Lawyers push for probe into PI Bala's SD2

Fourteen lawyers have filed a motion to the Bar’s coming annual general meeting (AGM) for a committee to be set up to probe circumstances surrounding private investigator P Balasubramaniam’s second statutory declaration (SD).

The motion for the Bar Council to "establish an Independent Investigation Committee to urgently enquire into the facts and circumstances relating to the preparation and execution" of the SD was proposed by Wan Hidayati Nadirah Wan Ahmad Nasir.
It was filed yesterday ahead of the AGM to be held on March 16.

In the motion, the lawyers expressed concern over the details of the circumstances and contents of the two SDs made by Bala (right) issued on March 1 and 4, 2008, that have emerged in recent months.

“The matters (surrounding the SDs) have to date been publicly available on the worldwide web and been the subject of much discussion and consternation among Malaysians,” the motion states.

“If the assertions of Bala and Deepak (Jaikishan) are true, then the preparation of SD2 may amount to acts of criminality under the Penal Code, including perjury, giving false information regarding an offence and obstruction of justice under Part XI of the Penal Code.

“Further, those involved in the purported scheme to coerce Bala to retract SD1 may have engaged in abuse of power and corrupt practices punishable under the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009,” it says.

The motion details, among others, the private investigator's revelation in his first SD of certain details surrounding the murder of Mongolian interpreter Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Bala has also claimed that his second SD, which serves to retract his first, was made under duress.

Last December, businessman Deepak Jaikishan in media interviews also corroborated Bala’s claims on the preparation of the second SD.

The motion further states: “In this, the advocates and solicitors concerned may have committed criminal offences or aided and abetted the commission of criminal offences.

“In doing so, they would have brought the legal profession into disrepute.”
The motion has been posted on legal advocacy group Loyar Burok's website.
Bar Council's indecisiveness slammed
The lawyers in the motion said SD1 contained matters that were not only pertinent to an ongoing criminal trial, but also to “matters of the public administration of the country”.

Furthermore, the Malaysian Bar was obliged under the section 42 of the Legal Profession Act 1976 to uphold justice regardless.

In particular, it was critical that of the Bar Council’s alleged indecisiveness and the Bar president’s pre-emptive statements.

“The Bar Council had permitted itself to be viewed as being reluctant to act decisively on the matter, particularly in light of the president of the Bar having reportedly characterised Deepak as being ‘someone whose own background is cause for concern’ ... notwithstanding the fact that an enquiry has yet to be conducted into the matter,” read the motion.

The group moved that the committee be immediately set up with a view towards lodging an official complaint with the Advocates & Solicitors Disciplinary Boa rd.

In a posting on Loyar Burok’s website today, a poster signing off as ‘LoyarBocor’ said the council would hopefully support the motion.

“We are in for an exciting debate at the AGM,” the poster wrote.
'Why not get Bala's help?'
Meanwhile Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo has questioned Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee on the status of the council’s probe into the lawyers said to be behind SD2.

Following the motion to the Bar, the lawyer said an update was in order, as “many months have gone by. It would not be out of place to say that the credibility of the Bar Council and its president are at stake.”

“Lim had on Jan 4 this year said that the Bar would make the necessary inquiries to ascertain the identities of the lawyers concerned and to consider whether they have committed any professional misconduct.

“All appears to have gone silent after that, thereby leaving many to ask if the Bar has somewhat conveniently forgotten about the probe,” said Gobind.

Gobind said that any problems of lacking evidence would now be solved since Bala has now returned to Malaysia.

“Lim should also tell us if the Bar will seek the assistance of P Balasubramaniam himself - since he has now returned - in its probe.

“There may have been ‘problems’ earlier about a lack of evidence but that seems to be a non-issue now,” said the DAP parliamentarian.

Anwar: Indian issues to be listed in Pakatan manifesto

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said he has heard the feedback from the Indian community and will add specific details on their needs in the Pakatan Rakyat manifesto.

“I have been in many discussions with leaders of the Indian community since last week to consider their point of view,” said Anwar in a statement today, detailing a number of issues affecting the community.

“All these (concerns) are already in Manifesto Rakyat, which is built on all the policies and announcements made by Pakatan Rakyat previously.

“Still, to strengthen our commitment to explicitly state our commitment, these matters will be detailed further in the Manifesto Rakyat for distribution, as urged by groups who have expressed their position to us,” he said.

Specifically, he elaborated on points directly relating to the Indian issues:

1.  Resolving the “longstanding issue of stateless people” in Malaysia, without excluding Indians,  in the first 100 days of Pakatan’s administration.

2. Technical training and job opportunities for school leavers, stressing the major beneficiaries to be the Indian community.

3.  Ensuring all Tamil schools will be fully funded and infrastructure comparable to the national education standards.

4. A government National Housing Board to build affordable homes that includes focus on helping build freehold homes for ex-estate workers around the country.
Anwar also said the police force would be reformed and the long-awaited Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) would be set up.

Pakatan’s manifesto, that the coalition claims takes a needs based approach to benefit all Malaysians including the Indians, had failed to impress the Tamil community.

In particular, Hindraf leaders slammed the manifesto for leaving out specific concerns of the community, although the manifesto mentioned specifically issues relating to other ethnic communities like the Chinese and Orang Asli.

Needs based approach fundamental

Anwar stressed that these details did not divert the coalition from its commitment to its needs-based approach to governance.

“ I am open to further proposals from various groups to refine further the manifesto, as long as they do not alter the principle policies of Pakatan Rakyat to reject racial politics and prioritise good governance and justice for the people,” he said.

“The failure of many Barisan Nasional programmes is due to poor reception and broad cooperation brought by each programme being race-based.

“That is why I defend a needs-based approach for only all-inclusive programmes can be implemented successfully,” said Anwar.

As an example, he said their Rakyat Apprenticeship Scheme to create jobs for school leavers required the cooperation of all segments of society and all races.

“This smart partnership will enable employers to tap the local human resource at a cheaper rate because the government will contribute to the majority of the trainee’s cost during their apprenticeship.

“In this way the government has a platform to train hundreds of thousands of young people  in a programme  to improve their low-income families socio-economic standings, while utilising  young people in our economy.

“If the programmes appear to be tailor made for one race, it will quickly discourage the participation of other races for it only caters to the needs on one race only,” said Anwar.

Dare Najib debate manifesto?

Meanwhile the PKR de facto leader also slammed his BN critics for attacking the manifesto “based on outdated propaganda accompanied by deceiving figures to confuse the people”.

For example, he said, while BN questioned Pakatan’s financial prudence in aiming to cancel toll payments, the ruling party itself had allegedly already overspent its own projections for the BR1M handouts.

Instead, he said, BN should support its accusations against the manifesto with figures and for its leader Prime Minister Najib Razak to debate him on it face to face.

“I am told that Najib Razak will be rebutting Manifesto Rakyat soon. I’m confident the people would prefer him giving his rebuttals in a live policy debate rather than offering them in isolation as he often does,” said Anwar.

Ramayan and Mahabharata ~ the inspirational thread to learn Sanskrit by Muslim Friends.

Two Muslim students win all 3 Sanskrit medals in Gujarat University.

“inspired to learn Sanskrit after hearing stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata”……

“Muslim boys and girls diversifying into other educational fields is a good sign”…….

Syed Khalique Ahmed | Indian Express | Ahmedabad, | Thu Mar 07 2013 :: Defying stereotypes, a Muslim boy and girl have bagged all three medals instituted for the BA course in the ancient Indian language by the Gujarat University.

Two of the medals for Sanskrit were won by Taiyab Sheikh, a student of Y S Arts and Commerce college in Devgadh Baria in Panchmahals district. The third went to Yasminbanu Kothari of the Adiwasi Arts and Commerce college in Santrampur in the interior of the state’s tribal belt.

Sheikh got 75.5 per cent marks and Kothari 68.5 per cent. The medals were awarded at the convocation Tuesday.

Sheikh, 23, who is now studying for a B.Ed. degree in a Godhra college, said he was inspired to learn Sanskrit after hearing stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharat told by his teachers in primary school in his village of Tokarwa.

He said he wants to be a post-graduate in Sanskrit and pursue teaching it as a career. Sheikh enrolled himself for a BA degree with Sanskrit as his main subject as he failed to get a teaching job in a primary school after doing a teachers training course.

His elder brother is a head master in a government primary school and there was no opposition in the family to him studying Sanskrit. “My parents, who are farmers and not educated, only wanted me to perform well,” Sheikh said.

Kothari said she developed a liking for Sanskrit when she was in class 12. The daughter of a fruit-seller who studied up to class 12, she too said she did not face any opposition to her choice of the language. “In fact, my father and his friend Rafiq Sheikh, a college teacher, encouraged me to study it,” she said.

Kothari teaches at a primary school in Santrampur and like Sheikh, she too wants to do an MA in Sanskrit and work as a teacher.

“A language does not belong to any community. Anyone can learn any language provided he or she has interest in it,” said J R Machchi, Sheikh’s Sanskrit teacher.

“Muslim boys and girls diversifying into other educational fields is a good sign,” added J S Bandukwala, a retired Physics professor from M S University who runs Zidni Ilma Trust, which promotes professional and technical education among poor Muslim students.

Courtesy: Indian express.

Islamic party wants to expel minorities, reunify with Pakistan

by Nozrul Islam

Strikes (hartal) and acts of violence continue across the country, especially against Hindus. Fears are growing among Buddhists, Christians and tribal communities. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party joins Jamaat-e-islami seeking the fall of the government. Islamist blogs provide instructions on how to sabotage railway lines, disrupt demonstrations and attack police.

Dhaka (AsiaNews) - Acts of violence, especially against Bangladesh's Hindu minority, and strikes (hartal) continue across the country as Jamaat-e-Islami supporters call for reunification with Pakistan, and the creation of a "pure" state, free of its non-Muslim population.

Since unrest began more than a week ago, 87 people have died-mostly police and peaceful protesters. The atmosphere is increasingly tense after the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the country's main opposition party, decided to throw its support behind Jamaat and call for an end of war tribunals set up by the ruling Awami League. In addition, the BNP has called for the death penalty imposed on Jamaat's deputy chief Delwar Hossain Sayeedi to be dropped, and for the government to resign.

For Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, leader of the Awami League, opposition demands are unacceptable because they would mean her defeat.

However, Jamaat appears bent on pursuing its agenda come what may. With the BNP on its side, it does not seem willing to stop its terror strategy. In fact, it has begun handing out weapons to women and children to "save Islam and its soul from danger".

Well-organised, the Islamic party has a large pool of supporters. On a number of blogs, many of them are openly calling for reunification with Pakistan and the expulsion of Hindus, atheists and Christians. Instructions are also provided on how to sabotage railway lines, attack security forces, and cause unrest during strikes.

Some of the suggestions are quite "creative". For example, on one site instructions are given on how to generate pictures using the photo of death-row leader Sayeedi against the background of a full moon. Waved as if they were real thing, the pictures have been used the stress the urgency to save him and avoid going to hell. In other touched up photos showing people floating in the air, radiant faces, jinn (spirits) and angels are presented as supporting the Muslim revolt.

As the country's largest minority (9.6 per cent), Hindus have been the main target until now. What is more, most witnesses in the war crimes trials have been Hindus.1

The latest wave of attacks also suggest that other religious (Buddhist and Christian) and ethnic (tribal) minorities might be the next to be targeted, as was the case in the past.

In fact, police recently arrested a group of Muslim fundamentalists that planned to kill ten teachers at an Ahmadiyya school. Ahmadis are a Muslim religious group deemed heretical by mainstream Islam.

It is unclear what will happen now, but there are growing fears that things might get out of hand. Shahbagh, a secular-oriented non-political movement named after a Dhaka neighbourhood, continues its peaceful protests and initiatives, but is losing popularity. What appeared to be local movement inspired by the 'Arab spring' is becoming increasingly isolated and is seen as nothing but an ally of the Awami League.

Various political parties, including small factions within the Islamic party, have called for dialogue, but no one has yet said on what terms.

Meanwhile, Jamaat appears to be getting stronger. Although it lacks the right numbers, it has been backed by a stronger ally, the BNP, something that makes the situation even worse.

Should the BNP back away from Jamaat, it would likely allow the Awami League to win the next elections, something that might not be on BNP leader Khaleda Zia's agenda.

Although exact figures do not exist, Bangladesh's War of Liberation in 1971 is said to have caused the death of up to 1.5 million civilians. At least 200,000 women were raped, mostly Hindu. About 60 per cent of all Bangladeshi refugees in India were Hindu.

Belgium: 4 Months in Prison for Tearing a Koran

Is Sharia already in force in Europe?

Arne S., originally from Blankenberge, was sentenced on Wednesday, by the criminal court of Bruges, to four months in prison for having torn a copy of the Koran in front of a group of Muslims, in June 2012, in Ostende.

On 8 June last year, in the early evening, the accused participated in a demonstration in Ostende. After the demonstration, he went into a café where he exchanged words with around a dozen Muslims. In front of their eyes, Arne S. tore a copy of the Koran.

According to the statements of the accused, the Muslims threw the sacred [sic] book at his head, which provoked his action. Olivier Ryde, the accused's lawyer, requested this his client be acquitted. According to him, there was no question of any infringement of the law on racism.

Source: RTL.be

So a Muslim mob assaults this guy by throwing a Koran at his head, and he is the one that gets sent to prison? Crazy. The news report says absolutely nothing about the Muslims being punished for the assault.

Frontline Sabah: Jeffrey Kittingan

Gov't has much to explain on Lahad Datu

The recent armed intrusion into Lahad Datu was an attack on our sovereignty. We simply had no choice but to strengthen our position which unfortunately caused loss of lives.

Their undetected arrival into our jurisdiction has caused and given rise to many concerns. They managed to fool our authorities, security and intelligence.

The self-proclaimed Sultan of Sulu is to be held responsible and answerable for this dangerous crime and assault on Malaysia.

While the government has assured that national security is always a priority the present condition must be carefully monitored and watched so that it does not escalate to another dangerous level.

There are many questions the government must answer. An explanation is necessary so that the public will be well informed of the situation there and to avoid a state of panic in Malaysia.

The general public is ready to provide full co-operation to maintain law and order. However, how will the authorities handle or prepare for retaliation from remnants of the group after they were decimated?

While the attempt to capture Sabah is a futile act they may launch sporadic attacks in future.

While we sympathise with the families of the fallen heroes and that they will not be forgotten we as Malaysians demand that the government must provide satisfactory explanations to the following critical questions:

• How did the armed intruders enter our shores without the knowledge of our navy?
• What has happened to our domestic and regional intelligence services?
• Who has been providing the self-proclaimed sultan of Sulu arms?
• Who is providing guerrilla training for the armed intruders in Sulu?

These are very serious questions that the government must take immediate efforts to answer for our national security is currently at stake.

As Malaysians we remind the government that there shall be no negotiations with the armed intruders. Any armed presence by intruders into our territory or jurisdiction is an ‘act of war'.

It is imperative at this most pressing moment that the government must announce that the sultan of Sulu and his gunmen's are militants and are wanted criminals.

While the accusations may be serious it is legitimate and necessary.

We further urge that the government of Malaysia take drastic measures to severe all diplomatic ties if any with the sultan of Sulu and with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front with immediate effect.

It is absolutely silly and stupid for the sultan of Sulu to say "it wasn't an invasion but a homecoming".

The sultan has no legal or beneficial right to reassert ownership over Sabah any more.

It must be noted this unilateral inhumane and barbaric action violated the spirit of the original lease agreement and the Philippines must act with caution and not further deteriorate the good diplomatic relationship between the two sovereign states.

It is a misconception to say that we are not at war instead it is an intrusion.

A statement of that sort would purely compromise our position and the circumstances has warranted us to take aggressive and offensive steps and we Malaysians further demand that the government of Malaysia should extradite the self-proclaimed sultan of Sulu to stand trial in Malaysia for treason, invasion and murder.

R KENGADHARAN is a lawyer and ex-ISA detainee.

32 Sulu militants killed yesterday, death toll now 52, say authorities

LAHAD DATU, March 7 – Thirty-two Sulu militants have been killed since yesterday, bringing the

total death toll among the Filipino gunmen in Sabah to 52, the authorities said today.

Armed Forces chief Gen Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin (picture) said Tuesday’s air strikes against the Sulu gunmen holed up at Kampung Tanduo here were not meant to kill anyone, but to “neutralise” the enemy so that the security forces could move in without resistance.

“The air strikes didn’t plan to kill,” Zulkifeli said at a joint press conference here with Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Ismail Omar today.

“The total number of enemies that has fallen is 52,” said Ismail.

Ismail added that the security forces shot dead 31 Sulu gunmen at Kampung Tanjung Batu here yesterday, and one at Kampung Tanduo this morning.

Eight Malaysian policemen were slain over the weekend here and in Semporna, leading to an overall death toll of 60 at press time.

Ismail also said that a Sulu general was among those slain.

He added that he could not confirm if Sulu militant group leader Agbimuddin Kiram was among those killed.

Zulkifeli said that the southern Filipino gunmen in Kampung Tanduo have been surrounded in a small perimeter.

“Some are also hiding,” he added, admitting that the operation to flush out the militants would “take some time”.

Ismail said that some Sulu militants have also moved to Kampung Tanjung Batu, which is about four to five square kilometres big.

The top cop added that a “small number” of Sulu gunmen were left.

The authorities have admitted that the hilly terrain and dense forest of the Felda Sahabat oil palm plantations here, where the villages are located, have made it difficult to hunt down the militants.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has rejected the Sulu sultanate’s call for a ceasefire, demanding instead for the sultanate’s followers to surrender unconditionally and to lay down their arms.

Najib said earlier today that the security forces would not rest until the militants surrendered or were eliminated.

Several villagers staying at the Embara Budi community hall here, who were displaced since the Sulu militants invaded Kampung Tanduo on February 9, have expressed a desire to return home as soon as possible.

The followers of the Sulu sultanate have previously said that they were willing to die in Sabah in their quest to reclaim the Land Below The Wind.

Security zone for Sabah, ceasefire offer rejected

The area will cover five districts in the state, with Lahad Datu as its central command.
UPDATED

LAHAD DATU: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak today announced the establishment of a Special Security Area in Sabah to safeguard the sovereignty and security of the state’s east coast.

He said the Sabah Special Security Area encompassed the districts of Kudat, Tawau, Kunak, Sandakan and Lahad Datu.

“This Special Security Area will have Lahad Datu as its central command and several temporary cabins will be placed there so that it can begin functioning immediately,” he told news conference after checking on and attending a briefing on the ongoing “Ops Daulat” operation against armed intruders, here.

In 1972, the government had set up the Rajang Area Security Command (Rascom) in neighbouring Sarawak to thwart the threat from communist terrorists in the state.

The Rascom area, covering Sibu, Kanowit, Oya, Dalat, Bintagor, Sarikei, Julau, Song and Kapit, was declared a special security area by the then prime minister, Tun Abdul Razak.

The prime minister said the proposal to establish the Special Security Area was agreed to by the Cabinet at its meeting yesterday.

Najib said the move to have the Special Security Area was made to boost the confidence of the people in Sabah, that the government would go to any length to maintain peace and safeguard the country’s sovereignty.

He also said that the police and military strength in Sabah would be augmented by five more battalions to reinforce security.

The breakdown of the five battalions would be determined after discussions between the police and military, he added.

“In principle, the five additional battalions will be stationed in the Special Security Area. This is to give an assurance to the people in eastern Sabah that their security and sovereignty will be defended even after the operation ceases,” he said.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Foreign Minister Datuk Anifah Aman, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom and several other Cabinet ministers were also present at the news conference.

Meanwhile, Najib also said Kuala Lumpur will not consider any request for a ceasefire so long as the armed intruders in Sabah do not lay down arms unconditionally.

He said Philippine President Benigno Aquino III had contacted him for Malaysia’s reaction to the call for a ceasefire by Jamalul Kiram III.

“I informed President Aquino that they need to surrender unconditionally and their weapons have to be handed over to us,” he said.

Photo courtesy of Antarapos.com.

Sulu ‘general’ among 32 killed in clashes

The number of intruders shot dead has risen to 52.

LAHAD DATU: Security forces undertaking an offensive against armed intruders in the Sabah east coast killed 32 militants in clashes today at ground zero in Tanjung Batu near here, raising to 52 the number of militants killed since last Friday.

Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar said the police believed that a militant leader with the rank of general was one of the 31 gunmen killed in one of the clashes, at 11.30am.

“One militant was killed in a clash at 6.45am. None of the security forces personnel was injured,” he told a news conference, along with Chief of Defence Forces Gen Zulkifeli Mohd Zin, at 5pm at Felda Sahabat 16 near here.

Ismail said the security forces widened the area of their operation yesterday to flush out the remnants of the militants believed to be holed up in Kampung Tanduo and Kampung Tanjung Batu.

The death toll of 52 included the militants killed in skirmishes with the police in Kampung Tanduo and Kampung Tanjung Batu as well as Kampung Simunul in Semporna, he said.

“Kampung Tanduo and Kampung Tanjung Batu are still within the cordon of the security forces,” he said.

Zulkifeli said the security forces engaged in the mopping-up and search operation had been advised to be cautious at all times to avert injury.

“They can take a little more time… this is to avert any untoward incident,” he said.

- Bernama

Anwar: Indians not left out by Pakatan

After leaving out Indian issues in the Pakatan manifesto, Anwar Ibrahim is making amends by having talks with the Indian community.

PETALING JAYA: After stinging criticisms for leaving Indians out of the Pakatan Rakyat manifesto, Anwar Ibrahim has started talking to the Indian community.

Since last week, Anwar has had many discussions with the Indian community to consider its viewpoints and to emphasise that it was not left out of the Pakatan manifesto.

The opposition leader’s announcement comes following heavy criticisms that Pakatan had left out the Indian community in its election manifesto but not Felda settlers and Orang Asli.

Anwar said in a press statement today he had many discussions with leaders of the community.

He promised the long-standing issue of stateless people residing in Malaysia,”without excluding Indians”, would be resolved in the first 100 days of Pakatan’s administration.

“Technical training, coupled with job opportunities, will be made available to school leavers, with the focus on helping those from poor families,” Anwar said.

“The Indian community will be major beneficiaries from these programmes to eradicate poverty and uplift socio-economic standing,” he added.

He also promised Pakatan would ensure all Tamil schools would be fully funded and that their infrastructure would be comparable to national education standards.

Anwar added that a National Housing Board would be formed to build affordable homes for the people and to help build freehold homes for former estate workers around the country.

“This declaration is clearly spelt out in Manifesto Rakyat,” he said.

Anwar claimed that the “failure of many BN programmes” was due to poor reception and lack of cooperation because each programme was race-based.

“That is why I defend a needs-based approach because only all-inclusive programmes can be implemented successfully,” he said.

“I am open to further proposals to refine further the manifesto, as long as they do not alter the policies of Pakatan to reject racial politics and prioritise good governance and justice for the people,” he added.

Anwar also rebutted “BN attacks” that his manifesto was based on outdated propaganda with deceiving figures, saying Pakatan had presented “a transparent financial calculation that RM45.7 billion would be required to fund our programmes”.

“Barisan Nasional should lay down the financial analysis it is adopting to support its accusations against us, so that the people can compare and decide.”

Residents back Raveen for Batu Uban

His enemies in PKR are said to be conspiring against his candidacy in the GE.

GEORGE TOWN: Some activists in his own party are against him, but Penang PKR vice chairman S Raveentharan has the support of at least three community groups in his bid to defend his seat in the coming general election.

The three groups—Medan Nipah Residents Association, Pesara Nipah Management Corporation (PPPN) and Sri Nipah Management Corporation (PPSN)—have jointly written to PKR chief Anwar Ibrahim, urging him to retain Raveentharan for the Batu Uban state seat.

They have submitted copies of the letter to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Deputy Chief Minister I Mansor Othman. Mansor is chairman of Penang PKR.

Sources in PKR told FMT that some elements in the party were conspiring to get Raveentharan replaced with a former vice chairman of Penang PKR.

A source said the conspirators were mostly stationed in the Bayan Baru area and were led by a prominent state leader.

Referring to them as “saboteurs”, he said they had engaged pro-Pakatan cyber journalists to run down Raveentharan as an underperforming assemblyman.

In their letter, the community groups said Raveentharan was among the best performing PKR assemblymen and expressed their appreciation for his willingness to sacrifice energy, time and money for the good of his constituents.

The secretary for the Medan Nipah association, Chan Soon Aun, told FMT that Raveentharan was known among his constituents for initiating various “people oriented” programmes.

Chan, who said he was speaking for all three community groups, cited the assemblyman’s success in securing funds for flood mitigation projects in Sungai Dua and Minden Heights, his role in getting a RM20,000 multipurpose hall built, and various other achievements, especially in projects benefitting the more needy of his constituents.

Chan also praised Raveentharan as a politician “who is sensitive to religious sentiments in a multiracial society”, citing his objection to the construction of a religious facility on a plot of land formerly occupied by an Indah Water plant.

“While Anwar (Ibrahim) is a source of inspiration, Raveen is a symbol of dedication,” he said.

According to the latest information from the Election Commission, Batu Uban has some 29,000 voters, 5,000 up from 2008, with 59% Chinese, 27% Malays and 14% Indians.

In 2008, Raveentharan defeated incumbent Goh Kheng Sneah of Gerakan by 611 votes. Barisan Nasional is expected to field Goh again for Batu Uban.

Another factor in favour of Raveentharan’s candidacy is his racial background. Without him, PKR would not have an Indian candidate for the Penang state assembly.

Sultan Sulu: Saya sultan termiskin di dunia

Istana Kiram hanyalah rumah dua tingkat di kota Manila, Filipina.

MANILA: Sultan Sulu Jamalul Kiram III mengakui beliau adalah sultan paling miskin di dunia.

Istana Kiram hanyalah rumah dua tingkat di kota Manila, Filipina.

Lahir di Sulu pada 1938, Kiram merupakan seorang pemimpin yang cukup disayangi dan penggemar sukan tenis. Tanpa disadari, Sultan Sulu itu pernah bekerja sebagai juruhebah radio.

Beliau mencalonkan dirinya sebagai seorang senator pada 2007 dengan sokongan mantan Presiden Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Namun beliau kalah dan kerana itu hartanya pun habis kerana kempen pilihan raya tersebut.

“Saya adalah sultan termiskin di dunia ini,” ujar sultan berusia 74 tahun itu, seperti dilapor Associated Press hari ini.

Anak perempuannya, Jaycel menceritakan bagaimana kisah masa kecilnya.

Jaycel sendiri mengaku terkejut ketika mendengar khabar bahawa dirinya adalah seorang puteri raja.

“Ketika saya masih kecil, saya kira nama ‘Puteri’ adalah nama depan saya. Seorang puteri (raja) umumnya mengenakan mahkota, memiliki istana dan kereta kuda,” ujar Jaycel yang berusia 35 tahun.

Derita buah pinggang dan jantung

Salah satu hal yang menunjukan kejayaan Kiram hanyalah gelaran sultan yang ada di depan nama panjangnya. Selain itu, Kiram tidak memiliki apapun, selain pengikutnya yang sedang menduduki Sabah.

Kesihatan Kiram juga mula memburuk, menderita buah pinggang dan penyakit jantung. Kiram pun sulit untuk bercakap. Biaya rawatan sultan itu ternyata cukup mahal, keluarga Kiram dikhabarkan lupa membayar sewa rumah.

Di masa muda, Kiram mengaku sering berkunjung ke Sabah. Ketika berada di wilayah itu, Kiram merasa seperti berada di kampung halamannya sendiri.

Sabah dan Sulu dipisahkan oleh sebuah selat di Laut Sulu. Perjalanan dari Sabah ke Sulu juga hanya memakan waktu 30 minit dengan menggunakan kapal. Dua wilayah itu memiliki banyak kesamaan, warga-warga dari Sulu mahupun Sabah juga saling mengunjungi.

Kesultanan Sulu ingin melihat kerajaan Filipina menuntut kembali wilayah Sabah. Menurut Kiram, tuntutan itu penting kerana banyak pengikut Kesultanan Sulu yang diburu oleh polis Malaysia di Sabah.

Kiram cukup khuatir akan tindak balas para pengikutnya.

Santiago: I wasn’t involved in manifesto drafting

The Klang MP counters accusations made by MIC that he was 'sleeping' as he was not even in the manifesto's drafting committee.

PETALING JAYA: The MIC has once again put its foot in its mouth. They accused Klang MP Charles Santiago of sleeping when the Pakatan Rakyat manifesto was drafted.

But, today an incredulous Santiago said he was not even part of the drafting committee.

“I just want to clarify that I was not in the Pakatan manifesto committee,” he said.

Last week MIC party information chief VS Mogan accused PKR’s S Sivarasa and Santiago for not ensuring that the Pakatan manifesto contained promises made specifically to the Indian community.

“They are a disgrace to the community. It’s very general.We can’t see anything special for Indians,” Mogan had said.

“What were Sivarasa and Charles doing in Pakatan’s manifesto drafting committee?” he asked.

“Were they sleeping? Do they care about Indian issues? Or where they there just to make up the numbers?”

Santiago countered by saying: “The validity of what he [Mogan] said was wrong as I was not even in the Pakatan manifesto committee.

On the Pakatan manifesto, Santiago said that issues surrounding Indians have indeed been addressed.

“Revisions have been made and issues surrounding the Indian community have been incorporated in the manifesto. These issues are part and parcel of the manifesto itself,” he said.

He added that the manifesto committee will come out in a few days time to make a formal announcement to address these issues.

“The manifesto committee will make a formal announcement on issues such as statelessness and funding for Tamil schools,” he said.

Despite several quarters not being happy with Pakatan’s generality, the coalition defended its manifesto saying it is an inclusive document that is needs-based and not race-based.

Maika Holdings Saga

Using the Maika Holdings money, the gang bought into well-run companies and turned them upside down by appointing their own people to run these companies, squandering away the profits with luxurious parties and lavish parties, and, finally, by closing down these companies. They plundered in epic proportions.

Bernard Anthony

One of the main reasons why MIC President S Samy Vellu should leave the MIC is because he, along with his group of gangsters, robbed the Indian people of an enormous amount of money through Maika Holdings. And they still remain at large.

Maika Holdings raised RM108 million in 1981 from Indians, especially rural folks from the lower- and middle-income groups. These people were told to use their life savings – and even sell their jewelry – to invest in Maika Holdings because they were told the company would give them returns that were 10 to 20 times their initial investment. This, of course, is sweeter an offer than any licensed bank could make.

Samy Vellu, whose rhetoric needs no introduction, managed to fool these mostly not-so-well- educated individuals into parting with their money.

If you ask anyone who was in MIC at that time about how they organised groups of people to go out there to convince the masses to part with their money, you will be surprised. They even went to the extent of telling would-be investors to sell their properties and cattle to invest in Maika Holdings.

In other countries, this would have been considered a huge financial scandal, not just because of the amount of money involved, but because of the number of people involved in fleecing equally vast numbers of poor and less-educated citizens.

The RM108 million then had a buying power that was 10 to 15 times its value today. In today’s terms, it would be valued between RM1 billion and RM1.5 billion. Shortly after the initial investments were collected, the recession in the mid-1980s enabled the cash-rich Maika Holdings to go shopping for properties and collect fantastic deals.

If those properties were still in the hands of Maika Holdings, the company would be worth some RM3 billion to RM5 billion today. But those properties were sold at below-market prices through shady deals in which more money was transferred under the table than through actual and legal sales agreements.

Some of us may also remember the Telekom shares scandal, in which Maika Holdings was extended an offer to buy Telekom shares during its initial public offering (IPO). But Maika Holdings did not buy the Telekom shares. Instead, Samy Vellu bought them through his personal company, because Maika Holdings, supposedly, did not have the money to do so.

Maika Holdings could have made RM30 million, but this opportunity was hijacked by the sole defender and representative of the Indian community.

Telekom was only the first privatised government department. Since then, many other government agencies and departments have been privatised. As with Telekom Malaysia, shares were offered to Maika Holdings, but the offers were hijacked over and over again by Samy Vellu and his gang.

Using the Maika Holdings money, the gang bought into well-run companies and turned them upside down by appointing their own people to run these companies, squandering away the profits with luxurious parties and lavish parties, and, finally, by closing down these companies. They plundered in epic proportions.

To date, Maika shareholders have received almost nothing for their investments. The Maika Holdings scandal has cost many their life savings, property, opportunities to send their children for advanced education and so much more.

Recently, during a political speech, Samy Vellu announced that he will return RM1.30 for every RM1 invested in Maika Holdings and set a deadline of 100 days to do so. At the end of the deadline, however, he conveniently turned around and said that he has nothing to do with Maika Holdings because Maika Holdings is a business enterprise and he is only the president of MIC.

The managing director of Maika Holdings, Vel Pari, the son of Samy Vellu, then said that he did not know of any such deadline and, as such, is not bound to honour any kind of commitment.

Those who had the courage to go to Maika Holdings’ annual general meeting last year were met by thugs who intimidated and harassed anyone who raised questions about the management. Death threats and armed assaults are not uncommon at Maika Holdings’ annual general meetings.

No wonder the MIC is considered the most violent political party in Malaysia with two MPs shot dead by assailants in recent years, one or two knocked down by cars (in what are supposed to be accidents) and some even slashed by parang-wielding gangsters.

But Samy Vellu and gang have been allowed to continue plundering Maika Holdings without any accountability. And they were never questioned by the government, Bank Negara, the former prime minister or even the present prime minister.

The MIC’s handling of Maika Holdings was a con job approved and blessed by the highest public office. Perhaps it’s because Indians are the disenfranchised lot in this country that Samy Vellu can do anything, as long as he delivers the votes every election.

The government's total apathy regarding this scandal shows its attitude towards Indians – we are nobody's children. This injustice – this lack of government oversight – is happening in Malaysia, a country that is, supposedly, a leader among developing countries and is supposed to be a ‘developed nation’ in 12 years.

If the government is serious about showing its commitment to the Indians, start by asking Samy Vellu to step down. Get Maika Holdings cleaned up and bring to justice those who have been responsible for cheating its shareholders.

Don't be so stupid as to think that all we want are a few temples to be left in a few squatter areas. We know that as long as they are in squatter land, they will have to go. And repairing a few Tamil schools in some estates is like throwing us table scraps.

Show us that the government cares about Malaysian Indians as equal citizens who are entitled to equal protection under the law.

The great Maika Holdings and Telecom shares betrayal by MIC & Samy Vellu

It is very apparent that he keeps a very tight hold on Maika. That being the case, how could Maika undertake any business venture without his knowledge and blessing? Shouldn’t he be part of the debacle that is haunting Maika today? Shouldn’t he also shoulder the blame for "the dismal performance of the Maika management?"

Indrani Devi

Dear Mr Najib Razak, we the Indian Community in Malaysia present the story below and know in our hearts you will respond

Maika Holdings was touted as an economic vehicle and a miracle to lift the Indian poor from the shackles of poverty, Maika was launched with much hype and hope. The poor Indians – traditional MIC supporters, the lower middle-class and the working class Indians as well as a vast majority of plantation workers – were mesmerised into responding enthusiastically.

The poor plantation workers put their life savings into the venture, some scraping the barrel, others mortgaging their property and pawning the last of their jewellery. A vast majority also took loans at exorbitant rates to invest in a venture that promised dreams of hopes and tantalising prospects.

It’s not only the poor Indians who responded to this call to rally behind MIC’s efforts to secure seven percent of corporate ownership for the Indian community – which at that time had been stagnating at under one percent since 1960.

Although the original plan by the MIC was to ensure that at least RM30 million worth of Maika shares were subscribed, so successful was the promotion campaign that by 1984, a phenomenal RM106 million was raised from almost 66,400 shareholders.

A large majority of the shareholders are poor plantation workers. The largest individual shareholder with almost 2.8 million shares was MIC president S Samy Vellu. The amount invested in Maika was even larger than that obtained by MCA’s Multi-Purpose Holdings when the company commenced business.

When it started operations, Maika had one of the biggest cash reserves among Malaysian companies. At a time when business conglomerates like YTL, Berjaya, Malaysian Mining Corps, etc were practically unknown entities, Maika was already well known and if properly managed, would have been a billion dollar company now.

However, in its 25 years of tortured history, Maika investors have known nothing but pain and sorrow. The new dawn of a golden opportunity that was promised to the Indian poor never arrived. Instead, each passing year only witnessed dashed hopes and broken promises that littered the chequered history of Maika. Many of the investors had since passed away, their spirits broken by the betrayal of the leader they trusted.



What went wrong?

It is a case of bad management, poor investment, sheer arrogance and pure greed.

In spite of a number of major acquisitions made into some important companies – like the United Asian Bank (UAB), United Oriental Assurance (UOA), Malaysian Airlines System (MAS), Malaysian International Shipping Corporation (MISC), TV3 and Edaran Otomobil Malaysia Bhd (EON) – Maika’s performance has been mediocre.

There wasn’t any fanfare when Maika was allotted 10 million shares of Syarikat Telekom Malaysia Bhd (STMB). It was assumed in 1990 that Maika had been allotted all the shares it had subscribed to. No details were made known at that time.

Sometime in the middle of February 1992, the shroud of secrecy surrounding the Telekom shares allocation was ripped apart. Then, all hell broke loose.

A journalist from Watan disclosed that "there could have been some hanky-panky in the allocation of Telekom’s shares to Maika Holdings.

This was then followed by another report in a Tamil magazine, Thoothan on April 1, 1992, which disclosed that there could have been some discrepancy in the distribution of the 10 million Telekom shares allocated to Maika by the Finance Ministry. Malaysians learned for the first time (two years after the share issuance), that Maika acquired only one million and not the entire 10 million shares that were allotted to Maika Holdings.

Samy Vellu, through the Tamil Nesan and at MIC meetings, tried to explain by insisting that the cash flow problem faced by Maika did not allow Maika to take up all 10 million shares. But, one of the directors, a one-time ally of Samy Vellu, Vijendran, issued a statement insinuating that the truth may not have been told.

When this matter was raised in parliament, then finance minister Anwar Ibrahim disclosed that since Maika had stated that it could take up only one million shares, the remaining nine million shares were allocated to three companies proposed by Maika because to his "ministry’s knowledge, the three companies represented the interests of the Indian community" (The Star, April 30, 1992).

Note: At the time of share allocation in 1990, Tun Daim Zainuddin was the finance minister.



Maika did not reject the shares

The mystery deepened and bewildered the shareholders when another Maika director, Pasamanikam, contradicted the statements made by Anwar and Samy Vellu. According to Pasamanikam, Maika did not reject the Finance Ministry’s offer and did not propose that the nine million shares be allocated to any other company. He further revealed that Maika had indeed raised a RM50 million loan to facilitate the acquisition of the entire 10 million shares even before the Finance Ministry had withdrawn its offer. A tidal wave of questions engulfed the share holders:

1) Why did the Finance Ministry cancel the initial offer of the 10 million shares and subsequently allot only one million shares to Maika?

2) Who was responsible for the retraction of the original offer?

3) Who lied to the Finance Ministry?

4) Who informed them that Maika had recommended that the nine million shares be given to three companies?

5) Who supplied the names of these three companies?

6) Who coerced the Finance Ministry to change their mind?

7) Who aborted this offer? (There was no earthly reason for the Finance Ministry to change its mind on its own after having allocated 10 million shares).

According to GK Rama Iyer, former managing director of Maika Holdings Bhd – as revealed in his press release dated May 16, 1992 :

Samy Vellu was informed at 6.10am on Oct 5, 1990, that Maika had been offered 10 million STMB shares and of the probability of obtaining full loan financing and that Maika intended to take up the entire allocation of 10 million shares. Indeed, a letter dated Oct 5, 1990, from Arab-Malaysian Merchant Bankers Bhd. (AMMBB) – offering RM50 million to finance the purchase of the 10 million shares was received on Oct 6, 1990.



There must have been a mistake

He further clarified that Samy Vellu replied that "there must have been a mistake. The offer to Maika should be for one million and not 10 million"

According to Samy Vellu, the remaining nine million shares were for allocation to "other MIC bodies".

"Further, Samy Vellu stated that he would contact the ministry to clarify the position."

It was then, after Samy Vellu had contacted the Finance Ministry; that the letter of offer was retracted and Maika’s allocation reduced to only one million shares.



Why did Samy Vellu prevent Maika from acquiring the 10 million shares?

Wasn’t Maika his brain-child to raise the corporate wealth of the Indian community so that their economic welfare would be secured?

Wasn’t he the leader of MIC which launched Maika as a business venture to enrich the community which had long been associated with deprivation and poverty?

This was God-sent wealth. Why did he prevent this wealth from reaching Maika?

Imagine how much Maika would have made from these shares for which it only paid RM5 per share. When Telekom shares were first traded, it fetched a price of RM6.15 per share and that too during a bearish market. By mid-1992 the share price was hovering around RM11-RM13.

According to an article in the Aliran Monthly – 1993:13(10):

Samy Vellu had taken away from Maika RM120 million in profits (which it would have attained had it just held on to the 10 million shares until 1993).



They don’t deserve 10 million shares

Samy Vellu made it extremely clear that he personally decided to allocate only one million shares to Maika. According to Samy Vellu, "I could have given all the shares to Maika Holdings if not for their past business record. They don’t deserve 10 million shares because of the dismal performance of the Maika management. They have to learn to do business on their own and not depend on shares and make money out of it". (New Straits Times May, 16 1992)

His autocratic style and arrogance comes through so forcefully: "I could have given all the shares to Maika Holdings…," he boasts. "They don’t deserve 10 million shares…," he berates.

It is very apparent that he keeps a very tight hold on Maika. That being the case, how could Maika undertake any business venture without his knowledge and blessing? Shouldn’t he be part of the debacle that is haunting Maika today? Shouldn’t he also shoulder the blame for "the dismal performance of the Maika management?"

And why should he give nine million shares to three obscure companies?

SB Management Services Sdn. Bhd and Advanced Personal Computers Sdn Bhd were in fact shell companies with paid-up capital of RM2 each. The third company is Clearway Sdn. Bhd.

Samy Vellu decided on the shares allocation – not the Ministry of Finance!

On what criteria did Samy Vellu decide that the three companies deserve to get the Telekom shares instead of Maika?

What business experience and success could these companies boast about to warrant their being chosen from among all the other Indian businesses in the country?



Serious conflict of interest

There was a serious case of conflict of interest involved in this scandal. A director of Maika was also a shareholder and director of one of the three companies, all of which divided the nine million Telekom shares equally. Lim Kit Siang named this person as R Selvendra on May 7, 1992.

Two of the three companies – Advance Personal Computers and SB Management Services – shared the same business address: Level 2, Block F-North, Damansara Town Centre, Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur.

These two companies had the same company secretary: S. Balasubramaniam.

Significantly, S Balasubramaniam and S Sothinathan were both directors and shareholders of these two companies.

Note: Sothinathan is none other than the present MIC vice-president and MP for Teluk Kemang.

Samy Vellu rewarded a person who helped him hijack the Telekom shares by making him a deputy minister and could also probably groom him for future leadership of MIC.



Do we need leaders like this?

If the 10 million STMB shares were allocated for the MIC, who would be the natural inheritors of these shares on behalf of the Indian community – Maika with its 66,400 shareholders or three insignificant private companies with six shareholders? Does this information in any way suggest that these three companies represented the interests of the Indian community?

Who lied to the Finance Ministry that these "three companies represented the interests of the Indian community"?

What was the motive for diverting nine million shares to three private companies?

Those who sought to find the answers were threatened or beaten up. One brave soul who went on a crusade to expose this scandal was stabbed in Penang. Whenever questions regarding Maika were raised at MIC meetings presided by Samy Vellu, it was alleged that thugs would suddenly appear beside the person asking the question and that would be the end of the affair to seek answers.

On May 13, 1992, the then Selangor assemblyman for Seri Cahaya S Sivalingam (now deceased), had also acted as a thug when he led an assault on Maika shareholders who were peacefully picketing against the Maika Telekom shares scandal outside the Maika headquarters.

In October 2006, the MIC Johor assemblyman for Tenggaroh, the late S Krishnasamy assaulted M. Kulasegaran the DAP MP for Ipoh Barat at the Maika annual general meeting (AGM) at Legend Hotel. Even though Kulasegaran lodged a police report, no action was taken against Krishnasamy.

Some years ago, it was claimed that at one particular MIC meeting at the Dewan Sri Pinang in Penang, chaired by Samy Vellu, a Maika shareholder wanted to know the position of Maika. It was alleged that Samy Vellu told this shareholder that he would provide the answer after the adjournment for refreshment. In the meantime two thugs confronted this shareholder and told him that if he wanted to return home in one piece it was the right time to go home. When the meeting resumed, Samy Vellu reportedly called for the shareholder to repeat his query. But since he wasn’t there, Samy Vellu continued with his meeting without touching on the subject of Maika.

What is puzzling is the fact that in spite of so much overwhelming evidence, the Anti- Corruption Agency (ACA) after 17 months of investigation cleared Samy Vellu of any wrong-doing but unfortunately without clearing the doubts in the minds of the Malaysians.

In 1994, the then chairman of MIC public claims committee, V Subramaniam – also known as Barat Maniam – made a startling public accusation. He charged that the accounts were fabricated to make it appear as if all the profits from the sale of Telekom shares were channelled to MIED. In challenging Samy to take him to court, he declared, "I have come out with this statement to prove that Samy Vellu is a thief. He has stolen (Telekom) shares from the Indian community."



Maika Scandal refuses to be buried

In spite of 25 years of history, the Maika scandal refuses to be buried. It keeps on surfacing, haunting and hounding the perpetrators of a crime that robbed the poor of their fair share. The controversy surrounding the Maika-Telekom shares scandal appears to be far from over.

Promises were made; time and again, that Maika shareholders will get their hard earned money back. But not a penny was paid. At each Maika annual general meeting, the shareholders continue to press for answers. Often the meeting degenerates into violence as ‘thugs’ linked to the MIC president rough up those who dare ask questions.

Samy Vellu appointed his son Vell Paari as CEO of Maika Holdings in 1999. He is now in the process of selling off the few remaining assets of Maika Holdings.

Samy Vellu is very much in control of MIC, and he runs the party as a feudal organisation where he makes all the decisions. He has systematically hounded many capable leaders out of MIC to maintain his iron grip in the party. His deputies and committee members are loyal minions who will not hesitate to do anything and everything he says. After years in power, MIC is now a rotting mass, particularly in the head. Instead of serving the Indian community, MIC has become a party that serves only its leaders while millions of Indians face untold misery. The poor Indians have remained poor while those close to Samy Vellu became rich beyond their own expectations.

MIC exists for the benefit of its leaders, not the poor Indian community.



Now Mr Prime Minister, can you just ignore these contentious issues that have destroyed the lives of thousands of your citizens?

The entire Indian community awaits your response and our votes hang on your action.

Malaysia under Pakatan rule?

Percubaan mencederakan Anwar Ibrahim di Bukit Katil, Melaka

 

 

Najib’s stand of unconditional surrender for the Sulu militants deserves the support of all Malaysians

The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s stand of unconditional surrender for the Sulu militants deserves the support of all Malaysians.

There is neither basis nor merit in the call for ceasefire or the unilateral ceasefire by the Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, after eight police commandoes had been slain and some of their corpses treated in the most harrowing and bestial manner after they had fallen as national heroes in the cause of national duty to protect national sovereignty and the security of the state and people.

All Malaysians, regardless of race, religion, region or political affiliation, are united as one in giving full endorsement to all necessary measures by the government and the security forces to end the month-long battle against Sulu militants.

All Malaysians support the online petition by the group identified as “Concerned Citizens of Sabah” that Sabahans want to “remain Malaysians”.

DAP fully endorses the sentiments in the online petition that while Sabah has a “shared history” with its neighbours, “the people of Sabah are not politically beholden to these historical ties”.

The petition appealed to the international community “to acknowledge the people of Sabah’s right to self-determination; to endorse the state’s constitutional sovereignty of the Malaysian government as valid and the desire of Sabahans to permanently reject the Sultanate of Sulu’s claim on our home”.

The present situation, reality and sentiments in Sabah were correctly captured in the sentence: “The Sulu sultanate is obsolete; Sabah is a living and breathing land with its own history and people (who) deserve the right to choose who governs them.”

There are legitimate dissent and numerous criticisms on many issues involving the handling of the month-long invasion by Sulu armed militants resulting in the loss of lives of eight police commandos, which should not have happened at all, but this is not the time to ventilate them as they are all secondary to the primary issue of re-asserting our national sovereignty and ending all threats to the security and safety of the people of Sabah and the security forces personnel.

This is why I have not only temporarily put aside my criticisms about the manner in which the month-long battle with the Sulu militants was handled, I have also decided to defer my intention to institute legal proceedings against those who had defamed me on the Internet over the incursions by the Sulu militants, one of whom is Ishammuddin Razaman @ Ishammuddin, special officer to the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

Irresponsible and baseless allegations have also been made against Pakatan Rakyat leaders, in particular Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim over the incursions by the Sulu militants.

I call on all political leaders, both from the Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat, to end all baseless allegations and to put national interests above everything else so that the Sabah Sulu crisis could be ended in the shortest possible time, without the loss of another single life whether from security forces or the Malaysian public.

I reiterate the Pakatan Rakyat’s call for an emergency meeting of Parliament so that all MPs, regardless of political party or coalition, can stand as one to support all necessary measures taken by the government and the security forces to protect national sovereignty and security of the people of Sabah and security forces personnel.

The Cabinet at its meeting yesterday did not address the call by the Pakatan Rakyat leadership for a special meeting of Parliament.

The Prime Minister should not tarry any further on this issue and should take the initiative to convene a special meeting of Parliament on the Sabah Sulu crisis.

Jakim Welcomes Measures To Uphold Islam

KUALA LUMPUR, March 6 (Bernama) -- The Islamic Development Department (Jakim) has welcome an announcement that eight additional measures are being taken by the government to enhance the nation's prosperity and Muslims' faith.

Its director-general, Datuk Othman Mustapha said the announcement would inspire and motivate Jakim employees and benefit Muslims nationwide.

"This proves that the Islamic agenda has always been given priority by the government as enshrined under with Article 3 (1) of the Federal Constitution which stipulates that Islam is the official religion of the federation," he said in a statement Wednesday.

The eight measures were announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at an assembly of ulama at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil, yesterday.

They include plans to strengthen Jakim by turning it into the National Council of Islamic Religious Affairs secretariat, coordinate state Muslim affairs at the national level, and upgrade Kafa, Darul Quran into Al-Quran University College and mosque's ICT.

Othman described the measures taken as a recognition and appreciation to Jakim's role in its quest to strengthen Muslim' faith and propagate Islam in the country