Tuesday 6 January 2015
Vigil in memory of Salman Taseer attacked in Lahore
According to details, a ceremony was organized at Lahore’s Liberty Chowk paying tribute to Salman Taseer on account of his death anniversary. A large number of masses from different walks of life participated in the ceremony to commemorate the slain governor of Punjab.
As soon as the prayers were held after lighting candles in Taseer’s memory, unknown persons wielding batons attacked the participants and torn apart the posters of the slain governor.
The attackers not only tortured the news men at the spot, but also misbehaved with the members of the civil society and the women there.
In reaction to the incident, an case has been filed in the Gulberg police station seeking registration of an FIR against the workers of Sunni Tehreek.
Following the incident, scores of masses regathered at the Liberty Chowk and again lit candles in memory of Salman Taseer.
Israeli attacked by men singing anti-Semitic songs in Berlin
Associated Press
BERLIN: German police are investigating an attack on an Israeli who was beaten by a group of young men after he asked them to stop singing anti-Semitic songs on the Berlin subway on New Year's Eve.
Spokesman Martin Dahms said Monday police are still looking for the attackers.
The victim, 26-year-old Shahak Shapira, who lives in Berlin, told The Associated Press that after he asked the seven men to stop chanting anti-Jewish songs, he recorded them on his cell phone.
When he got off at the next stop, the men, who Shapira says were speaking both German and Arabic, followed him and demanded he delete his video. When he refused, some of the men spat on him and beat and kicked him, injuring his head.
- See more at: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2015/Jan-05/283102-israeli-attacked-by-men-singing-anti-semitic-songs-in-berlin.ashx#sthash.m1vm4uHB.dpuf
BERLIN: German police are investigating an attack on an Israeli who was beaten by a group of young men after he asked them to stop singing anti-Semitic songs on the Berlin subway on New Year's Eve.
Spokesman Martin Dahms said Monday police are still looking for the attackers.
The victim, 26-year-old Shahak Shapira, who lives in Berlin, told The Associated Press that after he asked the seven men to stop chanting anti-Jewish songs, he recorded them on his cell phone.
When he got off at the next stop, the men, who Shapira says were speaking both German and Arabic, followed him and demanded he delete his video. When he refused, some of the men spat on him and beat and kicked him, injuring his head.
- See more at: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2015/Jan-05/283102-israeli-attacked-by-men-singing-anti-semitic-songs-in-berlin.ashx#sthash.m1vm4uHB.dpuf
Penjelasan jet rasmi kerajaan melalui Facebook perlekeh pegawai JPM
Penjelasan Putrajaya yang jet rasmi 9M-NAA yang digunakan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak “menghadapi isu teknikal dan terpaksa singgah di Amerika” adalah tidak logik, kata Lee Chean Chung.
Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Semambu itu berkata, penjelasan melalui laman sosial Facebook oleh kumpulan propaganda sosial "Friends of BN" tanpa sebarang pengesahan rasmi daripada Jabatan Perdana Menteri (JPM) seolah-olah memperlekehkan pegawai Najib sendiri.
"Saya membidas laman Facebook 'Friends of BN' yang seolah-olah menjadi jurucakap JPM dengan memberi penjelasan berkenaan penerbangan jet rasmi 9M-NAA ini.
"Penjelasan yang jet tersebut menghadapi isu teknikal dan terpaksa singgah di Amerika adalah tidak logik dan penjelasan melalui Facebook tanpa sebarang pengesahan JPM seolah-olah memperlekehkan pegawai JPM," katanya dalam kenyataan hari ini.
Status laman sosial Friends of BN pada 2 Januari lalu berkata, pesawat berkenaan berada di Amerika Syarikat sebelum ini bagi menyelesaikan beberapa isu teknikal dan dalam perjalanan pulang ke Malaysia ketika ini.
Katanya, pesawat berkenaan singgah di London dan Dubai untuk mengisi bahan api, bukan untuk membeli-belah atau berseronok seperti digembar-gemburkan oleh pembangkang.
Mengulas penjelasan Pejabat Perdana Menteri jet tersebut berada di Amerika kerana masalah teknikal, katanya alasan itu tidak munasabah.
"Mengapakah Pejabat Perdana Menteri membisu terhadap isu ini dan penjelasan hanya diberi selepas seminggu?
"Adakah jet 9M-NAA berulang-alik dari Honolulu, Los Angeles dan New York untuk membeli 'spare part' kapal terbang?
"Di manakah senarai penumpang jet 9M-NAA?" soalnya.
Ketua Penerangan PKR itu berkata, pihaknya akan berkunjung ke JPM sekiranya perkara ini masih tiada penjelasan yang memuaskan.
"Seandainya perkara ini masih tidak mendapat penjelasan yang memuaskan, saya sendiri akan hadir ke Jabatan Perdana Menteri untuk mendapatkan jawapan, dan saya ingin menjemput Friends of BN datang bersama dalam lawatan tersebut," katanya.
Bekas Ketua Pengarang Kumpulan New Straits Times (NST) Datuk A Kadir Jasin mendedahkan penjelasan pegawai kanan Pejabat Perdana Menteri yang memberi alasan jet itu tidak digunakan untuk tujuan peribadi.
“Perdana menteri menaiki pesawat komersial melalui Hong Kong di mana seterusnya beliau dijemput Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia (TUDM) terus ke Kota Baru.
“Langkah ini diambil ekoran jet yang digunakan perdana menteri dan keluarganya ke Amerika Syarikat berdepan masalah teknikal.
“Jet itu tidak ditinggalkan untuk kegunaan ahli keluarga perdana menteri. Ia juga tidak berada di Indianapolis," kata Jabatan Perdana Menteri kepada Kadir yang disiarkan di blognya hari ini.
Bagaimanapun, laman penjejak pesawat Flight Radar 24 menunjukkan pesawat rasmi itu dengan nombor pendaftaran 9M-NAA, mendarat di Indianapolis dari Los Angeles pada 6.52 pagi waktu Malaysia pada 26 Disember.
Pesawat itu mendarat di Lapangan Terbang Los Angeles pada 1.40 petang waktu Malaysia dari Honolulu, Hawaii yang merupakan destinasi percutian Najib.
Najib sepatutnya menggunakan pesawat kerajaan Airbus A319 itu untuk kembali ke Malaysia dua minggu lalu tetapi sebaliknya menggunakan pesawat TUDM. – 5 Januari, 2015.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/bahasa/article/penjelasan-jet-rasmi-kerajaan-melalui-facebook-perlekeh-pegawai-jpm#sthash.LzJmlw70.dpuf
Silence not due to fear of Zahid, says IGP
"Come on, this has nothing to do with being scared of the boss.
"Like what I said, this issue is in proceedings (in the court in the United States).
"Those who talk a lot on this matter, they do not know laws and court procedures. I know (the procedures).
"I do not want to jeopardise the ongoing trial. Let it continue," he told reporters after attending a conference at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) in Kuala Lumpur.
It was not made clear whether the police chief was referring to lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah (left) when he spoke about those "who talk a lot" about the case.Also, Khalid dismissed the accusations that the government is cooperating with the mafia.
"How can? This is not a matter of accusing the government... when an issue is in trial, whoever issues statements could be asked to be a witness, so I do not want to jeopardise the trial," he said.
He further stated that 14K is a mafia group which has strong links with drug deals, but it has "never been" in Malaysia.
"We have very tough drug laws in this country, I don't think any 14K (members) would like to be in this country," Khalid said.
However, he did not rule out the possibility of Malaysians abroad being members of 14K.
Khalid also declined to reveal if Phua had any other criminal record in Malaysia when asked, stating that the police have been in contact with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) all along.
Khalid told Malaysiakini yesterday that he would not make any further comment on the issue as Phua was facing criminal charges in the US.
Instead, he advised Phua to focus on his charges.
'Gov't jet didn't stay in US for Najib's family'
"The aircraft had not stayed behind for used (sic) by PM's family members. Also, they are not in Indianapolis," the PMO said in a statement to veteran newsman A Kadir Jasin today.
The statement was published by Kadir in the comment section of his blog, as a follow-up to his posting titled, ‘As the country floods, PM golfs in Hawaii’.
When contacted, Kadir (left) confirmed with Malaysiakini that the statement was issued by a senior aide of the prime minister after the veteran newsman queried about the matter.In the statement, the PMO also confirmed that Najib’s family had travelled in the government jet to Hawaii, where Najib played golf with US President Barack Obama on Christmas eve.
On Dec 26, 2014, Najib announced he would return to Malaysia after receiving flak for his holiday while the country faced the worst flooding in decades.
He arrived in Kota Baru the following day. The PMO said Najib had returned to Malaysia on a commercial flight.
“The prime minister came back on a commercial flight via Hong Kong where he was picked up (by) the Royal Malaysian Air Force and headed straight to Kota Baru," it said.
Najib admitted in Kota Baru that he had left his family which was on holiday to oversee the flood relief effort back home.
'VIP jet had technical issues'
This prompted speculation that the premier's family was still on holiday using the government jet.
However, the PMO said the aircraft had to stay back due to "technical issues".
"This arrangement came about as the aircraft which the PM and his family used to travel to Hawaii had to stay behind in the United States to sort out some technical issues," it said.
The PMO statement did not explain the nature of the technical issue or how Najib's family returned home.
Nor did it explain why the jet was tracked criss-crossing several countries before making it home yesterday.As Najib made his way back, flight tracker portal FlightRadar24 showed the VIP jet with registration number 9M-NAA taking off from Honolulu, Hawaii to Los Angeles then Indianapolis.
It remained there for six days, until Dec 31, 2014.
After the long stop there, the aircraft took off for Los Angeles, followed by New York, London, Dubai and finally arriving in Bangkok on Jan 2.
The aircraft finally arrived in Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 10.20 last night before departing for Subang Airport 35 minutes later where it is usually based.
'MIC re-elections on, with or without chief's nod'
"The Registrar of Societies (ROS) has recommended that we form a special committee to hold re-elections - the sooner the better. I will suggest this to the president.
"Don't forget that in MIC, with the agreement of 15 CWC members, we can do it. So don't push me," Saravanan told reporters after his meeting with the ROS in Putrajaya today.
"For the sake of the party, I need to see him (Palanivel) in order to suggest a meeting. If I have no choice, I will go to his house.
"If I don't see him in the MIC office, I'll probably have to spend one or two days outside his house," he added.
Saravanan also said that if Palanivel (left) continued to refuse to see him to discuss the fate of the party, he would call 40 division heads for a special assembly.Meanwhile, Saravanan also clarified that the 68-year-old party would not be de-registered by the ROS, as former MIC secretary-general A Prakash Rao had sent the ROS a letter of suggestion on Jan 2.
The letter had urged the ROS to provide an extension of 60 to 120 days for MIC to solve its internal issues and come up with its re-election.
'The ROS will consider the proposal'
Saravanan said the ROS would consider the proposal, and might even extend the time span for the re-election of MIC members for up to 120 days.
On Dec 5, the ROS had nullified the elections of MIC's three vice-presidents and 23 CWC members, and proposed fresh elections for these posts.
ROS said the party elections had been nullified because of breaches of the MIC constitution and the Societies Act.
Saravanan also told reporters that he was disappointed that Palanivel set up a meeting with the ROS, taking along Senator 'Barath' Maniam - and an unknown lawyer by the name of Chandra - when Palanivel was mandated to bring the vice-president instead.
Saravanan then urged Palanivel to forget the past and "try to set a new chapter" within the party.However, the ROS confirmed today during the meeting that the party's current committee members are no longer valid, as they were elected in 2013.
"Based on the documents with the ROS, the current committee members elected are no longer valid until we hold a re-election," Saravanan said, adding that the post for secretary-general and treasurer are also not valid, as the election took place in 2013.
Saravanan reiterated that he would try to get the members together, alongside the president, to save the party.
'Insane man' also destroyed Hindu deities
The man who destroyed deities at Wat Chataram in Bukit Mertajam, Penang last Friday had also attacked Hindu deities the next day, police said.
Police nabbed the man after a police report was lodged on the destruction of the Hindu deities on Saturday and sent him to the Perak Road Psychiatric ward on the island.
The man was seen hitting four deities with a machete at the Kaliaman River Side temple at Kampung Pokok Machang, Tasek Gelugor at 8.30 am that day.
He fled on his motorcycle when a local tried to stop him.
A Saundarajan, 53, lodged a police report over the incident at about 10.30am.
Another
native of the village, R Thangaletchumy, 47, said the man went on a
rampage and attacked a home which had two elephant idols at the porch
after attacking the temple.
Visiting the Hindu temple today, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng expressed hope the incident would not recur as the culprit is now in custody.
"This is definitely not the culture of Malaysians and I thank everyone who condemned such acts," he said.
The temple, which is under construction, is a replacement for a 50-year-old shrine but building works were slow due to lack of funds.
Lim said the state government was prepared to provide some financial aid to help in restoring the deities.
Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy said such incidents should not happen against any place of worship.
He urged the temple committee to write to the state government for financial aid to restore the deities.
"Religion is a sensitive issue and nobody has the right to destroy a church, mosque or temple no matter what their political ideology," he said.
Last year in January, molotov cocktail was thrown in the Church of the Assumption on Lebuh Farquhar.
In February, a slab of pork meat was hurled into the compound of the Cherok Tok Kun Atas Mosque.
No arrests have been made for the two incidents last year.
Police nabbed the man after a police report was lodged on the destruction of the Hindu deities on Saturday and sent him to the Perak Road Psychiatric ward on the island.
The man was seen hitting four deities with a machete at the Kaliaman River Side temple at Kampung Pokok Machang, Tasek Gelugor at 8.30 am that day.
He fled on his motorcycle when a local tried to stop him.
A Saundarajan, 53, lodged a police report over the incident at about 10.30am.
Another
native of the village, R Thangaletchumy, 47, said the man went on a
rampage and attacked a home which had two elephant idols at the porch
after attacking the temple.Visiting the Hindu temple today, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng expressed hope the incident would not recur as the culprit is now in custody.
"This is definitely not the culture of Malaysians and I thank everyone who condemned such acts," he said.
The temple, which is under construction, is a replacement for a 50-year-old shrine but building works were slow due to lack of funds.
Lim said the state government was prepared to provide some financial aid to help in restoring the deities.
Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy said such incidents should not happen against any place of worship.He urged the temple committee to write to the state government for financial aid to restore the deities.
"Religion is a sensitive issue and nobody has the right to destroy a church, mosque or temple no matter what their political ideology," he said.
Last year in January, molotov cocktail was thrown in the Church of the Assumption on Lebuh Farquhar.
In February, a slab of pork meat was hurled into the compound of the Cherok Tok Kun Atas Mosque.
No arrests have been made for the two incidents last year.
Isma: Is MCA preparing to join PR if BN loses next GE?
Isma deputy president says MCA is desperate for Chinese votes and is using The Star to win back those who support DAP.
FMT
PETALING JAYA: Keeping a keen eye on the politics of the day is Malay NGO Isma who has predicted that MCA would jump ship in the blink of an eye should the ruling coalition it belongs to bomb at the next general election.
According to “Portal Islam Dan Melayu”, Deputy President of Isma, Aminuddin Yahaya said MCA was already strategising its moves to ditch Barisan Nasional and join forces with Pakatan Rakyat by using its party mouthpiece The Star to attack Malays and in so doing, win back lost Chinese votes.
He was referring to how MCA was using The Star to give greater prominence to outspoken Malays in their columns.
He said, “Not only that, individuals with liberal mindset and critical about Malay NGOs are given prominent columns with lengthy interviews being published, be it a politician, social activist or a corporate figure.”
Saying, “How smart they are,” he explained the sly manner in which The Star was using Malays to criticise other Malays while safeguarding themselves from being accused of making seditious remarks.
He said, “They let the liberal and Islamically ignorant Malay to attack these Malay Muslim NGOs. By doing this it appears that the paper is clean from any seditious element and thus cannot be subject to any legal suit.”
Cautioning MCA against playing with Malay sentiment, Aminuddin said, “My assumptions may be wrong but I would like to caution MCA that do not underestimate the importance of the Malay voters.”
Saying MCA’s actions were causing Malays to become angry with the party, Aminuddin warned, “I will not discount that in the next election the Malays may no longer support them and they will lose all seats.
“By then MCA may become history.”
PETALING JAYA: Keeping a keen eye on the politics of the day is Malay NGO Isma who has predicted that MCA would jump ship in the blink of an eye should the ruling coalition it belongs to bomb at the next general election.
According to “Portal Islam Dan Melayu”, Deputy President of Isma, Aminuddin Yahaya said MCA was already strategising its moves to ditch Barisan Nasional and join forces with Pakatan Rakyat by using its party mouthpiece The Star to attack Malays and in so doing, win back lost Chinese votes.
He was referring to how MCA was using The Star to give greater prominence to outspoken Malays in their columns.
He said, “Not only that, individuals with liberal mindset and critical about Malay NGOs are given prominent columns with lengthy interviews being published, be it a politician, social activist or a corporate figure.”
Saying, “How smart they are,” he explained the sly manner in which The Star was using Malays to criticise other Malays while safeguarding themselves from being accused of making seditious remarks.
He said, “They let the liberal and Islamically ignorant Malay to attack these Malay Muslim NGOs. By doing this it appears that the paper is clean from any seditious element and thus cannot be subject to any legal suit.”
Cautioning MCA against playing with Malay sentiment, Aminuddin said, “My assumptions may be wrong but I would like to caution MCA that do not underestimate the importance of the Malay voters.”
Saying MCA’s actions were causing Malays to become angry with the party, Aminuddin warned, “I will not discount that in the next election the Malays may no longer support them and they will lose all seats.
“By then MCA may become history.”
Promoting Local Artists
Saravanan, Sec. Gabungan Artist-artist Indian Malaysia.
Prime Minister’s Office
Blok Utama, Bangunan Perdana Putra,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,
62502 Putrajaya,
Wilayah Persekutuan.
Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia
Aras 5, 8-16 dan 18,
Kompleks Kementerian Komunikasi dan Multimedia
No. 49, Persiaran Perdana,
Presint 4
62100 Putrajaya
YAB/YB/Tuan/Puan,
Malaysian Indian songs should be aired at least 50% in all Tamil radios in Malaysia. We are artists from Gabungan Artist India Malaysia requesting the Malaysian government impose strict guidelines for all Tamil radios to play Local songs more than foreign songs.
During the management of Tun Dr. Mahathir, he had a policy that local products should be the priority. In that context we would like to urge the government to draw a line for foreign songs especially in Tamil radio stations. We are not anti foreign songs but if local songs are not played even in Malaysia, how can the Malaysian Indian artist reach the height of International level? Foreign songs which are mostly from India already reach the International market.
Recently, many artists have had terrible experiences at THR radio, a private channel, which is enshrined under Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia. Many hardworking artists are not recognized by our local channels. For example:-
a) Local song writers should send their songs under a registered label.
b) According to THR’s website it will take 2 weeks for them to approve or reject a song. It is very interesting to know how they approve a song. First, they send a song for rating which has 18,000 listeners. Those 18,000 listeners will make a decision which song to play in the radio station. We would like to make a point here, not all the 18,000 people are well versed in music, lyrics and expression of a song. They are just listeners. Many songs are rejected because of a low rating. There is an important point which we would like to make here; there are 194,400 likes in THR’s Raaga facebook page, out of 100k people we can see an average of 60 people likes their posting and we can only see 5 or 6 people comment on their postings. If out of 100k people you can get average of 60 likes what you will get from 18,000 people? Not everyone has time to spend on just listening then rating local songs. It is a complete discrimination from THR towards local Indian artists.
c) When a song is approved or rejected they don’t even answer by mail or letter to the related artist. If a song is rejected they should give a reason for it so that an artist can improve.
d) All radio channels should follow the ministry’s guidelines to approve the radio licence. The percentage of local artists should be taken into consideration because it is a guideline from the government.
e) THR and RTM are advertising Indian movie songs even before the release of the CDs or movies. The Indian artists do not have to go through procedures such as Malaysian artists:
• Should fill forms which are downloaded from their website;
• Should make a CD cover for every single song;
• A CD should be sent by registered post to THR’s guard house – with lyrics attached and should include details of the artist involved in the song,
No Indian artist has to go through all the procedures mentioned above. Local artists have to go through such hassles to get a chance in Malaysian radio whereas Indians are free to get a chance in Malaysia. It is not a good system which is created either by JPM or radio stations.
f) For the past 16 years, Malaysian artists have been fighting to get a chance or rights to play their songs in Malaysian radio. According to our recorded conversation from the THR management they play 2 to 3 Malaysian songs in an hour. That means local artists are getting less than a 10% chance in an hour. How will the government promote Malaysian talent when the local radios and TV restrict local songs and talents?
Those 2 or 3 songs are played everyday after 16 years of struggle. Do we have to struggle another 16 years to get another 8% chance? We from Gabungan Artist-artist India Malaysia would like to urge the government under the Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib Razak to draft strict guidelines for local and foreign songs. We need to stick to Tun Dr. Mahathir’s idea where local products should be given priority. We would like to have an official reply from the ministry so that it can be helpful in our effort to highlight the grievances of local artists.
Thank you for your understanding.
Yours faithfully,
Saravanan
Sec. Gabungan Artist-artist Indian Malaysia
Palanivel didn’t keep promise to meet ROS
Saravanan says MIC risks being deregistered if the re-election issue is not addressed.
FMT
PUTRAJAYA: MIC president G. Palanivel needs to be present at the Registrar of Societies (ROS) office with deputy president Dr S. Subramaniam to find a solution to a directive by the ROS to hold a re-election said MIC vice-president M. Saravanan.
“If the re-election issue is not addressed, there is a risk of the MIC being deregistered because it is not a personal issue but one that involves the party,” Saravanan told reporters after meeting senior ROS officers, here today.
Saravanan said he was disappointed with Palanivel for not keeping his promise to be present at the ROS office with his deputy.
“I urge the president to change. Go with your deputy. Forget the past, let’s start a new chapter,” he said.
On December 5, the ROS had nullified the elections for the party’s three vice-presidents and 23 Central Working Committee (CWC) posts that was held during its general assembly in November 2013 and recommended a re-election within 90 days.
Saravanan said he was informed that Palanivel was at the ROS with a lawyer known only as ‘Chandra’.
“I do not know who the lawyer Chandra is and how he got the mandate to be at the ROS with the MIC president. If he went there as his (Palanivel) friend, there is no problem. But if he went there as a lawyer it was wrong because there is no mandate for him to represent the party,” he said.
Saravanan, who is also the Deputy Youth and Sports Minister, said the MIC would not be deregistered in the near future because the former MIC secretary-general Prakash Rao had already written a letter to the ROS on January2, seeking an extension of the period from 90 days to 120.
– BERNAMA
PUTRAJAYA: MIC president G. Palanivel needs to be present at the Registrar of Societies (ROS) office with deputy president Dr S. Subramaniam to find a solution to a directive by the ROS to hold a re-election said MIC vice-president M. Saravanan.
“If the re-election issue is not addressed, there is a risk of the MIC being deregistered because it is not a personal issue but one that involves the party,” Saravanan told reporters after meeting senior ROS officers, here today.
Saravanan said he was disappointed with Palanivel for not keeping his promise to be present at the ROS office with his deputy.
“I urge the president to change. Go with your deputy. Forget the past, let’s start a new chapter,” he said.
On December 5, the ROS had nullified the elections for the party’s three vice-presidents and 23 Central Working Committee (CWC) posts that was held during its general assembly in November 2013 and recommended a re-election within 90 days.
Saravanan said he was informed that Palanivel was at the ROS with a lawyer known only as ‘Chandra’.
“I do not know who the lawyer Chandra is and how he got the mandate to be at the ROS with the MIC president. If he went there as his (Palanivel) friend, there is no problem. But if he went there as a lawyer it was wrong because there is no mandate for him to represent the party,” he said.
Saravanan, who is also the Deputy Youth and Sports Minister, said the MIC would not be deregistered in the near future because the former MIC secretary-general Prakash Rao had already written a letter to the ROS on January2, seeking an extension of the period from 90 days to 120.
– BERNAMA
Can Umno be sincere in helping Kelantan?
It's cruel to conduct political horse trading in times of crisis, says Zaid Ibrahim.
FMT
PETALING JAYA: Umno, as the party dominating the Federal Government, has been urged to set aside political interests in helping Kelantan deal with the aftermath of the flood. It should not try to “seduce” PAS into giving political concessions just because the “time is opportune and the people need Umno’s money,” says Zaid Ibrahim in his latest blog entry.
He says PAS should be allowed to continue governing Kelantan until its current term ends although “it does not make sense to allow the party to rule for many more years” seeing that it “has not done much to build the state in economic terms” in its 24 years in power.
“In times of crisis it is especially cruel to conduct political horse-trading when what is required is a bipartisan approach to solving problems,” he writes. “That’s how the federal system works in other countries, but can Umno be civil, helpful and responsible for positive change while making no political capital from the flood disaster in Kelantan?”
Zaid, himself a Kelantanese, laments that the people of the state tend to choose “pious-looking men” as their leaders, saying it might be hard to deal with future calamities effectively if they continued to do so.
“Sometimes we also must pick leaders who care enough about the people in addition to those who care about God,” he says.
“People-oriented leaders will find ways to solve long-term economic problems as well as issues relating to flooding and the destruction of forests. Such leaders work towards social improvements and are able to protect both people and property.
“Managing a modern state or government is a complex process in the 21st century, and so Kelantanese must start looking for other qualities in their leaders besides the ability to lead in prayers.”
Responding to PAS leaders who have said that the flood is a sign of God’s wrath for the sins of the people or His test of the faith of believers, Zaid says, “I am inclined to believe that the floods are due primarily to global climatic changes. These changes have caused severe storms and heavy rain in many places and it would have been ‘miraculous’ for us to have been spared the floods, given that other countries such as China, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines have experienced worse disasters.”
He sees a “ray if light” in the unity shown by Malaysians of various races in their support for the flood victims.
“Despite political forces going in full throttle to divide and break up the unity of the people,” he writes, “our sense of oneness is still strong.
“We must do more to support one another and achieve a united country as one people—in spite of the politicians.”
PETALING JAYA: Umno, as the party dominating the Federal Government, has been urged to set aside political interests in helping Kelantan deal with the aftermath of the flood. It should not try to “seduce” PAS into giving political concessions just because the “time is opportune and the people need Umno’s money,” says Zaid Ibrahim in his latest blog entry.
He says PAS should be allowed to continue governing Kelantan until its current term ends although “it does not make sense to allow the party to rule for many more years” seeing that it “has not done much to build the state in economic terms” in its 24 years in power.
“In times of crisis it is especially cruel to conduct political horse-trading when what is required is a bipartisan approach to solving problems,” he writes. “That’s how the federal system works in other countries, but can Umno be civil, helpful and responsible for positive change while making no political capital from the flood disaster in Kelantan?”
Zaid, himself a Kelantanese, laments that the people of the state tend to choose “pious-looking men” as their leaders, saying it might be hard to deal with future calamities effectively if they continued to do so.
“Sometimes we also must pick leaders who care enough about the people in addition to those who care about God,” he says.
“People-oriented leaders will find ways to solve long-term economic problems as well as issues relating to flooding and the destruction of forests. Such leaders work towards social improvements and are able to protect both people and property.
“Managing a modern state or government is a complex process in the 21st century, and so Kelantanese must start looking for other qualities in their leaders besides the ability to lead in prayers.”
Responding to PAS leaders who have said that the flood is a sign of God’s wrath for the sins of the people or His test of the faith of believers, Zaid says, “I am inclined to believe that the floods are due primarily to global climatic changes. These changes have caused severe storms and heavy rain in many places and it would have been ‘miraculous’ for us to have been spared the floods, given that other countries such as China, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines have experienced worse disasters.”
He sees a “ray if light” in the unity shown by Malaysians of various races in their support for the flood victims.
“Despite political forces going in full throttle to divide and break up the unity of the people,” he writes, “our sense of oneness is still strong.
“We must do more to support one another and achieve a united country as one people—in spite of the politicians.”
Malaysia’s Justice Minister Defends a Gangster
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi tries to get a major gambling kingpin off the hook in a US trial
Asia Sentinel
Malaysia’s Justice Minister has dealt his floundering government coalition a new blow by attempting to convince the US Federal Bureau of Investigation that a notorious high-stakes bookie on trial in Las Vegas for running an illegal gambling ring was not an organized crime figure.
The episode has raised inevitable questions about top members of the government leadership and their connections to international gaming and other interests who can move money offshore without questions being asked.
In his signed Dec. 18 letter to Mark Guiliano, the assistant director of the FBI, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Malaysia's top law enforcement official, wrote that Paul Phua Wei Seng, on trial for illegal transmission of betting information and operating an illegal gambling business, was not a member of the famed 14K Triad, a Chinese organized crime gang with tentacles into most of the Chinese communities across Asia, and that a 2008 Royal Malaysia Police report on Phua was erroneous.
Intriguingly, Zahid, who has been mentioned as a future prime minister, wrote that Phua had “on numerous occasions, assisted the government of Malaysia on projects affecting our national security.”
Opposition figures have seized on the episode to demand what Zahid knew and when he knew it, and how Phua was assisting doing what, insisting that Zahid answer questions in parliament.
“Mr Zahid writing the letter comes across as very shocking not only because the letter attempts to exonerate Paul Phua, who clearly has a checkered past, but also because Zahid claims that Phua has assisted with ‘projects of national security,’” Fahmi Fadzil, communications director of the opposition People’s Justice Party, told the media Sunday.
Since the letter became public in a South China Morning Post news story last Friday, Zahid and other members of the United Malays National Organization have asked that it be withdrawn from the case and have been fumbling for answers as to why the justice minister was defending, on official Ministry stationery, a man who according to a 2008 report in the Royal Malaysian Police’s own files, was in organized crime up to his ears and saying “as such, we are eager for him to return to Malaysia.”
It is clear that the letter, copied to lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdulah, UMNO's top fireman and most prominent and ubiquitous lawyer, was never meant to see the light of day. It also raised questions why Shafee was interceding for a gangster of Phua's stature. Speculation in Kuala Lumpur centered on the possibility that Phua was a central figure in laundering money out of Malaysia for top political figures.
Shafee issued a confused explanation on Sunday, saying Zahid was asked by US lawyers for Phua to provide the information or he would be compelled to do it in court. He added that the 2008 report to the FBI identifying Phua as a member of the local 14K was wrong. However, asked to explain the discrepancy between the 2008 report and Zahid’s 2014 letter, the Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar declined comment, refusing to back up his boss.
There is voluminous information from the FBI in the US besides the Malaysian police report that Phua was indeed deeply involved in organized crime, raising questions why Zahid felt he needed to personally weigh in to the FBI instead of allowing Khalid Abu Bakar to provide the information and possibly correct its own mistake, if there was one. Phua’s arrest in Macau last year uncovered what was said to be the biggest gaming racket in the city’s history. In Las Vegas, according to the police report, Phua’s illegal sports betting operation ran into the tens of millions of US dollars.
The episode also raises questions why Phua’s lawyers chose Shafee, UMNO’s top legal figure, to ask Zahuid for help instead of himself going to the police. Zahid could have simply said the government had no information to connect Phua to the 14K, feigning ignorance of the 2008 report. But instead, in what looks like a bizarre attempt to convince the FBI , he says Phua has been involved in projects affecting Malaysia’s national security – unless Phua was stressing through his lawyers that he had information that he could use against the government if they didn’t make the effort to help.
John Malott, the former US ambassador to Malaysia and a critic of the current government, said in an email to Asia Sentinel that he had become interested in the case and researched it after the SCMP report.
"Zahid's defense of someone who was arrested in both Macau and Las Vegas for allegedly running some of the biggest illegal on-line sporting bets operations in history is simply mind-boggling," Malott said. “Zahid has a lot to answer for. Why is he going out of his way to defend someone like Phua? Why did he say that this man, who is on trial in Macau and the US for criminal activity, is essential to Malaysia's national security?"
Some Las Vegas gambling news websites say Phua’s attorneys are trying to get the case thrown out on civil liberties grounds. The other five people arrested in Vegas all confessed and cooperated with law enforcement. There is no doubt that the crimes took place; they were witnessed by the FBI, they also found evidence on the laptops and cell phones that were seized, and five people confessed, meaning the only way Phua can escape jail is via procedural mistakes.
Phua’s attorneys say the search and later the arrest warrant were not valid because the FBI had entered Phua’s operations without a search warrant. The FBI purposely disabled the internet connection to Phua’s suites where the illegal sports gambling operation was being conducted, then posed as internet repairmen and secretly witnessed and filmed what was going on. They confiscated laptops and cellphones.
Because there was no search warrant, Phua’s lawyers argue, the search and therefore the knowledge that illegal activity was in fact taking place was itself illegal. Under US law, if the search is illegal, all evidence and confessions obtained thereafter are illegal.
The US attorney is expected to argue, however, that there was reasonable suspicion to believe illegal activity was taking place, given the fact that Phua had just been arrested in Macau for illegal sports gambling before he came to Las Vegas and because he had requested an inordinate amount of internet connection equipment for the hotel suites.
According to various Las Vegas news websites, Phua’s attorneys say that the judge issued the arrest warrant for Phua only because the FBI (1) hid the fact that there was no search warrant and (2) because they told the judge that according to the FBI’s information from the Malaysian police, Phua was a known member of the 14K triad. The defense says that in doing this, the FBI poisoned the judge’s mind and led him to issue the arrest warrant.
Malaysia’s Justice Minister has dealt his floundering government coalition a new blow by attempting to convince the US Federal Bureau of Investigation that a notorious high-stakes bookie on trial in Las Vegas for running an illegal gambling ring was not an organized crime figure.
The episode has raised inevitable questions about top members of the government leadership and their connections to international gaming and other interests who can move money offshore without questions being asked.
In his signed Dec. 18 letter to Mark Guiliano, the assistant director of the FBI, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Malaysia's top law enforcement official, wrote that Paul Phua Wei Seng, on trial for illegal transmission of betting information and operating an illegal gambling business, was not a member of the famed 14K Triad, a Chinese organized crime gang with tentacles into most of the Chinese communities across Asia, and that a 2008 Royal Malaysia Police report on Phua was erroneous.
Intriguingly, Zahid, who has been mentioned as a future prime minister, wrote that Phua had “on numerous occasions, assisted the government of Malaysia on projects affecting our national security.”
Opposition figures have seized on the episode to demand what Zahid knew and when he knew it, and how Phua was assisting doing what, insisting that Zahid answer questions in parliament.
“Mr Zahid writing the letter comes across as very shocking not only because the letter attempts to exonerate Paul Phua, who clearly has a checkered past, but also because Zahid claims that Phua has assisted with ‘projects of national security,’” Fahmi Fadzil, communications director of the opposition People’s Justice Party, told the media Sunday.
Since the letter became public in a South China Morning Post news story last Friday, Zahid and other members of the United Malays National Organization have asked that it be withdrawn from the case and have been fumbling for answers as to why the justice minister was defending, on official Ministry stationery, a man who according to a 2008 report in the Royal Malaysian Police’s own files, was in organized crime up to his ears and saying “as such, we are eager for him to return to Malaysia.”
It is clear that the letter, copied to lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdulah, UMNO's top fireman and most prominent and ubiquitous lawyer, was never meant to see the light of day. It also raised questions why Shafee was interceding for a gangster of Phua's stature. Speculation in Kuala Lumpur centered on the possibility that Phua was a central figure in laundering money out of Malaysia for top political figures.
Shafee issued a confused explanation on Sunday, saying Zahid was asked by US lawyers for Phua to provide the information or he would be compelled to do it in court. He added that the 2008 report to the FBI identifying Phua as a member of the local 14K was wrong. However, asked to explain the discrepancy between the 2008 report and Zahid’s 2014 letter, the Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar declined comment, refusing to back up his boss.
There is voluminous information from the FBI in the US besides the Malaysian police report that Phua was indeed deeply involved in organized crime, raising questions why Zahid felt he needed to personally weigh in to the FBI instead of allowing Khalid Abu Bakar to provide the information and possibly correct its own mistake, if there was one. Phua’s arrest in Macau last year uncovered what was said to be the biggest gaming racket in the city’s history. In Las Vegas, according to the police report, Phua’s illegal sports betting operation ran into the tens of millions of US dollars.
The episode also raises questions why Phua’s lawyers chose Shafee, UMNO’s top legal figure, to ask Zahuid for help instead of himself going to the police. Zahid could have simply said the government had no information to connect Phua to the 14K, feigning ignorance of the 2008 report. But instead, in what looks like a bizarre attempt to convince the FBI , he says Phua has been involved in projects affecting Malaysia’s national security – unless Phua was stressing through his lawyers that he had information that he could use against the government if they didn’t make the effort to help.
John Malott, the former US ambassador to Malaysia and a critic of the current government, said in an email to Asia Sentinel that he had become interested in the case and researched it after the SCMP report.
"Zahid's defense of someone who was arrested in both Macau and Las Vegas for allegedly running some of the biggest illegal on-line sporting bets operations in history is simply mind-boggling," Malott said. “Zahid has a lot to answer for. Why is he going out of his way to defend someone like Phua? Why did he say that this man, who is on trial in Macau and the US for criminal activity, is essential to Malaysia's national security?"
Some Las Vegas gambling news websites say Phua’s attorneys are trying to get the case thrown out on civil liberties grounds. The other five people arrested in Vegas all confessed and cooperated with law enforcement. There is no doubt that the crimes took place; they were witnessed by the FBI, they also found evidence on the laptops and cell phones that were seized, and five people confessed, meaning the only way Phua can escape jail is via procedural mistakes.
Phua’s attorneys say the search and later the arrest warrant were not valid because the FBI had entered Phua’s operations without a search warrant. The FBI purposely disabled the internet connection to Phua’s suites where the illegal sports gambling operation was being conducted, then posed as internet repairmen and secretly witnessed and filmed what was going on. They confiscated laptops and cellphones.
Because there was no search warrant, Phua’s lawyers argue, the search and therefore the knowledge that illegal activity was in fact taking place was itself illegal. Under US law, if the search is illegal, all evidence and confessions obtained thereafter are illegal.
The US attorney is expected to argue, however, that there was reasonable suspicion to believe illegal activity was taking place, given the fact that Phua had just been arrested in Macau for illegal sports gambling before he came to Las Vegas and because he had requested an inordinate amount of internet connection equipment for the hotel suites.
According to various Las Vegas news websites, Phua’s attorneys say that the judge issued the arrest warrant for Phua only because the FBI (1) hid the fact that there was no search warrant and (2) because they told the judge that according to the FBI’s information from the Malaysian police, Phua was a known member of the 14K triad. The defense says that in doing this, the FBI poisoned the judge’s mind and led him to issue the arrest warrant.
PM gets a lesson in transparency
Blogger Shahbudin says Najib shouldn't have acted like someone with something to hide.
FMT
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak would have saved himself a lot of embarrassment if he had been open about his recent movements instead of behaving like a thief, Umno critic Shahbudin Husin writes in his latest blog entry.
Continuing with his series of caustic blog entries that comment on Najib’s unannounced Hawaiian holiday and the mystery of what happened to the private government jet after he cut short the golfing vacation, Shahbudin says it is odd that the Prime Minister apparently did not count on the Internet’s power to turn any Tom, Dick or Harry into a reporter when he himself has often spoken about that power.
He says the one lesson Najib must learn from the episode is that he, as a prime minister and very public figure, has to be transparent about everything in these times of instant information and open communication.
“If he had not left for his Hawaiian Christmas holiday in secret and had instead released information that he would be playing golf with Barack Obama, no one would have really cared when the picture of him golfing with the American President became widely distributed,” he writes.
“If he had returned in the same aircraft that took him to Hawaii when the flood situation had become frantic, no one would have really bothered to trace the whereabouts of the official plane.”
The official explanation that the jet had encountered technical problems came only after a lot of questions had been raised, Shahbudin points out. But the explanation, he adds, became meaningless when a check with FlightRadar24.com showed that the jet had been moving around the American continent. “In fact,” he says, “it burned the public’s desire to find out who was using it.”
Shahbudin also refers to Najib’s decision to go to Bangkok last Friday for a meeting with his Thai counterpart, saying he should have not gone there secretly as well. It was because he made the trip stealthily that people saw a coincidence in the jet being in Bangkok at the time, he says. “But just as he went to Hawaii in stealth, he went to Thailand like one making a rendezvous with a sweetheart but afraid of being found out by his wife.”
If Najib had informed the public that he would be reuniting with his family after meeting the Thai PM, Shahbudin says, “no one would be interested in his trip and in taking a picture of his wife shopping in Bangkok.”
Shahbudin says it’s strange that Najib, who is active in social media, still seems to think that media power lies with Utusan Malaysia, Berita Harian and government-controlled television stations.
He ends his posting with this parting shot: “As the Prime Minister, act like a real prime minister, not like a thief who runs and hide.”
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak would have saved himself a lot of embarrassment if he had been open about his recent movements instead of behaving like a thief, Umno critic Shahbudin Husin writes in his latest blog entry.
Continuing with his series of caustic blog entries that comment on Najib’s unannounced Hawaiian holiday and the mystery of what happened to the private government jet after he cut short the golfing vacation, Shahbudin says it is odd that the Prime Minister apparently did not count on the Internet’s power to turn any Tom, Dick or Harry into a reporter when he himself has often spoken about that power.
He says the one lesson Najib must learn from the episode is that he, as a prime minister and very public figure, has to be transparent about everything in these times of instant information and open communication.
“If he had not left for his Hawaiian Christmas holiday in secret and had instead released information that he would be playing golf with Barack Obama, no one would have really cared when the picture of him golfing with the American President became widely distributed,” he writes.
“If he had returned in the same aircraft that took him to Hawaii when the flood situation had become frantic, no one would have really bothered to trace the whereabouts of the official plane.”
The official explanation that the jet had encountered technical problems came only after a lot of questions had been raised, Shahbudin points out. But the explanation, he adds, became meaningless when a check with FlightRadar24.com showed that the jet had been moving around the American continent. “In fact,” he says, “it burned the public’s desire to find out who was using it.”
Shahbudin also refers to Najib’s decision to go to Bangkok last Friday for a meeting with his Thai counterpart, saying he should have not gone there secretly as well. It was because he made the trip stealthily that people saw a coincidence in the jet being in Bangkok at the time, he says. “But just as he went to Hawaii in stealth, he went to Thailand like one making a rendezvous with a sweetheart but afraid of being found out by his wife.”
If Najib had informed the public that he would be reuniting with his family after meeting the Thai PM, Shahbudin says, “no one would be interested in his trip and in taking a picture of his wife shopping in Bangkok.”
Shahbudin says it’s strange that Najib, who is active in social media, still seems to think that media power lies with Utusan Malaysia, Berita Harian and government-controlled television stations.
He ends his posting with this parting shot: “As the Prime Minister, act like a real prime minister, not like a thief who runs and hide.”
Mercy mission
The Sun Daily
by Annie Freeda Cruez
by Annie Freeda Cruez
PETALING
JAYA: A non-governmental organisation, the United Sikhs "Baaj of
Humanity, flew a special mission to remote areas in Gua Musang,
Kelantan, to deliver aid to 11 orang asli settlements.
The
United Nations-affiliated body undertook the one-day mission on Jan 3,
with the help of Helistar, which is owned, operated and managed by an
experienced Sikh pilot, Capt Bagawan Singh.
With
the collaboration of the Centre For Asli Concerns (COAC), the Helistar
helicopter took off from Kuala Betis base camp at 8.20am with five men
aboard. It made eight trips to distribute mostly food to the remote
villages.
For villagers without a landing base, food was air-dropped.
The
helicopter carried 2,350kg of supplies to 278 families comprising 1,000
people who had been cut off from the outside world due to landslides
caused by heavy rain and logging.
In
certain villages, the people were left in dire straits for nearly three
months because their hill paddy and tapioca were destroyed in the
floods.
COAC
coordinator, Colin Nicholas, who accompanied the mission, said: "It was
tough for us to reach the villagers. We tried our best for almost one
week but to no avail. But now, thanks to the United Sikhs, we made these
mercy air drops a success."
Added
Bagawan: "It was a fruitful mission. This mission was made possible
thanks to all the support given by the volunteers who helped us pack and
transport the goods by land to the Kuala Betis makeshift helipad."
Rishiwant
Singh, or better known as the "Flying Singh", who is the humanitarian
aid coordinator (Asia Pacific) for United Sikhs, said: "I thank
Malaysians of all the races who joined the Sikh community to help the
orang asli."
IGP Denies Existence Of 14K Group In Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 (Bernama) -- Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri
Khalid Abu Bakar today refuted the claim of the existence of an
international drug trafficking syndicate, known as the 14K group, in
this country.
However, he did not dismiss the possibility of Malaysian individuals joining the group abroad.
"The tight drug law in Malaysia pertaining to trafficking has most probably curbed the group's entry into this country," he said after attending the Integrity Seminar for police station chiefs at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol), here, today.
Asked on the case of Malaysian Paul Phua Wei Seng and his son Darren Phua Wai Kit, who are now detained and to be taken to court in the United States for allegedly carrying out an illegal betting operation during the football World Cup 2014, Khaled declined to comment as they two are in the process of being charged.
He only said: "My advice to Phua is to focus on the charge."
He confirmed though that Malaysian police were always in contact with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on the matter.
Meanwhile, Khalid said the federal police Integrity and Standard Compliance Department was still under the purview of the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) and he did not intend to separate it from PDRM.
The department was set up on July 25, last year, aimed at boosting the integrity of police and ensuring that the standards set by PDRM were complied with in carrying out their duties.
-- BERNAMA
However, he did not dismiss the possibility of Malaysian individuals joining the group abroad.
"The tight drug law in Malaysia pertaining to trafficking has most probably curbed the group's entry into this country," he said after attending the Integrity Seminar for police station chiefs at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol), here, today.
Asked on the case of Malaysian Paul Phua Wei Seng and his son Darren Phua Wai Kit, who are now detained and to be taken to court in the United States for allegedly carrying out an illegal betting operation during the football World Cup 2014, Khaled declined to comment as they two are in the process of being charged.
He only said: "My advice to Phua is to focus on the charge."
He confirmed though that Malaysian police were always in contact with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on the matter.
Meanwhile, Khalid said the federal police Integrity and Standard Compliance Department was still under the purview of the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) and he did not intend to separate it from PDRM.
The department was set up on July 25, last year, aimed at boosting the integrity of police and ensuring that the standards set by PDRM were complied with in carrying out their duties.
-- BERNAMA
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