Tuesday 20 January 2015
Call for Muslim army in Australia
There was a call to arms over the weekend that is, in any terms, truly frightening.
His message was met by cries of “Takbir... Allahu Akbar!” by his followers at Lakemba in Western Sydney.
"Eventually, we will bounce back and we will reclaim everything that they have taken from us,” Bilal Merhi told the crowd.
Gaza graffiti on French cultural center: "God damn you, worshipers of the cross" (updated)
Protest graffiti was sprayed outside the French cultural centre in Gaza before dawn Saturday following the publication of a new cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed by satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.But the Arabic AFP article includes one more graffitum that did not make it into the English version.
“You will go to hell, French journalists,” read one of the slogans daubed on the walls of the cultural centre compound, which has been closed since it was damaged in a fire last October.
“Anything but the prophet,” read another.
It said "God damn you, O worshipers of the cross."
Now, why would AFP choose to self-censor the most incendiary statement from its English articles? Instead of the graffiti being merely against the Charlie Hebdo magazine, it was really against Christianity altogether!
UPDATE: Bob Knot found the original AFP video footage. I think this is the relevant graffitum:
After questioning Daim, anti-graft body to meet Anwar next
Malaysian anti-graft officials will take up opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's offer to assist investigations into Tun Daim Zainuddin's banking business abroad, years after the former finance minister was cleared of any wrongdoing.Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission deputy chief commissioner, Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull, said in a statement today that they had already questioned Daim and were now waiting to seek Anwar's help to facilitate investigations.
"MACC will meet with YB Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who claims to have strong evidence regarding this case. MACC also welcomes any quarters with evidence to cooperate with MACC," he said.
Mohd Shukri said the testimonies from Daim, Anwar and other witnesses will be brought to the deputy public prosecutor and later the Operations Review Panel (PPO), the independent body that monitors MACC's operations.
Yesterday, Anwar said he was willing to cooperate with MACC if it investigated Daim, but on the condition that it carried out its duties professionally.
"If they ask me, I will give my cooperation, no problem. It is my responsibility to help facilitate investigations. But they have to be professional," the PKR de facto chief had said after a dialogue with Selangor youth in Petaling Jaya yesterday.
He said he had "proof" of Daim's alleged abuse of power but it was shelved. However, he did not elaborate on the statement, although he said MACC should not focus its investigations solely on Daim's banking business.
Mohd Shukri today insisted MACC had always carried out its investigations independently, transparently and professionally, in accordance with the MACC Act 2009.
He added that this was not the first it was investigating Daim.
"For your information, investigations against Tun Daim were already carried out by the Anti-Corruption Agency (now MACC) in 1998.
"The deputy public prosecutor who examined the case at that time decided that no further action be taken," he said.
He added that it was MACC's duty to probe each graft case in accordance with the laws, without being influenced by any party.
Last Thursday, Daim said he was ready to cooperate with MACC as they probed his banking business abroad, saying that he had confidence in the anti-graft body's capabilities to undertake the probe.
Daim revealed he also knew who was behind the sudden media spotlight on his business empire.
"I am aware of who is behind this sudden attention on me. If you don't like the message, kill the messenger," he said, adding that he was surprised Umno-controlled Media Prima Bhd would provide coverage for opposition party PKR.
Opposition politicians had previously urged anti-graft authorities to investigate Daim, with PKR's Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, in November last year, highlighting the lack of police action against the former finance minister despite a police report lodged in 1999.
Anwar had lodged that report 15 years ago, accusing Daim of amassing billions of ringgit in African and Eastern Europe banks through proxies.
Pro-Umno bloggers recently reported that Daim had been attacked by cybertroopers aligned to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for criticising Putrajaya's handling of the economy.
Daim and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad have emerged as strong critics of Najib's administration over the latter's handling of the economy and national politics.
In what is seen as a psychological war, Najib's supporters in the press and online portals have been attacking Daim with critical articles.
But veteran journalist Datuk A. Kadir Jasin warned a few days ago that Media Prima Bhd should stop sniping at Daim as it could backfire on Najib.
Najib was more vulnerable to personal attacks than Daim and other critics, Kadir, the retired editor of the New Straits Times Press group, said in his blog.
Besides opposition lawmakers, Daim and Dr Mahathir, even pro-Umno bloggers who had supported Najib to be prime minister were now becoming critical of him. – January 19, 2015.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/after-questioning-daim-anti-graft-body-to-meet-anwar-next#sthash.rCSldq8M.dpuf
Lim not aware of Anwar’s ‘Kampung Buah Pala’ pledge – Bernama
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng told the High Court in George Town today that he was unaware of
opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's pledge to "save Kampung Buah Pala"."I am not aware of it," said Lim when cross-examined by counsel Baljit Singh, who was representing Penang Citizens Awareness Chant Group (Chant) adviser Jimmy Lim Cheok Siang.
Lim, who is DAP secretary-general, also said he never knew that Anwar had made a pledge to the residents prior to the 2008 general election.
To another question whether Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer and Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy had promised Kampung Buah Pala residents that they could stay in the area perpetually, Lim said he was not aware of it.
Lim was testifying in his defamation trial against Jimmy, Mtoday News Sdn Bhd (second defendant) and journalist Athi Shankar (third defendant).
Lim stressed that only George Town had been recognised as a world heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).
"The article was written without seeking my comment and clarification, and intended to defame me as chief minister and also as an individual."
In January last year, Lim filed the suit claiming that the first defendant made a statement in a press conference on December 6, 2013, which was misleading and malicious, and defamatory to him.
In his statement of claim, he alleged that Mtoday News Sdn Bhd and Shankar had deliberately, erroneously and with malicious intent caused the publication of an article, "Guan Eng has failed, says NGO".
The plaintiff claimed that the article which appeared in the Free Malaysia Today website the same day, had portrayed him as a chief minister without calibre for trying to destroy the world heritage status accorded to Penang.
Lim also alleged that the article had also portrayed him as a leader or individual who had no regard for the wellbeing of the local Indian community by allowing the destruction of Kampung Buah Pala.
The hearing before judicial commissioner Datuk Nordin Hassan has been adjourned to February 27. – Bernama, January 19, 2015.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/lim-not-aware-of-anwars-kampung-buah-pala-pledge-bernama#sthash.onU9k6l2.dpuf
Conviction opens can of worms, says Sirul's lawyer
While he respects the Federal Court verdict, Kamarul Hisham said, the problem was that the motive was not established.
"My client's conviction has opened a 'can of worms' as to what the motive of the murder was.
"The motive was not established against my client (whether in the in High Court, Court of Appeal or the Federal Court)," he said when met on the sidelines of another case today.
The lawyer, one of three who represented Sirul, said the evidence showed that calls and text messages were made among political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, DSP Musa Safri and the first accused Azilah Hadri from three days before the incident.
This, Kamarul Hisham (left) said, took place right up to the night of the murder in late 2006."Who gave, and what were, the alleged instructions? Why was DSP Musa not called to testify?" he queried, referring to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s former aide de camp.
The lawyer said these are the questions which are being debated by the public.
Kamarul Hisham had, at the Court of Appeal and Federal Court, questioned the prosecution's move not to call DSP Musa/ The Court of Appeal said in its judgment that the non-calling of the former aide-de-camp had resulted in a serious misdirection of the case.
During the trial at the High Court in Shah Alam, Sirul had caused a stir when he claimed that he was being made into a “scapegoat” to “protect their plans”.
'My client could have been framed'
Kamarul Hisham had then suggested that his client could have been framed for the murder of the Mongolian national.
Last week, the Federal Court sentenced Sirul, who is currently believed to be in Australia, and Azilah to death.
Following the judgment, Altantuya’s father Setev Shaariibuu questioned the reason behind his daughter being killed and her remains blown up with explosives.
The Malaysian government is currently attempting to extradite Sirul, but Australian law dictates that a person facing the death penalty in his or her home country cannot be sent back.
The Altantuya murder, which remains a high-profile matter, saw Najib, who was then deputy prime minister and defence minister, being accused of involvement.
His close associate Abdul Razak, who admitted to having an affair with Altantuya, was charged with abetting the murder but was later acquitted without his defence being called.
The police, meanwhile, cleared Najib of any wrongdoing and Najib also swore his innocence in the name of God.
The murder was also linked to Malaysia’s procurement of two French Scorpene submarines, which Abdul Razak’s firm was tasked with purchasing and maintaining.
Ex-IGP turns heat on Zahid over FBI letter
Last week, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi denied any wrongdoing, cited the Official Secrets Act (OSA) and pinned the blame on “pro-opposition” news portals.
While current inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar has chosen to remain silent, his predecessor Abdul Rahim Noor (right) decided to air his views.Rahim said Zahid should not have written to the FBI, even if just to clarify the status of Phua, a Malaysian facing criminal proceedings in the United States.
Rahim said the police too need not entertain Phua's lawyers' request for the Malaysian government to clarify to the US on whether Phua was a 14K triad member.
"It would have been better if it did not involve the minister. Even the police do not need to write the letter.
"It would have been more suitable for the letter to be written by a lawyer who does not necessarily have to represent the minister as it is merely a request by Phua's lawyers," Rahin is quoted as saying in a Sinar Harian report today.
In the letter dated Dec 18 last year to the FBI, Zahid claimed Phua was not a 14K triad member in Malaysia.
The home minister went on to reveal that Phua had assisted Malaysia on "national security projects" and expressed hope for Phua to return to Malaysia.
No reason to reveal Phua helping gov't
Elaborating on this, Rahim said Zahid had no reason to reveal that Phua was involved in national security matters with the Malaysian government.
"The
letter should focus on the main request, which is to explain the
existence of the 14K triad in Malaysia and whether Phua is involved with
the group."But if questions were posed on Phua's cooperation on national security matters, that question should not have been answered as it is none of the US' business," Rahim said.
He said revealing that Phua (left) was working with the Malaysian government would create misconceptions among the people.
In the same vein, Rahim agreed with Zahid's refusal to disclose the exact nature of "national security projects" Phua is supposedly involved in, based on the OSA.
"In the case of Phua, if it is true the government is using his services, we need to shut our mouths as it is considered a top secret," Rahim said.
'Authorities must consult AG Chambers'
Meanwhile, another former police chief Hanif Omar said it was not unusual to "set a thief to catch a thief".
Hanif said the government can also assist informants who are arrested overseas to request for their freedom or reduce their sentence.
However, he said, this would require authorities to refer to the Attorney-General's Chambers and Foreign Affairs Ministry.
While Khalid has declined to comment on the matter in order not to jeopardise the case in the US, sources from the IGP's office told Malaysiakini that the minister did not consult the police before penning the letter.
It was also revealed that Phua did not assist the police on security matters.
I’m not Perkasa’s patron but I support their views, Dr M says
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 19 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today denied a news report claiming he has “parted ways” with Perkasa, saying he still supports the controversial Malay rights group’s views although he never had any formal affiliations with it.
In a blog post this afternoon to rebut the news, the former prime minister said there was no basis to the claim that he had distanced himself from Perkasa because he had grown “uneasy with the group’s direction”.
His only link to Perkasa, the influential former Umno president said, is that he “may” have shared some of his ideas with the group in the past, and that some of his thoughts may have coincided with theirs.
“For starters, I am not formally attached to them,” Dr Mahathir wrote. “However, I must admit that I do support their views.
“Especially when it comes to reacting against extremist views of the non-Malays.”
Dr Mahathir, who was Malaysia’s longest serving prime minister, said during his 22-year tenure in office, groups like Perkasa never existed.
Today, he said, Perkasa’s birth was only due to the rise in “extremist views among the non-Malays” who he said have openly questioned Malay rights and privileges.
Earlier today, news portal The Malaysian Insider reported that Dr Mahathir had parted ways with Perkasa, as he was unhappy with how the group caused and handled racial issues, including a call to burn Bibles.
The Malaysian Insider also reported that Dr Mahathir scolded Perkasa last November during their meeting and had claimed to be unwell to explain his absence at Perkasa’s annual general meeting (AGM) when he was in fact unhappy with the group.
But in an immediate response, the group’s secretary-general Syed Hassan Syed Ali labelled the report “mistorted” and false.
“I do not know from where they got the news that Tun M has started to distance (himself) from Perkasa. We feel that that news is not true,” he told Malay Mail Online when contacted today.
Later, Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali insisted that the group’s relationship with the former prime minister remains intact and told The Malaysian Insider that there was no more credible a source to confirm its report than the former prime minister himself.
“If it is just a source, who is right? Ask Tun M himself,” Ibrahim told Malay Mail Online via text message.
“And why didn’t they ask me as president? I challenge The Malaysian Insider to ask Tun M if it is true he has parted ways with Perkasa.”
Ibrahim further disputed that Dr Mahathir was unhappy with the former’s call for Muslims to burn Malay- and Iban-language Bibles last year, pointing out that the former prime minister had expressed his support in public.
Last October, Dr Mahathir defended the authorities’ decision not to prosecute Ibrahim’s 2013 call to burn Bibles, saying that the latter’s advice was “acceptable to Muslims” and did not intend to provoke clashes between Muslims and non-Muslims.
Dr Mahathir, who had featured prominently in Perkasa events, said that it was an acceptable practice to burn old copies of Quran, adding that prohibitions against disrespecting the Muslim holy book should be extended to the holy texts of other religions.
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/im-not-perkasas-patron-but-i-support-their-views-dr-m-says#sthash.nnrEQnUz.dpuf
The nonsense of the fanatics
There's a breakdown in logic in the outbursts against a Hindu temple in Putrajaya and a gurdwara in Bukit Beruntung.
FMT
In recent years, we have been witness to increasing flexing of the muscles by various NGOs and religious fundamentalists, and no occasion makes them peacock their might faster than when another religion tries to build a place for worshippers to congregate.
In the last few days, there have been outbursts against a Hindu temple in Putrajaya and the attempt by the Sikhs of Bukit Beruntung to build a gurdwara on their property.
The accusations made against the Sri Lalithambikai Alayam temple in Putrajaya are specious at best. Putrajaya, being the administrative capital of Malaysia and built on Federal land, can be considered the property of all Malaysians who pay taxes, regardless of creed or class, as a nation’s capital can only be considered so when it belongs to the people. Hence, representation of one of our country’s major religions in the capital should not be an issue here, but not according to Perkasa’s Irwan Fahmi.
Irwan’s premise is that as Putrajaya is a Malay-majority area, the temple gate should face Banting to make it easier for Hindus to reach it. Banting, it seems, has a more sizeable Hindu population than Putrajaya, where only “600 to 700” Hindus reside. He must be given some credit for attempting to frame his argument as a suggestion for the convenience of the worshippers, but the logic fails to impress and bringing up population statistics for Putrajaya only betrays the thinking behind such failed logic.
Indeed, this same kind of thinking can be found in the protest against a gurdwara in Bukit Beruntung. In this case, a banner was put up by those with “sensitivities”, claiming that the site of the gurdwara lies in the kiblat of a mosque, and thus could not be built there. (For the benefit of the uninitiated, the kiblat is the direction in which Muslims face when performing their canonical prayers.) Of course, if the logic of the “sensitive” folk were universally applicable, buildings would have to be razed for miles in Kuala Lumpur alone so that nothing stands in the kiblat of the various mosques in the city.
There is, of course, a reason why the logic in these cases doesn’t quite make sense to a logical mind.
These protests and assertions have nothing to do with religion except for a thin façade. This is nothing more, and nothing less, than an assertion of political and societal superiority to shore up the insecurity and weak-minded thinking of some parties. This thinking is an attack on the guarantees made in the Federal Constitution for the freedom of religion in Article 11, Section 3, which states:
“Every religious group has the right (a) to manage its own religious affairs; (b) to establish and maintain institutions for religious or charitable purposes; and (c) to acquire and own property and hold and administer it in accordance with the law.”
That spirit of muhibbah on which this country was founded is being eroded by this need to assert social superiority over other religions. There needs to be a re-affirmation of mutual respect among the different faiths in Malaysia, in the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him), who once invited Christians from Najran to pray in his mosque before engaging in a dialogue with them. Not only did this gesture of respect show the measure of a great man, but is example of what made the foundations of Islam so strong.
We understand that pluralism is not acceptable to Islam, or rather to some Muslims. But that is no excuse for the blatant disrespect shown to the other faiths by some elements of our society, and a multi-racial, multi-cultural country like Malaysia cannot continue peacefully if our different faiths tread upon each other. We are one people, and we should start acting like it for once.
In recent years, we have been witness to increasing flexing of the muscles by various NGOs and religious fundamentalists, and no occasion makes them peacock their might faster than when another religion tries to build a place for worshippers to congregate.
In the last few days, there have been outbursts against a Hindu temple in Putrajaya and the attempt by the Sikhs of Bukit Beruntung to build a gurdwara on their property.
The accusations made against the Sri Lalithambikai Alayam temple in Putrajaya are specious at best. Putrajaya, being the administrative capital of Malaysia and built on Federal land, can be considered the property of all Malaysians who pay taxes, regardless of creed or class, as a nation’s capital can only be considered so when it belongs to the people. Hence, representation of one of our country’s major religions in the capital should not be an issue here, but not according to Perkasa’s Irwan Fahmi.
Irwan’s premise is that as Putrajaya is a Malay-majority area, the temple gate should face Banting to make it easier for Hindus to reach it. Banting, it seems, has a more sizeable Hindu population than Putrajaya, where only “600 to 700” Hindus reside. He must be given some credit for attempting to frame his argument as a suggestion for the convenience of the worshippers, but the logic fails to impress and bringing up population statistics for Putrajaya only betrays the thinking behind such failed logic.
Indeed, this same kind of thinking can be found in the protest against a gurdwara in Bukit Beruntung. In this case, a banner was put up by those with “sensitivities”, claiming that the site of the gurdwara lies in the kiblat of a mosque, and thus could not be built there. (For the benefit of the uninitiated, the kiblat is the direction in which Muslims face when performing their canonical prayers.) Of course, if the logic of the “sensitive” folk were universally applicable, buildings would have to be razed for miles in Kuala Lumpur alone so that nothing stands in the kiblat of the various mosques in the city.
There is, of course, a reason why the logic in these cases doesn’t quite make sense to a logical mind.
These protests and assertions have nothing to do with religion except for a thin façade. This is nothing more, and nothing less, than an assertion of political and societal superiority to shore up the insecurity and weak-minded thinking of some parties. This thinking is an attack on the guarantees made in the Federal Constitution for the freedom of religion in Article 11, Section 3, which states:
“Every religious group has the right (a) to manage its own religious affairs; (b) to establish and maintain institutions for religious or charitable purposes; and (c) to acquire and own property and hold and administer it in accordance with the law.”
That spirit of muhibbah on which this country was founded is being eroded by this need to assert social superiority over other religions. There needs to be a re-affirmation of mutual respect among the different faiths in Malaysia, in the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him), who once invited Christians from Najran to pray in his mosque before engaging in a dialogue with them. Not only did this gesture of respect show the measure of a great man, but is example of what made the foundations of Islam so strong.
We understand that pluralism is not acceptable to Islam, or rather to some Muslims. But that is no excuse for the blatant disrespect shown to the other faiths by some elements of our society, and a multi-racial, multi-cultural country like Malaysia cannot continue peacefully if our different faiths tread upon each other. We are one people, and we should start acting like it for once.
Blogger Milosuam jailed two years for posting “leaked’ police memo
There’s an issue of jurisdiction as Milosuam stays in Selangor where his blog posting was written. However, he was charged in Sabah.
FMT
KOTA KINABALU: Milosuam, Pro-Pakatan Rakyat blogger Yusuf Siddique Al-Suratman, 29, was jailed the maximum two years on Monday under Section 505 (b) of the Penal Code on a charge of causing fear and public alarm with a blog posting in 2013.
He’s the second pro-Pakatan blogger to be jailed in the last two weeks. The first was SharpShooter, Amizudin Ahmat, jailed for three months on January 8, after being in contempt on articles mentioning former information, communication and culture minister Rais Yatim.
Milosuam has been granted a stay of execution pending appeal. He was initially charged under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).
There’s an issue of jurisdiction as Milosuam stays in Selangor where his posting was written. However, he was charged in Sabah.
Milosuam allegedly published a secret document on the police making preparations for the possibility of an armed intrusion into Sabah. Just before the 2013 General Elections, his blog carried a “leaked” internal police memo which mentioned the possibility of some 1,500 people causing chaos in Kota Kinabalu and Tawau.
Section 505 (b) of the Penal Code pertains to; intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the state or against the public tranquility.
Counsel Goldam Hamid represented Milosuam. Magistrate Ryan Sagirann Rayner Jr presided.
KOTA KINABALU: Milosuam, Pro-Pakatan Rakyat blogger Yusuf Siddique Al-Suratman, 29, was jailed the maximum two years on Monday under Section 505 (b) of the Penal Code on a charge of causing fear and public alarm with a blog posting in 2013.
He’s the second pro-Pakatan blogger to be jailed in the last two weeks. The first was SharpShooter, Amizudin Ahmat, jailed for three months on January 8, after being in contempt on articles mentioning former information, communication and culture minister Rais Yatim.
Milosuam has been granted a stay of execution pending appeal. He was initially charged under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).
There’s an issue of jurisdiction as Milosuam stays in Selangor where his posting was written. However, he was charged in Sabah.
Milosuam allegedly published a secret document on the police making preparations for the possibility of an armed intrusion into Sabah. Just before the 2013 General Elections, his blog carried a “leaked” internal police memo which mentioned the possibility of some 1,500 people causing chaos in Kota Kinabalu and Tawau.
Section 505 (b) of the Penal Code pertains to; intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the state or against the public tranquility.
Counsel Goldam Hamid represented Milosuam. Magistrate Ryan Sagirann Rayner Jr presided.
Dr M: The West only being ‘helpful’ by killing terrorists
Former PM says justice, Western style, means talking human rights on one hand, and justifying the killing of thousands on the other.
FMT
PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad today commented on the brand of justice the West promotes, saying they thought nothing about killing thousands of Iraqis, Afghans and Arabs but showed great outrage when 12 Frenchmen were killed by two Muslim terrorists in Paris this month.
“Are the Iraqis, the Afghans and the Palestine Arabs not of the human race? Is killing hundreds of thousands of them okay but not 12 Frenchmen?” he asked in his latest blog entry.
According to Mahathir, the West saw it as a “great mission” to come down hard on Muslim terrorists, and added cynically, “People should understand and appreciate. You are just being helpful.”
He also commented on how the West found it “intolerable” that two Muslims chose to kill their “tormentors” for insulting Islam, conveniently choosing not to take into account the 1.4 billion Muslims in the world who “accept their fate”.
He said, “Kill them. Then go after the others. Justice (Western style) will be done.”
In pushing his argument across, Mahathir did clarify that he did not condone the killings at Charlie Hebdo, yet neither did he see how “babies, the children, the sick and the old” deserved to die by the thousands at the hands of Westerners.
“But they were killed. Nobody demonstrated in sympathy with their families over their loss,” he said in reference to the demonstrations held in Paris after the brutal killings.
Implying the West was good at practising double standards, Mahathir said, “Might is always right. But don’t preach to us about human rights, about the right to insult people, about free speech and freedom of the press.”
Saying not much had changed when it came to how Westerners thought and acted, Mahathir said, “You killed the natives by the millions because you wanted their land.”
“You are still killing them so as to rid them of their bad leaders, so they will become democratic.”
PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad today commented on the brand of justice the West promotes, saying they thought nothing about killing thousands of Iraqis, Afghans and Arabs but showed great outrage when 12 Frenchmen were killed by two Muslim terrorists in Paris this month.
“Are the Iraqis, the Afghans and the Palestine Arabs not of the human race? Is killing hundreds of thousands of them okay but not 12 Frenchmen?” he asked in his latest blog entry.
According to Mahathir, the West saw it as a “great mission” to come down hard on Muslim terrorists, and added cynically, “People should understand and appreciate. You are just being helpful.”
He also commented on how the West found it “intolerable” that two Muslims chose to kill their “tormentors” for insulting Islam, conveniently choosing not to take into account the 1.4 billion Muslims in the world who “accept their fate”.
He said, “Kill them. Then go after the others. Justice (Western style) will be done.”
In pushing his argument across, Mahathir did clarify that he did not condone the killings at Charlie Hebdo, yet neither did he see how “babies, the children, the sick and the old” deserved to die by the thousands at the hands of Westerners.
“But they were killed. Nobody demonstrated in sympathy with their families over their loss,” he said in reference to the demonstrations held in Paris after the brutal killings.
Implying the West was good at practising double standards, Mahathir said, “Might is always right. But don’t preach to us about human rights, about the right to insult people, about free speech and freedom of the press.”
Saying not much had changed when it came to how Westerners thought and acted, Mahathir said, “You killed the natives by the millions because you wanted their land.”
“You are still killing them so as to rid them of their bad leaders, so they will become democratic.”
PM must put Perkasa in its place over temple in Putrajaya
DAP says Najib Razak should live up to his 1Malaysia slogan and show that moderates will not tolerate extremists like Perkasa.
FMT
IPOH: The DAP has called on the federal government to make the construction of a Hindu temple in Putrajaya, a show of “moderates versus extremists” if Malay rights group Perkasa continued its opposition.
In saying this, DAP national vice-chairman M Kulasegaran urged Prime Minister Najib Razak to lead the moderates in fending off extremists in the battle.
Reminding Najib of his 1Malaysia slogan and his concept of moderation, Kulasegaran added, “Najib has in the past called on the silent majority to speak up against extremism.
“He must speak up now and put Perkasa in its place if the group does not back down from opposing the temple construction in Putrajaya.”
He said the best person to lead this battle was the PM himself, who should position it as a “battle between moderates and the extremists”.
The Hindu temple became something of a controversy when Perkasa Youth chief Irwan Fahmi Ideris questioned why a Hindu temple was being constructed in Putrajaya, a Malay-majority area.
He even suggested that its entrance face Banting, where a sizeable Hindu population resided.
In addressing Irwan’s dissatisfaction, Kulasegaran said Irwan had shown himself to be an extremist and a religious bigot.
“Perkasa’s frequent stirring up of racial and religious issues also shows without a doubt that it is an organisation not fit to exist in this multi racial and multi religious nation,” Kula added.
He also lauded Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor’s rebuke of Perkasa’s objections and his admonishment that Perkasa stop playing up the construction of Sri Lalithambikai Alayam, disclosing that the project was approved some time ago.
“We have built many temples before, building another one in Putrajaya is not going to change the entire population into Hindus,” said Tengku Adnan last week.
Kulasegaran said Tengku Adnan’s whacking of Perkasa was timely and deserved public commendation and support.
IPOH: The DAP has called on the federal government to make the construction of a Hindu temple in Putrajaya, a show of “moderates versus extremists” if Malay rights group Perkasa continued its opposition.
In saying this, DAP national vice-chairman M Kulasegaran urged Prime Minister Najib Razak to lead the moderates in fending off extremists in the battle.
Reminding Najib of his 1Malaysia slogan and his concept of moderation, Kulasegaran added, “Najib has in the past called on the silent majority to speak up against extremism.
“He must speak up now and put Perkasa in its place if the group does not back down from opposing the temple construction in Putrajaya.”
He said the best person to lead this battle was the PM himself, who should position it as a “battle between moderates and the extremists”.
The Hindu temple became something of a controversy when Perkasa Youth chief Irwan Fahmi Ideris questioned why a Hindu temple was being constructed in Putrajaya, a Malay-majority area.
He even suggested that its entrance face Banting, where a sizeable Hindu population resided.
In addressing Irwan’s dissatisfaction, Kulasegaran said Irwan had shown himself to be an extremist and a religious bigot.
“Perkasa’s frequent stirring up of racial and religious issues also shows without a doubt that it is an organisation not fit to exist in this multi racial and multi religious nation,” Kula added.
He also lauded Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor’s rebuke of Perkasa’s objections and his admonishment that Perkasa stop playing up the construction of Sri Lalithambikai Alayam, disclosing that the project was approved some time ago.
“We have built many temples before, building another one in Putrajaya is not going to change the entire population into Hindus,” said Tengku Adnan last week.
Kulasegaran said Tengku Adnan’s whacking of Perkasa was timely and deserved public commendation and support.
Falling oil prices and plunging ringgit: Government must step up to the plate
18 JANUARY 2015
PRESS STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Falling oil prices and plunging ringgit: Government must step up to the plate
On December 12 last year, I told the people to brace for tougher times ahead because we
were facing a double whammy with declining international crude oil prices coupled with a
depreciation of the Ringgit at levels unseen since the Asian Financial crisis of 1997.
The prices of Brent crude oil have continued to drop. To date, it has plunged by 53% from
last year, that is, from an average of USD 108 per barrel in January 2014 to an average of
USD 51 for January 2015.
Our Ringgit is currently the weakest Asian currency, leaving aside the Yen. It has depreciated
to 3.55 Ringgit per USD from 3.32 Ringgit a year ago. Since October 2014, the ringgit has
lost almost 8.3%.
It is true that other Asian currencies have also fallen against the USD but our drop is almost
double that of the closest laggards such as the Taiwanese dollar and the Singapore dollar at
4.59% and 4.50% against the USD respectively.
Crude palm oil prices have also weakened by approximately 10% to RM 2300 per tonne.
Impact on our revenue
Income from oil and gas makes up 30% of our total government revenue. The 2015 Federal
Budget that was tabled on October 10 last year was based on an oil price range of USD 100
to 105 per barrel.
Even before the plunge to the current levels, Petronas had warned that if crude prices
averaged at USD 70 to 75, its overall contribution to government revenue would fall short of
8%. This means a shortfall of RM 19.4bn of the estimated revenue of RM 242bn against the
2015 budget projection.
Now that the oil prices have dropped by nearly half, what will be the actual impact on our
revenue?
Granted there will be savings in fuel subsidies but, as Maybank Research in its latest
publication says, a revenue shortfall of RM 8.4bn will already outweigh the subsidy saving
and result in a fiscal deficit of 4% of GDP instead of the 3% target for 2015.
According to Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, crude prices may continue to hover
between the USD 40 and 50 range in 2015. What this means is that the impact on government
revenue and deficit will be even greater. Some analysts are warning of deficit levels reaching
as high as 5%. This would be further accentuated if the ringgit continues to weaken and CPO
prices continue to fall.
In terms of equity investment, according to CLSA (Credit Lyonnais Securities Asia),
Malaysia is the worst performing Asian market in 2014. While the stock exchanges in
Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore still managed to chart positive growth, our Bursa suffered
significant declines.
Apart from the factors already stated earlier, there is also the issue of foreign capital
outflows, exiting both Ringgit bonds (owning 45% of total MGS) and equity. With
weakening carry trade attraction and fiscal uncertainties these have driven the Ringgit to
historical lows and pushed MGS yields up and raised financing cost (debt to GDP at 55%).
What the government must do now
First and foremost, corruption and leakages must be tackled. We have already shown in the
Pakatan Rakyat 2015 shadow budget that a conservative saving of only 15% in government
spending leakages could save almost RM20bn or an equivalent of 1.6% of the projected
GDP.
Secondly, we must put a stop to the culture of wastage and opulent and spendthrift ways
cloaked under shady procurement processes and opaque privatisation awards. The
government must stop sweeping bad debts under the off-balance sheet carpet.
There are no alternatives to good governance other than being transparent and truthful with
information relating to the country’s finances. In this regard, we are already saddled with the
scandalous 1MDB. The people will not tolerate yet another one.
Thirdly, a bi-partisan ‘National Crisis Committee’ should be set up without further delay
comprising government and opposition MPs, economists, market experts and other
specialists.
Inter alia, the committee should be tasked with the responsibility of monitoring commodity
prices on a daily basis and given the authority to execute any necessary measures to mitigate
any negative impacts once a consensus is obtained.
Fourthly, the government should be prepared to introduce austerity measures in the event that
oil prices go lower and remain there. This will mean cut-backs on mega projects while
continuing to spend on critical areas such as healthcare, education and the humanitarian
assistance for flood victims.
It should be noted that other oil dependent countries such as Norway (with very good
governance) are already on ‘alert mode’ running scenarios on the long-term effects of low oil
prices.
It is true that the movement of international commodity prices is beyond our control. But
surely we have control over how we spend our money and manage our overall finances.
This is where the government is failing and continues to fail in spite of our repeated calls to
do a reality check and put in place remedial measures. What have they been doing all this
while? Is this the kind of attitude to show case our drive for transformation?
Flood crisis and lessons drawn
It is the same attitude that had resulted in the devastation caused by the recent floods.
Flooding is an annual phenomenon going on for centuries but no serious mitigation measures
were done by the government.
In this regard, we must commend the NGOs who came in droves to help out. Comprising all
the races and religious groups this show of support and readiness to help the victims is
unprecedented and underscores the paramount importance for the Federal government to
work with Pakatan state governments and the NGOs.
Message to the rakyat
Tougher times lie ahead as government spending could be reduced and growth slows down.
The rakyat needs to remain frugal and not take on additional unnecessary debts.
As inflation continues to rise while wages remain stagnant, the rakyat will face greater
economic hardship and income inequality will continue to widen.
Meanwhile, we want the government to come clean on the economic outlook for the nation.
The people await the Tuesday announcement and expect serious and earnest efforts put in for
the restructuring of the 2015 budget.
ANWAR IBRAHIM
Revised 2015 Budget should declare war on corruption, incompetence and extravagance to provide example and leadership of government commitment to austerity, accountability and integrity
By Lim Kit Siang blog,The revised 2015 Budget should declare war on corruption, incompetence and extravagance to provide example and leadership of government commitment to austerity, accountability and integrity.
Such a campaign would save the Malaysian government and taxpayers scores of billions of ringgit, which would help the country tide through the looming economic crisis as a result of the sharp fall in prices of oil and commodities and the weakening of the Malaysian ringgit.
Despite the greatest investment in anti-corruption campaign, with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission developing into a huge bureaucracy but with very little to show in terms of results, the Najib premiership is still far behind the Abdullah and Mahathir premierships in both ranking and score of the annual Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI).
Malaysia lags seriously behind other countries in the battle against corruption, particularly Indonesia and China, and Malaysia is at risk of being overtaken by these two countries which had occupied the bottom two of rungs of the TI CPI 1995 two decades ago in a matter of a decade.
China had persevered in its anti-corruption campaign against “tigers and flies” while Indonesia had been quite impressive in catching “crocodiles”, but Malaysia had failed to net and jail a single tiger or crocodile in the 34 years of the the Prime Ministers of Tun Dr. Mahathir, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Has the Prime Minister’s Department or the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission ever conducted a study why China could net “tigers” and Indonesia catch “crocodiles” while Malaysia has singularly failed to do, only able to get “ikan bilis” in the last two decades of the anti-corruption campaign?
If the revised 2013 Budget could mark a serious anti-corruption campaign first time in the country’s history, with the jailing of the first “tiger” or “crocodile”, then it would be a most path-breaking event.
The country’s worst floods catastrophe in living memory is also the worst example of the government’s lack of competence and lack of a sense of crisis, resulting in the appalling Federal government responses to the worst floods disaster in history, as well in the other phases of floods disaster management on relief and reconstruction.
The damages of the worst floods catastrophe in living memory in Malaysia would not be so great as to cause over a million flood victims, evacuating a quarter of a million to the various flood relief centres in the country, causing a death toll of at least 25, damages to the tune of billions of ringgit and the devastation of Ground Zero zones like Manek Urai, Manjur and Karangan, if both the Federal and State Governments, particularly the National Security Council chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, had been better prepared for the floods disasters.
The false claim by the Deputy Finance Minister, Datuk Ahmad Maslan that the Federal Government had spent RM800 million on January 5 to help the flood victims in terms of food, logistics and clean-up operations when only RM41 million had been spent to date, is the best evidence of the incompetence and ineptitude of Federal Ministers in charge of the destiny of Malaysians.
I do not believe that Maslan had set out to deliberately lie or mislead Malaysians with his false and ridiculous RM800 million claim, as once it was made, everyone on the ground involved in the flood relief operations knew it was utter rubbish, as nobody could sense or feel the hundreds of millions of ringgit which the Federal Government claims to have been spent.
The very fact that a Deputy Finance Minister could make such a blooper is an indication of the quality of governance in Malaysia.
The annual reports of the Auditor-General provides reams of example of government waste, extravagance and ineptitude year after year.
I had suggested that Najib should set example by slashing by at least 50 per cent the RM19.1 billion budget for the Prime Minister’s Department, which involved gargantuan “slush funds” solely to further the political agenda of the ruling coalition.
The Federal Government is also bloated with too many Ministries and Ministers as compared to other countries like Australia and India.
For a start, let Najib slash the number of Ministers and Ministries by at least 10 per cent – to mark a new era of government austerity and integrity.
In airman’s sacking, law experts see military authorities breaching natural justice, constitution
Malay Mail
by YISWAREE PALANSAMY
by YISWAREE PALANSAMY
KUALA
LUMPUR, Jan 16 — Malaysia’s armed forces had failed to abide by the
rules of natural justice and the Federal Constitution in the recent
sacking of airman Major Zaidi Ahmad for blowing the whistle on the
weaknesses of the electoral ink touted as indelible in the 2013 polls,
law experts said last night.
Speaking
at a forum organised by electoral reforms watchdog Bersih 2.0 here,
Malaysian Bar vice-president Steven Thiru said that natural justice
forms the cornerstone of the country’s supreme law.
He
pointed out that the military tribunal that tried and sentenced Zaidi
does not function “within the four corners of the constitution”, but
stressed that even without that, the special court has a duty to
dispense justice according to existing law.
“You
will be surprised to know that the Military Court can imprison and even
sentence a service personnel to death. It has very wide powers,” the
lawyer said.
“There
must be rights for both parties to be heard and a breach of the rule of
natural justice can render the decision unlawful,” he added.
Steven
said that in Malaysia, the right to work is not a contractual right
alone but is also a constitutional right as it is essentially a person’s
right to live.
Alluding
to Zaidi’s case, the lawyer suggested that the dismissal of the airman
who had served 26 years with the military was an example of this breach
of natural justice.
“If
you are going to sack someone therefore, you have to grant the person
the right to be heard and you cannot get rid of someone in breach of
natural justice as you will also breach his constitutional right,” he
said.
The Bar Council man was not alone in his view.
Universiti
Selangor law lecturer Dr Abdul Aziz Bari noted the tradition of
following superior orders and natural justice sometimes conflict with
each other in the military.
However,
he said that the Federal Constitution as the country’s highest law,
takes precedence to orders issued by a superior military officer,
especially in Zaidi’s case.
“In
this, I don’t see the logic as to how Major Zaidi was dismissed because
he disregarded a superior order, because we have a constitution and
what he did is legit under the constitution.
“He
was just exercising the moral duty of a responsible citizen by lodging a
police report. We are dealing with a situation whereby a public
authority like the Election Commission failed to do its job,” the
academic said, adding, “So where does his fault really lie?”
Abdul
Aziz said that even orders issued by the military must be based on the
law and be just, adding that morality cannot be set aside.
“Moral
imperative must prevail otherwise, what’s the point of the Federal
Constitution?” he asked, alluding to the question of bias raised by
Zaidi’s defence team during the latter’s court martial last year.
On
November 5, 2014 Zaidi’s lawyers had applied to dissolve the military
court panel which presided over his disciplinary case for publicly
complaining about the indelible ink, claiming that there has been “real
bias”.
Mohamed
Hanipa Maidin, the lead counsel for Zaidi, said that his client had
found a comment in response to an October 20, 2014 article by news
portal Malaysiakini, allegedly made by one of the judges in this case
which would indicate bias.
In
Zaidi's affidavit that was sighted by reporters, the comment was posted
on October 21 under the name of one “Saadon T'son”, with the remark
being “Klu tak nak jd tentera duduk kampung motong getah jer.” (If don't
want to be in the military, just stay in the village and tap rubber.”
Steven
pointed out that with the shadow of bias hanging over the military
tribunal, it would have been proper for the person alleged to have
voluntarily stepped down.
“Usually,
the person implicated as having a strong notion against or for the case
must disqualify themselves. He or she may not be biased but there is a
likelihood of bias… justice must not only be done but must be seen to be
done and even if the judge carries on with the ruling, questions will
still arise, even though their judgement was right,” Steven said.
He
pointed out that while the tribunal reserves the right to dismiss
Zaidi, it has to take note of another implied rule, that the decision
imposed must commensurate with the offence.
“The question that must be asked now is if the dismissal was harsh,” Steven said.
On
Monday, a five-man panel in the Military Court here found Zaidi to be
guilty of two charges — publishing an article without the consent of the
Defence Ministry, and revealing the contents of official documents on
the indelible ink without authorisation from the Malaysian Armed Forces
Council.
The airman who had served for 26 years was sentenced to be dismissed from the military.
Indelible
ink was introduced in Election 2013 as one of the main safeguards
against repeat voting, but the scandal surrounding its easy removal
transformed it into a symbol of the widespread electoral fraud allegedly
perpetrated to keep the Barisan Nasional coalition in power.
Najib To Announce Specific, Proactive Economic Policy Measures Tomorrow
By Azlina AzizKUALA LUMPUR, Jan 19 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is expected to announce Tuesday specific and proactive measures to deal with current economic developments and the financial situation in Malaysia.
The measures will include strategies to help the people and business community affected by the recent floods and to rebuild damaged infrastructure.
Although there is no economic crisis, the government is taking preemptive measures in view of the changing global economic landscape beyond Malaysia's control.
The measures will not only ensure the economy continues to record respectable and reasonable growth in the coming years but also that development for the nation and the people continues.
Najib, who is also Finance Minister, will detail the positive and negative impact of falling crude oil prices and the latest forecast to the nation and people.
The recent 60 per cent fall in oil prices affects the global economy, and Malaysia is no exception.
When addressing the Prime Minister's Department's first monthly assembly for the year Monday morning, Najib said an accurate and wise approach was necessary to mitigate the effects of the oil price slump on economic growth, national revenue and the value of the ringgit.
"Amid this new scenario, we will act more proactively to ensure a sustainable growth rate and protect the people's rights so that their well-being is not adversely affected," he said.
He is expected to address the uncertainty in capital flows and the value of the ringgit, which has slipped to a five-and-half-year low of 3.60 against the dollar.
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