Saturday 28 December 2013
Saudi scholar: 'Women must not work for telemarketing firms'
Use of coquettish voice tones could lead to harassment and extortion, warns scholar
Manama: A Saudi religious scholar has warned women against accepting to work in direct marketing or telemarketing services, saying that it could have ominous consequences for them and society.
“Such jobs, because of their nature, could result in grave problems for women,” Abdul Aziz Al Fawzan, a jurisprudence professor, said. “When women call men they do not know in their homes or offices and use a soothing and coquettish tone of voice to make them accept specific offers, we have a serious problem because the conversation could ultimately lead to soliciting and blackmailing,” he said during an interview on a private television channel.
Women need to be extra cautious and avoid working for such companies that want customers to swallow baits. “From a religious point of view, the companies themselves should avoid recruiting women to do their marketing with strange men because they put them at the risk of being harassed or becoming subject to vulgarities by some people whose religious values are weak and who lack good manners,” he said.
Al Fawzan’s advice caused uproar on social media networks where he was praised and criticized in equal measures. Those who supported him said that he spoke out of his concern for the well-being and comfort of women and that he wanted to protect society from evil.
“Thank you so much for promoting the virtue of women at a time when so many people endeavour to afflict our society with their poisonous pens,” Her Father’s Daughter, a blogger, posted. “We want you to be a thorn in the flesh of all the liberals and seculars who want to abuse women in all ways.”
However, those who disapproved of his words said that he should allow women with no steady financial income to earn a living and that he should appreciate that women are well capable of honouring their values and virtues.
“I wish the scholar if he wanted to offer valuable advice to press men to respect good morals and to order them not to harass or bother women,” a blogger under the moniker “Someone”, wrote. “He should not engage in scaring people about women taking up jobs. He should not deprive women of their right to work by distorting people’s views and presenting them under a negative light. He should be more positive of he really cares about the nation with its male and female citizens.”
Manama: A Saudi religious scholar has warned women against accepting to work in direct marketing or telemarketing services, saying that it could have ominous consequences for them and society.
“Such jobs, because of their nature, could result in grave problems for women,” Abdul Aziz Al Fawzan, a jurisprudence professor, said. “When women call men they do not know in their homes or offices and use a soothing and coquettish tone of voice to make them accept specific offers, we have a serious problem because the conversation could ultimately lead to soliciting and blackmailing,” he said during an interview on a private television channel.
Women need to be extra cautious and avoid working for such companies that want customers to swallow baits. “From a religious point of view, the companies themselves should avoid recruiting women to do their marketing with strange men because they put them at the risk of being harassed or becoming subject to vulgarities by some people whose religious values are weak and who lack good manners,” he said.
Al Fawzan’s advice caused uproar on social media networks where he was praised and criticized in equal measures. Those who supported him said that he spoke out of his concern for the well-being and comfort of women and that he wanted to protect society from evil.
“Thank you so much for promoting the virtue of women at a time when so many people endeavour to afflict our society with their poisonous pens,” Her Father’s Daughter, a blogger, posted. “We want you to be a thorn in the flesh of all the liberals and seculars who want to abuse women in all ways.”
However, those who disapproved of his words said that he should allow women with no steady financial income to earn a living and that he should appreciate that women are well capable of honouring their values and virtues.
“I wish the scholar if he wanted to offer valuable advice to press men to respect good morals and to order them not to harass or bother women,” a blogger under the moniker “Someone”, wrote. “He should not engage in scaring people about women taking up jobs. He should not deprive women of their right to work by distorting people’s views and presenting them under a negative light. He should be more positive of he really cares about the nation with its male and female citizens.”
Cross-dressing outlawed in Malaysian state
Under an amendment to the Sharia Criminal Offences Enactment, in force since December 1, any Muslim caught dressed as the opposite sex faces up to one year in jail and a possible fine of 1,000 ringgit (300 dollars), the Harian Metro daily reported.
"Before, we could only arrest them and advise them to change, but this has not brought any results," Pahang state Islamic Religious Council Deputy President Wan Wahid Wan Hassan was quoted as saying."Instead the phenomenon has become widespread."
"After this, a jail term or a fine or both can be imposed if they are convicted," he said.
The law only applies to Muslims in Pahang state, where a degree of sharia law is applied by local authorities. The law was part of a major review of the sharia enactment, that also included new sections on defiance of the sultan and religiousagencies, according to the official news agency Bernama.
Islamic authorities have decreed a national fatwa, or prohibition, ruling masculine dress on women to be forbidden, but there is no national law to this effect. Pang Khee Teik, a prominent local gay activist, blasted the stateruling.
"Leave the Mak Nyahs (transvestites) and pengkids (tomboys) alone," he wrote on Facebook. "This is Malaysia where unkindness is law, where we kick those who are already down," he said.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Cross-dressing-outlawed-in-Malaysian-state-30223119.html
We will keep on using Allah in Selangor churches, says priest
Catholic churches in Selangor will continue to use the word Allah during its weekend services in Bahasa Malaysia despite the state’s Islamic Religious Department (Jais) intention to send them reminders on a 1988 state enactment prohibiting non-Muslims from using the word.
Catholic weekly Herald editor Rev Father Lawrence Andrew said Article 11(3) (A) of the Federal Constitution prescribes that every religious group has its right to manage its own religious affairs.
“Our religion cannot be managed by any Muslim group. It is against the Federal Constitution.
"We will continue to use the word Allah in our masses,” he told The Malaysian Insider today.
He said that Jais as an Islamic body has no jurisdiction over other religious bodies.
“At the moment, the case is still in court and no decision has been made yet. They can’t pre-empt this,” he added.
Aside from the Catholic church, other Christian churches, such as the Sidang Injil Borneo, also conduct services in Bahasa Malaysia and other native languages from East Malaysia, with the use of the word Allah.
In an interview with news portal The Malay Mail Online, newly-appointed Jais director Ahmad Zaharin Mohd Saad had said the Islamic authority would draw up a list of Selangor churches before writing letters asking them to comply with the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988.
“We will write letters to all the churches in Selangor to respect the law that is in force in relation to this,” he was quoted as saying.
The enactment, which was passed by the Barisan Nasional state government, prohibits non-Muslims in Selangor from using 35 Arabic words and phrases in their faith, including “Allah”, “Nabi” (prophet), “Injil” (gospel) and “Insya'Allah” (God willing).
The Catholic church has been on a collision course with Putrajaya over the use of the word Allah.
Many Islamist groups in Malaysia had insisted that the word Allah belongs exclusively to Muslims, although Christians and other faiths have argued otherwise.
In December 2009, the High Court made a landmark ruling in favour of the Catholic Church, when it said Allah, which means God in Arabic, was not the exclusive right of Muslims and the Catholic weekly Herald could publish it in its Bahasa Malaysia section, which caters to its East Malaysian Bumiputera congregation.
This led to the Home Ministry appealing against the ruling in January 2010.
On October 14 this year, the Court of Appeal overturned the High Court decision, and said the ban was justified as "the word Allah was not integral to the practice of the Christian faith".
The church’s leave application to appeal the appellate court’s decision will be heard on February 24.
The decision spooked Christians in Sabah and Sarawak as many felt the ban was not exclusive to Herald but was binding to all Christians.
This led to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak assuring Christians in East Malaysia that they could continue using the word and that the Federal Government will honour the 10-point solution.
Under the 10-point solution announced in 2011 by Datuk Idris Jala, it was agreed that bibles in all languages can be imported into the country, including Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia.
The 10-point solution also states that bibles can be printed locally in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.
The Court of Appeal decision also received worldwide attention, with respected American Muslim theologian Reza Aslan, among others, criticising the decision.
The debate on the matter continues, with the Sun newspaper reported on October 30 that the Bar Council was considering following in the footsteps of the Sabah Lawyers Association (SLA) and throwing its weight behind the Catholic weekly in the appeal process.
This raised the ire of Muslim Lawyers Association, who strongly opposed the move. – December 27, 2013.
Rosmah's son buys RM110mil condo in New York
Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz (far left),
the son of the prime minister's wife Rosmah Mansor from an earlier
marriage, bought the property at 63rd Street in Park Laurel, New York,
according to Sarawak Report.The report quotes a New York real estate website, The Real Deal, which said Riza bought the seven-bedroom property on Nov 19 last year.
A New York Times report says the penthouse unit, situated in Central Park West, was purchased by Riza under the shield of a limited-liability company named Park Laurel Acquisition.
Riza, according to Sarawak Report, began a banking career after graduating from the London School of Economics in 2000.The report said Riza had worked with consultancy firm KPMG until 2002 and later at HSBC London until the financial crash of 2008.
"According to the Financial Services Authority, Riza Aziz was employed in a relatively minor role at HSBC for five years, although Aziz himself says he resigned in 2008," reads the report.
Despite his brief banking career, Riza is now a rising star in Hollywood, for he is said to have bankrolled the recently released film, 'Wolf of Wall Street', through producing company Red Granite Pictures which he co-founded with Joey McFarland.
'Flush with funds'
The report also cites a Los Angeles Times interview that quotes Joey's partner McFarland as saying that their company's strategy is “to buy up promising but troubled production projects that other studios have dropped”.
Riza's source of funding is unclear, says Sarawak Report, but his company has bankrolled other Hollywood films including 'Friends With Kids' and the sequel to 'Dumb and Dumber' dubbed 'Dumb and Dumber To', with a deliberate mispell.
The
report also said Penang-based businessman Jho Low was present during
the launch of 'The Wolf of Wall Street' - starring Hollywood star
Leonardo DiCaprio - and posed for photographs together with the two
rising producers.Jho Low, described as a billionaire, has grabbed the headlines over his lavish spending and supposed close links with Najib and Rosmah.
Riza's wealth in Hollywood has not pleased everybody, for the original producers of "Dumb and Dumber", Steve Stabler and Brad Krevoy, have filed a suit against him.
Red Granite taken to court
According to documents filed with the Superior Court of California that were reproduced by Sarawak Report, the producers are upset with Riza's company for attempting to cut them out from the production of "Dumb and Dumber To", which Red Granite bought over from New Line Cinema and Warner Bros.
The court document filed on July 22 singles out Riza as a "relative" of Najib."Red Granite has established a pattern of using (Riza) Shahriz Bin Abdul Aziz's family money to buy motion picture franchises from the studios that developed them and purporting to assume the studio's obligations relating to the franchises, but then reneging on contractual obligations to the key talent," the court document says.
Despite the controversy, Sarawak Report said, Riza has been described by Hollywood as a producer to keep an eye on as his company has risen from "nowhere" in 2010 to "top company to watch".
Why for Perkasa only, ask other Malay rights defenders
The two NGOs, which are similarly involved in defending Malay and Muslim rights in the country, said they, too, want recognition and some of these funds.
MJMM president Abdul Rani Kulup Abdullah said they suspected that Perkasa had government backing, but it had not been made this clear before.
"Now,
with it revealed that Perkasa has government funding... I feel it's not
fair if only Perkasa alone gets the funds," Rani said in a text message
to Malaysiakini today."We are moving along with our own pocket money... so I urge the government to carefully review again the funds for NGOs."
MJMM has been actively policing the social media, such as Facebook, and has filed several police reports against those allegedly insulting Muslims or Malays online.
It is also among the NGOs that in October called on police to investigate DAP MP Tony Pua for labelling Utusan Malaysia and the Registrar of Societies (ROS) as 'anjing Umno' (running dogs for Umno) in a online posting.
MJMM is also protesting against price hikes and higher cost of living, Rani said.
Isma: It’s not Umno’s generosity
Earlier this week Perkasa admitted that it had received funding from agencies such as the National Security Council (MKN), National Civics Bureau (BTN) and the Special Affairs Department (Jasa), which come under the Communications and Multimedia Ministry.
Isma is similarly unhappy that government funds are not handed out more evenly."Umno cannot bring it up as if it is their generosity (to fund Perkasa)," Isma's president Abdullah Zaik Abdul Rahman (right) said.
"Until now, I have not seen the government truly acknowledge the role of NGOs in building up the community, especially Malay and Islamic NGOs."
Abdullah noted that the government has shortchanged Islamic NGOs as they were given much lesser funds than non-Islamic NGOs, despite the bigger contribution to society by Islamic NGOs.
Isma made the limelight recently for tearing at human rights group Comango at the UN review in Geneva two months ago.
It has also called for Malaysia to take a stand on the Islamic form of human rights and to ignore the more liberal international standards.
To avoid favouritism, Isma recommended that the government enshrine funding to NGOs as a constitutional right, so that governments would no longer hand them out at their discretion.
"For me, the role and credibility of the NGOs are ruined when they are managed according to the whims of the ruling party," Abdullah Zaik said.
Funding Perkasa suicidal for BN, says Gerakan Youth
Calling the Malay rights group's work as the opposite of BN's objectives, the party's Youth chief Tan Keng Liang (left) urged the government to clarify why key government institutions were involved with a number of Perkasa programmes.Earlier this week Perkasa admitted that it had received funding from agencies such as the National Security Council (MKN), National Civics Bureau (BTN) and the Special Affairs Department (Jasa), which comes under the Communications and Multimedia Ministry.
"It's suicidal for BN to fund Perkasa because its activities are not helping the government... it's creating a bad image," Tan told Malaysiakini.
"If it is true, it has to be reviewed... the government has to come out and clarify the situation, or more rumours will spread."
Tan's views were echoed by Gerakan vice-president Dominic Lau who also texted his view that the party "strongly opposed the government aiding Perkasa."
"Gerakan's stand on Perkasa has been very clear all this while, which is we are against extreme racist party/organisation," he noted.
He said that the government should ensure that all NGOs, regardless of political inclinations, are fairly funded but must also make sure no fund goes to NGOs that are not promoting social unity and justice.
Similarly, MCA, another BN component party questioned Perkasa's qualification.
Citing her past experience as a deputy minister, MCA woman division chief Heng Seai Kie said that only NGOs that provide community and social services and effectively help the government received such financial aid.
Perkasa self-image in sorry state
"We feel sorry to say that with Perkasa's current leadership - all their statements, activities and programmes - they create a negative impression in public...they have been labelled as racist propagandists and have nothing to do with government," Heng told Malaysiakini over the phone.
Heng, however, said that she hoped Perkasa can change, since it is now in the limelight.
"I hope Perkasa can learn from the public response when they know about the funding. As a responsible NGO, Perkasa should revise their programmes and statements and they way they carry themselves. They should be grateful for government support and stop creating racial-friction," she said.
"If they don't change, the government has a right to stop funding them."
When asked if Perkasa was helping BN to win the Malay electorate over as recently claimed, MCA's Heng also disagreed.
"I don't think so. If they are helping to unite the Malays, then in the last general elections, Pakatan Rakyat wouldn't have gotten so much support from the Malays," she said.
"Unity is called for as we move towards Vision 2020 with PM's 1Malaysia spirit, Perkasa is doing just the opposite."
2013, a year of tragedies for Malaysia
The incidents which were often followed by sometimes incredulous 'official' explanations have left Malaysians with more questions than answers.
KUALA LUMPUR: The year 2013 has seen a diverse series of ‘tragedies’ in the country ranging from politics, finance, crumbling buildings, accidents, gangland killings, unexplained deaths in custodies and calamities as a result of environmental desecration and climatic change.The incidents which were often followed by sometimes incredulous ‘official’ explanations have left Malaysians with more questions than answers.
Politically May 5 was defining not so much for Barisan Nasional and the opposition but for the rakyat.
They learnt that popular votes don’t count under the first-past the post system practiced here and that no amount of Black 05 gatherings and rantings on ground and on social media platforms will change the polls outcome.
They also heard that we were heading the Greek-way in terms of ballooning debts and there was really nothing the man on the streets could do because it is increasingly obvious that the rakyat must scrimp and save for the Umno-led government to spend as it likes.
On the streets, post GE13, the Malaysian parliament was told that there has been 230 cases of death in custody since year 2000.
Up until July 2013, Amnesty International noted 12 deaths.
These deaths have yet to be properly explained by the authorities.
Amnesty International in a open letter in July pointed out that police abuses allegedly also took place outside of custody and that they had received a “steady” flow of reliable reports of police using unnecessary, excessive and sometimes lethal force during arrests.
Also in July and August gangland clashes topped the news with reports of dismantled pistols, revolvers smuggled in from Thailand and later sold cheaply here.
As at August this year, there have been at least 35 reported shootings nationwide which left 22 dead.
Killings and drownings
The spike in drive-by shootings and mafia-style killings including the high profile murder of banker Ahmad Hussain Najadi in July saw the police and government lawmakers blaming the abolition of the Emergency Ordinance (EO) in 2011.
They claimed the abolishing the EO had set free 2,600 hardcore criminals and gang members who were now allegedly on rampage.
Also reported in the first half of the year was the tragic loss of three lives in Sarawak.
On May 28, a boat packed with more than 100 people returning home to celebrate the annual Gawai Dayak festival with family and friends capsized after hitting a log.
Three passengers died while others were either rescued by villagers or managed to swim to safety.
The accident in Sungai Rejang near Jeram Giam brought into focus the lack of enforcement on safety issues. Boats and ferries are crucial mode of travel along the mighty Rejang.
The incident also drew attention to the incessant logging activities, legal and otherwise, alongside the river and the state government’s dogged determination to build more dams at ths cost of its indigenous people and environment.
On June 6 four people were killed when a section of the Second Penang bridge, which was under construction, collapsed on a Perodua Kelisa car they were travelling in.
If the first half was not morbid enough, Bernama reported that the country’s worst road tragedy in 17 years was the Genting Highlands crash.
The tragedy on Aug 21 claimed 37 lives.
The crash occurred when the Kuala Lumpur-bound stage bus which ferried 53 people, skidded and plunged 60 metres into a ravine at the 3.5km Jalan Genting Highlands.
Human failings or attitudes
A Malaysian Institute of Road Safety (Miros) study noted, among other factors, that the bus which was going downhill was being driven at break-neck speed, exceeding 50kmph.
The other factor was its dysfunctional brake system.
The rescue operation which followed, involving more than 150 firemen and personnel from various agencies, was hailed as the most organised and efficient.
On Oct 10, a MASWings Twin Otter aircraft crashed in Kudat while attempting to land at the provincial airport.
Two people were killed and 16 others injured in the incident which saw the plane overshoot the airport runway and crash into a house in Kampung Sinsan, killing the co-pilot and a passenger.
Two weeks later the serenity in Cameron Highlands was interupted following a landslide and mud flood in the Bertam Valley.
Three people were killed, one injured and another reportedly missing in the incident which also damaged 80 houses and about 100 vehicles.
The incident occurred after Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), which operates the Sultan Abu Bakar hydroelectric dam power plant di Ringlet, released water from the dam to avoid it from bursting, following continuous rain since Oct 22.
According to TNB the water was released according to procedures.
The fault they insinuated was not theirs but the state authorities which allowed ‘settlements’ buffer zones and the continued apathy among residents.
Post incident cleanup saw tonnes and tonnes of garbage and debri surface.
‘Unusual rainfall’
A week later, on Oct 30, three people returning from a haj pilgrimage were killed and three others were injured when the van they were travelling in, crashed into a lorry at the East Coast Expressway.
Early this month, more than 40,000 residents in Pahang had to be evacuated to relief centres due to flood.
Three people were killed in the floods, said to have been caused by “unusual rainfall”.
The flood caused 1,072 TNB sub-stations to be submerged, resulting in TNB to stop electricity supply to 62,907 consumers.
With just days to go before 2014 descends on us, the rains continue to pelt Malaysia even as other ‘tragedies’ beseige us in the form of arbitrary price hikes in everday goods, utilities and the much speculated looming unemployment situation next year.
Whilst the government continues to shut out naysayers, the reality on the ground is shaping up to prove the authorities wrong.
Bumiputera mampu kendalikan kontrak RM300 bilion
MOGSC sendiri yang merangkumi 450 anggota, 90 peratus daripadanya syarikat Bumiputera.
Shahrullizan Rusli
KUALA LUMPUR,:Nilai kontrak kira-kira RM300 bilion yang diberi Petronas kepada syarikat Bumiputera sejak lima tahun lepas menunjukkan mereka mempunyai daya saing yang tinggi, sekali gus meraih kepercayaan firma minyak dan gas negara itu, kata Majlis Perkhidmatan Minyak dan Gas Malaysia (MOGSC).
Presidennya Sofiyan Yahya berkata sememangnya syarikat Bumiputera aktif dalam industri minyak dan gas, dan ini dilihat melalui MOGSC sendiri yang merangkumi 450 anggota, 90 peratus daripadanya syarikat Bumiputera.
“MOGSC sanggup membantu syarikat Bumiputera yang mahu menceburi bidang ini,” katanya kepada Bernama berhubung penyertaan Bumiputera dalam industri minyak dan gas negara, khususnya melibatkan Petronas.
Mengakui wujud aduan berhubung syarikat Bumiputera sukar mendapatkan lesen Petronas, beliau menjelaskan ini kerana syarikat minyak itu mengikuti piawaian antarabangsa dan sangat profesional dalam pengurusannya.
Sofiyan seterusnya menegaskan Petronas tidak pernah mengetepikan syarikat Bumiputera dan jika ada kontraktor Bumiputera menghadapi isu berkaitan tender atau lesen, MOGSC sanggup menjadi pengantara untuk menyelesaikan masalah yang timbul.
“Sebagai contoh, syarat utama (pemberian) lesen pun perlu berstatus Bumiputera, urusan pemberian tender pun, Petronas akan jemput kontraktor Bumiputera,” kata Sofiyan.
Beliau turut menarik perhatian bahawa pembinaan Kompleks Petroleum Bersepadu Pengerang di Johor turut melibatkan pemberian tender khusus untuk kontraktor Bumiputera.
Dalam pada itu, beliau meminta pengurusan syarikat Bumiputera supaya berfikiran strategik untuk merebut peluang dalam industri minyak dan gas yang menyaksikan kepakaran Bumiputera diiktiraf di peringkat antarabangsa.
“Kepakaran kita boleh diketengahkan di peringkat antarabangsa. Kita memang menghadapi kekurangan pegawai, dan ini merupakan satu-satunya penghalang syarikat Bumiputera untuk berkembang,” kata Sofiyan sambil menambah bahawa ia bukan sahaja berlaku dalam industri minyak dan gas negara, malah di peringkat antarabangsa.
Justeru, beliau berkata syarikat Bumiputera perlu tampil dengan teknologi baharu sebagai jawapan kepada kekurangan tenaga manusia berkenaan.
Sofiyan juga meminta kontraktor Bumiputera supaya tidak mudah melenting apabila melihat beberapa projek dalam industri minyak dan gas tempatan diberi kepada pihak luar.
“Yang penting ialah hasil selepas projek itu siap, seperti aspek servis, baik pulih, pemeriksaan dan sebagainya. Peluang sebeginilah yang patut diintai syarikat Bumiputera,” katanya.
Beliau berkata peluang untuk Bumiputera bukan sahaja wujud dalam Petronas, malah turut disediakan syarikat minyak antarabangsa lain yang beroperasi di Malaysia.
Shahrullizan RusliKUALA LUMPUR,:Nilai kontrak kira-kira RM300 bilion yang diberi Petronas kepada syarikat Bumiputera sejak lima tahun lepas menunjukkan mereka mempunyai daya saing yang tinggi, sekali gus meraih kepercayaan firma minyak dan gas negara itu, kata Majlis Perkhidmatan Minyak dan Gas Malaysia (MOGSC).
Presidennya Sofiyan Yahya berkata sememangnya syarikat Bumiputera aktif dalam industri minyak dan gas, dan ini dilihat melalui MOGSC sendiri yang merangkumi 450 anggota, 90 peratus daripadanya syarikat Bumiputera.
“MOGSC sanggup membantu syarikat Bumiputera yang mahu menceburi bidang ini,” katanya kepada Bernama berhubung penyertaan Bumiputera dalam industri minyak dan gas negara, khususnya melibatkan Petronas.
Mengakui wujud aduan berhubung syarikat Bumiputera sukar mendapatkan lesen Petronas, beliau menjelaskan ini kerana syarikat minyak itu mengikuti piawaian antarabangsa dan sangat profesional dalam pengurusannya.
Sofiyan seterusnya menegaskan Petronas tidak pernah mengetepikan syarikat Bumiputera dan jika ada kontraktor Bumiputera menghadapi isu berkaitan tender atau lesen, MOGSC sanggup menjadi pengantara untuk menyelesaikan masalah yang timbul.
“Sebagai contoh, syarat utama (pemberian) lesen pun perlu berstatus Bumiputera, urusan pemberian tender pun, Petronas akan jemput kontraktor Bumiputera,” kata Sofiyan.
Beliau turut menarik perhatian bahawa pembinaan Kompleks Petroleum Bersepadu Pengerang di Johor turut melibatkan pemberian tender khusus untuk kontraktor Bumiputera.
Dalam pada itu, beliau meminta pengurusan syarikat Bumiputera supaya berfikiran strategik untuk merebut peluang dalam industri minyak dan gas yang menyaksikan kepakaran Bumiputera diiktiraf di peringkat antarabangsa.
“Kepakaran kita boleh diketengahkan di peringkat antarabangsa. Kita memang menghadapi kekurangan pegawai, dan ini merupakan satu-satunya penghalang syarikat Bumiputera untuk berkembang,” kata Sofiyan sambil menambah bahawa ia bukan sahaja berlaku dalam industri minyak dan gas negara, malah di peringkat antarabangsa.
Justeru, beliau berkata syarikat Bumiputera perlu tampil dengan teknologi baharu sebagai jawapan kepada kekurangan tenaga manusia berkenaan.
Sofiyan juga meminta kontraktor Bumiputera supaya tidak mudah melenting apabila melihat beberapa projek dalam industri minyak dan gas tempatan diberi kepada pihak luar.
“Yang penting ialah hasil selepas projek itu siap, seperti aspek servis, baik pulih, pemeriksaan dan sebagainya. Peluang sebeginilah yang patut diintai syarikat Bumiputera,” katanya.
Beliau berkata peluang untuk Bumiputera bukan sahaja wujud dalam Petronas, malah turut disediakan syarikat minyak antarabangsa lain yang beroperasi di Malaysia.
Allah issue threatening racial unity
The unity and harmony Malaysians of different faiths enjoyed is under threat with Najib's handling of the Allah issue.
COMMENT
Prime Minister Najib Razak is struggling to put things in perspective and ended up instead insulting his own intelligence. First he goes to declare that MCA needs political “viagra” to get its act in order.Maybe Najib was being cheeky by taking a dig at former MCA chief Chua Soi Lek whose extra-marital affair came to light after he was caught in the act and which led to him quitting mainstream politics.
But then the “viagra” analogy did not go down well with both MCA and outgoing president Chua. Still, Najib, however, was far from perturbed, oblivious to the fact that associating MCA with “viagra” was the worst co-relation he could think of.
Then came the issue concerning the use of the word “Allah” by the non-Malays. During the Umno general assembly early this month, Najib had insisted that “Allah” was exclusive to the Muslims.
It did not end there. The premier later dropped hints that it was best Christians ended its battle over the “Allah” row and abided by the Constitution.
Najib’s biased and undemocratic stance has further divided an already divisive nation. To outgoing Archbishop Murphy Pakiam, this was the last straw that broke the camel’s back which led to Pakiam openly castigating the premier saying it was Najib who should stop preventing the Catholics from using the word “Allah”.
Responding to Najib’s call for Muslims and Christians to end the national-level debate over the use of the word “Allah”, Pakiam on Christmas Day voiced his worry that Najib’s insistence that “Allah” remain exclusive to the Muslims was inciting right-wing groups against the Christian community.
To Pakiam, it was Najib who was adding to the confusion by saying “Allah” can only be used in Sabah and Sarawak, but banned here in the peninsula.
“But still, he is the prime minister, so I have to pray, God, please help him to see his mission, his duty for the whole country, not for just Umno, ,” Pakiam had lamented.
The row over the “Allah” issue undeniably had a hand in Pakiam tendering his resignation as the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur on Dec 6 upon reaching the retirement age of 75.
To some, the speed with which the Vatican accepted Pakiam’s resignation raised alarm bells, with some speculating that the Vatican was disappointed with Pakiam’s “soft approach” over the “Allah” controversy.
The episode started in 2008 when Catholic newspaper The Herald was ordered by the Home Ministry to stop using the word “Allah”.
The Catholic Church took the matter to court and won a High Court decision in 2009 upholding its constitutional right to do so.
Unhappy with the court verdict, Putrajaya counter-challenged the decision and was successful in overturning an earlier decision when the Court of Appeal on Oct 14 this year ruled that “Allah” was not significant to the Christian faith.
Allah is used in the Bahasa Malaysia versions of the Bible, especially by Christians in Sabah and Sarawak as the mostly bumiputera congregation there worship in Bahasa Malaysia.
The Home Ministry has, however, banned peninsular Malaysia-based publication The Herald from using it.
Since the ruling, churches in Sabah and Sarawak have taken a more vocal stand in pressing for their right to use the term that they say is entrenched in the 20- and 18-point agreements with the two states, insisting they will continue their age-old practice of referring to God as “Allah” in their worship and in their holy scriptures.
The ruling has since also sparked confusion over the use of the word by Christians in their worship, especially with conflicting opinions within the government itself on how far the ruling would affect practising Christians.
Situation surrounding the controversy shows no signs of abating with calls from right-wingers like the Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (Abim) urging the Najib-administration to cut diplomatic ties with the Vatican to pre-empt the speculated appointment of a more hardline bishop to defend the “Allah” issue.
In July this year, racially-motivated Jalur Tiga (Jati), Perkasa and other Muslim NGOs demanded that the role of the Vatican embassy in Malaysia be reviewed. The embassy was set up in January this year, in a follow- up to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s visit to Rome in 2011 to meet the Pope.
These Muslim hardliners took umbrage with the Holy See’s embassy after its envoy Joseph Marino was reported to be in solidarity with the local Catholic church for championing the right of Christians in using the word “Allah” to refer to God. Marino, however, apologised for this remark.
But the “Allah” row shows no respite or end with Islamic groups and authorities stepping up vigilance against non-Muslims over this issue.
In the meantime, the unity and harmony Malaysians of different faiths once enjoyed faces the threat of exile at the hands of none other than Najib, who is more keen to win the popular vote instead of averting a major crisis back home.
Cops: Indian man stabbed girlfriend and himself
PETALING JAYA: The Indian national found dead at an apartment in Damansara Damai with his Malaysian girlfriend on Dec 18 is believed to have turned the knife on himself after stabbing her.
The police believe Mohinder Pal, 24, had committed the act after killing student K. Shanmugavalli as her parents did not consent to their relationship.
The case has been classified as murder-suicide.
Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Arjunaidi Mohamed said: “We believe that was what happened as there are no signs of forced entry.
“There are also no signs of another party besides the two at the scene.”
The police had said the pair had been dead for about four to six days before their bodies were found by a debt collector who went there for the monthly rental.
A knife, believed to be the murder weapon, was found beside the body of the man, who was lying face down in the living room.
Mohinder had seven stab wounds on his abdomen while Shanmugavalli, who was clad only in her bra and panties, was found sprawled on the bed in the master bedroom with five stab wounds on the abdomen.
It is learnt that the girl had been missing from home since Dec 13 and her family had lodged a report at the Puchong police station.
The debt collector had to force open the front door to get into the apartment unit that the man had rented for about two months. - The Star
The police believe Mohinder Pal, 24, had committed the act after killing student K. Shanmugavalli as her parents did not consent to their relationship.
The case has been classified as murder-suicide.
Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Arjunaidi Mohamed said: “We believe that was what happened as there are no signs of forced entry.
“There are also no signs of another party besides the two at the scene.”
The police had said the pair had been dead for about four to six days before their bodies were found by a debt collector who went there for the monthly rental.
A knife, believed to be the murder weapon, was found beside the body of the man, who was lying face down in the living room.
Mohinder had seven stab wounds on his abdomen while Shanmugavalli, who was clad only in her bra and panties, was found sprawled on the bed in the master bedroom with five stab wounds on the abdomen.
It is learnt that the girl had been missing from home since Dec 13 and her family had lodged a report at the Puchong police station.
The debt collector had to force open the front door to get into the apartment unit that the man had rented for about two months. - The Star
Ministers and police chiefs have done a great disservice to the nation trumpeting to the world about a “fairy tale” plot on New Year’s eve to “topple the government” as if Malaysia is a “basket case country” on the verge of political and economic collapse
Cabinet Ministers and police chiefs have done a great disservice to the nation in the past ten days trumpeting to the world about a “fairy tale” plot on New Year’s eve to “topple the government” as if Malaysia is a “basket case country” on the verge of political and economic collapse at any moment.
The whole “topple government” caper was started by of all persons the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar who should have shown greater professionalism and gravitas instead of shocking the country ten days ago with the flighty announcement that a planned gathering on New Year’s eve at Dataran Merdeka to “topple government” was “a national threat”, vowing action under the Penal Code and SOSMA – Security Offences (Special Measures) Act – and threatening that any person guilty of the offence of activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy can be jailed for a maximum of 15 years.
Even Cabinet Ministers like the Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek got into the act to present to the world the spectacle of Malaysia as a “basket case country”, although warning that the December 31 rally is “to divert the people’s attention from the lies spread by the opposition after failing to capture Putrajaya in the May 5 general election”.
Pakatan Rakyat parties of PKR, PAS and DAP are even accused by UMNO mass media and cybertroopers of masterminding the New Year’s eve “plot” to topple the Najib government.
There were arbitrary arrests, an NGO activist Muhamad Azan Safar and a Sarawakian, for allegedly implicated in the “topple government” plot.
But nobody really believe that there was such a New Year’s eve “plot”.
Neither the Pakatan Rakyat nor the DAP are in any way involved with such New Year’s eve “plots”.
I can confirm that no New Year’s eve programme, including the alleged “topple government” rally plot, was ever raised or discussed at any Pakatan Rakyat leadership or DAP meetings and whatever being planned for New Year’s eve has nothing to do with Pakatan Rakyat or the DAP.
It is clear however that the Najib administration, which has promised to make Malaysia “the best democracy in the world”, has to learn to live with a more awakened democracy with a more active and outspoken citizenry and civil society, and if there are Malaysians who want to demonstrate their grievances and opposition to the the string of price hikes, whether sugar, petrol, power or toll, the government must accept such human rights of freedom of expression without tarring them with the brush of being anti-national elements or traitors.
Furthermore, the Najib government must learn to live in an information society brought about by the advent of Internet, and should not regard the expression of individuals on the social media, whether on facebook, twitter or blogs as a national conspiracy against the state.
Shabery may be right about a conspiracy to divert the people’s attention – but it is the Barisan Nasional government which is guilty as it has many skeletons in its cupboards in Putrajaya which it is trying to hide from the knowledge and inquiry of the Malaysian citizenry.
The latest skeleton to be exposed is the secret that the Najib government had been funding the activities of the extremist and racist Perkasa while the Prime Minister present a front of being a moderate in national and international forums.
Malaysians are entitled to know the total amount of taxpayers’ money which had been funnelled to Perkasa by the various government agencies from the establishment of Perkasa and to demand that Perkasa refund every sen it has improperly received from the government for its anti-national activities disseminating the politics of hate, intolerance and division in the country.
Is it because the Najib administration has many skeletons like the secret funding of Perkasa that Ministers and police chiefs are trying to distract public attention with fairy-tale stories about New Year’s eve conspiracy to “topple government” – without realising that they are in fact committing a most anti-national act and doing a great disservice to the nation by spreading the notion worldwide that Malaysia is a very fragile and unstable country?
The whole “topple government” caper was started by of all persons the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar who should have shown greater professionalism and gravitas instead of shocking the country ten days ago with the flighty announcement that a planned gathering on New Year’s eve at Dataran Merdeka to “topple government” was “a national threat”, vowing action under the Penal Code and SOSMA – Security Offences (Special Measures) Act – and threatening that any person guilty of the offence of activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy can be jailed for a maximum of 15 years.
Even Cabinet Ministers like the Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek got into the act to present to the world the spectacle of Malaysia as a “basket case country”, although warning that the December 31 rally is “to divert the people’s attention from the lies spread by the opposition after failing to capture Putrajaya in the May 5 general election”.
Pakatan Rakyat parties of PKR, PAS and DAP are even accused by UMNO mass media and cybertroopers of masterminding the New Year’s eve “plot” to topple the Najib government.
There were arbitrary arrests, an NGO activist Muhamad Azan Safar and a Sarawakian, for allegedly implicated in the “topple government” plot.
But nobody really believe that there was such a New Year’s eve “plot”.
Neither the Pakatan Rakyat nor the DAP are in any way involved with such New Year’s eve “plots”.
I can confirm that no New Year’s eve programme, including the alleged “topple government” rally plot, was ever raised or discussed at any Pakatan Rakyat leadership or DAP meetings and whatever being planned for New Year’s eve has nothing to do with Pakatan Rakyat or the DAP.
It is clear however that the Najib administration, which has promised to make Malaysia “the best democracy in the world”, has to learn to live with a more awakened democracy with a more active and outspoken citizenry and civil society, and if there are Malaysians who want to demonstrate their grievances and opposition to the the string of price hikes, whether sugar, petrol, power or toll, the government must accept such human rights of freedom of expression without tarring them with the brush of being anti-national elements or traitors.
Furthermore, the Najib government must learn to live in an information society brought about by the advent of Internet, and should not regard the expression of individuals on the social media, whether on facebook, twitter or blogs as a national conspiracy against the state.
Shabery may be right about a conspiracy to divert the people’s attention – but it is the Barisan Nasional government which is guilty as it has many skeletons in its cupboards in Putrajaya which it is trying to hide from the knowledge and inquiry of the Malaysian citizenry.
The latest skeleton to be exposed is the secret that the Najib government had been funding the activities of the extremist and racist Perkasa while the Prime Minister present a front of being a moderate in national and international forums.
Malaysians are entitled to know the total amount of taxpayers’ money which had been funnelled to Perkasa by the various government agencies from the establishment of Perkasa and to demand that Perkasa refund every sen it has improperly received from the government for its anti-national activities disseminating the politics of hate, intolerance and division in the country.
Is it because the Najib administration has many skeletons like the secret funding of Perkasa that Ministers and police chiefs are trying to distract public attention with fairy-tale stories about New Year’s eve conspiracy to “topple government” – without realising that they are in fact committing a most anti-national act and doing a great disservice to the nation by spreading the notion worldwide that Malaysia is a very fragile and unstable country?
Press Release | SUHAKAM is Right: Malaysia Needs to be Human Rights-Compliant
The
Malaysian Bar strongly supports the call by the Malaysian Human Rights
Commission (“SUHAKAM”), and its Chairman, Tan Sri Hasmy Agam, for
Malaysia to look seriously into accelerating the pace of ratification of
the six remaining core United Nations instruments relating to human
rights, as follows:(2) International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;
(3) Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment;
(4) International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination;
(5) International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families; and
(6) International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.
Indeed,
Malaysia should also be looking into ratifying the Convention Relating
to the Status of Refugees and the Protocol Relating to the Status of
Refugees, since these involve critical issues right on our very
doorstep.
The
recent Universal Periodic Review (“UPR”) of Malaysia by the United
Nations Human Rights Council in October 2013 has brought into sharp
focus the glaring disparity between Malaysia’s international ambitions
on the one hand, and the domestic realities on the other.
Malaysia’s
term as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council ends on 31
December 2013. As an outgoing member, Malaysia has failed in the last
four-and-a-half years to show much progress in extending our commitment
to the international system of human rights norms and standards.
Although
Malaysia has ratified one more international instrument since the last
UPR in February 2009, namely the Convention on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities, Malaysia has failed to make much headway in the
commitments we made in June 2009 to study the ratification of four
further international instruments, namely the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights, International Covenant on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights, Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman
or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and International Convention on
the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. In the National
Report submitted by the Malaysian Government for the October 2013
review, there was reference to an expected conclusion and recommendation
in respect of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights, and a commitment to studying the International
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
Nothing, however, was said about the International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights or the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
If
there are genuine concerns about these international instruments, they
should be intelligently and coherently articulated. Proper discussion
of the ratification of these international human rights instruments is
not advanced by the vilification of individuals and groups in support of
them. The unwarranted disparaging remarks and verbal attacks on Tan Sri
Hasmy Agam, SUHAKAM, and the Coalition of Malaysian Non-Governmental
Organisations in the UPR Process (“COMANGO”) and members of that
coalition, serve no positive purpose.
It
is also irresponsible to allege that countries, especially fellow
member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (“OIC”), were
either forced to accede to the international instruments or did not know
better, but provide no evidence to support these fantastical
observations. After all, 54 out of the 56 OIC member states that are
also United Nations member states have ratified or acceded to more
international human rights instruments than Malaysia. Such comments are
thus not just patronising and condescending, but additionally have the
potential to damage Malaysia’s relations with these countries. This
also serves to highlight that the practice of Islam is not a hindrance
for the OIC member states, and should not be used as an excuse by
Malaysia to delay our ratification of the international instruments. It
should be noted that although Article 3(1) of the Federal Constitution
provides that Islam is the religion of the Federation, it is
nevertheless not the supreme law of the Federation. Article 4 provides
that the Constitution itself is the supreme law of the Federation.
Malaysia
now has ambitions to vie for a seat on the United Nations Security
Council for the 2015-2016 term. Malaysia would need to rely on the
support of other countries, including these OIC countries, if we are to
emerge successful in our ambition.
Our
international record would come into focus. Malaysia has to convince
members of the United Nations General Assembly in October 2014, when the
voting is carried out, that we are a mature and responsible member of
the international community, capable of being entrusted with
decision-making at the United Nations’ most important body.
Recent
actions and decisions by our Government, and recent statements by some
of its Ministers, raise serious doubts as to whether Malaysia is ready.
The world today is very different from that of 1989-1990 and 1999-2000,
the previous times Malaysia sat in the Security Council. The 232
paragraphs of recommendations to Malaysia at the UPR in October 2013
point to the extremely high level of expectations that the international
community places on Malaysia. We can no longer hide behind excuses
that we are a developing country, and need more time. Our goal of
achieving “developed nation” status by 2020 is not viewed as merely an
economic target, but a political and diplomatic one as well. For us to
adequately respond to these expectations, our domestic realities must
accord with our international ambitions.
Christopher Leong
President
Malaysian Bar
More Groups Condemn Proposed Gathering To Topple Government
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 27 (Bernama) -- More NGOs and political organisations
have condemned the move by a certain group to organise the so-called
"Himpunan Guling Kerajaan" gathering next Tuesday aimed at toppling the
government.
From Perlis to Johor and right up to Sarawak and Sabah, the message of these organisations is loud and clear: the authorities must come down hard on those intent on causing chaos and the people must not fall prey to the propaganda.
In KANGAR, Perlis Puteri Umno appealed to the younger generation to keep away from the group which it claimed was bent on ruining the future of the nation.
"The gathering is detrimental to the people and can result in loss and damage to property," said its chief, Zuraidah Zainal Abidin, adding that a police report had been made in protest against the gathering.
In KUALA TERENGGANU, the Kuala Terengganu branch of the Malaysian Islamic Propagation and Welfare Organisation (Pekida) described the attempt to incite the people into toppling the government as a barbaric act because the government was elected in accordance with the law and the federal constitution.
"We are concerned that the gathering may be destructive to the nation's youths. Pekida supports firm action by the authorities," its chairman, Ahmad Syukri Abdullah, told reporters after lodging a police report at the Kuala Terengganu district police headquarters.
The Hulu Terengganu District Youth Council, 4B Youth, Malaysian Association of Youth Clubs (MAYC), Federation of Peninsular Malay Students Associations (GPMS) and the Hulu Terengganu Felda Youth Council have also lodged police reports in protest against the gathering.
In BERA (Pahang), the Bera District Ex-Policemen's Association saw the gathering more as an attempt to spark chaos.
"The people must support the government as it has done a lot to champion their cause," said its chairman, Chong Nyee Lai.
More than 200 people assembled for a peaceful demonstration in protest against the gathering. They were representatives from the Bera Umno Youth, Wanita Umno and Puteri Umno; Bera District Association of Village Chiefs; Mempaga Felda Youth Council; Bera Army Veterans Association; Ex-Policemen's Association; Pahang Natives Heritage Association; Kerayong Youth Association and Bera Farmers Organisation.
In KUANTAN, a spokesman for the Paya Besar and Kuantan Umno divisions, Zaiton Mat, said it was needless for the government to compromise with those out to cause chaos.
Zaiton said a police report had been made at the Kuantan police headquarters asking the police to arrest the mastermind behind the proposed gathering.
In PENDANG (Kedah), Pendang Umno Youth head Mohamad Fadzil Zolkipli said there were alternative ways to express dissatisfaction against the government without causing chaos.
In TAWAU (Sabah), OCPD ACP Awang Besar Dullah said the police had received seven reports in protest against the gathering, the latest being from the Tawau Puteri Umno.
In IPOH, Syamsul Baharin Putra Ahmad Shibi, a representative of a group of four NGOs and the Ipoh Barat Umno Youth which lodged a report at the Sungai Senam police station, said the gathering should be stopped for the sake of the majority of peace-loving people.
The NGOs were Kesatuan Anak Muda Islam, Suara Anak Muda 1Malaysia, 4B Youth and Gabungan Kelab Kereta Negeri Perak.
In KUCHING, the Pertubuhan Peradaban dan Warisan Melayu Sarawak (Adab) claimed it had information that Sarawak was to be made the first location to launch the gathering to overthrow the government.
"I fear that the agenda to overthrow the government is going to be launched in Sarawak before it is held in the peninsula on Dec 31," its chairman, Shariff Busrah, told reporters after lodging a police report.
In SHAH ALAM, the deputy president of the Persatuan Kebangsaan Anak Polis Malaysia (PKAPM), Syed Abu Bakar Syed Ahmad, said the organiser of the gathering should realise that policemen would not want their leave to be frozen when they had to make preparations for their children to attend school when the new term begins early next year.
He was approached by reporters after the association had joined the Selangor Anti-Irregularities Federation (Gaps) and Community Policing Malaysia to lodge a report at the Shah Alam police headquarters.
In GOMBAK (Selangor), Gombak Umno Youth joined several NGOs, namely Gombak 4B Youth; Gombak District Youth Council; Kg Sri Gombak Indah Youth Association; Persegi Malaysia Gombak; Pertubuhan Generasi Setia Gombak and the Malaysian Association of Youth Clubs (MAYC), to lodge a police report.
Gombak Umno Youth head Aidi Haris Anual urged the authorities to act firmly against the organiser and participants of the gathering as well as those who promoted the gathering on the social media.
In MUAR (Johor), Bakri Umno Youth head Azman Ismail said the gathering, besides posing a threat to national security, was "an unforgivable mistake" if it were to take place.
Muar Umno Youth head Sallehudin Satar urged the government to prohibit the gathering, planned to coincide with the 2014 New Year Eve celebrations.
"Otherwise, it would be an embarrassment for the country, known all along to be peaceful and progressive," he said after representatives of the two Umno divisions held a peaceful demonstration at the Muar police headquarters after making a police report.
From Perlis to Johor and right up to Sarawak and Sabah, the message of these organisations is loud and clear: the authorities must come down hard on those intent on causing chaos and the people must not fall prey to the propaganda.
In KANGAR, Perlis Puteri Umno appealed to the younger generation to keep away from the group which it claimed was bent on ruining the future of the nation.
"The gathering is detrimental to the people and can result in loss and damage to property," said its chief, Zuraidah Zainal Abidin, adding that a police report had been made in protest against the gathering.
In KUALA TERENGGANU, the Kuala Terengganu branch of the Malaysian Islamic Propagation and Welfare Organisation (Pekida) described the attempt to incite the people into toppling the government as a barbaric act because the government was elected in accordance with the law and the federal constitution.
"We are concerned that the gathering may be destructive to the nation's youths. Pekida supports firm action by the authorities," its chairman, Ahmad Syukri Abdullah, told reporters after lodging a police report at the Kuala Terengganu district police headquarters.
The Hulu Terengganu District Youth Council, 4B Youth, Malaysian Association of Youth Clubs (MAYC), Federation of Peninsular Malay Students Associations (GPMS) and the Hulu Terengganu Felda Youth Council have also lodged police reports in protest against the gathering.
In BERA (Pahang), the Bera District Ex-Policemen's Association saw the gathering more as an attempt to spark chaos.
"The people must support the government as it has done a lot to champion their cause," said its chairman, Chong Nyee Lai.
More than 200 people assembled for a peaceful demonstration in protest against the gathering. They were representatives from the Bera Umno Youth, Wanita Umno and Puteri Umno; Bera District Association of Village Chiefs; Mempaga Felda Youth Council; Bera Army Veterans Association; Ex-Policemen's Association; Pahang Natives Heritage Association; Kerayong Youth Association and Bera Farmers Organisation.
In KUANTAN, a spokesman for the Paya Besar and Kuantan Umno divisions, Zaiton Mat, said it was needless for the government to compromise with those out to cause chaos.
Zaiton said a police report had been made at the Kuantan police headquarters asking the police to arrest the mastermind behind the proposed gathering.
In PENDANG (Kedah), Pendang Umno Youth head Mohamad Fadzil Zolkipli said there were alternative ways to express dissatisfaction against the government without causing chaos.
In TAWAU (Sabah), OCPD ACP Awang Besar Dullah said the police had received seven reports in protest against the gathering, the latest being from the Tawau Puteri Umno.
In IPOH, Syamsul Baharin Putra Ahmad Shibi, a representative of a group of four NGOs and the Ipoh Barat Umno Youth which lodged a report at the Sungai Senam police station, said the gathering should be stopped for the sake of the majority of peace-loving people.
The NGOs were Kesatuan Anak Muda Islam, Suara Anak Muda 1Malaysia, 4B Youth and Gabungan Kelab Kereta Negeri Perak.
In KUCHING, the Pertubuhan Peradaban dan Warisan Melayu Sarawak (Adab) claimed it had information that Sarawak was to be made the first location to launch the gathering to overthrow the government.
"I fear that the agenda to overthrow the government is going to be launched in Sarawak before it is held in the peninsula on Dec 31," its chairman, Shariff Busrah, told reporters after lodging a police report.
In SHAH ALAM, the deputy president of the Persatuan Kebangsaan Anak Polis Malaysia (PKAPM), Syed Abu Bakar Syed Ahmad, said the organiser of the gathering should realise that policemen would not want their leave to be frozen when they had to make preparations for their children to attend school when the new term begins early next year.
He was approached by reporters after the association had joined the Selangor Anti-Irregularities Federation (Gaps) and Community Policing Malaysia to lodge a report at the Shah Alam police headquarters.
In GOMBAK (Selangor), Gombak Umno Youth joined several NGOs, namely Gombak 4B Youth; Gombak District Youth Council; Kg Sri Gombak Indah Youth Association; Persegi Malaysia Gombak; Pertubuhan Generasi Setia Gombak and the Malaysian Association of Youth Clubs (MAYC), to lodge a police report.
Gombak Umno Youth head Aidi Haris Anual urged the authorities to act firmly against the organiser and participants of the gathering as well as those who promoted the gathering on the social media.
In MUAR (Johor), Bakri Umno Youth head Azman Ismail said the gathering, besides posing a threat to national security, was "an unforgivable mistake" if it were to take place.
Muar Umno Youth head Sallehudin Satar urged the government to prohibit the gathering, planned to coincide with the 2014 New Year Eve celebrations.
"Otherwise, it would be an embarrassment for the country, known all along to be peaceful and progressive," he said after representatives of the two Umno divisions held a peaceful demonstration at the Muar police headquarters after making a police report.
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