Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- MB says poverty behind Muslim apostasy in Selangor
- Fernandez's remarks can strain ties between politicians, civil servants
- ICAC wants ‘transactional’ info for new probe, says Rafizi
- MCA leaders all riled up again, this time over a haircut
- Ex-minister Radzi a boss in ‘rogue’ 6P firm
- Pairin: Jeffrey doesn’t love me anymore
- Anwar sodomise case on Feb 15
- Beaufort MP to defend seat on PKR ticket
- Two ex-DAP grassroot leaders hit out at Selangor councillors Kok and Liu
- Traffic enforcement must not be privatised, says ex-IGP
- Nurul Izzah sues Utusan for defamation over apostasy row
- MCA lashes out at PAS’ gender laws
- Bersih happy with EC’s efforts
- ‘Anwar is an attention seeker’
- PKR confident of winning more in Penang
- Umno’s Alwi blames ulama for Malay disunity
- Where’s the billions in forest royalties?
- Internal rifts may cost PKR Indian votes
- Malaysian regulators find ‘issues’ in AirAsia audit
- Dong Zong shrugs off MPM outrage
- PKA seeks hair cut on PKFZ loan
- RM200,000 more for each speed camera because of training, says government
- Ali: Come down hard on personnel leaking govt secrets
- Kelantan’s gender segregation rules affect non-Muslim businesses
| MB says poverty behind Muslim apostasy in Selangor Posted: 23 Nov 2012 12:27 AM PST
(Bernama) - Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said the issue of apostasy among Muslims in Selangor is caused by poverty and efforts are being taken to address it. Khalid who is also the state executive councillor for Islamic affairs said he would combine aid by Islamic Trust Fund and Selangor Zakat Board to better care for the welfare of Muslims. He said this in reply to a question from Datuk Dr Hasan Mohamed Ali (Independent-Gombak Setia), who asked about efforts to convert Muslims in Selangor in the state assembly here today. Khalid said Islamic law enforcement agencies need to monitor how other religious missionaries draw Muslims and look into ways to save the faith of Muslims. To a supplementary question from Ng Suee Lim (DAP-Sekinchan) who asked how many Muslims had been apostatised since Pakatan Rakyat ruled, Khalid said he did not have the data as apostasy was an issue for individuals and families did not publicise it. However, there were still 10 cases relating to apostasy undergoing the court process in Selangor, he added.
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| Fernandez's remarks can strain ties between politicians, civil servants Posted: 23 Nov 2012 12:19 AM PST
(Bernama) - The Administrative and Diplomatic Officers Alumni Association said the remark by Petaling Jaya City Council member Derek Fernandez can strain the harmonious working relationship between politicians and civil servants. Its president Tan Sri Sallehudin Mohamad urged Fernandez who likened civil servants as 'monkeys' while commenting on the transfer of the mayor to withdraw his remark in order to protect the harmonious relationship. "The civil service is the pillar in the administration of any country. The responsibility entrusted is indeed noble and heavy a burden. "The civil service expects sincere cooperation and positive support from all parties in the government, including political leaders appointed by supporters," he said in a statement here today. Fernandez was quoted as saying in an English newspaper: "Let's see who the candidates are. If they are going to nominate some monkeys, we will reject."
The Administrative and Diplomatic Officers Alumni Association said the remark by Petaling Jaya City Council member Derek Fernandez can strain the harmonious working relationship between politicians and civil servants.Its president Tan Sri Sallehudin Mohamad urged Fernandez who likened civil servants as 'monkeys' while commenting on the tranfer of the mayor to withdraw his remark in order to protect the harmonious relationship. "The civil service is the pillar in the administration of any country. The responsibility entrusted is indeed noble and heavy a burden. "The civil service expects sincere cooperation and positive support from allparties in the government, including political leaders appointed by supporters," he said in a statement here today. Fernandez was quoted as saying in an English newspaper: "Let's see who the candidates are. If they are going to nominate some monkeys, we will reject." Read more: Fernandez's remarks can strain ties between politicians, civil servants - Latest - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/latest/fernandez-s-remarks-can-strain-ties-between-politicians-civil-servants-1.175861?localLinksEnabled=false#ixzz2D3zVL56z The Administrative and Diplomatic Officers Alumni Association said the remark by Petaling Jaya City Council member Derek Fernandez can strain the harmonious working relationship between politicians and civil servants.Its president Tan Sri Sallehudin Mohamad urged Fernandez who likened civil servants as 'monkeys' while commenting on the tranfer of the mayor to withdraw his remark in order to protect the harmonious relationship. "The civil service is the pillar in the administration of any country. The responsibility entrusted is indeed noble and heavy a burden. "The civil service expects sincere cooperation and positive support from allparties in the government, including political leaders appointed by supporters," he said in a statement here today. Fernandez was quoted as saying in an English newspaper: "Let's see who the candidates are. If they are going to nominate some monkeys, we will reject." Read more: Fernandez's remarks can strain ties between politicians, civil servants - Latest - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/latest/fernandez-s-remarks-can-strain-ties-between-politicians-civil-servants-1.175861?localLinksEnabled=false#ixzz2D3zVL56z |
| ICAC wants ‘transactional’ info for new probe, says Rafizi Posted: 22 Nov 2012 09:04 PM PST
Zurairi AR, The Malaysian Insider Hong Kong graftbusters may renew their probe into the murky RM40 million "political donation" to Sabah Umno if provided with evidence to show the funds were transacted on the island, PKR's Rafizi Ramli said today. "I'm very confident that the case will be re-opened. From our discussion with ICAC, they have given an easy evidence test," the PKR strategy director said in a press conference here, referring to the Independent Commission Against Corruption. "And we do have evidence, documents. That's why we need to return in two weeks," said Rafizi, who led a team of PKR lawmakers to Hong Kong on Wednesday in a bid to get authorities there to renew their investigations into the matter. Rafizi and his team were reluctant, however, to divulge details on the evidence, other than to say it met the ICAC's requirment, for fear of jeopardising their sources and the investigation. "There are like three or four files," Rafizi said, refusing to elaborate further. Yesterday, the PKR team furnished fresh evidence to the ICAC on Datuk Musa Aman's RM40 million graft case and were invited to return with more proof on the Sabah chief minister's alleged money-laundering link with businessman Michael Chia. According to Rafizi today, the team had met with the Acting Chief Investigator of ICAC Martin Chan Chi-wah, after an immediate appointment was requested by senior Hong Kong legislative councillor James To Kun-sun. The PKR lawmakers also met with their Hong Kong counterparts To, Leung Kwok-hung and Raymond Wong, who are part of the legislative council's Security Panel, to which the ICAC answers. In PKR's report, three reasons were listed to encourage the world-renowned ICAC to reopen the RM40 million graft probe against Musa and Chia — separate claims from two Sabah MPs that the money was not a political donation to Umno as claimed; and the receipt of a luxury vehicle from Chia by Umno minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz, possibly for corrupt reasons. "They did give us a reference number and I think that by practice here, all cases are opened once a report is lodged," Rafizi said yesterday in a phone call to The Malaysian Insider. The fact-finding mission, which had just touched down from Hong Kong, also included PKR MPs William Leong and Lee Hoy Sian, and Perak assemblyman Chang Lih Kang. Chang and Leong also revealed that HK representatives whom they met were greatly concerned that the island's image as a financial capital will be tarnished by allegations of graft and money-laundering. "They hope we can bring justice in Hong Kong and Malaysia," Leong said. "It is the responsibility of anyone to help ICAC in investigating money laundering cases ... so that Hong Kong will not be made into a 'paradise of money-laundering'," Chang added. Chia's alleged link with Musa first exploded in the media following an April article by whistleblower site Sarawak Report, which had claimed that former was caught trying to leave the Hong Kong International Airport with the RM40 million in Singapore currency.
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| MCA leaders all riled up again, this time over a haircut Posted: 22 Nov 2012 08:56 PM PST
MCA has been at loggerheads with Islamic values since it launched an intense campaign to stop PAS's appeal among non-Muslim voters (Harakah Daily) - Chinese-only party MCA has continued its current campaign to woo back non-Muslim support, and today it urged DAP to forget about Pakatan Rakyat - all because the Kota Bharu Municipal Council enforced a long-existing rule which disallows unisex services at hair saloons. The rule, which has been welcomed by many including non-Muslim women and housewives who fear the rampant misuse of unisex hair saloons as prostitution dens, is stated under Section 107(2) of the Local Council Act.
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| Ex-minister Radzi a boss in ‘rogue’ 6P firm Posted: 22 Nov 2012 08:52 PM PST However, he denies involvement in human trafficking. Teoh El Sen, FMT Former home minister Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad is a director in a company that is under police investigation over several offences related to human trafficking. The company, SNT Universal Corporation Sdn Bhd, is a government-appointed agent in the 6P amnesty programme. Police suspect it has exploited hundreds of foreign workers, mainly Bangladeshis. Investigators are focusing on the possibility that SNT has committed several offences, including falsely claiming that it is able to register foreigners under the 6P programme and getting work permits for them, setting up dozens of bogus employment agencies, and assaulting job-seeking foreigners. The last allegation is based on CCTV recordings. According to the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM), Radzi became a director of SNT on May 17, 2011. Radzi expressed surprise when an FMT reporter informed him of the CCM record. He said "some friends" roped him into being an SNT director and denied knowledge of its activities. "I'm not involved in human trafficking," he said. "People ask me to become director in all sorts of things. I have no connection with the company." Radzi was the Minister of Home Affairs between 2006 and 2008. Under the 6P programme, illegal foreign workers will either be legalised or deported without punishment. The six Ps represent the Malay words for registration, legalisation, amnesty, monitoring, enforcement and deportation. The government has appointed more than 300 companies to handle registration. Early this month, the Selangor Council Against Human Trafficking (Mapmas) released CCTV recordings showing the violence that SNT employees had allegedly perpetrated against the job-seekers. Mapmas said it got hold of the recordings with the help of a whistleblower and that the victims of the recorded assault represented only a fraction of some 200 claiming to have been cheated by SNT. The videos are now on YouTube. Police said this week that they had arrested three foreigners in the case and were on the hunt for another suspect. The evidence regarding bogus employment agencies resulted from investigations carried out by FMT and Mapmas official Abdul Aziz Ismail. It was found that these companies had no business infrastructure and were apparently set up for the sole purpose of obtaining fraudulent work permits to be used in the 6P programme. One of the recurring names in these companies is Md. Shahidul Islam, said to be a Bangladeshi man whose nickname is Babul. Babul's name also appears in a police report against SNT that accuses it of cheating and assault. Authorities have yet to explain how he is able to run a 6P management company when the Home Ministry prohibits foreigners from doing so. 'They made use of my name' Mampas' Abdul Aziz, a veteran labour activist, today condemned Radzi for accepting a director's position in SNT. "During his time as the Home Minister, the government brought in some 500,000 Bangladeshis and they were abandoned at the airport and sold to a third party," Abdul Aziz said. "So, if you talk about Mohd Radzi, he failed during his tenure. And now he is getting himself involved in something like this. It is totally unethical and immoral." In his interview with FMT, Radzi recalled that he was asked to be a director of SNT around the time the government announced the 6P programme. "I don't even know where this company is," he said. "Maybe I have been there once, when it was about to be formed. It checked out with the Home Ministry. Now it has gone a bit funny, huh?" He said it was the first company he joined after leaving his cabinet post. "I looked at the company and thought they were just doing some registration for these workers, allowing them to go home or something like that. They asked if I wanted to be part of it. So okay-lah." He said that a few months ago, when he found out that the 6P programme was not doing well, he told the company he wanted to quit it. Asked if he knew the other SNT directors, he said: "I may be able to recall this Babul something. I think that's him." He said he felt betrayed. "They made use of my name. Now it appears that I should have checked what sort of company this was. I'm disappointed."
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| Pairin: Jeffrey doesn’t love me anymore Posted: 22 Nov 2012 06:10 PM PST It is now an open secret that the KadazanDusuns in Keningau and even Tambunan are clamouring for change, but Joseph Pairin Kitingan refuses to acknowledge the shift. Calvin Kabaron, FMT Embattled Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Joseph Pairin Kitingan has increased his attacks on his brother Jeffrey. He sees Jeffrey as the man who will send him into retirement. Speaking to reporters at the end of recently-concluded PBS congress here, Pairin accused the younger Kitingan of not loving him and of breaking the unity within the KadazanDusunMurut communities. He also said Jeffrey was uncooperative and hurled half a dozen more accusations against his younger brother. For the record, as of yesterday, Pairin, 72, seemed to still want to be renominated as Barisan Nasional candidate in both the Keningau parliamentary and Tambunan state seats. It is now an open secret that the Kadazandusuns in Keningau and even Tambunan are clamouring for change. But Pairin, being the longest (and uninterrupted) serving state assemblyman in the country, refuses to acknowledge the shifting ground. In fact he loathed to entertain the idea of people wanting change. "I am ready to contest both seats," said Pairin who is also a deputy chief minister and Sabah's minister of infrastructure development. On possibility in the election, he quipped: "Are the people ready to chuck me off?" He said that while it was up to the people in Keningau and Tambunan to decide, it must be noted that he has "done a lot more in terms of fighting for the people" via PBS. "I would say that I have a lot going and I have done a lot more in terms of fighting for the people in the context of our (PBS) struggles all this while. And that is something which needs to be considered…," said Pairin, obviously already on the defensive about his chances in the coming general election. But he quickly qualified that he however would be guided by the requests from the constituents and the party. Asked about rumours and reports that he would only contest one seat this time, the seasoned politician retorted: "Did I say that? No, I did not. I have always been open for these two (seats) and of course I am also guided by requests from the ground, my division and the party. Which means to say, it is still very much an option. He may go fo both, or may go for only one. Many local observers from Tambunan claimed that it is Pairin's trademark to be seen as open for any option, and that like other wise politicians, he could be saying one thing and doing another thing later. "I won't be surprised at all that Pairin would eventually contest in Tambunan only. I am not even surprised if he does not contest at all at the coming general election. Once the truth set in him, he would be guided by it," one seasoned observer who wished to be known only as Mark. Pairin, meanwhile, said he had taken note of Jeffrey's signal "to send him into retirement by contesting against him". "Well that is Jeffrey's wish all the time, right from the time he has been against me, that has been his wish. He wants me to retire and now he doesn't care anymore. "He doesn't love his brother, he doesn't have any feeling, any consideration, he just wants a place to go to because he is now the leader in STAR (State Reform Party), an imported party from Sarawak. Now he is happy leading a party," Pairin said. Jeffrey has on numerous times and in his speeches before this told the people that he had nothing against Pairin as a brother and that he loved him like any brother does to his own brother. "It is not that I love Pairin less, but it is because I love the people and Sabah more…," Jeffrey had said everytime such accusations were hurled at him by Pairin or PBS leaders. But Pairin did not let up on Jeffrey yesterday. He spewed: "That is why Jeffrey has been changing parties all the time because he is not wanted in all these parties and he cannot work with anyone." Jeffrey was always popular But the facts however tell a different story. When in the AKAR party, Jeffrey was very popular. He was in fact appointed as the "President's Representative" by its late president Mark Koding when the latter left for a theology study in Australia. That appointment was challenged by another deputy president of AKAR at that time, Pandikan Amin Mulia, who saw himself as more senior. This threw the party into turmoil, and eventually Pandikar dissolved the party for Umno. In Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), Jeffrey got the highest number of nomination for the presidency, leaving out incumbent Joseph Kurup with only two nominations from the party divisions.
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| Posted: 22 Nov 2012 05:01 PM PST
(Bernama) - The Court of Appeal has fixed Feb 15 for case management of the prosecution's appeal against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's acquittal on a charge of sodomising his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan. Court of Appeal deputy registrar N. Kanageswari set the date for another case management after the matter came up before her for case management in chambers today. Deputy Public Prosecutor Najib Zakaria appeared for the prosecution while Anwar was represented by Ram Karpal Singh. Ram Karpal told reporters that both the prosecution and defence needed more time to go through and verify the notes of evidence which were in compact discs (CDs). He said, there were about 22 volumes of CDs which were "very bulky and technical". Ram Karpal said, both sides had not finished verifying the notes of evidence, so the court gave them time to sort them out, adding that the process was time-consuming. On Jan 9, this year, the Kuala Lumpur High Court acquitted and discharged Anwar of sodomising Mohd Saiful, 26, at a Desa Damansara condominium unit in Bukit Damansara here, between 3.10pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008. Anwar, 65, was charged under Section 377B of the Penal Code, which carries a jail sentence of up to 20 years and whipping, upon conviction.The prosecution subsequently, filed on Jan 20, this year, a notice of appeal against the opposition leader's acquittal from the sodomy charge. On July 9, this year, the prosecution filed its petition of appeal which contained nine grounds. The 80-page written judgment by High Court judge Datuk Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah revealed, there was penile penetration but it was uncorroborated by other evidence. He said the court could not be 100 per cent certain on the integrity ofsamples taken for DNA testing from Mohd Saiful as the samples could have been compromised before they reached the chemistry department for analysis.
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| Beaufort MP to defend seat on PKR ticket Posted: 22 Nov 2012 04:47 PM PST
(The Sun Daily) - Beaufort MP Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin yesterday confirmed that he will defend his seat in the 13th general election on a PKR ticket. "I have discussed with Pakatan Rakyat (leaders) … I will contest under PKR but I am not a party member. I have a new party (in Sabah) but it has not been (officially) registered," Lajim told theSun when met in Parliament yesterday. The former Umno Supreme Council member had left the party in July to be a PR-friendly independent MP and was later stripped of his position as deputy housing and local government minister. Lajim's departure, along with Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing and several other local Barisan Nasional leaders, has been touted as a signal for an impending wave of support for PR in Sabah. The duo had then respectively announced the formation of PR-aligned movements – Sabah Coalition for Change (PPS) and Sabah Force for Change (APS). On Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Seri Muhyiddin Yassin, during a walkabout in Kota Kinabalu, reportedly described Lajim as a "traitor" and declared that BN would go all out to reclaim the Beaufort seat. "Lajim has let the people down, and he was stupid to have left Barisan but we need to look forward and ensure this district continues to be developed," he said. In response, Lajim said: "It is OK … The mission for BN is to get more seats and strengthen its government, but in Sabah, people have already said they want change." Asked for comment on his decision to set up a new party instead of joining existing peninsula-based PR component parties, Lajim said it is a "normal" move for politicians in Sabah. "Most important is the policy of the party … It must benefit the people. The party must be able to provide development in Sabah," he stressed. Lajim said the winning party must also be able to resolve issues surrounding an influx of illegal immigrants in the state, a long-term concern which he claimed BN had failed to address. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak had on Aug 11 announced the establishment of a five-member Royal Commission of Inquiry, headed by former Sabah chief judge Tan Sri Steve Shim, to probe the state's long-standing immigration problem.
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| Two ex-DAP grassroot leaders hit out at Selangor councillors Kok and Liu Posted: 22 Nov 2012 04:35 PM PST
(The Star) - Two former DAP grassroot leaders have hit out at Selangor executive councillors Teresa Kok and Ronnie Liu, claiming that they were experts at "cover ups". Sacked Serdang DAP member Yap Kon Min said he had three letters of complaint to Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, and each time, the matter was delegated to Kok and Liu. "I received replies for each of my three letters, all dated May 23, from the Mentri Besar's office saying that Kok and Liu will look into the matter. "But it has been six months and there were no developments," he told reporters Friday. Yap had lodged complaints against Kajang councillor Lee Kee Hiong, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, Petaling Jaya councillor Tiew Way Keng and Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching on three separate issues. Yap said Lee and Lim had filed separate legal suits against him, which would be heard next month. "I've been sued, and I will fight it out in court. People say that I've taken money from MCA (to expose DAP leaders), but I swear that I have not taken a sen," he said. He said Kok and Liu, who are also top leaders in Selangor DAP, have shown disrespect to the Mentri Besar by disregarding his directives. "Before 2008, DAP always criticised the Barisan Nasional state government. But what has happened now? DAP leaders are worse and they are only good at sweeping everything under the carpet," he said. Former Pantai Sepang Putra DAP branch chairman R. Vellasamy, who was sacked from the party in April, said DAP's top leadership were only interested in seeking publicity. "When the Batu Caves issue came up, Lim Kit Siang and Kok went. But last year, the Sri Mahamariamman temple in Sepang was under threat of being demolished but none of them came. "Why? Because they did not go to Batu Caves to help the temple, but to get publicity," he said. The Batu Caves temple management had threatened to sue the state government unless construction of a 29-storey condominium project next to the Unesco heritage side is shelved. The planned project was temporarily halted following orders from the state government to conduct soil testing.
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| Traffic enforcement must not be privatised, says ex-IGP Posted: 22 Nov 2012 04:15 PM PST
Nomy Nozwir, The Malaysian Insider Putrajaya should not privatise law enforcement as it will create the impression the government is only interested in making money, former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said, after Parliament approved the roll-out of an outsourced automated system to catch and penalise speeding motorists. The retired police officer is the latest to weigh in on the controversial Automated Enforcement System (AES), which has drawn ire from the public and opposition lawmakers alarmed at the profit motive built into the concession agreement awarded to two private companies to install and manage the speed trap cameras over the next five years. "To me, enforcement cannot be privatised," Musa told The Malaysian Insider. "This will only create the perception that the government only wants to make profit on the people [sic]," he added in a telephone interview.. The 60-year-old agreed with critics who have pointed out that the AES has many flaws that have yet to be addressed, including a 17 per cent minimum profit margin to the two concession holders — ATES Sdn Bhd and Beta Tegap — which would need to issue a whopping 2.72 million speeding tickets each over the next five years just to recoup their reported RM700 million investments. He noted that there may be difficulties with enforcing fines issued by the private companies should the public challenge the summonses they receive in court. He said there are two types of summonses, the first being fines that cannot be compounded and the second fines that can be compounded. Musa said the latter type of summonses should rightfully be handled by government enforcement agencies such as the police and the Road Transport Department (RTD). The AES is handled only by the RTD, not the police who have their own speed trap cameras. "The public will have two ways, first pay at RTD counters and second, stand trial in court and let the court decide," he said.
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| Nurul Izzah sues Utusan for defamation over apostasy row Posted: 22 Nov 2012 04:12 PM PST
Zurairi AR, The Malaysian Insider PKR's Nurul Izzah Anwar filed today a defamation suit against Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia, claiming the newspaper had twisted her remarks at a recent forum to endorse apostasy among Malays — a highly sensitive issue in mainly Muslim Malaysia. In the suit filed at the High Court here, the opposition rising star named the Malay daily's editor, Datuk Aziz Ishak, and Utusan Melayu (Malaysia) Berhad as the defendants. The Lembah Pantai MP is demanding the paper publish an apology on its front page over the reports she said have elements of "fitnah aqidah" or faith defamation. Nurul Izzah is also asking for a permanent injunction against the daily to bar it from publishing further similar articles. She did not specify an amount for compensation. The first-term lawmaker is represented by lawyers Mohd Hanipa Maidin and Datuk Sulaiman Abdullah. Hanipa, who is also PAS legal adviser, told reporters he hoped the court will expedite the case. The PKR vice-president has been under attack from several religious hawks and Umno politicians following her remarks at a public forum on "Islamic State: Which version, whose responsibility?" in Subang Jaya on November 3. The conservatives alleged that her remarks meant she supported Muslims renouncing Islam and turning "murtad" or apostate. But she has reportedly denied that she is supporting apostasy among the country's Malay-Muslim community, who make up some 60 per cent of the 28 million total population and whose vote is crucial to form the next government at the 13th general election due soon. Umno, the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition's mainstay, has some three million members but the Malay-Muslim vote is split three ways with the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact's Islamist party PAS and its urban-based reform ally PKR drawing increasingly greater support. Race and religious issues are inseparable in Malaysia, where the Malays are constitutionally defined to also be Muslims. The country's supreme law states that Islam is the religion of the federation but also provides for other religions to be practised freely.
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| MCA lashes out at PAS’ gender laws Posted: 22 Nov 2012 04:07 PM PST The summonses issued to non-Muslim hair salon owners in Kelantan by the PAS-led government has earned MCA's ire. Patrick Lee, FMT MCA has come down hard on the PAS-led Kelantan state government for targeting non-Muslims in their enforcement of the state's conservative moral code. Wanita MCA secretary-general, Chew Lee Giok, highlighted a recent case where hair salon operators in Kota Baru were fined after their female workers cut the hair of male customers. "The summonses by the Kota Baru Municipal Council against a Chinese female hairdresser for styling a man's hair puts paid to claims that PAS' hudud enactments will not affect non-Muslims," she said. She said that though these cases were few in number, it was nevertheless a sign of encroaching Muslim moral authority. The Star today reported that hair salon operator Ong Lee Ting had been slapped with 11 summonses for flouting gender segregation by-laws since she opened her shop in 2010. She also told the daily that her business licence was going to be revoked because of the large number of summonses issued. The report added that Ong was fined under Section 107 (2) of the Local Council Act by-law, which "prohibited a woman from cutting a man's hair and vice-versa regardless of religion". With this, Chew ridiculed PAS' claims that hudud enactments would not affect non-Muslims. Quit Pakatan, DAP told Hudud refers to provisions in Islamic law that provides for penalties that are considered harsh, including removal of limbs for theft, and the stoning to death for fornication. Many PAS leaders have pushed for hudud to be implemented in Malaysia, despite both Muslim and non-Muslim concerns. Meanwhile, MCA central committee member Loh Seng Kok challenged the DAP to leave Pakatan Rakyat if it aims to remain true to Malaysia's Chinese and non-Muslim communities.
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| Bersih happy with EC’s efforts Posted: 22 Nov 2012 04:05 PM PST With the setting up of a special unit to rid the rolls of dubious voters, Bersih hopes that the EC will ensure free and fair elections for all. Alyaa Azhar, FMT Polls watchdog Bersih today expressed its appreciation to the Election Commission (EC) for its initiatives to discuss with members of parliament the existing inconsistencies in the electoral roll. It also registered its gratitude at the commission's move to set up a special unit to rid the voter roll of dubious entries. It further hoped that the special unit would be set up after the EC consults various stakeholders and took into consideration the feedback from various electoral reforms groups. Bersih also urged the EC to publish frequent updates on the progress of this unit to ensure that the public is thoroughly informed, ahead of the elections. With regard to the new regulations concerning overseas voters, Bersih expressed its view that the EC should resolve the issue before the end of the current parliamentary session next Friday. The coalition of NGOs for fair and free elections, however, reiterated its objection to the condition set by the EC for overseas voters to return to Malaysia at least once every five years. EC deputy chairman Wan Ahmad Wan Omar had reportedly said that the condition was so that the voters must show their loyalty to the country and for them to be well-informed about the country's political course. But Bersih objected to this "condition" stating that it "is unfair". "Such a ruling cannot be forced on voters merely based on the EC's assumption that a Malaysian who lives abroad does not keep abreast with national politics," Bersih said in its statement. Bersih was also of the opinion that the EC is going in the right direction. "We view the latest moves by the EC as a step in the right direction, but only if the commission carries out these actions with the clear aim of ensuring free and fair elections for all Malaysians," it said.
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| ‘Anwar is an attention seeker’ Posted: 22 Nov 2012 03:58 PM PST Several BN leaders are appalled at Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim's attempt to get Australia to observe Malaysia's general election. G Vinod, FMT An MIC leader today chided Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim for seeking attention, especially with his call to Australia to observe the coming general election. MIC vice-president SK Devamany was referring to Anwar's move to request the Australian government recently to observe the polls, claiming there were a lot of irregularities in the electoral roll. However, Australia's Foreign Minister Bob Carr had rejected the former deputy prime minister's request, saying they cannot and would not influence how Malaysia runs its election. "It's very hard for Australia to do anything about how they're run, as hard as it would be for Malaysia or another government to have a say in how Australian elections are run. "We're not the election authority for Malaysia," Carr was reported as saying. Election Commission (EC) chairman Abdul Aziz Yusof also criticised Anwar, saying the electoral body had instituted several measures to improve the nation's election process. Taking Anwar to task, Devamany said that times have changed and the world community is watching each other's conduct in the information age. "No point trying to seek attention from other people. They are watching us all the time," he said. As for Anwar's accusation, the deputy minister said that the Barisan Nasional government is transparent and the former could always voice his grouses to the EC. "He can always use his position as the opposition leader to get things done. But being the attention seeker he is, Anwar will devise new tactics to keep himself relevant. "No wonder some Pakatan Rakyat leaders are seeking PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang to become prime minister if the opposition bloc wins the federal polls," said Devamany. Risk of being colonised again Echoing Devamany's sentiments, People's Progressive Party (PPP) president M Kayveas said that it was dangerous to get foreign powers to be involved in Malaysia's election. He also said that with foreign powers' aid, the party benefiting from them would be indebted to the former and thus, put Malaysia at risk of being "colonised" again.
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| PKR confident of winning more in Penang Posted: 22 Nov 2012 03:54 PM PST Penang PKR has brushed aside suggestion by critics that it 'could be a casualty' in the next election. Athi Shankar, FMT GEORGE TOWN: Penang PKR is confident of adding to its current nine seat tally in the State Legislative Assembly in the next general election. State party information head Johari Kassim said their election machinery was well-oiled and all ready to rumble with Barisan Nasional in the next election. "We have equal fighting chances in all seats that PKR will contest in the next polls," he told FMT. He suggested the absence of former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Umno-BN candidature and election campaign this time would help PKR and Pakatan Rakyat's chances to win some Umno-held seats in Kepala Batas and Tasek Gelugor federal constituencies. He said internal infighting among Umno local warlords in both areas could also prove to be the tonic to boost PKR chances. With an effective strategy, credible candidate and a little luck with a vote-swing, he predicted PKR would have a fighting chance to capture state seats of Bertam and Pinang Tunggal under Kepala Batas, and Teluk Air Tawar in Tasek Gelugor. The three seats were among seven in the state that PKR lost to Umno in Penang in 2008 general election. The other state seats it lost were Seberang Jaya (Permatang Pauh federal constituency), Sungai Acheh (Nibong Tebal), Teluk Bahang and Pulau Betong (Balik Pulau). Johari also believed PKR could capture these seats too. In the last election, PKR contested four federal and 16 state seats. It won all its parliamentary duels in Permatang Pauh and Nibong Tebal in mainland, and Balik Pulau and Bayan Baru in the island. 'PKR is not a weak link' It won state seats of Penanti (Permatang Pauh), Machang Bubok (Bukit Mertajam), Sungai Bakap (Nibong Tebal), Bukit Tengah and Bukit Tambun (Batu Kawan); all in mainland and, Batu Uban, Batu Maung and Pantai Jerejak (Bayan Baru) and Kebun Bunga (Bukit Bendera). In recent months, PAS, which contested two federal and five state seats in the last election, had been loudly staking a claim to contest in Sungai Acheh. It's also learnt that the DAP would want to contest in Bayan Baru. However, although he declined to comment on it, Johari said Pakatan would likely retain the status quo on the coalition seat formula.
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| Umno’s Alwi blames ulama for Malay disunity Posted: 22 Nov 2012 03:49 PM PST It's unfair to call Umno evil, says the Kelantan opposition leader. Hawkeye, FMT KOTA BARU: Kelantan opposition leader Alwi Che Md Ahmad has singled out religious scholars and preachers as being the main culprits causing disunity among the Malays. He said some ulama, particularly those affiliated with PAS, had been using Islam since the 1990s to split the community, and the situation had become so bad that rival groups of Malays could not even stand the sight of each other. He was commenting on last Friday's controversial prayer to damn Umno, which was recited by Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and his younger brother Nik Abdul Radzi at the Stadium Sultan Muhammed IV in Kota Baru. The occasion was a political rally that was part of Pakatan Rakyat's campaign for support in the coming general election. Alwi acknowledged that PAS supporters in Kelantan saw Umno as evil because it had withheld royalties from Petronas' exploitation of the state's oil and gas resources. However, he said, the perception was unfair considering the amount of good Umno had done for Malaysians, including Kelantanese. He cited the construction of key infrastructure in the state as well as welfare programmes for the poor. If Umno was indeed evil, he added, the party would have barred public hospitals from treating Nik Abdul Aziz when he suffered a heart attack in 2004. Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak even visited Nik Abdul Aziz in hospital, he pointed out. Alwi said Nik Abdul Aziz had become a portrait of contradictions. "Here is an 82-year-old man who is ailing, yet chooses to remain in power by holding on to political posts for some 20 years," he said. "Why can't he retire from politics to concentrate on offering sermons and religious instruction to his followers? The answer is simple. He is a politician first and an ulama second. "The whole of Kelantan knows that Nik Abdul Aziz is ailing. Yet he refuses to draw up a succession plan and allows the state to be administered by auto-pilot."
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| Where’s the billions in forest royalties? Posted: 22 Nov 2012 03:40 PM PST Despite the billions derived from logging, oil and gas royalties, Sarawakian natives have remained poor with minimal infrastructure. Joseph Tawie, FMT KUCHING: Where has the RM14.4 billion in forest royalties derived from logging Sarawak's rainforest since 1980 gone? Posing this question in the current sitting of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly, assemblyman See Chee How said the revenue seemed not to have filtered down to the masses, as the state was still grappling with poverty. "What has happened to all the forest royalties that the state received from all the trees chopped down since 1980? "The state government likes to claim that logging [and now oil palm] has brought development to the rural people. But, if so, why is there still so much poverty and deprivation in Sarawak? "Why is there so much growing inequality? Where did it all go?" asked See, the Batu Lintang assemblyman. See said the official statistics indicated that between 1981 and 2009, the Sarawak state government collected RM14.4 billion in forest royalties (for the years 1981-2003, and 2009). "This cumulative figure, which does not include the 2004 to 2008 figures, constitutes revenue from forest royalty alone and does not include cumulative income from other revenue streams like forest premium, hill timber premium, timber premium, and various other timber and timber industry tariffs. "If these figures are included, it is likely that the cumulative revenues from timber would amount to over RM15 billion. "However, in May 2011, a consultant with the United Nations, Philip Khoo, estimated that forest royalties alone collected in Sarawak from 1980-2006 amounted to about RM19 billion. "If this is the case, why is Sarawak still lacking in basic infrastructure? Why is there still so much poverty and growing inequality in Sarawak even as the forests have disappeared before our very eyes?" asked See, who is also Sarawak PKR vice-chairman. See said that much of rural Sarawak still subsists on dangerous logging roads, and has little telephone coverage. Electricity connectivity from the state grid is poor and fresh piped water remains a pipe dream for thousands. He said schools are provided by the federal government, and although there is a fairly generous number of rural primary schools, secondary schools remain a different story altogether with 12-year-old kids having to go to towns as boarders to be in secondary schools. Hospitals are also provided by the federal government, but in the interior of Sarawak — Ba'Kelalan, Batu Danau, Telang Usan, Kemena, Kakus, Belaga — there are no hospitals, despite promises made 15 years ago. "And we have not even begun talking about the need for improved hospitals in Sri Aman and other parts of the state." "So, where have all the forest royalties gone to? Does not the continued existence of poverty [estimated at between 5% and 30% by experts) and inequality in large swathes of the rural and Bumiputera population of Sarawak point towards huge leakages of state funds that have only enriched certain quarters?
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| Internal rifts may cost PKR Indian votes Posted: 22 Nov 2012 03:28 PM PST Indian leaders may jump ship if they are not picked as candidates in the coming general election, says a source. B Nantha Kumar, FMT Infighting, backbiting and sabotaging among Indian leaders in PKR could result in the party losing Indian support at the upcoming 13th general election. The internal rift among these leaders could also play a role in thwarting Pakatan Rakyat's ambition of taking over the federal government after the polls. The opposition pact is made of PKR, DAP and PAS. Speaking to FMT, a PKR source admitted that there would be "major party hopping" among Indians in PKR before and after the general election. Declining to be named, the source said many Indians in the party were waiting for PKR to officially announce its list of Indian candidates to contest under the PKR banner in the coming general election. "If their names are overlooked as a candidate, then they would jump ship to the Barisan Nasional or quit PKR without joining anyone… they have already made plans to this effect." "Unlike PAS and DAP which have a long tradition and faithful members, PKR is a new set-up. Most of its members are from BN component parties. They ran from there to PKR. They ran because they were sidelined in their respective BN component parties. So when the same thing happens here, they would run again," said the source. He said the problem among Indian leaders in PKR is "everyone wants a seat to contest". "Of course, both Malays and Chinese in PKR also face the same scenario but Indians are the worst," said the source, who is very close to the party leadership. He said PKR Indian leaders in their eagerness to win brownie points have also resorted to "attacking" each other in the mainstream media. Tip of the iceberg "Some are sending their supporters to Parliament to lobby for seats. For example, I was told that more than 60 candidate profiles have been submitted for the Bukit Melawati state seat in Selangor despite the incumbent M Mutiah declaring interest in defending the seat. "This is just the tip of the iceberg. The factions in the party are heading for a showdown," the source said. He claimed that PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim had often met party Indian leaders to get feedback on ways to boost Indian support for Pakatan, but not much was done on the ground to put the plans into action. "But, this is not enough to woo Indian votes. The Indian leaders in the party are not united. If they are, then they can put up a strong front and lobby for votes of the community. There are several camps within the party and each camp is pressuring Anwar for seats.
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| Malaysian regulators find ‘issues’ in AirAsia audit Posted: 22 Nov 2012 03:25 PM PST The low-cost carrier had failed to meet regulatory standards, according to local news report. (AFP) - Top budget airline AirAsia has had its right-to-fly extended by six months rather than the standard two years after an audit by Malaysian regulators found "some issues", an official said today. The government official said the Department of Civil Aviation had decided to extend the low-cost carrier's air operator's certificate until March 31 next year, at which point it will need to reapply. The certificates, which allow carriers to use aircraft for commercial purposes, are usually granted for two years. "The department already audited AirAsia, and they only approved six months for AirAsia," the official told AFP. "AirAsia needs to apply again for renewal… next year," he added. The official said the carrier, Asia's largest low-cost carrier by fleet size, faced "some issues… that have been found" but did not elaborate further. Local daily SunBiz reported today, quoting sources, that AirAsia had failed to meet regulatory standards. The daily said an audit showed "shortcomings in AirAsia's flight operations procedures and practices, including flawed communications between flight operations and pilots, an outdated manual and flight operations not in keeping with the manual". SunBiz also reported that AirAsia's head of flight operations had been removed from their post and replaced. AirAsia did not immediately return requests for comment. "The fact that they have not grounded AirAsia aircraft shows that it's not a serious safety issue, but this action still serves as a warning," a source told SunBiz. Rapidly expanding AirAsia has become one of the airline industry's biggest success stories, rivaling national carrier Malaysia Airlines, which has been struggling to get out of the red. Group CEO Tony Fernandes acquired the then-failing airline a decade ago. He has set up subsidiary budget carriers in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Japan.
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| Dong Zong shrugs off MPM outrage Posted: 22 Nov 2012 03:20 PM PST It doesn't expect trouble at Sunday's rally. Leven Woon, FMT Dong Zong (United Chinese Schools Committees Association) has chosen to disregard expressions of outrage over its plan to hold a rally this Sunday, saying it sees no reason to beef up security for the event. "Every organisation has the right to adopt its views on certain issues," said Dong Zong's deputy president, Chow Siew Hon, in response to yesterday's statement from the Malay Consultative Council (MPM), which denounced the upcoming rally as an "irresponsible act". "We believe the Malays are generally a peace loving group," Chow added. "They might have emotions over certain issues, but we don't expect anything drastic." MPM, which claims to be an umbrella group for Malay NGOs, is planning an education convention as a counter measure to the Dong Zong protest against the National Education Blueprint. A spokesman for the Malay group, Kamaruddin Kachar, said yesterday that Dong Zong's demands went against the Razak Education Report of 1956 as well as the Education Act. He said his group would invite the Prime Minister to its planned convention. Dong Zong opposes the National Education Blueprint as being unfavourable to Chinese education. Chow said PAS, PKR, DAP and the Sabah Progressive Party had agreed to send representatives to Sunday's rally. "We expect at least the vice chairmen to turn up," he said.
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| PKA seeks hair cut on PKFZ loan Posted: 22 Nov 2012 11:00 AM PST PKA chairman Datuk Teh Kim Poo (fz.com) - "We borrowed money from the government but the government still owns that property. The 1,000-acre land and all the properties belong to the government, so the government doesn't lose out" The Port Klang Authority (PKA) has approached the government with proposals to restructure its RM4.63 billion Treasury loan incurred to develop the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ). This comes as part of a move by the port authority to alleviate its debt obligations and ensure that it is able to meet the repayments in the long term. PKA chairman Datuk Teh Kim Poo told fz.com that PKA has proposed to only repay the RM2.76 billion portion of the RM4.63 billion loan that has gone toward development expenses for PKFZ. Teh argues that PKA should not have to pay for the cost of acquiring the land and assets as these assets ultimately belong to the government. "We borrowed money from the government but the government still owns that property. The 1,000-acre land and all the properties belong to the government, so the government doesn't lose out," Teh said in a recent interview. According to Teh, PKA has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Finance (MOF) outlining the various repayment options should the government consent to restructuring the 20-year soft loan given to PKA in 2007. If the government allows the restructuring plan put forward by PKA, Teh estimates that PKA would only have to pay about RM100 million a year over a 30-year period. "This is a comfortable amount. We can manage it," said Teh. The restructuring of PKA's RM4.63 billion soft loan has been a key recommendation of the earlier position report completed by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) released in May 2009. The PwC report pointed out that PKA should consider options including a loan rescheduling, government grant or privatisation. "Should PKA fail to meet the MOF soft loan instalments as scheduled and if these instalments are deferred to match its projected cashflows, it would incur additional interest cost of some RM5 billion. This would further increase the outlay of the project to RM12.45 billion," PwC had warned. Read more at: http://fz.com/content/pka-seeks-hair-cut-pkfz-loan
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| RM200,000 more for each speed camera because of training, says government Posted: 22 Nov 2012 10:53 AM PST
(The Malaysian Insider) - The home ministry told Parliament today that teaching policemen here how to use two models of speed trap cameras accounted for the huge difference of over RM200,000 per unit paid for by Malaysia compared with prices in the United States. Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop said the suppliers had provided training to policemen here as well as for maintenance of the cameras used to catch speeding motorists. Earlier today, an opposition lawmaker demanded Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein explain the stiff price discrepancy of over RM200,000 per unit in two models of speed trap cameras for the police it had purchased 17 years ago. According to market prices then, the Laser Trucam model would have cost only US$5,000 (RM15,300) a unit while the Laser Digicam model would only be US$1,000 more, at US$6,000, Pokok Sena MP Datuk Mahfuz Omar said. These prices are reported to have been paid for by police departments in the United States to the suppliers. In his answer to Parliament, the deputy minister did not provide a detailed breakdown of the training costs. While he said that the contracts for the cameras were awarded through an open tender he did not reveal the name of the supplier. "The difference in price between ours and the ones in the US is because they are manufacturers while we import the cameras in. "There is an element of training provided by the supplier to the police, maintenance and also a two year warranty," said Abu Seman. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/rm200000-more-for-each-speed-camera-because-of-training-says-govt/
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| Ali: Come down hard on personnel leaking govt secrets Posted: 22 Nov 2012 10:51 AM PST
(The Star) - Heads of government departments have been told to be more stern when taking action against personnel found leaking government secrets, including using the Official Secrets Act. Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Dr Ali Hamsa said acts, including falsifying documents and disseminating classified and sensitive information, to other parties should not be tolerated. "It could jeopardise national security and the Government cannot compromise on such acts. "I want all heads of departments and security officers to be more stern when taking action against those found doing it. "Action can also be taken against those who are careless in safeguarding secrets under the Public Officer Rule or the Official Secrets Act (Act 88)," he said at the national Security Protection Convention here yesterday. Also present was Chief Government Security Office (CGSO) director-general Datuk Johari Jamaluddin. Dr Ali said he hoped the CGSO would prepare a new security protection policy to replace the present one. "They could at least update the rules, instructions, guidelines and procedures of the present policy. "This is because in the current ICT era, we have to be very careful and vigilant to manage the information," he said.
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| Kelantan’s gender segregation rules affect non-Muslim businesses Posted: 22 Nov 2012 10:50 AM PST Hanging out: Shoppers standing around outside Nice Hair Salon in KB Mall, Kota Baru. (The Star) - Hair dressing salon operators are learning the hard way that gender segregation rules in Kelantan apply to non-Muslims as well. They have had to pay many summonses for allowing their female workers to cut the hair of non-Muslim male patrons, which they thought was permissible. E-Life Hair Salon manager Ong Lee Ting said she had settled 11 summonses since she opened for business in KB Mall in 2010.
The fines were imposed under Section 107(2) of the Local Council Act by-laws which prohibits a woman from cutting the hair of a man and vice versa regardless of religion. "I have been paying fines of between RM200 and RM350," said Ong, who was issued the latest summons on Tuesday. "I find the by-laws confusing ... they should not apply to a non-Muslim woman cutting the hair of a non-Muslim man." Gender segregation is among the controversial regulations imposed by the PAS state government, which insists that the rule be also observed at supermarket check-outs. The last time Ong went to the local council office to pay a compound, she was told that the licence for the salon would be revoked because of the many summonses issued to the operator. However, council secretary Mohd Anis Hussein said: "As long as they (the salon owners) pay the compounds, they will be allowed to operate." He added that the salon owners understood the by-laws and the consequences of ignoring them. Nice Hair Salon manager Alice Ong Lee Ruong was baffled by the rule. "I would understand it if we were fined for allowing our women workers to cut the hair of Muslim men. But they were attending to non-Muslim men," she said. Ong, who had settled 10 summonses so far, wondered for how long she would have to pay fines. "They are not cheap and we have to consider the high rental, salaries of our workers and other expenses," she said. Another salon manager, who declined to be named, said the council by-laws were making life difficult for hair dressers. She had been issued four summonses so far. Kelantan MCA information chief Tan Ken Ten said the by-laws were "not friendly" to non-Muslim business circles. "The council, in its zest to implement Islamic principles in its by-laws, has caused hardship to the non-Muslim business community," he added. National PAS Supporters Congress chairman Hu Pang Chaw agreed that the by-laws should not apply to non-Muslim women cutting the hair of non-Muslim men. He urged the council to review the ruling.
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