Are we heading for emergency rule?

From P Ramakrishnan, via e-mail

It was reminiscent of the lawless Wild West when rough-necks went on a rampage to assert their authority over the helpless town folks. There was nobody brave enough to stand up to the mayhem they created. There was no Sheriff, no Deputy and no hero to take on these hooligans.

That was what happened last Thursday, Feb 6, 2014, when troublemakers took to the streets in a frenzy of hatred to incite and provoke Malay extremists to partake in acts that would threaten our peace and harmony. It was no ordinary gathering; it was a gathering of racists and bigots out to create mischief.

In blatant defiance of the law, these members of several Muslim NGOs gathered in the afternoon near the busy Puduraya bus terminal and government offices at Jalan Tun Perak in Kuala Lumpur.

Some participants stomped on the banner bearing the faces of DAP and PKR representatives. They then slaughtered four chickens and smeared their blood on the faces of Teresa Kok, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang and Machang Bubok assembly member Lee Khai Loon (PKR) in a ritual intended to cause calamity in the country.

This bloody act was committed by these trouble-makers claiming to belong to the Council of Islamic NGOs as proclaimed in the banner to “Protest against insults of Malay leadership, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Islam and Malay dignity by a splinter of politicians, leaders and Chinese chauvinists”.

These claims are clearly far-fetched without any justification. Who in their right minds would want to insult the Yang di-Pertuan Agong? He is the national symbol of our unity. He is respected and held in high esteem.

But these mischief-makers blatantly claimed that the Yang di-Pertuan Agung was insulted. Can they provide concrete evidence when this insult was perpetrated and by whom?

Who would want to insult Islam? Malaysians are peaceful people and are sensitive to the ethos of the different communities and traditions. Who would want to court trouble consciously and disturb our harmony by being disrespectful? What Malay leadership was insulted? Please don’t lie if you are truly a believer in the true sense of your religion.

Disagreeing with the policies and criticising leaders of the government doesn’t constitute an insult to the Malay leadership. In any case, the government may be dominated by Umno but essentially it is a coalition government albeit without MCA representation. But there are Chinese ministers and others from various communities in the cabinet which would suggest that the disagreement and criticism is not aimed solely at the Malay leadership but against the Barisan Nasional.

But these trouble-makers deliberately twisted the facts to give a racial angle to arouse the emotions of unthinking people who can be easily misled. What was said was clearly and deliberately provocative and inciting.

Zulkifly Sharif from Pertubuhan Permuafakatan Majlis Ayahanda Malaysia (Permas) told Malaysiakini that “the chicken slaughter and blood smearing ritual was a hark back to the ‘bloody’ May 13, 1969 racial riots”.

“The blood represents the May 13 incident…It should be easily understood,” he said.

In other words, he is actually threatening a repeat of the May 13 incident. This is clearly seditious; it is an incitement; it is definitely a provocation. It had the potential to spark chaos and disturb our harmony. Things could go out of hand to the detriment of the nation. It should have been nipped in the bud. The full force of the law should have landed on them so that it would not encourage similar provocative demonstrations and protests elsewhere.

But that was not the case. Where was the AG? Where were the police, the guardians of law and order? Above all, where was the Prime Minister, the supreme leader of the nation? Why did none of them criticise this act of lawlessness? Why were these racists and bigots not condemned for their reckless irresponsibility?

It is this lack of response from the keepers of the law that encourages this unbecoming behaviour. For it can be construed with justification that they will not face the wrath of the law and that they have the implicit backing of the law enforcement agencies.

This demonstration was held apparently as a reaction to Seputeh MP Teresa Kok’s New Year video entitled ‘OnederfulMalaysia CNY 2014’. Various claims and accusations were made in connection with this video. But what was it all about? Was there any disrespect shown to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong? Was Islam insulted in this video?

It is very disturbing for Zulkifly to state with reference to the slaughtering of the chicken, “It is symbolic of the bloody incident, meaning May 13, this means we are sending a serious warning to Teresa Kok not to provoke and create something that threatens the peace and feelings of the Malays.”

Mischief-makers

Was he correct in what he stated? Did Teresa “provoke and create something that threatens the peace and feelings of the Malays”? It seems that the video was in Mandarin. Do these rabble-rousers understand Mandarin? Could it be possible that while translating misrepresentation could have occurred?

Why not broadcast this video over TV so that the truth can be unveiled and facts revealed to the entire nation before things get out of hand through misunderstanding and misrepresentation? This is what should be done if we are really interested in the truth. But would the BN dare to do this? Or will it take advantage of this mindless reaction for its own political purposes?

These mischief-makers went beyond threatening. They even offered a bounty to anyone who is willing to slap Teresa. Just like in the Wild West when rewards were offered to bring in the outlaws “dead or alive”, and bounty hunters would take up the offer and go after their quarry. Similarly, in this instance, a reward of RM500 was offered which was later increased to RM1,200.

Imagine if one stupid hothead goes up to Teresa and slaps her, what would happen? Perhaps those with her may react and assault him which could in turn lead to a racial conflict. Is this what they want to happen? Is it a ploy to create unrest and unleash an ethnic clash that would benefit the BN?

The situation was so serious and yet there was no urgency to address it. Even Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi foolishly and flippantly trivialised the whole episode by claiming that it was not a threat to Teresa and unbelievably stated that it would have amounted to nothing except if a death threat had been issued against Teresa. For a Home Minister not to see the danger in this emotionally-charged affair is mind-boggling.

Not to be outdone in foolishness, the Housing and Urban Wellbeing Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan also criticised Kok, saying that she should not play victim when threatened by Muslim groups as the DAP had “relentlessly attacked the position of Malays and Muslims…The DAP had also insulted the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Islam”.

If that was the case, how did the DAP garner so many Malay votes, make a break-through in the Umno fortress of Johor, and get its Malay members elected as members of parliament? Without Malay votes, this could not have been possible.

How ridiculous they are can be seen when Zulkifly accused the politicians whose faces adorned the banner of manipulating the price hike issue. According to him, “The increase of prices of goods has been turned into a kind of propaganda to bring down Malay leadership. They are trying to provoke hatred and belittle Malay leadership.”

The lives of Malaysians have become a nightmare because of price hikes which have made life very difficult for people. It is felt by everyone on a daily basis and their sufferings are nation-wide. It is not confined to any ethnic community.

To blame these four leaders as manipulating the price hike to bring down the Malay leadership is grossly unfair and wrong. It is utter nonsense! The price hike demonstration organised by various NGOs in Penang effectively debunked the atrocious statements and the sweeping claims made by the trouble-makers.

More than 1,000 turned up to oppose the price hikes and the implementation of the GST. The crowd was largely Malay with good support from the Chinese and the Indians. What transpired was heart-warming and encouraging. It showed that whatever ploy that is used by Umno and its henchmen to drive a wedge between the Malays and non-Malays will not work.

The Seberang Jaya Municipal Councillor Zulkifli Saad said the gathering was a show of solidarity among Malays, Chinese and Indians.”We are not racists, this is a gathering of people.” Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) spokesperson Badrul Hisham Shaharin, better known as Chegubard, asked who were the Malays who felt insulted by Lee’s act of stuffing kangkung into a replica of Najib.

“Hello! Who says Malays are insulted? We are insulted because we have a PM who cannot manage the country,” he said. He also warned groups who threatened violence and racial riots, saying that their non-Malay brothers and sisters would be protected even if “one hair of yours is disturbed”.

Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli said that anti-price hikes groups would protest in all the states, culminating in a massive protest in Kuala Lumpur on 1 May, themed Gasak Sampai Tumbang (GST).

Rafizi emphatically said: “There is also no link between race and price hikes. It is just their way of putting fear in us as they are racists.”

“If there is one Chinese youth among us who is threatened, 10 Malays among us will be there to protect him,” he assured, followed by shouts of support.

Afif Bahardin, the Seberang Jaya representative, drove home a valid point rather forcefully, “The price hike is suffered by not only DAP, PKR or PAS but by Umno members as well.”

It is this kind of solidarity building up that is worrying Umno. Their usual divide-and-rule policy is no longer working. Race and religion can no longer be an effective campaign strategy to retain power. So, it seems, an unrest is necessary for emergency rule and is that why no action is taken against these trouble-makers?

Melayu, Islam dihina di Tanah Melayu!

Azman Anuar, Utusan Malaysia

(TMI) - Sejak “pengunduran” pemimpin Melayu yang berani dan disegani beberapa tahun lalu, semakin menjadi-jadi pula kalangan bukan Melayu tertentu menghina orang Melayu dan agama Islam.

Mereka lupa taraf kerakyatan yang diterima oleh datuk, nenek dan ibu bapa mereka 56 tahun lalu adalah atas dasar sikap tolak ansur orang Melayu yang tidak dapat ditemui di mana-mana di dunia ini.

Sekarang, bila sudah kaya dan kuasai ekonomi serta pengaruh politik kian bertambah, itupun diberi oleh orang Melayu juga, sikap bukan Melayu semakin berani “bermain dengan api”.

Orang bukan Melayu bukan sahaja dilihat tidak mahu memahami adat, bahasa dan budaya orang Melayu, tetapi mereka tanpa rasa takut cuba “menjolok sarang tebuan”. Tidak tahulah bila agaknya “tebuan” yang cuba mempertahankan sarangnya daripada diceroboh akan bertindak menyerang balik.

Setakat hari ini, kumpulan tebuan belum keluarkan sengat, mereka sekadar “buat bising” dan acah-acah serang supaya penceroboh rasa gementar.

Itulah yang dibuat oleh orang Melayu yang masih bersabar yang entah peringkat apa darjah kesabarannya. Tapi kalau melampau, si tebuan tidak akan berdiam diri. Apatah lagi, jika sarangnya terus diceroboh dan dibakar semata-mata madunya hendak dibawa lari.

Tawaran ganjaran wang untuk ‘menampar’ muka Ahli Parlimen berkenaan dan menyembelih ayam di atas gambar beberapa pemimpin DAP dilihat satu amaran keras daripada segelintir orang Melayu yang teramat marah dan geram. Itulah bibit-bibit yang tidak ingin kita lihat, tetapi itulah orang kata “berani buat, beranilah tanggung”.

Hakikatnya kini, bukan lagi bulan demi bulan, tetapi hari demi hari bukan Melayu semakin berani menghina orang Melayu, agama Islam dan Raja-raja Melayu. Tindakan mereka sekarang bukan sembunyi-sembunyi. Bacalah dalam komen di dalam blog laman sosial.

Kedudukan Melayu dan Islam semakin dicabar. Baru-baru ini guru besar Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) mengarah guru mualaf membuka tudung jika ingin terus mengajar di sana, kemudian guru lelaki Cina di SJKC melayan dua murid Islam seperti lembu dengan memakaikan loceng pada leher mereka dan menyuruh makan rumput.

Sebelum itu banyak orang Melayu kecewa dengan layanan diberi kepada individu Cina yang mempersenda orang Islam dan Melayu. Langsung tiada tindakan berkesan.

Terbaharu, Ahli Parlimen Seputeh, Teresa Kok dan tiga pelakon Cina menghina pemimpin negara dan perajurit di Lahad Datu dalam video sempena Tahun Baharu Cina.

Sentimen perkauman yang dahulu cukup dijaga, hari ini ditelanjang, dihina dengan semahu-mahunya tanpa peduli perasaan orang Melayu dan Islam. Mereka lupa agaknya, Tanah Melayu ini majoritinya ialah Melayu. Langsung tiada rasa hormat lagi kepada pribumi negara ini.

Salah orang kita juga terlalu tolak ansur, takut ambil tindakan terhadap orang yang menghina bangsa dan agama. Akhirnya kita pula dilihat seolah-olah mereka tuan tanah dan kita kaum pendatang dan minoriti dalam negara sendiri.

Pemimpin Cina, Sikh dan India dalam DAP sudah tidak takut pada undang-undang sebab mereka tahu ada kelemahan yang mereka boleh terlepas. Apatah lagi akta-akta yang mereka benci dan takuti dahulu sudah dimansuhkan. Sebab itu kepak mereka semakin berkembang.

Tambahan lagi pemimpin Melayu di sebelah sana pula buat pekak bila agama Islam, hak istimewa orang Melayu, Raja-raja Melayu dalam Perlembagaan dipersenda dan dipertikaikan. Malah ada orang Melayu sendiri yang ghairah mahu tukar kerajaan lalu menggalakkan pula kontrak sosial yang menjadi syarat persetujuan untuk bukan Melayu mendapat kerakyatan itu- dilanggar dan diasak semahu-mahunya.

Hari ini kalau orang Melayu ambil tindakan terhadap pencabar kedaulatan Perlembagaan yang di dalamnya ada institusi Melayu dan agama Islam, orang Melayu pula dipersalahkan. Mereka yang mula bermain api itu dengan bangga mendakwa mereka tidak melakukan apa-apa kesalahan.

Atas nama kebebasan bersuara, pihak yang menghina Melayu dan Islam itu dilihat terus bergerak bebas tanpa rasa takut, malah macam-macam lagi penghinaan dan provokasi dikeluarkan mereka.

Punca utamanya, undang-undang yang ada bagaikan tidak dilaksanakan. Sudah banyak isu penghinaan dan provokasi ke atas Melayu dan Islam berakhir tanpa apa-apa tindakan yang memuaskan hati orang Melayu. Itulah hasil beribu-ribu siri aduan dan demonstrasi di depan Balai Polis.

Undang-undang negara bagaikan tiada kuasa untuk menghukum golongan itu. Maka entah untuk sekian kali ke berapa, mereka akan terus-terusan bermain dengan api. Api itu makin lama makin marak dan membakar sebahagian orang Melayu. Kita bimbang akhirnya Melayu akan terbakar rentung.

Aduh, sampai bila kita harus biarkan bangsa Melayu dan agama Islam dihina dan dicerca di Tanah Melayu ini.

Fiasco Looms for Malaysia’s Ruling Coalition

Post-election public support drops steeply amid growing calls for PM Najib to take action

One of Malaysia’s most respected polling organizations is expected to release figures over the next few days showing that support for the ruling Barisan Nasional from all three of the country’s major ethnic groups is dropping steeply, to the point where if an election were held today, the national coalition would be buried in a landslide.

The loss of support is not just from ethnic Indians, whose approval figures for the Barisan have dropped from 45 percent to 30 percent, or the ethnic Chinese, only 8 percent of whom support the coalition, but from ethnic Malays, the mainstay of the coalition. Support has dropped from 61 percent to 50 percent, according to sources who have seen the figures. In Penang, the poll reportedly shows that the Barisan wouldn’t win a single one of the 40 state seats and 11 parliamentary ones.

That has led to deepening concern over the performance of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, with growing calls for him to either step down in favor of another UMNO figure or to take dramatic steps to revitalize his leadership. Even the mainstream press, all of it owned by Malaysian political parties, is becoming increasingly emboldened to criticize his performance.

Reportedly, according to political sources in Kuala Lumpur, he is increasingly being ignored within his own coalition, most recently by Sarawak strongman Abdul Taib Mahmud, who is stepping down as chief minister. Taib named his former brother-in-law, Adenan Satim, as his own replacement despite a promise during a meeting in London that he would heed Najib’s wishes in naming the new chief minister.

With both national and intraparty elections out of the way last year, Najib gambled that he could drastically cut subsidies for sugar, petrol and rice in a bid to put the country’s fiscal condition back into shape, with the fiscal debt running close to the maximum permissible limit of 55 percent. But with the cost of living soaring upwards, he faces growing outrage. He has since been forced to back away from a sharp rise in highway tolls. And, while anecdotal evidence in the markets indicates that prices are climbing inexorably upwards, critics say the controlled press is continuing to report that there is no cost of living problem.

One of the issues that won’t go away is a government decision to ban use of the word Allah to mean God in Malay-language Bibles, which has infuriated Christians and moderates, who point out that throughout the Arab world, Christians use the word as a proper noun. Najib has come under fire for making moderate statements when he is out of the country, but refusing to take a stand on the issue, or to rein in vocal Malay supremacy organizations such as Perkasa, headed by Ibrahim Ali, whose intemperate racial statements have increasingly poisoned the political atmosphere.

Within UMNO, Najib’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, has become a lightning rod for those who see her as flaunting excess wealth including designer handbags, watches and jewelry at a time when the country is facing cost of living problems. Many blame her for decisions that the prime minister is – or is not – making.

Najib is said to be shaking up his staff, replacing his long-time chief of staff with a younger, more dynamic individual. Reportedly he is also expected to call a party retreat to seek to convince party division chiefs and others within the United Malays National Organization that he has a plan to revitalize the political situation. Party leaders complain that 10 months after the narrow parliamentary victory – and popular vote loss – that left the Barisan in charge, Najib has still not called for a post-mortem of the way the race was run.

With US President Barack Obama scheduled to visit the country on a state visit in April, it is imperative to get moving, say political analysts in Kuala Lumpur. Behind Najib is the ever-present specter of former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who has taken no public position against Najib but who clearly has unleashed bloggers who are hounding the prime minister on all sides. Sources within the Mahathir wing of UMNO told Asia Sentinel that Mahathir is after Najib’s head.

It had been thought that, having emasculated Najib’s economic plans after the election, the Mahathir wing would be content to leave the weakened prime minister in his place until the next election. The two most viable candidates to replace him would be Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who has reportedly said he is too old and tired for the job, and Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is regarded even by many UMNO figures as too mercurial and polarizing for the job.

However, A. Kadir Jasin, former chief editor of the New Straits Times and a close confidant of the 88-year-old former premier, in his blog,”The Scribe,” on Saturday suggested that Muhyiddin might not be so tired, or that a third candidate, Hishamuddin Hussein, Najib’s cousin and the party’s third-ranking vice-president, might be a possible alternative.

Thus, despite denials on all sides, the political picture is beginning to resemble that in 2008 and 2009, when growing forces coalesced to drive Najib’s predecessor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, from the premiership. The growing drip of blog comments is an indication that Najib must take action or face a serious revolt.

Liow-Wee MCA leadership probably the worst in 65-year MCA history orchestrating political statements and moves even the least honorable past MCA leaders would not do

The Liow-Wee MCA leadership which had been in control of the “7-11” party for the past two months is probably the worst in terms of lack of principles and convictions in the 65-year MCA history, orchestrating political statements and moves even the least honorable past MCA leaders would not do.

Today, the MCA newspaper Star carried a big story entitled “MCA dares Kit Siang to explain fear of confronting UMNO” stating that “MCA wants DAP to publicly explain why he is afraid of directly offending UMNO” over the DAP National Vice Chairperson and MP for Teresa Kok’s controversial “Onederful Malaysia CNY 2014” video – which thanks to groups like UMNO, MCA and Gerakan making a hue and cry has received over 650,000 hits on YouTube in less than three weeks.

Instead of personally making charges against me, the Liow-Wee leadership got a lowly flunky to issue the statement so that both Liow Tiong Lai and Wee Ka Siong can disclaim responsibility for the lies, innuendos and insinuations in the statement.

What a pathetic Liow-Wee MCA national leadership who only dare to throw stones from being curtain and stupid enough to believe that their involvement could be kept secret.

Why Liow or Wee dare not put their name to the MCA statement today challenging me to “explain fear of confronting UMNO”?

Because they know it is a stupid statement which could be shred into tatters for its lies and baseless innuendos and insinuations!

The statement of the lowly MCA flunkey said my “apparent fear (of UMNO) was reflected in the way he had attacked MCA over DAP’s Teresa Kok video” and that my accusation that MCA was behind UMNO’s criticism of the video was “unwarranted”, declaring: “Lim is blaming MCA out of desperation because he is afraid of UMNO”.

There was also the accusation that I had not “directly criticized UMNO” ever since the controversial video was uploaded on YouTube.

Are Liow and Wee prepared to end their political cowardice and declare that this attack on me in the name of the lowly MCA flunkey have their full authorization and endorsement so that I could give a proper reply, as it would otherwise not worth any attention when it is a statement which the MCA President and Deputy President would not even give their public blessings.

I am fully prepared to reply to the wild and baseless allegations, lies, innuendoes and insinuations in the statement of the lowly MCA flunkey provided that Liow and Wee give their full endorsement to the statement.

I await response from the new Liow-Wee leadership of the “7-11” political party in Barisan Nasional. Their silence would be a very eloquent answer indeed!

(Media Statement in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, 17th February 2014)

NGO offers to help EC improve electoral system

fz.com 
by Meena Lakshana

PETALING JAYA (Feb 17): A citizen-based electoral reform project has proposed the establishment of a separate body independent of the Election Commission (EC) to oversee the constituency re-delineation process.

Speaking at the forum entitled ‘Towards a Fairer Electoral System’, Projek Beres coordinator Syahredzan Johan said yesterday a Boundaries Commission should be set up independently of the EC to deal with the delimitation process.

In his presentation at the forum organised by the Bar Council and Tindak Malaysia, Syahredzan said the commission will also operate independently of Parliament, where Dewan Rakyat would have no power to amend or reject the final determination of boundaries by the commission.

Its members will be appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, in consultation with the Conference of Rulers and the concurrence of the Opposition Leader.

“The Boundaries Commission may increase or decrease number of constituencies according to delimitation criteria,” he said.

The EC will assume the role of the Registrar of Societies (ROS) by handling the registration and regulation of political parties and political organisations, which would give licence to the commission to oversee the parties during election.

The appointment of EC members is similar to the Boundaries Commission.

To keep the Boundaries Commission and the EC in check, Projek Beres also proposed that an Election Ombudsman inquire into, review and address complaints and grievances with respect to the conduct of the EC and the Boundaries Commission.

The Election Ombudsman will also issue orders for corrective action to be taken and recommend the removal of members of a caretaker government.

All members of all bodies will be disqualified if found to be a member of a political party. Also, all members are not allowed to be elected representatives of the people.

Projeck Beres also proposed that an interim Prime Minister (PM) lead the caretaker government once Parliament is dissolved to pave the way for elections.

The interim PM will be appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, but is subject to the approval of the outgoing PM and the Opposition Leader.

These are some of the 20 proposals drawn up by Projek Beres, a citizen-initiated electoral reform group.

‘Plans to engage with political parties’    

Syaredzan said the group hopes to initiate discussions on the proposals with both Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat “as soon as possible.”

“We want to engage with the stakeholders, EC and both sides of the political divide. Ultimately, they may have different ideas,” he said.

“But at least, we can talk about these things, because it involves amendments to the Federal Constitution, and for that, we need both sides of the political divide to agree to this,” he said.

However, Syahredzan said the group may have to wait until after the Kajang by-election.

He said at the moment, the group also lacks funding but is hopeful that they will receive help.

“The thing is, it is not civil society’s job to do all of these things,” he said.

“We are doing this because the State has failed us and we are just a bunch of concerned citizens.

“So, similarly, the funding will come because there are concerned citizens who will step forward to help us,” he added.

More information on the group and its efforts can be found on its Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/ProjekBeres.

Government To Continue Emphasise On Growth Of Creative Sector - Najib

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 17 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the government will continue to emphasise on the development of the creative industry which can potentially contribute to a higher gross domestic product (GDP) going forward.

He said currently, the Malaysian creative industry only contributed 1.3 per cent to the GDP compared to developed countries, such as the US, South Korea and Japan, which contributed up to seven per cent to the GDP.

Therefore, Najib, who is also finance minister, said the government has approved an allocation of RM200 million in the 2012 Budget to boost the local creative industry.

"I see that the creative industry has a really big potential to contribute to the GDP.

"In today's event, we are giving soft loans amounting to RM21 million to 15 companies. This is only the first phase. The second phase will follow at the end of this year," he said at the financing scheme presentation ceremony to 15 companies at the Perdana Putra Complex in PUtrajaya, Monday.

The 15 companies are ArtCube (visual art), Clothier Creation - Khoon Hooi (fashion), Akarkarya (music), MyPAA (performing arts), Accurve Studios (video games), DragonSlate (film), Comoddity (fashion), Pearly Wong Collection (fashion), Point College (creative academy), Fern Design (fashion), dUCK (fashion), Platinum Unik (indigenous Asli handicraft), Masakini Theatre (performing arts), Legau Sudin (creative content) and Melinda Looi International (fashion).

Also present were MyCreative Ventures Sdn Bhd (MyCreative) Chief Executive Officer, Johan Ishak and MyCreative Chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Farid Ridzuan.

MyCreative is a government investing arm which aims to boost the local creative industry to a higher standard through strategic and innovative financing, either in the form of equity or loan.

Besides contributing to the GDP, Najib said the creative industry would also introduce the identity of a country to the outside world.

Giving an example, he said, South Korea, which focused on high technology in its culture and creativity sector, has succeeded in positioning the K-Pop in the world.

"We can achieve the same status. I am sure what we are doing today is not a starting point, but also a continuous effort towards achieving what we are hoping for, which is to position the creative industry to a higher level," he said.

Najib said the government chose to support and assist the creative industry in order to help translate the creativity of Malaysians into a sustainable industry and based on a business model which could give good returns.

"Although it is risky, we have to give the opportunity and take risks to develop the talent of local youth," he said.

Meanwhile, Johan was confident the RM200 million financing scheme would be disbursed to applicants the latest by next year, but it would depend on the business plan presented to the committee.

"Since its inception, MyCreative is still reviewing and analysing more than 100 applications received.

"We are willing to be flexible to allow interested applicants do this business," he said.

--BERNAMA

Anwar to MCA: Don't be slaves to Umno

Embrace Islam or die!

Taliban threaten Kalash tribe, Ismailis in Chitral

The Pakistani Taliban have announced an “armed struggle” against an indigenous tribe and Ismaili Muslims in the picturesque northern Chitral Valley, calling on Sunnis to support their cause in a video.

The valley was once dominated by moderate Ismailis and is also home to the Kalash, a polytheistic people who claim descent from Alexander the Great and who have maintained separate cultural traditions to the predominantly Muslim country.

But migration in recent decades has meant that Sunni Muslims are now the majority in the area, while the Kalash way of life has come under threat by the Taliban, who have also carried out a number of attacks against security forces in the area.

The Taliban’s 50-minute long video released on February 2 on their media wing’s website opens with a scenic view of the mountainous valley that is popular among domestic tourists and famed for its annual polo festival.

The narrator warns the Kalash, who are thought to number only 3,500, to convert to Islam or face death.

“By the grace of Allah, an increasing number of people from the Kalash tribe are embracing Islam and we want to make it clear to the Kalash tribe that they will be eliminated along with their protectors, the Western agents if they don’t embrace Islam,” he says.

The video also accuses international NGOs of creating an “Israel” like state in Chitral by attempting to protect the Kalash culture and take people away from Islam, and vows to foil their plans.

A charitable organisation headed by the Aga Khan, the Ismailis’ spiritual leader and a globally renowned philanthropist, is singled out for condemnation.

“The Aga Khan Foundation is running 16 schools and 16 colleges and hostels where young men and women are given free education and brainwashed to keep them away from Islam,” the narrator says.

He adds that the foundation’s schools and hospitals, which are free for members of the public, are espionage tools in the hands of foreign powers.

The Kalash are also warned to stop producing wine, which they make from apples, mulberries and grapes.

“Western NGOs are promoting Kalash wine and we warn all those individuals and hotels selling it, they should stop production and selling of wine otherwise they will be sent to hell by the will of God.”

Pattani female banker killed, burned

PATTANI — Suspected insurgents on Wednesday evening shot dead a female bank employee, burned her body and left a note with written message to army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha.

The body of Sayamol sae Lim, 29, was discovered near her motorcycle on highway No.42 (Pattani-Narathiwat route) at Ban To Tee Tae in tambon Tonyong Jua Nga of Yaring district. When security officers...

When security officers and a paramedic team arrived at the scene, they found Sayamol’s head and upper torso in flames. Sayamol was an employee of Bangkok Bank’s Nong Chik branch. Pol Lt Somchoke...

Read More:http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/security/394684/pattani-female-banker-killed-burned.

Waytha's resignation 'disheartening' to the PM

 

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has described Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia (PHM) chief P Waythamoorthy’s resignation from the cabinet as “disheartening”.

“His (Waythamoorthy’s) approach may be different, but he should have came to see me and talked about it before announcing he was going to resign.

“His decision is disheartening, since this was after he had signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with BN to champion the Indian community’s agenda,” he was quoted as saying in The Star’s online edition today.

He said Waythamoorthy (left), who was a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department until his resignation on Monday, should have tried to fit in with his colleagues and help implement projects that would help the Indian Malaysian community.

Nevertheless, the premier says he accepts the resignation and wishes Waythamoorthy well on his future endeavours.

'A more approachable government'

“I would like to stress that, in line with my dream to form a more approachable government that always gives help to those who need it, we will implement socio-economic development programmes for the Indian community, as well as the other races,” he added.

Waythamoorthy leads PHM, which is a splinter faction of the original Hindraf movement, and had controversially signed an MOU with BN prior to the 13th general election.

He had urged Indians to vote for BN after the MOU was signed, and was appointed as deputy minister and as senator after the elections.

However, his vocal championing of causes such as deaths in custody had prompted calls from BN ministers - among them Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, and Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein - for him to resign.

Najib himself had ticked Waythamoorthy off for not toeing the government line before.

‘Netizens abusing press freedom’

There is too much press freedom and freedom of expression in Malaysia that many have failed to appreciate and are abusing it.

GEORGE TOWN: If there is no press freedom in Malaysia then how is it that netizens keep slamming the Barisan Nasional federal government for anything and everything, asked Centre for Political Awareness (CPA) president Huan Cheng Guan.

Huan was commenting on the Malaysia’s press freedom hitting a historic low in the 2014 World Press Freedom Index of 147 out of 180 countries.

He said even an innocent reference to kangkung by the Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had been distorted to make international headlines.

“If this is not a clear evidence of free press and freedom of expression, what else can it be?” asked Huan said his statement to FMT here today.

Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Christophe Deloire had said the World Press Freedom Index was a reference tool based on seven criteria: the level of abuses, the extent of pluralism, media independence, the environment and self-censorship, the legislative framework, transparency and infrastructure.

“I would ask Reporters Without Borders to relook the situation in Malaysia. The truth is there is too much press freedom and freedom of expression.

“Many failed to appreciate it, indeed have been abusing it,” said Huan.

He criticised DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang for practising double standard and being absent-minded in his habitual haste to blast Malaysia’s press freedom index.

He said Kit Siang had forgotten that it was his son, Guan Eng, and other DAP members, including Teresa Kok, who have been fervently suing the media and activists for reporting issues.

He added that Kit Siang was blatantly attempting to ride on the world press freedom report to cast aspersions on the credibility of the federal government.

He added that Gelang Patah MP had again looked at Malaysia through distorted lenses by exaggerating everything while sweeping the “good” under the carpet.

‘Sivarraajh will not apologise to Kayveas’

MIC Youth do not see the necessity for them to seek an apology from Kayveas as they did not insult him over the Tamil school issue.

PETALING JAYA: MIC Youth today reiterated that their chief C Sivarraajh will not apologise to M Kayveas, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) President, for allegedly insulting the latter over his calls for all Tamil schools to be shut down.

The wing’s information chief, K Kesavan insisted that there is no way for Sivarraajh to apologise since the Youth chief’s statement was a reflection of the public’s views.

“There is no room here for apologies to Kayveas or anyone,” Kesavan told FMT. He also challenged PPP for a public debate on Tamil schools’ development.

It was reported yesterday that PPP’s information chief A Chandrakumanan had demanded for Sivarraajh and the Tamil daily, Malaysia Nanban, to apologise to Kayveas within 48 hours for an article that was alleged to have insulted the PPP president.

He added that in the event they failed to do so, both Sivarraajh and Malaysia Nanban will face legal consequences.

Kayveas’ reasoning

Kayveas had come under heavy criticism recently for an alleged Facebook remark he had made, apparently listing five reasons as to why Tamil schools ought to be closed for good.

Among the reasons were: they were breeding criminals and gangsters, have high dropout rate, lacked Tamil teachers, students have poor command of the Malay and English language, and they segregated the community from others; which all contradict the 1Malaysia concept.

Chandrakumanan stressed that the remark on Kayveas’ Facebook was a shared fact originally posted by the Malaysian United Indian Youth Council.

However Kesavan said that as an Indian communityleader, Kayveas should have instead criticised the council for making such a posting and not sharing it with others.

“Sharing a link without any comment can be considered as Kayveas supporting the posting,” he added.

He further recalled an incident that happened 10 years ago in relation to the calls by PPP to close Tamil schools.

“Then Kayveas’ effigy was burnt in Batu Caves, allegedly for calling the closure of Tamil schools… it is clear that PPP has the interest to close down Tamil schools in this country.”

In defending the youth leader, Kesavan said Sivarraajh did not attack Kayveas on his personal capacity, but rather was fielding questions raised by reporters during a press conference.

‘Ministries erred on sex survey in schools’

A PIBG chairman says Health and Education Ministries have failed to ensure the controversial health survey was suitable for students.

SEREMBAN: The Health Ministry and Education Ministry have failed to ensure that the questions in the controversial health survey on sexual behaviour conducted in three schools in Nilai were suitable for the respective age group, said a Parent-Teacher Association (PIBG) chairman.

Sekolah Kebangsaan St Paul, Seremban, PTA chairman Adrian Abraham said he could not believe there were excessive questions based on sexual activities, and felt that the real damage had been done.

“The panel preparing the questionnaires, Health Ministry, Education Ministry, and the schools have failed in preparing the right questions for the age group.

“These are the people who are supposed to make sure the questionnaires are correct and suitable for the respective age group. In this case we are talking about the age group of 10 years to 12 years.

“The Health Ministry should have reviewed the questionnaires to target the right age group.

“I am disappointed but my school management would never have allowed such a survey to be conducted,” said Abraham.

He said the Education Ministry could not claim that someone walked into the school and conducted the survey.

“It’s your premises and you should vet the questionnaires, check whether it is suitable for students in the age group of 10-12 years, before the survey can be conducted.

“I’m not sure if the state health department had the Education Ministry’s approval,” he said.

Sekolah Kebangsaan Puteri, Seremban, PTA chairman Dr Zuraidah Mohamad said she supported the survey but felt that if the questions were excessive and not suitable, it should then be reviewed.

“The main objective of the survey is to identify students with problems related to social ills.

“Nowadays students at any age group are free to get information from the internet and there are things they are not supposed to access at the young age.

“However if there are questions which are not suitable for our culture then the Health Ministry should review the questions,” she added.

Bitter taste

Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar meanwhile said the survey left a bitter taste in the mouth of parents.

“What is the basis for asking such inappropriate questions to schoolchildren? she asked.

“I am upset at this blatant invasion over the lives of schoolchildren,” said Nurul Izzah.

DAP national women wing chief and Padang Lalang state assemblyperson Chong Eng said the survey might be good in identifying the sexual behaviour of youths.

“However, the respective ministries and all the concerned parties must review the questionnaires and break it up into three age groups — 10 to 13, 14 to 15 and 16 to 19.

“This is more effective rather than prepare the same questionnaires for youths aged between 10 and 19.

“I believe there are not many students involved in sexual activities between the age of 10 and 12,” she said.

Preventing social problems

Last week, Negeri Sembilan health department director Dr Zailan Adnan said the health survey conducted at schools was to prevent social problems among youths.

She said the survey was not only conducted in Negeri Sembilan but nationwide by the ministry for the past three years.

Zailan said the questions were prepared by specialists in each field to prevent social problems among youths.

She also said the survey also contained questions on health, smoking, food and other health- related questions.

“The sexually-related questions were only part of the questions in the survey form,” Zailan added.

Earlier this week FMT reported that parents were upset over the survey which sought answers from 10 year olds at Sekolah Desa Jasmin in Nilai on their sexual activities.

FMT’s attempts to contact the Sekolah Desa Jasmin’s headmaster and the school’s PIBG chairman this morning failed as one of the staff said the headmaster was on medical leave.

‘Man Namblast’ a double-faced teacher

It turns out that 'Man Namblast' and Mohd Hidayat are the same person who called Hindus 'syaitan'.

PETALING JAYA: ‘Man Namblast’ and Mohd Hidayat, the two Facebook users who had insulted the Hindus as ‘syaitan’ (demons) during the recent Thaipusam festival are indeed the same person.

This was made public today when the police confirmed the identity of both as belonging to the same person.

Gombak district police chief Abdul Rahim Abdullah, in confirming to FMT today, said that Mohd Hidayat was using the pseudonym ‘Man Namblast’ when he posted the remarks on his Facebook wall.

“We are still investigating the matter but as for now we believe that he is using the name of Man Namblast,” he said.

Rahim added that they have also confiscated several items belonging to Mohd Hidayat, which will be handed over to the forensic’s department.

The police said that he has been released on police bail for the moment.

“We have already seized his gadgets to be sent to the forensic lab. Once everything is completed we will hand the investigation paper to the Deputy Public Prosecutor for further action.”

On a posting believed to be made on Jan 17, Mohd Hidayat allegedly used a fake account by the name ‘Man Namblast’ to put up a picture on his Facebook wall with a caption that read: “Berpuluh ribu syaitan sedang berarak menaiki Bt Caves,”(in translation: tens of thousands of demons are marching up the stairs of Batu Caves).

Later, the posting was defended by Mohd Hidayat, using another account.

With mounting pressure from MIC Youth and hundreds of police reports, Mohd Hidayat was finally arrested on Monday at his house.

He is a school teacher from Segambut and his statement was recorded here under section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948.

Initially it was believed that Mohd Hidayat and Man Namblast were two different individuals, and most of the police reports were made against ‘them both’.

On Wednesday, MIC’s Youth chief C Sivarraajh had confirmed with reporters that police had nabbed two individuals in connection to the case.

Apparently there was a confusion following a twitter message from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar who had claimed that Man Namblast was arrested; while the Gombak police said that they have also arrested a person called Mohd Hidayat for investigations in relation to the same case.

Meanwhile an MIC Youth leader was called in by the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to record his statement over the matter.

P Punithan claimed that he went to Putrajaya to give his statement. He added that he had lodged a police report last Friday on behalf of MIC at the Gombak district police station after being requested to do so by MCMC.

“MCMC told me that apart from the police, they will also be pressing charges against Mohd Hidayat under section 233 of the Communication and Multimedia Act,” said Punithan.

Anwar going for No 1, Azmin?

Patrick Sennyah and V Shankar Ganesh, fz.com


Parti Keadilan Rakyat de-facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim looks set to go for the party’s top position in the party polls which kicks off on April 25.

According to a senior party leader, Anwar was left with no choice as his wife, Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail, who is the current president does not want to defend the post which is being keenly sought after by party deputy president, Azmin Ali.

The party leader revealed that Azmin had openly declared his intentions to contest the top position at a party meeting in Selangor last week.

“He (Azmin) had said that he would go for the top position with or without Wan Azizah’s consent. He is prepared to fight anyone and because of this, Anwar is left with no choice. Azmin will not listen to any “sweet talk” from Anwar this time.

“Even if Azmin agrees to stay put as the number two, there is no guarantee that he will not be challenged by either Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim or even Nurul Izzah,” said the party leader.

The party leader said Azmin seems to have found himself cornered and this time, he is willing to go for broke.

Several party insiders also said that Azmin has built his support base nationwide and he believed that enough members would vote him even against Wan Azizah.

“Due to this, Anwar had to put a stop to it. Anwar cannot have his wife being challenged for the top post. What’s worse is the risk that she may even lose. If that happens, then Anwar’s influence within the party can be seen as waning and this could spell the start of the end for his political career in PKR.”

Another insider said Anwar’s decision would put tremendous pressure on Azmin as he would be entering a forbidden zone, which is taking on the party founder Anwar.

It is learned that Azmin and his group of strategists are now back at the drawing board to formulate their next move.

“From, what I learned, it could be some earth shattering news. But let’s just wait and see the developments over the next couple of weeks,” said the insider.

Nominations for the central committee positions will be held on March 29, while for the branches, it will be according to zones, from April 4 – 13.

The complete results for the new PKR leadership will be revealed on May 13 – after nationwide voting ends on May 11. Voting will be from April 25 – May 11.

In PKR, each member is allowed to vote on the party leadership.

The minimum condition is that those who want to vote must be a party member for at least a year.

India’s Parliament Descends to Chaos

‘Scam Andhra’ MPs cripple parliament to protect business deals

Unprecedented chaos and violence that closed India’s Lok Sabha parliamentary proceedings yesterday graphically demonstrates how respect for India’s most revered institutions is crumbling as greed and raw politics disrupt the functioning of government and the running of the country.

The protests were not even about the political issue being debated – a bill was being tabled to split the southern state of Andhra Pradesh and create a new state of Telangana. They were primarily about protecting businessmen’s investments in Andhra’s capital of Hyderabad and elsewhere in the state, where crony capitalism and corruption ran rampant under a former chief minister, Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy, who was killed in a helicopter crash in 2009.

The businessmen who thrived under YSR’s rule and did deals with his son Jagan (now facing corruption charges) originally came from other parts of the state and think they will lose their investments and political clout if Telangana is formed.

Among the MPs who were most at fault – using a pepper spray, smashing a glass table top and allegedly brandishing a knife – two have possibly vulnerable investments in the city and elsewhere.

The pepper spray was wielded by Lagadapati Rajagopal, (above) founder and chairman of the highly indebted Lanco infrastructure group, which is India’s biggest private sector power producer.

Venugopal Reddy, who smashed a microphone on a glass table top, heads the Ramky group that benefited under the YSR regime and is involved in the corruption charges.

But it is not only these MPs who are at fault. The crisis has been caused by the Congress Party led by Sonia Gandhi, which has gone ahead with the decades-old claim for Telangana – not for any good reason of governance, but because she (almost certainly wrongly) believes it will increase the number of seats her party wins in the coming general election.

My book IMPLOSION: India’s Tryst with Reality, which is being launched next week in Delhi (and is available here), has a chapter headed Scam Andhra.

I describe the state as a microcosm of what is wrong in India because of “corruption and illicit links between companies and government that are now part of India’s political and business landscape”.

Implosion is defined as inward collapse when internal forces “gradually eat away at institutions, organizational procedures and the functioning of authority that are needed to run a country”.

Here are extracts from the chapter:

“The city has become a symbol of what is wrong with India. It embraces dynastic political ambitions based on personal greed and the lauding of companies that have grown fat on fraudulent land and other deals, literally plundering the state’s wealth. The trend first became widely noticed in 2009, when the Hyderabad-based Satyam, India’s fourth largest software company, collapsed in a fraud scandal involving local politicians and a prominent business family.

“Satyam and its allied infrastructure company, Maytas (Satyam spelt in reverse), were just the tip of a vast iceberg that gradually became exposed after the state’s Congress chief minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR), was killed in a helicopter crash in September 2009. YSR’s death, just a few months after being re-elected for a second term, triggered a series of events that led to widespread police inquiries, court cases, and the jailing of businessmen and politicians.

“Businessmen involved in the state’s companies form a new entrepreneurial community that is significant in the same way as clans such as the Marwaris or the Chettiars.With easily identifiable names like Reddy, Raju and Rao, the Andhra businessmen travelled [across] Andhra, bearing farming wealth from the state’s flourishing coastal regions to Hyderabad.There they worked with politicians, and together grew rich in real estate, land deals and infrastructure projects – and then became involved in politics themselves.

“Among the most powerful and vocal anti-Telangana politicians have been Lagadapati Rajagopal, founder of the once rapidly-growing but now heavily-indebted Lanco Infratech infrastructure, power and construction group.he was one of the financiers of a padayatra in 2003 by YSR that helped to bring him to power. Rajagopal’s development plans in and around Hyderabad could be hit hard if the state is split.

“YSR proved himself to be one of India’s most skilful regional politicians, seemingly working for the good of the state and the rural poor, while building himself an unassailable Congress power base by providing the Gandhi family with strong loyalty and support. That won him a comfortable re-election victory five months before he was killed, despite reports of widespread corruption and corporate cronyism that had been circulating about him and his son Jagan for some time.

”YSR’s significance was demonstrated by the huge mass of mourners – from Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh to the rural poor – who gathered to pay their last respects at his funeral.If YSR had lived, it is reasonable to assume that the projects, corruption, kickbacks and funding would still be continuing today, with grateful Congress party leaders in Delhi doting on their loyal and valuable friend.

“Sonia Gandhi and her fellow national party leaders appear to have done nothing during YSR’s rule to stop the corrupt deals, even though they would have been fully aware of them. There were reports that YSR was ‘sending huge sums of money for the Congress in Delhi every month in the name of ‘organizational expenses’.

“YSR came from a tough and feudal society background in Rayalaseema, which is frequently named for its ‘bad lands’, and his rise reflects how many of India’s regional politicians have grown rich and powerful from poor origins. His family mixed Christian missionary work with business in the rough mining industry and there is death and brutality in the family’s history.

“While he was chief minister, YSR moved on from the usual pattern of corruption – politicians and bureaucrats taking bribes in return for favours – and secured the loyalty of his supporters by providing business opportunities for contractors in unregulated, over-priced and scam-ridden irrigation, highways and other projects. The contractors and developers showed their gratitude by taking stakes in companies run by Jagan, mainly in a media business called Sakshi, and politicians and others cronies invested in the development and real estate schemes. Instead of just taking kickbacks, YSR’s family and political associates became joint investors and stakeholders with their business contacts.

“Along with other key companies that he controlled with investments totalling Rs 797 crore, Jagati Publications became a focal point in 2012 and 2013 for investigations into money laundering by India’s Enforcement Directorate, and for separate corruption inquiries by the CBI into Jagan’s alleged ‘disproportionate assets’. Companies caught up in the assets case included Tamil Nadu-based India Cements, run by N. Srinivasan, who has been a dominant figure in the politics of Indian cricket as the chairman of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from 2011.

He was also involved in the IPL championship controversies. The allegations [included] companies such as . Ramky Group. listed as allegedly providing funds for Bharathi Cement, Jagati Publications, Carmel Asia Holdings and other businesses run by Jagan, and receiving favours in return. GMR, GVK, Lanco

“A clutch of Andhra companies that thrived. went on to run big projects in the rest of India and then abroad. They include names such as Satyam in software, and GMR, GVK and Lanco in infrastructure Lanco is the most politically high profile of the three companies, having been led initially by Lagadapati Rajagopal, the Congress MP and a key YSR supporter. His brother L. Madhusudan Rao and brother-in-law G. Bhaskara Rao now run the group, which claims to be India’s largest private sector power producer and also has coal mining interests in Australia.

To improve its image, Lanco moved its headquarters from Hyderabad to Gurgaon on the outskirts of Delhi but it became over-extended and lost large-scale projects for lack of funds, pulled out of others, dismissed a large number of employees, and formally announced a debt-restructuring process in 2013.

“Some time in the future, Andhra’s years of fraud and deception will almost certainly be seen, in the traditions of early American business, as merely one of the stepping stones that a new economy takes when it suddenly enjoys unexpected riches, and the prospect of much more, if politicians are suborned, rules bent and the state cheated”.

For now though, such India faces creeping implosion.

(John Elliott is Asia Sentinel’s India correspondent. He also blogs at Riding the Elephant, which appears at the lower right corner of this site.)

Putrajaya’s ‘free media’ boast laughable, PKR says - Malaymail

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 13 — Putrajaya should first remove all restrictive laws governing the media and allow free coverage for all parties before proclaiming that the Malaysian media is “freer than it has ever been”, PKR said today.

In a statement here, PKR vice-president N. Surendran labelled the proclamation by the Prime Minister’s Office false and “laughable”, pointing to the recent suspension of local weekly, The Heat, and Putrajaya’s rejection of a newspaper permit for FZ Daily, which currently publishes its news on the Internet.

An interview with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on BFM radio was also barred from the airwaves, Surendran said.

“Further, the government completely bars opposition access to television and radio, including public-owned media such as RTM.

“This is not just undemocratic, but blatant abuse of public resources and funds by the government for the benefit of the BN political coalition,” he said, referring to the ruling Barisan Nasional pact.

Surendran suggested that Putrajaya remove laws like the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) 1984, which gives power to the government to grant or revoke publishing licenses of any newspaper.

He said despite amendments to the law in 2012, newspapers have continued to operate under the threat of having their licenses revoked.

Even worse, Surendran pointed out, editors are often summoned to explain articles deemed critical of the government.

“Instead of issuing ridiculous statements that the media is free, Putrajaya must immediately repeal the PPPA and allow free access to TV and radio to the opposition and civil society,” he said.

In a statement yesterday, the Prime Minister’s Office denied that press freedom in the country has deteriorated, saying that Malaysian media is freer than it has ever been.

The declaration came after news that Malaysia tumbled 23 places to land at 147th spot in the World Press Freedom Index for 2014, putting it below Thailand, Indonesia and even Myanmar.
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/putrajayas-free-media-boast-laughable-pkr-says#sthash.Rd8CybN8.dpuf

Perspectives on national unity: heritage, home and hope – Ramon Navaratnam

My perspectives from my generation.

A. Our heritage – past

Merdeka proclamation – I was there at the Merdeka Stadium.

We felt as "One Malaya" even then in 1957.

Tunku Abdul Rahman and later Tun Abdul Razak and Tun Hussein Onn treated all Malayans and Malaysians equally.

There was no name–calling like "pendatang".

Political leaders were far more honest, polite and civil, and served the rakyat more faithfully on the ground.

Institutions like the judiciary, police, civil service, parliament and politicians were generally much more efficient and of higher quality.

We were much more united and a national happy family.

B. Home – present

Now fewer Malaysians feel that great Merdeka spirit of "satu bangsa".

We are more polarised than ever before.

We are developing as a "silo society".

Tolerance of other religions is declining – Bible and temple issues unsettled.

C. Hope – future

Is there hope? Yes, but only if we act now.

What future do we want and what do we need to do for greater national unity?

Adopt the policy of inclusive development as follows:

1. Immediate term

Condemn and pull up all those responsible for hate speeches and acts.

Isolate extremists of all kinds and vote against them.

Enforce rule of law uniformly against extremists – without any perceived selectivity.

Go all out against crime, corruption and cronyism with a stronger political will!

Let the Bahasa Bible be used as before. Proselytisation can be forbidden.

2. Medium term – up to 5 years

Provide for a basic needs and non–racial–based economic strategy in 11th Malaysia plan.

Phase out the NEP which apparently favours the rich and powerful over the poor.

Consider phasing out the bumi/non–bumi divide.

Provide quota guidelines for public and private sector employment and promotions.

Phase out "ketuanan" concept and practices which run counter to national unity.

Phase out protectionism in APs, housing and monopolies. This will counter inflation too.

Allocate more development funds to Sabah, Sarawak, and the poorer states like Kelantan and Terengganu.

Strengthen the electoral process and improve electoral delineation, so that all Malaysians will embrace the new system as fair and reasonable.

Introduce local council elections to improve democracy.

Conclusion

We have about 5 good years to steer our beloved country away from deterioration and the "tipping point", towards a more united Malaysia.

Be fair to all race and religions based on our Federal Constitution, with the Merdeka spirit.

Adopt a new policy of inclusiveness.

Malaysia is a blessed land with enough for all.

Give more priority to the poor and lower- and middle-income groups for socio–economic progress.

Our motto – "Unity in diversity" – should be upheld. Our diversity should be regarded.

As our national "heritage" and our "home" and "hopes" for the future.

As a model of multi-racial and multi-religious country, for the whole world!

Malaysia Boleh!

* Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam is chairman of the Asli Center of Public Policy Studies.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

Zaid Ibrahim To Contest In Kajang By-election

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 14 (Bernama) -- Former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim is set to make a comeback in the political arena.

On Friday, he announced that he intended to contest in the upcoming Kajang by-election.

Mohd Zaid, in his latest blog posting, said that contesting the seat would enable him to address numerous political and economic issues the country is currently facing.

"Writing in my blog (www.zaid.my) is fun but it would also be good to talk to real people face-to-face, listen to what they have to say and, of course, have satay with them.

"Talking to Kajang voters would also test the acceptability of some of my ideas, which in turn could be useful feedback for our policy-makers," he said in his blog entry entitled 'Mulling for Kajang' which was published today.

Mohd Zaid said he had already outlined a few points that he would voice up during the campaigning period which were, among others, the importance of battling the roots of racial polarisation, the effort to preserve peace and solidarity between Muslims and Non-Muslims, as well as economic and educational programmes on building skills.

Mohd Zaid also said that he would seek explanation from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim regarding PKR's decision to engineer the by-election, which some political observers view as wasteful.

"Of course I will ask Anwar Ibrahim to explain why he has engineered this by-election. What will he do with the reserves that Selangor has in his quest to bring glory to the state?" he wrote further.

Mohd Zaid was appointed as senator in March 2008 before joining the Cabinet but tendered his resignation six months later.

He was an Umno leader from 1984 until he was sacked from the party in Dec 2008, among others, due to allegedly attending opposition-held gatherings.

Then he joined Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) in 2009 and contested under a PKR ticket in the Hulu Selangor by-election in 2010 in which he was defeated by the then MIC information chief P. Kamalanathan by a margin of 1,725 votes.

Due to some internal conflicts, Mohd Zaid, the then Federal Territory PKR chairman left the party and later formed his own party called Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (Kita) and became its president in Dec 2010.

Mohd Zaid, a prominent lawyer who owned one of the biggest law firms in southeast Asia, was not in the limelight since then and the party also lost all two parliamentary seats and 11 state seats it contested in the 2013 General Election.

Mohd Zaid did not stand in the last general election.

With Mohd Zaid's latest move, he is the third independent candidate to voice his intention to join the fray after Senator Datuk S Nallakarupan, who is also the president of the Malaysian Indian United Party, and Anwar's former legal assist Yuktes Vijay.

The Kajang state seat was vacated by Lee Chin Cheh of PKR on Jan 27.

The next day, Menteri Besar of Selangor Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said the party had decided to field Anwar as their candidate.

The Election Commission (EC) has fixed the nomination date on March 11 and polling on March 23.

Finalist protests removal of ABU painting from Balai Seni

"Slaughtering chickens was symbolic, not un-Islamic'

‘Honour’ crime: 20 arrested for declaring nine-year-old vani

MULTAN: Police registered cases against 36 people for declaring a nine-year-old girl vani in Mithanwali, Muzaffargarh district on Wednesday. Of these, 20 men were arrested.

Police said 30-year-old Shabbo Mandoos* was accused of having an illicit relationship with a 26-year-old woman, also from the Mandoos tribe and daughter of the local tribal chief.

They said the woman’s family had called a panchayat and demanded that Shabbo be killed and his property be transferred to the woman’s father.

However, Yaar Muhammad, Shabbo’s father, had begged for mercy before a panchayat of 50 men and asked for another punishment instead.

The panchayat, headed by Ghulam Akbar Mandoos and Rajhay Khan, had then declared Shabbo’s nine-year-old niece vani and told her father to marry her to the Mandoos woman’s 10-year-old brother.

The girl was handed over to the Mandoos family along with 15 acres of land.

Someone from the village had informed the police, who had raided Mandoos’s house and recovered the girl. She was handed over to her family.

Seetpur Sub Inspector Abdul Shakoor, who had led the raid, also deputed policemen in the captured land. The SI said police had also ensured protection to Shabbo.

Some of the men were detained for interrogation and later released.

Police said an FIR was registered under Sections 342, 506 B, 148 and 149 of the Child Marriage Act against 36 men nominated by the girl’s father.

Station House Officer Abid Shareef told The Express Tribune that 20 men had been arrested. Those arrested did not include the panchayat heads. He said the police were looking for them.

Another injustice

Separately, in Bhakkar’s Darya Khan tehsil, a seven-year-old girl was declared vani to ‘punish’ her brother for marrying of freewill. Police arrived on the spot on time and rescued the child.

Police said Muhammad Imran of Mehrabad Colony had married Razia Bibi of the same locality a few months ago without the consent of her parents.

Police said her parents had called a panchayat which declared Imran’ sister vani and ordered her parents to marry her to a man in Razia Bibi’s family. The panchayat also called a prayer leader of the neighbourhood mosque on the spot to solemnise the nikah.

However, police arrived at the scene on a tip off and arrested the prayer leader and two other men, who are yet to be identified.

Police said cases were registered against 17 people, including the panchayat members.

*ALL NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO PROTECT IDENTITIES

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13th, 2014.

ISIL Stones Syrian Girl to Death for Facebook Membership

The ISIL militants took the Syrian girl, Fatoum Al-Jassem, to Al-Reqqa religious court and the judge ruled that membership in Facebook is tantamount to adultery and sentenced her to death by stoning, the Arabic-language Al-Rai Al-Youm reported.

Also in the past 24 hours, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) announced that all foreign-backed militants who were stationed in Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp in Southern Damascus have withdrawn from the camp.

“The terrorists groups of Al-Nusra Front and Ibn Timieh and Al-Sahaba Battalion have withdrawn from Al-Salasin Street which was their last bastion in Yarmouk camp,” PFLP-GC’s Politbureau Chief Hessam Arafat said.

He noted that a team comprising 50 renowned political figures will enter Yarmouk camp on Wednesday to force the Palestinian armed forces who have occupied the military bases and centers that the foreign-backed terrorists have withdrawn from in a bid to pave the way for implementation of other clauses of the Yarmouk agreement.

Meantime, the foreign-backed militants also withdrew to Al-Rijjeh square in Damascus after the implementation of the national reconciliation agreement in Yarmouk camp.

Elsewhere in the country, the Islamic Front terrorist group held 30 ISIL militants in Deir Ezzur in Eastern Syria. Now the Islamic Front has found an upper-hand in the combat against the rival group, ISIL.

Elsewhere, the ISIL besieged the gathering centers of the Al-Nusra Front and two terrorist groups of Ahrar Al-Sham and Katibeh Al-Qaqa in Eastern Syria. The besieged militants of the Al-Nusra Front have been left with only two options of death or surrendering to the ISIL.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized attacks by well-armed terrorists and militants against the Syrian army and civilians across the country.

Thousands of people have been killed since terrorist and armed groups turned protest rallies into armed clashes.

The government blames outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorist groups for the deaths, stressing that the unrest is being orchestrated from abroad.

In October 2011, calm was almost restored in most parts of the Arab state after President Assad started a reform initiative in the country, but Israel, the US and its Arab allies brought the country into chaos through every possible means. Tel Aviv, Washington and some Arab capitals have been staging various plots in the hope of increasing unrests in Syria.

The US daily, Washington Post, reported in May, 2012 that the Syrian rebels and terrorist groups battling Assad's government have received significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, a crime paid for by the Persian Gulf Arab states and coordinated by the United States.

The newspaper, quoting opposition activists and US and foreign officials, reported that Obama administration officials emphasized the administration has expanded contacts with opposition military forces to provide the Persian Gulf nations with assessments of rebel credibility and command-and-control infrastructure.

According to the report, material was being stockpiled in Damascus, in Idlib near the Turkish border and in Zabadani on the Lebanese border.

Opposition activists who several months ago said the rebels were running out of ammunition said in May that the flow of weapons - most bought on the black market in neighboring countries or from elements of the Syrian military in the past - has significantly increased after a decision by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Persian Gulf states to provide millions of dollars in funding each month.

Waytha, a hero Indians never needed - Malaysiakini

COMMENT Something changed about the movement called Hindraf on April 18, 2013.

Shortly after signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with BN chairperson Najib Abdul Razak, P Waythamoorthy, leading the splinter, albeit recognised group Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia (PHM), rallied his supporters to return BN’s two-thirds majority in the elections.

However, right after the event, as Waythamoorthy attempted to leave the venue, an anxious member of the public insisted on asking a question to be directed at both Waythamoorthy and Najib. The young man was hell bent on asking some uncomfortable questions - including prodding how Waythamoorthy’s MOU will solve the woe of the Indian poor.

However, the greater surprise for many in the crowd there, including journalists, was the manner in which Waythamoorthy walked off the stage without fielding the question, leaving the then acting Prime Minister’s officers and several Hindraf staffers to ask the young man and his father, rather abruptly, to leave the venue.

He was initially told there would be a question-and-answer session after the event, something which never materialised.

10 months of elegant silence

The manner in which Waythamoorthy walked off that day during the MOU signing event riled up quite a number of ardent Hindraf supporters who didn’t mince their words in calling the pledge of support to BN a “betrayal”.

The fact that only four out of the 18 demands originally made by Hindraf was signed on by Najib in the Hindraf-BN five-year blueprint, and that the MOU was not even made as a publicly available document to their own supporters, thereafter turned away a part of the crowd from being Hindraf loyalists.

What followed was 10 months of nothing but elegant silence from Waythamoorthy. BN, of course, did not win the two-thirds majority. While there seemed to be a slight increase in the number of Indians who voted for BN compared to the 2008 elections, the community was still not voting strongly in any one direction.

Nevertheless, Najib wanted to honour his promise and gave Waythamoorthy a deputy minister’s post in his own Prime Minister’s Department (PMD). According to the MOU, Hindraf should have been given an allocation to run a unit under the PMD on their own to address the socio-economic problems of Indians.

However, the allocation never came. It was ominous in its absence from Budget 2014. Waythamoorthy started his tenure issuing statements on matters that concern Indians, but whether he did that from his office in the PMD or from the comfort of the Hindraf office was anyone’s guess.

Waytha not in his colleagues’ good books

It was not long before he ran into the bad books of Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for being vocal about the gunning down of five alleged criminals in Penang by the police. Zahid had then told Waythamoorthy to resign if he wanted to run an NGO.

While Zahid’s (right) staunch defence of the police’s actions was blinded, he was somehow right in his riposte to Waythamoorthy. You would expect a member of the government to at least use his hotlines to talk to his colleagues on matters that concern him.

Did Waythamoorthy ever pick up the phone and bother to engage Zahid and express his concerns before issuing public statements denouncing the police? We would never know.

When Najib himself admitted publicly that a member of the government should toe the line, it was obvious that Waythamoorthy was not in the good books of many of his colleagues in the government.

Soon after being told off by his superiors, Waythamoorthy acted like he was never a part of the PMD. His statements were undersigned as the Hindraf chairperson. He was never seen on the ground and in Parliament answering a single question about the programs that the government has done for the Indian poor.

It was a complete, elegant silence. But what we would never know is whether he left the PMD with his head held high, or low- because he personally never announced his resignation.

He “elucidated” the reasons behind his resignation to Najib, but never to the Malaysian public, or the Indian masses who helped propel him to being a part of the government in the first place.

Despite his NGO claiming that he had quit by noon on Tuesday (Feb 10), Waythamoorthy in reality did not hand in the letter until 5.05pm, five minutes after most civil servants left their offices in Putrajaya. It was almost done in an incognito manner.
  
Raised more questions than solutions

Virtually uncontactable by the press throughout his tenure, Waythamoorthy had only raised more questions instead of giving definite solutions to the Indian socio-economic dilemmas.

Why did he accept the appointment if he was not prepared to politically lobby his superiors to see his side of the argument?

Maybe Waythamoorthy genuinely believed that good things come to those who wait.

Like how he waited in his hunger strike for either BN and Pakatan Rakyat to sign the Hindraf blueprint.

Like how economically deprived Indians had been taught to wait for a downfall of handouts from those in power instead of empowering themselves.

And that’s how Waythamoorthy waited for an allocation while there was desk with his name on it in the PMD, virtually used for no great reason for seven months.

And he (or the Hindraf central committee) got tired of waiting. Waythamoorthy may be a ‘hero’ to some for his sacrifices, his exile and his hunger strike, but he did nothing to inspire the Indian poor, who, generation after generation, are still waiting for greater recognition.

My verdict, however damning, is this: a complete waste of one year of political space.

While the might was shown in November 2007 on the streets, nothing but meekness prevailed when given an opportunity to be as firm, if not stronger, within the halls of the political potpourri.              
A hero he may be. But one we never needed.

Maybe it’s time for Indians to stop looking for a hero to uplift them.

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RAM ANAND is a member of the Malaysiakini team.

Ibu dakwa bayi kembar meninggal kerana hospital cuai

Suaminya juga telah membuat laporan polis di Balai Polis Melang.

KUALA PILAH: Seorang ibu muda mendakwa bayi kembar beliau meninggal dunia selepas kecuaian pihak Hospital Tuanku Ampuan Najihah (HTAN), Kuala Pilah bulan lepas.

Sharifah Kalsum Syed Abu Bakar, 22, mendakwa pada 14 Januari lepas, lebih kurang pukul 2.30 petang, beliau ke HTAN kerana sakit hendak bersalin.

“Saya rasa sakit di pinggang dan berlaku kontraksi. Dalam bilik bersalin tiada doktor pakar tetapi hanya ada doktor pelatih sahaja.

“Saya merayu kepada jururawat bertugas agar mempercepatkan proses kelahiran tetapi doktor memberitahu saya, pembukaan di pangkal rahim saya ketika itu hanya dua sentimeter. Ini menyebabkan saya dimasukkan ke wad biasa.

“Selepas itu saya diberikan ubat tahan sakit dan saya terlena.

“Keesokkan harinya sekali lagi saya memanggil jururawat kerana berasa seperti hendak bersalin.

“Saya sudah tidak larat untuk menahan sakit tetapi jururawat menjawab dengan kurang sopan malah seperti memerli saya, “ kata Sharifah Kalsum.

Sharifah Kalsum turut mendakwa pada 16 Januari antara jam 6.30 petang hingga 7.00 malam, dia dikejutkan oleh seorang jururawat untuk melakukan pemeriksaan cardiotopograph atau CTG untuk mengesan kadar degupan jantung bayi.

`Degupan jantung’

“Ketika pemeriksaan CTG, saya mendengar degupan jantung sebelah kanan, manakala sebelah kiri pula tiada.

“Jururawat tersebut tidak memaklumkan apa-apa sehingga seorang doktor memeriksa saya pada pukul 7.30 pagi.

“Apabila doktor periksa sekali lagi selepas kira-kira 15 minit kemudian, degupan jantung bayi kiri tiada dan menyebabkan doktor meminta saya ke bilik bersalin lebih kurang pukul 8.30 pagi.

“Dalam keadaan panik, seorang doktor meminta pembedahan kecemasan dilakukan segera bagi menyelamatkan bayi saya,” katanya lagi.

Sharifah Kalsom menjelaskan lebih kurang pukul 10.05 pagi, bayi pertama dikeluarkan dan masih hidup tetapi bayi kedua yang dikeluarkan seminit kemudian sudah meninggal dunia.

“Bayi pertama seberat 2.33 kilogram dan bayi kedua 2.07 kilogram.

“Saya ingatkan bayi pertama saya berjaya diselamatkan, tetapi sekitar pukul 12 tengahari, suami memaklumkan kepada saya, bayi itu juga telah meninggal dunia,” kata Sharifah Kalsum dengan sebak.

Suami kepada Sharifah Kalsum iaitu Muhd Azmi Hashim, 30, berkata beliau kecewa dengan sikap kakitangan hospital HTAN sehingga nyawa dua anaknya (kembar) tidak dapat diselamatkan.

“Saya juga kesal kerana pihak HTAN masih belum menjelaskan punca kematian anak kembar saya.

“Saya hanya mahu tahu punca sebenar kematian bayi kembar saya. Saya juga telah membuat laporan polis di Balai Polis Melang,” katanya.

Subra: Preventive healthcare vital

Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam, who has been in office for about eight months, gives his views, insights and goals of the healthcare system and the way it is managed.

PETALING JAYA: The preservation of society in the long run is much better than to treat a society which is frequently sick and ill, said Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam.

In an interview with FMT, Subramaniam, explaining one of his ministry’s directions wants to place emphasis on preventive medicine.

However, Subramaniam said the allocation for preventive healthcare is small, less than 5% of the total budget allocated for the healthcare.

In last year’s budget the government allocated RM22 billion for the healthcare industry.

“We have said that a big investment in preventive healthcare is vital. If you look at the indexes, we have serious health issues to tackle.

“For example, obesity affects nearly 15% of our population which is a fairly high number, and for diabetes and hypertension, the figure is around 30%.

“This tells us that there is a need for the government to promote healthy living and at least combat the major diseases which is a burden on healthcare cost,” said Subramaniam.

He also made a call to Malaysians to lead a healthy lifestyle by eating the right food, exercise regularly and quit smoking.

Any national health policy?

When asked if his ministry will introduce a National Health Policy to streamline the industry, Subramaniam said that at present the delivery of healthcare in this country was divided into primary, secondary and tertiary medical care which have been implemented through two parallel systems.

“One is the government health system and the other is the private health system. Both function independently of each other.

“Before independence, the government was the main player, after post independence about 20-30 years ago the private sector sector has been complementing the public health sector.

“There have been attempts before to formulate policies to complement each other but none has been officially accepted,” said Subramaniam.

He also added that before 2013, an idea was mooted to create better co-operation in the form of the 1Care policy but it was politicised and resulted in objections from many parties.

Subramaniam also wants to strengthen the primary care delivery to be effective, efficient and produce the desired results.

“For example a person with diabetes, he should have access to primary care facilities and optimal treatment. It should be such that he will be able to avoid the risk of developing complications in years to come,” he said.

Management of medical infrastructure

Subramaniam also touched on the issues for major hospitals in the big towns that are overcrowded, while the smaller ones are still manageable.

He said that a dedicated master plan with specific goals in the management of medical infrastructure was required to address this issue.

“I have announced that we are making an attempt to increase the hospital bed strength ratio to 2.5 beds per 1,000 population, which at the present is 1.81 to 1,000.

“To achieve this, we will require another 15,000 beds throughout the country.

“When you increase the number of bed spaces, it also has to be associated with the other infrastructure, we need equipments, facilities and the required manpower to complement each other,” added Subramaniam.