As order breaks down in Syria, its Christians suffer the consequences

Left Foot Forward’s Ed Jacobs is a member of the Christian Socialist Movement and City Evangelical Church in Leeds and writes in a personal capacity.
As Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov today meets with President Bashar al-Assad in Damascas, the estimated 2.5 million Christians in Syria live in fear, stuck between a rock and a hard place.
As the news of Syrians being slaughtered continues at a relentless pace, it is thought that over one hundred Christians have now been targeted, either killed or kidnapped in brutal ways. Reporting last month, the organisation Barnabas Fund which campaigns on behalf of persecuted Christians has explained:

The Christian community in Syria has been hit by a series of kidnappings and brutal murders; one hundred Christians have now been killed since the anti-government unrest began.
A reliable source in the country, who cannot be identified for their own safety, told Barnabas Fund that children were being especially targeted by the kidnappers, who, if they do not receive the ransom demanded, kill the victim.
And the source provided detailed information – some of which cannot be made public for security reasons – about incidents that have taken place since Christmas.
Two Christian men, one aged 28, the other a 37-year-old father with a pregnant wife, were kidnapped by the rebels in separate incidents and later found dead; the first was found hanged with numerous injuries, the second was cut into pieces and thrown in a river. Four more have been abducted, and their captors are threatening to kill them too.
On 15 January two Christians were killed as they waited for bread at a bakery. Another Christian, aged 40 with two young children, was shot dead by three armed attackers while he was driving a vehicle.”

Perhaps because of such brutality, however clear things might seem, Christians in Syria remain wary of what “change” might mean for their country, looking to Iraq where their brothers and sisters in Christ are now making a mass exodus as a result of the attacks they have faced and Egypt where the prospect of an Islamist government has been matched by on-going attacks on Christians in a way not previously seen under President Hosni Mubarak.
Aware of this, President Assad is now using a policy of fear to court favour among Syria’s Christian communities. In an article published recently in “The Australian”, Richard Beeston explained:

When Father Basilious Nasser got an urgent call to say that one of his parishioners had been shot and needed help, the priest went immediately. As he tried to rescue the man on a street in the city of Hama, the cleric was shot twice by a sniper and died.
It is still unclear whether he was killed by government forces or the opposition, but his death nine days ago has shocked the Christian community.
For centuries, the ancient eastern churches have thrived on their ability to avoid becoming embroiled in the region’s volatile politics. But increasingly, the 2.5 million Christians in Syria fear being dragged into the violence.
There is no end in sight to the bloodshed, and hopes for a foreign-mediated solution dimmed yesterday as UN Security Council members failed to reach agreement yet again on a resolution to end the violence.
The fateful moment for Syria’s Christians can be traced back 10 months ago, when President Bashar al-Assad summoned leaders of the community to his palace and gave them an ultimatum: support me, or your people will suffer.
Perhaps mindful of the plight of the Christians in Iraq and Egypt, who have come under attack since the removal of secular dictatorships over the past decade, the leaders agreed.

As the West continues to look in anticipation at the opportunities that the Arab Spring could present, in Egypt and Iraq to name just two countries, the long lost promise of democratic futures, based on freedoms allowing Christians to pursue their faith free from intimidation, has so far failed to materialise.
Having actively called for President Mubarak to go in Egypt, intervened in Libya and spent years in Iraq we have a responsibility now to use all the muscle and leverage we have secure such freedoms. It is only then that Christians in Syria will truly have the confidence to escape the grip of fear with which President Assad now holds them.
And that goes for our “friends,” for want of a better word, too.
When Saudi Arabia for example finds itself third on the list of countries that persecute Christians, with reports before Christmas of 42 Christians in the country being arrested and tortured, why then did David Cameron’s recent visit to Saudi include a delegation of arms deals?
How perverse that we sell arms to a government that then subsequently used them to persecute Christians among others. Likewise, whilst Afghanistan, a country we supposedly “liberated” from the Taliban is second on the watch list of countries persecuting Christians, coming behind only North Korea, what message does it send when we sign a long-term partnership agreement with them?
In an e-petition I’ve recently established I call for the government to take action on three fronts:

1. To hold a full debate on the floor of the House of Commons on the issue of the persecution of Christians worldwide, mirroring similar debates in the Lords to enable our elected representatives to express their views.
2. That the government should be prepared to use sanctions, such as those related to trade where supposedly “friendly” countries fail to protect Christians from persecution or worse still, perpetrate such acts themselves.
3. To establish a new, annual report on the state of religious freedoms worldwide to highlight and expose those countries that fail to uphold the basic right to allow freedom of religion, free from intimidation.

In his speech marking the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, David Cameron spoke of the UK as a “Christian country” before declaring that should “actively stand up and defend” the values and morals from it that have shaped the UK. It’s time to stand up and stand up clearly for those very same values and moral worldwide as well.
As we look at the hideous position Syria’s Christians now find themselves in, let us remember the words of Martin Luther King:

“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends.”

EU: 'Being too Western' reason for 71% of 'honour' killings

Via the Irish Independent:

Yes, it's a cultural rather than a religious thing, stemming from some nasty tribal customs of South Asia and the Middle East, but though Hindus, Sikhs and the odd Christian might be perpetrators, the blunt truth is that honour killings are mainly Muslim-on-Muslim (91 per cent worldwide, 84 per cent North America, 96 per cent Europe).

Worldwide, two-thirds of victims (93 per cent women) were killed by their families of origin: 49 per cent in North America, 66 per cent in Europe and 72 per cent in Muslim countries. More than half the victims died in agony, having been either gang-raped or burned or stoned or beheaded or stabbed many times.

Being 'too Western' did for 58 per cent: this includes being insufficiently subservient, rejecting Islamic dress, wanting a career, having non-Muslim friends or boyfriends, rejecting an arranged marriage or leaving an abusive husband. This criterion covers 91 per cent of North American murders, 71 per cent of European and 43 per cent in the Muslim world. Offences against sexual propriety (eg being raped or accused of adultery) were the justification for the other murders.

Court of Appeal: Freedom of speech not absolute

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 8 — The rights and freedom of speech enshrined in the Federal Constitution are not absolute, the Court of Appeal ruled today.

As a result, statements made by Karpal Singh at a press conference in 2009 about Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak in relation to the political crisis in the state at the time, exceeded the boundaries permitted by the law and amounted to sedition.

This is despite the fact that Karpal (picture) in his capacity as a Member of Parliament and lawyer has the right to make political comments and express his views on the Constitution and the law, a 105-page judgment by Justice Datuk Ahmad Ma’arop added.

The Star Online reported Justice Ahmad as ruling the freedom of speech as enshrined in the Constitution meant a person had the right to speak, write or publish anything he liked so long as he does not break the law.

He also said the prosecution only needed to prove that the words uttered by Karpal could be deemed seditious — and not that they had led to an actual act of violence or an adverse reaction.

The news portal also quoted Justice Ahmad as saying it is immaterial as to whether Karpal’s statements were grounded in fact or not.

On January 20, Justice Ahmad, who presided over a three-man bench of the Court of Appeal, ordered Karpal to enter his defence on a charge of uttering seditious words against Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak during a press conference in 2009.

The panel, which also comprised justices Datuk Clement Allan Skinner and Datuk Seri Mohamed Apandi Ali set aside the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision on June 11, 2010 to acquit and discharge Karpal from the sedition charge without calling for his defence.

Karpal was charged with uttering the seditious words at his legal firm in Jalan Pudu Lama in Kuala Lumpur between 12pm and 12.30pm on February 6, 2009.

He is alleged to have said that the removal of Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin as mentri besar of Perak by the sultan could be questioned in a court of law.

The charge under section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act carries a maximum RM5,000 fine or three years’ jail, or both if convicted.

The Appeals Court, on January 20, also fixed tomorrow for mention of the case at the High Court.

In his judgment, Justice Ahmad said the panel did not accept Karpal’s submission that Section 3(1)(f) of the Sedition Act 1948, which makes questioning the rights and privileges of rulers an offence, was against the Federal Constitution.

Justice Ahmad further held the panel were in no doubt that the press conference was called with the hope that the proceedings would be reported.

He said Karpal at the press conference had repeatedly uttered words that clearly inferred the Sultan of Perak had broken the law, did not follow the law and did not respect the law.

Slim win seen for BN in Selangor

The Barisan Nasional is optimistic of wresting control of the state but with a three-seat majority.

By Rashid Ahmad

KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional (BN) is confident of capturing Selangor but with a slim majority of 31 state seats out of 56 in the coming general election.

This assessment is based on the current sentiments of the Malay voters who are said to be fed up with the many unfulfilled promises of the Pakatan Rakyat-led state government, the fading credibility of PKR de facto chief Anwar Ibrahim and the inability of PAS to control its partners – DAP and PKR – concerning Islamic issues.

BN currently holds 21 state seats in Selangor comprising 18 (Umno), one (MCA), and one from a PKR defector.

For the coming general election, Umno will field candidates in 35 seats, MIC six, while the remaining seats go to MCA and Gerakan.

BN does not pin much hope on MCA and Gerakan to win the hearts and minds of the Chinese voters.

Sources said that of the 41 seats that Umno and MIC would be contesting, 31 were considered “winnable” while the rest are even. Thus, its majority will be only three seats.

“BN is confident of taking back Selangor with a slim majority, despite the problems that the Pakatan-led state government is facing such as unfulfilled promises and internal strife.

“The ruling coalition is expected to scrap through despite the personal efforts of BN chairman and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak in trying hard to woo the voters.

“This thin margin of victory is primarily due to factionalism and infighting in Umno, MCA and Gerakan.

“Besides, the three parties are unable to regain the confidence of the Chinese and Indian voters.

“If Umno is truly united and MIC can be sure of obtaining more than 70 percent of the Indian voters, BN can get a higher majority,” the source said.

Sleepless nights

Another source said Umno and MIC would be fielding 60 percent new faces in the 41 seats they would be contesting (35 Umno and six MIC).

He added that such a drastic move would create “sleepless nights” for the incumbents who feel that they are still “relevant” or “winnable” if chosen again. But that decision – selection of candidates –will have to come from Umno president and Selangor chief Najib Tun Razak.

“You can expect a lots of fireworks in the BN camp when the names of the new candidates are released (by Najib) come nomination day. The incumbents will definitely not want to give up their seats without valid reasons.

“They have their own reasons for wanting to stay on. Moreover, faction heads who are working from behind the scene will want to make sure that their people are fielded again, given that party elections will have to be held just after the general election.

“Umno, in whatever new form it assumes, will still be the same as the internal power play is a far more serious matter than the general election,” the source said.

Three BN camps

Several sources said the Selangor Umno leadership would field new faces with “clean record”.

“When this happens, the incumbents will be upset. They will ask the leadership, ‘Am I corrupted?’

“They will claim that after serving the people in a clean manner, why should they be replaced by unknowns?” a source said.

To complicate matters, the three Umno factions in Selangor are working hard to ensure their men –the incumbents – are picked again to defend their seats.

The heads of these three camps are said to be Sri Serdang assemblyman Satim Diman, Sungai Panjang assemblyman Dr Mohd Khir Toyo and Selangor BN liaison deputy chief Noh Omar.

“These three factions want their incumbents retained so that they can become delegates to the party elections. They hope the delegates will vote for them (the faction heads) for a post in the Umno’s supreme council,” the source said.

The source added that BN can only win more more seats in Selangor if the internal discord in PKR and PAS continues unabated.

Ku Li talks about the mysterious plane crash in Sabah

Berikan kepercayaan kepada rakyat, bukan sebaliknya! — Sakmongkol AK47

8 FEB — Nampak nya, bila PM Najib menyeru kaum India mempercayai nya, dia sudah lupa kepada slogan dia sendiri. Suatu ketika dahulu, semasa berkobar kobar semangat liberalism dan terlalu taksub untuk meyakinkan dunia barat, PM Najib telah berkata bahawa zaman dimana pemerintah lebih tahu segala nya sudah berakhir. The age of government knows best is over. Translated, it also means, the age of big brotherism is over.

Tapi kita tahu, PM Najib kadang-kadang tidak tahu apa yang sudah diucapkan. Maklum sahajalah, sebahagian besar ucapan mengenai dasar-dasar negara, di sediakan oleh con-sultans. Slogan itu sedap di dengar, tapi perlaksanaan nya tidak ada.

Dan baru-baru ini, kita dengar PM Najib berkata perbelanjaan keatas kebajikan rakyat akan memufliskan negara. Adakah bantuan kepada rakyat yang susah, bayaran melalui jabatan kebajikan masyarakat misalnya, akan memiskinkan negara? Kenyataan ini amat sukar di terima memandangkan dalam masa 10 tahun (2000-2009) sebanyak satu trillion atau 1,000 billion telah hilang dari negara akibat pemindahan wang ke luar negara secara haram! Bayangkan jika jumlah tersebut di aplikasikan kepada kebajikan masyarakat! Maka yang sebetulnya membengkrapkan negara ini ialah rasuah dan pemindahan wang secara haram.

Pemindahan wang secara haram ini seperti nama nya, ialah pemindahan wang yang di perolehi secara rasuah atau haram kedalam akaun pemilik nya di luar negara. Tentu ada cara nya, kerajaan yang jujur mahu mendapatkan wang ini.

Slogan zaman kerajaan tahu segala nya sudah berakhir ketika di ucapkan menimbulkan perasaan gembira di kalangan rakyat. Apakah ertinya slogan itu bila di terjemah dengan jujur? Apabila di terjemah, slogan itu bermaksud, segala inisiatif bermula dari rakyat bukan dari pemimpin. Ertinya, PM Najib mahu memindahkan kuasa kepada rakyat. Tetapi itu semua untuk menyedapkan telinga.

Dari dulu, sekarang dan selama nya, Umno tidak akan memindahkan kuasa kepada rakyat. Kepada Umno, rakyat bukan nya tahu apa mereka mahu. Kerajaan lah yang super tahu. Sebab itu PM Najib kata percaya sama saya. Lu tolong gua, gua tolong lu. Beri saya nambikei, tembikai atau apa pun- maksud sebenar yang mahu Najib katakan ialah, kerajaan tahu segala nya. Itu sebab, caya sama gua.

Tapi, bila PM Najib berkata percaya pada saya, he has got it in reverse. Yang patut di sampaikan kepada PM Najib ialah, percayalah kepada rakyat, bukan sebaliknya. Jadi kita ulang — PM Najib, percayalah kepada rakyat. Kita tahu apa yang mesti di lakukan.

Tidak pula kita dengar PM Najib kata percaya kepada Umno. Dia hanya sebut percaya pada saya. Mungkinkah Presiden Umno pun tidak percaya kepada parti nya sendiri. Malang nya, inilah yang terjadi kepada Umno. Ia sebuah parti yang tidak di percayai dan tidak boleh di percayai.

Bagaimana rakyat mahu percaya kepada Umno jika Umno sendiri tidak yakin kepada rakyat? Bagaimana orang Melayu mahu yakin kepada Umno jika Umno tidak mempercayai orang Melayu? Cuba kita tanya — kepada siapakah Umno mempertaruhkan masa depan nya? Kepada orang Melayu atau kepada ahli parti yang seramai tiga juta itu?

Umno sebetulnya tidak mewakili orang Melayu. Yang di wakili oleh Umno ialah orang Melayu terpilih dan Melayu yang berkepentingan. Malahan, orang Melayu yang berada di luar Umno tidak di anggap Melayu oleh Umno. Siapakah Umno yang merasakan diri nya, berhak mendefinisikan siapa Melayu dan tidak Melayu? Bahkan, jika mahu di kira, ramai orang Melayu yang menyifatkan Najib Razak dan Hishamudin Hussein Onn tidak cukup Melayu. Mereka Melayu, tapi quotient Melayu mereka kurang.

Jangan lah kita percaya sangat apabila PM Najib berkata dia insaf dan merasakan apa yang RAKYAT rasakan. Najib mula jadi Melayu bila dia menggantikan Tun Razak sebagai ahli parlimen Pekan dalam tahun 1976.

Lihatlah kepada Umno wahai bangsa Melayu. Umno adalah parti yang mempertaruhkan masa depan nya kepada majority ahli nya yang berjumlah tiga juta itu. itu pun kesetiaan tiga juta ahli nya di perolehi melalui ugutan dan rasuah dan bentuk-bentuk pujukan yang lain. Umno di dominasi oleh golongan tender-preneur bukan oleh penyokong yang meyakini perjuangan Umno.

Parti yang menaruhkan masa depan nya diatas sogokan dan ugutan dan bukan diatas perjuangan untuk satu SERUAN, tidak akan bertahan lama. Umno ada jasad tetapi tidak ada roh. Ini ancaman terbesar kepada Umno.

Orang Melayu tidak ada masa depan dengan parti politik macam Umno hari ini. — sakmongkol.blogspot.com

* Sakmongkol AK47 is the nom de plume of Datuk Mohd Ariff Sabri Abdul Aziz. He was Pulau Manis assemblyman (2004-2008).

Malaysia Awaiting Arrival Of Indonesian Maids From March

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 9 (Bernama) -- The government is optimistic of receiving the first batch of Indonesian maids in early March after a two-year freeze, said Human Resource Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam.

He said Malaysia had done all things agreed upon by both countries and was awaiting the arrival of the first batch of Indonesian maids.

He said the efforts included a meeting between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to iron out the problem amicably at the end of last year.

However, the actual number of the first group of Indonesian maids will depend on the number of applications made through employment agencies in the country, he said at a news conference here Wednesday.

Indonesia officially withdrew the moratorium on the sending of maids to Malaysia starting Dec 1 last year but would only send them from March.

A total of 121 Malaysian employment agencies are getting ready to collaborate with their Indonesian counterparts in the placement of maids from the republic to Malaysia starting early next month.

Meanwhile, Subramaniam urged Indian youths to capitalise on the "My Career Fair 2012' specifically organised for them where over 2,500 job opportunities in government agencies, and government-linked and private companies would be up for grab.

Organised by the Cabinet Committee for the Indian Community under the Prime Minister's Department, it will be held at the Dewan Tunku Canselor, Universiti Malaya on Saturday, the Skudai Multipurpose Hall, Johor Baharu (Feb 19), the University Putra Malaysia's Grand Hall (Feb 25) and the Tamil Methodist Hall, Ipoh (March 4).

Under the Democracy Tree: Remembering Perak power grab

Perak Pakatan reps gathered under the Democracy Tree in Ipoh on 6 February to recall the third anniversary of the power grab in the state.

Photograph: Kinta Kid

Remember how Speaker Sivakumar was literally dragged out of his chair?
Kinta Kid has the full story with pictures here.

Racist Militia Slaughter 12 "Black" Libyans

The death toll from yesterday’s attack by the Misrata brigade on a refugee camp in Tripoli has reached 12.

Doctors and locals report that two of the dead were women and one elderly man. The exact number of injured is unknown although many videos have emerged online and in mainstream western and GCC media of wounded victims.

Inhabitants in the camp in the Janzour area are from the town of Tawergha, whose entire and predominantly Black Libyan population of about 35,000 were forced to flee from relentless attack by NATO and the Misrata rebels.

The attack began when a heavily armed rebel militia from Misrata entered the squalid camp situated in a naval base firing anti-aircraft guns mounted on pick up trucks in the air to scare the inhabitants. This was followed by some of the rebels opening fire  on the inhabitants.

Following the attack, Tawerghans took to the streets in protest. This could be seen on an Al Jazeera English video (which is now notated as "private.") However, the AJE report omits any mention of the inherent racism of the rebels that has been exposed by their systematic persecution of Black Libyans and migrants from other countries on the continent since the beginning of the crisis in Libya. It also omits that the channel has been at the forefront of aggravating racist attacks as a result of its relentless an unsubstantiated claims of a systematic policy by the Jamahiriyah government of hiring “African mercenaries” - racist terminology in itself which implies a separation between Libyans from Africa despite that the nation is African.

Reuters  reported that Abdelhafid Suleiman, head of the military council of Janzour, claimed that the inhabitants were armed with “sticks and knives”. But locals and doctors have insisted the inhabitants were unarmed and critics have stressed that this accusation contains racist language in line with the well documented racism of the Misrata rebels.

Elsewhere, reports have cited a statement released by locals in Janzour the Wershafana people of Libya pledging to arm the people of Tawergha so that they could defend themselves.

"Speaking Truth To Empower."

Father held for killing infant

BEHRAMPORE: A man allegedly hurled his one-and-half- month-old daughter at Mangaljone Mathpara in Raghunathgunj on Sunday night. Manoyara Khatun's forehead was badly injured and she died of heavy bleeding. As the news spread, the villagers informed the police.

Majibar Rahman was had been upset with his wife for having giving birth to a girl. Kohinoor Bibi, the baby's grandmother said, "When he came yesterday with some medicines and baby food, we forgave him. How could we suspect that he would kill his own child? Such cruelty is unacceptable to us and even to Allah! Allah would surely punish him."

Abusing his wife for having given birth to a daughter, on Sunday,he snatched Manoyara and hurled her to the ground. He had allegedly also killed his first child.

"As I gave birth to a daughter, my husband was annoyed with me. We are poor and thus he wanted a son. He accused me regularly and did not even come to my father's house to see the baby. But I could not imagine that he could kill his own daughter. I demand exemplary punishment," said the baby's mother.

Annappa E, additional SP of Murshidabad, said, "Police have started inquiry. Majibar was absconding at first but we finally arrested him from Raghunathgunj."

In another incident, police found the body of a newborn at Ghatbandar on the banks of Bhagirathi in Behrampore on Monday noon. "The parents probably had brought the baby in a bag and left it there. The baby's head was smeared with blood," said police.

Batu Caves: Temple of Garbage

Tuesday, February 07, 2012 -- Once again Batu Caves has turned into a sea of garbage on Thaipusam where dustbins were hard to locate like kids lost in the crowd and if you are lucky enough to find one,  you will be greatly disappointed as these bins will be extremely overflowing. The corrupted temple management is unable to solve this problem year after year.

Many assigned to serve drinks but none assigned to remove the trash

Festive air fills Batu Caves

KUALA LUMPUR -- An air of festivity filled Batu Caves as thousands of Hindus, tourists and traders thronged the famed Thaipusam spot today ahead of the festival tomorrow. Devotees flooded the Sri Subramaniyar Swami Temple as early as 8am, heads shaven before climbing up 272 steps to the temple, carrying the pal kudam, or milk pots, to fulfill their vows. A businessman from Ipoh, Dhilip Kumar, 23, said he was stunned by the beauty of Batu Caves and the festivity at the location. "This is my first time to Batu Caves, I did not expect that many Hindus to come each year. There were thousands today and perhaps by tomorrow the number will exceed a million," he told Bernama. Traffic in the area was under control by police and the Federal Reserve Unit. At mid-day, the route to Batu Caves was slow-moving, especially along the Middle Ring Road II (MRR2), to allow devotees cross the road to the temple. Karmalanita, 29, a lawyer from Melaka, said she brought a milk pot to be presented to Lord Murugan as she prayed for the peaceful departure of her husband, who passed away in an accident in November. A trader, P Gunaseelan, 59, from Gombak, came with his wife to make a vow for his child's successful heart bypass operation on Feb 23. Also known as Thaipooyam, or Thaippooyam in Malayalam, the festival observes the birthday of Lord Murugan, as well as commemorating his destruction of an evil power named Soorapadman. As in previous years, the festival in Batu Caves attracted thousands of tourists. Martin Nick, 59, an engineer from Denmark said, "This is my first time here, I'm surprised to see the big statue of Lord Murugan here, the biggest I have ever seen." Edvard Lambert, 38, a photographer from Scotland had his head shaved along with other Hindu devotees in Batu Caves to fulfill his vow to have a daughter after eight years. The festival was also an opportunity for traders at the Batu Caves, offering various items from food to clothes. -- Bernama

2 brothers died near Batu Caves NST, 07/02.12 OMBAK: A trash truck with faulty brakes rammed into a motorcycle, killing two brothers, here near the Batu Caves roundabout. Pix by Fahirul N. Ramli 1 / 1 Farouk Nor Shaharuddin, 18, and Norshahrizal Shaharuddin, 22,  were on their way to Ulu Yam recreational park with five other friends when they met with the accident. In the 1.25pm incident opposite the Batu Caves temple, the truck which was on MRR2 heading north, also hit a lorry, car and a bus before it halted. Police who were on standby for Ops Palu at the temple came immediately and sent the victims to Selayang Hospital. At 2pm, a firetruck came to clean the blood off the road.

Why yet to question Shahrizat, Kit Siang asks MACC

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7 — The DAP’s Lim Kit Siang is demanding answers as to why Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil has not been interrogated over the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) scandal when she is due to resume ministerial duties tomorrow.

The DAP advisor pointed out that the purpose of Shahrizat’s three-week leave was to allow investigators to determine the extent of her alleged involvement in the NFC and in order to do so, her statement would be central to the case.

Lim said the first thing Shahrizat should have done when commencing her leave was to give a full

The DAP advisor, in a statement today, said Shahrizat appears more “combative and truculent” since returning from her three-week leave. — file pic

statement to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to enable them to clear her name.

“And if Shahrizat did not volunteer to give a statement to MACC, why didn’t MACC call her up so that it could clear Shahrizat of any corrupt wrongdoing in the NFC scandal?”

“It would appear that Shahrizat’s three-week leave is nothing but a charade,” the Ipoh Timor MP said in a statement here.

Lim, who yesterday urged the federal government to extend Shahrizat’s leave pending completion of investigations, also expressed disgust at the minister for purportedly returning from her leave more triumphant than chastened.

He said from Shahrizat’s more “combative and truculent” behaviour, it appeared as if the latter was indirectly challenging both the Opposition and her detractors within Umno to a “battle royale” to force her into resignation.

Lim drew links between Shahrizat’s confidence and a recent statement she made when commenting on the scandal — “which Umno leader does not have a problem”.

Describing Shahrizat’s words as “defiant but eloquent”, Lim said the minister was likely feeling triumphant as she felt she was in safe company and would enjoy immunity and impunity for her role in the NFC.

“Can every Cabinet minister publicly declare that he or she does not have similar problems as Shahrizat and does not have any next-of-kin, whether husband, wife, son or daughter, who has taken massive government loans for whatever projects which were misused for purposes completely unrelated to the loan disbursement,” he asked.

Lim said tomorrow’s Cabinet meeting would be crucial to Shahrizat’s fate as ministers should decide whether to extend her leave as well as how to explain the NFC scandal.

He asked: “Is there any Cabinet minister tomorrow who dares to ask Shahrizat to fully clear herself of any wrongdoing, whether abuse of power or conflict of interest, in the NFC scandal before she resumes her duty as Minister for Women, Family and Community Development?”

Behave or face the music, Palani told

Branch leader threatens MIC chief with a Gerakan-Anti Palanivel if he continues to abuse his position for political mileage.

KLANG: MIC president G Palanivel has been warned against usurping incumbents from their current constituencies. If he insists on pursuing this path, then an anti-Palani campaign will be mooted, said a branch chairman.

VT Rajen, the Taman Mujur branch chairman, said that he would launch a Gerakan-Anti Palanivel (GAP) if the party chieftain continues to abuse his position for political mileage.

Rajen said that Palani had betrayed party members by holding a secret meeting with the Cameron Highlands Umno division chief, allegedly to topple incumbent SK Devamany.

“In the history of the party, no MIC chief has ever tried to surreptitiously do a number on his own men,” Rajen told FMT.

Devamany, who is also a MIC vice-president, is a Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department’s Economic Planning Unit.

Palanivel was taken to task by Rajen for keeping mum when Cameron Highlands Umno leaders were criticising Devamany in the media the past week.

Cameron Highlands Umno Youth and its Puteri wing urged Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to drop Devamany from the resort district and to replace him with Palanivel.

“Irrespective of the prime minister’s decision, Palanivel must stand solidly behind Devamany and defend his man instead of letting others destroy him and tarnish MIC’s reputation.

“As party president, he should not allow outsiders to offer advice or dictate terms on the internal affairs of the MIC,” said Rajen.

‘Contest in Sungai Siput, Palani’

Rajen insisted that MIC must retain its incumbent MPs in their respective constituencies as it was the desire of members to see those who succeeded in the last election retained.

Besides Devamany, MIC holds three parliamentary seats, with party deputy president Dr S Subramaniam in Segamat, M Saravanan in Tapah and P Kamalanathan in Hulu Selangor.

Rajen also suggested that Palanivel contest in Sungai Siput if the latter really wants to prove his mettle in the next general election.

“Sungai Siput has always been a bastion of past MIC presidents like Tun Sambanthan and S Samy Vellu and Palanivel should maintain the tradition.”

Rumours have been rife since last year that Palanivel was keen on contesting in 13th general election despite speculation that Najib wanted the MIC president to stay out of the race.

Apart from Cameron Highlands, it is learnt that Palanivel is also eyeing the Padang Serai and Kuala Selangor Parliamentary seats.

Welfare Department blasted for Thaipusam gaffe

A message on the department's Facebook page extends Thaipusam greetings to Buddhists instead of Hindus.

PETALING JAYA: It is now the Social Welfare Department’s (JKMM) turn to become the object of ridicule among Malaysians following a cultural gaffe on its Facebook page.

The department’s Facebook status message yesterday read “Selamat Menyambut Thaipusam kpd mereka beragama Buddha” (HappyThaipusam to those who are Buddhists).

Thaipusam is celebrated by Hindus while Buddhists celebrate Wesak. The JKMM’s Facebook administrator realised the mistake and updated the status message to “Selamat Menyambut Thaipusam” (Happy Thaipusam) fifteen minutes later.

However the previous message was not removed leading to a flurry of indignant and incredulous comments from the public.

The department was slammed as “stupid”, “ignorant”, “an embarrassment” and “insensitive” with a number of commenters calling for an apology and a removal of the offending message.

“More than 50 years of independence and this is the sort of rubbish we get from a totally wasted and incompetent government,” wrote Krish Kumar.

“Perhaps (JKMM) needs to go back to school and learn which religious celebrations belong to which religion…this is seriously a disgusting display of ignorance,” said Suzanne Lazaroo.

“Ni bukan kata bodoh tapi jahil…JKM patut membuat permohonan maaf secara terbuka akibat kesilapan ni (This isn’t stupidity but ignorance…JKM should issue an open apology for this mistake),” stated Azhar Aris.

A few commenters also predicted that JKMM would follow in the footsteps of the Defence Ministry in blaming the mistake on “bad translation”.

The Defence Minstry recently found itself the laughing stock of Malaysians for blunders on its English site and pointed its finger at Google Translate.

JKMM’s faux pas comes just days after Putrajaya member of parliament, Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, apologised for the Tamil translation and spelling errors on Thaipusam banners placed around the constituency.

The banners were taken down a day later.

Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen

Malaysians in general, Malaysia Today readers included, do not appear to understand the meaning of democracy, equality, freedom, and the rights of man and of the citizens. That is why most look at rights from only one side of the coin. Before you scream about rights and respect of these rights, maybe you can read what was passed in France on 26 August 1789. Then start debating, or else you will appear very shallow and narrow-minded in your views.
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
Approved by the National Assembly of France, August 26, 1789

The representatives of the French people, organized as a National Assembly, believing that the ignorance, neglect, or contempt of the rights of man are the sole cause of public calamities and of the corruption of governments, have determined to set forth in a solemn declaration the natural, unalienable, and sacred rights of man, in order that this declaration, being constantly before all the members of the Social body, shall remind them continually of their rights and duties; in order that the acts of the legislative power, as well as those of the executive power, may be compared at any moment with the objects and purposes of all political institutions and may thus be more respected, and, lastly, in order that the grievances of the citizens, based hereafter upon simple and incontestable principles, shall tend to the maintenance of the constitution and redound to the happiness of all.

Therefore the National Assembly recognizes and proclaims, in the presence and under the auspices of the Supreme Being, the following rights of man and of the citizen:

Articles:

1. Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Social distinctions may be founded only upon the general good.
2. The aim of all political association is the preservation of the natural and imprescriptible rights of man. These rights are liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.
3. The principle of all sovereignty resides essentially in the nation. No body nor individual may exercise any authority which does not proceed directly from the nation.
4. Liberty consists in the freedom to do everything which injures no one else; hence the exercise of the natural rights of each man has no limits except those which assure to the other members of the society the enjoyment of the same rights. These limits can only be determined by law.
5. Law can only prohibit such actions as are hurtful to society. Nothing may be prevented which is not forbidden by law, and no one may be forced to do anything not provided for by law.
6. Law is the expression of the general will. Every citizen has a right to participate personally, or through his representative, in its foundation. It must be the same for all, whether it protects or punishes. All citizens, being equal in the eyes of the law, are equally eligible to all dignities and to all public positions and occupations, according to their abilities, and without distinction except that of their virtues and talents.
7. No person shall be accused, arrested, or imprisoned except in the cases and according to the forms prescribed by law. Any one soliciting, transmitting, executing, or causing to be executed, any arbitrary order, shall be punished. But any citizen summoned or arrested in virtue of the law shall submit without delay, as resistance constitutes an offense.
8. The law shall provide for such punishments only as are strictly and obviously necessary, and no one shall suffer punishment except it be legally inflicted in virtue of a law passed and promulgated before the commission of the offense.
9. As all persons are held innocent until they shall have been declared guilty, if arrest shall be deemed indispensable, all harshness not essential to the securing of the prisoner's person shall be severely repressed by law.
10. No one shall be disquieted on account of his opinions, including his religious views, provided their manifestation does not disturb the public order established by law.
11. The free communication of ideas and opinions is one of the most precious of the rights of man. Every citizen may, accordingly, speak, write, and print with freedom, but shall be responsible for such abuses of this freedom as shall be defined by law.
12. The security of the rights of man and of the citizen requires public military forces. These forces are, therefore, established for the good of all and not for the personal advantage of those to whom they shall be intrusted.
13. A common contribution is essential for the maintenance of the public forces and for the cost of administration. This should be equitably distributed among all the citizens in proportion to their means.
14. All the citizens have a right to decide, either personally or by their representatives, as to the necessity of the public contribution; to grant this freely; to know to what uses it is put; and to fix the proportion, the mode of assessment and of collection and the duration of the taxes.
15. Society has the right to require of every public agent an account of his administration.
16. A society in which the observance of the law is not assured, nor the separation of powers defined, has no constitution at all.
17. Since property is an inviolable and sacred right, no one shall be deprived thereof except where public necessity, legally determined, shall clearly demand it, and then only on condition that the owner shall have been previously and equitably indemnified.

This document was written by The Marquis de Lafayette, with help from his friend and neighbor, American envoy to France, Thomas Jefferson.
Lifted from: http://www.marxists.org/history/france/revolution/rights-man.htm

India's Politicians Keep it in the Family

We hardly know each other

Dynastic politics rule the day – across South Asia as well
Mayawati, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state with 200 million people, has often ridiculed Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi, calling him yuvaraj, Hindi for `prince’. The waspish reference is to the 41-year-old’s bloodline -- the Nehru-Gandhi lineage that has dominated the Indian political matrix for over five generations.

That is despite the fact that the 56-year-old Mayawati, who publicly professes anathema for dynastic politics, has herself fielded more kin and friends of her party -- the Bahujan Samaj Party or BSP -- than Congress itself. Many of her favored ministers’ relatives occupy high positions within the state

As the electoral battle in Uttar Pradesh, which goes to the polls in a series of staggered elections starting tomorrow -- gets increasingly clamorous, Rahul, son of the ruling UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and the Congress party’s future prime ministerial candidate, will be facing more such barbs spotlighting the politics of inheritance in the world’s largest democracy.

But the lottery of birth has become a serious determinant of political fortunes in India to the point where the country is often referred to as "a democracy of dynasties, for dynasties and by dynasties". The Gandhi family should know. It is probably the world's oldest democratic dynasty, producing a team of grandfather-daughter-grandson prime ministers that has ruled India for 37 of its 65 years as an independent state.

However, to be fair to the Gandhis and Mayawati, nepotism is well entrenched in the other Indian political parties as well, both at the state and national level. This fact has become more evident as five Indian states – UP, Goa, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Manipur – head for assembly polls this month.

The culture of dynastic politics permeates other political parties as well. Ramji Suman, Samajwadi Party (SP) general secretary for instance, has procured a ticket for his son Ranjeet Singh from Jalesar in Etah while jailed former minister Amarmani Tripathi’s son Amanmani is the SP candidate from Nautanwa in Maharajganj district.

The culture of nepotism is prevalent within the country’s largest opposition party, the Hindu fundamentalist Bhartiya Janata Party, as well. Here, Lalji Tandon, party MP from Lucknow, one of the most significant political constituencies in the country, has secured a party ticket for his son Ashutosh Tandon from Lucknow North. Raj Kishore Verma, son- in- law of BJP spokesperson Ramnath Kovid, is a party candidate from Balamau in Hardoi. BJP MP Ramakant Yadav’s wife Ranjana Yadav is contesting from Nizamabad and his son Arun Yadav from Jalalpur

In India’s richest state of Punjab, dominated by the feudal Jat culture, politics has been a family affair since independence in 1947. Here, six powerful clans have presided over the state’s political fortunes. These include wealthy, landed Jat families like the Patiala Royals, Badals of Muktsar, Majithias of Amritsar, Kairons of Tarn Taran, Brars of Sarai Naga and Manns of Sangrur.

“Elections are merely a process of temporarily shifting the balance of power from one clan to the other. Inter-clan marriages have spawned political havens that ensure that no family is ever completely out of power,” wrote Asit Jolly in India Today magazine.

Analysts say fielding the kin of party veterans gained momentum during 2009 Lok Sabha (lower house) elections when relatives of several leaders from across the political spectrum jumped into the fray.

“The dynastic equation serves everybody well,” said sociologist Dr. Ashit Basu of Kolkata University. “The political party can cash in on a brand name while capitalizing on the political capital invested by the family in the state’s administrative/PR machinery. The electorate also seems to be more at ease with a candidate whose ancestors have been familiar faces in the political arena.”

It should be pointed out tht India is far from alone. American scholar Stephen Hess, who wrote America's Political Dynasties, talked of American political dynasties coming "in all sizes and flavors." Access to the political system in most countries is costly in terms of money and only those who can afford the time, money, resources and have the requisite connections find an entry into what is often “an exclusive, if not closed club”. “Political lineage buttressed by money helps facilitate that entry,” Hess wrote.

Democratic purists would do well to remember that such blatant partisanship exists all over the world. South Asia has been perhaps the most famous for such dynasties. Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal all have well-entrenched traditions. In Nepal, after the massacre of the entire royal family at the turn of the century, the king's brother took over. Prime Minister G.P. Koirala's two other brothers were prime ministers as well — the only instance of three brothers serving in such high elective office.

In Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Solomon Bandranaike's widow, Sirimavo Bandranaike, became prime minister followed by her daughter, Chandrika Kumaratunga as president. Bangladesh too, has seen two redoubtable women rule -- Sheikh Hasina, daughter of erstwhile President Mujibur Rahman, and Khaleda Zia, widow of President Ziaur Rahman.

In Pakistan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was prime minister during 1971- 1977 while his daughter Benazir was elected for two stints during the 1990s, the first woman from a Muslim state to head a government. In the Philippines, families have dominated politics for decades. Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma, Megawati Sukarnoputri in Indonesia, Peron of Argentina, Hafez al Assad in Syria, Kim Il-Sung are some other examples from this near-monarchical tradition.

The election of George W. Bush as president eight years after his father left the White House, and Makiko Tanaka's induction as Japan's foreign minister some 25 years after her father was premier, prove that the First World isn’t immune. Although the Kennedys were the most famous Western political dynasty, the Bush election was the second instance in American history of a father-son presidency.

In fact dynastic participation in the world’s oldest democracy is quite common in American state and local politics. Former U.S. vice president Al Gore’s father was a senator while Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's son was a Cabinet official under Clinton and campaign manager for Gore.

As far as India is concerned, experts are hopeful that as Indians get increasingly enlightened about their democratic rights, they will hold their government accountable over corruption, economic performance, social benefits etc. “In such a scenario, bloodlines will matter less and will eventually pave way for something more openly contested and democratic,” predicts Basu.

Till then, however, Indian political candidates will continue to flex their dynastic muscle.

(Neeta Lal is a New Delhi-based senior journalist; neetalal@hotmail.com.)

PROTON CARS

1. I stopped using Proton cars after I stepped down. I wanted to enjoy the superior quality of the high-end European and Japanese cars.

2. Proton was known for its cheap cars. The assumption is that it can never produce cars of quality as represented by European, Japanese and even Korean cars.

3. The people at Proton are unhappy over this reputation. They feel it is wrong to think that they cannot produce high end cars. It is just that the company policy was to produce run-of-the-mill cars. The Malaysian public expect Malaysian cars to be cheap. Cheap cars just cannot have the quality and the features of the more costly imports.

4. Proton people want to show that given the support they can produce quality cars.

5. The other day I test drove their latest model on the test track at Shah Alam. I can verify and assure Proton customers and Malaysians generally that this new model can match any of the Japanese or European quality cars. It was such a pleasure to drive. A foreign friend who knows cars, tested the car and says it is up to the standard of the up-market cars from Europe.

6. This car uses hot press steel body which is stronger than cold press. It has a 1.6 liter turbocharged engine equal to a 2.0 liter engine power. The engine complies with Euro-five standards.

7. A whole list of feature has been incorporated. This includes Vehicle Seek Lamp, Wiper Auto Speed, Auto side door folding mirror, Push Button Start / Stop, Sensors for Automatic Wiper and Headlamp and GPS Antenna for Navigation System.

8. Additionally it has Impact Sensing Door Lock, Continuous Variable Transmission, Security Alarm System, Immobiliser and Central Locking.

9. The automatic version has Shift Lever with Tiptronic Mode and Paddle Shifter on Steering Wheel for seven gear changes. ABS to prevent skidding and BA (Brake Assist) to increase brake pedal force.

10. There are many others features which enhances the performance of the engine and driveability of the car.

11. There will be several models with less features than I describe. But they are all superior to the other Proton cars.

12. Naturally the price would be higher though probable cheaper than imports with similar features and quality.

13. I believe this is a great car and Proton can be proud of it. Malaysians can be proud of it too. The extra Ringgit you have to spend will be worth it.

14. The car will be available in three months time.

‘Trust’ Najib!

The Malaysian Insider — Sam Peh

FEB 7 — Why all this cynicism about Najib Razak’s “trust me and I can help you” statement? This is a man who can be “trusted”.

Let us examine the evidence since he became prime minister in 2009.

He can be “trusted” to keep silent when Perkasa bashes the Chinese and Indians and questions the loyalty of non-Malays.

He can be “trusted” to keep silent when supporters of Umno drag a cow head through the streets in protest against the construction of a temple in Shah Alam.

He can be “trusted” to pretend to be deaf when Umno politicians make all sorts of accusations against Christians and Christianity. (Note to PM: Not all Indians are Hindus)

He can be “trusted” to understand that it’s fine for ministers’ families to get government soft loans and use the money for better-yielding purchases.

He can be “trusted” to use 1 Malaysia as a sticker for any venture that basically gives money to voters in return for support.

He can be “trusted” to allow state companies to be sold to government cronies and even national projects awarded without open tenders.

He can be “trusted” to start a health insurance scheme where the people have to pay, although the government provides primary health-care.

Please “trust” Najib to do what it takes to keep power.

Become A Partner Based On Nambikei, Najib Urges Indian Community

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has urged the Indian community to become a partner to the government based on the nambikei concept (believe, trust, confidence and hope) to spur the transformation programme in charting the development towards a high-income economy.

The prime minister said as a partner under the 'nambikei concept, more could be done for the development of the people, including the Indian community.

"By embracing this concept, there is no problem that cannot be resolved. I trust you, you trust me," he said when addressing thousands of devotees attending the Thaipusam celebration at Batu Caves here Tuesday.

Present were the prime minister's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel, and Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

Najib said all promises made by the Barisan Nasional (BN) government, either to the Indian community or other races would be fulfilled.

He said how importance Thaipusam was to the Hindus as the day of making a vow and praying for a better life, the government was also striving to provide a more secure future and better quality of life to the people.

The prime minister said the government's undertaking to help the Indian community in all aspects, including education, economy, religion and nationality problem had a positive impact for the assistance rendered was greater than before.

"We have never broken our promises... if the BN government promises to do something, we will do it," he said.

Najib said besides improving the Indian community's education, the government would approve the construction of six more sekolah rendah jenis kebangsaan Tamil (SRJKT) in Selangor, Perak, Kedah and Johor as decided at a meeting with SRJKT teachers, recently.

He said 3,315 identity card and citizenship cases involving the Indian community had been solved since the launch of the MyDaftar programme 10 months ago.

Video: Khairy vs Rafizi debate

This good-humoured debate between Umno Youth leader Khairy Jamaluddin and PKR director of strategies Rafizi Ramli was held in the UK on 29 January. 

Syria steps up assault on Homs

Reports of dozens killed in heavy shelling as Russian foreign minister heads to Damascus to push for reforms.

A Syrian military assault on Homs has killed dozens of people, as world powers scramble for a diplomatic strategy to end the violence in the country after the defeat of a UN Security Council resolution.

Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov is due to visit Damascus on Tuesday to press President Bashar al-Assad to implement democratic reforms after Russia and China vetoed any UN-backed measures against the Syrian government over its crackdown on the 11-month uprising.

Ahead of his visit, Lavrov said condemnation of Moscow's veto had verged on "hysteria"

He said Moscow sought "the swiftest stabilisation of the situation in Syria on the basis of the swiftest implementation of democratic reforms whose time has come".

The Russian initiative comes a day after the United States shut its embassy in Damascus and Belgium and Britain recalled their ambassadors.

US President Barack Obam said that while the West was prepared to lean hard on President Bashar al-Assad diplomatically, they still had no intention of using force to topple him.

"I think it is very important for us to try to resolve this without recourse to outside military intervention. And I think that's possible," Barack Obama told NBC's Today show.

Activists and witnesses said the Syrian army had stepped up its attacks on opposition fighters after the UN resolution was blocked by Russia and China.

Abu Abdo Alhomsy, an activist of a revolutionary council in Homs, described to Al Jazeera an attack on Monday on the city as live pictures showed smoke billowing into the sky.

'Rockets are falling'

"It is horrible right here," Alhomsy said. "Rockets are falling. There are massive explosions that shook buildings. We don't know really what to do.

"Its a massive attack - a new massacre is happening here. Nobody can go out, we don't know how many homes have been hit or how many people died."

The UK-based opposition group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), said at least 29 civilians were killed and dozens more wounded.

But it said the death toll was likely to rise because many of the wounded had suffered critical injuries.

Syrian authorities, who have denied firing on houses, said security forces killed "tens of terrorists" in Homs on Monday morning. An interior ministry statement said six members of the security forces were killed in the clashes.

The shelling, which began at dawn, was mainly targeting the neighbourhoods of Khaldiyeh, Bab Amr, Inshaat and Bab Sbaa, the SOHR said.

Video received by Al Jazeera from opposition activists on Sunday showed the apparent devastation caused by a military offensive in the Bab Amr neighbourhood of Homs.

A video posted by activists on YouTube apparently showed a field hospital hit by the shelling in Bab Amr. Wounded patients could be seen lying on stretchers on the floor amid pools of blood and shattered glass. Bodies of dead people with horrific injuries were also shown inside the hospital.

The authenticity of the video could not immediately be verified.

Syrian state television has accused "armed gangs" of being behind the latest violence in Homs.

'Non-stop bombing'

Activists and witnesses said the army had been shelling Bab Amr "indiscriminately" since Sunday morning.

The video images appear to show people who have been shot and hit by shrapnel, including heavily injured young children.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Danny Abdul Dayem, a resident of Homs, said: "It has been terrible. There is non-stop bombing with rockets, mortar bombs and tank shells. There were more than 50 people injured in Bab Amr today.

"I saw with my own eyes kids with no legs, and a kid who lost his whole bottom jaw. It is terrible."

In the northeast of the country, army deserters destroyed a military control post early on Monday, killing three officers and capturing 19 soldiers in the process, the SOHR said.

The fighting happened in the village of Al Bara in the Idlib region, it said.

It said none of the army deserters involved was killed and that the regular army post was completely destroyed.

The death toll in Syria rose to at least 88 people over the weekend - one of the bloodiest since the uprising against Bashar al-Assad's government erupted almost 11 months ago.

Opposition groups say at least 6,000 people have now been killed in Syria.

Source:Al Jazeera and agencies

Pictured: Swollen face of trainee chef left for dead after he was savagely beaten 'by Asian gang in hate crime attack'

Police hunting a gang of Asian youths who battered a Caucasian teenager and left him for dead were treating the savage beating as a ‘hate crime’ last night.

Trainee chef Dan Stringer, 17, was repeatedly kicked and punched by a mob of up to eight people after he fell over as they were chasing him down the street near Manchester.

The victim and his best friend Kavan Brown, also 17, were walking down Market Street, Hyde, Saturday evening when they passed by a takeaway shop.

Inside were a group of Asian men and a woman, one of whom banged on the window, produced a knife and made a threatening gesture suggesting they were going to cut their throats.

The victims ignored the gang and walked on, but moments later the group spilled outside and ran after them.

Before the attack: Trainee chef Dan Stringer, 17, was repeatedly kicked and punched by a mob of up to eight people after he fell over as they were chasing him down the street

They tried to flee, but Dan fell over and was attacked by the gang.

Victim: Police hunting a gang of Asian youths who battered the teenager and left him for dead are treating the savage beating as a 'hate crime'

Greater Manchester Police said he was repeatedly punched and kicked as he lay on the ground, suffering two fractured eye sockets.

He underwent surgery in hospital and is now in a stable condition. His mother Cheryl Stringer, 44, a care home supervisor from Stockport, Greater Manchester, posted a message on Facebook: ‘Been at Manchester Eye hospital all day.

‘He has damaged his nerves behind his eye we don't know the extent of this until his swelling goes down.

‘He then needs plastic surgery on the eye socket that they broke in two places. He also has several fractures to his cheek that needs plastic surgery and he also has a fractured skull.

‘It's going to be a long long battle for my gorgeous boy. Still can't understand why they left him in the road to die. What b******s do this?

‘Do they not have mums who care and poor Kav who had to stand and see his best mate left for dead. Well I hope they rot in hell.’

The teenager needs plastic surgery on the eye socket that is broken in two places. He also has several fractures to his cheek and a fractured skull

Kavan who suffered a broken nose in the attack said: ‘I just can't understand why it happened. ‘I'd never seen any of them in my life before but they seemed to pick us out as we walked down the street.

‘They split us up and we each had five of them attacking us, it was horrific. When they ran off, I saw Daniel on the floor, he was conscious but in a really bad way.

‘I'm still in shock at what happened to me but it's even more horrendous to see your best mate in the state he's in and now we're all just praying he'll be okay.’

A police spokesman confirmed the attack was being treated as a hate crime, although it is understood

there were no racist or other comments directed at either victim.

Police said there were seven or eight offenders who are described as being Asian, in their late teens or early 20s.

Det Insp Dave Moores said: ‘The hospitalised victim hasn't yet been able to give us an account of what happened and what led up to this.

‘As a result we cannot speculate on a possible motive for this. What I can say is that one man has been left seriously injured while another is nursing less serious cuts and bruises.

‘It happened at a time of night where there are usually plenty of people milling around walking between pubs or visiting takeaways in the area.

‘A large group of up to eight offenders ran after the victims and anyone seeing it would have been under no illusions of what they were witnessing.

‘Please, if you saw the incident or what led up to it, or if you have any information that could help us, then pick up the phone.

‘I completely understand why this would cause some legitimate concern in the community, but I do not want anyone to jump to any conclusions about this.

‘This type of incident is unusual in Hyde, but that does not lessen the impact on the victims, their families and the wider community.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2097330/Dan-Stringer-Picture-trainee-chef-beaten-Asian-gang-hate-crime-attack.html#ixzz1lfdhsnnw

KITA leaders to talk about party future sans Zaid

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7 — Parti Keadilan Insan Tanah Air (KITA) leaders are planning to meet at the end of the month to decide their future ahead of Datuk Zaid Ibrahim’s decision to dissolve the party.

“If the party can be free from infestation by undesirable elements and infiltrators without dissolving the party, then it is a preferred option.

“However if the party leadership feels that the best way to prevent the party from being a vehicle to abuse the electoral process is to close the party, then that will be the decision taken,” the party’s information chief Mohamed Mazlan Abdul Manaf said in a statement today.

He said he agreed with Zaid (picture) that KITA “does not condone dirty tactics and gutter politics” but stressed that the statement was the only president’s personal view and was not entirely shared by the other members.

He said the dissolution would only be one of the options that will be discussed at its next central executive committee meeting at the end of this month.

Last Thursday, Zaid said an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) would be held to dissolve KITA following reports of members in Kedah and Penang openly attacking Pakatan Rakyat (PR), “making it clear that they are not interested in real issues and merely want to embarrass and ridicule the opposition.”

Several state leaders then held a press conference on Saturday saying they rejected Zaid’s bid to dissolve the party and called for his resignation as the proposal was”unprincipled” and “irresponsible”.

“While we welcome members who genuinely wish to contest in the elections to fight for the party’s manifesto and principles, we will not field candidates whose objective is to ‘spoil votes’, and who are being used by certain groups to achieve their political aims.

“We will certainly not allow the party to be used in that way,” Mohamed Mazlan said.

He also said the party has been “infiltrated by members whose sole agenda appears to be to contest the next general election.”

Zaid, a former Umno minister who joined the opposition PKR in mid-2009, had alleged gross abuse in the PR party’s election process during his unsuccessful campaign to be deputy president, which eventually led him to form KITA.

But the two-year-old party has been fraught with internal bickering and challenges against Zaid’s leadership by other KITA members, who have disagreed with his pro-opposition stand.

Zaid recently announced that KITA will not be contesting the coming polls and promised to offer the party’s “unconditional support” to the federal opposition.

The state leaders from Kedah, Selangor and Johor had also said they wanted former Selangor PAS chief Datuk Hasan Ali to lead the party instead of Zaid.

The former Selangor executive councillor last week said he would start a new non-governmental organisation called JATI to continue defending Islam, Malay rights and the Malay Rulers, describing it as a “third force” to help determine who should form the next government.

The Gombak Setia assemblyman was expelled from the party last month for having persistently undermined PAS’s leadership.

Hasan has also repeatedly accused the party of deviating from its Islamic cause.

RPK: There is corruption in Selangor

The controversial blogger, who claims that he is trying to save Pakatan Rakyat, vows to reveal proof and hopes that Anwar Ibrahim will act on the matter.
VIDEO INSIDE

PETALING JAYA: Controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin has alleged that there is corruption in the Pakatan Rakyat Selangor government and vowed to disclose the evidence.

Following this, he expressed hope that the opposition bloc’s leader Anwar Ibrahim would act on the matter even if it meant that the heads of his close associates had to roll.

When his complaints fell on deaf ears, Raja Petra told FMT that he was forced to turn to the pro-government mainstream media to drive home the point.

“And boy, did we shake them up,” stressed the blogger, who earned fame by rattling the Barisan Nasional ruling coalition via the alternative media.

However, Raja Petra said that instead of acknowledging the problem and promising to rectify it, Pakatan chose to discredit him.

“Their reaction was ‘he has been bought, he is working for Umno’… if the best they can do is (to accuse me) of ‘mala fide’ (and) that I am out to kill Pakatan rather than save Pakatan, which is what I am trying to do, then I have to take this to the next step,” he added.

The next step, he explained, would be to furnish the evidence since Pakatan leaders had urged him to do so instead of hurling allegations.

“Sometimes, be careful what you wish for. But since this is a challenge, and people have said ‘unless you can prove your allegations with evidence, we are not going to take notice of you’…fine. This is what you want, it is not what I want, I will do what you want.



“After this (when the evidence is revealed), I hope the effect will be… that Anwar will grab the bull by

the horns. And even if he has to cut off the heads of the people he loves, he will do so,” he added.

Raja Petra warned that if Anwar chose to shield those responsible, then he should be prepared to face the consequence of Pakatan losing Selangor.

Earlier, the blogger said that when he met the opposition leader in London in 2010, he had told the latter about the alleged corruption in Selangor but nothing was done about it.

Raja Petra claimed that he was alerted about the matter a year earlier by one of his whistleblowers, who was supposed to compile the evidence.

He also made a startling allegation that this whistleblower was murdered two weeks later but declined to elaborate on the incident.

“That’s another story, which we will talk about another time,” he said.

‘Umno sharks smell blood’

Meanwhile, Raja Petra also claimed that certain Pakatan politicians in Selangor had solicited funds from businessmen for their electoral war chest.

“These people (the businessmen) are doing business in Selangor, they need approvals, they need help from the state government. Would these people dare say ‘no’? Or (say) that they think this is unethical?

“Of course they would have to give, because if they don’t give, they would be in trouble. One person had refused to give and his project is in trouble now, he can’t get the approval,” he added.

Raja Petra stressed that these issues must be brought into the open and hopefully Pakatan would act to prove to the voters in Selangor that it was serious about combating corruption.

“It worries me when people who voted Pakatan in 2008, today tell me ‘Pakatan, BN all the same, both also corrupted’. This is not a good sign,” he said, adding that the voice of discontent was growing in numbers, including among those close to Pakatan and its leaders.

The blogger said that Pakatan faced a genuine risk of losing Selangor and this had even prompted a power struggle in Umno, with regard to who should be the next menteri besar if BN captured the state.

“These are like sharks, which smell the blood…,” he said, adding that the sharks in Umno had picked up the scent because they could sense that Pakatan might be “ripped to pieces” in the next polls.

Raja Petra said that if Pakatan wanted to wait until after the election to rectify the problem, then it would be too late just like what happened in Perak.

“Do we want to wait until Selangor is also lost?” he asked.

Not everyone in Umno is happy with his meet-the-people sessions.

Not everyone in Umno is happy with his meet-the-people sessions.

By Rashid Ahmad

KUALA LUMPUR: The election fever is still around, but temperatures are not as high as they were at the end of last year, when politics was on everyone’s lips, including schoolchildren.

The fever started going down in December, when people were busy collecting the RM100 government handouts for their school-going children. This month, they are busy filling up forms for the RM500 cash aid.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is continuing with his meet-the-people sessions, announcing various new policies and trying to rebut allegations of Barisan Nasional misdeeds. The opposition parties seem to have plenty of information that even grassroots Umno leaders are not privy to.

Najib’s people claim that he is not on an election campaign trail, but merely doing his duty of seeing to it that the people get the most out of the country’s economic development.

However, voices from both sides of the political divide insist that he is campaigning, playing Santa Claus to win votes for BN.

In Umno itself, grassroots leaders liken Najib’s campaign to the United States’ presidential campaign. A Selangor-based leader said the prime minister was doing exactly what an American presidential candidate would do – moving from one state to another at lightning speed.

But are Malaysian voters ready for that kind of politics?

“Malaysian voters, if I am not wrong, do not go much for the kind of party politics that Najib is trying to promote now – vote BN because I am the chairman and I will see to it that your problems will be solved,” said the Selangor Umno man.

“Malaysians, especially the rural Malays, still want to be connected with their assemblymen or MPs on a personal basis. They get some kind of satisfaction with assurances from the assemblymen or MPs although some may be aware that they might not even raise their problems with the party leadership.

“Given that kind of attitude, I wonder how effective Najib’s campaign is although he and other leaders say it is not a campaign but a series of meet-the-people sessions or whatever name they care to call it.”

Valid question

Another grassroots Umno leader said some Malay voters were asking whether the Najib sessions were an indication that Cabinet ministers were not capable of doing what he was doing or that local Umno leaders had lost their credibility. He said this was a valid question.

“Or have MIC, MIC and other BN parties lost their influence? These are questions we get at the grassroots although we manage to get people to attend all the Najib functions,” he said.

“Najib has, one way or another, diluted the credibility of grassroots leaders. This may be bad for us or whoever will be contesting in the coming election.”

While Umno grassroots leaders are debating the pros and cons of Najib’s meet-the-people sessions, the opposition parties are grappling with their own internal problems.

Ideological and philosophical differences among the Pakatan Rakyat parties may see their performance declining, especially with more Malays who supported them in 2008 now coming out in the open with problems that have yet to be solved.

Given the current scenario, both sides of the political divide are actually in the same position – trying hard to win the hearts and minds of voters who are more politically mature than their counterparts of previous generations.

‘Give us another public holiday’

Batu Caves temple president Nadarajah asks PM Najib to consider two days of public holidays for Deepavali.

SELAYANG: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has been urged to allow the Indian community another day off for Deepavali.

Batu Caves Sri Subramaniar Swamy Devasthanam Temple chairman R Nadarajah made this request this morning during his speech at the Thaipusam celebration here.

“I propose for an additional day of public holiday for Deepavali to enable all Malaysians to celebrate this festival more meaningfully,” said Nadarajah.

“Only then we can really call ourselves 1Malaysia. The Chinese community gets two days for Chinese New Year, Malays get two days for Hari Raya but the poor Indians only get one day.

“Make it happen and prove to the country and the world that we are truly 1Malaysia,” he told Najib, who was seated on stage during Nadarajah’s speech.

Nadarajah had earlier heaped praises on Najib and the BN administration and said if the government did more for the Indian and Hindu community, he would get more political support.

“We all like you. Definitely support you if you do all you can. I am a BN man. Live or die also we are with you, Najib. These people will definitely support you,” he said.

Nadarajah also called for the government to build an auditorium and a cultural centre at Batu Caves, besides granting more allocations for the temple and other temples around the country.

Hang Li Po dan Hang Tuah: Benar atau dongeng?

Winston Churchill (Wiki commons)

“HISTORY is written by the victors” atau “Sejarah ditulis oleh orang yang menang atau berkuasa”.
Ungkapan yang begitu terkenal namun tiada orang yang tahu siapa yang pertama kali mengungkapkannya. Ada yang kata Winston Churchill tapi ramai yang meraguinya. Soalan yang menarik untuk kita adalah jika kita tidak tahu sejarah asal-usul ungkapan itu, dan tiada dokumentasi tentang siapa yang sebenarnya telah mengeluarkan kata-kata itu, maka apakah kita boleh mengatakan bahawa ungkapan itu hanyalah suatu dongeng?
Baru-baru ini, Emeritus Prof Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Kim telah melontarkan kenyataan yang mengejutkan. Beliau mendakwa Hang Tuah dan Hang Li Po tidak pernah wujud dan hanya mitos belaka.
Beberapa ahli sejarah telah menolak dakwaan Khoo dan tetap mempertahankan kewujudan Hang Tuah. Senator Dr Syed Husin Ali pula telah membidas kenyataan Khoo tentang sejarah Partai Kebangsaan Melayu Malaysia dan Ahmad Boestamam. Sementara menunggu komen balas dari Khoo, patut kita bertanya apakah kriteria untuk sesuatu itu diiktiraf sebagai sejarah sahih? Dan sejarah siapakah yang dianggap penting dan benar?
Barat dan Timur
Oleh kerana saya kini di Indonesia, saya pun meminta pendapat Pak Agus Sunyoto, seorang ahli sejahrawan dan budayawan serta pensyarah di Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia.  Menurut Pak Agus, sejahrawan harus berhati-hati agar tidak terjebak dengan kaedah pengkajian sejarah positivistik yang terlalu memberi keutamaan terhadap dokumen rasmi bertulis dan bahan fizikal dalam mengakui kewujudan sesuatu. Yang mereka anggap naskah historis adalah yang berupa deskriptif, laporan dan catatan-catatan seperti yang lazim ditulis oleh orang Barat.
Pak Agus mengingatkan bahawa tradisi pemahaman sejarah di timur sangat berbeza sekali kerana ia juga banyak diungkapkan dalam bentuk-bentuk lain seperti naskah-naskah sastera dan secara lisan. Malahan, sejarah di nusantara ini banyak ditulis dalam bentuk penceritaan seperti hikayat atau bentuk-bentuk kakawin, kidung, tembang, dan pantun seperti syair, gurindam dan sajak.

Pak Agus (Sumbangan Norhayati Kaprawi)

Naskah Sulalatus Salatin iaitu Sejarah Melayu adalah salah satu contohnya. Karya sejarah yang ditulis sendiri oleh orang Melayu di Melaka pada abad ke-15 atau ke-16 menceritakan tentang kebangkitan, kegemilangan dan kejatuhan Kesultanan Melayu Melaka. Naskah inilah yang menyebutkan bahawa Hang Tuah ialah nama yang diberikan oleh Sultan Mansur Shah kepada seorang pemuda dari Makassar.

Cheng Ho (Wiki commons)

Pak Agus maklum bahawa ramai ahli akademik gemar bergantung pada dokumen-dokumen rasmi kerajaan sahaja seperti dokumen kerajaan Cina di zaman Dinasti Ming. Menurut beliau, pendekatan sedemikian membuatkan ramai sejahrawan akademik sehingga yang bergelar profesor dan doktor telah menolak sejarah tentang kedatangan Cheng Ho ke Semarang, Jawa Tengah atas sandaran hujah tiadanya catatan dalam dokumen rasmi kerajaan Cina.
Namun, Pak Agus berhujah bahawa tidak semua perjalanan Cheng Ho dilaporkan secara formal. Ini terbukti kerana walaupun tiada catatan rasmi tentang persinggahan Cheng Ho ke Blambangan, Jawa Timur, namun terdapat laporan sejarah tentang kematian 170 orang askar Cheng Ho di Blambangan semasa peperangan dengan tentera Majapahit. Maka, ia jelas menunjukkan tidak semua persinggahan Cheng Ho dicatatkan secara rasmi oleh kerajaan Cina.
Pada Pak Agus, jika catatan rasmi bertulis sesuatu kerajaan sahaja yang mahu dijadikan sebagai parameter, maka ia akan mengakibatkan sejarah bangsa lain mungkin sekali menjadi tidak teriktiraf kesahihan dan kewujudannya.
Syed Husin juga pernah membuat kritikan serupa di dalam bukunya yang diterbitkan pada 1978, Orang Melayu: Masalah dan Masa Depan.  Beliau menolak kaedah dan perspektif ahli sejarah Orientalis Barat yang gemar merendahkan dan menuduh orang Melayu sebagai tidak mempunyai sejarah.
Menurut Syed Husin, ahli-ahli sejarah tempatan telah berjaya membuktikan bahawa masyarakat Melayu mempunyai sejarah yang lebih tua dan gemilang berbanding penjajah Barat. Dan sekiranya sejarah orang Melayu begitu tua, apa lagi sejarah orang asli dan orang asal yang pastinya jauh lebih tua walaupun tidak bertulis?
Peringatan ini penting untuk jabatan-jabatan kerajaan Malaysia. Tuntutan dokumentasi bertulis sebagai bukti terhadap pemilikan tanah atau status kewarganegaraan telah banyak mengakibatkan orang asal dan pribumi di Malaysia teraniaya dan kehilangan hak mereka.
Di mana herstory pula?

Hang Li Po (Wiki commons)

Dari ungkapan “History is written by the victors” juga ada satu kata kunci yang ingin saya komentar. Perkataan “history” selalunya memang secara literal bermakna “his story” – pencatatan sejarah yang disampaikan oleh lelaki dan biasanya juga tentang lelaki.
Menurut Pak Agus, konteks masyarakat pencatat sejarah sangat penting diambil kira. Sikap patriaki yang melebihkan kekuasaan lelaki dari perempuan terbukti sangat besar pengaruhnya. Lalu menurut beliau, tidak tercatatnya perkahwinan Puteri Hang Li Po itu memang boleh difahami memandangkan betapa kuatnya nilai patriaki dalam tradisi Cina.
Oleh kerana keturunan berdasarkan jalur darah ahli keluarga laki-laki, dan pewaris kerajaan mestilah dari keturunan lelaki, maka kerajaan Cina mungkin saja tidak melihat perkahwinan Puteri Hang Li Po sebagai sesuatu yang penting untuk dicatat secara rasmi. Malahan, dengan pernikahan itu, sang puteri dan anak cucunya dianggap telah kehilangan nama keluarganya.
Seperti masyarakat Cina, masyarakat Arab juga sangat kuat tradisi patriakinya. Begitu kuat sehingga kekayaan budaya penulisan tarajim (kamus biografi) masyarakat Arab masih tidak dapat membantu dalam memperkenalkan sarjana-sarjana dan ulama-ulama perempuan Arab bukan sahaja pada dunia, malah pada masyarakat Arab sendiri. Ada keengganan di pihak ulama dan pendakwah laki-laki untuk mencatat dan menyebarkan maklumat mengenai kewujudan dan kehebatan sarjana dan ulama-ulama perempuan di zaman silam.
Ahli sufi perempuan terkenal, Rabiah Al Adawiyah, diragui kewujudannya kerana berkurun lamanya, nama Rabiah hilang dalam catatan sejarah.  Namanya tidak didokumentasikan oleh ramai ulama lelaki walaupun nama anak-anak muridnya dan ahli-ahli sufi lelaki yang hidup setelah Rabiah dicatatkan dengan terperinci.
Pada bulan Januari ini, sebuah buku berjudul Syahadah Cinta Rabiah Al Adawiyah telah dilancarkan. Penulisnya, Mohamad Guntur Romli, merasa perlu menjelaskan mengapa berkurun lamanya, nama Rabiah Al Adawiyah hanya dicatat secara remeh di dalam sejarah, dan namanya tidak disenaraikan dalam barisan ahli sufi.

Rabiah Al Adawiyah (Wiki commons)

Hasil penelitiannya terhadap kitab-kitab Islam klasik, maka terungkaplah bagaimana pengaruh patriaki dan sikap diskriminasi terhadap perempuan memberi pengaruh terhadap pencatatan sejarah. Akibat kurangnya ulama yang mahu mengiktiraf ketokohan Rabiah Al Adawiyah, maka sejarahnya banyak bercampur mitos. Malah, seperti nasib Puteri Hang Li Po, mungkin ada yang justeru menolak kewujudannya dan menganggap beliau sekadar mitos yang tidak pernah hidup bernafas di muka bumi ini.
Kini semakin banyak penelitian yang mengungkap kewujudan sarjana dan ulama-ulama perempuan. Dr Syeikh Mohammad Akram Nadwi, seorang sarjana di Universiti Oxford, telah menulis buku Al-Muhaddithat: The Women Scholars in Islam yang menelusuri kitab-kitab klasik dan menemukan lebih dari 8,000 wanita perawi hadith. Ulama-ulama perempuan itu didapati sering mengajar di masjid-masjid besar dan di madrasah-madrasah serta mengembara jauh untuk menimba ilmu.

Hang Tuah (Wiki commons)

Ramai ulama lelaki yang dianggap ulama besar sebenarnya telah belajar dari ulama-ulama fiqah perempuan, dan ulama-ulama lelaki itu sangat memuji-muji kebijaksanaan dan ketinggian ilmu guru-guru mereka yang terdiri dari orang perempuan. Menurut kajian Dr Syeikh Akram, ulama-ulama perempuan tersebut mempunyai kuasa dan pengaruh yang agak besar di dalam masyarakat mereka, dan itu merupakan suatu kebiasaan, bukan sesuatu yang luarbiasa.
Siapa yang menentukan?
Sejarah itu penting sebab ia dapat membantu kita memahami keadaan semasa. Lihat sahaja sejarah mahasiswa-mahasiswi tahun 1960an dan 1970an di Malaysia kalau kita hendak memahami asal-usul undang-undang hari ini seperti Akta Universiti dan Kolej Universiti.
Sejarah juga penting sebab sejarah memberitahu kita siapakah yang berkuasa pada zaman dulu dan sekarang, dan siapa yang ingin mengekalkan kuasanya.
Seorang tokoh sejarah seperti Khoo memang mempunyai hak untuk memberi pendapatnya mengenai Hang Tuah dan Hang Li Poh. Namun, apa yang lebih penting adalah cara apa yang diutamakan dan cara mana yang diketepikan dalam mengiktiraf sesuatu itu sebagai sahih dan wujud.