Hisham: No gov't help for financially ailing MAS

 

There is no government assistance for the financially ailing MAS, says Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

“Is there any Malaysian government assistance to MAS? No,” he told a press conference today.

MAS was already making losses prior to the MH370 incident in March, and today the airline said the tragedy had a “dramatic impact" on its performance.

The airline posted a net loss of RM442 million in the first quarter of 2014, which is almost double of the losses in the same quarter last year, Kinibiz reported today.

Previously, Tourism Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz (left) reportedly said that the government does not know what to do with the airline, but had already ruled out injecting new capital.

Meanwhile, Hishammuddin told reporters today that the multinational search operation for MH370 has cost Malaysia “hardly anything”, because each government had been contributing resources at their own cost.

“What we have incurred is only the cost of deploying our military assets, which are already there,” he said.

'M'sia will share costs'

For the next phase of extensive underwater search operations however, he reiterated that it is only fair that Malaysia shares some of the costs rather than letting Australia foot the bill alone.

However, he said the cost that Malaysia will incur in this phase has not been estimated yet, because the search area and the assets required have yet to be determined.

He added that there are also countries that may contribute military assets at no cost, and there are also ‘third parties’ that have expressed willingness to provide financial contributions.

Hishammuddin, who is also the defence minister, declined to name these third parties when asked, but instead says the matter will be discussed when he travels to meetings in the United Arab Emirates, the Asean defence ministers’ meeting in Myanmar, and meetings in China over the next two weeks.

The Boeing 777-200ER aircraft deviated from its original course on March 8, and went missing with 239 persons onboard.

Meeting in Canberra

A meeting of an international panel of experts, including from the British satellite communications company Inmarsat, is currently taking place in Canberra to pore over all existing data to determine the aircraft’s final location more accurately, and decide on the assets needed for the search.

The two-week meeting started on Wednesday last week.

Analysis of Inmarsat’s data had been instrumental in determining that MH370’s final resting place is somewhere in the South Indian Ocean, off the coast of Australia.

When asked about the call from family members of those onboard MH370 to publicly release the raw Inmarsat data for independent analysis, Hishammuddin said that request should be directed to Inmarsat.

“As what (Joint Agency Coordination Centre chief) Angus Houston (above) said recently in Canberra, the raw data is not in the hands of MAS, Malaysia, nor Australia.

“It is in the hands of Inmarsat, so whatever issue that needs to be verified or revealed can only be done by Inmarsat itself,” he said.

Jailani to head comms committee
  
Meanwhile according to Bernama, Hishammuddin at the same press conference also said the cabinet also agreed to establish a specialised communications, coordination and media committee to be headed by Communications and Multimedia Deputy Minister Jailani Johari.   

The committee will focus on streamlining and strengthening effective communication between the three nations, families of those onboard MH370 and other related stakeholders.    

"This is to ensure the release of timely and transparent information which is consistent with our effort to improve communications related to this incident," said Hishammuddin.  

Prior to this, Malaysia had set up three ministerial committees, namely the next-of-kin committee, technical committee and deployment of assets committee to streamline the ongoing search efforts.    

Hishammuddin said since the negotiation process about further details of the operation was expected to continue for the next one to two months, Malaysia was placing a special team in Canberra who included representatives from all the committees to represent the country during the period.   

" This special team will coordinate any aspect related to the search operations between Malaysia and Australia. This team will comprise senior officials from the four respective ministerial committees."   

He said first admiral Hanafiah Hassan and colonel Hassan Lokman would represent the asset deployment committee to discuss aspects of the acquisition of assets.    

"Captain Meor Mohamad Nor Badrishah from the Civil Aviation Department will represent the technical committee to discuss data analysis and investigative matters, and Malaysian High Commissioner to Australia Zainal Abidin Ahmad will represent the next-of-kin committee to discus aspects related to next-of- kin management.      

"Two officers from the newly established communications, coordination and media committee will also be placed along with the team for media affairs," he added.

Marina gets stay on defamation suit hearing

Social activist Marina Mahathir today obtained a stay of her defamation suit against the leaders of Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) leaders.

This follows the Court of Appeal unanimously allowing a stay of the hearing in the High Court in Kuala Lumpur, which was scheduled to hear the matter from today.

Marina sought the order as she wants Isma leaders who accused her of being the person behind Comango, to testify first in her defamation suit against them rather than she testify first, as normal in civil suits.

Comango is a coalition of Malaysian non-governmental organisations on the Universal Periodic Review on Human Rights.

"As they had accused her of being the person behind Comango, they should testify first, to prove their allegation," said Marina’s lawyer Nitin Nadkarni.

Nitin also told the appellate court that Isma leaders had earlier stated in their statement of defence agreeing that they had made the allegation. However, subsequently in their amended defence statement, they retracted it.

Hence, he said the burden of proof is on Isma to prove their allegation.

Justice Zaharah Ibrahim, who chaired a three-member panel together with Justices Mohd Ariff Mohd Yusof and David Wong Dak Wah, agreed to allow the stay.

Following this, the Court of Appeal fixed June 24 for the case management to hear Marina's appeal for Isma leaders to testify first.

'Published with malice'

In the High Court in Kuala Lumpur earlier, Justice Rosilah Yop had disagreed with Marina’s lawyers and ordered the hearing fixed for today to go on.

Marina filed the defamation suit in January and named Isma's president Abdullah Zaik Abd Rahman (left) and 15 members as defendants.

This follows the publication and distribution of 70,000 copies of a leaflet titled `Dalang di sebalik Comango' with Marina's photograph last November that said she is the mastermind behind Comango.

Marina, admitted she is a Sisters in Islam board member, but claimed no role in Comango. She claimed that the leaflet was published with malice and that its content is false and defamatory.

The leaflets, which named other leaders as well, were widely distributed in mosques in the Klang Valley, Seremban, Malacca, Samarahan (Sarawak), Kuantan and Kuala Terengganu.

Marina, the eldest of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's children, had sought a retraction from Isma on the claim made in the leaflets. Its failure to do so resulted in this legal action.

She said the leaflets had tarnished her reputation, lowered her esteem in society, and made her subject to ridicule and scorn.

Nuns attacked by robber, say cops

Nuns attacked by robber, say cops

SEREMBAN: Police are investigating yesterday’s attack on two Catholic nuns as a robbery but will also consider other possibilities.

Negeri Sembilan police chief Osman Salleh, who said this at press conference today, cautioned the public against speculations that could lead to religious tension.

He said a man wearing a full-face helmet used another helmet to attack Julianna Lim and Mary-Rose Teng in the compound of the Church of Visitation here some time between 6am and 6.30am.

He said Lim, 69, was still unconscious and Teng, 79, had regained consciousness but was still in a state of shock.

“We’ll get a statement from her when she’s ready,” Osman said, referring to Teng. He said police were also keen to interview Lim because she was the second to be attacked and therefore had more time to look at the assailant.

“She may have a better description,” he added. “In fact she screamed for help and then was attacked by the assailant. We pray for her speedy recovery and Mary-Rose as well.”

The only description police now have of the assailant is that he is thin and about 5 feet 7 inches tall.

“There are 13 CCTV cameras around the church, including indoors and outdoors,” Osman said. “However, two of them are faulty. The one aimed to the incident area has been faulty for quite some time.”

Osman said the assailant took the women’s handbags, both of which contained unspecified amounts of cash. Lim also had bibles in her bag and Teng had a mobile phone in hers.

The two live in the same house in Rasah.

“Both came to the church for morning prayers and both were dressed normally,” Osman said.

He said police would investigate the case from “all angles although it looks like it’s a robbery”.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has condemned the attack as “appalling and senseless”.

In an article posted on Facebook today, he said: “The attack and robbery of two nuns in Seremban yesterday was an appalling and senseless act. Rest assured that PDRM [the police] are committed to finding the perpetrators and bringing them to justice.

“I wish both Sister Julianna Lim and Sister Marie Rose a speedy recovery.”

‘Component parties can stay or leave BN’

Umno MPs say it is not necessary to discuss hudud with non-Muslim parties as they do not know anything about the Islamic law.

PETALING JAYA: MCA’s call for action to be taken against two ministers for their support on hudud did not go down well with Umno MPs. One MP rejected outright the need to discuss hudud with non-Muslim BN component parties.

“As Muslims, we cannot go against hudud. Umno does not reject hudud.”

“We also cannot blindly support PAS as we want to know whether PAS intends to add their own interpretation of hudud,” said Kinabatangan MP, Bung Mokhtar Radin.

“MCA’s call for action to be taken against the Minister in Prime Minister’s Department in charge of religious affairs, Jamil Khir Baharom and the International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed is not right,” he added.

Bung said that it was not necessary for Umno to consult BN component parties when the party has already decided to go ahead with the formation of a national technical committee.

“What’s the point of consulting with non-Muslim component parties when they know nothing about hudud apart from the chopping-off of hands?” he said.

Decision made without consultation

Yesterday, MCA Wanita chief Heng Saie Kie had called for action to be taken against the two ministers who had declared their support forhudud implementation, the Islamic criminal penal code, in Kelantan.

“I strongly urge the BN whip to take disciplinary action against the cabinet ministers and they should be directed to leave the joint technical committee, with Kelantan PAS government, immediately.

“It is disappointing when two BN Cabinet ministers had not only expressed their support towards PAS’ Hudud Bill but also announced their participation in the technical committee to review the implementation of hudud law in Kelantan,” Heng had said in a press statement.

She revealed that the decision to form the national technical committee on hudud had been made unilaterally and without consulting BN component parties.

At the beginning of this year, Jamil had announced that the federal government would support any state government wanting to implement hudud law.

Following this, PAS-led Kelantan government announced its intention to implement the law in the state and was supported by Kelantan Umno led by Mustapa.

The state government wants to table two Private Member Bills that would provide for the establishment of a Syariah Special Court and a Syariah Special Appeals Court.

The Syariah Court (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 is also expected to be amended. Both bills are slated to be tabled in September.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had proposed the formation of a national technical committee on hudud.

In the latest development, PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu recently announced that the party would postpone their plans in Kelantan, pending the outcome of the national technical committee’s findings.

It doesn’t concern the Chinese

The Padang Besar MP Zahidi Zainul Abidin has also echoed Bung Mokhtar’s views over the issue.

“MCA has no right to comment on Umno’s role on matters concerning hudud laws. Hudud is not a matter that concerns the Chinese,” he said.

In response to Heng’s claim that it was not right for the national technical committee to be formed without the consensus of BN component parties, Zahidi said that “MCA should perhaps rethink their membership in BN”.

“If they want, they can decide whether or not to remain in BN,” he said.

Sudan: Woman facing death sentence on grounds of her religion must be released

Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception

Amnesty International

A heavily pregnant Christian Sudanese woman who could be sentenced to death by hanging for ‘apostasy’, and to flogging for ‘adultery’ should be immediately and unconditionally released, Amnesty International said ahead of the ruling expected tomorrow.

Meriam Yehya Ibrahim is eight months pregnant and currently in detention with her 20-month-old son.

“The fact that a woman could be sentenced to death for her religious choice, and to flogging for being married to a man of an allegedly different religion is abhorrent and should never be even considered. ‘Adultery’ and ‘apostasy’ are acts which should not be considered crimes at all, let alone meet the international standard of “most serious crimes” in relation to the death penalty. It is flagrant breach of international human rights law,” said Manar Idriss, Amnesty International’s Sudan researcher.

Meriam Yehya Ibrahim, a Christian Sudanese, was convicted on charges of ‘apostasy’ by a Khartoum court on Sunday and was given three days to recant her faith or face a possible sentence of death.

She was also convicted of ‘adultery’ on the grounds that her marriage to a Christian man from South Sudan is considered void under Shari’a law as practiced in Sudan, and is likely to be sentenced to up to 100 lashes.

Meriam was raised as an Orthodox Christian, her mother’s religion, because her father, a Muslim, was reportedly absent during her childhood. She was arrested and charged with adultery in August 2013 after a family member reportedly claimed that she was committing adultery because of her marriage to her Christian South Sudanese husband. The court added the charge of apostasy in February 2014 when Meriam asserted that she was a Christian and not a Muslim.

“Amnesty International believes that Meriam is a prisoner of conscience, convicted solely because of her religious beliefs and identity, and must be released immediately and unconditionally,” said Manar Idriss.

“The right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, which includes the freedom to hold beliefs, is far-reaching and profound; it encompasses freedom of thought on all matters, personal conviction and the commitment to religion or belief”

“International law bars coercion that would impair the right to have or adopt a religion or belief, including the use of threat of physical force or penal sanctions to compel believers or non-believers to adhere to their religious beliefs, to recant their religion or belief or to convert.”

The criminalization of ‘adultery’ violates the rights to freedom of expression and association and invariably discriminates against women in its enforcement. The criminalization of ‘apostasy’ is incompatible with the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion

Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception.

Manikavasagam: PKR killing my political career

Displeased for being suspended from the party, former Kapar MP questions the party disciplinary board for their inaction against other leaders

Ikhwan Zulkaflee, Free Malaysia Today

Former Kapar MP S Manikavasagam said that PKR leadership is ‘killing’ his political career by suspending his membership, thus disqualifying him from contesting in the ongoing party polls.

Speaking to FMT, Manikavasagam said that he was sad by the decision made by the party leadership.

“This sentence is like killing my political career..like what Mahathir did to Anwar. I should have been given space to defend myself. If they decided that my Kuala Selangor division chief candidacy should be disqualified then its okay but let me stand as the supreme council member.

“They should have not made me the scapegoat for grousing to the media. When they come to me and ask questions, I just gave them my answers based on what happened on polling day,” he said.

According to him, other party leaders also come forward to the media but no action is taken against them.

Manikavasagam who is contesting as Kuala Selangor chief division and supreme council member was suspended from the party after the PKR’s political bureau meeting last night decided that he breached the party election regulation by going to the media to voice his grouse.

PKR Disciplinary Board Chairman Tan Kee Kwong announced through a press statement today that Manikavasagam had violated the party election code Article B.7 which reads: “Any dispute regarding the party election should not be brought to the media or made public”.

Manikavasagam during the division polls last weekend alleged to the media that his opponent Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim was involved in money politics in the run-up to the election.

“His statement was aired in TV1 news and TV3 Buletin Utama on May 11 and published in Utusan Malaysia page 6 on May 12,” the statement read.

READ MORE HERE

Another Allah Case Arises in Malaysia

More sticky ground for the government

On May 11, 2008, Jill Ireland, a member of the Melanau tribe in Sarawak, landed at the low cost carrier terminal at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, carrying with her eight compact disks containing Christian educational materials in the Indonesian language and intended for her personal use.

The CDs were confiscated by customs authorities on the basis that they contained the word Allah to denote the Christian god. It has become the third of three cases the government would probably like to forget.

Six years later, Ireland is still trying to get her CDs back. It is one of three major cases involving the Allah controversy. The case was supposed to come before Kuala Lumpur High Court Judge Zaleha Yusoff on May 15. Yusoff, however, went on leave, raising questions whether the government would prefer that the case stay on the back burner. The case now has been deferred to June 30.

The Allah issue has earned the country widespread international ridicule and is tearing apart the multi-racial and multi-religious fabric of Malaysian society. It is the only Muslim country in the world, including all of the Arab nations and Indonesia, that bars Christian use of the word. Language scholars point out that it was used as a Christian name for God in the Middle East before Islam came into being.

The High Court actually granted Ireland leave for judicial review on May 4, 2009 – five years ago. But the hearing for the legal battle has yet to begin. It is a particularly thorny one for the government because as Ireland has said repeatedly, the compact disks, which are perfectly legal in Indonesia, where they were made, were for her personal use.

Sources close to the case said that the judicial review is supposed to be the final in a series of court cases involving the Allah controversy in Malaysia for at least the next 12 months. The government, the sources say, wants no more such cases to come before the courts for awhile in order to appease the country’s Muslims, who make up 60 percent of the population.

However, Aziz Bari, a professor and constitutional expert who appeared at the court, said "Both the government and the judge have to understand that the case involves eight CDs, which are meant for Jill Ireland's personal usage. They were never meant for proselytisation purposes. Hence, either the government should just withdraw the case or the judge should make a ruling that will put the house in order."

"In short, the Ministry of Home Affairs could have just returned the eight CDs to Jill Ireland, and the case is close," pointed out Aziz. "The longer the case is being dragged, the worse it will become. How long more can the country fight over that one name of Allah?"

The Allah controversy can be traced back more than three decades ago, when the government painted itself into a corner it can’t get out of. Capitulation on an issue that should never have become an issue, since it isn’t anywhere else, is something the authoritarian government can’t do without humiliating itself. Successive court cases have only hardened the government’s stance on an irrational issue.

Since 1982, barely a year after Mahathir Mohamad became the country’s fourth prime minister, Malaysian Muslims have maintained that they have exclusive claim to the name Allah, and non-Muslims were forbidden from using the name of Allah in their publication.

In that same year, the Indonesian Alkitab, or Christian Bible, used mainly by native Christians in Sabah and Sarawak, was banned although it continues in widespread use. In 1986, the government issued a directive that banned the use of Allah in non-Muslim publications. It was on this directive that customs seized Ireland’s CDs.

The same controversy led to a more celebrated case involving the Catholic Church, which led to the Kuala Lumpur High Court ruling in favor of the use of the word Allah by the Herald, a Malaysian Catholic weekly newspaper, on Dec 31, 2009. The same court had ruled that Islam’s position as the federal religion of the country did not empower the government to prohibit the use of the word Allah. It also found that the word Allah was not exclusive to Muslims.

The High Court rule, however, led to a series of street demonstrations involving Malaysian Muslims, which Najib had claimed the government could do nothing about. After several firebombings of religious places of worship, the government belatedly appealed and reversed the High Court decision.

The Herald case is now awaiting a hearing date before the country’s Supreme Court, with no date in view. Lawyers that have fought the case said any claim to exclusivity of the term "Allah" at the expense of native Bumiputra Christians of Sabah and Sarawak as well as a younger generation of Christians in Peninsular Malaysia who are proficient only in the Malay language, cannot prevail given the constitutional provisions on religious liberty and freedom.

"However, the situation is dicey," a lawyer involved in the case said on condition of anonymity. "The court can decide otherwise. This is why we feel that the rights of the minority are being suppressed."

In another case involving the Sabah church of Sidang Injil Borneo, an evangelical branch of Christianity in East Malaysia, the High Court judge referred to the appellate court’s decision, saying she was bound by the Superior Court ruling suggesting a Muslim monopoly over “Allah”

Sincerity

Aziz said that the Ireland case will once again put to test the already doubtful sincerity of Prime Minister, Najib Abdul Razak’s transformation plan since taking over from Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2009. Najib had been using his all-inclusive One Malaysia campaign during the last General Election in 2013, and prior to the Sarawak state election in 2011, his government had also drawn up a 10-point agreement for both East Malaysian states.

However, when the Bible Society of Malaysia was raided in January this year, Najib said the agreement was subject to state constitutions and enactments on the use of terms deemed exclusive to Muslims. "As the Federal Government, it must ensure that the Constitution of the country is always upheld," said Aziz.

'Dr M, jadilah orang tua yang segera bertaubat'

 

Saya ingin memberi reaksi serangan terbaru Dr Mahathir ke atas Anwar Ibrahim seperti dilapor Bernama bertarikh 14 Mei 2014.
Saya kira Dr Mahathir melatah lagi.

Kali ini beliau menyerang Anwar Ibrahim kerana dijemput menyampaikan syarahan di Universiti Al-Azhar, Jakarta Indonesia. Bahkan penganjur yang menjemput Anwar juga diserang Dr Mahathir.

Kata Dr Mahathir, Anwar tidak layak menyampaikan syarahan tentang Islam kerana moralnya rendah!

Izinkan saya menceritakan kepada Dr Mahathir yang mudah lupa, lama sebelum Anwar berkawan dengan Dr Mahathir, Anwar sudah pun mengenali dan berguru dengan Dr Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, Dr Ismail Faruqi, Dr Sheikh Taha Jabir Al-Awani, Pak Natsir, Pak Hamka, Sheikh Hassan Turabi, Dr Rashid Ghanoushi, Sheik Mehdi Aqif dan ramai lagi.

Anwar terlibat dengan gerakan Islam sejak zaman sekolah, mahasiswa, belia dan tidak pernah bersara hingga hari ini.

Tokoh-tokoh ilmuan dan gerakan Islam seantero dunia seperti Dr Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, Dr Wahbah Zuhaily, Dr Abu Hamid Sulaiman, Dr Ahmad Totonji, Dr Tariq Suwaidan dan Dr Tariq Ramadan sentiasa mengunjungi Anwar setiap kali mereka berkesempatan datang ke Malaysia berbincang isu-isu umat sejagat.

Biarlah saya mengingatkan Dr Mahathir walau bersungguh-sungguh beliau berusaha untuk membunuh karakter Anwar dengan fitnah liwat selama lebih 15 tahun, fitnah jijik itu tidak mampu menjauhkan tokoh-tokoh ilmuan Islam daripada Anwar.

Kalau Dr Mahathir ingin tahu apa sebabnya, jawapannya cukup terang. Islam melarang dan mengharamkan seorang muslim memfitnah saudara muslimnya yang lain dengan fitnah zina atau liwat.

Dr Mahathirlah yang mereka (tuduhan) fitnah liwat terhadap Anwar.

Mangsa fitnah

Namun Dr Mahathir tidak pernah berupaya menampilkan empat saksi sepertimana yang Al-Quran wajibkan. Rakan-rakan Anwar dari kalangan tokoh-tokoh Ilmuan Islam ini terus mendokong Anwar kerana kayu ukur mereka ialah Al Quran. Keyakinan mereka ialah Anwar menjadi mangsa fitnah jahat Dr Mahathir.

Dr Mahathir sewaktu menjadi Perdana Menteri memperalatkan seluruh jentera pemerintah termasuk media, polis, peguam negara dan mahkamah untuk  melengkapkan fitnahnya terhadap Anwar. Dipenjarakan tujuh tahun, bebas dan Anwar terus berjuang.

Apakah Dr Mahathir berhasil “membunuh” Anwar? Tidak sama sekali!

Kalau dahulu ketika masih berkuasa Dr Mahathir boleh sahaja menyekat dan memenjarakan Anwar. Hari ini pun kerajaan Umno/ BN boleh terus menyekat Anwar menyampaikan syarahan di universiti-universiti awam dan swasta di negara kita.

Kerajaan Umno/BN malah boleh mengugut mahasiswa-mahasiswa Malaysia di luar negara agar jangan mengikuti syarahan Anwar.

Namun Dr Mahathir dan kerajaan Umno/BN tidak boleh menyekat universiti-universiti terkemuka di rantau ASEAN, di Eropah, di Amerika Syarikat dan di Timur Tengah dari terus mengundang Anwar. Anwar sering dijemput mengupas pelbagai tajuk menyentuh persoalan umat Islam dan dunia seluruhnya.

Saya pernah berpergian bersama Anwar ketika beliau diundang menyampaikan syarahan di Mesir, Turki, Singapura, Indonesia dan banyak negara-negara lain. Siapa yang hadir mengikuti syarahan Anwar?

Untuk makluman Dr Mahathir, mereka ialah menteri-menteri, tokoh-tokoh pemikir dan sarjana Islam, golongan korporat, pimpinan media, professor universiti, tokoh-tokoh ekonomi dan teknokrat.

Di Tunisia misalnya Dr Rashid Ghanoushi menjemput Anwar menyampaikan pandangannya kepada seluruh ahli-ahli parlimen dan anggota jemaah menteri Tunisia.

Kupas topik Islam

Di Turki, Perdana Menteri Tayyib Erdogan menjemput Anwar berucap di Istana Presiden mengupas topik Islam dan kebangkitan dunia arab.

Satu ketika di Mesir seingat saya pada 2010, Anwar dijemput menyampaikan ucaputama persidangan antarabangsa Islam dan Demokrasi.

Di Singapura, bertempat di World Trade Center, ucapan Anwar pula ditujukan kepada tokoh-tokoh media dunia.

Di Indonesia pengaruh Anwar bukan kepalang. Seorang teman saya asal Bogor pernah bergurau, katanya tokoh-tokoh Indonesia saling berselisih dan berbeda pendapat antara satu sama lain, namun mereka boleh sahaja bersatu kalau mengkagumi Anwar.

Pesantren, universiti, badan-badan pemikir dan intelektual Indonesia sering mengundang Anwar menyampaikan pidatonya.

Anwar boleh berbicara karangan Shakespeare, Confucius, Mohamad Iqbal, Rabindranth Tagore, Jose Rizal atau mendeklamasi puisi Rendra.

Pada masa yang sama Anwar giat mempelopori maqasid syariah dan membentang kertas seminar Islam dan demokrasi di serata dunia.

Tidaklah menghairankan sebaik keluar dari penjara Anwar dilantik sebagai fellow di Universiti Oxford dan menjadi professor di Universiti New Hopkins Amerika Syarikat.

Anwar juga dilantik penasihat ekonomi Qatar dan beberapa institusi perbankan di negara arab.

Bunuh karekter

Elok juga saya mengingatkan Dr Mahathir bahawa Anwar yang cuba dibunuh karakternya oleh Dr Mahathir cuma manusia biasa. Hormat orang kepadanya bersebab. Fitnah Dr Mahathir hanya “berhasil” di dalam kalangan Umno. Itupun bukan semua.

Ramai kenalan saya di dalam Umno yang kini menduduki jawatan-jawatan utama dalam parti dan kerajaan mengakui hakikat ini. Cuma yang tiada pada mereka ialah keberanian untuk berkata benar di hadapan pemimpin pencipta fitnah.

Bagaimana sebenarnya Dr Mahathir mahu dingati? Berkuasa selama dua puluh tiga tahun legasi yang ditinggalkannya ialah merosakkan institusi kehakiman, menekan kebebasan media, menyuburkan budaya rasuah, memunggah kekayaan negara menjadi kekayaan peribadi, memusuhi institusi raja-raja Melayu dan berkekalan memusuhi ulama.

Ketika Anwar masih terus dengan tradisi ilmu dan rapat dengan Dr Yusof Qardawi, Dr Tariq Suwaidan, Dr Wahbah Zuhaily, Dr Mahathir pula rapat dengan Ananda Krishna, Francis Yeoh dan Syed Mokhtar Bukhary.

Ketika anak-anak Anwar membesar dan membina kerjaya yang cukup sederhana, Dr Mahathir pula cemerlang membantu anak-anaknya mencipta nama tergolong kelompok mahakaya di Malaysia!

Ketika Anwar terus berjuang membela rakyat, menolak politik perkauman, mengajak rakyat mencari titik persaudaraan, menuntut kekayaan negara diagih secara adil, Dr Mahathir pula kekal dengan gaya politik lama, usang, tidak pernah puas menimbun kekayaan dan penuh dendam kesumat.

Saksikanlah pada usia lebih 80-an tahun Dr Mahathir terus menyerang Anwar tanpa henti. Tidak pernah ada tanda-tanda beliau sedar dan insaf perbuatan fitnahnya terhadap Anwar. Pesanan buat Dr Mahathir, sesungguhnya Allah swt menyayangi hamba-hambanya yang sentiasa bertaubat dan membersihkan diri.

Sebaliknya Allah juga bencikan orang yang tidak mahu bertaubat dan paling dibenci-Nya ialah orang tua yang tidak mahu bertaubat. Doa saya agar Dr Mahathir tidak tergolong dalam kalangan jenis itu dan dibuka pintu hatinya. Amin ya Rabb.

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SAIFUDDIN NASUTION ISMAIL ialah setiausaha agung PKR

You will hear me roar — Dyana Sofya

MAY 15 — My mother was active in politics. As her kids, my brothers and I were exposed to politics at a very young age. We would frequently meet our politician uncles and aunts during dinners, teh tarik sessions, Hari Raya open houses and birthday parties. Some of them made it to ministerial posts in later years, while some were not as lucky.

Growing up observing my mother taught me many, many things. With the good came also the bad. I soon learned that politics was a dog eat dog world which required one to have nerves of steel and skin as thick as oak before one could even begin to participate.

My older brothers in particular saw what my mother endured. They read the books she brought home from work. They saw the dirty games and Machiavellian tactics that my mother had to put up with in the name of “perjuangan.” For the party. For the country.

They also saw how she was betrayed by her own comrades and best friends for the sake of position and power. As a result, they have sworn themselves off from the world of politics.

It all began in the late 1980s, when my mother was a UMNO worker. She had loyally served the party for years, but all her sacrifice and hard work counted for nothing when the newly constituted UMNO Baru of Dr Mahathir decided not to rehire staff that had been inclined towards the “Team B” of his opponent, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, during the 1987 UMNO election.

At the time, she was just about to return to work after maternity leave.

She had just given birth to me.

*

Twenty years later in 2007, I began the first year of my Bachelor in Legal Studies at UiTM. Malaysia had moved on from Mahathir by then, the Prime Minister being Pak Lah, a former “Team B” man.

As social movements in Malaysia began to gather pace — such as Hindraf, Bersih and anti-ISA rallies, my friends and I began to get interested in politics. We googled, we read, and we became aware. The next obvious step was to begin attending political ceramahs of various parties and groups. Some were pro-establishment, but mostly were anti-government. When my mother found out, she asked me: “Aren’t you afraid? You might get arrested for being pro-opposition.”

It was the same thing some of my friends said to me. My only reply was to say that some of these “anti-establishment” leaders who fought long and hard for what they believed in despite suffering under detention were now prominent leaders and would be, when history is written fifty years from now, be seen as heroes.

Only cowards fear the judgement of history.

*

In 2011, I made the decision to join the DAP. Once again, my friends thought: “There she goes again, doing something no one would think of.”

The truth is, I didn’t do it just to be different. I did it because I felt Malaysia needed a new kind of politics. I had seen how racial politics was nothing but a scam. My mother is Malay, yet she was shunned by the very party that claims to protect Malays. Hence, the racial model is nothing but a means of power-hungry leaders to stay in power. The only way forward for our country was to break this model of racial politics.

And so I chose DAP. For its principle of multi-culturalism. For its principle of standing up for all Malaysians, regardless of race and religion. For its principle of doing what is right, despite the risks and repercussions. I knew that if I made this choice that I believed was right, I would not have to fear the judgement of history.

Of course, joining DAP came with a price. I was immediately scrutinised and lambasted. False stories were created. My words were twisted. I was labelled a “pengkhianat.” I was also called many other names.

Just a few days ago, rumours began swirling around that I may be a possible candidate for a parliamentary seat. I was of course just as surprised as everyone else. But I was even more surprised by the wave of attacks that ensued.

My personal details were misused. My phone number was distributed and I have since been the target of hundreds of lewd messages. Another thing I have realised — Malaysian society is misogynistic!

And now, to tarnish my image further, there appears to be a photo of me allegedly wearing a bikini. While I think the Pinay actress in question is very attractive, I feel this really displays the level of guttural politics that our opponents would go to, especially against a female. Guys, please grow up.

Try as they may, they will not break me. My mother and my mentors have taught me well. They had warned me that there would be days like these. As much as I have been attacked, I have also received titanic support from my family, friends, comrades, former colleagues and fellow Malaysians across all age groups, races, faiths and parties.

Many have called to encourage me. Some have said they believe in me. But the truth is, it is Malaysians like them who make me believe in what I’m doing. And it is Malaysians like those who have been attacking me that give me even more reason to continue the “perjuangan.”

As I said earlier, I am confident that I will fall on the right side of history.

And so to my detractors, I wish to paraphrase Katy Perry. You will hear me “roar!”

* Dyana Soya is political secretary to Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang.


** This is the personal opinion of the writer or organisation and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malay Mail Online.

Court sticks to ruling against public assembly law, frees activists

The Malaysian Insider
by V. ANBALAGAN

The Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today discharged three activists who organised a peaceful gathering on New Year's Eve, saying the charge framed against them under the Peaceful Assembly Act was unconstitutional.

Sessions judge Ahmad Bache said he was bound by the April 25 Court of Appeal ruling that a punishment provision under the PPA was unconstitutional.

"As such the charge is groundless and I discharge the accused persons but not amounting to an acquittal," he said.

On May 9, the prosecution registered the charge against Mohd Bukhairy Sofian,  Edy Noor Ridzuan and Badrul Hisham Shaharin or Chegubard, under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, for failing to to give police a 10-day notice before the rally.

‎However, defence counsels Gobind Singh Deo and Eric Paulsen this morning objected to the charge read to the three, saying the court had no jurisdiction to hear the matter.

Gobind said the court could not take a plea for an offence that has been declared unconstitutional by the Court of Appeal on April 25.

The three were organisers of the rally at Dataran Merdeka on December 31 last year, organised by a group called Turun, to protest against the rising cost of living.

They were first charged on January 29 but were granted a discharge on April 28 by the Sessions Court.

Gobind said the Attorney-General, who is also the public prosecutor, could not use his discretion to charge the three as it was tantamount to abuse of power and showed disrespect to the court.

Paulsen, who appeared with Gobind, said the charge was groundless and urged the court to discharge their clients.

In today's proceedings, Ahmad said the court had to first answer whether it had the jurisdiction to hear and try the case, which he described a mere summons case in which the three men were only asked to appear in court.

"This means they have come to court voluntarily and not brought from police custody," he said, adding that a provision in the Subordinates Courts Act 1948 gives him the jurisdiction to hear and try a summons case.

He then ordered the charge to be read and a plea to be taken, but the trio pleaded not guilty.

Ahmad then addressed the court whether the charge was groundless based on the pronouncement of the Court of Appeal.

"The court has declared that there can be no punishment for organising a peaceful assembly and the provision is struck down from the day the law was enacted," he said.

Ahmad said the only recourse was to give the accused persons a discharge not amounting to an acquittal.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Suhaimi Ibrahim then told Ahmad that the Federal Court would hear on May 27 Putrajaya's appeal against the Court of Appeal ruling.

Gobind reminded that the A-G, Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, should take note of the Session Court ruling and not act unconstitutionally.

"Gani must respect the court and stop charging persons for offences that had been declared unconstitutional. He should stop misconducting himself," he added. – May 14, 2014.

Najib Outlines Six Criteria To Prepare Malaysian Youths For The Future

PUTRAJAYA, May 15 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today outlined six basic criteria that were vital to prepare Malaysian youths for the future.

He said among them were knowledge and skills because riches today also depended on 'raw materials' in the form of ideas, creativity and innovation.

"We also need youths who have an entrepreneurship culture because it is very important in developing and generating national riches," he said at the 2014 National Youth Awards ceremony here, Thursday.

He said the next criteria was moderation or "wasatiyyah" because it was the best approach to enable youths to avoid extremism which was detrimental to the country.

"Youths must also be capable of avoiding being trapped in liberalism or pluralism," he said.

Najib said the spirit of volunterism which was becoming dimmer by the day was also essential to be instilled in the national effort to turn out a generation of successful youths.

Youths too, he said, must have a strong love for the country other than spiritual values.

"A strong patriotic spirit will be able to ward off unhealthy influences," he added.

At the event, Najib also announced that the government had approved a RM1.5 million allocation to the Malaysian Youth Council (MBM) to help lay the ground work for the setting up of the Asean Community secretariat.

He said the money would be chanelled through the Youth and Sports Ministry.

"I understand MBM will be playing a more active role among non-governmental organisations to bring youths in Asean closer ahead of the formation of the Asean Community next year," he said, adding that he hoped that with the setting of the Asean Community, Malaysian youths would play an even more active role regionally and globally.

Earlier, Najib had presented the National Premier Youth Award 2014 to Wan Adilah Wan Awang from Terengganu, an entreprenuer who had helped produce many other entreprenuers in the fisheries sector.

The men's category was won by Jufitri Joha from Negeri Sembilan. Jufitri has played an active role in developing youths and among others is the founder of volunteer group Grup Alam Sekitar and Young Interfaith Group of ABIM (Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement).

Both the winners took home RM20,000, a trophy and certificate, each.

Persatuan Belia Tenggaroh 2 was the winner in the Youth organisations category and took home RM50,000, a trophy and certificate.

Muslims threatened by liberalism, secularism and LGBT, says Najib – Bernama

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said Islam and its followers are now being tested by new threats under the guise of humanism, secularism, liberalism and human rights. He said this mindset appeared to be becoming a new form of religion which was fast expanding locally and abroad. "They call it humanrightism, where the core beliefs are...

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said Islam and its followers are now being tested by new threats under the guise of humanism, secularism, liberalism and human rights.

He said this mindset appeared to be becoming a new form of religion which was fast expanding locally and abroad.

"They call it humanrightism, where the core beliefs are based on humanism and secularism as well as liberalism.

"It's deviationist in that it glorifies the desires of man alone and rejects any value system that encompasses religious norms and eitiquette. They do this on the premise of championing human rights," he said.

Najib (pic) said this when opening the 57th national-level Quran Recital Assembly at the Dewan Jubli Perak Sultan Ahmad Shah yesterday. Also present were his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.

He said there were efforts to spread the deviant thinking by relating it to the sanctity of Islam and this was the most dangerous threat to the Islamic faith.

"So today, once again, we stress that Islam that is embraced, practised and upheld as the national religion in Malaysia is the Islam which is based on the Sunni sect as propagated by the Prophet Muhammad and his companions.

"We will not tolerate any demands or right to apostasy by Muslims, or deny Muslims their right to be governed by Shariah Courts and neither will we allow Muslims to engage in LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) activities," he said.

He said as an Islamic country which upheld the Maqasid Shariah (the higher intentions of the Shariah), Malaysia emphasised the welfare of every individual regardless of race, language or religion.

He said justice, fairness and excellence were features of moderation used in the implementation of human rights in this country.

Christian woman sentenced to death for ‘apostasy’ in Sudan

A Sudanese medical doctor has been convicted of apostasy and sentenced to death by the El Haj Yousif Criminal Court in Khartoum North on Sunday.

Doctor Maryam Yahya Ibrahim was charged with apostasy under Article 126 of the Sudanese Criminal Law concerning conversion from Islam to another religion, and of adultery under Article 146 of the same law.

Judge Abbas Mohamed Khalifa called the Islamic Dawa organisation and the Sudanese Fatwa Council of Fatwa as experts on the matter. The doctor was convicted for adultery as she had conceived without being married under Muslim law. Her husband was acquitted as he had married her under Christian law.

The doctor, who is pregnant, has been held in Omdurman Federal Women’s Prison since 17 February, with her 20-month-old son. She was born in western Sudan to an Ethiopian Christian mother and a Sudanese Muslim father.  Her father disappeared from her life when she was six years old. Witnesses have testified that her mother raised her in the Christian faith.

“The court gave her until Thursday to repent,” a lawyer told Radio Dabanga. “It seems that the court is pressuring her to convert to Islam in exchange for her life,” she noted.

Sarawak leader demands explanation over covert attempts to convert Christian students

Sarawak is uneasy following covert religious conversion attempts of non-Muslim students by a Muslim NGO from the peninsula, said the state's outspoken minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing (pic) .

The students were said to have been placed under an "Anak Angkat" (adoption) programme run by the NGO at a school in Kuching.

Masing today demanded the state Education Department investigate how the NGO could conduct its dubious programme in a school without the knowledge of the school's authorities.

“I want to know what NGO is that. How did they gatecrash into the school?

"Since the school principal was not even aware of the programme in the school, I assume the programme is not sanctioned by the school or the education department,” Masing said after meeting a group of concerned parents of students from SMK Balai Ringin, a school situated about 65km from Kuching.

He said the NGO was never given permission to use the school hall for the “Anak Angkat” programme.

The parents had complained that the programme, attended by mostly non-Muslim students, had all its talks conducted by “ustaz” (religious teachers) who talked about Islamic religious matters to the Christian students.

Masing suspected the programme, held every Saturday since March 8, was a covert attempt to convert the students.

He also demanded the Public Service Commission investigate allegations by the students' parents that two teachers from the school had aided the group in conducting the programme.

The students claimed the two teachers had coaxed them to attend the programme under the guise of it being a “co-curriculum” activity.

“How could religious topics like the difference between 'air zam zam' which Muslims believe in, and the holy water Christians believe in, and questioning the sainthood of Mother Teresa be discussed, if this is a school sanctioned programme?” Masing asked.

Masing, who voiced his concerns by the “aggressive attempts” by Islamic groups from the peninsula to proselytise Christians in the state, said such groups are sowing discord among the state's multi-racial and multi-religious society as they have “no respect for other people's religious belief”.

“They are creating uneasiness in Sarawak,” he added.

Masing said if non-Muslims could not, by law, attempt to convert Muslims to another religion, on the same token Muslims too should not attempt to convert non-Muslims to Islam.

“How can we have two rules in one nation?”

The Land Development Minister, already vocal against covert attempts at proselytising to Christians, vowed to protect Sarawak as “the last bastion of religious harmony” for as long as he lived.

“Do not disturb us,” he warned the religious groups.

Last month, Masing had highlighted how Sarawak Christian students attending Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) scholarship interviews were asked questions about Islam.

He said the students were asked to name the prophets of Islam, the rukun (precepts) of Islamic prayers, and their opinion on the controversial hudud law, among others.

Subsequently, Mara clarified that non-Muslims attending the interview were to be asked questions on moral issues while promising to investigate the officials who had asked the applicants questions on Islam. – May 14, 2014.

Ramkarpal not taking it easy in Bukit Gelugor

Only Ramkarpal seem to be campaigning in the Bukit Gelugor by-election while his opponents take a stealth approach

GEORGE TOWN: While obtaining a landslide victory in the Bukit Gelugor parliamentary by-election may just be a walk-in-the park for DAP candidate Ramkarpal Singh Deo, the son of Karpal Singh is not complacent or resting on his laurels.

He is especially perturbed by the silent tactics of two independent candidates – Mohamed Nabi Bux Mohamed Abdul Sathar, 63, and lawyer Abu Backer Sidik Mohamad Zan, 46.

Ramkarpal suspects the non-existence of any form of campaign by the two so far could be a strategy to make constituents “to forget” the by-election.

He suspects that both independents were planted by Barisan Nasional just that to confuse the DAP and voters.

Feeling uneasy about it despite wide prediction of a guaranteed big by-election win, he hinted that the DAP may have to re-strategise its election campaign to counter the uncertainties created by the two independents.

“We still have to work hard as we really do not know our opponents’ tactics.

“There is risk of voters forgetting the impending by-election.

“Perhaps that is part of BN’s strategy so DAP does have to re-strategise,” Ramkarpal told newsmen after meeting voters in Seri Delima state constituency, one of the three under Bukit Gelugor, today.

Air Itam and Paya Terubong are the other state seats under Bukit Gelugor.

A check showed both independents have not put up any campaign banners, posters or streamers, or even started walkabouts or meet-the-people sessions so far except issuing media statements during Monday’s nomination day.

Favourite Ramkarpal faces the independents and Parti Cinta Malaysia vice-president Huan Cheng Guan in a four-cornered fight for Bukit Gelugor.

Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow who accompanied Ramkarpal said the by-election was unlike previous ones where the DAP would know who and what it was up against.

He admitted that the DAP was in the dark about the independents.

“We don’t even see them campaign and don’t know their tactics,” he said.

Campaign wave to hit Teluk Intan

Ramkarpal however, looks confident in his campaign trail, convinced by large turnouts for DAP rallies and positive feedbacks from grassroots.

He also hopes that the positivity favouring DAP would reach the next by-election in Teluk Intan.

Through Bukit Gelugor, he said the DAP had also kick start its Teluk Intan by-election campaign.

“It can be seen as two in one campaign, ” he said.

The Bukit Gelugor federal seat fell vacant after Ramkarpal’s father and incumbent MP Karpal Singh was killed in a highway accident near Kampar, Perak on April 17.

Karpal’s aide, Micheal also perished in the fatal accident, while Ramkarpal, who was travelling with his father, escaped with minor injuries.

The late Karpal polled 55,839 votes to score a massive majority victory of 41,778 votes against Barisan Nasional candidate Teh Beng Yeam, who could just garner 14,061 votes, in the 2013 general election.

According to Election Commission latest data, Bukit Gelugor has 82,431 voters comprising 61,267 or 74.33% Chinese, 11,913 or 14.46% Malays, 8,848 or 10.73% Indians and 403 or 0.49% others.

Observers had predicted Ramkarpal to romp home with an easy win.

His only challenge is predicted to be to either match or better his father’s stunning majority.

Ravi mahu pemilihan semula di Telok Kemang

Adun Telok Kemang berkata, beberapa perkara ketika proses pemilihan atau pengundian pada minggu lepas menimbulkan keraguan.

TELOK KEMANG: Penyandang Ketua Cabang PKR Telok Kemang, M Ravi mahu Jawatankuasa Pemilihan Parti (JPP) PKR, mengadakan semula proses pemilihan di cabang Telok Kemang.

Alasan Ravi ialah ada beberapa perkara ketika proses pemilihan atau pengundian pada minggu lepas menimbulkan keraguan.

Ravi berkata terdapat jumlah kertas undi yang berbeza, iaitu dari jumlah yang dikeluarkan dengan jumlah yang berada di dalam peti undi semasa undi dikira.

“Contohnya untuk cabang telah bertambah daripada sepatutnya iaitu 310 kertas undi berbanding 312 kertas undi yang dibuka dan berada di dalam kotak.

“Selain itu senarai nama ahli yang diberikan kepada cabang adalah tidak sama dengan senarai nama ahli yang digunapakai oleh pengawas JPP. Ini menyebabkan sebahagian besar pengundi dinafikankan hak untuk mengundi.

“Seramai 93 ahli PKR Telok Kemang gagal mengundi kerana nama mereka tiada dalam senarai JPP, sedangkan dalam senarai ahli yang dikeluarkan oleh ibu pejabat PKR, nama mereka ada sebagai ahli PKR.

“Daripada 93 ahli ini, seramai 21 ahli pernah mengundi pada pemilihan PKR pada tahun 2010,” katanya.

Ravi yang juga merupakan Adun Port Dickson, turut berkata bahawa Pengawas JPP telah membenarkan petugas calon dari pihak bertentangan memakai baju kuning iaitu sama dengan baju dipakai oleh Pengawas JPP ketika berada di dalam bilik pengundian.

`Petugas baju kuning’


“Ini menimbulkan kekeliruan di mana pengundi yang tidak faham akan meminta bantuan dari petugas baju kuning dan ini menimbulkan manipulasi undi kerana senarai kempen diberikan terus kepada para pengundi.

“Bantahan lisan telah dibuat kepada Ketua Pengawas JPP tetapi tidak dilayan.

“Atas sebab ini saya memohon kepada JPP untuk mengadakan proses pemilihan semula dan pada kali ini diharap dapat diawasi oleh pengawas yang dipersetujui bersama oleh kedua-dua pihak,” katanya.

Ravi berkata keputusan Pemilihan PKR cabang Telok Kemang ditangguh sehingga bantahan didengar oleh JPP.

Ravi mengesahkan surat aduan dan bantahan terhadap proses pengundian bagi Pemilihan PKR 2014 di Cabang Telok Kemang sudah dihantar kepada Pengerusi JPP, Datuk Johari Abdul.

Dalam pemilihan Sabtu lepas, Ravi dicabar oleh Adun Chuah, Chai Tong Chai. Manakala penyandang Timbalan Ketua Cabang, Rusli Abdullah pula dicabar oleh Rosman Jonet.

Pemimpin veteran MIC dan bekas Exco Negeri Sembilan, Datuk M Muthupalaniappan, turut turun gelanggang, berentap dengan ahli perniagaan, Ng Yong Sam untuk jawatan Naib Ketua cabang Telok Kemang.

Nuns attacked outside church

One is undergoing surgery and the other is awaiting a brain scan report.

PETALING JAYA: Two nuns were seriously injured in an apparent attack this morning by an unknown assailant or assailants outside the Church of the Visitation in Seremban.

Church caretakers found them in the church compound and sent them to the Seremban General Hospital.

A priest identified one of the nuns as 69 year old Julianna Lim Nyo Nya and the other as 79 year old Mary-Rose Teng.

A hospital official said one was undergoing emergency surgery and the other awaiting a report on her brain scan. He did not identify either.

Both nuns are from the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus.

A priest at the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, Gregory Chan, posted the following message on his Facebook this aftenoon:

“My dear friends, please pray for two of our IJ sisters–Srs Julianna & Mary-Rose–who were viciously attacked & seriously injured in our church grounds early this morning before Lauds & Mass had begun.

“The ambulance came for them.

“After masses at Visitation & Mt Carmel, I rushed to the Emergency Ward & saw them bruised, bleeding & in shock. One is critical & on a respirator.

“As I anointed them, tears streamed down my face. I couldn’t help it.

“How wicked it is to do this to our nuns, who have given their whole life to God.

“Nevertheless, let us pray for God’s forgiveness upon them & for their eventual conversion.”

Chan could not be reached for further comment.

Seremban OCPD Zainal Abu said the attack on the nuns was being investigated following a report lodged by a church member.

MCA wants action against hudud supporting ministers

MCA wanita chief wants stern action to be taken against two cabinet minsters who supported the implementation of hudud in Kelantan.

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA wants Cabinet ministers who openly supported PAS’ hudud initiative to be dealt with by the BN top brass.

Wanita MCA chief Heng Seai Kie was referring to Minister in the Prime Minister Department Jamil Khir and the International Trade and Industry minister Mustapa Mohamed who declared their support for hudud in Kelantan.

They have also expressed their willingness to participate in a technical committee to review the implementation of the Islamic law in Kelantan, she added.

“I strongly urge the BN whip to take disciplinary action against cabinet ministers and instruct them to leave the joint technical committee with Kelantan PAS government immediately.

“It is disappointing when two of BN Cabinet ministers had not only expressed their support towards PAS’ Hudud Bill but also announced their participation in the technical committee to review the implementation of hudud law in Kelantan,” Heng said in a press statement.

The national level technical committee was actually proposed by Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin for PAS, federal government agencies and other religious experts to look into the finer details before implementing hudud in Kelantan.

“The committee will look from all angles of hudud and how it could be implemented in Malaysia, especially in Kelantan or whether it could be implemented or otherwise,” Muhyiddin had said.

The MCA Wanita chief described that BN’s philosophy has always been based on justice, equality and unity which have seen Malaysia developed into a modern nation.

Therefore Heng added, the action taken by the two cabinet ministers has gone against BN’s governing policy.

“Neither the BN Supreme Council nor the Cabinet had discussed nor reached a consensus on PAS’ actions.

“Since independence, our philosophy has been based on justice, equality, unity and mutual respect through the principle of power-sharing.

“Therefore, the action of the two BN ministers has gone against our national principles, and has also deviated from BN’s governing policy since independence,” Heng stated.

PAS had indicated that they will table a Private Member’s Bill in Parliament to pave the way for hudud implementation in Kelantan.

Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said the passage of the bill would enable the establishment of a Syariah Special Court and a Syariah Special Appeals Court.

However, after a public outcry, PAS decided to postpone the matter pending the outcome of the Umno-proposed joint technical committee on the issue.

PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu said that the move gives the technical committee some space to go through the proposal and take further action.

Transgenders take fight to Court of Appeal

Patrick Sennyah, fz.com

Three transgenders from Negri Sembilan are challenging a law at the Putrajaya Court of Appeal on May 22 prohibiting them from expressing their gender identity.

According to a posting on the Human Rights Watch website, the trio are asking the court to strike down a state law that “prohibits any male person who in any public place wears a woman’s attire or poses as a woman,” – this law has allegedly been used repeatedly to arrest transgender women.

All three petitioners, who identify themselves as female but are described as “male” on their national identification cards, have been arrested solely because they dress in attire that state religious officials deem to be “female.”

According to Neela Ghoshal, who is a senior researcher on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights (LGBT) at Human Rights Watch, transgender women in Malaysia faced a daily risk of arrest just for being themselves.

“The government shouldn’t be harassing and punishing transgender people just for peacefully going about their lives,” she said.
Based on a research conducted by the Human Rights Watch this January in four Malaysian states and Kuala Lumpur it was revealed that state religious department officials and police have subjected transgender women to various abuses, including sexual and physical assault, extortion, and violations of privacy rights.

Most of those arrested receive hefty fines and are forced into “counseling” sessions where officials from the state Islamic Religious Department lecture them on “being a man,” while a few have been sent to prison.

The applicants’ lawyer, Aston Paiva told Human Rights Watch that people were being criminalised
because of something they did not choose and cannot change.

“It’s akin to penalising someone for the color of their skin. It’s a civil rights issue. It’s about harming a person’s dignity, and devaluing and degrading them because of who they are,” he said.

The applicants first challenged the constitutionality of the state laws with the Negeri Sembilan High Court in February 2011.
The judge rejected their application in October 2012 on the grounds that the petitioners, as Muslims, were bound by state Sharia law and that constitutional provisions protecting fundamental liberties were therefore irrelevant.

Nisha Ayub of Justice for Sisters, a transgender activist group, said this was a very important case for all transgender women in Malaysia.

“The court has the chance to make clear that we are entitled to the same constitutional rights as other Malaysians.”

Transgender women told Human Rights Watch that police were sometimes directly involved in arrests, in some cases based on a vague provision in the federal criminal code that prohibits “indecent offenses.”

“The authorities’ abuses against transgender women are an assault on human dignity and violate their basic rights.
“It’s horrifying to hear about religious department officials stripping transgender women in front of cameras, poking and prodding at their genitals, and punching them,” said Ghoshal.


An official from the federal Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), who spoke to Human Rights Watch on the condition of anonymity, acknowledged that arresting or punishing anyone is not going to change them.

“However, the department has remained silent on the abuses carried out by state religious departments,”.

A Health Ministry report, submitted as part of an affidavit by a non-governmental health organisation in Malaysia, stated that laws prohibiting cross-dressing had a negative impact on the fight against HIV/AIDS by driving underground the transgender community, considered among the most at-risk population for HIV infection.

If the appeal is denied, the applicants could take their case to the Federal Court, the country’s highest appeals court.
“If the Court of Appeal hearing is successful, and the applicants are allowed to be who they are, it will be a triumph for citizens of Malaysia to actually see justice being served,” said Ratna Osman, executive director of Sisters in Islam.

“Such a decision would be in accordance with the Constitution, and also the basic Islamic principles to uphold human dignity.”

An open letter to Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (and those in the hudud committee)

Zaid Ibrahim, The Malaysian Insider

Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad is a member of the PAS central working committee. He is an articulate and pleasant man whom PAS uses regularly to show that it is a moderate party.

He wrote an open letter a few days ago addressed to all Malaysians. This letter, which was carried on The Malaysian Insider, addressed the topic of why PAS has not fundamentally changed despite developments related to its Hudud Plan.

PAS conceived the Hudud Plan to overcome restrictions to the implementation of the Kelantan Shariah Criminal Code (II) Enactment 1993 by removing limitations imposed by Federal law – namely, the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 – which limit sentences that Shariah courts can legally impose on offences within its jurisdiction.

The idea is that, with the removal of the limitations, PAS will be free to implement hudud, even including the amputation of limbs.

Dr Dzulkefly has taken pains to reassure Malaysians that PAS has not changed from what he described as a political party full of ideals. He says that the party is still committed to the Islamic ideal of a “Benevolent State” and that PAS is a party for all Malaysians and is committed to justice for all, despite its attempt to implement the Hudud Plan.

The reason he has had to pen such a letter is because he realises that PAS has suffered a great deal in pushing for the Hudud Plan, and by withdrawing the plan he thinks Malaysians will forgive his party.

Dr Dzulkefly is someone I know reasonably well because we use to be in forums together in the days when I was active in politics. I remember him telling an audience in Melbourne that he was convinced PAS was a reformist party and that he – not some extremist group within the party – presented the face of the “real” PAS.

Of course I knew that this was untrue. He was not the face of the real PAS and I did not contradict him then, but I will do so now.

The real PAS wants an Islamic theocracy. It wants to implement Islamic laws and hudud. Indeed, the real PAS has not changed that aspiration since its inception. Dr Dzulkefly and others like him are the veneer of a “moderate” PAS but they are the minority in the party. They do not represent the real PAS.

Dr Dzulkefly and others like him are useful to the party when it comes to attracting urban voters with Islamic aspirations, but when PAS passed a unanimous resolution to implement hudud at its most recent congress, where was Dr Dzulkefly and the other moderates?

Dr Dzulkefly clutches at straws to defend the introduction of the Hudud Bill. He makes reference to the party’s obligation to fulfil its “mandate” to the people of Kelantan. But there was no such mandate given to PAS. PAS did not explicitly make the introduction of hudud a principal platform in its manifesto for the last general election.

So far, PAS has used hudud only as a way to differentiate its position from Umno, to revitalise the party from time to time, and as an outlet for conservative elements to assert themselves. Please do not drag the people of Kelantan into this political game.

Dr Dzulkefly confesses that, because the full force of Islamic punishment like hudud cannot be imposed by the Shariah Court due to Federal legal limitations, he feels deprived. He suggests that Muslims are prevented from practising their faith simply because some aspects of hudud punishment can’t be carried out.

But if what he says is true, then hundreds of millions of Muslims all over the world must all feel similarly deprived because they too are practising their faith without hudud.

I’d have thought that a universal PAS man like Dr Dzulkefly would be gutted to impose Islamic laws in the country when there were also many others (Muslims and non-Muslims) in the country who were satisfied with the man-made laws promulgated during Merdeka and the formation of Malaysia.

Shouldn’t the universal man in him feel he should honour the Merdeka pact with other Malaysians, instead of just worrying about how his faith is somehow impaired without hudud?

Instead, Dr Dzulkefly says that hudud is a legitimate aspiration of PAS and its followers as part of the larger commitment to the Shariah. I have no issue with anyone having aspirations of any kind. However, the one thing that we must have in promoting our aspirations to the people is honesty in the idea itself.

If PAS is sincere in all aspects of implementing Islamic law and hudud, it should have had its technical committee formed 20 years ago when it first passed hudud into law. Despite its zeal, it should have thought about the effects and ramifications of hudud on the people before passing the law, instead of worrying about it now.

Does it make sense to the people of this country that PAS wanted to implement hudud in 1993 and passed a law to that effect – but then decided to form a technical committee with Umno to study its implementation only in 2014?

If PAS is sincere, it will tell Malaysians that the implementation of Islamic law will require fundamental constitutional changes and a complete tearing down of our existing basic law – democracy, our freedoms and way of life as guaranteed by the constitution will no longer be part of the system.

Dr Dzulkefly must tell us what the implications are for non-Muslims living in this Islamic state, and for Muslims too. PAS has to tell us the number of “moral enforcers” (the new police force) that will patrol and monitor our lives in every corner, waiting to arrest us for any possible offence (which will be many, since it will be a society free of all sin).

PAS will have to tell the people of this country that there will be a new legal system and that the civil courts (if they still exist) will be subservient to Islamic law. It must tell Malaysians that the Penal Code will be replaced with a new Islamic Code. It must tell Malaysians that even the judges, and the way we appoint them, will be different.

All judges must be Muslim. In other words, Malaysia will go back in time; from the 21st century to the 7th. We must tell the people the whole truth. It’s not being truthful if we hide the vision of this new country from the people by only using pretty phrases and slogans of justice.

I expect honesty from our leaders in whatever ideas they have. They must not hide their true plans for gaining power just by using sweet slogans. If Malaysians need a new system to replace the current one, whether legal or economic, they must be told in detail what the new system will be.

Do not couch things in vague concepts to sell political products. What is the Islamic concept of the Benevolent State in practical terms? If Islam is for all, as is always trumpeted, then why is hudud to be implemented only in Kelantan and only for Kelantanese Muslims?

Why is there a need for political calculations? Suddenly we have experts saying that even the Rulers are subject to hudud but the 1993 law did not say so. The people must know the details; and if, for whatever reason that I might not comprehend, they want to change and follow PAS in all these reforms, by all means go ahead.

Malay leaders are seldom forthright and candid in their views when dealing with the people. Umno uses race and religion to put fear in the Malays, and in doing so it divides and polarises the country. PAS is no different, except it uses religion.

PAS sells concepts like the Islamic State, “Islam for All” and so forth, under the banner of Islamic justice and yet it conveniently excludes non-Muslims when it discusses the impact of such measures. The party touts ideas like the Benevolent State without even telling us in detail what it means in terms of governance.

Can PAS show how “Islamic governance” or “Islamic economics” (or Islamic law for that matter) in Kelantan is materially different from what was practised in the BN states for the past 23 years? How is the “Islamic version” a source of inspiration? I doubt if PAS has anything to show for this other than slogans and dress codes.

I take this opportunity to appeal to all Malaysians with this open letter. We live peacefully today because of the present system. Our economic development has been unimpeded because we have had the same system since 1957.

Our democracy, although flawed, and the principle of separation between religion and the affairs of state (a principle now under severe attack) forms the constitutional and legal basis of our country. This must be protected at all costs.

The alternative, no matter how sweet the sound and how noble the principle, seems to be a stone’s throw from despotism and authoritarian rule.

The issue is not just a question of implementing a new criminal law. It involves the much wider question of whether we want to replace the current system, under which Muslims and non-Muslims agree by consensus to the laws that govern us all, with a new system where only Muslims decide the laws of this country.

That’s the real issue. – The Zaidgeist, May 14, 2014.

* Datuk Zaid Ibrahim is a lawyer and was also a minister in the former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s administration.

Some observations about the Terengganu drama

What was supposed to be a quick change of leadership in Terengganu has now blown into a full crisis for Barisan Nasional (BN), which could still lose the oil-rich state to their political foes unless all Umno assemblymen pledge loyalty to the state government.

Here are some observations of the last two days when Datuk Seri Ahmad Said's (pic) resignation letter as menteri besar snowballed into him and two other Umno state lawmakers quitting the party. One is said to have returned to the fold.

1) Najib is weak

Let's be honest. If Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was strong and if he was feared in his own party, Ahmad Said and the other state assemblymen would think many times before holding Umno/BN to ransom.

But as it stands today, he is viewed as weak by everyone, from the motormouths at Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) to royal households throughout the country.

They know that Najib is indecisive, unable to use the powers of incumbency to exert control and seemingly incapable of sparking a feel-good feeling about his administration across Malaysia.

The end result: even a small-time local politician named Ahmad Said can thumb his nose at Najib.

2) Remember the Perak power grab

If the roles were reversed, it would be reasonable to expect that some Umno bigwigs would be beating a path to the palace, claiming that Umno's representative should be installed as the new Menteri Besar and that BN be allowed to take control of the state assembly ala Perak.

You can bet that all legal precedents would have been thrown out as was the case in Perak and that Umno would be in charge by now.

By contrast, PAS and DAP are asking for fresh polls; seeking to go back to the people for a mandate.

3) Prima donna politicians

Is it a case of egos? Was Najib trying to show he has the testicular fortitude to stare down a menteri besar without even considering that Malay customs and social culture dictate some niceties?

And what about Ahmad Said? Was he so embarrassed to what was tantamount to a sacking days before hosting a wedding feast for his daughter that pushed him to bring a government down?

It would appear that Umno politicians believe they are bigger than the party, or the government or the people that they serve. It is all about their interests and agendas.

But between these two alpha males of sorts, who will back down now in the interest of the party? Or can Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin save the day for Umno?

If not, how much would it take to get the independents back to Umno?

4) Umno needs to out-crisis Pakatan?

Just as the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parties were trying to paper over cracks caused by the hudud issue, Umno had to implode with the Terengganu crisis.

The pressure was on PR to head off an ideological split similar to the one that broke Barisan Alternatif in 2001 when PAS insisted on pushing for hudud laws despite protest from the DAP.

Just days after PAS relented to shelve the idea, Umno had to spark a crisis by removing Ahmad Said in what would appear to be unholy haste.

Was Umno's timing just bad or the leadership was clueless at Ahmad Said's resolve to keep the top state post? – May 14, 2014.

Terengganu crisis: Situation in similar to Perak in 2009, say law experts

The Star
by TAN YI LIANG

PETALING JAYA: The situation in the Terengganu state assembly – with three assemblymen leaving Umno and declaring themselves independents – is somewhat similar to that which took place in Perak in 2009, according to legal experts.

“This situation is somewhat reminiscent of the Perak crisis in 2009. However, therein arises the issue of whether the new Menteri Besar and the present state government enjoys or continues to enjoy the confidence and support of the majority of the State Assembly,” said Malaysian Bar Council president Christopher Leong.

He added that the current situation would be an issue for the state assembly.

“It is for the state assembly to determine, through a vote of confidence or no confidence. It is only after such a vote that the Sultan would be able to ascertain who enjoys the confidence of the state assembly,” said Leong.

He added that ordinarily, the Sultan would only resort to other means to determine this issue if the State Assembly was unable to take such a vote.

“In such an instance, the state constitution may also provide for a dissolution of the state assembly at the request of the Mentri Besar,” said Leong.

He added that is such a situation, any discretion or decision exercised must reflect the will of the people.

“If to do so requires a dissolution of the State Assembly, then it should be done,” said Leong.

The three Terengganu assemblymen who quit Umno to become independents are former menteri besar and Kijal assemblyman Datuk Seri Ahmad Said and assemblymen Ghazali Taib (Ajil) and Roslee Daud (Bukit Besi).

In the Perak crisis in 2009, three Pakatan Rakyat representatives, Deputy Speaker Hee Yit Foong (DAP-Jelapang), senior state Executive Council member Jamaluddin Mohd. Radzi (PKR-Changkat Jering) and Osman Jailu (PKR-Behrang) quit their respective parties and became Barisan Nasional-friendly independents.

Similar views were shared by constitutional law expert Syahredzan Johan, however he said the Terengganu situation had not become like Perak yet.

“It has not come to a Perak situation yet, but it may come to that. We do not know how the three who left Umno are aligned,” said Syahredzan.

He said that a successful vote of no confidence does not require the independent assemblymen joining a Pakatan Rakyat party.

“They just have to state that they do not support the Mentri Besar,” said Syahredzan

He added that if the vote of no confidence is moved in the State Assembly and the Mentri Besar loses the vote, he only has two choices, one of them being to seek an audience with the Sultan to dissolve the State Assembly and call for fresh state elections.

“The other is to resign his position along with the other state executive councilors. If the second option is chosen, the Sultan has to choose a Menteri Besar who has the support of the majority of the State Assembly,” said Syahredzan.

He said that following the Federal Court decision following the Perak crisis, support for a Mentri Besar can be determined by methods outside the State Assembly, not necessarily a vote of no confidence.

“Also following that decision, if the Mentri Besar and executive council do not resign following the loss of support, their posts are deemed vacant,” said Syahredzan.

When contacted, constitutional lawyer Edmund Bon said that the 15 Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen and the independents now have the opportunity to table a vote of no confidence in the State Assembly to see whether the Mentri Besar commands the majority of support.

“And if the vote of no confidence is passed by the Pakatan assemblymen and the two independents, the Mentri Besar must tender his resignation before the Sultan,” said Bon.

He added that while the Sultan has a free hand, it must be subject to his assessment that the new Menteri Besar commands the confidence of the majority of the State Assembly.

“If the numbers are 15:15 and three, that means the BN government is the minority government. but the discretion to appoint the MB vests absolutely with the Sultan,” said Bon.

On Monday, Ahmad Said quit the party hours after he was replaced by Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman as Terengganu Mentri Besar.

The former Mentri Besar and Kijal assemblyman was soon joined by Ajil assemblyman Ghazali Taib to become independent representatives. On Tuesday morning, Bukit Besi assemblyman Roslee Daud quit Umno.

The latest developments leave Barisan Nasional with 14 state seats, one fewer than Pakatan Rakyat's 15 in the 32-seat assembly.

However, state legal advisor Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid has maintained that the state assembly Speaker was counted as a representative of the ruling state government, giving an equation of 15:15:3.

In the 13th General Election, Barisan won 17 state seats against Pakatan Rakyat's 15, and managed to win half of the eight Parliamentary seats in the state.

Seberang Takir assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman was sworn in as the new Mentri Besar before Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin at Istana Syarqiyyah in Cendering here at 9.25pm on Monday.

Malaysia Needs To Re-strategise Subsidies For Less Fortunate - Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, May 14 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak believes Malaysia needs to effectively re-strategise subsidies for the less fortunate in the country.

"I agree with the World Bank that Malaysia needs to effectively re-strategise subsidies for the less fortunate," the Prime Minister said in his Twitter Wednesday night.

Najib was commenting on a Bloomberg report entitled 'Fuel Subsidies May Prevent Spending on Poorest, World Bank Says'.

The report said energy subsidies might be preventing governments from Egypt to Malaysia from spending enough on social programmes that would help the poor.

Fuel subsidies were the highest in the Middle East and North Africa, where they account for more than 4 per cent of gross domestic product, the World Bank said in a report released today.

This was against 1 per cent of GDP spent on social safety net programes such as conditional cash transfers, the report said.