What do you specifically mean?

So what specifically do they mean by Islamic architecture? Just like in the case of JAKIM banning books, we need details. You ban a book without telling us what is specifically wrong with it. And you demand Islamic architecture without telling us specifically what it is supposed to look like.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

I would like to refer to the two news items below but do not know whether I should write a thesis or just my normal ‘short’ seven-page article. Anyway, let me just start writing and we shall see where we end up.

The two news items I am talking about are related to Islam, a most sensitive subject in Islamophobia Malaysia. ‘Islamophobia’ actually mean prejudice against or hatred and/or irrational fear of Islam or Muslims. In Malaysia, however, it can also mean a phobia that Malaysians in general and Muslims in particular are not doing the ‘correct’ Islamic thing.

Now, the federal government or JAKIM is banning books on Islam, or books they regard as ‘against Islamic teachings’, while the state government of Kelantan is imposing Islamic architecture in the state.

Why don’t the government just burn all books totally like what the Mongols did or burn all books not related to Islam like what the Wahabis did. Book burning and book banning has always been a strategy used by despotic governments to keep the people in ignorance. And this is so that the powers-that-be can control the people.

An educated population becomes a thinking population and hence would be a danger to the ruling elite. Therefore, the government would like to keep the people in ignorance just so that it can control the people by enslaving them. And this slavery is more effective when the government can imprison our minds.

Okay, so JAKIM has, yet again, banned a book it perceives as insulting to Islam and “contravening teachings in the Quran and Hadiths”. That is well and fine. But is it not the duty of JAKIM to point out which part of that book is in error, or is deceiving, and what it should correctly be?

For example, did the book say that Prophet Muhammad was born in Medina whereas he was born in Mekah? And was his date of birth mentioned in that book wrong? We need to know which part of that book is wrong and what it should be instead.

As it is, JAKIM just imposes a blanket ban on the book on grounds that the book is misleading. Surely not 100% of that book is misleading. Even if there were any errors in that book it would be only a part of that book, not the whole book.

JAKIM is supposed to play the role of educator of Islam. You do not educate people by banning books. You educate them by correcting misconceptions. If there are wrong beliefs then you tell us which are these wrong beliefs and what the right beliefs are.

Not many Malaysians were initially aware of the existence of these banned books until JAKIM banned them. Now that they are banned these books would become popular. The books may be banned in Malaysia in its print form, but how is JAKIM going to stop people from reading this book online? And when more than 50% of Malaysians are on the Internet, more people are going to read it now than before it was banned. I mean, more than 10 million Malaysians can read books online but they can’t sell 10 million copies of any book in Malaysia. They can’t even sell one million copies.

Hence more damage has been done by banning the book compared to allowing the book and relying to what you consider ‘wrong teachings’. Can you see how stupid these people from JAKIM are? They give idiots a bad name. And these are the same people who tortured me with sleep deprivation when they detained me in 2008. So what more can you expect from them?

Kelantan, on the other hand, wants to impose Islamic architecture in the state. What Islamic architecture are they talking about? Have a look at the photographs below. Is this what they mean?

You see, in the desert, there are sand storms and no rain. So buildings need to be designed differently from those in places, say, like Malaysia, which has monsoon rains. If we design ‘Islamic’ buildings in Malaysia they would not be that appropriate.

So what specifically do they mean by Islamic architecture? Just like in the case of JAKIM banning books, we need details. You ban a book without telling us what is specifically wrong with it. And you demand Islamic architecture without telling us specifically what it is supposed to look like.

During the time of the Prophet, people lived in tents and wooden huts. Is that what you mean by Islamic architecture? Jeddah airport is designed like a huge tent. So you want all buildings in Kelantan to look like a huge tent?

Actually, Islamic architecture has been borrowed from the Persian Sassanid and Eastern Roman Byzantine period with some Germanic Visigoth influence. Hence they are not Islamic but per-Islamic as well Christian architecture. When the Moors invaded Christian Spain, they ‘stole’ the horseshoe arch design. Hence that is, again, Christian architecture.

The Dome of the Rock (Qubbat al-Sakhrah), which was built in Jerusalem in 691, is considered one of the most important buildings in all of Islamic architecture. That, however, has a very strong Byzantine influence. The very form of a rotunda given to the Qubbat al-Sakhrah is foreign to Islam and was an attempt to rival the many Christian domes of its time.

So what Islamic architecture are you talking about? The tent design? The square box design? Or the Christian design that was stolen by the Muslims? Which design is Kelantan going to impose on developers?

So can you see why JAKIM wants to ban books? It is because if they do not ban books then we may discover the truth. And the truth is there is no such thing as Islamic design. The Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, the Sultan Sulaiman Building in front of Dataran Merdeka, etc., were actually designed by the ‘kafir’ British and adopted from Moorish architecture. The Moors, in turn, took this design from Christian Spain.

That’s why. Don’t simply ban books. If you ban books then EXCO Members like those from Kelantan would remain ignorant. They would think that Moorish architecture, which was stolen from the Spanish Christians, are actually Islamic designs.

Yeah, sure, ABU, ABU, ABU! Asal bukan Umno! Never mind if we vote for idiots as long as not Umno. Never mind if these idiots ban books and impose Islamic architecture as long as not Umno.

It is time these people are told that it is ABUAI -- anything but Umno and idiots.

*************************************

Ministry bans Irshad’s latest book for insulting Islam

The Home Ministry has banned the book Allah, Liberty and Love, based on Malaysian Islamic Development Department’s (Jakim) finding that the publication contained elements insulting to Islam.

“The book contravenes teachings in the Quran and Hadiths,” said Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman.

The ministry decided to ban the book by Ugandan-born Canadian writer Irshad Manji under Section 7 Subsection 1 of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

“The book, believed to have elements that can deviate Muslims from their faith and teachings and elements which insulted Islam, has received numerous complaints,” he said in a statement here yesterday.

Irshad is also known to openly support the lesbian, gay and bisexual and transsexual lifestyles.

Her previous book The Trouble With Islam Today was banned in Malaysia in 2009.

*************************************

Kelantan: Islamic designs a must

(The Star) - A controversy is brewing over the proposal for the construction of a Buddhist building here after the PAS-led state government ruled that new buildings should include Islamic designs to reflect the state capital’s status as an Islamic city.

State Local Government, Culture, Arts and Tourism committee chairman Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said developers must incorporate some Islamic elements in their plans or the proposals would be rejected.

“We will ensure development will be based on Islamic principles and features,” he told a press conference here yesterday.

He claimed the ruling was well-accepted by the majority of developers, including non-Muslim developers.

“I do not see it as an issue or something that could cause religious tension, as it only involves architecture and design.

“They have accepted the new ruling well,” he said.

Takiyuddin was commenting on an appeal by the Kelantan Buddhist Association for the state government to approve its building, to be constructed with Chinese features at Jalan Sultan Zainal Abidin here.

It is understood that the association had been told that its building design should have dome-shaped motifs, which have created a controversy in the Chinese media.

In an immediate reaction, Kota Baru MCA division chief Tan Ken Ten slammed the directive, which he said was an infringement of the rights of non-Muslims in the state.

“The ruling is an extreme attempt to impose one’s beliefs into other people’s culture or religious beliefs.

“The PAS government must be mindful that Malaysia is a multi-cultural and multi-religious society that respects the differences of each community. It should appreciate this diversity which makes this country unique,” Tan added.

State MCA Youth chief Gan Han Chuan said the Kelantan government was showing disrespect towards the non-Muslims with its new policy.

“With the new directive, PAS is trying to create discord by destroying the harmonious relations between the communities that had been built by the Barisan Nasional over the years,” he added.

“One can only wonder what type of archaic policies PAS will introduce if Pakatan Rakyat manages to take over the Federal Government,” Gan said.

Lagi Ceramah Pakatan Jadi Sasaran Batu Dan Telur

POLITIK MALAYSIA

1. Kita sudah merdeka selama 55 tahun dan telah mengadakan 12 Pilihan Raya Umum. Walaupun parti-parti bukan dari Perikatan atau Barisan Nasional telah berjaya menawan dan mendiri Kerajaan dibeberapa negeri di Semenanjung dan di Sabah, tetapi Perikatan dan Barisan Nasional tidak pernah kalah di peringkat Pusat. Perikatan dan Barisan Nasional terus menjadi Kerajaan diperingkat Pusat, peringkat yang paling berkuasa di Malaysia.

2. Memang pada 1969 Perikatan hampir kalah tetapi kuasa kekal di tangan Perikatan dan akhirnya beberapa parti lawan telah menyertai Perikatan untuk menubuh Barisan Nasional yang terus memerintah.

3. Barisan Nasional menghadapi beberapa masalah dalaman tetapi berjaya mengatasinya dan mengekal kuasanya di Peringkat Pusat. Serpihan dari UMNO yang diusahakan oleh Tengku Razaleigh dan Anwar Ibrahim tidak berjaya mengalahkan Barisan Nasional.

4. Pada 2008 kebencian terhadap pemerintahan Abdullah menyebabkan ramai dari penyokong UMNO dan parti-parti komponen lain mengurangkan sokongan kepada Barisan Nasional sehingga lima buah negeri dapat ditawan oleh parti-parti bukan Barisan Nasional. Di peringkat Pusat majoriti Barisan Nasional menurun sehingga tidak dapat menguasai 2/3 dari kerusi Parlimen. Namun Barisan Nasional masih dapat mendiri Kerajaan di peringkat Pusat.

5. Kemenangan yang berturut-turut sejak merdeka melumpuhkan semangat parti-parti bukan Barisan Nasional. Percubaan oleh Anwar Ibrahim untuk menyeludup masuk ke dalam UMNO supaya dapat merebut kuasa dari dalam juga gagal.

6. Yang terpaksa diakui oleh semua pihak, semua rakyat Malaysia dan juga pemerhati asing ialah sehingga kini proses pilihanraya tidak dapat menjatuhkan Barisan Nasional. Majoriti rakyat Malaysia tetap memberi kemenangan kepada Barisan Nasional. Kenapa tidak. Semua terpaksa terima hakikat bahawa Kerajaan-Kerajaan Barisan Nasional telah membawa banyak kemajuan dan nikmat lain kepada rakyat. Barisan Nasional berjaya membawa keamanan dan kesejahteraan kepada Negara Malaysia. Tiap seorang dari rakyat Malaysia dapat mengecapi kehidupan yang lebih mewah dan lebih bahagia di bawah pemerintahan Barisan Nasional. Segala percubaan oleh parti-parti lawan untuk mengurangkan sokongan dan persepsi baik terhadap Barisan Nasional dan pemerintah yang didirikan olehnya tidak berjaya.

7. Memandang kepada sejarah Malaysia merdeka dan keputusan- keputusan pilihanraya, parti lawan tentu kurang yakin mereka akan menang PRU 13 dan mendirikan Kerajaan Pusat. Cara demokrasi tidak boleh menjayakan mereka. Melihat penggulingan Kerajaan di Negara-negara Arab, tentulah terlintas di hati pemimpin-pemimpin parti lawan bahawa cara-cara demonstrasi ganas dan berpanjangan lebih mungkin memberi kejayaan kepada cita-cita mereka.

8. Tetapi mereka perlu menunjuk kepada rakyat, dan lebih utama kepada dunia luar bahawa Kerajaan Barisan Nasional di Malaysia adalah zalim dan menindas rakyat seperti Kerajaan-Kerajaan kuku besi Negara Arab.

9. Maka diciptalah Bersih. Kononnya pilihanraya di Malaysia ditipu oleh Kerajaan Pusat, walau apapun bukti bahawa di Malaysia parti lawan boleh menang dan telah menang berkali-kali jika rakyat menyokong mereka dan sebaliknya di Negara Arab bukan sahaja Kerajaan yang digulingkan tidak pernah kalah tetapi pilihanraya memberi kemenangan 99% kepada pemerintah, masih juga didakwa Pilihan Raya Umum ditipu oleh Kerajaan Malaysia.

10. Kerajaan bertindak untuk meneluskan lagi proses pilihanraya mengikut kehendak parti lawan. Tetapi masih juga dituduh yang Kerajaan menipu.

11. Banyaklah lagi tuduhan kezaliman dan kemungkaran yang dilempar kepada Kerajaan semata-semata untuk memburukkan imej Kerajaan.

12. Tunjuk-tunjuk perasaan Bersih yang besar dan ganas adalah persediaan untuk menolak keputusan PRU 13 jika parti lawan gagal memenanginya. Kekalahan mereka akan dituruti dengan demonstrasi ganas yang tidak berhenti-henti supaya keputusan pilihanraya ditolak dan satu Kerajaan lain didirikan, yang ditunjuk oleh parti lawan. Kemudian mereka akan berusaha untuk mengadakan pilihanraya sekali lagi yang boleh dimanipulasi oleh mereka.

13. Sudah tentu sebelum Kerajaan pilihan rakyat digulingkan, negara akan diserang bertubi-tubi dengan demo ganas dan huru-hara. Perancangan dan perusahaan akan diganggu mungkin dengan mogok di sana sini anjuran parti lawan.

14. Kestabilan negara akan tergugat. Polis dituduh melakukan keganasan supaya mereka tidak dapat kawal huru-hara dan demo dengan cara berkesan.

15. Kuasa-kuasa asing akan mengecam Kerajaan pilihan rakyat kerana kononnya mengguna kekerasan menghalang kebebasan bersuara dan berdemo. Malaysia akan dicap sebagai Police State.

16. Malaysia yang telah memberi banyak nikmat dan kebahagiaan kepada rakyatnya, yang telah diiktiraf sebagai Negara yang termaju di antara negara membangun, Malaysia yang bangun dengan pesatnya akan bertukar menjadi negara yang tidak lagi stabil dan maju, dan tidak lagi memberi kebahagiaan dan rahmat kepada rakyatnya. Mereka tidak percaya dengan demokrasi maka akan hilanglah hak rakyat untuk memilih Kerajaan.

17. Negara ini akan menjadi miskin dan Wawasan 2020 tidak akan menjadi kenyataan. Inilah yang akan berlaku kerana parti bukan Barisan Nasional kecewa tidak dapat ke Putrajaya. Jika dengan cara ganas mereka, mereka berjaya merebut kuasa, percayalah demokrasi akan dihapuskan dan nasib yang buruk akan menimpa Negara tercinta ini.

92% Rakyat Mahu Daftar Pemilih Dibersih Sebelum PRU

Malaysiakini

Satu kajiselidik yang dibuat baru-baru ini – sehari sebelum perhimpunan BERSIH 3.0 - menunjukkan majoriti responden mahu daftar pemilih dibersihkan sebelum pilihan raya umum akan datang.

Menurut Merdeka Centre, 92 peratus daripada 1,019 orang yang dikajiselidik bulan lalu berkata kerajaan perlu melakukannya sebelum pilihan raya umum.

Keputusan itu hampir sebulat suara di kalangan responden pelbagai bangsa, kumpulan umur, jantina, pendapatan dan kawasan, dengan lebih 90 peratus daripada setiap kumpulan, menjawab dengan positif.

Kira-kira separuh atau 48 peratus daripada kumpulan yang sama juga berkata mereka tidak yakin dengan daftar pemilih.

We shall overcome

Jacob Sinnathamby - The Malaysian Insider

MAY 26 — Can you hear it? Listen closely. Now can you hear it?

I am talking about the deafening silence from the prime minister downwards on the burgeoning violence and thuggish behaviour by Umno and its subsidiaries.

What happened at the PKR ceramah in Lembah Pantai, where blood was drawn after rocks, eggs and bottles were rained on PKR leaders by Umno Youth affiliates, was not the first show of state-encouraged violence.

It is not even the second or third time, but the umpteenth time in recent months that groups affiliated to the ruling party have shown disdain for the rule of law.

Nurul Izzah Anwar and Mat Sabu have faced stones and thugs before while speaking at Felda events, Lim Guan Eng faced thugs during the anti-Lynas demo in Penang recently, and Bersih organisers in Merlimau had their vehicles damaged. And the list goes on.

Never before have Malaysians witnessed state-sanctioned violence on this scale against Malaysians. At Lembah Pantai the other night, the police stood by and did not lift a finger when the Umno affiliates pelted PKR leaders. The same thing happened in Penang.

When the police send a “message” to thugs, political parties and silat groups that no action will be taken against violence, it is only natural that these elements will be emboldened further.

When the national leaders “encourage” the violence through their silence, is it any wonder that the establishment forces are using violence?

Khairy Jamaluddin told Malaysiakini that the party leadership did not send out a memo asking that opposition rallies be disrupted. They don’t have to; their silence and quiet enjoyment is evidence of their complicity, desperation by politicians who have forgotten that they serve at the rakyat’s pleasure.

It is clear that the violence will escalate. Umno wants Malaysians to be cowed, to believe that there will be trouble if they are kicked out of power, that our personal safety will be compromised if we support the Opposition. They want us to go back into our shells, quivering in fear.

But why should we? No one ever said that change would be easy or painless. There are many Malaysians today who are willing to stand up and fight. Let us honour them by standing side by side with them. And to hell with those cops; they are as useful and competent as the security guards in your neighbourhood.

Government Promises To Leave A Better Malaysia For Youths - Najib

PUTRAJAYA, May 26 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak says the government promises to leave a better Malaysia to be inherited by youths.

This is done by implementing the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), Government Transformation Programme (GTP) and the national transformation agenda.

"The Cabinet members and I shoulder this responsibility. We implement the ETP and national transformation agenda so that we can leave a better Malaysia for youths.

"A country that is more successful and great from all aspects. We will make Malaysia a developed nation and as 1Malaysia... InsyaAllah," he said in his address to mark National Youth Day celebration here Saturday.

Also present were the prime minister's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and Cabinet ministers including Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

Najib said that Malaysians must remain united to propel the nation to greatness and success.

"InsyaAllah, we will work day and night and will leave a better Malaysia to be inherited by youths."

He urged youths to reflect on the success of the nation and development of Putrajaya that has become the location for a gathering of millions of youths.

"This is because 55 years ago, youths made the right choice when voting.

They chose a government that implemented numerous changes for 55 years."

Najib said youths had voted not once but in 12 general elections by entrusting the same government to bring about change.

The government is confident that with the theme "Jadikan Hari Esok Lebih Baik Daripada Hari Ini" (Make Tomorrow Better Than Today) as it has delivered the promises for 55 years.

"Youths who gather today will make those outside feel confident that under the government, there will be a better tomorrow."

Najib hopes that youths will be able to diffentiate between diamond and glass to ensure continued development for the country.

"The voice of youths is sacred and they must stand up and show that they can choose wisely," he added.

Crown Jewels sparkle in major new exhibition for Diamond Jubilee

London, England (CNN) -- They are some of the most spectacular diamonds, rubies and sapphires in the world, and they have graced the outfits of monarchs for centuries, now -- just in time for Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee -- Britain's Crown Jewels have gone on display in a new-look exhibition.

"The Crown Jewels are a collection of international significance, some of the most stunning gems in the world," said curator Sally Dixon-Smith. "But they are also a working collection, and we wanted to get that across to visitors; that they are real, and that they are very much used, both during coronations and more regularly."

Once through the heavy steel doors -- weighing 2,000 kilos each -- visitors are guided through the process of coronation, allowing them to feel part of the procession, with all its pomp and circumstance.

After following a line of golden trumpets and heavy maces, they are introduced to the regalia of the ceremony: Robes, anointing oil and ceremonial swords, before coming face to face with the fabled gems themselves, set in a succession of stunning crowns, scepters and orbs.
Even their names are the stuff of legend: Koh-i--Nur, the Black Prince's Ruby, Cullinane I and II, King Edward's Sapphire.

Some even come with their own superstitions. The Koh-i-Nur (its name means "Mountain of Light"), for example, is only ever set in crowns made for female members of the monarchy.

Read more: The Royal family tree

"It is said to bring bad luck to any man who wears it," explained Keith Hanson, the chief exhibitor of the jewels. "By contrast, it is believed to bring long life and happiness to any woman who wears it, and as its last wearer, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, was 101 when she died, that would seem to be true."

The jewels that visitors see today have been worn by British monarchs for generations, but in historical terms, Dixon-Smith says, they are "a relatively new collection."

The originals were destroyed in the wake of the Civil War, which saw King Charles I overthrown and executed in 1649. The oldest piece on display is the 12th century Coronation Spoon, which survived the break-up (and melting down) of the old jewels.
William and Catherine attend Jubilee

Many of the items in the Tower of London today date back to the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, and the rule of King Charles II, though the collection has been added to and expanded over the centuries since.

Queen Elizabeth speaks to Parliament

Perhaps the most important piece is the St Edward's Crown, which dates from 1661, and is worn by the monarch at the moment of coronation. Made of solid gold and trimmed with ermine and velvet, it is famously heavy -- weighing more than five pounds (2.23kg) -- and can only be worn for 15 minutes during the ceremony.

Read more: What does the queen really do?

By contrast, Queen Victoria's tiny diamond-encrusted crown, made in 1870, measures less than 10cm (3.7 inches) tall. It was designed to be worn over her mourning veil, following the death of her beloved husband, Prince Albert.

And while Queen Victoria wore that miniature coronet so often it was eventually placed on her coffin, after her death, one of the other pieces, the Imperial Crown of India has only been used once.

The crown, which features more than 6,000 diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds, was made in 1911 at a cost of £60,000. It was used for the crowning of George V at the Delhi Durbar, because the traditional Crown Jewels are not permitted to leave the country, but has not been worn since.

The new exhibition has been six years in the making, with most of the work being carried out overnight, to allow the Crown Jewels to remain on display throughout.

Thousands of visitors pour in to the Tower of London every day, though Hanson insists "there are no queues here -- only 'lines of expectation.'"

And the fact that the jewels are one of the key attractions for international visitors to London has played a large role in the way they are now displayed, with little writing and a reliance instead on imagery and film, from animations, to painting, to film of the Queen's 1953 coronation.

"The point is not to tell people about the collection, but to show them -- the Crown Jewels are the stars of the show," said interpretation manager Rebecca Richards.

The exhibition also features dramatic lighting and sound effects, designed to allow the precious stones and gold to glow and shine in all their glory.

"They are not relics," said Richards. "They are part of an active tradition, and they are still used today."

So while anyone making a trip to the Tower can expect to be greeted by plenty of glitz and sparkle whenever they visit, they shouldn't be too surprised if they find a small card in place of the Imperial State Crown, reading simply: "In use."

Minorities at risk following Arab Spring - rights group

Egyptian Coptic Christian women grieve after a mass funeral for seven victims of sectarian clashes at Samaan el-Kharaz Church in Manshiet Nasr shantytown in eastern Cairo, March 10, 2011. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

By Emma Batha

LONDON (AlertNet) - Minorities across the Arab world face increasing risks to their lives following last year’s revolutions, rights activists have warned following the release of an annual list of people under threat.

Libya, Egypt, Yemen and Syria have all risen up the table since last year, according to Minority Rights Group whose survey seeks to identify those people at greatest risk of genocide, mass killing or other violent repression.

“If 2011 will be remembered as the year of the Arab Spring, then 2012 could become the year the revolutions soured,” said MRG Executive Director Mark Lattimer.

“The huge changes taking place across the Middle East and North Africa, while increasing hopes for democratisation, represent for both religious and ethnic minorities perhaps the most dangerous episode since the violent break-up of the Soviet Union and the former Yugoslavia.”

Although the Peoples under Threat survey shows many states in North Africa and the Middle East have risen up the rankings, none of them is in the top 10.

The most dangerous countries for minorities are listed as Somalia, Sudan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Myanmar, Pakistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Iran.

The highest new entry is South Sudan, which gained independence in July. A history of cattle raiding between several ethnic groups has developed into inter-communal violence on a highly organised scale, MRG said.

FAULT LINES

MRG said that in Libya, where strongman Muammar Gaddafi was toppled last October, former rebels still hold up to 6,000 people arrested during or after the conflict. Up to half are thought to be sub-Saharan migrants or black Libyans, according to MRG which said some had been tortured to death.

Systematic repression also continues against black Libyans from the town of Tawergha, which Gaddafi used as a base to shell the coastal city of Misrata. They deny accusations they collaborated with Gaddafi but have been forced to leave their hometown. Thousands now live in displacement camps.

MRG said that in Egypt increasing numbers of Copts are reported to be leaving the country following attacks on churches and intimidation.

In Syria, members of the president’s minority Alawite sect fear for their fate if the conflict intensifies. Syriac Christians are also worried about the possibility of attacks from Sunni militants, MRG said.

In Yemen, thousands of members of the marginalised Akhdam community have taken to the streets to protest against the racism they face. Anthropologists have compared the Akhdam to the "untouchable" caste of India.

"Differences between Sunni and Shia, Muslims and non-Muslims, Arabs and non-Arabs, are all expressions of an internal diversity in the Arab world that is often under-estimated and which depends on mutual respect. These differences must not become fault lines for mass killing," Lattimer added.

MRG says almost all of the significant episodes of civilian killing last year happened in countries which were high up or major risers in its 2011 Peoples Under Threat list.

The top 10 risers this year are: South Sudan, Iran, Yemen, Syria, Kyrgyzstan, Thailand, Libya, Kosovo, Mali and Egypt.

(Editing by Rebekah Curtis)

'Cruel and heartless' dad jailed after depriving mum of children

A "CRUEL and heartless" father who admitted snatching his two children and taking them to Pakistan has been jailed for five years.

Derby Crown Court heard how Mohammed Tariq told his children that their mother, Tracey Martin, was dead after he took them abroad 11 years ago.

1. ​

The court was told the 41-year-old's marriage with Mrs Martin had broken down and he had acquired passports and visas for their children without her knowledge or consent.

 

Tariq then took Gary, who was nine at the time, and Lisa, who was seven, from their family home in Dryden Street, Sunny Hill.

Steven Coupland, prosecuting, said, while the children were abroad, Lisa, now 18, had limited schooling, was subjected to physical abuse by others and contemplated suicide. He said Gary, now 21, got into trouble with police.

Mrs Martin spent the next decade fighting to get back her children. The 42-year-old told the Derby Telegraph how she hired solicitors and a private investigator.

Her efforts and those of the British authorities were unsuccessful. In 2010, Derbyshire police received an anonymous tip-off Tariq was back in the city but officers were unable to find him.

But, in October last year, Detective Constable Steve Fuller reviewed the case and found that Tariq was living in a rented property in Abbotts Barn Close, Derby. Tariq was arrested on December 1.

Judge Hilary Watson said his behaviour was "cruel and heartless". She said: "You deprived your children of an opportunity to have a relationship with their mother throughout their childhood."

And, of telling the children their mother had died, she added: "I cannot think of a more terrible and more shocking thing to say to two children."

She also imposed a 10-year restraining order on Tariq, which prevents him contacting Mrs Martin or Lisa.
It was not until August last year that Mrs Martin was reunited with daughter Lisa, who now lives with her at her Derbyshire home. Gary stayed in Pakistan. Mrs Martin has not seen him, although she is in touch.

After the sentencing, Mrs Martin said: "I had said any amount of sentence wouldn't be enough after what he's done but I am pleased with what he's been given. At least Lisa will be able to get on with her life without looking over her shoulder. The judge has been good giving him what he deserves."

Stuart Lody, in mitigation, said there were "two sides to matrimonial breakdowns", citing cultural differences and Tariq joining the Territorial Army among the reasons. He said, after Tariq suffered a back injury when he was partially crushed by a forklift, he was in "considerable chronic pain" and his doctor said a warmer climate would assist him.

Mr Lody said Tariq's intention had only been to go to Pakistan for six months and that he had purchased return flight tickets but he put the children into school and they settled. A letter was sent from Gary to his cousins in England describing his life as "brilliant". Mr Lody said: "Gary decided to stay in Pakistan, so life couldn't have been so awful."

He said Tariq and the children lived in an isolated area, making communications "difficult in the extreme".
He also said Tariq did not realise he was committing an offence.

But Judge Watson said numerous court orders were made in relation to the children and returning them to the UK, of which Tariq would have been aware. She added: "It is very difficult to weigh up what you say was in the children's best interest and the reality of what happened to the children."

After the sentencing, Det Con Fuller said: "I am extremely satisfied with the sentence, which I feel reflects the seriousness of this case and the pain Tracey and her children have suffered.

"Tracey's family can feel reassured by the sentence and by the extended protection that the 10-year restraining order provides."

600 photos and a video and still no arrest

Traders, youths and bikers at anti-Ambiga protest

As polls loom, Putrajaya to unveil ‘rescue’ mission for Indians

KUALA LUMPUR, May 24 – Officials in Putrajaya will huddle with a team of professionals over the next few months to formulate a comprehensive plan aimed at “rescuing” the country’s Indian poor, in an apparent effort by Barisan Nasional (BN) to cement their support from the community ahead of an election expected soon.

The initiative, announced today by Datuk Seri G. Palanivel (picture), is expected to be finalised during a roundtable conference to be chaired by Datuk Seri Najib Razak, which is expected to be called by July.

Among others, the conference will include representatives from the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry, International Trade and Industry Ministry, Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, Women’s Development Department, Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia, Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (Asli), Singapore Indian Development Association, Entrepreneur Economic Fund (Tekun), Petronas, Khazanah Nasional Bhd, Securities Commission (SC), Indian contractors, businessmen, academicians, consultants bankers and those in the agriculture industry.

Palanivel, who was appointed to the post of lead minister for Indian affairs under Najib’s Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) last year, said the government could not take its Indian support for granted, despite reports that the community has begun returning to BN’s fold.

“The prime minister must help us. He has to give us a sizeable budget to take the Indian community out of their present problems,” he told a press conference here after meeting with several think tank groups on the proposed initiave.

“For the Indian support to return to BN, we need to rescue the people. The more we do that, the more our support will grow.

“We cannot depend on the existing support and be confident that everyone has come back to us. The more we help them, the more they grow confident and the more our support will grow.”

The MIC president said that at least 30 per cent of the country’s Indian community are either living in poverty or in dismal conditions, suffering from debt problems and are unable to make ends meet.

He said the government must take immediate action to “rescue” the group from their problems by formulating a basic roadmap to transform their current socioeconomic positions using short, medium and long term solutions.

The conference, added Palanivel, will discuss a 10-year plan to bring about such transformations and identify key areas of concern where immediate help can be given to the community.

“A good percentage of the community has been marginalised... they are trapped in poverty, earning low or no income, trapped with money lenders, their homes facing auction, they are unable to pay their basic utility bills, they cannot send their children to school, pay bus fares for them and so on... they are in deep problem,” he said.

Palanivel said that today’s meeting with the think tank groups also discussed a proposal to start an “urban transformation centre” for the Indians, where individuals could seek counselling or advice on how to resolve their problems.

“They (the think tanks) were telling me that unless we take these kinds of steps, we will not be able to lift the community out of their present position... so they want me to create a very powerful transformation centre,” he said.

Palanivel said he will put together a basic working paper over the next two weeks before presenting the proposal to the prime minister, ahead of the planned conference.

“We will tell the PM, this is our socioeconomic agenda and we would like him to chair this meeting (conference).

“The PM can open the conference and listen to their views and then he himself will make some announcements that will bring some benefit to the Indian community,” he said.

It has been more than four years since over 30,000 members of the Indian community marched during the infamous Hindraf gathering in November 2007 to protest against allegedly unfair policies of the BN government.

The Indian community has long been seen as a “fixed deposit” vote bank for BN but Hindraf’s march to the Petronas Twin Towers blew the lid on the group’s simmering frustration over being left out of development for decades.

The tumultuous event, together with Bersih’s first march for free and fair elections, have been credited for the staggering losses suffered by the ruling coalition during the March 8, 2008, general election.

The historic polls saw BN only taking 140 seats in the 222-seat Parliament, losing its customary two-thirds majority, as well as four state governments and Kelantan, which has remained in PAS hands for 20 over years. A coalition needs 112 MPs to gain a simple majority and 148 to win two-thirds.

However since then, the now outlawed Hindraf movement has split up, with some leaders favouring the BN government while others have aligned themselves with the federal opposition or grown completely disenchanted with both coalition.

Ambiga says sorry for not trying harder

The Bersih co-chairman apologised to all Malaysians for not championing the cause for fair and free elections more strongly.

KUALA LUMPUR: Bersih co-chairman S Ambiga apologised to Malaysians but said it had nothing to do with the apology demand from the protesters.

Groups of protesters earlier demanded an apology from Ambiga for organising the Bersih 3.0 rally on April 28.

“I am honoured to be the co-chairman of Bersih with Pak Samad (National Laureate A Samad Said).

“I am prepared to apologise for not fighting harder for free and fair elections,” Ambiga said in reference to the memorandums handed in by Kuala Lumpur Traders Action Council and the 1Malaysia Youth Movement.

The memorandums were filled with various accusations against her.

She also apologised to her neighbours because the presence of the protest groups had turned “my neighbourhood like a war zone”.

Ambiga, who is a former Bar Council president, also had a message for the traders seeking compensation.

“Weigh the gains of free and fair elections against it [the losses that traders suffered].”

She also was a little disappointed with the authorities who allowed the group of protesters to come to her street.

“The authorities should have nipped it in the bud; nevertheless I thank them,” Ambiga said.

S’gor lancar tabung bantu Ambiga

Tabung itu juga akan digunakan untuk kos guaman terhadap peserta Bersih yang ditangkap termasuk 113 individu yang dikehendaki polis.

PETALING JAYA: Kerajaan Negeri Selangor melancarkan tabung bagi menampung kos saman dan guaman untuk Pengerusi Bersama Bersih, Datuk S Ambiga dan sembilan ahli jawatankuasa Bersih yang difailkan kerajaan bagi menuntut ganti rugi berjumlah RM122,000.

Exco kerajaan negeri, Dr Xavier Jayakumar berkata tabung itu juga akan digunakan untuk kos guaman terhadap peserta Bersih yang ditangkap termasuk 113 individu yang dikehendaki polis semasa perhimpunan Bersih 3.0 pada 28 April lalu.

Tabung itu yang dilancarkan hari ini turut mendapat kerjasama daripada aktivis badan bukan kerajaan (NGO).

Beliau turut menyeru agar rakyat Malaysia bersama-sama menyumbang RM1 seorang ke dalam tabung ini.

“Tabung ini juga akan digunakan untuk kos guaman terhadap peserta Bersih yang telah ditangkap atau terhadap 113 peserta dikehendaki pihak polis semasa perhimpunan Bersih 3.0.

“Sebuah Sekretariat juga ditubuhkan bagi mengumpul dana kutipan dari orang ramai dan sebuah nombor akuan bank akan dimaklumkan kepada umum dalam masa terdekat.

“Sekretariat tersebut juga akan melancarkan ‘nationwide roadshow’ bagi menangkis segala tohmahan dan gambaran negatif kerajaan

Barisan Nasional (BN) yang menyalahguna media arus perdana pro-BN terhadap perhimpunan Bersih 3.0 tersebut,” katanya menerusi satu kenyataan media hari ini.

Semalam kerajaan memfailkan saman menuntut gantirugi berjumlah RM122,000 terhadap Pengerusi Bersama Bersih, Datuk S Ambiga serta sembilan lagi ahli jawatankuasa pemandu gabungan tersebut kerana didakwa gagal mengawal perhimpunan anjurannya pada 28 April lalu sehingga pihak kerajaan terpaksa menanggung kerugian.

Selain Ambiga ahli jawatankuasa pemandu itu yang disaman ialah Maria Chin Abdullah, Zaid Kamarudin, Haris Fathillah Mohamed, K Arumugam, S Arul Prakkash, Wong Chin Huat, Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa, Toh Kin Woon dan Andrew Khoo.

Another land grab charge against S’gor govt

Former Ladang Coalfields workers claim that the Pakatan-led government had acquired 10 acres of land allocated to them as compensation.

SUNGAI BULOH: A storm is brewing against the Selangor government over another land grab allegation.

This time it is the former Ladang Coalfields workers, who claim that the Pakatan Rakyat-led state government had acquired 10 acres of land allocated to them as compensation, for its own purpose.

Last week, former Bukit Raja plantation workers had alleged that the state government diverted eight of the 15 acres awarded to them as compensation, to build luxury homes to be sold to the public.

Former Ladang Coalfields estate worker Lobat Raju, 44, claimed that while the Barisan Nasional government had “cheated” the estate workers some 20 years ago, it is now time for the Pakatan led Selangor government to do the same.

“We want the state government to give back our land,” he said, adding that the 10 acres “stolen” from the former workers have been earmarked for a fully residential Tamil school.

“This was even announced by the Menteri Besar (Abdul Khalid Ibrahim)…We are not against the fully residential Tamil school. But, it is unfair for the state government to use our land for its own political mileage,” he told FMT.

“Its like ‘lembu punya susu, sapi dapat nama’ [someone works hard but someone else enjoys fruits of the labour],” he added.

Lobat (photo) said the problem began when owners of Ladang Coalfields terminated the employment of its workers in 1991. The firm was sold and ownership transferred to KL-Kepong Country Homes Sdn Bhd.

“Since 1991, the workers fought for their rights until Pakatan took over Selangor in 2008. In June 2008, we approached Dr Xavier Jayakumar [who is in charge of health, plantation workers, poverty and caring government in the state exco], and explained our plight.

“He spoke to KL-Kepong Bhd, the parent company of Kl-Kepong Country Homes, and later told us that the developer had agreed to set aside 10 acres for us to build our own homes.

“A Tamil paper, Malaysian Nanban, carried the story quoting him. I still have the report. We believed him [Xavier] and were very happy,” he added.

Lobat also furnished copy of the news report to FMT.

The news report, dated June 30, 2008, contained quotes of Xavier declaring that both Bukit Raja and Ladang Coalfields workers were awarded 15 acres and 10 acres respectively.

“However, lately he is singing a different tune saying that he never promised any land to us,” said Lobat Raju.

Recently, when contacted by FMT, Xavier stood his ground despite being told of the newspaper report.

He also disputed the land size awarded to the Bukit Raja plantation workers, saying the former estate workers wanted landed property and the court had ruled in their favour.

Lobat, however, said estate workers felt cheated and that there was no difference between the Barisan Nasional and Pakatan.

“Both are treacherous. Politicians are working just to remain in power… not to uplift our living standards,” he said, with tears in his eyes.

[Main photo taken from http://greenboc.blogspot.com]

Ambiga a victim of race and religion, says Pak Samad

(Malaysiakini) Today, as Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan's Bukit Damansara residence is turned into a bizarre combination of a mini market, crime scene and conflict zone with pro- and anti-Ambiga groups taking their positions under the watchful eyes of the authorities outside her house, it is business as usual at the Bangsar Utama flat of her fellow co-chairperson A Samad Said.

Since the Bersih 3.0 protest on April 28 which organisers claimed saw some 250,000 participants taking to the streets of Kuala Lumpur, anti-Bersih groups have taken their counter-protest to the doorstep of Ambiga’s residence with burger stalls, butt exercises and now, a mini-market.

But for the 77-year-old A Samad, or more fondly known as Pak Samad, the situation at his residence has been anything but unusual, despite his cheeky baiting of the protesters at Ambiga’s residence.

This tale of two Bersih chiefs, Pak Samad said, is likely because Ambiga is being targeted for her race, religion and to some extent, gender; issues that are often played up by the powers-that-be.

“Ambiga should rightfully lead, she is a lawyer with vast experience, she has received various awards but unfortunately, she is an Indian, a non-Muslim, that is unfortunate.

“If Ambiga was me, these threats targeting her would not have happened,” he said in an interview with Malaysiakini on Tuesday.

Adding that race was inherently a contentious issue, he said this is being manipulated and perpetrated by the powers-that-be with claims such as the position of Malays are being threatened.

The national laureate added that he, too, has faced accusations of a similar nature, though not as severe as the harassment faced by Ambiga.

‘I’m already Malay, I want to be Malaysian’

Among the accusations, he said, was that he has betrayed his own race by participating in the Bersih movement.

“To say that I am not championing my race... There is no need to ask me to be Malay, I am already Malay, I want to be Malaysian,” he said in his usual poetic tone.

The septuagenarian added that he has also been labelled as senile, to which he said: “Then those who have invited me to speak, must be really foolish to invite a senile old man to talk.”

“I grow old not to become stupid, I grow old to become wiser,” he added.

His age, added Pak Samad, has allowed him to break free of being the “slave of power”, which he described as the mainstream media when he was a journalist and editor.

“At that time, I worked in the newspapers, a servant of the powers-that-be. That time, I thought, I had children to care for, a family to care for.

“Because of that, I swallowed whatever bitterness there was for the sake of my family... But now, I am prepared to be langgar (hit),” he said.

Pak Samad is perhaps the most prominent literati in the electoral reform movement, but not all his literary colleagues share his activism, with some frowning on his action.

“The literary community is quite divided... it is not about the label of literati, but for individuals to decide whether we want to improve our democracy,” he said.

Pak Samad added that it was not his duty to convince fellow literati to the cause, instead, it was up to them to ask their heart if they should join the movement.

“My duty is merely to explain the state of our country, whether we want this to continue or we want a change,” he said.

By opting for a ‘road not taken’ by many others of his stature, the spotlight has fallen on Pak Samad, who has since been offered bodyguard protection.

“But I rejected (the bodyguards), at my age and this point of my life, even with tens of bodyguards, if my time has come, I will still die... I do not want to be accompanied by bodyguards aside from my wife, that is fate, if it’s time for death then it is death,” he said.

Stones, eggs rain on Anwar's ceramah

Stones and eggs were again thrown at a Pakatan Rakyat ceramah, causing one senior citizen to suffer injuries to the head.

The incident happened at about 11pm, when PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim was speaking at a ceramah at Apartment Pantai Permai, Kuala Lumpur which is within the PKR held constituency of Pantai Dalam.

According to eye-witnesses, the projectile was hurled into the crowd from an Umno function at the Pantai Dalam Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) quarters next door.

This happened about 30 minutes after the power supply for the event was allegedly sabotaged and hastily restored.

Despite the disruptions, the ceramah was able to proceed as participants remained calm and allowed Anwar to finish his speech.

Earlier, at about 9pm, some 80 people in red shirts gathered outside the PKR ceramah venue and chanted "Tibai (whack)", which is the acronym of a newly formed anti-Anwar group.

This is the second time in a week in which stones and eggs were thrown at a Pakatan ceramah. The last incident happened at Merlimau, Malacca on Saturday.

Wan Azizah Condemns Lawsuit Against Ambiga-Bersih: Don’t Deflect Attention!

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Keadilan) and Pakatan Rakyat hereby strongly condemn the decision by prime minister, Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak to prosecute S. Ambiga and the Bersih 2.0 Steering Committee, for damages done by others, who include agent provocateurs.

Till now, except for the case of 25-year-old Mohd Safuan Mamat, where he was beaten up in an attempt to extract a confession, when Safuan went to the police station voluntarily, the police has not ascertained who damaged the police vehicles but are already bringing a civil suit against S. Ambiga and the Bersih 2.0 Steering Committee to seek RM122,000 in special damages for 15 police vehicles damaged during the protest, including two water cannon trucks.

It is also not transparent how the damages have been assessed in the first place, because there were no witnesses from both parties. Could it be possible that some damages have been further done to the vehicles in order to create a bigger loss?

Focus on the 8 electoral reforms

Going further, instead of pursuing a civil suit or pressing charges on the civil society movement, the Government should focus on the eight demands of Bersih.

Keadilan calls on Najib to focus on the eight demands by Bersih 2.0 Steering Committee, and ensure that all resources are focused on cleaning up the electoral roll and to make the electoral roll foolproof against any forms of cheating. After all, these people are doing a national service without being asked to be put on the already bloated government’s payroll.

Both EC chief and deputy must resign

Keadilan calls upon Prime Minister Najib to clean up the electoral roll before the next General Election and deal with the other issues such as gerrymandering and mal-apportionment to ensure that we have a clean and fair election.

Both the chairman and deputy chairman of the Election Commission should be asked to resign to pave the way for a new team who can work closely with the civil society to ensure the electoral process is foolproof.

Wan Azizah Wan Ismail
president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat

Najib has discarded the robes of “the Great Transformer” for those of “the Great Reactionary” signaling he is no more prepared to listen to the real voices of the people for change

The Najib government’s gross mishandling of Bersih 3.0 of April 28 is proving to be even more disastrous than its initial mishandling of Bersih 2.0 of July 9, 2011.

At least, the Najib administration realized in the nick of time and reined in its excessive over-reactions to the Bersih 2.0, performing a volte face two months later by announcing on Malaysia Day on Sept. 16 a slew of repeal or reform of draconian laws like the abolition of Internal Security Act to make Malaysia “the best democracy in the world”.

Ever since, the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has taken pains to emphasise that no one else but the Barisan Nasional should take credit for the slew of reform of draconian laws, like the revocation of the four Emergency Proclamations, the repeal of the Internal Security Act, amendments to the Printing Presses and Publications Act and enactment of the Peaceful Assembly Act because the Barisan Nasional government is prepared to “listen to Malaysians who want change”.

I concede that Najib and the Barisan Nasional Government had attempted to listen to Malaysians who wanted change as represented by the Bersih 2.0 rally which saw 50,000 Malaysians peacefully gathering in Kuala Lumpur for free, fair and clean elections.

But the government had not listened fully or attentively, which is why four or even five times the number of people who turned out on Bersih 2.0 – some 250,000 Malaysians – gathered peacefully in Kuala Lumpur on April 28 in response to Bersih 3.0 call for free, fair and clean elections.

The Najib government at least made an effort to the listen to the people’s demands in Bersih 2.0 although the efforts at reform proved to be half-hearted, half-baked and generally unsatisfactory like the recommendations of the Parliamentary Select Committee on electoral reforms.

But what has distinguished the Najib administration’s reaction to Bersih 3.0 as compared to Bersih 2.0 is its complete inability and refusal to “listen to the people’s demands for change”.

Instead, the Najib administration launched a concerted and systematic campaign of vilification and demonization against Bersih 3.0 illustrated by:

(i) the wild and irresponsible allegation by the Prime Minister that Bersih 3.0 was an anti-national conspiracy to topple the government;

(ii) the instant, blind and unthinking support given to this conspiracy theory by the former Inspector-General of Police Tun Hanif Omar;

(iii) establishment of an “independent advisory panel” headed by Tun Hanif to conduct an inquiry into the Bersih 3.0 violence although it does not enjoy support, trust and confidence of the Malaysian public, totally lacking in credibility and legitimacy; and

(iv) a most biased, one-sided and tendentious 30-minute documentary entitled “Bersih 3.0 itu Kotor” broadcast on TV1 to poison the minds of viewers on Bersih 3.0 and proof that the government is not prepared to keep an open mind to allow for an objective and impartial inquiry into the Bersih 3.0 violence and brutality.

Four recent events have banished beyond a shadow of doubt hopes that the Najib administration would be prepared to be open-minded and listen to Malaysians in Bersih 3.0 as had happened after Bersih 2.0, namely:

(i) The ridiculous claim by the Minister for Information, Communications and Culture, Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim that there were only 22,270 people who joined the Bersih 3.0 rally on April 28, and not hundreds of thousands of people;

(ii) The incessant harassment of Bersih 2.0 co-chairperson Datuk Ambiga Sreenivasan, violating her privacy, human and citizenship rights;

(iii) The prosecution of Parliamentary Opposition Leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and PKR leaders Azmin Ali and Badrul Hashim for offences under the Peaceful Assembly Act in connection with Bersih 3.0; and

(iv) The “last straw” – the government suing Ambiga and the Bersih 2.0 steering committee for alleged damages amounting to RM122,000 on Bersih 3.0.

The message that Najib is sending loud and clear is that he has exchanged the robes of “the Great Transformer” for those of “the Great Reactionary” as he is no more prepared to listen to the real voices and legitimate aspirations of Malaysians for change!

Malaysian Observer TV | Forum on Race Relation Laws: Backward or Forward (31 May 2012)

The latest programme held under the Siri Pemikiran Kritis (SPK) banner was a forum on the proposed race relations law. It was held on 31 Mar 2012 at the Raja Aziz Addruse Auditorium, Bar Council. The forum featured a line-up of interesting and knowledgeable speakers: Associate Professor Dr Azmi Sharom, Syahredzan Johan and Faisal Moideen. The forum was moderated by Ambiga Sreenevasan.

To watch the video that was aired on Malaysian Observer TV, please click here for Part 1 and here for Part 2.

Press Release: Malaysian Bar Commends Announcement of the Establishment of an Independent Law Reform Commission

The Malaysian Bar commends Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz’s reported announcement that the Government will look into establishing “an independent law reform commission to review and modernise archaic laws in the country”.   This echoes a similar announcement made by the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Liew Vui Keong, on 8 November 2011.

The Malaysian Bar has repeatedly called for the establishment of an independent law reform commission that would undertake research, public consultations and legal policy development, and make recommendations to the Parliament, without fear or favour.

Malaysia only needs to look to the New South Wales Law Commission in Australia, the Australian Law Reform Commission and the English Law Commission for model legislation and set-up.

The Malaysian Bar also welcomes the Minister’s reported statement that the commission will comprise “people from all walks of life”.  In our press release of 14 December 2011, we had applauded Datuk Liew Vui Keong’s reported announcement that the composition of the commission would include “retired or serving federal court judges, retired or serving law professors, experts or specialists on law, senior and experienced lawyers as well as senior members of the civil society.”

The Malaysian Bar expresses the hope that the words of the Minister, and the Deputy Minister before him, are not merely “feel-good” rhetoric uttered ahead of a much-anticipated general election.  The issue of law reform is too critical and too pressing to be used as a political gimmick to garner votes and electoral support.  If the Malaysian Government is genuine and has the political will to fulfil its stated desire, then the Malaysian Bar would be more than willing to assist and play an active role in the process of forming and participating in this long overdue law reform commission.

 

Lim Chee Wee

President

Malaysian Bar

Senior citizen injured as stones, eggs hurled at PKR ceramah

Stone and eggs were thrown at a PKR ceramah near flats in Lembah Pantai last night and one senior citizen, a PKR supporter, was injured.


Among those speaking at the ceramah were Anwar and his daughter Nurul Izzah, the MP for Lembah Pantai.
Lawyer Fadiah Nadwa tweeted:

Fadiah Nadwa Fikri @FadiahNadwa

UMNO Lembah Pantai baling telur,baling batu di ceramah PKR.Mana akhlak?Hina sehina-hinanya.

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Nurul Izzah @n_izzah

Ya Allah. Saya dpt makluman ada anak kecil, mangsa balingan batu, hingga 6 jahitan. Budaya samseng inikah Menteri @RajaNongChik mahukan? #fb

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Power supply was also interrupted and the speakers “sabotaged”, according to a tweet by Nurul Izzah. She added that she also spoke to Shah Alam Khalid Samad and found out that his tyres had been slashed.
The TV Selangor website reported that several groups of Mat Rempits revved their engines in a bid to disrupt the PKR speeches.
Another ceramah organised by Umno-Tibai was being held close to the site of the PKR ceramah.
A tweet by a ronasin sums it up: “Lembah Pantai memang daerah unik sebab di situ ada hujan batu dan telur. Dulu ada lembu dalam kondo.”
Irrationality – by a minority who perhaps have a lot to lose – rules the day. A sign of increasing desperation ahead of the coming general election.
I wonder how Utusan and TV3 are going to report this

FGVH: Anak serah memorandum kepada Suhakam

Manji scorches fatwa council's anti-Bersih edict

Part 2

Part 3

Bukit Jalil descendants: Last ditch effort

Frenchwoman on plane: I've got a bomb in my body

A jumbo jet travelling from Paris to Charlotte in the United States was diverted after a Frenchwoman claimed she had a device implanted on her body.

Crew on board the Boeing 767 did not want to take any chances. When a passenger passed a note to a flight attendant stating she had a "device in in her body", they decided to land in Bangor in the state of Maine.

The captain asked passengers if any doctors were on board, US media report. The female passenger was examined and no recent scars were found that could indicate a possible implant. She had no checked bagagge.

The female passenger, a French citizen in her 20s or 30s, was born in Cameroon and visiting the United States for 10 days.

Several F-15 fighter were sent to intercept the Boeing, which was carrying 179 passengers on board, and escort it to Maine’s Bangor airport on Tuesday.

Alexa Moore, a 20-year-old student told US news network ABC News, that the passengers were told the plane was diverted due to fuel shortages - and were shocked to discover the truth.

"They didn't scream or anything, 'cause I think she was already off the plane, but they, you know, jaws dropped," she said.

The female passenger who claimed having a body implant has been arrested.

Clea Caulcutt (news@thelocal.fr)

Govt sues Ambiga, Bersih over damages

The former Bar Council president says the government is seeking general and special damages amounting to RM122,000 with regard to the rally.
FULL REPORT

PETALING JAYA: The government is suing Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga and the electoral watchdog’s steering committee members over the damages suffered during the April 28 rally.

Speaking to FMT, the former Bar Council president said she was served with the writ of summons at 3.25pm this afternoon.

“The government of Malaysia which is the plaintiff is suing me and nine other Bersih steering committee members in the civil court for what appears to be damages they suffered as a result of the rally.

“The government is seeking general and special damages amounting to RM122,000 and also a declaration that we have violated the Peaceful Assembly Act,” she added.

Ambiga said she would let her lawyers study the matter and since it was the first time a civil claim had been filed under the new Act, there would be many legal issues to iron out.

She added that the mention date for the suit had been set for June 13 before Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Justice Prasad Sandosham Abraham.

Police vehicles damaged

The writ of summons recounted that the defendants, as the organisers of Bersih 3.0, were offered an alternative location such as Stadium Merdeka to hold the rally.

Furthermore, it added that the magistrate’s court issued an order dated May 4 barring a gathering at Dataran Merdeka and on the day of the rally, the police were deployed to enforce the order.

.“On April 28, the organisers gathered in the surrounding areas of Dataran Merdeka where barriers were set up by the police. The rally turned violent because the participants breached the barricades and caused damage to properties.

“The plaintiff [government] states that according to Section 6 (2)(g) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, the defendants had the responsibility of, among others, ensuring that the rally did not result in the damage of properties,” the writ stated.

The plaintiff also stated that the defendants failed to discharge their statutory duties to prevent the rally from spiralling out of control and resulting in the damage of vehicles belonging to the police.

Among the vehicles mentioned were a Nissan X-Trail, which was kicked and pelted with stones, mineral water bottles and bricks by protesters in front of Pertama Complex at around 4.20pm.

Some 10 minutes later at the same location, the writ stated that a Honda CBX 750 high-powered police motorcycle was attacked, causing the vehicle to fall and sustain damage.

“At about 4.45pm, a Nissan Urvan was attacked, kicked, punched and pelted with objects by protesters near the Jalan Raja Chulan-Jalan Tun Perak intersection.

“Around 5.30pm, five Bukit Aman strike force unit vehicles passed through Jalan Tun Perak facing Masjid Jamek and hard objects were thrown at them by protesters resulting in a Honda Accord, Proton Perdana, Proton Waja, Sangyong Rexton and two Nissan X-Trails being damaged,” it read.

Also on the list of damaged police vehicles were two water cannon trucks that were pelted with hard objects during the rally.

The writ also highlighted the negligence on the part of the defendants as follows:

• Bringing a huge number of participants but failing to provide adequate protection.
• Failing to employ adequate steps to ensure that the rally proceeded peacefully.
• Failing to appoint sufficient people to ensure that the rally took place in an orderly manner.

The Bersih 3.0 rally was held to call for free and fair elections. However, it took a violent twist when the barricades at Dataran Merdeka were breached, resulting in the police firing tear gas and water cannons.

For several hours, the city centre was enveloped in chaos as protesters clashed with the police, resulting in many, including policemen and media representatives, being injured.

NGO willing to provide security for Ambiga

Since the police have failed to provide protection, V Rameshwaran says his NGO is willing to do the job.

PETALING JAYA: Amidst reports that Bersih 3.0 chairperson S Ambiga’s house will continue to be targeted by certain quarters, a NGO has offered to provide her with around-the-clock security.

Since the police and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) were not offering her protection, Persatuan Kebajikan Sosial Gemilang Puchong president V Rameshwaran said he was prepared to mobilise his men for the task if requested.

Speaking to FMT, the businessman, who runs a security firm, said that his organisation consisted of 2,000 members.

“As a citizen, if she cannot be accorded proper protection by the police, then perhaps as fellow citizens it is our duty to give her that protection.

“I am both disturbed and disappointed by these different groups targeting her house. She is a highly respected person with international credentials,” he added.

Rameshwaran said Ambiga was not a politician but a civic-minded individual who fought for the rights of all Malaysians and wanted to do something good for this nation.

“She was the former Bar Council president and a successful lawyer. She could have minded her own business but she chose to fight for all of our rights. And this is how you treat her?” he added.

Act of cowardice


Furthermore, the businessman said that it was an act of cowardice to harass a woman.

If these groups wanted to prove their might, he said they should have brought their supporters on April 28 to Kuala Lumpur to show who could muster a bigger crowd.

“They were sitting at home during the Bersih 3.0 rally but now after the rally, they are targeting a woman. They should be ashamed of themselves,” he added.

Rameshvaran said the continued harassment of Ambiga was bound to backfire on Barisan Nasional, especially with regard to the non-Malay voters.

“The people are angry that the authorities are allowing these abuses to continue and letting it take a racial twist. The anger will be reflected in their votes,” he added.

Ambiga’s house in Bukit Damansara had been the target of several protests, namely by traders who claimed to have incurred massive losses during the rally.

Some traders are also planning to hold a night market outside her house tomorrow and Friday.

Batal Bersih 4.0 jika boleh tuntut kerugian

Namun Datuk Jamal Md Yunos belum bercadang untuk menyaman penganjur perhimpunan Bersih 3.0.

KUALA LUMPUR: Para peniaga Kuala Lumpur sedia mempertimbang membatalkan cadangan untuk mengadakan protes Bersih 4.0 di hadapan rumah Datuk S Ambiga jika mereka dapat menuntut ganti rugi.

Pengerusi Majlis Bertindak Peniaga-Peniaga Kuala Lumpur Datuk Jamal Md Yunos berkata mereka sedia membatalkannya sekiranya tahu kepada siapa mereka boleh menuntut kerugian yang didakwa dialami ketika perhimpunan Bersih 3.0 di Dataran Merdeka 28 April lalu.

“Sekiranya kami dimaklumkan mengenai pihak yang boleh kami tuntut kerugian tersebut sebelum pukul 4 petang esok, kami akan membatalkan hasrat berniaga di Jalan Setiakasih 1, Bukit Damansara,” kata Jamal dalam satu sidang akhbar yang diadakan di Restoran Ikan Bakar Sekinchan miliknya itu.

Majlis tersebut bercadang untuk menganjur protes berniaga yang dinamakan Bersih 4.0 di sepanjang Jalan Setiakasih sebagai bantahan mereka terhadap pengerusi bersama Gabungan Pilihanraya Bersih dan Adil (Bersih).

Seramai 60 peniaga akan memprotes dari pukul 4.00 petang hingga 8.00 malam esok dan lusa.

Ketika ditanya samada mereka akan turut menyaman jawatankuasa bertindak seperti yang dibuat kerajaan hari ini, Jamal menolaknya kerana belum pasti mengenai pihak yang bertanggungjawab.

Buang masa

“Kemungkinan kami akan buat tuntutan pada pihak bertanggungjawab. Fail saman sekarang buang masa saja,” kata Jamal yang mempunyai 18 cawangan kedai ikan bakar dan sebuah syarikat jualan kereta.

Jamal turut mengumumkan rancangan menghadiahkan kereta mewah untuk meningkatkan sokongan kepada mereka melalui laman sosial Facebook.

“Pengunjung restoran yang menjadi rakan Facebook ke 150,000 akan menerima sebuah kereta BMW 530 keluaran tahun 2005 yang bernilai RM220,000.

“Pengunjung yang ke 1 juta pula akan menerima Lamborghini Gallardo keluaran tahun 2009 bernilai RM1.2 juta,” kata Jamal.

Menurutnya lagi, mereka yang berminat juga harus makan di kedai ikan bakarnya dan akan menerima diskaun sebanyak 30%.

Ketika ditanya samada pihaknya akan bertanggungjawab sekiranya berlaku kekecohan ketika protes, Jamal bersikap lepas tangan.

“Kami buka gerai untuk berniaga. Kalau orang ramai datang buat kecoh itu bukan masalah kami,” kata Jamal.

Ex-estate residents threaten to camp at PM’s office

If the PM does not meet former Bukit Jalil estate residents on May 30, they will camp in front of his office till a solution is reached.

PETALING JAYA: The Bukit Jalil estate residents want Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to meet them on May 30 and offer a solution to their dispute with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

“If Najib refuses to meet us on that day, we will camp at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) until he comes to see us,” said the estate action committee treasurer K Balakrishnan.

The group earlier delivered a memorandum on their demand to Najib’s special officer Azhar Shahrul.

The 41 families living in the former estate area are currently embroiled in a tussle with the DBKL as the latter wants to evict them from the land to set up a Muslim cemetery there.

The former estate workers demanded the City Hall grant them four acres of land out of the 26-acre land to build low cost houses.

The residents duly took the matter to the High Court and the Court of Appeal but lost their case.

Najib had advised the Federal Territories and Urban Well-Being Ministry to find an amicable solution to the stand-off but to date nothing concrete had emerged.

Balakrishnan said that the residents had no choice but to resort to such drastic measures as their letters and memos to the prime minister since last year went unreplied.

“If the government can intervene in the Kampung Buah Pala issue, why not solve this issue as well?” he asked.

In 2008, Kampung Buah Pala in Penang was demolished to make way for a posh condominium project, the Oasis.

While 24 families residing in the village received double storey houses from the state government as compensation, nine families refused to accept the offer out of dissatisfaction.

Subsequently, Najib moved in and got the nine families and their extended relatives, houses in Taman Sejahtera Indah, Teluk Air Tawar.

Pakatan MPs support Ambiga

‘BN’s clear and present danger’

Barisan Nasional leaders say they may lose out in the election if internal sabotage is not contained.

KUALA LUMPUR: A divided Barisan Nasional may spell the end of Prime Minister’s Najib Tun Razak reign in Putrajaya.

And this warning to the Barisan Nasional comes from non-other than Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia.

The paper quoting party leaders says sabotage is a very clear and present danger and could lead to the BN losing more seats than in 2008.

At the Umno’s 66th anniversary two weeks ago, Najib put on a brave face and touched on the gathering as a show of support that the party is not divided and that they are ready to face the elections.

Some 60,000 members had congregated at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium here in the gathering which party sources said was meant as a “loyalty test” apart from propping up the party’s machinery and mobilisation strength.

Najib joked that the display of unity gave him enough confidence to hold elections sooner than expected.

Threat real

But Abdul Aziz Rahman, the president of the former BN Lawmakers Council, said the threat of internal sabotages is real and the ruling coalition could see itself battered if the problem is not contained.

“This election is momentous time for BN. If party members are not united then we will see the black episode (of 2008) repeating itself.

“BN’s victory will depend on the unity of all members and component party members,” he was quoted by Utusan Malaysia today.

Internal power tussle was one of the major factors that led to the ruling coalition’s loss of its customary two-thirds Parliamentary majority in the 12th general election. It also lost five states to the opposition.

Then premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s effort to consolidate his position by replacing majority of the candidates with his men, sidelining powerful “warlords” along the way, saw Umno members protesting by voting for the opposition.

Abdul Aziz said BN could see a similar recurrence where candidates left out by Najib may sabotage the ruling coalition’s campaign .

Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had warned yesterday that the prospect of a repeat is there.

BN may not only see a repeat but could also see more states falling into opposition hands, Zahid added. The Defence Minister also did not discount the possibility of losing federal power.

Meanwhile Umno veteran Aziz Shamsuddin told Utusan Malaysia that the party leadership must be quick to act and contain the division.

A repeat of 2008 will see Najib’s future in Umno hanging by a thread, observers predict.

He is now facing stiff opposition to his economic liberalisation plans and political reforms from within his own party.

HRP - An UMNO Trojan Horse Exposed

What I suspected since HINDRAF turned itself into a political party now is proven right, HINDRAF and especially Uthayakumar.

This blog   once penned "Uthaya save the Indians go for  self immolation," that was in December of 2010,   now we see how right we really were even then, read that and then read this.

If he is real Hindu why has he allowed the Police and the UMNO backed hooligans go and sell beef in front of Ambiga's house without even a word of objection, it is only because he is a Najib stooge, awaiting the big day at the expense of the very people he says he champions.

Yes,  the HINDRAF  was formed so that the likes of Uthaykumar could lobby with UMNO and claim that they had the majority Indian support in the country,  and take over the role that would be vacated by Samy Veloo as at that time his time to vacate was nigh, and replace the MIC in the BN.
 
There was no other way for him to get into the MIC Samy would  have  made minced meat out of him so he had to get the Indians to rally behind him and HINDRAF, and now when you look at it, his plans become so glaringly apparent.

The best way to do it was to promise the Indians something that no one could ever give them and that was a million ringgit each, just imagine 1 million ringgit each what a windfall, many  of them never even held ten thousand ringgit in their hands at any one given time and  that was what they were asked to march to the British  High Commission for.

 Now  and for what did not concern this BN government in any way the Government of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi went bersek and attacked the Indians with water cannons, tear gas and all. That angered so many Malaysians that  in its aftermath - the last elections the government got  a huge bashing,  to a great extent on the sympathy of the way it treated the Indians at the HINDRAF rally, but if the HINDRAF thinks that was the main reason then they underestimate the intelligence of Malaysians, in the same way the BN did, after all they are partners now.

That HINDRAF with its rally and nothing else won so much sympathy of the Malaysians which cannot be denied, but if they are expecting this same sympathy from the government they are in for a bashing this time from the rakyat.

It is very clear now that HINDRAF is out there to reinstate UMNO as the kingpin in the state assembly in Selangor through its political vehicle the Hindu Rights Party (HRP) , their decision to stand in Selangor is a clear indication that all they want to do is to deliver Selangor to UMNO and then Uthaykumar will get what he wants, he will become a minister and the next Samy Veloo a minister through the back door, via the senate although it is very certain that the HRP will not win a single seat at the elections and Uthaya himself knows that and has secretly acknowledged it.

The only thing the Indians in this country have to realise is that these self seeking  individuals  who claim to champion their cause actually use these Indians (the Tamillians in particular)  for their very own purposes and Uthaykumar is no exception, he is almost going to pull out a masterstroke and the Indians are going to receive another MIC like party in the government of the BN who will then dance according to the tune of the UMNO at the expense of ignorant Indian support.

HINDRAF may not come outright and join the BN that will be very difficult, but they will be what will be known as a BN friendly party just like the independents in the  Perak state assembly today.

Never in the history of Malaysia have the Indians had better representation in government than they have today and yet when they have achieved it their very own people the HRP and the HINDRAF the movements that claim to champion their cause  come to destroy it, claiming that the government of the State has done nothing for them, and they may be right.

It is only one term, the government cannot be looking at only one community, it has to look at the whole big picture,  and that is what is important. To say that the government has not provided enough land for Hindu temples but instead took it and gave it to the Chinese is racial and typical of BN politics, HINDRAF is playing the racial card to confuse the issue just like the MCA and MIC have done for ages.

Indians will have to fight back, there is no future in being Indian first, it will not offer their children anything in the future, they have to think Malaysian first.

Pakatan has ruled Selangor for only one term, they have not desecrated or destroyed a single temple, on the other hand the Barisan and especially UMNO folk have,  they have desecrated so many Hindu temples all over the country. Ask DP Vijandrean what the Attorney General of the time in the Kerling case  accused him of when he defended a few Indians, DP was then an upcoming MIC star.

Today the Indians who are on the brink of a new era have to make a choice, go the Indian  way and like Ostriches believe that it is only them with problems in the country or rise up and discard racist parties and come together under a Malaysian banner and as Malaysians stand up and fight this evil regime, and once and for all claim this, our nation back from cheats and self seeking individuals.

If the Indians make the choice to go the HINDRAF way there is only one result they can hope to achieve, continue to be the street sweepers, the office cleaners, the one ton truck lorry drivers and remain ignorant - the specialisation of the BN.

On the other hand they can join the mainstream Malaysians defeat this government  as one people  and prosper.

Debat KJ-Rafizi Bukti Kesediaan Untuk Demokrasi

Oleh Amin Iskandar

Tahniah kepada Sinar Harian kerana berjaya menganjurkan perdebatan di antara Ketua Pemuda Umno, Khairy Jamaluddin, dan pengarah strategik PKR, Rafizi Ramli.

Ketika debat berlangsung, tidak berlaku pergaduhan. Tidak ada yang terbunuh. Tiada kerusi terbang di dewan di mana perdebatan berlangsung walaupun penyokong kedua-dua pihak ada disitu.

Moderator yang dipilih oleh Sinar Harian, Dr Maszlee Malik, memainkan peranan beliau dengan baik. Adil kepada dua-dua pihak.

Ini adalah bukti Malaysia tidak mempunyai apa-apa masalah untuk berhadapan dengan demokrasi.

Patahlah hujah golongan ekstremis garis keras dalam Umno bahawa debat terbuka menyebabkan huru hara berlaku.

Sekarang tiada lagi alasan bagi Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak untuk menolak pelawaan Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim untuk berdebat.

Seperti yang dikatakan oleh Dr Maszlee Malik, rakyat Malaysia kini menantikan debat diantara PM dan Ketua Pembangkang.

Cabaran dilontarkan oleh moderator itu agar Najib dan Anwar berdebat. Sinar Harian bersedia untuk menjadi tuan rumah kepada debat tersebut.

Debat bukan untuk menang-kalah

Mungkin ketakutan utama Najib dan pemimpin Barisan Nasional (BN) lain adalah kehebatan Anwar Ibrahim berpidato.

Memang benar kehebatan mantan timbalan perdana menteri itu dalam berpidato dan berkata-kata luar biasa.

Akan tetapi, perlu difahami bahawa tujuan utama berdebat bukan untuk menentukan siapa kalah dan siapa menang.

Tujuan utama perdebatan dilakukan adalah untuk memberikan input kepada rakyat mengenai dasar dan halatuju BN dan Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

Setelah debat berlaku di antara Najib dan Anwar, rakyat sudah boleh membuat pilihan sama ada mereka lebih yakin dengan BN atau PR.

Penutupan ruang untuk majlis ilmu sepertii debat ini hanya merugikan BN.

Ini kerana, debat akan memberi ruang kepada Najib untuk menjelaskan apakah yang sebenarnya beliau ingin lakukan untuk negara sepanjang menjadi perdana menteri.

Hari ini, persepsi umum lebih memihak kepada PR oleh kerana ketidakpercayaan rakyat umum terhadap media arus perdana yang kelihatan sudah di tahap “overkill” kepada PR.

Sementara itu, Anwar juga mendapat ruang untuk memberikan tawaran kepada rakyat Malaysia.

Ertinya, Anwar akan menawarkan sesuatu dasar dan program yang akan dilaksanakan sekiranya berpeluang mengangkat sumpah sebagai Perdana Menteri Malaysia.

Persoalan siapa yang lebih diyakini selepas debat itu adalah subjektif. Yang objektif adalah rakyat mendapat informasi dari dua orang tokoh yang mewakili blok politik masing-masing.

Kesan serantau

Myanmar yang selama ini dikecam kerana membunuh demokrasi dan memenjarakan Aun San Suu Kyi kini menuju keterbukaan.

Suu Kyi kini adalah seorang ahli parlimen yang menang dalam pilihan raya kecil baru-baru ini.

Beliau bolehlah dikatakan sebagai “Gandhi” bagi Asia Tenggara. Daripada situasi di Myanmar hari ini, nampak gayanya, Suu Kyi bakal menjadi presiden Myanmar.

Apabila itu berlaku modal asing akan mencurah-curah masuk ke Myanmar. Myanmar akan menjadi kuasa ekonomi besar di Asia Tenggara pada ketika itu.

Di mana pula Malaysia? Apakah sudah menjadi negara pengeksport pembantu rumah ketiga terbesar di Asia Tenggara?

Jika tidak melakukan reformasi dengan segera, Malaysia akan ketinggalan. Filipina, Indonesia, Myanmar dan Vietnam akan menjadi kuasa ekonomi besar Asia Tenggara.

Jangan fikir Malaysia boleh selamanya bertahan. Wang Petronas tidak akan mampu menanggung ketirisan dalam pentadbiran negara untuk selama-lamanya.

Debat terbuka adalah jalan untuk Malaysia membuka demokrasi dan memerangi rasuah habis-habisan. Jika tidak, generasi yang bakal lahir 10-20 tahun lagi akan menyumpah kita kerana tidak melakukan apa-apa.

'Respect laws to avoid anarchy'

The New Straits Times 
by AUDREY DERMAWAN AND P. CHANDRA SAGARAN

CONCERN: Efforts must be made continuously to ensure peace and harmony, says Perak ruler

KUALA KANGSAR: MALAYSIA is feared heading towards anarchy when the people start to set aside laws and no longer believe in  law enforcement authorities as well as the integrity of the courts.

Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah, in his speech at the investiture held in conjunction with his 84th birthday celebration at Istana Iskandariah here yesterday, said the people's lack of confidence in legal institutions would lead them to take action without taking into consideration the supremacy of laws.

He said if investigation methods, detentions, prosecutions and court processes were to be questioned because people felt injustice had been done, it would only result in the people having doubts about the country's legal institutions.

"When people start to set aside laws and no longer believe in the authorities, it is feared that the country is in a state which can cause it to descend into anarchy."

Sultan Azlan Shah said law enforcement and a just management should be carried out through fair, just and transparent practices, made perfect through a free judiciary with the participation of well-respected judges, as well as the support of law enforcement bodies with high integrity.

He said there were bound to be differences in one's stand and interpretations of certain issues.

However, Sultan Azlan Shah said these differences should be geared towards finding an amicable solution to build a better nation.

He also added that there was no immediate formula which could be used to untangle problems and that instant solutions only made matters worse and had the potential to pose as a new threat to the country.

"Efforts to ensure continuous peace need the strength and bravery of those involved in a misunderstanding as it can bruise one's ego. Peace can only be achieved through the culture of consultation which seeks to find the truth.

"And truth can only be found through rational thinking.

" It can never be found in the spirit where everyone wants to gain victory. In any squabble, there is no one who is right and no one who is wrong.

"One should prioritise peace and harmony. Sow in our hearts the culture of consultation to seek and defend the truth."

Peace and harmony, Sultan Azlan Shah said, were not only compulsory to be preserved, but also should be a joint responsibility of the people so as not to create issues which could affect peace and harmony.

Government sues Ambiga, Bersih committee

The government of Prime Minister Najib, who says he wants to make Malaysia the world’s best democracy, is reportedly suing Ambiga and the Bersih steering committee in connection with Bersih 3.0.

The government is seeking damages of RM122000 for damaged police vehicles in a civil suit at the Kuala Lumpur High Court. The writ was served after 3.00pm today.

When contacted, a Bersih steering committee said that 10 of the 16 members of the Bersih steering committee were named in the writ. Inexplicably, Pak Samad is not in the list.

This, after Anwar, Azmin and Badrul Hisham have been charged in court, also in connection with Bersih 3.0.

Not the best way to go about making Malaysia the world’s best democracy.

While all this was happening, Najib and Rosmah were at Georgetown University in the United States a couple of days ago to attend the convocation of their son, Nor Ashman, who received a Bachelor of Sciences in Foreign Affairs.