Police reports to be filed over 'keling' remark

 

An NGO will file a series of police reports nationwide against Permatang Pauh Umno chief Zaidi Mohd Said for using a derogatory word during his speech at the Umno general assembly last week.

Tamilar Action Force (TAF) kickstarted its campaign with a police report filed in Klang this afternoon.

"This is not just for the Indian community, but for everyone," Malaysian Indian Progressive Association (Mipas) secretary-general S Barathidasan told Malaysiakini.

Zaidi had allegedly said, “We (Umno) are very unlucky because we lost badly in constituencies with a majority of Chinese voters. So, this shows that the Malays in Penang support Umno, regardless of them being ‘mamak’ (Indian-Muslim) or ‘keling’.

By using the term "keling", Barathidasan said Zaidi had "deeply hurt and insulted" the entire Indian community in Malaysia.

Zaidi should be probed under both Secton 504 of the Penal Code and the Sedition Act, since Prime Minister and Umno president Najib Abdul Razak is so keen on retaining the Sedition Act, he said.

Section 504 deals with “intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace”.

"Zaidi did not only insult the Indian community, but also… the harmony of this country," he said.

'Why wasn't he ticked off?'

The Umno delegate also courted brickbats when he said the Chinese in Penang were successful due to illegal businesses but later claimed that he was misquoted.

Barathidasan said Zaidi's remarks showed that the Umno delegate did not respect other BN component parties and Umno leaders' call not to raise sensitive issues at the assembly.

Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor had a few days before the assembly warned delegates not to play up sensitive issues related to race and religion.

Barathidasan (right) is also disappointed that nobody reprimanded Zaidi for using a derogatory term.

"The speaker should have stopped him. He has the right to stop a delegate from hurting other community's feelings.

"He should have stopped him immediately. But he did not do that. Why not?" he asked.

Umno gov't killed Hindraf, says Uthayakumar

 

INTERVIEW Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) founder P Uthayakumar has finally accepted defeat at the hands of the Umno government.

The Umno government has, Uthayakumar said, “very successfully used its manpower, money power and media power to tear Hindraf into pieces”.

“I have failed. To me, they succeeded and I failed. You are fighting a giant. For us it is a non-starter.

“The root cause is that the Umno government forms the majority. Even though there are eight to 10 percent Indians in the country, there is not a single parliamentary seat with an Indian majority. It was very easy to crush us,” Uthayakumar explained.

Although he had served much time in prison under the defunct Internal Security Act and more recently under the Sedition Act for speaking out for the Indian community, he had been, he said, outed by the political strategy of the Umno government.

The Hindraf leader was sentenced to 30 months’ jail by the High Court in Kuala Lumpur on June 5, 2013, after accusing Putrajaya of genocide against ethnic Indians.

The Court of Appeal on Sept 17 upheld Uthayakumar’s sentence but commuted the punishment from 30 months to 24 months. He was released on Oct 3.

Uthayakumar, a lawyer, is famed for having galvanised the Hindraf movement.

“Nobody had, in the previous 50 years, did what we did (gathering 100,000 Indians in the streets of Kuala Lumpur in 2007).

“I don’t know if it was luck, divine intervention or 50 years of oppressed feelings that it (the rally) burst out like that.

“Put aside the Malays and Chinese, the Indian elites - the educated Indians and the Indian businessmen - they never supported us.

“We never had support, except during the height of the Hindraf rally. After my release from prison in 2008, the support declined and there was no second line,” Uthayakumar said.

He said he felt very much alone, although there were a handful of others, who were willing to die for the cause of bettering the plight of Indians.

“The Indian elites, no one wanted to join us, even the brains. Number one - they looked at it like an uphill battle - how many people wanted to go to jail for a cause? And it was made worse that we do not have even one Indian majority parliamentary seat,” he added.

Five Hindraf leaders

The creation of five Hindraf leaders after the riot was the best strategy by the authorities to break up Hindraf.

“Before the rally, the truth was that Hindraf was just one man show - me, helped by two or three others.  We just kept moving on and on.

“When Hindraf took off with the rally - for some reason I just cannot explain - it gained momentum and it just exploded. And the next thing I knew was that everybody was a Hindraf leader.

“One of the smartest moves by the government was to create five Hindraf leaders. Until Nov 25, 2007, no one was appointed to Hindraf by me.

“It was a political strategy (on the government’s part). For if they put me (in prison alone) under the Internal Security Act upon my release later, I would probably be more powerful than S Samy Vellu (former MIC president).

“So, ab initio, they put four others in with me, to dilute me. The first time I heard there were five Hindraf leaders was when the inspector-general of police announced it.

“Before that, there was no such thing. At a time when we had only one, we had no problem. (When there were five), there were bound to be differences and when it comes to activism. they had only been active for three months before that.

“They only came in as speakers (for the rally) - they were not qualified to be detained under ISA - they were also caught off guard.

“Now, seven years down the road, when I go down to the ground, they say it was because of the five Hindraf leaders that Hindraf broke up. So, people are still talking of the five - actually there were no five.

"So, what becomes the truth, becomes the untruth and what is the truth, becomes the untruth. The Umno government could do it,” said Uthayakumar, who is looking to start a new chapter in his life by concentrating on his family for now.

---

Interview by Zakiah Koya, Alyaa Azhar and Ahmad Fadli KC.

Phang batalkan saman RM100 juta ke atas bekas IGP

Label ‘keling’: MIPAS mahu buat laporan polis ke atas Umno

Iran: A dozen women stabbed and injured by Basij in southern city

NCRI - A number of young Iranian women, including at least five university students, have been stabbed in their hips with knives in past few days in the southern city of Jahrom.

According to information received from a source in Jahrom, about a dozen women have been victim of the violent attacks.

The women were attacked by at least four men riding on motorcycles.

The local officials have acknowledged that at least six women have been injured in this wave of attacks and they include five university students.

Sources in the city said the university students have identified one attacker who is affiliated with the paramilitary Basij Force.

Mohamad Beheshtifar was identified through recorded footage from a security camera near where he attacked one victim.

Mohamad Beheshtifar’s father is IRGC Colonel Jalil Beheshtifar who heads the Basij force in Ghotbabad district in Jahrom County, south of the city of Jahrom.

This criminal act followed recent protests by 300 students in Jahrom University where students protested against the suppressive measures in the university.

The attacks on university students are also taking place as university students across Iran are expected to take part in the annual protest on the occasion of Student Day on December 7 – known locally as 16 Azar – to demand political freedom in Iran.

The Iranian regime officials in the city were forced to arrest the man after his identity had been revealed.

The attacker has said he had been motivated to attack after one cleric has said “killing of a Bad-Hejab (improperly veiled women) is permissible” and he has done this to act to “prevent vice”.

Earlier this month the Iranian regime’s parliament approved a bill officially putting the members of the Basij paramilitary force in charge of enforcing dress code in Iran and harassing and repressing women and youth in public under the pretext of “Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice”.

The law which passed with a majority institutionalized the work of members of the Basij paramilitaries that often patrol streets to enforce dress code and other behavior prescribed under the clerical regime’s misogynist laws.

The new law bolsters the work of the Basij members who often patrol streets and stop cars to interrogate couples about their relationships, to the resentment of many Iranians.

Acid attacks began after the Iranian regime’s parliament began reviewing bills empowering the Basij paramilitaries.

Muslim girls shouldn't wear short clothes, says attacker after slapping Gauhar Khan

Mumbai: Model and actor Gauhar Khan was today slapped by an audience member while she was hosting 'India's Raw Star', a reality show, at Film City in suburban Goregaon, police said.

Gauhar Khan was attacked and threatened by an audience member who said that, "being a Muslim woman, she should not have worn such a short dress", Aarey Colony police said.

The accused, identified as Mohammed Akil Mallick (24), slapped and touched her inappropriately during the break of the show, but was immediately overpowered by the security guards deployed there, following which the police were notified.

According to a report on Hindustan Times, there were 250 bouncers present at the venue, which had 2,500 people as audience. Yet, the man managed to break the security cordon and get into an argument with Khan.

HT quotes a source: "While he was being escorted out of the place, he managed to go up on stage and slapped her. The source adds, “It was chaos after the security pulled the man away. Gauahar was shocked and was crying a lot. A stunned Gauahar didn’t understand what happened. Though the shooting was stopped, Gauahar took a break of an hour to gather her bearings and then reported back on stage to finish the leftover one hour shoot.”

Senior inspector at Aarey police station, Vilas Chavan, told PTI that the accused was subsequently arrested and booked under IPC sections 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation). Mallick will be produced before the court tomorrow.

Muslim Says He Wouldn't Mind Killing Me for Interpreting the Qur'an as Violent

In my post about the beheading of American aid worker Peter Kassig by ISIS, I added my video "Top Ten Qur'an Verses for Understanding ISIS." A Muslim just said he wouldn't mind killing me for my interpretation of the Qur'an (even after he noted that everything I said was correct):

Police reports lodged against Umno delegates for ‘hate speech’ at recent assembly

Several Pakatan Rakyat leaders in Penang lodged four police reports this morning against Umno leaders, Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim and Datuk Mohd Zaidi Mohd Said.

Penang DAP vice-chairman Zairil Khir Johari and state PAS secretary Mohd Fadzil Kemi each lodged a report against Mashitah, who alleged that a Chinese man had burned the Quran during a prayer ritual in Kedah when this had already been proven untrue.

Batu Uban assemblyman Dr T. Jayabalan from PKR and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's political secretary and Air Itam assemblyman Wong Hon Wai lodged theirs against Zaidi, who allegedly said the Chinese community in Penang gained wealth and power through illegal activities.

Both Umno leaders had made their claims in speeches at the Umno general assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur last week.

Zairil, who is also Bukit Bendera MP, urged the police to investigate Mashitah under Section 298A of the Penal Code for causing disharmony, disunity, or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will, or prejudicing, the maintenance of harmony or unity, on grounds of religion.

He said Mashitah should be investigated for making the allegation when it was already proven that no Chinese man burned the Quran.

"It was already revealed that a mentally unsound Malay man had torn the holy book and he was now in a psychiatric ward," he told reporters outside the northeast district police headquarters in George Town.

What had actually happened was reported even before Mashitah made the remark last week.

A Bernama report had quoted Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir as saying that no Chinese man in the state had burned the Quran.

Meanwhile, Wong said Zaidi, who had reportedly claimed the Chinese in Penang were rich and influential because of their illegal activities in gambling, prostitution and entertainment outlet businesses, should be probed for public mischief under Section 505 of the Penal Code.

"His remarks can be considered a hate speech that insulted the community and cause hatred," Wong said.

Fadzil said the Umno man should not make a remark singling out Penang as a place for vice.

"Prostitution, for example, happens everywhere," he said.

This morning as the police reports were lodged against him, Zaidi told a news conference that his speech had been "misinterpreted" to appear as if he had meant all Chinese in the state were rich and influential due to illegal means.

Zaidi, who is the Permatang Pauh Umno division chairman, said some media outlets had omitted some parts of his speech, causing others to misinterpret him and making his speech a racial issue.

"The word 'kadang-kadang' (sometimes) showed that not all (the Chinese in Penang) were like that. In Malay, the word 'kadang-kadang' means very seldom.

"I uttered the word very clearly in my speech... I did not say all the Chinese in Penang. I said 'kadang-kadang ada segelintir orang Cina di Pulau Pinang' (sometimes some Chinese in Penang) were involved in such activities.

"The word 'kadang-kadang' was omitted in my speech... this shows malicious intention to split the people, cause them to fight," he said at the press conference in Bukit Mertajam. – December 1, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/police-reports-lodged-against-umno-delegates-for-hate-speech-at-recent-asse#sthash.5w2pyVMd.dpuf

Former IGP apologises, Robert Phang drops RM100 million defamation suit – Bernama

The RM100 million defamation suit filed by Social Care Foundation chairman Tan Sri Robert Phang Miow Sin against Tan Sri Musa Hassan was settled today, after the former inspector-general of police issued a statement of apology at the Civil High Court in Shah Alam.

The suit was made against a defamatory statement issued by Musa in a press conference on a programme organised by Malaysian Crime Watch Task Force (MyWatch) on December 10, 2012. A news portal even uploaded a video on it.

In the statement of apology, Musa admitted that he had issued a defamatory statement against Phang, that he retracted his allegation and that he regretted the action.

"I issued the statement of apology to protect the good name of the Royal Malaysian Police," Musa told reporters when met outside the courtroom.

Judicial Commissioner Datuk Rozana Ali Yusoff recorded the settlement and ordered Musa, as the defendant, to pay the legal cost of RM10,000 to the plaintiff (Phang) as cost of case settlement.

Musa was represented by counsels Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman, Datuk Rabinder Singh and S. Selvarajah, while Phang was represented by lawyer S.N.Nair, K.Muralidharan and Lee Wing Hong.

Phang filed the RM100 million defamation suit against Musa on January 4, 2013, claiming that the defendant had uttered words that implied that the plaintiff was insincere, untrustworthy and unethical, during the press conference.

Phang also claimed that Musa's statement had given the impression of him being a liar, corrupt, had committed a crime and could be sentenced to prison, and had the tendency to interfere with the workings of the police force. – Bernama, December 1, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/former-igp-apologises-robert-phang-drops-rm100-million-defamation-suit-bern#sthash.gzDQIcM5.dpuf

I was misinterpreted, says Penang Umno delegate of racial slur against Chinese

Penang Umno delegate Datuk Mohd Zaidi Mohd Said says his speech at the recent party assembly was "misinterpreted" to appear as if he had said all Chinese in the state were rich and influential due to illegal means.

The Permatang Pauh Umno division chairman blamed media outlets for misinterpreting him and making his speech a racial issue.

"The word 'kadang-kadang' (sometimes) showed that not all (the Chinese in Penang) were like that. In Malay, the word 'kadang-kadang' means very seldom," he said at a press conference today.

"I uttered the word very clearly in my speech... I did not say all the Chinese in Penang. I said 'kadang-kadang ada segelintir orang Cina di Pulau Pinang' (sometimes some Chinese in Penang) were involved in such activities.

"The word 'kadang-kadang' was omitted in my speech... this shows malicious intention to split the people, cause them to fight," he said.

Zaidi has been under fire since Friday for saying at the party assembly that Penang Chinese were wealthy due to earnings gained from gambling, prostitution and entertainment outlets.

He said he wanted to clarify his speech because news reports had given an "inaccurate picture" of the content.

"I have not prepared a written statement today. I am speaking from my heart 'authentically'. What comes from my lips is from what I have in me.

"It is up to you (the media) to judge whether what I say is true or Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had misinterpreted my speech," he said at the Permatang Pauh Umno headquarters in Bukit Mertajam today.

Zaidi said there were two parts in his speech that had attracted attention, one being that weak law enforcement had “sometimes caused the Chinese to become rich from illegal activities”.

But for the two minutes he spoke on illegal activities, he said 90% of his speech time was devoted to talking about weak law enforcement.

"You can listen for yourself. I said there was weakness in the enforcement, that action was not taken, that they were in league (with those involved in illegal activities), that there is corruption, which all enabled those involved to make profit.

"Surely you (the media) understand that what I was talking about was regarding the enforcement authorities – the police, the local municipal councils, the councillors and the state Islamic Affairs department, and the immigration department.

"When I touched on enforcement weaknesses, it means the weaknesses of the government administration. The police and immigration departments are under the federal government while the Penang and Seberang Prai local councils and the religious department are under the state," he said.

Zaidi said he was questioning both Putrajaya and the Penang Pakatan Rakyat state government on the weaknesses of the enforcement authorities under their purview.

He said the media should have highlighted enforcement weaknesses that had allowed illegal activities to go on.

He also said raising the matter at the Umno general assembly was the "right platform", as Umno led the ruling government.

"This was what I had stressed in my speech but certain media outlets had taken the contents of my speech to say I accuse the Chinese in Penang of becoming rich from illegal activities. It is not true at all.

"Only few words were quoted and the rest was omitted. It is really not true and I am sure it was done with malicious intent and to seek cheap publicity. Maybe they need to sell their newspapers but it has caused people, including my Barisan Nasional friends and Lim, to misunderstand and criticise me.

"I am just a division chief. Lim cannot compare me to him, as he is the leader of the state. Today, when he says I have lied... is it not true when I said there are weaknesses in the enforcement, which cause action not to be taken and which have allowed illegal activities to go on?"

Zaidi said if what he was saying about lax enforcement was untrue, he would take responsibility for his remarks.

However, if he could prove that such illegal activities existed in Penang, Zaidi asked if Lim would answer his challenge.

"I was challenged to prove to him five places where such activities are carried out. If the state is truly free of these activities, should it not be enough to challenge me to show him just one place?

"Why five? I know that he knows himself that such activities exist in the state. If he pretends not to know, he does not qualify to be the chief minister," he said, adding that the post should be given to a Penangite who knew better what was happening in the state.

Zaidi also said he accepted Lim's challenge and in the soonest time, he would show Lim the five locations he wanted.

"When I have shown him, I hope he will also bear responsibility, resign and let a Penang DAP leader take over," he said.

When taking questions from the media after that, Zaidi said he was misquoted by the Chinese media.

"I don't read Chinese. I was informed by friends about what the media had reported about my speech. I don't know but I was told two or three headlines written in Chinese stated that I accused the Chinese community in Penang of gaining wealth and power through illegal activities like gambling and vice.

Despite claiming he was misquoted, he said he would not take action against the media because the media has a role to play and he wanted to leave it to the people to judge him.

He also explained that he was speaking as an Umno delegate and a Malay leader, and had to explain his disappointment in the enforcement authorities.

"I never had any intention to stir up racial sentiments... I hope the BN component parties and the people of Penang will understand my true intention, which is to see that the state is free of illegal activities," he said.

Zaidi said he was also surprised that the state police chief had said there were no gambling machines in Penang.

"But the news reported recently that there were cases of arrests at entertainment outlets. I also got some unofficial statistics from the immigration department that since January this year, 195 arrests were made under Ops Sayang at such outlets.

"I don't know which is true. But it is all right. Like I have said just now, I accept Lim's challenge and I will show him those five locations... Give me some time, they are shutting down their (illegal) businesses now," he said, jokingly.

"They may shut down for now when the issue is hot. Later they will reopen their businesses. But I will do it before the year ends," he said when asked how soon he would share the information.

Asked who he thought were the people involved in illegal activities, Zaidi said he believed they were Chinese as it was unlikely Malays would be in the business.

"If Malays are involved, despite such activities being forbidden by Islam, I am sure even the chief minister will be aware," he added.

The media had reported that Zaidi told delegates at the Umno general assembly that the Chinese in Penang gained wealth and power by being involved in illicit economic activities such as illegal gambling, prostitution and entertainment outlets.

Zaidi said such activities flourished because the Malays were mild-mannered and the relevant authorities were turning a blind eye to them, otherwise the Chinese would fear and respect the Malays.

Lim had slammed Zaidi for the remark, asking him if he was also accusing the police of not doing their job to fight crime and vice, while challenging him to furnish proof.

MCA vice-president Senator Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun said the party had decided to rebuke Zaidi for his false and wild accusations against the Penang Chinese, adding that Umno must look into it and take action against any of its member who insulted the sensitivities of others.

Chew, who also heads Penang MCA, said it was "pathetic" of Zaidi to score cheap political mileage by resorting to such claims. – December 1, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/i-was-misinterpreted-says-penang-umno-delegate-of-racial-slur-against-chine#sthash.NppFLzXU.dpuf

After Sedition Act flip-flop, how now for Najib’s election reform?

Following Putrajaya's about-turn on the Sedition Act repeal, questions now hang over another of Datuk Seri Najib Razak's promised reforms – to place the Election Commission under parliamentary oversight.

Announced less than a month after the May 5 general election last year, the plan to have a bipartisan committee oversee the EC to address concerns over its alleged bias now appears to have hit a snag.

EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said the plan would not be happening any time soon.

"It is still being carefully studied," he told The Malaysian Insider when asked about the progress made so far since Najib's announcement last year to remove the EC from the purview of the Prime Minister's Department.

Aziz said it would not be easy to implement the reform as it required constitutional changes.

Najib made the announcement on June 1, last year in a speech for the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong's birthday celebration in Istana Negara.

In the 13th general election (GE13) a month earlier, the ruling Barisan Nasional had gained under 47% of the popular vote although it won 133 seats in the 222-member Dewan Rakyat.

The opposition, Pakatan Rakyat, received 51% of the popular vote and 89 seats.

“The government has decided to transfer the control and functions of the EC to a special committee consisting of MPs from all political parties, either from the government or the opposition,” Najib said then.

“With this move, it is hoped that the impartiality of the Election Commission is no longer questioned and that the confidence of the people towards the commission can be strengthened,” Bernama had reported him saying.

Aziz also told The Malaysian Insider that apart from amending the Federal Constitution, such a move would also need the support of two-thirds of the MPs in the Dewan Rakyat.

“Everything is still at an early stage of planning," he said, adding that the EC was also trying to avoid a controversy similar to when it decided to implement the use of indelible ink.

"Although the intention may be good, we still need to study this plan carefully, all the pros and the cons.

"In the past, even with the slightest mistake, EC was attacked mercilessly. This time, we have to tread carefully," he said.

Najib's announcement had come amid accusations that the EC had favoured the BN and had even helped the 13-party coalition keep its unbroken grip on power. The polls last year saw indelible ink used for the first time in Malaysian polls but claims of gerrymandering and malapportionment by the EC remained.

Responding positively to the proposal, PR had suggested that it was willing to lead the committee "to ensure the exercise has genuine intention of restoring the public’s confidence in the EC".

EC should report to Parliament

Merdeka Center executive director Ibrahim Suffian said the criticism against the EC was the reason the plan to put it under parliamentary oversight needed to be executed.

"There are those who say EC is not free because it is under the purview of the Prime Minister's Department. We are now more aware about democracy, that was why NGOs were pushing for more transparency and fairness from the election regulator," Ibrahim said.

Ibrahim, who was also involved in election monitoring work for the polls last year, said the selection and appointment of EC members should also be done more fairly without any direct involvement of the prime minister.

"When it is under the Parliament, appointments of members of the commission, the selection and appointment process will be decided by a bipartisan panel.

"So the chances of the EC being seen as a neutral party increase."

Election reform group Bersih 2.0 has clear ideas as to how Najib's proposal should be implemented.

Its chairperson, Maria Chin Abdullah, said the EC should become an executive body similar to the National Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) which has its own budget and administration.

"We want EC to be placed under the Parliament Act, just like Suhakam. For Suhakam, it is specifically under the Human Rights Commission Act.

"This way, EC will report directly to the Parliament and become an executive body," said Maria.

She added that by doing so, the election regulator would have the power to investigate and present its findings in Parliament.

"It is important for EC to have the power to act against misconduct, or at least the power to investigate. Once they can conduct an investigation, they will have to present their report and it can then be debated.”

Aziz, however, continued to defend the EC's independence, insisting that it was not controlled by any party, adding that placing the commission under parliamentary purview would not resolve charges of bias against the EC.

"They (the opposition) always think that the EC is not independent, but even if it is under the Parliament, there will be someone who is in control, for example, the Speaker.

"They may make the same charges again if the decision that is made by the Speaker is not favourable to them," he said.

The EC, formed in 1957 under the Federal Constitution, falls under the purview of the Prime Minister’s Department.

Najib has said that the elections regulator was neither a government department nor agency but a statutory body whose members received the same protection as Federal Court judges.

After the contentious GE13, PR had organised several rallies throughout the country, accusing BN of “stealing” the elections as the coalition had lost the popular vote for the first time since 1969, but still retained federal power. – December 2, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/after-sedition-act-flip-flop-how-now-for-najibs-election-reform#sthash.AcRWnbMn.dpuf

Social media users focus of Sedition Act change

 

The burden to prove seditious or defamatory remarks made inside and outside social media are among the matters that will be scrutinised in a bid to improve the Sedition Act 1948.

Communication and Multimedia Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the burden to prove actual sedition and defamation, including for the cases brought to courts, should be taken into consideration as many social media users
were using their nicknames or fake identity.

"There's a suggestion for all media users to register (their true identity) with the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). Logically, is it doable, but technically, challenges await because some individuals registered as social media users, such as Facebook, from overseas.

"In fact, Facebook is not registered under the MCMC. The public need to understand this," he said after launching the trailer for new 3D animated movie, AMUZ Space Series for Kidz in Kuala Lumpur today.

Also present was astronaut Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor (left).

Ahmad Shabery also said Facebook registration did not require users to share their detailed information and this made it difficult to prove the identity of persons who abused the social media.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak recently announced that the
Sedition Act would be maintained with improvements so that it would remain relevant with the change of time.

Ahmad Shabery explained that it was also a big challenge for any country, including the developed ones, to prove that a social media user had committed a defamation or sedition offence.

"Maybe the other alternative is to foster cooperation with Facebook, Twitter and other social media, or to register IP addresses that will enable forensic work to be carried out to detect those involved," he said.

- Bernama

'Un-Malaysian to make Christians pray under tree'

It is against Malaysian culture to force Christian students to pray under a tree and observe Malay and Muslim dress code, said Education Minister II Idris Jusoh.

He was responding to Sabah newspaper Daily Express report on Saturday that Christian students at a college in East Malaysia  were forced to pray in the open.

"These claims are serious, but we need to remember that in our country, especially in schools, there is a budaya kasih sayang (caring culture).

"These incidents have happened, but they do not represent our country nor our culture," Idris was reported as saying by The Star.

The case will be handled by Deputy Education Minister Mary Yap (right), the Besut MP said.

The Daily Express reported that that Christian students were forced to pray openly under a tree.

Male students are made to wear a songkok (Malay hat) while females must don the tudung if they want to participate in the Student Parliament, students claim.

The minister also told the media to be fair and highlight issues that encourage racial harmony.

"Incidents such as this one are isolated, but when you (media) keep highlighting it, it is as though there is no unity in our country.

"In the papers, you won't read about how people of all races get along well.

"If we don't shift our focus back to what makes our country and its people great, we might forget to be thankful for what Malaysia has achieved," Idris said.

Malaysiakini has contacted the college administration and is awaiting for response from the college director.

The name of the college is being withheld pending its response.

'New fund shows no confidence in MIC'

 

The launch of the Indus Education Foundation by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak recently was akin to a ‘vote of no confidence’ towards MIC and MIC linked institutions, said MIC legal adviser Selva Mookiah.

Selva said that Najib’s decision of forming a new education foundation instead of strengthening the Maju Institute of Educational Development (MIED) or Tan Sri Manickavasagam Scholarship Fund (TSMSF), showed that the government did not trust MIC.

“The continued direct dealing with the Indian community instead of channelling the contributions via MIC or MIC’s linked institutions must be viewed as a strong message to MIC to re-examine its role and relationship with and within BN.”

He added that the MIC leadership should safeguard their interests by looking into the situation and avoid being “irrelevant”.

“It is plain and obvious that MIC is heading towards irrelevancy if this direct dealing with the Indian community continues unabated.”

Najib launched the Indus Education Foundation in Sentul on Sunday.

Najib said the government committed an initial grant of RM5 million to the foundation, and the fund’s chairperson G Gnanalingam, who is executive chairperson for Westports Malaysia Sdn Bhd, would contribute another RM25 million in the coming five years.

MTUC seeks say in EPF investment decisions

It says contributors' interests are compromised with the current opaque decision making.

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Trade Unions Congress (MTUC) today urged the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to give it a bigger voice in investment decisions, saying the interest of workers were being compromised under current practice.

“EPF money has been invested and is still being invested to bail out ailing companies” and “investments are made in companies which are anti-union and violate workers’, trade union and human rights,” said MTUC Vice President J Solomon.

He noted that EPF is essentially run by the Ministry of Finance and complained that other stakeholders, including workers’ representatives, had “nominal involvement” in its decisions.

He called on the EPF Investment Committee to be more transparent with the contributors to the fund. “The MTUC should be a part of any decision making where it concerns investment,” he said. “It must be stressed here that what is being invested is the workers’ money.”

He said the current biggest beneficiaries of the EPF are employers, particularly companies linked to the government.

He added: “Political patronage is a big reason for EPF investments. By way of such investments, the interests of workers are compromised on.

“Another facet of EPF investments that acts against the interest of workers is where investments are made in companies which are anti-union and violate workers’, trade union and human rights.”

Charge Zaidi with sedition if you are honest, PM told

MIPAS has challenged Najib Razak to live up to his word that the Sedition Act is to protect all races in the country.

FMT

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian Indians Progressive Association (MIPAS) Secretary General S Barathidasan is livid in the wake of the racially provocative remarks allegedly uttered by Permatang Pauh division chief Zaidi Mohd Said recently and has demanded the prime minister charge the Umno man with sedition.

Barathidasan added that if Najib Razak was honest and sincere about using the Sedition Act 1948 to protect the rights of all Malaysians then “the government should apply the act against Mohd Zaidi and charge him immediately”.

In a statement, he explained that Zaidi did not only insult the Indians by calling them “keling” but also made disparaging remarks against the Chinese by saying “the political strength of the Chinese in the state (Penang) came from illicit businesses like prostitution and illegal gambling”.

Recalling the PM’s words that the Sedition Act was not about protecting only the rights of Muslims but also that of non-Malays and non-Muslims, Barathidasan said that if no action was taken against Zaidi, it clearly showed the level of bias practised by UMNO.

He asked, “for UMNO, applying sedition (Act) fairly means everyone else must shut up while they can say anything, right?”

The MIPAS secretary general further explained that several NGOs including the Tamilar Action Force (TAF) would lodge a police report tomorrow at the Klang Police Station regarding Zaidi’s racist rantings.

In the just-concluded Umno General Assembly, party president Najib Razak announced that the Sedition Act 1948 would not only be retained but strengthened to protect all Malaysians and the country’s social contract that was embedded in the Federal Constitution.

Umno man to prove vice source of Chinese wealth

Mohd Zaidi accepts Guan Eng's challenge and dares him to quit if he provides evidence of his allegation.

FMT

GEORGE TOWN: Umno Permatang Pauh chairman Mohd Zaidi Mohd Said has challenged Lim Guan Eng to quit as Penang Chief Minister if it is proven that at least five Chinese-owned businesses are conducting illegal activities.

Referring to Lim’s challenge to him to “show five places of illegal businesses”, Mohd Zaidi said he would do so within a month.

“Lim should accept my challenge just as I have accepted his,” he told a press conference at the Permatang Pauh Umno office today.

He said the media had misreported his statement at the recent Umno general assembly and screened a video recording of his speech to back his claim.

He clarified that he said some, not all, Chinese had been carrying out illegal activities in Penang to get rich.

“I spoke of some Chinese and used the word ‘sometimes’ when saying their economic strength was generated from illegal businesses like gambling, prostitution and other vices,” he said.

“But the word ‘some’ and ‘sometimes’ were omitted from the media reports. I did not generalise about the Chinese community. My speech was reported out of context. As a result, I have been heavily criticised by many people, including Barisan Nasional friends from MCA and Gerakan.”

He said he was basically criticising poor enforcement against illegal activities in Penang and that he was more critical of federal enforcement agencies such as the police and immigration, and state agencies like municipal councils and the Islamic Religious Department.

“Although 90% of my speech criticised the enforcement agencies, it was hardly reported in the media.

“My speech emphasised that such illegal activities would continue to flourish if enforcement agencies were to continue in their corrupt ways and collaborate with the perpetrators.”

Caning for Immigration staff bringing in illegals

Government will take the matter to Parliament if the Immigration Act needs amendment, says home minister.

FMT

PUTRAJAYA: After suggesting mandatory caning for agents found guilty of bringing in illegals, the Home Ministry wants the same for immigration officers involved in such activities.

Home Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said discussions towards implementing the punishment would begin this week involving the ministry’s legal adviser, Immigration Department and attorney-general’s chambers.

“We want to propose (mandatory caning) to the government after the discussions because I think jail and fine are insufficient as deterrents.

“We will take the matter to Parliament if the Immigration Act needs amendment, or we will just enter a clause on the punishment to existing regulations.

“Although collusions involving Immigration Department personnel and agents of foreign workers were isolated cases, the proposal was necessary to protect the department’s good name.

“It is better to be a bit embarrassed now rather than be humiliated later, on matters of eradication of illegal workers,” he told a media conference after attending the ‘Immigration Day’ celebration here today.

Ahmad Zahid said the punishment would help in efforts to wipe out bad elements who tarnished the department’s image and simultaneously, reduce the possibility of incidents such as the flash floods in Cameron Highlands, Pahang, recently.

“I focus on the Immigration Department because according to the anti-corruption report tabled recently by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to the Cabinet, the department is at the top among 10 agencies and departments,” he said, adding that the police were also included in the list.

However, Ahmad Zahid noted that behind the negative perception, the Immigration Department, via its enforcement division, had succeeded in reducing illegal foreign workers.

During the ceremony, the minister also launched a RM10 border pass which was valid for a year to enter Malaysia/Thailand, to replace the normal A4 size printed document for Malaysians who have stayed more than a year in Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis and Hulu Perak district.

– BERNAMA

Penang police probe reports on ‘communist event’

The event organizers allegedly want to convince the public that the CPM fought for Malayan independence.

FMT

GEORGE TOWN: Police are following up on 24 reports lodged on an alleged “communist” event held last Saturday at the Chai Leng Park multi-purpose community hall in Perai.

Penang deputy police chief A. Thaiveegan who confirmed this added that two of the reports on the event were lodged in Johor.

“We are probing under Section 505 (b) of the Penal Code,” said Thaiveegan at a press conference at police headquarters on Monday. “The section refers to intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public.”

“Those believed to be involved in organizing the event will soon be called up to give statements.”

The police had to probe the reports, he continued, as the event may confuse the public, especially the youth, on the meaning of independence.

Perkasa and Pekida, Malay NGOs, are among those who lodged reports. Another was lodged by Fathilullail Jaafar Sidek, an aide to state executive councillor and Seberang Jaya assemblyman Dr Afif Bahardin.”

Perkasa and Pekida claimed in their police reports that the event was held to revive the communist ideology of the banned Communist Party of Malaya (CPM). They further claimed that the event organizers want to convince the public that the CPM fought for Malayan independence.

Last week a controversial “communist” dinner banner appeared in some places in Penang mainland, especially in Perai and Tasek Gelugor. Photos of the banner also went viral in the social media, like Facebook and Whatsapp.

The banner showed a portrait of Dr Afif displayed between PAS deputy president and Penang chief commissioner Mohamad Sabu, commonly known as Mat Sabu, and former youth chief Amir Ghazali alongside a portrait of the late CPM Chief Chin Peng.

According to the banner, a dinner and talk on Chin Peng would be held at Chai Leng’s multi-purpose hall in Perai at 7.30 pm Saturday, November 29.

The banner was headlined: “Perajurit Parti Komunis Malaya” (Communist Party of Malaya Comrade) while its slogan in Malay read: “Saya yakin penuh bahawa api perjuangan demi keadilan sosial & perikemanusiaan tidak akan padam – Chin Peng” (I’m certain that the fire of the struggle for social and humane justice would never die – Chin Peng).

Dr Afif, also the state PKR youth head, has denied he was involved in any way in the alleged dinner.

Mat Sabu said that he was not perturbed by the banner which he described as ‘a cheap sabotage attempt” by certain quarters to discredit him and link him with communism.

He alleged that hidden hands with malicious intentions were behind the controversial banner to damage his reputation and that he was not bothered about the banner.

“It has nothing to do with me or my party, PAS. Surely I am not going to organize or take part in such events. It’s sabotage.”

He would not be lodging any police report.

“The report by Afif is enough,” he said.

Quiz ministers in ‘hate speech’ probe, cops told

Umno big shots heard Zaidi's and Mashitah's speeches, says Kit Siang.

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP has challenged the police to investigate allegedly seditious statements made at the recent Umno general assembly and to record statements from all Umno ministers who were present, including the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.

Referring to speeches by Umno delegates Mohd Zaidi Mohd Said of Penang and Mashitah Ibrahim of Kedah, DAP Parliamentary Leader Lim Kit Siang in a press statement today noted that several police reports had been lodged over the alleged hate speeches.

Zaidi today denied that he had accused Penang Chinese of accumulating wealth from illegal activities. Chastising the media for “inaccurate” reporting, he said he had referred only to “some” Chinese as having “sometimes” benefited from vice.

Mashitah has yet to comment on reports that she accused a Chinese group in Kedah of burning the Quran during a prayer ritual.

Referring to Zaidi’s denial, Lim said it was “ridiculous that it has to take the Penang Umno leader three full days in the eye of a national storm to realize that he had been ‘misinterpreted.’”



But Lim reserved his most acidic remarks for Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said the Home Minister appeared to have “arrogated” solely to himself the “powers of deciding whether a person has committed sedition.”

He accused Zahid of wearing with pride the label of a “hardcore” or “fundamentalist” Home Minister.

“Many Malaysians are shocked by Zahid’s war mongering performance in his winding-up speech last Saturday, for no Home Minister under six prime ministers in the past 57 years had misbehaved like Zahid,” he said.

“Zahid’s war mongering performance might befit his position as Umno vice president, but it was clearly inappropriate for a Home Minister of the country as he must be reminded that he is Home Minister not just for Umno to look after Umno interests, but to safeguard the security of 30 million Malaysians, including 53% of the electorate who did not vote for Barisan Nasional and Umno in the 13th general election.”

He asked whether the police were waiting for Zahid’s green light before commencing with investigations into Zaidi’s and Mashitah’s speeches.

“In fact,” he said, “the police should be taking statements not only from Zahid, but also from Najib, Muhyiddin, Hishammuddin, Shafie Apdal and all the Umno ministers and leaders as they were witnesses” to the allegedly incendiary speeches.

“Or is there an implicit directive that the police should not conduct any serious investigations into the two Umno delegates’ speeches?” he asked.

Dr M is biggest winner at Umno general assembly

 

COMMENT Syabas Dr Mahathir Mohamad - you were undoubtedly the biggest winner at the Umno assembly meeting. Although some observers have dismissed your influence over Umno and party thinking, you knew that your finest hour was at hand. This is why, despite being sick and possibly against doctor’s orders, you made your way to the meeting.

There, surrounded by thousands of your admirers and supporters, your cup can be said to have runneth over.

You witnessed the humiliating surrender of the prime minister in his attempt to repeal the Sedition Act. How dare Najib Abdul Razak dismantle the Act which has been one of your main weapons to ensure Umno’s supremacy in the country? Is the man so ignorant of the country's political history that he is not aware that the selective application of the Act has enabled the party to muzzle its opponents and extend the party's shelf life?

You had repeatedly urged its retention. To see the prime minister not only put up the white flag but also announce that the Act would be further strengthened was indeed sweet satisfaction

As for the other leading speakers in the assembly - Muhyiddin Yassin, Khairy Jamaluddin, Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and the vice-presidents (Vps) - all of them picked up on the themes and messages you have repeatedly put out in your blog site:

• Umno is the best defence against the non-Malays,
• Umno is the only guarantor of peace and security in the country,
• Malay special position and privileges cannot be questioned, and
• The New Economic Policy (NEP) needs to go on forever until Umno decides otherwise.

You had the satisfaction of hearing one of the speakers lambast Najib’s slogan of 1Malaysia.  As followers of your blog will attest, you were the first to publicly criticise 1Malaysia. Clearly, Najib had introduced that slogan to supersede your Vision 2020. Imagine, he had the nerve to try to take down your Vision without so much as an “Excuse me!” That has really irked many of your supporters.

It was gratifying to hear one of the speakers at the assembly urge ‘1Melayu’ instead of ‘1Malaysia’. Serves Najib right for not consulting you on 1Malaysia!

Some observers have been surprised that the Umno president did not have it easy at the assembly meeting. But they forget your power and hold over the delegates. You have pointed out that you yourself “was advised to not criticise openly” and in your own words pointed out that “I had given my criticisms repeatedly behind closed doors, especially on bumiputera and Umno problems.”

But it did not work. So you have been forced to criticise openly and to advise the delegates to do the same.

Of course, the onslaught against the BN's attempt at reform - any reform - policies should not have been unexpected. As patron of Perkasa – some say ‘godfather’ but that’s blasphemous - you had agreed to open the meeting a few days before the Umno assembly meeting so as to show the way on how to protect and ensure Malay rights.

Strategy worked brilliantly

That strategy worked brilliantly. Perkasa is now the tail wagging the dog. The Perkasa agenda is now Umno’s agenda. No Umno delegate or leader will dare to open his mouth too wide on Malay rights or racial and religious issues without getting Perkasa’s approval or prior sanction.  Government agencies will have to give priority to Perkasa’s recommendations or they will be denounced as anti-national.

And Perkasa leaders, and other Malay/Islamic leaders can continue to burn Bibles, threaten the opposition parties, belittle other religions, and engage in actions to protect Malay and Islamic special position and rights. After all they are all sheltering under the great man and Malay hero’s umbrella and they know that, protected by Dr Mahathir’s patronage, they are immune from prosecution and the reach of any law in the country.

Congratulations again Dr Mahathir.

And sorry, Malaysians who are not Umno or Perkasa members, as our former prime minister has always reminded us - “I did it my way!”  And his way is the only way - ask the former prime minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and the present one if you do not believe it.

---

KOON YEW YIN, a retired chartered engineer, is a philanthropist.

Thailand Recognises Malaysia's Role In Southern Thailand Peace Process - Najib

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 1 (Bernama) -- Thailand recognises Malaysia's role in the southern Thailand peace process and has vowed to give a firm commitment towards the effort, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Monday.

Speaking to Malaysian reporters after hosting a luncheon in honour of visiting Thai Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha at Seri Perdana here, he said Malaysia and Thailand also agreed on three basic principles with regard to the peace effort.

Najib said the three principles were a period of no violence; all parties being represented in the peace talks and all parties in southern Thailand agreeing to one united demand to be put forward to the Thai government.

"Based on the three principles, Malaysia will continue (the peace process) and the Thai government has stated categorically that Malaysia is the only country that they will work with on the peace process," he said.

Gen Prayut is on a one-day official visit to Malaysia. Earlier, Najib and Jen Prayut had a four-eyed meeting and a delegation meeting at the Prime Minister's Office at the Perdana Putra Building, here.

Elaborating on the three principles, Najib said that firstly there must be a period of no violence and respect for the law.

If the parties in the south respected the law, then these parties had nothing to fear, he said, adding that Gen Prayut said the army could even reduce its presence in the south if violence was discontinued.

"Secondly, we agreed that it is important that not just one party but all parties be represented in the peace process," he said, adding that Malaysia and Thailand would try to talk to all parties in the south, not just one or two groups.

Thirdly, all demands would be collated and put up as one united demand, he said. In other words, all the parties must agree to the list of demands or requests that they wished to put forward to the Thai government, he added.

"That (united demand) would be the basis of starting the actual substantive negotiations with the Thai government," he said.

Najib said Malaysia and Thailand would reinvigorate the peace process and restart the efforts based on the three principles.

Asked about the time frame for the peace process, he said it was hard to put a time frame for such an effort.

"When you sit down and discuss such complex matters, it will take time. It is important that we give them impetus based on these three principles," he added.

On terrorists using border passes to enter either country, Najib said the relevant ministers in the two countries had been tasked to work out a means to combat the matter.

"Malaysia and Thailand have agreed to work to strengthen cooperation in addressing the problem of extremism and militancy," he said.

On dual citizenship, Najib said Malaysia and Thailand agreed to resolve the long-standing problem.

"There is not much movement. In this regard, I did express our (Malaysia) need and desire to work closely to resolve this problem," he said.

Najib described his discussions with Prayut as productive and having covered various aspects of bilateral relations.

"We both agreed that the state of bilateral relations remains very strong, but we should look at ways to strengthen our cooperation," he said.