Najib: Agenda Melayu diutamakan selagi ada bulan dan bintang

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Fury over charities that fund ISIS killer Jihadi John apologists: Calls for end to grants for 'warped' human rights group

• Campaign group Cage described Jihadi John as 'beautiful' person
• Lord Carlile, a former reviewer of anti-terror legislation said there are 'serious concerns' surrounding the group
• Added that he would never advise donating money to organisation
• Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust has given £305,000 to Cage

By Larisa Brown and Ian Drury for the Daily Mail

Charities were last night urged to stop funding a ‘warped’ human rights group that supports Islamic State killer Jihadi John.

Politicians said Cage had acted reprehensibly in describing knife-wielding fanatic Mohammed Emwazi as a ‘beautiful young man’.

The group, led by former Guantanamo Bay inmate Moazzam Begg, has been propped up largely by grants of £305,000 from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust.

Another charity, set up in memory of Body Shop tycoon Anita Roddick, has handed over £120,000 to Cage. Much of the rest of the group’s income comes from cash donations from Muslims.

Lord Carlile, a former independent reviewer of anti-terror legislation, said he had serious concerns about Cage and would never advise giving it money.

‘Cage is an organisation with a warped view,’ he said. ‘No sensible person should be funding it.’

As questions were being asked as to how Emwazi was allowed to reach Syria, it also emerged that:

The fall-out from the extraordinary Cage press briefing about Emwazi – carried live on the BBC and Sky – continued to reverberate around Westminster yesterday.

On Thursday, Mr Qureshi, the group’s research director, who lives in a £530,000 semi-detached house in Surrey, wiped away tears as he described Emwazi, a 26-year-old Kuwaiti who grew up in London, as ‘extremely gentle’ and ‘the most humble young person that I ever knew’.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2972757/Fury-charities-fund-ISIS-Jihadi-John-apologists.html

The moment American blogger's wife was left covered in blood next to her husband's mutilated body after he was hacked to death by Muslim militants for insulting Islam and 'in retaliation for U.S. strikes on ISIS'

Dr Avijit Roy dead on the floor in Dhaka, Left, his wounded wife, Rafida Ahmed, stands over his body

• Dr Avijit Roy was attacked on Thursday night by cleaver-wielding extremists by university mosque in Dhaka, Bangladesh
• Militants, Ansar Bangla 7, claimed responsibility, saying Dr Roy's writings were a 'crime against Islam'
• Obscure militant group said that Roy's U.S. citizenship made the killing a '2 in 1' - doubling as revenge for airstrikes in Syria
• Doctors said Roy's wounds - three deep, deliberate gashes to the head - were made by 'professional killers'
• Roy's wife, Rafida Ahmed, was slashed after trying to protect him - and is in hospital with a deep gash to her head
• Police believe that the attack is linked to Dhaka university - but have yet to arrest anybody
• The couple, both of whom are bloggers, were living in Atlanta, Georgia, and were visiting Dhaka for a book fair
• Roy was well-known for his writings against religious extremism, both online and in published books
• U.S. condemned 'horrific' murder on Friday - but said it could not give a motive
• WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT

By Kieran Corcoran and Sam Matthew for MailOnline

This is the moment a prominent Bangladeshi-American blogger was hacked to death in the street by militant Muslims after denouncing religious extremism.

Dr Avijit Roy, 42, from Atlanta, Georgia, was jumped by the gang of machete-wielding assailants last night in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh - leaving his injured wife standing over his bleeding body. He is well-known in Bangladesh for for his outspoken atheism.

An obscure militant group, Ansar Bangla 7, claimed responsibility for the attack, which it said was in retaliation for his 'crime against Islam'.

The extremists also said he was singled out because he is a U.S. citizen - and characterized the vicious killing as 'revenge' for attacks on ISIS in Syria.

Police said at least two men, who are believed to have links to Dhaka University, attacked Roy around 8.45pm and landed three strong, deliberate blows to the right side of his head.

They turned on his wife, Rafida Ahmed, when she tried to save him, then fled into the crowd, dumping their weapons as they ran. Police have expressed shock that extremists struck at a university book fair, which was heavily guarded.

Witnesses have even said officers and bystanders were there during the murder - but did nothing. Several onlookers told Al-Jazeera nobody intervened in the brazen attack, while even police chiefs had said they were baffled that a man could be murdered so close to the heavily-guarded area.

The United States today said the murder was 'horrific in its brutality and cowardice' and represents an attack on the 'principles' of Bangladesh.

Roy's body was found in a pool of blood on Thursday night after the brutal attack. Ahmed, 45, is also a blogger. She is reportedly now in hospital with a deep cut to her head.

Rafida Ahmed is pictured above being stretchered to hospital after the attack on Thursday night. Police say she was attacked after trying to defend her husband

Roy, who is a naturalized U.S. citizen and also a bio-engineer, had been receiving death threats online for years.

One Muslim fanatic, Farabi Shafiur Rahman, had reportedly posted threats on Facebook last year that Roy would be killed as soon as he returned to the country.

Roy and his wife were visiting the city of Dhaka for a book fair when they were set upon opposite the Dhaka University Central Mosque. Police have said the attackers likely have links to the university.

Jubilant extremists writing on social media were quick to praise the attackers. The account for Ansar Bangla 7 made a post which linked the killing to Roy's nationality - and American airstrikes on ISIS.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2971508/American-blogger-spoke-against-religious-extremism-hacked-death-Muslim-militant-group-Bangladeshi-street-walked-wife.html

Najib pledges to support Malays as long as ‘moon and stars’ still shine

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today pledged that his administration will continue to help and protect the Malays as long as "the moon and stars" still shine.

He said the Bumiputera agenda which he launched two years ago will continue to be the national agenda and policies, programmes and actions drawn up will be based on this.

"As the prime minister, I pledged that the government I lead will continue to help the Malay Bumiputeras to be successful, based on the speech in Shah Alam two years ago where I said the Bumiputera agenda is the national agenda.

"As long as there are moons and stars, as long as Malay blood still flows, we will fight for the Malay race," he said at the Malay Unity Gathering at Stadium Putra, Bukit Jalil tonight, attended by some 5,000 people, including Malay Cabinet members, heads of non-governmental organisations, students and community leaders.

Najib added, however, that the government wanted the community to see it as a facilitator, whereby opportunities would be given to those with merit and talent, instead of expecting contracts from the government just because they are Malays.

He said tonight's large-scale glitzy gathering was historic as it underscored the importance of unity among the Malays.

The gathering, he said, was a showcase of a great, dignified, strong, successful and blessed Malay race.

"As such, in this gathering, we have to ask ourselves, what we can do as Malays? What can we contribute?" he said, adding that the community did not want to be belittled or insulted and instead, wanted to be respected and dignified.

He said the community has come a long way, with many Malays successful in their own right whether they are entrepreneurs, academicians or corporate leaders.

However, he acknowledged that more needed to be done.

As such, he came up with seven pledges that the community should adhere to.

They include: to defend Islam as the federal religion based on the Al-Quran and Al-Sunnah; defend the royal institution and the Bumiputera special rights as enshrined in the Federal Constitution; and strengthen the Malay economic power so that they are competitive. – February 28, 2015



















- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/najib-pledges-to-support-malays-as-long-as-moon-and-stars-still-shine#sthash.cgTUU2se.dpuf

Pump prices go up 25 sen from midnight

After unprecedented fall in pump prices over the past few months, petrol stations will see an increase of 25 sen for RON 95, RON 97 and diesel from midnight.

Beginning March 1, both RON 95 and diesel will retail at RM1.95 per litre, up from RM1.70, while RON 97 will be RM2.25, up from RM2 per litre.

Last month, RON 95 fell to its lowest level since it was introduced in 2009, spurred by a sudden plunge in global oil prices, which has since recovered slightly.

The price of fuel has been on a managed float system since December last year after the government abolished the subsidy system.

At that time, RON95, RON97 and diesel retailed at RM2.26, RM2.46 and RM2.23 respectively.

On Jan 1, however, RON95, RON97 and diesel retailed at RM1.91, RM2.11 and RM1.93 respectively, and last month pump prices went down even further.

Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Hasan Malek said in a statement this evening that the price was determined based on the average cost price of the product during February 2015 and currency exchange rates.

"The government will monitor the development of the market price of the products' costs and currency exchange rates every time to set the retail price of petrol and diesel for the following months," he said, according to Bernama.

The minister reminded all oil companies and petrol station operators to comply with the new pricing.

"Stern action will be taken against those who violate the rules relating to the new prices set by the government," he added.

PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli however warned the price tonight would be higher, and said it is being worsened by the falling ringgit that he attributed to the poor financial management of Prime Minister and Finance Minister Najib Razak.

 

Muslim NGO rues threats for handing out Quran

 

The Multiracial Reverted Muslims (MRM) has lamented that it received threats and curses on social media for simply handing out copies of the Quran to the public.

MRM president Firdaus Wong Wai Hung said such threats and curses have picked up since news that free copies of the translated Quran will be distributed to the public by the Islamic Information and Services Foundation under its ‘One Soul One Quran’ programme.

Wong (middle) said this is despite the programme having nothing to do MRM as it had been handing out copies of the holy book since last year.

“Recently the threats have become more serious and we are consulting our lawyers whether to lodge a police report.

“It is not that we want the police to arrest anyone but it is for our protection,” he told a press conference at the MRM office in Wangsa Maju today.

Among the unsavoury messages MRM received on Facebook, Wong said, were wishes for members of the NGO and their family to die in accidents.

MRM was recently mistaken as being behind the One Soul One Quran programme after a photograph of its van was circulated on Whatsapp accompanied by a message warning non-Muslims against receiving the Quran.

Wong said MRM has since lodged a police report over the matter yesterday to set the record straight.

Elaborating on MRM’s own free Quran programme, Wong said he cannot explain why some non-Muslims are anxious about receiving the Quran.

Wong also held up translated copies of other holy books including Buddhist scripture and the Al-Kitab, stating: “We do not feel anxious over this, I don’t know why some non-Muslims are anxious.”

He also denied trying to covertly convert non-Muslims to Islam.

“We have no power or authority to change the status of any person’s religion in official records as we are only a Muslim NGO,” he said.

'Obtaining a Quran does not make someone a Muslim'

Wong echoed Department of Islamic Development Malaysia director-general Othman Mustapha in saying that obtaining a Quran does not automatically make someone a Muslim.

“We do not force anyone to convert to Islam as there is a clear prohibition against this in the Al Quran Chapter 2 Verses 256 which states that there is no compulsion in religion.

“Anyone, including Muslims or non-Muslims, can own and read the translation of the noble Quran for knowledge and to clear misconception of Islam,” he said.

Wong urged anyone upset with MRM to engage his organisation in dialogue instead of verbally abusing the NGO.

“Our neighbour next door is also a church, we engage with them all the time, no problem,” he said.

‘AG has powers to commute death sentence'

Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail and the Selangor Pardons Board have the powers to commute convicted murderer Sirul Azhar Umar's death sentence to life imprisonment.

The difference between the two is that the AG can do it without waiting for an appeal from Sirul while the Pardons Board would first require Sirul or his representatives to submit an appeal.

A senior criminal lawyer who did not wished to be named said the matter need not be referred back to the Federal Court as proceedings at the apex court have already ended.

“The AG has the power to commute a death sentence to life imprisonment. He has that discretion to do this and it need not go through the court given that the Federal Court has already made a decision.

Yesterday, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (left) was quoted as saying that the government was considering commuting Sirul's death sentence to life imprisonment to facilitate his extradition.

The lawyer was asked to comment on the current imbroglio involving fugitive former cop Sirul - who together with ex-chief inspector Azilah Hadri - was sentenced to death by the Federal Court on Jan 13 for the murder  of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.
      
Same for Azilah, too

Sirul and Azilah had been earlier acquitted by the Court of Appeal after which Sirul left for Australia.

He was there when the Federal Court delivered its decision reversing the appellate court’s verdict. A warrant of arrest was immediately issued and Sirul was arrested by Australian police in Brisbane on Jan 21.

Sirul is currently being detained in an immigration facility in Villawood, Sydney where he has threatened to reveal to the international media who is actually behind the Altantuya murder.

Malaysian authorities are in a fix as their extradition request for Sirul cannot be entertained by Australia whose laws prohibit the deportation of persons facing the death sentence in their home countries.

“The other option for Sirul is, of course, for his lawyer to seek a royal pardon, in this case from the Selangor sultan,” said the lawyer.

The senior lawyer said if the government was considering commuting Sirul's death sentence to life, then the AG should also do the same for Azilah.

“It is only right and fair for Azilah to be given the same if Sirul's sentence is reduced,” the lawyer pointed out.

Will Najib survive the March 8 Umno divisional leaders’ solidarity meeting?

By Lim Kit Siang Blog,

The single political issue in the country after the Federal Court’s 5-0 dismissal of Anwar Ibrahim’s appeal in Sodomy II on February 10, resulting his fourth incarceration in his 47 years of public life and struggle for freedom, democracy, human dignity and good governance should be: “Quo Vadis, Anwar?”

Instead, the question has swiftly become “Quo Vadis, Najib?”

National focus should be on the “March to Freedom” ceramah to restore freedom for Anwar Ibrahim on March 7, but attention has now suddenly swerved to whether Najib could survive the Umno divisional leaders’ meeting on March 8.

This is most extraordinary as the UMNO Division Meeting of March 8 is being called to show solidarity and support for Najib and not to ditch him.

Why is there such sudden change of political focus and climate in UMNO?

This is a reflection of the turbulent times in UMNO.

For some time, there had been great pressures on Najib to resign, and the former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad cannot make it clearer when he said in the middle of the month: “If I were PM now, I’d resign”.

However, Najib had ignored these pressures as he seems to be a real paradox – one of the weakest Prime Ministers in Malaysia but a strong UMNO President.

Najib’s weaknesses as Prime Minister are evident from the fact that all his major policy initiatives have proved to be failures, whether 1Malaysia policy, the New Economic Model, National Transformation Programme or the Global Movement of Moderates.

But he has been quite invincible in his power position in UMNO – and there is no way the Prime Minister of Malaysia could be toppled unless the UMNO President could be removed.

So long as he remains untouchable as President of UMNO, he remains untouchable as Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Is there a sudden sea-change in UMNO politics that Najib’s position could suddenly be so vulnerable at the UMNO Divisional Meetings on March 8?

There is no doubt that Najib is facing unprecedented siege, both locally and internationally.

I have never seen an ASEAN mainstream media which had carried such a dismissive and contemptible article about another ASEAN leader as appeared in the recent issue of The Myanmar Times which carried a write-up entitled “Najib’s slow death”, ending with the foreboding forecast that the “omens” for Najib are not good.

Najib’s host of problems, old and new, seem to have come together in a boil, whether the “mother and mother of all financial scandals”, RM42 billion 1MDB scandal; the nine-year-old Altantunya Shaariibuu murder which has returned to haunt Malaysian politics with Sirul at large in Australia ; the fourth-incarceration and five -year jailing of Anwar Ibrahim which has made Malaysia again an international “bad boy” or the embarrssing controversy over Tun Razak’s “inheritance” which has seen public differences between the Prime Minister and his four brothers.

Political developments in UMNO and Malaysia can change so far that what was unthinkable only a month or a week ago could suddenly be possible, as for instance, however improbably as it may seem, the sudden posingn of the question: will 8th March be the Ides of March for Najib?

UMNO is in deep political trouble and this is further reason why UMNO strategists are trying to distract attention from Najib’s and UMNO’s troubles by stepping up their plots to destabilise, divide and destroy the Pakatan Rakyat with the false lure of “UG” (Unity Government between UMNO and PAS) and hudud implementation in Kelantan which explains for the UMNO decision to stay out of the Chempaka state assembly by-election in Kelantan caused by the death of Tuan Guru Nik Aziz.

All Pakatan Rakyat parties must be on the look out for these UMNO plots and counterplots to destabilise, divide and destroy PR for they are only tactics and strategies to save Najib and UMNO and not in the best national interests.

(Speech at the Gelang Patah DAP Chinese New Year Kopitiam Ceramah on Saturday, 28th February 2015 at 3 pm)

Najib Outlines Seven Decrees To Make The Malays Progressive, Self Reliant

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28 (Bernama) - Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has outlined seven decrees that will make the Malays knowledgeable, empower their economy in the 21st century, and to make them strong, powerful and dignified.

The other decree is to champion the interests of Islam, defend the Malay rulers and Malay privileges, uphold maqasid syaria by being moderate, retain pure values and take care of the family institution.

Najib stressed that if the Malays hold on to the decrees, they will emerge as a race that is respected by all races of the world and become self reliant.



Speaking at a Malay unity rally in front of thousands of people at Putra Stadium, Bukit Jalil here, he said: "These decrees to represent the Malay rulers must be remembered by all.

"As long as there is the moon and the stars, and as long as the Malay blood flows in our bodies, we will continue to champion these decrees," he said.



Najib took the opportunity to emphasise the importance of multi-racial harmony.

He said multi-racial harmony as well as unity between the races in Malaysia was the key and foundation to a brighter future for the people and nation.

The prime minister also said the Malays had gone far and attained many achievements.

However, he urged the Malays to continue asking themselves: "What can we do in the name of the Malays? What can we contribute?"

He said that question should always be in the minds of the contemporary Malays because they could not depend on the government anymore to become more successful and to guarantee their future.

"We do not want to see the Malays insulted, ridiculed. We want the Malays to be a race that is respected and has pride," he said in his speech that was greeted with applause and cheers from the audience at the stadium to show their support to him.

The event was an initiative by the Malay Consultative Council jointly with Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara), Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Unit Peneraju Agenda Bumiputera (Teraju), Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) and and Biro Tatanegara (BTN).

Najib also said the government would always play the role of facilitator in providing the space which would enable the Malays and Bumiputera to attain success.

However, he said, only those with the commitment, ability and merit would succeed.

He said this was proven by the presence of successful Malay leaders at the gathering tonight, including professionals in various fields as well as heads of government-linked companies as well as leaders of public and private institutions of higher learning.

However, Najib, who is Umno President gave the following reminder: "The journey of the Malays is still far. I admit there is still more that needs to be done. We have to be aware and always make improvements.

Najib's words were greeted by positive response from the beginning of the event till the end.

Each time Najib threw a question which challenged the mind or a statement which fired the spirits, the audience responded with cheers as a sign of their undivided support.

The event which officially began with a spirited rendition of the national anthem "Negaraku" also saw thousands of participants taking the oath read out by the chairman of the secretariat for the Malay Unity Gathering Night, Datuk Dr Hasan Mad who is also the Malay Consultative Council secretary-general.

"We are gathered here from all corners of the nation, Malays who are great, Malays with pride, and Malays who are blessed.

"We are gathered here to show our support for the leadership of the PM. We are Malays with pride and blessing," they said.

Among those present at the gathering were Umno vice-presidents, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka director-general Prof Datuk Dr Awang Sariyan and former Inspector-General of Police Tun Haniff Omar.

At the gathering, Najib also witnessed the handing over of the memorandum of understanding for the setting up of the Koperasi Majlis Perundingan Melayu Berhad by Amanie Corporate Advisor Sdn Bhd to MPM.

He also received the proposed memorandum for the setting up of the Islamic Affairs Coordination Ministry from a member of the Malay Consultative Council, Tan Sri Mohamed Yusof Mohamed Noor.