Khalid reminds PKNS conference the 'price of integrity'

SRI VISHNU DURGAI AMMAM THIRUTALAM DESTROYED BY MALACCA GOVERNMENT

ISIS Forcefully Circumcised Assyrian Christian Men in Mosul, Sold 700 Yazidi Women

The Arabic letter "n" (inside red circle), signifying "Nasrani" (Christian), on a Christian home in Mosul.

(AINA) -- The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) captured the city of Mosul, Iraq on June 10.
Almost immediately thereafter it began to drive Assyrians out of Mosul and destroy Christian and non-Sunni institutions.

• There are no Assyrians/Christians remaining in Mosul, all have fled to the north, to Alqosh, Dohuk and other Assyrian villages.
• All Christian institutions in Mosul (churches, monasteries and cemeteries), numbering 45, have been destroyed, occupied, converted to mosques, converted to ISIS headquarters or shuttered (story).
• All non-Sunni Muslim groups in Mosul -- Shabaks, Yazidis and Turkmen -- have been targeted by ISIS. Most have fled.
• Water and electricity have been cut off by ISIS. The water shortage in the areas surrounding Mosul is now a full-blown crisis. Residents have been forced to dig wells for drinking water. Water tankers are providing some relief.
• Mosul is now governed under Sharia law.
• 200,000 Assyrian have fled from Baghdede (Qaraqosh), Bartella, Karamles and dozens of Assyrian villages and towns in the Nineveh Plain north of Mosul.
• 150,000 Yazidis have fled from Sinjar and Zumar. 40,000 trapped on Shingal mountain. Thousands have died from exposure. Thousands have been killed by ISIS.

The following is a summary of the events that have unfolded in Mosul.

• August 14: ISIS orders all former Assyrian church guards to surrender their weapons (story).
• August 13: ISIS forces child patients at the cancer hospital in Mosul to hold ISIS flags and then photographed them for propaganda purposes. ISIS completely loots and plunders all homes in the the Assyrian Christian towns of Telsqof and Bashiqa. 100,000 Yazidi refugees are now in the town of Khanak without food, water or shelter (story).
• August 11: ISIS orders all families in Mosul to obtain approval before burying their dead. ISIS provides gasoline to Assyrians in Nineveh Plain to facilitate their departure. ISIS continues kidnapping women, with female ISIS members helping (story). Iraqi general says 70% of Yazidis on Mount Sinjar are dead (story).
• August 9: ISIS forces all women in Mosul to wear the veil, including the full head cover. ISIS establishes black markets for goods to raise funds. (story).
• August 8: Iraqi Parliament passes resolution accusing ISIS of genocide (story).
• August 8: ISIS captures Baghdede Bartella and Karamlis and moves north into the Nineveh Plain, causing 200,000 Assyrians to flee their towns and villages (story).
• August 7: Assyrian Patriarch Pleads to the United Nations on Crisis in Iraq (story).
• August 6: Kurds and ISIS clash outside Baghdede; ISIS begins using Yazidis as human shields; All the Assyrians from the villages of Bartella, Bashiqa, Bahzany, Tel Kepe, Batnaya and Telsqof flee (story).
• August 5: ISIS shells assyrian town, 1 killed; Yazidis in desperate state (story).
• August 4: Leader of Iraq's Yazidis issues distress call, appeals for help against ISIS (story).
• August 4: Assyrians flee as ISIS approaches Assyrian villages in the Nineveh Plain (story).
• August 2: ISIS Captures Yazidi towns, kills two 2,000 Yazidis, causes 200,000 to flee (story).
• August 2: ISIS loots 8 million dollars from Assyrian farms (story).
• July 29: ISIS destroys or occupies all 45 Christian institutions in Mosul (story).
• July 25: ISIS destroys the tomb of the Prophet Jonah (story).
• July 22: ISIS and Kurds clash near Assyrian town, 2000 Assyrian families driven from Mosul (story).
• July 19: ISIS plunders Assyrians as they Flee Mosul; families march 42 miles (story).
• July 18: ISIS in Mosul marks Christian homes with the Arabic letter "N" (for the word Nasrani, which means Christian) (story).
• July 17: ISIS issues statement ordering Christians to convert or die (story).
• July 15: ISIS Stops Rations for Christians and Shiites in Mosul (story).
• July 10: ISIS bars women from walking the streets unless accompanied by a male. Nearly all barber shops and womens' salons are closed (story).
• July 8: ISIS Removes Cross From Church in Mosul (story).
• July 3: ISIS seizes the house of the Chaldean Patriarchate and the house of Dr. Tobia, a member of Hammurabi Human Rights Organization and an Advisor to the Governor of Nineveh on Minority Affairs and General Coordinator with International Organizations (story).
• June 28: ISIS kidnaps two nuns and three Assyrian orphans. They are eventually released (story).
• ISIS begins confiscating the homes of Christians and non-Sunni Muslims. ISIS rounds up many of the security agency members of the police and army in Sabrine Mosque and asks them to declare "repentance" and surrender their weapons and other military equipment. After doing so, all of the prisoners are tried and sentenced according to Sharia law and executed. ISIS has prevented delivery of government food rations to Tel Kepe and other areas not under their control (story).
• June 26: Kurds Clash With ISIS Near Assyrian Town East of Mosul, forcing nearly 50,000 Assyrians to flee (story).
• June 25: ISIS limits water from the plants in Mosul to one hour per day. Residents in surrounding areas are forced to dig wells (story).
• June 23: ISIS Rape Christian Mother and Daughter, Kill 4 Christian Women for Not Wearing Veil (story).
• June 21: ISIS begins imposing a poll tax (jizya) on Assyrians in Mosul (story), orders unmarried women to 'Jihad by sex' (story), destroys the statue of the Virgin Mary at the Immaculate Church of the Highest in the neighborhood of AlShafa in Mosul, as well as the statue of Mullah Osman Al-Musali. Shiite Turkmen in the villages of AlKibba and Shraikhan flee after receiving threats from ISIS. ISIS arrests 25 village elders and young men who are Turkmen in the village of AlShamsiyat; their whereabouts is still unknown. (story) ISIS orders Christian, Yazidis and Shiite government employees not to report for work in Mosul (story).
• June 19: ISIS destroys statue of the famous Arab poet Abu Tammam (story).
• June 18: ISIS Cuts Off Water, Electricity, Destroys Churches (story).
• June 15: Kurds attempt to remove an Assyrian council leader in Alqosh and replace him with a Kurd (story).
• June 14: Assyrian, Yezidi and Shabak Villages come under Kurdish Control (story).
• June 12: ISIS issues Islamic rules for Mosul (story).
• June 10: ISIS captures Mosul, occupies the Assyrian village of Qaraqosh, enters the St. Behnam Monastery, bombs an Armenian church (story).

Crack unit of female soldiers hunting Islamic State kidnappers

Heavily armed women from the Turkish PKK have gone into into Iraq to tackle the jihadists

A crack unit of female soldiers is on the trail of Islamic State killers who have captured 3,000 innocent women in Iraq.

Thousands of non-Muslim women and girls have been kidnapped by Islamic State thugs on the rampage in the country over the past two weeks.

They face the terrifying prospect of being forced into marriage, sold as sex slaves or shot if they do not convert to Islam.

Now hundreds of women from the Turkish PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ party) have crossed into Iraq to help push the IS fighters out of the north of Iraq.

They are striking fear into the hearts of the Jihadist thugs who believe if they are killed by a woman in battle they will not reach heaven.

Heavily-armed female fighters joined hundreds of men from the PKK and fought against the insurgents under U.S. air cover.

They are working with the Iraqi Kurdish region Peshmerga forces around the regional capital of Erbil and the Sinjar mountains, where thousands from the Yazidi religious minority have been trapped by the rapid advance of Islamic State fighters.

Peshmerga means ‘those who face death’. Once mountain guerrillas fighting for Kurdish autonomy in northern Iraq, these forces are now working for the Kurdistan regional Government against the Islamic extremists.

“Our support is just as important for the peshmerga as these US strikes - bombings alone cannot get rid of guerrilla groups,” said Sedar Botan, a female PKK veteran commander. We will keep fighting until all of Kurdistan is safe.”

The Kurds are one of the world’s largest stateless groups and their population spans parts of Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran. The PKK’s decades-long war for autonomy from Turkey has gained it international notoriety.

Loathed by millions of Turks for its campaign against the country’s police and conscript army, it has executed unarmed recruits and placed roadside bombs that have killed women and children.

But PKK guerrillas are assisting in the Kurdish ground offensive in conjunction with U.S. air attacks to retake the Mosul Dam from IS units.

Read More.............

Listen to Dr M’s advice, Umno grassroots tell Najib

While support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak remains strong among the Umno grassroots, the party president would do well to heed the concerns raised by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed, grass-roots leaders of the Malay-based party said.

They told The Malaysian Insider there were grouses among members over Najib’s “soft” stance towards his opponents, but added the sentiment was not strong enough for a call to replace the prime minister.

“I think Dr Mahathir was right, Najib is too soft. And in this day and age, if you let sensitive issues fester without reigning it in, it would be very bad for everyone.

“Whether he likes it or not, he must be swift and firm,” said Umno Taman Melur branch chief Mohd Aznam Mohd Zin.

“And if he continues like this, it’s not entirely impossible for him to have to step down. So he has to make changes, and not allow this to go on like what happened with Pak Lah,” he added, referring to Najib’s predecessor, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

In a blog post yesterday, Dr Mahathir declared he was with withdrawing his support for Najib, adding that the prime minister was performing worse than Abdullah.

Dr Mahathir said his criticism had fallen on deaf ears, and blamed Najib’s administration for worsening inter-racial ties, the economy, and the country’s finances.

But Aznam was quick to say that Umno members still overwhelmingly supported Najib, and he interpreted Dr Mahathir’s blog post as just criticism.

“For me, there is nothing wrong with criticising Najib, because even I as a leader notice the growing tension over issues of insults.

“As far as I know, Dr Mahathir was not withdrawing his support but just reproaching him. Even the blog post is titled ‘Criticism’ (Menegur).”

Umno Cheras division leader Datuk Syed Ali Alhabshee also attempted to soften the blow of Dr Mahathir’s post and likened it to the scolding a father would give to his son.

“If there are criticisms, it is not a sign of hatred but a reminder to improve the party and administration of the government. If Dr Mahathir did not love Najib, he would not have made such criticisms,” he wrote on his blog.

But he urged Najib and all Umno leaders to accept the former prime minister’s views with an open heart, saying: “When a father like Dr Mahathir gives out such a reminder or criticism, there must surely be a lesson there.”

He also agreed with Dr Mahathir’s views that people below Najib may not give him an accurate depiction of the situation, as they were too eager to win him over.

“Those who have positions in the party and government should give their sincere views to the prime minister.”

BN Youth executive secretary Zaidel Baharuddin told The Malaysian Insider that Dr Mahathir’s views were reflected among some members of the party.

“There are definitely some people who are unhappy. And there is a concern over what Dr Mahathir said, and that he had to openly say it himself. So Najib would have to take this into account.

“But is the unhappiness strong enough to remove him? No.

“It not the same as what happened with Pak Lah, or even what is happening to Hadi Awang,” he said, referring to PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

But, Datuk Rizuan Abdul Hamid, the Umno Kepong division chief, dismissed Dr Mahathir’s criticisms outright, and said he was confused by the former prime minister’s words.

“I have no problem with Najib. He is a firm leader and has conducted himself well, especially in light of MH17 and MH370.

“We should give Najib a chance. It’s fine to criticise him if he’s doing badly, but he is actually improving by the day.”

Rizuan added that Dr Mahathir’s own premiership was fraught with challenges, and as a veteran leader he should lend his full support to Najib.

“He is not a prime minister anymore, he should support Najib. Before, he criticised Pak Lah, and now he is doing the same to Najib. Just let them do their work.”

Meanwhile, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor today played down Dr Mahathir’s blog post, and reiterated their support for their party president.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/listen-to-dr-ms-advice-umno-grassroots-tell-najib#sthash.43PUuBOv.dpuf

Hishammuddin defends ‘brave’ Najib against Dr M’s criticism

Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has to come to the defence of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, saying he is doing his best in administering the country.

The defence minister cited accomplishments such as the handling of the remains from the MH17 tragedy, where he was quoted as saying by news portal Malaysiakini that Najib succeeded where US president Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin had failed.

"If Najib did not take the brave stand of facing the separatists, I may not be standing here today to organise the arrival of the corpses (of Malaysians)," Hishammuddin (pic) was quoted as saying by the portal.

"Ask if Obama could do it, ask if Putin is able to do it."

Najib’s handling of the MH17 tragedy allowed investigators to access the crash site and bring back the remains of the MH17 victims.

Hishammuddin was responding to former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s criticism of Najib’s leadership yesterday, where he said he withdrew his support for Najib as his criticism had fallen on deaf ears.

“I have tried to give my views to him directly, which are also the views of many people who have met me," said Dr Mahathir in his popular blog, chedet.cc.

"I have no choice but to withdraw my support. This has not been effective so I have to criticise," he said, adding that Najib was no better than his predecessor, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Dr Mahathir also said his criticism against Najib was not personal and it did not mean that the prime minister should resign. But, he did not agree with Najib's policies as they did not bring any benefit to the country.

"No, I am not asking him to resign. I just do not agree with his policies," he said, and accused the country's chief administrator of being "soft", with a tendency to keep quiet when faced with problems.

Hishammuddin said Dr Mahathir's criticism was his personal opinion, and that he respected the former prime minister's views.

"But at the same time, I do not want to belittle Dr Mahathir's views as he has always had his own stand and views." – August 19, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/hishamuddin-defends-najib-against-dr-m-calls-him-courageous#sthash.pRvCxyRY.dpuf

DAP urge Putrajaya to justify RM108 million spent on 80 medical students

Putrajaya must come clean on how Malaysia gained from spending RM1.35 million per student in the now "failed medical romance" with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said DAP.

Secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said today that the federal government must explain since the collaboration with the prestigious American medical school cost RM107.91 million for only 80 students.

"The public will also be interested if the 80 students are all Malaysians and the critiria applied for their selection.

This full accountability is especially important when the federal government has made limited offers to only 418 brilliant students to take up medicine at local public universites," he said in a statement.

Lim was referring to deputy education minister P. Kamalanathan saying yesterday that the limited number of offers is due to an oversupply of new doctors, where only 418 out of 1,163 students, who obtained top marks were selected for medicine.

Lim, who is also Penang chief minister and Bagan MP, said this was not the first time an alliance with a world-renowned university have failed.

He cited a case involving the prestigious Massachusettes Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Malaysian University of Science and Technology some 10 years ago.

He said a grant of RM100 million was set up in 1999 for the Malaysian university to mirror MIT but the partnership failed when MIT pulled out in 2004.

Lim said this latest case had reinforced the culture of mediocrity in Malaysian educational standards and the sad reality that there was no room for excellent institutions or brilliant students.

"This is symptomatic of the failure of the Barisan Nasional federal government’s transformation programme to pursue excellence and the creative city concept due in part to reluctance to embrace the critical success factors of talent, technology and tolerance," he said.

Lim said the 3Ts of talent, technology and tolerance must co-exist in an eco-system that can engender creativity.

Malaysia might have the talent and readiness to invest in technology but the general reluctance to permit tolerance of different ideas and lifestyles had proven to be too big a hindrance for the country, he said.

He also blamed such weaknesses as the reasons why Malaysian universities have become mediocre and local talents have migrated to greener pastures overseas.

"What is equally worrying is not just that the elite excellent foreign universities are abandoning Malaysia, but that the federal government is also abandoning our top students," he said.

Lim said as a first step, the Putrajaya must win back the confidence of top local students by giving them university places for their preferred courses before trying to attract top foreign universities to Malaysia.

"Why go on with the Sijil Tinggi Peperiksaan Malaysia (STPM) when our top students are denied places and their choice of courses?"

He cited the case of straight A's STPM student from Klang Ng Li Ying, who was denied courses in medicine, dentistry and pharmacy despite applying to nine local universities and was offered nursing instead.

There were also two straight-As students from Ipoh, who opted for dentistry and medicine in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, but got nursing in Sarawak and veterinary studies in Kelantan respectively.

"Another top student in (MCA president and Transport minister Datuk Seri) Liow Tiong Lai's own Bentong (parliamentary) constituency was offered nursing in Sarawak as well."

Another STPM student from Perak with four As failed to get into a pharmacy programme in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) despite being offered the same course by Monash University, Australia, which is ranked 8th in the world by the 2014 QS World University Ranking for pharmacy and pharmacology, he said.

"Someone must have forgotten to tell the whole world that USM is better than Monash University," Lim added. – August 19, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/dap-urge-putrajaya-to-justify-rm108-million-spent-on-80-medical-students#sthash.7ptDcet9.dpuf

Azmin’s name added after Hadi met Sultan, says PAS Youth chief

PAS proposed PKR deputy president Azmin Ali as a second candidate for the Selangor Menteri Besar post in order to pre-empt the possibility that the Sultan of Selangor may reject Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, its party's youth chief said today.

‎Suhaizan Kaiat said PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang made the decision after an audience with the Sultan of Selangor on Ju‎ly 31.

"The PAS president has a rather good relationship with the Selangor palace. On the fourth day of Syawal, he was called for an audience with the Sultan.

"As a result, the president decided that an alternative name should be presented in anticipation of any eventuality involving the palace and Dr Wan Azizah," said Suhaizan in a press statement.

He said the party took the middle path by choosing Azmin, and pointed out that it could have easily‎ nominated a member of its own party instead.

"But on the basis of loyalty to Pakatan Rakyat, PAS could not make such a decision," he said.

On Sunday, the Pakatan Rakyat Presidential Council announced that Dr Wan Azizah was the coalition's sole choice to replace Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim as Selangor menteri besar.

Anwar told a press conference after attending the council's meeting on Sunday that PR had set aside PAS's proposal to nominate Azmin as well because the Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman was bound to PKR's decision of Dr Wan Azizah.

A PR source told The Malaysian Insider that PAS's secretary-general, Datuk Mustafa Ali, had argued in the one-hour meeting to include Azmin's name "until the very end".

We must understand in this context that PAS's tahalluf siyasi (collaboration) is with PKR and DAP, not with Khalid the individual. So PAS took a new path by rejecting Khalid. – Suhaizan Kaiat

But the majority view was that there was no need to pre-empt the palace's decision by putting forward two names, the PR leader said on condition of anonymity.

Suhaizan today also denied accusations that PAS had made a U-turn by agreeing to Khalid's removal, adding that the Shura Council's decision to maintain him was no longer in the equation since he was sacked from PKR and no longer a PR member.

"We must understand in this context that PAS's tahalluf siyasi (collaboration) is with PKR and DAP, not with Khalid the individual.

"So PAS took a new path by rejecting Khalid. This is what I call PAS dynamics in making decisions," he said.

He likened the change to a drink that may initially be halal to consume, but becomes non-halal if the contents become alcoholic.

"Regardless, PAS's new path still has the party moving forward, and is not a U-turn like what the pro-Umno media are trying to depict."

He added that PAS had patiently withstood accusations that it betrayed PR when it directed the four remaining PAS executive councillors to remain in the state government.

"PAS's intention is good, which is to save the government before the new MB is appointed...

"Based on this spirit, I humbly urge all my friends in PR and all the rakyat to support PR and not doubt or cast suspicion on PAS." said Suhaizan. – August 19, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/azmin-was-alternative-choice-after-hadi-met-sultan-says-pas-youth-chief#sthash.SuJHsqNU.dpuf

I’m paying the price for integrity, says Khalid

'I decided to be a politician; so I have to bear it.'

SHAH ALAM: Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim says he is paying the price for being a man of integrity.

“I decided to be a politician; so I have to bear it,” he said today in obvious reference to his sacking from PKR.

Khalid made the remark as an aside as he acknowledged the presence of reporters while delivering a speech at a conference on integrity organised by the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) in Shah Alam.

The speech proper was devoid of any reference to politics, but delved into the subject of integrity in the holding of public trust.

After delivering the speech, he left the hall with more than a dozen security personnel, who prevented reporters from asking questions.

Zam: Dr.M stirring up discontent in Umno

Mahathir's message is a clear challenge to all Umno members to stop sucking up to their leaders.

PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad hopes to create waves of discontent in Umno with his announcement that he is withdrawing his support for Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, according to former information minister Zainuddin Maidin.

Zainuddin, also known as Zam, points out in his latest blog article that Mahathir made the announcement in the midst of Umno divisional meetings nationwide and ahead of the Umno General Assembly scheduled for late November.

He says Mahathir hopes to bring to the surface the latent currents of discontent among Malays, who have lost confidence in a leadership that is indecisive and unable to safeguard their future.

“These waves will become a storm that will hit the Umno General Assembly, which Najib expects to be quiet because the overseas impression of Malaysia is one of splendour and a strong economy, which reflects well on him.”

He says Mahathir’s message is a clear challenge to all Umno members to stop sucking up to their leaders.

Quoting Mahathir, he says, “It is not enough to simply be willing to criticise behind one’s back, but you must be brave enough to come forward and publicly reprimand Najib at the Umno General Assembly later, but also now at the divisional meetings.

“I accept this responsibility and am willing to face the consequences because I am very disappointed in him having given him so much personal advice, and I now represent all the people who have not received consideration and have been ignored by Najib.”

Pakatan ‘injured’ by Selangor MB crisis

Lim KIt Siang says the coalition must meet frequently to restore public confidence.

PETALING JAYA: Veteran DAP leader Lim Kit Siang said today Pakatan Rakyat (Pakatan) leaders must face reality. He said the coalition must now work at restoring public confidence which was eroded by the prolonged Selangor Menteri Besar (MB) crisis.

Lim, who is the MP for Gelang Patah, advocates that the Pakatan leadership must meet frequently to find ways to restore public confidence.

He said many have been following the worst crisis faced by Pakatan in its six-year history.

Lim said he received an email from veteran politician, Goh Cheng Teik, who wrote:

“I am sick. I had to struggle to compose my thoughts.

“I have been looking at the newspaper reports about Selangor. Selangor is a democracy. Its legislative assembly have been properly elected. Whoever commands a majority in the house of Selangor should lead the government as MB.

The political boardroom works on the same principle as the corporate boardroom. If a person can obtain more than 51% of the shares in a company, he rules. Khalid knows this well enough. If he is a gentleman he should gracefully withdraw.

“Wan Azizah is a capable person. If she becomes the MB, she will surprise everybody with what she can do. As the wife of a very controversial opposition leader, she has over the years learnt much more about politics from real life than those who learn politics from books. She is a trained medical doctor. Tun Dr. Ismail was a doctor and he proved to be a good political leader. So were Dr. Lim Chong Eu and Dr. Tan Chee Khoon.”

Lim said the general consensus among Malaysians was relief that Pakatan had not broken up as a result of the prolonged MB crisis.

He said that Pakatan leaders all over the country and at all levels should not delude ourselves into thinking Pakatan had emerged unscathed from the prolonged MB crisis.

Lim said the crisis had gravely undermined the great trust and confidence which people from different races, religions and regions placed on Pakatan.

“There is however one silver lining. The Selangor MB crisis has highlighted the great and even fundamental difference between Pakatan and Barisan Nasional.

“Pakatan is a coalition of equals, as every component party in Pakatan has equal say in the future direction of the coalition – and any difference or disagreement will have to be resolved or thrashed out with a great deal of patience and stamina.

“If the three component parties cannot resolve their important differences in Pakatan, it will mark the immediate end of the coalition,” he said.

Lim said DAP leaders are not stooges of PAS and PAS leaders are not puppets of DAP – similarly, PKR are not stooges or puppets of DAP or PAS.

“We in DAP, PAS and PKR are not in politics for profit or self-gain but because of our political principles and convictions, for which many of us has paid a heavy personal price, unlike the Umno/Barisan Nasional leaders and politicians.

This is why the Pakatan coalition is completely different from the Barisan Nasional coalition model,” he concluded.

PAS khianat amanah Allah

Jeg Hui, The Malaysian Insider

Presiden Amerika Syarikat, Barack Hussein Obama II pernah berkata “There is no short-cut to peace” (tidak ada jalan pintas untuk keamanan) apabila Pertubuhan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu (PBB) menganjurkan kenaikan taraf Palestin sebagai ahli pertubuhan itu.

Kenaikan ini sekaligus akan menyebabkan Palestin diterima dunia sebagai sebuah negara yang berdaulat dan ini ditentang hebat Israel dan kuncunya Amerika Syarikat.

Tanggal 17 Ogos 2014. Sebenarnya hari itu adalah hari yang pahit buat Malaysia. Sama ada rakyat mahu sedar atau tidak, terpulanglah kepada mereka.

Bagi saya, tarikh ini sangat menduka-citakan sehingga air mata jantan ini menitis mengenangkan perbuatan segelintir pemimpin.

Sudahlah Dato’ Menteri Besar Selangor dikhianati dan dizalimi, PAS yang kononnya menegakkan keadilan dan kebenaran atas nama Islam gagal dalam ujian integriti yang Allah SWT berikan.

Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim kini seorang diri dalam menegakkan yang benar tentang dirinya.

Alim ulama berjanggut, bermisai, berserban yang sebelumnya mempertahankan beliau berubah fikiran dalam masa yang singkat.

Hanya kerana Khalid tidak lagi bersama Pakatan Rakyat. Eh, tidak tahu lagikah? Khalid dibuang parti secara tidak adil kerana tidak diberi peluang memperjelaskan apa-apa pun.

Bukannya dia sendiri yang mahu tinggalkan Pakatan Rakyat.

Saya yang beribu batu jauhnya pun boleh merasakan betapa ruginya PAS setelah menolak peluang untuk bersatu demi Islam dan Malaysia.

Mungkin ada yang kata saya ini isti’jal (tergesa-gesa) dalam mahukan keamanan negara melalui kesatuan ummah. Ingat, Obama berkata “there is no short-cut to peace”.

Perkara pertama yang terlintas di fikiran saya apabila disuruh jangan isti’jal adalah kata-kata Barack Obama yang zalim terhadap rakyat Palestin ini.

Bagi saya, “Peace should be made as a priority and there is ALWAYS a short-cut to peace” (Keamanan itu adalah utama dan jalan pintas SENTIASA ada untuk keamanan).

Jadi, apa kena-mengena keputusan PAS dengan keamanan Malaysia yang saya mahukan?

Tidak tahulah bagi anda tetapi tidak jemukah soal-soal agama dan perkauman dijadikan alat bagi memecah-belahkan rakyat Malaysia?

Tidak pernah sebelum ini laungan azan masjid dipersoalkan, lembu dijadikan sembelih korban boleh menjadi kontroversi, kalimah “Allah” dipolitikkan, masjid, gereja, kuil Hindu dan Buddha dibakar, kepala lembu dijaja bagi mencabar rakan beragama Hindu, Ramadhan dipelawa dengan bak kut teh, pemimpin menyokong umat Islam diberikan kebebasan murtad, yang berbangsa India dipanggil “Peria”, yang Cina dipanggil babi, yang Melayu dipanggil orang hutan, agama Kristian dipermainkan, kitab bible dijadikan wadah politik, fatwa tentang perkara yang jelas berbeda-beda dan lain-lain lagi.

Saya ini tidaklah begitu tua tetapi sepengetahuan saya, perkara-perkara ini menjadi-jadi apabila rakyat Malaysia tidak bersatu sejak tahun 2008.

Sebelum ini saya ada menulis tentang pentingnya umat Islam bersatu supaya rakyat Malaysia bersatu dan peluang besar ini gagal digenggam PAS.

Katanya Umno itu jahat (PKR tidak jahat), Umno itu kafir (DAP tidak kafir), Umno itu korup (PKR, DAP tidak korup), Umno itu mengamalkan kronisme dan nepotisme (PKR, DAP tidak).

Ketua Umum PKR mahukan isterinya jadi Menteri Besar Boneka Selangor dan sanggup menikam sahabatnya yang saya sendiri akui sebagai menteri besar yang terbaik Selangor pernah ada.

Apa lagi yang tidak jelasnya? Khilaf juga?

Saya tidak setuju dengan kenyataan beberapa pemimpin yang berbaur perkauman.

Umat Islam bersatu tidak bermakna yang bukan Islam akan dihina, dicerca, dihukum, dianak-tirikan sampai tidak boleh “angkat muka”.

Islam mengikut sejarah yang ada tidak pernah melakukan diskriminasi berdasarkan agama dan kaum.

Yang dicanang penulis Barat tentang kezaliman negara Islam berkenaan Jizya (cukai kepada yang bukan Islam) tidak menyebut tentang adanya Zakat (cukai untuk yang beragama Islam).

Nabi Muhammad mengharamkan riba’ kepada penduduk Yahudi dalam negara Islamnya bukan bermaksud diskriminasi.

READ MORE HERE

Defaming Khalid, defending human rights

Kua Kia Soong

If you have never occupied a position of responsibility, you would probably never run the risk of being defamed. The leader of Pakatan Rakyat knows what it is like to be defamed as an alleged sodomist and he has taken at least one defamation suit against those who have defamed him through the press. I have been defamed as the former Principal of New Era College when the directors of the college alleged that some monies were missing when in fact, they were not and I have initiated defamation suits over the liars who defamed me to achieve their private agenda.

Now, the fledgling Menteri Besar of Selangor, Khalid Ibrahim has likewise initiated a defamation suit against those who have alleged in the press that he was involved in various cases of impropriety. He has engaged the legal services of well-known human rights lawyer Edmund Bon to be his advocate in this case. Edmund Bon in turn has been denounced by some human rights activists for taking up Khalid’s case as his defending lawyer.

The key issue here, for all human rights defenders, is that of determining the appropriate balance between the right to freedom of expression and the need to protect one’s reputation. Individuals have the right to protect their reputations against “injury” by suing persons or media deemed to have: lowered the esteem in which the individual is held within the community or which have exposed that individual to public ridicule or hatred. They should know better since SUARAM with a few other NGOs recently sued the New Straits Times for defaming us as “foreign agents” and the case would have gone to court if the NST had not published their “mother of all editorial apologies”.

As a legal advocate, Edmund Bon is legally obliged to accept the brief if approached to do so by Khalid. In this case, both Khalid and his accusers too have human rights. It is up to the courts to decide whether there is substance in Khalid’s complaint and simultaneously, whether there is substance in the allegations against him. We would expect Edmund Bon to perform to his professional best in presenting his client’s case – questioning the motives of lawyers in representing their clients have nothing whatsoever to do with human rights.

Justice in the Justice Party

As an aggrieved party member who feels he has been unjustly sacked by his party, Khalid is also entitled to appeal against PKR for wrongful dismissal with the Registrar of Society (ROS) in the same way other party or society members have done before him. In the past, this has included parties within the Pakatan Rakyat. If those who uphold human rights have a position that we should have nothing whatsoever to do with the ROS, then why are PR parties registered with the ROS? Should we then boycott ALL institutions in the Malaysian Civil Service including the police and the courts?

Defamation laws protect people from untrue, damaging statements. They provide important recourse for people whose careers, reputations, finances and/or health have been damaged by such harmful statements.

Monitor the issues, never mind the politics

As informed “progressive” advocates & representatives of civil society, one might expect our “fair-minded” attention would stay focused on the principles involved in the Menteri Besar fracas, without fear or favour. By taking such a neutral position of fairness, we would then logically demand that the “dossier on Khalid’s improprieties” be opened for our examination to see if these allegations have any credibility or not.

In contrast, it is astonishing to observe that while the alleged improprieties are considered serious enough to insist that Khalid vacates the MB seat, they do not render him ineligible for the post of Selangor State Economic adviser, as proposed by other PKR leaders, such as Tian Chua, if he agreed to step down.

Why were these alleged improprieties not considered serious enough for anybody in PKR to make a police report or MACC report? And what exactly are Khalid’s transgressions? Maybe some of our NGOs are privy to some intelligence which is not available to others. But if innuendoes, insinuations and unsupported allegations can count for reasons to suspend a leader, then all leaders of all organisations – NGOs included – had better watch their backs from now on.

The trouble with Wan Azizah is…

By Mariam Mokhtar
Malaysiakini
Aug 18, 2014

The people who doubt Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail’s suitability as Selangor menteri besar (MB) and who claim that Malaysia is not ready to accept a woman to govern either the state, or the nation, are wrong. Step forward, the self-appointed ‘First Lady of Malaysia’ (FLOM), Rosmah Mansor.

In the past, many people, especially those from Umno Baru, despised the FLOM because they believe that she was masquerading as the FLOM when she was really the prime minister. Najib Abdul Razak, they said, is her proxy. So, are the critics of Wan Azizah afraid that the top echelons of political power will become too crowded with women? So, who are the groups which are sabotaging Wan Azizah?

Many people claim they want change, but when faced with opportunity for change, which is to have Wan Azizah as the MB, they develop cold feet. They fear uncharted waters. Dr Wan Azizah is not unfit to be MB, but Malaysians are afraid of change.

The trouble also lies with the indecisive politicians, in Umno Baru, BN, Pakatan and PAS, and the conservative people who want to retain our patriarchal society.

The people who currently hold the reins of power know that when Wan Azizah turns the country around, they will be in trouble. They know they will lose power, status and wealth, and be punished for their past crimes.

The men who fear a woman at the top are probably afraid that a woman will show up their weaknesses.

The rakyat is fed up with the current administration which puts in minimal effort to help uplift the lives of women. A few years ago, Najib nominated himself as the women, family and community development minister but failed to bring any meaningful changes for Malaysian women.

Najib could not even force himself to sack his predecessor for her role in the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) scandal. Was he afraid of what she could do to him? An honest person can never be conned. Likewise, a person who has nothing to hide does not fear the skeletons tumbling out of his closet.

Malaysians want something done about the many crimes against women – the gang rapes, the child marriages, the increase in domestic violence, the abuse of maids, sometimes by women themselves, women being infected by HIV/Aids by their husbands, women who are abandoned by their polygamous husbands, the abandoned babies and the single mothers with no lifeline.

Why are Malaysian men, principally Malay men, averse to women holding senior and important roles in society, especially in politics?

Are they afraid that women in power might behave like the wife who has discovered her husband’s cheating and will curtail both his nocturnal and extracurricular activities? Will the Malay men fear that Wan Azizah may force a complete overhaul of the syariah law, in Malaysia, to gain more protection to Malay women?

‘Priority to her husband’s needs’?

Do Malay men have the same opinion as the vice-president of the Obedient Wives’ Club (OWC), Rohaya Mohamad (left), who in 2011 said that women should be “high class whores in bed” to prevent their husbands from straying. Perkasa’s Ibrahim Ali certainly thinks so. He said, “From a Muslim perspective, the wife has to drop all of this (cooking, etc). She must give priority to her husband’s needs.”

If only Rohaya realised the struggles of Malayan fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers, who in the early 1900s, valued education. They fought for the right of education for their daughters. They did not think that to become whores was the full extent of an education. They wanted to empower their daughters.

The trouble with Wan Azizah is that compared with other Umno Baru women, she is educated, well-travelled, sophisticated and squeaky clean; but that does not stop people from making up lies about her, like former PKR Youth secretary Lokman Nor Adam, who jumped like a frog to Umno Baru and defamed Wan Azizah with claims that she led an extravagant lifestyle and had a penchant for expensive suits.

Around the world, there are women who had to take charge of multi-million dollar enterprises when their husbands died. These women, who had previously not known how to pay an electricity bill, were able to make their companies more successful.

If they did it, why can’t Wan Azizah be MB? Many of her detractors claim that she lacks experience, but is this really such an impediment? She will have an army of advisers, including economists, lawyers, security experts, bankers, academics and industrialists to assist her.

Wan Azizah may not be good at ‘investing’ like a former Umno Baru politician, who corralled public funds to secure the purchase of many luxury condominiums. Wan Azizah may not have the financial wizardry of one Umno Baru wife, who is able to purchase multi-million ringgit jewels and handbags, because she began saving when she was a teenager.

PAS acted like a dithering adolescent with its wishy-washy endorsement of Wan Azizah. They must learn that one can be committed to democracy and equality, and still be a true Muslim.

The opposition to Wan Azizah is not because of her sex, her educational background, or that she is Anwar’s wife. She could be perfect in every way, but her detractors will always be able to find a reason for her unsuitability.

The only reason people oppose Wan Azizah is that they do not want the floodgates to be opened, for the empowerment of women. They fear the moment when Malaysians discover that Malaysian women are as good as, or better than, men, at ruling, promoting justice and equality, ensuring peace and harmony, and providing opportunities for all.

MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army and president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO).

Poverty No Hindrance To Achieving Success, Says Najib

PETALING JAYA, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- Poverty is no hindrance if there is passion and a strong desire for success, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Tuesday.

He said courage, patience, working hard always and being ambitious were the key drivers for success, and all these went beyond one's material wealth.

"It's not whether you are poor in material, but what is most important is you are rich in your character, rich in your spirits, rich in your endeavour, your passion and in your dream.

"These are more important than material facilities, financial success. If we have the spirit of courage and determination ... it is fundamental to success," he said when launching the television programme, 1Malaysia Ikon, here.

Najib said Malaysia was a blessed country because of the many opportunities created by the government for the people of diverse backgrounds to change their lives for the better.

The prime minister said the opportunities would be meaningless if the people did not take advantage of them and use them as best as they could.

"Malaysia is a land of opportunities. We create the opportunities without regard to socio-economic background, so long as the people work hard and use their brains to succeed.

"On the other hand, if there are opportunities but there is no spirit, then the opportunities will be wasted," he said.

On the 1Malaysia Ikon TV programme, Najib said all the 13 icons were exemplary of how an individual from a poor family achieved success through hard work.

"The spirit of perseverance and determination is so fundamental to our successful icons, regardless of whether they had to share a bed in their younger days, they contracted malaria at the age of five years or they were beaten by their fathers.

"Whatever the obstacle, they were able to overcome it because they never gave up. They followed their dreams and never once gave up," he said.

Najib expressed his commitment to continue supporting the 1Malaysia Ikon programme and said he hoped that more personalities could be portrayed in the future.

"I believe this programme contributes a great deal to our efforts to showcase the younger generation so that they can achieve success," he said.

The 13 icons showcased in the programme comprise Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu (Malaysia's special envoy for infrastructure to India and South Asia); Datuk R. Doraisingam Pillai (Lotus Group chief executive officer); Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz (former International Trade and Industry Minister); Tan Sri Sharil Samsuddin (Sapura Group president and chief executive officer); Tan Sri Vincent Tan (Berjaya Corporation chairman and chief executive officer).

Tan Sri Tony Fernandes (Air Asia Bhd (AirAsia) Group chief executive officer); Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar (Minister in the Prime Minister's Department); Tun Daim Zainuddin (former Finance Minister); Datuk Jimmy Choo (renowned shoe designer); Datuk Marina Chin (former national athlete); Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed (International Trade and Industry Minister); Datuk Ahmad Kemin (Mutiara Motors Group executive chairman) and Datuk Yusof Haslam (film personality).

The 13-episode documentary programme will be broadcast over TV1 of Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) from Aug 22 to Sept 16 from 7 pm to 8 pm.