Thursday 12 March 2015
Blindfolded and forced to their knees, three men are beheaded with blood-covered sword by ISIS executioner for homosexuality and blasphemy as crowd cheer on each blow
- Masked jihadi executioner is filmed standing over men with huge sword
- Kneeling before him are men accused of blasphemy and homosexuality
- Chilling images show the men bent over at public site awaiting their death
- ISIS militants claimed the three were executed in a northern city of Iraq
Chilling new images have emerged of three men accused of homosexuality and blasphemy being forced to their knees and publicly beheaded by a sword-wielding Islamic State executioner.
Photographs of the barbaric murders show the blindfolded men kneeling in the centre of what appears to be a traffic roundabout with a crowd of people looking on as a masked executioner stands by with a long, rusty blade.
After an elderly man uses a microphone to read to the crowd from his notes, the executioner then steps forward with the blade poised above the men's heads in the unnamed city in northern Iraq.
Accompanying captions said the trio were then beheaded - two for engaging in homosexual acts and the third for alleged blasphemy - but there were no images released of the actual beheading.
The jihadist group, which controls swathes of Iraq and neighbouring Syria, has carried out hundreds of barbaric executions as it has imposed its brutal version of Islamic law, many of which are photographed or videotaped.
The photos were said to have been taken in Nineveh province - the first to fall to a sweeping IS-led offensive last June - but the exact location was not specified.
Many young men have also been thrown from the roofs of buildings throughout ISIS-controlled areas after being accused of engaging in homosexual acts.
The stomach-churning photographs usually show a blindfolded victim being dragged to the top of a building by black-masked militants.
As crowds gather at street level the men are thrown to their death, while jihadis and members of the public use mobile phones to film the gruesome murders.
Iraqi troops and militia are battling to push the jihadists back with support from a US-led coalition and Iran.
But retaking Nineveh and its capital Mosul poses a major challenge for Baghdad's forces, as the militants have had more than nine months to dig in.
Iraqi forces launched a huge operation last week aimed at retaking the city of Tikrit that, if successful, would serve as a stepping stone towards Mosul.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2987901/Photos-claim-IS-beheadings-homosexuals-northern-Iraq.html
Fatah celebrates murder of 80 (sic) Israelis in most lethal Palestinian terror attack
"This was the most courageous victory"
by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik
Yesterday,
Abbas' Fatah party celebrated the anniversary of a bus hijacking in
which Fatah terrorists murdered 37 Israeli civilians. On Facebook, Fatah
posted a text glorifying the attack. A
striking element of Fatah's glorification and celebration of the attack
was the decision to exaggerate the number of Israelis killed, in order
to make the "operation" seem greater and more successful:
"A huge self-sacrificing operation in Herzliya, Tel Aviv. 80 Israelis killed and over 100 wounded." [Facebook, "Fatah - The Main Page," March 10, 2015]
In
March 1978, a group of Fatah terrorists from Lebanon hijacked a bus on
Israel's Coastal Highway. Confronted by the Israeli army, the terrorists
killed many of the passengers on the bus, in total 37 civilians,12 of
them children, and wounded more than 70. The attack is known in Israel
as the Coastal Road massacre.
In 2010, the PA dedicated a square in Ramallah to Dalal Mughrabi,
who led the attack, by naming it after her. That square was also chosen
this year by Fatah for a public event taking place today, celebrating
its killing of Israeli civilians:
"We will mark the anniversary of the heroic coastal operation (i.e., the Coastal Road massacre), which was led by Martyr (Shahida) Dalal Mughrabi, and the deaths as Martyrs of Dalal and her heroic friends, at 3:30 p.m. across from Martyr Dalal Mughrabi Square in Ramallah."
[Facebook, "Fatah - The Main Page," March 10, 2015]
Palestinian Media Watch has documented that the Palestinian Authority and Fatah present Dalal Mughrabi as a role model for Palestinians, and especially for Palestinian girls, naming at least three girls' schools after her. Last year, PA TV commemorated Mughrabi
by visiting one of the schools. One student said: "My life's ambition
is to reach the level that the Martyr fighter Dalal Mughrabi reached."
Yesterday,
an image of terrorist Mughrabi with the text glorifying her attack was
posted by Fatah on its official Facebook page. To make the "operation"
seem even greater, Fatah exaggerated the number of Israelis killed:
Posted text: "Urgent: A huge self-sacrificing operation (Fida'i
- operation, i.e., terror attack) in Herzliya, Tel Aviv (i.e., the
Coastal Road attack in 1978). 80 Israelis killed and over 100 wounded.
The Palestinian flag was raised at the center of town. The commander of the cell [Dalal Mughrabi] and 12 self-sacrificing fighters (Fedayeen) died as Martyrs (Shahids), and one was wounded. She [Dalal Mughrabi] raised the flag of the [Palestinian] state, and this was the most courageous victory, March 11, 1978."
Text on image: "Dalal Mughrabi, 1958-1978"
[Facebook, "Fatah - The Main Page,"
March 10, 2015]
Click to see more examples of PA and Fatah terror glorification
documented by PMW.
The following is a longer excerpt of Fatah's post on Facebook announcing the event glorifying terrorist Mughrabi:
Posted text: "An invitation to the public and our journalist brothers: Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 11, 2015, we will mark the anniversary of the heroic coastal operation(i.e., the Coastal Road massacre), which was led by Martyr (Shahida) Dalal Mughrabi, and of the deaths as Martyrs of Dalal and her heroic friends. [The ceremony will take place] at 3:30 p.m. across from Martyr Dalal Mughrabi Square in Ramallah."
[Facebook, "Fatah - The Main Page", March 10, 2015]
MIC’s Vell Paari wants police to act on Palanivel video clip
An MIC division chief has decided to get an independent forensic expert, to determine if a video clip featuring Datuk G. Palanivel making candid disparaging remarks about party members and Indians was authentic and not doctored as claimed by the party president.Kepong MIC chief, Datuk Seri S. Vell Paari said police should also start immediate investigation to determine if the clip was doctored and not wait for a report to be lodged by Datuk Seri G. Palanivel.
"Analysing the video, the man’s spoken words in terms of sound delivery, it coordinates well with his body language and movement.
"Anyway, I am not a forensic expert. So it's best to wait for the police to complete its investigation. I suggest the police immediately get a sound and voice expert to authenticate if it's Datuk Palani’s voice,” he said in a statement today.
Vell Paari said assuming the video was true, Palanivel’s comments was hurtful to the Indian community, adding that it was unacceptable to go against Barisan Nasional.
Yesterday, Palanivel denied making disparaging remarks about party members and Indians as featured in the video uploaded on a Facebook.
He claimed the contents of the three-minute video clip, uploaded on the Kitchen UP TV Facebook page, had been "doctored and completely untrue".
"I have never made and will never make such untrue statements or remarks," he said.
Palanivel said he would lodge a police report on the matter, and urged authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to bring those responsible to justice.
"I am appalled that people can stoop to such a low level to put up untrue video clip for reasons best known to them.
"I can only see this being the result of the fresh elections for MIC that I have called and the solid show of support by the branch chairmen of MIC to my leadership." he said.
In the video, a man resembling the Cameron Highlands MP had spoken candidly on several issues where he said MIC members would vote for the opposition in the event of the Permatang Pauh by-election.
He also touched about his smaller majority at the May 2013 national polls, and the opposition’s role in getting the large numbers.
It was reported that the Facebook page operator said he had uploaded the clip so that people would know "what type of leaders we have now".
He said the clip was shot at a private meeting between Palanivel and the crew.
“I could not provide you more details as this will put my safety at risk. I have more videos of Datuk Seri Palanivel’s confession, which I will upload very soon,” said Jason, the Facebook page operator, to The Malaysian Insider, while assuring that the clip was not fake or superimposed.
He said Palanivel should have been aware that he was being filmed as it was a formal interview and not a casual talk.
The Kitchen UP TV Facebook page does not carry much information about itself, and appears to have started its Facebook presence earlier this year.
The video comes on the heels of a crisis that has pitted party members against each other, following the Registrar of Societies's (RoS) declaration that the election of the three vice-presidents and 23 central working committee (CWC) members in November 2013 was null and void.
In a letter dated December 5, 2014, RoS ordered MIC to call for a fresh election for the posts within 90 days.
The conflict within the party worsened after Palanivel on February 14 requested RoS to withdraw all its letters as it allegedly contravened the party constitution and Societies Act, and threatened to take legal action if RoS did not comply. – March 11, 2015.
Altantuya case can only be reopened if there are other suspects, says former A-G
The Altantuya Shaariibuu murder investigation can only be reopened if there is evidence to show that others, apart from the two convicted policemen, have committed offences related to the murder, former attorney-general Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman said."Only then is the police obliged to reopen the case," he told The Malaysian Insider.
Talib said this in response to PAS Pokok Sena MP Datuk Mahfuz Omar's statement in Parliament today, urging police to reopen the murder investigation to establish motive.
Mahfuz , who recently visited convicted murderer Sirul Azhar Umar in Australia, said the motive for her murder was never established.
"He kept telling me he was ordered. The rest he spoke about is in confidence.
"I am not trying to defend a criminal, but the police must investigate who ordered the hit," Mahfuz said, while debating the royal address in Parliament today.
Talib said in criminal law, motive was helpful, but not necessary for the case.
"Motive is only helpful to determine intention of the killing," he said, adding that the murder case has been resolved with the conviction of Special Action Unit (UTK) personnel Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Sirul .
"The guilty have been brought to justice when the two cops were sentenced to death," he said.
Political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda was acquitted of abetting in the 2006 murder.
Razak, once Altantuya's lover, was also confidante of current Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
The High Court in 2009 found the police commandos guilty of the crime, but the Court of Appeal set the two free after reversing the findings of the trial court in 2013.
Sirul was absent when the apex court in January overturned the decision of the Court of Appeal and sentenced the two to the gallows.
Sirul had left fled the country to Australia last October, but was detained by Immigration authorities there following a red alert by Interpol.
Allegations have been brewing since 2006 that Altantuya was ordered to keep quiet about purported kick-backs to high-level Malaysian officials over the US$2 billion purchase of two French Scorpene submarines when Najib was defence minister.
Najib has vehemently denied knowing or meeting Altantuya and the Malaysian government refuted allegations of any wrong doing in the submarine deal, which is the subject of an investigation by a magistrate in Paris. - March 11, 2015
'IGP jumped the gun with posting probe order'
Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu
Bakar is accused of jumping the gun by instructing the Penang police to
act on a Facebook posting attributed to Deputy Chief Minister II P
Ramasamy, which says he has no fear of facing the Malays.
Ramasamy said the posting Khalid referred to was "doctored" by BN cybertroopers, and carried a challenge to the Malays to bring on the May 13.
"It is a malicious lie out to slander me. Whoever did it even spelt my name wrongly. Didn't the IGP notice that? This is the work of BN cybertroopers," he said.
"The
IGP should investigate the matter first, to see if the posting really
came from me, before instructing the Penang police chief (Abdul Rahim
Hanafi) to come after me," Ramasamy (left) told Malaysiakini.
Today, the IGP tweeted a photo of the alleged Fcebook posting by Ramasamy, which says, "Saya tidak pernah gentar berdepan dengan orang Melayu. Sekiranya peristiwa berdarah itu berulang kembali pada hari ini. Kerana saya sudah lama bersedia. MIC, Gerakan dan MCA mungkin takut. Jika anda mahukan 13 Mei, anda bawa la sekarang...".
The posting was signed off as "R. Ramasami, Deputy Chief Minister II."
(Translation: I have never been afraid of confronting the Malays. If the bloody incident recurs today. Because I have long been prepared. MIC, Gerakan and MCA may be scared. If you want 13 May, bring it on, lah).
About
9am this morning, Khalid had tweeted "Kerap kali @PDRMsia ingatkan
supaya hati2 keluarkan statement, masih ada yg degil. KP Pg sila jlnkan
tugas..."
(Translation: The PDRM has constantly reminded people to be careful when making statements, there still are the stubborn. Penang police chief, please do your duty...).
May 13, 1969, was the worst racial riots the country has seen and both sides of the political divide have been reminding the nation not to encourage a repeat of the bloody incident.
Ramasamy said he was already investigated by the police last year about a tweet on May 13, but nothing came out of the case.
The statement then was a response to Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who said it was possible May 13 would recur if there were no efforts to preserve racial harmony in the country.
"I am ready to be called in by the police, but please do your homework first before seeking me out," added Ramasamy, who is the assemblyperson for Perai.
Ramasamy said the posting Khalid referred to was "doctored" by BN cybertroopers, and carried a challenge to the Malays to bring on the May 13.
"It is a malicious lie out to slander me. Whoever did it even spelt my name wrongly. Didn't the IGP notice that? This is the work of BN cybertroopers," he said.
"The
IGP should investigate the matter first, to see if the posting really
came from me, before instructing the Penang police chief (Abdul Rahim
Hanafi) to come after me," Ramasamy (left) told Malaysiakini.Today, the IGP tweeted a photo of the alleged Fcebook posting by Ramasamy, which says, "Saya tidak pernah gentar berdepan dengan orang Melayu. Sekiranya peristiwa berdarah itu berulang kembali pada hari ini. Kerana saya sudah lama bersedia. MIC, Gerakan dan MCA mungkin takut. Jika anda mahukan 13 Mei, anda bawa la sekarang...".
The posting was signed off as "R. Ramasami, Deputy Chief Minister II."
(Translation: I have never been afraid of confronting the Malays. If the bloody incident recurs today. Because I have long been prepared. MIC, Gerakan and MCA may be scared. If you want 13 May, bring it on, lah).
About
9am this morning, Khalid had tweeted "Kerap kali @PDRMsia ingatkan
supaya hati2 keluarkan statement, masih ada yg degil. KP Pg sila jlnkan
tugas..."(Translation: The PDRM has constantly reminded people to be careful when making statements, there still are the stubborn. Penang police chief, please do your duty...).
May 13, 1969, was the worst racial riots the country has seen and both sides of the political divide have been reminding the nation not to encourage a repeat of the bloody incident.
Ramasamy said he was already investigated by the police last year about a tweet on May 13, but nothing came out of the case.
The statement then was a response to Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who said it was possible May 13 would recur if there were no efforts to preserve racial harmony in the country.
"I am ready to be called in by the police, but please do your homework first before seeking me out," added Ramasamy, who is the assemblyperson for Perai.
Jaws drop as topless duo frolic in the sun
The topless girls were holidaying at Pulau Sulug totally oblivious to local sensitivities.
FMT
KOTA KINABALU: It was a sight not many tourists in this more conservative part of the world are used to, so many found themselves genuinely shocked to see two young foreign tourists frolicking topless in the sun at Pulau Sulug.
With children gaping at them, other beach-goers decided to make the most of the experience by recording the young women’s antics, the Malaysian Digest reported.
One tourist, Mardiana Abdul Ezam 33, said she saw the girls after her son told her about them. It was around 9am Sunday.
“At first, I thought my son was just joking when he told me that he saw women playing on the beach nearby without wearing clothes.
“I then looked in the direction he pointed and was surprised to find out what he said to me was true,” she told a local Malay daily, yesterday.
It is not known at this point if the authorities, namely Taman-Taman Sabah, which manages the beach, was able to talk to the young women and advise them to cover up.
FMTKOTA KINABALU: It was a sight not many tourists in this more conservative part of the world are used to, so many found themselves genuinely shocked to see two young foreign tourists frolicking topless in the sun at Pulau Sulug.
With children gaping at them, other beach-goers decided to make the most of the experience by recording the young women’s antics, the Malaysian Digest reported.
One tourist, Mardiana Abdul Ezam 33, said she saw the girls after her son told her about them. It was around 9am Sunday.
“At first, I thought my son was just joking when he told me that he saw women playing on the beach nearby without wearing clothes.
“I then looked in the direction he pointed and was surprised to find out what he said to me was true,” she told a local Malay daily, yesterday.
It is not known at this point if the authorities, namely Taman-Taman Sabah, which manages the beach, was able to talk to the young women and advise them to cover up.
Kamal Haasan’s latest flick to be on MH370
The Tamil star is believed to begin pre-production work for the movie next month.
FMT
PETALING JAYA: While the world acknowledges the first anniversary of one of aviation’s greatest mysteries – the disappearance of MAS flight MH370, one Tamil superstar plans to make a move based on it.
According to online India news portal www.iluvcinema.in, Kamal Haasan is believed to be producing the movie under the Raj Kamal Films International banner, with pre-production work scheduled for next month, The Rakyat Post reported.
Besides the Tamil hotshot, the movie will be directed by top choreographer Prabhu Deva, who has a string of Tamil, Telugu and Bollywood hits to his credit.
Kamal Haasan meanwhile has a movie that will be released soon, Uthama Villain, which he produced, wrote and acted in.
FMT
PETALING JAYA: While the world acknowledges the first anniversary of one of aviation’s greatest mysteries – the disappearance of MAS flight MH370, one Tamil superstar plans to make a move based on it.
According to online India news portal www.iluvcinema.in, Kamal Haasan is believed to be producing the movie under the Raj Kamal Films International banner, with pre-production work scheduled for next month, The Rakyat Post reported.
Besides the Tamil hotshot, the movie will be directed by top choreographer Prabhu Deva, who has a string of Tamil, Telugu and Bollywood hits to his credit.
Kamal Haasan meanwhile has a movie that will be released soon, Uthama Villain, which he produced, wrote and acted in.
Police detect two individuals involved in IS through umrah
Police believe that the umrah agency had no connection with the individuals involved in the IS.
FMT
KUALA LUMPUR: Police have detected two individuals who joined the Islamic State (IS) militant group through their umrah (minor haj) trip before meeting up with the militants in Syria.
Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said they had used the services of an umrah agency for the trip to ease their plan and to avoid detection by the authorities of their real intention.
“So far, we have detected two such cases where on the pretext of going for umrah, they actually wanted to join the IS militants.
“They went (to the Holy Land) not for a religious purpose….imagine, the umrah being misused,” said Khalid, who declined to reveal the identity of the two individuals.
He was met by reporters after handing out letters of appreciation to selected courteous road users and the best police contingents in the “Op Selamat” 6/2015 held in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration.
Khalid said police believed that the umrah agency had no connection with the individuals involved in the IS.
He said the problem, however, needed to be tackled holistically, including through legal means.
The IGP said police had so far identified 50 Malaysians who had gone to Syria to join the IS, while another 70 had been arrested including those trying to leave the country to go to Syria and also those who had returned from there.
Recently, Deputy Foreign Minister Hamzah Zainuddin revealed about individuals planning to join the IS movement through the umrah package, and information on this was obtained through sharing of information with certain countries, including members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
On another development, Khalid said police would call Penang Deputy Chief Minister II, P. Ramasamy over his statement deemed as racist which appeared on social websites.
“I have been informed that it is an old tweet, but we will still investigate whether it is an old or new tweet. We will call him and investigate the matter.”
Khalid said to avoid trouble or tension, elected leaders and community leaders should be careful before making statements, especially on social websites, as these could incite their followers.
- BERNAMA
FMTKUALA LUMPUR: Police have detected two individuals who joined the Islamic State (IS) militant group through their umrah (minor haj) trip before meeting up with the militants in Syria.
Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said they had used the services of an umrah agency for the trip to ease their plan and to avoid detection by the authorities of their real intention.
“So far, we have detected two such cases where on the pretext of going for umrah, they actually wanted to join the IS militants.
“They went (to the Holy Land) not for a religious purpose….imagine, the umrah being misused,” said Khalid, who declined to reveal the identity of the two individuals.
He was met by reporters after handing out letters of appreciation to selected courteous road users and the best police contingents in the “Op Selamat” 6/2015 held in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration.
Khalid said police believed that the umrah agency had no connection with the individuals involved in the IS.
He said the problem, however, needed to be tackled holistically, including through legal means.
The IGP said police had so far identified 50 Malaysians who had gone to Syria to join the IS, while another 70 had been arrested including those trying to leave the country to go to Syria and also those who had returned from there.
Recently, Deputy Foreign Minister Hamzah Zainuddin revealed about individuals planning to join the IS movement through the umrah package, and information on this was obtained through sharing of information with certain countries, including members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
On another development, Khalid said police would call Penang Deputy Chief Minister II, P. Ramasamy over his statement deemed as racist which appeared on social websites.
“I have been informed that it is an old tweet, but we will still investigate whether it is an old or new tweet. We will call him and investigate the matter.”
Khalid said to avoid trouble or tension, elected leaders and community leaders should be careful before making statements, especially on social websites, as these could incite their followers.
- BERNAMA
Zzzzzz… sleeping beauties give cops a bad name
The duo are awaiting disciplinary action from their superior and have been transferred to another department.
FMT
GEORGE TOWN: Two policemen, who were caught sleeping in the Mak Mandin police community beat base, were immediately transferred to another department pending disciplinary action.
Penang CPO, Senior Deputy Commissioner (SDC) Abdul Rahim Hanafi ordered an internal investigation into the embarrassing incident as a photograph of the two sleeping police personnel went viral rapidly yesterday.
The duo was transferred immediately to the district police control room at north Seberang Perai (SPU) where they will work until suitable disciplinary action is taken.
The no-nonsense DCM Abdul Rahim, who said he would not compromise on disciplinary problems among police staff, added, “Such matters are serious and we will take appropriate and stern action on them.”
FMT
GEORGE TOWN: Two policemen, who were caught sleeping in the Mak Mandin police community beat base, were immediately transferred to another department pending disciplinary action.
Penang CPO, Senior Deputy Commissioner (SDC) Abdul Rahim Hanafi ordered an internal investigation into the embarrassing incident as a photograph of the two sleeping police personnel went viral rapidly yesterday.
The duo was transferred immediately to the district police control room at north Seberang Perai (SPU) where they will work until suitable disciplinary action is taken.
The no-nonsense DCM Abdul Rahim, who said he would not compromise on disciplinary problems among police staff, added, “Such matters are serious and we will take appropriate and stern action on them.”
Free medication a miracle, says Dr M
The former prime minister wonders how the government can continue dispensing free drugs with costs going up.
FMT
SERDANG: It’s a near miracle that the government is able to continue giving free medication at public hospitals considering the escalating costs, according to former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad.
“When I was prime minister, we were worried about how to finance the free medicine that we were giving to Malaysians,” he told reporters here.
“During the British time, when I was still practising, it was one cent per bottle of cough mixture. So the government wasn’t spending too much money.
“But the costs of medicines have gone up. How the government can still sustain this free medical treatment is something that is almost a miracle.”
He was speaking at a press conference after witnessing the signing of an agreement between Perdana University and University of California San Diego for a medical and research programme.
He noted that not all medicines will be exempted from the GST, which will be introduced next month. Only drugs that come under the National Essential Drug List will be zero-rated, but Mahathir said some essential medicines had been excluded from the list.
He said the public should let the government know if they feel burdened by the GST.
“It is for the people to respond,” he said. “If this is a burden to them, they can tell the government, ‘If you charge taxes, we will not vote for you anymore.’”
Mahathir surprised journalists for refusing to give any comment on 1MDB, of which he has been outstandingly critical.
He was asked to comment on the Cabinet’s announcement that the Auditor-General has been directed to investigate 1MDB’s controversial finances, but he said he would not answer questions about the company or about politics.
He maintained his silence on the two subjects despite persistent questioning, saying he would limit his answers to questions about the healthcare system and Perdana University, of which he is chancellor.
FMT
SERDANG: It’s a near miracle that the government is able to continue giving free medication at public hospitals considering the escalating costs, according to former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad.
“When I was prime minister, we were worried about how to finance the free medicine that we were giving to Malaysians,” he told reporters here.
“During the British time, when I was still practising, it was one cent per bottle of cough mixture. So the government wasn’t spending too much money.
“But the costs of medicines have gone up. How the government can still sustain this free medical treatment is something that is almost a miracle.”
He was speaking at a press conference after witnessing the signing of an agreement between Perdana University and University of California San Diego for a medical and research programme.
He noted that not all medicines will be exempted from the GST, which will be introduced next month. Only drugs that come under the National Essential Drug List will be zero-rated, but Mahathir said some essential medicines had been excluded from the list.
He said the public should let the government know if they feel burdened by the GST.
“It is for the people to respond,” he said. “If this is a burden to them, they can tell the government, ‘If you charge taxes, we will not vote for you anymore.’”
Mahathir surprised journalists for refusing to give any comment on 1MDB, of which he has been outstandingly critical.
He was asked to comment on the Cabinet’s announcement that the Auditor-General has been directed to investigate 1MDB’s controversial finances, but he said he would not answer questions about the company or about politics.
He maintained his silence on the two subjects despite persistent questioning, saying he would limit his answers to questions about the healthcare system and Perdana University, of which he is chancellor.
The Najib administration has become a hydra-headed government with Ministers and heads of departments giving different stands on a whole variety of issues
The Najib administration has become a hydra-headed government with Ministers and heads of government giving different stands on a whole variety of issues.
The present meeting of Parliament is providing multiple examples of a hydra-headed government.
For instance, the Home Minister Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi in a written answer to the DAP MP for Kulai, Teo Nie Ching, said police have completed investigations on incendiary statements by Umno leaders, the Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and the former Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim and are waiting for further instructions from the Attorney-General.
A total of 32 police reports were lodged against Ismail over his call for Malay consumers to boycott Chinese businesses as a way to force down the prices of goods while ten police reports were lodged against Mashitah, who had said that Chinese people had burned the Quran in a religious rite in Kuala Kedah, which was a downright lie as it never happened.
But while the Home Minister said that the Police are waiting for instructions from the Attorney-General, another Minister, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, cleared Ismail Sabri of any offence or any crime!
In a written reply to the DAP MP for Taiping, Nga Kor Ming, Shahidan defended Ismail’s statement claiming that Ismail’s call was “directed to all races and not certain races” – which flies in the face of Ismail’s original statement, which was a very explicit, clear-cut and unmistakable statement calling on Malay consumers to boycott Chinese businesses.
If the Prime Minister’s Department is defending and exonerating Ismail’s racist statement, why is the Home Minister indulging in the rigmarole in Parliament with his written answer that the Police are waiting for instructions from the Attorney-General?
This is not the only example from yesterday’s Parliament that the Najib administration has become a hydra-headed government.
In a written reply to my question, Zahid endorsed the twitter-happy Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar who used the social media platform to make announcements of police actions and investigations.
Zahid said Khalid’s twitter habits were aimed at keeping the public informed on the police actions and were not politically motivated or out to scare anyone.
Can Zahid cite a single instance where Khalid had tweeted about police action against UMNO/Barisan Nasional leaders whether Ismail Sabri, Mashitah Ibrahim or even Zahid himself?
If Zahid is unable to cite a single instance, and all Khalid’s tweets were directed at Pakatan Rakyat leaders and NGO activists, this is irrefutable proof of the IGP playing with twitter to harass and intimidate PR leaders and NGO activists as part of a politically-motivated campaign.
Khalid was clearly abusing his powers by using his tweets to announce police action against PR leaders and NGO activists, as he was in the process, as good as passing judgment that the PR leaders and NGOs activists had committed offences even before any police investigation had been commenced and the case referred to the Attorney-General for instructions.
Even if the Attorney-General decides on prosecution, an accused is still innocent until proven guilty, but the IGP had already jumped the gun, not once but thrice, in deeming a person guilty of crime firstly, before police investigations commenced; secondly, before the Attorney-General’s instruction to prosecute, and thirdly, before the court’s conviction (subject to appeal process) had been delivered!
Is this how a conscientious and responsible Inspector-General of Police in a country which really respects and upholds the rule of law and a just administration of justice should behave himself?
For such grave transgressions, the Home Minister should have called up the Inspector-General to put him on a correction course.
But how is Zahid to try to discipline Khalid when Zahid had himself been guilty of gross indiscipline and offence, even in breach of the Official Secrets Act, of writing the infamous letter to Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) vouching for the integrity of an alleged Malaysian gambling kingpin Paul Phua standing trial in Las Vegas, Nevada in direct contradiction to the police’s earlier communication with FBI?
The Home Minister and the IGP seemed to be trapped in a “Catch 22” situation where neither one can impose authority or correct the other, as each is aware of the other’s vulnerability!
The has resulted in the most ludicrous ministerial reply when the DAP MP for Segambut, Lim Lip Eng was told by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Shahidan Kassim that information relating to Paul Phua is a “huge secret” classified under the Official Secrets Act and that the government has no plans to reveal it.
In the first place, how does Shahidan know that any information relating to the international gambling kingpin Paul Phua is a “huge secret” under the OSA?
If so, why is Zahid allowed to violate the “huge secret” in his infamous letter to the FBI, without authority, sanction or knowledge from the Police, the Foreign Ministry, the Cabinet and the Prime Minister?
Furthermore what are the criteria for classifying a secret as a “huge secret” under the OSA?
Is the information on Paul Phua more of a “huge secret” than all the other information under the OSA, including respectable characters like members of Cabinet, Parliament and the civil service?
Silence by Shahidan or even the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak on this issue of the “huge secret” under the OSA can only undermine public confidence in the credibility and integrity of the Federal Government.
The Najib administration has been make a fool of itself with the hydra-headed replies in Parliament.
For instance, when the Foreign Minister, Datuk Anifa Aman in a written reply to DAP MP for Batu Kawan, Kasthuri Patto defended the appointment of Datuk Shafee Abdullah as Malaysia’s representative at the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission of Human Rights (AICHR), he said Shafee has an “institutional memory” on human rights.
Is Shafee’s “institutional memory” on the suppression and repression of human rights or on the promotion and protection of human rights?
It is indeed sad that Shafee, who had not distinguished himself as a human rights champion in Malaysia, is touted for his “institutional memory” to justify his qualification to represent Malaysia on AICHR!
If all the human rights NGOs in Malaysia disagree that Shafee has the “institutional memory” to protect and promote human rights, will the Malaysian Government replace Shafee on AICHR?
But the answer which must take the cake for being most hilarious is the answer by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Nancy Shukri to DAP MP for Bakri Er Teck Hwa that Shafee is being paid only RM1,000 for his services as the prosecutor by fiat in the Anwar Ibrahim Sodomy II case at the Court of Appeal and Federal Court stages.
The RM1,000-answer has raised eye-brows throughout the country and not just the legal and judicial community as there are those who believe that going by Shafee’s rates, his services as prosecutor by fiat at the Court of Appeal and Federal Court would have been in the million-ringgit bracket.
The hydra-headed character of the Najib premiership is also illustrated by the many scandals in the country – with the Cabinet Ministers clearly not on the same page on the scandal of Zahid’s infamous letter to FBI vouching for the character of the international gambling kingpin Paul Phua.
This is also the case of the biggest financial scandal in the nation’s history, the RM42 billion 1MDB scandal.
In fact, the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister are clearly at loggerheads over the 1MDB scandal, although Muhyiddin Yassin is subsequently trying to paper over the cracks after his repudiation of Najib’s PMO Communications Unit statement after the Cabinet meeting last Wednesday.
How long will Najib’s hydra-headed government last?
National Debt At RM582.8 Billion, Says Najib
KUALA LUMPUR, March 11 (Bernama) -- The federal government's external debt at end-December 2014 stood at RM582.8 billion (or 54.5 per cent of GDP), of which RM566.1 billion (97.1 per cent) was domestic debt while the remaining RM16.8 billion (2.9 per cent) was in offshore loans, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
"The federal government's debt position remains manageable and puts the country in the moderately-indebted category.
"The government is committed to ensuring the federal government's debt level does not exceed 55 per cent of GDP," the premier, who is also Finance Minister, said in his written reply to William Leong Jee Keen (PKR-Selayang) today.
Leong had wanted to know the reasons for the dramatic rise in the country's external debt to RM740 billion in the third quarter of 2014 from RM43 billion in 1990, and its effects on the government's finances and economy.
Najib said to ensure the federal government's debt remains low and manageable, fiscal consolidation measures would continue to be taken to lower the deficit in stages, reducing the need for the government to borrow and thus reducing the debt level.
"Strict adherence to fiscal discipline and good debt management should be given emphasis to ensure a strong fiscal position and macroeconomy as well as to withstand any crisis," he said.
Najib said Malaysia's external debt was RM740.7 billion in the third quarter of 2014, compared to RM41.5 billion in 1990 and RM196 billion at end-2013.
He attributed the drastic increase to the redefinition of external debt in use since 2014, in line with international reporting requirements, which now put the country's external debt as comprising offshore borrowings by the federal government, public enterprises and the private sector as well as holdings of debt securities, deposits and trade credits denominated in ringgit by non-residents.
Najib said the higher external debt under the new definition reflects the high level of non-residents' holdings of ringgit-denominated debt securities, constituting nearly two-thirds of the rise in the country's external debt.
"This is due to the wider depth, openness and attractiveness of the Malaysian financial market.
"At the same time, the new definition allows the government to better assess the risk exposure to non-residents," he said.
At end-2014, Malaysia's external debt stood at RM744.7 billion or 69.96 per cent of GDP, he added.
"The federal government's debt position remains manageable and puts the country in the moderately-indebted category.
"The government is committed to ensuring the federal government's debt level does not exceed 55 per cent of GDP," the premier, who is also Finance Minister, said in his written reply to William Leong Jee Keen (PKR-Selayang) today.
Leong had wanted to know the reasons for the dramatic rise in the country's external debt to RM740 billion in the third quarter of 2014 from RM43 billion in 1990, and its effects on the government's finances and economy.
Najib said to ensure the federal government's debt remains low and manageable, fiscal consolidation measures would continue to be taken to lower the deficit in stages, reducing the need for the government to borrow and thus reducing the debt level.
"Strict adherence to fiscal discipline and good debt management should be given emphasis to ensure a strong fiscal position and macroeconomy as well as to withstand any crisis," he said.
Najib said Malaysia's external debt was RM740.7 billion in the third quarter of 2014, compared to RM41.5 billion in 1990 and RM196 billion at end-2013.
He attributed the drastic increase to the redefinition of external debt in use since 2014, in line with international reporting requirements, which now put the country's external debt as comprising offshore borrowings by the federal government, public enterprises and the private sector as well as holdings of debt securities, deposits and trade credits denominated in ringgit by non-residents.
Najib said the higher external debt under the new definition reflects the high level of non-residents' holdings of ringgit-denominated debt securities, constituting nearly two-thirds of the rise in the country's external debt.
"This is due to the wider depth, openness and attractiveness of the Malaysian financial market.
"At the same time, the new definition allows the government to better assess the risk exposure to non-residents," he said.
At end-2014, Malaysia's external debt stood at RM744.7 billion or 69.96 per cent of GDP, he added.
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