Secret Jewish heritage converts neo-Nazi

Watch this powerful documentary on CNN International's "World's Untold Stories" for more about the Polish Jews who are stepping out of the shadows. Check out all the broadcast times and some of our best videos and past episodes at our new website

Warsaw, Poland (CNN) -- Pawel sits in the synagogue learning the Torah, praying and getting advice from his rabbi.

He appears to be enjoying a happy life married to his childhood sweetheart and the mother of his two children.

But he and Ola have traveled further than most -- from hate-filled neo-Nazism through the shock and anger of learning their heritage was Jewish to taking their place in the synagogue as Orthodox Jews.

They met at school in Poland's capital, Warsaw, when they were 12, but as their teen years passed Pawel first and then Ola grew into the neo-Nazi scene.

At 18 they married and a few years later Ola was nagged by a conversation with her mother that she barely remembered -- something about Jewish roots.

She found her answer at the Jewish Historical Institute, which says it has collections documenting 10 centuries of Jewish experience in Poland.

While there she said she felt compelled to also check Pawel's family history -- and he too came from a Jewish background.

"Something told me to... It was unbelievable -- it turned out that we had Jewish roots. It was a shock. I didn't expect to find out that I had a Jewish husband," she said.

"I didn't know how to tell him. I loved him even if he was a punk or skinhead, if he beat people up or not. It was a time in Poland when this movement was very intense."

Reeling from the news, she had to return home to her neo-Nazi husband and tell him of their Jewish heritage.

There were 350,000 Jews in Poland after World War II -- about 10 percent of the Jewish population before the war.

In the 25 years after WWII ended the overwhelming majority left to escape persecution by the Soviet-controlled government.

For those who stayed, their Jewish heritage was hidden often even from their own children.

It provided a culture where anti-Semitism could thrive and in 1980s Poland, Pawel was embracing the hate festering in the concrete tower blocks of Warsaw.

When Ola brought home the documents to show Pawel his own history, he rushed to confront his parents, and they told him the family secret.

"I was a nationalist 100 percent. Back then when we were skinheads it was all about white power and I believed Poland was only for Poles. That Jews were the biggest plague and the worst evil of this world. At least in Poland it was thought this way as at the time anything that was bad was the fault of the Jews..." he said.

"Emotions, it is difficult to describe how I felt when I found out I was Jewish... my first thought was what am I going to tell people? What am I going to tell the boys? Should I admit it or not? I was angry, sad, scared, unsure."

Over time, Pawel's anger and confusion subsided and he approached Chief Rabbi of Poland Michael Schudrich.

Speaking in the synagogue where he now worships, Pawel said: "The mirror was a big problem. I couldn't look at myself. I saw a Jew. I hated the person in the mirror then I grew accustomed to it, came to terms with it somehow.

"I came here to the rabbi and said, "listen, they are telling me I'm a Jew, I have this document in my hand, my mom and dad have said something. Who is this Jew and what is it? Help me because I am going to lose my mind otherwise.'"

In the years that followed they became friends with the chief rabbi and he has been a mentor to them.

Pawel, now 33, said: "I'm not saying that I don't have regrets but it's not something that I walk around and lash myself over... I feel sorry for those that I beat up... but I don't hold a grudge against myself. The people who I hurt can hold a grudge against me."

Today, they're active members of the Jewish community in Warsaw. Pawel is studying to work in a slaughterhouse killing animals according to the Jewish Kosher requirement and Ola is working in the synagogue's kitchen as a kosher supervisor."

Schudrich said: "The fact that they were skinheads actually increased the amount of respect I have for them. That they could've been where they were, understood that that was not the right way, then embraced rather than run away the fact that they were part of the people who they used to hate."

"I think also it says on a personal level, never write somebody off. Where they may be 10 years ago doesn't have to be where they are today. And the human being has this unlimited capability of changing and sometimes even for the better."

Tracking Zunar

Cartoonist Zunar arrested, new book seized

KJ wins appeal over Anwar's RM100 mil suit

Relief for 10 caught in conversion turmoil

(Malaysiakini) The Human Rights Party (HRP) claims it has achieved its aim of upholding the constitutional right for freedom of religion, in bringing relief to 10 Indian Malaysians caught in conversion turmoil for years.

The 10 victims of alleged forced conversions are from the three families -- Rajina a/p Krishnan, Rani a/p Kandasamy and Banggarma a/p Subramaniam (left).

On Tuesday, HRP central committee member S Thiagarajan took them to the National Registration Department (NRD) headquarters in Putrajaya to iron out the long outstanding issue with seven NRD officers.

According to him, it took over eight hours of persuasion and reasoning with the NRD officers headed by NRD's births, deaths and adoptions deputy director I Azliza Shaharudin to complete this application process for change of name.

Initially, HRP encountered resistance from Azliza who after perusal of the documents, rejected the applications on the grounds that these three cases should be brought to the Syariah Court for the change of name and religion to Hindu.

After obtaining the Syariah Court order, only then should come back to the NRD, she had said.

Constitutional aspects discussed

But HRP instead briefed Azliza and her officers on the constitutional and legal aspects as well as the United Nations (UN) International Covenant provisions that reads:

• By virtue of Section 6 of the Registration of Births and Deaths (Special Provisions) Act 1975 “A registrar (of births) shall record such particulars as may be prescribed in a report book in the prescribed form concerning any birth or death given to him by any person qualified to do so;

• Article 11 of the federal constitution (freedom of religion) and 11(1) that says “every person has the right to profess and practice his religion and to propagate it”;

• The federal constitution is the highest law of the country and is above all other laws, with no disrespect including Islamic laws which are only subsidiary to the federal constitution;

• Article 14 of the federal constitution read with Part II of the Second Schedule provides for citizenship by “operation of law” and “for every person born within the federation of whose parents one at least is at the time of birth either a citizen or permanently resident in the federation;

• Article 7 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (that Malaysia ratified in 1995) provides, “The child shall be registered immediately after birth and shall have the right from birth to a name, the right to acquire a nationality and as far as possible, the right to know and be cared for by his or her parents”; and,

• It also states that parties shall ensure the implementation of these rights in accordance with their national law and their obligations under the relevant international instruments in this field, in particular where the child would otherwise be stateless.

After HRP's briefing on the six rights, Azliza called the respective NRD officers to look into the various conversion cases.

Rajina's two-year-old son Tinesh had no birth certificate, since the NRD office in Johor had at the birth of her son refused to include the name of his natural father Mahendran a/l Habimanan and his religion as Hindu in the certificate.

Then for Banggarma's two children, Hisyanthini and Kanagaraj, application forms were sought to change their religious status to Hindu and include their father's name Sockalingam a/l Suppiah in their birth certificates, which column had been filled up with the words “Maklumat Tidak Diperolehi” (details not available).

Thiagarajan had also questioned Azliza as to how this could happen when the mother had confirmed that Sockalingam is the natural father, pointing out that this is in contravention of Section 5(1)(a) and (b) of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act 1975.

Rani had been told that the amendments she sought in the birth certificates of her children could not be carried out as they issued only once in their life time and remain the history of their birth.

The application to change the name and the status from Islam to Hindu was rejected by virtue of Section 15(1) of the Registration Births and Deaths Act 1975.

'NRD must be independent'

However, HRP informed the families that they could use Section 27(3) of the same Act to make corrections to the name and their religious status.

They proceeded to submit six applications for changes to the records.

This included the case of Rani's (far left in photo) elder daughter Vijaya Letchumy who has a Hindu name but whose religious status in the NRD computer system is Islam, a discrepancy that prevented her from registering her marriage to her Hindu husband Tamilarasan a/l M Rajendran.

According to Thiagarajan, the NRD officers had told them that they would revert to the applicants on the matter within two months.

HRP will be taking the second batch of ten stateless Malaysian Indians to see the NRD next week.

Earlier on Aug 13, a HRP team led by pro-tem secretary-general P Uthayakumar (right) had initiated the groundwork with a three-hour meeting with births, deaths and adoptions director Mohd Azmin Hassan and 12 of his senior officers at their Putrajaya office.

At the meeting the HRP team had emphasised that NRD should act on an independent, non-racial and non-religious basis, in a move to eliminate statelessness and uphold the constitutional right to freedom of religion.

Padang Jawa Hindu Temple: No Gazette number or date gazetted on sign board unveiled, under hazardous Telecoms Tower. No PKR Selangor state government land for all 2,540 hindu temples all in one go.

No.6, Jalan Abdullah, Off Jalan Bangsar, 59000 Kuala Lumpur. Tel : 03-2282 5241
Fax : 03-2282 5241 Fax: 03-2282 5245
Website: www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com E-mail: info@humanrightspartymalaysia.com

Your Reference :
In Reply :
Date : 24^th September 2010
YAB Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, Menteri Besar Selangor,
Pejabat Menteri Besar Selangor, Tingkat 21, Bangunan Sultan Salahuddin, Abdul Aziz Shah,
Shah Alam, Selangor                                                                                                                      By fax No: 03-5519 0032 40503 . E-Mail : khalid@selangor.gov.my
Re: No Gazette number or date gazetted on sign board unveiled, under hazardous Telecoms Tower. Selangor state government land for all 2,540 hindu temples in Selangor all in one go.
We refer to the above matter and to the newsreports in Malaysia Nanban 23/9/10 at page 13, Makkal Osai 23/9/10 at page 9 and also in Sinar Harian 22/9/10 at page S5, and The Star 23/9/10 at page N48.
We regret to bring to your goodselves attention that despite the Selangor state government publicising the unveiling of the official signboard gazetting the Padang Jawa Kuil Sri Maha Mariamman, the gazette number and the date the same was gazetted was “conveniently” missing.
We regret to note that despite three years of PKR ruling Selangor, it is only now that the signboard has been unveiled and a mere “kosong” promise of RM300,000.00 to rebuild this hindu temple. Maybe we should not be surprised as one political analyst defined politics as making “empty” promises and creating “false” perceptions.
Kindly let us have the gazette number, the date the same was gazetted and whether the land title has been issued in the name of this hindu temple trustees names, so as not to create the perception that this is merely an empty “kosong” political statement.
Further it has been acknowledged by the Selangor state government that there are 2,540 hindu temples in Selangor (TN 12/9/10 at page 1) and that 95 places of worship for non muslims have been granted land titles (SH 22/9/10 at page S5).
We would like to have a list of all these 2,540 hindu temples together with details of how many of these hindu temples have been granted land by the Selangor state government, the date it was gazetted, whether the titles thereto had been issued and if so whether the titles have been issued under the names of the respective temple trustees names and other relevant details. We would also appreciate photocopies of all these land titles issued, their gazette numbers and the date the same was gazetted together with the gazette notice.
In any event we regret to note that after all the atrocities committed by the previous state government on this Padang Jawa Hindu Temple and demolishing the 96 hindu temples in Selangor, “ethnically cleansing” and wiping out their 200 over year old history and heritage in Selangor. And with 90% of the Malaysian Indians having voted PKR, DAP and PAS to power to be able to form the Selangor state government they are now only granted this raw and piecemeal deal a la UMNO. Note: (One Hindu temple demolished every week nationwide. Between 2004 to 2007, 96 hindu temples were demolished in Selangor at an average of one hindu temple in every ten days.(TN 30/10/08 at page 3).
In fact it is rather insulting that the land this hindu temple has been granted is on a mere 15,000 square feet of land which is just over one quarter acre of land and that too below a health hazardous Telecoms Tower if not on the Telecoms Towers reserve land and endangering the lives of especially the hindu priest and the regular hindu devotees thereto.
From our records forcing a place of worship under a Telecoms tower has never been done before to any Masjids, Suraus, Chinese temples or churches or any other place of worship even in any other part of the world let alone in the world’s cruelest dictatorship regimes. Why are the Hindu temples singled out in Selangor and in Malay-sia? Indians soft targets? The poor and politically powerless Indians are easy to bully?
For and on behalf of the estimated half a million Indian community in Selangor we hereby apply for another suitable five (5) acre piece of land for this Padang Jawa hindu temple within two (2) weeks from the date hereof at the very least to undo the injustices that has happened to this hindu temple, if not to the hundreds of hindu temples that has been demolished and “ethnically cleansed” in Selangor. This new five (5) acre land is necessary to rebuild a proper hindu temple, a jasmine and other flower garden, a wedding hall, a community hall, a community centre to serve the neighbouring poor Indian community, a car park and land for future temple development which is to be planted with coconut trees and banana plants sacred to the hindus in the interim. This could serve as Selangor’s model hindu temple and which could become Selangor’s “Batu Caves” and also a prime tourist attraction.
We also ask your goodself to grant land to all 2,540 hindu temples in Selangor all in one go and gazette the same accordingly under the name of the respective hindu temple trustees and not the usual kosong wayang kulit “PPP” peanuts political propoganda especially in the Tamil dailies by your Selangor Indian Exco mandore.
Kindly revert to us accordingly.
Thank You.
Yours Faithfully,
______________
P.Uthayakumar
Secretary General (pro – tem)

MP Claims Two More Persons Go Missing After Dealing With Lawyer

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 (Bernama) -- The prime suspect in the murders of cosmetic queen Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya and three others may be linked to the disappearance of two more persons, said Member of Parliament for Kapar S. Manikavasagam.

He said their family members lodged police reports on Thursday on the missing duo between eight and nine months ago after dealing with the prime suspect, who was a lawyer, over the sale of land.

Manikavasagam claimed that one of the reports was lodged at the Rawang police station but he was not sure where the other report was made.

Gombak police chief ACP Abdul Rahim Abdullah, however, denied such report was received by Rawang police.

Manikavasagam, who refused to divulge the identities of the complainants, said he would shed more light on Saturday.

He was speaking to reporters after accompanying S. Usharani, the second wife of Indian millionaire A. Muthuraja, who wanted to hand over a recorded telephone conversation which she had with a man who demanded a RM1million ransom from her to the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar.

However, Usharani was unable to do so as Ismail was not around. She planned to hand over the evidence next week.

She claimed that she had first received a call from a man called Muru on Feb 2 but did not record the conversation.

However, Usharani recorded the next phone call from a man identifying himself as Asst Supt Suresh on Feb 12.

Usharani later handed over a memorandum containing copies of police reports on the loss of her husband, his passport, their children birth certificates and her letter to Indian High Commissioner in Malaysia to the Bukit Aman Public Relations Unit.

Muthuraja was reported missing during his visit here on Jan 18 to meet the lawyer brothers, who are suspects in the case.

Usharani from Ramapuram, Chennai lodged a police report on her husband disappearance in Banting on Sept 8.

Meanwhile, Bukit Aman confirmed receiving a memorandum from Manikavasagam at 1.10pm Friday.

Federal Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Zinin said the memorandum was received by ASP Hasnul Hadi on behalf of Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar.

"The memorandum, among others, proposed that the police set up a special team to investigate the disappearance of Muthuraja," Mohd Bakri said in a statement Friday.

He said Hasnul also received a mobile phone from Usharani which contained recorded telephone conversations with several individuals in the country.

"The police headquarters had set up a special team headed by the Selangor Criminal Investigation Department acting chief to investigate the disappearance of Usharani's husband, who was believed to have been killed, under Section 302 of the Penal Code professionally and assiduously," he said.

Muthuraja ‘movie plot’ unravels

THIRUNELVELI: The case of missing Indian businessman A. Muthuraja is playing like a drama - with the mystery of his disappearance, a search that spans two nations and a very nasty family feud.
His mother A. Ramalakshmi has made it known that her son was not on good terms with his wife S. Usharani.

She claimed her son wanted to “escape” from Usharani because she was always putting him under pressure.

 

Happier times: (From left) Muthuraja and Ramalakshmi, and Usharani and Muthuraja.

“They quarrelled all the time and Usharani had threatened to commit suicide,” she added.

“He has asked me many times to take care of his three-year-old daughter Lakshmi Shree so he could walk away from the destructive relationship,” she said at her ancestral home in Thenkasi near here.
According to Ramalakshmi, Muthuraja spent most of his time in his estate in Mekarai, about 20km from Thenkasi.

She added that Muthuraja had built a house on the estate, which also had a waterfall and spent a lot of time there with his family and friends.

 

Home sweet home: Muthuraja’s mother’s house in Shencottai, Madurai, India.

Muthuraja’s family members said his relationship with Usharani was a “mistake” after he became estranged from his first wife S. Ramalakshmi.

They claimed Usharani was a widow with one child when she met Muthuraja.
Muthuraja’s younger brother Dr Kasi Viswanathan said Usharani got married when she was only 15. Her wealthy husband later died and left her his assets.

Sources in Chennai said Muthuraja and Usharani had moved into an apartment only a day before he left for Malaysia on Jan 18.

“Judging from the amount of clothing he had packed, it looked like he was leaving,” the source said.

Dr M’s warning reveals Umno’s new tack for votes

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 — In a classic two-pronged strategy, Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak is leading the party’s charge for the non-Malay vote while his deputy works on Malay groups such as Perkasa in the ruling coalition’s bid for more support in the next general elections.

The strategy has also seen Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad emerging as Najib’s point man for the crucial Malay vote with the former premier’s warning yesterday that the community will lose political power if Pakatan Rakyat (PR) captures Putrajaya from Barisan Nasional (BN).

The Malaysian Insider understands that the Umno leadership believes it is courting disaster if it is seen to be pandering to non-Malays although the prime minister has been actively reaching out to religious and communal leaders to emphasise inclusivity and unity under his 1 Malaysia concept.

But Dr Mahathir and his ilk believe that the key to Najib’s big win in the next polls is resounding Malay support and crucial for Umno to work with Perkasa and other right wing groups The country’s

longest-serving prime minister is to expound on this theme when he addresses the Perkasa Kelantan rally tomorrow at the Pasir Mas Railway Station in Kelatan.

The former Umno president, who still commands widespread influence among Umno members and larger Malay community, pointed to the former PR mentri besar in Perak Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin as an example of how Malay politicians had been sidelined by the fledgling coalition.

“We see Nizar in Perak...even though he was Mentri Besar he followed the instructions of DAP until he fell. The Chinese claim this was BN’s move to bring down a Chinese government.

“So they called it a Chinese administration and is it not possible that we can have a prime minister like Nizar, Malay in name and a Muslim but not really independent and a tool of others,” he said in an interview with the Umno Online website yesterday.

Dr Mahathir said that while Nizar represented PAS which supposedly champions Islam, he was actually used to secure Malay support.

He pointed out that there was no requirement for the prime minister to be a Muslim or Malay. All that was needed, Dr Mahathir said, was that the person had the support of the majority in Parliament.

“There is no restriction in law. In our Constitution there is nothing to stop a Chinese or an Indian from becoming prime minister. What is needed is support from the majority. If the majority agree there is nothing we can do,” he said.

Apart from Dr Mahathir, other Umno leaders such as Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin have been tasked to manage the Malay ground and recapture support from those who now back PAS and PKR, which has a number of former Umno leaders.

The strategy however will see the country’s top leaders sounding as different as night and day as they work their charm offensive on the non-Malays and Malays.

Najib’s recent praise of the tiny Malayalee community and support for an inter-faith group plus the project to re-brand Kuala Lumpur’s Brickfields suburb as Little India, to be officiated by his Indian

counterpart, will be balanced by ensuring that affirmative action policies stay in his New Economic Model (NEM) to be finalised next month.

The strategy has also seen Umno and Barisan BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor declaring that the ruling coalition will not support Ibrahim Ali in the next general elections only to see Najib and other senior leaders reversing that stand.

Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali has denied his movement is political but said its members will decide which coalition to support in the next general elections. The independent Pasir Mas MP has stressed that his movement’s growing membership of 300,000 cannot be discounted and their views considered particularly over Malay rights and the monarchy.

The focus, however, is on Umno as its senior allies MCA and MIC struggle through leadership changes and appear to lose support from their respective communities.

The question that lingers is still whether Malaysians are going to buy the good cop/bad cop routine from the top Umno and BN leadership in the run-up to the next general elections. And whether it’s tenable to straddle the fence indefinitely in the face of PR’s ambitions to rule the country after its historic wins in Election 2008.

Cartoon-o-phobia launch a hit despite author's arrest

(Malaysiakini) Just hours earlier the police arrested political cartoonist Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque and seized over 60 copies of his latest work, Cartoon-o-phobia.

But despite setbacks, the launch of satirical publication proceeded as scheduled last night at the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) under close observation of the police.

About 10 policemen were deployed outside the hall and they had placed police cones barricading the main entrance to leading to the parking lot.

It was however an unusual book launch owing to the absence of the celebrated comics and the presence of its artist Zulkiflee, better known as Zunar.

Zunar was arrested and brought to the Sepang district police headquarters late evening yesterday after his office, Sepakat Efektif Sdn Bhd, was raided by police officers.

Undaunted by the police's show of force, Zunar's launch was greeted with enthusiasm and encouragement for the cartoonist to continue his witty jibes at the Malaysian political scene.

In fact delivering his message last night through his wife Fazlina Rosley (left), Zunar swore that the clampdown on his work will not hinder his efforts to expose corruption and abuse or power.

“This move has reasserted the title of the book - that the government fears cartoons.

“They can imprison me but they can't imprison my mind.”

Zunar conveyed to the 150 people present that he is prepared to “change from the comic strip to the prison strip”.

Fazlina, on behalf of her husband, thanked all those present.

“He said that he didn't intend to talk about politics, but (alas this is) the fate of the cartoons which has now proven to be feared by the government,” said Fazlina, whose brave front and wit was greeted with continuous applause.

Zunar's way of showing 'middle-finger'

Meanwhile, Malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan, who kicked off the event, noted that Zunar should be "admired for his tenacity".

"For that he is being punished. This is his fourth book to be banned, and this comes months after the other books were banned," said Gan.

"This is Zunar's way of showing the middle finger," he added, drawing laughter from the crowd.

He went on to laud the cartoonist, comparing his gritty and gutsy work to the celebrated political cartoonist Mohammad Nor Khalid, more commonly known as Lat, praising him for taking on high-profile leaders "without a safety net below".

Going down memory lane, Gan described the complexity of summarising an event into one picture by displaying a comic sketched by Zunar six years ago, when Malaysiakini's office was first raided and their computers were confiscated.

"As a journalist I know how it is to try to compress a thousand words to 500 words, and Zunar is able to do it all in one comic," he said.

"I felt a lot of forboding (in the run up to the launch), and when Zunar called to say that there was a raid on his office and the books were being confiscated, I was not surprised," said Gan.

Three of Zunar's previous books - 1 Funny Malaysia, Perak Darul Kartun and Isu Dalam Kartun - were banned by the Home Ministry for going against the provisions of the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA).

Ousted Perak menteri besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin, who was also captured and illustrated in Perak Darul Kartun, similarly hailed the political awareness brought by Zunar's works.

"These cartoons transcend the racial and religious boundaries and unite all of us here on a common platform," said Mohd Nizar.

'Cartoon-o-phobia' should be in Wikipedia

He also criticised the moves against Zunar as something that would have occurred "30 or 40 years" ago when books were banned and there were no other ways to express dissent.

"In this era everything can be easily accessed and downloaded from the Internet, but we are still banning books," he mocked.

He even suggested that the term 'cartoon-o-phobia' be included in Wikipedia as "there is now a concrete definition" to the term.

Mohd Nizar described the seizure of the books and Zunar's arrest as a "desperate" move by a "sinking government" that is "hanging on to its last thread of hope".

"BN is at the end of its lifespan, and at its end people say we tend to behave funny and weird."

He expressed hope to see more of Zunar's works that he said would catalyse the opposition's chances of taking over the government.

'Authorities paranoid'

Former Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan (right), who attended the event, described the move against Zunar as "nonsensical".

"The authorities seem to have taken leave of their senses. It reflects and shows poorly on the authorities that they are absolutely paranoid," she said.

She stressed that media and creative freedom should be embraced and not prohibited.

Zunar just before his arrest related that his latest book has more bite as compared to his previous ones.

"The issues covered are the murder of Altantuya, the conspiracy against Anwar (Ibrahim), the PM's wife, the loss of jet engines, the Scorpene that cannot dive, Sarawak, racism, corruption and the waste of public funds, among others," he said.

Cartoon-o-phobia is a collection of cartoons published from November 2009 to September 2010 on Malaysiakini and published by Kinibooks.

Cartoon-o-phobia has 80 full-colour pages and is being sold at RM25. It can be purchased online via Gerakbudaya and Cartoon Kafe.

Zunar arrested under sedition, new book seized

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid and Patrick Lee - Free Malaysia Today,

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have raided the Cartoon Kafe, owned by prominent opposition political cartoonist Zunar, and seized more than 60 of his upcoming "Cartoon-O-Phobia" book scheduled to be launched tonight.

"I can't talk right now. They are about to arrest me," he told FMT before abruptly putting down the phone.
His lawyers later confirmed that he has been arrested under Sedition Act.

It is learnt that the premises was raided by 10 police officers led by ASP Ari Krishna from the Brickfields police station and Zunar was taken to the Puchong police district headquarters.
His office insisted that his new publication will be released tonight as planned.
A sharper offering
Talking to FMT earlier this week, Zunar, whose full name is Zulkiflee SM Anwar Ulhaq, said his latest offering would be "sharper" than his previous works.

It will cover issues such as the Altantuya murder, conspiracy against Anwar, the prime minister's wife, the loss of jet engines, the Scorpene submarine that cannot dive, Sarawak, racism, corruption, waste of public funds and others, he had added.

“Will my latest book get banned by the government as well? This has never crossed my mind when I was working on it and I strongly believe Cartoon-O-Phobia has its own strength and will meet the readers' needs," he said in that interview.

Cartoon-O-Phobia features a collection of his cartoons, which appeared in the Malaysiakini news portal from December 2009 to September 2010.

Previously the Home Ministry has banned his other books -- “1 Funny Malaysia", "Perak Darul Kartun" and "Isu Dalam Kartun" -- because “the contents were detrimental to public order and could influence the people to revolt against the leaders and government”.
Meanwhile, Cartoon-O-Phobia was  launched by former Perak menteri besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin at the Chinese Assembly Hall this evening.

About 100 people attended the function.There were a few policemen keeping watch but they did not interfere.
'Can't jail my mind'
Likening Zunar's arrest as cartoonish, Nizar said it was unbecoming of the government to take action against the cartoonist over his creative work.

"I have never heard of cartoonists (being arrested) in Western countries or their books being banned," he said.

"How can we live like this? Are we living in an era where we are seeing the prohibition of books?" he asked.

Zunar's wife Fazlina Rosley also read an SMS sent by Zunar, in which he said: “The government is afraid of my book. They can jail me, but they cannot jail my mind”.

Malaysiakini's editor-in-chief Steven Gan also spoke at the book launch. Zunar is a Malaysiakini cartoon contributor and the news portal is also the publisher of Zunar's books.

"The release of his book coming months after his last book was banned is Zunar's way of showing the authorities the middle finger," said Gan.

"You can put Mahathir and Najib's photo on the front cover, but when you use Rosmah's picture, you're in trouble," he said to a laughing audience.

Shahidan Shafie stripped naked

Malaysia Today, as part of its national service, has just helped the MACC join the dotted lines to enable them to take action against Tajudin Ramli. This time around if the MACC still does not pursue this lead then not only should Abu Kassim resign but also the whole MACC should be disbanded and closed down.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Bukit Aman Deep Throat

While Malaysians were celebrating Malaysia Day on 16th September (and Muslims still celebrating the 6th day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri), Shahidan Shafie and his wife, Puan Mazlifah Abdullah, had to grieve over the loss of their second son, Mohd Shazwan Shahidan, who was badly injured in a car accident on the road leading from Genting Highlands at about 3.40am. An injured Shazwan was brought to the Selayang Hospital for treatment but succumbed to the injuries and died at about noon that same day.

By late morning, many of Shahidan’s close friends had converged at the Selayang Hospital. Amongst the more famous faces were the Attorney-General, Tan Sri Gani Patail, former MAS Chairman, Tan Sri Tajudin Ramli, and Dato’ Nawawi Ismail, the Deputy Director of the Commercial Crimes Investigation Dept (CCID) PDRM. Also present were the AG’s Chambers’ Head of International Division, Dato’ Azailiza, and several other senior officers of the AG’s Chambers.

The outpouring of condolences and sympathies brought little to comfort Mazlifah who was oblivious to the big names that were present. Only four years ago, just one week before Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Shahidan and Mazlifah had lost her youngest son in another road accident. This is time around it was one week after Hari Raya.

It is very tragic to lose two sons around Ramadan and Hari Raya and this was just too much for Mazlifah to bear.

It was very touching to see a more human side to AG Gani Patail and his wife who were seen sharing the grief of Shahidan’s family. They stayed beside them from the hospital until the body was brought back home and then to the surau for sembahyang jenazah, and thereafter for the burial at the Danau Kota Muslim cemetery.

The AG Gani Patail and his wife even abandoned the Malaysia Day celebration in Sabah to be beside their friend. This is very poignant and speaks of the true value of friendship. The presence of the AG ensured that the best treatment and service was given by the hospital staff and eased the pain and sorrow suffered by the grieving parents. The presence of the AG also ensured that the cortege was given ‘royal treatment’ with an escort of police outriders when the body was transported from the hospital.

At the cemetery, more senior officers of the AG’s Chambers were seen attending the funeral. One could be forgiven for thinking that a senior official of the AG Chambers or the Judiciary had passed away.

So who is Shahidan Shafie and why was his son’s funeral given the same status as that of a Mafia Don?

Malaysia Today’s readers will probably remember the earlier report about the MD of MASKargo, Shahari Sulaiman, lodging a report with the MACC about the collusion between the Commercial Crimes Investigation Dept (CCID) PDRM with the AG Chambers to NFA (no further action) the police reports made by MAS against Tajudin Ramli.

Instead of investigating Shahari’s report, the MACC referred the matter back to the CCID and thus exposed the MAS employees to retaliatory actions by the Police. Out of that fear, MAS instructed its solicitors to complain to the MACC Advisory Panel and the Special Committee on Corruption.

Until now, nothing more has been heard of this matter although the MACC Chief Commissioner, Dato’ Sri Abu Kassim, made a public pledge that he “will resign if cases against big fishes are not investigated”. These are not Malaysia Today’s words. This is Abu Kassim’s own pledge. Muslims should be very careful when making pledges or sumpah as they may end up “termakan sumpah” i.e. divine retribution for not fulfilling their pledges.

In RPK’s earlier posting he had shown that, after Tajudin fell out of favour, Shahidan Shafie emerged as Tajudin’s front man in Tajudin’s new and continuing business ventures. Tajudin could not use his brother, Bistamam Ramli, or Bistamam’s wife, Rizana Daud. Their names are just too recognisable as they are just too close to him. Tajudin needed someone who can be trusted. Like the Italian and Sicilian mafias, that someone had to be a family member, and he also has to be a smooth operator.

These are the exact qualities possessed by Shahidan Shafie.

Shahidan is the cousin of Rizana Daud, wife of Bistamam Ramli, and one time supremo Company-Secretary of MAS when Tajudin was plundering the national airline company. The fact that Shahidan is the camouflage used by Tajudin was made public by Tajudin’s own lawyers in the letters that Malaysia Today published recently (see – Tajudin Ramli will not be enjoying his Raya).

You see, after the MAS fiasco, Tajudin needed to camouflage his activities. That was why when Tajudin sued MAS in Germany for Euro 63 million (RM300 million), he used a German company called ACL GmbH, which in turn is owned by a BVI (British Virgin Island) company called Dannur, which in turn is owned by Shahidan’s brother-in-law, a Canadian named Kerry Morris.

Now, Shahidan has a very interesting past. He is a former policeman who was once the Officer-in-Charge of Secret Societies in JB. In 1990, he was charged for corruption for releasing some gangsters for a fee. Through his ACA (now MACC) contacts, he managed to get an acquittal.

He was briefly with Ayer Molek Bhd with the special task to covertly work to secure favorable decisions. His company was awarded the court electronic recording system. He was also the hidden hand in that famous case bearing Ayer Molek’s name where Justice NH Chan wrote a damning judgment about the goings on in the courts which was then located at the Denmark House by quoting Hamlet that “Something is rotten in State of Denmark!”.

Shahidan also had a hand in the raid of the office of the former EPU Director-General, Tan Sri Abul Hassan, who went on to become the Governor of Bank Negara as his ‘reward’ for getting caught with his pants down. Even Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Finance Minister II, complained to friends of his fear of Shahidan. This is because Shahidan knew a lot of Nor Mohamed’s dealings while he was Chairman of Abrar Holdings Bhd, which subsequently went bust.

With all these experiences, Shahidan burrowed deeper underground and became a much more effective wheeler-dealer. Like all the recent crooks that have surfaced, Shahidan also has a legal firm. But Shahidan was more potent than VK Linggam because VK Linggam talks too much when he gets drunk. He is also far smarter than the two lawyer brothers, Dato’ Pathma and Surender, the mastermind killers of cosmetic giant, Dato’ Sosilawati.

Shahidan gives an appearance that he is a philanthropist and cuts an almost family man and highly religious figure. And he is not title crazy like Dato’ VK Linggam or Dato’ Pathma. With all his police experience, he knows that he is far more effective by being low profile. He is the sort of Don Corleone type you see in the God Father movies.

Now, does that explain why Shahidan is so valuable to AG Gani Patail to the extent that Gani would abandon the Malaysia Day celebrations in Sabah to be with his newfound bosom buddy, Shahidan Shafie? And would that also explain why the AG’s girlfriend, the Head of International Division, Dato’ Azailiza, and several other senior officers of the AG’s Chambers, were also there? Since when did they become close to Shahidan and over what matter?

And, more importantly, does that now explain why the CCID and AG’s Chambers closed the case against Tajudin and marked the file NFA?

Malaysia Today, as part of its national service, has just helped the MACC join the dotted lines to enable them to take action against Tajudin Ramli. This time around if the MACC still does not pursue this lead then not only should Abu Kassim resign but also the whole MACC should be disbanded and closed down. The MACC would have shown itself to be as useless as its creator, ex-PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who plundered MAS while talking about emulating Al Ghazali and Al Shafie selflessness.

This Ramadan has revealed that the religious images of Musa Hassan and Abdullah Badawi are mere charades or wayang kulit. It won’t be long before Gani Patail will follow suit.

To Shahidan, it is not too late to dissociate himself from all these evil deeds. When you make a pact with the devil be careful that it doesn’t claim your family’s lives. Already two sons have gone. Don’t let the devil claim his third and only one left, for that would be too much for his wife to bear. Watch the God Father III and learn from that tragedy.

The thing about AG Gani Patail is that he too is a very smooth operator. Remember what Malaysia Today wrote a few weeks ago about AG Gani extorting Tan Sri Kasitah Gadam? Well, the AG doesn’t just have Shahidan to cut deals for him. He also has some credible lawyers doing his bidding.

I will give you a clue on how to detect if a deal has been done. Just look at the lawyers representing the accused persons, if you can catch my drift. Look at who represented Razak Baginda in the Altantuya murder. Now, look who is representing Tun Ling Liong Sik in the PKFZ cheating case?

We will reveal more later on. In the meantime let’s see what the MACC does about this matter and if no action is taken then we will reveal more damaging evidence about how the MACC is covering up the wrongdoings of those who walk in the corridors of power. And this time we will reveal secret documents marked RAHSIA that, if this was another country other than Malaysia, will result in the entire government falling.

This is Deep Throat from Bukit Aman signing off for now. Till we talk again, take care, and stay tuned. When we next talk we will show you something that is guaranteed to knock your panties off.

The Wayang Kulit that is our Malaysian Establishment

If you’re at the Malaysian Night at Trafalgar Square, London tonight, do stop by to watch and support the ‘Wayang Kulit against the ISA’. The first performance will be at 7.30pm and will be replayed at regular intervals throughout the night.

 By Sydney Sasson



What happens when you take an internet blogging prince who is married to a beautiful Siamese princess (the prince’s faithful companion and constant source of support and strength) and the story of how he faithfully blogged day and night to restore justice, democracy and the rule of law to our beloved ‘One Malaysia’ only to be arrested and incarcerated under the Internal Security Act, and transpose this fairy-tale onto a wayang kulit screen, bringing it to an international audience in the great democratic space of Trafalgar Square, London that has long been the nerve centre and pulse of peaceful demonstration, including that of the anti-apartheid movement and campaign to liberate Nelson Mandela?

Well, interestingly, you get a bunch of Malaysian embassy officials getting pretty hot under the collar and jamming the phone lines of Charring Cross police station, asking for the peaceful, law-abiding demonstration to be called off.

On Wednesday afternoon the organisers of the ‘Wayang Kulit Against the ISA’ received a phone call from a very pleasant, open-minded and efficient Police Constable attached to Charring Cross Police Station. The PC was well aware of the reasons behind the protest, and the peaceful manner in which the protest was to be carried out. The organisers had contacted Westminster Police seven weeks in advance to state their intentions and the manner in which they planned to proceed (in the UK, a police ‘permit’ or ‘permission’ is not needed for peaceful demonstration as the right to peaceful protest and freedom of speech is a basic Constitutional right). However, responsible event organisers will know that it is always best practice to notify the police so that all parties are kept aware of the plan of action and the police are able to provide support and assistance (yes, that’s right – support and assistance, not arbitrary arrest and dispersal with water-cannons and tear gas) as needed. Don’t fall off your bangku or choke on your roti canai whilst reading this.

Anyway, the polite and efficient PC enquired as to whether the organisers were aware that there was another event taking place at Trafalgar Square at the same time; The Malaysian Kitchen Food Festival organised by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation. The organisers explained that indeed they were aware of this concurrent event, and this was the precise reason why a peaceful wayang kulit was being organised to educate the general public and highlight the human rights abuses and threats to civil liberties that take place under Malaysia’s Internal Security Act.

The PC then informed the organisers that the Malaysian Embassy had asked for the protest to be called off. He had of course explained that the police had no authority or power to do so, as the demonstration was a peaceful one, and from extensive previous contact with Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA-UK, they had shown themselves to be a reasonable bunch of law abiding persons, who would conduct themselves in a mature and well organised manner.

The embassy officials then asked the police to agree to block the entry of any of the protestors into the square. Again the police had to patiently explain that this was unlawful, as every member of the public has a right to move freely in a public space, provided they behave in a lawful manner.

Third time lucky? The embassy officials then asked the police to agree to cordon off the demonstrators in an enclosed pen-like space with barricades. Again Westminster police refused, stating they saw no reason why peaceful demonstrators needed to be treated like cattle.

So there you have it – the wayang kulit that is our Malaysian establishment.

So why a wayang kulit against the ISA at what is essentially a Malaysian Cultural night? As one of the organisers explained, “We fully support the Malaysian government’s initiative to promote Malaysian culture and tourism on an international stage but we are establishing a peaceful and cultural tongue-in-cheek anti-ISA presence at the Malaysian Kitchen event to remind them that if they want world-wide recognition, they must also respect international norms on human rights and the rule of law.

In June this year the UN working group on arbitrary detention visited Malaysia and concluded that the ISA must be repealed and torture in detention brought to an immediate end. Najib and his government have yet to show any real commitment to repealing the ISA. To this end we call on the Malaysian government to repeal the ISA and sign and abide by the UN convention against torture, that it may earn the respect and admiration of both the international community and the citizens it serves.”

*If you’re at the Malaysian Night at Trafalgar Square, London tonight, do stop by to watch and support the ‘Wayang Kulit against the ISA’. The first performance will be at 7.30pm and will be replayed at regular intervals throughout the night.

Puteri Reformasi vs. Mahafiraun?

By Haris Ibrahim,

YB Nurul Izzah has taken Dr M to task for yet again playing his all too familiar race card.

She has offered to debate Dr M to clarify if his ‘fear for the Malays is really about loss of power or in reality loss of wealth for the chosen few’.

Wonder  if Mamak Kutty has the gumption that his macai, Ibs, plainly lacks, to take on this challenge?

Her press release, unedited, is reproduced below.
_________________________________________

It was reported yesterday, Sept 23 that the former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad while declaring he was not a racist, appeared to play the race card by warning Malays that they would lose power if Pakatan Rakyat (PR) came to power.

He also implied that a Chinese or an Indian could become prime minister if PR took federal power because there was no constitutional restriction on race for the position.

I find this statement as irresponsible and as a desperate attempt to destabilise the nation.

Not only has the race card being used to incite but also to perpetuate the only approach that UMNO and its leaders (past and present) have used with impunity which is the ‘Politics of Fear’.

The ‘politics of fear’ uses Article 153 as a political instrument of deceit and despair.

The Malays are indoctrinated through all means available including using NGOs to continue to ‘act’ out a victim mentality narrative that degrades, confuses and paralyses a community to remain enslaved intellectually and emotionally first by the colonial masters and now by its new reincarnation, UMNO.

The aim of this is none other to maintain political hegemony by the ruling Malay elite few who have enriched themselves through corruption, abuse of power and undermining the constitution relentlessly. Sadly, they have been assisted by MCA, MIC, Gerakan and the other BN component parties by their silence and omission to act responsibly.

We must fight back by emphasising on the ‘Politics of Hope and Liberation’, which will transform the Malay Mind from the false fear of losing their identity and economical development to a positive force that will create a confident and liberated community.

Therefore, with the aim for a constructive engagement to build a ‘Better Malaysia for All Malaysians’, I humbly offer to debate with Tun Dr. Mahathir to clarify if his ‘fear’ for the Malays is really about loss of power or in reality loss of wealth for the chosen few (Takut Melayu Hilang Kuasa atau Hilang Harta)?

Nurul Izzah Anwar

MP Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur

24 September 2010

Malaysia stumbling

Eric Ellis TheAge  Australia


ONE of Australia’s key partners in Asia is struggling. Given the way its leaders have taunted Australia over the years, schadenfreude at its plight would be understandable. But this should be resisted, for if Malaysia stumbles, the effects may ripple across the region.

Erstwhile sponsor of the Carlton Football Club, a cash cow for the Australian education sector, Australia’s 10th largest trading partner and a champion of ”Asian values” – whatever they are – Malaysia seems to be brimming with sky-is-falling Chicken Littles. And their analyses are alarmist; ”failed state”, ”deep pit”, ”national decay”, ”ocean-going corruption”, ”useless mega-projects”.

While some of these could be used to describe the Delhi Commonwealth Games – a massive undertaking Malaysia successfully pulled off 12 years ago by the way – it is about a country oft-regarded as an Asian success, whose rampant economy inspired a cockiness among its leaders to take racially tinged potshots at the ”decadent and immoral” West, and at Australia in particular.

And then there was the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to demonise, indeed anyone its mercurial then prime minister Mahathir Mohamad didn’t like on any given day. And there was 23 years of it, the Mahathir monopoly on Malaysian power.

So what’s prompted such painful hand-wringing from a tigerish economy that likes to boast how it ditched traditional models to virtually promise endless riches? The answer is some of the nastiest foreign direct investment (FDI) statistics an Asian economy has served up in a generation.

FDI into Malaysia slumped dramatically last year, falling a whopping 81 per cent. In 2009, Malaysia took in just $1.38 billion of new investment, barely enough to build a half-decent bridge in a land where pork-barrelling infrastructure projects are de rigueur. By contrast, India averaged almost double that in any given month. Malaysia’s FDI take was even less than that lured by the Philippines, long the region’s economic basket case.

This worries Malaysians greatly. For all of Mahathir’s bluster, he was careful to suck up to big business, and his less-poisonous successors since 2003 have done much the same. Foreign investment underpinned the Malaysian ”miracle”, transforming sleepy Penang into an Asian Silicon Valley and industrialising the Klang Valley that surrounds Kuala Lumpur to OECD levels, with $40,000 a year average incomes to match.

So has the sky fallen in? Some of the fall can be explained by the 2008 ”trans-Atlantic financial crisis”, as many like to call it in Asia. Malaysia’s reliance on foreign investment made it one of Asia’s most globally connected countries. So when Europe and North America tightened their belts after the subprime meltdown, Malaysia naturally was jolted. But the same external dramas affected just as connected Thailand – which endured a crippling political crisis to boot – and more so globalised Singapore, and both far outperformed Malaysia in ongoing FDI, as did Indonesia.

Malaysian fingers point at Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his on-again, off-again will to reform a lop-sided economy Mahathir tilted to favour his bumiputra franchise, the ethnic Malays who comprise about half Malaysia’s 28 million people.

Mahathir advantaged Malays with an aggressive ”new economic policy (NEP)”. Mahathir’s thinking went that Malays were less commercially inclined than their compatriot Chinese and Indian Malaysians and thus needed the state’s help. The NEP’s affirmative action aimed to lift Malays out of poverty, but many analysts have likened it to economic apartheid, a meal ticket that many Malays have got too used to.

The NEP anchored Mahathirism and helped keep him in power for two decades. Malays were lifted but NEP side effects are many and cancerous; corruption, cronyism and an oversized sense of entitlement. Much of Malaysia’s economy is controlled by ethnic Chinese, who pragmatically chummed up to Mahathir. To some, the NEP meant simply installing well-paid and influential Malay placemen on boards to fulfil quotas.

Anti-NEP rancour has been building for years and in 2008, five years after Mahathir retired, voters registered disgust by handing his Malay-centric United Malay National Organisation-led coalition its worst result in history, losing its two-thirds parliamentary majority in a gerrymandered assembly. The UMNO faithful toppled Mahathir’s successor, Abdullah Badawi, and now, as support wavers, his successor, Najib, says he wants to replace the NEP with a ”new economic model”, which he pledges to ”execute or be executed”. There’s a rising fin de regime tint about the UMNO empire, which has never been out of office and has absorbed Malaysia’s critical facilities of state; the civil service, military, media and the education system. Abolishing the NEP is a particular cross for the aristocratic Najib to bear; it was conceived in the early 1970s by his then prime minister father Tun Abdul Razak.

Najib has a big problem, and it is not just the allegations of corruption and even murder that swirl around his circle. Like Julia Gillard, Najib doesn’t have a popular mandate to govern. Also like Gillard, he got handed office when his party’s faceless men knifed an elected PM, Badawi, in office. Malaysians expect Najib to go to the polls soon to get that mandate, but he doesn’t seem sure it’s a good idea, as a confident opposition calls him to account.

In shades of Gillard’s Labor still, party hardliners are in revolt. While most moderate Malays accept the NEP needs tweaking, if only to keep UMNO breathing and in power, a virulent core of party heavies has organised under the banner of a movement called Perkasa, which means ”mighty” in Malay.

Perkasa claims to be defending the Malaysian constitution, which guarantees Malay ethnic primacy. It says it is fighting for Malay rights against the rising challenge of minorities. But Perkasa feels like a supremacist movement, something a Pauline Hanson might recognise. A former US ambassador to Kuala Lumpur has described Perkasa as ”militant”, while non-Malays condemn it for racial divisiveness. That’s emotive language in a country where people still define themselves by ethnicity over nationality and where the deadly race riots of the 1960s are never far away in thinking and policy – not just in Malaysia but among neighbours alert to ethnic tension.

As he dithers over rolling back the NEP and over an election timetable, Najib seems to think he can spend his way to popularity. Last week, he outlined a Mahathir-esque $500 billion investment plan to transform the economy with mega-projects. He appealed to foreign investors to help. But as China, India and Indonesia boom, they will need convincing it is money well spent.

Malays Could Lose Power On Three Grounds - Rais

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 (Bernama) -- There is truth in former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's assertion that the Malays could lose power based on politics, ruling party records and the Constitution, said Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.

He said as politics were a matter of numbers, the majority would form the government while the government would be governed by records besides constitutional legitimacy.

"What was asserted by Tun Dr Mahathir was that if the Opposition with voracious appetite for power ruled the country, the Malays will lose the power holds true.

"The statement is a strong reminder to the Malays to think deeply, otherwise do not blame others later," he told reporters after an interview on Rukun Negara over Classic National Radio at Wisma Angkasapuri on Friday.

He was commenting on Mahathir's warning posted on Umno Online that the Malays would lose their power if the Opposition were to come to power and implied that a Chinese or an Indian could become prime minister as there was no constitutional restriction.

Rais said if the Malays no longer believe that they should not lose power, they would pay the price and accept that the prime minister would no longer a Malay.

"Perhaps the respect befitting the Malay Rulers and accepted by the Malays will no longer be what it used to be now," he said.

On the Opposition's claim that the government's statement on the Malay rights is against the 1Malaysia concept, he said it was a narrow view and not based on the Constitution.

"Article 153 of the Constitution mentioned the Malay rights as well as the legitimate interests of others communities," he said, adding that ironically only the Malay rights were harped on.

Rais said the 1Malaysia concept did not run contrary to the Constitution instead merely strived to change the attitude of the society to accept the Constitution and 1Malaysia based on the Constitution.

"Do not be mistaken, so take a relook at the Constitution, not based on exaggeration. If there were any quarters still twisting the facts ... let me say to them, do not disturb our rights under the Constitution and we have to build Malaysia based on existing realities," he said.

Broadcasting director-general Datuk Ibrahim Yahya was present.

On the 1Malaysia concept, he said it should be supported by all quarters as it transcended political boundaries.

He said the philosophy embodied in the concept was a continuation of the civilization and ways of life since independence where its essence and practice could be translated into various policies that had enabled Malaysia to gain world recognition.

"We must accept the fact that this nation has provided a good life for all and we are responsible to make it even better," he said.

Rais said the people should take national philosophies such as the Rukun Negara, the 1Malaysia concept and the national anthem in their strides.

In this regard, he urged radio stations to help instil love for the country based on the three philosophies in their programmes.

"But nowadays people do not like being preached. The messages should be watered down so that they will appease young people, adults and the olds, including through entertainment or musical programmes," he added.

MyConstitution: Making the law

Malay Mail
 

Rakyat Guides 4 - Part 2

LAST WEEK, we were introduced to the Parliament and what it was all about. This second part of the fourth Rakyat Guides will now describe the procedures of how law is made by Parliament, how it controls the way the country’s money is spent and lists down frequently asked questions on related issues.

How is a law made by Parliament?

The laws made by Parliament are called 'Statutes' or 'Acts'. A law begins with a Bill (a proposed or draft Act). A Bill could come from a Ministry or from a member of Parliment (MP) or Senator (this is called 'sponsoring' a Bill). That Bill then needs to be introduced in Parliament. This is called 'tabling a Bill'.

A Bill can first be tabled either before the Dewan Rakyat or Dewan Negara. After the Bill is tabled in one House, it must be tabled in the other House.

Bills that deal mainly with money (for example taxes and using money from the Consolidated Fund) must be tabled by a Cabinet Minister and must first be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat. These Bills are called 'Money Bills'.

Under the Standing Orders, a Bill goes through three readings in each House. For example, if a Bill is first tabled in the Dewan Rakyat, this is what happens:

● First Reading: The Minister or MP proposing the Bill introduces it. In practice, there is no actual reading of the Bill, and it is assumed that everyone has read the Bill.

● Second Reading: The Dewan Rakyat discusses and debates the Bill. This is when other MPs can seek explanations on the Bill, propose amendments to the Bill or oppose the Bill.

● Third Reading: The Minister or MP proposing the Bill submits the Bill to a vote. If more than half of the MPs who are present and voting (or two-thirds of the total number of MPs in certain cases) approve the Bill, the Bill is 'passed'. The Bill is then sent to the Dewan Negara where three readings also take place.

If the Bill passes, it is presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for approval, which must be given within 30 days. The king’s approval is called the royal assent. If he does not assent within 30 days, the Bill automatically becomes an Act.

Some types of Bills need the consent or other bodies before they can become law. For example:

● The consent of the Conference of Rulers is needed for any amendment to Article 152 (national language) and Article 153 (special position of the Malays and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak).

● The consent of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sabah or Sarawak is needed for any constitutional amendment affecting Sabah and Sarawak.

● The consent of the State Legislative Assemblies is needed for some Acts of Parliament to operate in the States. We have discussed this in the Rakyat Guides 3: Federal-State Relations.

What happens if the Dewan Negara does not pass a Bill that has been proposed and passed by the Dewan Rakyat?

A Bill that has been proposed and passed by the Dewan Rakyat will still become law even if the Dewan Negara does not pass the Bill.

For Money Bills, the Dewan Rakyat can present the Bill to the Agong for the royal assent if Dewan Negara does not pass the Bill within one month of being presented with the Bill.

For non-Money Bills, if the Dewan Negara does not pass the Bill the first time it is presented, then after one year, the Dewan Rakyat can pass the Bill again and send it to the Dewan Negara to be passed. This time, if the Dewan Negara does not pass the Bill within one month after it is presented, the Dewan Rakyat can present the Bill to the king for the royal assent.

What happens if the Dewan Rakyat does not pass a Bill that has been proposed and passed by the Dewan Negara?

A Bill proposed and passed by the Dewan Negara cannot become law unless it is passed by the Dewan Rakyat. This means that all Bills must be passed by the Dewan Rakyat to become law.

How does Parliament control how the country’s money is spent?

If money from the Consolidated Fund is to be used by the Government, it must first be approved by Parliament.

The Dewan Rakyat has also set up a special committee called the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which is made up of MPs. The PAC reviews the spending of money by the Government. The PAC conducts these reviews either on its own, or when directed by the Dewan Rakyat, or when it receives complaints from the public.

After conducting its review, the PAC can make recommendations to the Government and to the Parliament to take further action.

How does Parliament oversee how the Government runs the country or discuss the concerns faced by Malaysians?

In every parliamentary session, there is a daily “Question Time” when MPs and Senators can question Ministers and civil servants. During Question Time, MPs and Senators can raise public concerns and ask for explanations about the actions of the Government and the running of ministries and government departments.

In the Dewan Rakyat, MPs can also ask the Speaker for permission to debate matters of urgent public importance. If permission is granted and the matter is debated, the Dewan Rakyat can pass a resolution for the Government to take action on the matter.

What is Parliamentary immunity?

Parliamentary immunity means that how members of Parliament vote and what they say or is published in proceedings in Parliament cannot be reviewed or questioned by the Courts. Whether parliamentary proceedings are valid also cannot be reviewed by the Courts. This allows MPs and Senators to speak freely on all matters without the threat of arrest or of legal proceedings being brought against them.

However, there are some limits to parliamentary immunity. For example, there is no immunity when an MP or Senator talks about citizenship, the special position of the Malays and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak or the Malay language.

Live – Book launch without Zunar

Zunar’s book launch gets underway – even as the cartoonist is in detention.


2035: Special guest Nizar Jamaluddin has just arrived.
2030: “First time author not present at his own book launch!” tweets Malaysiakini CEO Premesh Chandran.
2020: About 70 people plus media personnel are now at SCAH for the book launch.
2000:People are arriving for the launch of Zunar’s ‘Cartoon-o-phobia’ book at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall. Special guest Nizar Jamaluddin is expected to turn up.

Break | Check out: Antares, Zunar, Pluck, Road to Reform

These few days are turning out to be very busy, and I do apologise for lack of writing (both past days and days to come).
Wanted to highlight a couple of things :)
The first is an album (re)launch from one of the nicer guys you’ll meet, Antares. Do check out the music!

Secondly, tonight Zunar is launching another cartoon book – the aptly titled Cartoon-o-phobia :) Especially after his 1FunnyMalaysia got banned, I think this is a great initiative to support. The damned authorities should take a chill pill and learn to laugh at themselves like the rest of us.

After much persuasion and encouragement of fans and publisher, Zunar puts together his latest collection of Cartoonkini in the Cartoon-o-phobia. As such, we would like to invite you to attend the launch of this book. The event will be officiated by Datuk Seri Ir. Haji Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin.
Date: 24 September 2010, Friday
Time: 8.30pm
Venue: Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, No. 1, Jalan Maharajalela, 50150 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Guests: 1. Datuk Seri Ir. Haji Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin (former Menteri Besar of Perak)
2. Steven Gan (Editor-in-chief of Malaysiakini)
3. Zunar (Author of Cartoon-o-phobia)

I was also asked to publicse Pluck’s Musical Arson :)

And lastly, a book launch on Monday :)

Lavish funerals in vogue as rich Asians go out in style

Chinese families visit the graves of their relatives at the Cheras Chinese cemetery in Kuala Lumpur April 4, 2009 during Ching Ming festival or Grave-Sweeping Day. - Reuters pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 — Demand for luxury funerals is booming in Southeast Asia, driven by the rising ranks of the wealthy in the region.

From US$100,000 (RM310,050) gold-plated caskets to million dollar burial plots, a growing number of the rich are making the passage to the afterlife with the best that money can buy.

“Our clients tell us their loved ones deserve the best in life and in death,” said Au Kok Huei, the group chief operating officer of Malaysia’s NV Multi Corporation Berhad, Southeast Asia’s sole listed bereavement services provider.

The company offers a range of funeral services and runs cemeteries and columbariums in six countries - Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Taiwan.

Its 100,000 clients are mainly ethnic Chinese who make up more than 40 million of Southeast Asia’s population. Muslims make up the majority of the population in the region, but lavish funerals are frowned upon by the religion.

Company officials said demand for luxury funerals among the ethnic Chinese has been growing especially in Indonesia, which has a small but affluent Chinese community and in Singapore, where the company runs a US$22 million columbarium.

Among the more popular top-of-the-line products are a burial urn crafted from Canadian jade priced at RM188,000, while a gold-plated casket costs RM388,000. Prices for a basic burial provided by smaller firms start from about RM4,000 ringgit.

The company’s most expensive burial plots are on hilltops, conforming to Chinese geomancy principles. Each costs 1.6 million ringgit and wealthy customers usually purchase several adjacent plots for their family members.

“CEMETERY LIKE A GARDEN”

To expand further the company said it plans to offer pre-planned funeral services tied to investments in palm oil or rubber plantation schemes.

Profits from these investments are used to defray the cost of the customer’s eventual funeral.

NV Multi aims to finalise a foray into China with Chinese partner next year, where it will eventually compete with players outside Southeast Asia including Hong Kong-listed Sino-Life Group Ltd, a funeral service provider in Taiwan and China.

Chief executive officer Kong Hon Kong, who founded the company 20 years ago, said the idea to set up the company came after he was asked to manage a relative’s funeral.

“Local cemeteries were poorly run and eerie, so I thought: ‘why can’t we manage a cemetery like a garden so our children will want to visit us after we pass away’?”

The goal led him to design a showcase memorial park near Kuala Lumpur, currently the largest in Southeast Asia.

Landscaped to resemble a recreational park, the sprawling 809-acre (327 hectares) facility features burial plots divided according to the respective religious beliefs of its customers.

A statue of Guan Yin, the Chinese Goddess of Mercy, venerated by Taoists and Buddhists, stands on the head of a kilometre-long dragon replica, while a 20-feet statue of Jesus takes centre stage at the Christian section of the cemetery.

The dead buried at the memorial aren’t limited to humans. A corner is dedicated to cats and dogs, with over 100 burial plots costing RM4,900 each.

“The next generation won’t be afraid to go to the cemetery again,” said businessman Loke Kam Weng, whose father is buried in the cemetery. — Reuters