Candlelight vigil Sugumaran

Liberate Bhojshala to regain Hindu Rights through a Mighty Fight. Jai Shri Ram!

‘Bhojshala’ is an ancient and the only temple of Mata Saraswati, built by Raja Bhoj in 1034 AD. (‘See Photo Evidences’) Bhojshala was home to thousands of students and scholars and it was main centre of education. Attacks on Bhojshala started from 1305 AD and Muslims built today’s Kamal Moulana dargah near Bhojshala. (‘Read Detailed Timeline of Facts’)

Bhojshala has become victim of Governments of Madhya Pradesh due to appeasement of Muslims for votes. Today Archeological Survey of India (ASI) allows everyone to go inside Bhojshala ‘as a tourist’ with fees. On tuesday, Hindus can enter in Bhojshala and they are allowed to take flowers and akshata. But since the new idol of Vagdevi is seized by Madhya Pradesh government and kept in Gwalior jail, Hindus can’t offer anything to Saraswati Mata. On friday, Muslims are allowed to offer Namaz in Bhojshala complex. Vasant (Basant) Panchami, also known as Mata Saraswati Jayanti is the only day in the year on which Hindus are allowed to perform full-fledge puja by taking idol or photo of Mata Saraswati inside Bhojshala. So Muslims can offer Namaz in Bhojshala 52 times in a year, but Hindus can perform puja only once in a year. It should be noted that Dhar, where Bhojshala is located, has 16 mosques to offer Namaz.

What do you want in Bhojshala on this Vasant Panchami (15^th February 2013) - Puja or Namaz

 In year 2006, Vasant (Basant) Panchami was on friday, so the demand of the Hindus to perform puja in Bhojshala for the full day was refused and the police also used force against Hindu devotees and arrested many. Now this year 2013, again Vasant (Basant) Panchami happens to be on friday and Hindu Devotees are demanding to perform puja for the whole day and restrict Muslims to offer Namaz in Bhojshala on this day. Also the BJP Govt. should release Vagdevi (Mata Saraswati) idol from Gwalior Jail, which was installed by Hindus in Bhojshala.

For details refer tabs ‘Timeline of Facts‘ and ‘Photo Evidences‘.

O Hindus, take up this challenge and do your duty towards Dharma !

Our Demands

• on 15th February 2013, ‘Bhoj-shala’ should be made available to Hindus instead of Muslims for ‘namaz’, as it is the day of Vasant Panchami falling on Friday. 
• The Government should release the idol of Shri Vagdevi made of ‘Ashta-dhatu (8 metals) from the Gwalior jail.
• From the evidences, it is amply clear that Bhojshala is nothing but a Hindu temple and hence it should be handed over to Hindus completely.
• The Government should restrict Muslims permanently to enter and offer Namaz in Bhojshala.
• Today it is observed that few fanatics and miscreants are damaging ancient idols of Deities and other signs of temple. This damage should stop immediately and Government should ensure that these idols and signs should not get harmed.
• Bring back the original idol of Shri Vagdevi from London Museum.

Courtesy: HJS. Please reach Bhojshala Shrine on Basanta Panchami or at least participate in the signature Campaign.<< Click here. 

Watch Videos about History of Bhojshala and Fight by Hindus

What justice was like under the jihadis in Mali

Issa Alzouma made a living from digging gravel for construction companies until they cut off his hand.

Arrested last December on suspicion of stealing a motorbike that he says was his anyway, he was brought before the Sharia court in Gao and sentenced to amputation.
A man enjoys a cigarette after French forces take towns around Gao. Smoking was banned by the jihadis.

Over the last two days, I’ve had something of a tour of the justice system the Mujao, which is Movements for Jihad and Unity, installed in Gao, Mali, during their nine months of rule. They took over what used to be the mayor’s office and turned it into the “justice” centre.

Two men, accused of homosexuality, who were supposed to be executed last Friday, showed me the room they were taken to be tried and beaten. On the floor I found a file with lists of names – these were the women who had been whipped for failing to wear the veil, and the men punished for smoking.

A large airless room in the back of the compound became the Sharia court. Here they and other prisoners were brought to sit in front of two or three Islamic judges who they call marabouts. They said that the judges were mainly Pakistanis and some Tunisians and the whole proceedings were overseen by the Moroccan jihadi in charge of the town, known as Abdel Karim. As the judges passed sentence, a crowd of jihadi supporters behind them watched. Some of the women were flogged right there in the court house. A black patch in front marks the place where cigarettes were ground into the sand and smokers whipped. A few yards away is the stadium where the residents of Gao once watched football and were now forced to come to watch amputations.

One of the most disturbing things I’ve learnt is that those condemned to these harsh punishments were all black Malians – Sonrai, Peul, Bamba, and Della, traditionally the slaves of the Tuareg. The jihadis were a mixture of Malian Arabs and Tuaregs as well as many foreign jihadis.

“They would never do this to one of their own,” said Issa.

He still has bandages on the stump of his right arm where it was cut below the elbow and on his left arm he has looped a black plastic bag full of antibiotics and other medicines given to him by the doctor at the hospital.

As we were talking, his friend Algalas Yatara turned up. His stump seems to have healed slightly better, but like Issa, he still feels like a useless man. It’s not just the pain. It’s the knowledge that these men can no longer support their families.

Their only hope is that now the jihadis who sentenced them to such cruel punishments have left town, maybe some medical organisation will come back to Gao and help them.

Follow @lindseyhilsum on Twitter.

Muslims bomb theatres to protest Vishwaroopam, Kamal Haasan offers cuts

Muslims protesting against Kamal Haasan’s film Vishwaroopam hurled petrol bombs at two theatres in Tamil Nadu where the movie was scheduled to be screened on Wednesday following the High Court staying the ban imposed by the State Government. Petrol bombs were hurled at theatres in the Ramanathapuram district, 600 km from Chennai. There are no reports of injuries. Glass panes at the theatres were shattered.

Meanwhile, Kamal Haasan met with representatives of the Muslim community and later told newspersons that he had come to an amicable settlement over the dispute that rose from his using verses from the Quran in Vishwaroopam. “This film is not against Indian Muslims. It is in support of Indian Muslims. There seems to be some confusion over the use of Quranic verses and I am willing to edit out these references,” he said.

An emotional Kamal Haasan had said on Wednesday morning that he would be forced to leave the country if the ban on his film ‘Vishwaroopam’ was not lifted.

The Tamil Nadu Government had imposed a ban on the film after certain Muslim groups protested against it alleging that it portrayed the community in a negative light. The Rs 95 crore thriller was originally scheduled to release in Telugu and Tamil on January 25.

An emotional Haasan said Tamil Nadu does not want him to stay in the State and he might seek a “secular” place in the country or overseas.

“When MF Hussain can do it, Kamal Haasan will do it. I am fed up. I am an artist. After that, I will have to seek a secular state for my stay. There are secular States from Kashmir to Kerala, excluding Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu wants me out,” he said in a choked voice as the fate of the movie remains to be decided in court.

The actor said he had pledged all his property to make the trilingual movie, estimated to have cost around Rs 100 crore.

He said he might lose his house because of the losses incurred by the delay in the release of the movie.

Haasan said he was still to get interim relief as the film shows were “started and stopped” by police on Wednesday, who sought a physical copy of the single judge’s order passed on Tuesday night, giving clearance to the film.

“…But I believe that along with my Muslim friends, I have been instrument in a political game. I don’t know who is playing and not even hazarding the guess. The fact remains that my history has proven that I have been neither leaning to the left or right but trying to maintain my position,” Haasan said.

He said he would wait for the judgement of the Madras High Court where the Tamil Nadu Government on Wednesday moved swiftly to file an appeal against the interim relief given by the single judge.

“Now I shall wait for the afternoon judgement but after this… I think I will have to see a secular state for me to stay in. I have nothing to lose. I might as well choose a place which would house an artiste like me. “I will learn in another couple of days whether I will be able to find a secular state in India or not. I will find, hopefully, another country which is secular that might take me in,” Haasan said.

Why no noise from PM against Perkasa?

Why is Najib mum on Perkasa's call for the burning of Malay bibles and why doesn't anyone in Umno dare to tegur Ibrahim Ali or Perkasa?
COMMENT

By Chua Jui Meng

The Umno-led Barisan Nasional federal government leaders only look after the financial interest of themselves, their families and cronies. We must wipe out corruption to bring real benefits to the rakyat and country.

For this to be realised, the BN must go.

Pakatan Rakyat is committed to poverty eradication and is confident of raising the monthly income of families who are now RM1,500 and below to RM4,000 in its first term of governance.

Give us the opportunity and chance to show what we can do for the rakyat and country in five years. It is still your choice to change if you are not satisfied with our performance.

We will govern with integrity and responsibility.

The tens of billions of ringgit in savings from leakages or corruption and the prudent use of oil revenue will finance people-centric fiscal measures that can fast track the socio-economic growth of Malaysians and country.

Pakatan de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim has the credentials and track record to ensure success. He achieved budget surpluses in his last five years as finance minister and deputy prime minister.

All other finance ministers have never achieved a budget surplus.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak can only show a capital flight of RM1 trillion and a federal debt of RM620 billion (including off Budget liabilities or sovereign guarantees for private corporations like the Port Klang Free Zone and government-linked company loans ending 2011) in his four years in office.

Malaysians and their country are slowly but surely heading towards bankruptcy under Najib and BN.

Pakatan’s priorities

If the rakyat gives Pakatan the mandate to govern after the 13th general election, some of our major priorities are:

To implement measures to raise salaries and wages;

To reduce the retail price of oil to lower the cost of transportation of goods and services thereby triggering a domino effect in cheaper essentials;

To scrap the Automated Enforcement System (AES) which is only aimed at enriching MCA and Umno cronies;

To implement reforms to stop the rot in education standards due to the lowering of grades to shore up “achievements”; and

Free education from primary to tertiary levels for all Malaysian children irrespective of race and religion.

Anwar recently told a crowd of about 8,000 that Islam is about peace and justice, not wealth accumulation.

It is about eradicating poverty. It is not about hate, arrogance and injustice. Who will respect Islam if it is used to propagate cruelty and threaten others, like the call to burn Bibles.

Muslims must eradicate rampant corruption in Malaysia as we are now labelled as Bapa Rasuah (Father of Corruption) by the world.

In governance, whether we are in power, whether you steal contracts, balak (timber) or lembu (cows), we are all accountable and responsible for our actions to Allah (God).

It is impossible to manipulate or cheat Allah. We all want to live in peace, why must Umno’s Perkasa call for the burning of Malay Bibles?

Why is Najib mum on this and no one dares to tegur Ibrahim Ali or Perkasa?

I am also not against business but I am against a government that exploits the poor through raising prices of essentials to feed unabated corruption.

Chua Jui Meng is PKR vice-president and Johor state chief. He is also a former MCA vice-president and an ex-Cabinet member.

Sugumaran’s death: PM wants forensic report

MIC strategic director S Vell Paari reveals that the police have also agreed for a second post-mortem to be carried out.

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has instructed Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai to submit a forensic report on the death of security guard C Sugumaran.

It is also learnt that the police have given the green light to the family to conduct an independent post-mortem.

MIC strategic director S Vell Paari said the prime minister made the call after MIC president G Palanivel raised the matter during the Cabinet meeting this morning.

“Justice must be ensured for the deceased’s family. The police and the related ministries must be transparent in this matter,” added Vell Paari.

Vell Paari said that he spoke to Selangor deputy police chief A Thaiveegan and the latter revealed that a second post-mortem was permitted.

He added that MIC Youth was willing to bear the cost of the independent post-mortem.

“I will ask MIC Youth to contact the family and the PKR leaders involved in the case in order to decide on the independent pathologist to conduct the post-mortem,” he said.

Last Wednesday, Sugumaran was allegedly beaten to death by the police and public while handcuffed in Taman Sri Nanding, Hulu Langat.

Pathologist Dr Mohd Azaini Ibrahim of Serdang Hospital claimed that Sugumaran died of a heart attack despite eyewitnesses claiming the deceased was beaten up.

Sugumaran’s face was also smeared with turmeric powder.

Following this, the attorney-general had called for an inquest but the family had refused to participate, demanding that a murder investigation be carried out instead.

PKR leaders and lawyers N Surendran and Latheefa Koya, who were representing the family, alleged that the inquest was an attempt to cover up the case.

Following the incident, Vell Paari also reiterated the call for the formation of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

He also suggested Bersih 2.0 co-chairperson S Ambiga to lead the body.

Bench restores ban on Vishwaroopam

The Hindu Fans pour milk on a Kamal Haasan banner at Central Theatre in Coimbatore on Wednesday. The Madras High Court has set aside a single judge’s order giving green signal for the film’s release. Photo: M. Periasamy

The ban on Kamal Hassan-starrer Vishwaroopam was restored on Wednesday, with the Madras High Court setting aside a single Judge’s interim order staying the ban.

Disposing of appeals filed by the Tamil Nadu government challenging the single Judge’s order, the First Bench comprising the Acting Chief Justice Elipe Dharma Rao and Justice Aruna Jagadeesan directed the government to file its reply before the single Judge in all the writ petitions connected to the issue on February 4, as submitted by the Advocate-General (AG).

Considering the heavy financial loss urged on the part of Rajkamal Films International, the producer of the film who is the petitioner, and considering the urgency involved in the matter, the Bench requested the single Judge to take up all the writ petitions connected to the subject on February 6 or any other date convenient to him and dispose them of.

In his order, the single Judge had said he was of the view that the order under Section 144 Cr.P.C. was liable to be kept in abeyance for the present. He granted an interim injunction restraining the authorities from interfering with the petitioner’s rights in releasing the film.

The AG, A. Navaneethakrishnan, submitted there were specific provisions in the Cr.P.C. for the aggrieved party under sub-sections (4) and (5) of Section 144 to approach the same authority or government by way of revision against such orders. When such a remedy was available, the writ petitioner, without availing itself of the same, had rushed to the court. This is not maintainable, he said.

Senior counsel for Rajkamal Films International, P.S. Raman, said the film had been censored by the Central Board of Film Certification and granted the necessary certificate to screen the movie. The State Government had no authority to ban the screening as pre-censorship by the State Government or its agencies was impermissible.

The Bench said though remedial measures were provided for in the Cr.P.C., the aggrieved party had not availed itself of them and had initiated the writ proceedings under Art.226 of the Constitution. It was in these circumstances that the AG had raised objection with regard to the maintainability of the writ petitions and the consequent passing of interim orders.

The single Judge had passed an interim order after having found there was a prima facie case in favour of the writ petitioners, but before any counter had been filed by the respondents. By granting the interim order, virtually the film had been allowed to be screened which would automatically make the writ petitions pending before the single Judge infructuous. Therefore, since such an interim order was in the nature of granting the main relief, the Bench said it was setting aside the interim order.

Perkasa gets brickbats for ‘low class political’ article

Pakatan leaders criticised Perkasa for an article published on its website claiming that the Chinese were supporting the opposition to remove Malay privileges.

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Rakyat leaders today hit out at the Ibrahim Ali-led Perkasa for an article published on the latter’s website, describing it as “low class” and “nonsensical”.

DAP vice-chairman M Kulasegaran said the statement made in the article against the Chinese community was unfair and baseless.

Yesterday, the Malay rights movement published a post, written by a person known as Zainuddin @ Obey-one, alleging that the Chinese community is backing Pakatan Rakyat as the latter would remove Malay privileges and undermine Islam when in power.

He also alleged that Pakatan was in support of Christian activities and was backing LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) group.

The writer also poured scorn on Merdeka Centre and Universiti Malaya’s Centre of Democracy and Election Research, accusing it of being biased towards the opposition.

Dismissing the claims, Kulasegaran said that the article was a low class political statement.

“When the Chinese were backing Barisan Nasional, everything was all right but when a number of them back Pakatan, Perkasa accuses them of all this,” he said.

The Ipoh Barat MP, who described Perkasa as an extension of Umno, said it is making a mockery of itself by making such wild allegations.

‘Perkasa racist in nature’

“What Umno cannot say, Perkasa says it. The more Perkasa speaks like this, the more it will lose support from Malays and non-Malays alike,” said Kulasegaran.

PKR vice-president Chua Jui Meng said that he was not surprised with Perkasa’s perverse statement.

“Perkasa is Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s [former prime minister] brainchild which is racist in nature. I’m not at all surprised by its nonsensical statement,” he said.

The former health minister also said that the Chinese community is pragmatic, adding that only Mahathir and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak would believe in Perkasa’s logic.

“Umno must remember that it was the Chinese community that saved BN in 1999. If the community had followed its Malay brothers then, Perkasa would not have existed and we won’t have all this problems now,” said Chua.

He said that Perkasa’s antics are not only alienating the non-Malays but also the Malays.

“Perkasa should ask the thousands of Malays that attended the Jan 12 rally in Stadium Merdeka whether they supported the right-wing movement.”

PAS vice president Salahuddin Ayub said that his party and Pakatan would uphold the sanctity of the Federal Constitution, including the provision on Malay privileges.

“We will definitely speak out on issues affecting Muslims in Malaysia. This view is shared by all leaders in Pakatan,” he said.

Universiti Malaya’s Centre of Democracy and Election Research diector Mohammad Redzuan Othman refused to comment. FMT also failed to reach the Merdeka Centre for comment.

Air Mata Nurul Izzah Menitis

BN’s demonizing ways

By Singa Terhormat



I first came across Nik Aziz in 1990.

Truth be told, I was expecting someone fiery and fearsome and I was a bit hesitant to meet him.

I had become victim to the local media’s demonization of him as being someone fanatical and half-crazy.

I was however surprised to find him very soft-spoken, so much so I had to lean forward to hear his words.

His face too reflected that of a calm, God-fearing person and there was an aura of kindness and gentleness about him.

I can still recall that moment as his persona defied and demolished all earlier perceptions I had had of him.

About the same time too, I had occasion to meet several other PAS leaders and the impression I formed was that they had been terribly wronged by our local media.

Looking beyond their attire, which admittedly is not common for one brought up in an urban setting along the West Coast, as I was, one could unmistakably recognize their greater sincerity, hospitality and gentleness towards others. It is often said that what the eyes reveal do not lie and indeed amongst many of them their eyes reflected those qualities..

It brought home to me the matter of human frailty in that so often when we come across persons or things that are strange or unusual to us we readily and unfairly form prejudices against such persons/things without further examination of the matter.

It is really our refusal to go beyond our ‘comfort zone’ that results in this.

In many ways they were strange to me, but I could see they were kind-hearted souls.

Of course, I am sure, there must be some ‘black sheep’ amongst them too but generally there was nothing I saw even approaching Umno’s penchant for trickery, treachery and selfishness. These were men and women who were basically God-fearing and they by and large exhibited that in their daily conduct.

They may not be as worldly-wise as their brethren in the West Coast, but there is more than a thing or two that they could teach those in the West Coast about human decency.

Almost overnight then, my earlier impression of them changed.

On numerous trips after that to the East Coast, I also met several non-Malays and non-Muslims residing there and the impression I formed was that they were generally a happy lot and they treated and were treated by their Malay-Muslim ‘neighbours’ as almost ‘family-members’.

They were not as rich materially as their ‘cousins’ along the West Coast but they were totally at ease and felt safe and secure with the Malay-Muslims there.

On one occasion my car broke down and I had to take it to a workshop in Kota Bharu to have it fixed. I learnt that the Chinese mechanic attending to my car hailed from Taiping. On enquiring what caused him to migrate to Kota Bharu, he replied that he felt welcome and totally at home there and life was simpler, safer and uncomplicated.

It reminded me that during the May 13th incidents (allegedly initiated by some to several UMNO chieftains), the non-Malays in Kelantan and Trengganu, although being more heavily outnumbered as compared to their West Coast ‘cousins’, were in fact the safest in the country. There was no incident at all in those places.

It did not totally surprise me therefore to read about and see online how Nik Aziz had gone to visit Karpal Singh and later welcome the Bishop in his hotel room. I noticed too how both of his hands were stretched out in humility to clasp Karpal’s and how warmly and graciously they had received each other. There was so much goodwill between all of them. It so obviously came from the heart.

I recall someone close to me recounting how on the occasion of a visit to Nik Aziz at his house after he had become Mentri Besar, this guest of his was amazed to find that all the guests had to sit on the carpeted floor as there was hardly any furniture around and that Nik Aziz’s wife herself was busy in the kitchen preparing food and drinks for them, unaided, which she herself personally served. I want to salute Nik Aziz for having exhibited the true qualities of a Muslim leader.

This is the real 1Malaysia, not Najib’s and Muhyiddin’s orchestrated public campaigns to hoodwink the public whilst at the same time ‘closing an eye” to, if not actually condoning, all the provocation fostered by Perkasa, Katak Ali, Harrusani, JAKIM and their kind.

Najib went all the way to the Vatican to give the impression that he is ‘for all’ whilst at the same time ignoring all the unholy provocation, including the call to burn the Bibles, on his home-front.

How hypocritical can one get?

And now Haris tells us that Najib will soon be leading a Harmony walk to commemorate World Interfaith Harmony Week with religious leaders at Brickfields.

Will they never end their patronizing ways and come to understand that the rakyat will judge them on their deeds and not mere words and slogans?

In the run up to the 13th GE, you can be sure that our local media will again demonise PAS and its leaders to the non-Malays and non-Muslims whilst at the same time demonizing DAP as being anti-Islam to the Malays. What exact stories and events the media will likely come up with, only their evil minds can envisage.

To my fellow-Malaysians therefore, I call upon you to anticipate such happenings and to ignore and disregard them. Let us exercise wisdom in the matter and not be influenced by racist and religious overtones that are meant to divide and cheat us.

Wawancara Eksklusif Sinar Harian Bersama Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim

71-Day Countdown to 13GE – charade of Sabah RCI, Malaysia’s high-risk in defence corruption and worst-ever press freedom ranking proof of failures of Najib’s transformation slogans/policies and why country needs Federal government change in 13GE

Every day, Malaysians are provided new evidence of the failures of the transformation slogans and policies of the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak and why the country needs a change of federal government in the 13th General Elections around the corner.

Today, we need only refer to three current developments.

The first is the charade of the of Sabah Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into illegal immigrants entering into its second week of public hearings.

What have concerned Sabahans and Malaysians that the RCI would not be able to get to the bottom of the whole truth about the illegal legalization of illegal immigrants in Sabah causing a five-fold increase of the state’s population from 600,000 in 1970 to the current 3.3 million seem to have been justified, and this is best summed up by a Malaysiakini reader who commented:

“Now we have it. There will be 100 odd witnesses in the RCI who will claim and counter-claim until it is all so messed up that no further action will be taken. It is all a sandiwara (act).”

But the real flaw of the RCI is the gross omission in its eight terms of reference to identify those responsible for the treacherous acts against the country in the long-running “citizenship for votes” scandals in Sabah state – or to be specific, to probe and identity the masterminds of Project M and Project IC.

Unless and until the Sabah RCI is given an additional term of reference to specifically probe and identity the masterminds of Project M and Project IC in Sabah, the Sabah RCI can only end up as a charade.

Is the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, prepared to give the Sabah RCI a ninth term of reference to probe and identify the masterminds of Project M and Project IC and to recommend the actions to be taken against such acts of treason against the country?

Secondly, Malaysia’s ranking by a leading international transparency watchdog as having high corruption risk in its defence spending and operations, placing it in the same league with countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, China, Russia, Kazakhastan and Jordan.

In the Government Defence Anti-Corruption Index, the world’s first global analysis of corruption risk in defence establishments worldwide released by Transparency International UK yesterday, Malaysia scored D- in the band range of A to F.

This lowly ranking is a repudiation of Najib’s Government Transformation Programme (GTP) and National Key Result Areas (NKRA) programme which have combating corruption as one of the top priority agendas, as the new anti-corruption index is produced after a two-year study with country research done between July 2011 and November 2012 – which fall fully smack into Najib’s GTP and NKRA programmes in the past four years.
Among Asean countries, Singapore and Thailand outperformed Malaysia, both scoring D+, while Indonesia and Philippines fell behind Malaysia in band E.

Each government was assessed in five main areas of possible defence corruption risks – political, financial, personnel, operations and procurement risks.

Malaysia scored the lowest in financial risks and operations risks, with 25 percent and 10 percent out of 100 percent respectively.

The country report on Malaysia said “Political corruption vulnerability is high, as there is no defence and security committee and parliament’s role in the sector is limited to approving a general, aggregated budget”.

Thirdly, Malaysia plunging to a historic low of No. 145 ranking in the latest 2013 World Press Freedom Index – the worst since the start of the annual index by Reporters Without Border (RSF) in 2002.

Under the unflattering heading of “Cambodia and Malaysia: drift towards authoritarianism” for South-East Asia, RSF said Malaysia’s 2013 press freedom ranking “presented a sorry record, falling 23 places to a position below the one it had in 2002”, as a result of “a campaign of repression by the government, illustrated by the crackdown on the Bersih 3.0 protest in April, and repeated censorship efforts, continue to undermine basic freedoms, in particular the right to information”.

QED – why there must be a change of Federal Government in Putrajaya in the 13GE.

Inquest into death of guard

The New Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have received the green light from the Attorney-General's Chambers to proceed with an inquest to ascertain the circumstances leading to the death of security guard C. Sugumaran.

Selangor police chief Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah said the inquest was also a form of investigation, adding that no second post-mortem would be carried out on Sugumaran's body.

Sugumaran, 40, died after running amok near his home in Taman Desa Raya, Kajang, last week.

An initial autopsy revealed that Sugumaran had died of coronary artery disease.

Reports, however, claimed that Sugumaran was beaten by four policemen and a mob of about 20 people as they tried to subdue him.

Sugumaran, said to have a history of mental illness, was handcuffed with his hands behind his back.

He died at the scene. His family had demanded that a second autopsy be conducted.

"The inquest will determine how Sugumaran died," Tun Hisan said after the launching of an electronic magazine titled "Beyond" at Sunway University in Subang Jaya.

"We have recorded 109 statements thus far in this case."

Police will obtain a date from the magistrate for the inquest and those with information on the incident have been urged to come forward to facilitate investigations.

About 50 people gathered outside Bukit Aman federal police headquarters at 10am yesterday, where they sat and shouted for five hours for a second autopsy be done.

Another protest has been planned in Putrajaya on Monday, said Parti Keadilan Rakyat vice-president N. Surendran.

'What detergent do I use to clean electoral roll?'

It is not possible for any country to ensure its electoral roll is 100 percent clean, the Election Commission (EC) says, for the list will be affected by daily occurrences of deaths as well as changes in addresses as people move about the country.
   
"If I clean today, tomorrow someone dies and it is not clean again...

"How clean do you want it to be? What kind of detergent do we need to use?" EC chief Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof told a press conference in Putrajaya today.
He stressed that in spite of revelations to the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on immigrants in Sabah, the electoral roll for the state - and for the rest of the country - was as clean as these could be made.

"Believe us, the electoral roll is clean. As far as the EC is concerned, we only accept citizens with blue MyKad as voters.
"As for how they got the identity card, that's (under the purview of) the National Registration Department (NRD),” he said, washing his hands clean of possible inaccuracies.
Before the names are entered into the roll, the EC carries out a “vigorous check” with the NRD to ensure that those being registered are citizens and are alive.

"If it is okay, only then we register,” Abdul Aziz explained after launching the commission's dedicated 13th general election website.

He also appealed to members of the public to be proactive and check their details for discrepancies and update the EC with their latest details and addresses.

For this, he said, voters could SMS, email, phone in or go through the EC's new dedicated GE13 website at www.pru13.gov.my.
No comment on Sabah RCI
Asked to comment on the ongoing RCI, Abdul Aziz refused to touch on the testimonies of the witnesses.

"I have been advised not to comment as the proceedings are still going on. Four EC officers are waiting to testify and they will answer any and all questions that the commission may ask," he said.

The RCI hearing in Kota Kinabalu has to date featured damning testimonies on the awarding of citizenship to illegal immigrants and their subsequent registration as voters.
Asked why the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) was not named as an election observer, Abdul Aziz said it was the EC's prerogative to choose whoever it wanted, and he went on to say it was not because Suhakam had any ill feeling toward the commission.

"(Suhakam chief) Hasmy Agam (right) is my friend too."

He added that thus far 16 NGOs have been appointed as local observers while five Asean countries and the grouping’s secretariat would be coming as international observers.

‘Malaysia, Australia poles apart’

The EC chief also dismissed Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard's early announcement of election dates as inconsequential to Malaysian politics as both countries were poles apart and used differing electoral guidelines.

"We have different laws, different systems and different conventions."

Commenting further on the EC's dedicated GE13 website, Abdul Aziz said it would be the one-stop portal for all things related to the coming general election, including news, turnout rates, enforcement updates, nomination statistics as well as other information and a live stream of all voting results.

He said the new site costs less then RM100,000 out of the total RM400 million budgeted for the commission’s GE13 budget.

This budget is a whopping RM150 million more than the cost of GE12 in 2008.

Abdul Aziz attributed the inflated cost to inflation, ballooning staff and allowances as well as extra expenses for new types of voting, overseas voting and to handle and increasing number of voters, which will total 13.3 million as against the 10 million voters in 2008, after the latest registrants are gazetted in March.

No documents, but Indian national got his blue IC

An Indian national testified before the royal commission of inquiry on Sabah immigrants today that he obtained a blue identity card from the National Registration Department (NRD) without providing any supporting document.

Nasir Yusof, who arrived in Sabah in 1982 using an Indian passport, said he heard by word of mouth that the government was giving out blue identity cards to foreigners at the Kota Marudu NRD office.

Responding to conducting officer Jamil Aripin, Nasir said in 1988, he and more than a 100 fellow Indian nationals went in lorries to the Kota Marudu NRD office.

Jamil: What made you go to the NRD?
Nasir: I heard that the government was giving out awards (blue ICs)

Jamil: How did you know this?
Nasir: I heard from my friends.

Jamil: What supporting documents did you use?
Nasir: None.

Jamil: Not even a statutory declaration?
Nasir: No.

Jamil: Did you have a birth certificate?
Nasir: No.

Nasir received his blue identity card within two months of his application. His prior documentation was only an Indian passport.
As to whether Nasir's countrymen, with whom he went to apply for the blue identity cards, received theirs or not was not raised.

Nasir said he did not know where the information about the “mass registration” for blue identity card had originated from.

The blue identity card issued to him stated that he was born in Tuaran. It carried a number, with the state code ‘12’, which refers to a local born Sabahan.

He said it was a Kota Marudu NRD officer who decided for him his place of birth.

"When he filled it, he asked me if I was okay with having my birthplace stated as Tuaran. I said okay, because I know the place," Nasir said.

'Voted three times'

He said he registered as a voter in 1990 and has since voted three times, the last time in the parliamentary constituency of Sepanggar.

Nasir now runs a business handling work permits for Indian nationals coming to Sabah.

"There are about 20 employers who are my customers. I handle about two to three work passes for each of them... I charge RM100 per person," he said.

Asked if he was aware that he was being implicated on the Internet for getting blue identity cards for other Indian nationals, Nasir described the allegation as "100 percent defamation".

"I am a member of the Sabah Malaysian Muslim Indian Congress. I made enemies, which is why they are doing this. My business is also affected," he said.

Jamil also grilled Nasir on whether he knew anyone in the Sabah Immigration Department from his handling of the work permits, who could be called to testify, but Nasir insisted that he did not know anybody.
A total of 12 witnesses took the stand today. To date, a total of 49 witnesses have testified since the RCI began the first session of its hearing from Jan 14 to Jan 18.

This second session of hearing, which began yesterday, will conclude on Feb 1.

Sugumaran's family to shun 'sham inquest'

C Sugumaran's family has rejected the proposed inquest into his death, as they have even more reason to believe that police personnel had assaulted him on Jan 23 while he was handcuffed.

“The calling of an inquest despite eyewitness evidence suggesting assault and murder is illogical, sinister and unlawful. We categorically state here, Sugumaran's family will not participate in this sham inquest,” said lawyers Latheefa Koya (right) and N Surendran who are representing the family.

“The rejection of a murder investigation and calling of inquest is part of a massive cover-up of Sugumaran's death being  orchestrated by the police, the Home Ministry, attorney-general and  the government.”

Selangor police chief Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah (left) had called for an inquest and Bukit Aman confirmed yesterday that the AG had approved it.

Three eyewitnesses had their testimony recorded late yesterday at the Petaling Jaya district police station. Latheefa and Eric Paulsen, who is with Lawyers for Liberty, accompanied them.

Latheefa and Surendran claimed that police had made no attempt to locate these witnesses, despite knowing about them.

“The witnesses came forward entirely of their own accord. The testimony given was shocking, and confirms the family's position that Sugumaran was killed by police personnel,” the lawyers said in a joint statement.

“The witnesses said that a police officer was seen stepping brutally on Sugumaran's neck with his booted foot while the security guard was seen trying to move his head away from under the boot. The police officer continued pressing on Sugumaran's neck until he stopped struggling and became motionless.

In light of this, the two asked how the police and AG could justify only holding an inquest.

“We demand on behalf of Sugumaran's family that a murder investigation be opened immediately. The family and the people of this country expect the police and AG to act fairly and professionally and ensure that justice is done in this case,” they said.

‘Police were involved in melee’

Paulsen went to the police station yesterday evening with two eyewitnesses - a 20-year-old man and his 16-year-old nephew, who were interviewed by two officers for three hours.

Latheefa came in later with the other eyewitness.

Paulsen (right) said the two had told police that Sugumaran was on the run when he was apprehended in Hulu Langat. Tumeric powder was smeared on his face and he was handcuffed amidst a struggle.

“The two saw (some) people and the police hitting Sugumaran, while one (police personnel) stepped on his neck,” he said.

“The four police (personnel) did not stop the people in the melee and, when Sugumaran was lying motionless, no medical attention was given.

The two witnesses left the scene shortly afterwards and, when they came back, still did not see any emergency personnel attending to Sugumaran.

If Sugumaran had indeed died of a ‘blockage in the heart’ as the police have claimed, Paulsen asked why no effort had been made to resuscitate him.

'No response' on PSM application to join Pakatan

Targeting the end of federal rule by the BN, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) last year submitted an application to join Pakatan Rakyat, but is yet to get a response.

PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan (right) said the party had verbally informed Pakatan of its decision last June, and followed this up with a formal application three months later.

"Standing with Pakatan to fight BN was our previous stand. But due to requests from the people, we decided to join them," he said.
Arutchelvan added that PSM was open to Pakatan deciding on whether the opposition pact preferred to remain with the current ally relationship or accept PSM as one of its component parties.
However, Pakatan has yet to respond to this, but has promised to discuss the issue at its next leadership council meeting, he told a press conference today, at which PSM also released its manifesto for the coming general election.

Also present were party president Nasir Hashim, deputy president M Sarasvathy and Sungai Siput MP Dr M Jeyakumar Devaraj.

PSM in its manifesto makes it clear that it will support Pakatan candidates in the 13th general election.
Apart from that, the manifesto says PSM is ready to use a common logo with the Pakatan parties, if there is one, in the coming general election.

"PSM endorses Pakatan's manifesto and Buku Jingga. PSM will also retain its own manifesto.

"If the election pact cannot materialise for some reason, PSM will still continue to support Pakatan candidates in all constituencies, except in those that PSM will also be contesting," reads the manifesto.

‘Avoid multi-cornered fights at all costs’

However, Arutchelvan quickly added that the question of multi-cornered fights did not arise as seat negotiations with Pakatan were still going on.

He refused to speculate as to whether there would be any multi-cornered fight if PSM failed get the seats that it wanted.

PSM aims to re-contest the four seats that it battled for in the 2008 general election - the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat in Perak and three state states - Kota Damansara and Semenyih in Selangor and Jelapang in Perak.

It went on to win the Sungai Siput and Kota Damansara seats.

However, the socialist party is apparently at odds with its ally DAP over the Jelapang state seat.

The seat saw a three-cornered fight in the last election, in which the DAP candidate Hee Yit Foong beat the PSM and MCA  candidates. However, Hee quit DAP to become a BN-friendly Independent assemblyperson during the Perak crisis of 2009.

Asked what would happen if PSM failed to get the seat from DAP, Arutchelvan said, “We will seek the opinion from members of the public.”

PSM lists six areas it will struggle for in its manifesto, which is themed “Enough! Reject 56 years of Umno-BN.”

These are:

(1) Job guarantees, reasonable and fair wages;
(2) Free and good quality public education and health systems;
(3) Local council and village committee elections;
(4) Effective and cheap public transport;
(5) Permanent and adequate housing for the lower income group; and
(6) Environmental conservation through sustainable developments that prioritise human well-being and a well-balanced ecosystem.

Uthaya: No reason to rejoice over lifting of ban

Lifting the four-year ban on the Hindu Rights Action Front (Hindraf) offers no cause for celebration because Malaysia’s racist policies still stand, said founding member P Uthayakumar.

The move, he said when contacted, is a mere political gimmick in light of the looming 13th general election.

The government lifted the ban last Saturday - on the eve of Thaipusam - but Uthayakumar noted that it has yet to meet the movement's 18 demands since Aug 12, 2007, and that many Indian Malaysians remain mired in hardcore poverty.

Uthayakumar further said that charges against him - for alleged sedition - and 54 Hindraf activists have yet to be dropped by the public prosecutor.

He said racial discrimination persists against Indian Malaysians in employment, education, business opportunities and entrance to certain professions.

“Many Tamil schools are still in a bad shape as they are not fully aided by the government. Some schools operate out of cargo containers, shophouses or dilapidated buildings,” he said.

“The government has been announcing big plans, about RM500 million-plus allocated in the budget. But how much of this reaches Tamil schools?

“There was one instance when the government announced an allocation of RM100 million, but in the end the money never reached the schools, and the Education Ministry said it was due to high building costs.”

Uthayakumar suggested that the government, rather than make big announcements, proves its commitment by carrying out its promises.

Referring to limited opportunities in business, he said it was difficult for members of the community to obtain trading licences.

He cited the case of a scrap metal dealer in Lembah Pantai who has been trading there since 2000 - the authorities recently seized his pick-up truck and weighing scale because he does not hold a licence.

“That has been a problem for Indian traders, for they are continuously marginalised by the Umno-led government,” said Uthayakumar.

At the same time, the authorities do not act against Malay traders who set up food stalls by the roadside, he claimed.

Backing for BN now?

Gaining admission to study medicine and law in local universities is another area of concern to the community, Uthayakumar said.

Uthayakumar raised the issue of the Certificate in Legal Practice qualification, where the passing rate for Indian Malaysians is only 10 percent. In contrast, Malays have a higher pass rate.

Indian students who want to study medicine must meet various conditions imposed by the government, where they must obtain at least 5Bs in their Maths and Science subjects for them to do foundation studies either, locally or abroad, he said.

Given these constraints, the youth are further displaced from the mainstream of opportunities and are pushed into social problems.

While acknowledging that such remarks may sound racist to some, he insisted that these area true reflection of the prevailing situation.

Asked whether the lifting of the ban would persuade Hindraf supporters to back the BN, Uthayakumar reiterated that the decision was merely a political gimmick.

Members of the community would also not fall for it, he said, as they would look at hard facts, such as the government's commitment in resolving pressing issues.

“There is nothing yet fulfilled by the government that the community can fully rejoice about. Lifting the ban will not alleviate the problems the community faces,” Utahayakumar added.

“This includes the denial of citizenship to some 450,000 stateless Indians. Only a few have been given citizenship.”
'I will not meet the PM'

Uthayakumar said lifting the ban on Hindraf was done without any cost to Umno and BN, and they expected Hindraf to be in gratitude for this.

“There are a more than 46,000 non-governmental organisations registered with the Registrar of Societies, but only Hindraf faces the problem of not being registered. The withdrawal of the ban is at no cost to Umno.

“Similarly with the granting of citizenship, as was done for a 17-year-old girl recently. It did not incur any cost to the BN government.

“However, it has affected the bright future of the girl, for she could not sit for school exams as she was not given a MyKad, despite her parents being born in Malaysia,” he added.

Uthayakumar  reiterated that the lifting of the ban would not translate into votes for the BN as the ruling coalition first had to be committed to fulfilling what Hindraf has been demanding for the last five years.

He also reiterated that he would not meet with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak despite the ban on Hindraf being lifted because the present government had not fulfilled the demands of the Indian community through Hindraf.

"The PM must deliver first and not make empty promises and talk. Only then will I consider whether to meet him," Uthayakumar added.

Lawyer M Manoharan (right) reiterated the call to to the authorities lift the sedition charge filed against Uthayakumar, arguing that the points the Hindraf leader raised were the result of the marginalisation of the minority Indian Malaysian community.

"If the BN government is sincere, lift the charge against Uthayakumar and also on veteran lawyer Karpal Singh, since the Sedition Act is to be repealed," said Manoharan, who is also the DAP assembylperson for Kota Alam Shah.

PSM endorses demands in Hindraf's blueprint

Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) has endorsed the six demands raised by Hindu-rights pressure group Hindraf, in its five-year blueprint for the uplifting of the Indian community in Malaysia.

The blueprint was unveiled by Hindraf at its anniversary celebrations in November last year.

"PSM is against any policy which discriminates based on race. We call for affirmative action to be taken irrespective of race and religion, to uplift the poor and marginalised in the country,"said central committee member Dr D Jeyakumar in a letter dated January 1, addressed to Hindraf chief P Waythamoorthy (left).

The demands raised by Hindraf that the socialist party supports are:

• Upgrade the life and prospects of hundreds of thousands of internally displaced estate workers;
• Resolve the situation of tens of thousands of Indians who remain stateless despite having resided in Malaysia all their lives;
• Stop the denial of adequate and equal educational opportunities;
• Stop unequal employment and business opportunities;
• The impunity of the police should be done away with;
• Enforce human rights.

PSM also endorsed Hindraf's call for a Ministry of Minority Affairs to address ingrained inequities afflicted upon Malaysia's minorities which the party believe will not just go away even if the opposition comes to power.

"We agree with Hindraf that institutional racism exists in our society and that it needs to be identified and addressed in a conscious and concerted fashion. Institutionalised racism will not disappear just because there is a change in government," continued Jeyakumar in the letter.

Hindraf had openly said that it would put its support on the market for any political party willing to endorse its blueprint.

Pakatan Rakyat had already expressed tacit support of the Hindraf demands but stopped short of a full endorsement.

The current administration which recently overturned its decision to declare Hindraf illegal, is also being sought by the group, although there is no response as yet from Premier Najib Abdul Razak to Waythamoorthy's request to meet with him on the matter.

50 protest to seek justice for Sugumaran

Afghan farmer beheaded with a PENKNIFE after refusing to let drug lords take his daughter and sell her as a sex slave

• Afghan opium farmers fall into debt to gangs when their crops are destroyed
• The smugglers take family members as collateral for unpaid debts
• Girls as young as 10 are sent abroad to become sex slaves and drug mules

Opium gangs in Afghanistan are using the sons and daughters of farmers as collateral for unpaid debts - with horrendous consequences for those who refuse.

A documentary has exposed the stomach-churning reality facing the war-torn nation's farmers, who borrow money from drug lords to set up cultivation of opium, used to make heroin, but are left destitute when NATO-backed Afghan forces destroy their crops.

The drug lords then take their children, including girls as young as 10, to places like Pakistan and Iran to sell them into the sex trade or use them as drug mules.

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO

Horrific: This little girl faces being handed over to an Afghan drug gang to secure the father's safe return. Her mother has no choice but to agree to the drug smugglers' demands

This girl escaped her captors. She said escape her captors. She said: 'They wouldn't allow me to change my clothes. They did every possible cruelty to me'

The makers of Opium Brides, a film made as part of American broadcaster PBS' investigative documentary series Frontline, obtained footage of one farmer being slowly beheaded with a penknife.

He had refused to hand over his daughter to the gang.

'It just seemed too awful to be true,' producer Jamie Doran, who made the film with Afghan investigative reporter Najibullah Quraishi, told CNN.

'There was one poor farmer who couldn't pay the traffickers back and refused to give his daughter away.

'And we actually have the entire film of him being beheaded with a penknife. That's what they do if you refuse to hand over your daughters.'

The film also features an interview with a little girl, aged around six, who faces being handed over to the drug runners in exchange for her father, who was captured after he could not pay up.

She said: 'The smugglers will take me by force and my mother can't stop them.'

Her father's captors sent a film of him blindfolded and in the dark. In it the father is seen to say: 'This is a really bad place. I beg you, give them whatever they want.

Shocking: Producer Jamie Doran, left, and Afghan reporter Najibullah Quraishi describe their harrowing film

The pair told CNN's Christiane Amanpour about their horrific encounters and of the tragic victims at the mercy of Afghan drug lords

'Give it to them.'

The mother, who can't even look at her daughter, is also interviewed.

'I have to give them my daughter to release my husband,' she states, flatly.

The filmmakers believe there are many hundreds, if not thousands of girls on the run from the traffickers.

And the problem will only get worse when NATO forces leave Afghanistan in 2014, Mr Quraishi said.

Mr Doran added: 'I don't know if there's a solution because the world demands poppy cultivation for its heroin addiction.

'So you know, maybe the blame shouldn't just be put onto the Afghan government. Maybe we should be looking inside ourselves a little more.'

Afghan anti-narcotics personnel destroy poppies in the district of Shindand. But their efforts to eliminate the trade put the farmers at the mercy of drug runners

An Afghan policeman stands guard as an eight ton pile of opium, heroin and hashish is incinerated in Kabul in 2004

Worry about your own minorities, India tells Pak

New Delhi: Pakistan should worry about minorities in its own country, India’s Information Minister Manish Tewari and Home Secretary RK Singh said on Monday in response to Pakistan minister Rehman Malik’s statement that New Delhi should provide security to actor Shah Rukh Khan.

Both Tewari and RK Singh spoke in near identical terms to decry Pakistani interior minister’s statement in Islamabad on the Bollywood star, who found himself in the thick of another controversy after his comments on being a Muslim led to Jamaat-ud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed saying he could move to Pakistan.

“Instead of introspection of how minorities in India are being treated, he (Malik) should contemplate how he can improve condition of minority in his country,” Tewari told reporters here.

He said it would be better for Pakistan if Malik paid attention to domestic matters of his own country rather than worry about such things.

“Test of democracy is the way you treat your minority rather than majority. The UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government has strived to see every citizen in the same light and given equal right under the constitution,” he said.

The home secretary spoke out too. “We are quite capable of looking after security of our own citizens… let him (Malik) worry about security of his own,” he said.

The 47-year-old actor had written in Outlook Turning Points magazine, published in association with The New York Times: “I sometimes become the inadvertent object of political leaders who choose to make me a symbol of all that they think is wrong and unpatriotic about Muslims in India.”

“There have been occasions when I have been accused of bearing allegiance to our neighbouring nation rather than my own country – this even though I am an Indian, whose father fought for the freedom of India. Rallies have been held where leaders have exhorted me to leave and return what they refer to my original homeland,” added the superstar of Hindi cinema.

He went on say that he became so sick of being mistaken for some crazed terrorist, “who co-incidentally carries the same name as mine that I made a film subtly titled ‘My Name Is Khan’ (and I am not a terrorist) to prove a point”.

“Ironically, I was interrogated at the airport for hours about my last name when I was going to promote the film in America for the first time,” said the filmstar.

Negri prince confirms DAP courted him, says had ‘private conversations’

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 — The son of the Negri Sembilan Yang di-Pertuan Besar confirmed today that he had been courted by the DAP to be an election candidate, but he said “it is unfortunate that private conservations had been made public.”

Tunku Zain Al-’Abidin ibni Tuanku Muhriz (picture) said there was nothing wrong with members of royalty taking part in politics, although he had not found a political party he wanted to be a member of.

Last Saturday, the DAP’s former vice-president Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim claimed that the party’s national organising secretary Anthony Loke had asked him to persuade Tunku Abidin to contest in a state seat.

Loke, who is also the party’s Negri Sembilan chief, had on Sunday reportedly criticised Tunku Abdul Aziz over his allegations.

“I deeply regret his actions. That matter was stated in an informal and closed (-door) meeting, it should be personal in nature. So why the need to hebah-hebahkan (spread it)?

“He should respect the individual’s privacy because the one that was linked is not an ordinary person, but (bangsawan) aristocrat,” he was quoted as saying by Sinar Harian Online.

Tunku Abidin confirmed today that he had an “informal conversation” with the DAP some months ago, before saying that he was invited to talk with other political parties too.

“It should be noted that I have been invited to similar informal and private conversations with representatives of other political parties as well.”

He also said: “It is unfortunate that private discussions have been made public. Political parties should be able to freely engage any Malaysian citizen to discuss confidential proposals within the boundaries of the law.”

The Ruler’s son, more popularly known as Tunku Abidin Muhriz, said that no political parties had attracted him as they did not articulate the vision of the country’s founder with enough consistency.

“In my view, no political party today articulates the vision of our Ayahanda Kemerdekaan (Father of Independence) with sufficient conviction and consistency for me to consider joining them,” he wrote in a six-paragraph statement (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/response-to-statements-by-tunku-aziz-and-anthony-loke-tunku-zain-al-abidin-tuanku-muhriz/).

In response to claims that “it is improper for a child of a Ruler to participate in party politics”, he listed five members of the royalty who had previously held positions as members of Parliament, state assemblymen and ministers.

Tunku Abidin said he has been active in the country’s civil society space even before his father was elected to be the eleventh Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan.

He said he would want to continue contributing to the country through the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) think-tank which was founded by him and other foundations.

Zaid Ibrahim quits politics

The former law minister who was banking on contesting in 'any urban seat' provided he had Pakatan’s support will be focusing on business instead.

PETALING JAYA: Former minister and ex-Kita chief Zaid Ibrahim has quit politics and entered the corporate sector in a bid to “try something else”.

“Yes, I am quitting politics to concentrate on business. But I will continue to write, I will continue to give ideas and suggestions on politics,” Zaid told FMT today.

It was only last November that the lawyer-turned-politician had told reporters he would contest in any urban seat in the 13th general election, provided he had opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat’s
backing.

But when asked today whether he would continue to support Pakatan or turn to Barisan Nasional instead, he replied: “I will support whoever does right for the country.

“If you do the right thing, I will support, no matter which side you are from.”

Zaid’s abrupt departure from politics comes in the wake of his S$6.9 million (RM17.15 million) purchase of 350 million shares from Singapore-based Ipco International.

The Straits Times reported today that Zaid’s purchase will give him a 7% stake in Ipco, which has a diversified portfolio of investments.

Ipco had said that Zaid “is well-connected in Malaysia and in the region and the company can leverage his extensive connections… and knowledge in the oil and gas industry in order to grow its own oil and gas business” the Straits Times reported.

Commenting on this, Zaid said: “[The investment is] just a start, to see how things are. I am trying something else besides politics, so we’ll see how far it goes.”

When asked whether he would venture into further business, the former PKR member chuckled and said: “One step at a time.”

Zaid was a member of Umno and the de facto law minister before he was sacked for attending Pakatan events and assemblies in 2009.

He joined PKR soon after, but quit a year later, citing loss of confidence in the party’s leadership in its handling of the 2010 internal elections.

In 2011 he founded his own party, Kita, but resigned as its chief in November, citing health reasons.

MyWatch chief: Cop threatened to shoot me

MyWatch chairman R Sri Sanjeevan was on undercover at several illegal gambling outlets in Jelebu when a policeman called him up and threatened to shoot him if he didn’t leave.

PETALING JAYA: A policeman from the Jelebu police headquarters allegedly threatened to shoot the chairman of anti-crime watchdog MyWatch early this morning, minutes after he informed Bukit Aman of illegal gambling outlets operating in the area.

R Sri Sanjeevan told FMT he had been staking out the illegal gambling outlets in Simpang Pertang alone, waiting for the district police to act on his tip off, when he received a threatening call at 3.43am from a Malay man.

According to Sanjeevan’s police report, the man had demanded in Malay: “who are you, are you drunk, why did you call Bukit Aman, do you think we don’t know what we are doing? I want you to leave that area or I will go there and arrest you or shoot you.”

When Sanjeevan asked who the man was, he allegedly replied: “I am a police officer from IPD Jelebu! If you have the guts, come to IPD Jelebu now!”

Sanjeevan said he immediately called Bukit Aman and was told that the information would be passed on to the Negeri Sembilan contingent police headquarters.

But no response came and Sanjeevan lodged a police report at 4.55am at the Jelebu district police headquarters over the matter.

“The investigating officer confirmed that the number [from the death threat] belongs to IPD Jelebu,” Sanjeevan told FMT.

“So they are narrowing it down and will charge the perpetrator for criminal intimidation. I doubt the case will stick, but the public needs to know that police give death threats as well.”

Sanjeevan said he was certain the man who issued the death threat was a police officer intent on protecting the illegal gambling outlets there, which he said had been operating for two years.

“It was just a four minute difference [from when I informed the police about the outlets]. Within four minutes, I get a threatening call. So who do you think it is?”

Police protecting illegal gambling outlets

Sanjeevan explained that he had gone undercover at 2.50am as a customer of the outlets based on information he received from a source.

“I have been getting complaints too often [over the illegal gambling outlets and] have relayed it to police but they failed so I went down personally,” he told FMT.

“Too many families getting ruined because of this gambling here and too many fights here too,” he said

But Sanjeevan said that despite calling Bukit Aman and the Negeri Sembilan police contingent headquarters multiple times as he staked out the area for over an hour, all he received in return was a death threat.

“I called Bukit Aman first because I thought if the order comes from there, they would act faster. From there, the order would go to the Contingent Control Centre, then to the District Control Centre,” explained Sanjeevan.

But just as he was about to leave the area at 4.15 am to lodge a report over the death threat, he said he spotted three policemen at the entrance of the illegal gambling outlets, smoking and speaking to the staff there.

“They didn’t bother to act or arrest anyone there. I noticed [a] total [of] 15 shops operating as illegal gambling outlets entrance at the back lane,” Sanjeevan had written in his police report.

He told FMT that there was no reason for the police to hesitate in raiding the area or even wait to gather further information as the outlets were clearly operating illegally.

“I urge the Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar to investigate this matter and I strongly believe officers in IPD Jelebu are protecting the illegal gambling outlets here by not taking action against them,” he said.

Gangnam style at Thaipusam

A kavadi bearer and his friends berated for making a mockery of the festival by fulfilling a vow to the beat of South Korean pop star's mega hit.
VIDEO INSIDE

PETALING JAYA: Thousands of netizens are up in arms over a video clip showing a kavadi bearer and a group of his friends dancing to South Korean pop star Psy’s Oppa Gangnam Style.

The embarrassing 46-second video clip uploaded on YouTube has registered close to 6,000 hits since it was uploaded on Saturday, with angry viewers expressing their disapproval.

The clip titled, “2013 Penang Thaipusam goes Gangnam Style”, is believed to be taken in Penang. It shows a kavadi bearer and four Indian youths dancing to the pop song.

There’s even a little boy who appears mid-way in the clip mimicking the moves of the Korean pop star whose song recently passed one billion YouTube views.

One commenter, Clue Less, said: “This is why other races always condemn us. When it’s about a prayer, just pray. Is this a must? It makes sense if it is a devotional song. Why Gangnam?

“Sadly, we refuse to accept the truth when other races say it and start to bark at them. Think people. We create the opportunity for them to run us down. Think.”

Another YouTube account holder Thinagaran Hari Raja said that the video clip was really hurting. He added that the Indian culture and religion is degrading at a very fast pace.

Most of the commentators were of the view that there is a dire lack of religious education.

“How many of us know what the Thaipusam festival is all about and how to celebrate it correctly?” asked one OM Tamil.

The Malaysia Hindu Sangam (MHS) said that it does not condone anyone trivialising a religious festival.

Its president, RS Mohan Shan, said he was not aware of the video clip but nevertheless added that the incident is really shameful to the Indian community.

“The current generation does not understand the essence of religion. Some come to Thaipusam festivals only for fun and to make merry in an improper manner,” he said.

“Due to ignorance, our culture is deteriorating and we must rectify it before it gets worse. Let us watch the video first, before we consider any action,” added Mohan.

Blame Hindu Sangam

In another development, the Malaysian Indian Progressive Association (MIPAS) condemned Hindu Sangam for not doing enough to educate the Indian youths on religious matters.

MIPAS secretary S Barathisadan claimed that Hindu Sangam should have assumed such a responsibility and to stop blaming the youths for their immoral activities.

He also said that Hindu Sangam had previously remained silent when a local Indian drama with its title themed on Gangam Style was aired during Ponggal recently.

“Why should we blame the youths (over the Gangam Style kavadi) when Astro had aired a local drama with the title ‘Ponggal Gangnam Style’ ?” he asked.

“Anyhow we should accept that it is not right to do the Gangnam dance for kavadis. But, Hindu Sangam should be blamed for their inaction and they must start educating our youths’,” said Barathidasan.

Sabah RCI witnesses at odds over testimony

Badaruddin Ismail, a former Bukit Aman special branch officer who had interviewed former Sabah National Registration Department (NRD) director Ramli Kamarudin during the crackdown on Ops Durian Buruk, has claimed that the latter had admitted to acting on his own.

This is contrary to what Ramli, supposedly the prime mover of the operation, had told the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on immigrants in Sabah at its first session on Jan 16.

Badaruddin, now attached to the Special Branch in Kelantan, claimed that Ramli - during interviews while under detention - had said his actions were for financial gain.

"He and his men issued about 16,000 identity card receipts... each was (worth) RM250, so they made more than a million ringgit in profit," he told the RCI panel in Kota Kinabalu today.

Badaruddin said Ramli had personally issued 2,000 of the receipts while the remainder were issued by his officers.

The identity card receipt is an interim document given prior to the issuance of a blue identity card, but is accepted by the Election Commission as identification to qualify for voting.

Ops Durian Buruk allegedly involved NRD officers issuing identity card receipts to immigrants, using the particulars of voters in the electoral roll who were dead or had never voted before.

This effectively created ‘phantom’ voters, where immigrants voted in place of genuine citizens.

Ramli, when testifying, had claimed that he had only initiated the operation after receiving instructions from then Deputy Home Minister Megat Junid Megat Ayub (left) ahead of the 1994 state election.

When conducting officer Manoj Kurup asked Badaruddin about this, the latter replied: "When I questioned him, he said no one gave him instructions, it was for his personal gain."

Pressed if this means that Ramli had lied to the commission, he replied: "Not sure".

Ramli had also said the receipts were only good for voting and nothing else.

He had explained that, because the receipt was issued to immigrants but in the name and identity card of citizens, it could not be converted into blue identity cards. Furthermore, the receipt had a three-month expiry date.

It was not explained as to why immigrants would pay RM250 just to be able to vote, but neither the conducting officers nor lawyers holding a watching brief pressed this issue.

Backing for ‘lone wolf’ theory

Also taking the stand today was Sarawak special branch chief Ibrahim Zakaria who had interviewed Ramli's predecessor Abdul Rauf Sani, who was responsible for ‘Operation G17'.

Then a Bukit Aman special branch officer, Ibrahim had interviewed Abdul Rauf in 1996 while the latter had been detained under the Internal Security Act.

Ibrahim said he had interviewed another NRD officer and a civilian, who had also been held under the ISA, but could not recall their names.

"From interviews, what I can gather (was that) it was more of gaining profit," he told the RCI panel.

On Jan 17, Abdul Rauf had testified to the commission along the same lines.

‘Operation G17', which took place at the beginning of 1990, involved issuing blue identity cards to immigrants, whether or not they were eligible. This was seen as a bid to alter the demographics in Sabah to influence the outcome of elections.

Questioned by lawyer James Ghani, who asked if Abdul Rauf had received instructions from political masters, Ibrahim replied: "He acted on his own".

Even when questioned further, Ibrahim stood firm that Abdul Rauf had not received any instructions and had only acted for money.

He said Abdul Rauf had illegally issued 6,305 blue identity cards and received RM167,300 for this.

NRD made Indian national a citizen using false SD

An Indian national obtained Malaysian citizenship from the Sabah National Registration Department (NRD) by simply using a false statutory declaration, the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into Sabah immigrants was told today.

Nur Mohd Ibrahim, who hails from Tamil Nadu, India, said he entered Sabah in 1981 and soon after applied for a blue identity card on the urging of Filipino colleagues at a restaurant where he worked.

However, his first application using a false SD was rejected.

In 1983, he tried his luck again, using the same method, and was granted a blue identity card in 1987. This was merely six years after he had set foot on Malaysian soil.

The SD stated that Nur Mohd was born in Kinarut, Papar.

Nur Mohd told the RCI that he registered as a voter in 1991 - eight years after he became citizen. According to him, he has voted four times in the state seat of Likas.

In 2001, the Election Court had ruled that former Sabah chief minister Yong Teck Lee's (left) victory in Likas null and void due to the prevalence of illegal immigrants on the electoral roll.

Yong had won the seat at the Sabah 1999 state election and the results was challenged by two defeated candidates.

Then High Court judge Muhammad Kamil Awang, who revealed he was pressured by his superiors to dismiss the application, said in his judgment: "The instances of non-citizens and phantom voters in the electoral roll as disclosed in this trial may be the tip of the iceberg.

"It could not be denied that the registration of voters in the Likas electoral roll was in contravention of the law. No one including the government department is above the law."

‘Sabah chief minister is ... Mahathir’

Nur Mohd said the SD he used had been drafted by a commissioner of oaths in Kepayan and his Filipino friends taught him to list a place in Sabah as a his birth place.

"Even though I got my blue identity card, I was scared to use it because I was not sure if it was valid or not until I registered as a voter in 1991," he said.

Queried by conducting officer Jamil Aripin if he knew this was tantamount to cheating the NRD, Nur Mohd remained silent.

He then proceeded to test the witness' knowledge of Malaysia, and Nur Mohd managed to name the three most recent prime ministers without trouble.

However, when asked who the chief minister of Sabah is, he replied: "Mahathir" before withdrawing his statement as he invited giggles around the room.

It is unclear if Nur Mohd's identity card was part of any illegal operation but the NRD rules were relaxed in the 1980s to accept SDs as identification documents in applications for blue identity cards.

This rule was abolished in 1987, and since then, only birth certificates have been accepted.