Malaysia Undergoing Challenging Phase To Achieve Developed Nation Status - Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Malaysia is now undergoing the most challenging period in the final phase to achieve the developed nation status by the year 2020.

The Prime Minister said Malaysia had a clear strategy and direction to go through the challenge that would elevate the country to the desired position.

"We know how to get there there. But we need to work hard. Think creatively in order to get there.

"We must renew our determination and resolve, and with the grace of Allah, this dream and aspiration can be achieved," he said when opening the 'Ekspo MalaysiaKu' at the Putra World Trade Centre, here Friday.

Also present were Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Nor Mohamed Yakcop and Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Dr Ali Hamsa.

The three-day exposition with the theme "Tanah Air yang Dihormati" (Our Respected Country) is organised by the Economic Planning Unit.

Recalling the country's development in the context of economic growth, Najib said Malaysia had undergone three major phases, namely, the phase to realise the essence of independence, the industrial era development phase implemented through the New Economic Policy, and the third phase under the new economic model, where the Economic Transformation Plan and the Government Transformation Plan (GTP) were introduced to drive national development.

The Prime Minister said the country had achieved much success beginning as an agricultural nation which was leading in rubber and palm oil production.

"Today, we have sectors which have achieved global recognition such as oil and gas, real estate, Islamic banking and financial centre, manufacturer of products such as gloves, and the latest, we have emerged as the third largest IPO (initial public offering) hub in the world," he said.

Najib said these achievements could be realised because Malaysia had strong political leadership that was effective and had the wisdom to make decisions that were ahead of time and received the support of the civil servants.

"These two elements formed the foundation for our success," he said.

In order for the country's success and development to move in tandem, Najib said emphasis was also given to the people's well-being index.

This was implemented by making improvements to sectors that were close to the people's heart including services, public transport, pollution, solid waste and crime prevention, he said.

"We are not a government that is static in terms of approach and thinking.

"We are not a government that doesn't want to change. We can change, we can reform and bring real progress to the country," he said, adding that creative thinking was crucial in taking the country to greater heights.

"That journey will be successful...but we need your support and mandate when the time comes," he added.

Hindraf: Gov't must stop persecuting Suaram

We at Hindraf are strongly opposed to how the Umno-led government is persecuting Suaram through its media to create an ugly shadow of anti-nationalism on the part of Suaram.

This is very similar to the campaign mounted by Umno against Hindraf after the Nov 25, 2007 rally.

Suaram came about after Operasi Lalang in 1987 when it was clear that there was blatant disregard for democracy and human rights mattered very little without the necessary checks and balances.

Protection and promotion of human rights do not need any justification as these are the natural rights of all human beings.

But yet under the strong arms of a bullying Umno government these rights had to be defended and quite strongly so Suaram took up the challenge. This is a most patriotic move.

Now with the Umno leadership under attack from the truth telling and human rights defence work of Suaram, a witch hunt has begun against Suaram in the form of this persecution.

Create the slurs against Suaram and take away their credibility so black may become white - is the logic of this scurrilous campaign.

Attempts are being made by the Umno leadership to bury the truths that Suaram is unearthing that is inevitably going to tip their apple cart.

We at Hindraf stand in full support of Suaram in their initiative to tell the truth and to defend human rights for our society in Malaysia.

No matter what Umno tries, their ugly truths will come out soon in full display.

Suaram has played a significant role in exposing much of that and we will work alongside Suaram in all their truth telling work in the country.

P WAYTHA MOORTHY is chairman of Hindraf.

Pakatan ulangi kembalikan hak royalti 20 peratus

Minimum wage won't bankrupt SMIs, Khairy told

Ahmedabad (Gujarat, India) is on Islamic Fire for the “Innocence of Muslims”.

Fundamental, non-Indian, subversive issues overwhelmed Indian Muslims.

on 3rd Sept. 2012, about 10000 ugly Muslims generated violence, loss of public properties and attacked Karanj Police Station (Three Gate Bhadra, Bhadra, Bhadra, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380001. Ph. 079 2550 7580 ) at Ahmedabad and nearby public places to show their might to reflect a Islamic Supremacy.

A paper tiger in Gujarat eschewed his further planning amidst an Islamic insurgency there.

No details reports are available till now. Reports are being censored.

From available pictures, it is evident that Muslim protested vehemently over the impugned film : “Innocence of Muslims”.

When We Hindus will rent the air with the utterance: BEHEAD THOSE WHO INSULT HINDUS, INDIA and WHO ARE TRAITORS”? Stop all these Islamic menace in Bharat (India). Otherwise we will show you the dire consequences.
HINDU VIOLENCE IS BADLY NEEDED TO SET A HINDU-MUSLIM PEACE HERE. OTHERWISE THESE BULLY MUSLIMS WILL DESTROY ALL HINDUS & INDIAN PEACE. ~ HINDU EXISTENCE.

Woman Jihadi and Mufti of Ahmedabad Jama Masjid behind the conspiracy?
Ahmedabad police station set on fire in anti-Islam film stir….

Fake Innocence of Muslims. They are actually Insane. Inhuman. Uncivilized. Photo Courtesy: Arya Jashdev.

AHMEDABAD : TNN | Oct 4, 2012, 01.58AM IST :: A rally to condemn the anti-Islam film ‘Innocence of Muslims’, which has irked Muslims across the globe, took a violent turn in the city on Wednesday. An angry mob set fire to the Karanj police chowky along with 11 motorbikes and two jeeps belonging to the policemen.

City police fired three rounds in the air to disperse the mob. Officials also lobbed more than 30 tear gas shells and lathi-charged the protesters to bring the situation under control. At least 12 people were injured in police lathi-charge.

More than 100 people were arrested for the violence by late evening. This included a woman, Zarina Khan, who had initially sought permission for a rally from the cops, which was turned down. The accused have been booked for attempt to murder and vandalism.

The violence sparked off after a string of bandh calls given by various groups in different parts of the city during the past week. Several minority-dominated parts of Ahmedabad had witnessed spontaneous bandhs and small rallies against the film.

On Wednesday, a large section of the minority community had decided to stage a rally on a much larger scale. However, the city police denied them permission. Upset with the decision, the protesters called for a city-wide bandh.

The protesters were also angry with some of their community members. On Tuesday, Mufti Shabbir Ahmed of Jama Masjid, members of organizations like Jamat-e-Islami, Jamiet-e-Ulaima Hind and Muslim legislators and municipal councilors had appealed that the community not follow the call of bandh. In a meeting held at the Jama Masjid, Muslim leaders had condemned violent means of protest against ‘Innocence of Muslims’. They also appealed to the people to not resort to violence that could disturb peace of the city. Read details here.

Courtesy: AP | Deccan Chronicle | Agencies | TOI.

Christian Arrested Attempting To Board Hajj Flight

When asked why he joined the line of hajj pilgrims, Mr. Joseph said ” I am a Nigerian, so I don’t believe in discrimination, whether you are a Christian or Muslim”

A 29-year old Plateau state’s born teacher, Lohnan Joseph, has been intercepted while trying to board a Saudi-bound flight at Sultan Abubakar III International Airport, Sokoto, on Sunday.

Mr. Joseph, a christian and a former teacher at Global Kids Academy, Sokoto, was said to have joined the screening line of Zamfara State intending pilgrims, who were about to board a flight bound for Saudi Arabia in the early hours of Sunday.

Speaking to newsmen, Zamfara State’s commissioner of Environment and one of the state’s Hajj officials, Mukhtari Lugga, who was among the people that spotted and consequently intercepted the suspect, said ,”Joseph just came from nowhere and join their line during their screening exercise.

“He was easily identified as an alien among them because he was not wearing uniform.
“This was what drew our attention to him and we quickly notified the police who came and picked him up for interrogation.”

Found in his possession were, 40 pieces of 10,000 France Franc, eight pieces of 5,000 France Franc, one pieces of 1,000 France Franc and N610 in different denominations as well as his personal belongings and credentials concealed inside a black bag.

When asked why he joined the line of pilgrims boarding flight as a Christian, Mr. Joseph said ” I am a Nigerian, so I don’t believe in discrimination, whether you are a christian or Muslim”.
He also said that he wanted to be like Herbert Macaulay, whom he read had travelled to London amidst difficulties .

He later turned up to say that his mission was not to travel but only to visit the airport and come back.
On why he was holding foreign currency, Joseph who was dressed in long-slip white shirt and a black trouser said all the money belongs to his sister, who was a business woman and billed to return them after coming back from the airport.

While parading the suspect, Sokoto state’s Commissioner of Police, Shu’aibu Gambo, said the suspect was intercepted at around 9 am, as he attempted to join the screening line of Zamfara states’ pilgrims.
According to Mr. Gambo, when interrogated, Mr. Joseph said he wanted to go to London and had mentioned names of some people as his accomplices.
Mr. Gambo said that, his men would go after the people with a view to establishing their true mission.

Source: Premium Times

Australia to protest live export ahead of Islamic slaughter

Australia to protest live export on Saturday.

SYDNEY: With hundreds of thousands of animals expected to be slaughtered across the Islamic world later this month, and many of the cows and sheep coming from Australia in live export vessels, Australian activists are to take to the streets across the country to protest the government’s continued approval of the controversial practices.

Spearheaded by Animals Australia, the protests will be held in the cities of Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra and Hobart.

“If you care about animals and want to see them protected from cruelty, then please join us this Saturday as we rally side-by-side, right across the country, for an end to live export,” said Animals Australia in a press release announcing the protest to its followers.

It also comes on the heels of a report that live export sheep were clubbed to death and buried alive in Pakistan last month in what activists say was a “shocking incident.”

“These are the latest tragic results of a live export industry that sends animals to be killed in countries where there are no laws to protect them from cruelty,” said Animals Australia in a press statement.

“No politician can defend a trade that comes with the risk of animals being clubbed, stabbed, or buried alive. Enough is enough. Today, don’t let your MP off the hook,” the animal rights group added.

In revealing the terrible tragedy, Animals Australia urged Australian citizens to call on their representatives to push for an end to the live export trade.

Pakistani officials confirmed to Bikymasr.com on that they would go forward with the killing of more than 21,000 sheep despite Australian government assurances that the animals were safe to be slaughtered for food.

Australian diplomats have repeatedly urged Pakistan to stop the killings, saying the animals are not infected with disease.

Pakistan ordered the cull after the ship carrying the sheep had been turned away by the Bahraini government and tested positive for salmonella and actinomyces.

Australia’s High Commissioner to Pakistan Peter Heyward said he was “surprised and concerned” about the killings, as he argued the animals met the south Asian country’s health requirements for imported sheep and they posed “no human or animal health risks.”

Salmonella and actinomyces, he argued, “are part of normal gut flora and are present in livestock throughout the world, and in this form pose no threat to human health.”

In Pakistan, Karachi’s top administrator Roshan Shaikh told reporters that the sheep killings would continue.

“There is no suspension in the process, as the bacterial presence in the animal is confirmed and we can’t put human life in danger in Pakistan,” he said.

It comes after Egyptian officials refused to allow a shipment of young cows into the country last month from Brazil after officials in Cairo said the animals were infected with unknown hormones.

Over 32,000 cows were slaughtered as a result after being forced to remain at port for weeks, causing mass deaths on board the ships.

The stranded cows had made international headlines after Bikyamasr.com first reported their situation on September 1, including a Care2.com petition that was signed by over 25,000 people globally urging the Egyptian government to free the baby cows from their horrific conditions.

Background on Live Export

Live export from Brazil and Australia to the Islamic world is a controversial practice that sees thousands of animals crammed into small crates and transported by sea to their destination to be slaughtered for food.

According to the ministry, tests had been conducted to learn more about the potential carcinogen that had been given to the animals before they would be unloaded. Tests had reportedly been ongoing for the past month at a private lab in Egypt, but no results had been conclusive.

According to a al-Shorouk newspaper report, the animals are likely to remain in their confinement for a number of weeks more in order for further tests to take place.

Earlier this year, some 3,000 of the cows died on a ship destined for Egypt after the Egyptian government refused to allow the ship to dock at a Red Sea port.

They were slaughtered as a “precaution,” the ministry said, outraging a number of Egyptians.

Animals Australia, the leading organization reporting on the controversial live export trade to the Middle East and Southeast Asia, said the incident was among the worst the industry had witnessed in years.

Animals Australia’s Campaign Director, Lyn White, said in a statement to Bikyamasr.com that the ship was anchored at sea after being refused port in a number of countries, including Egypt, where the cattle were supposed to be offloaded.

It’s understood that ventilation problems on the converted livestock vessel, the MV Gracia Del Mar, had caused the deaths of more than half of the animals on board since the ship left South America for Egypt a few weeks ago. The ship was anchored in the Red Sea for weeks and saw more animals perish as a result.

“This is nothing short of an animal welfare disaster. If remaining cattle are not offloaded more of these animals will suffer appalling deaths at sea. We are appealing to authorities in Egypt to offload the remaining cattle at al-Sohkna, as was originally intended.

“This disaster is just another example of the inherent risks of transporting animals by sea. It was only nine years ago that 5,000 Australian sheep perished on board the MV Cormo Express after country after country refused to allow it to berth.

“And this isn’t the first time that mechanical issues have caused mass deaths on live export ships. We only need to look to the breakdown of the Al Messilah in Adelaide last year. Had that vessel broken down on the open ocean it would have caused a similar welfare catastrophe — as thousands of animals would have died.

“Australia also exports cattle to Al Sohkna Livestock company in Egypt. Whilst we have an MoU with Egypt which should ensure the offloading of our animals, it has never been put to the test. The Egyptians thus far have flatly refused to allow the MV Gracia Del Mar to dock despite the mass suffering of the animals on board.

“If they continue to refuse to allow the surviving animals to be unloaded it would provide little confidence that the non-binding agreement with Australia would be honoured if a similar incident were to occur on an Australian livestock ship.

“It should not matter if these cattle aren’t Australian and if Brazil doesn’t have a similar piece of paper, they should not be abandoned to suffer and die at sea. We are appealing to Egyptian authorities to offload these cattle as a matter of urgency.”

Australia’s live sheep exports have fallen significantly over the past decade.

In 2010, three million sheep were exported compared with 6.3 million in 2001.

Australia’s government last year was to see a bill that would have banned live export to the world, but industry lobbyists fought back and forced the legislation off the table in a move that angered animal activists in the country and across the world, notably the Islamic world, which receives the lion’s share of live cattle and sheep from both Australia and Brazil.

BM

Ex-minister faces impeachment in Ling’s PKFZ trial

The prosecution team intends to impeach Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir over his PKFZ purchase statement. – File picture

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4 − The prosecution in Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik’s cheating trial intends to impeach former minister Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir tomorrow after the ex-MCA president’s Cabinet colleague testified today on the purchase of the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) land.

Deputy public prosecutor Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah told the court that he planned to impeach the 74-year-old “first thing in the morning”. But he did not offer a reason.

“The first thing I’ll do tomorrow is impeach the witness,” Tun Majid said before judge Datuk Ahmadi Asnawi ended the hearing today at 5pm.

Called as a defence witness, Abdul Kadir told the court today that the Cabinet meeting minutes shown to him today showed that the PKFZ land price of RM25 psf did not include calculation of interest rate.

“I cannot remember clearly, but they mention the interest rate and other terms, so it should mean it is over and above the price of land.

“And here, the price of land is determined at RM25 psf, so the other terms listed are in addition to this,” Abdul Kadir said in court, referring to a memorandum from the Ministry of Finance dated October 23, 2002.

When asked by Dr Ling’s lawyer, Wong Kian Kheong, to testify on his client’s character, Abdul Kadir had nothing but praise.

“As far as I know, he is a very humble man with integrity in his work. He was a leader for the Chinese community, but what made me close to him was that his actions were that of a true Malaysian,” the former tourism minister said.

During cross-examination, Tun Majid asked Abdul Kadir if he agreed that the interest rate of 7.5 per cent stated in a note to the Cabinet from the Ministry of Transport dated October 29, 2000, was contradictory to the rate stated by the Valuation and Property Services Department (JPPH) in a letter dated September 29 2000.

“That is just bad drafting. The figures listed in these two documents are contradictory, so I can assume it is just bad drafting,” Abdul Kadir said, referring to the two documents.

Dr Ling, who served as transport minister for 17 years from January 1986 to May 2003, is charged with deceiving the Cabinet into approving the purchase of 999.5 acres of land for the PKFZ project, which had resulted in wrongful losses for the government.

The project, initially estimated at RM1.1 billion after it was mooted by Dr Ling in 1997, more than quadrupled in cost to RM4.6 billion by 2007.

A position review by top accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) revealed in 2009 that the total cost including interests from debt repayments could reach RM12.5 billion.

Since December 2009, six individuals have been charged in court including ex-MCA president Dr Ling, and his successor as transport minister, former MCA deputy chief Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy.

Both are accused of lying to the Cabinet.

Dr Ling also faces two alternative charges of deceiving the Cabinet into believing that the terms of the purchase — at RM25 psf plus 7.5 per cent interest — were acknowledged and agreed to by the JPPH despite knowing that there was no such agreement.

He faces a possible jail term of up to seven years, or a fine, or both, if convicted on the first charge under section 418 of the Penal Code.

The alternative charges carry a lighter sentence of five years’ jail, or a fine, or both.

The trial continues tomorrow at 9am.

Bersih 2.0 not involved in Pakatan rally

It will, however, support any party in favour of electoral reforms.

KUALA LUMPUR: Electoral reform watchdog, Bersih 2.0 today announced that it has no role in the upcoming rally organised by Pakatan Rakyat on Nov 3 at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium.

“We have nothing to do with that. It is entirely organised by a political party,” said Bersih 2.0 co-chairman S Ambiga at a press conference held in Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH).

Yesterday, PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu announced that Pakatan Rakyat is organising a rally on Nov 3 in Bukit Jalil stadium as a result of government’s failure to implement electoral reforms.

However Ambiga said that Bersih would support the calls for electoral reforms.

“All political parties should also do (rallies) because all that we want are free and fair elections,” she said.

Ambiga also revealed that Bersih steering committee received an invitation to attend the rally.

“Individually, we can go. We (the committee) haven’t met (to discuss) on the role that Bersih should play in this rally,” she said.

In a related development, Ambiga, who is a former Bar Council president, also questioned whether the Election Commission (EC) has began implementing the recommendations made by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reforms (PSC).

“We’d like to know whether the EC has began implementing the recommendations,” she said.

The PSC had released its report on recommendations on electoral reforms in April.

Bersih leaders claim harassment at airports

It is nothing but intimidation and another attack on civil society, says S Ambiga.

KUALA LUMPUR: Election reform watchdog Bersih 2.0 today claimed that its steering committee members were being harassed at airports when taking flights abroad.

“They were clearly targeting our steering committee members. It is nothing but harassment and intimidation. It is another attack on civil society,” said Bersih 2.0 co-chairman S Ambiga.

Ambiga, who would be flying abroad next week, added: “I would be surprised if I’m subjected to the same kind of treatment.”

Thus far, four Bersih steering members have been harassed when attempting to travel abroad.

Maria Chin Abdullah was the first to face the harassment from immigtation officials when she took a flight on Sept 18 from KLIA to Nepal.

The other members were former Bar Council president Yeo Yang Poh, academician activist Wong Chin Huat and Bar Council human rights committee chairman Andrew Khoo.

Police alert stamp on passports

Maria said: “The passport verifying machines somehow could not process our passports. We were made to wait for it to be processed manually by the immigration officials.”

In the latest episode yesterday, Khoo’s passport was imprinted with a police alert stamp before being allowed to take a flight to Bangkok for a security conference.

Wong faced a similar experience as Maria on Sept 17.

“I was to travel to Hong Kong from KLIA on Aug 17 but the machine could not verify my passport and was manually cleared by the officials,” said Wong.

“I endured the inconvenience for about 10 minutes before I was allowed to get on my flight.”

Yeo said he encountered the problem twice last month when he travelled from Johor to Singapore.

“The process of checking and stamping a passport takes about 20 seconds. I was directed to the immigration office where I was made to wait and my passport was photocopied.

“The officer then made a phone call before finally giving me the clearence. It was not their fault. They said that they were acting on instructions from another department,” said Yeo.

Bersih to rock next Saturday

The watchdog will hold a concert to remind the government that their eight electoral demands have not been met.

KUALA LUMPUR: Election reform watchdog Bersih is all set to rock the Kelana Jaya Stadium next Saturday.

Named the Bersih 8T concert, referring to the watchdog’s eight electoral demands, it would begin at 6pm and end at 11.30pm.

The eight are indelible ink, clean electoral roll, postal vote reforms, 21-day campaign period, free and fair access to the media, strengthening public institutions and an end to corruption.

Visitors are welcomed to attend the event as early as 4pm since there are NGOs that would be selling their merchandises to members of the public.

Those attending would be required to donate a minimum of RM5 to gain entry.

The developments on the concert can also be followed via Twitter using the tag #bersihrocks.

Commenting on this, Bersih 2.0 co-chairman A Samad Said said that the concert was being held to remind the government on the “unfulfilled demands”.

“There are unfullfilled demands. That is why we are organising this event to get closer to the young, the artistes and the public in one artistic assembly,” added the national laureate.

Another Bersih 2.0 co-chairman S Ambiga said: “Our intention is to remind the government that we have not forgotten the eight demands.”

She also commented on the Election Commission’s agreement to implement the use of indellible ink.

“Now a person is marked with ink, votes and leaves. Normally one vote, inked and leave. The EC should host a demo for political parties and NGOs to show how it works,” she said.

Among the artistes who would be performing are blues singer Ito, musician Ray Cheong, Nik Jidan and Michelle. There are also music bands such as the Soul Saviour, Republic of Brickfields and Wayfarers.

The highlight of the concert, according to steering committee member Hishamuddin Rais, would be a song by the steering committee members led by Ambiga.

Samad would be reciting a poem entitled “Di Atas Padang Sejarah (On A Historical Field).”

On security issues, Bersih steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah said: “In line with the Peaceful Assembly Act, we have paid deposit for the stadium.”

“The police and the Petaling Jaya City Council have been notified.”

Singers Ito and Melissa who were present also spoke to the press.

“I am doing this because it is done by a NGO not a political party. I support the eight demands,” said Ito.

Michelle meanwhile revealed that she and a host of performers were participating voluntarily in the concert.

NST given 7 more days to apologise

Six NGOs want the newspaper to apologise for alleging that they received foreign funds to destabilise the government.

PETALING JAYA: The New Straits Times has been given a further 7 days to apologise for their Sept 21 front page article on NGOs trying to destabilise the government.

Bersih co-chairman S Ambiga said that their lawyers have sent a letter of demand on Tuesday and the new time frame to apologise started from Tuesday (Oct 2).

Ambiga also said that a second NST article which held similar allegations was also published.

She said that it would be good if they received a good response, otherwise they would consider further legal options.

Last week, six NGOs asked New Straits Times to issue an apology within 48 hours over the front page report.

The NGOs were Bersih, Centre for Independent Journalism, Lawyers for Liberty, Merdeka Centre, Southeast Centre for E-Media and Suaram.

The NST article alleged that RM20 million was paid to several Malaysian organisations since 2005 and that these were attempts by foreign hands to destabilise the government.

A quick check revealed that the article was still up on NST’s website and has not been retracted.

Tamrin dakwa Dr M pergunakan bapanya

BUKIT MERTAJAM: Anak Tun Ghaffar Baba, Tamrin Ghafar mendakwa mantan Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed bukan sahaja petualang yang mencetusan pergolakan dalaman Umno sehingga dibatalkan pendaftarannya pada tahun 1997 bahkan sering mengeluarkan kenyataan yang mencabul persoalan akidah.

Beliau yang berceramah di Galeri Pejuang, Ceruk To Kun, Bukit Mertajam bersama dua orang penceramah jemputan  iaitu Ustaz Sharil Long dan Ustaz Hafizal  menambah,  peristiwa pengharaman Umno tahun 1997 adalah angkara Dr Mahathir apabila Ghafar didesak lawan Tun Musa Hitam.

Tamrin yang menyertai PAS baru-baru ini berkata, Datuk Seri Anwar juga didesak Dr Mahathir agar mencabar Tun Ghafar Baba yang dianggap sampah kerana tidak dapat membantunya merealisasikan dasar Pandang Ke Timur dan Wawasan 2020.

"Pada saya mantan Presiden Umnolah yang mencetuskan polimik sebenar dalaman Umno sendiri, kestabilan negara serta akidah.


(Buku Anwar lawan Ghafar pernah diterbitkan)

"Sejak dulu jika dia tidak suka seseorang beliau akan mendesak orang lain cabar dan beliau sendiri akan sembunyi tangan, " terangnya semasa berceramah dalam program PAS Cawangan To Kun dan PAS Bukit Mertajam.

Peristiwa terbesar mengakibatkan pemecatan Datuk Seri Anwar juga dicipta oleh Dr Mahathir sendiri setelah beliau mendapati kekuatan Anwar makin meningkat dan sekiranya dibiarkan kemungkinan pengaruhnya akan hilang.

Jesteru itu, Anwar diinaya bukan sahaja dipecat bahkan ditangkap, difitnah dan diseksa dalam penjara.

Dr. Mahathir adalah durjana sebenarnya, beliau sanggup melagakan orang lain demi memastikan kedudukannya selamat dan terus berkuasa.

Waktu nama Anwar tengah 'top', Mahathir mengambil peluang keemasan  membuang Ghafar Baba dari kabinet kerajaan dengan meminta Anwar lwan Ghafar.

Kes yang terjadi pada Anwar juga berpunca dari perasaan kebimbangan beliau ekoran penampilan Anwar dilihat lebih ke hadapan dari banyak segi.

Bila Anwar jadi mangsa rakyat bangkit dan sampai sekarang isu pemecatanya tidak boleh diterima oleh sebahagian ahli Umno sendiri.

"Tetapi, nak  buat macam mana semua tunduk dengan 'DR M'," tegas beliau termasuk dirinya sebelum ini.

Rakyat juga,  kata bekas Pengerusi MARA itu, tentu masih ingat terlalu banyak kenyataan Dr Mahathir yang boleh mengancam kestabilan negara apatah lagi  akidah.

Sampai hari ini tambah Tamrin, siapa pun tidak boleh menghalang kenyataan dari terus keluar dari mulutnya biarpun kadang- kadang memberikan kesan terhadap sokongan Umno itu sendiri.

Terbaru ujarnya, kenyataan berkenaan 'syaitan yang dikenali lebih baik dari Malaikat yang tidak dikenali' bakal melihat Umno terus jatuh.

"Biarlah dia keluarkan kenyataan merapu sebab Umno akan jatuh tidak lama lagi.  Mungkin diera DR M Umno menjadi terkenal dan selepas beliau pencen Umno pun menjunam," jelasnya yang juga bekas Exco Pergerakan Pemuda Umno Malaysia.

Najib as “Father of Transformation’?

PM Najib prides himself as the ‘Father of Transformation’ or ‘Bapa Transformasi’ because of the spate of transformation initiatives which he has launched since taking over as Prime Minister in 2009.

He has certainly transformed the Malaysian lexicon by introducing an alphabet soup of acronyms such as the ETP, GTP, NKRA, NKEA, SRI, NEM, BR1M and KR1M, just to name a few.

The expensive consultants who conceived of these terms have certainly benefitted from these transformation initiatives. But the positive impact on the man on the street is far less apparent.

While the Prime Minister still sounds positive about his transformation initiatives, his budget tells us a different story.

The budgetary allocations for ETP and GTP related initiatives have decreased for the past two years, from a high of RM15.5b in 2011 to RM8.3b in 2013, a reduction of 46.5%. The allocation for the 6 NKRAs under the GTP has decreased by 47%, from RM9.5b in 2011 to RM5.0b in 2013. The allocation for the 12 NKEAs under the ETP has decreased by 45%, from RM6b in 2011 to RM3.3b in 2013.

The decrease in the allocation for the GTP raises three important questions. Firstly, have the desired KPIs in the NKRAs been achieved? Secondly, even with the decrease in the budgetary allocations, have the funds been properly allocated?

Thirdly, is the decrease in funding for the GTP a sign that PM Najib is slowly but surely abandoning the GTP in favor of direct cash handouts in order to buy votes in the run up to the next general election?

The answer to the first question is an obvious NO.

According to the GTP Annual Report 2012, the 2012 targets were much more aggressive compared to the 2011 targets. For example, the length of roads to be built was increased from 905km in 2011 to 1350 in 2012, an increase of 49%. The number of houses to be connected with clean water and a regular electricity supply was increased from 58087 and 26822 in 2011 to 201192 and 39442 respectively in 2012, an increase of 246% and 47% respectively.

This is supposed to be achieved with a lower budgetary allocation. Presumably the targets for 2013 would also be higher. And yet, this has to be achieved with a lower budgetary allocation.

The funding under the development expenditure for the Rural Basic Infrastructure (RBI) NKRA was decreased from RM6.4b in 2011 to RM5.1b in 2012 and will be further decreased in this 2013 budget to RM3.2b. In other words, funding for RBI has been cut in half since 2011 even though the KPIs for this NKRA have increased significantly since 2011.

One only hopes that PEMANDU will not be asked to ‘massage’ the KPI data for RBI in future years in the same manner to how the KPIs for crime reduction seem to have been ‘massaged’.

The second question involves the allocation of resources between and within the various NKRAs.

Let’s take a look at budgetary allocation for the Crime NKRA, one of the highest profile NKRAs under the GTP. According to the budget estimates from 2011 to 2013, the allocation for NKRA Crime specific initiatives was reduced from RM351m in 2011 to RM239.8m in 2012 and then increased to RM322.3m in 2013.

What was interesting about the increase in allocation from 2012 to 2013 is that most of this went to the NKRA initiative to ‘Increase Safety Perception index’, which is equivalent to the ‘Reduce Fear of Crime’ NKRA initiative in the 2012 and 2011 budget estimates. The increase in this allocation is a whopping RM103m!

While some of this increased allocation would involve policing initiatives such as the expansion of the ‘Omnipresence’ and the ‘Whiten’ Black Spots programs, it is likely that a significant portion would be channeled towards public relations exercises including organizing a ‘Crime Awareness Day’, conducting independent surveys and beefing up the PDRM Communications Unit.

In other words, instead of allocating more resources to reducing crime such as Street Crime (which only gets Rm26.4m of the NKRA Crime budget), much of this additional resources will be used for PR instead.

Hence, not only has the funding for most of the NKRAs been cut, what is left also seems to be in danger of being misallocated for empty publicity measures.

The reduction in the allocation for the GTP and the ETP is an indication that PM Najib is getting desperate and is abandoning his transformation initiatives in favor of buying votes with direct handouts.

An additional symptom of favoring short term handouts to longer term structural changes is the fact that development expenditure will be decreased from RM49.8b in 2012 to RM49.7b. Our development expenditure has decreased from 24% of the total budget to less than 20% of total expenditure in the latest budget. This is very concerning since having a healthy development expenditure is necessary to lay the foundations of future growth in our country.

PM’s commitment to the ETP also shows signs of flagging. The budgetary allocation for the ETP was a whopping RM6b in 2011. If this figure is to be believed, this would mean that government investment in the ETP was 47% of the total actualized investment of RM12.9b under the ETP in 2011, a much larger figure than the 8% target government investment target set by PEMANDU.

This figure has been reduced by almost half, to RM3.3b in 2013. If this reduction is because the private sector has stepped in to fill the investment targets of the ETP, then this would not be a problem.

But the reduction in the budgetary allocation for the ETP has come at a time when the committed investments for the ETP have also decreased. For 2012, announced investments for the ETP stand at only RM16b or about 16% of the RM167b of committed investments announced in 2011.

As private sector doubts continue to rise with regard to the economic viability of the ETP, the PM seems also to have realized this and has cut the budgetary allocation to the ETP, hoping that this quiet bailing out would escape public attention.

The only allocation which has increased is that allocated to the Strategic Reform Initiatives (SRIs). Sadly, the amount allocated for structural reforms via the SRIs is only a measly RM154m in 2013 from an equally measly RM121.5m in 2012.

The SRIs, which were originally devised in the New Economic Model (NEM) under the National Economic Advisory Council (NEAC), seems to have been left behind and ignored after being appended to the ETP. Of the 51 SRIs which were identified in the NEM, 14 were housed in existing ‘natural homes’ as part of either an NKEA or NKRA. The remaining 37 were clustered into 6 rebranded SRIs.

However, many of the specific SRIs have not been implemented and the small amount of funding allocated to the SRIs in Budget 2013 is a reflection of this. For example, the SRI to ‘Set Up a Central Oversight Authority’ to re-examine the ‘Government’s Role in Business’ has not been implemented. The SRI to ‘Introduce Unemployment Insurance’ to set up a Labor Safety Net as part of the ‘Human Capital Development’ cluster has also been ignored. Similarly, the SRI to ‘revive the national development planning committee (NDPC) as the Premier Body for Policy Development, Coordination and Consultation’ under the ‘Public Service Delivery’ cluster has also been ignored.

The failure of the various transformation schemes can best be seen in Malaysia’s fall in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report from 21 in 2011 to 25 in 2012.

Malaysia’s ranking fell by 4 places as a result of being overtaken by Korea, Luxembourg, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates. At the same time, Malaysia’s score fell slightly, from 5.08 in 2011 to 5.06 in 2012.

This was reflected in the fact that out of the 148 indicators used by the WEF to compile this ranking, Malaysia experienced in fall in its ranking in 77 indicators compared to a rise in its ranking in only 48 indicators with its ranking in the remaining 23 indicators remaining unchanged.

These indicators cover initiatives under the GTP such as corruption as well as the ETP such as broadband access and the SRIs such as public finance reforms. It is another indicator to show that after the initial excitement over the GTP and the ETP, these efforts have fizzled out.

Public skepticism in Malaysia over these transformation initiatives are reflected in international rankings and surveys.

(Speech 3 on the 2013 Budget on Thursday, October 4, 2012)

'Balanced budget after 2015'

The New Straits Times                              by RUPA DAMODARAN SUSTAINABILITY: Government will target subsidies to trim deficit, says prime minister KUALA LUMPUR: MALAYSIA is not only looking to trim its fiscal deficit but is  also balancing the books after 2015, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday. Last Friday, the government outlined its plan to reduce the deficit of the federal budget to four per cent next year from 4.5 per cent this year, progressing to three per cent by 2015. "We hope for a budget surplus but I don't want to give firm commitment yet," he said, during a recording of The CNBC Conversation programme here yesterday. The prime minister was replying to questions raised by host Martin Soong during the taping of the 30- minute programme which will air on CNBC at noon on Saturday. The recording is part of the CNBC Summit Malaysia yesterday, which included a panel discussion with Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala, Malayan Banking Bhd president and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar and Nestle (Malaysia) Bhd managing director Peter R. Vogt. Najib, who is also finance minister, said as a responsible government, his administration does not want to dish out more perks until the deficit was trimmed. He described 2011 as an exceptional year when tax revenue jumped by RM26 billion through tightening of loopholes and this prompted the government to give back to the people. Najib said there were still a lot of leakages in the system, which was not helping the government in its efforts to wean itself off from overdependence on national petroleum company Petronas. For example, foreign workers, both legal and illegal, and tourists were among those enjoying Malaysian subsidies. "The cash payment we decided on is to send the message that targeted subsidy will be only for households with RM3,000 a month." The 2013 Budget provides for another round of RM500 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) to households earning less than RM3,000 a month. This comes after a previous one given under the 2012 Budget. The prime minister also stressed that Malaysians could not be over dependent on subsidies in the long run as it would impact government revenue. "With the Economic Transformation Programme in place, this has created more growth industries, which would give us a strong financial base later," he added. The ETP has also enabled the domestic economy to be the main engine of growth amidst the strong head wind of uncertainty coming from advanced economies. Strong exports would be a bonus for trade-dependent Malaysia, which enjoys a trade and current account surpluses. On the commodities front, Najib said while palm oil prices were satisfactory, he was concerned with the lot of smallholders following the dip in rubber prices to half of 2010's because of the drop in automobile sales in China. Malaysia is looking to Asean as well as East Asia, where trade arrangements with Japan and China will help boost exports as in the case of the trade pacts that were inked with Australia and New Zealand. On challenges to Malaysia, Najib said growth was necessary to make society more equitable. "If we get five to six per cent growth within the time frame... we can ensure fair, equitable distribution of wealth in the country and also fair distribution of income." Najib also touched on politics, saying that democracy was thriving in Malaysia and that the government considered it a fundamental right of the people to protest for reasonable concerns, such as the safety concerns surrounding the setting up of Lynas Corporation's plant in Kuantan. "Political transformation is part of my promise to the people that we are moving to a more mature, vibrant democracy in the country." Set as favourite Share Email This Comments (0) Subscribe to this comment's feed Write comment You must be logged in to post a comment. Please register if you do not have an account yet.

More protection for whistleblowers

The Star

Malaysia has joined more than 50 countries in introducing the whistleblower protection laws in varying scopes as part of their anti-corruption efforts.

The laws are meant to encourage individuals to speak out if they find corrupt practices or improper conduct in their workplace.

It provides protection to informers, or “whistleblowers”, in terms of confidentiality of information as well as immunity from civil and criminal action.

The 1863 United States False Claims Act was one of the first laws meant to protect whistleblowers. Enacted during former US president Abraham Lincoln's administration, the act was targeted at catching dishonest suppliers during the American Civil War who would provide ill horses or faulty rifles and ammunition to the Union Military.

Under the act, whistleblowers are not only protected from wrongful dismissal, but also promised a percentage of the money recovered or damages won by the government.

The US have different types of legal protections for whistleblowers, depending on the subject matter and the state which the case arises.

The Lloyd-La Follette Act of 1912 allowed civil servants to furnish information to the US House of Congress and protects the whistleblower from “unwarranted” and “abusive” removal.

Employee protections were also introduced in several US environmental laws such as the Clean Water Act 1972, Safe Drinking Water Act 1974, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 1976, Toxic Substances Control Act 1976 and the Clean Air Act 1990.

Under most of these laws, informers are accorded incentives and rewards.

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act 2010 authorises the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to reward those who divulge information on federal securities law violations at companies that are required to report to SEC.

The law also prevents employers from retaliating against whistleblowers by firing, demoting, suspending, harassing or discriminating them.

Similarly, the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 in the United Kingdom protects employees from detrimental treatment by their employers, such as dismissal or being passed over for promotion. If any employee feels he or she has a case, it may be brought before an employment tribunal, which can decide whether to award compensation or not.

Jamaica recently approved the Protected Disclosures Act 2011, which is modelled on UK's Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.

Malaysia's Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 came into force on Dec 15 2010, and is part of the Government Transformation Plan (GTP)'s National Key Results Area (NKRA) to eliminate corruption.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala said the Act was developed on the best practices of the law in developed countries and following the success of its implementation in the United States and Europe.

Under the act, individuals who expose corrupt practices in the public and private sectors are promised confidentiality and immunity from criminal or civil charges.

Section 114A Of Evidence Act Does Not Suppress Freedom Of Expression - Nazri

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4 (Bernama) -- Section 114A of the Evidence Act 1950 does not stifle freedom of expression but will instead encourage people to be more ethical and responsible in expressing their opinions, says Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz.

He said the section needed not be repealed as it was not in conflict with the universal principles of law.

"This section does not at all violate freedom and people's fundamental rights. All quarters will also be more responsible in taking care of their own items," he said in his written reply to Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) in the Dewan Rakyat, here, Thursday.

Ambiga: Forget butt dance, focus on electoral reform

(Malaysiakini) Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan has urged Malaysians not to be distracted by the concerted attacks of the government media and other diversionary stunts but to focus on the issue at hand, which is electoral reform.

"Don't get distracted by funny dances in front of my house. That was a joke, but the flawed electoral process is not a joke and we have to be vigilant," Ambiga told a forum in Petaling Jaya last night.

She was drawing parallels between Bersih and Suaram, which have been accused by the mainstream media of attempting to destabilise the government, with Suaram being investigated by the Companies Commission Malaysia (CCM) and Registrar of Societies (ROS) as well.

"I have no doubt in my mind that this investigation (against Suaram) is about Scorpene. The government left Suaram alone for 24 years, so why is it suddenly coming after Suaram now? Don't take your eyes off corruption," Ambiga said.

Suaram is maintaining that it is being persecuted for initiating an investigation in France into alleged corruption in Malaysia's purchase of two Scorpene submarines from French naval company DCNS.

"We (Bersih) have had the book thrown at us as well, so we know where this (Suaram harassment) is coming from. They want to keep us busy so we can't do the work we are doing," Ambiga said.

She also defended Bersih, which was lumped together with Suaram by the mainstream media, which accused them of receiving foreign funding.

"We have said that we received RM90,000 from Open Society Institute (OSI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) for a delineation project.

"As far as the Bersih rally is concerned, we don't need money, for the people just come. We don't pay people RM50 each to come. In a sense, people are paying to come as they buy Bersih T-shirts," she said.

"Up until now, we are completely funded by Malaysians who have been wonderful. We've also created a RM1 fund for the legal challenges we are facing."

'Persecuted messengers make potent messages'

Ambiga warned that the government's continued attack on messengers such as Bersih and Suaram would ultimately make their messages more powerful.

"I think it is a big mistake. Instead of trying to sink NGOs, the government should concentrate on getting their submarines to sink," she said.

Ambiga added that the harassment of Suaram by CCM and ROS and the Election Commission's lack of commitment to electoral reform were examples of public institutions that were more interested in doing the bidding of their political masters than acting independently.

"We have received reports of foreigners being registered as voters. Don't forget Project IC is taking place. Before people say it is not true, remember that it has happened before in Sabah, and we have a Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate it," she said.

Therefore, Ambiga said, Malaysians should turn out in force during the coming general election in a bid to mitigate any fraud.

Another speaker, constitutional law practitioner Tommy Thomas, said it was hypocrisy on the part of politicians to attack NGOs on their fundings.

"What is really shocking is for Malaysian politicians, whose principal source of income is using other people money, to make this claim. It is the height of hypocrisy.

"Politicians in all countries are dependent on funding from various sources, such as companies and trade unions, and when they are sufficiently seduced with money, compromises are made," Tommy said.

He said freedom of association as enshrined in the federal constitution should be read together with the other fundamental liberties, such as freedom of speech.

"The relentless state action against Suaram is wholly unconstitutional," Tommy added.

The others who spoke at the forum, which was moderated by lawyer Fadiah Nadwa Fikri, were Suaram secretariat member Cynthia Gabriel and Tenaganita executive director Irene Fernandez.

Anwar invites lawyers for Suaram and DCNS to Dewan

Viewer’s question in a program on ‘Sudarshan’ channel : Why no action against Dr. Zakir Naik ?

Why no action is being taken aginst Zakir when he supports terrorism and is creating rift between two religions ? : Viewer’s question in a program called ‘Bindaas Bol’ telecast on ‘Sudarshan’ channel

Mumbai : Dr. Naik is a propagator of Islam. He has lot of fan following. He gives lectures on many Islamic channels. It is his hobby to criticize other religions. His hobby has grown so mush that during Ganesh Festival only he declared that ‘Ganapati is not God.’ How will such statement be tolerated in Bharat? Religious sentiments of Hindus are thus hurt every now and then leading to rift between the two religions.  His speeches can incite riots; it can shake the cultural history of this country. Zakir does not feel that Osama Bin Laden was a terrorist. He advises all Muslims to spread terrorism like Osama. He orders every Muslim to live like Osama. What will you call such line of thinking? Immediate action should be taken against Zakir Naik for continuously hurting religious sentiments of Hindus. This was the conclusion of the program titled ‘Why no action is taken against Zakir Naik’ telecast on ‘Sudarshan’ channel in its serial ‘Bindaas Bol’.  

The host of the program, Mr. Suresh Chavanke, dignitaries joining the program on the channel and viewers contacting from outside during this program expressed firm opinion that action has to be taken against Zakir Naik. (Congratulations to ‘Sudarshan’ channel for organizing program on the attack on Hindu Dharma by so-called Islamic Thinker Zakir Naik and creating awareness amongst people ! Will other channels learn from this channel ? – Editor SP) In this program, the original video-film made by Zakir Naik against Shri Ganesh was shown in full. Barelavi and Shiya Ulemas have said that listening to Zakir’s speeches is ‘Haram’ . In Lucknow, Ulemas have issued ‘Fatwa’ against him. Why then Government is letting such people free? Why it is not taking action against such people? How can these people spread communalism so openly ?

Today, people are saying that persons like Zakir are provoking religious sentiments.  Rift between two religions is increasing due to such persons and they are after each other’s life. Ganesh-devotees are saying, “Such people should be immediately put behind bar because they are doing such things deliberately, said the host of the program.

Video-films on patriots are sent to Police ; but they are banned. A person like Zakir Naik, however, talks openly and no action is taken against them,; they don’t have to follow any rules or laws, stated Mr. Chavanke. 

Where do the pro-Hindu Organisations go at such times? The day Gandhism would end, Hinduism would start, a viewer expressed his opinion. Mr. Mohammad Afzal of ‘Rashtriya Muslim Manch’ who was an invitee, said “These people get aid from terrorists. Such speeches will create anarchy. Nobody will sit queitly on listening to such insult of Dharma.” The program-host also said, “This is not the insult of only Shri Ganesh but whole Hindu Dharma. It has created rage amongst Ganesh-devotees leading to lodging of complaints against Naik at various places. Many pro-Hindu organizations along with HJS are registering their protest in lawful manner.”

Zakir Naik is ‘Nikamma’, stated Sri Sri Ravishankar

Zakir invites renowned religious leaders and Saints right from Sri Sri Ravishankar to show affinity amongst Hindu –Muslims; then he raises some points related to Dharma and insults the invitee. Inviting people and insulting them is the game played by Zakir. When Sri Sri Ravishankar was asked by his followers about the criticism made by  Naik, he said, “Nobody becomes a scholar only by knowing which chapter  contains what topic. He (Zakir) is a head of all fools and is useless.”

Zakir Naik always  ….. 

1. Compares Hindu – Muslims religion
2. Despises other religions
3. Supports terrorists like Osama Bin Laden
4. Provokes religious sentiments of people
5. Converts Hindus to Islam and makes them fanatics
6. Gives inflammable speeches on channel influencing uneducated people who feel that he is good.

Remedy on the problem of ‘Naik’

1. Person like Zakir Naik should be immediately imprisoned.
2. Muslims should come forward to oppose Zakir Naik for supporting terrorism.
3. The Govt. should not protect such persons for vote-banks.
4. Hindu Scholars should bring forth the truth before people; else the fanatics will become more powerful.

Sri Sri Ravishankar blesses HJS drive against Dr. Zakir Naik !

Mumbai : Complaints are being lodged against so-called Islamic Thinker Dr. Zakir Naik with different police stations and cases are being filed against him for insulting Shri Ganesh. Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) has made a demand to impose ban on ‘Peace TV’, a channel run by Dr. Naik who is creating communal rift and for conducting inquiry into financial aid received by him. Sri Sri Ravishankar and ‘Art of Living’ have extended their support to the HJS drive.

How Shiva did not recognize his own son : Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

The stories in the Puranas contain many incredible and hard-to-believe occurences. But they should not be interpreted as a nursery rhyme. Their language is Shakespearean and laden with great depth and meaning. We need to interpret these stories with a very refined state of mind.

The story goes that Parvati created a boy out of dirt from her body and appointed him to guard the doorstep. The first question that comes is how could Parvati, the Goddess Herself, have so much dirt? Parvati symbolizes the triguna - sattva, rajas and tamas. The entire creation is made up of trigunas. The dosha or imperfections that originate out of the triguna is an obstruction for the functioning of Prakriti. That was the boy that Parvati created to stand guard at the door.

Shiva is Shuddha Chaitanya, pure consciousness. Like the sun does not recognize darkness and cuts through it, Shiva does not recognize dosha and slays the impurity. But Prakriti cannot stay without impurity. So Shiva replaces the dosha with the head of an elephant, which symbolizes knowledge. Through knowledge, all the doshas or obstructions of Prakriti can be taken care of. This is the spiritual and metaphysical meaning of Ganpati being slain. So worshipping Ganpati as the remover of obstacles and the giver of gyana, knowledge is the most amazing depiction of the nature of consciousness.

Going a step further, even this difference between Prakriti and Purusha is done away with. That is why, the Ganpati Upanishad says,

ajam nirvikalpam niraakaaram-ekam

niraanandam aanandam advaita poornam

param nirgunam nirvishesham nireeham

para brahma roopam ganesham bhajema

Ganesha is the only One unborn unmanifest Reality. He is nirvikalpa and advaita - the formless, undivided One. This is the play and display of consciousness within itself.

While Ganpati is certainly the nirakara Parabrahman, he is invoked and worshipped in the mud idol for a period of time for the joy of the devotees. Then the Ganpati is asked to merge back into our heart and the idol is immersed in water. This ritual is observed for the sake of devotees, not for the sake of Ganpati. He who is without form is invoked in a form and then his spirit is invoked back into one's heart as the idol is immersed.

Saudi warned of nun-like dress in market

Saudi authorities have been warned that nun-like gowns are being marketed locally in violation of the country’s laws which ban products highlighting religions other than Islam, a newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Alsaudi Arabic language daily published pictures of what it said were for gowns in the Saudi market with similar designs to those worn by Christian nuns.

It said the warning about those gowns was carried on Facebook and other social networks in the Gulf kingdom.

US film protests bring boom for Pakistan flag makers

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan — As Pakistan's mullahs railed against a US-made anti-Islam film, Naveed Haider's print works went into overdrive, running off hundreds of US flags for angry protesters to burn at demonstrations.

Weeks of protests in Pakistan over the crudely made "Innocence of Muslims" have killed more than 20 people and caused serious damage to major cities, but for Haider business is booming.

When the mobilisation against the US film began, "I knew the tills would start ringing", said the manager at Panaflex printers, housed in a dilapidated building in Rawalpindi, the twin city of Islamabad and headquarters of the military.

"Whenever we have these demonstrations, I make 10 times as much money as normal," he told AFP in a tiny room that stank of ink, as two huge rollers spat out Stars and Stripes.

Sold for between 120 and 1,500 rupees ($1.25 to $16) depending on size and quality, the flags have been snapped up for demonstrations against the film in recent weeks, and Haider watched in delight as his products went up in smoke day after day on the TV news.

The boom in the flag market has accompanied a surge in anti-American feeling in Pakistan, which has been battered and bruised by Taliban violence and US drone strikes since joining Washington's "war on terror" in late 2001.

So much so that the United States has replaced traditional rival India as enemy number one in public opinion -- at least according to the flag-sellers.

"It's been a long time since I sold an Indian flag," said shopkeeper Nadeem Mahmood Shah as people piled into his Rawalpindi store to stock up on American flags, as a few tattered old samples fluttered outside.

In Shah's shop 1,500 rupees will get you a three-square-metre Stars and Stripes in cloth, with a guarantee it will catch light with no problems -- a key concern for protesters, particularly with TV cameras around.

For Asim, a waiter in a seafood restaurant, burning the US flag has become a vital part of any protest. He has set four alight in a month.

"It brings me such pleasure," said the rangy 22-year-old. "It's not a crime, but a means of expression like any other."

Protests against the film have led to more than 50 deaths across the Muslim world since the first demonstrations erupted on September 11.

Pakistan experienced the worst of the violence when nationwide rallies mobilised more than 45,000 in September. At least 21 people were killed and 229 wounded, mainly in clashes with police.

Last month, Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour placed a $100,000 bounty on the head of the filmmaker, calling on the Taliban and Al-Qaeda to join the hunt and help accomplish the "noble deed".

Most young flag-burners are attached to political or religious groups.

Jamaat-e-Islami, one of the country's largest religious parties, actually provides its members with American and Israeli flags "so they can voice their anger", explained Sajjad Abbas, a party official in Islamabad.

"We have arrangements with printers and we supply them with the cloth," he said.

A well-drilled setup like this enables political groups to make their statement as cheaply as possible and to quickly exploit even the smallest spike in tension with the United States.

Jamaat-ud-Dawa, blacklisted by the United Nations and the United States as a front for terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, says it has a "special team" dedicated to making US and Israeli flags for demonstrations.

"They end up costing us 50-60 rupees each," said Asif Khurshid, one of the group's officials in Islamabad.

The Majlis-e-Wahadatul Muslimeen, a Shiite Muslim party active in recent protests, utilises its student wing to organise the flags with partner printers.

"We turn out 500 an hour," boasted Mazhar Shigri, group spokesman in Lahore, Pakistan's second largest city.

The group's "flag cell" is now preparing a major publicity stunt: a US flag 500 metres long and 60 wide, which will be laid out in October in a busy street, for the ultimate Muslim insult of being trodden under foot.

Shigri revels in the plan: "All the cars and pedestrians can defile it as they pass over."

Tanya Najib: Middle-income group not sidelined in Budget 2013

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 — The government has not sidelined the middle-income group in Budget 2013, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

He said various incentives were given out to assist this group, including a one percentage point income tax reduction for those in the RM2,500-RM50,000 income bracket.

“We also provide housing programmes for the middle-income group. We give them other facilities too that benefit them like the My First Home scheme.

“The middle-income group is not sidelined. We give them what we can afford to give,” he said in the ‘Ask Najib’ programme broadcast live by Astro Awani (Channel 501) tonight.

This programme enabled Malaysians from all walks of life to pose questions to the prime minister via Twitter, Facebook, Google and video-conferencing on Budget 2013, which was tabled by him on September 28.

To one of the questions, Najib said the huge allocation for administration costs involving the public sector was to motivate public servants to provide more efficient service delivery to the public.

He said the public must understand that the government was not only caring for the lot of 1.4 public servants but the welfare of their families as well.

To a question on the benefits from the Budget for the people of Sabah and Sarawak, Najib said the government provided a rather big allocation to balance the market price of basic goods in the two states.

“Through this special programme, we will at least ensure that the prices in Sabah and Sarawak are not much higher than the prices in the peninsula.

“In the annual budget, we also provide allocations for rural electricity and water supply facilities including to the longhouses,” he said.

Meanwhile, Najib said investors would have more confidence to do business in Malaysia when they saw a politically stable, peaceful and harmonious country.

“When they look at Malaysia, they will compare us with other countries. And when they like what they see about Malaysia...peaceful, harmonious, no violent street demonstrations… confidence in Malaysia certainly will be much higher.

“As a nation, we will benefit from that kind of perspective,” he said in reply to a question on whether the Budget and the country’s economy would be affected by the violent street demonstrations and chaos caused by irresponsible parties.

Commenting on the government’s efforts to fight crime, he hoped the motorcycle patrolling unit would be implemented as soon as possible to enhance security in housing areas and ensure public safety.

Najib said the government would allocate RM20 million to provide 1,000 motorcycles for the patrolling unit.

“I am very excited about this patrolling programme,” he said in the one-hour interactive programme. — Bernama

PKR MP promoting MIC leader?

BN leader accuses incumbent S Manickavasagam of promoting MIC CWC memebr A Sakthivel for the Kapar seat.

PETALING JAYA: PKR’s Kapar MP S Manickavasagam is working in cahoots with MIC central working committte member A Sakthivel, promoting the latter for his parliamentary seat, claimed a Barisan Nasional man.

The senior BN leader, claiming anonymity, said this was proven when incumbent Manickavasagam promoted Sakthivel at a function on Monday at the Hoe Tian Keong Temple.

“Manickavasagam said that he would like to see Sakthivel contesting for the Kapar seat in a speech at the function attended by about 1,600 people, and they all heard it,” claimed the leader.

Disappointed, the BN leader accused Sakthivel of using Manickavasagam to promote his own political agenda.

“Manickavasagam was promoting Sakthivel because both are friends, but the latter must understand that seats allocation for the general election is decided by the BN leadership.

“I don’t know how Pakatan Rakyat works, but in BN we must abide by party decisions. People may get confused by Manickavasagam’s announcement,” said the leader.

I was being sarcastic, says Manicka

Manickavasagam, however, dismissed the BN leader’s accusation, saying he was just being sarcastic with his remark.

He said that many aspirants for the seat came to the function, including Kapar MIC division chief P Ganesan and Pemandu committee member D Ravindran.

“These people just showed up. Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Deputy Minister Chua Tee Yong and Kapar MCA division chairman Song Kee Chai also attended the function.

“All I said was that Ganesan and Sakthivel should pray hard so that their party leadership will choose either one of them to contest in Kapar. I was being sarcastic,” said Manickavasagam.

He also said that most of his speech on the day was about Pakatan’s leadership in the state and its achievements.

Meanwhile, Sakthivel also dismissed the BN leader’s accusation, saying Manickavasagam was not promoting him for Kapar.

“He didn’t mean it that way. He was merely addressing the people there. As for me, I just had my meal and left the function soon after,” he said.

Anwar jemput peguam Scorpene beri taklimat di Parlimen

Taklimat itu bagi membolehkan ahli parlimen BN dan Pakatan Rakyat mendengar penjelasan mengenai dokumen hasil siasatan polis Perancis.

KUALA LUMPUR: Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim menjemput peguam Perancis datang ke Malaysia untuk memberi taklimat kepada Ahli Parlimen berhubung kes pembelian dua kapal selam Scorpene yang sedang berjalan di mahkamah Perancis.

Naib Presiden PKR R Sivarasa berkata, taklimat itu bagi membolehkan ahli parlimen Barisan Nasional (BN) dan Pakatan Rakyat mendengar penjelasan mengenai dokumen hasil siasatan polis Perancis kepada badan kehakiman negara itu.

Surat jemputan yang ditujukan kepada peguam mewakili Suaram yang mengendalikan kes Scorpene di Perancis, William Bourdon dan Joseph Breham, menjemput mereka supaya datang dalam tempoh sehingga Parlimen tamat bersidang pada 22 November depan.

Turut dijemput peguam mewakili syarikat pertahanan Perancis yang terlibat dalam penjualan Scorpene iaitu Direction des Construction
Navales Services (DCNS), Olivier Metzner hadir memberi taklimat.

“Rakyat Malaysia nak dengar tentang skandal bayaran 114 juta Euro kepada Syarikat Perimekar Sdn Bhd yang dimiliki Abdul Razak Baginda bagi tujuan ‘logistical support for training’.

“Tapi semua orang tahu Perimekar tidak layak dan tiada pengalaman langsung tentang kapal selam tapi diberikan kontrak bernilai lebih RM500 juta,” katanya dalam sidang media di Parlimen di sini hari ini.

Ahli Parlimen Subang itu berkata, taklimat itu juga membolehkan ahli parlimen mendengar kes mantan pengarah kewangan syarikat DCNS membuat tuntutan pemotongan cukai sebanyak 32 juta Euro atas alasan duit itu digunakan sebagai bayaran rasuah kepada pegawai.

Anwar kini di Paris

Sementara itu, Ahli Parlimen Batu Tian Chua berkata Anwar yang berlepas sejak malam semalam bagi menerima satu anugerah khas kini
sudah pun berada di Paris dan akan bertemu serta menyerahkan surat jemputan itu kepada dua peguam Perancis terbabit.

“Harap mereka terima dan boleh tetapkan tarikh…jika semuanya berjalan lancar Ahli Parlimen BN dan Pakatan dijemput hadir mendengar taklimat,” katanya.

Tian Chua berkata, taklimat itu perlu dijadikan satu peluang kepada semua mendapat gambaran jelas sekali gus dapat membetulkan persepsi
rakyat mengenai skandal pembelian kapal selam yang turut dikaitkan dengan pemimpin tertinggi negara.

“Kalau ada sasuatu yang tak betul kerajaan Malaysia wajar ambil tindakan susulan,” katanya.

Berbeza dengan sistem perundangan Malaysia yang mengikuti undang-undang British, Sivarasa berkata badan kehakiman Perancis mempunyai agensi penguatkuasa tersendiri untuk menyiasat sesuatu kes tanpa perlu bergantung kepada hasil siasatan daripada pihak polis.

Pakatan to hold demo on poll reforms

Its top leadership said the decision was made following the government's failure to meet growing calls for electoral reforms.
FULL REPORT

KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Rakyat today announced its plan to hold a mass gathering on Nov 3 following the government’s failure to meet demands for poll reforms, mainly the calls to clean up the electoral roll and media fairness.

PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu told reporters in Parliament building here that Pakatan is expecting a crowd as big as 500,000 while the venue chosen for the event is the Bukit Jalil National Stadium.

“The government has yet to meet the eight core demands made by (poll reform group) Bersih, especially on the need to clean up the electoral roll and media fairness.

“Because Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had suggested that if we want to hold any gatherings we should do it at Bukit Jalil, so we have decided to choose that place to hold our gathering,” he said.

Bersih and opposition leaders have repeatedly accused the Election Commission (EC) of deliberate inaction over allegations of discrepancies in the voters’ roll, calling it a conspiracy to help the present government restore its two-thirds mandate in the upcoming polls.

EC officials denied the allegations, saying its move to adopt the recommendations made by the parliamentary select committee (PSC) on polls reforms proved it was sincere in ensuring a clean and fair election.

The PSC was set up by Najib after several protests held by Bersih and backed by the opposition threatened to shake his government, but he maintained that elections in Malaysia had always been fair.

A national threat

Pakatan states like Selangor claimed 500,000 foreigners had been placed in the state and registered as voters and the EC has so far failed to respond to the allegation, prompting the state government to delay holding polls should the general election be held this year.

Just recently a Sabah daily published a report on the admission by a foreigner that he had purchased a Malaysian identity card for only RM1,000 and he was also a registered voter.

Opposition election monitoring group Jingga 13 said today this strengthens allegations of bias against the EC and there is a continuous joint effort between the EC and the BN to ensure the ruling coalition retain power.

“This is a very serious case. It is a national threat and swift action must be taken,” Fariz Musa, the group’s chief coordinator, told the same press conference.

PKR vice-president Tian Chua said the rally was not only to voice opposition demands but the “aspirations” of all Malaysians who want clean and fair elections.

The gathering will be themed “People’s Uprising” and Pakatan said it will adopt yellow as the event’s main colour. Yellow was also the official colour of the Bersih movement.

Suaram: subpoena finally served on Scorpene witness

(Malaysian Digest) - Suaram revealed that a subpoena has finally been served on one of the witnesses proposed by the human rights group to assist in the French judicial probe on alleged corruption in Malaysia's purchase of two Scorpene submarines from French naval defence company DCNS.

"The inquiry is progressing and we've been allowed to tell you that the first subpoena has reached the first witness.

"But I can't tell you who the witness is or when the subpoena was given for now, we have to follow the court proceedings and can only quote the court notes," Suaram secretariat member Cynthia Gabriel told a forum in Petaling Jaya last night.

Suaram had in June said that its French lawyers were in the process of serving a subpoena on Jasbir Singh Chahl, allegedly a point-man in the purchase of the Scorpene submarine.

However, Jasbir had then denied receiving any subpoena.

Asked after the forum if the delivered subpoena this time was served on Jasbir, Cynthia merely smiled but declined to reveal the witness' identity.

However, Cynthia confirmed that the subpoena was served on one of the seven witnesses which it had proposed to the French courts probing the Scorpene deal.

The other six proposed witnesses were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, private investigator P Balasubramaniam, Najib's confidante Abdul Razak Baginda and the latter's spouse and father - Mazlinda Makhzan and Abdul Malim Baginda.

Earlier at the ‘Who is in the spotlight? Suaram or Scorpene' forum, Cynthia said the authorities had tried to paint Suaram as a multi-million dollar organisation that was capable of destabilising the government.

"This is untrue. The budget of Suaram on a yearly basis is only about RM450,000. That is nothing much at all. It is only enough to pay for eight staff and run five to six campaigns a year," she said.

Cynthia added that this amount was only enough to provide the staff of the NGO with a modest salary of about RM2,500 per month as opposed to five times the amount they could earn in the corporate world.

Another speaker at the forum, Tenaganita executive director Irene Fernandez said the Companies Commission Malaysia's (CCM) harassment of Suaram was exactly what happened to Tenaganita - which, like Suaram, is registered as a company - when it exposed deaths of migrant workers in an immigration detention camp in 1996.

"We also exposed the corruption in the whole recruiting and placement of migrant workers but the whole thing was diverted to arresting me for allegedly publishing false information.

"During that period, then Registrar of Companies (now CCM) raided our office three times and charged us for not logging two EPF (Employees Provident Fund) receipts into our cash book. The judge was however fed up with the case and had it thrown out," she related.

This modus operandi in the past, like now, she said, was to portray that Tenaganita was supposedly providing false financial information and having improper accounts.

Fernandez (left) explained that some NGOs have opted to register as a company because unlike a society, the home minister cannot arbitrarily dissolve the organisation.

Furthermore, the government was also very restrictive in the registration of societies, she said.

The other speakers at the forum were Bersih co-chairperson Dato' Ambiga Sreenevasan and constitutional lawyer Tommy Thomas.

Cynthia and Suaram founding member R Sivarasa, who is now Subang parliamentarian, are both expected to give their statement to the Registrar of Societies (ROS) later today after the regulator roped in the police to compel the duo's cooperation under the Criminal Procedure Code.

Suaram advisor Kua Kia Soong is also among those called but will only give his statement at a later date as he is overseas.

When approached after the forum, Suaram's lawyer Lim Cheng Bock said the ROS is looking into Suaram's activites between 1989 to 2001 when it was then registered as a business under the name Suara Komunikasi before it became a company under the name Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd.

"We stressed that Suaram is not and was not doing anything wrong. The transition from a business to a company was only for expansion and better accountability.

"Unlike a business, you need external audit and proper accounts for a company," he said.

Previously, ROS had attempted to "inspect" Suaram's office but was turned away as the NGO insisted it is registered as a company and ROS has no jurisdiction over it.

ROS joined the fray after the CCM on Sept 18 declared it was charging Suaram for "confusing accounts" in two days but the Attorney-General's Chambers sent its investigation papers back to the commission. It said the papers were "incomplete".

Second break-in at Aliran office

P Ramakrishnan - Aliran


Exactly 18 days after the first break-in at the Aliran office, the thieves struck again for the second time!

They removed the same grille, forced open the same window and entered the same room. That was as far as they went.

On the first occasion, they had gained access to the rest of the building from this room but this time we had reinforced security and thus they were unable to move farther inside the building.

We discovered this break-in on the morning of 29 September 2011. They must have struck in the early hours of 29 September because we were in the office until midnight the previous day trying to wrap up Aliran Monthly.

Following the first break in some people commented whether those who committed the break-in were really petty thieves or something else. They had reason to doubt because these so-called thieves were only interested in the computers used by the past president, the current president and the serving treasurer. They were not interested in the two other computers, a printer and some petty cash in the drawer that were also there for the picking!

Now the same people are wondering if the second break in was meant to convey the impression that it must be the work of petty thieves – nothing sinister or ominous about the first theft! All that we can say is, “We don’t know!”

We do not wish to speculate or insinuate. That would not be right.

Most people are of the opinion that making police reports does not curtail crime or reduce their frequency. While we admit that the police cannot solve every crime that is reported, what is more disturbing is that criminals seem to realise this as well, and this only emboldens them.

Is this why they came back a second time in the knowledge that they would have their day and go scot-free?

OKU Are Not Neglected, Says Najib

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 4 (Bernama) --The government cares about the people with disabilities (OKU) by ensuring the 2013 Budget can help reduce their living cost.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said several programmes were outlined in the budget for the OKU, including the 1Malaysia Welfare Programme (KAR1SMA) involving an allocation of RM1.2 billion.

"The government will also allocate a portion of the People's Housing Programme (PPR) for the OKU, as well as build child care centres for OKU," he said in an Online 2013 Budget Dialogue which could be viewed live through YouTube Wednesday night.

Asked to what extend could the government control the price of food and drinks following the reduced sugar subsidy, Najib said continuous monitoring would be carried out to prevent traders from increasing their prices indiscriminately.

"What can be controlled using the law, we will do so. If we cannot use the law, the government will advise the traders not to (increase the price of goods)," he added.

He said the 1Malaysia People's Shops were also introduced so that the people could buy good at cheaper prices.

2013 Budget Takes Into Account Young People's Tastes, Says Najib

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 4 (Bernama) -- The 2013 Budget takes into account the tastes of the young generation through the Youth Communication Package in line with the current digital era, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

He said the rational in giving the one-off RM200 rebate for purchase of 3G Smartphone for youths aged 21 to 30 was to show the government's appreciation for their contribution and to further enhance their capability.

"The Smartphone is also the in thing among the young people today in line with their improved lifestyle," he said in an Online 2013 Budget Dialogue which could be viewed live through YouTube.

He was responding to a question by Asyraf Adlan an entrepreneur from Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam, who wanted to know the government's rationale in giving the RM200 rebate for the Smartphone purchase.

On the book voucher for Form Six and university students, Najib said the government felt it necessary to do so.

"It is useful because most books which the students need are very expensive and they have to share with their friends.

"So, we feel it is better to provide book vouchers so that they can buy the books," he added.

In the 2013 Budget, the 1Malaysia book voucher has been increased to RM250, from RM200 previously. It involves an allocation of RM325 million and will benefit 1.3 million students nationwide.

Responding to a question on a 10 per cent a year discount given to those who make early settlement of their National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) loan, which some quarters say is unfair, Najib said the government could not offer everything.

"We introduce that incentive as a permanent measure to get the borrowers to repay their loans so that other students can also borrow to further their studies," he added.