India’s Modi Draws Huge US Crowds

Now back in office, he urges Indians to sweep the streets

Asia Sentinel

Just back from a tumultuous five-day visit to the US, Narendra Modi yesterday launched his Swacch Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Movement) by sweeping up rubbish in Valmiki Basti, a Delhi neighborhood where Mahatma Gandhi, once stayed. It was the father of the nation’s birth anniversary, and a public holiday at the beginning of the long festival weekend of Dussehra that celebrates the triumph of good over evil.

In his first radio broadcast to the nation, marking the Dussehra holiday, Modi asked people to “pledge to remove dirt from our lives”. He ordered thousands of bureaucrats to go to work and clean their offices in a drive that started a week ago, and the Delhi symbolic street sweeping was repeated in other state capitals where the Bharatiya Janata Party is in power.

After four months as prime minister, Modi is emerging as a motivated hands-on politician, who leads by example and expects others to do the same. He is beginning to strike chords with the mass of Indians who respect his and the BJP’s nationalism, which was echoed in a televised speech this morning by Mohan Bhagwat, leader of the RSS, the BJP’s arch Hindu fundamentalist parent organization.

Modi and Bhagwat called on people to follow thesimple life style of Mahatma Gandhi, and Bhagwat even asked them to boycott goods from China, apparently because of the two countries’ border confrontations,

Modi also sticks to his beliefs, refusing food at banquets during his successful US visit because he always fasts for nine days of the Navratri festival running up to Dussehra.

India is becoming accustomed to his symbolic gestures, which began with South Asian leaders being invited to his swearing in, and continued with him playing drums when he was in Japan, taking China’s president Xi Jinping to his home state of Gujarat for a festive evening, and last weekend addressing huge crowds in New York’s Central Park and (photo below) in Madison Square Gardens.

He has established himself as a tough politician who expects ministers and bureaucrats to turn up for work on time, actually take decisions, and keep files moving, so that policies are turned into action. He has shown the world he can be a friendly politician as well as a capable orator. Clearly a man on a mission to make India work, he also wants to make the world realise it is happening – something he seems to have achieved with President Obama earlier this week in Washington.

Now he needs to spend time in his grand Prime Minister’s Office in Delhi and turn all the symbolism and gestures into action.

But he won’t be doing that yet because tomorrow he is off to Haryana and Maharashtra to campaign for the BJP in state assembly elections due on October 15. The party needs to win those states from the Congress Party, partly to strengthen Modi’s ability to implement policies at state level, and partly because the BJP needs to build up its minority position in the Rajya Sabha, which is elected through state-level electoral colleges. Modi also needs to ensure that the BJP’s embarrassing defeats last month in various state assembly by-elections do not turn into a trend – and he wants to prove that he is still the party’s primary vote winner.

When he is back in Delhi after the political campaigning, Modi faces mounting problems. The most serious is that too many top ministers are in charge of several ministries, especially Arun Jaitley, the finance, defense and company affairs minister, who is a diabetic and is in hospital with a chest infection after a stomach operation. Jaitley is the most important, and also the most experienced and probably the most capable minister in the government. Doctors have said he might be home this weekend, but his load needs to be lightened.

Some commentators have been calling for Modi to introduce economic reforms that would catch headlines, but India does not need reforms so much as implementation of existing policies.

The clean India campaign, which expands on work done by the last Congress-led government, needs to be driven beyond yesterday’s symbolism. The task is huge in a nation that dumps rubbish in the streets, where a third of garbage is never collected, and 70 percent of rural homes have no access to toilets. Traditionally, cleaning is regarded as something best left to the lowest castes.

A new Made in India manufacturing policy needs political and bureaucratic leadership to reduce blockages that impede investment at all levels. Among many other examples, the highway building program needs to be actively revived, the railway system needs to be modernized, and care needs to be taken in revising environmental laws and regulations so that infrastructure projects are speeded up without seriously harming India’s natural heritage. Dreadful educational and health facilities also need to be improved in hundreds of thousands of villages and urban areas.

Governments everywhere love to go for high profile and fine sounding projects such as industrial corridors, special economic zones, smart cities, and bullet trains. Such long-term vision is of course necessary, but none of these projects, which Modi has been promoting, will help him to fulfil, by the time of the next general election, his pledges in this year’s election campaign to get India moving again. To do that, he and his ministers and top bureaucrats have to focus on the hard slog of unblocking bureaucratic lethargy and corruption, simplifying laws, and speeding up implementation.

Not a ‘pain in the ass’

Modi attracts a lot of brickbats from observers who find it hard to come to terms with his rise and international success. Pankaj Mishra, an Indian writer who has a following for views aired from his vantage point in the UK, scathingly wrote after Modi’s flamboyant success in the US that “India desperately needs a vision other than that of the vain small man trying to impress the big men with his self-improvised rules of the game.

The former Mumbai correspondent of The Economist, who is now posted in New York, managed to work “pain in the ass” into his blog report on Modi at Madison Square Garden, after which his editors responded to complaints by issuing a statement saying: “The Economist does not consider Mr Modi to be a ‘pain in the ass’. ” The epithet had merely been “how we imagined an uninformed New Yorker might feel about someone who causes a traffic jam” – which Modi had done as tens of thousands of Indians flocked to see him. That was especially embarrassing for the magazine because it had amazingly backed Rahul Gandhi to become prime minister in the general election since it could not bring itself to be identified with Modi.

There are many people waiting for Modi to fail to deliver on the dreams and visions of a successful India that he spun during his presidential-style general election campaign. Obama belted out “Yes we can” from his election platforms and, many would say, failed to deliver. Modi added, “Yes we will do” – now he needs to turn the oratory into practice.

John Elliott is Asia Sentinel’s New Delhi correspondent. He blogs at Riding the Elephant, which can be found at the bottom right corner of Asia Sentinel’s face page.

Anwar Ibrahim faces 'travesty of justice' in Malaysia, says Nick Xenophon

Independent senator says Australia should speak up on behalf of Malaysia’s opposition leader

Australian Associated Press

Australia is being challenged to speak up on behalf of Malaysia’s opposition leader as he faces “a travesty of justice” and the prospect of prison this month.

Anwar Ibrahim is appealing against a highly controversial sodomy conviction, and one of his lawyers has been charged with sedition for saying the scandal is politically motivated.

Anwar, too, is under further investigation, accused of making seditious comments in a political speech.

His 28 October appeal against the sodomy conviction may spark political tensions in Malaysia.

On Friday he met the independent senator Nick Xenophon in Jakarta. Xenophon was detained and deported when he tried to visit Anwar in Kuala Lumpur last year.

Xenophon said if Australia was any kind of friend to Malaysia, it would speak up.

“This is a travesty of justice,” he told reporters in Jakarta.

“It feels like Anwar has more charges against him than Muhammad Ali has had punches. It is a very serious issue.”

Anwar agreed Malaysian authorities, “on direction from the government”, were determined to put him behind bars.”

In his 2011 speech, he says, he said the words “fight the evil government”. That was now being considered sedition.

“I convey my appreciation to senator Nick Xenophon and my friends here who conveyed their concern for me,” he said.

Xenophon said he also remained concerned about the voter irregularities he had wanted to examine last year when he was detained.

“I think unofficially it’s expected that the real vote was much greater for the Malaysian opposition,” he said.

“So, this is the man who should be the prime minister of Malaysia today.”

Our political climate is rife with sexism

Sexual jibes from close-minded individuals will not stop women from being heard in politics.

By Syerleena Abdul Rashid

Interestingly, the media tends to work up a frenzy every time a Malay woman joins DAP. Most recently, Melati Rahim – a niqab donning activist, announced her membership and less than 24 hours later, the vicious attacks ensued with hell bent fervour.

Already she has been accused as being an apostate, a traitor and worse yet, a suggestion by an irresponsible blogger, that any woman joining DAP, for that matter, would be better off vacationing as prostitutes.

What warrants such extreme contempt and disapproval? Aren’t the scandal-tainted politicians who waste billions of public funds and attempt to destroy any notion of racial harmony in our country worse than all of us who join the opposition?

Being women, a minority in a male dominated setting, makes us easier targets for sexist remarks and revolting suggestions. We are often singled out and ridiculed for our political choices; as if we have committed terrible crimes against humanity.

Some men in our society continuously berate us, as if in an attempt to ‘put us in our places’; it is as if our opinions on issues lack merit and we’d be better off playing into whatever gender stereotype these bigoted men have laid out in our society.

Well, society is changing and that is a fact that they have to fathom sooner or later and such bigoted attitudes must stop.

Taking verbal jabs and branding us as traitors is unjustified and cowardly. The hardships Malaysians experience are too real for us to back down and meekly accept.

DAP presents a positive platform for women in politics. For those already in politics, their voices can be heard across the Federation and the impact of their contributions in our socio-political landscape can be felt.

Judging from the accomplishments so far, these women are not simply playing second fiddle to a relatively male dominated landscape. They have demonstrated fortitude, perseverance, and prudence in their decision over tackling important matters (i.e. the inequalities and imbalances certain policies have created over the past decades) and they do all of these with such profound articulation, intelligence and finesse – virtues we seek in those elected to govern. Such traits are extremely inspiring for women and definitely something sexist bloggers or pseudo-intellectuals can learn a thing or two from.

Of course, we understand how politics works. After all, politics is often recognised as being a breeding ground for misogyny and this is evident from the crude remarks made towards women leaders and aspiring politicians.

If anything the continual personal attacks happen because it is required. The motives that warrant such appalling attacks are purely a survival tactic played out by those who know that their time is almost over. Such biased dominance is slowly losing relevance in a multi-ethnic nation that is seemingly embracing progressiveness and liberal education.

Instead of engaging in personal attacks and slander, BN-friendly parties and individuals should focus on highlighting pressing issues and enlightening us on pro-active policies that can help eradicate poverty among the marginalised as quite a number of Malaysians (and Malays for that matter) still belong in this category in spite of government-backed Bumiputera policies and rights that have been championed by Umno for decades.

Why not focus on improving our education system? The never ending ‘flip flopping’ and ‘U-turns’ will do nothing to improve our universities’ reputation. None of our local universities made the cut in the latest list of top 400 global institutions and this is worrying especially when our education system is supposedly on par with developed countries like Germany.

Malaysians are beginning to embrace a new chapter in politics and politically, we are maturing. Many of us have already broken down the barriers of race, religion and gender in politics.

The women in DAP represent all of that and such presence will inspire more bright and young Malaysians to join the struggle regardless of ethnicity. There are plenty of women in politics who are highly educated, extremely intelligent and beautiful in their own right. These women too have had their fair share of discrimination and know the frustrations of being perceived as the “weaker sex” all too well.

The toxicity of sexism seems to be a permanent fixture in our local politics but that can be dealt with – easily. We need to change the mindset of Malaysians and educate them that “whistles”, “howls” and threats are not acceptable to any woman. As a matter of fact, it is hostile and boorish. I dare say that it is getting old.

So far, these women have been handling their new found popularity – both good and bad, extremely well and eloquently. At the end of the day, it is through quality and dedication that politicians will have more supporters than enemies. Creating fear through threats will no longer work, if anything, it will only be advantageous to us who sit on the other side of the political spectrum.

And this is a notion that scares the ruling elite more than anything else.

Syerleena Abdul Rashid currently serves as DAPSY Bukit Bendera Secretary and DAP Wanita Bukit Bendera Political Education Director

Three Main Ingredients Of Moderation Will Continue To Drive National Development

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the three main ingredients of 'wasatiyyah' or moderation namely justice, balance and excellence will continue to be the values used in guiding the development of this country.

The Prime Minister said the government will continue its determination to turn Malaysia into a progressive and developed nation earning high income by the year 2020.

He said the government would also learn from the spirit of sacrifice in the past, to be made part of the struggles to prosper the nation based on justice and harmony.

"In line with the name AidilAdha, this great celebration which is iconised by two major obligations namely performance of the haj and the spirit of sacrifice to gain the blessings of Allah, and to cherish the teachings of Allah," he said in his message in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidiladha 1435 Hijrah tomorrow in his blog www.najibrazak.com.

Najib said as he had pledged in his public debate at the 69th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York recently, Malaysia would continue to hold tightly to the moderation approach as outlined by the Islamic religion.

He said the government was determined to continue with the national transformation agenda which would certainly require the commitment and willingness to carry out major sacrifices by everyone.

"At the same time, we are prepared to sacrifice time and lives to ensure that the stability and prosperity that we are enjoying remain protected.

"The national constitution and sovereignty of the Rulers will remain to be the identity of the Malaysian race, subversion and infiltration by anyone on this sovereignty will be sternly opposed and eliminated," he said.

Najib said he and his family prayed that those who were in the Holy Land would be safe in carrying out their religious obligation to attain the perfect haj.

"For those in the country, let us celebrate the hari raya by glorifying Allah and together we perform the AidilAdha prayers and perform the ritual of sacrifice," he said.

Cops confirm female doctor joined Islamic State in Syria – Bernama

The police today confirmed that a 26-year-old female doctor was one of the 22 Malaysians in Syria reportedly involved in the activities of the Islamic State (IS) militant group.

Principal assistant director of the Counter Terrorism Division of the Special Branch at Bukit Aman, SAC Datuk Ayub Khan Mydin Pitchay, said the doctor was married to a Malaysian who was a member of the IS group.

He also said that a couple, a 23-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman, who hailed from Selangor and Terengganu, respectively, were also among the 22 in Syria.

"A Malaysian man aged 35 had also gone to Syria with his 46-year-old wife, a foreign national," he told Bernama when contacted.

IS has taken control of huge areas in Syria and Iraq and proclaimed a caliphate. Its members are drawn from people in the two countries as well as foreigners.

Ayub Khan said the doctor was attempting to influence Malaysian women through a Facebook account and added that this was worrying.

"We are trying to establish the identity and background of and obtain more information about the woman's family. We are investigating how she could have been influenced to go there (Syria).

"Of course, she can use Facebook to draw women and girls easily. She can share photographs to show that accommodation and food are provided and they would only be involved in fighting alongside the mujahiddeen," he said.

However, he said, they would not be aware that there was exploitation of women and girls as sex slaves of the militants although so far it might not have involved Malaysians.

The United Nations has reported that the IS militants had kidnapped women and girls and forced them to be sex slaves.

Since the launch of a special operation by the Counter Terrorism Division on April 28, twenty-two individuals have been detained on suspicion of having been involved in militant activities.

People who have information on the IS group can contact investigating officer Insp Mohd Hazil Azhar or convey the information via telephone to 03-22665673 or e-mail to ctd.e8m@gmail.com. – Bernama, October 4, 2014.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/female-doctor-among-22-malaysians-fighting-for-islamic-state-bernama#sthash.W4PuXon6.dpuf

Hindraf founder wants to teach and study in the US

Having failed in his political struggle, Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) founder P. Uthayakumar who was freed from Kajang prison yesterday after serving a two-year jail term for sedition, is set to leave for Washington in the United States to "teach and do some research".

"My family and I will be there for a couple of years. I want to do some research and teaching," he told The Malaysian Insider in a telephone interview.

He declined to divulge details.

Uthayakumar, who claimed that he is still Hindraf's de facto leader, expressed hope the government, Pakatan Rakyat and the private sector would halt all racially discriminatory policies and practices, especially against the Indian poor.

"I must confess that I failed to convince the Indians on Hindraf's projected 15/38 as the only way forward in marginal seats in last year's general election," he said.

Under this plan, Indians who made up between 10% and 30% of voters, could decide the winners in 15 parliamentary and 38 state seats in the west coast of the peninsula.

"I accept the people's verdict when they voted overwhelmingly for Pakatan candidates," said Uthayakumar who contested the Kota Rajah parliamentary seat and Seri Andalas state seat, and lost both.

The Human Rights Party Malaysia of which Uthayakumar was its pro-tem secretary-general, fielded candidates in some of the seats but all lost badly.

He has now urged Indians to take their problems directly to key Pakatan leaders like Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Guan Eng and Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, instead of going through intermediaries.

He said Indians did not progress much in the economic and social development of the country despite voting en-bloc for the BN prior to the 2018 election.

The son of railway employee, Uthayakumar said that he has been fighting for the rights of Indians over the last 16 years. He had no regrets having been detained under the now repealed Internal Security Act in 2007 and sent to prison after being found guilty of sedition.

"I was only interested in the welfare of the Indians. The Orang Asli in the peninsula and Bumiputera community in Sabah and Sarawak have a social safety net as provided in the Federal Constituton and other written laws.

"There are non-governmental organisations, prominent lawyers like Datuk Dr Cyrus Das and Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan who championed the right of natives and indigenious people. It was only Hindraf who repeateadly higlighted the plights of the Indians," he said.

He also declined to discuss his relationship with younger brother Waytha Moorthy who is now Hindraf chairman.

"Hindraf is heavily tainted after it associated itself with the Barisan Nasional just before the general election last year.

"We only met during our mother's funeral and memorial service, and no contact beyond that," he said of his brother Waytha Moorthy.

Waytha, who was made senator and deputy minister in Datuk Seri Najib Razak's administraton, resigned from public office in February, citing that the prime minister had betrayed the Indians by not fulfilling the promises made in the memorandum of understanding signed prior to the 13th general election.

Waytha said Najib did not have the will and courage to meet the demands made in the memorandum.

Uthayakumar said while he would have used Hindraf to champion the cause of Indians, the present leadership is also highlighting the plight of non-Malays and the rights of the people of Sabah and Sarawak.

"The Indians are much worse off than any other community. The Chinese are economically well off. The 56 Sabah and Sarawak BN and opposition MPs can voice the frustration of the two states. Who do we have to give an effective voice to the marginalised Indians," he said.

While refusing to directly acknowledge Hindraf's strategy of being inclusive, he said there may be many ways of skinning a cat.

"I am glad that for the past 15 years, Hindraf has been voicing out issues that affects the Indians. Initially we were not heard but later got noticed," he added.

The Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur on June 5 last year convicted Uthayakumar for publishing remarks on the Police Watch website through a letter to then British prime minister Gordon Brown.

The then deputy public prosecutor Noorin Badaruddin had said t‎he words used by Uthayakumar in the letter, such as "mini genocide" and "ethnic cleansing", gave the impression that grave crimes and racial oppression were committed by the government against the Indians here.

On September 17, the Court of Appeal upheld the Uthayakumar's sedition conviction, but reduced his jail sentence from 30 months to 24 .

Hindraf rose to prominence in 2007 when about 30,000 people gathered in a rally held in Kuala Lumpur over alleged discriminatory policies.

At least 240 people were detained, but half of them were later released. Soon after, Uthayakumar and four others were detained under the ISA and were only freed after Najib became prime minister in April 2009. – October 4, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/hindraf-founder-wants-to-teach-and-study-in-the-us#sthash.n4siszCW.dpuf

Proud to be married to champion of Indians, says Uthaya's wife

ISIS fighters enter Kobani: reports

Reuters

SURUC Turkey/BEIRUT: ISIS fighters entered the Syrian town of Kobani near the Turkish border, a CNN editor said Friday.

CNN editor Ram Ramgopal tweeted that Alan Minbic, a Kurdish fighter, told the network that jihadists had entered the southwestern edges of the besieged town, known as Ain al-Arab in Arabic.

Meanwhile, Kurdish fighters defending Kobani warned of a likely massacre by ISIS insurgents as the Islamists encircled the town with tanks and bombarded its outskirts with artillery fire.

Turkey said it would do what it could to prevent Kobani, a predominantly Kurdish town just over its southern border, from falling into ISIS hands but stopped short of committing to any direct military intervention.

U.S.-led forces have been bombing ISIS targets in Syria and Iraq but the action has done little to stop their advance in northern Syria towards the Turkish border, piling pressure on Ankara to intervene.

Esmat al-Sheikh, head of the Kurdish forces defending Kobani, said the distance between his fighters and the insurgents was now less than one km (half a mile).

"We are in a small, besieged area. No reinforcements reached us and the borders are closed," he told Reuters by phone. "My expectation is for general killing, massacres and destruction ... There is bombardment with tanks, artillery, rockets and mortars."

ISIS has earned a reputation for extreme violence, carrying out widespread killings including beheadings in the Syrian and Iraqi territory it has seized.

Two large clouds of smoke rose up to the east of Kobani and there were several loud explosions from further inside the town as shelling continued and gunfire rang out, a Reuters correspondent on the Turkish side of the border said.

Fighters from the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) tried to push the insurgents back, firing missiles lit up by bright red tracers from the town and striking ISIS targets in a village a few kilometers to the east.

The frontlines between the Kurds and ISIS, a Sunni Muslim group still commonly known by its former acronyms of ISIS and ISIL, are fluid.

Idris Nassan, deputy foreign minister in a local Kurdish administration, said the YPG had been able to blunt ISIS gains over the past two days on the southeastern front.

"There are clashes every minute of the day. The YPG pushed ISIS back yesterday in the southeast of Kobani. ISIS were two km from Kobani (to the southeast) but they are now four km," he said. "From time to time there are shells by ISIS that reach the center of the city. Three hours ago there was a bomb that landed in Kobani. I haven’t heard about casualties."

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the eastern, western and southern fronts had not seen significant changes since Thursday, when ISIS fighters tightened their grip around Kobani.

But that at least 25 shells had hit the town, coupled with heavy clashes on the eastern and southeastern fronts on Friday.

TURKEY "NOT AT FAULT"

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Turkey would do what it could to prevent Kobani from falling to ISIS but stopped short of committing to the sort of military intervention that the Kurds have been crying out for.

"We wouldn't want Kobani to fall. We'll do whatever we can to prevent this from happening," Davutoglu said in a discussion with journalists broadcast on the A Haber television station.

Parliament gave the government powers on Thursday to order cross-border military incursions against ISIS, and to allow forces of the U.S.-led foreign coalition to launch similar operations from Turkish territory.

But Davutoglu appeared to pull back from any suggestion that this meant Turkey was planning a military incursion, saying such a move could drag Ankara into a wider conflict along its 900 km (560-mile) border.

"Some are saying 'Why aren't you protecting Kurds in Kobani?' If the Turkish armed forces enter Kobani and the Turkmens from Yayladag ask 'why aren't you saving us?', we would have to go there as well," he said, referring to another ethnic minority in Syria across from a Turkish border town.

"When the Arab citizens across from Reyhanli say 'why don't you save us as well", we'd have to go there too."

Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz was also quoted as telling reporters that it would be wrong to expect imminent military action after the parliamentary motion passed.

Ankara fears military intervention could deepen the insecurity on its border by strengthening Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and bolster Kurdish fighters linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged a three-decade insurgency against the Turkish state.

Jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan said on Wednesday peace talks between his group and Turkey would collapse if ISIS militants are allowed to carry out a massacre in Kobani.

Davutoglu said it was wrong to link the two issues. "If Kobani falls, Turkey is not at fault. If Kobani falls, this shouldn't be tied to the solution process (with the PKK)."

SIGNS OF PROGRESS IN IRAQ

ISIS has carved out swathes of eastern Syria and western Iraq in a drive to create a cross-border caliphate between the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers, terrifying communities into submission by slaughtering those who resist.

The United States has been carrying out air strikes in Iraq against the militant group since July and in Syria since last week with the help of Arab allies. Britain and France have also struck ISIS targets in Iraq.

There have been some successes on the ground. In Iraq, Sunni tribes have joined pro-government forces in recent days for several major battles against the militants. The Shi'ite-led government in Baghdad and the United States hope this is a sign of increasing cooperation across sectarian lines to save the country.

When ISIS fighters tried to storm the Tigris River town of Dhuluiya north of Baghdad this week, they were repelled by a rare coalition of Sunni tribal fighters inside the town and Shi'ites in its sister city Balad on the opposite bank.

Further north, another powerful Sunni tribe fought alongside Kurdish forces to drive ISIS fighters from Rabia, a town controlling one of the main border checkpoints used by fighters pouring in from Syria.

Village by village, Kurdish forces in northern Iraq have regained around half the territory they gave up in August when ISIS militants tore through their defenses in the northwest, prompting the United States to launch airstrikes in September, its first since 2011.

Turkey insists the air strikes alone will not contain the ISIS threat, and wants simultaneous action to be taken against Assad's government, including the creation of a no-fly zone on the Syrian side of the border.

"You know what will happen if there isn’t a no-fly zone? ISIL bases will be bombed and then the Syrian regime, Assad, who has committed all those massacres, believing that he is now legitimate, will bide his time and bomb Aleppo," Davutoglu said.

Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/Oct-03/272872-isis-fighters-enter-kobani-reports.ashx#ixzz3F7m6N8Mh
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Radicalised teen Numan Haider launched ‘frenzied’ attack on police

The Australian

A CORONER has heard how radicalised teenager Numan Haider launched into an immediate and frenzied stabbing attack when approached by two counter-terrorism officers who yelled at him to drop his knife.

Haider, who had expressed support for the Islamic State by carrying their flag at a suburban Melbourne shopping centre, was fatally shot last week after going to meet members of a Victorian and federal police joint counter-terrorism task force outside the Endeavour Hills

police station.

Coroner John Olle today held the first directions hearing of his probe into the 18-year old’s death.

Counsel assisting the coroner, Jessica Wilby, told the court Haider had gone to the police station at the request of the counter-terrorism team to talk about the cancellation of his passport.

Authorities had been monitoring Haider for several weeks as he displayed increasingly radical behaviour, and feared he would try to join the dozens of Australians fighting for jihadist forces in Iraq and Syria.

Haider had attended lectures at the al-Furqan Islamic centre which was the centre of counter-terrorism raids in 2012.

Ms Wilby said Haider called the AFP officer he had been dealing with at 7.30pm on September 23 to say he was outside the police station, in the carpark of the neighbouring child care centre.

As the AFP officer and a Victoria Police colleague left the station and approached Haider, they noticed he had his hand in his jacket pocket.

They asked him to remove his hand, and he did so — revealing a knife clasped in his fist.

Haider then swiftly launched an attack on the Victoria Police officer, stabbing him in the arm.

The officer fell backwards and Haider moved on to the AFP officer, stabbing him repeatedly in the head and chest.

The Victoria Police officer commanded Haider to drop his weapon, but the frenzied attack continued, prompting the officer to shoot a single fatal round to the teenager’s head.

Haider was pronounced dead at 8.07pm.

He was still clutching the knife in his hand when other police officers arrived to investigate the scene.

The names of the two police officers have been suppressed due to fears for their safety.

Today Mr Olle also suppressed the names and images of the Haider family, hearing they had received death threats since the attack.

Haider’s father and brother attended the brief directs hearing.

Mr Olle said he wanted to provide independent answers to “grieving families” and the community.

“The particular sensitivity surrounding this incident demands the utmost public confidence in the coronial jurisdiction as an independent investigative authority,” he said.

“It is important to remember there are three Victorian families directly involved in this incident.”

Victoria Police acting sergeant Neil Smith, who is leading the homicide investigation, told the court 35 witness statements had already been obtained, with 40 statements still to come.

Results of toxicology, pathology, forensic and ballistic tests are still pending.

CCTV footage of the surrounding area is also being reviewed.

The coroner will receive a brief of the evidence in January ahead of an inquest date yet to be fixed.

Surendran bids to refer sedition case to High Court

 

Padang Serai member of parliament N Surendran today filed an application to refer the sedition case pending against him in the Sessions Court to the High Court.

The accused, represented by counsel Lateefa Koya, said he was seeking the court to determine whether there were any constitutional issues in his sedition case, that should be appropriately dealt with by the High Court.

Judge Ahmad Bache set Oct 15 to hear Surendran's application.

Meanwhile, deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin told the court that the prosecution would file preliminary objections against the application.

The accused was charged on Aug 28 with making a seditious statement relating to opposition chief Anwar Ibrahim’s second sodomy case.

Surendran, 48, allegedly committed the offence through YouTube at the Palace of Justice, Precinct 3, Putrajaya between 2pm and 4pm on Aug 8.

The charge under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948, carries a maximum three years’ imprisonment or RM5,000 fine or both, upon conviction.

- Bernama

Whose country was this? Whose is it now?

We cannot move forward as a country until we sort out who we were and who we are. These questions lead to an unsettled debate on the impartiality of state: should this country treat everyone the same?

Wong Chin Huat

Let’s first accept a fact: there is not a single version of history. Never, not in any country.

Granted, official history – that appears in official documents and is taught in primary and secondary school classrooms – cannot afford to have many versions. The single version therefore should be as far as possible inclusive to do justice to all parties.

Why Malaysia is not Malacca’s successor

In the state’s official narratives, Malaysia is simply a successor state of the Malaccan sultanate.

I consider that a distortion because the Malaccan sultanate never extended its power across the South China Sea, even at its height.

The north coast of Borneo Island – namely, what we today call Sarawak, Brunei and Sabah – was nominally the territories of the Brunei sultanate, with the Sulu sultanate later making some claims on east coast of Sabah.

To me, the official history is a distortion because it hides the fact that today’s West Malaysia and East Malaysia were never ruled by the same power before the British.

Malaysia is largely and was intended to be the successor state of British Southeast Asia – officially known as British Malaya (including Singapore) and British Borneo.

Our modern boundaries are largely the result of the British, the Dutch and the Siamese self-dividing their imperial realms.

I can understand why and how my more inclusive narrative of Malaysian history is inconvenient and troublesome for many parties with vested interests because it leads to at least two implications.

First, in designing and debating the nation’s future, we cannot just look at certain periods of ancient history and overlook the more immediate periods that shaped us into what we are today, especially for Sarawak and Sabah. They became a political entity only during and because of the rule of the Brooke dynasty and the British North Borneo Company.

Second, our anti-colonial discourse was not as straightforward as per the official narrative. Our founding fathers were both collaborators and opponents to the British. They were not anti-colonial throughout.

Who owns the state?

A Muslim Dusun reader from Sabah reacted angrily towards my interpretation of history. He saw it as a deliberate attempt to erase the Malayness of Malaysia and to deny historical continuity.

This is completely untrue. I always see Nusantara (for me, maritime Southeast Asia which stretches from Aceh in northwest to Luzon in northeast and Timor in southeast) as a civilisational zone, on which post-colonial states were built.

I recognise that migration within the region before the emergence of nation-states was very common. I also recognise that Malay has been the lingua franca in the region for millennia.

I want to take my Dusun friend’s concern to a larger and more normative question in the context of nation-building and multiculturalism: how impartial should a state – in this case, Malaysia – be?

In simple terms, should the state treat everyone the same? This comes back to a more fundamental question: who owns the state?

A universalist view would see the state as a common possession of all citizens, therefore the state should treat everyone equally. This is now the global norm, at least for countries that call themselves democracies.

However, if some segment of population can be unreasonably denied citizenship – in the extreme form, they could be treated as slaves, which was the norm in many countries till two centuries ago – then equal treatment for citizens becomes hollow.

Hence, equality and inclusion would demand that citizenship be extended maximally to all residents who are willing to pledge their loyalty to the state.

Can new citizens shape the nation-state’s identity?

But as immigration becomes more prevalent, this poses a threat to the existing citizens of a state: will they be overwhelmed by newcomers?

Malaysians are so familiar with ethno-centrist calls of “Balik Tongsan” or “Balik India” that some may think this is exclusively our problem. It is not.

The fear of immigrants is in human nature. From neighbouring Singapore to Hong Kong, to Europe, America and Australia, immigrants are faced with hostility and discrimination.

To begin with, immigration is a very powerful self-selection process to produce the fittest survivors – the meek would not start their journey or might not make it.

Immigrants are therefore often hardworking, tough and determined to achieve a better life. Their competitiveness and aggression then often force the less competitive ones among the existing population out of jobs or businesses or university enrolments, even though the economy as a whole may become wealthier because of the immigrants. This is the interest-based resentment.

But immigrants are also different culturally, linguistically and religiously. They change the social fabric and cultural landscape of the nation-state, making it different and strange. This is the identity-based resentment.

Combining the interest and identity aspects, you can then have at least four basic positions on immigrants: first, reject them (no citizenship); second, accept them but force them to be assimilated (assimilationist equal citizenship); third, accept but constrain them if they refuse to be assimilated (assimilation-driven differentiated citizenship) ; fourth, accept them and celebrate diversity (multiculturalist equal citizenship).

In Malaysia, the debate is all the while dominated by the third and fourth positions, with the first position now increasingly voiced out by the Malay-Muslim ultra-nationalists.

What is problematic is that identity- and interest-based arguments against equal citizenship are entangled together and protected from rational reflection and scholarly examination by draconian laws like the Sedition Act.

For Malaysia to move on, we will need to disentangle and debate the issues and contentions in nuanced ways. Here I would attempt to deal with the identity concern.

State impartiality – to what degree?

The state’s cultural identity is mainly manifested in two ways: religion and language.

Between the two, religion is older and more intense in shaping the form and boundaries of states.

But there is a commonality as to why states are inherently tempted to wed themselves to religion and language: they help to homogenise the population in thought and facilitate control. One argument for state impartiality is therefore to reduce control and advance freedom.

If state impartiality is preferred, how impartial should it be? A maximal position is to completely exclude religion from state affairs to ensure impartiality. No religion should have its explicit influences in state laws and policies, or receive state aid.

As states cannot operate without any language, a comparable maximal position in language would be creating as many as feasible official languages. The best examples are perhaps India (as a national-state) and the European Union (as a supranational state).

In Malaysia, multiculturalism is often seen as pursuing these two extreme ends, and hence making the nation a faceless entity with no specific historical ties, which is unacceptable for the Malay-Muslim majority.

Preservation of the religious and linguistic roots of the state governing a multi-ethnic population then naturally takes the form of dismissing state impartiality.

That Malaysia is commonly owned by all Malaysians become politically incorrect and even legally seditious. To me, the delegitimation of state impartiality is the “intellectual” basis of Ketuanan Melayu in the post-colonial contestation of nationhood.

In religious field, its variant “Ketuanan Muslim” goes on to deny that Malaysia is a secular state by defining secularism in the maximum, like France or the United States – which Malaysia cannot be.

Malaysia’s secularism is modelled on the United Kingdom, where the monarch is the patron of the national religion – the Anglican Church – and 26 bishops sitting in the House of Lords, but the Church does not dictate state policies. Any wonder why we don’t read about British non-Christians’ resentment against the Anglican Church?

In this soft form of secularism, the state is not impartial, only impartial in dealing with citizens. The state has a religion but it does not impose it on its citizens. This was in fact very much the essence of the Westphalian notion of secularism to end the wars between the Catholics and the Protestants.

Taking this Westphalian notion of soft state impartiality to language, this would mean the state can promote Bahasa Melayu as the national language but the speakers of other languages should not be unreasonably discriminated against.

But making a Westphalian settlement work requires effort and trust from both sides. A Westphalian-neutral state should receive full support from all in upholding its non-threatening cultural identity.

The advocates of a multicultural Malaysia should therefore be comfortable in believing both that “Malaysia belongs to all Malaysians today” and “Malaysia was the lands of Malays and the indigenous tribes”.

They should enthusiastically embrace both the Malay language and linguistic freedom, and support Islam insofar as religious freedom is fully respected.

On a personal note, I would like to thank my Dusun friend, mondouotogod, a long-time critic of this column, for pushing me into starting my Bahasa Melayu column in August. – October 3, 2014.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/opinion/wong-chin-huat/article/whose-country-was-this-whose-is-it-now#sthash.wzms2cpN.dpuf

Waytha’s prayers for Uthaya

“Our paths may have differed, and may still differ to an extent, but we are equally committed to ending the marginalisation of the minorities and ending entrenched racial policies.”

KUALA LUMPUR: Hindraf Makkal Sakthi chairman P. Waythamoorthy, in openly conceding for the first time a parting of ways in the past with his elder brother P. Uthayakumar, has reiterated that the latter should not have been charged under the Sedition Act and incarcerated for speaking the truth.

“The letter he wrote to then British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was a statement of truth and we in Hindraf maintain this fact,” said Waytha who was briefly a Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and Senator after the 13th General Elections in May last year.

“We have always held that the Government should initiate an independent inquiry into the truth of Uthaya’s allegations on the plight of the marginalised and the underclass.”

Waytha was welcoming the release of Uthaya from prison after a long stretch.

Waytha pointed out that Uthaya’s jailing under the Sedition Act after having been released from detention under the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) was double punishment for him.

“It was mean, vicious and vindictive of the government,” said Waytha. “It was to silence him, thwart his struggle for the marginalised and underclass and prevent him from developing the Human Rights Party Malaysia (HRPM) as an alternative voice in politics.”

The younger brother remains convinced that the jail sentence will not prevent his elder brother from speaking up on behalf of the voiceless, the poor and marginalised. He has always shown courage and determination in championing the plight of the underclass, he added.

“Our paths may have differed, and may still differ to an extent, but we are equally committed to ending the marginalisation of the minorities and ending the entrenched racial policies that have caused so much misery in the lives of so many,” cried Waytha.

Uthaya can now take time to rest and spend quality time with family and true friends.

P. Uthayakumar began his political career with the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) which despite its call for reformasi went on to distance itself from him and label him a “racist”.

He then formed Parti Reformasi Insan Malaysia, the forerunner of HRPM.

He also formed an NGO, Police Watch to keep a watch on extra judicial killings of youths, many Indians, and deaths in police custody.

Penang village re-zoned by PR, not Gerakan

Gerakan’s Oh Tong Keong says it was PR and not BN that re-zoned the heritage village into commercial land.

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Gerakan secretary Oh Tong Keong said today that it was the Pakatan Rakyat state government that sub-divided the Siamese-Burmese village land in Pulau Tikus and earmarked the settlement as a commercial zone in December last year.

“So the allegation that the previous BN government under Gerakan re-zoned the village into a commercial area was a lie,” Oh told newsmen at the Gerakan office here today.

He said both Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Pulau Tikus assemblywoman Yap Soo Huey had misled the villagers by saying otherwise.

Oh said under the state Heritage Enactment 2011, the state government had the powers to gazette the area as a heritage zone.

“If the state government does not have the power, how did it reject a developer’s application for planning permission to demolish and redevelop the village twice, in 2009 and 2010?” he asked.

He pointed out that the Penang Island Municipal Council had also rejected developer Airmas Development Sdn Bhd’s application for planning permission in 2008.

“If the state government was sincere and honest, it could easily gazette the village as a heritage site,” said Oh.

Oh also explained that all the previous Barisan Nasional government did was re-zone the land in 1996 as a religious-cultural and commercial zone to mirror the development of the area then.

He said the 5,457sq metre village land was sub-divided to lots 10029 and 10030 under a micro-zoning process last year.

The village has an open space, a Burmese trust building and a row of shophouses.

After the sub-division exercise, Lot 10029 comprised the village and shophouses and Lot 10030, the Burmese trust building and open space.

DAP: Sexist, chauvinistic attacks have to stop

The party lodges a report with the MCMC over statements against its young Malay recruits.

SHAH ALAM: DAP today denounced what it called “offensive, distasteful and disrespectful” remarks against party recruits Dyana Sofea; Syefura Othman, better known as Rara; and Jamila Rahim, also known as Melati.

Speaking to reporters after lodging a complaint with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) today, the party’s National Legal Bureau Chairman, Gobind Singh Deo, spoke of two statements that “crossed the line and have personally affected Dyana, Rara and Melati.”

He said the statements contained remarks that were in “direct offence” of Section 3(3) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

“We hope for an expedited investigation,” he said.

One of the statements was featured in MyKMU.net under the title “Melati better off being a prostitute” and the other in a Free Malaysia Today commentary piece titled “DAP dan politik onani” (DAP and political masturbation).

“Such attacks have been going on for a while with the aim of tarnishing the image of DAP and its members, but there’s a limit to everything,” Gobind said.

“We don’t mind political debate and differences of opinion and we are open to criticism. But these attacks are personal, offensive, and contain elements that tarnish personal reputation.

“We will report to the authorities to put a stop to them.”

Dyana Sofea, Rara and Melati were also at the press conference.

“These attack are against women in politics in general and are degrading,” Dyana said.

“We are exercising our rights to join any legal party of our choice and there has to be a sense of maturity regarding this.”

Rara said the attacks degraded the image of women everywhere and were used to discourage women’s involvement in politics, especially if they were to join an opposition party.

Melati, a direct target of the statement carried by MyKMU.net, said, “People have questioned my religion of Islam and called me a prostitute. I’m still a Muslim regardless of my political affiliation.

“These statements are offensive to me personally and to my family.”

Gobind said DAP was considering defamation lawsuits against the offending parties as the next step.

“We are Malaysians and we respect our women and I hope appropriate actions are taken,” he said.

Gobind pledged to bring up the matter of women’s rights and their role in politics in the next parliament session.

Islamic State influence spreads beyond Iraq and Syria

  

LAHORE, Pakistan — In Pakistan, some are slapping pro-Islamic State bumper stickers on their cars and writing chalk graffiti on walls exhorting young people to join the terrorist group.

In China, the government fears that Muslim Uighurs — a restive ethnic minority in the country's far west — have sought terrorist training from the Islamic State to establish a breakaway country.

 In eastern Mali, an Islamic State-affiliated group called "Soldiers of the Caliphate in the Land of Algeria" has taken over much of Gao province, inflicting severe punishments for breaches of the Quran, like drinking alcohol. Those militants beheaded a French tourist in Algeria last month after France refused to halt its participation in U.S.-led airstrikes against the group in Iraq.

"The situation gets more and more complicated as our region becomes the stronghold of radical Islamists who only use violence to express their will," said Mamadou Idrissa, a businessman in Gao. "Our life has turned into a nightmare."

After its lightning takeover of a third of Iraq and Syria this summer, the Islamic State appears to be spreading its influence across much of the Muslim world and even in such non-Muslim countries as Australia and India.

"The Islamic State's appeal extends beyond the Middle East," said Fawaz Gerges, a professor of contemporary Middle East studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science. "Their strategy is anchored on the simple premise that it is a winning horse. It has promised the entire ummah — the Muslim community — that it could deliver victory and salvation."

The formation of the U.S.-led coalition trying to destroy the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria only enhances the legitimacy of the militant group, Gerges said.

But the Islamic State has limited capabilities outside its sanctuaries in Iraq and Syria, said Rick Nelson, an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
"They have globalized rhetoric," Nelson said, "As far as an aggressive overseas campaign, I don't think the evidence is there."

The group is effective at whipping up support through social media. It has sent emissaries to jihadist groups in North Africa and elsewhere, said William McCants, an analyst at the Brookings Institution. He said the Islamic State wants to build a global presence, but that will take time.

The Pentagon said it has no evidence that Islamic State militants are planning to attack targets in the United States, but if left unchecked the group could pose a direct threat to the U.S. and other Western countries.

The Islamic State's popularity among some groups seems to be growing.

In Mali, Abu Othman, a former member of the Islamist group Ansar Dine, or "Defenders of the Faith" in Arabic, explained the appeal: The group's aggression was simply payback for past oppression against Muslims.

"Violence was not condemned by the people when Muslims were massacred by Christians in central Africa," Othman said. "So it goes without saying that the violence perpetrated by the Islamic State against the Christians is only one measure of retaliation."

Pakistan denies that the Islamic State made inroads into the nuclear-armed country, where sectarian violence, political instability and tensions with its non-Muslim neighbor, India, have long raised concerns among Western leaders.

"I have seen media reports that some pamphlets have been found in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa," said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam, referring to a mountainous area of Pakistan formerly called North West Frontier province. "We have not seen any evidence of their presence on our territory."

​ But Pakistan is fertile territory for the Islamic State, particularly among al-Qaeda sympathizers who have seen the terrorist group's networks weakened over the past decade, analysts said.

"I don't think it will take long for the Islamic State to develop a base from disgruntled ex-al-Qaeda militants," said Ahmed Rashid, an analyst who has written about extremism in the region.

Talat Masood, a retired lieutenant general and independent defense expert in Islamabad, said Pakistan could become a battleground between the Islamic State and various rivals vying for power in the country.

"Power struggles between al-Qaeda and the Islamic State can aggravate the level of violence," Masood said. "There is no doubt that we will see a dangerous battle of influence developing between these two in which many innocent people will die."

In neighboring India — where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is wary of the threat from Islamist extremists in Pakistan — reports abound of Islamic State activity.

In August, the death of Islamic State fighter Arif Ejaz Majeed, a Muslim civil engineering student from suburban Mumbai, made headlines in India.

In the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, around 24 Indian Muslims were photographed wearing pro-Islamic State T-shirts. In the northern state of Srinagar, masked youths were filmed waving Islamic State flags.

"While the threat from Pakistan-based jihadist organizations remains current, India is also witnessing the rise of self-motivated, ideologically inspired, homegrown jihadists," said Tufail Ahmad, director of the South Asia Studies Project at the Middle East Media Research Institute in Washington.

Uighurs (WEE-gurs) in China are similarly organizing.

"They not only want to get training in terrorist techniques, but also to expand their connections in international terrorist organizations through actual combat to gain support for more terrorist activities in China," the Global Times newspaper, the Communist Party's mouthpiece, said recently.

Australia plans to ban its citizens from traveling to Islamic State-controlled territories, like Raqqa in northern Syria. European countries, which suspect hundreds if not thousands of citizens have joined the Islamic State, have started cracking down on travel to that region.

Raqqa was the scene of a now infamous photograph of a young boy holding the severed head of a Syrian government soldier that reportedly was taken this year.

"My unambiguous message to all Australians who fight with terrorist groups is that you will be arrested, prosecuted and jailed for a very long time," Prime Minister Tony Abbott told Parliament last month. "Our laws are being changed to make it easier to keep potential terrorists off our streets,"

Racelma reported from Tizi Ouzou, Algeria. Contributing: Janelle Dumalaon in Berlin, Caesar Mandal in Kolkata, India, and Jim Michaels, USA TODAY, in Washington.

Move To Reduce Subsidy To Look After People's Interest, Says Najib

PEKAN, Oct 3 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the move by the government to reduce the fuel subsidy was to look after the interest of the people and country in the long-run.

He said although the move was unpopular, it had to be carried out as the fuel subsidy borne by the government each year was too high.

In fact, he said, if the move had not been taken, it would have an impact on the national economy due to the reduced revenue for national expenditure.

"Last year, the subsidy for fuel, petrol, LPG and diesel amounted to RM24 billion which was not a small amount.

"If we don't reduce the amount, it could result in insufficient revenue to pay for government expenditure," he said when speaking at the presentation of cattle for sacrifice for the Pekan parliamentary constituency in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidiladha, here today.

At the event which was also attended by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, Najib who is also the Member of Parliament for Pekan, had given out 505 heads of cattle for the whole parliamentary constituency.

At the same time, he said, the government would announce various measures to assist the rakyat in facing the problem of the reduced fuel subsidy in tabling the budget on Oct 10.

Najib, who is also the Finance Minister, said this included the giving out of targeted subsidy directly to the people such as schooling aid, 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) and other assistance to be announced later.

"In the next budget, we will certainly think of how to assist the people so that the aid reaches the people directly and reduce the leakage so that the economy will be stronger, with higher economic growth and more revenue for distribution to the people," he said.

Najib said the government would also review the granting of bulk subsidy for fuel in view of the leakage in the distribution of fuel to the people in the country.

"This is because the fuel subsidy currently is also enjoyed by the richer group, tourists, foreign workers and illegal foreign workers.

"In fact, in the Pengkalan Kubor by-election recently, I found that a lot of our diesel had been smuggled out from Rantau Panjang to be sold across (in Thailand)," he said.

Meanwhile, Najib reminded the people to make the element of sacrifice as fundamental in achieving success.

"If we are willing to sacrifice with sincerity without expecting any return, InsyaAllah (God willing) we will be amply rewarded," he said.

Uthayakumar dibebasakan selepas di penjara 485 hari

After 485 days in prison, Uthaya has 'no regrets'

 

Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar today walked out of prison to a hero’s welcome after 485 days of incarceration for sedition.

Some 60 Hindraf supporters, clad in the movement’s trademark orange colour, converged outside Kajang Prison in support of Uthayakumar, who was driven out in a prison van at 9.45am.

Uthayakumar alighted from the vehicle with his belongings - several bundles of court documents and books - as he was greeted in  a carnival-like atmosphere, with drumbeats and hugs from supporters.

 

His teary wife S Indra Devi stood in a corner wearing a wide smile.

"My first words are I have no regrets. In every struggle of every public cause, a price has to be paid," Uthayakumar told journalists.

His release comes amid a string of prosecutions against politicians and activists under the Sedition Act in a recent crackdown on criticism.

The Hindraf leader was sentenced to 30 months’ jail by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on June 5, 2013, after accusing Putrajaya of genocide against ethnic Indians.

The Court of Appeal on Sept 17 upheld Uthayakumar’s sentence but commuted the punishment from 30 months to 24 months.

Uthayakumar, who wore the same Hindraf T shirt when he went into prison, said the only time he cried was when his mother died.

 

"The only day I cried in prison was when my beloved mother Kalaivany passed away and the prison authorities had the week before refused my written application to visit her in hospital," he said.

 

Appearing in high spirits, a defiant Uthayakumar reiterated that he would continue his struggle against racial discrimination.

'Let me be the last one'
 

He also set his sights on the series of recent sedition charges, and called for an immediate stop to the prosecutions.

 

"From the gates of Kajang Prison, I hereby call upon Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to direct the dropping of all pending sedition charges and to forthwith repeal the Sedition Act.

 

"Let me be the last sedition case prisoner to walk out of Kajang Prison today, just as I was the last Internal Security Act (ISA) political prisoner to have walked out of Kamunting Prison on May 9, 2009," he said.

 

Uthayakumar was detained under ISA for 17 months, shortly after the Nov 25, 2007 Hindraf rally, which saw some 30,000 Indian Malaysians protesting against discrimination.

 

He also stressed that the Hindraf would remain apolitical, stating that the movement would not change its colours to dark blue nor light blue, in apparent reference to BN and PKR.

 

"We believe a change in government will make for a better Malaysia.

 

"Much as we like to support the opposition, we are still waiting for them to publicly declare their support for the outlawing of all the aforesaid racially discriminatory policies and practices and undoing these injustices, beginning in the three states that they are ruling," he said.

 

Uthayakumar also thanked his supporters as well as lawyers, former Teluk Intan MP M Manogaran and former Kota Alam Shah assemblyperson M Manoharan, who visited him every week without fail and were also present today.

 

"Finally, my beloved wife Indra and my daughters Puvenes and Jega, who kept the twice weekly vigil and prayed for my safety and well-being in prison," he said.

Proud to be the wife
 

A delighted Indra later embraced her husband, who gave her a peck on the cheek.

"I am very happy to see my husband, it's not easy, we went through a lot of depression and sadness.

 

"It's very hurting because when he was under ISA, I could at least hug him but here in the prison, it's all covered up in glass and we can only talk through telephone," she said.

 

Despite her ordeal, Indra said, she wants her husband to continue with his fight.

 

"I am very proud of him... I am proud to have married the man who is fighting for the Indian poor.

 

"The struggle will go on. I am happy and glad that he is back with the family," she said.

Don’t eat out on Oct 11, says anti-sedition group

Muslim leaders: Don't send Kiwi SAS troops to battle ISIS

One News

Muslim leaders here are worried a push to send the SAS to fight ISIS-linked terrorists could fuel a backlash among the Muslim community in New Zealand.

Speaking to Radio New Zealand, Wellington's Kilbirnie mosque's Secretary of the International Muslim Association of New Zealand, Tahir Nawaz, says supporting the fight in Iraq would be a bad idea.

"We are a very good community here, we are very co-operative," Mr Nawaz said.

"Once New Zealand troops are sent there, our public attitude could change. At the end of the day there would be people living here whose roots are in the countries where New Zealand would send the troops."

Tony Green the Secretary of the Federation of the Islamic Association of New Zealand believes more western boots on the ground would further radicalise Muslims in the west.

"That potentially fuels things because the whole martyr kind of scenario that's been painted by the groups calling themselves IS, that would fan the flames more than anything."

When asked if he believed a terror plot like the one in Australia could happen in New Zealand, Mr Green said he thought it was unlikely but there were no guarantees.

"I can't give you an answer to that, but I just pray that's not the case. I mean we're watchful, and we try to engage with the wider community. I hope it's not the case, I seriously do."

Mr Key has said that he would seek advice on sending SAS troops to Iraq if a request was made by the US for New Zealand to join the conflict.

Raped, tortured, forced to watch beheadings, then beaten when they tried to kill themselves: Yazidi girls reveal the hell they endured during ISIS captivity

• Two teenage Yazidi girls have described the horror of being capture by Isis
• Aged just 15 and 19, they saw men from their community mercilessly killed
• Both were taken away to be sold on to men in the Iraqi city of Mosul
• Hundreds of other Yazidi females suffered a similarly traumatic fate
• The girls said some considered suicide rather than enduring their ordeal

Two Yazidi teenagers who escaped the clutches of Isis have revealed the full horror of their capture and captivity.

They have described being tortured and forced to watch videos of men from their community being beheaded.

Some, they said, were so traumatised by their experiences that they tried to commit suicide. However, those that tried to kill themselves were severely beaten by Isis fighters.

Yazidi teenager Sara, 15, said that she considered suicide many times after she was kidnapped by Isis.

Her horrifying ordeal began in the Sinjar village of Tal Azir on August 3 when Isis fighters advanced towards them.

Along with her mother, her brother and his pregnant wife, they fled towards the mountains, but Isis caught up with them at a remote farmhouse.

The women were separated from the men – who were simply mown down by machine gun fire in one of the rooms.

Sara was bundled onto a pick-up truck and taken to Mosul, where she was held with hundreds of others prior to being sold off.

She told Globalpost.com: 'We would try to make ourselves look ugly. Some women would cry or scream or fight, but it made no difference. They were always taken anyway. One girl hung herself. Another tried, but the IS guards stopped her and beat her very badly. No one else tried after that.'

Sara, who described Isis fighters as 'dirty, with hairy faces and smelling bad' was eventually sold to 'an old man and a fat man'.

She said that they would show her videos of Isis militants beheading her neighbors.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2776268/Raped-tortured-forced-watch-beheadings-beaten-tried-kill-Yazidi-girls-reveal-hell-endured-witnessed-ISIS-captivity.html

Penang to meet A-G over custodial death cases

The Penang government will send representatives to meet the Attorney-General to discuss issues surrounding custodial death cases in the state, said Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P.Ramasamy (pic).

He said this today after announcing that the state government had received a letter, dated August 29, from the Attorney-General's Chambers that a meeting would be arranged.

"No date has been set for the appointment. It will be decided later after investigations into the deaths of several detainees in Penang have been completed.

"But, this is a positive development. We thank the A-G for agreeing to meet us," he told pressmen at his Komtar office today.

He said the A-G's consent to meet came after he and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng sent letters to the Chambers about the deaths in lock-up cases in Penang.

Ramasamy reiterated that the best way to investigate custodial death cases was to have the A-G's Chambers set up a body to probe the incidents independently.

He said the body under the Chambers would be able to do a more objective probe than the police.

Ramasamy, who chairs the state's custodial death taskforce that was set up a few months ago to look into the incidents in Penang, said there were over 10 custodial death cases nationwide to-date.

He said seven cases were from Penang.

On February 10, A. Punniyanathan, 40, died while at the Nibong Tebal lock-up on mainland Penang while J. Kulanthangam, 34, died on February 18 at the Dang Wangi police station in Kuala Lumpur.

Ramasamy Nagu, 50, died at the Bayan Baru centralised lock-up in Penang on March 1.

On March 8, Kamarulnizam Ismail, 39, died in Tapah Prison in Perak, a day after he was sent there from the Seberang Prai Tengah district police headquarters lock-up in Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

Koay Soon Guan, 41, was found dead at the Penang Prison on April 6 and on April 12, odd-job labourer M. Murugan, 37, died at the Seberang Jaya Hospital on mainland Penang while under custody.

Morgan Arjunan, 48, died on April 16 at the Jinjang police station and Rahmat Md Noor, 56, died on April 27 at the Bayan Baru centralised lock-up.

Koh Kheng Soon was found dead on June 6 while being held overnight at the Kuantan police station in Pahang.

S.Agin Raj Naidu, 26, died at the Bukit Mertajam Hospital on June 7 after he was held a few days at the SPT district police headquarters.

Last Sunday, the latest death occurred when Tee Meng Hua, 56, allegedly jumped from the first floor of the Seberang Prai Utara district police headquarters in Kepala Batas, Penang while he was being questioned for a cheating case.

The man, who was handcuffed at the time, died on the spot from severe head injuries.

State police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi on Monday said that police inquiry papers have been opened to investigate whether there was negligence on the part of the police officers on duty.

Ramasamy said a taskforce would try to get an appointment with Rahim next week to talk about the latest incident and find out how it happened.

He said Penang viewed such incidents very seriously, with the taskforce aiming to do its part effectively to stop such incidents from recurring although it had no jurisdiction over such matters.

"We want to see zero custodial deaths," he said.

Ramasamy also said following discussions with human rights non-governmental organisations that were concerned about custodial deaths, such as Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), the taskforce would employ a full-time staff.

He said, the officer, who would be appointed by the state, would handle matters related to such incidents such as collecting information, carry out research and liaise with the families of the deceased.

"I will prepare the paperwork and submit it to the state to hire an officer for this job. Hopefully, we will have someone by January next year.

"We need to have some form of support system for the families too," he added. – October 2, 2014.

MCMC wants Facebook to remove sex blogger's page

 

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) wants Facebook to remove fugitive sex blogger Alvin Tan’s page for its “distasteful” content.

MCMC chairperson Mohamed Sharil Mohamed Tarmizi, in a statement on the commission’s Facebook page, said Tan’s posts were “irresponsible”.

“We have made a complaint to Facebook and have requested Facebook to immediately remove the page as we believe it is also against their terms and conditions of service.

“We remind the public to refrain from sharing sensitive content which may offend others,” read the statement.

Tan recently caught further controversy when he depicted doctored photographs of leaders, including Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor with pig snouts.

Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar was also depicted in the photographs.

This prompted the top cop to vow that the police would leave no stone unturned in locating Tan.

Tan, along with former girlfriend Vivian Lee, had been charged under the Sedition Act last year following a blog posting 'Selamat Berbuka Puasa with bak kut teh... fragrant, delicious and appetising'.

Tan is purportedly seeking political asylum in the United States. Lee, however, has refused to follow in his footsteps.

"I don't see the point of living a life on the run. We still have a full life ahead of us and the life of a fugitive wouldn't suit me.

"I was brought up by my parents to deal with any issue in front of me and running away whenever there's trouble isn't a wise approach," she said in a Facebook post recently.

Lawyers to march against Sedition Act on Oct 16

 

The Malaysian Bar today announced that its march against Sedition Act 1948 will be held on Oct 16.

The march, agreed upon by the Bar members at an extraordinary general meeting last month, is dubbed 'Walk for Peace and Freedom 2014'.

Malaysian Bar president Christopher Leong (right) said that the lawyers gather for the march at 10.30am at Padang Merbok, Kuala Lumpur, dressed in chamber attire.

He said the Bar believes that lasting peace, unity and mutual respect will be promoted through ‘robust debate, diversity of opinion, and freedom of speech’.

"The Sedition Act 1948 is antithetical and counter-productive to these values, and to our aspirations for a better Malaysia.

"I call upon all members and pupils in chambers to please attend the walk and express your aspirations and support for a better Malaysia," he said in a statement today.

Calling for a repeal of the Act, he said Malaysia must be premised on "peace, harmony, unity, understanding and freedom from fear, intimidation, exploitation, oppression and extremism".

The Bar had previously led processions against police abuse and the Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011.

The 'Walk for Justice' was held in 2007 where 2,000 lawyers marched 3.5km to the Prime Minister's Department in Putrajaya demanding that a royal commission of inquiry be established to stem the slide in the judiciary.

The march succeeded in compelling then-prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to set up a royal commission of inquiry into the infamous Lingam Tape on appointment of judges.

'Freeze all action under the Act'

Meanwhile, anti-Sedition Act group Gerakan Mansuh Akta Hasutan (GHAH) said the government should impose a moratorium on further use of the Sedition Act 1948 until a constitutional matter is resolved at the High Court.

It urged a freeze by the police and the attorney-general following yesterday's decision of the sessions court in Kuala Lumpur to allow law lecturer Azmi Sharom to challenge the constitutionality of the draconian law.

"Following this court's decision, we call on the police and the attorney-general to impose an immediate moratorium on the use of the Sedition Act on new cases.

"They should also stop pursuing existing cases until the constitutionality of the Sedition Act has been determined by the judiciary," GHAH spokesperson Yap Swee Seng said at a press conference today.

Azmi was previously charged under the Sedition Act for publishing an article titled ‘Take Perak crisis route for speedy end to Selangor impasse, Pakatan told’ on Aug 15, which the associate professor said was a statement made based on principles of law and democratic practices.

His lawyer Gobind Singh Deo had filed an application challenging the law’s constitutionality on basis that the pre-independence law was enacted by the Law Revision Commission, and not the parliament.

The case will be mentioned at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Nov 7 while the hearing at the Sessions Court has been suspended pending its verdict, since constitutional matters can only be heard at the high courts and above.

'Probe torture allegations'

On a related matter, Amnesty International Malaysia executive director Shamini Darshni said although student activist Ali Abdul Jalil had been released on bail, his allegations of torture should still be investigated.

Ali was previously released and immediately re-arrested on four occasions for various charges or investigations under the Sedition Act, and reportedly claimed to have been tortured while detained at Sungai Buloh prison.

Amnesty International has adopted him as a ‘prisoner of conscience’ and launched a global campaign calling for his release. He was ultimately released on Sept 29 after spending 22 days in detention.

Stop rewriting history to justify racist policies, Ambiga tells Putrajaya

(Malay Mail Online) – Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan accused Putrajaya last night of rewriting history purportedly to justify its race-based policies and to strengthen its hold on power by driving wedges between the country’s different racial communities.

The renowned lawyer and activist told a forum last night that to achieve this end, Putrajaya has been drilling falsehoods into the minds of school kids through history textbooks.

“They (government) are trying to discount our true cultural and historical background because by doing that, they are trying to make parts of our rewritten history relevant for their own good,” she said when met after a forum titled “Stemming The Tide of Racism in Our Nations” here yesterday.

In her speech at the forum, Ambiga accused Putrajaya of indulging in an effort to maintain power, and justifying its Malay-supremacy policies.

She described the education system as one where “the Malays are told and are made to understand that they are better and that others are ‘pendatangs’ (a derogatory Malay word for immigrant)”.

“Then we have national service thereafter. So much damage has already been done and I don’t think it can be fixed,” she added.

“They (Putrajaya) may set up the National Union of Consultative Council (NUCC) and all, but there is a concerted effort to keep the races apart and this is what we are up against — the system.”

Ambiga also urged parents to be more vigilant of what their children are learning in schools and suggested that the education system undergo a review to identify racial elements, and to study if it does lead to racism and bigotry among children.

“We should have it even if the government doesn’t want it,” she told the forum organised by Komas and pro-unity movement, Negara-Ku.

“Rewriting our history books must stop, as you are narrowing their (children) minds..they will never be able to compete abroad as they don’t have the required broad-mindedness, and you are doing them a terrible service,” she added.

Ambiga also alleged that the so-called racism in government policies has created rifts between the country’s different racial communities and an atmosphere or “first class” and “second class” citizens.

“Is that what our constitution (Federal Constitution) intended? The constitution does not have two classes of citizenship, and there is nothing there that divides us as citizens.

“And we have to bear in mind that we cannot be pushed to feel lesser than other Malaysians,” she said, urging Malaysians to speak up on the matter.

Apart from Ambiga, other panellists in the forum last night include Muslim Youths Movement of Malaysia (Abim) secretary-general, Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz, and a senior Indonesian academic, Ahmad Zainul Hamidi.

Two days ago, the patron of Negara-Ku accused the National Civics Bureau (BTN) of brainwashing children and turning them into racists and bigots.

She said there have been complaints that the government agency, which is tasked to instil patriotism in students through training courses, has been telling Malay children that non-Malays are “pendatang”.

“I really wish parents would speak up. I’d be really annoyed if people were brainwashing my child and turning him into a racist and bigot. I’d put my foot down.

“But the problem is, many parents don’t know this is happening,” the former Malaysian Bar president said