Tuesday 29 April 2014
Man cuts wife’s legs in Sargodha
According to media reports, Mamoona Bibi wed Siddiq last month. But few days after the marriage, her husband started abusing and torturing her frequently.
Again on Saturday, the suspect first beat her with a stick and then amputated her legs with an axe. Neighbours managed to nab the suspect and handed him over to police.
Mamoona was rushed to a hospital.
We are fair to all races, says Zahid Hamidi
Home
Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says Malaysia is fair to all
races.
– The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, April 28, 2014.
Malaysia does not impose any restrictions on non-Muslims and is fair to all races, Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic) said today in response to President Barack Obama's advice to the country's leadership.
The US president had said yesterday that Malaysia needed to ensure equal opportunities for the non-Muslim communities here if it wanted to prosper.
"Equal opportunity is given to non-Muslims and the government is fair to all religions," Ahmad Zahid said.
"I do not think that there are any obstacles to practising religion in Malaysia.
"Being biased in favour of one religion is something to be avoided because mutual respect between all religions is a necessity.
"If we respect other religions, the same respect will be shown to the religion which we practise," he told a press conference today.
Ahmad Zahid was speaking to reporters after officiating the 4th Asean Human Trafficking workshop in Kuala Lumpur today.
Obama had also said that non-Muslims in Malaysia faced enemies at this time and many felt oppressed.
"There should be no excuses for discrimination, and you must ensure that this issue is fought against in your daily lives," Obama had said.
"Malaysia will not succeed if non-Muslims are not given equal opportunity, Myanmar will not succeed if the Muslim population continues to be oppressed."
Obama was speaking at a townhall meeting for Asean youths at Dewan Tunku Cancelor in University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Referring to the implementation of hudud law in Kelantan, Ahmad Zahid said this was a serious issue which needed to be studied in detail before being introduced.
Ahmad Zahid said the Federal Constitution needed to be amended and two-thirds support in Parliament was required to realise hudud.
"It is not simple to carry out hudud punishment but we should not reject the concept of hudud," he said.
"We should know that hudud is one of the elements in the many Islamic laws."
Ahmad Zahid said hudud did not just involve the implementation of the law by police and other bodies.
"Although the Kelantan Shariah Penal Code II was passed in 1993, there have been a lot of obstacles preventing the Islamic law from being implemented.
"The Kelantan state government needs to study the implementation and principle of hudud punishment before a further decision is made to raise the issue in Parliament."
Asked about his views on hudud, Ahmad Zahid said his stand on the issue was the same as that of Putrajaya.
"Putrajaya's stand will be announced by the prime minister. BN MPs will also have the same stand as Putrajaya," he added. – April 28, 2014.
Mengapa Obama tidak nasihat bukan Islam wajib hormati majoriti Islam, soal Ibrahim Ali
Datuk Ibrahim Ali (gambar) hari ini senada dengan Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, menyanggah kenyataan Presiden Amerika Syarikat (AS) Barack Obama yang menyifatkan Malaysia tidak akan berjaya jika bukan Islam tidak diberikan peluang yang sama.
Presiden Perkasa itu berkata, kenyataan Obama itu tidak benar kerana selama ini bukan Islam menguasai 60% ekonomi negara.
"Siapa miliki bangunan pencakar langit, gedung besar dan rumah kedai dalam bandar?
"Kerajaan membiayai sekolah jenis kebangsaan walaupun ada yang mendakwa bertentangan dengan Perlembagaan," katanya dalam satu kenyataan hari ini.
Hari ini menteri dalam negeri turut menyelar kenyataan Obama dengan mengatakan tidak benar Malaysia mengamalkan diskriminasi kaum dan agama.
Semalam, Obama berkata, Malaysia perlu memastikan masyarakat bukan Islam di negara ini, mendapat peluang yang sama seperti majoriti penduduk beragama Islam jika negara ini mahu terus makmur.
Katanya, masyarakat bukan Islam di Malaysia pada masa ini berdepan permusuhan dan ada yang rasa tertindas.
“Sepatutnya tidak ada alasan untuk diskriminasi, dan anda perlu memastikan menentang perkara ini dalam kehidupan harian.
“Malaysia tidak akan berjaya jika bukan Islam tidak mendapat peluang yang sama adil. Myanmar tidak akan berjaya jika populasi Islam di sana terus ditindas,” katanya dalam majlis pertemuan dua hala untuk belia Asean di Dewan Tunku Canselor di Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur semalam.
Ibrahim berkata pihak yang mendakwa Malaysia menafikan hak bukan Islam adalah golongan kurang waras dan tidak berakal.
Katanya, Obama sendiri tidak memastikan Israel memberi layanan yang baik kepada penduduk asal di Palestin.
"Saya nak tanya Obama, layanan apa pihak Israel beri kepada penduduk asal rakyat Palestin? Cakap tidak serupa bikin.
"Kenapa Obama tidak nasihat penduduk bukan Islam wajib menghormati kaum majoriti Islam? Obama seperti presiden Amerika lain juga tidak telus," katanya.
Ibrahim berkata tindakan Obama ke Malaysia dan membuat kenyataan berat sebelah hanya menambahkan lagi ketegangan kaum di negara ini. – 28 April, 2014.
DAP to US: Anwar should’ve been PM
Lim Guan Eng tells the US official that last May's general election was riddled with irregularities.
UPDATED
PETALING JAYA: Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is the rightful Prime Minister of Malaysia, DAP has told US National Security Adviser Susan Rice.
A statement issued by Anwar’s press office said today that DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng told Rice this morning about last May’s general election being marred by irregularities.
“Despite the irregularities, the Pakatan Rakyat pact managed to garner 52% of the popular votes, which means Anwar should have been installed as prime minister,” the statement quoted Lim as saying.
Anwar and PAS Secretary-General Mustafa Ali was also at the meeting with Rice.
Lim, who is Penang Chief Minister, was reported to have told Rice that millions rallied against the outcome of the election.
“Although Pakatan did not concede to a defeat, we decided to move forward with the business of governing to avoid civil strife,” he was quoted as saying.
At the meeting Anwar spoke about the public’s reservations over the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), specifically its effects on the local agriculture and pharmaceutical sectors, the statement said.
“He also spoke about Malaysia’s potential of being exposed to costly litigation,” it added.
“Rice noted that there is a need to facilitate a broader level of discussion on TPPA in the interest of transparency and to ensure everyone understands it.”
Mustafa reportedly told Rice that Putrajaya had resorted to punishing Pakatan administered states by withholding development funds.
“He also said the federalism concept in Malaysia had failed as state governments continue to rely on Putrajaya for funds to finance its programmes,” the statement said.
Wanted meeting with Obama
Anwar had previously expressed his disappointment that President Obama would not be seeing him during the latter’s official three-day visit to Malaysia which ended this morning.
He had blamed the Najib administration of pressuring Obama not to meet the PKR leader.
In a Thai newspaper interview today, Anwar had said that the US ambassador had explained that Obama’s Asian visit doesn’t include meeting opposition leaders.
“I can’t complain because the US has consistently been in support of the democratic process, rule of law, and has taken up my case. In that sense, I appreciate it.
“But I find it difficult to accept that the Malaysian government can use the trade agreement [TPP] and business to pressure the president of the United States. That doesn’t go well for those fighting for freedom and reform,” Anwar was reported as saying in The Nation.
To a question on what he would have said to Obama if there had been a meeting, Anwar said he would have asked the US president to “be consistent with the American foreign policy in supporting reform agenda, transparent governments, democratic reforms”.
“They have sent battalion after battalion of troops to Afghanistan and Iraq and also drones in the war on terrorism, and here they can’t be muted when the Umno regime is using the court to deny my basic rights and those [rights] of other political leaders,” he had told the daily.
UPDATED
A statement issued by Anwar’s press office said today that DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng told Rice this morning about last May’s general election being marred by irregularities.
“Despite the irregularities, the Pakatan Rakyat pact managed to garner 52% of the popular votes, which means Anwar should have been installed as prime minister,” the statement quoted Lim as saying.
Anwar and PAS Secretary-General Mustafa Ali was also at the meeting with Rice.
Lim, who is Penang Chief Minister, was reported to have told Rice that millions rallied against the outcome of the election.
“Although Pakatan did not concede to a defeat, we decided to move forward with the business of governing to avoid civil strife,” he was quoted as saying.
At the meeting Anwar spoke about the public’s reservations over the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), specifically its effects on the local agriculture and pharmaceutical sectors, the statement said.
“He also spoke about Malaysia’s potential of being exposed to costly litigation,” it added.
“Rice noted that there is a need to facilitate a broader level of discussion on TPPA in the interest of transparency and to ensure everyone understands it.”
Mustafa reportedly told Rice that Putrajaya had resorted to punishing Pakatan administered states by withholding development funds.
“He also said the federalism concept in Malaysia had failed as state governments continue to rely on Putrajaya for funds to finance its programmes,” the statement said.
Wanted meeting with Obama
Anwar had previously expressed his disappointment that President Obama would not be seeing him during the latter’s official three-day visit to Malaysia which ended this morning.
He had blamed the Najib administration of pressuring Obama not to meet the PKR leader.
In a Thai newspaper interview today, Anwar had said that the US ambassador had explained that Obama’s Asian visit doesn’t include meeting opposition leaders.
“I can’t complain because the US has consistently been in support of the democratic process, rule of law, and has taken up my case. In that sense, I appreciate it.
“But I find it difficult to accept that the Malaysian government can use the trade agreement [TPP] and business to pressure the president of the United States. That doesn’t go well for those fighting for freedom and reform,” Anwar was reported as saying in The Nation.
To a question on what he would have said to Obama if there had been a meeting, Anwar said he would have asked the US president to “be consistent with the American foreign policy in supporting reform agenda, transparent governments, democratic reforms”.
“They have sent battalion after battalion of troops to Afghanistan and Iraq and also drones in the war on terrorism, and here they can’t be muted when the Umno regime is using the court to deny my basic rights and those [rights] of other political leaders,” he had told the daily.
Nine suspected terrorists detained in S’gor, Kedah
All nine are believed to be trying to spread their ideology and movement.
KUALA LUMPUR: Nine suspected terrorists were detained by Bukit Aman counter-terrorism division today at undisclosed locations in Selangor and Kedah.
According to the Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar all nine detained were believed to be involved in international terrorism syndicate. However he did not provide further details on the group.
In a press statement, the IGP said that all those arrested were between 22 and 55 years old. He added that some of the detained individuals had conducted secret meetings and discussions at several places in Malaysia.
“We believe that these nine people are connected to international terrorism syndicate. They were all detained at two separate locations in Kedah and Selangor,”
“Some of them have already been in secret discussions and they have been talking about their ideologies and how to spread their movement in this country,” Khalid said.
The last time a Malaysian was arrested and charged under the SOSMA was former army captain Yazid Sufaat who was detained by police in February 2013.
The ex-biochemist student was charged with inciting terrorist act that could have involved violence in Syria.
Yazid had earlier been jailed for seven years for allegedly aiding two of the perpetrators of the Sept 11 attacks in the United States.
According to the Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar all nine detained were believed to be involved in international terrorism syndicate. However he did not provide further details on the group.
In a press statement, the IGP said that all those arrested were between 22 and 55 years old. He added that some of the detained individuals had conducted secret meetings and discussions at several places in Malaysia.
“We believe that these nine people are connected to international terrorism syndicate. They were all detained at two separate locations in Kedah and Selangor,”
“Some of them have already been in secret discussions and they have been talking about their ideologies and how to spread their movement in this country,” Khalid said.
The last time a Malaysian was arrested and charged under the SOSMA was former army captain Yazid Sufaat who was detained by police in February 2013.
The ex-biochemist student was charged with inciting terrorist act that could have involved violence in Syria.
Yazid had earlier been jailed for seven years for allegedly aiding two of the perpetrators of the Sept 11 attacks in the United States.
Zahid’s Three Monkeys’ version of democracy
From JD Lovrenciear,
The US President and all the religious leaders and captains of civil society and human rights representatives must be lying through their teeth, given Ahmad Zahid’s ‘Three Monkeys’ stance. Malaysia’s Home Minister has, in a press conference, denied outright that there is no discrimination of any sort in Malaysia.
In response to Barack Obama’s caution (if not a reprimand) on discrimination against humanity, Zahid rebutted by stating that there are ‘no restrictions imposed on non Muslims’ and that Malaysia is ‘fair to all races’.
His claims, as made in his press conference that “there are (no) obstacles to practicing religion in Malaysia” also makes the religious leaders who spoke to the US President in person look like sinful, blatant and habitual liars.
Zahid’s claims that “equal opportunities is given to non-Muslims and (that the) government is fair to all….” also makes the civil society and human rights leaders who spoke without fear or favour as they were wisely granted an extended one-hour session (instead of a scheduled 15 minutes) audience with the American President, seem like a bunch of recalcitrant liars out to create chaos.
With this rebuttal from the Home Minister, he deems all that the Malaysian human rights and civil society as well as religious leaders shared with the US President as they unloaded pressing issues and concerns that hinge on race, religion, gender, social-economic status and political affiliations is utter rubbish.
Malaysia’s home Minister’s rebuttal also makes the US President look real silly in extending the timeframe to hear out the concerns and to get a first-hand update of the ‘sitz-im-laben’ here in Malaysia.
What’s next? Will these civil society, human rights and religious leaders now be hauled up for tarnishing the image of the country and be branded as ‘penghianat’ (traitors) for pouring their burdens to the icon of world power, the President of the USA?
Let us ask the Home Minister of Malaysia a few questions: What was your political party’s kris-weilding antics all about at your general assembly? What is all these ‘ketuanan Melayu’ (Malay supremacy) that your political party which also forms the government, championing relentlessly, all about? What is your National Economic Plan agenda truly for?
Even in the practice of Islam, Malaysia discriminates does it not? Yes, all that sledge-hammering on any Muslim group that does not subscribe to the Umno version of Islam.
Honourable Home Minister, you have philosophically stated in that same press conference that “mutual respect between all religions is a necessity”. But pause and ask yourself Sir, one honest question:
If there was ‘mutual respect’, would all these wise, learned and respected leaders from human rights and civil society and the various non-Muslim religious leaders not have sung a united song of harmony and proclamation of how great the Umno-led government is to the ears of the world’s leading power?
Would Barack Obama in the very first place even have scheduled and then went on to extend the time to a full 60 minutes to hear out the feedback presented to him?
Either your boss Najib, the prime minister of Malaysia, sacks you and redeems the country’s face or he maintains his iconic continued silence, which will mean only one thing, i.e. absolute indifference to the President of America’s concern, caution and desire.
Can the current Malaysian government shut the door on face of USA?
The US President and all the religious leaders and captains of civil society and human rights representatives must be lying through their teeth, given Ahmad Zahid’s ‘Three Monkeys’ stance. Malaysia’s Home Minister has, in a press conference, denied outright that there is no discrimination of any sort in Malaysia.
In response to Barack Obama’s caution (if not a reprimand) on discrimination against humanity, Zahid rebutted by stating that there are ‘no restrictions imposed on non Muslims’ and that Malaysia is ‘fair to all races’.
His claims, as made in his press conference that “there are (no) obstacles to practicing religion in Malaysia” also makes the religious leaders who spoke to the US President in person look like sinful, blatant and habitual liars.
Zahid’s claims that “equal opportunities is given to non-Muslims and (that the) government is fair to all….” also makes the civil society and human rights leaders who spoke without fear or favour as they were wisely granted an extended one-hour session (instead of a scheduled 15 minutes) audience with the American President, seem like a bunch of recalcitrant liars out to create chaos.
With this rebuttal from the Home Minister, he deems all that the Malaysian human rights and civil society as well as religious leaders shared with the US President as they unloaded pressing issues and concerns that hinge on race, religion, gender, social-economic status and political affiliations is utter rubbish.
Malaysia’s home Minister’s rebuttal also makes the US President look real silly in extending the timeframe to hear out the concerns and to get a first-hand update of the ‘sitz-im-laben’ here in Malaysia.
What’s next? Will these civil society, human rights and religious leaders now be hauled up for tarnishing the image of the country and be branded as ‘penghianat’ (traitors) for pouring their burdens to the icon of world power, the President of the USA?
Let us ask the Home Minister of Malaysia a few questions: What was your political party’s kris-weilding antics all about at your general assembly? What is all these ‘ketuanan Melayu’ (Malay supremacy) that your political party which also forms the government, championing relentlessly, all about? What is your National Economic Plan agenda truly for?
Even in the practice of Islam, Malaysia discriminates does it not? Yes, all that sledge-hammering on any Muslim group that does not subscribe to the Umno version of Islam.
Honourable Home Minister, you have philosophically stated in that same press conference that “mutual respect between all religions is a necessity”. But pause and ask yourself Sir, one honest question:
If there was ‘mutual respect’, would all these wise, learned and respected leaders from human rights and civil society and the various non-Muslim religious leaders not have sung a united song of harmony and proclamation of how great the Umno-led government is to the ears of the world’s leading power?
Would Barack Obama in the very first place even have scheduled and then went on to extend the time to a full 60 minutes to hear out the feedback presented to him?
Either your boss Najib, the prime minister of Malaysia, sacks you and redeems the country’s face or he maintains his iconic continued silence, which will mean only one thing, i.e. absolute indifference to the President of America’s concern, caution and desire.
Can the current Malaysian government shut the door on face of USA?
Isma slams Obama over equality call
Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia chides President Obama for seeking equal opportunities for non-Muslims here.
PETALING JAYA: Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) president Abdullah Zaik Abdul Rahman today hit out at US president Barack Obama for his “handicapped thinking”.
He was commenting on Obama who yesterday said that Malaysia would not succeed if the non-Muslims were not provided equal opportunities.
“It is handicapped thinking and is not fit for a president of the US, especially one who claims to be educated,” Abdullah told FMT.
“If Obama and his allies think that the Malays have to relinquish their rights to the non-Muslims, then it is a clear defect on his part.”
He added that it was unfair for Obama to make such statement and he should first look into the country’s history.
“He should do his research first. For Isma, we always study about the history first before coming out with statements.”
Abdullah stressed that Obama should not be siding with “America’s proxies” but rather look at the issue of justice holistically.
“If I were to go to India or China and say that for justice, I must be given equal opportunities and demand to become the Premier of China, would they also consider this as justice?”
Abdullah also said that in the US, fighting for justice is merely to ensure continuity of their “colonising policies”.
“The colonisers changed many things in the country without the permission of the Malays. As a result, we are facing many calamities due to their bad policies,” he said.
In response to Abdullah’s statement, Malaysian Indians Progressive Association (Mipas) secretary-general S Barathidasan said the former’s statement was not applicable as the country’s non-Muslims were born here.
“If he demands for equal opportunities in China or India, he is going there as a visitor. Malaysia’s non-Muslims are the co-developers of the country’s socio-economy and politics.
“We also fought together for independence. As such, we should be given the same opportunities.”
Barathidasan pointed out how in India Italian-born Sonia Gandhi was given the opportunity to become an Indian politician, serving as the Indian National Congress president since 1998.
“You get opportunities in India, but in Malaysia the minorities are not being protected,” he said.
PETALING JAYA: Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) president Abdullah Zaik Abdul Rahman today hit out at US president Barack Obama for his “handicapped thinking”.He was commenting on Obama who yesterday said that Malaysia would not succeed if the non-Muslims were not provided equal opportunities.
“It is handicapped thinking and is not fit for a president of the US, especially one who claims to be educated,” Abdullah told FMT.
“If Obama and his allies think that the Malays have to relinquish their rights to the non-Muslims, then it is a clear defect on his part.”
He added that it was unfair for Obama to make such statement and he should first look into the country’s history.
“He should do his research first. For Isma, we always study about the history first before coming out with statements.”
Abdullah stressed that Obama should not be siding with “America’s proxies” but rather look at the issue of justice holistically.
“If I were to go to India or China and say that for justice, I must be given equal opportunities and demand to become the Premier of China, would they also consider this as justice?”
Abdullah also said that in the US, fighting for justice is merely to ensure continuity of their “colonising policies”.
“The colonisers changed many things in the country without the permission of the Malays. As a result, we are facing many calamities due to their bad policies,” he said.
In response to Abdullah’s statement, Malaysian Indians Progressive Association (Mipas) secretary-general S Barathidasan said the former’s statement was not applicable as the country’s non-Muslims were born here.
“If he demands for equal opportunities in China or India, he is going there as a visitor. Malaysia’s non-Muslims are the co-developers of the country’s socio-economy and politics.
“We also fought together for independence. As such, we should be given the same opportunities.”
Barathidasan pointed out how in India Italian-born Sonia Gandhi was given the opportunity to become an Indian politician, serving as the Indian National Congress president since 1998.
“You get opportunities in India, but in Malaysia the minorities are not being protected,” he said.
DAP won’t budge from stand
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the party will object even if leaders from Pakatan Rakyat (PR) wanted to bring hudud issue to the Pakatan supreme council meeting.
“When we talk about the position of DAP, we have always been consistent in opposing hudud because it is contrary to the Federal Constitution,” he said.
“When all the party leaders in PR agree on hudud, only then it will become PR policy. (But) DAP will never agree and therefore hudud will never be PR policy,” he added.
He said that DAP will oppose even if the motion on hudud is brought to Parliament.
Lim, who was present at the George Town Festival 2014 press conference, was responding to press reports that PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang had revealed that the PR supreme council has agreed to the implementation of hudud in Kelantan.
“There are certain sections in the mainstream media which wanted to twist and turn the facts to say that we support hudud. We wanted to make sure that this (our stand against hudud) is stated unequivocally,” said Lim.
Lim said the reports were baseless, adding that the party’s stand on hudud is “continuous, from the beginning until now”.
Meanwhile, Gerakan president Datuk Mah Siew Keong warned all parties that the unconstitutionality and discriminatory nature of hudud could pose a threat to the basic foundations of the country and its secular nature.
“Every responsible Malaysian must oppose any attempt to pass any law that is against the Federal Constitution and the basic structure of our country. Malaysians must ensure our criminal justice system remains secular as Malaysia is a multi-religious country,” he added.
He urged Barisan Nasional MPs, irrespective of religion, to reject hudud because “we cannot and must not change the legal system as enshrined in the Federal Constitution”.
Muslim doctors don’t see eye to eye
Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia president Dr Mohammed Fauzi Abdul Rani said syariah law mandates Muslim physicians to perform the surgical procedure as instructed by syariah courts and as such, Muslim physicians must abide by it.
“It will be done in the most humane manner possible, (and it will serve) as a severe lesson for the offender,” he said in a statement.
Fauzi said Muslim physicians are subservient to the higher ideals of syariah law to protect the general public.
On the Hippocratic Oath where physicians are expected to “do no harm” (primum non nocere), he said Muslim doctors are not doing any harm to a criminal who has transgressed the boundaries of social justice and has to undergo a punishment prescribed by Islamic law.
“These crimes (theft, fornication, adultery, alcohol consumption and apostasy) which threaten the social and moral order are seen as transgressing the limits set by God Himself and thus have punishments mandated in the Quran.
“Hudud laws … are divinely ordained and Muslims are in no position to negate them,” he said.
Fauzi said Muslims had no difficulty accepting that non-Muslims have different beliefs and live their lives differently from Muslims.
“We respect and celebrate religious plurality… Please show us the same courtesy,” he added.
He also said that a conviction under syariah law “is extremely difficult as the benefit of doubt is in favour of the accused”.
On Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam’s statement that there were no provisions under the Medical Act for such amputations, Fauzi said the act of amputation (of criminals) should not be considered a medical practice.
Meanwhile, Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF) director Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa described the proposal by Kelantan Deputy Mentri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Amar that surgeons amputate limbs under syariah law as “outrageous”.
He said this is because the act is against medical ethics.
“This suggestion will definitely bring the entire medical profession into disrepute. The medical profession is the noblest profession on earth and to even suggest such a heinous act against another human being in the name of religion is simply callous and nefarious.”
US ‘concerned’ by sodomy ruling against Anwar
Wrapping up a US visit to Malaysia led by President Barack Obama, Rice also called on the government of Prime Minister Najib Razak to ensure the rule of law in the country.
“Ambassador Rice emphasised to Anwar that the United States has followed his case closely, and that the decision to prosecute him and the trial have raised a number of concerns regarding the rule of law and the independence of the courts,” a White House statement said after their meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
Anwar was convicted and sentenced to five years in jail on March 7 on charges he sodomised a former aide. He is free pending an appeal.
Anwar says the charge is false and part of a long-running government campaign to smear his name with charges of sodomy, which is illegal in Muslim-majority Malaysia.
The opposition has heavily eroded the ruling coalition’s control of parliament in recent elections.
Rice also said during the meeting that it was “critical for Malaysia to apply the rule of law fairly, transparently, and apolitically in order to promote confidence in Malaysia’s democracy and judiciary”.
Obama left Malaysia on Monday morning for the Philippines as part of an Asian tour that also took him to Japan and South Korea.
The president nudged Najib in a joint press briefing on Sunday to ensure rights were protected, but also indicated the issue was unlikely to stand in the way of US plans to improve ties with Malaysia.
Obama is keen to shore up US engagement with a region in which China’s increasing assertiveness is causing growing alarm.
Anwar released a statement after the Rice meeting, saying he told her that US-Malaysia ties should include not just trade and security and other traditional issues but also “human rights, good governance and democracy”.
The US administration raised eyebrows by leaving Anwar off Obama’s list of appointments.
But the president said sending his senior foreign policy official to the meeting signalled the importance he attached to it.
Obama’s Cynical Malaysian Sojourn
For anyone in Southeast Asia with an interest in fair, honest and even-handed government, the disappointing visit of President Barack Obama to Malaysia is a victory for political expediency that largely glossed over growing discontent over racial tensions, corruption and abuses of judicial power by the ruling coalition.
Obama, according to most reports, walked a careful line on such issues, roaming the stage at a town meeting with students to tell them the country can’t succeed if minorities are suppressed.
But the president also continued to call the prime minister a friend and reformer. What kind of friend is this exactly?
The fact is that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak was a willing perpetrator as defense minister in the looting of the public purse to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars – in bribery and kickbacks from the French munitions maker DCN over a US$1 billion submarine deal, as well as other deals involving patrol boats that were never delivered, Russian Sukhoi jets that cost vastly more than what other countries paid and other equally dubious transactions that have been repeatedly exposed by the opposition and printed on opposition websites, to no avail.
On top of that, Najib heads a country that is slipping backwards fast on human rights issues, with its most prominent opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, facing jail for the second time on what are clearly bogus charges of sexual deviance and another, Karpal Singh, who was about to be railroaded out of parliament on specious sedition charges when he was killed in a car accident.
Other opposition leaders also face sedition charges in what Ambiga Sreenevasan, the former head of the Malaysian Bar Council, recently called “Operation Lalang by the courts,” a reference to a 1987 crackdown on dissidents that sent more than 100 people, most of them opposition leaders, to jail without trial.
Obama’s decision not to meet with Anwar “in and of itself isn't indicative of our lack of concern, given the fact that there are a lot of people I don't meet with and opposition leaders that I don't meet with,” he told reporters in response to a question by CNN.
Anwar does get an April 28 meeting with Susan Rice, the president’s national security advisor, but the message on human rights was clear – the issue takes a back seat to geopolitics in Kuala Lumpur and perhaps to a desire to prop up Najib for fear of empowering more conservative elements inside his long-ruling United Malays National Organization or to gain his support for the US-backed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.
Obama either appears to have been hoodwinked by Najib, or decided that diplomatic niceties demanded a waffle. In response to a question, the president said in a press conference that … “the prime minister is the first to acknowledge that Malaysia still has work to do,” that he “came in as a reformer and one who is committed to it, and I am going to continue to encourage him as a friend and a partner to making progress on that front.”
Najib’s lukewarm commitment to economic reform vanished in the wake of the May 2013 election, in which the opposition won a narrow popular-vote victory but lost parliament due to gerrymandering, and the subsequent ascendancy of the hardline UMNO wing led by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and his long-running ally Daim Zainuddin. The modest reforms Najib had put in place to reverse parts of the disastrous race-based New Economic Policy were washed away last September in an array of new economic benefits for ethnic Malays.
Najib, whatever his personal beliefs may be, is clearly in the thrall of such Malay chauvinist organizations as Perkasa, which preaches astonishing hatred towards Malaysia’s minority races. Nobody, including Najib, has ever spoken of reining in such groups. Minority and opposition politicians who raise an outcry over racial issues are often met with threats of sedition charges.
To anyone deeply familiar with Malaysia, the statement that Najib is committed to reform is laughable. None of Malaysia's online news sites, which form the credible journalistic opposition, were invited to the Najib-Obama joint press conference. So while Obama was extolling Najib's reformist credentials, Malaysia's most trusted news organization Malaysiakini wass shut out of the press conference.
UMNO is a kleptocracy that continues to loot the country’s assets with impunity. The latest, for example, was the award – without an open bid ‑ earlier this month of a RM1.6 billion contract for the building and maintenance of a hospital whose entire board of directors was drawn from the youth wing of UMNO, and whose managing director is a close friend of Khairy Jamaluddin, the head of UMNO youth.
These contracts are signed on a regular basis. Any suggestion that Najib doesn’t know they benefit his own political party is silly. He has participated personally in this kind of theft, which has resulted in his ostentatiously wealthy wife flaunting her riches worldwide to the anger of many people back home.
The party’s continuing use of fundamentalist Islam has nothing to do with true religious fervor but rather a specious use of faith to shore up its rural base at election time. The decision to ban the word “Allah” in Malay-language Christian Bibles is an example. The word was banned for Bibles in mainland Malaysia, where Malays outnumber other races, but allowed to stand in Bibles in East Malaysia, where indigenous tribes are mainly Christians who support the ruling national coalition at the polls.
According to the New York Times, Obama’s visit underscores a change in Malaysian attitudes toward the United States, “which has evolved from deep suspicion, verging on contempt, to a cautious desire for cooperation.”
But the fact is, as the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur knows well and surely told the president, is that despite Mahathir’s heated rhetoric during his years on office, the country has remained firmly in the western camp. Indeed, as the late Barry Wain illustrated in his book, Malaysian Maverick, while Mahathir was delivering speeches about American imperialism, he was quietly allowing the US military to train in Malaysian jungles. He was also sending his own children to American universities for their educations.
While Malaysia recognizes its future with China as its biggest trading partner, it is hardly the fulcrum of influence for or against the US in Asia. It is nice for the US to have it as a strategic partner, as Obama stressed. But it is one that should be kept at arms’ length.
On The Government’s Direct Involvement In The Trial Of Anwar Ibrahim
PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
During the joint press conference on April 27 with Prime Minister Najib Razak and US President Barack Obama, Prime Minister Najib stated that:
‘Specifically on Anwar’s case, it’s not — I want to put it on record, it’s not about the government against him. It’s an action taken by an individual who happens to be his former employee who’s taken up this case against him — a complainant. And under the eyes of the law, even if you’re a small man or a big man, you have equal justice. I think you believe in that principle.’
This is a dubious and misleading statement for several reasons.
Firstly, the complainant met with Najib just a few days before filing a police report against Anwar Ibrahim. Najib initially denied the meeting took place. Then he admitted it happened but indicated the complainant only visited him to seek help in obtaining a scholarship. Then Najib changed his story again indicating the complainant came to him to express trauma over being allegedly assaulted by Anwar. Following his meeting with Najib, the complainant met with a police officer known to have been deeply involved in the conspiracy to frame Anwar in the 1998 trial. The complainant filed his police report with Anwar the following day.
Secondly, Anwar was acquitted on January 9, 2012 of the charges leveled against him. The prosecution led by the Attorney General filed an appeal on January 20, 2012 and has led the charge to overturn Anwar’s acquittal. The AG appointed Shafee Abdullah as lead prosecutor in the appeal, an ad hoc appointment to the case which makes virtually no sense unless one considers his background. Shafee is the lawyer to key members of the ruling UMNO party including Dr Mahathir Mohammad and Najib himself. He has also litigated numerous high-profile cases for UMNO leaders. He was present at the meeting in 2008 between the complainant and Najib. The entire prosecutorial process in the Court of Appeal is tainted with the direct influence and interference of the ruling UMNO party led by Najib. Similar concerns were raised by the legal fraternity who observed the trial including the Bar Council, International Commission of Jurists, Inter-Parliamentary Union, Commonwealth Lawyers Association and the International Bar Association.
Lastly, Najib said that under the eyes of the law, even if you are a small or big man, you have equal justice. His statement reveals the truly deplorable condition of Malaysia’s pliant judiciary. The big men in UMNO-BN complicit in innumerable cases of corruption, abuse of power and murder – such as the Altantuya murder case and the PKFZ scandal – remain virtually immune from prosecution. Meanwhile the small men are systematically denied due process and justice in Malaysia.
For Najib to make a claim that the case against Anwar is a personal matter is consistent with his attempt to deflect from the very real and damning evidence linking him to this conspiracy. For him to utter such calumny standing beside President Obama while stating his commitment to upholding the rule of law is nothing short of an insult to the intelligence of the President, all Malaysians and all Americans.
PRESS OFFICE
OFFICE OF ANWAR IBRAHIM
28th APRIL 2014
During the joint press conference on April 27 with Prime Minister Najib Razak and US President Barack Obama, Prime Minister Najib stated that:
‘Specifically on Anwar’s case, it’s not — I want to put it on record, it’s not about the government against him. It’s an action taken by an individual who happens to be his former employee who’s taken up this case against him — a complainant. And under the eyes of the law, even if you’re a small man or a big man, you have equal justice. I think you believe in that principle.’
This is a dubious and misleading statement for several reasons.
Firstly, the complainant met with Najib just a few days before filing a police report against Anwar Ibrahim. Najib initially denied the meeting took place. Then he admitted it happened but indicated the complainant only visited him to seek help in obtaining a scholarship. Then Najib changed his story again indicating the complainant came to him to express trauma over being allegedly assaulted by Anwar. Following his meeting with Najib, the complainant met with a police officer known to have been deeply involved in the conspiracy to frame Anwar in the 1998 trial. The complainant filed his police report with Anwar the following day.
Secondly, Anwar was acquitted on January 9, 2012 of the charges leveled against him. The prosecution led by the Attorney General filed an appeal on January 20, 2012 and has led the charge to overturn Anwar’s acquittal. The AG appointed Shafee Abdullah as lead prosecutor in the appeal, an ad hoc appointment to the case which makes virtually no sense unless one considers his background. Shafee is the lawyer to key members of the ruling UMNO party including Dr Mahathir Mohammad and Najib himself. He has also litigated numerous high-profile cases for UMNO leaders. He was present at the meeting in 2008 between the complainant and Najib. The entire prosecutorial process in the Court of Appeal is tainted with the direct influence and interference of the ruling UMNO party led by Najib. Similar concerns were raised by the legal fraternity who observed the trial including the Bar Council, International Commission of Jurists, Inter-Parliamentary Union, Commonwealth Lawyers Association and the International Bar Association.
Lastly, Najib said that under the eyes of the law, even if you are a small or big man, you have equal justice. His statement reveals the truly deplorable condition of Malaysia’s pliant judiciary. The big men in UMNO-BN complicit in innumerable cases of corruption, abuse of power and murder – such as the Altantuya murder case and the PKFZ scandal – remain virtually immune from prosecution. Meanwhile the small men are systematically denied due process and justice in Malaysia.
For Najib to make a claim that the case against Anwar is a personal matter is consistent with his attempt to deflect from the very real and damning evidence linking him to this conspiracy. For him to utter such calumny standing beside President Obama while stating his commitment to upholding the rule of law is nothing short of an insult to the intelligence of the President, all Malaysians and all Americans.
PRESS OFFICE
OFFICE OF ANWAR IBRAHIM
28th APRIL 2014
Anwar Ibrahim Meets US National Security Council Director Ambassador Susan Rice
PRESS STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Anwar Ibrahim, opposition leader of Malaysia, and Justice Party (PKR) advisor, along with Democratic Action Party (DAP) Secretary General Lim Guan Eng and Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) Secretary General of Mustafa Ali met with United States National Security Advisor Ambassador Susan Rice this morning in Kuala Lumpur. Also present was US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel.
In the meeting Ambassador Rice conveyed a personal message from President Barack Obama to Anwar Ibrahim. President Obama said he sends his regards and best wishes to Anwar and wishes to be informed of the progress made in the meeting. Ambassador Rice also offered her condolences on the passing of the late Karpal Singh.
Anwar expressed his appreciation for the personal reference made by President Obama and on his being concerned.
In the meeting several important facets of the US-Malaysia bilateral relationship were discussed.
Ambassador Rice requested input on strategies to improve the bilateral relationship between Malaysia and the United States and recommended an honest conversation about the negotiations for the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA).
Anwar indicated he believed it is important to explore all avenues of bilateral cooperation and made reference to the United States’ comprehensive partnership framework in engaging with neighbouring Indonesia and Vietnam. In those countries, engagement was truly comprehensive covering trade and commerce, security, education, environment as well as issues of human rights, good governance and democracy. Anwar suggested the United States create a Working Group on governance and human rights that included representatives from civil society and opposition as one critical way to strengthen the comprehensive partnership announced during President Obama’s visit.
On the issue of the TPPA Anwar believes that Malaysia is a trading nation that must attract Foreign Direct Investment to survive in a challenging global economy. He explained to Ambassador Rice that Pakatan Rakyat has voiced its concerns about the TPPA, specifically regarding its stipulations about the agricultural sector, pharmaceutical sector and the exposure to complex and costly litigation that Malaysia may face upon signing the agreement. Anwar further explained that efforts to engage with the Federal Government to convey Pakatan Rakyat’s concerns and suggestions have been rejected. Ambassador Rice noted the need to facilitate a broader conversation in Malaysia about the agreement to ensure all parties understand it, to not vilify the US, and to ensure that the negotiation process is more transparent and inclusive.
Guan Eng, who is also Chief Minister of Penang, highlighted concerns about electoral integrity in Malaysia. He informed Ambassador Rice that despite the fraudulent conduct of May 2013 elections (which has been documented in a joint study by Harvard and the University of Sydney), the opposition still garnered 52% of the popular vote. Guan Eng explained to Ambassador Rice that Anwar Ibrahim should be the rightful Prime Minister of Malaysia right now. Following the 2013 elections, Guan Eng informed Ambassador Rice that the opposition rallied millions of Malaysians from across the country and around the world to protest the fraudulent outcome. Although never conceding defeat, after six weeks of sustained protests, the opposition agreed to move forward with the business of governing in the interests of avoiding civil strife.
Mustafa Ali stated that Malaysia suffers from the failure of federalism. The states rely heavily on the federal government for development, education and social welfare programs. Mustafa explained to Ambassador Rice that the federal government controlled by the UMNO-dominated BN coalition will resort to punishing states that are controlled by the opposition, such as by withholding development funds (e.g. the Petroleum Royalty for Kelantan). Ultimately the people suffer. Mustafa also emphasized to Ambassador Rice the need for a free media and an independent election commission to correct these problems.
Anwar expresses his appreciation on the availability of Ambassador Rice for these candid and frank discussions.
After the session with Pakatan Rakyat, Anwar and Ambassador Rice continued for a one-on-one session for approximately 20 minutes.
PRESS OFFICE
OFFICE OF ANWAR IBRAHIM
28th APRIL 2014
Why hudud is unconstitutional and impractical – Low Teck Kuan
PAS has recently been extremely persistent in pushing for the implementation of hudud in Kelantan. Despite numerous warnings by other political parties against their agenda, PAS seems hell bent on introducing a Private Members Bill in Parliament to further their own political agenda.
However, here lies the big question: Is it possible to implement one set of criminal law (hudud) in one state and have the rest of other states and Federal Territories obeying another set of criminal law?
Certainly no, because let’s be clear on this, you cannot have one set of law for one state on crime and another set of criminal law for other states. Not only it is impractical, it also seeks to disrupt the basic structure and relationship between the Federal and the states which was laid down by our founding father Tunku Abdul Rahman. It is also unconstitutional as PAS’s constant attempt at introducing hudud also seeks usurp federal powers at the same time.
Part VI of the Federal Constitution defines the relations between Federal and the states, where therein lies Article 73 to 79 of the Federal Constitution which laid down Parliament’s (Federal level) exclusive power to make law. Specifically, Article 74 (1) states that “…Parliament may make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the Federal List or the Concurrent List…” while Article 74(2) states that “…the Legislature of a State may make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the State List…”
And if we look at the Federal list which is the First fist set out in the ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution, internal security (including police, criminal investigation, public order etc.) clearly forms part of the Federal’s exclusive power and responsibility. Any attempt by any states to usurp this power is therefore unconstitutional. Even Article 75 demonstrates Federal’s superiority over all other states, where it is stated that “if any State law is inconsistent with a Federal law, the Federal law shall prevail and the State law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void”. Supremacy of the Federal Constitution as stated under Articles 4(1) also provides for the prevalence of the Federal Constitution against any conflicting laws passed by Parliament.
Crime is and has always been under the Federal’s jurisdiction, not the state. You cannot have one criminal court sentencing criminals to stoning or amputation with the rest of the country's criminals committing the same offence being jailed. Even the police force will be acting separately and confused. It’s akin to Kelantan seceding, running and acting on its own. It also creates a dangerous precedent where any one state could at any time decide and choose to act on Federal matters on its own which will defeat the very purpose of forming a federation in the first place.
In addition, implementation of hudud is clearly unconstitutional as it seeks to cover crimes that are already well covered in the Penal Code. Although PAS legal bureau chairperson Mohamed Hanipa Maidin disagreed and stated that two criminal justice systems namely civil law and syariah law, have existed "since the time the federal constitution was created" and therefore is constitutional. However, I beg to differ as Syariah offences tried in the Syariah Court are only permitted on the premise that the State law stipulating Syariah offences is not in conflict with the Penal Code. Syariah Court only has jurisdictions over Islamic criminal offenses that are not covered by Federal law.
Common crimes, such as theft, murder, rape and any other offences which are already covered by the Penal Code are obviously beyond the state’s reach. By attempting to introduce hudud which has the effects of replacing provisions in the Penal Code, it is essentially in conflict of it and thereby unconstitutional. A good case to note here is the case of Che Omar bin Che Soh v. Public Prosecutor [1988] 2 M.L.J. 55, where the Court held that although Islam is the religion of the federation, it is not the basic law of the land and Article 3 (on Islam) does not impose any limit on Parliament to legislate. Therefore, Federal law takes precedence.
To implement hudud, PAS will need to significantly alter the Federal Constitution and redefine the basic structure of Federal-state relationship and responsibilities that has proven to be successful since the Merdeka days. Is it then advisable for us now to allow PAS to disrupt this core system and let Kelantan manage crime on their own with their own set of police force and criminal court? What happens then if there is a conflict between Federal and state institutions during execution of these two distinct laws? For example, what if a Kelantan Muslim commits a crime in other state? Or a non-Kelantan Muslim who commits a crime in Kelantan, but ran off to Penang? Which set of law applies? Should these people too be subjected to hudud law? Which police force will be responsible to nab them? Is the civil criminal court responsible to hear this crime? Or the Syariah criminal court?
Perhaps the more pressing question will be, does the Kelantan Muslims even want to be subjected to hudud where other Muslims living outside Kelantan would not? What if they still want to be governed by the existing Penal Code? Do they want to be treated differently from the rest?
Should Malaysian Muslims and non-Muslims alike who reside outside Kelantan start subjecting Kelantan Muslims to different treatments? Thereby discriminating them? Is it even just, fair and equitable to do so?
Have the wise ulamas in PAS ever considered these possible jurisdictional and enforcement problems? They could not even offer a constructive solution to the existing conflicts between two sets of law on marriage yet (Deepa’s case), what guarantees do we have that they can solve more complex situations as mentioned above? Especially when it comes to crime where hudud punishments and repercussions are more severe and long lasting?
The Federal Constitution was written by our founding father Tunku Abdul Rahman to be supreme. Since our early school days, we were taught to cite the Rukun Tetangga every Monday morning. One of the key Rukun was “Kedaulatan Undang-Undang”, which simply means the “Supremacy of the Constitution”. Tunku Abdul Rahman wanted us to remember that the Constitution is supreme and any attempt to alter its nature and structure must be defended against fervently.
By PAS seeking to introduce hudud, PAS is essentially trying to erode Federal's exclusive power on crime and alter the system that our founding father had put in place which is clearly wrong. This is the one of the reasons why Karpal Singh fought against the implementation of Hudud, not because he was against Islam (and so do I, as I sincerely believe that Islam is a good religion) but that he was against any attempt by anyone to undermine the mechanism that defines and functions this country which is the Federal Constitution. In fact, throughout Karpal’s years of service as a Member of Parliament he had not opposed any other policies or laws which were formulated based on Islamic principles (such as Islamic banking).
Hence, in the good memory of Tunku Abdul Rahman and Karpal Singh, and in protecting the fundamentals and principles that were laid down by them, all Members of Parliament should oppose PAS’s attempt to introduce hudud (not on the basis that they are against Islam) but on the basis that there is a need to preserve Federal jurisdiction and protect the Federal Constitution. PAS should also reconsider its stance in seeking to push through Hudud in Kelantan due to its unconstitutionality and impracticality. Even if the Bill is passed on a simple majority in Parliament allowing Kelantan to adopt hudud, it will still be unconstitutional and can easily be challenged in the Court of law on grounds that it conflicts with the Penal Code.
* Low Teck Kuan reads The Malaysian Insider.
*This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
However, here lies the big question: Is it possible to implement one set of criminal law (hudud) in one state and have the rest of other states and Federal Territories obeying another set of criminal law?
Certainly no, because let’s be clear on this, you cannot have one set of law for one state on crime and another set of criminal law for other states. Not only it is impractical, it also seeks to disrupt the basic structure and relationship between the Federal and the states which was laid down by our founding father Tunku Abdul Rahman. It is also unconstitutional as PAS’s constant attempt at introducing hudud also seeks usurp federal powers at the same time.
Part VI of the Federal Constitution defines the relations between Federal and the states, where therein lies Article 73 to 79 of the Federal Constitution which laid down Parliament’s (Federal level) exclusive power to make law. Specifically, Article 74 (1) states that “…Parliament may make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the Federal List or the Concurrent List…” while Article 74(2) states that “…the Legislature of a State may make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the State List…”
And if we look at the Federal list which is the First fist set out in the ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution, internal security (including police, criminal investigation, public order etc.) clearly forms part of the Federal’s exclusive power and responsibility. Any attempt by any states to usurp this power is therefore unconstitutional. Even Article 75 demonstrates Federal’s superiority over all other states, where it is stated that “if any State law is inconsistent with a Federal law, the Federal law shall prevail and the State law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void”. Supremacy of the Federal Constitution as stated under Articles 4(1) also provides for the prevalence of the Federal Constitution against any conflicting laws passed by Parliament.
Crime is and has always been under the Federal’s jurisdiction, not the state. You cannot have one criminal court sentencing criminals to stoning or amputation with the rest of the country's criminals committing the same offence being jailed. Even the police force will be acting separately and confused. It’s akin to Kelantan seceding, running and acting on its own. It also creates a dangerous precedent where any one state could at any time decide and choose to act on Federal matters on its own which will defeat the very purpose of forming a federation in the first place.
In addition, implementation of hudud is clearly unconstitutional as it seeks to cover crimes that are already well covered in the Penal Code. Although PAS legal bureau chairperson Mohamed Hanipa Maidin disagreed and stated that two criminal justice systems namely civil law and syariah law, have existed "since the time the federal constitution was created" and therefore is constitutional. However, I beg to differ as Syariah offences tried in the Syariah Court are only permitted on the premise that the State law stipulating Syariah offences is not in conflict with the Penal Code. Syariah Court only has jurisdictions over Islamic criminal offenses that are not covered by Federal law.
Common crimes, such as theft, murder, rape and any other offences which are already covered by the Penal Code are obviously beyond the state’s reach. By attempting to introduce hudud which has the effects of replacing provisions in the Penal Code, it is essentially in conflict of it and thereby unconstitutional. A good case to note here is the case of Che Omar bin Che Soh v. Public Prosecutor [1988] 2 M.L.J. 55, where the Court held that although Islam is the religion of the federation, it is not the basic law of the land and Article 3 (on Islam) does not impose any limit on Parliament to legislate. Therefore, Federal law takes precedence.
To implement hudud, PAS will need to significantly alter the Federal Constitution and redefine the basic structure of Federal-state relationship and responsibilities that has proven to be successful since the Merdeka days. Is it then advisable for us now to allow PAS to disrupt this core system and let Kelantan manage crime on their own with their own set of police force and criminal court? What happens then if there is a conflict between Federal and state institutions during execution of these two distinct laws? For example, what if a Kelantan Muslim commits a crime in other state? Or a non-Kelantan Muslim who commits a crime in Kelantan, but ran off to Penang? Which set of law applies? Should these people too be subjected to hudud law? Which police force will be responsible to nab them? Is the civil criminal court responsible to hear this crime? Or the Syariah criminal court?
Perhaps the more pressing question will be, does the Kelantan Muslims even want to be subjected to hudud where other Muslims living outside Kelantan would not? What if they still want to be governed by the existing Penal Code? Do they want to be treated differently from the rest?
Should Malaysian Muslims and non-Muslims alike who reside outside Kelantan start subjecting Kelantan Muslims to different treatments? Thereby discriminating them? Is it even just, fair and equitable to do so?
Have the wise ulamas in PAS ever considered these possible jurisdictional and enforcement problems? They could not even offer a constructive solution to the existing conflicts between two sets of law on marriage yet (Deepa’s case), what guarantees do we have that they can solve more complex situations as mentioned above? Especially when it comes to crime where hudud punishments and repercussions are more severe and long lasting?
The Federal Constitution was written by our founding father Tunku Abdul Rahman to be supreme. Since our early school days, we were taught to cite the Rukun Tetangga every Monday morning. One of the key Rukun was “Kedaulatan Undang-Undang”, which simply means the “Supremacy of the Constitution”. Tunku Abdul Rahman wanted us to remember that the Constitution is supreme and any attempt to alter its nature and structure must be defended against fervently.
By PAS seeking to introduce hudud, PAS is essentially trying to erode Federal's exclusive power on crime and alter the system that our founding father had put in place which is clearly wrong. This is the one of the reasons why Karpal Singh fought against the implementation of Hudud, not because he was against Islam (and so do I, as I sincerely believe that Islam is a good religion) but that he was against any attempt by anyone to undermine the mechanism that defines and functions this country which is the Federal Constitution. In fact, throughout Karpal’s years of service as a Member of Parliament he had not opposed any other policies or laws which were formulated based on Islamic principles (such as Islamic banking).
Hence, in the good memory of Tunku Abdul Rahman and Karpal Singh, and in protecting the fundamentals and principles that were laid down by them, all Members of Parliament should oppose PAS’s attempt to introduce hudud (not on the basis that they are against Islam) but on the basis that there is a need to preserve Federal jurisdiction and protect the Federal Constitution. PAS should also reconsider its stance in seeking to push through Hudud in Kelantan due to its unconstitutionality and impracticality. Even if the Bill is passed on a simple majority in Parliament allowing Kelantan to adopt hudud, it will still be unconstitutional and can easily be challenged in the Court of law on grounds that it conflicts with the Penal Code.
* Low Teck Kuan reads The Malaysian Insider.
*This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
Wrong to call Malaysia a 'moderate Muslim country', NGOs tell Obama
Filepic: Barack Obama
KUALA LUMPUR: It would be inaccurate to
describe Malaysia as a “moderate Muslim country” despite repeated
attempts by the country’s leaders to project such an image, civil
society groups told US president Barack Obama during his visit.
In an “intimate and candid” meeting with Obama on Sunday, 10 local non-governmental organisation (NGO) leaders said they had highlighted that there were still a slew of issues affecting the country, which included extremism and the worrying process of Islamisation that was “tearing at the fabric of Malaysian society”.
“If you look at the issues that are affecting us, both from an ethnic religious perspective, as well as a human rights, and respect to rule of law. We cannot be described as moderate,” Bar Council president Christopher Leong told Astro AWANI today.
Leong had met Obama together with nine other NGO leaders.
They were: Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa (Islamic Rennaissance Front), Ratna Osman (Sisters in Islam), Tan Sri Hasmy Agam (SUHAKAM), Aegile Fernandez (Tenaganita), Honey Tan (Comango), Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam (outgoing Roman Catholic Archdiocese of KL), Rev Dr Hermen Shastri (Council of Churches), Datuk S Ambiga (Human Rights Society, HAKAM), and Maria Chin Abdullah (BERSIH).
Leong said that Malaysia constantly faced “widespread and institutionalised ethnic and religious unfair discrimination”, citing the cases of minority Muslim sects, Syiah and Ahmadis, being persecuted, and the seizure of Bibles and holy books by the Home Ministry.
These instances, he said, has led to an "acute polarisation in our society and community” and Malaysians growing further apart.
“There are attempts to subvert the underlying precepts of our constitution through a worsening Islamisation process in Malaysia,” said Leong.
Obama to 'mutually support' human rights work
Obama, he said, had “shared our concerns” and jointly expressed that everyone, including Malaysians and Americans, should advocate moderation, fight discrimination, and encourage adherence to rule of law.
“Before becoming president, he was a lawyer who had a passion in civil liberties. That’s why we spoke the same language. While he has work to do in his own country, and he assured us that where possible, US would be there to mutually supportive of each others' efforts. He will lend his voice to us,” said Leong.
Leong also highlighted that the government is supporting a “rule by law” instead of rule of law, citing the example of the usage of laws to criminalise use of non-Muslims of several Arabic words and phrases.
“There is a growing and almost prevalent practice now of state religious bodies issuing edicts and these edicts are being enforced by government public service almost as law. That runs contrary to our constitutional framework and democracy,” said Leong.
As example, Leong said the National Fatwa Council prohibits children born out of wedlock from being registered, and refused to accept those who converted out of Islam.
Leong said it may be right to simply describe Malaysia as a Muslim majority country, but it would serve "no purpose".
“Other than it being a factual description, it has no utility or benefit for Malaysians in the mid to long term. It is like describing America as a Christian majority country. In fact, it is counterproductive, because it emphasises and embeds in the divisions in society, and perpetuates this psyche in the minds of the government and citizens, which is one of the root causes of disharmony and disunity in Malaysia,” said Leong.
Najib himself a moderate but...
However, Obama and Leong shared the sentiment that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak himself was supportive of “moderation” though he faced an uphill task with elements, in and outside of his party and government, that are working against it.
“Both president Obama and I do recognise and believe that our Prime Minister Najib, his instincts are for moderation and against extremism, he is a proponent for economic transformation, institutional modernisation and ethnic and religious moderation.”
Leong said he told Obama that the use of religious and ethnicity hegemony and division is dangerous and divisive for Malaysia.
“Like America is called ‘Land of the Free’, until such time that we have earned and deserving such epithets such as “Harmonious Malaysia” or “Multicultural Malaysia”… let’s just refer to Malaysia as Malaysia.”
Others issues Leong said were discussed and communicated to Obama and his special advisor, Evan Medeiros, included:
Ethnic and religious tensions
“We discussed how ethnicity and religion is being used and abused as a means for maintaining political power. And that is highly divisive and potentially devastating for Malaysia. Obama recognised that, relating to us the experience in America in regards to the use of race and ethnicity for a tool for political power and political oppression. In America, the oppression of the African Americans in those days… required good men, over time, with continuous and relentless advocacy and work to overcome the issue of that could have potentially torn America apart. You must remember that a lot of wars and human suffering find their origins in either race, ethnic or religious discrimination and oppression, unfortunately. America entered into a civil war to do away with ethnic discrimination. So that is something that every country in a modern era should be able to learn from mistakes of the past and navigate and avoid those same mistakes.”
Issues US has to deal with
“Obama admitted that US does not have a perfect human rights record. His strong campaign message during the presidential election was to close Guantanamo Bay. This was something I raised with him and he said he would address Congress on that matter. (Other issues were) their non-ratification of several UN conventions, for example, against all forms of discrimination against women, rights of child. America has involved itself in the international area and sphere in many ways. By that token, America should subject themselves to international law and justice. Its support for Israel in the long continuing conflict. America must be careful not to be supporting breaches of international law and abuses of human rights by the Israeli regime. These are things that America needs to think about."
Malaysia’s repressive laws
“I earlier mentioned to him the concerns of rule of law. The reintroduction of detention without trial after ISA. This time not for terrorists but it is in respect of Malaysian citizens in the pretext if crime fighting. I am referring to the amendments to Prevention of Crime Act. Also we also talked about the use of the Sedition Act: an outmoded ad oppressive legislation used against members of civil society, namely people like student activist Adam Adly, activist Haris Ibrahim, and opposition leaders like Tian Chua and the late Karpal Singh. The message conveyed to him was these legislation are used to silence dissenting views and curb freedom of speech and expression.
The ‘Allah’ debate
“I found it very interesting and ironic that president Obama begun his visit with us with the national mosque, and had toured National Mosque with imam Tan Sri Syaikh Ismail Muhammad, who is reported to have said that he found it endearing and kind of President Obama’s efforts to use Bahasa Malaysia. And President Obama in the course of conversation also said InsyaAllah (God willing) and terima kasih (thank you). It is ironic that the imam finds that endearing and kind, when Malaysian non-Muslims who say that in almost all states would face prosecution."
Hudud
“We raised concerns that there is a proposal of the introduction of hudud, which provides for, in essence, bodily mutilation. There can never be an acceptable, criminal justice system which would recognise and legitimise bodily mutilation. Such Islamic hudud laws cannot in any way apply to non-Muslims whether directly or indirectly by way of amendments to the Penal Law. That would be in effect imposing Syariah law on non-Muslims. Yet, if that is the case, how can you then have a disparity in treatment that is fundamentally unjust and unfair, that some Malaysians are subject to different treatment under the criminal law.
Freedom of expression/assembly
“We talked about the use of Printing Presses and Publications Act to curb the press. Also the denial of space to online news portals by denying licenses to print by fz.com and Malaysiakini and the indefinite suspension (now lifted) of news weekly The Heat recently. Use of unnecessary and excessive force on peaceful assembly and police intimidation and assault of members of the press including damaging and confiscation of equipment by the media. Intimidation or harassment by the home minister in respect to reporter from Malaysiakini in an event in Malaysia. The use of Peaceful Assembly Act to restrict or deny rights of peaceful assembly. Bearing in mind that the Act was to facilitate peaceful assemblies, it is now being used to prosecute members of civil society and politicians."
In an “intimate and candid” meeting with Obama on Sunday, 10 local non-governmental organisation (NGO) leaders said they had highlighted that there were still a slew of issues affecting the country, which included extremism and the worrying process of Islamisation that was “tearing at the fabric of Malaysian society”.
“If you look at the issues that are affecting us, both from an ethnic religious perspective, as well as a human rights, and respect to rule of law. We cannot be described as moderate,” Bar Council president Christopher Leong told Astro AWANI today.
Leong had met Obama together with nine other NGO leaders.
They were: Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa (Islamic Rennaissance Front), Ratna Osman (Sisters in Islam), Tan Sri Hasmy Agam (SUHAKAM), Aegile Fernandez (Tenaganita), Honey Tan (Comango), Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam (outgoing Roman Catholic Archdiocese of KL), Rev Dr Hermen Shastri (Council of Churches), Datuk S Ambiga (Human Rights Society, HAKAM), and Maria Chin Abdullah (BERSIH).
Leong said that Malaysia constantly faced “widespread and institutionalised ethnic and religious unfair discrimination”, citing the cases of minority Muslim sects, Syiah and Ahmadis, being persecuted, and the seizure of Bibles and holy books by the Home Ministry.
These instances, he said, has led to an "acute polarisation in our society and community” and Malaysians growing further apart.
“There are attempts to subvert the underlying precepts of our constitution through a worsening Islamisation process in Malaysia,” said Leong.
Obama to 'mutually support' human rights work
Obama, he said, had “shared our concerns” and jointly expressed that everyone, including Malaysians and Americans, should advocate moderation, fight discrimination, and encourage adherence to rule of law.
“Before becoming president, he was a lawyer who had a passion in civil liberties. That’s why we spoke the same language. While he has work to do in his own country, and he assured us that where possible, US would be there to mutually supportive of each others' efforts. He will lend his voice to us,” said Leong.
Leong also highlighted that the government is supporting a “rule by law” instead of rule of law, citing the example of the usage of laws to criminalise use of non-Muslims of several Arabic words and phrases.
“There is a growing and almost prevalent practice now of state religious bodies issuing edicts and these edicts are being enforced by government public service almost as law. That runs contrary to our constitutional framework and democracy,” said Leong.
As example, Leong said the National Fatwa Council prohibits children born out of wedlock from being registered, and refused to accept those who converted out of Islam.
Leong said it may be right to simply describe Malaysia as a Muslim majority country, but it would serve "no purpose".
“Other than it being a factual description, it has no utility or benefit for Malaysians in the mid to long term. It is like describing America as a Christian majority country. In fact, it is counterproductive, because it emphasises and embeds in the divisions in society, and perpetuates this psyche in the minds of the government and citizens, which is one of the root causes of disharmony and disunity in Malaysia,” said Leong.
Najib himself a moderate but...
However, Obama and Leong shared the sentiment that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak himself was supportive of “moderation” though he faced an uphill task with elements, in and outside of his party and government, that are working against it.
“Both president Obama and I do recognise and believe that our Prime Minister Najib, his instincts are for moderation and against extremism, he is a proponent for economic transformation, institutional modernisation and ethnic and religious moderation.”
Leong said he told Obama that the use of religious and ethnicity hegemony and division is dangerous and divisive for Malaysia.
“Like America is called ‘Land of the Free’, until such time that we have earned and deserving such epithets such as “Harmonious Malaysia” or “Multicultural Malaysia”… let’s just refer to Malaysia as Malaysia.”
Others issues Leong said were discussed and communicated to Obama and his special advisor, Evan Medeiros, included:
Ethnic and religious tensions
“We discussed how ethnicity and religion is being used and abused as a means for maintaining political power. And that is highly divisive and potentially devastating for Malaysia. Obama recognised that, relating to us the experience in America in regards to the use of race and ethnicity for a tool for political power and political oppression. In America, the oppression of the African Americans in those days… required good men, over time, with continuous and relentless advocacy and work to overcome the issue of that could have potentially torn America apart. You must remember that a lot of wars and human suffering find their origins in either race, ethnic or religious discrimination and oppression, unfortunately. America entered into a civil war to do away with ethnic discrimination. So that is something that every country in a modern era should be able to learn from mistakes of the past and navigate and avoid those same mistakes.”
Issues US has to deal with
“Obama admitted that US does not have a perfect human rights record. His strong campaign message during the presidential election was to close Guantanamo Bay. This was something I raised with him and he said he would address Congress on that matter. (Other issues were) their non-ratification of several UN conventions, for example, against all forms of discrimination against women, rights of child. America has involved itself in the international area and sphere in many ways. By that token, America should subject themselves to international law and justice. Its support for Israel in the long continuing conflict. America must be careful not to be supporting breaches of international law and abuses of human rights by the Israeli regime. These are things that America needs to think about."
Malaysia’s repressive laws
“I earlier mentioned to him the concerns of rule of law. The reintroduction of detention without trial after ISA. This time not for terrorists but it is in respect of Malaysian citizens in the pretext if crime fighting. I am referring to the amendments to Prevention of Crime Act. Also we also talked about the use of the Sedition Act: an outmoded ad oppressive legislation used against members of civil society, namely people like student activist Adam Adly, activist Haris Ibrahim, and opposition leaders like Tian Chua and the late Karpal Singh. The message conveyed to him was these legislation are used to silence dissenting views and curb freedom of speech and expression.
The ‘Allah’ debate
“I found it very interesting and ironic that president Obama begun his visit with us with the national mosque, and had toured National Mosque with imam Tan Sri Syaikh Ismail Muhammad, who is reported to have said that he found it endearing and kind of President Obama’s efforts to use Bahasa Malaysia. And President Obama in the course of conversation also said InsyaAllah (God willing) and terima kasih (thank you). It is ironic that the imam finds that endearing and kind, when Malaysian non-Muslims who say that in almost all states would face prosecution."
Hudud
“We raised concerns that there is a proposal of the introduction of hudud, which provides for, in essence, bodily mutilation. There can never be an acceptable, criminal justice system which would recognise and legitimise bodily mutilation. Such Islamic hudud laws cannot in any way apply to non-Muslims whether directly or indirectly by way of amendments to the Penal Law. That would be in effect imposing Syariah law on non-Muslims. Yet, if that is the case, how can you then have a disparity in treatment that is fundamentally unjust and unfair, that some Malaysians are subject to different treatment under the criminal law.
Freedom of expression/assembly
“We talked about the use of Printing Presses and Publications Act to curb the press. Also the denial of space to online news portals by denying licenses to print by fz.com and Malaysiakini and the indefinite suspension (now lifted) of news weekly The Heat recently. Use of unnecessary and excessive force on peaceful assembly and police intimidation and assault of members of the press including damaging and confiscation of equipment by the media. Intimidation or harassment by the home minister in respect to reporter from Malaysiakini in an event in Malaysia. The use of Peaceful Assembly Act to restrict or deny rights of peaceful assembly. Bearing in mind that the Act was to facilitate peaceful assemblies, it is now being used to prosecute members of civil society and politicians."
To watch more of Astro’s popular programmes and infotainment, use Astro on the Go http://onthego.astro.com.my
In intimate meet, Obama lends ear to human rights issues in Malaysia
Malay Mail by ZURAIRI AR AND YAP TZU GING
KUALA
LUMPUR, April 28 — President Barack Obama turned out to be an attentive
listener on a wide range of human rights issues in Malaysia, civil
society representatives said after meeting the US leader late
yesterday.
The
ten activists had expected to brief the president for around 15 minutes
and were surprised when Obama pulled up a chair and listened to them in
an informal meet which lasted close to an hour.
“We
raised all the human rights issues that we could in that time,” Datuk
Ambiga Sreenevasan, who represented the Malaysian Human Rights Society
(Hakam), told The Malay Mail Online.
“The President was very engaging and heard us out. There was agreement of the importance of human rights issues.”
The
ten raised issues on religious and racial polarisation, divisive
politics, free and fair elections, political persecution, rule of law,
and media control by the government
“We
tried to present the flipside of Malaysia today. It is far from
democratic, we were trying to tell the president that Malaysia is not
moderate and democratic,” said Maria Chin Abdullah, the chairman of
electoral reforms watchdog Bersih 2.0.
The
president of the Malaysian Bar Christopher Leong said he highlighted
the use of the Sedition Act against members of civil society and
opposition politicians, and the Printing Presses and Publications Act to
keep media outlets in line.
“I
have specifically discussed with President Obama the reintroduction of
detention without trial laws, this time not for terrorists, but against
Malaysians on the pretext of fighting crime,” Leong said.
The
groups also talked about Islam’s increasingly political role in the
country and how the religion has been used to censure human rights
activists and to silence even constructive criticism.
“There
is a concerted effort by the government to silence the dissident and
persecute minorities,” Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa, the chairman of Muslim
group Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF) claimed.
He
said that religious persecution remains rife and targets not only
Christians but also minority groups within Islam including Shiahs and
Ahmadis.
Honey
Tan, who represented the Coalition of Malaysian NGOs (Comango) said
that the group has often been labelled anti-Islam and anti-Malaysian.
The Home Ministry declared Comango illegal but later lifted the ban quietly following international pressure.
The
ten also said it was ironic that Obama had taken the time to meet them,
while Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had so far been elusive in
engaging the civil society.
“Comango
has written to the prime minister, foreign minister, home minister. We
haven’t received even a reply, which is basic courtesy,” Tan said.
Others
who were present were Tan Sri Hasmy Agam of the Malaysian Human Rights
Commission, Ratna Osman of women’s group Sisters in Islam, and Aegile
Fernandez of Tenaganita.
The
churches were also represented by outgoing Roman Catholic Archdiocese
of Kuala Lumpur Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam and Rev. Dr Hermen Shastri of the
Council of Churches Malaysia.
Obama believes Najib a moderate, but Umno, others a hindrance, says Bar Council
The Malaysian Insider
by V. ANBALAGAN
by V. ANBALAGAN
United
States President Barack Obama recognises that Datuk Seri Najib Razak has
the instinct for moderation and unity but elements outside and within
Umno are the stumbling block, says the Malaysian Bar.
Its president, Christopher Leong, agreed with Obama that the Malaysian prime minister's effort was a difficult task.
The US president's three-day visit to Kuala Lumpur came 48 years after his predecessor Lyndon B. Johnson's visit in 1966.
Leong
replied to questions by The Malaysian Insider by text messages last
night following his meeting with Obama together with nine other
representatives from local civil rights groups.
He said the Bar which represents 13,000 lawyers would support Najib in his effort for moderation, unity and harmony.
"This is also important for Malaysia's trade and economic development," Leong added.
He said the US president, who was once a civil rights lawyer, was attentive on issues pertaining to the rule of law.
Leong
said they also raised the reintroduction of detention without trial
under the Prevention of Crime Act, the abuse of the Sedition Act against
civil society and opposition political leaders to stifle the freedom of
speech and expression.
"We also brought to his attention the use of the Printing, Presses and Publications Act to control the traditional media."
Leong
said Obama recognised the concerns raised and also supported the work
put in by the civil rights groups, including the Bar.
He
also said Obama agreed that Malaysia and the United States worked
towards moderation, elimination of discrimination and promote the
adherence to the rule of law.
"Obama
also acknowledged that the US did not have 100% record on these issues
but must continue to work and advocate improvement," he said.
Obama left for the Philippines, the final stop of his Asian tour, this morning. – April 28, 2014.
Government To Enact National Aviation Policy To Accelerate Aviation Industry Growth - Muhyiddin
BANTING,
April 28 (Bernama) -- The government will enact the National Aviation
Policy to accelerate the aviation industry's growth, Deputy Prime
Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.He said the policy would recommend measures to be taken to enhance the aviation ecosystem and the industry's service network, among them upgrading the existing air traffic management system.
"The policy will also propose upgrading of several airports in the country," he said when speaking at the handing over of a Boeing 737-400 aircraft owned by Malaysia Airlines (MAS) to the Education Ministry at the Banting Polytechnic.
MAS chairman Tan Sri Mohd Nor Yusof handed the aircraft to the ministry's secretary-general II Datuk Seri Zaini Ujang.
The aircraft is MAS' contribution in line with the airline's collaboration with the ministry under a memorandum of understanding (MoU), which was signed on Monday.
Under the MoU, the Banting Polytechnic will serve as a training laboratory for aircraft maintenance.
Muhyiddin said the aviation industry was growing at a rapid pace in the Asia-Pacific region, touching 50 per cent over the last 10 years.
He said the industry was expected to see continued growth to more than 200 per cent in the next 20 years.
"This trend should be seen in the aspect of the infrastructure readiness such as airports and the expertise to support the industry's growth.
"According to a study conducted by the Official Airline Guide (OAG) Aviation, the global flight schedule capacity between January and April has increased by four per cent in 2012 than in 2011.
"With the aviation industry's robust growth, Malaysia has the potential to become the aviation hub in the region. The industry can provide multiplier effects to our economy, given the growing passenger and air cargo demand," he said.
Muhyiddin said that between January and July 2013, passengers at all the airports in the country increased to 43.9 million vis-a-vis 38.6 million people during the same period in 2012.
He said the total volume of air cargo handled also increased to 529,000 tonnes in the same period.
"With the commercial operations of klia2 on May 2, the passenger load is expected to increase to more than 70 million," he said.
Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, said that in developing the domestic human capital, the goverment has taken measures to upgrade the education quality to ensure that the graduates from local universities were on par and could compete at international level.
He said a skilled local workforce would convince industrialists that there were good quality, experienced and creative talents in the country.
"It has been projected that by next year, our country will need more than 10,000 skilled workforce in aircraft maintenance.
"The Education Ministry will continue to support the enhancement and direction of the aviation science field at the Banting Polytechnic as it is the only polytechnic that offers the related programme in Malaysia," he said.
Hence, Muhyiddin urged the polytechnic to work towards attaining recognition as an Approved Training Organisation by the aviation industry.
This was imperative for the polytechnic to maintain the quality of its graduates to be in line with the industry's advancement, he added.
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