“We Face a Deficit of Democracy in Malaysia”

From Qantara.Com

Interview with Anwar Ibrahim by Rizki Nugraha

As leader of the opposition, Anwar Ibrahim is one of Malaysia’s most influential politicians. In this interview with Rizki Nugraha he speaks about Muslim-Christian relations, the influence of religion on politics and the outlook for democracy in his country.

Tension between religions in Malaysia has been rising since the court ruling that allows non-Muslims to use the word “Allah”.

Anwar Ibrahim: Certain groups feel that it is in their interest to ratchet up tension because it serves their ulterior motives, but I would not say that great damage has been inflicted on Muslim-Christian relations. The Christian community’s response to the arson attacks has been very positive and measured, and many Muslims have come out in support of the Christian community, for example, forming neighbourhood watch committees to protect Churches.

I have travelled far from the epicentre of the so-called “disturbances” and I find that people are generally unperturbed by the court ruling and are wary of being manipulated by the powers-that-be, whose steady decline in the popular ratings is the real reason for this artificially created crisis.

I’m happy to say that the broader population is not easily hoodwinked.

Why did the Malaysian government insist on appealing the court’s decision, despite the fact that in doing so, it risks widening the gap between Muslims and Christians?

Ibrahim: The government appealed because it is hostage to the demands of an incendiary few. This group insists on using this issue to drive a wedge between different parts of the electorate – hoping to score a few points with fringe elements. They are not very concerned that the consequences of their actions could broaden divisions in society and lead to strife.

Maznah Muhammad, the Singapore-based political expert, is concerned that the Malaysian government is increasingly mixing politics and religion. Do you think this concern is justified?

Ibrahim: The Federal Constitution of Malaysia clearly outlines the role of religion in Malaysian society. Islam is the religion of the state, but the freedom to practice other religions is guaranteed. We think it is wholly appropriate that religion be manifest in the political world in that the values that are greatly esteemed by religion – such as justice, mercy, love and compassion – inspire policies that lead to peace and prosperity.

However, the current government in Malaysia is notorious for mixing religion and politics to rather unscrupulous ends. Islam is being applied in ways that are deemed oppressive, contrary to the principles of the religion and in violation of some of our constitution’s basic provisions. This is an abuse of power that must be checked.

The government’s decision to appeal creates the impression that it is standing up for the interests of a certain group. Is there no future for secularism in Malaysia?

Ibrahim: The government’s bias in all matters judicial is clear. Since the new prime minister came to power in April 2008, the government has not lost a single court case that has gone to the Court of Appeals. There is hardly any doubt that politically charged cases will eventually be decided in favour of or at the discretion of UMNO (the United Malays National Organization, Malaysia’s largest political party – ed.)

The issue is, therefore, not secularism, or the demise of it per se; the real dilemma we face in Malaysia is a deficit of democracy. A corrupt judiciary, a shackled media and the lack of personal freedoms means that the ruling party can run roughshod over the provisions of the constitution. Right now, religion is being used by the ruling party to garner support from certain fringe elements and in doing so, it is overstepping some of the bounds that define the relationship between the state and religion.

But the ruling party’s willingness to overstep the bounds of the law to maintain its grip on power has been manifest in many forms including rampant corruption and incitement of racial sentiments. So our primary concern in the opposition coalition remains the safeguarding of the constitution in order to sow the seeds of democratic pluralism and greater accountability.

How did the minorities parties that are affiliated with the National Front (Barisan Nasional), such as the Malaysian Chinese Association and the Malaysian Indian Congress, react to Prime Minister Najib Razak’s policy?

Ibrahim: The contradiction of their affiliation with the increasingly parochial and racist UMNO is glaring, but their options at this point are limited. How can they not moot their grievances given their dependence on government largesse. These parties represent the old school of Malaysian politics, which has more or less seen its heyday and is now in its twilight years. It would be unrealistic to expect a sea-change in their outlook, no matter what the prevailing circumstances are.

Two political forces, the most influential parties in Malaysia, the Barisan Nasional and your party, the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, PAS, have been branded as conservative Islamic forces. So what is the difference between your party and the government party, for instance concerning the importance of promoting religious dialogue?

Ibrahim: I don’t agree that PAS, which is a major player in the opposition coalition, is a conservative party. In the crisis over the “Allah” issue, they made their stance very clear, namely that Christians and Jews can use the term, upholding what is considered a mainstream position throughout the Muslim world. Therefore, to lump them together with UMNO as exponents of conservative Islam is to badly misperceive them. Both PAS and the rest of the opposition coalition are in favour of dialogue among all who want to talk about preserving and promoting religious harmony in our diverse population.

The ethnic groups in Malaysia are still fragmented, especially politically. They tend to defend the political interests of each group. Sometimes they also try to outdo or eliminate the interest of other groups. Do you see this phenomenon as a challenge or even an opportunity for democracy in Malaysia?

Ibrahim: It is true that the various ethnic communities in Malaysia continue to perceive their interests in a narrow and parochial manner. That is because the government, which has been in power without interruption for 52 years, has promoted and fostered this sort of mind-set as a divide-and-conquer strategy. As a consequence, the various ethnic groups often react to situations by falling into a zealous ethnic turf protection and demarcation mind-set that in time creates ethnic ghettoes.

Pakatan Rakyat, the opposition coalition I help to lead, vigorously rejects this approach. Through its recent collectively endorsed Common Policy Framework it has accelerated the process of dissolving these hardened strata and set in motion the transformation of Malaysian political society so that it is no longer in thrall to structures that engender ethnic hegemony, financial and judicial corruption, and overall decay.

So far, the people have responded positively to what we have to offer. We have been able to secure victories in elections in five of Malaysia’s key states and have become contenders for power at federal level in just a few years. I think the future is bright for the new agenda we are offering the people.

No McCarthyism but disband BTN which had produced a generation of Nasir Safars with racist brain-washing making it the biggest enemy of Najib’s 1Malay

By Lim Kit Siang,

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday tried to mitigate the Nasir Safar outrage claiming that it could have been “a slip of the tongue” (New Straits Times).

If so, it is a very big slip or Nasir has got a big tongue when he could in one gulp make so many offensive, insensitive and anti-1Malaysia utterances as:

• Labelling Indians and Chinese in Malaysia as “pendatang”;

• “Indians came to Malaysia as beggars and Chinese especially the women came to sell their bodies (jual tubuh)”;

• Claimed that Umno was solely responsible in drafting the constitution sidelining the contribution of MCA and MIC;

• Threat to revoke the citizenship of those vocal about the subject cap for SPM examination.

Clearly, it cannot be a madness of a moment, but madness for many moments!

Although the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak had been very quick and prompt in damage-control, getting Nasir to resign within 12 hours of the outrage on Tuesday and declaring that the Nasir episode should be “a lesson to all” to be racially sensitive, Najib must admit that the greatest casualty is his 1Malaysia campaign.

As a result of the Nasir Safar outrage, and despite Nasir’s belated and qualified apology, there is a quantum jump in public skepticism whether Najib’s 1Malaysia campaign is no more than just a rebranding and public relations (P.R.) exercise without any meaningful change in nation-building policies – as in for instance, replacing the “ketuanan Melayu” concept with “ketuanan rakyat”.

It is clear that Nasir Safar is not an extinct species in Umno but represent a very powerful mainstream thinking in Umno, both in party and government, nurtured by a generation of racist brain-washing by the National Civics Centre (Biro Tata Negara) in the Prime Minister’s Department, which had a budget of RM600 million in the past decade to carry out such divisive indoctrination.

When the racist brain-washing BTN programme was exposed at the end of last year, Najib ended the public row when he met 30 high-ranking BTN officers in Parliament on Dec. 15 and asked them to ensure that the BTN Course is in line with the 1Malaysia concept.

That the BTN’s racist brain-washing courses have not changed is reflected by a letter to the editor in the News Straits Times of Dec. 29, 2009 complaining about a BTN session, viz:

MY nephew, who is a doctor, has just returned after attending an induction course held from Dec 19 to 24 at the Bayu Beach Resort in Port Dickson. He is very upset and extremely disappointed.

The first four days of the programme was conducted by officials from the Ministry of Health and they were very professional in their approach and methodology. However, the sessions during the next two days conducted by the National Civics Bureau (BTN) were so downright racist, sickening and was nothing more than an exercise to divide Malaysians, instil hatred and discord.

Although my son is a Muslim and a Malay, and was not the target of the BTN instructors, he and his other Muslim friends were upset that their non-Muslim brothers and sisters were constantly labelled as “pendatang” and the Malaysian Indians were hounded in regard to the actions of the now outlawed Hindraf movement.

One BTN instructor even had the temerity to say: “No need to attend BTN course if you think we are racists” and “We warn you not to report what happens here to the press or to anyone else.”

I am not proposing any McCarthyism – defined by Wikipedia as “the politically motivated practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence” – but firm action must be taken to disband the racist and divisive brain-washing by the BTN which had produced a generation of Nasir Safars and is the biggest enemy to Najib’s 1Malaysia campaign.

Will the Cabinet next Wednesday have the political will to disband the BTN for becoming the racist indoctrination machine and replace it with a 1Malaysia Civics Centre which operates in an open, transparent, non-partisan and truly 1Malaysia manner to promote Malaysian national consciousness and not racist attitudes and stereotypes?

Anwar's Sodomy Trial Enters Third Day

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 5 (Bernama) -- The sodomy trial of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim enters its third day today with accuser Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan continuing his testimony at the High Court here.

Friday's proceedings, which started at 9.51am, saw Mohd Saiful -- who is still under examination-in-chief by lead prosecutor Solicitor-General II Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden -- giving testimony on samples taken from his body.

Mohd Saiful, 25, who is a former aide of Anwar, is the first witness to take the stand when the trial started before Justice Datuk Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah on Wednesday.

Anwar, 63, the Parti Keadilan Rakyat advisor and Permatang Pauh member of parliament, is charged with sodomising Mohd Saiful at Unit 11-5-1 Kondominium Desa Damansara, Jalan Setiakasih, Bukit Damansara, between 3.01pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008.

He is charged under Section 377B of the Penal Code and faces up to 20 years in jail and whipping upon conviction.

The trial takes place 18 months after Anwar was first charge in court in August 2008.

Nasir probed for sedition

By Steven Daniel And Dharmender Singh

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have launched investigations under the Sedition Act against Datuk Nasir Safar after police reports were lodged against him for allegedly making racist remarks at a 1Malaysia seminar in Malacca.

The 12 reports were lodged throughout the country and police have started investigations, Federal CID Director Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Zinin said.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said the case was being investigated under the Sedition Act.

He said it did not matter how many police reports were lodged nationwide, as police would conduct only one investigation.

“Since the words were uttered in Malacca, the police there would be responsible in conducting the investigations,” he said.

It is believed that several people who were present when Nasir made the remarks during a seminar in Malacca on Tuesday would be called up to assist in investigations.

Nasir, a special officer to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and a former assemblyman for Pulai Sebatang in Johor, caused a furore at the seminar on the 1Malaysia concept when he made derogatory remarks about Chinese and Indian immigrants coming to Malaysia.

The statements were supposedly made when he touched on issues relating to demands from the Indian and Chinese communities regarding certain government education policies.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office later said Nasir did not intend to offend anyone and apologised for what he had said. Nasir later tendered his resignation.

Confirming that Nasir was being investigated for sedition, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said police would investigate all reports that were made regardless of how closely related the person was to the country’s leaders.

“The national agenda goes beyond any personal relationship including blood relationship.

“The statement might have been the result of a slip of the tongue but the effects of the remark can be really bad,” he said in Putrajaya yesterday.

Hishammuddin said Nasir had known Najib for more than 30 years but would still be investigated.

Nasir Safar, si 'lelaki misteri' pada hari Altantuya meninggal dunia

Ya, lelaki di dalam Proton Saga biru itu adalah Nasir Safar. Namun pihak polis yang mengambil keterangan Bala menafikannya dan mengatakan bahawa lelaki berkenaan adalah penduduk kawasan itu dan bukannya Nasir Safar. Bagaimanakah polis tahu akan perkara ini tanpa melakukan siasatan lanjut dan tanpa mengambil keterangan daripada Nasir Safar?

Pegawai Khas Perdana Menteri Najib Tun Razak, Nasir Safar diminta meletakkan jawatan kerana menggelar pendatang awal India ke Malaya sebagai pengemis dan pendatang Cina sebagai pelacur. Tetapi tu bukan ‘cerita panasnya’. ‘Cerita panas’ pada hari ini adalah Nasir Safar adalah orang yang dinyatakan dalam perkara 30, Akuan Bersumpah Bala:

"Azilah bertanya kepada saya adakah wanita itu Aminah dan saya menjawab, 'Ya'. Dia kemudiannya beredar dan membuat beberapa panggilan dengan menggunakan telefon bimbitnya. Sepuluh minit kemudian, sebuah Proton Saga biru yang dipandu oleh seorang lelaki Melayu melalui kawasan itu dengan perlahan-lahan. Tingkap bahagian pemandu terbuka dan pemandu itu memandang ke arah kami.”

Anda boleh membaca teks penuh Akuan Bersumpah Bala di bawah ini.

Ya, lelaki di dalam Proton Saga biru itu adalah Nasir Safar. Namun pihak polis yang mengambil keterangan Bala menafikannya dan mengatakan bahawa lelaki berkenaan adalah penduduk kawasan itu dan bukannya Nasir Safar. Bagaimanakah polis tahu akan perkara ini tanpa melakukan siasatan lanjut dan tanpa mengambil keterangan daripada Nasir Safar?

Pelik… mengapakah Pegawai Khas Perdana Menteri berada di tempat kejadian? Adakah kerana dia ingin memastikan bahawa Altantuya ditangkap dan dihapuskan dengan segera?

Dengan pendedahan ini, maka dua daripada kakitangan Najib terlibat dalam pembunuhan Altantuya, yang mana seorang lagi adalah ADC-nya, Musa Safri yang tidak tidak pernah dipanggil untuk memberikan keterangan semasa perbicaraan pembunuhan Altantuya.

Anda masih ingat pada Norhayati Hassan, iaitu ADC Rosmah? Bukankah dia dan suaminya, Abdul Aziz Buyong juga terlibat dalam pembunuhan itu? Pegawai senior mereka dalam angkatan tentera mengesahkan bahawa dia telah melatih pasangan suami isteri itu tentang cara mengendalikan C4. Adakah itu suatu kebetulan, bukti berdasarkan keadaan (circumstantial), ataupun mungkin hanya pembohongan yang diuar-uarkan oleh RPK dan Malaysia Today?

Sebelum ini, kami memaparkan buku log polis pengawal yang menunjukkan bahawa dua pegawai tentera yang tidak disebutkan namanya pergi ke rumah Najib sekitar tengah malam pada malam Altantuya meninggal dunia, dan mereka tidak keluar hingga fajar keesokan harinya.

Okeylah, mungkinlah kot dia orang melepak di sofa Rosmah sambil berborak dari tengah malam hingga fajar. Mmm… atau adakah mereka meninggalkan rumah tu dengan menggunakan kereta Rosmah dan pergi ke suatu tempat, di mana tiada catatan dibuat dalam buku log berkenaan? Kalau betul mereka meninggalkan rumah tu dengan menggunakan kereta Rosmah, maka ke manakah mereka pergi dan apakah yang mereka lakukan selama lima hingga enam jam?

Ya, plotnya makin rumit. Mula-mula sekali, nama ADC Najib, Musa Safri muncul. Selepas tu, timbul pula nama ADC Rosmah, Norhayati Hassan dan suaminya, Abdul Aziz Buyong. Nah, sekarang pula, nama Nasir Safar pula disebut-sebut sebagai orang yang memandu kereta secara perlahan-lahan di depan rumah Razak Baginda. Mungkin dia nak pastikan bahawa Altantuya, ‘si pengacau’ tu, ditangkap.

Adakah Najib nak cabar kami dalam hal ni? Kalau nak, silakan. Dengan demikian, peguam Bala dapat melakukan segala yang perlu supaya saksi berkenaan dapat memberikan keterangan kepada SPRM di London, iaitu seperti yang ditawarkan sebelum ni. Masalahnya adalah SPRM tak nak bertemu dengannya di London. Mereka nak bertemu di Suruhanjaya Tinggi Malaysia di Singapura.

SPRM ingat kita ni bangang sangatkah? Kalau nak jumpa di Suruhanjaya Tinggi Malaysia di Singapura, lagi bagus kita jumpa di Bukit Aman saja. Alang-alang, apa kata kita jumpa di Kamunting. Senang kerja semua orang. Gitu?

Oh ya, jangan lupa tentang adik Najib yang berjumpa dengan Bala untuk mengugutnya dan memaksanya menarik balik Akuan Bersumpahnya yang begitu menjahanamkan (karier politik Najib) tu.

baca versi penuh dalam Bahasa Inggeris dengan klik sini.

Extinct: Andaman tribe’s extermination complete as last member dies

SURVIVAL INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE

4 February 2010


Extinct: Andaman tribe’s extermination complete as last member dies

Boa Sr was the last member of the Bo tribe. © Alok Das/Survival.

The last member of a unique tribe has died on India’s Andaman Islands.

Boa Sr, who died last week aged around 85, was the last speaker of ‘Bo’, one of the ten Great Andamanese languages. The Bo are thought to have lived in the Andaman Islands for as much as 65,000 years, making them the descendants of one of the oldest human cultures on Earth.

Listen to Boa Sr singing in Bo

Boa Sr was the oldest of the Great Andamanese, who now number just 52. Originally ten distinct tribes, the Great Andamanese were 5,000 strong when the British colonized the Andaman Islands in 1858. Most were killed or died of diseases brought by the colonizers.

Having failed to ‘pacify’ the tribes through violence, the British tried to 'civilize' them by capturing many and keeping them in an ‘Andaman Home’. Of the 150 children born in the home, none lived beyond the age of two.

The surviving Great Andamanese depend largely on the Indian government for food and shelter, and abuse of alcohol is rife.

Boa Sr survived the Asian tsunami of December 2004, and told linguists, ‘We were all there when the earthquake came. The eldest told us ‘the Earth would part, don’t run away or move’. The elders told us, that’s how we know.’

Linguist Prof. Anvita Abbi, who knew Boa Sr for many years, said, ‘Since she was the only speaker of [Bo] she was very lonely as she had no one to converse with… Boa Sr. had a very good sense of humour and her smile and full throated laughter were infectious.’

‘You cannot imagine the pain and anguish that I spend each day in being a mute witness to the loss of a remarkable culture and unique language.’

Boa Sr told Abbi she felt the neighbouring Jarawa tribe, who have not been decimated, were lucky to live in their forest away from the settlers who now occupy much of the Islands.

Survival International’s director Stephen Corry said today, ‘The Great Andamanese were first massacred, then all but wiped out by paternalistic policies which left them ravaged by epidemics of disease, and robbed of their land and independence.

‘With the death of Boa Sr and the extinction of the Bo language, a unique part of human society is now just a memory. Boa’s loss is a bleak reminder that we must not allow this to happen to the other tribes of the Andaman Islands.’

Police claim shots fired in self-defence

PKR to lodge police report against utusan

From courtroom to bedroom - Malaysiakini

Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy trial shifted from the courtroom in the morning to the alleged crime scene at a posh condominium in Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur.

The visit took place after the 'in camera' proceedings ended at about 11am.

According to Bernama, the trial judge spent an hour examining the condominium unit where the alleged offence took place in 2008.

Both Anwar and his accuser Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan (right) were present when High Court Judge Justice Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah inspected the sparse, two-bedroom unit located on the fifth floor.

Mohd Saiful showed the judge where Anwar was seated in the living room when he came to deliver documents, and the master bedroom where the alleged offence subsequently took place.

During the inspection, Mohamad Zabidin was seen asking Mohd Saiful several questions.

There was a double-bed in the master bedroom where the windows were draped in dark grey curtains. Similar coloured curtains were found in the living room which had a pale-coloured leather sofa. In the dining area, there was a table for six.

Anwar had left the scene after the judge inspected the master bedroom.

Saiful went to three hospitals

When the hearing resumed at 3pm, Mohd Saiful watched a closed circuit television recording where he affirmed arriving at the condominium at 2.42pm on June 26, 2008.

The recording also showed that he left the condominium after meeting Anwar at about 4.15pm.

When the black and white clips were shown to him, he acknowledged that it was him in the elevator. Several still photos of the recording were also shown to Mohd Saiful.

Two days after the alleged incident, Mohd Saiful went to the hospital.

In replying to questions from Solicitor-General II Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden, Mohd Saiful said prior to lodging a police report at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital's One Stop Crisis Centre Ward on June 28, he had gone to two other hospitals.

“I went to the Tawakal hospital in Jalan Pahang as it was the nearest. I arrived there at about 1pm but was told they were operating half day.

“Following this, the doctor suggested that I go to the Pusrawi Hospital,” he said, adding that his uncle Tuah Mohd Halim had accompanied him.

Mohd Yusof: When you went to the Pusrawi Hospital, what did you do?

Mohd Saiful: I complained of constipation.

Mohd Yusof: Who examined you?

Mohd Saiful: Dr Mohd Othman Abdul Hamid. (Dr Mohd Othman was called in and Mohd Saiful identified him.)

Mohd Yusof: What happened then?

Mohd Saiful: He asked me to remove my trousers. When I bent over, he inserted a medical instrument into my anus. Just as this was happening. I told the doctor that I had come to the hospital because I had been sodomised.

Mohd Yusof: What happened after this?

Mohd Saiful: He told me to wear my trousers and informed me that the hospital does not have the proper forensic equipment to check on this complaint. Dr Mohd Othman also told me that a private hospital's report could not be accepted in court. He suggested that I go to a government hospital namely Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

Mohd Yusof: Did you do as suggested?

Mohd Saiful: Yes, I went to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital's outpatient clinic.

Mohd Yusof: What happened here?

Mohd Saiful: Initially a female doctor examined me, however, I told her I would like to be inspected by a male doctor and she asked me to go to see the doctor next door. I went there and saw one doctor by the name of Dr Daniel.

I told Dr Daniel that Anwar Ibrahim, my employer had sodomised me. He was shocked and following this, the doctor passed me a note and I proceeded to the One Stop Crisis Centre, which is next to the emergency ward to lodge a police report there.

Mohd Yusof: Did a doctor inspect you?

Mohd Saiful: Yes, at about 9pm, a male physician and a female doctor came along with several nurses. Also present was Superintendent Jude Pereira, who is my investigating officer.

They inspected my rectum and used cotton buds to take samples. The cotton buds were placed in a bottle, which was sealed. I signed on a piece of paper on the bottle.

Following this, Mohd Yusof applied that the hearing be postponed to tomorrow.

Tomorrow, after questioning Mohd Saiful, they will go to the condominium once again to view the office where the CCTV recording was made.

PKR Selangor and P.R refuse to resolve Estate Workers Housing scheme.

This 52 year old estate workers housing scheme by UMNO was never seriously implemented. For 50 years UMNO was doing wayang kulit on this scheme.

But for the malay muslim poor housing cum plantation ten acre land owner ship schemes in Felda, Felcra, Risda, Fama, Agropolitan, Kejora Kesedar etc. 99.9% of the pre existing Indian plantation workers were excluded from these land ownership schemes.

And now the Selangor PKR Indian EXCO mandore in continuing with the MIC mandores tradition puts up a wayang kulit in the Tamil press and tells the poor Indians some new stories and excuses on the reason why the Dusun Durian Estate workers housing scheme cannot be solved. (Tamil Nesan 4^th Februari 2010 at page 14 & Makkal Osai 4^th Februari 2010 at page 9).

We gave up on UMNO and asked the Indians to vote for PKR, DAP and PAS who are more or less playing the very same mandore politics with Indians as very clearly seen in this case.

We want a solution at the state levels in PAS, DAP and PKR ruled states of Kedah, Penang and Selangor. It is coming to it two years since they have come to power. Why have the Menteri Besars and chief Minister of these three states not implemented the Estate Workers Housing Scheme in these three states. After all land in these states are 100% in the control of these Menteri Besars and Chief Minister.

We want an urgent wholesome and permanent solution to the problem and not piecemeal one by one and full of excuses wayang kulit politics through the PKR, DAP and PAS Indian Exco, DCM II and other mandores as very clearly seen with this Selangor PKR Indian Exco Mandore.

P. Uthayakumar

Memo to IGP:Norizan bte Salleh, 5 Gunshot wound by Polis Raja Di Malaysia

Norizan bte Salleh, a 30-year-old single mother sustained five gunshot wounds when policemen opened fire on a car that she was traveling in. At least she is alive today to tell her story, unlike the rest of the 95% of Indian victims shot dead by Polis Raja Di Malay-sia and killed in police custody but form only 8% of the Malaysian population.

Today Human Rights Party’s S.Jayathas accompanied the victim Norizan bte Salleh together with Lawyer N.Surendran, MPs and NGO’s submitted a protest note to the IGP and for the prosecution of the police criminals for attempted murder.

See Protest Memo below:-

Tan Sri Musa Hassan,

Inspector General of Police,

Bukit Aman

MEMORANDUM OF PROTEST

Shooting by police of Norizan Bte. Salleh

The Facts

1) On 30.10.2009, 29 years old Norizan bt Salleh was shot 5 times by police.

2) Norizan was travelling in a car when the incident happened. Without justification, police shot at the car from behind, the bullets penetrating through the body of the car and hitting Norizan who was seated at the back seat.

3) After being shot, Norizan was then kicked and stepped on by the police personnel despite bleeding profusely from being shot.

4) No person in the car was armed with any weapon and there was no threat of any kind to the police. Despite this, police chose to open fire repeatedly at the car.

5) Norizan is an innocent woman who has never been charged in court for any crime. She has suffered serious injuries including permanent damage to her hand. A bullet lodged close to her heart had to be removed by surgery at Institute Jantung Negara. Norizan is lucky to be alive today!

6) Norizan lodged a police report on 16.11.2009 complaining of attempted murder by police, but no action has been taken by the authorities against the culprits.

Increasing incidents of unjustified police shootings

1) Activists, lawyers and elected representatives have raised the issue of unjustified shootings by police on many occasions, but have been ignored by both the Police Force and the Government.

2) In almost every case, the police version of the events has been similar; that the victims opened fire and police returned fire, killing all of them. It has been easy for police to get away with this version, as the victims are usually dead and the truth buried. This has also been the police version in two recent shooting cases. [Kulim shooting (February 2009) and Klang shooting (November 2009)].

3) Norizan’s shocking case proves that unjustified shootings by police have reached dangerous levels.

4) The brutality with which Norizan was treated after the shooting indicates the extent and seriousness of problems in the Police Force.

WE THE UNDERSIGNED DEMAND:-

1) An immediate investigation by a Bukit Aman team specially set-up for this purpose;

2) The result of the investigation be made fully public;

3) All those police personnel involve in Norizan’s brutal shooting be suspended/arrested immediately;

4) That the case be classified as attempted murder;

5) That there be immediate and thorough reform of the Police Force;

6) That the IGP explain to the public why the police have never revealed this shocking incident to the public;

7) The leadership of the police support the setting up of the IPCMC.

8) That all suspicious police shooting cases over the past decade be re-opened.

Endorsed by,

1) Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)

2) Civil Liberties Malaysia

3) Democratic Action Party (DAP)

4) Human Right Party (HRP)

5) Police Watch Malaysia & Human Rights Committee

6) Group of Concerned Citizens(GCC)

7) Lawyers for Liberty.

UNITEN: 1, 400 graduated, 0.5% only seven Indians

1, 400 final year students graduated from University Tenaga Nasional (Uniten) (UM 4/2/2010 at page 27)

As usual the Indians are almost all excluded. We estimate that only about 0.5% or about 7 students out of 1, 400 who graduated from Uniten.

This our believe is further enhanced because the racist religious extremist and supremacist Malay-sian UMNO regime would never make public this Uniten or any other Public University places intake or at least the names published in the Ministry of Higher Education and the respective Universities Websites.

Article 12 of the Federal Constitution specifically states “ Rights in respect of education”.

(1) Without prejudice to the generality of Article 8, there shall be no discrimination against any citizen on the grounds only of religion, race, descent or place of birth -

a) In the administration of any educational institution maintained by a public authority, and, in particular, the admission of pupils or students or the payment of fees; or

b) In providing out of the funds of a public authority financial aid for the maintenance or education of pupils or students in any educational institution (whether or not maintained by a public authority and whether within or outside the Federation)

But UMNO does not abide by the Federal Constitution and the Law. Instead the ethnic minority Indian Human Rights Lawyer P. Uthayakumar who questioned these violations of the law and the Federal Constitution is detained under the ISA for 514 days and also charged for Sedition to put him in jail for another 3 years.

S. Jayathas

UMNO denies water to poor Indian family (Refer The Star 4/02/2010 at page N50)

Masy India tidak diberi – 50,000 rumah baru untuk golongan miskin (Utusan, 4 Feb, 2009)

Sebanyak 50,000 buah rumah baru akan dibina untuk golongan miskin dan miskin tegar dalam tempoh tiga tahun bermula tahun ini bawah Program Bantuan Rumah di seluruh negara.

Pelan kerajaan ini dialu-alukan. Usaha ini seharusnya dilakukan dengan ketelusan sekali gus mengambil kira keperluan semua kaum yang dilanda kemiskinan. Tumpuan serius perlu diberi kepada masyarakat India yang miskin di kawasan bandar dan pinggir bandar kerana pelbagai kekusutan dialami oleh golongan ini. Kos hidup mereka amat tinggi berbanding orang miskin di kampung atau kawasan pedalaman. Kawasan pinggir bandar juga amat berpotensi untuk menjadi sarang penjenayah dan gengsterisme kerana peluang yang wujud di kawasan bandar yang berdekatan lebih besar dan menarik.

Belia India yang banyak terbabit dalam gengsterisme dan jenayah sememangnya berasal dari tempat-tempat seperti ini. Dengan ibu bapa yang kais pagi makan pagi, kais petang makan petang, golongan belia terdesak untuk mencari jalan keluar yang salah di sisi undang-undang. Sewa rumah ialah beban paling besar bagi mereka lebih-lebih untuk ibu tunggal yang berpendapatan amat rendah.

Satu lagi, kerajaan harus memaparkan nama, gambar keluarga, dan maklumat tentang mereka yang mendapat faedah secara langsung daripada program kerajaan ini sekurang- kurangnya dalam Laman Web Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan. Kerajaan mesti telus (transparent) dalam hal ini ! Maklumat mereka boleh dipaparkan dalam laman web agensi-agensi kerajaan yang berkenaan yang lain seperti Kementerian Kebajikan. Kita nak tengok berapa banyak orang India miskin yang dapat bantuan ini !

- CikguParu -

utusan-malaysia-online-berita-utama

Anwar trial another black eye for Malaysia

Asia Times Online, Feb 05 2010
By Anil Netto

PENANG - Malaysia's charismatic opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is in the dock again on sodomy charges in a suit that threatens to reverse the startling revival in his political career.

"Sodomy II Starts", trumpeted the headline of the English-daily government-linked Star newspaper on Wednesday - heralding the beginning of another season in which a litany of explicit terms from court proceedings will be reported in the media.

On Wednesday, key prosecution witness Saiful Bukhari, a former junior Anwar aide, startled the court when he testified that Anwar had asked him "Can I f*** you?" when they were alone in a

condominium. Saiful, 25, said he was afraid when Anwar, 62, allegedly approached him.

Anwar has maintained his innocence and claimed the trial is part of a political conspiracy. He intends in his defense to subpoena Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah, who he claims both met with Saiful a couple of days before the latter submitted a police report about the alleged sodomy. They have both vigorously denied a meeting took place.

Anwar, once the heir apparent to former premier Mahathir Mohamad and now the leader of a resurgent opposition coalition, spent six years in prison from 1998.

At the height of the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis, and after falling out with Mahathir, he was arrested and severely beaten by the country's top police officer. A year later, he was sentenced to prison for corruption and in the following year, he was convicted of sodomy. Both convictions added up to a jail stint of 15 years.

His now famous black eye and jailing became the rallying point of the reformasi movement. In those tumultuous years, the democratic aspirations of political parties and civil society groups were intricately interwoven with Anwar's plight. Behind bars, he inspired a new political party, the People's Justice Party (PKR), led then by his wife, Wan Azizah.

In 2004, his sodomy conviction was overturned and Anwar was released - but barred from contesting elections until 2008. A general election was held just before he became eligible to run, though he played an instrumental role in the PKR's campaign.

His efforts steered a loose opposition electoral pact to a stunning performance, capturing five out of 13 states and denying the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition its coveted two-thirds parliamentary majority.

Anwar promptly won a by-election and has since become the standard bearer of the fledgling opposition coalition, now known as Pakatan Rakyat (People's Alliance). The alliance brought together the PKR, the Islamic party PAS and the Democratic Action Party.
Testing times
The second sodomy trial comes at a testing time for both the premier and Anwar. Since taking office last April, Najib has promoted his "One Malaysia, People First, Performance Now" slogan to foster national unity. Urbane and articulate, the premier hopes to regain lost ground after BN parties representing minority ethnic groups were routed in the 2008 election.

But his efforts have been undermined by recent controversies, including the uproar over a High Court decision in late December that granted a Catholic weekly newspaper the right to use the term Allah in its publications. The decision was followed by a spate of arson attempts or desecration of 18 Christian, Muslim and Sikh religious sites. This week a special aide to Najib resigned after reports alleged he made derogatory and racist remarks against ethnic minorities.

The Anwar trial and the Allah controversy have distracted media attention from other simmering scandals, including the theft of two jet engines from the air force, financial losses surrounding the construction of the Port Klang Free Zone project and the BN's takeover of the Perak state government last year following controversial defections.

Anwar's coalition, too, faces problems of its own. A conservative Muslim PKR parliamentarian has broken ranks with the party's moderate stand on the Allah issue. Outspoken from PKR federal parliamentarians have also spoken out against the DAP-led state government in Penang. It is uncertain whether they might lead a few more disgruntled parliamentarians and become "BN-friendly'' independents.

To many observers it is not just Anwar now on trial, but the integrity of the judiciary and police. The black eye inflicted on Anwar and the perceived misconduct of the court proceedings in his first sodomy trial greatly eroded confidence in the judiciary and the police as impartial actors.

Bowing to calls for reforms, Mahathir's hand-picked successor, Abdullah Badawi, set up two royal commissions of inquiry - one to look into the management of the police and the other to make recommendations on judicial appointments. Though they produced some positive recommendations, few would say the image of the police and the judiciary has since dramatically improved.

Meanwhile, much has changed since Anwar's first trial. During the last trial, websites were just emerging. Now, every detail of the court proceedings is available for a more skeptical and informed public to follow on social-networking sites, blogs, independent news portals, text messages, and the government-controlled media.

Arguably, the shifting patterns of news consumption were evident in the aftermath of the attacks on religious sites. Many had initially feared the incidents could spark race-based turmoil, but most Malaysians they did not fall for the bait, sensing that these were precisely aimed to provoke them.

Changed political alignments have also helped to defuse tension. Unlike before, Malaysia has a viable political opposition coalition that has a sizeable Malay-Muslim presence, making it a harder to sell issues along racial-religious lines. For instance, PAS and PKR have adopted a more conciliatory approach towards non-Muslim usage of the term Allah - provided the term is not abused.

BN supporters may be hoping the trial will convince more Malay-Muslim politicians to cross over to their side. But the danger of a backlash is there: if Anwar is once again seen as being victimized, he could become a rallying point for the Pakatan Rakyat, reuniting the parties in the alliance and encouraging more young people to register as voters.

That could prove as disastrous for the BN in the next general election as in the 1999 vote after Anwar was first arrested, humiliated and imprisoned. The present trial may drag on for months, with a series of appeals and counter-appeals likely to turn proceedings into a high stake soap opera.

That could cost the country at a time it faces many urgent economic and social issues, not least how to revitalize the economy and devise new strategies for sustainable development in view of depleting petroleum reserves. Government plans to impose a new value-added tax to make up for revenue shortfalls is bound to be met with strong opposition.

At the same time, there is also a sense that Pakatan Rakyat, now helming four state governments, has emerged as a viable coalition with a common framework that could survive even without Anwar. The risk is that without a charismatic leader in his mould, it would be much harder to paper over emerging cracks and hold the disparate parties in the coalition together.

At the end of the day, much will depend on how a more discerning Malaysian public view and respond to the unfolding saga.

Anil Netto is a Penang-based writer.

Nasir says sorry

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 4 — The Prime Minister’s former special officer Datuk Nasir Safar today openly apologised to all Malaysians for his derogatory remarks two days ago that undermined Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1 Malaysia concept.

He said he quit his post at the Prime Minister’s Department to take responsibility for allegedly saying “Indians came to Malaysia as beggars and Chinese especially the women came to sell their bodies”, adding he was aware of the reaction to his speech at the Malacca International Trade Centre last Tuesday.

“I would like to again openly apologise to all Malaysians for the remarks that are seen as racist. I really did not intend it that way,” Nasir (picture) said in a statement released through the Bernama news agency.

The former Johor state assemblyman and Umno division chief repeated that he did not intend to offend anyone

“I have clarified that I did not intend to make racist remarks or insult any races. But there those who feel otherwise and I have apologised for any offence.”

He also expressed confidence that the 1 Malaysia concept that Najib has introduced will bring harmony to the country’s multi-racial population.

Najib earlier today said Nasir’s forced resignation for his racist remarks should serve as a lesson to all Malaysians to be more racially sensitive.

The PM added that the citizenship of every Malaysian should not be questioned, in what was a reference to his special officer’s threat to revoke the citizenship of Indians for making excessive demands on the government.

But right-wing groups, including those associated with Najib’s Umno, have come to Nasir’s defence, reflecting the difficulties the PM faces in selling his 1 Malaysia concept.

The controversy surrounding Nasir’s remarks comes at a time when Najib has been working hard to win over the support of non-Malays amid the “Allah” row, which saw attacks on places of worship across the country.

It also showed that, despite his intentions, his aides and political operatives have still not embraced his 1 Malaysia concept to bring unity and progress to the country.

Nasir’s remarks were also discussed by the Cabinet yesterday at its weekly meeting.

The Malaysian Insider understands that Najib told the Cabinet he was of the opinion that Nasir had “crossed the line”.

Najib: Muslims have to respect people of other faiths

MALACCA, Feb 4 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak (picture) today called on Muslims in the country to respect people of other religions in accordance with the teachings of the Quran and the life of Prophet Muhammad.

He said Islamic teachings accorded great importance to good relationship among people, whether it was among Muslims or between Muslims and non-Muslims, and cited the example of Prophet Muhammad who had always respected people of other religions.

“The Quran contains text which specifically prohibits the spurning or sabotage of other religions, including their houses of worship.

“If we (Muslims) torch the places of worship of other religions, for example, those people (of other religions) will also do that to Muslim houses of worship,” he said when opening the Asy-Syuja’ah Mosque in Merlimau Utara in Jasin here.

Najib said that when individuals practised Islam in its fullness by respecting people of other religions, the people of other religions will also respect them.

The prime minister said the 1 Malaysia concept was based on the principle of religion besides the principle of social justice.

The Asy-Syuja’ah Mosque, which was built at a cost of RM4.6 million, can accommodate a congregation of 3,000 at any one time.

At a news conference after a visit to the fishing village in Pantai Siring in Merlimau, Najib said the government in principle agreed to upgrade amenities at the village under the 10th Malaysia Plan, among them constructing three jetties and a wave-breaker.

Earlier, Jasin Member of Parliament Datuk Ahmad Hamzah, who accompanied Najib on the visit, had asked the prime minister for an allocation of RM31 million to build the amenities at the village. — Bernama

Malaysia’s monopoly on Allah

The controversy in Malaysia over the right of Christian communities to use the word "Allah," which has resulted in the firebombing of at least nine Christian churches, is rooted in politics, with the governing body UMNO and Islamist opposition parties attempting to out-Sharia each other.

By Aziz Poonawalla, January 13, 2010

	What in the name of...

Madison, Wisconsin

Over the course of the past week, nine churches in Malaysia have been firebombed by Muslim extremists who object to the Christian community's use of the word "Allah" in their prayers. The dispute came to a head on December 31st when the high court of Malaysia ruled in favor of Catholics using the word in the Malay edition of their weekly newspaper.

What's particularly perplexing about this is that the Islamist political party PAS actually supports the right of Christians to invoke Allah by name, whereas the ruling political coalition UMNO is pushing for Allah to be reserved for Muslims only. This is essentially a classic case of an incumbent political party, after suffering significant setbacks at the polls, invoking religion as a base-rallying prop and exploiting and stoking religious tensions for pure political gain - reminicent of the Ayodhya issue in India whose repercussions on undermining religious tolerance continue to this day. The irony of a moderate party out-Islaming the Islamists is not lost on UMNO party veterans, like Tengku Razaleigh, who are aghast and speaking out at the naked cynicism of their party:

The 'Allah' controversy has produced a 'milestone moment' in Malaysian politics, as ruling party Umno took a stance more extreme than even Islamist party Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), said Umno party veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah yesterday.

'PAS is holding onto the more plural and moderate position while Umno is digging itself into an intolerant hardline position that has no parallel that I know of in the Muslim world,' he said.

Tengku Razaleigh's strongly worded speech was delivered at the luncheon address at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies' Regional Outlook Forum in Singapore. In it, he highlighted the reversal of roles for Umno and PAS through their reactions to the 'Allah' controversy.

Umno had for years claimed to be the voice of moderate Malays, while PAS more often made the news for wanting to impose strict Islamic laws.

The UMNO leadership is appealing to Malysian royalty for support of their stance. PAS, for its part, invokes classic Islamic doctrine in supporting the use of Allah by Christians, as per their status as People of the Book in the Qur'an itself:

"PAS would like to state that based on Islamic principles, the use of the word Allah by the people of the Abrahamic faiths such as Christianity and Judaism, is acceptable," said Hadi in a written statement which was read out by Information Chief Idris Ahmad.

"However, the word Allah must not be misused or abused so as not to affect racial and religious harmony in the country," he added.

Hadi also urged all parties not to politicise the matter for political mileage.

"PAS strongly objects to any aggressive and provocative approach that can lead to tension in society," he added.

The UMNO position forbidding Allah to non-muslims is indeed nonsensical (and cynical) - the Qur'an itself is quite clear on the matter:

And do not dispute with the followers of the Book except by what is best, except those of them who act unjustly, and say: We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you, and our Allah and your Allah is One, and to Him do we submit. [29:46]

Surely those who believe, and those who are Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians, whoever believes in Allah and the Last day and does good, they shall have their reward from their Lord, and there is no fear for them, nor shall they grieve. [2:62]

Had God not driven back the people, some by the means of others, there had been destroyed cloisters and churches, oratories and mosques, wherein God's Name is much mentioned. [22:40]

The UMNO's response? The Home Ministry secretary-general Mahmood Adam made the utterly incomprehensible assertion that "Malays are different from (Muslims in) other countries."

It should be noted that despite the utter incoherence from the UMNO, Malays in general seem loath to allow religion to be used as a wedge factor. There are various student groups that are acting as shills for the UMNO party line, but Muslim NGOs are offering their help to the Christian community in protecting churches from further attacks:

Muslim groups in Malaysia are offering their help to prevent any further attacks on Christian places of worship amid a spree of attacks on churches in the multi-ethnic, Muslim-majority Asian country, The Star reported on Sunday, January 10.

"This is an offer of peace and goodwill," Nadzim Johan, the executive secretary of the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM), told a news conference.

"We don't want our Christian brothers to be in danger."

PPIM is one of 130 Muslim NGOs that vowed to become the "eyes and ears" of the government to shield churches against attacks.It seems clear that the naked motive of the UMNO, and its abuse of Islam for political gain, is going to cost them dearly in the next election. In that regard, their entire cynical embrace of religious intolerance has backfired. Far from bringing PAS supporters to them, they have pushed moderate Malays away, and it's the PAS and other Islamist opposition groups that will benefit. It should be noted that UMNO has been playing this card for decades. While the response from PAS is encouraging, a legislative arms race between UMNO and Islamist opposition parties to out-Sharia each other bodes ill indeed for Malaysia's future.

Aziz Poonawalla writes the City of Brass blog at Beliefnet, where this article was previously featured. His other major Islamsphere projects include the group weblog Talk Islam and the annual Brass Crescent Awards. Aziz currently resides near Madison, WI with his wife and children.

Lim: Penang govt will not fall

Written by Regina William, The Edge

The attempts by certain parties to bring down the Penang state government will not bear fruit, says Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Commenting on the scathing remarks made against his leadership by two Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) MPs namely Bayan Baru's Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohd Hashim and Nibong Tebal's Tan Tee Beng, Lim said the attempts to discredit him were also desperate attempts by Barisan Nasional (BN) to divert attention from the ongoing trial of PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

"The Penang state government will not fall and they can try all they want as they are attempting to do with all Pakatan Rakyat (PR) states.

"Everything is well and fine between the Pakatan Rakyat leaders in Penang from PKR, DAP and PAS. They are with the state government all the way, in every effort that is being undertaken. It is only one or two who are 'unwell'.

"Their attempts to destabilise the state government won't material as the people know what is happening. These elements in PKR are working with some parties to divert everyone's attention from the trial.

"As PKR leaders, they should be focusing on the trial instead of hitting the PKR worse than they have ever hit out at the BN.

"It is clear that while their bodies are with the PKR, their hearts and souls are already elsewhere and not with the party," Lim said at a press conference after meeting staff of the Penang Development Corporation and its subsidiaries.

He said what was being levelled at him was nothing compared to what Anwar and his family were being put through now, once again, after 10 years, on new sodomy charges.

Saying that the allegations by Zahrain and Tan did not deserve comment, Lim said the state government would not be distracted from its main task of governing the state based on its competency, accountability and transparency (CAT) principles.

He said the attempts to discredit him were the creation of media organisations whom he accused of resorting to printing lies to bring the state government down.

He cited a frontpage media report recently which quoted PKR Secretary-General Saifuddin Nasution saying that PKR would act against him (Lim) which Saifuddin has since denied in a media statement and reiterated PKR's support for Lim and the DAP.

"Is this the standard of responsible reporting? I am beyond disgust and filled with a sense of numbness that some newspapers would resort to such acts.

"Where is your professionalism and integrity as journalists? Journalists are supposed to report facts and let the facts tell the story instead of creating facts," Lim said.

He said certain media also chose to create unrest among the people in Penang by highlighting that only Malays were being targetted during the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) enforcement action, while the facts via statistics showed otherwise.

"In fact, the statistics show that Malays who faced enforcement action under this state government is fewer than during BN's rule," Lim added.

Anwar, judge and others visit apartment

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy trial adjourned on Thursday for a visit to the apartment where he is alleged to have had illicit sexual relations with a young male aide.

Anwar and his wife and lawyers, together with his 24-year-old accuser Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan, prosecutors and the High Court judge presiding over the case, left the court in a 10-vehicle convoy.

"We are going to the site," Anwar told reporters as he departed under a police escort for the Desa Damansara condominium in an expensive Kuala Lumpur suburb.

As Saiful alighted from the car, a woman among a group of opposition supporters yelled repeatedly: "You have no shame."

Anwar, 62, left the building after about half an hour, rolling down the window of his car to smile and wave at supporters.

The former deputy premier, who was sacked and jailed on a sodomy charge a decade ago but was eventually found innocent, has dismissed the new allegations, which carry a penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment, as a plot to end his political career.

On Wednesday the trial opened with Saiful testifying that Anwar, using vulgar language, propositioned him for sex shortly after he arrived at the apartment on June 26, 2008, to deliver a document.

His testimony was cut short as the judge agreed to a defence application to hear the rest of the account in a closed hearing on Thursday morning.

Anwar’s press secretary Eekmal Ahmad confirmed that Saiful gave further testimony in a private hearing.

"I do not have any details on what is being said as it is closed to everyone but the lawyers and individuals involved," he said.

Prosecutors said on Tuesday that two days after the alleged incident Saiful underwent a medical examination at a hospital and that DNA tests on samples taken from his body found traces of Anwar’s semen.

Prosecutor Mohamed Yusof Zainal Abiden said Anwar’s guilt would be proven through Saiful’s testimony, as well as "forensic evidence from doctors and chemists alongside circumstantial evidence and documentary evidence."

Saiful was the first witness called in the trial, which is taking place after months of delays caused by defence applications, including an attempt to gain access to evidence such as medical reports and closed-circuit TV footage.

Anwar has accused Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife of being personally involved in fabricating the charges, and said he would call them as witnesses.

The Barisan Nasional coalition government, which has ruled Malaysia for half a century, was hit with its worst ever results in 2008 elections that saw it lose its crucial two-thirds majority in parliament.

Anwar, a married father-of-six, was sacked as deputy prime minister in 1998 during a power struggle with then-premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and convicted on sodomy and corruption charges widely seen as politically motivated.

In 2004, after he had spent six years behind bars, the sodomy conviction was overturned and he was released, allowing him to reinvent himself as the leader of a reinvigorated opposition.

The trial, which defence lawyers say could drag on for eight months, presents a major challenge for both sides of the political divide, and will be a high-profile test of Malaysia’s justice system.

Since the landmark 2008 elections, the opposition has become beset by infighting and analysts say that Anwar’s legal battle is a serious distraction that will only worsen its problems.

Meanwhile, the government is struggling to defend Malaysia’s image as a moderate and stable Muslim-majority nation as it competes for scarce foreign investment flows.–AFP

Lurid Sex Allegations Recorded in Sodomy Trial of Malaysia’s Opposition Leader Anwar

From Canadian Press
By Eileen Ng

The court in the politically charged sodomy trial of Malaysia’s opposition leader on Thursday visited the apartment where a former aide says Anwar Ibrahim coerced him into sex – a charge the defendant says is part of a high-level conspiracy.

Prosecutors also submitted security footage that they said showed the young man was in the building when he claims.

Malaysia’s most prominent trial in a decade has the potential to reshape the country’s politics, since it could send one of Asia’s best-known politicians to prison for 20 years, the maximum punishment for sodomy in Malaysia. Anwar claims the charges have been trumped up by the ruling coalition, which has been in power since independence in 1957, to prevent his opposition movement from taking power.

This is the second sodomy trial against Anwar, a crime that also carries a social stigma in the Muslim-majority country.

Earlier Thursday, the jury heard more lurid sex allegations as 24-year-old Saiful Bukhari Azlan testified for a second day behind closed doors.

After hearing Saiful’s testimony, the judge, lawyers from both sides, Anwar and his accuser went in a convoy to the condominium in the upscale neighbourhood of Damansara in Kuala Lumpur where the sodomy is alleged took place. The judge plans to return to the condominium on Friday to complete the inspection.

Prosecutors also submitted video from a closed circuit camera showing Saiful entering and leaving an elevator twice at the condominium. The date on the video is June 26, 2008, when Saiful says he was sodomized by his former boss, 62-year-old Anwar.

Saiful lodged a police report two days later. The prosecution says it plans to submit semen samples taken from Saiful’s body to prove Anwar is guilty.

Anwar has consistently denied the sodomy charges, saying it was a conspiracy by Prime Minister Najib Razak to prevent him and his opposition coalition from seizing power.

Anwar’s People’s Alliance made huge gains in the March 2008 general elections at the expense of Najib’s National Front coalition, which has been in power since independence in 1957. The People’s Alliance hopes to win the next polls, due in 2013. Anwar, who is married with six children, is seen as a potential prime minister.

Much of Saiful’s testimony Thursday was recorded behind closed doors because of the explicit nature of his allegations. Reporters were allowed into the court room, however, when the prosecution submitted the video recording.

Reporters also heard Saiful describing the events after the alleged act. He said he went to two private hospitals. Initially he only complained of pain in the stomach and rectum but later told a doctor he had been sodomized.

The doctor advised him to go to a nearby government hospital as it was a potential criminal case. Only government hospital medical examinations are accepted by courts as evidence.

Saiful testimony on the first day was a bombshell because of its lurid details, which were reported in full on Thursday by all Malaysian government-controlled newspapers. Some of them used suggestive headlines.

Mainstream English daily, The Star, headlined its article “Sodomy Starts.” Malay-language Uttusan was bolder with “I Don’t Want to be Sodomized Again.”

Anwar’s lawyer Karpal Singh said the Uttusan headline amounted to trial by media and urged Judge Mohamad Zabidin Diah to cite the newsapaper for contempt of court. But the judge refused to do so and asked Singh to file a police report against Uttusan instead.

“If they want to have a fair trail they must report fairly. It is my right to be tried fairly,” Anwar later told reporters. “It’s the same game they played in 1998,” he said, referring to the first sodomy trial he had to undergo after he was fired as deputy prime minister under then-leader Mahathir Mohamad.

He spent six years in prison from 1998 to 2004 for alleged corruption and sodomy before the sodomy conviction was overturned. Anwar maintains his innocence, insisting he was framed to prevent him from challenging Mahathir.

Mahathir denies that, just as the current prime minister, Najib, denies conspiring against Anwar.

But any doubts in the public mind about the fairness of the charge or the trial would boomerang on Najib, whose government is under pressure because of rising religious tensions following recent attacks on churches last month.

Anwar Ibrahim in Second Sodomy Trial

From Telegraph.co.uk

By Barney Henderson in Kuala Lumpur

Anwar says the new allegations are a conspiracy to neutralise his career, after he rallied the opposition to unprecedented election gains in 2008 and threatened the government’s half-century-long hold on power Photo: AFP/GETTY

Anwar Ibrahim, who led his party to record gains in the 2008 election, said the charges were the result of “the machinations of a dirty, corrupt few”.

A 25-year-old former male aide, Saiful Bukhari, accused Anwar of sodomy. He faces up to 20 years in prison if he is convicted – a ruling that would effectively end the 62-year-old’s political career. Homosexuality is illegal in Malaysia.Malaysian opposition claims it can topple government
Key world dates for the rest of 2008Anwar’s opposition coalition party poses the biggest ever threat to the National Front, which has ruled the country with an iron fist for 52 years.

Arriving at the court with his wife and two daughters, Anwar said his lawyers intended to call Najib Razak, the prime minister, and his wife as witnesses, claiming they are part of a political conspiracy against him.

“We have evidence that Saiful Bukhari was in the house with Rosmah and met Najib a few days before he lodged the police report,” he said.

The government denies any involvement.

The former deputy prime minister served six years for an earlier sodomy conviction and was freed in 2004 when the ruling was overturned.

The latest charge against Anwar has once again put the Malaysian legal and political system under the microscope.

300 Anwar supporters clashed with police outside the court and rights groups condemned the trial.

“The Malaysian authorities have resorted to the same old dirty tricks in an attempt to remove the opposition leader from politics,” said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific director.

Court proceedings ended early on Tuesday amid a row over defence lawyers’ access to medical evidence.

1Malaysia Is What The People Need, Not Other Concepts - PM

MELAKA, Feb 5 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the 1Malaysia concept is a vision needed by the people because it protected the rights of all races in country as enshrined in the Constitution and the Rukun Negara (national philosophy) and is able to bring the country forward.

Taking a dig at the opposition who he said were "now singing a different song with their so called Middle Malaysia vision" from their earlier Malaysian Malaysia slogan, Najib said it was the 1Malaysia vision that was truly needed and not others and that it (1Malaysia) had been accepted by most Malaysians.

Speaking before a crowd of some 51,000 people of Melaka who flooded Pantai Klebang here Thursday night for the "1Malaysia With the People of Melaka" programme, Najib said 1Malaysia did not stray a single inch from constitutional provisions or the Rukun Negara.

"Let's not question the rights of the Malays. Do not question the citizenship rights of non-Malays, they have become citizens of our country. They are loyal citizens, our country will continue to progress and become more successful," he said.

Najib said when 1Malaysia was mentioned, it gave a picture that under the concept, there was a renewed spirit among the people to bring the country to greater heights.

Najib also invited the people to "berhijrah" (make a shift) from adopting an attitude of tolerance to one of acceptance.

He said tolerance carried a connotation that people were not really comfortable with each other whereas acceptance meant Malaysians took pride in their diversity, which was a source of strength.

In terms of history, Najib said Melaka was a prime example of the give-and -take attitude in a culture of diversity.

This was because hundreds of years ago it was an important melting pot for trade whereby traders from all over the world came, leading to multicultural diversity becoming a way of life, he said.

"This diversity is a uniqueness which in turn has been translated into our strength," he said.

On Melaka, Najib said it had good leaders like Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam who was constanly working to create projects and bring about development for the benefit of the people of the state.

He said he would consider appropriate projects for the state like expanding the beautification zone for Sungai Melaka, widening the road to Pantai Klebang and improving the local bus service system.

"The BN (Barisan Nasional) is not a party that plays politics, I want the BN to always look into the welfare of the people. This goverment will not waver in this," he said.

He said he was also deeply touched by the warm welcome given to him during his one-day visit to the state today and the overwhelming response to tonight's progamme at Klebang beach and that he intended to come again whereby he would announce allocations for development projects.

At the function, Najib also launched Dataran 1Malaysia which is the site the 1Malaysia programme was held and also launched the Impian 1Malaysia (1Malaysia Dream) postcard.

Sivin Kit on the need to improve inter-religious ties

Lutheran pastor Sivin Kit is interviewed about the recent Allah controversy, the attacks on religious sites and what ordinary people are doing to improve inter-religious relations.