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• ‘Even women, children targeted in Sabah’
• Sulu envoy to talk peace with Malaysia?
• PI Bala: I wasn’t promised RM700,000
• ‘Prepare for future security threats’
• ‘Anwar promised RM700,000 to PI Bala’
• Saiful’s dad joins PKR
• Saiful, father’s Sodomy II tiff won’t alter GE13 results, say analysts
• Pakatan capable of forming Perak govt
• Kiram daughter slams Aquino anew
• ‘We’re treated like animals’
• Serb-Croatian Kiss Is The Bravest Thing Ever (PHOTO)
• Anti-Wan Azizah letter writer fears for his safety
• Ask, don’t threaten and jostle for seats, says Anwar
• Pakatan says will revamp media system under its rule
• For UIA students, ‘invite only’ screening of ‘Tanda Putera’
• ‘Lim is not a Chinese champion’
• Family puzzled over arrest of SB officer
• Malaysia Detains 79 in Fight Against Filipinos
• Rumblings of discontent in Manila over handling of Sabah row
• 'Royal army' learned combat by watching movies
• Police will be calling up Saiful Bukhari's father to give statement: IGP
• Anwar rebukes Pakatan members for fighting over seats
• Kiram orders troops to stay, no surrender
• Twitter attack against Nga-Ngeh cousins
• Sultan disputes casualty report
• Police arrest 79 as incursion death toll hits 61
• Saiful’s father sought me out over plot claim, PKR’s Johari says
• Kuala Lumpur launches media drive to discredit Kirams
• A 'smooth' transition, says Anwar
• Dr M says he fears PR's promise to remove NEP
• I stand by my accusation, says Saiful
• Lawyers push for answers on Bala’s second statement
• Saiful denies political plot in Sodomy II charge
• More violence as Umno ‘supporters’ attack PKR bus, Anwar
• ‘There was no Sabah referendum’
• Pakatan promises slew of reforms
• Sodomy 2: Anwar innocent, says Saiful’s dad
• We have nothing to hide, says EC
• EC snubbed proof to clean electoral rolls, says Selangor
• The Struggle for Jihad
• KL: No ceasefire, wipe out all militants
• M’sia erects defence line along Sabah east coast
• Filipino Sultan's Quest Sparks Crisis in Malaysia
• Tian Chua: I didn’t say it was an Umno conspiracy
• ZI Publications director charged with publishing, spreading, possessing Irshad Manji's book
• A move in PKR to oust Anwar’s dynasty?
• Malaysia flare-up illustrates volatility
• End blasphemy laws threatening minorities: U.N. faith expert
• LAHAD DATU: Jamalul Kiram III is a fake Sulu sultan, says family insider
• Police Arrest Dozens of “MyKad” Sulu to Gather Info

‘Even women, children targeted in Sabah’ Posted: 10 Mar 2013 09:52 PM PDT   (Phil Star) - Tawi-Tawi has been overwhelmed by refugees who have fled Sabah amid horror stories of Malaysian forces targeting even pregnant women and children in a security crackdown. Small boats have been docking in Tawi-Tawi, loaded with refugees fleeing the crackdown. A worker who asked not to be named said even pregnant women and children who were long-time residents of Sabah have been hunted down and killed as the Malaysians fire mortars and embark on a house-to-house search to flush out supporters of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III. Residents have fled on any boat available, even on traditional wooden lepa, used by Badjaos in the Sabah town of Semporna, the worker said. The increasing flood of refugees from Sabah is turning into a humanitarian crisis in Tawi-Tawi. The provincial government has appealed for help from the national government to provide food, medicine and other needs for the refugees. Malacanang said the alleged human rights violations perpetrated by the Malaysian police and military on non-combatants caught in the crossfire in Sabah are "unacceptable." The worker, who is among the refugees, told The STAR that Malaysian forces were targeting members of the Tausug tribe. Members of the Sulu sultanate are mainly Tausugs. "They have been rounding up Tausugs. Either they kill them or they imprison them," the worker said. Malaysian forces reportedly dragged the men out of their homes in Sabah, then kicked and beat them. Jumadil Taradji was told to make a run for it, and when he did so, he was shot dead, according to his sister Amira. "This kind of treatment on our Filipino citizens or Filipino nationals is unacceptable," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told radio station dzRB. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) expressed "grave concern" over the reports of human rights violations. "The department urges the Malaysian government to take steps to clarify these alleged incidents. The allegations are alarming and should be properly and immediately addressed by concerned authorities," the DFA said. It is still waiting for the Malaysian government to give Philippine embassy officials and Filipino humanitarian teams in Lahad Datu and nearby areas full access to the Filipinos being held in several locations in Sabah but outside the zone of armed conflict. Valte said "notes verbale" were sent to the Malaysian government precisely to seek humane treatment for the sultan's supporters. She said reports of extrajudicial killings of Filipinos "will have to be validated," adding that the treatment of Filipinos "certainly will be the subject of the discussion of the DFA and their Malaysian counterparts." Thousands of Filipinos have fled Sabah after clashes escalated following a three-week standoff between the followers of the sultanate and Malaysian forces. Tawi-Tawi Vice Gov. Ruby Sahali called on the national government to help the evacuees. She pointed out that even Tawi-Tawi residents are running out of rice. Over 1,000 evacuees have so far arrived, in separate batches, at the country's nearest entry points from Sabah. The latest batch of 512 evacuees reportedly arrived on Turtle Island, also called Taganak, on Saturday night. Sahali said there were more refugees than residents on the island and the food supply was good only until breakfast yesterday. Tawi-Tawi residents purchase rice and other food supplies in Sabah. Taganak Mayor Mibaral Tang said the 512 included 254 men, 122 women including pregnant and lactating mothers, and 136 children. Tang said some children were sick due to exposure to the elements during their sea travel. The evacuees from Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Sempornah and Tawau in Sabah are also flooding into the Tawi-Tawi islands of Sibutu and Simunul. Read more at: http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/03/11/918191/even-women-children-targeted-sabah

Sulu envoy to talk peace with Malaysia? Posted: 10 Mar 2013 09:50 PM PDT   (Rappler) - An envoy of the Sulu sultan said on Monday, March 11 he is waiting for the Malaysian government to allow him to travel to Kota Kinabalu to discuss the resolution of the conflict in Sabah. After a first proposed meeting in Brunei did not push through, Esmail Kiram II hopes this time he will be able to talk to the Malaysians. "I am appealing to my brother Malaysians and the Association of Sultans— let's together resolve this issue (…) as soon as possible," said Kiram, brother of self-proclaimed Sultan Jamalul Kiram III andstandoff leader Raja Muda Kiram. The Kirams proposed for the meeting to be held in another country, but the Malaysian government insisted on Kota Kinabalu. "What we are focusing [is] to let our government know our sincere help from the government side in connection with that statement from the Malaysian government [that the Kirams do not negotiate with authorities]," Esmail Kiram II said in a press conference in Makati after meeting Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas in Camp Crame, Quezon City. After the encounter, they refused to divulge specifics of their discussion, saying the details will first have to be reported to President Benigno Aquino III, although Roxas confirmed that the government is open to more talks with the sultan's brother, who has a "direct line" with Malaysia. 'EXPLORATORY TALKS.' Interior Secretary Mar Roxas meets with Esmail Kiram (2nd from left) and discusses "disengagement" and questions and concerns the Kirams want conveyed to President Aquino and Malaysia. Photo by Ayee Macaraig Gov't did not ignore our claim - Kiram Asked about his meeting with Roxas, the sultan's brother commented: "We have discussed strategies and means to act on the statement given by the Malaysian government." Esmail Kiram II defended the Aquino administration from allegations it had ignored the family's claim over Sabah and said the President has his top men taking care of the issue. The government will also sponsor the trip to Kota Kinabalu once the Malaysian government gives the green light, he added. Read more at: http://www.rappler.com/nation/23571-sulu-envoy-peace-malaysia

PI Bala: I wasn’t promised RM700,000 Posted: 10 Mar 2013 06:02 PM PDT Raja Petra Kamarudin is writing bullshit stories, says private investigator P Balasubramaniam. Anisah Shukry, FMT Private investigator P Balasubramaniam swears he was not promised payment for the 2008 statutory declaration (SD) linking Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to the murder of Altantuya Shaaribuu. Bala said this in response to claims by blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin that Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim had personally promised the private investigator RM700,000 if he agreed to come up with the first SD by July 1, 2008. Citing a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) source, Raja Petra had said Anwar wanted the SD to implicate Najib, who was then defence minister, so that his Sept 16 plan of becoming prime minister would succeed. "I swear on my mother, I do not know anything about this RM700,000. All these accusations against me are bullshit," Bala told FMT today. "In fact, I had only met Anwar twice: once in 1994, when I was on official duty, and the second was the day I signed my first SD during the [July 3, 2008] press conference. I never met him again afterwards, either." Bala stressed that the question of money never came up in his preparation of the first SD, denying even the RM100,000 he allegedly received from lawyer Puravelan. "My purpose has always been the truth, never money. What can I do with money? I can't bring it to my grave," he said. But Raja Petra had claimed that Bala had contacted businessman Deepak Jaikishan after he did not receive the full payment of the RM700,000 – an encounter that eventually led to the second SD, which reversed all claims made in the first one. Responding to this, Bala said: "Raja Petra has nothing to write about, so he comes up with bullshit. He's my friend, but I don't know how to advise him." He conceded that he had met with Deepak, but reiterated that the ensuing second SD was done out of duress. "I changed my statement out of duress, but then when Najib became prime minister in 2009, I openly said what happened to me, and my statement has been consistent since then." Bala also admitted to having received payment from Deepak after making the second SD, and said that the money had been used for travel, food expenses as well as the education of his children. READ MORE HERE

‘Prepare for future security threats’ Posted: 10 Mar 2013 02:39 PM PDT The on-going security crisis is a "slap in the face of Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein" who had earlier said the intruders were neither militants nor violent. Queville To, FMT KOTA KINABALU: With the east coast of Sabah being turned into a military command centre, Sabahans must brace themselves for the long haul in overcoming the security threats faced by Sabah, said former chief minister Yong Teck Lee. "Security operations of this nature can last up to 20 years, or one generation, because of the inherently delicate tasks of identifying who the real enemies are in this troubled region of East Asean, particularly in the Southern Philippines," he said. He cited how the Moros fought the Spanish conquerors for 300 years and then the Americans for 50 years and then Manila for another 50 years until the present day, without any sign of a long lasting solution in spite of peace agreements like the Tripoli accord of 1976 and with the Moro National Liberation Front in 1996 and with Moro Islamic Liberation Front in 2012. He told the reporters this when approached at the mobile service booth of Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) in Gaya Street here today, when asked to comment on the Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's announcement in Lahad Datu last Friday of the establishment of a special security area (SSA) in Sabah to safeguard the sovereignty and security of the state's east coast. Najib said the Sabah Special Security Area encompassed the districts of Kudat, Tawau, Kunak, Sandakan, Semporna and Lahad Datu. Yong who is also president of SAPP pointed out that the East Coast Security Area is an 'Eastern Command' that by its nature is meant for the long haul in the same way that the Sarawak Rajang Security Command (RASCOM) was established in the 1970s to combat communists and the Armed Forces Philippines Southern Command that was set up to combat separatists. He said the on-going security crisis is a "slap in the face of Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein" who had assured the people that the intruders are not militant and not violent. Yong also said he believes the armed intrusion by a group from the Southern Philippines has crossed the point of no return. READ MORE HERE

‘Anwar promised RM700,000 to PI Bala’ Posted: 10 Mar 2013 02:32 PM PDT However, Raja Petra says the money was not paid in full and this resulted in Balasubramaniam contacting Deepak Jaikishnan. (FMT) - In his latest posting, Raja Petra Kamarudin has revealed how private investigator P Balasubramaniam was allegedly conned of the RM700,000 promised to him by Anwar Ibrahim. Citing a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) source who quoted carpet businessman Deepak Jaikishnan's statement to the MACC, the Malaysia Today webmaster claimed that Balasubramaniam was promised the amount in return for his first statutory declaration to implicate Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor in the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu. In July 2008, Raja Petra said a prominent lawyer introduced Balasubramaniam to lawyers R Sivarasa and Americk Sidhu. "Sivarasa then arranged for Balasubramaniam to meet Anwar to discuss signing a SD to directly implicate Najib and Rosmah in Altantuya's murder. "Balasubramaniam met Anwar twice, the first time a few days before the SD was signed and the second time on the SD day itself wherein he sat beside Anwar and gave his press conference flanked by his lawyer," he added. The first time the prominent lawyer brought Balasubramaniam to meet Anwar, Raja Petra said he was promised RM700,000.00 if he agreed to come up with the SD by July 1, 2008. "Anwar had agreed to pay the RM700,000 through the lawyer and the payment was to be made in two stages – Part A, RM200,000, immediately and Part B, RM500,000, after the press conference. On July 1, 2008, Balasubramaniam made the SD and proceeded to conduct the press conference on July 3, 2008, organised by Anwar and his lawyers at the PKR headquarters. "Unfortunately for Balasubramaniam, after the press conference, the lawyer only paid him RM100,000 although he had received RM200,000 from Anwar. "The lawyer told Balasubramaniam that Anwar had instructed for the balance to be paid after a few days. The balance of RM500,000 – the lawyer pocketed all to himself without Balasubramaniam knowing," he added. 'Perfect timing' Raja Petra said a vexed Balasubramaniam then tried to contact Anwar through Americk and other people he knew in PKR such as Sivarasa. However, he added that Anwar never responded at all to him because the latter believed that Balasubramaniam was fully paid. At the same time, Raja Petra said Balasubramaniam started getting calls from the Brickfields police station and he became worried. "He started to panic as Anwar was not responding and the lawyer had just cheated him of his only income to enable him and his family to leave Malaysia. Balasubramaniam didn't know that the lawyer cheated him. "Balasubramaniam, the next day after waiting for Anwar or his lawyer to call him, realised that he had been cheated of his promised money. He then contacted Deepak [Jaikishan] through a mutual friend, Suresh, and asked to meet Deepak so that he could relate what had happened. Deepak informed Suresh that he would first discuss this matter with Rosmah and get back to him as soon as possible," he added. That afternoon, Raja Petra said, Rosmah called Deepak regarding the SD matter and the discussion got to Balasubramaniam. READ MORE HERE

Saiful’s dad joins PKR Posted: 10 Mar 2013 02:21 PM PDT Azlan Mohd Lazim said that he had supported PKR since 1998 and hopes that Pakatan Rakyat would win in the general election. G Vinod, FMT Saiful Bukhari Azlan's father, Azlan Mohd Lazim, announced that he will be joining PKR today. He submitted his application form to PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution at a press conference held at the party headquarters here today. Azlan was flanked by PKR MPs Abdullah Sani and Johari Abdul. Last week, Azlan, 60, dropped a bombshell when he said that Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim was innocent of the allegations in Sodomy II. He also said that his son, Saiful Bukhari, was a pawn in high-level political conspiracy to frame Anwar, masteminded by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's special officer, Khairil Annas Jusoh. However, Saiful denied his father's claims and insisted he was sodomised by Anwar. Azlan, a retiree, said that he had always supported PKR and Anwar since the Reformasi era. "I hope PKR and Pakatan Rakyat as a whole will win big in the 13th general election," he said. On Saiful standing firm on his accusations, Azlan refused to comment on the matter. However, Azlan said that he was heartened by Saiful's statement that he would always love his father. "I apologise to Saiful if my decisions had affected him. It's not my intention to betray my son. "I will always love my children. Just because I have joined PKR does not mean I'm going to ignore my blood," he said. During the question and answer session, Azlan dodged many queries posed to him, including on why he revealed on Anwar's innocence only five years later. " As a Malaysian, I can decide for myself. Besides, I have thought a lot about it and its implications," he said. He also dodged questions on why he did not stop his son from taking a religious oath on the sodomy case in 2009 if he had known Anwar was not guilty. READ MORE HERE

Saiful, father’s Sodomy II tiff won’t alter GE13 results, say analysts Posted: 10 Mar 2013 02:12 PM PDT Zurairi AR, TMI The political conspiracy claims by Saiful Bukhari Azlan's father about his son's sodomy complaint against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will have little impact on the general election and will be eclipsed by other issues, say analysts. Questions also have been raised over the timing of Azlan Mohd Lazim's revelation on Friday describing an "evil conspiracy" behind the opposition leader's second sodomy charge, and his subsequent apology to Anwar's family. "I suppose it's all related to the election, even Saiful's father is willing to come out and speak up," Merdeka Center for Opinion Research director Ibrahim Suffian told The Malaysian Insider. "It (happened) before the elections, so that there will be more time (for the issue) to be discussed prior to the campaigning period." Ibrahim expressed dismay that the ugly issue has once again reared its head, which will further sensationalise the political scene in the country. He suggested that PKR had the most to gain, as Azlan's (picture) revelation appeared to implicate the country's leadership, by linking the Prime Minister's Office and Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail in the conspiracy. "Anwar has been accused in the past, but the statement by Saiful's father changes how the storyline goes so far," said Ibrahim, who run's the widely respected polling agency. "It further points to the impression that Anwar is innocent," he added. Anwar's acquittal last year has also factored in support for his Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact and that most Malaysians generally viewed the prosecution with some scepticism. PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat had also said over the weekend that Anwar's reputation was getting cleaner by the day following the latest revelations. "Lies will one day be revealed ... It's impossible for Anwar to pay Saiful's father off, especially when Cabinet ministers earn much more than Anwar," Nik Aziz was quoted in the Saturday editon of the Malay-language daily Sinar Harian. UiTM political science lecturer Asri Salleh conceded that the issue could be played up by both Barisan Nasional (BN) and PR, as both sides could potentially lose or gain ground from the issue. "This issue will not last long. Kejap je panas (It's a hot issue for just a short time)," Asri told The Malaysian Insider. READ MORE HERE

Pakatan capable of forming Perak govt Posted: 10 Mar 2013 01:38 PM PDT A DAP leader feels that Pakatan can capture at least 42 state seats to form the next state government. Athi Shankar, FMT IPOH: Pakatan Rakyat can win 38 to 42 state seats to form the next Perak government, declared DAP's Tronoh assemblyman V Sivakumar. The former Perak State Legislative Assembly Speaker said based on reliable intelligence information, Pakatan was on the verge forming the state government with a two-thirds majoriy in the state's 59-seat legislature. Pakatan allies – DAP, PAS and PKR – mustered only 31 state seats against Barisan Nasional's 28 seats in the 2008 general election. The narrow Pakatan win, he said, had enabled BN to stage a coup via defections to capture the state government in early 2009. Pakatan lost the state government when PKR assemblymen Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi of Behrang and Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu of Changkat Jering, and DAP Jelapang representative Hee Yit Foong defected and declared themselves as BN-friendly independents. A year later, DAP's Malim Nawar assemblyman Keshvinder Singh followed suit. Sivakumar said people in Perak were still bitter with how BN's took over the state. He said issues like corruption and abuses of power would be the main reason behind the forecasted massive vote swing towards Pakatan. "If we win with two-thirds, then we will see what BN is going to do," he told a fund-raising dinner themed "Matram Nite – Dine With V Sivakumar" held here. DAP's Taiping MP and Pantai Remis assemblyman Nga Kor Min, Beruas MP and Sitiawan assemblyman Ngeh Koo Ham, and Buntong assemblyman A Siva Subramaniam, and PAS leaders Nizar Jamaluddin and Husam Musa were all present. Sivakumar said Pakatan was confident that it could garner some 85% of ethnic Chinese voters, not less than 60% Indian votes and some 40% Malays not only in Perak, but across the Peninsula. READ MORE HERE

Kiram daughter slams Aquino anew Posted: 10 Mar 2013 12:00 PM PDT   (Global Nation) - Jacel Kiram, 32, said that if there was any conspiracy, it was between President Aquino's government and the political party of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, the United Malays National Organization (UMNO). MANILA, Philippines—The daughter of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III maintained Saturday that no conspiracy was involved in the decision of her family and their followers to reclaim Sabah and slammed the Aquino administration for pursuing this angle to discredit the Sultanate of Sulu. "The conspiracy theory is an insult to the Filipino people and to the Sultanate of Sulu, more so to the Rajah Mudah and his people," Princess Jacel Kiram said in a press conference.   Jacel Kiram, 32, said that if there was any conspiracy, it was between President Aquino's government and the political party of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, the United Malays National Organization (UMNO).   "(It is) purely for political exigency and popularity. This issue (about Sabah) to them is not important, especially at election time in Malaysia. To gain points instead of adhering to the call of the United Nations to a peaceful resolution, Razak did the opposite. He sent seven battalions supported by the Naval, Army, and Air Force to pulverize the Royal Army, disregarding life,"  Jacel Kiram said.   She said the conspiracy theory of the government was also meant to divert the public's attention from what she described as Malacañang's "mishandling" of the Sabah standoff that began a month ago.   She also accused Malacañang of acting as a "spokesperson against the interest of our own people in order to pacify the role of Malaysia in facilitating the peace process."   "Question: How can PNoy allow the Filipinos in Sabah to be the sacrificial lamb in order to protect the political ambition of Razak at the same time propping up (his) declining credibility in crisis management?" Jacel Kiram said.   "I call on the Filipino people to be more circumspect and not to allow disinformation to formulate their beliefs," she said. Read more at: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/68035/kiram-daughter-slams-aquino-anew

‘We’re treated like animals’ Posted: 10 Mar 2013 11:46 AM PDT SLOW BOAT TO FREEDOM AND SAFETY A police sweep of the Filipino community in Sandakan drove its residents into "extreme fear" forcing them to escape into the night boarding whatever available boat that would take them. An initial wave of 400 evacuees from Sabah arrived in Sulu on Friday. A thousand more are expected in the next few days. KARLOS MANLUPIG/INQUIRER MINDANAO (Philippine Inquirer) - "Soldiers and policemen stormed their houses and even those with legitimate working papers like passports and IC papers were not spared. These documents were allegedly torn before their eyes. Men were told to run and were shot if they did. Those who refused were beaten black and blue. Filipinos in jail were executed" "They dragged all the men outside the houses, kicked and hit them," 32-year-old Amira Taradji said on Friday as she recounted her family's ordeal in Sandakan, which started when Malaysian security forces launched a crackdown on suspected supporters of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III in Sabah.   Taradji said Malaysian policemen ordered Filipino men to run as fast as they could and shot them.   Among those killed on Monday night during the police sweep of a Filipino community in Sandakan was her brother, Jumadil, she said.   Taradji, who was originally from Calinan in Davao City, was among some 400 Filipinos who fled Lahad Datu, Semporna, Tawau and Kunak in Sabah for Sulu as the violence sparked by the intrusion of the followers of Jamalul into the eastern Malaysian state spread at the start of the week.   In other Philippine areas near Sabah, hundreds more have arrived since the police crackdown started and many more Filipinos are expected to return home anytime soon, according to government officials.   Speaking to the INQUIRER by phone through the help of a Sulu local official shortly after arriving in Patikul town by a commercial vessel from Sabah late Friday, Taradji said the police sweeps had become dreadful for both Filipinos and Sabahans known as Orang Suluk (people who originated from Sulu).   Taradji reported the arrest of Filipino men in Tawau and Kunak.   Some of the arrested men, who showed immigration papers, were shot dead, she said, recounting reports by other Filipinos who fled Sabah with her.   "Some of those arrested did not see jail because they were shot and killed," Taradji said.   She said those who had been locked up were also unlucky, as the Malaysian authorities were not feeding them.   Extreme fear Taradji had lived in Sandakan since she was 6 years old and she was a holder of MyKad, the identification card issued to Malaysian citizens and permanent residents.   She said that despite her and her family's being holders of MyKad, they hastily abandoned their home when the police sweeps started Monday night.   She said that from a distance, she saw how those caught during the raid suffered in the hands of Malaysian policemen.   "We sailed from Sandakan to nearby islands. From one island to another, until we reached a small island where we took [an outrigger] for the Philippines. We begged hard so they would allow us into one of the [their boats]," she said.   Carla Manlaw, 47, said the extreme fear of Malaysian policemen, with stories of abuses and killings, prompted her and other Filipinos to leave for Bongao in Tawi-Tawi.   Manlaw and 99 others, including children and elderly people, reached Philippine waters in two motorboats after sailing for about two hours from Sandakan. They were intercepted and escorted by a Philippine Navy ship to Bongao late Friday.   "My employer had no problem with having a Filipino worker. But what bothered me was the police," she said. Manlaw said the other Filipinos in her boat fled because of fear. "What will they do to us?" she said, quoting her fellow refugees.   She said that when she heard that a vessel was leaving for Bongao from Sandakan, she immediately grabbed her things and went for it.   Investigate now Mayor Hussin Amin of Jolo, Sulu, said the accounts of Filipinos fleeing police abuse in Sabah were "alarming and disturbing" and the Philippine government should look into it.   He said he had spoken with many refugees and their stories were the same:  Malaysian soldiers and policemen do not distinguish between illegal immigrants and MyKad holders.   "Soldiers and policemen stormed their houses and even those with legitimate working papers like passports and IC papers were not spared. These documents were allegedly torn before their eyes. Men were told to run and were shot if they did. Those who refused were beaten black and blue. Filipinos in jail were executed," Amin said by phone late Friday.   What's really happening? "We are asking our government to investigate now. Refugees from Sandakan and Sabah had spoken to us about their ordeals. If indeed what they have been telling us is true, then Malaysian authorities are not just targeting the Kirams in Lahad Datu," Amin said. Read more at: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/67981/were-treated-like-animals

Serb-Croatian Kiss Is The Bravest Thing Ever (PHOTO) Posted: 10 Mar 2013 11:29 AM PDT   (Huffington Post) - When asked why she was walking next to a Serb, a Croatian girl responded by kissing him. The moment took place during a parade in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina. Students from the United World College, Mostar, were walking through the town with flags for a cultural parade. "My Serbian friend was walking hand in hand with his Croatian girlfriend," Reddit user EvolvedBacteria explained. "When an old lady asked her how she could dare to walk next to a Serb, she kissed him." Story continues after photo The user said more than 40 different nationalities are represented in the student body of the United World College, making it a symbol of unity in a city that for some, remains divided by war. Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/10/croatian-girl-kisses-serb_n_2839945.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003

Anti-Wan Azizah letter writer fears for his safety Posted: 09 Mar 2013 05:22 PM PST Mohd Fareez Kamal Intidzam has lodged a police report at the Dang Wangi police station yesterday, asking for police protection for himself and his family against those who are looking for him. (FMT) - A former aide of PKR women chief Zuraida Kamaruddin is claiming that he is being "hunted down" by the party and its leaders after details of his letter which had called for the removal of PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had become public. Mohd Fareez Kamal Intidzam, 24, now wants the police to provide him with security as he feels his safety is at stake. "I am being hunted down by certain people who I think are either supporters or people acting on behalf of Wan Azizah. "Since the details of my letter became public, they had even managed to track me down to the hotel in which I was staying," he said in a statement today. Fareez has lodged a police report at the Dang Wangi police station yesterday, asking for police protection for himself and his family against those who are looking for him. Last Thursday popular blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin posted in his website Malaysia-Today a handwritten letter purportedly by Fareez urging PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang to save the opposition pact from PKR president Wan Azizah and its vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar. Fareez alleged in his letter that Wan Azizah and Nurul wanted to destroy his career as he was "close" to Anwar. He also claimed to be working for Anwar as his private secretary for international affairs since 2008. "The duo wants to eliminate anyone close to Anwar as they are jealous. As PAS president, only you (Hadi) can pressure Wan Azizah to quit her post before the 13th general election," he said in his letter. He also said that Wan Azizah's departure would not make much difference because the former Permatang Pauh MP cannot contest for a parliamentary seat in the coming election anyway. The letter was also copied to DAP chairman Karpal Singh. READ MORE HERE

Ask, don’t threaten and jostle for seats, says Anwar Posted: 09 Mar 2013 01:50 PM PST (The Star) - Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahimslammed those threatening and jostling for seats within Pakatan Rakyat as "having shallow minds". Admitting that there were threats and lobbying for seats within the coalition, he said it occurred mostly at the grassroots level. "One should not threaten for seats but one can request for it," Anwar said at the Penang Pakatan convention at Komtar here yesterday. Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng announced that the theme for the state Pakatan manifesto was "Safer, Cleaner, Greener and Healthier Penang" but much of the focus at the event was the surprisingly dismal turnout. Although about 1,000 members of the DAP, PKR and PAS were expected to attend, there were at most only about 500 attending the event in the morning. The crowd dwindled progressively after Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng spoke. After Anwar's speech, there were only about 200 people left. Lim said the members were tired due to the tight schedule. "Why do you want to focus on the numbers?" he asked when questioned about the poor turnout. Meanwhile, in Sungai Petani, about 100 PKR members staged a demonstration, calling for an Indian candidate to be named for the Bukit Selambau state seat. The group's spokesman S. Muthu, 38, said the members were unhappy over rumours that Kedah PKR deputy chairman Senator Zamri Yusufhad been picked. PKR's Datuk S. Manikumar currently holds the seat.

Pakatan says will revamp media system under its rule Posted: 09 Mar 2013 01:41 PM PST Clara Chooi, TMI The media will be just, more credible and better organised under Pakatan Rakyat's (PR) rule, the opposition pact has pledged as part of its commitment to widen civil liberties here should it win Election 2013. In his speech while debating the pact's national manifesto at the Penang PR convention yesterday, PAS leader Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said this was the first promise he would see through after the polls. "The media system must be transparent, must have credibility... not like what it is today, lacking in integrity, displaying a decline in journalistic ethics and showing a penchant for spreading slander," he was quoted as saying in PAS organ Harakah Daily today. The Kuala Selangor MP added that should PR opt to maintain the current media system, which is largely controlled by the ruling Barisan Nasional-led (BN) government, the public would likely punish the pact for failing to live up to its pledges. He said it has become a primary duty of PR parties PAS, PKR and DAP to ensure media freedom, largely since the parties have had to endure over 50 years of allegedly being bashed in the media with "lies". The PAS central working committee member said these "lies" must stop as many among the Malays are easily swayed by them, even to the extent of being convinced of their obligation to vote for BN. "Umno and BN aren't actually strong parties. They are weak, but because they control the mainstream media, whatever they say gets repeated on the ground to ensure that the people continue voting for BN," he added, according to Harakah Daily. PR, a loose pact of opposition parties PKR, DAP and PAS, expects to topple BN from its over half a century rule of Malaysia in Election 2013, which must be held by June. The pact is believed to have grown significantly in strength and in numbers since it was hurriedly formed after the last general election in 2008, when BN suffered unprecedented electoral losses. READ MORE HERE

For UIA students, ‘invite only’ screening of ‘Tanda Putera’ Posted: 09 Mar 2013 01:15 PM PST The film's maker, Shuhaimi Baba, said "creative licence" was used in the depiction of historic events in "Tanda Putera".  Nomy Nozwir, TMI The controversial "Tanda Putera" film on the May 1969 riots was privately shown last night to a group of 600 students in an "invite-only" screening at Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIA). The university's Student Affairs Department had earlier confirmed that the film would be shown to students and was organised by Kelab Wawasan UIA with co-operation from the department. The film has raised the ire of opposition politicians who say some scenes are not historically accurate. But the film's director had stressed that the film is not a documentary, but a movie "with dramatic elements and creative licence responsibly exercised in its making" and with research done beforehand. According to a student group, it was mandatory for Police Undergraduate Voluntary Corps and Air Force Reserve Officer Training Unit (PALAPES) members to attend, while UIA's residential colleges have been asked to send six members each. "Those who attend would also be awarded 'Star Points'," news portal Malaysiakini quoted We Unite for Islam UIA president Mohd Najib Abdul Rahim as saying, referring to the institution's participatory merit point system. The Malaysian Insider was turned away from attending the 9pm screening last night, which appeared to be tightly guarded by security personnel. One security guard told The Malaysian Insider that the event was "invite-only" and was strictly meant for students, stressing that the media was not permitted to attend the screening. "Reporters not allowed, only invited students," he said. When approached in the surrounding areas of the campus, several students said they were unaware of the private screening. "There is an event in the auditorium? I was not aware," said Nurul Huda Abdul Hamid. Another student, Azuandi Mohd Zainal, a final year law student, said he came to know about the screening from a friend who was part of PALAPES. "My friend is in there, but he did tell me that only selected individuals are permitted," the student told The Malaysian Insider. The Twitter page of student movement @UIAM4PEACE confirmed that the screening took place last night. "Filem #TandaPutera dah bermula.. Kami X Boleh Merakam Sebarang Gambar dan Video dlm Ini.Nytakan Pndangan Anda dgn guna Hashtag #TandaPutera," it wrote. [Translaton: Tanda Putera has started. We cannot snap any photographs or video in here. State your views by using the hashtag #TandaPutera]. "Tak nampak perkauman pun movie ni .yang aku nampak yang jahatnya sisa saki baki pihak komunis #TandaPutera," a student @YuFakhrulLah who attended the screening wrote. [Translation: This movie does not look racist. The ones who I see are the villains here are the communist remnants]. Last month, over 3,000 Felda settlers were shown a surprise preview of "Tanda Putera". The film was shown during a special gathering of settlers at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), which was also attended by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. READ MORE HERE

‘Lim is not a Chinese champion’ Posted: 09 Mar 2013 12:41 PM PST A former DAP branch leader slams Penang chief minister saying that the Chinese community should not be hoodwinked into labelling Lim Guan Eng as the "Chinese champion". Athi Shankar, FMT The Malaysian Chinese community needs to clear the misconception that DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng is the community's "champion" protecting their interests and rights, a former Selangor DAP branch leader charged today. Former DAP Taman Seri Sungai Pelek branch chairman Tan Tuan Tat alleged that Lim was, in fact, a true champion of capitalists' interests but masquerading as someone who had the peoples interest at heart. He said the Chinese community should not be carried away with Lim's Chinese opera stage performance that deceived their eyes. Tan said if one were to scrutinise his five-year performance as Penang Chief Minister, Lim had not championed ordinary Chinese rights as he potrayed. For instance, he claimed Lim had transferred his son from a Chinese school to a national secondary school. "If he was a champion of Chinese education, why he did it?" Tan asked a rally held by disgruntled ex-DAP members in Jelutong here on Friday night. Other speakers were former DAP vice chairman and ex-Senator Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim, former Pantai Sepang branch leader R Vellasamy and former Serdang life member DAP Yap Kon Min. Tan claimed that since Lim helmed the Pakatan Rakyat state government, the DAP leader only facilitated development of high cost houses. He said these homes were beyond the reach of even the economically vibrant local Chinese, let alone others. Tan blamed Lim's drastic policy to hike up various development-related charges as the main cause for property prices to soar to an extraordinary level in Penang today. Tan alleged Lim had also allowed developers to build only houses worth RM1 million each in so-called prime areas across Penang. But, Tan noted Lim had not commenced a single project to build affordable homes for the lower income group anywhere in the city. He claimed that currently only rich foreigners can buy properties in Penang while developers were laughing all the way to the bank, thanks to Lim's pro-rich policies. Tan said Lim's pro-capitalist stance had violated basic citizenry right and deprived locals from buying homes in their birthplace. "Lim did not safeguard the peoples rights. He was once DAP socialist youth leader but today he champion's the capitalist cause. Chinese community should right their wrong conception on Lim," urged Tan. READ MORE HERE

Family puzzled over arrest of SB officer Posted: 09 Mar 2013 12:39 PM PST The worried family of Corporal Hassan Ali Basari, detained for being an alleged informant, want the police to either release him or charge him immediately. (FMT) - KOTA KINABALU: The family of one of the security personnel accused of aiding the armed group of Filipinos and detained, Corporal Hassan Ali Basari claims he is being severely abused during interrogation and should be released. They are concerned about his health and fear he is being denied medical attention. The family also claimed that Hassan was forced to admit that he had conspired with the armed terrorists, and was being blamed for the deaths of the eight policemen, web news portal The Borneo Insider reported. Hassan, a member of the Special Branch, was first detained on Monday and then again on Friday on suspicions of corruption. Detained along with Hassan was one Maritime Enforcement Agency personnel and two Navy personnel stationed in Semporna. The Borneo Insider quoted his nephew Salleh Berindi Othman as saying that the family became concerned after not hearing from him and rumours circulated that he was somehow involved with the Filipino group who had taken over Kg Tanduo in Lahad Datu and attacked and killed six policemen in Semporna. Salleh lodged the police report at the Tanjung Aru police station here on Friday because he believed that his uncle has been wrongly detained and that he had been abused while in detention. He said after being given the run-around for several days, he was finally allowed to meet his uncle at the Kepayan police headquarters. "An officer told us that we could not speak to one another in our mother tongue, which is Bajau Semporna, when conversing with Hassan. "We were also warned not to take any pictures during the meeting, as it was evident our uncle had bruises on his body," he told reporters after lodging the police report. "I hope the police will conduct a thorough investigation on my report and I also hope that they will allow my uncle to obtain treatment at the hospital," he said. READ MORE HERE

Malaysia Detains 79 in Fight Against Filipinos Posted: 09 Mar 2013 11:58 AM PST (The New York Times) - Human Rights Watch called on the Malaysian government to either charge those detained with a criminal offense or release them. The group also asked the Malaysian government to be more forthcoming with information about its operations in Sabah.  Malaysian authorities announced Saturday that they had detained 79 people they suspected of being sympathizers of Filipino fighters who recently landed on Borneo in an attempt to re-establish a historic claim to part of the island. The government also raised the death toll in recent fighting between Malaysian forces and the militants to 61. Malaysian authorities said eight of the dead were police officers and the rest were militants. It is difficult to know if any were civilians because the government has restricted journalists' access to the area. The approximately 200 fighters arrived last month on Borneo and the government began air and ground strikes on Tuesday after the rebels refused entreaties by both the Philippine and Malaysian authorities to leave peacefully. The flare of violence is rooted in the claims of a Filipino sultan over part of what is now the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo Island, a short speedboat ride from the southern Philippines. There are an estimated 800,000 Filipinos in Sabah, according to Philippine government estimates. Many are undocumented workers and some claim to have been mistreated by employers and local Malaysian authorities. Many Filipinos support Sabah being returned to their country, though they want their government to pursue that through nonviolent, legal means. The announcement of the detentions on Saturday raised concerns among human rights activists. Read more at: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/10/world/asia/malaysia-says-61-die-in-crackdown-on-filipinos.html

Rumblings of discontent in Manila over handling of Sabah row Posted: 09 Mar 2013 11:55 AM PST   (The Malaysian Insider) - "The Sultanate of Sulu had already heeded the call of the United Nations and has declared a ceasefire. This shows their sincerity in negotiating the claim on Sabah. They want resolution of the issue, not a war"  There is growing dissent among Philippine lawmakers over Manila's handling of the Sulu incursion into Sabah, according to the republic's media today. In a report on The Manila Standard website, some lawmakers are also turning the issue into a campaign platform ahead senate elections there. "Malaysia is supposed to be our partner is promoting peace in Mindanao but now they are slaughtering our people," Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casiño was quoted as saying in the report. Casiño, who is vying for a seat in the Philippine senate, was critical of Malaysia's refusal to entertain the Sulu forces call for a ceasefire, calling the response unreasonable and inhumane. "The Sultanate of Sulu had already heeded the call of the United Nations and has declared a ceasefire. This shows their sincerity in negotiating the claim on Sabah. They want resolution of the issue, not a war," Casiño said in the report. "Their [Malaysia] media reports say 60 have been killed in Sabah, more than 50 killed by their forces. The continuous air strikes and attacks show Malaysia's low regard for life and the people of Sabah. Do you think the public will believe that all those who were killed were supporters of the Sultanate of Sulu?"  Lawmakers aligned to President Benigno Aquino, such as Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr, however, parroted the official line blaming the Kiram clan, headed by self-styled "Sultan" Jamalul Kiram III, for the crisis and resultant deaths. "The government has been in touch with Kiram from the very start. He was adamant," Belmonte was quoted as saying. "Even now, his men refuse to give up their arms. [Aquino] would not risk involving us in an armed conflict with Malaysia by backing Kiram's intransigence. I fully agree with that decision," he added. Aquino reportedly called for a probe against Kiram and his cohorts after Malaysia demanded their extradition following their invasion into Sabah on February 9 that later led to deadly clashes with security forces there. And while some lawmakers backed Malacanang Palace on the issue, they also urged the government to wield diplomacy in order to bring the matter to conclusion. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/rumblings-of-discontent-in-manila-over-handling-of-sabah-row/

'Royal army' learned combat by watching movies Posted: 09 Mar 2013 11:53 AM PST   (Rappler) - Royal Forces led by a teacher, not a fighter Admitting that the 215 surviving followers of the Sulu Sultanate only learned combat by watching movies, the camp of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III is now the one pressing for a peaceful resolution of the row they started in Sabah. "'Yung mga napapanood sa sine (What we see in the movies) is another training, visual training kung papaano aalis sa danger zone (how to leave a danger zone)," said Abraham Idjirani, spokesperson of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III. "How much more for the Sulu people kasi how many decades na-experience nila kung papaano iiwas sadanger. (The Sulu people have decades of experience on how to avoid danger) No, walang training sila(they had no training)," he said. The Sultanate is relieved that the United Nations is exerting effort to enter the picture. According to the United Nations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met with Hussein Haniff, permanent representative of Malaysia, on March 8 to discuss recent developments in Sabah. "The Secretary-General noted the efforts that were made by the Governments of Malaysia and Philippines to find a peaceful resolution to the situation. He reiterated his hope that the situation will be resolved as soon as possible, and that efforts will continue to be made to ensure respect for human rights and to avoid further loss of life." The sultan's brother, Raja Muda, and a few dozen followers sailed to Sabah on February 9 to stake their claim on the disputed territory. "If they have to die, then they will die. They are sacrificing (themselves) for whatever may happen," the sultan was quoted saying. (READ: Sultan infuriates PH, Malaysia) Royal Forces led by a teacher, not a fighter Disputing claims by Malacañang that the Sabah situation is the result of a conspiracy and that theKirams deceived people to go to Sabah, the sultan's daughter Jacel said the members of the Sultanate's Royal Forces voluntarily joined Raja Muda without any compensation. "In olden times, may Sultanate of Sulu, may Royal Forces na, hanggang maghirap ang sultanate, these people remained," she added. (In the olden times, when there were already royal forces under the Sultanate of Sulu, up to the time that the sultanate became poor, these people remained.) Jacel said her uncle Raja Muda is a teacher by profession without any experience in leading a war. Idjirani denied reports that Raja Muda has been killed in the conflict. "That statements from the Malaysian Government are lies and black propaganda," he said. He then quoted Raja Muda as saying that their forces are "still intact" and "the magnitude of the bombardment has decreased." "'Yung mga naaresto malamang (Those arrested are most likely) undocumented Filipinos," Idjirani said, referring to reports that 79 Filipinos were arrested in Sabah. Read more at: http://www.rappler.com/nation/23446-royal-army-learned-combat-sabah

Police will be calling up Saiful Bukhari's father to give statement: IGP Posted: 08 Mar 2013 09:06 PM PST (Bernama) - Police will be calling up Azlan Mohd Lazim to record a statement from him pertaining to a press conference he held here yesterday, said Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar. Azlan, the father of Saiful Bukhari who had accused Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of having sodomised him (Saiful Bukhari), at the press conference had alleged that his son was part of a conspiracy hatched by someone in the Prime Minister's Department to destroy Anwar's political career. Anwar was subsequently charged in court with committing sodomy on Saiful Bukhari but was given a discharge not amounting to acquittal at the end of the defence's case. The prosecution has filed an appeal. Khalid was speaking to reporters after launching a crime prevention campaign Kuchai Lama here. Also present were Royal Malaysia Police National Key Result Areas (NKRA) chairman Datuk Wira Ayub Yaakob, Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Mohmad Salleh and Kuala Lumpur CID chief, Datuk Ku Chin Wah. On another matter, Khalid said to date, police had received 205 reports against Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Tian Chua for allegedly accusing Umno to be behind the intrusion by Sulu terrorists in Lahad Datu. He added that Johor police had opened investigation papers on the matter and that the case was being investigated under Section 499 of the Penal Code (Defamation).

Anwar rebukes Pakatan members for fighting over seats Posted: 08 Mar 2013 06:39 PM PST Opalyn Mok, TMI Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim issued a stern reprimand today to Pakatan Rakyat (PR) members for publicly tussling over seats and issuing "threats" to their party comrades when their demands are not met. "This is shallow minded and not looking at the big picture," the opposition leader said in his speech at the Penang PR state convention in Komtar here. He said grassroots members could ask for seats, even demand for seats, but it was wrong for them to issue threats to get seats. "Don't sacrifice PR's principles just because of this tussling for seats in one or two areas," the PKR de facto leader said. He said so far all this public dissent was among the grassroots members while the top leadership of PKR, the DAP and PAS did not have any problems. Anwar said his relationship with PAS was like among good friends with the same goal of strengthening Islam in the country. "As for DAP, Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng are like my family," he said. The former deputy prime minister said PR may not be perfect and it had its weaknesses. "We can only appeal to God to help us improve," he said. The state convention saw about 200 delegates from the three parties attending the half-day event.

Kiram orders troops to stay, no surrender Posted: 08 Mar 2013 05:07 PM PST The Sultans' daughter says the sultan's followers won't leave Sabah despite attacks by Malaysian security forces. (Agencies) - MANILA:  The daughter of self-proclaimed Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III on Saturday said the followers of the sultan are standing firm on their decision not to surrender even after the foreign affairs department said that laying down their arms is the only way left to prevent further bloodshed in Sabah. Speaking with radio dzMM, Princess Jaycel said the group of Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram still won't leave Sabah despite the attacks being launched against them by Malaysian security forces. "Fior the Raja Muda and his people that this is honor above life, " she said. " They want to live there peacefully," she added. Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez on Friday said Raja Muda's group is left with no other choice but to lay down their arms after the call for ceasefire was rejected by the Malaysian government. Malaysian police had said the Filipinos were not showing any sign of surrendering, thus the operation against them will continue. Hernandez said Malaysian forces are determined to "destroy militants" in Lahad Datu town. Hernandez said, however, that the DFA has yet to confirm these incidents and the total number of fatalities in Sabah. Malaysian troops said they shot and killed 32 followers of the sultan during the latest assault, bringing the total dead to 60, including 52 militants. Eight Malaysian policemen were killed in skirmishes last weekend. However, citing information from Raja Muda, the spokesman of Kiram III said 10 royal army soldiers have so far died since armed clashes began last week. Abraham Idjirani claimed no more royal army soldiers died in the succeeding attacks. He said 235 royal army soldiers have all been accounted for, with 10 fatalities, 10 arrested and 4 injured.

Twitter attack against Nga-Ngeh cousins Posted: 08 Mar 2013 04:46 PM PST DAP's Kulasegaran in his Twitter messages claimed Perak DAP chairman Ngeh Koo Ham and secretary Nga Kor Ming are sidelining him, the Indian community and continuing with corrupt practices. K Pragalath, FMT National DAP vice-president M Kulasegaran has resorted to micro-blogging site, Twitter, to vent his anger against Perak DAP chief Ngeh Koo Ham and state secretary Nga Kor Ming over allegations of him being sidelined, corrupt practices and the belittling of the Indian community. The Twitter messages appear to indicate the worsening factional problems within Perak DAP. "I joined DAP with clear conviction. Don't test M. Kula. "Keep your house in order. @ngehkooham @ngakorming. I am least worried about you and your antics. "Some party leaders are so oblivious. Bro, Perak politics will explode if I start speaking. Matter of time only …..," Kulasegaran, who is also Ipoh Barat MP, wrote on Twitter last night. Kulasegaran leads one faction and the Nga-Ngeh cousins lead another faction. Ngeh is Beruas MP and Sitiawan state assemblyman whereas Nga is Taiping MP and Pantai Remis state assemblyman. Both the factions are aligned to DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng. In this series of Twitter messages, Kulasegaran also claimed to be sidelined in a March 8 anniversary ceramah session that was led by Ngeh and Nga in his constituency. The ceramah session was held in conjunction with the historic win of the opposition alliance which took over five states and denied the ruling coalition its traditional two- thirds majority during the 12th general election five years ago. The ceramah session was also attended by DAP national legal bureau chairman, Gobind Singh Deo. Gobind is also Puchong MP and the son of national DAP chairman, Karpal Singh. "People ask me if I am speaking in Ipoh today in my consitutency Ipoh Barat. What do I need to say? Factional!" Kula wrote in a message addressed to Gobind. "I am not concerned. I always stood by principles. But have I outlive my usefulness? In conjunction with the March 8 anniversary, he also pointed out at the corrupt practice within the DAP which he referred to as the "tailor gate". "We made history five years ago today. Many have changed for the better but some some are involved in businesses like 'tailor gate'. Can avoid?" READ MORE HERE

Sultan disputes casualty report Posted: 08 Mar 2013 04:35 PM PST The Sultan says his followers have only suffered 10 casualties and the other may have been innocent Malaysian civilians. (Agencies) - MANILA: The Sulu Sultanate on Friday disputed casualty figures released by Malaysian security forces, saying its "royal army" in Sabah had suffered only 10 fatalities, with 10 others captured and four injured. "The royal security forces only clashed with Malaysian police commandos once and that happened on March 1. That's why we call it the 'March 1 Massacre,'" the sultanate's spokesman Abraham Idjirani said in an interview with radio station dzMM. Idjirani based his figures on reports from the brother of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, Agbimuddin Kiram, who led the sultanate's 235-member force that took over a remote village in Lahad Datu town in Sabah Feb. 9. Idjirani said the 10 Sulu fighters died during the firefight on March 1, but after the clash Malaysian security forces claimed the violence spread the following day to the town of Semporna and 18 others, purportedly Filipino gunmen, were killed. In the latest assault on Wednesday, Malaysia said they killed 32 followers of the sultan, bringing the total fatalities to 60, including 52 militants. Eight Malaysian policemen were killed in skirmishes last weekend. The Manila Standardreports Idjirani as saying that  Agbimudding dismissed the Malaysian reports as propaganda, and said some of the deaths might have been innocent Malaysian civilians. He said the sultanate did not suffer additional fatalities because they became extra careful after the March 1 assault. The Foreign Affairs Department, meanwhile, asked Kuala Lumpur for access to the 10 followers of the sultan who had been captured last week in Sabah, to ensure their humane treatment. Department spokesman Raul Hernandez said the request was in line with the Vienna Convention on consular relations. Malaysian security forces launched the offensive to evict Kiram's supporters who entered Sabah's coastal town of Lahad Datu by boat to assert the sultanate's claim on the territory. Kiram, whose ancestors once owned several islands in Mindanao and Northern Borneo, purportedly sent his followers to Sabah to reclaim their homeland. Kiram has declared a unilateral ceasefire but said his men will remain in defensive mode. Malaysia rejected the temporary truce and demanded unconditional surrender of the Filipinos. Hernandez said the Philippine government will continue to explore all avenues to reach a peaceful solution to the crisis and avoid further loss of lives.

Police arrest 79 as incursion death toll hits 61 Posted: 08 Mar 2013 04:32 PM PST IGP Ismail Omar said operations to "flush out" the intruders were continuing, with one militant shot dead this morning. (AFP) - LAHAT DATU:  Malaysian police said Saturday they had arrested 79 people in Sabah as skirmishes to end a month-long incursion by armed Filipino Islamists left one more dead. The death of a suspected militant in a shootout Saturday raised the toll to 61 as Malaysian authorities pursued scores of Filipino gunmen who landed in Sabah last month to resurrect long-dormant land claims. Federal police chief Ismail Omar said operations to "flush out" the intruders were continuing, with one militant shot dead as he sought to escape a security cordon around two villages and overgrown plantation and swamp land. "Up to now the police have arrested 79 suspects whom we believe have some links with the intrusion," he said without specifying where the suspects were seized or giving more details on them. Ismail said Friday that police had arrested more than 50 men and women outside the battle zone under a security law. They were being investigated for "committing terrorist acts", the New Straits Times reported. Malaysia has vowed to end the incursion, its worst security crisis in years, and rejected a ceasefire call made by the leader of the fighters, who are followers of a self-proclaimed Philippine sultan. The sultan's officials say about 235 people took part in the mission to reassert a historical claim over Sabah, just a short boat ride from the southern Philippines. Since they landed on February 12, the main group of militants had been holed up in a sleepy farming village until two deadly shootouts with security forces a week ago triggered a military assault that scattered them. However, reports of other gunmen elsewhere along the coast have sparked fears of a wider infiltration by fighters and the possibility of sympathisers already in Malaysia helping them. Malaysian authorities say eight policemen and 53 militants have been killed in the crisis, stirred up by Jamalul Kiram III, the self-proclaimed heir to the former southern Philippine sultanate of Sulu. The incident has left the Southeast Asian neighbours in a prickly situation with elections in both countries to be held within months.

Saiful’s father sought me out over plot claim, PKR’s Johari says Posted: 08 Mar 2013 11:35 AM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - PKR's Datuk Johari Abdul (pic above) has claimed that Saiful Bukhari Azlan's father was the one who sought him out to help reveal that his son's sodomy complaint against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was allegedly a "political conspiracy". The Sungai Petani MP organised a press conference for Azlan Mohd Lazim (pic above) yesterday who claimed his son's claims as a plot by a special officer in the Prime Minister's Department but Saiful later refuted the claims. "Greetings, Saiful's father (was the one who) approached me. "He's the one who ask us to reveal all this, it can't be that his father is so stupid until he can be influenced," Johar told The Malaysian Insider when contacted after Saiful denied the conspiracy. The federal lawmaker said Saiful's denial was an insult to his father. Saiful Bukhari Azlan. — file picHours after his father's press conference, Saiful and his lawyer Zamri Idrus spoke to the press on Azlan's allegations. Saiful appeared to suggest that Anwar was behind his father's remarks on the second sodomy charge, warning the opposition leader not to use Azlan to twist the situation to achieve his goals. Saiful did not offer any proof to back up his accusation, but only pointed to Johari's presence at the press conference where his father had spoken earlier and apologised to Anwar and his family for the suffering they had experienced. But Azlan had earlier said that his statements in the press conference were done on a "voluntary basis". Saiful denied that his sodomy complaint against Anwar — the PKR de facto leader who he had previously worked with — was a political conspiracy and expressed surprise at his father's claim. Saiful replied "No" when asked if a special officer in the Prime Minister's Department was involved in planning the alleged conspiracy, as claimed by his father Azlan. Saiful denied that he had a misunderstanding with his father and denied that his father had financial problems. Azlan had said his sudden defence of Anwar, five years after the latter was charged in court, came after years of compiling information on the case, both during the sodomy trial and from details provided to him by informers. The 60-year-old man said the truth was finally clear to him. Azlan also called on all Malaysians not to believe what he described as "slander" against Anwar, urging more to rally behind the opposition leader. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/saifuls-father-sought-me-over-plot-claim-pkrs-johari-says/

Kuala Lumpur launches media drive to discredit Kirams Posted: 08 Mar 2013 11:14 AM PST (Philippine Inquirer) - After labeling Agbimuddin Kiram's forces in Sabah terrorists, the Malaysian government has launched a campaign to discredit the brother of the Sulu group's leader, Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, along with an effort to link them with the Malaysian opposition. In a report published this week, the state-owned news agency Berita National Malaysia (Bernama) accused Jamalul of "masquerading as the sultan of Sulu" and saying he "cannot lay claim to the defunct title." Bernama has always acted at the behest of the government, and is seen in Malaysia as the window to what the Barisan Nasional (ruling national coalition) thinks. Ariff Sabri, a former leader of the United Malays National Organization (Umno)—the leading party under the BN, once described Bernama as a "psywar" machine for Umno and its allies and accused it of issuing "half-baked"  reports to discredit opposition figures. "So don't try to pull the wool over our eyes," Ariff, who has since joined the opposition, said when Bernama tried to play down the opposition's victory in at least five states in the 2008 elections. Family insider In trying to discredit Jamalul, the Bernama report posted on Thursday quoted an alleged Kiram family insider—whom it described as  having deep knowledge of the sultanate—as saying it was "wrong for him to [claim that he is] the heir [of] the last sultan of Sulu, Jamalul Kiram II, who died in 1936." "Jamalul Kiram III was never a legitimate descendant of the nine rightful  heirs of Jamalul Kiram II [who were named] in the 1939  'Macaskie  Judgment' [as] eligible to receive cession payments, following the ceding  of Sabah, then known as North Borneo, to the British North Borneo Co. (BNBC)," Bernama quoted the unnamed source as saying. Bernama, however, also quoted the source as saying that Jamalul is a member of the Sulu royalty. Sulu heirs But a copy of the official court document the Inquirer has obtained shows that Jamalul's father, Datu Punjungan Kiram, is one of the nine heirs to the sultanate. The others are Datu Esmail Kiram, Dayang Dayang Piandao Kiram, Dayang  Dayang Sitti Rada Kiram, Princess Tarhata Kiram, Princess Sakinur-In Kiram,  Dayang Dayang Putli Jahara Kiram, Dayang Dayang Sitti Mariam Kiram and Mora Napsa. The leading political coalition in Malaysia also appears to have started a crackdown on the opposition. Utusan Malaysia, a progovernment newspaper, published a report on Wednesday that tried to justify the claims of politicians identified with the Umno that Agbimuddin's intrusion into Sabah was the handiwork of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. Prime Minister Najib Razak said Anwar and opposition leaders were being investigated in connection with reports that they had met with members of the  Sulu royalty prior to the Feb. 9 "homecoming" of Agbimuddin and a group of armed followers of the Sulu sultanate. Filipino security for Anwar In a story posted on its online edition, Utusan tried to establish Anwar's  strong links with Filipinos by quoting his former secretary, Mohammad  Rahimi Osman, as saying his former boss had Filipino security. Utusan said Rahimi identified the four Filipino aides of Anwar as Daniel Cruz, Noel del Rosario, Alfred Sese and Bong Oteyza. The four, according to Rahimi, have been working for Anwar since 2008. "They are members of a specially trained commando team and possess a wealth of expertise," Rahimi was quoted as saying. Utusan also published an article that criticized Anwar for threatening to sue the newspaper for earlier reports about his supposed links to Agbimuddin's group and the Sabah intrusion. Similar story in PDI It quoted former People's Justice Party chief Mahful Wahid Anwar as saying Anwar should not single out Utusan because even the foreign media—referring to the  Philippine Daily Inquirer—also carried a similar story. Utusan also published a story on the challenge posted by Perkasa Indigenous Organization Malaysia (Perkasa) information chief Ruslan Kassim to Anwar  "to sue Philippine President Benigno Aquino" for linking the opposition to the Sabah claim of the Kiram family. Umno leader Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said Anwar's wife should answer the allegations because her husband did not want to explain his alleged involvement in the Sabah crisis. "I am not accusing, but I want to ask. Why [is he] silent and [does]  not answer the allegations made by the media?" Utusan quoted Shahrizat as saying.   Read more at: http://m.inquirer.net/globalnation/?id=67913

A 'smooth' transition, says Anwar Posted: 08 Mar 2013 10:29 AM PST   (Malaysian Review) - Anwar Ibrahim has done it again. He has put the cart before the horse. In a recent interview with Bloomberg, this Pakatan leader told his interviewers that there would be a smooth transition of Malaysian Government after the general election. But shouldn't he first win the general election?  Shouldn't his coalition win the majority seats in Parliament before seeking Royal permission to form the next government? Only after that can there by any transition. In other words, he may be ready for Putrajaya, but is Putrajaya ready for him? In 2008, he was ready for Putrajaya but Putrajaya wasn't quite ready for him. He had then predicted that he would take over the government on 16 September of that year by engineering a spate of defections. His failure to capture the Federal government was met with derision by people who had believed him. One of them wrote in a blog: Sorry, Mr. Opposition Leader, you lost your credibility after not keeping to your promise to form a new government in Putrajaya.after 169. That is the biggest b......t you gave us. You never had the numbers but you still raised our expectations. You lied and assumed Malaysians were stupid. You became the butt of jokes in the bars and warungs" So, in 2013, Anwar makes a 'logical leap'. (A logical leap is a moment where there is a significant--and contemptuous--  gap in the argument). He doesn't predict a victory but predicts a smooth transition. The other noteworthy predictions that Anwar made in the interview included the following: That he would be the Prime Minister That it will not be a 'Chinese government' That he will roll back 'privileges for the ethnic Malay and indigenous people'. And what did the foreign news agency say about what foreigners think about the general election? "An opposition win would be destabilizing for the market in the short term," Alan Richardson, a Singapore-based fund manager who helps oversee about $110 billion for Samsung Asset Management Co., told Bloomberg.   "We haven't had a history of political transition in Malaysia and there will be uncertainty."

Dr M says he fears PR's promise to remove NEP Posted: 08 Mar 2013 04:34 AM PST   (Harakah Daily) - Former UMNO strongman Dr Mahathir Mohamad has shot back at those who scold him for talking politics after retirement, saying he only feared Pakatan Rakyat's policies when it comes to power including its rejection of the New Economic Policy. "When I find that the opposition rejects the NEP, I feel a need to voice my fears for the future of this, my beloved country. "As much as my detractors have a right to object to my continued involvement in politics, I have a right to hold a different view," said Mahathir, the country's longest serving premier, in his latest blog posting. The NEP launched by the late Tun Abdul Razak in 1971 was the controversial plan to reduce the socioeconomic disparity between the Chinese and Malay majorities, whose success has been the subject of debate. PR had repeatedly called for a needs-based policies, saying programmes under the NEP had only enriched cronies of ruling politicians who claim to represent their respective race. Recalling how the government of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had weakened the country, something he said "is still felt today", Mahathir argued that since 2008, the stronger opposition had resulted in "open confrontation" between races, and defended growth plans based on race. "Unfortunately in Malaysia we all insist on becoming identified by our race," he added.

I stand by my accusation, says Saiful Posted: 08 Mar 2013 04:28 AM PST Saiful Bukhari Azlan also criticised Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, claiming the latter was using his father to further his own political agenda. G Vinod, FMT The Sodomy II story has taken another twist with Saiful Bukhari Azlan maintaining that he would stick to his accusation that Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim had sodomised him. "In the name of Allah, my race and Malaysia, I will not budge from my allegation, the statements I made in court and the religious oath I took in a mosque years back, till my death," said Saiful. He said this at a press conference held at his lawyer's office, in response to his father's shocking move this morning. Also present was his lawyer, Zamri Idrus. This morning, Saiful's father, Azlan Mohd Lazim, told in a hastily arranged press conference that Anwar was innocent of the accusation that he had sodomised his son. The 60-year-old retiree also claimed that Saiful was used by unscrupulous people to further their vile agenda. Azlan named Zamri and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's special officer Khairil Annas Jusoh as being part of the conspiracy. He alleged that the press statements he made in the past were scripted by Zamri, under the instructions of Khairil. A visibly upset Saiful lashed out at Anwar, claiming the latter was using his father to further his political ambitions. "I warn you [Anwar]. Don't use my father to twist the truth, no matter how desperate you are. "But I have faith in Allah. Truth cannot be surpressed in any way," Saiful said, adding that it was the opposition's attempt to divert people's attention from the recent foreign armed intrusion in Sabah. 'Sodomy trial not over' On his relationship with his father, Saiful said that he was close to his father. "I was shocked at what happened this morning. My father was cordial towards me and I just spoke to him last night about his cats," said Saiful, adding that he could not reach Azlan on the phone since this morning. READ MORE HERE

Lawyers push for answers on Bala’s second statement Posted: 07 Mar 2013 07:45 PM PST Clara Chooi, TMI A group of 14 lawyers have filed a motion to the Malaysian Bar calling for an Independent Investigation Committee to be set up to uncover the details surrounding former private investigator P. Balasubramaniam's two sworn statements on the 2006 Altantuya Shaariibuu murder. Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee confirmed with The Malaysian Insider this evening that the motion was filed yesterday, and said its contents will be debated during the Malaysian Bar's annual general meeting this March 16. "Yes, it must be debated. I will respond to the matter during the AGM," the outgoing council president said. He said the council's probe on Balasubramaniam's two statutory declarations (SDs) is still ongoing, but noted that businessman Deepak Jaikishan, who has admitted to knowing the lawyer who drafted the contentious second SD, had declined to help with the investigation. "Yes, he said he will only speak with the council after March 16," Lim said. The Bar Council had announced in January that was investigating the identity of the lawyers and possible misconduct in the drafting of Balasubramaniam's second SD, which the former private eye has said was signed under duress. Deepak recently admitted he had been the one who helped in getting Balasubramaniam to repudiate his earlier statutory declaration on the matter, including getting two lawyers to draft the new statement. The identities of the two lawyers were never made known, however, as Deepak said they had cold feet before a press conference to publicise the sworn statement. In a recent interview, however, Deepak reportedly exposed the name of one of the lawyers, prompting calls on the Bar Council to investigate the possibility of professional misconduct against the lawyer for drafting an SD that was based on allegedly false information. Former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) adviser, Tan Sri Robert Phang, also publicly named renowned lawyer Tan Sri Cecil Abraham as one of those who drafted the document. Noting the events surrounding the two SDs, the group of 14 lawyers said in their motion notice that should Deepak's and Balasubramaniam's claims prove true, the preparation of the second SD "may amount to acts of criminality under the Penal Code including  perjury, giving false information regarding an offence and obstruction of justice under Part XI of the Penal Code". READ MORE HERE

Saiful denies political plot in Sodomy II charge Posted: 07 Mar 2013 07:40 PM PST Ida Lim, TMI Saiful Bukhari Azlan has denied his sodomy complaint against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was a political conspiracy and expressed surprise at his father's claim earlier today. READ: Bapa Saiful ugut untuk dapat wang belanja In a press conference at his lawyer Zamri Idrus' office this evening, Saiful was asked if it was true that the sodomy charge was a political conspiracy against Anwar. "No," replied Saiful, who previously worked with the Opposition leader Saiful similarly replied "No" when asked if a special officer in the prime minister's department was involved in planning the alleged conspiracy, as claimed by his father Azlan Mohd Lazim. READ MORE HERE

More violence as Umno ‘supporters’ attack PKR bus, Anwar Posted: 07 Mar 2013 02:19 PM PST Syed Jaymal Zahiid, TMI Umno supporters were again linked to yet another attack on Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders and their supporters, this time at a ceramah in Bukit Katil, Malacca last night where a scuffle broke out and a bus carrying Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was pelted with rocks. PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution told reporters here last night's violence was the sixth incident, and the second in Malacca, since the federal opposition coalition launched its "Jelajah Merdeka Rakyat (People's Merdeka Tour)" campaign last year. The Machang MP said Anwar was among those who were hit by glass shards when alleged Umno supporters threw rocks at the bus as it was leaving the ceramah. Several PR supporters, including two police officers, were said to have been injured by the scuffle. Videos of the fracas were captured and had been posted on video-sharing site YouTube. PAS's harakahdaily.com posted one video on its site this morning. "KeAdilan views this incident seriously and urges the police to take sterner action towards the violent acts of these goons who are becoming bolder and more aggressive," Saifuddin(picture) said. The incident came amid concerns that violence would erupt at a ceramah in Penang after Umno supporters threatened an attack if PKR vice-president Chua Tian Chang attends. Chua sparked uproar from both sides of the political divide with his statement alleging the Lahad Datu standoff in Sabah, which has claimed the lives of eight police officers, was an Umno conspiracy; some pro-Umno blogs alleged he had described the fallen fighters as "mati katak", a derogatory Malay expression for unnecessary deaths. The PKR leader claimed to have since gotten death threats. He also denied the allegations and threatened to sue his detractors. Today, Saifuddin blamed the police's "soft" response to previous such incidents for the escalating violence, saying their inaction as well as the silence from the Attorney-General's Chambers, had encouraged and emboldened Umno supporters to attack their PR counterparts. "Even though there have been repeated incidents, no legal action has been taken against the thugs," he said. READ MORE HERE

‘There was no Sabah referendum’ Posted: 07 Mar 2013 02:05 PM PST Any talks between Malaysia and the Philippines must include Sabah because only the people of Sabah can decide what they want, says Jeffrey Kitingan. Luke Rintod, FMT KOTA KINABALU: United Borneo Front (UBF) chairman Jeffrey Kitingan has disputed the context of the 1962 referendum which academics and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak claim confirmed Sabahans' desire to be part of Malaysia. "There has never been a referendum on Sabah as stated by some academics. "In fact, the so-called referendum in 1962-63 was actually only a sampling survey of less than four percent of the Sabah population," he said in response to Najib's comments on Sabah yesterday. Najib said there was no question of Sabah not being within Malaysia. Said Najib: "On the question of polemics of whether Sabah is a part of Malaysia, I want to stress that the issue had been finalised in 1978 and Sabah is a valid region in Malaysia," he said. He said the Cobbold Commission had held a referendum and two-thirds of the people in Sabah agreed to the state being a part of Malaysia. The commission also obtained the recognition of the United Nations. (The Cobbold Commission was set up to find out whether the people of Sabah and Sarawak were agreeable to the proposal to create Malaysia, made up of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak.) But Jeffrey, who also heads the Sabah chapter of the State Reform Party (STAR), said the Malaysia Agreement which incorporated terms of the Cobbold Commission "is yet to be implemented". "Najib must realise that Sabah belongs to the people of Sabah. "Malaysia does not own Sabah as the Malaysia Agreement is yet to be implemented. Sabah is not a piece of lifeless property to be fought over between the Philippines [Sulu claim] and Malaya. "Therefore, any talks between Malaysia/Malaya and the Philippines must include Sabah because only the people of Sabah can decide what they want. "The [Sulu's] Sabah claim, whether valid or not, must be resolved once and fo all by bringing all the relevant parties to the table within the ambitof Britain and the United Nations and find a peaceful solution," he said. READ MORE HERE

Pakatan promises slew of reforms Posted: 07 Mar 2013 01:56 PM PST DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng says if Pakatan comes to power, key institutions like the judiciary will not face government interference. Athi Shankar, FMT Pakatan Rakyat's election promise is that it will free key institutions from government interference. DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said some of these institutions are the judiciary, the Attorney General's Chambers, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and police. He said if Pakatan comes into power he promised reforms to restore integrity and independence to these institutions. Under Pakatan, he said heads of these institutions would be appointed through an advisory process by parliamentary working committees in line with legislature and democratic practices. He said the reform agenda for the institutions formed an integral part of the Pakatan election manifesto launched on Feb 5. He also revealed that Pakatan would enforce a Democracy Restoration Act as part of a process to reverse the many years of democratic rot and neglect under the 56 year Barisan Nasional reign. He pointed out that many current Pakatan leaders had suffered personally and professionally under the BN government. He said that BN had blatantly abused power and misused various state instruments to target and victimise its political opponents. "Given these personal experiences, including my own, I would not want the same instruments to be used against our political opponents when we come to power at the federal level. "Therefore, it is imperative that Pakatan pushes forward aggressively on these electoral and democratic reforms when the goal of winning Putrajaya has been achieved, hopefully in the upcoming 13th general election," Lim said in a blog posting. He assured that an effective parliamentary system would be reinforced to check and balance the executive. READ MORE HERE

Sodomy 2: Anwar innocent, says Saiful’s dad Posted: 07 Mar 2013 01:51 PM PST Saiful Bukhari Azlan's father, Azlan Mohd Lazim, said that his son was used by several unscrupulous people, including a special officer to the prime minister, to fabricate lies against the opposition leader. G Vinod, FMT In a shocking turnaround of event, Saiful Bukhari Azlan's father told a group of selected media today that Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim is innocent of the Sodomy II accusation. In a hastily arranged press conference, Azlan Mohd Lazim,60, said that Anwar was a victim of a vile political conspiracy. "My son was used by several unscrupulous individuals, including Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's special officer, Khairil Annas Jusoh. "These people masterminded the slander against Anwar, using my son," he alleged. Last year, Anwar was acquitted by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on charges of sodomising Saiful, his former aide. The Attorney-General's Chambers appealed against the verdict and the Court of Appeal is scheduled to hear the case on July 22. Azlan, a semi-retiree, said that he had stood by his son's accusation against Anwar in the past to provide moral support to Saiful. "He's my son and I know he is good person but as I was attending his trial in the last four years, I sensed something was amiss. "Some people also gave me evidence which convinced me of Anwar's innocence. As a Malay and a Muslim, I cannot continue being a pawn in this evil scheme of things," he said. 'My conscience is clear' During the question and answer session, Azlan claimed that his previous statements to the media were scripted by his lawyer, Zamri Idrus. "My lawyers prepared my statements, under the instructions of Khairil," he alleged. But he admitted that he has never met Khairil personally but heard about the officer from his son. "The government did not meet me to discuss the case or even ask my opinion. Everything is carefully handled by Khairil," said Azlan. READ MORE HERE

We have nothing to hide, says EC Posted: 07 Mar 2013 11:22 AM PST   (fz.com) - TODAY marks five years since the March 8, 2008 general election, which has been described as a turning point in Malaysian politics.  It saw the ruling coalition losing its two-thirds majority in Parliament for the first time since 1969, in addition to losing control of five states.   Malaysia has not been the same since.   For one, more Malaysians have taken interest in the election process and issues pertaining to it. This has also contributed to the rise of civil societies calling for free and fair elections, including a cleaning up of the electoral roll and introducing reforms to bring about a more transparent election process.   Caught in the middle of it all this and under constant scrutiny is the Election Commission, which is entrusted with regulating and conducting elections in the country.   Amidst accusations from opposition parties and civil society groups that the EC is an ineffective institution that is biased in favour of the federal government run by Barisan Nasional, fz.com approached its chairman, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof, for a response.   Despite his busy schedule, he made time and amiably received us at his office in Putrajaya. The interview started off in a brisk, business-like manner but as he warmed up to us, he became more animated and firmly stood his ground in maintaining that the EC has nothing to hide.     On Campaign Funds   Did the EC impose rules on spending on campaign funds in 2008? Yes, we did. The candidates were allowed to spend RM100,000 for each state seat and RM200,000 for each parliament seat, and they had to submit details of their expenditure.   But when we asked them for such details, they claimed that their respective party headquarters had funded the printing of posters or dinners.  They only provided us details of their personal expenditure.   So the relevant election law does not cover party expenditure during a campaign? No. The law only mentions the candidate.   Have any initiatives been taken to plug this loophole? The EC does not have the power to audit a candidate or party's expenditure. That power belongs to the Registrar of Societies (ROS).   Will the EC work with the ROS to resolve this issue? Yes, but we need a big enforcement team on the ground for people to conduct checks and audits. We will look into it before the next election because candidates have said that RM200,000 isn't enough. They want to spend RM20 million for a parliamentary seat (laughs). So what is a fair amount?    We also have to decide who is allowed to be a political funder and the maximum the person is allowed to contribute. Right now the only thing that disqualifies them from the next election is if they fail to submit details of their expenditure.     The Use Of Government Resources During Elections   What about the use of government resources, such as government vehicles and personnel, during the campaign period? It is not allowed during the campaign period for campaigning. If it is an official function then it is fine.   What about the use of government resources to campaign now? That is all approved in the Budget, by Parliament. We have no control over what happens outside of the campaign period.   Does this mean that during the campaigning period, even the prime minister cannot use government vehicles? Not for campaigning. If it is for an official function, then yes.   What happens if one were to use an official function to campaign? It is not proper and against the law as they are using official duty to campaign. It has to be separate functions.   How well is this enforced and monitored? It is really hard to monitor the situation throughout Malaysia, but observers can help with it as well. As for enforcing the law, a report has to be made, an investigation has to be done, a charge has to be filed with the court.   In order to charge somebody, you must have sufficient evidence, otherwise it is not easy.   Read more at: http://fz.com/content/we-have-nothing-hide-says-ec

EC snubbed proof to clean electoral rolls, says Selangor Posted: 07 Mar 2013 11:20 AM PST   (The Malaysian Insider) - The Election Commission (EC) refused to entertain Selangor's plea for a joint solution to tackle discrepancies in the state's electoral roll despite available evidence, says the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state government Faekah Husin, the political secretary to Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim(picture), said the state sent a letter pleading for the EC to discuss its recent findings — that some 28 per cent of the 440,000 newly registered voters in the state cannot be identified. "The least they could do is call us to talk and let us present our findings. You don't even have to say thank you," Faekah told The Malaysian Insider, referring to the state government's initiative to verify the roll through its State Economic Development Unit (UPEN). Khalid told the International Conference on Malaysia's 13th general election here on Monday that the state was told by the EC that it had no authority to clean the list. Faekah said the state government was frustrated by the EC's refusal to co-operate on the matter, saying the move to scrutinise the rolls was not political but a campaign to help the commission in its job to ensure fair elections. "UPEN's work is not political. It was done by the administration and by government officials," she said yesterday. Faekah said the verification process was done thoroughly at grassroots level with organisations like the village development and security committee (JKKK) vetting the lists manually in their respective areas. The data had been collected and compiled for the EC's perusal, she added. The EC, federal ministers and Selangor Umno deputy chief Datuk Seri Noh Omar, who were present at the conference with Khalid on Monday, have been resistant to the state's efforts to verify its electoral roll, a news portal reported. Faekah said the impasse has forced the state's PR lawmakers to take up the matter in court personally but the chances of a positive outcome was highly unlikely since the court proceedings may drag on until elections are called. Election 2013 is expected to be held within weeks. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/ec-snubbed-proof-to-clean-electoral-rolls-says-selangor/

The Struggle for Jihad Posted: 07 Mar 2013 11:10 AM PST  Versus  (The New York Times) - Two opposing groups battle to define the word jihad on public buses and subways. Watch video at: http://www.nytimes.com/video/2013/03/06/us/100000002095374/defining-jihad.html?smid=tw-nytimes

KL: No ceasefire, wipe out all militants Posted: 07 Mar 2013 10:37 AM PST   (PhilStar) - The sultanate is willing to swap captives with the Malaysian security forces who are in custody of 10 members of the so-called royal sultanate army. Kiram's civilian supporters, according to Idjirani, are in custody of four Malaysian officials.  Malaysia rejected yesterday a ceasefire offer by Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, with the country's defense minister vowing to "destroy all the militants" unless they surrender "unconditionally."  "Don't believe the ceasefire offer by Jamalul Kiram. In the interest of Sabahans and all Malaysians, wipe out all the militants first," Defense Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on his Tweeter feed. Kiram had declared a unilateral ceasefire at 12:30 p.m., calling for reciprocation from Malaysia, whose armed forces are hunting his armed followers. Kiram sent his followers – mostly Tausugs – from their homes across the Sulu Sea to assert an ancestral claim to Sabah. A major Malaysian offensive last Tuesday left dozens dead. Clashes between the sultan's followers and Malaysian forces have left 60 people dead as of last night, according to Malaysian police chief Ismail Omar. By 3 p.m. Wednesday, he said 32 Filipinos were killed in two confrontations. Eight Malaysian policemen died in earlier skirmishes last week. Jamalul's ceasefire call came after UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged a peaceful resolution to the standoff, considered as Malaysia's biggest security crisis in years. The ceasefire call also coincided with a sudden visit to Sabah by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak to inspect security operations. Najib's government had tried for three weeks to persuade the Filipinos to leave, but launched a military assault Tuesday after they continually refused and engaged security forces in a pair of deadly shootouts. Cessation of hostilities To Malaysia's rejection of his ceasefire offer, Kiram's response was to declare a "cessation of hostilities."   "We are going to declare a cessation of hostilities in positive response to the call of the United Nations and to the reaction of the government of the Federation of Malaysia rejecting the unilateral ceasefire declared by the sultanate of Sulu unless what the Malaysian government said, the militants in Lahad Datu, referring to the Sulu royal forces, will surrender," said his spokesman Abraham Idjirani. "The Malaysian government, in complete rejection of the UN call, demanded that prior to its recognition of this unilateral ceasefire made by the Sultanate of Sulu must surrender the militants to them," he added. "In response to that, the Sultanate of Sulu is now declaring unilaterally a cessation of hostilities." He said a ceasefire should convince Malaysia to stop its assault and sit down for negotiation with the sultanate as encouraged by the UN. "What we are doing is in compliance with the call of the United Nations," Idjirani said, adding that he informed the sultan's brother Agbimuddin of the declaration of "cessation of hostilities" at past 4 p.m. yesterday. Should Malaysia's rejection of the ceasefire offer result in more deaths, the UN would have to take action, Idjirani said. Read more at: http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/03/08/917096/kl-no-ceasefire-wipe-out-all-militants

M’sia erects defence line along Sabah east coast Posted: 07 Mar 2013 10:32 AM PST   (Bernama) - Malaysia has erected a line of defence along the entire east coast of Sabah from Kudat in the north to Tawau in the southeast to prevent any intrusion, especially from the island territories in the southern Philippines. This Special Security Area was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday following an intrusion by a Sulu militant group in Lahad Datu on Feb 12 which forced Malaysia to launch a military offensive after eight policemen were killed.   "The government will do what it takes to guarantee the security, peace and sovereignty of Sabah. The question of Sabah being within Malaysia should not be disputed by anybody," Najib said after visiting ground zero at Felda Sahabat 16, in Lahad Datu.   The Special Security Area covers Kudat, Tawau, Kunak, Sandakan and Lahad Datu and the government will station five additional battalions comprising the army and police in the area.   In 1972, the government set up the Rajang Area Security Command (Rascom) in Sarawak and successfully defeated the communist terrorist threat in the state.   Rascom covered the areas of Sibu, Kanowit, Oya, Dalat, Bintagor, Sarikei, Julau, Song and Kapit, which were declared a Special Security Area by the then prime minister, Datuk Abdul Razak Hussein.   On Tuesday, security forces launched an aerial assault using F-18 and Hawk fighter aircraft as the first offensive to end the intrusion of the Sulu militants, and the security forces are still engaged in a mopping-up operation there.   Three days after the launch of the offensive, security forces faced pockets of resistance from the militants, and 32 of the intruders were killed in Kampung Tanduo and Tanjung Batu today.   Thirty-one of them were killed in a gun battle at about 11 am in Tanjung Batu and one at 6.45 am in Kampung Tanduo, raising the militant death toll to 52.   The security forces did not suffer any casualties, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar.   The prime minister said the operation to hunt down the remaining militants would go on and Kuala Lumpur would not entertain any request for a ceasefire so long as the militants did not surrender unconditionally.   He said Malaysia respected the humanitarian principle and gave sufficient time for negotiations with the militants before launching the offensive.   "We gave them three weeks (to negotiate) and postponed (the offensive) four times. We only acted after they killed eight of our men," said Najib, expressing his satisfaction with the outcome of the joint police and army operation.   Philippine media reports today quoted Jamalul Kiram III as asking his men in Lahad Datu to lay down their weapons after several members of the group were killed in an operation by security forces on Tuesday. United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon has proposed that the parties involved in the situation in Sabah come to a peaceful solution.

Filipino Sultan's Quest Sparks Crisis in Malaysia Posted: 07 Mar 2013 10:29 AM PST   (AP) - Many stories of poor Filipinos illtreated by Malaysian authorities in Sabah provided the final straw, Kiram's wife said. "It's good if they were placed in jail," she said. "The problem is they are caned, they are punished and then deported ... we couldn't do anything."  Unlike many other Muslim royalties basking in grand palaces and opulent lifestyles, Sultan Jamalul Kiram III's kingdom sits in a rundown two-story house in a poor Islamic community in Manila, the only hint of power and glory the title attached to his name. "I'm the poorest sultan in the world," the ailing Kiram, 74, told The Associated Press in an interview in his residence in Maharlika village in the Philippine capital. Although largely forgotten and dismissed as a vestige from a bygone era, Kiram's sultanate, once based in the southern province of Sulu, has sparked the biggest security crisis in Malaysia and the Philippines in decades -- early last month, he sent his younger brother with about 200 followers, dozens of them armed, by boat from southern Philippines to a village in Sabah state in neighboring Malaysia to claim the land the sultanate insists belongs to them. A stunned Malaysia, which runs the frontier resource-rich region of timberlands and palm oil plantations as its second-largest federal state, poured in elite police and army troops and called in airstrikes to quell what it saw as an armed intrusion. After weeks of sporadic clashes that killed 19 intruders and eight policemen, troops launched a full-scale assault Tuesday, codenamed "Operation Sovereign," but failed to account for most of the Filipinos, who according to the Kiram family were unhurt. Malaysian forces shot and possibly killed one of the men, who appear to be trying to escape the area, police said. Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said later Wednesday that security forces combing the area found 12 bodies. However, it was not clear if they died in Tuesday's strike or in the previous weeks of clashes. The crisis has tested the neighbors' friendly ties and hit the leaders of both nations at a delicate time politically. The Kirams claim Sabah has belonged to their sultanate for centuries and was only leased to Malaysia, which they say pays them a paltry annual rent of 5,300 Malaysian ringgit ($1,708). Malaysian officials contend the payments are part of an arrangement under which the sultanate has ceded the 74,000 square kilometers (28,000 square miles) of Sabah territory to their country. Philippine presidents have relegated the volatile feud to the backburner despite efforts by the Kirams to put it back to the national agenda. The Feb. 9 Sabah expedition by the sultan's younger brother, Agbimuddin Kiram, and the ensuing violence have resurrected the long-dormant issue with the murky history beyond anybody's expectations. One big obstacle for the Philippines is a number of the Kiram heirs, all claiming to be the rightful sultan. That put the government in a quandary on who to deal with for the Sabah claim to be pursued, historian Manolo Quezon IIII said. Overrun by history, the Kirams carry royal titles and nothing much else. "When I was a child, I thought 'princess' was just my name because when you're a child, your idea of being a princess is one with a crown, a palace, a carriage," said Jacel Kiram, a 35-year-old daughter of the sultan, who is regarded a princess. At his Maharlika village home, the sultan, who has failed kidneys and a heart ailment, struggled with slurred speech to proudly recount the saga of his clan's empire based in the Sulu archipelago in the southern Philippines. Chinese and European leaders, he said, once sent vassals to pay homage to his powerful forebears. The Sulu sultanate, which emerged in the 1400s, preceded both the Philippine republic and Malaysia by centuries. The exploits of the sultanate's native Tausug warriors were so legendary, the Brunei sultan at the time sought their help in putting down a rebellion in the 1600-1700s. When the uprising was crushed, the Brunei sultan handed over Sabah — then part of Brunei — to his Sulu counterpart as a gift of gratitude. A Filipino sultan later leased Sabah to a British colonial-era company. The territory was later annexed by Britain. In 1963, six years after colonial Malaya gained independence, Sabah voted to join the new Malaysia. The Sulu sultanate had steadily declined through the centuries, its power passed on to a succession of leaders and heirs. Jamalul Kiram III is the 33rd sultan and a symbolic leader with followers in Sulu and nearby southern provinces, which are among the country's poorest and are troubled by Muslim rebels, al-Qaida-linked extremists and outlaws. Born in Sulu's far-flung Maimbung town in 1938, Kiram is a beloved leader who in his youth turned to dance and singing and played sports, including his favorite, tennis. He once worked as a disc jockey in a Jolo radio station. He took up law but failed to take the bar exams when he joined a prominent cultural dance group in the 1960s, according to his wife, Fatima Celia. He also ran for senator in 2007, backed by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo — a tacit recognition of his sultanate leadership — but lost, leaving his family in debt due to the high campaign expenses, she said. Last year, the sultan was diagnosed with failed kidneys and began to receive dialysis treatment, causing family members to miss out on monthly payments for their house, which they nearly lost had friends not helped out, Celia said. Since then, Kiram has mostly been sidelined to his bedroom, which resembles a hospital unit with two oxygen tanks and serves as an office where he met visitors and followers seeking all sorts of help. In his younger years, Kiram said he traveled often to Sabah. "It's really very rich," he said of Sabah. "When I'm in Sabah, I feel at home." Read more at: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/filipino-sultans-quest-sparks-crisis-malaysia

Tian Chua: I didn’t say it was an Umno conspiracy Posted: 06 Mar 2013 03:14 PM PST The PKR vice-president does a U-turn and states that his controversial statement of an 'Umno conspiracy' referred to the media blackout. Anisah Shukry, FMT PKR vice-president Tian Chua today denied claiming the shootout in Lahad Datu was an Umno conspiracy, contradicting what was published in PKR organ KeadilanDaily on March 1. The KeadilanDaily article "Insiden tembakan di Lahad Datuk Konspirasi terancang Umno – Tian" (Shooting incident in Lahad Datu a planned conspiracy by Umno – Tian) sparked intense outrage among the public, who have taken to the streets as well as lodged police reports over Tian Chua's alleged statements. But Tian Chua stressed today the headline was not his own words and did not reflect his beliefs, urging the public to instead focus on the direct quotes published in the article, which is available online. "When I told the reporter I believed there was a conspiracy by the Umno government, I was referring only to the media blackout, and the fact that pro-Umno bloggers were claiming the opposition was behind the armed incursion in Sabah," Tian Chua, the Batu MP, said at a press conference here today. "When [the reporter] asked me about the shooting, I told the reporter: 'don't speculate, there has been no confirmation'. [This is because] it was 12pm at that time, and there was no news from Malaysian media [on Lahad Datu]." Lending credence to Tian Chua's denial is the fact that not one of his quotes in the article referred to the shootout itself. His three quotes in the article are: "We feel that it is strange that the Malaysian media did not report the incident. All sources of reports are from foreign media. "Where did they get the info when there are no media representatives allowed to cover it? In fact, we don't know how true the news that has been reported is. "There is a conspiracy by the Umno government to divert the Sabahans' attention, especially in the issue of ICs being distributed to Sabahans." But the article's headline as well as contents led readers to believe his quote on the "Umno conspiracy" was a direct reference to the shootout last Friday, in which two policemen and 12 armed intruders were killed. While Tian Chua today stopped short of calling the KeadilanDaily article misleading, he stressed that he was not responsible for how the editors had written the story. "That's always the case; I am only responsible for my direct quotes. It is the rights of the editor to arrange the news as they wish." He also said he stood by his position that the finger-pointing and media blackout were an Umno conspiracy, and hence refused to apologise over the matter. On Tuesday, Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor had sent a letter of demand for Tian Chua to apologise to the party or risk legal action. Responding to this, Tian Chua said: "The issue of apologising does not exist because I never insulted anyone. I wish to go to court and clarify this. I believe the judge is intelligent enough to read the article and know what I mean." READ MORE HERE

ZI Publications director charged with publishing, spreading, possessing Irshad Manji's book Posted: 06 Mar 2013 02:05 PM PST (The Star) - The director of ZI Publications was charged in a Lower Syariah Court here with three counts of publishing, spreading and possessing the controversial Irshad Manji's book in last year. Mohd Ezra Mohd Zaid (pix), 30, however, claimed trial to the three alternative charges before Syarie judge Saharuddin Selamat on Thursday. He was alleged to have committed the offence at ZI Publications in Merchant Square in Jalan Tropicana Selatan 1 here in May, last year. The prosecution was led by Selangor Syarie prosecution chief Abdul Shukor Abdul Hamid while Mohd Ezra was represented by Syarie counsel Zulkifli Che Yong. The court later fixed May 9 for mention.

A move in PKR to oust Anwar’s dynasty? Posted: 06 Mar 2013 01:40 PM PST A former aide of PKR women chief Zuraida Kamaruddin had allegedly written a letter to the PAS president, urging the latter to pressure PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to step down. G Vinod, FMT A handwritten letter published on Malaysia Today website yesterday suggests that there is a move in PKR to oust its supremo Anwar Ibrahim's family before the general election. Claiming to be PKR women chief Zuraida Kamaruddin's former political secretary, Mohd Fareez Kamal Intidzam, 24, urged PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang to save the opposition pact from PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and its vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar. Fareez alleged that Wan Azizah and Nurul wanted to destroy his career as he was "close" to Anwar. He also claimed to be working for Anwar as his private secretary for international affairs since 2008. "The duo wants to eliminate anyone close to Anwar as they are jealous. As PAS president, only you (Hadi) can pressure Wan Azizah to quit her post before the 13th general election," he said. He also said that Wan Azizah's departure would not make much difference because the former Permatang Pauh MP cannot contest for a parliamentary seat in the coming election anyway. "What's the point being a party president when you can't contest for a parliamentary seat? This is an embarassment to Pakatan Rakyat," said Fareez. The former aide to Zuraida also heaped praises on PKR deputy president Azmin Ali and called him a man of calibre. Being a capable leader, Fareez said that Azmin would ensure Pakatan's victory in the general election. "He's a wholesome leader, unlike Wan Azizah who is just a proxy and pretends to not know anything happening around her," he said. A copy of the letter was sent to DAP chairman Karpal Singh. 'Tired of accusations' Meanwhile, a source close to Zuraida confirmed that Fareez used to work for the MP but quit before 2008. However, the source could not recall when Fareez left his post. "I only know him professionally. In terms of work, Fareez can deliver as instructed," said the source. READ MORE HERE

Malaysia flare-up illustrates volatility Posted: 06 Mar 2013 12:06 PM PST   (Today Online) - Stand-off might also point to dangers of other, perhaps larger flashpoints in region: Analysts Malaysia's move to launch air strikes and send in ground troops to flush out an armed Filipino Muslim clan from a coastal village in the eastern state of Sabah illustrates how border tensions across Asia can flare up in unpredictable ways. Such conflicts threaten the stability that has helped underpin decades of economic growth, potentially complicating the United States' bid to step up its military and diplomatic influence in a region where China exerts growing sway. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak ordered Tuesday's dawn assault after some 200 Filipinos claiming to be descendants of the defunct sultanate of Sulu dumbfounded Malaysia by sailing from the nearby southern Philippines to revive a 350-year-old claim on Sabah. At least 27 people have been killed in clashes between the armed intruders and Malaysian security forces. "Operations are still ongoing," Malaysia's armed forces chief, General Zulkifeli Zin, told reporters yesterday. "It's not going to be easy because we have a big area to cover. Nevertheless, we are able to contain them so far in an area of approximately four square kilometres." Mr Najib struck an uncompromising tone as the operation got under way earlier in the day. "For our sovereignty and stability, we will not allow even an inch of Malaysian territory to be threatened or taken by anyone," he said. The nearly month-long stand-off is disrupting palm oil exports from Sabah, which produces 30 per cent of Malaysia's output. Further violence could unnerve foreign investment in the state as well as damage Mr Najib's chances in a general election due to be held by June. The Filipinos appear to be standing firm on their claim. Abraham Idjirani, a spokesman for self-declared Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, told reporters the group would continue to fight for Sabah, which they say was granted to Mr Kiram's family by the Sultan of Brunei in the 17th century. Philippine officials have urged the group to return home. "We've done everything we could to prevent this, but in the end, Mr Kiram's people chose this path," government spokesman Ricky Carandang said. Some analysts say the stand-off should not have come as a surprise given the region's historical ties, and that it might also point to the dangers of other, perhaps larger flashpoints elsewhere in the region. Ms Glenda Gloria, a Manila-based author and historian, noted that residents of the Philippines' Muslim provinces frequently travelled back and forth between Malaysia and Indonesia, trading and speaking a similar language before European and American colonisers introduced national boundaries. Many Muslim Filipinos sought sanctuary in Sabah in the '70s and '80s while fighting a separatist war against late dictator Ferdinand Marcos' government. "Sabah was always part of their real—and imagined—community," Ms Gloria said, pointing out that migrants from the southern Philippines now living in modern-day Sabah often refer to themselves as Suluks rather than Filipinos. There are similar problems in other parts of South-east Asia. In 2008 and 2011, Thailand and Cambodia fought brief border wars that claimed scores of lives and strained relations between the two countries. The cause: A dispute over which country should control a Buddhist temple after France decades ago demarked the border between the countries. Papuan separatists in eastern Indonesia, meanwhile, are fighting to break away from central rule in Jakarta, while an ethnic-Malay Muslim insurgency in southern Thailand has killed more than 5,000 people since 2004 as guerrillas rebel against the annexation of the old Pattani sultanate by what was then Siam in 1902. Dr Farish Noor, a professor at Nanyang Technological University, argued that in many instances, these conflicts are caused by old customs butting up against arbitrary modern national boundaries. "We South-east Asians are caught between a fluid region and a hard state," he said. Read more at: http://www.todayonline.com/world/asia/malaysia-flare-illustrates-volatility

End blasphemy laws threatening minorities: U.N. faith expert Posted: 06 Mar 2013 12:03 PM PST Security officials surrounding Rimsha Masih, (C, green scarf) a Christian girl accused of blasphemy, move her to a helicopter after her release from Adyala jail in Rawalpindi September 8, 2012.  (Reuters) - Countries should repeal all laws punishing blasphemy and people who leave a faith, the United Nations' top expert on freedom of religion said on Wednesday, thrusting himself into a debate between many in the Muslim world and the West. Legislation outlawing apostasy - the act of changing religious affiliation - and insults against religious figures could be used to violate the rights of minorities, Heiner Bielefeld said in a report to the U.N. Human Rights Council. The comments from the United Nations' special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief came amid heightened focus on faith-based laws in countries like Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, where blasphemy carries the death penalty. "States should repeal any criminal law provisions that penalize apostasy, blasphemy and proselytism, as they may prevent persons belonging to religious or belief minorities from fully enjoying their freedom of religion or belief," he said in the report. Rights campaigners say the blasphemy law in Pakistan is widely used against religious minorities, including Christians, Ahmadis and more recently Shiah Muslims, usually on flimsy pretexts. The posting of an amateurish U.S.-made video mocking the Prophet Mohammad, and the publication of caricatures of him in France last year led to violent protests and renewed calls from the Muslim world for a global law against blasphemy. Read more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/06/us-un-religion-rights-idUSBRE9251LV20130306

LAHAD DATU: Jamalul Kiram III is a fake Sulu sultan, says family insider Posted: 06 Mar 2013 11:47 AM PST   (Bernama) - Jamalul Kiram III, who is masquerading as the sultan of Sulu and whose followers have intruded into Sabah and killed Malaysian police personnel, cannot lay claim to the defunct title, according to a source familiar with the goings-on in the family. It is, therefore, wrong for him to assert to be the heir to the last sultan of Sulu, Jamalul Kiram II, who died in 1936. Jamalul Kiram III was never a legitimate descendant of the nine "rightful heirs" of Jamalul Kiram II that was drawn up in the 1939 'Macaskie Judgement' to be eligible to receive cession payments, following the ceding of Sabah, then known as North Borneo, to the British North Borneo Company (BNBC). The source, who has indepth knowledge of the Sulu "sultanate" household and its history, stressed that according to the family tree, although Jamalul Kiram III was a member of the household, he was never a descendent of the nine principal heirs who had the right to the cession payments. "When Jamalul Kiram II died in 1936, he left no direct heir, and BNBC also stopped the cession payments. So, the nine had gone to court as a group to recognise their right to receive the annual payment," the source said. In 1939, the Chief Justice of the High Court of North Borneo, Justice Macaskie, ruled in the heirs' favour and the annual payment resumed. The Malaysian Government has continued with the payment, following the formation of the federation. In 2011, descendants of the nine principal heirs to Jamalul Kiram II obtained an order from a Sulu court to recognise them as the legitimate direct descendents to the nine principal heirs. This second generation of the heirs are Dayang Dayang Piandao Taj-Mahal Kiram-Tarsum Nuqui, Putli Nurhima Kiram-Forman, Siti Ayesha K.H Sampang, Sulatan Fuad A. Kiram, Dayang-Dayang Sheramar T. Kiram, Princess Permaisuri Kiram Guerson and Sitti Jenny K.A Sampang. "As such, he (Jamalul Kiram III) cannot claim to be an heir or descendent of any of the nine principal heirs," the source contended.

Police Arrest Dozens of “MyKad” Sulu to Gather Info Posted: 06 Mar 2013 11:42 AM PST   (Borneo Insider) - Among those hauled up for questioning and interrogation is the son of Rajah Mudah Abjimuddin Kiram, the leader of the Sulu Raiders who held security forces to a three-week stand-off at Tanduo, before fleeing to safer ground. Others include the information chief of a local political party as well as uniformed personnel.    13 bodies of Tanduo raiders recovered, mop-up exercise on-going; fighting in Labian; Four arrests in Semporna; one intruder killed in Labian; Lok Kawi camp fired at; Abjimuddin said to have escaped and very alive By THE BORNEO INSIDER TEAM A Malaysian army helicopter flies in Cenderawasih near the area where the stand-off with Filipino gunmen and Malaysian security forces was taking place in Tanduo village on Tuesday. Malaysian security forces launched an assault on supporters of the Sultanate of Sulu engaged in a three-week incursion that has left 27 people dead. TANDUO, FELDA SAHABAT, LAHAD DATU: Relatives of the Sulu Sultan's family are said to be among dozens of people who have been hauled up by the police over the last two weeks on suspicion that they are sympathisers of the so called Sulu Royal Army. Among those hauled up for questioning and interrogation is the son of Rajah Mudah Abjimuddin Kiram, the leader of the Sulu Raiders who held security forces to a three-week stand-off at Tanduo, before fleeing to safer ground. Others include the information chief of a local political party as well as uniformed personnel – though earlier the IGP had denied that security people had been detained for allegedly providing the "other side" with classified information. Police remain tight-lipped about the arrests but at least four men have been transferred to police headquarters in Kepayan to be interrogated. The photo of a policeman was also posted by unidentified sources on Facebook, branding him a traitor. On Tuesday night, villagers near Kembarabudi in Felda Sahabat area said police also detained eight people in a blue van as they were driving out of the Tanjung Labian area which was about 5kms away along the coastline to Tanduo village which was bombed earlier in the day. The villagers claimed that among those detained could be a son of Abjimuddin, and a woman who could also be related to the Kirams. Residents leave their village in Tanjung Labian near Tanduo, where Malaysian forces launched an assault on Filipino gunmen, bombing the village followed by a ground assault by troops. Tanduo villagers, who fled upon the first landing of the Sulu group on Feb 9, have said that Abjimuddin and his top lieutenant known as "Musa'' a former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) commander, were related to local village leaders through marriage. Abjimuddin, a soft-spoken person was also once the former assistant district officer of Kudat in the early 1970s – though he used a different name then – and his family has a long list of relatives living mainly in Lahad Datu, Semporna and Sandakan  Read more at: http://borneoinsidermirror.wordpress.com/2013/03/06/breaking-news-fresh-shooting-in-labian/

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