Sunday 5 October 2014
How former U.S. Army Ranger threatened with beheading fought in Iraq and then converted to Islam and returned to Middle East to run Syrian aid group
- Peter Kassig appears in latest ISIS video showing British aid worker's death
- In footage, 26-year-old is shown on his knees as he is held by 'Jihadi John'
- Video released tonight claims to show beheading of hostage Alan Henning
- 'Jihadi John' tells camera that President Obama's aerial bombardment in Syria means that 'it is only right to continue to strike necks of your people'
- Mr Kassig enlisted in the Army in 2006 and served in the Iraq war in 2007
- He then went to provide aid to Syrian war refugees and his family said that while in captivity he converted to Islam and took the name Abdul Rahman
An Iraq war veteran who launched his own aid group to provide medical help for Syrian war refugees has been named as the next potential victim of ISIS.
Former U.S. Army Ranger Peter Kassig, 26, has been confirmed as the latest American hostage to be held by Islamic State militants after he featured at the end of a video showing the beheading of British aid worker Alan Henning.
In the footage, which emerged on the internet tonight, Mr Kassig, from Indianapolis, is shown on his knees next to 'Jihadi John'.
The young aid worker is being held by the Jihadi who tells the camera that President Obama's aerial bombardment in Syria means that 'it is only right to continue to strike the necks of your people.'
While Mr Kassig can be seen on his knees, a caption on the screen reads, 'Peter Edward Kassig (American).'
In a direct address to President Barack Obama, 'Jihadi John' then tells the camera: 'Obama you have started your aerial bombardment in Sham (Syria) which keeps on striking our people, so it's only right we continue to strike the necks of your people.'
U.S. officials confirmed this evening that Kassig was being held by Islamic State militants but declined to give any more details of his capture.
President Obama's counterterrorism adviser, Lisa Monaco, said the US had seen the video and was evaluating it.
'This is again yet another just very clear example of the brutality of this group, and why the president has articulated and is moving out in a comprehensive way to degrade and destroy ISIL,' she said, using an acronym for the group.
'Our hearts go out to the British aid worker who we believe is in that video, and to the remaining hostages and to their families.'
Tonight, Mr Kassig's parents Ed and Paula released a statement in the wake of the video asking people to pray for their son.
They confirmed he was captured on October 1 last year on his way to Deir Ezzour in eastern Syria but said the family had kept silent about his abduction 'at the wish of those who have held their son'.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2780102/The-former-U-S-Iraq-war-veteran-feared-ISIS-victim-Peter-Kassig-threatened-beheading-Alan-Henning-video-seized-running-Syria-aid-group.html
British citizen Alan Henning beheaded by the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria (WARNING: Graphic)
ABC A video has surfaced online that appears to show the beheading of British captive Alan Henningby a purported member of the terror group ISIS, who then threatens the life of an American hostage.
“I am Alan Henning. Because of our Parliament’s decision to attack the Islamic State [ISIS], I, as a member of the British public, will now pay the price for that decision,” Henning says in the video, before his apparent executioner speaks.
“The blood of [fellow slain captive] David Haines was on your hands, [British Prime Minister David] Cameron,” the black clad militant says. “Alan Henning will also be slaughtered but his blood is on the hands of the British Parliament.”
Henning then appears to be killed. A quick edit follows and the executioner, apparently the same one as in the other videos, speaks. “The blood of David Haines was on your hand, Cameron. Alan Henning will also be slaughtered, but his blood is on the hands of British parliament.” The executioner then begins to saw at Henning’s neck as the video fades to black. The next image shows Henning’s dead body, with his severed head resting on his torso.
You can see the actual video HERE
Near the end of the video another hostage is seen alive, identified as an American, as the militant says it’s right that his group targets Americans as the U.S. continues its aerial bombardment of ISIS targets.
“Obama, you have started your Arab bombardment… It’s only right that we continue to strike the next of your people,” the executioner says at the video’s end as a man, identified in the video as Peter Edward Kassig, an American, sits on his knees.
This is the kind of bleeding heart leftist stupidity that gets you beheaded.
Cops digging on Teoh's 'suicide note' again
Police from Bukit Aman today recorded statements from Teoh's wife Soh Cher Wei and sister Teoh Lee Lan on the matter at the Batu Pahat district police headquarters.
Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching (right),
who accompanied the duo, said police in their line of questioning
attempted to obtain more information about the alleged suicide note."Police asked question like, do they have any of Teoh's handwriting, did he keep a diary, did he write birthday cards and similar questions.
"The family was not happy because all these questions have been answered five years ago," Teo, who is also a lawyer, told Malaysiakini when contacted.
Teoh was called in by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) on July 15, 2009 as a witness but was found dead the next morning after plunging from the 14th to the fifth floor.
MACC at the time disclaimed responsibility for Teoh's death and a suicide note emerged three months later, which only added to the mystery as Teoh was to register his marriage to Soh the day after his untimely death and already had their honeymoon and wedding reception planned.
The coroner's court in 2011 ruled that Teoh was driven to suicide by intensive questioning, but this was overturned by the Court of Appeal on Sept 5, 2014 which ruled out suicide and said MACC was liable for Teoh's death.
'Harass MACC, not us'
Teo said as the court has already ruled out suicide, police should instead pursue the MACC officers responsible for Teoh's death instead of "harassing" Teoh's family on old matters.
"The
so-called suicide note is also suspicious as it was only found three
months after the death nor can it be confirmed (to be authentic)."If the police want to pursue it, they should be finding out who created it," she said.
Teo said the investigators were part of a special unit set up to re-look at Teoh's death following the Court of Appeal decision.
"We asked if they have questioned the MACC officers, but we were informed other investigators may be doing that," said Teo.
A royal commission of inquiry into Teoh's death had labelled the three MACC officers who questioned Teoh, namely Hishammuddin Hashim, Arman Alies and Mohd Ashraf Mohd Yunus "an arrogant leader, a bully and an abuser".
None of the trio has faced any action to date.
Isis 'trampled' on Islam's image, says Anwar
Speaking on the eve of Aidil Adha, he said such efforts were clearly against the principles of Islam and results in tarnishing the faith.
"While we celebrate this important holy day, we continue to be hampered by various agenda that are trampling on the image of Islam in the eyes of the world, for example the issue of Isis that became a hot topic recently.
"Such
goals clearly contradict the principles of Islamic justice, and
actually tarnish the image of Islam under the guise of championing the
Islamic agenda," said Anwar in his Aidil Adha message today.He said this was the result of "failing to understand Islam in a holistic manner".
"This is what was stressed by the late Hasan al-Hudaybi, 'Establish Islam within yourself, and surely it will be strengthened in your motherland'," he said.
The subject of Isis has stirred hornets' nests in Malaysia, with Prime Minister Najib Razak initially mistepping by reportedly praising the movement's strugge, and PAS leaders contradicting one another on their stand on the terrorist movement.
The Prime Minister’s Office subsequently issued a statement claiming that Najib’s speech had been taken out of context.Following this, DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang has asked Najib to move a motion in the coming October Parliament session to condemn Isis.
Anwar, meanwhile,also spoke on the importance of the holy day and the fundamental philosophy behind the act of sacrifice, that is "sincerity and gratitude".
In his message he also commented on the necessity for justice regardless of race, quoting from the scriptures, "...Don't for a moment let your hatred towards a particular race compel you towards not doing justice."
"In reality, all beings are equal in the eyes of god."
Uthayakumar tells Indians to turn to Pakatan
Having finally regained his freedom
after 485 days behind bars for sedition, many are expecting Hindraf
leader P Uthayakumar to breathe fresh air into the lethargic movement
for marginalised Indians.
But anyone harbouring such hopes may be disappointed.
The
veteran activist, who in 2007 were among key leaders to mobilise some
30,000 to protest discrimination against Indian Malaysians, has told his
community to now set its sight on Pakatan Rakyat.
Having contested as an independent for the Kota Raja parliamentary constituency as part of Hindraf's plan to increase Indian Malaysian representation in GE13 and lost, Uthayakumar acknowledged their strategy was a failure.
"We accept the people's verdict. Like it or not, the overwhelming majority of Indians voted for Pakatan and it is a democratic decision we have to accept," he told Malaysiakini.
After going to jail exactly a month after GE13 for accusing Putrajaya of ethnic cleansing, Uthayakumar said he has given much thought about how the plight of the Indian poor could move forward.
"Every night I thought about it until I had a mental block. There is no other solution besides Pakatan.
"There
is no other option. BN is a forgone conclusion," he said, adding that
even fellow inmates were angry when his brother P Waythamoorthy (left) attempted to ally the Indian Malaysian movement with BN.
He added the majority of Indian Malaysians had voted for Pakatan and therefore, it is only appropriate that they turn to its top three leaders, namely Anwar Ibrahim, Abdul Hadi Awang and Lim Kit Siang.
Uthaya goes to Washington
However, Uthayakumar who said he read extensively about the US civil rights movement during his incarceration, stressed it is the non-Indian leaders in Pakatan who must take up the cause of the Indian poor.
As for himself, Uthayakumar said he will withdraw from the public spotlight for now.
"I will spend a few years in Washington DC to do research and lecture," he said, but added he is still unclear when he will depart.
Asked if this would be the end of Hindraf, Uthayakumar insisted that the movement will never disappear.
However, Uthayakumar said Hindraf's plan had failed during the last general election and he did not want to give any "false hope" this time.
"Now that I have been released, many people are thinking that I can perform magic or that they have some kind of hope. I cannot do that.
"For now, I will watch, see and learn. Put it this way: Sometimes, when we talk to our children, they don't want to listen. So we have to let them go to learn it the hard way. It is their democratic decision.
"If they succeed, I will the the happiest person as I also want to retire. I am feeling tired and exhausted," he said.
'Prison a symbol of Indian marginalisation'
Uthayakumar's move to take a breather may seem like he has been tamed by the cold hard walls of Kajang prison which he admitted was a "nightmare".
But he stressed that his incarceration reinforced his commitment to fight for the plight of the Indian poor.
"When I was released yesterday, the next in line (to be released) was a 39-year-old. His name was Rajagopal. He had gone to prison 29 times; that is how chronic the Indian problem is.
"His father is a Kuala Lumpur City Hall sewerage worker, his mother a sweeper and he has never received any education as the family had many siblings to feed," he said.
He
added that Indians made up almost a third of the total number of prison
inmates despite only comprising eight percent of the country's
population. Uthayakumar is of the opinion that poverty drives them to
commit crime.
Despite the seriousness of the problem, Uthayakumar lamented that Pakatan, which was helped by Indian Malaysians' discontent when it first came into power, had not taken concrete steps to address the issues faced by the Indian poor in states where it ruled.
Having called on Indian Malaysians to turn to the people who they voted for, Uthayakumar only had this to say to Pakatan leaders: "Do not sidestep the Indian poor issues, they are very critical, so please don't sidestep them".
However, he said Hindraf itself will not be taking any sides.
Asked if he will return to Malaysia after his sabbatical to pick up Hindraf's torch again if things do not improve, Uthayakumar merely replied: "I'll take it as it comes."
But anyone harbouring such hopes may be disappointed.
The
veteran activist, who in 2007 were among key leaders to mobilise some
30,000 to protest discrimination against Indian Malaysians, has told his
community to now set its sight on Pakatan Rakyat.Having contested as an independent for the Kota Raja parliamentary constituency as part of Hindraf's plan to increase Indian Malaysian representation in GE13 and lost, Uthayakumar acknowledged their strategy was a failure.
"We accept the people's verdict. Like it or not, the overwhelming majority of Indians voted for Pakatan and it is a democratic decision we have to accept," he told Malaysiakini.
After going to jail exactly a month after GE13 for accusing Putrajaya of ethnic cleansing, Uthayakumar said he has given much thought about how the plight of the Indian poor could move forward.
"Every night I thought about it until I had a mental block. There is no other solution besides Pakatan.
"There
is no other option. BN is a forgone conclusion," he said, adding that
even fellow inmates were angry when his brother P Waythamoorthy (left) attempted to ally the Indian Malaysian movement with BN.He added the majority of Indian Malaysians had voted for Pakatan and therefore, it is only appropriate that they turn to its top three leaders, namely Anwar Ibrahim, Abdul Hadi Awang and Lim Kit Siang.
Uthaya goes to Washington
However, Uthayakumar who said he read extensively about the US civil rights movement during his incarceration, stressed it is the non-Indian leaders in Pakatan who must take up the cause of the Indian poor.
As for himself, Uthayakumar said he will withdraw from the public spotlight for now.
"I will spend a few years in Washington DC to do research and lecture," he said, but added he is still unclear when he will depart.
Asked if this would be the end of Hindraf, Uthayakumar insisted that the movement will never disappear.However, Uthayakumar said Hindraf's plan had failed during the last general election and he did not want to give any "false hope" this time.
"Now that I have been released, many people are thinking that I can perform magic or that they have some kind of hope. I cannot do that.
"For now, I will watch, see and learn. Put it this way: Sometimes, when we talk to our children, they don't want to listen. So we have to let them go to learn it the hard way. It is their democratic decision.
"If they succeed, I will the the happiest person as I also want to retire. I am feeling tired and exhausted," he said.
'Prison a symbol of Indian marginalisation'
Uthayakumar's move to take a breather may seem like he has been tamed by the cold hard walls of Kajang prison which he admitted was a "nightmare".
But he stressed that his incarceration reinforced his commitment to fight for the plight of the Indian poor.
"When I was released yesterday, the next in line (to be released) was a 39-year-old. His name was Rajagopal. He had gone to prison 29 times; that is how chronic the Indian problem is.
"His father is a Kuala Lumpur City Hall sewerage worker, his mother a sweeper and he has never received any education as the family had many siblings to feed," he said.
He
added that Indians made up almost a third of the total number of prison
inmates despite only comprising eight percent of the country's
population. Uthayakumar is of the opinion that poverty drives them to
commit crime.Despite the seriousness of the problem, Uthayakumar lamented that Pakatan, which was helped by Indian Malaysians' discontent when it first came into power, had not taken concrete steps to address the issues faced by the Indian poor in states where it ruled.
Having called on Indian Malaysians to turn to the people who they voted for, Uthayakumar only had this to say to Pakatan leaders: "Do not sidestep the Indian poor issues, they are very critical, so please don't sidestep them".
However, he said Hindraf itself will not be taking any sides.
Asked if he will return to Malaysia after his sabbatical to pick up Hindraf's torch again if things do not improve, Uthayakumar merely replied: "I'll take it as it comes."
Uthayakumar: I won’t join any political party
“I walked into the prison with this orange shirt,” he said, pointing to his trademark Hindraf shirt.
“And I left the prison with this orange shirt. I will not change it to dark blue, light blue or any other colour,” he said, making a reference to Barisan Nasional and PKR colours.
Uthayakumar was driven out of the prison compound at about 9.40am yesterday and was welcomed by his wife S. Inderadevi and a group of supporters and family members, who had waited from 7am.
Uthayakumar, who was jailed for sedition, said he had no regrets.
“The only day I cried in prison was when my mother passed away a week after the prison authorities refused my application to visit her in hospital,” he said.
His lawyers – former Kota Alam Shah assemblyman M. Manoharan and former Teluk Intan MP M. Manogaran – said they would continue with their efforts to have the Sedition Act abolished.
“This is our priority at the moment,” said Manoharan.
Uthayakumar, a former Internal Security Act detainee, was charged on Dec 11, 2007 with publishing a seditious letter on the Police Watch Malaysia website, dated Nov 15, 2007, addressed to then-prime minister of Britain Gordon Brown.
During the defence stage of his trial, Uthayakumar refused to submit his defence, claiming it was in protest over how Indians in Malaysia were being treated.
However, he later appealed to the High Court against the conviction.
On Feb 18, the Kuala Lumpur High Court dismissed Uthayakumar’s appeal to quash his conviction but reduced his 30-month jail sentence by six months.
MyWatch chairman splurges RM340,000 on two exclusive ‘BMW’ car number plates
According to a photograph which has gone viral on Twitter and instant messaging app WhatsApp, Sanjeevan purchased the BMW8 and BMW11 plates for RM174,776 and RM165,000 respectively.
The photograph also shows the successful bidders for the numbers 1 to 12 bearing the BMW prefix, which is for cars registered with the Selangor JPJ (Road Transport Department).
The BMW number plate series were open for public tender at JPJ offices nationwide from Aug 14 till Aug 28.
Among the owners of the new BMW plates are badminton champion Datuk Lee Chong Wei, who paid RM97,777 for BMW6, Tengku Ahmad Shah (BMW3, RM132,000) and Tengku Sulaiman Shah (BMW5, RM188,100), and an unidentified member of the government administration, for which no payment was registered (BMW1, BMW2, BMW7, BMW9 and BMW10).
Twitter users had much to say of the extravagance, such as @The_Mamu who tweeted, “Sanjeevan ni meniaga apa sebenarnya? Kaya betul beli number plate mahal-mahal. (What kind of businessman is Sanjeevan? Must be very rich to be able to afford such expensive number plates.)”
@MuazFadhli was similarly gobsmacked, saying, “Kaya Sanjeevan ni. Lee Chong Wei beli satu je no plat BMW. (Sanjeevan is so rich. Even Lee Chong Wei bought just one BMW plate.)”
However, when asked about his purchase of the two plates, Sanjeevan declined to comment and said he would issue a statement on the matter soon.
Abolishment of Sedition Act would disrupt nation’s peace
The Sedition Act provides protection on several matters concerning the institution of monarchy, Bumiputera rights and privileges, as well as freedom of speech.
KUALA LUMPUR: The peace and stability enjoyed by the people in the country can be disrupted if the Sedition Act 1948 is abolished because several rights and privileges of the Bumiputeras stipulated in the Federal Constitution can be challenged.
Former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said, right now, the Act provided protection on several matters concerning the institution of monarchy, Bumiputera rights and privileges, as well as freedom of speech.
“I think if the Sedition Act is abolished, anybody can challenge the privileges given to Bumiputeras in the Constitution.
“If this happens, I think the country will not be peaceful anymore and public safety can be shaken,” he told Bernama after appearing as a guest speaker in the Ruang Bicara Bernama TV programme here last night..
Musa said the Act need not be abolished or replaced by a new law, but could be modified to meet the current situation.
Prior to this, the government had proposed to abolish the Act and replace it with the National Harmony Act.
Former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said, right now, the Act provided protection on several matters concerning the institution of monarchy, Bumiputera rights and privileges, as well as freedom of speech.
“I think if the Sedition Act is abolished, anybody can challenge the privileges given to Bumiputeras in the Constitution.
“If this happens, I think the country will not be peaceful anymore and public safety can be shaken,” he told Bernama after appearing as a guest speaker in the Ruang Bicara Bernama TV programme here last night..
Musa said the Act need not be abolished or replaced by a new law, but could be modified to meet the current situation.
Prior to this, the government had proposed to abolish the Act and replace it with the National Harmony Act.
India’s Modi Draws Huge US Crowds
Asia Sentinel
Just back from a tumultuous five-day visit to the US, Narendra Modi yesterday launched his Swacch Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Movement) by sweeping up rubbish in Valmiki Basti, a Delhi neighborhood where Mahatma Gandhi, once stayed. It was the father of the nation’s birth anniversary, and a public holiday at the beginning of the long festival weekend of Dussehra that celebrates the triumph of good over evil.
In his first radio broadcast to the nation, marking the Dussehra holiday, Modi asked people to “pledge to remove dirt from our lives”. He ordered thousands of bureaucrats to go to work and clean their offices in a drive that started a week ago, and the Delhi symbolic street sweeping was repeated in other state capitals where the Bharatiya Janata Party is in power.
After four months as prime minister, Modi is emerging as a motivated hands-on politician, who leads by example and expects others to do the same. He is beginning to strike chords with the mass of Indians who respect his and the BJP’s nationalism, which was echoed in a televised speech this morning by Mohan Bhagwat, leader of the RSS, the BJP’s arch Hindu fundamentalist parent organization.
Modi and Bhagwat called on people to follow thesimple life style of Mahatma Gandhi, and Bhagwat even asked them to boycott goods from China, apparently because of the two countries’ border confrontations,
Modi also sticks to his beliefs, refusing food at banquets during his successful US visit because he always fasts for nine days of the Navratri festival running up to Dussehra.
India is becoming accustomed to his symbolic gestures, which began with South Asian leaders being invited to his swearing in, and continued with him playing drums when he was in Japan, taking China’s president Xi Jinping to his home state of Gujarat for a festive evening, and last weekend addressing huge crowds in New York’s Central Park and (photo below) in Madison Square Gardens.
He has established himself as a tough politician who expects ministers and bureaucrats to turn up for work on time, actually take decisions, and keep files moving, so that policies are turned into action. He has shown the world he can be a friendly politician as well as a capable orator. Clearly a man on a mission to make India work, he also wants to make the world realise it is happening – something he seems to have achieved with President Obama earlier this week in Washington.
Now he needs to spend time in his grand Prime Minister’s Office in Delhi and turn all the symbolism and gestures into action.
But he won’t be doing that yet because tomorrow he is off to Haryana and Maharashtra to campaign for the BJP in state assembly elections due on October 15. The party needs to win those states from the Congress Party, partly to strengthen Modi’s ability to implement policies at state level, and partly because the BJP needs to build up its minority position in the Rajya Sabha, which is elected through state-level electoral colleges. Modi also needs to ensure that the BJP’s embarrassing defeats last month in various state assembly by-elections do not turn into a trend – and he wants to prove that he is still the party’s primary vote winner.
When he is back in Delhi after the political campaigning, Modi faces mounting problems. The most serious is that too many top ministers are in charge of several ministries, especially Arun Jaitley, the finance, defense and company affairs minister, who is a diabetic and is in hospital with a chest infection after a stomach operation. Jaitley is the most important, and also the most experienced and probably the most capable minister in the government. Doctors have said he might be home this weekend, but his load needs to be lightened.
Some commentators have been calling for Modi to introduce economic reforms that would catch headlines, but India does not need reforms so much as implementation of existing policies.
The clean India campaign, which expands on work done by the last Congress-led government, needs to be driven beyond yesterday’s symbolism. The task is huge in a nation that dumps rubbish in the streets, where a third of garbage is never collected, and 70 percent of rural homes have no access to toilets. Traditionally, cleaning is regarded as something best left to the lowest castes.
A new Made in India manufacturing policy needs political and bureaucratic leadership to reduce blockages that impede investment at all levels. Among many other examples, the highway building program needs to be actively revived, the railway system needs to be modernized, and care needs to be taken in revising environmental laws and regulations so that infrastructure projects are speeded up without seriously harming India’s natural heritage. Dreadful educational and health facilities also need to be improved in hundreds of thousands of villages and urban areas.
Governments everywhere love to go for high profile and fine sounding projects such as industrial corridors, special economic zones, smart cities, and bullet trains. Such long-term vision is of course necessary, but none of these projects, which Modi has been promoting, will help him to fulfil, by the time of the next general election, his pledges in this year’s election campaign to get India moving again. To do that, he and his ministers and top bureaucrats have to focus on the hard slog of unblocking bureaucratic lethargy and corruption, simplifying laws, and speeding up implementation.
Not a ‘pain in the ass’
Modi attracts a lot of brickbats from observers who find it hard to come to terms with his rise and international success. Pankaj Mishra, an Indian writer who has a following for views aired from his vantage point in the UK, scathingly wrote after Modi’s flamboyant success in the US that “India desperately needs a vision other than that of the vain small man trying to impress the big men with his self-improvised rules of the game.
The former Mumbai correspondent of The Economist, who is now posted in New York, managed to work “pain in the ass” into his blog report on Modi at Madison Square Garden, after which his editors responded to complaints by issuing a statement saying: “The Economist does not consider Mr Modi to be a ‘pain in the ass’. ” The epithet had merely been “how we imagined an uninformed New Yorker might feel about someone who causes a traffic jam” – which Modi had done as tens of thousands of Indians flocked to see him. That was especially embarrassing for the magazine because it had amazingly backed Rahul Gandhi to become prime minister in the general election since it could not bring itself to be identified with Modi.
There are many people waiting for Modi to fail to deliver on the dreams and visions of a successful India that he spun during his presidential-style general election campaign. Obama belted out “Yes we can” from his election platforms and, many would say, failed to deliver. Modi added, “Yes we will do” – now he needs to turn the oratory into practice.
John Elliott is Asia Sentinel’s New Delhi correspondent. He blogs at Riding the Elephant, which can be found at the bottom right corner of Asia Sentinel’s face page.
Anwar Ibrahim faces 'travesty of justice' in Malaysia, says Nick Xenophon
Independent senator says Australia should speak up on behalf of Malaysia’s opposition leader
Australian Associated Press
Australia is being challenged to speak up on behalf of Malaysia’s opposition leader as he faces “a travesty of justice” and the prospect of prison this month.
Anwar Ibrahim is appealing against a highly controversial sodomy conviction, and one of his lawyers has been charged with sedition for saying the scandal is politically motivated.
Anwar, too, is under further investigation, accused of making seditious comments in a political speech.
His 28 October appeal against the sodomy conviction may spark political tensions in Malaysia.
On Friday he met the independent senator Nick Xenophon in Jakarta. Xenophon was detained and deported when he tried to visit Anwar in Kuala Lumpur last year.
Xenophon said if Australia was any kind of friend to Malaysia, it would speak up.
“This is a travesty of justice,” he told reporters in Jakarta.
“It feels like Anwar has more charges against him than Muhammad Ali has had punches. It is a very serious issue.”
Anwar agreed Malaysian authorities, “on direction from the government”, were determined to put him behind bars.”
In his 2011 speech, he says, he said the words “fight the evil government”. That was now being considered sedition.
“I convey my appreciation to senator Nick Xenophon and my friends here who conveyed their concern for me,” he said.
Xenophon said he also remained concerned about the voter irregularities he had wanted to examine last year when he was detained.
“I think unofficially it’s expected that the real vote was much greater for the Malaysian opposition,” he said.
“So, this is the man who should be the prime minister of Malaysia today.”
Australia is being challenged to speak up on behalf of Malaysia’s opposition leader as he faces “a travesty of justice” and the prospect of prison this month.
Anwar Ibrahim is appealing against a highly controversial sodomy conviction, and one of his lawyers has been charged with sedition for saying the scandal is politically motivated.
Anwar, too, is under further investigation, accused of making seditious comments in a political speech.
His 28 October appeal against the sodomy conviction may spark political tensions in Malaysia.
On Friday he met the independent senator Nick Xenophon in Jakarta. Xenophon was detained and deported when he tried to visit Anwar in Kuala Lumpur last year.
Xenophon said if Australia was any kind of friend to Malaysia, it would speak up.
“This is a travesty of justice,” he told reporters in Jakarta.
“It feels like Anwar has more charges against him than Muhammad Ali has had punches. It is a very serious issue.”
Anwar agreed Malaysian authorities, “on direction from the government”, were determined to put him behind bars.”
In his 2011 speech, he says, he said the words “fight the evil government”. That was now being considered sedition.
“I convey my appreciation to senator Nick Xenophon and my friends here who conveyed their concern for me,” he said.
Xenophon said he also remained concerned about the voter irregularities he had wanted to examine last year when he was detained.
“I think unofficially it’s expected that the real vote was much greater for the Malaysian opposition,” he said.
“So, this is the man who should be the prime minister of Malaysia today.”
Our political climate is rife with sexism
Sexual jibes from close-minded individuals will not stop women from being heard in politics.
By Syerleena Abdul Rashid
Interestingly, the media tends to work up a frenzy every time a Malay woman joins DAP. Most recently, Melati Rahim – a niqab donning activist, announced her membership and less than 24 hours later, the vicious attacks ensued with hell bent fervour.
Already she has been accused as being an apostate, a traitor and worse yet, a suggestion by an irresponsible blogger, that any woman joining DAP, for that matter, would be better off vacationing as prostitutes.
What warrants such extreme contempt and disapproval? Aren’t the scandal-tainted politicians who waste billions of public funds and attempt to destroy any notion of racial harmony in our country worse than all of us who join the opposition?
Being women, a minority in a male dominated setting, makes us easier targets for sexist remarks and revolting suggestions. We are often singled out and ridiculed for our political choices; as if we have committed terrible crimes against humanity.
Some men in our society continuously berate us, as if in an attempt to ‘put us in our places’; it is as if our opinions on issues lack merit and we’d be better off playing into whatever gender stereotype these bigoted men have laid out in our society.
Well, society is changing and that is a fact that they have to fathom sooner or later and such bigoted attitudes must stop.
Taking verbal jabs and branding us as traitors is unjustified and cowardly. The hardships Malaysians experience are too real for us to back down and meekly accept.
DAP presents a positive platform for women in politics. For those already in politics, their voices can be heard across the Federation and the impact of their contributions in our socio-political landscape can be felt.
Judging from the accomplishments so far, these women are not simply playing second fiddle to a relatively male dominated landscape. They have demonstrated fortitude, perseverance, and prudence in their decision over tackling important matters (i.e. the inequalities and imbalances certain policies have created over the past decades) and they do all of these with such profound articulation, intelligence and finesse – virtues we seek in those elected to govern. Such traits are extremely inspiring for women and definitely something sexist bloggers or pseudo-intellectuals can learn a thing or two from.
Of course, we understand how politics works. After all, politics is often recognised as being a breeding ground for misogyny and this is evident from the crude remarks made towards women leaders and aspiring politicians.
If anything the continual personal attacks happen because it is required. The motives that warrant such appalling attacks are purely a survival tactic played out by those who know that their time is almost over. Such biased dominance is slowly losing relevance in a multi-ethnic nation that is seemingly embracing progressiveness and liberal education.
Instead of engaging in personal attacks and slander, BN-friendly parties and individuals should focus on highlighting pressing issues and enlightening us on pro-active policies that can help eradicate poverty among the marginalised as quite a number of Malaysians (and Malays for that matter) still belong in this category in spite of government-backed Bumiputera policies and rights that have been championed by Umno for decades.
Why not focus on improving our education system? The never ending ‘flip flopping’ and ‘U-turns’ will do nothing to improve our universities’ reputation. None of our local universities made the cut in the latest list of top 400 global institutions and this is worrying especially when our education system is supposedly on par with developed countries like Germany.
Malaysians are beginning to embrace a new chapter in politics and politically, we are maturing. Many of us have already broken down the barriers of race, religion and gender in politics.
The women in DAP represent all of that and such presence will inspire more bright and young Malaysians to join the struggle regardless of ethnicity. There are plenty of women in politics who are highly educated, extremely intelligent and beautiful in their own right. These women too have had their fair share of discrimination and know the frustrations of being perceived as the “weaker sex” all too well.
The toxicity of sexism seems to be a permanent fixture in our local politics but that can be dealt with – easily. We need to change the mindset of Malaysians and educate them that “whistles”, “howls” and threats are not acceptable to any woman. As a matter of fact, it is hostile and boorish. I dare say that it is getting old.
So far, these women have been handling their new found popularity – both good and bad, extremely well and eloquently. At the end of the day, it is through quality and dedication that politicians will have more supporters than enemies. Creating fear through threats will no longer work, if anything, it will only be advantageous to us who sit on the other side of the political spectrum.
And this is a notion that scares the ruling elite more than anything else.
Syerleena Abdul Rashid currently serves as DAPSY Bukit Bendera Secretary and DAP Wanita Bukit Bendera Political Education Director
Interestingly, the media tends to work up a frenzy every time a Malay woman joins DAP. Most recently, Melati Rahim – a niqab donning activist, announced her membership and less than 24 hours later, the vicious attacks ensued with hell bent fervour.
Already she has been accused as being an apostate, a traitor and worse yet, a suggestion by an irresponsible blogger, that any woman joining DAP, for that matter, would be better off vacationing as prostitutes.
What warrants such extreme contempt and disapproval? Aren’t the scandal-tainted politicians who waste billions of public funds and attempt to destroy any notion of racial harmony in our country worse than all of us who join the opposition?
Being women, a minority in a male dominated setting, makes us easier targets for sexist remarks and revolting suggestions. We are often singled out and ridiculed for our political choices; as if we have committed terrible crimes against humanity.
Some men in our society continuously berate us, as if in an attempt to ‘put us in our places’; it is as if our opinions on issues lack merit and we’d be better off playing into whatever gender stereotype these bigoted men have laid out in our society.
Well, society is changing and that is a fact that they have to fathom sooner or later and such bigoted attitudes must stop.
Taking verbal jabs and branding us as traitors is unjustified and cowardly. The hardships Malaysians experience are too real for us to back down and meekly accept.
DAP presents a positive platform for women in politics. For those already in politics, their voices can be heard across the Federation and the impact of their contributions in our socio-political landscape can be felt.
Judging from the accomplishments so far, these women are not simply playing second fiddle to a relatively male dominated landscape. They have demonstrated fortitude, perseverance, and prudence in their decision over tackling important matters (i.e. the inequalities and imbalances certain policies have created over the past decades) and they do all of these with such profound articulation, intelligence and finesse – virtues we seek in those elected to govern. Such traits are extremely inspiring for women and definitely something sexist bloggers or pseudo-intellectuals can learn a thing or two from.
Of course, we understand how politics works. After all, politics is often recognised as being a breeding ground for misogyny and this is evident from the crude remarks made towards women leaders and aspiring politicians.
If anything the continual personal attacks happen because it is required. The motives that warrant such appalling attacks are purely a survival tactic played out by those who know that their time is almost over. Such biased dominance is slowly losing relevance in a multi-ethnic nation that is seemingly embracing progressiveness and liberal education.
Instead of engaging in personal attacks and slander, BN-friendly parties and individuals should focus on highlighting pressing issues and enlightening us on pro-active policies that can help eradicate poverty among the marginalised as quite a number of Malaysians (and Malays for that matter) still belong in this category in spite of government-backed Bumiputera policies and rights that have been championed by Umno for decades.
Why not focus on improving our education system? The never ending ‘flip flopping’ and ‘U-turns’ will do nothing to improve our universities’ reputation. None of our local universities made the cut in the latest list of top 400 global institutions and this is worrying especially when our education system is supposedly on par with developed countries like Germany.
Malaysians are beginning to embrace a new chapter in politics and politically, we are maturing. Many of us have already broken down the barriers of race, religion and gender in politics.
The women in DAP represent all of that and such presence will inspire more bright and young Malaysians to join the struggle regardless of ethnicity. There are plenty of women in politics who are highly educated, extremely intelligent and beautiful in their own right. These women too have had their fair share of discrimination and know the frustrations of being perceived as the “weaker sex” all too well.
The toxicity of sexism seems to be a permanent fixture in our local politics but that can be dealt with – easily. We need to change the mindset of Malaysians and educate them that “whistles”, “howls” and threats are not acceptable to any woman. As a matter of fact, it is hostile and boorish. I dare say that it is getting old.
So far, these women have been handling their new found popularity – both good and bad, extremely well and eloquently. At the end of the day, it is through quality and dedication that politicians will have more supporters than enemies. Creating fear through threats will no longer work, if anything, it will only be advantageous to us who sit on the other side of the political spectrum.
And this is a notion that scares the ruling elite more than anything else.
Syerleena Abdul Rashid currently serves as DAPSY Bukit Bendera Secretary and DAP Wanita Bukit Bendera Political Education Director
Three Main Ingredients Of Moderation Will Continue To Drive National Development
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the three main ingredients of 'wasatiyyah' or moderation namely justice, balance and excellence will continue to be the values used in guiding the development of this country.
The Prime Minister said the government will continue its determination to turn Malaysia into a progressive and developed nation earning high income by the year 2020.
He said the government would also learn from the spirit of sacrifice in the past, to be made part of the struggles to prosper the nation based on justice and harmony.
"In line with the name AidilAdha, this great celebration which is iconised by two major obligations namely performance of the haj and the spirit of sacrifice to gain the blessings of Allah, and to cherish the teachings of Allah," he said in his message in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidiladha 1435 Hijrah tomorrow in his blog www.najibrazak.com.
Najib said as he had pledged in his public debate at the 69th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York recently, Malaysia would continue to hold tightly to the moderation approach as outlined by the Islamic religion.
He said the government was determined to continue with the national transformation agenda which would certainly require the commitment and willingness to carry out major sacrifices by everyone.
"At the same time, we are prepared to sacrifice time and lives to ensure that the stability and prosperity that we are enjoying remain protected.
"The national constitution and sovereignty of the Rulers will remain to be the identity of the Malaysian race, subversion and infiltration by anyone on this sovereignty will be sternly opposed and eliminated," he said.
Najib said he and his family prayed that those who were in the Holy Land would be safe in carrying out their religious obligation to attain the perfect haj.
"For those in the country, let us celebrate the hari raya by glorifying Allah and together we perform the AidilAdha prayers and perform the ritual of sacrifice," he said.
The Prime Minister said the government will continue its determination to turn Malaysia into a progressive and developed nation earning high income by the year 2020.
He said the government would also learn from the spirit of sacrifice in the past, to be made part of the struggles to prosper the nation based on justice and harmony.
"In line with the name AidilAdha, this great celebration which is iconised by two major obligations namely performance of the haj and the spirit of sacrifice to gain the blessings of Allah, and to cherish the teachings of Allah," he said in his message in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidiladha 1435 Hijrah tomorrow in his blog www.najibrazak.com.
Najib said as he had pledged in his public debate at the 69th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York recently, Malaysia would continue to hold tightly to the moderation approach as outlined by the Islamic religion.
He said the government was determined to continue with the national transformation agenda which would certainly require the commitment and willingness to carry out major sacrifices by everyone.
"At the same time, we are prepared to sacrifice time and lives to ensure that the stability and prosperity that we are enjoying remain protected.
"The national constitution and sovereignty of the Rulers will remain to be the identity of the Malaysian race, subversion and infiltration by anyone on this sovereignty will be sternly opposed and eliminated," he said.
Najib said he and his family prayed that those who were in the Holy Land would be safe in carrying out their religious obligation to attain the perfect haj.
"For those in the country, let us celebrate the hari raya by glorifying Allah and together we perform the AidilAdha prayers and perform the ritual of sacrifice," he said.
Cops confirm female doctor joined Islamic State in Syria – Bernama
Principal assistant director of the Counter Terrorism Division of the Special Branch at Bukit Aman, SAC Datuk Ayub Khan Mydin Pitchay, said the doctor was married to a Malaysian who was a member of the IS group.
He also said that a couple, a 23-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman, who hailed from Selangor and Terengganu, respectively, were also among the 22 in Syria.
"A Malaysian man aged 35 had also gone to Syria with his 46-year-old wife, a foreign national," he told Bernama when contacted.
IS has taken control of huge areas in Syria and Iraq and proclaimed a caliphate. Its members are drawn from people in the two countries as well as foreigners.
Ayub Khan said the doctor was attempting to influence Malaysian women through a Facebook account and added that this was worrying.
"We are trying to establish the identity and background of and obtain more information about the woman's family. We are investigating how she could have been influenced to go there (Syria).
"Of course, she can use Facebook to draw women and girls easily. She can share photographs to show that accommodation and food are provided and they would only be involved in fighting alongside the mujahiddeen," he said.
However, he said, they would not be aware that there was exploitation of women and girls as sex slaves of the militants although so far it might not have involved Malaysians.
The United Nations has reported that the IS militants had kidnapped women and girls and forced them to be sex slaves.
Since the launch of a special operation by the Counter Terrorism Division on April 28, twenty-two individuals have been detained on suspicion of having been involved in militant activities.
People who have information on the IS group can contact investigating officer Insp Mohd Hazil Azhar or convey the information via telephone to 03-22665673 or e-mail to ctd.e8m@gmail.com. – Bernama, October 4, 2014.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/female-doctor-among-22-malaysians-fighting-for-islamic-state-bernama#sthash.W4PuXon6.dpuf
Hindraf founder wants to teach and study in the US
Having failed in his political struggle, Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) founder P. Uthayakumar who was freed from Kajang prison yesterday after serving a two-year jail term for sedition, is set to leave for Washington in the United States to "teach and do some research"."My family and I will be there for a couple of years. I want to do some research and teaching," he told The Malaysian Insider in a telephone interview.
He declined to divulge details.
Uthayakumar, who claimed that he is still Hindraf's de facto leader, expressed hope the government, Pakatan Rakyat and the private sector would halt all racially discriminatory policies and practices, especially against the Indian poor.
"I must confess that I failed to convince the Indians on Hindraf's projected 15/38 as the only way forward in marginal seats in last year's general election," he said.
Under this plan, Indians who made up between 10% and 30% of voters, could decide the winners in 15 parliamentary and 38 state seats in the west coast of the peninsula.
"I accept the people's verdict when they voted overwhelmingly for Pakatan candidates," said Uthayakumar who contested the Kota Rajah parliamentary seat and Seri Andalas state seat, and lost both.
The Human Rights Party Malaysia of which Uthayakumar was its pro-tem secretary-general, fielded candidates in some of the seats but all lost badly.
He has now urged Indians to take their problems directly to key Pakatan leaders like Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Guan Eng and Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, instead of going through intermediaries.
He said Indians did not progress much in the economic and social development of the country despite voting en-bloc for the BN prior to the 2018 election.
The son of railway employee, Uthayakumar said that he has been fighting for the rights of Indians over the last 16 years. He had no regrets having been detained under the now repealed Internal Security Act in 2007 and sent to prison after being found guilty of sedition.
"I was only interested in the welfare of the Indians. The Orang Asli in the peninsula and Bumiputera community in Sabah and Sarawak have a social safety net as provided in the Federal Constituton and other written laws.
"There are non-governmental organisations, prominent lawyers like Datuk Dr Cyrus Das and Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan who championed the right of natives and indigenious people. It was only Hindraf who repeateadly higlighted the plights of the Indians," he said.
He also declined to discuss his relationship with younger brother Waytha Moorthy who is now Hindraf chairman.
"Hindraf is heavily tainted after it associated itself with the Barisan Nasional just before the general election last year.
"We only met during our mother's funeral and memorial service, and no contact beyond that," he said of his brother Waytha Moorthy.
Waytha, who was made senator and deputy minister in Datuk Seri Najib Razak's administraton, resigned from public office in February, citing that the prime minister had betrayed the Indians by not fulfilling the promises made in the memorandum of understanding signed prior to the 13th general election.
Waytha said Najib did not have the will and courage to meet the demands made in the memorandum.
Uthayakumar said while he would have used Hindraf to champion the cause of Indians, the present leadership is also highlighting the plight of non-Malays and the rights of the people of Sabah and Sarawak.
"The Indians are much worse off than any other community. The Chinese are economically well off. The 56 Sabah and Sarawak BN and opposition MPs can voice the frustration of the two states. Who do we have to give an effective voice to the marginalised Indians," he said.
While refusing to directly acknowledge Hindraf's strategy of being inclusive, he said there may be many ways of skinning a cat.
"I am glad that for the past 15 years, Hindraf has been voicing out issues that affects the Indians. Initially we were not heard but later got noticed," he added.
The Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur on June 5 last year convicted Uthayakumar for publishing remarks on the Police Watch website through a letter to then British prime minister Gordon Brown.
The then deputy public prosecutor Noorin Badaruddin had said the words used by Uthayakumar in the letter, such as "mini genocide" and "ethnic cleansing", gave the impression that grave crimes and racial oppression were committed by the government against the Indians here.
On September 17, the Court of Appeal upheld the Uthayakumar's sedition conviction, but reduced his jail sentence from 30 months to 24 .
Hindraf rose to prominence in 2007 when about 30,000 people gathered in a rally held in Kuala Lumpur over alleged discriminatory policies.
At least 240 people were detained, but half of them were later released. Soon after, Uthayakumar and four others were detained under the ISA and were only freed after Najib became prime minister in April 2009. – October 4, 2014.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/hindraf-founder-wants-to-teach-and-study-in-the-us#sthash.n4siszCW.dpuf
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