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• Najib’s first 100 days (of inaction)
• A religion of reasonableness
• Give the police a break

Najib’s first 100 days (of inaction) Posted: 16 Aug 2013 08:00 PM PDT Tay Tian Yan, Sin Chew Daily Najib's first 100 days have just slipped by quietly. There wasn't a policy report from the government on the occasion of Najib's first 100 days, nor any announcement made on the plans to be carried out after the first 100 days. Making a hoohah over the first 100 days is what any newly elected government will do. The goal is to mark up public acceptance and morale while breathing a new lease of life into the fledgling administration. Of course, there must be some real meat at times, more like a kind of window dressing that has to be done than shunned. At least members of the public can get a glimpse into which way the government is headed to. But this time, it is apparently absent. There are several reasons for this. The number of parliamentary seats won by BN in the last GE has shrunk; Chinese electorate support was dwindling and Selangor was not won. Such lacklustre performance was way below Najib's expectations and has dealt a certain blow on the PM. And the 1Malaysia concept and economic/political transformation programme he was selling hard failed to boost his prospects or be positively received by the voters. The confidence he showed during the early days of his second term was overly optimistic indeed, as the true tests of his administration prove to be more challenging than anticipated. With MCA staying out of the Cabinet, the original Cabinet structure has been disrupted. To gain back the support of Chinese voters will be even more taxing than ever. Because of this, the morale of the ruling team will remain at the "recuperative" stage for some time, and this explains why the government has yet to come up with any major announcements or manoeuvres while the PM himself slips into a very low key, seldom showing up in public. While undergoing the healing process, the ruling coalition is also trying to explore public acceptance trends, changes in the political climate as well as how it should move on hereafter. A second factor is that Umno party elections are just around the corner. There is a host of unpredictabilities, particularly in view of the unprecedented direct elections which will see 145,000 casting their ballots instead of just some 2,000 in the past. Change of guards is very likely to happen given the fact that it will be highly unlikely for anyone to try to sway, or foretell the election outcome. And this will have a bearing on any future government plans. Instead of modifying announced plans in the future, why not just wait until the party elections are over before making public any government endeavours? Sure enough with the undercurrents running wild beneath the surface, certain quarters within the party, especially the conservatives, might prowl on the opportunity to create some issues. Any plan announced prior to the party elections could become the targets of vicious assaults, which could even turn the table around. With the conservatives gaining in momentum, it is advisable to keep the tone down, and this explains the inaction of the more pragmatic and moderate factions within the party. If Najib were to carry out any new and comprehensive projects, he'd better wait until after the October party elections. The question is, as the government has remained hushed for the past 100 days, the society outside has been in a state of chaos throughout these 100 days. Over the past few months, serious crimes were on the rise and Malaysians started to feel very insecure. Racially and religiously sensitive incidents took centre stage one after another, while economic prospects remained listless, growth forecast adjusted downwards, ringgit, commodity prices and consumer confidence suppressed. Malaysians are awaiting government solutions that will effectively combat crime, mend religious and ethnic rifts and reinvigorate our economy. Time may not be on Najib's side. To stay out of the doldrums post-election, Najib must not allow himself to be bogged down by the party elections. He must rush out some truly effective action plans to fix the country's problems.

A religion of reasonableness Posted: 16 Aug 2013 07:48 PM PDT Bob Teoh, Sin Chew Daily We are at our crossroads half a century after the formation of Malaysia. With the nation so divided by race and religion, there's nothing to celebrate really, as we approach Malaysia Day on September 16. The latest controversy being the alleged desecration of a surau in a Johor hotel by a group of Buddhist tourists from Singapore. We have a choice how to react to potentially explosive controversies such as this. Our choice may point to a hopeful and comforting prospect in the midst of difficulty – our own silver lining. Dark clouds immediately formed when someone recently anonymously uploaded a 85-second clip on YouTube provocatively entitled "Surau dijadikan tokong?" (A surau turned into a temple?). Citing the Qur'an, Johor Islamic Religious Council (MAINJ) adviser Nooh Gadut was reported to have said "If a surau is found to have hosted other religious activities, it can be demolished based on Surah At-Taubah verse 107." The Buddhist Maha Vihara Chief High Priest of Malaysia K Srï Dhammaratana has issued an apology on behalf of the Singaporean group. The 45-year-old owner of the hotel had been arrested for four days under the Penal Code for "injuring or defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class". "I have no intention of hurting anyone's feelings. My intention is to show that Islam is universal and tolerant," said the Singapore-born Muslim. Meanwhile, the leader of Perkasa's youth wing, Irwan Fahmi Ideris said, "Whatever reason given by those responsible for permitting the surau to be used by non-Muslims is something that is unacceptable." He wanted stern action to be taken against the resort management to protect the sanctity of the Islamic prayer room. But Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim) has called on Johor religious authorities to refrain from drastic measures in reaction to a surau being used by non-Muslims for alleged worship activities. "The original purpose of the surau was for prayers and can still be used. There was no malice intended by all parties, though there may have been some misunderstanding," said Abim secretary-general Mohamad Raimi Ab Rahim. He said there was no need for the surau to be demolished. "This is a sensitive issue and we shouldn't be too harsh. There are a lot of external factors to be considered and we can take this opportunity to educate people about Islam instead," he said. The Council of Churches Malaysia secretary-general Reverend Herman Shastri also called for moderation. "There is no need to blow the issue out of proportion which in the end continues to feed religious polarisation in the country," he said. Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz chipped in that the country should move on to other matters, observing that a group representing the Buddhists in Malaysia had already issued an apology. As a community of faith that Malaysia truly is, it's better we choose a religion of reasonableness. Indeed every cloud can have a silver lining and there's hope, which lies on choices we make. Malaysia is fifty years old this year as a nation. Nazri is right, let's move on.

Give the police a break Posted: 16 Aug 2013 12:14 PM PDT   It would seem that in this country, if you want to draw public attention to the "seriousness" of the matter in question, then many police reports are lodged - either that or a public figures gets involved, forcing the police to investigate the matter regardless of its merit. Zaid Ibrahim, TMI  There are many things in Malaysia that you would be hard-pressed to find anywhere else in the world. Besides the famous "No contest for No 1 and No2" dance in Umno, the other equally well-known but no less absurd phenomenon is the lodging of police reports by members of the public who are not even remotely connected to the matter in question. When Karpal Singh said something about the constitutional powers of the Sultan of Perak, droves of Umno-related groups lodged several hundred police reports. Karpal is now on trial for sedition. Every time someone does not agree with something that has taken place in the public sphere, he or she lodges a police report, whether it's about dog washing, beauty contests or even a surau not being properly constructed or used. It would seem that in this country, if you want to draw public attention to the "seriousness" of the matter in question, then many police reports are lodged - either that or a public figures gets involved, forcing the police to investigate the matter regardless of its merit. The latest incident by Umno Youth prompted the involvement of no less a person than Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin himself. When a DAP leader from Sarawak said something against the Barisan Nasional government, not only was a police report lodged but the minister declared that what had been uttered was seditious in the extreme. I call this the Lodging of Reports, Malaysia-style. This is not, however, a funny matter. It has become ridiculous and needs to stop. It's true that for the police to act or investigate any criminal matter, there must first be what is known as the First information Report. This is true of other Commonwealth countries too. The difference is that in these countries, people do not rush to lodge police reports about matters that are already in the public domain or have been widely reported in the media. People are assured that if it constitutes a criminal act, then the police will act accordingly. After all, the police on their own volition can commence the investigation if there appears to be a violation of the law. They do not need anyone to lodge a report since they can initiate the preparation of the first report themselves. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/opinion/zaid-ibrahim/article/give-the-police-a-break

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• Malaysian feminist activism as an effect of history
• Anwar, Mahathir - diantara dua pemimpin yang tamak dengan yang dahagakan kuasa
• The Borders Bookstore Saga: Judge condemned Ministers in Scathing Judgment
• Kes surau: elok jangan terlebih “emo” - A. Kadir Jasin

Malaysian feminist activism as an effect of history Posted: 16 Aug 2013 03:40 PM PDT Feminism and the women's movement in Malaysia are products of specific historical and political contexts. Following this logic, the language used in feminist activism can also be seen as a product of similar contexts. The focus of this article is the current state of the feminist movement in Malaysia and its linguistic framework as the effects of changes in language policy. This article argues that the predominance of English poses challenges to the inclusion of working-class class feminist agendas but offers opportunities in strengthening transnational feminist linkages. Language thus becomes an underlying issue which may explain the successful inroads and setbacks faced by feminist organisations in Malaysia. The language of feminism is relatively alien to the public discourse in Malaysia where terms such as 'gender', 'sexuality', and even 'feminism' exist as loanwords. When 'gender' and 'sexuality' and their different linguistic incarnations reflective of the country's multilingual fabric appear at all, they are sporadic and usually enmeshed in the discourse of academia, activism, and human rights in the English language. Although there is a recognition of feminist activism in Malaysia, it is subsumed under the banner of women's struggles against discrimination and injustice. In other words, women's struggles are not always recognised as being feminist ones. There is considerable literature on the development of the women's and feminist movement in Malaysia. However, language use in Malaysian feminist discourse has been given little attention by scholars. This lacunae requires attention due to the highly political nature of language policy in Malaysia where language use is linked with ethnicity, class, and at times religion. English was hardly the language used in the organised calls for feminist emancipation which emerged during the turn of the twentieth century.  Inspired by Muslim reformers during their studies in Cairo, Syed Syeikh Al-Hadi and Zainal Abidin Ahmad, better known as Za'ba, were Malay male intellectuals whose writings on women's liberation began the stirrings of emancipation of Malay people not only on gendered terms, but against colonialism. Their writings appeared in Malay journals such as al-Ikhwan (1926-1931) and Saudara (1928-1941), publications that were heavily influenced by Egyptian modernist magazines. Women played an important role in agitating Malaysia's political independence from the British in 1957 but their participation had been oriented towards nationalist sovereignty rather than personal autonomy. Basic rights conferred to all citizens such as voting and equality before civil law were easily won as they were enshrined in the country's Constitution at the time of independence. There were active women's anti-colonial organisations but nearly all were divided along ethnic, ideological, and indeed linguistic lines. It was through the emergence of autonomous and semi-autonomous women's NGOs in the 1980s that feminist and consciously non-communalist organising amongst women formally took root. The first women's NGOs devoted themselves to functioning as a shelter for women from domestic abuse and as a site for counselling, legal assistance, and advocacy. Gender-based violence became an issue that found universal support across ethnic and religious lines seeing as all women were potential victims of violence, but it was a campaign dominated by non-Malay and middle-class urban-based women in which English played a cohesive role. During this phase of the movement, the notion of 'feminism' took up a more radical and highly politicised form as it meant aligning with a human rights discourse and pressuring for legal reform as a separate political lobby rather than part of a larger male-dominated organisational structure. Contemporary Malaysian feminist activism in English can be seen as originating from this point in history. Since the 1990s, there has been a gradual 'intellectualisation' of women's movements in Malaysia, particularly in Muslim women's groups. Female academics, lawyers, writers, artists, and journalists became members of feminist NGOs during this period, particularly in Muslim feminist groups. However, the over-representation of urban middle-class women and men in feminist activism in Malaysia marginalises the concerns and voices of working class women whose issues are seldom expressed in fluent English. READ MORE HERE

Anwar, Mahathir - diantara dua pemimpin yang tamak dengan yang dahagakan kuasa Posted: 16 Aug 2013 03:35 PM PDT DAP terpaksa mengadakan semula pemilihan jawatan kuasa pusatnya (CEC) diatas arahan RoS. DAP tidak dapat mengelak untuk mengadakan pemilihan bagi mengelak dari pendaftaran parti itu terbatal. Berbagai cara dilakukan oleh DAP untuk mengelakkan pemilihan diadakan semula tetapi akhirnya akur atas arahan RoS dan akan mengadakan kembali pemilihan CEC itu ditarikh yang bakal di putuskan tidak berapa lama lagi. Pemilihan semula kali ini mengajar parti itu bahawa sesebuah parti politik tidak boleh dimanipulasi oleh gulungan tertentu sahaja untuk memperkuatkan kuasa satu gulungan dalam parti itu. DAP sepatutnya belajar zaman untuk parti itu hanya di kuasai oleh pihak tertentu sahaja sudah berakhir kerana zaman rakyat berfikir sudah mendatang. UMNO juga akan mengadakan pemilihan kali ini dan msing-masing yang telah mengambil keputusan untuk bertanding sudah mula berkempen dan lobi hotel yang banyak bintangnya sudah mula dipenuhi oleh bakal perwakilan serta mereka yang bertanding. Tidak lama lagi pusat-pusat hiburan akan dipenuhi oleh bakal perwakilan dan bakal calon yang akan bertanding. Sudah mula ada pihak dalam UMNO sudah menagih wang untuk mendapatkan sokongan tetapi bagaimana hendak membeli undi dari seramai hampir 150 ribu perwakilan tidak tahu pula di fahami. MIC dan MCA serta parti-parti lain di Sabah dan Sarawak juga akan mengadakan pemilihan dalam persidangan tahunan masing-masing  tetapi yang paling menarik sekali ialah tentang pertandingan dalam UMNO kali ini. Kali ini pemimpin-pemimpin lebih dari 20,000 cawangan bersama jawatankuasa masing-masing boleh memainkan peranan untuk memilih pimpinan peringkat tertinggi dan ini merupakan satu kelainan dari kaedah pemilihan sebelum ini. UMNO disamping itu sedang menghadapi masalah dalaman yang besar di setiap peringkat dan ini juga mempengaruhi keadaan dalam pemilihan nanti. Kalau keadaan UMNO ini berlaku didalam mana-mana parti di negeri-negeri maju tentulah pimpinan utama seperti Najib akan tumbang. Selalunya pimpinan yang tidak mampu membawa perubahan,  keamanan serta kemajuan rakyat akan tumbang ditangan ahli-ahli yang sedar dan bermaklumat. Bagi saya walaupun ini peluang untuk UMNO mendapatkan pimpinan yang boleh membawa pembaharuan saya berpendapat UMNO tidak mungkin berjaya berubah seperti laungan pimpinan mereka sejak setahun dua yang lalu. Apakah yang menyebabkan saya berfikiran begitu? Mari kita lihat dari satu dua sudut yang real dan praktikal. Pertamanya kalau pun hendak mengubah kepimpinan siapa yang hendak menggantikan Najib kalau budaya 'patronization' dalam UMNO terus berlaku? Tentulah pilihan mereka itu adalah dikalangan yang berada di dalam Majlis Tertinggi parti itu. Kalau pilihan itu datangnya dari barisan kepimpinan dalam Majlis Tertinggi sekarang ini elok kita lupakan sahaja niat untuk melihat berubahan itu. UMNO sudah terbiar melata dalam kepimpinannya sejak hampir tiga puluh tahun dahulu. UMNO ketandusan kepimpinan. Mereka yang berkepimpinan sudah tiada dalam UMNO dan tidak ada yang boleh dididik sebagai pemimpin pilihan dalam keadaan UMNO sudah melata sekarang ini. Mereka yang akan menawarkan kepimpinan jika ada adalah dikalangan mereka yang sama kualiti, budaya dan tahap kemampuan mereka berfikir. Ia ibarat menukar diantara belacan dengan cencaluk sahaja. Kebanyakan yang ada dalam UMNO itu ibarat garam dalam gulai sahaja. Walaupun garam itu penting tetapi tidak boleh di masukkan terlalu banyak dalam masakan kita. Garam diperlukan setakat sesedap rasa sahaja. Kalau di bubuh garam terlalu banyak maka gulai dan lauk itu tidak akan mampu di makan oleh sesiapa pun. UMNO telah membunuh mereka yang berkepimpinan sejak Dr Mahathir mengambil alih kuasa dan budaya membunuh dan mengenepikan pemimpin yang boleh memimpin itu masih berlaku sampai kehari ini. Dr Mahathir akhirnya mendapat set baru pimpinan UMNO dibawahnya. Diantaranya ialah Anwar Ibrahim, Abdullah Badawi, Najib dan selepas bersara wujud nama Muhyiddin Yassin. Diantara nama yang disebut tadi Anwar lah yang paling menonjol dan keghairahan beliau terlalu nyata, sehinggakan dalam proses beliau menaiki kekuasaan itu terlalu ramai pemimpin yang dilandanya dan ini menyakitkan hati banyak pihak. Dr Mahathir terlalu memilih orang yang beliau hendak kuasai tetapi beliau jauh tersasar niatnya dengan Anwar. READ MORE HERE

The Borders Bookstore Saga: Judge condemned Ministers in Scathing Judgment Posted: 16 Aug 2013 03:26 PM PDT That was exactly what Judge Zaleha did when she handed down her Grounds of Judgment in the Borders Bookstore case against JAWI, the then Home Minister, Dato' Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein Onn and Dato' Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, the Minister in the Prime Minister Department (Islamic Affairs). In her scathing judgment, she said that Minister Hishammuddin had abdicated his duties and did not act in a rational and thoughtful manner when he issued a ban as an afterthought just in order to support JAWI's wrongful actions. She also censured both Ministers for acting without due care and caution and failing to coordinate law enforcement measures by JAWI in a rational manner to ensure harmony, peace and security between Muslim and non-Muslim communities. However, I find it disturbing that despite this judgment, Nik Raina is still not released by the Syariah Court and the Chief Syariah Prosecution, Tuan Ibrahim Hj Deris, is using delaying tactics to ensure that he inflicts maximum pain and suffering on Nik Raina. So, instead of having a joyful Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Nik Raina has to wait until August  28, 2013 before Lawyer Rosli Dahlan can appear in the Syariah Court to seek her discharge and acquittal. READ MORE HERE

Kes surau: elok jangan terlebih “emo” - A. Kadir Jasin Posted: 16 Aug 2013 12:17 PM PDT Ada juga baiknya jadi binatang purba (dinosaur) yang tidak pupus macam saya. Banyak yang telah dilihat, didengar dan dicakapkan. Jadi saya tidaklah "emo" berlebih-lebih sangat sampai mendedahkan diri kepada serangan jantung dan strok. Bagi dinosaur macam saya, soal kiblat tak betul atau orang bukan Islam "sembahyang" di dalam surau atau masjid bukanlah perkara baru. Tapi bagi orang muda, orang kurang baca, orang yang umpama katak bawah tempurung dan orang yang pandai menangguk di air keruh, khasnya di kalangan generasi Internet, ia adalah isu emosional kelas dunia. Soal surau, masjid dan orang solat tak ikut kiblat atau kurang tepat kiblat bukanlah perkara baru atau asing. Puncanya banyak orang Islam tidak saintifik, malas belajar dan malas berfikir. Banyak lagi orang Islam Malaysia, bila kita tanya mana arah kiblat, mereka kata, matahari turun atau matahari jatuh. Bukan Kaabah tetapi matahari jatuh. Mereka tidak tahu kalau mereka pergi ke Eropah mereka kena sembahyang menghala matahari naik. Mungkin mereka tidak sedar atau tidak ambil peduli bahawa bila sembahyang di depan Kaabah ada kala mereka menghadap ke arah matahari naik, ada masa menghadap ke arah matahari turun, ada masa ke arah utara dan ada masa ke arah selatan. Sampai hari ini pun ada lagi orang Islam Malaysia yang ubah kiblat ikut pergerakan matahari. Inilah akibat kita diajar sembahyang menghala matahari turun dan guna bayang untuk tentukan masuk waktu sembahyang. Itu cara lama. Cara sebelum ada kompas, sebelum ada peta Google dan sebelum ada takwim. Malangnya, setelah ada kompas khas Kaabah dan peta Google pun ada lagi orang kita yang tidak tahu yang matahari bergerak mengikut musim dan kedudukan Malaysia bukan bertentangan dengan Kaabah. Read more at: http://kadirjasin.blogspot.com/2013/08/kes-surau-elok-jangan-terlebih-emo.html

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The two topics a world apart, Dr M Posted: 16 Aug 2013 03:50 PM PDT FMT LETTER: From Stephen Ng, via e-mail These days, the Malaysian political arena is simply amusing and hard to believe, but without a doubt it is filled with morons, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, included. Although I promised myself that I would reduce my writing of comments due to work pressure, I cannot help but to pick a bone with the former prime minister with the hope that he could be shaken out of his big ego but low IQ. In a recent article in Malaysiakini, Mahathir had said that "Malaysians will have to get used to the apparent increase in killings on the streets as it is the "price of more freedom"." Let me go straight to the point. Human rights and freedom is an age-old cause, where people like Abraham Lincoln had fought against human slavery and later became the president of a new America. Freedom, in this case, is freedom from slavery; but in today's context, we are talking about freedom from political persecution and oppression. We are talking about the rights of the individual as a person and a fellow human being. For example, an Indonesian maid is seared with a hot iron because she is accused of stealing the employer's jewellery. Human rights activists such as Irene Fernandes of Tenaganita would speak up on behalf of the maid, who may suffer in silence due to the lack of courage to speak up. The same with the way how our prison system is set up based on the insights that we gained from the public domain. Or, the innocent young Penan girls who are being raped by loggers, who tell the world that they provide transport for the children as a corporate social responsibility. Freedom is also freedom of speech. Because the minority groups have been suffering in silence, there needs to be freedom of speech for them to voice out their grievances and protect their basic human rights. It is the role of the media to provide such an avenue for them to speak up, and clamping down on freedom of the press is a taboo for any administration. Mahathir should realise his own mistake after 22 years as PM, that the country loves Abdullah Badawi more than him. Respect begets respect. Treating a fellow human being, whether criminal or innocent, in a less than humane manner is wrong in the eyes of God, because we are all equal before this Ultimate Judge; therefore, Mahathir, who will soon be standing before the Judge Himself should know this and learn to respect fellow human beings, whether it is his political opponent or his cronies. \Mahathir's iron fist on Anwar Ibrahim reminds me of the Old Shylock of Merchant of Venice who demanded a pound of the merchant's flesh. The good judge knew the wickedness of the old Jew. Eventually, after granting Shylock his demand, he managed to throw the old Jew into the dungeon. "Unless you can assure me that after taking one pound of flesh from the defendant, you shall not shed even one ounce of his blood, you can have his flesh; but if you shed even one ounce of his blood, I shall have you thrown into the dungeon." God is the Ultimate Judge who is wise and powerful. For the wickedness that I see in Mahathir, in the way he had hit out at Abdullah Badawi and Anwar Ibrahim, I can tell that Mahathir is no respecter of human beings – and certainly will not enter into history as one who fights for human rights unless it is politically expedient for him. For example, he would not speak for the Mamak community despite being one himself. Under communism and Zionism, people lose their rights to the State and they are no longer considered as individuals but as either assets or liabilities to the State. This is why the Communists and the Zionists would shoot anyone who holds a different ideology, because under these two regimes, human rights and freedom no longer exists. This is how an ordinary Malaysians like me see 'freedom' and human rights. Criminal shooting On the other hand, the shootings that we see happening in the country are nothing but criminal acts done by people who do not respect human rights or are fighting against corruption. When they don't like you, they just point the gun at you, Mahathir, and they will shoot mercilessly! So far, Musa Hitam, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and even Anwar have not done to you. That's why you cannot understand that shooting is criminal in nature – in Malaysia or anywhere in the world. Or, if the assassins are hired by political rivals within Umno Baru, and they enter into Khairy Jamaluddin's home, they may just open fire at him in what may appear to be a robbery case. It is part of a political game after all, to create fear within the ranks so that everyone toes the line of the big boss. The media carry the news like any other stories, except that the victim, with the potential of someday becoming the prime minister of Malaysia, is now gone forever. Criminals are criminals whether they are robbers, burglars or political assassins. This is what no one would debate about – yes, throw them behind bars! There are no qualms about it, but this should be done without denying them the opportunity to defend themselves in case they have been falsely accused for physical assault,  Ahmad Zahid Hamidi! This is why the Malaysian public basically wanted the Emergency Ordinance to be abolished, but not to allow the criminals to roam freely. Human rights activists would no doubt still say, "Yes, the crime is committed, but the criminal deserves to be treated as human beings!",but I doubt anyone would condone criminal shooting even if it was a dog or a cat! Over and over again, the public has spoken out loud and clear. We want the Police to step up their anti-crime campaign and more Police personnel, instead of foreigners dressed as our security guards, should be deployed to go after the bad hats. Intelligence should be accumulated to prosecute the underworld bosses, not the politicians who hold a different ideology or the resort manager or the dog trainer who did something worth only a smack on the wrist! READ MORE HERE

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Kerajaan perpaduan: siapa bohong? Posted: 16 Aug 2013 04:00 PM PDT Dalam kenyataan yang dikeluarkan hari ini, Pejabat Perdana Menteri menyatakan, usaha ke arah pembentukan kerajaan perpaduan ini tidak mungkin dilakukan ketika ini kerana Anwar dan Pakatan Rakyat masih menolak keputusan pilihanraya umum yang lalu. Kenyataan itu juga menyebut, andaian bahawa wujudanya usaha ke arah mewujudkan kerajaan perpaduan itu hanyalah rekaan dan imaginasi penulis beberapa portal berita tertentu sahaja. Sebelum ini, Najib dilaporkan sedang mengusahakan pembentukan kerajaan perpaduan dengan PKR dengan menawarkan kepada Anwar jawatan Timbalan Perdana Menteri dan lima jawatan menteri kabinet. Dilaporkan bahawa bekas Naib Presiden Indonesia, Jusof Kalla menjadi orang tengah kepada usaha itu. Kemudiannya, Anwar mengesahkannya kepada Asia Sentinel bahawa beliau dihubungi oleh Najib melalui perantara untuk pembentukan kerajaan perpaduan itu tetapi telah menolaknya sebelum sempat ia menjadi kenyataan atas alasan isu-isu perkauman yang berterusan dimainkan oleh Umno menjadi antara penghalangnya. Terbaru The Edge Review pula mendetailkan lagi mengenai usaha pembentukan itu dengan menyebut nama Naib Presiden Umno, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi dan Setiausaha Agung PKR, Saifuddin Nasution sebagai orang kanan daripada Umno dan PKR yang sedangkan merundingkan beberapa aspek teknikal bagi memungkinkan idea kerajaan perpaduan itu menjadi kenyataan. Najib dikatakan memilih PKR untuk berbaik-baik dan menguatkan lagi kerajaannya bukan saja kerana PKR sebuah parti berbilang kaum yang boleh menampung kelompongan wakil Cina dan India dalam kerajaan tetapi juga dikatakan sebagai langkah membuka gelanggang baru untuk keluar dari pengaruh dan bayang-bayang Mahathir yang sehingga kini masih mahu menunjukkan pengaruhnya dalam Umno dan kerajaan. Bagaimanapun isu kerajaan perpaduan ini menimbulkan rasa kurang senang di kedua-dua belah pihak. Di dalam PKR sendiri ramai yang tidak setuju atas alasan penentangan terhadap Umno selama ini ialah berkaitan isu pokok seperti rasuah, penyelewengan, pembaziran dan sebagainya yang tidak boleh dikompromi sama-sekali. Dalam masa yang sama, Anwar juga mula dikecam secara diam-diam kerana bersetuju berunding dengan Umno mengenai kerajaan perpaduan itu kerana ia dianggap mengkhianati PAS dan DAP yang selama ini begitu setia dengan Anwar sejak beliau dipecat daripada Umno dan kerajaan. Di dalam Umno pula, ramai yang turut tidak setuju dengan kerajaan perpaduan ini kerana merasakan Anwar bukanlah musuh politik yang boleh ditukar menjadi kawan. Ramai yang kecewa dan sakit hati jika Anwar yang dimusuhi dan diserang selama bertahun-tahun ini tiba-tiba bertukar menjadi rakan kepada Najib serta sebahagian daripada anggota kerajaan. Secara diam-diam, sudah ada kedengaran suara-suara yang mengecam dan memaki-hamun Najib jika benar beliau mahu berbaik-baik dengan Anwar. Malah, ada yang mencadangkan agar Najib ditentang bagi jawatan Presiden Umno pada pemilihan 19 Oktober depan bagi menghalang usaha ke arah mewujudkan kerajaan perpaduan itu daripada menjadi kenyataan. Walaupun Pejabat Perdana Menteri mengeluarkan kenyataan menafikan perkara itu hari ini, persoalan yang masih bermain-main di fikiran ramai orang ialah kenapa penafian ini begitu lewat dikeluarkan? Kenapa setelah hampir seminggu berita megenainya berlegar-legar di ruang atmosfera politik negara, baru ia mahu dinafikan oleh Najib? Dalam dunia langit terbuka dan semuanya serba pantas sekarang serta mengetahui berita tidak perlu lagi menunggu terbitnya akhbar pada keesokan harinya, tindakan Pejabat Perdana Menteri yang terlalu lewat menafikan perkara ini tetap menyundang persoalan yang sukar dirungkaikan. READ MORE HERE

Ajaran Meragukan, JAIS Tahan 25 Lelaki Posted: 16 Aug 2013 12:22 PM PDT DAMANSARA: Sebuah surau di sini dijadikan tempat penginapan bagi sekumpulan yang dipercayai terlibat dalam ajaran meragukan dengan mengubahsuainya menjadi 'bilik tidur' sejak setahun lalu. Serbuan dibuat Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (Jais), semalam ke atas surau berkenaan mendapati bahagian sisi dan belakang surau itu kelihatan berselerak dan dijadikan umpama bilik kecil untuk mereka tidur juga terdapat beberapa almari menyimpan pakaian. Jais bertindak melakukan risikan hampir setahun atas laporan orang ramai yang pelik dengan keadaan itu. Serbuan dilakukan ketika kumpulan berkenaan sedang leka mendengar ceramah yang disampaikan seorang yang dipercayai ketua mereka selepas solat Jumaat. Bangun ambil wuduk Ketika pegawai penguat kuasa Jais sedang melakukan penyiasatan dan meminta mereka memberi MyKad, beberapa ahli kumpulan itu bertindak bangun dan menyatakan hendak mengambil wuduk berikutan kehadiran wanita di dalam surau berkenaan. Seramai 25 lelaki ditahan termasuk seorang warga asing didakwa terlibat ajaran meragukan dalam Operasi Khas Ajaran yang diketuai Penolong Pengarah Bahagian Penguatkuasaan Jais, Sharom Maarof. Seorang warga asing berusia 32 tahun yang ditahan mendakwa, dia datang ke situ untuk solat dan tidak tahu menahu mengenai ajaran kumpulan itu bagaimanapun turut diambil keterangan bagi membantu siasatan. Kumpulan belum difatwakan Sharom berkata, ajaran kumpulan berkenaan masih belum difatwakan dan serbuan mendapati sebahagian kawasan surau dijadikan kediaman mereka. "Mereka yang ditahan disiasat di bawah Seksyen 119 atas dakwaan mengajar tanpa tauliah (Enakmen Pentadbiran Negeri Selangor 2003) dan Seksyen 7 Doktrin Palsu Enakmen Jenayah 1995. "Ajaran kumpulan itu wujud unsur meragukan atau salah guna surau dan operasi bertujuan membanteras mereka. "Kita juga dapati mereka ini menggunakan surau ini sebagai tempat kediaman mereka," katanya ketika ditemui di lokasi serbuan, semalam. Dipercayai katanya, antara aktiviti yang dikenal pasti dilakukan kumpulan itu mengandungi pengajian; zikir malam; tidak melaksanakan solat Jumaat atas alasan musafir dan tenaga pengajar tidak bertauliah. "Dalam serbuan itu, kita turut merampas kitab yang dipercayai menjadi rujukan kumpulan berkenaan dan semua yang ditahan kemudian dibebas dengan ikat jamin," katanya. Tambahnya, ajaran ini dibawa dalam Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Kawalan Akidah dan mencapai persetujuan ia dipanjangkan kepada jawatankuasa fatwa.Jelasnya, seramai 40 anggota Jais terlibat dalam operasi ini yang dilaksanakan selepas solat Jumaat, semalam.

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Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

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• Ajaran Meragukan, JAIS Tahan 25 Lelaki
• Kes surau: elok jangan terlebih “emo” - A. Kadir Jasin
• Give the police a break
• Spy copter found near Wee's home
• ‘Who does Ridhuan Tee think he is?’
• Scratching an old sore
• A day of silence and contemplation on race and religion for our nation?
• Kisah Sebenar - Anwar Yang Tawarkan Perpaduan Dengan Najib
• The way we handle things
• Resort owner in surau uproar now released
• Court orders Ibrahim Ali to pay Anwar
• Dr M, prime minister for life

Ajaran Meragukan, JAIS Tahan 25 Lelaki Posted: 16 Aug 2013 12:22 PM PDT Kawasan surau turut dijadikan tempat tidur kumpulan tersebut  (Sinar Harian) - Serbuan dibuat Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (Jais), semalam ke atas surau berkenaan mendapati bahagian sisi dan belakang surau itu kelihatan berselerak dan dijadikan umpama bilik kecil untuk mereka tidur juga terdapat beberapa almari menyimpan pakaian. DAMANSARA: Sebuah surau di sini dijadikan tempat penginapan bagi sekumpulan yang dipercayai terlibat dalam ajaran meragukan dengan mengubahsuainya menjadi 'bilik tidur' sejak setahun lalu. Serbuan dibuat Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (Jais), semalam ke atas surau berkenaan mendapati bahagian sisi dan belakang surau itu kelihatan berselerak dan dijadikan umpama bilik kecil untuk mereka tidur juga terdapat beberapa almari menyimpan pakaian. Jais bertindak melakukan risikan hampir setahun atas laporan orang ramai yang pelik dengan keadaan itu. Serbuan dilakukan ketika kumpulan berkenaan sedang leka mendengar ceramah yang disampaikan seorang yang dipercayai ketua mereka selepas solat Jumaat. Bangun ambil wuduk Ketika pegawai penguat kuasa Jais sedang melakukan penyiasatan dan meminta mereka memberi MyKad, beberapa ahli kumpulan itu bertindak bangun dan menyatakan hendak mengambil wuduk berikutan kehadiran wanita di dalam surau berkenaan. Seramai 25 lelaki ditahan termasuk seorang warga asing didakwa terlibat ajaran meragukan dalam Operasi Khas Ajaran yang diketuai Penolong Pengarah Bahagian Penguatkuasaan Jais, Sharom Maarof. Seorang warga asing berusia 32 tahun yang ditahan mendakwa, dia datang ke situ untuk solat dan tidak tahu menahu mengenai ajaran kumpulan itu bagaimanapun turut diambil keterangan bagi membantu siasatan. Kumpulan belum difatwakan Sharom berkata, ajaran kumpulan berkenaan masih belum difatwakan dan serbuan mendapati sebahagian kawasan surau dijadikan kediaman mereka. "Mereka yang ditahan disiasat di bawah Seksyen 119 atas dakwaan mengajar tanpa tauliah (Enakmen Pentadbiran Negeri Selangor 2003) dan Seksyen 7 Doktrin Palsu Enakmen Jenayah 1995. "Ajaran kumpulan itu wujud unsur meragukan atau salah guna surau dan operasi bertujuan membanteras mereka. "Kita juga dapati mereka ini menggunakan surau ini sebagai tempat kediaman mereka," katanya ketika ditemui di lokasi serbuan, semalam. Dipercayai katanya, antara aktiviti yang dikenal pasti dilakukan kumpulan itu mengandungi pengajian; zikir malam; tidak melaksanakan solat Jumaat atas alasan musafir dan tenaga pengajar tidak bertauliah. "Dalam serbuan itu, kita turut merampas kitab yang dipercayai menjadi rujukan kumpulan berkenaan dan semua yang ditahan kemudian dibebas dengan ikat jamin," katanya. Tambahnya, ajaran ini dibawa dalam Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Kawalan Akidah dan mencapai persetujuan ia dipanjangkan kepada jawatankuasa fatwa.Jelasnya, seramai 40 anggota Jais terlibat dalam operasi ini yang dilaksanakan selepas solat Jumaat, semalam.

Kes surau: elok jangan terlebih “emo” - A. Kadir Jasin Posted: 16 Aug 2013 12:17 PM PDT   Bagi orang muda, orang kurang baca, orang yang umpama katak bawah tempurung dan orang yang pandai menangguk di air keruh, khasnya di kalangan generasi Internet, ia adalah isu emosional kelas dunia.  A. Kadir Jasin  Ada juga baiknya jadi binatang purba (dinosaur) yang tidak pupus macam saya. Banyak yang telah dilihat, didengar dan dicakapkan. Jadi saya tidaklah "emo" berlebih-lebih sangat sampai mendedahkan diri kepada serangan jantung dan strok. Bagi dinosaur macam saya, soal kiblat tak betul atau orang bukan Islam "sembahyang" di dalam surau atau masjid bukanlah perkara baru. Tapi bagi orang muda, orang kurang baca, orang yang umpama katak bawah tempurung dan orang yang pandai menangguk di air keruh, khasnya di kalangan generasi Internet, ia adalah isu emosional kelas dunia. Soal surau, masjid dan orang solat tak ikut kiblat atau kurang tepat kiblat bukanlah perkara baru atau asing. Puncanya banyak orang Islam tidak saintifik, malas belajar dan malas berfikir. Banyak lagi orang Islam Malaysia, bila kita tanya mana arah kiblat, mereka kata, matahari turun atau matahari jatuh. Bukan Kaabah tetapi matahari jatuh. Mereka tidak tahu kalau mereka pergi ke Eropah mereka kena sembahyang menghala matahari naik. Mungkin mereka tidak sedar atau tidak ambil peduli bahawa bila sembahyang di depan Kaabah ada kala mereka menghadap ke arah matahari naik, ada masa menghadap ke arah matahari turun, ada masa ke arah utara dan ada masa ke arah selatan. Sampai hari ini pun ada lagi orang Islam Malaysia yang ubah kiblat ikut pergerakan matahari. Inilah akibat kita diajar sembahyang menghala matahari turun dan guna bayang untuk tentukan masuk waktu sembahyang. Itu cara lama. Cara sebelum ada kompas, sebelum ada peta Google dan sebelum ada takwim. Malangnya, setelah ada kompas khas Kaabah dan peta Google pun ada lagi orang kita yang tidak tahu yang matahari bergerak mengikut musim dan kedudukan Malaysia bukan bertentangan dengan Kaabah. Read more at: http://kadirjasin.blogspot.com/2013/08/kes-surau-elok-jangan-terlebih-emo.html

Give the police a break Posted: 16 Aug 2013 12:14 PM PDT   It would seem that in this country, if you want to draw public attention to the "seriousness" of the matter in question, then many police reports are lodged - either that or a public figures gets involved, forcing the police to investigate the matter regardless of its merit. Zaid Ibrahim, TMI  There are many things in Malaysia that you would be hard-pressed to find anywhere else in the world. Besides the famous "No contest for No 1 and No2" dance in Umno, the other equally well-known but no less absurd phenomenon is the lodging of police reports by members of the public who are not even remotely connected to the matter in question. When Karpal Singh said something about the constitutional powers of the Sultan of Perak, droves of Umno-related groups lodged several hundred police reports. Karpal is now on trial for sedition. Every time someone does not agree with something that has taken place in the public sphere, he or she lodges a police report, whether it's about dog washing, beauty contests or even a surau not being properly constructed or used. It would seem that in this country, if you want to draw public attention to the "seriousness" of the matter in question, then many police reports are lodged - either that or a public figures gets involved, forcing the police to investigate the matter regardless of its merit. The latest incident by Umno Youth prompted the involvement of no less a person than Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin himself. When a DAP leader from Sarawak said something against the Barisan Nasional government, not only was a police report lodged but the minister declared that what had been uttered was seditious in the extreme. I call this the Lodging of Reports, Malaysia-style. This is not, however, a funny matter. It has become ridiculous and needs to stop. It's true that for the police to act or investigate any criminal matter, there must first be what is known as the First information Report. This is true of other Commonwealth countries too. The difference is that in these countries, people do not rush to lodge police reports about matters that are already in the public domain or have been widely reported in the media. People are assured that if it constitutes a criminal act, then the police will act accordingly. After all, the police on their own volition can commence the investigation if there appears to be a violation of the law. They do not need anyone to lodge a report since they can initiate the preparation of the first report themselves. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/opinion/zaid-ibrahim/article/give-the-police-a-break

Spy copter found near Wee's home Posted: 16 Aug 2013 12:13 PM PDT   (The Star) - A remote-controlled aerial vehicle has been found allegedly spying on MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong's bungalow in Bukit Tiara in Cheras. Dr Wee said the portable hexa­copter with six rotors was found by his neighbour's son on Aug 8. "Am I a terrorist? This is an invasion of privacy. They (perpetrators) have no right to do this," he said at a press conference here yesterday. According to Dr Wee, the hexa­copter fell on his neighbour's rooftop balcony after it hit the lightning arrester. His neighbour's 14-year-old son found the vehicle and informed his parents but his parents did not suspect anything amiss and told him to just throw it away. However, the boy removed a chip attached to a tiny video camera from the vehicle and, together with his 15-year-old sister, played it on the computer. They made the shocking discovery and the family quickly informed Dr Wee. Dr Wee collected the craft from his neighbour only on Thursday. Dr Wee, who showed five short video clips extracted from the chip and recorded on Aug 5, said the hexa­copter was aimed in the direction of his house and his neighbour's. The video clip showed two men handling the hexacopter in its initial clip. In another, the camera screen paused when a security guard was going on his patrolling rounds and resumed when the guard moved away. Asked what the motive for this could be, the former Deputy Education Minister said he would not speculate, but added that it was normal before party elections for snooping activities to be conducted on potential leaders. "I urge the Prime Minister, Home Ministry and the police to monitor those with hobbies of using such craft because it could be used for criminal activities. If there are such activities, it must be curbed," he said. Dr Wee had lodged a report on the hexacopter with the police headquarters here, and officers subsequently recorded his statement at Wisma MCA.

‘Who does Ridhuan Tee think he is?’ Posted: 15 Aug 2013 06:20 PM PDT BN leaders slam Utusan Malaysia and its columnist Ridhuan Tee for his 'war on Singapore' remarks. Anisah Shukry, FMT It was a case of BN turning on its own ally. Leaders of the ruling coalition are questioning Utusan Malaysia for publishing an editorial on how Malaysia should have waged war with Singapore decades ago. Umno leader Syed Ali Alhabshee demanded that the Malay daily, which is owned by Umno, explain why they had allowed its columnist Ridhuan Tee Abdullah to make such presumptuous and potentially damaging remarks. "Who in Utusan decided to give space for Ridhuan to make such comments? Utusan, as a national newspaper, shouldn't publish such type of remarks. We have a Cabinet, we have a government that makes such decisions for the country," said the Cheras Umno branch division leader. Ridhuan, who is a Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) lecturer, had written today: "it is fortunate that I was not PM when solving the dispute over Pulau Batu Puteh. If I was, I would definitely have not brought it to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The only resolution to the dispute over the island is to wage war." Pulau Batu Puteh was at the heart of a territorial dispute between Malaysia and Singapore dating back to 1979. Both laid claim to the island, but the nearly three-decade tussle ended when the International Court of Justice ruled in 2008 that the island was in Singaporean territory. "His type of comments can sour ties with Singapore, and make our government look bad. Who is this Ridhuan Tee Abdullah (to make such remarks)? Is he even a politician? Is he next in line to be the prime minister?" said Syed Ali. "It is not his prerogative to say 'if I were prime minister' and for it to be published – it looks very bad on our prime minister and government." READ MORE HERE

Scratching an old sore Posted: 15 Aug 2013 05:53 PM PDT Does Anwar really want to see the formation of a unity government? Of course he does not. He wants to become the Prime Minister of Malaysia. But the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th general elections have shown that this is not easy to achieve. It can never be achieved unless Umno is first brought down because Barisan Nasional is basically Umno. THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin (TMI) - Putrajaya's recent peace overtures to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for a possible unity government was initiated by an eager political aide and a top Indonesian businessman without the direct knowledge of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, say sources from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). They told The Malaysian Insider that the overtures were not sanctioned by the top leadership although Anwar has confirmed to the Asia Sentinel news portal that ex-Indonesian vice-president Jusuf Kalla has been acting as an intermediary. "It was initiated by an eager political aide and a famous Indonesian businessman. They were concerned about Malaysia's future direction," a source told The Malaysian Insider in Kuala Lumpur. Another government source confirmed the overtures while Pakatan Rakyat (PR) sources said knowledge of the talks was limited to a tight circle around the PKR de facto leader. But opposition politicians laughed off talk that the proposal made to Anwar was unsanctioned, noting that no aide would dare to move without getting the go ahead from the boss. They also point out to the flurry of trips by Kalla related to the talks. Talk of a unity government has set off roiling speculation and created some unease among Umno politicians close to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who has made it clear that Anwar must not have a role in any BN government. The peace moves come ahead of key polls in both Najib's Umno and Anwar's PKR although analysts say both leaders are not likely to be challenged for top posts. The Malaysian Insider had reported a possible meeting between Najib and Anwar in Jakarta in June but it was denied by both parties although they were in the Indonesian capital city that same weekend. But Anwar recently admitted there were peace overtures from Najib after Election 2013 which Najib's BN won with a lesser haul of 133 federal seats, seven less than in 2008. Anwar's PR also won 51% of the popular vote but failed to take over Putrajaya, which led to talk of a possible unity government a month after the May 5 general election. In an interview with the Asia Sentinel, Anwar said the peace moves were initiated by Najib, but he had sent word through intermediaries that attacks by Utusan Malaysia on the Chinese and Indian communities would have to cease, before any progress could be made. He also wanted as a condition the lowering of the racial temperature in Malaysia. "I said the fundamental issues must be addressed, ending the racial stuff, there has to be a clear understanding and commitment to reform and change, " Anwar had told the Asia Sentinel. Anwar has not received any reply from Najib despite the overtures through Kalla, the latest of which was made several weeks ago. Earlier in the year, Kalla was unsuccessful in trying to broker a commitment from Najib and Anwar to accept the outcome of GE13, regardless of the coalition which won. It is unclear why Najib would send feelers for a unity government given the antipathy in Umno towards Anwar and his partners in Pakatan Rakyat. Within Umno there is a sense that while BN is weak, the ruling party is in a strong position, having won 88 of the 133 parliamentary seats on offer at GE13. In this current mood, party leaders would view offering any olive branch to the opposition as a weakness. The Asia Sentinel offered this interpretation on the unity government move: "Presumably the Najib gambit opens another front against Mahathir, who has been allowing surrogate bloggers to attack the wounded prime minister ever since the election." ******************************************* We would like to respond to errors in the media coverage of our edited collection, 'Awakening: The Abdullah Years in Malaysia'. The media response to this collection was not expected. Despite our efforts to stress to the media early-on that this was a serious reflective collection by scholars and practitioners, the focus has been on sensationalising parts of the book, especially former premier Abdullah Badawi's interview. The media dynamic has taken on a life of its own, with nasty unjustified attacks on individuals, including some of the contributors and editors. These are not in the spirit of the season, nor do they reflect the substance or the intention of the collection itself. This was a project that began several years ago, and consistent with a project involving multiple contributors, the process is a long one. This project was delayed. The sole responsibility of this delay lies with the editors, as we navigated multiple publishers, galleys and conflicting professional demands. Bridget Welsh and James Chin (READ MORE HERE)  ********************************************* In my previous article, "It's 2006 all over again", I said that it is impossible to bring down the Prime Minister from the outside. If you want to bring him down then it has to be done from the inside. And that was the reason Anwar Ibrahim gave back in 1982 when he abandoned the opposition cause and joined Umno. If you want to change Umno then you must do it from the inside, argued Anwar, it can never be done from the outside. The question of whether once you get inside you manage to change what you hoped to change, or you change instead, was a question the late PAS President Ustaz Fadzil Noor raised. "How do you clean the tong tahi (latrine bucket) by jumping into the tong?" asked the Ustaz. "Instead of cleaning the tong you will get shit all over you." And many would swear this was exactly what happened to Anwar. Instead of changing or cleaning Umno from the inside, like he said he wanted to (and the reason why he joined Umno in the first place), Anwar changed and became just like any 'normal' Umno person. So Anwar, of all people, know that not much can be achieved from the outside. You must infiltrate the organisation you wish to change. And that was one reason why back in 1999 Anwar told some of his people to remain in Umno when he launched his new party, Parti Keadilan Nasional. He wanted some of his people within Umno in the event he needed to make a comeback. He also 'sent' some of his people to join PAS. In the recent general election in May 2013, many thought that Umno and Barisan Nasional were going to be ousted. They were confident that Pakatan Rakyat was going to form the new federal government. So many in Umno and Barisan Nasional wanted to cross over and join the opposition. But Anwar would not let them. He wanted them to remain in Umno and Barisan Nasional in the event that Pakatan Rakyat does not quite make it or loses the general election with a hung parliament or with a very narrow margin. Then he would get them to cross over and bring down the government like what happened in Perak soon after the 12th general election. Whatever it may be, Anwar plays what is called realpolitik -- meaning: politics based on practical and material factors rather than on theoretical or ethical objectives. And that, too, is how Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad plays his politics. Dr Mahathir will work with the opposition when it suits him (twice so far in his political career), will play the racial and religious card when it suits him, will whack the monarchy when it suits him, will attack the west and the Jews when it suits him, and so on. In short, Dr Mahathir is the master and Anwar is his protégé. So they both play the same realpolitik. Does Anwar really want to see the formation of a unity government? Of course he does not. He wants to become the Prime Minister of Malaysia. But the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th general elections have shown that this is not easy to achieve. It can never be achieved unless Umno is first brought down because Barisan Nasional is basically Umno. And to bring down Umno you first need to create a split within the party. In 1969 there was one split resulting in May 13 and the creation of Barisan Nasional. In 1987 there was another split resulting in the closing down of Umno and the formation of Semangat 46. In 1998 there was a third split resulting in the creation of Parti Keadilan. And that weakened Umno even further -- so much so that Dr Mahathir was forced to retire and hand the reins to Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Umno cannot afford a fourth split. As they say, a drowning man surfaces only three times and Umno has used all three of its 'get-out-of-jail-free' cards. The next time Umno engages in an internal split will be the final time and will be the death of Umno. You may have noticed that the aftermath of the May 2013 general election has seen some 'strange' happenings. Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is said to be a liberal who is trying to be a centrist. But the sound bytes coming out from the other Umno leaders give an impression that Umno is becoming more racist while issues involving religion have become very critical of late. In fact, Najib is being accused of 'wasting his time' by courting the support of the non-Malays and of being too accommodating to the Chinese and Indians. Some say Najib would have performed better in the recent general election had he focused on the Malays and not try to get the support of the non-Malays. Then we have the launching of the new book, 'Awakening: The Abdullah Years in Malaysia' and it is said that Kalimullah Masheerul Hassan (a Pak Lah man who hates Dr Mahathir) is behind that book together with Khairy Jamaluddin, Pak Lah's son-in-law. And the two authors, Bridget Welsh and James Chin, are said to be staunch Anwar people. The fact that it was reported that Anwar's daughter, Nurul Izzah, is supposed to launch that book just strengthens the talk regarding the Anwar-Pak Lah alliance even further. Then we hear stories about Najib and Anwar meeting a few times to discuss the formation of a unity government between Umno and the opposition 'for the sake of Islam and the Malays'. With the perceived Anwar-Najib alliance plus the Anwar-Pak Lah alliance, this is going to drive Dr Mahathir up the wall. And if Dr Mahathir can be made to turn on Najib, like he did Pak Lah in the pre-2008 general election, this will be the fourth and final split in Umno and, for sure, the end of Umno. It makes one wonder who is it that has control over Umno. Najib may be the Prime Minister but that does not mean he has control over Umno. And the race, religion, unity government, Pak Lah's book, and so on, issues that have cropped up give an impression that Najib is under siege from his own party. It is actually a very good political strategy. If you cannot bring down Umno in an election then get Umno to disintegrate from the inside. And this can be achieved if Umno itself plus veteran leaders and warlords the likes of Dr Mahathir decide that Najib is too intimate with Anwar. Some say that Dr Mahathir talks too much and that he should stop talking. But that is just it. It is safer when Dr Mahathir talks. It is when he remains silent that is the problem because when he remains silent we do not know what he is up to. Pak Lah's new book undermines Dr Mahathir. The RCI regarding the illegal immigrant problem in Sabah undermines Dr Mahathir. The Najib-Anwar 'talks' regarding the unity government undermines Dr Mahathir. And the perceived Pak Lah-Anwar alliance plus the perceived Anwar-Najib alliance undermines Dr Mahathir. And when Dr Mahathir is undermined he retaliates with a vengeance. And one way to retaliate is to play up race and religion issues -- which is what is already happening. Malaysian politics is in such a mess and we no longer know who is whose friend and who is whose enemy that it makes your head spin. But then that is the only way to bring down Umno if you cannot bring it down in an election. Basically, this is just another Anwar versus Dr Mahathir tussle for power. All the issues are mere pawns in the game of realpolitik, as are the players such as Najib and Pak Lah. The coming Umno party election will decide the winner. If the 'right' person wins then Umno will survive. If the 'wrong' person wins then Umno is destroyed. And if Anwar wants to become the Prime Minister then he must make sure that the 'wrong' person wins the Umno party election. So the Umno party election is not just about Umno but also about the future of the country. And this 'future' is being decided by two people -- Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar Ibrahim, the master and his protégé. And Pak Lah and Najib are not savvy enough to realise that they are mere pieces on a chessboard. So let us sit back and watch Dr Mahathir and Anwar make their moves. Yes, there are issues galore. But all these issues lead to only one thing. And that one thing is: will Dr Mahathir still have control over Malaysian politics or will control shift into the hands of Anwar?

A day of silence and contemplation on race and religion for our nation? Posted: 15 Aug 2013 03:56 PM PDT We do have a few thousands who died on May 13, 1969. We have an attitude of not wanting to know or discuss about it, seemingly for the benefit of the next generation. The business as usual on May 13 every year is like a collective amnesia with little or no impact on the next generation as a pertinent history lesson. Kuo Yong Kooi, MM World Environment Day is celebrated every year on June 5 to raise global awareness of the need to take positive environmental action. It is run by the United Nations Environment Programme. Every August 6, "A-Bomb Day", the city of Hiroshima holds the Peace Memorial Ceremony to console the victims of the atomic bombs and to pray for the realisation of lasting world peace. By the same token Malaysia is in desperate need for a day or even a week to raise awareness on "positive steps to mend inter-religious and race relations". Blogger Anas Zubedy's "let's re-colour May 13" is a great starting point. It just needed a lending hand from some popular public figures so that we can expand and publicise the project and experiment it on a nationwide scale. It is important that if we do choose to have a day or a week of interfaith dialogues annually, we need to open ourselves to many questions so that we can have more understanding on what spiritual growth and religiosity is. We can have different themes annually to highlight the need for Malaysians from all walks of life to understand some basic terminologies. Themes like "What is the difference between spirituality and religious dogma?" Once we can distinguish these two different terms is when we start to understand what is needed to be done on a personal level in instilling personal spiritual growth. In another year we can have another theme like "Is religiosity an inward journey or an outward journey?" Malaysians from all walks of life can participate in a ceremony similar to the one in Hiroshima or the 9/11 commemoration day. We can modify that programme to suit our theme of May 13 victims. The United States has got its ground zero memorial or The National September 11 Memorial & Museum. They hold their anniversary every year at ground zero to reflect and remember the 3,000 victims of 9/11. We do have a few thousands who died on May 13, 1969. We have an attitude of not wanting to know or discuss about it, seemingly for the benefit of the next generation. The business as usual on May 13 every year is like a collective amnesia with little or no impact on the next generation as a pertinent history lesson. Australia and New Zealand have an annual public holiday called Anzac Day on April 25. As a resident in Australia, I do not remember if I ever took part in an Anzac Day parade or the dawn service before. Initially I found it amusing where people commemorate their fallen soldiers who fought and died in other people's wars. After a while I begin to realise that this is a good way to engage the younger generation to participate in learning and relating to history. If we do have a commemoration day on May 13 which is widely participated all across the nation, it can be an effective learning and reflective tool for us to relate to this tragic event in our nation's history. At the moment we are being spoon-fed history from the Umno perspective only. Some other alternative perspectives are available on this site. On that commemorative day if the rakyat chooses to use May 13 as the day, the mass media or the alternative Internet media (if the present government does not wish to participate) can replay documentaries on real accounts of events or interview people who survived and witnessed what happened. Interview historians and politicians on their account of that day; like the one Lim Kit Siang wrote to counter "Tanda Putera's" dramatised account of what happened. It is a good reference point for open participation and interpretation of history. After all history belongs to all of us, not to a specific political party. A sombre day that encourages all participants to reflect on what happened on May 13, 1969 can be a good starting point for us to reflect as this year's Ramadan has highlighted a new height in deteriorating inter-faith and race relations. If we do not work on the annual "collective introspection" seriously, we are not likely to learn from history. We are not encouraging our young to actively participate and relate to an event that changed the direction of our nation's history. If we do make an effort, we may be able to contribute positively and make new history because we can instil that into our collective national psyche for generations to come.

Kisah Sebenar - Anwar Yang Tawarkan Perpaduan Dengan Najib Posted: 15 Aug 2013 03:49 PM PDT Pujukan demi pujukan oleh Anwar Ibrahim akhirnya membuat Jusuf mengalah dan bersetuju untuk menjadi orang perantara. Jusuf sepatutnya ke Kuala Lumpur untuk bertemu Datuk Seri Najib pada malam 11 Ramadhan. Namun disebabkan oleh pesawat peribadinya mengalami kerosakkan Jusuf terpaksa membatalkan kedatangannya ke Kuala Lumpur pada 11 Ramadhan.  RBF ONLINE Beberapa hari lepas Anwar Ibrahim membuat kenyataan bahawa beliau mengesahkan Datuk Seri Najib menawarkan untuk membentuk kerajaan perpaduan dengannya. Sini Seperti biasa....setiap patah perkataan yang keluar daripada mulut Anwar kita tak boleh percaya 100 peratus kerana ianya datang daripada seorang munafik. Sebelum pilihan raya umum yang lepas dia berjanji akan mengundurkan diri dari politik sekiranya pakatan pimpinanannya gagal mengambil alih pemerintahan negara. Selepas PRU lain pula jadinya. Tak munafik ke namanya itu ?  Sekarang dia kata pula Najib tawar perpaduan dengannya... Apa sebenarnya yang berlaku ? Anwar telah terlepas peluang terbaik untuk menjadi PM dalam PRU lepas. Selepas PRU beliau sudah tidak dihormati oleh sekutu-sekutunya. Orang-orang mereka lebih menghormati Khalid Ibrahim dan Lim Guan Eng, kerana dua orang itu lebih berkuasa berbanding Anwar yang hanya berjawatan Ketua Pembangkang. Itu pun atas ehsan DAP.... Anwar inginkan kuasa....Anwar ingin dihormati dan disanjungi....Anwar juga bengang kerana Khalid Ibrahim banyak tidak mengikut arahan-arahannya.... Anwar ke Indonesia sekali lagi dan berjumpa Jusuf Kalla merayu-rayu meminta Jusuf agar menolongnya sekali lagi menjadi perantara antara beliau dan Najib. Jusuf agak keberatan untuk menjadi orang tengah sekali lagi kerana beliau telah ada pengalaman ditipu Anwar semasa menjadi orang tengah dalam kes perjanjian PRU lepas.  Selepas pertemuan Anwar berkali-kali menghubungi Jusuf merayu-rayu agar menolongnya. Dalam bulan Ramadhan Anwar ada menghubungi Jusuf dan salah satu ayat yang digunakan dalam perbualan tersebut seperti berikut,  "Bilang sama Pak Najib di bulan Ramadhan perlu bermaaf-maafan". Antara yang ditawarkan Anwar untuk membentuk perpaduan dengan Najib seperti berikut,  1) Anwar akan memecat Khalid Ibrahim dan Najib boleh memilih individu pilihannya untuk mengetuai Selangor.  2) Anwar dilantik sebagai Timbalan Perdana Menteri. 3) Empat orang ahli parlimen PKR dilantik sebagai menteri. Pujukan demi pujukan oleh Anwar Ibrahim akhirnya membuat Jusuf mengalah dan bersetuju untuk menjadi orang perantara. Jusuf sepatutnya ke Kuala Lumpur untuk bertemu Datuk Seri Najib pada malam 11 Ramadhan. Namun disebabkan oleh pesawat peribadinya mengalami kerosakkan Jusuf terpaksa membatalkan kedatangannya ke Kuala Lumpur pada 11 Ramadhan.  Jusuf Kalla ke Kuala Lumpur pada 20 Ramadhan bersamaan dengan 28 Julai 2013 setelah pesawatnya boleh digunakan.  Jusuf datang bersama beberapa lagi ahli rombongannya. Antara yang datang bersama Jusuf adalah, Ade Dwi Irawan, Hamid Awaludin dan Emir Chairullah. READ MORE HERE

The way we handle things Posted: 15 Aug 2013 03:40 PM PDT If we prefer to do things the emotional, confrontational and punitive way, I am afraid our country may not survive the repeated torments. Over the past one month alone, we have seen one after another religiously sensitive incidents taking place in our country, where people resort to abusive language to vent their anger and dissatisfaction while the authorities punish the perpetrators with arrests and court charges. Tay Tian Yan, Sin Chew The "surau dijadikan tokong" incident could have given different results if we had handled it differently. Unfortunately, things don't always move the ideal way. Since the very beginning, the video clip of Buddhists meditating in the surau was posted on YouTube and the clip soon spread like wildfire within the Muslim community, thanks to a little help from sensationalising comments. People only see one side of the story, and receive only fragmented information. After that, the mainstream Malay media and web users quickly followed suit, and a conclusion was reached before long, that it was an act of instigation trying to blaspheme the Islamic faith and Muslims. The subjective and unitary impression has taken shape, and is hard to reverse. Malay groups and individuals protested boisterously. The emotions of the country's Muslims ran wild just as non-Muslims felt alarmed. Both the government and police were under tremendous pressure to hand down stringent actions. But the biased views in our society remained unresolved because of this. Instead, the feelings gained in intensity and people got polarised. The subsequent developments moved almost in one similar direction, trying to fix the problem through heightened emotions and penalties in the absence of amicable communication and understanding. I was thinking, what would happen if we dealt with this from a different approach? Some people found out what actually took place at the surau, but he made it into a malicious video. He should have notified the religious clerics or local leaders. Such a sensitive matter should be laid in the hands of people who are more knowledgeable and responsible. Upon the arrival of the clerics and local leaders, they would have told the Buddhists this surau is a place of worship for Muslims and it is not right to hold a Buddhist meditation there. The participants should have been advised to hold their activity at more appropriate venues. And when the police came, they should act as mediators to keep things in order. Further understanding revealed that the resort's manager, along with the meditators, were all Singaporeans who might not be as sensitive as we are in religious matters, while the priest chairing the session could have come from somewhere else and had little knowledge of Islam. As such, we can deduce that the incident was not a blatant act of religious instigation but just an isolated unintentional incident. As for the other spectators, perhaps the clerics and local leaders could explain to them and appease their frustration. After that, the clerics could conduct a religious class for the resort management, informing them of the religious teachings and taboos in Malaysian society in an attempt to evade any similar incident in the future. Things could have come to an end by now. Which do you think is the better way of handling this matter? If we prefer to do things the emotional, confrontational and punitive way, I am afraid our country may not survive the repeated torments. Over the past one month alone, we have seen one after another religiously sensitive incidents taking place in our country, where people resort to abusive language to vent their anger and dissatisfaction while the authorities punish the perpetrators with arrests and court charges. In the end, we consume the residual tolerance in our society as negative sentiments infiltrate every part of our life. If we have allowed more communication and moderation to come in, people from different religious backgrounds would also learn to be more accommodating and our society more progressive.

Resort owner in surau uproar now released Posted: 15 Aug 2013 03:33 PM PDT (Bernama) - A holiday resort owner in Sedili Besar, near Kota Tinggi, who was arrested since Tuesday to facilitate the investigation into him allowing the resort's surau to be used for a Buddhist religious ceremony, was released on police bail today. The police said the investigation papers of the case was being finalised before submitting it to the public prosecutor for action. "We are also waiting for further directive from the public prosecutor while at the same time, monitoring all activities and public reaction pertaining to the case," said Johor deputy police chief Datuk Ismail Yatim. Ismail, who heads the team formed to investigate the case, also confirmed that a small fire outbreak occurred at a storeroom at the resort. He said the initial investigation showed no criminal element involved but the police forensic team and a fire and rescue team were thoroughly investigating the fire incident. "We advise all parties not to be worried about the case as it is under police control, and to let the full investigation be carried out by the law enforcement authorities and the Johor Islamic Religious Department for further action," he added. The resort owner's action had reportedly caused a furore among the fishing community in Sedili Besar after it was discovered by a resort visitor who wanted to perform his Asar prayers at the surau last Saturday. Following the incident, the 45-year-old resort owner, who is a Singaporean with permanent resident status in Malaysia, was arrested for four days to assist in the investigation.

Court orders Ibrahim Ali to pay Anwar Posted: 15 Aug 2013 03:27 PM PDT (Bernama) - The High Court has dismissed an application by Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali to set aside a court order allowing opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, to commence committal proceedings against him. Justice John Louis O'Hara ordered Ibrahim to pay RM5,000 in costs to Anwar. In his decision, Justice O'hara ruled that Anwar had established a prima facie test to initiate contempt proceedings against Ibrahim. "I rule against the application and dismiss it," he said. The court also fixed Aug 26 for case management. Anwar was represented by counsel R. Sivarasa and Ibrahim by counsel Rajinder Singh. On April 5, Ibrahim filed to set aside the committal proceedings on the grounds that he and/or Perkasa were not responsible for the article and had no control over the website, www.pribumiperkasa.com. On March 5, O'Hara granted Anwar's application for committal proceedings against Ibrahim and the writer of the article, Zainuddin Salleh. On Jan 17, Anwar filed the application, alleging that the article posted on the Perkasa website on Jan 7, had tarnished the image of the High Court judge who presided over the opposition leader's defamation suit against Utusan Melayu (Malaysia) Bhd and its editor-in-chief, Abdul Aziz Ishak. The defamation suit was related to articles published by the defendants on Anwar's interview by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The judge had on Jan 21, last year ruled that the two articles published by Utusan Melayu (Malaysia) Bhd on Anwar's interview by the BBC, regarding homosexual laws, were defamatory. Anwar, in his application for committal proceedings, alleged that the article on the Perkasa website contained personal attacks against the judge that amounted to contempt, and published before the latter made his ruling.

Dr M, prime minister for life Posted: 15 Aug 2013 03:22 PM PDT Mahathir fed the Malays a false premise that Malaysia was their land and that the world owed them a living. Mariam Mokhtar, FMT The political analysts who postulate that former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad prevented reform within Umno Baru are wrong; Mahathir is the major obstacle for any meaningful reform in Malaysia, not just for Umno Baru. Like it or not, we are all Mahathir's children – that man and his policies have affected all of us, in one way or another, in the same manner the behaviour of an errant and irresponsible father, will impact on his children. Mahathir's existing policies make non-Malays despise many Malays, because the Malays are reticent about speaking up against the injustices and attacks against other religions and cultures. Mahathir's policies make Malays arrogant and so they demand that those who refuse to bow to Malay needs and Muslim doctrine, should leave the country or have their citizenship revoked. Mahathir's racist policies may unite all in Umno Baru, but it is the nation which is left divided. Mahathir may not be in government, but his henchmen ensure that his legacy is preserved and that his family dictatorship continues with his son, Mukhriz. Mahathir is like the prime minister for life, who refuses to leave office with dignity. His supporters are so deferent to him, that they treat him like a de-facto monarch. The impact of the Iranian revolution in the late 70s also marked a turning point in our history. In 1979, Ayatollah Khomeini swept into Iran and the Iranians embraced him having suffered years of oppression at the hands of the corrupt Shah of Iran, a puppet of America. The resurgence of Islam throughout the world, may have energised PAS but it was Mahathir who felt threatened. He had to make Umno Baru more Islamic than PAS, in an attempt to entice the Malays who had drifted to PAS. Mahathir fed the Malays a false premise that Malaysia was their land and that the world owed them a living. He tinkered with the education system, so that Malays became uncompetitive. To proceed unhindered, Mahathir removed the controls which should have prevented corruption. With his men in the judiciary, the police, the civil service and the media, these institutions voiced only his thoughts and suppressed all other opinions. Mahathir's closest allies are beholden to him. He gave them an economic leg-up and like the transformation which Cinderella underwent, they became billionaires overnight. Why bite the hand that feeds them? Reform is the last thing on their minds. A confused sore loser Further down the Umno Baru pecking order, the party member or politician may not realise that he is part of a slick well-organised syndicate, run along the lines of the mafia. One who is loyal to the party will be amply rewarded, but one who decides to opt out of the "family" is sought-out and destroyed. As long as he is loyal to the party, he will be afforded protection and riches, as well as power. With this in mind, why would Umno Baru politicians and active supporters desire reform? With apologies to American Express cards, the Umno Baru slogan might as well have been "Making the Impossible, Possible". How else would a TNB meter-reader become a Cabinet minister? How else would a son of a minister have a special role in the Tourism Ministry? How else would members of this elite club get away with crimes ranging from financial mismanagement, abuse of taxpayers' money, sexism, racism, nepotism, cronyism, extremism, murder and money-laundering? Would a CEO of a public listed company dare to admit that it is his prerogative to say when he will retire? All these injustices happen because the rakyat are compliant. Mahathir triumphs because few dare oppose him. In the past few days, Mahathir said that in a mature democracy, losers should accept defeat and wait for the next election to try again. For a start, Malaysia is not a mature democracy. In fact, it is not a democracy. Elections are rigged. Leaders refuse to leave willingly. The will of the people is not respected. He should have also said that in a mature democracy, the ruling party does not cheat in the elections. Mahathir is a sore-loser. When he lost to a PAS candidate in 1969, he blamed the Chinese for switching allegiance from Umno to PAS. Did he have a hand in instigating the race-riots of 13 May? By the end of the year, he was sacked from the Umno Supreme Council and expelled from Umno. He then wrote his racist book, "The Malay Dilemma". When Mahathir and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah locked horns in an Umno election in 1987, Umno was declared an illegal organisation following litigation. Mahathir acted with venom when he won by a tiny margin; he purged people from his ministry, he stripped the judiciary of its independence, he ordered a crackdown on his detractors. Mahathir does not accept defeat willingly. At a press conference organised after the Perdana Global Peace Foundation conference on the Palestinian cause, Mahathir said the rakyat had to pay for the price of freedom with an increase in gun crime and shootings. Is Mahathir a little confused? He equates freedom with an increase in shooting. Does he think the Palestinians, who are being shot at and who do some of the shooting, have much freedom? READ MORE HERE

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