Changes to manifesto are too little, too late

Easow Verghese
Anwar Ibrahim's promise to amend the Pakatan Manifesto to include specific commitments to the Indian community is another knee-jerk reaction. It is another feeble attempt at damage control.

His promise is a carrot that he dangled before Indian voters, hoping they would bite. But it is too little too late.

This was Anwar's second flip-flop since Pakatan released its election manifesto on Feb 25.

The first was when he agreed, three days later, to amend the manifesto to accommodate increased oil and gas royalty to Kelantan Malays.

After that the manifesto went back to the drawing board again, this time ostensibly to placate Indians who were miffed that no mention was made of their plight in the manifesto while there were specific references to other races.

Two changes to the manifesto even before the ink is dry?

Knowing Pakatan's pet obsessions, they should perhaps have used indelible ink before they published their manifesto.

That would have ensured that an important document as a manifesto cannot be tampered with for political exigencies.

What guarantee is there that, after elections, it will not be amended again?

At this rate, it is reasonable to expect the manifesto to undergo more changes when other groups also step up demands to have their pet projects also included in the document.

Eventually, the manifesto will become a bulky document. But that won't please DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng who had expressed his aversion to a 'thick manifesto".

But the more important question is this: If Pakatan is unable to produce a solid and comprehensive document at the party level, how can it be trusted to do it at the government level, if it gets its chance to rule?

It is plain for everyone to see that not much serious thought went into the manifesto which was really only a rehash of past promises.

Another weakness of the manifesto was laid bare by a DAP leader and MP Charles Santiago who made a damning admission today. A Malaysian Indian, he said that he was not consulted by the framers of the manifesto.

Then who was consulted on Indian affairs? Were any of the other Indian MPs consulted? What about Sivarasa, Kulasegaran, Manickavasagam?

Since to date none of them has owned up, is it safe to assume that all the Indian leaders in PKR, including its vice-president N Surendran, were kept totally in the dark?

Or they were too afraid to speak up, fearing that if they did their candidacy in the upcoming election would be in question?

And so, they left it all to the PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim. In a swift about-turn yesterday, Anwar promised to amend the manifesto to include these promises - to build affordable homes for estate workers, to resolve the issue of stateless Indians, and to provide technical and job opportunities for Indians.

These are, at best, hollow promises. How can Anwar provide affordable homes when he could not even keep his promise to provide alternate housing for the displaced residents of Kampung Buah Pala in Penang despite having promised to do so?

Resolve the issue of stateless Indians? Anwar promised to do this in 100 days. Pakatan had always claimed that there are 300,000 stateless Indians in the country.

If Pakatan wants to play the role of honest broker, it will have to clear 3,000 cases every day, or 350 cases every hour.

This means completing the whole process of filling out the forms, verification of data and completing all other formalities before the applications are signed, sealed, stamped and delivered.

Primary school children who have studied maths in ether English or Bahasa Malaysia will tell you that this is impossible. The figures simple don't compute.

Pakatan must think Indians are gullible enough to believe in the impossible.

Anwar also makes vague references to funding for Tamil schools and providing vocational training and job opportunities.

These promises pale in the light of what the BN government has been doing these past months and years, and continues to do, for the Indian community.

Pakatan has pledged RM17 million for Tamil schools, but the BN government has already made grants totalling RM350 million for this purpose from 2009 till 2011.

More grants are in the pipeline, increasing the total to RM500 million.

And that's only for the upkeep of schools. There's more for new schools and for upgrading of facilities. This has never before been done in the history of Malaysia.

As against the pittance promised by Pakatan, let's see what else the BN government has offered the Indian community (See publication ‘Janji Ditepati').

Free education, more matriculation places, more scholarships, RM50 million for training 3,200 school leavers, and RM150 million in loans for Indian SMEs.

And then there is Tekun, Tukar, Seed, Atom, 1MISM, DHRRA, KAR1SMA, SARA and USD1.

These are all acronyms that stand for the various initiatives that the Najib regime has already rolled out for Malaysian Indians in all sectors, for all age groups, and in rural and urban centres.

In short, wherever there is an Indian in need, there is promise of help, usually only a phone call away.

Stateless Indians? Long before Pakatan made a gross miscalculation in the number of stateless Indians, the federal government had already introduced MyDaftar programme to resolve this issue swiftly and humanely.

Many have been helped. The door has not been closed. The exercise is ongoing.

This episode of the Pakatan manifesto has revealed many weaknesses in the Pakatan fabric. Clearly, within the ranks of Pakatan, the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing. Rather some underhand handiwork is suspected. For instance:

Lim Guan Eng was quoted to have said that the manifesto only sets out the common policies of political parties but not the specifics. But now Anwar has contradicted him by including specifics - about the Indian community.
Anwar Ibrahim had said when the manifesto was first launched, that it transcends racial groups.But now Anwar has contradicted himself.
Pakatan's director of strategy, Rafizi Ramli had said it was not a mistake to not have mentioned Indians in the manifesto. But now Anwar has made him eat his words.

After all the hullabaloo made by segments of the marginalised Indian community who felt they were being again marginalised in the manifesto, Pakatan is trying hard to regain lost ground. But it is too little too late.

Surrender not an option, Kirams say

KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 – Despite talk of “disengagement” of the Sulu army, the daughter of
Princess Jacel Kiram is seen next to her father, former Sultan of Sulu Jamalul Kiram III, in this file photo taken in Manila on February 26, 2013. Jacel Kiram said in an ABS-CBN News report on March 12, 2013 that the Kiram clan was still firm on its decision not to ‘surrender’ its claim over Sabah. – Reuters pic
self-styled Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III said today that surrender is still not an option for her uncle Agbimuddin Kiram and his troops in Sabah.

Jacel Kiram said in an ABS-CBN News report here that while she hopes the latest attempt to settle the conflict amicably would result in a peaceful end to the violence, the Kiram clan was still firm on its decision not to “surrender” its claim over Sabah.

“We are firm in our stand that surrender is not acceptable,” she was quoted as saying in the online report.

Another uncle of Jacel’s, sultanate elder Bantilan Esmail Kiram II met with Philippine Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas yesterday to discuss the possibility of pulling the Kiram forces from Sabah and ending the month-long incursion.

Both Esmail and Roxas confirmed that their discussion had centred around “disengagement” of the Sultanate’s “royal army”, but would not elaborate on the matter.

Today, Roxas said he had conveyed several queries raised by Esmail to Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and the latter has directed the Department of Foreign Affair (DFA) to relay them to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“Personally, I am positive that what has been talked about is for the interest and protection of the Filipino people,” Jacel said in the ABS-CBN News report.

The Kiram family had called for a ceasefire last Thursday upon receiving reports that more of its gunmen were falling from battles with Malaysian forces but Putrajaya rejected the appeal.

But Najib, in an immediate reaction, told the invaders to surrender unconditionally or face death.

In another news report by Interaksyon, sultanate spokesman Abraham Idjirani said that the consideration for “disengagement” had never been on the cards for the Kiram clan.

He reportedly said that it was Roxas who had unilaterally raised the option.

The report also quoted Jamalul’s wife Fatima Cecelia as agreeing with Idjirani and pointing out that the family had never thought of “disengagement” as they were aware this would be misconstrued as surrender.

Meanwhile, Interaksyon reported that according to Esmail’s son Abu Bakar in Sabah, he has been in touch with Agbimuddin and the “crown prince” had said that he is still alive, despite the deadly crackdown by Malaysian forces.

In the 7am phone conversation this morning, Agbimuddin had also reportedly said: “While you are negotiating there, we remain under fire, the fighting goes on.”

Malaysian security forces have been on a relentless search for the gunmen since the launch of Ops Daulat last Tuesday.

To date, 57 militants have been killed in gunfights.

No opposition stickers: HKL doctors see red

Hospital Kuala Lumpur staff are angered by a new directive from its management banning its staff from putting up opposition stickers.

PETALING JAYA: The circular which prohibited Hospital Kuala Lumpur staff from putting Pakatan Rakyat stickers and logos on their vehicles has drawn flak.

Last week, HKL director Dr Zaininah Mohd Zain issued the circular which also barred staff from putting up these logos in the hospital’s premises.

The circular, sent on March 4, was addressed all department heads of the hospital and urged them to advise their subordinates to follow the regulation.

They were also warned that disciplinary action would be taken against those who failed to comply.

Angered by the new directive, some doctors vented their frustration on Facebook, saying this was how narrow politics interfered in the service of government doctors.

“Why should the directive on stickers apply only to certain political parties?Why not all?” queried one doctor.

Another doctor said: “She only banned stickers and logos. Let’s put up big party flags on our car. See what she says.”

Another doctor reminded Zaininah that Barisan Nasional was the opposition in four states governed by Pakatan.

“Director my foot!” stated another livid staff. “Lowest of the lowest! The General Orders clearly say that we are allowed to support any political party. Go to hell you stupid, ugly, &^%&.”

Meanwhile, Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Dr S R Manalan said that it was inappropriate for Zaininah to issue such a directive.

“She should not have issued such prohibition. However, she is not a member of MMA and the directive was an administrative issue, it has nothing to do with the association,” he said.

In a recent development, Health Ministry director general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said that he had rebuked HKL’s management on the inappropriateness of its latest directive.

“Public servants must not involve politics in their professional affairs. We must be apolitical in discharging our duties,” said Noor Hisham, in a statement dated March 8.

He also said that it was also important to acknowledge that it was the professional obligation of public servants to support the government’s policy decision.

“Integrity is crucial to ensure the effectiveness and stability of a government machinery. It will help promote smooth implementation of government initiatives to take Malaysia to greater heights,” he added.

Malaysian soldier killed in firefight

During a gun battle, the security forces killed three terrorists, but unfortunately, a member of the security forces was also killed.

LAHAD DATU: Malaysian security forces suffered their ninth casualty today during a firefight with members of the self-styled “Sulu royal army” at Sungai Nyamuk in Lahad Datu this morning.

Armed Forces chief Gen Zulkifeli Mohd Zain said the security forces came across and challenged five men earlier in the morning when searching the area around Tanjung Batu.

Zulkifeli said the men however retreated and the soldiers trailed them.

“The security forces made contact with the intruders about 10.45am at the upper part of Sungai Nyamuk and a second round of firing took place.

“During the gun battle, the security forces killed three terrorists, but unfortunately, a member of the security forces was also killed,” Zulkifli told a press conference.

This is the first casualty suffered by the Malaysian security forces in Ops Daulat since March 5 after two police commandos were killed during a skirmish at Kg Tanduo and six more were killed during a raid at Kg Sri Jaya in Semporna.

Meanwhile, police also confirmed that a man high on their wanted list was among six people detained today on suspicion of having links to the armed group from the southern Philippines in an operation at Kampung Bangau-Bangau, Semporna.

Semporna police chief Mohd Firdaus Francis Abdullah said VAT 69 commandos and General Operations Force (PGA) personnel raided a house in the village where the suspects were said to have been hiding.

“We conducted a raid at 6am after receiving a tip-off,” he said.

No firearm or telecommunication equipment were found in the raid but police are holding them for questioning and also trying to determine their nationality.

Villagers claim that they had never seen the six before.

No disengagement

The Philippines media, meanwhile has reported that Agbimuddin Kiram, the man said to leading the group of invaders that Malaysian authorities have now designated as “terrorists” remains “alive and

well,” according to his family.

Members of the Kiram family who claim to be heirs to the Sulu Sultanate denied they were considering “disengagement” as announced on Monday by Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II after talks with sultan Bantilan Esmail Kiram II, brother of the self-styled sultan of Sulu Jamalul Kiram III.

The sultanate’s spokesman, Abraham Idjirani, said although the Kirams had authorised the dialogue between Esmail and Roxas, talk of “disengagement” was premature and not part of the discussions.

Briefing media in her home in Maharlika Village, Taguig City today, Pangyan Fatima Celia Kiram, Jamalul III’s wife, confirmed the family had never considered disengagement.

She said any decision on what the group in Sabah would do would come from Sultan Jamalul and other family members, including Bantilan Esmail, and those who lost loved ones.

“We do not want to make it appear this is our decision alone because we want a collective decision,” the news portal InterAksyon quoted her as saying.

The group has so far confirmed losing 23 members of his group since hostilities broke out on March 1.

Police in Sabah have said that among those killed was a former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) commander Haji Musa.

The Kiram family claim that they are still in communication with Agbimuddin. Another brother of Jamalul, Abdilnasser, said Esmail’s son, Abu Bakar, reportedly in Sabah and in touch with Agbimuddin, had told him that the group leader’s stand was that their “struggle goes on.”

Abdilnasser said his nephew, during their 7am phone conversation, relayed that Agbimuddin told him: “While you are negotiating there, we remain under fire, the fighting goes on.”

The Indians do have leverage

Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy pens his political thoughts while on his hunger strike for the sake of the minority communities in this country.
COMMENT

By P Waythamoorthy

Today is the second day of my hunger viratham (hunger strike). The purpose of this hunger viratham is to educate and sensitise the people and those in power about the inherent immorality of the socio-political system of our country in relation to minority communities in the country.

I would like to use the occasion of the hunger viratham to lay out my political thoughts for a wide audience. We have been shouting ourselves hoarse, but the political class refuses to open their ears and listen.

They want to continue the institutionalised racist and oppressive system in different guises. It appears that they will only listen if it starts to affect their positions materially.

The hunger viratham gives me the opportunity to focus the attention on the political shenanigans of these politicians and let the people become the masters and ensure they do not get misled by the politicians.

I will be writing on a variety of topics in this column titled ‘My political thoughts during the hunger viratham’. And today I shall start by looking into the short term plan for the Indian community.

The way forward

Indians are a minority community in Malaysia, forming around 7.4% of the populace. More than 70% of the Indian community is made up of present and former plantation workers –and acknowledged to be an economically depressed and marginalized community.

In 1957 when Malaysia got its independence from the Colonial British government, the Indian plantation workers just traded bosses from white skinned bosses to brown and yellow skinned ones. They however continued to be colonised, in substance.

White colonialism worked to produce profits through a set of unequal relationships between the colonists who resided in the distant British isles and the colonised, a significant portion of whom were the Indian plantation workers.

Brown and Yellow colonialism replacing it today produces profits, exploits and oppresses these same people for an elite within its own borders and in the name of a moral and sovereign rule of the Malaysian people.

For the colonised Indian plantation workers, nothing substantial changed. They remain colonised and disenfranchised, just as in the white colonial days.

The main features of today’s so called moral and sovereign rule of the people that replaced colonialism are political parties, politicians, periodic elections to the legislatures backed up by a national constitution and a set of laws that institutionalise a new set of unequal relationships.

Then “first past the post” political party runs the state. This is our political system today. It does not take much to make out how this system is biased towards perpetuation of the colonization and disenfranchisement of the outnumbered minorities and the tyrannical rule of the majority.

Unjust rule

Anyone who cannot not see this, and says Indians are not minorities are engaging in plain self serving polemics. They just do not want to see it this way, as it does not serve their narrow self interest.

The majority (the political party first past the post) will always be the ones at the controls of the resources of the nation and the minorities will always be at their mercy in this system.

Oppression and subjugation become natural outcomes in this system.

This system though initially thought to be a morally superior system to colonialism, has through its workings, shown its inherent immorality. It has led to unjust rule.

Oppression and subjugation of minorities cannot be morally justified. What is immoral has to go. This system of tyrannical majority rule has to go. This is our first of our conclusions.

Over the last 56 years we have seen the evolution of this system. The essential ethnocentricity of the political system has not quite changed in Peninsular Malaysia.

The monolithic Malay polity has broken up into two major factions and what was faction ridden Chinese polity has consolidated into a monolithic ethnic voting block and the monolithic rural Indian community has moved away from being a monolithic voting block on the side of status quo to something more amorphous and amenable to change.

The net of all this is that we have on the BN side an increasingly defensive Malay faction lined up with emaciated Chinese and Indian partners. On the other, we have the smaller estranged Malay faction lined up with the monolithic Chinese block on the Pakatan side.

We have a smattering of Indians as window dressing on both sides of the spectrum. The “dacing” hangs in balance in the Peninsula. In Sabah and Sarawak, BN is set to lose some ground. The East Malaysian Chinese and the Sabahans are showing a tendency to move away from BN. The net of all this really will be determined on Election Day.

Indian voters kingmakers

This situation provides a unique historical opportunity for the minority Indian voice to be heard in spite of the terrible majority bias of the system.

Whither goes the Indian vote and the Sabah and Sarawak votes, thither you will find the winner. This is the second of our conclusions.

The Indian vote can determine the winner in these elections. There are over 60 constituencies where the Indian vote will determine the winner – that is 60 out of 165 or in a third of the constituencies on the peninsula side.

Since the Indian vote can be the determinant in these elections, it behooves those vying for the Indian vote to take notice of this. We shall not be misled by the 7.4 % minority irrelevance argument.

The Indians do have leverage – though not by design but quite by accident. This is the third of our conclusions.

So we say if you want those determining votes in large enough quantity, then endorse our Five Year Blueprint in a binding way and we will help you to win.

If neither of the coalition takes up this offer, we have a couple of options to pursue. One is to make a call to all conscientious Malaysian Indians to abstain from voting altogether in these elections as both coalitions have shown no interest in seeking comprehensive and permanent solutions for the problems of the Indian poor.

They do not care. They do not deserve anything in return.

The other option is to make a call to vote based on what their conscience tells them is the right thing for them to do.

We will decide what we will ultimately do at an appropriate time in the future. The hunger viratham will continue and as with all that we engage in, we are a determined lot – we do not give up easy.

We will influence the tide of public opinion. In any case our struggle continues after the elections whatever the outcome of the elections.

This is our short term plan.

For the long term what will be needed will be achieved through advanced strategies which I will discuss in subsequent parts.

We will be campaigning for a complete dismantling of the institutionalised racist system that underlies Malaysia and that which causes the permanent colonization of the Indian poor.

P Waytha Moorthy is the Hindraf chairperson. He has been on his hunger strike since March 10.

Najib, Rosmah nominated for awards but…

The prime minister and his wife are in the running for the “Aiyo…Wat Lah!” awards.

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor are in the running to win awards. But it is for the wrong reasons.

Najib had been nominated for the “Insulting Intelligence” category with his remark that there was “no need for a women’s rights movement in Malaysia because equality has been given from the start.”

Whereas Rosmah could clinch the “Least Helpful To The Sisterhood” title with her call on women to stand by their husbands to help strengthen the family institution.

“It’s what wives must do, we give strength to our husbands,” she had said.

Inaugurated last year, the “Aiyo…Wat Lah!” awards is an annual event organised by the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG).

It aims to raise awareness on what constitutes sexism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia and to encourage higher standards of public discourse from public figures and institutions on these matters.

The awards focus on public statements and actions selected from media reports and there are seven categories: “Foot in Mouth”, “Insulting Intelligence”, “Policy Fail”, “Cannot Ignore”, “Least Helpful to Sisterhood”, Enough Already!” and “Right on Track”.

The shortlisted nominees for 2013 also saw the perpetuation of discriminatory attitudes towards the LGBT community in particular, reflected in the statements.

Last year’s winner for the “Insulting Intelligence” award was Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali.

The Pasir MAS MP had impressed judges when he said that “extramarital affairs are caused by wives who neglect their responsibilities to their husbands.”

Nazri for ‘Foot in Mouth’

Also slated for an award this year was Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz.

The de facto law minister had been nominated for the “Foot in Mouth” category with his response to a query on his son’s alleged link to a Sabah timber tycoon.

Nazri, who claimed to be in the dark about his son’s friends, had said: “I don’t sleep with my son, I am not gay.”

Revealing the nominees at a press conference here this morning, Awam representative Hew Li-Sha said that it was also sad to note that religion was being used to propagate prejudice against the LGBT community.

Commenting on the events nominated under the “Enough Already!” category, he added: “All religions preach tolerance and acceptance. We must be wary of the use of religion to spew hate and deny individuals their constitutional liberties and human rights.”

Also nominated under this category was the harassment faced by Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga.

Meanwhile, Lee also said that the awards could assists voters in selecting the right candidates during the next general election.

Other contenders include statements by Wanita MIC chief Komala Krishnamoorty and former Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, each having secured a spot in the “Least Helpful to the Sisterhood” category by respectively downplaying the gender discrimination faced by women on a daily basis, implying that women politicians were not as committed as their male counterparts and placing the burden of keeping their families together on married women.

Besides the six categories that focus on discriminatory attitudes, the Aiyoh…WAT Lah?! Awards include the “Right on Track” category.

“We thought it was also important to recognise positive statements and actions, as well as the individuals and institutions that took the progressive steps,” Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) reprsentative Yu Ren Chung.

Rayer gives Dhina 24-hour deadline

The DAP man wants the Penang MIC Youth chief to retract his allegations linking the former to abuse of power and corruption.

GEORGE TOWN: Penang MIC Youth chief J Dhinagaran has been given 24 hours to retract and openly apologise for allegedly linking a DAP man to abuse of power and graft.

DAP’s Seri Delima assemblyman RSN Rayer and his personal aide, S Sivalingam, have issued the notices of action to Dhinagaran.

They also want Dhinagaran to pay them damages; if he fails, they will file a legal suit by next week.

The notices, dated yesterday, were issued by legal firm R Nethaji Rayer & Co on behalf of the duo and delivered to Dhinagaran today.

The notices referred to Dhinagaran’s statement that appeared in FMT under article entitled “Penang state assemblyman under fire” on March 11, and in the Kuala Lumpur Post under article entitled “Penang MIC Youth Dhina Revealed Karpal Singh’s Strong Supporter in Corrupt Practices” on March 8.

The notices stated that Dhinagaran had recklessly, wrongly, irresponsibly, negligently, falsely and maliciously caused his statements to be published in both news portals, accusing Rayer and Sivalingam of abusing power and being involved in corrupt practices.

Rayer told a press conference here today that Dhinagaran’s allegations were malicious lies and challenged the MIC man to furnish proofs to support his claims.

Producing two letters as proof, Dhinagaran was reported to have said that a Pakatan Rakyat supporter, Rahman Mohd Zainal, had written to the DAP leaders alleging that Sivalingam had misused state education funds by allocating money to his relatives.

“Apparently, Sivalingam has allocated RM6,000 to his niece and another RM3,000 to his relative who is from Ipoh. He spent the state education fund for this with Rayer’s knowledge,” Dhinagaran added.

Dhinagaran said in the second letter, penned by Rayer himself, the DAP representative admitted donating a microwave oven to the Penang northeast land and district office.

But Rayer insisted that it was his personal gift to be used in the district office pantry section.

“It was not for any particular person or return of favour.

“It was a gift from my personal money, not from any funds,” said Rayer who produced a letter to substantiate his claims.

Rayer also admitted he allotted RM6,000 for a two-year period (2008 and 2009) to a female student, who happened to be his distant relative.

But he said the recipient who resided in Seri Delima was a needy person, and was qualified and eligible for the fund.

“The fund was allotted under an open transparent process. There was nothing fishy about it. I have rejected applications by so many relatives for similar funds on grounds of ineligibility,” he said.

He, however, strongly refuted Dhinagaran’s claims that he had allotted RM3,000 to another relative.

In an immediate response, Dhinagaran issued his own deadline to Rayer to speak the truth or the former would take action.

He said he would not accede to Rayer’s demands and gave him till Sunday to admit his mistakes. If Rayer fails to do so, Dhinagaran said he would lodge a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

“I have proof and I am not scared of his threat of legal suit. As a lawyer, he thinks he can get away with his threats.

“I am not cowed by his threats,” Dhinagaran said in a text message.

Cousins out to oust Kula from Ipoh seat

(NST) - IPOH: There is no love lost between DAP vice-chairman M. Kulasegaran and his arch-rivals, Perak DAP chairman Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham and its secretary, Nga Kor Ming, as the former is convinced that the duo are trying to oust him from his Ipoh Barat constituency.

A DAP insider revealed that Kulasegaran's recent tirade against Ngeh and Nga on social microblogging site Twitter stemmed from alleged attempts by the cousins to replace him with their supporter.

"Kulasegaran views the cousins' act of not inviting him to a dinner they had organised in his constituency as a way to embarrass him among party members. He also believes that their intention to discredit him is to kick him out in preference for compliant personalities aligned to their camp."

The source, who is closely acquainted with Kulasegaran, said Nga, who is Pantai Remis assemblyman, harboured dreams of contesting the Kepayang state seat in the coming polls, which was one of three state seats within the Ipoh Barat parliamentary constituency.

Last year, incumbent Kepayang assemblyman Loke Chee Yan had announced that he would not be seeking reelection.

"Apparently, Kepayang is ideal for Nga, who resides in Ipoh. His potential successor in Pantai Remis state seat is a 35-year-old woman, who is a member of the DAP Pantai Remis branch and Nga's henchman."

The source, who described Nga as the "architect of DAP's destruction", said Kulasegaran was not favoured by Ngeh and Nga as the duo felt Kulasegaran was the reason for their poor popularity within the Indian community.

"It is said that the state DAP leaders are not worried about losing Kulasegaran and they are confident of winning all 18 state seats which the party won in March 2008.

"Their impression is that winning the Ipoh Barat parliamentary seat will come easily and guaranteed regardless of the candidate fielded."

It is learnt that Kulasegaran, Ngeh and Nga were only on talking terms in public, but did not make any attempt to mend the rift.

Kulasegaran recently took to tweeting his frustrations about being sidelined by Ngeh and Nga, and went as far as tagging them in the March 8 postings, which were still on his Twitter account.

Kamalanathan: Pakatan rule is no different from BN

by Pathma Subramaniam
FZGRAPHICS

Pakatan Rakyat practises the same things it accuses the Barisan Nasional of doing, says Hulu Selangor member of parliament P Kamalanathan.

CONTRARY to claims that it would be more inclusive in its administration, the Pakatan Rakyat practises the same things it accuses the Barisan Nasional of doing, according to Hulu Selangor member of parliament P Kamalanathan. This clearly shows that when a federal opposition party takes over a state, it is no different from the ruling power in its actions, he said.

In addition, the electorate in the vast Hulu Selangor parliamentary constituency, located at the northern edge of the country's richest state, are distressed from having to constantly endure the politicising of their problems, Kamalanathan claimed.

Most voters in this semi-rural constituency are employed in the manufacturing sector.

The locals earn between RM600 and RM2,500 monthly, and are generally sheltered from the increasing inflation that affects people in the urban centres. Prices of food items remain affordable and rent is relatively low due to a plateau in property values.

However, the one thing that would vex the populace, which includes more than 84,200 voters, is the patchy infrastructure maintenance and gaps in public works and services.

Kamalanathan said the problem starts with the councillors appointed to the Hulu Selangor Municipal Council (MDHS).

"The officers are very helpful and nice but unfortunately they have to follow instructions from the councillors, who are very difficult.

"Letters written by BN representatives or machinery are unheeded. For example, if we write in saying the roads were not properly paved or about potholes that were not properly treated, nothing is done," he complained.

"Street lights in many areas here don't work. When I check with Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), they say the lights are okay but the municipal council has not paid the bill," exclaimed the first-term MP. According to him, the council owes TNB a few hundred thousand ringgit.

MDHS was not immediately available for comment.

Kamalanathan estimates that the Pakatan Rakyat-led state has used less than 60% of the federal allocation meant for road maintenance in Selangor under the Malaysian Road Records Information System (Marris).

"Where has the other 40% gone? In Hulu Selangor, several roads have yet to be resurfaced because there is not enough money from the state government.

"If these monies where properly channelled to the state's councils then all these problems would have been solved," he said. Despite repeated demands for clarification, said Kamalanathan, the state did not respond to the allegation.

He pointed out a spot where soil erosion caused by heavy rainfall last year at the road corner opposite his service centre in Bukit Beruntung has yet to be attended to.

The site of the erosion and its surroundings, have since become a dumping ground for business operators in the area.

"It's been more than a year and it's still there. They are not being inclusive, they are not even willing to have a meeting with me. They are not walking the talk. It's the same culture they claim was practiced by BN," he said, referring to the lack of cooperation from the councillors.

"I don't have enough to provide for people who come asking me to help repair roads in their housing areas."

The Auditor General's Report 2011 only criticised the state government for channelling the road repair funds to a state government-linked company, Pendidikan Industri YS Sdn. Bhd. (PIYSB), for the construction of Universiti Selangor.

The audit stated that it was "improper" to utilise RM5.15 million of Marris funds to offset part of PIYSB's borrowing from the state government, as the expense did not involve issues related to road maintenance.

However, the report did not reveal the total amount of the federal government's allocation for the Marris scheme in 2011.

Besides this, he said the Pakatan-run state, which subsidises 20 cubic metres of water for consumers, has yet to resolve cases of those who use bulk metres in Hulu Selangor.

"Many here still share their meters and the state has yet to change their meters to individual ones although it was promised," said Kamalanathan.

"(Menteri Besar) Tan Sri Khalid (Ibrahim) says Selangor is the only state that gives free water, but if this doesn't translate into water for all, then how fair is the policy?" he asked.

The state could have issued a coupon system for those with bulk meters, he suggested, which could be used for bill payment.

Kamalanathan said that his constituents are very pleased when he solves their problems, and this reassures him that BN can retain Hulu Selangor in the 13th general election.

The grounding of India's middle class

The Kingfisher girls with the boss

(Asia Sentinel) The party's over for India's low-cost budget airlines

Will air travel in India ever become cheap again? Will typical Indian middle class families with noisy kids and neatly packed tiffin boxes of food be able to afford a plane ticket again? Just a few years back this was possible.

The thrifty train-traveling population of India that likes to pack homemade Poorie (oily form of bread) and Pickle to save money at restaurants could afford to fly to exotic destinations such as Goa at rail fare budgets.

The offerings were from low cost, no-frills airlines like Indigo, Go Air, Spice Jet and the erstwhile Air Deccan. If one got lucky online, the air fare could even be cheaper than the to and fro airport taxi expense.

Swarms of itinerant Indians clicked their way to the first airplane journeys of their lifetimes, a journey to be proudly displayed in personal albums or later Facebook alongside the obligatory shots in front of the magnificent Taj Mahal or the Qutub Minar.

Planes turned into noisy picnic spots. This writer remembers couple of instances of kindly aunties happily distributing their home cooked food fare to any passenger that cared to partake in scenes that were strangely reminiscent of what you might see on an Indian train journey.

Even the crew joined the party. Only the state-owned Indian Airlines, with its surly flight attendants, continued to lose customers.

To take on competition the carrier changed its name to Air India for whatever reason, while heavily losing money even as the unionized staff aggressively fought with the government for better salary and perks. The flying experience, however, was overhauled, courtesy of the private players.

For those who could afford it, there was Kingfisher Airlines, named after the popular beer brand, usually patronized by the snooty suited corporate class, traveling on company expense with access to free booze at business class lounges and the added attention of very pretty and leggy air hostesses for the feel good factor.

Kingfisher's extravagance included gifts to each passenger and a personal message on individual screens, another novelty for a domestic carrier, delivered in style by diamond earring-studded Vijay Mallya exhorting "guests" to live life King Size.

The gorgeous Yana Gupta in a micro mini explained the life jacket process. All passengers listened and watched attentively, for a change.

Good times they were, until, that is, it all came crashing down due to high fuel costs, taxes, government mismanagement of air routes and Kingfisher selling a dream beyond its means. The party was well and truly over.

The high flying company executives have since occupied low cost airlines seats, now priced far above the erstwhile full fare rates. The corporate tickets continue to be packaged with free meals on board to keep the envy factor alive. Those paying from their own pockets obviously do not shell out Rs200 (US$3.70) for an extra-spicy, extra-oily sandwich, just because one is midair for a couple of hours. Sadly, the friendly flying aunties dishing out delicious Poories for all to share have disappeared.

The budget traveler, already struggling with rising inflation, has been pushed out. Going to Goa is a middle class dream once again, the sublime beaches accessible only on post cards. One can actually visit Southeast Asia at similar fares, with the added label of having visited a foreign country.

The Poorie and Pickle traveling section, described infamously by the eloquent Shashi Tharoor as the cattle class, are back to rail and bus holidays, given limitations of absolute travel budgets.

This brings us back the original question? Will the rail travelers again graduate to flying? Changes are happening in India's struggling aviation sector following amendments to foreign investment rules. A new low cost domestic carrier backed by AirAsia, the indefatigable Ratan Tata and Tata Group is in the offing. Foreign players such as Emirates and Etihad are looking at investment options in Spice Jet, Jet Airways and the grounded Kingfisher, and could infuse much-needed capital. A price war is currently under way, though cheap tickets are still very difficult to come by. Will India's aviation sector sustain?

Will the cattle class be able to occupy planes again? Will the pretty model hostesses of Kingfisher airlines be back with their life jacket performances? One can only hope for the best.

(This first appeared on the Mocking Indian blog. Reprinted with permission from Asian Correspondent, with which Asia Sentinel has a copy-sharing agreement.)

Cops rule out foul play in convict’s death in cell

The Star

IPOH: Post-mortem reports revealed that the death of a convicted prisoner while in Kampar police custody was due to pulmonary embolism, which is a sudden blockage of the lung artery.

State deputy police chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk A. Paramasivam said the post-mortem report also revealed that there was no trauma or external injury.

“I have personally explained this to the family and I urge the public not to speculate or make any allegation,” he said.

M. Ragu, 47, from Malim Nawar, surrendered himself to the police after assaulting a shopkeeper on March 4.

He was then convicted and sentenced by the Kampar magistrate's court to eight months' jail and fined RM2,000 on March 8.

SAC Paramasivam said that due to unforeseen circumstances, Ragu was not transferred to the Tapah prison immediately after the court decision but was scheduled for yesterday.

He added that the sentry tried to wake him up at his cell on Sunday morning but he showed no movement, so police sent for a medical officer from Kampar Hospital, who later certified that he had died.

In compliance with the Criminal Procedure Code, the police also brought a magistrate to examine the crime scene.

SAC Paramasivam said police classified the case as sudden death and directed Kampar OCPD Supt Ng Kong Soon to find out what exactly happened during Ragu's detention.

“We are sad this happened and extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, but rest assured that we will be transparent and will take action if we find anyone responsible for this. As it is now, there is no foul play.”

UMNO Menjadi Dalang Menggalakkan Keganasan, Ambil Kesempatan Dari Peristiwa Lahad Datu

Mewakili kepimpinan KEADILAN, saya mengutuk sekeras-kerasnya tindakan
ganas Umno dalam beberapa insiden terkini yang mengancam keselamatan
orang ramai dan pimpinan KEADILAN.

Rusuhan yang diadakan oleh pengikut-pengikut Umno berniat jahat dan
berunsur ganas dari awal, apabila mereka membaling telur, kayu dan kon
lalulintas ke arah ibupejabat KEADILAN yang turut mengenai beberapa
anggota KEADILAN yang berada di tempat yang sama. Keganasan ini adalah
terancang kerana mereka membawa telur, kayu dan kon lalulintas
semata-mata bagi tujuan ini.

Selain bertindak ganas, pengikut-pengikut Umno ini juga mengugut untuk
membakar bangunan yang merupakan satu ancaman jenayah.

Sepanjang kejadian ini berlaku, tidak ada seorang anggota polis pun
yang campur tangan untuk menghentikan perlakuan ganas yang melanggar
undang-undang. Sangatlah memalukan apabila Balai Polis Tropicana
hanyalah terletak dua pintu dari ibupejabat KEADILAN dan anggota polis
hanya berpeluk tubuh sahaja.

Perkara yang sama berlaku di Melaka (yang melibatkan Dato’ Seri Anwar
Ibrahim) dan di depan pejabat Saudara Tian Chua di Jalan Ipoh
(termasuk ugutan untuk mencederakan Saudara Tian Chua); kedua-duanya
berlaku minggu lepas. Dengan perlakuan ganas yang mencederakan orang
ramai, anggota polis tidak pun diberi arahan oleh ketua mereka untuk
bertindak menahan pengikut-pengikut Umno yang biadap, melanggar
undang-undang dan menjejaskan keselamatan awam.

Sebab itu KEADILAN meletakkan sepenuh tanggungjawab ekoran
insiden-insiden keganasan ini di atas bahu Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak
dan Umno/Barisan Nasional kerana ia sudah tentu mendapat restu dari
pimpinan Umno/Barisan Nasional. Sehingga kini tidak ada seorang pun
pimpinan Umno/Barisan Nasional yang tampil mengutuk kejadian keganasan
ini.

Siri keganasan ini dipertingkatkan kebelakangan ini bersempena kempen
fitnah yang cuba mengaitkan Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim dan kepimpinan
KEADILAN yang lain kononnya sebagai dalang peristiwa pencerobohan di
Lahad Datu. Selain propaganda di media perdana yang dimainkan saban
hari, kumpulan-kumpulan samseng Umno digerakkan untuk mengugut dan
menimbulkan kebencian melalui cara keganasan.

Saya yakin ini adalah perancangan tersusun Umno/Barisan Nasional yang
mengambil kesempatan dari peristiwa pencerobohan di Lahad Datu sebagai
modal politik untuk menimbulkan kebencian terhadap Dato’ Seri Anwar
Ibrahim. Politik kebencian yang dimainkan Umno/Barisan Nasional ini
dijadikan alasan untuk mengancam keselamatan pimpinan KEADILAN melalui
siri keganasan yang berterusan.

Malah, saya tidak menolak kemungkinan politik kebencian atas
kesempatan peristiwa pencerobohan di Lahad Datu mungkin digunakan oleh
anasir tertentu di dalam Umno untuk memastikan Dato’ Seri Anwar
Ibrahim sendiri ditahan, disiasat dan seterusnya didakwa di bawah
undang-undang keselamatan.

Saya menasihati pimpinan tertinggi Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) supaya
mengambil berat kejadian-kejadian keganasan yang makin meningkat dan
mengenakan tindakan keras terhadap mereka yang terlibat dan menjadi
dalang. Pimpinan tertinggi PDRM juga wajiblah menolak sebarang anasir
yang cuba mengambil kesempatan dari peristiwa pencerobohan di Lahad
Datu untuk menekan lawan politik seperti yang berlaku sekarang.

RAFIZI RAMLI
PENGARAH STRATEGI PKR

Speaking up on Lahad Datu is patriotism

First off, I wish to put on record my heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the families of the soldiers who laid down their lives for the country. I do not for one moment doubt your courage and commitment to the defence of our country. Malaysians of all backgrounds owe you a debt that can never be repaid.

Defence of the country’s sovereignty is the duty of all Malaysians who love the country. National defence is not something that most people wear on their sleeves. However, this duty extends beyond the physical defence of the country, which is the job of the armed forces.

It should and must include speaking up when things are not right. This is something that we as a people have not done for so many years, having left that to our elected representatives in parliament.

However, the Lahad Datu Invasion weighs heavy on my mind, as it does that of many, many concerned Malaysians. This is not to denigrate nor trivialise the sacrifices made by our armed forces. The dangers are real. Bombs and bullets do fly.
Unfortunately, people do get killed. As a country, it is only right that we close ranks to face the enemy. But, the big question is, “Who is the enemy?”

Is it the ragtag group of armed insurgents? Or is there a hidden hand here? Have you ever thought of the ridiculousness and implausibility of the situation? A group of 200 odd foreign armed men, landed on Malaysian soil with women and children in tow.

Their announced purpose is to speak and negotiate with an important Malaysian on claiming back land that they say belongs to them. In history, how many wars have been declared by an impoverished “sultanate” that can hardly make ends meet on a bigger, much better equipped neighbour?

And they have to cross the Sulu sea in small boats to do it. The last time an armada crossed the sea to attack another country was when Britain sent a naval task force to the Falklands. Notice it was not Argentina sending their people on small boats to Great Britain?

Who in their right mind would go for a negotiation armed to the teeth with guns especially when the enemy is bigger, stronger, better armed and have the home ground advantage?

---

STAN CH LEE is a Malaysian at heart in Toronto. He used to express himself mainly through drawings and pictures, but discovered that some things are better said in words.

BN Determined To Wrest Back Selangor - Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 (Bernama) -- The difficulties faced by the people of Selangor the last five years has made the Barisan Nasional (BN) all the more determined to wrest the state back from the opposition in the upcoming 13th general election, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The Prime Minister said the BN was not solely after power, but instead if the mandate were given to it to lead Selangor again, the coalition would ensure the people of Selangor enjoyed development brought by the federal government so that they need not be mired in all sorts of problems.

"We have seen that if the federal and state government are not from the same party, a lot of problems wil crop up... problems that should not be politicised like water supply.

"...the government's aim to ensure adequate water supply through the Langat 2 project till today has not been able to take off because the Selangor government will not issue the development order," he said on the 'Conversation With The PM' programme aired by private television station TV3 Tuesday night.

Because of this, the Prime Minister said the federal government was forced to spend RM600 juta and added RM121 million more to find short term solutions to resolve water woes faced by the people of Selangor.

"If we don't (recapture Selangor), it will make life more difficult for the people. Many development projects (in the state) are delayed now because water supply cannot be guaranteed. This inconveniences the people and stunts the nation's growth," he said.

The Prime Minister also said that the provision of the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) was not an election gimmick as made out by the opposition.

It was a government initiative to help those earning RM3,000 and below a month to lighten their burden, he said.

On another note, Najib said since the government launched Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (Talent Corp) to bring home talented Malaysians from abroad, a total 1,600 individuals had returned to work in the country in 2011 and 2012.

He said the figure was something to be proud of as in the 10 years before 2011, only 1,100 Malaysian professionals returned from abroad to work in the country.

NGO mahu Najib boikot Sri Lanka

Sekiranya kerajaan tidak memenuhi tuntutan ini, pimpinan Najib akan tumbang dalam pilihan raya umum ke 13

PETALING JAYA: Sebuah NGO tempatan iaitu Angkatan Kemajuan Tamil meminta Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak memboikot kerajaan Sri Lanka yang didakwa `membunuh kanak-kanak dan wanita Tamil’ di negara itu.

“Kerajaan juga perlu memboikot Sukan Komanwel yang akan diadakan di Sri Lanka sebagai tanda Malaysia tidak menyokong perlanggaran hak asasi manusia, pembunuhan kejam terhadap masyarakat awam yang tidak bersalah,” kata Presidennya, M.A Kalaimugilan.

Katanya, kerajaan juga perlu menghentikan hubungan ekonomi dengan Sri Lanka dan mengisytiharkan sekatan ekonomi sebagai tanda menghormati masyarakat Tamil.

Beliau mendakwa, tuntutan tersebut selari dengan tuntutan masyarakat Tamil di Malaysia.

Katanya, untuk itu kerajaan perlu menghormati perasaan dan kehendak pengundi Tamil yang berada di negara ini.

Beliau menambah, sekiranya kerajaan tidak memenuhi tuntutan ini, pimpinan Najib akan tumbang dalam pilihan raya umum ke 13.

“Kami akan berusaha untuknya (menumbangkan BN),” tambah beliau.

Clogged arteries take PI Bala out of GE trail

The discovery that he has three clogged arteries in his heart has forced former private eye P Balasubramaniam to suspend his participation in the general election campaign for Pakatan Rakyat.

PI Bala, as he is better known, has been warded for treatment at a private hospital in Selangor since March 3.
He first experienced chest pains while campaigning in Kota Bharu on March 1.

Although he had felt better after a painkilling injection then, he experienced more pain on his way back from Kelantan, he told Malaysiakini yesterday.

Bala said he had shrugged it off and gone on to another speaking engagement in Damansara, Selangor, on March 2 but that he had felt worse that night.

"I was very tired. I was sleeping, but early (the next) morning at about 5, I couldn't breathe. If I (sat up, I could breathe) okay, if I (lay) down I (couldn’t)," he related, saying he decided to go for a check up at the hospital.

Since his return from Chennai, India, late last month, Bala has been hitting the ground, campaigning for Pakatan.

His role has been to explain what he knows about the alleged involvement of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and those close to Najib in the events surrounding the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Najib himself has strenuously denied any such involvement.

Bala came to prominence after filing two contradictory statutory declarations relating to Altantuya’s murder and then fleeing the country, ostensibly for his own safety.

Members of his family, who had flown in to visit him, were in the hospital room with him.

Bala, who sported a slightly unkempt beard, appeared to be high spirits despite his weak physical condition.

"(When) the doctor (says) one part of your heart has stopped beating, what would you feel?" he asked, still managing to flash a smile.

He pledged to continue serving in Pakatan's GE13 campaign if he was able to.

"No, no, this is not going to stop me from campaigning. I am definitely going to come back... This is a small matter," he said.

However, Bala was practical enough to concede that, if there were health complications, he will not be able to do so.

He has already missed speaking engagements in Johor Bharu on March 6 and in Sabah on March 9.

Silver lining

Due to be discharged today, Bala will return to hospital for a follow-up check after a week on medication to reduce clotting in his veins.

His doctor will then decide if he needs to undergo stenting or open heart bypass surgery to correct his condition.

If Bala only requires stenting - a procedure to introduce mesh 'tubes' to open up his clogged veins via small incisions - he may be able to return to campaigning.

If a heart bypass is required, the recovery time could stretch beyond the date of the GE, which must be held by June 28.

Bala said he had just become comfortable with talking to a mass audience after his maiden appearance at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall on Feb 28.

He believes that the people’s support for Pakatan is stronger than ever and will lead to its electoral victory.

The doughty former police Special Branch officer also sees a silver lining in this grey episode.

"This is good. If I didn't come back for the campaign, I might not have known (about my heart condition). I might have stayed in India. I might have died silently."

Kin denied inspection of custodial death victim's body

The family of M Ragu, who died in custody at the Kampar district police station, is crying foul for being prevented from inspecting the body for injuries or recording their findings on camera.

Ragu's (right) nephew M Veeganes said the police ordered him to keep his mobile phone in his pocket when he was at the mortuary at Kampar Hospital to check on the body.

"If there is no suspicion about my uncle's death, why are they preventing me from using my (mobile) phone to take pictures of my uncle?" Veeganes said when contacted.

He said that he was only allowed a brief glance at the body, which was completely covered in a white cloth, with only the face exposed.

There was no visible injury on the face but Veeganes was not able to check whether there were injuries on other parts of body.

Police: Buy the pictures from us

When contacted, Kampar district police chief Ng Kong Soon explained that the family could not touch the remains as "evidence can be disturbed".

Ng said only the forensic team was allowed to perform any examination of the body.

On barring Veeganes from taking photographs, Ng said this was a standard procedure.

"The family is not allowed to take pictures. The police have a team of professional photographers to do so. It is not an easy job.

"The court will query where, when and what camera model was used when the photographs are submitted," Ng told Malaysiakini.

However, Ng said Ragu's family could write in to request to purchase the police photographs.

Police chief: No foul play

On March 6, Ragu, who has a history of a mental illness, quarrelled with and assaulted a shopkeeper.

Subsequently, he surrendered to the police and two days later was sentenced to eight months' jail and fined RM2,000.

Ragu was found dead in the Kampar district police headquarters lock-up on Sunday morning, just before he was to be transferred to prison.

According to The Star, Perak deputy police chief A Paramasivam said Ragu died of "pulmonary embolism".

Paramasivam classified the case as "sudden death" and said there was no sign of trauma or external injury.

Lawyer P Uthayakumar (left), who is representing Ragu's family, said the family wants a second post-mortem conducted, if necessary abroad, since the independence of local hospitals was in question.

Uthayakumar said police officers were never charged for murder in custodial death cases and this worrying problem has gone unabated.

Parents file lawsuit to remove yoga from a California school district

Washington (USA) : A civil lawsuit has been filed against a school district in California seeking to suspend a controversial yoga programme which parents feel "unlawfully" promotes religious beliefs.

Not seeking any monetary compensation, the lawsuit filed by National Center for Law and Policy, on behalf of aggrieved parents, urged the San Diego Superior Court to immediately suspend "Ashtanga Yoga" programme of the Encinitas Union School District (EUSD) and restore traditional physical education.

Writing in support of the lawsuit, Harvard educated religious studies Professor Candy Gunther Brown said that the Ashtanga yoga programme is inherently and pervasively religious, having its roots firmly planted in Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist, and Western Metaphysical religious beliefs and practices.

As such, the programme violates California constitutional provisions prohibiting government religious preference and religious discrimination, alleged the lawsuit.

"EUSD's Ashtanga yoga programme represents a serious breach of the public trust," attorney Dean Broyles alleged.

"This is frankly the clearest case of the state trampling on the religious freedom rights of citizens that I have personally witnessed in my 18 years of practice as a constitutional attorney.

"The programme is extremely divisive and has unfortunately led to the harassment, discrimination, bullying, and segregation of children who, for good reasons, opt out of the programme," Broyles alleged.

The school district introduced yoga in its schools after it received a USD 533,720 grant from the KP Jois Foundation for the purpose.

The programme sparked controversy among parents who feel Ashtanga yoga infringes on their religious beliefs.

The EUSD Superintendent Dr Timothy Baird has argued the yoga programme is far from unconstitutional.

"To be unconstitutional, we would have to be promoting religion and religious instruction in our programme. That just isn't happening," Baird said.

Instead, she argued that through yoga the school system is promoting physical activity and overall wellness.

The School District has selected the instructors and have designed the curriculum.

"There is no religion in this curriculum," Baird said.

Jois Foundation's CEO, Eugene Ruffin, denied the allegation by parents, saying, "there's a ton of positives of yoga. We know it works. But we're not pushing a particular brand of yoga," he said.

Shariah Police in Aceh Arrest Dozens in Weekend Raids

Shariah police question a young couple. (Reuters Photo/Damir Sagolj)

Banda Aceh. Authorities in Banda Aceh rounded up dozens of people over the weekend, mostly   women, for allegedly violating the province’s ultraconservative Islamic bylaws on indecent conduct.

The series of raids was carried out late Saturday night and early Sunday by the Wilayatul Hisbah, the so-called Shariah police, with help from regular police and soldiers.

Effendi, a WH official, said two couples were arrested at a hotel in Banda Aceh during one of the raids, and had been taken into custody for violating a bylaw prohibiting khalwat , the practice of unmarried couples being alone together in private.

“The four individuals are still being questioned by our officers,” he told the Jakarta Globe on Sunday afternoon.

“If they refuse to see the error of their ways, we’ll have to charge them under the bylaw, for which they could be punished with a public caning.”

In another raid led by Illiza Sa’aduddin Djamal, Banda Aceh deputy mayor, WH officers arrested 15 women from a cafe on the outskirts of the city.

Officials said the women were arrested for wearing tight-fitting clothes and for being out late at night.

No men were arrested in that raid.

A third raid, at a boarding house in a densely populated part of the city, netted one man and three women.

Effendi said the man was believed to be a pimp. He said WH raided the house after receiving complaints from residents about “un-Islamic activities” taking place there, but declined to elaborate.

He added that the three women found at the scene were arrested for wearing tight clothing.

“We’re continuing to question these four people because we have strong reason to believe that the man is a pimp and that the three women are ‘comfort women,’ ” Effendi said.

Three more women were arrested in a further raid on a late-night eatery in the Banda Aceh outskirts for wearing tight-fitting clothes, forbidden under Aceh’s partial adoption of Shariah law.

Effendi said all the women arrested for this violation were released into the custody of their families after promising not to repeat their conduct.

Illiza said the raids were necessary to “keep Banda Aceh clean from the stench of vice.”

“We’re carrying out these raids to crack down on those that are violating Shariah law,” she said.

“We raided several places tonight, mostly hotels and cafes. It’s very sad that we keep finding people doing these things, no matter how often we conduct these raids.

“Most of those we caught tonight were committing khalwat, so we hope we can return them to the right path.”

Lancaster Islamic girls' school sex assault: Men arrested

Three men arrested following an alleged sexual assault and false imprisonment at an Islamic girls'

The secondary school has more than 400 pupils

school have links with the school, police said.

Officers are investigating a single alleged incident last Tuesday involving a small number of girls at Jamea Al Kauthar in Lancaster.

A Bolton man, 40, and a Blackburn man, 30, have been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and false imprisonment.

A Blackburn man aged 53 was arrested on suspicion of false imprisonment.

Searches are being conducted at the school by female officers.

The alleged incident was reported to police on Saturday and a search warrant was executed on Sunday.

Police will not confirm the details of the men's connections with the establishment, but said they were arrested at the school.
Concerned parents

Lancashire Police said it does not have the identities of all the girls and it is trying to find out if the alleged victims are current or former pupils.

Supt Andy Webster said: "We are still at the very early stages of what is a complex investigation and we have dedicated officers working to establish the full facts.

"Our aim at this stage is to respond to the information given to us in a proportionate and sensitive way.

"We will seek to minimise the impact and the disruption to the school and our local communities while we investigate the allegation."

A spokesman for Jamea Al Kauthar said: "The school is aware of the allegations that have been made and at the present moment the school is fully co-operating with the police with their investigations into the matter.

"We expect the matter to be cleared up soon."

Lancashire Police has set up a dedicated phone line for concerned parents of pupils to call.

The secondary school, on Ashton Road, was established in 1996 and has more than 400 pupils.

Police said a "significant number" of pupils at the independent boarding school are international students.

Saya sayang Saiful hingga akhir hayat

Pro-BN groups throw eggs, sticks at PKR supporters

Manila, Kiram clan discuss ‘disengagement’ of Sulu force

Police search two men detained at Tanjung Labian, in Lahad Datu, March 6, 2013. — Reuters pic
KUALA LUMPUR, March 11 ― Manila has revived talks with the Kiram family over the possibility of withdrawing the Sulu Sultanate’s fighters from Sabah to end the month-long armed conflict with Malaysia, Philippine Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas said today.

According to several reports in the Philippine media, Roxas held a two-hour closed-door meeting in Quezon City this afternoon with Bantilan Esmail Kiram II to discuss the “disengagement” of the Sultanate’s combatants.

Esmail is the younger brother of the self-proclaimed Sulu “Sultan” Jamalul Kiram III. Another brother, Agbimuddin Kiram, is believed to be still in hiding in Lahad Datu, Sabah, where Malaysian security forces are conducting an operation flush out the rebel group.

According to ABN-CBS News, Esmail said the Kiram family would weigh the option but wanted to know what would happen to the Sultanate’s followers should they lay down arms.

“We are all deeply concerned about what’s happening in Lahad Datu, Sabah,” Roxas said in the network’s online report.

“I updated them (the Kiram clan) on the Philippine government’s actions via the DFA’s (Department of Foreign Affairs) negotiations with the Malaysians to protect those who are innocent,” he added.

The Sulu incursion in Sabah has so far resulted in the deaths of 63 people, including 54 Filipino militants, eight Malaysian policemen and one teenage boy.

The Sultan’s brother, Agbimuddin Kiram, led a group of over 200 armed rebels to Lahad Datu on February 9 to lay the Sultanate’s claim over the resource-rich territory in north Borneo.

The network reported that Roxas would not divulge more information on his talk with Esmail and merely confirmed they had discussed “disengagement” for the sake of protecting the lives of Filipinos in Sabah who were not involved in the incursion.

The secretary pointed out that it was already public knowledge that the Malaysian government wanted the Sulu militants to surrender unconditionally, but said the Kirams were concerned over how this would be done.
Jamalul had sought a ceasefire but was told to order his fighters to surrender unconditionally. — Reuters pic
The Kiram family called for a ceasefire last Thursday upon receiving reports that more of its men were falling from battles with Malaysian forces but Putrajaya rejected the appeal.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, in an immediate reaction, told the invaders to surrender unconditionally or face death.

Roxas noted that the only peaceful option open to the Kiram family was to accede to the call to surrender, adding that Esmail was also aware of the efforts by the Philippine government to ensure the conflict does not claim more lives.

“So, Esmail is very much aware of the efforts undertaken by the government to prevent the firefight since the crisis started on March 1,” Roxas said.

The secretary also said today’s meeting has the blessing of the ailing Jamalul, who is currently undergoing dialysis treatment in Manila.

Esmail has also been asked by the Malaysian government to act as intermediary between the Sultanate and government negotiators, Roxas claimed.

The first firefight between Malaysian forces and the Sulu gang started on March 1 and resulted in the death of 20 Sulu militants and eight Malaysians. The Kiram family has labelled the clash as the “March 1 massacre”.

Reeling from the loss of Malaysian lives, Putrajaya launched Ops Daulat last Tuesday to flush out the rest of the Sulu invaders, sending in battalions of armed troops and mounting an aerial airstrike on the gunmen.

As of this afternoon, the Sulu incursion in Sabah has resulted in the deaths of 63 people, including 54 Filipino militants, eight Malaysian policemen and one teenage boy.

Agbimuddin had first led a group of over 200 armed rebels to Lahad Datu on February 9 to lay the Sultanate’s claim over the resource-rich territory in north Borneo. It is not known how many of the group now remain.

PI Bala: I wasn’t promised RM700,000

Raja Petra Kamarudin is writing bullshit stories, says private investigator P Balasubramaniam.

PETALING JAYA: Private investigator P Balasubramaniam swears he was not promised payment for the 2008 statutory declaration (SD) linking Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to the murder of Altantuya Shaaribuu.

Bala said this in response to claims by blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin that Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim had personally promised the private investigator RM700,000 if he agreed to come up with the first SD by July 1, 2008.

Citing a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) source, Raja Petra had said Anwar wanted the SD to implicate Najib, who was then defence minister, so that his Sept 16 plan of becoming prime minister would succeed.

“I swear on my mother, I do not know anything about this RM700,000. All these accusations against me are bullshit,” Bala told FMT today.

“In fact, I had only met Anwar twice: once in 1994, when I was on official duty, and the second was the day I signed my first SD during the [July 3, 2008] press conference. I never met him again afterwards, either.”

Bala stressed that the question of money never came up in his preparation of the first SD, denying even the RM100,000 he allegedly received from lawyer Puravelan.

“My purpose has always been the truth, never money. What can I do with money? I can’t bring it to my grave,” he said.

But Raja Petra had claimed that Bala had contacted businessman Deepak Jaikishan after he did not receive the full payment of the RM700,000 – an encounter that eventually led to the second SD, which reversed all claims made in the first one.

Responding to this, Bala said: “Raja Petra has nothing to write about, so he comes up with bullshit. He’s my friend, but I don’t know how to advise him.”

He conceded that he had met with Deepak, but reiterated that the ensuing second SD was done out of duress.

“I changed my statement out of duress, but then when Najib became prime minister in 2009, I openly said what happened to me, and my statement has been consistent since then.”

Bala also admitted to having received payment from Deepak after making the second SD, and said that the money had been used for travel, food expenses as well as the education of his children.

Not paid by PKR

Meanwhile, Bala dismissed rumours that his return to Malaysia was paid for by PKR, whom he had pledged support for.

“The flight back to Malaysia was my own money, because some of the money Deepak gave me, I kept. Nobody paid for my trip,” he said.

“I’m not a Pakatan [Rakyat] member. I’m not affiliated with any party in the coalition, not with DAP, PKR or PAS. But I support them because my heart says Malaysia needs change.”

‘Anwar promised RM700,000 to PI Bala’

However, Raja Petra says the money was not paid in full and this resulted in Balasubramaniam contacting Deepak Jaikishnan.

PETALING JAYA: In his latest posting, Raja Petra Kamarudin has revealed how private investigator P Balasubramaniam was allegedly conned of the RM700,000 promised to him by Anwar Ibrahim.

Citing a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) source who quoted carpet businessman Deepak Jaikishnan’s statement to the MACC, the Malaysia Today webmaster claimed that Balasubramaniam was promised the amount in return for his first statutory declaration to implicate Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor in the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

In July 2008, Raja Petra said a prominent lawyer introduced Balasubramaniam to lawyers R Sivarasa and Americk Sidhu.

“Sivarasa then arranged for Balasubramaniam to meet Anwar to discuss signing a SD to directly implicate Najib and Rosmah in Altantuya’s murder.

“Balasubramaniam met Anwar twice, the first time a few days before the SD was signed and the second time on the SD day itself wherein he sat beside Anwar and gave his press conference flanked by his lawyer,” he added.

The first time the prominent lawyer brought Balasubramaniam to meet Anwar, Raja Petra said he was promised RM700,000.00 if he agreed to come up with the SD by July 1, 2008.

“Anwar had agreed to pay the RM700,000 through the lawyer and the payment was to be made in two stages – Part A, RM200,000, immediately and Part B, RM500,000, after the press conference.

On July 1, 2008, Balasubramaniam made the SD and proceeded to conduct the press conference on July 3, 2008, organised by Anwar and his lawyers at the PKR headquarters.

“Unfortunately for Balasubramaniam, after the press conference, the lawyer only paid him RM100,000 although he had received RM200,000 from Anwar.

“The lawyer told Balasubramaniam that Anwar had instructed for the balance to be paid after a few days. The balance of RM500,000 – the lawyer pocketed all to himself without Balasubramaniam knowing,” he added.

‘Perfect timing’

Raja Petra said a vexed Balasubramaniam then tried to contact Anwar through Americk and other people he knew in PKR such as Sivarasa.

However, he added that Anwar never responded at all to him because the latter believed that Balasubramaniam was fully paid.

At the same time, Raja Petra said Balasubramaniam started getting calls from the Brickfields police station and he became worried.

“He started to panic as Anwar was not responding and the lawyer had just cheated him of his only income to enable him and his family to leave Malaysia. Balasubramaniam didn’t know that the lawyer cheated him.

“Balasubramaniam, the next day after waiting for Anwar or his lawyer to call him, realised that he had been cheated of his promised money. He then contacted Deepak [Jaikishan] through a mutual friend, Suresh, and asked to meet Deepak so that he could relate what had happened. Deepak informed Suresh that he would first discuss this matter with Rosmah and get back to him as soon as possible,” he added.

That afternoon, Raja Petra said, Rosmah called Deepak regarding the SD matter and the discussion got to Balasubramaniam.

“Deepak told Rosmah what he had found out from Suresh and she asked Deepak to try and help to resolve the attempt to frame her husband with the murder case.

“Deepak told Rosmah he would speak to Balasubramaniam directly and get a true picture of the entire events and how this thing can be resolved. Deepak spoke to Balasubramaniam on the phone number given by Suresh and asked him if he was prepared to tell the truth about the SD conspiracy, which was now being exploited as a political asset by Najib’s competitors.

“However, Balasubramaniam was reluctant to do so as he said he didn’t want to trust any politicians as Anwar had cheated him on the amount of money promised and at the same time he was worried that Najib’s people were going to get him arrested again like during the Razak Baginda case.

“Deepak told Balasubramnaim don’t worry because if he was willing to tell the truth he would be protected and would not be harassed by the police. He can get this assurance,” he added.

According to Raja Petra, Anwar asked Balasubramaniam to make the SD to stop Najib from taking over the prime minister’s post then.

“The timing was perfect and Anwar wanted this whole thing to implicate Najib and Rosmah to prevent him from becoming PM and thus allowing him to succeed with his Sept 16 plan to get the MPs in Sabah to defect so that he could become PM as they were demoralised at that time under Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s administration,” he said.

Bala recently came back to Malaysia after being away for some years and has since his return been involved in PKR roadshows to implicate Najib with Altantuya.

800,000 Filipinos may be sent home

Those who became Malaysian citizens under Project IC will be the most affected.

MANILA: The majority, if not all, of the 800,000 Filipinos based in Sabah may be sent back to the Philippines on the premise that they had acquired their Malaysian citizenship illegally over the past 20 years under a controversial systematic granting of citizenship to foreigners dubbed Project IC (identity cards).

Project IC, which is blamed on former Malaysian prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohammad, was said to be among the factors that led followers of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III to “invade” Sabah in February. Most of the Filipinos who benefited from the project in the past are Tausugs from the nearby islands of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

The Manila Times reports that unknown to many, the Malaysian government has begun an investigation into the “phantom” project, which Mahathir denied ever existed.

On Jan 14, or just two weeks prior to the sultanate army’s incursion of Sabah, the Royal Commission of Inquiry began its hearings on Project IC.

Amid the offensives against the followers of Kiram, the royal commission was supposed to conduct another hearing on March 5.

Overshadowed by the skirmishes was the fact that in June 2012, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and the federal government formed the royal commission to investigate problems related to illegal immigration in Sabah, mostly targeting Filipinos and Indonesians who comprise the bulk of non-Malaysian natives on the island.

Malaysian news reports quoted former Dewan Rakyat senator and state assemblyman Chong Eng Leong as saying that in 2012, there were 700,000 “Project IC citizens” and that 200,000 of them are on the state electoral list.

There are about 1.7 million foreigners, mostly Filipinos and Indonesians, in Sabah whose population is only three million. Based on a 2010 survey, foreigners comprised over a quarter of Sabah’s population.

Sabah has 926,638 voters, according to a June report by The Star.

Demographic pattern

It was alleged that Mahathir, who headed Malaysia for over two decades from 1981 to 2003, devised the scheme to alter the demographic pattern of Sabah to make it more favourable to the ruling government and certain political parties.

Under the project, Mahathir allegedly granted citizenship to immigrants (including those who are illegal) by giving them identity documents known as the identity card and subsequently, MyKad. Another term used is Project M, where “M” stood for Mahathir.

It has been said that Project IC was a secret policy of the Barisan Nasional coalition and its affiliate, Umno, to attain political domination in the state using the votes of immigrants.

Mahathir admitted that Filipino immigrants were granted citizenship in Sabah, but insisted that everything was done legally.

The project was said to have begun in the early 1990s after the entry of Umno into Sabah politics. However, there were also allegations of mass immigration and naturalisation of migrants in the 1970s under the United Sabah National Organization government, and in the early 1980s under Berjaya government. The two parties eventually merged to form Umno.

Crackdown

Prior to last year’s formation of the RCI, there had been several government operations to deport illegal immigrants. These operations serve to deport immigrants without proper documentations such as ICs or a valid work permit.

The RCI, headed by former Sabah and Sarawak chief judge Steve Shim, is investigating the reasons behind Sabah’s population growth which can be attributed largely to the influx of Filipinos.

Among others, the RCI aims to investigate the number of “stateless” foreigners in Sabah given identity cards or citizenships.

According to some observers, the skirmishes between Malaysian security forces and followers of Kiram may result in two possible scenarios: it could hamper the ongoing RCI investigation and save hundreds of thousands of “illegal” identity card holders from early deportation; or it may speed up the process, especially since Sabah-based Filipinos are now returning to Tawi-Tawi and Sulu provinces by the hundreds daily.

“These refugees could be those who were still waiting for their ICs but decided to just leave out of fear,” one observer said.

The Kiram family and Philippine government officials reserved comment on the matter .

- Agencies

Penang state assemblyman under fire

MIC Youth, furnishing two letters as proof of abuse of power by RSN Rayer, questions DAP's silence on the matter.

KUALA LUMPUR: A state assemblyman from Penang has come under fire for alleged abuse of his power.

Penang MIC Youth chief J Dhinagaran, furnishing two letters to FMT, claimed that they were proof that the state assemblyman was involved in abuse of power, among other things.

“The first letter was from a Pakatan Rakyat supporter to the DAP national leadership. In his letter, one Rahman Mohd Zainal claims that RSN Rayer’s secretary, who goes by the name of Sivalingam, misused state education funds by allocating the money to his relatives.

“The second was penned by Rayer himself. In it, Rayer admitted to have donated a microwave oven to a particular department of the Penang northeast land and district office. He also admitted that the oven was donated to show gratitude for ‘finishing up several projects’ in 2012,” said Dhinagaran.

“I believe it is a case of you scratch my back, I scratch your back… both Rayer and the district office are guilty of corrupt practices,” he added.

Dhinagaran said such a donation was clearly a crime under Section 17(b) of MACC Act 2009 and asked why the DAP has remained silent on the issue although letters had been sent to the party’s top leadership.

“We believe [secretary-general] Lim Guan Eng and DAP refrained from taking action against Rayer because they did not want to hurt [DAP chairman] Karpal Singh’s feelings. Rayer is a strong supporter of Karpal,” claimed Dhinagaran.

He also wanted Rayer to explain the allegations levelled against his secretary, Sivalingam.

“Apparently Sivalingam has given RM6,000 to his niece and another RM3,000 to his relative who is from Ipoh. He spent the state education fund for this with Rayer’s knowledge. We want Rayer to come out and clear the air,” he added.

The MIC man also said a report would be filed with the MACC on the matter within a week.