Friday 15 February 2013
Seats demand behind the Hindraf-Pakatan impasse
One has to examine his remarks, as reported by Malaysiakini, in some depth before coming to the critical bit - nicely couched in circumlocution - which has had the similar effect of a bone stuck in Pakatan's proverbial throat.
After
lamenting the "inordinate delay" by Pakatan in endorsing the Hindraf
blueprint for the Indian poor, Ramesh lets on that there is also the
matter of an "electoral pact with Hindraf" that is also awaiting
Pakatan's concurrence.Hitherto, no details about the pact have been shed in the public domain by either party in regards to the talks.
These have not had the publicity that details of the Hindraf blueprint for the Indian poor which were received in the public arena.
No
doubt, the need for discretion must have been the motive behind both
parties' silence on the pact's ingredients, but given the salience of
this aspect of the talks and their potential for engendering deadlock,
the quiescence has been extraordinary.Hindraf has demanded of Pakatan, as a condition for their support of the opposition coalition in the 13th general election, that the movement be given the right to contest for seven parliamentary and 10 state seats.
The parliamentary seats that the Hindu rights movement has asked for are Telok Kemang, Tapah, Kapar, Padang Serai (all PKR), Cameron Highlands, Segamat and Batu Kawan (all DAP).
Whereas, the state seats asked for are Bukit Melawati, Seri Andalas, Seri Setia, Jeram Padang, Port Dickson, Bukit Selambau (all PKR), Buntong, Prai, Tanah Rata and Ulu Tiram (all DAP).
In effect, Hindraf is asking Pakatan components, PKR and DAP, to hand them on a silver platter their incumbencies (where relevant) of these seats and (where it applies) cede the groundwork done over the last five years in seats where PKR and DAP have been working to win over from BN.
Hindraf deals a shocking blow to Pakatan
Pakatan were stunned by these demands made by Hindraf when both sides got down to brass tacks after the latter's leader, P Waythamoorthy, met with Pakatan supremo Anwar Ibrahim early last November.
Waythamoorthy (left),
in contrast to his brother P Uthayakumar - who was always interested in
the acquisition of parliamentary clout - had given the impression that
as a social movement, Hindraf was more interested in fighting for its
agenda for the Indian poor than in political representation.So when talks began after Waythamoorthy's meeting with Anwar was done with, and Pakatan were apprised of the demand for seven parliamentary and 10 state seats by Hindraf, they were treated to a rude surprise.
On the demand for the seats itself, the talks were effectively dead in the water.
Pakatan, whose principal interlocutor for the talks with Hindraf was PKR, could neither privately acquiesce to Hindraf's seat demands, nor publicly announce that the talks had reached a stalemate.
Meanwhile, the Home Ministry's announcement in January about the lifting of the five-year-ban on Hindraf, no doubt had the effect of emboldening Hindraf in their negotiating stance vis-à-vis Pakatan.
Furthermore, the suggestion by de facto law minister Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz (left) that Hindraf could engage with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak on Indian issues gave the movement added leverage.Now with Hindraf secretary Ramesh serving notice to Pakatan that the latter is being "inordinately" tardy in conceding the movement's demands, the stage is set for an engagement between Najib and Hindraf.
This is the ineluctable option of a movement that, from the start, has always taken a quasi-separatist position on the whole issue of the Indian poor - the hawking of their wares to the highest bidder among the competing parties in the political arena.
It's a poor position to take, because it prioritises expedience above principle and sectarian interests over national ones.
TERENCE NETTO has been a journalist for four decades. He likes the occupation because it puts him in contact with the eminent without being under the necessity to admire them.
Najib pressured Thai PM to stop Pornthip, claims PKR
PKR is claiming that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had a hand in
preventing Thai forensic expert Dr Pornthip Rojanasunan from performing
the second autopsy on alleged police brutality victim C Sugumar.
"Najib
had communicated with the Thai PM (Yingluck Shinawatra) regarding the
second autopsy on Sugumar," alleged party vice-president N Surendran at a
press conference in Petaling Jaya today.
"As a result of the communication, the Thai government decided that Pornthip (left) should not perform the autopsy in order not to undermine the relationship between the two countries."
The Thai expert had earlier agreed to conduct the second forensic examination of Sugumar’s body after family members arranged for her involvement following their request to re-examine the body of the deceased, citing mistrust of the first autopsy.
However yesterday, she suddenly told them that she cannot be involved in the matter because of unspecified “personal reasons”.
Surendren, who is also on the legal team representing the victim’s family, said that the information on the allegations behind her withdrawal was made available to them in writing recently.
"We have been given these facts by an impeccable source and we have complete confidence in the veracity of the information," he claimed.
If true, said Surendren, the allegations point to a “behaviour of the worst and lowest kind” from Malaysia’s highest leadership.
Pressed further about the identity of their source and whether they have documentary evidence of the serious claim, Surendren declined to divulge details, but reiterated that they have it all in writing and it is a document that they are prepared to adduce in a court of law.
Asked if Pornthip had received official orders from the Thai Justice Ministry which employs her not to be involved in the matter, Surendran said that the doctor is the best person to answer that question.
Malaysiakini has sent an email inquiry to Dr Pornthip and is awaiting her response on the matter.
Subang PKR MP R Sivarasa, who was also at the press conference and on the legal team for Sugumar’s family, added that if true, Najib’s actions smack of duplicity by appearing to offer “a false impression” to the parents and the Indian community with his dramatic request for the forensic report to be fast-tracked and sent to him personally.
While on the other hand, the PM then apparently went out of his way to apply diplomatic pressure on the PM of a foreign country to hamper ongoing attempts to get to the truth of the matter.
“We have two demands to the PM, first reveal the real reason behind Pornthip’s withdrawal and secondly write to the Thai PM to remove his objection on her involvement,” said the lawyer.
‘Family taken for a ride’
Also present were Sugumar’s mother, uncle and cousin.
His uncle, A Kuppusamy, decried the apparent duplicity by Najib and the way which he believes that the family has been taken for a ride.
“We thought the government will treat us fairly, but they deceive us. As if they have something to hide.
“You cannot give us back a life, but we want justice,” concluded Kuppusamy.
He lamented that funeral rites for Sugumar have yet to be held despite his death over 21 days ago, pending the second autopsy.
According to the Hindu practice, a deceased body must be given the religious rites 16 days after his or her death, and the final rites after 30 days.
Sugumar was found dead last month after he was apprehended by police and locals after allegedly going on a rampage in Klang.
Police claimed that he died of a heart attack, though witnesses and family members blame the beating he allegedly took at the hands of police and others who participated in his arrest.
"Najib
had communicated with the Thai PM (Yingluck Shinawatra) regarding the
second autopsy on Sugumar," alleged party vice-president N Surendran at a
press conference in Petaling Jaya today."As a result of the communication, the Thai government decided that Pornthip (left) should not perform the autopsy in order not to undermine the relationship between the two countries."
The Thai expert had earlier agreed to conduct the second forensic examination of Sugumar’s body after family members arranged for her involvement following their request to re-examine the body of the deceased, citing mistrust of the first autopsy.
However yesterday, she suddenly told them that she cannot be involved in the matter because of unspecified “personal reasons”.
Surendren, who is also on the legal team representing the victim’s family, said that the information on the allegations behind her withdrawal was made available to them in writing recently.
"We have been given these facts by an impeccable source and we have complete confidence in the veracity of the information," he claimed.
If true, said Surendren, the allegations point to a “behaviour of the worst and lowest kind” from Malaysia’s highest leadership.
Pressed further about the identity of their source and whether they have documentary evidence of the serious claim, Surendren declined to divulge details, but reiterated that they have it all in writing and it is a document that they are prepared to adduce in a court of law.
Asked if Pornthip had received official orders from the Thai Justice Ministry which employs her not to be involved in the matter, Surendran said that the doctor is the best person to answer that question.
Malaysiakini has sent an email inquiry to Dr Pornthip and is awaiting her response on the matter.
Subang PKR MP R Sivarasa, who was also at the press conference and on the legal team for Sugumar’s family, added that if true, Najib’s actions smack of duplicity by appearing to offer “a false impression” to the parents and the Indian community with his dramatic request for the forensic report to be fast-tracked and sent to him personally.
While on the other hand, the PM then apparently went out of his way to apply diplomatic pressure on the PM of a foreign country to hamper ongoing attempts to get to the truth of the matter.
“We have two demands to the PM, first reveal the real reason behind Pornthip’s withdrawal and secondly write to the Thai PM to remove his objection on her involvement,” said the lawyer.
‘Family taken for a ride’
Also present were Sugumar’s mother, uncle and cousin.
His uncle, A Kuppusamy, decried the apparent duplicity by Najib and the way which he believes that the family has been taken for a ride.
“We thought the government will treat us fairly, but they deceive us. As if they have something to hide.
“You cannot give us back a life, but we want justice,” concluded Kuppusamy.
He lamented that funeral rites for Sugumar have yet to be held despite his death over 21 days ago, pending the second autopsy.
According to the Hindu practice, a deceased body must be given the religious rites 16 days after his or her death, and the final rites after 30 days.
Sugumar was found dead last month after he was apprehended by police and locals after allegedly going on a rampage in Klang.
Police claimed that he died of a heart attack, though witnesses and family members blame the beating he allegedly took at the hands of police and others who participated in his arrest.
Indonesian Police Turn Up the Heat on Immoral Behavior in Pre-Valentine's Day Raids
Couples across Indonesia had their pre-Valentine’s Day plans interrupted on Wednesday as police and public order officers raided parks, hotel rooms and cemeteries in a campaign against immoral activity.
Late-night lovers were sent scrambling for their motorbikes in Bogor, West Java, after the local Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) raided eight parks, according to reports on Okezone.com. The couples were charged with disturbing public order and causing societal unrest before they were taken to the Bogor social agency for education, Bogor Satpol PP chief Hendi Iskandar said.
The teens were released to their parents’ custody.
“Some were sent back to their parents,” Hendi told Sindonews.com. “The rest were taken to a rehabilitation house.”
Officers also arrested several prostitutes in the raids, he added.
In Bojonegoro, East Java, police raided every hotel room in the city, arresting eight couples accused of adultery, according to Bharatanews.com. The officers reportedly barged in on the couples as they were engaged in “amorous encounters.”
A 25-year-old prison warden was arrested and charged with committing adultery with a 19-year-old woman in a rented house. A civil servant was also nabbed in the raid when police caught the 37-year-old with a woman in a hotel room. He allegedly told police the woman was his sister, but they didn’t believe him.
The couples were taken to the police station and ordered to write a statement promising they wouldn’t do it again.
Adultery is illegal under Article 284 of the Criminal Code and is punishable by a maximum of nine months in jail.
In Kendiri, East Java, the military joined the police and Satpol PP on the raids, scouring a Chinese cemetery, a sports center and the hillside for amorous couples, according to reports on Inilah.com.
“There is also a new place for late-night trysts,” the Kendiri Satpol PP’s Djati Utomo explained. “The Sumber Jiput {water resevior] in the Ngronggo urban ward.”
Late-night lovers were sent scrambling for their motorbikes in Bogor, West Java, after the local Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) raided eight parks, according to reports on Okezone.com. The couples were charged with disturbing public order and causing societal unrest before they were taken to the Bogor social agency for education, Bogor Satpol PP chief Hendi Iskandar said.
The teens were released to their parents’ custody.
“Some were sent back to their parents,” Hendi told Sindonews.com. “The rest were taken to a rehabilitation house.”
Officers also arrested several prostitutes in the raids, he added.
In Bojonegoro, East Java, police raided every hotel room in the city, arresting eight couples accused of adultery, according to Bharatanews.com. The officers reportedly barged in on the couples as they were engaged in “amorous encounters.”
A 25-year-old prison warden was arrested and charged with committing adultery with a 19-year-old woman in a rented house. A civil servant was also nabbed in the raid when police caught the 37-year-old with a woman in a hotel room. He allegedly told police the woman was his sister, but they didn’t believe him.
The couples were taken to the police station and ordered to write a statement promising they wouldn’t do it again.
Adultery is illegal under Article 284 of the Criminal Code and is punishable by a maximum of nine months in jail.
In Kendiri, East Java, the military joined the police and Satpol PP on the raids, scouring a Chinese cemetery, a sports center and the hillside for amorous couples, according to reports on Inilah.com.
“There is also a new place for late-night trysts,” the Kendiri Satpol PP’s Djati Utomo explained. “The Sumber Jiput {water resevior] in the Ngronggo urban ward.”
Two More Churches Hit in Makassar Molotov Cocktail Attacks
Police in Makassar, South Sulawesi, are standing guard outside churches after would-be arsonists hit two more churches in a second wave of attacks early Thursday morning.
Unknown assailants hurled homemade molotov cocktails at the South Sulawesi Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) and the Toraja Klassis Makassar Church Panakkukang Congregation in a pair of coordinated 4 a.m. attacks. Both churches suffered fire damage in the attempted firebombings, police said.
Witnesses quickly worked to extinguish the flames, but were unable to get a clear look at the perpetrators, South Sulawesi Police Spokesman Snr. Comr. Endi Sutendi said.
Investigators were gathering evidence at both locations Thursday morning. The pieces of a shattered bottle of Bintang beer police said was used in the attack was recovered at the Toraja Klassis Church. A similar bottle was found at the Indonesian Christian Church, police said.
Thursday’s attempted church burnings were the second such attack in the past week. Police are now on high alert as officers search for those behind the attacks.
“We will guard all the churches in Makassar,” South Sulawesi Police Chief Insp. Gen. Mudji Waluyo told the Jakarta Globe. “There are at least two officers from Sabhara [the police public order unit] openly guarding each church while another keeps a discreet eye on it. We will also install CCTV at each church.”
Mudji said police will not tolerate such attacks.
Police believe this second wave of attempted church burnings are related to last week’s attacks. National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said the attacks were likely meant to stir religious controversy in South Sulawesi. Investigators didn’t find any evidence linking the attacks to known terrorist groups operating in either Poso or South Sulawesi.
Unknown assailants hurled homemade molotov cocktails at the South Sulawesi Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) and the Toraja Klassis Makassar Church Panakkukang Congregation in a pair of coordinated 4 a.m. attacks. Both churches suffered fire damage in the attempted firebombings, police said.
Witnesses quickly worked to extinguish the flames, but were unable to get a clear look at the perpetrators, South Sulawesi Police Spokesman Snr. Comr. Endi Sutendi said.
Investigators were gathering evidence at both locations Thursday morning. The pieces of a shattered bottle of Bintang beer police said was used in the attack was recovered at the Toraja Klassis Church. A similar bottle was found at the Indonesian Christian Church, police said.
Thursday’s attempted church burnings were the second such attack in the past week. Police are now on high alert as officers search for those behind the attacks.
“We will guard all the churches in Makassar,” South Sulawesi Police Chief Insp. Gen. Mudji Waluyo told the Jakarta Globe. “There are at least two officers from Sabhara [the police public order unit] openly guarding each church while another keeps a discreet eye on it. We will also install CCTV at each church.”
Mudji said police will not tolerate such attacks.
Police believe this second wave of attempted church burnings are related to last week’s attacks. National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said the attacks were likely meant to stir religious controversy in South Sulawesi. Investigators didn’t find any evidence linking the attacks to known terrorist groups operating in either Poso or South Sulawesi.
Malaysia, Philippines have differing versions of border standoff
Members
of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) walk past a checkpoint sign
inside their camp in the township of Sultan Kudarat, southern
Philippines. — Reuters pic
The standoff in Malaysia's eastern Sabah state on Borneo island threatened to stir tension between the Southeast Asian neighbours whose ties have been periodically frayed by security and migration problems caused by a porous sea border.
"Our firepower is more than enough to arrest them but the government has chosen to negotiate with them so they leave peacefully to return to the south of the Philippines," Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, on a visit to Sabah ahead of national elections, was quoted as saying by state-run Bernama news agency.
Malaysian police said in a statement the situation was under control, but did not say whether the men had agreed with a request to surrender.
A high-ranking Malaysian government source with direct knowledge of the situation told Reuters the gunmen were suspected to be from a faction unhappy with the Philippines' recent peace deal with the main Muslim rebel group.
Raul Hernandez, a spokesman for the Philippine Foreign Ministry, said his government was trying to get information about the incident and was in touch with Malaysian officials.
A senior Philippine military official said navy boats and an aircraft had been sent to the border area. He dismissed the Malaysian account of the group, saying they were unarmed Filipinos who had been promised land in Sabah.
He said a meeting over the land claim had attracted a large crowd and drawn the attention of Malaysian authorities.
"We know that these people arrived there five days ago and most of them are from nearby islands," said the official, who asked not to be identified.
"Some of them were already residents in Sabah for a long time and they normally cross the border without any problem."
Another Philippine military officer said the men were followers of the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu - an island group off the southern Philippines - who had been invited to Sabah by a Malaysian opposition politician to discuss land issues.
Malaysia pays a token amount to the Sultanate each year for the "rental" of Sabah state - an arrangement that stretches back to British colonial times.
The number of illegal Muslim immigrants from the impoverished southern Philippines has surged in recent decades, stirring social tension with indigenous Christian inhabitants in Sabah.
The Philippine government signed a landmark peace deal with Muslim rebels late last year to end a 40-year conflict in the south, but some factions have voiced opposition.
In 2000, a group of militants from the southern Philippines kidnapped 21 tourists from the Sabah diving resort of Sipadan. In 1985, 11 people were killed when gunmen believed to be from the southern Philippines entered Lahad Datu in Sabah, shooting at random before robbing a bank. — Reuters
Stop Dr M before he burns M’sia, says Bishop
The vocal Bishop Paul Tan wants the government to act against the former premier and all those who stoke racial and religious tension.
KUALA LUMPUR: Once the object of love and veneration but now hate and denigration, Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s constant outbursts have made him one of the most criticised individuals in this nation.
And even on Valentine’s Day, it is brickbats and not bouquets for the former premier.
Ironically, Mahathir who threw scores of people behind bars without trial on the basis of national security is now considered to be a threat himself.
And his unrestrained remarks on sensitive issues had earned him the wrath of a vocal senior clergyman as well.
Speaking to FMT, Bishop Paul Tan urged the government to take stern action against Mahathir and all those who stoke the flames of racial and religious tension.
The action, he stressed, was vital so that these persons’ “evil oil does not flow to others ending in engulfing Malaysia in flames”.
Similarly, he said the law must come down hard on Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali and others who called or supported the burning of Christian Bibles containing the word Allah.
“Action must be taken against those who for political expediency accuse Christians of trying to make Malaysia a Christian country and those who make false accusations against any ethnic group without concrete proof to enflame the already tedious and fragile fabric texture of the Malaysian society.
“It is my conviction that all precautions must be taken to ensure that racial or religious riots do not break out in Malaysia.
“If a person representing a party fans the already simmering ember of racial and religious tension in Malaysia, vigorous and strong action should be taken against him or her,” he added.
Vote for the clean and upright
With the 13th general election looming, Tan, 72, called on the Christian electorate to cast their ballots with wisdom and to forgive those who had wronged them in the past.
“Vote in any person whose track records prove that he/she is clean, upright,transparent and who courageously stands up for justice for all and works effectively for the good of all citizens, even the most discriminated against – the Orang Asli, the poor Malays in the kampungs, the downtrodden Indians in the estates, etc.
“We should not forget either our ‘modern slaves’, the migrant workers, who are being ruthlessly exploited, although they contribute to the building of our country,” he added.
Tan said that whichever party took over the federal leadership, be it Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat, it must protect all citizens.
“It must be clean from any corruption even if it is legally done, for example, the government dolling out money to win votes; equitable, transparent and upright. It is for these reasons that I fully support any protest for a just, clean and fair election, for example, Bersih’s call.
“Although I have not taken any partisan side in saying what I have said, I cannot not take a moral, religious and political stand for justice, cleanliness, equity and fairness. The Vatican would be happy that I dare speak out the truth, without taking any political side,” he added.
Thin line between politics and religion
Meanwhile, Tan, who is the immediate past president of the Catholics Bishops’ Conference of Singapore, Malaysia and Bunei, also responded to those who criticised him for being vocal on political issues.
He said that he firmly adhered to the Catholic Church’s stand on forbidding bishops and clerics to take political partisan sides.
“Therefore if from what I have said that appeared in the press, someone were to construe that I were for a political party, it would be their conjecture; it would be their problem and not mine. As far as my memory goes, I have spoken out on religious freedom, human rights and morality. This is encouraged by our Popes,” he added.
However, Tan said that sometimes there was a thin line between politics and religion, for example, the issue of the use of the word “Allah”.
“This is because politicians and political parties have insidiously made use of religion for their political ends and thus blurring the line that divides religion and politics,” he pointed out.
“Permit me to bring up a recent ‘hot’ issue – the use of the word ‘Allah’; it is strictly an issue of religion – whether people of faiths other than those who profess Islam can use it or not. It is also an issue of freedom of a human person to use any word in any language provided it is not done to denigrate a person of another religion or any religion. Unfortunately, politicians and political parties have jumped onto the bandwagon for selfish political interests,” he added.
Tan also stressed that he believes in the separation of state and religion in the sense that religion is not politics.
Religious representatives, especially leaders, he said, should not meddle with strictly political matters that come under the domain of politicians, and politicians should not interfere in the running of obvious religious issues that belong to duties of religious leaders.
“I confess that at times things are not that clear-cut, for example, moral and human rights questions. They often straddle religion and politics. Take an example: the fight for gays to be married. It is both a moral issue and a political problem,” he added.
KUALA LUMPUR: Once the object of love and veneration but now hate and denigration, Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s constant outbursts have made him one of the most criticised individuals in this nation.And even on Valentine’s Day, it is brickbats and not bouquets for the former premier.
Ironically, Mahathir who threw scores of people behind bars without trial on the basis of national security is now considered to be a threat himself.
And his unrestrained remarks on sensitive issues had earned him the wrath of a vocal senior clergyman as well.
Speaking to FMT, Bishop Paul Tan urged the government to take stern action against Mahathir and all those who stoke the flames of racial and religious tension.
The action, he stressed, was vital so that these persons’ “evil oil does not flow to others ending in engulfing Malaysia in flames”.
Similarly, he said the law must come down hard on Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali and others who called or supported the burning of Christian Bibles containing the word Allah.
“Action must be taken against those who for political expediency accuse Christians of trying to make Malaysia a Christian country and those who make false accusations against any ethnic group without concrete proof to enflame the already tedious and fragile fabric texture of the Malaysian society.
“It is my conviction that all precautions must be taken to ensure that racial or religious riots do not break out in Malaysia.
“If a person representing a party fans the already simmering ember of racial and religious tension in Malaysia, vigorous and strong action should be taken against him or her,” he added.
Vote for the clean and upright
With the 13th general election looming, Tan, 72, called on the Christian electorate to cast their ballots with wisdom and to forgive those who had wronged them in the past.
“Vote in any person whose track records prove that he/she is clean, upright,transparent and who courageously stands up for justice for all and works effectively for the good of all citizens, even the most discriminated against – the Orang Asli, the poor Malays in the kampungs, the downtrodden Indians in the estates, etc.
“We should not forget either our ‘modern slaves’, the migrant workers, who are being ruthlessly exploited, although they contribute to the building of our country,” he added.
Tan said that whichever party took over the federal leadership, be it Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat, it must protect all citizens.
“It must be clean from any corruption even if it is legally done, for example, the government dolling out money to win votes; equitable, transparent and upright. It is for these reasons that I fully support any protest for a just, clean and fair election, for example, Bersih’s call.
“Although I have not taken any partisan side in saying what I have said, I cannot not take a moral, religious and political stand for justice, cleanliness, equity and fairness. The Vatican would be happy that I dare speak out the truth, without taking any political side,” he added.
Thin line between politics and religion
Meanwhile, Tan, who is the immediate past president of the Catholics Bishops’ Conference of Singapore, Malaysia and Bunei, also responded to those who criticised him for being vocal on political issues.
He said that he firmly adhered to the Catholic Church’s stand on forbidding bishops and clerics to take political partisan sides.
“Therefore if from what I have said that appeared in the press, someone were to construe that I were for a political party, it would be their conjecture; it would be their problem and not mine. As far as my memory goes, I have spoken out on religious freedom, human rights and morality. This is encouraged by our Popes,” he added.
However, Tan said that sometimes there was a thin line between politics and religion, for example, the issue of the use of the word “Allah”.
“This is because politicians and political parties have insidiously made use of religion for their political ends and thus blurring the line that divides religion and politics,” he pointed out.
“Permit me to bring up a recent ‘hot’ issue – the use of the word ‘Allah’; it is strictly an issue of religion – whether people of faiths other than those who profess Islam can use it or not. It is also an issue of freedom of a human person to use any word in any language provided it is not done to denigrate a person of another religion or any religion. Unfortunately, politicians and political parties have jumped onto the bandwagon for selfish political interests,” he added.
Tan also stressed that he believes in the separation of state and religion in the sense that religion is not politics.
Religious representatives, especially leaders, he said, should not meddle with strictly political matters that come under the domain of politicians, and politicians should not interfere in the running of obvious religious issues that belong to duties of religious leaders.
“I confess that at times things are not that clear-cut, for example, moral and human rights questions. They often straddle religion and politics. Take an example: the fight for gays to be married. It is both a moral issue and a political problem,” he added.
Don’t worry, Parliament will be dissolved
Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak says the dissolution will come when all quarters are ready.
PAPAR: Parliament will only be dissolved when all quarters, including the people, are ready for the polls, said Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.
Asked how close is the dissolution of Parliament, he said, “Very soon, very soon, do the job first, do not worry.”
“Now I am on the ground explaining the policies and direction spearheaded by Barisan Nasional.
“We want the people to understand that a vote for BN is a vote for the country’s transformation agenda and a vote for peace and stability for a brighter future,” he told reporters after attending the people’s gathering here, today.
On his meeting with state BN leaders yesterday, Najib, who is also BN chairman, said there were no serious problems facing them except for matters pertaining to coordination and personality.
“On the whole, I am satisfied with the level of understanding among Sabah BN component parties,” he said.
On the choice of BN candidates in the 13th general election, Najib said the BN had almost finished selecting the candidates.
“We have to do background and security verifications and also check on any reports from the MACC [Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission] and others before we finalise the list,” he added.
Meanwhile, in MUAR, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has described the opposition’s struggle to be increasingly in disarray as it failed to agree on many matters, including the “kalimah Allah” issue.
He said this was different from BN’s struggle which was real in bringing development to the people and proven since BN began ruling the country more than 50 years ago.
“Don’t be influenced by the opposition’s propaganda as it can’t even get along with each other. But recently Nik Aziz [PAS spiritual adviser Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat] had gone to [DAP national chairman] Karpal Singh’s house [in Penang] where they celebrated his birthday. PAS is increasingly in a state of confusion unlike before.
“The people are also increasingly confused with the opposition’s struggle. The parties that really struggle for the ‘rakyat’ are Umno and BN.”
Muhyiddin said this in his speech at a programme with the residents of Kampung Sungai Alai and Sungai Ranggam, Panchor, near here. Also present were Bukit Serampang assemblyman Tahir Taat and Jorak assemblyman Shaharuddin Salleh.
Bernama
PAPAR: Parliament will only be dissolved when all quarters, including the people, are ready for the polls, said Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.Asked how close is the dissolution of Parliament, he said, “Very soon, very soon, do the job first, do not worry.”
“Now I am on the ground explaining the policies and direction spearheaded by Barisan Nasional.
“We want the people to understand that a vote for BN is a vote for the country’s transformation agenda and a vote for peace and stability for a brighter future,” he told reporters after attending the people’s gathering here, today.
On his meeting with state BN leaders yesterday, Najib, who is also BN chairman, said there were no serious problems facing them except for matters pertaining to coordination and personality.
“On the whole, I am satisfied with the level of understanding among Sabah BN component parties,” he said.
On the choice of BN candidates in the 13th general election, Najib said the BN had almost finished selecting the candidates.
“We have to do background and security verifications and also check on any reports from the MACC [Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission] and others before we finalise the list,” he added.
Meanwhile, in MUAR, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has described the opposition’s struggle to be increasingly in disarray as it failed to agree on many matters, including the “kalimah Allah” issue.
He said this was different from BN’s struggle which was real in bringing development to the people and proven since BN began ruling the country more than 50 years ago.
“Don’t be influenced by the opposition’s propaganda as it can’t even get along with each other. But recently Nik Aziz [PAS spiritual adviser Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat] had gone to [DAP national chairman] Karpal Singh’s house [in Penang] where they celebrated his birthday. PAS is increasingly in a state of confusion unlike before.
“The people are also increasingly confused with the opposition’s struggle. The parties that really struggle for the ‘rakyat’ are Umno and BN.”
Muhyiddin said this in his speech at a programme with the residents of Kampung Sungai Alai and Sungai Ranggam, Panchor, near here. Also present were Bukit Serampang assemblyman Tahir Taat and Jorak assemblyman Shaharuddin Salleh.
Bernama
Standard PM di bawah artis Korea?
Najib tidak sepatutnya membiarkan dirinya dimalukan sehingga menjadi bahan ketawa apabila mendapat liputan meluas media antarabangsa.
PETALING JAYA: Tindakan membiarkan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak terpinga-pinga di pentas semasa acara ‘makan besar’ di Pulau Pinang Isnin lalu dianggap memalukan.
Pengarah Propaganda Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) Edy Noor Reduan berkata, Najib tidak sepatutnya membiarkan dirinya dimalukan sehingga menjadi bahan ketawa apabila mendapat liputan meluas media antarabangsa.
“Apakah peristiwa ini memberi gambaran betapa ‘standard’ Perdana Menteri Malaysia hanya berada di bawah seorang artis Korea,” soalnya dalam satu kenyataan hari ini.
Katanya, SAMM berpendapat sudah sampai masanya Najib berundur secara terhormat kerana telah memalukan negara selepas beberapa kali berdepan dengan peristiwa memalukan.
“Bagi SAMM, malu ini bukanlah percuma. Mengikut resam kebiasaan, orang membayar satu jumlah untuk mengelak dari mendapat malu tetapi apa yang berlaku terhadap Najib, Umno dan BN adalah sebaliknya.
“Inilah satu-satunya kes malu yang ‘dibayar’ dengan harga yang tinggi, difahamkan dari laporan media melebihi RM2 juta,” katanya.
Kredibiliti Najib dilihat tercalar apabila penyanyi antarabangsa, Psy dikatakan enggan naik ke pentas menggaul Loh Sang walaupun dipanggil berkali-kali oleh pengacara majlis.
Najib serta beberapa pemimpin BN termasuk isterinya Datin Seri Rosmah Mansur dibiarkan berdiri tercegat sambil menanti kehadiran Psy kira-kira lima minit sehingga membantutkan acara tersebut.
PETALING JAYA: Tindakan membiarkan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak terpinga-pinga di pentas semasa acara ‘makan besar’ di Pulau Pinang Isnin lalu dianggap memalukan.Pengarah Propaganda Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) Edy Noor Reduan berkata, Najib tidak sepatutnya membiarkan dirinya dimalukan sehingga menjadi bahan ketawa apabila mendapat liputan meluas media antarabangsa.
“Apakah peristiwa ini memberi gambaran betapa ‘standard’ Perdana Menteri Malaysia hanya berada di bawah seorang artis Korea,” soalnya dalam satu kenyataan hari ini.
Katanya, SAMM berpendapat sudah sampai masanya Najib berundur secara terhormat kerana telah memalukan negara selepas beberapa kali berdepan dengan peristiwa memalukan.
“Bagi SAMM, malu ini bukanlah percuma. Mengikut resam kebiasaan, orang membayar satu jumlah untuk mengelak dari mendapat malu tetapi apa yang berlaku terhadap Najib, Umno dan BN adalah sebaliknya.
“Inilah satu-satunya kes malu yang ‘dibayar’ dengan harga yang tinggi, difahamkan dari laporan media melebihi RM2 juta,” katanya.
Kredibiliti Najib dilihat tercalar apabila penyanyi antarabangsa, Psy dikatakan enggan naik ke pentas menggaul Loh Sang walaupun dipanggil berkali-kali oleh pengacara majlis.
Najib serta beberapa pemimpin BN termasuk isterinya Datin Seri Rosmah Mansur dibiarkan berdiri tercegat sambil menanti kehadiran Psy kira-kira lima minit sehingga membantutkan acara tersebut.
Why single out Ambiga, Dr M?
A coalition of Indian NGOs is asking why the former premier did not train his guns on others in Bersih.
PETALING JAYA: Is Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga being targetted by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad because she is an Indian?
“Why not call for A Samad Said’s (Bersih co-chairperson) citizenship to be stripped as well? Why single out Ambiga? Is it because she is a woman and an Indian by heritage?” asked Angkatan Warga Aman secretary-general S Bharatidasan.
Recently, the former Umno president called upon voters to give Barisan Nasional a two thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat so that the government could amend the Constitution to revoke the citizenship of people such as Ambiga.
Mahathir received brickbats for his calls, with former DAP senator S Ramakrishnan saying that the former should be stripped of his citizenship instead for his involvement in Project IC in Sabah.
Training his guns against the octogenarian, Barathidasan accused Mahathir of belittling the Indian community with his remarks.
“Is it alright for you (Mahathir) to say anything against the Indian community? Have we become so cheap to you? Remember that your father was an Indian as well,” he said.
The NGO leader urged Mahathir to stop attacking Ambiga and Pakatan Rakyat and focus on the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) proceedings in Sabah, which has implicated his administration in giving instant citizenship to foreigners.
He also said that Mahathir was just trying to divert the people’s attention from the RCI proceedings by making such irresponsible statements.
“While the so-called statesman gave away free citizenship to Indonesians, Bangladeshis and Philippinos, the stateless Indians were left in the doldrums under his 22-year watch.
“Probably this is Mahathir’s way of ‘rewarding’ the Indians for being staunch supporters of BN before the 2008 general election,” he said.
PETALING JAYA: Is Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga being targetted by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad because she is an Indian?“Why not call for A Samad Said’s (Bersih co-chairperson) citizenship to be stripped as well? Why single out Ambiga? Is it because she is a woman and an Indian by heritage?” asked Angkatan Warga Aman secretary-general S Bharatidasan.
Recently, the former Umno president called upon voters to give Barisan Nasional a two thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat so that the government could amend the Constitution to revoke the citizenship of people such as Ambiga.
Mahathir received brickbats for his calls, with former DAP senator S Ramakrishnan saying that the former should be stripped of his citizenship instead for his involvement in Project IC in Sabah.
Training his guns against the octogenarian, Barathidasan accused Mahathir of belittling the Indian community with his remarks.
“Is it alright for you (Mahathir) to say anything against the Indian community? Have we become so cheap to you? Remember that your father was an Indian as well,” he said.
The NGO leader urged Mahathir to stop attacking Ambiga and Pakatan Rakyat and focus on the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) proceedings in Sabah, which has implicated his administration in giving instant citizenship to foreigners.
He also said that Mahathir was just trying to divert the people’s attention from the RCI proceedings by making such irresponsible statements.
“While the so-called statesman gave away free citizenship to Indonesians, Bangladeshis and Philippinos, the stateless Indians were left in the doldrums under his 22-year watch.
“Probably this is Mahathir’s way of ‘rewarding’ the Indians for being staunch supporters of BN before the 2008 general election,” he said.
Sugumar: Political exploitation of a family's grief?
Ranesa Jegatheesa
The sudden retraction by Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand to do a second post-mortem on C.Sugumar is a slap in the face of people like N. Surendran of PKR. These are the people who have come to premature conclusions as to the cause of death and then make allegations.
Dr Pornthip had agreed to take on the task but made an abrupt about-turn immediately afterwards, citing personal reasons. Sugumar had died after he ran amok in Taman Sri Nanding in Hulu Langat on 23 Jan. Some quarters have since alleged that the police had beaten him up.
PM Najib then ordered a forensic report be submited to the Cabinet. Dr Pornthip, a high profile pathologist, must have made some preliminary inquiries before declining the brief. Could she have concluded that she did not wish to be embroiled in a political blame game?
And could she have concluded that Malaysians are up to the task of doing a professional job themselves? Let's wait and see. Until then, will Surendran and his cohorts please stop capitalising on a family's grief?
Indians in a spot in any Islamic Revolution after 13th GE
If the Malays want to divide themselves politically it's not the Dap's business. The Dap should focus on the 45 per cent strong non-Malay minorities and forget the 55 per cent strong Malay majority. Let the Malays settle their politics on their own.Joe Fernandez
Given the looming 13th General Election, the minority Indian Nation in Malaysia must keep in mind the tragic fate of the Christian minorities in the Middle East in the wake of the Arab Spring -- valid as its other reasons are -- which chose to ignore the fact that the only majority that matters is that in the legislature, not in demography. And that dialogue, not necessarily to agree, is the best way forward politically in any civilised nation wedded to democracy, human rights and freedom.
Consider the fact that Obama, a Black American, became US President. The Blacks number only ten per cent of the US population.
In Iraq, Washington put the "Shite majority in power" after invading the country and hanging Saddam Hussein, a Sunni. The Christians, who supported Saddam, continue to suffer i.e. if they had not already fled the country.
The so-called Sunni-Shite divide is a creation of the West obsessed with Islamic terrorism and a militant Islam. If Muslims are busy killing each other, the West feels safe, albeit for the moment. They don't want to think too far beyond their noses.
In Syria, the West is arming the Sunni majority to seize power by force. The Christians, who chose to back the Alawite minority led by President Assad, continue to suffer at the hands of the so-called Syrian Free Army and flood into the refugee camps.
In Mali, in a hypocritical about-turn, the West led by France took military action to reverse the forcible seizure of power by Islamists in the country's north.
I hope that I don't have to write an "I told you so" comment piece on the Indians after the 13th General Election.
It's pointless for any Indian to talk to Barisan Nasional (BN) or Pakatan Rakyat (PR). Why is PR reluctant to endorse the Hindraf Makkal Sakthi Plan for Indians? The lack of sincerity on the part of PR is all too obvious.
De Facto Chief PKR Anwar Ibrahim has never been known to say what he means and mean what he says. Granted that Anwar can deliver a good speech and like Pas draw Malay votes away from Umno but that's about all that he's good for. He has been a notable failure in Government. Every Ministry this Pass Degree in Malay Studies graduate led has been a failure, from Agriculture and Education to Finance, the last the most spectacular in the wake of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. God help Malaysia if Anwar, the least qualified ever, becomes Prime Minister. We would need a Revolution to drive him out from power.
Anwar continues to remain a court jester of sorts who has carried his act too far this time and, being too full of himself, is in great danger of getting carried by it. Mahathir Mohamad once shamelessly rode on the ignoramus Anwar's sham Islamisation. Pas is now doing the same thing with Dap in tow for the sake of tasting power. Dap is riding a tiger (Anwar/Pas) which will return with it inside and the smile on the face of the animal.
Logically, the Dap should reach out to the Indians and other minorities, instead of banking on PKR and Pas so much, but it has failed to do this. The Chinese can only weaken themselves politically by not capitalising on the one million strong Indian votebank. If the Malays want to divide themselves politically it's not the Dap's business. The Dap should focus on the 45 per cent strong non-Malay minorities and forget the 55 per cent strong Malay majority. Let the Malays settle their politics on their own.
Meanwhile, there's some talk that Dap is engaged in secret talks with Umno to form a coalition Government, good for five years only, after the 13th GE. It won't be a two-third majority Government as Dap would not want BN in Peninsular Malaysia as part of the picture. Prime Minister Mohd Najib Abdul Razak is picking the BN candidates in Sabah and Sarawak himself to rule out defections there and ensure that he leads the biggest block of seats in Parliament after the GE. Dap is expected to emerge the next largest.
It's better for community leaders to encourage Indians to vote for candidates, not parties or coalitions.
This is to avoid them being persecuted, prosecuted and/or victimised by police brutality and the like. The police represent the ugly face of racism in sick societies.
If Indians root for PR, and BN still comes in after the 13th GE, they will continue to suffer after the GE.
If Indians root for BN and PR wins the GE, they will suffer even more after the GE.
Indians don't have even one seat in any legislature in the country.
So, there's no point at all in Indians voting along party or coalition lines.
If a candidate has been holding a seat for two terms or more, vote him or her out, even if he or she has been performing as far as the Indians are concerned.
As regards other candidates, vote them out if they have not been performing as far as Indians are concerned. Generally, this means that Indians will be voting against all incumbents, both BN and PR. The winners will come in by default.
All this means we have to drop Hindraf chairman P. Waythamoorthy's idea of abstinence and his elder brother P. Uthayakumar's idea of Indians contesting 15 parliamentary seats and 38 state seats.
Also, Indians should not vote for Indians. They will only function as political mandores and window dressers a la MIC.
This approach by the community will shake up the political system, the Chinese and the Malays and will far reaching repercussions in Sabah and Sarawak. The Indians have nothing to lose but their chains.
The Government of the Day can be expected to appoint Indians, as the 3rd largest in the country. to the Senate, Federal Cabinet, Local Councils, GLCs, and the Government sector. They don't need parties and coalitions for such representation. The Government of the Day can be expected to set up the Hindraf proposed Ministry of Orang Asal and Minority Affairs (MOAMA), also endorsed by Jeffrey Kitingan, the De Facto Orang Asal Chief.
Left to themselves, Indians are likely to be equally divided in the PR states and vote more for PR in the other states.
Indians will get nothing by taking this divided approach.
Still, it can be deduced that the Opposition, if the Dap agrees, will not allow the BN to take power even if it (BN) wins the 13th GE.
This would be on the grounds that the BN has been in power in Malaysia since 1957 by hook or by crook. Another reason would be that 56 years is too long for any party/coalition to be in power. Thirdly, the Opposition would claim, and not without substantial proof, that the BN cheated to win the 13th GE.
These are all legitimate reasons to forcibly drive the BN from power. The international community will endorse this as elsewhere particularly in the Arab and Muslim World.
This is what happened in Egypt. Mubarak clung to power for 33 years by means foul and fair.
Nevertheless, it must be noted that the Christians, protected by Mubarak, suffer under an Islamist Government which took power.
Should the Indians be prepared to help the Opposition to occupy Dataran Merdeka after the 13th GE and march on Putrajaya to force the BN to step aside for an Interim Government of National Unity to act as a Caretaker Government until the electoral rolls can be cleaned up for fresh elections to be held?
Or should the Indians oppose the seizure of power by unconstitutional means?
What if there's an Islamic Revolution?
In any Revolution, there must be a new Constitution since the old one would be torn up by the revolutionary process.
We cannot have Pas and PKR dictating a new and Islamic Constitution. Surely, the Dap will not be a party to such a treasonous act even if Pas/PKR are bolstered by defections from Umno.
Indians must consider carefully whether they are in a position to oppose any attempt to create a Tahrir Square-style situation in Malaysia after the 13th GE for an Islamic Revolution.
Revolution okay but not an Islamic Revolution. Sabah and Sarawak will be in agreement on this and hopefully the Dap as well.
Any Revolution in Malaysia after the 13th GE must be secular. All non-Muslims including the Dap must be firm on this.
If there's an Islamic Revolution in Peninsular Malaysia in the aftermath of the GE, tainted as it will be, Sabah and Sarawak must have no part in it whatsoever and must exit the Federation, something they should have done in 1965 in the footsteps of Singapore.
Now when the 13th GE will be held is something that only God knows.
If Najib calls Parliament into session before April 28, it can only mean the GE will be held just before Oct 28.
The law is clear.
Not more than six months must lapse between one Parliament and another, meaning one parliamentary sitting and another and one Parliament and another.
The GE only needs to be held within two months if Parliament is dissolved.
If Parliament is not dissolved but expires automatically on April 28 at the end of its five year life span, the GE can be held within six months.
Najib, to ensure political stability, should bring the Opposition into the Caretaker Government which will run Malaysia from April 28 to Oct 28. Let's see what the Ponnusamy Brothers, Jeffrey, Karpal, Kit Siang, Hadi and Nurul can contribute!
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Joe Fernandez is a mature law student, among others, who loves to write. He feels compelled, as a semi-retired journalist, to put pen to paper -- or rather the fingers to the computer keyboard -- whenever something doesn't quite jell with his weltanschauung (worldview). He shuttles between points in the Golden Heart of Borneo formed by the Sabah west coast, Labuan, Brunei, northern Sarawak and the watershed region in Borneo where three nations meet.
PSM to continue its bid to join Pakatan
(The Star) - Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) will continue with its bid to formally join Pakatan Rakyat.PSM secretary-general S. Arutchelvan said the party still had confidence in Pakatan due to the coalitin's Buku Jingga policy.
“And we have been working with Pakatan Rakyat for a few years,” he said.
PSM had sent a written request to join Pakatan last September but the application has yet to be processed. PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar had said that PSM's application would be discussed after the Chinese New Year.
The Lembah Pantai MP was reported to have said that PSM's application to join Pakatan was not a small matter as it involved other issues including seat allocation and choice of flag.
Malaysia vows to cooperate in return of Amalilio
The assurance was contained in a letter to The STAR from the Malaysian embassy’s first secretary Yap Wei Sin.
Amalilio, who also carried the Malaysian name Mohammad Suffan Saaid, was arrested by local authorities in Kota Kinabalu on Jan. 25 and was formally charged on Feb. 4 for possession of a fake passport.
Amalilio pleaded guilty to the offense and was meted a two-year prison term in Malaysia. Manila has invoked a mutual legal assistance treaty for his return to the Philippines.
Yin wrote to The STAR in connection with three articles written by columnist Jarius Bondoc.
In his articles titled “Beware: Crooked Malaysian Politicos Protecting Amalilio;” “Amalilio, A Nephew of Sabah Minister” and “Blood Ties Or None, Just Deport Conman” which came out in The STAR on Feb. 1, 2 and 4, respectively, Bondoc accused the Malaysian government, specifically the state of Sabah, of harboring Amalilio.
Sin denied Bondoc’s accusation, saying
Sin pointed out that the Attorney General of Malaysia, after a meeting with Philippine Justice undersecretary Jose Salazar last Feb. 6, ordered authorities to check and freeze the assets of Amalilio and his associates.
He said the government of Malaysia received the official request of the Philippines for Mutual Legal Assistance in criminal matters to extradite the pyramid scam mastermind.
He said the Attorney General was fully committed to assist in Amalilio’s prosecution regardless of his citizenship.
Sin said there was no proof that Amalilio is an immediate relative of Sabah chief minister Musa Aman and his brother Anifah Aman, the minister of Foreign Affairs.
He denied Bondoc’s allegations that the prime minister of Malaysia, Najib Tun Abdul Razak, received kickbacks from the purchase of submarines.
He also clarified the issue on citizenship in Sabah as raised by The STAR’s columnist. He said there is an ongoing investigation on the influx of illegal immigrants in Sabah, and it is not proper for his government to prematurely comment on the matter.
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has created a four-man team to coordinate with the Malaysian government for the extradition of Amalilio.
De Lima said the team would be composed of two members of the special panel handling the syndicated estafa cases against Amalilio, et al, and two state counsels also from the DOJ.
She designated Prosecutor General Claro Arellano and Chief State Counsel Ricardo Paras III to appoint the team’s members.
The team is specifically tasked to hand over the formal request for extradition and supplemental request involving the freezing of assets of Amalilio and other forms of assistance.
De Lima said the team would be dispatched to Malaysia hopefully next week. She said succeeding trips might be needed until the process is completed.
The DOJ chief explained that after initiating the extradition process, they would focus on securing the assets of Amalilio so it can be used in the cases against him, and possibly in paying his victims.
She also ordered agents to proceed with the hunt for relatives of another scam leader Jachob Rasuman, who were said to be involved in his multi-million investment fraud.
She said authorities might now enforce the arrest warrants issued against Rasuman’s wife Princess, his father and former public works undersecretary Basher Sr., mother Ema, brothers Basher Jr., Jeremiah and Jerome, and father-in-law Sultan Yahya Jerry Tomawis.
This after the Cagayan de Oro court lifted the suspension of the enforcement of the arrest warrant owing to the appeal of the accused.
“Initially the court suspended the implementation of the warrants because of the pendency of the MR (motion for reconsideration of resolution approving the syndicated estafa cases) with the DOJ. It was promptly denied by the panel of prosecutors so the court reconsidered its earlier order suspending the arrest,” the DOJ chief told reporters.
For this purpose, De Lima said the NBI has already created a special team to track down the fugitives. - With Edu Punay
Don't Make Changes Through Violence, Says Muhyiddin
MUAR, Feb 15 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has reminded the public not to follow the community of some Muslim countries in the Middle East which opt to create changes through violence.
They should instead, be grateful for the country's prosperity, which is capable of turning Malaysia into a developed Muslim country in various fields and a good example for other Muslim nations.
"Muslims in Malaysia should be thankful for life in a country that is peaceful, prosperous and developed for other Muslim countries to emulate," he said when launching the Pagoh Umno division Maulidur Rasul celebrations at Masjid Jamek Kampung Jorak, Bukit Pasir here Thursday night.
He said the country had also fostered a brotherhood, not only among Muslims but also between the Muslim and non-Muslim community, setting a good model for Muslim countries.
"We respect one another and have successfully created a country that is united, regardless of race," added Muhyiddin, who is also education minister.
He said unity and harmony would be useful in developing Muslims in the field of economy, character, education and culture.
"We want Malaysia to become a country that is developed in various fields, not only in our relationship with one another, but also mental development, education, economy and more," he said.
They should instead, be grateful for the country's prosperity, which is capable of turning Malaysia into a developed Muslim country in various fields and a good example for other Muslim nations.
"Muslims in Malaysia should be thankful for life in a country that is peaceful, prosperous and developed for other Muslim countries to emulate," he said when launching the Pagoh Umno division Maulidur Rasul celebrations at Masjid Jamek Kampung Jorak, Bukit Pasir here Thursday night.
He said the country had also fostered a brotherhood, not only among Muslims but also between the Muslim and non-Muslim community, setting a good model for Muslim countries.
"We respect one another and have successfully created a country that is united, regardless of race," added Muhyiddin, who is also education minister.
He said unity and harmony would be useful in developing Muslims in the field of economy, character, education and culture.
"We want Malaysia to become a country that is developed in various fields, not only in our relationship with one another, but also mental development, education, economy and more," he said.
Dance remix: Are you ready for PSY/BN?
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