13 PAS reps won’t sign SD supporting Wan Azizah, says Mustafa Ali

PAS's remaining 13 Selangor ‎assemblymen will not sign the statutory declaration (SD) supporting PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as the menteri besar, the Islamist party's secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali said today

He also refused to confirm if PAS was standing by the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) presidential council's decision to nominate Dr Wan Azizah as the sole candidate to replace Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

"The special central committee meeting on August 25 agreed to leave it to the wisdom of the Sultan of Selangor to determine the Selangor menteri besar‎ position," said Mustafa after attending a meeting at the PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

When asked about the statutory declaration, already signed by DAP and PKR state assemblymen as well as two PAS representatives, ‎Mustafa said it was not an issue.

"It was mentioned (in the meeting), but it is no longer an issue.

"When you ask if we will sign, when I say it is not an issue, that means no," said Mustafa when pressed further on the matter.

Thirty of PR Selangor assemblymen had signed the SD on August 14, confirming that Dr Wan Azizah had the backing of a majority of the assemblymen.

This included PAS's Hulu Klang assemblyman Saari Sungib and Morib assemblyman Hasnul Baharuddin.

However, PAS previously held out on declaring its position, and said it was investigating its two members for defying the party's orders.

PAS finally announced on August 17 that it wanted both Dr Wan Azizah and Azmin Ali's names to be submitted to the Sultan of Selangor.

But, the PR presidential council maintained later that day that Dr Wan Azizah was the pact's sole choice, sparking unhappiness among the Islamist party's members.

Party sources told The Malaysian Insider on Saturday that PAS would decide today whether to send the sultan a letter of support for Dr Wan Azizah.

But, Mustafa told reporters today that they did not want to be specific on the matter.

"We are making an open statement. When we say that we will leave it to the sultan, it means the sultan can choose," he said.

"We are not saying anything specific... You interpret it yourself."

Earlier today, opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim confirmed that the letter nominating his wife for the position had been sent to the palace.

He added that there was also no need for the coalition parties to send individual letters of nomination to the sultan. – August 25, 2014.

Selangor Sultan is a pirate bastard, says Hu Long

I think we should get rid of the royal bastard dynasty of pirates….the descendent of a Bugis (bloody Indonesian some more) pirate who just like any gangster….
 

NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin

A number of Chinese readers whacked me last week regarding my article, DAP tells the Sultan to fuck off.

Some called me a racist and some accused me of inciting hatred against the Chinese. Somehow they thought that any article or comment critical of DAP tantamount to a slur against the Chinese even though DAP denies being a Chinese party.

One reader who posted a very nasty comment even challenged me to prove that the Chinese have been insolent towards the Sultan. Well, there are actually many such postings and comments and if you really insist on proof then I hope the following would suffice.

 

Hindraf asks Delhi to address Indian diaspora grouses

Human rights issues should be included in the Pravasi conference next year, says Waythamoorthy.

GEORGE TOWN: Hindraf has asked the Indian government to include human rights issues affecting the Indian diaspora on the agenda of next year’s annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas conference to be held in New Delhi.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (Non-Resident Indian Day) is celebrated on Jan 9 every year to mark the contribution of overseas Indians to the development of India.

In a letter to the Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, Hindraf Chairman P.Waythamoorthy says it is imperative for the conference to hear out the grouses of overseas Indians with regard to human rights abuses affecting them.

He told FMT that the previous Congress government ignored Hindraf’s numerous pleas for the New Delhi administration to protect and care for overseas Indians.

But he is optimistic that the BJP government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay attention to his letter.

Waythamoorthy said violations of human rights, discrimination and marginalisation of Malaysian Indians were well documented.

Similarly, he added, discrimination and marginalisation of Indians were happening in Fiji, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Surinam.

“Regrettably the Congress government ignored our appeals,” he said.

“Hindraf was disappointed that the issue of serious human rights violations affecting the Indian diaspora never found its way in the conference agenda.

“The current BJP government in power should give the Indian diaspora a platform to be heard at the conference.”

Since Hindraf was founded in 2003, its representatives have regularly attended the annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas conference.

‘Islamisation’ of Christian bin, binti

NRD has lost the files of 162 cases of Sabah Christians with "bin" and "binti" in their names classified as Islam in their MyKad.

KOTA KINABALU: The National Registration Department (NRD) has been urged to act quickly to dispel the notion that Islamisation of Christian bin and binti in Sabah was an unwritten “state policy”.

Upko Vice-President Siringan Gubat said that many people in Sabah are beginning to compare it with the illegal immigrant problem in the state which still hasn’t been settled.

“Based on feedback which I personally received, people in Sabah feel that there is something very wrong with the process and registration system of the NRD,” he said, commenting on news reports about 162 cases of Sabah Christians with “bin” and “binti” in their names being classified as Islam in their MyKad.

He referred to a statement made by the president of the Borneo Evangelical Council Sabah Rev. Jerry Dusing that he had lodged a complaint with the NRD two years ago about the 162 cases in Sabah but was told no further action could be taken because all files were lost.

Siringan who is also the Minister of Resources and Information Technology and Panginatan Assemblyman, does not understand why the NRD changed a person’s religion or race based on bin and binti in their names without confirming it with the person concerned.

Bureaucratic conversions inherently invalid, null and void

Lawyers in the know say that the NRD should correct the “mistakes” based on the facts.

“Telling people with Islam MyKads to go to the Syariah Court shows insincerity and a policy of conversion through bureaucratic mechanisms,” is the consensus in the legal community.

One lawyer pointed out that these people did not recite the syahadah and neither were they born Muslims. Such bureaucratic conversions are inherently invalid, null and void, he added.

“If the NRD is not willing to admit its mistakes and make amends, this is a matter for Judicial Review, not the Syariah Court. The Syariah Court has no jurisdiction over non-Muslims.” he further said.

Can Laura be trusted?

Despite being “frozen with fear” at the sexual assault by Rosli, Instagram photos show a different side of her.

PETALING JAYA: News of Laura Bushney, 26, accusing MAS chief steward Mohd Rosli Ab Karim of sexually assaulting her on board a flight bound for Paris, has attracted mixed reactions ranging from utter disgust to deep skepticism.

While MAS has remained non-committal as investigations are still underway, the National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (NUFAM) are standing firmly behind 54-year-old Rosli, issuing a statement that no inappropriate acts were committed by the married steward towards Bushney.

Be that as it may, a blogger has revealed Instagram shots Bushney took of herself where she appears topless in various poses, thereby calling into question her character and her credibility.

Screen shots of the sexually explicit pictures are posted on the blogger’s site, although all the original pictures have been pulled down from her Instagram account now.

Other criticism hurled at Bushney is her apparent inability to stop Rosli from sexually assaulting her yet having the presence of mind to record the incident using a phone hidden under the blanket.

She is also heard whispering, “He’s massaging my legs. I’m so scared I just want to get off the plane.”

Throughout her ordeal, Bushney made not one but two phone recordings, the second being when she lashed out at him saying, “I don’t want to see you, go away, you give me the creeps, you dirty old man.”

With recordings of Rosli clearly asking Bushney for forgiveness, the evidence does seem to show him in bad light as do the topless pictures of Bushney herself.

How this will pan out is anybody’s guess.

Dr M, I respect you but you are OUTDATED

I was disappointed to read about Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s criticism of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak’s leadership.

Dr Mahathir is entitled to express his views, but contrary to his argument, such a move only weakens Umno and Barisan Nasional.

I have tremendous respect for the former prime minister though I may not agree with all the decisions made during his 22 years in office.

Similarly, I have tremendous respect for Datuk Seri Najib as well.

As rightfully pointed out by Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, every leader has his or her era.

As also stated by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Dr Mahathir’s era was before the information explosion – there was no Facebook, blogs, Twitter and smartphones.

During Dr Mahathir’s era, the opposition was also small in number and their voices rarely heard, with their views not appearing in the mainstream media.

And so it was easier for Dr Mahathir to govern this country.

But it is a different ball game now: information travels at lightning speed, people are more informed and voters demand that their government delivers the goods. The opposition has a sizeable presence and even controls several states.

I dare say that even a leader of Dr Mahathir’s calibre would find it a difficult task to administer the state under these circumstances.

And so he must understand that times have changed, and BN cannot hold on to the old order any longer. We must move forward or be left behind.

As for repealing the Internal Security and Emergency Ordinance, I believe the prime minister has taken a step in the right direction in further democratising this nation.

In the past, we often heard of how the ISA was abused to silent dissenters and incarcerate activists and opposition politicians, therefore running astray of its original aim of safeguarding national security.

I disagree with Dr Mahathir that Najib is “not brave”. Jailing political opponents and those with different views is not a sign of courage. Repealing the ISA is.

I also find it disappointing that Dr Mahathir chose to criticise the widening gap between the races and people of different faiths under Najib’s administration when the former PM is himself the patron of Perkasa, which seems bent on tearing this nation apart.

As for the Malaysian Indian community, I wish to point out that there has been much improvement since Najib took over: the granting of identity cards, the RM540 million for Tamil schools and others. He also set up the Cabinet Committee on Indian Affairs, which he personally chairs.

Granted, there is still much to do, but the fact is: we now have a prime minister who is willing to listen and act.

So my request to Dr Mahathir and his supporters is this: with all due respect sir, if you are not part of the solution, please don’t be a part of the problem.

I say this not because I do not love my leaders, both past and present. I say this because I love my country and BN more.

Vell Paari is an MIC member and the son of MIC former president S Samy Vellu. This story was previously published under the title 'Disappointed with Dr M’s criticism.

Source: http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/

Malaysia's Anwar dismisses offers of exile abroad

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has rejected offers of asylum abroad ahead of a final appeal in October on a sodomy conviction that could see him jailed, a political aide said Monday (Aug 25).

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has rejected offers of asylum abroad ahead of a final appeal in October on a sodomy conviction that could see him jailed, a political aide said Monday (Aug 25).

Anwar was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison in March on charges he sodomised a young former male aide, but is free pending a final appeal set for October 28-29. Anwar, 67, has dismissed the case as fabricated by the government to ruin his political career.

The political aide, who asked not to be named, declined further comment but said that a media report Monday on the asylum offers was correct.

The Star newspaper quoted Anwar saying he had received several offers by "foreign leaders" to go overseas but would not accept them. "I met up with a few foreign leaders who advised me to go overseas to escape a possible prison sentence. At my age, they say they cannot imagine seeing me behind bars," Anwar was quoted as saying. The story did not specify which countries Anwar was speaking of.

Sodomy is punishable by up to 20 years' jail in the Muslim-majority nation. The accusation surfaced shortly after Anwar led a three-party alliance to unprecedented electoral gains in 2008. A lower court acquitted Anwar in 2012, but an appeals court controversially overturned that verdict in March.

Anwar, a former top leader in Malaysia's ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), had earlier spent six years in jail on separate sodomy and corruption charges after a power struggle in the late 1990s that saw him expelled from the party. The charges triggered massive protests against the UMNO-led regime. UMNO has governed since independence in 1957, but has seen its support slump over corruption, authoritarian rule and divisive racial policies.

After his release, Anwar joined the fractious opposition, leading it to unprecedented electoral gains.

- AFP/ac

Source:  http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/malaysia-s-anwar/1328684.html

In the battle for Umno’s soul, money talks louder, not Dr M

One day soon, it will be remembered that the great Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad – the slayer of deputy prime ministers and a prime minister – was finally defeated not by an individual but by RM.

Ringgit Malaysia.

The former prime minister's biggest miscalculation in withdrawing his support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was in believing that Umno members are followers of men or ideals. Or that they are even concerned about the downward spiral of Malaysia.

They are not. And have not been for decades.

They owe their allegiance only to money and wealth. More so these days when every problem or disillusionment can be fixed with either a contract, project, concession or cash handout.

Or where good publicity and support in blogosphere can be obtained by a handsome monthly stipend paid out to bloggers by businessmen close to Putrajaya.

To be fair, Dr Mahathir cannot claim ignorance of this cancer that has all but devoured the soul of Umno.

He acknowledged the onset of this disease during his years as PM and his privatisation policies even enabled the rise of the culture of easy money.

But the Dr Mahathir who withdrew the support for Najib last week does not understand that the money-grabbing dynamics at play is hundred fold more today than in mid-2006, when he last launched a pre-emptive strike against a sitting PM.

Today, there is a sense within Umno that every passing day brings them nearer to losing power. And, therefore, for many of the party's leaders what is most important is securing economic security for themselves, siblings, children and other nominees.

Just a few days ago, government officials were given instructions to commence direct negotiations with a company where a key director is the son of an Umno power broker.

Why would this Umno leader want to join the Dr Mahathir camp and criticise Najib? How does upsetting the status quo become an advantage?

It is noticeable that even usually vociferous Malay leaders of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have been indifferent to Dr Mahathir's claim that Najib's policies are leading Malaysia down a path of economic ruin and the unravelling of social cohesion.

These NGOs are recipients of the level of funding from either the government or government-friendly businessmen not seen before.

So for them, concerns about race relations or the emptying of national coffers or of Putrajaya becoming allegedly slavish to foreign governments is about as important as climate change in the North Pole.

Also working against Dr Mahathir this time around is the belief that his withdrawal of support for Najib was prompted after he was rebuffed by the PM on three issues, namely resuming the building of the crooked bridge to Singapore, payment of RM1.7 billion to Proton and stopping further 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) payments.

Not helping also is the reality that Dr Mahathir has precious few heavy hitters in his corner this time.

Even the mercurial former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin is not in the best of health.

Against this backdrop and the culture of easy money gushing through the veins of Umno politicians, it is not surprising that Putrajaya is not really perturbed about Dr Mahathir's withdrawal of support for Najib.

The Najib camp just believes that it understands the psyche of today's Umno much better than Dr Mahathir.

Movement to repeal the Sedition Act

The Star
A Humble Submission BY SYAHREDZAN JOHAN

In July 2012, the Prime Minister announced that the Government would repeal the Sedition Act 1948. The announcement was made as part of the Government's political transformation plan, which included repealing the Internal Security Act and annulling the three subsisting proclamations of emergency.

In place of the Sedition Act, the Government would table a "National Harmony Bill", seeking to "find a balance between every citizen's freedom of expression, and the need to handle the complex nature of the country's multi-racial and multi-religious society."

Earlier this year, the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) drafted three bills to replace the Sedition Act. The three bills were made public in order to gain feedback and consultation from stakeholders and interested parties. However, because of pressure from certain quarters, it appears that the three bills have now been shelved indefinitely.

The drafting of three bills was the Government's most serious attempt thus far to repeal the Sedition Act. Two years after the Prime Minister’s announcement, the Act is still in force.

A law that is still part of the statute books is still valid. Legally, there is nothing to stop the Government from carrying on investigations and prosecutions under the Act. But by promising to repeal the Act, the Government has tacitly acknowledged that the Act must go. There is a legitimate expectation that the Sedition Act will be on its last legs, coming ever closer to its expiry date and that there would be less reliance on the Sedition Act.

Not so. The Act it is still being applied on the citizens of this country even after the Prime Minister's announcement. It has been used on politicians, like the late Karpal Singh, whose conviction still stands as his appeal would have abated with his passing. It has been used on activists and political dissidents. It has been used on netizens who say or post "offensive" things online. Our freedom of speech and expression is still being restricted by the Government through the use of the Sedition Act.

The Act is a colonial vestige. It was enacted before the Federation of Malaya achieved independence and it was used by the British to deal with militant communists insurgents at the time.

The Act criminalises "sedition" by making it an offence to do anything which has a "seditious tendency" or to utter any seditious words. "Seditious" is defined in the Act as any act, speech, words, publication or other thing that qualifies as one having a "seditious tendency".

What is a "seditious tendency"? Almost anything can and would have a "seditious tendency", going by the Act's definition. Any criticism of the Government would be seditious. Any comment made that can raise ill will and hostility within the population. What is said or done may even be justified, yet would still fall foul of the Act. For a sedition charge to succeed, the prosecution does not even need to establish intention of the accused to be seditious.

Freedom of speech and expression is not absolute. But restrictions to freedom of speech and expression should not be arbitrarily applied. The threshold should not be what the Government believes to be seditious. It is not for the Government to decide what can and cannot be said. The Act is so wide and arbitrary that it can and has been abused by the Government to stop people from saying things it does not condone.

So what do we do when the Government has not fulfilled its pledge to repeal the Sedition Act? Well, we as citizens should pressure the Government to come good on its promise. There have been repeated calls from political parties, civil society and the Malaysian Bar for the Government to repeal the Act. But not a concentrated effort.

The  National Young Lawyers Committee of the Bar Council will take the initiative. But this is not just a movement for lawyers. It will be a nationwide movement, made out of all members of society. The law affects everyone, so its repeal must be demanded by everyone.

The time for talking is over. It is time to take action. It is time for all those who want to see the end of the Sedition Act to come together. It is time for a movement - focused and dedicated to a singular goal - to make the Government repeal the Sedition Act.

* Syahredzan is a young lawyer and also the Chairperson of the National Young Lawyers Committee of the Bar Council. The first meeting of the movement to repeal the Sedition Act will be held on Aug 28, 2014, 7.30pm at the Bar Council. All are invited.

MH17 : Remains Of Six Expected To Be Released Within 48 Hours

From Mohd Faizal Hassan

THE HAGUE, Aug 25 (Bernama) -- The remains of at least six more Malaysian victims of the flight MH17 tragedy are expected to be released within 48 hours from today from the Military Medical Centre in Hilversum, near here for funeral arrangements and to be sent home.

According to sources, the six victims were identified as Malaysians after undergoing the identification process and autopsy recently.

"Normally, the morgue will inform the Army Medical Centre to take the remains for funeral arrangements according to their respective religions," he said.

Speaking to Bernama and Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) today, he said hopefully the remains of the six victims could be sent back this week.

According to the Standard Operations Procedure, as soon as the remains have been identified as belonging to a country, the victim will have to undergo four important processes.

This included getting the death and medical certificates, disaster report, victim transportation permit and the letter of consent from the Dutch public prosecutor for the remains to be buried or cremated.

Once the process is completed, the remains will be moved to the Monuta Innemee funeral home in S-Gravenhage here, about 90km from Hilversum for funeral rites according to each's religion.

A Bernama survey of the morgue found a family member of the victims discussing the funeral rites.

Those present at the discussion at about 11am, which included representatives of Malaysia Airlines (MAS), seemed calm and asked the morgue officials questions concerning travel arrangements for about an hour.

Last Friday, the remains of the first group of 20 victims,which included 11 passengers and nine crew members, were brought home from Amsterdam in a special aircraft.

Yesterday, the remains of the second group of three victims arrived in Malaysia.

Flight MH17 crashed in eastern Ukraine on July 17 as it was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur with 283 passengers and 15 crew on board. The Boeing 777-200 aircraft is believed to have been shot down over the troubled country.

Ambiga: Dissolving S'gor DUN is not acceptable

Azmin: PAS 'bully' issue in T'ganu can be dealt with amicably

ISIS Beheading Videos Banned, ISIL Leader Says Islam ‘Is Not The Religion Of The Western Hippie’

With the ISIS beheading videos being banned on major media outlets like YouTube, Facebook, and LiveLeak, some on social media claim this is the “thought police” at work, and that such violent videos do not “allow anyone to forget how violent Islam has been since it was founded.” Tarkhan Batirashvili, aka Abu Omar al-Shishani, is the military chief for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and he might agree with these critics since he claims that Islam “is not the religion of the western hippie.” But does banning the videos hinder the cause of the Islamic terrorist group?

In a related report by The Inquisitr, one of the most infamous ISIS beheading videos to make its way to the western world was the execution of James Foley by a British Islamic fighter. It was reported that ISIS offered a ransom demand before killing him and a special ops team tried and failed to rescue him back in July. The Foley family has since released a statement regarding the death of their son. President Obama denounced the terrorists for the ISIS beheadings videos but otherwise did little to persuade the world to take action, although some hope that various nations will rally together to declare a World War on ISIS.

According to al-Shishani, ISIS has already declared war on the world and promises to “fight them until they accept our rule” under a new Islamic caliphate. Al-Shishani is a Chechen terrorist who converted to Islam while spending three years in prison for illegally harboring weapons. The terrorist was named commander of the northern sector of Syria by the ISIS in 2013, only to be named their military leader in June of 2014.

In a recent interview with Australian talk show host Tom Elliott, al-Shishani promised to invade Iran when the ISIS in Iraq finish their goals. He also stated that their enemy is anyone who opposes Islam:

“We will fight them. We will take their women. We will take their children. They have to come to Islam or they will get wiped out.”

When al-Shishani was asked about the ISIS beheading videos and the crucifixions, the ISIL leader admitted the goal is to subjugate the entire world underneath the Islamic caliphate and that anyone might become a target:

“Everybody who stands about us and makes trouble in our land. This is according to Sharia [and] God.”

The talk show host then specifically asked the ISIS leader if Islam is a religion of peace. While al-Shishani did not specifically say “yes” or “no,” his actual answer was not exactly comforting:

“It is the religion of prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. It is not the religion of the Western hippie who tries to be accepted by you.”

You can listen to the full interview here:

LiveLeak also released a statement explaining why they believe the ISIS beheading videos need to be banned:

“We will not be showing further beheadings carried out by [ISIS]. We’ve shown the world the true horror of this form of execution more than once in the past and we cannot find any compelling reason to even be thought of as promoting the actions of this group. There is no reason at all to show more beheadings.”

Critics of this decision claim media outlets are watering down the truth by attempting to make the situation more family friendly. Those who support the decision say the only reason to watch such videos is because people desire to watch these gruesome actions and not because they desire to know the truth. They also contend that ISIS wants the videos to be spread and watching them only encourages more ISIS beheadings.

Do you think banning the violent ISIS beheading videos helps or hinders the cause of the Islamic terrorist group?

Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/1426809/isis-beheading-videos-banned-isil-leader-says-islam-is-not-the-religion-of-the-western-hippie/#cKtmihi2sm6Iwfgf.99

If Umno respects Dr M, they should reply to his criticisms

Perhaps the point is lost on Umno information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad did complain and criticise Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak privately.

But it didn't work, so the country's longest-serving prime minister had to take his complaints and criticisms out in the open for all to see, no matter if Umno's political foes take advantage of it.

This isn't the first time that Dr Mahathir has publicly dropped support for an Umno president. He did it to Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi two years ahead of the 2008 general elections.

The Umno information chief said although he respected Dr Mahathir, he felt that the veteran politician should have been circumspect with his criticism of Najib's leadership.

"Please bear in mind that the situation and circumstances during Mahathir's times are different from Najib, both economically and politically," he said during a speech at the Seputeh Umno meeting today.

This is the thing with Umno politicians who cannot argue with Dr Mahathir, who was in power for more than 22 years. Instead of arguing with him point for point, Umno politicians insist they respect him but the circumstances are different.

How different is it? Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) still hold Putrajaya. They still control the mass media. They run the economy and under Najib, have put several transformation programmes for the country to be a high-income nation come 2020.

But they have yet to argue that Najib's policies have worked although Putrajaya's efficiency agency, Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) says that the policies are working.

Let's put in perspective what Dr Mahathir said this past week was carried only by the online media and not the mainstream electronic and print media.

“I have tried to give my views to him directly, which are also the views of many people who have met me," wrote Dr Mahathir on his popular blog, chedet.cc.

"This has not been effective so I have to criticise. I have no choice but to withdraw my support," he said, adding that Najib was no better than his predecessor, Tun Abdullah Badawi.

Dr Mahathir said he had hoped Najib learnt lessons from his poor performance in the last general election but it appeared that he had not.

“Many policies, approaches and actions taken by the government under Najib have destroyed inter-racial ties, the economy and the country’s finances,” he wrote, citing the BR1M direct cash aid and kow-towing to foreign countries.

This isn't new from Dr Mahathir. He has articulated this in the past in his blog and several forums in the past year. So why bother asking him to continue criticising in private when it has not worked?

This is the same mentality as having no-contests in Umno elections, which was the standard practice when Umno was reconstituted after being made illegal in 1988.

So times have changed, as Ahmad Maslan says. But Umno elections are still the same no-contests as in Dr Mahathir's time to ensure party unity.

If there is truly a change in situation, Umno politicians like Ahmad Maslan should take it upon themselves to reply to Dr Mahathir point by point. Respect Dr Mahathir by arguing with him, not asking him to criticise in private. – August 23, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/if-umno-respects-dr-m-they-should-reply-to-his-criticisms#sthash.OvIDZy4j.dpuf

Disciplinary hearing against Cecil postponed - Malaysiakini

The disciplinary hearing against senior lawyer Cecil Abraham, who is in the centre of a storm in the legal fraternity, has been postponed.

A source told Malaysiakini that the hearing before a disciplinary committee of the Advocates and Solicitors Disciplinary Board this morning was put off after one of the three-member panel could not make it.

The disciplinary committee is aimed at establishing the facts behind claims of misconduct against Cecil (left) and his son Sunil, who allegedly drafted a statutory declaration (SD) for private investigator P Balasubramaniam under duress.

The SD was for Balasubramaniam to retract his first SD just a day before,when he had linked Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak with murdered Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

If found guilty, the committee may recommend actions such as dismissal as counsel, a reprimand, a fine or suspension not exceeding five years, though the recommendations do not necessarily need to be taken up by the board.

Lawyer Americk Sidhu (below), who helped draft Balasubramaniam’s first SD, had revealed at a Malaysian Bar annual general meeting last year that Cecil admitted drafting the second SD on Najib’s instructions.

The revelation to the AGM came a day after Balasubramaniam’s death.
He and his family had been in exile for more than four years after the first SD retraction.

This led to the disciplinary hearing against Cecil.

Bar Council vice-president Steven Thiru, when contacted, declined to either deny or confirm the postponement.

"This is all supposed to be confidential, I cannot comment," he said.

'Mystery witness'

However, the source told Malaysiakini that a new hearing is expected to be held sometime in October or November.

Malaysiakini on Wednesday reported that a "mystery witness" was to testify at the disciplinary hearing today.

It was speculated that the person is a lawyer who was initially approached to draft Balasubramaniam’s second SD, which the person declined and the role was given to Cecil.

Balasubramaniam’s (left) family, who returned to Malaysia in 2013, filed a RM1.9 million suit at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, where they named Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor, two of Najib’s brothers as well as Cecil, in the suit.

They are claiming losses and damages suffered during the time of their "forced exile".

All the parties being sued by Balasubramaniam’s widow have filed applications to strike it out.

To date, the death of Altantuyaa Shaariibuu, reportedly involved in a multi-billion ringgit Scorpene submarine deal, remains unsolved.

Two police Special Action Unit members, namely Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, were found guilty at the Shah Alam High Court with murdering Altantuya, while political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, once Najib’s close confidante, was acquitted.

However, the two police officers were both acquitted by the Court of Appeal last year and a decision is pending on the two policemen, following the prosecution’s appeal to the Federal Court.

Repent, Indian chambers of commerce tells Dr M

 

The Indian business community has joined the chorus of Umno leaders defending Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak against former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's scathing criticism.

In a statement today, Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Maicci) said that instead of flaying Najib, Mahathir (below) should “reflect on his own weaknesses”.

“Mahathir should stop discrediting the current prime minister but first look at his own weaknesses and please also keep in mind that being an elder statesman, whatever you say is gospel truth.

“The Maicci management committee would like to convey to (Mahathir) to always think good, do good and say good and repent for your wrong doings during your tenure,” Maicci secretary-general M Davendran said.

He added that Malaysia’s growth data – growing above expectation at 6.4 percent in the second quarter of 2014 - shows that the country is on the right track under Najib’s leadership.

“On the ground, among the business community, much is being felt with improved sentiments and spending from both business and consumers.

“This is indeed a strong testament of the direction taken by the country’s leadership to ensure Malaysia stays on track in meeting its vision,” he said.

He added that Najib’s commitment to the business community was also underscored when he had himself engaged Maicci in a dialogue in July.

“We were deeply surprised at the time taken at such a senior level to understand the business community’s needs and the preparedness of the senior leadership to engage with business leaders, in spite of our strong differences of opinion.

“In our opinion, Malaysia’s success economically at this juncture is due to this style of leadership of our prime minister,” he said.

Proton should fund itself

On a separate matter, Maicci disagreed with Mahathir’s proposal that a RM1.7 billion government grant be given to Proton Holdings.

“Maicci (is) of the opinion that Proton Holdings is a private entity and they should be funded by the shareholders and not via Malaysian taxpayers’ money,” he said.

Proton had in July reportedly submitted a request to the Economic Council for a grant of RM1.7 billion.

The request came after Mahathir, who is Proton chairperson, said the carmaker will seek “reimbursement” from the government for the roughly RM300 million spent on research and development for its new car.

He had attacked Najib for being too “soft” and “quiet” on critical issues, and said that he regretted chosing him to replace than fifth prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Mahathir had campaigned hard to unseat Abdullah, whom he had hand-picked as a successor.

The Umno veteran’s assault  latest on Najib has prompted an ardent show of support for the PM from Umno leaders and cabinet members.

No guarantee only Wan Azizah’s name will be submitted, says Azmin

(The Star) – There is no guarantee that PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail will be the sole name submitted to the palace for consideration for the post of Selangor Mentri Besar, said Azmin Ali.

The PKR deputy president said that based on past practices, the three parties in Pakatan Rakyat would submit their respective choices separately.

“In 2008 and 2013, the three component parties sent the names of the MB separately.

“However, the difference then was that we agreed to a common name,” he told reporters at the PKR 10th National Congress, Saturday.

He said that Pakatan on a whole had decided on Dr Wan Azizah and that it was up to the individual parties to submit the proposed name.

When asked if there was a possibility of PAS submitting two names, Azmin said that it was PAS’ prerogative.

“That is a decision for PAS to make which we must respect.

“I can’t speak on behalf of PAS even though my nomination was endorsed by them,” he said.

Azmin also confirmed that Selangor PAS’s 13 assemblymen had yet to sign the statutory declaration supporting Dr Wan Azizah.

“We have sent 30 names that signed the statutory declaration.

“We have the majority, it is now up to the Sultan to analyse the documents and come to a wise decision,” he said.

Meanwhile, PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that Pakatan had convened a meeting on Friday to discuss the legal implications of the Selangor crisis with their lawyers.

He noted the issue over a different name to be submitted to the palace does not arise as Pakatan will maintain its earlier decision to nominate Dr Wan Azizah.

Two non-Muslim MH17 victims to be cremated on Sunday

The remains of two non-Muslim Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 victims, Foo Ming Lee and Ng Qing Zheng, will be cremated at the Nirvana Memorial Park in Shah Alam this Sunday.

A deputy general manager of NV Care Sdn Bhd Teh Khai Lin said Foo’s remains would be kept at the Nirvana Memorial Centre in Sungai Besi for two days from today for religious rites before being brought to Shah Alam.

“Ng’s remains will be stored for one day and brought back to his residence at Kota Kemuning, Selangor, tomorrow before it is taken to Shah Alam for the cremation rites on Sunday,” he told reporters at the centre in Kuala Lumpur today.

He said the process of receiving and handling the remains of the four non-Muslim victims had run smoothly.

They are the remains of Foo, Ng, Paul Rajasingam Sivagnanam and his wife, Mabel Anthony Samy.

The couple’s remains will be kept at the centre until tomorrow before being brought to their home in Bangsar in Kuala Lumpur.

Flight MH17 crashed in eastern Ukraine on July 17 as it was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur with 283 passengers and 15 crew members on board. The Boeing 777-200 aircraft is believed to have been shot down over the troubled country.

The remains of 20 of the 43 Malaysian victims who perished in the tragedy were brought home from the Netherlands in a special aircraft.

Putrajaya has declared yesterday as a day of national mourning and a special ceremony was held to honour the victims at the Bunga Raya Complex in the Kuala Lumpur International Airport upon the arrival. – Bernama

The sedition of Surendran

Someone might actually be committing sedition without knowing it because the definition of sedition in the act is broad and vague.

The Sedition Act of today is the updated form of the Sedition Ordinance 1948, a law designed to silence critics of the British colonial government. In 1948, the biggest threat to colonialism in Malaysia was Communism, and its embodiment in the form of the Communist Party of Malaysia. The Sedition Act is the sibling of the Internal Security Act (ISA).

In a nutshell or non-legal speak, it is a law which allows its enforcers to put someone away for saying or publishing anything deemed to be seditious. Someone might actually be committing sedition without knowing it because the definition of sedition in the act is broad and vague.

Rest assured you are safe complaining about the terrible nasi lemak you had, but you would be walking a fine line when you grumble about the unfairness of GST. Anything beyond that and you might be facing a three-year jail sentence or a RM5,000 fine or both. The saving grace about this in comparison to the ISA is that it limits the punishment and allows you your day in court.

The terrifying downside is that you might have committed a crime without intending to do so because you didn’t even know it was a crime. A case in point is the Form 5 lad who is being investigated under this law for clicking the Like button while surfing the “I love Israel” page on Facebook.

The now repealed ISA was its bigger brother, in that it gave its enforcers the right to lock-up any individual whom the enforcers believed would commit, cause, or incite a security breach, without any recourse to trial, for an indefinite period. It is preventive in its action because it seeks to pre-empt the alleged security breach. However in practice it is also used after the fact.

Just imagine going to jail for something you haven’t done but because someone believes you would. No proof, no courts, no dice roll, straight to jail without passing Go. That is the gist of the ISA.

Last Tuesday, N Surendran was charged under the Sedition Act at the Sessions Court for allegedly making false statements in connection with Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy trial. Surendran is Anwar’s defence lawyer in that trial, as well as a PKR member of parliament for Padang Serai.

200 police reports

According to Surendran, he was discussing with the media the substance of a defence argument used in the Court of Appeal and how that could be relevant in the upcoming Federal Court hearing, and the Prime Minister’s name was brought up. The next thing you know 200 or so police reports are lodged against Surendran by Umno members accusing him of spreading falsehoods about Najib. The Public Prosecutor pressed charges.

Former Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram seems to think it valid for a defence attorney to discuss the merits of a judgement, or even disagree, so long as no disparaging remarks are directed at the judges themselves.

Human Rights Watch (Asia) says that this is “another blatant example of a draconian law being used to violate freedom of expression and silence critics” of Najib’s government.

In the legal profession, lawyers often have to walk that fine line if they are to represent their clients to the best of their abilities. Surendran was walking that fine line in the exercise of his duties as Anwar’s counsel.

Although not facing anything as serious, so was Edmund Bon in his defence of Khalid Ibrahim, as Bon was subjected to a Twitter campaign of hate by others in the legal fraternity, very much like the Form 5 boy who faced hate and resentment from teachers and schoolmates for simply being naïve.

This boy faces both the threat of the Sedition Act as well the hate from school and on Facebook.

This tool of convenience has been used frequently by the authorities in what seems a very arbitrary manner. It is a law no longer in step with the times and often abused as the catch all since the repeal of the ISA.

Snap polls could see chaos and uncertainty in Selangor, forum told

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 23 ― The Sultan’s consent to dissolve the state assembly for snap polls would be an irreversible decision that may send the state hurtling into chaos, Prof Dr Abdul Aziz Bari told a forum on the mentri besar crisis last night.

The regularly-cited constitutional expert expressed fears of possible attempts to trigger unrest that may allow Putrajaya to regain control of Selangor via an emergency.

“If it is dissolved, we can do nothing … If this Monday His Highness decides to dissolve it, then it will be dissolved,” Aziz said of the state assembly.

Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim is set to meet the Selangor Sultan on Monday, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The Selangor University (Unisel) lecturer pointed out to a previous case of an unsuccessful challenge against the dissolution of the Sabah state assembly, to back his point.

But he asserted that Khalid no longer has the authority to request for a dissolution of the assembly, as he can be considered a “caretaker” MB after a demonstrable loss of confidence in his administration among state lawmakers.

Citing the cases of the 1977 Kelantan Emergency and the 1966 Sarawak Constitutional Crisis, Aziz said an emergency might be declared in Selangor should chaos be instigated by agents provocateur.

“I’m worried it would turn out like that, it created a chaos. Then this provides the ground for the authorities to do what they want,” Aziz claimed.

In the 1966 Sarawak crisis, the federal government declared a state of emergency to reinstate a new chief minister after a High Court declared that the ouster of the previous chief minister Tan Sri Stephen Kalong Ningkan was illegal.

In the 1977 emergency, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong similarly declared emergency at the request of the federal government after street violence and a political impasse.

The impasse and violence happened after Kelantan MB Datuk Muhammad Nasir requested consent from the Regent of Kelantan for a dissolution of state assembly, but was refused instead.

Other panelists in the forum last night was electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah and Khairul Ariffin Mohd Munir, the vice-president of Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (ABIM). It was moderated by Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan of the coalition Negara-Ku.

Selangor was thrown into a leadership crisis after PKR sacked Khalid for refusing to yield his position to party president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Khalid responded by removing all hostile PKR and DAP officials from his executive council, leaving Selangor in the hands of an independent MP and four excos from PAS.

The Pakatan Rakyat parties banded together last Sunday to demand Khalid’s resignation, saying he no longer commanded the confidence of the state’s lawmakers.

Khalid is refusing to acknowledge this until it is tested in a vote of no-confidence in the state assembly.

Remains Of Three More MH17 Malaysian Victims Coming Home

From Mohd Faizal Hassan

AMSTERDAM, Aug 23 (Bernama) -- A Malaysia Airlines (MAS) aircraft carrying the remains of three more victims who were on board the doomed MAS Flight MH17 has departed here and is scheduled to arrive at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Malaysia on Sunday morning.

The aircraft departed here at noon (6pm Malaysian time) Saturday.

The remains placed in a coffin and two urns are expected to arrive at the KLIA at 8.30am, said a Malaysian Embassy spokesman here.

So far, the Netherlands authorities have identified the remains of 30 Malaysian victims, including 20 which arrived at the KLIA yesterday.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, at a news conference in Kuala Lumpur, said the remains to be repatriated tomorrow were those of MAS chief steward Mohd Ghafar Abu Bakar and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) lecturer Ng Shi Ing, while the identity of the third was not revealed, following a request from the family.

He said the remains were expected to arrive at the Bunga Raya Complex, KLIA about 8.30am.

"We will have a ceremony honouring two of the remains as what was done for the first batch yesterday, and a minute's silence will be observed between 8.30am and 9am, which will be announced on the television and radio," he said.

Liow said the ceremony would be attended by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Mohd Ghafar's remains will be laid to rest at the Taman Kosas Muslim Cemetery in Ampang, Selangor, while Ng's remains will be sent to the Xiao En Bereavement Care Sdn Bhd in Cheras here.

Liow urged all parties to respect the wishes and privacy of the family of the third victim whose identity was kept secret.

Meanwhile, he said the third batch of remains would be repatriated on Aug 30.

Flight MH17 was carrying 298 passengers and crew from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was believed to have been shot down in eastern Ukraine on July 17.

Besides the 43 Malaysian passengers, the aircraft was also carrying passengers from the Netherlands, Australia, Indonesia, United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Philippines, Canada and New Zealand.

British rapper a suspect in ISIS beheading

A British rapper whose father is awaiting trial in Manhattan for a pair of US embassy bombings is a leading suspect in the barbaric beheading of American journalist James Foley, it was revealed on Friday.

Abdel-Majed Abdel Bary — who recently tweeted a photo of himself holding up a severed head — was among three Brits identified as possibly being the masked killer known as “John the Beatle.”
Bary, 24, is the son of an Egyptian-born militant who is awaiting trial on terror charges tied to the deadly 1998 bombings of embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

Also under investigation are the brother of a British doctor once charged with kidnapping two Western war correspondents, and a former gang member who converted to Islam and traveled to Syria, Britain’s Telegraph newspaper reported.

A dozen American counterterrorism experts are expected to fly to the UK “within days” to help identify Foley’s killer, Britain’s Daily Mail reported.

Former hostages held by ISIS have said he is one of several jihadists they nicknamed “the Beatles” due to their British accents, with two of his cronies referred to as “George” and “Ringo.”
Bary, who went to Syria last year to fight in its bloody civil war, has a build, skin tone and ­accent all similar to those of “John,” according to The Telegraph.

Before becoming a jihadist, he was an aspiring rapper from West London known as “L Jinny,” whose music was played on BBC Radio 1.

Bary also appeared in music videos posted on YouTube for songs titled “Overdose,” “Flying High” and “Dreamer.”

But he was reportedly radicalized by followers of firebrand ­Islamic preacher Anjem Choudary and walked out of his family’s plush home in the Maida Vale district of London last year, saying he was “leaving everything for the sake of Allah.”

Earlier this month, he was seen in a photo posted to Twitter wearing camouflage clothing and a black balaclava while holding a severed head with his left hand — the same hand “John” is seen using to draw a knife across Foley’s throat in his execution video.

According to The Telegraph, Bary is on an official list of British jihadists who may be “John.”
Also on the list is Razul Islam, 21, the paper says.

Read more :  http://nypost.com/2014/08/23/british-rapper-a-suspect-in-journalists-beheading-by-isis/

Brit jihadist 'John The Jailer' set to behead twenty more Western hostages

London, Aug 23 (ANI): The British jihadist who beheaded American journalist James Foley is reportedly planning to execute twenty more hostages.

The captives are reportedly the number of reporters who went missing after they were abducted by the IS extremists in Syria.

The terror group intends to use the kidnapped reporters as pawns in their battle to stop US air strikes on their terror fighters, the Daily Star reports.

There are high chances the English executioner dubbed "John The Jailer," who slashed US journalist James's throat on camera, may slaughter the hostages in a similar fashion.

John The Jailer is one of the three British jihadists known as The Beatles owing to their English backgrounds.

At present, they hold the responsibility to guard and execute Western hostages.

It is feared that more than 500 British Muslims have fled to the Middle East to join the Islamic State.

The Brit jihadists reportedly account for a quarter of the terror group's army of freedom fighters and have a reputation of being the most violent and bloodthirsty. (ANI)

Wan Azizah still awaiting reply from sultan

20 hearses driven past Yang di-Pertuan Agong

‘James Foley was singled out for extra beating’

The Jihadist who beheaded American journalist James Foley while being videographed is believed to be in

charge of holding foreign hostages in Raqqa, Syria, which comes under the control of Islamic State rebels, according to yet-to-be officially confirmed reports quoted in the press. The video of the execution entitled “A message to America” shows a man swathed in black whose British accent puts him as one amongst the hundreds of U.K. citizens who went to fight in Syria with the anti-government rebels, and eventually joined the forces of IS.

The man, who called himself John, is believed to be the main rebel negotiator on hostages for IS. He was described as “intelligent, educated and a devout believer in radical Islamic teachings”, by a former hostage to The Guardian. The group of three U.K.-born militants who were in charge of the hostages were apparently referred to as “the Beatles” because of their nationality, the former captive told The Guardian.

James Foley was taken hostage in 2012. The video of his beheading was publically issued by the IS-run media outlet called Al Furqan.

The U.K. Metropolitan Police have warned that viewing, downloading or disseminating the video could be a crime under the anti-terrorism laws.

Prime Minister David Cameron broke his holiday for the second time to hold briefings on the crisis. From Downing Street he said that it is “increasingly likely” that a British jihadist carried out the killing. “Let me condemn the barbaric and brutal act that has taken place and let's be clear what this act is — it is an act of murder, and murder without any justification,” Mr. Cameron said.

However, he ruled out any change in Britain’s policy towards the escalating crisis in the Middle East, ruling out the possibility of sending troops to the region.

British intelligence agencies are using voice recognition technology to identify the suspected British executioner. His accent suggests that he may be from London.

Meanwhile, two other former hostages of the IS have spoken to the media on the killer’s identity.

One of them, 53-year old Didier Francois, was released this April.

He told Europe 1 Radio that he was warned that if he told the media that he had been held with Mr. Foley and Steve Sotloff (another hostage) reprisals would follow.

Mr. Francois is reported as saying that Mr. Foley had been singled out for extra beating because his captors discovered photographs of his brother, who works for the U.S. Air Force.

This was confirmed by Nicolas Henin a reporter who was also taken hostage by IS forces. He told L’Express magazine that Mr. Foley became the “whipping boy of jailors” because of his brother and the fact that he was American.

Anti-Semitism In Sweden: Jewish Woman Beaten By Angry Group Of Muslims For Wearing Star Of David

Anti-Semitism is rife in Sweden as Muslim gangs in the Scandinavian country begin to show their true colors. This was confirmed last Thursday when a Jewish woman was attacked and badly beaten by a hate-filled group of people.
Anna Sjogren, who was walking innocently through a predominantly-Muslim suburb of the city of Uppsala in central Sweden, was set upon by the group after they noticed she was wearing a star of David necklace.
Sjogren told the WZO Center: “A Muslim girl saw that I was wearing the Star of David on my neck and she started swearing at me and spat in my face. I got very upset and pushed her off.”
At which point, says Sjogren, a sharp object was thrown at her face and before she knew it she was surrounded by at least 10 angry Muslims. And what were they angry about? The fact that she was Jewish, even though Jews have been living in Sweden far longer than Muslims.
“There were at least ten witnesses to the attack. All ten of them were wearing hijabs or scarfs in the colors of the PLO. Some surrounding witnesses claim that I ‘tripped’ and fell and that no one hurt me. It’s just unbelievable,” the victim of the attack said.
When the vicious and unprovoked attack was ove, the victim suffered more as the group told her: “Shut up or we’ll kill you,” as the ambulance came to take her to the hospital.

Sjogren said: “I cannot go to the police. The worst thing is that they will get my name and address. They’ll know where to find me and know and know I am the Jew who reported it.”
Despite the attack Sjogren said she will not stop wearing her star of David necklace, which identifies her as a Jew:

“The Star of David is extremely meaningful and significant. I will never take it down no matter what happens. When other Facebook users show support I will stand up proudly for Israel, I will never let any one silence me. Am Yisrael Chai. We will never forget and never forgive.”

The wave of anti-Semitism sweeping Scandinavia follows a similar theme to the same dangerous trend in other parts of Europe and America. That protagonists are hate-filled, violent Muslim groups which feel at liberty, even though they are in a minority themselves, to attack Jews in the streets.
Will the citizens of Sweden wake up soon enough to the threat that extreme Islam poses to them personally, as well as to their Jewish communities.?
Probably not!

Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/1422149/anti-semitism-in-sweden-jewish-woman-beaten-by-angry-group-of-muslims-for-wearing-star-of-david/#84VLH0LE8w7A14fH.99

Wan Azizah still awaiting reply from sultan - Malaysiakini

 

VIDEO | 3.18 min

EXCLUSIVE PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is still awaiting a reply from the sultan as to whether she would be granted an audience with the ruler.

Speaking to Malaysiakini in an exclusive interview today, Dr Wan Azizah said the palace has confirmed receipt of the request.

"At the moment, Datuk (Mohamad) Munir (Bani) says the request has been sent to him (the ruler) and we wait for the answer," she said, referring to Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah's private secretary.

This is Wan Azizah's second request for an audience with the sultan on the ongoing menteri besar crisis.

Her first request, made on her behalf by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, was rejected as the sultan said he had already heard about the matter from sitting Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

The sultan has cut short his trip overseas and is expected to return tomorrow.

It is understood that Khalid could have an audience with the ruler as early as Tuesday, fuelling speculations of a possible dissolution of the assembly and a snap poll.

PAS has revealed that its president Abdul Hadi Awang had an audience with the sultan more than three weeks ago, on July 31.

While the details of the meeting is not revealed, PAS Youth chief Suhaizan Kaiat said that it had led to PAS nominating both Wan Azizah and PKR deputy president Azmin Ali for the post.

Hadi's office later clarified that Azmin's name did not crop up during the audience, but Suhaizan had said that a second name was nominated in case of "eventualities between Wan Azizah and the palace".

Hadi's audience with sultan

Speaking at her sparsely-decorated office, Wan Azizah said that Pakatan Rakyat only found out about Hadi's audience "later", albeit before it hit headlines last week.

However, she believes that the PAS leader was not "hiding" it from the coalition.

Rather, she said, the audience happened during the Hari Raya break and was likely linked to the festivities.

“I think he met the sultan on the third or fourth day of (the Islamic month of) Syawal, so it was probably a (Hari) Raya meeting. Sometimes when you meet for Raya, you don’t have to tell.”

Asked if Hadi had briefed Pakatan on his audience with the sultan, she said that “maybe” Hadi told PKR de facto leader Anwar “as they (Pakatan leaders) deal with him, rather than with me”.

She also hinted that gender could be a factor in this, saying that when Hadi took over as president and Anwar got out of prison in 2004, she left it “to the men” to deal with the matter.

“He (Hadi), being a tok guru (revered scholar), I felt men will get it sorted out. But I suppose there are things that Ustaz Hadi figured... are to be and certain things are not to be,” she said, not going into specifics.

PAS’ revelation about Hadi’s audience with the sultan has given rise to speculation that the palace may not be keen on Wan Azizah.

Wan Azizah says that this is “touted by people” and “people can say what they want to say”.

“That is what the people have been talking about. They say Tuanku like this, Tuanku like that. I am waiting for an audience with him,” she said.

When speaking about being MB, the Kajang assemblyperson couches her sentences with word “if”.

Asked what hurdles she may face to become MB, Wan Azizah said that the ruler has his "preferences" for who will be the state's head of government.

However, when asked to clarify, Wan Azizah said, it would be better to give Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah the “benefit of the doubt” and not to second guess his position on the on-going menteri besar crisis.

“Well in our state, we have a ruler of the state. Tuanku is there, and he is a very educated ruler of the state. He does have some preferences, I suppose.

“The constitution says the leader of the majority will lead the state. I think that will weigh heavily on the Tuanku to consider.”

Pakatan’s Plan B

So what is the ‘Plan B’, if indeed what PAS is implying - that the sultan is not keen on Wan Azizah for reasons yet unknown - becomes true?

“Oh, then we have to go back to the party,” Wan Azizah said.

Candidates can only come from PKR, with PAS declining the seat and DAP not qualified as it has no Selangor assemblyperson who is Muslim and Malay - a requirement for an MB under the Selangor state constitution.

But will it be Azmin, the Selangor PKR chief who has served the party and as aide to Anwar for decades? Or will he be surpassed yet again?

Despite being leader of the Selangor backbenchers’ club, Azmin has never figured in PKR plans as the next menteri besar, making it necessary for the Kajang seat to be vacated to allow Anwar passage to replace Khalid.

Anwar’s sodomy conviction put a spanner in the works, and today, his wife’s chances to succeed Khalid appear to be in the hands of the palace.

Will Azmin finally be named if the palace takes a dim view of Wan Azizah?

“We go back to the Pakatan leadership to choose then,” she said.

---

Interview by Aidila Razak, Kow Gah Chie and Ahmad Fadli KC.

Singapore urged to end ‘barbaric’ punishment

Human Rights Watch makes a call against caning as appeal begins in Yong Vui Kong's case.

PETALING JAYA: Human Rights Watch (HRW) today urged the Singapore government to “immediately and unconditionally” abolish caning as a punishment for crimes.

The call came just hours before the Singapore Court of Appeal was to hear the case of Malaysian national Yong Vui Kong. Yong was found guilty of drug trafficking in 2008. His death sentence has been commuted to life imprisonment and caning. His lawyer is in court today to challenge the caning part of the sentence.

In a press statement released early today, HRW Deputy Director (Asia) Phil Robertson said he hoped the Court of Appeal would recognise the damage that continued use of caning would do to respect for human rights in Singapore.

Describing caning as a “barbaric, colonial era throwback that constitutes cruel and unusual punishment,” he said the court should rule to end the “heinous” practice.

“Every time a prisoner is caned in Singapore, whether it be for vandalism, illegal entry, or something else, it is a dark stain on Singapore’s justice and its reliance on this systematic use of torture to punish people,” he added.

Gender discrimination in sports heats up

MCA says Kelantan PAS thinks all males are immature and just want to ogle.

PETALING JAYA: The gender discrimination debate in Kelantan heated up with Kelantan State Youth and Sports Secretariat director Ahmad Fadhli Shaari saying the organiser’s have the right to ban males from women’s netball competitions.

MCA Religious Harmony Board Chairman Ti Lian Ker took it one step further by saying that if that was the case, Kelantan should also ban mixed doubles badminton and tennis matches.

Ti said Ahmad Fadhli knew nothing about long term sports development, in particular, the participation of women in sports.

“They should remove themselves from consideration to host regional and international competitions like Sukma, SEA Games, Asian Games or Commonwealth Games as it would be impossible to prevent the opposite sexes from seeing each other,” he said in a statement.

Questioning where the line would be drawn, Ti painted a grim picture where fathers and brothers would be prevented from cheering family members in sports, male doctors prevented from treating female patients, female teachers banned from teaching male students, and more.

“The PAS-led state government underestimates all males as immature, like as if they will ogle at the female anatomy when sportswomen are competing,” he said.

Nurul: My mum is better than Khalid

With Nurul Izzah taking the lead, Wan Azizah is enjoying strong support from members of the PKR Wanita Congress.

SHAH ALAM: PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah said her mother, Wan Azizah, will be a better Menteri Besar (MB) than Khalid Ibrahim because of her caring nature to listen to problems.

“All leaders should show empathy, which is a vital quality,” she told a press conference after launching the PKR Wanita Congress in Stadium Melawati Shah Alam today.

Nurul Izzah said her mother would be able to solve the problems of Selangorians.

Nurul Izzah said she supported her mother after her father, Anwar Ibrahim, was thrown behind bars in 1999.

“The most difficult time for me was when my father was in jail. My mother carried out her duties well as party president and a mother to six children,” she said.

However, she added that the final decision on the MB fiasco was up to Pakatan Rakyat (Pakatan).

Nurul Izzah said it was common to have differences in opinion in the coalition but collaboration among the leaders was important.

PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin said Wan Azizah was the first woman opposition leader in the Dewan Rakyat and there should not be any doubt of her capability to lead.

Zuraida said with her vast experience of 16 years, Wan Azizah would be able to transform the party.

She believed all Pakatan leaders would abide by the party’s decision despite the PAS Syura Council’s decision to reject a female leader.

“I am confident Pakatan leaders will help her lead the state,” said Zuraida.

Another speaker, Kelantan Wanita representative Norhanazalmah Mat Yusuf hit out at certain contestants in the party elections who sought the support of top leaders to win.

“Such an act is a breach of the people’s trust. The contestants with the right connections won and this will destroy the party,” she said.

UN's Pillay slams Security Council 'failure'

In final address Navi Pillay says a more responsive UN Security Council could have saved hundreds of thousands of lives.

Pillay suggested a number of measures to make UN Security Council more effective [Reuters]

In her last address to the Security Council, the UN human rights chief sharply criticised the body for its ineffectiveness on Syria and other intractable conflicts, saying its members have often put national interests ahead of stopping mass atrocities.

"I firmly believe that greater responsiveness by this council would have saved hundreds of thousands of lives," said Navi Pillay, whose term as high commissioner for human rights ends on August 30.

Pillay said Syria's conflict "is metastasing outwards in an uncontrollable process whose eventual limits we cannot predict."

She also cited conflicts in Afghanistan, Central African Republic, DR Congo, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Ukraine and Gaza.

"These crises hammer home the full cost of the international community's failure to prevent conflict," Pillay said. "None of these crises erupted without warning."

Call for change

Pillay spoke at a meeting where the Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution promising more aggressive efforts to prevent conflicts.

However, the resolution said little about the political differences that often paralyse the Security Council, where sharp divisions between veto-wielding members Russia and the United States have often thwarted action on Syria and Ukraine.

Pillay touched on the problem in her remarks.

"Short-term geopolitical considerations and national interest, narrowly defined, have repeatedly taken precedence over intolerable human suffering and grave breaches of - and long-term threats to - international peace and security," she said.

The human rights chief said the use of veto power on the Security Council "to stop action intended to prevent or defuse conflict is a short-term and ultimately counter-productive tactic."

Pillay proposed that the council adopt a menu of new responses, including "rapid, flexible and resource-efficient human rights monitoring missions."

She also suggested building on the Arms Trade Treaty by requiring that, in countries where there are human rights concerns, governments accept a small human rights monitoring team as a condition of purchasing weapons.

Source: AP

Wanita PKR kecewa Khalid lapor ROS

(Agenda Daily) – Ini satu lagi lawak PKR… tiba-tiba kecewa dengan bekas pemimpinnya yang dipecat Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim sebab buat laporan kepada Pendaftar Pertubuhan (RoS) berkaitan pemecatannya.

Silap-silap Khalid boleh tanya balik… kira engkau punya kecewa saya…aku punya kecewa macam mana?

Ketua Wanita PKR Zuraidah Kamaruddin berkata Khalid seharusnya menghormati keputusan parti yang mahukan beliau unuk berundur lebih awal sebelum konflik itu semakin memuncak.

Bagaimanapun beliau menyifatkan masalah dalaman membabitkan jawatan Menteri Besar Selangor itu sebagai satu proses mendewasakan pentadbiran parti dan tidak akan menjejaskan sokongan rakyat terhadap PKR dan Pakatan Rakyat.

“Secara peribadinya kami kecewa dengan tindakan Khalid. Kita telah berikan peluang melalui pentadbiran negeri dan pimpinan parti. Beliau kena faham apabila parti suruh berundur maka beliau perlu berbuat demikian. Kami sedih tapi kena teruskan dan hadapi situasi ini,” katanya di sidang media Kongres Wanita PKR di Stadium Malawati Shah Alam Jumaat.

Minggu lalu Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim mengemukakan laporan kepada RoS, mempersoalkan kesahihan tindakan PKR memecat beliau daripada parti itu.

Dalam laporannya Khalid mahukan RoS menyiasat sama ada Lembaga Disiplin dan Majlis Pimpinan Pusat PKR mencabuli perlembagaan parti apabila memecatnya.

Beberapa media melaporkan sekiranya RoS mendapati PKR melanggar perlembaaan, parti itu boleh dibatalkan pendaftarannya dan diisytiharkan haram.

Khalid dipecat oleh PKR namun Sultan Selangor mengekalkannya sebagai Menteri Besar setelah menerima perakuan bahawa beliau masih punya majoriti dalam Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN).

Selepas mendapat mandat, Khalid memecat kesemua enam exco DAP dan PKR namun kekalkan empat exco PAS.