Dr Mahathir: Umno lack guts to criticise its leaders

New Iraqi comedy show aims to counter Islamic State extremists

By Loveday Morris

BAGHDAD — Reclining on a gold-rimmed purple sofa, the leader of the Islamic State extremist group mulls his social-media strategy as an overaffectionate sword-wielding dwarf looks on.

Here’s the town drunk, who has become a zealous follower of the Islamic State, beating those who consume alcohol — though he still drinks in secret himself.

And there’s the shop owner who is informed that vegetables with names in the Arabic language that are female in gender can’t mix with those of the male gender.

That’s right, a new weapon has been unleashed in this country devastated by Islamist militant violence — comedy.

A new 30-part satirical series, “State of Myths,” which started airing on Iraqi state television Saturday, aims to expose the true nature of the Islamic State extremist organization — through slapstick and puns.

The show demonstrates the extraordinary ability of people in this war-scarred nation to challenge violence with humor. But making light of the group notorious for beheadings and massacres brings serious risks. Some of the cast members have not allowed their names to appear on the show’s credits, while the scriptwriter has insisted on remaining anonymous.

The comedy also shows something else: the jaundiced view that many Iraqis have of the countries that are coming to their government’s defense against the militants. The original trailer for the series played into widely held conspiracy theories alleging that the United States, Qatar and Israel were responsible for the rise of the Islamic State. That idea, however, was scrapped after executives decided that amid a U.S-led bombing campaign, ridiculing their allies had become too sensitive.
The power of laughter

Set in a fictional Iraqi town that is taken over by the extremists, the show now concentrates on poking fun at Islamic State rule instead.

The local drunk takes on the uncompromising passion of a convert — which doesn’t interfere with the hypocrisy of enjoying a few drinks on the side.

Raqi rapes girl to 'exorcise' jinn from her womb

A Saudi Raqi (religious healer) raped a girl who visited him for treatment of a psychological illness after misleading her into believing her womb was haunted by the jinn (spirits), a newspaper reported on Monday.

The Raqi in the capital Riyadh told the girl he has the powers to exorcise jinns in one session if she accepts his recipe at his home.

Once the girl, whose age was not specified, surrendered to the man, he raped her, causing her to lose virginity, 'Arar' Arabic language daily said.

Police arrested the Raqi after the girl realised her mistake and reported him despite his threats to expose her if she resorts to the police.

“He told her that her womb was haunted by the jinn and that he wanted to exorcise them,” the report quoted the police as stating.

The paper said social networks in Saudi Arabia went viral in reaction to the crime and that hundreds of readers slammed both the Raqi and the girl.

“It appears our society is still living in the dark ages…almost every sin and vice are practiced under the cover of religion…we would like to ask the justice and interior ministries: shouldn’t the Raqi considered a sorcerer, who must be punished,” said Souad Al Shammari, a prominent Saudi activist.

But another reader, Sarah Al Waleed, had a completely different opinion. “The woman who simply surrenders herself to a Raqi claiming to have such powers is stupid.”

A reader identified as Dalal agreed by saying:”Why blaming only the Raqi…how could such a stupid girl allow this man to do this to her.”

Isis threat real, is government taking it seriously, asks Dr M

As the threat of the Islamic State (Isis) gets closer, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today asked whether the government was taking the matter seriously.

Malaysia's longest serving prime minister wrote in his blog today that the threat was much closer to home than the government was willing to admit as there were now reports of Malaysians joining rebel groups in Syria.

There were also reports that Muslims from the Philippines, Indonesia, and even Singapore were taking part in the rebellion, he said, adding that according to news reports, there were now more than 30,000 Isis jihadists.

"Every day, more and more Muslims, in Europe and Asia, are leaving to join Isis.

"All this is happening in the Middle East, far from our country. (But) are we safe?" he asked.

Based on the current situation, Dr Mahathir said there was a possibility that rebels from neighbouring countries would launch an attack on Malaysia on the pretext of forming an Islamic nation.

"This idea of establishing an Islamic country is interesting, especially in the minds of Muslim youths everywhere as many are disappointed that there is no such establishment around that can be deemed the saviour of the religion, the believers and the country," he said.

Dr Mahathir also reminded Malaysians of the Islamic State’s cruelty in targeting not only its enemy, the Shias, but also fellow Sunnis whom they considered less Islamic or who were against their beliefs.

“This Isis group is so violent that they have no qualms of shooting captured Iraqi soldiers who are Muslims in the back, as seen in videos,” he said.

“In their own video, one of their followers also beheaded an American journalist and these people were claimed to be Muslims from Britain.”

Closer to home, Dr Mahathir said the Sabah intrusion last year and al-Maunah siege in 2000 were grim reminders that security threats to the country were real and present.

"Remember, Sabah happened. Here in the peninsula, we have the al-Maunah," he said.

He said it would not be hard for such groups to turn violent again if there were calls to form their version of an Islamic country here.

"The government, until now, doesn't seem to be taking the past intrusions seriously. Kidnappings are still happening. Now, there are calls for Sabah to leave Malaysia.

"If for instance, this call is equated with the idea of forming an Islamic nation, more youngsters will be easily influenced," he said.

"But the government seems to be unaware of this. No action is being taken... and the Internal Security Act [is] gone.

"Remember, no one expected militants would strike Sabah, but it happened!" he said. – September 29, 2014.

Youth NGO wants PAS to stop causing trouble in Pakatan

Fed up with PAS’s insistence on prolonging the Selangor Menteri Besar (MB) issue, a group of youths led by recently-convicted social activist Safwan Anang will hand over a letter to Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang tomorrow demanding that the party toe the line in Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

Safwan, who was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment for sedition on September 5, said his group, Lensa Anak Muda Malaysia (Lensa) had concluded that PAS had caused the Selangor MB crisis that saw PR on the brink of splitting up.

“Over the past few months, Lensa asked politicians, academics, what went wrong with PR and they all pointed to PAS and its flip-flop stance on the MB issue,” said Safwan, who founded Lensa in June and is the group’s executive director.

“The crisis should have ended by now, as the new MB has been sworn in already, but suddenly Selangor PAS is complaining that it never asked for its number of executive councillors to be reduced from four to three. This must stop.”

Safwan said he and about five other Lensa members would turn up at PAS’s headquarters in Jalan Raja Laut at 10am tomorrow to submit the letter to the party president titled “PAS must stop triggering tension”.

When asked why he was fighting this battle, Safwan said Lensa represented the voice of young voters in Malaysia who were banking on PR to take over Putrajaya and steer the country to a better direction.

“We are considered pro-PR because we know BN has no future, so why hope on BN any further? We want PR to provide new politics for Malaysians, otherwise there is no hope left at all for us,” said Safwan.

But he said youths were growing sick of PR, as reflected in its recent loss in Pengkalan Kubor, and that Lensa believed the sickness began with PAS.

Safwan said he had formed Lensa in June after leaving Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM), a group comprising students across Malaysia.

“Our objective is to evaluate the performance of both the government and the opposition after the general election and to create a new generation that is aware of democracy in Malaysia, and how they can play a part in it,” he said.

Safwan added that the recent sedition conviction against him had not deterred him from continuing his social activism, particularly his fight against the Sedition Act 1948.

“If I don’t fight, then it ends there. So I’ve made the decision to take up the fight and educate the youths on their rights,” he said.

The Sessions Court sentenced Safwan to 10 months’ jail on September 5 after it found him guilty of sedition.

Safwan was said to have uttered seditious statements to incite the public to remove the government by extra-legal means during a speech last year at a May 13 forum. – September 29, 2014.

Mahathir: Umno lacks guts to criticise its leaders

 

Umno needs to be reformed so that it can criticise its leaders more courageously, said former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad today.

At present, the former Umno president claimed that the party's culture is to support its leaders without question.

"Yes, because the leader must be told about other views. A leader cannot just do whatever he likes," he told reporters in Putrajaya.

Mahathir said this when asked to comment on former New Straiuts Times (NST) group editor-in-chief A Kadir Jasin's statement that Umno is too weak to oust its current president Najib Abdul Razak.

Mahathir also confirmed earlier reports that he had written a letter to Najib criticising him and saying that he is withdrawing support for Najib. However he was later asked by an intermediary to retract it.

“I just said I would withdraw. I didn’t receive any reason (for the request), since he asked me to withdraw.

“Later on, I decided that the letter has got no effect on him, so that is when I put it on my blog. I said that leaders must accept criticism,” he said.

According to an Asia Sentinel report, the intermediary was Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and purportedly contained seven demands.

However, Tengku Adnan had denied the report, saying “There is no such thing”.

IPP purchases 'public money'

When asked what he thinks about Najib’s move to ignore his advice and whether it would be detrimental to the country, Mahathir replied, “I think a leader must listen to everybody, not just somebody around me.”

To a question about Kadir’s blog post that Mahathir is "curious" about 1Malaysia Development Berhad’s (1MDB) acquisition of independent power producers (IPPs), Mahathir said he raised the question because the public has the right to know.

“This is public money. Although it is borrowed money, it belongs to the government, and government spending must follow certain procedures.

"You cannot just spend money as you like,” he said, before elaborating on the parliamentary procedures involved.

He clarified that he was not speculating on any ulterior motive behind the deals.

In his blog, Kadir claimed that Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) could acquire the IPPs for a token sum of money if its power purchasing agreement in not renewed.

The agreements last 21 years for gas-fired plants and 25 years for coal-fired plants, he said, and some of these that have been purchased have less than seven years left on the agreement and have long recovered their costs and substantial profits.

“Dr Mahathir was curious why 1MDB bought the ageing IPPs when the government could wait a few more years and get them for 'free'. Something is amiss,” he had written.

We will hunt you down every ‘wormhole’, IGP tells fugitive sex blogger

(Malay Mail Online) – Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar has vowed to search every ‘wormhole’ for Alvin Tan Jye Yee until the wanted Malaysian sex blogger is found, saying the youth’s repeated insults against the authorities on social media is “unforgivable”.

Khalid reminded Tan, who is now reportedly seeking asylum in the United States to escape Umno, that “every country has its own rules”.

“We will hunt him (Tan) even down the ‘lubang cacing’ (wormhole),” Khalid was quoted saying in Malay daily Utusan Malaysia today.

“He (Tan) thinks he can run. However every country has its rule and we will even track him down every wormhole.

“There is no forgiveness for those who use the social media to insult and incite,” the IGP added.

Tan, the fugitive Malaysian blogger slapped with multiple charges over his now-defunct sex blog and controversial Hari Raya greeting involving pork dish “bak kut teh”, resurfaced in the cyberspace recently, saying that he is now seeking political asylum in the US.

Singapore media agency Channel News Asia (CNA) reported Tan as saying he is fleeing from Umno — the mainstay party of Malaysia’s ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN), and had applied for asylum in the US in May.

“I’m busy starting a new life here (in the US), apart from awaiting my final asylum hearing. I’m here to seek political refuge from the tyranny of Umno — simple as that,” the 26-year-old was quoted telling the Singaporean broadcaster in an interview through his personal Facebook account.

Tan said he is optimistic of his chances of being granted asylum from the US government, citing the US Department of State’s 2013 Human Rights Report on Malaysia, which he said “explicitly cites my case as a repression of internet speech rights”.

“If all else fails, I can easily publish more ‘seditious’ materials on my Facebook to taunt the authorities and get them to be hot on the pursuit of me again, therefore creating an even more well-founded fear of political persecution to bolster my asylum claim,” he was quoted saying.

Tan and his ex-girlfriend Vivian Lee May Ling, 25, were hauled to court last July 18 and slapped with three charges, but the couple known as “Alvivi” managed to get the court to struck off a charge under Section 298A of the Penal Code.

Tan and Lee still face a charge under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act for publishing a seditious photograph and the words “Selamat Berbuka Puasa” (dengan Bak Kut Teh…wangi, enak, menyelerakan!) [Happy breaking fast with bak kut teh...fragrant, delicious, appetising]” on their Facebook page last July 11 that also showed a halal logo.

They are also being tried for a second remaining charge under subsection 5(1) of the Film Censorship Act 2002 for displaying pornographic images on their blog, alviviswingers.tumblr.com, between July 6 and July 7 last year.

The court had previously ordered the duo to surrender their passports and allowed them to be released on bail, but allowed them to temporarily take back their travel documents on May 18 this year to travel to Singapore to shoot a documentary.

Only Lee returned the passport on June 3, while Tan failed to show up on the scheduled date and went missing, leading the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court to issue an arrest warrant and forfeit his RM20,000 bail.

Sex blogger insults Malaysian leaders in another Facebook post

BY ELIZABETH ZACHARIAH

Sex blogger Alvin Tan has landed himself in hot water again following yet another sedition probe against him for postings on his Facebook page where he had also superimposed pig snouts on the faces of several Malaysian leaders, including the prime minister.

Astro Awani reported that police have launched an investigation against Tan, who had skipped bail and fled to the United States to seek asylum.

Tan had previously been charged along with his former partner Vivian Lee under the same Act for an offensive and controversial Ramadan greeting the couple had put up on Facebook in July last year.

“Members of the public have lodged reports against Alvin Tan. Upon this, we initiated an investigation under the Sedition Act," deputy federal CID chief Datuk Amar Singh was quoted as saying.

In a Facebook posting on September 26, Tan had slammed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, calling the latter a "coward" for the recent sedition dragnet which he called an effort to "cling on to the top post".

He had also superimposed pig snouts on the images of Najib, his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.

In a show of defiance, Tan also tagged the five, telling their supporters to not bother alerting them of the "sedition" nature of the posting.

"Come jail me, please!!! Don't bother tagging your leaders here just to alert them of "sedition" happening over here. I've done it beforehand to save you the hassle," the posting read.

He had also likened Khalid, the nation's top cop to Germany's SS chief Heinrich Himmler, who was responsible for building Nazi concentration camps and had directed the killing of some millions of Jews during the Second World War.

"Yes, Khalid Abu Bakar, you're like the Nazi SS Commander Heinrich Himmler, no less, and let me tell you why: because you abused your power just because someone called you names you didn't like. You're a bully, a coward."

"Zahid Hamidi, you're the closest thing to true evil, and your day will come. I promise. There will be no mercy (tip: google 'Qaddafi')," he said.

Khalid had earlier vowed to go all out to look for Alvin despite the fact that he was in the US, promising to search every "worm hole" for the 26-year-old fugitive.

Tan, the IGP said, was rude and could not be forgiven because he had shamed some Malaysian leaders with his offensive pictures and status posts on his Facebook account.

"He thinks he can run. But every country has its own regulations and we will not give up looking for him," Khalid was quoted as saying by Utusan Malaysia.

The former law student at the National University of Singapore, and his then partner Vivian Lee, first came under the spotlight after uploading raunchy sex postings on their blog in 2012.

But it was their bak kut teh posting during Ramadan last year that landed them in hot water, and even in jail briefly – after they were charged under the Sedition Act and the Film Censorship Act.

Tan violated his bail conditions while on a supposed working trip to Singapore and is now on Interpol's wanted list.

After lying low for a while, he recently emerged on social media to make known his plans for asylum in the US and is believed to be in Los Angeles, California.

Tan told The Malaysian Insider recently that his decision to flee his homeland was to escape the government's "tyranny" as well as the "ignorance" of ordinary Malaysians. – September 29, 2014

Woman jailed for hitting kids, returns

Shalwati Norshal’s eldest daughter says she is excited and cannot wait to see her mother again.

KOTA BAHARU: “I am excited and cannot wait to meet my mother,” said Aishah Azizul Raheem, the eldest child of Shalwati Norshal who was sentenced to jail by the Solna District Court in Stockholm, Sweden for hitting her children.

Aishah, 14, said she was grateful and happy when told her mother would be released from prison today.

“What is even better is that we will get to celebrate Aidiladha with mother,” she told reporters at Kampung Wakaf Tok Wali, Melor yesterday.

She said she and her brothers, Ammar, 13, Adam, 12, and Ariff, 8, would make a special card to welcome their mother’s return and give her a bouquet of flowers.

Shalwati’s father, Norshal Nordin, 70, said he was thankful that his daughter would be coming home soon.

“At least, my daughter will be back with the family and I hope she can have a better life after this,” he said.

Shalwati was freed after serving a prison sentence in Sweden and was expected to return to Malaysia this Wednesday.

On March 29, Azizul Raheem, a Tourism Malaysia officer and his wife, Shalwati, were sentenced to imprisonment for hitting their four children.

Azizul Raheem, was released on July 9 after a three-month jail sentence in Sweden.

Shalwati, a teacher on unpaid leave, was sentenced to 14 months’ jail.

However, the sentences were reduced and both only needed to serve one-third of their jail term. – BERNAMA

Bila sistem pendidikan Malaysia kucar kacir…

…hancur musnahlah harapan Melayu.

Pendidikan tonggak harapan Melayu

Harapan bangsa Melayu hanya satu. Bermula daripada pendidikan seterusnya mendapatkan pekerjaan dan akhirnya meningkatkan taraf ekonomi mereka.

Tiga prinsip mudah itulah yang menjadi pegangan dan kepercayaan bangsa Melayu untuk mengubah hidup mereka sejak dari zaman penjajah lagi.

Pihak kerajaan di bawah pimpinan Umno dan Barisan Nasional sedar akan perkara itu dan sejak merdeka lagi, pelbagai usaha telah dilakukan bagi meningkatkan kualiti hidup bangsa Melayu dengan penekanan diberikan kepada usaha meningkatkan tahap pendidikan.

Hanya pendidikan sahaja yang dapat membantu bangsa Melayu.

Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM), Sekolah Berasrama Penuh (SBP), Kolej Melayu Kuala Kangsar (MCKK), dan pelbagai institusi berkaitan serta usaha telah dilakukan bagi membantu bangsa Melayu untuk memperolehi kehidupan yang lebih baik di masa akan datang.

Tidak terhenti di situ, di peringkat pendidikan tinggi, universiti seperti Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) telah dibina khusus untuk membantu bangsa Melayu supaya dapat ‘bangun’ demi mendapat pekerjaan yang akan meningkatkan tahap ekonomi mereka.

Bahkan, semua Institut Pengajian Tinggi Awam (IPTA) di negara ini telah menyediakan kuota khas supaya bangsa Melayu berjaya menempatkan diri ke universiti.

Ijazah tidak laku

Namun demikian, sikap kerajaan yang membantu pelajar Melayu dengan memanjakan mereka akhirnya memakan diri apabila kualiti pelajar yang dihasilkan oleh universiti saban tahun semakin buruk.

Kini, ratusan, malah ribuan graduan Melayu menggangur walaupun sudah menggenggam ijazah.

Namun, bila segulung ijazah yang digenggam tidak punya kualiti, siapa yang mahu mengambil graduan seperti ini bekerja. Dewasa ini, kebanyakkan ijazah yang diterima tidak ‘laku’ dipasaran apatah lagi bila bersaing dengan graduan bangsa lain dari institusi luar.

Soalnya, bagaimana anak muda Melayu mahu mengubah nasib jika tiada majikan yang mahu menggaji mereka walau masing-masing berbekal bergulung-gulung ijazah? Apatah lagi bila kebanyakkan graduan Melayu ini gagal melengkapkan diri mereka dengan tahap keperluan industri yang tinggi.

Kegagalan PPSMI

Pada tahun 2003, isu Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran Sains dan Matematik dalam Bahasa Inggeris (PPSMI) memperlihatkan permainan ‘gila’ yang di eksperimen oleh pihak kerajaan dan akhirnya pada tahun 2012, dasar tersebut telah dimansuhkan.

Akhirnya, yang menjadi mangsa, pelajar-pelajar sendiri.

Kajian sebelum ini telah menunjukkan PPSMI memberi kesan buruk kepada pelajar di luar bandar.

Laporan Trends in Mathematics and Science Study 2007 menyatakan kedudukan pelajar Malaysia dalam subjek Sains merosot ke tangga 21 daripada tangga ke-20 pada 2003, sementara mata pelajaran Matematik pula daripada tangga ke-10 pada 2003 ke tangga ke-20 pada 2007.

Bahkan, kajian sebuah universiti tempatan pula menyatakan murid senang mempelajari sesuatu subjek dalam bahasa yang mudah difahami, iaitu bahasa Melayu di sekolah kebangsaan dan bahasa ibunda di SJK Cina dan Tamil.

Bayangkan betapa silapnya dasar yang diperkenalkan sebelum ini dan PPSMI wajar dijadikan sejarah hitam sistem pendidikan negara.

Skandal UPSR

Tidak terhenti di situ, baru-baru ini negara dikejutkan dengan isu kegagalan dan ketidaktelusan kertas Ujian Peperiksaan Sekolah Rendah (UPSR). Perkara ini turut diakui oleh Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Muhyiddin yang juga Menteri Pendidikan turut meminta maaf di atas insiden tersebut.

Kementerian tidak lagi akui peperiksaan percubaan SPM?

Tidak sampai sebulan, sekali lagi, pihak kerajaan sendiri secara tidak langsung telah mengaku bahawa mereka gagal membela nasib pendidikan di Malaysia apabila pihak Kementerian Pendidikan telah mengeluarkan notis pekeliling kepada Institusi Pengajian Tinggi Swasta (IPTS).

Pihak Kementerian Pendidikan telah memaklumkan bahawa kelayakan kemasukan pelajar lepasan sekolah ke program asasi atau pra universiti menggunakan keputusan peperiksaan percubaan SPM tidak lagi diterima bermula Januari.

Bagaimanakah pihak kerajaan yakin bahawa keputusan peperiksaan percubaan dan peperiksaan SPM itu memberikan perbezaan dalam penentuan tahap akademik pelajar?

Jika pelajar tersebut cemerlang di dalam peperiksaan percubaan, pastinya juga akan cemerlang di dalam peperiksaan sebenar. Namun dengan pemansuhan penggunaan peperiksaan percubaan SPM sebagai kelayakan kemasukan pelajar lepasan sekolah ke program asasi atau pra universiti, menunjukkan bahawa peperiksaan sebenar juga gagal membuktikan kecemerlangan pelajar.

Dengan sikap dan tindakan serta dasar-dasar yang diperkenalkan oleh pihak kerajaan jelas membuktikan bahawa kerajaan kini kelam kabut, kucar kacir, tidak menentu. Pastinya harapan Melayu untuk bangun berdiri sama tinggi dengan bangsa lain melalui pendidikan akan berkubur.

Pihak kerajaan harus mengimplementasikan satu sistem pendidikan yang lebih tinggi kualitinya daripada yang ada kini, supaya kualiti pendidikan terutamanya pendidikan untuk bangsa Melayu menjadi lebih tinggi untuk menjamin masa depan bangsa Melayu.

US admits there is a much scarier terrorist group than ISIS

RT

New intelligence has emerged warning Washington that its upcoming confrontation with the Islamic State may leave it blind to a more sinister and direct threat from a much lesser known terrorist group that has arisen from the ashes of the Syrian war.

Very little information is being released at the moment by anyone within American intelligence circles, but the group calling itself Khorasan is said by officials to have concrete plans for striking targets in the United States and Europe as a chosen modus operandi – more so than the Islamic State (IS), formerly known as ISIS.

The first ever mention of the group occurred on Thursday at an intelligence gathering in Washington DC, when National Intelligence Director James Clapper admitted that “in terms of threat to the homeland, Khorasan may pose as much of a danger as the Islamic State.”

According to the New York Times, some US officials have gone as far as saying that, while the Islamic State is undoubtedly more prominent in its show of force in the Middle East, it is Khorasan who’s intent on oversees campaigns in a way Al Qaeda usually is.

In this sense, the US air strike campaign and the coming actions by the anti-IS coalition might just be what coaxes the IS into larger-scale attacks on American and European soil – what Khorasan is essentially all about.

This brings up another issue seen in the current Western stance on terrorism: it is so focused on the terror spread by the IS that it’s beginning to forget that the destruction and mayhem of civil war across the Middle East is spawning a number of hard-to-track terrorist factions with distinct missions.

“What you have is a growing body of extremists from around the world who are coming in and taking advantage of the ungoverned areas and creating informal ad hoc groups that are not directly aligned with ISIS or Nusra,” a senior law enforcement official told the NY Times on condition of anonymity.

The CIA and the White House declined to give comment.

According to government sources, the Al-Qaeda offshoot group is led by a former senior operative – 33-year-old Muhsin al-Fadhli, reportedly so close to Bin Laden’s inner circle he was one of the few who knew of the 9/11 Twin Tower attacks in advance.

He had reportedly fled to Iran during the US-led invasion of Afghanistan. Al Qaeda’s story goes hazy after the campaign: many operatives are said to have traveled to Pakistan, Syria, Iran and other countries, forming splinter groups.

In 2012, al-Fadhli was identified by the State Department as leading the Iranian branch of Al-Qaeda, controlling “the movement of funds and operatives” in the region and working closely with wealthy “jihadist donors” in his native Kuwait to raise money for the Syrian terrorist resistance.

Although the first public mention of the group was only this Thursday, American intelligence is said to have been tracking it for over a decade. Former President George W. Bush once mentioned the name of its leader in 2005 in connection with a French oil tanker bombing in 2002 off the coast of Yemen.

Khorasan itself is shrouded in mystery. Little is known publicly apart from its being composed of former Al-Qaeda operatives from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. The group is said to favor concealed explosives as a terror method.

Like many other groups taking up the power vacuum in war-torn Syria, Khorasan has on occasion shifted its alliances.

Fighters of the jihadist group Al-Nusra Front stand on the top of a pick-up mounted with a machine gun during fightings against the regime forces on April 4, 2013 in the Syrian village of Aziza, on the southern outskirts of Aleppo. (AFP Photo)Fighters of the jihadist group Al-Nusra Front stand on the top of a pick-up mounted with a machine gun during fightings against the regime forces on April 4, 2013 in the Syrian village of Aziza, on the southern outskirts of Aleppo. (AFP Photo)

Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri at one point ordered the former ISIS to fight only in Iraq, but cut all ties with it when it disobeyed and branched out. The result was that the Nusra Front became Al-Qaeda’s official branch in Syria. It’s said that Khorasan is to Al Nusra Front what the latter was to Al-Qaeda.

When The Daily Signal spoke to James Phillips, a Middle East expert at The Heritage Foundation, he outlined some American intelligence views on the group: they see their mission in “[recruiting] European and American Muslim militants who have traveled to Syria to fight alongside Islamist extremist groups that form part of the rebel coalition fighting Syria’s Assad regime.”

“The Khorasan group hopes to train and deploy these recruits, who hold American and European passports, for attacks against Western targets,” he said.

He believes Khorasan to be Al-Qaeda’s new arm in attacking America, its “far enemy.” While they are Al Nusra’s allies in Syria, their role is believed to be to carry out terrorist attacks outside the country.

The group reportedly uses the services of a very prominent Al-Qaeda bomb maker, Ibrahim al-Asiri, whose devices previously ended up on three US-bound planes. He is known to be a true pioneer of hard-to-detect bombs.

Phillips believes that the next step is taking those bombs and pairing them with US-born and other foreign jihadists returning home.

Militant Islamist fighters take part in a military parade along the streets of Syria’s northern Raqqa province (Reuters)Militant Islamist fighters take part in a military parade along the streets of Syria’s northern Raqqa province (Reuters)

In this respect, Phillips views the Khorasan threat to the US to be much more direct compared to the Islamic State’s more regional ambitions. And since President Obama’s upcoming anti-IS strategy reportedly does not include Al Nusra, this potentially frees Khorasan’s hands.

What sets Al Nusra apart from the many other groups is that it’s now the only faction with active branches throughout Syria.

Syria analyst with the Institute for the Study of War, Jennifer Cafarella, told the NY Times “there is definitely a threat that, if not conducted as a component of a properly tailored strategy within Syria, the American strikes would allow the Nusra Front to fill a vacuum in eastern Syria.”

Because of al-Zawahiri’s current weakened position in terrorist cricles, both Al Nusra and Khorasan by extension are less prominent than the IS. But these things have a way of changing unpredictably, and because the plans of these more traditional terrorist groups in Syria aren’t yet clear, a danger arises.

The volatile conflict zone that is Syria, with its lax borders and an increasing number of distinct, armed Islamist groups, the US may be surprised by how difficult it soon may be to pinpoint the origin of the next threat.

No place for Sedition Act if we are to be a progressive democracy, say lawyers

The Sedition Act must be removed from the statute book as it unfairly punishes individuals whose thoughts are against the views of the establishment, lawyers said.

The law is also the anti-thesis of democracy, rule of law, justice and human rights, they said in response to Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir’s statement yesterday that those who were for repeal of the Sedition Act had yet to explain its weaknesses.

The lawyers said freedom of speech and expression was a manifestation of one's thought process and it was irrational to use the sedition law to mete out harsh sentences, like a jail term.

They said the law was used as an instrument of oppression, and is archaic and repressive.

Lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad said the late Karpal Singh was convicted for sedition merely for explaining the law during the 2009 Perak constitutional crisis.

"Karpal only gave his opinion that the ruler can be taken to court because the constitution is supreme. That statement did not incite violence or tension in society and yet he was charged and convicted," Amer said.

Karpal, a respectable constitutional lawyer, had called for a press conference in February 2009 when the Sultan of Perak appointed Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir as menteri besar after the incumbent Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin lost majority support.

In March this year, the High Court fined him RM4,000 after finding him guilty of sedition against the Sultan.

"Karpal ran foul of the law because for sedition the best of good intentions is irrelevant," he said.

Yesterday, Mukhriz, who is also the Kedah Menteri Besar, said it was best for the Sedition Act 1948 to be retained to ensure security, solidarity and racial harmony in the country.

"So far, I have not heard of anyone giving an explanation on the act that is seen as weak, bias and not in line with the current environment... where is the weakness of this Sedition Act?" he said.

Amer said even Universiti Malaya law professor Dr Azmi Sharom was prosecuted under the law for merely applying the law to the facts of the Selangor Menteri Besar impasse.

"There must be exchange of ideas for the country and the people to move forward. Suppression of views will only retard our society," Amer said.

Lawyers for Liberty executive director Eric Paulsen (pic), taking a swipe at Mukhriz, saying the menteri besar was either feigning ignorance or being obtuse.

"Most democracies, especially in the Commonwealth, have put the law to little use or had abolished them," he said.

He said it was a myth to suggest that the law was justified because it was sensitive to speak or debate issues in order to maintain harmony and unity.

"The law has instead prevented important issues from being properly and genuinely addressed," he added.

Paulsen said there was also a perception that the Sedition Act was used as a political tool or weapon dressed up as legislation to go after opposition leaders and activists who were against the Barisan Nasional government.

Lawyer Jayaseelan Anthony said the sedition law which originated from England in the 12th century was extended to British colonies to quell dissent against the monarch and the colonial government.

"In England, the offender is guilty only if the prosecution proves there was violence and public disorder as a result of uttering or publishing seditious remarks," he said.

However, he said the British and their judicial officers modified the law to make it more oppresive to check their subjects in the colonies.

"They wanted to stay in power and this had to be done through rule by fear," said Anthony who is author of a book "Seditious Tendency?"

In the then Malaya, he said the British who returned after the Japanese Occupation passed three laws in one day - the Sedition, Trade Union and Printing Ordinances in 1948 to control the communist propoganda.

"The then Communist Party of Malaya was making inroads among the masses and workers, and the British needed the legislation to check their influence," he said.

He said the political and social landscape in Malaysia had changed for the better but yet the sedition law was made more repressive following an amendment in 1970.

"This primitive law must go if we are going to join the ranks of other progressive democratic societies," he said. – September 28, 2014.

KL Customs Chief, Seven Senior Officers Face 24 Corruption Charges

SHAH ALAM, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- Kuala Lumpur Customs Department director, Datuk Mohd Isa Endot, and seven other Customs officers were today charged in the Sessions Court, here, with 24 counts of corruption involving bribes received amounting to RM42,400.

The graft offences, allegedly committed between March, 2013 and August, 2014, were in connection with the smuggling of liquor for which duty had not been paid.

The seven other officers charged include Assistant Superintendent Muhamad Helmi Burhanudin from the Operations Branch of the Enforcement Division, Selangor Customs headquarters, Senior Asst. Supt. II Wan Azman Wan Ali from the KL Customs Department and Senior Asst. Supt. II Jamaluddin Zam Zam from the Customs Central Zone's Intelligence Branch, Putrajaya.

The others are Asst. Supt Mohamad Fauzi Kamsar, Supt Shamsul Anwar Mohd Radzi, senior Customs officer Azlee Mohamed Yusof and Senior Asst. Supt Mohamed Rozlan Ibrahim, also from the Kuala Lumpur Customs Department.

Mohd Isa, Muhamad Helmi, Wan Azman, Mohamad Fauzi, Jamaluddin and Mohamed Rozlan were separately charged while Shamsul Anwar and Azlee were jointly charged.

Mohd Isa, 55, pleaded not guilty to four charges of accepting bribes amounting to RM8,000 as monthly payment and protection money to facilitate a company's dealings with Customs.

He is alleged to have committed the offences at his office, Level 5, Block C, Wisma Kastam Kelana Jaya, between May and August, this year.

Muhamad Helmi, 37, meanwhile, pleaded not guilty to seven charges of accepting bribes on a monthly basis amounting to RM14,000 as inducement not to disturb a lorry leaving the Klang Port Free Zone. The lorry belonged to an individual with vested interest.

Muhamad Helmi allegedly committed the offences at the Operations Branch of the Enforcement Division, Selangor Customs Department between February and August, this year.

Wan Azman, 47, pleaded not guilty to five accounts of soliciting for and receiving bribes amounting to RM10,000 from an individual at the Kuala Lumpur Customs Warehousing Branch while being aware that the person had official connection with the Kuala Lumpur Customs director.

The offences were allegedly committed between May and August, 2014 in the Klang Valley.

Mohamad Fauzi, 33, also pleaded not guilty to three charges of accepting bribes amounting to RM4,200 as inducement not to interfere with liquor smuggling activities during the inspection operations, allegedly between last June and August in Kelana Jaya, Selangor.

Shamsul Anwar, 32, and Azlee, 48, jointly face two corruption charges of accepting bribes amounting to RM3,000 from an individual as inducement not to disturb that person's business.

The alleged offences, to which they pleaded not guilty, were committed between July and August, 2014 in Kelana Jaya, Selangor.

Jamaludin, 54, was charged with accepting a bribe of RM1,000 as inducement to provide information on Customs intelligence operations to an individual.

The offence was allegedly committed in March 2013 at an eatery in Subang Jaya.

Mohamed Rozlan, 57, faces two charges of accepting bribes amounting to RM2,200 as inducement not to inspect any business in which an individual had interest. The offences were committed between June 10 and 20, 2014 in Subang Jaya and Kelana Jaya.

All the charges againt the six accused were made under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and Section 165 of the Penal Code.

Judge Datuk Noradidah Ahmad allowed Mohd Isa bail of RM25,000 in one surety, Muhamad Helmi RM20,000, Wan Azman RM15,000, Mohamad Fauzi RM10,000, Shamsul Anwar RM8,000, Mohamed Rozlan $8,000, Jamaludion RM5,000 and Azlee RM3,000, also in one surety each.

The accused were also ordered to surrender their passports to the court and all the cases will be rementioned on Oct 30.

Deputy public prosecutors Umar Saifuddin Jaafar and Mohd Heikal Ismail from the MACC appeared for the prosecution, while the accused were represented by lawyers Gabriel Susayan, Radehayati Johateh, Mona Hazratulaswati Fauzi, V.Kumaresan and Syed Ismat Syed Muhamad, among others.