Italy declares migrant emergency

Italy has declared a humanitarian emergency after thousands of migrants sailed across the Mediterranean Sea from Tunisia, overwhelming authorities on Lampedusa, a tiny Italian island.

The Italian government said on Sunday that it was planning to deploy security forces on Tunisian soil to stop the waves of illegal immigrants.

"I will ask Tunisia's foreign minister for authorisation for our forces to intervene

in Tunisia to block the flux," Roberto Maroni, Italy's interior minister, said in a television interview.

He said that the EU had not responded to Italian calls for assistance, and that his country would have to manage the crisis.

Bernardino De Rubeis, Lampedusa's mayor, called the situation "out of control".

The remarks came a day after the Italian government said in a statement: "The cabinet today... has proclaimed a state of humanitarian emergency following the influx of the large number of citizens from North Africa."

The statement said that the decision to call an official emergency would enable civil protection officers "to take immediate action needed to control this phenomenon and assist citizens who have fled from North Africa".

In particular, the move will enable the central government to release funds for local authorities in areas which have been inundated by the wave of refugees, most of whom have fled to Lampedusa.

The majority of the people have come from nearby Tunisia, in the wake of the country's revolution four weeks ago.

Nearly 4,000 migrants have landed in Italy since Wednesday, according to Antonio Morana, harbour master on the island.

Most were packed into small fishing boats that were intercepted by coast guards and then taken to Lampedusa, where they were given blankets and received medical care after stepping off the boats.

Hundreds have had to sleep out in the open at the port because of a lack of facilities on the island, while others were taken to local hotels.

'More immigrants'

Karl Stagno Navarra, a journalist following events from Valletta, Malta's capital, told Al Jazeera that more migrants are on their way.

"The problem is not only for law and order on the island, but its also logistics, because the centre for migrants [on the island], which used to be operational up to a year ago ... has been closed," he said.

"The latest reports of the Italian authorities say they have identified at least another 10 boats that are expected on the island between midnight and 7am local time on Sunday."

Navarra said that up to 10,000 migrants were expected in the next week.

"So we have 4,000 migrants on an island with 5,000 inhabitants, and a structure that has a capacity to welcome not more than 800 migrants. So you can imagine the situation over there," he said.

"Throughout the night, thousands of migrants have been kept on the harbour keys, and also in the village squares. So we have a situation which is really out of hand at the moment."

Navarra said that many of the migrants say they are ultimately trying to reach France, where some of their family members are based.

Formal request

The Italian authorities have organised an airlift and put a ferry into service to take some of the people off Lampedusa, transporting them to identification centres in southern Sicily.

Italy made a formal request on Friday for aid from the European Union to combat what it warned was a looming humanitarian crisis, saying that the EU's justice and home affairs council should meet immediately to discuss the matter.

In a joint statement, Maroni, the Italian interior minister, and Franco Frattini, the foreign minister, also requested "the immediate deployment of a Frontex mission for patrolling and interception off the Tunisian coast", referring to the EU's border security agency based in Warsaw.

Maroni has blamed the influx on the Tunisian authorities, saying they were unable to enforce bilateral accords on curbing illegal immigration after the weeks of protests and political turmoil in the country.

TAP, the official Tunisian news agency, said a young Tunisian migrant had drowned, and another was reported missing, when a boat carrying 12 people sank on Saturday off the coast of Tunisia, en route to Europe.

Source:

Al Jazeera and agencies                 

Hindraf car convoy arrested by police

Say No To Interlok - Hindraf

Police clamp down on HRP convoys, scores arrested

At least 30 Human Rights Party (HRP) members in Selangor, Perak and Kuala Lumpur have been arrested as police came down hard on their nationwide convoys.

Six were arrested at Jelapang, Ipoh police station while five more were nabbed near Jalan Templer in Selangor, as police mounted roadblocks to stop the convoy to promote an upcoming anti-racism rally.

A member of the Malaysiakini citizen journalist programme covering the convoy in Selangor had her camera grabbed from her and was hit in the face by a man believed to be plainclothes police.

In Perak, police were said to be "very harsh" towards HRP members during the arrest.

“The police raised their fists and threatened to hit (the HRP members),” an eyewitness said when contacted.

The six in Perak who were detained - Perak HRP chief P Ramesh, his deputy N Subramaniam and four other Perak HRP members - were charged with obstructing police on duty.

They were released at about 3pm under police bail.

There were similar convoys in Johor, Negri Sembilan and Kedah.

According to HRP information chief S Jayathas, who was contacted moments before he was arrested along with Selangor party chief K Selvam and three others, police also mounted a roadblock in Rawang.

“They only stopped our cars, not other road users. We staged a small protest and they let us pass.

“We have the right to use the road. They can only check our road tax and drivers' licences,” said Jayathas, who is now held at the Selayang district police station.

Around 3pm, HRP activists in a convoy of three cars were taken into custody by police officers just after they alighted from their vehicles in Bangsar Utama, Kuala Lumpur.

Twenty activists had just arrived from Brickfields when police officers stopped them and took them into custody. They are currently in the Travers police station.

During a press conference later, Brickfields OCPD Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid said that 21 people were arrested and brought to the Travers police station because they were obstructing traffic and moving in a big group.

“As we know, Brickfields is a very busy area,” he told reporters at the station today.

He added that the 21 detainees will have their statements recorded and will be investigated under Section 27 of the Penal Code.

Those arrested were 15 men and five women aged above 40, and a boy aged 10.

“We hope to release them under police bail by today,” he said.

Also confiscated were 55 posters, ten flags and 200 leaflets.

“We will also return their cars when we release them,” he said.

There are reports, meanwhile, that arrests have also been made in Kedah, Negeri Sembilan and Johor.

This includes 26 HRP activists who were arrested in Seremban and brought to the district police station there. Negeri Sembilan HRP chief S Sivakumar was among those held by the police.

Perkasa demonstration undisturbed

Seremban police chief ACP Saiful Azly Kamaruddin told Bernama that the group, including four children and four women, were arrested at 2.15pm as they did not have a permit.

HRP had yesterday expressed its fears of a crackdown after Perak police warned them not to proceed with the convoy.

Those detained at the Travers police station were released under police bail at about 9pm.

HRP officials informed Malaysiakini that those arrested in Seremban will be staying the night in the lock-up as they refused to remove their HRP T-shirts when instructed.

In a text message, pro-tem HRP secretary-general P Uthyakumar asked why members of Malay rights group Perkasa were not arrested when they held a demonstration in Seremban Square today.

When contacted, Perkasa Youth information chief Nurul Izham Anuar confirmed that its members had a protest gathering at the venue today.

He could not, however, offer any more details of the event.  

Mahathir given 7 days to name those he met

Karpal Singh became today the second DAP top leader after party advisor Lim Kit Siang to challenge claims by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad that he had met opposition leaders in 1987 and assured them they would not be placed under arrested.

Karpal, who is DAP national chairperson and member of parliament for Bukit Gelugor, said Mahathir's stand to that effect was “far away from the truth” and challenged the latter to name the opposition leaders that he met as well as the time and venue of the purported meeting.

“I state, with all the force at my command, that there was no such meeting,” said the veteran lawyer and politician, who was detained during 'Operation Lalang' under the Internal Security Act from late 1987 to early 1989.

“If Dr Mahathir does not respond to my challenge to him within seven days, it must be presumed that Dr Mahathir is not telling the truth... It is a very serious matter for a former prime minister to publicly lie,” Karpal added.

In the latest book on Mahathir by American journalist Tom Plate, the former premier was quoted as saying that he had actually met with opposition leaders to guarantee them they would not be prosecuted.

Mahathir told Plate that he had actually preferred to "handle it differently", but that the police had insisted on the arrests.

DAP supremo Lim had said four days ago: “I never met Mahathir and he never gave me any assurance that I would not be arrested before the launch of Operasi Lalang on Oct 27, 1987... let Mahathir name the opposition leaders he had met!”

In his statement today, Karpal said Mahathir's claim that it was the police who caused the detention of 106 people during Operation Lalang could not be true as it was Mahathir himself who signed the detention orders after the recommendations were made to him by the police following investigations.

“The police could not have forced Dr Mahathir to sign the detention orders at gun-point. Dr Mahathir. Dr Mahathir was then also Minister of Home Affairs and the police were directly under his charge, and not the other way around,” Karpal pointed out.

Furthermore, Karpal noted that following his release from ISA detention following his habeas corpus application on March 9, 1988, it was Mahathir himself who ordered his re-arrest and on April 16, 1988 signed the detention order for Karpal under the ISA.

As for former inspector-general of police Hanif Omar who backed Mahathir's claim that it was the police behind the detentions and not the then-premier, Karpal said this was “equally untruthful”.

“Tun Hanif should not add credence to Dr Mahathir's preposterous claim, nearly 24 years after Operation Lalang when, clearly, Dr Mahathir is not telling the truth.

“It is a shame that Tun Hanif should throw his dignity and self-respect to the winds just to please his former master who was responsible for his Tunship and heading Genting after his retirement,” said Karpal in reference to Hanif's honorary title and the multi-million ringgit gaming corporation of which Hanif was made a director.

Mahathir, however, yesterday reiterated his stand on his meeting with opposition leaders prior to Operation Lallang and accused DAP leaders, instead, of lying.

"They are lying. I have no reason to make that claim unless it had happened.

"But I don't expect the opposition leaders to be grateful of what the government has done especially if it came from me," he told journalists.

Police clamp down on HRP convoys, scores arrested

Merlimau tamil school, 40 years in the making

Nationwide swoop on Hindraf supporters

More than 70 people who had taken part in Hindraf's nationwide march against Umno had been arrested by the police for illegal assembly.

PETALING JAYA: The police embarked on a nationwide crackdown against Hindraf-Makkal Sakthi members who were participating in People’s March for Solidarity against Umno/BN.

FMT learnt that more than 70 Hindraf supporters had been arrested, including nine women and four schoolchildren.

The march – in the form of car convoys – started today in various states, each convoy ending in another destination in the respective states.

In Kuala Lumpur, the car convoy started at Brickfields this afternoon while in Selangor, it kicked off at Rawang at 9.30am. Similar convoys left their destinations in Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Perak, Kedah and Penang.

The police however were quick to swoop in the arrest those participating in these convoys, claiming that these people were taking part in illegal assembly. Some were arrested for obstructing the police from carrying out their duties.

The first group to be arrested were those involved in Perak. About six Hindraf members were arrested in Jelapang after leaving Buntong.

At about the same time, the Selangor police arrested about five Hindraf members, including Human Rights Party’s information chief S Jayathas at Rawang.

 They were taken to the Gombak police station for questioning.

Several other members of the Selangor convoy were also diverted to the Gombak police station. The remaining cars in the convoy had made their way to the Batu Caves temple where the Hindraf members are distributing leaflets for a massive rally planned at the KLCC on Feb 27.

In Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, the police arrested about 20 Hindraf supporters and had taken them to the Jalan Travers police station while 15 others were arrested in Seremban. Some Hindraf supporters were also arrested from the HRP headquarters in Bangsar.

In both Kedah and Johor, the car convoys were tailed by the police but so far no arrests have been made in these two states.

Feb 27 rally will proceed

HRP’s pro tem secretary general P Uthayakumar when contacted said: “Our lawyers have gone to the various police stations to bail out our supporters.”

He also said that the rally scheduled for the Feb 27 will proceed as planned.

“Our rally against Umno’s racism and the anti-Interlok rally will take take place as planned,” he said.
Uthayakumar also slammed the police over their double standards in not arresting any Malay nationalist movement Perkasa members who had protested against Hindraf in Seremban today.

In Perak, among those arrested included the state HRP chief  P Ramesh. His group was arrested following a cat-and-mouse game between the Hindraf members and the police.

He said the police told them that they were being arrested for moving in a convoy without a police permit. They were however released with a police bail of RM5,000 each.

After being released, Ramesh’s group lodged police reports against Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin over the controversial school literature book Interlok.

Safety and security reasons

Meanwhile in a Bernama report, the Negeri Sembilan police today confirmed that they had detained 26 Hindraf members, including six women and four children, who were involved in an illegal convoy of 16 cars in Seremban today.

Seremban police chief ACP Saiful Azly Kamaruddin said police had received information that an illegal convoy cars would be passing through the town today.

“Police started monitoring their activities from 1.35pm and detained the members when they reached the Jalan Zaaba traffic light near the Rahang police station at 2.15pm,” he told reporters here today.

He said police had initially spoken to the head of the convoy, R Sivakumar, 44, and told him that the convoy needed a permit and that it was illegal to carry on without a permit.

“However, our advise was not heeded but instead they continued and shouted ‘Hidup Hindraf’ in Tamil. We had no choice but to detain them due to safety and security reasons. They were also wearing T-shirts of the movement that has been deemed illegal by the government.

“We also detained 16 cars that displayed stickers “Say no to Interlok. They will be detained for further investigations,” he said.

Later tonight, the police confirmed that they have detained 59 Hindraf and  HRP members in Negeri Sembilan, Perak, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur for staging illegal protests against ‘Interlok’.

A Bukit Aman spokesman said among those detained were 21 from Kuala Lumpur, five in Selangor, six in Perak and 26 in Negeri Sembilan.

“Similar protest convoys were also held in Kedah but no arrests were made. As of 7pm, police have only detained members in four states,” he told Bernama.

Gombak police chief ACP Abdul Rahim Abdullah also said that Jayathas was arrested for for behaving aggressively against the police
.
[Photos from HRP website. For further details visit the website]

‘Valentine’s Day is not a religious festival’

Harsh statements relating to Valentine's Day celebration to Christianity has riled religious scholars in the country.

KOTA KINABALU: A bishop irked by the misconception associated with the celebration of Valentine’s Day has taken offence to Christianity being associated with ‘sinful’ behavior.

Bishop Ng Moon Hing who is the chairman of the executive committee of the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) said Christians in Malaysia are deplored and hurt by several public statements made by an ustazah linking Valentine’s Day to ‘sin, Christianity and immorality’.

“In a recent statement made by the PAS Youth leader, quoting a statement by the National Fatwa Council, there was also an insinuation that Valentine’s Day has some Christian elements and sin, which can be interpreted to mean that Christianity condones and promotes sinful activities on Valentine’s Day,” he noted.
He said it was a false impression that Valentine’s Day which is commemorated worldwide on Feb 14, is a religious festival although it is linked to to a Roman Catholic saint.

He said nothing can be further from the truth and criticised a programme aired on national television and circulated on YouTube where the ustazah has said:  “maksiat, disco, couple-couple bersunyi sunyian, inilah tradisi masyarakat yang beragama Kristian” (that vices, disco-going and couples meeting in quiet places are the traditions of the Christians).

“Valentine’s Day is a secular celebration and statements which promote feelings of ill-will and hostility against any particular religious community cannot and should not be tolerated,” he said.

Ng urged those who have the capacity to make public statements that are carried on national television to be professional enough to conduct a scholarly research on what they are going to say.

“Valentine’s Day is celebrated in many countries today and not just in the West.

“It is not a Christian festival celebrated by the church. The earliest records indicate that a feast was dedicated to St Valentine on Feb 14 by Pope Gelasius I, as a martyr of Rome, ” Ng said.

CFM against moral policing
But details of the saint’s background are vague and much of the writings about him have been the stuff of legends and especially romanticised during the Middle Ages.

“The association with love and marriage may have arisen as part of popular culture at that time rather than as religious literature.

“The Catholic Church has removed the memorial of his feast since the promulgation of the new Roman liturgical calendar in the year 1969 (although his name remains on the list of saints and martyrs).

“In place of this commemoration, the feast of two revered saints of the Eastern Church, St Cyril and St Methodius, the Apostles of the Slavs, are celebrated on Feb 14.

“Today, Christians do not commemorate Valentine’s Day as a religious festival. Its celebration by the public is very much within the domain of secular culture and has nothing to do with the Christian faith,” Ng further explained.

According to him CFM does not believe in nor practice the moral policing of individuals and groups in our society.

“The Church in Malaysia has always advocated that we should educate and teach the beliefs and tenets of our faith and live by them rather than to be engaged in spying upon and arresting Malaysians presumed to be engaged in alleged immoral activities.

“The Bible espouses love and hence CFM invites all Christians to express the love of God in their families, with their spouses and their loved ones and also with people from the various communities in Malaysia not only on this special day but throughout the year,” he added.

Individual choice
Ustazah Siti Nor Bahyah Mahmood, 47, a year ago made a remark during an Islamic educational programme aired on TV9, which is owned by the Umno-linked media conglomerate Media Prima, that Muslims should not emulate the sinful Christians.

In the online clip of her remarks, Siti claimed that it was the Christians who normally indulged in vice, such as frequenting discos and dating.

“Selalunya buat maksiat, pergi disko… couple, couple, bersunyi-sunyian, ini adalah tradisi bagi masyarakat yang beragama Kristian bukan agama Islam…,” she had said.

The video, which had been viewed more than 80,000 times, also had the ustazah warning Muslims that celebrating Valentine’s Day would mean “supporting Christianity and the English”

Meanwhile Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) president Thomas Philips had said no religion should be belittled due to a lack of understanding.

“We should not belittle any religion just because we don’t understand it.

“Her comments were not in context as she wrongly understood that Valentine’s Day was a Christian festival,” he said adding that Christians, like others, too know what’s right and wrong.

“Valentine’s Day is a day where people express their love, I don’t see what’s wrong with letting people have that freedom. It’s all individual choices and we should be above all this,” Philips said.

Following the furore over the ustazah’s comment, TV9 yesterday said it regretted the comments made by Siti Nor.

“Since the incident, we have been more vigilant in monitoring the content of our programmes. We want to ensure that our programmes do not offend or create potential sensitive content for any quarters of the society,” said Ahmad Izham Omar, the chief operating officer of Media Prima.

Muslims warned against Valentine’s Day

A fatwa issued by the country's top clerics six years ago noted the day "is associated with elements of Christianity”.

KUALA LUMPUR: As couples around the world ready for Valentine’s Day, Islamic officials here have warned Muslims against celebrating something “synonymous with vice activities.”

The warning follows plans announced last week by several Malaysian states who are planning a crackdown on “immoral acts” during Valentine’s Day as part of a campaign to encourage a sin-free lifestyle.

“In reality, as well as historically, the celebration of Valentine’s Day is synonymous with vice activities,” Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul Aziz, head of the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), which oversees the country’s Islamic policies, told state media.

“Islam would reject anything, even from the Eastern culture, if it contravenes the Islamic teachings,” he added.

Wan Mohamad said a fatwa issued by the country’s top clerics six years ago noted the day “is associated with elements of Christianity,” and “we just cannot get involved with other religion’s worshipping rituals.”

Jakim officials will carry out a nationwide ‘Mind the Valentine’s Day Trap’ campaign, he said, aimed at preventing Muslims from celebrating the day.

Immorality checks

Nasrudin Hasan Tantawi, head of the Islamic party PAS’s youth wing said Wednesday that authorities in the opposition-controlled northern states of Kedah, Penang and Kelantan as well as central Selangor state will also carry out “immorality checks” on Feb 14.

PAS is part of the opposition alliance that won control of the four states in 2008 elections. Its conservative stance has caused friction with its two partners including the liberal and ethnic Chinese-based DAP.

“We have identified spots in these states which are used by lovers and we are deploying local religious department officials as well as party members to stop such sinful acts like casual sex, which violates Islam,” he told AFP.

Catholic church leaders say the day, which is named after Christian martyr Saint Valentine, does not have much significance as it was deleted from the church’s calendar of saints in 1969.

They say the day is more commonly associated with people expressing their love for each other by sending flowers and chocolates or exchanging greeting cards.

- AFP

‘Pull out now or row goes global’

The Education Ministry gets a one-week deadline to withdraw Interlok.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry has been given one week to immediately withdraw Interlok, the controversial Form 5 novel.

The ultimatum was issued by the National Interlok Action Team (NIAT), a coalition of over 200 non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

If the ministry fails to meet the deadline, NIAT threatens to make Interlok an international issue.

Said its president, Thasleem Mohamed: “Interlok must be withdrawn with immediate effect as it doesn’t portray the community well.”

“It has a long-term negative effect in moulding the Malaysian community,” Thasleem told a press conference.
If the ministry ignores the one-week deadline, the issue will be exposed to the international media, especially the press in India, he added.

It was revealed that the chapters on the Chinese and Indian families failed to meet five out of the six criteria set by the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka’s literature department.

The six criteria are:

• The literature must reflect the positive culture of a race;
• The literature can withstand the test of time;
• The literature can be used as a role model for future generations;
• The literature is used widely as research and reference material continuously by all in society;
• The literature has high quality of literary value; and
• The literature has won for the author a national laureate status.

Thasleem also revealed that negative aspects of the Malay community were totally edited out of the student edition of Interlok.

However, only 20% and 10% of the negative aspects of the Chinese and Indian communities were edited out.
Thasleem also said that NIAT would oppose any books used in schools that degrade any community.

On Human Rights Party’s plan to stage a mammoth rally against the book, he said: “NIAT has its own approach to resolve the matter. Our approach is diplomatic negotiations.”

Last month, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also education minister, said the book would be retained but would only be distributed to students after a panel, comprising literary experts and Indian representatives, made the necessary amendments.

Controversy surrounding the book began in December and gathered steam as many Indian NGOs opposed them.

However, the Federation of National Writers Association (Gapena) and Malay NGOs are supporting the use of the book.

MB S’gor ujar DEB distruktur semula

'Orang Melayu mesti duduk bersama dan mengambil kira pengalaman lepas supaya pelan lengkap yang berjaya dapat dirangka.'

PETALING JAYA: Menteri Besar Selangor Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim berpendapat penyesalan terhadap kegagalan Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) bukanlah satu cara untuk menyelesaikan masalah ekonomi dalam kalangan masyarakat Melayu.

Malah jurang perbezaan pendapatan yang masih wujud antara kaum majoriti di negara ini juga belum tentu dapat dipulihkan jika DEB dihapuskan.

Demikian menurut Khalid dalam responnya terhadap pengakuan terbuka mantan Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad bahawa DEB tidak mencapai matlamatnya akibat penyalahgunaan kuasa pihak tertentu untuk mendapatkan kekayaan dengan kadar segera.

“Menyesal atau tidak itu bukan jawapan. Jawapannya adalah apa yang perlu dilakukan untuk generasi masa akan datang.

“Penyelesaian terbaik adalah orang Melayu kena belajar semula kesilapan, memahami kesalahan dan membuat agenda baru yang tidak berpandukan keinginan politik tetapi keinginan untuk melihat kejayaan orang Melayu,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas membentangkan kertas kerja Seminar Pembangunan Semula Pemikiran Islam Melayu di sini hari ini.

Namun Tun Mahathir dalam ucaptama di Simposium Dilema Melayu ‘Perspektif dan Konklusi’ anjuran Persatuan Alumni Pemimpin Mahasiswa Aspirasi Malaysia (Aspirasi) di Dewan Merdeka, Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra (PWTC) hari ini berkata dasar itu perlu diteruskan kerana 30 peratus ekuiti Bumiputera yang ditetapkan masih belum tercapai.

Khalid ketika diminta mengulas mengenai kenyataan itu bagaimanapun turut sependapat dengan Mahathir supaya DEB tidak perlu dihapuskan, tetapi perlu ‘dikaji’ dan ‘distruktur semula’.

“Sudah tiba masanya DEB perlu dilihat semula. Orang Melayu mesti duduk bersama dan mengambil kira pengalaman lepas supaya pelan lengkap yang berjaya dapat dirangka.

“Kalau tiada (pelan) kita masukkan supaya dengan cara itu kita dapat memberi keseimbangan dalam pembangunan DEB dan dalam masa yang sama dapat diterima oleh semua masyarakat,” katanya.

Beliau berkata isu Perkara 153 Perlembagaan Persekutuan yang menyentuh keistimewaan hak kaum Melayu dan Bumiputera juga tidak akan timbul selagi pendekatan sedemikian tidak menjejaskan proses pelaksanaan dan cara pembawaan DEB untuk menangani arus cabaran perubahan globalisasi pada masa akan datang.

Kadar jenayah meningkat

Sementara itu, beliau turut mengulas mengenai respon Menteri Keselamatan Dalam Negeri Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein yang menolak permohonan kerajaan Selangor untuk menubuhkan pasukan polis bantuan bagi menangani kadar jenayah yang semakin meningkat di negeri itu.

Hishammuddin dalam alasannya kelmarin berkata, mengikut perlembagaan isu keselamatan dan urusan polis terletak di bawah bidang kuasa kerajaan Persekutuan serta menyifatkan cadangan itu hanya membazirkan wang kerajaan negeri.

“Kita tak nak rakyat kata kerajaan negeri tak buat apa-apa. Tidak ada sesiapa pun nak masalah jenayah berlaku disekeliling mereka.

“Saya tak kata polis tak buat kerja malah mereka telah menjalankan tanggungjawab dengan cara yang terbaik (namun) dalam keadaan yang terhad.

“Sebab itulah kerajaan negeri berpendapat sehingga polis dapat memantapkan lagi tenaga kerja mereka, kita mintaklah supaya (khidmat) polis bantuan dilakukan.

“Kalau kerajaan Persekutuan kata tak perlu dan nak tambah lagi jumlah anggota polis, itu kita tak ada masalah tapi jangan sampai rakyat kata kita tiada usaha untuk selsaikan masalah ini,” ujar Khalid.

Bible Knowledge to be taught in school

In a landmark decision, the Cabinet gives the green light to a proposal that will help Christian students sitting the SPM exam.

PENAMPANG: Bible Knowledge will now be taught as subject in the school premises, but outside the normal class hours.

The decision puts an end to the problem faced by students taking the subject in public examinations.

In the past, these students had to learn it on their own outside their respective school premises.

The decision was made during the first meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Bumiputera of Sabah and Sarawak meeting chaired by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak on Feb 7.

Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Bernard Dompok, who is also the committee’s technical committee chairman, said the decision would assist students taking this subject in Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exam.

“On behalf of all quarters, I thanked the prime minister and the federal government for being attentive to the wishes of the community, particularly the Christians.

“We believe this landmark decision will go a long way towards the full realisation of the 1Malaysia concept,” he said.

Dompok, who is also Penampang MP and Upko president, was speaking at a press conference after he officiated at the launch of a mobile clinic unit and an ambulance for the district health clinic here.

Education Ministry circular

Dompok said that prior to this, students like those studying in SMK Datuk Peter Mojuntin here, who took up Bible Knowledge as a subject, had to learn it on their own outside the school premises.

“I raised the difficulties faced by students of SMK Datuk Peter Mojuntin on this matter.

“Such a situation also happened at the government schools in other places. With the decision, the students concerned now can learn the subject after their normal class schedule has ended,” he said.

Dompok also said the Cabinet had also agreed with other requests made by the technical committee based on the resolutions of the Federation of Christian Mission Schools Malaysia conference held in the middle of last year.

He said this included setting up a Christian club and organisation in the mission schools which now only needs the approval of the school principal, unlike before.

“It was agreed during the meeting that a circular on this matter will be issued by the Education Ministry to the schools concerned.

“The circular will also stated that the Cabinet has agreed that the principal of mission schools have the power to approve the setting up of a Christian club and organisation,” said Dompok.

The Feb 7 meeting was said to have also discussed the intake of Bumiputera of Sabah and Sarawak into the civil service, native customary land issue, economic opportunities for the local contractors, as well as the Sabah Native Court institution.

Of Sin, Siti and small-minded men without sagacity

By Martin Jalleh

Siti Nor Bahyah Mahamood is a well-known Islamic motivator on local television and a popular TV personality, with Semanis Kurma on TV9 and Astro being her biggest hit.

As a famous personality, one would expect her to have all the facts on her fingertips in her efforts to educate, motivate and even propagate her faith! Surely her experience as a professional motivator would teach her that you can’t motivate people by humiliating others!

Recently, she decided to discourage Muslim youth from celebrating Valentine’s Day. It is actually quite a noble effort. I too do not believe in V’s Day (Catholic though I be) and I think it is tragic to have to say “I love you” only once a year and with a blooming rose that costs a bomb!

But I have no problem with the rest of the world who are caught up by the commercialization of love and romance (though now its extended to more than just a celebration of lovebirds) and are ready to pay a crazy and costly sum, probably to make up for their neglect of 364 days in the year!

V’s Day has become a day when, love is blind, the florists flourish, and hotels and restaurants reap roaring profits by holding the ridiculous! It has no religious significance whatsoever! As for those who wish to unleash their lust on V Day, VD (a different kind of rose) might await them!

Sadly, Siti’s ignorance showed when she, in an RTM programme last week, linked V’s Day to Christianity and immoral activities. She said “immoral activities, partying and unmarried couples associating in private are traditions of the Christian community”!

Surprisingly, as a motivator, Siti is glaringly show of understanding. V’s Day is not a Christian tradition and all Christian traditions and tenets do not condone, in fact abhor “immoral activities”, and “unmarried couples associating in private”.

If only Siti would sit quietly and ponder she will realize that vice and virtue lie in the adherents of every faith and there is really no need of making a scapegoat of other religions and insulting them for the sins of the people of her own faithful!

A Christian Conspiracy to Corrupt Muslims?

The Malaysian Insider reported on 11 Feb. 2011 that both the KL Islamic Department (Jawi) and Selangor Islamic Department (Jais) have banned Muslims from celebrating V’s Day, calling it “a Christian tradition” in a Friday sermon delivered in mosques on that day.

Alas, if Jawi, Jais or Jakim want to reduce themselves into one big Joke, it is really none of our business, but claiming that V’s Day is a Christian tradition and inferring that it is part of a Christian conspiracy to “corrupt” Muslims, is to say but the least, a jaundiced view…very unislamic indeed!

The sermon continued with its slanderous spree: “Remember that the Jews and Christians would continue to deceive Muslims. They will do everything to undermine the Muslims’ belief and personality”!

Prepared by the Selangor’s Islamic authority, the sermon also said that V’s Day “is celebrated in many ways, starting with greeting cards, flowers and dance parties. In fact some celebrate it with a date which would eventually lead to illicit sex”!

What about the illicit sex that takes place on non-Valentine Days? Who is to be blamed? What about the sex scandals committed by Members of Parliament, Ministers and a host of people in high places….were they all committed on V”s Day? Were they the result of a conspiracy by the Jews and Christians?

Jais caused quite a jolt when it pointed out that there were 257,411 births out of wedlock between 2000 and 2008 and blamed V’s Day celebrations as one of the causes. You mean to say nine V’s Days could produce 257, 411 births? Is this what Najib’s model of moderate Islam is all about?

Not only are they insulting the Christians but they are so condescending in how they view the Muslims in Bolehland – who have in recent times been portrayed as people who are so very easily confused, convinced, converted and corrupted! But then again, we are told that is none of our business.

It appears that Siti, Jawi, Jais and Jakim need to do a lot of soul searching. Surely the strength of Islam does not lie in creating a “siege mentality” and in their ignorance, insulting other religions.

The different faiths in this country are often faced with many similar challenges which could be more easily overcome if we were to synergise our earnest efforts rather than creating slurs and suspicions on the supposed salacious conspiracies of other religions to turn young Muslims into sex fiends!

May I wish Jawi, Jais and Jakim Happy Anti-Valentine’s Day! And to those who celebrate it in a big way, Happy Valentine’s Day – whatever it means!

To PAS Youth, instead of conducting “immorality checks” on V’s Day in opposition-ruled states, why not take a break from politics and be romantic enough to spend precious time with your beloved under the moon, always conscious that God is watching you from a distance!

To the Muslims who really want to celebrate V’s Day but cannot as a result of the recent ban, please do not be angry but in keeping with the spirit of the day, send a rose to Siti, Jawi, Jais and Jakim – unless the rose is deemed by them as a Christian flower used to seduce Muslims into immorality!

(13 Feb. 2011)

70 lawyers to act for orang asli

The Star
by SHAILA KOSHY

KUALA LUMPUR: Orang asli claims of encroachment into native land should move faster now that 70 lawyers have agreed to act pro bono.

“We are preparing a database which will be used to farm out cases and other disputes to these volunteers,” said Bar Council member Steven Thiru when contacted.

On Dec 1, The Star had reported that more and more cases of encroachment into orang asli lands were coming to light but the council’s Legal Aid Centre did not have enough lawyers to act for them.

Thiru, who is also the deputy chair of the council’s Committee on Orang Asli Rights (COAR), said the lawyers volunteered their services for free after a workshop on Dec 4.

“At the moment there are about 10 cases in Peninsular Malaysia and we are in the process of organising representation for those affected.

“COAR will be sending out a notice to ask members handling orang asli cases to notify us so we can offer assistance,” said Thiru, adding that most cases were of encroachment, either to appropriate native land or the produce on it.

“A major problem for us is to determine who is the trespasser; in many cases, they are independent contractors of state authorities but it is not easy to pin them down.”

On the fund launched on Dec 4 to defray part of the volunteers’ costs, he said a council member had donated RM5,000.

“In our next term (2011/2012), we intend to approach the Bar for contributions,” he said.

The orang asli are expected to come up with the remainder of the money, depending on what they can afford, said Thiru.

“COAR takes the view they must take ownership of their cases and contributing is one way of doing this.”

He said COAR would engage with the orang asli and visit their settlements, with the help of Centre for Orang Asli Concerns coordinator Dr Colin Nicholas.

When contacted, Dr Nicholas, who is also a COAR member, said while 10 cases had been filed, there were between 50 and 60 more such cases.

'Mydaftar' Campaign Helps Indian Community Without Identity Documents

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 13 (Bernama) -- Members of the Indian community who have no identity documents are advised to take the opportunity to apply for these documents during the eight-day 'Mydaftar' campaign beginning Feb 19.

MIC vice-president Datuk M. Saravanan said the campaign was to ensure that they obtained their identity documents and avoid facing problems in future.

"The Mydaftar campaign had been approved by the government to assist the Indian community who are facing problems as they have no birth certificate, identity card and still possess the red identity card and have yet to apply for a citizenship," he told reporters after attending a briefing on the campaign together with the Indian community at the Public Housing Project in Kampung Air Panas Baru, on Sunday.

The campaign is being organised jointly by the Special Implementation Task Force of the Cabinet Committee on the Indian Community, and the National Registration Department, and supported by several other government agencies besides the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the MIC.

Saravanan, who is also the Deputy Minister of Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing, said under the campaign, the Indian community without any personal document would be assisted in filling up their application forms by the Special Implementation Task Force, the MIC, NGOs and volunteers supporting the campaign.

Police clamp down on HRP convoys, dozens arrested

(Malaysiakini) At least 30 Human Rights Party (HRP) members in Selangor, Perak and Kuala Lumpur have been arrested as police came down hard on their nationwide convoys.

Six were arrested at Jelapang, Ipoh police station while five more were nabbed near Jalan Templer in Selangor, as police mounted roadblocks to stop the convoy to promote an upcoming anti-racism rally.

According to eyewitnesses, a convoy member in Selangor had her camera confiscated and was hit in the face, while police were “very harsh” towards HRP members in Perak.

“The police raised their fists and threatened to hit (the HRP members),” an eyewitness said when contacted.

He added that the Jelapang police station is now closed off and other members of HRP are not allowed in, nor were they told why the six - Perak HRP chief P Ramesh, his deputy N Subramaniam and four other Perak HRP members - were arrested.

There are similar convoys in Johor, Negri Sembilan and Kedah.

According to HRP information chief S Jayathas, who was contacted moments before he was arrested along with Selangor party chief K Selvam and three others, police also mounted a roadblock in Rawang.

“They only stopped our cars, not other road users. We staged a small protest and they let us pass.

“We have the right to use the road. They can only check our road tax and drivers' licences,” said Jayathas, who is now held at the Selayang district police station.

Around 3pm, HRP activists in a convoy of three cars were taken into custody by police officers just after they alighted from their vehicles in Bangsar Utama, Kuala Lumpur.

Twenty activists had just arrived from Brickfields when police officers stopped them and took them into custody. They are currently in the Travers police station.

During a press conference later, Brickfields OCPD Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid said that 21 people were arrested and brought to the Travers police station because they were obstructing traffic and moving in a big group.

“As we know, Brickfields is a very busy area,” he told reporters at the station today.

He added that the 21 detainees will have their statements recorded and will be investigated under Section 27 of the Penal Code.

Those arrested were 15 men and five women aged above 40, and a boy aged 10.

“We hope to release them under police bail by today,” he said.

Also confiscated were 55 posters, ten flags and 200 leaflets.

“We will also return their cars when we release them,” he said.

There are reports, meanwhile, that arrests have also been made in Kedah, Negeri Sembilan and Johor.

This includes 32 HRP activists who were arrested in Seremban and brought to the district police station there. Negeri Sembilan HRP chief S Sivakumar was among those taken in by the police.

HRP had yesterday expressed its fears of a crackdown after Perak police warned them not to proceed with the convoy.

PM to meet religious heads during Interfaith Week

Religious leaders could help head off interfaith tensions before they exploded, said Azman. — file pic

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 13 — Tomorrow, Malaysia will for the first time celebrate World Interfaith Harmony Week as put forward by the United Nations (UN) with various programmes prepared, including a meet-and-greet session with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and religious leaders here.

 

National Unity and Integration Department director-general Datuk Azman Amin Hassan said the prime minister’s participation demonstrated his commitment towards resolving religious issues in the country and preserving the wellbeing of Malaysia’s multi-racial community.

“The Committee for the Promotion of Inter-religious Understanding and Harmony has also agreed on this celebration, which it says signifies the government’s concern on religious matters.

“This is also in line with Najib’s expressed hopes at the UN, in which he said he did not want any extremist or militant groups to threaten unity and security in Malaysia,” he said in an exclusive interview with Bernama on the programme here.

World Interfaith Harmony Week, was mooted by the King of Jordan, Abdullah II, and his personal envoy and special advisor, Prince Ghazi Muhammad that was presented at the 65th UN General Assembly in New York last year.

It was then accepted and has been slated to be an annual celebration in the first week of February in all member countries.

The celebration also hopes to increase multi-racial co-operation and harmony worldwide following misunderstanding on Islam and terrorism after the September 11 incident at the World Trade Centre (WTC), New York, in 2001.

The Interfaith Week was mooted to address the linking of Islam to terrorism following 9/11. — Reuters pic

Commenting on the highlights of World Interfaith Harmony Week celebrations tomorrow, Azman said the prime minister will address religious leaders and followers to preserve harmony among Malaysia’s varied cultures and religions.

 
He is also scheduled to present letters of appointment to members of the Committee for the Promotion of Inter-religious Understanding and Harmony, he added.

Although the UN proposed for celebrations to be carried out in the first week of February, Azman said Malaysia had already started various programmes since early this year which would be held until end of this month.

Among the activities include “Muzakarah” (discussion) with Muftis from each state and prominent Muslim figures organised by the Islamic Development Institute, as well as dissemination of religious harmony and “muhhibah” (goodwill) messages at prayer houses with help from the Islamic Development Department and other religious organisations.

“We also took the opportunity to spread word about World Interfaith Harmony Week at several Chinese New Year events and invited all religious leaders to attend, emphasising that there needs to be increased co-operation among all followers in the country,” he said.

He added that religious leaders could help pacify conflicts and tension faced by any race or religion before they escalated into something more serious.

Citing the conflict among Muslims and Christians in Nigeria which took hundreds of innocent lives, he said the problem was resolved only after two prominent religious personalities — Imam Dr Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa and Pastor Dr James Movel Wuye — championed reconciliation.

“Both of them came to Malaysia last year with representatives from several other countries to tell their experiences which ended in friendship and joint campaigns to create interfaith understanding through peace, not war,” he said.

Commenting on unity in Malaysia, Azman said the situation was good with solutions found for most of the issues raised.

Other countries celebrating World Interfaith Harmony Week include Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Philippines, United States of America and Germany. — Bernama

Interlok novel must be withdrawn, decides Niat

(Malaysiakini) Representatives of more than 140 Indian NGOs assembled at a special closed door session in Kuala Lumpur yesterday afternoon decided unanimously that the controversial Malay literature textbook 'Interlok' must be withdrawn.

"It has failed to meet the first five of the six criteria set by Jabatan Sastera. It is the unanimous decision of the meeting that 'Interlok' novel must be withdrawn", the chair of the session Haji Thasleem Mohamed Ibrahim (left) told the press conference at the end of the session.

In addition to the representatives of the 140 Indian NGOs, who, according to Thasleem, the chair of National Interlok Action Team (Niat), "represents some three-quarter million Indians."

Leaders of all the political parties had also been invited, with Deputy Minister M Saravanan turning up for a while. Senator S Ramakrishnan and M Kula Segaran were at the meeting till the end.

Thasleem said that this novel is not suitable for 17-year-old students and that he was concerned about the long-term effects it would have on Malaysian society.

He said that this issue is not just a matter concerning only the Indians. "It is a national issue.

"It must be out of SPM syllabus. No addition, deletion or anything else. That is our unanimous decision.

"Any book that seeks to insult any race, Niat will be there to protest. We also want to make it absolutely clear that we have nothing against the writer as an individual," Thasleem added.

The six criteria

Hindu Sangam deputy president Bala Tharmalingam said of the six criteria of selection stated by Hamdan Yahya, director of Jabatan Sastera, for the selection of a textbook, only one is met on the Ching Huat chapter and Maniam chapter. But for the Seman chapter all the six criteria are met.

He then cited the criteria:

1. Literature that reflects positive culture of a race.

2. It should withstand the test of time.

3. It can be used as examples for future generations.

4. Literature that is used widely as research and reference material continuously by societies, scholars and students.

5. Literature that has a high quality of literary values of its time.

6. Literature whose author has achieved national laureate status.

In addition to these six criteria, there is another strict guide line laid down by the Education Ministry's Biro Buku Teks. "Any book that contains negative elements and negative characters should not be selected as a textbook."

Bala pointed out and asked, "How come this book was selected in violations of all these conditions and without prior consultation with specialists from the respective community,"?

The memorandum setting out its case for the withdrawal of 'Interlok' as a textbook will be submitted to the minister of education and the prime minister by Wednesday.

Thasleem said that they expect to get a reply within a week.

'MIC should do its job properly'

Shoud Niat fail to get the positive reply that it expects from the education minister, further measures will be instituted. Meetings and consultations with all the national leaders, Indian leaders, briefing of Indian and international media are some of the measures under consideration, Bala said.

"We are not alone in this issue. I have spoken to many Malay and Chinese friends who appreciated our concern. We also appeal to the leaders of our Chinese community to speak up. I know how they feel about it," Thasleem said.

To a question as to what MIC, as a member of the government, should do in this matter - quit the government?

Thasleem replied, "MIC should do its job properly."

To another question whether Niat would support and participate in the demonstration that Human Rights Party had proposed to hold on Feb 27, "HRP is different and has a different approach. We sympathise with their cause, but our objectives are different", Thasleem said.

Malay dilemma: Ibrahim Ali hits out at student loan defaulters

Symposium Malay dilemma: Mustafa Ali on the concerns of PAS

Egyptians returning to work and a new normal

Cairo, Egypt (CNN) -- Egyptians on Saturday cleared burned cars, garbage and debris that accumulated over 18 days at Tahrir Square, a sign that Cairo and the rest of the country were beginning to get back to work while wondering what government comes next after the revolution.

A day after President Hosni Mubarak stepped down, employees and businesses readied themselves for Sunday, the traditional start of the work week. The country's stock market is expected to reopen Wednesday.

Volunteers repainted black and white striped street curbs around a monument by the Egyptian Museum, which had been on the front line in street battles between Mubarak's foes and supporters.

In the immediate future, the military -- largely respected by Egyptians -- will have to grapple with guiding the country of more than 80 million people through the transition amid massive problems of unemployment and considerable economic underdevelopment, said CNN correspondent Ben Wedeman, who is based in Cairo.

Former Egyptian Trade Minister Rachid Mohammed Rachid recently told CNN that the new government must show it is business-friendly.

The African nation virtually shut down during the unrest, losing vital tourism dollars as well.

CNN's Nic Robertson reported Saturday that citizens who make their living off foreign tourists are angry.

"Young boys 17 years old and 18 years old, they want to say 'We are hungry, we want to eat, we want to work,' " said businessman Ayman el Myonir.

Businessmen near the famed Pyramids say about 50,000 people are employed in the tourism industry, Robertson reported.

"We try to help each other. We would like to put our hands together, and to help each other," said el Myonir.

As thousands reveled in their improbable revolution, the nation's newly appointed military caretakers laid out priorities Saturday geared at establishing stability, though they revealed little to elucidate the future.

The Armed Forces Supreme Council said it was committed to a democratic process resulting in civilian rule, but urged respect for the reviled police forces that had brutally clashed with protesters in the early days of the uprising.

"The armed forces council calls on the people to cooperate with the policemen," Lt. Gen. Sami Anan said on state television. "We ask our policemen to adhere to their slogan: Police is at the people's service."

It was unclear whether the statement signaled a return of the police security apparatus, noticeably absent from the streets after the violent clashes and the deployment of the army.

CNN's Arwa Damon visited a coffee shop in central Cairo, where patrons said they now feel free to speak honestly about Egypt's political problems.

"I am happy and sad," said Fateh, a customer. "I am sad because this is the president who carried us through wars and tough times."

He said the turning point came when Mubarak supporters rode horses and camels into the Tahrir Square crowd.

The military, meanwhile, announced measures geared toward establishing stability after the abrupt death of a 30-year dictatorship in the Arab world's most populous nation.

Anan, the armed forces chief of staff, said Egypt would still honor international treaties and commitments, a statement perhaps aimed at calming a jittery Israel that has quietly watched dramatic change unfold in its Arab ally.

Egypt and Israel signed a peace treaty in 1979. The Israelis on Saturday welcomed the Egyptian statement and Defense Minister Ehud Barak spoke on the phone with his Egyptian counterpart Hussein Tantawi, who heads the supreme council, the Israeli Defense Ministry said.

"The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces is confident in Egypt's potential, institutions and people to successfully go through these difficult times," Anan said.

But as thousands of people still celebrated on the streets, the army's first statement since Mubarak's departure did little to spell out how long Egypt would remain under military rule.

"They want to see structural change," Parag Khanna of the Global Governance Initiative told CNN Saturday. "They want to see a change in the Constitution. They want to see democracy. That speech did not tell them any of those things."

Thousands of Egyptians were in a still electric Tahrir Square Saturday, vowing to stay there until, as one protester put it, "Egypt is ruled by a civil government, not a military one."

A marble memorial was going up to remember those who died in the 18-day uprising. Human Rights Watch has documented 302 deaths, a number the monitoring group called conservative.

Protester Yehya Kheireldin said an "unspoken plan" had been reached between the military and a group of protest organizers to take down barricades and tents in Tahrir Square, even though some people wanted to hold out longer.

"It's time to start rebuilding the country," Kheireldin said, pointing to the hundreds of volunteers armed with brooms who are sweeping away the debris left by the sit-in.

Tantawi, the head of the military's supreme council, has a controversial reputation among the armed forces and had been derided by midlevel officers as "Mubarak's poodle" for his fawning over the now-ousted president, according to U.S. diplomatic cables sent from the Cairo embassy in 2008 and published by WikiLeaks.

The Constitution allows for only two scenarios for a head of state to relinquish power. The first stipulates that if the president has to step aside temporarily, the vice president steps into the top role. That is what the regime briefly orchestrated Thursday.

If the office of the president is vacated or the president becomes permanently disabled, the Constitution states that the parliamentary speaker is to assume the role until new elections can be held. Those elections, in turn, must occur within 60 days.

In opting for a third way, which put all power in the hands of the military, the Mubarak regime in effect rendered the Constitution inoperable.

Shawee El-Sayed, an independent member of Egypt's parliament and an expert on the country's Constitution, said Mubarak's move to transfer power to the military left Suleiman without an official role.

"The next step the council must (decide) is whether or not to validate the Constitution -- otherwise there will be a constitutional vacuum," he said.

Former CIA Director Michael Hayden said if the military wants to protect its self-interests, it has to help in a transition process to civilian rule.

"Otherwise," said Hayden, "they're going to see what's happened in the past 18 days repeated again and very likely not as peacefully."

A high-ranking Egyptian military official said the army's command has been discussing how to deal with Mubarak's government and when the next election would be held.

Saturday, Anan, the supreme council's spokesman, said the current government would remain in place until a new one could be formed. State television reported, citing a judiciary source, that several high-ranking government officials, including the former prime minister and interior minister, were facing lawsuits and were barred from traveling out of the country.

U.S. President Barack Obama, meanwhile, praised the Egyptian military for acting responsibly and said it now needs to help ensure a credible transition as it attempted to better gauge the unfolding situation.

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, plans to visit key U.S. allies Israel and Jordan this weekend, a Pentagon official told CNN Saturday. Under Secretary of State Bill Burns was already in Jordan meeting with King Abdullah, the State Department said.

And U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates spoke with Tantawi on Saturday, the sixth phone conversation with the minister since the start of the Egypt uprising, a Defense Department spokesman said. It was the first call since Mubarak stepped down.

Among other things, Egyptian authorities need to set about "protecting the rights of Egypt's citizens, lifting the emergency law, revising the Constitution and other laws to make this change irreversible, and laying out a clear path to elections that are fair and free," Obama said.

But some analysts were sounding the alarm over the takeover by the military, which has suddenly become accountable for the nation. Analysts with Stratfor, a global intelligence company, said Egypt had essentially experienced a coup.

"Egypt is returning to the 1952 model of ruling the state via a council of army officers," the Stratfor statement said. "The question now is to what extent the military elite will share power with its civilian counterparts."

And Amnesty International warned that Mubarak's departure did not necessarily mean an end to the police state. Egypt's emergency laws, said the monitoring group, remain intact.

But even as officials hash out the details of Egypt's murky political future, its people power rippled throughout the region.

In the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, protesters chanted: "Yesterday Tunisia, today Egypt, tomorrow Yemen will open the prison."

Saturday, men wielding knives attacked the anti-government demonstrators, said Human Rights Watch.

And in restive Algeria, anti-government protesters chanted "Change the power." Security forces clashed with the crowds.

Saturday in Algiers and detained roughly 100 protesters, according to the opposition Algerian League for Human Rights.

Mahathir concedes NEP abused but...

(Malaysiakini) Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad today conceded that the New Economic Policy has been abused by the Malays for quick gains but argued for the continuation of the controversial programme.

Addressing an audience of aroud 2000 at a symposium on the Malay dilemma, Mahathir said that is it those who had abused the NEP who were partly responsible for the failure to meet the 30 percent bumiputera equity target.

"I am embarrassed. I often defend the the NEP, but I realise that many of the opportunities awarded through the policy have been abused by the Malays.

"If not, we could have already achieved the 30 percent targets, if not more. We often do things that defeat the government's efforts to bring progress to the Malays," he said.

But despite its flaws, Mahathir (right) is adamant that the NEP should remain as revoking the policy would mean that all Malays losing out, including those who may need help.

"The problem is not the policy but the implementation. (It should be that) if they abuse, they don't get anything anymore," he said when clarifying to reporters later.

Dr M: The fault is ours

In his hard-hitting speech, the elder statesman said that Malay have abused the privileges by selling off permits and licenses awarded to them under the ethnic-based affirmative action policy, and thus have only themselves to blame for their current predicament.

"They receive approved permits (for automobile dealerships) and sell it, they are awarded contracts, they sell it. Quick gains don't last. Whose fault is it? It is ours.

Calling for unity, the former Umno president also urged the exclusively Malay audience to stand up for their rights and not be scared of being called racists for doing so.

"They say Malays come from India, Bugis, Sumatra, Turkey etc, so we are also pendatang (migrants) and some of us are afraid to be accused of racism so we keep quiet.

"(But) we fulfill the definition of a Malay, that is to speak the Malay language, practise Malay customs and Islam...It is the same in other countries ,too, where migrants learn the language, culture and some even change religions to be known as the people of that land," he said.

He added that defending Malay rights does not mean taking away from other races "who had worked hard for what they have", but to take what "rightfully belong to (Malays)....in their original land".

"We had willingly changed the name of our country, the Persekutuan Tanah Melayu (Federated Malay States) to Malaysia, and no one is thankful that we had done so for their interests," he said.

"Our dilemma now is whether to continue this struggle or to accept a Malaysia where Malays have no relevance," he said. 

News Flash “Arrest” at Seremban HINDRAF forum “End UMNO racism & Revoke INTERLOK” tonight 12/2/11

Perkasa lodges police report against HINDRAF Negeri Sembilan on protest against UMNO racism.

A police report was lodge at 4.30pm 11/2/2011 at IPD Seremban. ( See UM 12/2/11 page 24)

Against:-

HINDRAF Forum End UMNO racism & Revoke INTERLOK today 12/2/11 @ 7.15pm at Kuil Sri Subramaniar Balathadayuthapani, Lobak, Seremban.

100 over car convoy “End UMNO racism & Revoke INTERLOK” from Kemayan Curry House at 2.00pm on 13/2/2011

Negeri Sembilan Chairman Mr.S.Sivakumar said despite police report made by Perkasa all program will continue as planned. For more information please contact:- 0196944693, 0166909874, 0176616114

“Rights not Mercy”

S.JAYATHAS

HINDRAF

Information Cheif

If PM again, Dr M would prioritise racial equality

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 12 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad placed racial equality as top on his list of priorities to develop the country if he were given a second shot at running the country as prime minister.

Dr Mahathir told songstress Datuk Siti Nurhaliza on the first episode of the latter’s new TV talk show “Siti” on Astro Ria tonight that despite having relinquished his job for over seven years now, he still had “many ideas” on how to improve development in Malaysia.

“I have many ideas that can help to develop the country, especially to achieve racial unity.

“But these plans can only be carried out by those in power... because I am not in power, all I can do is try to influence the present leaders,” he said.

The outspoken octogenarian explained that now that he was no longer in government, his only avenue to affect changes in the country was by speaking with present government leaders and writing in his blog chedet.co.cc.

“My wish if I were to be PM of this country again, which is unlikely, is to ensure that Malaysia achieves its objective to achieve developed nation status,” he said.

Dr Mahathir (picture) said this when responding to a question from a member of the audience who had asked the former prime minister what he would do if he were given the opportunity to run Malaysia again.

The country’s longest serving prime minister was the first guest on Siti’s maiden television programme.

During his 20-minute segment with the popular songstress, Dr Mahathir spoke of his early years growing up as the son of a school principal and strict disciplinarian, his passion for reading, his eating habits and the secret to his youthfulness.

The still-influential leader said that as a child, he had been “surrounded” by books and had naturally picked up the passion for reading, a past time he enjoys until today.

“My parents gave me guidance on how to lead a good life and how to achieve success through education,” he said.

He noted that the many youths today no longer turn to reading as a hobby due to the advent of other distractions like the Internet and social media.

“During my time, there was no TV, just the gramophone and even then, we rarely use it. Now, it is so easy, you only have to press a button and you can see the world.

“That is why we do not seek for knowledge from books these days and perhaps that is why we do not see many youths reading,” he said.

Dr Mahathir added that to encourage the habit, parents needed to convince and force their children to read more until they were able to enjoy reading on their own.

“In my opinion, in the beginning, some force is needed. But after that, once they begin to enjoy books, they will start to become more attracted to books on their own,” he said.

When asked for a message to the youth, Dr Mahathir said the young needed to appreciate the efforts of the nation’s founding fathers to achieve independence for Malaysia.

He noted that more often than not, such “blessings” were taken for granted by those who did not witness the struggle achieve independence.

“The youths who were born after Merdeka, they take Merdeka and freedom as a natural phenomenon that does not need to be worked at or defended.

“Because of that, we do not truly appreciate these blessings that we have received. But if we do not feel indebted in any way, do not appreciate and are not thankful, then we would not be successful human beings,” he said.

Dr Mahathir later laughed when asked of the secret to his youth and revealed that he always believed in moderation when it came to his eating habits.

“And it’s not that we should stop eating when we are full, we should stop once we feel that the food is terribly tasty. That was what my mother taught me,” he said, smiling.

Dr Mahathir, now 85, was Malaysia’s prime minister for 22 years from 1981 to 2003 but remains today a significant and influential figure in local politics even after his retirement.

Kerdau rep dies, by-election No 16 looming

Another by-election is looming with the death of Umno's Kerdau elected representative, Zaharuddin Abu Kassim.

PETALING JAYA: The country will see yet another by-election, the 16th, with the death of Umno’s Kerdau elected representative Zaharuddin Abu Kassim this evening.

Zaharuddin, 63, died of a heart attack at the Hospital Sultan Ahmad Shah here at 7.15pm.

Temerloh’s deputy police chief Supt Zundin Mahmood said the hospital confirmed that the assemblyman had suffered a heart attack.

Zaharuddin was reported to be in critical condition last year when he was admitted at the National Heart Institute (IJN) due to kidney complication as well as a heart ailment and unstable blood pressure.

He, however, recovered sufficiently and got married to Rozlifah Ahmad, 33, late last year.

In the 2008 general election, Zaharuddin defeated the PAS candidate, Hassanuddin Salim, with a 1,615-vote majority.

He polled 4,135 votes while Hassanuddin obtained 2,520.

The country had just witnessed a by-election in Tenang, Johor – a state seat which was retained by Barisan Nasional.

There will be another by-election in Merlimau, Malacca, on March 6 following the death of the Umno incumbent Mohamad Hidhir Abu Hasan.

The Kerdau by-election will be the first in Pahang, the homestate of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

Would Opposition leaders have let off Mahathir for two decades if he had broken his assurance before Operation Lalang that they would not be arrested under the ISA?

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad has maintained what he said in Tom Plate’s new book “Doctor M: Operation Malaysia – Conversations with Mahathir Mohamad” that he had “actually met all of the opposition members (beforehand) and assured them that they would not be arrested”.

Following my rebuttal that I had never met Mahathir and that he never gave me any assurance that I would not be arrested before the launch of Operation Lalang on Oct. 27, 1987, Mahathir repeated yesterday: “I met Kit Siang and his friends as a group”.

He said he felt some of the political figures did not need to serve detention at that time.

“It was the police who took action against them and I accepted their decision.”

I had challenged Mahathir to name the Opposition leaders he had met and given assurance that they would not be arrested – now reduced to “Kit Siang and his friends as a group” –but subsequently overruled by the police in the Operation Lalang crackdown, but Mahathir has not been able to name anyone of the others.

The simplest rebuttal to Mahathir’s claim would be to pose the question – Whether the Opposition leaders to whom Mahathir had given an assurance that they would not be arrested in an Internal Security Act (ISA) crackdown would have let off Mahathir for two decades if he had broken his solemn word to us before Operation Lalang of no ISA arrests?

We would have ridiculed him as a impotent Prime Minister and Home Minister at the beck-and-call of the Police – which everybody know was not true.

Former Inspector-General of Police Tun Hanif Omar has come out to corroborate Mahathir’s version of Operation Lalang, claiming that “it was entirely the police’s decision”.

If so, can Hanif explain why the UMNO Youth leader at the time, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, was not arrested in the Operation Lalang crackdown as it was the Umno and Umno Youth leaders who were chiefly responsible for creating the racial tensions of October 1987?

Or was Najib in the police arrest list but overruled by Mahathir?

I did pose this question to Mahathir after my release together with Guan Eng from Kamunting Detention Centre on April 19, 1989 – the last two Operation Lalang detainees to be set free after 18 months of detention.

Both of us were released without conditions but there were 16 former Operation Lalang detainees who were subject to restrictive conditions relating to freedom of speech and movement depriving them of their civic and political rights.

In my meeting with Mahathir on 6th May 1989, I had asked Mahathir point-blank why Najib had not been detained if Operation Lalang was allegedly to deal with the racial tensions in October 1987, referring in particular to the Umno Youth rally at Jalan Raja Muda Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on 17th October 1987 with banners displaying slogans: “MAY 13 HAS BEGUN” and “SOAK IT (KRIS) WITH CHINESE BLOOD”.

There was no proper answer from Mahathir, only the typical illogical Mahathir retort: “Who asked you to provoke him?”

Mahathir never told me that it was the Police who wanted to make the Operation Lalang arrests and that he had no choice as Home Minister but to go along.

Despite Hanif’s collaboration, nobody would believe that Mahathir was not the mastermind of the Operation Lalang arrests to consolidate his power position in Umno.

It is public knowledge at the time that Hanif was on his way out, and the man who had the full confidence of the Prime Minister was the then Special Branch Director, Tan Sri Rahim Noor, whom everybody expected to take over as IGP after Hanif. May be, an explanation from Rahim Noor might be more appropriate than from Hanif.

Be that as it may, what is intriguing is why Mahathir is trying to rewrite history as to who was responsible for the Operation Lalang arrests – some two decades after the darkest chapter of human rights in Malaysia.

This is not the first time that Mahahtir had passed the buck of responsibility for Operation Lalang to the police. He did it the first time in August 2006 and I had immediately rebutted him at the time.

Malaysian Embassy In Egypt Continues To Monitor Situation

KUALA LUMPUR, 12 Feb (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Embassy in Egypt will continue to monitor the situation despite the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak, the Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry said there were 1,584 Malaysians waiting to be flown home from Jeddah.

The ministry said in a statement Saturday that Malaysians in Egypt are safe, and that the last batch of 574 will be evacuated this Monday.

The ministry also said that Malaysia hoped that the transfer of power to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces would lead to a peaceful transition to a democratic and stable Egypt.

Farewell, ‘Lady Macbeth’ of Tunisia

Ousted Tunisian dictator Ben Ali had to put up with serious insult from his wife Leila before they boarded the plane to flee the country.

'Lady Macbeth' Leila - Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

When hubby refused to board the plane, Leila commanded, “Get on imbecile. All my life I’ve had to put up with your screw ups.” “Leave me, I don’t want to go, I want to die here for my country,” pleaded Ben Ali pathetically, sounding a bit like Mubarak.
But Ben Ali’s hated political police chief, Ali Seriati, pushed him up, shouting: “For —-’s sake, get on!” Read more