TAMIL GENOCIDE IN SRILANKA, CLEARLY 90% ARE HINDUS….

OF THIS TAMIL GENOCIDE IN SRILANKA, CLEARLY 90% ARE HINDUS… THIS IS  DEADLIEST GENOCIDE OF HINDUS IN THE RECENT TIMES…..

Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields: War Crimes Unpunished

Screened at the UN in Geneva and New York and also shown to politicians at the House of Commons, the European Parliament and key figures in the US Senate, Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields prompted comment from leading political figures around the world, including Prime Minister David Cameron. Yet these war crimes still have yet to be properly investigated or those responsible brought to account – despite UN sources suggesting the Sri Lankan government forces killed up to 40 thousand civilians – perhaps many more in this period.

This powerful follow-up film, also presented by Jon Snow, presents damning new video evidence of war crimes including contemporaneous documents, eye-witness accounts, photographic stills and videos relating to how exactly events unfolded during the final days of the civil war. It investigates who was responsible – the results point to the highest levels of the Sri Lankan government and complicity at the top of the army.

Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields: War Crimes Unpunished forensically examines four specific cases and investigates who was responsible. The cases are: the deliberate heavy shelling of civilians and a hospital in the ‘No Fire Zone’; the strategic denial of food and medicine to hundreds and thousands of trapped civilians – defying the legal obligation to allow humanitarian aid into a war zone; the killing of civilians during the ‘rescue mission’ and the systematic execution of naked and bound LTTE prisoners – featuring new chilling video footage of a 12-year-old boy who has been brutally executed.

Despite pressure from human rights groups and the report by a UN-appointed panel of experts which called for a thorough international investigation into alleged violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, the Sri Lankan government’s internal inquiry, ‘The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission’ published in December last year, failed to conduct any kind of rigorous investigation into the allegations of war crimes. It specifically denied that any civilians were knowingly targeted with heavy artillery. Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields: War Crimes Unpunished explores the reasons behind the apparent international inaction at the time, in calling the government of Sri Lanka to account.

Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields: War Crimes Unpunished presents shocking new video footage and evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity which trace ultimate responsibility up the highest echelons of the chain of command. This film asks questions of those who still hold the reins of power in Sri Lanka – President Rajapaksa, commander in chief and his brother Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaska – and two former army chiefs who have landed prime diplomatic posts since the war ended and immunity from prosecution.

With the England cricket team set to tour Sri Lanka once again this month and Sri Lanka now confirmed as the venue for the next commonwealth heads of government meeting in 2013, this film is a stark reminder of the terrible suffering of a people who have been failed and forgotten by the international community.

Director: Callum Macrae
Exec Prod: Chris Shaw
Prod Co: ITN Productions
Comm Ed: Dorothy Byrn

Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields War Crimes Unpunished.

Warning: This content contains disturbing and distressing descriptions and film of executions, atrocities and the shelling of civilians.
First Broadcast: Wednesday 14 Mar 2012
In 2011 Channel 4 exposed damning evidence of atrocities committed in the war in Sri Lanka. Jon Snow presents this powerful follow-up film, revealing new video evidence as well as contemporaneous documents, eye-witness accounts, photographic stills and videos relating to how exactly events unfolded during the final days of the civil war.
Discuss and read full programme synopsis
Programme available internationally as well as in the UK and Ireland.
First Broadcast: Tuesday 14 Jun 2011 Channel 4
Jon Snow presents a forensic investigation into the final weeks of the quarter-century-long civil war between the government of Sri Lanka and the secessionist rebels, the Tamil Tigers.
With disturbing and distressing descriptions and film of executions, atrocities and the shelling of civilians the programme features devastating new video evidence of war crimes – some of the most horrific footage Channel 4 has ever broadcast.
Discuss and read full programme synopsis
Programme available internationally as well as in the UK and Ireland.
Related Links to know more of the Sri Lankan Tamil Killing Field with the silent support of GOI.

Onus focuses on India

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 March 2012, 01:38 GMT]
Even though diffusing, deviating and hijacking the need to address the crux of the crisis in Sri Lanka, the US-tabled resolution at the UNHRC and the associated diplomatic deliberations and muscle-flexing seem to be artfully fixing the onus on India, in lines with the long legacy of Indo-US competition ruining the aspirations of genocide-affected Eezham Tamils. India could seize the opportunity and could come out with alternative righteous options to counter the trap, but the guilty-filled Congress regime is incapable of them. As New Delhi’s stand has been repeatedly proved an impediment to justice in the island and at the same time New Delhi is also not doing anything on its own other than shopping there, the question comes whether removal of the Congress regime is a prerequisite to India’s progress in the region and in world affairs, writes TamilNet political commentator in Colombo. Read more…..

Conference on International Protection of Human Rights in the 21st Century –Case Study on Sri Lanka

[CENTER FOR WAR VICTIMS & HUMAN RIGHTS]

Tuesday, 13 March 2012 09:28
Conference Review
Feb 22,2012
Conference on International Protection of Human Rights in the 21st Century – Case Study on Sri Lanka organized by Center for War Victims and Human Rights was held on Feb 21, 2012 at Pearson Conference Center, Toronto, Canada. Bracing the cold weather academics, lawyers, activists, MPs, and the public filled the conference center to capacity. The conference began with the speech from CWVHR president Anton Philip who outlined the history and development of human rights instruments such as Universal Declaration of Human Rights, United Nations Convention Against Torture and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
The panel speaker Ms. Deridre McConnell from Tamil Centre for Human Rights (London, UK) explained the historical, political and social conditions that resulted in the genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka. She showed that the conditions Tamil face in Sri Lanka is worse than apartheid in South Africa.
Danilo Reyes program officer from Asian Human Rights Commission (Hong Kong) spoke on the topic of “Accountability in constitutionally entrenched impunity”. He explored whether is it possible to find accountability in a country where violations find impunity from the constitution.   He urged that this has to be combated and addressed if we are to make any progress with respect to accountability in Sri Lanka.
Rev Dr. S J Emmanuel from Global Tamil Forum (London, UK) provided an activist point of view of the Tamils struggle in Sri Lanka. Read more….
War Without Witness in Sri Lanka…
Sri Lankan Defence Ministry White Van Abduction leader identified as Major Gen. Jagath Alwis
Tuesday, 13 March 2012 12:11
It has now come to light that the Rajapakse regime criminals with the white van who were for the first time caught by the people and handed over to the Wellampitiya police comprised two Captains, a Lieutenant and a Corporal. These criminals associated with the raging white van murder syndrome had been freed from the police custody unlawfully and taken away by Western zone seiner DIG Anura Senanayake who had arrived at the police station early morning at about 4.40 yesterday. Anything of this most lawless Idi Amin style operation had not been recorded in the police registers. read more…
Sri Lanka War Crime – Execution of 12 year old boy
Tuesday, 13 March 2012 12:07
Photograph of the body of Balachandran Prabhakaran the 12 year old son of guerilla leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. He was captured with his bodyguards on 18 May 2009, the final day of battle. The five men were trussed and blindfolded, and shot while the boy watched. He was then neatly executed, a final few bullets pumped into him as he lay on the ground. read more…

Dubai housemaid gets jail for sex out of wedlock

Housemaid admitted absconding from sponsor and having an affair with a man in Dubai

Dubai: An absconded housemaid has been given a jail sentence after a court convicted her of having sex while unmarried that resulted in an illegitimate baby.

The Dubai Misdemeanour Court jailed the 31-year-old Filipina housemaid, J.J, a mother of a two-year-old boy, to 14 months in jail.

Prosecution records said J.B. admitted absconding from her Emirati sponsor in Fujairah. She came to Dubai and indulged in a love affair with a man named James.

She claimed she had unprotected sex with James, a fellow Filipino, who ditched her as soon as she informed him that she was pregnant.

UN vote against Sri Lanka: India's moral dilemma?

Compel Bestino to resolve issue, BNM urged

Investors in the failed gold investment scheme want bank officials to call for a tripartite meeting and pressure the company to refund their monies

KUALA LUMPUR: Investors in the nation’s largest gold invest scheme today urged Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) to compel the company’s director Chong Yuk Ming to refund their monies.

“We want BNM officials to make a trip to Ipoh, where the company is based and meet Bestino directors and investors to resolve the matter,” said M Saraswathy.

Saraswathy, who leads Bestino Action Committee, said this after a meeting with the central bank’s assistant governor Abu Hassan Alshari Yahaya.

Saraswathy said that investors were upset after Chong ignored a letter, dated Feb 14, from BNM asking for a tripartite meeting involving the bank, Bestino directors and the investors.

It is learnt that Chong failed to respond to the letter and had also refused to attend the meeting. “It is so weird that Chong, an individual, can be so defiant,” said Saraswathy.

Bestino, which is based in Ipoh, stopped taking in investments after BNM raided the company for illegal deposit-taking activities last year.

Four of its directors were charged in the Sessions Court in Ipoh on Feb 23, 2011, with illegal deposit taking under section 25(1) of the Banking and Financial Institutions Act 1989 and section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001.

More than 6,700 people who had invested RM411 million in the scheme are demanding that BNM and Bestino return their investments.

‘Something fishy going on’

Chong, on Feb 13, told the media that the Bestino was prepared to return the money to the investors on April 30, provided BNM gave its approval.

Following the statement, BNM issued an official clarification, saying Bestino need not wait for a green light from it and the company could go ahead and refund investors their money.

The Bestino action committee last week sent a letter to Chong demanding Bestino pay back the investors monies after the clarification by BNM.

They also urged Chong to show the proof of the US$146 million (RM438 million), he claimed was in HSBC Bank in Hong Kong and which will be used to refund investors.

Chong declined, and said that BNM clarification on their website cannot be taken as an official approval to bring in the money into Malaysia.

“Something is fishy in this case,” said Saraswathy.

She added that the best way to sort out the ongoing issue is for tripartite meeting among the directors, investors and BNM.

“We already requested the assistant governor for an official meeting in Ipoh. I hope BNM can accede to our request soon as possible.”

“If BNM fail to do so then the investors will siege again the central bank,” she added.

Azmin: Tuduh PKR guna khidmat agensi Yahudi bohong

Ahli Parlimen Gombak mahu Umno mengemukakan bukti lanjut.

Sekitar Dewan Rakyat

KUALA LUMPUR: Timbalan Presiden PKR, Azmin Ali menyifatkan tuduhan yang dilemparkan Umno Selangor dengan mendakwa parti itu menggunakan khidmat agensi Yahudi untuk merancang kempen dan jentera Pilihan Raya (PRU12) lalu, adalah tidak berasas sama sekali.

Azmin, ahli Parlimen Gombak berkata jika tuduhan itu benar, beliau mahu Umno mengemukakan bukti lanjut.

“Jika benar mengapa tiada tindakan sehingga hari ini…kemukakan bukti. Sebab itu dalam perbahasan saya, saya minta Umno hentikan budaya fitnah, samseng dan tumpukan kepada soal rakyat, dasar dan program untuk mengangkat martabat rakyat,” katanya yang ditemui pemberita di lobi parlimen hari ini.

Umno Selangor baru-baru ini mendakwa Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim menggunakan khidmat agensi Yahudi membantu PKR merancang kempen dan jentera dalam PRU12.

Setiausaha Badan Perhubungan Umno Selangor Datuk Seri Ir Mohd Zin Mohamed berkata agensi itu, Yayasan Konrad Adeneur (KAF) membantu Anwar dari segi dana dan latihan modal insan, selain menyerap masuk badan pemikir (think tank) melalui Institut Kajian Dasar (IKD).

Mohd Zin dalam pendedahannya mendakwa berdasarkan sumber dalaman maklumat PKR sendiri, KAF turut memainkan peranan penting dalam memberikan dana pembangunan teknologi dan latihan kepada PKR.

Budaya fitnah

Azmin berkata, Umno kini tidak mampu mendepani isu rakyat sehingga membudayakan fitnah dan samseng tanpa sebarang asas untuk dilemparkan kepada pihak pembangkang.

Sementara itu, ketika diminta mengulas pengunduran Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil sebagai Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat beliau berkata ia hanya sandiwara untuk memperbodohkan rakyat.

Ini ujar beliau, perletakan jawatan itu dibuat memandangkan ia tempoh akhir jawatannya pada 8 April depan.

“Ini hanyalah sandiwara dan usaha bodohkan rakyat. Namun rakyat hari ini matang dan tidak boleh diperbodohkan oleh Umno.

“Jika beliau bertanggungjawab, maka perlu letak jawatan lebih awal supaya proses perundangan dapat berjalan dengan telus tanpa sebarang campurtangan eksekutif,” katanya.

There is evidence and there is evidence

Those who thought that the Third Reich’s cause was futile and spoke up were labelled as traitors, cowards, Trojan horses, turncoats, agents of the Allies, and whatnot and were sent to the firing squad. So it was most advisable to just nod and agree and tell the Fuhrer that it was a brilliant plan. Of course, behind the Fuhrer’s back they will mutter and say that the Fuhrer is mad. But you do not tell this to the Fuhrer’s face.

NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin


A friend from Liverpool dropped in a couple of days ago and our discussion touched on the subject of ‘Malaysian mentality’. “How do we change the mentality of Malaysians?” he asked me. “Do you think you should write simpler? But you are already writing in very simple English. I don’t know how simpler you can write. But still most people can’t seem to get the simple message you are trying to convey.”
They say if the message is lost then it is the conveyor and not the receiver of the message who must be blamed. It is the job of the conveyor to ensure that the receiver understands the message. If not then the conveyor is at fault.
I suppose this would be true to a certain extent. But how far should and can you go to ensure that the receiver gets the message? I mean, have you noticed that English-speaking people when talking to, say, an Italian who does not speak English, will shout and speak slowly? They feel that if they pronounce word-by-word in a very loud tone then the non-English speaking person would understand what you are saying.
WHERE….IS….THE….TRAIN….STATION?
Suddenly the Italian-speaking person is supposed to understand what you are saying.
The chap would reply, in Italian of course, and would probably say: I…CAN’T…SPEAK…ENGLISH….THAT….DOES…NOT…MEAN…I…AM…DEAF!
That reminds me of an incident my wife and I had in Paris many years ago. We walked up to two policemen to ask for directions to the Eiffel Tower. In perfect Queen’s English one of the policemen asked me: Do you speak English?
I replied with a broad smile on my face that I did and he responded, again in perfect Queen’s English: Well, we do not speak English.
I got the message. We then walked over to another policeman further down the road and asked: boleh tolong tak? Eiffel Tower di mana?
The baffled policeman then asked me: Do you speak English?
And I replied, “No!...ah…little, little,” and showed two fingers clasped tightly to demonstrate the ‘little, little’. The pleased policeman then rattled away in English and was most helpful -- but of course I had to scratch my head and give him a very puzzled look as if I understood only part of what he said.
Malays call that ‘main wayang’.
Anyway, people will believe what they want to believe. There is just so much you can do in delivering a message. However, the job of a messenger is very dangerous. Have you heard how they used to kill bringers of bad tidings in the old days?
If the receiver of the news likes the news, they will gleefully accept it. If they don’t, then the messenger must be put to death. That has been happening for more than 2,000 years if you believe in the Greek Mythology of Proetus, his protégé Bellerophon and his father-in-law Iobates, or stories about the Trojan War.
Hence, we have to live with the occupational hazard of being the bringer of bad tidings. More than 2,000 years of history has taught us that you must always tell the King what he likes to hear. To do otherwise would result in your death.
Who dared wake Hitler from his sleep to inform him that the Allies had landed on Normandy? Waking the Fuhrer was bad enough. But to wake him up to such bad news would mean you would get sent to the firing squad. So they allowed the Fuhrer to continue sleeping while they pondered on what to do. By the time the Fuhrer found out, the Allied forces were already halfway to Berlin.
And should you be the mouse to bell the cat? Napoleon proved that engaging the Allied forces on two fronts and invading Russia was suicidal. If the Russians do not kill you, the cold and starvation will. Napoleon lost 600,000 soldiers. It is estimated that Hitler lost the same number of soldiers although 20 million died in total if Russian soldiers and civilians were included in the death toll. But then the European population in 1800 was only 200 million compared to one billion or so in 1940.
Those who thought that the Third Reich’s cause was futile and spoke up were labelled as traitors, cowards, Trojan horses, turncoats, agents of the Allies, and whatnot and were sent to the firing squad. So it was most advisable to just nod and agree and tell the Fuhrer that it was a brilliant plan. Of course, behind the Fuhrer’s back they would mutter and say that the Fuhrer is mad. But you do not tell this to the Fuhrer’s face.
Anyway, people will always believe what they want to believe. And it is very difficult to change their viewpoint even how simple your English may be. Take religion as one example. Probably more than 90% of the people believe that there is a God or at least some form of higher power. They will kill and die to defend this belief.
But can they prove all this? What is the basis of this belief? Some will quote verses from the Quran or the Hadith. Others will quote from the Bible or whatever Holy Book they believe in. Every single person will swear that this ‘fact’ came from God Himself.
Can you rebut this? Of course, if you use reasoning, you can. But the believers will not accept reasoning. Their belief is based on handed-down stories. And based on these handed-down stories they will argue that this is all the ‘proof’ that they need.
Hence, when humankind has been conditioned and brainwashed into accepting what they like to believe and rejecting what they don’t like to believe, it works in a vicious circle. Beliefs are what are comfortable to you to believe. And if you do not feel comfortable then you will not believe it.
That is the bottom line. And that is how humankind has been programmed. So, should I bother about trying to change these beliefs? If people can accept the belief that killing those who do not believe in what you believe is what God wants you to do and you will be rewarded for all those women and children you have killed, then my chances of changing beliefs would be very slim.

MAS – AirAsia Swap Deal Was a Mistake

The Pakatan Rakyat Manifesto/ Policy Committee thinks that the share swap deal between Malaysian Airline System (MAS) and AirAsia was a mistake and Najib as the chairman of Khazanah should be responsible for this mess.

From the onset, the justification of this collaboration is of suspect. If the intention is for MAS ti focus on premier services while AirAsia on no-frills services, no exchange of equity is needed.

Since the collaboration took place, a lot of aggressive route and capacity cuts have been undertaken, mostly involving MAS. Furthermore, it has killed Firefly’s (MAS’ low cost carrier) lucrative budget services that were giving AirAsia a run for its money.

Clearly, this is a form anti-competitive behaviour displayed by MAS-AirAsia. Having AirAsia’s chief executive, Tony Fernandes, and his deputy Kamarudin Meranun on the board of MAS only serves the interest of AirAsia at the expense of consumers.

Additionally, The Edge has also reported that the share swap deal faced resistance from the Malaysian Airlines System Employees Union (MASEU). It is understood that MASEU’s representative had met with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to air the union’s unhappiness.

Unfortunately, all this confirmed the predictions made by independent, not-for-profit research institute REFSA (Research for Social Advancement) on 12 Aug 2011, soon after the swap was announced. REFSA said that this collaboration would result in less frequent flights, reduced job prospects for airline staff and fewer opportunities for all Malaysians due to less connectivity.

Speculations are now abounding on the possibility of the Prime Minister asking Khazanah to buy back the stake exchanged with Tune Air.

In light of this development, we hope that Khazanah will not be bailing out Tune Air. Considering the fact that MAS reported RM2.52 billion net loss for 2011, its largest loss in history, Khazanah must buy back the stake at a lower price to reflect MAS’ terrible performance since the deal was made.

At the same time, advisory fees paid to the GLC that advised on the deal – CIMB Bank – should be clawed back since the deal was obviously flawed. In less than 6 months after the deal MAS reported this massive loss.

Pakatan Rakyat Manifesto/ Policy Committee

Rafizi Ramli
Dr. Dzulkifli Ahmad
Liew Chin Tong

Mr Prime Minister, debate this!

by Praba Ganesan - The Malaysian Insider

MARCH 15 — So Najib does not like to debate. But why not?

Some people don’t like to eat oranges, we let them be.

So I suppose if some have the right to not like round juicy objects which are hard-going — peeling with your hands and all (so prole!) — you can equally extend this right to Datuk Seri Najib Razak in other arbitrary matters, such as refusing to debate publicly about our country’s current path and how to raise the bar as a progressive society.

However, the prime minister has to keep some consistency, just so the historians characterise him right later.

He should start by closing down Parliament. This is an institution intended to encourage our finest political minds to have laborious, unyielding and rarely funny discussions about the country, mostly by disagreeing.

The idea was, I hope it still is, that by getting people to argue their own side or opinion or position and putting them up against others who do not quite agree with them, then more equitable, meaningful ideas are given life. That by talking about something with great discipline we discover better ways to do the things we already do or even things we should be doing. They debate, so our lives become better.

But this is dangerous, since debate is not part of Malaysian culture or Malaysians are not ready for it.

So since Parliament exists for debate, then the prime minister has to stop it. For eventually things like the Prime Minister’s Question Time will lead to, hold on, yes, oh yes, debate.

Second, he might want to explain if he does genuinely dislike debates, then why is it that he is talking through our TV sets everyday of our lives. More so, lining up with him there’s a whole bevy of people — his deputy and a motley crew of ministers — all nudging each other aside so they get more airtime on TV stations.

They clearly like to talk, and talk a lot, just like Najib. And it does seems, Najib has so much to say, all the time.

So what’s missing here, between these talking engagements and loathing this debate thing — where, surprise, surprise, people are also speaking.

This is most ponderous. Most mystifying. Almost worthy of hiring consultants with jargon guns.

Ah, they talk back. In this debate thing, people talk back to what the prime minister says. They would say in these debates “that will never happen while they are in power” other nasty things like enquire about Najib’s ideas and thoughts. Horror, grief, shame, people asking Najib about the contentious bits in his policies.

Najib must go awhirl at the mere mention of such a reality. Fleeting thoughts pass him, he wonders, what happened to those good old days when feudal lords spoke and the rest listened?

I say, you say

The deputy prime minister does point out that leaders don’t need to engage those in power, they just need to service the people.

On the face of it, it has some merit, but let’s take a step back and consider it. Why do we debate?

This is what I used to tell my students, pardon if it sounds patronising.

A long time ago, when human societies were shaping up — living in caves, clubbing animals and chasing their partners — might was right. Primacy was established by brute strength. Scoring on a date back then took a completely different dimension.

At this point, the students would look at me puzzled.

It dawned through trial and error, or more apt — hit and miss — that all the violence was starting to wear everyone down.

There must have been this enormously dramatic moment, when someone screamed, “Hey, can we stop? I’m tired of waking up sore. Why don’t we just talk about it and decide?”

Thus the first debate probably started. Two individuals or groups wanting the same thing having to talk about which or what should prevail, that reason should be the guiding light since interests are at odds.

Through a series of discourses, societies find their communal reason or purpose.

Communal reason or purpose is not inherited, it is conversed. Which is why great societies are associated with traditions of speech, debate and engagement. Conversely, when those societies forcibly remove speech, debate and engagement, decay sets in.

They derive their purpose from the intellectual stimuli produced by contrasting ideas.

Summary: A beating is not the only solution. Sometimes you can just talk about it.

But things don’t just resolve themselves because a different way has emerged. Human society, as advanced as it seemingly is, has without fail is confronted with the choice of reason or force.

Obviously, those with force, power, resource or whatever you may call it shudder when they face reason. Even if they fear not reason, they realise if reason is excluded their superior force will always the day.

They seek ways to reduce the need for discourse and increase the focus on force-resource. Relying on their monopoly over carrot and stick to douse our collective will to argue our case.

Hey, us on the other side of the track

I’ve known guys like Najib all my life. They like to win by not competing. Why compete when you can declare yourself the winner, over and over?

But do people like Najib know the rest of us? They think everything is about managing the masses. Sure, we want food on our tables and our healthy children having a place to sleep.

However we have ideas, just like the prime minister or even his personal driver. In a democracy where there is universal education, people without ideas will be scarce. In abundance are those who disagree, and here’s the news Tengku Adnan, if you are unwilling to deal with a Malaysia that disagrees with you more often than not, then your political viability has already expired years ago.

All that is denying a full-on, nationwide debate of everything is the state’s physical might. But every day that is becoming less and less relevant. The debate, this conscious discussion on this country’s conscience will continue on, general election or not.

A general election is not “the end all and be all” of a country, its people are.

I refuse to live in a country where the privileged shut me out of the discussion because we did not go to the same school or play hop-scotch in the same gated community.

This doggedness is not just in me, it is in many of my countryman, which is why by the day it is becoming far more uncomfortable for the elitist community always thinking their resources will keep them above the law, and certainly above any need to defend their positions.

Najib can choose to eat oranges but not debate, but the time to choose is slowly drawing to a close in Malaysia.

He must know that trying to win on his terms, without needing to intellectually defend his positions under pressure, is a fubar.

He may keep some votes and stop the bleeding by staying away from debates, but he must know the votes he loses from now on will never return.

So Najib, care to debate now?

A-G called to seek views on new laws replacing ISA

The New Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR: The Home Ministry has urged the Attorney-General to engage more with stakeholders regarding the two new laws to replace the Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA).

Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said yesterday engaging with stakeholders, including the Malaysian Bar Council, human rights groups and Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), was vital in obtaining views on what the new laws should entail.

He said although it had not been determined who would be engaging with the stakeholders, he felt it would be best for the A-G to organise such sessions.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had announced that the ISA would be abolished and replaced with two new laws on the eve of Malaysia Day last year.

The new laws will deal with anti-terrorism measures and maintaining public order.

On another matter, Hishammuddin said his ministry was looking into ways to improve the living standards of enforcement officials in the country.

"We want to improve the conditions of police stations, barracks for Immigration officers, mobile police stations and living quarters.

"I will be visiting the Immigration officers in Johor to seek their views on the changes that we can make."

He said the ministry was drawing up the list of police stations around the country that urgently needed to be upgraded.

Indonesian Maids Undergoing Four Skill-training To Get RM700 A Month

By Ahmad Fuad Yahya

JAKARTA, March 15 (Bernama) -- The first batch of 106 Indonesian maids bound for Malaysia are undergoing four skill-training courses for 21 days starting Thursday and they will be paid at least RM700 a month.

This was concluded at the Malaysia-Indonesian Joint Task Force for Deployment, Placement and Protection of Indonesian Maids' meeting Thursday, said Director-General of Indonesia's Labour Placement Development Dr Reyna Usman.

He said the task force concluded that the maids would be employed to do only one of the four household tasks for which they were being trained for -- cooks, baby sitters, caretakers of elderly people or housekeepers.

"If a maid is employed as a cook, she will only be tasked with chores related to cooking and will not be doing any other duties such as babysitting or washing clothes," he said after attending the task force's meeting at the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration here.

Reyna said that the deal concluded by the joint task force was expected to prevent recurrence of problems affecting maids and employers.

Indonesia will eventually send between 4,000 and 5,000 skilled maids a month to Malaysia, he said, adding most of them were currently being trained for specific skills in Surabaya, East Java and Bekasi, West Java.

He said during initial stages, the maids would be trained by 12 of 176 Indonesian employment agencies while their placement with employers would be taken care of by five of 221 employment agencies in Malaysia.

The deployment of maids from Indonesia was resumed after the Indonesian government withdrew its moratorium on sending maids to Malaysia on Dec 1, 2011.

Indonesia imposed a freeze on the supply of Indonesian maids to Malaysia on June 26, 2009 following reports of cases of abuse by employers.

Mat Sabu peppers serious message with cow jokes

After milking the cattle-condo scandal for laughs, Mat Sabu urges Malaysians to vote for change to avert the possibility of the nation plunging into bankruptcy.

Moroccans demand change to Islamic penal code after girl, 16, kills herself because judge forced her to marry her RAPIST

Angry Moroccans are demanding a change to the country's strict Islamic penal code after a 16-year-old girl killed herself after being forced to marry her rapist.
An online petition, a Facebook page and countless tweets expressed horror over the suicide of Amina Filali, who swallowed rat poison on Saturday in protest at her marriage to the man who raped her a year earlier.
Article 475 of the Moroccan penal code allows for the 'kidnapper' of a minor to marry his victim to escape prosecution, and it has been used to justify a traditional practice of making a rapist marry his victim to preserve the honour of the woman's family.

Sentenced: A judge in Tangier (pictured) ordered the rapist to marry his victim as 'punishment'

'Amina, 16, was triply violated, by her rapist, by tradition and by Article 475 of the Moroccan law,' tweeted activist Abadila Maaelaynine.
Abdelaziz Nouaydi, who runs the Adala Assocation for legal reform, said a judge can recommend marriage only in the case of agreement by the victim and both families.
'It is not something that happens a great deal - it is very rare,' he said, but admitted that the family of the victim sometimes agrees out of fear that she won't be able to find a husband if it is known she was raped.
The marriage is then pushed on the victim by the families to avoid scandal, said Fouzia Assouli, president of Democratic League for Women's Rights.
'It is unfortunately a recurring phenomenon,' she said.'We have been asking for years for the cancellation of Article 475 of the penal code which allows the rapist to escape justice.'
The victim's father said in an interview with an online Moroccan newspaper that it was the court officials who suggested from the beginning the marriage option when they reported the rape.
'The prosecutor advised my daughter to marry, he said 'go and make the marriage contract'," said Lahcen Filali in an interview that appeared on goud.ma Tuesday night.

Rape victim: Gulnaz, who was pardoned by the Afghan president earlier this month, with her daughter in a Kabul jail. She was today released

In many societies, the loss of a woman's virginity outside of wedlock is a huge stain of honour on the family.
In many parts of the Middle East, there is a tradition whereby a rapist can escape prosecution if he marries his victim, thereby restoring her honour. There is a similar injunction in the Old Testament's Book of Deuteronomy
Morocco updated its family code in 2004 in a landmark improvement of the situation of women, but activists say there's still room for improvement.
In cases of rape, the burden of proof is often on the victim and if she can't prove she was attacked, a woman risks being prosecuted for debauchery.
'In Morocco, the law protects public morality but not the individual,' said Assouli, adding that legislation outlawing all forms of violence against women, including rape within marriage, has been stuck in the government since 2006.
According to the father's interview, the girl was accosted on the street and raped when she was 15, but it was two months before she told her parents.
He said the court pushed the marriage, even though the perpetrator initially refused. He only consented when faced with prosecution. The penalty for rape is between five and 10 years in prison, but rises to 10 to 20 in the case of a minor.
He said Amina complained to her mother that her husband was beating her repeatedly during the five months of marriage but that her mother counselled patience.
A Facebook page called 'We are all Amina Filali' has been formed and an online petition calling for Morocco to end the practice of marrying rapists and their victims has already gathered more than 1,000 signatures.
The incident throws more light on the way women are treated in Islamic countries.
Last year a woman in Afghanistan, 21-year-old Gulnaz, was jailed for 'adultery by force' after she was brutally raped by her husband's cousin.
Her attacker was jailed for seven years for the crime that left her pregnant.
A global outrage saw the President of Afghanistan personally pardoning her and releasing her from Kabul's Badam Bagh jail, with no pre-conditions.

Petition: Free Pakistani Christian woman set for execution

(CNN) -- Activists presented a petition Tuesday to the United Nations Human Rights Council calling on Pakistan to free a Christian mother of five from being put to death on the charge of blasphemy.

A Pakistani court Asia Bibi guilty of defiling the name of the Prophet Mohammed during a 2009 argument with Muslim fellow field workers. The offense is punishable by death or life imprisonment, according to Pakistan's penal code, and Bibi was sentenced to hang.

But an investigation by a Pakistani government ministry found the charges stemmed from religious and personal enmity and recommended Bibi's release.

The petition was signed by 50 activists including a former Czech foreign minister, the president of the U.N. General Assembly, a survivor of Tiananmen Square and a women's rights advocate from Mali.

"With Pakistan now running for a seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council, the government should make an important gesture by releasing Asia Bibi, and repealing its blasphemy law, which is inconsistent with basic human rights," said Hillel Neuer, director of U.N. Watch, a Geneva-based human rights group that organized the petition.

However, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that the government will not change the country's controversial blasphemy laws.

Liberal politician Salman Taseer, then governor of Punjab, who led a campaign to end the law, was assassinated in January 2011. Taseer said the blasphemy laws were being misused to persecute religious minorities and had called for Bibi's release.

Bibi writes about her ordeal in a recently published book called "Get Me Out of Here." It includes a letter she wrote to her family urging them to have faith in God. "My children," she wrote, "don't lose courage or faith in Jesus Christ."

Isu Israel gamatkan dewan - sidang 14 Mac 2012

Media Event : Hindraf to stop UMNO govt demolishing Segambut Aman Hindu temple on15/3/12 @ 9.00 a.m.

             No 6B, Jalan Abdullah,
                                                                                                                                                       Off Jalan Bangsar,
                                                                                                                                                       59000, Kuala Lumpur
                                                                                                                                                       Tel: 03-22825241/03-22825622 Fax:03-22825245
Your Reference:
In Reply :
Date : 15/3/2012

Media Event 15/3/2012 (Thursday)

Re: 1) Hindraf to stop UMNO govt demolishing Segambut Aman Hindu temple  tomorrow 15/3/12 @ 9.00 a.m.


Date : 15/3/2012 (Thursday)
Time : 9.00 a.m.
Venue: Segambut Aman Hindu temple (Opposite Hong Leong Bank, Jalan Segambut Lama)

Note: Hindraf National Youth Chief S. Thiagarajan (019-3085944) would lead some 100 supporters in stopping this criminal act of hindu temple demolishment.

Saaran : 012-2560618
Siva Setapak: 017-6781335

Thank you.
Yours faithfully,

___________
S. Jayathas
Information Chief Hindraf
012-6362287

 

No reason to pardon BN

If voters are going to be softhearted and fall for Najib's sob-story of an apology, then the nation is doomed.
COMMENT

The recent public apology by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak does merit a bit of attention from the rakyat but only to see how well he is performing as an actor. It is nothing but merely a ploy to hoodwink the rakyat into voting for Barisan Nasional (BN) time and time again.

Here are several reasons why Najib and BN should never be pardoned: dirty voter registration rolls, Perak, Lynas, Imam Hoslan Hussin and Frusis Lebi.

The first is in regard to the voter rolls wherein opposition Pakatan Rakyat MPs have detected at least 230,000 dubious voters.

The following is a breakdown of the tremendous increase in the percentage of voters in Selangor in various parliamentary and state seats:

1. Sungai Besar 19.95% (Umno)

2. Hulu Selangor 25.14% (MIC)

3. Kuala Selangor 20.39%

4. Selayang 18.86%

5. Pandan 18.18% (MCA)

6. Hulu Langat 23.95%

7. Serdang 22.63%

8. Puchong 24.94%

9. PJ Selatan 5.64%

10. PJ Utara 7.76%

11. Subang 35.02%

12. Shah Alam 19.87%

13. Kota Raja 29.51%

14. Kuala Langat 23.62%

15. Sepang 24.64% (Umno)

With the exception of Sungai Besar, Hulu Selangor, Pandan and Sepang, the rest are Pakatan seats.

It is obvious that the Election Commission (EC) is working in cahoots with the National Registration Department (NRD) to steal Selangor for Najib and BN. This is unforgivable!

Besides the above, there were no deaths recorded in the last quarter of last year.

There were also many cases of voters staying under the same roof:

1. 51 to 100 voters staying under the same address – 1,259 cases.

2. 21 to 50 voters staying under the same address – 3,254 cases.

3. 11 to 20 voters staying under the same address – 6,002 cases.

From 2008 till last year, there has not been much increase in new housing estates so the increase in the number of voters is highly irregular.

Terengganu, which was won by PAS in 1999, was recaptured by BN in 2004 due to voter-roll manipulation executed in the same manner as shown above. From 1999 to 2004, there was an overall increase of 17.18% in the number of voters whereas the increase in population was only 1.53%. However, at that time the public were not so politically aware and there was no hue and cry about the fall of Terengganu to BN.

Najib is wasting the rakyat’s time

Next issue is Perak. Why didn’t Najib apologise for the illegal, undemocratic and diabolical power-grab which was masterminded by him?

This columnist still remembers the smirk on his face as he hosted the press conference flanked by the three political frogs from Pakatan.

The third issue is Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP). No apologies are needed for this matter. No excuses are necessary and none is warranted. Just shut down Lynas. Najib is wasting the rakyat’s time and insulting the rakyat’s intelligence where this issue is concerned.

The fourth issue pertains to the bullying of underdogs. The one-year jail term for Imam Hosni who threw his slippers at the judges is too excessive. Although contempt of court should not be condoned, the sentence meted out to him makes a mockery of the judiciary when you compare it with former Selangor menteri besar Khir Toyo’s one-year jail term. Enough said.

Another case of an underdog being bullied is Frusis Lebi of Sarawak who was denied his RM300 welfare aid for the disabled because he put up a flag of one of Pakatan Rakyat’s component parties outside his house during last year’s Sarawak state election. Anyway, the flag was promptly torn down by BN supporters.

Najib’s apology is an insincere one. But for such a convincing performance he surely deserves an Oscar for Best Actor. Nevertheless, many rural folk will be taken in and a good number of the urban folk, too, going by the maturity and thinking ability of Malaysian voters.

One has to realise that the longer BN stays in power, the longer still will Malaysians be the world’s laughing stock due to the stupidity of its voters.

An English daily on Feb 16, 2012, reported Najib’s evasive answer when he was questioned on whether the RM500 cash aid will be given next year. This was what he said, “We will see. When the time comes, we will announce it.” Bingo! Without consulting any oracles, this columnist dares to predict that the RM500 cash aid will certainly not be given next year if the general election is held this year.

All along Najib and his BN government treat the rakyat as fools. BN leaders always say that Pakatan has failed to keep its promises. Well, let us make a list of unfulfilled promises of both BN and Pakatan and you can be sure that BN’s list will take up enough reams of paper to go around the globe nine times. Why nine? Simply because nine is the number of eternity.

If Malaysian voters are going to be softhearted and fall for Najib’s sob-story of an apology, then Malaysia is doomed.We must not be taken for a ride anymore. By the way, what is that RM410,000 invoice for his daughter’s engagement banquet all about?

Selena Tay is a FMT columnist

Condemn Syrian crackdown, govt told

Malaysia has neither condemned nor voiced its support for the bloody Syrian crackdown. But a group of NGOs demand that the government makes a stand.

KUALA LUMPUR: A group of NGOs is pleading with the government to take a stand against Syria’s bloody crackdown in the country’s currently ongoing uprising.

Gathering under the “Save Syria Coalition” umbrella, 27 NGOs here have asked the Malaysian government to condemn Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s role in putting down the uprising.

They demanded that Malaysia bring its ambassador back from the conflict-ridden country.

The coalition’s secretariat, led by Naim Jusri, also asked that Malaysia pass an emergency motion condemning Syria’s actions and call for an end to the killing there.

“We heavily condemn the cruel and inhuman acts by Bashar al-Assad’s regime on the Syrian people.

“Their cruelty has been further highlighted by the looting of belongings, the killing of religious scholars, massacres, rape and molesting of women, banning women from wearing the hijab as well as oppressing both the young and the elderly,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

He said this after presenting the group’s memorandum to MPs this morning, including to Foreign Minister Anifah Aman.

It is estimated that as many as 8,500 people have been killed since the uprising began, along with a possible 39,000 wounded. The Save Syria Coalition also claimed that more than 180,000 people have been detained by the regime.

Although the Syrian Uprising has been raging since mid-March last year (as part of the Arab Spring), Malaysia has neither condemned nor supported Bashar’s actions in Syria.

Earlier today, Balik Pulau MP (PKR) Yusmadi Yussof and Parit Buntar MP (PAS) Mujahid Yusof Rawa expressed disappointment that Malaysia has not done anything with regard to Syria.

‘We need your help’

Jawdat Khatib -a Syrian national- who accompanied Naim to Parliament today said that the situation in his country is dire.

“The situation right now in Syria is very, very bad. We really need your help and support. Our people in Syria are being killed everyday, women and children are being killed everyday. Massacres are happening in Syria,” he said.

Jawdat appealed to Malaysia for help, adding that the country has a reputation for aiding in humanitarian crises.

The Save Syria Coalition also said that it will hold a peaceful assembly that will march from Masjid Tabung Haji to the Syrian Embassy this Friday at 2:45 pm.

Najib to review MAS-AirAsia swap deal

A MAS employees union official said this may lead to the tie-up being scrapped because of MAS' record losses.

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has promised to review a share-swap deal between Malaysia Airline (MAS) and AirAsia, a MAS employees union official said on Wednesday, signalling a tie-up may be scrapped after MAS posted record losses.

The 20,000 strong union MASEU is opposed to the US$364 million deal that has brought AirAsia founder Tony Fernandes and his brand of aggressive cost cutting into the MAS boardroom, which they say resembles a take-over by the budget carrier.

Senior officials from the two airlines were not immediately available for comment. A government spokesman confirmed that union officials had met the prime minister but he declined to comment on details of the meeting.

The deal, formulated by Najib, was to help both carriers compete effectively against competitors like Tiger Airways and Singapore Airlines once the Southeast Asian open sky policy comes into effect in 2015.

MASEU officials met Najib in February to protest against the deal that would lead to restructuring MAS into short-haul and long-haul operations and could lead to job cuts, said MASEU secretary general Abdul Malek Ariff.

That month, MAS reported its worst ever losses of RM2.5 billion ($823.86 million) for 2011, eight months after the share swap deal was signed in August, shocking analysts who expected the restructuring to limit losses.

Failing to placate the union could turn into a political hot potato for Najib as MAS operations are centered in Selangor, an important industrial state Najib wants to wrest back from the opposition in elections that could be held within months.

“The prime minister has promised to look into the matter but we’ve heard nothing from him,” Abdul Malek told Reuters, adding the government was losing the support of union members.

“Sentiment among the unions used to be 50:50 for the government and the opposition. Now after this, 90 percent will opt for the opposition,” he said.

Under the deal announced in August, Tune Air, which is controlled by AirAsia’s Fernandes and Kamarudin Meranun, would take a 20.5 percent stake in MAS and two board seats.

In exchange, state investment arm Khazanah Nasional, the majority shareholder in MAS, would hold 10 percent in AirAsia.

CIMB is the adviser for both companies on the deal, which is almost completed with the exchange of warrants ongoing, said a banking source.

Khazanah also declined to comment. A government spokesman said MASEU officials met the prime minister “some time back” but declined to comment further.

Worst ever financial year

Analysts say the new structure was supposed to help MAS, which has had a tumultuous history stretching back to 1997, when unprofitable routes pushed it into the red.

It notched its worst ever financial year in 2011 because of surging fuel costs and one-off provisions for impairment of aircraft, excess capacity and redelivery of aircraft.

In total, the provisions stood at RM1.1 billion for the fourth quarter alone. Following the losses, MAS said it would do fundraising to strengthen its balance sheet.

In contrast, AirAsia has posted profits over the last four quarters, tapping strong demand for air travel in Southeast Asia. It is also planning IPOs in Bangkok and Indonesia to expand in the region where carriers like Lion Air and JetStar are seeking to dominate.

Analysts said at the moment there was no meaningful partnership between AirAsia and MAS, except for the joint procurement of jet fuel cargoes.

“They are welcome to unwind the deal. But what’s key is, would this save MAS? Would previously terminated routes be restated?,” said Ahmad Maghfur Usman, a transport analyst with OSK Investment Bank.

“Definitely, AirAsia benefits in the near term because of the route cuts. It is tough to say what exactly benefits MAS because the detail of the collaboration has yet to be announced. But over the longer term, through shared resources, both carriers will benefit.”

- Reuters

Eurofighter Typhoon for Malaysia?

BAE Systems, a UK-based defence company, hopes to sell the world's most advanced multi-role combat aircraft to Malaysia.

KUALA LUMPUR: The UK-based global defence and security company, BAE Systems, hopes to supply its Eurofighter Typhoon, the world’s most advanced multi-role combat aircraft, to Malaysia.

BAE Systems South East Asia managing director John Brosnan said the company had submitted its proposal to the Defence Ministry, and discussed with local industrial partners on collaboration.

“We have the best aircraft and industrial package to go with it,” he told reporters at a briefing on the company’s Malaysia Industrial Participation here today.

On the contract value, Brosnan said it was too early to ascertain the price as this depends on the number of aircraft, as well as the support level required by Malaysia.

“Once the government has evaluated the initial phase, it will issue the detailed specifications, including the support level, and we can then put in the pricing,” he added.

BAE Systems has a 30-year presence in Malaysia and has been supporting the operations of the Royal Malaysian Air Force Hawk trainers while preparing pilots to fly frontline aircraft.

The company reported sales of US$30.7 billion last year and has customers in more than 100 countries.

-Bernama

EC will use different coloured indelible inks

The Election Commission chief says this is to prevent any possibilty of double voting.

KOTA KINABALU: Election Commission chairman Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said the EC would use indelible inks of different colours for the advance and ordinary voters to prevent any possibility of double voting.

“We will definitely use ink that stays longer for the advance voters. The public won’t know the colour or the type of bottles for the ink until a day before the voting process,” he said.

He also said the 242,294 postal voters, comprising 94,613 police and 147,681 armed forces personnel, will become advance voters by default in the coming polls.

This follows the implementation of a new regulation, which will be enforced for the first time during in the 13th general election.

“Postal voting has caused much controversy as though the process was not transparent. We’ve discussed this with the Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reform, and it was agreed that an advance voting system be introduced in the election.

“The advance voting process is similar to normal voting process in that it won’t use envelopes or bags; the only difference is the time and day of polling, which may be two or three days before the actual polling day,” he said after opening a special briefing to returning officers and district police chiefs, here today.

The advance voting will allow members of the armed forces and police, and their spouses, to cast their votes early so that they do not need to do so on actual polling day, allowing them to carry out their duties as usual.

“Under the new regulation, those who qualified as postal voters can become advance voters. However, security personnel who are required to work on nomination day or polling day, especially those stationed at the borders, can be considered to cast their votes via the post.

“They can apply to do so by filling up Form 1. The approving authority is the returning officers of their respective polling centres,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sabah Deputy Commissioner of Police Tan Kok Liang said 8,000 personnel would be deployed throughout the state to maintain order during the election.

Police would also take proactive measures to ensure all personnel would be able to discharge their responsibility as advance voters, he said.

-Bernama

Malaysia and the Global Rare Earth Squabble

Lynas protesters

Opposition, Barisan tangle over rare earth plant as global confrontation looms
If all things were equal, Malaysia should be rubbing its figurative hands together in glee over a major confrontation that is beginning to play itself out between China and the west over China’s limitations on rare earth exports.

China warned the US, the European and Union Tuesday that they were risking a backlash over challenges at the World Trade Organization over China’s export restrictions on the 17 rare-earth minerals that are a critical ingredient for products ranging from the iPhone to intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Other nations have largely ceased production of the rare earth minerals because of the detrimental effect mining and processing them has had on the environment. China has belatedly caught up with western sentiment after realizing that substandard mining practices have resulted in environmental catastrophes and has cut back on production, driving prices through the roof.

That ought to leave Malaysia, where an Australian company is seeking to open what is described as the world’s biggest rare earths processing plant, in a commanding position. Lynas Malaysia last month received a temporary license to operate the facility, which has been under construction for the last year.

Lynas’s plan is to mine the minerals at Mount Weld, a site 100 km east of Freemantle, Australia, ship them to Malaysia and process them in the plant in Gebing, near the city of Kuantan in the state of Pahang. From there the extracted rare earth materials are to be shipped to Japan, Europe and the United States, which are all crying out for the materials in the wake of China’s action.

But the plan, backed by the government, has come under implacable resistance from Malaysia’s three-party Pakatan Rakyat opposition, which it regards as a potent campaign issue, whatever the merits. The attempt to stop the plant from opening has become one of the biggest issues between the Barisan Nasional, or ruling national coalition, and the opposition in an election that is expected to get underway soon, perhaps in May or June, according to insiders in the United Malays National Organization.

Because of the emotive nature of the environmental issues, and because the atmosphere is becoming heated over the election, it is guaranteed not to go away. Critics want the government to halt its construction and direct the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) to reverse a decision to grant Lynas a temporary operating license for a two-year trial run. One rally in Kuantan, 50 km from the plant, saw a turnout of 15,000 protesters, called the largest and most diverse environmental protest in Malaysian history.

In addition to becoming a prime election issue, the plant is also crucial to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s aspirations to transform the country into a high-income and developed nation by 2020. Crucial to that plan is to drive up foreign direct investment, which has stagnated badly. Although inward FDI climbed to US$10.86 billion in 2011, with a particularly steep rise in investment in services, outward FDI in 2010 surged to $13.2 billion, according to the Asian Development Bank’s Asian Development Outlook 2011: South-South Economic Links. No figure for 2011 is yet available. Unfortunately, much of the FDI that has appeared is in Sarawak and Sabah, primarily in investment in extractive industries rather than industrialization or manufacturing. A public protest that would shut the plant would not be a welcome signal to other multinationals contemplating investment in the country.

The opposition to the plant has taken on wider characteristics in Malaysia’s often-fraught political atmosphere. For instance, it has become entangled with the country’s “Peaceful Assembly Bill,” passed by the Dewan Rakyat, or parliament last November. Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak held up the bill as one of several reforms of the country’s colonial era restrictions on the right of assembly and other issues.

However, the Malaysian Bar Council complained that the new law is actually more restrictive than the previous law because it prohibits street protests, the organization of assemblies by those under the age of 21 and the participation of youths below the age of 15, and the imposition of a flock of new restrictions on organizers.

Protesters have linked the two issues together, holding a series of marches and rallies across the country, including one in Penang across the country and well to the north in late February, in which violence flared as pro-government factions attacked anti-Lynas activists, throwing stones and other missiles and shouting abuse.

The protesters have been given an emotive issue in the form of a mid-1980s rare earth processing facility developed in 1985 by Mitsubishi Chemical at Bukit Merah n northern Perak state near the city of Ipoh that turned into an environmental disaster. The facility was closed in 1992 amid allegations that it was causing widespread groundwater and other environmental contamination and was responsible for deaths from leukemia as well as birth defects in children living nearby.

The Bukit Merah site, 20 years later, remains one of Asia’s largest radioactive waste cleanup sites despite the fact that Mitsubishi has owned up to the pollution and poured an estimated US$100 million into the cleanup.

Pictures purportedly of dying individuals and deformed babies have been given wide circulation both on the Internet and by other means throughout the country.

Lynas has so far met stringent requirements both on the part of the government and the International Atomic Energy Agency although protesters say the company still doesn’t have a credible waste and water management plan and that radioactive materials could leach into both the groundwater, as they did at Bukit Merah, as well as into the South China Sea.

Last week Malaysia’s International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed, in a joint statement with Pahang Chief Minister Adnan Yaakob in Kuantan, said the government has “ordered Lynas to guarantee and plan the provision of a permanent waste disposal facility far from human population as recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Failing that, Lynas has already expressed willingness to take the residue out of Malaysia."

Lynas said the most radioactive element, thorium, in its raw state from Mount Weld, is 50 times lower than that in Bukit Merah. Lynas also said waste products with low levels of thorium could be converted into safe byproducts such as cement aggregate for road construction.

"In practical terms, at these levels, exposure to radiation is less than taking a flight on a commercial airline or using a mobile phone," the company said in a statement. It also said it was prepared to place a bond with the government to ensure safe management of any remaining residue once the plant stops operations, but didn't give details.

In the meantime, does Malaysia risk missing the boat? The Wall Street Journal/Asia Wednesday quoted an analyst from Technology Metals Research as saying more than 419 rare-earth projects have got underway in 26 countries as the price has skyrocketed and the controversy has mushroomed.

Group: Court should have been merciful to shoe-throwing imam

The Sun Daily

by TAN YI LIANG

PETALING JAYA: The Federal Court panel which sentenced imam Hoslan Husin to a year’s jail for throwing his shoes at them should have been tempered by mercy.

Lawyers for Liberty campaign director Fadiah Nadwa Fikri told theSun yesterday that the sentence handed down on the 46-year-old father of seven was excessive and unnecessary. 

“We feel the sentence is disproportionate, considering that the imam was emotional on the day of the offence as his appeal was thrown out based on a technicality,” she said, adding that the court failed to consider Hoslan’s apology for his emotional outburst.

She said that previous contempt sentences have only been for a few days jail, saying that the court should 

have been proportionate in the punishment meted down.

“A year is outrageous. Nobody condones throwing a shoe at a judge, but the power of the court cannot be exercised in an extreme manner. 

“In this case they could have just reprimanded him,” said Fadiah.

Hoslan was sentenced to a year in jail on March 8 for contempt of court by a panel comprising Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin and Federal Court Justices Datuk Suryadi Halim Omar and Datin Paduka Zaleha Zahari.

Hoslan threw his shoes at this three-member bench on Feb 22 during proceedings between 10.15am and 10.30am after the panel dismissed his application to hear his appeal.

Asked about laws behind contempt of court, Fadiah said the sentencing powers for contempt were very wide and left at the discretion of the judge, who should hand down a sentence at the moment of the offence.

“The power of a judge when it comes to contempt is very wide. They can set any duration they like, it is an incidental power of the court and this is why democratic societies are moving away from relying on this power,” she said.

Fadiah said that courts were moving away from jail sentences for contempt in more democratic   societies and allowing criticism of the judiciary.

Malaysia, Russia To Sign Visa-free Agreement This Year

By Nurulhuda Che Das

KUALA LUMPUR, March 14 (Bernama) -- Russia is looking at introducing visa-free travel for Malaysians to the federation, reciprocating such facility extended to Russian visitors to Malaysia, said Russian envoy Lyudmilla G. Vorobyeva.

The Russian ambassador to Malaysia said that the agreement for visa-free travel is being finalised and hoped that the agreement would be signed this year.

"For Russians we don't need the visa to come to Malaysia for 30 days, in our system we cannot grant the same thing to our partner (Malaysia), we need to have a visa-free agreement and we are working on this kind of agreement so that Malaysian nationals can go to Russia without any visa for 30 days," said the 47-year-old envoy, who took up her posting here in August 2010.

She hoped the visa-free travel would further enhance the tourism and economic relations between both countries.

"My impression is that people here are very interested in going to Russia, everyone knows about St Petersburg and Moscow and many people are visiting this major tourist destination," Vorobyeva told Bernama during her visit to the news agency here Wednesday.

"There are a lot of potential and interesting places to visit in the Asian part of Russia, with a lot of eco-tourism, national parks, historical and cultural places," she said.

On education, Vorobyeva hoped to see more Malaysians studying in Russia since the quality of education there was very good, while the cost was quite affordable compared to the western countries.

She said there were some 3,000 Malaysian students in Russia, taking courses such as medicine, while there were only some 150 Russian students in Malaysia taking up mostly Islamic studies.

Vorobyeva said that she had been discussing with vice-chancellors of various universities in Malaysia to do some exchange programmes with Russian universities.

"There are a number of students in Russia who are studying Malay language and are specialising in Malay studies, and I would like to share a success of one of the students who won second place for the international category in the International Malay Language Oratory Contest for the Prime Minister's Trophy last week," she added.

Vorobyeva also hoped more Russian universities would take part in the education fairs held in Malaysia in a move to promote and expose the courses they are offering besides medicine, such as in the field of aviation and technical.

"Russia has a lot more than just medical studies to offer. We have also very good schools for fundamental scientific studies, economic and engineering," she said.

She said the Russian government also provides scholarships for Asean countries, however, Malaysians have not taken up these scholarships.

Pakistani Woman Charged with ‘Blasphemy’ for Refusing Islam

Relatives who became Muslims try to force her to renounce Christian faith.

FORT ABBAS, Pakistan, March 12 (CDN) — A young mother has been falsely accused of “blaspheming” Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, because she rebuffed attempts by relatives who had converted to Islam to force her to renounce her Christian faith, family members said.

Police in Khichiwala, Bahawalnagar district, in Punjab Province, charged 26-year-old Shamim Bibi, mother of a 5-month-old girl and resident of the village Chak No. 170/7R Colony, in the Fort Abbas area, under Section 295-C of Pakistan’s “blasphemy” statutes after neighbors accused her of uttering remarks against Muhammad. She was arrested on Feb. 28.

Speaking ill of Muhammad in Pakistan is punishable by life imprisonment or death under Pakistan’s internationally condemned blasphemy laws.

The young woman’s brother, Ilyas Masih, and her brother-in-law, Shahbaz Masih, told Compass that she had been wrongly accused because she had resisted pressure to convert to Islam four days before her arrest.

“Nazeeran, sister of Shamim’s husband Bashir Masih, and her nephew Nadeem and niece Bella accepted Islam on Feb. 24 and called on her to do the same,” Masih said. “She refused, telling them that she was satisfied with Christianity and did not want to convert.”

He said the newly-converted Muslims persisted in trying to force her to convert, but she resisted.

“Shamim told them that she had complete faith in a living God, and that there was no reason for her to start ‘worshiping graves,’” Masih said.

That remark was not the one deemed “blasphemous.” Rather, on Feb. 27 her neighbors accused her of making derogatory remarks – as yet unknown – on a separate occasion about Muhammad while in her courtyard.

Ansar Ali Shah, a local prayer leader in Chak 170/7R Colony, claimed that Shamim Bibi’s neighbors, Hamad Ahmed Hashmi and Abdul Qayyum, told him and other Muslims that they had heard the Christian woman making derogatory remarks about Muhammad in her courtyard, according to the First Information Report (FIR No. 30/12) registered by the Khichiwala police station. But there is no indication in the FIR of what, exactly, Shamim Bibi was alleged to have said.


As word of the allegation spread, a large crowd of villagers besieged her house and demanded “severe punishment for the infidel,” claiming she had hurt their religious sentiments, sources said.

Shahbaz Masih, her brother-in-law, told Compass that Qayyum, one of the two men named in the FIR as witnesses, has denied hearing anything from Shamim Bibi that supports the charge.

“Qayyum told police that he wasn’t even present in his house at the time of the alleged incident and had come to know about it from Hamad, the other witness,” Shahbaz Masih said.

Hamad Ahmed Hashmi, a motorized-rickshaw driver, also was not present at his house at 3 p.m., the time of the alleged remark, Shahbaz Masih said, based on information gathered from Shamim Bibi’s neighborhood.

“Hamad transports schoolchildren and could not have been in his house at the time of the incident, as it was just after school closing hours,” he said.

Bahawalnagar Superintendent of Police Investigation Irfan Ullah acknowledged that one of the two witnesses had admitted to not being present at the alleged “crime” scene at the time of the alleged remark.

“Qayyum told us that he hadn’t witnessed the incident and his name had been included in the FIR by the locals, but still that does not prove that Shamim did not commit blasphemy,” Ullah told Compass by phone. “The other witness is standing by his claim, and she has produced nothing so far which can prove her innocence.”

He vehemently denied that police had caved in to pressure from local Muslims and had registered a case in undue haste.

“I visited the village twice, and so far nothing has come up that suggests that the people have accused Shamim wrongly,” Ullah said. “We registered a case against her on the directions of the district police officer.”

Bahawalnagar District Police Officer Salman Ali Khan could not be reached for comment.

Shamim Bibi’s family and her infant daughter, meantime, may have to wait for a long time for her return. While no one has been executed for blasphemy in Pakistan, most are freed on appeal after suffering for years under appalling prison conditions.

Vigilantes have killed at least 10 people accused of blasphemy, rights groups estimate.

Section 295-C of Pakistan’s blasphemy law states: “Whoever by words, either spoken or written or by visible representation, or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.”

Dewan kecoh, Najib elak jawab soalan SBPA

Estate workers want Sime Darby to settle woes

The families claimed the GLC had neglected their welfare after it sold part of the estate land to a private company.

SHAH ALAM: Some 46 families of Subang Estate want Sime Darby Plantations to look into their welfare as the government-linked company (GLC) seems to have washed its hands off them.

Speaking at a press conference on behalf of the workers, Dr Nasir Hashim, the Kota Damansara assemblyman, called on Sime Derby, the owner of the estate, Selangor state executive council member Dr Xavier Jeyakumar and the National Union Plantation Workers (NUPW) to assist in solving the workers’ grievances.

Nasir, who is also Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) president, said Sime Derby had neglected the workers when it sold part of the estate land (45 hectares) to a private company.

“It is unfair because currently there are 46 families still staying at the estate… in fact, 19 of them are still working here while the remainder have retired from Sime Darby.

“Sime Darby is responsible for these workers although it has sold the land to NPO Builders Sdn Bhd,” he said.

He added that although Sime Darby claimed to have sold off the land, there was no evidence of the sale.

“If a party wants to sell any estate land, it must obtain a letter of authorisation from the Estate Land Board, which is under the purview of the state government.

“Until today we have not been provided with this letter. So, technically, Sime Darby is still the owner of the land and it is its duty to solve problems faced by the workers,” he added.

A former Subang estate worker, identified as Ganeshan, said Sime Darby had demolished several old estate quarters when some former workers had moved out.

“After the management demolished the houses, it failed to remove the rubbles and this causes heavy flooding.”

He also said the workers also have to bear with dirty water from their taps and deplorable conditions of the old estate houses.

“We need an immediate solution from Sime Darby to clean up the estate,” he added.

Ganeshan said if Sime Darby wanted to sell the land, then the company should provide low-cost houses to the workers for free.

“We do not want money from them. We are want low-cost houses for free,” he said.

Bribery charge: 11 cops transferred

The 11, including five officers, had allegedly solicited bribe from a businessman after the latter and his friends were caught for driving under the influence of alcohol.

KUALA LUMPUR: Five police officers, including a DSP, were transferred out from the city traffic police department with immediate effect over an alleged bribery case.

Six other rank and file personnel from the same police station also suffered a similar fate.

A senior police officer told FMT that the 11 were transferred either to the General Operations Force (GOF) or Federal Reserve Unit (FRU).

It is learnt that the transfer order was issued following an internal investigation over a police report lodged by a businessman recently.

The businessman alleged that he and several of his friends in three cars were stopped at a roadblock and ordered to take a breathalyser test.

“When the test confirmed positive, one of the police personnel ‘offered’ to settle the matter in return for cash,” added the source.

After being forced to pay the “bribe”, the businessman had contacted a high ranking officer in Bukit Aman and informed him about the incident.

A special task force investigated the complaint and recommended that all those involved in the roadblock operation be transferred out.

However, City traffic chief ACP Rosli Mohd Noor confirmed that 11 of his men had been shifted out, but claimed that it was “normal transfers”.

“No truth in those allegations. It (the transfers) were for ‘mobility’, to switch the men from an old place to a newer one,” he said.

He added that the officers had been given new positions in various other departments in the Klang Valley including Bukit Aman and other divisions.

The latest disciplinary action comes in the wake of another police officer, with the rank of Supt, being placed in “cold storage” at the Police Training College in Cheras after a masseuse had allegedly accused him of sexual harassment.

The officer was well-known as a “crime buster” and his last posting was as district police chief in Negeri Sembilan.

When contacted, Negeri Sembilan police chief Osman Salleh dismissed the allegation as “mere rumours” and claimed that it was a routine transfer.

Appeal filed against Ramasamy verdict

RSN Rayer and A Tanasekharan submitted a joint appeal against the not-guilty verdict delivered by DAP's disciplinary committee yesterday.

GEORGE TOWN: An appeal has been filed against the DAP decision to clear the party’s deputy secretary-general, P Ramasamy, of all charges of breach of internal discipline.

State assemblymen RSN Rayer of Seri Delima and A Tanasekharan of Bagan Dalam submitted a joint appeal today against the not-guilty verdict that the party’s disciplinary committee delivered yesterday.

“We have filed an appeal against the decision by the disciplinary board to clear Ramasamy from the charges of organising a disgraceful demonstration against Karpal Singh, and also the charges of breaching a gag order,” the assemblymen said in a brief written statement to the press.

The party’s central executive committee is expected to deliberate on the petition soon.

Ramasamy was charged with organising a demonstration against party chairman Karpal, Rayer and Tanasekharan before the Penang DAP convention last Dec 11.

The charge of breaching a gag order was related to a Dec 23 article in The Star.

Ramasamy has filed a RM10 million suit against the daily and the reporter who wrote the article, which he said was defamatory.

The disciplinary committee began its investigation after receiving complaints from Tanasekharan, Rayer and 31 other members. A three-member panel headed by Tan Kok Wai held an inquiry on the allegations at party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on Feb 16. Fifteen party members testified against Ramasamy.

In announcing the verdict yesterday, Tan, who is the MP for Cheras, said Ramasamy was not behind the demonstration against Karpal.

“The committee holds that Ramasamy did not commit any disciplinary wrongdoing,” he said, adding that the demonstration was carried out by non-DAP members.