The madness of 2009

thenutgraph.com

THE year 2009 has been a breathless one of political upheaval. But as we sift through the year's events, we ask, which were the ones that really mattered? Which events indicate if democracy and political maturity are improving? Which tell us things are becoming worse?

The Nut Graph offers its take on 10 highlights of 2009:

Eight by-elections. The year opened with the Kuala Terengganu by-election, followed by Bukit Gantang, Bukit Selambau and Batang Ai simultaneously. Of these four, the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) won all except Batang Ai in Sarawak, proving that East Malaysia still remains the Barisan Nasional (BN)'s "fixed deposit" despite growing discontent about local corruption, marginalisation and abuse of native customary rights.

The PR won predictably in Penanti, thanks partly to a BN boycott, and in Permatang Pasir, thanks to a defective BN candidate. But PAS's slim win in rural Manik Urai was a reminder of how effective the BN's unabashed use development promises could still be. In Bagan Pinang, the BN won through a popular but "tainted" candidate to ensure a win at all cost, even sacrificing its own credibility.

The Perak coup. It took three disgruntled elected representatives switching allegiance for the BN to wrest the state government from the PR. But Perakians had little say in the takeover, which was sanctioned by the palace and upheld by the courts.

The fall of Perak spawned a constitutional crisis and numerous lawsuits on landmark issues. Perak has come to epitomise the worst excesses of raw power, through the use of the civil service, police, and the judiciary, to prevent fresh elections. A poll has shown that 74% of people surveyed want a re-election, a demand the BN has consistently ignored.

The sixth prime minister. Datuk Seri Najib Razak took office on 3 April and was well received by the public in his first 100 days. Notably, those who were satisfied were mostly Malay and Indian Malaysians. The Indian Malaysians were probably soothed by Najib's quick moves to release Hindraf detainees, allow speedy registration of the new Malaysian Makkal Sakti Party, and increase allocations for Tamil schools.

(Source: cidb.gov.my)On the economy, Najib liberalised aspects of the New Economic Policy, revived plans for a goods and services tax, and ambitiously charted 6% annual growth until 2020. He's made 1Malaysia his administration's tagline, which, despite criticism, is generally accepted as a broad ideal for racial unity.

To boot, Najib toned down the rhetoric of Malay supremacy and told Umno at the party general assembly to be "champions of the rakyat". There are promises of more reform, which include disclosures on political funding. Najib's continuing challenge is to walk the talk, despite his own party.

But civil society has given Najib an "F" for his human rights track record. Freedom of expression, the right to dissent, deaths in custody, detention without trial, and stalled police reform are among the KPIs on democracy he has yet to fulfil.

Teoh Beng Hock and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). Found dead outside the Selangor MACC headquarters, the young DAP aide had been interrogated overnight, despite being a witness, and despite the Police Lock-up Rules. Whether Teoh fell or was pushed off the building is the subject of an ongoing inquest which was stalled by a second autopsy. Demands for a Royal Commission of Inquiry have been rejected until after the findings of the inquest.

Teoh's death demolished the MACC's credibility, months after being formed through a revamp of the Anti-Corruption Agency and an act of Parliament. Following a suit, the High Court ruled that interrogations could only take place during office hours, but this has been overturned by the Court of Appeal. Denying any pressure, MACC chief Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan went into retirement five months early.

The Port Klang Free Zone scandal. Its cost overruns presently amount to RM7.5 billion, involving government loans. With interest, it could rise further to RM12 billion. But who is going to pay? So far, a former engineer, project architect, and two former Port Klang Authority officials have been charged. But what about former cabinet members or ministry officials who flouted Treasury guidelines and misled their colleagues? How far back does this scandal go, and will those in authority then face justice? At the heart of the scandal lies a crisis of public governance. Whether the full can of worms is opened will speak of the government's commitment to fight corruption.

The MCA crisis. President Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat may have used the PKFZ scandal to shore up his credentials as a clean and righteous leader, but was that really the point in the MCA's war of personalities? Once enemies, Ong and his deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek are now team-mates in fending off vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Youth chief Datuk Wee Ka Siong and Wanita head Datuk Paduka Chew Mei Fun. The game now is self-preservation, hence the disagreement over the timing of fresh party elections. It is doubtful if the outcome will have much of an impact on Chinese Malaysians who are largely supportive of the opposition.

PAS-Umno unity talks. It
Kartika was opposed by PAS's own grassroots but naturally welcomed by Umno. In the end, was the unity talks idea just chest-thumping by president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and deputy Nasharuddin Mat Isa? If not political cooperation, was it to strengthen the position of Islam and Malay nationalism? Or did it reflect the leaders' insecurity over PAS's second-fiddle position in the PR? PAS may have solidified its commitment to the PR through the recent Common Policy Framework, but that is no guarantee the idea of PAS and Umno joining hands will not be suggested again.

Kartika's whipping sentence. Not the first woman to be sentenced to caning under syariah for drinking beer, Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno was, however, the first to plead guilty. She made international headlines for Malaysia, and highlighted contradictions between civil and syariah law. But her sentence has yet to be carried out. Kartika's story illustrates Malaysia's continuing tension in straddling both the Islamic and secular forms of governance.

Women and the law. Two little-known laws involving marriage were brought to the fore this year. Indonesian model Manohara Odelia Pinot was issued a perintah kembali taat by the Syariah Court upon application by her Kelantanese prince husband. Her failure to return would result in her being branded "nusyuz" or disloyal and rebellious.

ManoharaIn civil law, Section 498 of the Penal Code allows a husband to prosecute another man for enticing his wife. This is what the husband of TV personality Daphne Iking decided to do. The argument for these laws is that they are meant to protect a marriage. But if that is so, why do such laws not cut both ways? Isn't a man nusyuz if he abuses his wife? Doesn't a wife have a part in being "enticed" by another man? Don't wives in an abusive or loveless marriage have the right to make their own decisions?

In contrast, laws to protect women failed to work in the case of Penan women and girls. Despite reports and testimonies of rape and sexual abuse collected by a government taskforce, police said they didn't have enough evidence and could not take further action.

These three examples demonstrate that the laws of Malaysia do not necessarily protect women or ensure their equality.

World rankings. Downgrades for Malaysia were recorded for 2009 in several indices. Transparency International's 2009 Corruption Perception Index saw Malaysia slide from 47th to 56th place out of 180 countries. The placing was the lowest ever in recent years of steady decline.

Malaysia was also downgraded from the Tier 2 Watchlist to the Tier 3 blacklist on the Trafficking in Persons 2009 report. It said Malaysia had become a destination, and, to some extent, a source and transit point for human trafficking.

In Reporters Without Borders' Press Freedom Index, Malaysia slipped slightly from 132 to 131 this year, a status-quo verdict indicating a lack of progress. In the Global Gender Gap Report 2009, Malaysian women were worse off in 2009 at 101th place, compared with 96 in 2008, 92 in 2007, and 72 in 2006.

Anwar vs Dr M Libel Suit: Was The Outcome Fixed?

From Malaysia Kini

Did former Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim play a role in deciding the outcome of Anwar Ibrahim’s defamation suit against former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad at the High Court two years’ ago?

This question was mooted following allegations in an anonymous letter that High Court judicial commissioner Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat had struck out Anwar’s libel suit after meeting Ahmad Fairuz several times before delivering her verdict.

Judges are bound by a strict code of ethics and must be absolutely impartial in their judgments, and not be swayed by pressure from the executive, legislature or by senior members of the judiciary.

If there is even a grain of truth to the allegation, the Malaysian judiciary will be shamed yet again.

Malaysiakini learnt a complaint was made to the Anti Corruption Agency (now Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission) in 2007 soon after Tengku Maimun delivered her verdict on Anwar’s suit against Dr Mahathir.

The allegations in the anonymous letter to ACA was also handed to the judiciary and the authorities, alleging Tengku Maimun had on several occasions discussed the matter with Ahmad Fairuz before she delivered her judgment.

Among the allegations were that Ahmad Fairuz had told Tengku Maimun “how to decide” in the case.

Anwar filed the libel suit against Mahathir following stinging comments at a Suhakam press conference, over the opposition leader’s alleged sexual conduct.

Tengku Maimun, in striking out Anwar’s suit, ruled that Mahathir’s defence was likely to succeed and there was no need for the matter to be heard in a full trial.

Lawyer VK Lingam, who was implicated in the infamous video-tape, judge-fixing scandal, was Mahathir’s counsel in the matter.

Last October, the Court of Appeal had dismissed Anwar’s appeal on the matter based on a technical matter – that Anwar did not file appeal application in Bahasa Malaysia.

Lingam once again played a part in applying to strike out the appeal before Justice Abdul Malik Ishak, who was heading a three-member panel.

Did Lingam write judgment?

Reporters who covered the decision were offered copies of Tengku Maimun’s written judgments by Lingam immediately after the verdict was read out.

This raises the question as to whether the lawyer had played a role in writing the judgment, possibly on behalf of Tengku Maimun.

Previously allegations have been made that Lingam had played a role in writing a judge’s judgment, as was revealed by his former secretary G N Jayanthi at an inquiry into the video tape scandal.

Testifying at a Royal Commission of Inquiry, Jayanthi (left) said she stayed until 3am in Lingam’s office to draft a judgment which was to eventually become a landmark decision.

The decision was read out by High Court judge Mokhtar Sidin in Vincent Tan’s libel suit against MGG Pillai.

Jayanthi had said this happened sometime between November and early December 1994, where Lingam was representing Tan, the tycoon of the Berjaya Group.

“I later discovered the judgment written by Lingam was fully incorporated as the official judgment by the said judge,” the former secretary had told in her testimony.

As many may recall Lingam was alleged to have spoken to Ahmad Fairuz on the other end of the phone in the video tape when the latter was the Chief Judge of Malaya.

Ahmad Fairuz, when testifying at the Royal Commission, said Lingam’s alleged conversation with him was slanderous and a fabrication.

Former UN rapporteur’s report

Former UN special rapporteur on the independence of the judiciary Param Cumaraswamy, following the anonymous letter, wrote to the ACA in September 2007 to lodge a complaint on the possibility of such improper practises.

Param had his letter questioned Tengku Maimun’s confirmation as a full fledged judge a month after delivering the judgment.

A copy of Param’s letter and the anonymous letter, which contained several other allegations of impropriety in the judiciary, were made available to Malaysiakini.

Attempts to contact Tengku Maimun, Ahmad Fairuz and the MACC were unsuccessful.

LKS tweets reply to Dr .M

By Lim Kit Siang,

Am in Tokyo on private visit. Will give blog response 2Mahathir.
12/23/2009 09:49 PM

Mahathir wants Wain’s book 2b released forthwith.Who really believe Mahathir? Or is Najib or Hisham culprit blocking “Maverick M”’s release?
12/23/2009 09:45 PM

Why Mahathir don’t sue me now if I had libelled him calling for RCI into Barry Wain’s RM100 billion allegation in his book Maverick M?
12/23/2009 09:39 PM

Why his suit conditional on outcome of RCI into Barry Wain’s allegation when M will do utmost 2block RCI though claiming support publicly?
12/23/2009 09:35 PM

Why Mahathir reserved right 2sue me 4stmt calling 4RCI into allegation in “Maverick Mahathir” RM100 bil wasted or burned in 22 yrs PMship?
12/23/2009 09:31 PM

A case of he/she and not much help

The Star
Putik Lada by Nizam Bashir

Should Malaysia reconsider its approach and accord more latitude to Muslim transsexuals? A Muslim country like Iran has done so – but such a move here will lead to another host of questions.

WHEN an Islamic hardliner like Zulkifli Noordin says that “we should help” Fatine, it is certainly time to sit up and pay careful attention to what is being said.

No doubt, “help” is being offered, but the offer is only on the table if Fatine is a hermaphrodite or an inter-sexed person that is to say someone born with physically ambiguous sexual characteristics (“hermaphrodite”). In all other instances, Fatine is on “his” own.

It is easy to see where the Kulim MP is coming from. Fatine is a Muslim and as such he is subject to the syariah laws in Malaysia.

If he is a hermaphrodite, no issue arises as Syariah laws recognise hermaphrodites as a natural phenomenon and even enable them to opt for sexual reassignment surgery (“SRS”) – if they elect to do so.

The reverse, however, is true if Fatine is a transsexual – that is to say someone who identifies with a physical sex different from his biological one. He would not be entitled to SRS and may even be subject to prosecution for “cross-dressing” especially when “cross dressing” is coupled with “immoral purposes”. That is how the law stands for Muslim transsexuals in Malaysia.

(The position is not too dissimilar for non-Muslim transsexuals in Malaysia. While there may not be any religious rulings against them, there is still Section 21 of the Minor Offences, 1955 to contend with where a slew of possible offences await the unwary. This can range from “merely” loitering late at night to something graver like prostitution.)

Not so in Iran. There, Muslim transsexuals are not subjected to any form of prosecution so long as the individual undergoes SRS and to facilitate this, the Iranian government even provides financial aid, if aid is required.

Crucially, post-SRS, Iran even recognises the individual’s post-SRS gender and the change is reflected on the birth certificate.

This has been the religious experience in Iran since the mid-1980s courtesy of Maryam Khatoon Molkara’s successful personal appeal to Ayatollah Khomeini for a religious edict in her favour.

Today, if we go by statistics alone, SRS has proven to be very popular for transsexuals in Iran and Iran is now second only to Thailand in terms of SRS carried out worldwide.

The real question however is whether Malaysia should reconsider its approach and accord more latitude to Muslim transsexuals in Malaysia merely because a Muslim country like Iran has done so?

From a religious perspective, the answer to that question appears fraught with difficulties.

The powers that be will not blindly apply Iran’s religious edicts. Iran is after all homelands to the Shias, the Ayatollah a Shia religious cleric and crucially, Malaysia no longer considers Shias to be a legitimate Islamic sect.

There is also the not-so-small matter of dealing with the religious edict (fatwa) issued in 1983 by the Conference of Rulers where matters like SRS and cross-dressing have been prohibited.

Nevertheless, from a legal perspective, proponents of the question would likely point out that transsexuals must be accorded the right to live as full a life without interference from the State so long as no harm is occasioned to others.

However, let’s not get too caught up in the intricacies of both arguments – religious or legal – and let’s merely look at the practical repercussions that may arise from changing Malaysia’s present stance on transsexuals.

Obviously, it means that transsexuals – Muslims or otherwise – would be more assured of their place in society.

It also means that society as whole would need to grapple with finding answers to the following questions:

1. Can a post-op transsexual get married to someone of his/her previously identified gender?

2. Can a pre-op or post-op transsexual adopt a child?

3. How should religious rites be carried out for deceased Muslim transsexuals? Should it be carried out by male religious clerics or women? Would you answer change post-op?

4. Which toilet should a pre-op transsexual go to? Male or female? Would your answer change post-op?

5. Can a male police officer conduct a body search of a pre-op transsexual male or can the individual insist on a female police officer? Can the female police officer decline conducting the body search?

6. Should a transsexual be permitted to reflect his or her post-SRS identities on his or her birth certificate or identification cards? If your answer was no, would your answer change if this was your child?

As can be imagined, those questions are certainly not easy ones to answer. Not if we are truly being genuine and sincere in trying to address them.

However, in the interim, as we continue to grapple with the question, let’s not engage in “shameful” weasel words (i.e. words which imply that something meaningful has been said) which only serves to mislead onlookers or readers into thinking that an unqualified offer has been made to “help” Fatine to deal with his problems.

All of which are very real and very tangible as Fatine, as is obvious from the original report in the Sun (Britain) on Nov 27, is a transsexual and promised the proverbial rod when he comes back home to Malaysia.

> The writer is a young lawyer. Putik Lada, or pepper buds in Malay, captures the spirit and intention of this column – a platform for young lawyers to articulate their views and aspirations about the law, justice and a civil society. For more information about the young lawyers, visit www.malaysianbar.org.my/nylc.

The sense of responsibility

My Sinchew

I can still remember clearly the first time I work. My boss told me: you can't be so lazy. You must have the sense of responsibility. And now, I would like to dedicate the remarks to our ministers, Members of the Parliament, civil servants and all those whose work is related to the people's interests. I hope that they are having the sense of responsibility to reduce human errors so that everything will go smoothly in the coming year.

There are so much of careless mistakes in various fields and it is in fact closely related to the declining sense of responsibility. The roof of a completed stadium and an incomplete bus station collapsed. A fighter jet engine has been stolen and the precious evidence to be presented in court has also disappeared. Who is going to bear the responsibility after the mistakes are made? Who is going to be punished? They should put words into actions in order to enhance discipline of the public domain.

Other examples will show how serious the impact of the declining sense of responsibility is. The 2010 Budget was passed by a narrow 66-63 votes at the third reading in the Dewan Rakyat after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was forced to rush back to the Parliament to cast his vote from the Chong Hwa Independent School’s 95th anniversary celebrations. A total of 70 BN MPs were absent that night, including 18 ministers and 12 deputy ministers.

It is not something new for MPs to be absent from Dewan Rakyat sittings. According to press reports, even in normal time, the number of MPs sitting in the hall is less than the quorum of 26. Our MPs are either chat at the cafeteria and corridors or just slip out of the hall. It is like a cat that does not catch mouse, MPs who are absent from Dewan Rakyat sittings have forgotten about their duties.

A MPs who was absent that night gave a “superb” reason: I'm a vegetarian. As the cafeteria of the Parliament does not provide any vegetarian food, I usually eat outside. As they already knew that we had to vote for the Budget that night, they should got the dinner ready for the lengthy sitting, they were not three-year-old kids after all.

Kinabatangan MP, who was busy preparing to marry a second wife, was also absent. The news of his marriage had almost grabbed more attention than the narrowly passed Budget. MPs do not carry out their legislative and oversight responsibilities but always come out with claptrap and obscene words to deliberately get free propaganda. They have vulgarised the Parliamentary Hall.

How difficult it is for MPs to attend Dewan Rakyat sittings? Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Maznah Mazlan was informed of her father's death before the Dewan Rakyat session started, but she remained in the Dewan Negara for two hours to answer questions before rushing back to Cameron Highlands. Maznah was so responsible, why can't other people do so?

It is also a shame to mention the sense of responsibility of our ministers. Many ministers are always absent by saying that they are busy with official duties. Instead, they spend the time in handling party matters and crisis. They have completely neglected the Parliament.

During the open day of the government's transformation, the minister responsible could not be seen. He has failed to achieve the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) of being accountable to the people.

There are endless to say when we discuss on the sense of responsibility of our officials. It is as well a shame for the country. (By LIM SUE GOAN/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily)

Banggarma sues to declare conversion unlawful

The Sun
Himanshu Bhatt

GEORGE TOWN (Dec 23, 2009) : S. Banggarma, 27, who claims to have been illegally converted to Islam while at a government welfare home about 20 years ago, today took legal action to declare her conversion unlawful.

Banggarma, whose identity card carries the name Siti Hasnah Vangarama binti Abdullah, is seeking a court declaration that the conversion process was unlawful as she was then a child, and that the conversion certificate is "ineffective, null and void ab initio".

In a civil suit filed at the Penang High Court today, she is also seeking to have the name on her IC changed to her Hindu one, and for the designation 'Islam' to be deleted from the card.

Named as defendants in her suit were former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in his capacity as president of the Muslim Welfare Organisation Malaysia (Perkim), then Perkim official Raimi Abdullah, the Penang Islamic Council (MAIPP) and the Penang City Kadi (Islamic judge).

The suit does not seek any monetary compensation.

Banggarma who was accompanied by her husband, fisherman S. Sockalingam, 31, and their two children S. Kanagaraj, 8, and S. Hisyanthini, 2, and some supporters, later performed a Hindu ritual of smashing a coconut in front of the court house, to invoke blessings.

In her affidavit, Banggarma said she was taken by Raimi and Muballigh officials from the MAIPP, to the Kadi to be converted into a Muslim on Dec 28, 1989 where she was then instructed by the Kadi to take the affirmation of faith, the 'Kalimah Syahadah’ in their presence.

She stressed that she did not and could not have, at that time, understood the contents and meaning of the words in the Declaration to Convert into Islam certificate which she was asked to recite, utter and execute.

"As a child of merely seven years of age, I did not have any choice except to obey the directions given by the defendants to take the affirmation of oath," she said.

She said she was ignorant that her conversion process was defective and bad in law, and that she could legally challenge it, until she had been advised about it by her solicitor.

"Banggarma is seeking the court’s assistance to solve her predicament of having been unlawfully converted into Islam when she was seven years old, so that she may be able to live her life and practise her Hindu faith freely and openly," said her lawyer Gooi Hsiao Leung in a statement.

Gooi said the decision was made after the MAIPP had been unhelpful when approached.

"Even more worrying is that the fact that after Banggarma’s case was highlighted, the police went to Banggarma’s home looking for her without giving any reasons whatsoever," he added.

"We are concerned about Banggarma’s safety and we call upon the authorities to show restraint and not to harass our client, pending this legal action," he added.

This Christmas, give them hope...

If you are wondering how you can make the year-end extra meaningful, why not think of the Monfort Youth Centre in Malacca.

The students of the Monfort Youth Centre

Help the Centre give hope to the young: An artist’s impression of the proposed double-storey building – Images courtesy of Monfort Youth Centre

First of all, I want to say thank you for your support this year with this blog. Some of the discussions and debates we have had here have been priceless. We have witnessed many things together in the struggle for justice and freedom – sometimes “live” as news breaks. At other times, we have been aghast at the environmental and human price some of us have paid for unsustainable development. And if we start to talk about corruption, oppression and exploitation, we could be here all day…

The year end is also a time for us to reflect on our lives, our priorities and what our role is in the larger scheme of things. Jesus himself was born in poverty. He constantly identified with the poor and those whom society often shunned. He empowered them and gave them hope.

From what I hear, the Gabrielite Brothers (a religious order within the Catholic Church) have been doing some excellent work in giving hope to the young at the Monfort Youth Centre. Over the years, they have provided all-round human development and training in skills such as motor mechanics for disadvantaged teenagers. Youths who complete courses at this residential-care centre are usually snapped up by prospective employers; not only are the students given quality training, they also display an impressive sense of personal responsibility.

The Brothers are now expanding the centre with a new double-storey building. The ground-floor will have four classrooms for language classes and two rooms for personal counselling. The upper floor will house a multimedia lab and a workshop for the computer maintenance department. Unfortunately, public donations are down by 20-30 per cent this year because of the economic slowdown. The Brothers have raised enough money to complete the building but they don’t have enough funds to equip the departments and the classrooms with computers and furniture.

Help them to give hope to the young. You could write out a cheque payable to Montfort Youth Centre and mail it to Monfort Youth Centre, Kg. Baru, Air Salak, 75250 Melaka, Malaysia.

Or just give them a call during office hours (8.30am to 5.30pm), Monday to Friday (except public holidays), (Tel: 06-3510114 /115 Fax: 06-3510200).

Wishing you peace, love, justice, happiness and everything good now and in the coming year.

Bukan sampai kucing bertanduk tapi sampai jadi fosil...

Lukisan kartun yang 'makan dalam oleh Enot berkaitan dengan Laporan Polis 3 Disember oleh SAMM dan SMM. sila klik sini untuk baca lanjut

Banner / bunting (harga murah) hubungi Enot 0196426679 / 0123040715. Enot ialah kartunis reformasi yang banyak melahirkan kartunkritik sosial sejak awal 1999. Dia juga penyumbang banyak bahan kempen era reformasi.

Fighters 'sent to Afghan Taliban'

The Taliban's move come as the US orders more troops to Afghanistan [GALLO/GETTY] A senior Pakistani Taliban commander has said he has sent thousands of fighters into neighbouring Afghanistan to counter the rising level of US troops. Waliur Rehman's comments, made to the Associated Press, came in a report released on Wednesday. "Since [Barack] Obama [the US president] is also sending additional forces to Afghanistan, we sent thousands of our men there to fight Nato and American forces," Rehman said. Rehman is a deputy to Hakimullah Mehsud, the leader of the Pakistani Taliban, and the man in charge of the group's operations in South Waziristan. The Afghan Taliban told Al Jazeera said they had no need for the help of Pakistani fighters and do not recognise their leadership. The Pakistani army has been conducting a campaign against the Taliban in that region for several months and the offensive is believed to have pushed many of Taliban fighters in the area to flee. There are thought to be as many as 10,000 fighters in South Waziristan, including hundreds of Uzbek fighters. 'Confident performance' The Pakistani military estimates it has killed about 600 Taliban fighters, but in his interview Rehman claimed to have lost fewer than 20 men. "We have not noticed any significant movement of insurgents in the border area" Colonel Wayne Shanks, US military spokesman in Afghanistan Imran Khan, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Islamabad, said Rehman's interview was likely an attempt to play down the effects of the military's offensive in South Waziristan. "They're saying here that the Taliban is putting a spin on it - it's a confident performance, but they've been forced into Afghanistan by the offensive [in South Waziristan]," he said. "This is the Taliban saying we've not been forced by the Pakistani army, we're going across voluntarily." The Associated Press interview with Rehman was conducted at a mud-brick compound in the Shaktoi area of South Waziristan on Monday. The news agency also quoted Colonel Wayne Shanks, a US military spokesman in Afghanistan, as dismissing Rehman's comments as simply "rhetoric". "We have not noticed any significant movement of insurgents in the border area," he said. Army targeted Imtiaz Gul, an expert on the Pakistani Taliban, said that Rehman's comment's needed to be taken "with a pinch of salt". "If we look at the track record of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan [the Pakistani Taliban, or TTP], they have been exclusively concentrating on targeting Pakistani army, Pakistani people and government installations," he told Al Jazeera. "If Walid Rehman Mehsud has made this claim, this indicates perhaps a change in tactic or an attempt to divert attention from the TTP. "Especially after the sweeping operation the army has conducted, they probably want to send a reassuring signal to their supporters that they are very much alive and kicking." In his interview Rehman also said his group would stop attacking Pakistani forces if Pakistan would sever its ties to the US. "We would again become Pakistan's brother if Pakistan ends its support for America," he was quoted as saying. He urged the US president to focus on concerns at home, saying: "He should know that Americans don't want war ... He should use this money for the welfare of his own people."

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies

Kg.Buah Pala Muruga who went to UNESCO to Save Kg.Buah Pala pass away

The man know as Muruga and called as London Boy of Kampung Buah Pala was laid to rest this evening at Batu Lanchang crematorium. He passed away on 23rd December 2009 @ 3.30am and was cremated the same day at 4.00pm at Penang Indian cemetary at Batu Lancang.

Muruga was the representative of Kampong Buah Pala who was sent to the UNESCO office in Paris at the height of the Kampung Buah Pala Demolition episode to seek UNESCO’s assistances to stop the demolition of the Indian heritage village Kampung Buah Pala.

Of late he was disturbed by the agony of the enforcement agency under Lim Guan Eng. His cattle , forced off from Kampung Buah Pala and without proper alternative land were seized on grounds that they were roaming at residental area. In fact they were seized at the top of an adjacent uninhabited hill by the enforcement agency. A police report was made to the effect by Muruga that Lim Guan Eng was the man responsible for the the act.

Eventually the enforcement agency agreed to settle the issue without compounding for the offence (which was not commited by the cows or the owners) if Muruga was willing to withdraw the police report made against the enforcement agency and Lim Guan Eng. On the 21st of December 2009 Muruga withdrew the police report as instructed by the enforcement agency. However the enfrocement agency did not keep to their word. After viewing the withdrawal of the police report the enforcement agency head conveniently told Muruga that the settlement offer was withdrawn and requested Muruga to pay the compound of about RM480.00 in order to get his cattle back.

This act of the enforcement agency has upset Muruga very much and his health deteriorated further. The enforcement Agency did not give a damn that Muruga was a heart patient. This has now resulted in the death of Muruga.

This is what the Indians of Peneng have effectively got with the DAP Government of Penang. They hound the Indians who dare stand up to their nonsense and in cases like Muruga, where there is already an ailment, just kills them off. Yes, this is DAP for the prosperity of Indians in all of Malaysia.

HRP and HINDRAF prays that may Muruga’s soul rest in peace

K.Maran

HRP Penang Chief

HINDRAF and HRP gave last respect

CAP:Increase in Indians declared bankrupts, properties seized for auction.

So says the Consumer Association of Penangs’ N.V. Subbarow (ref The Star 7/12/09 page N43).

This has to do with UMNO’s blatant policy of excluding the Indians from the national mainstream development of Malaysia. The UMNO government has been systematically denying Indians licences to trade, to do business denying them the preferential low interest loans, if not the outright business grants that is offered to the Bumiputra businessmen.

This kind of direct and blatant discrimination does not happen in any other part of the world except in racist UMNO Malay-sian Prime Minister Najib Razak’s One Malay-sia.

P. Uthayakumar

Mahathir Returns Fire on Critical Book

Asia Sentinel

Written by John Berthelsen

Wednesday, 23 December 2009

Malaysia's former premier says he'll cooperate with a commission to investigate his reign Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has hit back at a book by former Asian Wall Street Journal editor Barry Wain that contained allegations Mahathir wasted RM100 billion (US$40 billion) on grandiose projects and corruption during his 22 years as premier.

Mahathir said he would welcome a royal commission to look into the charges and demanded that the book be released to the public. Malaysian customs has been sitting on the book, titled "Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times," for about a month in its Port Klang facility, apparently concerned about the controversy it would raise, or perhaps concerned about Mahathir's own wrath.

"I am not in need of government protection," Mahathir declared on his website, Che Det, a title taken from a childhood nickname. He also said he reserves the right to sue Wain, opposition leader Lim Kit Siang, who requested the royal commission, and the popular website Malaysiakini for libel for a sum to be determined later depending on the findings of the investigative body.

Mahathir said the commission should include not just nominees by the government but foreigners and representatives of Transparency International, which keeps track of corruption in countries across the world.

However, he also said the commission should also focus on Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who followed him as prime minister and who he spent years trying to bring down. He questioned the spending of RM 270 billion (US$78.5 billion) of Petronas funds during Abdullah's five-year term in office. He remains outraged over Abdullah's cancellation of two of his most cherished projects, a so-called crooked bridge over the Johor causeway to Singapore - which Singapore's government didn't want - and a railway project from Johor Baru in the south of the country to the Thai border.

"The government isn't one man alone," a source friendly to the onetime premier said. "He may take the rap for everybody but that's part and parcel of being a leader. A lot of people were involved. And it wasn't that many of the ideas weren't good, some were good, some were bad- but the execution is another thing. You can't blame Dr M for everything that has gone wrong by the people entrusted to do it."

Mahathir did not include on his website a request to investigate the reign of Najib Tun Razak, the current prime minister, who as defense minister was involved in a series of massive cost overruns and questionable military purchases, including the US$1 billion purchase and/or lease of three French submarines, which earned his best friend, Abdul Razak Baginda, a €114 million "commission." There are widespread suspicions that the commission was disbursed back to UMNO cronies and possibly top French officials.

It is certain that Mahathir has a good idea where most of the bodies have been buried over the last 40 years. Turning the charges away from his own reign, Mahathir asked:

"What is the cost over-run in the construction of the Bakun Hydroelectric project?" The Bakun Dam hydroelectric project was begun in the 1980s when Mahathir was prime minister and has been roundly criticized as a huge white elephant. According to projections at the time it was started, the entire island of Borneo would never be able to use the power in the foreseeable future, and a plan to pipe the power underwater to West Malaysia would result in more power being lost to leakage than would arrive in West Malaysia. The dam, which would cover more area than the entire island of Singapore, was mostly regarded as a pretext to allow Sarawakian government interests to harvest the valuable tropical timber in the catchment area.

Mahathir also questioned the financing of a second bridge across the Penang strait to the mainland "and the procedure followed when giving out this contract."

He called on the government to "give the undertaking to give full access to the commission of all the documents and accounts of the government over the period 1981-2009. There should be no cover-up of any kind," and demanded that Wain "provide documentary proof of any sum that he alleged I had burned." He said he would cooperate fully with the royal commission.

Najib announces RPGT reversal

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid - The Malaysian Insider

Najib (left) hopes the Chinese will reciprocate by helping him realise his 1 Malaysia concept. — Bernama pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced tonight a reversal of his government’s decision to reintroduce real property gains tax (RPGT) on January 1 for all transactions, amid concerns that it would hit long-standing homeowners and foreign investors.

Instead, the government has now decided the five per cent RPGT would only apply to property sold within five years of purchase.

The five per cent tax, which was announced under Budget 2010 in October, is normally imposed to curb speculation but due to its flat structure does not differentiate between homeowners who have been holding a property for 20 years or those who are flipping properties within one or two years for a profit.

The property sector was taken by surprise by the announcement and had expressed worries that it would have sent a message to potential investors that the government has not been consistent in its policymaking.

An exemption on the RPGT was given in 2007 by the then-Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi administration in order to boost the property development industry.

Its removal two plus years later with little warning could have heightened the feeling of uncertainty among investors.

But speaking at a dinner with the federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia tonight, Najib allayed fears from the business sector, many of whom are from the Chinese community.

Najib (second left) and his hosts share a light moment during tonight’s dinner. — Picture by Jack Ooi

He said the decision to backtrack on the implementation of the RPGT will likely cost the government RM200 million in lost revenue.

Apart from this, Najib also announced that the hospitality industry will enjoy a 60 per cent reinvestment allowance from the government, to be handed out to hotels undertaking investments for renovation and refurnishing.

He said that in line with this new policy, the government will extend the investment allowance for 15 years.

The announcements were made following requests made by the Federation of Chinese Associations for the government to help the property sector.

“I hope the Chinese community will respond to the announcements accordingly,” he said.

Najib also said that he hoped to see the Chinese reciprocate his gesture by helping him realise his “1 Malaysia” concept.

PAS crisis worsens, Nik Aziz’s daughter slams ‘traitors’

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 — The crisis within Kelantan PAS appears to be spiraling out of control, with Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat’s daughter, Nik Amalina, slamming her husband’s critics today.

Nik Amalina in her blog posting today blasted party leaders who have been criticising her husband, embattled PMBK chief executive officer Abdul Ariffahmi Abdul Rahman, who has been told to resign from his post following allegations of graft.

PAS is divided by this issue with one faction, understood to be led by Datuk Husam Musa’s Erdogan faction, blasting Ariffahmi as a liability to the party, while their rivals claiming such criticisms are meant to undermine Nik Aziz’s position as MB.

The youngest child of Nik Aziz said the leaders who criticised her husband are trying their best to exploit the controversy for “cheap publicity” and have failed to defend her father on the matter.

“When you’re supposed to open your mouth, you are mute but when you are supposed to keep silent, what do you do?” Nik Amalina wrote.

“Don’t just talk… walk the talk,” added Nik Amalina who appears to be blaming Husam for the controversy surrounding her husband.

This was made clear after she wrote in a different blog posting demanding the resignation of a “certain Kelantan exco”, in an apparent reference to Husam.

Ariffahmi tendered his resignation after pressure from party leaders but refused to step down immediately, saying that he will “honour” his contract that would allow him to stay as CEO of PMBK until March next year.

His decision sparked an uproar from leaders who have been trying hard to unseat him and has fanned further fire between the warring factions.

Meanwhile PAS information Chief Idris Ahmad responded to Nik Amalina’s open outburst by saying it was inappropriate for the daughter of Nik Aziz to make such comments openly.

He said that this would open up the party’s internal affairs and invite attacks from its political rivals. The attacks have already begun. Umno, through its media, have been harping on the crisis in a bid to drive a deeper wedge between the warring factions.

A-G says missing engines ‘serious’, vows to investigate

Gani says investigating the loss of the F5-E engines will not be easy.

NEW DELHI, Dec 23 — Describing the disappearance of two F5-E fighter jet engines as a “serious matter”, Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail today gave the assurance that his chambers would go all-out to solve the case.

“It is a serious matter. To my knowledge, it is two engines, and what makes matters worse is that the loss was discovered about a year later. I need a full investigation. I think the public deserves to know,” he said.

It was reported last week that the two Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) F5-E fighter jet engines were missing, prompting the authorities to conduct an investigation.

In an interview with Bernama here, Abdul Gani admitted that it would not be an easy case as it involved a range of agencies — ministries, transport and forwarding agencies, the security network, and companies involved in repairing engines.

He said the military conducted its own investigation and then decided to lodge a police report more than a year after the engines went missing.

And, about six months ago, the case was referred to the AG’s Chambers for further investigation.

“I have directed my people to conduct a complete check, the entire movement of the two engines, and I want to know where the engines are now. “This is not a simple matter. It is a concerted effort by a group of people,” he noted.

Abdul Gani was in New Delhi to deliver a lecture of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organisation (AALCO) lecture series. — Bernama

Fear of superior BN machinery caused third vote rejection

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) officials had raised concerns that even Kota Baru in the PAS stronghold state of Kelantan could fall into the hands of Barisan Nasional (BN) if local council elections were restored.

These concerns caused PR to water down its commitment to restore local council elections should the fledgling coalition take federal power.

PR officials from DAP, PAS and PKR who spoke to The Malaysian Insider confirmed the coalition's technical committee, responsible for putting together its common platform, had grappled at length with the issue amid fears that the BN machinery, which they considered far superior to that of PR’s, would grab the lion's share of local council seats.

And in doing so, it was felt that BN could cause problems even for the administration of PR-held states.

These "tactical considerations" were understood to have been brought up by PAS.

"In terms of resources, certain quarters fear that they will not be able to compete with the BN machinery and major cities within PR-controlled states," said one senior PR leader.

"One of the major concerns raised during PR's secretariat meeting on this issue is that Kota Baru will fall into BN hands," he added.

The fall of Kota Baru — the administrative capital of PAS-ruled Kelantan — into their political rivals' hands would be disastrous for the party, it was argued.

Another senior leader from PKR concurred with this tactical view, saying that in Selangor itself the pact faced various technical problems pertaining to the third vote.

"In principle I will tell you that nobody in PR disagrees with the view that the third vote should be implemented."

The senior leader explained that there was a pervasive fear that BN would have the upper hand should the third vote be restored, given their superior resources and also the fact that civil servants within local councils "are tied to the BN-led federal government".

Another problem PR is facing, said the PKR leader, is with how the municipalities are carved out.

PR-led state governments are losing out to the BN-led federal government in terms of cash and while maintaining municipalities should be done by local councils, the federal government is also pouring in money into them in a bid to woo voters.

"So our supporters on the ground feel that we often lose out to BN. While we struggle to maintain the big municipalities with our limited resources, they can easily pour in cash," said the leader.

CC Members Can Submit Resignation Letters At Any Time

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 (Bernama) -- MCA secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng said on Wednesday MCA Central Committee (CC) members who have not tendered their resignation could do so at any time but reminded them that the deadline is this Friday.

He said the party constitution did not specifically mention the need of a deadline to tender their resignation letters.

If they submitted their resignation letters by Friday it would facilitate the party leadership to make the necessary follow-up, he told reporters after receiving a call from the Grand Mufti of Kazakhstan, Absattar Derbisali at Parliament House here.

MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and 12 other party leaders had already submitted undated letters of resignation as CC members to Wong in a move to enable fresh elections to be held to resolve the party's leadership crisis.

Besides Liow, others who have tendered their resignations include Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Wee Jeck Seng, Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Hou Kok Chung, veteran CC member Datuk Wong Mook Leong and vice-president Tan Kok Hong.

Some elected ordinary CC members who had also submitted their undated resignation letters are Lee Wei Kiat, Datuk Yu Chok Tow, Wong Nai Chee, Senator Datuk Yeow Chai Thiam, Datuk Hoh Khai Mun, Datuk Liew Yuen Keong, Datuk Edward Khoo Keok Hai and Senator Datuk Alex Wong Siong Hwee.

Burning Questions on the Bak Kut Teh controversy

by Nathaniel Tan

I confess I find it delicious (somewhat unhealthy probably, but delicious).

It is something of a testament to current affairs that in all seriousness, I really don’t know whether it’d make sense to put the words “No offence” at the beginning of the previous sentence.

In any case, allow me for now to seek the perspectives of experts who I hope may be reading on some of the following quotes from an article on the Bak Kut Teh Controversy:

Ketua Penolong Pengarah Jabatan Kemajuan Agama Islam Malaysia (Jakim) Lokman Abdul Rahman berkata, bak kut teh tidak boleh dianggap halal kerana ia masih mengekalkan penggunaan nama yang haram mengikut hukum Islam.

“Walaupun mereka mungkin akan membuat permohonan, Jakim tidak akan meluluskan makanan bak kut teh halal itu kerana sudah jelas ia tidak mengikut hukum yang telah ditetapkan di dalam Islam,” katanya.

So, I have a few questions. Some I have some inkling of, others less so, but I wanted to get your views:

a) (For you Hokkien lang out there) If I were to use the word “Bak” or “Bak Kut” – is a specific type of meat implied in common usage?

b) What exactly is the hukum Islam referred to twice by saudara Lokman above?

I ask b), and the follow up questions that follow with full respect, and in the hopes that some lady or gentleman may perhaps enlighten me and increase my understanding of the issue.

So, is there a specific law that involves the haram or halal-ness of things with certain names? As in, perhaps, if I were to wrap a piece of perfectly halal plain bread with a wrapper that said “pork bun” or something would that technically make it haram to buy or eat?

Again, I hope there is absolutely no misunderstanding of my intent, which is asked fully respectfully in the spirit of inquiry.

I have always been interested in Islamic jurisprudence, and remember having plenty of technical questions I used to ask Nik Nazmi (waaaaaay) back in the day when we shared an office. Our conversations always enlightened me, and I hope to continue my journeys of discovery in the same spirit of learning.

Apologies in advance if I edit or delete overly contentious comments, trying not to spend Xmas in jail, ahaha :P :)

KEADILAN Rembau bantu Suresh dapatkan sijil lahir dan MyKad setelah sering terima janji kosong Bn

Sempat melawat keluarga di Rantau yang baru mendapat surat beranak dan MyKad untuk anaknya yang tiada pendaftaran lahir.

Beberapa hari lalu cheGuBard bersama Azizi (S/U Cabang Rembau) dan Sani (Timb. AMK Rembau) telah menziarahi rumah Puan Lachmy a/p Potharajoo di Rantau.

Setahun Lachmy telah menghubungi Pusat Aduan Rakyat Rembau memaklumkan bahawa amat risau dengan anaknya tidak mempunyai sijil pendaftaran lahir. Anaknya yang berumur 14 tahun tidak bersekolah selain dari kerana kemiskinan ialah kerana tidak mempunyai sijil lahir.

Selama ini dia percaya pemimpin Bn akan selesaikan. Rumahnya sendiri pernah dihadiri oleh Datuk Rajagopaloo, (pengerusi Mic Negeri Sembilan) ketika menjadi exco Kerajaan Negeri bersama dengan media kononya bersedia dan berjanji membantu mengeluarkan keluarga mereka dari kemiskinan. Rajagopaloo disiarkan oleh media khususnya yang berbahasa India ketika melawat rumah Lachmy berjanji akan menyelesaikan isu anak tanpa sijil lahirnya.

Namun janji tinggal janji....

Pusat Aduan Rakyat (KEADILAN) Rembau, melalui Selvam a/l Subramaniam (selaku jawatankuasa KEADILAN Rembau) telah berusaha sehingga ke Pahang, Kuala Pilah, Putrajaya dan banyak pejabat demi pejabat kerajaan yang dimasuki demi menyelesaikan masalah. Jika difikirkan mahu kecewa sudah lama kami kecewa namun atas semangat ingin membela rakyat akhirnya sijil kelahiran dan MyKad 'Sureh' telah diperolehi.

Di Rembau bepuluh kes anak India tanpa sijil kelahiran tanpa pembelaan.... mana Mic, mana parti baru Makhal Sakhti.... semua parti perkauman hanya guna isu kaum bukan membela...

Walaupun dihimpit perbagai kekurangan KEADILAN Rembau akan meneruskan pembelaan ke arah memperkasakan rakyat!!!

Mishandling muslim women

http://pajamasmedia.com/phyllischesler/2009/11/23/under-the-islamic-veil-faces-disfigured-by-acid/

Shahnaz Bibi, 35, poses for a photograph in Lahore, Pakistan, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008. Ten years ago Shahnaz was burned with acid by a relative due to a familial dispute. She has never undergone plastic surgery.

Kanwal Kayum, 26, adjusts her veil as she poses for a photograph in Lahore, Pakistan, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008. Kanwal was burned with acid one year ago by a boy whom she rejected for marriage. She has never undergone plastic surgery.



Munira Asef, 23, poses for a photograph in Lahore, Pakistan, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008. Munira was burned with acid five years ago by a boy whom she rejected for marriage. She has undergone plastic surgery 7 times to try to recover from her scars.



Bushra Shari, 39, adjusts her veil as she poses for a photograph in Lahore, Pakistan, Friday, July. 11, 2008. Bushra was burned with acid thrown by her husband five years ago because she was trying to divorce him. She has undergone plastic surgery 25 times to try to recover from her scars.



Memuna Khan, 21, poses for a photograph in Karachi, Pakistan, Friday, Dec. 19, 2008. Menuna was burned by a group of boys who threw acid on her to settle a dispute between their family and Menuna's. She has undergone plastic surgery 21 times to try to recover from her scars.



Zainab Bibi, 17, adjusts her veil as she poses for a photograph in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008. Zainab was burned on her face with acid thrown by a boy whom she rejected for marriage five years ago. She has undergone plastic surgery several times to try to recover from her scars.



Naila Farhat, 19, poses for a photograph in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008. Naila was burned on her face with acid thrown by a boy whom she rejected for marriage five years ago.. She has undergone plastic surgery several times to try to recover from her scars.



Saira Liaqat, 26, poses for the camera as she holds a portrait of herself before being burned, at her home in Lahore, Pakistan, Wednesday, July 9, 2008. When she was fifteen, Saira was married to a relative who would later attack her with acid after insistently demanding her to live with him, although the families had agreed she wouldn't join him until she finished school. Saira has undergone plastic surgery 9 times to try to recover from her scars.

Convert goes to court to nullify conversion - Malaysiakini

S Banggarma, who claims to have been converted unwittingly to Islam at the age of seven, has filed a civil suit seeking a High Court order to nullify the conversion on grounds of illegality.

Her lawyer, Gooi Hsiao Leung, filed the suit at Penang High Court this morning.

The 27-year-old Banggarma, whose Muslim name is Siti Hasnah Vangarama Abdullah, was accompanied by her husband, fisherman S Sockalingam and two children - Kanagaraj, eight, and Hisyanthini, two.

Gooi said his client wanted the court to declare her conversion to Islam on Dec 28, 1989 by Islamic authorities as "unlawful and unconstitutional."

In her affidavit, Banggarma referred to the Federal Constitution, the Penang Islamic Affairs Administration Enactment, and the Age of Majority Act 1971 to back her case.

Banggarma named Malaysia Islamic Welfare Organisation (Perkim) president Dr Mahathir Mohamed, Perkim representative Raimi Abdullah, Penang Islamic Religious Affairs Council (Mainpp) and Penang City Kadi in the suit.

Gooi said Dr Mahathir and Raimi were named as respondents in the suit because of Perkim's alleged involvement in converting Banggarma 20 years ago.

Banggarma also wants the High Court to order the National Registration Department to cancel her identity card which carries a Muslim identity and issue her a fresh identity card with her Hindu identity.

'Unlawful from the start'

Without a Hindu identity card, Banggarma is unable to register her marriage to Sockalingam in 2000.

Gooi said under Article 12.4 of the Federal Constitution, a minor could only be converted to another religion with consent of the person's parents or guardian.

"It's unconstitutional and unlawful to convert a minor without parents or guardian's consent," he said, and added that this was a case of involuntary conversion of a person to Islam.

"Banggarma is seeking to nullify the conversion, which was unlawful from the very start," said Gooi (right).

Banggarma claimed that she was unwittingly converted to Islam, together with several other minor inmates, while she was placed under the care of welfare home, Rumah Kebajikan Kanak-Kanak Taman Bakti, Kepala Batas.

However, the welfare department claimed that the housewife was converted to Islam when she was one-year-old by her natural parents - plantation worker B Subramaniam and Latchumy Ramadu.

The department claimed that the conversion was done on Nov 30, 1983 in Rompin, Pahang.

In response, counsel Gooi argued that the welfare department claim was "inconsistent and contradictory" as to the contents of the conversion certificate issued to Banggarma in 1989.

Gooi, who is also PKR Kedah Youth deputy chief, said his client decided to go ahead with the court action after she had exhausted all diplomatic channels to find an amicable solution to her predicament.

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Today’s Indian Demolishment: Cowshed, cemetary and estate workers houses

Today’s Indian Demolishment: Cowshed, cemetary and estate workers houses

This morning alone three demolishments have been scheduled by the Malay-sian authorities against the Indians follows:-

1) Shanmugam the third generation Indian cowherd’s farm with no alternative land given is scheduled to be demolished this morning by UMNOs’ DBKL. This is despite HRP having formally applied on Shanmugam’s for a farm land from the Prime Minister as has been given out liberally to almost all the needy malay muslims.

2) The demolishment of scores of former Indian plantation workers houses at Bukit Jalil, Wilayah Perseketuan by UMNO’a DBKL despite UMNO’s Plantation Workers Housing scheme that was denied to these former plantation workers.

3) The demolishment of the Hindu cemetary at Ladang Batu Pekaka, Kuala Ketil, Kedah by the PAS “for all muslims” state government and with no protection by UMNO’s Kedah police. This does not happen to a muslim or Chinese cemetary. The Indian hindus are soft targets.

All in UMNOs’ One Malaysia and silently watched over if not also by PKR, DAP and PAS.

P. Uthayakumar

Fear of superior BN machinery caused third vote rejection

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) officials had raised concerns that even Kota Baru in the PAS stronghold state of Kelantan could fall into the hands of Barisan Nasional (BN) if local council elections were restored.

These concerns caused PR to water down its commitment to restore local council elections should the fledgling coalition take federal power.

PR officials from DAP, PAS and PKR who spoke to The Malaysian Insider confirmed the coalition's technical committee, responsible for putting together its common platform, had grappled at length with the issue amid fears that the BN machinery, which they considered far superior to that of PR’s, would grab the lion's share of local council seats.

And in doing so, it was felt that BN could cause problems even for the administration of PR-held states.

These "tactical considerations" were understood to have been brought up by PAS.

"In terms of resources, certain quarters fear that they will not be able to compete with the BN machinery and major cities within PR-controlled states," said one senior PR leader.

"One of the major concerns raised during PR's secretariat meeting on this issue is that Kota Baru will fall into BN hands," he added.

The fall of Kota Baru — the administrative capital of PAS-ruled Kelantan — into their political rivals' hands would be disastrous for the party, it was argued.

Another senior leader from PKR concurred with this tactical view, saying that in Selangor itself the pact faced various technical problems pertaining to the third vote.

"In principle I will tell you that nobody in PR disagrees with the view that the third vote should be implemented."

The senior leader explained that there was a pervasive fear that BN would have the upper hand should the third vote be restored, given their superior resources and also the fact that civil servants within local councils "are tied to the BN-led federal government".

Another problem PR is facing, said the PKR leader, is with how the municipalities are carved out.

PR-led state governments are losing out to the BN-led federal government in terms of cash and while maintaining municipalities should be done by local councils, the federal government is also pouring in money into them in a bid to woo voters.

"So our supporters on the ground feel that we often lose out to BN. While we struggle to maintain the big municipalities with our limited resources, they can easily pour in cash," said the leader.

Karpal writes to A-G, seeks authority to prosecute Lingam

By G Manimaran - The Malaysian Insider

Karpal may only prosecute Lingam if the A-G authorises him to do so. — file pic

PETALING JAYA, Dec 23 — Veteran lawyer Karpal Singh, who had previously urged the Attorney-General’s Chambers to authorise him to prosecute Datuk VK Lingam on behalf of the government, today voiced his intentions to meet with Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail to discuss the issue further, via an open letter.

Karpal also wrote that, should he be appointed to conduct the prosecution against Lingam, he would do so on a pro bono (free of charge) basis.

“I am writing to you (Gani) with the hope that you will issue the necessary authorisation letter for me to proceed.

“If necessary, I am ready to meet with you to discuss in detail why it is imperative that Lingam be prosecuted and for you to issue the requisite authorisation,” Karpal wrote in his letter to Gani.

“Please respond as soon as possible,” ended the two-page missive dated today.

Before this, Karpal had accused the government of besmirching the honour of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong through its failure to act against Lingam despite the strong recommendation to do so by the Royal Commission which had investigated the “Lingam tapes” scandal.

Karpal’s offer to run the prosecution came as a response to a challenge from Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, prosecute Lingam himself since he felt so strongly on the issue. Nevertheless, the necessary authorisation from the A-G’s Chambers has not been forthcoming.

Nazri has said that he would advise the A-G to issue the said letter so that Karpal may begin with the prosecution.

Lingam had been implicated in the judge-fixing scandal after a video recording of him apparently negotiating the appointment of judges was released to the public. The video subsequently became the centre of an investigation by a Royal Commission of Inquiry.

Last week, Nazri had told The Malaysian Insider that the matter had been forwarded to the A-G for further consideration.

“I have informed the A-G about this and it is up to him to make his decision,” said Nazri.

In his letter today, Karpal stated that Nazri had declared in Parliament last week that the matter of issuing the authorisation letter was in the A-G’s hand.

But he cast doubt on Nazri’s sincerity in advising Gani to issue the letter as he had claimed.

“As such, I am writing to seek the issuance to the said authorisation to me as it is a matter of public importance,” Karpal wrote, before reiterating that the Section 379 of the Criminal Procedure Code makes an allowance for the A-G to produce this authorisation.