Trial judge ordered Anwar case evidence sealed, lawyer says

Malay Mail 
by PEARL LEE

PETALING JAYA, Feb 27 — A defence counsel in Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy hearing confirmed the High Court judge had reminded the parties involved that evidence in-camera adduced by Saiful Bukhari Azlan “stay within” the courtroom. 

Gobind Singh Deo, who represented Anwar in the Federal Court appeal, said this following claims that prosecutor under fiat Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah had revealed details of in-camera proceedings during a public forum last week.

“It was clearly expressed (in the proceeding notes) by the trial judge (Datuk Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah) that such matters must not be reproduced,” said Gobind.

“As such, the attorney-general should state if his office had committed contempt of court as the order was made in the presence of then former solicitor-general II Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden and it was pronounced in open court.”

According to the notes of the court proceedings made available to Malay Mail, Mohamad Zabidin had said: “I would like to remind parties here that today’s proceeding is in camera, that means whatever evidence adduced stays within these four walls.” 

He said although Shafee only appeared on behalf of the prosecution at the appeal level, he would have known about the matter through the records.

“Following the clarification from the Bar Council on proceedings held in camera, I now urge the presiding High Court judge in the Sodomy II trial to rule whether Shafee acted in contempt of court when he revealed the evidence.”

Malay Mail in its front page report yesterday reported Lim as urging the Bar Council to clarify its stand on Shafee’s conduct in disclosing court proceedings which were not for public consumption.

The DAP lawyer said such actions had serious implications as it affected the criminal justice system and a clarification would act as a future guide for members of the Bar.

He also said the Bar Council should refer Shafee to the disciplinary board if his actions were deemed a breach of the Legal Profession Practice and Etiquette Rules.

Shafee, had during a forum organised by Umno Youth in Kelana Jaya, said Anwar was a “closet homosexual” who cried political conspiracy only when his sexuality was exposed. It was also reported he had revealed lurid details, adduced in court, to the public. 

He had also said Anwar’s refusal to admit to his purported homosexuality made him a “dangerous man” and a threat to national security.

Shafee, who was the lead prosecutor in the appeal, had embarked on a roadshow to explain Anwar’s conviction to rebut claims of political persecution.

Anwar was sentenced to five years’ jail on Feb 10 after the Federal Court upheld the Court of Appeal’s conviction on the sodomy charge.

Efforts to contact Shafee and Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Patail proved futile.

Najib Confident Malays Can Emerge As Respected Race In The World

KUALA LUMPUR, March 1 (Bernama) -- Prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is confident that the Malay race will continue to move forward as a respected race in the eyes of the world.

He expressed this confidence based on the spirit demonstrated by those, especially the youths, who had joined him in the Malay Solidarity Gathering at Bukit Jalil, yesterday night.

"However, the Malays should not be complacent, the Malays must continue to move ahead and be self-sufficient. We must redouble efforts to train the Malays to become a knowledgeable race and strengthen their economy.

"We must champion the cause of Islam; defend the institution of monarchy and the special privileges of the Malays, uphold the 'Maqasid Syariah' by adopting the attitude of moderation; uphold noble values and protect the family institution," he said in his latest twitter website, here Sunday.

He said this guide must be protected and used to develop the Malay race.

He was also convinced that if the Malay race maintained solidarity in bringing progress to the race, nothing could stop them from achieving what they aspired together.

Yesterday, Najib attended and delivered a speech at the gathering at the Stadium Putra Bukit Jalil, here which was attended by thousands of people.

Meanwhile, in another twit, the prime minister said the government would continue the efforts to strengthen the national defence to ensure that national security and peace as well as the sovereignty of the national boundary were protected.

"Today is the 82nd anniversary of the Malaysian army. I call on all Malaysians to say thank you for the sacrifices made by the soldiers and their family and to pray that the armed forces continue to be gallant, resilient and strong," he added.

Najib: Agenda Melayu diutamakan selagi ada bulan dan bintang

Suarakini: RM1,200 untuk dandan rambut membazir

Fury over charities that fund ISIS killer Jihadi John apologists: Calls for end to grants for 'warped' human rights group

• Campaign group Cage described Jihadi John as 'beautiful' person
• Lord Carlile, a former reviewer of anti-terror legislation said there are 'serious concerns' surrounding the group
• Added that he would never advise donating money to organisation
• Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust has given £305,000 to Cage

By Larisa Brown and Ian Drury for the Daily Mail

Charities were last night urged to stop funding a ‘warped’ human rights group that supports Islamic State killer Jihadi John.

Politicians said Cage had acted reprehensibly in describing knife-wielding fanatic Mohammed Emwazi as a ‘beautiful young man’.

The group, led by former Guantanamo Bay inmate Moazzam Begg, has been propped up largely by grants of £305,000 from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust.

Another charity, set up in memory of Body Shop tycoon Anita Roddick, has handed over £120,000 to Cage. Much of the rest of the group’s income comes from cash donations from Muslims.

Lord Carlile, a former independent reviewer of anti-terror legislation, said he had serious concerns about Cage and would never advise giving it money.

‘Cage is an organisation with a warped view,’ he said. ‘No sensible person should be funding it.’

As questions were being asked as to how Emwazi was allowed to reach Syria, it also emerged that:

The fall-out from the extraordinary Cage press briefing about Emwazi – carried live on the BBC and Sky – continued to reverberate around Westminster yesterday.

On Thursday, Mr Qureshi, the group’s research director, who lives in a £530,000 semi-detached house in Surrey, wiped away tears as he described Emwazi, a 26-year-old Kuwaiti who grew up in London, as ‘extremely gentle’ and ‘the most humble young person that I ever knew’.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2972757/Fury-charities-fund-ISIS-Jihadi-John-apologists.html

The moment American blogger's wife was left covered in blood next to her husband's mutilated body after he was hacked to death by Muslim militants for insulting Islam and 'in retaliation for U.S. strikes on ISIS'

Dr Avijit Roy dead on the floor in Dhaka, Left, his wounded wife, Rafida Ahmed, stands over his body

• Dr Avijit Roy was attacked on Thursday night by cleaver-wielding extremists by university mosque in Dhaka, Bangladesh
• Militants, Ansar Bangla 7, claimed responsibility, saying Dr Roy's writings were a 'crime against Islam'
• Obscure militant group said that Roy's U.S. citizenship made the killing a '2 in 1' - doubling as revenge for airstrikes in Syria
• Doctors said Roy's wounds - three deep, deliberate gashes to the head - were made by 'professional killers'
• Roy's wife, Rafida Ahmed, was slashed after trying to protect him - and is in hospital with a deep gash to her head
• Police believe that the attack is linked to Dhaka university - but have yet to arrest anybody
• The couple, both of whom are bloggers, were living in Atlanta, Georgia, and were visiting Dhaka for a book fair
• Roy was well-known for his writings against religious extremism, both online and in published books
• U.S. condemned 'horrific' murder on Friday - but said it could not give a motive
• WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT

By Kieran Corcoran and Sam Matthew for MailOnline

This is the moment a prominent Bangladeshi-American blogger was hacked to death in the street by militant Muslims after denouncing religious extremism.

Dr Avijit Roy, 42, from Atlanta, Georgia, was jumped by the gang of machete-wielding assailants last night in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh - leaving his injured wife standing over his bleeding body. He is well-known in Bangladesh for for his outspoken atheism.

An obscure militant group, Ansar Bangla 7, claimed responsibility for the attack, which it said was in retaliation for his 'crime against Islam'.

The extremists also said he was singled out because he is a U.S. citizen - and characterized the vicious killing as 'revenge' for attacks on ISIS in Syria.

Police said at least two men, who are believed to have links to Dhaka University, attacked Roy around 8.45pm and landed three strong, deliberate blows to the right side of his head.

They turned on his wife, Rafida Ahmed, when she tried to save him, then fled into the crowd, dumping their weapons as they ran. Police have expressed shock that extremists struck at a university book fair, which was heavily guarded.

Witnesses have even said officers and bystanders were there during the murder - but did nothing. Several onlookers told Al-Jazeera nobody intervened in the brazen attack, while even police chiefs had said they were baffled that a man could be murdered so close to the heavily-guarded area.

The United States today said the murder was 'horrific in its brutality and cowardice' and represents an attack on the 'principles' of Bangladesh.

Roy's body was found in a pool of blood on Thursday night after the brutal attack. Ahmed, 45, is also a blogger. She is reportedly now in hospital with a deep cut to her head.

Rafida Ahmed is pictured above being stretchered to hospital after the attack on Thursday night. Police say she was attacked after trying to defend her husband

Roy, who is a naturalized U.S. citizen and also a bio-engineer, had been receiving death threats online for years.

One Muslim fanatic, Farabi Shafiur Rahman, had reportedly posted threats on Facebook last year that Roy would be killed as soon as he returned to the country.

Roy and his wife were visiting the city of Dhaka for a book fair when they were set upon opposite the Dhaka University Central Mosque. Police have said the attackers likely have links to the university.

Jubilant extremists writing on social media were quick to praise the attackers. The account for Ansar Bangla 7 made a post which linked the killing to Roy's nationality - and American airstrikes on ISIS.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2971508/American-blogger-spoke-against-religious-extremism-hacked-death-Muslim-militant-group-Bangladeshi-street-walked-wife.html

Najib pledges to support Malays as long as ‘moon and stars’ still shine

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today pledged that his administration will continue to help and protect the Malays as long as "the moon and stars" still shine.

He said the Bumiputera agenda which he launched two years ago will continue to be the national agenda and policies, programmes and actions drawn up will be based on this.

"As the prime minister, I pledged that the government I lead will continue to help the Malay Bumiputeras to be successful, based on the speech in Shah Alam two years ago where I said the Bumiputera agenda is the national agenda.

"As long as there are moons and stars, as long as Malay blood still flows, we will fight for the Malay race," he said at the Malay Unity Gathering at Stadium Putra, Bukit Jalil tonight, attended by some 5,000 people, including Malay Cabinet members, heads of non-governmental organisations, students and community leaders.

Najib added, however, that the government wanted the community to see it as a facilitator, whereby opportunities would be given to those with merit and talent, instead of expecting contracts from the government just because they are Malays.

He said tonight's large-scale glitzy gathering was historic as it underscored the importance of unity among the Malays.

The gathering, he said, was a showcase of a great, dignified, strong, successful and blessed Malay race.

"As such, in this gathering, we have to ask ourselves, what we can do as Malays? What can we contribute?" he said, adding that the community did not want to be belittled or insulted and instead, wanted to be respected and dignified.

He said the community has come a long way, with many Malays successful in their own right whether they are entrepreneurs, academicians or corporate leaders.

However, he acknowledged that more needed to be done.

As such, he came up with seven pledges that the community should adhere to.

They include: to defend Islam as the federal religion based on the Al-Quran and Al-Sunnah; defend the royal institution and the Bumiputera special rights as enshrined in the Federal Constitution; and strengthen the Malay economic power so that they are competitive. – February 28, 2015



















- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/najib-pledges-to-support-malays-as-long-as-moon-and-stars-still-shine#sthash.cgTUU2se.dpuf

Pump prices go up 25 sen from midnight

After unprecedented fall in pump prices over the past few months, petrol stations will see an increase of 25 sen for RON 95, RON 97 and diesel from midnight.

Beginning March 1, both RON 95 and diesel will retail at RM1.95 per litre, up from RM1.70, while RON 97 will be RM2.25, up from RM2 per litre.

Last month, RON 95 fell to its lowest level since it was introduced in 2009, spurred by a sudden plunge in global oil prices, which has since recovered slightly.

The price of fuel has been on a managed float system since December last year after the government abolished the subsidy system.

At that time, RON95, RON97 and diesel retailed at RM2.26, RM2.46 and RM2.23 respectively.

On Jan 1, however, RON95, RON97 and diesel retailed at RM1.91, RM2.11 and RM1.93 respectively, and last month pump prices went down even further.

Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Hasan Malek said in a statement this evening that the price was determined based on the average cost price of the product during February 2015 and currency exchange rates.

"The government will monitor the development of the market price of the products' costs and currency exchange rates every time to set the retail price of petrol and diesel for the following months," he said, according to Bernama.

The minister reminded all oil companies and petrol station operators to comply with the new pricing.

"Stern action will be taken against those who violate the rules relating to the new prices set by the government," he added.

PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli however warned the price tonight would be higher, and said it is being worsened by the falling ringgit that he attributed to the poor financial management of Prime Minister and Finance Minister Najib Razak.

 

Muslim NGO rues threats for handing out Quran

 

The Multiracial Reverted Muslims (MRM) has lamented that it received threats and curses on social media for simply handing out copies of the Quran to the public.

MRM president Firdaus Wong Wai Hung said such threats and curses have picked up since news that free copies of the translated Quran will be distributed to the public by the Islamic Information and Services Foundation under its ‘One Soul One Quran’ programme.

Wong (middle) said this is despite the programme having nothing to do MRM as it had been handing out copies of the holy book since last year.

“Recently the threats have become more serious and we are consulting our lawyers whether to lodge a police report.

“It is not that we want the police to arrest anyone but it is for our protection,” he told a press conference at the MRM office in Wangsa Maju today.

Among the unsavoury messages MRM received on Facebook, Wong said, were wishes for members of the NGO and their family to die in accidents.

MRM was recently mistaken as being behind the One Soul One Quran programme after a photograph of its van was circulated on Whatsapp accompanied by a message warning non-Muslims against receiving the Quran.

Wong said MRM has since lodged a police report over the matter yesterday to set the record straight.

Elaborating on MRM’s own free Quran programme, Wong said he cannot explain why some non-Muslims are anxious about receiving the Quran.

Wong also held up translated copies of other holy books including Buddhist scripture and the Al-Kitab, stating: “We do not feel anxious over this, I don’t know why some non-Muslims are anxious.”

He also denied trying to covertly convert non-Muslims to Islam.

“We have no power or authority to change the status of any person’s religion in official records as we are only a Muslim NGO,” he said.

'Obtaining a Quran does not make someone a Muslim'

Wong echoed Department of Islamic Development Malaysia director-general Othman Mustapha in saying that obtaining a Quran does not automatically make someone a Muslim.

“We do not force anyone to convert to Islam as there is a clear prohibition against this in the Al Quran Chapter 2 Verses 256 which states that there is no compulsion in religion.

“Anyone, including Muslims or non-Muslims, can own and read the translation of the noble Quran for knowledge and to clear misconception of Islam,” he said.

Wong urged anyone upset with MRM to engage his organisation in dialogue instead of verbally abusing the NGO.

“Our neighbour next door is also a church, we engage with them all the time, no problem,” he said.

‘AG has powers to commute death sentence'

Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail and the Selangor Pardons Board have the powers to commute convicted murderer Sirul Azhar Umar's death sentence to life imprisonment.

The difference between the two is that the AG can do it without waiting for an appeal from Sirul while the Pardons Board would first require Sirul or his representatives to submit an appeal.

A senior criminal lawyer who did not wished to be named said the matter need not be referred back to the Federal Court as proceedings at the apex court have already ended.

“The AG has the power to commute a death sentence to life imprisonment. He has that discretion to do this and it need not go through the court given that the Federal Court has already made a decision.

Yesterday, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (left) was quoted as saying that the government was considering commuting Sirul's death sentence to life imprisonment to facilitate his extradition.

The lawyer was asked to comment on the current imbroglio involving fugitive former cop Sirul - who together with ex-chief inspector Azilah Hadri - was sentenced to death by the Federal Court on Jan 13 for the murder  of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.
      
Same for Azilah, too

Sirul and Azilah had been earlier acquitted by the Court of Appeal after which Sirul left for Australia.

He was there when the Federal Court delivered its decision reversing the appellate court’s verdict. A warrant of arrest was immediately issued and Sirul was arrested by Australian police in Brisbane on Jan 21.

Sirul is currently being detained in an immigration facility in Villawood, Sydney where he has threatened to reveal to the international media who is actually behind the Altantuya murder.

Malaysian authorities are in a fix as their extradition request for Sirul cannot be entertained by Australia whose laws prohibit the deportation of persons facing the death sentence in their home countries.

“The other option for Sirul is, of course, for his lawyer to seek a royal pardon, in this case from the Selangor sultan,” said the lawyer.

The senior lawyer said if the government was considering commuting Sirul's death sentence to life, then the AG should also do the same for Azilah.

“It is only right and fair for Azilah to be given the same if Sirul's sentence is reduced,” the lawyer pointed out.

Will Najib survive the March 8 Umno divisional leaders’ solidarity meeting?

By Lim Kit Siang Blog,

The single political issue in the country after the Federal Court’s 5-0 dismissal of Anwar Ibrahim’s appeal in Sodomy II on February 10, resulting his fourth incarceration in his 47 years of public life and struggle for freedom, democracy, human dignity and good governance should be: “Quo Vadis, Anwar?”

Instead, the question has swiftly become “Quo Vadis, Najib?”

National focus should be on the “March to Freedom” ceramah to restore freedom for Anwar Ibrahim on March 7, but attention has now suddenly swerved to whether Najib could survive the Umno divisional leaders’ meeting on March 8.

This is most extraordinary as the UMNO Division Meeting of March 8 is being called to show solidarity and support for Najib and not to ditch him.

Why is there such sudden change of political focus and climate in UMNO?

This is a reflection of the turbulent times in UMNO.

For some time, there had been great pressures on Najib to resign, and the former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad cannot make it clearer when he said in the middle of the month: “If I were PM now, I’d resign”.

However, Najib had ignored these pressures as he seems to be a real paradox – one of the weakest Prime Ministers in Malaysia but a strong UMNO President.

Najib’s weaknesses as Prime Minister are evident from the fact that all his major policy initiatives have proved to be failures, whether 1Malaysia policy, the New Economic Model, National Transformation Programme or the Global Movement of Moderates.

But he has been quite invincible in his power position in UMNO – and there is no way the Prime Minister of Malaysia could be toppled unless the UMNO President could be removed.

So long as he remains untouchable as President of UMNO, he remains untouchable as Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Is there a sudden sea-change in UMNO politics that Najib’s position could suddenly be so vulnerable at the UMNO Divisional Meetings on March 8?

There is no doubt that Najib is facing unprecedented siege, both locally and internationally.

I have never seen an ASEAN mainstream media which had carried such a dismissive and contemptible article about another ASEAN leader as appeared in the recent issue of The Myanmar Times which carried a write-up entitled “Najib’s slow death”, ending with the foreboding forecast that the “omens” for Najib are not good.

Najib’s host of problems, old and new, seem to have come together in a boil, whether the “mother and mother of all financial scandals”, RM42 billion 1MDB scandal; the nine-year-old Altantunya Shaariibuu murder which has returned to haunt Malaysian politics with Sirul at large in Australia ; the fourth-incarceration and five -year jailing of Anwar Ibrahim which has made Malaysia again an international “bad boy” or the embarrssing controversy over Tun Razak’s “inheritance” which has seen public differences between the Prime Minister and his four brothers.

Political developments in UMNO and Malaysia can change so far that what was unthinkable only a month or a week ago could suddenly be possible, as for instance, however improbably as it may seem, the sudden posingn of the question: will 8th March be the Ides of March for Najib?

UMNO is in deep political trouble and this is further reason why UMNO strategists are trying to distract attention from Najib’s and UMNO’s troubles by stepping up their plots to destabilise, divide and destroy the Pakatan Rakyat with the false lure of “UG” (Unity Government between UMNO and PAS) and hudud implementation in Kelantan which explains for the UMNO decision to stay out of the Chempaka state assembly by-election in Kelantan caused by the death of Tuan Guru Nik Aziz.

All Pakatan Rakyat parties must be on the look out for these UMNO plots and counterplots to destabilise, divide and destroy PR for they are only tactics and strategies to save Najib and UMNO and not in the best national interests.

(Speech at the Gelang Patah DAP Chinese New Year Kopitiam Ceramah on Saturday, 28th February 2015 at 3 pm)

Najib Outlines Seven Decrees To Make The Malays Progressive, Self Reliant

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28 (Bernama) - Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has outlined seven decrees that will make the Malays knowledgeable, empower their economy in the 21st century, and to make them strong, powerful and dignified.

The other decree is to champion the interests of Islam, defend the Malay rulers and Malay privileges, uphold maqasid syaria by being moderate, retain pure values and take care of the family institution.

Najib stressed that if the Malays hold on to the decrees, they will emerge as a race that is respected by all races of the world and become self reliant.



Speaking at a Malay unity rally in front of thousands of people at Putra Stadium, Bukit Jalil here, he said: "These decrees to represent the Malay rulers must be remembered by all.

"As long as there is the moon and the stars, and as long as the Malay blood flows in our bodies, we will continue to champion these decrees," he said.



Najib took the opportunity to emphasise the importance of multi-racial harmony.

He said multi-racial harmony as well as unity between the races in Malaysia was the key and foundation to a brighter future for the people and nation.

The prime minister also said the Malays had gone far and attained many achievements.

However, he urged the Malays to continue asking themselves: "What can we do in the name of the Malays? What can we contribute?"

He said that question should always be in the minds of the contemporary Malays because they could not depend on the government anymore to become more successful and to guarantee their future.

"We do not want to see the Malays insulted, ridiculed. We want the Malays to be a race that is respected and has pride," he said in his speech that was greeted with applause and cheers from the audience at the stadium to show their support to him.

The event was an initiative by the Malay Consultative Council jointly with Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara), Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Unit Peneraju Agenda Bumiputera (Teraju), Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) and and Biro Tatanegara (BTN).

Najib also said the government would always play the role of facilitator in providing the space which would enable the Malays and Bumiputera to attain success.

However, he said, only those with the commitment, ability and merit would succeed.

He said this was proven by the presence of successful Malay leaders at the gathering tonight, including professionals in various fields as well as heads of government-linked companies as well as leaders of public and private institutions of higher learning.

However, Najib, who is Umno President gave the following reminder: "The journey of the Malays is still far. I admit there is still more that needs to be done. We have to be aware and always make improvements.

Najib's words were greeted by positive response from the beginning of the event till the end.

Each time Najib threw a question which challenged the mind or a statement which fired the spirits, the audience responded with cheers as a sign of their undivided support.

The event which officially began with a spirited rendition of the national anthem "Negaraku" also saw thousands of participants taking the oath read out by the chairman of the secretariat for the Malay Unity Gathering Night, Datuk Dr Hasan Mad who is also the Malay Consultative Council secretary-general.

"We are gathered here from all corners of the nation, Malays who are great, Malays with pride, and Malays who are blessed.

"We are gathered here to show our support for the leadership of the PM. We are Malays with pride and blessing," they said.

Among those present at the gathering were Umno vice-presidents, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka director-general Prof Datuk Dr Awang Sariyan and former Inspector-General of Police Tun Haniff Omar.

At the gathering, Najib also witnessed the handing over of the memorandum of understanding for the setting up of the Koperasi Majlis Perundingan Melayu Berhad by Amanie Corporate Advisor Sdn Bhd to MPM.

He also received the proposed memorandum for the setting up of the Islamic Affairs Coordination Ministry from a member of the Malay Consultative Council, Tan Sri Mohamed Yusof Mohamed Noor.

Peguam: Menteri berkuasa izin Anwar ke Parlimen

Audio Rosmah: Amboi mahalnya cat rambut!

NORWEGIAN STATE BROADCASTER SAYS MULLAH KREKAR’S APPROVAL OF PARIS AND COPNHAGEN KILLINGS, DOESN’T REPRESENT TRUE ISLAM…….

NRK doesn’t represent real journalism.

NRK runs defense for Islam: ”Krekar doesn’t speak for all of Islam”, though his views are in fact, in keeping with Islamic norms. And most observing Muslims understand this:

Krekar sparks more outrage
February 25, 2015

Islamic extremist Mullah Krekar continued to provoke Norwegian authorities and the public in general on Wednesday after he unleashed another string of alarming statements in an interview with Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK). Prime Minister Erna Solberg, who’s been threatened by Krekar herself, said that Krekar exhibited “extreme attitudes” that aren’t shared by the majority of Muslims.

Krekar claimed, for example, that he was pleased by the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, that anyone who draws pictures the Prophet Mohammed deserves to die, and that he would send a gift to anyone who kills one of the Kurds that he earlier was convicted of threatening.

His brash statements generated the publicity Krekar seems to thrive on, with the prime minister, the justice minister and several leading muslims in Norway reacting publicly. Justice Minister Anders Anundsen said he was frightened by Krekar’s statements, while leading muslims wish Krekar would simply be ignored.

“Mullah Krekar has no credibility when it comes to Islamic theology,” Dr Mohammad Usman Rana, a doctor and local commentator on Islam, told NRK. “Even though he puts on a turban and robes, that doesn’t make him an Islamic scholar.”

Bushra Ishaq, another local muslim commentator, was also disgusted by Krekar’s remarks. “He justifies the murder of civilians,” she told NRK. “He stands for a perverted view of the world and he directly encourages acts of terrorism. He has a beard, but he is not theologist. Most of us muslims feel he has hijacked our faith.”

MORE HERE: h/t: Fjordman

Dr.Andrew Bostom proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that murdering those who ‘defame’ Mohamed, even the non-believer, is deserved of being killed according to Islamic law.

'If he's a "beautiful, kind man", why is he killing innocent civilians? He's a monster': Brother of British hostage Alan Henning blasts the Jihadi John apologists who blamed MI5 for radicalising executioner

• Asim Qureshi helped name his friend Mohammed Emwazi as Jihadi John
• Mr Qureshi said that MI5 had harassed Emwazi and help radicalise him
• Campaigner was tearful as he described him as 'extremely kind and gentle'
• He added that 'the man I knew would never hurt a single person'
• But David Henning hit back and said: 'He's a monster'
• Comments caused fury from people who believe MI5 were doing their job
• CAGE broadcast was on Sky News for 58 minutes without interruption and the BBC showed it for 52 minutes

By Martin Robinson for MailOnline and Laurie Hanna

A video has surfaced of the Muslim activist who described ISIS executioner Jihadi John as 'a beautiful man' supporting Jihad at an anti-US rally in London.

Asim Qureshi, leader of campaign group CAGE, was filmed urging protesters to 'support the jihad of our brothers and sisters' in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and Chechnya.

Yesterday, Qureshi, who helped to name ISIS militant Jihadi John as west London student Mohammed Emwazi, caused outrage by saying the murderer was 'beautiful' adding that he 'wouldn't hurt a fly'.

But Reg Henning, brother of British aid worker Alan Henning who died at Jihadi John's hands, hit back and said: 'If he's a "beautiful, kind man", why is he killing innocent civilians?

'He's a monster. Everyone should be doing everything they can to capture him and bring him to justice - not stick up for him like he's been hard done by.'

Speaking while close to tears at a press conference this afternoon, he blamed MI5 for radicalising Emwazi, saying the security services harassed him and alienated him.

In the earlier footage, Qureshi can be seen speaking through a microphone at the pan-Islamic Hizb ut-Tahrir movement rally.

He says: 'When we see the example of our brothers and sisters fighting in Chechnya, Iraq, Palestine, Kashmir, Afghanistan, then we know where the example lies.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2970521/Outrage-group-blames-MI5-radicalising-extremely-kind-Jihadi-John-fled-Syria-kill-people-ISIS.html

OK for non-Muslims to return free Quran copies, says Jakim

Non-Muslims can return copies of the Quran after accepting them and it is also untrue that their religion will be converted to Islam just by filling up a form, says the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim).

This is the first time the department has spoken on the outcry by some that a project to distribute translated copies of the Quran would result in conversion or entrapment if the holy books were to be disposed of.

Jakim director-general Datuk Othman Mustapha told Chinese daily Sin Chew Jit Poh this in response to a message being circulated on social media warning non-Muslims not to accept the free copies.

Othman told the Chinese newspaper that for a non-Muslim to officially convert to Islam, he or she needed to take an oath before being able to go through ceremonies to complete the conversion.

“A person who decides to uphold Islamic beliefs must do so voluntarily, not under forced circumstances,” he said.

He was also reported as saying that if a non-Muslim felt they could not keep the Quran in good condition, they could always opt to return it to the distributor, to a mosque or even another Muslim person.

“In Islamic teachings, it is imperative that the followers of the religion regard the Quran with high levels of respect. Anyone who accepts the Quran is obligated to keep it properly.

The message that had been circulated through social media and on WhatsApp said non-Muslims should not accept a copy of the Quran because "the minute you do you will have to fill in a form claiming it just for record purposes, but actually they will track you down and convert you or change your records stating that you are a Muslim.

“Be reminded that the Quran is their holy book and it’s not to be touched by others and once it’s in our possession we can't dispose (of) it or put it anywhere because it’s considered as a holy book. Please be safe and exercise your rights and politely reject it," the message read.

The message also said the project to distribute 1 million free copies of the translated Quran had already started in Klang.

But two groups, the Malaysia Reverted Muslims (MRM) and the Islamic Information and Services Foundation which produced translation of the Quran, have both denied handing out the texts to non-Muslims in Klang.

On February 9, interfaith council the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) urged non-Muslims not to accept the free copies.

The council said it rejected the project aimed at reducing misconceptions and Islamophobia.

It added that the actual intention appeared to be propagation of Islam and while Malaysia's laws did not allow non-Muslims to proselytise to Muslims, there were no laws banning Muslims from doing so. – February 27, 2015.

Chinese spurn PM, only 18pct give thumbs up

As expected, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is far from being the toast of the Chinese community.

A survey by Merdeka Centre revealed that only 18 percent of those polled from the community are satisfied with his performance.

Whereas, only 13 percent believe that the country is headed in the right direction under his stewardship. Overall, 39 percent involving all ethnic groups say the country is headed in the right direction while 47 percent say it is going in the wrong direction.

As for the perception towards the government along ethnic lines, the survey found that only 11 percent of the Chinese respondents expressed "happiness".

Out of the 1,008 polled, 30 percent of the respondents were Chinese,
60 percent were Malays, whereas the remaining 10 percent were Indians.

The percentages could have dipped further if the survey, which was conducted in January, had been carried out this month following Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob's call on the Malays to boycott Chinese traders.

Since the 2008 general election, the Chinese have drawn the ire of Umno for throwing their lot behind the last general election.

Following the lack of action on Ismail, PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli claimed that the Chinese are now a community whose sentiments no longer have political value to Umno.

As for Najib's support among the Malay community, it remains unchanged for four consecutive monthly surveys since October last year, at 58 percent.

On another note, the overall sentiment of the Malay community about the country's direction improved, with 54 percent believing the country is on the right track, up five percent from last month.

This is also reflected in perception towards the government, with 52 percent of the Malay community saying they are happy, an improvement of two percent.

There is some good news for the premier though, as his support among the Indian community improved slightly from 39 percent to 44 percent.

Nonetheless, the community's view of the government remains unchanged, with 34 percent expressing happiness with the government.

However, the Indian community's view on whether the country was on the right direction fell to 26 percent compared to 29 percent.

Survey: Najib's popularity dips to 44pct

 

Najib's daughter to wed Kazakh beau on March 28?

 

There is buzz on social media about a wedding between Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's daughter Nooryana Najwa and her Kazakh beau Daniyar Kesikbayev.

The speculation intensified after photographs of their purported wedding invitation was circulated.

While the Prime Minister's Office has remained tightlipped on the matter when queried, Daniyar's mother, however, declined to confirm or deny the wedding.

In an email response to Malaysiakini, Maira Kesikbayev, through her New York-based spokesperson, said: "We have no comment at this time."

As for the wedding invitation, it comes in a gold and white box, which includes a scroll as well as a card for those invited to confirm their attendance.

The card stated that the wedding will be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on March 28 at 8pm.

Nooryana and Daniyar reportedly met in the United States, where the couple pursued their tertiary education.

A check by Malaysiakini revealed that the KLCC venue for March 28 has already been booked but it could not be confirmed for whom.

Nooryana, 26, is the eldest of Najib and Rosmah Mansor's two children. Najib also has three other children from his previous marriage with Tengku Puteri Zainah Tengku Eskandar.

The prime minister's future son-in-law is related to Kazakhstan president Nursultan Nazarbayev, who is the brother of Daniyar's stepfather.

In 2012, Daniyar became embroiled in controversy amid his mother's legal tussle with his stepfather Bolat Nazarbayev.

Bolat, in a suit against Maira at the Manhattan Supreme Court, had accused his ex-wife of cheating him of a US$20 million New York apartment and spending US$75 million of his money on jewellery.

He also accused Maira of being wanted by Interpol for kidnapping and extortion.

According to New York Post, court documents also claimed that Daniyar had forged his education qualification to get into Columbia University.

Maira had denied being wanted by the authorities or having committed any wrongdoing.

An aide close to Rosmah had later described the controversy as being "exaggerated".

In the purported wedding card, Danayir's surname "Nazarbayev", which was widely used in the media, was dropped in favour of his old surname "Kasikbayev".

His mother had reportedly changed Danayir's surname to Nazarbayev previously to have the same family name as the Kazakhstan president.

Maira's name made news again in 2013 when it was revealed that the controversial RM24 million diamond ring which was brought into Malaysia under Rosmah's name was for the former's viewing.

Maria was then said to be residing at the prime minister's residence in Putrajaya as a guest.

Kadir: Why deny PM's brothers' right of reply?

 

By not publishing a statement by the four brothers of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, the mainstream media has flouted a very basic rule of journalism, which is the right of reply.

Former New Straits Times group editor-in-chief A Kadir Jasin said the four brothers were merely replying to what had been published about their father in those very newspapers and elsewhere.

“It is clear that the mainstream media have not been practicing the right of reply,” he told Malaysiakini in response to a media blackout of the statement by Najib’s brothers.

In the statement, Nazir, Johari, Nizam, and Nazim Razak expressed concern over a Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) clarification to the New York Times (NYT) that Najib’s wealth came by their late father, Malaysia’s second prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein.

Kadir (right) said had the newspapers not published the PMO statement, they would not be obliged to publish the brothers’ response. The reverse however applied if they did carry the PMO's statement.

“What’s important to note here is that there must be something terribly wrong with the PMO statement to prompt the brothers to not only distance themselves from the content of that statement, but to accuse it of tarnishing the image of their late father,” he said.

Kadir, however, did not want to speculate on whether the newspapers were pressured not to cover the brothers’ response.

Nazir mum on blackout

Meanwhile when contacted, Nazir declined to comment on the media blackout.

“Apologies, but I have no further comments to make on this matter,” he said in an email to Malaysiakini.

Nazir (left) was asked on lack of coverage of the brothers’ statement in the mainstream media and to clarify why Najib did not sign the statement along with his siblings.

Checks by Malaysiakini found that the Wednesday and Thursday print editions of major dailies Utusan Malaysia, Berita Harian, New Straits Times and The Star failed to report on the brothers’ response.

Interestingly, The Star’s online edition did publish a report on Tuesday night but the article did not make it to the print version.

A Google search also identified a New Straits Times’ online article on the statement two days ago. However, the article is no longer available online.

Family rift?

In the statement to NYT, the Razak brothers stated that their father was a highly-principled man known for his integrity.

“We take issue with anyone who taints his memory, whatever the motive. We would also like to add that our whole family is united on this issue,” said the quartet minus Najib.

They were responding to PMO’s justification of Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor’s lavish lifestyle as not unusual “... for a person of the prime minister’s position, responsibilities and legacy (of) family assets”.

The ensuing fallout has raised speculation of a rift between the four brothers and Rosmah.

On this alleged family split, Kadir said he did not know anything about it, as he was not privy to such information.

Bogus Sirul's mum PAS event fools reporters

Journalists today were duped into thinking that PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar was holding a press conference at the PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur with fugitive former police commando Sirul Azhar Umar's mother.

It turned out that the WhatsApp message sent to reporters was actually a fake one. The origins of the message cannot be determined but it was circulated on a PAS media WhatsApp group.

A PAS headquarters staff said Mahfuz was in Alor Setar this morning and the latter had not called for any press conference much less for one with Sirul’s mum.

"I just called him. He is in Alor Setar and confirmed he never called for a press conference.

"He said an invitation would have been sent out earlier if he wanted to hold a press conference," said the staff who identified himself as Saripuddin Mohd Yatim.

Saripuddin's disclosure was met with groans and annoyed exclamations from reporters present who were blithely waiting for the press conference to start.

Monday announcement

In a statement later, Mahfuz said he will be leaving for Australia on Sunday (March 1) at 11pm.

"The media are invited to meet us at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) departure hall at Level 5 at 9pm on Sunday," he said in a statement.

The Pokok Sena MP had on Monday made attempts to initiate a conference call with Sirul. Numerous failed attempts later, Mahfuz cancelled the event and the ensuring press conference.

Sirul was finally reached only two hours later.

Mahfuz had then also announced a press conference would be held - most probably on Friday (today) - to announce the date he and Sirul's mother, Piah Samad (above), would leave for Australia.

"We will be there for a week to visit Sirul. A press conference will be held, most probably on Friday, to announce the date we are leaving," Mahfuz had said then.

Muhyiddin: We view IGP death threat seriously

Three-pronged approach to be taken to deal with the situation, says deputy prime minister.

FMT

PUTRAJAYA: The government views seriously the death threat made by a group of youths to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar on social media as it could lead to bigger dangers to the nation in the future.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, three steps must be taken to contain the threat of extremism, including thorough education, to provide an understanding about security to the younger generation.

“Secondly, the existing laws need to be implemented effectively, and thirdly, cooperation among the public to help the authorities take the appropriate steps.

“We cannot take this lightly because today, extremism is a global issue….some of our people are involved with the IS (Islamic State), ” he said.

He was speaking to reporters when asked to comment on the threat by a group of youths on social media after chairing a special meeting on the Post Floods Action Plan here today.

Two days ago, a provocative 1:27-minute video showing three masked men who called themselves Anak Malaysia Anti Demokrasi (AMAD) went viral on social media.

They had earlier planned to burn fireworks at all the courthouses throughout the country at 11.30pm on February 18, while this time, they threatened to blow up the IGP’s car and kill him.

Asked about the proposal by various parties that a new subject be created to provide understanding of security to students, Muhyiddin who is also Education Minister, said the matter had first to be studied due to the limited schooling hours.

“We have limited time in terms of contact hours at school so any proposal to add more (subjects) is not practical and not easy for the ministry.

“But, I think the introduction of a specific subject within the co-curriculum that is related to the issue of security, the need for the students to understand the danger and the role of social media that might have impact on their lives…we will look into that,” he said.

A pilot did it, says documentary on MH370

An aviation safety expert suggests that someone in the cockpit deliberately flew the plane towards Antarctica.

FMT

PETALING JAYA: A documentary video on Flight MH370 concludes that a pilot was responsible for the disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines plane.

The 44-minute video appears on YouTube and is said to be a leaked National Geographic documentary scheduled for airing on March 8, the anniversary of the tragedy.

On March 8 last year, what was meant to be a routine night flight turned out to be the aviation industry’s worst nightmare. A Boeing 777 carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew flown by Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah and first officer Fariq Abdul Hamid disappeared without a trace after taking off at 12.41am from Kuala Lumpur bound for Beijing.

In the video, former air force and airline pilot John Nance, an internationally recognised expert in aviation safety, said the conversation in the cockpit before the plane went missing had gone according to routine.

At 1.19am, air traffic control in KL made its last transmission to MH370. The crew was then expected to contact air traffic control in Vietnam in less than one minute, but 19 minutes later there was no word from the plane, and it had disappeared from radar screens. Malaysian and Vietnamese controllers scrambled to contact it, but could not elicit any response from the cockpit.

Following this, Malaysian authorities launched a massive search for the missing plane, and were later joined by Australia, the US and China.

But things proved difficult as Flight MH370 had disappeared over the Gulf of Thailand, where there was limited radar coverage. So they turned to the Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS), which used satellite to transmit information between the ground and aircraft in flight.

But unlike GPS, ACARS does not provide constant location data, and without knowing the flight’s direction, there was not much to go on.

While scrutinising the plane’s passenger manifest, authorities discovered that two persons had boarded the plane illegally, leading investigators to examine the possibility that the plane had been hijacked.

On March 11, the Malaysian military released radar data that seemed to support a hijacking theory. Three minutes after its last radio call, MH370 had made a sharp turn off course.

Also, photos from a previous flight of Fariq posing with a passenger surfaced and sparked speculation that the cockpit’s security had been compromised.

But aviation experts dismissed the hijacking theory. Nance pointed out that pilots had several ways to send emergency signals during a possible hijacking – radios, emergency frequencies, ACARS, and codes to key into the transponder. Air traffic controllers never received any of these, and the two suspects travelling on stolen passports were cleared as they had no links to terrorism.

Fire theory doused

Authorities then focused on why the plane’s transponder cut off two minutes after the last communication from the cockpit, followed by signals from the ACARS.

According to Nance, this could be attributed either to a purposeful act or an emergency, such as a fire.

Malcolm Brenner, the US National Transportation Safety Board’s former senior investigator, agreed that a fire could have affected the capabilities of the ACARS.

The video suggested that the plane might have changed course to prepare for an emergency landing.

But the fire theory was doused by Nance, who pointed out there was no radio call and the plane was later discovered to have flown for seven hours after it disappeared.

In London, a team of engineers at Immarsat, which runs a satellite system, uncovered a series of automated signals received from MH370 long after it had vanished from radar screens. The signals continued from 2.25am until 8.19am. This meant the plane had not crashed over the Gulf of Thailand, but had enough fuel to fly for seven hours.

Another theory the video explored was that the plane suffered pressurisation failure and flew for hours on auto pilot.

But well before hypoxia (lack of oxygen) could set in, the plane had made three turns, taking the plane south towards Antarctica over the next one and a half hours.

Brenner concluded that this suggested that someone in the cockpit deliberately flew the plane off course.

“The flight over the next hour makes a few more turns that appear to be human directed and finally ends up heading to Antarctica. So it is apparent that this was a carefully thought out action to evade detection,” he said.

Brenner added, “It is conceivable that a pilot could deliberately de-pressurise the airplane as part of an effort to hijack the airplane or take it for some purpose.”

The video also explored the possibility that the pilot had sent the first officer for a coffee and locked the door. Then, he could have switched off the transponder and changed course to somewhere with little radar coverage, and later switched off the ACARS without realising that some part of the signal would remain on.

“Somebody did this and it was a pilot,” said Nance. “Whether it was one of the two individuals up front, or in charge of keeping the plane safe, or whether it was somebody else, we do not know.

“I feel very strongly, very very strongly, given all the evidence we think we have – we always have to put that caveat on it – that whoever did this intended for the airplane and the passengers to simply vanish from the planet” he added.

Accepting free Quran doesn’t make one Muslim

Anyone accepting the free Quran must keep it properly and respect it , otherwise return it to the distributor.

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: A religious authority, the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim), has laughed off suggestions in the social media that a project underway to distribute one million free copies of the Quran to non-Muslims had a hidden agenda.

The Malaysia Reverted Muslims (MRM) and the Islamic Information and Services Foundation, the two groups behind the translated version of the free Quran, have claimed the project was to reduce misconceptions about the religion and Islamophobia.

The Sin Chew Jit Poh, a Chinese daily, reported Jakim director-general Othman Mustapha as laughing off the suggestions in the social media that the free Quran project had any sinister purpose.

He stressed that anyone who embraces Islam had to take an oath and go through certain ceremonies. The mere act of accepting a Quran does not make one Muslim, he assured. “No one can be forced to accept Islam.”

“Anyone accepting the free Quran must keep it properly and respect it or otherwise return it to the distributor, a mosque or another Muslim,” he said. “Muslims respect the Quran and expect others to do the same.”

In the past, there had been reports that non-Muslims had been “tricked” into reciting the profession of faith and subsequently reported to the religious authorities as having converted. Those who deny, the reports go, had to explain to the Syariah Court why they wanted to “leave Islam”.

The reports in the social media warn that anyone who accepts a copy of the Quran would have to fill in a form, listing out their particulars. Apparently, the fear is that that such particulars will be used by the religious authorities to track them down later and also get them to change their status from non-Muslim to Muslim.

“You have to fill in a form. They will claim it’s just for record purposes, but actually they will track you down and convert you or change your records stating that you are a Muslim,” the messages in Whatsapp state.

“Be reminded that the Quran is their holy book and it’s not to be touched by others and once it’s in our possession we can’t dispose it or put it anywhere because it’s considered a holy book. Please be safe and exercise your rights and politely reject it,” the message read.

The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) warned non-Muslims on February 9 against accepting the free copies of the Quran. It pointed out that non-Muslims are not supposed to even touch the Quran, let alone have a copy of it for whatever purpose.

The Council doesn’t buy the idea that the free Quran project was aimed at reducing misconceptions about the faith and eradicating Islamophobia. “It should work both ways.”

The actual intention behind the free Quran project, it claimed, was propagation of Islam since the laws don’t prohibit Muslims from preaching to non-Muslims, only vice versa.

Growing demands for transfer of teacher in conversion case

Upko President wants errant teacher transferred as far away as possible from non-Muslim students.

FMT

KOTA KINABALU: United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) President, Wilfred Madius Tangau, has taken to Facebook, to demand that a teacher involved in the scam conversion of an underaged Christian schoolgirl at the SMK Kinarut in Kinarut, in the outskirts of Kota Kinabalu, be transferred out immediately.

He wants the errant teacher to be transferred as far away as possible from non-Muslim students, preferably to a religious school where all the students are Muslims.

“I have requested the Sabah Education Director to transfer her to somewhere without a lot of non-Muslim students,” said Wilfred who is also Tuaran MP.

“Instead, she should be moved to a Sekolah Menengah Agama where 100 per cent of its students are Muslim.”

The Upko Chief’s Facebook page was flooded with Likes from irate parents and other netizens.

One posting which supported Wilfred’s statement said the move would prevent the errant teacher from “breaking up another family”.

Angry Sabahans have taken to social media to campaign for the errant teacher to be dealt with by way of a transfer and disciplinary measures, an example made of her for neglecting her duties and for playing politics with religion at a school which the parents trusted to look after their children and educate them.

Social media and Whatsapp have been flooded with pictures of the errant teacher apparently in a bid to “name and shame her” and serve as a warning to others out there.

The errant teacher was apparently moved to SMK Kinarut recently. Following the eruption of the controversy over the alleged conversion, there were reports in social media that she had been temporarily transferred to SMK Tamparuli.

“Please monitor her. What she did, breaking up families, was wrong,” said a posting from a Facebook user.

Another wrote; “Her washing of hands in this incident was also very inappropriate. Do take precautionary measures. Don’t let your children be the next victims.”

Other comments called for the Education Director and the principal of the school concerned to be held accountable for breaching the trust that parents have in the school system. “A school is not the place to carry out missionary work,” was the general thrust of the comments.

Sabah Commissioner of Police, Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman, has since confirmed that the girl concerned is not Muslim and there’s no documentation supporting the alleged conversion.

He has also come under criticism for declaring a person’s faith instead of investigating the report lodged against the errant teacher and the school by rubber tapper Jilius Yapoo, the girl’s father.

Parti Bersatu Sabah Secretary-General, Johnny Mositun, has also stressed that it won’t do for the authorities concerned to take their cue from police declaring that a 16-year-old girl student in Sabah at the heart of a growing controversy over conversion in boarding schools “is not a Muslim” and leave things at that.

“The girl’s religious status is not for the police to declare. The school cannot be allowed to go scott-free if they have broken the law.”

The Director of Education, he reiterated, has some explaining to do. He was referring to his statement that “the girl wanted to be Muslim.”

Malaysia’s Islamic Party Seeks Primacy

Leadership of coalition that Ibrahim founded is in danger of falling into the hands of the fundamentalist Parti Islam se-Malaysia

Asia Sentinel

With opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim jailed for five years on sodomy charges, the leadership of the coalition he founded, which has upended Malaysian politics over the past seven years, is in increasing danger of falling into the hands of the fundamentalist Parti Islam se-Malaysia.

PAS, as the rural-based party is known, is moving aggressively to assume primacy in Pakatan Rakyat, which Anwar founded in 2008. The coalition’s disparate elements include, besides PAS, the Chinese-dominated Democratic Action Party and Anwar’s own Parti Keadilan Rakyat, mainly composed of urban, moderate ethnic Malays. In particular, PAS is seeking to ride to national prominence the issue of seventh-century religious law, or hudud, which calls for stoning to death adulterers and amputation of limbs for theft.

Malaysia, despite its 60 percent Muslim population, has always been viewed as a moderate state. That impression is in danger today. Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, weakened by scandal and party infighting, has been unwilling or unable to stem the rising tide of fundamentalism, which is being used by extremist elements of his own United Malays National Organization as a political tool to cudgel the opposition, particularly the 22 percent of the population who are Chinese. UMNO’s own leadership are privately concerned that the Barisan Nasional, the ruling national coalition, could fall to the opposition in elections scheduled for 2018 at the latest.

Thus, the leadership of the opposition has suddenly achieved new urgency. UMNO has been in deepening jeopardy over events of the past few weeks. The voting public, especially among ethnic Malays, are growing increasingly outraged by a flock of scandals and turned off by infighting within UMNO itself, with former Premier Mahathir Mohamad asking for Najib’s head over vast losses within the state-backed 1Malaysia Development Bhd fund.

“My concern is that PAS is taking the lead,” said a young Malay lawyer with ties to the party. “We would edge ever closer to a PAS national government. PAS can go it alone on an Islamic State platform as Umno has gone it alone without Chinese votes. Malays now feel UMNO is sinful.”

Other longtime observers in Kuala Lumpur say the concerns are overblown, and that an increasingly urban Malay society that favors blue jeans, high heels, makeup and beer will have nothing to do with hudud. Anwar’s party forms the bulwark of those voters, along with other more urban voters in UMNO..

In any case, hudud would inevitably cause the DAP to pull out and cause some serious soul-searching among Parti Keadilan’s followers. The coalition would likely splinter. But apparently PAS, as with UMNO, feels that with a winning issue among the 60 percent of the population who are ethnic Malays, it could pull it off. Last week, Mahfodz Mohamad, the deputy chief of the PAS religious council, or ulama, told reporters the council would continue to seek hudud by tabling a bill in Parliament, asking “Why do we need to follow the DAP? Their stance is different. They want to go to Putrajaya [the seat of government]. We want to win elections too but more.”

PAS says Islamic law would only apply to ethnic Malays. But other ethnic groups, particularly the Chinese, are deeply concerned that if hudud were to be put in place for Malays, inevitably it would follow that they also would be threatened. In nearby Brunei, the Sultan recently decreed that hudud applied to everybody in the sultanate.

The opposition coalition has been an uneasy alliance from the start, united as it was and is by nothing more than a desire to replace the Barisan Nasional in power. But that ambition led it to work together in the 2008 general election, in which they gained control of five states and for the first time denied the Barisan its historic two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat, or parliament. Despite internal dissention, the coalition for the first time since 1969 won the popular vote in the 2013 general election with a 50.87 percent majority to the Barisan’s 47.38 percent, although gerrymandering kept them from taking control.

Especially over the past year, the coalition has shown increasing signs of disarray. Anwar has been preoccupied with the certainty he would be jailed in what is regarded internationally as a trumped up legal proceeding. As a result, the strong central leadership of a coalition that is unruly at best has been lacking.

PAS jumped into the enormous controversy surrounding the detention in Australia of one of the killers of the Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006. Sirul Azhar Umar, one of Najib’s two bodyguards, fled to Australia last year after being temporarily freed by an appellate court. His conviction was reinstated this month by the Federal Court. It has long been suspected that someone close to Najib ordered the killing. Sirul appeared willing to talk to a PAS-sponsored press teleconference but later backed away.

Now PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar has said he would take Sirul’s mother and younger sister and Sirul’s lawyer to meet with the detained former police commando in Sydney. If Sirul were indeed to go public with what he knows about those who hired him and his fellow officer to kill the 28-year-old woman, it is likely to cause deepening problems for Najib, whose popularity has fallen to the lowest point of his premiership at 44 percent.

PAS is also making itself felt by opposing the leadership of the three-party opposition coalition by Anwar’s wife, Wan Aziza, who the party says lacks experience, and is instead pushing PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang. The party asserted its growing clout last year by refusing to go along with naming Wan Aziza the chief minister of the state of Selangor after an abortive effort to make Anwar the chief minister was thwarted with an appellate court’s judgment of his guilt in the sodomy charges. PAS tied up the selection process for months despite the fact that Parti Keadilan holds a majority in the state. Eventually, Mohamed Azmin Ali, a rival within Anwar’s own party, was selected for the job.

PAS is now threatening to introduce hudud in the rural eastern state of Kelantan State, with discussion in the state assembly from March 16 to 19. That would be followed with a move to table it in Parliament. Federal approval is needed.

Unofficial soundings suggest that as many as seven of 10 ethnic Malays, including urban moderates, see hudud as the answer to rising crime, drug addiction, adultery – especially among UMNO leaders – and other issues. The UMNO sources say that if hudud is enacted in Kelantan, ethnic Malay state voters are likely to demand enactment, and that UMNO would probably have to go along, feeling hard-pressed to vote against “God’s law” despite it clearly being the machinations of those in charge of PAS.

It is almost unheard of that an opposition party could introduce a private member’s bill in Parliament, as PAS is threatening to do. In the parliamentary system such actions are blocked. But, an UMNO source says, UMNO leaders are being cowed into letting it go ahead because of a fear of ethnic Malay backlash.

They say they are concerned that if the northern and eastern tier of ethnic Malay states were to go along, a hudud bill is likely to be introduced in the Parliament. As an indication of how UMNOis cowed by the rising Islamic tide, already the leaders of Terengganu – controlled by UMNO – the neighboring state to Kelantan, are out to prove their Muslim bona fides. They say Muslims who skip the obligatory Friday prayers at mosques may soon be paraded around town in hearses as punishment.

KC Vohrah: Ex-CJ Eusoff tried to subvert judge

 

In yet another expose of serious transgressions committed by the Malaysian judiciary, it has now been alleged that former chief justice Eusoff Chin tried to influence a Court of Appeal judge who was about to hear the appeal of the controversial Ayer Molek Rubber Company vs Insas Bhd case in 1995.

The subversion has been alleged by a now retired Court of Appeal judge who made the claims in an in-house publication of the Malaysian judiciary last year to mark the Court of Appeal's 20th anniversary.

Former Justice KC Vohrah - who sat on the panel hearing the Ayer Molek appeal - wrote in his article that one of the judges of the three-member panel was asked to meet Eusoff.

Besides Vohrah (left) - who was then a High Court judge co-opted to sit at the Court of Appeal - the other judges who sat for the case were Court of Appeal judges NH Chan and Siti Norma Yaakob, the latter who later rose to become the first female Chief Judge of Malaya.

Vohrah alleged in his article - titled ‘In the Court of Appeal, during the winds of change’ - that Eusoff called the judge into his chambers before the appeal was heard and when the judge entered, the CJ pointed to a pile of files on his table.

"He (Eusoff) said the papers were related to the Ayer Molek case and he (the CJ) indicated that the appeal had no merit," claimed Vohrah.

Vohrah, however, did not name who was the judge who met Eusoff. His startling article appeared in the booklet Court of Appeal, Malaysia, 1994-2014 - 20th anniversary which was published last year.

In the Ayer Molek case, Insas was represented by the well-known VK Lingam while Ayer Molek was represented Loh Siew Cheang. Lingam was later implicated over the infamous video clip case and was also caught with Eusoff holidaying together in New Zealand.

A royal commission of inquiry formed to investigate into the video clip allegations had recommended action be taken against Lingam and Eusoff and four others, including former former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

History of Ayer Molek vs Insas

In explaining the Ayer Molek case, Vohrah - now a consultant at Lee, Hishammuddin, Allen and Gledhill - wrote that the case involved the grant of an ex-parte order to compel Ayer Molek to effect the transfer of 540,000 ordinary shares of Ayer Molek to Insas in the share register of the company and to issue new certificates in Insas' names within two working days of their receiving the share certificates.

On April 12, 1995, Ayer Molek filed an application to set aside the ex-parte mandatory order of April 10, 1995.

That application came up for hearing before the High Court on April 13, 1995 but the judge adjourned it to April 27, 1995 which was after the two days period he allowed for compliance of his ex-parte order.

The defendants immediately applied for a stay of the ex-parte mandatory order pending disposal of their application to discharge it. The High Court judge refused to grant a stay of his ex-parte order.

On April 14, 1995, the transfer of the shares was registered in the share register of Ayer Molek and new share certificates were issued to Insas under compliance of the ex-parte order.

On April 18, 1995, Ayer Molek filed a notice of appeal against the ex-parte order at the Court of Appeal. On the same day, they filed a motion for a stay of the ex-parte order pending their appeal.

At the Court of Appeal hearing, it was abundantly clear (Vohrah wrote in his article) that grave injustices had been perpetrated in the case at the High Court level.

The appellate court granted an interim order that pending the disposal of the appeal, the respondents (Ayer Molek) were restrained from exercising any rights including disposing of the shares.

Vohrah, Chan and Siti Norma wrote separate judgments, where Chan wrote on the abuse of the process of the High Court while Siti Norma wrote on the fact that the proceedings were filed in the Special and Appellate Powers Division of the High Court whereas it should have been in the Commercial Division.

"I wrote on the company law aspects of the case involving the transfer of shares," Vohrah said in his damning article.

'Unethical lawyers'

Chan, Vohrah remembers, skilfully melded their three views and his judgment stated unequivocally that the case was about an injustice that had been perpetrated by a court of law.

"Here Insas - through their legal advisers - have abused the process of the High Court by instigating the injustice through misuse of the court's procedure by manipulating it in such a way that it becomes manifestly unfair to the defendants," Chan wrote in his judgment.

"By doing what they did, these unethical lawyers have brought the administration of justice into disrepute. While it does not render the
proceedings to be in any way invalid, it may give the impression to right thinking people that litigants can choose the judge before whom they wish to appear."

The High Court case was heard when then the court was housed in Wisma Denmark or Denmark House in Kuala Lumpur and in his judgment, Chan quoted Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' in saying that, "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark."

The Court of Appeal granted the stay order on July 26, 1995 and written grounds were given five days later.

Vohrah wrote: "Swift as an arrow a stay application on appeal against that decision was filed on July 27, 1995. The application and appeal were heard at the Federal Court on August 1, 1995 before a three-member bench comprising Eusoff (above), a Court of Appeal judge and a High Court judge. The written grounds was provided 12 days later which set aside the Court of Appeal decision."

The former judge noted that the Malaysian Bar was aghast at the decision made by the Federal Court and issued a strong statement against it while saying the panel headed by Eusoff had been illegally constituted.

Justice Hishamudin enters

Eleven years after, the retired judge noted the Bar's views was proven right following a RM100 million defamation suit brought by Lingam against Euro Money Publications over an article titled ‘Malaysian justice on trial’ which was published in the International Commercial Litigation magazine.

The case came up before Justice Mohamad Hishamudin Mohd Yunus, whom Malaysiakini highlighted earlier this week for being sidelined for elevation to the Federal Court despite being the most senior judge at the Court of Appeal.

While Lingam submitted that the Court of Appeal judgment in the Ayer Molek case had been expunged, Justice Hishamudin (left) stood his ground saying the Federal Court panel by Eusoff was not legally constituted as it comprised only "two legally competent judges, namely, Eusoff and a Court of Appeal Judge. The third judge of the panel, Pajan Singh Gill, was not legally competent to sit on that bench as he was only a High Court judge then".

"Justice Hishamudin ruled that the judgment of the Court of Appeal by Chan, Siti Norma and Vohrah in the Ayer Molek case is still wholly intact and is still a valid and binding judgment and 'I am entitled, indeed I am duty bound, to take cognisance of the judgment in deciding on Lingam's claim in this action'," Vohrah wrote.

Eventually, Lingam's (right) suit was dismissed by Justice Hishamudin.

Eusoff Chin also presided in the controversial Federal Court land case of Adorna Properties Sdn Bhd vs Boonsom Boonyanit in 2000 in Penang where his judgment created an uproar for recognising that land deals done through fraudulent means were legal.

This decision was eventually corrected by then Chief Justice Zaki Azmi in another land matter in 2010 in the case Tan Ying Hong vs Tan Sian San, Cini Timber Industries Sdn Bhd and United Malayan Banking Corporation Bhd.

As a footnote, despite the royal commission of inquiry in recommending action against Lingam and Eusoff, none has been taken till today.

Nevertheless, Lingam is facing contempt proceedings in the Kian Joo Can Company matter.

Chinese Entrepreneurial Contribution To Country's Development Recognised - Najib

KUCHING, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today recognises the contribution made through the entrepreneurial ability of the Chinese community in the development and success enjoyed by the country, especially in Sarawak.

According to him, in Sarawak he saw that its people really appreciated unity in the diversity of its ethnicity, culture, lifestyle and mutual respect that had become its main strength.

"When the strength in diversity can be made whole, only then can it bring strength to the nation to forge greater success," he said when speaking at a Chinese New Year gathering at the Kuching City South Council community hall at Jalan Padungan here.

Najib outlined three main levels in embracing diversity to build strength, namely tolerance, acceptance and a high standard to celebrate it.

He also commended on the commitment and firm leadership of Tan Sri Adenan Satem who would hold the post of Sarawak Chief Minister for one year tommorrow, in the fight against corruption.

He said Adenan who was described as 'simple and down-to-earth' succeeded in gaining the support of the Chinese community that wanted a government with a good administration to fight against corruption, maintain peace and stability as well as curb any elements of extremism.

Earlier Adenan in his speech said this year the state government had increased its financial aid allocation to 14 Chinese private schools in Sarawak to RM4 million compared to only RM3 million last year.

Also present at the function were Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, Sarawak ministers and local leaders from the Chinese community,

Najib is scheduled to present financial aid to flood victims and make a walkabout at Kubah Ria, Petra Jaya here tomorrow before ending his three-day working visit to Sarawak.

-- BERNAMA