "public morality". Ten Southeast Asian nations are set to sign a declaration critics say will degrade, not protect, human rights. Leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will sign the group's first-ever declaration on human rights on Sunday with a clear statement on the supremacy of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights in an attempt to ease concerns that their own document falls short of international standards. Indonesia's Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa told Al Jazeera that there would be no delay and that the Phnom Penh Statement would include a "very clear assertion" that the implementation of the Asean declaration will be in accord with the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. "If we were now to doubt and decide to delay there's no guarantee that it will ever come back," he said on Saturday. "We have to seize the moment." In a grouping that includes the Communist governments of Vietnam and Laos, as well as the monarchy of Brunei and the more vibrant democracies of Indonesia and the Philippines, it has taken years of sometimes tense negotiation for ASEAN to get this far. The commissioners who helped draft the document insist the declaration should be seen as a starting point, rather than an end in itself. 'Good start' "Some countries are conservative, some are more liberal so we have to come to a melting pot of all these diversities," said Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Malaysia's Commissioner to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights. "It's a good start. From here you can only go upwards." The United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights, Navi Pillay, as well as groups such as Amnesty International, have called on ASEAN to delay the adoption of the document.
The main point of contention is the declaration's General Principles. The draft hasn't been published officially but a copy obtained by Al Jazeera shows that these principles would require that human rights and freedoms be "balanced with the performance of duties" and be subject not only to regional and national "context" but limited on a variety of grounds including "national security", "public order" and "public morality". "We are very disappointed and actually, outraged, that such standards are being adopted," said Yap Swee Seng, Executive Director of the Bangkok-based Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development. "If ASEAN adopts the declaration, the credibility and reputation of ASEAN will be dented in the eyes of the international community." Cambodia, the group's current chair, is battling accusations of deepening human rights abuses including the forced eviction of people from their land. In the run up to the summit, it tried to close down a series of workshops and discussions arranged by regional and local NGOs. Organisers say they were forced to cut short events after venue owners were intimidated and hundreds of participants found themselves ordered out of the Phnom Penh guesthouses where they were staying. They were allowed, however, to hold a peaceful rally outside Cambodia's National Assembly, although riot police kept watch. 'Living document' The process of drafting the text has been left mostly to the ten AICHR commissioners, most of them government appointees. The Commissioners say that discussions were held at the national level although there were only two regional consultations with civil society groups: one in Kuala Lumpur in June and another in Manila in September. The UN's Pillay says the process would have benefited from being more open. "This is not the hallmark of the democratic global governance to which ASEAN aspires, and it will only serve to undermine the respect and ownership that such an important declaration deserves," she said in a statement. | |
| PM Abdullah urges Islamic teachers to be more understanding Posted: 18 Nov 2012 10:12 AM PST
(Channel News Asia, 2007) - Mr Abdullah says: "This is not something that cannot be done. It has happened before. Those who have decided to leave the religion for some reason, they don't want to be Muslims anymore, what can you do? If they want to leave the religion, what are you going to do?" Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has called on the country's religious departments to listen to the problems raised by those wanting to renounce Islam and find a solution for them. He was speaking to reporters after opening an Islamic conference in Putrajaya on Monday.
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| PAS must first win all the 60 parliamentary seat for Hadi to be PM Posted: 18 Nov 2012 12:28 AM PST
(Sun Daily) - PAS must concentrate on winning the next general election and not get carried away with the issue of who will be the next prime minister. Dewan Muslimat information chief Aiman Athirah Al-Jundi said the party must first win most or all of their allocated seats in the election before deciding on who will become the country's premier. "The most important thing is if we want to capture Putrajaya is that it must be done through hard work and not just words. "Do not insist that we be the leader (prime minister) or become the core issue in the Pakatan Rakyat coalition," she said in her winding-up speech for the women's wing. On Saturday, Dewan Ulama delegate Hairun Nizam nominated party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang as Pakatan's best choice to be the country's seventh prime minister. Aiman Athirah said if PAS really wants Abdul Hadi for the post, the party must first win all the 60 parliamentary seats it will be contesting. Abdul Hadi, responding to the nomination, said he would prefer to be a 'servant' for the people, instead of their master. "As a leader who is taught by an Islamic party, I cannot ask to be appointed to a position. What is most important is we must first secure victory (in the election)," he said. Meanwhile, Dewan Ulama vice-chief Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamed said PAS members should not entertain petty and sensitive issues stirred by the 'enemies' of PAS and Pakatan. He said they should instead find the similarities with their counterparts in Pakatan, strengthen their determination and work hard to defeat Barisan Nasional (BN). "I urge all to restrict talking about sensitive issues and differences between all. Instead, we need to find our similarities and discuss the concrete issues so we could focus more on defeating Umno and BN," he said. A total of 1,116 delegates had gathered at the Pusat Tarbiyah Islamiyah Kelantan (Putik) in Pengkalan Chepa here since Friday for the three-day PAS muktamar. Speaking to reporters after launching the National Direction of Education Convention at Universiti Selangor yesterday, Anwar responded positively: "Never mind. It is not a problem. We can discuss it nicely." He said he was rushing for another event in Kuantan, Pahang.
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| Posted: 17 Nov 2012 07:26 PM PST
Mohd Farhan Darwis, The Malaysian Insider Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang finally bowed today to repeated calls from PAS members for him to be the next prime minister, saying he was ready to lead the country should Pakatan Rakyat (BN) win the next election. "I welcome being elected as the prime minister ... but I ask for Allah to grant us victory," the PAS president said in his closing speech at the party's 58th annual conference, or muktamar. The Marang MP was responding to calls by several delegates who insisted numerous times during the muktamar that the next prime minister should come from the Islamist party. Abdul Hadi's statement and the resounding support of party delegates contradict the stand taken by the PR leadership, which has repeatedly endorsed its de facto leader Anwar for the post of prime minister. Among those who voiced their endorsement was the information chief for the women's wing, Aiman Athirah, who had called for delegates to work harder so that PAS can lead PR, and Abdul Hadi Awang be elected the prime minister. The PAS Ulama wing also urged for the party to be the major power in PR so Abdul Hadi can be elected as cabinet leader. "We live in a democratic system, so if PAS wins a lot (of seats) in the next election, then the prime minister's post must go to the President," said Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamad, the Deputy Chief of PAS Ulama wing during the closing speeches. "So after this, let there be no one who promote others, we unanimously want our president to be the prime minister. "Rise if you agree with me," he requested, prompting the whole hall of delegates to stand up. Yesterday, Abdul Hadi Awang played down a suggestion from party delegates that he become the next prime minister instead of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, saying he would rather be a "servant" to the country instead of pursuing the post. Meanwhile, Anwar responded positively today to calls from PAS members, saying the proposal could be discussed, despite his ambition for the post being no secret. "No problem, kita boleh bincang dengan baik (we can discuss this amicably)," Anwar said to reporters earlier.
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| PAS dials down on hudud, concedes it can’t rule alone Posted: 17 Nov 2012 06:31 PM PST
(TMI) -- Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang appeared today to admit that PAS may never entirely abandon its plans to impose hudud for Muslims and had only softened its approach on the matter as the Islamist party knew it could not rule without its non-Muslim allies in Pakatan Rakyat (PR). But the PAS president offered his word that if implemented, the controversial Islamic penal code would not be imposed on the non-Muslims, shooting down a suggestion yesterday by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. "Hudud is (PAS') rights (to implement), and we are not forcing non-Muslims (to follow it)," Abdul Hadi told reporters after closing the party's 58th annual conference, or muktamar, here. "And the rights of non-Muslims are allowed by their own religion ... for example, liquor is allowed by their religion ... although it is haram in Islam, it is still their right." Dr Mahathir had stepped into the hudud fray yesterday, challenging the party to implement hudud for all, including the non-Muslims, in order to be fair. During the stretch of the party's annual meet this weekend, the PAS leadership seemed to deliberately dodge the issue of hudud and the party's Islamic state ideals, moving instead to appear more inclusive with slogans that advocate religious tolerance and acceptance. But the party's religious conservatives in the ulama wing and youth members insisted on raising the controversial issue, which has put a strain on PAS' ties with PR ally DAP. In his policy speech at the opening of the muktamar, Abdul Hadi focussed on PAS' plans to improve Malaysia's economy should PR come to power and skirted around hudud and the implementation of the Islamic state. But the veteran politician could not avoid the matter today, after PAS continued to find itself the target of critics who complained of the party's apparent failure to stick to its ideals. He would not expressly state if PAS would push ahead with its hudud agenda but appeared to suggest that the matter had to be shelved for the sake of its non-Muslim partners in PR. "We want to rule a country, if it's just PAS, then it will be impossible (for us) to rule," he told reporters. The Marang MP's remarks today will likely draw more criticism from PAS' political foes who have often accused the party of straying from its Islamic ideals and bowing down to its allies for the sake of wresting federal power. PAS also reiterated today that there is no friction between the party and DAP, with which they have gone into collision course on issues such as Islamic state and hudud. "DAP, PKR have accepted Islam as the religion of the federation," PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali said. "Don't equate them disagreeing over hudud, with them rejecting (Islam). It is not the same." Abdul Hadi's statements came after PAS's religious wing continued to reaffirm its stand on hudud, insisting that it should be implemented if the party wins a significant majority in the next election. "So far, hudud is still relevant," said Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamad, the Deputy Chief of PAS Ulama wing during the closing speech at the muktamar. "We will implement hudud in a democratic system if we win a lot of seats. It is not impossible that hudud can be implemented in Malaysia." Mahfodz reminded the PAS leadership that they should not forget Islam and hudud while they fight through the next campaign stage to reach Putrajaya. "A 'benevolent state' must be based on the Quran, sunnah and ijtihad ... not the -isms which contradict Islam," he added. This remark followed the information chief for the women's wing, Aiman Athirah's call for delegates to work harder so that PAS can lead Pakatan Rakyat (PR), and for President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to be elected as the prime minister if the party wins in the next election.
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| PM signs Asean Human Rights Declaration Posted: 17 Nov 2012 04:43 PM PST
(The Star) - PHNOM PENH: Asean leaders have adopted the Asean Human Rights Declaration at the 21st Asean Summit here Sunday. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak signed on behalf of the Malaysian Government at the Peace Palace where the summit is being held. The Asean Human Rights Declaration states that every person is entitled to certain rights regardless of race, gender, age, language, religion and political opinions, among others. The declaration also states that the rights of women, children, elderly and disabled persons and migrant workers are integral and indivisible part of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan said the adoption of the declaration is a major development and member states were ready to commit themselves to it. "Asean shall pursue the protection and promotion of human rights in the region in our own way and also try to maintain the highest standard as expressed in various declarations and instruments of the international community," Surin told a press conference here.
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| ‘Umno-linked ustaz implied Prophet is racist’ Posted: 17 Nov 2012 04:34 PM PST This kind of person is the stumbling block to national unity, says Islamic Renaissance Front. Leven Woon, FMT An Umno-linked religious academician has implied that the Prophet Muhamad is a racist in a bid to justify the BN's racial policies, claimed Islamic Renaissance Front chief Ahmad Farouk Musa today. He said Fathul Bari Mat Jahya (photo), from the Umno's Islamic scholars group Ilmuwan Muda Umno (Ilmu), has made the argument in an op-ed in Utusan Malaysia earlier this year. "The worst thing about Ilmu people… one of its leaders wrote specifically in a column in Utusan that it's alright for the government to practice racism, because the Prophet was a racist," he said in a NGO conference this morning. "And this is the character who is touted to be the next Perlis MB," he told some 100 audiences in a speech which themed on national unity. He said these group of Islamists, coupled with the far-right government-owned NGOs, which he mockingly dubbed as "gongos", are the major stumbling block to unity. Ahmad Farouk was referring to the Utusan article titled "The Prophet Racist Agreement and The Malay Rulers' Deal" which was published on Feb 29. In the article, Fathul argued that the Prophet appointed the keeper of the holy Kaaba key based on the person's lineage. The Kaaba key keeper overlooks the Zamzam Well, which is believed to be a miraculously-generated source of water from the god. While Fathul did not openly declare the Prophet as a racist, he however drew similarity between the Kaaba appointment and the social contract "sealed" by the country's forefathers which guarantees the rights of the Malays.
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| Anwar distances himself from Pas prayer Posted: 17 Nov 2012 03:51 PM PST
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has chosen to distance himself from Pas' prayer for the fall of Umno at the Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium on Friday night.
"No problem, we can discuss this in a nice manner," he said shortly when stopped by reporters before making a hasty exit.
Anwar who is also Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader earlier delivered a keynote address at the National Education Direction Convention at Unisel Shah Alam.
Pas organised the prayer for divine intervention (sembahyang hajat) to destroy Umno in conjunction with the party's rally and muktamar held in Kelantan.
The supplication by thousands of Pas supporters was led by the younger brother of Pas spiritual leader, Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.
Among the content of the supplication was to wish for Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) to be condemned like how the Pharaohs were drowned in the ocean, how Qarun was swallowed by the earth and how Nimrod, as well as Abu Lahab were cursed.
They also prayed for the Opposition to have an easy road to Putrajaya.
However, the act had been criticised by various quarters as inappropriate as it was against the values and teachings of Islam.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has chosen to distance himself from Pas' prayer for the fall of Umno at the Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium on Friday night. "No problem, we can discuss this in a nice manner," he said shortly when stopped by reporters before making a hasty exit. Anwar who is also Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader earlier delivered a keynote address at the National Education Direction Convention at Unisel Shah Alam. Pas organised the prayer for divine intervention (sembahyang hajat) to destroy Umno in conjunction with the party's rally and muktamar held in Kelantan. The supplication by thousands of Pas supporters was led by the younger brother of Pas spiritual leader, Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat. Among the content of the supplication was to wish for Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) to be condemned like how the Pharaohs were drowned in the ocean, how Qarun was swallowed by the earth and how Nimrod, as well as Abu Lahab were cursed. They also prayed for the Opposition to have an easy road to Putrajaya. However, the act had been criticised by various quarters as inappropriate as it was against the values and teachings of Islam. Read more: Anwar distances himself from Pas prayer - Latest - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/latest/anwar-distances-himself-from-pas-prayer-1.173038?localLinksEnabled=false=03d163d03edding-pred-1.1176%2F%3Fpfpentwage63dp%3A%2Fhe3d03dn63frea-rti3d19.3d163d03edding-pred-1.1176%2F%3Fpfpentwage63dp%3A%2Fhe3d03dn63frea-rti3d19.111w5ii%2Fed-1.1176%2F%2F2.2525%2F2.2525%2F1.331200%3Fcache%3D03d163d03edding-pred-1.1176%2F%3Fpfpentwage63dp%3A%2Fhe3d03dn63frea-rti3d19.111w5ii%2Fed-1.1176%2F%3Fparentpage%3D2.%2F7.2772%2F7.2772%2F7.2772%2F7.2772%2F7.27722%2F7.2772%2F7.2772%2F7.2772%2F7.2772%2F7.%3Fcache%3D03d163d03ntpage%3D2.%2F7.2772%2F7.2772%2F7.2772%2F7.2772%2F7.27722%2F7.2772%2F7.2772%2F7.2772%2F7.2772%2F7.%3Fcache%3D03d163d03edd1ng-pred-1.1176%2F%2F1.331200%2F7.184652%2F7.77028#ixzz2CYgpSzXB | |
| Anwar: Pakatan to discuss future country leadership Posted: 17 Nov 2012 03:28 PM PST
(The Star) - Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will hold a discussion with his Pakatan Rakyat colleagues on the suggestion by PAS' Dewan Ulama that PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang be made Prime Minister should the coalition come into power. Anwar was evasive when met by reporters after launching a convention on national education at Universiti Selangor (Unisel) here Sunday, saying he had to rush off for another function in Kuantan. When asked to react to the call made by Dewan Ulama representative Hairun Nizam in support of Hadi as Prime Minister, Anwar said: "It's okay. No problem. We will discuss in a nice manner". He then quickly stepped into his car and took off. At the 58th PAS muktamar in Kota Baru on Saturday, Hairun said Hadi was the best candidate for the job if the coalition took over Putrajaya. His call runs contrary to the popular assumption that Pakatan would appoint Anwar as Prime Minister if it won the 13th general election. DAP's Lim Kit Siang reaffirmed this stance at the Pakatan gathering in Kota Baru on Thursday. When pressed for a reaction, Hadi dodged questions and said he'd rather be a "servant" to the people and country. "Whoever becomes the Prime Minister needs the support of the party and people. "I would rather be a khadam (servant) to the people," he said.
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| Anwar says ‘no problem’ if Hadi made PM Posted: 17 Nov 2012 03:22 PM PST
Nomy Nozwir, The Malaysian Insider Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim responded positively today to calls from PAS members for their party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to be prime minister should Pakatan Rakyat (PR) win the coming polls, saying the proposal could be discussed. The veteran politician, whose ambitions for the post is no secret, did not waver when approached by The Malaysian Insider for his response to the suggestion made yesterday by members of PAS's ulama wing. "No problem, kita boleh bincang dengan baik (we can discuss this amicably)," Anwar said. During debates at the muktamar yesterday, a delegate from the party's ulama wing made a surprise proposal for Abdul Hadi to take on the prime minister's post instead of Anwar. Hairun Nizam, who made the suggestion during his turn at debates, said the PAS president was the "best person" to lead the country. In response, the delegate earned enthusiastic shouts of "takbir" from the over 1,000 gathered for the annual meet here. "I'd like to ask the delegates — who is the best person to lead the Malaysian government if not for Tuan Guru president?" he asked. "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 protégés of an Islamic party, should not campaign for others to take on the post," he added. Hairun's suggestion and the resounding support of party delegates contradicts the stand taken by the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leadership, which has repeatedly endorsed its de facto leader Anwar for the post of prime minister. During the pact's mammoth Himpunan Merdeka Rakyat rally in the Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium here on Friday, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang had 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. The veteran politician said the stand was taken to "save" the country from the spread of corruption. PR parties have repeatedly had to reaffirm their endorsement of Anwar as prime minister-designate to deflect criticisms from their political foes in Barisan Nasional (BN) that they were unable to achieve consensus on numerous issues. MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek recently said that PR was unfit to rule the country due to the numerous conflicts among the pact's three parties, pointing out that while some leaders have touted Anwar as prime minister, others have also said that the opposition leader was not the only qualified candidate for the post. In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Anwar admitted that the coming 13th general election may be his last shot at power, saying that he may quit politics if PR fails in its bid to claim Putrajaya. The influential business newspaper had noted that Anwar seemed tired for a man facing his best shot yet of governing a 28 million multiracial population fed-up with over half a century of BN rule that appears unable to reform politically, socially and economically.
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| 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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| 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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| 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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| 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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| ‘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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| 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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| 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 |
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